bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constructive Versus Destructive Conflict: Taking Stock of the Recent Constitutional Jurisprudence in the EU
Authors: BOBIĆ Ana
Published: November 2020

This article argues that constitutional pluralism is not a theory merely for times of equanimity, but crucially, in times of constitutional conflict. Given that it rests on the premise of regarding law as a dynamic, incrementally developing creature, constitutional conflict is no exceptional event, and represents an important element of the system's functioning. However, this does not mean that every point of conflict necessarily means progress for the pluralist system as a whole: it is possible to distinguish constructive from destructive conflict. In this respect, this piece will put forward a normative argument concerning the limits to which the auto-correct function of constitutional pluralism can stretch. In so doing, this piece will look at the recent jurisprudence of constitutional conflict at the EU and national level to demonstrate the limits of constructive conflict, as well as show how the example of Poland falls into the category of destructive conflict.
Backlash to policy decisions: how citizens react to immigrants' rights to demonstrate
Authors: Traunmüller Richard , Helbling Marc
Published: November 2020

Focusing on one specific aspect of immigrant political integration—how authorities deal with their political right to demonstrate—we show in a large-scale survey experiment that liberal policy decisions permitting demonstrations lead to a polarization in attitudes: citizens who agree with a permission become more sympathetic, while those in favor of banning become more critical of immigrants. This notion of opinion backlash to policy decisions adds a new perspective to the literature on immigration attitudes which has either assumed a congruence between public opinion and policy or ignored political sources of anti-immigrant sentiment altogether. By exploring the unintended consequences of policy decisions, we provide an alternative view and demonstrate the inherent dilemma of balancing citizen opinion and minority rights.
Tectonic transition from subduction to retreat of the palaeo-Pacific plate: new geochemical constraints from the late Mesozoic volcanic sequence in eastern Fujian Province, SE China
Authors: Cao Mingxuan , Zhao Xilin , Xing Guangfu , Fan Feipeng , Yu Minggang , Duan Zheng , Chu Pingli , Chen Rong
Published: November 2020

The widespread occurrence of late Mesozoic volcanic rocks in SE China is associated with widespread mineralization. Most geologists have accepted the model of Pacific plate subduction beneath the eastern Asian continent, but there are still controversies, especially the initial timing of the tectonic transition. In order to understand the tectonic evolution of the palaeo-Pacific plate subduction, an integrated study of zircon U–Pb, Lu–Hf isotope compositions and whole-rock geochemistry was carried out for Mesozoic volcanic rocks in eastern Fujian Province. According to the field observations and zircon U–Pb ages, these volcanic rocks can be divided into three phases: an early stage of Late Jurassic volcanic rocks (Phase 1, 159–153 Ma), a late stage of Late Jurassic volcanic rocks (Phase 2, 152–146 Ma) and an early stage of Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks (Phase 3, 143–139 Ma). Overall, these volcanic rocks are composed of intermediate–acid pyroclastic rocks and lava, with high SiO2, Na2O, K2O and Al2O3contents, belonging to the high-K calc-alkaline and peraluminous series, with enrichment in large ion lithophile and light rare earth elements but depletion in high-field-strength elements and heavy rare earth elements. However, the Phase 1 and 2 volcanic rocks contain different zircon Hf isotopic compositions and whole-rock geochemistry to the Phase 3 volcanic rocks, implying that they have a different petrogenesis. Our study combined with previous research shows that the decreasing zirconϵHf(t) values of the Middle–Late Jurassic volcanic rocks indicate a decreasing mantle-derived material contribution. On the contrary, the majority of the Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks have variableϵHf(t) values, requiring varied degrees of involvement of juvenile components in their origin. Thus, we consider that the Late Jurassic volcanic rocks were generated in a compressional tectonic environment during the early stage (> 146 Ma) of palaeo-Pacific subduction. In contrast, the Cretaceous volcanic rocks were formed in an extensional tectonic setting during a later stage (< 143 Ma) of subduction.
TIGHT FIBRED KNOTS WITHOUT L-SPACE SURGERIES
Authors: MISEV FILIP , SPANO GILBERTO
Published: November 2020

We show that there exist infinitely many knots of every fixed genus
$g\geq 2$
which do not admit surgery to an L-space, despite resembling algebraic knots and L-space knots in general: they are algebraically concordant to the torus knot T(2, 2g + 1) of the same genus and they are fibred and strongly quasipositive.
Colour variation of the intertidal hermit crabClibanarius virescensconsidering growth stage, geographic area in the Indo–West Pacific Ocean, and molecular phylogeny
Authors: Yoshikawa Akihiro , Ikeo Kazuho , Imoto Junichi , Jaingam Wachirah , Putri Lily Surayya Eka , Mardiansyah  , Nakano Tomoyuki , Shimomura Michitaka , Asakura Akira
Published: November 2020

Members ofClibanarius virescensshow considerable intraspecific colour variation, including colouration of the second/third pereopods (green/white) and the dactyls of the second/third pereopods (with or without dark bands/patches). However, factors inducing these colour variations have not yet been elucidated. Here, we investigated the occurrence of colour variation in this species with particular emphasis on change of colouration associated with growth stage and region in specimens from tropical/subtropical to warm temperate areas in the Indo–West Pacific, including evidence from molecular phylogeny based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). We have, then, clarified that the colouration on the pereopod dactyls gradually changed from solid colour (yellow/white) to having dark-coloured area(s) or transverse band(s) as a result of the growth stage. The frequency of occurrence of the solid colour dactyls was higher than those of other colour types in tropical regions. Our results also indicated that the white ambulatory leg type was the colouration type that was frequently seen in juvenile stages. However, significant genetic differences were not detected between each colouration determined by molecular analysis of samples from 14 localities in the Indo-West Pacific region; in contrast, two genetically differentiated regional populations (North Australia; Phuket, Thailand; and Lombok, Indonesia) were detected. The present study, therefore, emphasizes the necessity for further study on the colour variation of marine animals focusing on growth stages and regional differences, with molecular data to facilitate the research on adaptation and/or speciation, especially in geographically widely distributed species.
Personalized attention control therapy for PTSD: effectiveness and moderators of outcome in a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Segal Adva , Pine Daniel S. , Bar-Haim Yair
Published: November 2020

Background

Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that attention control therapy (ACT), targeting aberrant fluctuations of attention toward and away from threats in patients with PTSD, may be effective in reducing symptoms. The current RCT examined whether the use of personalized-trauma stimuli enhances ACT efficacy in patients with PTSD. Additional moderators of treatment outcome were tested on an exploratory basis.

Methods

Sixty patients with PTSD were randomly assigned to either personalized ACT, non-personalized ACT, or a control condition. Changes in symptoms were examined across pre-treatment, post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up. Attentional interference was examined pre- and post-treatment. Baseline clinical and cognitive indices as well as the time elapsed since the trauma were tested as potential moderators of treatment outcome.

Results

A significant reduction in clinical symptoms was noted for all three conditions with no between-group differences. Attention bias variability decreased following ACT treatment. Personalized ACT was more effective relative to the control condition when less time had elapsed since the trauma. Baseline clinical and cognitive indices did not moderate treatment outcome.

Conclusions

In this RCT of patients with PTSD, ACT was no more effective in reducing PTSD symptoms than a control condition. The data also suggest a potential benefit of personalized ACT for patients who experienced their trauma more recently.
Patient characteristics and predictors of mortality in 470 adults admitted to a district general hospital in England with Covid-19
Authors: Thompson J. V. , Meghani N. J. , Powell B. M. , Newell I. , Craven R. , Skilton G. , Bagg L. J. , Yaqoob I. , Dixon M. J. , Evans E. J. , Kambele B. , Rehman A. , Ng Man Kwong G.
Published: November 2020

Understanding risk factors for death from Covid-19 is key to providing good quality clinical care. We assessed the presenting characteristics of the ‘first wave’ of patients with Covid-19 at Royal Oldham Hospital, UK and undertook logistic regression modelling to investigate factors associated with death. Of 470 patients admitted, 169 (36%) died. The median age was 71 years (interquartile range 57–82), and 255 (54.3%) were men. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (n = 218, 46.4%), diabetes (n = 143, 30.4%) and chronic neurological disease (n = 123, 26.1%). The most frequent complications were acute kidney injury (AKI) (n = 157, 33.4%) and myocardial injury (n = 21, 4.5%). Forty-three (9.1%) patients required intubation and ventilation, and 39 (8.3%) received non-invasive ventilation. Independent risk factors for death were increasing age (odds ratio (OR) per 10 year increase above 40 years 1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57–2.27), hypertension (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.10–2.70), cancer (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.27–3.81), platelets <150 × 103/μl (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.13–3.30), C-reactive protein ≥100 μg/ml (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.05–2.68), >50% chest radiograph infiltrates (OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.16–3.77) and AKI (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.64–4.13). There was no independent association between death and gender, ethnicity, deprivation level, fever, SpO2/FiO2, lymphopoenia or other comorbidities. These findings will inform clinical and shared decision making, including use of respiratory support and therapeutic agents.
Costumes and Cosmopolitanism: Italian Opera in the North
Authors: Jeanneret Christine
Published: November 2020

This article explores operatic costumes from a perspective of cultural exchange, with a focus on Giuseppe Sarti, first director of the permanent opera theatre in Copenhagen. Sarti's Danish audience had almost no prior exposure to opera and little understanding of Italian. After a disastrous first season, he took measures to realise more successful productions of Italian opera in a context of migration, notably by focusing on the costumes to bypass language differences. I argue here that the theatrical costumes commissioned by Sarti were crucial tools for transmitting and adapting the operatic genre to its new context, functioning as visual signifiers and as body technology. They represented the audience's first encounter with the character and conveyed crucial information about dramaturgy.
Jets and differential linear logic
Authors: Wallbridge James
Published: November 2020

We prove that the category of vector bundles over a fixed smooth manifold and its corresponding category of convenient modules are models for intuitionistic differential linear logic. The exponential modality is modelled by composing the jet comonad, whose Kleisli category has linear differential operators as morphisms, with the more familiar distributional comonad, whose Kleisli category has smooth maps as morphisms. Combining the two comonads gives a new interpretation of the semantics of differential linear logic where the Kleisli morphisms are smooth local functionals, or equivalently, smooth partial differential operators, and the codereliction map induces the functional derivative. This points towards a logic, and hence a computational theory of non-linear partial differential equations and their solutions based on variational calculus.
Annually Resolved Monsoon Onset and Withdrawal Dates Across the Himalayas Derived From Local Precipitation Statistics
Authors: Brunello C. F. , Andermann C. , Marc O. , Schneider K. A. , Comiti F. , Achleitner S. , Hovius N.
Published: November 2020

A local and flexible definition of the monsoon season based on hydrological evidence is important for the understanding and management of Himalayan water resources. Here, we present an objective statistical method to retrieve seasonal hydrometeorological transitions. Applied to daily rainfall data (1951–2015), this method shows an average longitudinal delay of ~15 days, with later monsoon onset and earlier withdrawal in the western Himalaya, consistent with the continental progression of wet air masses. This delay leads to seasons of different length along the Himalaya and biased precipitation amounts when using uniform calendric monsoon boundaries. In the Central Himalaya annual precipitation has increased, due primarily to an increase of premonsoon precipitation. These findings highlight issues associated with a static definition of monsoon boundaries and call for a deeper understanding of nonmonsoonal precipitation over the Himalayan water tower.
Impacts of Traffic Reductions Associated With COVID‐19 on Southern California Air Quality
Authors: Parker H. A. , Hasheminassab S. , Crounse J. D. , Roehl C. M. , Wennberg P. O.
Published: November 2020

On 19 March 2020, California put in place Stay‐At‐Home orders to reduce the spread of SARS‐CoV‐2. As a result, decreases up to 50% in traffic occurred across the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB). We report that, compared to the 19 March to 30 June period of the last 5 years, the 2020 concentrations of PM2.5 and NOx showed an overall reduction across the basin. O3 concentrations decreased in the western part of the basin and generally increased in the downwind areas. The NOx decline in 2020 (approximately 27% basin‐wide) is in addition to ongoing declines over the last two decades (on average 4% less than the −6.8% per year afternoon NO2 concentration decrease) and provides insight into how air quality may respond over the next few years of continued vehicular reductions. The modest changes in O3 suggests additional mitigation will be necessary to comply with air quality standards.
Ionospheric and Solar Wind Contributions to the Storm‐Time Near‐Earth Plasma Sheet
Authors: Kistler L. M.
Published: November 2020

The storm‐time ring current is formed by the inward convection of the near‐earth plasma sheet, so understanding the changing source of the plasma sheet is key for understanding ring current development. The ionospheric and solar wind sources can be distinguished by the charge state of the heavy ions; solar wind ions are highly iononized, while ionospheric ions are predominantly singly ionized. AMPTE/CHEM measurements are used to track the changing composition in the 6–9 Re plasma sheet as a storm develops in order to determine the fraction of the population that comes from each source. We find that prior to the storm, the solar wind source dominates. During the storm main phase, the solar wind contribution decreases, while the ionospheric contribution increases, making the source predominantly ionospheric. The source returns to predominantly solar wind plasma during the recovery phase.
Australian New Year's PyroCb Impact on Stratospheric Composition
Authors: Schwartz Michael J. , Santee Michelle L. , Pumphrey Hugh C. , Manney Gloria L. , Lambert Alyn , Livesey Nathaniel J. , Millán Luis , Neu Jessica L. , Read William G. , Werner Frank
Published: November 2020

Following the Australian New Year's pyrocumulonimbus complex between 29 December 2019 and 4 January 2020, the Aura Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) observed a plume with unprecedented enhancements of H2O and biomass‐burning products (CO, HCN, CH3Cl, CH3CN, and CH3OH) in the lower/middle stratosphere, accompanied by depressions in stratospheric species (O3and HNO3). The plume persisted for ∼110 days, circling the globe twice while ascending to 5.62 hPa (∼35 km). Air masses drawn off the main plume moved toward the developing Antarctic polar vortex but do not appear to have penetrated it. Comparison of species in the plume requires consideration of their measurements' spatial resolutions and background abundances. The apparent decay of some long‐lived plume constituents is largely attributable to their coarsening spatial resolution with height, which reduces observed peak values. Differing HCN/H2O signatures indicate that multiple early plumes originated from different stratospheric injection events.
High‐Elevation Monsoon Precipitation Processes in the Central Andes of Peru
Authors: Chavez S. P. , Silva Y. , Barros A. P.
Published: November 2020

Measurements at the high‐elevation Lamar Observatory in the Mantaro Valley (MV) in the Central Andes of Peru demonstrate a diurnal cycle of precipitation characterized by convective rainfall during the afternoon and nighttime stratiform rainfall with embedded convection. Wet season data (2016–2018) reveal long‐duration (6–12 hr) shallow precipitating systems (LDPS) that produced about 17% of monsoon rainfall in 2016 and 2018 associated with El Niño and La Niña, respectively. The LPDS fraction of monsoon rainfall doubles to 35% with weekly recurrence in 2017 under El Niño Costero (coastal) conditions. LDPS occur under favorable moisture conditions dictated by the South America (SA) Low‐Level Jet (SALLJ) and Cold Air Intrusions (CAIs). Backward trajectory analysis shows that precipitable water sustains >80% of seasonal precipitation and ties the LPDS to particular moisture source regions in the eastern Andes foothills 1–2 days in advance, enhanced by increased moisture supply in the midtroposphere. Higher frequency of CAIs and enhanced midlevel moisture convergence along CAI fronts explain the increased LDPS frequency during the 2017 El Niño Costero. These findings highlight the functional role of the Andes morphology in organizing moisture supply to high‐elevation precipitation systems on the orographic envelope. Analysis of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission satellite‐based radar observations points to challenges to precipitation detection and estimation in this region as the GPM clutter‐free height (~1–2 km AGL) exceeds the depth of shallow precipitation systems in the MV.
Three-dimensional nonlinear photonic crystal in naturally grown potassium–tantalate–niobate perovskite ferroelectrics
Authors: Li Chang , Wang Xuping , Wu Yang , Liang Fei , Wang Feifei , Zhao Xiangyong , Yu Haohai , Zhang Huaijin
Published: November 2020

Since quasi-phase-matching of nonlinear optics was proposed in 1962, nonlinear photonic crystals were rapidly developed by ferroelectric domain inversion induced by electric or light poling. The three-dimensional (3D) periodical rotation of ferroelectric domains may add feasible modulation to the nonlinear coefficients and break the rigid requirements for the incident light and polarization direction in traditional quasi-phase-matching media. However, 3D rotating ferroelectric domains are difficult to fabricate by the direct external poling technique. Here, we show a natural potassium–tantalate–niobate (KTN) perovskite nonlinear photonic crystal with spontaneous Rubik’s cube-like domain structures near the Curie temperature of 40 °C. The KTN crystal contains 3D ferroelectric polarization distributions corresponding to the reconfigured second-order susceptibilities, which can provide rich reciprocal vectors to compensate for the phase mismatch along an arbitrary direction and polarization of incident light. Bragg diffraction and broadband second-harmonic generation are also presented. This natural nonlinear photonic crystal directly meets the 3D quasi-phase-matching condition without external poling and establishes a promising platform for all-optical nonlinear beam shaping and enables new optoelectronic applications for perovskite ferroelectrics.
Insights from transgenic mouse models of PyMT-induced breast cancer: recapitulating human breast cancer progression in vivo
Authors: Attalla Sherif , Taifour Tarek , Bui Tung , Muller William
Published: November 2020

Breast cancer is associated with the second highest cancer-associated deaths worldwide. Therefore, understanding the key events that determine breast cancer progression, modulation of the tumor-microenvironment and metastasis, which is the main cause of cancer-associated death, are of great importance. The mammary specific polyomavirus middle T antigen overexpression mouse model (MMTV-PyMT), first published in 1992, is the most commonly used genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) for cancer research. Mammary lesions arising in MMTV-PyMT mice follow similar molecular and histological progression as human breast tumors, making it an invaluable tool for cancer researchers and instrumental in understanding tumor biology. In this review, we will highlight key studies that demonstrate the utility of PyMT derived GEMMs in understanding the molecular basis of breast cancer progression, metastasis and highlight its use as a pre-clinical tool for therapeutic discovery.
On-the-fly closed-loop materials discovery via Bayesian active learning
Authors: Kusne A. Gilad , Yu Heshan , Wu Changming , Zhang Huairuo , Hattrick-Simpers Jason , DeCost Brian , Sarker Suchismita , Oses Corey , Toher Cormac , Curtarolo Stefano , Davydov Albert V. , Agarwal Ritesh , Bendersky Leonid A. , Li Mo , Mehta Apurva , Takeuchi Ichiro
Published: November 2020

Active learning—the field of machine learning (ML) dedicated to optimal experiment design—has played a part in science as far back as the 18th century when Laplace used it to guide his discovery of celestial mechanics. In this work, we focus a closed-loop, active learning-driven autonomous system on another major challenge, the discovery of advanced materials against the exceedingly complex synthesis-processes-structure-property landscape. We demonstrate an autonomous materials discovery methodology for functional inorganic compounds which allow scientists to fail smarter, learn faster, and spend less resources in their studies, while simultaneously improving trust in scientific results and machine learning tools. This robot science enables science-over-the-network, reducing the economic impact of scientists being physically separated from their labs. The real-time closed-loop, autonomous system for materials exploration and optimization (CAMEO) is implemented at the synchrotron beamline to accelerate the interconnected tasks of phase mapping and property optimization, with each cycle taking seconds to minutes. We also demonstrate an embodiment of human-machine interaction, where human-in-the-loop is called to play a contributing role within each cycle. This work has resulted in the discovery of a novel epitaxial nanocomposite phase-change memory material.
Mechanically interlocked 3D multi-material micromachines
Authors: Alcântara C. C. J. , Landers F. C. , Kim S. , De Marco C. , Ahmed D. , Nelson B. J. , Pané S.
Published: November 2020

Metals and polymers are dissimilar materials in terms of their physicochemical properties, but complementary in terms of functionality. As a result, metal-organic structures can introduce a wealth of novel applications in small-scale robotics. However, current fabrication techniques are unable to process three-dimensional metallic and polymeric components. Here, we show that hybrid microstructures can be interlocked by combining 3D lithography, mold casting, and electrodeposition. Our method can be used to achieve complex multi-material microdevices with unprecedented resolution and topological complexity. We show that metallic components can be combined with structures made of different classes of polymers. Properties of both metals and polymers can be exploited in parallel, resulting in structures with high magnetic responsiveness, elevated drug loading capacity, on-demand shape transformation, and elastic behavior. We showcase the advantages of our approach by demonstrating new microrobotic locomotion modes and controlled agglomeration of swarms.
2D atomic crystal molecular superlattices by soft plasma intercalation
Authors: Zhang Lufang , Nan Haiyan , Zhang Xiumei , Liang Qifeng , Du Aijun , Ni Zhenhua , Gu Xiaofeng , Ostrikov Kostya , Xiao Shaoqing
Published: November 2020

Two-dimensional (2D) atomic crystal superlattices integrate diverse 2D layered materials enabling adjustable electronic and optical properties. However, tunability of the interlayer gap and interactions remain challenging. Here we report a solution based on soft oxygen plasma intercalation. 2D atomic crystal molecular superlattices (ACMSs) are produced by intercalating O2+ ions into the interlayer space using the plasma electric field. Stable molecular oxygen layer is formed by van der Waals interactions with adjacent transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers. The resulting interlayer gap expansion can effectively isolate TMD monolayers and impart exotic properties to homo-(MoS2[O2]x) and hetero-(MoS2[O2]x/WS2[O2]x) stacked ACMSs beyond typical capacities of monolayer TMDs, such as 100 times stronger photoluminescence and 100 times higher photocurrent. Our potentially universal approach to tune interlayer stacking and interactions in 2D ACMSs may lead to exotic superlattice properties intrinsic to monolayer materials such as direct bandgap pursued for future optoelectronics.
Endocannabinoid signaling regulates the reinforcing and psychostimulant effects of ketamine in mice
Authors: Xu Wei , Li Hongchun , Wang Liang , Zhang Jiamei , Liu Chunqi , Wan Xuemei , Liu Xiaochong , Hu Yiming , Fang Qiyao , Xiao Yuanyuan , Bu Qian , Wang Hongbo , Tian Jingwei , Zhao Yinglan , Cen Xiaobo
Published: November 2020

The abuse potential of ketamine limits its clinical application, but the precise mechanism remains largely unclear. Here we discovered that ketamine significantly remodels the endocannabinoid-related lipidome and activates 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) signaling in the dorsal striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen, CPu) of mice. Elevated 2-AG in the CPu is essential for the psychostimulant and reinforcing effects of ketamine, whereas blockade of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, a predominant 2-AG receptor, attenuates ketamine-induced remodeling of neuronal dendrite structure and neurobehaviors. Ketamine represses the transcription of the monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) gene by promoting the expression of PRDM5, a negative transcription factor of the MAGL gene, leading to increased 2-AG production. Genetic overexpression of MAGL or silencing of PRDM5 expression in the CPu robustly reduces 2-AG production and ketamine effects. Collectively, endocannabinoid signaling plays a critical role in mediating the psychostimulant and reinforcing properties of ketamine.
Intestinal FGF15/19 physiologically repress hepatic lipogenesis in the late fed-state by activating SHP and DNMT3A
Authors: Kim Young-Chae , Seok Sunmi , Zhang Yang , Ma Jian , Kong Bo , Guo Grace , Kemper Byron , Kemper Jongsook Kim
Published: November 2020

Hepatic lipogenesis is normally tightly regulated but is aberrantly elevated in obesity. Fibroblast Growth Factor-15/19 (mouse FGF15, human FGF19) are bile acid-induced late fed-state gut hormones that decrease hepatic lipid levels by unclear mechanisms. We show that FGF15/19 and FGF15/19-activated Small Heterodimer Partner (SHP/NR0B2) have a role in transcriptional repression of lipogenesis. Comparative genomic analyses reveal that most of the SHP cistrome, including lipogenic genes repressed by FGF19, have overlapping CpG islands. FGF19 treatment or SHP overexpression in mice inhibits lipogenesis in a DNA methyltransferase-3a (DNMT3A)-dependent manner. FGF19-mediated activation of SHP via phosphorylation recruits DNMT3A to lipogenic genes, leading to epigenetic repression via DNA methylation. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients and obese mice, occupancy of SHP and DNMT3A and DNA methylation at lipogenic genes are low, with elevated gene expression. In conclusion, FGF15/19 represses hepatic lipogenesis by activating SHP and DNMT3A physiologically, which is likely dysregulated in NAFLD.
Population-scale study of eRNA transcription reveals bipartite functional enhancer architecture
Authors: Kristjánsdóttir Katla , Dziubek Alexis , Kang Hyun Min , Kwak Hojoong
Published: November 2020

Enhancer RNAs (eRNA) are unstable non-coding RNAs, transcribed bidirectionally from active regulatory sequences, whose expression levels correlate with enhancer activity. We use capped-nascent-RNA sequencing to efficiently capture bidirectional transcription initiation across several human lymphoblastoid cell lines (Yoruba population) and detect ~75,000 eRNA transcription sites with high sensitivity and specificity. The use of nascent-RNA sequencing sidesteps the confounding effect of eRNA instability. We identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with the level and directionality of eRNA expression. High-resolution analyses of these two types of QTLs reveal distinct positions of enrichment at the central transcription factor (TF) binding regions and at the flanking eRNA initiation regions, both of which are associated with mRNA expression QTLs. These two regions—the central TF-binding footprint and the eRNA initiation cores—define a bipartite architecture of enhancers, inform enhancer function, and can be used as an indicator of the significance of non-coding regulatory variants.
Sustainable drug release from polycaprolactone coated chitin-lignin gel fibrous scaffolds
Authors: Abdullah Turdimuhammad , Gauthaman Kalamegam , Mostafavi Azadeh , Alshahrie Ahmed , Salah Numan , Morganti Pierfrancesco , Chianese Angelo , Tamayol Ali , Memic Adnan
Published: November 2020

Non-healing wounds have placed an enormous stress on both patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Severe complications induced by these wounds can lead to limb amputation or even death and urgently require more effective treatments. Electrospun scaffolds have great potential for improving wound healing treatments by providing controlled drug delivery. Previously, we developed fibrous scaffolds from complex carbohydrate polymers [i.e. chitin-lignin (CL) gels]. However, their application was limited by solubility and undesirable burst drug release. Here, a coaxial electrospinning is applied to encapsulate the CL gels with polycaprolactone (PCL). Presence of a PCL shell layer thus provides longer shelf-life for the CL gels in a wet environment and sustainable drug release. Antibiotics loaded into core–shell fibrous platform effectively inhibit both gram-positive and -negative bacteria without inducting observable cytotoxicity. Therefore, PCL coated CL fibrous gel platforms appear to be good candidates for controlled drug release based wound dressing applications.
Quasi-bound states in an NPN-type nanometer-scale graphene quantum dot under a magnetic field
Authors: Pan Yueting , Ji Haijiao , Li Xin-Qi , Liu Haiwen
Published: November 2020

We solve the quasi-bound state-energy spectra and wavefunctions of an NPN-type graphene quantum dot under a perpendicular magnetic field. The evolution of the quasi-bound state spectra under the magnetic field is investigated using a Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin approximation. In numerical calculations, we also show that the twofold energy degeneracy of the opposite angular momenta breaks under a weak magnetic field. As the magnetic field strengthens, this phenomenon produces an observable splitting of the energy spectrum. Our results demonstrate the relation between the quasi-bound state-energy spectrum in graphene quantum dots and magnetic field strength, which is relevant to recent measurements in scanning tunneling microscopy.
Author Correction: Identification and characterization of Colletotrichum species causing apple bitter rot in New York and description of C. noveboracense sp. nov
Authors: Khodadadi Fatemeh , González Jonathan B. , Martin Phillip L. , Giroux Emily , Bilodeau Guillaume J. , Peter Kari A. , Doyle Vinson P. , Aćimović Srđan G.
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Integrative analysis of the circRNA–miRNA regulatory network in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Ruan Zhong-bao , Wang Fei , Yu Qiu-ping , Chen Ge-cai , Zhu Li
Published: November 2020

We aimed to investigate the circRNA–miRNA regulatory network in atrial fibrillation (AF) by using Cytoscape and HMDD v3.0. Finally, 120 differentially expressed circRNAs in peripheral blood monocytes of 4 AF patients were preliminarily screened by circRNA microarray. circRNA_4648, circRNA_4631, and circRNA_2875 were the first four circRNAs with the most binding nodes in the circRNA–miRNA network. The top three most frequent miRNAs for up-regulated circRNAs were hsa-miR-328 that interacted with 5 up-regulated circRNAs, hsa-miR-4685-5p with 4 up-regulated circRNAs, hsa-miR-3150a-3p, hsa-miR-4649-5p, hsa-miR-4783-3p, and hsa-miR-8073 with 3 up-regulated circRNAs,, while the top three most frequent miRNAs for down-regulated circRNAs were hsa-miR-328 that interacted with 14 down-regulated circRNAs, hsa-miR-4685-5p with 11 down-regulated circRNAs and hsa-miR-661 with 9 down-regulated circRNAs. According to HMDD v3.0, five up-regulated and eleven down-regulated circRNAs were found to interact with AF related miRNAs. These results indicated the possible regulatory network between circRNAs and miRNAs in the pathogenesis of AF.
Covalent functionalization of carbon materials with redox-active organic molecules for energy storage
Authors: Khan Rizwan , Nishina Yuta
Published: November 2020

Carbon-based materials (CBMs) have shown great versatility because they can be chemically combined with other materials for various applications.
Preparation of thermoresponsive hydrogels via polymerizable deep eutectic monomer solvents
Authors: Nahar Yeasmin , Horne James , Truong Vinh , Bissember Alex C. , Thickett Stuart C.
Published: November 2020

We report the preparation of thermoresponsive hydrogels via free-radical polymerization and crosslinking of NIPAM based deep eutectic monomer solvents (DEMs).
Evaporation-driven colloidal cluster assembly using droplets on superhydrophobic fractal-like structures
Authors: Seyfert Carola , Berenschot Erwin J. W. , Tas Niels R. , Susarrey-Arce Arturo , Marin Alvaro
Published: November 2020

Evaporation of suspension droplets on superhydrophobic substrates reveals a dominant shape dependency of the resulting supraparticles on initial particle concentration.
Energy management and economic analysis of multiple energy storage systems in solar PV/PEMFC hybrid power systems
Authors: Das Vipin , Singh Asheesh K. , Karuppanan PitchaiVijaya , Kumar Pradeep , Singh Sri Niwas , Agelidis Vassilios Georgios
Published: November 2020

This study proposes an energy management system (EMS) to manage a standalone hybrid power system (HPS) comprising solar photovoltaic (PV), proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and a battery energy storage. The battery and a hydrogen storage system in PEMFC provide short‐ and long‐term electricity storage, respectively. The EMS ensures electrical efficiency during normal/abnormal operation of the HPS and related limitations, namely unexpected variations in solar irradiance and loads, PEMFC cold start, and battery charging status. The proposed EMS is evaluated using mathematical modelling, simulation studies, and real‐time digital simulation. The results show that the proposed EMS is resilient to complex solar PV/load power changes and keeps the dc‐link voltage in place. The viability of the proposed HPS is analysed using daily average solar insolation and load profiles. This analysis is useful to schedule problems of load/generation. The economic analysis of the proposed EMS, done using Homer pro, ensures that the HPS operates cost‐effectively.
Creative and diverse artwork generation using adversarial networks
Authors: Chen Haibo , Zhao Lei , Qiu Lihong , Wang Zhizhong , Zhang Huiming , Xing Wei , Lu Dongming
Published: November 2020

Existing style transfer methods have achieved great success in artwork generation by transferring artistic styles onto everyday photographs while keeping their contents unchanged. Despite this success, these methods have one inherent limitation: they cannot produce newly created image contents, lacking creativity and flexibility. On the other hand, generative adversarial networks (GANs) can synthesise images with new content, whereas cannot specify the artistic style of these images. The authors consider combining style transfer with convolutional GANs to generate more creative and diverse artworks. Instead of simply concatenating these two networks: the first for synthesising new content and the second for transferring artistic styles, which is inefficient and inconvenient, they design an end‐to‐end network called ArtistGAN to perform these two operations at the same time and achieve visually better results. Moreover, to generate images of higher quality, they propose the bi‐discriminator GAN containing a pixel discriminator and a feature discriminator that constrain the generated image from pixel level and feature level, respectively. They conduct extensive experiments and comparisons to evaluate their methods quantitatively and qualitatively. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of their methods.
Design of GEMSTAR tidal current fixed pitch rotor controlled through a Permanent Magnet Generator (PMG) de‐fluxing technique
Authors: Coiro Domenico P. , Troise Giancarlo , Bizzarrini Nadia , Lazzerini Guido , Di Noia Luigi Pio , Iannuzzi Diego , Coppola Marino
Published: November 2020

This work reports a study on a tidal current system named GEMSTAR, composed of two hydrokinetic turbines supported by a floating submerged structure. A flexible mooring cable links the floating support to the seabed allowing the free rotation of the system and its alignment to changing current direction. The work is mainly focused on the design of the turbine blade with two objectives: keeping a constant power output above the rated power condition and limiting the thrust increase between rated and maximum operating speed. A fixed pitch blade was considered, in order to reduce the costs associated to a complex pitch control mechanism. An analytical procedure for blade design is proposed and validated by comparison to other numerical methods. Above the rated current speed, the power is held constant while the rotational speed of the turbine and of the generator increases, assuming an over‐speeding control strategy. The adopted design configuration relies on the possibility of the generator to operate in de‐fluxing working conditions. As reported in the last part of this study, a numerical model of the generator has also been developed and applied to a test case in order to analyse the electric behaviour of the system.
Prospects for low-cost gas hydrate development in shelf in China
Authors: Sun Haoyuan
Published: November 2020

Drilling costs account for a large proportion whether in onshore or offshore oil gas development, and the same truth for offshore gas hydrates development. Therefore, reducing drilling costs is a prerequisite for realizing industrial development of gas hydrates in sea, only by changing traditional deep water drilling technology portfolio can achieve low-cost development [1].
Taking into account of natural and technological aspects of sustainable development of the forest complex when choosing a harvester manipulator
Authors: Karpachev Sergey , Bykovskiy Maksim
Published: November 2020

The article presents theoretical and experimental studies for choosing a manipulator for a harvester taking into account of natural and technological aspects of sustainable development of the forest complex. A mathematical model of the harvester operation is developed based on natural and technological factors, as well as the characteristics of the machine base and the harvester head. Experimental results allow us to determine the rational characteristics of the manipulator for Siberia region of Russia, in particular, the permissible overturn and load moments of the manipulator for the specified characteristics of the base machine and the selected harvesting head. The maximum outreach of the manipulator’s boom in the range from 8000 to 11000 mm has little effect on the volume and number of harvested trees. The percentage of harvested wood volume almost does not depend on the maximum manipulator boom outreach and remains within at least 85%.
Analysis of regional differentiation in waste generation and conclusions for Russia
Authors: Komarova Oksana
Published: November 2020

The problem of waste generation and utilization is one of the most important goals of sustainable development in the modern world. The article provides a statistical analysis of the level of waste generation and utilization in Russia, which is assessed as high in comparison with the European Union countries. Based on statistical analysis, a high level of regional differentiation in waste generation and utilization in Russia was determined. On the basis of theoretical and empirical analysis it was revealed that regional differentiation is based on different provision of aregions with natural resources and degree of industrial production development. The key directions for reducing regional differentiation are environmental industrial policy, formation of regional environmental institutions and environmentally-oriented behavior of all economic subjects of the regional economy.
Buckwheat husk processing products as Factor of a Stable Food Market Development
Authors: Chugunova Olga , Shkolnikova Marina , Kadritskaya Elena
Published: November 2020

The current state of the economy requires a qualitatively new organization of the region’s food market. The development of regional food markets should be based primarily on a fuller use of local raw materials. The most important task in the development of the regional food market is the search for new sources of natural biologically active substances and the development of functional food products based on them. Melanin is a unique biologically active substance with inhibitory, protective, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal effects. The main plant sources of melanin are chaga, birch mushroom and sunflower husk, the use of which is not always advisable and economically profitable. It is advisable to consider buckwheat husk Fagopyrumesculentum, which is characterized by the absence of ballast fraction and a high content of brown pigment localized in the outer layers of the cellular wall of the entire grain shell, as a promising raw material source for the isolation of melanin. The biochemical characteristics of melanin from alternative raw sources require a more detailed study of the properties of the pigment, in particular the functional ones, to confirm the practical possibility of using them as functional food ingredients in food products - antioxidants and biosorbents-detoxifying agents.
ESG-finance principles as the key drivers of Russian regions’ investment potential
Authors: Egorova Daria
Published: November 2020

This article presents an analysis of challenges and prospects for the development of responsible investment in Russia and gives a detailed description of the ESG-finance principles (ESG - Environmental, Social, Governance). The new economic conditions cause necessity to search the new methodology approaches in different theoretical fields. The author gives a wide summary of approaches to precise an investment potential of the regions in Russia and makes a conclusion that all of the existing assessment tools are not perfect and need to be improved. Such an enhancement could be based on the results of the a pairwise correlation analysis: the author considers data sampling for all the regions of the Russian Federation and tests it with four indicators: the investment activity of the region, as a resulting indicator; environmental protection costs, the number of companies disclosing non-financial reporting and percentage of companies in the region implementing innovations in the framework of energy conservation, as factors in assessing the investment potential of the region.
Environmental and legal aspects of sustainable development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation using the genomic technologies
Authors: Vedysheva N.O.
Published: November 2020

After analyzing the documents of the strategic planning of the Russian Federation, the state policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic until 2035, the author makes an attempt to consider current legal problems in the field of environmental management and environmental protection in the region, ensuring the sustainable development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The article highlights the main threats and risks of ensuring the environmental safety, including when applying innovative, genomic technologies in the field of agriculture. In conclusion, a summary is made about the need to amend the legislation of the Russian Federation in terms of ensuring the environmental safety and sustainable development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation
The activities of regional municipal solid waste operators in modern conditions
Authors: Bushueva N.V. , Sobol T.S. , Sergeeva N.V. , Fedorova M.S.
Published: November 2020

The research involves analysis of the macroeconomic indicators of the activities of regional solid municipal waste operator in the Lipetsk region, identifying the most attractive areas for operating as a regional solid municipal waste operator developing proposals to improve the financial condition of one of the regional operators on the example of LLC RMK. The authors compare and analyze the economic parameters of the activities of regional solid municipal waste operators in the Lipetsk region. The main reasons for the decrease in the profitability of regional solid municipal waste operators are identified, the main tasks of reforming the waste management sector in the Russian Federation are formulated, measures are proposed to increase the financial stability and economic attractiveness of the regional operator.
Environmental hazard of soil contamination by heavy metals
Authors: Efremova Saniia , Parfenova Ekaterina , Bodrov Aleksei
Published: November 2020

Pollution of the natural environment of the city with heavy metals (HM) from various sources receives much attention. They accumulate, exceeding the background level, cause pollution of the surface of the soil cover, vegetation, natural waters. It should be noted that their accumulation turns soils into a source of secondary pollution of natural environments and poses a threat to human health. In this regard, the monitoring studies, in addition to the traditional control of the HM content in soils, should assess the trend of changes in the level of pollution and their consequences. The object of research is soils, subject to varying degrees of anthropogenic burden. The analysis revealed a significant variation in all studied elements, which indicates a negative trend of their gradual increase. The average content of HMs was found not extreme but the rate of their accumulation raises concerns. An excess of MPC was found along highways (up to 500 m), from the railway (up to 20 m): Pb by 1.25–3 times; Cd - 1.65; Ni - 1.69-1.81; on the adjacent territory to the gas station by 1.37 times for copper, and 3.45 times for lead, which indicates the danger of pollution of the urban environment.