cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OMEGA experiments and preparation for moderate-gain direct-drive experiments on NIF

Direct-drive laser-fusion ignition experiments rely on detailed understanding and control of irradiation uniformity, Rayleigh–Taylor instability, and target fabrication. LLE is investigating various theoretical aspects of a direct-drive NIF ignition target based on an `all-DT' design: a spherical target of ∼3.5 mm diameter, 1 to 2 μ m of CH wall thickness, and a ∼350μ m DT-ice layer near the triple point of DT ( ∼19 K). OMEGA experiments are designed to address the critical issues related to direct-drive laser fusion and to provide the necessary data to validate the predictive capability of LLE computer codes. The future cryogenic targets used on OMEGA are hydrodynamically equivalent to those planned for the NIF. The current experimental studies on OMEGA address all of the essential components of direct-drive laser fusion: irradiation uniformity and laser imprinting, Rayleigh–Taylor growth and saturation, compressed core performance and shell–fuel mixing, laser–plasma interactions and their effect on target performance, and cryogenic target fabrication and handling.
Evaluation of multiplexed PCR and liquid-phase array for identification of respiratory fungal pathogens.

Invasive fungal infections are the cause of serious morbidity and high mortality in immunocompromised patients. Early laboratory diagnostic options remain limited; however, rapid detection and accurate identification may improve outcome. Herein, multiplexed PCR followed by liquid-phase array was evaluated for detection and identification of common respiratory fungal pathogens, including Aspergillus fumigatus, Rhizopus microsporus, Scedosporium apiospermum and Fusarium solani. The limit of detection ranged 0.1–1 ng of DNA, depending on the fungus being tested. Primer cross-reactivity was seen for some fungi: Aspergillus flavus primers detected Aspergillus oryzae; Scedosporium apiospermum primers detected Paecilomyces lilacinus, and Aspergillus terreus primers detected S. apiospermum. PCR followed by liquid-phase array is potentially useful for the identification of clinically relevant fungal pathogens.
Frequency Response of a Nonlinear Pneumatic System

This paper studies the dynamic behavior of a pneumatic chamber connected to a reservoir through an orifice and to a linear mechanical system. In this paper, we focus our attention mainly on the nonlinearity associated with mass flow rate through the orifice and its effect on the overall system behavior. Nonlinearities induced by the friction and gas compressibility are also considered. Using the method of harmonic balance, we reduce a difficult mathematical formulation of this nonlinear pneumatic system to a simple nonlinear governing equation and a set of algebraic equations which yield frequency response easily at the first, second, and third harmonics. An excellent agreement between the method of harmonic balance and numerical integration has been found. Results obtained using a quasi-linear model are also given.
Teaching about political violence: a primer on representation

Geography is not generally viewed as a ‘source’ discipline for political violence studies, but this paper begins with the presumption that geography is well disposed to teach courses on the subject. The key purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that engaging issues of political violence is useful for our pedagogy. In particular, teaching about political violence allows geography to address concerns arising from the ‘crisis of representation’. It does so in two ways. First, it provides another venue for teaching about the ‘the other’ and ‘othered places’ in our curricula. Second, it also allows geography to challenge uncritical tropes about political violence as emerging from some peoples and places and not others. As a case study this paper overviews a course entitled Militia Movements in Comparative Perspective. This course was organized around a theoretical unit and four case study units. The case conflicts were chosen to represent conflicts that crossed ideological (right/left) and geographical (Glob...
The prevention of alcohol related problems: A growing reality in the 1980's

During the author's tenure of the directorship of the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism a public health approach to preventing alcohol-related problems was proposed. Three key elements need to be considered — the host, the environment and the agent. The greatest emphasis in modern U.S. history has been on the host — his or her biological or psychosocial susceptibilities, knowledge and attitudes on alcohol. The second element is concerned with the setting in which drinking takes place and attempts to modify the consequences of drinking. The last element involves regulating the supply of alcoholic beverages and is the most politically contentious. A plea is made for strong emphasis to be placed on regulating supply and for the per capita level of consumption to be one of the key indicators of success in the prevention of alcohol problems.
Biomechanical analysis of a novel posterior construct in a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion model an in vitro study

Abstract Background context Spinal fusion is a commonly performed surgical procedure. It is used to treat a variety of spinal pathologies, including degenerative disease, trauma, spondylolisthesis, and deformities. A mechanically stable spine provides an ideal environment for the formation of a fusion mass. Instrumented spinal fusion allows early ambulation with minimal need for a postoperative external immobilizer. Several biomechanical and clinical studies have evaluated the stability offered by different posterior instrumentation techniques and the effects of reduced instrumentation. Purpose The aim of the study was to compare the biomechanics of a novel pedicle and translaminar facet screw (TLFS) construct. Also, in this study, comparisons were made with the more common pedicle screw/TLFS constructs for posterior fixation. Study design Human cadaveric lumbar spines were tested in an in vitro flexibility experiment to investigate the biomechanical stability provided by a novel pedicle and TLFS construct after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). Methods Seven fresh human lumbar spines (L2–L5) were tested by applying pure moments of ±8 Nm. After intact specimen testing, a left-sided TLIF with a radiolucent interbody spacer was performed at L3–L4. Each specimen was then tested for the following constructs: bilateral pedicle screws (BPS) and rods at L3–L4; unilateral pedicle screws (UPS) and rods at L3–L4; UPS and rods and TLFS at L3–L4 (UPS+TLFS); and unilateral single pedicle screw and TLFS and rod at L3–L4 (V construct). The L3–L4 range of motion (ROM) and stiffness for each construct were obtained by applying pure moments in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Results All instrumented constructs significantly reduced ROM in flexion-extension and lateral bending compared with the intact specimen. In axial rotation, only BPS constructs significantly reduced ROM compared with intact specimen. The V construct was able to achieve more reduction in ROM compared with UPS construct and was comparable to UPS+TLFS construct. Unilateral pedicle screws construct was the least stable in all loading modes and was significantly different than BPS construct in lateral bending. Conclusions The V construct exhibited enhanced stability compared with UPS construct in all loading modes. It provides bilateral fixation and preserves the anatomic integrity of the superior facet joint. The novel construct may offer advantages of less invasiveness, significant reduction in operation time, duration of hospitalization, and costs of implants, which would require further clinical evaluation.
Development and Assessment of a Sampling Design for Mussel Assemblages in Large Streams

Abstract Freshwater mussel beds of the lower 68 km of the Cache River, Arkansas, were delineated, sampled using dive techniques and a stratified random sampling methodology and analyzed for density and species richness. A total of 38 mussel beds were delineated, 14 major beds (Mbeds) and 24 minor beds (mbeds), and defined by areal extent and mussel density. Analysis of our sampling precision indicated 80% or better confidence levels for a majority of our sites and suggested that a sample size of 15 1-m2 quadrats is sufficient to obtain 80% or better confidence. Our large river diver-assisted sampling methodology has been shown to be a useful and appropriate methodology for obtaining large geographic scale baseline distribution (bed and species), species richness, density and population and community numerical standing crop estimates information where tradeoffs are required in order to complete a project within time and budget constraints.
Interacting Markov Processes

Interacting Markov processes are obtained by superimposing some type of interaction on many otherwise independent Markovian subsystems. As a result of the interaction, the subsystems fail to have the Markov property; the system as a whole remains Markovian, however. This subject has grown rapidly during the past decade. It is a branch of modern probability theory, but it draws much of its inspiration and motivation from various areas of science, including physics and biology.
Targeted Dot Product Representation for Friend Recommendation in Online Social Networks

In this paper, we develop Targeted Dot Product Representation (TarDPR), a DPR-based feature selection and combination framework for friend recommendation in online social networks (OSNs). Our approach modifies conventional DPR techniques and makes itself applicable to OSNs by focusing on computing a consistent representation while minimizing unnecessary suggestions made outside these interested regions. A notable property of TarDPR is its ability to effectively incorporate different types of social features and produce new meaningful features that help competitive approaches to significantly improve their recommendation quality. We derive an iterative algorithm for TarDPR that is supported by mathematical analysis, and is efficient on large social traces. To certify the usability of our approach, we conduct empirical experiments on real social traces including Facebook and Foursquare social networks. The competitive experimental results show that TarDPR achieves up to 15% improvement in comparison with other competitive methods. These results consequently confirm the efficacy of our suggested framework.
Injury severity data for front and second row passengers in frontal crashes

The data contained here were obtained from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration׳s National Automotive Sampling System – Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) for the years 2008–2014. This publically available data set monitors motor vehicle crashes in the United States, using a stratified random sample frame, resulting in information on approximately 5000 crashes each year that can be utilized to create national estimates for crashes. The NASS-CDS data sets document vehicle, crash, and occupant factors. These data can be utilized to examine public health, law enforcement, roadway planning, and vehicle design issues. The data provided in this brief are a subset of crash events and occupants. The crashes provided are exclusively frontal crashes. Within these crashes, only restrained occupants who were seated in the right front seat position or the second row outboard seat positions were included. The front row and second row data sets were utilized to construct occupant pairs crashes where both a right front seat occupant and a second row occupant were available. Both unpaired and paired data sets are provided in this brief.
A dual energy CT study on vascular effects of gold nanoparticles in radiation therapy

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are emerging as promising agents for both cancer therapy and CT imaging. AuNPs are delivered to tumors via the enhanced permeability and retention effect and they preferentially accumulate in close proximity to the tumor blood vessels. AuNPs produce low-energy, short-range photoelectrons during external beam radiation therapy (RT), boosting dose. This work is focused on understanding how tumor vascular permeability is influenced by AuNP-augmented radiation therapy (RT), and how this knowledge can potentially improve the delivery of additional nanoparticle-based chemotherapeutics. We use dual energy (DE) CT to detect accumulation of AuNPs and increased vascular permeability to liposomal iodine (i.e. a surrogate for chemotherapeutics with liposome encapsulation) following RT. We used sarcoma tumors generated in LSL-KrasG12D; p53FL/FL conditional mutant mice. A total of n=37 mice were used in this study. The treated mice were injected with 20 mg AuNP (0.1 ml/25 g mouse) 24 hours before delivery of 5 Gy RT (n=5), 10 Gy RT (n=3) or 20 Gy RT (n=6). The control mice received no AuNP injection and either no RT (n=6), 5 Gy RT (n=3), 10 Gy RT (n=3), 20 Gy RT (n=11). Twenty four hours post-RT, the mice were injected with liposomal iodine (0.3 ml/25 mouse) and imaged with DE-CT three days later. The results suggest that independent of any AuNP usage, RT levels of 10 Gy and 20 Gy increase the permeability of tumor vasculature to liposomal iodine and that the increase in permeability is dose-dependent. We found that the effect of RT on vasculature may already be at its maximum response i.e. saturated at 20 Gy, and therefore the addition of AuNPs had almost no added benefit. Similarly, at 5 Gy RT, our data suggests that there was no effect of AuNP augmentation on tumor vascular permeability. However, by using AuNPs with 10 Gy RT, we observed an increase in the vascular permeability, however this is not yet statistically significant due to the small number of mice in these groups. Such an approach can be used together with a liposomal drug delivery system to increase specific tumor delivery of chemotherapeutics. Our method has the potential to significantly improve tumor therapy and reduce the side effects from both RT and chemotherapy.
Practical Computational Methods in the Solution of Equations

in which A1, A2, * , Anl are real. From probability considerations we can say that if (2) is a differential equation which represents a physical system it is very unusual for two roots of the corresponding equation (1) to be equal or almost equal. It is therefore assumed in this paper that the roots a1, a2, * , an of (1) are distinct. Then there are numbers B1, B2, , B. , such that the solution of( 2) and (3) is
Amateur Standing of Industrial Athletics

(1924). Amateur Standing of Industrial Athletics. American Physical Education Review: Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 11-12.
Effects of different dosage of amiodarone on heart rate and rhythm in healthy volunteers

AIM: To compare the effects of 600 (mg·d~(-1)) and 800 (mg·d~(-1)) amiodarone on heart rate and rhythm in healthy volunteers. METHODS: 16 subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: amiodarone 800 (mg·d~(-1)) and 600 (mg·d~(-1)) group. The drug was withdrawal when bradycardia arrhythmia occurred. The ECG and Holter were detected during procedure. RESULTS: Mean HR in 800 (mg·d~(-1)) and 600 (mg·d~(-1)) amiodarone group was significantly lower than that in the baseline after drugs were administrated 1 day (65±(7.4) vs 75±(15.6) bpm, P(0.05)) and 2 days, respectively, but both return to normal at 3 days after withdrawal. The earliest manifestation of ECG was prolongation of PR interval which was dose-related. QTc was prolonged after administration. Mean HR and total HR of 24 hours recorded by Holter significantly decreased at 3rd day in 800 (mg·d~(-1)), while they were not decreased in 600 (mg·d~(-1)). HR restored to normal at 1 week after withdrawal. The reasons for withdrawal were prolongation of PR interval, paroxysmal sinus arrest, conjuncular/ventricular escape, II degree I/II atrioventricular block and sinus bradycardia. CONCLUSION: The earliest manifestation of amiodarone's pro-arrhythmia is prolongation of PR interval which is dose-related. So the monitoring of PR interval is necessary after administration.
Differential adapter recruitment by TLR2 co-receptors

TLR2 heterodimers with TLR1 or TLR6 recognize distinct pathogen-associated molecules such as tri- and di-acylated lipopeptides. The activated TLR2 heterodimers recruit Toll-IL-1R domain- (TIR-) containing adapter proteins, TIRAP and MyD88, through the receptor TIR domains. Molecular recognition mechanisms responsible for agonist-driven, TIR domain-mediated receptor-adapter interactions as well as the structure of resultant signaling complexes remain unknown. We previously reported that the cell-permeable peptide derived from helix D of TLR2 TIR (2R9) specifically binds TIRAP in vitro and in cells and thereby inhibits TIRAP-dependent TLR signaling. This study demonstrates that cell-permeable peptides from D helix of TLR1 or TLR6, peptides 1R9 and 6R9 respectively, inhibit signaling mediated by cognate TLR2 co-receptors. Interestingly, 1R9 and 6R9 bind different TLR2 adapters, as they selectively bind MyD88 and TIRAP TIR, respectively. Both peptides block the agonist-induced co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) of TLR2 with TIRAP or MyD88, but not TLR2 co-IP with co-receptors. Our data suggest that D helices of TLR1 and TLR6 TIR domains are adapter recruitment sites in both co-receptors; yet the sites recruit different adapters. The D helix in TLR1 is the MyD88 docking site, whereas in TLR6 this site recruits TIRAP.
Electronics - what should we teach and why?

The subject of electronics has developed so much over the years that the questions to be answered are: should Electronics be a one semester or two semester course, and what topics we should cover. The paper presents the issues to be considered in deciding on the course duration and the course topics.
Intensive treatment of hypertension to a SBP <120 mm Hg in patients aged 75 and over reduces mortality and cardiovascular events

Commentary on : Williamson JD, Supiano MA, Applegate WB, et al. Intensive vs standard blood pressure control and cardiovascular disease outcomes in adults aged ≥75 years. A randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2016;315:2673–82[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3]. There is uncertainty regarding optimal blood pressure (BP) targets in treating hypertension. Most recent guidelines have recommended a systolic target of <140 mm Hg. The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) compared cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in non-diabetic hypertensive patients randomised to standard (systolic blood pressure (SBP) <140 mm Hg) or intensive treatment (<120 mm Hg).1 Composite CV events and total mortality were significantly reduced with intensive treatment. A prespecified analysis evaluated older patients (≥75) and has now been published. SPRINT compared outcomes with treatment targets of <120 mm Hg and <140 mm Hg in hypertensive patients at medium/high CV risk identified by previous CV events (except stroke), high Framingham risk … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DJAMA%26rft.volume%253D315%26rft.spage%253D2673%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1001%252Fjama.2016.7050%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F27195814%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1001/jama.2016.7050&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=27195814&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F22%2F1%2F30.atom
The origins of Turnus, Vergilian invention, and Augustan Rome

This article briefly surveys literary sources on the Rutulians and Turnus and finds them to have been neither particularly informative nor plentiful. In fashioning his portrait of Turnus and his people, Vergil exploited that dearth of information by countering it and adding details not found in the earlier traditions. His inventive portrait of the heritage of Turnus, which emphasizes ethnic diversity, creates several parallels between Turnus and Aeneas, and helps make him both a direct counterpart and formidable opponent to the Trojan hero. By making the two warriors more similar than different via their mixed Italian and Greek ancestry, Vergil homogenizes them to the ethnically complex population of Rome during the age of Augustus.
Computational aspects of crack path development simulation in materials with nonlinear process zone

The issues addressed here are the accuracy and legitimacy of some strategies used in computational procedures simulating crack path development in materials exhibiting nonlinear behavior in the crack tip process zone. Relatively small errors in determination of the crack path deflection angle lead to a significant cumulative deviation of crack path over a finite crack length. The results presented here demonstrate that to ensure a consistent and accurate crack path simulation in material with a nonlinear process zone, the crack path probing segment must be continuously adjusted in coordination with the probing crack path deflection angle. Possible criteria of the crack path deflection in these materials are discussed here as well.
How does transnationalism affect the perceptions of discrimination among Dominicans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans?

Transnationalism provides first- and second-generation immigrants with a dual frame of reference that shapes perceptions of their experiences in the United States (USA). For Caribbean Latino/as, wh...
Poincaré on the Foundation of Geometry in the Understanding

This paper is about Poincare’s view of the foundations of geometry. According to the established view, which has been inherited from the logical positivists, Poincare, like Hilbert, held that axioms in geometry are schemata that provide implicit definitions of geometric terms, a view he expresses by stating that the axioms of geometry are “definitions in disguise.” I argue that this view does not accord well with Poincare’s core commitment in the philosophy of geometry: the view that geometry is the study of groups of operations. In place of the established view I offer a revised view, according to which Poincare held that axioms in geometry are in fact assertions about invariants of groups. Groups, as forms of the understanding, are prior in conception to the objects of geometry and afford the proper definition of those objects, according to Poincare. Poincare’s view therefore contrasts sharply with Kant’s foundation of geometry in a unique form of sensibility. According to my interpretation, axioms are not definitions in disguise because they themselves implicitly define their terms, but rather because they disguise the definitions which imply them.
Teacher Leadership: Developing the Conditions for Learning, Support, and Sustainability

The research on teacher leadership like that of school reform has become more and more nuanced in the last two decades as the reform context has changed (Smylie, 1997; York-Barr & Duke, 2004). Since the 1980s there have been consistent calls for teachers to be leaders, often with no preparation, support, or understanding of the school culture nor the demands of the reform context.
Legitimacy, Innovation and Harmonization: Precursors to Operationalizing Biofuels Sustainability Standards

How to balance land uses to sustainably feed, clothe and power a burgeoning population aspiring to western lifestyles will be one of, if not the most profound challenges to policymakers in the 21st century. And, climate change’s unpredictable effects on natural systems will exacerbate already complex, uncertain and contentious land use decisionmaking. While biomass-based energy policies gained momentum throughout the 2000s as one way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, assumptions about biofuels’ environmental and societal benefits are beginning to come under closer scrutiny. In response, public laws have incorporated varying forms of sustainability considerations. Many private standards have emerged, however, to fill real and perceived gaps in, or in some cases anticipate, future regulatory requirements demanding increased sustainability. Aspirations aside, the critical question moving forward will be how to operationalize sustainability regimes to address governmental and societal concerns. Agricultural biomass sustainability regimes represent a particularly ground-breaking paradigm shift within a traditional commodity-crop landscape that historically has not been subject to widespread certification to specialized sustainability metrics. Although certification is not new to the forestry sector, energy biomass presents unique questions surrounding increased harvests, novel species and practices, and complex carbon accounting. With these new landscape dynamics in mind, and assuming regulatory drivers will encourage operators to seek certification, I posit that private and public actors must successfully navigate three preconditions of operationalization in order to ultimately achieve the sustainability goals contained in any sustainability standard: (1) ensuring standards organizations are built on good governance principles; (2) shifting the paradigm within conventional agricultural landscapes to enable technological and institutional innovations for increased sustainability; and, (3) standards harmonization to facilitate international markets. I conclude that each in and of itself presents great challenges at all levels in transitioning from theoretical to operational standards.
The Interdependence of Substrate and Protein Transformations in Rhodanese Catalysis I. ENZYME INTERACTIONS WITH SUBSTRATE, PRODUCT, AND INHIBITOR ANIONS

Abstract The cationic site of the enzyme rhodanese forms ion pairs with the substrate and product anions, thiosulfate, cyanide, sulfite, and thiocyanate. It also forms ion pairs with such diverse anionic species as acetate, formate, sulfate, and glycinate. In rate studies, the equilibrium constants and their temperature dependencies were evaluated for the interactions of most of these anions with both the free enzyme and the sulfur-substituted enzyme intermediate. The ionic strength dependencies of the constants for the substrate, thiosulfate ion, and the inhibitor, sulfate ion, were also determined. The results of this study provide a basis for calculating the relative concentrations of all enzymic species under a broad variety of experimental conditions. Further, the study of the thermodynamic parameters indicates that the enzyme-anion interactions take place in an hydrophobic environment in which ion solvation is minimal. When the parameters of substrate and product origin are compared with those for the other enzyme-anion interactions, the results suggest that the protein undergoes conformational changes during the reaction. The direction of the entropy differences indicates that there are successive changes to a more constrained state on binding of the substrate, thiosulfate ion, and release of the product, sulfite ion, followed by a relaxation of the protein upon release of the product, thiocyanate ion.
Conspicuity and Accidents: Data Versus Resource-Limited Differentiations

Accident events frequently involved failures of conspicuity. These failures can be predominantly sensory in nature in which, either the world itself does not provide sufficient informational cues such that they are masked or diminished in some fashion, or the sensory surfaces of the observing individual prove insufficient to register the critical cues for action. In contrast to sensory conspicuity stands cognitive conspicuity. Here, the cues from the environment may be very clear and also be efficiently registered by the individual perceiver. Yet, their significance may remain unrecognized due to the experiential and/or attentional limitations of that person. Sensory restrictions are often equated to inherent limits in bottom-up processing. In turn, cognitive limitations are linked to restrictions on top-down processing. In this brief paper, I look to explore a further link to the constructs of data-limited and resource-limited capacities which are closely aligned to the conspicuity dimensions identified. Most especially, I look to introduce the co-action of these processes and how their interactive effects play into various forms of accident with examples taken primarily from ground transportation.
Potential-Sensing Electrochemical AFM Shows CoPi as a Hole Collector and Oxygen Evolution Catalyst on BiVO4 Water-Splitting Photoanodes

Oxide/(oxy)hydroxide overlayers such as cobalt (oxy)hydroxide phosphate (CoPi) enhance the performance of BiVO4 water-spitting photoanodes, but the mechanism of this enhancement remains unclear. We show that if the BiVO4 layer is thin and incompletely covers an underlying conductive glass, the performance dramatically decreases as CoPi loading is increased. This is consistent with direct contact between the CoPi and conducting glass that leads to “shunt” recombination of photogenerated holes accumulated in the CoPi. For thicker BiVO4 layers that completely cover the conducting glass, these shunt pathways are blocked. We then use a nanoelectrode atomic force microscopy probe to measure, in operando, the electrochemical potential of CoPi on thick BiVO4 films under illumination. We find that CoPi is charged to a potential necessary to drive water oxidation at a rate consistent with the measured photocurrent. CoPi acts as a hole collector and is the principal driver of water oxidation on BiVO4.
Characteristics of child physical and sexual abuse as predictors of psychopathology.

Abstract Childhood physical and sexual abuse victims are at increased risk for developing depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adulthood. Prior findings suggest abuse onset, duration, and severity moderate relationships between victimization and psychopathology. However, because these abuse characteristics are highly intercorrelated, their unique, individual effects on mental health outcomes remain unclear. To address this gap, the present study examined relationships between physical and sexual abuse characteristics and mental health outcomes and whether these relationships differed by sex. A diverse community sample of late adolescents and emerging adults (N = 1270; mean age = 19.68; 51% female) self-reported the onset, duration, and severity of physical and sexual abuse, as well as their depressive, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. Results of a multivariate regression model (simultaneously evaluating all physical and sexual abuse characteristics) indicated that physical abuse onset in middle childhood and sexual abuse onset in middle childhood or adolescence were associated with all forms of psychopathology; and physical abuse onset at any time was uniquely linked with PTSD. Duration and severity of physical or sexual abuse did not predict psychopathology after accounting for time of onset. Multigroup analyses indicated that adolescence-onset and duration of sexual abuse respectively predicted anxiety and PTSD in females but not males, whereas sexual abuse severity predicted fewer PTSD symptoms in males but not females. Overall, results suggested that abuse occurring after age 5 may have the most deleterious impact on mental health.
Approximate and Information Aspects of the Numerical Solution of Unstable Integral and Pseudodifferential Equations

We present a survey of the latest results obtained in the field of numerical solutions of unstable integral and pseudodifferential equations. New versions of fully discrete projection and collocation methods are constructed and justified. It is shown that these versions are characterized by the optimal accuracy and cost efficiency, as far as the use of the computational resources is concerned.
Clinical features and long-term outcomes of lower esophageal sphincter-dependent and lower esophageal sphincter-independent jackhammer esophagus.

Background The most recent Chicago Classification expanded the criteria for diagnosis of jackhammer esophagus (JHE) to include the distal contractile integral (DCI) of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The clinical impact of the manometric inclusion of LES hypercontractility remains unclear. We aimed to analyze the clinical features and long-term outcomes of measured LES-dependent (LD-JHE) and LES-independent (LI-JHE) jackhammer esophagus. Methods Patients meeting diagnostic criteria for JHE were identified at two academic medical centers. High-resolution esophageal manometry data were re-analyzed with inclusion and exclusion of the LES DCI. LD-JHE was defined by falling outside JHE diagnostic criteria with exclusion of the LES. A telephone survey was conducted for follow-up utilizing the impact dysphagia (IDQ-10) questionnaire. Key results Eighty-one patients met study inclusion criteria, with 12 (14.8%) classified as LD-JHE. LD-JHE patients had a significantly lower mean DCI and fewer swallows with DCI >8000 mm Hg-s-cm. Basal LES pressure was higher in patients with dysphagia to solids than those with dysphagia to solids and liquids. Clinical and manometric parameters were otherwise similar between groups. Sixty-six patients had clinical or phone follow-up at a median of 46.6 months. Forty-one patients (62.1%) received therapies directed at JHE. There was no difference in symptom improvement for treated vs untreated patients or for JHE subtype. Conclusions and inferences Our findings suggest that LD-JHE and LI-JHE are clinically indistinguishable and thus support existing diagnostic criteria. Furthermore, our long-term follow-up data suggest that JHE, irrespective of LES involvement, may improve without treatment. Further study is needed to clarify which patients merit therapeutic intervention.
Epilegomena: What Is It All About?

The lectures conclude with Quine’s reflections on significance or insignificance of ontology. He develops his arguments for the relativity of ontology and explains how this relativity emerges from an appreciation of the looseness of fit between reception and perception and the further recognition that all reification is theoretical. Given the kind of freedom that comes with the specification of an ontology, Quine concludes that the importance of theory is not to be found in the objects that it posits. Rather it is found in the structural relations between its terms and sentences and observation sentences. The links between theory and observation are found in the recurrence of observation sentences or their parts in theoretical sentences. What these sentences refer to, in their capacity as terms, becomes unimportant.
Motion Artifact Detection and Reduction in Bed-Based Ballistocardiogram

Non-intrusive sleep monitoring is critical for certain populations such as severely disabled autistic children. Nocturnal disturbance analysis is an important diagnostic tool for assessing sleep issues. The objective of this paper is to detect and minimize the effects of motion artifacts in signals recorded via an unobtrusive electromechanical film-based ballistocardiogram (BCG) sensor integrated into a smart bed system. The goal is to have a reliable estimation of beat-to-beat (B-B) interval. The proposed algorithm includes two main stages: a motion detection algorithm followed by a motion artifact removal system. Motion detection involves a sequential detection algorithm in which successive data frames are compared to two thresholds: upper and lower thresholds. Each motion corrupted frame can then be reconstructed by an approach that relies on a parametric model of the BCG signal. Exploiting the fact that the underlying BCG parameters (J-peak-to-J-peak interval, J-peak-to-K-peak amplitude, and the most significant frequency component) change slowly and are correlated across time; an autoregressive model-based tracking and Wiener smoother based parameter estimation strategies are proposed. The experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed motion artifact detection and removal algorithms. The probability of detection of 96% and high average coverage of 84% with over 90% precision for the estimated B-B intervals are achieved on recordings for 19 h of sleep from three subjects. Our novel motion detection and removal methods demonstrate the feasibility of using bed-based BCG signals for providing a reliable unobtrusive way to estimate the B-B interval in the presence of motion.
Black Mirror, mediated affect and the political

Black Mirror combines sensation and critique in an affective formalism that, we argue, yields a proliferation of possible viewer responses. Our analysis focuses on this unique combination of affect...
Comparison and Selection of Current Implantable Anti-Epileptic Devices

Implantable neural stimulators represent an advanced treatment adjunct to medication for pharmacoresistant epilepsy and alternative for patients that are not good candidates for resective surgery. Three treatment modalities are currently FDA-approved: vagus nerve stimulation, responsive neurostimulation, and deep brain stimulation. These devices were originally trialed in very similar patient populations with focal epilepsy, but head-to-head comparison trials have not been performed. As such, device selection may be challenging due to large overlaps in clinical indications and efficacy. Here we will review the data reported in the original pivotal clinical trials as well as long-term experience with these technologies. We will highlight differences in their features and mechanisms of action which may help optimize device selection on a case-by-case basis.
Early and Late Complications Following Pull-Through Operation for Hirschsprung’s Disease

Operative management of Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) should result in a child who is thriving, continent and stooling normally, and free of episodes of enterocolitis. A small group of children do not do well following pull-through procedures. Complications following pull-through operations can occur early or late in the postoperative course. Problems in the immediate postoperative period include enterocolitis, perineal skin excoriation, and other complications inherent to any bowel surgery. Issues developing after the immediate postoperative interval require workup via a systematic approach, evaluating those who are soiling versus those that suffer from obstructive symptoms. Many children and young adults suffer long-term adverse effects of HD on their quality of life and should be followed up into adulthood.
Securing extraocular muscles in strabismus surgery: effect of cautery on suture strength.

An experimental study was performed to evaluate quantitatively the effect of cautery on the tensile strength of sutures commonly used in strabismus surgery. This in vitro study was conducted in a controlled fashion using 6-0 polyglactin 910 suture, two different forms of cautery, and a precision digital force gauge. The results suggest that thermal electrocautery with a wire tip can substantially weaken or break 6-0 polyglactin threads only if direct contact is made, but bipolar cautery at typical ophthalmic surgical settings does not.
Neo-Eurasianism and the Russian elite: the irrelevance of Aleksandr Dugin’s geopolitics

ABSTRACTThe consistency and effectiveness of Russia’s assertive foreign policy has earned Putin, both domestically and internationally, the image of a powerful and ambitious leader with a strategic...
Models based on phonon-nuclear coupling

Abstract We consider a fundamental model for excess heat in the Fleischmann-Pons experiment, and for many other anomlies. The model is based on the coupling of vibrations with internal nuclear degrees of freedom through the relativistic boost correction of the nucleon-nucleon interaction. The lowest order observable process that results is phonon-mediated nuclear excitation transfer, which is thought to have been observed in recent experiments. Many sequential nonresonant excitation transfer steps while maintaining coherence results in coherent multiphonon exchange. The number of quanta converted is limited due to destructive interference, which can be removed through loss or through the off-resonant shift of the internal nuclear states. The models that result have the potential to address excitation transfer, excess heat production, and many other anomalies systematically.
300mm Heterogeneous 3D Integration of Record Performance Layer Transfer Germanium PMOS with Silicon NMOS for Low Power High Performance Logic Applications

We report a short channel high performance Ge PMOS integrated with Si NMOS in sequential monolithic 3D stacking. A layer transfer Ge PMOS with record I ON = 497 μA/μm at I OFF = 8nA/μm and I ON = 630 μA/μm at I OFF = 100nA/μm and V DS = -0.5V is achieved for the first time. Optimized design of metal gate and contact on bottom Si NMOS device layer, along with a low process thermal budget developed for Ge layer transfer and top Ge PMOS device fabrication, allow for sequential stacking with no degradation on each MOS device characteristics. Heterogeneous 3D stacked Ge-Si CMOS inverter is also successfully demonstrated with drive performance maintained on Ge PMOS and Si NMOS.
10 – Heat Sealing and Repair

Publisher Summary The melt fabrication of fluorinated ionomers is typically done in the precursor form but the finished product in the hydrogen ion form has enough melt flow to permit heat sealing and repair. Impulse heating is used for heat sealing because at the required temperatures, the ionomers undergo slow thermal degradation. Ionomers in the tetra alkyl ammonium form have a much lower melting point than ionomers containing inorganic cations. The tetra butyl ammonium form is particularly easy to heat seal. Quiver in Milan, Italy offers a complete system for membrane repair, including equipment to check large sheets of membranes for leaks, automated patching equipment, and patches made of Nafion® attached to a Kapton® release sheet. This chapter pictorially depicts the steps of the repair procedure. For the repair of membranes with a cathode side barrier layer, the anode side of the patch is sealed against the anode side of the membrane to be repaired.
Measurement of neutron yields from UF 4

We have performed measurements of neutron production from UF 4 samples using liquid scintillator as the detector material. Neutrons and gamma rays were separated by a multichannel digital pulse shape discriminator, and the neutron pulse-height spectra were unfolded using sequential least-squares optimization with an active set strategy. The unfolded spectra were compared to estimates calculated with the SOURCES 4C code.
Sjögren-Larsson syndrome: Anesthetic considerations and practical recommendations.

Background Sjogren-Larsson syndrome is a rare inherited neurocutaneous disorder characterized by congenital ichthyosis, spasticity, intellectual disability, seizures, and ophthalmologic changes. Most individuals with Sjogren-Larsson syndrome live well into adulthood and often require surgical intervention to manage their symptomatology. Aims The aim of this work was to review the clinical aspects of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome, highlight the unique anesthetic considerations associated with this disease, and provide practical recommendations about anesthetic management. Methods A retrospective case review from February 2013 to October 2019 was performed based on subject participation in a Sjogren-Larsson syndrome longitudinal study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Anesthetic and surgical records were reviewed for the following data: age, sex, relevant comorbid conditions, anesthetic induction and maintenance agents, intravenous and oral analgesics, muscle relaxants, and anesthetic-related complications. Results Fourteen patients with Sjogren-Larsson syndrome undergoing 48 anesthetic events were identified. A variety of anesthetic techniques was utilized. No serious adverse events were encountered. The most common clinical observations were related to the ichthyosis seen in Sjogren-Larsson syndrome, which led to difficulty in adherence of electrocardiogram leads and intravenous catheter dressings. Conclusions We found that anesthesia can be safely administered in patients with Sjogren-Larsson syndrome. Providers should be aware of anesthetic management issues in Sjogren-Larsson syndrome including challenges placing and securing lines and monitors secondary to the ichthyosis.
A North American Cohort of Anti-SAE Dermatomyositis: Clinical Phenotype, Testing, and Review of Cases.

Objective Antibodies against the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) activating enzyme (SAE) are one of the rarer specificities associated with dermatomyositis (DM). The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with anti-SAE autoantibodies in a North American cohort and to ascertain cancer prevalence. We also describe the performance characteristics of the line blotting (Euroimmun) method for antibody detection compared with an immunoprecipitation-based assay. Methods Sera from 2127 patients suspected of having myositis were assayed for myositis-specific autoantibodies using the Euroimmun platform. Those positive for SAE autoantibodies were assayed by a second method (immunoprecipitation) for confirmation. Only those cases positive by both methods were taken as definite cases of anti-SAE-positive DM. Chart reviews of these patients were completed to obtain information on clinical characteristics, cancer history, and treatment. Results Forty-three of 2127 sera were anti-SAE autoantibody positive by Euroimmun (≥15 units, +); of these, only 19 were confirmed positive by immunoprecipitation. All 19 cases had skin involvement and varying presentations of muscle, lung, and joint disease. Cancer occurred coincident with DM in two patients, and cancers were detected more than 5 years from symptom onset in three patients. In a population of suspected inflammatory myositis, a higher cutoff on line blot testing (≥36 units, ++) yielded better agreement with immunoprecipitation methods. Conclusion SAE autoantibodies associate with a clinical phenotype of DM, which most commonly presents with a rash first, followed by muscle involvement and varying extramuscular involvement. As coincident cancer was seen in anti-SAE-positive DM, judicious malignancy screening may be warranted.
Integrated Stacked Silicon Microcoolers

In a previous study [1], the authors have investigated stacked silicon microcoolers and quantified their thermal performance envelope in a separable format where the microcooler is attached to an electronic package lid with an intervening TIM2. In this study, we expand the previous study by integrating the stacked microcoolers into an electronic package, i.e., by removing the lid and the TIM2.A summary of thermal resistance and pressure drop experimental data spanning a wide range of fluid flow rates is presented. Additionally, numerical modeling using FEA/CFD models is conducted and the results compared to the experimental data.Results reveal that the thermal performance of the integrated microcoolers is ~ 30% superior that of the separated microcoolers. The numerical model results accurately predict the experimental data to within 20%. Directions for future thermal performance improvements using multiple inlet/outlet ports and varying the number of cooler stacks are identified using the numerical models.