Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Ground Motion Parameters on the Seismic Response of an Anchored Rock Slope

The seismic response of rock slopes is closely related to the dynamic characteristics of earthquakes. In this study, based on a numerical model of rock slopes with bolt support, the seismic responses of both anchored and unanchored rock slopes under different seismic waves are calculated. The results show that a “cumulative effect” of the relative permanent displacement of the slope is generated during seismic action, and it is found that the permanent displacement of the slope is caused by larger earthquake accelerations. The dynamic responses of an anchored slope are analyzed in terms of the wave type, frequency, amplitude, and duration and are compared with those of an unanchored rock slope. This comparison suggests that the nominal shear strain increases with the amplitude and duration, which decreases as frequency increases. The axial force is directly related to the surrounding rock strain. The maximum axial force of the bolt is near the rock interface, which shows that the structural plane of the slope plays a dominant role in the seismic response. The seismic waves are random, whereas the structural plane of the rock slope is certain. The seismic response characteristics of the slope under different earthquake conditions are similar, and the dynamic stability of the slope can be attributed to the structural analysis of the rock slope.
Bioinspired molecular electrets: bottom-up approach to energy materials and applications

Abstract. The diversity of life on Earth is made possible through an immense variety of proteins that stems from less than a couple of dozen native amino acids. Is it possible to achieve similar engineering freedom and precision to design electronic materials? What if a handful of non-native residues with a wide range of characteristics could be rationally placed in sequences to form organic macromolecules with specifically targeted properties and functionalities? Referred to as molecular electrets, dipolar oligomers and polymers composed of non-native aromatic beta-amino acids, anthranilamides (Aa) provide venues for pursuing such possibilities. The electret molecular dipoles play a crucial role in rectifying charge transfer, e.g., enhancing charge separation and suppressing undesired charge recombination, which is essential for photovoltaics, photocatalysis, and other solar-energy applications. A set of a few Aa residues can serve as building blocks for molecular electrets with widely diverse electronic properties, presenting venues for bottom-up designs. We demonstrate how three substituents and structural permutations within an Aa residue widely alter its reduction potential. Paradigms of diversity in electronic properties, originating from a few changes within a basic molecular structure, illustrate the promising potentials of biological inspiration for energy science and engineering.
Cities with Mosquitoes: A Political Ecology of Aedes Aegypti’s Habitats

Both urbanisation and climate change have been linked to the ecological success of Aedes aegypti. These mosquitoes, which breed in stored and stagnant water, are the primary vectors of dengue, chikungunya and Zika, diseases that have been increasingly affecting populations in the Global South. Addressing this problem requires a wider understanding of habitats favourable to the breeding of Aedes aegypti as they are made and remade in the city. Through interviews and archival work documenting the histories and routines of water storage, this exploratory study examines the formation of suitable mosquito habitats in six neighbourhoods of Maputo, Mozambique. The paper has been inspired by debates on urban political ecology to delve into the transformations that water undergoes once it is stored in and around homes. We document the interrelatedness between socio-economic characteristics (in contexts of unequal urbanisation) with physico-chemical changes of stored water, as it becomes a suitable mosquito habitat.
Collaboration, Dedication, and Social Pressure: A Comparative Analysis of Virtual and Face-to-Face Game Jams

Game jams are virtual or face-to-face events where game developers (often non-professional or hobbyist) collaborate to make digital games within a limited time frame. As these events have become not only game-creation events but also social collaboration spaces, important questions emerge regarding how exactly different modes of game jams can offer different affordances for developers’ social collaboration. Using 24 semi-structured interviews, we provide a comparative analysis of virtual and face-to-face game jams, especially with regard to the different technological processes and social engagement in each mode of game jams. We contribute to the game jam community by highlighting game jams as novel social collaboration spaces and by providing empirical evidence of the unique affordances of different modes of game jams for social collaboration.
How You Say It Matters: Text Analysis of FOMC Statements Using Natural Language Processing

5 Taeyoung Doh is a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Sungil Kim is a research associate at the bank. Shu-Kuei Yang is a software engineer at the bank. This article is on the bank’s website at www.KansasCityFed. org The Federal Reserve has increasingly used public statements to shape expectations about future policy actions. This practice has become more prevalent since the Great Recession, when the nominal short-term interest rate reached its effective lower bound. To provide further policy easing, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) turned toward explicit forward guidance about the future path of the policy rate as well as the amount and composition of largescale asset purchases in their post-meeting statements. Although these statements sometimes included quantitative information, such as a specific threshold for the unemployment rate that would make an increase in the federal funds rate appropriate, they also included more nuanced, qualitative descriptions of economic conditions. Measuring the effects of these qualitative communications is not straightforward. Previous research has found that public communications by policymakers can affect financial market conditions (Eberly, Stock, and Wright 2019). However, most of these studies identify the effects of central bank communications through changes in bond prices during short windows around policy announcements. Although changes in quantitative information such as the policy rate and the pace of
Control of catenation in CuTATB-n metal–organic frameworks by sonochemical synthesis and its effect on CO2 adsorption

The metal–organic frameworks CuTATB-n (TATB = 4,4′,4″-s-triazine-2,4,6-triyltribenzoate; n = power level) having either catenated (CuTATB-60) or non-catenated (CuTATB-30) structure were synthesized in 1 h via a novel sonochemical route. The control of catenation was achieved by simple adjustment of the ultrasonic power levels. The X-ray diffraction patterns, BET surface areas (3778 and 2477 m2 g−1, respectively) and pore volumes, and TGA patterns of the individual product obtained were in agreement with the published literature data of the corresponding materials known as PCN-6 (catenated) and PCN-6′ (non-catenated). Catenation of the two identical networks within large pores resulted in both high surface area and enhanced stability of the network. Such control of catenation was additionally demonstrated by successful synthesis of IRMOF-9 (catenated) and IRMOF-10 (non-catenated) pair by the same sonochemical method. CO2 adsorption properties of the CuTATB-n were measured at 273 and 298 K, which indicated the contribution of catenation in CuTATB-n for CO2 capture. The adsorption isotherms for CO2 and N2 show high adsorption capacity for CO2 (189 mg g−1 and 156 mg g−1, respectively for CuTATB-60 and -30 at 298 K) and excellent selectivity over N2 (>20 : 1). Five consecutive adsorption–desorption runs performed using high purity CO2 in a flow system established no deterioration in the adsorption capacity of CuTATB-60, which showed reversible adsorbent regeneration at 75 °C under He flow and excellent stability for a total duration of 800 min. CuTATB-60 has also demonstrated high gas adsorption capacity (1171 mgCO2 g−1adsorbent) at 30 bar and 298 K.
Use of organic and inogranic nutrients to enhance productivity of turmeric, Curcuma longa L.

This study on turmeric was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from April 2010 to March 2011. Five different fertilizer combinations were used in this experiment. Number of tiller per clump, weight of mother rhizome per plant, weight of primary and secondary finger per plant were significantly highest from F 2 and lowest from F 0 . Highest turmeric yield per hectare (11.6 t/ha) was obtained from F 2 and the lowest (5.7 t/ha) was observed from F 0 . DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/jbas.v37i2. 17559 Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 37, No. 2, 189-193, 2013
A 50-Year-Old Man with Fulminant Alpha-Fetoprotein-Producing Gastric Carcinoma and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Patient: Male, 50-year-old Final Diagnosis: Disseminated intravascular coagulatio • gastric cancer Symptoms: Paralysis Medication: — Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Oncology Objective: Rare disease Background: Alpha-fetoprotein-producing gastric carcinoma (AFPGC) is a rare but aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is usually associated with several tumors, including gastric cancer, but only a few cases have been reported in patients with AFPGC. This report describes a case of advanced-stage AFPGC associated with DIC in a 50-year-old White man. Case Report: A 50-year-old, White, non-smoker man was hospitalized for a recent left hemiparesis associated with anorexia and loss of weigh. Clinically, we had multiple, hard, irregular, subcutaneous nodules, left supraclavicular lymph nodes, and a left, complete hemiparesis. Laboratory tests showed a DIC. A whole-body CT scan documented multiple lymph node, liver, subcutaneous, bone, and muscular metastases, a right femoral venous thrombosis, a left popliteal arterial thrombosis, and splenic and renal infarcts. The patient underwent an excisional biopsy of a subcutaneous lesion. Histology and immunohistochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of a metastasis from a high-grade AFPGC. Before starting any systemic treatment, the patient presented a massive intraventricular brain hemorrhage, quickly leading to his death. Conclusions: We report a case of metastatic AFPGC associated with a DIC and multiple venous and arterial thromboses resulting in a fatal intracerebral hemorrhage. AFPGC is a distinctive and very difficult to diagnose tumor showing aggressive behavior and poor prognosis.
Procyclicality of CCP Margin Models: Systemic Problems Need Systemic Approaches

Margin requirements protect a central counterparty (CCP) and its users against potential losses generated by the default of any of its members. They have several components, one of them being the initial margin requirement, which is typically calculated using a market risk model to estimate the potential future exposure of each member's portfolio. By definition, market risk models - whether for centrally cleared or bilateral cleared trades - have to be sensitive to changes in market risk and, as a consequence, when market risk increases, initial margin requirements will tend to increase. After the 2008 crisis, regulators had concerns about this becoming "procyclical", in the non-technical sense of amplifying financial stress. As a result, CCPs have put in place different procyclicality mitigation tools. But when the markets are stressed and participants face larger margin calls, like in the recent events of March 2020, interest on the procyclicality of initial margin models seems renewed. In this paper we argue that the focus on initial margin models is misplaced. First, margin calls are largely driven by variation margin, not initial margin. Second, the inherent risk sensitivity of margin models, the stochastic nature of the problem, and the different trade-offs involved, constrain what can be achieved with model calibration. We illustrate why this is the case by empirically testing the performance of standard initial margin models during the recent March 2020 events and quantifying the different trade-offs. Therefore, if procyclicality of IM has been mitigated to the limit of what is practical and prudent, but fragilities in the system persist, how should these be addressed and who is responsible for addressing them? We argue that, since the ultimate objective is to minimize systemic propensities to adverse feedback loops, these questions demand a systemic perspective, focusing on the interactions between participants rather than on a single node.
Calculation of excited-state ionization potential for boron-like sequence

Excited-state ionization potentials for boron-like sequence with Z = 5-19 are studied systematically, using the weakest bound electron potential model theory (WBEPM theory) and iso-spectrum-level series conception. Nonrelativistic ionization energy is derived from the theory. Relativistic effects are included in the Breit-Pauli approximation. Comparison of the calculated excited-state ionization potential with available experimental data is carried out for 1s 2 2s 2 2p 2 P o 3 / 2 , 1s 2 2s 2 3s 2 S 1 / 2 , 1s 2 2s 2 3p 2 P o 3 / 2 , 1s 2 2s 2 3d 2 D 5 / 2 , 1s 2 2s 2 4d 2 D 5 / 2 , 1s 2 2s 2 5d 2 D 5 / 2 , and 1s 2 2s 2 6d 2 D 5 / 2 series. The present results depart from experimental results by no more than 0.133 eV for all 81 results for which experimental data are available.
Astragalus avone ameliorates atherosclerosis and hepatic steatosis via improving lipid metabolism and inhibition of in ammation in apoE-/- mice

Chuanrui Ma First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jing Zhang Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shu Yang Shenzhen People's Hospital Yunqing Hua First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jing Su Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Yuna Shang Nankai University College of Life Sciences Zhongyan Wang Nankai University College of Life Sciences Ke Feng Nankai University College of Life Sciences Jian Zhang Tianjin Medical University Hao Zhang First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Linna Zhao First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jingyuan Mao First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Guanwei Fan (  guanwei.fan@tjutcm.edu.cn ) Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese medicine
A proteomics workflow reveals predictive autoantigens in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Rationale: The diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) requires exclusion of known underlying autoimmunity, as present in interstitial lung diseases associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD-ILD). However, autoantibodies of unknown significance have been repeatedly detected in IPF patients. Objectives: We aimed to characterize autoreactivities in IPF patients beyond clinically established autoimmune panels by establishing an unbiased assay for de novo discovery of autoantigens in different forms of ILD and healthy controls. Methods: We developed the proteomic Differential Antigen Capture (DAC) assay, capturing patient antibodies from plasma, followed by affinity purification of lung proteins coupled to mass spectrometry. Plasma antibodies from patients with IPF (n=35), CTD-ILD (n=24) and age-matched controls (n=32) were analyzed and validated in an independent cohort (IPF: n=40; CTD-ILD: n=20). Plasma antibody binding profiles were associated with clinical meta-data including diagnosis, lung function and transplant free survival. Measurements and Main Results: We identified 586 putative autoantigens in both study cohorts with a broad heterogeneity among disease entities and cohorts. The prevalence of autoantibodies was higher in IPF compared to CTD-ILD. We identified a predictive autoimmune signature that was significantly associated with reduced transplant free survival in IPF. In particular, presence of autoantibodies to Thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) was associated with a significantly reduced survival in patients with IPF (p=0.002), independent of the study cohort, suggesting clinical relevance as predictive biomarker. Conclusions: Unbiased proteomic profiling reveals that the overall prevalence of autoantibodies is similar in IPF and CTD-ILD patients and identifies novel IPF specific autoantigens associated with patient survival.
Flow Loop Experiments Determine Hydrate Plugging Tendencies in the Field

Abstract: Flow loop studies were conducted on live reservoir fluids from the Werner Bolley gas condensate well in Southern Wyoming to determine hydrate formation and plugging tendencies of the hydrocarbon fluids under field conditions. Field tests conducted by DeepStar in 1997 at Werner Bolley were summarized and the results were compared to data from flow loop studies. Subcooling measured in the flow loop was found to be comparable to that measured in the field near hydrate plug formations. Flow loop results indicated both the plugging tendency and the nature of plugging mechanism observed in the field. Used in conjunction with transient flow simulation, flow loop results indicated the most probable locations for plug formation.
Use of convalescent plasma in patients with coronavirus disease (Covid-19): Systematic review and meta-analysis

Objetives To assess the effects of convalescent plasma treatment in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Study design Systematic review and Meta-analysis Data sources A systematic search was carried out on the LOVE (Living OVerview of Evidence) platform for COVID-19 until October 31, 2020 Study selection Randomized clinical trials in which people with probable or confirmed COVID-19 were randomized to drug treatment, standard care, or placebo. Pairs of reviewers independently screened potentially eligible articles Methods The PRISMA guidelines were followed for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool 2.0, and the certainty of the evidence using the recommendation assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) approach. For each outcome, the interventions were classified into groups, from most to least beneficial or harmful Results We identified 10 RCTs (randomized controlled trials) involving 11854 patients in which convalescent plasma was compared with standard of care or other treatments. The results of five RCTs that evaluated the use of convalescent plasma in patients with COVID-19 did not show significant differences in the effect on mortality and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation Conclusions Current evidence is insufficient to recommend the use of convalescent plasma in the treatment of moderate or severe COVID-19
Nonlinear standing wave excitation by series resonance-enhanced harmonics in low pressure capacitive discharges

It is well-known that standing waves having radially center-high rf voltage profiles exist in high frequency capacitive discharges. It is also known that in radially uniform discharges, the capacitive sheath nonlinearities excite strong nonlinear series resonance harmonics that enhance the electron power deposition. In this work, we consider the coupling of the series resonance-enhanced harmonics to the standing waves. A one-dimensional, asymmetric radial transmission line model is developed incorporating the wave and nonlinear sheath physics and a self-consistent dc potential, for both conducting and insulating electrode surfaces. The resulting coupled pde equation set is solved numerically to determine the discharge voltages and currents. A 10 mTorr argon plasma is chosen with density 2×1016 ? > m−3, gap width 2 cm and conducting electrode radius 15 cm, driven by a 500 V rf source with resistance 0.5 Ω ? >. We examine a set of frequencies from near 30 MHz up to frequencies more than three times as high. For most frequencies, no harmonics correspond exactly with the series or spatial resonances, which is the generic situation. Nevertheless, nearby resonances lead to a significantly enhanced ratio of the electron power per unit area on axis, compared to the average. Nearly similar results are found for insulating electrodes. Strong effects are seen for varying source resistance: high (50 Ω ? >) resistance damps out most of the harmonic activity, while zero source resistance leads to a non-steady discharge with bias voltage relaxation oscillations. Stronger harmonic effects are seen for an increased radius of 30 cm, as lower harmonics become spatially resonant at lower frequencies. The radial dependence of electron power with frequency showed significant variations, with the central enhancement and sharpness of the spatial resonances depending in a complicated way on the amplitudes of the nearby series resonance current harmonics and the phase relations among the voltage harmonics driving these current harmonics. Significant center/average electron power per unit area enhancement is found even at the lowest frequencies for both high and low densities: 4.5 at 30 MHz and 2×1016 ? > m−3, and 2.2 at 5×1015 ? > m−3.
Clinical characteristics of pruritus in patients with bullous pemphigoid: a preliminary questionnaire-based study

Introduction Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune blistering disease. Although pruritus is a leading symptom in BP, its specific characteristics have not been explored. Aim To determine the itch characteristics in newly diagnosed BP patients by using the Questionnaire of Descriptive Assessment of Pruritus and visual analogue scale (VAS) and to correlate itch with disease severity. Material and methods The study included 32 patients with BP (mean age: 75.4 ±12.2 years; 20 women, 12 men), who filled in the questionnaire. Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index (BPDAI) was assessed. Results In 78.1% of BP patients pruritus occurred at least once daily. Pruritus was most frequent in the evening and at night and frequently persisted for more than 10 min in more than a half of patients (long itch episodes). Aggravating factors were sweating (50.0%), heat (59.4%) and stress (46.9%), but the major relieving factor was cold (34.4%). Itch intensity in BP was assessed as moderate (mean VAS score: 5.8 points) and did not correlate with disease severity (BPDAI). BP patients declared difficulties caused by pruritus: falling asleep (53.1%) and awakening at night (50%). Conclusions This study provided detailed characteristics in BP patients confirming that pruritus is classified as an important troublesome symptom. Therefore there is a need to search for therapeutic solutions.