bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Environmental variables vis-a-vis distribution of herbaceous tracheophytes on northern sub-slopes in Western Himalayan ecotone
Authors: Pandita Shevita , Kumar Vinod , Dutt Harish Chander 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
In the northern hemisphere, the north face of the mountains has a high diversity of species which is attributed to the moist and shady conditions at the north face. Other environmental variables may also influence the species diversity on the northern faces of the mountain and therefore needs to be studied in detail. The northern slopes represent three different sub-slopes—north, north east, and north west. During the current investigation of Pir-Panjal and Dauladhar ranges in Bhadarwah valley, fine-scale studies on the relationship between vegetation and four variables (soil pH, moisture content, electrical conductivity, and steepness) were conducted. The study determined the role of these variables on the vegetation of three different sub-slopes. The sampling was done at the confluence of two communities (forest and grassland) at three sites on the northern sub-slopes of the lesser stratum in western Himalayan.

Results
The result revealed that rich herbaceous diversity prevails on the lesser Himalayan stratum (Bhadarwah valley). As many as 65.8% species differ from site to site, whereas species commonality among the sites is minimum. The role of environmental variables on the species composition at different sub-slopes of the north mountain face is deduced through canonical correspondence analysis (CCA).

Conclusions
The availability of solar light increases air and soil temperature on the north east–facing slope. All the environmental variables (soil pH, moisture, electrical conductivity, and mountain steepness) are insignificant at pure north face for the species composition. Therefore, it can be concluded that some other environmental variables may influence the species composition which are needed to be further investigated.
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

AbstractIn 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

AbstractThe 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

AbstractSmart 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

AbstractThe 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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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

Abstract
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.
On energy-momentum tensors and proton structure
Authors: Trinhammer Ole L. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
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.