Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wannier-function approach to spin excitations in solids

We present a computational scheme to study spin excitations in magnetic materials from first principles. The central quantity is the transverse spin susceptibility, from which the complete excitation spectrum, including single-particle spin-flip Stoner excitations and collective spin-wave modes, can be obtained. The susceptibility is derived from many-body perturbation theory and includes dynamic correlation through a summation over ladder diagrams that describe the coupling of electrons and holes with opposite spins. In contrast to earlier studies, we do not use a model potential with adjustable parameters for the electron-hole interaction but employ the random-phase approximation. To reduce the numerical cost for the calculation of the four-point scattering matrix we perform a projection onto maximally localized Wannier functions, which allows us to truncate the matrix efficiently by exploiting the short spatial range of electronic correlation in the partially filled $d$ or $f$ orbitals. Our implementation is based on the full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave method. Starting from a ground-state calculation within the local-spin-density approximation (LSDA), we first analyze the matrix elements of the screened Coulomb potential in the Wannier basis for the $3d$ transition-metal series. In particular, we discuss the differences between a constrained nonmagnetic and a proper spin-polarized treatment for the ferromagnets Fe, Co, and Ni. The spectrum of single-particle and collective spin excitations in fcc Ni is then studied in detail. The calculated spin-wave dispersion is in good overall agreement with experimental data and contains both an acoustic and an optical branch for intermediate wave vectors along the [1 0 0] direction. In addition, we find evidence for a similar double-peak structure in the spectral function along the [1 1 1] direction. To investigate the influence of static correlation we finally consider $\text{LSDA}+U$ as an alternative starting point and show that, together with an improved description of the Fermi surface, it yields a more accurate quantitative value for the spin-wave stiffness constant, which is overestimated in the LSDA.
Adolescent Interpersonal Relationship Quantity and Quality, Belongingness, and Loneliness

Adolescence is a time of experiencing widespread and particularly intense feelings of loneliness. This study investigated how the quantity and quality of evolving interpersonal relationships affect adolescent feelings of belongingness to family, friends, and romantic partners, and moreover, how such relationships influence their feelings of loneliness. A total of 479 adolescents aged between 12 and 22 from a middle school, a senior high school, and a university participated in the study. A quantitative approach using structural equation modeling was employed to address the appropriateness of the hypothetical adolescent loneliness model from the perspective of belongingness. The results indicated that the hypothetical model was reliable for assessing loneliness during the three stages (early, middle, and late) of adolescence. The study found that the interaction between the quality and quantity of adolescents' interpersonal relationships with family members contributed to their feelings of belongingness to family. Similarly, interaction between relationship quality and quantity with a best friend contributed to adolescents' feelings of belongingness to their friends. Moreover, feelings of belongingness to family and friends were associated with decreased adolescents' level of loneliness. However, the results from multiple group modeling failed to demonstrate predicted differences between Adolescents' feelings of loneliness and belongingness to family and friends for the three stages of adolescence. As regards adolescents' feelings of belongingness to family, the interaction between relationship quantity and quality with one's father was more important for middle and late adolescents than for early adolescents. The findings of this study also had relevance for the individuation process of adolescence. The pursuit of friendships and romantic partners, including their increased appreciation of these relationships, was achieved without loss of connection with family members.
“We Wanted a Forever Family”: Altruistic, Individualistic, and Motivated Reasoning Motivations for Adoption Among LGBTQ Individuals

The purpose of this study was to explore motivations for adoption among a diverse sample of LGBTQ adoptive parents and prospective adopters (n = 366) who were recruited through a U.K. network of LGBTQ adoptive and foster families to complete an online survey. Quantitative analysis showed that the majority did not think that being LGBTQ would negatively influence their experience of adopting, although they were evenly split regarding the expectation of whether they would be matched with a harder-to-place child. To explore LGBTQ parents’ motivations for adoption, a thematic analysis of the qualitative data was conducted. One overarching theme was identified as seeking permanency, together with three often closely related subthemes: altruistic/moral motivation, individualistic/intrinsic motivation, and motivated reasoning. The findings reflect important changes in U.K. law since the Adoption and Children Act in 2002 permitted same-gender couples to adopt. We suggest ways to inform the recruitment of potential LGBTQ adoptive parents.
From Neurorobotic Localization to Autonomous Vehicles

The navigation of autonomous vehicles is confronted to the problem of an efficient place recognition system which is able to handle outdoor environments on the long run. The current Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and place recognition solutions have limitations that prevent them from achieving the performances needed for autonomous driving. This paper suggests handling the problem from another perspective by taking inspiration from biological models. We propose a neural architecture for the localization of an autonomous vehicle based on a neurorobotic model of the place cells (PC) found in the hippocampus of mammals. This model is based on an attentional mechanism and only takes into account visual information from a mono-camera and the orientation information to self-localize. It has the advantage to work with low resolution camera without the need of calibration. It also does not need a long learning phase as it uses a one-shot learning system. Such a localization model has already been integrated in a robot control architecture which allows for successful navigation both in indoor and small outdoor environments. The contribution of this paper is to study how it passes the scale change by evaluating the performance of this model over much larger outdoor environments. Eight experiments using real data (image and orientation) grabbed by a moving vehicle are studied (coming from the KITTI odometry datasets and datasets taken with VEDECOM vehicles). Results show the strong adaptability to different kinds of environments of this bio-inspired model primarily developed for indoor navigation.
Performance-Based Contracts , Monitoring and Fraud

We characterize the optimal contract between the risk-neutral owner of a firm and a manager, whose effort affects firm’s (long-term) performance, and who can also manipulate short-term earnings reports to influence the stock price. We show that if the owner cannot commit to a contract or an auditing policy (which are interim suboptimal), the efficient contract involves a fixed wage for the manager and a grant of options and stock shares with a long vesting period. Misreporting and thus short-term stock price manipulation happens with positive probability at the equilibrium.
Collective Action, Clientelism, and Connectivity

Backed by studies finding only limited propensity for free-riding when communities have an interest in self-provision, the last few decades have seen a surge of interest in community-based development. A major caveat to the “second wave” of collective action studies, however, is that collective action often breaks down under hierarchical social relationships. This is unfortunate news for developing countries’ rural societies, which are often entrenched in patron-client networks. Using a natural experiment found in the construction of a motorway, the article finds that clientelist relationships do not, in and by themselves, block peasant collective action. Rather, it is the interaction between clientelism and isolation that empowers patrons to block community-based projects. Peasants in connected villages face no such constraints, but instead rely on their patrons’ assistance in collective projects, making the hierarchical network an additional resource.
Specific demands and resources in the career of the Norwegian freelance musician

Background: Research indicates that there is a higher degree of mental health problems, family/work conflicts and sleep-related problems among workers in creative occupations than in other professions. Research also reveals that musicians have to deal with a relatively high degree of occupational stress. There is, however, a lack of research investigating the qualities of freelance musicians' psychosocial work environment, as well as possible protective factors for maintaining good mental health. Methods: Based on 12 in-depth interviews, we used a template analysis to examine the unique characteristics of the professional life of freelance pop and rock musicians. Results: Using the job demands-resources model as a conceptual framework, we found that an unpredictable future, threats to the family/work balance and significant amounts of external pressure were three broad contextual demands facing freelance musicians. Social support from family, fellow band members, audiences and their professional network, as well as having adequate personal resources such as entrepreneurial skills, value-anchored flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity and dedication to music making were described as important for managing life as a freelance musician. Conclusions: Musicians' psychosocial work environment and health seem to be related to the three overarching protective factors also described in resilience research: namely personal dispositions, family coherence and social resources.
Cardiovascular effects of Tacca integrifolia Ker-Gawl . extract in rats

Kitjaroennirut, N. , Jansakul, C. , and Sawangchote, P. Cardiovascular effects of Tacca integrifolia Ker-Gawl. extract in rats Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. , 2005, 27(2) : 281-289 Rhizome of Tacca integrifolia, a Thai folk medicinal herb, has been used for controlling blood pressure and improving sexual function in humans. However, the biological activities of this herb on the cardiovascular system have not yet been documented. In the present study, we investigated the cardiovascular effects of methanolic extract from the rhizome of this herb (Tacca extract). In the in vivo study, intravenous injection of the Tacca extract (0.04-40 mg/kg) caused a decrease in both mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate of anesthetized rats (Nembutal sodium, 60 mg/kg, i.p.) in a dose dependent manner. Pretreatment of the animals with muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine (1 mg/kg, i.v.), significantly reduced the hypotensive and the negative chronotropic activities of the Tacca extract. In the in vitro preparation, the Tacca extract (0.001-3 mg/ml) caused a decrease in both force and rate of spontaneous contraction of isolated atria in a dose dependent manner. These effects were reduced by preincubation of the atria with atropine (10-7 or 10-6 M). For isolated blood vessels, the Tacca extract (0.003-3 mg/ ml) caused vasodilation of endothelium-intact thoracic aortic rings pre-constricted with phenylephrine (3× ORIGINAL ARTICLE 1M.Sc.(Physiology), 2Ph.D. (Pharmacology), Assoc. Prof., Department of Physiology, 3M.Sc. (Ecology), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112 Thailand. Corresponding e-mail: nongyao.k@psu.ac. th Received, 5 July 2004 Accepted, 11 September 2004 Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. Vol.27 No.2 Mar. Apr. 2005 282 Cardiovascular effects of T. integrifolia extract in rats Kitjaroennirut, N. , et al. 10-6 M). This effect disappeared after pre-incubation of blood vessels with atropine (10-6 M) or with Nω-nitroL-arginine (3×10-4 M), or by removing the vascular endothelium. The results obtained suggest that the hypotensive and negative chronotropic effects of the Tacca extract in the rat are due to the active components acting via the muscarinic receptors at the blood vessel to cause vasodilatation by stimulating the release of nitric oxide, as well as on the muscarinic receptors at the atria to cause the decrease of both rate and force of the atrial contraction.
A Holistic Approach To Corporate Social Responsibility As A Prerequisite For Sustainable Development: Empirical Evidence

The growing importance of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility (CSR) for contemporary organizations demands appropriate holistic tools. The paper highlights how Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), a relevant holistic, i.e., soft systems approach, supports the conceptualization and management of the complex issues of CSR and sustainable development. The SSM’s key methodological tools are used: rich picture, root definitions, and conceptual models. Empirical research compares a selected sample of enterprises in the automotive industry in the Republic of Serbia, to identify possible systemically desirable and culturally feasible changes to improve their CSR behaviour through promoting their sustainable development. Some limitations of this research and of SSM application are discussed. Combining SSM with some other systems approaches, such as System Dynamics or Critical Systems Heuristics, is recommended for future research.
Possibility Using Camphene as Biorational Insecticide against the Red Palm Weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Colioptera: Curculionedae)

The Red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus(RPW) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the most important pest for the palm trees in all of the Arab Gulf area. The possible use of the terpene (Camphene) as toxic product alternative to chemical insecticide through the IPM program for controlling RPW and decreasing generating resistance phenomenon has been carried out, where there is a need for different compounds having different modes of action. Camphene is bicyclic monoterpene. It volatilizes readily at room temperature and has a pungent smell, is used in the preparation of fragrances and as a food additive for flavoring. Camphene is attractive for both male and female adults of the red palm weevil. Effect of camphene as fumigant or contact poison against different stages of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (egg, 4 instar larvae and adults) was determined, it cleared a toxic effect for all stages of the insect, especially for eggs and larvae as contact or fumigant poisons. LC50 as contact poison was 249.2, 610.1and 777.3 μl. /100 ml. , while LC50 as fumigant poison was 34 , 47.9 and 99.9 μl. /l. air on egg, 4 th larval stage and adult respectively. Median lethal concentration (LC50 concentration) of camphene induced some biological changes on treated eggs and 4 th instar larvae.
Minor revision to V 4 region SSU rRNA 806 R gene primer greatly increases detection of SAR 11 bacterioplankton

High-throughput sequencing of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) genes from marine environments is a widely applied method used to uncover the composition of microbial communities. We conducted an analysis of surface ocean waters with the commonly employed hypervariable 4 region SSU rRNA gene primers 515F and 806R, and found that bacteria belonging to the SAR11 clade of Alphaproteobacteria, a group typically making up 20 to 40% of the bacterioplankton in this environment, were greatly underrepresented and comprised <4% of the total community. Using the SILVA reference database, we found a single nucleotide mismatch to nearly all SAR11 subclades, and revised the 806R primer so that it increased the detection of SAR11 clade sequences in the database from 2.6 to 96.7%. We then compared the performance of the original and revised 806R primers in surface seawater samples, and found that SAR11 comprised 0.3 to 3.9% of sequences with the original primers and 17.5 to 30.5% of the sequences with the revised 806R primer. Furthermore, an investigation of seawater obtained from aquaria re vealed that SAR11 sequences acquired with the revised 806R primer were more similar to natural cellular abundances of SAR11 detected using fluorescence in situ hybridization counts. Collectively, these results demonstrate that a minor adjustment to the 806R primer will greatly increase detection of the globally abundant SAR11 clade in marine and lake environments, and enable inclusion of this important bacterial lineage in experimental and environmental-based studies.
Risk forecasting models and optimal portfolio selection

This study analyses, from an investor's perspective, the performance of several risk forecasting models in obtaining optimal portfolios. The plausibility of the homoscedastic hypothesis implied in the classical Markowitz model is dicussed and more general models which take into account assymetry and time varying risk are analysed. Specifically, it studies whether ARCH-type based models obtain portfolios whose risk-adjusted returns exceed those of the classical Markowitz model. The same analysis is performed with models based on the Lower Partial Moment (LPM) which take into account the assymetry in the distribution of returns. The results suggest that none of the models achieve a clearly superior average performance. It is also found that models based on semivariance perform as well as those based on the variance, but not better than, even if the evaluation criterion is based on the Reward-to-Semivariance ratio. When attention turns to the analysis of worst case performance, the results are clearly different. Models which employ LPM with a high degree of risk aversion (n>2) as the risk measure are consistently superior to those which employ a symmetric measure, either homoscedastic or heteroscedastic.
Effects of Working Capital Management and Liquidity: Evidence from the Cement Industry of Bangladesh

This paper is an attempt to investigate the effects of working capital management efficiency as well as maintaining liquidity on the profitability of corporations. For this purpose, corporations enlisted with the cement industry of Dhaka Stock Exchange have been selected and the analysis covers a time period from year 2005 to 2009. The purpose of this paper is to establish a relationship which is statistically significant, the other purpose is to help explain the necessity of firms optimizing their level of working capital management and maintaining enough liquidity as it affects the profitability. The result of this study clearly shows significant level of relationship between the profitability indices and various liquidity indices as well as working capital components.
Executive Functions in Young Adult Females with and without ADHD: Longitudinal Development and Associations with Impairment

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a male predominant neurodevelopmental disorder, with the unfortunate consequence that boys and men constitute the focus of the bulk of the extant research (Gaub & Carlson, 1997; Hinshaw & Blachman, 2005). Many studies include entirely male samples; others include too few females to conduct meaningful analyses within all-female subsamples. Thus, very little research has focused specifically on girls with this disorder, particularly with respect to neuropsychological variables. It is important to understand these topics in females, including specific neuropsychological mechanisms underlying both typical and atypical development, in order to determine core underlying mechanisms as well as to guide diagnostic and treatment-development efforts. In the present study, I utilized data from a longitudinal study of girls with and without ADHD. This investigation of a large, well-characterized, and diverse female sample currently consists of data from three time points, the first collected in childhood (ages 6-12); the second collected during adolescence (ages 12-18); and the third collected during late adolescence/young adulthood (ages 17-25). This investigation had three main aims: (1) to determine whether girls with and without childhood-defined ADHD show improvements in neuropsychological functioning over time (from childhood to adolescence to young adulthood) and whether the developmental trajectory is different for girls with ADHD versus comparison girls; (2) to assess differences in neuropsychological functioning in those whose ADHD symptoms have persisted into young adulthood versus those whose ADHD symptoms have remitted; and (3) to determine whether neuropsychological performance in adolescence mediates associations between childhood ADHD symptoms and young adult functional outcomes. Results indicated that individuals with childhood-diagnosed ADHD - who had the greatest EF impairments in childhood - showed the greatest improvement from childhood to adolescence to young adulthood relative to comparisons on some measures of EF, but similar or slower rates of development on others, controlling for key baseline comorbidities. The ability of ADHD persistent-remitted status to predict change in EF abilities was lacking, and there was no evidence of any association between improvement in EF abilities and remitted ADHD status. Mediation analyses indicated that adolescent EF mediated associations between ADHD symptoms and young adult academic achievement abilities, but no other outcomes. Such findings suggest the potential importance of EF abilities as a treatment target in ADHD in order to prevent academic difficulties.
Do Good Institutions Enhance the Effect of Technological Spillovers on Productivity? Comparative Evidence from Developed and Transition Economies

This paper argues that institutional quality has both direct and indirect (moderating) effects on productivity of countries. These hypotheses are tested using a battery of institutional proxies (governance, economic freedom, intellectual property rights and ease of doing business) and two channels for technological spillovers (trade and FDI) in a panel of developed and transition economies. The results confirm that good institutions have positive and comparable direct effects on productivity across the board. However, they moderate differently the relationship between foreign technological spillovers and productivity. Thus, governance, IPR and economic freedom exhibit negative moderation in the case of transition economies, while easiness of doing business moderates positively this relationship for both groups of countries. Further, the moderation effects are larger for transition economies and for trade-related spillovers. Overall, these results suggest a trade-off for transition countries between pursuing institutional upgrades and enjoying greater gains from technological spillovers.