Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Error estimates of velocities and displacements from accelerographs

SUMMARY Strong motion accelerographs have been deployed worldwide to monitor the ground shaking of the Earth and the recorded accelerograms have been used to recover the velocities and displacements by integration. In spite of their fundamental importance in seismology and earthquake engineering, few works address the error estimates of the derived velocities and displacements. We show that the error estimates of the velocities and displacements obtained from accelerograms in the earthquake literature approach to zero as the sampling interval of accelerographs tends to zero; these are erroneous from the statistical point of view. As a result, we present a set of formulae to correctly estimate the errors (or variances) of the integrated velocities and displacements from accelerograms. In addition, we also derive the covariances between the velocities and displacements.
Fair Shared Cities: The Impact of Gender Planning in Europe

Contents: Introduction: concepts, themes and issues in a gendered approach to planning, Marion Roberts Part I Mainstreaming Gender-Sensitive Concepts: Gender, sustainability and the urban environment, Susan Buckingham Mobility of care: introducing new concepts in urban transport, InA(c)s SA! nchez de Madariaga Gender, fear and the night-time city, Marion Roberts Time policies and city time plans for womena (TM)s everyday life: the Italian experience, Teresa Boccia The model of the European city in the light of gender planning and sustainable development, Barbara Zibell. Part II Structural Framework for Gender-Sensitive Urban Planning: Urban governance and gender-aware planning, Brigitte Wotha Gendered perspectives on spatial planning and housing in the Netherlands, Lidewij Tummers European regional development programmes for cities and regions: driving forces for gender planning? , Heidrun Wankiewicz Opening the gates: a case study of decision-making and recognition in architecture, InA(c)s SA! nchez de Madariaga. Part III Learning from Urban Planning Experiences: Gender mainstreaming as a strategy for sustainable urban planning, Doris Damyanovic Vienna: progress towards a fair shared city, Elisabeth Irschik and Eva Kail Gender-sensitive e-planning for sustaining everyday life, Liisa Horelli and Sirkku Wallin Womena (TM)s design service as counter-expertise, Eeva Berglund with Barbra Wallace A history, concepts and practice of time policies and time planning: the Bergamo case, Francesca Gelmini and Marina Zambianchi. Part IV Learning from Architectural-Design Project Experiences: Planning urban complexity at the scale of everyday life. MA^3stoles Sur, a new quarter in metropolitan Madrid, Javier Ruiz SA! nchez Choreography of life: two pilot projects of social housing in Vienna, Franziska Ullmann Looking forward, moving beyond trade-offs, InA(c)s SA! nchez de Madariaga Index.
Intracluster Stellar Population Properties from N-Body Cosmological Simulations. I. Constraints at z = 0

We use a high-resolution collisionless simulation of a Virgo-like cluster in a ΛCDM cosmology to determine the velocity and clustering properties of the diffuse stellar component in the intracluster region at the present epoch. The simulated cluster builds up hierarchically and tidal interactions between member galaxies and the cluster potential produce a diffuse stellar component free-flying in the intracluster medium. Here we adopt an empirical scheme to identify tracers of the stellar component in the simulation and hence study its properties. We find that at z = 0 the intracluster stellar light is mostly unrelaxed in velocity space and clustered in structures whose typical clustering radii are about 50 kpc at R = 400-500 kpc from the cluster center, and we predict the radial velocity distribution expected in spectroscopic follow-up surveys. Finally, we compare the spatial clustering in the simulation with the properties of the Virgo intracluster stellar population, as traced by ongoing intracluster planetary nebula surveys in Virgo. The preliminary results indicate a substantial agreement with the observed clustering properties of the diffuse stellar population in Virgo.
Estimating vertical error of SRTM and map-based DEMs using ICESat altimetry data in the eastern Tibetan Plateau

The Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) instrument onboard the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) provides elevation data with very high accuracy which can be used as ground data to evaluate the vertical accuracy of an existing Digital Elevation Model (DEM). In this article, we examine the differences between ICESat elevation data (from the 1064 nm channel) and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM of 3 arcsec resolution (90 m) and map-based DEMs in the Qinghai-Tibet (or Tibetan) Plateau, China. Both DEMs are linearly correlated with ICESat elevation for different land covers and the SRTM DEM shows a stronger correlation with ICESat elevations than the map-based DEM on all land-cover types. The statistics indicate that land cover, surface slope and roughness influence the vertical accuracy of the two DEMs. The standard deviation of the elevation differences between the two DEMs and the ICESat elevation gradually increases as the vegetation stands, terrain slope or surface roughness increase. The SRTM DEM consistently shows a smaller vertical error than the map-based DEM. The overall means and standard deviations of the elevation differences between ICESat and SRTM DEM and between ICESat and the map-based DEM over the study area are 1.03 ± 15.20 and 4.58 ± 26.01 m, respectively. Our results suggest that the SRTM DEM has a higher accuracy than the map-based DEM of the region. It is found that ICESat elevation increases when snow is falling and decreases during snow or glacier melting, while the SRTM DEM gives a relative stable elevation of the snow/land interface or a glacier elevation where the C-band can penetrate through or reach it. Therefore, this makes the SRTM DEM a promising dataset (baseline) for monitoring glacier volume change since 2000.
Management of drooling in children

Drooling beyond the age of 4 years is neurodevelopmentally abnormal. Chronic “sialorrhoea” is seen in children with abnormal oral sensation and/or motor control and more infrequently when there is excessive production of saliva. Salivary production from the paired glands is under autonomic parasympathetic control. Management of the problem relies on multidisciplinary teams with a focus on assessment and when appropriate conservative interventions, oral motor training, dental appliances, medical and surgical treatment programs. Medically, the focus is on modifying the neuroglandular control of saliva with the use of anticholinergic agents. The article covers these areas of background, assessment and management in detail.
Personality Change of Officer Cadets in the Canadian Forces

The present research assessed the extent to which 46 officer cadets' personalities changed as a result of spending four years in a military academic institution. Four personality variables were examined, Surgency, Achievement, Conscientiousness, and Internal Control. Given the nature of the military environment and training, we hypothesized that individuals' scores on these scales would increase with time. Analysis indicated scores on all four scales decreased. A confound occurred as in the first administration of the measure participants were completing the measure as part of a selection procedure whereas in the second one participants completed measures voluntarily.
Hyperglycemia Impairs Neutrophil-Mediated Bacterial Clearance in Mice Infected with the Lyme Disease Pathogen

Insulin-insufficient type 1 diabetes is associated with attenuated bactericidal function of neutrophils, which are key mediators of innate immune responses to microbes as well as pathological inflammatory processes. Neutrophils are central to immune responses to the Lyme pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi. The effect of hyperglycemia on host susceptibility to and outcomes of B. burgdorferi infection has not been examined. The present study investigated the impact of sustained obesity-independent hyperglycemia in mice on bacterial clearance, inflammatory pathology and neutrophil responses to B. burgdorferi. Hyperglycemia was associated with reduced arthritis incidence but more widespread tissue colonization and reduced clearance of bacterial DNA in multiple tissues including brain, heart, liver, lung and knee joint. B. burgdorferi uptake and killing were impaired in neutrophils isolated from hyperglycemic mice. Thus, attenuated neutrophil function in insulin-insufficient hyperglycemia was associated with reduced B. burgdorferi clearance in target organs. These data suggest that investigating the effects of comorbid conditions such as diabetes on outcomes of B. burgdorferi infections in humans may be warranted.
Effects of Hypocretin/Orexin and Major Transmitters of Arousal on Fast Spiking Neurons in Mouse Cortical Layer 6B

Fast spiking (FS) GABAergic neurons are thought to be involved in the generation of high-frequency cortical rhythms during the waking state. We previously showed that cortical layer 6b (L6b) was a specific target for the wake-promoting transmitter, hypocretin/orexin (hcrt/orx). Here, we have investigated whether L6b FS cells were sensitive to hcrt/orx and other transmitters associated with cortical activation. Recordings were thus made from L6b FS cells in either wild-type mice or in transgenic mice in which GFP-positive GABAergic cells are parvalbumin positive. Whereas in a control condition hcrt/orx induced a strong increase in the frequency, but not amplitude, of spontaneous synaptic currents, in the presence of TTX, it had no effect at all on miniature synaptic currents. Hcrt/orx effect was thus presynaptic although not by an action on glutamatergic terminals but rather on neighboring cells. In contrast, noradrenaline and acetylcholine depolarized and excited these cells through a direct postsynaptic action. Neurotensin, which is colocalized in hcrt/orx neurons, also depolarized and excited these cells but the effect was indirect. Morphologically, these cells exhibited basket-like features. These results suggest that hcrt/orx, noradrenaline, acetylcholine, and neurotensin could contribute to high-frequency cortical activity through an action on L6b GABAergic FS cells.
GEODESICS IN RANDERS SPACES OF CONSTANT CURVATURE

Geodesies in Randers spaces of constant curvature are classified. Randers metrics have received much attention lately as solutions to Zermelo's problem of navigation; largely because this navigation structure provides the frame work for a complete classification of constant flag curvature Randers spaces. (Flag curvature is the Finslerian analog of Riemannian sectional curvature. See (BR04). ) Briefly, a Randers metric is of constant flag curvature if and only if it solves Zer melo's problem of navigation on a Riemannian manifold of constant sectional cur vature under the influence of an infinitesimal homothety W. See Subsection 1.1 for a sketch of the navigation problem, and Theorem 3 for an explicit statement of the classification result. The aim of this paper is to develop a geometric description of the geodesies in these spaces of constant curvature. Intuitively, these paths minimize travel time across a Riemannian landscape under windy conditions. Presently we will show that these curves are given by composing geodesies of the Riemannian metric with the flow generated by W. This claim is formalized by Theorem 2. Geodesies on surfaces of constant, nonpositive curvature are illustrated in Section 3. We then turn, in Section 4, to the constant flag curvature K = 1 Randers metrics on Sn. The case of the sphere is especially interesting; it is possible to endow this closed manifold with a metric whose geodesies display distinctly non-Riemannian behaviors. For example: (1) A metric is projectively flat if every point admits coordinates in which the geodesies are straight lines. Belt r ami's theorem assures us that a Riemannian metric is of constant sectional curvature if and only if it is projectively flat. In contrast few Randers spaces of constant flag curvature are projectively flat. There are infinitely many nonisometric Randers metrics of constant, positive
Quantifying fracture density and connectivity of fractured chalk reservoirs from core samples: implications for fluid flow

Abstract Fractured carbonate reservoirs, characterized by high structural porosity/permeability, are of great economic importance because in such systems a single well can access large volumes of easily migrating hydrocarbons. Therefore, the accurate quantification of fracture density and connectivity values within a reservoir can be an important input for reservoir models and field development plans. However, a large number of the fractures that are present in a field are smaller than the resolution of most industry standards methods. In this paper we use two independent methods to quantify small-scale fracture density and connectivity, such as two-dimensional image analysis of slabbed cores and rubble-size measurements.
A four-year study of the utilization of dental assistants with expanded functions.

A four-year project was carried out to determine the feasibility of dental practice utilizing auxiliaries with expanded functions in relation to quality, amounts and types of service, and economic considerations. The findings indicated that employment of expanded functions auxiliaries is practical from all three points of view. The individual dentist must decide the number of auxiliary personnel he will employ, depending on potential patient load, his speed, and the types of services he provides.
Eliminating redundancies in sum-of-product array computations

Array programming languages such as Fortran 90, High Performance Fortran and ZPL are well-suited to scientific computing because they free the scientist from the responsibility of managing burdensome low-level details that complicate programming in languages like C and Fortran 77. However, these burdensome details are critical to performance, thus necessitating aggressive compilation techniques for their optimization. In this paper, we present a new compiler optimization called Array Subexpression Elimination (ASE) that lets a programmer take advantage of the expressibility afforded by array languages and achieve enviable portability and performance. We design a set of micro-benchmarks that model an important class of computations known as stencils and we report on our implementation of this optimization in the context of this micro-benchmark suite. Our results include a 125% improvement on one of these benchmarks and a 50% average speedup across the suite. Also we show a speedup of 32% improvement on the ZPL port of the NAS MG Parallel Benchmark and a 29% speedup over the hand-optimized Fortran version. Further, the compilation time is only negligibly affected.
Cytotoxicity of epiphany SE endodontic sealer: a comparative in vitro study.

BACKGROUND The Epiphany endodontic obturation system, which was developed for use with all current root canal-filling techniques by substituting for gutta-percha and sealer, has been recently modified by eliminating the priming step and introducing a new self-etch, dual-cure, resin-based sealer; Epiphany SE. As with all new endodontic compounds, this novel material should undergo preliminary testing for biocompatibility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity of Epiphany SE and to compare it with the original Epiphany sealer and with a commonly used endodontic sealer (Pulp Canal Sealer). MATERIAL/METHODS Mouse 3T3 fibroblasts were seeded and cultured, and extracts of each of the cemented sealers were added. After a 24-hour incubation, cell viability was evaluated by neutral red uptake assay, which is an indicator of membrane permeability. The greater the cell mortality (measured as a percentage), the greater the toxicity of the sealer. RESULTS Results showed that all 3 of the tested sealers exhibited cytotoxic effects compared to the control group (P<0.05), but no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) were noted among the sealers. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed satisfactory biocompatibility of the new Epiphany SE sealer, which showed similar biocompatibility to the original Epiphany sealer and to the traditional zinc oxide eugenol-based sealer.
Multiproxy Analyses of Stratigraphy and Palaeoenvironment of the Late Palaeolithic Grabow Floodplain Site, Northern Germany

Changing river courses and fluctuations of the water table were some of the most fundamental environmental changes that humans faced during the Late Glacial, particularly as these changes affected areas intensively used for settlement and resource exploitation. Unfortunately, only a few stratigraphies have been documented in the North European plain that show the interaction between river development, vegetation history, and occupation by Late Palaeolithic humans. Here, we present the results of detailed stratigraphical studies (pedology, archaeology, chrono‐, tephra‐, and palynostratigraphy) at the Federmesser site Grabow 15 located in the broad Elbe River valley. The research aimed to produce a model of site formation based on a multiproxy approach, relating the local evidence to the palaeoenvironmental and settlement history of the wider region. After deposition of fluvial sands during the Late Pleniglacial in a braided setting, the river course developed locally toward a meandering system at the transition from the Older Dryas to the Allerød, while periodic flooding led to the deposition of floodplain sediments during the early Allerød. The floodplain was settled by people of the earliest “Federmessergruppen,” who are believed to have chosen this open floodplain area along the river for collecting and processing amber of local origin. Their artifacts became embedded in the aggrading floodplain sediments. In the late Allerød, floodplain sedimentation ceased and a Fluvisol‐type soil developed, indicating a trend toward geomorphic stability. The Fluvisol was then covered by silty floodplain sediments due to a rising water level during the late Younger Dryas resulting in the cessation of human occupation in the area. Subsequent organic‐rich Late Glacial/Holocene sediments preserved the settlement remains to the present.
Griscelli syndrome type 1: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

North West Thames Regional Genetics Centre, Northwick Park and St Mark’s Hospital, Harrow, Oxford Regional Genetics Service, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, St Mary’s Hospital, London, Southwark Children and Young Peoples Development Centre, London, West Midlands Regional Genetics Centre, Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Nottingham Department of Clinical Genetics, City Hospital, Nottingham, UK and Hôpital Necker-Enfantes-Malades, Paris, France Correspondence to Dr Angela F Brady, Consultant in Clinical Genetics, North West Thames Regional Genetics Service, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow HA1 3UJ, London, UK Tel: + 44 20 8869 2795; fax: + 44 20 8869 3106; e-mail: a.brady@imperial.ac. uk
The effects of silver nanoparticles on behavior, apoptosis and nitro-oxidative stress in offspring Wistar rats.

AIM To investigate the comparative effects of prenatal exposure to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) functionalized with citrate and polyphenols on spatial cognition and also on nitro-oxidative stress and apoptosis in the hippocampus and cerebellum of offsprings. MATERIALS & METHODS Pregnant Wistar rats were orally administered substances from day 10 of gestation until day 21. Six weeks postpartum, six male offsprings from each group were used for behavioral evaluation and determination of oxidative stress and apoptosis. RESULTS Both groups exhibited hyperactivity and anxiety especially after AgNPs-Sambucus nigra L. administration. AgNPs-S. nigra L. group showed increase in induced nitric oxide synthase activity and decrease in superoxide dismutase activity and apoptosis in the hippocampus, while AgNPs-citrate coated administration exerted a moderate toxicity and induced apoptosis. CONCLUSION AgNPs functionalized with natural extracts had a lower toxicity than citrate-coated silver particles.
Is cell–mediated immunity related to the evolution of life-history strategies in birds?

According to life–history theory, the development of immune function should be balanced through evolutionary optimization of the allocation of resources to reproduction and through mechanisms that promote survival. We investigated interspecific variability in cell–mediated immune response (CMI), as measured by the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) assay, in relation to clutch size, longevity and other life–history traits in 50 species of birds. CMI exhibited significant repeatability within species, and PHA responses in chicks were consistently stronger than in adults. Univariate tests showed a variety of significant relationships between the CMI of both chicks and adults with respect to size, development period and lifespan, but not clutch size or prevalence of blood parasites in adults. Multivariate analyses confirmed these patterns but independent variables were too highly correlated to isolate unique influences on CMI. The positive relationship of chick CMI to nestling period is further complicated by a parallel relationship of chick CMI to the age at testing. However, multivariate analysis showed that chick CMI varies uniquely with length of the nestling period. Adult CMI was associated with a strong life–history axis of body size, development rate and longevity. Therefore, adult CMI may be associated with prevention and repair mechanisms related to long lifespan, but it also may be allometrically related to body size through other pathways. Neither chick CMI nor adult CMI was related to clutch size, contradicting previous results linking parasite–related mortality to CMI and the evolution of clutch size (reproductive investment) in birds.
Modeling stream fish distributions using interval‐censored detection times

Abstract Controlling for imperfect detection is important for developing species distribution models (SDMs). Occupancy‐detection models based on the time needed to detect a species can be used to address this problem, but this is hindered when times to detection are not known precisely. Here, we extend the time‐to‐detection model to deal with detections recorded in time intervals and illustrate the method using a case study on stream fish distribution modeling. We collected electrofishing samples of six fish species across a Mediterranean watershed in Northeast Portugal. Based on a Bayesian hierarchical framework, we modeled the probability of water presence in stream channels, and the probability of species occupancy conditional on water presence, in relation to environmental and spatial variables. We also modeled time‐to‐first detection conditional on occupancy in relation to local factors, using modified interval‐censored exponential survival models. Posterior distributions of occupancy probabilities derived from the models were used to produce species distribution maps. Simulations indicated that the modified time‐to‐detection model provided unbiased parameter estimates despite interval‐censoring. There was a tendency for spatial variation in detection rates to be primarily influenced by depth and, to a lesser extent, stream width. Species occupancies were consistently affected by stream order, elevation, and annual precipitation. Bayesian P‐values and AUCs indicated that all models had adequate fit and high discrimination ability, respectively. Mapping of predicted occupancy probabilities showed widespread distribution by most species, but uncertainty was generally higher in tributaries and upper reaches. The interval‐censored time‐to‐detection model provides a practical solution to model occupancy‐detection when detections are recorded in time intervals. This modeling framework is useful for developing SDMs while controlling for variation in detection rates, as it uses simple data that can be readily collected by field ecologists.