bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling Annual Southern Appalachian Acorn Production Using Visual Surveys
Authors: Greenberg Cathryn H. 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTAcorn production varies considerably among species, locations, and years with potential effects on populations of acorn‐consuming wildlife, oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration, and forest ecology. Methods to estimate annual acorn crop size include acorn‐trapping (quantitative) or visual surveys (indices or ranks). Forest managers need a tool for converting visual survey data to quantitative estimates of acorn yield within specific years and areas. I used 7 years (2006–2010, 2012, 2016) of visual acorn survey data with acorn trap data from the same individual trees of 5 common eastern oak species in the Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina, USA, to determine whether a known within‐year relationship between the proportion of oaks bearing acorns (PBA) and acorn density using trap data (PBA‐trap) could be used to predict quantitative (no. of acorns per oak), within‐year acorn crops using visual survey data (PBA‐visual). At the individual tree level, visually determined percent crown with acorns (PCA‐visual) and number of acorns/m2 trap or per crown were correlated for all oak subgroups (species, subgenera, and all oaks combined). At the population level, mean PCA‐visual was correlated with the mean number of acorns/m2 trap or per crown for black oak (Q. velutina). Both PBA‐visual and mean PCA‐visual, and PBA‐visual and PBA‐trap were correlated for all oak subgroups. At the population level, PBA‐visual was a strong predictor of the mean number of acorns/m2 trap or per crown for most oak subgroups. Model results can be used as an index of crop size by comparing number of acorns/m2 trap or per crown among years or applied to oak inventory data to quantitatively estimate annual acorn crop sizes at the stand level or landscape level. This method enables users to estimate and compare the number of acorns produced within specific years and landscapes, rather than rely on qualitative hard‐mast indices. Published 2020. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Covariant formulation of BPS black holes and the scalar weak gravity conjecture
Authors: Dall’Agata Gianguido , Morittu Matteo 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
In this note we analyze the BPS black hole equations in extended supergravities and we find two interesting relations involving first and second derivatives of combinations of the central charges. One relation is a new identity that solely relies on the geometric properties of the scalar manifolds of extended supergravity theories. The other relation is a generalization of a scalar weak gravity conjecture relation conjectured by Palti and uses properties of the underlying black hole solution. We also provide for the first time an explicit covariant construction of the BPS squared action for such solutions.
Associations of birthweight and history of childhood obesity with beta cell mass in Japanese adults
Authors: Sasaki Hironobu , Saisho Yoshifumi , Inaishi Jun , Watanabe Yuusuke , Tsuchiya Tami , Makio Masayoshi , Sato Midori , Kitago Minoru , Yamada Taketo , Itoh Hiroshi 
Published: April 2020

Abstract
Aims/hypothesis
Low birthweight is associated with a high risk of diabetes, but there are no reports discussing birthweight and pancreatic tissues in humans. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlation between birthweight and beta and alpha cell mass in humans.

Methods
Sixty-four Japanese adults with and without diabetes who underwent pancreatectomy and were able to recall their weight history including birthweight were included. Pancreatic tissues were stained for insulin and glucagon, and fractional beta cell area (BCA) and alpha cell area (ACA) were quantified. Islet size and density and beta cell replication were also quantified and their associations with birthweight were evaluated.

Results
In participants without diabetes, there was a weak positive correlation between birthweight and BCA (R = 0.34, p = 0.03). The group with a history of childhood obesity, but not the group with a history of obesity in adulthood only, showed higher BCA compared with those without a history of obesity (1.78 ± 0.74% vs 0.99 ± 0.53%, p = 0.01), and the correlation coefficient between birthweight and BCA increased after excluding those with a history of childhood obesity (R = 0.51, p < 0.01). In those with diabetes, there was no correlation between birthweight and BCA. No correlation was found between birthweight and ACA in either those with or without diabetes.

Conclusions/interpretation
Birthweight and beta, but not alpha, cell mass are positively correlated in non-diabetic adults, and a history of childhood obesity may affect beta cell mass.
Subgame perfection in recursive perfect information games
Authors: Kuipers Jeroen , Flesch János , Schoenmakers Gijs , Vrieze Koos 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe consider sequential multi-player games with perfect information and with deterministic transitions. The players receive a reward upon termination of the game, which depends on the state where the game was terminated. If the game does not terminate, then the rewards of the players are equal to zero. We prove that, for every game in this class, a subgame perfect $$\varepsilon $$
ε
-equilibrium exists, for all $$\varepsilon > 0$$

ε
>
0

. The proof is constructive and suggests a finite algorithm to calculate such an equilibrium.
Inter-trial phase coherence of visually evoked postural responses in virtual reality
Authors: Engel David , Schütz Adrian , Krala Milosz , Schwenk Jakob C. B. , Morris Adam P. , Bremmer Frank 
Published: April 2020

AbstractVision plays a central role in maintaining balance. When humans perceive their body as moving, they trigger counter movements. This results in body sway, which has typically been investigated by measuring the body’s center of pressure (COP). Here, we aimed to induce visually evoked postural responses (VEPR) by simulating self-motion in virtual reality (VR) using a sinusoidally oscillating “moving room” paradigm. Ten healthy subjects participated in the experiment. Stimulation consisted of a 3D-cloud of random dots, presented through a VR headset, which oscillated sinusoidally in the anterior–posterior direction at different frequencies. We used a force platform to measure subjects’ COP over time and quantified the resulting trajectory by wavelet analyses including inter-trial phase coherence (ITPC). Subjects exhibited significant coupling of their COP to the respective stimulus. Even when spectral analysis of postural sway showed only small responses in the expected frequency bands (power), ITPC revealed an almost constant strength of coupling to the stimulus within but also across subjects and presented frequencies. Remarkably, ITPC even revealed a strong phase coupling to stimulation at 1.5 Hz, which exceeds the frequency range that has generally been attributed to the coupling of human postural sway to an oscillatory visual scenery. These findings suggest phase-locking to be an essential feature of visuomotor control.
Chronifiziertes malignes Glaukom nach Kataraktoperation
Authors: Wiedenmann Cornelius , Boneva Stefaniya , Anton Alexandra , Reinhard Thomas , Lübke Jan 
Published: April 2020

ZusammenfassungDas maligne Glaukom mehrere Jahre nach Kataraktoperation stellt eine sehr seltene Spätkomplikation dar. Eine zunehmende Myopisierung kann einen frühen Hinweis auf das Entstehen geben. Eine chirurgische Intervention ist oft unumgänglich. Die Druckeinstellung kann wie in unserem Fall aber auch konservativ gelingen. Es kann daher der Situation angepasst und individuell entschieden werden, wie invasiv die Behandlung erfolgen muss und ob eine Vitrektomie zwingend notwendig ist.
Gross and delta efficiencies during uphill running and cycling among elite triathletes
Authors: Carlsson Magnus , Wahrenberg Viktor , Carlsson Marie S. , Andersson Rasmus , Carlsson Tomas 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the gross efficiency (GE) and delta efficiency (DE) during cycling and running in elite triathletes.MethodsFive male and five female elite triathletes completed two incremental treadmill tests with an inclination of 2.5° to determine their GE and DE during cycling and running. The speed increments between the 5-min stages were 2.4 and 0.6 km h−1during the cycling and running tests, respectively. For each test, GE was calculated as the ratio between the mechanical work rate (MWR) and the metabolic rate (MR) at an intensity corresponding to a net increase in blood-lactate concentration of 1 mmol l−1. DE was calculated by dividing the delta increase in MWR by the delta increase in MR for each test. Pearson correlations and paired-samplettests were used to investigate the relationships and differences, respectively.ResultsThere was a correlation between GEcycleand GErun(r = 0.66;P = 0.038;R2 = 0.44), but the correlation between DEcycleand DErunwas not statistically significant (r = − 0.045;P = 0.90;R2 = 0.0020). There were differences between GEcycleand GErun(t = 80.8;P < 0.001) as well as between DEcycleand DErun(t = 27.8;P < 0.001).ConclusionsElite triathletes with high GE during running also have high GE during cycling, when exercising at a treadmill inclination of 2.5°. For a moderate uphill incline, elite triathletes are more energy efficient during cycling than during running, independent of work rate.
Achieving sequential therapy in advanced gastric cancer: the importance of appropriate patient management for the elderly and/or those with ascites
Authors: Hamamoto Yasuo , Piao Yongzhe , Makiyama Akitaka 
Published: April 2020

AbstractTreatment options for patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) are limited. One approach to improving survival in patients with AGC is to optimize the available agents via sequential therapy. However, clinical trial reports of first-line chemotherapy indicate that elderly patients and patients with massive ascites are less likely to receive subsequent lines of therapy. In addition, clinical trials of second- and third-line chemotherapy generally exclude these two patient populations because they are likely to have poor performance status and additional issues that are difficult to manage. Good patient management is likely to be key to the successful use of sequential therapy in these two patient populations by minimizing adverse effects to allow patients to derive benefit from the additional treatment. This narrative review summarizes the available information on AGC treatment and patient management in elderly patients and patients with massive ascites. The available data suggest that elderly patients benefit from chemotherapy; however, monitoring toxicity is essential to avoid chemotherapy-related toxicities. Important aspects of patient management for elderly patients include symptom monitoring, nutritional support, and fall prevention. The available data for patients with massive ascites show limited success for a range of treatment approaches, including systemic chemotherapy. The management of ascites is also challenging, with no clear guidance on the preferred strategies. To address these gaps in knowledge, future clinical trials should incorporate more inclusive eligibility criteria to enroll populations of patients with AGC that are more reflective of the real-world population with respect to age, complications, and overall health status.
On variance estimation under shifts in the mean
Authors: Axt Ieva , Fried Roland 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn many situations, it is crucial to estimate the variance properly. Ordinary variance estimators perform poorly in the presence of shifts in the mean. We investigate an approach based on non-overlapping blocks, which yields good results in change-point scenarios. We show the strong consistency and the asymptotic normality of such blocks-estimators of the variance under independence. Weak consistency is shown for short-range dependent strictly stationary data. We provide recommendations on the appropriate choice of the block size and compare this blocks-approach with difference-based estimators. If level shifts occur frequently and are rather large, the best results can be obtained by adaptive trimming of the blocks.
The Coming Coronavirus Crisis: What Can We Learn?
Authors: Lucchese Matteo , Pianta Mario 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe coronavirus pandemic is bringing with it the prospect of severe financial and economic crises. The article investigates its economic consequences in terms of financial instability, economic recession, lower incomes and policy challenges at the national and European levels. What are some of the lessons that can be learned? This article argues that health is a global public good. Public health and welfare systems are crucial alternatives to the market and universal public health is a key element of an egalitarian policy.
Digitale Innovationen und Technologiesouveränität
Authors: Schieferdecker Ina , March Christoph 
Published: April 2020

ZusammenfassungDigitale Innovationen verändern zunehmend Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Es ist Aufgabe der Politik, diese Veränderungen im Dialog mit der Gesellschaft und im Einklang mit unseren Werten zu gestalten. Technologiesouveränität ist dafür eine wichtige Voraussetzung. Dabei geht es nicht um die Abschottung von internationalen Märkten, sondern um die Fähigkeit, Anforderungen an Technologien zu formulieren und diese am Markt durchzusetzen. Einer integrierten Forschungs- und Innovationspolitik, die die Förderung von Technologieentwicklung, Technologietransfer und Zukunftskompetenzen gleichermaßen in den Blick nimmt und auf europäische Zusammenarbeit setzt, kommt dabei eine zentrale Rolle zu.
Conceptualization of Empowerment and Pathways Through Which Cash Transfers Work to Empower Young Women to Reduce HIV Risk: A Qualitative Study in Tanzania
Authors: Wamoyi Joyce , Balvanz Peter , Atkins Kaitlyn , Gichane Margaret , Majani Esther , Pettifor Audrey , Maman Suzanne 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAlthough cash transfers (CT) are hypothesized to reduce AGYW’s HIV risk, little is known about the mechanisms through which CT empower AGYW. We explored the impact of a CT intervention on AGYW’s sexual decision-making in order to describe the pathways through which the cash may influence risk behavior. The study employed qualitative methods involving: 20 longitudinal in-depth interviews (IDIs), 40 cross-sectional IDIs, 20 narrative IDIs, and two focus group discussions with AGYW ages 15–23 participating in a CT intervention. AGYW’s conceptualized empowerment as: “independence”, “hope and aspiration”. Potential pathways through which CT empowered AGYW were: economic, hope and aspiration for a better future, and access to knowledge. As a result of this empowerment, AGYW reported reductions in transactional sex, experiences of intimate partner violence, and risky-sexual behaviour. A sense of responsibility developed through economic empowerment, enhanced participants’ self-esteem and confidence in decision-making leading to changes in AGYW’s sexual risk behaviors.
Description of Polystyrenella longa gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from polystyrene particles incubated in the Baltic Sea
Authors: Peeters Stijn H. , Wiegand Sandra , Kallscheuer Nicolai , Jogler Mareike , Heuer Anja , Jetten Mike S. M. , Boedeker Christian , Rohde Manfred , Jogler Christian 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPlanctomycetes occur in almost all aquatic ecosystems on earth. They have a remarkable cell biology, and members of the orders Planctomycetales and Pirellulales feature cell division by polar budding, perform a lifestyle switch from sessile to motile cells and have an enlarged periplasmic space. Here, we characterise a novel planctomycetal strain, Pla110T, isolated from the surface of polystyrene particles incubated in the Baltic Sea. After phylogenetic analysis, the strain could be placed in the family Planctomycetaceae. Strain Pla110T performs cell division by budding, has crateriform structures and grows in aggregates or rosettes. The strain is a chemoheterotroph, grows under mesophilic and neutrophilic conditions, and exhibited a doubling time of 21 h. Based on our phylogenetic and morphological characterisation, strain Pla110T (DSM 103387T = LMG 29693T) is concluded to represent a novel species belonging to a novel genus, for which we propose the name Polystyrenella longa gen. nov., sp. nov.
Lignipirellula cremea gen. nov., sp. nov., a planctomycete isolated from wood particles in a brackish river estuary
Authors: Peeters Stijn H. , Wiegand Sandra , Kallscheuer Nicolai , Jogler Mareike , Heuer Anja , Jetten Mike S. M. , Boedeker Christian , Rohde Manfred , Jogler Christian 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA novel planctomycetal strain, designated Pla85_3_4T, was isolated from the surface of wood incubated at the discharge of a wastewater treatment plant in the Warnow river near Rostock, Germany. Cells of the novel strain have a cell envelope architecture resembling that of Gram-negative bacteria, are round to pear-shaped (length: 2.2 ± 0.4 µm, width: 1.2 ± 0.3 µm), form aggregates and divide by polar budding. Colonies have a cream colour. Strain Pla85_3_4T grows at ranges of 10–30 °C (optimum 26 °C) and at pH 6.5–10.0 (optimum 7.5), and has a doubling time of 26 h. Phylogenetically, strain Pla85_3_4T (DSM 103796T = LMG 29741T) is concluded to represent a novel species of a novel genus within the family Pirellulaceae, for which we propose the name Lignipirellula cremea gen. nov., sp. nov.
Scaling Limits for Non-intersecting Polymers and Whittaker Measures
Authors: Johnston Samuel G. G. , O’Connell Neil 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe study the partition functions associated with non-intersecting polymers in a random environment. By considering paths in series and in parallel, the partition functions carry natural notions of subadditivity, allowing the effective study of their asymptotics. For a certain choice of random environment, the geometric RSK correspondence provides an explicit representation of the partition functions in terms of a stochastic interface. Formally this leads to a variational description of the macroscopic behaviour of the interface and hence the free energy of the associated non-intersecting polymer model. At zero temperature we relate this variational description to the Marčenko–Pastur distribution, and give a new derivation of the surface tension of the bead model.
Stable Pontryagin–Thom construction for proper maps
Authors: Csépai András 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe will present proofs for two conjectures stated in Rot (Homotopy classes of proper maps out of vector bundles, 2020. arXiv:1808.08073). The first one is that for an arbitrary manifold W, the homotopy classes of proper maps $$W\times \mathbb {R}^n\rightarrow \mathbb {R}^{k+n}$$W×Rn→Rk+n stabilise as $$n\rightarrow \infty $$n→∞, and the second one is that in a stable range there is a Pontryagin–Thom type bijection for proper maps $$W\times \mathbb {R}^n\rightarrow \mathbb {R}^{k+n}$$W×Rn→Rk+n. The second one actually implies the first one and we shall prove the second one by giving an explicit construction.
Beyond the rhetoric of tech addiction: why we should be discussing tech habits instead (and how)
Authors: Aagaard Jesper 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn the past few years, we have become increasingly focused on technology use that is impulsive, unthinking, and distractive. There has been a strong push to understand such technology use in terms of dopamine addiction. The present article demonstrates the limitations of this so-called neurobehaviorist approach: Not only is it inconsistent in regard to how it understands humans, technologies, and their mutual relationship, it also pathologizes everyday human behaviors. The article proceeds to discuss dual-systems theory, which helpfully discusses impulsive technology use in terms of habit instead of addiction, but can be criticized for its mentalist celebration of conscious control. Finally, the article introduces a phenomenological approach whose conceptualization of habit manifests many of the experiential qualities that we try to capture with addiction, but remains non-pathologizing and opens a space for learning: While tech addiction is bad and must be eliminated, good tech habits can be trained and cultivated.
IPSI vs CONTRA TRAM—Old Doubts New Answers: Evaluation TRAM Flap Survival with Static and Active Dynamic Thermography in Pedicled Flap Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Jankau Jerzy , Kolacz Szymon , Moderhak Mateusz 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBreast reconstruction is increasingly being considered as the next step in breast cancer treatment. There are many ways to recreate a new breast mound. In current times, the trend for breast reconstruction is reconstruction microsurgery which is the method of choice, but newcomers should know the alternative traditional methods. Since 1982 the pedicled TRAM (trans rectus abdominal myocutaneous) flap has become one of the most popular autologous tissue breast reconstruction procedures. It has also been debated for many years which method of transferring the tissue island is more reliable and has fewer complications—IPSI vs CONTRA [1]. The reasons for complications are the manner of twisting the nourishing blood supply and the tension due to the distance of the pedicle in both procedures [2]. Static thermography and dynamic thermography seem to provide the solution. In our experiment, we measured the medial surface temperature of flaps using static thermography and active dynamic thermography. The results were compared against the number of flap failures in each type of reconstruction. The study was conducted on a group of 20 female patients who underwent breast reconstruction.
Effect of Sleep Disorder on Delirium in Post-Cardiac Surgery Patients
Authors: Wang Hongbai , Zhang Liang , Luo Qipeng , Li Yinan , Yan Fuxia 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT:Background:Post-cardiac surgery patients exhibit a higher incidence of postoperative delirium (PD) compared to non-cardiac surgery patients. Patients with various cardiac diseases suffer from preoperative sleep disorder (SPD) induced by anxiety, depression, breathing disorder, or other factors.Objective:To examine the effect of sleep disorder on delirium in post-cardiac surgery patients.Methods:We prospectively selected 186 patients undergoing selective cardiac valve surgery. Preoperative sleep quality and cognitive function of all eligible participants were assessed through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, respectively. The Confusion Assessment Method for Intensive Care Unit was used to assess PD from the first to seventh day postoperatively. Patients were divided into two groups according to the PD diagnosis: (1) No PD group and (2) the PD group.Results:Of 186 eligible patients, 29 (15.6%) were diagnosed with PD. A univariate analysis showed that gender (p = 0.040), age (p = 0.009), SPD (p = 0.008), intraoperative infusion volume (p = 0.034), postoperative intubation time (p = 0.001), and intensive care unit stay time (p = 0.009) were associated with PD. A multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age (odds ratio (OR): 1.106; p = 0.001) and SPD (OR: 3.223; p = 0.047) were independently associated with PD. A receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated that preoperative PSQI was predictive of PD (area under curve: 0.706; 95% confidence interval: 0.595–0.816). A binomial logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant association between preoperative 6 and 21 PSQI scores and PD incidence (p = 0.009).Conclusions:Preoperative SPD was significantly associated with PD and a main predictor of PD.