cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Adolescent Physical Abuse in Adult Intimate Partner Violence

This study's primary aims were to examine whether a sample of young adults, aged 23 to 31, who had been documented as physically abused by their parent(s) during adolescence would be more likely to aggress, both physically and verbally, against their intimate partners compared with nonabused young adults and whether abuse history was (along with other risk factors) a significant predictor of intimate partner physical and emotional violence perpetration or victimization. In this longitudinal study, 67 abused and 78 nonabused adults (of an original sample of 198 adolescents) completed the Modified Conflict Tactics Scale and the Jealousy and Emotional Control Scales. Nonabused comparison adolescents were matched for age, gender, and community income. As adults, participants with abuse histories had significantly higher rates of intimate partner physical violence and verbal aggression than did comparison participants. Multivariate logistic regressions indicated that adults with histories of physical abuse were more than twice as likely to be physically violent and almost six times more likely to be verbally aggressive to their intimate partners than were comparison participants. Having had an alcohol use disorder, being married to or living with a partner, and perceiving one's partner as controlling were also significantly associated with physical violence. Jealousy and feeling controlled by one's partner were also significant predictors of verbal aggression. These findings underscore the importance of preventing adolescent abuse as a means of decreasing the incidence of intimate partner physical violence in adulthood.
Public microblogging on climate change: One year of Twitter worldwide

Abstract Public perceptions of climate change are traditionally measured through surveys. The exploding popularity of social networks, however, presents a new opportunity to research the spatiotemporal pattern of public discourse in relation to natural and/or socio-economic events. Among the social networks, Twitter is one of the largest microblogging services. The architecture of Twitter makes the question “what's happening?” the cornerstone of information exchange. This inspired the notion of using Twitter users as distributed sensors, which has been successfully employed in both the natural and social sciences. In 2012 and 2013, we collected 1.8 million tweets on “climate change” and “global warming” in five major languages (English, German, Russian, Portuguese, and Spanish). We discuss the geography of tweeting, weekly and daily patterns, major news events that affected tweeting on climate change, changes in the central topics of discussion over time, the most authoritative traditional media, blogging, and the most authoritative organizational sources of information on climate change referenced by Twitter users in different countries. We anticipate that social network mining will become a major source of data in the public discourse on climate change.
Interleukin 1β–stimulated production of nitric oxide in rat hepatocytes is mediated through endogenous synthesis of interferon gamma

The multiple interlocking regulatory mechanisms that underlie induction of hepatocyte inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression are largely unknown. Although previous work has indicated the requirement for multiple proinflammatory cytokines to induce hepatocyte NO production, investigators have recently shown that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) alone can initiate iNOS expression. In contrast, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) serves as the sole initiating factor in other cell systems. On the basis of the known ability of IL-1β to induce transcription and translation of the IFN family of genes, we hypothesized that IL-1β–mediated hepatocyte expression of iNOS is dependent on endogenous IFN-γ synthesis. In a system of rat hepatocytes in primary culture, IL-1β induced production of both NO and IFN-γ. Using in situ hybridization and immunoblot analysis, IFN-γ messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein were detected in hepatocytes exposed to IL-1β. Inhibition of NO synthesis using the competitive substrate inhibitor N-monomethyl-l -arginine (100 μmol/L) did not alter the extent of IL-1β–mediated IFN-γ synthesis. In contrast, anti–IFN-γ antibody or inhibition of IFN-γ mRNA translation by addition of antisense IFN-γ oligodeoxynucleotide probes resulted in undetectable levels of NO metabolites and iNOS protein. Repletion of IFN-γ to the system restored NO production to levels noted in the presence of IL-1β alone. Transient transfection analysis using a rat hepatocyte iNOS promoter-reporter gene plasmid construct showed that IL-1β–induced promoter activation was abolished in the presence of anti–IFN-γ or antisense IFN-γ. Again, addition of IFN-γ to the system restored activity of the iNOS promoter. Parallel experiments examining IL-1β–mediated endogenous hepatocyte IL-1β and TNF-α synthesis indicated no role for these cytokines in the induction of iNOS expression by IL-1β. It is concluded that IL-1β–mediated hepatocyte synthesis of NO is dependent on the simultaneous endogenous synthesis of IFN-γ.
Treatment Providers' Assessment of Dual-Prognosis Patients: Diagnosis, Treatment, Referral, and Family Involvement

The problems of patients with dual diagnoses (substance abuse and psychiatric disorders) have only recently come under study. While attempting to assess the feasibility of offering services to family members of dual-diagnosis patients, the authors encountered problems in delivering services to the patients themselves. These problems included inadequate reporting methods, lack of a combined treatment approach, lack of family involvement, and inadequate referral resources. This paper discusses some of the impediments to treatment and areas of needed research.
The Case for Intelligent Agents Preparing for the future of care

This paper defines a general business and technology case for the application of intelligent agent technology to the broad business category of automated care and revenue management. Both market and technical forces are creating an environment for the widespread adoption of intelligent agent and automated reasoning and decision making systems within these areas. Two specific markets, telecom and health care are illustrated. Finally a future envisioned state is outlined and the benefits enumerated
Group Lifting Structures for Multirate Filter Banks I: Uniqueness of Lifting Factorizations

Group lifting structures are introduced to provide an algebraic framework for studying lifting factorizations of two-channel perfect reconstruction finite-impulse-response (FIR) filter banks. The lifting factorizations generated by a group lifting structure are characterized by Abelian groups of lower and upper triangular lifting matrices, an Abelian group of unimodular gain scaling matrices, and a set of base filter banks. Examples of group lifting structures are given for linear phase lifting factorizations of the two nontrivial classes of two-channel linear phase FIR filter banks, the whole- and half-sample symmetric classes, including both the reversible and irreversible cases. This covers the lifting specifications for whole-sample symmetric filter banks in Parts 1 and 2 of the ISO/IEC JPEG 2000 still image coding standard. The theory is used to address the uniqueness of lifting factorizations. With no constraints on the lifting process, it is shown that lifting factorizations are highly nonunique. When certain hypotheses developed in the paper are satisfied, however, lifting factorizations generated by a group lifting structure are shown to be unique. A companion paper applies the uniqueness results proven in this paper to the linear phase group lifting structures for whole- and half-sample symmetric filter banks.
OmpA-Mediated Biofilm Formation Is Essential for the Commensal Bacterium Sodalis glossinidius To Colonize the Tsetse Fly Gut

ABSTRACT Many bacteria successfully colonize animals by forming protective biofilms. Molecular processes that underlie the formation and function of biofilms in pathogenic bacteria are well characterized. In contrast, the relationship between biofilms and host colonization by symbiotic bacteria is less well understood. Tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) house 3 maternally transmitted symbionts, one of which is a commensal (Sodalis glossinidius) found in several host tissues, including the gut. We determined that Sodalis forms biofilms in the tsetse gut and that this process is influenced by the Sodalis outer membrane protein A (OmpA). Mutant Sodalis strains that do not produce OmpA (Sodalis ΔOmpA mutants) fail to form biofilms in vitro and are unable to colonize the tsetse gut unless endogenous symbiotic bacteria are present. Our data indicate that in the absence of biofilms, Sodalis ΔOmpA mutant cells are exposed to and eliminated by tsetse9s innate immune system, suggesting that biofilms help Sodalis evade the host immune system. Tsetse is the sole vector of pathogenic African trypanosomes, which also reside in the fly gut. Acquiring a better understanding of the dynamics that promote Sodalis colonization of the tsetse gut may enhance the development of novel disease control strategies.
Production of Recombinant Snakehead Rhabdovirus: the NV Protein Is Not Required for Viral Replication

Snakehead rhabdovirus (SHRV) affects warm water fish in Southeast Asia and belongs to the genus Novirhabdovirus by virtue of its nonvirion gene (NV). Because SHRV grows best at temperatures between 28 and 31 degrees C, we were able to use the T7 expression system to produce viable recombinant SHRV from a cloned cDNA copy of the viral genome. Expression of a positive-strand RNA copy of the 11, 550-nucleotide SHRV genome along with the viral nucleocapsid (N), phosphoprotein (P), and polymerase (L) proteins resulted in the generation of infectious SHRV in cells preinfected with a vaccinia virus vector for T7 polymerase expression. Recombinant virus production was verified by detection of a unique restriction site engineered into the SHRV genome between the NV and L genes. Since we were now able to begin examining the function of the NV gene, we constructed a recombinant virus containing a nonsense mutation located 22 codons into the coding sequence of the NV protein. The NV knockout virus was produced at a concentration as high as that of wild-type virus in cultured fish cells, and the resulting virions appeared to be identical to the wild-type virions in electron micrographs. These initial studies suggest that NV has no critical function in SHRV replication in cultured fish cells.
Levonorgestrel as a postcoital contraceptive

Time-release pellets of levonorgestrel (LNG), the progestogenic hormone contained in the contraceptive system Norplant, were implanted subdermally in mice, after the animals had mated and ovulated but before uterine implantation of embryos would have occurred, to examine whether the hormone could reduce the number of embryos that subsequently implanted and, if so, when it had to be administered in the postcoital period to achieve that effect. Hybrid female mice (C57BL x CBA) were paired with breeder males (CD-1) and LNG pellets were implanted on day 0, the day on which copulation plugs were found, or on day 2 or day 3 in the postcoital period. Mice in some groups were sacrificed on day 14 of the gestation period, and numbers of fetuses and/or resorption sites were counted, while mice in other groups were allowed to go to term. When LNG pellets were implanted subdermally on day 0 of the postcoital period, pellets designed to release 1.5 mg of hormone in 21 days failed to exhibit a contraceptive effect, but pellets designed to release 5 mg of hormone in 90 days were totally effective in preventing uterine implantation of embryos. Although the 5 mg pellets did not prevent embryos from implanting in all cases when administered on day 2, they prevented pregnancies from going to term by causing resorption of those embryos that did implant. When the pellets were implanted as late as day 3 in the postcoital period, uterine implantation of embryos occurred and fetuses were carried to term. Results of the study indicate that subdermal implants of LNG inserted postcoitally can prevent uterine implantation of embryos in mice, and thereby prevent pregnancy, despite fertilization of oocytes having occurred, if the hormone implants are inserted before day 3 of the postcoital period.
Combinatorial transcriptional control of the lactose operon of Escherichia coli

The goal of systems biology is to understand the behavior of the whole in terms of knowledge of the parts. This is hard to achieve in many cases due to the difficulty of characterizing the many constituents involved in a biological system and their complex web of interactions. The lac promoter of Escherichia coli offers the possibility of confronting “system-level” properties of transcriptional regulation with the known biochemistry of the molecular constituents and their mutual interactions. Such confrontations can reveal previously unknown constituents and interactions, as well as offer insight into how the components work together as a whole. Here we study the combinatorial control of the lac promoter by the regulators Lac repressor (LacR) and cAMP-receptor protein (CRP). A previous in vivo study [Setty Y, Mayo AE, Surette MG, Alon U (2003) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:7702–7707] found gross disagreement between the observed promoter activities and the expected behavior based on the known molecular mechanisms. We repeated the study by identifying and removing several extraneous factors that significantly modulated the expression of the lac promoter. Through quantitative, systematic characterization of promoter activity for a number of key mutants and guided by the thermodynamic model of transcriptional regulation, we were able to account for the combinatorial control of the lac promoter quantitatively, in terms of a cooperative interaction between CRP and LacR-mediated DNA looping. Specifically, our analysis indicates that the sensitivity of the inducer response results from LacR-mediated DNA looping, which is significantly enhanced by CRP.
A Study of Self-Organizing Map in Interactive Relevance Feedback

With the vast amount of potential relevant documents on the Web, a key question for a retrieval system is how to achieve a high accuracy retrieval under current Web setting. The work reported in this paper is our latest effort in examining the effectiveness of applying Self Organizing Maps (SOM) in clustering base interactive relevance feedback. Our experiment results demonstrate that SOM can be used as a clustering tool to generate terms for interactive relevance feedback, which produced a significant improvement over the baseline when measured by R-Precision. Our results also show that a preferred strategy for combining blind relevance feedback with interactive relevance feedback is to perform the former first then the latter. Keywords: Self-Organizing Map, Interactive Relevance
Efficient DAG synthesis (VLSI logic design)

A method is presented for synthesis in the presence of arbitrary conditional branches. The synthesis system, DPE, is based on the simulated annealing algorithm. DPE translates the initial specification into an internal, graph-oriented representation. Simulated annealing is used to apply compaction transformations to the graph. A user-specified cost function, which includes registers, arithmetic and logic units (ALUs), control steps, and interconnect requirements, is used to evaluate the effect of the transformations and the quality of the resulting data path. This approach produces very-high-quality results in a reasonable time. DPE was enhanced to accept arbitrary program DAGs as input. This required four modifications to the standard basic block synthesis technique: resource sharing, statement coloring, multiple definitions, and addition of control information and dependencies. >
False-positive ethylene glycol levels in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe two patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and positive ethylene glycol levels and to call attention to the possibility of a false-positive ethylene glycol determination in patients with ketoacidosis. Methods Clinical manifestations and laboratory tests in the two patients were summarized. Serum specimens for both patients were analyzed for ethylene glycol, serum ketones, glucose, osmolality, pH, and electrolytes. Results Respective laboratory findings in our two patients were as follows: serum glucose levels, 56.4 and 45.7 mmol/L; serum acetone, positive in 1:80 and 1:128 dilution; serum osmolality, 366 and 377 mmol/kg; pH, 6.9 and 7.2; and ethylene glycol, 3.46 and 2.45 mmol/L. Conclusion Neither of these two elderly women had ingested ethylene glycol; nevertheless, both had positive results for ethylene glycol on a blood toxicology screen. Review of the literature demonstrates that false-positive ethylene glycol levels can be detected in patients with ketoacidosis. This information is documented in this report and should alert practicing physicians to such a possibility. (Endocr Pract. 1998;4:272-273)
Paper or pixels? Enhanced paper maps for emergency operations

We describe an interactive Incident management mapping system that integrates familiar paper maps with GIS capabilities. It allows users to create digital markup data on paper and digital maps that can be sent to responders in the field or another EOC. This solution is low-cost and highly transparent.
Improved Thomas-Fermi Theory for Atoms

The classical Thomas-Fermi theory of the electrons in an atom is amended in a manner that produces continuity of the electron density ρ. This is done by imposing the constraint that \(\int {{e^{ - 2kr}}\nabla \rho d\vec r} \)should be finite, with k determined by the nuclear cusp condition, followed or preceded by an optimum coordinate scaling. Also investigated is the possibility of employing other constraints for the same purpose. Electron densities and total energies are vastly improved.
Chinese Employers and Their Ugandan Workers: Tensions, Frictions and Cooperation in an African City

This paper analyses the context in which a group of African workers interact with their Chinese employers within a specific ethno- graphic space: Chinese-owned shops in Kampala, Uganda. By exploring enjawulo, the locally embedded cultural, social and economic notion of work and labour, I reveal how relations between Chinese employers and Ugandan employees are shaped by the former’s knowledge and acceptance of this practice. This analytical lens contextualises the two groups’ divergent goals, opinions and aspirations, examines the interpersonal dimensions of their social relations, and also analyses employers’ and employees’ opinions on labour conflicts, cooperation and understanding. The goal of the paper is to explore and deconstruct the context in which Chinese store owners and their local employees interact, cohabit, and sometimes even find common ground, despite markedly different economic, social, cultural, racial and linguistic backgrounds.
MONSOON: A Coevolutionary Multiobjective Adaptation Framework for Dynamic Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor applications (WSNs) are often required to simultaneously satisfy conflicting operational objectives (e.g., latency and power consumption). Based on an observation that various biological systems have developed the mechanisms to overcome this issue, this paper proposes a biologically-inspired adaptation mechanism, called MONSOON. MONSOON is designed to support data collection applications, event detection applications and hybrid applications. Each application is implemented as a decentralized group of software agents, analogous to a bee colony (application) consisting of bees (agents). Agents collect sensor data and/or detect an event (a significant change in sensor reading) on individual nodes, and carry sensor data to base stations. They perform these data collection and event detection functionalities by sensing their surrounding environment conditions and adoptively invoking biologically- inspired behaviors such as pheromone emission, reproduction and migration. Each agent has its own behavior policy, as a gene, which defines how to invoke its behaviors. MONSOON allows agents to evolve their behavior policies (genes) and adapt their operations to given objectives. Simulation results show that MONSOON allows agents (WSN applications) to simultaneously satisfy conflicting objectives by adapting to dynamics of physical operational environments and network environments (e.g., sensor readings and node/link failures) through evolution.
Integrative Systems View of Life: Perspectives from General Systems Thinking

The application of systems thinking and the principles of general systems science to problems in the life sciences is not a new endeavor. In the 1960s systems theory and biology attracted the interest of many notable biologists, cyberneticists, mathematicians, and engineers. The avalanche of new quantitative data (genome, proteome, physiome) incited by the boundless advances in molecular and cellular biology has reawakened interest in and kindled rediscovery of formal model-building techniques. The manifold perspectives presented in many ways is a re-embodiment of the general theory of organismic systems and serves as an impetus to suggest that organized complexity can be understood. The particular affinity expressed in this essay is a reflection of how closely my thinking is associated with the thoughts of Ludwig von Bertalanffy, Ervin Laszlo, and Robert Rosen. We are, by all accounts, at the threshold of a postgenomic era that truly belongs to the biology of systems.
Study of an Impingement Cooling Jet Array for Turbine Blade Cooling With Single and Double Exit Cases

A study was conducted on convective heat transfer of a 55 impingement jet array (5×11) with a constant heat flux boundary condition. A spatial variation in a time-averaged Nusselt number, as well as a spanwise time-averaged Nusselt number, are presented for jet Reynolds numbers of 4,000, 8,000, 12,000, and 15,000 for jet to target standoff distances of z/D = 3, 4 and 5. For each of these configurations the exit flow was varied to include both a single exit and a double exit configuration. In all cases, the computed Nusselt number correlates well with the experimentally measured results. The local and spanwise averaged Nusselt number distributions are presented as a function of the jet Reynolds number. Several complex heat transfer and flow phenomena were clarified through extensive computational investigation by using CFD analyses.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Venlafaxine: A Novel Antidepressant

More and more antidepressants are being used to treat depression that do not meet DSM-IV criteria for major depression. Venlafaxine is one alternative among many pharmacologic agents. Studies suggest it provides as good a response as other antidepressants, is less cardiotoxic, and produces fewer anticholinergic and sedative side effects.
Waiver of Informed Consent for Emergency Research

Informed consent is both a legal and ethical doctrine. As an ethical doctrine, informed consent is based upon western notions of privacy and autonomy. Individuals are thought to have an interest both in freedom from governmental interference in their lives and in freedom from bodily intrusion.
Beware the Rush to Presumption, Part B: Substandard Regulatory Analyses for the Affordable Care Act's Interim Final Rules

Federal agencies issued eight major interim final regulations in 2010 to quickly implement major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This paper employs the Mercatus Center’s Regulatory Report Card scoring system to compare the quality and use of regulatory impact analyses (RIAs) for these regulations with the quality and use of RIAs for major proposed regulations in 2008 and 2009. The quality and use of analysis for the ACA interim final regulations falls well below the standards set by other agencies and even by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in conventional notice-and-comment rulemaking in previous years. The analysis in the eight ACA RIAs is comparable to the analysis that accompanied a series of interim final homeland security regulations issued by the Bush administration following 9/11. This suggests that institutional, rather than personal or partisan, factors explain why the quality of regulatory analysis declines when agencies implement significant presidential priorities on short deadlines.
Two New Constructions of the Strophoid

(1922). Two New Constructions of the Strophoid. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 55-58.
Discovering law: Hayekian competition in medieval Iceland

The general consensus is that some minimal government is needed to provide law and enforce rules. However, between 930 and 1262, the Icelandic Commonwealth functioned without a central government, relying instead on market mechanisms and private institutions. An elaborate legal system developed that guided social interaction and coordinated conflict resolution. This article utilises Hayek's theory of competition as a discovery process to examine the emergence of law in medieval Iceland. Founded on private property and competition, the legal structure in medieval Iceland promoted discovery of law and resulted in the relative impartiality of judgments. From the start, Icelandic society operated with well-developed concepts of private property and law, but, in an unusual combination, it lacked most of the formal institutions of government which normally protect ownership and enforce judicial decisions.
Research on Capital Supply,Non-equilibrium Flow of Capital and the Imbalanced Development of Regional Economy

There exist great differences in capital allocation among regions,not only from the internal capital difference,but also the difference of cross-regional capital flow.The paper,through the analysis of the relationship between capital flow and regional economy development in China,concluded that: a.the economic development of eastern,central and western regions is obviously influenced by capital supply,regional capital flow and the inflow of foreign capital;b.capital supply has a greater impact on west than eastern and central region;c.the impact of regional capital flow on central region is bigger than east and west;d.the inflow of foreign capital has a significantly positive effect on the economy of western region,which is obviously larger than that on the eastern and central regions.Besides,the capital outflow of west has a significantly negative effect on economic development in west on the basis of capital scarcity.
Class as Caste: The Thirteenth Amendment’s Applicability to Class-Based Subordination

As part of a symposium marking the sesquicentennial of the Thirteenth Amendment, this Article briefly explores whether the Thirteenth Amendment applies to class-based subordination. While recognizing that the increasingly rigid class-based stratification of our society, rampant discrimination against the poor, increasing income inequality, and the concentration of enormous wealth in the hands of so few are all pressing social challenges that the legal system must address, this Article concludes that generalized class-based discrimination likely would not fall within the scope of the “badges and incidents of slavery” that the Amendment prohibits.This Article argues, however, that the Thirteenth Amendment's prohibition of the badges and incidents of slavery would provide a remedy for discrete forms class-based subordination that are akin to or arise from the race-based caste system that the Framers intended to abolish. The Article concludes by suggesting that the lingering and insurmountable effects of mass incarceration may provide an example of such an instance.
The Survey of Agricultural Cooperative Extension Service of Land-granted Colleges in USA

The USA land-granted colleges, especially their agricultural cooperative extension service system, remarkably have enhanced the modernization of American agriculture, the effective experiences of which may be drawn upon as a reference in the basic ideas, program contents, practice methods, organization and administration, educational resources development of the rural revitalization in China.
Diagnosis and Operative Management of Chest Wall Deformities in Children

A technique for repair of pectus excavatum is outlined. The results are generally excellent and the failures extremely rare. Pectus carinatum is usually corrected after the patient has achieved most of his or her teenage growth and development in order to avoid the possibility of recurrence. Cleft sternum is also discussed.
SU‐F‐T‐83: Infant Total Skin Electron Therapy Using Five Fields Technique

Purpose: We were presented with a 9 month old boy with Relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) involving the skin. The plan was to treat the entire skin using 6 MeV electrons with the infant under complete anesthesia. The purpose of this work is to commission the 6 MeV electron beam and to develop a technique that can be used to deliver total skin dose to infants with minimal patient immobilization. Methods: A baby mannequin phantom that mimics the child's length was used to determine the best technique to treat the infant. The 76 cm long phantom was placed on the floor. The phantom was placed in four unique immobilization devices to simulate four different treatment positions (anterior, posterior, left lateral and right lateral). Radiochromic films were used to determine beam profile in both axial and radial directions, and percent depth dose (PDD). Absolute calibration of the machine output at 214 cm distance was measured using an Exradin A11 parallel-plate ion chamber. A 1.0 cm plexiglass scatter plate was inserted in the collimator. Mosfet dosimeters were used for dose verification for phantom and and patient. Results: At 214 cm source to surface distance (SSD) using gantry angle of + 20o from vertical beam flatness is + 10% in the radial direction over a region of 70 cm and + 4% in the axial direction over 60 cm. A five field arrangement was determined to optimally deliver the desired dose with > 90% uniformity. The fifth field was used to boost the head vertex. Conclusion: It is possible to treat sedated infants with total skin dose using five positions. Four positions were enough to cover the body and the fifth position boosts the vertex of the head. All fractions can be reproduced accurately daily because of the patient's stable immobilization.
Long-term followup with the use of lyophilized dura mater for abdominal wall closure in children: report of 3 cases.

AbstractWe report our experience with 3 children treated during infancy by abdominal wall reconstruction using lyophilized dura mater. Followup has been 36, 46 and 96 months postoperatively and they demonstrated adequate abdominal wall healing. One child has mild muscular diastasis, while 1 has completely healed. In 1 child a small defect developed in the repair, which was closed at a secondary procedure. Wound infection, dehiscence or herniation did not occur. There has been no evidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which has been reported when allogenic dura was not obtained from registered tissue banks. Our experience with dura mater suggests that the material may be a useful adjunct in the repair and closure of complex abdominal defects.
The experience and expression of anger in interpersonal settings

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on both the experience and expression of anger, especially in reference to one of its most common and potentially destructive manifestations—aggression. People must somehow communicate their anger to others in order for it to have social significance (for example, effects on partner, relational outcomes, and productivity outcomes). The chapter also explores both the experience and expression of anger in interpersonal contexts. People who find it difficult to communicate anger in an appropriate manner risk physical problems. Failure to communicate anger can render people dysfunctional for a time. The inexpression of anger can perpetuate cognitive inefficiency, and one may find it near impossible to work with someone who has recently provoked anger. In a similar manner, angered people may need to vent their feelings against the perpetrator in order to feel normal again. The appropriate expression of anger can lead to many positive outcomes: emotional closeness; shared experience and understanding; changing a bad situation; achieving justice; and reduction of tension and anxiety.
Exponential Control Barrier Functions for enforcing high relative-degree safety-critical constraints

We introduce Exponential Control Barrier Functions as means to enforce strict state-dependent high relative degree safety constraints for nonlinear systems. We also develop a systematic design method that enables creating the Exponential CBFs for nonlinear systems making use of tools from linear control theory. The proposed control design is numerically validated on a relative degree 6 linear system (the serial cart-spring system) and on a relative degree 4 nonlinear system (the two-link pendulum with elastic actuators.)
Optimal Control of Functional-Integral Equations in L p (T, ℝ n )

This chapter discusses the optimal control of functional–integral equations in C ( T , ℝ n ) by the application of various theorems. It discusses the existence of minimizing solutions and presents the necessary conditions for an original minimum and relaxed minimum in unilateral and related problems. It also discusses the scenario under which an equation of motion is a delay-differential equation. The necessary conditions for original minimum in the optimal control of delay-differential equations have been investigated, among others, by Oguztoreli, Banks, and Halanay, and for functional-differential equations by Banks.
Facile Synthesis of Nickel Nanofoam Architectures for Applications in Li-Ion Batteries

Metal foams are utilized in various applications, such as in the automotive industries and for electrochemical devices. Herein, a Ni nanofoam is synthesized using a facile method for Li-ion batteries. Self-aligned Ni wires or randomly linked webs are produced with or without magnetic field, respectively. Ni granular beads or spiky clusters form at 370 or 450 °C, respectively. The surface area of Ni wires is increased by oxalic acid etching at 80 °C using 5–30 wt % water, leading to Ni oxalate nanosheets, nanowires (NWs), or nanoleaves. Metallic Ni NWs are obtained by reducing Ni oxalate NWs with H2 at 350 °C in 10 min. Carbon-coated Si nanoparticles on Ni NW foam (C-Si NP/Ni NWF) show 38 % rate enhancement (1222 vs. 889 mAh g−1) in comparison to C-Si NP/Cu foil. Higher stability of C-Si NP/Ni NWF with a capacity retention of 91 % is reached vs. 73 % for C-Si NP/Cu foil over 180 cycles. The ambient-pressure solution process with low temperature and fast reaction time could make large-scale production plausible for these nanoarchitectures.
Bidirectional Power Transfer between HEVs and Grid without External Power Converters

This paper proposes methodologies to realize bidirectional power transfer between hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and the power grid for the most common HEV configurations. Only the internal power electronics and electric machines of the vehicle's propulsion system are being used, thus avoiding additional external power converters. Theoretical analysis and simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed methodologies.
Electronic and optical properties of oxygen vacancies in amorphous Ta2O5 from first principles

Oxygen vacancies are important defects considered to play a central role in the electronic and optical properties of tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) films and devices. Despite extensive experimental studies on oxygen vacancies in Ta2O5, the reported defect states are ambiguously identified due to the absence of accurate and conclusive theoretical evidence. Here we investigate the thermodynamic, electronic, and optical properties of oxygen vacancies in amorphous Ta2O5 by first-principles calculations based on hybrid-functional density functional theory (DFT). The calculated thermodynamic and optical transition levels are in good agreement with a broad range of diverse measured properties with various experimental methods, providing conclusive evidence for the identification of the defect states observed in experiments as originating from oxygen vacancies. Our calculations also predict the formation of spin-polarized polarons. Our results elucidate the fundamental atomistic properties of oxygen vacancies in various oxidation states as a function of growth conditions and provide guidance to control the properties of Ta2O5 films/devices.
On the analysis of pure bending of rigid-plastic beams in strain-gradient plasticity

Abstract The complete stress field, including the microstress, the moment-stress, and the line forces are derived for the pure bending of a rigid-plastic beam of rectangular cross-section in the model of strain-gradient plasticity. The workless spherical parts of the microstress and the moment-stress tensors are incorporated in the analysis. Their determination is shown to be of importance for the fulfilment of the higher-order traction boundary conditions, the physical interpretation of line forces, and their contributions to bending moments. Three equivalent methods are used to derive the moment-curvature relationship for any of the gradient-enhanced effective plastic strain measures from the considered broad class of these measures. Specific results are given for the selected choice of the stress-strain relationship describing the uniaxial tension test. Closed-form analytical expressions are obtained in the case of linear hardening, and in some cases of nonlinear hardening. The analysis of the plane-strain bending of thin foils is also presented. In this case there are two sets of line forces along the edges of the beam. The relationships between the applied bending moment and the curvature, and between the lateral bending moment and the curvature are derived and discussed. The lateral bending moment along the lateral sides of the beam, needed to keep the plane-strain mode of deformation, is one-half of the applied bending moment.
Stepwise deprotonation of sumanene: electronic structures, energetics and aromaticity alterations

The first comprehensive theoretical investigation of structural, energetic, and electronic changes in a sumanene skeleton, C21H12, upon a step-wise deprotonation process is performed. This study is complemented by a detailed consideration of aromaticity in target bowl-shaped systems, including neutral sumanene and its three deprotonated anions, namely C21H111−, C21H102−, and C21H93−. In order to obtain the most reliable and method-independent characteristics, a set of aromatic descriptors of different nature has been applied. It included structure-based HOMA, topological descriptors PDI and FLU, as well as magnetic NICS and ACID. The calculation results reveal that the neutral sumanene can be best described as mechanically bent triphenylene, in which π-conjugation is mostly localized over three peripheral 6-membered rings. Sequential deprotonation changed the system from the localized mono-anionic to semi-localized di-anionic, and eventually to the fully delocalized tri-anionic sumanenyl species. Structural changes, namely, bond equalization upon the deprotonation process, are in excellent agreement with alterations observed in electronic structures and aromaticity. Deprotonation results in a significant reduction of the barrier for a bowl-to-bowl transition only in the tri-anionic sumanenyl system, whereas the first and the second deprotonation steps show no notable effect. This clearly indicates that only complete aromatization of the sumanene core in C21H93− leads to a substantial increase of bowl flexibility.
A peculiar case of asymptomatic spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Abstract Objective To present a case of asymptomatic spontaneous pneumomediastinum and review available evidence-based workup and management. Case presentation A young Caucasian adult male with a history of inhalational drug use was admitted to the internal medicine service for evaluation of dehydration and mild rhabdomyolysis. Patient had been on the run from the police and had spent the last days prior to presentation without food, water, or shelter. On admission, patient had no complaints, except for thirst. It was detected on physical exam and chest x-ray that patient had subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum. The patient was treated conservatively and discharged after a period of observation. Conclusion Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is benign and seen primarily in young adults. It is more commonly associated with symptoms like chest pain and/or dyspnea, making an asymptomatic case particularly distinctive. The etiologies and precipitating factors are varied and often an apparent cause isn't identified. The diagnostic approach involves chest x-ray and/or computed tomography (CT) chest with further workup being largely unnecessary. The tenants of management include bedrest, analgesics, and supplemental oxygen as needed.
Counterpublics and Intersectional Radical Resistance: Agitation as Transformation of the Dominant Discourse

This article examines the limitations of rights-based strategies and social movements for advancing the interests of marginalized and intersectionally-subjected populations in the US, and argues th...
Controlling processing temperatures and self-limiting behaviour in intense pulsed sintering by tailoring nanomaterial shape distribution

Intense Pulsed Light Sintering (IPL) uses pulsed, large-area, broad-spectrum visible light from a xenon lamp for rapid fusion of nanomaterials into films or patterns used in flexible sensors, solar cells, displays and other applications. Past work on the IPL of silver nanoparticles has shown that a self-damping coupling between densification and optical absorption governs the evolution of the deposited nanomaterial temperature during IPL. This work examines the influence of the nanomaterial shape distribution on this coupling and on the temperature evolution in IPL of silver nanowire–nanoparticle composite films. The film thickness, resistivity, micromorphology, crystallinity and optical properties are compared for varying ratios of nanowire to nanoparticle content in the film. It is shown for the first time, that increasing the nanowire content reduces the maximum film temperature during IPL from 240 °C to 150 °C and substantially alters the temperature evolution trends over consecutive pulses, while enabling film resistivity within 4–5 times that of bulk silver in 2.5 seconds of processing time. Nanoscale electromagnetic models are used to understand optical absorption as a function of changing ratio of nanowires to nanoparticles in a model assembly that emulates the IPL experiments performed here. The coupling between densification and optical absorption is found to inherently depend on the nanomaterial shape distribution and the ability of this phenomenon to explain the experimental temperature evolution trends is discussed. The implications of these observations for controlling self-damping coupling in IPL and the optimum nanoparticle to nanowire ratios for concurrently achieving high throughput, low processing temperatures, low material costs and low resistivity in IPL of conductive metallic nanomaterials are also described.
Consociation, Conditionality, and Commitment: Making Peace in Northern Ireland

The key to achieving and keeping peace between historic groups is getting the parties to agree that maintaining the peace is more in their interest than resuming war. Consociationalism may be an institutional mechanism to allow historic rivals to share power but the exact nature of the power-sharing arrangements is less important than the political commitment to peace. Historically, consociational solutions to ethnic conflict have collapsed when the parties to the conflict no longer believe that the power-sharing arrangements associated with consociationalism are in their interest. Politicians involved in the Northern Ireland peace process devised a political settlement not based on seeking a consociational settlement but as a result of diplomatic exchanges and a search for a diplomatic settlement acceptable to all. Each of the parties sought to advance their own interests but came to appreciate the constraints that other parties faced in negotiating a settlement and implementing it. Not only did political elites learn to understand the contours of what was acceptable to leaders of other groups, but the peace process required the evolution of the identities of nationalists and unionists in Northern Ireland which had been shaped by habit and had to be reformed to reconfigure inherited identities and interests.
Persistent differences between coastal and offshore kelp forest communities in a warming Gulf of Maine

Kelp forests provide important ecosystem services, yet coastal kelp communities are increasingly altered by anthropogenic impacts. Kelp forests in remote, offshore locations may provide an informative contrast due to reduced impacts from local stressors. We tested the hypothesis that shallow kelp assemblages (12–15 m depth) and associated fish and benthic communities in the coastal southwest Gulf of Maine (GOM) differed significantly from sites on Cashes Ledge, 145 km offshore by sampling five coastal and three offshore sites at 43.0 +/- 0.07° N latitude. Offshore sites on Cashes Ledge supported the greatest density (47.8 plants m2) and standing crop biomass (5.5 kg m2 fresh weight) of the foundation species Saccharina latissima kelp at this depth in the Western North Atlantic. Offshore densities of S. latissima were over 150 times greater than at coastal sites, with similar but lower magnitude trends for congeneric S. digitata. Despite these differences, S. latissima underwent a significant 36.2% decrease between 1987 and 2015 on Cashes Ledge, concurrent with a rapid warming of the GOM and invasion by the kelp-encrusting bryozoan Membranipora membranacea. In contrast to kelp, the invasive red alga Dasysiphonia japonica was significantly more abundant at coastal sites, suggesting light or dispersal limitation offshore. Spatial differences in fish abundance mirrored those of kelp, as the average biomass of all fish on Cashes Ledge was 305 times greater than at the coastal sites. Remote video censuses of cod (Gadus morhua), cunner (Tautaogolabrus adspersus), and pollock (Pollachius virens) corroborated these findings. Understory benthic communities also differed between regions, with greater abundance of sessile invertebrates offshore. Populations of kelp-consuming sea urchins Stronglyocentrotus droebachiensis, were virtually absent from Cashes Ledge while small urchins were abundant onshore, suggesting recruitment limitation offshore. Despite widespread warming of the GOM since 1987, extraordinary spatial differences in the abundance of primary producers (kelp), consumers (cod) and benthic communities between coastal and offshore sites have persisted. The shallow kelp forest communities offshore on Cashes Ledge represent an oasis of unusually high kelp and fish abundance in the region, and as such, comprise a persistent abundance hotspot that is functionally significant for sustained biological productivity of offshore regions of the Gulf of Maine.
Nonequilibrium electron dynamics in pump-probe spectroscopy: Role of excited phonon populations

We study the role of excited phonon populations in the relaxation rates of nonequilibrium electrons using a nonequilibrium Green's function formalism. The transient modifications in the phononic properties are accounted for by self-consistently solving the Dyson equation for the electron and phonon Green's functions. The pump-induced changes manifest in both the electronic and phononic spectral functions. We find that the excited phonon populations suppress the decay rates of nonequilibrium electrons due to enhanced phonon absorption. The increased phonon occupation also sets the nonequilibrium decay rates and the equilibrium scattering rates apart. The decay rates are found to be time dependent, and this is illustrated in the experimentally observed population decay of photoexcited ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{1.5}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{0.5}{\mathrm{Te}}_{1.7}{\mathrm{Se}}_{1.3}$.