bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced cognitive processing by viewing snakes in children with autism spectrum disorder. A preliminary study
Authors: Grandgeorge Marine , Lemasson Alban , Hausberger Martine , Koda Hiroki , Masataka Nobuo
Published: November 2019

Background

Prioritization of the processing of threatening stimuli induces deleterious effects on task performance. However, emotion evoked by viewing images of snakes exerts a facilitating effect upon making judgments of their color in neurotypical adults and schoolchildren. We attempted to confirm this in school and preschool children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Methods

Forty French children participated and corresponded to two age groups: a group of schoolchildren and a group of preschool children, each group including 10 children with typical development and 10 children with ASD. Each participant was exposed to 120 trials composed of 20 photographs of snakes and 20 photographs of flowers, each of which appeared 3 times (in red, green and blue). Participants were asked to indicate the color of each image as quickly as possible via key-press. A three-way analysis of variance test for reaction time (RT) considering image type (IMAGE), participant group (PARTICIPANT), and age (AGE) as main effects and its interaction terms was performed for each subject.

Results

When the reaction time required to respond to presented stimuli was measured, schoolchildren tended to respond faster when stimuli were snake images than when stimuli were flower images whether the children had or did not have ASD. For the 5-to-6-year-old preschool participants, the difference between reaction time for the color-naming of snake images and flower images was ambiguous overall.

Conclusions

There were possible odd color-specific effects in children with ASD when images were presented to the children in green. Implications of the findings are argued with respect to active avoidance or attraction as one of the behavioral characteristics commonly noted in children with ASD.
Comparison of the anatomical and functional success of fascia and perichondrium grafts in transcanal endoscopic type 1 tympanoplasty
Authors: Özdamar Kadir , Sen Alper
Published: November 2019

Background

There are no studies in the literature, comparing the functional and anatomical successes of the use of fascial and perichondrial grafts in endoscopic type 1 tympanoplasties.

Objectives

To compare the anatomical and functional outcomes of grafting with the fascia of the temporalis muscle and with the perichondrium of the tragal cartilage in patients undergoing primary transcanal type 1 tympanoplasty with endoscopy.

Methods

We enrolled a total of 151 patients (80 females and 71 males with a mean age of 26.0 ± 9.3 years in the age range between 18-57) with MERI scores ranging from 1 to 3 and who underwent a transcanal endoscopic type 1 tympanoplasty without tympanomeatal flap elevation. The patients were assigned to two groups according to the type of the graft used. The patients were assigned to either the tragal cartilage perichondrium group (Group A) or the fascia of the temporal muscle (Group B). The groups were compared according to the pre- and postoperative air-bone gaps and to the status of the tympanic membrane.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of the age, gender, localization, MERI scores, the duration of the operation, and the size of the perforation (all p values> 0.05). The pre-operative air-bone gap values of Group A and B did not show a statistically significant difference ( p = 0.073). The postoperative improvement in the air-bone gap value did not demonstrate a significant difference between Group A and B ( p = 0.202). The graft retention rates were 94.9 and 97.2% in Group A and in Group B respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of the graft retention success rates ( p = 0.743).

Conclusion

Perichondrium and fascia were suitable for use in endoscopic tympanoplasties.
Determinants of gait independence after mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit: a Japanese multicenter retrospective exploratory cohort study
Authors: Watanabe Shinichi , Kotani Toru , Taito Shunsuke , Ota Kohei , Ishii Kenzo , Ono Mika , Katsukawa Hajime , Kozu Ryo , Morita Yasunari , Arakawa Ritsuro , Suzuki Shuichi
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Gait independence is one of the most important factors related to returning home from the hospital for patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), but the factors affecting gait independence have not been clarified. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting gait independence at hospital discharge using a standardized early mobilization protocol that was shared by participating hospitals.

Materials and methods

Patients who entered the ICU from January 2017 to March 2018 were screened. The exclusion criteria were mechanical ventilation < 48 hours, age < 18, loss of gait independence before hospitalization, being treated for neurological issues, unrecoverable disease, unavailability of continuous data, and death during ICU stay. Basic attributes, such as age, ICU length of stay, information on early mobilization while in the ICU, Medical Research Council (MRC) sum-score at ICU discharge, incidence of ICU-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) and delirium, and the degree of gait independence at hospital discharge, were collected. Gait independence was determined using a mobility scale of the Barthel Index, and the factors that impaired gait independence at hospital discharge were investigated using a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.

Results

One hundred thirty-two patients were analyzed. In the univariate analysis, age, APACHE II score, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, incidence of delirium, and MRC sum-score at ICU discharge were extracted as significant. In the multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.014), MRC sum-score < 48 (p = 0.021), and delirium at discharge from ICU (p < 0.0001) were extracted as significant variables.

Conclusions

We found that age and incidence of ICU-AW and delirium were significantly related to impaired gait independence at hospital discharge.
Effect on background checks of newly-enacted comprehensive background check policies in Oregon and Washington: a synthetic control approach
Authors: Castillo-Carniglia Alvaro , Webster Daniel W. , Wintemute Garen J.
Published: November 2019

Background

Comprehensive background check (CBC) laws extend background check requirements to private party firearm transfers to prevent firearm acquisitions by prohibited persons. The aim of our study was to estimate the association between CBC policies and changes in background check rates for firearm acquisition in two states (Oregon and Washington) that have newly-enacted CBC policies.

Methods

We used data on handgun background checks from January 1999 to December 2018 from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Observed trends in exposed states were contrasted with counterfactual trends estimated with the synthetic control group method.

Findings

CBC policies were associated with increases in background checks in Oregon (by 18.0%; p = 0.074), but not in Washington (4%; p = 0.321). A gradual increase in private party checks was seen following enactment in Washington; however, firearm transactions coded as “private” represent less than 5% of total background checks in that state.

Conclusions

Comprehensive background check policies appear to be effective in increasing pre-firearm-sale background checks in Oregon but not in Washington. Differences appear to be related to variations in the proportion of firearm sales that are private party transfers and to gradual adaptation to the new law by private gun sellers.
A clinical pilot study on posture stabilization via light contact with cane-type companion robot
Authors: Itadera Shunki , Aoyama Tadayoshi , Hasegawa Yasuhisa , Aimoto Keita , Kato Kenji , Kondo Izumi
Published: November 2019

In this paper, toward robotic gait assistance, we investigate the feasibility of a cane-type assistive mobile robot accompanying the user autonomously through a clinical pilot experiment. As widely known, gait ability is important for all people to keep their quality of life. However, for people having weakened lower limbs such as elderly people, their postural sway during walking could be insuppressible and cause falling. To support the gait motion of elderly people, our group has been developing a series of hand-holding cane robots named Intelligent Cane. Such assistive robots are expected to remove barriers to the independent lives of elderly people. Recently, we have focused on the potential of a companion robot that follows the user ahead and can be touched or grasped for bracing whenever the user needs it. In order to demonstrate proof of our concept through an experiment with a motion capture system, we propose a user companion strategy that enables our cane robot to keep a constant relative distance between the robot and the user walking on a treadmill. We evaluate the accuracy of the user companion in an experiment where a user walks on a treadmill. Then, we conduct a clinical experiment with three healthy subjects walking on with the treadmill with our cane robot as a pilot study. Through the clinical experiment, we evaluate a postural stabilization effect of physical interaction with the robot and discuss the feasibility of our robotic gait assistance methodology.
Robust communication network formation: a decentralized approach
Authors: Diaz Christopher , Nikolaev Alexander , Perla Abhinav , Veremyev Alexander , Pasiliao Eduardo
Published: November 2019

The formation of robust communication networks between independently acting agents is of practical interest in multiple domains, for example, in sensor placement and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle communication. These are the cases where it is only feasible to have the communicating actors modify the network locally, i.e., without relying on the knowledge of the entire network structure and the other actors’ decisions. This calls for approaches to optimizing network structure in a decentralized way. We present an actor-oriented modeling approach to design and parameterize models that enable the creation of networks that exhibit the properties desirable for efficient information sharing. Computational experiments show that the achieved network formation rules, specified in a calculated way, allow agents to maintain robust network structure by activating only a limited number of direct communication channels. The obtained results are promising, as evidenced by the reported comparisons to optimal network configuration solutions obtained in a centralized way.
A design and implementation of low-power ultrasonic water meter
Authors: Hong Youn-Sik , Lee Chul-Ho
Published: November 2019

Smart water meter, which incorporates IoT (Internet of Things) technology, is receiving high attention due to recent development of information and communication technology. If traditional mechanical water meters are replaced by electronic ultrasonic water meters, micro flow rate can be measured and the measurement uncertainty can be improved due to the age of use. This enables smart metering such as AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) or AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) as well as various water related services. In this paper, a low power ultrasonic water meter will be designed to operate with a battery for a long period of time. A water meter shall be designed to operate for at least 9 years, which is the requirement for type approval. In this paper, a low-power modeling is performed for battery-operated ultrasonic water meter to work for at least 10 years. The proposed low power embedded system model will be verified with actual test circuits.
Scaffolding argumentative essay writing via reader-response approach: a case study
Authors: Rashtchi Mojgan
Published: November 2019

The variety of activities and techniques suggested for improving the writing skill shows that EFL/ESL learners need scaffolding to gain mastery over it. The present study employed the reader-response approach to provide the assistance EFL learners require for writing argumentative essays. Five upper-intermediate EFL learners in a private class participated in the qualitative case study. The participants were not selected from the fields related to the English language and did not have any previous instruction on literary texts. During the treatment that took 20 sessions, each session 2 h, the participants read five short stories. Different classroom activities were used as sources of information, which helped the researcher to collect the required data. The classroom activities consisted of group discussions, writing tasks, and responses to the short stories that helped the learners to reflect on the short stories. Think-aloud protocols helped the researcher to learn about the participants’ mental processes during writing. The semi-structured interviews provided the researcher with the information necessary for a deeper understanding of the efficacy of the classroom procedure. As the results of the study showed, successful writing requires manipulation of meta-cognitive strategies and thought-provoking activities. Although the findings of the study cannot be generalized, they can inspire EFL/ESL teachers and material developers to seek a variety of procedures in their approaches to teaching writing.
Sarcopenic obesity and its association with frailty and protein-energy wasting in hemodialysis patients: preliminary data from a single center in Japan
Authors: Saitoh Masakazu , Ogawa Masumi , Kondo Hisae , Suga Kiichi , Takahashi Tetsuya , Itoh Haruki , Tabata Yoichiro
Published: November 2019

Background

This study investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity and their association with frailty and protein-energy wasting (PEW) in hemodialysis patients.

Methods

The present study enrolled 117 adult hemodialysis patients (35% female, 64 ± 12 years old) from single units of a hemodialysis center. The patients were divided into four groups: normal, obese, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity. Sarcopenia was diagnosed by Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria, and obesity was defined as an extensive percent body fat mass greater than 40% in females and 30% in males. Skeletal muscle mass and percent fat mass were evaluated by multifrequency whole-body bioimpedance electrical analysis after a midweek dialysis session. Handgrip strength and a short physical performance battery (SPPB) were assessed before a dialysis session as indicators of muscle strength and physical performance. Moreover, participants completed the Kihon Checklist and the criteria proposed by the International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism expert panel to classify frailty and PEW. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the clinical risk of frailty and PEW in patients with sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity.

Results

Forty-six (39.3%) patients were classified as normal; 18 (15.4%), as obese; 35 (29.9%), as having sarcopenia; and 18 (15.4%), as having sarcopenic obesity. The sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity group had significantly lower handgrip strength than the normal or obesity group (all p < 0.05). In addition, the sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity groups had significantly lower SPPB scores than the normal group (p < 0.05, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, the sarcopenic obesity group had a significantly higher risk of frailty than the normal group in the multivariate analysis after adjusting for age and gender (OR 4.518, 95%CI 1.218–16.752, p = 0.024). However, sarcopenic obesity was not associated with a higher likelihood of PEW, and sarcopenia imposed a significantly higher risk of PEW (OR 4.272, 95%CI 1.157–15.778, p = 0.029) than that in the normal group after adjusting for confounding factors.

Conclusion

Sarcopenic obesity was closely associated with frailty compared with the normal condition in HD patients. However, sarcopenic obesity was not associated with a higher likelihood of PEW.
Biotic and spatial factors potentially explain the susceptibility of forests to direct hurricane damage
Authors: Kim Daehyun , Millington Andrew C. , Lafon Charles W.
Published: November 2019

Background

Ecologists continue to investigate the factors that potentially affect the pattern and magnitude of tree damage during catastrophic windstorms in forests. However, there still is a paucity of research on which trees are more vulnerable to direct damage by winds rather than being knocked down by the fall of another tree. We evaluated this question in a mixed hardwood–softwood forest within the Big Thicket National Preserve (BTNP) of southeast Texas, USA, which was substantially impacted by Hurricane Rita in September 2005.

Results

We showed that multiple factors, including tree height, shade-tolerance, height-to-diameter ratio, and neighborhood density (i.e., pre-Rita stem distribution) significantly explained the susceptibility of trees to direct storm damage. We also found that no single factor had pervasive importance over the others and, instead, that all factors were tightly intertwined in a complex way, such that they often complemented each other, and that they contributed simultaneously to the overall susceptibility to and patterns of windstorm damage in the BTNP.

Conclusions

Directly damaged trees greatly influence the forest by causing secondary damage to other trees. We propose that directly and indirectly damaged (or susceptible) trees should be considered separately when assessing or predicting the impact of windstorms on a forest ecosystem; to better predict the pathways of community structure reorganization and guide forest management and conservation practices. Forest managers are recommended to adopt a holistic view that considers and combines various components of the forest ecosystem when establishing strategies for mitigating the impact of catastrophic winds.
Mercury contamination imposes structural shift on the microbial community of an agricultural soil
Authors: Salam Lateef Babatunde , Shomope Halima , Ummi Zainab , Bukar Fatima
Published: November 2019

Background

The purpose of this study is to use shotgun next-generation sequencing to unravel the microbial community structure of an agricultural soil, decipher the effects of mercury contamination on the structure of the microbial community and the soil physicochemistry and heavy metals content.

Results

The soil physicochemistry after mercury contamination revealed a shift in soil pH from neutral (6.99 ± 0.001) to acidic (5.96 ± 0.25), a decline in moisture content to < 4 %, and a significant decrease in the concentrations of all the macronutrients and the total organic matter. Significant decrease in all the heavy metals detected in the agricultural soil was also observed in mercury inundated SL3 microcosm. Structural analysis of the metagenomes of SL1 (agricultural soil) and SL3 (mercury-contaminated agricultural soil) using Illumina shotgun next-generation sequencing revealed the loss due to mercury contamination of 54.75 % of the microbial community consisting of an archaeal domain, 11 phyla, 12 classes, 24 orders, 36 families, 59 genera, and 86 species. The dominant phylum, class, genus, and species in SL1 metagenome are Proteobacteria, Bacilli, Staphylococcus, and Sphingobacterium sp. 21; while in SL3 metagenome, Proteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Singulisphaera, and Singulisphaera acidiphila were preponderant. Mercury contamination resulted in a massive upscale in the population of members of the phylum Planctomycetes and the genera Singulisphaera, Brevundimonas, Sanguibacter, Exiguobacterium, Desulfobacca, and Proteus in SL3 metagenome while it causes massive decline in the population of genera Staphylococcus and Brachybacterium.

Conclusions

This study revealed that mercury contamination of the agricultural soil imposed selective pressure on the members of the microbial community, which negatively impact on their population, alter soil physicochemistry, and enriched sizable numbers of members of the community that are well adapted to mercury stress. It also reveals members of microbial community hitherto not reported to be important in mercury detoxification process.
Seismic horizon picking by integrating reflector dip and instantaneous phase attributes
Authors: Lou Yihuai , Zhang Bo , Lin Tengfei , Cao Danping
Published: November 2019

Seismic horizons are the compulsory inputs for seismic stratigraphy analysis and 3D reservoir modeling. Manually interpreting horizons on thousands of vertical seismic slices of 3D seismic survey is a time-consuming task. Automatic horizon interpreting algorithms are usually based on the seismic reflector dip. However, the estimated seismic reflector dip is usually inaccurate near and across geologic features such as unconformities. We are determined to improve the quality of picked horizons using multiple seismic attributes. We assume that seismic horizons follow the reflector dip and that the same horizons should have similar instantaneous phase values. We first generate horizon patches using a reflector dip attribute, which is similar to current methods. We use seismic coherence attribute as the stop criteria for tracking the horizon within each patch. Considering the inaccuracy of reflector dip estimates at and near the discontinuous structures such as fault and unconformities, we use the seismic instantaneous phase attribute to improve the quality of the generated horizon patches. We generate horizons by merging the residual horizon patches and only outputting the best horizon in each iteration. Our method is capable of generating a horizon for each reflection within the 3D seismic survey, and the generated horizons strictly follow the seismic reflections over the whole seismic survey. Finally, each time sample of seismic traces is assigned a chronostratigraphic relative geologic time value according to the tracked horizons.
Seismic trace interpolation for irregularly spatial sampled data using convolutional autoencoder
Authors: Wang Yingying , Wang Benfeng , Tu Ning , Geng Jianhua
Published: November 2019

Seismic trace interpolation is an important technique because irregular or insufficient sampling data along the spatial direction may lead to inevitable errors in multiple suppression, imaging, and inversion. Many interpolation methods have been studied for irregularly sampled data. Inspired by the working idea of the autoencoder and convolutional neural network, we have performed seismic trace interpolation by using the convolutional autoencoder (CAE). The irregularly sampled data are taken as corrupted data. By using a training data set including pairs of the corrupted and complete data, CAE can automatically learn to extract features from the corrupted data and reconstruct the complete data from the extracted features. It can avoid some assumptions in the traditional trace interpolation method such as the linearity of events, low-rankness, or sparsity. In addition, once the CAE network training is completed, the corrupted seismic data can be interpolated immediately with very low computational cost. A CAE network composed of three convolutional layers and three deconvolutional layers is designed to explore the capabilities of CAE-based seismic trace interpolation for an irregularly sampled data set. To solve the problem of rare complete shot gathers in field data applications, the trained network on synthetic data is used as an initialization of the network training on field data, called the transfer learning strategy. Experiments on synthetic and field data sets indicate the validity and flexibility of the trained CAE. Compared with the curvelet-transform-based method, CAE can lead to comparable or better interpolation performances efficiently. The transfer learning strategy enhances the training efficiency on field data and improves the interpolation performance of CAE with limited training data.
On energy-momentum tensors and proton structure
Authors: Trinhammer Ole L.
Published: November 2019

We discuss baryonic energy-momentum tensors (EMT). The quantum nature of the particle is reflected in the square of the components of the energy-momentum tensor being proportional to interior probability densities depending on dynamical intrinsic configuration variables. We exemplify by an approximate protonic state from which we determine density distributions. We find a mass density vanishing at the centre.
Relationship of Total and Free 25-Hydroxyvitamin D to Biomarkers and Metabolic Indices in Healthy Children
Authors: Simpson Christine A , Zhang Jane H , Vanderschueren Dirk , Fu Lei , Pennestri Teresita C , Bouillon Roger , Cole David E C , Carpenter Thomas O
Published: November 2019

Context

Vitamin D status is usually assessed by serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (t25-OHD). Whether free 25-hydroxyvitamin D measures better correlate with various clinical outcomes is unclear.

Objective

To identify correlations between t25-OHD, calculated and direct measures of free 25-OHD, and to identify associations of these measures with other outcomes in children, across the 6 common GC haplotypes.

Design

Healthy urban-dwelling children underwent measurement of relevant variables.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Participants

The study included 203 healthy, urban-dwelling children, aged 6 months to 10 years, predominantly of Hispanic background and representative of all common GC haplotypes.

Intervention

None.

Main Outcome Measures

Total and free 25-OHD and 1,25(OH)2D, calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), glucose, insulin, aldosterone, and renin.

Results

Mean t25-OHD [26.3 ± 6.7ng/ml; 65.8 ± 16.8nmol/L] were lowest in the GC2 genotype. Mean t1,25(OH)2D [57.6 ± 16.5pg/ml; 143.9 ± 41.3pmol/L], were lowest in GC1f/1f, GC1f/2, and GC2/2 groups. T25-OHD correlated strongly with calculated free 25-OHD (cf25-OHD) (r = 0.89) and moderately with directly measured free 25-OHD (dmf25-OHD) (r = 0.69). Cf25-OHD correlated with dmf25-OHD (r = 0.69) (P < 0.001 for all). t25-OHD inversely correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r=-0.191; P = 0.006), skin reflectometry, and systolic blood pressure. T25-OHD correlated with fasting insulin and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), however significance for these correlations was not evident after adjustment for BMI. PTH inversely correlated with all measures of 25-OHD, but most strongly with t25-OHD.

Conclusions

Measures of circulating total and free 25-OHD are comparable measures of vitamin D status in heathy children. Correlations are similar with other outcome variables, however t25-OHD remains the strongest correlate of circulating PTH and other variables. These data argue against routine refinement of the t25-OHD measure using currently available assessments of free 25-OHD.

Clinical Trial Information

Clinicaltrials.gov registration no: NCT01050387 (January 15, 2010).
Variation in limb loading magnitude and timing in tetrapods
Authors: Granatosky Michael C. , McElroy Eric J. , Lemelin Pierre , Reilly Stephen M. , Nyakatura John A. , Andrada Emanuel , Kilbourne Brandon M. , Allen Vivian R. , Butcher Michael T. , Blob Richard W. , Ross Callum F.
Published: November 2019

Comparative analyses of locomotion in tetrapods reveal two patterns of stride cycle variability. Tachymetabolic tetrapods (birds and mammals) have lower inter-cycle variation in stride duration than bradymetabolic tetrapods (amphibians, lizards, turtles, and crocodilians). This pattern has been linked to the fact that birds and mammals share enlarged cerebella, relatively enlarged and heavily myelinated Ia afferents, and γ-motoneurons to their muscle spindles. Tachymetabolic tetrapod lineages also both possess an encapsulated Golgi tendon morphology, thought to provide more spatially precise information on muscle tension. The functional consequence of this derived Golgi tendon morphology has never been tested. We hypothesized that one advantage of precise information on muscle tension would be lower and more predictable limb bone stresses, achieved in tachymetabolic tetrapods by having less variable substrate reaction forces than bradymetabolic tetrapods. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed hindlimb substrate reaction forces during locomotion of 55 tetrapod species in a phylogenetic comparative framework. Variation in species-means of limb loading magnitude and timing confirm that, for most of the variables analyzed, variance in hindlimb loading and timing is significantly lower in species with encapsulated versus unencapsulated Golgi tendon organs. These findings suggest that maintaining predictable limb loading provides a selective advantage for birds and mammals by allowing for energy-savings during locomotion, lower limb bone safety factors, and quicker recovery from perturbations. The importance of variation in other biomechanical variables in explaining these patterns, such as posture, effective mechanical advantage, and center-of-mass mechanics, remains to be clarified.
Visual system development of the spotted unicornfish, Naso brevirostris (Acanthuridae)
Authors: Tettamanti Valerio , de Busserolles Fanny , Lecchini David , Marshall N. Justin , Cortesi Fabio
Published: November 2019

Ontogenetic changes of the visual system are often correlated to shifts in habitat and feeding behaviour of animals. Coral reef fishes begin their lives in the pelagic zone and then migrate to the reef. This habitat transition frequently involves a change in diet and light environment as well as major morphological modifications. The spotted unicornfish, Naso brevirostris, is known to shift diet from zooplankton to algae and back to mainly zooplankton when transitioning from larval to juvenile and then to adult stages. Concurrently, N. brevirostris also moves from an open pelagic to a coral-associated habitat before migrating up in the water column when reaching adulthood. Using retinal mapping techniques, we discovered that the distribution and density of ganglion and photoreceptor cells in N. brevirostris mostly changes during the transition from the larval to the juvenile stage, with only minor modifications thereafter. Similarly, visual gene (opsin) expression based on RNA sequencing, although qualitatively similar between stages (all fishes mainly expressed the same three cone opsins; SWS2B, RH2B, RH2A), also showed the biggest quantitative difference when transitioning from larvae to juveniles. The juvenile stage in particular seems mismatched with its reef-associated ecology, which may be due to this stage only lasting a fraction of the lifespan of these fishes. Hence, the visual ontogeny found in N. brevirostris is very different from the progressive changes found in other reef fishes calling for a thorough analysis of visual system development of the reef fish community.
Maimonides Rule Redux
Authors: Angrist Joshua D. , Lavy Victor , Leder-Luis Jetson , Shany Adi
Published: November 2019

We use Maimonides’ rule as an instrument for class size in large Israeli samples from 2002–2011. In contrast with Angrist and Lavy (1999), newer estimates show no evidence of class size effects. The new data also reveal enrollment manipulation near Maimonides cutoffs. A modified rule that uses birthdays to impute enrollment circumvents manipulation while still generating precisely estimated zeros. In both old and new data, Maimonides’ rule is unrelated to socioeconomic characteristics conditional on a few controls. Enrollment manipulation therefore appears to be innocuous. We briefly discuss possible explanations for the disappearance of Israeli class size effects since the early 1990s. (JEL C38, H52, I21, I28)
Measuring Success in Education: The Role of Effort on the Test Itself
Authors: Gneezy Uri , List John A. , Livingston Jeffrey A. , Qin Xiangdong , Sadoff Sally , Xu Yang
Published: November 2019

US students often rank poorly on standardized tests that estimate and compare educational achievements. We investigate whether this might reflect not only differences in ability but also differences in effort on the test. We experimentally offer students incentives to put forth effort in two US high schools and four Shanghai high schools. US students improve performance substantially in response to incentives, while Shanghai students—who are top performers on assessments—do not. These results raise the possibility that ranking countries based on low-stakes assessments may not reflect only differences in ability, but also motivation to perform well on the test. (JEL C93, I21, I26, O15, P36)
The L-platform/L-scaffold framework: a blueprint for RNA-cleaving nucleic acid enzyme design
Authors: Gaines Colin S. , Piccirilli Joseph A. , York Darrin M.
Published: November 2019

We develop an L-platform/L-scaffold framework we hypothesize may serve as a blueprint to facilitate site-specific RNA-cleaving nucleic acid enzyme design. Building on the L-platform motif originally described by Suslov and coworkers, we identify new critical scaffolding elements required to anchor a conserved general base guanine (“L-anchor”) and bind functionally important metal ions at the active site (“L-pocket”). Molecular simulations, together with a broad range of experimental structural and functional data, connect the L-platform/L-scaffold elements to necessary and sufficient conditions for catalytic activity. We demonstrate that the L-platform/L-scaffold framework is common to five of the nine currently known naturally occurring ribozyme classes (Twr, HPr, VSr, HHr, Psr), and intriguingly from a design perspective, the framework also appears in an artificially engineered DNAzyme (8–17dz). The flexibility of the L-platform/L-scaffold framework is illustrated on these systems, highlighting modularity and trends in the variety of known general acid moieties that are supported. These trends give rise to two distinct catalytic paradigms, building on the classifications proposed by Wilson and coworkers and named for the implicated general base and acid. The “G + A” paradigm (Twr, HPr, VSr) exclusively utilizes nucleobase residues for chemistry, and the “G + M + ” paradigm (HHr, 8–17dz, Psr) involves structuring of the “L-pocket” metal ion binding site for recruitment of a divalent metal ion that plays an active role in the chemical steps of the reaction. Finally, the modularity of the L-platform/L-scaffold framework is illustrated in the VS ribozyme where the “L-pocket” assumes the functional role of the “L-anchor” element, highlighting a distinct mechanism, but one that is functionally linked with the hammerhead ribozyme.
Evidence-based Clinical Decision Support Systems for the prediction and detection of three disease states in critical care: A systematic literature review
Authors: Medic Goran , Kosaner Kließ Melodi , Atallah Louis , Weichert Jochen , Panda Saswat , Postma Maarten , EL-Kerdi Amer
Published: November 2019

Background:Clinical decision support (CDS) systems have emerged as tools providing intelligent decision making to address challenges of critical care. CDS systems can be based on existing guidelines or best practices; and can also utilize machine learning to provide a diagnosis, recommendation, or therapy course.

Methods:This research aimed to identify evidence-based study designs and outcome measures to determine the clinical effectiveness of clinical decision support systems in the detection and prediction of hemodynamic instability, respiratory distress, and infection within critical care settings. PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were systematically searched to identify primary research published in English between 2013 and 2018. Studies conducted in the USA, Canada, UK, Germany and France with more than 10 participants per arm were included.

Results:In studies on hemodynamic instability, the prediction and management of septic shock were the most researched topics followed by the early prediction of heart failure. For respiratory distress, the most popular topics were pneumonia detection and prediction followed by pulmonary embolisms. Given the importance of imaging and clinical notes, this area combined Machine Learning with image analysis and natural language processing. In studies on infection, the most researched areas were the detection, prediction, and management of sepsis, surgical site infections, as well as acute kidney injury. Overall, a variety of Machine Learning algorithms were utilized frequently, particularly support vector machines, boosting techniques, random forest classifiers and neural networks. Sensitivity, specificity, and ROC AUC were the most frequently reported performance measures.

Conclusion:This review showed an increasing use of Machine Learning for CDS in all three areas. Large datasets are required for training these algorithms; making it imperative to appropriately address, challenges such as class imbalance, correct labelling of data and missing data. Recommendations are formulated for the development and successful adoption of CDS systems.
Perceived facilitators and barriers of enrolment, participation and adherence to a family based structured lifestyle modification interventions in Kerala, India: A qualitative study
Authors: Joseph Linju M. , Lekha T. R. , Boban Dona , Jose Prinu , Jeemon Panniyammakal
Published: November 2019

Background: The objective of the study was to describe participants’ and providers’ perspectives of barriers and facilitators of enrolment, participation and adherence to a structured lifestyle modification (SLM) interventions as part of the PROLIFIC trial in Kerala, India.

Methods: Family members who had been enrolled for 12-months or more in a family-based cardiovascular risk reduction intervention study (PROLIFIC Trial) were purposively sampled and interviewed using a semi-structured guide. The non-physician health workers (NPHWs) delivering the intervention were also interviewed or included in focus groups (FGDs). Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

Results: In total, 56 in-depth interviews and three FGDs were conducted. The descriptive themes emerged were categorised as (a) motivation for enrolment and engagement in the SLM interventions, (b) facilitators of adherence, and (c) reasons for non-adherence. A prior knowledge of familial cardiovascular risk, preventive nature of the programme, and a reputed organisation conducting the intervention study were appealing to the participants. Simple suggestions of healthier alternatives based on existing dietary practices, involvement of the whole family, and the free annual blood tests amplified the adherence. Participants highlighted regular monitoring of risk factors and provision of home-based care by NPHWs as facilitators for adherence. Furthermore, external motivation by NPHWs in setting and tracking short terms goals were perceived as enablers of adherence. Nonetheless, home makers expressed difficulty in dealing with varied food choices of family members. Young adults in the programme noted that dietary changes were affected by eating out as they wanted to fit in with peers.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that a family-based, trained healthcare worker led SLM interventions are desirable and feasible in Kerala. Increasing the number of visits by NPHWs, regular monitoring and tracking of lifestyle goals, and targeting young adults and children for dietary changes may further improve adherence to SLM interventions.
Game-Theory Modeling of Decisions of Electronic Educational Resources Producers
Authors: Vlasov Dmitriy
Published: November 2019

The purpose of article is representation of results of construction and a research of model of development of strategic decisions of producers of the electronic educational resources having essential value for formation of the uniform educational environment and digitalization of education. The presented ideas in the field of creation of game-theoretic models and also mechanisms of use Wolfram-of technologies game-theoretic models can be useful to managers in the field of risk to a research, to experts, economists and managers. From the methodical point of view, the presented possibilities of modeling of decisions of producers of electronic educational resources are of interest to improvement of quality of applied mathematical training of future bachelor of economy.
Physical activity as one of the elements of healthy behavior. Comparative analysis of 11-, 12- and 13-year-old students in selected schools in Poland and Norway
Authors: Kilanowska Jolanta , Muszkieta Radosław
Published: November 2019

Some communities have valued and still value contact with nature and an active lifestyle in its bosom than others. It is worth using the experience of such societies. Norway is definitely a country where such activity has been and is being cultivated in a very effective and common way. The aim of the study was to determine selected aspects of physical activity of students aged 11-13 from Poland and Norway.
Trade-Offs in Online Advertising: Advertising Effectiveness and Annoyance Dynamics Across the Purchase Funnel
Authors: Todri Vilma , Ghose Anindya , Singh Param Vir
Published: November 2019

In this study, we capture the trade-off between effective and annoying display advertising. We investigate both the enduring impact of display advertising on consumers' purchase decisions and the potential of persistent display advertising to stimulate annoyance in consumers. Additionally, we study the structural dynamics of these advertising effects by allowing them to be contingent on the latent state of the purchase funnel in which each consumer resides. The findings, based on the hidden Markov model that we propose, demonstrate that a tension exists between generating interest and triggering annoyance in consumers; whereas display advertising has an enduring impact on transitioning consumers farther down the purchase funnel, persistent display advertising exposures beyond a frequency threshold can have an adverse effect by increasing the chances that consumers will be annoyed. Investigating the dynamics of these annoyance effects, we reveal that consumers who reside in different stages of the purchase funnel exhibit considerably different tolerance for annoyance stimulation. Our findings also reveal that the format of display advertisements and the level of diversification of ad creatives as well as consumer demographics moderate consumers' thresholds for annoyance elicitation. For instance, advertisers can reduce annoyance elicitation as a result of frequent display advertising exposures when they diversify the display ad creatives shown to consumers as well as when they use static rather than animated display ads.
Getting to Know You: Motivating Cross-Understanding for Improved Team and Individual Performance
Authors: Janardhanan Niranjan S. , Lewis Kyle , Reger Rhonda K. , Stevens Cynthia K.
Published: November 2019

Many contemporary organizations depend on team-based organizing to achieve high performance, innovate services and products, and adapt to environmental turbulence. Significant research focuses on understanding how teams develop, assimilate, and apply diverse information; yet, organizational practices have evolved in new ways that are not fully explored in the teams literature. Individuals with diverse motivations, knowledge, and perspectives are often assigned to teams, creating burdens for members to develop effective ways to work together, learn from each other, and achieve goals amid the complexity of today’s organizational contexts. In this paper, we examine a multilevel model of how team goal orientation affects cross-understanding—the extent to which team members understand the other members’ mental models—which in turn, affects team and individual performance. We examine these effects using 160 teams of 859 participants who completed a semester-long business simulation. Findings show that the more team members are motivated by learning goals, the greater a team’s cross-understanding and subsequent team and individual performance. These effects are dampened when members are motivated by performance goals—to avoid mistakes or prove competence. This study expands the cross-understanding literature, revealing motivational antecedents that explain why some teams develop higher cross-understanding than others. We also contribute to the goal orientation literature by demonstrating that team goal orientation influences members’ learning about other members and in so doing, also affects team and individual performance. Because team motivation can be influenced by organizational practices, our findings also contribute practical insights for organizational leaders.
A LITERATURA ENGAJADA EM BELOVED, DE TONI MORRISON
Authors: Luiz Tiago Marques , Lourenço Lucilia Teodora Villela de Leitgeb
Published: November 2019

Este trabalho tem como objetivo demonstrar a importância da matéria lingüística na literatura demonstrando resistência em comparação ao nominado inglês padrão. No primeiro momento, são usadas relações específicas do uso do inglês vernáculo negro em detalhes para indicar a resistência da temática na escrita de Morrison em comparação com o padrão inglês padrão. O corpus escolhido para este artigo é Beloved, de Toni Morrison, onde o uso do dialeto inglês vernáculo afro-americano estudado por Labov entre outros estudiosos se faz presente. A autora circunscreve sua escrita no movimento pelos direitos civis recomendado por Martin Luther King. Tais características linguísticas que permeiam a escrita de Morrison são peculiares a um seleto grupo de falantes perpetuado pela segregação estabelecida pela maioria branca e por estar presente na materialidade literária, demonstra sua natureza cronológica e sociológica de resistência. No primeiro momento, as seleções específicas do uso do vernáculo Black English em detalhes são usadas para provar a resistência do tema nos escritos de Morrison.
Automating, Analyzing and Improving Pupillometry with Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Kalmár György , Büki Alexandra , Kékesi Gabriella , Horváth Gyöngyi , Nyúl László G.
Published: November 2019

The investigation of the pupillary light reflex (PLR) is a well-known method to provide information about the functionality of the autonomic nervous system. Pupillometry, a non-invasive technique, was applied to study the PLR alterations in a new, schizophrenia-like rat substrain, named WISKET. The pupil responses to light impulses were recorded with an infrared camera; the videos were automatically processed and features were extracted. Besides the classical statistical analysis (ANOVA), feature selection and classification were applied to reveal the significant differences in the PLR parameters between the control and WISKET animals. Based on these results, the disadvantages of this method were analyzed and the measurement process was redesigned and improved. The automated pupil detection method has also been adapted to the new videos. 2564 images were annotated manually and used to train a fully-convolutional neural network to produce pupil mask images. The method was evaluated on 329 test images and achieved 4% median relative error. With the new setup, the pupil detection became reliable and the new data acquisition offers robustness to the experiments.
The Logic of Aggregated Data
Authors: Gelsema Tjalling
Published: November 2019

A notion of generalization-specialization is introduced that is more expressive than the usual notion from, e.g., the UML or RDF-based languages. This notion is incorporated in a typed formal language for modeling aggregated data. Soundness with respect to a sets-and-functions semantics is shown subsequently. Finally, a notion of congruence is introduced. With it terms in the language that have identical semantics, i.e., synonyms, can be discovered. The resulting formal language is well-suited for capturing faithfully aggregated data in such a way that it can serve as the foundation for corporate metadata management in a statistical office.