Influence Of Extrinsic Factors Research Articles

Ecological risk of mercury in bottom sediments and spatial correlation with land use in Neotropical savanna floodplain lakes, Araguaia River, Central Brazil

The Araguaia River floodplain is an important biogeographic boundary between the two largest South American biomes: the Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) and the Amazon rainforest. The large-scale degradation due to land use conversion experienced in the Araguaia River watershed represents a potential source of mercury (Hg) transport to aquatic ecosystems. However, more information is needed about the dynamics of Hg distribution in savanna floodplains, including the Araguaia River floodplain. We analyzed total mercury (THg) concentrations in the bottom sediments of 30 lakes connected to the Araguaia River and four tributaries, aiming to evaluate the environment's integrity based on the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and the ecological risk index (ERI). The principal component analysis was applied to examine associations between Hg concentrations, environmental conditions, and land use intensity among lakes associated with different river systems. We used indicator cokriging to identify areas with a greater probability of Hg pollution and ecological risk associated with land use intensity. The land use data showed the predominance of areas used for pasture in the Araguaia River basin. THg concentrations in the sediments varied between 22.6 and 81.9 ng g−1 (mean: 46.5 ± 17.7 ng g−1). Sediments showed no significant pollution (Igeo: 1.35 - 0.50; Classes 1 and 2) and low to considerable ecological risks (ERI: 23.5–85.1; Classes 1 to 3). THg in bottom sediments was associated with land use, water turbidity and electrical conductivity, and sediment organic matter. The indicator cokriging indicates a moderate to strong spatial dependence between land use intensity and Hg, confirming the contribution of anthropic sources to the increment of ecological risk but also the influence of extrinsic factors (such as environmental conditions, geology, and hydrology). Integrating sediment assessment and land use indices with geostatistical methods proved a valuable tool for identifying priority areas for Hg accumulation at a regional scale.

The Influence of Sensory Characteristics of Game Meat on Consumer Neuroperception: A Narrative Review

Game meat contains bioactive compounds that directly influence the formation of a rich reservoir of flavor precursors that produce specific sensory properties. Quality is considered one of the most influential determinants of consumer behavior, but the interpretation of this concept differs between consumers. Although recognized for its quality, its unique sensory characteristics (smell, taste, aroma) may have a major impact on consumer perception. The aim of this review is to describe the consumer behavior regarding game meat through elements of neuroperception, using methods of analysis, observation, and interpretation of scientific information from the literature. Following the analysis of published papers on this topic, it was shown that external factors influencing the biological basis of behavior could provide explanations for the acceptance or rejection of this type of meat and solutions. Neuroperception can explain the mechanism behind consumer decision-making. The influence of extrinsic factors (environment, mood, emotions, stress) shapes the perception of the quality attributes of game meat, the unique sensory characteristics of game meat passing through a primary filter of sensory receptors (eyes, nose, tongue, etc). Game meat is darker and tougher (compared to meat from domestic animals), and the taste and smell have the power to trigger memories and change the mood, influencing consumer behavior. Understanding consumer attitudes towards game meat in relation to quality attributes and the physiology of sensory perception can provide important insights for food industry professionals, processors, sensory evaluators, and researchers.

Influences of extrinsic factors on the Lüders-type deformation behaviour of NiTi

NiTi shape memory alloys exhibit Lüders-type deformation in tension. We propose a new explanation of the mechanism of this behaviour based on a mechanical criterion of sample length change conservation among three contributions, including machine displacement, Lüders band elongation and elastic strain contraction, and established a mathematical model to describe the behaviour. This model predicts the influences of several parameters some intrinsic to the testing alloy and some extrinsic by the testing conditions. In this work, we investigated the effects of machine speed and sample gauge length (L0) on the elastic strain contraction (Δεel) and the stress drop (Δσ) of the Lüders-type deformation, and the characteristic length of the Lüders band at its nucleation (lL*). It was found that Δσ is independent of L0 and at the same time lL* increased with increasing L0. This coordinated variation of lL* with L0 demonstrates a “self-regulation” mechanism of the Lüders-type deformation behaviour to assure a constant Δσ, which further indicates that the upper (peak) and the lower (plateau) stresses of the Lüders-type deformation are intrinsic to the metallurgical conditions of the material used. This reveals a new insight to the behaviour of the Lüders-type deformation of NiTi. This study also clarified a common misperception (or confusion) in mechanical testing for Lüders-type deformation, between local strain rate and global strain rate conditions.

Seabird Migration Strategies: Flight Budgets, Diel Activity Patterns, and Lunar Influence

Every year, billions of birds undertake extensive migrations between breeding and non-breeding areas, facing challenges that require behavioural adjustments, particularly to flight timing and duration. Such adjustments in daily activity patterns and the influence of extrinsic factors (e.g., environmental conditions, moonlight) have received much more research attention in terrestrial than marine migrants. Taking advantage of the widespread deployment in recent decades of combined light-level geolocator-immersion loggers, we investigated diel organisation and influence of the moon on flight activities during the non-breeding season of 21 migrant seabird species from a wide taxonomic range (6 families, 3 orders). Migrant seabirds regularly stopped (to either feed or rest) during migration, unlike some terrestrial and wetland birds which fly non-stop. We found an overall increase for most seabird species in time in flight and, for several species, also in flight bout duration, during migration compared to when resident at the non-breeding grounds. Additionally, several nocturnal species spent more of the day in flight during migration than at non-breeding areas, and vice versa for diurnal species. Nocturnal time in flight tended to increase during full moon, both during migration and at the non-breeding grounds, depending on species. Our study provides an extensive overview of activity patterns of migrant seabirds, paving the way for further research on the underlying mechanisms and drivers.

Reassembling gastrulation

During development, a single cell is transformed into a highly complex organism through progressive cell division, specification and rearrangement. An important prerequisite for the emergence of patterns within the developing organism is to establish asymmetries at various scales, ranging from individual cells to the entire embryo, eventually giving rise to the different body structures. This becomes especially apparent during gastrulation, when the earliest major lineage restriction events lead to the formation of the different germ layers. Traditionally, the unfolding of the developmental program from symmetry breaking to germ layer formation has been studied by dissecting the contributions of different signaling pathways and cellular rearrangements in the in vivo context of intact embryos. Recent efforts, using the intrinsic capacity of embryonic stem cells to self-assemble and generate embryo-like structures de novo, have opened new avenues for understanding the many ways by which an embryo can be built and the influence of extrinsic factors therein. Here, we discuss and compare divergent and conserved strategies leading to germ layer formation in embryos as compared to in vitro systems, their upstream molecular cascades and the role of extrinsic factors in this process.

Influence of Extrinsic Factors on Construction Arbitrators’ Decision Making

AbstractThe occurrence of disputes and adjudication by an arbitrator is a common feature for construction contracts in India. The decision process on a particular case ideally depends on the actual...

Influence of extrinsic factors on consumers' choice at segmented wine events

Many wine attributes make consumer’s choice difficult and confusing. By focusing on consumers from higher-segmented comparing wine events and comparing lower-segmented and higher-segmented wine events, we determinate the more influential attributes in consumers’ choice, and identify what is important cue on the bottle’s label. ANOVA, cluster analysis and Pearson chi-square test were used to determinate the consumers’ segments and their differences, difference between attributes, influence of some of the attributes over behavioral variables. We find that recommendation influences has stronger influence over the choice of consumers at the higher-segmented event, compared to awards or information on the label. Price and design defined cluster in the lowersegmented sample while vintage, region and brand defined the high-segmented cluster.

Cortical region-specific sleep homeostasis in mice: effects of time of day and waking experience.

Sleep–wake history, wake behaviors, lighting conditions, and circadian time influence sleep, but neither their relative contribution nor the underlying mechanisms are fully understood. The dynamics of electroencephalogram (EEG) slow-wave activity (SWA) during sleep can be described using the two-process model, whereby the parameters of homeostatic Process S are estimated using empirical EEG SWA (0.5–4 Hz) in nonrapid eye movement sleep (NREMS), and the 24 hr distribution of vigilance states. We hypothesized that the influence of extrinsic factors on sleep homeostasis, such as the time of day or wake behavior, would manifest in systematic deviations between empirical SWA and model predictions. To test this hypothesis, we performed parameter estimation and tested model predictions using NREMS SWA derived from continuous EEG recordings from the frontal and occipital cortex in mice. The animals showed prolonged wake periods, followed by consolidated sleep, both during the dark and light phases, and wakefulness primarily consisted of voluntary wheel running, learning a new motor skill or novel object exploration. Simulated SWA matched empirical levels well across conditions, and neither waking experience nor time of day had a significant influence on the fit between data and simulation. However, we consistently observed that Process S declined during sleep significantly faster in the frontal than in the occipital area of the neocortex. The striking resilience of the model to specific wake behaviors, lighting conditions, and time of day suggests that intrinsic factors underpinning the dynamics of Process S are robust to extrinsic influences, despite their major role in shaping the overall amount and distribution of vigilance states across 24 hr.

A Nonlinear Model for Analyzing the Electrical Conductivity Relaxation Data of Mixed Ionic Electronic Conductors

Mixed ionic electronic conductors (MIECs) are materials able to conduct both ions and electrons and are used in many applications including solid oxide fuel cells, electrolyzers, and oxygen sensors. The performance of these materials can be assessed using electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR) technique. This technique is used to obtain two physical parameters related to the diffusivity and activity of the MIEC namely, \U0001d437chem and \U0001d458chem. The analytical model usually used to fit the ECR data is obtained from a linear partial differential equation for the oxygen transport with a linearized surface reaction rate as the boundary condition. In this work, we extend the linear approach and develop a nonlinear ECR simulation framework. The latter is based on a nonlinear partial differential equation that models the transport of oxygen defects and nonlinear surface reaction rates. Our approach also considers the influence of extrinsic factors, namely the impact of testing-chamber’s size and the gas-feed flow-rates on the ECR response. We show that the nonlinear model is able to model ECR well beyond the limits of the typical linear analytical models, i.e., when the final partial pressures inside the testing chamber are low. Further, we also show that, under certain conditions, the exchange of oxygen between the MIEC and the testing chamber can significantly affect the ECR response.

Enhanced saturated fatty acids accumulation in cultures of newly-isolated strains of Schizochytrium sp. and Thraustochytriidae sp. for large-scale biodiesel production

Heterotrophic marine protists (Thraustochytrids) have received increasingly global attention as a renewable, sustainable and alternative source of biodiesel because of their high ability of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) accumulation. Yet, the influence of extrinsic factors (nutrients and environmental conditions) on thraustochytrid culture and optimal conditions for high SFAs production are poorly described. In the present study, two different thraustochytrid strains, Schizochytrium sp. PKU#Mn4 and Thraustochytriidae sp. PKU#Mn16 were studied for their growth and SFAs production profiles under various conditions (carbon, nitrogen, temperature, pH, KH2PO4, salinity, and agitation speed). Of the culture conditions, substrates (C and N) source and conc., temperature, and agitation speed significantly influenced the cell growth and SFAs production of both strains. Although both the strains were capable of growth and SFAs production in the broad range of culture conditions, their physiological responses to KH2PO4, pH, and salinity were dissimilar. Under their optimal batch culture conditions, peak SFAs productions of 3.3g/L and 2.2g/L with 62% and 49% SFAs contents (relative to total fatty acids) were achieved, respectively. The results of 5-L fed-batch fermentation under optimal conditions showed a nearly 4.5-fold increase in SFAs production (i.e., 7.5g/L) by both strains compared to unoptimized conditions. Of the two strains, the quality of biodiesel produced from the fatty acids of PKU#Mn4 met the biodiesel standard defined by ASTM6751. This study, to the knowledge of the authors, is the first comprehensive report of optimal fermentation conditions demonstrating enhanced SFAs production by strains belonging to two different thraustochytrid genera and provides the basis for large-scale biodiesel production.

Reviews on factors affecting fatigue behavior of high-Mn steels

A variety of factors affect the fatigue behavior of high-Mn steels, which include both extrinsic (i.e., loading type, R ratio, specimen type, surface condition, temperature, and environment) and intrinsic (i.e., chemical composition, grain size, microstructure, stacking fault energy) factors. Very often, the influence of extrinsic factors on the fatigue behavior is even greater than that of intrinsic factors, misleading the interpretation of fatigue data. The metallurgical factors influence the initiation and propagation behaviors of fatigue by altering the characteristics of slip that is prerequisite for fatigue damage accumulation. It is however not easy to separate the effect of each factor since they affect the fatigue behavior of high-Mn steels in complex and synergistic way. In this review, the fatigue data of high-Mn steels are summarized and the factors complicating the interpretation are discussed.

MOTIVATION FOR OCCUPATIONAL PREFERENCE AMONG STUDENTS OF REGIONAL MARITIME UNIVERSITY IN NUNGUA, ACCRA- GHANA

The aim of this study was to find out motivation for occupational preference among Regional Maritime University students. The cross-sectional survey design was chosen for the study and the stratified sampling technique was used to select a sample of 305 students from three departments constituting major programmes of study. Motivation for Occupational Preference Scale was used to gather data from the sampled population. The Independent samples t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data gathered. Results showed that, extrinsic values influenced occupational preference more than intrinsic values, both Ghanaian and International students were influenced equally by extrinsic factors in their preference for occupation, there was no significant gender difference in the influence of extrinsic factors on occupational preference and there was a significant difference in the intrinsic factors that influence occupational preference among students from different programmes. It is therefore recommended that, regular career guidance and counselling sessions are held at various levels of education to inform and educate students especially at the university on the benefits of career preference based on intrinsic factors than solely on extrinsic factors. In conclusion students must be encouraged to assess their vocational interest or career preference so that they pursue programmes and courses that they have the natural inclination for and not only make a choice of vocation or career just for extrinsic values or rewards.

Electrical Conductivity Relaxation in the Nonlinear Regime

Electrical Conductivity Relaxation (ECR) is an experimental procedure used to assess the chemical diffusion and reaction coefficients (i.e. Dchem and kchem) of mixed ionic electronic conductors (MIECs). The analytical model usually employed to fit the ECR data is based on linear physics. In fact, it is obtained from a linear partial differential equation for the oxygen diffusion with a linearized surface reaction rate as the boundary condition. In this article, we extend the linear approach and develop a novel nonlinear ECR simulation framework. The latter is based on a nonlinear partial differential equation that models the transport of oxygen defects and nonlinear surface reaction rates. Our approach also considers the influence of extrinsic factors, such as the testing chamber's size and the gas-feed flow-rates, on the ECR response. We show that the nonlinear model is able to model ECR well beyond the limits of the typical linear analytical models, i.e., when the final partial pressures inside the testing chamber are low. Further, we also show that, under certain conditions, the exchange of oxygen between the MIEC and the testing chamber can significantly affect the ECR response.

Sexual segregation in habitat use is smaller than expected in a highly dimorphic marine predator, the southern sea lion

Sexual segregation in habitat use is widely reported in many taxa and can profoundly influence the distribution and behaviour of animals. However, our knowledge of the mechanisms driving sexual segregation is still in its infancy (particularly in marine taxa) and the influence of extrinsic factors in mediating the expression of sex differences in foraging behaviour is underdeveloped. Here, we combine data from biologging tags, with stable isotope analysis of vibrissae, to assess sexual segregation in southern sea lions (SSL) (Otaria flavescens) breeding at the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. We found evidence to support segregation, most notably in δ13C and δ15N values. However, in spite of extreme sexual size dimorphism and differing constraints related to female-only parental care, adult male and adult female SSL overlapped considerably in isotopic niches and foraging area, and shared similar foraging trip characteristics (such as distance and duration). This is in contrast to SSL breeding in Argentina, where prior studies report sexual differences in foraging locations and foraging trip characteristics. We posit that sexual segregation in SSL is influenced by habitat availability (defined here as the width of the Patagonian Shelf) and individual foraging preferences, rather than commonly invoked individual-based limiting factors per se.

Evolutionary association between subterranean lifestyle and female sociality in rodents

Subterranean rodents are a good model system to examine adaptive evolution of social organization. Life underground has been proposed either to favor solitariness or, to the contrary, to promote sociality. In concordance with the first idea, most specialized diggers are solitary. However, group-living in several unrelated subterranean rodent species and especially eusociality in two genera of African mole-rats, the Bathyergidae, seem to support the second hypothesis. Thus, none of the two models is fully consistent with empirical data. Here we apply the comparative phylogenetic method to test an evolutionary correlation between fossoriality and female social strategy (solitary breeding vs breeding in group). Both characters show very strong phylogenetic signal, and we found a significant correlation between them. Subterranean lifestyle is readily acquired under female sociality. By contrast, the transition to life underground is extremely unlikely under female solitariness. Thus, not only social behavior may be affected by ecological specialization as it is widely assumed, but it can itself restrain the range of possible specializations. The rates of transition from sociality to solitariness are equal under subterranean and surface-dwelling lifestyle. Sociality loss is irreversible in subterranean lineages, unlike surface-dwelling lineages. Based on the revealed transition rates we suggest that all lineages of subterranean rodents have gone through the stage of cooperation at the beginning of their evolutionary track, whereas group-living is selected against in highly specialized diggers. An odd pattern of distribution of sociality across and within truly subterranean taxa probably derives from the influence of extrinsic factors in combination with phylogenetic inertia.

Decline in growth rate of juvenile European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) during summer at nursery beaches along the west coast of Scotland

This study concludes that declines in growth rates of young-of-the-year European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) (YOY plaice) during summer vary spatially and between years and that these dynamics are not driven by temperature, body size, or competition. RNA-predicted growth rates of YOY plaice on the west coast of Scotland declined linearly between mid-July and mid-September, with faster declines at beaches and in years where growth rates were initially high. Absolute growth estimates rarely approached ad libitum laboratory rates, and relative declines in growth rates were unrelated to temperature or body size allometry, indicating that maximum growth was rare. However, the absence of inverse relationships between spatial or temporal growth variation and YOY plaice or brown shrimp (Crangon crangon) densities suggests that competition did not limit growth. There were no consistent trends in morphometric condition factor, biochemical composition, or energy content during summer, indicating that apparent growth declines did not result from energy storage and did not result in depletion of energy stores. Influences of extrinsic factors (such as prey conditions, physical disturbance, and predator densities) on the diet, mediated by behavioral decisions to optimize growth with other ecological constraints, require further investigation as causes of growth variation in YOY plaice.

Influence of extrinsic factors on accuracy of mobility extraction in graphene metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors

Graphene has attracted attention because of its extraordinarily high mobility. However, procedures to extract mobility from graphene metal-oxide semiconductor transistors have not been systematically established because the accuracy of mobility value is affected by many extrinsic parameters. In this work, the influence of extrinsic parameters, such as contact resistance, transient charging effect, measurement temperature, and ambient on mobility are examined in order to provide a protocol capable of accurately assessing the mobility of graphene metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors. Using a well controlled test protocol, the mobility of graphene is found to be temperature independent up to 450 K.

State-of-the-art research in machinability of hardened steels

The hardened steel materials have great demand for the manufacturing of automotive, aircraft and machine tool components due to their better strength, wear resistance and high thermal stability. The hard machining offers many potential benefits compared to grinding, which remains the standard finishing process for critical hardened surfaces. To enhance the implementation of this technology, questions about the ability of this process to produce surfaces that meet the surface finish and integrity requirements must be answered and it must be justified economically. With the development of harder work materials, the tool material technology is advancing at a faster rate so as to enable machining of these materials by higher material removal rate with reliability of performance. This review article presents an overview of the previous research on machining of hard steel materials. It mainly focuses on the influence of extrinsic factors on machinability of hardened steels, such as variation of cutting forces, chip morphology, tool wear and resulting surface integrity in the machined surface.

Phase transitions in ferroelectric Pb0.5Sr0.5TiO3films probed by spectroscopic ellipsometry

Phase transitions occurring in 130-nm-thick films of perovskite-structure ferroelectric Pb${}_{0.5}$Sr${}_{0.5}$TiO${}_{3}$ are experimentally studied by combining spectroscopic ellipsometry and low-frequency dielectric analysis. Polycrystalline and polydomain epitaxial films with relaxed misfit strain and columnar microstructure are investigated. The paraelectric and the ferroelectric states, and the temperatures and widths of the paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transitions, are identified from the temperature evolution of refractive index measured in transparency range. The temperatures at which transitions start on cooling are found to be considerably higher than the temperatures of the dielectric peaks. In contrast to the broad dielectric peaks, the transition width of 60 K in the polycrystalline film and that of 20 K in the polydomain epitaxial film are revealed. The discrepancies between optical and dielectric data are explained by the influence of extrinsic factors on the low-frequency response of the thin-film capacitors. It is suggested that fundamental mechanisms of ferroelectric phase transitions in thin films can be revealed by studies of thermo-optical properties.

Why Are There So Few Rickettsia conorii conorii-Infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus Ticks in the Wild?

Background Rickettsia conorii conorii is the etiological agent of Mediterranean spotted fever, which is transmitted by the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The relationship between the Rickettsia and its tick vector are still poorly understood one century after the first description of this disease.Methodology/Principal FindingsAn entomological survey was organized in Algeria to collect ticks from the houses of patients with spotted fever signs. Colonies of R. conorii conorii-infected and non-infected ticks were established under laboratory conditions. Gimenez staining and electron microscopy on the ovaries of infected ticks indicated heavy rickettsial infection. The transovarial transmission of R. conorii conorii in naturally infected Rh. sanguineus ticks was 100% at eleven generations, and the filial infection rate was up to 99% according to molecular analyses. No differences in life cycle duration were observed between infected and non-infected ticks held at 25°C, but the average weight of engorged females and eggs was significantly lower in infected ticks than in non-infected ticks. The eggs, larvae and unfed nymphs of infected and non-infected ticks could not tolerate low (4°C) or high (37°C) temperatures or long starvation periods. R. conorii conorii-infected engorged nymphs that were exposed to a low or high temperature for one month experienced higher mortality when they were transferred to 25°C than non-infected ticks after similar exposure. High mortality was observed in infected adults that were maintained for one month at a low or high temperature after tick-feeding on rabbits.Conclusion/SignificanceThese preliminary results suggest that infected quiescent ticks may not survive the winter and may help explain the low prevalence of infected Rh. sanguineus in nature. Further investigations on the influence of extrinsic factors on diapaused R. conorii-infected and non-infected ticks are required.