Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Critical factors influencing visitor emotions: analysis of “restorativeness” in urban park visits in Fuzhou, China

Objective To date, a comprehensive analysis of urban green space (UGS) visitors’ emotional remains largely unexplored. In this study, we focus on how UGS environmental preferences, restorativeness, other physical factors (sound, air, and thermal environments), and individual characteristics affecting visitor emotions. Such a comprehensive analysis would allow relevant practitioners to check the environmental quality of UGSs and improve certain conditions to promote visitor emotions. Methods A total of 904 questionnaire responses with concurrently monitored physical factors were analyzed by independent sample t-tests, one-way ANOVA and path analysis. Results The thermal evaluation had the largest impact on positive emotions (β = 0.474), followed by perceived restorativeness (β = 0.297), which had β values of −0.120 and −0.158, respectively, on negative emotions. Air evaluation was more effective for increasing positive emotions (β = 0.293) than reducing negative emotions (β = −0.115). Sound evaluation also had similar results (β = 0.330 vs. β = −0.080). Environmental preference significantly influenced only positive emotions (β = 0.181) but could still indirectly impact negative emotions. Moreover, objective physical factors can indirectly affect visitors’ emotions by enhancing their evaluations. Conclusion The influence of different UGS environmental factors on visitors’ emotions vary, as does their impacts on positive versus negative emotions. Positive emotions were generally more affected than negative emotions by UGS. Visitor emotions were mainly influenced by physical and psychological factors. Corresponding suggestions are proposed for UGS design and management in this study.
INVESTIGATING THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF GREEN PRODUCT LITERACY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIVENESS AND GREEN PRODUCT PURCHASE ATTITUDE

technology innovativeness and green product attitude of the consumer. With growing environmental concern and the increasing emphasis on sustainable practices, understanding of the drivers that influence green purchasing behavior has become increasingly important. The study utilized a survey questionnaire which was distributed to a sample of 424 respondents. SPSS (26.0) software was used to analyze the data. The results of this study revealed that technology innovativeness had a significant positive direct effect on green product purchase attitude (β = 0.72, p < 0.001), and green product literacy played a crucial role in this relationship by having a significant positive indirect effect (β = 0.10, SE = 0.03, 95% CI [0.05, 0.16]). The descriptive results reveal the significance of green product literacy in shaping consumer attitude and highlight the need for organizations to invest in green literacy programs and initiatives. Investing in green literacy programs to educate and raise awareness of sustainable consumption is important for both researchers and practitioners. Individuals can contribute to SDGs Goal 13 by promoting green product literacy and sustainable practices to ensure a livable future.
Chemical composition, larvicidal and molluscicidal activity of the essential oil Alpinia zerumbet

Abstract In this present study, we describe the chemical composition, larvicidal and molluscicidal activity of essential oil distilled from Alpinia zerumbet leaves against third-stage larvae of Ae.aegypti and the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, respectively. For this, we distilled the oil by hydrodistillation, identified its components by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and calculated the lethal concentration of larvicidal and molluscicidal activity using the probit method. From these analyses, we showed that the oil is predominantly composed of monoterpenes, in which p-cymene (34.12%), 1,8-cineole (25.67%) and terpinen-4-ol (21.01%) stood out. In addition, we also proved that the oil has larvicidal and molluscicidal activity with lethal concentrations respectively of 43.74 and 36.52 μg/mL. Therefore, we conclude that the oil is active and has the potential to replace synthetic larvicides and molluscicides.
Cerebellar contributions to fear-based emotional processing: relevance to understanding the neural circuits involved in autism

Cerebellar networks have traditionally been linked to sensorimotor control. However, a large body of evidence suggests that cerebellar functions extend to non-motor realms, such as fear-based emotional processing and that these functions are supported by interactions with a wide range of brain structures. Research related to the cerebellar contributions to emotional processing has focussed primarily on the use of well-constrained conditioning paradigms in both human and non-human subjects. From these studies, cerebellar circuits appear to be critically involved in both conditioned and unconditioned responses to threatening stimuli in addition to encoding and storage of fear memory. It has been hypothesised that the computational mechanism underlying this contribution may involve internal models, where errors between actual and expected outcomes are computed within the circuitry of the cerebellum. From a clinical perspective, cerebellar abnormalities have been consistently linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism. Importantly, atypical adaptive behaviour and heightened anxiety are also common amongst autistic individuals. In this review, we provide an overview of the current anatomical, physiological and theoretical understanding of cerebellar contributions to fear-based emotional processing to foster further insights into the neural circuitry underlying emotional dysregulation observed in people with autism.
Combining brain-computer interfaces with deep reinforcement learning for robot training: a feasibility study in a simulation environment

Deep reinforcement learning (RL) is used as a strategy to teach robot agents how to autonomously learn complex tasks. While sparsity is a natural way to define a reward in realistic robot scenarios, it provides poor learning signals for the agent, thus making the design of good reward functions challenging. To overcome this challenge learning from human feedback through an implicit brain-computer interface (BCI) is used. We combined a BCI with deep RL for robot training in a 3-D physical realistic simulation environment. In a first study, we compared the feasibility of different electroencephalography (EEG) systems (wet- vs. dry-based electrodes) and its application for automatic classification of perceived errors during a robot task with different machine learning models. In a second study, we compared the performance of the BCI-based deep RL training to feedback explicitly given by participants. Our findings from the first study indicate the use of a high-quality dry-based EEG-system can provide a robust and fast method for automatically assessing robot behavior using a sophisticated convolutional neural network machine learning model. The results of our second study prove that the implicit BCI-based deep RL version in combination with the dry EEG-system can significantly accelerate the learning process in a realistic 3-D robot simulation environment. Performance of the BCI-based trained deep RL model was even comparable to that achieved by the approach with explicit human feedback. Our findings emphasize the usage of BCI-based deep RL methods as a valid alternative in those human-robot applications where no access to cognitive demanding explicit human feedback is available.
Effectiveness of Molnupiravir Treatment in Patients with COVID-19 in Korea: A Propensity Score Matched Study

Background The MOVe-OUT (efficacy and safety of molnupiravir [MK-4482] in non-hospitalized adult participants with COVID-19 [MK-4482-002]) trial reported that the administration of molnupiravir in unvaccinated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) before the Omicron epidemic showed a preventive effect of 31% against hospitalization and death. However, studies on the preventive effect of molnupiravir against progression to severe disease and death in patients with COVID-19 during the Omicron epidemic are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive effect of molnupiravir against severe/critical illness or death and death in Korean patients with COVID-19 who were vaccinated mostly during the Omicron epidemic. Materials and Methods This study used large-scale retrospective cohort data to select patients with COVID-19 who were either treated or not treated with molnupiravir, between August 2022 and March 2023, at a ratio of 1 : 4 using the propensity score matching method. In total, 762,768 patients comprised the non- administered group, and 190,692 patients comprised the molnupiravir-administered group. The preventive effect of molnupiravir against severe/critical illness or death and death was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results The preventive effect of molnupiravir against severe/critical illness or death and death, represented by the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), in the molnupiravir-administered and non-administered group was (OR: 0.714; CI: 0.667 - 0.764) and (OR: 0.749; CI: 0.682 - 0.823), respectively. As age increased, the preventive effect against severe/critical illness or death and death increased. The preventive effect against severe/critical illness or death at ≥60 years was (OR: 0.669; CI: 0.624 - 0.717), at ≥70 years was (OR: 0.614; CI: 0.570 - 0.661), and at ≥80 years was (OR: 0.563; CI: 0.515 - 0.615). The preventive effect against death at ≥60 years was (OR: 0.729; CI: 0.663 - 0.802), at ≥70 years was (OR: 0.676; CI: 0.612 - 0.747), and at ≥80 years was (OR: 0.622; CI: 0.554 - 0.698). Conclusion Although molnupiravir showed a relatively weak preventive effect against severe/critical illness or death (29%) and death (25%) among patients with COVID-19, it exhibited a stronger protective effect in older patients than in younger patients. In particular, the preventive effect against severe/critical illness or death (44%) and death (38%) in those aged ≥80 years was pronounced. This study strongly suggests that molnupiravir administration can alleviate the burden on the medical system, and treat patients with COVID-19 effectively by reducing its progression to severe disease and death.
Discussion on ‘Chalk fracture system characteristics: implications for flow and solute transport’

M. PRICE writes: Younger & Elliot (1995) used a radon diffusion model to derive apertures and field measurements to determine spacings for fissures (discontinuities through which flow takes place) in the Chalk. Their paper confirmed much existing knowledge, but when they attempted to use their data to calculate hydraulic conductivity values for chalk, they made a fundamental error that invalidated the main conclusions. Although there are various assumptions, the average estimates of 0.45mm for the apertures and 9.4/m for the frequencies of fissures are in line with expectations. Applying these results to linear laminar flow in three orthogonal sets of smooth, plane, parallel-plate fissures gives a theoretical fissure porosity of 1.35 per cent and, for pure water at around 10°C, a hydraulic conductivity of 98 m/day. The porosity value is similar to the specific yield of much of the Chalk, but this hydraulic conductivity is much higher than is seen for the bulk of the Chalk in the absence of secondary (solutionenlarged) fissures (Price 1987). However, in the paper, Younger & Elliot derived a value of hydraulic conductivity of 0.001 m/day. They therefore concluded that these fissure apertures and spacings could not explain the hydraulic conductivity of the Chalk even in interfluve areas (p. $46), and that much larger flow conduits must be present to explain the observed hydraulic conductivity values for Chalk beneath valleys. This difficulty is attributable to a simple error; their equation (11) yields results in m/see, not m/day as stated, so the calculated hydraulic conductivity values.
Effects of shoreline oiling on salt marsh epifaunal macroinvertebrates

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in varying degrees of oiling in the salt marshes of northern Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA. This study examines the effects of oiling intensity and recovery on two conspicuous marsh-platform macroinvertebrates, Uca spp. , fiddler crabs, and Littoraria irrorata, the salt marsh periwinkle, from 2.5 to 4.5 years after the spill. The dominant fiddler crab within these marshes, Uca longisignalis, was the only species observed in field collections, and no significant difference in burrow density or burrow size was found among oiling levels over the study period indicating recovery from any negative effects of oiling already occurred for this species. The highest density of L. irrorata was found at moderately oiled sites compared to both reference (without visible oiling) and heavily oiled stations. Spartina alterniflora density recovered within two years after the spill at the moderately oiled stations facilitating recovery of L. irrorata approximately one year later. L. irrorata average shell length and length-frequency distributions were equivalent at moderately oiled and reference stations but snails were shorter at heavily oiled stations because of a greater proportion of subadults. Shell length data from the heavily oiled sites indicate that direct mortality due to oiling or oil-induced reductions in recruitment occurred in 2010 and that recovery was starting to occur at 48 months after the spill. The extent and duration of oil in the water during the spill and the biological responses we measured indicates that L. irrorata and Uca longisignalis were both affected in their ability to carry out their life cycle on the marsh and/or in the water column at all stations including the reference stations for some period following the entry of oil into the region.
Does pre-enrichment of anodes with acetate to select for Geobacter spp. enhance performance of microbial fuel cells when switched to more complex substrates?

Many factors affect the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Considerable attention has been given to the impact of cell configuration and materials on MFC performance. Much less work has been done on the impact of the anode microbiota, particularly in the context of using complex substrates as fuel. One strategy to improve MFC performance on complex substrates such as wastewater, is to pre-enrich the anode with known, efficient electrogens, such as Geobacter spp. The implication of this strategy is that the electrogens are the limiting factor in MFCs fed complex substrates and the organisms feeding the electrogens through hydrolysis and fermentation are not limiting. We conducted a systematic test of this strategy and the assumptions associated with it. Microbial fuel cells were enriched using three different substrates (acetate, synthetic wastewater and real domestic wastewater) and three different inocula (Activated Sludge, Tyne River sediment, effluent from an MFC). Reactors were either enriched on complex substrates from the start or were initially fed acetate to enrich for Geobacter spp. before switching to synthetic or real wastewater. Pre-enrichment on acetate increased the relative abundance of Geobacter spp. in MFCs that were switched to complex substrates compared to MFCs that had been fed the complex substrates from the beginning of the experiment (wastewater-fed MFCs - 21.9 ± 1.7% Geobacter spp.; acetate-enriched MFCs, fed wastewater - 34.9 ± 6.7% Geobacter spp.; Synthetic wastewater fed MFCs – 42.5 ± 3.7% Geobacter spp.; acetate-enriched synthetic wastewater-fed MFCs - 47.3 ± 3.9% Geobacter spp.). However, acetate pre-enrichment did not translate into significant improvements in cell voltage, maximum current density, maximum power density or substrate removal efficiency. Nevertheless, coulombic efficiency (CE) was higher in MFCs pre-enriched on acetate when complex substrates were fed following acetate enrichment (wastewater-fed MFCs – CE = 22.0 ± 6.2%; acetate-enriched MFCs, fed wastewater – CE =58.5 ± 3.5%; Synthetic wastewater fed MFCs – CE = 22.0 ± 3.2%; acetate-enriched synthetic wastewater-fed MFCs – 28.7 ± 4.2%.) The relative abundance of Geobacter ssp. and CE represents the average of the nine replicate reactors inoculated with three different inocula for each substrate. Efforts to improve the performance of anodic microbial communities in MFCs utilizing complex organic substrates should therefore focus on enhancing the activity of organisms driving hydrolysis and fermentation rather the terminal-oxidizing electrogens.
Risk and Uncertainty Analysis Procedures for the Evaluation of Environmental Outputs

Abstract : Ecosystem restoration projects are replete with uncertainties, large and small. A major source of uncertainty in many such projects is the environmental output of the project. To estimate existing and future environmental outputs, many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' projects rely on habitat evaluation models like the Habitat Evaluation Procedures (REP) developed by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). REP analysis, as this process is called, relies on the estimation of the number of habitat units that exist at a site under certain environmental conditions. Habitat units are the simple product of a number of acres of habitat and a habitat suitability index that indicates the relative suitability of those acres for a particular wildlife species. The habitat suitability index is based on the mathematical manipulation of a set of habitat variables. A case study is used to illustrate the role that habitat variable measurements play in the uncertainty that attends the estimation of project outputs. The lessons learned during the course of the case study investigation can be grouped into three categories: preparation, data collection and analysis. During the preparation of the risk-based analysis several things were learned. First, it is necessary to realize that uncertainty exists, it cannot be eliminated and it is best to address it explicitly. Second, one must understand the nature of uncertainty and how to think about it. Third, the purpose of the risk analysis, to improve decision-making, must be clear to all. Fourth, the major sources of uncertainty must be identified as soon as possible. Fifth, care must be taken to assure that everyone is using the language consistently. Sixth, preparing ahead of time for the risk-based analysis is important.
Stable isotope geochemistry of Pleistocene travertine from Budakalász (Buda Mts, Hungary)

In the Buda Mts. (Hungary) several Pleistocene travertine outcrops are known. The subject of this paper is a stable isotope study on the Pleistocene travertine from Budakalasz that was deposited on the slope of Monalovac Hill of the Buda Mts. The principal goal of this work is to define the depositional environment and related implications by studying the petrographical and microfacies features and C and O stable isotope compositions. The Budakalasz travertine can be divided into two stratigraphic units. The lower part of the studied sections (approx. 15 m thick) consists of massive limestone, which represents a "smooth-slope" facies and has mean d13C and d18O values of 2.21‰ and -11.1‰ relative to V-PDB, respectively. Microbial shrub structures were also recognized in the lower part of the section, showing slightly higher d13C values (2.6-2.7‰) relative to the other samples. The upper unit of the sections is composed of what was originally calcareous mud. The studied samples have low d13C values (~1.8‰).
Understanding the Materiality of Disaster Injustice in Post-disaster Housing Reconstruction

Abstract:This article contributes to disaster justice literature by analyzing the materialities of disaster injustice in an island community exposed to multiple hazards. Harnessing methods at the junctures of anthropology and architecture, this article uses the concept of "material register" to examine how injustice is articulated in housing reconstruction. The study identifies three material registers that operate within this particular disaster context: housing as a roof overhead, housing as lifeworld, and housing as private responsibility. These material registers highlight how post-disaster housing reconstruction is embedded in particular social, economic, and political realities.
The Outdoor Dust Information Node - ODIN - Development and first tests

The large gradients in air quality expected in urban areas place a signiﬁcant challenge to standard measurement technologies. Small, low-cost instrumentation has been developing fast in recent years. Here we present the ﬁrst version of the Outdoor Dust Information Node (ODIN) developed by NIWA. The results of ﬁeld tests indicate that the ODIN is able to capture more than 90% of the variability in PM 2 . 5 in a wood-smoke impacted site but further tests are required in order to generalize those results.
Urban sodicity in a humid subtropical climate: Impact on biogeochemical cycling

Urban Sodicity in a Humid Subtropical Climate: Impact on Biogeochemical Cycling. (August 2011) Meredith Kate Steele, B.S.; B.S.; M.S.; University of Maryland, College Park Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Jacqueline Aitkenhead-Peterson Understanding the mechanisms of non-point source carbon and nutrients in urban watersheds will help to develop policies to maintain surface water quality and prevention of eutrophication. The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the impact of sodium on carbon and nutrient leaching from the two main contributors; soil and leaf litter, and calculate the sodium exports in a humid subtropical urban river basin. The first chapter reviews the current literature on urbanization in watersheds. Chapter II quantifies the carbon and nutrient in intact soil core leachates and in water extractable solution from urban soils collected from 26 towns and cities across the state of Texas. Chapter III investigates the impact of sodicity and salinity on water extractable organic carbon and nitrogen from vegetation. Chapter IV investigates the export of sodium and chloride from the upper Trinity River basin. The results derived from this study indicate that sodium exports are elevated in urban watersheds and that sodium in irrigation water elevates the loss of carbon and nutrients from both watershed soil and senesced vegetation, and that this may contribute to high concentrations in urban freshwaters.