Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“Natural Disaster(s)”: Going Back to the Roots of Misleading Terminology. Insights from Culturomics

MOTIVATIONS The noun disaster (1590s) comes from the French désastre (1560s), from the Italian disastro, which derives from dis(ill) and astro (star), literally “ill-starred”; the term astro results from the Latin astrum, which in turn arises from the Greek astron (Harper, 2001). The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR, formerly UNISDR) defines a disaster as “a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and capacity, leading to one or more of the following: human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts” (UNDRR, 2020). Furthermore, according to the World Bank “unnatural disasters are deaths and damages that result from human acts of omission and commission” (World Bank–United Nations, 2010). These statements clarify that disasters are the result of a complex interaction between hazardous events (e.g., earthquakes) and the vulnerability of the social system, due to human choices. Therefore, the adjective “natural” misrepresents the formal meaning of “disaster. ” The unnatural character of disasters has been dealt with at least since the mideighteenth century after the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake and downward through the discussion of the scientific community that began in the 1930s through the 1970s, and is still active today (Ball, 1975; Gaillard et al., 2007; Gould et al., 2016). Nonetheless, the expression “natural disasters” is still used by politicians, media, international organizations, and scientists posing possible concrete implications, such as lowering the sense of human responsibility (Chmutina and von Meding, 2019) and influencing people to believe that (“natural”) disasters are ineluctable. That might adversely affect disaster preparedness. However, online initiatives and campaigns try to discourage the use of this expression (“#NoNaturalDisasters” web or Twitter campaigns). Additionally, the UNISDR banned the terminology from official communications in 2018 (Chmutina and von Meding, 2019). Is it possible to infer when and how this (improper) lexicon developed? To try to answer this question, we asked for help from culturomics, a form of computational lexicology that studies human culture and human behavior based on the analysis of large digital data sets resulting from the collection, digitization, and indexing of a huge amount of words contained in printed works. We used the Ngram Viewer search engine, the free lexicometric tool developed by a team at Google Books (Michel et al., 2010).
Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Expressing Chromobacterium Sp. Dyh27s2016 Strain is Capable of Metal Leaching in Electronic Waste

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) contain many precious and hazardous metals, and the disposal of a large number of electronic wastes (e-waste) has been a serious environmental concern. The conventional metallurgy methods used to recover metals from e-wastes require higher energy expenditure besides contributing to significant environmental pollution. This necessitated an alternative approach, such as using cyanogenic and other environmental bacteria to recover metals from e-waste. Hence, the current study is aimed to explore the feasibility of Chromobacterium sp. Dyh27s2016 strain in mobilising metals from e-waste. A two-step bioleaching process was employed with the ATCC culture Chromobacteriumviolecium Bergonzini (12472TM) used as a control. The metal content in the supernatant was analysed using the inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique. Meanwhile, the metal concentration in PCBs was also assessed using the acid reflux method followed by the ICP-OES analysis. Besides, the Chromobacterium sp. Dyh27s2016 strain was also assessed for the beta-lactam antibiotics resistance and the gene expression for extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). It was observed that Chromobacterium sp. Dyh27s2016 strain mobilises 80, 94, 52 and 56% of Cu, Fe, Zn and Ag respectively from e-waste. However, this strain was found resistant to penicillin G sodium, ampicillin sodium and ticarcillin disodium but susceptible to cefotaxime sodium antibiotics. The molecular analysis showed that this strain possessed the ESBL genes, TEM and CTX-M. The findings from this study enable potential industrial applications for recycling electronic trash using Chromobacterium Dyh27s2016 strains in future.
Residents’ Selection Behavior of Compensation Schemes for Construction Land Reduction: Empirical Evidence from Questionnaires in Shanghai, China

Construction land reduction (CLR) was implemented in China to improve the efficiency of construction land use. CLR also limited the development of net reduction areas of CLR. By analyzing the Task-Quota-Financial-Benefit flow of CLR, this paper proposes three typical compensation schemes and uses the multivariate probit model to study residents’ selection behavior for these schemes. It is found that (1) in order to compensate for the losses caused by CLR to the reduced direct subjects, there can be three types of possible schemes: direct economic compensation (Scheme I), in situ (Scheme II) and off-site (Scheme III) enhancement of development capacity. (2) The more reasonable the compensation standard, the greater the employment pressure in the township and the greater the township’s location disadvantage, which is why more residents prefer Scheme III. (3) The higher their family income and their family support pressure, the more they prefer Scheme III. (4) At this stage, there is no significant difference in the choice of compensation schemes between cadres and non-cadres. (5) The net planning reduction area prefers Scheme I, while other areas prefer Scheme II. The conclusions may provide insight into the demand for more reasonable compensation policies to ensure the sustainability of CLR.
The Association between Apparent Temperature and Hospital Admissions for Cardiovascular Disease in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a high disease burden both globally and in South Africa. They have also been found to be temperature-sensitive globally. The association between temperature and CVD morbidity has previously been demonstrated, but little is known about it in South Africa. It is important to understand how changes in temperature in South Africa will affect CVD morbidity, especially in rural regions, to inform public health interventions and adaptation strategies. This study aimed to determine the short-term effect of apparent temperature (Tapp) on CVD hospital admissions in Mopani District, Limpopo province, South Africa. A total of 3124 CVD hospital admissions records were obtained from two hospitals from 1 June 2009 to 31 December 2016. Daily Tapp was calculated using nearby weather station measurements. The association was modelled using a distributed lag non-linear model with a negative binomial regression over a 21-day lag period. The fraction of morbidity attributable to non-optimal Tapp, i.e., cold (6–25 °C) and warm (27–32 °C) Tapp was reported. We found an increase in the proportion of admissions due to CVDs for warm and cold Tapp cumulatively over 21 days. Increasing CVD admissions due to warm Tapp appeared immediately and lasted for two to four days, whereas the lag-structure for the cold effect was inconsistent. A proportion of 8.5% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 3.1%, 13.7%) and 1.1% (95% CI: −1.4%, 3.5%) of the total CVD admissions was attributable to cold and warm temperatures, respectively. Warm and cold Tapp may increase CVD admissions, suggesting that the healthcare system and community need to be prepared in the context of global temperature changes.
Switchable photovoltaic effect in bilayer graphene/BiFeO3/Pt heterostructures

We report the switchable photovoltaic effects in graphene/BiFeO3/Pt heterostructures. Pure phase polycrystalline BiFeO3 films were deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates by pulse laser deposition. A bilayer graphene was transferred onto the BiFeO3 film which serves as transparent conducting electrodes. The heterostructures showed switchable photovoltaic effect depending on ferroelectric polarization directions indicating depolarization field induced separation of photo-generated carriers. The open circuit voltage (VOC) and short circuit current density (JSC) were measured to be ∼110 mV, ∼92 μA/cm2 in positive polarity and similar values were obtained when the polarity was reversed. The JSC and VOC also showed rapid response (<100 ms) as a function of light exposure time.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness Moderates the Age-Related Association Between Executive Functioning and Mobility: Evidence From Remote Assessments

Abstract Background and Objectives In older adults, executive functions are important for daily-life function and mobility. Evidence suggests that the relationship between cognition and mobility is dynamic and could vary according to individual factors, but whether cardiorespiratory fitness reduces the age-related increase of interdependence between mobility and cognition remains unexplored. Research Design and Methods One hundred eighty-nine participants (aged 50–87) were divided into 3 groups according to their age: middle-aged (MA; <65), young older adults (YOA; 65–74), and old older adults (OOA; ≥75). Participants performed Timed Up and Go and executive functioning assessments (Oral Trail Making Test and Phonologic verbal fluency) remotely by videoconference. Participants completed the Matthews questionnaire to estimate their cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 max in ml/min/kg). A 3-way moderation was used to address whether cardiorespiratory fitness interacts with age to moderate the relationship between cognition and mobility. Results Results showed that the cardiorespiratory fitness × age interaction moderated the association between executive functioning and mobility (β = −0.05; p = .048; R2 = 17.6; p < .001). At lower levels of physical fitness (<19.16 ml/min/kg), executive functioning significantly influenced YOA’s mobility (β = −0.48, p = .004) and to a greater extent OOA’s mobility (β = −0.96, p = .002). Discussion and Implications Our results support the idea of a dynamic relationship between mobility and executive functioning during aging and suggest that physical fitness could play a significant role in reducing their interdependency.
Spectral moments in the homogeneous electron gas

We present calculations of the lowest three moments of the spectral function of the one-particle Green’s function of the unpolarized three-dimensional homogeneous electron gas, which are related to the exact ground-state properties via commutation relations. The moments are, in turn, related to the coefficients in the expansion of the self-energy in inverse powers of the frequency. The zeroth-order term in this expansion can be written in terms of the momentum distribution function, while the first-order term consists of a local term which can be written in terms of the pair correlation function or static structure factor, and a nonlocal term. We use data from diffusion quantum Monte Carlo calculations to evaluate the zeroth-order term and the local part of the first-order term. We have also examined local-field approximations to the self-energy, finding that they do not affect the zeroth-order term in the high-energy expansion, but they substantially alter the first-order term. The nonlocal part of the second-order term has been evaluated using a wave function consisting of a single determinant of plane waves. Our results provide additional benchmarks for self-energy theories of the homogeneous electron gas.
Willingness to Pay for Down Syndrome Screening: A systematics Review

Background:Financial ability to pay has a unique role in the accessibility of health care services, which indicates the necessity of raising enough funds by governments. However, how much households are willing to pay (WTP) for receiving a particular service? And what factors influence their WTP? The current systematic review aimed to, firstly, review studies on the WTP for Down syndrome (DS) screening, and, secondly, to identify factors that affect WTP for DS screening. Methods:We systematically searched the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Sciences (ISI), and Embase databases to identify relevant studies from their inception to June 2020; the search strategy was updated on December 2021. Initially, 157 articles were identified, and 5 were found eligible for full-text review. In event of any disagreement, a third reviewer was used. Extracted WTPs were converted to US dollars in 2018 using exchange rate parity and the present value formula to make a comparison. The quality assessment of the selected studies was done using the "Lancsar and Louvier" and Smith checklist; also, vote counting was used to assess the influence of factors. Results:Five eligible studies, published from 2005 to 2020, were fully reviewed. All final studies were scored as good quality. The extracted WTPs varied from $169 to $1118 in UK and Canada, respectively. Income and information/knowledge about screening tests were the most frequently investigated factors. Education level, detection rate, women's age, cost, and family history were significantly associated with higher levels of WTP for DS screening. Conclusion:This study demonstrated a significant gap in WTP for DS screening in various countries. Women are WTP higher costs for tests with higher screenings. Also, a unique role was identified for income, occupation, information, and family history of DS in WTP for DS screening. In addition, a positive association was found for the variable of age.
LARGE-SCALE CORTICAL NETWORK COORDINATION: A PROPOSAL FOR THE NEURAL SUBSTRATE OF EXPECTANCY

Optimal human behavior depends on the expectancy of future events based on perceptual analysis of an individual's present situation using knowledge gained from past experience. This article explores the proposition that the neural processes underlying perceptual analysis, knowledge retrieval, and expectancy are all integrated through the coordination of large-scale networks of the cerebral cortex. It is proposed that expectancy is created when local networks expressing knowledge of the likely future events associated with an individual's present situation are coordinated as part of large-scale networks expressing the totality of knowledge relations concerning the situation.
Determination of volumes of mass standards by weighings in air

A method is described to determine the volume of a mass standard from weighings made in air of differing density against a reference volume artefact. Standard uncertainties in volume of 2 parts in 105 (at 1 kg) or better are readily achievable with this method, using adequate measuring facilities. The advantages of the method are that volume determination and mass calibration may be carried out simultaneously and that the mass standard is subjected to a variation in air density of only ±5 % or less, compared with conventional hydrostatic weighing methods where the mass standard is immersed in water. Examples are presented of the use of the method for confirming values assigned to mass standards and for full volume determination, together with uncertainty calculations.
A 360º sustainable approach of sport events legacies: A systematic review

Researchers recognise the importance of the legacies and impacts generated by sport events, both in the host city and globally. In turn, there are many actors who participate in them, both directly and indirectly, and who are affected, both positively and negatively, by them. This research aims to identify and compile the existing scientific literature on the legacy, heritage, and related concepts, such as impact and/or leverage, of sport events. To this end, a systematic literature review was carried out, focusing the search on Web of Science, Scopus, Pub Med, and Sport Discus, where 35 articles were finally collected, in which the sum of 44 sport events were studied. It was identified that the most studied types of events were the Olympic Games and World Championships. In relation to the types of legacies, sport stands out, while in the types of impacts, sport and economic impacts stand out. It can be deduced from this research that, although there is a great deal of interest in the subject, there is still a need to go deeper into the concepts to reach a consensus on them, thus being able to achieve more solid results.
Molecular Characterization of Streptococcus Pneumoniae from Patients Diagnosed with Pneumonia: Recommendation for Vaccination Program

Background: Infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) have remained a significant public health concern worldwide. In developed countries, the highest prevalence of S. pneumonia has been reported among the elderly. The aim of this study was to evaluate the coverage of genotypes in the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) in the Iranian elderly population. Methods: A total of 41 isolates of S. pneumoniae were collected in the current retrospective cross-sectional study. The samples comprised 33 inpatients hospitalized for pneumococcal pneumonia and 8 outpatients. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to categorize the bacteria isolated into specific genotypes. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software, and the chi-square test was used to assess the statistical significance in percentages. Results: A total of 68 genotypes were identified in this study, in which 39 isolates (57.3%) were associated with invasive infections. The most common genotypes were 6A/B [8 (19.5%)], 1 [7 (17.5%)], 14 [5 (12.2%)], and 19A [4 (9.75%)], respectively. The coverage rates of PCV-7, PCV-10, and PCV-13 vaccines were 51.17%, 70.7%, and 99.9%, respectively. According to our results, the pneumococcal coverage rate of PCV-7, PCV-10, and PCV-13 vaccine types is estimated to be 51.2%, 70.7%, and 99.9%, respectively. Furthermore, the trend of pneumococcal serotypes included in the PCV-13 was steadily increasing during the study period. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the most circulating pneumococcal serotypes were in accordance with specific serotypes included in the PCV-13 vaccine types. Therefore, including PCV-13 vaccines in immunization programs against pneumococcus in the elderly can effectively reduce the rate of infections.
The Influence of Full-Time Holistic Support Delivered by a Sports Nutritionist on Within-Day Macronutrient Distribution in New Zealand Provincial Academy Rugby Union Players

Dietary intake is an important consideration for rugby union (‘rugby’) players to ensure substrate provision for optimal performance and facilitate recovery. Within-day meal distribution is especially important for athletes, particularly those with congested schedules and multiple daily training sessions. In the present study, 10 provincial academy rugby players engaged in a holistic support protocol informed by behaviour-change techniques led by a full-time sports nutritionist. Dietary intake was estimated during a 4-week monitoring and 4-week intervention period using the remote food photography method on one high-volume training day (two training sessions) and two low-volume training days (≤1 training session) per week. Lean body mass did not change significantly in response to the intervention. Significant increases were observed for protein on both low-volume (breakfast, AM snack, evening snack) and high-volume (post-gym, AM snack, evening snack) training days. Carbohydrate intake post-intervention was significantly greater at the pre-gym eating occasion but lower at PM snack and dinner eating occasions on high-volume days. These data suggest that incorporating a holistic support protocol led by a sports nutritionist can influence within-day nutrient intake in rugby players; however, no change to lean body mass was observed, and the influence of these changes in nutrient intake on performance and recovery warrants further investigation.
Groupwise surface correspondence using particle filtering

To obtain an effective interpretation of organic shape using statistical shape models (SSMs), the correspondence of the landmarks through all the training samples is the most challenging part in model building. In this study, a coarse-tofine groupwise correspondence method for 3-D polygonal surfaces is proposed. We manipulate a reference model in advance. Then all the training samples are mapped to a unified spherical parameter space. According to the positions of landmarks of the reference model, the candidate regions for correspondence are chosen. Finally we refine the perceptually correct correspondences between landmarks using particle filter algorithm, where the likelihood of local surface features are introduced as the criterion. The proposed method was performed on the correspondence of 9 cases of left lung training samples. Experimental results show the proposed method is flexible and under-constrained.
Prognostic Value of Combined Biomarkers in Patients With Heart Failure: The Heartmarker Score

Background Heart failure (HF) biomarkers have prognostic value. The aim of this study was to combine HF biomarkers into an objective classification system for risk stratification of patients with HF. Methods HF biomarkers were analyzed in a population of HF outpatients and expressed relative to their cut-off values (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP] >1,000 pg/mL, soluble suppression of tumorigenesis-2 [ST2] >35 ng/mL, growth differentiation factor-15 [GDF-15] >2,000 pg/mL, and fibroblast growth factor-23 [FGF-23] >95.4 pg/mL). Biomarkers that remained significant in multivariable analysis were combined to devise the Heartmarker score. The performance of the Heartmarker score was compared to the widely used New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification based on symptoms during ordinary activity. Results HF biomarkers of 245 patients were analyzed, 45 (18%) of whom experienced the composite endpoint of HF hospitalization, appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock, or death. HF biomarkers were elevated more often in patients that reached the composite endpoint than in patients that did not reach the endpoint. NT-proBNP, ST2, and GDF-15 were independent predictors of the composite endpoint and were thus combined as the Heartmarker score. The event-free survival and distance covered in 6 minutes of walking decreased with an increasing Heartmarker score. Compared with the NYHA classification, the Heartmarker score was better at discriminating between different risk classes and had a comparable relationship to functional capacity. Conclusions The Heartmarker score is a reproducible and intuitive model for risk stratification of outpatients with HF, using routine biomarker measurements.
Are Progressives in Denial About Progress? Yes, but So Is Almost Everyone Else

Scott Lilienfeld warned that psychology’s ideological uniformity would lead to premature closure on sensitive topics. He encouraged psychologists to question politically convenient results and did so himself in numerous areas. We follow Lilienfeld’s example and examine the empirical foundation beneath claims that positive illusions about societal change sustain inequalities by inducing apathy and opposition to reform. Drawing on data from a large-scale survey, we find almost the opposite: a pervasive tendency, across ideological and demographic categories, to see things as getting worse than they really are. These results cast doubt on functionalist claims that people mobilize beliefs about societal trends to support political positions and suggest a simpler explanation: Most laypeople do not organize information in ways that provide reliable monitoring of social change over time, which makes their views on progress susceptible to memory distortions and high-profile current events and political rhetoric.