bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Sweeteners and Sugar Ingredients as Reducing Agent for Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Hemmati Shohreh , Retzlaff-Roberts Erin , Scott Corren , Harris Michael T.
Published: January 2019

An environmentally friendly technique has been developed to produce metal nanoparticles using green synthesis methods. In this study, silver nanostructures were synthesized using different sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners as green reducing agents in an aqueous solution at low temperature. The main ingredients (such as maltodextrin, sucrose, saccharin, and sucralose) of the artificial sweeteners acting as reducing agents were used to reduce Ag+ ions to Ag0. The pH of the solution was controlled during synthesis through the addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to increase the strength of the reducing agents by converting nonreducing sugars to reducing ones and consequently increasing the rate of silver nanoparticle formation. The size and morphology of the synthesized nanostructures were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The formation of nanostructures during the course of the reactions was investigated by UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy characterization of an aliquot of sample at specific intervals. The function of each artificial sweetener and corresponding ingredients as a reducing agent and capping agent was investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectrometry (MS).
Macrodystrophia Lipomatosa of the Finger: A Case Report
Authors: AlArifi Mishal , Al Essa Ahmad , Mashour Miral , Mohamed Aly Ahmed , Tayara Bader , Al Absi Emad
Published: January 2019

Introduction: Macrodystrophia lipomatosa is a rare benign condition characterized by a progressive persistent proliferation of the mesenchymal components and elements, with a disproportionate increase in fibro-adipose tissue. It causes a debilitating functional and psychological effect on the patient and his family. Case presentation: A 25-years-old male patient presented complaining of left middle finger swelling which was painless and progressive in size with no restriction of range of motion. Plain X-ray films of the left hand showed a heterogeneous lobulated soft tissue mass on the volar aspect of the middle finger which was confirmed by MRI scan. Surgery was performed by doing a left middle finger soft tissue excision and diagnosis of Macrodystrophia lipomatosa was confirmed by the histopathology report. Patient was on regular follow up in the clinic with no tumour recurrence and an excellent cosmetic as well as functional result with full finger joints range of motion. Conclusion: Macrodystrophia lipomatosa should be suspected with this kind of presentations. Combination of the clinical history and examination with the aid of radiological assays aided in the diagnosis of this extremely rare case and led to the appropriate management by excising this mass and restoring the normal function of the patient’s hand.
Discovery of Distinct Immune Phenotypes Using Machine Learning in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Sweatt Andrew J. , Hedlin Haley K. , Balasubramanian Vidhya , Hsi Andrew , Blum Lisa K. , Robinson William H. , Haddad Francois , Hickey Peter M. , Condliffe Robin , Lawrie Allan , Nicolls Mark R. , Rabinovitch Marlene , Khatri Purvesh , Zamanian Roham T.
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Accumulating evidence implicates inflammation in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and therapies targeting immunity are under investigation, although it remains unknown if distinct immune phenotypes exist.

Objective:

Identify PAH immune phenotypes based on unsupervised analysis of blood proteomic profiles.

Methods and Results:

In a prospective observational study of group 1 PAH patients evaluated at Stanford University (discovery cohort; n=281) and University of Sheffield (validation cohort; n=104) between 2008 and 2014, we measured a circulating proteomic panel of 48 cytokines, chemokines, and factors using multiplex immunoassay. Unsupervised machine learning (consensus clustering) was applied in both cohorts independently to classify patients into proteomic immune clusters, without guidance from clinical features. To identify central proteins in each cluster, we performed partial correlation network analysis. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were subsequently compared across clusters. Four PAH clusters with distinct proteomic immune profiles were identified in the discovery cohort. Cluster 2 (n=109) had low cytokine levels similar to controls. Other clusters had unique sets of upregulated proteins central to immune networks—cluster 1 (n=58; TRAIL [tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand], CCL5 [C-C motif chemokine ligand 5], CCL7, CCL4, MIF [macrophage migration inhibitory factor]), cluster 3 (n=77; IL [interleukin]-12, IL-17, IL-10, IL-7, VEGF [vascular endothelial growth factor]), and cluster 4 (n=37; IL-8, IL-4, PDGF-β [platelet-derived growth factor beta], IL-6, CCL11). Demographics, PAH clinical subtypes, comorbidities, and medications were similar across clusters. Noninvasive and hemodynamic surrogates of clinical risk identified cluster 1 as high-risk and cluster 3 as low-risk groups. Five-year transplant-free survival rates were unfavorable for cluster 1 (47.6%; 95% CI, 35.4%–64.1%) and favorable for cluster 3 (82.4%; 95% CI, 72.0%–94.3%; across-cluster
P
<0.001). Findings were replicated in the validation cohort, where machine learning classified 4 immune clusters with comparable proteomic, clinical, and prognostic features.

Conclusions:

Blood cytokine profiles distinguish PAH immune phenotypes with differing clinical risk that are independent of World Health Organization group 1 subtypes. These phenotypes could inform mechanistic studies of disease pathobiology and provide a framework to examine patient responses to emerging therapies targeting immunity.
Molecular Imaging Visualizes Recruitment of Inflammatory Monocytes and Macrophages to the Injured Heart
Authors: Heo Gyu Seong , Kopecky Benjamin , Sultan Deborah , Ou Monica , Feng Guoshuai , Bajpai Geetika , Zhang Xiaohui , Luehmann Hannah , Detering Lisa , Su Yi , Leuschner Florian , Combadière Christophe , Kreisel Daniel , Gropler Robert J. , Brody Steven L. , Liu Yongjian , Lavine Kory J.
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Paradigm shifting studies have revealed that the heart contains functionally diverse populations of macrophages derived from distinct embryonic and adult hematopoietic progenitors. Under steady-state conditions, the heart is largely populated by CCR2− (C-C chemokine receptor type 2) macrophages of embryonic descent. After tissue injury, a dramatic shift in macrophage composition occurs whereby CCR2+ monocytes are recruited to the heart and differentiate into inflammatory CCR2+ macrophages that contribute to heart failure progression. Currently, there are no techniques to noninvasively detect CCR2+ monocyte recruitment into the heart and thus identify patients who may be candidates for immunomodulatory therapy.

Objective:

To develop a noninvasive molecular imaging strategy with high sensitivity and specificity to visualize inflammatory monocyte and macrophage accumulation in the heart.

Methods and Results:

We synthesized and tested the performance of a positron emission tomography radiotracer (
68
Ga-DOTA [1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid]-ECL1i [extracellular loop 1 inverso]) that allosterically binds to CCR2. In naive mice, the radiotracer was quickly cleared from the blood and displayed minimal retention in major organs. In contrast, biodistribution and positron emission tomography demonstrated strong myocardial tracer uptake in 2 models of cardiac injury (diphtheria toxin induced cardiomyocyte ablation and reperfused myocardial infarction).
68
Ga-DOTA-ECL1i signal localized to sites of tissue injury and was independent of blood pool activity as assessed by quantitative positron emission tomography and ex vivo autoradiography.
68
Ga-DOTA-ECL1i uptake was associated with CCR2+ monocyte and CCR2+ macrophage infiltration into the heart and was abrogated in CCR2
−/
−
mice, demonstrating target specificity. Autoradiography demonstrated that
68
Ga-DOTA-ECL1i specifically binds human heart failure specimens and with signal intensity associated with CCR2+ macrophage abundance.

Conclusions:

These findings demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of
68
Ga-DOTA-ECL1i in the mouse heart and highlight the translational potential of this agent to noninvasively visualize CCR2+ monocyte recruitment and inflammatory macrophage accumulation in patients.
Pregnancy Increases Ca
2+
Sparks/Spontaneous Transient Outward Currents and Reduces Uterine Arterial Myogenic Tone
Authors: Hu Xiang-Qun , Song Rui , Romero Monica , Dasgupta Chiranjib , Huang Xiaohui , Holguin Mark A. , Williams VaShon , Xiao Daliao , Wilson Sean M. , Zhang Lubo
Published: January 2019

Spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) at physiological membrane potentials of vascular smooth muscle cells fundamentally regulate vascular myogenic tone and blood flow in an organ. We hypothesize that heightened STOCs play a key role in uterine vascular adaptation to pregnancy. Uterine arteries were isolated from nonpregnant and near-term pregnant sheep. Ca
2+
sparks were measured by confocal microscopy, and STOCs were determined by electrophysiological recording in smooth muscle cells. Percentage of Ca
2+
spark firing myocytes increased dramatically at the resting condition in uterine arterial smooth muscle of pregnant animals, as compared with nonpregnant animals. Pregnancy upregulated the expression of RyRs (ryanodine receptors) and significantly boosted Ca
2+
spark frequency. Ex vivo treatment of uterine arteries of nonpregnant sheep with estrogen and progesterone imitated pregnancy-induced RyR upregulation. STOCs occurred at much more negative membrane potentials in uterine arterial myocytes of pregnant animals. STOCs in uterine arterial myocytes were diminished by inhibiting large-conductance Ca
2+
-activated K
+
(BK
Ca
) channels and RyRs, thus functionally linking Ca
2+
sparks and BK
Ca
channel activity to STOCs. Pregnancy and steroid hormone treatment significantly increased STOCs frequency and amplitude in uterine arteries. Of importance, inhibition of STOCs with RyR inhibitor ryanodine eliminated pregnancy- and steroid hormone-induced attenuation of uterine arterial myogenic tone. Thus, the present study demonstrates a novel role of Ca
2+
sparks and STOCs in the regulation of uterine vascular tone and provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying uterine vascular adaptation to pregnancy.
Personalized Prehospital Triage in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Venema Esmee , Lingsma Hester F. , Chalos Vicky , Mulder Maxim J.H.L. , Lahr Maarten M.H. , van der Lugt Aad , van Es Adriaan C.G.M. , Steyerberg Ewout W. , Hunink M.G. Myriam , Dippel Diederik W.J. , Roozenbeek Bob
Published: January 2019

Background and Purpose—

Direct transportation to a center with facilities for endovascular treatment might be beneficial for patients with acute ischemic stroke, but it can also cause harm by delay of intravenous treatment. Our aim was to determine the optimal prehospital transportation strategy for individual patients and to assess which factors influence this decision.

Methods—

We constructed a decision tree model to compare outcome of ischemic stroke patients after transportation to a primary stroke center versus a more distant intervention center. The optimal strategy was estimated based on individual patient characteristics, geographic location, and workflow times. In the base case scenario, the primary stroke center was located at 20 minutes and the intervention center at 45 minutes. Additional sensitivity analyses included an urban scenario (10 versus 20 minutes) and a rural scenario (30 versus 90 minutes).

Results—

Direct transportation to the intervention center led to better outcomes in the base case scenario when the likelihood of a large vessel occlusion as a cause of the ischemic stroke was >33%. With a high likelihood of large vessel occlusion (66%, comparable with a Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation score of 5 or above), the benefit of direct transportation to the intervention center was 0.10 quality-adjusted life years (=36 days in full health). In the urban scenario, direct transportation to an intervention center was beneficial when the risk of large vessel occlusion was 24% or higher. In the rural scenario, this threshold was 49%. Other factors influencing the decision included door-to-needle times, door-to-groin times, and the door-in-door-out time.

Conclusions—

The preferred prehospital transportation strategy for suspected stroke patients depends mainly on the likelihood of large vessel occlusion, driving times, and in-hospital workflow times. We constructed a robust model that combines these characteristics and can be used to personalize prehospital triage, especially in more remote areas.
A review of the Tachinus longicornis-group of the subgenus Tachinoderus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Tachyporinae) from China
Authors: CHANG YUAN , LI LI-ZHEN , YIN ZI-WEI , SCHÜLKE MICHAEL
Published: January 2019

The Chinese species of the Tachinus longicornis-group of the subgenus Tachinoderus Motschulsky are reviewed with six species being treated, of which five are described as new: T. bilobus Chang, Li, & Yin sp. nov. (Hubei, Sichuan), T. centralis Chang, Li, Yin & Schülke sp. nov. (Shaanxi, Hubei, Chongqing, and Sichuan), T. curvipennis Chang, Li, & Yin sp. nov. (Hubei), T. lobutulus Chang, Li, & Yin sp. nov. (Yunnan), and T. tangliangi Chang, Li, Yin & Schülke sp. nov. (Yunnan; Thailand: Chiang Mai). Numerous new records are provided for T. ohbayashii Li, Zhao & Sakai, a species originally described from West Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang. An identification key and a distributional map for the Chinese species are given.
At the Heart of the Advocacy Dilemma: A Mechanistic World View
Authors: Heshusius Lous
Published: January 2019

The conflict which sometimes arises between acting simultaneously as a child advocate and as a professional employee is related to the philosophical underpinnings which inspire the current approach to special education. These underpinnings are manifested in a mechanistic view of reality that entered Western thought through Newtonian physics. Criticisms of this world view from various sciences are presented, centering on its narrow and inaccurate representation of reality, and specifically of behavior and learning. A nonmechanistic set of assumptions about the nature of reality and of behavior is juxtaposed as a strong force in contemporary scientific thought. This nonmechanistic or holistic world view is set forth as a better model to guide special education practices for the future.
The Effects of Alcohol on the Fetus
Authors: Furey Eileen M.
Published: January 2019

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is defined by a pattern of characteristics that include prenatal and postnatal growth deficiencies, short eyelid slits, abnormal jaw protrusion, altered palmar crease patterns, and joint and cardiac anomalies. The major outcome of the FAS is mental deficiency concomitant with fine motor dysfunction. This article explores recent findings on FAS, patterns of malformation, alcohol and other drugs, the toxicity of ethanol, the incidence of FAS, and implications of the syndrome.
Stressors and Remediation Techniques for Special Educators
Authors: Cook Jean M. Elledge , Leffingwell R. Jon
Published: January 2019

Special educator stressors within the realm of administrative remediation are identified and organized under the topics of roles, resources, and relationships. Problems such as lack of role clarity, lack of time, lack of material resources, and insufficient recognition and reinforcement are examined. Practical remediation strategies to reduce special educator stress and ward off burnout and eventual resignation are identified and discussed.
Minority Issues in Special Education: A Principal-Mediated Inservice Program for Teachers
Authors: Preston Dorothy , Greenwood Charles R. , Hughes Verona , Yuen Ping , Thibadeau Susan , Critchlow Winifred , Harris Jasper
Published: January 2019

This article reports the results of an evaluation of a principal-mediated inservice teacher training program on minority issues in special education. Within the past 10 years, multicultural and minority issues have emerged as a major concern in the special education field. The profession has responded to these issues with numerous personnel preparation activities, including topical conferences and improvements in university training programs at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Perhaps least represented has been inservice educational programs for teachers currently serving in the classroom. This article describes (a) the inservice training program (content, procedures, media, etc. J developed at the University of Kansas for application to local building-level inservice activities, and (b) the results of an evaluation of its application. Trainee satisfaction with the program was assessed and issues remaining for further research and development are discussed.
Placement Decisions Revisited: IQ Doesn't Always Tip the Scale
Authors: Knoff Howard M.
Published: January 2019

The differential influence of IQ and adaptive behavior data was investigated by presenting four case studies to 20 school psychology graduate students, 20 special education graduate students, 20 school psychology practitioners, and 20 special education practitioners. Subjects were asked to make educational placement decisions for each case study, with half receiving the data in an IQ-adaptive behavior scale order, and half in the reverse order. Results indicated that the school psychology and special education students and practitioners did not differ in their relative uses of the data in the decision-making process, and that all subjects consistely made placements in least restrictive environments. Educational placements across the four case studies differed both with respect to the differential influence of IQ and adaptive behavior data and the order of presentation. The complexity of the placement process and educational implications are discussed.
Selective Attention Deficits in Learning Disabled Children: Analysis of the Data Base
Authors: Fleisher Lisa S. , Soodak Leslie C. , Jelin Marjorie A.
Published: January 2019

Recent developments in the field of special education suggest that attention deficits are a distinguishing characteristic of learning disabled children. This article analyzes the existing data base used to support the notion of selective attention de/icits in learning disabled children. Conceptual and methodological issues involved in the interpretation of findings based on a single and speci/ic research paradigm are explored. These issues indicate that evidence of selective attention deficits are at best inconclusive and that using these findings as the basis for classification and intervention is unwarranted.
Resource Room Programs: Where are we Now?
Authors: Friend Marilyn , McNutt Gaye
Published: January 2019

Resource room programs are reported to be the most widely used educational service delivery system for the mildly handicapped, but there appears to be considerable variation in the ways in which the resource room model is operated. The purpose of this investigation was to survey state departments of education and the District of Columbia to determine the nationwide status of the resource room as a service delivery system and to identify characteristics of resource room programs as they were implemented during the 1982-1983 school year. A questionnaire was sent to a special education representative in each State Department of Education and the District of Columbia and a 100% response rate was obtained. The results indicated that the resource room was the most frequently used alternative to the regular education classroom setting for special education students, and the one most often used to serve the mildly-to-moderately handicapped. The amount of time that students spent in these programs varied, but most states recommended time parameters. The data also suggested that state descriptions generally failed to delineate resource room services or resource teacher responsibilities.
Directions in Vocational Services for Moderately Retarded Persons in Newfoundland and Labrador
Authors: Hillier Charles R. , Klas Leroy D.
Published: January 2019

This study investigated viewpoints from a group of service providers regarding future developments in the field of vocational services for moderately mentally retarded persons in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Delphi technique, a predictive or forecasting device, was used to survey and investigate future policy in this field. In general, the respondents expected that a variety of very desirable events could occur in this field by 1995; however, they were less optimistic regarding the feasibility of the implementation of some of these events.
Values of Exceptional Students during Early Adolescence
Authors: Arnold John
Published: January 2019

An 11-item, rank order values inventory was administered to 104 exceptional adolescents in five diagnostic categories and to 101 nonexceptional adolescents. Results indicate the two main groups have similar value hierarchies. Both ranked good education, freedom, family security, and true friendship among their top five values, and equality, exciting life, and sense of accomplishment least important. Similar value patterns also existed among exceptional students in different categories. Comparison of rankings to those from different, nonexceptional adolescent populations shows demographic factors may influence value patterns more than handicapping conditions. Exceptional and nonexceptional students did differ significantly on good education and freedom. Findings refute stereotypes of exceptional adolescents. Exceptional adolescents’ top ranking of good education is especially significant for educators.
Measuring Time Needed for Learning to Predict Learning Outcomes
Authors: Gettinger Maribeth
Published: January 2019

This article describes the application of a dynamic, or process assessment, model for children with reading problems. The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate individual differences in the number of learning trials needed by 36 children (mean age = 7.2) to reach criterion on training words during phonics instruction on two short vowels. Furthermore, the study investigated the extent to which such a process measure of learning rate during training was related to learning outcomes or products (i.e., retention and posttest performance). Findings are discussed in light of their implications for assessment and educational research or practice.
Definitional, Parametric, and Procedural Considerations in Timeout Interventions and Research
Authors: Harris Karen R.
Published: January 2019

This article reviews definitional, parametric, and procedural issues which must be considered to optimize the effectiveness of timeout, an intervention frequently used with exceptional students. The conceptual basis of timeout is explained as a meaningful discrepancy between the timein and timeout environments, and five general types of timeout are delineated: (a) isolation timeout, (b) exclusion timeout, (c) contingent observation, (d) removal of reinforcing stimulus conditions, and (e) ignoring the student. The results of parametric and comparative investigations involving these five types of timeout are reviewed. However, a comprehensive knowledge base concerning timeout has yet to be established. Thus, directions for future research and the need for systematic studies are noted. Procedural considerations, including preconditions, contextual variables, concurrent interventions, and evaluation of timeout, are then discussed.
Educator Perceptions of Behavior Problems of Mainstreamed Students
Authors: Campbell N. Jo , Dobson Judith E. , Bost Jane M.
Published: January 2019

The behavior problems of students in mainstreamed classrooms may be due in part to the expectations of educators who have not internalized information on teaching the diversity of students found in that setting. The educators involved in this study were predominantly regular classroom teachers but also included counselors, librarians, special educators, administrators, etc. They appeared to perceive student behavior problems as more serious when displayed by nonhandicapped or physically handicapped students than when displayed by mentally handicapped students. The same educators recommended more behavioral treatments having an authoritarian orientation for nonhandicapped than for physically handicapped students. This study indicates educators need to develop attitudes and skills necessary for behavior management in the mainstreamed school environment.
Processes Influencing Linkages between Preschool Handicap Classrooms and Homes
Authors: Fuqua Robert W. , Hegland Susan M. , Karas Shirley C.
Published: January 2019

An ecological developmental perspective suggested by Bronfenbrenner (1979) was used to examine the processes influencing linkages between preschool handicap classrooms and children's homes. Data were gathered from questionnaires completed by 185 teachers. Results indicated that most programs provide several avenues for teacher-parent interactions. However, few avenues were used and those most often used were not the ones which contributed to teachers’ satisfaction with parent involvement in their program nor to improved parent-teacher communication from the teachers’ view. Teachers’ attitudes, how they were related to teacher-parent interactions, and how these attitudes were influenced by characteristics of the programs were also assessed. Implications for future research and educational practice were discussed.
Baby Doe and the Search for a Quality Life
Authors: Powell T. Hennessy , Hecimovic Anton
Published: January 2019

Recent “Baby Doe” decisions and governmental rules have prompted a review of the quality of life afforded infants with severe handicaps. Several disciplines (psychology, education, social services) have been actively engaged in searching for methodology, technology, and service delivery models to improve the life experienced by these in/ants. This search has focused on work along several dimensions of a quality life, including educability, relationships, residence, access, and technology. It is critical for those making treatment decisions to be aware of advances that will help afford an improved quality of life to infants with severe handicaps. It is our duty to further these advances and make them more known to decision makers and the general public.
Stages and Standards in Literacy: Teaching Developmentally in the Age of Accountability
Authors: Gehsmann Kristin M.
Published: January 2019

This article describes a model of literacy development, as reflected in students’ spelling. The model, based on research that has identified five stages of word knowledge, explains the development of this knowledge in readers and writers, and provides a framework for elementary-grade instruction that is intended to: 1) address grade-level expectations established by the English/Language Arts standards of the Common Core State Standards, and 2) describe a developmentally appropriate approach to instruction. The model also informs the assessment of word or orthographic knowledge in order to gain insight into the range of developmental levels in a classroom, and to guide instruction in whole-class and small-group contexts. Examples focus on a third-grade classroom in which the range of developmental levels includes beginning, transitional, and intermediate readers and writers, and suggest the implications of developmentally grounded instruction for supporting students’ growth toward achieving grade-specific Common Core State Standards in reading and language arts.
Using the Universal Design for Learning Framework to Support Culturally Diverse Learners
Authors: Chita-Tegmark Meia , Gravel Jenna W. , Maria De Lourdes B. Serpa , Domings Yvonne , Rose David H.
Published: January 2019

This article describes the mechanism through which cultural variability is a source of learning differences. The authors argue that the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can be extended to capture the way in which learning is influenced by cultural variability, and show how the UDL framework might be used to create a curriculum that is responsive to this cultural dimension of learning. We also suggest that when used in this way, the UDL framework may not only reduce barriers for culturally diverse learners, but also increase the learning opportunities for all learners—helping them to develop proficiency in a broader range of expressive, analytic, and cognitive styles that are crucial to success in the twenty-first century.
Graphic Novels: What Elementary Teachers Think about Their Instructional Value
Authors: Lapp Diane , Wolsey Thomas Devere , Fisher Douglas , Frey Nancy
Published: January 2019

Survey methods were employed to learn more about teachers’ attitudes toward graphic novels and how graphic novels are used in their classrooms. Questions explored participants’ attitudes and actual classroom use. The survey research sought to determine if teachers are open to using graphic novels and the extent of their willingness to do so. Though teachers report willingness to use graphic novels and other graphica, they are limited in their attempts to do so by lack of instructional models, lack of graphic novels in the classroom, and their own level of comfort with the genre.
Introducing the Nonviolent Action in Violent Contexts (NVAVC) dataset
Authors: Chenoweth Erica , Hendrix Cullen S , Hunter Kyleanne
Published: January 2019

Scholarship on civil war is overwhelmingly preoccupied with armed activity. Data collection efforts on actors in civil wars tend to reflect this emphasis, with most studies focusing on the identities, attributes, and violent behavior of armed actors. Yet various actors also use nonviolent methods to shape the intensity and variation of violence as well as the duration of peace in the aftermath. Existing datasets on mobilization by non-state actors – such as the Armed Conflict Events and Location (ACLED), Integrated Conflict Early Warning System (ICEWS), and Social Conflict Analysis Database (SCAD) – tend to include data on manifest contentious acts, such as protests, strikes, and demonstrations, and exclude activities like organizing, planning, training, negotiations, communications, and capacity-building that may be critical to the actors’ ultimate success. To provide a more comprehensive and reliable view of the landscape of possible nonviolent behaviors involved in civil wars, we present the Nonviolent Action in Violent Contexts (NVAVC) dataset, which identifies 3,662 nonviolent actions during civil wars in Africa between 1990 and 2012, across 124 conflict-years in 17 countries. In this article, we describe the data collection process, discuss the information contained therein, and offer descriptive statistics and discuss spatial patterns. The framework we develop provides a powerful tool for future researchers to use to categorize various types of nonviolent action, and the data we collect provide important evidence that such efforts are worthwhile.
Fratricide in rebel movements: A network analysis of Syrian militant infighting
Authors: Gade Emily Kalah , Hafez Mohammed M , Gabbay Michael
Published: January 2019

Violent conflict among rebels is a common feature of civil wars and insurgencies. Yet, not all rebel groups are equally prone to such infighting. While previous research has focused on the systemic causes of violent conflict within rebel movements, this article explores the factors that affect the risk of conflict between pairs of rebel groups. We generate hypotheses concerning how differences in power, ideology, and state sponsors between rebel groups impact their propensity to clash and test them using data from the Syrian civil war. The data, drawn from hundreds of infighting claims made by rebel groups on social media, are used to construct a network of conflictual ties among 30 rebel groups. The relationship between the observed network structure and the independent variables is evaluated using network analysis metrics and methods including assortativity, community structure, simulation, and latent space modeling. We find strong evidence that ideologically distant groups have a higher propensity for infighting than ideologically proximate ones. We also find support for power asymmetry, meaning that pairs of groups of disparate size are at greater risk of infighting than pairs of equal strength. No support was found for the proposition that sharing state sponsors mitigates rebels’ propensity for infighting. Our results provide an important corrective to prevailing theory, which discounts the role of ideology in militant factional dynamics within fragmented conflicts.
Civilian resettlement patterns in civil war
Authors: Steele Abbey
Published: January 2019

This article proposes a descriptive typology of civilian resettlement patterns in civil wars. The patterns vary in two dimensions: whether or not displaced civilians cluster together or resettle independently, and if they remain within their home country or not. The combination of the factors leads to four resettlement patterns: expulsion, segregation, integration, and dispersion. Expulsion and segregation occur when the displaced cluster, either within the home state (segregation) or beyond it (expulsion). Integration and dispersion occur when the displaced do not cluster but seek to blend in with other communities, either abroad (dispersion) or within core cities and towns in the state (integration). After introducing the typology and illustrating it with examples, the article engages in theory-building to explain variation in resettlement patterns. It argues that resettlement forms are based on the type of displacement that civilians experience, and the perpetrator of the violence. The displacement type influences individuals’ best strategy for achieving relative safety. Within and across wars, groups that experience political cleansing are likely to cluster together for safety. The best destination options for the displaced to resettle depend on the perpetrator, which lead to clustering either within a state if the actor is non-state, or outside the state if the actor is the state or an ally. The argument is illustrated with examples. Finally, the article considers the implications of resettlement patterns for violence, conflict, and state-building.
Les politiques du soufisme en France : le cas de la Qādiriyya Būdshīshiyya
Authors: Piraino Francesco
Published: January 2019

In this article I analyse the politics of the Qādiriyya Būdshīshiyya Sufi order in France. I will consider the cultural activities based in Paris and the activities of public figures such as the rapper Abd Al Malik and Senator Bariza Khiari. These activities can be described as a form of post-Islamist engagement following Asef Bayat. In this political frame, democratic values, understood as acceptance of religious, ethnic and cultural, as well as community participation in the regulation of living together, are not only accepted but are mostly viewed as intrinsically Islamic. Furthermore, I challenge the stereotype of Sufism considered as privatized and without any impact on the public sphere.
Unorganized atheism and the secular movement: reddit as a site for studying ‘lived atheism’
Authors: Lundmark Evelina , LeDrew Stephen
Published: January 2019

This article examines discussions on the reddit.com forum r/atheism in comparison with rhetoric found in contemporary atheist organizations and among leading figures within the atheist movement. We demonstrate how the culture of r/atheism converges with that of formal atheist cultures, most importantly regarding understandings of rationality and how religious people deviate from it, while highlighting areas of tension regarding how to relate to religion and religious people. We conclude that the social experience of community and belonging appears to be as important as other more instrumental goals commonly adopted by secular activists, and that tensions regarding the practice of atheism and the purpose of the forum correspond to tensions found in formal institutional contexts. We thus argue that while r/atheism is not directly or explicitly affiliated with atheist activism, overlap in the nature of discussion and debates is sufficient to consider the forum another window into the development of a general atheist culture practiced in institutional contexts and at the everyday level of ‘lived’ atheism.
Seemly and Due Order: Some Reflections on the Anglican Liturgical Principle
Authors: Pinnington John
Published: January 2019

If you are a “Roman Catholic child for church ceremonies”, you would find a playfellow in me, for I am always delighted with them, when I can see them in my own way. 1
Forecasting by designing Mamdani general type-2 fuzzy logic systems optimized with quantum particle swarm optimization algorithms
Authors: Chen Yang , Wang Dazhi
Published: January 2019

Much more attention has been focused on studying and applying general type-2 fuzzy logic systems (GT2 FLSs) in recent years. The paper designs a type of Mamdani GT2 FLS for studying forecasting problems based on the data of permanent magnetic drive (PMD) loss. During the system design process, we choose the primary membership functions (MFs) of antecedent, consequent and input measurement general type-2 fuzzy sets (GT2 FSs) as Gaussian type MFs with uncertain standard deviations. The corresponding vertical slices (secondary MFs) are chosen as the triangle MFs. All the parameters of Mamdani GT2 FLSs are optimized by the quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO) algorithms. Noisy data of PMD loss are adopted for both training and testing the proposed FLSs forecasting approaches. Simulation studies and convergence analysis are employed to show the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed GT2 FLSs forecasting methods compared with their T1 and IT2 counterparts.
Jacob, Esau, and the Constructive Possibilities of the Other
Authors: Anderson Bradford A.
Published: January 2019

The points of contact between Genesis 27 and 32–33 have inspired significant commentary through the years, much of which has revolved around the question of whether the latter should be understood as the fulfillment of Isaac's pronouncements over Jacob and Esau in the former. This essay highlights the role of the displaced firstborn Esau in these narratives, suggesting that a reading which is attentive to the unchosen brother can offer fresh perspective for thinking about some of the complexities surrounding blessing and fulfillment in the Jacob Cycle.
Elisha's Body and the Queer Touch of Prophecy
Authors: Graybill Rhiannon
Published: January 2019

When we talk about prophecy, we often focus on words or deeds—on what the prophets say, or on their performance of miraculous acts. The Elisha narratives, however, repeatedly direct attention to the prophet's body. This body is frequently deficient, powerless, or insufficiently masculine. And yet it is in these moments that Elisha's body is most effective and even powerful. This article surveys key moments in Elisha's embodiment, including the incident with the boys at Bethel (2 Kgs 2:23–25), the restoration of the Shunammite's son (2 Kgs 4:8–37), and the life-giving powers of the prophet's bones after his death (2 Kgs 13:20–21). An analysis of these texts suggests that Elisha's body is non-normative and even queer, and that his success as a prophet depends on his movement outside of normative masculine embodiment. Understanding the prophet Elisha requires understanding the prophet's body; understanding the prophet's body, in turn, opens a world of meanings and possibilities of its own, with particular significance for feminist and queer hermeneutics.
Council Size Matters: Filling Blanks in Women’s Municipal Representation in New Jersey
Authors: Kjaer Ulrik , Dittmar Kelly , Carroll Susan J.
Published: January 2019

This article “goes local” to investigate the representation of women on city councils, seeking explanations for the variation in women’s descriptive representation at the municipal level. Using the State of New Jersey (NJ) as a case, it is asked: what explains why women fare electorally better in some NJ municipalities than in others? More specifically, what explains “blanks”—or councils on which women are absent—in women’s representation in local politics? It is demonstrated that council size is a significant predictor of women’s presence or absence, but not percentage representation, on city councils.
From Titanic to Game of Thrones: Promoting Belfast as a Global Media Capital
Authors: Celik Rappas Ipek A
Published: January 2019

Using information gathered through analysis of screen industry–related promotion material and fieldwork conducted in Belfast in June 2017, this article traces the ways in which screen economy connected to James Cameron’s Titanic (1997) and HBO’s Game of Thrones and the celebratory discourse around these works brand Belfast as a dynamic global media capital. This study inquires into the ways in which association with screen industries contributes to the spatial value of a region, especially a post-industrial city that actively seeks to alter its past global image and association with a violent civil conflict. It also aims to contribute to the debate about the discourse on labor in creative cities by showing that while manufacturing labor is waning, its discourse of social welfare, hard labor, and craftsmanship transfers itself to creative industries that then justify themselves through the claim to inherit traditional industries’ economic strength, job opportunities, and work ethics.
Open-access policy and data-sharing practice in UK academia
Authors: Zhu Yimei
Published: January 2019

Data sharing can be defined as the release of research data that can be used by others. With the recent open-science movement, there has been a call for free access to data, tools and methods in academia. In recent years, subject-based and institutional repositories and data centres have emerged along with online publishing. Many scientific records, including published articles and data, have been made available via new platforms. In the United Kingdom, most major research funders had a data policy and require researchers to include a ‘data-sharing plan’ when applying for funding. However, there are a number of barriers to the full-scale adoption of data sharing. Those barriers are not only technical, but also psychological and social. A survey was conducted with over 1800 UK-based academics to explore the extent of support of data sharing and the characteristics and factors associated with data-sharing practice. It found that while most academics recognised the importance of sharing research data, most of them had never shared or reused research data. There were differences in the extent of data sharing between different gender, academic disciplines, age and seniority. It also found that the awareness of Research Council UK’s (RCUK) Open-Access (OA) policy, experience of Gold and Green OA publishing, attitudes towards the importance of data sharing and experience of using secondary data were associated with the practice of data sharing. A small group of researchers used social media such as Twitter, blogs and Facebook to promote the research data they had shared online. Our findings contribute to the knowledge and understanding of open science and offer recommendations to academic institutions, journals and funding agencies.
Accounting Theory Coherence Revisited
Authors: Deb Rajat
Published: January 2019

The study attempts to assess the relevance of accounting theories by adopting a cross-sectional research design through survey from randomly chosen graduate and post-graduate commerce students of Tripura, a north-eastern Indian state. Based on the literature research, hypotheses and a model are formed; the reliability and validity of the instrument is checked before the final survey. The inferential statistics indicate likely to conclude that pedagogy impacts perception on accounting theories which in turn influence practices, accounting standards, financial statements, and accounting researches. It acknowledges few limitations; practice implications and policy importance are indicated and draw a roadmap for further studies.
Temporal dynamics of the pharmacological MRI response to subanaesthetic ketamine in healthy volunteers: A simultaneous EEG/fMRI study
Authors: McMillan Rebecca , Forsyth Anna , Campbell Doug , Malpas Gemma , Maxwell Elizabeth , Dukart Juergen , Hipp Joerg F , Muthukumaraswamy Suresh
Published: January 2019

Background:

Pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging has been used to investigate the neural effects of subanaesthetic ketamine in healthy volunteers. However, the effect of ketamine has been modelled with a single time course and without consideration of physiological noise.

Aims:

This study aimed to investigate ketamine-induced alterations in resting neural activity using conventional pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging analysis techniques with physiological noise correction, and a novel analysis utilising simultaneously recorded electroencephalography data.

Methods:

Simultaneous electroencephalography/functional magnetic resonance imaging and physiological data were collected from 30 healthy male participants before and during a subanaesthetic intravenous ketamine infusion.

Results:

Consistent with previous literature, we show widespread cortical blood-oxygen-level dependent signal increases and decreased blood-oxygen-level dependent signals in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex following ketamine. However, the latter effect was attenuated by the inclusion of motion regressors and physiological correction in the model. In a novel analysis, we modelled the pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging response with the power time series of seven electroencephalography frequency bands. This showed evidence for distinct temporal time courses of neural responses to ketamine. No electroencephalography power time series correlated with decreased blood-oxygen-level dependent signal in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex.

Conclusions:

We suggest the decrease in blood-oxygen-level dependent signals in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex typically seen in the literature is the result of physiological noise, in particular cardiac pulsatility. Furthermore, modelling the pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging response with a single temporal model does not completely capture the full spectrum of neuronal dynamics. The use of electroencephalography regressors to model the response can increase confidence that the pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging is directly related to underlying neural activity.
Marketing Systems – Looking Backward, Sizing up and Thinking Ahead
Authors: Layton Roger
Published: January 2019

This commentary is a personal account of the evolution of the concept of a marketing system, from being central to the vision of macromarketing inspiring a group of scholars nearly 60 years ago, to playing a central role today in bringing together the rich set of ideas, concepts, frameworks and concerns that are part of contemporary macromarketing thought. It provides a basis for, and indeed, argues for, the integration of both marketing and macromarketing thinking in practice and in teaching in response to the micro and macro challenges facing managers and policy makers in most human communities as they seek to find a way through increasingly complex environments shaped by physical, social, economic, and technological forces interacting though space and time at all levels of society. It was written to serve as the introduction to a SAGE Publications virtual book concerned with the past, present and future of thinking and practice related to marketing systems.