bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feasibility study of surface motion tracking with millimeter wave technology during radiotherapy
Authors: Olick‐Gibson Joshua , Cai Bin , Zhou Shuang , Mutic Sasa , Carter Paul , Hugo Geoff , Zhang Tiezhi 
Published: December 2019

PurposeContinuous monitoring of patient movement is crucial to administering safe radiation therapy (RT). Conventional optical approaches often cannot be used when the patient’s surface is blocked by immobilization devices. Millimeter waves (mmWaves) are capable of penetrating nonconductive objects. In this study, we investigated using mmWave technology to monitor patient surface displacements, as well as breathing and cardiac phases, through clothing and body fixtures.MethodsA mmWave device was mounted inside the bore of a ring‐based radiotherapy linear accelerator and pointed at a reflective surface on top of the couch. Measurements were obtained at displacements of 10, 7.5, 5.0, 2.5, and 1.0 mm at heights 100, 150, and 200 mm below isocenter. Submillimeter displacements were performed at a height of 200 mm. Additionally, millimeter and submillimeter displacements were measured with and without a gown and body mold placed between the surface and the sensor. The device was programmed to transmit chirp signals at 77–81 GHz. The subject’s surface was detected by fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the reflected chirp signal within a rough range bin. Fine displacements within that range bin were calculated through phase extraction and phase demodulation. The displacement data were sent through two separate bandpass filters with passbands of 0.1–0.6 and 0.8–2.0 Hz to obtain the subject’s breathing and cardiac waveforms, respectively. The breathing and cardiac measurements were compared to those of a Vernier Respiration Monitor Belt and an electrocardiogram (EKG), respectively, to assess validity.ResultsThe device was able to detect millimeter and submillimeter displacements as small as 0.1 mm, as well as monitor displacement with an accuracy within 1 mm in the presence of an obstructive object. The device's breathing and cardiac waveforms exhibited a strong phase correlation between the respiration monitor belt (ρ = 0.9156) and EKG (ρ = 0.7895), respectively.ConclusionsThe mmWave device can monitor surface displacements with an accuracy better than 0.1 mm without obstructions and better than 1 mm with obstructions. It can also provide real‐time monitoring of breathing and cardiac waveforms simultaneously with high correlation with traditional respiratory and cardiac monitoring devices. Overall, mmWave technology demonstrates potential for motion monitoring in the field of radiation oncology.
A linear constitutive model for unsaturated poroelasticity by micromechanical analysis
Authors: Cheng Alexander H.D. 
Published: December 2019

SummaryThis paper extends the Biot theory of poroelasticity from the saturated to unsaturated case. The Biot phenomenological model uses parameters that are easily observable, such as the deformation of porous frame, total stress, pore pressure, and fluid specific discharge. Such model is preferred for engineering applications. At this macroscopic level, the extension of Biot theory from saturated to unsaturated is straightforward. The constitutive constants, however, are combined properties of solid, pore space, and fluids. In the unsaturated case, the constants are functions of the degree of saturation. Their measurements and tabulation over a range of saturation is generally not feasible for practical applications. In this work, a Biot‐Willis type analysis is performed for the unsaturated case to provide a theory that the bulk material constants can be evaluated using laboratory measurable micromechanical constants under saturated condition, plus a capillary pressure curve (saturation versus suction pressure) typically available for unsaturated porous medium, without the need of measurement at each state of saturation. In particular, it is demonstrated that the surface energy contained in the meniscus interface manifests as a “capillary modulus,” given by the negative inverse slope of the capillary pressure curve. A rigorous analysis based on the thermodynamic variational energy approach is also conducted to lend theoretical support to the phenomenological approach. The presented model can bring a closure to the practical engineering modeling of the deformation of partially saturated porous medium that lacks the information of material constants over the range of saturation.
Mapping from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 9th to 10th Revision for Research in Biologics and Biosimilars Using Administrative Healthcare Data
Authors: He Mengdong , Santiago Ortiz Adrian J. , Marshall James , Mendelsohn Aaron B. , Curtis Jeffrey R. , Barr Charles E. , Lockhart Catherine M. , Kim Seoyoung C. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPurposeThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated the transition from ICD‐9 to ICD‐10 codes on October 1, 2015. Postmarketing surveillance of newly marketed drugs, including novel biologics and biosimilars, requires a robust approach to convert ICD‐9 to ICD‐10 codes for study variables. We examined three mapping methods for health conditions (HCs) of interest to the Biologics and Biosimilars Collective Intelligence Consortium (BBCIC) and compared their prevalence.MethodsUsing CMS General Equivalence Mappings, we applied forward‐backward mapping (FBM) to 108 HCs and secondary mapping (SM) and tertiary mapping (TM) to seven preselected HCs. A physician reviewed the mapped ICD‐10 codes. The prevalence of the 108 HCs defined by ICD‐9 versus ICD‐10 codes was examined in BBCIC's distributed research network (September 1, 2012 to March 31, 2018). We visually assessed prevalence trends of these HCs and applied a threshold of 20% level change in ICD‐9 versus ICD‐10 prevalence.ResultsNearly four times more ICD‐10 codes were mapped by SM and TM than FBM, but most were irrelevant or nonspecific. For conditions like myocardial infarction, SM or TM did not generate additional ICD‐10 codes. Through visual inspection, one‐fifth of the HCs had inconsistent ICD‐9 versus ICD‐10 prevalence trends. 13% of HCs had a level change greater than +/−20%.ConclusionFBM is generally the most efficient way to convert ICD‐9 to ICD‐10 codes, yet manual review of converted ICD‐10 codes is recommended even for FBM. The lack of existing guidance to compare the performance of ICD‐9 with ICD‐10 codes led to challenges in empirically determining the quality of conversions.
Influence of semi‐crystalline poly(ε‐caprolactone) and non‐crystalline polylactide blocks on the thermal properties of polydimethylsiloxane‐based block copolymers
Authors: Brogly Maurice , Bistac Sophie , Delaite Christelle , Alzina Camille 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPoly(A)‐block‐poly(B), poly(A)‐block‐poly(B)‐block‐poly(A) and B(A)2 block copolymers were prepared through coordinated anionic ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone (CL) and lactic acid (LA) using hydroxy‐terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as initiator. A wide range of well‐defined combinations of PDMS‐block‐PCL and PDMS‐block‐PLA diblock copolymers, PCL‐block‐PDMS‐block‐PCL and PLA‐block‐PDMS‐block‐PLA triblock copolymers and star‐PDMS(PCL)2 copolymers were thus obtained. The number‐average molar masses and the structure of the synthesized block copolymers were identified using various analytical techniques. The thermal properties of these copolymers were established using differential scanning calorimetry. Considering PDMS‐block‐PCL copolymers, the results demonstrate the complex effect of polymer architecture and PCL block length on the ability of the PDMS block to crystallize or not. In the case of diblock copolymers, crystallization of PCL blocks originated from stacking of adjacent chains inducing the extension of the PDMS block that can easily crystallize. In the case of star copolymers, the same tendency as in triblock copolymers is observed, showing a limited crystallization of PDMS when the length of the PCL block increases. In the case of PDMS‐block‐PLA copolymers, melting and crystallization transitions of the PLA block are never observed. Considering the diblock copolymers, PDMS sequences have the ability to crystallize. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Nucleation and Growth of Magnetron‐Sputtered Ag Nanoparticles as Witnessed by Time‐Resolved Small Angle X‐Ray Scattering
Authors: Shelemin Artem , Pleskunov Pavel , Kousal Jaroslav , Drewes Jonas , Hanuš Jan , Ali‐Ogly Suren , Nikitin Daniil , Solař Pavel , Kratochvíl Jiří , Vaidulych Mykhailo , Schwartzkopf Matthias , Kylián Ondřej , Polonskyi Oleksandr , Strunskus Thomas , Faupel Franz , Roth Stephan V. , Biederman Hynek , Choukourov Andrei 
Published: December 2019

AbstractKinetic aspects of the synthesis of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) by magnetron sputtering are studied by in situ and time‐resolved small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS). Part of the NPs are found to become confined within a capture zone at 1–10 mm from the surface of the target and circumscribed by the plasma ring. Three regimes of the NP growth are identified: 1) early growth at which the average NP diameter rapidly increases to 90 nm; 2) cycling instabilities at which the SAXS signal periodically fluctuates either due to expelling of large NPs from the capture zone or due to the axial rotation of the NP cloud; and 3) steady‐state synthesis at which stable synthesis of the NPs is achieved. The NP confinement within the capture zone is driven by the balance of forces, the electrostatic force being dominant. On reaching the critical size, large NPs acquire an excessive charge and become expelled from the capture zone via the electrostatic interactions. As a result, significant NP deposits are formed on the inner walls of the aggregation chamber as well as in the central area of the target.
An Assessment of Printing Methods for Producing Two‐Dimensional Lead‐Free Functional Pyrotechnic Delay‐Lines for Mining Applications
Authors: Bell Tuuli M. , Williamson David M. , Walley Stephen M. , Morgan C. Gordon , Kelly Cheryl L. , Batchelor Lynette 
Published: December 2019

AbstractShock‐tube detonators, used in the mining industry to initiate charges of blasting explosives, often contain pyrotechnic delay‐lines for controlling the sequence of blasts. Traditionally, delay‐lines consist of pyrotechnic compounds of toxic metals such as lead which are pressed into the metallic tubing. Since lead is well‐known to be a hazard both to people and the environment, lead‐free alternatives were investigated to create a delay‐line composition. Further, to create delay‐lines cheaply and reproducibly, a composition was developed that could be printed onto a substrate. Screen printing was investigated for this purpose. The pyrotechnic ink that we developed consists of two inert inks (a fuel and an oxidiser) so that it can be stored and transported safely and conveniently without being classified as an energetic. After being transported to its destination, the two inks can be mixed to form an energetic (wet) ink, printed, and used as a delay‐line when dry. A silicon‐bismuth trioxide composition bonded together using nitrocellulose was found to be a suitable ink for screen printing. The burning rate was measured as 52±7 mm s−1 for a thickness of 100 μm. This thickness reduces the raw delay‐line material by over 90 % compared to traditional 3D delay‐lines. The target burning rate was 24 mm/s, but the measured rate is sufficiently close to this that changes in geometry could meet this requirement. The critical thickness for a self‐sustainable burn was measured as 40±5 μm. The thermal output and viscosity of the ink were determined as functions of the particle size. The viscosity of the ink was determined as 7.04±0.05 Pa s, which is suitable for screen printing. Milling was used to reduce the particle size below 1 μm. Ignition of the printed delay‐line using shock tubing was achieved through overprinting with a shock‐sensitive ink. The burning rate of a delay‐line is one of its most defining properties when used in mining applications. Thus the effect on the delay‐line's burning rate of the pyrotechnic composition printed thickness, and the ink solvent was investigated. We found that the burning rate could be modified by changing the silicon content in the pyrotechnic, and to some extent, by adding aluminum. Adding a third, slowly evaporating solvent, to the ink vehicle was found to reduce the critical thickness to less than 40 μm, decrease the burning rate to 46±7 mm s−1, and enhance the ink's flow properties. We found that the width of printed lines did not affect the burning rate for widths between 1–5 mm. This is an interesting result and could be used to determine the most cost‐effective shape to produce printed delay‐lines. Ignition of the printed delay‐line using shock tubing was achieved through overprinting with a shock‐sensitive ink.
Application of a novel cyclic ion mobility‐mass spectrometer to the analysis of synthetic polymers: A preliminary evaluation
Authors: Riches Eleanor , Palmer Martin E. 
Published: December 2019

RationaleMass spectrometry (MS) is often employed in the characterisation of synthetic polymers. As polymer architecture becomes more complex, ion mobility (IM) is increasingly being coupled with MS to provide an additional dimension of separation, along with structural information. In this study, we explore the use of a novel cyclic ion mobility (cIM) mass spectrometer for the analysis of a co‐polymer sample.MethodsA solution of poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(propylene glycol) random co‐polymer (PEG‐ran‐PPG) was used as a representative polymer sample. The solution was infused into a cIM‐enabled quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer. An m/z region of interest, selected using the quadrupole, was passed around the cIM device multiple times. Subsequently, regions of an arrival time distribution were ‘sliced’ and subjected to tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) analysis.ResultsTypical, multiply charged series were observed for the polymer under electrospray ionisation. Multiple passes of the cIM device resulted in the separation of otherwise‐overlapping charge states within a narrow m/z window (~3 m/z units), allowing individual selection of ions. These isolated ions were then subjected to post‐mobility fragmentation resulting in clean, high‐resolution product ion spectra, with a significant reduction in interference.ConclusionsScalable IM separation (IMS), brought about by passing ions multiple times around the cIM device, was demonstrated to provide increased IM resolution for ions in the selected m/z window. After multiple passes, deconvoluted high‐resolution MS/MS product ion spectra were successfully acquired for ions that previously had interfering overlapping species present.
Sliding mode control of discrete‐time switched systems subject to mode delays
Authors: Zhao Haijuan , Niu Yugang 
Published: December 2019

SummaryThis work considers the sliding mode control problem of a class of discrete‐time uncertain switched systems subject to detecting‐delay on mode signals, which may result in the asynchronous phenomenon between the controller and the switched system. Since the mode information of the controlled system is not available for the controller in time, a mode‐independent sliding surface will be introduced, by which an asynchronous sliding mode controller is designed, whose control gain and robust parameter will be changing according to the controller mode. In the analysis on the stability of the closed‐loop control system and the reachability of the specified sliding surface, the asynchronous characteristics are detailedly investigated. It is shown that the Lyapunov function may be not always decreasing along the state trajectories during the unmatched interval of controller modes and system modes. Nevertheless, it is proven that the state trajectories can be driven into a sliding region around the specified sliding surface in finite time. Finally, some numerical simulation results are provided.
Feedback passification of switched stochastic time‐delay systems with multiple disturbances via DOBC
Authors: Ma Lianfang , Sun Haibin , Zong Guangdeng 
Published: December 2019

SummaryThis paper is concerned with the problem of feedback passification for switched stochastic time‐delay systems with multiple disturbances subject to mode‐dependent average dwell‐time switching. The multiple disturbances are composed of two parts: one is given through an exogenous system and the other is described in the form of norm‐bounded vector. A disturbance observer is constructed to estimate an exogenous disturbance. Then, a state feedback controller that includes the estimation value is designed to guarantee the passivity of the closed‐loop system. The observer and controller gains are developed via linear matrix inequalities. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through a numerical example and an application example to PWM‐driven boost converter.
Place brand as an emergent property: The case of Vascitour and Naples
Authors: Tani Mario , Basile Gianpaolo , Dominici Gandolfo 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn this paper, by adopting a systemic framework, we argue that place's adaptive connotation be considered as a mere result of endogenous processes but as a viable system that will remain viable if it can continue to answer the needs of its numerous heterogeneous internal and external socio‐economic agents. Place can be seen as a complex adaptive system characterized by a more or less planned evolution, driven by both top‐down and bottom‐up processes, and composed of various interconnecting parts that, at the same time, can be seen as wholes at different levels as an holoarchy. The model of the holoarchy allows to consider the place as the result of both planned and spontaneous relationships between social and economic (sub)systems and components, implemented in order to achieve a common goal. We than apply this framework to the analysis of a case study in the tourism industry in Naples (Italy).
Adaptive Neuro-fuzzy Inference System Trained for Sizing Semi-elliptical Notches Scanned by Eddy Currents
Authors: Mohseni Ehsan , Viens Martin , Xie Wen-Fang 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe present study explores the capability of COMSOL Multiphysics, as a finite element modelling (FEM) tool, to model the interaction between a split-D differential surface eddy current (ECT) probe and semi-elliptical surface electrical discharge machined (EDM) notches. The effect of the small probe’s lift-off and tilt on its signal is investigated through modelling and subsequently, the simulation outcomes are validated using the probe’s impedance measurements. In the next stage, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is designed to take the signal features as inputs and consequently, provide the length of the scanned notch as the system’s output. The system is trained by extracted features of thirty model-generated signals obtained from scanning of the same number of semi-elliptical notches by means of the split-D probe. The trained ANFIS is tested afterwards using the measured signals of 3 calibration EDM notches together with 5 model-based ones. A very low average estimation error is observed with regard to the length estimation of the test notches and the accuracy of the length estimation is found to be quite reasonable.
High-dimensional regression in practice: an empirical study of finite-sample prediction, variable selection and ranking
Authors: Wang Fan , Mukherjee Sach , Richardson Sylvia , Hill Steven M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPenalized likelihood approaches are widely used for high-dimensional regression. Although many methods have been proposed and the associated theory is now well developed, the relative efficacy of different approaches in finite-sample settings, as encountered in practice, remains incompletely understood. There is therefore a need for empirical investigations in this area that can offer practical insight and guidance to users. In this paper, we present a large-scale comparison of penalized regression methods. We distinguish between three related goals: prediction, variable selection and variable ranking. Our results span more than 2300 data-generating scenarios, including both synthetic and semisynthetic data (real covariates and simulated responses), allowing us to systematically consider the influence of various factors (sample size, dimensionality, sparsity, signal strength and multicollinearity). We consider several widely used approaches (Lasso, Adaptive Lasso, Elastic Net, Ridge Regression, SCAD, the Dantzig Selector and Stability Selection). We find considerable variation in performance between methods. Our results support a “no panacea” view, with no unambiguous winner across all scenarios or goals, even in this restricted setting where all data align well with the assumptions underlying the methods. The study allows us to make some recommendations as to which approaches may be most (or least) suitable given the goal and some data characteristics. Our empirical results complement existing theory and provide a resource to compare methods across a range of scenarios and metrics.
A Deleted Deletion Site in a New Vector Strain and Exceptional Genomic Stability of Plaque-Purified Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)
Authors: Jordan Ingo , Horn Deborah , Thiele Kristin , Haag Lars , Fiddeke Katharina , Sandig Volker 
Published: December 2019

AbstractVectored vaccines based on highly attenuated modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) are reported to be immunogenic, tolerant to pre-existing immunity, and able to accommodate and stably maintain very large transgenes. MVA is usually produced on primary chicken embryo fibroblasts, but production processes based on continuous cell lines emerge as increasingly robust and cost-effective alternatives. An isolate of a hitherto undescribed genotype was recovered by passage of a non-plaque-purified preparation of MVA in a continuous anatine suspension cell line (CR.pIX) in chemically defined medium. The novel isolate (MVA-CR19) replicated to higher infectious titers in the extracellular volume of suspension cultures and induced fewer syncytia in adherent cultures. We now extend previous studies with the investigation of the point mutations in structural genes of MVA-CR19 and describe an additional point mutation in a regulatory gene. We furthermore map and discuss an extensive rearrangement of the left telomer of MVA-CR19 that appears to have occurred by duplication of the right telomer. This event caused deletions and duplications of genes that may modulate immunologic properties of MVA-CR19 as a vaccine vector. Our characterizations also highlight the exceptional genetic stability of plaque-purified MVA: although the phenotype of MVA-CR19 appears to be advantageous for replication, we found that all genetic markers that differentiate wildtype and MVA-CR19 are stably maintained in passages of recombinant viruses based on either wildtype or MVA-CR.
PAUSE THE BLOCKCHAIN LEGAL REVOLUTION
Authors: Low Kelvin F. K. , Mik Eliza 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWhen bitcoin was released by the mysterious Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, few could have predicted that it would attract as much attention as it has today. It has spawned a veritable host of other cryptocurrencies, including ether on the upstart Ethereum network, which boasts smart contract functionality. The underlying blockchain technology has also attracted attention, with some within the blockchain community suggesting that it can solve such diverse problems as secured digital voting to tracking food provenance. In the legal context, blockchains have been envisaged as capable of revolutionising registries for assets ranging from land to intellectual property, modernising clearing and settlement, and even fundamentally transforming the contracting process. This article critically evaluates the popular claims surrounding the potential of blockchain technologies to disrupt the legal system by separating hype from fact.