bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of cyclic loading on the mobilization of unit base resistance of model piles jacked in sand
Authors: Galvis-Castro Ayda C. , Tovar-Valencia Ruben D. , Prezzi Monica , Salgado Rodrigo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis paper reports the results of a series of monotonic compressive and cyclic load tests performed on a closed-ended jacked model pile installed in a half-cylindrical calibration chamber with image analysis capabilities. The monotonic compressive load tests were carried out before and after performing a displacement-controlled cyclic load test to determine the impact of cycling on unit base resistance. Digital images of the sand and the model pile were taken during cyclic loading and processed using the digital image correlation (DIC) technique to obtain the cumulative displacement and strain fields in the sand domain. The results show that the ultimate unit base resistance can drop significantly after cycling. The magnitude of the drop in ultimate unit base resistance depends on both the magnitude of the cyclic displacement amplitude and the number of cycles. However, the unit base resistance at plunging increases after large-displacement half-amplitude cycling. The increase in unit base resistance at plunging after cycling is linked to the flow of sand particles to the zone below the conical base, the occurrence of sand particle crushing, and the dilative behavior of the sand outside a bulb of crushed particles formed during cyclic loading. The processed DIC data show that for cyclic displacement half-amplitudes ∆wcyclic less than or equal to 0.25 mm (0.0007B), the cumulative radial and vertical displacements in the soil domain normalized by ∆wcyclic are negligible. Values of ∆wcyclic greater than 0.25 mm produce normalized displacements in the soil domain that increase as the cyclic displacement amplitude increases.
Modular lightweight robot system for aircraft production using a generic OPC UA skill concept
Authors: Koch Philip , Rawal Parth , Töpfer Nico , Haß Tim , Böhlmann Christian , Hintze Wolfgang 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThere is a continuing trend in the aircraft industry to automate production. In order to be able to react to shortages of skilled workers, high order fluctuations and machine breakdowns, cost-effective, mobile and flexible systems are required to support the workers. This paper focuses on the integration of existing skill-based engineering concepts into production using standard OPC Unified Architecture interface, where production systems can be built quickly by simply interconnecting modules. The interconnected modules together form higher level subsystems enabling reusability of the individual modules as well as the assembled subsystems across several use cases. The approach is evaluated on a production related mobile robot system, whose task is to drive to the workstation, reference the component and drill holes in a vertical tail plane section of an aircraft. All devices from different suppliers contain skill-based modules based on standards defined by OPC Foundation and communicate via OPC UA-based Client/Server communication.
MACHINA, the Movable Accelerator for Cultural Heritage In-situ Non-destructive Analysis: project overview
Authors: Taccetti F. , Castelli L. , Chiari M. , Czelusniak C. , Falciano S. , Fedi M. , Giambi F. , Mandò P. A. , Manetti M. , Massi M. , Mazzinghi A. , Ruberto C. , Ronzino P. , Bini I. , Frati S. , Benetti F. , Cestelli Guidi M. , Ciatti M. , Frosinini C. , Rossi S. , Mathot S. , Anelli G. , Cipolla G. , Grudiev A. , Lombardi A. , Milne E. , Montesinos E. , Pommerenke H. , Scibor K. , Vretenar M. , Giuntini L. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractOver the years, transportable instrumentation for cultural heritage (CH) in situ measurements has noticeably widespread, due to logistic, economical and safety reasons. Ion beam analysis, a powerful set of analytical techniques, of great importance for CH, is instead carried out by using fixed instrumentation. To overcome this limit, the Italian national Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), CERN (European Centre for Nuclear Research) and the Opificio delle Pietre Dure (OPD), started MACHINA, the “Movable Accelerator for CH In-situ Non-destructive Analysis: the new generation of accelerators for art” to build a transportable accelerator, compact, with strongly reduced weight, absorbed power and cost. MACHINA will be installed at the OPD and dedicated to CH. It will be moved to major conservation centres and museums, when needed. The INFN-CERN proposal, approved in December 2017, became operative in February 2018. 2018 was dedicated to the acquisition of material/instrumentations, to set up both a dummy accelerator (to test the vacuum system) and a vacuum chamber (to test the source). Due to COVID, in 2020 and 2021 the experimental work was slowed down, but we kept developing the control electronics/software and built the second-generation supporting structure. The HF-RFQ power supplies were integrated in October 2021. At the rise of 2022, after conditioning the cavities, we tested the system and in March 2022 we got the first extracted 2-MeV proton beam. In this paper, we present the structure of the MACHINA system, the approach followed and the main solutions adopted, with a special focus on the control system, and finally the first experimental results.
Self-Organization Through Semiosis
Authors: Beekman Wim , Jochemsen Henk 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis article deals with the question of how self-organization in living organisms is realized. Self-organization may be observed in open systems that are out of equilibrium. Many disequilibria-conversion phenomena exist where free energy conversion occurs by spontaneously formed engines. However, how is self-organization realized in living entities? Living cells turn out to be self-organizing disequilibria-converting systems of a special kind. Disequilibrium conversion is realized in a typical way, through employing information specifying protein complexes acting as nano engines. The genetic code enables processing of information—derived from coding DNA—to produce these molecular machines. Hence, information is at the core of living systems. Two promising approaches to explaining living cells containing sequences carrying information are mentioned. Also discussed is the question of whether a second concept of self-organization—namely, the Kantian concept—applies.
Development of acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome after subarachnoid hemorrhage, predictive factors, and impact on prognosis
Authors: Wu Jiang , Gao Wei , Zhang Hongrong 
Published: March 2023

AbstractAcute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is a common complication after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), and is associated with worse neurologic outcomes and longer hospitalization. However, the effect of ALI/ARDS in SAH has not been well elucidated. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of ALI/ARDS in a cohort of patients with SAH and to determine the risk factors for ALI/ARDS and their impact on patient prognosis. We performed a retrospective analysis of 167 consecutive patients with aSAH enrolled. ALI/ARDS patients were rigorously adjudicated using North American-European Consensus Conference definition. Regression analyses were used to test the risk factors for ALI/ARDS in patients with SAH. A total of 167 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 27% patients (45 of 167) developed ALI. Among all 45 ALI patients, 33 (20%, 33 of 167) patients met criteria for ARDS. On multivariate analysis, elderly patients, lower glasgow coma scale (GCS), higher Hunt-Hess grade, higher simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) II score, pre-existing pneumonia, gastric aspiration, hypoxemia, and tachypnea were the strongest risk factor for ALI/ARDS. Patients with ALI/ARDS showed worse clinical outcomes measured at 30 days. Development of ALI/ARDS was associated with a statistically significant increasing the odds of tracheostomy and hospital complications, and increasing duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) length and hospitalization stay. Development of ALI/ARDS is a severe complication of SAH and is associated with a poor clinical outcome, and further studies should focus on both prevention and management strategies specific to SAH-associated ALI/ARDS.
In Depth Analysis of Power Balance, Handling, and the Traction Subsystem of an Articulated Skid-Steering Robot for Sustainable Agricultural Monitoring
Authors: Botta Andrea , Cavallone Paride , Baglieri Lorenzo , Colucci Giovanni , Tagliavini Luigi , Quaglia Giuseppe 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis paper reports on the energy balance test performed on Agri.Q, an eight-wheel articulated robot intended to be a sustainable monitoring tool within the precision agriculture paradigm, and proposes an in-depth analysis of the traction subsystem in order to develop an appropriate traction allocation strategy to improve navigation through hilly or mountainous crops. Tests were conducted on the contribution of the orientable photovoltaic panel to the mission duration and overall sustainability, showing that a suitable mission plan, including dedicated charging phases, could significantly increase the robot’s operating time. A series of simulations of circular trajectories of different curvature and at different longitudinal velocities on flat ground were performed, with the aim of mapping the robot’s behaviour at steady state. The results of the simulations were analysed, paying particular attention to the required torques, manoeuvrability and forces exchanged on the ground. The simulations conducted demonstrated and extended previous results obtained on similar robotic architectures, which suffer from significant understeer behaviour due to significant lateral wheel slip during turning. They also showed the limitations of currently employed traction motors, but also the advantages of a proper traction allocation strategy involving the rear module.Article highlights.

Agri.Q energy balance tests have been carried out to assess its endurance and sustainability

The traction and handling behaviours of Agri.Q were mapped and discussed in detail in order to improve them

Agri.Q has proven to be a basis for the future implementation of precision agriculture to advance the SDGs
3D spheroid culture to examine adaptive therapy response in invading tumor cells
Authors: Weiss Felix , Atlasy Nader , van Reijmersdal Vince , Stunnenberg Henk , Hulsbergen-Veelken Cornelia , Friedl Peter 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
3D in vitro culture models of cancer cells in extracellular matrix (ECM) have been developed to investigate drug targeting and resistance or, alternatively, mechanisms of invasion; however, models allowing analysis of shared pathways mediating invasion and therapy resistance are lacking. To evaluate therapy response associated with cancer cell invasion, we here used 3D invasion culture of tumor spheroids in 3D fibrillar collagen and applied Ethanol-Ethyl cinnamate (EtOH-ECi) based optical clearing to detect both spheroid core and invasion zone by subcellular-resolved 3D microscopy. When subjected to a single dose of irradiation (4 Gy), we detected significant cell survival in the invasion zone. By physical separation of the core and invasion zone, we identified differentially regulated genes preferentially engaged in invading cells controlling cell division, repair, and survival. This imaging-based 3D invasion culture may be useful for the analysis of complex therapy-response patterns in cancer cells in drug discovery and invasion-associated resistance development.
Impact of a monthly antimicrobial stewardship quality assurance tool for elevated vancomycin levels
Authors: Knack Olivia C. , Landayan Alice M. , Williams Kelsey N. , Amaya Lee M. , Gauthier Timothy P. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Objective:
We sought to determine the value of an audit-and-feedback monitoring method in facilitating meaningful practice changes to improve vancomycin dosing and monitoring.

Design:
Retrospective, multicenter, before-and-after implementation observational quality assurance initiative.

Setting:
The study was conducted in 7 not-for-profit, acute-care hospitals within a health system in southern Florida.

Methods:
The preimplementation period (September 1, 2019, through August 31, 2020) was compared to the postimplementation period (September 1, 2020, through May 31, 2022). All vancomycin serum-level results were screened for inclusion. The primary end point was the rate of fallout, defined as vancomycin serum level ≥25 µg/mL with acute kidney injury (AKI) and off-protocol dosing and monitoring. Secondary end points included the rate of fallout with respect to AKI severity, rate of vancomycin serum levels ≥25 µg/mL, and average number of serum-level evaluations per unique vancomycin patient.

Results:
In total, 27,611 vancomycin levels were analyzed from 13,910 unique patients. There were 2,209 vancomycin serum levels ≥25 µg/mL (8%) among 1,652 unique patients (11.9%). AKI was identified in 379 unique patients (23%) with a vancomycin levels ≥25 µg/mL. In total, 60 fallouts (35.2%) occurred in the 12-month preimplementation period (∼5 per month) and 41 fallouts (19.6%) occurred in the 21-month postimplementation period (∼2 per month; P = .0006). Failure was the most common AKI severity in both periods (risk: 35% vs 24.3%, P = .25; injury: 28.3% vs 19.5%, P = .30; failure: 36.7% vs 56%, P = .053). Overall, the number of evaluations of vancomycin serum levels per unique patient remained consistent throughout both periods (2 vs 2; P = .53).

Conclusions:
Implementation of a monthly quality assurance tool for elevated outlier vancomycin levels can improve dosing and monitoring practices resulting in enhanced patient safety.
Bacterial contamination on used face masks among nursing home healthcare personnel
Authors: Nightingale Madison , Mody Manali , Rickard Alexander H. , Cassone Marco 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Objectives:
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have been worn by many in public areas and for prolonged periods by healthcare workers (HCWs). This may facilitate bacterial contamination and transmission to and from patients in nursing homes where clinical care areas with strict precautions and residential and activity areas are interconnected. We assessed and compared bacterial mask colonization in HCWs belonging to different demographic categories and professions (clinical and nonclinical) and among HCWs who had worn the mask for different periods of time.

Design, setting and participants:
We conducted a point-prevalence study of 69 HCW masks at the end of a typical work shift in a 105-bed nursing home serving postacute care and rehabilitation patients. Information collected about the mask user included profession, age, sex, length of time the mask was worn, and known exposure to patients with colonization.

Results:
In total, 123 distinct bacterial isolates were recovered (1–5 isolates per mask), including Staphylococcus aureus from 11 masks (15.9%) and gram-negative bacteria of clinical importance from 22 masks (31.9%). Antibiotic resistance rates were low. There were no significant differences in the number of clinically important bacteria among masks worn more or less than 6 hours, and there were no significant differences among HCWs with different job functions or exposure to colonized patients.

Conclusions:
Bacterial mask contamination was not associated with HCW profession or exposure and did not increase after 6 hours of mask wearing in our nursing home setting. Bacteria contaminating HCW masks may differ from those colonizing patients.
Community interaction in open business models: how IoT companies can handle community-generated innovation
Authors: Send Hendrik , Hölzner Heike , Hassan Mehera 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWe investigate how four internet of things (IoT) companies perceive the large quantity of community-generated content as a significant source of innovation. We study the extent to which these companies are willing to align their internal organisation to cope with the external community dynamics and define beneficial modes of collaboration for all involved stakeholders. Four IoT companies adopting open-source hardware principles were selected as case studies. The data collection was based on 18 interviews highlighting both the perspectives of the companies and their corresponding communities and the opinions of key experts in the domain. In our findings, we illustrate the different manifestations of open business models and the companies’ concrete approaches to working with external stakeholders. It is shown that companies with a business history more clearly claim sovereignty over their strategic decisions in a community-infused model, while, on the other hand, the community-based companies pursue a community-led strategy.
The incidence, duration, risk factors, and age-based variation of missed opportunities to diagnose pertussis: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Evans Nicholas J. , Arakkal Alan T. , Cavanaugh Joseph E. , Newland Jason G. , Polgreen Philip M. , Miller Aaron C. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjective:To estimate the incidence, duration and risk factors for diagnostic delays associated with pertussis.Design:We used longitudinal retrospective insurance claims from the Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounters, Medicare Supplemental (2001–2020), and Multi-State Medicaid (2014–2018) databases.Setting:Inpatient, emergency department, and outpatient visits.Patients:The study included patients diagnosed with pertussis (International Classification of Diseases [ICD] codes) and receipt of macrolide antibiotic treatment.Methods:We estimated the number of visits with pertussis-related symptoms before diagnosis beyond that expected in the absence of diagnostic delays. Using a bootstrapping approach, we estimated the number of visits representing a delay, the number of missed diagnostic opportunities per patient, and the duration of delays. Results were stratified by age groups. We also used a logistic regression model to evaluate potential factors associated with delay.Results:We identified 20,828 patients meeting inclusion criteria. On average, patients had almost 2 missed opportunities prior to diagnosis, and delay duration was 12 days. Across age groups, the percentage of patients experiencing a delay ranged from 29.7% to 37.6%. The duration of delays increased considerably with age from an average of 5.6 days for patients aged <2 years to 13.8 days for patients aged ≥18 years. Factors associated with increased risk of delays included emergency department visits, telehealth visits, and recent prescriptions for antibiotics not effective against pertussis.Conclusions:Diagnostic delays for pertussis are frequent. More work is needed to decrease diagnostic delays, especially among adults. Earlier case identification may play an important role in the response to outbreaks by facilitating treatment, isolation, and improved contact tracing.
Evidence-based insecticide resistance in South American tomato leaf miner,Phthorimaea absoluta(Meyrick) under laboratory selection
Authors: Prasannakumar N. R. , Jyothi N. , Prasadbabu K. , Ramkumar G. , Asokan R. , Saroja S. , Sridhar V. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe South American tomato moth,Phthorimaea absoluta(Meyrick), is one of the key pests of tomato in India. Since its report in 2014, chemical control has been the main means of tackling this pest, both in the open field and protected cultivation. Despite regular insecticidal sprays, many outbreaks were reported from major tomato-growing regions of South India during 2019–2020. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of insecticide resistance on biology, biochemical enzymes, and gene expression in variousP. absolutafield populationsviz., Bangalore, Kolar, Madurai, Salem, and Anantapur to commonly used insecticides such as flubendiamide, cyantraniliprole, and indoxacarb. Increased levels of insecticide resistance ratios (RR) were recorded inP. absolutapopulations of different locations. A significant increase in cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP/MFO) and esterase levels was noticed in the resistant population compared to susceptible one. Through molecular studies, we identified four new CYP genesviz., CYP248f (flubendiamide), CYP272c, CYP724c (cyantraniliprole), and CYP648i (indoxacarb). The expression levels of these genes significantly increased as the folds of resistance increased from G1 to G20 (generation), indicating involvement of the identified genes in insecticide resistance development inP. absoluta. In addition, the resistant populations showed decreased fecundity, increased larval development period, and adult longevity, resulting in more crop damage. The information generated in the present study thus helps in understanding the development of insecticide resistance byP. absolutaand suggests the farmers and researchers to use insecticides wisely by adopting insecticide resistance management as a strategy under integrated pest management.
Divine and mortal loves
Authors: Preston-Roedder Ryan 
Published: March 2023

Abstract‘If the concept of God has any validity or any use’, James Baldwin writes in The Fire Next Time, ‘it can only be to make us larger, freer, and more loving. If God cannot do this, then it is time we got rid of Him.’ This article is a meditation on Baldwin's claim. I begin by presenting Baldwin's account of a grave danger that characterizes our social lives – a source of profound estrangement from ourselves and from one another. I draw on the work of the theologian Howard Thurman in order to explain how faith in a loving God can enable us to cope with this danger in a manner that may render us, in some sense, larger, freer, and more loving. Finally, I sketch Baldwin's account of how we might cope with this danger not by relying on God's love, but rather by relying in certain ways on our love for one another.
Engaging with Joanna Leidenhag's Minding Creation: Theological Panpsychism and the Doctrine of Creation
Authors: McKirland Christa L. , Fuimaono Eugene 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis article appreciatively reviews Joanna Leidenhag's work Minding Creation: Theological Panpsychism and the Doctrine of Creation while also responding critically to some aspects of Leidenhag's approach and content. The authors acknowledge several strengths of Leidenhag's work, then turn to how a panpsychic framework comports with Christa L. McKirland's recent work in theological anthropology. Finally, Eugene Fuimaono proposes areas of expansion for Leidenhag to consider – specifically as this relates to the value of engaging indigenous perspectives.