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The worldwide population growth and increasing urbanization of the past few decades have brought with it unplanned development of urban areas, affecting not only environmental quality but also increasing vulnerability during natural hazards and disrupting crisis management. Public open space, as a suitable spatial element, provides the necessary possibility for effective crisis management in cities. The metropolis of Tehran, the capital city of Iran, is located on a plain threatened by numerous faults. The population density in hazardous zones and the lack of potential to deal with earthquakes have increased the city's vulnerability. Therefore, because the organization of urban development for the efficient management of cities requires sufficient understanding of the needs and attention to the level of vulnerability, the seismic resistance of Tehran metropolis based on the earthquake risk has been investigated. In the earthquake risk assessment, population density as the number of risk elements, lack of enough public open space and urban fabric as vulnerability, and ground motion values expressed in the form of horizontal peak ground acceleration, have been considered as hazard components. Then, in the current study, to improve emergency services and the ease of crisis management, priority development of public open space has been determined based on international standards of the World Health Organization, the Public Health Bureau USA, the European Union, and the United Nations. The results showed reducing the seismic risk of regions 4, 8, 10, 14, and 17 in Tehran is priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of "ill-posed samples" specifically in low-volume datasets leads to accuracy decrement in the learning procedure and the generalization of neural networks. Such samples can be caused by various reasons such as noise contamination, corrupted sensors, or even, the complex distribution of physical properties governing the problem. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) datasets are definitely among the last mentioned. Focusing on speed and accuracy, a method for calculating earthquake magnitude based on the PGA data recorded at a single station along with hypocentral information has been presented in this research. Here, after training a deep neural network, the regression errors of the training data samples are clustered into two groups, namely well and ill posed using the grey wolf optimization algorithm. Instead of being removed, the data samples with low learning rates are then modified using samples selected from the other cluster in a fusional form. Then, two separate models are used and trained independently for the clusters. Next, in addition to the routine procedure of network generalization, every new sample is first checked whether is more likely to belong to which group of the clustered data, and after processing, the corresponding trained model is used. The results of the experiments show that using the proposed method results in magnitude calculation with an error order of less than 0.212 units of moment magnitude with a probability of more than 99.7%, which is superior to the conventional methods some of which were reviewed in this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Buildings that collapse or are damaged by earthquakes are responsible for the majority of earthquake-related casualties. High-precision building data are the key to improving the accuracy of risk assessments of earthquake disaster loss. Many countries and regions have also proposed varying regional building exposure models, but most of these models are still based on administrative-level (city or county) statistical data; furthermore, they cannot accurately reflect the differences among buildings in different towns or villages. Methods: Although field investigation-based "township to township" methods can obtain more accurate building inventory data, considering costs and timeliness, remote sensing and other diverse data should be combined to acquire building data. Based on the field survey data of three cities in shanxi Province, combined with Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) data, this study is conducted on building inventory data. Data regarding the proportion of each building type and corresponding lethality level in each township are obtained based on the classification of building height, and the overall lethality level at the building level and township level is calculated on this basis. Results: The fitting results between the calculated results and the field survey results are good, the error is within 0.15, and the fitting R2 values of Xian, Baoji and Ankang are 0.6552, 0.5788 and 0.5937, respectively. Therefore, an earthquake disaster loss risk assessment is conducted based on the building level. Discussion: The findings indicate that the risk of casualties caused by the same building type can vary by city. Generally, the areas with high disaster loss risk in the three cities are distributed mainly in urban areas; the disaster loss risk in the newly built areas of each city is relatively low. According to the quantitative assessment results for each city, Xi'an has the highest loss risk, while Baoji and Ankang have the same loss risk. Based on the method constructed in this paper, we can realize the quantitative assessment of earthquake disaster loss risk at the building level to better target pre-earthquake emergency preparation and post-earthquake auxiliary decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong seismic events frequently strike Chile. The last three significant events that caused considerable damage and losses are the 2010 ( M w 8.8, Maule), 2014 ( M w 8.2, Iquique), and 2015 ( M w 8.3, Illapel) earthquakes. Therefore, reliable fragility curves are necessary to evaluate the threat of earthquakes to the built environment. This study aims to develop empirical fragility curves of Chilean houses using damage from the 2014 and 2015 earthquakes. The data from 9085 and 7431 damaged houses from the 2014 and 2015 earthquakes, respectively, was obtained by the government. The fragility curves were estimated for reinforced concrete, reinforced masonry, timber, and adobe houses. Additionally, the fragility curves were constructed using three different Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) maps to quantify the variation of the fragility parameters based on the selected PGA map and to identify which PGA map generates the highest correlation with observed damage. Additionally, fragility curves obtained in this study are compared with curves from other studies. The median θ values of the fragility curves obtained in this study are larger than those from other reported studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between September 17 and 18, 2022, a series of earthquakes struck the southern Longitudinal Valley of Taiwan, causing severe damage to infrastructure, particularly bridges, railroads, buildings, and highways in Taitung and Hualien. The primary event in this sequence was the Chihshang earthquake, measuring magnitude of M L 6.9, preceded by a significant foreshock of M L 6.4 the day before. Notably, the highest intensity reported in the epicentral region during this earthquake sequence reached 6 + , marking the highest intensity ever recorded since the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) revised its seismic intensity scale. In this study, we examined the strong ground motion data recorded by the low-cost P-alert network to investigate the cause of structural damage to buildings, railway stations, schools, and other structures in the affected area. Our analysis encompassed data from a total of 17 monitoring stations. The observed peak ground acceleration (PGA) ranges from 0.06 g and 0.78 g, the peak spectral acceleration or response spectrum (PSA) spanned from 0.20 g at 0.50 s to 3.87 g at 0.41 s, and site amplification varied from 4 at 0.6 Hz to 12.6 at 5.2 Hz. The reported damage of single storey house at Taitung City is correlated with the higher amplification 4.5 at 0.14 s; Bridge and factory at Chihshang Township is correlated with the higher amplification 5 at 0.17 s; Railway station at Zhuoxi Township with the higher amplification 7.5 at 0.3 s; of three storey building at Yuli Township with amplification 8 at 0.26 s and, also higher PSA 2.83 g at 0.29 s, and several schools at Kaoshiung City with amplification 7.2 at 0.37 s and with high PSA 3.87 g at 0.41 s. Additionally, we studied the static Coulomb stress changes resulting from the coseismic slip of the main shock, which contributed to an increase in aftershock occurrences. The occurrence of a high-intensity earthquake ( M L 6.9) on September 18, 2022, within a region of positive Coulomb stress changes, provides support for the hypothesis of aftershock triggering. Through analysis, we found that stronger foreshock ( M L 6.4) occurred in the rupture area of mainshock foreshock, positioned adjacent to the main fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the classification of Clifford algebras and Bott periodicity, we show how higher geometric algebras can be realized as matrices over classical low dimensional geometric algebras. This matrix representation allows us to use standard geometric algebra software packages more easily. As an example, we express the geometric algebra for conics (GAC) as a matrix over the Compass ruler algebra (CRA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper collects relevant information on the newly added Yuping potential seismic source in western Huaihua, and analyzed the seismic hazard of the study area based on 1′×1′ grid points. We mainly discussed the changes in PGA before and after the new potential seismic source in the Hunan-Guizhou border region, and drawing isolines and zoning based on the PGA of site Ⅱ. The results of seismic hazard analysis show that the PGA has been greatly improved inside and 20 km away around the new potential seismic source. When the focal depth is 10 km, the PGA of exceeding probability of 10 in 50 years within the Yuping potential source range increases from 35～40 cm/s2 to 80～95 cm/s2, increase of about 2.3 to 2.4 times. In local areas such as Xinhuang and Zhijiang within the potential source, the basic intensity can reach Ⅶ degrees. And outside the potential source, PGA gradually increases from 35～80 cm/s2. When the focal depth is 15 km, the basic intensity in regions such as Xinhuang and Zhijiang remains at Ⅵ degrees. The article also conducted a preliminary analysis of the seismic capacity of different types of houses in Xinhuang and Zhijiang county in western Huaihua. Additional attention should be paid to the follow-up work of earthquake prevention and disaster reduction.

Copyright of Progress in Earthquake Sciences is the property of China Earthquake Administration, Institute of Geophysics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In order to explore the potential application of poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) instead of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in the modification of poly(terephthalic acid-butylene adipate) (PBAT), PGA (mass fractions 0-25%) and PBAT were blended by twin-screw melt blending, and the changes of thermal properties, mechanical properties, crystallization properties and barrier properties of the blends were analyzed. The results show that PGA acts as nucleating agent and reinforcing agent in the blend system, which can increase the crystallization temperature, tensile strength and elastic modulus, and decrease the crystallization enthalpy and thermal decomposition temperature. When the content of PGA increases to 25%, the Vicat softening point of the blend system reaches 89.4 °C and the hot deformation temperature reaches 41.6 °C. With the increase of PGA content, the water vapor/oxygen barrier property of the blend system decreases at first and then increased. However, when the content of PGA increases to 25%, the elongation at break of the blend decreases to 221%. Based on the experimental results and related literature, the properties of 25% PGA and 25% PLA modified PBAT were compared. The results show that the mechanical properties and barrier properties of 25% PGA modified PBAT are significantly better than those of 25% PLA modified PBAT, and the degradation rate of M-25 is faster than that of N-25 in 0'90 days, both of which meets the degradation standard of industrial compost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionBuildings that collapse or are damaged by earthquakes are responsible for the majority of earthquake-related casualties. High-precision building data are the key to improving the accuracy of risk assessments of earthquake disaster loss. Many countries and regions have also proposed varying regional building exposure models, but most of these models are still based on administrative-level (city or county) statistical data; furthermore, they cannot accurately reflect the differences among buildings in different towns or villages.MethodsAlthough field investigation-based “township to township” methods can obtain more accurate building inventory data, considering costs and timeliness, remote sensing and other diverse data should be combined to acquire building data. Based on the field survey data of three cities in shanxi Province, combined with Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) data, this study is conducted on building inventory data. Data regarding the proportion of each building type and corresponding lethality level in each township are obtained based on the classification of building height, and the overall lethality level at the building level and township level is calculated on this basis.ResultsThe fitting results between the calculated results and the field survey results are good, the error is within 0.15, and the fitting R2 values of Xian, Baoji and Ankang are 0.6552, 0.5788 and 0.5937, respectively. Therefore, an earthquake disaster loss risk assessment is conducted based on the building level.DiscussionThe findings indicate that the risk of casualties caused by the same building type can vary by city. Generally, the areas with high disaster loss risk in the three cities are distributed mainly in urban areas; the disaster loss risk in the newly built areas of each city is relatively low. According to the quantitative assessment results for each city, Xi’an has the highest loss risk, while Baoji and Ankang have the same loss risk. Based on the method constructed in this paper, we can realize the quantitative assessment of earthquake disaster loss risk at the building level to better target pre-earthquake emergency preparation and post-earthquake auxiliary decision-making.

IntroductionChildhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (c-SLE) presents unique challenges due to increased risk for severe morbidity and mortality compared to adult-onset SLE. Effective disease management relies on accurate disease assessment and documentation. Our project aimed to improve the documentation of the Lupus Care Index (LCI), a disease assessment bundle, by implementing a quality improvement (QI) initiative.MethodsA QI project was conducted at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH), targeting patients with c-SLE. The LCI, comprising the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2k) Physician Global Assessment (PGA) and patient-reported pain score, was introduced to capture comprehensive disease assessment. Interventions included provider education, standardization of documentation procedures, and electronic health record (EHR) modifications. Automated reports tracked documentation rates, and Pareto charts identified areas for targeted interventions.ResultsBaseline analysis revealed incomplete documentation of LCI components in only one-third of c-SLE patients. Following interventions, documentation rates improved from 38% to 90%, with sustained improvement over at least a year.DiscussionEnhancing documentation of LCI in patients with c-SLE is crucial for optimizing disease management. Our quality improvement initiative demonstrated the feasibility of improving documentation practices through targeted interventions and system modifications. Future research should explore the impact of comprehensive documentation on clinical outcomes in pediatric lupus patients. Improving documentation of LCI in patients with c-SLE is essential for optimizing care delivery and clinical outcomes; our QI initiative highlights the effectiveness of systemic interventions in enhancing documentation practices and underscores the importance of continued efforts to improve pediatric lupus care.

On September 28, 2018, a 7.5 Richter magnitude earthquake struck the Palu City neighborhood of Petobo. The tectonic activity along the Palu-Koro fault generated this earthquake, which resulted in soil liquefaction. The purpose of this study is to use microtremor measurements at 33 distinct places to investigate the properties of the soil layer after liquefaction. The obtained data was then evaluated utilizing Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) methodologies such as Ground Shear Strength (GSS), amplification factor, and vulnerability index to determine the soil layer's properties and susceptibility. The dominant frequency ranges from 0.19 to 4.75 Hz, while the dominant period ranges from 0.21 to 5.17 seconds, according to the measurement results. According to these measurements, the silt layer varies between 5 and 30 m. GSS values in the 10-4 to 10-2 range indicate that soil cracking, subsidence, liquefaction, landslides, and compaction are likely. The soil vulnerability and amplification index values range from 2.36 to 4.37, respectively. These values show the potential level of danger, which might be low, medium, high, or extremely high. Peak ground acceleration varied from 299.52 to 301.52 gals, suggesting high to extremely high danger levels. The microzonation map created for this study is considered to be a useful resource for training disaster mitigation approaches and facilitating infrastructure development planning in the region.

Constance O Okeke,1 Nora Lee Cothran,2 Desirae A Brinkley,3 Kamran Rahmatnejad,4 Frank J Rodiño,5 James E Deom6 1Virginia Eye Consultants/CVP, Norfolk, VA, USA; 2The Eye Institute of West Florida, Largo, FL, USA; 3Eye Specialty Group, Memphis, TN, USA; 4Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA; 5Churchill Outcomes Research, Red Bank, NJ, USA; 6Hazleton Eye Specialists, Hazle Township, PA, USACorrespondence: Constance O Okeke, Virginia Eye Consultants/CVP, 241 Corporate Blvd, Norfolk, VA, 23320, USA, Tel +1 757-622-2200, Fax +1 757-622-4866, Email cokeke@cvphealth.comIntroduction: Latanoprostene bunod 0.024% (LBN, Vyzulta®) is a nitric oxide-donating prostaglandin analog (PGA). We investigated the real-world efficacy and safety of LBN in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) who switched their existing intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering treatment(s) to LBN.Methods: This non-interventional, multicenter (United States), retrospective chart review included patients aged ≥ 18 years with OHT and/or mild-to-moderate OAG diagnoses taking 1– 2 IOP-lowering treatments at the time of switch to LBN (index visit). Chart-extracted data included demographics, diagnoses, IOP and ocular assessments, other IOP-lowering treatments, adverse events (AEs), and reasons for discontinuation. The main study outcome was IOP change from the index visit to each of the next 2 chart-recorded follow-up visits. Analysis groups included the overall dataset and 2 subgroups of patients switched from PGA therapy to LBN: “PGA-all” subgroup [all patients previously on a PGA with/without another IOP-lowering product] and “PGA-monotherapy” subgroup [patients previously on a PGA alone]). Additional ocular outcomes (eg, visual acuity) were examined, if available.Results: The overall dataset included 49 patients (46 had OAD alone, 2 had OHT alone, and 1 had both). The PGA-all subgroup and PGA-monotherapy subgroups had 41 and 32 patients, respectively. Switching to LBN led to a ~25% IOP reduction from the index visit to Visit 1 that was sustained at Visit 2. IOP findings in the PGA-all and PGA-monotherapy subgroups were consistent with the overall dataset. No meaningful changes in other ocular outcomes were found. Of 14 ocular AEs, 3 were recorded as such (mild in severity, considered unrelated to treatment), and 11 were identified through review of interval ocular histories (no severity/relatedness information); none led to discontinuation.Conclusion: In this short-term retrospective chart review of mild-to-moderate OAG/OHT, switching prior IOP-lowering therapy to LBN produced an additional ~25% IOP reduction and appeared to be well tolerated.Keywords: latanoprostene bunod, LBN, prostaglandin analog, PGA, ocular hypertension, OHT, open-angle glaucoma, OAG, intraocular pressure, IOP

Two large earthquakes (Mw = 7.7 and Mw = 7.6) that occurred in Turkey on February 6, 2023, affected a very extent region and caused a lot of loss of life and property. This paper presents preliminary results from geophysical measurements (Seismic Refraction Tomography-SRT, Multi-Channel Surface Wave Analysis-MASW and Microtremor-MT) on eight profiles in four provinces (Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Malatya, Gaziantep) to understand the relationship between subsurface properties and the destruction that occurs immediately after earthquakes. By analyzing the geophysical data, the dynamic-elastic properties of ground and the soil classification according to Vs30 were determined. It is generally understood that the near-surface (< ~ 10–15 m) units in the measurement areas are very loose, and the deeper ones (≥ ~ 15–20 m) have a very porous/fractured structure. Soil classes were defined as ZD (Malatya-1, Hatay-1 and Kahramanmaraş-1) and ZC (Malatya-2, Hatay-2, Gaziantep-1,2 and Kahramanmaraş-2). In addition, by evaluating the information of strong ground motion station closest to the measurement profiles, it is observed that the PGA values versus epicenter distances are higher at stations in the zone parallel to the direction of both faults than those in the perpendicular zones. This leads directivity effect in the propagation of earthquake waves. The results indicate that one of the basic reasons for the damages is that the earthquake-ground-structure relationship has not been fully and accurately reflected in building designs. Therefore, future researches involving more geophysical data and PGA values will provide more information about the structural, physical and geotechnical properties of subsurface and definitive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismically induced soil liquefaction is one of the major causes for loss of life and property because of its critical impact and significant destructive nature during and after seismic events. Present study aims to assess liquefaction hazard of Varanasi city which is an important city of Uttar Pradesh, which provides a major contribution to Uttar Pradesh's politics, education and economics. Standard penetration test (SPT) data and soil characteristics have been used to estimate the liquefaction risk. Analysis has been performed for simulated earthquake along Azamgarh fault for two peak ground acceleration values (0.07 g and 0.2 g) using Liquefaction Potential Index ( L P ) and Liquefaction Severity Index ( L S ) with Factor of Safety (F.S.) as input. The outcomes are displayed in form of hazard maps of F.S., L P and L S for different depths. The results reveal that as per F.S. study most of the areas across city are liquefiable at 0.2 g PGA, whereas these are found safe at 0.07 g PGA. L P study shows that city belongs to 'Low to Very Low' category at 0.07 PGA whereas at 0.2 g PGA areas like DLW Ground, BHU, Lahartara and Sigra fall in 'high' category. As per L S study, city falls in 'Very Low' to 'Medium' severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On September 28, 2018, a 7.5 Richter magnitude earthquake struck the Palu City neighborhood of Petobo. The tectonic activity along the Palu-Koro fault generated this earthquake, which resulted in soil liquefaction. The purpose of this study is to use microtremor measurements at 33 distinct places to investigate the properties of the soil layer after liquefaction. The obtained data was then evaluated utilizing Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) methodologies such as Ground Shear Strength (GSS), amplification factor, and vulnerability index to determine the soil layer's properties and susceptibility. The dominant frequency ranges from 0.19 to 4.75 Hz, while the dominant period ranges from 0.21 to 5.17 seconds, according to the measurement results. According to these measurements, the silt layer varies between 5 and 30 m. GSS values in the 10-4 to 10-2 range indicate that soil cracking, subsidence, liquefaction, landslides, and compaction are likely. The soil vulnerability and amplification index values range from 2.36 to 4.37, respectively. These values show the potential level of danger, which might be low, medium, high, or extremely high. Peak ground acceleration varied from 299.52 to 301.52 gals, suggesting high to extremely high danger levels. The microzonation map created for this study is considered to be a useful resource for training disaster mitigation approaches and facilitating infrastructure development planning in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientific Journal of Agricultural Sciences (SJAS) is the property of Beni Suef University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Scientific Journal of Agricultural Sciences (SJAS) is the property of Beni Suef University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study uses integrated geological, geodesy, and seismology data to assess the potential tsunami and Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Function (PSHF) near Sumatra's coastal cities. It focuses on estimating the possible level of ground shaking due to the seismic activity within the Sumatran Fault Zone (SFZ) and subduction zone. It uses the Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) as a measure. An amplification factor that is based on the previous study is used. It is calculated through the Horizontal-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR), which measures possible surface ground shaking. The Seismic Hazard Function (SHF) is calculated considering magnitudes 6.5 to 9.0 for subduction sources and 6.5 to 7.8 for SFZ sources. Also, the PGA based on the Maximum Possible Earthquake (MPE) magnitude is estimated, and tsunami heights are simulated to assess the possible hazard risk. The tsunami source model in this study is characterized by considering the possibility of the long-term perspectives on giant earthquakes and tsunamis that might occur in subduction zones around the off-coast of southern Sumatra Island. The potentiality source zone is characterized based on the utilization of the cross-correlation of correlation dimension (D[sub C]) based on the shallow earthquake catalog of 2010 to 2022 and the SHmax-rate of surface strain rate. Based on the MPE, the relatively high estimated PGA at the base rock was found around Mentawai and Pagai Utara islands at about 0.224 g and 0.328 g, with the largest estimated PGA based on the MPE at the surface with values of about 0.5 g and 0.6 g. The possible maximum tsunami height (Hmax) estimated based on source scenarios position around the west coast of Sumatera Island, such as for Kota Padang and Kota Bungus, reaches up to 12.0 m and 22.0 m, respectively. The findings provide valuable insight into seismic and tsunami hazards, benefiting future mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-band full-duplex (IBFD) can double the spectral efficiency of wireless communications systems. However, its major drawback is the self-interference, which interferes with the desired signal at the terminal. Self-interference cancelation can be operated in antenna, analog, and digital domains. In the antenna domain, beamformers are designed to minimize the leaked signal entering the system. This paper proposes an efficient analog beamforming design to maximize the channel achievable rate of massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) IBFD systems. Specifically, we propose a low-complexity deep unfolding technique that provides a significantly better achievable rate than the state-of-the-art to deal with the non-convex design objective and constraints. More concretely, a complexity reduction of 75% is achieved for some scenarios, and of 50% is reached for the rest.

Abstract A series of earthquakes that struck Taiwan's southern Longitudinal Valley on September 17 and 18, 2022 severely damaged several buildings in Taitung and Hualien. The Chishang earthquake, which had a magnitude of ML 6.8 and a large foreshock with a magnitude of ML 6.6 the day before, was the mainshock in this sequence. The strongest intensity reported in the epicentral region during this earthquake sequence, which was 6 + , is the highest ever recorded since the Central Weather Bureau (CWB, renamed as the Central Weather Administration since September 15, 2023) revised its seismic intensity scale. National Taiwan University (NTU) has operated a low-cost earthquake early warning (EEW) system known as the P-Alert for a decade. In this study, we demonstrate the performance of the P-Alert network during the 2022 Chishang earthquake and the largest foreshock. The P-Alert network plotted shake maps during these earthquakes that displayed various values within 5 min. The high shaking areas on these maps were in good agreement with observed damages during this earthquake, providing valuable insights into rupture directivity, a crucial component of earthquake engineering. Individual P-Alert stations acted as on-site EEW systems and provided a lead time of 3–10 s within the blind zone of CWB. For the ML 6.8 mainshock, there was a lead time of at least 5 s, even up to 10 s, demonstrating their effectiveness in the blind zone. The P-Alert regional EEW system provided the first report about 9 s and 7 s after the mainshock and the largest foreshock occurrence, respectively, with estimated magnitudes of 5.74 and 5.67. The CWB system estimated magnitudes of 6.72 and 6.16 in the first report, respectively, about 7 s and 9 s after the earthquake occurrence. The timeliness of the two systems were not significantly different. Despite the effectiveness of the P-Alert network, data loss due to connection interruptions prompted us to develop a new compact data logger for improved data availability.

The IL-17A inhibitor secukinumab is efficacious for the treatment of psoriasis. To better understand its mechanism of action, we investigated its impact on psoriatic lesions from 15 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis undergoing secukinumab treatment. We characterized the longitudinal transcriptomic changes of whole lesional skin tissue as well as cutaneous CD4+ and CD8+ T effector cells and CD4+ T regulatory cells across 12 weeks of treatment. Secukinumab was clinically effective and reduced disease-associated overexpression of IL17A , IL17F, IL23A, IL23R, and IFNG in whole tissue as soon as 2 weeks after initiation of treatment. IL17A overexpression in T-cell subsets, primarily CD8+ T cells, was also reduced. Although secukinumab treatment resolved 89‒97% of psoriasis-associated expression differences in bulk tissue and T-cell subsets by week 12 of treatment, we observed expression differences involved in IFN signaling and metallothionein synthesis that remained unresolved at this time point as well as potential treatment-associated expression differences involved in IL-15 signaling. These changes were accompanied by shifts in broader immune cell composition on the basis of deconvolution of RNA-sequencing data. In conclusion, our study reveals several phenotypic and cellular changes within the lesion that underlie clinical improvement from secukinumab.

The large-scale production of Penicillin G Acylase (PGA) at high levels of soluble protein content is achievable through recombinant genetic techniques and expression within a specific host organism. Escherichia coli (E. coli) remains a popular choice as a bacterial host due to its rapid growth, costeffectiveness, and high expression rate. Despite its advantages, using E. coli as a production host presents disadvantages, notably in the proper folding of recombinant proteins, often resulting in biological inactivity. Various strategies have been developed to overcome these issues. These include selecting specific host strains (such as E. coli HB101 & JM109), utilizing fusion proteins to enhance the recovery of soluble proteins (e.g., MBP & NusA), optimizing fermentation conditions (e.g., low-temperature incubation), optimizing the protein isolation process for the recovery of active PGA (e.g., Freeze-thawing technique), and optimizing pH, temperature, and substrate specificity during the synthesis of β-lactam class antibiotics. This study proposes a solution to increase the expression of soluble PGA protein within biological hosts. By replacing the expression host and employing genetic engineering techniques, the study aims to achieve a high expression level of the PGA enzyme in an active form while simplifying the purification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization in India, particularly in Kolkata, has led to a scarcity of suitable land, necessitating effective ground improvement techniques. A case study was evaluated using 500mm diameter, 10m long plain cement concrete (PCC) piles installed at 2m c/c spacing to enhance subsoil for a high-rise residential structure. Initial Dilatometer (DMT) tests showed the subsoil was unsuitable for shallow foundations. Post-PCC piling, DMT tests revealed a 30-40% improvement in subsoil stiffness. The factor of Safety against liquefaction was calculated using DEEPSOIL software. Further analyses with DMT Settlement software and PLAXIS 2D confirmed that post-piling, the raft foundation settlement remained within permissible limits, proving the effectiveness of the ground improvement measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross-region prediction model named SeisEML (an acronym for Seismological Ensemble Machine Learning) has been developed in this paper to predict the peak ground acceleration (PGA) at a given site during an earthquake. The SeisEML model consists of hybridized models, kernel-based algorithms, tree regression algorithms, and regression algorithms. The model ablation study is conducted to examine the performance and the selection of meta-machine learning models in the SeisEML. The training and testing dataset consists of 20852 and 6256 accelerograms recorded by the Kyoshin Network, Japan. The mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) have been utilized to compare the predicted peak ground acceleration (PGA) for the test data. The SeisEML model yields approximately half the MAE and RMSE values obtained with conventional attenuation relations. The SeisEML model has been used to compute Japan's iso acceleration contour map of three earthquakes ( M JMA 7.4, 6.6, and 6.1). The qualitative comparison of iso acceleration contours obtained from actual and predicted PGA using SeisEML clearly shows that the model can reliably predict the PGA distribution during an earthquake compared to the regional ground motion prediction equation (GMPE). The cross-region prediction was performed on the datasets of the Iranian earthquakes using SeisEML. The comparison of predicted and observed peak ground acceleration in terms of MAE and RMSE shows that the machine learning model's performance is superior to the regional attenuation relation. The predictions of PGA from the developed ML model indicate that this trained model has the potential for predicting regional and global scenarios with similar tectonic setups. The ML model developed in this paper can considerably enhance the reliability of PGA prediction for seismic hazard mapping of any region and can serve as a reliable substitute for GMPEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of earthquakes that struck Taiwan's southern Longitudinal Valley on September 17 and 18, 2022 severely damaged several buildings in Taitung and Hualien. The Chishang earthquake, which had a magnitude of ML 6.8 and a large foreshock with a magnitude of ML 6.6 the day before, was the mainshock in this sequence. The strongest intensity reported in the epicentral region during this earthquake sequence, which was 6 + , is the highest ever recorded since the Central Weather Bureau (CWB, renamed as the Central Weather Administration since September 15, 2023) revised its seismic intensity scale. National Taiwan University (NTU) has operated a low-cost earthquake early warning (EEW) system known as the P-Alert for a decade. In this study, we demonstrate the performance of the P-Alert network during the 2022 Chishang earthquake and the largest foreshock. The P-Alert network plotted shake maps during these earthquakes that displayed various values within 5 min. The high shaking areas on these maps were in good agreement with observed damages during this earthquake, providing valuable insights into rupture directivity, a crucial component of earthquake engineering. Individual P-Alert stations acted as on-site EEW systems and provided a lead time of 3–10 s within the blind zone of CWB. For the ML 6.8 mainshock, there was a lead time of at least 5 s, even up to 10 s, demonstrating their effectiveness in the blind zone. The P-Alert regional EEW system provided the first report about 9 s and 7 s after the mainshock and the largest foreshock occurrence, respectively, with estimated magnitudes of 5.74 and 5.67. The CWB system estimated magnitudes of 6.72 and 6.16 in the first report, respectively, about 7 s and 9 s after the earthquake occurrence. The timeliness of the two systems were not significantly different. Despite the effectiveness of the P-Alert network, data loss due to connection interruptions prompted us to develop a new compact data logger for improved data availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system provides new opportunities to treat human diseases. Approaches aimed at increasing the efficiency of genome editing are therefore important to develop. To increase the level of editing of the CXCR4 locus, which is a target for gene therapy of HIV infection, the Cas9 protein was modified by introducing additional NLS signals and ribonucleoprotein complexes of Cas9 and guide RNA were stabilized with poly-L-glutamic acid. The approach allowed a 1.8-fold increase in the level of CXCR4 knockout in the CEM/R5 T cell line and a 2-fold increase in the level of knock-in of the HIV-1 fusion peptide inhibitor MT-C34 in primary CD4+ T lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northern part of Pemalang City consists of Quaternary deposits, having the potential for earthquake amplification effect. This amplification effect amplifies the ground shaking because of an earthquake (the local site effect) that has the potential to cause damage. This study investigated the amplification factor from the HVSR curve of microtremor measurements due to soil response based on ground shear strain, the risk level of the earthquake based on peak ground acceleration (PGA), and earthquake intensity. The microtremor data from five locations in Pemalang were used to calculate the amplification factor and predominant frequency. The damaging earthquake parameters around Java during 2010-2020 were used to calculate the PGA. The microtremor data were processed using the HVSR method, and PGA was calculated using the Kanai equation. The HVSR result shows that Pemalang has an amplification factor ranging from 6.23 to 19.59 and ground shear strain varying between 0.86 x 10-4 and 6.67 x 10-4, which shows that Pemalang only experiences the vibration when an earthquake occurs. The PGA results using the Kanai equation (19.71-54.56 gal) were included in the low vulnerability category, and MMI earthquake intensity (3.08-4.70) was included in the felt earthquake category (II SIG BMKG scale). Therefore, the amplification factor from the HVSR curve of microtremor measurement, ranging from 6.23 to 19.59, showed low soil response and low-risk vulnerability based on the damaging earthquake parameter around Java during 2010-2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underrepresentation of women in sport coaching continues to be recognised by researchers and some international organisations. Golf too suffers from a dramatic underrepresentation of women coaches. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of women golf coaches and how they navigate this male-dominated coaching domain with a particular focus on experiences of advocacy. The research was designed to qualitatively capture women PGA Professionals' lived experiences. Women PGA Professionals (N = 11) with 10–34 years of experience (M = 19.8) participated in semi-structured interviews that were structured on the four Ecological Systems Theory (EST) layers. Data were thematically analysed using the EST layers for initial categorization. From this, four themes were developed: recruitment and opportunity; on the course and in the pro shop; perceptions of women PGA Professionals; and advocacy and allies. The themes were part of two related processes: legitimisation and delegitimisation. These dual processes work to either validate women coaches—both as individuals and as a collective—or to undermine them within the profession, respectively, and operate over the four EST layers. Further, these processes are not always discreet and the two may overlap in unanticipated ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 12 January 2010, the M7.0 Haiti earthquake caused infrastructure damage induced by extensive soil liquefaction and foundation failure in the Port-au-Prince International Seaport and Léogâne Plain. This study re-examines the soil liquefaction effects of the main shock and aftershock events by exploring the existing studies on calcareous sands, reviewing the phenomenon of liquefaction in the Caribbean Islands, and associating them within the seismic history of the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Due to the geomorphology of the Islands, urban development has typically been concentrated along the coast, in locations vulnerable to soil liquefaction. This study demonstrates that the liquefaction that occurred at sites in the M7.0 Haiti event was triggered by the main shock even at low peak ground accelerations (PGAs), the first aftershock effects were significant, and soil liquefaction was not rare in the Antilles. It identifies the elements that characterize historical cases of soil liquefaction caused by earthquakes in the Caribbean Islands. In addition, it points out the characteristics and findings of paleoliquefaction and paleoseismicity investigations conducted in the Caribbean region. Investigations and studies on the calcareous sand liquefaction and paleoseismology are essential to improve the seismic hazard and risk assessment of the Caribbean Islands. The existence of a large number of studies making reference to this topic highlights its significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) are extensively studied biodegradable polymers. However, the degradation behavior of their copolymer, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), in marine environments has not yet been confirmed. In this study, the changes in macroscopic and microscopic morphology, thermal properties, aggregation, and chemical structure of PLA, PGA, PLGA-85, and PLGA-75 (with 85% and 75% LA content) in simulated marine environments were investigated. Results revealed that degradation occurred through hydrolysis of ester bonds, and the degradation rate of PGA was faster than that of PLA. The amorphous region degraded preferentially over the crystalline region, leading to cleavage-induced crystallization and decreased thermal stability of PLA, PLGA-85, and PLGA-75. The crystal structures of PLGAs were similar to those of PLA, and the higher GA content, the faster was the degradation rate. This study provides a deeper understanding of the seawater degradation behaviors of PLA, PGA, and their copolymers, and provides guidance for the preparation of materials with controllable degradation performance.

On October 1, 2022, an earthquake with a magnitude (M) of 5.8 occurred in the Tarutung region, Indonesia and was associated with an active fault at a depth of 10 km. The earthquake fault with dextral mechanism is suitable with the pattern of active fault movement in Sumatra in the Northeast - Southwest direction. A total of 170 aftershocks occurred within a week span with magnitude variations of 1.7 – 4.0. In addition, the Tarutung earthquake was felt by the local peoples with an intensity of IV - VI MMI and caused 1 fatality, 25 injuries, and around 900 houses were damaged. Therefore, this study studies the characteristics of seismicity and damage caused by finding an appropriate 1-Dimensional seismic velocity model. The obtained 1-Dimensional speed model has varying values at a depth of 10 km with a speed of ~5.5 km/s and 30 km with a speed of ~7 km/s. The 1-D velocity model obtained has a convergent and unique solution with an RMS value < 1.0. Based on ground motion analysis after relocation, it was found that the high PGA and PGV values were in Tarutung. The PGA results reveal a high percentage value of >10% in Tarutung. This is consistent with the damage data and at the same time confirms that Tarutung is in a seismically active area.

This study uses integrated geological, geodesy, and seismology data to assess the potential tsunami and Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Function (PSHF) near Sumatra’s coastal cities. It focuses on estimating the possible level of ground shaking due to the seismic activity within the Sumatran Fault Zone (SFZ) and subduction zone. It uses the Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) as a measure. An amplification factor that is based on the previous study is used. It is calculated through the Horizontal-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR), which measures possible surface ground shaking. The Seismic Hazard Function (SHF) is calculated considering magnitudes 6.5 to 9.0 for subduction sources and 6.5 to 7.8 for SFZ sources. Also, the PGA based on the Maximum Possible Earthquake (MPE) magnitude is estimated, and tsunami heights are simulated to assess the possible hazard risk. The tsunami source model in this study is characterized by considering the possibility of the long-term perspectives on giant earthquakes and tsunamis that might occur in subduction zones around the off-coast of southern Sumatra Island. The potentiality source zone is characterized based on the utilization of the cross-correlation of correlation dimension (DC) based on the shallow earthquake catalog of 2010 to 2022 and the SHmax-rate of surface strain rate. Based on the MPE, the relatively high estimated PGA at the base rock was found around Mentawai and Pagai Utara islands at about 0.224 g and 0.328 g, with the largest estimated PGA based on the MPE at the surface with values of about 0.5 g and 0.6 g. The possible maximum tsunami height (Hmax) estimated based on source scenarios position around the west coast of Sumatera Island, such as for Kota Padang and Kota Bungus, reaches up to 12.0 m and 22.0 m, respectively. The findings provide valuable insight into seismic and tsunami hazards, benefiting future mitigation strategies.

Background: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that can cause fatigue and extraglandular manifestations (EGMs). pSS is associated with cytokine network dysregulation, which may be related to the immune-mediated destruction of exocrine glands. Objective: We determined cytokine levels and their relationship to EGMs, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Sjögren's syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI), and fatigue in Saudi patients with pSS. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, single-center study. We included forty-one patients and 71 controls. Serum samples were collected from random healthy people and pSS patients who were followed in the rheumatology and pulmonary clinics of King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Levels of the frequently studied cytokines were measured using Luminex xMAP technology. Each ESSDAI score and EGM were recorded, and the Arabic version of the fatigue severity scale (FSS) was applied to assess fatigue. The main outcome measures were cytokine levels in pSS Saudi patients using/not using immune-suppressive medications (ISMs). Results: Thirty-six (87.8%) patients had one or more EGMs, and the mean ESSDAI score was 9.95 ± 7.73. There was a significant decrease in TNFα and IL-21 levels in the pSS group compared to those in the control group (p = 0.034 and p < 0.001, respectively), whereas IL-12 levels were significantly elevated in the pSS group (p = 0.002). Cytokine levels in patients who used ISMs were the same as those in patients who did not use medications. Decreased IL-1β (p = 0.014), IL-2 (p = 0.035), IL-6 (p = 0.014), and IL-35 (p = 0.010) levels were observed in patients who had EGMs. Patients who had low disease activity exhibited low IL-10 (p = 0.018) and high IFN-α (p = 0.049), IFN-β (p = 0.049), IL-1β (p = 0.006), and IL-35 (p = 0.032) levels compared to patients with high disease activity. A negative association between a positive fatigue score and IL-1β (p = 0.010), IL-2 (p = 0.037), IFN-α (p = 0.025), TNFα (p = 0.030), IL-17 (p = 0.029), IL-12 (p = 0.046), and IL-21 (p = 0.005) levels was found. Conclusions: Cytokine profiles correlate with EGMs, ESSDAI, and fatigue. Patients with controlled disease activity have a normal cytokine profile that is similar to that of controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) are open challenge problems that have been developed since 1964. Parametric and nonparametric methods predict ground motion characteristics such as peak ground acceleration (PGA), velocity, displacements, and spectral accelerations. In the present study, the grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm was used to obtain a new and developed GMPE for predicting PGA. Data from recorded earthquakes from all over the world were collected, and after filtering of Mw and distance parameters, close to 2000 data were used for modelling. Three parameters of Mw (4–7.9), epicentral distance (0.25–115 km) and geological conditions (soft soil, stiff soil, rock) were used as input parameters for estimating PGA. Many previous studies classified geological conditions based on shear wave velocity at the top 30 m (Vs30), without taking into account the effect of Vs30 at each group. In this study, the effects of Vs30 were considered separately for each geological group too. Results showed that PGA decreased by increasing Vs30 and moving from soft soil toward rock. Finally, the relationship was compared with the other two relations suggested for the local region and global earthquakes, and despite the simplicity of the suggested relation gained by the GWO method, it estimated PGA in terms of accuracy to a good and acceptable level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A power plant is an essential structure that powers various sectors of the economy. It is vital to ensure the safety of such structures from natural hazards like earthquakes. The probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) is the most advanced method of estimating earthquake hazards and risks. PSHA is the standard method for making site-specific, earthquake-resistant designs for important structures like a power plant. In the present study, the PSHA has been carried out for a power plant site in Chittagong using the latest available information on seismicity in the region. An updated earthquake catalog homogenized in uniform moment magnitude scale was prepared for the region. Seismicity analysis was carried out, and the seismicity parameters for the region were estimated from the frequency magnitude distribution plot. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) and the spectral acceleration at the bedrock for 10% and 2% probability of exceedance within 50 years were evaluated using different source models and attenuation relations in a logic tree framework. The site was characterized based on the soil investigation data from 31 boreholes, and amplification factors considering the local geology (SPT-N values) were obtained through ground response analysis. Subsequently, the surface level peak ground acceleration was estimated and depicted as hazard contour maps. The power plant site was observed to have a large spatial variation of seismic hazard at different locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]