cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analyzing the Dabiq Magazine: The Language and the Propaganda Structure of ISIS

The Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) still poses a significant concern worldwide due to its brutal attacks and unconventional recruitment strategy despite its recent defeat and loss of territory. ISIS distinguished itself from other notorious terrorist organizations regarding Techniques, Tactics, and Procedures (TTP). It has been observed that ISIS is highly capable of attracting foreign fighters through its improved “netwar” skills. Whereas its propaganda videos and images have been extensively analyzed, a systematic analysis of textual content is still lacking. Therefore, we examine the Dabig magazine to discover propagandist elements by performing natural language processing (NLP) and text mining methods. Namely, we first automatically detect three types of entities (person, location, organization) in each article for fifteen Dabiq issues. Then we build entity networks based on co-occurrence of entities to observe the entity relationships over time. We further employ topic modeling on all articles and calculate statistics for entities. We observe entities revolve around the term “jihad,” and the ISIS consistently seems to exploit the sources of Islam in their propaganda. The analysis also revealed that ISIS primarily targets Shiites by using derogatory language about their belief system and try to justify their attacks against them.
Efficient enrichment of glycopeptides by supramolecular nanoassemblies that use proximity-assisted covalent binding.

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis of glycoproteins and glycopeptides requires selective separation strategies to eliminate interferences from more abundant non-glycosylated biomolecules. In this work, we describe a two-phase liquid–liquid extraction method using supramolecular polymeric nanoassemblies that can selectively and efficiently enrich glycopeptides for enhanced MS detection. The polymeric nanoassemblies are made selective for glycopeptides via the incorporation of hydrazide functional groups that covalently bind to glycans. The enrichment efficiency is further enhanced via the incorporation of acidic functional groups that lead to a proximity-assisted catalysis of the hydrazide–glycan conjugation reaction. Our results further demonstrate the value of designer supramolecular nanomaterials for the selective enrichment of modified peptides from complicated mixtures.
Microbial Inhibition by Bacteria Isolated from Pallial Cavity Fluids and Associated Mucus of the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin)

Thirteen aerobic, mesophilic marine bacterial strains were isolated from the pallial (mantle) cavity fluids and associated mucus of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica Gmelin. All strains were Gram-negative and identified to genus using 16S RNA gene sequence analysis. Each isolated strain was tested for its ability to inhibit growth of six Gram-negative and five Gram-positive bacterial tester strains, as well as the yeast Candida albicans, using an in vitro agar diffusion screening method to detect antimicrobial activity (Romenenko et al. 2008). All of the marine bacteria isolated from the oyster pallial cavity fluids showed some ability to inhibit tester strains. Two isolates, F (red) and M, inhibited the greatest variety of indicator strains and produced the largest zones of inhibition. Gram-negative indicator strains were more susceptible to antimicrobial activity of pallial fluid isolates than Gram-positive strains. None of the isolated bacteria was shown to inhibit C. albicans. In addition, targeted 16S metagenome libraries from the Chesapeake Bay were screened for the presence of bacteria isolated from this study. Results indicate that there are commonalities between bacteria associated with oysters from Long Island Sound and the Chesapeake Bay systems.
Learning Dance: Defining Efficiency and Precision Through Animation

Bodily efficiency and precision are crucial components in the execution of ballet technique. In conjunction with traditional studio ballet training, three-dimensional animation can showcase correct body placement, posture, and alignment during the execution of ballet technique helping dancers prevent injuries as well as maintain body longevity. Having digital three-dimensional animation as a pedagogical tool can help teachers, students, and parents see how steps should be executed from different angles. Such technology can also bring students’ attention to common mistakes without the risk of repeated human error. Dancers can compare videos of three-dimensional animated figures showcasing correct ballet technique to videos of themselves in order to see where they may be misaligning their bodies and causing potential injuries or bad habits. This pedagogical tool can also be helpful for those who have limited access to taking ballet classes but would still like to learn in an efficient and safe manner.
Examining a congruency-typology model of leadership for learning using two-level latent class analysis with TALIS 2018

Are teachers and principals aligned in their perceptions of the core components of the theory of Leadership for Learning across countries, or are there subgroups of schools in which there is misalignment? The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which a congruency-typology model of leadership for learning is distributed across countries/economies using the TALIS 2018 dataset through examining the interaction of significantly different subgroups of teacher and principal responders through using multilevel latent class analysis (LCA) with a cross-level interaction. I analyse data from lower secondary schools of n=152 635 teachers in 9 079 schools and their principals across 47 countries/economies. Currently in the research literature on school leadership, leadership for learning has emerged as a framework to bring together managerial, transformational, distributed, and instructional leadership. Yet little is known about leadership for learning across national contexts. This study 1) maps the TALIS 2018 survey items to the current literature and surveys for leadership for learning, 2) then details the methods and analysis framework to examine if there are multiple significantly different types of teachers, principals, and schools from a leadership for learning theory framework. The final model 3) identifies a three-group teacher typology and a three-group principal typology, linking these types to school context, covariates, as well as teacher and principal training and experience. Results relate directly to the intersection of research, policy, and practice for training and capacity of school leaders across 47 countries/economies globally.
Global burden of preterm birth.

Preterm birth is a live birth that occurs before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Approximately 15 million babies are born preterm annually worldwide, indicating a global preterm birth rate of about 11%. With 1 million children dying due to preterm birth before the age of 5 years, preterm birth is the leading cause of death among children, accounting for 18% of all deaths among children aged under 5 years and as much as 35% of all deaths among newborns (aged <28 days). There are significant variations in preterm birth rates and mortality between countries and within countries. However, the burden of preterm birth is particularly high in low- and middle-income countries, especially those in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Preterm birth rates are rising in many countries. The issue of preterm birth is of paramount significance for achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 target #3.2, which aims to end all preventable deaths of newborns and children aged under 5 years by 2030.
Introduction: Conceptualizing Populism, Democracy, and Truth

The rise of populist politics raises pressing questions both about the nature of populism, and about relationships between populism and democratic institutions. For example, is populism a monolithic phenomenon, or does the label cover multiple kinds of political movements which share some common elements, perhaps only superficially? Is populism an essential element of democracies, even sometimes a virtue of such governments, or does its invocation of a monolithic demos (‘the people’) signify a fundamentally anti-democratic worldview? And what about the interaction between truth, democracy, and journalistic integrity in the context of populist politics? While the history of anti-democratic advocacy (famously illustrated by Plato) has often highlighted the tendency of democratic politics to prioritize popularity over truth, the development of social media—and evolving norms of journalistic communication and public political discourse—raise these worries in new forms. Are democracies even any more effective than other forms of government at revealing truth or effectively addressing its implications through policies? Or if they are somewhat inimical to truth, particularly in their more populist forms, could they be improved through modification? Finally, are elements of populism particularly distinctive of some allegedly democratic political cultures more than others?
Exact Partition Function and Boundary State of 2-D Massive Ising Field Theory with Boundary Magnetic Field

We compute the exact partition function, the universal ground state degeneracy and boundary state of the 2-D Ising model with boundary magnetic field at off-critical temperatures. The model has a domain that exhibits states localized near the boundaries. We study this domain of boundary bound state and derive exact expressions for the ``$g$ function'' and boundary state for all temperatures and boundary magnetic fields. In the massless limit we recover the boundary renormalization group flow between the conformally invariant free and fixed boundary conditions.
Opportunity Zones for Economic Development and Job Creation: The 'Nuts and Bolts' and a Look at Alabama

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is the most recent federal government attempt to help economically distressed communities. It allowed for the creation of 8,764 designated “opportunity zones” in July 2018 that cover parts of all 50 States, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Investors who reinvest their capital gains through opportunity funds in opportunity zones receive significant federal tax benefits. The hope is that this incentive will spur new economic development and creating more jobs than otherwise would occur in distressed communities. In this paper, we describe the “nuts and bolts” of opportunity zones created throughout the nation and assess some of the determinants in the selection of opportunity zones in the State of Alabama.
On the arts and humanities in medical education

This paper aims to position the birth of the Medical Humanities movement in a greater historical context of twentieth century American medical education and to paint a picture of the current landscape of the Medical Humanities in medical training. It first sheds light on the model of medical education put forth by Abraham Flexner through the publishing of the 1910 Flexner Report, which set the stage for defining physicians as experimentalists and rooting the profession in research institutions. While this paved the way for medical advancements, it came at the cost of producing a patriarchal approach to medical practice. By the late 1960s, the public persona of the profession was thus devoid of humanism. This catalyzed the birth of the Medical Humanities movement that helped lay the framework for what has perpetuated as the ongoing incorporation of humanistic subjects into medical training. As we enter a time in medicine in which rates of burnout are ever-increasing and there are growing concerns about a concomitant reduction in empathy among trainees, the need for instilling humanism remains important. We must consequently continue to consider how to ensure the place of the Medical Humanities in medical education moving forward.
Robotic surgery for cT2 kidney cancer: analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Robotic surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is increasingly adopted for cT1 disease, but its utilization for cT2 disease remains unexplored. We aimed to characterize the trend in robotic approach for cT2 RCC. The National Cancer Database was queried for patients who were diagnosed with cT2N0M0 RCC from 2010 to 2016 and underwent subsequent radical (RN) or partial (PN) nephrectomy. Analysis of treatment trends was performed and logistic regression (LR) undertaken for predictors of surgical approach. 21,258 patients met inclusion criteria for analysis; 1698 (8%) underwent a PN and 19,560 (92%) underwent RN. Use of robotics in PN increased 346% (12.3-42.6%) and 351% (6.2-21.8%) for RN during the studied time period. Robotic PN or RN was associated with shorter hospital stay compared to non-robotic approaches (p < 0.001). Academic institutions were more likely to perform a robotic procedure and the uninsured were less likely to receive robotic approach. There was no association between age, sex, race, or income and surgical approach. On LR, robotic approach was independently associated with academic institutions and a more recent year of diagnosis. There was no significant difference in the rate of positive margins, 30-day readmission, or 30/90-day mortality between approaches. Robotic PN and RN is becoming an increasingly popular approach in the treatment of cT2 RCC. Utilization of robotics is associated with academic institutions and results in a shorter hospital stay without significant differences rate of positive margins, readmission rates, or 30/90-day mortality.
Coronary computed tomography angiography in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Abstract The treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), which is defined by stable anatomical atherosclerotic and functional alterations of epicardial vessels or microcirculation, focuses on managing intermittent angina symptoms and preventing major adverse cardiovascular events with optimal medical therapy. When patients with known CAD present with angina and no acute coronary syndrome, they have historically been evaluated with a variety of noninvasive stress tests that utilize electrocardiography, radionuclide scintigraphy, echocardiography, or magnetic resonance imaging for determining the presence and extent of inducible myocardial ischemia. Patient event-free survival, however, is largely driven by the coronary atherosclerotic disease burden, which is not directly assessed by functional testing. Direct evaluation of coronary atherosclerotic disease by coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA) has emerged as the first line noninvasive imaging modality as it improves diagnostic accuracy and positively influences clinical management. Compared to functional assessment of CAD, coronary CTA-guided management results in improved patient outcomes by facilitating prevention of myocardial infarction. Other strengths of coronary CTA include detailed atherosclerotic plaque characterization and the ability to assess functional significance of specific lesions, which may further improve risk assessment and prognosis and lead to more appropriate referrals for additional testing, such as invasive coronary angiography.
Direct analysis of cotton swipes for plutonium isotope determination by microextraction-ICP-MS

This study demonstrates a method for determining the isotopic composition of low-level (sub-pg) plutonium (Pu) directly from a cotton swipe. Environmental sample (ES) swipes are routinely employed as a tool for monitoring activities in nuclear facilities. Traditional ES swipe analysis, as employed in nuclear safeguards, utilizes laborious ashing, digestion, and chemical separation procedures prior to mass spectrometric (MS) analysis. Here, an innovative sample introduction technique employing a microextraction probe to extract Pu directly from the swipe surface is described. The microextraction probe lowers onto the swipe surface, seals on a small area (8 mm2), and delivers solvent (2% HNO3) to extract actinide material that may be present. The extracted analyte is subsequently directed into a sector field inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-MS for isotope ratio determination. This microextraction-ICP-MS method successfully determined the isotopic composition (240Pu/239Pu and 242Pu/239Pu) of three Pu certified reference materials (CRM 136, 137, and 138) that were deposited (1 pg) onto ES swipes. The percent relative difference from the certified value, uncorrected for instrumental fractionation, was <2% for the 240Pu/239Pu ratio on all three CRMs and <10% for the 242Pu/239Pu ratio on CRM 136 and 138. The percent relative standard deviation, an estimate of the sample-to-sample isotopic precision, was <4% for the 240Pu/239Pu and <15% for the 242Pu/239Pu. Method limits of detection were determined, based on measurements of an enriched 244Pu material, to be ∼7 fg. Additionally, a mixed uranium (U) and Pu deposition was made to determine the method's ability to simultaneously extract U and Pu and determine the isotopic composition of both analytes.
Response of Reinforcing Wires to Compressive States of Stress

A theoretical investigation of the compressive response of a wire embedded in an elastic matrix is reported. In the first section con sideration is given to the beam-column behavior of an initially crooked wire embedded in a matrix which is subjected to a state of uniaxial stress. A plot of the effective stiffness of the wire as a function of the wire's initial crookedness is given. Secondly, con sideration is given to the possibility of buckling, within the matrix, of a compressively loaded straight wire. A plot of the buckling load of the wire as a function of the ratio of the wire's and matrix's shear moduli is given. Two procedures are developed for the pre diction of the lateral support offered to the wire by the matrix. Both procedures are developed by treating the matrix as a three- dimensional elastic solid, however, only the first of the two meth ods completely satisfies the displacement continuity requirements between the wire and the matrix.This research was supported under subcontract to the S...
Alternatives to Corporal Punishment

(1992). Alternatives to Corporal Punishment. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 65, No. 4, pp. 233-235.
Cause lawyering et justice collective : l'exemple de l'amparo colectivo en Argentine

Cet article se propose d’etudier l’amparo colectivo, disposition qui decoule d’une loi adoptee en Argentine au debut des annees 1990 et qui a permis a des groupes de citoyens d’engager des poursuites contre l’Etat ou des entreprises privees sur une base collective. Cet article essaie de presenter l’histoire, la structure mais aussi les limites de l’amparo colectivo, a travers un certain nombre de procedures judiciaires dans lesquelles il a ete utilise. D’un point de vue plus general, ce qui est souligne ici c’est le role important des cause la-wyers argentins dans la creation, l’usage et l’interpretation de cette nouvelle disposition qui les a confrontes directement a la question de l’Etat de droit dans le contexte d’une societe post-autoritaire.
Always Care, Never Kill: How Physician-Assisted Suicide Endangers the Weak, Corrupts Medicine, Compromises the Family, and Violates Human Dignity and Equali

Allowing physician-assisted suicide would be a grave mistake for four reasons. First, it would endanger the weak and vulnerable. Second, it would corrupt the practice of medicine and the doctor-patient relationship. Third, it would compromise the family and intergenerational commitments. And fourth, it would betray human dignity and equality before the law. Instead of helping people to kill themselves, we should offer them appropriate medical care and human presence. We should respond to suffering with true compassion and solidarity. Doctors should help their patients to die a dignified death of natural causes, not assist in killing. Physicians are always to care, never to kill.
Detection and recovery of a narrow-band signal in severely nonstationary noise

The authors view the interference as a stochastic process n(m,t) in two variables. They assume a uniform linear array that the carrier frequency is known and that the direction of arrival of the desired signal does not change. The approach is an application/extension of the multi-window method for spectrum estimation and harmonic analysis introduced by Thomson (Proc. IEEE vol.70, no.9, p.1055-96, Sept.1982). How the signal is estimated if present, and how to estimate the DOA, are discussed briefly. >
Vérités partielles, vérités partiales

Le travail interdisciplinaire, dont il est tant question ces derniers temps, ne consiste pas a faire debattre des disciplines existantes (dont aucune n’est prete, en fait, a disparaitre). Pour faire de l’interdisciplinaire il ne suffit pas d’isoler un themeet de rassembler autour de ce dernier deux ou trois sciences. L’interdisciplinarite consiste en la creation d’un nouvel objet qui n’appartient a aucune d’entre elles. « Jeunes chercheurs » in Barthes (1984) Vous allez avoir besoin de plus d...
Expression of platelet-activating factor-receptor potentiates the cytotoxicity of benzyl isothiocyanate in melanoma cells (LB332)

Malignant melanoma is currently the most rapidly growing malignancy with >11,000 estimated annual mortality in the United States. Because melanoma is resistant to chemo and radiotherapies, investigation of novel therapeutic target(s) and approaches are required. Platelet-activating factor-receptor (PAF-R) plays crucial roles in regulating cancer growth. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), present in cruciferous vegetables possess anticarcinogenic properties against various cancers. Since, most elanomas express PAF-Rs, the present studies investigated efficacy of BITC against melanoma cells expressing or non-expressing PAF-R. Studies using novel model systems consisting of murine B16F10 melanoma cells ectopically expressing PAF-R (B16-PAFR) or vector control (B16-MSCV) created by retroviral mediated transduction, demonstrate that BITC dose-dependently decrease the survival of B16-PAFR cells substantially compared to B16-MSCV cells. In contrast, PAF-R agonist, CPAF induced enhance proliferation of only, B16-PAFR ...
Control of Physiological Response in the Rat by Dietary Nutrient Concentration

In three separate experiments, growing, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets which contained: 1) graded levels of fiber 0-70%, 2) graded levels of pyridoxine 1-10 mg/kg diet, and 3) graded levels of casein 0-30%. The following physiological responses were measured in each respective experiment: 1) food intake, weight gain, serum triglycerides, 2) food intake, weight gain, SGPT levels, and 3) weight specific food intake, weight gain, relative testes weight. Diets were fed as a single source, and in each case, physiological response could be predicted as a function of dietary nutrient concentration. When self-selection is prevented, rats establish new steady-state response profiles, which are sigmoidal in shape and dependent on the interaction of the rats' genetic potential with the environmental configuration.
The Encounter of Voyager 2 with Neptune’s Magnetosphere

The particles and fields complement of instruments on the Voyager 2 spacecraft performed a comprehensive set of measurements during the encounter with the Neptune system on August 24 through 28, 1989. These included measurements of the magnetic field, plasma (10 ev ≤ E ≤ 6 keV), energetic and high energy particles (22 keV ≤ E ≤ 5 MeV), plasma waves (10 Hz to 50 kHz) and radio emissions (~ 20 to ~1300 kHz); additional information relating to UV emissions was provided by the ultraviolet spectrometer. The preliminary results of these measurements are reviewed in this paper and may be summarized as follows: (a) The planetary magnetic field outside ~ 4 RN may be described by an offset (~ 0.55 RN), tilted (47°), dipole of moment 0.133 Gauss-RN 3; inside that distance the field is dominated by higher order terms. (b) Plasma densities were generally low (~10-3 cm-3), except at magnetic equatorial crossings when densities up to ~ 1 cm-3 were seen; best fits (but not unique) to corotating Maxwellians are obtained for two components, H+ and N+. (c) Energetic ions (≥ 28 keV) and electrons (≥ 22 keV) were seen throughout the magnetosphere, while higher energy (≥200 keV) particles (equivalent to Van Allen belts at Earth) were confined inside the orbital radius of Triton. Spectrally soft electron and ion enhancements during spacecraft passage through the polar cap region suggest possible auroral precipitation. (d) A variety of plasma wave emissions were seen, including chorus, hiss, electron cyclotron waves, and upper hybrid resonance in the inner magnetosphere. (e) Radio wave bursts in the range 100 to 1300 kHz, narrowband and strongly polarized, have enabled determination of the planetary rotation period as 16.11 ± 0.05 hours; smooth emissions in the range 20 to 865 kHz were also observed. (f) Weak auroral emissions in H Lyman β (1025A) have been tentatively identified on the nightside of Neptune with total radiated power of 5 × 107 W. The magnetic field orientation with respect to the rotation axis was such that the spacecraft entered a “pole-on” magnetosphere, fortuitously sampling the cusp region of an outer planet for the first time. The measured flux of soft electrons and ions over the polar region of ~ 5 × 10-4 erg/cm2 sec results in an estimated power input of ~ 3 × 107 W, i.e. substantially less than that at other planets. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.
Induction of Macrophage Nitric Oxide Production by Gram-Negative Flagellin Involves Signaling Via Heteromeric Toll-Like Receptor 5/Toll-Like Receptor 4 Complexes

The induction of cytokine synthesis by flagellin is mediated by a Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) signaling pathway. Although flagellin activation of the IL-1R-associated kinase and induction of TNF-alpha synthesis are dependent on TLR5 and not TLR4, we have found that flagellin stimulates NO in macrophages via a pathway that requires TLR5 and TLR4. Flagellin induced NO synthesis in HeNC2 cells, a murine macrophage cell line that expresses wild-type TLR4, but not in TLR4-mutant or -deficient GG2EE and 10ScNCr/23 cells. Flagellin stimulated an increase in inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and activation of the iNOS promoter. TLR5 forms heteromeric complexes with TLR4 as well as homomeric complexes. IFN-gamma permitted GG2EE and 10ScNCr/23 cells to produce NO in response to flagellin. Flagellin stimulated IFN-beta synthesis and Stat1 activation. The effect of flagellin on iNOS gene expression was inhibited by a Stat1 mutant protein. Taken together, these results support the conclusions that flagellin induces distinct patterns of inflammatory mediators depending on the nature of the TLR5 signaling complex and that the induction of NO by flagellin involves signaling via TLR5/TLR4 complexes.
Response to Alkhatib et al.

To the Editor: Thanks for your comment regarding our paper on fluoroscopy benchmarks and predictors for ERCP (1,2). The point you make is well-taken; this would have been an interesting variable to have included in the analysis. In our efforts to limit the number of variables in the model, we did not look at the stenting location, unfortunately.
The Solar Probe Plus solar array development and design

The Solar Probe Plus (SPP) spacecraft will orbit as closely as 9.5 solar radii from the sun; so close that its thermal protection shield (TPS) will reach a peak temperature of 1,400C. To work in this environment, the solar array will use pressurized water cooling and operate in the penumbra formed by the TPS at a 68° angle of incidence. Even with these mitigations, the array will be subject to extremely high intensity and temperature. This paper will summarize the array's environment, present a preliminary design, outline development plans and describe phase A test plans.
A method to analyze multi-pathway effects on protein mediated donor-acceptor coupling interactions

Abstract Current strategies for analyzing donor-acceptor interactions involve mapping the dominant coupling pathways or families of pathways, followed by a numerical estimate of the interaction mediated by the paths. This strategy succeeds because it properly balances the through-bond versus through-space aspects of the protein electron transfer problem. Yet, existing analytical tools do not provide general predictions of how specific protein motifs might favor or disfavor electron transfer. This issue is best addressed with methods that incorporate multiple interfering pathways and that allow the coupling to be dissected systematically into contributing factors. We present such a method that probes collective effects arising from secondary and tertiary motifs. This analysis indicates when (and why) single pathway strategies succeed or fail. Applications of this new method to model secondary structures are described.
Examining thrombin hydrolysis of the factor XIII activation peptide segment leads to a proposal for explaining the cardioprotective effects observed with the factor XIII V34L mutation.

In the blood coagulation cascade, thrombin cleaves fibrinopeptides A and B from fibrinogen revealing sites for fibrin polymerization that lead to insoluble clot formation. Factor XIII stabilizes this clot by catalyzing the formation of intermolecular cross-links in the fibrin network. Thrombin activates the Factor XIII a2 dimer by cleaving the Factor XIII activation peptide segment at the Arg37-Gly38 peptide bond. Using a high performance liquid chromatography assay, the kinetic constants K m, k cat, andk cat/K m were determined for thrombin hydrolysis of fibrinogen Aα-(7–20), Factor XIII activation peptide-(28–41), and Factor XIII activation peptide-(28–41) with a Val34 to Leu substitution. This Val to Leu mutation has been correlated with protection from myocardial infarction. In the absence of fibrin, the Factor XIII activation peptide-(28–41) exhibits a 10-fold lower k cat/K mvalue than fibrinogen Aα-(7–20). With the Factor XIII V34L mutation, decreases in K m and increases ink cat produce a 6-fold increase ink cat/K m relative to the wild-type Factor XIII sequence. A review of the x-ray crystal structures of known substrates and inhibitors of thrombin leads to a hypothesis that the new Leu generates a peptide with more extensive interactions with the surface of thrombin. As a result, the Factor XIII V34L is proposed to be susceptible to wasteful conversion of zymogen to activated enzyme. Premature depletion may provide cardioprotective effects.
STIS Spectral Imagery of the OB Stars in NGC 604. II. The Most Luminous Stars

We present results using two-dimensional spectral imagery and photometry obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) for the starburst H II region NGC 604, in the nearby galaxy M33. The spectral imagery was acquired with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) using the MAMA-G140L configuration, which provided wavelength coverage spanning 1170–1730 A. From a single 1720 s STIS exposure, we have extracted spectra for 49 stars and derived individual UV spectral types for 40 stars in the crowded 25'' × 2'' stellar field sampled by the STIS aperture. These stars represent a significant fraction of the young, luminous O and B stars in NGC 604. Three objects have pronounced He II λ1640 emission, the signature of Wolf-Rayet (W-R) or luminous Of stars. By combining UV fluxes with HST WF/PC-1 and WFPC2 photometry at visible wavelengths, we derive the extinction curve for NGC 604. We use this extinction curve, together with the available accurate distance for M33, derived UV spectral types, and HST photometry, to determine positions of the luminous stars in the upper Hertzsprung-Russell diagram for NGC 604. The revision to the O star effective temperature scale by Martins et al., based on non-LTE, line-blanketed model atmospheres, is essential in obtaining reliable positions in the log L*–log Teff plane. These stars are quite young, with a characteristic age of ~3 Myr. The spectra and photometry indicate that three objects are exceedingly luminous. Their inferred locations in the H-R diagram relative to theoretical evolutionary tracks indicate stellar masses ≥120 M⊙. High spatial resolution HST imagery provides no evidence of multiple stars composing these objects. Still, we cannot eliminate the possibility that these objects are not unresolved multiple stars of lower mass, possibly W-R stars. Simple tests demonstrate that the 10 most luminous stars predominantly determine the UV spectral features seen in the total light of NGC 604. We conclude that the interpretation of spectral fitting of more distant starburst galaxies, where individual stars are not resolved, must be done with extreme care.
Affective Dimensions of Internet Culture

This study examines online culture by constructing an affective portrait of Internet users. Respondents were recruited through a highly visible advertisement on the Yahoo! search engine, and their ...
Potential role of native pickling cucumber polygalacturonase in softening of fresh pack pickles.

: This study examined the potential involvement of polygalacturonase (PG) in commercial pickling cucumbers on gradual softening of refrigerated and pasteurized fresh pack pickle products that adversely affects their market-life. PG activity was detected in all sources of commercial pickling cucumbers and refrigerated pickle spears, and activity was detected in some sources of pasteurized spears. Polygalacturonic acid hydrolysis determined from changes in fluidity, reducing groups and oligogalacturonides indicated involvement of both exo- and endo-PG. Treatment of pasteurized pickle mesocarp tissues with concentrated extracts from pickling cucumbers resulted in rapid softening and alteration of pectic substances. D-values for thermal inactivation of pickling cucumber PG at 75, 80, 85, and 90 °C were 22.0, 19.5, 14.5, and 4.2 min, respectively, indicating that residual activity would be expected in commercially pasteurized pickle products. It is concluded that residual cucumber PG could be responsible for softening of processed pickle products, and it is suspected that variations in textural quality of given products are caused by differences in residual types and levels of native PG. Practical Application: Since enzyme extracts from commercial pickling cucumbers were demonstrated to be capable of softening pickle tissues and that PG activity was present in some processed fresh pack products, methods that inactivate or eliminate the enzyme(s) should reduce softening of products during storage and marketing.
The N14(p, n)O14 neutron threshold

Abstract The threshold of the reaction N14(p, n)O14 was determined to be 6358.8±3.0 keV. The C13(p,n)N13 threshold, taken to be 3235.3±1.5 keV, was used as calibration. The Al27(p, n)Si27 threshold was measured for comparison and was found to be 5803.1±4.5 keV.
Differential expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (vascular permeability factor) forms in rat tissues.

AbstractVascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular permeability factor (VPF), exists as multiple forms due to alternative splicing of mRNA. VEGF165/164 (human/rodent homologue) is often assumed to be the predominant form, although truly quantitative assessments are lacking. We have used the RNase protection assay to directly quantitate the relative abundance of VEGF mRNA forms in five rat tissues (brain, kidney, lung, spleen, and heart) and two rat glioma cell lines (C6 and 9L). The three major forms, which code for proteins of 188, 164, and 120 amino acids, were observed in all of the tissues and cells examined. However, the relative abundance differed among the samples. VEGF188 was the predominant form (>50% of total VEGF mRNA) in heart and lung, but was the least abundant form (6–15%) in all other samples. VEGF164 was lower (∼25%) in heart and lung, but was predominant (>50%) in brain and kidney. VEGF164 and VEGF120 were present in equimolar amounts (each form ∼46% of total) in the spleen, C6, ...
The Hemagglutination Reaction in Avian Tuberculosis

Abstract INTRODUCTION MIDDLEBROOK and Dubos (1948) described a hemagglutination reaction with the sera from experimental animals or from tuberculous patients. The reaction involved tuberculin treated sheep red blood cells in the presence of tuberculous antiserum. They did not elaborate on this reaction as a diagnostic procedure but presented results which showed that the sera from six patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis had titers of 1:8 or higher; whereas sera from eleven non-tuberculous patients showed no titer higher than 1:4. Rothbard, Doonief and Hite (1950) tested sera from 216 normal adults and patients with syphilis or other non-tuberculous chest diseases in an attempt to demonstrate the presence of tuberculosis antibodies by the hemagglutination reaction. Their results showed that 203 of 216 sera gave no hemagglutination reaction, 12 showed reactions in serum dilutions of 1:2, and one showed a reaction in a 1:4 dilution. Ninety-two percent of the sera from 168 patients with …
Running the visa gauntlet

Current rules, regulations, and laws concerning visas are complicated, making the process for obtaining a visa for study or employment in higher education difficult. Those seeking visas should understand the most efficient ways to apply for the right kind of visa.
SYMBIOTIC NITROGEN FIXATION IN CEANOTHUS ROOTS

Ceanothus greggii var. perplexans is a common shrub in the southern California chaparral. Clusters of nodules found under the canopy of this species are modified roots which contain a nitrogen-fixing endophyte, Frankia ceanothi (Actinomycetales), within the cortex. The nodule density per m2 obtained from root system excavations is much lower than that reported for different Ceanothus species in northern California. Field observations indicate that soil moisture is an important factor in nodule formation. Anatomical studies with the scanning electron microscope and acetylene reduction assays support the hypothesis that the vesicles, spherical swellings of hyphal endings (1.2-3.0 ,tm in diam), are indeed the sites of N2 fixation. No bacteria-like bodies were found. The acetylene reduction rates of C. greggii endophytes were of the same order of magnitude as those reported for other members of the genus Frankia. It is estimated that 100 grams of nitrogen are fixed per year per hectare for a specific area in the southern Californian chaparral where C. greggii comprises 1/3 of the ground cover. This amount appears to be large enough to replace the nitrogen that is lost annually by drainage and runoff from winter rain storms.
Is Immediate Imaging Important in Managing Low Back Pain

Abstract Reference: Chou R, Fu R, Carrino JA, Deyo RA. Imaging strategies for low-back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2009;373(9662):463–472. Clinical Questions: In patients wit...
Remote sensing of total precipitable water vapor in the near‐IR over ocean glint

A method for remote sensing of total precipitable water vapor using water vapor absorption band at 0.94 µm was previously developed for continental regions. Here we apply a similar technique for ocean areas over the glint region. The glint, or oceanic specular reflection, has a high value of surface reflectance and thus, can work as well as or better than applications over land regions. The method is applied for glint regions measured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) simulator, an imager flown on the NASA ER-2 research aircraft and simulating the expected measurements from the MODIS instrument on board the Earth Observing System (EOS)-Terra satellite. The measurements are made for the Atlantic coast of the United States during the Tropospheric Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment (TARFOX). The remote sensing technique is compared with measurements of water vapor column by the Lidar Atmospheric Sensing Experiment (LASE) Differential Infrared Absorption Lidar (DIAL) lidar system also on board the ER-2. Water vapor was derived with an error of ±5 mm PW (precipitable water vapor). Most of the errors are associated with the limitations of an experiment that was not originally designed for this purpose. Much better performance is expected from the actual MODIS instrument.
Influence of dietary fat on bile acid secretion of rats after portal injection of3H-cholesterol and [4-14C] cholesteryl esters

Labeled cholesterol and its esters were injected via the portal vein into bile duct-cannulated rats, subsequent to a 7 week regimen of either 5% safflower oil or 5% beef tallow in a hypercholesterolemic diet. Analysis of bile collected over a 6 hr period from the safflower group showed 8.6% higher output of bile acids, 13.6% higher conversion of3H-cholesterol to bile acids and 40% higher conversion of [4-14C]cholesteryl oleate to bile acids than bile collected from the tallow group. During the 1st hr conversion of both oleyl and linoleyl esters of14C-cholesterol to bile acids was much slower than conversion of the free3H-cholesterol to bile acids, thus eliminating these esters as preferred substrate for bile acid formation. However at 6 hr two-thirds of the injected14C of oleyl ester was recovered in the liver, and about half of this was in the form of free cholesterol. Thus cholesterol ester hydrolase, though inhibited by dietary cholesterol, evidently did not impose limitations on formation of free cholesterol for subsequent oxidation reactions. Specific radioactivities were of doubtful significance because of uncertainities as to “active” pool size. The data suggest that dietary linoleate exerts its hypocholesterolemic effect in some manner other than ester formation and that its point of action involves stimulation of cholesterol oxidation to bile acids.
Gene Activity in Bacteria: Beyond First Approximations

In my lab, we attempt to better understand the way a cell represents information about the environment through the activity of its genes. To achieve this aim, one has to reexamine “first approximations” currently used when quantifying cellular information processing: (1) the description of cellular response in term in terms of a single “transcription rate” rather than in terms of discrete events; (2) the treatment cellular reactions as governed by diffusion and occurring in a “well-mixed” cell. We use E. coli as a model system and study gene activity at the resolution of individual events in space and time, thus going beyond these first approximations.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
The theory of double jeopardy

This paper discusses the relevance of the behavioral theory of “double jeopardy,” developed by a sociologist, to the prediction of aggregate consumer behavior. The author describes the testing of this relationship by the use of national consumer panel data and more than a quarter-million purchases. He concludes that the more popular a brand becomes, the more loyal to it will be its buyers.
When do online shoppers appreciate security enhancement efforts? Effects of financial risk and security level on evaluations of customer authentication

As the popularity of online shopping grows, concerns about identity theft and fraud are increasing. While stronger customer authentication procedures may provide greater protection and thus benefit customers and retailers, security is often traded off against convenience. To provide insight into this security-convenience trade-off in customer authentication, we experimentally investigated how levels of authentication security and financial risk factors affect perception and evaluation of authentication systems in two contexts: security questions (Experiment 1) and card security codes (Experiment 2). Experiment 1, which examined the effects of security level and product price as a financial risk factor, showed that authentication procedures based on higher-level security tended to be perceived as significantly less convenient and more frustrating. Interestingly, participants rated the higher-level security system (i.e., asking more demanding challenge questions) as less convenient and more frustrating when the amount involved in the transactions was higher. Experiment 2, which introduced consumer liability for fraudulent activities as an additional financial risk factor, showed that participants gave more positive ratings of the higher-level security system under full liability than under zero liability. Taken together, the present research suggests that patterns of security-convenience trade-offs reflecting consumers' perception and appreciation of authentication technologies may vary depending on the characteristics of financial risk factors involved in the transaction process.
Evidence-based medicine: Study design for evaluation of treatment

Obstetrician-gynecologists frequently rely on results of published studies to guide decisions regarding clinical management of their patients; that is, to practice evidence-based medicine. Therefore, it is essential that these studies be carried out meticulously. One of the first tasks in performing research is to select an appropriate study design. The principal designs are survey, which is a descriptive method; observational, which generates hypotheses; and experimental, which tests hypotheses, and is commonly called a randomized, clinical trial. Each one has advantages and limitations that must be considered carefully to achieve the most applicable effective results.
Synthesis and structural characterization of a mixed valence octanuclear polyoxomolybdate, [(C4H9)4N]4[Mo8O24(OCH3)2] · CH3OH · H2O

Abstract Reaction of [(C4H9)4N]2Mo2O7 with hydrazones, R2CNNH2, yields the novel MoV/MoVI mixed valence octanuclear polyoxomolybdate, [(C4H9)4N]4[Mo8O24(OCH3)2]· CH3OH· H2O. The structure of the anionic cluster consists of a tetranuclear core [Mo4O8 (OR)2]4+ of edge-sharing Mo octahedra, coordinated to two bridging dipodal [MoO4]2− units and two corner sharing [MoO4]2− units. Crystal data: P21/n space group, with a = 17.166(2), b = 15.719(2), c = 18.933(3) A, β = 95.08(1)°, V = 5088.9(8) A3, Z = 2, Dcalc = 1.46 g cm−3. Structure solution and refinement based on 3626 reflections, R = 0.068.
A fast and accurate algorithm for a Galerkin boundary integral method

A fast and accurate algorithm is presented to increase the computational efficiency of a Galerkin boundary integral method for solving two-dimensional elastostatics problems involving numerous straight cracks and circular inhomogeneities. The efficiency is improved by computing the combined influences of groups, or blocks, of elements—with each element being an inclusion, a hole, or a crack—using asymptotic expansions, multiple shifts, and Taylor series expansions. The coefficients in the asymptotic and Taylor series expansions are computed analytically. Implementation of this algorithm involves a single- or multi-level grid, a clustering technique, and a tree data structure. An iterative procedure is adopted to solve the coefficients in the series expansions of boundary unknowns block by block. The elastic fields in each block are calculated by superposition of the direct influences from the nearby elements and the grouped far-field influences from all the other elements. This fast multipole algorithm is considerably more efficient for large-scale practical problems than the conventional approach.
Competition and mergers in airline networks

Abstract This paper examines the effect of competition in airline hub-and-spoke networks. Because of the cost complementarities inherent to such networks, competition in a single market usually creates negative network externalities, causing a reduction in traffic throughout the network. Furthermore, competition may also imply a reduction in total social surplus. The paper suggests that antitrust policy towards airlines operating hub-and-spoke networks should be reconsidered.