bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional slope stability predictions using artificial neural networks
Authors: Meng Jingjing , Mattsson Hans , Laue Jan 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTo enable assess slope stability problems efficiently, various machine learning algorithms have been proposed recently. However, these developments are restricted to two‐dimensional slope stability analyses (plane strain assumption), although the two‐dimensional results can be very conservative. In this study, artificial neural networks are adopted and trained to predict three‐dimensional slope stability and a program, SlopeLab has been developed with a graphical user interface. To reduce the number of variables, groups of dimensionless parameters to express stability of slopes in classic stability charts are adopted to construct the neural network architecture. The model has been trained with a dataset from slope stability charts for fully cohesive and cohesive‐frictional soils. Furthermore, the impact of concave plan curvature on slope stability that is usually found by excavation in practice is investigated by introducing a dimensionless parameter, relative curvature radius. Slope stability analyses have been conducted with numerical calculations and the artificial neural networks are trained with dimensionless data. The performance of the trained artificial neural networks has been evaluated with the correlation coefficient (R) and root mean square error (RMSE). High accuracy has been found in all the trained models in which R > 0.999 and RMSE < 0.15. Most importantly, the proposed program can help engineers to estimate 3D effects of a slope quickly from the ratio of the factors of safety, FS3D/FS2D. When FS3D/FS2D is large (such as larger than 1.2), a 3D numerical modelling on slope stability analyses that can consider complex 3D geometry and boundary condition is advised.
A modified phase field model for predicting the fracture behavior of quasi‐brittle materials
Authors: Yun Kumchol , Kim Myong‐Hyok , Chu Pom‐Hyang 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPhase field models have a very good capability in predicting the crack path, but most of them represent the dependence of the regularization parameter on the load‐carrying capacity of structures. In this paper, a phase field model is coupled with isotropic damage model aiming to resolve this issue in the fracture simulations of quasi‐brittle materials. Damage variables are calculated by a continuum damage mechanics model based on accurate energy reduction and then regularized by the phase field model. Since the continuum damage mechanics model is combined with phase field method, tensile strength of material is employed for calculating the damage field and phase field. Our approach can predict the accurate load‐carrying capacity independent of the regularization parameter while maintaining the precision of the crack path prediction. Three benchmark problems are solved to demonstrate good performance of our approach, and results are compared with those by the damage mechanics model or by the standard phase field model.
Coaxial electrospun membranes of poly(ε‐caprolactone)/poly(lactic acid) with reverse core‐shell structures loaded with curcumin as tunable drug delivery systems
Authors: Viscusi Gianluca , Lamberti Elena , Vittoria Vittoria , Gorrasi Giuliana 
Published: June 2021

AbstractNano fibrous membranes core‐shell of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), encapsulating 1 wt% of curcumin, are fabricated by coaxial electrospinning technique. Morphology and physical properties, as well as the release of curcumin, are studied and compared with neat PLA and PCL individually spinned. Morphological analysis shows for all the samples the obtainment of fiber oriented in random way, without defect and with a narrow distribution of the fiber dimensions (344 nm for PCL fibers and 450 nm for PLA fibers). Mechanical performances and barrier properties are evaluated on all membranes and found to be dependent on the fibers' composition and morphology. Water contact angle for all membranes is found higher than 90° (from 103° for PLA‐Curc to 128° for PCL‐Curc), expected since the hydrophobic behavior of the micro/nano electrospun morphology. The curcumin release from the coaxial fibers, modeled with a modified Weibull equation, shows the possibility of a fine tuning of drug release (up to 15 days) for the produced materials, depending on the required application.
Relationships between physical therapy intervention and opioid use: A scoping review
Authors: Brown‐Taylor Lindsey , Beckner Aaron , Scaff Katie E. , Fritz Julie M. , Buys Michael J. , Patel Shardool , Bayless Kim , Brooke Benjamin S. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo synthesize available evidence that has examined the relationship between physical therapy (PT) and opioid use.TypeScoping ReviewLiterature SurveyData sources including Google Scholar, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were searched for English articles up to October 24, 2019 using terms (“physical therapy”[Title/Abstract] OR physiotherapy[Title/Abstract] OR rehabilitation[Title/Abstract]) AND (opiate*[Title/Abstract] OR opioid*[Title/Abstract]).MethodologyIncluded studies evaluated a PT intervention and reported an opioid‐use outcome. Data were extracted to describe the PT intervention, patient sample, opioid‐use measurement, and results of any time or group comparisons. Study quality was evaluated with Joanna Briggs checklists based on study design.SynthesisThirty studies were included that evaluated PT in at least one of these seven categories: interdisciplinary program (n = 8), modalities (n = 3), treatment (n = 3), utilization (n = 2), content (n = 3), timing (n = 13), and location (n = 2). Mixed results were reported for reduced opioid‐use after interdisciplinary care and after PT modalities. Utilizing PT was associated with lower odds (ranging from 0.2–0.8) of using opioid medication for persons with low back pain (LBP) and injured workers; however, guideline‐adherent care did not further reduce opioid use for persons with LBP. Early PT utilization after index visit for spine or joint pain and after orthopedic surgery was also associated with lower odds of using opioid medications (ranging from 0.27–0.93). Emergency department PT care was not associated with fewer opioid prescriptions than standard emergency department care. PT in a rehabilitation center after total knee replacement was not associated with lower opioid use than inpatient PT.ConclusionsThe relationship between timing of PT and opioid use was evaluated in 13 of 30 studies for a variety of patient populations. Eight of these 13 studies reported a relationship between early PT and reduced subsequent opioid use, making the largest sample of studies in this scoping review with supporting evidence. There is limited and inconclusive evidence to establish whether the content and/or location of PT interventions improves outcomes because of heterogeneity between studies.
Novel variants of engineered water soluble mu opioid receptors with extensive mutations and removal of cysteines
Authors: Xi Jin , Yang Nanmu , Perez‐Aguilar Jose Manuel , Selling Bernard , Grothusen John R. , Lamichhane Rajan , Saven Jeffery G. , Liu Renyu 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWe have shown that water‐soluble variants of the human mu opioid receptor (wsMOR) containing a reduced number of hydrophobic residues at the lipid‐facing residues of the transmembrane (TM) helices can be expressed in E. coli. In this study, we tested the consequences of increasing the number of mutations on the surface of the transmembrane domain on the receptor's aqueous solubility and ligand binding properties, along with mutation of 11 cysteine residues regardless of their solvent exposure value and location in the protein. We computationally engineered 10 different variants of MOR, and tested four of them for expression in E. coli. We found that all four variants were successfully expressed and could be purified in high quantities. The variants have alpha helical structural content similar to that of the native MOR, and they also display binding affinities for the MOR antagonist (naltrexone) similar to the wsMOR variants we engineered previously that contained many fewer mutations. Furthermore, for these full‐length variants, the helical content remains unchanged over a wide range of pH values (pH 6 ~ 9). This study demonstrates the flexibility and robustness of the water‐soluble MOR variants with respect to additional designed mutations in the TM domain and changes in pH, whereupon the protein's structural integrity and its ligand binding affinity are maintained. These variants of the full‐length MOR with less hydrophobic surface residues and less cysteines can be obtained in large amounts from expression in E. coli and can serve as novel tools to investigate structure‐function relationships of the receptor.
Sofosbuvir‐based therapies in genotype 2 hepatitis C virus cirrhosis: A real‐life experience with focus on ribavirin dose
Authors: Smirne Carlo , D'Avolio Antonio , Bellan Mattia , Gualerzi Alessandro , Crobu Maria G. , Pirisi Mario 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir‐based therapies for the treatment of cirrhosis from hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 infection. Data of all consecutive HCV genotype 2 cirrhotic patients who started sofosbuvir‐based treatments between January 2015 and March 2017 in eight Italian tertiary hospitals were collected retrospectively. Overall, 273 patients (Child A: 94.5%) were enrolled. In the 194 subjects treated with sofosbuvir/ribavirin, median initial ribavirin dosage was 13.9 mg/kg/day, and therapy duration was 16 weeks. Sustained virological response (SVR) rates were 93.8% in intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and 95.3% in per‐protocol (PP) analyses for the 129 treatment‐naïve patients, and 96.9% (ITT) and 98.4% (PP) for the 65 treatment‐experienced subjects. Adverse events were reported in 142 patients (73.2%), but only 1.5% discontinued treatment. Eighty‐eight subjects with treatment‐induced anemia (mild: 34.5%, moderate: 7.7%, severe: 3.1%) had to reduce ribavirin dosage, but SVR rates were comparable to the weight‐based dose group, both in ITT (95.4% and 94.3%) and PP (97.7% and 95.2%) analyses, respectively. Moreover, ITT and PP SVR rates were similar between shorter (<20 weeks) (94.1% and 96.0%, respectively) and prolonged (≥20 weeks) regimens (95.7% and 96.7%, respectively). SVR rates in the 79 subjects treated with sofosbuvir/daclatasvir (without ribavirin) were similar (ITT: 96.2%; PP: 97.4%, respectively), without de novo/worsening anemia. In conclusion, in a real‐life study centered on genotype 2 patients with well‐compensated cirrhosis, sofosbuvir‐based regimens were associated with good SVR and tolerability rates, regardless of previous antiviral treatments, without a significant impact of on treatment ribavirin dose reductions.
Robust guaranteed cost rate anti‐bump switching control for switched systems
Authors: Zhao Ying , Pang Mingchuan , Ma Dan , Yu Shuanghe 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA multi‐objective switching control strategy is presented in this paper to capture both the robust guaranteed cost (GC) performance and the rate anti‐bump switching performance of switched systems (SSs). The rate anti‐bump switching performance refers to the alleviation of big instantaneous jumps in the switched system rate. Through co‐construct of a switching law and a switching controller, the multi‐objective switching control scheme is attained. A condition is builded to capture the robust GC performance and the rate anti‐bump switching performance, conquering the possible conflict in both performance demands. Moreover, this condition claims that subsystems can capture none of the robust GC performance and the rate anti‐bump switching performance. A verification on the efficiency of the formed multi‐objective switching control approach is provided by regulating the acceleration of a switched engine model.
Robust observer‐based‐controller design for uncertain fractional‐order time‐varying‐delay systems
Authors: Boukal Yassine , Darouach Mohamed , Zasadzinski Michel , Radhy Nour Eddine 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis article focuses on the robust observer‐based controller (‐ROBC) for Uncertain Fractional‐Order Systems with Time‐Varying‐Delay (DU‐FOS‐TVD). First, the existence conditions of ‐ROBC are given. Then, based on the diffusive representation of the fractional‐order derivative and the indirect Lyapunov approach, a new sufficient condition is obtained and presented as a convex optimization problem with a Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) constraint, which guarantees the robust stability of the estimation errors and the stabilization of the DU‐FOS‐TVD simultaneously. All observer matrices gains and control laws can be computed by solving the given LMI. A Numerical example is given to illustrate the validity of the proposed method.
Recent Development of Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction Application to Energy Conversion
Authors: Liang Feng , Zhang Kaiwen , Zhang Lei , Zhang Yingjie , Lei Yong , Sun Xueliang 
Published: June 2021

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) emission has caused greenhouse gas pollution worldwide. Hence, strengthening CO2 recycling is necessary. CO2 electroreduction reaction (CRR) is recognized as a promising approach to utilize waste CO2. Electrocatalysts in the CRR process play a critical role in determining the selectivity and activity of CRR. Different types of electrocatalysts are introduced in this review: noble metals and their derived compounds, transition metals and their derived compounds, organic polymer, and carbon‐based materials, as well as their major products, Faradaic efficiency, current density, and onset potential. Furthermore, this paper overviews the recent progress of the following two major applications of CRR according to the different energy conversion methods: electricity generation and formation of valuable carbonaceous products. Considering electricity generation devices, the electrochemical properties of metal–CO2 batteries, including Li–CO2, Na–CO2, Al–CO2, and Zn–CO2 batteries, are mainly summarized. Finally, different pathways of CO2 electroreduction to carbon‐based fuels is presented, and their reaction mechanisms are illustrated. This review provides a clear and innovative insight into the entire reaction process of CRR, guiding the new electrocatalysts design, state‐of‐the‐art analysis technique application, and reaction system innovation.
Recent advances of transition Ir(III) complexes as photosensitizers for improved photodynamic therapy
Authors: Zhang Liping , Ding Dan 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPhotodynamic therapy (PDT), a minimally invasive procedure, usually required photosensitizer (PS) under light irradiation to convert the absorbed light energy into reactive oxygen species (ROS) to cause cancer cell apoptosis. The PSs with abundant excited triplet state play a critical role to guarantee the PDT effect. Transition Ir(III) complexes has been proved to be an effective PSs for PDT, owing to their high intersystem crossing (ISC) ability, tunable optical properties, long excited state lifetimes. However, poor biocompatibility, short excitation wavelength, and high oxygen dependence limit their biomedical applications. This review summarizes important progress of Ir(III) complexes as PS in improved PDT, including: (1) the strategy of nanoparticles is employed to improve their biocompatibility, and significantly enhance the cellular intracellular efficiency at the same time. (2) Their excitation wavelength is successfully extended by combining fluorophores, forming nanoscale Metal‐Organic frameworks (nMOFs) or two‐photon excited therapy. (3) Their therapeutic effect for antihypoxic tumors is enhanced by constructing mitochondrial‐targeted PS or type I PDT. In addition, simple modification of the precursor is beneficial to obtain a more excellent therapeutic effect. Finally, we brief summarize the current challenges and future research opportunities for Ir(III) complexes in this research field.
‘Our Most Foreign Refugees’: Refugees from Vietnam in Britain
Authors: Taylor Becky 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBritain’s response to the ‘boat people’ crisis, as Becky Taylor shows in this chapter, had at its heart a contradiction. On the one hand, Margaret Thatcher’s government was keen to be seen as an ally of the US in the Cold War, and still a leader on the international stage. On the other, the arrival of 19,000 Vietnamese ‘boat people’ after 1979 came at a time of growing anti-immigration rhetoric, Britain’s deepest recession for fifty years and just as Thatcher’s New Right government’s marketisation and anti-statist policies were being enacted. This chapter explores how the tension between these different elements shaped Britain’s reception of the ‘boat people’, in particular pointing to the central place of voluntary organisations and multiculturalism in the resettlement programme.
Improving the Flexibility of Production Scheduling in Flat Steel Production Through Standard and AI-Based Approaches: Challenges and Perspectives
Authors: Iannino Vincenzo , Colla Valentina , Maddaloni Alessandro , Brandenburger Jens , Rajabi Ahmad , Wolff Andreas , Ordieres Joaquin , Gutierrez Miguel , Sirovnik Erwin , Mueller Dirk , Schirm Christoph 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn recent years, the European Steel Industry, in particular flat steel production, is facing an increasingly competitive market situation. The product price is determined by competition, and the only way to increase profit is to reduce production and commercial costs. One method to increase production yield is to create proper scheduling for the components on the available machines, so that an order is timely completed, optimizing resource exploitation and minimizing delays. The optimization of production using efficient scheduling strategies has received ever increasing attention over time and is one of the most investigated optimization problems. The paper presents three approaches for improving flexibility of production scheduling in flat steel facilities. Each method has different scopes and modelling aspects: an auction-based multi-agent system is used to deal with production uncertainties, a multi-objective mixed-integer linear programming-based approach is applied for global optimal scheduling of resources under steady conditions, and a continuous flow model approach provides long-term production scheduling. Simulation results show the goodness of each method and their suitability to different production conditions, by highlighting their advantages and limitations.
Proportional lumpability and proportional bisimilarity
Authors: Marin Andrea , Piazza Carla , Rossi Sabina 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we deal with the lumpability approach to cope with the state space explosion problem inherent to the computation of the stationary performance indices of large stochastic models. The lumpability method is based on a state aggregation technique and applies to Markov chains exhibiting some structural regularity. Moreover, it allows one to efficiently compute the exact values of the stationary performance indices when the model is actually lumpable. The notion of quasi-lumpability is based on the idea that a Markov chain can be altered by relatively small perturbations of the transition rates in such a way that the new resulting Markov chain is lumpable. In this case, only upper and lower bounds on the performance indices can be derived. Here, we introduce a novel notion of quasi-lumpability, named proportional lumpability, which extends the original definition of lumpability but, differently from the general definition of quasi-lumpability, it allows one to derive exact stationary performance indices for the original process. We then introduce the notion of proportional bisimilarity for the terms of the performance process algebra PEPA. Proportional bisimilarity induces a proportional lumpability on the underlying continuous-time Markov chains. Finally, we prove some compositionality results and show the applicability of our theory through examples.
A Budget Impact Model for the use of Drug-Eluting Stents in Patients with Symptomatic Lower-Limb Peripheral Arterial Disease: An Australian Perspective
Authors: Altaf Nishath , Ariyaratne Thathya Venu , Peacock Adrian , Deltetto Irene , El-Hoss Jad , Thomas Shannon , Taylor Colman , Mwipatayi Bibombe Patrice 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Improvement in long-term outcomes through innovative, cost-effective medical technologies is a focus for endovascular procedures aimed at treating symptomatic lower-limb peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The advent of drug-eluting stents (DES) has improved symptomatic PAD treatment via a reduction in high rates of target lesion revascularisation (TLR). The present study aimed to compare the 5-year financial impact of treatment with Eluvia, a new paclitaxel-eluting stent, versus treatment with Zilver PTX, a drug-coated stent, among patients in Australia by developing a budget impact model (BIM).

Methods
A BIM was developed from an Australian public hospital payer perspective using Australian national cost weights (AUD), published literature, and public hospital audit data. Clinical outcomes, including clinically driven TLRs (CD-TLRs), adverse events, and length of stay, were based on the 2-year results of the IMPERIAL trial, which compared Eluvia DES to Zilver PTX.

Results
Assuming EVP eligibility rate of 80% and DES uses rate ranging from 10 to 28% (superficial femoral artery lesions only), the 5-year model forecasted a treatment population between 14,428 and 40,399 patients. The model estimated 1499–4198 fewer CD-TLRs and 16,515–46,243 fewer hospital days with Eluvia DES use. This translated to 5-year potential savings of $4.3–$12.1 million to the Australian public hospital payer attributable to reduced CD-TLRs for Eluvia DES and $33.1–$92.6 million to Australian public hospitals owing to reduced adverse events and hospital bed days.

Conclusion
Eluvia DES use as treatment for symptomatic lower-limb PAD could lead to potential savings for the Australian public healthcare system based on improved patient outcomes.
An analytical and experimental comparison of maximal lottery schemes
Authors: Brandl Florian , Brandt Felix , Stricker Christian 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMaximal lottery ($$ ML $$ML) schemes constitute an interesting class of randomized voting rules that were proposed by Peter Fishburn in 1984 and have been repeatedly recommended for practical use. However, the subtle differences between different$$ ML $$MLschemes are often overlooked. Two canonical subsets of$$ ML $$MLschemes are "Image missing"schemes (which only depend on unweighted majority comparisons) and "Image missing"schemes (which only depend on weighted majority comparisons). We prove that "Image missing"schemes are the only homogeneous$$ ML $$MLschemes that satisfy$$ SD $$SD-efficiency and$$ SD $$SD-participation, but are also among the most manipulable$$ ML $$MLschemes. While all$$ ML $$MLschemes are manipulable and even violate monotonicity, they are never manipulable when a Condorcet winner exists and satisfy a relative notion of monotonicity. We also evaluate the frequency of manipulable preference profiles and the degree of randomization of$$ ML $$MLschemes via extensive computer simulations. In summary,$$ ML $$MLschemes are rarely manipulable and often do not randomize at all, especially for few alternatives. The average degree of randomization of "Image missing"schemes is consistently lower than that of "Image missing"schemes.