bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing Repeat Offending Through Less Prosecution in Victoria, Australia: Opportunities for Increased Diversion of Offenders
Authors: Cowan David , Strang Heather , Sherman Lawrence , Munoz Sara Valdebenito
Published: November 2019

Research Question

How did the use of diversion from prosecution and criminal sentencing change in Victoria, Australia, in the 10 years to 2016/2017, with what estimated effects on repeat offending?

Data

We tracked 1,163,113 criminal cases brought against both juveniles and adults by police in the state of Victoria, Australia, including 181,836 diversions, during the 10-year time period from the fiscal year of 2007/2008 through 2016/2017.

Methods

Taking the percentage of all cases diverted in the first year (25.6%), we calculated for each of the study years how many more cases would have been diverted from prosecution across the subsequent 9 years if the diversion rate had stayed the same (“missed opportunities”). We multiplied the estimated number of these “missed opportunities” by the reduced frequency of repeat offences that the prosecuted offenders were likely to have committed, after adjusting for the time at risk by the number of years left in the study period. Then, based on a systematic review of diversion experiments (Petrosino et al. 2010), we applied the standardised effect size of diversion in those studies to Farrington’s (1992) annualised crime frequency per 100 offenders aged 25, multiplying that effect across all of the person-years after a case was prosecuted rather than diverted, using both population-based rates and rates based only on detected offenders at that age.

Findings

The diversion rate in Victoria dropped in half over 10 years, from 25.6% to 12.5%. The total missed opportunities for diversion, compared to the counterfactual of applying diversion at a constant rate of 25% over that time period, totalled 115,885 cases over the 10 years. Taking an average effect size (d = − 0.232) across seven experiments with a mean follow-up time of 12–13 months, as derived from a systematic review of diversion experiment outcomes, our illustrative estimate is that at least 8 crimes per year per 100 offenders could have been prevented among the missed opportunity cases. Using a population rate of offending, the estimate equals 1474 crimes that could have been prevented. Using the offending population rate, we estimate that 37,050 offences could have been prevented.

Conclusions

While the exact amount of crime prevented remains speculative, the application of best evidence to the missed opportunity cases suggests that more diversion could have resulted in substantially less repeat offending, and hence less total crime.
Exploring Algorithms for Revealing Freight Vehicle Tours, Tour-Types, and Tour-Chain-Types from GPS Vehicle Traces and Stop Activity Data
Authors: Romano Alho André , Sakai Takanori , Chua Ming Hong , Jeong Kyungsoo , Jing Peiyu , Ben-Akiva Moshe
Published: November 2019

Freight vehicle tours and tour-chains are essential elements of state-the-art agent-based urban freight simulations as well as key units to analyse freight vehicle demand. GPS traces are typically used to extract vehicle tours and tour-chains and became available in a large scale to, for example, fleet management firms. While methods to process this data with the objective of analysing and modelling tour-based freight vehicle operations have been proposed, they were not fully explored with regard to the implication of underlying assumptions. In this context, we test different algorithms of stop-to-tour assignment, tour-type and tour-chain identification, aiming to expose their implications. Specifically, we compare the traditional stop-to-tour assignment algorithm using the location of a “base” as the start/end point of tours, against other algorithms using stop activities or payload capacity usage. Furthermore, we explore high-resolution tour-type/chain identification algorithms, considering stop types and recurrence of visits. For tour-chain identification, we explore two algorithms: one defines the day-level tour-chain-type based on the predominant tour-type identified for the period of 1 day and another defines the tour-chain-type based on the average number of stops per tour by stop type. For a demonstration purpose, we apply the methods to data from a large-scale GPS-based survey conducted during 2017–2019 in Singapore. We compare the algorithms in an assessment of freight vehicle operations day-to-day pattern homogeneity. Our analysis demonstrates that the predictions of tours, tourtypes, and tour-chain-types are highly dependent on the assumptions used, underlining the importance of carefully selecting and disclosing the methods for data processing. Finally, the exploration of day-to-day pattern homogeneity reveals operational differences across vehicle types and industries.
Accounting for the (Almost Complete) Failure of the Entrapment Defense in Post-9/11 US Terrorism Cases
Authors: Norris Jesse J.
Published: November 2019

Despite a number of compelling entrapment claims in post-9/11 US terrorism cases, these claims have nearly always failed. While previous research suggests possible reasons for this almost complete failure of the entrapment defense, no research has yet systematically examined the mechanisms responsible for this result. Drawing on thirty-seven interviews with individuals with in-depth knowledge of particular cases, as well as textual analysis of court decisions and quantitative analysis of a terrorism database, this article identifies several factors contributing to the entrapment defense’s failure. These include strategic choices by defendants to plead guilty or use other defenses, prosecutorial misconduct, evidence manipulation by informants and police, deficient entrapment doctrines, and procedural irregularities. Consistent with the general trend of counterterrorism law enhancing government power while reducing accountability, the multiple opportunities for authorities to manipulate the legal process leave defendants with little realistic chance of acquittal on entrapment grounds.
Good news regarding SSRI safety in Danish meta-analysis
Authors: Hieronymus Fredrik , Lisinski Alexander , Näslund Jakob , Eriksson Elias
Published: November 2019

In two previous letters on an selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) meta-analysis conducted by the Copenhagen Trial Unit at Copenhagen University Hospital, we have commented on a large number of errors, almost all of which have tilted the results in an anti-drug direction, that unfortunately mar this publication. While the authors have acknowledged many of these mishaps, and may now be expected to submit an extensive errata list to the journal where their paper was once published, we regretfully note that also their latest contribution to this exchange is surprisingly inaccurate. However, its many shortcomings notwithstanding, their meta-analysis does add to the current literature by confirming that SSRIs do not seem to enhance the risk for suicide or death, and also that these drugs seem to enhance the risk of side effects categorised as serious only in the elderly.
Varves and mass-movement deposits record distinctly different sedimentation dynamics since the late glacial (Lake Szurpiły, northeastern Poland)
Authors: Kinder Małgorzata , Tylmann Wojciech , Rzeszewski Michał , Zolitschka Bernd
Published: November 2019

The sedimentological and geochemical characteristics of sediments from Lake Szurpiły (northeastern Poland) can be used as a record of mass movement and climate dynamics since the Allerød. Late-glacial sediments suggest enhanced runoff conditions in the catchment after the retreat of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet, while Holocene varved sediments are interrupted by mass-movement deposits (MMDs). We identified 85 thin (<10 cm) MMDs (type 1) that consist of autochthonous material and frequently occur during the Atlantic period. Mobilization of littoral zone and slope sediments caused redeposition in the deepest part of the lake and was likely related to climatic conditions. In contrasting, one sedimentary unit (>1-m-thick MMD type 2) consists of auto- and allochthonous material and represents multistage processes, including erosion and deformation of underlying varved sediments, rapid deposition of clastic material, and redeposition of previously eroded varved sediments. Seismic activity or permafrost degradation was responsible for the deposition of MMD type 2. Furthermore, varve-thickness variability suggests Gleissberg and Suess solar cycles before 850 BC, when human impact was limited. Additionally, 22 and 11 yr sunspot cycles are recognized in light/dark laminae-thickness ratios and reflect influences of solar irradiance on lacustrine productivity.
Self-Rule and the Problem of Peoplehood in Colonial India
Authors: SULTAN NAZMUL S.
Published: November 2019

This article theorizes the colonial problem of peoplehood that Indian anticolonial thinkers grappled with in their attempts to conceptualize self-rule, or swaraj. British colonial rule drew its legitimacy from a developmentalist conception of the colonized people as backward and disunited. The discourse of “underdeveloped” colonial peoplehood rendered the Indian people “unfit” for self-government, suspending their sovereignty to an indefinite future. The concept of swaraj would be born with the rejection of deferred colonial self-government. Yet the persistence of the developmentalist figuration of the people generated a crisis of sovereign authorization. The pre-Gandhian swaraj theorists would be faced with the not-yet claimable figure of the people at the very moment of disavowing the British claim to rule. Recovering this underappreciated pre-Gandhian history of the concept of swaraj and reinterpreting its Gandhian moment, this article offers a new reading of Gandhi's theory of moral self-rule. In so doing, it demonstrates how the history of swaraj helps trace the colonial career of popular sovereignty.
Comparison of epidemiological, clinical and microbiological characteristics of bloodstream infection in children with solid tumours and haematological malignancies
Authors: Garrido M. M. , Garrido R. Q. , Cunha T. N. , Ehrlich S. , Martins I. S.
Published: November 2019

Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a serious complication in immunocompromised hosts. This study compares epidemiological, clinical and microbiological characteristics of BSI among children with haematological malignancies (HM) and solid tumours (ST). The study was conducted from October 2012 through to November 2015 at a referral hospital for cancer care and included the first BSI episode detected in 210 patients aged 18 years or less. BSI cases were prospectively detected by daily laboratory-based surveillance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions for primary or secondary BSI were used. A higher proportion of use of corticosteroids (P = 0.02), chemotherapy (P = 0.01) and antibiotics (P = 0.05) before the BSI diagnosis; as well as of neutropenia (P < 0.001) and mucositis (P < 0.001) at the time of BSI diagnosis was observed in patients with HM than with ST. Previous surgical procedures (P = 0.03), mechanical ventilation (P = 0.01) and bed confinement (P < 0.001) were more frequent among children with ST. The frequency of use of temporary (P = 0.01) and implanted vascular lines (P < 0.01) was significantly higher in children with ST than with HM while the tunnelled line (P = 0.01) use was more frequent in children with HM as compared to ST. Most (n = 181) BSI cases were primary BSI. BSI associated with a tunnelled catheter was more frequent in children with HM (P < 0.01), whereas BSI associated with an implanted (P < 0.01) or temporary central line (P < 0.02) was more common in patients with ST. BSI associated with mucosal barrier injury was more frequent (P = 0.01) in children with HM. Indication for intensive care was more frequent in children (P = 0.05) with ST. Mortality ratio was similar in children with ST and HM, and length of hospital stay after BSI was higher in patients with HM than with ST (median of 19 vs. 13 days; P = 0.02). Infection caused by Gram-negative bacteria (P = 0.04) and polymicrobial infections (P = 0.05) due to Gram-positive cocci plus fungus was more common in patients with HM. These findings suggest that the characteristics of BSI acquisition and mortality can be cancer-specific.
Intakes of energy, macronutrients and micronutrients of a population in severe food insecurity risk in Brazil
Authors: Kubo Stefanie Eugênia dos Anjos Coelho , da Costa Teresa Helena Macedo , Gubert Muriel Bauermann
Published: November 2019

Objective:

To analyse usual intakes of energy, macronutrients and micronutrients, and their percentage of inadequacy, in a Brazilian population at severe food insecurity (SFI) risk, determined from a predictive model using two national databases.

Design:

Cross-sectional study. Our study used a statistical model to predict SFI using the 2009 National Sample Household Survey, where the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale measured SFI.

Setting:

Brazil.

Participants:

The model was applied in a probabilistic sample of 34 003 Brazilians aged 10 years or older that participated in a national dietary survey during 2008–2009. The application of the model generated the probability of each individual being in SFI. The probability of SFI was grouped into quartiles (first quartile with the lowest SFI risk, fourth quartile with highest probability of SFI risk).

Results:

The intakes of macro- and micronutrients were associated with SFI. The amount of energy and nutrients in the diet tended to be lower among individuals in the fourth quartile, with highest probability of SFI. The average intake of all studied minerals (Ca, Fe, Na, Mg) was less in individuals in the fourth quartile. Only Na presented a higher percentage of inadequacy in the first quartile, the one with a lower chance of SFI.

Conclusions:

The food intake of the Brazilian population at higher SFI risk is characterized by energy reduction, reduced consumption of macronutrients and high prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intakes, as well as a lower mean intakes, when compared with the first quartile with the lowest SFI risk.
Aetiology and outcome of acute diarrhoea in children with severe acute malnutrition: a comparative study
Authors: Jain Abhishek , Shah Dheeraj , Das Shukla , Saha Rumpa , Gupta Piyush
Published: November 2019

Objective:

To compare the microbiological profile, clinical course and outcome of acute diarrhoea in children aged <5 years having severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with those of children having normal nutritional status.

Design:

Cross-sectional comparative study.

Setting:

Tertiary-care hospital catering mainly to the urban poor of East Delhi, India.

Participants:

Children aged <5 years (n140; seventy with SAM (cases) and seventy with normal anthropometry (controls)) with acute diarrhoea (duration < 14 d). Stool samples were collected for conventional culture, microscopy, acid-fast staining, rotavirus andCryptosporidiumantigen detection, and subtyping of diarrhoeagenicEscherichia coli(DEC). We followed-up these children for persistent diarrhoea and subsequent diarrhoeal episode in the next 3 months.

Results:

Rotavirus was detected in six (9 %) cases and in fifteen (21 %) controls (P= 0·03; OR = 0·34; 95 % CI 0·12, 0·94). DEC was isolated significantly more in cases compared with controls (93v. 64 %;P< 0·001; OR = 7·25; 95 % CI 2·57, 20·4).Cryptosporidiumwas detected in seven (10 %) cases and five (7 %) controls. Total duration of diarrhoea and percentage change in weight after resolution of diarrhoea were comparable between cases and controls. At 3-month follow-up, number of subsequent episodes of diarrhoea and persistent diarrhoea were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusions:

Rotavirus was found significantly less frequently, whereas DEC was detected more frequently in children with SAM in comparison to non-malnourished children. To further reduce diarrhoea-related mortality, preventive and therapeutic interventions need to be designed against organisms causing diarrhoea in children with SAM.
Set-up variation in palliative radiotherapy: one versus three skin localisation marks
Authors: Cvetkova Jelizaveta , Craig Agnella , O’Donovan Theresa , Mullaney Laura
Published: November 2019

Background:

Accuracy and reproducibility of the patient’s position is crucial for successful delivery of radiotherapy (RT). Data on palliative patients’ set-up uncertainties are sparse. The aim of this study was to calculate set-up errors observed for palliative patients positioned using one skin mark (Group 1) versus three skin marks (Group 2) and to assess the accuracy of both approaches.

Methods:

Displacements in the left–right (L–R) and superior–inferior (S–I) directions were retrospectively analysed for 175 sites treated with a course of fractionated palliative RT. Population mean, systematic and random errors were calculated in both directions for patients positioned with one and three skin marks. Frequency of deviations was also examined for both groups.

Results:

The population mean, systematic and random errors for Group 1 and 2 for the L–R direction were 0·0, 4·4, 4·8 and 0·4, 3·1 and 3·3 mm, respectively, and in the S–I direction: 0·1, 3·4, 4·2 and 1·2, 2·7 and 3·3 mm, respectively. Frequency of images within the clinical tolerance of 5 mm was 47·1% for Group 1 and 65·9% for Group 2.

Conclusion:

Three skin marks are recommended for patients receiving a fractionated course of palliative RT, as it reduces set-up error, reduces the number of gross displacements (>10 mm) and increases the number of displacements within the clinically acceptable tolerance of 5 mm.
GEOMETRY OF KOTTWITZ–VIEHMANN VARIETIES
Authors: Chi Jingren
Published: November 2019

We study basic geometric properties of Kottwitz–Viehmann varieties, which are certain generalizations of affine Springer fibers that encode orbital integrals of spherical Hecke functions. Based on the previous work of A. Bouthier and the author, we show that these varieties are equidimensional and give a precise formula for their dimension. Also we give a conjectural description of their number of irreducible components in terms of certain weight multiplicities of the Langlands dual group and we prove the conjecture in the case of unramified conjugacy class.
Multidisciplinary staff perspectives on the integration of spiritual care in a new setting: Israel
Authors: Schultz Michael , Czamanski-Cohen Johanna , Bentur Netta , Mohsen-Byadsi Saidah , Artsieli Yoav , Bar-Sela Gil
Published: November 2019

Objective

Integrating spiritual care into multidisciplinary care teams has seen both successful thoughtful collaboration and challenges, including feelings of competition and poor cross-disciplinary understanding. In Israel, where the profession is new, we aimed to examine how spiritual care is perceived by other healthcare professionals learning to integrate spiritual caregivers into their teams.

Method

Semi-structured qualitative interviews of 19 professionals (seven physicians, six nurses, three social workers, two psychologists, and one medical secretary) working with spiritual caregivers in three Israeli hospitals, primarily in oncology/hematology. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis.

Results

Respondents’ overall experience with adding a spiritual caregiver was strongly positive. Beneficial outcomes described included calmer patients and improved patient–staff relationships. Respondents identified reasons for a referral not limited to the end of life. Respondents distinguished between the role of the spiritual caregiver and those of other professions and, in response to case studies, differentiated when and how each professional should be involved.

Conclusion

Despite its relative newness in Israel, spiritual care is well received by a wide variety of professionals at those sites where it has been integrated. Steps to improve collaboration should include improving multidisciplinary communication to broaden the range of situations in which spiritual caregivers and other professionals work together to provide the best possible holistic care.
Scattering of the H-polarized plane wave by finite and semi-infinite multilayer systems of infinite graphene strip gratings in the THz range
Authors: Kaliberda Mstislav E. , Lytvynenko Leonid M. , Pogarsky Sergey A.
Published: November 2019

We consider the scattering and absorption of the H-polarized plane wave by finite and semi-infinite systems of layers in the THz range. Every layer consists of an infinite graphene strip grating embedded into a dielectric slab. The solution of the problem we obtain in several steps. First, with the use of the method of singular integral equations we obtain scattering matrices of a single layer. Then, we present equations for the finite and semi-infinite systems of layers relatively the Fourier amplitudes of the scattered field. The frequency dependences of the reflection, transmission, and absorption coefficients demonstrate the variety of resonances: plasmon, slab-mode, grating-mode resonances, and resonances of the multilayer structure.
Building the foundation for comprehensive suicide prevention – based on intention and planning in a social–ecological context
Authors: Caine Eric D.
Published: November 2019

National suicide prevention programmes that have been successful in reducing rates or keeping them low have been intentional, with collective alignment of local, regional and national priorities. Prevention efforts must begin well before individuals become suicidal, complementing readily available clinical services that address the needs of acutely distressed persons. These efforts, which focus on the antecedent risks and vulnerabilities of key populations, have the potential to diminish premature mortality from multiple causes, even as reducing suicide is the outcome of primary interest. In this commentary, I consider four key challenges that must be confronted in order to develop effective, broadly reaching systemic strategies that, at once, can be adapted locally while being implemented nationally – challenges that are framed in a social–ecological context. They involve defining the scope of the problem, meeting essential data needs, developing and modelling measurable implementation strategies and building prevention efforts based on shared culture and values.
GOES‐16/ABI Thermal Emissive Band Assessments Using GEO‐LEO‐GEO Double Difference
Authors: Chang Tiejun , Xiong Xiaoxiong
Published: November 2019

Geostationary satellite (GOES)‐16/Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) and Himawari‐8/Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI) represent a significant improvement over the imagers on board previous GOES. Their bands 7–16 are infrared channels covering the 3.9‐ to 13.3‐μm spectral range and with a subpoint spatial resolution of 2 km. Their spectral coverage of the thermal emissive bands (TEBs) is almost identical, and both instruments employ similar calibration strategies using an on‐board blackbody and a space look. The intercomparison between the two instruments will be very helpful for their calibration assessments and their product quality enhancements. GOES‐16 was launched on 19 November 2016, initially to a test position at 89.5° west and reached its operational position (longitude of 75.2° west) on 11 December 2017. The Himawari‐8 spacecraft was launched on 7 October 2014 and the observation focuses on Asia‐Pacific region. In this work, an intercomparison of their TEB measurement is performed using double difference with Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The same type of scenes are selected for the two instruments, and their measurements with the closest observation times are compared with Aqua MODIS matching bands. The view angle effect is corrected and their spectral mismatching effect is estimated. The dependence on the scene uniformity is analyzed. The ABI‐AHI differences are within 0.3K for bands 10 (7.35 μm), 11 (8.44 μm), 12 (9.64 μm), and 14 (11.24 μm), and up to 0.8K difference for bands 15 (12.38 μm) and 16 (13.28 μm). The ABI precision is better than AHI for all TEB and their image navigation and registration precisions are comparable. In general, the ABI performances before and after relocation are consistent.
Protracted Multipulse Emplacement of a Postresurgent Pluton: The Case of Platoro Caldera Complex (Southern Rocky Mountain Volcanic Field, Colorado)
Authors: Tomek F. , Gilmer A .K. , Petronis M. S. , Lipman P. W. , Foucher M. S.
Published: November 2019

Many eroded calderas expose associated postcollapse plutons, but detailed fieldwork‐supported studies have rarely focused on the internal structure that can contribute to understanding of emplacement dynamics. The Alamosa River monzonite pluton is a postcollapse intrusion at the Platoro caldera complex that erupted six large ignimbrites between 30.2 and 28.8 Ma in the Southern Rocky Mountains volcanic field. Magnetic fabrics in this intrusion indicate the pulsed emplacement of a vertically extensive pluton. The magmatic pulses are documented by three concentric domains of magnetic foliations elongated in ~NE‐SW direction, corresponding to structural trends at the Platoro caldera complex and preexisting regional structures. As no evidence for deformation of wall rocks and the adjacent resurgent block has been identified, we interpret the Alamosa River pluton as a postresurgent intrusion. The space‐opening process involved magmatic stoping and small‐scale magma wedging. New SHRIMP‐RG U/Pb zircon dates (28.98 ± 0.18, 27.42 ± 0.35, and 27.32 ± 0.38 Ma) suggest a magmatic lifespan of ~1.7 My for the Alamosa River pluton. Our results indicate that postcaldera magmatism includes pulsed and protracted activity from large intracaldera resurgent plutons to smaller postresurgent stocks and sheeted complexes. As demonstrated by the Alamosa River pluton, some intrusions are emplaced shortly after collapse and resurgence, but postcaldera volcano‐plutonic systems may remain active for several million years or more. We also suggest that subvolcanic magma bodies may be assembled incrementally and that the record of early composite magma lenses preserved as magma wedges are later obliterated by convective flowage and crystallization.
What Drives the Continental Crust To Be Extremely Hot So Quickly?
Authors: Huang Guangyu , Guo Jinghui , Jiao Shujuan , Palin Richard
Published: November 2019

The widespread spatio‐temporal occurrence of ultrahigh‐temperature (UHT) metamorphism in continental crust has been widely documented, but the heat source responsible for generating these extreme conditions over a short period of time remains enigmatic. Here, garnet orthogneiss, spinel‐bearing granulite, and gabbronorite from the east Khondalite belt, China, have been analyzed via integrated geochemistry, U‐Pb zircon isotope geochronology, and phase equilibria modeling to shed light on the timing and nature of rapid UHT metamorphism in this area. Peak metamorphism is characterized in garnet orthogneiss by the assemblage garnet + orthopyroxene + plagioclase + K‐feldspar + quartz, which is calculated to represent pressure–temperature conditions of 0.83–0.88 GPa at 930–990 °C. Zircon ages from this sample yield an igneous (protolith) emplacement age of approximately 1.93–1.95 Ga, which matches the timing of metamorphism in adjacent (pre‐UHT) metapelites. These garnet orthogneiss were then metamorphosed to UHT conditions at approximately 1.92 Ga, coincident with emplacement of mantle‐derived gabbronorites, as supported by REE patterns in zircon, and evidence for a rapid thermal pulse in the east Khondalite belt lower crust at that time. Heat‐source and heat‐transfer calculations indicate that advected heat from mafic magmas is the most likely cause of this regional‐scale event, although ductile shearing might have contributed to a lesser degree.
Rheology and Biostratigraphy of the Mariana Serpentine Muds Unravel Mud Volcano Evolution
Authors: Menapace Walter , Tangunan Deborah , Maas Michael , Williams Trevor , Kopf Achim
Published: November 2019

In late 2016, the IODP Expedition 366 drilled 21 holes on summits and flanks of three serpentinite mud volcanoes (SMVs) of the Mariana Forearc: Yinazao (Blue Moon), Fantangisña (Celestial), and Asùt Tesoru (Big Blue). The drilling reached the forearc sediments underneath the SMVs only at Site U1498 where, according to data from this study, the biostratigraphic age of Fantangisña appears to be well constrained, with a pelagic cover on top of the serpentine mud flows of 0.44 Ma and an age of the forearc sediments of 11.21 Ma. With an estimated age of at least 10.77 Myr this is, to our knowledge, the oldest mud volcano ever dated. To link the age of the edifice with its eruptive dynamics, we performed rheological tests of natural samples of serpentine mud from the Fantangisña SMV for the first time. These experiments not only confirm the highly viscous characteristic of the mud breccia but also identify different muds' mineralogical compositions (i.e., serpentine‐rich vs. serpentine‐poor sediments) and water contents as being responsible for the main rheological variations. The viscosity from the rheological data, together with the physical properties of the mud breccia and the clasts measured onboard IODP366, under several assumptions, allow us to estimate of flow velocities and a depth of the mud source at ∼8.4 km below seafloor. Moreover, comparison of erupted mud breccia volumes from bathymetry, seismic data, and calculations shows how the SMV evolution is linked to episodic events, highlighting that Fantangisña has actively been expelling sediments during 2.41% of its life span.
Joint Inversion of Receiver Functions and Surface‐Wave Dispersion in the Pantanal Wetlands: Implications for Basin Formation
Authors: Cedraz V. , Julià J. , Assumpção M.
Published: November 2019

The origin and evolution of the Pantanal basin have been investigated through velocity‐depth profiles developed from the joint inversion of receiver functions and surface‐wave dispersion velocities at 33 broadband stations. The Pantanal basin is a shallow and wide depression in South‐Central Brazil that developed within the Andean foreland in response to loads and flexural bending of the South American plate. Our results reveal the existence of up to four different crustal types that correlate with surface geology: (i) crust of 35 km with VS < 4.0 km/s, under the basin and along the SW projection of the Transbrasiliano lineament (TBL); (ii) crust of 45 km with VS > 4.0 km/s below 40 km depth, flanking the basin to the east and west; (iii) crust of 50–55 km with VS > 4.0 km/s below 40 km depth, flanking the basin to the north and south and along the TBL; and (iv) crust of 42.5–45.0 km with VS < 4.0 km/s in the neighboring Paraná basin. Existing geodynamic models propose that the Pantanal basin formed either in the back‐bulge of the flexural system or at the top of the forebulge, due to extensional bending stresses that reactivated preexisting faults in the shallow upper crust. We argue that the Pantanal basin was formed in a structurally weaker portion of the foreland crust that was affected by delamination and enhanced bending of the South American plate. Our findings do not allow for discrimination among the competing models but suggest that the TBL was critical in marking the location, origin, and evolution of this basin.
Long‐Term Investigation of Aerosol Optical and Radiative Characteristics in a Typical Megacity of Central China During Winter Haze Periods
Authors: Ma Yingying , Zhang Ming , Jin Shikuan , Gong Wei , Chen Nan , Chen Zhongyong , Jin Yinbao , Shi Yifan
Published: November 2019

Decadal aerosol characteristics and related radiative effects (ARE) and efficiencies (AREE) at ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), near‐infrared (NIR), and shortwave wavelengths were investigated in Wuhan during winter haze periods based on observations from 2007 to 2016. Aerosols changed significantly under haze conditions; the average aerosol optical depth increased from 0.46 to 0.93, and the Ångström exponent increased from 1.12 to 1.23. Fine‐mode particles became dominant, and their peak radius also increased due to hygroscopic growth. The mean value of the UV single‐scattering albedo increased from 0.846 to 0.873, revealing the emergence of numerous fine‐mode, nonabsorbing aerosols. Backward trajectories suggested that local aerosols were partially affected by transported dust from Northwest China, especially in 2015. The interannual variation of the mean AREE at the top of atmosphere showed a gradually increasing tendency, revealing the enhanced potential cooling capacity of aerosols to the Earth‐atmosphere system over Wuhan. The increase in the AREE fraction at UV and VIS wavelengths, and its decrease at NIR wavelengths, indicated that this phenomenon was due to the increased proportion of fine‐mode scattering components in aerosols. The variation in AREE at top of atmosphere depended mainly on the single‐scattering albedo, while the same variation at the surface depended more on particle sizes. A detailed investigation of aerosols during haze periods can help us to further understand localized climate variations and haze‐inducing mechanisms.
Controls of Variability in Berm and Dune Storm Erosion
Authors: Beuzen T. , Harley M. D. , Splinter K. D. , Turner I. L.
Published: November 2019

The erosion impact of large coastal storm events typically occurs across broad (100s of km) sections of coastline and may include significant variability both alongshore and vertically between the berm and dunes. Identifying controls of variability in storm erosion is critical to understanding the response of coastlines to present and changing storminess. This contribution analyses immediate pre‐ and post‐storm Lidar data of over 1700 cross‐shore profile transects, determined at every 100 m alongshore and spanning 400km of the southeast Australian coastline. This unique dataset allowed for a data‐driven Bayesian network analysis of the key relationships between the measured storm erosion response and a range of variables describing the antecedent morphology and hydrodynamic forcing at the coastline. It was found that while erosion of the dune and berm was observed to increase with increased exposure of the local profile to incident storm waves, additional erosion controls were found to be different for these two different sections of the beach. Erosion of the berm was specifically linked to the pre‐storm berm volume, with more accreted berms experiencing a greater proportion of erosion of the overall berm, regardless of variability in forcing conditions. In contrast, dune erosion was equally controlled by the exceedance of wave runup above the antecedent dune toe elevation and the width of the beach immediately fronting the dune, with wider beaches resulting in reduced dune erosion. The results of this large, data‐driven analysis provide important affirmation and insights into the primary controls of berm and dune storm erosion.
On the Annual Asymmetry of High‐Latitude Sporadic F
Authors: Chartier Alex T. , Huba J. D. , Mitchell Cathryn N.
Published: November 2019

The polar F region ionosphere frequently exhibits sporadic variability (e.g., Meek, 1949, https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ054i004p00339; Hill, 1963, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520‐0469(1963)020<0492:SEOLII>2.0.CO;2). Recent satellite data analysis (Noja et al., 2013, https://doi.org/10.1002/rds.20033; Chartier et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JA024811) showed that the high‐latitude F region ionosphere exhibits sporadic enhancements more frequently in January than in July in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The same pattern has been seen in statistics of the degradation and total loss of GPS service onboard low‐Earth orbit satellites (Xiong et al. 2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo‐36‐679‐2018). Here, we confirm the existence of this annual pattern using ground GPS‐based images of TEC from the MIDAS algorithm. Images covering January and July 2014 confirm that the high‐latitude (>70 MLAT) F region exhibits a substantially larger range of values in January than in July in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The range of TEC values observed in the polar caps is 38–57 TECU (north‐south) in January versus 25–37 TECU in July. First‐principle modeling using SAMI3 reproduces this pattern, and indicates that it is caused by an asymmetry in plasma levels (30% higher in January than in July across both polar caps), as well as 17% longer O+ plasma lifetimes in northern hemisphere winter, compared to southern hemisphere winter.
Hydropower Flushing Events Cause Severe Loss of Macrozoobenthos in Alpine Streams
Authors: Gabbud C. , Bakker M. , Clémençon M. , Lane S. N.
Published: November 2019

Alpine hydroelectric power exploitation often aims to increase the volume of water stored behind impoundments, which may be achieved through flow abstraction and lateral transfer to storage. Intakes are designed to separate water from sediment which accumulates in settling basins and may be flushed sometimes at subdaily frequencies in glaciated basins. In some countries (e.g., Switzerland) intakes drain a greater basin area than impoundments yet legislation designed to improve instream ecosystems impacted by hydropower has almost entirely ignored them. Some research suggests that such streams have exceptionally low abundance and diversity of macroinvertebrates for some kilometers downstream of the intake flushing at high frequency in summer, but that populations can recover rapidly as soon as flushing frequency decreases in early autumn. However, such patterns could also result from natural flow variability, sediment transport, and morphological change in glacier‐fed streams. We combine field measurements with habitat modeling to assess the impacts of sediment flushing on macrozoobenthos as compared to what might be expected in a natural, hydromorphologically dynamic Alpine stream. We show that water abstraction in itself could improve habitat conditions because it increases the relative contribution of less turbid and groundwater/unregulated sources. However, intake flushing leads to short duration, sediment‐laden flows that can destabilize substantial areas of the stream bed and cause rates of lateral displacement of habitat much greater than the possible response by macroinvertebrates. Our results challenge current emphasis on minimum flows in such streams and argue that much more emphasis needs to be placed on sediment management.
Process‐Guided Deep Learning Predictions of Lake Water Temperature
Authors: Read Jordan S. , Jia Xiaowei , Willard Jared , Appling Alison P. , Zwart Jacob A. , Oliver Samantha K. , Karpatne Anuj , Hansen Gretchen J. A. , Hanson Paul C. , Watkins William , Steinbach Michael , Kumar Vipin
Published: November 2019

The rapid growth of data in water resources has created new opportunities to accelerate knowledge discovery with the use of advanced deep learning tools. Hybrid models that integrate theory with state‐of‐the art empirical techniques have the potential to improve predictions while remaining true to physical laws. This paper evaluates the Process‐Guided Deep Learning (PGDL) hybrid modeling framework with a use‐case of predicting depth‐specific lake water temperatures. The PGDL model has three primary components: a deep learning model with temporal awareness (long short‐term memory recurrence), theory‐based feedback (model penalties for violating conversation of energy), and model pretraining to initialize the network with synthetic data (water temperature predictions from a process‐based model). In situ water temperatures were used to train the PGDL model, a deep learning (DL) model, and a process‐based (PB) model. Model performance was evaluated in various conditions, including when training data were sparse and when predictions were made outside of the range in the training data set. The PGDL model performance (as measured by root‐mean‐square error (RMSE)) was superior to DL and PB for two detailed study lakes, but only when pretraining data included greater variability than the training period. The PGDL model also performed well when extended to 68 lakes, with a median RMSE of 1.65 °C during the test period (DL: 1.78 °C, PB: 2.03 °C; in a small number of lakes PB or DL models were more accurate). This case‐study demonstrates that integrating scientific knowledge into deep learning tools shows promise for improving predictions of many important environmental variables.
Experiences of Minority Stress Among Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Rwanda
Authors: Moreland Patricia , White Rebecca , Riggle Ellen D. B. , Gishoma Darius , Hughes Tonda L.
Published: November 2019

Research conducted in high-income countries has documented substantial health disparities among sexual minority women (SMW; lesbian, bisexual, and other nonheterosexual women). However, little is known about the health of SMW in low-income countries where stigma and minority stressors are likely much more pervasive. Guided by the question, “What are the minority stress experiences of SMW in Rwanda?”, we conducted qualitative interviews with 20 women in Rwanda who identified as lesbian or bisexual. Participants were recruited using social network and snowball sampling methods. SMW in the study reported on the impact of internalized stigma related to their sexual attractions or identity. Participants reported multiple forms of external stigma and discrimination at work and school, in churches and communities, and in their families. Experiences of sexual harassment and physical and sexual assault were also commonly reported. In this stigmatizing context, women in the study made decisions about disclosing their sexual identity—or their identity was disclosed by others. Participants coped with minority stressors by hiding or lying about their sexual identities, seeking social support, and accepting their minority sexual orientation. To promote the health of SMW in Rwanda and in other parts of the world, affirmative strategies targeting individuals, families, communities, and social cultures are needed. Psychologists, nurses, physicians, and other health and mental health service providers can also play a pivotal role by educating themselves and others about sexual minorities and the factors that negatively impact the health of this population.
Epigenetic regulation of lung cancer cell proliferation and migration by the chromatin remodeling protein BRG1
Authors: Li Zilong , Xia Jun , Fang Mingming , Xu Yong
Published: November 2019

Malignant lung cancer cells are characterized by uncontrolled proliferation and migration. Aberrant lung cancer cell proliferation and migration are programmed by altered cancer transcriptome. The underlying epigenetic mechanism is unclear. Here we report that expression levels of BRG1, a chromatin remodeling protein, were significantly up-regulated in human lung cancer biopsy specimens of higher malignancy grades compared to those of lower grades. Small interfering RNA mediated depletion or pharmaceutical inhibition of BRG1 suppressed proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells. BRG1 depletion or inhibition was paralleled by down-regulation of cyclin B1 (CCNB1) and latent TGF-β binding protein 2 (LTBP2) in lung cancer cells. Further analysis revealed that BRG1 directly bound to the CCNB1 promoter to activate transcription in response to hypoxia stimulation by interacting with E2F1. On the other hand, BRG1 interacted with Sp1 to activate LTBP2 transcription. Mechanistically, BRG1 regulated CCNB1 and LTBP2 transcription by altering histone modifications on target promoters. Specifically, BRG1 recruited KDM3A, a histone H3K9 demethylase, to remove dimethyl H3K9 from target gene promoters thereby activating transcription. KDM3A knockdown achieved equivalent effects as BRG1 silencing by diminishing lung cancer proliferation and migration. Of interest, BRG1 directly activated KDM3A transcription by forming a complex with HIF-1α. In conclusion, our data unveil a novel epigenetic mechanism whereby malignant lung cancer cells acquired heightened ability to proliferate and migrate. Targeting BRG1 may yield effective interventional strategies against malignant lung cancers.
Agmatinase promotes the lung adenocarcinoma tumorigenesis by activating the NO-MAPKs-PI3K/Akt pathway
Authors: Zhu Hui-er , Yin Jia-yi , Chen De-xiong , He Sheng , Chen Hui
Published: November 2019

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. There is an urgent need to uncover the pathogenic mechanism to develop new treatments. Agmatinase (AGMAT) expression and its association with clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed via GEO, Oncomine, and TCGA databases, and IHC staining in human LUAD specimens. An EdU cell proliferation kit, propidiumiodide staining, colony formation, cell migration, and invasion assays, and a xenograft tumor model were used to detect the biological function of AGMAT in LUAD. Furthermore, the expression level of nitric oxide (NO) was detected using a DAF-FMDA fluorescent probe or nitrite assay kit, and further validated with Carboxy-PTIO (a NO scavenger). The roles of three isoforms of nitric oxide synthases (nNOS, eNOS, and iNOS) were validated using L-NAME (eNOS inhibitor), SMT (iNOS inhibitor), and spermidine (nNOS inhibitor). AGMAT expression was up-regulated in LUAD tissues. LUAD patients with high AGMAT levels were associated with poorer prognoses. AGMAT promoted LUAD tumorigenesis in NO released by iNOS both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, NO signaling up-regulated the expression of cyclin D1 via activating the MAPK and PI3K/Akt-dependent c-myc activity, ultimately promoting the malignant proliferation of tumor cells. On the whole, AGMAT promoted NO release via up-regulating the expression of iNOS. High levels of NO drove LUAD tumorigenesis via activating MAPK and PI3K/Akt cascades. AGMAT might be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for LUAD patients.
Machine learning-aided analysis for complex local structure of liquid crystal polymers
Authors: Doi Hideo , Takahashi Kazuaki Z. , Tagashira Kenji , Fukuda Jun-ichi , Aoyagi Takeshi
Published: November 2019

Elucidation of mesoscopic structures of molecular systems is of considerable scientific and technological interest for the development and optimization of advanced materials. Molecular dynamics simulations are a promising means of revealing macroscopic physical properties of materials from a microscopic viewpoint, but analysis of the resulting complex mesoscopic structures from microscopic information is a non-trivial and challenging task. In this study, a Machine Learning-aided Local Structure Analyzer (ML-LSA) is developed to classify the complex local mesoscopic structures of molecules that have not only simple atomistic group units but also rigid anisotropic functional groups such as mesogens. The proposed ML-LSA is applied to classifying the local structures of liquid crystal polymer (LCP) systems, which are of considerable scientific and technological interest because of their potential for sensors and soft actuators. A machine learning (ML) model is constructed from small, and thus computationally less costly, monodomain LCP trajectories. The ML model can distinguish nematic- and smectic-like monodomain structures with high accuracy. The ML-LSA is applied to large, complex quenched LCP structures, and the complex local structures are successfully classified as either nematic- or smectic-like. Furthermore, the results of the ML-LSA suggest the best order parameter for distinguishing the two mesogenic structures. Our ML model enables automatic and systematic analysis of the mesogenic structures without prior knowledge, and thus can overcome the difficulty of manually determining the specific order parameter required for the classification of complex structures.