Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BEHAVIOR OF STRUCTURES ISOLATED USING VFPI DURING NEAR SOURCE GROUND MOTIONS

Earthquakes affecting urban areas in the recent past have clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of urban building stock to ground motions. A large number of engineered buildings designed and constructed using modern techniques have been damaged. Several modern vibration control techniques using base isolation have been proposed in published literature to provide seismic resistance, some of which have also been implemented successfully. However most of these isolation devices are of limited effectiveness under near-source ground motions due to pulse-type characteristics of such excitations. A recently proposed sliding isolation system, known as the variable frequency pendulum isolator (VFPI) has unique characteristics that help overcome the limitations of traditional isolation system for near source ground motions. The VFPI incorporates isolation, energy dissipation as well as restoring force mechanisms in a single unit, and has additional advantages due to response-dependent variable frequency of oscillation and bounded restoring force. Isolator parameters of VFPI can be chosen to obtain the desired rate of timeperiod variation as well as initial time period. In this paper, behavior of structures isolated using VFPI subjected to near source ground motions has been numerically examined. Response of typical structural systems isolated with VFPI and other isolation systems under near-source ground motions have been investigated. The traditional isolation systems are found to be of limited effectiveness in reducing the response of structures while VFPI show significant reduction in response.
SPECTRA FOR VERTICAL EARTHQUAKE GROUND MOTION

The vertical component of earthquake ground motion has been the focus of attention in the past ten years, following field observations pointing towards damage patterns that could have only been caused by severe vertical vibrations. Since the vertical component is rarely used in analysis to evaluate design actions, it follows that there is a potential built-in deficiency in the majority of structures and their foundations to resist vertical earthquake-induced vibrations. The authors have independently used different earthquake data sets to study the characteristics of vertical ground motions, focusing on the vertical spectra for seismic design code applications. Issues of maximum amplification, corner periods, decay exponent, suitable damping values and response modification factors have been addressed. In this paper, the two studies are reassessed within a common framework with additional vertical motion records from the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan and the 1999 Kocaeli and Duzce, Turkey, earthquakes. The agreement on amplification factors and corner periods is interesting and detailed comparisons with natural ground motion at different site-to-source distances are reassuring. Spectra, representative of the available worldwide earthquake data bank, are recommended for vertical seismic design and analysis at various damping ratios. Inclusion of such spectra in design will help safeguard future infrastructure development from a serious source of sever damage, as confirmed by earthquake field observations worldwide.
A comparison of analgesic effects between intradermal injection and epidural block of lidocaine for postherpetic neuralgia

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficiency of intradermal injection and epidural block of lidocaine for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) treatment. Methods: Fifty PHN patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Group I received intradermal injection of 0.5% lidocaine with drug therapy and group II underwent epidural block of 0.8% lidocaine with drug therapy. The primary efficacy outcome was the changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) score and Sleep interference scores (SIS) between group I and group II when assigned patients were discharged. Then we recorded the use of dezocine for assistant analgesia and the complication of two groups in hospitalization. Results: Comparing with pretreatment, VAS, SFMPQ and SIS scores decreased remarkably in each group when assigned patients were discharged (P < 0.05). It was observed that there were no significant difference in VAS, SF-MPQ, SIS scores between group I and II (P > 0.05). In hospitalization, groups I and II had similar frequency of injecting dezocine (P > 0.05). More complications were found in group II. At 1 month after hospital discharge, VAS, SF-MPQ and SIS scores of two groups were lower than the scores when patients were discharged (P < 0.05), and the three scores between group I and group II were still similar (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The efficacy of lidocaine by intradermal injection and continuous epidural block is similar in the treatment of PHN. Intradermal injection of lidocaine may be more useful in PHN management.
Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in plasma DNA samples predict tumor response in Chinese patients with stages IIIB to IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase domain can predict tumor response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, obtaining tumor tissues for mutation analysis is challenging. We hypothesized that plasma-based EGFR mutation analysis is feasible and has value in predicting tumor response in patients with NSCLC. PATIENTS AND METHODS Plasma DNA samples and matched tumors from 230 patients with stages IIIB to IV NSCLC were analyzed for EGFR mutations in exons 19 and 21 by using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography. We compared the mutations in the plasma samples and the matched tumors and determined an association between EGFR mutation status and the patients' clinical outcomes prospectively. RESULTS In 230 patients, we detected 81 EGFR mutations in 79 (34.3%) of the patients' plasma samples. We detected the same mutations in 63 (79.7%) of the matched tumors. Sixteen plasma (7.0%) and fourteen tumor (6.1%) samples showed unique mutations. The mutation frequencies were significantly higher in never-smokers and in patients with adenocarcinomas (P = .012 and P = .009, respectively). In the 102 patients who failed platinum-based treatment and who were treated with gefitinib, 22 (59.5%) of the 37 with EGFR mutations in the plasma samples, whereas only 15 (23.1%) of the 65 without EGFR mutations, achieved an objective response (P = .002). Patients with EGFR mutations had a significantly longer progression-free survival time than those without mutations (P = .044) in plasma. CONCLUSION EGFR mutations can be reliably detected in plasma DNA of patients with stages IIIB to IV NSCLC and can be used as a biomarker to predict tumor response to TKIs.
Function of PTEN during the Formation and Maintenance of Neuronal Circuits in the Brain

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10) is a tumor suppressor that can inhibit proliferation and migration and controls apoptosis in a number of cell types, mainly through inhibition of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway. Patients carrying inactivating mutations of PTEN show a prevalence to develop tumors that can coincide with neurological defects such as mental retardation, ataxia and seizures. A number of in vitro and in vivo studies were instrumental in uncovering a direct correlation between deregulated PI3K/PTEN signaling and changes in neuronal morphogenesis, which is likely to have profound bearings upon the pathogenesis of neurological symptoms. This review outlines recent work on the function of PTEN during vertebrate brain development and the current understanding of the signaling pathways downstream of PTEN that control neuronal connectivity in the brain.
SENSITIVITY OF THE SEISMIC HAZARD IN WESTERN NEVADA TO THE MOUNT ROSE AND CARSON RANGE FAULTS

The probabilistic seismic hazards in Reno and Carson City and their adjacent communities, the largest cities of western Nevada, are dominated by the Mount Rose and Carson Range faults. Reno and Carson City are on the hanging wall of these faults. This paper considers only the sensitivity to properties of rupture of the full length of these faults. Considered properties are dip, slip rate, magnitude, and choice of GMPE. The focus is further on the effect of epistemic uncertainties for these properties on spectral amplitude at short period [Y=SA(0.01s)] with annual exceedance rate of 4⋅10 per year, which under the Poisson assumption has a 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years. Denote Yi to represent the i branch of the logic tree. These tools of probability theory are then used to characterize this logic tree distribution of Yi over branches of the logic tree with a lognormal distribution function, and to suggest an estimate of uncertainty in the mean hazard. In this case, on the hanging wall, the uncertainties in fault dip and the choice of the GMPE are the dominant contribution to the standard deviation of the lognormal distribution function. Elsewhere nearby, uncertainties in fault slip rate dominate, while at larger distances uncertainties in the magnitude dominate. Since any of these four considered parameters may dominate depending on location, reduction of the uncertainties for all is important. Since uncertainties from closer sources are likely to be more important at large distances from these two faults, the subsurface fault geometry, fault slip rate, and improvements in understanding the ground motion on the hanging wall of normal faults would perhaps have a slightly higher priority. Professor, Nevada Seismological Laboratory, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557 (email: jga@unr.edu) Anderson J. G. , Sensitivity of the seismic hazard in western Nevada to the Mount Rose and Carson Range faults. Proceedings of the 11 National Conference in Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA. 2018. Sensitivity of the Seismic Hazard in Western Nevada to the Mount Rose and Carson Range Faults
Establishment of a Standard Protocol for In Vitro Meristem Culture and Plant Regeneration of Citrus aurantifollia

The present investigation was conducted to establish a standard method for meristem culture and plant regeneration with root induction in citrus (Citrus aurantifollia) followed by aclimatization in the natural condition. Dissected apical meristem (20-25 days old field) was cultured onto filter paper bridge in liquid and semi solid MS media supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of auxin (NAA, IBA), cytokinin (BAP) and GA3. Among various combinations, 1.0mg/l BAP + 0.20 mg/l GA3 was found to be the best medium formulation for the primary establishment of isolated meristem. However, efficiency of meristem development was enhanced by addition of 0.50 mg/l GA3 with 1.5 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l NAA. The developing meristems were rescued aseptically and cultured onto solidified MS media containing different concentrations and combinations of auxin, cytokinin and GA3 for shoots and roots multiplication. Among all treatments, semi solid MS medium having 1.5 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l GA3 established as best medium formulation for proper shoot regeneration and elongation. Sub-culturing the in vitro grown shoots with different concentrations of auxin for root induction, best result (100%) was found for MS medium having 0.5mg/l NAA. Finally, well rooted plantlets were gradually acclimatized and successfully established in the field condition.
ON HEARING AND SEEING ONESELF

Self-confrontation by audio- and videotape has been used in a variety of contexts. Most reports stress its salutary effects on learning and in achieving objectivity toward oneself. An analysis of the procedure stresses the perceptual aspects of the situation. Laboratory experiments strongly suggest that personality qualities are mediated by expressive behavior and these peremptorily confront a subject in the self-confrontation situation, thus momentarily deautomatizing his typical defensive stance toward himself. The method thus widens the realm for self-exploration. Therapeutic use requires integration of the method within a technique of psychotherapy, for it cannot be considered a method of therapy by itself. Evaluations of its effects and effectiveness in psychotherapy are called for.
Effects of perceived organizational support on organizational citizenship behavior – Sequential mediation by well-being and work engagement

Based on the premise of organizational support theory this study investigates the relationship between perceived organizational support and citizenship behavior of employees. The study offers a novel explanation by testing the sequential mediation through well-being and work engagement. Data was collected from 273 employees from diverging service organizations working in Lahore and its nearby cities. Results of the study revealed that POS has a direct bearing on citizenship behavior, but sequential mediation relation is not proved. Though the findings are against the hypothesized relations, but can still offer new theoretical directions and implications for practices. Limitations and future directions are also given at the end.
Comparative feeding ecology of abyssal and hadal fishes through stomach content and amino acid isotope analysis

The snailfishes, family Liparidae (Scorpaeniformes), have found notable success in the hadal zone from ~6000−8200 m, comprising the dominant ichthyofauna in at least five trenches worldwide. Little is known about the biology of these deepest-living fishes, nor the factors that drive their success at hadal depths. Using recent collections from the Mariana Trench, Kermadec Trench, and neighboring abyssal plains, this study investigates the potential role of trophic ecology in structuring fish communities at the abyssal-hadal boundary. Stomach contents were analyzed from two species of hadal snailfishes, Notoliparis kermadecensis and a newlydiscovered species from the Mariana Trench. Amphipods comprised the majority (Kermadec: 95.2%, Mariana: 97.4% index of relative importance) of stomach contents in both species. Decapod crustaceans, polychaetes (N. kermadecensis only), and remains of carrion (squid and fish) were minor dietary components. Diet analyses of abyssal species (families Macrouridae, Ophidiidae, Zoarcidae) collected from near the trenches and the literature are compared to those of the hadal liparids. Stomachs from abyssal fishes also contained amphipods, however macrourids had a higher trophic plasticity with a greater diversity of prey items, including larger proportions of carrion and fish remains; supporting previous findings. Suction-feeding predatory fishes like hadal liparids may find an advantage to descending into the trench – where amphipods are abundant. More generalist feeders and scavengers relying on carrion, such as macrourids, might not benefit from this nutritional advantage at hadal depths. Compound specific isotope analysis of amino acids was used to estimate trophic level of these species (5.3 ± 0.2 Coryphaenoides armatus, 5.2 ± 0.2 C. yaquinae, 4.6 ± 0.2 Spectrunculus grandis, 4.2 ± 0.2 N. kermadecensis, 4.4 ± 0.2 Mariana snailfish). Source amino acid δN values were especially high in hadal liparids (8.0 ± 0.3‰ Kermadec, 6.7 ± 0.2‰ Mariana), suggesting a less surface-derived food source than seen in the scavenging abyssal macrourids, C. armatus (3.5 ± 0.3‰) and C. yaquinae (2.2 ± 0.3‰). These results are compared to bulk muscle tissue isotopic compositions. This study provides the first comprehensive examination of the feeding ecology of the ocean's deepest-living fishes and informs new understanding of trophic interactions and fish community structure in and near the hadal zone.
Job Satisfaction among Forensic Physicians in Romania

The aim of the study is to identify the level of job satisfaction among forensic physicians and its relationship with personality traits and alexithymia. A number of 37 forensic physicians from 11 forensic institutions answered some questionnaires. In order to identify the level of job satisfaction The Job Satisfaction Scale was used, to evaluate the alexithymia score the TAS-20 was used and to identify the personality traits the BIG FIVE Inventory was applied. Socio-demographic data, information related to the professional activity and self-evaluated psychological data were also registered. Data analysis was done using SPSS Statistics v23.0. 0 for MAC.OSX. For the comparative analysis the t-test for independent samples was used and the statistical difference was defined as p<0.05. For the correlational study, Pearson correlations were applied and to identify the influence of our personality factors on job satisfaction we used multiple linear regressions. Regarding job satisfaction, we obtained an average of 4.38 ± 0.75, which corresponds to a medium level of job satisfaction and the score for alexithymia was 43.27 ± 3.71, meaning that forensic physicians showed a low level of alexithymia. Analyzing the job satisfaction, high scores were obtained for the payment and promotion factor. For the third factor, organization and communication skills, the low scores indicate the employee’s dissatisfaction regarding the manner in which his tasks are organized and defined (e.g. defining the tasks, the effort required to do the tasks, communication and feedback).
A Syntaxin 7 Homologue Is Present in Dictyostelium discoideum Endosomes and Controls Their Homotypic Fusion*

Endo-phagocytic activity is prominent inDictyostelium discoideum and makes it a good model organism to study the molecular organization of membrane traffic in this pathway. We have identified a syntaxin 7 homologue (26% identity and 54% similarity to human syntaxin 7) in DictyosteliumcDNA and genomic data banks. In addition to the Habc and H3 helices and the C-terminal transmembrane domain characteristic of syntaxins, this protein contains a repetitive N-terminal extension of 68 amino acids. We first showed that Dictyostelium syntaxin 7 was able to form a complex with N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein and α- and γ-solubleN-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein. Its intracellular localization was then studied by cell fractionation techniques and magnetic purification of the endocytic compartments. Most of D. discoideum syntaxin 7 is contained in endosomes. Finally, an in vitro endosome homotypic fusion assay (Laurent, O., Bruckert, F., Adessi, C., and Satre, M. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 793–799) was used to study a possible role for syntaxin 7 in this process. Purified anti-syntaxin 7 antibodies and a recombinant soluble fragment of syntaxin 7 both strongly inhibited fusion activity, indicating that this protein was necessary for endosome-endosome fusion. These results demonstrate the importance of this syntaxin 7 homologue in the early phases ofDictyostelium endo-phagocytic pathway.
Molecular Uncoupling of Fractalkine-mediated Cell Adhesion and Signal Transduction

Fractalkine is a novel multidomain protein expressed on the surface of activated endothelial cells. Cells expressing the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 adhere to fractalkine with high affinity, but it is not known if adherence requires G-protein activation and signal transduction. To investigate the cell adhesion properties of fractalkine, we created mutated forms of CX3CR1 that have little or no ability to transduce intracellular signals. Cells expressing signaling-incompetent forms of CX3CR1 bound rapidly and with high affinity to immobilized fractalkine in both static and flow assays. Video microscopy revealed that CX3CR1-expressing cells bound more rapidly to fractalkine than to VCAM-1 (60 versus 190 ms). Unlike VCAM-1, fractalkine did not mediate cell rolling, and after capture on fractalkine, cells did not dislodge. Finally, soluble fractalkine induced intracellular calcium fluxes and chemotaxis, but it did not activate integrins. Taken together these data provide strong evidence that CX3CR1, a seven-transmembrane domain receptor, mediates robust cell adhesion to fractalkine in the absence of G-protein activation and suggest a novel role for this receptor as an adhesion molecule.
Experimental and modeling investigation of mass transfer during combined infrared‐vacuum drying of Hayward kiwifruits

Abstract In this work, we tried to evaluate mass transfer during a combined infrared‐vacuum drying of kiwifruits. Infrared radiation power (200–300 W) and system pressure (5–15 kPa), as drying parameters, are evaluated on drying characteristics of kiwifruits. Both the infrared lamp power and vacuum pressure affected the drying time of kiwifruit slices. Nine different mathematical models were evaluated for moisture ratios using nonlinear regression analysis. The results of regression analysis indicated that the quadratic model is the best to describe the drying behavior with the lowest SE values and highest R value. Also, an increase in the power led to increase in the effective moisture diffusivity between 1.04 and 2.29 × 10−9 m2/s. A negative effect was observed on the ΔE with increasing in infrared power and with rising in infrared radiation power it was increased. Chroma values decreased during drying.
Effects of grazing and shrub removal on small mammal populations in southern New Mexico , USA

Between 1995 and 1997, grazing regimes and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) shrub removal were combined in a factorial arrangement to assess changes in small mammal communities on the Jornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico. Small mammals were live-trapped biannually in winter and at the end of the growing season (fall). We examined changes in abundances, species richness, species and biomass diversity, and mean captures and biomass. Species richness did not change significantly with treatments but was seasonally higher in spring 1996 compared to the fall 1996. A decrease in species and biomass diversities were seen in fall 1996 and an increase in both diversities in fall 1997. No plots reached the same species richness, abundance, or diversity encountered during a pre-treatment study in 1993. Spring 1995 and fall 1996 revealed significant reactions to the combination of the applied treatments, yet no overall pattern can be elucidated. Environmental fluctuations such as variable rainfall and inherent stochasticity of the ecosystem may explain the lack of pattern, and only emphasizes the need for more long-term studies assessing the effects of vegetation alteration on dependent communities. r 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Does Automation in Rich Countries Hurt Developing Ones?: Evidence from the U.S. And Mexico

Following a couple of decades of offshoring, the fear today is of reshoring. Using administrative data on Mexican exports by municipality, sector and destination from 2004 to 2014, this paper investigates how local labor markets in Mexico that are more exposed to automation in the U.S. through trade fared in exports and employment outcomes. The results show that an increase of one robot per thousand workers in the U.S. -- about twice the increase observed between 2004-2014 -- lowers growth in exports per worker from Mexico to the U.S. by 6.7 percent. Higher exposure to U.S. automation did not affect wage employment, nor manufacturing wage employment overall. Yet, the latter is the result of two counteracting forces. Exposure to U.S. automation reduced manufacturing wage employment in areas where occupations were initially more susceptible to being automated; but exposure increased manufacturing wage employment in other areas. Finally, the analysis also finds negative impacts of exposure to local automation on local labor market outcomes.