Home Energy Efficiency and Mortgage Risks: Research funded by the Institute for Market Transformation

Many have theorized that energy efficient homes should have lower default risks than standard homes because the former are associated with lower energy costs, which leaves more money to make the mortgage payment. However, few empirical studies have been conducted due to limited data availability. This study examines actual loan performance data obtained from CoreLogic, the lending industry's leading source of such data. To assess whether residential energy efficiency is associated with lower default and prepayment risks, a national sample of about 71,000 ENERGY STAR- and non-ENERGY STAR-rated single-family home mortgages was carefully constructed, accounting for loan, household, and neighborhood characteristics.The study finds that default risks are on average 32 percent lower in energy-efficient homes, controlling for other loan determinants. This finding is robust, significant, and consistent across several model specifications. A borrower in an ENERGY STAR residence is also one-quarter less likely to prepay the mortgage. Within ENERGY STAR-rated homes, default risk is lower for more energy-efficient homes. The lower risks associated with energy efficiency should be taken into consideration when underwriting mortgages

Clues from Crouzon: Insights into the potential role of growth factors in the pathogenesis of myelinated retinal nerve fibers.

PurposeWe present a case of bilateral extensive peripapillary myelinated retinal nerve fibers (MRNF) in an individual with Crouzon syndrome, an inherited form of craniosynostosis caused by overactivation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. As a secondary aim, we examine the utility of optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography for visualization of peripapillary vasculature obscured by myelination on other imaging modalities.MethodsA 24-year-old woman with Crouzon syndrome was evaluated for suspected optic neuritis in the right eye.ResultsFunduscopic examination and photography revealed the incidental finding of bilateral extensive peripapillary MRNF. OCT angiography provided excellent visualization of peripapillary retinal vessels, which were partially obscured by myelination on other imaging modalities.ConclusionsThis association of Crouzon syndrome with bilateral peripapillary MRNF may lend insight into the developmental control of optic nerve myelination, the pathogenesis of MRNF, and the potential role of growth factors in these processes. Further, OCT angiography allowed for excellent blood vessel visualization in this case of MRNF

Evaluating cingulin expression in classical and basal subtypes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by immunofluorescence

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) comprises 90% of pancreatic cancers and has a 5-year survival rate of only 11%. PDAC was discovered to have a classical and basal subtype based on similar gene expression profiles. The classical subtype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with a more defined cell polarity and has a better prognosis and response to current treatments than the basal tumor subtype. We hypothesize that classical tumors have a more defined cell polarity, based on cingulin localization pattern and expression, compared to basal tumors Through this research, we hope to establish a link between cingulin expression and PDAC subtype. This link could help open new potential treatment targets based on cell polarity in the future. We conducted immunofluorescence staining and confocal imaging for cingulin using 3 lines of cryosectioned classical tumor tissue, 3 lines of basal tumor tissue, and 3 lines of classical organoids. Our results after visually comparing fluorescence levels showed no significant difference in cingulin expression between the classical versus basal PDAC tumors.Bachelor of Science in Public Healt

The Patient's Guide to Psoriasis Treatment. Part 4: Goeckerman Therapy.

BackgroundThe Goeckerman regimen remains one of the oldest, most reliable treatment options for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Goeckerman therapy currently consists of exposure to ultraviolet B light and application of crude coal tar. The details of the procedure can be confusing and challenging to understand for the first-time patient or provider.ObjectiveTo present a freely available online guide and video on Goeckerman treatment that explains the regimen in a patient-oriented manner.MethodsThe Goeckerman protocol used at the University of California-San Francisco Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center as well as available information from the literature were reviewed to design a comprehensive guide for patients receiving Goeckerman treatment.ResultsWe created a printable guide and video resource that covers the supplies needed for Goeckerman regimen, the treatment procedure, expected results, how to monitor for adverse events, and discharge planning.ConclusionThis new resource is beneficial for prospective patients planning to undergo Goeckerman treatment, healthcare providers, and trainees who want to learn more about this procedure. Online media and video delivers material in a way that is flexible and often familiar to patients

The Effect of Using the Chatgpt Application in Improving Students' Mathematical Communication Skills and Learning Interests

Abstract: In mathematics education, efforts should enable students to communicate their ideas and understanding. Through mathematical communication, teachers can assess the extent of students' comprehension of a subject matter. Additionally, interest is needed in learning, as interest fundamentally influences learning outcomes. The method used is a quasi-experimental method, also known as a pseudo-experiment. In this study, the experimental group is the group that received instruction using the ChatGPT application, while the control group received conventional instruction. The results obtained are as follows: (1) Paired sample t-test with a significance value (2-tailed) of 0.000 < 0.05, so H0 is rejected and H1 is accepted. Because H0 is rejected and H1 is accepted, it can be concluded that there is a significant difference in the pretest and posttest results in the experimental class in terms of students' mathematical communication abilities. The conclusions drawn from this research are as follows: (1) There is a difference in the mathematical communication abilities and learning interest of students who were taught using the ChatGPT-assisted material compared to conventional instruction, (2) There is an improvement in the learning interest of students who used the technology-based ChatGPT application in the experimental class compared to the control class using conventional instruction, (3) The ChatGPT application demonstrates vital criteria in enhancing students' mathematical communication abilities and learning interest because it allows students to discuss mathematical concepts in everyday language

Pencapaian auditori kanak-kanak pengguna implan koklea di bawah Program Implan Koklea Kebangsaan

Implan koklea merupakan pilihan intervensi utama untuk mereka yang bermasalah pendengaran sensorineural pada tahap yang teruk dan sangat teruk. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengukur pencapaian auditori dalam kalangan kanak-kanak bermasalah pendengaran pralingual yang telah memakai alat implan koklea menggunakan pengukuran terus persepsi terhadap pertuturan (objektif) dan soal selidik ibu bapa (subjektif) serta mengenal pasti faktor demografi yang signifikan menyumbang kepada pencapaian mereka. Seramai 48 orang kanak-kanak daripada Program Implan Koklea di bawah Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) yang berumur pendengaran antara 12 hingga 89 bulan (min = 42.60 ± 19.46 bulan) terlibat dalam kajian ini. Ujian persepi pertuturan dijalankan menggunakan ujian-ujian yang dipilih daripada Evaluation of Auditory Response to Speech (EARS) versi Bahasa Melayu manakala penilaian ibu bapa terhadap pencapaian kanak-kanak dikumpulkan melalui soal selidik Parents’ Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH) versi Bahasa Melayu. Stimulus pertuturan terakam dipersembahkan kepada kanak-kanak dalam medan bebas pada kekuatan bunyi 65 dB SPL dalam bilik terawat bunyi. Keputusan ujian persepsi pertuturan kemudian dikategorikan menggunakan Indeks Kategori Pencapaian Auditori versi Bahasa Melayu (My-CAPI) yang mempunyai 10 kategori bermula daripada ‘0’ hingga ‘9’. Keputusan menunjukkan kebanyakan subjek (N = 20, 41.7%) berada pada kategori ‘2’ dalam tahap My-CAPI (persepsi pertuturan set tertutup yang terhad), manakala tiga orang subjek mencapai kategori maksimum ‘9’ (persepsi pertuturan set terbuka yang tinggi dalam situasi bising). Mod komunikasi adalah satu-satunya faktor demografi yang signifikan berkorelasi dengan My-CAPI dan skor PEACH (p < 0.01). Koefisyen korelasi Pearson menunjukkan perhubungan yang kuat di antara skor PEACH dan My-CAPI (p < 0.01; r = 0.71) mencadangkan soal selidik PEACH boleh memberikan indikasi prestasi auditori jika ujian pertuturan tidak dapat dijalankan. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan majoriti kanak-kanak implan koklea yang diuji belum mencapai prestasi auditori yang memberangsangkan dan penggunaan komunikasi lisan merupakan faktor utama yang dikaitkan dengan pencapaian auditori yang lebih baik

The MUSCLES Treasury Survey. V. FUV Flares on Active and Inactive M Dwarfs

M dwarf stars are known for their vigorous flaring. This flaring could impact the climate of orbiting planets, making it important to characterize M dwarf flares at the short wavelengths that drive atmospheric chemistry and escape. We conducted a far-ultraviolet flare survey of 6 M dwarfs from the recent MUSCLES (Measurements of the Ultraviolet Spectral Characteristics of Low-mass Exoplanetary Systems) observations, as well as 4 highly-active M dwarfs with archival data. When comparing absolute flare energies, we found the active-M-star flares to be about 10$\times$ more energetic than inactive-M-star flares. However, when flare energies were normalized by the star's quiescent flux, the active and inactive samples exhibited identical flare distributions, with a power-law index of -$0.76^{+0.1}_{-0.09}$ (cumulative distribution). The rate and distribution of flares are such that they could dominate the FUV energy budget of M dwarfs, assuming the same distribution holds to flares as energetic as those cataloged by Kepler and ground-based surveys. We used the observed events to create an idealized model flare with realistic spectral and temporal energy budgets to be used in photochemical simulations of exoplanet atmospheres. Applied to our own simulation of direct photolysis by photons alone (no particles), we find the most energetic observed flares have little effect on an Earth-like atmosphere, photolyzing $\sim$0.01% of the total O$_3$ column. The observations were too limited temporally (73 h cumulative exposure) to catch rare, highly energetic flares. Those that the power-law fit predicts occur monthly would photolyze $\sim$1% of the O$_3$ column and those it predicts occur yearly would photolyze the full O$_3$ column. Whether such energetic flares occur at the rate predicted is an open question.Comment: Accepted to ApJ. v2 fixed some transposed errors, added PDF To