Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Floor Response Spectra in Hybrid Base-Rocking and Reinforced Concrete Wall Buildings

Seismic events such as the Northridge (1994) and Nisqually (2001) earthquakes, amongst many others, have caused significant damage and financial losses to both structural and non-structural components of buildings. In response to this, significant research is being conducted with the aim of achieving higher performance objectives, which include: (i) the reduction and even elimination of structural damage during earthquakes, and (ii) the improvement of seismic risk mitigation for non-structural elements. To address point (i), several innovative technologies have been proposed that could limit structural damage compared to traditional structural systems in which structural damage serves as a means of energy dissipation. Among these, hybrid base-rocking walls effectively combine unbonded post-tensioning and mild-steel reinforcement to eliminate damage and residual displacements while providing good energy dissipation. In this study, the seismic response of hybrid base-rocking walls is compared to the more “traditional” reinforced concrete (RC) walls, through non-linear time-history analysis of 4, 8 and 12-story case-study buildings. Special attention is given to the floor acceleration response of both structural systems as it pertains to the performance of non-structural elements. To address point (ii), this study proposes three simple methodologies for estimating acceleration demands on non-structural elements in hybrid base-rocking and RC wall buildings, through a floor response spectrum (FRS) method. In all three procedures, individual modal floor spectra are first generated and then combined through a simplified modal combination approach to generate floor spectra that account for the effects of multiple modes. In order to account for non-linear structural response, the first procedure utilizes the concept of transitory inelastic modes of vibration to generate inelastic modal floor spectra, while the second procedure utilizes empirical modal reduction factors that are used to reduce elastic modal floor spectra based on the expected ductility of the building. The third procedure focuses on how to estimate floor spectra in the early design phases of a building, when the modal characteristics of a building are not known. To this end, the procedure idealizes RC and hybrid base-rocking walls as continuous distributed-mass systems to estimate their modal characteristics, which are in turn used to estimate floor spectra. Each proposed procedure is then tested by comparison to floor spectra obtained from non-linear time-history analysis of 4, 8 and 12-story case-study buildings.
Polarization in Activated T Cells and Microtubule Organizing Center Stathmin Regulates Microtubule Dynamics

Polarization of T cells involves reorientation of the microtubule organizing center (MTOC). Because activated ERK is localized at the immunological synapse, we investigated its role by showing that ERK activation is important for MTOC polarization. Suspecting that ERK phosphorylates a regulator of microtubules, we next focused on stathmin, a known ERK substrate. Our work indicates that during T cell activation, ERK is recruited to the synapse, allowing it to phosphorylate stathmin molecules near the immunological synapse. Supporting an important role of stathmin phosphorylation in T cell activation, we showed that T cell activation results in increased microtubule growth rate dependent on the presence of stathmin. The signiﬁcance of this ﬁnding was demonstrated by results showing that CTLs from stathmin 2 / 2 mice displayed defective MTOC polarization and defective target cell cytolysis. These data implicate stathmin as a regulator of the microtubule network during T cell activation. The Journal of Immunology , 2012, 188: 000–000.
Opening the Black Box of Intra-Household Decision-Making

We non-parametrically test a general collective consumption model with public consumption and externalities inside the household. We further propose a novel approach to model special cases of the general collective model. These special cases include alternative restrictions on the (cid:145)sharing rule(cid:146)that applies to each household, and which de(cid:133)nes the distribution of the household budget over the household members. A limiting case is the unitary model. Our application uses data from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS); the panel structure of this data set allows non-parametric testing of the behavioral models without relying on preference homogeneity assumptions across similar individuals. This application includes test results but also a power analysis for di⁄erent speci(cid:133)cations of the collective consumption model. Our main (cid:133)ndings are that the most general collective model, together with a large class of special but still fairly general cases, cannot be rejected by the data, while other restricted versions of the general model, including the unitary alternative, are rejected. Since these tests are entirely non-parametric, this provides strong evidence in favor of models focusing on intra-household decision-making.
Title: Fine-scale genetic structure in the United Arab Emirates reflects endogamous and consanguineous culture, population history and geography

The indigenous population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a unique demographic and cultural history. Its tradition of endogamy and consanguinity is expected to produce genetic homogeneity and partitioning of gene pools while population movements and intercontinental trade are likely to have contributed to genetic diversity. Emiratis and neighbouring populations of the Middle East have been underrepresented in the population genetics literature with few studies covering the broader genetic history of the Arabian Peninsula. Here, we genotyped 1,198 individuals from the seven Emirates using 1.7 million markers and by employing haplotype-based algorithms and admixture analyses we reveal the fine-scale genetic structure of the Emirati population. Shared ancestry and gene flow with neighbouring populations display their unique geographic position while increased intra- vs inter-Emirati kinship and sharing of uniparental haplogroups, reflect the endogamous and consanguineous cultural traditions of the Emirates and their tribes.
Title : Patterning of the Ciona intestinalis Motor Ganglion

Copyright Information: All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. Contact the author or original publisher for any necessary permissions. eScholarship is not the copyright owner for deposited works. Learn more at http://www.escholarship. org/help_copyright. html#reuse Patterning of the Ciona intestinalis Motor Ganglion
Torque Ripple Reduction of DTC DFIG Drive using Neural PI Regulators

: This paper presents the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in direct torque control (DTC) with space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) of a three-phase doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). This technique are considered in order to reduce rotor flux ripple, harmonic distortion of stator current and electromagnetic torque. Also, the performances of the DTC with ANN controllers are test and compared to DTC with proportional integral (PI) controllers. The results obtained in the Matlab/Simulink environment using robustness tests show that the DTC-ANN is efficient, has superior dynamic performance and is more robust during parameter variations.
Static study of functionally graded material (FGM) sandwich plates using a new hyperbolic theory

A new refined hyperbolic theory taking into account the transverse shear effect is proposed to analyze the static behavior of thick plates in functionally graduated materials (FGM). The proposed model uses a new displacement field using only four unknowns determining the equilibrium equations, using the Hamilton principle. This theory contains only four variables unlike other plate theories. The nullity of transverse shear stresses at the upper and lower surfaces of the plate is satisfied in this model. These material properties of the FGM plate vary according to a distribution of the power law in terms of volume fraction of the constituents; one can conclude that this theory is effective and simple for the analysis of the static response of the FGM plates.
Mushroom-Derived Novel Selenium Nanocomposites’ Effects on Potato Plant Growth and Tuber Germination

Multicomponent materials, where nanosized selenium (Se) is dispersed in polymer matrices, present as polymer nanocomposites (NCs), namely, selenium polymer nanocomposites (SeNCs). Selenium as an inorganic nanofiller in NCs has been extensively studied for its biological activity. More ecologically safe and beneficial approaches to obtain Se-based products are the current challenge. Biopolymers have attained great attention with perspective multifunctional and high-performance NCs exhibiting low environmental impact with unique properties, being abundantly available, renewable, and eco-friendly. Composites based on polysaccharides, including beta-glucans from edible and medicinal mushrooms, are bioactive, biocompatible, biodegradable, and have exhibited innovative potential. We synthesized SeNCs on the basis of the extracellular polysaccharides of several medicinal mushrooms. The influence of bio-composites from mushrooms on potato plant growth and tuber germination were studied in two potato cultivars: Lukyanovsky and Lugovskoi. Bio-composites based on Grifola umbellata demonstrated the strongest positive effect on the number of leaves and plant height in both cultivars, without negative effect on biomass of the vegetative part. Treatment of the potato tubers with SeNC from Gr. umbellata also significantly increased germ length. Potato plants exposed to Se-bio-composite from Ganoderma lucidum SIE1303 experienced an increase in the potato vegetative biomass by up to 55% versus the control. We found earlier that this bio-composite was the most efficient against biofilm formation by the potato ring rot causative agent Clavibacter sepedonicus (Cms). Bio-composites based on Pleurotus ostreatus promoted increase in the potato root biomass in the Lugovskoi cultivar by up to 79% versus the control. The phytostimulating ability of mushroom-based Se-containing bio-composites, together with their anti-phytopathogenic activity, testifies in favor of the bifunctional mode of action of these Se-biopreparations. The application of stimulatory green SeNCs for growth enhancement could be used to increase crop yield. Thus, by combining myco-nanotechnology with the intrinsic biological activity of selenium, an unexpectedly efficient tool for possible applications of SeNCs could be identified.
The Arms Deal In Your Pocket

At last! For those who don't know their corvettes from their combat suites, this book's timing is deadly accurate. The Arms Deal's taint of corruption has hovered spectre-like over South African politics since Patricia de Lille's document hit Parliament in 1999, but the plethora of newspaper articles, court cases, conspiracy theories and counter-allegations surrounding the deal still leaves many scratching their heads. This book starts at the roots and works its way to the present, telling the story in the simplest way possible. When the future of South African politics hangs in the balance, can you really afford not to understand why? The questions, and the answers: What was bought, and why? And who was involved? This book gives a cast of characters, a guide to the maze of companies, and a timeline; What was covered up? And what charges does Jacob Zuma face?
When Ideology Matters More – Science and Vaccine Scepticism in Light of Political Ideologies and Partisanship during the Third COVID-19 Wave in Hungary1

Abstract As for the mitigation of the negative consequences of the coronavirus pandemic and the related crisis, governments should inter alia facilitate the willingness to vaccinate. However, related discussions became politicised, especially in countries with an extremely high level of partisan polarisation in opinions and media discourses, like in Hungary, which is the selected case of our study. As previous research about the United States shows, general trust in science is also influenced by the ideological alignment of individuals – people with conservative identification are more likely to question scientific results and recommendations, considering global warming, or the characteristics of the pandemic and the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. In our study we examine two main questions: first, whether the ideological orientation and partisan alignment of Hungarian citizens influence their general trust in science, and second, whether the same factors influence their opinion on scientists’ ability to develop effective vaccines against the coronavirus. Furthermore, we also investigate whether media consumption habits might influence these interrelations. According to the results of the representative online survey, the more conservative someone in Hungary identifies, the more likely they will be sceptical in terms of both questions. However, support of government or opposition parties does not determine whether they believe in the ability of scientists to develop effective vaccines, and it is influenced by their media consumption habits. We showed that (1) opposition supporters are much more different along their preferred media source than government supporters, (2) television watchers are of the same opinion independent of their party preference and (3) social media consumers are generally more likely to reject scientific results. The phenomenon that supporters of the conservative government and of the alliance of opposition parties are different in terms of their media consumption is a surprising finding in the polarised Hungarian context. We provide two main explanations for this. First, it is most probably the consequence of the government’s intensive campaign that encouraged vaccination. Second, the government used the issue of vaccination as a source of legitimacy regarding the effectiveness of their crisis management.
Immediate Autotransplantation of Molars with Closed Apex.

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical features that might be related to success rates of autotransplantation of molars with complete root formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A group of 60 patients with completely formed third molars autotransplanted to a different molar socket was followed for a medium period of 5 years and 5 months. Extreme care was used in order to preserve the vitality of the periodontal ligament cells. The same technique was applied for all teeth despite different anatomies. Descriptive statistics was performed. The association of the various factors with failures was assessed by using the Fisher's exact test and a p-value of 0.05 was considered as significance threshold. RESULTS Autotransplantation was found to be a reliable method to replace extracted molar teeth with closed apices. The two major factors that positively influenced the outcomes were fixation with splint and a periodontal probing pocket depth less than 4 mm after the initial healing period. The technique resulted in a suitable well-conserved socket and donor tooth, after the extraction. CONCLUSION An accurate case evaluation was critically important in order to identify the risks prior to surgery and to select the right patients for this procedure. Autotransplantation of third molar teeth is a feasible approach to replace compromised mature molars. Proper stabilization of the transplanted tooth is strategical for the success of this procedure. A conservative approach to unerupted wisdom teeth is also recommended. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Dental implants and fixed prostheses have been utilized to replace missing teeth, and orthodontic space closure can be sometimes an effective treatment option. Tooth autotransplantation can be a reliable and less invasive clinical alternative when an appropriate donor site is available.
Twitter Usage Among Physicians From 2016 to 2020: Algorithm Development and Longitudinal Analysis Study

Background Physicians are increasingly using Twitter as a channel for communicating with colleagues and the public. Identifying physicians on Twitter is difficult due to the varied and imprecise ways that people self-identify themselves on the social media platform. This is the first study to describe a reliable, repeatable methodology for identifying physicians on Twitter. By using this approach, we characterized the longitudinal activity of US physicians on Twitter. Objective We aimed to develop a reliable and repeatable methodology for identifying US physicians on Twitter and to characterize their activity on Twitter over 5 years by activity, tweeted topic, and account type. Methods In this study, 5 years of Twitter data (2016-2020) were mined for physician accounts. US physicians on Twitter were identified by using a custom-built algorithm to screen for physician identifiers in the Twitter handles, user profiles, and tweeted content. The number of tweets by physician accounts from the 5-year period were counted and analyzed. The top 100 hashtags were identified, categorized into topics, and analyzed. Results Approximately 1 trillion tweets were mined to identify 6,399,146 (<0.001%) tweets originating from 39,084 US physician accounts. Over the 5-year period, the number of US physicians tweeting more than doubled (ie, increased by 112%). Across all 5 years, the most popular themes were general health, medical education, and mental health, and in specific years, the number of tweets related to elections (2016 and 2020), Black Lives Matter (2020), and COVID-19 (2020) increased. Conclusions Twitter has become an increasingly popular social media platform for US physicians over the past 5 years, and their use of Twitter has evolved to cover a broad range of topics, including science, politics, social activism, and COVID-19. We have developed an accurate, repeatable methodology for identifying US physicians on Twitter and have characterized their activity.
Quantitative Evaluation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Risk Prediction of Acute Exacerbation by High-Resolution Computed Tomography

Objective It is imperative to popularize the tertiary prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to improve the diagnosis and treatment. Methods COPD patients were divided into mild (n = 18), moderate (n = 20), severe (n = 24), and extremely severe (n = 22) groups for performing high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function test. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected, and the occurrence rate of acute exacerbation COPD (AECOPD) was recorded during a 12-months follow-up period. Results With an increase in the severity grade, the HRCT indexes, including emphysema index (EI), 1st and 15th percentile of inspiratory attenuation distribution (Perc1 and Perc15), ratio of expiratory/inspiratory mean lung density (MLDex/in) and lung volume (LVex/in), and ratio of the wall thickness to the outer diameter of the lumen (TDR), as well as percentage of the wall area to the total cross-sectional area (WA%) were increased with a decreased change in relative lung volume with attenuation values between −860 and −950 HU (RVC−860to −950) and lumen area (Ai). These were correlated with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) over forced vital capacity (FVC) (FEV1/FVC), the percentage of FEV1 the predicted value (FEV1%), and ratio of residual volume to total lung volume (RV/TLC). Body mass index, MLDex/in, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC, and PCT had a predictive value to AECOPD, with the combined AUC of 0.812. Conclusions HRCT imaging effectively classifies the severity of COPD, which combined with BMI, PFT, and serum PCT can predict the risk of AECOPD.
Investigation of Low-Cost FDM-Printed Polymers for Elevated-Temperature Applications

While fused deposition modeling (FDM) and other relatively inexpensive 3D printing methods are nowadays used in many applications, the possible areas of using FDM-printed objects are still limited due to mechanical and thermal constraints. Applications for space, e.g., for microsatellites, are restricted by the usually insufficient heat resistance of the typical FDM printing materials. Printing high-temperature polymers, on the other hand, necessitates special FDM printers, which are not always available. Here, we show investigations of common polymers, processible on low-cost FDM printers, under elevated temperatures of up to 160 °C for single treatments. The polymers with the highest dimensional stability and mechanical properties after different temperature treatments were periodically heat-treated between -40 °C and +80 °C in cycles of 90 min, similar to the temperature cycles a microsatellite in the low Earth orbit (LEO) experiences. While none of the materials under investigation fully maintains its dimensions and mechanical properties, filled poly(lactic acid) (PLA) filaments were found most suitable for applications under these thermal conditions.
Association of Serum Lipid Level with Meibum Biosynthesis and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Review

The primary role of meibomian glands (MGs) is to actively synthesize and secret lipids and proteins spread onto the tear film, and the glandular lipids promote tear stability, prevent evaporation, and reduce friction. Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is the leading cause of dry eye disease and one of the most common ophthalmic problems worldwide. MGs are densely innervated and regulated by hormones and growth factors. However, since the polar and nonpolar lipids are produced through processes in MGs that are not completely understood, a relevant question has been raised: Would the altered systemic lipids metabolism affect the physiology and structure of MGs? This review introduces the recent update regarding the relationships between serum lipid and MGD in clinical and basic research while providing answers to this question. A causal relationship remains to be established; however, serum lipid level or dyslipidemia may be related to MGD directly or indirectly, or both. Further studies are warranted to establish the role of serum lipid level and meibocyte differentiation/maturation and lipid synthesis.
77GHz Cavity-Backed AiP Array in FOWLP Technology

This paper presents a 4×8 AiP array implemented in Fan-Out Wafer-Level-Packaging (FOWLP) technology for 77GHz high resolution compact multi-functional MIMO radar applications. It features a cavity-backed 3D stacked structure to achieve stable patterns and wide bandwidth. The fabricated sample with a size of 16mm×16mm×0.402mm shows a measured |S11| <-12.2dB, Gain >14dBi and stable patterns with boresight radiations over 77-81GHz.