Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NCEE TOOLS FOR MODELING THE LATERAL RESPONSE OF SQUAT REINFORCED CONCRETE SHEAR WALLS

Squat reinforced concrete (RC) walls are important structural components in nuclear power plant (NPP) facilities and in many civil structures. These walls have aspect ratios less than or equal to 2. Due to their geometry, squat shear walls tend to have shear-dominated behavior and exhibit strong coupling between flexural and shear responses. An adequate understanding of the lateral load vs. deformation behavior along with analytical modeling tools that can simulate such behavior is essential for the seismic design and performance assessment of NPP structures and other low rise shear wall civil structures. This paper evaluates the applicability of two simplified modeling approaches for further calibration and their feasibility for design and evaluation of squat RC walls. A Fiber-Based Model with flexure-shear interaction and a Macro-Hysteretic Model are studied. Three large scale RC squat walls with rectangular cross section are modeled using both approaches and compared against experimental data. Monotonic and cyclic analyses are performed within the OpenSees analytical platform. Data from existing experimental tests of squat RC walls are used to develop and calibrate the models. The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each method and provides recommendations for future research in this topic. Performed analyses show that both, the fiber-based model with shear-flexure interaction and the macro-hysteretic models can be calibrated to obtain a reasonable prediction of the lateral loading behavior of squat reinforced concrete walls. 1 Graduate Student, P.O. Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR. 00681, Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. e-mail: carlos.adorno@upr.edu 2 Assistant Professor, P.O Box 9000, Mayagüez, PR. 00681, Department of Engineering Science and Materials, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. e-mail: aidcer.vidot@upr.edu 3 Nuclear and Seismic Engineering Group, Nuclear Science and Technology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Bldg. 130, Upton, NY 11973-5000. e-mail: mmiranda@bnl.gov Adorno-Bonilla CM, Vidot-Vega AL, Miranda M. Tools for Modeling the Lateral Response of Squat Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls. Proceedings of the 10 th National Conference in Earthquake Engineering, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Anchorage, AK, 2014. Tools for Modeling the Lateral Response of Squat Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls C. M. Adorno-Bonilla 2 , A. L. Vidot-Vega 2 and M. Miranda 3
Merging Dynamic Rupture Modeling and Strong-Motion Prediction

Accurate prediction of the intensity and variability of strong ground motions for future large earthquakes depends on our ability to simulate realistic earthquake source models. Here we present a recently developed procedure to generate physically consistent earthquake rupture models and combine it with constraints on the rupture nucleation based on the analysis of the hypocenter positions of finite-source models. Although these so-called pseudo-dynamic source models are inherently kinematic, they are designed to emulate important characteristics of dynamic rupture. We construct pseudo-dynamic models by first generating a slip distribution as a realization of a spatial random field that is consistent in its scaling and spatial variability with slip distributions observed in past earthquakes. We then compute the static stress drop associated with the slip distribution which in turn is used to estimate the temporal evolution of slip through a set of empirical relationships derived from the analysis of spontaneous rupture models. Constraints on the hypocenter location, based on published finite-source models, are in agreement with simplified energy-budget considerations of dynamic rupture. While the relationships between the source parameters described in this paper are simplifications of the true complexity of the rupture physics, they help identify important interactions between source properties that are relevant for strong ground motion prediction, and should provide an improvement over purely kinematic models.
Memory as a cognitive representation of post-traumatic growth

ABSTRACT Background and objectives: Previous studies on traumatic memory have primarily focused on the correlation between traumatic symptoms and negative memories, often utilizing the directed forgetting paradigm. Different from previous research, this study aimed to examine the correlation of post-traumatic growth (PTG) and positive memories, with the objective to explore the directed forgetting effect of positive material and its relationship with PTG. Design: A 2 (PTG level: high vs. low) × 2 (instructions: To-Be-Forgotten vs. To-Be-Remembered) × 3 (word valence: positive vs. neutral vs. trauma related) mixed-factorial-designed experiment was applied. Methods: Participants were 46 senior high-school students who had survived in the Sichuan earthquake in 2008. Participants were divided into two groups based on PTG: high (n = 24) and low (n = 22). Both groups were presented, and asked to recall, three word categories (positive, trauma-related, and neutral) following the directed forgetting paradigm. Results: A mixed-design factorial ANOVA yielded a significant interaction effect of word valence and PTG group, with the high-PTG group recalling more positive words than the low-PTG group. Conclusions: This was the first study to identify a key cognitive process of PTG by integrating the directed forgetting paradigm into an investigation of PTG.
New Regulation Development for Soil Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Sites and Health Risk-based Approaches in Taiwan

In this article, we introduced the basis of establishing soil pollution control standard (SPCS or regulation) of heavy metals and described the present regulatory control standard of heavy metals in rural soils and general soils in Taiwan. An integrated assessment of the soil pollution control standards of heavy metals was made and the new revisions have been suggested. The new revisions will be more concerned about risk-based approach regulation, crop production, food security and food safety, the status of soil background and also the soil properties of the contaminants which may be hazardous in different pathways for different land uses. The concentrations of Cu and Zn in the edible parts of the crops are not harmful to human health before the crop productivity have significantly reduced, which was produced by the phytotoxicity and consequently, the SPCS of soil Cu and Zn can be kept at presented values or be revised to optimize the economic benefits of management soil resources with the prerequisite of food safety. Cr(VI) and Cr(III) can produce health risks with a large difference of toxicity and harmfulness and should be concerned individually for the risk control of high potential Cr-contaminated soils. Addition of the SPCS of As, Cd, Cr(VI), Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb in industry park area was also recommended according to the lower risks which accept higher metal levels in this area compared with present SPCS for normal lands and rural lands. The potential contaminated area of Taiwan can decrease without posing higher health risks. The SPCSs of As and Pb in the rural soils and also in the normal area or industrial park were suggested to be lower values based on the risk-based approach results in different land uses. In the normal land, it is suggested to decrease the SPCS level of Hg, to add the new SPCS of soil Cr(III) and Cr(VI) based on the risk assessment of the site. The new revising approach of SPCS are concerning the health risks, crop toxicity, economic benefit and environmental effects can reduce the total area of potential contamination. It may also provide an efficient soil survey and management strategies for soil resources.
Decade-long bacterial community dynamics in cystic fibrosis airways

The structure and dynamics of bacterial communities in the airways of persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) remain largely unknown. We characterized the bacterial communities in 126 sputum samples representing serial collections spanning 8–9 y from six age-matched male CF patients. Sputum DNA was analyzed by bar-coded pyrosequencing of the V3–V5 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene, defining 662 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from >633,000 sequences. Bacterial community diversity decreased significantly over time in patients with typically progressive lung disease but remained relatively stable in patients with a mild lung disease phenotype. Antibiotic use, rather than patient age or lung function, was the primary driver of decreasing diversity. Interpatient variability in community structure exceeded intrapatient variability in serial samples. Antibiotic treatment was associated with pronounced shifts in community structure, but communities showed both short- and long-term resilience after antibiotic perturbation. There was a positive correlation between OTU occurrence and relative abundance, with a small number of persistent OTUs accounting for the greatest abundance. Significant changes in community structure, diversity, or total bacterial density at the time of pulmonary exacerbation were not observed. Despite decreasing community diversity in patients with progressive disease, total bacterial density remained relatively stable over time. These findings show the critical relationship between airway bacterial community structure, disease stage, and clinical state at the time of sample collection. These features are the key parameters with which to assess the complex ecology of the CF airway.
Spiritual Beliefs among Israeli Nurses and Social Workers: A Comparison Based on Their Involvement with the Dying

The purpose of the study was to compare spiritual beliefs and practices between nurses and health care social workers based on their involvement with dying patients. Exposure to the dying was identified by two indicators: the percentage of terminally ill patients in the provider's care and the work environment. On the basis of the literature, differences were expected between the two types of professionals and the three degrees of involvement with the dying. Nurses were expected to have a higher spiritual perspective than social workers; and health care providers with high involvement in care for the dying were expected to hold the highest levels of spiritual beliefs. Contrary to expectations, no differences in spirituality were found between nurses and social workers; both groups exhibited medium levels of spirituality. Furthermore, health care providers who were highly involved with dying patients had the lowest spiritual perspectives. Tentative explanations of these unexpected results are presented and discussed.
Bond Analysts' Forecasts on Cash Flows and Earnings

We examine the propensity and properties of bond analysts’ forecasts on cash flows and earnings. We find that the probability to issue cash flow, relative to earnings, forecasts is greater for bond analysts than for equity analysts, consistent with the notion that cash flow, relative to earnings, information is more important to bond investors than for stock investors. In addition, bond analysts’ cash flow (earnings) forecasts are more (less) accurate than equity analysts’ cash flow (earnings) forecasts. Finally, we show that bond investors’ reaction to bond analysts’ cash flow forecast revision is greater than that to bond analysts’ earnings forecast and that bond market reacts only to bond analysts’ forecast revisions but not to equity analysts’ forecast revisions. This manifests bond investors’ stronger demand for reliable information on future cash flows than for earnings. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of bond analysts’ informational role through their forecasting activities.
Chemical Composition Of Modified And Fortified Sago Starch ( Metroxylonsp ) From Northern Maluku

This study aims to find out the chemical composition of modified and fortified sago starch by encapsulated phytoplankton extract. This study used a simple complete random design with 4 treatments (S0, S1, S2 dan S3) repeated three times resulting in total 12 experimental units. The treatments consisted of sago starch without modification and fortification (S0), sago starch with heat moisture treatment (HMT) (S1), sago starch fortified with 7% of phytoplankton extract flour 1 (S2), and sago starch fortified with 7% of phytoplankton extract flour 2 (S3). The study procedures included the following steps: production of modified sago starch and continued with fortified sago starch production. Each of treatment was analyzed for its chemical compositions that included water content, ash content, protein, fat, crude fibre, carbohydrate, starch, amylose, amylopectin and color. Study findings indicated that the chemical compositions of the sago starch are: water level 13.51-17.37% (significant), protein 0.11-0.27% (significant),fat 0.65-0.87 % (significant), crude fibre 0.39-1.45% (significant), carbohydrate 81.07-83 % (significant), starch 70.25-72.61% (significant), amylose 23.9526. 59 % (significant)and amylopectin 43.69-48.4 % (significant).
Regulation of growth and energetics of a marine bacterium by nitrogen source and iron availability

This study examined the effect of nitrogen source and iron availability on growth rates, electron trans- port system (ETS) activity and growth efficiency for the marine gamma-proteobacterium Vibrio harveyi. We found that all 3 parameters increased with increasing iron concen- tration and varied as a function of nitrogen source (amino acids, ammonium, and nitrate). At low iron concentrations, growth rates were highest and lowest in the amino acid and nitrate media, respectively. Rates were similar for the amino acid and the ammonium plus glucose media with sufficient iron (>20 nM). Growth rates were lowest when nitrate was the nitrogen source, regardless of iron concentration. ETS activity per cell in the different media mostly followed the pattern in growth rates, although ETS activity for cells using nitrate was even lower than would have been predicted from the growth rate data. Growth efficiencies for iron-sufficient cells did not vary substantially among cells using the 3 nitro- gen sources (45 to 55%), but they were substantially higher than growth efficiencies of iron-depleted cells ( 2-fold lower than iron-stressed cells using ammonium or amino acids as nitrogen sources. Although results from any single cultured bacterium should be applied cautiously to natural microbial assemblages, our data may help explain the low growth efficiencies and growth rates in iron-limited oceanic regimes with high nitrate but low chlorophyll concentrations.
Investigation of Antimicrobial Activity and DNA Protective Capacity of Melissa officinalis Extracts

Anahtar kelimeler Antimikrobiyal aktivite; Antioksidan; Comet testi; DNA koruyucu etki; Melissa officinalis Özet Bu çalışmada, Melissa officinalis yaprak ekstraktlarının antimikrobiyal, antioksidan kapasiteleri ve H2O2indüklenmiş oksidatif hasara karşı DNA koruyucu etkisi incelendi. Melissa officinalis yaprak ekstraktlarının oksidatif stresten DNA'yı koruyucu etkisi maya comet testi kullanılarak belirlendi. Comet testi Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 üzerinde uygulandı. Oksidatif strese karşı, ekstrenin İnkübasyon öncesi ve inkubasyon sırasında uygulanmasında doza bağlı olarak DNA hasarında azalma gözlendi. Sonuçlar; Melissa officinalis methanolik yaprak ekstraktlarının hidrojen peroksitin zararlı etkisine karşı DNA'yı koruduğunu gösterdi. Ayrıca Melissa officinalis ekstraktlarının farklı mikroorganizmalar üzerindeki antimikrobiyal etkisi incelendi. Melissa officinalis ekstraktları tüm test mikroorganizmaları üzerinde antimikrobiyal etki göstermiştir.
MKKS/BBS6, a divergent chaperonin-like protein linked to the obesity disorder Bardet-Biedl syndrome, is a novel centrosomal component required for cytokinesis

Chaperonins are multisubunit, cylinder-shaped molecular chaperones involved in folding newly synthesized polypeptides. Here we show that MKKS/BBS6, one of several proteins associated with Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), is a Group II chaperonin-like protein that has evolved recently in animals from a subunit of the eukaryotic chaperonin CCT/TRiC, and diverged rapidly to acquire distinct functions. Unlike other chaperonins, cytosolic BBS6 does not oligomerize, and the majority of BBS6 resides within the pericentriolar material (PCM), a proteinaceous tube surrounding centrioles. During interphase, BBS6 is confined to the lateral surfaces of the PCM but during mitosis it relocalizes throughout the PCM and is found at the intercellular bridge. Its predicted substrate-binding apical domain is sufficient for centrosomal association, and several patient-derived mutations in this domain cause mislocalization of BBS6. Consistent with an important centrosomal function, silencing of the BBS6 transcript by RNA interference in different cell types leads to multinucleate and multicentrosomal cells with cytokinesis defects. The restricted tissue distribution of BBS6 further suggests that it may play important roles in ciliated epithelial tissues, which is consistent with the probable functions of BBS proteins in basal bodies (modified centrioles) and cilia. Our findings provide the first insight into the nature and cellular function of BBS6, and shed light on the potential causes of several ailments, including obesity, retinal degeneration, kidney dysfunction and congenital heart disease.
Malaria trends in Silt’i district from 2009-2015 and current childhood malaria in K’ibbet hospital, south-central Ethiopia

Abstract Background Regular evaluation of the magnitude of malaria in children in a given locality is important to devise targeted control interventions. This study was conducted to assess current malaria infection among children (0-14 yrs) and trends in malaria between 2009 and 2015 in Silt’i district in south-central Ethiopia. Materials and methods Febrile children (body temperature ≥37.5°C) visiting the K’ibbet hospital between September 2015 and January 2016 were enrolled. Finger-prick blood samples were collected, smears prepared, Giemsa-stained and examined. In addition, past (2009-2015) retrospective malaria data was reviewed. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. Results In the current cross-sectional survey, 43 (4.3%) children (n=1007) were diagnosed with malaria. Of these, 35 (81.4%) were Plasmodium vivax and only 8 (18.6%) P. falciparum. All cases were mono-infections. Concerning health data on record, overall 47,467 malaria-slide-confirmed cases were recorded (45.8% P. vivax and 54.2% P. falciparum), with a substantial decline in malaria between the baseline in 2009 (15,141 cases) and 2015 (821 cases). Conclusions The findings demonstrated that malaria in children was continuously declining in the study area. However, control interventions must be maintained and scaled-up to sustainably protect children as well as the general population and eventually eliminate the disease from the locality and country as a whole.
DESIGN OF AN ARRAYED WAVEGUIDE GRATINGS BASED OPTICAL PACKET SWITCH

Optical packet switching is considered as the future of data transfer technology in combination with middle-aged electronics. The biggest challenge encountered in optical packet switching is the lack of optical buffers for storing the contending packets. Therefore, for the contention resolution of packets, a temporary storage in terms of fiber delay lines is used. This task is accomplished by an optical packet switch. In this paper, a design modification in the AWGR (Arrayed Waveguide Grating Router) is presented for improving the switch performance. The power budget analysis of the switch is also presented to estimate the sufficient power level of the switch. The obtained results clearly reveal that the architecture presented in this paper can be operated in micro-watts in comparison to the earlier optical switch which operates in milli watts regime. Finally, simulation results are presented to obtain packet loss probability and average delay. Even at the higher load of 0.6, the switch presented in this paper provides a very low loss probability 6 (10 )  and delay remain within 2 slots.
The Influence of Family Resources and Family Demands On the Strains and Well‐Being Of Caregiving Families

The purpose of this study was to test a theoretical model developed to explain strains and well-being in families providing care to an elderly parent. The influences of family resources and demands on the well-being of caregiving families and the strains they experienced were examined in a sample of 65 families recruited through a variety of agencies serving older adults and their-families. Two types of resources were examined: social support and internal system resources. Demands examined included family life events, the amount of care provided to the elderly parent, and the caregiver's appraisal of caregiving. Socioeconomic status (SES) was included in tests of the model since it was related to both family internal system resources and well-being. Resource variables, demand variables, and SES together accounted for 26% of the variance in family strains. Resource variables, strains, and SES together accounted for 65% of the variance in family well-being.
Calculation of Electromagnetic Fields in Non-Planar Stratified Bi-Anisotropic and Non-Local Media

We present a method of calculation of monochromatic electromagnetic wave generation by electric and magnetic currents and propagation in a stratified bi-anisotropic medium. The method is stable against the “swamping” instability and has been generalized to (1) media with curved strata and (2) weakly non-local media such as warm plasma. This method has been implemented in MATLAB as StanfordFWM (Stanford Full Wave Method) code and successfully used to model propagation of radio waves in stratified ionospheric plasmas.
Dimensionality of Military Professional Values Items: An Exploratory Factor Analysis of Data from the Spring 1996 Sample Survey of Military Personnel

The Sample Survey of Military Personnel in Spring 1996 included detailed questions specifically about soldiers' professional values, centered on personal beliefs about loyalty and integrity values. Maximum likelihood factor analysis yielded four factors, labeled military dedication, integrity, job commitment, and military bearing. Scales developed from these factors showed acceptable internal consistency reliability and correlated as expected with measures of satisfaction with Army life, retention, soldier morale, combat preparedness, and overall job satisfaction. A regression analysis indicated that the best predictors of loyalty to the Army and to the United States were job commitment and military bearing, not integrity, as had been expected.
Properties – Potential and Weakness of Mechanical Pulps in Multilayered Sheets

A factorial design was applied to investigate and quantify the effects of layering, surface pulp quality, centre pulp quality and the weight distribution between surface and centre layers in oriented laboratory sheets. Three-layered and non-layered reference sheets were made of different mechanical pulp furnishes on a dynamic sheetformer. Surface smoothness, paper gloss, light scattering, bendability and surface compressibility were significantly improved upon layered forming, while the bonding-sensitive properties, such as tensile index, rupture elongation, TEA and especially z-directional strength declined.