bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mixed‐species groups of Serengeti grazers: a test of the stress gradient hypothesis
Authors: Beaudrot Lydia , Palmer Meredith S. , Anderson T. Michael , Packer Craig 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUnderstanding the role of species interactions within communities is a central focus of ecology. A key challenge is to understand variation in species interactions along environmental gradients. The stress gradient hypothesis posits that positive interactions increase and competitive interactions decrease with increasing consumer pressure or environmental stress. This hypothesis has received extensive attention in plant community ecology, but only a handful of tests in animals. Furthermore, few empirical studies have examined multiple co‐occurring stressors. Here we test predictions of the stress gradient hypothesis using the occurrence of mixed‐species groups in six common grazing ungulate species within the Serengeti‐Mara ecosystem. We use mixed‐species groups as a proxy for potential positive interactions because they may enhance protection from predators or increase access to high‐quality forage. Alternatively, competition for resources may limit the formation of mixed‐species groups. Using more than 115,000 camera trap observations collected over 5 yr, we found that mixed‐species groups were more likely to occur in risky areas (i.e., areas closer to lion vantage points and in woodland habitat where lions hunt preferentially) and during time periods when resource levels were high. These results are consistent with the interpretation that stress from high predation risk may contribute to the formation of mixed‐species groups, but that competition for resources may prevent their formation when food availability is low. Our results are consistent with support for the stress gradient hypothesis in animals along a consumer pressure gradient while identifying the potential influence of a co‐occurring stressor, thus providing a link between research in plant community ecology on the stress gradient hypothesis, and research in animal ecology on trade‐offs between foraging and risk in landscapes of fear.
Synergistic Effects during Physical Refining of Palm Oil to Mitigate the Formation of Monochloropropanediols
Authors: Theurillat Xanthippe , Nicolas Marine , Redeuil Karine , Nagy Kornél 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study is to assess the synergy of mitigating main chlorine sources in palm oil and the oil refining conditions in a lab‐scale physical refining process. Mitigation concepts including centrifugation and washing steps are integrated into the physical refining protocol and the MCPD levels in the fully refined oils are determined. The endogenous chlorine content of the crude oil and that of the bleaching clay is confirmed to predominantly impact MCPD formation in this refining process. Residual sediments are shown to induce up to 1 ppm MCPD in the fully refined oils. Residual chlorine content of bleaching clay is shown to increase MCPD content of the oil twofold. t‐Test statistical analysis confirms significant effect of centrifugation, phosphoric acid content, clay type and clay washing on the formation of MCPD. Centrifugation is shown to effectively reduce the chlorine source coming from the sediments, while clay washing is shown to effectively reduce the chlorine source coming from the bleaching clay. These mitigation effects are confirmed both in sealed ampoule tests and in deodorizer experiments.Practical Applications: A combined application of strong centrifugation and clay washing is recommended to potentially improve the MCPD content of physically refined palm oil.
Offenders’ claims of taking the victims’ perspective can promote forgiveness, or backfire! The moderating role of correctly voicing the victims’ emotions in collective apologies
Authors: Berndsen Mariëtte , Wenzel Michael 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn the context of collective apologies, we investigate whether offenders’ claim to have taken the victims’ perspective enhances victims’ conciliation. We argue this depends on whether offenders acknowledge emotions in victims that match victims’ emotional experience. In Studies 1 and 2 (Ns = 152 and 171), using scenarios, we experimentally manipulated offenders’ claim and the qualitative or quantitative match of acknowledged emotions. When acknowledged emotions matched victims’ experience, claimed perceptive‐taking increased conciliatory victim responses; but when emotions did not match, the offenders’ claim reduced conciliatory victim responses. In Study 3 (N = 138), African‐Americans were presented with the U.S. government's apology for slavery. We manipulated the perspective‐taking claim and measured the similarity of the emotion profile expressed in the apology to that experienced by African‐Americans over their enslavement. With greater mismatch, the perspective‐taking claim backfired, reducing conciliatory responses. Correct acknowledgment of emotions is key for victims perceiving perspective‐taking and responding conciliatorily.
Bench‐scale fermentation for second generation ethanol and hydrogen production by Clostridium thermocellum DSMZ 1313 from sugarcane bagasse
Authors: Ahmad Qurat‐ul‐Ain , Manzoor Maleeha , Chaudhary Asma , Yang Shang‐Tian , Shim Hojae , Qazi Javed Iqbal 
Published: August 2020

AbstractExploration of eco‐friendly energy resources substituting conventional fossil fuels is the real challenge globally. Prospectively, current investigation accentuates the fermentative conversion of low‐cost lignocellulosic biomass waste, sugarcane bagasse (SCB) into bioethanol and biohydrogen exploiting thermophilic cellulolytic bacterium Clostridium thermocellum DSMZ 1313. Initially, the optimization of some key fermentation factors for bioethanol and biohydrogen productions was done in 150 ml serum bottles employing Taguchi orthogonal array L27 (3̂13) experimental design. Results elucidated that the most suitable factors for ethanologenesis were 70 g/L cellulose, 10 g/L corn‐steep liquor (CSL), 15 mg/L ferrous sulfate (FeSO4·6H2O), 1 g/L magnesium chloride (MgCl2·6H2O), pH 7, and 5 days incubation whereas for hydrogen fermentation were 60 g/L cellulose, 30 g/L CSL, 5 mg/L FeSO4·6H2O, 2 g/L MgCl2·6H2O, pH 7, and 3 days incubation. Quantitatively, 7.422 g/L ethanol and 56.891/50 ml hydrogen were produced from cellulose while 6.352 g/L ethanol and 51.685/50 ml hydrogen with H2SO4‐pretreated SCB (substituted with cellulose). Scaled‐up suspended‐cell fermentations in bench‐scale stirred‐tank bioreactor resulted in 11.77% increased ethanol yield (0.239 g ethanol/g of glucose) and twofold higher hydrogen volumes (106.88 ml hydrogen/g of glucose). The employment of SCB directly as substrate for biofuels production has appeared sustainable to meet the high global energy demands.
Removal of Amitraz insecticide by heterogeneous UV‐Fenton process using metals supported on chitosan beads as a catalyst
Authors: Rezgui Soumaya , Monser Lotfi , Amrane Abdeltif , Adhoum Nafaa 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPhotocatalytic degradation of Amitraz insecticide in a heterogeneous phase was studied at neutral pH using several types of metals supported on chitosan beads (Fe‐CS, Fe3O4‐CS, Mn‐CS, MnO2‐CS, and TiO2‐CS). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) analysis were used to characterize the prepared catalysts. Parameters, including the type of catalyst, UV irradiation, the method of hydrogen peroxide addition, and the presence of dissolved oxygen were investigated in order to evaluate the performance of the heterogeneous Fenton process. The optimal conditions were achieved when using 1 g L−1 of Fe3O4‐CS catalyst under UV irradiation with the sequential addition of 12 mM of H2O2 and a continuous bubbling of air in the reactional medium. The degradation of the pollutant follows a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic. The catalyst stability was evaluated and confirmed in four repeated runs with a control of the amount of leached iron in the aqueous solution.
Experimental study on stress sensitivity of high‐temperature and high‐pressure sandstone gas reservoirs in Yingqiong Basin
Authors: Li Yi‐Long , Li Xiao‐Ping , Wu Feng , Lu Hong‐Lin , Lei Xiao , Wang Wen‐Juan , Lu Rui‐Bin , Li Ji , Tan Xiao‐Hua 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPerforming stress‐sensitivity evaluation on a high‐temperature and high‐pressure gas reservoir is essential for correctly understanding the characteristics of physical property changes and reasonably designing the development scheme of a reservoir under stratum conditions. By focusing on six core samples with different physical properties in a gas field in the Yingqiong Basin, stress‐sensitivity experiments have been conducted along with mercury intrusion porosimetry and X‐ray diffraction measurements to study the relationship among porosity, permeability, and effective stress at a temperature of 140°C and effective stress ranging from 2 MPa to 70 MPa. Our results showed that the stress‐sensitivity curve characterized by three‐stage segmentation is primarily affected by average pore radius and mineral composition but has no direct relation with porosity and permeability. Meanwhile, the stress sensitivity of permeability is mainly related to the average pore throat radius and mineral composition of core specimen. The smaller the pore throat radius and the higher the clay content, the stronger the stress sensitivity of permeability. Under high‐temperature and high‐pressure conditions, the stress sensitivities of permeability and porosity can be characterized by power functions although the stress sensitivity of permeability is about 2–11 times higher than that of porosity.
On the performance analysis of dual hop relaying systems using differential amplify‐and‐forward along with post‐detection selection combining techniques over Nakagami‐m fading channels
Authors: Al‐Mistarihi Mamoun F. , Harb Mariam M. , Darabkh Khalid A. , Aqel Arwa Sh. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe proposed work analyzes the performance of dual‐hop relaying systems by means of the differential amplify‐and‐forward relaying method. The post‐detection selection combining reception scheme proposed in this article allows receivers to approximate existing fading gain in a branch by using previously received samples to achieve a cooperative diversity at cases that exclude the need of having explicit channel estimation. Assuming independent fading channels, tight closed‐form expressions for the system bit error rate and outage probability are ultimately derived considering Nakagami‐m fading channels and additive white Gaussian noise. Different fading parameters were used to plot simulation results.
Activated Protein Phosphatase 2A Disrupts Nutrient Sensing Balance Between Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 and Adenosine Monophosphate–Activated Protein Kinase, Causing Sarcopenia in Alcohol‐Associated Liver Disease
Authors: Davuluri Gangarao , Welch Nicole , Sekar Jinendiran , Gangadhariah Mahesha , Alsabbagh Alchirazi Khaled , Mohan Maradumane L. , Kumar Avinash , Kant Sashi , Thapaliya Samjhana , Stine McKenzie , McMullen Megan R. , McCullough Rebecca L. , Stark George R. , Nagy Laura E. , Naga Prasad Sathyamangla V. , Dasarathy Srinivasan 
Published: August 2020

Background and Aims
Despite the high clinical significance of sarcopenia in alcohol‐associated cirrhosis, there are currently no effective therapies because the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We determined the mechanisms of ethanol‐induced impaired phosphorylation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase (AMPK) with consequent dysregulated skeletal muscle protein homeostasis (balance between protein synthesis and breakdown).

Approach and Results
Differentiated murine myotubes, gastrocnemius muscle from mice with loss and gain of function of regulatory genes following ethanol treatment, and skeletal muscle from patients with alcohol‐associated cirrhosis were used. Ethanol increases skeletal muscle autophagy by dephosphorylating mTORC1, circumventing the classical kinase regulation by protein kinase B (Akt). Concurrently and paradoxically, ethanol exposure results in dephosphorylation and inhibition of AMPK, an activator of autophagy and inhibitor of mTORC1 signaling. However, AMPK remains inactive with ethanol exposure despite lower cellular and tissue adenosine triphosphate, indicating a “pseudofed” state. We identified protein phosphatase (PP) 2A as a key mediator of ethanol‐induced signaling and functional perturbations using loss and gain of function studies. Ethanol impairs binding of endogenous inhibitor of PP2A to PP2A, resulting in methylation and targeting of PP2A to cause dephosphorylation of mTORC1 and AMPK. Activity of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase‐γ (PI3Kγ), a negative regulator of PP2A, was decreased in response to ethanol. Ethanol‐induced molecular and phenotypic perturbations in wild‐type mice were observed in PI3Kγ−/−
mice even at baseline. Importantly, overexpressing kinase‐active PI3Kγ but not the kinase‐dead mutant reversed ethanol‐induced molecular perturbations.

Conclusions
Our study describes the mechanistic underpinnings for ethanol‐mediated dysregulation of protein homeostasis by PP2A that leads to sarcopenia with a potential for therapeutic approaches by targeting the PI3Kγ‐PP2A axis.
Turing in the driver's seat: Can people distinguish between automated and manually driven vehicles?
Authors: Stanton Neville A. , Eriksson Alexander , Banks Victoria A. , Hancock Peter A. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAs the number of automated vehicles is increasing on our roads, we wanted to know if people could detect if a car was being driven by a human driver or automation in a lane change task. This is particularly relevant, as most of the road collisions involve automated vehicles being struck from behind by manually driven vehicles. To address the detection of automated vehicles, an online survey presented videos of lane change maneuvers on multi‐lane carriageways from behind the automated vehicle. We reasoned that, on such roads, the behavior of the vehicles in front would have more of an effect on drivers than those of the vehicles behind. To this end, an online survey was conducted with 769 people judging 60 video clips, classifying the lane change either being performed by Autopilot software or a human driver. Over 34,000 responses were recorded. It was found that automated and manual lane changes were virtually indistinguishable from the rear of the vehicle. The main conclusion of the research was that vehicles in automated mode should display this fact to other road users all around the vehicle as this may have an effect on other road users in anticipating the behavior of the other vehicle.
Do Spatially Explicit Wildlife Exposure Models Improve the Estimation of Risk for Small Mammals? Case Study: Application of Spatially Explicit Exposure Model to Small Mammal Exposures to Lead in Heterogeneous Landscapes
Authors: Johnson Mark S , Quinn Michael J , Wickwire Theodore , Buonagurio John , Williams Marc A 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Understanding risks to terrestrial wildlife species from exposure to chemicals in the environment requires knowledge of how species make habitat decisions and how subsequent exposure events occur. Heterogeneity of chemical distribution and of habitat quality can influence exposure. Previous studies in birds have shown that individually based, spatially explicit models can be useful in predicting exposure and risk; however, studies investigating these influences in small mammals with limited ranges have been lacking. Here we test a spatially explicit, individually based exposure model (Spatially Explicit Exposure Model [SEEM]) in which model predictions based on life history traits, habitat preferences, and varying soil Pb concentrations are used and compared to those with field-collected blood or tissue Pb concentrations in small (e.g., Peromyscus, Blarina spp.) and medium-sized mammalian species (e.g., Lepus spp.) at 3 Pb-contaminated sites. These species were chosen because they were expected to be present in suitable habitat, and Pb was modeled when adequate tissue-based toxicity thresholds were available. Oral exposure estimates from SEEM were compared with a traditional deterministic model and with field-collected tissue Pb concentrations using ecological hazard quotients (EHQs) to normalize between oral and real-time tissue Pb concentrations. Ecological hazard quotients at the 90% population effect level (for SEEM) and at the 95% upper confidence level (assuming a single Pb concentration with no consideration of habitat quality in the deterministic model) were compared with maximum EHQs developed from blood or tissue Pb concentrations. Deterministic estimates and SEEM were similar for small mammal species, yet slightly overpredicted risk compared to field tissue or blood Pb data. Estimates for hares (medium-sized mammals) using SEEM provided more accurate predictions compared with field tissue data. These data suggest that spatially explicit models may be sensitive to grain size, given that small mammals experience the environment in limited spatial contexts, a scale at which habitat may not change significantly. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:259–272. Published 2020. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
KEY POINTS
Spatially explicit exposure models allows for improved estimates of exposure for wildlife using space and habitat preferences within a landscape. Improvement of risk estimates are somewhat dependent upon resolution of soil chemistry results and movement of small mammalian species. Exposure estimates improve with wide-ranging species.
Cannabinoid receptor type 1 antagonist inhibits progression of obesity‐associated nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in a mouse model by remodulating immune system disturbances
Authors: Chen Chin‐Chang , Chang Zi‐Yu , Tsai Fuu‐Jen , Chen Shih‐Yin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractScopeThis study investigated whether AM251, a cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) antagonist, ameliorates hepatic levels of metabolic abnormalities and inflammatory responses in a murine nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model via reversal of disturbances in the immune system.Methods and ResultsFifteen‐week‐old male obese db/db mice were randomly assigned to the following two groups: no treatment and treatment with AM251 at 5 mg/kg for 15 days. C57BL/6J‐Lean mice were utilized as the control group. Plasma parameters, liver histopathology, and hepatic status were measured. For the in vitro study, macrophage‐derived RAW264.7 cells were cultured with AM251 or CB1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) before challenge with arachidonyl‐2′‐chloroethylamide (ACEA) or a high concentration of fatty acids (HFFAs). The db/db mice exhibited an increase in CB1 levels, lipid droplet accumulation, mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐related inflammatory responses, and macrophage and neutrophil infiltration in the liver tissues. Flow cytometry analysis revealed an elevation in macrophages and T helper cells, plus a decrease in natural killer T cells and regulatory T cells in the liver tissues of the db/db mice; treatment with 5 mg/kg AM251 reversed these changes. Moreover, in vitro experiments revealed that administration of 3.3 μM AM251 or CB1 siRNA prevented 1 mM HFFA‐ and 1 μΜ ACEA‐induced inflammatory cytokine protein expression in the RAW264.7 cells.ConclusionThese findings suggested that a blockade caused by CB1 reduced obesity‐associated NASH progression via correction of immune system dysregulations and elevated inflammatory responses in the liver tissues.
Global equity market volatility forecasting: New evidence
Authors: Liang Chao , Wei Yu , Lei Likun , Ma Feng 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we extend the work of Buncic and Gisler,International Journal of Forecasting, 2016,32, 1317–1339 and investigate that whether US‐based stock volatility information and crude oil volatility information have predictability for forecasting the realized volatility (RV) of global equity markets from both in‐ and out‐of‐sample perspectives in a changing world. The HAR‐RV model is our benchmark model. We utilize two popular shrinkage methods of the elastic net and lasso to solve the overfitting problem. In addition, we establish the HAR‐RV‐AVERAGE model by an easy combination approach. Our empirical results indicate that the HAR‐RV‐AVERAGE model exhibits the best prediction performance in predicting the RV of most indices and developed countries equity markets benefit the most from the inclusion of US‐based crude oil and equity market volatility information, while emerging country stock markets benefit the least, especially for Asian equity indices. Alternative out‐of‐sample periods and alternative volatility estimator confirm the robustness of our results.
Capacity utilization under credit constraints: A firm‐level study of Latin American manufacturing
Authors: Zhang Dengjun 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIn developing countries, the credit market usually is underdeveloped. Low access to credit affects firms' production decisions and restrains them from optimizing inputs to achieve the maximum output. This article examines the link between credit constraints and capacity utilization and whether it varies across manufacturing subsectors. The sample consists of 4,790 private manufacturing firms in six Latin‐American countries. The endogenous switching model is applied to control for endogeneity between credit constraint conditions and capacity utilization and heterogeneity between credit‐constrained and credit‐unconstrained firms. The counterfactual analysis based on the estimation results suggests that constrained firms would have seen an increase of 26.8% capacity utilization had they not been constrained and unconstrained firms a decrease of 23.7% capacity utilization had they been constrained. Credit constraints generally affect medium‐high‐tech firms more severely than low‐tech firms. The counterfactual analysis further reveals that, for credit‐constrained high technology firms, depressed outputs are primarily related to labor productivity rather than capital productivity.
Attitudes and collateral psychological effects of COVID‐19 in pregnant women in Colombia
Authors: Parra‐Saavedra Miguel , Villa‐Villa Isis , Pérez‐Olivo José , Guzman‐Polania Leidy , Galvis‐Centurion Pablo , Cumplido‐Romero Álvaro , Santacruz‐Vargas Dario , Rivera‐Moreno Eliana , Molina‐Giraldo Saulo , Guillen‐Burgos Hernán , Navarro Edgar , Flórez‐Lozano Karen , Barrero‐Ortega Amanda , Sanz‐Cortes Magdalena , Miranda Jezid 
Published: August 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo assess clinical impact, psychological effects, and knowledge of pregnant women during the COVID‐19 outbreak in seven cities in Colombia. Currently, there are uncertainty and concerns about the maternal and fetal consequences of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy.MethodsA cross‐sectional web survey was carried out including pregnant women in seven cities in Colombia. Women were evaluated during the mitigation phase of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic between April 13 and May 18, 2020. The questions evaluated demographic, knowledge, psychological symptoms, and attitudes data regarding the COVID‐19 pandemic.ResultsA total of 1021 patients were invited to participate, obtaining 946 valid surveys for analysis. The rate of psychological consequences of the pandemic was much larger than the number of patients clinically affected by the virus, with 50.4% of the entire cohort reporting symptoms of anxiety, 49.1% insomnia, and 25% reporting depressive symptoms. Poorly informed women were more likely to be younger, affiliated to the subsidized regime, and with lower levels of education.ConclusionThe knowledge of pregnant women about SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is far from reality and this seems to be associated with an indirect effect on the concern and psychological stress of pregnant women in Colombia.