Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Settlement behaviour of geothermal energy pile under cyclic thermo-axial loads

Geothermal energy pile (GEP) foundation is a new type of sustainable geostructure that can be used as an alternative solution to the energy demand for heating and cooling of built structures. However, due to limited information of this system, the installed piles have generally been over-designed to lower the risk of the system failing. This paper presents the findings of the research carried out to evaluate the performance of laboratory scaled GEP model (model pile) under the effects of the cyclic thermal loads on the settlement behaviour of the model pile with and without the application of axial load. A small-scale model pile of 19 mm diameter and 300 mm length (150 mm embedded length) was used in the experimental work while kaolin was chosen as the model soil. The model soil was compacted at 90% maximum dry density (1.4625 Mg/m3) with optimum moisture content (17%) to obtain ‘firm’ consistency, in a container of 450 mm height and 270 mm diameter. Strain gauges were installed along the pile to monitor the temperature. The ultimate load, Qu of model pile was determined as 480 N. It is found that two cycles of thermal load decreased the settlement; the higher the values, the lower the settlement due to pile expansion and soil heaves. For thermo-axially loaded pile with two cycles of thermal load, the reduction was not significant as the effect of settlement due to axial load had caused much more settlement. For the thermo-axial loads of 50°C-100 N, 17% of the settlement at failure, sf occurred after the application of axial load. When two cycles of thermal load were applied from 29°C to 50°C, the settlement occurred reduced to 16%sf. From this study it can be concluded that the effect of two cycles of cyclic thermal loads from 29°C to 50°C on pile subjected to 21% of Qu in firm clay, is negligible. The pile could function satisfactorily as designed. However, the application of higher axial loads and cycles of thermal load may need to be studied as it could potentially cause hazard to the building due to the excessive pile settlement.
Optical Spectrum of the Diamantane Radical Cation

Similarities exist between the infrared spectra of diamondoids and unidentified infrared emission bands seen in the spectra of young stars with circumstellar disks. Due to their low ionization energy and absorption in the visible range, the radical cations of these highly stable molecules are also suggested to contribute to the well-known but largely unassigned diffuse interstellar bands. However, thus far only the optical spectrum of the adamantane cation (Ada+) has been measured in the laboratory, which is required for astronomical identification. Herein, we present the optical spectrum of the diamantane radical cation (C14H20 +, Dia+, D 3d) between 400 and 1000 nm in the gas phase. The spectra are obtained by electronic photodissociation (EPD) of mass-selected ions generated by electron ionization and trapping in a cryogenic trap at 5 K. The most intense fragmentation channels are the losses of H and C4H9. The optical spectrum reveals two broad and unresolved bands centered near 760 and 450 nm that are assigned to the D 2(2 E u) ← D 0(2 A 1g) and D 5(2 A 2u) ← D 0(2 A 1g) transitions using density functional theory. Despite a vibrational temperature below 20 K, no vibrational structure is resolved. Franck–Condon simulations of the D 5 ← D 0 transition predict intense vibronic progressions that become indiscernible from the band contour at spectral widths above 350 cm−1. Thus, the lack of resolved spectral features is attributed to lifetime broadening, Franck–Condon congestion arising from geometric changes, and possibly vibronic coupling. In addition to the EPD spectra, we characterize the ground state of Dia+ by analysis of a remeasured photoelectron spectrum and a predicted infrared spectrum.
Soil erosion risk under climate change scenarios: A case study in rural area with varying land uses

Soil erosion is one of the major issues in the tropics. The erosion is highly affected by the changes in climate and land cover. Future changes in tropical climate, particularly precipitation are expected to influence the potential risks of soil erosion. In the face of rapid changes in rural land cover for agricultural purposes, the combined forcings of land cover and climate changes have been to be a major threat to the soil conservation due to soil erosion. In this study, climate change scenarios at the northern part of Borneo were developed based on the RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate scenarios using Weather Research Forecast Model (WRF). The future climate projection scenarios of the total precipitation were used to simulate the potential erosion risks in varying land covers in a rural area of Sabah, Malaysia. The RUSLE model was used for soil erosion modelling, which was integrated with IDRISI Selva that allow the analysis and assessment of erosion risk. The variability of future total precipitations in the area of varying land cover types have resulted in varying degree of potential soil erosion risk The average soil loss at the studied area has increased by 262 t/ha/yr with 35.94 % increment in annual precipitation under RCP 8.5 emission scenario. However, under RCP 4.5, 26.65 % decrement in precipitation has reduced the soil loss by 315.1 t/ha/yr. In this rural area, exceptionally high soil erosion was found at steep slopes and thin vegetation covers. Therefore, an appropriate land use planning, soil conservation practices, and strategic adaptation options plan should be created and developed to ensure the sustainability of the soil conservation and enhance rural agricultural productivity.
Binary Evolution and Blue Stragglers in Different Regions of the Color–Magnitude Diagrams of Globular Clusters with Different Ages

Blue stragglers (BSs) in different regions (e.g., two sequences) of the colorâ€“magnitude diagram (CMD) have been suggested to provide a strong constraint on the origin of BSs in globular clusters (GCs). However, our understanding of the locations of binary-induced BSs is incomplete, e.g., its low-luminosity boundary. By employing Eggletonâ€™s stellar evolution code, the locations of mass-transferring (MT) BS binaries and post-mass-transfer (post-MT) BS binaries are investigated in the CMDs of GCs with different ages. The results show that post-MT BS binaries always populate the region of the CMD below the ZAMS+0.75 for GCs older than 10 Gyr and can also populate the region above the ZAMS+0.75 (the region of MT BS binaries). The low-luminosity boundary of the binary-induced BSs is located near the ZAMS in a way that is independent of the age of old GCs. The BS binaries draw a narrow sequence below the ZAMS+0.75 and cover most of the BSs in NGC 362. These results support that binary evolution can explain the appearance of BSs in different regions of the CMDs of GCs with different ages, and at least a fraction of BSs along the blue sequence could be post-MT BSs. However, the theoretical gap does not exactly correspond to the observed gap in NGC 362, and the models predict an excess of BSs below ZAMS+0.75 with respect to the observations in NGC 362. Therefore, more theoretical and observational work is needed to clarify the origin of these discrepancies.
Ways to study changes in pedestrians’ behaviour in the artificially lit urban outdoor environment

Lighting technologies have been rapidly developing in recent years together with the advancement in digital and connected technologies. Nevertheless, while achieving quantitative goals with the help of technical developments, there is always a need to correlate them with their impacts on users’ experience. This paper focuses on the changes in human behaviour whilst walking under an artificially lit outdoor environment. A systematic literature search was conducted from which three groups of a pedestrians’ behaviour were identified, namely walking (including activity levels and walking patterns), microscopic mobility (including walking speed, gait characteristics and use of walkway space) and gaze behaviour. An additional round of a literature search was done for each of the group mentioned above. Final set of the articles consisted of 41, 13 and 12 papers for walking, microscopic mobility behaviour and gaze behaviour subgroups respectively. The existing knowledge on possible changes in pedestrian behaviour caused by various artificial lighting settings was summarized. In addition, the methods to gather data about these changes applied in the selected papers were reviewed, and the perspectives for video-based analysis and online public participation geographic information system methodologies were discussed.
Weak representations, representations up to homotopy, and VB-groupoids

In this paper, I introduce weak representations of a Lie groupoid $G$. I also show that there is an equivalence of categories between the categories of 2-term representations up to homotopy and weak representations of $G$. Furthermore, I show that any VB-groupoid is isomorphic to an action groupoid associated to a weak representation on its kernel groupoid; this relationship defines an equivalence of categories between the categories of weak representations of $G$ and the category of VB-groupoids over $G$.
A CONTINUOUS INTERPOLATION BETWEEN CONSERVATIVE AND DISSIPATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE TWO-COMPONENT CAMASSA–HOLM SYSTEM

We introduce a novel solution concept, denoted ${\it\alpha}$-dissipative solutions, that provides a continuous interpolation between conservative and dissipative solutions of the Cauchy problem for the two-component Camassa–Holm system on the line with vanishing asymptotics. All the ${\it\alpha}$-dissipative solutions are global weak solutions of the same equation in Eulerian coordinates, yet they exhibit rather distinct behavior at wave breaking. The solutions are constructed after a transformation into Lagrangian variables, where the solution is carefully modified at wave breaking.
Effect of Collagen Matrix on Doxorubicin Distribution and Cancer Cells’ Response to Treatment in 3D Tumor Model

Simple Summary Understanding of the interactions of chemotherapeutic agents with cancer cells in the presence of extracellular matrix (ECM) is necessary for improving drug delivery and treatment efficacy. In this study, using 3D collagen-based models, microfluidic devices, and multiphoton fluorescence microscopy, we visualized delivery of doxorubicin in ECM and its effects on cellular metabolism. We found that collagen, especially unstructured, plays a protective role for cancer cells because it impedes the delivery of the drug and changes cellular metabolic status to a more glycolytic status. The direct effect of the drug on mitochondria also contributes to its higher cytotoxicity in the absence of collagen. These results suggest that modification of ECM structure can be a potential strategy for improving efficacy of chemotherapy with doxorubicin. Abstract The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in regulation of many aspects of tumor growth and response to therapies. However, the specifics of the interaction of chemotherapeutic agents with cancer cells in the presence of collagen, the major component of ECM, is still poorly investigated. In this study, we explored distribution of doxorubicin (DOX) and its effects on cancer cells’ metabolism in the presence of collagen with different structures in 3D models. For this, a combination of second harmonic generation imaging of collagen and multiphoton fluorescence microscopy of DOX, and metabolic cofactor NAD(P)H was used. It was found that collagen slowed down the diffusion of DOX and thus decreased the cellular drug uptake. Besides nuclei, DOX also targeted mitochondria leading to inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation, which was more pronounced in the cells growing in the absence of collagen. As a result, the cells in collagen displayed better viability upon treatment with DOX. Taken together, our data illustrate that tumor collagen contributes to heterogeneous and sub-optimal response to DOX and highlight the challenges in improving drug delivery and efficacy.
Pathogenicity and Transmissibility of Clade 2.3.4.4h H5N6 Avian Influenza Viruses in Mammals

Simple Summary In the past decade, the spread of H5N6 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in birds and infection in humans has attracted increasing global attention, and these viruses have the potential to become a pandemic threat to global health. In this study, the HA genes of the HB1907 and HB1905 AIVs were clustered in the 2.3. 4.4h clade, and the HA genes of both strains exhibited highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) characteristics. The HB1905 strain in this study has a binding preference for avian-like (α-2,3) receptors only, whereas the HB1907 strain has a binding preference for both avian-like (α-2,3) and human-like (α-2,6) receptors. Compared with the HB1905 strain, the HB1907 strain showed better replication ability in MDCK cells in the early stage of infection. At the same time, the HB1907 strain showed advantages in the pathogenicity of mice and the transmission ability of direct contact between guinea pigs. These results further suggest that epidemiological surveillance and the related studies of H5N6 AIVs are essential for public health safety and the healthy and sustainable development of the livestock industry. Abstract Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have the potential for cross-species transmission and pandemics. In recent years, clade 2.3. 4.4 H5N6 AIVs are prevalent in domestic poultry, posing a threat to the domestic poultry industry and public health. In this study, two strains of H5N6 AIVs were isolated from chickens in Hebei, China, in 2019: A/chicken/Hebei/HB1907/2019(H5N6) and A/chicken/Hebei/HB1905/2019(H5N6). Phylogenetic analysis showed that both viral HA genes clustered in the 2.3. 4.4h clade. Receptor binding analysis showed that the HB1905 strain preferentially binds to α-2,3-linked sialic acid (SA) receptors, while the HB1907 strain preferentially binds to α-2,3- and α-2,6-linked sialic acid (SA) receptors. During early infection, the HB1907 strain is highly replicable in MDCK cells, more so than the HB1905 strain. Pathogenicity assays in mice showed that both viruses could replicate in the lungs without prior adaptation, with HB1907 being more highly pathogenic in mice than the HB1905 strain. Significantly, both the HB1905 and HB1907 strains can be transmitted through direct contact among guinea pigs, but the transmission efficiency of the HB1907 strain through contact between guinea pigs is much greater than that of the HB1905 strain. These results strengthen the need for ongoing surveillance and early warning of H5N6 AIVs in poultry.
Global Association of COVID-19 Pandemic Measures with Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary Oncological departments have been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To determine if there has been a decrease in cancer treatment in the COVID-19 era, we analyzed data from 47 studies that reported on the numbers or variations in cancer treatment between the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. We found a significant reduction in the number of oncological surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies for cancer patients. These findings suggest that increased cancer-related mortality may occur, requiring public health strategies to limit this. Abstract Importance: The COVID-19 pandemic has put a serious strain on health services, including cancer treatment. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the changes in cancer treatment worldwide during the first phase of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Data Sources: Pubmed, Proquest, and Scopus databases were searched comprehensively for articles published between 1 January 2020 and 12 December 2021, in order to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis conducted following the PRISMA statement. Study Selection: Studies and articles that reported data on the number of or variation in cancer treatments between the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods, comprising oncological surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies, were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Data were extracted from two pairs of independent reviewers. The weighted average of the percentage variation was calculated between the two periods to assess the change in the number of cancer treatments performed during the pandemic. Stratified analyses were performed by type of treatment, geographic area, time period, study setting, and type of cancer. Results: Among the 47 articles retained, we found an overall reduction of −18.7% (95% CI, −24.1 to −13.3) in the total number of cancer treatments administered during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the previous periods. Surgical treatment had a larger decrease compared to medical treatment (−33.9% versus −12.6%). For all three types of treatments, we identified a U-shaped temporal trend during the entire period January–October 2020. Significant decreases were also identified for different types of cancer, in particular for skin cancer (−34.7% [95% CI, −46.8 to −22.5]) and for all geographic areas, in particular, Asia (−42.1% [95% CI, −49.6 to −34.7]). Conclusions and Relevance: The interruption, delay, and modifications to cancer treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to alter the quality of care and patient outcomes.
Weak Moment of a Class of Stochastic Heat Equation with Martingale-valued Harmonic Function

A study of a non-linear parabolic SPDEs of the form $\partial_{t}u=\mathcal{L}\,u + \sigma(u)f(B_t^x,t)\dot{w}$ with $\dot{w}$ as the space-time white noise and $f(B_t^x,t)$ a space-time harmonic function was done. The function $\sigma:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ is Lipschitz continuous and $\mathcal{L}$ the $L^2$-generator of a L\'{e}vy process. Some precise condition for existence and uniqueness of the solution were given and we show that the solution grows weakly(in law/distribution) in time (for large $t$) at most a precise exponential rate for the $\mathcal{L}$; and grows in time at most a precise exponential rate for the case of $\mathcal{L}=-(-\Delta)^{\alpha/2},\,\,\alpha\in(1,2]$ generator of an alpha-stable process.
Trait Acceptance Buffers Aggressive Tendency by the Regulation of Anger during Social Exclusion

Social exclusion has led to increased negative emotions and aggressive behaviors, two outcomes that are correlated with each other. Thus, the down-regulation of negative emotions appears to play a crucial role in reducing the tendency for aggressive behavior. However, this assumption has not yet been tested. To this end, a total of 397 undergraduates reported their aggressive tendencies, state emotions and trait acceptance by completing corresponding questionnaires, and a recall paradigm was used to induce experiences of social exclusion. The results showed that in the context of social exclusion, (1) trait acceptance was negatively correlated with negative emotions and aggressive tendency but was positively correlated with positive emotions; (2) negative emotions, rather than positive emotions, were positively correlated with aggressive tendency; (3) increased trait acceptance buffered the experience of anger, which is, in turn, related to reduced aggressive tendency; (4) trait acceptance also downregulated the feeling of sadness, which is, however, related to increased aggression; (5) the mediator of sadness was smaller in effect size than that of anger. Taken together, these results suggest that negative emotions are associated with aggression in the context of social exclusion, and the habitual use of an acceptance strategy was conductive to decreasing aggressive tendencies by decreasing anger.
Research on Seasonal Thermal Neutral Temperature in West Lake Scenic Area of Hangzhou, China

The thermal neutral temperature is the foundation for the evaluation of the outdoor thermal environment sensation. This study is designed to investigate the thermal neutral temperature of the outdoor space of Hangzhou West Lake. Both the median method and the thermal sensation vote (TSV) = 0 methods are adopted to discuss the seasonal thermal neutral temperature, thermal neutral temperature range, and thermal acceptable temperature range of the youth group with college students in Hangzhou as representatives. Via the analysis of the relationship between TSV and thermal evaluation index PET, the median method, which proved more suitable for the study site, is selected to obtain the thermal evaluation results. It’s found from the study that, throughout the year, the thermal neutral temperature of Hangzhou West Lake scenic area is 21.0 °C; the thermal neutral temperature range is 12.0–23.9 °C, and the acceptable thermal temperature is 13.0–25.7 °C. The youth group visiting Hangzhou West Lake has the highest acceptance of the thermal environment in spring and autumn and the lowest in winter. Furthermore, the empirical models show that air temperature and average wind speed are the key factors impacting the thermal evaluation of the youth group. This study can serve as a reference for thermal evaluation in similar climate regions.
Analysis of the asset replacement level with an uncertain salvage value: a two-factor model

The aim of this article is to analyse the asset replacement problem from the perspective of optimal replacement level, given a specific tax environment and depreciation policy. Using a real options approach, our model minimizes current operation and maintenance costs and allows the definition of a new value of the replacement flexibility within a multi-cycle environment. The innovation on the valuation process comes from adding an autonomous salvage value’s factor. The results from partial differential equations reveal relevant differences from those observed in one-factor models, especially with regard to optimal replacement levels and in the non-monotonous effects of salvage value variation. The numerical case study also confirms that the salvage value is indeed a worthwhile element in the replacement process. It was possible to determine that, in terms of the magnitude of the cost replacement level, the key roles are played by changes in the speed of mean reversion, as well in the salvage factor volatility. This paper provides some improvements to the existing literature in equivalent annual cost by drawing up a cost minimization problem conditioned by a different salvage value dynamics, and contributes to real options literature by introducing a salvage value factor in the pricing model.
Partial data for the Neumann-Dirichlet magnetic Schrödinger inverse problem

We show that an electric potential and magnetic field can be uniquely determined by partial boundary measurements of the Neumann-to-Dirichlet map of the associated magnetic Schrodinger operator. This improves upon the results in [4] by including the determination of a magnetic field. The main technical advance is an improvement on the Carleman estimate in [4]. This allows the construction of complex geometrical optics solutions with greater regularity, which are needed to deal with the first order term in the operator. This improved regularity of CGO solutions may have applications in the study of inverse problems in systems of equations with partial boundary data.
Observability of the scattering cross-section through phase decoherence

We derive the stochastic dynamics for scattering of a wavelike field from a large population of scatterers whose dynamics is arbitrary. This leads to a result concerning the observability of the scattering cross section in terms of the resultant phase fluctuations that is independent of the population dynamics. An emergent concept is a certain notion of an ideal filter. The diffusion based model of K-scattering arises as a special case. The experimental implications of the results in a variety of contexts are discussed.