cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cryoablation of low-flow vascular malformations.

PURPOSE We aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of cryoablation in the treatment of low-flow malformations, specifically venous malformation (VM) and fibroadipose vascular anomaly (FAVA). METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of 11 consecutive patients with low-flow malformations (14 lesions; 9 VM, 5 FAVA), median lesion volume 10.8 cm3, (range, 1.8-55.6 cm3) with a median age of 19 years (range, 10-50 years) who underwent cryoablation to achieve symptomatic control. Average follow-up was at a median of 207 days postprocedure (range, 120-886 days). Indications for treatment included focal pain and swelling. Technical success was achieved if the cryoablation ice ball covered the region of the malformation that corresponded to the patient's symptoms. Clinical success was considered complete if all symptoms resolved and partial if some symptoms persisted but did not necessitate further treatment. RESULTS The technical success rate was 100%. At 1-month follow-up, 13 of 14 lesions (93%) had a complete response and one (7%) had a partial response. At 6-month follow-up 12 of 13 (92%) had a complete response and 1 (8%) had a partial response. A total of 6 patients underwent primary cryoablation. Out of 9 VM cases, 7 had prior sclerotherapy and 2 had primary cryoablation. Out of the 5 FAVA cases, 1 had prior sclerotherapy and the remaining 4 cases underwent primary cryoablation. There were 3 minor complications following cryoablation including 2 cases of skin blisters and 1 case of transient numbness. These complications resolved with conservative management. CONCLUSION Cryoablation is safe and effective in the treatment of low-flow vascular malformations, either after sclerotherapy or as primary treatment.
Understanding the Effects of Documentation Detail on Diagnostics of Historic Structures

Abstract. Before reinforcements or new construction are added to historic structures, it is important to understand how the existing damage could have arisen. Often to do this, documentation methods such as laser scanning and photogrammetry are used to capture the existing conditions and physics-based models are used to simulate the response of a facsimile structure to various responses. Something that varies quite a bit though is the level of detail used to capture the existing conditions as well as the level of detail used to represent the structure during physics-based modelling. This paper aims to understand the effects of documentation detail on diagnostics of historic structures. To do this, two masonry structures were documented with laser scanners, photographs, and thermal images. For each case study, three-dimensional models of varying fidelity were generated based on the results of simulation. The response of these models to loading conditions was then calculated using a physics-based modelling technique called finite-distinct element modelling. The results for each case study are compared to understand the impacts of geometry on diagnostics; discussion about future tools to augment current practices is included.
Learning Structured Sparse Representations for Voice Conversion

Sparse-coding techniques for voice conversion assume that an utterance can be decomposed into a sparse code that only carries linguistic contents, and a dictionary of atoms that captures the speakers’ characteristics. However, conventional dictionary-construction and sparse-coding algorithms rarely meet this assumption. The result is that the sparse code is no longer speaker-independent, which leads to lower voice-conversion performance. In this paper, we propose a Cluster-Structured Sparse Representation (CSSR) that improves the speaker independence of the representations. CSSR consists of two complementary components: a Cluster-Structured Dictionary Learning module that groups atoms in the dictionary into clusters, and a Cluster-Selective Objective Function that encourages each speech frame to be represented by atoms from a small number of clusters. We conducted four experiments on the CMU ARCTIC corpus to evaluate the proposed method. In a first ablation study, results show that each of the two CSSR components enhances speaker independence, and that combining both components leads to further improvements. In a second experiment, we find that CSSR uses increasingly larger dictionaries more efficiently than phoneme-based representations by allowing finer-grained decompositions of speech sounds. In a third experiment, results from objective and subjective measurements show that CSSR outperforms prior voice-conversion methods, improving the acoustic quality of the synthesized speech while retaining the target speaker's voice identity. Finally, we show that the CSSR captures latent (i.e., phonetic) information in the speech signal.
Analytic models to predict root structure depth

Plant root systems absorb water and minerals and synthesize organic matter. The investigation and prediction of root system architecture (RSA) can provide significant information that is potentially beneficial for promoting plant growth and reproduction. Existing approaches use manual sampling, which involves digging up the plant and examining the root. This process is destructive and time-consuming. Ground-penetrating radar has been used for exploring root structures of large plants, such as trees, but not for small plants due to resolution limitations. For this study, a finite element analysis (FEA) model was built to investigate the feasibility of using infrared imaging to predict root depth given the amount of heat flux required to obtain an image, the image acquisition time, and the thickness of the plant container. Polynomial regression, support vector machine, and artificial neural network models were designed to predict root structure depth based on the thermal profile of the structure over time derived from FEA model. Analysis results suggest that infrared imaging can be used to provide depth information of root structures. However, the thickness and complexity of the root structure impact prediction accuracy. Future directions include (1) development of image enhancement algorithms to improve detection capability and accuracy, and (2) conducting experiments to confirm the findings from the simulation.
Reorientation of Policy

The German invasion naturally caused the Dutch to do some serious thinking about their future foreign policy.1 The underground press devoted much space to the subject. The German attack and invasion convinced most Netherlanders that neutrality was “not only dead but also damned.” The change of attitude is indicated by a radio broadcast of Foreign Minister van Kleffens from London on November 25, 1942. He declared to his compatriots that old times were not coming back, that the old policy of no political agreements with any state or group of states could not be resumed. He justified that policy in the past “not really because it corresponded with ideals but because there was nothing better.” The League of Nations had failed; a new approach would have to be tried. “I would be surprised,” he declared, “if an organization based on regions, not neglecting however, the universal element of the indivisible peace, would not perhaps be more effective. Such an organization can only be achieved by the collaboration of like-minded states… If we can establish such an institution on a lasting basis, then, as far as I can see, Holland will have to participate. In that case our security would be better served by collaboration than by non-participation.”
Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (PACS)

The explosive growth of PACS technology, which has become an integral component of many radiology practices, has easily outpaced the development of laws related to the production, storage, and transmission of these digital images. Although federal and some state laws have begun to regulate computerized and electronically stored images,1 there is no case law that specifically addresses these topics. Consequently, it is necessary to infer what courts will decide based on previous rulings that can be analogized to the PACS environment.
Increasing Prevalence of Frailty and Its Association with Readmission and Mortality Among Hospitalized Patients with IBD

Although age is often used as a clinical risk stratification tool, recent data have suggested that adverse outcomes are driven by frailty rather than chronological age. In this nationwide cohort study, we assessed the prevalence of frailty, and factors associated with 30-day readmission and mortality among hospitalized IBD patients. Using the Nationwide Readmission Database, we examined all patients with IBD hospitalized from 2010 to 2014. Based on index admission, we defined IBD and frailty using previously validated ICD codes. We used univariable and multivariable regression to assess risk factors associated with all-cause 30-day readmission and 30-day readmission mortality. From 2010 to 2014, 1,405,529 IBD index admissions were identified, with 152,974 (10.9%) categorized as frail. Over this time period, the prevalence of frailty increased each year from 10.20% (27,594) in 2010 to 11.45% (33,507) in 2014. On multivariable analysis, frailty was an independent predictor of readmission (aRR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.14–1.17), as well as readmission mortality (aRR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02–1.23) after adjusting for relevant clinical factors. Frailty also remained associated with readmission after stratification by IBD subtype, admission characteristics (surgical vs. non-surgical), age (patients ≥ 60 years old), and when excluding malnutrition, weight loss, and fecal incontinence as frailty indicators. Conversely, we found older age to be associated with a lower risk of readmission. Frailty, independent of age, comorbidities, and severity of admission, is associated with a higher risk of readmission and mortality among IBD patients, and is increasing in prevalence. Given frailty is a potentially modifiable risk factor, future studies prospectively assessing frailty within the IBD patient population are needed.
Open Inquiry versus Broadly Relevant Short-Term Research Experiences for Non-Biology Majors†

Undergraduate student participation in course-based research experiences results in many positive outcomes, but there is a lack of evidence demonstrating which elements of a research experience are necessary, especially for non-biology majors. Broad relevance is one element that can be logistically challenging to incorporate into research experiences in large-enrollment courses. We investigated the impacts of broad relevance in a short-term research experience in an introductory biology course for non-majors. Students either participated in an open-inquiry research experience (OI-RE), where they developed their own research question, or a broadly relevant research experience (BR-RE), where they investigated a question assigned to them that was relevant to an ongoing research project. We found a significant association between the type of research project experienced and students' preference for an experience, with half of the students in the OI-RE group and nearly all students in the BR-RE group preferring a broadly relevant research experience. However, since science confidence increased over the course for both groups, these findings indicate that while students who participated in a BR-RE valued it, broadly relevant research experiences may not be necessary for positive outcomes for non-majors.
Immigrant Skill Distributions and Location Choices

In the wake of rising immigration and concerns about immigrant skill levels, this paper investigates the skill distributions of immigrants across different sizes of cities to determine where immigrants of certain skill levels locate and what the implications of those choices are. To that end, I utilize existing theory on skill complementarities as a framework for labor mobility of immigrants across cities, which suggests disproportionately higher concentrations of low- and high-skilled workers in large cities compared to small cities. I use 2018 American Community Survey data and stochastic dominance testing to determine if this theory applies to immigrant workers. I find evidence of a thicker lower tail in the skill distribution of large cities, suggesting a higher density of low-skilled immigrants in those locations. At the same time, I find proof of a thicker upper tail in small cities, which consists of approximately the top 2% of earners, indicating a higher number of high-skilled immigrants there. Furthermore, the results also suggest that there is a range of skills, over which immigrants are more concentrated in large cities, that begins with individuals who have at least earnings consistent with a Bachelor's degree, but which does not include the top 2% of earners. This could have important welfare implications for existing and future immigrants.
Warriors and Politicians: US Civil-Military Relations under Stress

Part 1. Warfighting 1. Revolutionary War by Committee 2. Lincoln, Congress, and the Generals 3. Managing the Vietnam War Part 2. Rearmament 4. Creation of the Army and Navy in the 1790s 5. The Rearmament Fight before World War I 6. The Rearmament Fight before World War II Part 3. Military Transformation 7. Theodore Roosevelt and Military Modernization 8. Eisenhower and the New Look 9. The McNamara Revolution 10. Goldwater-Nichols 11. The Bush-Rumsfeld Paradigm Shift 12. Changing Patterns of Civilian Control
Changes in Follow-Up Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Associated With Outcomes in Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Device Recipients.

Abstract Background Heart failure patients with primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) may experience an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) over time. However, it is unclear how LVEF improvement affects subsequent risk for mortality and sudden cardiac death. Objectives This study sought to assess changes in LVEF after ICD implantation and the implication of these changes on subsequent mortality and ICD shocks. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of 538 patients with repeated LVEF assessments after ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary endpoint was appropriate ICD shock defined as a shock for ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Results Over a mean follow-up of 4.9 years, LVEF decreased in 13.0%, improved in 40.0%, and was unchanged in 47.0% of the patients. In the multivariate Cox models comparing patients with an improved LVEF with those with an unchanged LVEF, the hazard ratios were 0.33 (95% confidence interval: 0.18 to 0.59) for mortality and 0.29 (95% confidence interval: 0.11 to 0.78) for appropriate shock. During follow-up, 25% of patients showed an improvement in LVEF to >35% and their risk of appropriate shock decreased but was not eliminated. Conclusions Among primary prevention ICD patients, 40.0% had an improved LVEF during follow-up and 25% had LVEF improved to >35%. Changes in LVEF were inversely associated with all-cause mortality and appropriate shocks for ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In patients whose follow-up LVEF improved to >35%, the risk of an appropriate shock remained but was markedly decreased.
Criminal Jurisdictional Problems under the 1947 Bases Agreement

Initial Philippine reaction to the criminal jurisdictional provisions of the 1947 agreement was favorable. As the Filipinos gained confidence in the United States promises to protect their security and as their interest in sovereignty developed, they viewed these provisions from a changing perspective. Problems regarding criminal jurisdiction which arose between the United States military authorities and the Philippine authorities began to attract increasing attention and to generate considerable dissatisfaction. This was particularly true after the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)1 and the United States-Japanese agreement2 came into effect in 1953. The Philippine press was influential in stimulating public interest by contrasting the Philippine agreement with other agreements, exposing problem areas, and reporting relevant cases. A majority of these cases seem to fall into five general categories: (1) Philippine prosecution of United States personnel for off-base offenses; (2) enforcement of Philippine laws on the bases; (3) offenses by United States personnel against Filipinos on the bases; (4) exercise of jurisdiction over Filipinos by the United States; and (5) killing and injury of Filipinos by security guards on the bases.
Intracellular stability of TiO2-DNA nanocomposites in breast and prostate cancer cells

1408 We have created an inducible titanium dioxide (TiO2)-DNA nanocomposite that is capable of sequence specific scission of nucleic acids, which we will attempt to use to target mutated oncogenes in malignant cells. TiO2-DNA nanocomposites consist of a 4.5 nm TiO2 nanoparticle covalently bound to a single stranded DNA using dopamine as a conductive linker. The nucleic acid maintains its ability to hybridize to complementary sequences[1]. Excitation of the nanoparticle with energies above 3.2 eV (white light, radiation) results in a charge separation in the nanoparticle. This causes electropositive holes to migrate through dopamine into the pi stack of the bound DNA resulting in cleavage of the nucleic acid [1]. By optimizing cleavage of the interstrand (target strand), we hope to be able to induce sequence specific scission of genomic DNA in living cells. Therefore we hypothesize that by targeting mutated genomic sequences specifically in malignant cells, it will be possible to knock out the oncogenes to which they have become “addicted.” The present experiments were aimed at characterizing the precise subcellular distribution and integrity of TiO2-DNA nanocomposites in prostate carcinoma PC3M and breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. We have shown previously that localization of the nanocomposite depends on the presence of available complementary cellular DNA. Cells were transfected with nanocomposites whose DNA component was fluorescently labeled with tetramethylrhodamine(TAMRA) and was complementary to genomic DNA encoding 18S rRNA (ttccttggatgtggt) (where 200-300 copies are present in the nucleolus[2]). By visualizing the exact same cells by X-Ray induced X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF, performed at the 2-ID-D beamline at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory) and fluorescent confocal microscopy, we are able to determine the intracellular stability of the nanocomposite. Since the titanium (nanoparticle) and TAMRA (DNA) distribution was virtually identical, it suggests that the nanocomposite is intact within living cells at 24 and 72 hours. Other experiments show for the first time that by coating the nanoparticle surface with Alizarin Red S, we are able to track the nanoparticle component directly with fluorescent confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. This has been verified with XRF. Therefore we conclude that (1) it is possible to independently track the DNA and TiO2 component within malignant cells using fluorescent confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry, (2) a significant amount of the nanocomposite remains intact in living cells for up to 72 hours. These results will allow future experiments to determine the precise mechanism by which the nanocomposites are internalized in order to optimize and characterize subcellular localization for oncogene targeting. [1] T. Paunesku, et. al. Nat. Mat., 2 :343,2002. [2] W. Makalowski, Acta Bioch. Pol., 48 (3):587,2001.
Using EMS Dispatch to Trigger STEMI Alerts Decreases Door-to-Balloon Times

Introduction: We sought to determine the potential reduction in door-to-balloon time (DTB) byallowing paramedics to perform prehospital ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) notificationusing brief communications via emergency medical services (EMS) 9-1-1 dispatchers as soon asthey saw a STEMI on 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG). Our hypothesis was that earlier cardiaccatheterization lab (CCL) activation would improve overall DTB and avoid delays arising from onsceneissues or the time required to deliver a full report. Methods: The study setting was a single suburban community teaching hospital, which is a regionalpercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) center with more than 120,000 Emergency Department (ED)visits/year and is serviced by a single tiered-response, advanced life support (ALS) paramedic-levelagency. STEMI notifications from July 2009 to July 2012 occurred by either standard direct EMSto-physician notification or by immediate 9-1-1 dispatch notification. In the 9-1-1 dispatcher-aidednotification method, paramedics were asked to provide a brief one-sentence report using their lapelmicrophones upon immediate realization of a diagnostic EKG (usually within 1-2 minutes of patientcontact). This report to the 9-1-1 dispatcher included the patient’s sex, age, and cardiologist (if known).The dispatcher then called the emergency department attending and informed them that a STEMIwas being transported and that CCL activation was needed. We used retrospective chart review ofa consecutive sample of patients from an existing STEMI registry to determine whether there was astatistically significant difference in DTB between the groups. Results: Eight hundred fifty-six total STEMI alert patients arrived by EMS during the study. Weexcluded 730 notifications due to events such as cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, death, resolution of EKGchanges and/or symptoms, cardiologist decision not to perform PCI, arrival as a transfer after priorstabilization at a referring facility or arriving by an EMS agency other than New Castle County EMS(NCC*EMS). Sixty-four (64) sequential patients from each group comprised the study sample. Theaverage DTB (SD) for the standard communication method was 57.6 minutes (17.9), while that fordispatcher-aided communication was 46.1 minutes (12.8), (mean difference 57.6-46.1 minutes=11.5minutes with a 95% CI [6.06,16.94]) p=0.0001. In the dispatcher-aided group, 92% of patients(59/64) met standards of ≤60 minute DTB time. Only 64% (41/64) met this goal in the standardcommunication group (p=0.0001). Conclusion: Brief, early notification of STEMI by paramedics through 9-1-1 dispatchers achievesearlier CCL activation in a hospital system already using EMS-directed CCL activation. This practicesignificantly decreased DTB and yielded a higher percentage of patients meeting the DTB≤60minutes quality metric. [West J Emerg Med. 2015;16(3):472–480.]
Image-space silhouettes for unprocessed models

A set of image-space techniques for visualizing silhouettes of 3D models is presented. We assume that very little information is available about the data and rely only on simple counting arguments. This also allows us to automatically handle surface boundaries. While based on previous work, the presented technique is generally simpler and provides some extra convenience compared to the few existing methods which work under similar conditions. We also introduce a method for visualizing all silhouettes of a model in a single view which in many cases allows faster and better understanding of underlying geometric structure.
Future fantasies: A social change perspective of retailing in the 21st century

Abstract Experts expect great retailing changes in the next ten years. What do consumers expect? With increasing innovation in retail technology and the large-scale implementation of e-commerce formats, shifts in consumer behavior can be categorized as social change. Sociologists have long studied the interaction of social change and technology, focusing on society members’ characteristics to help predict the future. One characteristic of enduring influence is age. In this research note, we consider consumer expectations regarding the evolution of retailing, with an emphasis on expectations of social change and the variance of such expectations by age cohort.
Evidence for flux ropes in the earth's magnetotail

Magnetic field reconnection is a fundamental process that occurs in the magnetotail during geomagnetic substorms. Some 2D reconnection models predict the formation of a plasmoid, or closed loop of magnetic field lines, in the noon-midnight meridional plane at those times. When the 3D magnetotail magnetic field is considered, it becomes clear that reconnection produces a flux rope with an axis transverse to the earth-sun line. Three signatures mark both 2D plasmoids and 3D flux ropes: (1) a bipolar magnetic field signature, (2) tailward flow of a hot plasma, and (3) convecting isotropic energetic particle distributions. Plasmoids and flux ropes may be distinguished by (4) the axial magnetic field that only flux ropes possess. All four signatures have been identified in near-earth, middle, and distant magnetotail observations, but their interpretation is disputed. Thus, the existence of magnetotail flux ropes remains a controversial subject.
Cell-cell interactions in the testis of adjuvant-induced arthritic rat

Rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) have low levels of serum testosterone, and production of testosterone reportedly is influenced by macrophage secretory products. This study was undertaken to understand the mechanism mediating this hypoandrogenism. Testicular macrophages from AA and nonarthritic (NA)rats were cultured, and conditioned media was added to testicular interstitial cells and Percoll-purified cells from NA rats. Testosterone production by interstitial cells stimulated with luteinizing hormone (LH) and incubated with adjuvant-induced arthritic macrophage conditioned medium (AAMCM) was significantly lower than in cells incubated with nonarthritic macrophage conditioned medium (NAMCM). However, there was no difference in testosterone production by Percoll-purified Leydig cells and those stimulated with LH when incubated with AAMCM or NAMCM. To determine whether an intermediary cell type was involved in mediating inhibition of testosterone production, AAMCM and NAMCM were added to a reconstituted preparation of testicular interstitial cells. Addition of AAMCM restored the inhibitory effect, suggesting that arthritic hypoandrogenism is mediated by cell-cell interaction. These results suggest that a factor produced by macrophages from AA rats appears to mediate testosterone production by acting in conjunction with other cells in the testicular interstitium.
The Time Horizon of Managerial Incentives and Firms' Information Environment Quality

Managers whose equity-based incentives vest over a shorter time horizon appear to adopt strategies that reduce information environment quality and exacerbate information heterogeneity across investors. Firms with shorter-horizon managerial incentives are more likely to inflate reported earnings and deflate analysts’ earnings expectations. These firms also have greater analyst forecast dispersion, larger absolute forecast errors, and higher share turnover. Investors appear to at least partly understand incentive horizon issues because firms with shorter-horizon managerial incentives experience muted investor reaction to their earnings announcements and have statistically insignificant long-term abnormal stock returns. Overall, the results illustrate how the temporal structure of managerial incentives can influence managerial behavior and produce important capital market effects.
The Supreme Court's New Public-Private Distinction Under the Dormant Commerce Clause: Avoiding the Traditional Versus Nontraditional Classification Trap

In its 2007 decision United Haulers Association, Inc. v. OneidaHerkimer Solid Waste Management Authority, the Supreme Court for the first time held the "dormant" Commerce Clause doctrine ("DCCD") allows for a distinction between appropriate laws establishing local government monopolies providing public services such as waste disposal, and inappropriate laws favoring the selfinterest of in-state private businesses over out-of-state competion.' The Court concluded that "[c]ompelling reasons justify treating" laws favoring public facilities "differently from laws favoring particular private businesses over their competitors., 2 Chief Justice Roberts maintained "States and municipalities are not private businesses-far from it. Unlike private enterprise, government is vested with the responsibility of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of its
A Descriptive Characterization of Tree-Adjoining Languages (Full Version)

Since the early Sixties and Seventies it has been known that the regular and context-free languages are characterized by definability in the monadic second-order theory of certain structures. More recently, these descriptive characterizations have been used to obtain complexity results for constraint- and principle-based theories of syntax and to provide a uniform model-theoretic framework for exploring the relationship between theories expressed in disparate formal terms. These results have been limited, to an extent, by the lack of descriptive characterizations of language classes beyond the context-free. Recently, we have shown that tree-adjoining languages (in a mildly generalized form) can be characterized by recognition by automata operating on three-dimensional tree manifolds, a three-dimensional analog of trees. In this paper, we exploit these automata-theoretic results to obtain a characterization of the tree-adjoining languages by definability in the monadic second-order theory of these three-dimensional tree manifolds. This not only opens the way to extending the tools of model-theoretic syntax to the level of TALs, but provides a highly flexible mechanism for defining TAGs in terms of logical constraints. This is the full version of a paper to appear in the proceedings of COLING-ACL'98 as a project note.
Examining the link between women's exposure to stressful life events prior to conception and infant and toddler health: the role of birth weight

Background The life course perspective suggests a pathway may exist among maternal exposure to stressful life events prior to conception (PSLEs), infant birth weight and subsequent offspring health, whereby PSLEs are part of a ‘chains-of-risk’ that set children on a certain health pathway. No prior study has examined the link between PSLEs and offspring health in a nationally representative sample of US mothers and their children. We used longitudinal, nationally representative data to evaluate the relation between maternal exposure to PSLEs and subsequent measures of infant and toddler health, taking both maternal and obstetric characteristics into account. Methods We examined 6900 mother-child dyads participating in 2 waves of the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (n=6900). Infant and toddler health outcomes assessed at 9 and 24 months included overall health status, special healthcare needs and severe health conditions. Adjusted path analyses examined associations between PSLEs, birth weight and child health outcomes. Results In adjusted analyses, PSLEs increased the risk for very low birth weight (VLBW, Conclusions Our analysis suggests a chains-of-risk model in which women9s exposure to PSLEs increases the risk for giving birth to a VLBW infant, which, in turn, adversely affects infant and toddler health. Addressing women9s preconception health may have important downstream benefits for their children, although more research is needed to replicate these findings.
Sequestration of anti-Cra in the placenta: serologic demonstration by placental elution.

BACKGROUND: Few cases of antibodies to the Cromer (a) antigen have been described during pregnancy. Interestingly, the anti-Cr a titers decreased during pregnancy, and although the newborns were Cr a +, the direct antiglobulin tests (DATs) were negative and hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) was not observed. Cromer antigens reside on the decay-accelerating factor (DAF), which is expressed on the fetal derived syncytiotrophoblast layer of the placenta. It has been postulated that Cromer antibodies are not transported to the fetus, but are bound to placental DAF, thereby protecting the fetus from HDN and causing the disappearance of Cromer antibody in maternal plasma. This report is the first to demonstrate Cromer antibody sequestration by the placenta. CASE REPORT: A G4P1 woman with an anti-Cr a presented for prenatal care during her fourth pregnancy. The anti-Cr a titer decreased from 64 at 7 weeks gestation to undetectable after 25 weeks. At delivery, the infant had no evidence of HDN. The infant's DAT was negative, and the maternal plasma, cord plasma, and the cord blood eluate were negative with screening cells, the infant's cord cells, and the mother's cells. Placental eluates revealed anti-Cr a . CONCLUSIONS: This is the fourth case report of a Cromer (a-) woman producing anti-Cr a during pregnancy, and the first demonstrating anti-Cr a sequestration in the placenta. The presence of anti-Cr' in the placental eluate, but not in the cord plasma, maternal plasma, or cord blood eluate, strongly supports the hypothesis that DAF at the fetomaternal interface absorbs anti-Cr a from the maternal circulation blocking its passage to the fetus.
Modeling and Analysis of Projected Cross Point Control—A New Current-Mode-Control Approach

This paper features the projected cross point control (PCPC) approach which is a recent current-mode control (CMC) technique. PCPC benefits from several advantages including fixed switching frequency, wide stability range, high current loop gain, improved audio susceptibility, and simpler design procedure. An introduction of its principles of operation is followed by detailed discussions about its stability and dynamic response. This paper then describes the development of the small-signal model of PCPC and derives transfer functions, such as current loop gain, audio susceptibility, and output impedance. Finally, simulations and experimental results are presented. Peak, average, and hysteresis CMC schemes are used for comparison.
D.c. electrical conductivity of Green River oil shales

The recent interest in the kinetics and mechanistic aspects of the thermal decomposition of oil shale kerogen1 derives largely from its importance as an alternative energy source to petroleum. In spite of considerable research effort, how oil shale kerogen decomposes to gaseous and liquid hydrocarbon fuels is still not fully understood1. The present study considers the d.c. electrical conduction behaviour of Green River oil shales. The observed trends in the electrical behaviour of these materials are correlated with a two-step decomposition model in which the rate-determining processes are shown to be (1) breakdown of an outershell polar bridge structure with an activation energy of 15 ± 2 kcal mol–1 (180–350°C) and (2) cleavage of an inner core naphthenic structure also involving polar groups with an activation energy of 35 ± 3 kcal mol–1 (350–500°C). These structural changes are shown to correspond to the chemical transformation of kerogen to liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons through a bitumen intermediate. Although the present data pertain to Green River oil shales in particular, the observed trend of charge transfer mechanisms in the thermal decomposition behaviour of thermally unstable materials may be indicative of how thermal and electrical properties of all solid materials in general are closely coupled. The common mechanistic origin identified in the present study for the processes of thermal decomposition and electrical conduction, offers the possibility of improving the thermal stability characteristics of a solid by appropriate changes in the electric field surrounding it.
The Fractal Nature of Cost Risk: The Portfolio Effect, Power Laws, and Risk and Uncertainty Properties of Lognormal Distributions

Cost risk can be added to the list of the many phenomena in nature that follow a power-law probability distribution. Both the normal and lognormal, neither of which is a power-law distribution, underestimate the probability of extreme cost growth, as shown by comparison with empirical data. This situation puts the widely debated “portfolio effect” into further dispute. However, even though power laws are useful for modeling extreme events, budgets are not typically set at extreme percentiles, such as the 90th. Indeed, budgets are usually set at the 70th percentile or below. In addition, it is shown that the lognormal distribution is also problematic in that region and for percentile funding in general. To model cost risk for an individual program by setting budgets and/or reserves using percentile funding with a percentile chosen at or below the 70th percentile, it appears that the normal distribution may be the best option.
Bragg diffraction of a Gaussian beam by a crossed-Gaussian volume grating*

An analytic expression is derived for the Bragg diffraction of a Gaussian probe beam by a weak crossed-Gaussian volume grating. The volume grating itself is assumed to have been created by two other Gaussian excitation beams intersecting in a nonlinear medium.
Prediction of suicide intent in hospitalized parasuicides: reasons for living, hopelessness, and depression

This study examined the risk prediction efficiency of the Reasons for Living Inventory Survival and Coping Beliefs Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and the Life Experiences Survey with a sample of 51 newly hospitalized parasuicides. The index of suicidal potential chosen for this study was suicide intent as measured by Beck's Suicide Intent Scale. Regression analyses indicated that the Survival and Coping Beliefs Scale emerged as the single most important predictor of suicide intent. Hopelessness and depression made secondary and nonsignificant contributions. Hopelessness was a significant predictor of suicide intent when analyzed apart from Survival and Coping Beliefs, but not among a subsample of 43 repeat parasuicides. Classification analyses showed that neither hopelessness nor survival and coping beliefs were accurate at classifying low- or high-intent parasuicides. Factors contributing to the efficacy of survival and coping beliefs as a risk prediction index are discussed, as is the false-negative dilemma in suicide risk assessment and prediction.
Orbital Analogue of the Quantum Anomalous Hall Effect in p-Band Systems

We investigate the topological insulating states of the $p$-band systems in optical lattices induced by the on site orbital angular momentum polarization, which exhibit gapless edge modes in the absence of Landau levels. This effect arises from the energy-level splitting between the on site ${p}_{x}+i{p}_{y}$ and ${p}_{x}\ensuremath{-}i{p}_{y}$ orbitals by rotating each optical lattice site around its own center. At large rotation angular velocities, this model naturally reduces to two copies of Haldane's quantum Hall model. The distribution of the Berry curvature in momentum space and the quantized Chern numbers are calculated. The experimental realization of this state is feasible.
An Analytical Approach to Determine the in Situ Forces in the Glenohumeral Ligaments

The purpose of this study was to use an analytical approach to determine the forces in the glenohumeral ligaments during joint motion. Predictions from the analytical approach were validated by comparing them to experimental data. Using a geometric model, the lengths of the four glenohumeral ligaments were determined during anterior-posterior loading simulations and forward flexion-extension. The corresponding force in each structure was subsequently calculated based on length data via load-elongation curves obtained experimentally. During the anterior loading simulation at 0 deg of abduction, the superior glenohumeral ligament carried up to 71 N at the maximally translated position. At 90 deg of abduction, the anterior band of the inferior glenohumeral ligament had the highest force of 45 N during anterior loading. These results correlated well with those found in previous experimental studies. We believe that this validated analytical approach can be used to predict the forces in the glenohumeral ligaments during more complex joint motion as well as assist surgeons during shoulder repair procedures.
Serotonin release is mediated by muscarinic receptors on duodenal mucosal cells.

Serotonin (5-HT), found in abundance in intestinal enterochromaffin cells, has been shown to be released in response to neural, humoral, and intraluminal stimuli but the mechanisms controlling release are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine whether 5-HT release induced by the muscarinic agonist, methacholine, is mediated by enteric nerves or is a direct action at the mucosal cell level. We mounted rabbit mucosal sheets containing intact submucosal neural elements, but stripped of muscularis propria and myenteric plexus, in modified Ussing chambers and measured the release of 5-HT in response to 5 × 10−5M methacholine added to both mucosal and serosal surface bathing solutions, in the presence and absence of selective neural blockade with 1 × 10−6M tetrodotoxin. 5-HT release in control tissues (no drugs) as measured by radioimmunoassay was 25.7 ± 6 ng/cm2/30 min (mean ± SEM). In the presence of mucosal and serosal methacholine, total 5-HT release increased significantly (P < 0.05) to 66.7 ± 9 ng/cm2/30 min. When tetrodotoxin alone was applied, 5-HT release significantly increased to 55.2 ± 9 ng/cm2/30 min compared to matched control. In the presence of tetrodotoxin, methacholine increased 5-HT release to 79.3 ± 9 ng/cm2/30 min, which was significantly greater than with tetrodotoxin alone. These results provide evidence of an inhibitory neural regulation of basal 5-HT release since release increased in the presence of neural blockade. They also suggest that a muscarinic receptor at or near the enterochromaffin cells mediates mucosal 5-HT release since 5-HT is further increased by methacholine even in the presence of neural blockade.
Delayed Postischemic Hyperthermia in Awake Rats Worsens the Histopathological Outcome of Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Background and Purpose Over the past several years, it has been demonstrated that mild intraischemic or immediate postischemic hyperthermia worsens ischemic outcome in models of global and focal ischemia. Periods of hyperthermia are commonly seen in patients after stroke and cardiac arrest. The hypothesis tested in this study was that a brief hyperthermic period, even when occurring days after an ischemic insult, has detrimental effects on the pathological outcome of focal ischemia. Methods Rats were subjected to 60 minutes of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion by insertion of an intraluminal filament. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, awake rats were subjected to temperature modulation for 3 hours in a heating chamber. The brain temperature was equilibrated to either 37°C to 38°C, 39°C, or 40°C. Changes in rectal temperature and blood glucose concentration were evaluated during and just after temperature modulation. Behavioral tests were also assessed. Three days after temperature modulation, brains were perfusion-fixed, and infarct volumes were determined. Results In animals with 40°C hyperthermia, cortical and total infarct volumes were markedly greater (92.2±63.1 and 126.5±72.3 mm 3 [mean±SD], respectively) than in normothermic rats (14.4±12.7 and 42.4±19.2 mm 3 ) and in animals with 39°C hyperthermia (16.5±28.7 and 40.9±34.3 mm 3 ) ( P Conclusions The present findings provide evidence that, after a transient focal ischemic insult, the postischemic brain becomes abnormally sensitive to the effects of delayed temperature elevation, even of moderate degree. The threshold for aggravation of ischemic injury by delayed hyperthermia appears to be approximately 40°C. Body-temperature measurements, in both awake and anesthetized animals, may not accurately reflect brain temperature under these conditions. The present study stresses that fever of even moderate degree in the days following brain ischemia may markedly exacerbate brain injury.
Mast cell degranulation inhibits IL-2-induced microvascular protein leakage

The therapeutic efficacy of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the treatment of cancer has been limited by a "vascular leak syndrome" and related toxicities. To better understand the pathophysiology of the "vascular leak syndrome," we tested a hypothesis that mast cell degranulation mediated the acute increase in microvascular protein leakage seen immediately following IL-2 administration. After the cremaster muscle was prepared for intravital microscopy, anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled albumin for fluorescent microscopy. Animals were treated by the intravenous injection of IL-2 (1 x 10(6) U/kg) (n = 6), the control IL-2-vehicle (n = 5), or IL-2 (1 x 10(6) U/kg) after mast cell degranulation with compound 48/80 (n = 6). Relative interstitial fluorescent intensity was quantitated by a computerized image analysis system as an index of microvascular protein leakage. IL-2 acutely induced protein leakage from the microcirculation. Mast cell degranulation with 48/80 prior to IL-2 treatment prevented protein leakage, but did not alter IL-2-induced leukocyte-endothelial adherence. These data suggest that mast cell-mediated events may be responsible for the acute increase in microvascular permeability seen with IL-2 administration and that leukocyte-endothelial adherence alone is not solely responsible.
Chip Stick and Slip Motions of a Machine Tool in the Cutting Process

The two-degree of freedom oscillator is presented to model the dynamics of a machine tool system in the cutting process. The chip dynamics are presented through a discontinuous system with a velocity boundary (frictional force). The closed form solutions are presented for the normalized linear set of ordinary differential equations. The basic mappings are introduced to investigate the stick-slip motion in such a mechanical model. The mapping structures for the periodic motions will be developed. The numerical prediction of the phase trajectory, over a range of the excitation frequency is presented through the discontinuity. The predictions are verified by numerical illustrations of the phase trajectory, velocity and forces time histories. The main contributions are the forces and force product distribution at the switching points for this machine-tool.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The Effect of Ex Ante Management Forecast Accuracy on the Post-Earnings-Announcement Drift

ABSTRACT: I examine the effect of ex ante management forecast accuracy on the post-earnings-announcement drift when management forecasts about next quarter's earnings are bundled with current quarter's earnings announcements. I build a composite measure of ex ante management forecast accuracy that takes into account forecast ability, forecast difficulty, and forecast environment. The results show that the bundled forecasts with higher ex ante accuracy mitigate investors' under-reaction to current earnings and reduce the magnitude of the post-earnings-announcement drift. Data Availability: The data used in this paper are available from the sources listed in the text.
Interaction of Upper-Tropospheric Turbulence and Gravity Waves as Obtained from Spectral and Structure Function Analyses

Abstract Spectral and structure function analyses of horizontal velocity fields observed in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere during the Severe Clear Air Turbulence Collides with Air Traffic (SCATCAT) field program, conducted over the Pacific, were carried out in an effort to identify the scale interactions of turbulence and small-scale gravity waves. Because of the intermittent nature of turbulence, these analyses were conducted by clearly separating out the cases when turbulence did or did not occur in the data. In the presence of turbulence, transitional power spectra from k−2 to k−5/3 were found to be associated with gravity waves and turbulence, respectively. The second-order structure function analysis was able to translate these spectral slopes into r and r 2/3 scaling, consistent with the Monin and Yaglom conversion law, in physical space, which presented clearer pictures of scale interactions between turbulence and gravity waves. The third-order structure function analysis indicated th...