cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Who Favors Al-Qaeda? Anti-Americanism, Religious Outlooks, and Support for Terrorist Organizations

This study examines why ordinary people sympathize with a terrorist network in MENA. Holding literalist religious outlook resonating with Al-Qaeda’s marginal interpretation of Islam constant, it is maintained that anti-Americanism and its varieties matter a great deal in explaining attitudes toward al-Qaeda. Using Pew Global Attitudes Surveys conducted in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia, the authors run conditional mixed process estimations combining seemingly unrelated regressions with selection models to account for the missing values and endogeneity problems. The analysis reveals significant variation both cross-nationally and in the effects of varieties of anti-Americanism on favorability of al-Qaeda. While the dislike of certain aspects of American culture generates sympathy toward al-Qaeda, anti-Americanism as a general attitude does not. More interestingly, dislike of American democracy, technology, and policy has either negative or no effect on favorable views of al-Qaeda. Literalist religious outlook generates positive views of al-Qaeda, but religiosity has a negative impact. These findings imply that we need to draw careful distinctions between politicized Islamic preferences and personal religiosity as well as the different types of anti-American sentiments in understanding Muslim political attitudes about terrorist groups.
Cultivating Crisis: The Human Costs of Pesticide Use in Latin America, by Douglas L. Murray; University of Texas Press, 1994

Cultivating Crisis: The Human Costs of Pesticide Use in Latin America, by Douglas L. Murray; University of Texas Press (1994); xiv, 177 pp. Reviewed by William M. Loker, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, Mississippi State University.
Growing micropatterned CNT arrays on aluminum substrates using hot-filament CVD process

Abstract Attempts to grow carbon nanotubes directly on to aluminum (Al) substrates have had limited success, primarily due to its relatively low melting point of 660 °C. In this work, we have successfully synthesized vertically aligned CNTs (VACNTs) in a planar configuration (48 µm tall) as well as, for the first time, a micropatterned array with 36 µm tall CNTs on Al substrates. This was achieved by combining conventional microfabrication steps for patterning an array and a catalyst-assisted hot-filament CVD process with methane as carbon source gas for CNT synthesis. Such substrates can provide highly conductive and high specific surface area host materials for cathodes in lithium ion batteries and supercapacitors. We have demonstrated a >10× increase in surface area available for coating cathode nanoparticles in the 3D micropatterned CNT array, as compared to the planar configuration.
Metal oxide hollow nanoparticles formation by a single nanosecond pulsed laser ablation in liquid

In this study, the trend of metal oxide hollow nanoparticles formation is experimentally inspected by a single nanosecond pulsed laser ablation of a bulk metal material in water and/or ethanol. Analysis results by transmission electron microscope indicate that the hollow formation can be completed or initiated by a single nanosecond laser pulse, dictated by the diffusive thermo-chemical and/or bubble-assisted assembly mechanisms, depending on the surrounding liquid medium and laser parameters. The results not only provide experimental clues to unveiling complex mechanisms involved with the hollow formation by the multiple laser shots but also will contribute to improving the hollow particle production efficiency.
How Did Fiscal Policies Affect the Business Cycle Volatility in China

This article presents an empirical study of the effect of fiscal divergence on the business cycle volatility at the provincial level in China. We use the model of Darvas, Rose, and Szapary (2007) a...
The Spaces of Patriarchy in Rafael Chirbes’s En la orilla (2013)

Rafael Chirbes’ 2013 novel En la orilla explores the devastation wrought on Spain by the global economic crisis. In the era of liquid modernity, as defined by Zygmunt Bauman, the need of capital to move freely, obliterating all obstacles in its path, weakens patriarchal family structures. Exterritorial elites enjoy a certain degree of freedom from the tyranny of strictly defined gender roles while those who cannot imitate the capital’s speed of movement remain tied to spaces of patriarchy. The characters of En la orilla realize that the growing fluidity of existence erodes boundaries between urban and rural spaces and blurs definitions of gender, but it does so only for as long as these changes serve the capital’s need to move freely.
The Magister Internus : An Augustinian Proto-Phenomenology of Faith as Desire and Teacher

In his book The Idea of the Holy, in the second footnote to the chapter entitled “The Holy as an A Priori Category, Part II,” Rudolf Otto makes the following suggestive comparison: The most interesting features in Luther ... are the passages upon ‘Faith’, in which Faith is described as a unique cognitive faculty for the apprehension of divine truth, and as such is contrasted with ‘natural’ capacities of the Understanding, as elsewhere the ‘Spirit’ is contrasted. ‘Faith’ is here like the ‘Synteresis’ in the theory of knowledge of the mystics, the ‘inward teacher’ (magister internus) of Augustine, and the ‘inward light’ light of the Quakers, which are all of them of course ‘above reason’, but yet an a priori element in ourselves.1
Predictive Biomarkers in Breast Cancer: ER, PR and Her-2/neu

With the new role of immunohistochemistry as a test to guide the use of specific therapies, new demands for quantitative accuracy and reproducibility have been placed on laboratories. In response to this need for increased quality of IHC testing, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) has released updated guidelines for the validation, performance, and ongoing quality management of receptor testing in breast cancer cases. This chapter reviews the current requirements of these testing guidelines to help laboratories adopt these best practices. Information is offered on the FDA approval of current antibodies and probes for this testing. Diagrams illustrate the recommended testing algorithm combining results of immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization testing for HER2. Photomicrographs of positive, negative, and equivocal staining reactions are provided to aid in the interpretation of immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assays. Figures demonstrating the use of appropriate and inappropriate internal control reactions serve to help decide, if results are valid and can be reported or should be rejected.
Renal function, congestive heart failure, and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide measurement: results from the ProBNP Investigation of Dyspnea in the Emergency Department (PRIDE) Study

Renal Function, Congestive Heart Failure, and Amino-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Measurement: Results from the ProBNP Investigation of Dyspnea in the Emergency Department (PRIDE) Study Saif Anwaruddin, Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, Aaron Baggish, Annabel Chen, Daniel Krauser, Roderick Tung, Claudia Chae, James L. Januzzi, Jr The relationship between renal insufficiency and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels remains unclear. We examined this relationship in the context of patients who presented to the emergency department of an urban tertiary care medical center with dyspnea. Even in the presence of renal insufficiency, NT-proBNP remained a valuable tool for the diagnosis of acute congestive heart failure and it provides important prognostic information. Objectives We sought to examine the interaction between renal function and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels. Background The effects of renal insufficiency on NT-proBNP among patients with and without acute congestive heart failure (CHF) are controversial. We examined the effects of kidney disease on NT-proBNP–based CHF diagnosis and prognosis. Methods A total of 599 dyspneic patients with glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) as low as 14.8 ml/min were analyzed. We used multivariate logistic regression to examine covariates associated with NT-proBNP results and linear regression analysis to analyze associations between NT-proBNP and GFR. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis determined the sensitivity and specificity of NT-proBNP for CHF diagnosis. We also assessed 60-day mortality rates as a function of NT-proBNP concentration. Results Glomerular filtration rates ranged from 15 ml/min/1.73 m2to 252 ml/min/1.73m2. Renal insufficiency was associated with risk factors for CHF, and patients with renal insufficiency were more likely to have CHF (all p 450 pg/ml for patients ages 900 pg/ml for patients ≥50 years had a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 88% for diagnosing acute CHF among subjects with GFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Using a cut point of 1,200 pg/ml for subjects with GFR Conclusions The use of NT-proBNP testing is valuable for the evaluation of the dyspneic patient with suspected CHF, irrespective of renal function.
A Road Map for Sustaining Healthy Eating Behavior

A Road Map for Sustaining Healthy Eating Behavior The difficulty of adopting and sustaining healthy lifestyle changes is a source of substantial frustration for patients, health professionals, poli...
Plasma lactate measurement as an example of encountered gaps between routine clinical laboratory processes and manufactures' sample-handling instructions.

Abstract Objectives Deviation from manufacturers’ pre-analytical sample handling recommendations necessitates extensive validation studies. This report uses plasma lactate testing, where a recommended 15 min room temperature sample handling limit cannot be met by the clinical laboratory, as an example for studies to bridge the gap with practice. Design and Methods Triplicate blood samples were collected from patients (n = 51) with lactate requests by clinicians and from normal volunteers (n = 50). One tube was transported on ice (4 °C), the others were maintained at room temperature (23 °C). Tubes stored at 4 °C were processed at 30 min from collection. Tubes stored at 23 °C were processed at 15 and at 30 min from collection. Lactate levels were measured using Roche Diagnostics Cobas 6000® analyzer. Results Lactate levels in normal subjects ranged from 0.6 to 3.1 mmol/L (median 1.1). Patient lactate levels ranged from 0.8 to 26.3 mmol/L (median 2.2). Bias in lactate levels following extended storage of samples from both normal subjects and patients ranged from − 1.3 to2.2 and from − 1.0–1.0 mmol/L when stored for 30 min at 23 °C or at 4 °C, respectively. The bias between lactate levels at 30 min at 23 °C and 4 °C was − 1.2 to − 0.5 mmol/L for both populations. Although the bias was not statistically significant for all variables, a clinically significant (>0.2 mmol/L) bias was observed in 28% of normal and 7.0% of patient samples. Conclusion Extending the pre-analytical time to 30 min at 23 °C did not significantly impact clinical utility of lactate measurement in our patient population.
Finally, some well-deserved attention to the long-neglected dimension of religious beliefs: suggestions for greater understanding and future research

Although religious beliefs are generally recognized as a core dimension of religiousness (e.g., Idler, 1999; Stark & Glock, 1968), surprisingly little research has explicitly focused on the roles t...
Mitochondrial oxidative stress in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) led to metabolic dysfunction in both the RPE and retinal photoreceptors

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in the western world. Recent evidence suggests that RPE and photoreceptors have an interconnected metabolism and that mitochondrial damage in RPE is a trigger for degeneration in both RPE and photoreceptors in AMD. To test this hypothesis, this study was designed to induce mitochondrial damage in RPE in mice to determine whether this is sufficient to cause RPE and photoreceptor damage characteristic of AMD. In this study, we conditionally deleted the gene encoding the mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD encoded by Sod2) in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of albino BALB/cJ mice. VMD2-Cre;Sod2flox/flox BALB/cJ mice were housed in either 12-h dark, 12-h 200 lux white lighting (normal light), or 12-h dark, 12-h <10 lux red lighting (dim light). Electroretinography (ERG) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were performed to assess retinal function and morphology. Immunofluorescence was used to examine protein expression; quantitative RT-PCR was used to measure gene expression. Sod2 knockout (KO) mice had reduced RPE function with age and increased oxidative stress compared to wild type (WT) controls as expected by the cell-specific deletion of Sod2. This was associated with alterations in RPE morphology and the structure and function of RPE mitochondria. In addition, data show a compensatory increase in RPE glycolytic metabolism. The metabolic shift in RPE correlated with severe disruption of photoreceptor mitochondria including a reduction in TOMM20 expression, mitochondrial fragmentation, and reduced COXIII/β-actin levels. These findings demonstrate that mitochondrial oxidative stress can lead to RPE dysfunction and metabolic reprogramming of RPE. Secondary to these changes, photoreceptors also undergo metabolic stress with increased mitochondrial damage. These data are consistent with the hypothesis of a linked metabolism between RPE and photoreceptors and suggest a mechanism of retinal degeneration in dry AMD.
A case study of cesium sorption onto concrete materials and evaluation of wash agents: Implications for wide area recovery.

Abstract To support the viability of a wash-down approach to mitigating nuclear contamination, this study presents a characterization of the aggregate of a common concrete by optical microscopy and the sorption-desorption characteristics of cesium from these into potential wash solutions. Various minerals with weathered surfaces displayed strong affinity for 137Cs with an effective partition coefficient Kd = 120 mL/g for micas, >25–90 mL/g for feldspars, and >25–30 mL/g for amphiboles. The desorption Kd into 0.1 M NH4Cl varied greatly but for amphiboles, sandstones, granite, and fine-grained quartzite it was >200 mL/g as a result of irreversible sorption. These same mineral phases are prevalent in all types of building materials, extending our conclusions more broadly to the problem of wide-area urban decontamination. In contrast, ionic solutions desorbed up to 98% of 137Cs from cement, suggesting that fresh concretes with an intact surface layer of cement could be more easily decontaminated if Cs+ interactions with the underlying minerals could be avoided. For practical applications common, non-hazardous chemicals such as sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts are as effective or more effective than harsher chemicals and expensive chelating agents. For example, when treated shortly after exposure, on time-scales commensurate with early response phase activities, 0.5 M KCl could remove nearly 50% of bound 137Cs from concrete aggregate. Statistical analyses showed that desorption from the fine aggregate benefited from higher K+ and NH4+ concentrations. These results suggest that contamination in large areas of the urban environment can be dramatically reduced using common chemicals obtained readily from local stores.
Model for Classifying and Monitoring Seral Stages within an Idaho Fescue Type: Bighorn National Forest, WY

An ecological vegetation model was developed in sedimentary soils on the Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming to classify seral stages within an Idaho Fescue (Festuca idahoensis) type. Two key plant species based on canopy cover (%), Idaho fescue and rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea), provide the required information for the model to classify seral stages and monitor vegetation trends. Three seral stages were quantitatively identified by multivariate statistical analyses for classification and had an overall accuracy of 98 percent. All three seral stages were significantly different from each other (P < 0.05). These seral stages provide managers three quantitative options to evaluate alternatives and meet management objectives. Application of this model within the Idaho Fescue ecological type is simple to apply, repeatable, accurate, and cost effective for field applications and management.
Septic emboli of the lung due to Fusobacterium necrophorum, a case of Lemierre's syndrome

Fusobacterium necrophorum plays a causal role in a rare and life-threatening condition, Lemierre's syndrome. It is characterized by infection involving the posterior compartment of the lateral pharyngeal space complicated by septic suppurative thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein with F. necrophorum bacteremia and metastatic abscesses, primarily to the lung and pulmonary septic emboli. Herein, we present a very rare case of oropharyngeal infection complicated by Lemierre's syndrome with characteristic septic emboli to the lungs presenting as sore throat in a previously healthy patient. A 23-year-old woman presented with sore throat and was found to be in sepsis and acute kidney injury. She was found to have septic emboli in lung and Streptococcus anginosus and F. necrophorum in blood. She was diagnosed with Lemierre's syndrome and successfully treated with antibiotics. Lemierre's syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis in young patients who deteriorate in the setting of a sore throat. If the suspicion is high, throat swabs from young patients with nonstreptococcal group A tonsillitis should be cultured anaerobically on selective medium to detect the presence of F. necrophorum. While clinicians of the infectious disease team may be familiar with this condition other departments including internal medicine and critical care team may less so. Unless clinicians are aware of this syndrome, diagnosis and treatment can be delayed leading to higher morbidity and mortality.
Conclusion: Revisiting the Eighteenth-Century Visual Uncanny

Photography reflects and abets a state of restlessness endemic to modernity. Transience of inhabitation is definitive of the modern: those with the money to do so move freely; others, with less wealth, are pushed by the need to find work in the capitalist economy, while still others are refugees and emigrants, forced because of modern political situations to leave home countries. Photography fits with the patterns in which we now live, and in this concluding chapter, I look at the history of the technology as it intertwines with colonization and industrialization, with Enlightenment ideology. I look at photography’s inception in its relationship to the forces of culture that gave rise to modern patterns of displacement. My book ends uncannily with the mirror image of where it began: interrogating conceptual and cultural shifts in the long eighteenth century that set the stage for the creation of photography also shaping the uncanny as the mode and mood of modernity. Teasing apart the sublime and the uncanny, in this concluding chapter I seek an understanding of the way that terms of visibility, essence, and science in the long eighteenth century inform the uncanny art of the photograph.
Sox2 and canonical Wnt signaling interact to activate a developmental checkpoint coordinating morphogenesis with mesodermal fate acquisition

Animal embryogenesis requires a precise coordination between morphogenesis and cell fate specification. It is unclear if there are mechanisms that prevent uncoupling of these processes to ensure robust development. During mesoderm induction, mesodermal fate acquisition is tightly coordinated with the morphogenetic process of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). In zebrafish, cells exist transiently in a partial EMT state during mesoderm induction. Here we show that cells expressing the neural inducing transcription factor Sox2 are held in the partial EMT state, stopping them from completing the EMT and joining the mesodermal territory. This is critical for preventing ectopic neural tissue from forming. The mechanism involves specific interactions between Sox2 and the mesoderm inducing canonical Wnt signaling pathway. When Wnt signaling is inhibited in Sox2 expressing cells trapped in the partial EMT, cells are now able to exit into the mesodermal territory, but form an ectopic spinal cord instead of mesoderm. Our work identifies a critical developmental checkpoint that ensures that morphogenetic movements establishing the mesodermal germ layer are accompanied by robust mesodermal cell fate acquisition.
ST ELEVATION DUE TO PONATINIB INDUCED MICROVASCULAR ANGIOPATHY

A high rate of acute thrombotic cardiovascular complications occur with receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with broad activity, such as ponatinib. Pre-clinical studies in mice have implicated a platelet-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy from excess endothelial Von Willebrand factor (VWF
Arthroscopic SLAP IIb Repair Using Knot-tying Versus Knotless Suture Anchors: Is There a Difference?:

Objectives:SLAP IIb surgical outcomes have traditionally been less predictable when compared to other shoulder injuries. Traditional knotted anchors may partially be to blame by abrading the rotato...
A Newly Recognized DXA Confounder: The Potassium-Binding Medication Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate.

Abstract Objective: Radio-dense artifacts, including contrast material, alter dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) results. An apparent diffuse artifact was identified during spine DXA acquisition in a patient without recent radiographic procedures. The patient reported taking sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC; Lokelma®) 10 g 1 h before scanning. SZC is a potassium-binding agent recently marketed to treat hyperkalemia. Given the chemical composition, we hypothesized that SZC may alter DXA results. This study evaluated if SZC affects DXA results using an encapsulated spine and a total body phantom. Methodology: An encapsulated spine and total body phantom were scanned using a Lunar iDXA. Each phantom was scanned 5 times serially without repositioning in 5 configurations: (1) Bare, (2) 45 mL tap water, (3) 90 mL water, (4) 10 g SZC in 45 mL of water, and (5) 30 g SZC in 90 mL of water. Water and SZC was contained in plastic quart bags, folded, and placed over L2-3 on the spine phantom and flat over the pelvis/torso of the total body phantom. Results: Tap water did not change spine phantom measurements, but did increase (p
Advocacy, Editorial Opinion, and Agenda Building: How Publicity Friends Fought for Louis D. Brandeis’s 1916 Supreme Court Confirmation

Louis D. Brandeis’s “publicity friends” used agenda building to advocate for his confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice in 1916. Editors of the New Republic, Harper’s Weekly, and La Follette’s Wee...
Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrator Treatment: Tailoring Interventions to Individual Needs

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a devastating public health issue in the United States. Given the high stakes of IPV, it is imperative that treatment provided to perpetrators be efficacious to prevent further victimization and not lull survivors into a false sense of security. Unfortunately, the historically dominant modalities of perpetrator treatment, group-based Duluth and cognitive-behavioral therapy, show small effects at best in deterring re-assault. Because of this, new directions are needed. In this article, we report on a literature review that centered on IPV perpetrator treatment. Results suggest a prominent theme in the literature is a shift from these blanket approaches to treatment based on individual need and co-occurring issues. Specifically, practitioners should be aware of (1) demographic factors affecting treatment completion and re-assault, (2) perpetrator typologies, (3) perpetrator readiness to change and use of motivation-based approaches, and (4) common individual co-occurring concerns, including substance use and mental health issues. For each of these, we discuss treatment implications and make recommendations for future research. We envision a future where the landscape of perpetrator treatment is tailored to individual treatment needs and argue that social work practitioners bring a critical person-centered perspective to IPV perpetrator treatment.
Efficient fast-charging of lithium-ion batteries enabled by laser-patterned three-dimensional graphite anode architectures

Abstract Enabling high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries that can charge in less than 10 min would accelerate public acceptance of electric vehicles. However, in order to achieve high energy densities, thick electrodes are often used, which suffer from transport limitations. This leads to a tradeoff between power performance and energy density. Here, we demonstrate a laser-patterning process to produce three-dimensional graphite anode architectures. This process results in a highly ordered laser-patterned electrode (HOLE) with arrays of vertical pore channels through the anode thickness that serve as diffusion paths for rapid ionic transport. We apply the HOLE design on industrially-relevant cells (>2 Ah pouch cells) and electrode conditions (>3 mAh/cm2 graphite anodes) and demonstrate > 97% and >93% capacity retention after 100 cycles of 4C and 6C fast-charge cycling, respectively, compared to 69% and 59% for unpatterned electrodes under the same conditions. After 600 fast-charge cycles, the capacity retention of the HOLE cells is 91% at 4C and 86% at 6C charge rates. Moreover, the HOLE design allows for cells to access >90% of the total cell capacity during fast charging, providing a pathway towards safe fast-charging of high-energy-density batteries.
State and Local Taxes and Employment by Wage Level

Economists have devoted much attention to understanding the effects of state–local fiscal policies, particularly taxes, on the growth of state-level employment. However, no one has investigated whe...
Numerical investigation of multistability in the unstable flow of a polymer solution through porous media

The accumulation of stresses as polymeric chains cross successive pores creates streaks of high polymeric stress. Highly stretched polymeric chains in the regions of high polymeric stress resist the flow crossing these streaks, leading to eddy formation in the different regions of the pores. Multiple distinct unstable flow structures occur inside the pore above a critical Weissenberg number.
Acute Care Resource Use After Elective Surgery in the United States: Implications During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic created pressure to delay inpatient elective surgery to increase US health care capacity. This study examined the extent to which common inpatient elective operations consume acute care resources. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used the Premier Healthcare Database to examine the distribution of inpatient elective operations in the United States from the fourth quarter of 2015 through the second quarter of 2018. Primary outcomes were measures of acute care use after 4 common elective operations: joint replacement, spinal fusion, bariatric surgery, and coronary artery bypass grafting. A framework for matching changing demand with changes in supply was created by overlaying acute care data with publicly available outbreak capacity data. RESULTS: Elective coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 117 423) had the highest acute care use: 92.8% of patients used intensive care unit beds, 89.1% required postoperative mechanical ventilation, 41.0% required red blood cell transfusions, and 13.3% were readmitted within 90 days of surgery. Acute care use was also substantial after spinal fusion (n = 203 789): 8.3% of patients used intensive care unit beds, 2.2% required postoperative mechanical ventilation, 9.2% required red blood cell transfusions, and 9.3% were readmitted within 90 days of surgery. An example of a framework for matching hospital demand with elective surgery supply is provided. CONCLUSIONS: Acute care needs after elective surgery in the United States are consistent and predictable. When these data are overlaid with national hospital capacity models, rational decisions regarding matching supply to demand can be achieved to meet changing needs.
Effects of Aβ-derived peptide fragments on fibrillogenesis of Aβ

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptide aggregation plays a central role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) etiology. AD drug candidates have included small molecules or peptides directed towards inhibition of Aβ fibrillogenesis. Although some Aβ-derived peptide fragments suppress Aβ fibril growth, comprehensive analysis of inhibitory potencies of peptide fragments along the whole Aβ sequence has not been reported. The aim of this work is (a) to identify the region(s) of Aβ with highest propensities for aggregation and (b) to use those fragments to inhibit Aβ fibrillogenesis. Structural and aggregation properties of the parent Aβ1–42 peptide and seven overlapping peptide fragments have been studied, i.e. Aβ1–10 (P1), Aβ6–15 (P2), Aβ11–20 (P3), Aβ16–25 (P4), Aβ21–30 (P5), Aβ26–36 (P6), and Aβ31–42 (P7). Structural transitions of the peptides in aqueous buffer have been monitored by circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Aggregation and fibrillogenesis were analyzed by light scattering and thioflavin-T fluorescence. The mode of peptide-peptide interactions was characterized by fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Three peptide fragments, P3, P6, and P7, exhibited exceptionally high propensity for β-sheet formation and aggregation. Remarkably, only P3 and P6 exerted strong inhibitory effect on the aggregation of Aβ1–42, whereas P7 and P2 displayed moderate inhibitory potency. It is proposed that P3 and P6 intercalate between Aβ1–42 molecules and thereby inhibit Aβ1–42 aggregation. These findings may facilitate therapeutic strategies of inhibition of Aβ fibrillogenesis by Aβ-derived peptides.
Vasopressin-Induced Hyponatremia in Patients With Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Case Series and Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE Vasopressin may be administered to treat vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The objectives of this study were to describe five cases of suspected vasopressin-induced hyponatremia after aSAH and to review the literature. DESIGN Single-center, observational case series of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. SETTINGS Ten-bed neurological ICU at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. PATIENTS Convenience sample of patients with aSAH treated with a vasopressin for symptomatic, radiologically confirmed vasospasm. RESULTS A total of five patients were included in the case series with a median age of 57 (51, 65) years and all were women. The median Glasgow coma scale score was 15 (11, 15) on admission, and the Hunt and Hess scale score was 3, (3, 4). All patients were treated with endovascular coiling of their aneurysm. Vasopressin was administered to treat symptomatic, radiographically confirmed vasospasm on median post-bleed day (PBD) 10 (10, 15) at a fixed-dose of .03 units/min. Serum sodium at baseline was 140 (140, 144) mEq/L and decreased to 129 (126, 129) mEq/L within 26 (17, 83) hours of vasopressin initiation for a median change of -16 (-10, -16) mEq/L. Serum sodium returned to baseline within 18 (14, 22) hours of stopping the infusion. CONCLUSIONS Vasopressin use in vasospasm after aSAH may be associated with clinically significant hyponatremia within 24 hours of starting the infusion. Hyponatremia appears to resolve within 24 hours of stopping the infusion. Additional study in a larger sample size is needed to determine if a causal relationship exist.
Modification of the Chaotic/Order State of Biological Systems by Using Electric Fields

The existence of chaotic and periodic states in Hodgkin and Huxley membrane driven by an externally applied electric field is considered.
Suppressor cell infleunce in selected strains of inbred rats. II. Macrophage-associated suppression of cell-mediated immune responsiveness.

Abstract Responses to concanavalin A or antigen by allogeneic combinations of Lewis (LE) and Brown-Norway (BN) rat derived lymphocytes and macrophages were of comparable magnitude to responses by the syngeneic combinations. But at increased concentrations of macrophages to lymphocytes, suppression of lymphocyte reactivity, as assayed by incorporation of tritiated thymidine, was evident. Suppression associated with BN derived macrophages alone, or in combination with LE or Buffalo derived macrophages, was consistently of a greater magnitude. Possible explanations of the macrophage associated suppression are discussed.
Satellite remote sensing of large lakes and reservoirs: from elevation and area to storage

The majority of liquid surface freshwater globally is stored in large lakes and reservoirs. However, consistent observations of lakes and reservoirs are very limited, which makes it challenging to assess the surface water effect on global weather forecasting, earth system modeling, water management planning, and ecosystem sustainability. The advance of satellite remote sensing has offered a unique opportunity for monitoring large lakes and reservoirs from space. This article provides a comprehensive review of the satellite remote sensing approaches for estimating lake/reservoir elevations, areas, and storage variations. These include: (1) measuring surface water elevations using radar and laser altimeters; (2) estimating lake/reservoir areas using threshold-based and image classification-based approaches at visible and/or near infrared frequencies; and (3) combining elevation and area information to infer storage and storage variations. Different algorithms (as well as satellite sensors) applicable for these purposes are compared in terms of their advantages and limitations. Future direction and opportunities for more comprehensive data products with improved spatial and temporal resolutions are discussed. WIREs Water 2015, 2:147–157. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1065 This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Hydrological Processes
A methodology for developing an agent systems reference architecture

The slow adoption of agent-oriented methodologies as a paradigm for developing industry systems is due in part to their lack of integration and general-purpose use. There exists a need to define common patterns, relationships between components, and structural qualities that a reference architecture for agent-based systems would solve. However, there is little, if any, consensus on how to create a reference architecture for agent-based systems. This paper presents a methodology for developing a reference architecture that documents agent-based systems from different system viewpoints. Rather than the traditional approach of studying existing systems, the documentation methodology relies on forensic software analysis of agent frameworks (i.e., APIs and libraries for constructing agent systems). We demonstrate the methodology by describing the process used to create the Agent System Reference Architecture.
On Structural Interpretation of Short Range Order

The various structural models of short range order in alloys are briefly reviewed. The success and limitations of structural models in interpreting diffuse scattering data are discussed. Particular emphasis is given to the systems for which the diffuse short range ordered maxima in the X-ray and electron diffraction patterns are non-coincident with the position of the superlattice reflections. The recent electron diffraction results on these systems suggest microdomains with different superstructures are present in the short range ordered state. The justification for such multiple micro-domain configurations is discussed in the light of some recent theoretical developments.
Purification of Rabbit Liver Fructose 1, 6-Diphosphatase by Substrate Elution

Abstract A procedure is presented for the large scale preparation of homogeneous rabbit liver fructose 1,6-diphosphatase. Essential steps include the batchwise adsorption of enzyme from crude dialyzed liver supernatant on carboxymethylcellulose at pH 6, followed by elution with 0.06 mm fructose 1, 6-diphosphate at pH 6.8. A 300- to 500-fold increase in specific activity was obtained in this latter step. A more generalized procedure for enzyme elution by substrate is also described which involves the use of a concave salt gradient containing substrate.
Building a Professionally Qualified Faculty

In a modern university, the Civil Engineering Department can adhere to the dual roles of research and educating a new generation of practitioners. A balanced faculty dedicated to both applied research and professional practice is the key to this approach. Efforts that have been made at California State University, Los Angeles, toward building such a diversified faculty are presented. A goal for minimum percentage of full-time faculty to possess doctorate degree and professional engineering registration is established. To achieve the goal, and starting from the present faculty, various methods have been used, i.e., to emphasize the significance of industrial experience, to encourage continuing education, and to establish a clear objective in recruiting.
Immunocytochemical Characterization of AMPA-Selective Glutamate Receptor Subunits: Laminar and Compartmental Distribution in Macaque Striate Cortex

Subunit proteins that comprise functional AMPA receptors were localized by immunocytochemical methods in the adult macaque primary visual cortex (V1). GluR1, GluR2/3/4c, and GluR4 immunoreactivity consisted of rich plexuses of punctate profiles scattered throughout the neuropil, in radial arrays, and outlining the membrane of somata and proximal dendrites. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was limited. GluR2/3/4c immunostaining was more prominent along the somata surface and exhibited greater levels of cytoplasmic immunoreactivity than GluR1 and GluR4 immunostaining. The density of AMPA subunit immunoreactive elements also varied across layers and compartments of macaque V1. Immunoreactivity for GluR1, GluR2/3/4c, and GluR4 was densest in three bands that corresponded to layers IVA, IVC, and VI. Immunostaining for each subunit was also unevenly distributed within many of the layers. In layers II–III, patches of intense immunostaining coincided with cytochrome oxidase (CO)-rich blobs. In layer IVA, intense subunit staining formed a conspicuous honeycomb pattern. In layer IVC, subunit staining formed a radial lattice. GluR2/3/4c subunit immunostaining was also preferentially distributed within the CO-rich blobs of layers V–VI. These findings demonstrate that AMPA subunit immunoreactivity is densely concentrated in layers and compartments receiving direct geniculocortical innervation. This distribution, which differs from that of excitatory synapses, suggests that the density of AMPA receptors is unevenly distributed at synaptic and possibly extrasynaptic sites within macaque visual circuits.
Solar flare energetics

A review is presented regarding the current knowledge of the energetics of solar flares. Recent observations by the Solar Maximum Mission and by balloon-borne instrumentation indicate that the flare hard X-ray emission arises from nonthermal bremsstrahlung - the collisions of fast electrons into a cold ambient medium (Ee much greater than kT). Under this interpretation, most of the energy released for many flares is initially contained in the energetic electrons. These electrons can produce most of the observed flare phenomena via interactions with the solar atmosphere. In large flares a shock wave may result from explosive heating of the solar atmosphere by these electrons. This shock wave can accelerate nuclei to relativistic energies. It is argued that recent SMM observations of fast gamma-ray bursts are consistent with this picture of shock acceleration of nuclei.
The Great Chains of Computing: Informatics at Multiple Scales

The perspective from which information processing is pervasive in the universe has proven to be an increasingly productive one. Phenomena from the quantum level to social networks have commonalities that can be usefully explicated using principles of informatics. We argue that the notion of scale is particularly salient here. An appreciation of what is invariant and what is emergent across scales, and of the variety of different types of scales, establishes a useful foundation for the transdiscipline of informatics. We survey the notion of scale and use it to explore the characteristic features of information statics (data), kinematics (communication), and dynamics (processing). We then explore the analogy to the principles of plenitude and continuity that feature in Western thought, under the name of the "great chain of being", from Plato through Leibniz and beyond, and show that the pancomputational turn is a modern counterpart of this ruling idea. We conclude by arguing that this broader perspective can enhance informatics pedagogy.
A cost analysis of cloud computing for education

Educational institutions have become highly dependent on information technology to support the delivery of personalised material, digital content, interactive classes, and others. These institutions are progressively transitioning into Cloud Computing technology to shift costs from locally-hosted services to a "renting model" often with higher availability, elasticity, and resilience. However, in order to properly explore the cost benefits of the pay-as-you-go business model, there is a need for processes for resource allocation, monitoring, and self-adjustment that take advantage of characteristics of the application domain. In this paper we perform a numerical analysis of three resource allocation methods that work by (i) pre-allocating resource capacity to handle peak demands; (ii) reactively allocating resource capacity based on current demand; and (iii) proactively allocating and releasing resources prior to load increases or decreases by exploring characteristics of the educational domain and more precise information about expected demand. The results show that there is an opportunity for both educational institutions and Cloud providers to collaborate in order to enhance the quality of services and reduce costs.
Three options for citation tracking: Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science

Researchers turn to citation tracking to find the most influential articles for a particular topic and to see how often their own published papers are cited. For years researchers looking for this type of information had only one resource to consult: the Web of Science from Thomson Scientific. In 2004 two competitors emerged – Scopus from Elsevier and Google Scholar from Google. The research reported here uses citation analysis in an observational study examining these three databases; comparing citation counts for articles from two disciplines (oncology and condensed matter physics) and two years (1993 and 2003) to test the hypothesis that the different scholarly publication coverage provided by the three search tools will lead to different citation counts from each. Eleven journal titles with varying impact factors were selected from each discipline (oncology and condensed matter physics) using the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). All articles published in the selected titles were retrieved for the years 1993 and 2003, and a stratified random sample of articles was chosen, resulting in four sets of articles. During the week of November 7–12, 2005, the citation counts for each research article were extracted from the three sources. The actual citing references for a subset of the articles published in 2003 were also gathered from each of the three sources. For oncology 1993 Web of Science returned the highest average number of citations, 45.3. Scopus returned the highest average number of citations (8.9) for oncology 2003. Web of Science returned the highest number of citations for condensed matter physics 1993 and 2003 (22.5 and 3.9 respectively). The data showed a significant difference in the mean citation rates between all pairs of resources except between Google Scholar and Scopus for condensed matter physics 2003. For articles published in 2003 Google Scholar returned the largest amount of unique citing material for oncology and Web of Science returned the most for condensed matter physics. This study did not identify any one of these three resources as the answer to all citation tracking needs. Scopus showed strength in providing citing literature for current (2003) oncology articles, while Web of Science produced more citing material for 2003 and 1993 condensed matter physics, and 1993 oncology articles. All three tools returned some unique material. Our data indicate that the question of which tool provides the most complete set of citing literature may depend on the subject and publication year of a given article.
Mother-adolescent daughter identity interplay processes

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the mother–adolescent daughter shopping trip to better understand the experiences and process that occur during these shopping trips. Adolescent girls and their mothers are an important shopping companion pair that has received minimal study. Design/methodology/approach – This research investigates the mother–adolescent daughter shopping trip using in-depth interviews with 28 mothers, adolescent daughters and retail employees in the USA. Findings – The interviews reveal that the mother–adolescent daughter shopping trip consists of three important developmental experiences: conflict and struggle, education and influence and bonding between mother and daughter. Similarities and differences between middle- and high-school daughters relative to these issues are explored. Originality/value – This study is the first to bring together the interplay processes of conflict, education and influence and bonding during mother–adolescent daughter shopping trips. This study extends r...
Experimental lactic acidosis: effect of nitroprusside.

SummaryLactic acidosis was produced in the dog by controlled arterial hemorrhage to a sustained mean arterial pressure of 50 mmHg. A stable metabolic acidosis with increased arterial lactate concentration, increased arterial lactate to pyruvate ratio and increased excess lactate occurred. Intravenous sodium nitroprusside at both low (0.27 μg/kg/min) and high (2.23 μg/kg/min) doses produced regional and systemic vasodilatation but failed to produce a statistically significant or clinically important change in arterial acid-base status or lactate/pyruvate metabolism. It is concluded that stable lactic acidosis can be produced in dogs by graded arterial hemorrhage with sustained hypotension. Vasodilator therapy with sodium nitroprusside is without significant effect on lactic acidosis associated with hypotension in the dog.
The L'Arche Program for Persons with Disabilities

The International Federation of L'Arche is made up of intentional, ecumenical, faith-based communities where people with and without developmental disabilities live together. Data on the worldwide federation offers an understanding of L'Arche communities that celebrate and encourage diversity and solidarity. Characteristics of clients and assistants as well as the daily running of homes reveal the inner workings of the program. Through assessing strengths and weaknesses, it is shown that even though L'Arche is a small movement that cannot serve every person with a developmental disability by providing a home and a place of belonging, this program offers a program model with many strengths that should be replicated.