bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incubation recess behaviors influence nest survival of Wild Turkeys
Authors: Bakner Nicholas W. , Schofield Landon R. , Cedotal Cody , Chamberlain Michael J. , Collier Bret A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn ground nesting upland birds, reproductive activities contribute to elevated predation risk, so females presumably use multiple strategies to ensure nest success. Identification of drivers reducing predation risk has primarily focused on evaluating vegetative conditions at nest sites, but behavioral decisions manifested through movements during incubation may be additional drivers of nest survival. However, our understanding of how movements during incubation impact nest survival is limited for most ground nesting birds. Using GPS data collected from female Eastern Wild Turkeys (n = 206), we evaluated nest survival as it relates to movement behaviors during incubation, including recess frequency, distance traveled during recesses, and habitat selection during recess movements. We identified 9,361 movements off nests and 6,529 recess events based on approximately 62,065 hr of incubation data, and estimated mean nest attentiveness of 84.0%. The numbers of recesses taken daily were variable across females (range: 1‒7). Nest survival modeling indicated that increased cumulative distance moved during recesses each day was the primary driver of positive daily nest survival. Our results suggest behavioral decisions are influencing trade‐offs between nest survival and adult female survival during incubation to reduce predation risk, specifically through adjustments to distances traveled during recesses.
Ecohydrogeochemical functioning of coastal freshwater herbaceous wetlands in the Protected Natural Area, Ciénaga del Fuerte (American tropics): Spatiotemporal behaviour
Authors: Sánchez‐Higueredo Lorena Elisa , Ramos‐Leal José Alfredo , Morán‐Ramírez Janete , Moreno‐Casasola Barceló Patricia , Rodríguez‐Robles Ulises , Hernández Alarcón María Elizabeth 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCoastal zones are characterized by the interactions between continents and oceans and, therefore, between fresh and salt surface and groundwater. The wetlands of coastal zones represent transitional ecosystems that are affected by these conditions, although little is known about the hydrogeochemistry of wetlands, especially coastal wetlands. In the present study, the hydrogeochemical characterization of coastal freshwater herbaceous wetlands in the Ciénaga del Fuerte Protected Natural Area in Veracruz, Mexico, in the American tropics was carried out per plant community. Four herbaceous wetlands (alligator flag, saw grass, cattail, and floodplain pasture) were monitored to understand the origin of the water feeding these ecosystems, the hydrogeochemical composition of groundwater, and the relationship between the groundwater and ecology of these ecosystems during dry and rainy seasons. The results indicate that Ciénaga del Fuerte is located in a regional discharge area and receives local recharge, so it is fed by both regional and local flows. The chemical composition varied temporally and spatially, creating unique conditions that determined the habitat occupied by the hydrophytic vegetation. The spatiotemporal behaviour of groundwater is one factor that, along with the hydroperiod, determines wetland dynamics and affects wetland biota (ecohydrogeochemistry). Generalist plant communities established in zones of local recharge, whereas other more specialized and/or plastic communities inhabited zones receiving regional flows with greater ion concentrations. This information forms the basis for establishing an appropriate scale (municipal, state, or larger regions) for the sustainable management of goods and services provided by the wetlands.
Limited impacts of experimental flow releases on water quality and macroinvertebrate community composition in an upland regulated river
Authors: Gillespie Ben R. , Kay Paul , Brown Lee E. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRiver regulation following the construction of dams has affected the hydrology, water quality, and biology of watercourses across the globe. The term “environmental flows” has been used to describe measures that can be employed to return some lost elements of the natural flow regime. Their introduction has been suggested as a way to mitigate the impacts of river regulation throughout the world, but understanding of the effects of artificial high flows on water quality and biota is limited for many different river types. We report a field study that manipulated compensation flows from reservoirs in the Pennine uplands of northern England and measured changes in water quality and benthic macroinvertebrates using a before‐after‐control‐impact approach. These resulted in minor short‐term changes in water quality, but there was no evidence of immediate (within 48 hr) responses by the macroinvertebrate community to individual flow releases. However, a shift in macroinvertebrate community composition was found after multiple releases, characterized by reductions in Amphinemura sulcicollis (Plecoptera) and Baetis rhodani (Ephemeroptera) and changes in the density of all Diptera. The introduction of short‐term flow pulses in flashy regulated river systems is unlikely to yield significant changes in water quality and biota. Nevertheless, cumulative rather than single environmental flow events show promise for mitigating some of the impacts of river regulation. More widely, our findings indicate that environmental flow releases from reservoirs may have to go beyond occasional experimental high flow releases if these rivers are to more closely mimic unregulated river systems.
Summer stream temperature changes following forest harvest in the headwaters of the Trask River watershed, Oregon Coast Range
Authors: Reiter Maryanne , Johnson Sherri L. , Homyack Jessica , Jones Jay E. , James Peter L. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe Trask River Watershed Study in the northern Oregon Coast Range was designed to examine physical, chemical, and biological effects of contemporary forest management practices on aquatic ecosystems. We measured stream temperature for 11 summers in 15 small watersheds, eight of which were harvested in 2012. Three riparian buffer treatments, which varied by landowner, were implemented. Using half‐hourly data, we characterized summer water temperature distributions with five percentiles: 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th. Each percentile was analysed as a separate response variable using a linear mixed model. After harvest, streams without overstory buffer requirements showed shifts in all the percentiles of the temperature distribution; the largest increase (3.6°C) occurred at the 95th percentile. Sites with narrow riparian buffers showed little to no change. We also calculated changes in duration of thermal exposure above 15°C and 16°C for two species of native stream amphibians; these temperatures occurred 4.7% and 1.3% of the time postharvest in the sites clearcut with no buffer. Analysis of distributions of summer temperatures preharvest and postharvest enabled us to more fully characterize site‐to‐site variability and responses to forest management.
To list or not to list: using time since invasion to refine impact assessment for an exotic plant proposed as noxious
Authors: Ortega Yvette K. , Valliant Morgan T. , Pearson Dean E. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMethods that allow rapid and robust evaluation of plant invader impacts are needed to identify problematic species before they become too widespread to effectively manage. While observational data can be readily gathered to identify negative relationships between invading and native species, these patterns are not necessarily indicative of invader impact and may instead reflect the legacy of past conditions influencing invasibility. We augmented standard observational methods by using local‐scale time‐since‐invasion information in conjunction with rapidly gathered plant abundance data to evaluate potential impacts of common buckthorn (Ramnus cathartica), a woody exotic in the early stages of invasion in Montana, USA. This species occurred as scattered populations of limited distribution and was proposed for listing as a state noxious weed, but empirical information on ecological impacts in the region was lacking. We recorded cover of understory and overstory plants across gradients of buckthorn invasion at 12 riparian sites representing five river drainages throughout the state. Uninvaded plots were located proximal to invaded plots at each site. Time since invasion per plot was approximated by aging buckthorn plants via annual rings. We found strong negative correlations between cover of native plants and buckthorn. In addition, buckthorn overstory cover increased with time since invasion, while native overstory cover decreased with invasion time, consistent with an impact scenario wherein the progression of invasion and associated increases in invader abundance suppressed native taxa. Although environmental factors that simultaneously promoted the increase of invaders and the decline of natives over time could have produced patterns mimicking invader impact, such a mechanism would have been more likely to manifest at broad scales to affect both uninvaded and invaded plots at a site. Our approach of using local‐scale time‐since‐invasion data to examine temporal signatures strengthened inferences made from standard observational methods and provided key input to support the listing of an emerging invader as a noxious weed in Montana. These results suggest that rapid empirical assessments of plant communities that consider time since invasion could be used to more confidently evaluate invader impacts and better inform the listing process for noxious and other regulated species.
Schmidt hammer and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) used to detect single‐event displacements on the Pleasant Valley fault (Nevada, USA)
Authors: Stahl Timothy , Tye Alexander 
Published: November 2019

ABSTRACTChanges in surface roughness on carbonate fault scarps often reflect varying durations of subaerial weathering. On the Pleasant Valley fault in central Nevada, the documentation of a surface rupture in 1915, a long recurrence interval of faulting, slow weathering rate, and a relatively high (2–3 m) single‐event displacement make the discrimination of the historical and penultimate slip patches unambiguous. Following from a 2018 study, we used a Schmidt hammer and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to further test whether these weathering patterns delineate exposed slip patches on a fault scarp. Results show that Schmidt hammer rebound value ranges (termed ΔR – the difference between minimum and maximum R‐values in repeat impacts at a point), increase by ~8–10 points across the historical–penultimate event transition zone in two separate scarp transects. TLS‐derived surface roughness also indicates a clear difference between the most recent and penultimate events. The average single‐event displacement (SED) estimated using the Schmidt hammer and TLS is 2.85 m at two transect sites and is roughly equivalent to the visually estimated 3 m. While this fault is an ideal case where we know some of the slip history, the results demonstrate that these techniques show promise for discriminating slip patches on larger carbonate fault scarps with longer paleoearthquake histories, and could be used alongside 36Cl cosmogenic exposure‐age dating to improve paleoseismic records on normal faults. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On finding optimum commuting path in a road network: A computational approach for smart city traveling
Authors: Halim Zahid , Khan Aqsa , Sulaiman Muhammad , Anwar Sajid , Nawaz Muhammad 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCommuting in big cities with heavy traffic is a real‐world task faced by many on a daily basis. Finding a suitable path for commuting in real‐life complex traffic networks is an important research problem with many applications. The existing work in this domain is based on the travel time and distance from source to destination. However, other than these two factors, there are many additional features that impact the overall travel time and its quality. Some of these additional features include environmental factors, road condition, and the traffic flow. The driving time can be minimized by selecting the most suitable path where there is less congestion and other travel related conditions are favorable. Commuting duration can increase even on the shortest path if there is congestion or the route is blocked. This work presents a mobile crowdsourcing‐based model to find suitable commuting path(s) by considering the factors that directly or indirectly influence the overall travel time. Experiment in this work refers the naturalistic driving study to select the travel related features. An algorithm is proposed to find the suitable path from the user provided source to the destination using crowdsourced data generated using mobile application. Unlike other algorithms, the proposed approach can address the network peculiarities where travel cost is not only based on the distance between the nodes but other indirect factors are also involved. This work extracts all possible paths from a source to the destination and then computes the travel cost in terms of distance and satellite factors across the paths. This proposal is evaluated on eight large real‐world road network data sets. A comparison is performed with four state‐of‐the‐art pathfinding methods. These include, Floyd‐Warshall algorithm, Bellman‐Ford algorithm, open shortest path first algorithm, and Dijkstra algorithm. Empirical analysis shows that the additional factors incorporated in the proposed mobile crowdsourcing model while finding a suitable path have a significant impact on the travel time. The results show better performance of the proposed model than its counterparts.
Experimental analysis of received signals strength in Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and its effect on distance and position estimation
Authors: Subhan Fazli , Khan Asfandyar , Saleem Sajid , Ahmed Shakeel , Imran Muhammad , Asghar Zubair , Bangash Javed Iqbal 
Published: November 2019

AbstractReceived Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is the measurement of the power in the radio signal and a parameter for distance‐based measurements. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is an advance implementation for Internet of Things (IoT). BLE beacons‐based indoor positioning systems provide an easy and energy‐efficient, low deployment cost solution for wide variety of applications including smart phones. This paper presents an in‐depth experimental study of BLE RSSI in a dense indoor environment. Due to noise, fluctuations in RSSI occur, which produces distance estimation error, which ultimately affect position estimation accuracy. The main objective of this paper is to know the variations in RSSI and develop a radio propagation model in order to minimize the distance estimation and position estimation error. Based on our real‐time experimental analysis using BLE modules, there is an average 1.32‐m position estimation error in the presence of 10‐dBm variation in RSSI. Moreover, we also observed that environmental specific radio propagation constants greatly affect distance and position estimation accuracy in BLE modules.
Do hospitals respond to decreasing prices by supplying more services?
Authors: Salm Martin , Wübker Ansgar 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRegulated prices are common in markets for medical care. We estimate the effect of changes in regulated reimbursement prices on volume of hospital care based on a reform of hospital financing in Germany. Uniquely, this reform changed the overall level of reimbursement—with increasing prices for some hospitals and decreasing prices for others—without directly affecting the relative prices for different groups of patients or types of treatment. Based on administrative data, we find that hospitals react to increasing prices by decreasing the service supply and to decreasing prices by increasing the service supply. Moreover, we find some evidence that volume changes for hospitals with different price changes are nonlinear. We interpret our findings as evidence for a negative income effect of prices on volume of care.
The relationship between health care providers' perceived work climate, organizational commitment, and caring efficacy at pediatric intensive care units, Cairo University
Authors: Attia Mona Adel Soliman , Youseff Meray Rene Labib , Abd El Fatah Shaimaa A.M. , Ibrahem Sally Kamal , Gomaa Nancy A.S. 
Published: November 2019

SummaryBackgroundHealthy work environment has a significant impact on patients, health care workers, and organizations.ObjectivesIn a trial to set up strategies to control stressors and weaknesses in the work environment, the present study took place in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) to explore the work environment and its impact on the organization commitment and caring efficacy of health care providers.MethodsThis study is a descriptive cross‐sectional study, conducted over a period of 9 months starting from October 2018. A self‐administered questionnaire, based on “The American Association of Critical Care Nurses Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments” and “Brewer & Look's organizational commitment scale and theory of self‐efficacy,” was given to 63 physicians and 73 nurses of PICUs at Cairo University Children Hospital in Egypt.ResultsNurses were significantly more pleased with their work climate and more committed to their organization and had higher self‐efficacy than physicians. A significant direct correlation was detected between healthy environment perception and organizational commitment and between organization commitment and perceived caring efficacy.Conclusion and RecommendationsThe study findings might be incorporated into practice to create a positive PICUs' environment, enhance staff satisfaction, and efficiency to promote quality of care paying attention to the junior staff especially physicians. Additional studies are required to recognize the coping strategies that health care providers use and to test the effectiveness of professional development program along with healthy environment interventions.
“Learn how to hustle for good”: Women's work transitions out of the sex trade
Authors: Deer Shannon , Zarestky Jill , Baumgartner Lisa M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractHuman resource development principles have important applications for everyone, including marginalized populations. Particularly relevant to marginalized groups are issues of work development and growth, as impacted by individuals' confidence and ability to transfer skills to different contexts. In this qualitative study, we explored the experiences of a particular group of marginalized women, namely those transitioning out of the sex trade and into legal employment. Study participants included 10 women who have been out of the sex trade from between 3 and 20 years. We found that, in their transition to lawful work, the women began with low job self‐efficacy. Traditional influencers of self‐efficacy were key to aiding their transitions. The most important factor was reflected efficacy, which occurred through their experiences receiving coaching from leaders of the exit‐assistance organizations and employers. This coaching helped the women reframe their skills and attributes gained in the sex trade into employable qualities valued in lawful work. The present study contributes to our understanding of supervisors' roles in helping employees develop self‐efficacy. We conclude with ways in which employers and organizations can aide employment transitions as well as build skills transfer and job self‐efficacy through modes of reflected efficacy and coaching in positive, professional relationships.
Can sustainable withdrawal rates be enhanced by trend following?
Authors: Clare Andrew D. , Seaton James , Smith Peter N. , Thomas Stephen H. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe examine the consequences of alternative popular investment strategies for the decumulation of fundsinvested for retirement through a defined contribution pension scheme. We examine in detail the viability of specific ‘safe’ withdrawal rates including the ‘4%‐rule’ of Bengen. We find two powerful conclusions. First that smoothing the returns on individual assets by simple trend following techniques is a potent tool to enhance withdrawal rates.Second, we show that while diversification across asset classes does lead to higher withdrawal rates than simple equity/bond portfolios, “smoothing” returns in itself is far more powerful a tool for raising withdrawal rates. In fact,smoothing the popular equity/bond portfolios (such as the 60/40 portfolio) is in itself an excellent and simple solution to constructing a retirement portfolio. Alternatively, trend following enables portfolios to contain more risky assets, and the greater upside they offer, for the same level of overall risk compared to standard portfolios. To anticipate our empirical findings, we find two powerful conclusions:

Smoothing the returns on individual assets by simple trend following techniques (or similar) is a potent tool to enhance withdrawal rates.
Although diversification across asset classes does lead to higher withdrawal rates than simple equity/bond portfolios, “smoothing” returns is a far more powerful tool for raising withdrawal rates; in fact, smoothing the popular equity/bond portfolios (such as the 60/40 portfolio) is an excellent and simple solution to constructing a retirement portfolio.
Does cognitive flexibility affect the course of labor? A prospective study
Authors: Asali Aula , Miller Netanella , Engel Offra , Haj‐Yahia Nasreen , Cohen Omer , Ben‐Kimhy Reut , Biron‐Shental Tal 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate cognitive flexibility and labor and delivery outcomes.MethodsA prospective study was conducted of nulliparas with singleton term pregnancy, admitted for labor to a tertiary referral center from 1 January to 31 July, 2017. After epidural anesthesia, parturients completed the validated Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire (20 questions that evaluate a person's level of cognitive flexibility) before delivery. They were asked to grade (from 1 to 10) their hope for vaginal delivery (Hope score). Within 2 hours after delivery, they graded (1–10) the similarity between their delivery and their expectations (Expectation score). Outcomes of the flexible versus less flexible group were compared.ResultsAmong the flexible (n=120) versus less flexible (n=40) group, vaginal delivery was more common (74.2% vs 20.8%) than vacuum extraction (20.8% vs 35%) or cesarean delivery (5% vs 12.5%) (P=0.031). High Expectation score and delivery without grade III–IV perineal tear (P=0.032) were correlated. Groups were similar regarding Expectation (P=0.163) and Hope scores (P=0.591). The mode of delivery of parturients was not correlated with their mothers’ (P=0.836) or sisters’ (P=0.758).ConclusionHigh cognitive flexibility increases the likelihood of vaginal delivery. These findings support the mind–body correlation. Maternal cognitive perceptions can influence labor and delivery and should be considered when counseling patients during labor.