bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automated group motion control of magnetically actuated millirobots
Authors: Razzaghi Pouria , Al Khatib Ehab , Hurmuzlu Yildirim 
Published: February 2023

AbstractSmall-size robots offer access to spaces that are inaccessible to larger ones. This type of access is crucial in applications such as drug delivery, environmental detection, and collection of small samples. However, there are some tasks that are not possible to perform using only one robot including assembly and manufacturing at small scales, manipulation of micro- and nano- objects, and robot-based structuring of small-scale materials. In this article, we focus on tasks that can be achieved using a group of small-scale robots like pattern formation. These robots are typically externally actuated due to their size limitation. Yet, one faces the challenge of controlling a group of robots using a single global input. In this study, we propose a control algorithm to position individual members of a group in predefined positions. In our previous work, we presented a small-scaled magnetically actuated millirobot. An electromagnetic coil system applied external force and steered the millirobots in various modes of motion such as pivot walking and tumbling. In this paper, we propose two new designs of these millirobots. In the first design, the magnets are placed at the center of body to reduce the magnetic attraction force between the millirobots. In the second design, the millirobots are of identical length with two extra legs acting as the pivot points and varying pivot separation in design to take advantage of variable speed in pivot walking mode while keeping the speed constant in tumbling mode. This paper presents an algorithm for positional control of n millirobots with different lengths to move them from given initial positions to final desired ones. This method is based on choosing a leader that is fully controllable. Then, the motions of other millirobots are regulated by following the leader and determining their appropriate pivot separations in order to implement the intended group motion. Simulations and hardware experiments validate these results.
Multi-year landscape-scale efficacy analysis of fluridone treatment of invasive submerged aquatic vegetation in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta
Authors: Khanna Shruti , Gaeta Jereme W. , Conrad J. Louise , Gross Edward S. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractInvasive aquatic macrophytes are a major threat to estuarine ecosystems globally, posing difficult control challenges for resource managers. This study examined the efficacy of a fluridone treatment program to control invasive submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). We leveraged four datasets to examine efficacy of fluridone treatment in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, a freshwater tidal estuary in California, from 2014 to 2018. Annual SAV coverage maps derived from spectroscopy data were used in conjunction with fluridone application data and water current speed predicted by a 3-D hydrodynamic model of the study system. Our objective was to determine if the probability of SAV occurrence in treated sites was significantly different from untreated sites. We examined whether efficacy was influenced by the amount of herbicide applied at a site, the local current speed, and the treatment history of the site. We found that treatment efficacy was positively associated with the amount of herbicide applied per unit area, but this effect was mediated by a negative association with current speed. The efficacy of treatment did not improve when a site was treated for multiple consecutive years. Finally, we did not detect legacy effects one year after cessation of treatment. Our results suggest the need for careful selection of treatment sites to ensure that the amount of fluridone applied is likely to have significant impact given local current speeds. Our study underscores the need for development of additional treatment methodologies for hydrologically dynamic systems such as estuaries, particularly when control is needed year-round and for multiple years.
Rock climbing affects cliff-plant communities by reducing species diversity and altering species coexistence patterns
Authors: March-Salas Martí , Morales-Armijo Felipe , Hernández-Agüero Juan Antonio , Estrada-Castillón Eduardo , Sobrevilla-Covarrubias Andrea , Arévalo José Ramón , Scheepens J. F. , Lorite Juan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractCliffs are unique ecosystems with an outstanding but relatively unknown plant diversity, harboring rare, endemic and threatened species, but also rock-specialist or generalist species that can become locally common and dominant on cliffs. The rising popularity of climbing represents an increasing threat to cliff biota, affecting community composition and potentially diminishing diversity and species associations. We used a novel sampling design of closely-paired climbedversusunclimbed points along the cliff-face. We sampled along climbing routes of different climbing intensities in El Potrero Chico (Nuevo León, Mexico), identifying plant species and analyzing species associations and community composition in climbed and unclimbed plots. Diversity on the sampled cliffs was high, even greater than in other regional ecosystems. We found reduced abundance, cover, and diversity in climbed plots, irrespective of climbing intensity. Dominant species on the sampled cliffs were the most negatively affected by rock climbing in terms of abundance, and some locally rare species, including endemics and endangered species, were entirely absent from climbed plots. Co-occurrence analysis showed that the number of associations between pairs of dominant and common species were greatly reduced in climbed plots, and that positive associations between locally rare species existed in unclimbed plots but not in climbed plots, which may contribute to the disappearance of endemic and threatened species. Finally, NMDS analysis revealed that the community composition changed significantly due to climbing. Our results indicate that conservation science should convince stakeholders of the need for a holistic conservation of cliff ecosystems and not focus solely on emblematic or rare species, since plant community dynamics and preservation depend on interactions between plant species.
Biological degradation and mineralization of tetracycline antibiotic using SBR equipped with a vertical axially rotating biological bed (SBR-VARB)
Authors: Aghapour Ali Ahmad , Alizadeh Nazila , Khorsandi Hassan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractTetracycline (TC) is a widely used antibiotic with a complex aromatic chemical structure and is highly resistant to biodegradation. In this study, an SBR equipped with a vertical axially rotating biological bed (SBR-VARB) was used for the biodegradation and mineralization of TC. SBR-VARB showed high efficiency in removing TC (97%), total phenolic compounds (TP) (95%), and COD (85%) under optimal operating conditions (TC = 50 mg/L, HRT = 1.75 d, and OLR = 36 g COD/m3 d). The SBR-VARB was able to treat higher concentrations of TC in shorter HRT than reported in previous studies. The contribution of VARB to improve SBR efficiency in removing TC, TP, and COD was 16, 36, and 48%, respectively. Intermediate compounds formed during the biodegradation of TC were identified using GC–MS under the optimal operating conditions of the bioreactor. These are mainly organic compounds with linear chemical structures. Based on the complete biodegradation of TC under the optimal operating conditions of the bioreactor, 93% and 36% of the chlorine and nitrogen atoms in the chemical structure of TC appeared in the wastewater, respectively. According to the sequence analysis of 16SrDNA, Pseudomonas sp., Kocuria Polaris, and Staphylococcus sp. were identified in the biofilm of VARB and the suspended biomass of the bioreactor. Therefore, SBR-VARB showed high efficiency in the biodegradation and mineralization of TC and can be used as a suitable option for treating wastewater containing antibiotics and other toxic compounds.
Lead or cadmium co-contamination alters benzene and toluene degrading bacterial communities
Authors: Konya Aniko , Fiddler Brice A. , Bunch Olivia , Hess Kendra Z. , Ferguson Cade , Krzmarzick Mark J. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractCo-contamination of hydrocarbons with heavy metals in soils often complicates and hinders bioremediation. A comprehensive characterization of site-specific degraders at contaminated sites can help determine if in situ bioremediation processes are sufficient. This study aimed to identify differences in benzene and toluene degradation rates and the microbial communities enriched under aerobic conditions when different concentrations of Cd and Pb are introduced. Microcosms were used to study the degradation of 0.23 mM benzene or 0.19 mM toluene under various concentrations of Pb (up to 240 µM) and Cd (up to 440 µM). Soil collected from a stormwater retention basin receiving runoff from a large parking lot was utilized to seed the microcosms. The hydrocarbon degradation time and rates were measured. After further rounds of amendment and degradation of benzene and toluene, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and quantitative PCR were used to ascertain the microbial communities enriched under the various concentrations of the heavy metals. The initial degradation time for toluene and benzene was 7 to 9 days and 10 to 13 days, respectively. Degradation rates were similar for each hydrocarbon despite the concentration and presence of metal co-contaminant, however, the enriched microbial communities under each condition differed. Microcosms without metal co-contaminant contained a diversity of putative benzene and toluene degrading bacteria. Cd strongly reduced the richness of the microbial communities. With higher levels of heavy metals, genera such as Ralstonia, Cupriavidus, Azoarcus, and Rhodococcus became more dominant under various conditions. The study finds that highly efficient benzene- and toluene-degrading consortia can develop under variations of heavy metal co-contamination, but the consortia are dependent on the heavy metal type and concentrations.
Prognostic models in COVID-19 infection that predict severity: a systematic review
Authors: Buttia Chepkoech , Llanaj Erand , Raeisi-Dehkordi Hamidreza , Kastrati Lum , Amiri Mojgan , Meçani Renald , Taneri Petek Eylul , Ochoa Sergio Alejandro Gómez , Raguindin Peter Francis , Wehrli Faina , Khatami Farnaz , Espínola Octavio Pano , Rojas Lyda Z. , de Mortanges Aurélie Pahud , Macharia-Nimietz Eric Francis , Alijla Fadi , Minder Beatrice , Leichtle Alexander B. , Lüthi Nora , Ehrhard Simone , Que Yok-Ai , Fernandes Laurenz Kopp , Hautz Wolf , Muka Taulant 
Published: February 2023

AbstractCurrent evidence on COVID-19 prognostic models is inconsistent and clinical applicability remains controversial. We performed a systematic review to summarize and critically appraise the available studies that have developed, assessed and/or validated prognostic models of COVID-19 predicting health outcomes. We searched six bibliographic databases to identify published articles that investigated univariable and multivariable prognostic models predicting adverse outcomes in adult COVID-19 patients, including intensive care unit (ICU) admission, intubation, high-flow nasal therapy (HFNT), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and mortality. We identified and assessed 314 eligible articles from more than 40 countries, with 152 of these studies presenting mortality, 66 progression to severe or critical illness, 35 mortality and ICU admission combined, 17 ICU admission only, while the remaining 44 studies reported prediction models for mechanical ventilation (MV) or a combination of multiple outcomes. The sample size of included studies varied from 11 to 7,704,171 participants, with a mean age ranging from 18 to 93 years. There were 353 prognostic models investigated, with area under the curve (AUC) ranging from 0.44 to 0.99. A great proportion of studies (61.5%, 193 out of 314) performed internal or external validation or replication. In 312 (99.4%) studies, prognostic models were reported to be at high risk of bias due to uncertainties and challenges surrounding methodological rigor, sampling, handling of missing data, failure to deal with overfitting and heterogeneous definitions of COVID-19 and severity outcomes. While several clinical prognostic models for COVID-19 have been described in the literature, they are limited in generalizability and/or applicability due to deficiencies in addressing fundamental statistical and methodological concerns. Future large, multi-centric and well-designed prognostic prospective studies are needed to clarify remaining uncertainties.
Strategies for mitigating N2O and N2 emissions from an intensive sugarcane cropping system
Authors: Friedl Johannes , Warner Daniel , Wang Weijin , Rowlings David W. , Grace Peter R. , Scheer Clemens 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn sugarcane cropping systems, high rates of N fertiliser are typically applied as sub-surface bands creating localised zones of high mineral N concentrations. This in combination with high levels of crop residue (trash) retention and a warm and humid climate creates conditions that are known to promote soil denitrification, resulting in high emissions of the potent greenhouse gas N2O. These losses illustrate inefficient use of N fertilisers but total denitrification losses in the form of N2 and N2O remain largely unknown. We used the 15N gas flux method to investigate the effect of cane trash removal and the use of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) on N2 and N2O emissions on a commercial sugarcane farm at Bundaberg, Australia. High gaseous N losses were observed under the standard grower practice where cane trash retention and N fertiliser application (145 kg N ha−1 as urea) resulted in N2 and N2O emissions (36.1 kg N ha−1) from the subsurface N fertiliser band, with more than 50% of these losses emitted as N2O. Cane trash removal reduced N2 emission by 34% and N2O emission by 51%, but had no effect on the N2O/(N2 + N2O) ratio. The use of DMPP lowered N2 and N2O emission by 35% and 98%, respectively, reducing the percentage of these losses (N2 + N2O) emitted as N2O to only 4%. We conclude that the use of DMPP is an effective strategy to reduce N losses, minimise N2O emissions, while keeping the benefits of cane trash retention in sugarcane cropping systems.
Phenolic acids-rich fraction from Ficus drupacea leaves for the prevention and treatment of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats
Authors: Bakry Sherien M. , Naser Asmaa F. Aboul , Negoumy Sabri I. El , Kassem Mona E. S. , Abdel-Sattar Essam , Meselhy Meselhy R. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBioactivity-guided fractionation of F. drupacea Thunb. extract revealed that the water fraction (FDWF) increased pH of the artificial gastric juice from 1.2 to 5.67 ± 0.015. The gastroprotective effect of FDWF against ulcer induced by ethanol was evaluated in rats. In ulcerogenic rats, increase in the gastric juice volume and ulcer lesions, and decrease in the gastric pH were evident. However, pretreatment with FDWF (100 mg/kg b.wt., p.o.) significantly inhibited lesion index, reduced gastric juice volume by 56.09% and increased gastric pH value. When given after ethanol, the same dose of FDWF led to significant healing of the gastric ulcer, with 75.60% reduction of gastric juice volume, and increase in pH value. In both prophylactic and therapeutic-treated groups, the level of superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione in gastric homogenate were increased, while that of malondialdehyde was decreased. Also, the levels of succinate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase were increased, while that of acid phosphatase was decreased. In addition, the inflammatory markers; IL-10 and PGE2 were significantly increased. The histopathological results confirmed the above findings and indicated that the antiulcer effect of FDWF is mediated, at least in part, through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Twenty-three compounds were tentatively identified in FDWF using UPLC−PDA−ESI–MS/MS and most of them were found to be phenolic acid derivatives. FDWF was standardized to contain 23.66 ± 2.62 mg/g and 8.86 ± 0.29 mg/g of quinic acid and chlorogenic acid, respectively. Accordingly, FDWF is a potential natural product that could increase the healing of gastric mucosal injury and prevents the development of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.
Psychological Obsolescence and Subjective Remaining Life Expectancy are Predictors of Generativity in a Six-Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Hösch Helena S. , Rupprecht Fiona S. , Lang Frieder R. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn this research, we explore associations between (changes in) perceived generativity, subjective remaining life expectancy (SRLE), and psychological obsolescence in a longitudinal sample. We hypothesized a higher SRLE and a weaker obsolescence would be concomitants of higher perceived generativity. We also hypothesized that generativity would exhibit intraindividual fluctuation over time, which should relate to intraindividual fluctuation in the respective concomitants. Using multilevel modeling, several concomitants of generativity were investigated. The sample consisted of 518 German participants (aged 18–88 years) who took part in at least two of four measurement waves of the Ageing-as-Future online study spanning over 6 years. There was no mean-level increase or decrease in generativity over the 6-year study period. Despite this absence of linear time trends, individual perceived generativity still fluctuated considerably over time. The model showed that higher individual average SRLE and lower individual average psychological obsolescence resulted in higher average perceived generativity. Individual fluctuations in those constructs coincided likewise, implying that when individual SRLE increased and individual obsolescence decreased between two time points, perceived generativity tended to increase as well. There were significant quadratic, but no linear age effects. The findings suggest that perceived generativity depends not only on chronological age but several other time-related factors. Based on such results, we discuss implications for interventions and future research.
Luminescence mechanisms in the 2V2O5–xLi2O–(98 − x)B2O3 glass matrices developed for creation of glass–ceramic materials
Authors: Chukova O. , Nedilko S. G. , Voitenko T. , Minikayev R. , Paszkowicz W. , Stasiv V. , Zhydachevskyy Y. , Suchocki A. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe oxide glass–ceramics is a promising class of solid state materials because they are using thermally stable and chemically inert glass oxide matrices. Development of such efficient glass matrices suitable for creation of glass–ceramic materials for several purposes is an important practical task. ThexLi2O–yV2O5–(100 − x − y)B2O3undoped glass and 47Li2O–2V2O5–50B2O3–1La0.3Eu0.7VO4glass samples with crystalline nanoinclusions were synthesized and investigated using XRD, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy and UV band-to-band excitation of luminescence. The synthesized glass samples are characterized by wide band photoluminescence emission with maximum at 570 nm and intensity increased with increase of Li2O concentration. The excitation spectra consist of three bands with maxima located at 270, 320 and 365 nm. The observed concentration dependencies of spectral distributions in the absorption and excitation spectra are explained by influence of the lithium ions on a ratio between triborate and tetraborate groups in the glass networks. The assumption is made that the observed wide band photoluminescence emission of the glass matrix can appear as a result of recombination processes between the defects in borate networks and the broken vanadate groups. The crystalline component in the doped glass samples is found to not affect the luminescence properties of the glass matrix. Intensity of narrow band photoluminescence emission of the crystalline component is up to 10 times more intense than that of the glass matrix wide band emission. The synthesized type of the glass matrices has promising characteristics for the use of developed materials in lighting devices, as it allows improving the spectral distribution of light emission towards the white light.
PEGylated Recombinant Adenosine Deaminase Maintains Detoxification and Lymphocyte Counts in Patients with ADA-SCID
Authors: Dorsey Morna J. , Rubinstein Arye , Lehman Heather , Fausnight Tracy , Wiley Joseph M. , Haddad Elie 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Metabolic detoxification with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) promotes immune recovery in patients with adenosine deaminase (ADA)–deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID). Elapegademase is a PEGylated recombinant bovine ADA ERT developed to replace the now-discontinued bovine-derived pegademase. This study was a 1-way crossover from pegademase to elapegademase in 7 patients with ADA-SCID to assess efficacy and safety outcomes for elapegademase.

Methods
After once-weekly pegademase dosage was adjusted to achieve therapeutic metabolic detoxification and trough ADA activity, patients transitioned to a bioequivalent dose of elapegademase. Maintenance of metabolic detoxification and adequate ADA activity were evaluated periodically.

Results
One patient withdrew after 2 doses of an early elapegademase formulation due to injection-site pain caused by EDTA. The 6 remaining patients completed 71−216 weeks of elapegademase therapy with a formulation that did not contain EDTA. In these patients, elapegademase improved ADA activity compared with pegademase and maintained metabolic detoxification. Total lymphocyte counts increased for all completer patients from between 1.2- and 2.1-fold at the end of study compared with baseline. Elapegademase had a comparable safety profile to pegademase; no patient developed a severe infectious complication. Three patients had transient, non-neutralizing antibodies to pegademase, elapegademase, and/or polyethylene glycol ≤ 47 weeks of treatment without effect on trough plasma ADA activity or trough erythrocyte deoxyadenosine nucleotide levels.

Conclusion
Elapegademase was safe, well tolerated, achieved stable trough plasma ADA activity with weekly dosing, was effective in maintaining metabolic detoxification, and was associated with maintenance or improvements in lymphocyte counts compared with pegademase therapy in patients with ADA-SCID.