bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamics and path tracking of continuum robotic arms using data-driven identification tools
Authors: Parvaresh Aida , Moosavian S. Ali A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn this paper, forward/inverse dynamics of a continuum robotic arm is developed using a data-driven approach, which could tackle uncertainties and extreme nonlinearities to obtain reliable solutions. By establishing a direct mapping between the actuator and task spaces, the unnecessary mappings of actuator-to-configuration then configuration-to-task are eliminated, to reduce extra computational cost. The proposed approach is validated through simulation (based on Cosserat rod theory) and experimental tests on RoboArm. Next, path tracking in the presence/absence of obstacles as well as load carrying maneuver are investigated. Finally, the obtained results concerning repeatability, scalability, and disturbance rejection performance of the approach are discussed.
Tracking linear deformable objects using slicing method
Authors: Rastegarpanah Alireza , Howard Rhys , Stolkin Rustam 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn this paper, an efficient novel method for tracking the linear deformable objects (LDOs) in real time is proposed. The method is developed based on recursively slicing a pointcloud into smaller pointclouds with sufficiently small variance. The performance of this method is investigated through a series of experiments with various camera resolutions in simulation when a robot end effector tracking an LDO using an RGBD camera, and in real word when the camera tracks a rope during a swing. The performance of the proposed method is compared with another state-of-the-art technique and the outcome is reported here.
Spiritual care needs and their associated influencing factors among elderly patients with moderate-to-severe chronic heart failure in China: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang ZhangYi , Wang Zhao , Wang Yue , Xiao LuWei , Zhao HaoMei , Li XueChun , Zhang SiAi , Pang XiaoLi 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe significance of spiritual care needs among chronic diseases patients has been emphasized across countries and cultures in many studies. However, there were few studies on spiritual care needs among elderly patients with moderate-to-severe chronic heart failure (CHF) in China.ObjectiveTo investigate spiritual care needs and associated influencing factors among elderly patients with moderate-to-severe CHF, and to examine the relationships among spiritual care needs, self-perceived burden, symptom management self-efficacy, and perceived social support.MethodsA cross-sectional design was implemented, and the STROBE Checklist was used to report the study. A convenience sample of 474 elderly patients with moderate-to-severe CHF were selected from seven hospitals in Tianjin, China. The sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, the Spiritual Needs Questionnaire Scale, the Self-Perceived Burden Scale, the Self-efficacy for Symptom Management Scale, and the Perceived Social Support Scale were used. Descriptive statistics, univariate, multiple linear regression, and Pearson's correlation analysis were used to analyze data.ResultsThe total score of spiritual care needs among 474 elderly patients with moderate-to-severe CHF was 37.95 ± 14.71, which was moderate. Religious belief, educational background, self-perceived burden, symptom management self-efficacy, and perceived social support were the main factors affecting spiritual care needs, and spiritual care needs were negatively correlated with self-perceived burden (r = −0.637, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with symptom management self-efficacy (r = 0.802, p < 0.01) and social support (r = 0.717, p < 0.01).Significance of resultsThe spiritual care needs of elderly patients with moderate-to-severe CHF were moderate, which were influenced by five factors. It is suggested that clinical nurses, families, and society should take targeted spiritual care measures to improve patients’ symptom management self-efficacy and perceived social support from many aspects, and reduce self-perceived burden to meet their spiritual care needs and improve the quality and satisfaction of spiritual care in nursing practice.
Mind the Compliance Gap: How Insights from International Human Rights Mechanisms Can Help to Implement the Convention on Biological Diversity
Authors: Koh Niak Sian , Ituarte-Lima Claudia , Hahn Thomas 
Published: August 2021

AbstractHumanity is at a crossroads in addressing biodiversity loss. Several assessments have reported on the weak compliance with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets by the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). To address this lack of compliance, the challenges in implementing and enforcing CBD obligations must be understood. Key implementation challenges of the CBD are identified through a content analysis of policy documents, multi-stakeholder interviews, and participant observation at the recent CBD Conference of the Parties. Building on this analysis, the article explores the extent to which the review mechanisms of international human rights law, with their various strategies for eliciting compliance, can help to improve CBD mechanisms. The findings of this article reveal insights that the CBD can draw from international human rights law to address these compliance challenges, such as facilitating the participation of civil society organizations to provide specific input, and engaging independent biodiversity experts to assess implementation. The article concludes that insights from human rights review mechanisms are useful for improving the emerging peer review mechanism of the CBD, which is important for strengthening accountability within the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) control in postharvest wheat stubble in the Central Great Plains
Authors: Kumar Vipan , Liu Rui , Jhala Amit J. , Jha Prashant , Manuchehri Misha 
Published: August 2021

AbstractLate-season control of Palmer amaranth in postharvest wheat stubble is important for reducing the seedbank. Our objectives were to evaluate the efficacy of late-season postemergence herbicides for Palmer amaranth control, shoot dry biomass, and seed production in postharvest wheat stubble. Field experiments were conducted at Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center near Hays, KS, during 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. The study site had a natural seedbank of Palmer amaranth. Herbicide treatments were applied 3 wk after wheat harvest when Palmer amaranth plants had reached the inflorescence initiation stage. Palmer amaranth was controlled by 96% to 98% 8 wk after treatment and shoot biomass as well as seed production was prevented when paraquat was applied alone or when mixed with atrazine, metribuzin, flumioxazin, 2,4-D, sulfentrazone, pyroxasulfone + sulfentrazone, or flumioxazin + metribuzin, and with glyphosate + dicamba, glyphosate + 2,4-D, saflufenacil + 2,4-D, glufosinate + dicamba + glyphosate, and glufosinate + 2,4-D + glyphosate. Palmer amaranth was controlled by 89% to 93% with application of glyphosate, glufosinate, dicamba + 2,4-D, saflufenacil + atrazine, and saflufenacil + metribuzin resulting in Palmer amaranth shoot biomass of 15 to 56 g m−2 and production of 1,080 to 7,040 seeds m−2. Palmer amaranth control was less than 86% with application of dicamba, 2,4-D, dicamba + atrazine, and saflufenacil resulting in Palmer amaranth shoot biomass of 38 to 47 g m−2 and production of 3,110 to 6,190 seeds m−2. Palmer amaranth was controlled 63% and 72%, shoot biomass was 178 and 161 g m−2, and seed production was 35,180 and 39,510 seeds m−2, respectively, with application of 2,4-D + bromoxynil + fluroxypyr, and bromoxynil + pyrasulfotole + atrazine. Growers should use these effective postemergence herbicide mixes for Palmer amaranth control to prevent seed prevention postharvest in wheat stubble.
Numerical and Analytical Study of Electron Plasma Waves in Nonthermal Vasyliunas‐Cairns Distributed Plasmas
Authors: Rehman Aman ur , Shahzad Muhammad A. , Mahmood Shahzad , Bilal Muhammad 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe Poison‐Vlasov model in plasma kinetic theory is taken into account to study the propagation of electron plasma waves (or Langmuir waves) in hot, un‐magnetized Vasyliunas‐Cairns distributed plasmas (VCDPs). The longitudinal dielectric plasma response function is obtained for such nonthermal plasmas. The Landau damping rate of Langmuir waves (LWs) in nonthermal VCDP, which propagates with a phase speed greater than the effective thermal speed of the electrons, is also studied. The real and imaginary parts of the wave frequency are investigated analytically as well as numerically and a comparison between the numerical and analytical results is presented. The finding reveals that the dispersion curve and damping rate of the wave are significantly influenced by the simultaneous presence of two nonthermality parameters, that is, ′′ and ′′ (spectral index) in the hybrid (Vasyliunas‐Cairns) distributed plasmas. It is discussed that results are quite distinctive from that obtained in nonthermal plasmas that have sole presence of either of the nonthermality parameters ′′ or super‐thermality spectral index ′′ in Cairns or kappa distributed electron plasmas, respectively. The more realistic form of 3D and reduced 1D distribution function of VCDP has been used to analyze LWs in describing nonthermal plasmas with more energetic electron in VCDP case.
Distribution of Rayleigh Wave Microseisms Constrained by Multiple Seismic Arrays
Authors: Wang Ziying , Niu Fenglin , Huang Jianping , Li Zhenchun , Chen Haichao 
Published: August 2021

AbstractMicroseisms are the most energetic signals of Earth's ambient noise field. Locating the sources of microseisms helps us to understand arrivals on noise cross‐correlation functions (NCFs) and the asymmetric amplitude of Rayleigh waves on the positive and negative parts of the NCFs. Using a dense broadband seismic array in eastern China, we investigated temporal and spatial characteristics of Rayleigh wave microseisms in the frequency range of 45–155 mHz by conducting beamforming and Rayleigh wave amplitude‐azimuth variation analyses. Seasonal variations of incident direction are clearly observable at the primary microseisms frequency band (45–95 mHz) but are less prominent at the secondary microseisms frequency band (95–155 mHz). The beamforming and amplitude‐azimuth variation analyses also indicated that microseisms arriving at the array are dominantly from five back azimuthal bands. To locate the source areas of the observed microseisms, we combined noise data from two additional arrays in southern California and employed a multi‐array beamforming technique to constrain plausible microseisms' source areas. We found that microseisms of the five azimuthal bands were excited at the Southern Ocean, western coast of Europe, coastal areas of the North Pacific Ocean, the Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean, and the Polynesia islands in the South Pacific Ocean, respectively.
RAC1 plays an essential role in estrogen receptor alpha function in breast cancer cells
Authors: Sun Jun , Gaidosh Gabriel , Xu Ye , Mookhtiar Adnan , Man Na , Cingaram Pradeep Reddy , Blumenthal Ezra , Shiekhattar Ramin , Goka Erik T. , Nimer Stephen D. , Lippman Marc E. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe activity of Rho family GTPase protein, RAC1, which plays important normal physiological functions, is dysregulated in multiple cancers. RAC1 is expressed in both estrogen receptor alpha (ER)-positive and ER-negative breast cancer (BC) cells. However, ER-positive BC is more sensitive to RAC1 inhibition. We have determined that reducing RAC1 activity, using siRNA or EHT 1864 (a small molecule Rac inhibitor), leads to rapid ER protein degradation. RAC1 interacts with ER within the ER complex and RAC1 localizes to chromatin binding sites for ER upon estrogen treatment. RAC1 activity is important for RNA Pol II function at both promoters and enhancers of ER target genes and ER-regulated gene transcription is blocked by EHT 1864, in a dose-dependent manner. Having identified that RAC1 is an essential ER cofactor for ER protein stability and ER transcriptional activity, we report that RAC1 inhibition could be an effective therapeutic approach for ER-positive BC.
Detection of clinical progression through plasma ctDNA in metastatic melanoma patients: a comparison to radiological progression
Authors: Marsavela Gabriela , McEvoy Ashleigh C. , Pereira Michelle R. , Reid Anna L. , Al-Ogaili Zeyad , Warburton Lydia , Khattak Muhammad A. , Abed Afaf , Meniawy Tarek M. , Millward Michael , Ziman Melanie R. , Calapre Leslie , Gray Elin S. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe validity of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) as an indicator of disease progression compared to medical imaging in patients with metastatic melanoma requires detailed evaluation.MethodsHere, we carried out a retrospective ctDNA analysis of 108 plasma samples collected at the time of disease progression. We also analysed a validation cohort of 66 metastatic melanoma patients monitored prospectively after response to systemic therapy.ResultsctDNA was detected in 62% of patients at the time of disease progression. For 67 patients that responded to treatment, the mean ctDNA level at progressive disease was significantly higher than at the time of response (P < 0.0001). However, only 30 of these 67 (45%) patients had a statistically significant increase in ctDNA by Poisson test. A validation cohort of 66 metastatic melanoma patients monitored prospectively indicated a 56% detection rate of ctDNA at progression, with only two cases showing increased ctDNA prior to radiological progression. Finally, a correlation between ctDNA levels and metabolic tumour burden was only observed in treatment naïve patients but not at the time of progression in a subgroup of patients failing BRAF inhibition (N = 15).ConclusionsThese results highlight the low efficacy of ctDNA to detect disease progression in melanoma when compared mainly to standard positron emission tomography imaging.
A common limiter circuit for opioid choice and relapse identified in a rodent addiction model
Authors: Heinsbroek Jasper A. , Giannotti Giuseppe , Mandel Mitchel R. , Josey Megan , Aston-Jones Gary , James Morgan H. , Peters Jamie 
Published: August 2021

AbstractActivity in numerous brain regions drives heroin seeking, but no circuits that limit heroin seeking have been identified. Furthermore, the neural circuits controlling opioid choice are unknown. In this study, we examined the role of the infralimbic cortex (IL) to nucleus accumbens shell (NAshell) pathway during heroin choice and relapse. This model yielded subpopulations of heroin versus food preferring rats during choice, and choice was unrelated to subsequent relapse rates to heroin versus food cues, suggesting that choice and relapse are distinct behavioral constructs. Supporting this, inactivation of the IL with muscimol produced differential effects on opioid choice versus relapse. A pathway-specific chemogenetic approach revealed, however, that the IL-NAshell pathway acts as a common limiter of opioid choice and relapse. Furthermore, dendritic spines in IL-NAshell neurons encode distinct aspects of heroin versus food reinforcement. Thus, opioid choice and relapse share a common addiction-limiting circuit in the IL-NAshell pathway.
EEG beta-modulations reflect age-specific motor resource allocation during dual-task walking
Authors: Protzak Janna , Gramann Klaus 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe parallel execution of two motor tasks can lead to performance decrements in either one or both of the tasks. Age-related declines can further magnify the underlying competition for cognitive resources. However, little is known about the neural dynamics underlying motor resource allocation during dual-task walking. To better understand motor resource conflicts, this study investigated sensorimotor brain rhythms in younger and older adults using a dual-task protocol. Time-frequency data from two independent component motor clusters were extracted from electroencephalography data during sitting and walking with an additional task requiring manual responses. Button press-related desynchronization in the alpha and beta frequency range were analyzed for the impact of age (< 35 years, ≥ 70 years) and motor task (sitting, walking). Button press-related desynchronization in the beta band was more pronounced for older participants and both age groups demonstrated less pronounced desynchronizations in both frequency bands during walking compared to sitting. Older participants revealed less power modulations between sitting and walking, and less pronounced changes in beta and alpha suppression were associated with greater slowing in walking speed. Our results indicate age-specific allocations strategies during dual-task walking as well as interdependencies of concurrently performed motor tasks reflected in modulations of sensorimotor rhythms.
White matter tract-specific alterations in patients with primary restless legs syndrome
Authors: Park Hea Ree , Kim Hye Ryun , Oh Seunghwan , Seong Joon-Kyung , Joo Eun Yeon 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPrior diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have investigated white matter (WM) changes in patients with primary restless legs syndrome (RLS), but the results were inconsistent. Here, we proposed using tract-specific statistical analysis (TSSA) to find alterations in specific WM tracts to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms of RLS. We enrolled 30 patients with RLS and 31 age- and sex- matched controls who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging, neuropsychological tests, and polysomnography. Fractional anisotropy (FA) maps obtained from whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging and TSSA were used to localize WM changes in patients with RLS. Subsequently, a comparison of FA values for each tract between patients and controls was performed. The associations between FA values and clinical, polysomnographic, and neuropsychological parameters in RLS patients were assessed. RLS patients demonstrated decreased FA values in the left corticospinal tract (CST) and cingulum, and in the right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO). Patients’ attention/executive function and visual memory scores positively correlated with FA values in the right ATR, and anxiety levels negatively correlated with FA values in the right IFO. Additionally, the number of periodic leg movements and movement arousal index were negatively correlated with FA values in the left CST. The TSSA method identified previously unknown tract-specific alterations in patients with RLS and significant associations with distinct clinical manifestations of RLS.
Visual predictions, neural oscillations and naïve physics
Authors: Saurels Blake W. , Hohaia Wiremu , Yarrow Kielan , Johnston Alan , Arnold Derek H. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPrediction is a core function of the human visual system. Contemporary research suggests the brain builds predictive internal models of the world to facilitate interactions with our dynamic environment. Here, we wanted to examine the behavioural and neurological consequences of disrupting a core property of peoples’ internal models, using naturalistic stimuli. We had people view videos of basketball and asked them to track the moving ball and predict jump shot outcomes, all while we recorded eye movements and brain activity. To disrupt people’s predictive internal models, we inverted footage on half the trials, so dynamics were inconsistent with how movements should be shaped by gravity. When viewing upright videos people were better at predicting shot outcomes, at tracking the ball position, and they had enhanced alpha-band oscillatory activity in occipital brain regions. The advantage for predicting upright shot outcomes scaled with improvements in ball tracking and occipital alpha-band activity. Occipital alpha-band activity has been linked to selective attention and spatially-mapped inhibitions of visual brain activity. We propose that when people have a more accurate predictive model of the environment, they can more easily parse what is relevant, allowing them to better target irrelevant positions for suppression—resulting in both better predictive performance and in neural markers of inhibited information processing.
Multi-loop atomic Sagnac interferometry
Authors: Schubert Christian , Abend Sven , Gersemann Matthias , Gebbe Martina , Schlippert Dennis , Berg Peter , Rasel Ernst M. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe sensitivity of light and matter-wave interferometers to rotations is based on the Sagnac effect and increases with the area enclosed by the interferometer. In the case of light, the latter can be enlarged by forming multiple fibre loops, whereas the equivalent for matter-wave interferometers remains an experimental challenge. We present a concept for a multi-loop atom interferometer with a scalable area formed by light pulses. Our method will offer sensitivities as high as $$2\times 10^{-11}$$

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rad/s at 1 s in combination with the respective long-term stability as required for Earth rotation monitoring.
Decision making based on hybrid modeling approach applied to cellulose acetate based historical films conservation
Authors: Al Mohtar Abeer , Pinto Moisés L. , Neves Artur , Nunes Sofia , Zappi Daniele , Varani Gabriele , Ramos Ana Maria , Melo Maria João , Wallaszkovits Nadja , Lahoz Rodrigo Juan Ignacio , Herlt Kerstin , Lopes João 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPreserving culture heritage cellulose acetate-based historical films is a challenge due to the long-term instability of these complex materials and a lack of prediction models that can guide conservation strategies for each particular film. In this work, a cellulose acetate degradation model is proposed as the basis for the selection of appropriate strategies for storage and conservation for each specimen, considering its specific information. Due to the formulation complexity and diversity of cellulose acetate-based films produced over the decades, we hereby propose a hybrid modeling approach to describe the films degradation process. The problem is addressed by a hybrid model that uses as a backbone a first-principles based model to describe the degradation kinetics of the pure cellulose diacetate polymer. The mechanistic model was successfully adapted to fit experimental data from accelerated aging of plasticized films. The hybrid model considers then the specificity of each historical film via the development of two chemometric models. These models resource on gas release data, namely acetic acid, and descriptors of the films (manufacturing date, AD-strip value and film type) to assess the current polymer degradation state and estimate the increase in the degradation rate. These estimations are then conjugated with storage conditions (e.g., temperature and relative humidity, presence of adsorbent in the film’s box) and used to feed the mechanistic model to provide the required time degradation simulations. The developed chemometric models provided predictions with accuracy more than 87%. We have found that the storage archive as well as the manufacturing company are not determining factors for conservation but rather the manufacturing date, off gas data as well as the film type. In summary, this hybrid modeling was able to develop a practical tool for conservators to assess films conservation state and to design storage and conservation policies that are best suited for each cultural heritage film.