bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heterogeneity of soil structure and fertility during desertification of alpine grassland in northwest Sichuan
Authors: Ma Li , Wang Qing , Shen Songtao , Li Fucheng , Li Li 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe variations of soil structure and soil physical–chemical properties in the process of alpine grassland desertification were revealed, and the indicators of grassland desertification were put forward in order to deepen the understanding of the law of degradation succession and development of alpine grassland. It was used to provide scientific basis for ecological restoration and improvement of ecological service function of alpine grassland. With severe desertification alpine grassland as the core in the Hongyuan County, Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Ngawa, Sichuan Province, China, along both the directions of wetland and arid grassland, the heterogeneity of soil structure and soil fertility in both directions was studied by the analysis of the mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), >0.25 mm aggregate content (R0.25), fractal dimension (D), soil bulk density, soil moisture content, and soil nutrients. Our results showed that MWD, GMD, and R0.25 all gradually increased, but the D decreased with the reduction in the degree of desertification in the arid grassland and wetland, resulting in the strong stability of soil structure. The decreasing rate of the D in the direction of arid grassland was faster than that of wetland. Therefore, soil structure stability and erosion resistance in the direction of arid grassland were stronger than that of wetland soil; the D had different response to aggregates with different particle sizes. The aggregate less than 0.25 mm (r = 0.981, P < 0.01) and 1–2 mm (r = −0.79, P < 0.01) had the largest responses in the direction of the arid grassland and wetland, respectively; the aggregate more than 1 mm and 1–2 mm can be used as indicators to evaluate desertification of the soil in the direction of the arid grassland and wetland, respectively. The higher the content of the indicating aggregates, the weaker the degree of the desertification.
Frontal vehicle illumination via rear‐facing lighting reduces potential for collisions with white‐tailed deer
Authors: DeVault Travis L. , Seamans Thomas W. , Blackwell Bradley F. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAnimal–vehicle collisions cause many millions of animal deaths each year worldwide and present a substantial safety risk to people. In the United States and Canada, deer (Odocoileus spp.) are involved in most animal–vehicle collisions associated with human injuries. We evaluated a vehicle‐based collision mitigation method designed to decrease the likelihood of deer–vehicle collisions during low‐light conditions, when most collisions occur. Specifically, we investigated whether the use of a rear‐facing light, providing more complete frontal vehicle illumination than standard headlights alone, enhanced vehicle avoidance behaviors of white‐tailed deer (O. virginianus). We quantified flight initiation distance (FID), the likelihood of a dangerous deer–vehicle interaction (FID ≤ 50 m), and road‐crossing behavior of deer in response to an oncoming vehicle using only standard high‐beam headlights and the same vehicle using headlights plus an LED light bar illuminating the frontal surface of the vehicle. We predicted that frontal vehicle illumination would enhance perceived risk of deer approached by the vehicle and lead to more effective avoidance responses. We conducted 62 vehicle approaches (31 per lighting treatment) toward free‐ranging deer over ~14 months. Although FID did not differ across treatments, the likelihood of a dangerous deer–vehicle interaction decreased from 35% of vehicle approaches using only headlights to 10% of vehicle approaches using the light bar. The reduction in dangerous interactions appeared to be driven by fewer instances of immobility (freezing) behavior by deer in response to the illuminated vehicle (n = 1) compared with approaches using only headlights (n = 10). Because more deer moved in response to the illuminated vehicle, road‐crossing behavior likewise increased when the light bar was on, although these road crossings primarily occurred at FIDs > 50 m and thus did not increase collision risk. Road‐crossing behavior was influenced heavily by proximity to concealing cover; deer only crossed when the nearest cover was located on the opposite side of the road. We contend that frontal vehicle illumination via rear‐facing lighting has potential to greatly reduce vehicle collisions with deer and other species. Future work should explore fine‐tuning the method with regard to the visual capabilities of target species.
The role of species traits for grassland productivity
Authors: Taubert Franziska , Hetzer Jessica , Schmid Julia S. , Huth Andreas 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe relation between species diversity and ecosystem functioning is one of the most frequently discussed topics in ecology. Experiments often revealed an increase of productivity in species‐rich ecosystems. But large variations in these relationships, both on a local scale and in comparisons of sites along environmental gradients, still challenge our understanding of the role of species (with specific traits) and their interactions in ecosystems. In this study, we explored the role of species traits for ecosystem functioning. We used an individual‐based mechanistic grassland model which captures intra‐ and interspecific competition between plants for light and soil resources. We explored how the dynamics and productivity of grasslands are influenced by species traits and analyzed in a simulation study two species, which differ only in one particular trait. Our focus was on traits that determine how species can cope with resource limitations, for which we identified their relative importance for (1) individual plant growth, (2) monoculture dynamics, and (3) species mixture dynamics. We observed diverse relationships between species traits and different vegetation attributes for the different ecosystem levels. Most traits showed positive but saturating trends of increasing trait values but the variability in these relations increased in monocultures with intraspecific plant interactions and even more pronounced in mixtures with interspecific interactions. Using a process‐based grassland model, we were able to simulate overyielding even though it was not correlated with trait values or trait differences between both species. Correlations were also not found in terms of stability of vegetation dynamics. In contrast, for some traits already small differences supported the dominance of a species in the mixture in which species dynamics generally followed trade‐offs. The here presented simulation study demonstrates the use of process‐based models for analyzing trait‐productivity relationships in grasslands. Such models can complement previous approaches in empirical and theoretical biodiversity research and can help to move closer to understanding the mechanisms governing grassland dynamics.
Numerical approximation of tempered fractional Sturm‐Liouville problem with application in fractional diffusion equation
Authors: Yadav Swati , Pandey Rajesh K. , Pandey Prashant K. 
Published: July 2020

SummaryIn this paper, we discuss the numerical approximation to solve regular tempered fractional Sturm‐Liouville problem (TFSLP) using finite difference method. The tempered fractional differential operators considered here are of Caputo type. The numerically obtained eigenvalues are real, and the corresponding eigenfunctions are orthogonal. The obtained eigenfunctions work as basis functions of weighted Lebesgue integrable function space (a,b). Further, the obtained eigenvalues and corresponding eigenfunctions are used to provide weak solution of the tempered fractional diffusion equation. Approximation and error bounds of the solution of the tempered fractional diffusion equation are provided.
The relationship between the chemical composition and the quality of the soybean film during peeling process
Authors: Ding Yin‐Yi , Li Juanjuan , Wu Cheng , Yang Yuexi , Gu Zhenyu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSoybean film is a traditional nonfermented soy product in China. It is a film formed on the surface of the soymilk during heating process. The nutrient components of soymilk will affect the quality of the soybean film. The results of this study showed that during the peeling process, the proportion of protein and carbohydrate in soymilk decreased, and the proportion of lipid increased. The mechanical properties (fracture extension and tensile strength) of the soybean film decreased during the peeling process. During the heating treatment, the Maillard reaction occurred and its intermediate products accumulated, which caused the change in soybean film color. White globular protein granules (<100 nm) existed on the surface of the soybean film. The lipid that was not wrapped by the protein network structure was exposed, and the evaporation of water led to the formation of black and gray holes on the skin (<500 nm). In addition, the results of correlation analysis showed that the changes in color, taste, and odor, as well as the mechanical properties of the skin, were all related to the changes in nutrients in the soybean film during peeling. This research provided a deeper understanding of the quality change in the soybean milk and the soybean film during the heating process.
The impact of Medicaid on medical utilization in a vulnerable population: Evidence from COFA migrants
Authors: Halliday Timothy J. , Akee Randall Q. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn March 2015, the State of Hawaii stopped covering the majority of migrants from countries belonging to the Compact of Free Association (COFA) in its Medicaid program. COFA migrants were required to obtain private insurance in the exchanges established under the Affordable Care Act. Using statewide hospital discharge data, we show that Medicaid‐funded hospitalizations and emergency room visits declined in this population by 31% and 19%, respectively. Utilization funded by private insurance did increase but not enough to offset the declines in Medicaid‐funded utilization. We show that the expiration of benefits increased uninsured ER visits. Finally, we exploit a feature of the policy change to provide evidence that the declines in utilization are due to higher rates of uninsured migrants rather than higher levels of cost sharing on private plans.
Comparative analysis of Cu/blood and Cu–CuO/blood nanofluids on a peristaltic flow governed by an asymmetric channel
Authors: Bharathi V. , Vijayaragavan R. , Prakash J. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractContraction and expansion play a crucial role in biomedical applications, such as heart pumping, ovum in the feminine fallopian vessel, blood fluid transport, and so forth. Inspired by these features, the present effort concentrates on the consequences of a thermal slip in the peristalsis of Cu/blood and Cu–CuO/blood nanofluids in asymmetric flow formation. Hence, the microrotation influence of blood flow is considered here. Heat transported through the channel due to perpendicular flow buoyancy effects is also studied. The special effects of thermal radiation, nanoparticle shape, and heat source/sink parameters on the flow are studied in the proposed model. The MATLAB BVP4c condition is utilized to achieve the numerical solutions of the transformed system of nonlinear coupled differential equations. The most important outcome of the present analysis is an enhancement in the evaluation study of the Cu/blood and Cu–CuO/blood nanofluids on the axial velocity, axial spin velocity, pressure gradient, and temperature distributions in the asymmetric channel. Also, another important outcome is observed that the Cu–CuO blood nanofluid strongly has dominated the Cu/blood nanofluid in axial spin velocity.
ECB'S non‐standard monetary policy and asset price volatility: Evidence from EU‐6 economies
Authors: Ciarlone Alessio , Colabella Andrea 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we provide evidence that the effects of the different waves of asset purchase programmes implemented by the ECB from 2009 onwards have spilled over into a group of six Central and Eastern European economies belonging to the EU but not to the euro area, contributing to shield their financial markets from the negative shocks that hit international investors' degree of risk aversion in recent years. By means of a Dynamic Conditional Correlation Multivariate Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity Model, and resorting to three different proxies to describe the functioning, and measure the impact, of the ECB's programmes of asset purchase, we show that such non‐standard monetary measures have had a marked role in dampening volatility spikes in EU‐6 financial markets, likely reflecting the working of a “risk taking” and a “liquidity” channel of transmission. Results are in general robust to an extensive series of tests, including changes in the estimation methodology.
Anticipating the value of share repurchase announcements: The role of short sellers
Authors: Zheng Liyi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis study investigates whether short sellers anticipate undervaluation information before a repurchase announcement. Apart from exploring investment opportunities via searching for unfavourable information, short sellers should have the same incentive to identify favourable information to prevent potential losses. An observed significant negative relation between pre‐announcement short selling activities and announcement abnormal returns supports the informed hypothesis. This negative relation is stronger under high levels of information asymmetry, and more significant when the repurchase announcement is associated with the undervaluation.
Roles of estradiol levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration in the live birth of patients with frozen embryo transfer
Authors: Chen Haixiao , Cai Jiali , Liu Lanlan , Sun Xiaohua 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundEstradiol (E2) is an important hormone in women. Changes of serum E2 levels may affect the endometrial receptivity for embryo implantation and thus affect pregnancy outcomes. This study was to assess the association between serum E2 levels on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) administration and live‐birth rates in patients with frozen embryo transfer (FET).MethodsTotally 2071 women receiving long protocols of long‐acting gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists were enrolled. According to the E2 levels on the day of HCG administration, these patients were divided into four groups: 676 cases of E2 ≤ 3051 pg/mL in Q1 group, 676 cases of 3051 pg/mL < E2 ≤ 4558 pg/mL in Q2 group, 675 cases of 4558 pg/mL < E2 ≤ 6718 pg/mL in Q3 group, and 674 cases of E2 > 6718 pg/mL in Q4 group. The clinical indicators including female age, body mass index (BMI), duration of infertility, infertility styles, treatment protocols, hormone levels, total antral follicle count, endometrial thickness, top‐level embryos, and live‐birth rates were analyzed, and multivariable logistic model was conducted to select significant variables.ResultsSignificant differences were observed for the female age (OR = 0.965, 95% CI: 0.946‐0.985, P < .001), total antral follicle counts (OR = 1.025, 95% CI: 1.008‐1.043, P = .004), transferring what day of embryos (OR = 1.242, 95% CI: 1.137‐1.356, P < .001), endometrial thickness (OR = 1.058, 95% CI: 1.004‐1.115, P = .035), top‐level embryos (OR = 1.416, 95% CI: 1.157‐1.731, P = .001), and E2 levels on HCG day >6781 pg/mL (OR = 1.344, 95% CI: 1.069‐1.690, P = .011) between live‐birth and non‐live‐birth groups. The area under the curve (AUC) for E2 levels on HCG day was 0.558, the sensitivity was 54.75%, and the specificity was 55.10%.ConclusionSerum E2 level on HCG day was an independent predictor of live‐birth achievement in patients with FET.
Estrogen enhances browning in adipose tissue by M2 macrophage polarization via heme oxygenase‐1
Authors: Sul Ok‐Joo , Hyun Hyo‐Jung , Rajasekaran Monisha , Suh Jae‐Hee , Choi Hye‐Seon 
Published: July 2020

AbstractLoss of ovarian function results in increased fat mass, leading to the accumulation of adipose tissue macrophages that participate in chronic inflammation. We hypothesized that ovariectomy (OVX)‐induced increases in body weight and fat mass are associated with decreased adipose tissue (AT) browning due to estrogen (E2) deficiency. In mice, OVX decreased AT browning along with increased body weight, fat mass, and size of lipid droplets 12 weeks after surgery. Exogenous E2 recovered the OVX‐induced changes. AT browning was enhanced by M2 macrophages induced by exogenous E2. E2‐induced M2 polarization occurred due to the increased expression of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) in macrophages, leading to decreased reactive oxygen species levels. Collectively, we demonstrated that E2 enhances AT browning via M2 polarization mediated by HO‐1.
Mass spectrometry imaging of latent fingerprints using titanium oxide development powder as an existing matrix
Authors: Hinners Paige , Lee Young Jin 
Published: July 2020

AbstractRecent research has focused on increasing the evidentiary value of latent fingerprints through chemical analysis. Although researchers have optimized the use of organic and metal matrices for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI‐MSI) of latent fingerprints, the use of development powders as matrices has not been fully investigated. Carbon forensic powder (CFP), a common nonporous development technique, was shown to be an efficient one‐step matrix; however, a high‐resolution mass spectrometer was required in the low mass range due to carbon clusters. Titanium oxide (TiO2) is another commonly used development powder, especially for dark nonporous surfaces. Here, forensic TiO2 powder is utilized as a single‐step development and matrix technique for chemical imaging of latent fingerprints without the requirement of a high‐resolution mass spectrometer. All studied compounds were successfully detected when TiO2 was used as the matrix in positive mode, although, generally, the overall ion signals were lower than the previously studied CFP. TiO2 provided quality mass spectrometry (MS) images of endogenous and exogenous latent fingerprint compounds. The subsequent addition of traditional matrices on top of the TiO2 powder was ineffective for universal detection of latent fingerprint compounds. Forensic TiO2 development powder works as an efficient single‐step development and matrix technique for MALDI‐MSI analysis of latent fingerprints in positive mode and does not require a high‐resolution mass spectrometer for analysis.
A case of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever complicated with acute pulmonary embolism
Authors: Ture Zeynep , Kalin‐Unuvar Gamze 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundCrimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is one of the common causes of tick‐borne hemorrhagic infections. The study aims to report a case of a female patient with severe CCHF with pulmonary embolism.Case reportA 61‐year‐old woman admitted to the emergency department with complaints of high fever, nausea, and weakness. The patient was dealing with animal husbandry and had a tick bite history. At laboratory findings, bicytopenia, abnormal liver function tests, and elevated coagulation parameters were observed. Real‐time plymerase chain reaction confirmed the diagnosis of CCHF. Three sessions of plasmapheresis were performed due to continued fever and worsening in laboratory values. Pulmonary embolism was detected in computerized thorax tomography carried out due to respiratory alkalosis on the 6th day. She was successfully treated with supportive and anticoagulation therapy.ConclusionCCHF demonstrates different types of clinical presentations apart from fever and hemorrhage. Acute pulmonary embolism is a rare complication that has not been reported before.
Spatial distribution of spectral SST oscillations over the equatorial pacific in the period 1888–2014
Authors: Silva Carlos Batista , Silva Maria Elisa Siqueira , Ambrizzi Tércio , Patucci Natália Nunes , Lima Bruna Simões , Correa Wesley Campos 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis study identified and analysed the spatial and temporal patterns of spectral oscillation ranges of the monthly sea surface temperature, SST, over the tropical Pacific region, from 1888 to 2014, through wavelet analysis. The strategic steps considered the variance analysis, obtained from the wavelet computation, for each single grid point instead of the analysis of a spatial mean variance, as is commonly done, allowing us to visualize the spatial distribution of SST variance during different time periods. The mean results indicate that lower‐frequency oscillations (2–4 and 4–8 years) over the considered area are becoming more intense while higher‐frequency oscillations (1–12 months) are becoming less intense through time, which can lead to more persistent climates around the globe. While the 1–2 year oscillations feature the highest positive trend along the equatorial belt over central and eastern locations, the 4–8 year oscillations feature the strongest signal closer to the western South American coast, and the 2–4 year oscillations present positive signals over areas closer to the continental coast and over more distant western locations intercalated by negative signals. Throughout time, the position of the highest EN signals occurs either over central or eastern areas of the equatorial Pacific. The SST variance in the Niño areas mainly oscillates within the 2–4 and 4–8 year spectral ranges. Niño1 + 2 and Niño3 regions, in opposition to Niño3 and Niño3 + 4 regions, present the highest SST variance values for the four considered spectral ranges. The strongest El Niño events present their main oscillations in the 2–4 and 4–8 year spectral ranges, especially in the Niño1 + 2 and Niño3 regions, while weaker El Niño events show more association with the 1–2 year spectral range. Although there are some patterns identified for distinct El Niño/Southern Oscillation, ENSO, intensities and the associated frequency oscillations, the distinct spatial spectral energy distribution over the equatorial areas suggests the importance of the spatial distribution of the spectral energy through time in order to better characterize the ENSO events.