Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Probabilistic Vulnerability Scenarios for Horizontally Curved Steel I-Girder Bridges under Earthquake Loads

Horizontally curved steel I-girder bridges are located in all seismic zones in the United States. Research has shown that damage can occur to steel bridge components under earthquake loads. Probabilistic-based techniques are one tool that can be used to assess more accurately the seismic vulnerability of curved bridges for various damage states and at various seismic hazard levels. To examine probabilistic-based vulnerability criteria efficiently, the study used response surface metamodels (RSMs) in conjunction with Monte Carlo simulations to generate horizontally curved steel I-girder bridge fragility curves. The generated curves were then used to evaluate bridge damage in terms of previously published structure damage states. The use of RSMs reduces the required number of computer simulations needed to generate the fragility curves. The paper summarizes the fragility curve generation procedure for a group of horizontally curved steel I-girder bridges using RSMs in association with Monte Carlo simulation. Probabilistic vulnerability scenarios are presented via application to existing horizontally curved steel bridges located in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland to estimate seismic demands for those bridges and to generate fragility curves.
Stratospheric Modulation of Arctic Oscillation Extremes as Represented by Extended-Range Ensemble Forecasts

Abstract. The Arctic Oscillation (AO) describes a seesaw pattern of variations in atmospheric mass over the polar cap. It is by now well established that the AO pattern is in part determined by the state of the stratosphere. In particular, sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs) are known to nudge the tropospheric circulation toward a more negative phase of the AO, which is associated with a more equatorward shifted jet and enhanced likelihood for blocking and cold air outbreaks in mid-latitudes. SSWs are also thought to contribute to the occurrence of extreme AO events. However, statistically robust results about such extremes are difficult to obtain from observations or meteorological (re-)analyses due to the limited sample size of SSW events in the observational record (roughly 6 SSWs per decade). Here we exploit a large set of extended-range ensemble forecasts within the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) framework to obtain an improved characterization of the modulation of AO extremes due to stratosphere-troposphere coupling. Specifically, we greatly boost the sample size of stratospheric events by using potential SSWs (p-SSWs), i.e., SSWs that are predicted to occur in individual forecast ensemble members regardless of whether they actually occurred in the real atmosphere. For example, for the ECMWF S2S ensemble this gives us a total of 6101 p-SSW events for the period 1997–2021. A standard lag-composite analysis around these p-SSWs validates our approach, i.e., the associated composite evolution of stratosphere-troposphere coupling matches the known evolution based on reanalyses data around real SSW events. Our statistical analyses further reveal that following p-SSWs, relative to climatology: 1) persistently negative AO states (> 1 week duration) are 16 % more likely, 2) the likelihood for extremely negative AO states (< −3σ) is enhanced by at least 35 %, while that for extremely positive AO states (> +3σ) is reduced to almost zero, 3) a p-SSW preceding an extremely negative AO state within 4 weeks is causal for this AO extreme (in a statistical sense) up to a degree of 27 %. A corresponding analysis relative to strong stratospheric vortex events reveals similar insights into the stratospheric modulation of positive AO extremes.
Two Cases of Pneumatic Retinopexy as a Primary Successful Intervention of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Purpose: We present a case series of macula involving or non-involving rhegmatogenous retinal detachment successfully managed with pneumatic retinopexy with additional cryopexy and laserpexy as a primary single operation. Case summary: A review of two patients with visually significant macula off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment which involves more than 4 clock hours in expansion was conducted. At presentation, all two were underwent a pneumatic retinopexy with expansile Perfluoropropane pure gas 0.5 mL bubble with proper cryopexy and maintenance of appropriate head position regimen without intraoperative complications. The following day, laser was applied around the margin of the retinal break and intraocular pressure was monitored closely. During postoperative evaluation, the eyes achieved a good visual acuity and fundus examination revealed a fully resolved subretinal fluid and reattached retina. During short term follow-up, the retina remained completely attached and no further complications were detected. Conclusions: There is no significant drawback in trying pneumatic retinopexy primary in eyes that encounter the selection criteria. If a pneumatic retinopexy fails, a prompt following operation should be performed, the final anatomical and visual outcomes are not disadvantaged by the initial pneumatic procedure.
Virtual dummy with spine model for automotive vibrational comfort analysis

In this paper, the author presents a methodology for implementing a three-dimensional virtual dummy for human vibration investigations. The model is based on a multibody dynamics approach and includes a detailed spine submodel for accurate assessment of seated body vibration. The model has been used to compute vibrational modes and transmissibility functions. The response to vibrational inputs has been compared with previous experimental and numerical studies. The discussed model can be applied for the assessment of vibration dose value (VDV) and design optimisation of human-vehicle interface according to international standards.
Product portfolio planning: a metaheuristic-based simulated annealing algorithm

Product portfolio diversity is prominent for customers, but critical for manufacturers. From the manufacturers’ perspective, diversity must be maintained at a level where engineering costs do not exceed the acquired advantages of increased market share. Therefore, in this paper we consider the problem of product portfolio planning to simultaneously maximise market share and minimise manufacturing engineering costs. Since this problem belongs to the NP-hard class of problems, exact algorithms are incapable of rendering an optimal solution. Therefore, we used metaheuristic-based simulated annealing to deal with the problem. Our proposed algorithm consists of two parts, i.e. a random search and a predetermined rule to generate the next possible neighbours (product portfolio). In order to have a robust algorithm, we calibrated different levels of our problem's parameters using the Taguchi method. This method picks the best levels of different parameters, conducting the least possible experiments. To evaluate the performance of our proposed algorithm, we compared it with a strong algorithm – the genetic algorithm. We used this comparison as the basis of our research. The obtained computational results clearly demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of our proposed algorithm.
Elastic Analysis of A Pin Loaded Lug

A numerical study is described of the elastic deformation of a pin-loaded lug. A boundary element model for engineering analysis of elastic deformation of the round ended lug is proposed. Computational results on the deformation pattern, stress distribution, effect of pin‐ligament interface, influence of pin interference, effect of the ratio of lug width W and height of lug, H ,t ohole diameter D are obtained and discussed.
Children Are Back to School, but Is Play Still in Lockdown? Play Experiences, Social Interactions, and Children’s Quality of Life in Primary Education in the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

The right to play is crucial for the overall development of children. Several studies highlight the need to have time and space to play, especially at school where children spend much of their time. Unfortunately, in formal education the obsession with academic achievements sidelines and ignores the importance of play. The neglection of play had already reached a critical stage before the pandemic, so data are needed to realize how the right to play in school is presently affected. This paper aims to understand children’s play experience in primary education during the pandemic. It investigates what activities children participated in and what materials were used, and provides insight into the social interactions between peers. Furthermore, children’s quality of life is explored. A group of 370 Portuguese children answered a questionnaire on play and social interactions, alongside with Peds 4.0TM on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The results showed that recess still emerges as a significant element of children’s daily lives, but COVID-19 has brought limitations on play experiences and peer-interaction. It might also have impacted HRQOL, especially in emotional functioning. Since play, health and well-being are closely connected, play opportunities at school are crucial in helping children to thrive in the pandemic, and should be invested in.
TIME SHIFTING AIR TRAFFIC DATA FOR QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF A CONFLICT PROBE

A conflict probe is an air traffic management decision support tool that predicts aircraft-to-aircraft and aircraft-to-airspace conflicts. In order to achieve the confidence of the air traffic controllers who are provided this tool, a conflict probe must accurately predict these conflicts. This paper discusses how a conflict probe's quantitative accuracy requirements can be tested using hypothesis testing techniques. The paper also asserts that air traffic scenarios based on recorded field data are essential to the evaluation of a conflict probe and states that time shifting these scenarios can create data samples necessary to perform the hypothesis testing. This paper then compares three time shifting techniques: time compression, random time adjustment, and an implementation of a genetic algorithm.
How Do Teleworkers and Organizations Manage the COVID-19 Crisis in Brazil? The Role of Flexibility I-Deals and Work Recovery in Maintaining Sustainable Well-Being at Work

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the economic market and labor contexts worldwide. Brazil has suffered one of the worst social and governmental managements of the COVID-19 crisis, forcing workers and organizations to develop coping strategies. This environment can affect both well-being and performance at work. Sustainable well-being at work refers to different patterns of relationships between performance and well-being. It may include eudaimonic (e.g., Meaning of Work—MOW) or hedonic (e.g., emotions) forms of well-being. This study tests the moderating role of recovery from work stress in the relationship between flexibility i-deals and patterns of sustainable well-being at work in Brazilian teleworkers. We relied on two studies to achieve this objective. In Study 1, conducted during the pandemic’s first outbreak in Brazil (N = 386), recovery experiences moderated the relationship between i-deals and clusters formed by performance and MOW (eudaimonic happiness). In Study 2, conducted during the second outbreak (N = 281), we identified relationships between clusters of emotions (hedonic happiness) and MOW (eudaimonic) with performance. The results supported the idea that recovery experiences moderated the relationship between i-deals and patterns of sustainable well-being at work differently. Our findings have implications for Human Resource Management and teleworkers, especially for employee behaviors to deal with stress.
Reliability-based design of earth-fill dams to mitigate damage due to severe earthquakes

ABSTRACT This paper deals with a strategy for the maintenance of geotechnical structures such as earth-fill dams. Standard penetration test (SPT) N-values are frequently used to determine the soil parameters. For this purpose, a statistical model for the N-values is firstly determined from sounding test results. In this research, however, Swedish weight sounding (SWS) tests are employed as they are simpler than SPTs. The identification of spatial correlation of the soil parameters is very difficult, since the number of sampling points is very limited to model the spatial variability. SWS is advantageous, compared with other major sounding method to identify the spatial correlation structure inside the geotechnical structures, since it makes spatially short-interval exams possible due to its simplicity and compactness. Based on the statistical model for the N-values, the shear strength parameters are derived through the empirical relationships. Then, a reliability analysis of the embankments is conducted considering the variability of the internal friction angle and the seismic hazard. Consequently, the probability of damage to the earth-fill over the next 50 years is calculated, and the effect of improving the earth-fill is evaluated based on this probability.
Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) in the treatment for psoriasis: results of a single-arm pilot trial

Background Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that causes significant physical and psychological burden to the patient. While there is currently no curative treatment, recent breakthroughs involving stem cell therapy, in particular, adipose tissue-derived from mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), have been promising. This single-arm study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of AD-MSC infusions for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. Methods A single-center, open-label pilot study was conducted involving seven subjects with moderate to severe psoriasis. Patients received intravenous injections of AD-MSCs (0.5×106 cells/kg) monthly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was patient safety evaluated by the incidence of adverse events (AEs). Secondary parameters included changes in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Body Surface Area (BSA), and Pruritus Scores on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results A total of 7 patients, including 6 males and 1 female, with an average age of 50.71 years (range, 35–65 years) were enrolled in this study. Four patients completed the trial and two participants completed the one-year follow-up. There were 16 AEs (including 1 grade 2 event and 15 grade 1 events) recorded during the treatment period and 1 serious adverse event (SAE) documented during the follow-up period. The most common AEs were transient fevers (5/16) which were likely to be related to the infusions, followed by pharyngitis (3/16), and headaches (2/16). Both of them were unlikely to be related to the infusions. The procedure was determined to be safe, and no SAEs relating to AD-MSCs were observed. Two patients reached and maintained a PASI-50, indicating a 50% improvement in the PASI score, after one year without any treatment. Conclusions These results suggested that intravenous injection of AD-MSCs is safe and may be a therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with psoriasis. Future studies involving larger test cohorts and a control group are warranted.
Nonlinear Dynamics and Control of Integrally Actuated Helicopter Blades

A set of nonlinear, intrinsic equations describing the dynamics of beam structures undergoing large deformations is presented. The intrinsic kinematical equations are derived for the general case of a moving beam. Active force/strain terms are added to the equations to take into account active components The equations are then discretized into finite elements, transformed into state-space form and finally decomposed into modes. Actuation and sensor models are established before implementing a simulation model in Matlab/SIMULINK. The model is validated by comparison with exact, analytical results and then utilized to analyze the dynamic behavior of an active helicopter blade. Beside the analysis of the inherent dynamics of this system in terms of eigenvalues and vectors, the modal controllability of the blade is discussed under the influence of rigid body motion. In a final step, the design of a MIMO controller based on full-state optimal control (LQR approach) and optimal state estimation (Kalman filter) is presented with the aim to add vibrational damping to the weakly damped system. The closed loop properties are validated by both analytical methods and simulation runs.
Morphometric Assessment of Two Watersheds of High Atlas of Morocco Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques: What Is the Impact on Surface Water Availability?

The abundance or scarcity of surface water in a watershed is related to environmental factors including its morphology, substrate type, rainfall, slope, and exposure to moist air masses. The combination of these characteristics explains the hydrological behavior of the river network, knowledge of which is important for water resources management. Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing are efficient tools to assess the morphometric characteristic in a watershed. Using these tools, the physical characterization of the two water basins located on either side of the High Atlas of Morocco was investigated in this study. The results show that the Upper Draa basin is characterized by an elongated shape, with a drainage density of 0.14 km/km 2 . Altitudes and slopes vary little and slopes are oriented in most cases towards the southeast (27.34%). Substrate is mostly permeable, which promotes infiltration and aridity of the soil. This contrasts with the Zat basin that is characterized by very variable elevations and slopes, and slopes are mainly exposed to the North and North-West (30.42%), which therefore favors strong runoff and a very high flow velocity. The hydrological contrast observed in the two basins impacts the human use of surface water. These results effectively ex-plain the hydrological behavior and provide managers with useful information for better management and decision-making regarding the two studied hydro systems.
Modernization of Administration of Parking Tax Collection with Tapping Box as A Supervision and Compliance Function of Regional Taxpayers in Bekasi City

Tax modernization seems to be very necessary in the current digital era. This considers that taxes are one of the largest sources of tax revenue, both in the central and regional regions. This study focused on the scope of the Regions, one of the sources of Regional Tax is parking tax. The phenomenon that occurred in this study was the low acceptance of Parking Tax on Regional Taxes. In order to increase regional income and prevent any leakage of funds, the Bekasi City Regional Revenue Agency has installed a data management application in several places of business, namely Tapping Box. Tapping Box is a machine or transaction recording device that can record all transaction data that occurs and sends it to the Bekasi City Regional Revenue Agency server through the Global System for Mobile network (GSM). The purpose of installing the Tapping Box is as a means of monitoring and testing taxpayer compliance that displays the financial reports of transaction in a transparent and accountable way. This study used a descriptive type of research with a qualitative approach. Also, the data was analyzed by using qualitative method. The results of this study indicated that parking tax supervision has not gone well because there were still some taxpayers who have not installed the Tapping Box. The result of this Tapping Box installation is that the realization of parking tax receipts has not reached the set target, but the parking tax revenues have increased comparing to those in the previous year. Moreover, if the installation of the Tapping Box is evenly distributed, the parking tax revenue will be maximized.
Strategic slab–column joint details for improved transmission of HSC column loads

In typical construction, the slab is made of normal-strength concrete (NSC) and is cast in a continuous fashion through the slab–column joint. For the case of high-strength concrete (HSC) columns, this results in a layer of lower-strength concrete between the upper and lower columns at the floor levels. Since this lower-strength concrete layer can limit the capacity of the column, it is necessary to provide alternative design or construction strategies for the transmission of column loads through slab–column connections. The current paper presents the structural characteristics of slab–column connections by using full-scale tests and non-linear three-dimensional finite-element analyses. Finite-element analyses considering material non-linearity were performed to investigate the axial load plotted against average column strain responses, the type of failure, the principal stress distribution and the reinforcement yielding conditions for various slab–column members. The puddled HSC in the joint, the HSC cor.
Assessment of Ground-Return Impedance and Admittance Equations for the Transient Analysis of Underground Cables Using a Full-Wave FDTD Method

In this paper, the validity of two extended transmission line approaches proposed for calculating the ground-return impedance and admittance of an underground insulated cable is evaluated taking as reference a full-wave approach based on the 3-D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The transient responses of an underground cable with realistic radius are calculated for a wide range of soil resistivities and cable lengths. It is shown that the extended transmission line approaches lead to transient waveforms in good agreement with the FDTD method even for relatively short cables and high soil resistivity. The limitations of a traditional formulation that neglects the influence of the ground-return admittance on the calculation of the cable parameters are also demonstrated. Overall, the results confirm the accuracy of the newly-proposed expressions for the calculation of underground cable parameters.
Effect of Particle Size and Shape on Wall Slip of Highly Filled Powder Feedstocks for Material Extrusion and Powder Injection Molding

A necessity to distinguish between the influence of powder shape and size (particle size distribution) is especially demanding for highly filled metal powder feedstocks employed in additive manufacturing and powder injection molding. As their processability is evaluated through rheological behavior, the study focuses on the effect of powder size/shape on a wall slip, which is a typical phenomenon determining flow performance of these materials. Water and gas atomized 17-4PH stainless steel powders with D50 of about 3 and 20 μm are admixed into a binder containing low-density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, and paraffin wax. Mooney analysis to intercept the slip velocity of 55 vol. % filled compounds reveals that wall slip effect appears to vary significantly with size and shape of metal powders—round shaped and large particles are the most prone to the wall slip. However, the evaluation is affected by the type of the flow streams resulting from the geometry of the dies—conical dies reduce the slip up to 60% in case of fine and round particles.