cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE LINKS BETWEEN THE PRICE OF OIL AND THE VALUE OF US DOLLAR

Using monthly data, this paper studies the cointegration between the real price of oil and the real effective exchange rate of US dollar allowing for structural breaks. Contrary to the conclusion from previous literature, this paper finds that the cointegration between the oil price and the value of US dollar does not significantly exist unless the effects of two structural breaks in the past, November 1986 and February 2005, are controlled for. Keywords: Oil price; Exchange rate; Cointegration JEL Classifications: C32; F31; Q43
A CRITIQUE OF STANDARD REFERENCE WORKS IN HUMAN FACTORS.

This study employed the questionnaire technique to survey members of the Human Factors Society with regard to the adequacy of the reference works in that field of engineering. The responses indicated marked preferences for certain reference works, the preferences being partially correlated with the educational backgrounds of the responders. Suggestions for the improvement of handbooks and for the coverage of new areas were also solicited and analyzed, but were found to be not related to educational background. Some possible directions for the improvement of reference works are discussed.
Replicating and Extending Past Personality/Job Satisfaction Meta-Analyses

A meta-analysis summarizing results of 187 studies reporting cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between job satisfaction and personality is described. The Big Five factor of Neuroticism related most strongly and negatively to job satisfaction (−.25), with the other factors ranging from .16 (Conscientiousness) to −.02 (Openness to Experience). Job satisfaction was positively related to internal locus of control (LOC), positive affectivity, and Type A (achievement striving). Results showed negative relationships with external LOC, trait anger, Machiavellianism, negative affectivity/trait anxiety, and Type A (global and impatience/irritability). Job satisfaction had a very weak, negative correlation with narcissism that was indistinguishable from zero. These relationships were similar, although the effect sizes were generally not as strong, when examined in a longitudinal context. The distinctiveness of Extraversion and positive affectivity, as well as that of global and composite measures of job...
Interleaved 1H and 31P spectroscopic imaging for studying regional brain injury

We present a new approach for in vivo localized spectroscopy which combines 1H and 31P one-dimensional spectroscopic imaging pulse sequences in an interleaved, time-shared manner using a surface coil. This approach was used to acquire metabolic information from a rat brain with regional ischemia at 4.7 Tesla. Spectra with very good signal-to-noise ratios, void of chemical shift artifacts, are obtainable from voxel sizes less than 0.3 cm3 in 40 min. Advantages and drawbacks of the proposed methodology are discussed.
Optical head tracking for functional magnetic resonance imaging using structured light.

An accurate motion-tracking technique is needed to compensate for subject motion during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) procedures. Here, a novel approach to motion metrology is discussed. A structured light pattern specifically coded for digital signal processing is positioned onto a fiduciary of the patient. As the patient undergoes spatial transformations in 6 DoF (degrees of freedom), a high-resolution CCD camera captures successive images for analysis on a computing platform. A high-speed image processing algorithm is used to calculate spatial transformations in a time frame commensurate with patient movements (10-100 ms) and with a precision of at least 0.5 μm for translations and 0.1 deg for rotations.
Beavers, Bubbles, Bees, and Moths: An Examination Of Animated Spokescharacters In DTC Prescription-Drug Advertisements and Websites

ABSTRACT Several prescription drug brands use animated characters in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising. This article draws on the literature on spokescharacters to address four research questions: What different types of animated spokescharacters are used in DTC advertising? How are prescription drug marketers using spokescharacters in DTC advertising? To what extent are these characters integrated into the websites for these brands? Is there any evidence that the use of animated spokescharacters enhances advertising effectiveness? Animated characters are used in various ways, such as the symbol of a disease, a victim, or as the mechanism of action. Brands vary greatly in their integration of spokescharacters into DTC websites. Evidence from secondary data indicates that brands using spokescharacters perform better than average in recall and in brand-association tests.
Rebellion, Revolution, and Tradition: Reinterpreting Coups in Ghana

Since the military coup that toppled the government of Sylvanus Olympio in Togo, West Africa, no less than seventy African leaders throughout sub-Saharan Africa have been overthrown by the armed forces. In the first two decades of independence alone, there were forty successful coups, not to mention the countless coup attempts (Meredith, 1984; Kitchen, 1985)
The Importance of International Students in the Academic Market for Agricultural Economists

About 10% of the academic job openings in agricultural economics will probably be filled by international students. During the early 1960s, only one-fifth of Ph.D. degrees in agricultural economics were awarded to foreign students. Currently, close to half of all doctoral degrees in agricultural economics are earned by foreign students. A survey of U.S. agricultural economics departments was undertaken to analyze the potential impact of international students on the supply of academic agricultural economists.
Conversion of a plain film teaching file to a digital database

Abstract In many academic institutions, there currently exist a large number of plain film teaching files. Unfortunately, plain film storage limits access. Therefore, a method for converting a plain film teaching file into a digital database, which can be easily searched by both database field and free text, would be of great value. These images and the accompanying text can then be used to rapidly generate presentations/lectures, to provide a tool for independent learning, or to rapidly access publication quality, pathology proven, images for use in papers and textbooks. The following article outlines a method for converting a plain film into a teaching file to a digital database utilizing the Radiological Society of North America Medical Imaging Resource Center (MIRC) program.
Can intense predation by bears exert a depensatory effect on recruitment in a Pacific salmon population

It has long been recognized that, as populations increase in density, ecological processes affecting growth and survival reduce per capita recruitment in the next generation. In contrast to the evidence for such “compensatory” density dependence, the alternative “depensatory” process (reduced per capita recruitment at low density) has proven more difficult to demonstrate in the field. To test for such depensation, we measured the spawner–recruit relationship over five decades for a sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) population in Alaska breeding in high-quality, unaltered habitat. Twenty-five years of detailed estimates of predation by brown bears, Ursus arctos, revealed strong density dependence in predation rate; the bears killed ca. 80 % of the salmon in years of low salmon spawning abundance. Nevertheless, the reconstructed spawner–recruit relationship, adjusted to include salmon intercepted in the commercial fishery, provided no evidence of demographic depensation. That is, in years when few salmon returned and the great majority were killed by bears, the few that spawned were successful enough that the population remained highly productive, even when those killed by bears were included as potential spawners. We conclude that the high quality of breeding habitat at this site and the productive nature of semelparous Pacific salmon allowed this population to avoid the hypothesized depressed recruitment from depensatory processes expected at low density. The observed lack of demographic depensation is encouraging from a conservation standpoint because it implies that depleted populations may have the potential to rebound successfully given suitable spawning and rearing habitat, even in the presence of strong predation pressure.
Manufacturing Trust: Community Currencies and the Creation of Social Capital

In this study I examine whether an innovative government program in Ichikawa, Japan has been successful in increasing the level of generalized interpersonal trust in the community by rewarding civic participation by local citizens. Japan has sponsored the development of a number of “community currency” programs at the local level that are designed to create social capital. A community currency is a local “money” that is only useable within a neighborhood or town. In a typical community currency program, a town rewards civic volunteers with credits to barter with other citizens, use at participating stores, or pay for town services. These programs are specifically designed to stimulate generalized trust by rewarding civic engagement and encouraging social interaction. I evaluate whether the new Tekona community currency program in Ichikawa, Japan has been successful in raising levels of trust among participants, as compared to a randomly selected control group of town residents. I find that community currency involvement increases general trust, which demonstrates that it is possible to institute government programs that create social capital.
Manipulating scattering of ultracold atoms with light-induced dissipation

Recently it has been shown that pairs of atoms can form metastable bonds due to non-conservative forces induced by dissipation [Lemeshko\&Weimer, Nature Comm. \textbf{4}, 2230 (2013)]. Here we study the dynamics of interaction-induced coherent population trapping -- the process responsible for the formation of dissipatively bound molecules. We derive the effective dissipative potentials induced between ultracold atoms by laser light, and study the time evolution of the scattering states. We demonstrate that binding occurs on short timescales of $\sim10~\mu$s, even if the initial kinetic energy of the atoms significantly exceeds the depth of the dissipative potential. Dissipatively-bound molecules with preordained bond lengths and vibrational wavefunctions can be created and detected in current experiments with ultracold atoms.
H.263+ rate control via variable frame rates and global bit allocation

Two new rate control algorithms for H.263+ are proposed in this work. Almost all rate control algorithms studied before are performed under the constant frame rate. However, at very low bit rates, video quality can be degraded severely in order to support a fixed frame rate. Our first rate control algorithm preserves good video quality by adjusting the frame rate under a given channel condition and keeping motion smoothness simultaneously. Our second rate control algorithm is a global bit allocation scheme which guarantees the reasonable sub-optimality with a low computational complexity. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the performance of the proposed algorithm.
ANALYSIS OF FREE VIBRATION OF STRUCTURAL-ACOUSTIC COUPLED SYSTEMS, PART II: TWO- AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL EXAMPLES

Abstract Natural frequencies and modes of two- and three-dimensional cavities bounded by elastic structures are obtained. It is shown that the free vibration problems of the structural-acoustic system of two- and three-dimensions can be easily formulated and solved by utilizing the proposed method. General characteristics of the dynamic coupling between the structure and the acoustic cavity are discussed based on the system natural frequencies and mode shapes.
Stem Cell Control, Oscillations, and Tissue Regeneration in Spatial and Non-Spatial Models

Normal human tissue is organized into cell lineages, in which the highly differentiated mature cells that perform tissue functions are the end product of an orderly tissue-specific sequence of divisions that start with stem cells or progenitor cells. Tissue homeostasis and effective regeneration after injuries requires tight regulation of these cell lineages and feedback loops play a fundamental role in this regard. In particular, signals secreted from differentiated cells that inhibit stem cell division and stem cell self-renewal are important in establishing control. In this article we study in detail the cell dynamics that arise from this control mechanism. These dynamics are fundamental to our understanding of cancer, given that tumor initiation requires an escape from tissue regulation. Knowledge on the processes of cellular control can provide insights into the pathways that lead to deregulation and consequently cancer development.
Temperature Dependence of the Far-Infrared Absorption Spectrum in Amorphous Dielectrics

A study of the temperature dependence of the absorption coefficient in amorphous dielectrics below 10 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ has enabled us to identify two level configurations from thermal population changes. We also find that the anomalous low-frequency modes in glasses consist of widely spaced manifolds of energy levels.
Treatment, outcome, and cost of care in children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Data were reviewed on treatment patterns, outcome, and hospital charges for children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Records of 186 children with ITP, seen between January 1997 and April 2001, were reviewed. Hospital charges for initial management and first re-treatment were calculated by combining physician, hospital, and pathology charges. Anti-D immune globulin [anti-D IG] was used in 32.3%, intravenous immune globulin [IVIG] in 22.6%, steroids in 22.6%, combination therapies in 8%, and 14.5% were observed. Two patients had CNS bleeding, one with intraventricular hemorrhage at diagnosis, and the other with a parietal bleed 1 year from diagnosis. There was no significant differences in time to reach platelet counts of 20, 50, or 150 (x 10(9)/L) across different treatment groups. There was no significant difference in median charges for the IVIG and anti-D IG groups for the initial treatment of ITP. However, the IVIG was significantly more expensive than steroids or observation. Charges for the anti-D IG group were higher than the observation group but not the steroid group. After drug charges were excluded, patients in the IVIG group had statistically higher charges compared to patients in anti-D IG group. Almost half the patients were re-treated. There was no significant difference between anti-D IG, IVIG, and steroid groups when initial and re-treatment charges were combined. The observation group remained least expensive. Outcome for children with ITP is similar regardless of initial management. There is not a statistically significant difference in hospital charges between patients treated with anti-D IG and IVIG. The IVIG-treated group tends to be more costly, but this is not due to drug charges. Re-treatment is common and decreases the difference in patient charges among initial therapies.
Optical In Situ Micro Tribometer for Analysis of Real Contact Area for Contact Mechanics, Adhesion, and Sliding Experiments

An instrument has been developed that allows in situ optical analysis and tribological measurements for contacts between solid bodies; an interferometric optical analysis can be used to measure and observe contact size, contact geometry, near contact topography, tribofilm formation, tribofilm motion, tribofilm thickness, wear debris formation, and wear debris morphology. The optical arrangement is in such a way that a 0th order interference fringe highlights the real contact area of contact, while near contact regions are height-mapped with higher order Newton’s rings interference fringes. Images synchronized with force and position measurements allow for the potential to test and validate models for contact mechanics, adhesion, and sliding. The contact and friction measurement between a rough rubber sphere and a polished glass counterface were studied over a range of loads from 1 to 50 mN.
Siderophore adsorption to and dissolution of kaolinite at pH 3 to 7 and 22°C

Siderophores are Fe(III)-specific ligands produced by many aerobic microorganisms under conditions of iron stress. This study examined adsorption of the commercial trihydroxamate siderophore, desferrioxamine B (DFO-B), to an iron-containing kaolinite (0.1 bulk wt.% Fe) and examined DFO-B effects on initial kaolinite dissolution and iron release rates. Adsorption experiments were conducted at pH 3 to 8 in 0.01-M NaClO4 in the dark and at 22°C; batch initial dissolution experiments were conducted to 96 h. The adsorption envelope (i.e., adsorption as a function of pH) of DFO-B on kaolinite was consistent with cation-like behavior, with adsorption increasing above kaolinite’s pHpznpc of 4.9. DFO-B enhanced aluminum release from kaolinite at pH 3 to 7, relative to HNO3, which is consistent with the ligand’s high binding affinity for Al. Correlation between DFO-B adsorption and aluminum release suggested a surface-controlled, ligand-promoted dissolution mechanism. DFO-B had no effect relative to HNO3 on silicon release at pH 3 and 5, but moderately enhanced silicon release at pH 7. DFO-B enhanced iron release from kaolinite, with dissolved iron concentrations in the 10-ppb range at 96-h reaction time. These results show that kaolinite may serve as a source of iron to aerobic microorganisms in iron-limited conditions and that siderophores may affect kaolinite dissolution and iron content.
Expression of neurofilament immunoreactivity in developing rat cerebellum in vitro and in vivo

Abstract The developmental expression of neurofilaments immunoreactivity was examined in frozen sections and in primary cultures of rat cerebellum by immunocytochemistry with a series of monoclonal antibodies and with a polyclonal antibody. In tissue sections immunocytochemical staining with all the antibodies used was observed in basket cells where adult-like appearance could be detected by 14 days of age and adult-level intensity was achieved by about 25 days. Granule cells remained unstained. Intense staining appeared in cerebellar white matter as early as 7 days after birth. In contrast, neurofilaments immunoreactivity was detected in cultured granule cells from 7-day-old cerebellum. Only polyclonal antibodies reacting with the highly conserved middle α-helical domain of the neurofilament subunits were reactive in culture. Staining could be detected in the nerve cell bodies from the first day after plating; thereafter staining intensity increased and was also distributed in neurite extensions. We conclude that unlike their counterparts in vivo cultured embryonic granule cells can express certain neurofilaments immunoreactivity.
PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT OF COMMON DISEASES IN THE OUTPATIENT SETTING

Perioperative myocardial infarction (MI) is a major source of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. Each year an estimated 50,000 patients in the United States experience perioperative and mortality exceeds 20,000 annually.44 The average cost to hospitals is estimated in one source to be $12,000 per ~atient.4~ The risk of perioperative MI is greatly increased in patients with previous infarction within 6 months of 69 and elective outpatient surgery should be postponed in such patients. In patients with previous MI for whom surgery cannot be postponed an appropriate number of weeks, or in patients without prior MI who have coronary artery disease (CAD) or stable angina, the use of preoperative testing can identify which patients are at increased risk of perioperative cardiac ischemia. For patients with recent MI in whom surgery is not completely elective but not truly emergent (e.g., a patient with a resectable malignancy) evaluation of left ventricular function and exercise tolerance may identify patients with relatively small risks. The nature of the surgery to be undertaken has considerable influence over the risks of surgery in patients with CAD. Backer et a1 found that ophthalmologic surgery under local anesthesia was safe, even in patients with recent ML4 The number of patients in the study who underwent ophthalmologic surgery under general anesthesia was small, but they also did well. Transurethral resection of the prostate appears to carry low risk, even in patients with serious heart disease,-*' and many authors suggest that the risks of peripheral extremity procedures is also l0w.7~ Vascular surgery is associated with increased risk.60 The identification of patients with preoperative myocardial ischemia is an important step in identifying patients at increased anesthetic and surgical risk. Slogoff and Keatsm demonstrated that perioperative myocardial ischemia is associated with perioperative MI. Preoperative testing that defines patients at
A new comorbidity index: The health-related quality of life comorbidity index

Abstract Objective To derive and validate the health-related quality of life comorbidity index (HRQL-CI). Study Design and Setting Of 261 clinical classification codes (CCCs) in the 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), 44 were identified as adult, gender-neutral, chronic conditions. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) procedure identified CCCs significantly associated with the Short Form-12 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores. Regression models were fitted with the selected CCCs, resulting in two subsets corresponding to PCS and MCS, collectively called the HRQL-CI. Internal validation was assessed using 10-fold cross-validation, whereas external validation in terms of prediction accuracy was assessed in the 2005 MEPS database. Prediction errors and model R 2 were compared between HRQL-CI models and models using the Charlson-CI. Results LASSO identified 20 CCCs significantly associated with PCS and 15 with MCS. The R 2 for the models, including the HRQL-CI (0.28 for PCS and 0.16 for MCS) were greater than those using the Charlson-CI (0.13 for PCS and 0.01 for MCS). The same pattern of higher R 2 for models using the HRQL-CI was observed in the validation tests. Conclusion The HRQL-CI is a valid risk adjustment index, outperforming the Charlson-CI. Further work is needed to test its performance in other patient populations and measures of HRQL.
New devices in a new era: Reimbursement and legality

The development of new technology is often anticipated with great enthusiasm by physicians involved in the evaluation of new therapies. There is a countervailing view that rapid diffusion of new technology into practice is a significant contributing factor to the rapid rate of rise of health care spending in the United States. The central argument is not that technology should not be developed; rather, that technology should be developed and evaluated according to carefully derived scientific criteria and that payment policy should not create an unintended discrimination in access to new therapies. It is essential that physicians who are involved in the development of new technologies understand the reasons for concern about technology, the requirements for evaluation of new devices, and the payment policies related to the use of new technology. (J Interven Cardiol 1996;9:179–183)
Reduction of α - substituted succinonitriles with diisobutylaluminum hydride: a facile method for the synthesis of 3-substituted pyrroles

Abstract Treatment of four representative α - substituted succinonitriles (2) with diisobutylaluminum hydride, followed by hydrolysis of each reaction mixture with aqueous sodium dihydrogen phosphate, afforded 3-substituted pyrroles (4) in approximately 50% yield.
Organic Photovoltaic Cells Based On Solvent-Annealed, Textured Titanyl Phthalocyanine/C60 Heterojunctions

Organic photovoltaic cells (OPV) with good near-IR photoactivity are created from highly textured titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc)/C 6o heterojunctions. Vacuum deposited TiOPc thin films are converted to the near-IR absorbing "Phase II" polymorph using post-deposition solvent annealing. The Phase I → Phase II transition broadens the absorbance spectrum of the Pc film producing absorptivities (α ≈ 105 cm ―1 ) from 600―900 nm, along with substantial texturing of the Pc layer. Atomic force microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy of the solvent annealed films show that the surface roughness of the Pc layers is increased by a factor of greater than 2x as a result of the phase transformation. Current―voltage (J―V) responses for white light illumination of ITO (100 nm)/TiOPc (20 nm)/C 60 (40 nm)/BCP (10 nm)/Al (100 nm) OPVs show a near doubling of the short-circuit photocurrent (J SC ), with only a small decrease in open-circuit photopotential (V OC ), and a concomitant increase in power conversion efficiency, Incident photon current efficiency (IPCE) plots confirmed the enhanced near-IR OPV activity, with maximum IPCE values of ca. 30% for devices using Phase II-only TiOPc films. UV-photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) of TiOPc/C 60 heterojunctions, for both Phase I and Phase II TiOPc films, suggest that the Phase II polymorph has nearly the same HOMO energy as seen in the Phase I polymorph, and similar frontier orbital energy offsets, E HOMO Pc ―E LUMO C60 , leading to comparable open-circuit photovoltages. These studies suggest new strategies for the formation of higher efficiency OPVs using processing conditions which lead to enhance near-IR absorptivities, and extensive texturing of crystalline donor or acceptor films.
Patient positioning and port placement for bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy

Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy is an alternative to laparoscopic nephrectomy. We describe our method for triangular port placement and patient positioning during bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy. This method does not require intraoperative patient repositioning and may decrease the overall operative time while enhancing patient safety.
Sabadilla alkaloids. II. Alkaloidal components of the petroleum ether extract

Crude alkaloid Fraction A (see paper I) was subjected to further separation procedures by fractional solution in Skelly B, followed by fractional crystallizations and recrystallizations. It was not possible to realize a clear-cut separation of pure alkaloids by these procedures. Pure crystalline cevadine, a nearly pure veratridine, and mixed crystals of cevadine and veratridine were obtained. A preliminary separation and purification of some of the fractions was accomplished by means of selective adsorption and elution from an aluminum oxide column. Separations of the various fractions were followed by use of spectophotometric analysis, using the Beckman quartz spectrophotometer. On the basis of absorption spectra, several of the fractions, obtained in small amounts, appeared to be different from any previously reported alkaloids of sabadilla.
Relationship between fetal monitoring and resuscitative needs: fetal distress versus routine cesarean deliveries.

BACKGROUND: There is debate as to whether pediatricians should be present at all cesarean deliveries. Little published data exist regarding the differences in resuscitative needs of infants delivered by cesarean section for “fetal distress” versus those without this diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To describe the differences in resuscitative and immediate postnatal intervention needs for neonates with fetal distress delivered by cesarean section and those without fetal distress delivered in the same manner. Also, to devise an evaluation tool to assess and compare levels of neonatal resuscitation between infants and groups of infants. METHODS: The delivery records of 1411 term infants delivered by cesarean section after uncomplicated pregnancies at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center from March 3, 1995 through March 8, 1997 were examined retrospectively. Apgar scores and resuscitative needs were assigned to a newly devised, weighted scoring system. Resuscitation subscores and total resuscitation scores were compared using non-parametric methods. RESULTS: The fetal distress group (n = 80) had a significantly greater resuscitative needs mean score (p < 0.001) and subscores (p < 0.001 to p = 0.004) than did the non-fetal distress group (n = 419). Of the non-fetal distress group, 48.7% still received some active form of intervention. CONCLUSION: In our study group, infants with fetal distress had significantly greater intervention needs than infants without fetal distress.
Anatomic distribution and pathologic characterization of small-volume prostate cancer (< 0.5 ml) in whole-mount prostatectomy specimens

Some investigators consider small-volume prostate cancer (0.5 ml or less) without Gleason pattern 4/5 elements as clinically insignificant. The objective of this study was to characterize the anatomic distribution and pathologic features of small tumors (aggregate volume of 0.5 ml or less) in whole-mount prostatectomy specimens. Between 1999 and 2003, 371 consecutive patients underwent radical prostatectomy at the Indiana University Hospitals for localized prostate cancer. Patients who received hormonal or radiation therapy prior to the surgery were excluded from the study. A total of 62 specimens with total tumor volume of 0.5 ml or less were identified and included in this study. All specimens were embedded and whole-mounted. Tumor volume was measured using the grid method. The mean age at the time of surgery was 59 years (median, 61 years; range, 37-72 years). The mean preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 6.5 ng/ml (range: 0.3-18 ng/ml). The mean prostate weight was 53 g (range: 16-132 g). The mean tumor volume was 0.29 ml (median, 0.35 ml; range, 0.02-0.48 ml). Tumor multifocality and bilaterality were present in 69 and 37% of cases, respectively. Three (5%) had positive surgical margins. The largest tumor was located in the peripheral zone, transitional zone, and central zone in 79, 16, and 5% of cases, respectively. The largest tumor was located in the anterior prostate in 10 cases (16%) and in the posterior prostate in 52 cases (84%). The distribution of Gleason scores was 5 (12 cases, 19 %), 6 (40 cases, 65 %), and 7 (10 cases, 16 %). One case had a primary Gleason pattern 4. None had extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, or lymph node metastasis. Small-volume prostate cancers are often multifocal and bilateral, with predilection for the peripheral zone. Of these small-volume cases, 16% had Gleason pattern 4 and might, therefore, be clinically significant.
Activation of integrin receptors is required for growth factor-induced smooth muscle cell dysfunction.

Abstract Purpose: Growth factors and cytokines such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) stimulate smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein production by binding and activating their respective receptors. Recent investigations suggest that simultaneous activation of integrins, which are heterodimeric receptors for ECM, may also be required for growth factor and cytokine function. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that activation of two integrins, αvβ3 and α2β1, both previously identified in vascular SMCs, is necessary for growth factor– and cytokine-induced vascular SMC dysfunction. Methods: DNA synthesis was measured after stimulation of SMCs derived from human saphenous vein with the growth factors PDGF-BB, EGF, and bFGF. SMC fibronectin (Fn) production was measured (by means of Western blotting) in SMCs stimulated for 72 hours with TGF-β1 or EGF. Both endpoints were measured in the presence and absence of antibodies that block the function of the αvβ3 and α2β1 integrins as well as the α2 and β1 subunits. Results: The αvβ3 integrin blocking antibody significantly inhibited PDGF-BB-, EGF-, and bFGF-induced SMC proliferation. The αvβ3 integrin antibody also markedly inhibited TGF-1- and EGF-induced SMC Fn production. Neither the α2β1 integrin nor the α2 or the β1 subunits inhibited either proliferation or matrix protein production in response to any of these agonists. Conclusion: The αvβ3 integrin is required for growth factor– and cytokine–induced SMC proliferation and FN production, whereas α2β1 is not. Since activation of αvβ3 is required for the activity of at least four distinct growth factors and cytokines, inhibition of this integrin might be used as a therapeutic tool for the prevention of intimal hyperplasia. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:375-81.)
Evaluating the relationship of metabolic activation system concentrations and chemical dose concentrations for the Salmonella spiral and plate assays.

Abstract A factorial experimental design was used within this study to evaluate the influence of multiple metabolic activation system concentrations on the dose-response exhibited by promutagens (indirect-acting mutagens) in the Salmonella spiral and plate assays. The mutagenic activity of the three compounds used spanned three orders of magnitude. The mutagenic activity of the compounds ranged from 10 to 100 revertants/μg for acetylaminofluorene (2AAF) to more than 1000 revertants/μg for 2-aminoanthracene (2AA). Benzo[ a ]pyrene (BaP) activity was within an intermediate range (100–1000 revertants/μg). During a single experiment, a mutagen was tested in TA100 at 13 doses plus a negative control dose. Each dose was tested at 10 S9 concentrations. The S9 concentrations ranged from 0.1 mg protein/plate to 4 mg protein/plate in the standard plate assay and from 0.25 to 4.90 mg-equivalents in the spiral assay. The spiral Salmonella assay, an automated version of teh standard assay, generates dose-response data from a concentration gradient on a single agar plate, thereby providing a straightforward approach to this type of study. This study demonstrates not only that even small differences in S9 concentrations can affect the measurement of mutagenic potency but that S9/compound interactions cannot be generalized through the use of interaction studies. This study also shows that spiral assay data and plate assay data for promutagens cannot be compared directly unless the S9 concentrations for all chemical doses are also comparable.
Estimation of the running speed and bearing defect frequencies of an induction motor from vibration data

Abstract This paper presents two separate algorithms for estimating the running speed and the bearing key frequencies of an induction motor using vibration data. Bearing key frequencies are frequencies at which roller elements pass over a defect point. Most frequency domain-based bearing fault detection and diagnosis techniques (e.g. envelope analysis) rely on vibration measurements and the bearing key frequencies. Thus, estimation of the running speed and the bearing key frequencies are required for failure detection and diagnosis. The paper also incorporates the estimation algorithms with the most commonly used bearing fault detection technique, high-frequency demodulation, to detect bearing faults. Experimental data were used to verify the validity of the algorithms. Data were collected through an accelerometer measuring the vibration from the drive-end ball bearing of an induction motor (Reliance Electric 2HP IQPreAlert)-driven mechanical system. Both inner and outer race defects were artificially introduced to the bearing using electrical discharge machining. A linear vibration model was also developed for generating simulated vibration data. The simulated data were also used to validate the performance of the algorithms. The test results proved the algorithms to be very reliable.
A Kalman filter approach to characterizing the Canadian term structure of interest rates

This paper employs a Kalman filter approach to test the Expectations Hypothesis and characterize how term premia have changed over time for short-term Canadian interest rates. The Kalman filter approach is extended to account for changes in interest rate volatility, possible permanent changes in term premia, and overlapping forecast errors. The Expectations Hypothesis is strongly rejected with estimated term premia displaying significant time variation. There is some evidence of a positive relationship between term premia and interest rate volatility, although other macroeconomic and political factors are important, especially exchange rate volatility. Also, estimated term premia were actually negative during the late 1980s.
A model of the chemical vapor deposition of Si 1-x-y Ge x C y films from silane, germane and methyl silane

A model has been developed for the chemical vapor deposition of epitaxial Si1-x-yGexCy films from SiH4, GeH4 and SiH3CH3. The model is based on a simplified chemical mechanism including adsorption and decomposition of SiH4, GeH4 and H2 on vacant Si or Ge sites and subsequent H2 desorption. The model focuses on effects at relatively high pressures (i.e., 1-200 Torr) where suppression of deposition by adsorbed hydrogen becomes important, resulting in an inverse dependence of the deposition rate on pressure and giving rise to a strong dependence of Ge concentration on the deposition temperature. The model assumes that this temperature dependence is due to the influence of adsorbed hydrogen on segregation of Ge to the surface and the relative concentration of vacant Si and Ge sites. The model also includes a simple treatment of carbon incorporation from SiH3CH3. The model predictions of deposition rate, Ge content and both total and substitutional carbon content compare favorably with experimental data over a wide range of conditions.
Catalytic reduction of a tetrahydrobiopterin radical within nitric-oxide synthase.

Nitric-oxide synthases (NOS) are catalytically self-sufficient flavo-heme enzymes that generate NO from arginine (Arg) and display a novel utilization of their tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B) cofactor. During Arg hydroxylation, H4B acts as a one-electron donor and is then presumed to redox cycle (i.e. be reduced back to H4B) within NOS before further catalysis can proceed. Whereas H4B radical formation is well characterized, the subsequent presumed radical reduction has not been demonstrated, and its potential mechanisms are unknown. We investigated radical reduction during a single turnover Arg hydroxylation reaction catalyzed by neuronal NOS to document the process, determine its kinetics, and test for involvement of the NOS flavoprotein domain. We utilized a freeze-quench instrument, the biopterin analog 5-methyl-H4B, and a method that could separately quantify the flavin and pterin radicals that formed in NOS during the reaction. Our results establish that the NOS flavoprotein domain catalyzes reduction of the biopterin radical following Arg hydroxylation. The reduction is calmodulin-dependent and occurs at a rate that is similar to heme reduction and fast enough to explain H4B redox cycling in NOS. These results, in light of existing NOS crystal structures, suggest a “through-heme” mechanism may operate for H4B radical reduction in NOS.
Interfering electron quantum states in ultrapure magnesium

A detailed analysis is presented of the large-amplitude temperature-insensitive oscillations in the transverse magnetoresistivity of ultrapure Mg single crystals resulting from the direct interference of electron quantum states. A calculation of the relative harmonic content of these interference signals based on the transmission characteristics of a magnetic breakdown-generated interferometer is used to quantitatively study certain aspects of the electron states in Mg as well as details of magnetic breakdown. In particular, values of magnetic breakdown parametersH 0are determined without invoking the complexities of transport theory. An absolute lower limit for the electron quantum state lifetime of τ ≳ 0.5 nsec is obtained (forT=1.5° K), although a best fit to the data gives a value an order of magnitude larger, τ∼5 nsec, which corresponds to quantum phase coherence extending over a distance of 3 mm in these crystals. In addition, this work provides direct experimental verification of the π/2 phase difference between transmitted and reflected electron states at a magnetic breakdown junction. Comparison of the results of this experiment with previous work via an existing semiempirical band structure calculation demonstrates the complete consistency of these measurements with previous Fermi surface data.
Hplc Method for Determination of Lidocaine in Admixture with Dextrose Injection

Abstract A reverse-phase HPLC system using a microparticulate octade-cylsilane column and an acetonitrile-phosphate buffer mobile phase is employed to determine lidocaine in an admixture of lidocaine injection with 5 per cent dextrose injection. The method is accurate over the range of 5 to 12.5 μg on column, as employed in our laboratories, which corresponds to 2 to 5 mg/ml of lidocaine hydrochloride in the admixture solution. It is precise (2.00 to 2.88% coefficient of variation) and has been used in stability studies of lidocaine. The method is also used to quantitate a degradation product of lidocaine, 2,6-dimethylaniline, over the range of 5 to 25 ng on column (corresponding to 2 to 10 μg/ml in the admixture solution) with a precision of 1.82 to 4.50% coefficient of variation. Samples are prepared by dilution in methanol containing the internal standard, procaine hydrochloride, and each chromatogram requires about 4 minutes.
Phosphate ester surface treatment for reduced wear and corrosion protection

Abstract Engine, machinery, or tool wear are highest at start-up when surfaces are cold, and an insufficient oil film is present to protect against asperity contact. Neutral phosphate esters can be used to pre-treat metal surfaces to reduce start-up wear and to provide corrosion protection during manufacturing, storage, and shipment. Inorganic phosphating techniques are well known but have a variety of limitations. The use of an organophosphate surface treatment is suggested as a new technique for improving the life and performance of iron- or copper-containing parts. Protective films have been applied to ball-bearing surfaces, and evaluated to determine their performance advantages. The phosphate films were found to orfer significant friction and wear reduction, in addition to protecting the bearings from rust in a 100% humidity chamber. The applied films were analyzed to identify their composition and morphology.
A Probabilistic Model of $(t,n)$ Visual Cryptography Scheme With Dynamic Group

The (t, n) visual cryptography (VC) is a secret sharing scheme where a secret image is encoded into n transparencies, and the stacking of any t out of n transparencies reveals the secret image. The stacking of t - 1 or fewer transparencies is unable to extract any information about the secret. We discuss the additions and deletions of users in a dynamic user group. To reduce the overhead of generating and distributing transparencies in user changes, this paper proposes a (t, n) VC scheme with unlimited n based on the probabilistic model. The proposed scheme allows n to change dynamically in order to include new transparencies without regenerating and redistributing the original transparencies. Specifically, an extended VC scheme based on basis matrices and a probabilistic model is proposed. An equation is derived from the fundamental definitions of the (t, n) VC scheme, and then the (t, ∞) VC scheme achieving maximal contrast can be designed by using the derived equation. The maximal contrasts with t = 2 to 6 are explicitly solved in this paper.
Polymer-Solid Interface Connectivity and Adhesion: Design of a Bio-Based Pressure Sensitive Adhesive

Adhesion at polymer-solid interfaces was explored for a new bio-based pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) in terms of sticker groups, φX, on the polymer phase, receptor groups, φY, on the solid surface, and the bond strength of the sticker-receptor X-Y acid-base interaction, χ. The polymer-solid interface restructuring models of Gong and Lee et al. were extended with new percolation models of entanglements and interface strength to determine the optimal sticker group concentration, φ∗X. For the general case where φY and χ are constant, it is predicted that when φX φ∗X, failure occurs cohesively in a polymer-polymer interface adjacent to the solid and the strength decreases as G1c ∼ φ∗X/φX. The switch from adhesive to cohesive failure can be understood in terms of the changes in the chain conformations of the adhered chains and their decreasing interpenetrati...
High Damping Composite Materials: Effect of Structural Hierarchy:

A combination of stiffness and loss (the product Etan) is desirable in damping layer and structural damping applications. Composite materials of structure which gives rise to Reuss or Hashin–Shtrikman lower bound behavior can give rise to such properties. Hierarchical particulate morphologies attainthe Hashin– Shtrikmancurve. We show that hierarchical composites give rise to complex Poisson’s ratios which, however, have minimal effect on the stiffness-map. We show that structural hierarchy is useful inviscoelastic composites inthat it enables the attainment of high concentrations of spherical inclusions, and that it facilitates the attainment of both stiffness and damping. A damping layer upon a substrate is considered as the top level of the structural hierarchy. We demonstrate that if the layer itself is a relatively stiff composite, the penalty usually associated with such a geometry for compliant layers is ameliorated.
Study of diffusion from a line source in a turbulent boundary layer

Abstract Diffusion of a scalar quantity (ammonia gas) from a steady line source within a twodimensional turbulent boundary layer is studied. Using a long 6 × 6 ft square test section, the boundary-layer thickness varied from 5 to 11 in for distances of 3 to 43·5 ft downstream with air speeds from 9 to 16 ft/s. Measurements of mean concentrations of ammonia in air are reported, analysed and compared with a few measurements of heat transfer in similar conditions. Formulation of the results takes into consideration the transverse non-homogeneity of the velocity field and also divides the downstream diffusion field into four zones. Measurements of the mean velocity field and the mean concentration field permit the flux of mass in the vertical direction to be calculated through the equation of mass conservation. The use of an eddy-diffusivity coefficient to describe the processes of turbulent diffusion is discussed and it is shown that for a long distance downstream of the source, such a coefficient cannot be related to the local Eulerian variables of the velocity field.
Concentration-dependence of nonelectrolyte permeability of toad bladder.

A theoretical formulation was derived for the dependence of bulk solute permeability, P, defined as net flux divided by concentration gradient, delta c, across any membrane in which solute concentration is controlling for net flux, delta J. According to this formulation, delta J is stimulated by increments in trans concentration, c2, in the range c2/c1 equals 0.0--0.1. Net flux of urea across toad bladder down concentration gradients was shown to be stimulated threefold by small increments in trans urea concentration. The theory also predicts that, in the absence of concentration gradients, tracer permeability, P, defined as tracer flux divided by tracer concentration, will be independent of c provided that P equals P, but will diminish with increasing c if P/P less than 1.P/P was not significantly different from unity for urea, and both P and P were independent of c in the absence of concentration gradients. However, P/P was significantly less than unity (0.90 and 0.85) for thiourea and mannitol, respectively. In conformity with theory, P (and also P) of these two solutes, measured as c was increased by 3--4 orders of magnitude, diminished progressively. These effects are more consistent with this formulation than with transport via a saturable carrier.