Pediatric Laryngotracheal Stenosis and Airway Reconstruction: A Review of Voice Outcomes, Assessment, and Treatment Issues

Laryngotracheal stenosis is defined as a congenital or acquired narrowing of the airway. Congenital causes may include subglottic membranous or cartilaginous narrowing. Acquired causes may include trauma due to prolonged endotracheal or tracheal intubation or laryngotracheal injury. Although advances have been made over the past 30 years in reconstructive surgeries to improve airway patency in these patients, long-term laryngeal function for voice production is not well defined in this population. This review examines causes, symptoms and signs, and methods for diagnosing laryngotracheal stenosis. Surgical management procedures are briefly summarized. The current literature on voice outcomes is summarized. The predominant voice characteristics in the population are presented, although results are challenged by the heterogeneity of voice presentation and paucity of data from instrumental measures. Considerations for subjective and instrumental assessment, measures of quality of life, instrumental methods, and treatment options specific to the needs of this population are discussed. Research strategies to identify long-term outcomes of surgical and behavioral treatments in this population are posed.     

A new polymorph of tetraphenyldiboroxane

A new polymorph of tetraphenyldiboroxane [or oxybis(diphenylborane)], C₂₄H₂₀B₂O, (Ia), has been found. It is monoclinic, like the already known form, (Ib), and can be refined in the same space group, namely P2₁/c, or in the equivalent setting P2₁/n. The molecular conformations of the two polymorphs differ in the rotations of two of the phenyl rings about the B—C bonds, leading to markedly different packing patterns and cell dimensions.     

Probing the use of small‐angle light scattering for characterizing structure of titanium dioxide/low‐density polyethylene nanocomposites

Small‐angle light scattering (SALS) measurements were used to study the structure of titanium dioxide (TiO₂)/low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) nanocomposites. The results showed that the scattering from LDPE crystalline structures and the scattering from TiO₂ nanoparticles can be resolved and separated. It is shown that the independent effects of crystallization conditions and the presence of nanoparticle aggregates on the spherulitic structure of the LDPE matrix can be determined by analyzing the scattering patterns using the methods proposed. From the SALS results, we conclude that the nanoparticle surface chemistry affects both nucleation of spherulites and their structure particularly under rapid cooling conditions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1084–1095, 2006     

Recent trends and open issues in reverse engineering

This paper discusses recent trends in the field of reverse engineering, particularly those highlighted at the Second Working Conference on Reverse Engineering, held in July 1995. The trends observed include increased orientation toward tasks, grounding in complex real-world applications, guidance from empirical study, analysis of non-code sources, and increased formalization. The paper also summarizes open research issues and provides pointers to future events and sources of information in this area.     

Quasielastic nucleon and hyperon production by neutrinos and antineutrinos with energies below 30 GeV

The cross sections of neutrino and antineutrino quasielastic reactions \(vn \to \mu ^ - p,\bar vp \to \mu ^ + n,\bar vp \to \mu ^ + \Lambda\) were studied in the neutrino energy range between 3 and 30 GeV. In comparison withV-A theory axial mass parameters ofM _A =(1.06±0.05±0.14) GeV/c² from neutrino andM _A =(0.71±0.10±0.20) GeV/c² from antineutrino data were found. The total cross-section for the hyperon production process can be described byM _A =1.0 GeV/c².     

Final results on μe-pair production in neutrino interactions in the SKAT freon bubble chamber experiment

We present the final results from the search for μe pairs produced in neutrino interactions using the freon filled bubble chamber SKAT. The rate of μ^? e ⁺ pairs to charged current events above the charm threshold is \(R_{\mu ^ - e^ + } = (4.8 \pm 1.1)10^{ - 3} \) . Assuming charm particle production to be the origin of the positron we calculate \(R_{\Lambda _c^ + } = (6.2 \pm 3.1)10^{ - 2} \) andR _D =(2.8±0.9)10^?2. We observe no considerable μ^? e ^? pair production above the background. In the regionE _v >3 GeV,p _μ,e >1.0 GeV/c andp _μ>p _e we find with a 90% confidence level the limit \(R_{\mu ^ - e^ - }< 1.7 10^{ - 4} \) .