bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Myocardial overexpression of ANKRD1 causes sinus venosus defects and progressive diastolic dysfunction
Authors: Piroddi Nicoletta , Pesce Paola , Scellini Beatrice , Manzini Stefano , Ganzetti Giulia S , Badi Ileana , Menegollo Michela , Cora Virginia , Tiso Simone , Cinquetti Raffaella , Monti Laura , Chiesa Giulia , Bleyl Steven B , Busnelli Marco , Dellera Federica , Bruno Daniele , Caicci Federico , Grimaldi Annalisa , Taramelli Roberto , Manni Lucia , Sacerdoti David , Tesi Chiara , Poggesi Corrado , Ausoni Simonetta , Acquati Francesco , Campione Marina
Published: October 2019

Aims

Increased Ankyrin Repeat Domain 1 (ANKRD1) levels linked to gain of function mutations have been associated to total anomalous pulmonary venous return and adult cardiomyopathy occurrence in humans. The link between increased ANKRD1 level and cardiac structural and functional disease is not understood. To get insight into this problem, we have generated a gain of function ANKRD1 mouse model by overexpressing ANKRD1 in the myocardium.

Methods and results

Ankrd1 is expressed non-homogeneously in the embryonic myocardium, with a dynamic nucleo-sarcomeric localization in developing cardiomyocytes. ANKRD1 transgenic mice present sinus venosus defect, which originates during development by impaired remodelling of early embryonic heart. Adult transgenic hearts develop diastolic dysfunction with preserved ejection fraction, which progressively evolves into heart failure, as shown histologically and haemodynamically. Transgenic cardiomyocyte structure, sarcomeric assembly, and stability are progressively impaired from embryonic to adult life. Postnatal transgenic myofibrils also present characteristic functional alterations: impaired compliance at neonatal stage and impaired lusitropism in adult hearts. Altogether, our combined analyses suggest that impaired embryonic remodelling and adult heart dysfunction in ANKRD1 transgenic mice present a common ground of initial cardiomyocyte defects, which are exacerbated postnatally. Molecular analysis showed transient activation of GATA4-Nkx2.5 transcription in early transgenic embryos and subsequent dynamic transcriptional modulation within titin gene.

Conclusions

ANKRD1 is a fine mediator of cardiomyocyte response to haemodynamic load in the developing and adult heart. Increased ANKRD1 levels are sufficient to initiate an altered cellular phenotype, which is progressively exacerbated into a pathological organ response by the high ventricular workload during postnatal life. Our study defines for the first time a unifying picture for ANKRD1 role in heart development and disease and provides the first mechanistic link between ANKRD1 overexpression and cardiac disease onset.
Reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy– life-threatening symptom of an incidental pheochromocytoma: a case report
Authors: Mierke Johannes , Loehn Tobias , Linke Axel , Ibrahim Karim
Published: October 2019

Background

Cardiogenic shock (CS) due to takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a life-threatening condition. Therapy is challenging because of the ambivalent effects of catecholamines. Catecholamines are required to stabilize blood pressure but might aggravate TTC. Cardiac assist devices could be a suitable solution for conserving catecholamines and the prevention of TTC perpetuation.

Case summary

We report the case of a male patient with refractory CS and severe respiratory insufficiency as a result of a reverse TTC, which involved both ventricles. Simultaneous circulatory support with an Impella CP® and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated for cardiopulmonary stabilization and catecholamine weaning. A giant, incidental pheochromocytoma was diagnosed as the cause of TTC. After drug treatment and resection of the tumour, biventricular function completely recovered within 7 weeks.

Discussion

A rare and challenging situation is the coincidence of a nor/epinephrine-secreting tumour, such as a pheochromocytoma, and severe CS complicating TTC. Although percutaneous left ventricular assist devices (pLVAD) are highly complicated and have shown conflicting results in terms of clinical efficacy for CS, its use may prevent the perpetuation of TTC due to reduced catecholamines requirement.
Complete Genome of the Chitin-Degrading Bacterium, Paenibacillus xylanilyticus W4
Authors: Liao Weifang , Liu Pulin , Liao Weijie , Miao Lihong
Published: October 2019

Chitinases possess an extraordinary ability to directly hydrolyze highly insoluble chitin polymers to low-molecular-weight chito-oligomers, which possess particular biological functions, such as elicitor action and antitumor activity. A novel strain, Paenibacillus xylanilyticus W4, which was isolated from soil, showed strong chitin degradation activity. Here, we first reported the complete genome information of P. xylanilyticus. Paenibacillus xylanilyticus W4 contains a 5,532,141 bp single circular chromosome with 47.33% GC content. The genome contains 5,996 genes, including 39 rRNA- and 109 tRNA-coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis and Genome-to-Genome Distance revealed its taxonomic characterization into a separate family. Six glycoside hydrolase 18 (GH18) and 2 GH23 enzymes involved in chitin degradation. Although many of the chitinases were conserved in Paenibacillus, several GH18 chitinases share high similarity with Bacillus circulans. The genome information provided here could benefit for understanding the chitin-degrading properties of P. xylanilyticus as well as its potential application in biotechnological and pharmaceutical fields.
Marine ecosystems model development should be rooted in past experiences, not anchored in old habits
Authors: Maps Frédéric , Record Nicholas R
Published: October 2019

Numerical models of marine ecosystems tend to increase in complexity, incorporating a growing number of functions and parameters. Here, we reflect on the issue of “anchoring” inherent to model development, i.e. the tendency for modellers to take processes, functional forms and parameters from previous studies as granted. We focused on the particular example of the parameterization of temperature-dependent ontogeny in Calanus spp. copepods. We could identify 68 studies that implemented and parameterized this functional relationship. Semantic analysis identified distinct clusters of research scopes and coauthor networks. We showed that biases in parameters origin have the potential to produce misleading results, while recent experimental studies were often not assimilated into contemporary modelling studies. Anchoring involves external constraints in numerical models' development such as conceptual gaps and data scarcity, as well as internal drivers such as academic ontogeny and cultural background of the modeller. Retrospective quantitative literature analyses help identify how biases have worked their way into the collective understanding and help to suggest ways forward for the research community. These involve implementation of revision management systems for parameters and functional forms as already exists for numerical codes, and, as always, a more efficient dialogue between modellers, experimentalists and field ecologists.
Evaluating impacts of bottom trawling and hypoxia on benthic communities at the local, habitat, and regional scale using a modelling approach
Authors: van Denderen P D , Bolam S G , Friedland R , Hiddink J G , Norén K , Rijnsdorp A D , Sköld M , Törnroos A , Virtanen E A , Valanko S
Published: October 2019

Bottom trawling disturbance and hypoxia are affecting marine benthic habitats worldwide. We present an approach to predict their effects on benthic communities, and use the approach to estimate the state, the biomass relative to carrying capacity, of the Baltic Sea at the local, habitat, and regional scale. Responses to both pressures are expected to depend on the longevity of fauna, which is predicted from benthic data from 1558 locations. We find that communities in low-salinity regions mostly consist of short-lived species, which are, in our model, more resilient than those of the saline areas. The model predicts that in 14% of the Baltic Sea region benthic biomass is reduced by at least 50%, whereas an additional 8% of the region has reductions of 10–50%. The effects of hypoxia occur over larger spatial scales and lead to a low state of especially deep habitats. The approach is based on a simple characterization of the benthic community, which comes with high uncertainty, but allows for the identification of benthic habitats that are at greatest risk and prioritization of management actions at the regional scale. This information supports the development of sustainable approaches to manage impact of human activities on benthic ecosystems.
Bellman Function Sitting on a Tree
Authors: Arcozzi Nicola , Holmes Irina , Mozolyako Pavel , Volberg Alexander
Published: October 2019

In this note we give a proof-by-formula of certain important embedding inequalities on a dyadic tree. We also consider the case of a bi-tree, where a different approach is explained.
Integrating hepatitis C care for at-risk groups (HepLink): baseline data from a multicentre feasibility study in primary and community care
Authors: Nic An Riogh Eithne , Swan Davina , McCombe Geoff , O’Connor Eileen , Avramovic Gordana , Macías Juan , Oprea Cristiana , Story Alistair , Surey Julian , Vickerman Peter , Ward Zoe , Lambert John S , Tinago Willard , Ianache Irina , Iglesias Maria , Cullen Walter
Published: October 2019

Objectives

To examine HCV prevalence and management among people who inject drugs (PWID) attending primary care and community-based health services at four European sites using baseline data from a multicentre feasibility study of a complex intervention (HepLink).

Methods

Primary care and community-based health services in Dublin, London, Bucharest and Seville were recruited from the professional networks of the HepLink consortium. Patients were eligible to participate if aged ≥18 years, on opioid substitution treatment or at risk of HCV (i.e. injecting drug use, homeless or incarcerated), and attended the service. Data on patient demographics and prior HCV management were collected on participants at baseline.

Results

Twenty-nine primary care and community-based health services and 530 patients were recruited. Baseline data were collected on all participants. Participants’ mean age ranged from 35 (Bucharest) to 51 years (London), with 71%–89% male. Prior lifetime HCV antibody testing ranged from 65% (Bucharest) to 95% (Dublin) and HCV antibody positivity among those who had been tested ranged from 78% (Dublin) to 95% (Bucharest). Prior lifetime HCV RNA testing among HCV antibody-positive participants ranged from 17% (Bucharest) to 84% (London). Among HCV antibody- or RNA-positive participants, prior lifetime attendance at a hepatology/infectious disease service ranged from 6% (London) to 50% (Dublin) and prior lifetime HCV treatment initiation from 3% (London) to 33% (Seville).

Conclusions

Baseline assessment of the HCV cascade of care among PWID attending primary care and community-based health services at four European sites identified key aspects of the care cascade at each site that need to be improved.
Consumers Make Different Inferences and Choices When Product Uncertainty Is Attributed to Forgetting Rather than Ignorance
Authors: Walters Daniel J , Hershfield Hal E
Published: October 2019

When a consumer realizes that information relevant to a consumption decision is missing, such uncertainty can be attributed to ignorance (i.e., the information has never been observed and is unknown) or to memory failure (i.e., the information has been observed and is forgotten). Although research has examined inferences about unknown attributes, no prior work has examined inferences about forgotten attributes. Across six experiments in the lab and in the field, we find that when uncertainty is attributed to ignorance, consumers often make inferences about unknown attributes based on existing correlational evidence (e.g., a brand comparison sheet that could indicate a positive or negative correlation between the unknown attribute and observable attributes). However, when uncertainty is attributed to memory failure, consumers tend to ignore such existing correlational evidence and instead make inferences about forgotten attributes that tend to be positively correlated with known attributes. This process occurs partly because when consumers believe that an attribute was forgotten, they falsely retrieve an impression about the attribute that tends to be consistent with their overall product evaluation. Overall, believing that an attribute is forgotten and believing that it is unknown can lead to opposite inferences and choices.
Effects of Climate and Host Age on Flight Activity, Infestation Percentage, and Intensity by Coptoborus ochromactonus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Commercial Balsa Plantations of Ecuador
Authors: Martínez Malena , Cognato Anthony I , Guachambala Marcelino , Urdanigo Juan Pablo , Boivin Thomas
Published: October 2019

Coptoborus ochromactonus (Smith and Cognato) is one of the most common and important pests of balsa, Ochroma pyramidale (Cav. Ex Lam. Urb.), an economic pillar of the wood industry in Ecuador. Commercial balsa plantations have been expanded from humid to dry climate areas to limit insect damage, but basic knowledge is still lacking on the interaction of C. ochromactonus activity with variation in climate and plantation age. We investigated the effects of climate and host age on the seasonal flight activity of C. ochromactonus and its infestation rate and intensity, as well as the effect of age and individual infestation intensity on balsa dieback. Experiments were conducted in 1-, 2-, and 3-yr-old commercial balsa plantations located in areas of humid or dry climates. Seasonal flight activity (monitored with baited traps) differed between study sites and seasons. Increased flight activity was significantly correlated with higher relative humidity, higher mean temperature, and reduced precipitation during the dry season in the humid site and with increased mean and minimum temperature and increased precipitation during the rainy season in the dry site. Infestation rates by C. ochromactonus significantly increased with plantation age, especially in the humid site. Intensity of individual infestations (measured as number of successful insect entry holes per tree) was significantly influenced by both climate and plantation age, and it was particularly severe on 3-yr-old trees in the dry site. Percentage of foliage loss significantly increased with infestation intensity. Overall, our results can be relevant for devising preventive measures and suitable management strategies for this emerging pest in Ecuadorian wood plantations.
Azadirachta indica (Sapindales: Meliaceae) Neem Oil as a Repellent Against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes
Authors: Macchioni Fabio , Sfingi Marta , Chiavacci Daniele , Cecchi Francesca
Published: October 2019

Increased concerns regarding the safety of many chemicals used as insecticides or repellents, together with the development of resistance by insects to various insecticides, have led to the search for new active natural ingredients. For what we believe is the first time, that is monitored the efficiency of neem oil (Azadirachta indica) as a repellent against adult Aedes albopictus directly in the field. To test the efficacy of repellency against adults, treatments were performed (5 ml/l) in six different locations. For each location, two closed gardens distance between them 200 m were chosen (one where the treatment was performed, consisting in spraying a mixture of water and Neem oil 5 g/l and one which was used as a control where only water with emulsifier was used). To monitor the treatment efficacy, six ovitraps were used (for each location three for the treated garden and three for the control garden). Data (n° mosquito eggs trapped in each ovitrap) were collected weekly for 6 mo (from May to October) for a total of 900 samplings. Daily temperature and daily rainfall were monitored throughout the trial. The treatment was most effective in June and July. Very high temperatures and high rainfall reduced the efficacy of neem oil over time.
Phase II study of vinorelbine plus carboplatin with concurrent radiotherapy in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Yamaguchi Masafumi , Hirata Hideki , Ebi Noriyuki , Araki Jun , Seto Takashi , Maruyama Riichiroh , Akamine Shinji , Inoue Yuichi , Semba Hiroshi , Sasaki Jiichiro , Okamoto Tatsuro
Published: October 2019

Objective

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer. In the current aging society, the establishment of an ideal treatment strategy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the elderly is warranted. To assess the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin and vinorelbine in elderly patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose

To assess the efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin and vinorelbine in elderly patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods

This multicenter, phase II study included patients with physiologically or medically unresectable stage I-III NSCLC, who were ≥70 years old. The patients received carboplatin (AUC 2) and vinorelbine (15 mg/m2) both on day 1, 8, 22 and 29 concurrently with radiotherapy (2.0 Gy/day, 30 fractions, total 60 Gy). The primary endpoint was the objective response rate. The secondary endpoints were the progression-free survival, overall survival and the incidence of adverse events.

Results

50 patients were accrued (42 men and 8 women). The median age was 77 years (range, 70–89 years) and the clinical stage was I/II/III in 3/7/40, respectively. Forty-seven patients completed the planned treatment. The response was complete remission in 4, partial response in 31, stable disease in 12 and progressive disease in 3, giving an objective response rate of 70% (95% confidence interval: 55.4–82.1). Frequent high Grade 3 or higher adverse events were hematologic, but no treatment deaths were noted. The median and 2-year progression-free survival were 8.4 months and 21.1% (95% confidence interval: 9.5–32.7%), respectively, and the median and 2-year overall survival were 15.4 months and 41.1% (95% confidence interval: 27.0–55.2), respectively.

Conclusion

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy with carboplatin and vinorelbine showed an acceptable objective response rate and safety in elderly patients.
Ambient temperature drives sex ratio and presence of pregnant females of Anoura geoffroyi (Phyllostomidae) bats living in temperate forests
Authors: Saldaña-Vázquez Romeo A , Ortega Jorge , Guerrero José Antonio , Aiza-Reynoso M Isabel , MacSwiney G M Cristina , Aguilar-Rodríguez Pedro A , Ayala-Berdon Jorge , Zamora-Gutierrez Veronica
Published: October 2019

Phenology in animals is strongly influenced by seasonality that promotes changes in abundance of food resources and temperature. These changes may impose energetic constraints to organisms in certain seasons during the year, especially on those animals facing high energetic demands, such as nectarivorous bats. Seasonality in temperate forests could, therefore, promote migration of female nectarivorous bat to find warmer sites, thus enhancing breeding success. To test this hypothesis, we compared the proportion of females and the proportion of pregnant females of the nectarivorous bat Anoura geoffroyi, between months, in six different populations across temperate forests of Mexico. Bats were captured over a complete season cycle either with sweep or mist nets at the entrance or near their roosting caves, and their age, sex, and reproductive condition were recorded. We found that over 50% of bats present in the cave roosts across different populations in temperate forests of the Trans-Mexican Neovolcanic Belt of Mexico during the warmer and wetter months (April–September) were females, both pregnant and nonpregnant. In contrast, fewer than 30% of bats present in the roosting caves sampled in the colder and drier months (October–March) were females. In addition, we found that the temperature that favors the proportion of females at the studied sites was greater than 8°C. We concluded that seasonality affects sex ratio and phenology of A. geoffroyi in Mexican temperate forests. Our findings suggest females’ migrations to lowland warmer sites to improve prenatal development.
The Beginnings of Mass Communication: A Transnational History
Authors: Simonson Peter , Morooka Junya , Xiong Bingjuan , Bedsole Nathan
Published: October 2019

Mass communication was one of the central signs through which communication research constituted itself in the post-World War II era. An American term, it indexed and communicatively advanced the problematization of media that took shape from the 1920s onward. Recently, scholars have debated the term’s continued relevance, typically without awareness of its history or international contexts of use. To provide needed background and enrich efforts to globalize the field, we offer a transnational history of mass communication, illuminating the sociological, cultural, and geopolitical dynamics of its emergence, dissemination, and reception. Mapping locations of its adoption, adaption, and rejection across world regions, we offer a methodology and a historical narrative to shed light on the early globalization of the field and lines of power and resistance that shaped it. We show how the term carries a residue of postwar American hegemony, and argue for greater reflexive awareness of our vocabularies of inquiry.
Blast Exposure and Risk of Recurrent Occupational Overpressure Exposure Predict Deployment TBIs
Authors: Belding Jennifer N , Fitzmaurice Shannon , Englert Robyn Martin , Lee Isabell , Kowitz Brad , Highfill-McRoy Robyn M , Thomsen Cynthia J , da Silva Uade
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in recent military conflicts and deployment-related TBIs are most commonly caused by blast. However, knowledge of risk factors that increase susceptibility to TBI following an acute, high-level blast is limited. We hypothesized that recurrent occupational overpressure exposure (ROPE) may be one factor that increases susceptibility to mild TBI (mTBI) following blast.

Materials and Methods

Using military occupational specialty as a proxy, we examined the effects of high versus low ROPE on mTBI following blast exposure. Initial analyses included 111,641 active-duty-enlisted U.S. Marines who completed the 2003 or 2008 version of the Post-Deployment Health Assessment. Final analyses examined probable mTBI screens among Marines with at least one qualifying exposure as a function of whether the exposure was a blast and level of ROPE (N = 12,929). This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Naval Health Research Center.

Results

Blast and ROPE were both independently and jointly associated with a probable mTBI. Marines who experienced a blast (vs other qualifying exposure) and those in high (vs low) risk occupations were 1.07 and 1.23 times more likely to sustain a probable mTBI, respectively. Furthermore, among those who experienced a blast during deployment, those in high-risk occupations were 1.45 times more likely than those in low-risk occupations to sustain a probable mTBI.

Conclusions

Blast exposure and ROPE were independently associated with mTBIs, and Marines with both blast exposure during deployment and ROPE were especially likely to sustain an mTBI. This suggests that ROPE heightens the risk of mTBI following blast. Ongoing research is examining the severity, symptomology, and sequelae of TBIs as a function of ROPE.
A Detailed Analysis of Serious Personal Injuries Suffered by Full Time and Part Time Soldiers of the Australian Army
Authors: Schram Ben , Pope Rodney , Norman Adam , Orr Robin
Published: October 2019

Introduction

The intense training and occupational demands of military personnel place the individual at risk of serious injury. When they do occur, serious personal injuries (SPIs) can lead to medical discharge, mission compromise, and ongoing recurrence of problems. Prior to the implementation of any minimization strategies, an understanding of the causes of SPIs requires development. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence rates and patterns of SPIs within the Australian Regular Army (ARA) and Australian Army Reserve (ARES).

Methods

Data for a 2-year period were obtained through the Work Health, Safety, Compensation, and Reporting database of the Australian Department of Defence. Records of SPIs were extracted, with details including: (a) the activity being performed when the injury was suffered; (b) the body location of injury; (c) the nature of injury; and (d) the mechanism of injury. Results were reported as number of SPIs and converted to SPIs/100 full-time equivalent (FTE) years of service.

Results

In total, 507 SPIs were reported over the two-year period (ARA = 466; ARES = 41). SPIs most commonly: occurred during combat training (n = 80; 0.13 SPIs/100 FTE years) and physical training (n = 66; 0.10 SPIs/100 FTE years); affected the head (n = 63; 0.10 SPIs/100 FTE years) and shoulders (n = 57; 0.09 SPIs/100 FTE years); and comprised fractures (n = 199; 0.19 SPIs/100 FTE years) and soft-tissue injuries (n = 103; 0.16 SPIs/100 FTE years). The most common mechanism of injury was falls (n = 132; 0.21 SPIs/100 FTE years) or contact with objects (n = 114; 0.18 SPIs/100 FTE years). When adjusted for service time, ARES personnel were found to report SPIs more frequently than ARA personnel (0.87 vs. 0.79/100 FTE years, respectively) giving an injury risk ratio (ARA:ARES) of 0.91 [95% CI = 0.66–1.25].

Conclusions

Despite higher absolute numbers of SPIs occurring in ARA, ARES in fact report similar rates of SPIs when adjusted for service time. The natures and mechanisms of SPIs are also similar for both service types and therefore should be the focus of targeted programs to reduce such injuries.
Sub-Chandrasekhar progenitors favoured for type Ia supernovae: Evidence from late-time spectroscopy★.
Authors: Flörs A , Spyromilio J , Taubenberger S , Blondin S , Cartier R , Leibundgut B , Dessart L , Dhawan S , Hillebrandt W
Published: October 2019

A non-local-thermodynamic-equilibrium (NLTE) level population model of the first and second ionisation stages of iron, nickel and cobalt is used to fit a sample of XShooter optical + near-infrared (NIR) spectra of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). From the ratio of the NIR lines to the optical lines limits can be placed on the temperature and density of the emission region. We find a similar evolution of these parameters across our sample. Using the evolution of the Fe ii 12 570 Å to 7 155 Å line as a prior in fits of spectra covering only the optical wavelengths we show that the 7200 Å feature is fully explained by [Fe ii] and [Ni ii] alone. This approach allows us to determine the abundance of Ni ii/Fe ii for a large sample of 130 optical spectra of 58 SNe Ia with uncertainties small enough to distinguish between Chandrasekhar mass (MCh) and sub-Chandrasekhar mass (sub-MCh) explosion models. We conclude that the majority (85%) of normal SNe Ia have a Ni/Fe abundance that is in agreement with predictions of sub-MCh explosion simulations of ∼Z⊙ progenitors. Only a small fraction (11%) of objects in the sample have a Ni/Fe abundance in agreement with MCh explosion models.
Exploring the evidence for a large local void with supernovae Ia data
Authors: Luković Vladimir V , Haridasu Balakrishna S , Vittorio Nicola
Published: October 2019

In the present work we utilise the most recent publicly available SN Ia compilations and implement a well formulated cosmological model based on LTB metric in presence of cosmological constant Λ (ΛLTB) to test for signatures of large local inhomogeneities at z ≤ 0.15. Local underdensities in this redshift range have been previously found based on luminosity density data and galaxy number counts. Our main constraints on the possible local void using the Pantheon SN Ia dataset are: redshift size of $z_{\rm size}=0.068^{+0.021}_{-0.030}$; density contrast of $\delta \Omega _0/\Omega _0 = -10.5_{-7.4}^{+9.3}\%$ between 16th and 84th percentiles. Investigating the possibility to alleviate the ∼ $9\%$ disagreement between measurements of present expansion rate H0 coming from calibrated local SN Ia and high-z CMB data, we find large local void to be a very unlikely explanation alone, consistently with previous studies. However, the level of matter inhomogeneity at a scale of ∼100Mpc that is allowed by SN Ia data, although not expected from ΛCDM cosmic variance calculations, could be the origin of additonal systematic error in distance ladder measurements based on SN Ia. Fitting low-redshift Pantheon data with a cut 0.023 < z < 0.15 to the ΛLTB model and to the Taylor expanded luminosity distance formula we estimate that this systematic error amounts to $1.1\%$ towards the lower H0 value. A test for local anisotropy in Pantheon SN Ia data yields null evidence. Analysis of luminosity density data provides a constraint on contrast of large isotropic void $\delta \Omega _0/\Omega _0 = -51.9\%\pm 6.3\%$, which is in ∼ 4σ tension with SN Ia results. More data is necessary to better constrain the local matter density profile and understand the disagreement between SN Ia and luminosity density samples.
SDSS-IV MaNGA: Internal mass distributions and orbital structures of early-type galaxies and their dependence on environment
Authors: Jin Yunpeng , Zhu Ling , Long R J , Mao Shude , Wang Lan , van de Ven Glenn
Published: October 2019

In our earlier 2019 paper, we evaluated the reliability of Schwarzschild’s orbit-superposition dynamical modelling method in estimating the internal mass distribution, intrinsic stellar shapes and orbit distributions of early-type galaxies (ETGs) taken from the Illustris cosmological simulation. We now apply the same techniques to galaxies taken from the integral-field survey Mapping Nearby Galaxies with APO (MaNGA), using a sample of 149 ETGs in the mass range of 109.90 ∼ 1011.80M⊙ and made up of 105 central and 44 satellite galaxies. We find that low-mass ETGs with log (M*/M⊙) < 11.1 have an average dark matter fraction of ∼0.2 within one effective radius Re, tend to be oblate-like, and are dominated by rotation about their minor axis. High-mass ETGs with log (M*/M⊙) > 11.1 have an average dark matter fraction of ∼0.4 within one effective radius Re, tend to be prolate-like, and are dominated by rotation about their major axis and by centrophilic orbits. The changes of internal structures within one Re are dominated by the total stellar mass of the individual galaxies. We find no differences of internal structures between central and satellite ETGs for the same stellar masses. However, for similar stellar mass and colour distributions, we find that ETGs more prolate-like, or with more hot orbits, tend to have higher close neighbour counts at rp ∼ 40 kpc.
An ancient double degenerate merger in the Milky Way halo
Authors: Kawka Adela , Vennes Stéphane , Ferrario Lilia
Published: October 2019

We present an analysis and re-appraisal of the massive, carbon-enriched (DQ) white dwarf (WD) LP 93−21. Its high mass ( ≈1.1   M⊙) and membership to the class of warm DQ WDs, combined with its peculiar halo kinematics suggest that this object is the product of an ancient stellar merger event, most likely that of two WDs. Furthermore, the kinematics places this object on a highly retrograde orbit driven by the accretion of a dwarf galaxy on to the Milky Way that occurred at a redshift greater than 1.5. As the product of a stellar merger LP 93−21 is probably representative of the whole class of warm/hot DQ WDs.
Chemodynamical properties of the Anticentre Stream: a surviving disc fossil from a past satellite interaction
Authors: Laporte Chervin F P , Belokurov Vasily , Koposov Sergey E , Smith Martin C , Hill Vanessa
Published: October 2019

Using Gaia second data release (DR2), we trace the Anticentre Stream (ACS) in various stellar populations across the sky and find that it is kinematically and spatially decoupled from the Monoceros Ring. Using stars from lamost and segue, we show that the ACS is systematically more metal-poor than Monoceros by 0.1 dex with indications of a narrower metallicity spread. Furthermore, the ACS is predominantly populated of old stars ($\sim 10\, \rm {Gyr}$), whereas Monoceros has a pronounced tail of younger stars ($6-10\, \rm {Gyr}$) as revealed by their cumulative age distributions. Put together, all of this evidence support predictions from simulations of the interaction of the Sagittarius dwarf with the Milky Way, which argue that the ACS is the remains of a tidal tail of the Galaxy excited during Sgr’s first pericentric passage after it crossed the virial radius, whereas Monoceros consists of the composite stellar populations excited during the more extended phases of the interaction. Importantly, the ACS can be viewed as a stand-alone fossil of the chemical enrichment history of the Galactic disc.
RASP 4: Ancestral State Reconstruction Tool for Multiple Genes and Characters
Authors: Yu Yan , Blair Christopher , He Xingjin
Published: October 2019

With the continual progress of sequencing techniques, genome-scale data are increasingly used in phylogenetic studies. With more data from throughout the genome, the relationship between genes and different kinds of characters is receiving more attention. Here, we present version 4 of RASP, a software to reconstruct ancestral states through phylogenetic trees. RASP can apply generalized statistical ancestral reconstruction methods to phylogenies, explore the phylogenetic signal of characters to particular trees, calculate distances between trees, and cluster trees into groups. RASP 4 has an improved graphic user interface and is freely available from http://mnh.scu.edu.cn/soft/blog/RASP (program) and https://github.com/sculab/RASP (source code).
Global variability analysis of mRNA and protein concentrations across and within human tissues
Authors: Wegler Christine , Ölander Magnus , Wiśniewski Jacek R , Lundquist Patrik , Zettl Katharina , Åsberg Anders , Hjelmesæth Jøran , Andersson Tommy B , Artursson Per
Published: October 2019

Genes and proteins show variable expression patterns throughout the human body. However, it is not clear whether relative differences in mRNA concentrations are retained on the protein level. Furthermore, inter-individual protein concentration variability within single tissue types has not been comprehensively explored. Here, we used the Gini index for in-depth concentration variability analysis of publicly available transcriptomics and proteomics data, and of an in-house proteomics dataset of human liver and jejunum from 38 donors. We found that the transfer of concentration variability from mRNA to protein is limited, that established ‘reference genes’ for data normalization vary markedly at the protein level, that protein concentrations cover a wide variability spectrum within single tissue types, and that concentration variability analysis can be a convenient starting point for identifying disease-associated proteins and novel biomarkers. Our results emphasize the importance of considering individual concentration levels, as opposed to population averages, for personalized systems biology analysis.
Characterization of novel primary miRNA transcription units in human cells using Bru-seq nascent RNA sequencing
Authors: Bedi Karan , Paulsen Michelle T , Wilson Thomas E , Ljungman Mats
Published: October 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key contributors to gene regulatory networks. Because miRNAs are processed from RNA polymerase II transcripts, insight into miRNA regulation requires a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of primary miRNA transcripts. We used Bru-seq nascent RNA sequencing and hidden Markov model segmentation to map primary miRNA transcription units (TUs) across 32 human cell lines, allowing us to describe TUs encompassing 1443 miRNAs from miRBase and 438 from MirGeneDB. We identified TUs for 61 miRNAs with an unknown CAGE TSS signal for MirGeneDB miRNAs. Many primary transcripts containing miRNA sequences failed to generate mature miRNAs, suggesting that miRNA biosynthesis is under both transcriptional and post-transcriptional control. In addition to constitutive and cell-type specific TU expression regulated by differential promoter usage, miRNA synthesis can be regulated by transcription past polyadenylation sites (transcriptional read through) and promoter divergent transcription (PROMPTs). We identified 197 miRNA TUs with novel promoters, 97 with transcriptional read-throughs and 3 miRNA TUs that resemble PROMPTs in at least one cell line. The miRNA TU annotation data resource described here reveals a greater complexity in miRNA regulation than previously known and provides a framework for identifying cell-type specific differences in miRNA transcription in cancer and cell transition states.
Female Islamic Education Movements
Authors: Bano Masooda
Published: October 2019

Muslim societies have largely been effective in preserving the tradition of imparting basic Islamic knowledge to both male and female children, but for women this education has traditionally taken place within the home. Formal study of Islamic texts in a mosque or madrasa has largely been a male prerogative. In the early period of Islam, women were involved in the transmission of Islamic knowledge, especially Hadith studies, particularly in the cities of Damascus and Cairo, but their involvement remained sporadic and completely ceased in the 16th century. Since the 1970s, however, the formal study of Islamic texts among Muslim women has undergone a major revival. This is happening even in regions with no such prior history, such as South Asia. These movements take different forms, including female madrasas, Islamiyya schools, and informal study circles. However, across different contexts, it is possible to group these diverse platforms into two broad categories: formal and informal. The formal educational platforms, such as madrasas or Islamiyya schools, follow a set curriculum, hold examinations, and issue formal certificates; the informal platforms, which are organized mainly as weekly or biweekly study circles in homes, hotels, or mosques, adopt a looser structure. The teaching across these different platforms is largely focused on study of the Qurʾan (both tajwid and tafsir), followed by study of the Hadith; in the formal platforms, the curriculum also includes basic texts in aqida and fiqh. The emergence and steady spread of these movements has led to two key concerns among scholars. First, what impact do they have on women’s agency? Second, as women acquire specialist knowledge of Islam, will they challenge the authority of the ulama and reinterpret Islamic texts through a feminist lens? The evidence suggests that, unlike Islamic feminists, who have sought to reinterpret classical Islamic texts from a feminist perspective, women in these Islamic education movements actively defend the classical interpretations of the core Islamic rulings on gender relations and position themselves against feminist debates. But, equally, while defending the core Islamic rulings, these women reason and debate and, drawing on the plurality of Islamic legal reasoning, find creative ways to remain loyal to the core of the tradition while also staying actively engaged with modern realities. These movements are distinct from women’s wings of Islamic political parties; they are purely focused on education and are evident across both Sunni and Shiʿa contexts.
Computational Social Science
Authors: Alvarez R. Michael , Kim Seo-young Silvia
Published: October 2019

Social scientists have long made use of advanced computational techniques in their research. There have been two very different applications of computational technologies in social science: one largely about simulation of complex political interactions, the other focused on the use of computational approaches with data to estimate models of political phenomenon. In this chapter, our emphasis is generally on the latter area of computational social science, and while we provide some grounding in the early and foundational work in this area, we mainly discuss recent research in computational social science applications involving data and model estimation.
Language Standardization
Authors: Straaijer Robin
Published: October 2019

The term standardization is generally used within linguistics to refer to the process of bringing about a standard language. This process brings to a language a uniformity and consistent norm and form of writing and speaking, and the promotion of uniformity and consistency usually entails the reduction or elimination of variation. On a social level, the standard language is usually identified as the variety with highest prestige. Outside the linguistic community, the standard language—particularly the written mode—is usually considered an integral part of national (or supraregional) identity, being seen as the most widely used variety of the language, the official variety of the language, the national language, or even just as the language of that nation. The standard language is also seen as the most correct variety, what is called the “standard-bearing” component of standardization, which is its example-function that also paves the way to language purism. Linguists, however, usually see the standard variety of a particular language as one among many dialects of that language, and they often find it difficult to define what the standard is, partly because it is generally held that “standard language” is an ideology rather than a concrete reality. The sources cited in this article are both ones that discuss language standardization fairly straightforwardly as a process as well as those that discuss the concepts of standardization and the standard language ideology. In addition, it contains references for sources that discuss standard languages and language standards. Many of these sources often also deal, either directly or indirectly, with linguistic prescriptivism (see the separate Oxford Bibliographies in Linguistics article Linguistic Prescriptivism). It has been argued that language standardization as it is has come to be defined is a particularly Western phenomenon. Most of the readily available literature about standardization has been published in English, and most of this literature deals with European languages, and particularly with the English language. Consequently, despite efforts to avoid it, and partly because of the European concept of standard languages associated with nation-building, this article has an inevitable Eurocentric bias.
Metonymy
Authors: Panther Klaus-Uwe
Published: October 2019

Metonymy (Greek μετωνυμία, Latin denominatio) has been known as a rhetorical trope since Greek antiquity. The online Oxford English Dictionary defines this trope as “[a] figure of speech characterized by the action of substituting for a word or phrase denoting an object, action, institution, etc., a word or phrase denoting a property or something associated with it [ . . . ].” In modern linguistics, especially cognitive linguistics, metonymy (like metaphor) is considered as not just a rhetorical trope used for various stylistic purposes, but as a figure of thought (referred to as “conceptual metonymy”). Metonymies are usually notated as source for target (i.e., the conventional meaning of a word or expression functions as the source vehicle for accessing a target meaning) as in the newspaper headline Brussels Proposes EU Antideforestation Fund, where the city of Brussels stands for the target meaning “the EU commission (located in Brussels)”. The relationship between the source and the target meaning of a metonymy is usually characterized as one of association or contiguity. In contrast, metaphor is normally represented as target is source, a notation indicating that the target meaning of a metaphor is conceptually organized like the source (e.g., in Shakespeare’s famous metaphor the world is a stage—see separate Oxford Bibliographies article “Cognitive Linguistics” by Vyvyan Evans). There is no unified conception of metonymy, but most scholars agree that metonymy involves an associative link between two meaning components within one conceptual domain or frame, whereas metaphor is constituted by usually multiple mappings across two domains or frames. It has, however, to be noted that no completely satisfactory definition of what constitutes one domain or frame in contrast to distinct domains or frames has been provided thus far. Given these definitional problems, the categories “metonymy” and “metaphor” should not be regarded as “classical” Aristotelian categories in the sense of being definable by a set of necessary and jointly sufficient properties, but as prototypes with central and more peripheral members and fuzzy boundaries.
Attitudinal Ambivalence
Authors: Cavazza Nicoletta , Pillaud Vincent , Butera Fabrizio
Published: October 2019

Research on attitudinal ambivalence started in the early 1970s, forty years after the first wave of research on attitudes. Ambivalent attitudes consist of both positive and negative evaluations of the same object. Early approaches proposed different measurement methods, and ambivalence can now be measured either directly (referred to as “felt ambivalence”) or indirectly (referred to as “potential ambivalence”). Because of its duality, ambivalence has been studied in comparison with univalent attitudes—which consist of either positive or negative evaluations of an object—to uncover their specific features, antecedents, and consequences. Relevant research has focused on identifying the prevalence of ambivalent attitudes, and on whether they could stem from particular personality traits or situations. Researchers have found that ambivalent attitudes seem to be widespread and can be held for a long period of time. Their relationship with behaviors has also been widely studied. At the individual level, ambivalence increases response latency when a choice has to be made, extends information processing, can affect attitude stability, and can even lead to discomfort. At the behavioral level, studies have highlighted the moderating role of attitudinal ambivalence on the relationship between attitudes and behavior. A different field of research focuses on its strength to question whether ambivalence leads to more resistance or susceptibility to persuasion and influence. It appears that ambivalent attitudes are pliable and, depending on the context, can either help individuals to be more adaptive or prevent them from arriving at a satisfying conclusion. The role of ambivalent attitudes in interpersonal relationships and self-presentation also highlight some benefits in holding an ambivalent attitude. This article opens by reviewing general overviews to provide a detailed picture of the current state of research. It then presents early approaches to attitudinal ambivalence, and reviews studies that highlight the moderating role of attitudinal ambivalence on the relationship between attitudes and behavior, as well as studies that question whether ambivalence might lead to more resistance or susceptibility to persuasion and influence. The article then focuses on the impact of ambivalence at the individual level. Antecedents of attitudinal ambivalence will be reviewed, as well as its consequences on the individual. The article concludes by presenting research questioning its functions as well as some applied work.