bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transfusion of ABO‐nonidentical platelets is not associated with adverse clinical outcomes in cardiovascular surgery patients
Authors: Lin Yulia , Callum Jeannie L. , Coovadia Ahmed S. , Murphy Patricia M. 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND: Current blood transfusion standards in Canada and the United States permit transfusion of ABO‐nonidentical platelets when ABO‐identical platelets are not available. This practice increases the availability of platelets, a component in chronic shortage in Ontario, Canada because of the 5‐day shelf‐life. The impact of transfusing ABO‐nonidentical platelets on patient outcomes is unknown. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 1721 patients who had cardiovascular surgery between November 1989 and December 1999 and who had also received a platelet transfusion perioperatively was conducted. The impact of platelet and plasma incompatibility on clinical outcomes was analyzed. RESULTS: The analysis included 1691 patients who were divided into two groups according to the compatibility of the first platelet transfusion received: ABO‐identical platelet transfusion (n = 1008) and ABO‐nonidentical platelet transfusion (n = 683). The only difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups was that there were more urgent cases in the ABO‐identical platelet transfusion group (p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in mortality at 30 days (10% for both groups, p = NS) or in postoperative length of stay (median, 7.0 days for both groups, p = NS). No significant differences were found with respect to the use of blood components, indices of bleeding, incidence of infection, or platelet CCIs. CONCLUSION: Transfusion of ABO‐nonidentical platelets in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery is not associated with an adverse impact on patient outcome.
Novel 3′Rhesus boxsequences confoundRHDzygosity assignment
Authors: Matheson Kimberly A. , Denomme Gregory A. 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND: PaternalRHDzygosity is required for genetic counseling and management of HDN caused by anti‐D. The most common D− haplotype is due to the deletion ofRHD,which results in the formation of a hybridRhesus box,theoretically through the recombination of 5′ and 3′Rhesus boxes.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The validity ofRhesus box PstI analysis was assessed to determineRHDzygosity by correlating D phenotype, most probable genotype, andRhesus boxPCR‐RFLP.RHDexons were examined, and a 501‐bpRhesus boxfragment was sequenced that flanked the polymorphicPstI site.RESULTS:Rhesus boxanalysis and the most probable genotype differed for 60 of 200 of the samples (30%). The incorrect zygosity assignment by the most probable genotype method is the likely reason for the difference. However, 8 of 328 samples showedRhesus boxcopy numbers that were inconsistent with the D phenotype. Two D− samples with one hybridRhesus boxhad a nonfunctionalRHD.Six D+ samples appeared to have two copies of the hybridRhesus boxdue to novel 3′Rhesus boxesthat contained nucleotide polymorphisms previously assigned to the 5′ and hybridRhesus boxes. All eight samples were from people of black decent, as determined by the GATA‐1 silencing mutation at theFYlocus.CONCLUSION:Rhesus boxPCR‐RFLP analysis forRHDzygosity assignment is confounded by the presence of nonfunctionalRHD+ (2.3% of D−) and novel, low frequency (0.9% of all alleles) 3′Rhesus boxsequences.
Current prevalence and incidence of infectious disease markers and estimated window‐period risk in the American Red Cross blood donor population
Authors: Dodd R.Y. , Notari E.P. , Stramer S.L. 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND : There has been continuing prog‐ ress in measures to reduce the risk of transfusion‐ transmitted infection, including introduction of serologic tests of increased sensitivity and the recent implementation of investigational NAT in small pools of samples. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : Data relating to all blood donations to the American Red Cross have been consolidated into a single database. The prevalence of confirmed‐positive test results for HBsAg, HCV, HIV, and HTLV were evaluated for each year for first‐time donors from 1995 through 2001. Incidence rates for these infections were evaluated among repeat donors having at least two donations in a 2‐year period. The frequencies of HIV‐1 RNA‐ and HCV RNA‐positive, seronegative donations were assessed for first‐time and repeat donations. The relationship risk = (window period) × (incidence) was used to assess residual risk among repeat donations and to evaluate the incidence of HCV and HIV infection among first‐time donors. RESULTS : During the study period, prevalence rates for all markers declined significantly over time: in 2001, the rates per 100,000 were 75.6 for HBsAg, 299 for HCV, 9.7 for HIV, and 9.6 for HTLV; the corresponding incidence rates (/100,000 person‐years) were 1.267, 1.889, 1.554, and 0.239, respectively. Estimates of residual risk in donations from repeat donors (after NAT) for HCV and HIV were 1 per 1,935,000 and 1 per 2,135,000, respectively. However, incidence rates for these agents are approximately two times greater among first‐time donors. For both HCV and HIV, NAT yield was concordant with that predicted by current window‐period models. CONCLUSION : These data cover about half of all the whole blood collected in the United States. They suggest increasing improvement in transfusion safety and clearly define the benefit of pooled NAT.
Vasovagal reactions in apheresis donors
Authors: Tomita Tadao , Takayanagi Miyuki , Kiwada Kimie , Mieda Akemi , Takahashi Chiyoko , Hata Tadayoshi 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND : The incidence rate of vasovagal reactions (VVRs) in apheresis is known to be higher in women than in men donors. VVRs in women apheresis donors were therefore analyzed to find out possible factors for their high incidence. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : VVR incidence was compared between whole blood (WB) and apheresis donation in relation mainly to age and circulatory blood volume (CBV). In addition, blood pressure and pulse rate were measured during apheresis. RESULTS : In WB donors, the VVR incidence was 0.83 and 1.25 percent, while in apheresis donors it was 0.99 and 4.17 percent in men and women, respectively. The VVR incidence decreased with age in WB donors, but age dependence was very weak in apheresis donors. In elderly women, the incidence increased with repeating cycle of apheresis. There were three different patterns of pulse fluctuation during apheresis, that is, stable (type A), increased rate during blood withdrawal (type B), and irregular pattern (type C). Elderly women donors and donors who suffered from VVRs mostly showed type B fluctuation. There was no particular fluctuation in blood pressure in relation to apheresis cycles. CONCLUSION : The VVR incidence rate was particularly high in women apheresis donors over 45 years old and increased with repeating cycles of apheresis. Smaller CBV, high sensitivity of low‐pressure baroreceptors, and citrate effects on cardiovascular reflex might be major factors involved in the high incidence of VVRs.
In utero or ex utero cord blood collection: which is better?
Authors: Lasky Larry C. , Lane Thomas A. , Miller John P. , Lindgren Bruce , Patterson Heidi A. , Haley N. Rebecca , Ballen Karen 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND : The relative nucleated cell count of umbilical cord blood (CB) correlates with improved engraftment and survival. This study compares two collection methods to assess CB content, including cell numbers. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : The Massachusetts CB bank used trained obstetricians and midwives to collect CB in utero before the delivery of the placenta. The banks in California, Ohio, Oregon, and Minnesota used trained American Red Cross (ARC) personnel who collected CB ex utero after the delivery of the placenta. All banks processed CB by RBC sedimentation and volume reduction. RESULTS : The volume and total nucleated cell count of collected CB before processing, as well as after processing CFU‐GM and CD34+ cells, showed no advantage of either method. In utero collections resulted in more rejections of collected units (due to labeling problems, bacterial contamination, clotting, and delay between collection and processing) than ex utero collections. There were fewer medical exclusions after in utero collection. CONCLUSION : CB can be collected successfully using either the in utero or ex utero methods; both methods produce comparable nucleated cell, MNC, CD34+, and CFU‐GM numbers. Bacterial contamination, low volume, clotting, and delay until processing are generally higher with in utero collection.
Leukapheresis after high‐dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation: a novel approach to harvest a second autograft
Authors: Schwella Nimrod , Braun Andrea , Ahrens Norbert , Rick Oliver , Salama Abdulgabar 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND : Autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) are usually collected after the administration of conventional‐dose chemotherapy (CDCT) and growth factors. However, there are no data available concerning the collection of PBPCs after high‐dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and autologous hematopoietic transplantation in a larger series. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : Patients (n = 30) underwent leukapheresis for PBPC harvest after CDCT. After HDCT and autografting, the collection of a second PBPC autograft was attempted. RESULTS
: Leukapheresis was performed after CDCT in all cases at a median of 118 CD34+ cells per μL (range, 18‐589) and resulted in 6.4 × 10
6
CD34+ cells per kg (range, 1.7‐29.0). After HDCT and autografting, 24 patients (80%) underwent secondary leukapheresis, although they had a significantly lower median of peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ cells (30/μL; range, 10‐171; p < 0.001). In these patients a median of 3.6 × 10
6
CD34+ cells per kg (range, 1.6‐10.1) was collected in the post‐transplantation course. In the remaining six patients (20%) with PB CD34+ cells < 10 per μL, no PBPC harvesting was performed. These so‐called poor mobilizers had received significantly less CD34+ cells for autologous transplantation than patients with successful post‐HDCT mobilization (median, 2.5 × 10
6
/kg [range, 1.7‐3.0] vs. 6.5 × 10
6
/kg [range, 3.2‐19.6];
p < 0.001). CONCLUSION : Collection of PBPCs is possible in most patients during the recovery phase of hematopoiesis after HDCT plus autografting, and the number of circulating PBPCs may be related to the CD34+ cell dose transfused by the preceding autograft.
Automated External Defibrillator Arrhythmia Detection in a Model of Cardiac Arrest due to Commotio Cordis
Authors: LINK MARK S. , MARON BARRY J. , STICKNEY RONALD E. , VANDERBRINK BRIAN A. , ZHU WEI , PANDIAN NATESA G. , WANG PAUL J. , ESTES N.A. MARK 
Published: March 2003

AED in Commotio Cordis. Introduction: Cardiac arrest due to chest wall blows (commotio cordis) has been reported with increasing frequency in children, and only about 15% of victims survive. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have been shown to be life saving in adults with cardiac arrest, but data on their use in children are limited. In a swine model of commotio cordis designed to be most relevant to young children, we assessed the efficacy of a commercially available AED for recognition and termination of ventricular fibrillation.
Methods and Results: Ventricular fibrillation was produced in anesthetized juvenile swine by precordial impact from a baseball under controlled conditions. Animals were randomized to defibrillation after 1, 2, 4, or 6 minutes of ventricular fibrillation. Twenty‐six swine underwent 50 ventricular fibrillation inductions. Sensitivity of the AED for recognition of ventricular fibrillation was 98%, and specificity for nonshockable episodes was 100%. All episodes of ventricular fibrillation were successfully terminated by the AED.
Conclusion: In this experimental model of commotio cordis, the AED proved to be highly sensitive and specific for recognition of ventricular fibrillation and effective in terminating the arrhythmia and restoring sinus rhythm. These findings suggest that early defibrillation with the AED could save young lives on the athletic field.
The Regime of Authenticity: Timelessness, Gender, and National History inModern China
Authors: Duara Prasenjit 
Published: March 2003

While there is much writing on the nation as the subject of linear history, considerably less attention has been paid to the dimension of the nation as the always identifiable, unchanging subject of history. This unchanging subject is necessitated by the ascendancy of the conception of linear time in capitalism in which change is viewed not only as accelerating, but can no longer be framed by an ultimate source of meaning such as God. Ostensibly, linear history is the falling of events into the “river of time,” but national history also posits a continuous subject to gather these changes. Such a subject is recognizable only by the spiritual qualities of authenticity, purity, and sacrality. The nation‐state and nationalists stake their claim to sovereign authority, in part, as custodians of this authenticity.A range of figures, human and non‐human, come to symbolize a regime of authenticity manipulable to some extent by nationalists and state‐builders. This essay focuses on the instance of women in early twentieth‐century China. Nationalists and cultural essentialists tended to depict women as embodying the eternal Chinese civilizational virtues of self‐sacrifice and loyalty and to elevate them as national exemplars. The essay also examines cases of how women themselves may have perceived this role as examplars and concludes that while there was considerable subversion in their enunciation of this role (to their advantage), there was sufficient reference to the prescriptive code of authenticity in their self‐formation to sustain the regime of authenticity. The essay ends with some thoughts about the changing relationship between authenticity and intensifying globalization in the contemporary world.
Do Asset Fire Sales Exist? An Empirical Investigation of Commercial Aircraft Transactions
Authors: Pulvino Todd C. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThis paper uses commercial aircraft transactions to determine whether capital constraints cause firms to liquidate assets at discounts to fundamental values. Results indicate that financially constrained airlines receive lower prices than their unconstrained rivals when selling used narrow‐body aircraft. Capital constrained airlines are also more likely to sell used aircraft to industry outsiders, especially during market downturns. Further evidence that capital constraints affect liquidation prices is provided by airlines' asset acquisition activity. Unconstrained airlines significantly increase buying activity when aircraft prices are depressed; this pattern is not observed for financially constrained airlines.
Are Investors Reluctant to Realize Their Losses?
Authors: Odean Terrance 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTI test the disposition effect, the tendency of investors to hold losing investments too long and sell winning investments too soon, by analyzing trading records for 10,000 accounts at a large discount brokerage house. These investors demonstrate a strong preference for realizing winners rather than losers. Their behavior does not appear to be motivated by a desire to rebalance portfolios, or to avoid the higher trading costs of low priced stocks. Nor is it justified by subsequent portfolio performance. For taxable investments, it is suboptimal and leads to lower after‐tax returns. Tax‐motivated selling is most evident in December.
Evidence on the Determinants of Credit Terms Used in Interfirm Trade
Authors: Ng Chee K. , Smith Janet Kiholm , Smith Richard L. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractTrade credit is created whenever a supplier offers terms that allow the buyer to delay payment. In this paper we document the rich variation in interfirm credit terms and credit policies across industries. We examine empirically the firm's basic credit policy choices: whether to extend credit or to require cash payment; and, if credit is extended, whether to adopt simple net terms or terms with discounts for prompt payment. We also examine determinants of variations in two‐part terms. Results are supportive primarily of theories that explain credit terms as contractual solutions to information problems concerning product quality and buyer creditworthiness.
Corporate Cash Reserves and Acquisitions
Authors: Harford Jarrad 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTCash‐rich firms are more likely than other firms to attempt acquisitions. Stock return evidence shows that acquisitions by cash‐rich firms are value decreasing. Cash‐rich bidders destroy seven cents in value for every excess dollar of cash reserves held. Cash‐rich firms are more likely to make diversifying acquisitions and their targets are less likely to attract other bidders. Consistent with the stock return evidence, mergers in which the bidder is cash‐rich are followed by abnormal declines in operating performance. Overall, the evidence supports the agency costs of free cash flow explanation for acquisitions by cash‐rich firms.
Tax Incentives to Hedge
Authors: Graham John R. , Smith Clifford W. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTFor corporations facing tax‐function convexity, hedging lowers expected tax liabilities, thereby providing an incentive to hedge. We use simulation methods to investigate convexity induced by tax‐code provisions. On average, the tax function is convex (although in approximately 25 percent of cases it is concave). Carrybacks and carryforwards increase the range of income with incentives to hedge; other tax‐code provisions have minor impacts. Among firms facing convex tax functions, average tax savings from a five percent reduction in the volatility of taxable income are about 5.4 percent of expected tax liabilities; in extreme cases, these savings exceed 40 percent.
Capital Structures in Developing Countries
Authors: Booth Laurence , Aivazian Varouj , Demirguc‐Kunt Asli , Maksimovic Vojislav 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThis study uses a new data set to assess whether capital structure theory is portable across countries with different institutional structures. We analyze capital structure choices of firms in 10 developing countries, and provide evidence that these decisions are affected by the same variables as in developed countries. However, there are persistent differences across countries, indicating that specific country factors are at work. Our findings suggest that although some of the insights from modern finance theory are portable across countries, much remains to be done to understand the impact of different institutional features on capital structure choices.
The Economic Value of Volatility Timing
Authors: Fleming Jeff , Kirby Chris , Ostdiek Barbara 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTNumerous studies report that standard volatility models have low explanatory power, leading some researchers to question whether these models have economic value. We examine this question by using conditional meanm‐variance analysis to assess the value of volatility timing to short‐horizon investors. We find that the volatility timing strategies outperform the unconditionally efficient static portfolios that have the same target expected return and volatility. This finding is robust to estimation risk and transaction costs.
The Market for Corporate Assets: Who Engages in Mergers and Asset Sales and Are There Efficiency Gains?
Authors: Maksimovic Vojislav , Phillips Gordon 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTWe analyze the market for corporate assets. There is an active market for corporate assets, with close to seven percent of plants changing ownership annually through mergers, acquisitions, and asset sales in peak expansion years. The probability of asset sales and whole‐firm transactions is related to firm organization and ex ante efficiency of buyers and sellers. The timing of sales and the pattern of efficiency gains suggests that the transactions that occur, especially through asset sales of plants and divisions, tend to improve the allocation of resources and are consistent with a simple neoclassical model of profit maximizing by firms.
Characteristics of Risk and Return in Risk Arbitrage
Authors: Mitchell Mark , Pulvino Todd 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThis paper analyzes 4,750 mergers from 1963 to 1998 to characterize the risk and return in risk arbitrage. Results indicate that risk arbitrage returns are positively correlated with market returns in severely depreciating markets but uncorrelated with market returns in flat and appreciating markets. This suggests that returns to risk arbitrage are similar to those obtained from selling uncovered index put options. Using a contingent claims analysis that controls for the nonlinear relationship with market returns, and after controlling for transaction costs, we find that risk arbitrage generates excess returns of four percent per year.
The Determinants of Credit Spread Changes
Authors: Collin-Dufresn Pierre , Goldstein Robert S. , Martin J. Spencer 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTUsing dealer's quotes and transactions prices on straight industrial bonds, we investigate the determinants of credit spread changes. Variables that should in theory determine credit spread changes have rather limited explanatory power. Further, the residuals from this regression are highly cross‐correlated, and principal components analysis implies they are mostly driven by a single common factor. Although we consider several macroeconomic and financial variables as candidate proxies, we cannot explain this common systematic component. Our results suggest that monthly credit spread changes are principally driven by local supply/demand shocks that are independent of both credit‐risk factors and standard proxies for liquidity.
Bookbuilding and Strategic Allocation
Authors: Cornelli Francesca , Goldreich David 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTIn the bookbuilding procedure, an investment banker solicits bids for shares from institutional investors prior to pricing an equity issue. The banker then prices the issue and allocates shares at his discretion to the investors. We examine the books for 39 international equity issues. We find that the investment banker awards more shares to bidders who provide information in their bids. Regular investors receive favorable allocations, especially when the issue is heavily oversubscribed. The investment banker also favors revised bids and domestic investors.
Global Diversification, Industrial Diversification, and Firm Value
Authors: Denis David J. , Denis Diane K. , Yost Keven 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTUsing a sample of 44,288 firm‐ears between 1984 and 1997, we document an increase in the extent of global diversification over time. This trend does not reflect a substitution of global for industrial diversification. We also find that global diversification results in average valuation discounts of approximately the same magnitude as those for industrial diversification. Analysis of the changes in excess value associated with changes in diversification reveals that increases in global diversification reduce excess value, while reductions in global diversification increase excess value. These findings support the view that the costs of global diversification outweigh the benefits.
An Investigation of the Informational Role of Short Interest in the Nasdaq Market
Authors: Desai Hemang , Ramesh K. , Thiagarajan S. Ramu , Balachandran Bala V. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThis paper examines the relationship between the level of short interest and stock returns in the Nasdaq market from June 1988 through December 1994. We find that heavily shorted firms experience significant negative abnormal returns ranging from −0.76 to −1.13 percent per month after controlling for the market, size, book‐to‐market, and momentum factors. These negative returns increase with the level of short interest, indicating that a higher level of short interest is a stronger bearish signal. We find that heavily shorted firms are more likely to be delisted compared to their size, book‐to‐market, and momentum matched control firms.