bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contradictions in Judicial Support for Capital Punishment in India and Bangladesh: Utilitarian Rationales
Authors: Hoyle Carolyn , Lehrfreund Saul
Published: November 2019

India and Bangladesh share a common history, and each has developed somewhat similarly since partition. However, while both countries now have relatively low murder rates, India has seen a decline in the rate of executions, while Bangladesh continues to impose death sentences and carry out executions at a higher rate. There have been challenges to the death penalty in India, restricting its use to exceptional cases. The same has not occurred in Bangladesh. Yet in both countries, systemic flaws in the criminal process are evident. This article draws on two original empirical research projects that explored judges’ opinions on the retention and administration of capital punishment in India and Bangladesh. The data expose justice systems marred by corruption, incompetence, abuses of due process, and arbitrary and inconsistent treatment of defendants from arrest through to conviction and sentencing. It shows that those with the power to sentence to death have little faith in the integrity of the criminal process. Yet, a startling paradox emerges from these studies; despite personal knowledge of its flaws, judges have trust in the death penalty to deter crime and to realise other sentencing aims and feel retention benefits society. This is explained by reference to utilitarian values. Not only did our judges express strongly utilitarian justifications for sentencing people to death, in terms of their erroneous belief in its deterrent effect, but some also articulated utilitarian justifications for misconduct in pre-trial processes, suggesting that it was necessary to break the rules to secure convictions when the system was dysfunctional and ineffective.
Determinants of students’ idealistic and realistic educational aspirations in elementary school
Authors: Gölz Nicole , Wohlkinger Florian
Published: November 2019

Although the social stratification of educational aspirations is well documented for parents and adolescents, current educational inequality research largely ignores the perspective of children. To learn more about the involvement of children in the emergence and reproduction of social disparities, we examine children’s educational aspirations during elementary school. Based on the Wisconsin model, rational choice approaches, and the theory of cultural reproduction, our explorative investigation aims to identify determinants of young students’ idealistic and realistic aspirations. We utilize a sample of 4947 third grade students from Starting Cohort 2 of the German National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). The multivariate results indicate that students’ aspirations are influenced by their parents’ social position and aspirations, whereby the students’ self-rated rational choice indicators assert the greatest impact.
The $${\bar{\partial }}$$-Equation, Duality, and Holomorphic Forms on a Reduced Complex Space
Authors: Samuelsson Kalm Håkan
Published: November 2019

We solve the $${\bar{\partial }}$$

∂

¯

-equation for (p, q)-forms locally on any reduced pure-dimensional complex space and we prove an explicit version of Serre duality by introducing suitable concrete fine sheaves of certain (p, q)-currents. In particular this gives a condition for the $${\bar{\partial }}$$

∂

¯

-equation to be globally solvable. Our results also give information about holomorphic p-forms on singular spaces.
The Effects of Valvular Heart Disease on Atrial Conduction During Sinus Rhythm
Authors: van der Does Lisette J. M. E. , Lanters Eva A. H. , Teuwen Christophe P. , Mouws Elisabeth M. J. P. , Yaksh Ameeta , Knops Paul , Kik Charles , Bogers Ad J. J. C. , de Groot Natasja M. S.
Published: November 2019

Different arrhythmogenic substrates for atrial fibrillation (AF) may underlie aortic valve (AV) and mitral valve (MV) disease. We located conduction disorders during sinus rhythm by high-resolution epicardial mapping in patients undergoing AV (n = 85) or MV (n = 54) surgery. Extent and distribution of conduction delay (CD) and block (CD) across the entire right and left atrial surface was determined from circa 1880 unipolar electrogram recordings per patient. CD and CB were most pronounced at the superior intercaval area (2.5% of surface, maximal degree 6.6%/cm2). MV patients had a higher maximal degree of CD at the lateral left atrium than AV patients (4.2 vs 2.3%/cm2, p = 0.001). A history of AF was most strongly correlated to CD/CB at Bachmann’s bundle and age. Although MV patients have more conduction disorders at the lateral left atrium, disturbed conduction at Bachmann’s bundle during sinus rhythm indicates the presence of atrial remodeling which is related to AF episodes.
Impacts of government interventions on pricing policies of the dual-channel supply chain by considering retailer services
Authors: Javadi Taher , Hafezalkotob Ashkan
Published: November 2019

In this study, the implications of the government’s tariffs on optimal pricing decisions in a dual-channel SC with one manufacturer and one retailer by taking into account the retailer services are examined. First, the best response strategies of retailer and manufacturer have obtained following the government’s tariffs by using a Stackelberg game model. Then, the government problem has modeled in six scenarios in a competitive mode about service level, social welfare, and government’s revenue-seeking policies. It can be concluded that retailer services affect the optimal manufacturer and retailer’s decisions. Moreover, with the sensitivities analysis that was studied on government models, it was shown that an integrated SC could better serve the government to achieve its goals. Also, the optimal strategies of the manufacturer and retailer of a dual-channel supply chain have been reached to the government’s social and economic goals. It can be found that the government with proper tariffs could coordinate social, economic, and service objectives.
Model-based learning of information diffusion in social media networks
Authors: Qiang Zhecheng , Pasiliao Eduardo L. , Zheng Qipeng P.
Published: November 2019

Social networks have become widely used platforms for their users to share information. Learning the information diffusion process is essential for successful applications of viral marketing and cyber security in social media networks. This paper proposes two learning models that are aimed at learning person-to-person influence in information diffusion from historical cascades based on the threshold propagation model. The first model is based on the linear threshold propagation model. In addition, by considering multi-step information propagation in one time period, this paper proposes a learning model for multi-step diffusion influence between pairs of users based on the idea of random walk. Mixed integer programs (MIP) have been used to learn these models by minimizing the prediction errors, where decision variables are estimations of the diffusion influence between pairs of users. For large-scale networks, this paper develops approximate methods for those learning models by using artificial neural networks to learn the pairwise influence. Extensive computational experiments using both synthetic data and real data have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models and methods.
Measuring the Impact of Public Understandings of Risk from Urban and Industrial Development on Community Psychosocial Well-Being: a Mixed Methods Strategy
Authors: Baldwin Cathy , Cave Ben , Rawstorne Patrick
Published: November 2019

As the science of well-being moves towards an understanding of the influence of social experiences shared by many on individual and group-level well-being (‘community well-being’), a new approach to measuring well-being is required. It needs to bridge the contextually-specific social experiences best uncovered by social research methods, and psychological diagnoses made using conventional psychometric scales and diagnostic interviews. We build on our previous work on a new psychosocial model of a major influence on contemporary community well-being, the process by which people form, maintain and change their understandings of risk from urban and industrial projects, and any subsequent effects on individualpsychosocial well-being. We utilise this model, and propose a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology to argue for; 1) the incorporation of theemic(subject’s) perspective in the conceptual underpinnings of measurement scales; and 2) the synthesis of quantitative and qualitative assessments of well-being. This gives validity and contextual precision to scales which measure experiences of well-being that are geographically and socio-culturally-located. The resulting data offers both context of scale, and depth of insight. Additionally, our proposition combines theories and methods from psychology, social anthropology, sociology, social epidemiology, public health and community development. This evinces the importance of drawing on broad ranging perspectives to develop tools which capture the complex and multi-dimension nature of well-being - where psychological responses are shaped by collective social experiences.
A particle swarm optimization approach using adaptive entropy-based fitness quantification of expert knowledge for high-level, real-time cognitive robotic control
Authors: de Jager Deon , Zweiri Yahya , Makris Dimitrios
Published: November 2019

High-level, real-time mission control of semi-autonomous robots, deployed in remote and dynamic environments, remains a challenge. Control models, learnt from a knowledgebase, quickly become obsolete when the environment or the knowledgebase changes. This research study introduces a cognitive reasoning process, to select the optimal action, using the most relevant knowledge from the knowledgebase, subject to observed evidence. The approach in this study introduces an adaptive entropy-based set-based particle swarm algorithm (AE-SPSO) and a novel, adaptive entropy-based fitness quantification (AEFQ) algorithm for evidence-based optimization of the knowledge. The performance of the AE-SPSO and AEFQ algorithms are experimentally evaluated with two unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) benchmark missions: (1) relocating the UAV to a charging station and (2) collecting and delivering a package. Performance is measured by inspecting the success and completeness of the mission and the accuracy of autonomous flight control. The results show that the AE-SPSO/AEFQ approach successfully finds the optimal state-transition for each mission task and that autonomous flight control is successfully achieved.
Sport analytics for cricket game results using machine learning: An experimental study
Authors: Kapadia Kumash , Abdel-Jaber Hussein , Thabtah Fadi , Hadi Wael
Published: November 2019

Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the more popular cricket world tournaments, and its financial is increasing each season, its viewership has increased markedly and the betting market for IPL is growing significantly every year. With cricket being a very dynamic game, bettors and bookies are incentivised to bet on the match results because it is a game that changes ball-by-ball. This paper investigates machine learning technology to deal with the problem of predicting cricket match results based on historical match data of the IPL. Influential features of the dataset have been identified using filter-based methods including Correlation-based Feature Selection, Information Gain (IG), ReliefF and Wrapper. More importantly, machine learning techniques including Naïve Bayes, Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN) and Model Trees (classification via regression) have been adopted to generate predictive models from distinctive feature sets derived by the filter-based methods. Two featured subsets were formulated, one based on home team advantage and other based on Toss decision. Selected machine learning techniques were applied on both feature sets to determine a predictive model. Experimental tests show that tree-based models particularly Random Forest performed better in terms of accuracy, precision and recall metrics when compared to probabilistic and statistical models. However, on the Toss featured subset, none of the considered machine learning algorithms performed well in producing accurate predictive models.
A higher speed type II blowup for the five dimensional energy critical heat equation
Authors: Harada Junichi
Published: November 2019

This paper is concerned with blow-up solutions of the five dimensional energy critical heat equation

u_{t} = \mathrm{\Delta }u + |u|^{\frac{4}{3}}u

. A goal of this paper is to show the existence of type II blowup solutions which behave as

\|u(t)\|_{\infty } \sim (T−t)^{−3k}

(

k = 2,3,⋯

). These solutions are the same ones formally derived by Filippas, Herrero and Velázquez [8]. We find a mistake in their blowup rate and correct it.
Enhancement of the attitude dynamics capabilities of the spinning spacecraft using inertial morphing
Authors: Trivailo P.M. , Kojima H.
Published: November 2019

In the previous works by the authors, an efficient method of control of the inversion of the spinning spacecraft was proposed. This method was prompted by the Dzhanibekov’s Effect or Tennis Racket Theorem, which are often seen by many as odd or even mysterious. For the spacecraft, initially undergoing periodic flipping motion, proposed method allows to completely stop these flips by transferring the unstable motion into the regular stable spin. Similarly, the method allows activation of the flipping motion of the spacecraft, which is initially undergoing its stable spin. In this paper, spacecraft designs, which have inertial morphing capabilities, are considered and their advantages are further investigated. For general formulation, the ability of the spacecraft to change its inertial properties, associated with all three principal axes of inertia, are assumed. For simulation of these types of spacecraft systems, extended Euler’s equations are used and peculiar dynamics of the spacecraft is illustrated with a several study cases. Complex spacecraft attitude dynamics manoeuvres, using geometric interpretation, employing angular momentum spheres and kinetic energy ellipsoids, are considered in detail. Contributions of the inertial morphing to the changes of the shape of the kinetic energy ellipsoid are demonstrated and are related to the resultant various feature manoeuvres, including inversion and re-orientation. A method of reduction of the compound rotation of the spacecraft into a single stable predominant rotation around one of the body axes was proposed. This is achieved via multi-stage morphing and employing proposed instalment into separatrices. Implementation of the morphing control capabilities are discussed. For the periodic inversion motions, calculation of the periods of the flipping motion, based on the complete elliptic integral of the first kind, is performed. Flipping periods for various combinations of inertial properties of the spacecraft are presented in a systematic way. This paper discusses strategies to the increase or reduction the flipping and/or wobbling motions. A discovered asymmetric ridge of high periods for peculiar combinations of the inertial properties is discussed in detail. Numerous examples are illustrated with animations in virtual reality, facilitating explanation of the analysis and control methodologies to a wide audience, including specialists, industry and students.
The Online Public Sphere in the Gulf: Contestation, Creativity, and Change
Authors: Khamis Sahar
Published: November 2019

This introductory essay sets the stage for this special issue, which explores how online media has changed the Arabian Gulf region's politics, economies, and social norms.2It provides an overview of the most important themes, arguments, and findings tackled in the four essays in this issue, as well as the intersections, overlaps, and divergences emerging from, and between, them. In doing so, it explains how the similarities and differences, as well as the most significant underlying themes, emerging from these four essays further our understanding of the online public sphere in the Gulf region as a space for contestation, creativity, and change. This introductory essay identifies three important, and overlapping, themes found in this special issue: techno-euphoria, cyberwars, and the public sphere. It concludes by proposing possible next steps and future research on the important, yet understudied, links between the online public sphere and the sociopolitical environment of the Gulf.
Relationships between autistic traits, insufficient sleep, and real-world executive functions in children: a mediation analysis of a national epidemiological survey
Authors: Tsai Tsung-Han , Chen Yi-Lung , Gau Susan Shur-Fen
Published: November 2019

Background

Although the literature documents low executive functions and sleep deficits in individuals with autism spectrum disorder or subclinical autistic traits, no study has simultaneously examined their relationships in the general child population. This study aimed to examine whether autistic traits impacted real-world executive functions through insufficient sleep in a nationally representative sample of children.

Methods

This was a national survey of 6832 primary and secondary school students, aged 8–14 years old, with equal sex distribution (3479 boys, 50.8%). Parents reported their child's nocturnal sleep duration and the need for sleep to maintain their daytime function and the Social Responsiveness Scale and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) for their children's autistic traits and real-world executive functions, respectively.

Results

We found that autistic traits exerted indirect effects on real-world executive functions through sleep deficits, independent of sex, and age. Moreover, such an indirect effect was observed only from restricted and repetitive behaviors to executive functions through sleep deficits, but not in the other components of autistic traits (i.e. social communication and interaction).

Conclusions

Our novel findings underscore the importance of sleep and autistic traits in executive functions and suggest potential mechanisms that may underlie the observed correlational structure among autistic behaviors, sleep deficits, and low executive function performance.
Script variation as audience design: Imagining readership and community in Japanese yuri comics
Authors: Dahlberg-Dodd Hannah E.
Published: November 2019

Building on recent work supporting a sociolinguistic approach to orthographic choice, this study engages with paratextual language use in yuri, a subgenre of Japanese shōjo manga ‘girls’ comics’ that centers on same-sex romantic and/or erotic relationships between female characters. The comic magazine Comic Yuri Hime has been the dominant, if not only, yuri-oriented published magazine in Japan since its inception in 2005. Though both written and consumed by a primarily female audience, the magazine has undergone numerous attempts to rebrand and refocus the target audience as a means to broaden the magazine's readership. This change in target demographic is reflected in the stylistic representation of paratextual occurrences of the second-person pronoun anata, indicating the role of the textual landscape in reflecting, and reifying, an imagined target audience. (Script variation, manga, popular media, Japan, yuri manga)
Variation in care for children undergoing the Fontan operation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Authors: Eckhauser Aaron W. , Van Rompay Maria I. , Ravishankar Chitra , Newburger Jane W. , Ram Kumar S. , Pizarro Christian , Ghanayem Nancy , Trachtenberg Felicia L. , Burns Kristin M. , Hill Garick D. , Atz Andrew M. , Hamstra Michelle S. , Mazwi Mjaye , Park Patsy , Richmond Marc E. , Wolf Michael , Zampi Jeffrey D. , Jacobs Jeffrey P. , Minich L. LuAnn ,   for the Pediatric Heart Network Investigators
Published: November 2019

Background:

The Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial randomised neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome to a shunt strategy but otherwise retained standard of care. We aimed to describe centre-level practice variation at Fontan completion.

Methods:

Centre-level data are reported as median or median frequency across all centres and range of medians or frequencies across centres. Classification and regression tree analysis assessed the association of centre-level factors with length of stay and percentage of patients with prolonged pleural effusion (>7 days).

Results:

The median Fontan age (14 centres, 320 patients) was 3.1 years (range from 1.7 to 3.9), and the weight-for-age z-score was −0.56 (−1.35 + 0.44). Extra-cardiac Fontans were performed in 79% (4–100%) of patients at the 13 centres performing this procedure; lateral tunnels were performed in 32% (3–100%) at the 11 centres performing it. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (nine centres) ranged from 6 to 100%. Major complications occurred in 17% (7–33%). The length of stay was 9.5 days (9–12); 15% (6–33%) had prolonged pleural effusion. Centres with fewer patients (<6%) with prolonged pleural effusion and fewer (<41%) complications had a shorter length of stay (<10 days; sensitivity 1.0; specificity 0.71; area under the curve 0.96). Avoiding deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and higher weight-for-age z-score were associated with a lower percentage of patients with prolonged effusions (<9.5%; sensitivity 1.0; specificity = 0.86; area under the curve 0.98).

Conclusions:

Fontan perioperative practices varied widely among study centres. Strategies to decrease the duration of pleural effusion and minimise complications may decrease the length of stay. Further research regarding deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is needed to understand its association with prolonged pleural effusion.
The Art and Science of Economic Explanation: Introduction to the Special Issue in Honor of Yoram Barzel
Authors: Candela Rosolino A. , Piano Ennio E.
Published: November 2019

This introduction to the special issue in honor of Professor Yoram Barzel provides an overview of his scholarship and a summary of the contributions to this special issue. Each contribution advances or elaborates upon major themes in Barzel's theoretical and applied work on property rights, transaction costs, and political economy. The contributions fall into three categories: an examination of the foundations and implications of the ‘Barzelian’ method for social scientific analysis; Barzel's economics of property rights and transaction costs to historical case studies; and advances to Barzel's theory of the state, which includes an analysis of the origins of democracy and the rule of law.
NON–WELL-FOUNDED DERIVATIONS IN THE GÖDEL-LÖB PROVABILITY LOGIC
Authors: SHAMKANOV DANIYAR
Published: November 2019

We consider Hilbert-style non–well-founded derivations in the Gödel-Löb provability logic GL and establish that GL with the obtained derivability relation is globally complete for algebraic and neighbourhood semantics.
Individuelle Beteiligung am Unterrichtsgespräch in Grundschulklassen: Wer ist (nicht) beteiligt und welche Konsequenzen hat das für den Lernerfolg?
Authors: Decristan Jasmin , Fauth Benjamin , Heide Eva Lena , Locher Franziska Maria , Troll Bianka , Kurucz Csaba , Kunter Mareike
Published: November 2019

Zusammenfassung. Eine aktive Beteiligung am Unterrichtsgespräch gilt als wichtiger Baustein schulischen Lernens und als Indikator für bildungsbezogene Partizipation. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden mittels Video-Kodierungen von Schüler-Lehrkraft-Interaktionen die individuelle Beteiligung von N = 628 Schülerinnen und Schülern im naturwissenschaftlichen Sachunterricht an Grundschulen erfasst (N = 893 verbale Beteiligungen und N = 1.740 weitere Meldungen). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass sich Schülerinnen und Schüler mit erhöhten Risikomerkmalen für ungünstige schulische Leistungsentwicklungen seltener von sich aus am Unterricht beteiligten und dass Lehrkräfte diese Selektion durch ihr Aufrufverhalten nicht maßgeblich kompensierten. Zudem ging eine Unterrichtsbeteiligung mit höherem Lernerfolg einher. In diesen Prozessen zeigt sich zum einen ein differenzielles (ein für individuelle Schülerinnen und Schüler unterschiedliches) Unterrichtsangebot der Lehrkraft und zum anderen eine differenzielle Nutzung dieses Angebots durch die Schülerinnen und Schüler. Die Befunde können damit zur Erklärung von differenziellen Leistungsentwicklungen beitragen. Ein besonderes pädagogisches Augenmerk sollte deshalb auf jenen Kindern liegen, die nicht aktiv am Unterrichtsgespräch beteiligt sind.
Reducing the Length of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social	Support
Authors: Porter Ben , Kolaja Claire A. , Powell Teresa M. , Pflieger Jacqueline C. , Stander Valerie A. , Armenta Richard F.
Published: November 2019

Abstract. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is a widely used 12-item measure that assesses perceived social support from three sources: friends, family, and significant others. Previously published psychometric properties indicate that a shorter version of this scale may adequately assess perceived social support and reduce participant burden. The current studies sought to develop such a reduced scale across two studies. Study 1 examined a sample of spouses of US military personnel ( N = 5,436) randomly separated into exploratory and confirmatory samples. In the exploratory sample, we developed a 6-item reduced MSPSS using multidimensional item response theory. In the confirmatory sample, the reduced MSPSS fit the hypothesized structure and was highly correlated with the full MSPSS. Study 2 administered the full and reduced MSPSS separately within a sample of undergraduate students ( N = 188). The reduced MSPSS had high correlations with the full measure ( r = .90) and fit the hypothesized factor structure. Across both studies, correlations with related constructs were similar between the reduced and full MSPSS, demonstrating almost no loss of construct validity. Overall, the reduced MSPSS captured perceived social support with little loss of information. This reduced scale may be useful for minimizing survey length and participant burden.
Validating the Resource-Management Inventory (ReMI)
Authors: Waldeyer Julia , Fleischer Jens , Wirth Joachim , Leutner Detlev
Published: November 2019

Abstract. There is substantial evidence that students in higher education who have sophisticated resource-management skills are more successful in their studies. Nevertheless, research shows that students are often not adequately prepared to use resource-management strategies effectively. It is thus crucial to screen and identify students who are at risk of poor resource management (and consequently, reduced academic achievement) to provide them with appropriate support. For this purpose, we extend the validation of a situational-judgment-based instrument called Resource-Management Inventory (ReMI), which assesses resource-management competency (including knowledge of resource-management strategies and the self-reported ability to use this knowledge in learning situations). We evaluated the ReMI regarding factor structure, measurement invariance, and its impact on academic achievement in different study domains in a sample of German first-year students ( N = 380). The results confirm the five-factor structure that has been found in a previous study and indicate strong measurement invariance. Furthermore, taking cognitive covariates into account, the results confirm that the ReMI can predict students’ grades incrementally. Finally, a multi-group analysis shows that the findings can be generalized across different study domains. Overall, we provide evidence for a valid and efficient instrument for the assessment of resource-management competency in higher education.
The Sweet Spot
Authors: Joyce Nick , Harwood Jake , Springer Sheila
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Young adults were exposed to experimentally manipulated stereotypical, counterstereotypical, or extremely counterstereotypical media depictions of an older adult driving. Perceptions of exemplar typicality and beliefs about older adults’ driving ability were assessed. The results support a curvilinear model in which there is a point, or “sweet spot,” where exemplars are perceived as typical enough of their group to be seen as cognitively related and relevant to perceptions of the group, but still atypical enough to change perceptions and beliefs. We discuss implications of these findings for group-related cognitions, subtyping, and media depictions of older adults.
Convective Precipitation Efficiency Observed in the Tropics
Authors: Narsey Sugata , Jakob Christian , Singh Martin S. , Bergemann Martin , Louf Valentin , Protat Alain , Williams Christopher
Published: November 2019

Precipitation efficiency refers to the fraction of condensate in the atmosphere that reaches the surface as precipitation. A high‐quality data set of radar‐estimated precipitation rates and convective scale vertical velocity near Darwin, Australia, is used to construct the first estimate of precipitation efficiency at convective scales for a long record of observations in the tropics. It is found that precipitation efficiency increases with precipitation rate and midtropospheric humidity and decreases with increasing convective available potential energy and surface temperature. Precipitation efficiency is largest under moist monsoonal conditions and smallest during monsoon break periods, which are characterized by a drier free troposphere. However, these differences in efficiency do not translate to differences in the instantaneous precipitation rate across the synoptic regimes because of a compensating change in the net condensation rate. This is driven by variations in cloud updraft velocity, which is larger in drier environments than in moist environments.
Seismic Evidence of Magmatic Rifting in the Offshore Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand
Authors: Gase Andrew C. , Van Avendonk Harm J. A. , Bangs Nathan L. , Luckie Thomas W. , Barker Daniel H. N. , Henrys Stuart A. , Bassett Dan , Okaya David A. , Jacobs Katrina M. , Kodaira Shuichi , Fujie Gou , Arnulf Adrien F. , Yamamoto Yojiro
Published: November 2019

Relationships between extensional tectonics and magmatism are ubiquitous in continental rifts and oceanic spreading centers. Yet few studies document interactions between extensional faults and mantle melts in volcanic arcs. We constrain the crustal structure of the extensional offshore Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) from a marine multichannel and wide‐angle seismic experiment. The TVZ crust thins from >26 km to ∼18–19 km across ∼50 km in the Bay of Plenty. Elevated P wave velocities in the lower crust indicate mafic additions. Magmatic sills between 4‐ and 15‐km depth lie beneath listric normal faults in a ∼40‐km‐wide active rift zone. P wave velocities in the middle and upper crust along the arc front are ∼0.3–0.5 km/s slower than in the adjacent crust, indicating a possible thermal anomaly imparted by heat from magmatic intrusions. We propose that rifting in the offshore TVZ is partially compensated by intrusions and assisted by thermal weakening of the lithosphere.
Space Weather Journal: Maturation and Open‐Access Future
Authors: Lugaz Noé
Published: November 2019

Key Points

Change of Space Weather publication model to open access

New Editor in Chief

Majority of AGU members have known the Space Weather journal for their entire professional careers.
Western Northern Luzon Isotopic Evidence of Transition From Proto‐South China Sea to South China Sea Fossil Ridge Subduction
Authors: Liu Hai‐Quan , Yumul Graciano P. , Dimalanta Carla B. , Queaño Karlo , Xia Xiao‐Ping , Peng Tou‐Ping , Lan Jiang‐Bo , Xu Yi‐Gang , Yan Yi , Guotana Juan Miguel R. , Olfindo Valerie Shayne
Published: November 2019

Temporal geochemical comparisons are conducted for representative magmatism from western Northern Luzon to reconstruct the Cenozoic tectonics. Oligo‐Pleistocene magmas from western Northern Luzon display elemental and Sr‐Nd‐Hf‐Pb‐O isotope geochemistry similar to intraoceanic arc magmatism, consistent with derivation from the mantle wedge, coupled with fractional crystallization. Specifically, the Oligo‐Miocene (~26.8–15.6 Ma) Central Cordillera diorite complex samples exhibit a negative correlation between Sr‐Nd isotopes, consistent with mantle metasomatism by fluids/melts released from pelagic sediments. The Mio‐Pleistocene samples (<~9 Ma) exhibit consistent 87Sr/86Sr ratios with variable εNd and partially overlap with those of Scarborough seamount basalts, consistent with mantle metasomatism by fluids/melts released from the Scarborough seamount basalts, which are being subducted beneath Northern Luzon with the South China Sea fossil ridge. Temporal changes in Sr‐Nd‐Hf‐Pb isotopes are also observed for the Taiwan‐Luzon arc magmatism. The Oligo‐Miocene (>~9 Ma) magmatism exhibit intraoceanic arc isotopic signatures, suggestive of a chemical imprint from subducted pelagic sediments. The Mio‐Pleistocene (<~9 Ma) lavas display enriched mantle‐type isotope compositions, consistent with an input of terrigenous sediment in the mantle. The temporal variations in Sr‐Nd‐Hf‐Pb isotopes for the Taiwan‐Luzon magmatism, combined with paleomagnetic evidence, mirror a transition from the Proto‐South China Sea to the South China Sea fossil ridge subduction beneath western Northern Luzon at ~9 Ma. In addition, this study also highlights the importance of relatively enriched components in the lower plate in the maturation of overriding juvenile oceanic crust in an arc‐continent collision system.
Hydrogeological Modeling and Water Resources Management: Improving the Link Between Data, Prediction, and Decision Making
Authors: Harken Bradley , Chang Ching‐Fu , Dietrich Peter , Kalbacher Thomas , Rubin Yoram
Published: November 2019

A risk‐based decision‐making mechanism capable of accounting for uncertainty regarding local conditions is crucial to water resources management, regulation, and policy making. Despite the great potential of hydrogeological models in supporting water resources decisions, challenges remain due to the many sources of uncertainty as well as making and communicating decisions mindful of this uncertainty. This paper presents a framework that utilizes statistical hypothesis testing and an integrated approach to the planning of site characterization, modeling prediction, and decision making. Benefits of this framework include aggregated uncertainty quantification and risk evaluation, simplified communication of risk between stakeholders, and improved defensibility of decisions. The framework acknowledges that obtaining absolute certainty in decision making is impossible; rather, the framework provides a systematic way to make decisions in light of uncertainty and determine the amount of information required. In this manner, quantitative evaluation of a field campaign design is possible before data are collected, beginning from any knowledge state, which can be updated as more information becomes available. We discuss the limitations of this approach by the types of uncertainty that can be recognized and make suggestions for addressing the rest. This paper presents the framework in general and then demonstrates its application in a synthetic case study. Results indicate that the effectiveness of field campaigns depends not only on the environmental performance metric being predicted but also on the threshold value in decision‐making processes. The findings also demonstrate that improved parameter estimation does not necessarily lead to better decision making, thus reemphasizing the need for goal‐oriented characterization.
Microglial regional heterogeneity and its role in the brain
Authors: Tan Yun-Long , Yuan Yi , Tian Li
Published: November 2019

Microglia have been recently shown to manifest a very interesting phenotypical heterogeneity across different regions in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). However, the underlying mechanism and functional meaning of this phenomenon are currently unclear. Baseline diversities of adult microglia in their cell number, cellular and subcellular structures, molecular signature as well as relevant functions have been discovered. But recent transcriptomic studies using bulk RNAseq and single-cell RNAseq have produced conflicting results on region-specific signatures of microglia. It is highly speculative whether such spatial heterogeneity contributes to varying sensitivities of individual microglia to the same physiological and pathological signals in different CNS regions, and hence underlie their functional relevance for CNS disease development. This review aims to thoroughly summarize up-to-date knowledge on this specific topic and provide some insights on the potential underlying mechanisms, starting from microgliogenesis. Understanding regional heterogeneity of microglia in the context of their diverse neighboring neurons and other glia may provide an important clue for future development of innovative therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Initiation of human mammary cell tumorigenesis by mutant KRAS requires YAP inactivation
Authors: Lefort Sylvain , Tan Susanna , Balani Sneha , Rafn Bo , Pellacani Davide , Hirst Martin , Sorensen Poul H. , Eaves Connie J.
Published: November 2019

High YAP activity is associated with poor prognosis human breast cancers, but its role during the initial stage of mammary cell transformation is unknown. To address this question, we designed experiments that exploit the ability of KRASG12D-transduced subsets of freshly isolated normal human mammary cells to form invasive tumors rapidly and efficiently when transplanted into immunodeficient mice. Initial examination of the newly developing tumors thus generated revealed a consistent marked loss of nuclear YAP, independent of the initial primary human mammary cell type transduced. Conversely, co-transduction of the same subsets of primary human mammary cells with KRASG12D plus the constitutively active YAPS127A prevented tumor formation. These findings contrast with the enhanced display of transformed properties obtained when the immortalized, but non-tumorigenic MCF10A cells are transduced just with YAPS127A. In addition, we show that YAPS127A-transduction of the human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line (that carry a similar KRAS mutation) enhances their metastatic activity in vivo. We also discover that the KRASG12D-induced early loss of YAP in primary human mammary cells is associated with their induced secretion of amphiregulin. Collectively, these findings suggest that YAP can differentially affect the acquisition of malignant properties by human mammary cells at different stages of their transformation.
Overexpressed miR-200a promotes bladder cancer invasion through direct regulating Dicer/miR-16/JNK2/MMP-2 axis
Authors: Yang Rui , Xu Jiheng , Hua Xiaohui , Tian Zhongxian , Xie Qipeng , Li Jingxia , Jiang Guosong , Cohen Mitchell , Sun Hong , Huang Chuanshu
Published: November 2019

Invasive bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most lethal malignant urological tumors. Although miR-200a has been reported as an onco-miRNA that targets the PTEN gene in endometrioid carcinoma, its biological significance in BC invasion has been poorly explored. In the current study, we found that miR-200a was markedly overexpressed in both human BC tissues and BBN-induced muscle-invasive BC tissues. We further showed that miR-200a overexpression specifically promoted human BC cell invasion, but not migration, via transcriptional upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2. Mechanistic studies indicated that the increased phosphorylation of c-Jun mediated the increasing levels of MMP-2 mRNA transcription. Further investigation revealed that Dicer was decreased in miR-200a overexpressed BC cells; this resulted in inhibition of miR-16 maturation and consequently led to increased JNK2 protein translation and c-Jun activation. Taken together, the studies here showed that miR-200a overexpression inhibited Dicer expression, in turn, resulted in inhibition of miR-16 maturation, leading to upregulation of JNK2 expression, c-Jun phosphorylation, MMP-2 transcription and, ultimately, BC invasion. Collectively, these results demonstrate that miR-200a is an onco-miRNA that is a positive regulator for BC invasion. This finding could be very useful in the ongoing development of new strategies to treat invasive BC patients.
Erlotinib overcomes paclitaxel-resistant cancer stem cells by blocking the EGFR-CREB/GRβ-IL-6 axis in MUC1-positive cervical cancer
Authors: Lv Yaping , Cang Wei , Li Quanfu , Liao Xiaodong , Zhan Mengna , Deng Huayun , Li Shengze , Jin Wei , Pang Zhi , Qiu Xingdi , Zhao Kewen , Chen Guoqiang , Qiu Lihua , Huang Lei
Published: November 2019

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are often enriched after chemotherapy and contribute to tumor relapse. While epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are widely used for the treatment of diverse types of cancer, whether EGFR-TKIs are effective against chemoresistant CSCs in cervical cancer is largely unknown. Here, we reveal that EGFR correlates with reduced disease-free survival in cervical cancer patients with chemotherapy. Erlotinib, an EGFR-TKI, effectively impedes CSCs enrichment in paclitaxel-resistant cells through inhibiting IL-6. In this context, MUC1 induces CSCs enrichment in paclitaxel-resistant cells via activation of EGFR, which directly enhances IL-6 transcription through cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and glucocorticoid receptor β (GRβ). Treatment with erlotinib sensitizes CSCs to paclitaxel therapy both in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, positive correlations between the expressions of MUC1, EGFR, and IL-6 were found in 20 cervical cancer patients after chemotherapy. Mining TCGA data sets also uncovered the expressions of MUC1-EGFR-IL-6 correlates with poor disease-free survival in chemo-treated cervical cancer patients. Collectively, our work has demonstrated that the MUC1-EGFR-CREB/GRβ axis stimulates IL-6 expression to induce CSCs enrichment and importantly, this effect can be abrogated by erlotinib, uncovering a novel strategy to treat paclitaxel-resistant cervical cancer.
The fungal metabolite chaetocin is a sensitizer for pro-apoptotic therapies in glioblastoma
Authors: Ozyerli-Goknar Ezgi , Sur-Erdem Ilknur , Seker Fidan , Cingöz Ahmet , Kayabolen Alisan , Kahya-Yesil Zeynep , Uyulur Fırat , Gezen Melike , Tolay Nazife , Erman Batu , Gönen Mehmet , Dunford James , Oppermann Udo , Bagci-Onder Tugba
Published: November 2019

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor. Despite recent developments in surgery, chemo- and radio-therapy, a currently poor prognosis of GBM patients highlights an urgent need for novel treatment strategies. TRAIL (TNF Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand) is a potent anti-cancer agent that can induce apoptosis selectively in cancer cells. GBM cells frequently develop resistance to TRAIL which renders clinical application of TRAIL therapeutics inefficient. In this study, we undertook a chemical screening approach using a library of epigenetic modifier drugs to identify compounds that could augment TRAIL response. We identified the fungal metabolite chaetocin, an inhibitor of histone methyl transferase SUV39H1, as a novel TRAIL sensitizer. Combining low subtoxic doses of chaetocin and TRAIL resulted in very potent and rapid apoptosis of GBM cells. Chaetocin also effectively sensitized GBM cells to further pro-apoptotic agents, such as FasL and BH3 mimetics. Chaetocin mediated apoptosis sensitization was achieved through ROS generation and consequent DNA damage induction that involved P53 activity. Chaetocin induced transcriptomic changes showed induction of antioxidant defense mechanisms and DNA damage response pathways. Heme Oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) was among the top upregulated genes, whose induction was ROS-dependent and HMOX1 depletion enhanced chaetocin mediated TRAIL sensitization. Finally, chaetocin and TRAIL combination treatment revealed efficacy in vivo. Taken together, our results provide a novel role for chaetocin as an apoptosis priming agent and its combination with pro-apoptotic therapies might offer new therapeutic approaches for GBMs.
BID and the α-bisabolol-triggered cell death program: converging on mitochondria and lysosomes
Authors: Rigo Antonella , Ferrarini Isacco , Lorenzetto Erika , Darra Elena , Liparulo Irene , Bergamini Christian , Sissa Cinzia , Cavalieri Elisabetta , Vinante Fabrizio
Published: November 2019

α-Bisabolol (BSB) is a plant-derived sesquiterpene alcohol able to trigger regulated cell death in transformed cells, while deprived of the general toxicity in several mouse models. Here, we investigated the involvement of lysosomal and mitochondrial compartments in the cytotoxic effects of BSB, with a specific focus on the BH3-only activator protein BID. We found that BSB particularly accumulated in cancer cell lines, displaying a higher amount of lipid rafts as compared to normal blood cells. By means of western blotting and microscopy techniques, we documented rapid BSB-induced BID translocation to lysosomes and mitochondria, both of them becoming dysfunctional. Lysosomal membranes were permeabilized, thus blocking the cytoprotective autophagic flux and provoking cathepsin B leakage into the cytosol. Multiple flow cytometry-based experiments demonstrated the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential due to pore formation across the lipid bilayer. These parallel events converged on neoplastic cell death, an outcome significantly prevented by BID knockdown. Therefore, BSB promoted BID redistribution to the cell death executioner organelles, which in turn activated anti-autophagic and proapoptotic mechanisms. This is an example of how xenohormesis can be exploited to modulate basic cellular programs in cancer.
Snail modulates JNK-mediated cell death in Drosophila
Authors: Wu Chenxi , Li Zhuojie , Ding Xiang , Guo Xiaowei , Sun Ying , Wang Xingjun , Hu Yujia , Li Tongtong , La Xiaojin , Li Jianing , Li Ji-an , Li Wenzhe , Xue Lei
Published: November 2019

Cell death plays a pivotal role in animal development and tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of this process is associated with a wide variety of human diseases, including developmental and immunological disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and tumors. While the fundamental role of JNK pathway in cell death has been extensively studied, its down-stream regulators and the underlying mechanisms remain largely elusive. From a Drosophila genetic screen, we identified Snail (Sna), a Zinc-finger transcription factor, as a novel modulator of ectopic Egr-induced JNK-mediated cell death. In addition, sna is essential for the physiological function of JNK signaling in development. Our genetic epistasis data suggest that Sna acts downstream of JNK to promote cell death. Mechanistically, JNK signaling triggers dFoxO-dependent transcriptional activation of sna. Thus, our findings not only reveal a novel function and the underlying mechanism of Sna in modulating JNK-mediated cell death, but also provide a potential drug target and therapeutic strategies for JNK signaling-related diseases.