Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bank return heterogeneity, do governance, sentiment, and uncertainty matter?

Abstract This paper examined the impacts of; investor sentiment, governance, and uncertainty on bank stock returns in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region countries. The sample consisted of 173 conventional and Islamic banks based in the MENA region and 68 conventional and Islamic banks based in the GCC region from 2010–2020. Also, this study employed the Two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator. The selection of this estimator prevented endogeneity issues related to the variables used in this study. This research found that individual sentiment and uncertainty negatively affected bank stock returns while governance positively influenced bank stock returns. The regression coefficients from the interaction of the governance indicators and conventional banks variable showed a positive and significant effect on bank stock returns in the MENA region, except for the interaction of the rule of law and voice and accountability in conventional banks, showing a negative effect. The GCC countries showed similar results. However, the outcomes were insignificant. Regarding the control variables, the loan ratio and inflation were negative, and bank size and the GDP showed positive and significant effects on bank stock returns throughout all models, excluding the loan ratio and bank size in the GCC region. Overall, the banking sectors of the MENA region countries were sensitive to; investor sentiment, uncertainty, and country-level governance indicators.
ASYMMETRIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND TERMS OF TRADE VOLATILITY: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

This article intends to investigate the non-linear relationship between government spending and terms of trade volatility in the selected East Asian and Southeast Asian countries. According to the Rodrik's compensation hypothesis, government spending and trade shocks are positively correlated. On the other hand, conventional hypothesis contends that trade shocks and government spending are inversely related. Applying the Threshold Autoregressive Error Correction Model (TARECM) to annual time series data spanning the years 1980 through 2019 allows us to evaluate the veracity of these hypotheses. For six of the 9 countries we chose, we discover an asymmetric relationship between volatility in terms of trade and government spending. This suggests that the findings support the compensation hypothesis. However, for the other 3 countries, the association between terms of trade volatility and government spending seems to be in line with conventional theory. JEL Classification: C23; C33; F15; H5; H11 Keywords: Government spending, Terms of trade Volatility, Asymmetric relationship, TARECM, East Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
Fine Altitude Resolution Radar Observations of Upper-Tropospheric and Lower-Stratospheric Winds and Waves

Abstract Preliminary results of wind velocity measurements made using the Arecibo 430 MHz radar are presented. These measurements were made in the altitude range between 10 and 30 km, with a time resolution of 1–2 min, and an improved altitude resolution of 150 m. A few interesting phenomena such as a quasi-stationary wavy structure and short period sinusoidal oscillations are discussed.
Applied Logistic Regression Analysis

Series Editor's Introduction Author's Introduction to the Second Edition 1. Linear Regression and Logistic Regression Model 2. Summary Statistics for Evaluating the Logistic Regression Model 3. Interpreting the Logistic Regression Coefficients 4. An Introduction to Logistic Regression Diagnosis Ch 5. Polytomous Logistic Regression and Alternatives to Logistic Regression 6. Notes Appendix A References Tables Figures
Persistent inequalities in consultation incidence and prevalence of low back pain and osteoarthritis in England between 2004 and 2019

Abstract Objective We wanted to determine whether socioeconomic inequalities in primary care consultation rates for two major, disabling musculoskeletal conditions in England narrowed or widened between 2004 and 2019. Methods We analysed data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum, a national general practice electronic health records database, linked to national deprivation ranking of each patient’s registered residential postcode. For each year, we estimated the age- and sex-standardized consultation incidence and prevalence for low back pain and OA for the most deprived 10% of neighbourhoods through to the least deprived 10%. We then calculated the slope index of inequality and relative index of inequality overall and by sex, age group and geographical region. Results Inequalities in low back pain incidence and prevalence over socioeconomic status widened between 2004 and 2013 and stabilized between 2014 and 2019. Inequalities in OA incidence remained stable over socioeconomic status within the study period, whereas inequalities in OA prevalence widened markedly over socioeconomic status between 2004 and 2019. The widest gap in low back pain incidence and prevalence over socioeconomic status was observed in populations resident in northern English regions and London and in those of working age, peaking at 45–54 years. Conclusion We found persistent, and generally increasing, socioeconomic inequalities in the rate of adults presenting to primary care in England with low back pain and OA between 2004 and 2019.
Probabilistic phonotactics and levels of processing and representation in spoken word recognition: When is a word not a word?

Vitevitch and Luce (1998, 1999) hypothesize that two levels of processing—lexical and sub‐lexical—are involved in spoken word recognition. Competition is observed at the lexical level: Words and nonwords with low phonotactic probability/sparse neighborhoods are responded to more quickly than stimuli with high‐phonotactic probability/dense neighborhoods. Facilitation is observed at the sub‐lexical level: Nonwords with high‐phonotactic probability/dense neighborhoods are responded to more quickly than nonwords with low‐phonotactic probability/sparse neighborhoods. Nonwords can be processed at either level, whereas words predominantly compete with each other at the lexical level. However, the present experiment demonstrates that words can be processed at a sub‐lexical level. Target words varying in phonotactic probability/neighborhood density were presented in a same–different task with varying proportions of word and nonword pairs. When the stimulus set consisted mostly of word pairs, competition was observ.
Collisional evolution of trans‐Neptunian object populations in a Nice model environment

Almost 20 years of observations of the trans-Neptunian region have shed light on the overall dynamical structure of the trans-Neptunian object (TNO) populations and absolute magnitude distributions. The TNO region can be inserted in the global frame of the dynamical evolution of the giant planets, as described by the Nice model. Any reliable collisional evolution model should account for dynamical effects and should produce results that meet the constraints imposed by current observables. With this aim, we have developed a code package [Asteroid-LIke Collisional ANd Dynamical Evolution Package (alicandep)], which is a collisional evolution code that includes statistical elimination of objects by dynamical effects within the frame of a disc migrating and gradually dynamically exciting, as well as the dynamical migration of objects between regions. Moreover, we included the possibility to distinguish between dynamically cold and hot bodies in the main classical belt and to keep track of primordial bodies in the whole region. Finally, we performed a large number of numerical simulations varying physical parameters, boundary and initial conditions, in order to match the current observables and the dynamical conditions of the Nice model. Our results are in agreement with those observables and can explain the flattened size distributions in the 30–100 km size range. This allows us to constrain the original mass of the belt (not less than 50 M⊕), which is compatible with initial shallow size distributions below 100 km. alicandep also finds an extremely high probability for the existence of at least one more large (>1700 km) object yet to be discovered in the outer belt. This model supports the reliability of the Nice model, and it can be a suitable tool to statistically study many features of the trans-Neptunian region.
Innovative Learning in Improving High-Order Thinking Skills and Communication Skills: A Systematic Review

This study aimed to overview learning strategies to create learning innovation that can improve students' high-order thinking and communication skills in science learning. This research was classified as a systematic review. The data used in this study was secondary. This study's 15 secondary data sources consist of books, proceedings, and scientific articles in reputable journals. The data analysis using Miles & Huberman analysis technique. Data analysis includes data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. The result of this study is that problem-based learning and inquiry-based instruction is learning strategies that can improve students' high-order thinking skills. The learning strategy that can improve students' communication skills is problem-based learning. High-order thinking skills and communication skills can influence each other. It was hoped that with this research, innovative learning centered on learning models and learning media could be developed so that students have high-order thinking and communication skills with good categories in future education.
Vertical-Velocity Skewness in the Buoyancy-Driven Boundary Layer

Abstract A number of puzzling features of the skewness of the vertical velocity field, Sw(z), are found in observations and large-eddy simulations (LES) of the buoyancy-driven planetary boundary layer (PBL). For example, observations of Sw(z) in cases where the air is heated from below indicate that Sw(z) > 0 and remains relatively constant for z ≳ 0.3zi, whereas all large-eddy simulations of these cases show a continuing increase of Sw(z) with height. In cases where the air is both heated from below and cooled from above, as in some of the stratus-topped PBL cases, large-eddy simulations show a rather curious feature: Sw is positive in the upper layer and negative in the lower layer. In considering these features, it occurred to us that a theoretical model of what one should expect of the skewness distribution, even in simple situations, did not exist. Hence in the present paper we examine the skewness distributions from direct numerical simulations of several simple archetypes of buoyancy-driven turbule.
Dynamic problems of thermoelasticity

is classified. In Chapter 3, Dynamic Resonances v = (p/q)a>, the author discusses forced resonances of linear and nonlinear single-degree-of-freedom systems including effects of frequency passage through resonance, interactions of response with a forcing excitation of limited power, and hysteretic damping. In Chapter 4, Parametric Main Resonance, the author examines the Euler column with a pulsating end load including effects of nonlinearities, viscoelasticity, and passage through resonance. In Chapter 5, Combination Additive Resonances, a thin beam acted upon by pulsating end moments, a shallow arch, and a nonlinear three-degree-of-freedom spring mass system are studied. Many resonances are found at forcing frequencies equal to the sums of various natural frequencies. In Chapter 6, Combination Differential Resonances, a cantilever beam under a pulsating follower end load, and a rotating gyroscope are examined. Here, resonances occur mainly at differences of the natural frequencies. In Chapter 7, Internal (Autoparametric) Resonances, the author discusses first the behavior of a spring pendulum involving nonlinear coupling of extensional motion with the angular motion, and then the nonlinear coupling of breathing and flexural modes of vibration in a cylindrical shell. Finally, in Chapter 8, Parametric Main and Combination Resonance Oscillations in Structures, the author discusses some of his experimental work with plates and cylindrical shells. The section dealing with shells shows some interesting examples of combination additive resonances.
Thematic and Land Subsidence Maps of the Lagoon of Venice from ERS SAR Interferometry

Within the Co.Ri. La. project 3.2 on Hydrodynamics and Morphology, interferometric radar images from the ERS-1/2 satellites from 1993 to 2000 have been used to generate a subsidence map of the Lagoon of Venice. The SAR interferometric land subsidence map pictures very well the different displacement rates of the various compartments of the Lagoon. The SAR interferometric displacement map is discussed in comparison to the levelling results available through the ISES project. A geocoded thematic map of the Lagoon of Venice at 30 m resolution is also presented.
Investigation of oscillations in katabatic Prandtl slope flows

Dynamically unstable katabatic Prandtl slope flows are studied via numerical simulations and spectral analysis. Results confirm the presence of aperiodic temporal and spatial oscillations in the flow fields due to the emergence and propagation of flow instabilities. Damped en masse oscillations are observed to dominate the initial oscillatory stage of laminar katabatic slope flows. Stationary longitudinal rolls, which are dominant at shallow slopes, are observed to meander with increasing stratification perturbation parameter and the average distance between the rolls exhibits a strong dependence on slope inclination for slope angles less than 35∘$$ 3{5}^{\circ } $$ . At much steeper slopes, traveling slope waves emerge and they are transported at the mean jet velocity. Both types of instability rolls coexist for certain combinations of dimensionless parameters, forming intricate structures that break into smaller eddies as the flow becomes more dynamically unstable. In the dynamically unstable nonturbulent regime, en masse oscillations are insignificant, but their normalised frequency can be used to discern the type of flow instability.
Assessment of plankton diversity of Tlawng River at Reiek Kai in Mizoram, Northeast India

Plankton is a collective term for various organisms that drift in the open water of the sea or freshwater, lakes and ponds (Thurman, 1997). They constitute an important component of the pelagic community and are one of the most rapid detectors of environmental change through their quick response to toxins and other chemicals (Needham, 1972). The planktons are moved by currents and are easily affected by the presence of favorable condition, which serves as a convenient index to the pelagic community and thus depicts the condition of the area (Latha, 2014). The sensitivity and fluctuation in plankton species composition are usually a suitable explanation to demonstrate the alteration within an ecosystem (Biligrami, 1988). Normally, it is found that any slight alteration in environmental status can change diversity until there is no adaptation or gene flow from nonadaptive sources. The present work deals with the diversity and distribution pattern of plankton in Tlawng river at Reiek Kai, one of the longest rivers in Mizoram.
Surface migration induced self‐aligned InAs islands grown by molecular beam epitaxy

We utilize the sensitivity of the two‐ to three‐dimensional growth transition of InAs self‐assembled islands on InAs coverage to demonstrate the growth of self‐aligned InAs islands on etched GaAs ridges by molecular beam epitaxy. The different migration behavior of In adatoms on different crystal planes of etched ridges is used to spatially modulate the supply of In adatoms. The ridges are oriented either along the [011] and [011] direction on (100) substrates with grating spacing of 0.28, 1, and 5 μm. Atomic force microscopy reveals that the InAs islands are self‐aligned along the ridges and they have a typical size of 400 A in diameter and 120 A in height. In samples with [011] oriented ridges, the islands are located on the sidewalls. On the other hand, for [011] oriented ridges the islands are on the (100) planes on and at the foot of the mesa. On samples with a grating pitch of 0.28 μm, all the islands are located either on the sidewalls or at the bottom of the ‘‘V groove’’ for both grating orienta.
A Multicontinuum Theory for Thermal-Elastic Finite Element Analysis of Composite Materials

Structural analysis of composite materials is severely limited by the lack of constituent information. This information is generally unavailable due to the continuum hypothesis associated with the geometric scale of the problem. Micromechanics has been the traditional approach to achieving insights into constituent behavior in a composite material. However, modelling micromechanical details in a structural application is frequently impractical. In this paper, by example of linear elasticity, we suggest a viable bridge between structural analysis and micromechanics. The approach utilizes detailed finite element models of a representative volume element as a one-time preprocessor to characterize the structural stiffness of the material. This information is used to implement an analytical expression for constituent stress and strain fields (in the continuum sense) as a function of the structural fields in a conventional finite element analysis. The computational premium is minimal while the benefits and additional insights regarding constituent behavior are significant. Numerical results for constituent as well as structural fields are presented for thermal-elastic behavior of a composite plate with a hole. The results indicate dramatic differences in the constituent stress fields for a comparable structural stress caused by thermal and mechanical loads, respectively. A brief discussion of the potential extension to in-elastic analysis is also included.
MIMO system reduction using modified pole clustering and genetic algorithm

A new mixed method for reducing the order of the large-scale linear dynamic multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems has been presented. In this method, the common denominator polynomial of the reduced-order transfer function matrix is synthesized by using modified pole clustering while the coefficients of the numerator elements are computed by minimizing the integral square error between the time responses of the original and reduced system element using Genetic Algorithm. The modified pole clustering generates more dominant cluster centres than cluster centres obtained by pole clustering technique already available in literature. The proposed algorithm is computer-oriented and comparable in quality. This method guarantees stability of the reduced model if the original high-order system is stable. The algorithm of the proposed method is illustrated with the help of an example and the results are compared with the other well-known reduction techniques.
The Role of the GH/IGF1 Axis on the Development of MAFLD in Pediatric Patients with Obesity

The anomalies of the Growth Hormone (GH)/Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF1) axis are associated with a higher prevalence of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) and with a more rapid progression towards fibrosis, cirrhosis, and end-stage liver disease. A total of 191 adolescents with obesity [12–18 years] were consecutively enrolled between January 2014 and December 2020 and underwent liver biopsy to diagnose MAFLD severity. In all patients GH, IGF1 and Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP3) were measured. Patients with inflammation and ballooning have significantly lower values of GH and IGF1 than those without (GH: 5.4 vs. 7.5 ng/mL; IGF1 245 vs. 284 ng/mL, p < 0.05). GH and IGF1 were also negatively correlated with fibrosis’ degree (r = −0.51, p = 0.001, and r = −0.45, p = 0.001, respectively). Only GH correlated with TNF-a (r = −0.29, p = 0.04) and lobular inflammation (r = −0.36, p = 0.02). At multivariate regression, both GH and IGF1 values, after adjustment for age, sex and BMI, were negatively associated with HOMA-IR but above all with fibrosis (GH→β = −2.3, p = 0.001, IGF1→β = −2.8, p = 0.001). Even in the pediatric population, a reduction of GH input in the liver directly promotes development of de novo hepatic lipogenesis, steatosis, fibrosis and inflammation. The possible role of recombinant GH administration in adolescents with obesity and severe MAFLD deserves to be studied.
Application of ALFA-Tagging in the Nematode Model Organisms Caenorhabditis elegans and Pristionchus pacificus

The detection, manipulation and purification of proteins is key in modern life sciences studies. To achieve this goal, a plethora of epitope tags have been employed in model organisms from bacteria to humans. Recently, the introduction of the rationally designed ALFA-tag resulted in a highly versatile tool with a very broad spectrum of potential applications. ALFA-tagged proteins can be detected by nanobodies, the single-domain antibodies of camelids, allowing for super-resolution microscopy and immunoprecipitation in biochemical applications. Here, we introduce ALFA-tagging into the two nematode model organisms Caenorhabditis elegans and Pristionchus pacificus. We show that the introduction of the DNA sequence, corresponding to the 13 amino acid sequence of the ALFA-tag, can easily be accommodated by CRISPR engineering. We provide examples of high-resolution protein expression in both nematodes. Finally, we use the GW182 ortholog Ppa-ain-1 to show successful pulldowns in P. pacificus. Thus, the ALFA-tag represents a novel epitope tag for nematode research with a broad spectrum of applications.
Optical properties of human tendons characterized by PSOCT and their relation to tendinopathy: a clinical study

Polarisation-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PSOCT) is a non destructive technique with great potential for tendinopathy diagnosis. Functional optical assessment can be used in operating theatres to delineate in depth the margin of the non-healthy area, and limit the amount of tissue to be removed. A clinical study of 21 patients has been undertaken to correlate the optical properties of tendons to their clinical conditions. Tendons were scanned ex vivo with a fibre based time domain PSOCT. The beam from a superluminescent diode with a bandwidth of 52nm is sent through a polarizer and a polarizer modulator, and split into a sample and reference arm. After passing through polarization beam splitter, the interferences fringes are detected with two balanced detectors, for horizontal and vertical polarization. Scattering, birefringence and in depth stokes vectors are extracted from the measurements. Direct microstructural variation and changes in scattering properties are correlated with different tendinopathy and presence of scar tissue, which is cross-validated by histology. Lack of tissue organization, detected as the disappearance of the bands of birefringence, is representative of tendon degeneration. Special attention is paid to the difference between crimp patterns of different patient's tendons. As in polarization microscopy, the crimp pattern appears as extinction bands, and is particularly important as its alteration is generally symptomatic and could be used as an early diagnosis. Its optical origin is investigated by varying polarization and scanning conditions.