bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Losing My Religion as a Natural Experiment: How State Pressure and Taxes Led to Church Disaffiliations between 1940 and 2010 in Germany
Authors: Stolz Jörg , Pollack Detlef , De Graaf Nan Dirk , Antonietti Jean‐Philippe
Published: December 2020

The sociological literature has produced a remarkably consistent picture of the quantitative patterns of religious disaffiliations in Western countries. This article argues, and demonstrates, that strong changes in a social context may lead individuals to disaffiliate rapidly, leading to very different aggregate effects from those in the “western model.” We use the unique situation of the separation of Germany from 1949 to 1989 and its subsequent reunification as a “natural experiment” to show just how much the relationships routinely found can be disrupted under changed conditions. The state socialist “treatment” affected religious disaffiliations in East Germany profoundly as it (a) made disaffiliations 10 times more probable in the East than in the West in the 1950s and 1960s, (b) shielded East German church members from factors that led to mass disaffiliations in the West in the late 1960s and early 1970s, (c) reversed the education‐disaffiliation link in the East, thus making disaffiliation more likely among the less educated, and (d) led to an especially strong increase in disaffiliations in the East right after the reunification
Predator preferences shape the diets of arthropodivorous bats more than quantitative local prey abundance
Authors: Wray Amy K. , Peery M. Zachariah , Jusino Michelle A. , Kochanski Jade M. , Banik Mark T. , Palmer Jonathan M. , Lindner Daniel L. , Gratton Claudio
Published: December 2020

Although most predators are generalists, the majority of studies on the association between prey availability and prey consumption have focused on specialist predators. To investigate the role of highly generalist predators in a complex food web, we measured the relationships between prey consumption and prey availability in two common arthropodivorous bats. Specifically, we used high‐throughput amplicon sequencing coupled with a known mock community to characterize seasonal changes in little brown and big brown bat diets. We then linked spatiotemporal variation in prey consumption with quantitative prey availability estimated from intensive prey community sampling. We found that although quantitative prey availability fluctuated substantially over space and time, the most commonly consumed prey items were consistently detected in bat diets independently of their respective abundance. Positive relationships between prey abundance and probability of consumption were found only among prey groups that were less frequently detected in bat diets. While the probability of prey consumption was largely unrelated to abundance, the community structure of prey detected in bat diets was influenced by the local or regional abundance of prey. Observed patterns suggest that while little brown and big brown bats maintain preferences for particular prey independently of quantitative prey availability, total dietary composition may reflect some degree of opportunistic foraging. Overall, our findings suggest that generalist predators can display strong prey preferences that persist despite quantitative changes in prey availability.
Winter warming rapidly increases carbon degradation capacities of fungal communities in tundra soil: Potential consequences on carbon stability
Authors: Cheng Jingmin , Yang Yunfeng , Yuan Mengting M. , Gao Qun , Wu Liyou , Qin Ziyan , Shi Zhou J. , Schuur Edward A. G. , Cole James R. , Tiedje James M. , Zhou Jizhong
Published: December 2020

High‐latitude tundra ecosystems are increasingly affected by climate warming. As an important fraction of soil microorganisms, fungi play essential roles in carbon degradation, especially the old, chemically recalcitrant carbon. However, it remains obscure how fungi respond to climate warming and whether fungi, in turn, affect carbon stability of tundra. In a 2‐year winter soil warming experiment of 2°C by snow fences, we investigated responses of fungal communities to warming in the active layer of an Alaskan tundra. Although fungal community composition, revealed by the 28S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, remained unchanged (p > .05), fungal functional gene composition, revealed by a microarray named GeoChip, was altered (p < .05). Changes in functional gene composition were linked to winter soil temperature, thaw depth, soil moisture, and gross primary productivity (canonical correlation analysis, p < .05). Specifically, relative abundances of fungal genes encoding invertase, xylose reductase and vanillin dehydrogenase significantly increased (p < .05), indicating higher carbon degradation capacities of fungal communities under warming. Accordingly, we detected changes in fungal gene networks under warming, including higher average path distance, lower average clustering coefficient and lower percentage of negative links, indicating that warming potentially changed fungal interactions. Together, our study reveals higher carbon degradation capacities of fungal communities under short‐term warming and highlights the potential impacts of fungal communities on tundra ecosystem respiration, and consequently future carbon stability of high‐latitude tundra.
Male‐specific Y‐chromosomal regions in waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) and Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri)
Authors: Montgomery Jacob S. , Giacomini Darci A. , Weigel Detlef , Tranel Patrick J.
Published: December 2020

Amaranthus tuberculatus and Amaranthus palmeri are agronomically important weed species, both with stable dioecious reproductive systems. An understanding of the genetic basis of sex determination may lead to new methods of managing these troublesome weeds. Previous research identified genomic sequences associated with maleness in each species.

Male‐specific sequences were used to identify genomic regions in both species that are believed to contain sex‐determining genes, i.e. the male‐specific Y (MSY) region. These regions were compared to understand if sex determination is controlled via the same physiological pathway and if dioecy evolved independently.

A contiguously assembled candidate MSY region identified in Amaranthus palmeri is approximately 1.3 Mb with 121 predicted gene models. In Amaranthus tuberculatus, several contigs, with combined length of 4.6 Mb and with 147 gene models, were identified as belonging to the MSY region. Synteny was not detected between the two species’ candidate MSY regions but they shared two predicted genes.

With lists of candidate genes for sex determination containing fewer than 200 in each species, future research can address whether sex determination is controlled via similar physiological pathways and whether dioecy has indeed evolved independently in these species.
Stability of single‐jaw vs two‐jaw surgery following the correction of skeletal class III malocclusion: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Rizk Mumen Z. , Torgersbråten Nina , Mohammed Hisham , Franzen Tanya Jeanette , Vandevska‐Radunovic Vaska
Published: December 2020

This review aims to compare the stability of sagittal skeletal and overjet anteroposterior correction of skeletal class III malocclusion in single‐jaw and two‐jaw orthognathic procedures. An unrestricted comprehensive electronic search was undertaken on Embase, Cochrane's CENTRAL, Web of Science, Medline, Scopus and LILACs databases up to October 2020. The bibliographies of relevant studies, ongoing, unpublished and grey literature were screened. Two independent reviewers performed study selection, bias assessment and data extraction; a third reviewer mediated inconsistencies. Randomized clinical trials, prospective cohort, retrospective cohort and series with a minimum of 1 year follow‐up were eligible for inclusion. Additional subgroup analyses were undertaken. The generated effects were scored using the GRADE approach. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria and eight studies were subsequently analysed quantitatively. No significant difference in sagittal stability at the ANB angle, A‐point or B‐point on a short‐term was detected. However, a statistically significant difference, indicating a greater short‐term relapse in overjet with mandibular setbacks alone, was found (MD: −0.40 mm; 95% CI −0.77 to −0.04; I2: 0%; P = .03). Long‐term follow‐up (≥5 years) revealed a statistically non‐significant difference in stability of sagittal skeletal and overjet corrections. Within the limitations of this review, both procedures seem to offer comparable skeletal and overjet stability outcomes; however, further high‐quality research is required to confirm these findings.
Predicting mandibular growth based on CVM stage and gender and with chronological age as a curvilinear variable
Authors: Franchi Lorenzo , Nieri Michele , McNamara James A. , Giuntini Veronica
Published: December 2020

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop a prediction model that combines the information derived from chronological age (analysed as a curvilinear variable), gender and the CVM method to predict mandibular growth.

Settings and Sample Population

50 participants (29 females, 21 males) were selected from the AAOF Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection, the Michigan Growth Study and the Denver Child Growth study.

Materials and Methods

In this investigation, 456 lateral cephalograms were analysed by applying a mixed effect model. The outcome variable was the annualized increment in total mandibular length (Co‐Gn) during the year following the lateral cephalogram on which the cervical stage and chronological age were evaluated. The predictive variables were chronological age up to the fifth order, gender, stage of cervical vertebral maturation, as well as interactions between age and gender, age and cervical stage, and gender and cervical stage.

Results

Cervical stage, chronological age up to the fourth order, gender, and the interaction between age and gender were significant predictors of annualized increments in mandibular length. The annualized increment in Co‐Gn was significantly greater for CS 3 when compared to all other cervical stages. Further, annualized increments in Co‐Gn for CS 1 and CS 2 were significantly greater when compared to CS 5.

Conclusions

Cervical stage, chronological age and gender can be used jointly to predict the annualized increment in mandibular growth. Cervical stage 3 exhibited the greatest annualized increase in mandibular length.
Technological revolution in the US energy sector, understanding the implications for the US dependency on fossil energy imports
Authors: Mourdghaffari Mohammad , Daheshiar Hussein , Hajimineh Rahmat , Shafiei Hasan
Published: December 2020

During various periods, the United States (the US) has adopted diverse policies for achieving self‐sufficiency in supplying its required energy. Technological revolution that has begun from a decade ago pursues the goal of energy independency. Using new technologies for developing its unconventional oil and gas resources, the United States has taken steps in line with the accomplishment of its objective of energy independence. Numerous articles have examined the various technical, economic and political aspects and consequences of the US technological revolution. This paper, in a new and innovative approach based on theoretical framework of neorealism, aims to show the implications of technological revolution in energy sector on the US dependency on fossil energy imports. Efforts will be made to find an answer to this main question as to what effects have the technological revolution occurrence in energy sector had on the US dependency on the fossil energy imports? In response, the study's main hypothesis is that, the US policy to exploit the unconventional oil and gas resources through technological revolution can be elaborated within the framework of the self‐sufficiency strategy for energy production in line with the reduction of the threats stemming from dependency on the oil and gas imports.
The management consultancy effect: Demand inflation and its consequences in the sourcing of external knowledge
Authors: Sturdy Andrew J. , Kirkpatrick Ian , Reguera Nuria , Blanco‐Oliver Antonio , Veronesi Gianluca
Published: December 2020

The growing use of external management consultancy services by public sector organizations has generated controversy. Some claim that users have become overreliant on, or even addicted to, this source of knowledge. However, our understanding of this phenomenon and the precise nature of its risks is underdeveloped. In this article, we address these concerns by focusing on whether using consulting services inflates future demand and on its consequences for efficiency. This is examined in the context of the English National Health Service and the adoption of New Public Management practices such as outsourcing and private finance initiative contracting. Based on an analysis of four years of data, the results suggest that using consulting services is associated with demand inflation and has negative implications for client organizational efficiency. These findings reveal a strong management consultancy effect, emphasizing the risks associated with demand inflation, with implications for both theory and policy.
Market access and resource endowment define the soil fertility status of smallholder farming systems of South‐Kivu, DR Congo
Authors: Balume Kayani Isaac , Agumas Birhanu , Musyoki Mary , Nziguheba Generose , Marohn Carsten , Benz Martin , Vanlauwe Bernard , Cadisch Georg , Rasche Frank
Published: December 2020

This study verified the inter‐related effect of ‘market distance’, defined as walking time, ‘farm typology’, defined as resource endowment, and ‘site’, defined as geographic location with contrasting agro‐ecologies, as well as farmers’ indigenous knowledge on soil fertility variability in smallholder farming systems in two distinct regions (Bushumba, Mushinga) of South‐Kivu, DR Congo. A total of 384 soil samples were selected from representative farmers’ fields and analysed for soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC) content and quality, as well as nutrient contents, using midDRIFTS (mid‐infrared diffuse reflectance Fourier transform spectroscopy) and wet chemistry analyses. MidDRIFTS was also used to calculate SOC stability indexes as SOC quality proxies. ‘Market distance’ and ‘farm typology’ were key determinants of soil fertility variability, both with contrasting trends in Bushumba and Mushinga. Decreasing soil fertility with increasing market distance was noted across all farm typologies. ‘Farm typology’ was related to exchangeable calcium and magnesium, while ‘site’ resulted in a difference of plant available phosphorus. SOC quality indexes were related to ‘site’, interacting with ‘market distance’. A ‘market distance’ effect became obvious in the medium wealthy and poor farms of Mushinga, where a lower SOC quality in remote fields plots was noted with increasing market distance. In agreement with farmers’ indigenous knowledge, soil fertility levels were higher in deep than shallow soils, which were reflected in higher nutrient stocks in deep soils receiving organic amendments. Our results inferred that soil fertility variability across smallholder farms must consider various inter‐related determinants as basis for site‐specific fertility management interventions.
A simplified extracorporeal photopheresis procedure based on single high‐dose ultraviolet A light irradiation shows similar in vitro efficacy
Authors: Buchele Vera , Hackstein Holger
Published: December 2020

Background

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is one of the most widely used and effective cell‐based therapies for the treatment of T‐cell–mediated diseases. The patients' white blood cells (WBCs) are collected by apheresis and exposed to the photosensitizer 8‐methoxypsoralen (8‐MOP) and ultraviolet A (UVA) light before retransfusion. The UVA/8‐MOP combination has been in use in ECP for more than 4 decades; however, whether ECP can be simplified by UVA light irradiation only has never been analyzed.

Study Design and Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were treated with classical ECP or different UVA light doses only (UVAonly). Treatment efficacy was investigated by apoptosis induction in WBC subsets, inhibition of T‐cell proliferation, and the ability of monocytes to induce allogeneic T‐cell expansion and to respond to lipopolysaccharide and interferon‐γ stimulation in vitro.

Results

High‐dose UVAonly treatment (5 J/cm2) was as efficient as ECP to induce apoptosis within 48 hours. UVAonly treatment modulated the composition of the surviving cells by improving monocyte survival and promoting CD8+ T‐cell apoptosis. Both ECP and UVAonly treatment inhibited anti‐CD3/anti‐CD28 triggered T‐cell proliferation. Interestingly, whereas ECP‐treated monocytes exhibited a markedly reduced capacity to respond to stimulation and to induce allogeneic T‐cell proliferation, UVAonly treatment preserved monocyte functionality to some degree.

Conclusions

High‐dose UVAonly and standard ECP showed comparable efficacy in inducing apoptosis and inhibiting direct T‐cell proliferation. Hence, UVAonly treatment can be a simplified alternative to ECP therapy. Furthermore, increased monocyte survival with partially preserved functionality after UVAonly treatment may provide a novel method for immunoregulation.
The Persianization of English in multilingual Tehran
Authors: Sahranavard Neda , Lee Jerry Won
Published: December 2020

This article examines the uses of English in the multilingual cityscape of Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Drawing from photographic data of 400 publicly visible signs in Tehran, this study aims to understand the various ways in which English, as both a linguistic and cultural resource, operates in tandem with emergent Iranian cultural practices in the context of globalization, especially in relation to the centrality of Persianness to contemporary Iranian national identity. The article, in addition to offering a sociolinguistic history and contemporary portrait of English in Iran, demonstrates how English is used not only to index Western cultural influences and ideals but also how English is relocalized in accordance with the local communicative needs of contemporary Iranians in Tehran. We refer to this phenomenon as the Persianization of English, in which English operates in a discursive field delinked from its indexes to Western culture.
Optimization of lactic acid bacteria viability using fuzzy soft set modelling
Authors: Irkin Reyhan , Ozgur Nihal Yilmaz , Tas Nihal
Published: December 2020

Lactic acid fermented vegetables are important sources of vitamins and minerals. In recent years consumers demand for non-dairy based functional products has increased. Cabbage pickle has high enough concentrations of fiber and also it may show health effect with the containing high numbers of lactic acid bacteria. The aim of this study is to optimize mathematically cabbage-carrot pickle fermentation for the viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei cultures and the sensory scores in brine with 5% and 7% (w/v) salt concentrations. Viability optimization of lactic acid bacteria is done via the notion of “fuzzy soft set” method. Lb. casei, Lb. acidophilus, total lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae sp., yeast-mould counts and pH values have been reported during the 30 days of storage. The results are compared with the control traditional fermented cabbage-carrot pickle. Organoleptic properties are evaluated. We conclude that the fermented pickle samples contain a significant number of beneficial lactic acid bacteria and high sensory marks at the end of the storage.
Kriging Approach Dedicated to Represent Hydrodynamic Bearings
Authors: Silva Barbosa Jefferson , Campanine Sicchieri Leonardo , Dourado Arinan De Piemonte , Cavalini Aldemir Ap , Steffen Valder
Published: December 2020

The mathematical modeling of journal bearings has advanced significantly since the Reynolds equation was first proposed. Advances in the processing capacity of computers and numerical techniques led to multiphysical models that are able to describe the behavior of hydrodynamic bearings. However, many researchers prefer to apply simple models of these components in rotor-bearing analyses due to the computational effort that complex models require. Surrogate modeling techniques are statistical procedures that can be applied to represent complex models. In this work, Kriging models are formulated to substitute the thermohydrodynamic (THD) models of three different bearings found in a Francis hydropower unit, namely, a cylindrical journal (CJ) bearing, a tilting-pad journal (TPJ) bearing, and a tilting-pad thrust (TPT) bearing. The results determined by using the proposed approach reveal that Kriging models can be satisfactorily used as surrogate THD models of hydrodynamic bearings.
Opportunities for ionic liquid/ionogel gating of emerging transistor architectures
Authors: Owyeung Rachel E. , Sonkusale Sameer , Panzer Matthew J.
Published: December 2020

Ionic liquid/ionogel gate dielectrics can provide significant advantages for transistor architectures that utilize high surface area semiconductors and/or nonplanar substrates because of their cleanroom-free, liquid-based processability and their inherently large electrostatic double layer capacitance. These attributes of ionogels have already enabled the facile fabrication of several up-and-coming transistor devices geometries for which a highly conformal interface between the electrolyte gate dielectric and the semiconductor is readily achievable, and remote gating with a nonaligned gate electrode is possible. Further, ionogel gating can improve device performance to maximize current densities at low operating voltages. This Perspective highlights three classes of emerging transistor architectures, namely, vertical transistors, surround gate transistors, and thread/fiber-based transistors, and provides several key examples of instances where ionogel gating has either already enabled or still stands to improve device fabrication and performance.
Elastic wave velocity dispersion in polycrystals with elongated grains: Theoretical and numerical analysis
Authors: Huang M. , Sha G. , Huthwaite P. , Rokhlin S. I. , Lowe M. J. S.
Published: December 2020

The phase velocity dispersion of longitudinal waves in polycrystals with elongated grains of arbitrary crystallographic symmetry is studied in all frequency ranges by the theoretical second-order approximation (SOA) and numerical three-dimensional finite element (FE) models. The SOA and FE models are found to be in excellent agreement for three studied polycrystals: cubic Al, Inconel, and a triclinic material system. A simple Born approximation for the velocity, not containing the Cauchy integrals, and the explicit analytical quasi-static velocity limit (Rayleigh asymptote) are derived. As confirmed by the FE simulations, the velocity limit provides an accurate velocity estimate in the low-frequency regime where the phase velocity is nearly constant on frequency; however, it exhibits dependence on the propagation angle. As frequency increases, the phase velocity increases towards the stochastic regime and then, with further frequency increase, behaves differently depending on the propagation direction. It remains nearly constant for the wave propagation in the direction of the smaller ellipsoidal grain radius and decreases in the grain elongation direction. In the Rayleigh and stochastic frequency regimes, the directional velocity change shows proportionalities to the two elastic scattering factors even for the polycrystal with the triclinic grain symmetry.
Physical origin of glass formation from multicomponent systems
Authors: Hu Yuan-Chao , Tanaka Hajime
Published: December 2020

We show that locally favored structural and chemical orders in melt control the glass-forming ability of metallic alloys.
Polarization under rising inequality and economic decline
Authors: Stewart Alexander J. , McCarty Nolan , Bryson Joanna J.
Published: December 2020

Polarization can spread and become entrenched when inequality creates subpopulations that cannot afford risks.
Skin-interfaced microfluidic system with personalized sweating rate and sweat chloride analytics for sports science applications
Authors: Baker Lindsay B. , Model Jeffrey B. , Barnes Kelly A. , Anderson Melissa L. , Lee Stephen P. , Lee Khalil A. , Brown Shyretha D. , Reimel Adam J. , Roberts Timothy J. , Nuccio Ryan P. , Bonsignore Justina L. , Ungaro Corey T. , Carter James M. , Li Weihua , Seib Melissa S. , Reeder Jonathan T. , Aranyosi Alexander J. , Rogers John A. , Ghaffari Roozbeh
Published: December 2020

Wearable microfluidic system enables remote analysis of sweat rate and chloride loss for assessing personalized fluid needs.
Defects in
LC3B2
and
ATG4A
underlie HSV2 meningitis and reveal a critical role for autophagy in antiviral defense in humans
Authors: Hait Alon Schneider , Olagnier David , Sancho-Shimizu Vanessa , Skipper Kristian Alsbjerg , Helleberg Marie , Larsen Simon Muller , Bodda Chiranjeevi , Moldovan Liviu Ionut , Ren Fanghui , Brinck Andersen Nanna-Sophie , Thomsen Michelle M. , Freytag Mette Ratzer , Darmalinggam Sathya , Parkes Isobel , Kadekar Darshana D. , Rahbek Stine Hess , van der Horst Demi , Kristensen Lasse Sommer , Eriksson Kristina , Kjems Jørgen , Mostowy Serge , Christiansen Mette , Mikkelsen Jacob Giehm , Brandt Christian Thomas , Paludan Søren R. , Mogensen Trine H.
Published: December 2020

Autophagy defects predispose to recurrent HSV2 meningitis and reveal an important role for autophagy in antiviral immunity.
‘As easy as riding a bike’: a systematic review of injuries and illness in road cycling
Authors: Rooney Dáire , Sarriegui Inigo , Heron Neil
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To allow the implementation of effective injury and illness prevention programmes for road cyclists, we wanted to first identify the injury/illness burden to this group of athletes. We, therefore, undertook a systematic review of all reported injuries/illness in road cycling.

Design

Systematic review.

Data sources

Identification of articles was achieved through a comprehensive search of: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Cochrane Library from inception until January 2020.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Studies reporting injuries/illness in adults participating in road cycling. Cycling commuter studies were excluded from the analysis.

Method

Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts for eligibility and trial quality. Initial search criteria returned 52 titles and abstracts to be reviewed, with 12 studies included after reviewing the full text articles.

Results

The most common injuries sustained were abrasions, lacerations and haematomas accounting for 40–60% of the total injuries recorded. Fractures (6–15%) were the second most frequent type of injury. Head injuries (including concussions) accounted for 5–15% of injuries with musculotendinous injuries accounting for 2–17.5%. The upper limb was more frequently affected by injuries than the lower limb, with amateurs appearing to be at higher risk of injury/illness than professionals. Clavicle was the prevalent fracture, with patellofemoral syndrome the number one overuse diagnosis. No meta-analysis of the results was undertaken due to the inconsistent methods of reporting.

Conclusion

This is the first systematic review of road cycling injuries. Injuries most often affected the upper limb, with clavicle being the most prevalent fracture and the most common overuse injury being patellofemoral syndrome.
Physical inactivity and health inequality during coronavirus: a novel opportunity or total lockdown?
Authors: Shur Natalie F , Johns David , Kluzek Stefan , Peirce Nicholas
Published: December 2020

Government-restricted movement during the coronavirus pandemic in various countries around the world has led to rapid and fundamental changes in our health behaviour. As well as being at a higher risk of contracting and being hospitalised with COVID-19, the elderly, those with chronic disease and lower socioeconomic groups are also disproportionately affected by restriction of movement, further widening the physical activity health inequality. In this viewpoint we discuss the physiological sequelae of physical inactivity, and the additional burden of ageing and inflammation. We provide recommendations for public health promotion and interventions to try to mitigate the detrimental effects of physical inactivity and rebalance the health inequality.
In vitro degradation of low-density polyethylene by new bacteria from larvae of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella
Authors: Montazer Zahra , Habibi Najafi Mohammad B. , Levin David B.
Published: December 2020

Three bacterial species isolated from whole body extracts of the greater wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella, were evaluated for their ability to utilize low-density polyethylene (LDPE) as a sole carbon source in vitro. These bacteria were identified as Lysinibacillus fusiformis, Bacillus aryabhattai, and Microbacterium oxydans. Their ability to biodegrade LDPE was assessed by growth curves, cell biomass production, polyethylene (PE) weight loss, and the presence of LDPE hydrolysis products in the growth media. Consortia of these bacteria with three other bacteria previously shown to degrade LDPE (Cupriavidus necator H16, Pseudomonas putida LS46, and Pseudomonas putida IRN22) were also tested. Growth curves of the bacteria utilizing LDPE as a sole carbon source revealed a peak in cell density after 24 h. Cell densities declined by 48 h but slowly increased again to different extents, depending on the bacteria. Incubation of LDPE with bacteria isolated from greater wax moth larvae had significant effects on bacterial cell mass production and weight loss of LDPE in PE-containing media. The bacterial consortia were better able to degrade LDPE than were the individual species alone. Gas chromatographic analyses revealed the presence of linear alkanes and other unknown putative LDPE hydrolysis products in some of bacterial culture media.
Genome-wide characterization of the PDI gene family in Medicago truncatula and their roles in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Meng Zhe , Zhao Yuwei , Liu Lijie , Du Xihua
Published: December 2020

Protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs) are pivotal protein folding catalysts in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through formation of disulfide bond, isomerization, and inhibition of misfolded protein aggregation. When protein folding capacity is overwhelmed by the demands during transitions between growth phases or under environmental changes, the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER triggers ER stress. However, little is known about the PDI gene family in the model legume Medicago truncatula, especially the responses to ER stress. Therefore, we identified 17 putative PDI genes from the genome of M. truncatula and present their gene and protein structures, phylogenetic relationships, chromosomal distributions, and synteny analysis with the orthologs in four other eudicot species, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Glycine max, Brassica rapa, and Vitis vinifera. Moreover, expression profiles derived from transcriptome data showed distinct expression patterns of MtPDI genes among plant organs, while real-time quantitative PCR analysis and data from the proteome revealed the potential roles of MtPDI genes in response to ER stress. Our study provides a foundation for further investigations of the biological roles of PDI genes in Medicago, especially their roles in response to ER stress.
Gauss–Bonnet term corrections in scalar field cosmology
Authors: Fomin Igor
Published: December 2020

The influence of non-minimal coupling of a scalar field and the Gauss–Bonnet term on the inflationary stage of evolution of the universe is investigated in this paper. The main cosmological effects of such a coupling were considered. The deviations between Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet inflation and standard one based on Einstein gravity were determined. The corrections of a weak GB coupling preserving the type of the scalar field potential to standard inflationary models is considered as well.
Measurement of the $$e^+e^- \rightarrow K^+ K^- \pi ^0$$ cross section with the SND detector
Authors: Achasov M. N. , Barnyakov A. Yu. , Barnyakov M. Yu. , Baykov A. A. , Beloborodov K. I. , Berdyugin A. V. , Berkaev D. E. , Bogdanchikov A. G. , Botov A. A. , Buzykaev A. R. , Dimova T. V. , Druzhinin V. P. , Golubev V. B. , Kardapoltsev L. V. , Kharlamov A. G. , Korol A. A. , Kovrizhin D. P. , Kravchenko E. A. , Kupich A. S. , Lysenko A. P. , Martin K. A. , Muchnoy N. Yu. , Melnikova N. A. , Obrazovsky A. E. , Onuchin A. P. , Pakhtusova E. V. , Perevedentsev E. A. , Pugachev K. V. , Savchenko Y. S. , Serednyakov S. I. , Shatunov P. Yu. , Shatunov Yu. M. , Shtol D. A. , Shwartz D. B. , Silagadze Z. K. , Surin I. K. , Tikhonov Yu. A. , Usov Yu. V. , Zemlyansky I. M. , Zhabin V. N. , Zhulanov V. V.
Published: December 2020

The process $$e^+e^-\rightarrow K^+K^-\pi ^0$$

e
+

e
-

→

K
+

K
-

π
0

is studied with the SND detector at the VEPP-2000 $$e^+e^-$$

e
+

e
-

collider. Basing on data with an integrated luminosity of 26.4 $$\hbox {pb}^{-1}$$

pb

-
1

we measure the $$e^+e^-\rightarrow K^+K^-\pi ^0$$

e
+

e
-

→

K
+

K
-

π
0

cross section in the center-of-mass energy range from 1.28 up to 2 GeV. The measured mass spectrum of the $$K\pi $$

K
π

system indicates that the dominant mechanism of this reaction is the transition through the $$K^{*}(892)K$$

K

∗

(
892
)

K

intermediate state. The cross section for the $$\phi \pi ^0$$

ϕ

π
0

intermediate state is measured separately. The SND results are consistent with previous measurements in the BABAR experiment and have comparable accuracy. We study the effect of the interference between the $$\phi \pi ^0$$

ϕ

π
0

and $$K^*K$$

K
∗

K

amplitudes. It is found that the interference gives sizable contribution to the measured $$e^+e^- \rightarrow \phi \pi ^0\rightarrow K^+K^-\pi ^0$$

e
+

e
-

→
ϕ

π
0

→

K
+

K
-

π
0

cross section below 1.7 GeV.
Super-Penrose process for extremal charged white holes
Authors: Zaslavskii O. B.
Published: December 2020

We consider collision of two particles 1 and 2 near the horizon of the extremal Reissner–Nordström (RN) black hole that produces two other particles 3 and 4. There exists such a scenario that both new particles fall into a black hole. One of them emerges from the white hole horizon in the asymptotically flat region, and the other one oscillates between turning points. However, the unbounded energies [Formula: see text] at infinity (super-Penrose process (SPP)) turn out to be impossible for any finite angular momenta [Formula: see text]. In this sense, the situation for such a white hole scenarios is opposite to the black hole ones, where the SPP is found earlier to be possible for the RN metric even for all [Formula: see text]. However, if [Formula: see text] themselves are unbounded, the SPP does exist for white holes.
Urban Land Use Optimal Mathematical Model based on Economic Benefit Maximization
Authors: Sun Zhihui , Fan Yiqing
Published: December 2020

Aiming at the problem of the contradiction between man and land becoming more and more prominent in the process of rapid urban development, and taking the maximization of economic benefits as the objective function, a method of land use optimal allocation based on mathematical model was proposed in order to scientifically and rationally utilize the limited land resources. First, the objective function and constraint system of optimal allocation of land use space are constructed by comprehensively considering the constraint conditions of economy, society, environment and ecology. Second, a mathematical model of optimal configuration based on layered particle swarm optimization is constructed, and the fitness value of subgroup, global fitness value and current particle velocity are combined to search for the optimal particle. Finally, Wuhan city is taken as an example for experimental simulation. The results showed that the overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient of the proposed optimal configuration mathematical model were 86% and 0.81, respectively, which verified the feasibility of the model.
On generalized configuration space and its homotopy groups
Authors: Wang Jun , Zhao Xuezhi
Published: December 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be a subset of vector space or projective space. The authors define generalized configuration space of [Formula: see text] which is formed by [Formula: see text]-tuples of elements of [Formula: see text], where any [Formula: see text] elements of each [Formula: see text]-tuple are linearly independent. The generalized configuration space gives a generalization of Fadell’s classical configuration space, and Stiefel manifold. Denote generalized configuration space of [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text].

For studying topological property of the generalized configuration spaces, the authors calculate homotopy groups for some special cases. This paper gives the fundamental groups of generalized configuration spaces of [Formula: see text] for some special cases, and the connections between the homotopy groups of generalized configuration spaces of [Formula: see text] and the homotopy groups of Stiefel manifolds. It is also proved that the higher homotopy groups of generalized configuration spaces [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are isomorphic.
Pulsed Plasma-Chemical Modification of SiO2 Nanopowder by ZnxOy Nanoparticles
Authors: Sazonov Roman , Kholodnaya Galina , Ponomarev Denis , Zhuravlev Mikhail , Pyatkov Igor , Konusov Fedor , Lapteva Olga , Gadirov Ruslan
Published: December 2020

This work presents the results of pulsed plasma-chemical modification of silicon dioxide nanopowder with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO@SiO2). The obtained ZnO@SiO2 powders were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray phase analysis. The size of the synthesized particles was in the range of 20–100[Formula: see text]nm. The photocatalytic characteristics of ZnO@SiO2 were studied. When exposed to ultraviolet radiation, the methylene blue (MB) decomposes efficiently. Two samples characterized by the content of silicon tetrachloride in the initial mixture were synthesized. The band gap estimated from the absorption spectra calculated from the diffuse reflectance spectra for these samples was 2.4[Formula: see text]eV and 2.95[Formula: see text]eV for indirect transitions and 3.03[Formula: see text]eV and 3.24[Formula: see text]eV for direct allowed transitions.
Game Semantics for Interface Middleweight Java
Authors: Murawski Andrzej S. , Tzevelekos Nikos
Published: December 2020

We consider an object calculus in which open terms interact with the environment through interfaces. The calculus is intended to capture the essence of contextual interactions of Middleweight Java code. Using game semantics, we provide fully abstract models for the induced notions of contextual approximation and equivalence. These are the first denotational models of this kind.
Photoelectrochemical Performance of S,N-Codoped TiO2 Films Supported on Ti and their Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Activity in the Generation of Hydroxyl Radicals
Authors: Jaramillo-Gutiérrez M. I. , Acevedo-Peña P. , Reguera E. , Niño-Gómez M. E. , Pedraza-Avella J. A.
Published: December 2020

New photoanodes for recalcitrant pollutant degradation should harvest photons from a wide region of the solar spectrum and promote a direct water oxidation reaction towards the hydroxyl radical generation. For this purpose, sulfur, nitrogen-codoped titanium dioxide (S,N-TiO2) films were prepared with different sulfur percentages (1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 at.%) on Ti expanded meshes by sol-gel dip-coating followed by thermal treatment at 400 °C. The morphology, composition, oxidation states of dopants, structural features, optical and semiconducting properties of S,N-TiO2 were used for the materials characterization. While sulfur was found as S4+ or S6+ cations related to surface doping, nitrogen appears as N3− anion occupying substitutional positions in TiO2. This caused an improvement in the photoelectrochemical response of TiO2 related to a decrease of up to 0.25 eV in the optical band gap and the alignments of the TiO2 band structure. S,N-TiO2 films exhibit significantly higher photoelectrocatalytic activity towards ·OH generation under UV–vis light irradiation than the undoped TiO2 films. Using 2.5 at.% S,N-TiO2 film, an increase of 166% in current efficiency was obtained at 0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl, in regard to undoped TiO2 films, together with an enhance of 8.8 times in the initial ·OH generation rate.
Manganese-Based Metal Organic Framework from Spent Li-Ion Batteries and its Electrochemical Performance as Anode Material in Li-ion Battery
Authors: Rambau Khavharendwe , Musyoka Nicholas M. , Palaniyandy Nithyadharseni , Manyala Ncholu
Published: December 2020

Herein, we report a method of recycling spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) cathode materials by utilizing them as a metal feedstock for the synthesis of Mn-based metal-organic frameworks (Mn-MOF). Spent cathodes were converted to manganese salts using acids (HCl and H2SO4) and reacted with commercial benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (H2BDC), as an organic linker. The LIB-derived metal salts were compared to commercial available MnCl2 salt in the formation of Mn-MOFs. Mn-MOFs from spent LIBs (MOF(Cl2) and Mn-MOF(SO4)) exhibited similar morphological, structural and textural properties when compared to that obtained from commercial MnCl2 salt. HCl obtained MOF (Mn-MOF(Cl2)) was analysed for electrochemical properties due to its superior structural properties. It achieved coulombic efficiency of approximately 99% and discharge capacity of 1355 mAh g−1 as compared to Mn-MOF obtained using commercial salt (Mn-MOF(Com)) with a discharge capacity of 772.55 mAh g−1 at 100 cycles. The developed LIBs recycling strategy has the potential for contributing to existing LIBs recycling strategies and as well to the circular economy.
ATP induces contraction of cultured brain capillary pericytes via activation of P2Y-type purinergic receptors
Authors: Hørlyck Sofie , Cai Changsi , Helms Hans Christian Cederberg , Lauritzen Martin , Brodin Birger
Published: December 2020

The study concerns brain capillary pericytes, which have been suggested to play a role in the regulation of cerebral blood flow. We show that extracellular ATP causes contraction of primary brain pericytes by stimulation of purinergic receptors and subsequent release of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). The contraction is mainly mediated through activation of P2Y-receptor subtypes, including P2Y1 and P2Y2. These findings add more mechanistic understanding of the role of pericytes in regulation of capillary blood flow. ATP was earlier suggested to be involved in capillary constriction in brain pathologies, and our study gives a detailed account of a part of this important mechanism.
Characterization and Inhibitory Effects of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized from Plant Extracts on HeLa Cells
Authors: Asimeng Bernard Owusu , Nyankson Emmanuel , Efavi Johnson Kwame , Nii Amarkai Amartey , Manu Gloria Pokuaa , Tiburu Elvis
Published: December 2020

Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized from maize leaves and plantain peels extract mediators. Particles were characterized, and the inhibitory effects were studied on HeLa cells in vitro using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Voltammograms from the CV show that Fe3O4 NPs interaction with HeLa cells affected their electrochemical behavior. The nanoparticles formed with higher Fe3+/Fe2+ molar ratio (2.8 : 1) resulted in smaller crystallite sizes compared to those formed with lower Fe3+/Fe2+ molar ratio (1.4 : 1). The particles with the smallest crystallite size showed higher anodic peak currents, whereas the larger crystallite sizes resulted in lower anodic peak currents. The peak currents relate to cell inhibition and are confirmed by the half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50). The findings show that the particles have a different inhibitory mechanism on HeLa cells ion transfer and are promising to be further exploited for cancer treatment.
[Retracted] miRNA‐187‐5p Regulates Osteoblastic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Mice by Targeting ICAM1
Authors: Sun Yi , Wang Xin , Chen Guanghua , Song Chengchao , Ma Xinnan , Fu Yutuo , Feng Chao , Yan Jinglong
Published: December 2020

Osteoporosis (OP) is a common bone metabolic disease, the process of which is fundamentally irreversible. Therefore, the investigation into osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) will provide more clues for OP treatment. In the present study, we found that microRNA‐187‐5p (miR‐187‐5p) played a key role on osteoblastic differentiation, which was significantly upregulated during osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in mice. Moreover, overexpression of miR‐187‐5p suppressed osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs through increasing alkaline phosphatase (ALP), matrix mineralization, and levels of Osterix (OSX), and osteopontin (OPN) as well as runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in vitro. The results in vivo indicated that the upregulation of miR‐187‐5p enhanced the efficacy of new bone formation in the heterotopic bone formation assay. Luciferase reporter assay and western blot analysis revealed that miR‐187‐5p was involved in osteogenesis by targeting intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1). Furthermore, ICAM‐1 silence inhibited osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs. Taken together, our results suggested for the first time that miR‐187‐5p may promote osteogenesis by targeting ICAM‐1, and provided a possible therapeutic target for bone metabolic diseases.
Factor’s Influence Analysis of Frost Heave during the Twin‐Tunnel Construction Using Artificial Horizontal Ground Freezing Method
Authors: Hong Rong-bao , Cai Hai-bing , Li Meng-kai , Li Ya-ru
Published: December 2020

In order to analyze the influence of different twin‐tunnel parameters on the frost heave of the ground, six tunnel clear distances (0.25 D, 1.00 D, 1.50 D, 2.00 D, 2.50 D, and 3.00 d), three tunnel buried depths (6 m, 12 m, and 18 m), and two freezing orders (simultaneous freezing and sequential freezing) are selected to establish the two‐dimensional numerical calculation models, using ABAQUS finite‐element program and the user subroutine of frost heaving deformation, and considering the orthotropic deformation characteristics of frozen soil. Numerical simulation results show that the interaction of twin‐tunnel freezing is weakened with the increase in tunnel clear distance. Correspondingly, the heaving displacement of the ground surface also decreases. Besides, the heaving displacement curve of the ground surface gradually changes from the unimodal N‐type to bimodal M‐type as the tunnel clear distance increases. However, the trough of the bimodal M‐type curve gradually disappears as the tunnel buried depth increases. SPSS mathematical analysis results show that tunnel clear distance has the highest significance, tunnel buried depth ranks the second, and freezing order ranks the last. It is important to select the appropriate tunnel clear distance during the design of the twin‐tunnel construction using the artificial horizontal ground freezing method.
The Earnings Management Strategy of List Companies in Pearl River Delta Region of China Based on Complex Network Theory
Authors: Zhao Run-Hua , Cheng Jie , Xu Nai-Ru
Published: December 2020

This paper aims to detect the methods of earnings management in Pearl River Delta region of China. The data were selected based on the list companies of Pearl River Delta region from 2008 to 2019 and the balanced panel analysis was adopted to pursue the results. After the random effect analysis, this study reaches the conclusion that downward earnings is through total assets, the difference between sales and receivables, fixed assets, and sales and upward earnings is mainly through the changes of sales by the companies in Pearl River Delta region of China.