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In this article we describe our five-year research project on the notorious radical free speech service and fringe platform Gab. During these years we scraped an entire platform, prepared it into a dataset for analysis, and opened it up to a broader community of students and researchers. Each of these projects provides us not just with a small slice of platformized far-right culture but also with a larger sphere of a fringe platform. However, the overarching goal of the Gab project was to contribute to a methodology for the study of the contemporary platformized far right. The atypical nature of the project posed many methodological, epistemological, and legal challenges. It therefore kicked off an institutional learning process about the possibilities, legal boundaries, and best practices for research compliant with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In this article we argue that the study of the platformized far right should have a thorough understanding of the medium on which the object is present, as well as the methods with which the object is captured. What is more, scholars that use digital tools and data methods for capture and analysis of web platforms must become literate in operating them. Consequently, data-driven research on the far right is naturally interdisciplinary and therefore cooperative and adherent to the principles of open science.

This article introduces the notion of platformed conspiracism to conceptualize reconfigured forms of conspiracy theory communication as a result of the mutual shaping between platform specificities and emergent user practices. To investigate this relational socio-technological shaping, we propose a conceptual platform-sensitive framework that systematically guides the study of platformed conspiracism. To illustrate the application of the framework, we examine how platformed conspiracism unfolds on BitChute and Gab during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings show that both platforms have positioned themselves as technological equivalents to their "mainstream" counterparts, YouTube and Twitter, by offering similar interfaces and features. However, given their specific services, community-based and politically marketed business models, and minimalist approaches to content moderation, both platforms provide conspiracy propagators a fertile refuge through which they can diversify their presence and profit monetarily from their supply of conspiracy theories and active connection with their followers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a critical discourse analysis of groups on the free speech social media platform Gab that were intended to be LGBTQ+-friendly but became spaces of queerphobia. Results indicate that Gab users deployed discourses of difference to situate the platform as heteronormative and to denigrate the LGBTQ+ community. In particular, discourses utilized in the name of free speech were used to establish LGBTQ+ individuals as abominations, undergird hegemonic masculinity, and marginalize queer folk by reducing them to sex acts and sex organs. This study provides a better understanding of the (in)efficacy of "free speech" as a content moderation policy and unpacks how anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech spreads in digital spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop a characterization of the alternative social media platform Gab in 2022 based on the themes and narratives found in the top posts of that year. Using a qualitative content analysis, this study identified six key themes from the dataset: Suppression, Persecution/Oppression, Conspiracy, Societal Degradation, Establishment Complacency, and We’re the Saviors. Based on these themes, this study argues that Gab can be characterized as a platform centered around the idea that its users are under attack, implying that ideas about marginalization may be central to group identity within alternative online environments.

This article analyzes deplatformization as an implied governance strategy by major tech companies to detoxify the platform ecosystem of radical content while consolidating their power as designers, operators, and governors of that same ecosystem. Deplatformization is different from deplatforming: it entails a systemic effort to push back encroaching radical right-wing platforms to the fringes of the ecosystem by denying them the infrastructural services needed to function online. We identify several deplatformization strategies, using Gab as an example of a platform that survived its relegation and which subsequently tried to build an alternative at the edge of the mainstream ecosystem. Evaluating deplatformization in terms of governance, the question that arises is who is responsible for cleansing the ecosystem: corporations, states, civil society actors, or all three combined? Understanding the implied governance of deplatformization is imperative to assess the higher stakes in future debates concerning Internet governability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, social media platforms such as Twitter have removed users that espouse alt-right narratives of White nationalism and xenophobia from their platforms. This mass removal has caused alt-right users to migrate in droves to alternative social media sites, such as Gab. This migration reflects the "platform branding" of these social media platforms which dictates users' choices of where to migrate based on the affordances and culture of a given site. Using heterogeneous engineering, this article analyzes the contextual history, language, and technological affordances of Twitter, Reddit, and Gab. The article finds that Twitter's focus on politics and civil conversation is unhospitable to alt-right content. Reddit's somewhat neutral positioning and decentralized moderation system make alt-right content possible but unpopular. Finally, Gab provides a haven to alt-right beliefs, constructing its platform around "free speech" and alt-right extremism. Platforms embody holistic brand images through contextual, linguistic, and technological features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With large social media platforms coming under increasing pressure to deplatform far-right users, the Alternative Technology movement (Alt-Tech) emerged as a new digital support infrastructure for the far right. We conduct a qualitative analysis of the prominent Alt-Tech platform Gab, a social networking service primarily modelled on Twitter, to assess the far-right virtual community on the platform. We find Gab's technological affordances – including its lack of content moderation, culture of anonymity, microblogging architecture and funding model – have fostered an ideologically eclectic far-right community united by fears of persecution at the hands of 'Big Tech'. We argue that this points to the emergence of a novel techno-social victimology as an axis of far-right virtual community, wherein shared experiences or fears of being deplatformed facilitate a coalescing of assorted far-right tendencies online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Origanum vulgare is recognized worldwide for its numerous applications, in the food industry and beyond. However, the extraction of its essential oils generates a significant amount of waste. The aim of this research was to achieve the valorization of solid waste from oregano hydro-distillation, by (i) optimizing the ultrasound extraction of antioxidants, (ii) evaluating the effect of spray and freeze drying on the extract's physicochemical properties, and (iii) characterizing the obtained powder by its antioxidant capacity. A central composite design of experiments was used to optimize the sample/solvent ratio, ethanol/water ratio, and extraction time. The extract was analyzed for its antioxidant potential by determining the percentage of DPPH inhibition, FRAP, and total phenolic content (TPC). The GAB model best fit the data for the moisture sorption isotherm of the resulting powder. The antioxidant activity of the powders was tested in a ground-beef food system. The TPC was maximized at times longer than 58 min, a sample/solvent ratio between 0.058 and 0.078, and a ratio of ethanol/water around 1. Neither drying method significantly affected the antioxidant properties of the extract, even though the resulting powders from each showed a different morphology (determined using SEM). Encapsulation with maltodextrin protected the spray-dried extract during a 6-month storage period. Powders from both drying methods equally retarded lipid oxidation, and were comparable to the synthetic antioxidant BHT. It is concluded that oregano processing waste is a potent source of antioxidants, and that its dried extract, via an ultrasound-assisted process, can potentially be used as a natural alternative to synthetic antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, social media platforms are heavily moderated to prevent the spread of online hate speech, which is usually fertile in toxic words and is directed toward an individual or a community. Owing to such heavy moderation, newer and more subtle techniques are being deployed. One of the most striking among these is fear speech. Fear speech, as the name suggests, attempts to incite fear about a target community. Although subtle, it might be highly effective, often pushing communities toward a physical conflict. Therefore, understanding their prevalence in social media is of paramount importance. This article presents a large-scale study to understand the prevalence of 400K fear speech and over 700K hate speech posts collected from Gab.com. Remarkably, users posting a large number of fear speech accrue more followers and occupy more central positions in social networks than users posting a large number of hate speech. They can also reach out to benign users more effectively than hate speech users through replies, reposts, and mentions. This connects to the fact that, unlike hate speech, fear speech has almost zero toxic content, making it look plausible. Moreover, while fear speech topics mostly portray a community as a perpetrator using a (fake) chain of argumentation, hate speech topics hurl direct multitarget insults, thus pointing to why general users could be more gullible to fear speech. Our findings transcend even to other platforms (Twitter and Facebook) and thus necessitate using sophisticated moderation policies and mass awareness to combat fear speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Far-right movements tend to have an ambivalent relationship with mainstream media. On the one hand, they often express animosity towards traditional media, accusing them of spreading 'fake news' and being part of a hostile conspiracy against ordinary (white) people. On the other hand, this often antagonist perception of the media does not stop far-right actors from using mainstream reporting for their ideological online messaging. This contradictory relationship is situated in a broader societal context shaped by, among other factors, widespread mistrust towards the media, an increasingly polarised media landscape and the recent proliferation of a hyper-partisan online media ecosystem at the far-right fringes. Against this contextual backdrop, this multimethod study analyses over 45,000 posts from Australian users of the far-right alt-tech online platform Gab to examine the use of mainstream media sources for their ideological messaging. This is complemented by a qualitative in-depth analysis of 298 posts that share mainstream media content, identifying posting patterns of incorporating or reframing mainstream media outputs that seek to communicate far-right ideologies within the ideologically charged online community on Gab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shelf life of dried garlic powder packaged in high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and aluminum laminated pouch (ALP) under accelerated storage temperature (5° to 40 °C) and humidity (70–90% RH) conditions, was predicted using GAB mathematical model. The water activity value reduced significantly from 0.83 to 0.31 as the moisture content reduced. The temperature had a negative effect on color change and the lightness value and whiteness index of garlic powder significantly decreased from 62.21 to 56.06 and 50.67 to 44.91 respectively, when temperature increased from 70° to 90° C. The storage life of garlic powder was 24, 78 and 210 days in LDPE, HDPE, and ALP, respectively under domestic storage conditions (40 °C, 90% RH). Therefore, under industrial storage conditions (5 °C, 70% RH), garlic could be preserved for 1.32, 4.30 and 7.28 years in LDPE, HDPE and ALP, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, LGBTQ+ individuals are often imagined as inherently politically progressive, but this assumption overlooks the experiences of self-identified LGBTQ+ conservatives. Likewise, although social media platforms are recognized as spaces of identity and community production for LGBTQ+ people generally, less work has considered how they provide a similar forum for "gayservatives." In response, this article engages in a critical discourse analysis of LGBTQ+-oriented groups on the far right social media platform Gab. Results indicate that far right social media is utilized to connect with other politically similar LGBTQ+ individuals perceived to be absent in one's offline community. Participants do so via discourses that both regulate and celebrate LGBTQ+ identities, particularly as it relates to hegemonic masculinity. These strategies generally reinforce, but at times reframe, stereotypical narratives about LGBTQ+ individuals. This study provides groundwork for more nuanced understandings of both LGBTQ+ conservatives and the ways power is socialized and embodied through discourses about sexual and gender identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Procesamiento del Lenguaje Natural is the property of Sociedad Espanola para el Procesamiento del Lenguaje Natural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the effectof conditions during maritime transport on particular quality and safety parameters of cereal, in relation to quality management and logistics management. Therefore, transport requirements for cereal as a cargo were identified, and furthermore,threats resulting from improperly conducted logistic process of bulk material with strong sorption properties were described. The aim of this article was to compare the differences in sorption properties between four selected cereal species using the static desiccator method. This method is the standard reference method. As a result of the conducted research, the existence of significant variability in the sensitivity to the effectof maritime transport conditions among cereal as a product group was identified. The most resistant to water vapor was rye grain. The differences between each cereal species should be associated with variability in the physical structure and chemical composition of grains of each individual cereal species. Further works in this area should take into consideration not only the diversity but also the variability of cereal sensitivity owingto the combined effect of relative humidity of the atmosphere and ambient temperature with use of the in-depth thermodynamic analysis of sorption.

With the increasing popularity of some alternative social media platforms, the flow of information has to some extent shifted from the periphery to the core, where problematic discourses are produced, reproduced, and amplified in the alternative ecosystem, to later find their way into mainstream platforms. The non- or less-moderated nature of some alternative platforms provides a suitable space for politicization and radicalization of discourses. In this article, we use a case study of conversations about vaccination on Gab Social—an alternative platform often conceptualized as a far-right platform—to examine this radicalization process through a mixed-methods analysis of over 68,000 vaccination-related posts from before the COVID-19 pandemic until August 2021. The article shows that while antagonistic and conspiratorial thinking was an element of vaccination discourses on Gab even before the pandemic, such conversations became gradually politicized, and expanded far beyond the medical discourse and entered the domain of organizational politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report demonstrates the overarching need for additional exploration and intervention of conspiracy-based radicalization as the QAnon conspiracy theory continues to grow. Strong pillars of belief among the QAnon movement, coupled with the spread of disinformation online, has exacerbated the familiarity and willingness to accept the rhetoric within mainstream media and culture. This report examines the evolution, ideologies, and paradigms associated with supporters of QAnon to better understand the most influential mechanisms of modern conspiracy-based radicalization. Utilizing a France-based digital disinformation platform known as Storyzy, the authors hypothesize that disinformation campaigns, coupled with the Internet and social media, has greatly enabled the unprecedented global effect of QAnon. The authors explored the potential of several survey methods to seek insights from QAnon followers on Gab and Telegram. Additionally, the authors discerned various implications of QAnon in regard to the limitations placed upon P/CVE efforts.

To increase the use of geothermal energy in Bavaria, the subsurface, which serves as a reservoir, must be explored as precisely as possible. In the projects of the Geothermal‐Alliance Bavaria, the most promising areas for geothermal exploration in Bavaria were characterised based on an extensive geomechanical laboratory testing program which was carried out on both drill cores and analogue samples from quarries. In the North Alpine Foreland Basin (SE Germany), the geomechanical test results on Upper Jurassic carbonate rocks show a high heterogeneity. On the contrary, in the Franconian Basin (NE Bavaria) the geomechanical properties of granite analogues are rather homogenous. For the numerical simulation of the borehole stability, the determined parameters from ultrasonic‐ and compression tests serve as input parameters for different scenarios. For both locations, the determination of the failure depth around the borehole and the stress distribution in the near‐field of the borehole were accomplished. In the North Alpine Foreland Basin, the borehole stability decreases with increasing depth. For all scenarios in NE Bavaria, the borehole stability is very low. In the future, the determined parameter ranges will allow to validate already existing models and to develop new ones. This will enable a better knowledge of the sedimentary and crystalline reservoirs and a more effective use of geothermal energy in Bavaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-solid interactions play a key role in determining the efficacy of inert dusts. The critical water activity (Awc) for phase transition in amorphous materials is an important characteristic of amorphous inert dusts used as grain protectants. As water activity (Aw) rises above Awc, amorphous dusts undergo a transition from glassy or vitreous state to rubbery state. Such a transition induces dramatic changes in material properties, texture and structure, and hence impact their performance as grain protectants. Full Dynamic Dewpoint Isotherms (DDI) of a synthetic amorphous zeolite intended for grain protection were generated using the Vapor Sorption Analyzer (VSA) to determine Awc by investigating the relationship between moisture content and Aw at constant temperatures. Sorption experimental data was fitted using three sorption isotherm models: Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB), Double Log Polynomial (DLP), and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET). DLP model was the best model to estimate zeolite and wheat sorption isotherms. Full sorption isotherms of zeolite and wheat obtained at 25, 35, and 45 °C clearly showed the hysteresis phenomenon. The hysteresis loops were of type H3 for wheat, and of type H4 for zeolite powder. The intensity of hysteresis remained unchanged for wheat. However, the intensity of hysteresis decreased with increasing temperatures during water adsorption by porous zeolite powder. Monolayer moisture content values for each sorption direction were provided only by GAB and BET models and indicated a decrease in monolayer moisture content with an increase in temperature. The net isosteric heats of sorption and the differential enthalpy of zeolite estimated by the Clausius–Clapeyron equation and determined graphically decreased with increasing moisture content. Conversely, differential entropy of zeolite decreased with increasing zeolite moisture content. The optimal moisture content of inert dust for grain treatment was dependent on wheat moisture content and wheat storage temperature. This is the first time that a synthetic amorphous dust is being investigated for grain protection. Our results recommend the application of inert dusts at the optimal moisture content to mitigate moisture migration within the system “wheat-dust”, thus ensuring dust maximal efficacy.

Aim:We aimed to determine the frequency of autoantibody antinuclear (ANA), peripheral anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA), anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA), anti-pancreatic exocrine gland antibody (PAb), goblet cell antibody (GAb) positivities in children with the complaint of chronic diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We also purposed to explore the role of these autoantibodies in the differential diagnosis of IBD.Materials and Methods:In our study, serum samples of 51 patients with the complaint of chronic diarrhea and 35 healthy controls were analyzed. Clinical and laboratory data at the time of serum sampling were collected and a differential diagnosis was made as the results of performed tests were recorded. For all patients, ANA, p-ANCA, ASCA, GAb, PAb positivities were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence. The chronic diarrhea group was divided into two groups, namely, the IBD group and non-IBD group.Results:In the chronic diarrhea group, 11 (21.6%) patients had ANA, 3 (5.9%) had p-ANCA, 1 (2%) had PAb, 1 (2%) had Gab and 1 (2%) had ASCA positivity. From the 35 cases of the control group, 8 (22.9%) had ANA, 7 (20%) had ASCA positivity. In the control group, ASCA was found to be high (p=0.007). Six cases were diagnosed as IBD; 1 (16.7%) had ANA, 1 (16.7%) had p-ANCA, 1 (2%) had Gab and 1 (2%) had ASCA positivity. ASCA and GAb positivities were significantly more frequent in the IBD group (p=0.006, p=0.006, respectively).Conclusion:ASCA was determined to be significantly higher in the control group. High positivity in the control group showed that the percentage of nonspecific positivity may be high for this test. ASCA and GAb of those patients with a diagnosis of IBD were found significantly higher. The serologic tests which depend on p-ANCA, ASCA, PAb, GAb can be supportive of diagnoses and differential diagnoses of IBD. Autoantibodies in IBD may be used as a supportive diagnostic tool in selected cases, rather than as the diagnosis of IBD as routine practice.

The present study is about the development of a techno-functional confectionery (soft candy), based on native raw materials from the Chaqueña region. In order to analyze it shelf life, the sorption isotherms were determined at 4, 20 and 30 ° C. Several mathematical models were applied to adjust the sorption behavior, with Peleg's model being the one that best fit the experimental data. The results obtained in this study, open an opportunity for future work in which the food developed can be used as a carrier of functional compounds such as fibers, proteins, bioactive compounds and natural dyes, among others.

Copyright of Procesamiento del Lenguaje Natural is the property of Sociedad Espanola para el Procesamiento del Lenguaje Natural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hypoxic-ischemic and traumatic brain injuries are leading causes of long-term mortality and disability in infants and children. Although several preclinical models using rodents of different ages have been developed, species differences in the timing of key brain maturation events can render comparisons of vulnerability and regenerative capacities difficult to interpret. Traditional models of developmental brain injury have utilized rodents at postnatal day 7-10 as being roughly equivalent to a term human infant, based historically on the measurement of post-mortem brain weights during the 1970s. Here we will examine fundamental brain development processes that occur in both rodents and humans, to delineate a comparable time course of postnatal brain development across species. We consider the timing of neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, gliogenesis, oligodendrocyte maturation and age-dependent behaviors that coincide with developmentally regulated molecular and biochemical changes. In general, while the time scale is considerably different, the sequence of key events in brain maturation is largely consistent between humans and rodents. Further, there are distinct parallels in regional vulnerability as well as functional consequences in response to brain injuries. With a focus on developmental hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and traumatic brain injury, this review offers guidelines for researchers when considering the most appropriate rodent age for the developmental stage or process of interest to approximate human brain development.

Summary. The article discusses the effect of conditions during maritime transport on particular quality and safety parameters of cereal, in relation to quality management and logistics management. Therefore, transport requirements for cereal as a cargo were identified, and furthermore, threats resulting from improperly conducted logistic process of bulk material with strong sorption properties were described. The aim of this article was to compare the differences in sorption properties between four selected cereal species using the static desiccator method. This method is the standard reference method. As a result of the conducted research, the existence of significant variability in the sensitivity to the effect of maritime transport conditions among cereal as a product group was identified. The most resistant to water vapor was rye grain. The differences between each cereal species should be associated with variability in the physical structure and chemical composition of grains of each individual cereal species. Further works in this area should take into consideration not only the diversity but also the variability of cereal sensitivity owing to the combined effect of relative humidity of the atmosphere and ambient temperature with use of the in-depth thermodynamic analysis of sorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moisture sorption isotherms for oven dried mango were constructed gravimetrically at three different temperatures of 25°C, 30°C, and 35°C, and relative humidity ranging 8.3%–97.0%. The Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer model was used to fit sorption data and constant equations determined using nonlinear regression analysis. The isotherms had J‐shaped curve that represents type III isotherms characterized by sugar‐rich products. At increased temperatures, it was observed that equilibrium moisture content increased and crossing effect of isotherm curves was observed with a corresponding increase in water activity. A substantial increase in equilibrium moisture content was observed above water activity of 0.6. Monolayer moisture content of between 8 and 9.6% was predicted for dried slices where the lowest value indicated that moisture content should not be lower than 8.0% to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. For assured microbiological stability, the safe storage moisture content for dried mango should be maintained at approximately 15% or less that corresponded to 0.6 water activity. Practical applications: Dehydration of fruits has been utilized as one of the most effective value addition procedures for extending their shelf‐life. However, exposure to high drying temperature and significant loss of moisture in fruits cause irreversible stresses in the cellular structure of the fruits and may lead to robust textural changes especially during storage. This research finds practical application in shelf‐life estimation and prediction of storage stability of the mango varieties. Additionally, the results can be used as a guide in product development and process design for dried mango slices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aimed to determine the frequency of autoantibody antinuclear (ANA), peripheral anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA), antisaccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA), anti-pancreatic exocrine gland antibody (PAb), goblet cell antibody (GAb) positivities in children with the complaint of chronic diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We also purposed to explore the role of these autoantibodies in the differential diagnosis of IBD. Materials and Methods: In our study, serum samples of 51 patients with the complaint of chronic diarrhea and 35 healthy controls were analyzed. Clinical and laboratory data at the time of serum sampling were collected and a differential diagnosis was made as the results of performed tests were recorded. For all patients, ANA, p-ANCA, ASCA, GAb, PAb positivities were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence. The chronic diarrhea group was divided into two groups, namely, the IBD group and non-IBD group. Results: In the chronic diarrhea group, 11 (21.6%) patients had ANA, 3 (5.9%) had p-ANCA, 1 (2%) had PAb, 1 (2%) had Gab and 1 (2%) had ASCA positivity. From the 35 cases of the control group, 8 (22.9%) had ANA, 7 (20%) had ASCA positivity. In the control group, ASCA was found to be high (p=0.007). Six cases were diagnosed as IBD; 1 (16.7%) had ANA, 1 (16.7%) had p-ANCA, 1 (2%) had Gab and 1 (2%) had ASCA positivity. ASCA and GAb positivities were significantly more frequent in the IBD group (p=0.006, p=0.006, respectively). Conclusion: ASCA was determined to be significantly higher in the control group. High positivity in the control group showed that the percentage of nonspecific positivity may be high for this test. ASCA and GAb of those patients with a diagnosis of IBD were found significantly higher. The serologic tests which depend on p-ANCA, ASCA, PAb, GAb can be supportive of diagnoses and differential diagnoses of IBD. Autoantibodies in IBD may be used as a supportive diagnostic tool in selected cases, rather than as the diagnosis of IBD as routine practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This bibliography contains journal articles, book chapters, books, edited volumes, theses, grey literature, news articles, blogposts, multimedia items, bibliographies, and other resources on internet-driven right-wing terrorism. It focuses on recent publications (up to May 2020) and should not be considered as exhaustive. The literature has been retrieved by manually browsing more than 200 core and periphery sources in the field of Terrorism Studies. Additionally, full-text and reference retrieval systems have been employed to broaden the search. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the numerous moisture sorption models, the GAB, an expanded version of the BET equation originally derived for inert gases adsorption on solid surfaces, is the most prominent. Both models are based on distinction between the adsorbate molecules settling on the bare surface in a monolayer (Langmuir adsorption) and those settling on already absorbed molecules forming multilayers. The BET theory has been successfully used to determine porous catalysts' and fine powders' specific surface area to this day. In contrast, applying the BET and GAB equations to water vapor sorption by solid foods (and non-foods) has at least three major problems: The calculated food powders' specific surface area is independent of their particle size; the expected shoulder in foods' enthalpy vs. moisture plot is absent; and there is a huge discrepancy between the specific surface areas calculated from moisture sorption isotherms and those of nitrogen. An alternative modeling approach posits the non-existence of a water monolayer, and suggests that moisture sorption is governed by at least two simultaneous mechanisms having different scaling exponents. Mathematical analysis and comparison of the resulting sorption models with the GAB equation show that they produce practically indistinguishable moisture sorption isotherms even with the same number of adjustable parameters. They also demonstrate that the sigmoid shape of a moisture sorption isotherm does not contain enough information to identify and quantify the underlying sorption mechanisms, and that a model's good fit by statistical criteria in itself does not validate mechanistic assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the water sorption properties of macroporous cryogels of gelatine (Gel) and dextran dialdehyde (DDA) prepared via cryogelation at 260 K and following the freeze drying processes. Water vapour sorption isotherms for aerogels were studied at 293 K by two independent methods: static-gravimetric and dynamic vapour sorption (DVS) over a water activity range of 0.11–1.0. Experimental data were fitted by use of the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB) models. The BET model (for a water activity range of 0.1 ≤ p/po ≤ 0.5) was used to calculate the sorption parameters of the studied cryogels (the monolayer capacity, surface area and energy of interaction). In comparison with BET, the GAB model can be applied for the whole range of water activities (0.1 ≤ p/po ≤ 0.95). This model gave an almost perfect correlation between the experimental and calculated sorption isotherms using nonlinear least squares fitting (NLSF). Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) was used to confirm the structural differences between various DDA:Gel cryogel compositions. Thermogravimetric analysis and DSC data for aerogels DDA:Gel provided information regarding the bonded water loss, relative remaining water content of the material and the temperature of decomposition. Estimation of the amount of bound water in the cryogels after the freeze drying process as well as after the cycle of treatment of cryogels with high humidity and drying was performed using DSC. The results of the DSC determinations showed that cryogels with higher gelatin content had higher levels of bonded water.

The Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma (GSP) is an extreme region, a hypersaline environment from marine origin and a unique area of the Salt National Wild Refuge in the north-central region of Oklahoma. In this study we analyzed the diversity and distribution of bacteria in two habitats; vegetated areas (GAB) and salt flat areas (GAS) in the sediments of GSP using the high-throughput techniques of 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V1-V2 regions) metagenomics-454 pyrosequencing. The filtered sequences resulted to a total of 303,723 paired end reads were generated, assigned into 1646 numbers of OTUs and 56.4% G + C content for GAB, and a total of 144,496 paired end reads were generated, assigned into 785 numbers of OTUs and 56.7% G+ C content for GAS. All the resulting 16S rRNA was of an average length ~ 187 bp, assigned to 37 bacterial phyla and candidate divisions. The abundant OTUs were affiliated with Proteobacteria (36.2% in GAB and 31.5% in GAS), Alphaproteobacteria (13.3% in GAB and 8.7% in GAS), Gammaproteobacteria (13% in GAB and 14.2% in GAS), Deltaproteobacteria (6.5% in GAB and 6.1% in GAS), Betaproteobacteria (2.6% in GAB and 1.14% in GAS), Bacteroidetes (16.8% in GAB and 24.3% in GAS), Chloroflexi (8.7% in GAB and 6% in GAS), Actinobacteria (8.5% in GAB and 5.8% in GAS) and Firmicutes (6.5% in GAB and 6.6% in GAS). This is the first study of a high resolution microbial phylogenetic profile of the GSP and the findings stipulate evidence of the bacterial heterogeneity that might be originated by surface and subsurface environments and better understanding of the ecosystem dynamics of GSP. Metagenome sequence data are available at NCBI with accession numbers; LT699840-LT700186.

Abstract Background Adaptor proteins bridge the gap between cell surface receptors and their downstream signaling elements. The clinicopathological and prognostic values of adaptor proteins remain poorly understood. The purpose of the present study was to explore the expression and prognostic value of three adaptor proteins: GRB2-associated binding protein 2 (GAB2), CRK-like protein (CRKL) and fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate 2 (FRS2) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods The expression of GAB2, CRKL, and FRS2 in 77 formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples from 77 PDAC patients, along with three paired fresh PDAC and matched normal tissues from 3 PDAC patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blot, respectively. The association between the expression of the three proteins and the clinicopathological factors of PDAC was assessed by χ 2 test. The correlation between the expression levels of the three proteins was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analyses; Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were also performed. Results IHC was successful in 75, 76, and 77 cases for GAB2, CRKL, and FRS2, respectively. Of which, the positive rate of GAB2, CRKL, and FRS2 protein expression was 40.00% (30/75), 53.95% (41/76) and 35.06% (27/77), respectively. The positive rate of GAB2, CRKL and FRS2 co-expression was 16.88% (13/77). Though there was no association between GAB2 expression, CRKL expression, FRS2 expression, GAB2/CRKL/FRS2 co-expression and the clinicopathological parameters of PDAC, positive correlations were observed between the expressions of the three proteins. Further, univariate survival analysis showed that positive expression of GAB2, CRKL and FRS2 and co-expression of GAB2/CRKL/FRS2 of PDAC predicted poor clinical outcomes, and multivariate survival analysis suggested that positive expression of GAB2 and positive co-expression of GAB2/CRKL/FRS2 were independent prognostic factors for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), respectively. Conclusion In conclusion, GAB2, CRKL, and FRS2 may be potential prognosticators and therapeutic targets for PDAC patients.

Utilisation of composite flour projects the possibility of improving nutritional quality, and consequently, the awareness of quality stability may increase large-scale commercialisation of different food products. Quality characteristics of sorghum–peanut flour blend and its extruded product (pasta) were investigated in this study. A model of moisture sorption isotherms for sorghum–peanut flour blends using concentrated H2SO4 was developed. The sorghum–peanut flour blends were substituted in the ratio of 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50. The experimental data obtained were compared with neuro-fuzzy and Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB) models for food sorption isotherm. The results showed that all the quality characteristics of the flour investigated significantly (p < 0.05) influenced each other due to the level of substitution of peanut flour. The extruded sample with 90% sorghum and 10% peanut flour was the most preferred and accepted by the sensory panellists. The adsorption and desorption isotherm curves followed a sigmoidal shape and the equilibrium moisture content increased with an increase in water activity. The neuro-fuzzy model predicted optimally and was observed to be better in describing sorption isotherm of sorghum–peanut flour blends than the widely known and acceptable GAB model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The first systematic benthic survey in the deep sea (200–3000 m) of Australia's Great Australian Bight (GAB) was undertaken in 2015 to characterise the invertebrate megafauna, and to inform the selection of indicators and metrics for ecological monitoring ahead of oil and gas exploration. The survey yielded more than 629 species of invertebrate megafauna; of the 376 species with distributional data, 92 (25%) were undescribed and 77 were new records for Australian waters. The families and genera present were all known to occur in the deep sea and many species had been previously recorded in Australia and worldwide; faunal composition was broadly typical for temperate deep-sea regions. The highest diversities (>80 putative species, or Operational Taxonomic Units, OTUs) were recorded within the higher taxa Demospongiae, Decapoda, Gastropoda and Echinodermata. Multispecies analyses showed clear changes in the assemblage structure with depth; sponges and echinoderms dominated the overall biomass and density, with the former being more prominent in shallower depths. The assemblage structure is consistent with the GAB being a single provincial-scale bioregion, with no longitudinal pattern in assemblage, biomass or density distribution. Approximately 70% of species that could be assigned biogeographic data were previously recorded from Australia, with less than half (146 species, 39%) previously known from the GAB. Only two described species, the crab Choniognathus granulosus and barnacle Arcoscalpellum inum, appear restricted to the GAB; it would be premature to assign any undescribed species as having endemic status. The clear eastwards biogeographic affinity of the GAB fauna is influenced by the relatively high deep-sea sampling effort to the east off southeastern Australia and New Zealand. Our survey of invertebrate megafauna at baseline (unperturbed) sites provides the basis to evaluate indicators and metrics using a reference-site monitoring approach. A robust (consistent species-level) taxonomic foundation will enable a variety of assemblage-level (composite) metrics (e.g. richness, diversity, distinctness) to be derived, and this is possible across several major taxa including Porifera, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Echinodermata and Crustacea. Species-level data also permit structural and functional changes (including recovery) to be assessed in response to disturbance. Where reference sites should be established can only be determined once the exploration phase of industry development is further advanced because the spatial scales of potential impact are highly activity-specific. However, our data show the high importance of depth to selecting monitoring sites because invertebrate megafaunal assemblage composition (turnover), diversity, and abundance are all highly correlated with depth. Conversely, latitude is not important because the central GAB is a single biogeographic province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: Spring wetlands in arid regions of Australia provide habitat for many highly endemic organisms, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and plants, but these unique ecosystems have been under pressure since the arrival of Europeans about 250 years ago. Arguments over whether particular plant species are long‐term spring inhabitants or recent immigrants are confounding efforts to conserve spring flora. One such example is the swamp foxtail, Cenchrus purpurascens, a grass that is variably listed in the literature as being native to Australian wetlands or as being an introduced weedy species from Asia. Location: Australia, China and Korea. Methods: We use DNA sequences of the nuclear ITS and the chloroplast DNA regions trnL‐F and matK, complemented with newly designed simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, to assess the native status of C. purpurascens in Australia and determine whether there is genetic differentiation among spring populations. Results: We find that, although there has been gene flow between Asia and Australia in the geological past, the populations are now strongly differentiated: C. purpurascens has probably been present in Australia through the Pleistocene. In Australia, there is also strong genetic differentiation among populations from different springs, and between springs and non‐springs populations, indicating long‐term occupancy of some springs sites. Main conclusions: Cenchrus purpurascens was present in Australia well before European colonization of the continent. The level of genetic differentiation among populations enhances the existing conservation values of Elizabeth Springs, Edgbaston, Doongmabulla and Carnarvon Gorge springs complexes within the Great Artesian Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant activation of cancer‐derived mutants of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is closely associated with cancer pathogenesis and is thought to be mediated through multiple tyrosine phosphorylations within the C‐terminal domain. Here, we examined the consequences of the loss of these C‐terminal phosphorylation sites on cellular transformation in the context of lung‐cancer‐derived L858R, exon 19 deletion and exon 20 insertion mutant EGFR. Oncogenic EGFR mutants with substitution of the 10 potential C‐terminal tyrosine autophosphorylation sites for phenylalanine (CYF10) were still able to promote anchorage‐independent growth in soft agar at levels comparable to the parental L858R or exon19 deletion or exon 20 insertion mutants with intact autophosphorylation sites. Furthermore, these CYF10 mutants retained the ability to transform Ba/F3 cells in the absence of IL‐3. Bead‐based phosphorylation and immunoprecipitation analyses demonstrated that key EGFR‐associated proteins—including Grb2 and PLC‐γ—are neither phosphorylated nor bound to CYF10 mutants in transformed cells. Taken together, we conclude that tyrosine phosphorylation is not required for oncogenic activity of lung‐cancer‐derived mutant EGFR, suggesting these mutants can lead to cellular transformation by an alternative mechanism independent of EGFR phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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