Predicting Listing Prices In Dynamic Short Term Rental Markets Using Machine Learning Models

Our research group wanted to take on the difficult task of predicting prices in a dynamic market. And short term rentals such as Airbnb listings seemed to be the perfect proving ground to do such a thing. Airbnb has revolutionized the travel industry by providing a platform for homeowners to rent out their properties to travelers. The pricing of Airbnb rentals is prone to high fluctuations, with prices changing frequently based on demand, seasonality, and other factors. Accurate prediction of Airbnb rental prices is crucial for hosts to optimize their revenue and for travelers to make informed booking decisions. In this project, we aim to predict the prices of Airbnb rentals using a machine learning modeling approach. Our project expands on earlier research in the area of analyzing Airbnb rental prices by taking a methodical machine learning approach as well as incorporating sentiment analysis into our feature engineering. We intend to gain a deeper understanding on periodic changes of Airbnb rental prices. The primary objective of this study is to construct an accurate machine learning model for predicting Airbnb rental prices specifically in Austin, Texas. Our project's secondary objective is to identify the key factors that drive Airbnb rental prices and to investigate how these factors vary across different locations and property types.Comment: 40 pages, 10 tables, 12 figure

Análisis comparativo de los métodos para estimar los niveles de pobreza del Perú, 2015-2020

El propósito de la investigación es Analizar el método que más se aproxima, y a la vez, el que más diverge al cálculo de Pobreza Monetaria, utilizado por el gobierno peruano, en los años 2015-2020 e Identificar el método de estimación de pobreza que mejor explica la realidad peruana, en los años 2015-2020. Puesto que, durante el transcurrir de los años se han ido calculando múltiples cifras de índices de pobreza; sin embargo, aún no se ha podido determinar la aproximación de estos métodos a la cifra real de pobreza indicada en el Perú. Es por lo que, mediante una investigación cuantitativa, de tipo aplicada y descriptiva simple; se analizaron las diferentes variables correspondientes a cada método de estimación de pobreza y posteriormente, se realizó una contrastación de ellos, en una matriz resumen. De esta manera, los resultados indicaron que el método que más se aproxima o converge al cálculo de Pobreza Monetaria, utilizado por el gobierno peruano, en los años 2015-2020, es el Método Integrado y el método de estimación de Pobreza que mejor explica la realidad peruana, y a la vez, el que más diverge, en los años 2015-2020, es el IPM, a pesar de ser un indicador muy estricto

The Evolving Family Mealtime: Findings From Focus Group Interviews With Hispanic Mothers

Background: Background: Given the protective effects of shared family mealtimes and the importance of family in the Hispanic culture, this context should be explored further to determine how it can be leveraged and optimized for interventions. Objective: Objective: This study aimed to explore contextual factors associated with family mealtimes in Mexican and Puerto Rican families. Methods: Methods: Sixty-three mothers participated in 13 focus group interviews across four states. Thematic analysis was used to analyze transcripts. Results: Results: Sixty-three mothers participated in the focus group interviews. Seven overarching themes were identified through the thematic analysis. Themes reflected who was present at the mealtime, what occurs during mealtime, the presence of television, the influence of technology during mealtime, and how mealtimes have changed since the mothers were children. Conclusions: Conclusions: Hispanic mothers may be adapting family mealtimes to fit their current situations and needs, keeping the television and other devices on during mealtimes, and making additional meals for multiple family members to appease everyone\u27s tastes. All of these are areas that can be incorporated into existing culturally-tailored obesity prevention programs to help families lead healthier lives

PET Imaging of Extracellular pH in Tumors with \u3csup\u3e64\u3c/sup\u3eCu- and \u3csup\u3e18\u3c/sup\u3eF-Labeled pHLIP Peptides: A Structure–Activity Optimization Study

pH (low) insertion peptides (pHLIP peptides) target acidic extracellular environments in vivo due to pH-dependent cellular membrane insertion. Two variants (Var3 and Var7) and wild-type (WT) pHLIP peptides have shown promise for in vivo imaging of breast cancer. Two positron emitting radionuclides (64Cu and 18F) were used to label the NOTA- and NO2A-derivatized Var3, Var7, and WT peptides for in vivo biodistribution studies in 4T1 orthotopic tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. All of the constructs were radiolabeled with 64Cu or [18F]-AlF in good yield. The in vivo biodistribution of the 12 constructs in 4T1 orthotopic allografted female BALB/c mice indicated that NO2A-cysVar3, radiolabeled with either 18F (4T1 uptake; 8.9 ± 1.7%ID/g at 4 h p.i.) or 64Cu (4T1 uptake; 8.2 ± 0.9%ID/g at 4 h p.i. and 19.2 ± 1.8% ID/g at 24 h p.i.), shows the most promise for clinical translation. Additional studies to investigate other tumor models (melanoma, prostate, and brain tumor models) indicated the universality of tumor targeting of these tracers. From this study, future clinical translation will focus on 18F- or 64Cu-labeled NO2A-cysVar3

TUMORES ABDOMINALES EN EDAD PEDIÁTRICA. POSIBILIDADES DIAGNÓSTICAS Y TERAPÉUTICAS

Cada año se diagnostican aproximadamente 130 nuevos casos de cáncer por millón de niños. Los tumores abdominales en la edad pediátrica representan el 20% de los casos de cáncer a estas edades. Los tumores abdominales   más frecuentes  son el  neuroblastoma, el tumor de Wilms o nefroblastoma y el linfoma no hodgkin. Deben ser sospechados ante la presencia de manifestaciones clínicas específicas e inespecíficas .El signo más relevante es la  masa abdominal palpable en el abdomen, localizado  en diferentes regiones en dependencia del órgano afectado y el tipo de tumor. Los tumores abdominales en edad pediátrica se consideran una urgencia relativa por su rápido crecimiento y  diseminación. Frecuentemente pasan desapercibidos y se diagnostican tardíamente, con un pronóstico desfavorable para los pacientes.Se trazó como objetivo caracterizar el comportamiento actual  de  los tumores abdominales más frecuentes en la edad pediátrica, para ello se consultaron diversas bibliografías nacionales y extranjeras y se obtuvo como resultado que el pronóstico y la sobrevida de estos pacientes ha mejorado sustancialmente en los últimos años debido al diagnóstico oportuno, a la atención multidisciplinaria y al descubrimiento y aplicación  de nuevos tratamientos

Multifunctional Protocells for Enhanced Penetration in 3D Extracellular Tumoral Matrices.

The high density of the extracellular matrix in solid tumors is an important obstacle to nanocarriers for reaching deep tumor regions and has severely limited the efficacy of administrated nanotherapeutics. The use of proteolytic enzymes prior to nanoparticle administration or directly attached to the nanocarrier surface has been proposed to enhance their penetration, but the low in vivo stability of these macromolecules compromises their efficacy and strongly limits their application. Herein, we have designed a multifunctional nanocarrier able to transport cytotoxic drugs to deep areas of solid tumors and once there, to be engulfed by tumoral cells causing their destruction. This system is based on mesoporous silica nanocarriers encapsulated within supported lipid bilayers (SLB). The SLB avoids premature release of the housed drug while providing high colloidal stability and an easy to functionalize surface. The tumor penetration property is provided by attachment of engineered polymeric nanocapsules that transport and controllably unveil and release the proteolytic enzymes that in turn digest the extracellular matrix, facilitating the nanocarrier diffusion through the matrix. Additionally, targeting properties were endowed by conjugating an antibody specific to the investigated tumoral cells to enhance binding, internalization, and drug delivery. This multifunctional design improves the therapeutic efficacy of the transported drug as a consequence of its more homogeneous distribution throughout the tumoral tissue

Foraging Behavior and Success of a Mesopelagic Predator in the Northeast Pacific Ocean: Insights from a Data-Rich Species, the Northern Elephant Seal

The mesopelagic zone of the northeast Pacific Ocean is an important foraging habitat for many predators, yet few studies have addressed the factors driving basin-scale predator distributions or inter-annual variability in foraging and breeding success. Understanding these processes is critical to reveal how conditions at sea cascade to population-level effects. To begin addressing these challenging questions, we collected diving, tracking, foraging success, and natality data for 297 adult female northern elephant seal migrations from 2004 to 2010. During the longer post-molting migration, individual energy gain rates were significant predictors of pregnancy. At sea, seals focused their foraging effort along a narrow band corresponding to the boundary between the sub-arctic and sub-tropical gyres. In contrast to shallow-diving predators, elephant seals target the gyre-gyre boundary throughout the year rather than follow the southward winter migration of surface features, such as the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front. We also assessed the impact of added transit costs by studying seals at a colony near the southern extent of the species’ range, 1,150 km to the south. A much larger proportion of seals foraged locally, implying plasticity in foraging strategies and possibly prey type. While these findings are derived from a single species, the results may provide insight to the foraging patterns of many other meso-pelagic predators in the northeast Pacific Ocean

Ensemble Composition and Activity Levels of Insectivorous Bats in Response to Management Intensification in Coffee Agroforestry Systems

Shade coffee plantations have received attention for their role in biodiversity conservation. Bats are among the most diverse mammalian taxa in these systems; however, previous studies of bats in coffee plantations have focused on the largely herbivorous leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae). In contrast, we have virtually no information on how ensembles of aerial insectivorous bats – nearly half the Neotropical bat species – change in response to habitat modification. To evaluate the effects of agroecosystem management on insectivorous bats, we studied their diversity and activity in southern Chiapas, Mexico, a landscape dominated by coffee agroforestry. We used acoustic monitoring and live captures to characterize the insectivorous bat ensemble in forest fragments and coffee plantations differing in the structural and taxonomic complexity of shade trees. We captured bats of 12 non-phyllostomid species; acoustic monitoring revealed the presence of at least 12 more species of aerial insectivores. Richness of forest bats was the same across all land-use types; in contrast, species richness of open-space bats increased in low shade, intensively managed coffee plantations. Conversely, only forest bats demonstrated significant differences in ensemble structure (as measured by similarity indices) across land-use types. Both overall activity and feeding activity of forest bats declined significantly with increasing management intensity, while the overall activity, but not feeding activity, of open-space bats increased. We conclude that diverse shade coffee plantations in our study area serve as valuable foraging and commuting habitat for aerial insectivorous bats, and several species also commute through or forage in low shade coffee monocultures

Translating Marine Animal Tracking Data into Conservation Policy and Management

There have been efforts around the globe to track individuals of many marine species and assess their movements and distribution with the putative goal of supporting their conservation and management. Determining whether, and how, tracking data have been successfully applied to address real-world conservation issues is however difficult. Here, we compile a broad range of case studies from diverse marine taxa to show how tracking data have helped inform conservation policy and management, including reductions in fisheries bycatch and vessel strikes, and the design and administration of marine protected areas and important habitats. Using these examples, we highlight pathways through which the past and future investment in collecting animal tracking data might be better used to achieve tangible conservation benefits

Benchmarks for successful vertically extended buildings

Byggsektorn genererar årligen stora ekologiska fotavtryck genom rivning av byggnader, då behovet av allt fler byggnader ökar i städerna, men det dessvärre råder en brist på exploaterbar mark. En alternativ lösning för att staden fortfarande ska kunna växa är att bygga på höjden och på så sätt förtäta städerna. Detta görs idag ofta genom rivning av den befintliga byggnaden för att kunna ersätta den med nybyggnation, vilket inte alls är hållbart. Det är inte rimligt att riva fullt fungerande byggnader av bra kvalité enbart för att öka mängden LOA1 och BOA2. Återanvändning är nyckeln för ett mer hållbart byggande och en alternativ lösning för att öka LOA och BOA är då att genom påbyggnation addera ytterligare våningar på redan befintliga byggnader. Syftet med denna utredning är att underlätta beslutstagandet i utredandet av det befintliga beståndet. Genom att analysera byggnaders potential för påbyggnation i tidigt skede så kan riskerna minimeras för oväntade kostnader.Vi har genom en kvalitativ utredning som främst tagits fram genom intervjuer med branschkunniga, arbetat för att identifiera mönster hos fyra redan slutförda påbyggnationer som gjorts av Fabege. Vi anser att genom att identifiera de fallgropar som kan uppkomma vid arbeten med påbyggnationer som ekonomiskt och tidsmässigt kan minimera risk och förhindra problem. Detta utförs i förhoppning att uppmuntra fler byggaktörer att påbörja fler påbyggnationer, eftersom påbyggnader i dagsläget associeras med krångel och oväntade kostnader, vilket gör att många aktörer inte vågar försöka. Denna metod som tas fram blir i form av en lathund som stegvis kan följas, där samtliga centrala faktorer vilka vi i denna utredning kallar benchmarks3 gås igenom. Varje central faktor som bedömdes som avgörande för en lyckad påbyggnad klassades i skala A, B och C för hur pass viktig den faktorn ansågs för att klara av en storskalig påbyggnad. Med storskaliga påbyggnationer menar vi främst större kontorsbyggnader där cirka 4–5 våningar är aktuellt att byggas på.För att enkelt kunna göra bedömningen så inkluderar lathunden ett polärdiagram där de olika faktorerna sammanställts. Genom ifyllning av denna, utifrån den befintliga byggnadens förutsättningar kan utredaren då få en visuell överblick över vilka faktorer som kan komma att vara hinder under byggarbetets gång.Lathunden inkluderar även en stegvis beskrivning på hur processen inleds för en påbyggnation och även fördjupningspunkter som ska ses över i tidigt skede för att minimera framtida kostnader och svårigheter.Nyckeln till en lyckad påbyggnation är goda kunskaper och grundligt förarbete. Därför tar vi fram denna lathund för att upplysa vad som är viktigt att se över i tidigt skede och lägger en god grund kunskapsmässigt och översiktmässigt. Detta för att fler byggnader ska kunna prövas som potentiella påbyggnationer.The construction sector generates large ecological footprints annually through the demolition of buildings, as the need for more and more buildings increases in the cities, but unfortunately there is a shortage of exploitable land. An alternative solution for the city still being able to grow is to build on the height and thus densify the cities. This is often done today by demolition of the existing building in order to be able to replace it with new construction, which is not at all sustainable. It is not reasonable to demolish fully functional buildings of good quality only to increase the amount of LOA and BOA. Recycling is the key to a more sustainable construction and an alternative solution for increasing LOA and BOA is to add additional floors to already existing buildings by extension. The purpose of this investigation is to facilitate the decision making in the investigation of the existing stock. By analyzing the potential of buildings for upgrading at an early stage, the risks can be minimized for unexpected costs.Through a qualitative study, which was mainly produced through interviews with industry experts, we have worked to identify patterns of four already completed extensions made by Fabege. We believe that by identifying the pitfalls that can arise during construction with extension work can economically and temporally minimize risk and prevent problems. This is done in the hope of encouraging more companies in the field to start more constructions of this kind, as this type of building is currently associated with hassle and unexpected costs, which means that many players do not dare to try. This method that is developed will be in the form of a “reference card” that can be followed step by step, where all the key factors that we in this investigation call “benchmarks” are reviewed. Each central factor that was judged to be crucial for a successful extension was classified in scale A, B and C for how important this factor was considered to cope with a large-scale extension. By large-scale superstructures we mean mainly larger office buildings where approximately 4-5 floors are currently being built.To be able to easily make the assessment, the crib includes a polar diagram in which the various factors are compiled. By filling this in on the basis of the existing building's conditions, the investigator can then get a visual overview of what factors may be obstacles during the construction work.The guide also includes a step-by-step description of how the process begins for an extension and also in-depth points to be reviewed at an early stage to minimize future costs and difficulties.The key to a successful extension is good knowledge and thorough preparation. Therefore, we present this reference card to inform what is important to revise at an early stage and put a good foundation of knowledge and overview. This means that more buildings can be tested as potential additions