bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A learning-based tip contact force estimation method for tendon-driven continuum manipulator
Authors: Feng Fan , Hong Wuzhou , Xie Le 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAlthough tendon-driven continuum manipulators have been extensively researched, how to realize tip contact force sensing in a more general and efficient way without increasing the diameter is still a challenge. Rather than use a complex modeling approach, this paper proposes a general tip contact force-sensing method based on a recurrent neural network that takes the tendons’ position and tension as the input of a recurrent neural network and the tip contact force of the continuum manipulator as the output and fits this static model by means of machine learning so that it may be used as a real-time contact force estimator. We also designed and built a corresponding three-degree-of-freedom contact force data acquisition platform based on the structure of a continuum manipulator designed in our previous studies. After obtaining training data, we built and compared the performances of a multi-layer perceptron-based contact force estimator as a baseline and three typical recurrent neural network-based contact force estimators through TensorFlow framework to verify the feasibility of this method. We also proposed a manually decoupled sub-estimators algorithm and evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of those two methods.
A novel specimen shape for measurement of linear strain fields by means of digital image correlation
Authors: Amraish Nedaa , Reisinger Andreas , Pahr Dieter 
Published: September 2021

AbstractStrains on the surface of engineering structures or biological tissues are non-homogeneous. These strain fields can be captured by means of Digital Image Correlation (DIC). However, DIC strain field measurements are prone to noise and filtering of these fields influences measured strain gradients. This study aims to design a novel tensile test specimen showing two linear gradients, to measure full-field linear strain measurements on the surface of test specimens, and to investigate the accuracy of DIC strain measurements globally (full-field) and locally (strain gauges’ positions), with and without filtering of the DIC strain fields. Three materials were employed for this study: aluminium, polymer, and bovine bone. Normalized strain gradients were introduced that are load independent and evaluated at two local positions showing 3.6 and 6.9% strain change per mm. Such levels are typically found in human bones. At these two positions, two strain gauges were applied to check the experimental strain magnitudes. A third strain gauge was applied to measure the strain in a neutral position showing no gradient. The accuracy of the DIC field measurement was evaluated at two deformation stages (at $$\approx $$
≈
500 and 1750 μstrain) using the root mean square error (RMSE). The RMSE over the two linear strain fields was less than 500 μstrain for both deformation stages and all materials. Gaussian low-pass filter (LPF) reduced the DIC noise between 25% and 64% on average. As well, filtering improved the accuracy of the local normalized strain gradients measurements with relative difference less than 20% and 12% for the high- and low-gradient, respectively. In summary, a novel specimen shape and methodological approach are presented which are useful for evaluating and improving the accuracy of the DIC measurement where non-homogeneous strain fields are expected such as on bone tissue due to their hierarchical structure.
Longitudinal patterns in the skin microbiome of wild, individually marked frogs from the Sierra Nevada, California
Authors: Ellison Silas , Knapp Roland , Vredenburg Vance 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The amphibian skin microbiome has been the focus of numerous studies because of the protective effects that some bacteria provide against the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which has caused a global panzootic among amphibians. However, the mechanisms driving community structure and function in the amphibian skin microbiome are still poorly understood, and longitudinal analyses of the skin microbiome have not yet been conducted in wild populations. In this study, we investigate longitudinal patterns in the skin microbiome of 19 individually marked adult frogs from two wild populations of the endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog (Rana sierrae), sampled over the course of 2 years. We found that individuals with low bacterial diversity (dominated by order Burkhorderiales) had significantly more stable bacterial communities than those with higher diversity. Amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) with high relative abundance were significantly less transient than those with low relative abundance, and ASVs with intermediate-level relative abundances experienced the greatest volatility over time. Based on these results, we suggest that efforts to develop probiotic treatments to combat B. dendrobatidis should focus on bacteria that are found at high relative abundances in some members of a population, as these strains are more likely to persist and remain stable in the long term.
Prioritized optimization by Nash games : towards an adaptive multi-objective strategy
Authors: Désidéri Jean-Antoine , Duvigneau Régis 
Published: September 2021

This work is part of the development of a two-phase multi-objective differentiable optimization method. The first phase is classical: it corresponds to the optimization of a set of primary cost functions, subject to nonlinear equality constraints, and it yields at least one known Pareto-optimal solution xA*. This study focuses on the second phase, which is introduced to permit to reduce another set of cost functions, considered as secondary, by the determination of a continuum of Nash equilibria, {x̅ε} (ε≥ 0), in a way such that: firstly, x̅0=xA* (compatibility), and secondly, for ε sufficiently small, the Pareto-optimality condition of the primary cost functions remains O(ε2), whereas the secondary cost functions are linearly decreasing functions of ε. The theoretical results are recalled and the method is applied numerically to a Super-Sonic Business Jet (SSBJ) sizing problem to optimize the flight performance.
Therapiestudien zu Kopf-Hals-Karzinomen – Highlights der ASCO-Jahrestagung 2021
Authors: Wiegand Susanne , Wichmann Gunnar , Dietz Andreas 
Published: September 2021

ZusammenfassungAktuell entwickeln sich die therapeutischen Möglichkeiten im Gebiet der Kopf-Hals-Onkologie, v. a. durch den Einsatz von Checkpoint-Inhibitoren, rasch weiter. Momentan werden zahlreiche Studien zur medikamentösen Therapie von Kopf-Hals-Karzinomen mit neuen molekularen Targets bzw. neuen Medikamentenkombinationen durchgeführt. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse der Studien, die bei der ASCO-Jahrestagung 2021 zu Kopf-Hals-Karzinomen vorgestellt wurden, sollen in dieser Arbeit vorgestellt werden.
Partial discharge detection with on-chip spiral inductor as a loop antenna
Authors: Zeidi Najeh , Kaziz Sinda , Said Mohamed Hadj , Rufer Libor , Cavallini Andrea , Tounsi Fares 
Published: September 2021

In this paper, a pioneer partial discharge (PD) loop antenna sensor is presented and examined. It is made of a 70-turn square planar inductor with a side length of 1.8 mm, which is fabricated on top of a silicon substrate in complementary metal oxide semiconductor technology. The microsensor ability to detect corona PD is demonstrated once connected in series with a 60 dB gain amplifier. The behavior is studied at different separation distances from the line through which the PD pulses flow. At 5 cm away, a damped sinusoidal induced voltage with an amplitude of about 100 mV has been measured. The output signal spectrum is highly concentrated around a central resonance frequency of ∼5 MHz. The microsensor response is compared with those of other industrial sensors from Techimp, i.e., horn antennas and high-frequency current transformer sensors. The presented on-chip sensor can be considered a non-intrusive competing solution compared with other heavy and expensive commercial sensors due to its lightweight, compact size, and low cost. In addition, it shows an acceptable signal to noise ratio compared with other commercial electromagnetic wave-based sensors.
Plasma membrane phospholipid signature recruits the plant exocyst complex via the EXO70A1 subunit
Authors: Synek Lukáš , Pleskot Roman , Sekereš Juraj , Serrano Natalia , Vukašinović Nemanja , Ortmannová Jitka , Klejchová Martina , Pejchar Přemysl , Batystová Klára , Gutkowska Malgorzata , Janková-Drdová Edita , Marković Vedrana , Pečenková Tamara , Šantrůček Jiří , Žárský Viktor , Potocký Martin 
Published: September 2021

SignificanceTargeted secretion of the plasma membrane (PM) and cell wall material drives plant cell polarity and morphogenesis. Vesicle-tethering complex exocyst regulates this vital process. We uncovered that one of the exocyst subunits, EXO70A1, is responsible for recruiting the plant exocyst to the PM. EXO70A1 binds PM via interactions with several phospholipids that specifically contribute to the PM–lipid signature in plant cells. We demonstrated that in plants, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidic acid orchestrate the exocyst recruitment to the PM, and their action is mutually substitutable. Moreover, our results suggest that the PM net negative charge is a principal driving force at the membrane–protein interface. Our study provides a blueprint for future studies analyzing protein–membrane interactions in plant cells.
Allosteric MEK inhibitors act on BRAF/MEK complexes to block MEK activation
Authors: Gonzalez-Del Pino Gonzalo L. , Li Kunhua , Park Eunyoung , Schmoker Anna M. , Ha Byung Hak , Eck Michael J. 
Published: September 2021

Significance
Drugs that inhibit specific kinases now represent one of the main classes of targeted therapies. A majority of drug development efforts in this space focus on a given kinase in isolation as the target. However, our work demonstrates that in the context of the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, the relevant target for compounds developed as allosteric MEK inhibitors (MEKi) is not free MEK but RAF/MEK complexes. Because signaling through this pathway is essential in normal tissues, indiscriminate blockade of all MEK activity is not tolerated. Our findings imply that selective inhibition of specific RAF/MEK complexes is an accessible route for development of new MEKi, and they provide a biophysical foundation for better understanding and applying current clinical agents.
Relativistically transparent magnetic filaments: scaling laws, initial results and prospects for strong-field QED studies
Authors: Rinderknecht H G , Wang T , Garcia A Laso , Bruhaug G , Wei M S , Quevedo H J , Ditmire T , Williams J , Haid A , Doria D , Spohr K M , Toncian T , Arefiev A 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Relativistic transparency enables volumetric laser interaction with overdense plasmas and direct laser acceleration of electrons to relativistic velocities. The dense electron current generates a magnetic filament with field strength of the order of the laser amplitude (>105 T). The magnetic filament traps the electrons radially, enabling efficient acceleration and conversion of laser energy into MeV photons by electron oscillations in the filament. The use of microstructured targets stabilizes the hosing instabilities associated with relativistically transparent interactions, resulting in robust and repeatable production of this phenomenon. Analytical scaling laws are derived to describe the radiated photon spectrum and energy from the magnetic filament phenomenon in terms of the laser intensity, focal radius, pulse duration, and the plasma density. These scaling laws are compared to 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, demonstrating agreement over two regimes of focal radius. Preliminary experiments to study this phenomenon at moderate intensity (a
0 ∼ 30) were performed on the Texas Petawatt Laser. Experimental signatures of the magnetic filament phenomenon are observed in the electron and photon spectra recorded in a subset of these experiments that is consistent with the experimental design, analytical scaling and 3D PIC simulations. Implications for future experimental campaigns are discussed.
Fostamatinib for the Treatment of Hospitalized Adults With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Strich Jeffrey R , Tian Xin , Samour Mohamed , King Christopher S , Shlobin Oksana , Reger Robert , Cohen Jonathan , Ahmad Kareem , Brown A Whitney , Khangoora Vikramjit , Aryal Shambhu , Migdady Yazan , Kyte Jennifer Jo , Joo Jungnam , Hays Rebecca , Collins A Claire , Battle Edwinia , Valdez Janet , Rivero Josef , Kim Ick Ho , Erb-Alvarez Julie , Shalhoub Ruba , Chakraborty Mala , Wong Susan , Colton Benjamin , Ramos-Benitez Marcos J , Warner Seth , Chertow Daniel S , Olivier Kenneth N , Aue Georg , Davey Richard T , Suffredini Anthony F , Childs Richard W , Nathan Steven D 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring hospitalization is characterized by robust antibody production, dysregulated immune response, and immunothrombosis. Fostamatinib is a novel spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor that we hypothesize will ameliorate Fc activation and attenuate harmful effects of the anti-COVID-19 immune response.

Methods
We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in hospitalized adults requiring oxygen with COVID-19 where patients receiving standard of care were randomized to receive fostamatinib or placebo. The primary outcome was serious adverse events by day 29.

Results
A total of 59 patients underwent randomization (30 to fostamatinib and 29 to placebo). Serious adverse events occurred in 10.5% of patients in the fostamatinib group compared with 22% in placebo (P = .2). Three deaths occurred by day 29, all receiving placebo. The mean change in ordinal score at day 15 was greater in the fostamatinib group (-3.6 ± 0.3 vs -2.6 ± 0.4, P = .035) and the median length in the intensive care unit was 3 days in the fostamatinib group vs 7 days in placebo (P = .07). Differences in clinical improvement were most evident in patients with severe or critical disease (median days on oxygen, 10 vs 28, P = .027). There were trends toward more rapid reductions in C-reactive protein, D-dimer, fibrinogen, and ferritin levels in the fostamatinib group.

Conclusion
For COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, the addition of fostamatinib to standard of care was safe and patients were observed to have improved clinical outcomes compared with placebo. These results warrant further validation in larger confirmatory trials.

Clinical Trials Registration
Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04579393.
Ibrexafungerp Versus Placebo for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Treatment: A Phase 3, Randomized, Controlled Superiority Trial (VANISH 303)
Authors: Schwebke Jane R , Sobel Ryan , Gersten Janet K , Sussman Steven A , Lederman Samuel N , Jacobs Mark A , Chappell B Todd , Weinstein David L , Moffett Alfred H , Azie Nkechi E , Angulo David A , Harriott Itzel A , Borroto-Esoda Katyna , Ghannoum Mahmoud A , Nyirjesy Paul , Sobel Jack D 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Background
Current treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is largely limited to azole therapy. Ibrexafungerp is a first-in-class triterpenoid antifungal with broad-spectrum anti-Candida fungicidal activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ibrexafungerp compared with placebo in patients with acute VVC.

Methods
Patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive ibrexafungerp (300 mg twice for 1 day) or placebo. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with a clinical cure (complete resolution of vulvovaginal signs and symptoms [VSS] = 0) at test-of-cure (day 11 ± 3). Secondary endpoints included the percentage of patients with mycological eradication, overall success (clinical cure and mycological eradication), clinical improvement (VSS ≤ 1) at test-of-cure, and symptom resolution at follow-up (day 25 ± 4).

Results
Patients receiving ibrexafungerp had significantly higher rates of clinical cure (50.5% [95/188] vs 28.6% [28/98]; P = .001), mycological eradication (49.5% [93/188] vs 19.4% [19/98]; P &lt; .001), and overall success (36.0% [64/178] vs 12.6% [12/95]; P &lt; .001) compared with placebo. Symptom resolution was sustained and further increased with ibrexafungerp compared with placebo (59.6% [112/188] vs 44.9% [44/98]; P = .009) at follow-up. Post hoc analysis showed similar rates of clinical cure and clinical improvement at test-of-cure for Black patients (54.8% [40/73] and 63.4% [47/73], respectively) and patients with a body mass index &gt;35 (54.5% [24/44] and 68.2% [30/44], respectively) compared with overall rates. Ibrexafungerp was well tolerated. Adverse events were primarily gastrointestinal and mild in severity.

Conclusions
Ibrexafungerp provides a promising safe and efficacious oral treatment that mechanistically differs from current azole treatment options for acute VVC.
A Case Series: Describing the Coronavirus Pandemic Response in Small Naval OCONUS Military Treatment Facilities
Authors: Latimer Emily R , Parker Christopher A , Swiger Pauline A 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACT

Introduction
The European SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak threatened military beneficiaries receiving care outside of the United States. Military treatment facilities located outside the United States were the first to respond to the pandemic, requiring immediate action to establish novel protocols. The purpose of this case series is to describe challenges, solutions, and future recommendations during a pandemic response at three small naval military treatment facilities located outside the continental United States (OCONUS).

Results
The analysis and discussion reviews challenges in information processing, communication methods and patterns, process changes, actions for staff protection, and change fatigue experienced during this time.

Conclusions
Recommendations for future work include filling the gaps in the evidence for a prolonged pandemic response and crisis management, such as the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, including best practices to communicate, maintain staff resilience, and manage or mitigate associated prolonged stress and uncertainty.
Increase in lamin B1 promotes telomere instability by disrupting the shelterin complex in human cells
Authors: Pennarun Gaëlle , Picotto Julien , Etourneaud Laure , Redavid Anna-Rita , Certain Anaïs , Gauthier Laurent R , Fontanilla-Ramirez Paula , Busso Didier , Chabance-Okumura Caroline , Thézé Benoît , Boussin François D , Bertrand Pascale 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Telomere maintenance is essential to preserve genomic stability and involves telomere-specific proteins, DNA replication and repair proteins. Lamins are key components of the nuclear envelope and play numerous roles, including maintenance of the nuclear integrity, regulation of transcription, and DNA replication. Elevated levels of lamin B1, one of the major lamins, have been observed in some human pathologies and several cancers. Yet, the effect of lamin B1 dysregulation on telomere maintenance remains unknown. Here, we unveil that lamin B1 overexpression drives telomere instability through the disruption of the shelterin complex. Indeed, lamin B1 dysregulation leads to an increase in telomere dysfunction-induced foci, telomeric fusions and telomere losses in human cells. Telomere aberrations were preceded by mislocalizations of TRF2 and its binding partner RAP1. Interestingly, we identified new interactions between lamin B1 and these shelterin proteins, which are strongly enhanced at the nuclear periphery upon lamin B1 overexpression. Importantly, chromosomal fusions induced by lamin B1 in excess were rescued by TRF2 overexpression. These data indicated that lamin B1 overexpression triggers telomere instability through a mislocalization of TRF2. Altogether our results point to lamin B1 as a new interacting partner of TRF2, that is involved in telomere stability.
Zinc-finger protein MdBBX7/MdCOL9, a target of MdMIEL1 E3 ligase, confers drought tolerance in apple
Authors: Chen Pengxiang , Zhi Fang , Li Xuewei , Shen Wenyun , Yan Mingjia , He Jieqiang , Bao Chana , Fan Tianle , Zhou Shuangxi , Ma Fengwang , Guan Qingmei 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Water deficit is one of the main challenges for apple (Malus × domestica) growth and productivity. Breeding drought-tolerant cultivars depends on a thorough understanding of the drought responses of apple trees. Here, we identified the zinc-finger protein B-BOX 7/CONSTANS-LIKE 9 (MdBBX7/MdCOL9), which plays a positive role in apple drought tolerance. The overexpression of MdBBX7 enhanced drought tolerance, whereas knocking down MdBBX7 expression reduced it. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis identified one cis-element of MdBBX7, CCTTG, as well as its known binding motif, the T/G box. ChIP-seq and RNA-seq identified 1,197 direct targets of MdBBX7, including ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF1), EARLY RESPONSIVE TO DEHYDRATION 15 (ERD15), and GOLDEN2-LIKE 1 (GLK1) and these were further verified by ChIP-qPCR and electronic mobility shift assays. Yeast two-hybrid screen identified an interacting protein of MdBBX7, RING-type E3 ligase MYB30-INTERACTING E3 LIGASE 1 (MIEL1). Further examination revealed that MdMIEL1 could mediate the ubiquitination and degradation of MdBBX7 by the 26S proteasome pathway. Genetic interaction analysis suggested that MdMIEL1 acts as an upstream factor of MdBBX7. In addition, MdMIEL1 was a negative regulator of the apple drought stress response. Taken together, our results illustrate the molecular mechanisms by which the MdMIEL1–MdBBX7 module influences the response of apple to drought stress.
Adequate health literacy is associated with adherence to continuous positive airway pressure in adults with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Ellender Claire M , Le Feuvre Sebastian , Boyde Mary , Duce Brett , Winter Sara , Hukins Craig A 
Published: September 2021

AbstractStudy ObjectivesObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a chronic disease with significant health implications and adequate adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is essential for effective treatment. In many chronic diseases, health literacy has been found to predict treatment adherence and outcomes. In this study, the aim was to determine the health literacy of a sleep clinic population and evaluate the association between health literacy and CPAP adherence.MethodsA prospective cohort study was undertaken, recruiting 104 consecutive patients with a variety of sleep diagnoses. The Short Form Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM-SF), a validated questionnaire, was administered to measure health literacy. In a sub-group of 91 patients prescribed CPAP for OSA, CPAP usage was measured, with adequate usage defined as greater than 4 h/night CPAP therapy.ResultsSeventy-one percent of the sleep clinic cohort was found to have adequate health literacy, as measured by the REALM-SF. In those prescribed CPAP for OSA, inadequate health literacy was associated with a twofold increased risk for inadequate CPAP usage (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1 to 8.22, p = 0.045). There was a 1.7 h/night difference in median CPAP usage comparing those with adequate to inadequate health literacy (4.6 h vs. 6.3 h/night).ConclusionsThe majority of this sleep disorders cohort had adequate health literacy as measured by the REALM-SF questionnaire. However, inadequate health literacy appears to be an independent predictor of treatment adherence and may represent a modifiable risk factor of poor treatment outcomes in OSA.