cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transfusion therapy for autoimmune hemolytic anemia patients: a laboratory perspective.

1. Darrell D Drouillard, MS MT(ASCP)[⇑][1] 1. is medical technologist, North Central Federal Clinic, San Antonio TX 1. Address for correspondence: Darrell D. Drouillard, MS, MT(ASCP), Medical Technologist, North Central Federal Clinic, 17440 Henderson Pass, San Antonio TX 78232. (210) 483-2903, (210) 483-2943 (fax). darrell.drouillard{at}va.gov. Patients presenting with autoimmune hemolytic anemias create inherent challenges to those tasked with providing compatible blood for transfusion therapy. These patients have developed autoantibodies against their own red cell surface antigens. Because these antigens are usually high-incidence, these patients will typically demonstrate panagglutination when their serum is exposed to most commercially procured screening red blood cells. This makes the identification of clinically significant alloantibodies difficult for laboratory personnel. Transfusion history, patient phenotype availability, and previous antibody records all impact the testing methods. The end goal is to identify clinically significant alloantibodies in order to provide antigen negative, compatible red blood cells, which reduces the risk of transfusion related reactions. It is imperative to understand the laboratory results and the techniques available that guide the investigative process. Immune hemolytic anemia (IHA) results from an immune mediated response to red blood cell (RBC) surface antigens. Based on the class of antibody, predominantly immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), patients may experience varying degrees of hemolyis. The immunological response may result in complement fixation or subsequent RBC destruction by the splenic macrophages. Though various classifications and sub-classifications exist, the AABB has divided IHAs into three main classes: autoimmune hemolytic anemias (AIHA), drug-induced hemolytic anemias, and alloimmune hemolytic anemias.1 Regardless of the type of anemia, most patients present with diverse, non-specific symptoms that may include dyspnea, pallor, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, weight loss, and jaundice.2,3 In order to effectively manage the technological methodologies employed in the attainment of compatible RBCs for these… ABBREVIATIONS: AHG = anti-human globulin; AIHA = autoimmune hemolytic anemia; CAS = cold agglutinin syndrome; DAT = direct antiglobulin test; HDN = hemolytic disease of the newborn; IAT = indirect antiglobulin test; IHA = immune hemolytic anemia; LISS = low ionic strength solution; PAM = prophylactic antigen-matched; PCH = paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria; PEG = polyethylene glycol; RBC = red blood cell; WAIHA = warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. [1]: #corresp-1
Indigenous Women and Professionals’ Proposed Solutions to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence in Tribal Communities

The purpose of this study was to unveil Indigenous women and professionals’ proposed solutions to prevent and ameliorate the disproportionate rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by...
Individualizing the Return to Sports After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Because of the epidemiological incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, the high reinjury rates that occur when returning back to sports, the actual number of patients who return to the same premorbid level of competition, the high incidence of osteoarthritis at 5-10 year follow-ups and the effects on the long-term health of the knee and the quality of life for the patient, individualizing the return to sports after ACL reconstruction (ACL-R) is critical. However, one of the challenging but unsolved dilemmas, is what criteria and clinical decision making should be used to return an athlete back to sports following an ACL-R. This article describes an example of a functional testing algorithm (FTA) as one method for clinical decision making based on quantitative and qualitative testing and assessment used to make informed decisions to return athletes to their sports safely and without compromised performance. Review of the best current evidence to support a FTA is discussed. To evaluate all the complicated domains of the clinical decision making for individualizing the return to sports after ACL-R, numerous assessments need to be performed including the biopsychosocial concepts, from impairment testing, strength and power testing, functional testing, and patient-reported outcomes. The optimum criteria to use for individualizing the return to sports after ACL-R remain elusive. The decision to return an athlete back into competition has significant implications ranging from the safety of the athlete, to performance factors and actual litigation issues. By using a multifactorial FTA, such as the one described, provides quantitative and qualitatively criteria to make an informed decision in the best interests of the athlete.
Ex Vivo Expansion of Frozen Cord Blood Products without Selection.

Abstract Ex vivo expansion of cord blood products (CB) has been proposed as an approach to increase the number of cells available from a single CB unit. We and others have reported the requirement of CD34 selection for optimal expansion of CB products, however, the selection of frozen CB products results in significant losses of CD34+ cells with a median recovery of 43% (range 6 to 203%, N=40) and low purities resulting in decreased expansion. Therefore we explored approaches to expand CB without prior selection and have described the use of co-culture of CB mononuclear cells (MNC) on mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). In the present study we have evaluated the expansion of clinical CB products (provided by Duke University CB Bank CB). MNC were obtained after ficol separation of RBCs and 10% of the CB product was cultured on preformed layers of MSC in T150 flasks containing 50ml of defined media (Sigma Aldrich) plus 100 ng/ml each of rhSCF, rhG-CSF and rhTpo. After 6 days of culture, the non adherent cells were transferred to a Teflon bag and a further 50 ml of media and GFs added to the flask. Again at day 10, non adherent cells were transferred to the Teflon bag and media and growth factors replaced. At day 12 to 13 of incubation the cells were harvested, washed and total nucleated cell (TNC) counts and progenitor assays performed. In three separate experiments we have achieved greater than 20 fold expansion of TNC with a median of 22, and a median expansion of GM-CFC of 37 fold. Morphologic analysis demonstrated the expanded cells contained high levels of mature neutrophils and neutrophil precursors. In vivo studies in NOD/SCID mice also demonstrated that the expanded cells maintained in vivo engraftment potential. Clinical studies are being designed to evaluate the in vivo potential of CB MNC products expanded on MSC.
The Relation Between Anxiety Sensitivity and Attachment Style in Adolescence and Early Adulthood

Given the accumulating evidence for a role of anxiety sensitivity in the etiology of panic, it is important to understand the developmental origins of anxiety sensitivity. To this end, this study examined the relation between attachment beliefs and anxiety sensitivity in a sample of high school students (nD 203; mean age 15.7 years) and university students (nD 324; mean age 21.7 years). The Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR; K. Brennan, C. Clark, & P. Shaver, 1998) was used to assess attachment beliefs and to classify participants into attachment groups. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI; R. A. Peterson & S. Reiss, 1987) was used to assess participants’ levels of anxiety sensitivity. Results supported the hypothesis that individuals with insecure attachment, specifically those classified as preoccupied and fearful (i.e., those with a negative model of self), had significantly higher anxiety sensitivity scores than securely attached individuals in both the high school and college samples.
Energy-Efficient and Process-Variation-Resilient Write Circuit Schemes for Spin Hall Effect MRAM Device

In this paper, various energy-efficient write schemes are proposed for switching operation of spin hall effect (SHE)-based magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). A transmission gate (TG)-based write scheme is proposed, which provides a symmetric and energy-efficient switching behavior. We have modeled an SHE-MTJ using precise physics equations, and then leveraged the model in SPICE circuit simulator to verify the functionality of our designs. Simulation results show the TG-based write scheme advantages in terms of device count and switching energy. In particular, it can operate at 12% higher clock frequency while realizing at least 13% reduction in energy consumption compared to the most energy-efficient write circuits. We have analyzed the performance of the implemented write circuits in presence of process variation (PV) in the transistors’ threshold voltage and SHE-MTJ dimensions. Results show that the proposed TG-based design is the second most PV-resilient write circuit scheme for SHE-MTJs among the implemented designs. Finally, we have proposed the 1TG-1T-1R SHE-based magnetic random access memory (MRAM) bit cell based on the TG-based write circuit. Comparisons with several of the most energy-efficient and variation-resilient SHE-MRAM cells indicate that 1TG-1T-1R delivers reduced energy consumption with 43.9% and 10.7% energy-delay product improvement, while incurring low area overhead.
The autonomic medical history

The most important autonomic function test-the autonomic medical history-is the patient's account, interpreted by a clinician skilled in asking the right questions, of symptoms during daily activities that relate to the autonomic nervous system. The chronology and pattern of these symptoms combine to create a portrait of autonomic function or dysfunction. We summarize the steps in obtaining a comprehensive autonomic medical history.
Disposable: Useful cinema on early television

When television was introduced to the American public at the New York World’s Fair, its prerecorded content was dominated by sponsored film. These programs, designed to achieve goals ranging from s...
The Sex and Gender Intersection in Chronic Periodontitis

Periodontitis, a complex polymicrobial inflammatory disease, is a public health burden affecting more than 100 million people and being partially responsible for tooth loss. Interestingly, periodontitis has a documented higher prevalence in men as compared to women signifying a possible sex/gender entanglement in the disease pathogenesis. Although relevant evidence has treated sex/gender in a simplistic dichotomous manner, periodontitis may represent a complex inflammatory disease model, in which sex biology may interfere with gender social and behavioral constructs affecting disease clinical phenotype. Even when it became clear that experimental oral health research needed to incorporate gender (and /or sex) framework in the hypothesis, researchers overwhelmingly ignored them unless the research question was related to reproductive system or sex-specific cancer. With the recognition of gender medicine as an independent field of research, this study challenged the current notion regarding sex/gender roles in periodontal disease. We aimed to develop the methodological and analytical framework with the recognition of sex/gender as important determinants of disease pathogenesis that require special attention. First, we aim to present relevant sex biologic evidence to understand the plausibility of the epidemiologic data. In periodontitis pathogenesis, sex dimorphism has been implicated in the disease etiology possibly affecting the bacterial component and the host immune response both in the innate and adaptive levels. With the clear distinction between sex and gender, gender oral health disparities have been explained by socioeconomic factors, cultural attitudes as well as access to preventive and regular care. Economic inequality and hardship for women have resulted in limited access to oral care. As a result, gender emerged as a complex socio-economic and behavioral factor influencing oral health outcomes. Taken together, as disease phenotypic presentation is a multifactorial product of biology, behavior and the environment, sex dimorphism in immunity as well as gender socio-behavioral construct might play a role in the above model. Therefore, this paper will provide the conceptual framework and principles intergrading sex and gender within periodontal research in a complex biologic and socio-behavioral dimension.
Light dark matter: Models and constraints

We study the direct detection prospects for a representative set of simplified models of sub-GeV dark matter (DM), accounting for existing terrestrial, astrophysical and cosmological constraints. We focus on dark matter lighter than an MeV, where these constraints are most stringent, and find three scenarios with accessible direct detection cross sections: (i) DM interacting via an ultralight kinetically mixed dark photon, (ii) a DM subcomponent interacting with nucleons or electrons through a light scalar or vector mediator, and (iii) DM coupled with nucleons via a mediator heavier than $\ensuremath{\sim}100\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{keV}$.
Amplitude Equations on Unstable Manifolds: singular behavior from neutral modes

Perturbation theories that expand in the amplitudes of the unstable modes are an important tool for analyzing the nonlinear behavior of a weak instability which saturates in a final state characterized by small mode amplitudes. If the unstable mode couples to neutrally stable modes, such expansions may be singular because nonlinear effects are very strong even in the regime of weak instability and small amplitudes. Two models are discussed that illustrate this behavior; in each case the unstable mode corresponds to a complex conjugate eigenvalue pair in the spectrum of the linearized dynamics. In the first model, there is only a single neutral mode corresponding to a zero eigenvalue. This example is first solved exactly and then using amplitude expansions. The Vlasov equation for a collisionless plasma is the second model; in this case there are an infinite number of neutral modes corresponding to the van Kampen continuous spectrum. In each of the two examples, the neutral modes sharply reduce the size of the resulting nonlinear oscillation. For the Vlasov instability, the amplitude of the saturated mode is predicted to scale like γ2, where γ is the linear growth rate.
CURRENT ISSUES IN CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR CONTEMPORARY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PRACTICE

The evolving health care system poses a number of challenges for the continuing development of the professional workforce. An overview of continuing education is provided, including typical objectives, format, content, and sponsors. Data are presented on continuing education requirements by discipline and by state. The forces of change that have driven the need for revised approaches to continued professional development are described, including research findings on the apparent lack of effectiveness of didactic learning activities. Current issues in continuing education are discussed, with a focus on educational content, financing, and the use of emerging technologies as a medium for these activities. The authors conclude with five recommendations for improving the process and content of continuing education for the professional behavioral health workforce.
Machine learning in engineering: techniques to speed up numerical optimization

Many important application problems in engineering can be formalized as nonlinear optimization tasks. However, numerical methods for solving such problems are brittle and do not scale well. For example, these methods depend critically on choosing a good starting point from which to perform the optimization search. In high-dimensional spaces, numerical methods have difficulty finding solutions that are even locally optimal. The objective of this thesis is to demonstrate how machine learning techniques can improve the performance of numerical optimizers and facilitate optimization in engineering design. The machine learning methods have been tested in the domain of 2-dimensional structural design, where the goal is to find a truss of minimum weight that bears a set of fixed loads. Trusses are constructed from pure tension and pure compression members. The difference in the load-bearing properties of tension and compression members causes the gradient of the objective function to be discontinuous, and this prevents the application of powerful gradient-based optimization algorithms in this domain. In this thesis, the approach to numerical optimization is to find ways of transforming the initial problem into a selected set of subproblems where efficient, gradient-based algorithms can be applied. This is achieved by a three-step "compilation" process. The first step is to apply speedup learning techniques to partition the overall optimization task into sub-problems for which the gradient is continuous. Then, the second step is to further simplify each sub-problem by using inductive learning techniques to identify regularities and exploit them to reduce the number of independent variables. Unfortunately, these first two steps have the potential to produce an exponential number of sub-problems. Hence, in the third step, selection rules are derived to identify those sub-problems that are most likely to contain the global optimum. The numerical optimization procedures are only applied to these selected sub-problems. To identify good sub-problems, a novel ID3-like inductive learning algorithm called UTILITYID3 is applied to a collection of training examples to discover selection rules. These rules analyze the problem statement and identify a small number of sub-problems (typically 3) that are likely to contain the global optimum. In the domain of 2-dimensional structural design, the combination of these three steps yields a 6-fold speedup in the time required to find an optimal solution. Furthermore, it turns out that this method is less reliant on a good starting point for optimization. The methods developed in this problem show promise of being applied to a wide range of numerical optimization problems in engineering design.
Consistent linear speedups to a first solution in parallel state-space search

Consider the problem of exploring a large state-space for a goal state. Although many such states may exist, finding anyone state satisfying the requirements is sufficient. All methods known until now for conducting such search in parallel fail to provide consistent linear speedups over sequential execution. The speedups vary between sublinear to superlinear and from run to run. Further, adding processors may sometimes lead to a slow-down rather than speedup, giving rise to speedup anomalies. We present prioritizing strategies which yield consistent linear speedups and requires substantially smaller memory over other methods. The performance of these strategies is demonstrated on a multiprocessor.
A Survey of Bifurcation Theory

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a survey of bifurcation theory. Bifurcation is a term used in several parts of mathematics. It generally refers to a qualitative change in the objects being studied because of a change in the parameters on which they depend. Much of the motivation for studying bifurcation is provided by varied phenomena in the physical sciences, which can be formulated easily. There is a considerable literature on bifurcation, both for particular physical problems and for the general theory. Several examples of the former are also described in the chapter.
Mechanical Properties and Gas Permeability of Polyimide Shells Fabricated by the Vapor Deposition Method

OAK-B202Mechanical Properties and Gas Permeability of Polyimide Shells Fabricated by the Vapor Deposition Method
Environmental Impact, Concept and Measurement of

Environments on Earth are always changing, and living systems evolve within them. For most of their history, human beings did the same. But in the last two centuries, humans have become the planet's dominant species, changing and impoverishing the environment for all life on Earth and even decimating humans' own cultural diversity. Contemporary cultural worldviews that have severed humans' ancient connections with the natural world, along with consumption and population growth, have deepened this impoverishment. Understanding, measuring, and managing human environmental impacts – the most important of which is the impoverishment of living systems – is the 21st century's greatest challenge.
Does oil substitute for patriarchy

Critics of Ross's (American Political Science Review, 102, 2008, 107) gendered resource curse thesis argue that culture trumps oil wealth as a determinant of female labor force participation (FLFP). Here, I argue that, while cultural attributes do indeed affect the female labor supply, oil wealth reduces the demand for female labor by hurting the export‐oriented industries that employ female labor intensively. By reducing the demand for female labor in this way, oil wealth undermines the positive effect of gender egalitarianism on FLFP. Thus, oil curses women. Using data from the World Values Survey and the World Bank, I find support for the argument.
Understanding the Reaction Mechanism of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries by In Situ/Operando X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Because of the high theoretical energy density of $$2600\, \hbox {Wh kg}^{-1}$$ , lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are regarded as one of the most promising energy storage technologies to meet the increasing requirement from personal devices to automobiles. However, the practical application of Li–S batteries is still challenging due to technical obstacles, such as low sulfur utilization and poor lifetime. Therefore, understanding the electrode reaction mechanism is of critical importance to further improve the battery performance and lifetime. Here, we review recent progress in the application of in situ and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy in characterizing Li–S batteries. We discuss in detail how this advanced technique helps researchers understand the redox process of the electrode materials as well as the influence of polymer binder and electrolyte additive on the polysulfide shuttle effect, which provide valuable information for designing better Li–S batteries. A general conclusion and critical further research directions are also provided at the end.
ATM, DNA-PKcs and ATR: shaping development through the regulation of the DNA damage responses

Genomic integrity is critical for normal development, healthy aging and suppressing oncogenic transformation. The DNA damage response (DDR) is a complex network that is activated by DNA structural changes to preserve genome integrity. Situated at the apex of the mammalian DDR are three PI3-kinase-related protein kinases—ATM, DNA-PKcs and ATR. They are activated by different DNA lesions via direct binding to their unique sensor protein complexes (MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 for ATM, Ku70-Ku80/86 for DNA-PKcs and ATRIP-RPA for ATR) and phosphorylate a large number of partially overlapping substrates, including themselves and each other to promote DNA repair and regulate cell cycle checkpoints and tissue homeostasis. This review focuses on mouse models with deletion and point mutations of ATM, DNA-PKcs and ATR, and discusses how their activation mechanism and their kinase activity contribute to their unique, yet interactive roles in DNA repair in general and during tissue-specific development processes and how their deficiency leads to specific physiological and pathophysiological consequences.
Micronutrients decline under long-term tillage and nitrogen fertilization

Tillage and nitrogen (N) fertilization can be expected to alter micronutrient dynamics in the soil and in plants over time. However, quantitative information regarding the effects of tillage and N application rates on micronutrient dynamics is limited. The objectives of this study were (a) to determine the long-term effect of different tillage methods as well as variation in N application rates on the distribution of Mehlich III extractable manganese, copper, zinc, boron, and iron in soils and (b) to assess accumulation of the same nutrients in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) tissues. The system studied was under a dryland winter wheat-fallow (WW-F) rotation. Tillage methods included moldboard (MP), disk (DP) and sweep (SW), and the N application rates were 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg ha−1. The concentration of soil manganese was greater under DP (131 mg kg−1) than under MP (111 mg kg−1). Inorganic N application reduced extractable soil copper while, it increased manganese accumulation in wheat grain over time. Comparison of micronutrients with adjacent long-term (since 1931) undisturbed grass pasture revealed that the WW-F plots had lost at least 43% and 53% of extractable zinc and copper, respectively, after 75 years of N fertilization and tillage. The results indicate that DP and inorganic N application could reduce the rate of micronutrient decline in soil and winter wheat grain over time compared to MP and no N fertilization.
Parental and Family-Level Sociocontextual Correlates of Emergent Emotion Regulation: Implications for Early Social Competence.

Emotion regulation skills in early childhood are essential for healthy emotional and behavioral development, yet factors related to emergent emotion regulation during the early preschool period have not been extensively explored. In the present study (N = 90), we specifically examine parental and family-level sociocontextual correlates in relation to emotion regulation skills in three-year-olds, a crucial time when the onset of several cognitive and socioemotional abilities are intertwined. We also investigate the role of these developing emotion regulatory capacities with behavioral problems and social competence. Children whose parents use more adaptive emotion regulation strategies (r = 0.33, p = 0.001) and who grow up in a higher income (r = 0.25, p = 0.02), less chaotic household (r = −0.30, p = 0.004) have better emergent emotion regulation. Additionally, better child emotion regulation skills are associated with more positive outcomes such as fewer behavioral problems (r = −0.46, p < 0.001) and more instrumental helping behaviors (r = 0.23, p = 0.04). Findings indicate that identifying individual differences in emotion regulation earlier than most prior studies may be particularly important for fostering this crucial skill and overall psychological well-being in young children.
Linear Convergence and Implicit Regularization of Generalized Mirror Descent with Time-Dependent Mirrors

The following questions are fundamental to understanding the properties of over-parameterization in modern machine learning: (1) Under what conditions and at what rate does training converge to a global minimum? (2) What form of implicit regularization occurs through training? While significant progress has been made in answering both of these questions for gradient descent, they have yet to be answered more completely for general optimization methods. In this work, we establish sufficient conditions for linear convergence and obtain approximate implicit regularization results for generalized mirror descent (GMD), a generalization of mirror descent with a possibly time-dependent mirror. GMD subsumes popular first order optimization methods including gradient descent, mirror descent, and preconditioned gradient descent methods such as Adagrad. By using the Polyak-Lojasiewicz inequality, we first present a simple analysis under which non-stochastic GMD converges linearly to a global minimum. We then present a novel, Taylor-series based analysis to establish sufficient conditions for linear convergence of stochastic GMD. As a corollary, our result establishes sufficient conditions and provides learning rates for linear convergence of stochastic mirror descent and Adagrad. Lastly, we obtain approximate implicit regularization results for GMD by proving that GMD converges to an interpolating solution that is approximately the closest interpolating solution to the initialization in l2-norm in the dual space, thereby generalizing the result of Azizan, Lale, and Hassibi (2019) in the full batch setting.
Neural precursors of deliberate and arbitrary decisions in the study of voluntary action

Abstract The readiness potential (RP)—a key ERP correlate of upcoming action—is known to precede subjects’ reports of their decision to move. Some view this as evidence against a causal role for consciousness in human decision-making and thus against free-will. Yet those studies focused on arbitrary decisions—purposeless, unreasoned, and without consequences. It remains unknown to what degree the RP generalizes to deliberate, more ecological decisions. We directly compared deliberate and arbitrary decision-making during a $1000-donation task to non-profit organizations. While we found the expected RPs for arbitrary decisions, they were strikingly absent for deliberate ones. Our results and drift-diffusion model are congruent with the RP representing accumulation of noisy, random fluctuations that drive arbitrary—but not deliberate—decisions. They further point to different neural mechanisms underlying deliberate and arbitrary decisions, challenging the generalizability of studies that argue for no causal role for consciousness in decision-making to real-life decisions. Significance Statement The extent of human free will has been debated for millennia. Previous studies demonstrated that neural precursors of action—especially the readiness potential—precede subjects’ reports of deciding to move. Some viewed this as evidence against free-will. However, these experiments focused on arbitrary decisions—e.g., randomly raising the left or right hand. We directly compared deliberate (actual $1000 donations to NPOs) and arbitrary decisions, and found readiness potentials before arbitrary decisions, but—critically—not before deliberate decisions. This supports the interpretation of readiness potentials as byproducts of accumulation of random fluctuations in arbitrary but not deliberate decisions and points to different neural mechanisms underlying deliberate and arbitrary choice. Hence, it challenges the generalizability of previous results from arbitrary to deliberate decisions.
Movements of selected minnows between the lower Yellowstone River and its tributaries

Reduced population connectivity has been implicated as a cause of decreased distributions and abundances of many Great Plains fishes. However, scant empirical evidence quantifying movement and rela...
Do Investors Adjust for Balance Sheet Risk that Should Be 'Off Balance Sheet'? Evidence from Cash Flow Hedges

We identify an item recognized on the balance sheet that distorts the assessment of default risk. Firms enter into derivatives to protect themselves from price fluctuations on a future purchase or sale commitment denominated in a commodity, foreign currency, or interest rate. There are two reasons why the accounting for these transactions creates difficulty in default risk assessments. First, while the fair value of the derivative is recorded at each balance sheet date, the value of the forecasted purchase or sale commitment is not recorded. Therefore, the balance sheet only tells half of the economic story. Second, the gains/losses associated with these derivatives provide a signal about future firm profitability, which is a determinant of default risk. We examine the extent to which debt investors, credit analysts, and equity investors understand the implications of these transactions for a firm’s default risk. Our results suggest that all three of these groups remove derivative amounts from firms’ balance sheet ratios when assessing default risk. However, only debt investors correctly price the implications of future profitability on default risk. Overall, our results suggest that the accounting for cash flow hedges distorts a firm’s leverage and profitability ratios, that not all investors adjust for this, and that capital market participants might benefit from more transparent hedging disclosures, particularly related to profitability.
Comovements and Spillovers in International Commercial and Residential Real Estate Markets

To what extent do the commercial and the residential estate markets move together across different countries? Do the shocks originating in one of these markets spillover to the other markets? We answer these questions by applying a modified version of the dynamic factor model to the commercial and residential real estate prices in the Euro area, Hong Kong, Singapore and the U.S. This modified dynamic factor model decomposes the price growth in these two real estate markets into common, spillover and idiosyncratic components. The results show significant heterogeneity in the relative importance of these three components in the evolution of commercial and residential price growth across different countries and across time. Our findings suggest that the spillover from residential to commercial real estate market dominates the spillover from commercial to real estate market for all the countries in our sample. We also find that common component accounts for a large fraction of the price movements in the residential markets in the EU area and the U.S, whereas spillover and common component together explain more than two-third of the variations in Hong Kong and Singapore. We also find that the role of spillover from one market to another increased significantly during the financial crisis of 2008-09.
A Novel 3.6kV/400A SiC Intelligent Power Module (IPM)

A novel and cost effective 3.6kV/400A SiC half-bridge IPM is developed based on the Austin SuperMOS [1] concept and reported here for the first time. Twenty-four 1200V SiC MOSFETs are integrated in the IPM together with a high isolation voltage gate power supply, gate driver with overcurrent protection. Ultra-low power loop stray inductance is achieved by utilizing magnetic flux cancellation in the IPM. Static and dynamic performances of the IPM are analyzed experimentally.
CAR/CXCR5-T cell immunotherapy is safe and potentially efficacious in promoting sustained remission of SIV infection

Abstract During chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection prior to AIDS progression, the vast majority of viral replication is concentrated within B cell follicles of secondary lymphoid tissues. We investigated whether infusion of T cells expressing an SIV-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and the follicular homing receptor, CXCR5, could successfully kill viral-RNA+ cells in targeted lymphoid follicles in SIV-infected rhesus macaques. In this study, CD4 and CD8 T cells from rhesus macaques were genetically modified to express antiviral CAR and CXCR5 moieties (generating CAR/CXCR5-T cells) and autologously infused into a chronically infected animal. At 2 days post-treatment, the CAR/CXCR5-T cells were located primarily in spleen and lymph nodes both inside and outside of lymphoid follicles. Few CAR/CXCR5-T cells were detected in the rectum and lung, and no cells were detected in the bone marrow, liver, brain, or ileum. Within follicles, CAR/CXCR5-T cells were found in direct contact with SIV viral RNA+ cells. We next infused CAR/CXCR5-T cells into ART-suppressed SIV-infected rhesus macaques, in which the animals were released from ART at the time of infusion. These CAR/CXCR5-T cells replicated in vivo within both the extrafollicular and follicular regions of lymph nodes and accumulated within lymphoid follicles. CAR/CXR5-T cell concentrations in follicles peaked during the first week post-infusion but declined to undetectable levels after 2 to 4 weeks. Overall, CAR/CXCR5-T cell-treated animals maintained lower viral loads and follicular viral RNA levels than untreated control animals, and no outstanding adverse reactions were noted. These findings indicate that CAR/CXCR5-T cell treatment is safe and holds promise as a future treatment for the durable remission of HIV. Author summary A person infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has replicating virus concentrated within the follicles of lymphoid tissues. The cells needed to clear the infection, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, have limited access to follicles and, thus, the cytotoxic T lymphocytes are never completely able to clear all of the HIV from the body. In this study, we have produced immunotherapeutic T cells that home to follicles and clear infected cells. These T cells express a viral targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and a molecule called CXCR5, which leads to homing of the cells to follicles. Upon administration of these CAR T-cells to virus-infected primates, we found that the cells localized to the follicle, replicated, and directly interacted with infected cells. While the cells were not maintained in the animals for more than 4 weeks, most of the treated animals maintained lower levels of virus in the blood and follicles than untreated control animals. This study shows that this immunotherapy has potential as a treatment leading to long-term remission of HIV without the need for antiretroviral drugs.
Sources of information about multiple sclerosis: Information seeking and personal, demographic, and MS variables

Abstract . Being well-informed about multiple sclerosis (MS) and its treatment is associated with a number of positive clinical andpsychosocialoutcomes,includinghigherlevelsofqualityoflifeandpersonalcontrol,bettercopingandadjustmentafterdiagnosis,andreduceddependenceonhealthproviders.UnderstandingthesourcesfromwhichpeoplewithMSseekinformationisimportantin assuring that timely, accurate, and useful information is available in a medium and format that is accessible. The purpose ofthis study was to explore the information seeking behavior of people with MS and to analyze the extent to which informationsource was associated with personal, demographic, and illness variables. A sample of 409 adults with MS recruited throughthe National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) completed questionnaires about their primary source of MS information anddemographic and illness characteristics. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and bivariate correlation analyses were appliedto the data to identify the most frequently utilized sources of MS information and examine relationships between informationsource and to personal, demographic, and illness variables. The most frequently identiﬁed sources of information about MS andits treatment was physicians or neurologists, followed by the Internet. Age was an important variable in distinguishing the primaryinformation source between groups. Generally, younger patients are more likely to obtain MS information primarily through theInternet while older patients obtain information primarily through their neurologist. This study provides information useful ineffectively targeting MS information and understanding how persons with MS access information, Further research is needed tounderstand differences in the quality, quantity, and sources of MS information available, the extent to which differences in sourcesof MS information may affect patients’ decisions about their treatment, and how individual variables may affect patients’ abilityto access, understand, and remember educational material.Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, information seeking, health promotion
What do you mean by board test stinks

In printed circuit board manufacturing we have generally talked in terms of yield at the end of the manufacturing line. But as the yields has improved over the last 10-15 years from the mid 80's to the high 90's yield has become lest relevant and a real measure of quality of the end product become increasingly important. In-circuit test, which is primarily an electrical test system is still trying to find electrical faults but has focused more on finding manufacturing faults. Automatic optical inspection and automatic X-ray inspection has also supplemented in-circuit test.
Personal Law and Human Rights in India and Israel

Although India and Israel differ dramatically in size, population, and affluence, there are many important similarities. Each is the contemporary vehicle of an old and resilient civilization that expresses a distinctive, influential and enduring arrangement of the various facets of human experience. Each of these cultures underwent a prolonged colonial experience in which its traditions were disrupted and subordinated to a hegemonic European Christian culture; each had an earlier experience with victorious, expansive Islam; each has reached an uneasy but flourishing accommodation with the secular, scientific modernity of the West.In each case this was achieved by a movement that embraced “Enlightenment” values and in turn provoked a recoil from modernity/rediscovery of tradition. In each there is a conflict between those with “modern” secular views of civil society and those revivalists or fundamentalists who seek to restore an indigenous religiously based society. The secular nationalism that predominated in the struggle for independence and the formation of the state is now countered by powerful tides of fundamentalism.
A content analysis of advertising in a global magazine across seven countries: Implications for global advertising strategies

Purpose – This research examines global advertising strategies and tactics in a global media brand for a shared audience across seven countries (Brazil, China, France, India, South Korea, Thailand, and USA).Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis of advertisements in local editions of Cosmopolitan magazine compares the extent of standardization in execution elements (advertising copy, models) across product nationality (multinational, domestic) and category (beauty, other).Findings – Local editions deliver more multinational than domestic product ads across all countries, except India. Overall, multinational product ads tend to use standardized strategies and tactics more than domestic product ads, although this propensity varies across countries. Beauty products (cosmetics, fashion) are more likely to use standardized approaches than are other products (e.g. cars, food, household goods).Research limitations/implications – The research only examines one type of magazine and for one type of audien...
Illuminating the dark matter of shotgun proteomics.

Many of the unassignable spectra in proteomics data represent peptides with post-translational modifications.
Experimentally Determined Stresses at Geometric Discontinuities Using Simple Stress Functions

AbstractRecognizing that the most serious structural stresses often occur at holes or notches, the ability to determine such stresses by combining recorded load-induced temperature information with simple stress functions is demonstrated. Purely theoretical/analytical or numerical stress analyses typically require knowing the external boundary conditions, something which is frequently unknown. Moreover, theoretical stress analyses tend to be restricted to simple, infinite structures. Stresses evaluated at the edge of geometric discontinuities by traditional experimental approaches can be very unreliable. On the other hand, the present technique provides accurate stresses at and in the neighborhood of a hole in an edge-loaded finite plate by processing the recorded temperature data with a simple, general stress function.
The gene for mouse epidermal filaggrin precursor. Its partial characterization, expression, and sequence of a repeating filaggrin unit.

Filaggrin is an important keratin intermediate filament-associated protein of terminally differentiated mammalian epidermis. Its aberrant expression has been implicated in a number of keratinizing disorders. We have isolated and sequenced a cDNA clone to mouse filaggrin, of 1.479 kilobase pairs, which represents less than 10% of the full-length mRNA estimated by Northern blot analysis to be 17 kilobases long. The cDNA clone delineates a 744-base pair repeat. This encodes a protein of 248 amino acids or 26,330 Da, which is almost identical to the known properties of mouse filaggrin in size, amino acid composition, and charge. Total mouse genomic DNA and the filaggrin gene isolated from a cosmid library were found to contain a super-stoichiometric repeat of the same size. These data support the hypothesis (Haydock, P.V., and Dale, B.A. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 12520-12525) that filaggrin is initially synthesized as a polyprotein precursor containing many tandem copies. However, our data suggest that the repeating filaggrin units of the precursor are not separated by "large linker" peptides as suggested by these authors. In situ hybridization was used to show that the filaggrin precursor mRNA is located precisely over the granular layer of the epidermis, indicating that expression of this gene is regulated at the transcriptional level as for the differentiation-specific keratin 1 protein. These probes will now permit detailed studies on the regulation of expression of the filaggrin gene.
Phase II trial of subcutaneous amifostine in patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

The availability of subcutaneously (SC) administered amifostine may present an advantage for radioprotectant therapy in head and neck cancer patients. In a randomized phase II trial comparing SC amifostine versus no amifostine in 140 patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck, thoracic, or pelvic cancers, amifostine treatment was associated with reductions in mucosal toxicity and delays in radiation therapy among the 19 patients with head and neck cancer, as well as in the thoracic and pelvic cancer groups. A phase II trial of SC amifostine in head and neck cancer was performed in a patient population (n = 54) similar to that studied in a phase III trial of intravenous amifostine to allow comparisons of outcomes. Acute xerostomia grade 2 occurred in 56% with SC amifostine and 51% with intravenous amifostine (78% in the no-amifostine group in phase III trial), with median time to onset being 40 days and 45 days, respectively (30 days with no amifostine), and cumulative radiation dose to onset being 58 Gy and 60 Gy (42 Gy with no amifostine), respectively. Amifostine SC was well tolerated, with three quarters of patients receiving > or =75% of the planned dose. Nausea, vomiting, and hypotension were less severe with SC amifostine, but cutaneous toxicity was more frequent. The reduction in radiation therapy-induced acute xerostomia with SC amifostine is similar to that with intravenous amifostine in patients with head and neck cancer. If cutaneous toxicity is judged an acceptable risk, SC amifostine may represent a second, more convenient option for treating physicians.
Last Word on Point:Counterpoint: Pulmonary edema does occur in human athletes performing heavy sea-level exercise

to the editor: I would like to thank my colleagues and all who contributed their thoughts to this interesting debate. As Dr. Eldridge (see Ref. [7][1]) suggests, to address these questions, a highly sensitive and fully quantitative measure of extravascular lung water is required. Until that time,
Photo-current spectroscopy of modulation doped InAs self-assembled quantum dots

Abstract We present results of calculations and experiments on photo-current spectroscopy of modulation doped InAs self-assembled quantum dots. We derive an expression for the transition probability describing the dependence of the photo-current on the parameters of the dot, the number of carriers, and the polarization and energy of incident photons. The results of preliminary calculations are compared with experiments, which clearly show the dependence on photon energy and polarization.