Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of Hardening Soil Models and Field Measurements for Deep Excavation: A Numerical Study

The increasing urbanization of cities requires the implementation of various subterranean infrastructures, such as tunnels, metro stations, and deep excava-tions. The construction of retaining structures to support these works can potentially cause structural disturbances to adjacent buildings and structures. Therefore, predicting and controlling ground displacements is crucial. However, estimating these displacements accurately remains a challenging task. This study focuses on a 2D finite element analysis to assess the impact of deep excavations on adjacent structures using two elastoplastic behavior models, the Hardening Soil (HS) model and the Hardening Soil Small (HSS) model. The comparison of the two models and measured values shows that the HSS models provide more accurate predictions of ground surface movements induced by deep excavations. The advanced constitutive model that accounts for small strain characteristics (HSS) outperforms the basic soil constitutive model (HS) in predicting the settlement and displacement of the excavation screen. The use of HSS model can lead to better design and construction practices in deep excavation projects, reducing the risk of damage to surrounding structures and improving the security of the site.
Sketches for a Mineral Genetic Material

I will argue that the driving force for the transition from geochemistry to biochemistry was natural selection operating, in its earliest stages, on inorganic materials. The most critical requirement for truly primitive evolvable systems is truly primitive genetic materials. These should have the kind of permutable structure that can hold information, and they should be able to replicate this information—very accurately for the most part. They should be like DNA in these respects. But, unlike DNA, they must do it all without any pre-evolved systems. Mixed-layer and polytypic materials will be featured in attempts to sketch what we should be looking for.
Young Children ’ s spelling representations and spelling strategies

While traditional models of spelling describe the skills and knowledge required for development, the underlying cognitive processes that drive spelling success are often overlooked. Ninety-six English-speaking children, aged 5-to-7 years, completed two tasks which provided a direct measure of their spelling recognition and spelling production, respectively. Using a combination of performance measures and self-explanations, we assessed the relationship between children’s performance on both the recognition and procedural tasks. Two separate hierarchical cluster analyses identified distinct profiles based on children’s spelling recognition and spelling production, respectively. While these different profiles appeared related, log-linear analysis confirmed that the relations between recognition and production profiles were strongly moderated by children’s spelling experience. Overall, the findings provide further support for application of the Representational Redescription (RR) and Overlapping Waves (OW) models in relation to young children’s spelling acquisition within an English orthography. Spelling Representations and Strategies 3 Young Children’s Spelling Representations and Spelling Strategies
Reaction to Novel Objects and Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite Levels in Two Species of Nocturnal Geckos

Simple Summary Reptiles are commonly housed in zoos, wildlife parks or as pets, although there are many species for which welfare measures are not well established. Compared to mammals or birds, they have been under-researched, and, in this study, we focused on two of these species: crested geckos (Correlophus ciliatus) and leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). These geckos are nocturnal, and many questions remain unknown about their behavior or physiology indicators to properly implement welfare protocols. Here, we measured the reaction to novel objects and fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels, trying to identify any relationship between them. Additionally, we assessed if some characteristic of the objects (e.g., color, shape, or smell) resulted in being more attractive to some species and/or individuals having the potential of being used as enrichment. No preference for any object was found and individuals which manipulated earlier and interacted longer with novel objects showed lower basal fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels. Crested geckos had significantly greater and more variable fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels than leopard geckos. These results can help to understand the reaction of geckos to novelty and have the potential to serve in their welfare assessment. Abstract Many reptiles are maintained in captivity and heavily traded, although welfare measures for many species are not well established and are under-researched compared to other animals. In this study, we focused on two of these species: crested geckos (Correlophus ciliatus) and leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). To better interpret their behavior in captivity, the individual reaction to novel objects and the fecal glucocorticoid metabolite levels were measured in an attempt to identify the potential correlation between them. Also, we explored if some characteristic of the objects (e.g., color, shape, or smell) resulted in being more attractive to some species and/or individuals. Equivalent responses to different objects were not obtained for all the geckos, the behavioral response being highly individual and context-dependent, although modulated by the species. Individuals which manipulated earlier and interacted longer with novel objects showed lower basal fecal corticosterone metabolite (FCM) levels. Differences according to the species suggested that crested geckos have significantly greater and more variable FCM levels than leopard geckos. Our results can help to understand the reaction of geckos to novelty and have the potential to serve in their welfare assessment, although more studies are needed to proper establish welfare protocols.
Extrahepatic Angiogenesis: A Potential Common Pathophysiological Basis of Multiple Organ Dysfunction in Rats with Cholestasis Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND In addition to intrahepatic angiogenesis, patients with cholestasis cirrhosis develop extrahepatic vasculature disorders and functional disturbances of multiple organ systems. Without effective intervention, these vascular disorders will eventually turn into multiple organs vascular syndromes, including the brain, lung and other organ systems. However, studies on the pathogenesis of vascular alterations among extrahepatic organ disturbances are still carried out separately, which hampered the successful translation of preclinical studies to the human setting and required further mechanistic insight into these complications. This study aims to investigate the relationship between extrahepatic angiogenesis and multiple organ impairment, and whether the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members and their receptors are involved in this process. METHODS Pathological changes of the multiple organs were determined by histopathological and immunohistochemical staining in the established common bile duct ligation (CBDL) rats, and angiogenesis was estimated by microvessel density (MVD). Levels of the VEGF family members and their receptors in the serum and organ tissues were also measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS The MVD and VEGF family members and their receptors were significantly increased in CBDL rats with multiple organ injury, especially in the liver, lung and cerebral cortex. Meanwhile, we noticed moderate elevation of soluble receptor of the vascular endothelial growth factor-1 (sFlt-1) in the liver, lung, and cerebral cortex, whereas the levels of placental growth factor (PLGF) increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS Extrahepatic angiogenesis may represent a common pathophysiological basis for multiple organ dysfunction and the sFlt-1/PLGF ratio could offer an avenue for further studies to target extrahepatic angiogenesis in cholestatic cirrhosis.
Beyond the heart - Exploring the therapeutic potential of PDE3 inhibitors

: Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) consist of an enzyme family of eleven groups responsible for the hydrolytic breakdown of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). cAMP and cGMP are important secondary messengers that regulate physiological functions. The widespread expression of PDE3 in tissues and organs makes it an attractive therapeutic target. For decades, PDE3 inhibitors have been acknowledged as significant pharmaceutical agents in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders due to their inotropic and vasodilatory actions. Emerging data, however, suggests that the potential therapeutic application of PDE3 inhibitors has gone beyond their traditional cardiovascular applications. This comprehensive review aims to explore the non-cardiovascular developments related to PDE3 inhibitors, exploring their mechanism of action, and clinical trials.
JAK Inhibitors in Psoriatic Disease

Abstract Psoriasis is now considered to be the cutaneous phenotype of a systemic inflammatory condition, recognized under the term Psoriatic Disease (PsD). PsD has several extracutaneous manifestations, such as inflammatory articular and entheseal involvement, leading to psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and the less frequent intestinal and ocular manifestations with colitis/inflammatory bowel disease and uveitis, respectively. There have also been several reports of an increased frequency of comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular manifestations during the course of PsD. The link between psoriasis and related comorbidities is considered a long-term disease sequela, often characterized by an unhealthy lifestyle and a consequence of systemic inflammation; hence, psoriasis requires adequate and prompt treatment, with the aim of controlling not only cutaneous manifestations but also extracutaneous manifestations and systemic inflammation. Pharmacological strategies for PsD have significantly increased over recent years. Recently, the targeted synthetic DMARDs, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, tofacitinib and upadacitinib, were added to the therapeutic armamentarium for treating PsA, and deucravacitinib for psoriasis. These oral agents act directly on inflammatory mechanisms underlining the disease, as antagonists of the intracellular JAK signal pathway and, by STAT phosphorylation, inhibit gene proinflammatory cytokine transcription. JAK inhibitors represent a recent additional treatment strategy for PsD management and, among these, tofacitinib and upadacitinib have recently been approved for PsA, and deucravacitinib for psoriasis. In this review we describe ongoing and recent phase II and III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of investigational JAK inhibitors in psoriasis and PsA.
Culture‐dependent and independent analyses of subsurface microbial communities in oil‐bearing strata of the Sagara oil reservoir

Abstract Culture‐dependent and independent methods were used to evaluate the microbial communities in cores collected at depths up to 200 m in oil‐bearing and oil‐free strata near the Sagara oil reservoir near Shizuoka, Japan. Direct microbial counts revealed much higher numbers (2.2 × 104−7.9 × 106/g) of microbes in the oil‐bearing strata than in the oil‐free zones, where counts were uniform at approximately 1.0 × 104/g. Molecular taxonomic analyses via 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that the oil‐free strata were dominated by members of the γ‐Proteobacteria including Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas and Sphingomonas, whereas the oil‐bearing strata were dominated by a single species closely related to Pseudomonas stutzeri. All archaeal clones were phylogenetically affiliated with the uncultured soil group in Crenarchaeota with the exception of a single phylotype that belonged to the genus Thermococcus. Culture‐dependent analysis was carried out by most‐probable‐number culturing as well as direct plating to determine viable cell counts, using both complex organic substrates or native oil and autotrophic media. Both culture‐dependent and independent methods revealed the abundant cultivable member was the aerobic oil‐degrading bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri and neither autotrophs nor anaerobic heterotrophs could be detected in the oil‐bearing strata.
NCAR CCM2 simulation of the modern Antarctic climate

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) community climate model version 2 (CCM2) simulation of the circumpolar trough, surface air temperature, the polar vortex, cloudiness, winds, and atmospheric moisture and energy budgets are examined to validate the model`s representation of the present-day Antarctic climate. The results show that the CCM2 can well simulate many important climate features over Antarctica, such as the location and intensity of the circumpolar trough, the coreless winter over the plateau, the intensity and horizontal distribution of the surface inversion, the speed and streamline pattern of the katabatic winds, the double jet stream feature over the southern Indian and Pacific oceans, and the arid climate over the continent. However, there are also some serious errors in the model. Some are due to old problems but some are caused by the new parameterizations in the model. The model errors over high southern latitudes can be summarized as follows: The circumpolar trough, the polar vertex, and the westerlies in midlatitudes are too strong; the semiannual cycle of the circumpolar trough is distorted compared to the observations; the low centers of the circumpolar trough and the troughs in the middle and upper troposphere are shifted eastward by 15 degmore » - 40 deg longitude; the surface temperatures are too cold over the plateau in summer and over the coastline in winter; the polar tropopause continues to have a cold bias; and the cloudiness is too high over the continent. « less
The Impact of Student Engagement and Motivation in the Statistics Learning Process

The aim of the present exploratory study was to examine students’ situational engagement and motivation in the statistics classroom at Zayed University, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Two instruments were used for this purpose: a) experience sampling method (ESM), and b) the validated Mathematics Motivation Questionnaire (MMQ). This study employed two samples, at undergraduate level (2nd and 4th Semesters). Participants consisted of 100 students enrolled in Statistics I and Statistics II (Probability and Structure of Randomness). The results indicate that, apart from challenge and effort, emotional engagement is not significantly different across different activities. The results also indicate increases in intrinsic value and utility value and decreases in test anxiety. Finally, results indicate higher engagement and effort when social interaction is purposely planned and fostered, such as in small groups. On the contrary, individual class activities seem to generate slightly lower levels of engagement and effort. These findings have significant implications for educators and researchers who seek to enhance students' engagement and motivation in their statistics courses
Changes in the phenology of breeding and migration in relation to global climate change

The timing of life history events is often critical for the fitness of organisms. Among birds, the timing of events at the start of the breeding season can, for example, determine an individual’s chance of obtaining breeding territory and of achieving a level of reproductive success. The timing of migration and egg-laying can be affected by weather conditions, and it has been predicted that climate change could thus have a major impact. Data from a variety of sources strongly suggests that the timing of migration and nesting have already been affected by climate change, and provide some of the strongest early signals of likely impacts from the relatively moderate climate change that has occurred to date. We review information from intensive study sites and extensively gathered data to draw out general patterns, and then briefly consider the potential consequences of such changes for birds.
Espacios de vida y subjetividades de los jornaleros agrícolas: reglamentaciones morales en sociedades agroempresariales contemporáneas

In this study, we explore the establishment of precarious living spaces, as well as the social representations and subjectivities of the day laborer population in Mexico, through the study of six neighborhoods and diverse public spaces in Yurecuaro, Michoacan, between September 2007 and March 2010. In particular, information was obtained about the material conditions and the daily life in housing and public spaces; about the assimilation processes of physical and emotional suffering, and about the dramatic restrictions of day laborers’ life projects. The research shows how the capitalist market contributes to create subjectivities for which the collective alternatives that have arisen in face of the civilizing and development projects turn out to be less significant, in spite of their communitarian cultural origin, and of occupying the least favorable place in the labor market.
Effects of Past Nd Seawater Concentrations on Nd‐Isotope Paleocirculation Reconstructions: A Bayesian Approach

Neodymium (Nd) isotope ratios are potentially valuable for paleo‐ocean circulation reconstructions because they trace water‐mass transport and mixing in the present‐day oceans. Moreover, the Atlantic and Pacific global end‐member Nd‐isotope values can be constrained through time, and at in‐between sites their proportions vary with past climate changes. However, an important source of uncertainty about Nd‐isotopes' applicability for paleo‐circulation studies arises from the inability to constrain past Nd‐concentrations of the end‐members. Here we address this “paleo‐[Nd] problem” through a Bayesian analysis. Results show that even large variability in end‐member Nd‐concentrations over the Pleistocene is unlikely to significantly impact their concentration ratio, therefore end‐member concentration changes likely have only small impacts on Nd‐isotope ratios at in‐between locations. The results support their applicability to reconstruct past Atlantic paleo‐circulation. In addition, a Nd‐isotope mass balance for Antarctic Bottom Water shows that its present‐day Nd‐isotope values are consistent with the input from its sources.
Overview of Sustainable Development Indicators used by National and International Agencies

This paper presents a general overview of recent work on sustainable development indicators in OECD countries. It provides an overview of on-going work for developing “agreed” indicators that measure progress across the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social and environmental). The paper then takes a more specific look at the approaches to sustainable development indicators adopted by different countries and highlights the challenges of having one set of standard international indicators across the various countries . Ce document presente un panorama general des recents travaux effectues sur le developpement durable dans les pays de l’OCDE. Il fournit l’etat des lieux du developpement des indicateurs definis en commun par les pays, indicateurs qui mesurent le progres a travers les trois dimensions du developpement durable (economique, sociale et environnementale). Ce document s’attache ensuite plus specifiquement aux approches des indicateurs du developpement durable adoptes par differents pays et met en avant les defis de la standardisation des indicateurs internationaux a travers les differents pays .
CD47: The Next Frontier in Immune Checkpoint Blockade for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Simple Summary Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite treatment advances, high rates of tumor recurrence emphasize the need for new therapeutic strategies. Tumors often acquire mechanisms to avoid detection by the immune system, allowing them to develop and metastasize. Immunotherapy is a type of treatment designed to overcome these mechanisms by reactivating the immune system to eliminate tumors. CD47 is a cell surface protein and marker of “self” expressed on cells throughout the body and prevents them from being “eaten” by cells of the immune system. Lung cancers exploit this “don’t eat me” signal by upregulating CD47 to evade the immune system, making it a promising therapeutic target. This review summarizes the roles of CD47 in tumor biology, its therapeutic potential in non-small cell lung cancer, and challenges that must be overcome to facilitate the clinical translation of CD47-targeted immunotherapy to improve lung cancer survival rates. Abstract The success of PD-1/PD-L1-targeted therapy in lung cancer has resulted in great enthusiasm for additional immunotherapies in development to elicit similar survival benefits, particularly in patients who do not respond to or are ineligible for PD-1 blockade. CD47 is an immunosuppressive molecule that binds SIRPα on antigen-presenting cells to regulate an innate immune checkpoint that blocks phagocytosis and subsequent activation of adaptive tumor immunity. In lung cancer, CD47 expression is associated with poor survival and tumors with EGFR mutations, which do not typically respond to PD-1 blockade. Given its prognostic relevance, its role in facilitating immune escape, and the number of agents currently in clinical development, CD47 blockade represents a promising next-generation immunotherapy for lung cancer. In this review, we briefly summarize how tumors disrupt the cancer immunity cycle to facilitate immune evasion and their exploitation of immune checkpoints like the CD47–SIRPα axis. We also discuss approved immune checkpoint inhibitors and strategies for targeting CD47 that are currently being investigated. Finally, we review the literature supporting CD47 as a promising immunotherapeutic target in lung cancer and offer our perspective on key obstacles that must be overcome to establish CD47 blockade as the next standard of care for lung cancer therapy.
The impact of freshening over the Antarctic Ocean on Pacific Decadal Oscillation

The profound influence of the Antarctic Ocean freshening on the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is investigated in this study by utilizing a series of fully coupled ocean-atmosphere 400-year-modeling experiments. The simulated results derived from the Fast Ocean-Atmosphere Model (FOAM) can reasonably identify the spatial pattern and time period (10–20 years and 20–50 years) of the observed PDO with slightly weak amplitudes. In the sensitivity experiment (Southern Ocean Water Hosing), 1.0 Sv (Sverdrup, 1Sv = 1.0 × 106 m3/s) freshwater flux is uniformly imposed over the Antarctic Ocean for 400 years. As a response to this Antarctic Ocean freshening, the Tropical Pacific Ocean displays a normal “La Niña pattern”, while the low-frequency variability within the North Pacific Ocean is much weakened. Preserving the PDO’s spatial pattern, the multidecadal (20–50 years) magnitude becomes weak and shifts toward higher frequency. In contrast, the decadal magnitude of the PDO (10–20 years) is slightly reinforced and also shifts towards higher frequency. Dynamical analysis indicates that the shortening of the PDO multidecadal variability is mainly caused by the acceleration of the first-baroclinic-mode Rossby waves. The spreading of the fresh anomalies and associated increasing stratification in the North Pacific Ocean result in the shortening of the long Rossby wave propagation to cross the subtropical North Pacific basin. A heat budget analysis further shows that the upper-ocean thermodynamic variability in relationship to the stratification oscillation in the North Pacific Ocean is mainly associated with the anomalous behaviors of the meridional advection, heat flux and ocean mixing.