Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Impact of Fintech and GDP on Bank Performance: Global Evidence

Using the World Bank Global Findex Database for 91 countries in 2014, 2017, and 2021, we examine whether fintech levels influence bank performance and whether fintech’s interaction with GDP per capita causes differential effects on bank performance globally. Since fintech levels were already very high for rich countries when the World Bank started providing fintech development statistics in 2014, we estimate AbFintech through regressing fintech levels on GDP per capita by year. AbFintech is the difference between the fintech level and its fitted values. Then, using multiple regression analyses, we investigate the impact of AbFintech on bank performance worldwide, focusing on the differential effects of AbFintech and GDP levels on bank performance. We find AbFintech significantly increases bank performance, primarily in less developed countries. Specifically, AbFintech increases banks’ ROA in the least developed countries and net interest margin in 75th percentile countries. Also, AbFintech decreases the cost-to-income ratio in 75th percentile countries, while it increases the ratio in the most developed countries. The resulting policy implication is that banks in less developed countries benefit most from investing in fintech innovation since they can provide a broader customer base, including formerly unbanked or underbanked customers, with more convenient services at lower costs.
Revealing the Individual Effects of Firing Temperature and Chemical Composition on Raman Parameters of Celadon Glaze

The Raman polymerization index (or IP value) is often used as a positive indicator of the firing temperature of the glazes of ancient ceramics. Previous studies have also reported that the IP value was negatively correlated with the chemical composition of the glaze. However, these findings were derived from data on the potential integrative effects of temperature and composition. To explore their individual effects, we prepared celadon glaze samples with controlled composition and firing temperatures. Particularly, according to the typical content of K2O and CaO in celadon glaze, four categories, or, in total, fifteen compositional formulations, were designed, and each formulation was fired at multiple temperatures (from 1180 to 1250 °C by 10 °C). The chemical compositions and the glassy matrix of samples were analyzed by an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. A positive correlation between firing temperature and IP value (correlation coefficient = 0.56) was detected only in the samples with low contents of K2O and CaO. However, no significant correlation was found when combining the samples with broad variation in chemical composition. Additionally, both the K2O content and CaO content were negatively related to the IP value, with regression coefficients of −9.645 and −5.332, respectively. Our results help to clarify the technology of ancient ceramic production and to improve its preservation.
The Effects of Short-Term Exposure to pH Reduction on the Behavioral and Physiological Parameters of Juvenile Black Rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii)

Simple Summary The reduction in seawater pH as a consequence of ocean acidification has resulted in a considerable challenge for the adaptation of fish. The effects of pH fluctuations in coastal regions on offshore fish are not fully understood in terms of their behavioral and physiological responses. In the present study, we aimed to examine the consequences of a brief period of reduced pH levels on the behavioral and physiological performance of juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii). The findings revealed that juvenile black rockfish could withstand changes in pH, but there was a significant impact on their activity state and metabolic levels. The present study will enhance our understanding of the behavioral and physiological responses of costal fish (the black rockfish, in this case) to acidic conditions. Abstract Coastal areas are subject to greater pH fluctuation and more rapid pH decline as a result of both natural and anthropogenic influences in contrast to open ocean environments. Such variations in pH have the potential to pose a threat to the survival and physiological function of offshore fishes. With the aim of evaluating the impact of short-term pH reduction on the behavioral performance and physiological response of costal fish, the black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii), one of the principal stock-enhanced species, was examined. In the present study, juveniles of the black rockfish with a mean body length of 6.9 ± 0.3 cm and weight of 8.5 ± 0.5 g were exposed to a series of pHs, 7.0, 7.2, 7.4, 7.6, 7.8, and normal seawater (pH 8.0) for 96 h. At the predetermined time points post-exposure (i.e., 0, 12, 24, 48, and 96 h), fish movement behavior was recorded and the specimens were sampled to assess their physiological responses. The results indicate that the lowered pH environment (pH 7.0–7.8) elicited a significant increase in highly mobile behavior, a decrease in immobile behavior, and a significant rise in the metabolic levels of the black rockfish juveniles. Specifically, carbohydrate metabolism was significantly elevated in the pH 7.2 and 7.4 treatments, while lipid metabolism was significantly increased in the pH 7.0, 7.4, and 7.8 treatments. The results of the present study indicate that short-term reductions in pH could ramp up boldness and boost energy expenditure in the black rockfish juveniles, leading to an increased metabolic cost. Additionally, the present investigation revealed that the black rockfish juveniles were capable of adapting to a short-term pH reduction. The findings may provide insight into the underlying physiological mechanisms that govern fish responses to potential decreases in seawater pH in the future.
Channel Modeling and Quantization Design for 3D NAND Flash Memory

As the technology scales down, two-dimensional (2D) NAND flash memory has reached its bottleneck. Three-dimensional (3D) NAND flash memory was proposed to further increase the storage capacity by vertically stacking multiple layers. However, the new architecture of 3D flash memory leads to new sources of errors, which severely affects the reliability of the system. In this paper, for the first time, we derive the channel probability density function of 3D NAND flash memory by taking major sources of errors. Based on the derived channel probability density function, the mutual information (MI) for 3D flash memory with multiple layers is derived and used as a metric to design the quantization. Specifically, we propose a dynamic programming algorithm to jointly optimize read-voltage thresholds for all layers by maximizing the MI (MMI). To further reduce the complexity, we develop an MI derivative (MID)-based method to obtain read-voltage thresholds for hard-decision decoding (HDD) of error correction codes (ECCs). Simulation results show that the performance with jointly optimized read-voltage thresholds can closely approach that with read-voltage thresholds optimized for each layer, with much less read latency. Moreover, the MID-based MMI quantizer almost achieves the optimal performance for HDD of ECCs.
Community Perceptions on the Critical Success Factors of Hotels’ Community-Based Corporate Social Responsibility

This paper examines community as the consumer of community-related corporate social responsibility (CSR). It empirically investigates the critical success factors of CSR within the context of tourism from the community perspective because, for CSR activities that are targeted towards them, understanding their perspective could not be more necessary. The study narrowed the gap of knowledge by testing twelve critical success factors proposed in the literature on 267 target respondents in Langkawi, Malaysia and analysed the data using PLS. The sample was drawn using a qualifying question from communities known to have participated in previous hotel CSR activities. The findings revealed that, from a community standpoint, just four of the recommended twelve variables were crucial to the performance of community-related CSR in Langkawi’s hotel industry. These variables were general community development, law and social norms, project management committee, and financial preparedness. The findings provide theoretical as well as managerial implications, which are explained in the later sections of the paper.
Arbitrary Time Shaping of Broadband Low-Coherence Light Based on Optical Parametric Amplification

Laser–plasma interactions (LPIs) hinder the interaction of high-energy laser pulses with targets. The use of broadband low-coherence light has been proposed to reduce the impact of LPIs. In this study, to improve the time–frequency characteristics of broadband low-coherence optical seeds, we proposed an arbitrary time-shaping technique scheme based on optical parametric amplification (OPA) that differs from traditional arbitrary time shaping. The shaping process and output characteristics were analyzed in detail. The theoretical and experimental results show that an arbitrary time-shaping pulse output with a large time-shaping contrast, fast-rising edge, and wide spectral width can be obtained. The time shaping contrast of the shaped pulse can be >300:1, and the spectral width is ~40 nm. The output time waveform is smoother than in traditional schemes, and the noise-like modulation is approximately 4% (approximately equal to the unshaped initial amplified spontaneous emission source). The arbitrary time-shaping scheme based on OPA provides a viable solution for the temporal waveform shaping of broadband low-coherence light.
HIV Disclosure to Infected Children Involving Peers: A New Take on HIV Disclosure in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Appropriately informing HIV-infected children of their diagnosis is a real challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Until now, there is no consensus on who ought to disclose and how to disclose. This paper describes the model for HIV status disclosure in which HIV-positive children/adolescents are informed about their diagnosis in a process conducted by young peers under healthcare worker (HCW) supervision in a hospital in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. This new take on HIV status disclosure involving peers includes four stages that help the trained peer supporters to provide appropriate counseling, taking into account the age and level of maturity of the child/adolescent: the preliminary stage, the partial disclosure stage, the full disclosure stage, and the post-disclosure follow-up stage. Of all children/adolescents whose HIV status disclosure data were documented at Kalembelembe Pediatric Hospital (KLLPH) between 2004 and 2016, we found that disclosure by peers was highly accepted by parents, children/adolescents, and health workers. Compared to children/adolescents disclosed to by HCWs or parents, children/adolescents disclosed to by peers had (a) fewer depressive symptoms reported, (b) better drug adherence resulting in higher viral load suppression, and (c) a higher proportion of survivors on treatment. We found that involving peers in the disclosure process of HIV is an important approach to ensure adherence to treatment, resilience, and mental wellbeing of HIV-infected children/adolescents.
Phytohormones Promote the Growth, Pigment Biosynthesis and Productivity of Green Gram [Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek]

Globally, optimized doses of exogenously applied growth regulators hold the potential to sustainably boost the growth and productivity of leguminous crops, including green gram. A field investigation was undertaken at the Agronomy Farm of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan in 2021–2022 to determine the highest-performing doses of foliar-applied salicylic acid (S1 = 0 and S2 = 75 ppm) and gibberellic acid (G1 = 0, G2 = 30, G3 = 60, G4 = 90 and G5 = 120 ppm) for green gram (cv. NIAB-MUNG 2011) sown under irrigated conditions in a semiarid climate. The response variables included physiological growth traits (CGR and net assimilation rate (NAR)), yield attributes (plant height (PH), PBs and the number of pods per plant−1 (NP), pod length (PL) and SW, grain (GY) and biological yields (BY), the biosynthesis of pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll along with carotenoids) and protein (P) contents. The results revealed that S2G5 remained unmatched in that it exhibited the highest crop growth rate, while it remained on par with S2G4 and S2G3 in terms of its net assimilation rate. Additionally, S2G5 maximized plant height, the number of pod-bearing branches and pods per plant, pod length, seed number per pod−1 and 1000-seed weight, which led to the highest grain yield and biological yield (104% and 69% greater than those of the control, respectively). Moreover, the same treatment combination also surpassed the rest of the treatments because it recorded the largest amounts of chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, and the P content was increased to 24% greater than that observed for the control treatment. Thus, the exogenous application of salicylic acid (75 ppm) and gibberellic acid (120 ppm) might be recommended to green gram growers to sustainably increase the plant’s yield and nutritional value, and these findings may serve as a baseline for conducting more studies to test higher doses of these growth regulators.
Low Frequency Cyclic Mechanical Loading of Till Deposits from Northern Germany under Oedometric Conditions

Glacial deposits are of significant importance to geotechnical engineers and geologists in northern Europe, North America, and Northern Asia, as vast areas of these land surfaces were historically covered with ice leading to the formation of a wide variety of till deposits. The use of these areas for various engineering purposes warrants their subjection to mechanical loads (of static and cyclic forms) from manmade structures, as well as natural hazards such as earthquakes. This paper focuses on the experimental investigation of the cyclic mechanical loading behavior of two glacial tills from northern Germany under one-dimensional loading or oedometric conditions, and in different soil wetting conditions. The experimental results show a significant dependence of the cyclic mechanical response of the glacial tills on wetting condition and number of loading cycles. The recorded values of accumulated plastic strains of the glacial tills generally increase with an increase in wetting or moisture content, with the highest measured value for the two tills being around 3.9% after 19 cycles of loading. The findings of the experimental cyclic mechanical tests of the glacial tills are discussed in view of the intrinsic soil behavior and fabric.
Prdx5 in the Regulation of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Mutation-Induced Signaling Mechanisms

(1) Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) mutations directly affect mTORC activity and, as a result, protein synthesis. In several cancer types, TSC mutation is part of the driver mutation panel. TSC mutations have been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, tolerance to reactive oxygen species due to increased thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) enzyme activity, tolerance to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and apoptosis. The FDA-approved drug rapamycin is frequently used in clinical applications to inhibit protein synthesis in cancers. Recently, TrxR inhibitor auranofin has also been involved in clinical trials to investigate the anticancer efficacy of the combination treatment with rapamycin. We aimed to investigate the molecular background of the efficacy of such drug combinations in treating neoplasia modulated by TSC mutations. (2) Methods: TSC2 mutant and TSC2 wild-type (WT) cell lines were exposed to rapamycin and auranofin in either mono- or combination treatment. Mitochondrial membrane potential, TrxR enzyme activity, stress protein array, mRNA and protein levels were investigated via cell proliferation assay, electron microscopy, etc. (3) Results: Auranofin and rapamycin normalized mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced proliferation capacity of TSC2 mutant cells. Database analysis identified peroxiredoxin 5 (Prdx5) as the joint target of auranofin and rapamycin. The auranofin and the combination of the two drugs reduced Prdx5 levels. The combination treatment increased the expression of heat shock protein 70, a cellular ER stress marker. (4) Conclusions: After extensive analyses, Prdx5 was identified as a shared target of the two drugs. The decreased Prdx5 protein level and the inhibition of both TrxR and mTOR by rapamycin and auranofin in the combination treatment made ER stress-induced cell death possible in TSC2 mutant cells.
Evaluation of Vertical Profiles and Atmospheric Boundary Layer Structure Using the Regional Climate Model CCLM during MOSAiC

Regional climate models are a valuable tool for the study of the climate processes and climate change in polar regions, but the performance of the models has to be evaluated using experimental data. The regional climate model CCLM was used for simulations for the MOSAiC period with a horizontal resolution of 14 km (whole Arctic). CCLM was used in a forecast mode (nested in ERA5) and used a thermodynamic sea ice model. Sea ice concentration was taken from AMSR2 data (C15 run) and from a high-resolution data set (1 km) derived from MODIS data (C15MOD0 run). The model was evaluated using radiosonde data and data of different profiling systems with a focus on the winter period (November–April). The comparison with radiosonde data showed very good agreement for temperature, humidity, and wind. A cold bias was present in the ABL for November and December, which was smaller for the C15MOD0 run. In contrast, there was a warm bias for lower levels in March and April, which was smaller for the C15 run. The effects of different sea ice parameterizations were limited to heights below 300 m. High-resolution lidar and radar wind profiles as well as temperature and integrated water vapor (IWV) data from microwave radiometers were used for the comparison with CCLM for case studies, which included low-level jets. LIDAR wind profiles have many gaps, but represent a valuable data set for model evaluation. Comparisons with IWV and temperature data of microwave radiometers show very good agreement.
The Importance of Measuring SARS-CoV-2-Specific T-Cell Responses in an Ongoing Pandemic

Neutralizing antibodies are considered a correlate of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19, although they are not the only contributing factor to immunity: T-cell responses are considered important in protecting against severe COVID-19 and contributing to the success of vaccination effort. T-cell responses after vaccination largely mirror those of natural infection in magnitude and functional capacity, but not in breadth, as T-cells induced by vaccination exclusively target the surface spike glycoprotein. T-cell responses offer a long-lived line of defense and, unlike humoral responses, largely retain reactivity against the SARS-CoV-2 variants. Given the increasingly recognized role of T-cell responses in protection against severe COVID-19, the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants, and the potential implementation of novel vaccines, it becomes imperative to continuously monitor T-cell responses. In addition to “classical” T-cell assays requiring the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, simple whole-blood-based interferon-γ release assays have a potential role in routine T-cell response monitoring. These assays could be particularly useful for immunocompromised people and other clinically vulnerable populations, where interactions between cellular and humoral immunity are complex. As we continue to live alongside COVID-19, the importance of considering immunity as a whole, incorporating both humoral and cellular responses, is crucial.
Effect of Post-Processing Treatment on Fatigue Performance of Ti6Al4V Alloy Manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Fatigue properties of parts are of particular concern for safety-critical structures. It is well-known that discontinuities in shape or non-uniformities in materials are frequently a potential nucleus of fatigue failure. This is especially crucial for the Ti6Al4V alloy, which presents high susceptibility to the notch effect. This study investigates how post-processing treatments affect the mechanical performance of Ti6Al4V samples manufactured by laser powder bed fusion technology. All the fatigue samples were subjected to a HIP cycle and post-processed by machining and using combinations of alternative mechanical and electrochemical surface treatments. The relationship between surface properties such as roughness, topography and residual stresses with fatigue performance was assessed. Compressive residual stresses were introduced in all surface-treated samples, and after tribofinishing, roughness was reduced to 0.31 ± 0.10 µm, which was found to be the most critical factor. Fractures occurred on the surface as HIP removed critical internal defects. The irregularities found in the form of cavities or pits were stress concentrators that initiated cracks. It was concluded that machined surfaces presented a fatigue behavior comparable to wrought material, offering a fatigue limit superior to 450 MPa. Additionally, alternative surface treatments showed a fatigue behavior equivalent to the casting material.
Unpacking the Complexities of Emotional Responses to External Feedback, Internal Feedback Orientation and Emotion Regulation in Higher Education: A Qualitative Exploration

Research suggests that unpleasant emotions induced by feedback may reduce its efficiency in enhancing students’ performance, which is a crucial issue to address in education. In the context of Chinese language instruction in higher education, this study sought to investigate how students regulate their emotions as a result of feedback through the lens of individuals’ feedback orientation. In light of the feedback orientation lens and its conceptual framework, we applied in-depth qualitative interviews to explore how students experienced feedback, the negative emotions they experienced, and the emotion regulation strategies they used. Eleven undergraduates across years one to five joined our in-depth interviews. Students reported negative emotions when they received feedback that did not live up to their expectations or was unrealistic for them to accept. However, students’ feedback orientation supported their emotion regulation techniques, which in turn supported students’ adaptive feedback processing to interpret and take action to use feedback for academic performance improvement. Students also actively sought further teacher feedback or peer support to deal with a wide range of negative emotions. These findings imply the significance of fostering in students a high level of feedback orientation and the necessity of additional empirical investigation into the relationships between feedback orientation and emotional well-being in higher education. By shedding light on how students regulate the emotions that external feedback causes in them, the study adds valuable qualitative findings to the existing literature on positive psychology research in terms of emotions and emotion regulation. It also emphasizes how crucial students’ personal feedback orientation is for improving emotional well-being in the context of feedback.