Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Empirical Studies of the Effect of Flood Risk on Housing Prices

Abstract : The Principles and Guidlines for Water and Related Land Resources Implementation Studies (P&G) provide that the reduction of flood damages should not be claimed as a benefit of evacuation or relocation because they are already accounted for in the fair market value of floodplain properties. Corps guidance for implementing the P&G explains further that "it would be double-counting to also consider the costs of the physical damages. " Yet the assumption that the value of floodplain properties is discounted for flood damages has never been empirically established. This study reviewed existing academic studies and conducted two case studies of hedonic price models. Hedonic price models measure the effect of property attributes upon the overall property value. While the findings are insufficient to show that properties are or are not discounted for flood damages, they show that many attributes affect floodplain property values (e.g., flood insurance, location within the floodplain and income) and that these attributes likely will vary from community to community. These findings bring into question the assumption that all properties are discounted for flood damages.
Characterising historic ecological conditions in lowland rivers : applying palaeoecological techniques to river restoration planning

It is widely recognized that anthropogenic activities have resulted in significant changes to the ecology and hydromorphology of riverine ecosystems globally. Across much of lowland England a number of riverine habitats and the flora and fauna inhabiting them, have been lost or disadvantaged by historic channel modifications. Many of the most significant modifications took place in the decades following World War II, in a drive to increase food security through improved land drainage and associated flood management. A better understanding of the geomorphological, hydrological and biodiversity elements that have been compromised or lost is required in order to characterise the benefits of planned measures to restore and reinstate channel form and function for EU WFD, Habitats Directive and other conservation designations (e.g. SSSI condition assessments). To generate this understanding in an environment where natural processes have been impacted over large spatial scales, an innovative palaeoecological approach is employed in this thesis that provides a window on historic riverine ecology and habitat conditions so that the contemporary channel and community inhabiting it can be gauged prior to the implementation of river restoration programmes. The analysis of historic archival material (maps, photographs, local authority and management records), and the detailed investigation of sedimentary records and sub-fossil insect remains (Trichoptera, Coleoptera and Gastropoda) associated with in-channel bars, weirs, bridges and palaeochannels is used in this thesis in order to achieve this. These records will provide data regarding changes to the aquatic macroinvertebrate community and instream hydromorphology within specific reaches/biotopes/habitats subjected to historical physical modification. The historic data (documents and palaeoenvironmental data) is analysed in parallel with contemporary data on instream habitats and faunal community composition to define benchmark conditions on three Site of Special Scientific Interest rivers. This approach enables a comparison between past and present channel hydromorphology and the instream faunal communities. The characterisation of benchmarks provides a baseline for future conservation and restoration policies within riverine ecosystems that can be used to help define pre-impacted or reference conditions. The research presented in this thesis has relevance to the conservation objectives of rivers with special designations (e.g. SSSI and Habitats Directive) for wildlife and to meeting the wider requirements of the Water Framework Directive.
Probabilistic Urban Link Travel Time Estimation Model Using Large-Scale Taxi Trip Data

Accurate estimation and prediction of urban link travel times are critical for urban traffic operations and management. This paper develops a probabilistic mixture model to estimate urban link travel times using large-scale taxi trip data. Unlike typical Global Positioning System (GPS) trace data, the taxi trip data used in this study provide limited trip level information, which contain only the locations of origin and destination, travel times and distances, etc. The focus of this study is to develop a robust probabilistic link travel time estimation model and demonstrate the feasibility of estimating network conditions from large-scale origin-destination (OD) level trip data. In the model, the path taken by a taxi is considered as latent and taxi drivers’ route choice behaviors are modeled using a multinomial logit distribution. The observed path data given the possible paths set and the link travel time parameters can be thus characterized using a mixture distribution. An efficient solution approach based on expectation-optimization (EM) algorithm is proposed to solve the problem. The model is tested on estimating the distribution of the link travel times for 30 min time periods using real-world data from Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Robust estimation results are obtained owing to the adoption of a probabilistic framework.
COVID-19 vaccines and autoimmune disorders: A scoping review protocol

Background - Two years into the global vaccination program, important questions about the association between COVID-19 vaccines and autoimmune diseases have arisen. A growing number of reports have documented associations between COVID-19 vaccination and autoimmunity, suggesting, for example, a causal link between vaccination and new-onset and/or relapsing autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Graves disease, and Hashimoto s thyroiditis. These autoimmune phenomena have occurred with various COVID-19 vaccines and research is required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and causal directions, for example, whether persons with no history of autoimmune disorders may experience them upon vaccination or persons with autoimmune disorders may experience exacerbation or new adverse events post-vaccination. Methods and analysis - Specific objectives of this scoping review will address the following questions: Can COVID-19 vaccination trigger and/or exacerbate autoimmune disorders? Are persons with autoimmune disorders at higher risk of experiencing additional autoimmune disorders? What are the mechanisms connecting autoimmune disorders with COVID-19 vaccination? Can COVID-19 vaccination interact with immunosuppressive therapy in persons with autoimmune disorders? Does the risk of autoimmune disorders following COVID-19 vaccination differ by vaccine type, age, gender, or other still unidentified characteristics (e.g., SES)? What is the consensus of care concerning COVID-19 vaccination in persons with autoimmune disorders and what evidence informs it? Our review will follow Arksey and O Malley s (2005) framework, enhanced by Levac et al. s team-based approach (2010), and adhering to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. To capture the broadest range of perspectives on the phenomenon of interest, data will be synthesized through numerical summaries describing general characteristics of included studies and thematic analysis. Subgroup analysis of primary outcomes will be performed to compare findings according to 1) the previous existence of autoimmune disorder, 2) the presence of relevant co-morbidities, 3) vaccine type; and other relevant factors that we may encounter as the research proceeds. Significance - COVID-19 has triggered the largest vaccination campaign in history, targeting literally the global human community. Drug safety is a crucial aspect of any medical intervention, critical to a proper assessment of the balance of risks and benefits. Our investigation should yield information useful to improve medical and public health practice in multiple ways, including assisting in clinical decision-making, policy development, and ethical medical practice.
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School teacher counselors are at higher risk of burnout than individuals in other occupations due to individual. interpersonal. and organizational factors. Burnout teacher counselors are a liability to the school. students. colleagues. and themselves. On the contrary, engaged teachers feel strong and vigorous at work. are enthusiastic and optimistic about the work they do and are ve/~Voften immersed in that work. Using Utrecht (2003) Work Engagement Model and the Maslach and Leiter (1997) Model of Burnout, the study explored the effect of teacher counselor burnout on their work engagement. The research design adopted was a cross sectional survey employing both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The target population included all the 102 teacher counselors in secondary schools in Thika West district Kiambu County in Kenya. Data was collected using two main questionnaires adaptedfrom Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Data analysis utilized the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) 15.0 to explore significant relations among the research variables. using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The Pearson Product Moment ofCorre/ation Co-efficient }vas used to determine the extent of ass ociati 011 between burnout and work engagement. at alpha level of 0.05 (a. = 0.05). The study generated empirical evidence on the effect of burn out on the work engagement of teacher counselors within Kenyan secondary schools. There was a strong significant inverse correlation (r=-0.508, p<0.05) between work engagement and burnout. The regression model suggests that burnout is a significant predictor of work engagement among teacher counselors and explains 25.8% of the variation in work engagement. The findings could benefit school head teachers. policymakers as well as teacher counselors and form a basis forfuture research in this field.
Transition metal doped WSi2N4 monolayer for water splitting electrocatalysts: a first-principles study

High-performance water splitting electrocatalysts are urgently needed in the face of the environmental degradation and energy crisis. The first principles method was used in this study to systematically examine the electronic characteristics of transition metal (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Ru) doped WSi2N4 (TM@WSi2N4) and its potential as oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts. Our study shows that the doping of TM atoms significantly improves the catalytic performance of TM@WSi2N4, especially Fe@WSi2N4 shows a low overpotential (η OER = 470 mV). Interestingly, we found that integrated-crystal orbital Hamilton population and d-band center can be used as descriptors to explain the high catalytic activity of Fe@WSi2N4. Subsequently, Fe@WSi2N4 exhibits the best hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity with a universal overpotential of 47 mV on N1 sites. According to our research, Fe@WSi2N4 offers a promising substitute for precious metals as a catalyst for overall water splitting with low OER and HER overpotentials.
Differences between migrasome, a ‘new organelle’, and exosome

The migrasome is a new organelle discovered by Professor Yu Li in 2015. When cells migrate, the membranous organelles that appear at the end of the retraction fibres are migrasomes. With the migration of cells, the retraction fibres which connect migrasomes and cells finally break. The migrasomes detach from the cell and are released into the extracellular space or directly absorbed by the recipient cell. The cytoplasmic contents are first transported to the migrasome and then released from the cell through the migrasome. This release mechanism, which depends on cell migration, is named ‘migracytosis’. The main components of the migrasome are extracellular vesicles after they leave the cell, which are easy to remind people of the current hot topic of exosomes. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles wrapped by the lipid bimolecular layer. With extensive research, exosomes have solved many disease problems. This review summarizes the differences between migrasomes and exosomes in size, composition, property and function, extraction method and regulation mechanism for generation and release. At the same time, it also prospects for the current hotspot of migrasomes, hoping to provide literature support for further research on the generation and release mechanism of migrasomes and their clinical application in the future.
An insight into biosensing platforms used for the diagnosis of various lung diseases: A review

Many of the infectious diseases are ubiquitous in nature and pose a threat to global and public health. The original cause for such type of serious maladies can be summarized as the scarcity of appropriate analysis and treatment methods. Pulmonary diseases are considered one of the life‐threatening lung diseases that affect millions of people globally. It consists of several types, namely, asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and several respiratory‐related infections. This is due to the limited access to well‐equipped healthcare facilities for early disease diagnosis. This needs the availability of processes and technologies that can help to stop this harmful disease‐diagnosing practice. Various approaches for diagnosing various lung diseases have been developed over time, namely, autopsy, chest X‐rays, low‐dose CT scans, and so forth. The need of the hour is to develop a rapid, simple, portable, and low‐cost method for the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases. So nowadays, biosensors have been becoming one of the highest priority research areas as a potentially useful tool for the early diagnosis and detection of many pulmonary lung diseases. In this review article, various types of biosensors and their applications in the diagnosis of lung‐related disorders are expansively explained.
The Observed Effects of Utility-Scale Photovoltaics on Near-Surface Air Temperature and Energy Balance

Utility-scale solar power plants are a rapidly growing component of the renewable energy sector. While most agree that solar power can decrease greenhouse gas emissions, the effects of photovoltaic (PV) systems on surface energy exchanges and near-surface meteorology are not well understood. This study presents data from two eddy covariance observational towers, placed within and adjacent to a utility-scale PV array in southern Arizona. The observational period (October 2017–July 2018) includes the full range of annual temperature variation. Average daily maximum 1.5-m air temperature at the PV array was 1.3°C warmer than the reference (i.e., non-PV) site, whereas no significant difference in 1.5-m nocturnal air temperature was observed. PV modules captured the majority of solar radiation and were the primary energetically active surface during the day. Despite the removal of energy by electricity production, the modules increased daytime net radiation Q* available for partitioning by reducing surface albedo. The PV modules shift surface energy balance partitioning away from upward longwave radiation and heat storage and toward sensible heat flux QH because of their low emissivity, low heat capacity, and increased surface area and roughness, which facilitates more efficient QH from the surface. The PV modules significantly reduce ground heat flux QG storage and nocturnal release, as the soil beneath the modules is well shaded. Our work demonstrates the importance of targeted observational campaigns to inform process-based understanding associated with PV systems. It further establishes a basis for observationally based PV energy balance models that may be used to examine climatic effects due to large-scale deployment.
Physical activity in Georgia state parks: A pilot study

This pilot study assessed the role of Georgia State Parks in the promotion of physical activity among different racial/ethnic and age groups. Data were collected at three state parks in north Georgia during the summer of 2009 using two research methods: behavior observations (N=2281) and intercept surveys (N=473).
Delayed awakening and its associated factor following general anesthesia service, 2022: a cross-sectional study

Background: The time to emerge from anesthesia is affected by patient factors, anesthetic factors, the duration of surgery, and preoperative and intraoperative pain management. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and contributing factors of delayed awakening following general anesthesia. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2022. After getting ethical approval with the permission number S/C/R 37/01/2022, willing patients participate with written informed consent. Chart reviews in the preoperative and postoperative recovery rooms were used to collect data. Frequency and percentage with cross-tabulation were used to provide the descriptive statistics. To determine the predictive variables that were associated with the outcome variable, bivariable, and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted. The statistical significance was evaluated using P-values of 0.05 for multivariable regression. Results: In the current study, a normal emergency occurred in 91.7% of surgical patients receiving general anesthesia, while delayed awakening, emergence with hypoactive, and emergence with delirium occurred in 2.6, 3.9, and 1.8% of cases, respectively. Patients older than 64 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.33, 95% CI: 0.83–7.191], being diploma anesthesia providers (AOR: 2.38, 95% CI: 2.05–7.15), opioids (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 2.20–5.76), surgery lasting longer than 2 h (AOR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.83–6.14), estimated blood loss of more than 1500 ml (AOR: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.62–11.30), crystalloid administration of more than 3000 ml (AOR: 3.12, 95% CI: 2.19–7.32), intraoperative hypotension (AOR: 3.37, 95% CI: 2.93–9.41) and extreme body weight, were significantly linked to delayed awakening after general anesthesia. Conclusion: Although delayed emergence is an uncommon condition with a number of contributing causes, it is preventable, and once it has occurred, it presents a challenge for anesthetists.
Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase-1 alleles associated with increased risk of ankylosing spondylitis reduce HLA-B27 mediated presentation of multiple antigens

Abstract Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic systemic arthritic disease that leads to significant disability and loss of quality of life in the ∼0.5% of the worldwide human population it affects. There is currently no cure for AS and mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis remain unclear. AS is highly genetic, with over 70% of the genetic risk being associated with the presence of HLA-B27 and endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase-1 (ERAP1) alleles. Furthermore, gene-gene interactions between HLA-B27 and ERAP1 AS risk alleles have recently been confirmed. Here, we demonstrate that various ERAP1 alleles can differentially mediate surface expression of antigens presented by HLA-B27 on human cells. Specifically, for all peptides tested, we found that an ERAP1 variant containing high AS risk SNPs reduced the amount of the peptide presented by HLA-B27, relative to low AS risk ERAP1 variants. These results were further validated using peptide catalysis assays in vitro, suggesting that high AS risk alleles have an enhanced catalytic activity that more rapidly destroys many HLA-B27-destined peptides, a result that correlated with decreased HLA-B27 presentation of the same peptides. These findings suggest that one mechanism underlying AS pathogenesis may involve an altered ability for AS patients harboring both HLA-B27 and high AS risk ERAP1 alleles to correctly display a variety of peptides to the adaptive arm of the immune system, potentially exposing such individuals to higher AS risk due to abnormal display of pathogen or self-derived peptides by the adaptive immune system.
Self-formation of concentric zones of telencephalic and ocular tissues and directional retinal ganglion cell axons

The telencephalon and eye in mammals are originated from adjacent fields at the anterior neural plate. Morphogenesis of these fields generates telencephalon, optic-stalk, optic-disc, and neuroretina along a spatial axis. How these telencephalic and ocular tissues are specified coordinately to ensure directional retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon growth is unclear. Here, we report self-formation of human telencephalon-eye organoids comprising concentric zones of telencephalic, optic-stalk, optic-disc, and neuroretinal tissues along the center-periphery axis. Initially-differentiated RGCs grew axons towards and then along a path defined by adjacent PAX2+ VSX2+ optic-disc cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing of these organoids not only confirmed telencephalic and ocular identities but also identified expression signatures of early optic-disc, optic-stalk, and RGCs. These signatures were similar to those in human fetal retinas. Optic-disc cells in these organoids differentially expressed FGF8 and FGF9; FGFR inhibitions drastically decreased early RGC differentiation and directional axon growth. Through the RGC-specific cell-surface marker CNTN2 identified here, electrophysiologically excitable RGCs were isolated under a native condition. Our findings provide insight into the coordinated specification of early telencephalic and ocular tissues in humans and establish resources for studying RGC-related diseases such as glaucoma.
A Coxsackievirus B1-mediated nonlytic Extracellular Vesicle-to-cell mechanism of virus transmission and its possible control through modulation of EV release.

Like most non-enveloped viruses, CVB1 mainly uses cell lysis to spread. Details of a nonlytic virus transmission remain unclear. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) transfer biomolecules between cells. We show that CVB1 entry into HeLa cells results in apoptosis and release of CVB1-induced 'medium-sized' EVs (CVB1i-mEVs). These mEVs (100-300 nm) harbour CVB1 as shown by immunoblotting with anti-CVB1-antibody; viral capsids were detected by transmission electron microscopy and RT-PCR revealed CVB1 RNA. The percentage of mEVs released from CVB1-infected HeLa cells harbouring virus was estimated from TEM at 34 %. Inhibition of CVB1i-mEV production, with calpeptin or siRNA knockdown of CAPNS1 in HeLa cells limited spread of CVB1 suggesting these vesicles disseminate CVB1 virions to new host cells by a nonlytic EV-to-cell mechanism. This was confirmed by detecting CVB1 virions inside HeLa cells after co-culture with CVB1i-mEVs; EV release may also prevent apoptosis of infected cells whilst spreading apoptosis to secondary sites of infection.