Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Improved Algorithm for Selecting Ground Motions to Match a Conditional Spectrum

ABSTRACT This paper describes an algorithm to efficiently select ground motions from a database while matching a target mean, variance, and correlations of response spectral values at a range of periods. The approach improves an earlier algorithm by Jayaram et al. [2011]. Key steps in the process are to screen a ground motion database for suitable motions, statistically simulate response spectra from a target distribution, find motions whose spectra match each statistically simulated response spectrum, and then perform an optimization to further improve the consistency of the selected motions with the target distribution. These steps are discussed in detail, and the computational expense of the algorithm is evaluated. A brief example selection exercise is performed, to illustrate the type of results that can be obtained. Source code for the algorithm has been provided, along with metadata for several popular databases of recorded and simulated ground motions, which should facilitate a variety of exploratory and research studies.
InterNLP 2021 First Workshop on Interactive Learning for Natural Language Processing Proceedings of the Workshop

Biases and artifacts in training data can cause unwelcome behavior in text classifiers (such as shallow pattern matching), leading to lack of generalizability. One solution to this problem is to include users in the loop and leverage their feedback to improve models. We propose a novel explanatory debugging pipeline called HILDIF, enabling humans to improve deep text classifiers using influence functions as an explanation method. We experiment on the Natural Language Inference (NLI) task, showing that HILDIF can effectively alleviate artifact problems in fine-tuned BERT models and result in increased model generalizability.
Explainability of Hate Speech Detection Models

Online hate speech is a large scale phenomenon of great concern in modern society. A considerable amount of research leverages machine learning techniques to propose automatic and accurate detection approaches. While learning directly from the data is a major key for their success in terms of performance, methods are progressively becoming more complex and opaque to humans. This work combines efforts from explainable artificial intelligence and hate speech detection. From increased social acceptance to compliance with future legislation, we identify interpretability as fundamental for the adoption of learning methods in real-life applications. Our focus lies on post-hoc local methods — we seek to explain non-transparent detection methods on a single prediction-level. We thoroughly review approaches to explain text classifiers and discuss their theoretical foundation. This includes popular methods like LIME, LRP, and DeepLIFT. Based on our analysis, we encourage the usage of methods belonging to the SHAP interpretability framework. DeepSHAP is employed to inspect a model trained on the Davidson benchmark for hateful and offensive language. In contrast to earlier analysis, we conclude that the task design itself is a significant cause of the models’ limited detection capabilities. In addition, integrating context information, in the form of social features, leads to improved performance in detection models. Interpretability techniques empirically demonstrate that — and also illustrate why — social features are indeed the reason for performance gains. We propose the usage of artificially crafted messages to examine the behaviour of models beyond the dataset they trained on. We show the technique to be effective in bringing to light unintended bias in specific scenarios. Our results consistently encourage future research to set interpretability as a priority. In particular, we recommend tailoring explanations to the intended target audience to make the most of their potential.
Revision and validation of the Japanese-version cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire: psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender

Abstract The Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) is a self-report scale measuring the use of nine types of cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The present study aimed to develop a revised version of the Japanese translated CERQ (CERQ-RJ). Specifically, we revised translations of the original Japanese version CERQ (CERQ-J), and examined its psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender. We conducted two surveys 8 weeks apart; participants were recruited from a single Internet survey company in Japan. Results indicated that the CERQ-RJ showed better fit for the predicted nine-factor model than the CERQ-J, and acceptable reliability and validity; it also showed acceptable fit for both gender groups. Results also revealed scalar invariance of the CERQ-RJ across gender groups. Lastly, most strategies showed predicted associations with mental health outcomes in concurrent analyses. The newly translated scale may prove useful in future examinations of emotion regulation among Japanese participants.
ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES AFFECTED BY COVER DELAMINATION. PART 1: EFFECT OF BOND LOSS

The behaviour of bars in concrete with corrosion-induced delamination has been investigated by testing specimens in which bars were either flush with the concrete surface or exposed to mid-barrel. The results of pull-out tests, and tests of development lengths and lap splices in beams are used to derive proposals for limiting bond stresses. The effect of cover delamination on shearcracking is investigated and a proposal is made for a reduction of the normal calculated resistance. The effects of complete loss of bond by the main steel along all or a part of a span are also studied, and methods are given for treating arching action and the effects at the ends of debonded lengths. Applications of limiting bond stresses in truss models of more complex beams are described and validated in a companion paper.
Designing a value centred inspection method for children

There are currently several evaluation methods suited to children within the Child-Computer Interaction (CCI) community. However, these methods are user based leaving a gap in inspection method suited to children, that is, where children will act as the inspection method evaluators. This research focused on how to design an effective and easy to use inspection method where children will perform the evaluation based on their values. To ensure that the above is met, a user centred approach and a mixed methodology was explored and finally resulted in the creation of the Inspection Method for Children (IMCH) with an accompanying guideline. This six stages method could be used by CCI researchers as a guide to develop similar methods for children, by industries to perform inspection method evaluation with children on technologies designed for children and could be used by designers to gather design criteria for children’s technology. The process undertaken within this research to develop the new method is also novel and could be adapted by new and old researchers when adapting method to suit children. Future work will focus on carrying out evaluation with wider age range of children in the method to ensure suitability of the method for more children. Comparative studies of the method with other usability method to determine the effectiveness of the method and as a refinement process to produce a validated and refined IMCH method.
Aspergillus flavus and Total Aflatoxins Occurrence in Dairy Feed and Aflatoxin M1 in Bovine Milk in Aguascalientes, Mexico

Contamination of food chains by toxigenic fungi and aflatoxins is a global problem that causes damage to human health, as well as to crop and livestock production. The objective is to evaluate Aspergillus flavus and total aflatoxins (AFs) occurrence in totally mixed rations (TMRs) for dairy cows and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk for human consumption. Ninety-nine dairy production units located in Aguascalientes, Mexico, were randomly selected, and samples were collected from TMRs, raw milk, and milk marketed in the city in two consecutive agricultural cycles. AFs were quantified in TMRs and milk by indirect enzyme immunoassay and HPLC; aflatoxigenic and molecular (PCR) capacity of monosporic A. flavus isolates in the feed was characterized. All feed, raw, and pasteurized milk samples showed aflatoxin contamination (26.0 ± 0.4 µg/kg, 32.0 ± 1.0, and 31.3 ± 0.7 ng/L, respectively), and a significant proportion (90.4, 11.3, and 10.3%) exceeded the locally applied maximum permissible limits for feed and milk (20.0 µg/kg and 50 ng/L). Aflatoxin contamination in both TMRs and milk indicated a seasonal influence, with a higher concentration in the autumn–winter cycle when conditions of higher humidity prevail. The results obtained suggest the existence of contamination by aflatoxigenic A. flavus and aflatoxins in the diet formulated for feeding dairy cows and, consequently, in the dairy food chain of this region of the Mexican Highland Plateau.
Evidencing the Need to Screen for Social Determinants of Health Among Boys Entering a Juvenile Prison: A Latent Profile Analysis

Social determinants of health influence who ends up in the juvenile legal system and how individuals fare when entering and leaving the system. The present study utilized latent profile analysis to determine the extent to which social determinants of health were present in a sample of incarcerated youth and the patterns in which they appear. The authors then examined their relationships to racial groups, depression, substance misuse, and recidivism risk. Data were from 1288 adolescent boys sentenced to a juvenile prison in one Southeastern state for serious offending (i.e., repeat offenses, offenses involving physical or sexual violence). We ran a latent class analysis to test for patterns with which youth present with various social determinants of health. Profiles with more violence exposure and higher social support were comprised of more Black boys than the referent profile. Property and sexual offenses also differed significantly from the referent profile. Altogether, results from our examination of selected social determinants of health indicated such factors meaningfully contribute to our understanding of experiences of young people in the juvenile legal system and may be targets for mental health and substance use intervention as they may contribute to problem behaviors or negative outcomes.
Dermatochalasis Aggravates Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Related Dry Eyes

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between subjective symptoms, objective signs, and dermatochalasis severity in dry-eye patients and the effects of lid hygiene on dry-eye parameters. We retrospectively enrolled 2328 patients who underwent dry-eye examinations and classified them into four groups by dermatochalasis severity. The SPEED and OSDI questionnaires were used to evaluate subjective symptoms. LipiView® II interferometry was used to measure lipid-layer thickness (LLT) and blink/incomplete blink rates and perform meibography. A slit-lamp–aided standardized evaluator measured meibomian gland expressibility (MGE). A meiboscale was used to grade meibomian gland dropout. Fluorescein tear-film break-up time (FTBUT) and superficial punctate keratitis (SPK) were recorded. The Schirmer test II with anesthetics was used to evaluate aqueous tear secretion. The effects of lid hygiene were evaluated in 644 patients who underwent second comprehensive examinations. The median age of patients was 55.3 [46.0–66.0] years (76.0% female). Patients with more severe dermatochalasis were less symptomatic and had less MGE, higher meiboscale grades and average LLT. Dermatochalasis severity was significantly associated with MGE and meiboscale grade in the upper lid. There were no significant differences in the Schirmer test, FTBUT, and SPK among the severity groups. Females were older and had higher LLT and less severe dermatochalasis. Lid hygiene significantly decreased subjective symptoms, LLT, and Schirmer results, increased FTBUT, but did not change MGE or meiboscale grades. Dermatochalasis severity participated in the pathophysiology of dry eyes. Lid hygiene significantly improved subjective symptoms and reduced LLT, more significantly in patients with less severe dermatochalasis.
A qualitative analysis of factors influencing health-seeking behavior of people living with HIV, hypertension and diabetes in an urban area of Ghana

Non-communicable diseases are rising globally and lower-middle-income countries are now facing a double-burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes. Patients with HIV/AIDS are at increased risk of developing hypertension and diabetes. Understanding how this double-burden influences persons living with HIV health-seeking behavior (HSB) is critical to identifying successful interventions and policies. To explore the factors that influence the health-seeking behavior of HIV patients with hypertension and diabetes in an urban setting of Ghana, we undertook a qualitative study consisting of sixteen in-depth interviews (five healthcare providers [HCP] and eleven patients); all recruited from Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) clinics in the Techiman South Municipality of Ghana. Interview questions were designed to explore cognitive, affective, social, and environmental factors that influence an individual’s decision-making process and behavior. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed thematically. Participants raised unique challenges while seeking treatment services for HIV, hypertension, and diabetes. Frequent appointments, increased pill burden, food restrictions, alternate sources of care (herbalist and pastors), and negative psychological wellbeing were some of the challenges noted for seeking treatment services. Challenges with the health facility, including separate clinic days for comorbid conditions, high costs of medications and transportation, and long waiting hours were also cited as influencing health-seeking behavior. Results indicate greater challenges for HIV patients living with hypertension and diabetes in accessing treatment services. Understanding this is critical to removing barriers and making treatment more accessible. Further integration of treatment for hypertension and diabetes into HIV care is essential to ensuring patient engagement in continuous care.
Metabolic Engineering Strategies for Improved Lipid Production and Cellular Physiological Responses in Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Microbial lipids have been a hot topic in the field of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology due to their increased market and important applications in biofuels, oleochemicals, cosmetics, etc. This review first compares the popular hosts for lipid production and explains the four modules for lipid synthesis in yeast, including the fatty acid biosynthesis module, lipid accumulation module, lipid sequestration module, and fatty acid modification module. This is followed by a summary of metabolic engineering strategies that could be used for enhancing each module for lipid production. In addition, the efforts being invested in improving the production of value-added fatty acids in engineered yeast, such as cyclopropane fatty acid, ricinoleic acid, gamma linoleic acid, EPA, and DHA, are included. A discussion is further made on the potential relationships between lipid pathway engineering and consequential changes in cellular physiological properties, such as cell membrane integrity, intracellular reactive oxygen species level, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Finally, with the rapid development of synthetic biology tools, such as CRISPR genome editing tools and machine learning models, this review proposes some future trends that could be employed to engineer yeast with enhanced intracellular lipid production while not compromising much of its cellular health.
Solubilization of diphenylcarbazide in the micellar system of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide: the micellar effect on complex formation of the ligand

ABSTRACT This work aims to investigate the interaction of diphenylcarbazide (DPC) with tetradecyltrimethyaammonium bromide (TTAB) over concentrations ranging from below and above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant and subsequent complexation of DPC with Zn(II) of the surfactant by visible and NMR spectrophotometry. For this purpose, we determined the CMC of the surfactant in pure water and in the presence of DPC conductometrically. Lower specific conductance values of the surfactant in the presence of DPC indicate the interaction between TTAB and DPC both below and above the CMC. The CMC of the surfactant was found to increase with increasing the concentration of DPC, indicating that hydrophobic interaction between the alkyl chains of the surfactant becomes unfavourable in the presence of DPC. The interaction of Zn(II) with DPC is strongly influenced by the concentration of the surfactant as well as the solubilisation site of DPC in the micelle. The absorbance of the Zn(II)-DPC complex increases initially, attains maximum near the CMC and then decreases with further increase in the concentration of the surfactant. Visible spectra together with NMR data of the Zn(II)-DPC complex in surfactant systems under different conditions provided information about the possible location of the DPC in the micelles.
Saussurea Costus Extract Has Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Hormonal Effects Against Testicular Toxicity Induced by Oxaliplatin in Male Albino Rats

Background: Testicular dysfunction is one of the common side effects that results from the treatment with oxaliplatin® as a chemotherapy drug, and pharmaceutical search for agents to relieve the side effects are underway. The current study explored the possible ameliorative and regenerative effects of Costus ethanolic extract against testicular degeneration in male rats induced by oxaliplatin. Methods: Male Wistar albino rats weighing 150-200g were divided into four groups of 10 rats each as follows: group-1 control rats; group-2 rats treated orally with the extract at 50 mg/kg/day for six weeks; group-3 rats injected oxaliplatin intraperitoneally at 10 mg/kg/week for six successive weeks; group-4 rats were injected intraperitoneally with oxaliplatin at 10 mg/kg/week combined with a daily oral dose of the Costus extract for six weeks. Results: Data from the current study revealed that the extract lowered the toxic effect of oxaliplatin on the testicular tissue samples. This was evident by the significant rise in the serum of total & free testosterone and CD4 cells, and the levels of GSH, SOD and CAT activities in the testis coupled with a marked reduction of serum TNF-α and IL-1β and testis MDA, nitric oxide levels and DNA fragmentation. Also, the extract promoted the regeneration of the histopathological structure of the testis. Conclusion: This study proposes a novel therapeutic application for the Costus extract as a therapeutic agent against testicular toxicity induced by oxaliplatin treatment through its promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Chemical and Molecular Characterization of Wound-Induced Suberization in Poplar (Populus alba × P. tremula) Stem Bark

Upon mechanical damage, plants produce wound responses to protect internal tissues from infections and desiccation. Suberin, a heteropolymer found on the inner face of primary cell walls, is deposited in specific tissues under normal development, enhanced under abiotic stress conditions and synthesized by any tissue upon mechanical damage. Wound-healing suberization of tree bark has been investigated at the anatomical level but very little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying this important stress response. Here, we investigated a time course of wound-induced suberization in poplar bark. Microscopic changes showed that polyphenolics accumulate 3 days post wounding, with aliphatic suberin deposition observed 5 days post wounding. A wound periderm was formed 9 days post wounding. Chemical analyses of the suberin polyester accumulated during the wound-healing response indicated that suberin monomers increased from 0.25 to 7.98 mg/g DW for days 0 to 28, respectively. Monomer proportions varied across the wound-healing process, with an overall ratio of 2:1 (monomers:glycerol) found across the first 14 days post wounding, with this ratio increasing to 7:2 by day 28. The expression of selected candidate genes of poplar suberin metabolism was investigated using qRT-PCR. Genes queried belonging to lipid polyester and phenylpropanoid metabolism appeared to have redundant functions in native and wound-induced suberization. Our data show that, anatomically, the wounding response in poplar bark is similar to that described in periderms of other species. It also provides novel insight into this process at the chemical and molecular levels, which have not been previously studied in trees.
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Connectedness of Stock Index in ASEAN+3 Economies

This paper explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the connectedness of stock indexes in the group of developed and emerging economies known as the ASEAN+3. We derived our empirical findings from the Diebold and Yilmaz (DY12) and Baruník and Křehlík (BK18) spillover methods, using daily data from 10 May 2005 to 24 February 2021. We show that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a bigger impact on the return and volatilities of ASEAN+3 stock markets than previous economic turmoil, such as the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2009–2012 European debt crisis. Using a frequency domain methodology, we find evidence that return spillovers mostly occur in the short-term, while volatility connectedness is more pronounced in the long-term. The Singapore stock market primarily acts the as top transmitter in returns and volatilities, whereas Vietnam has become the top receiver of shocks in returns. We also demonstrate that it is possible to replicate the frequency-domain connectedness measures of BK18 with a DY12 methodology. Using a series decomposed with a wavelet-based approach, we find that the total spillover indices for short-, medium-, and long-term frequencies computed with the DY12 approach are comparable to the within connectedness indices of BK18. Our results have important policy implications for investors, regulators, and policy makers.
Differences in Immunogenicity of Three Different Homo- and Heterologous Vaccination Regimens against SARS-CoV-2

Background: Due to findings on adverse reactions and clinical efficacy of different vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2, the administration of vaccination regimens containing both adenoviral vector vaccines and mRNA-based vaccines has become common. Data are still needed on the direct comparison of immunogenicity for these different regimens. Methods: We compared markers for immunogenicity (anti-S1 IgG/IgA, neutralizing antibodies, and T-cell response) with three different vaccination regimens (homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (n = 103), or mixture of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 with mRNA-1273 (n = 116) or BNT162b2 (n = 105)) at two time points: the day of the second vaccination as a baseline and 14 days later. Results: All examined vaccination regimens elicited measurable immune responses that were significantly enhanced after the second dose. Homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 was markedly inferior in immunogenicity to all other examined regimens after administration of the second dose. Between the heterologous regimens, mRNA-1273 as second dose induced greater antibody responses than BNT162b2, with no difference found for neutralizing antibodies and T-cell response. Discussion: While these findings allow no prediction about clinical protection, from an immunological point of view, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 with an mRNA-based vaccine at one or both time points appears preferable to homologous vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. Whether or not the demonstrated differences between the heterologous regimens are of clinical significance will be subject to further research.