Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimisation of Time-Varying Asset Pricing Models with Penetration of Value at Risk and Expected Shortfall

This study aims to apply value at risk (VaR) and expected shortfall (ES) as time-varying systematic and idiosyncratic risk factors to address the downside risk anomaly of various asset pricing models currently existing in the Pakistan stock exchange. The study analyses the significance of high minus low VaR and ES portfolios as a systematic risk factor in one factor, three-factor, and five-factor asset pricing model. Furthermore, the study introduced the six-factor model, deploying VaR and ES as the idiosyncratic risk factor. The theoretical and empirical alteration of traditional asset pricing models is the study’s contributions. This study reported a strong positive relationship of traditional market beta, value at risk, and expected shortfall. Market beta pertains its superiority in estimating the time-varying stock returns. Furthermore, value at risk and expected shortfall strengthen the effects of traditional beta impact on stock returns, signifying the proposed six-factor asset pricing model. Investment and profitability factors are redundant in conventional asset pricing models.
Flexible Temporary Shield in Soft and Sensitive Clay: 3D FE Modelling of Experimental Field Test

A finite-element (FE) numerical study using PLAXIS-3D software was carried out to reproduce and validate a full-scale experimental in situ test and to investigate the earth pressure on a flexible temporary trench box shield in soft and sensitive clay soil. The excavation trench model was 6 m (20 ft) deep and was considered as nonlinear and anisotropic clay. A 45 kPa (0.94 ksf) surface overload on top of the soil near the trench box was also simulated to produce a maximum load case on the flexible wall of the shield. Both Mohr-Coulomb (MC) and hardening soil (HS) constitutive soil models were considered for FE analysis. Different values of the modulus reduction factor (MRF) and the coefficient of earth pressure at rest ( K 0 ) were considered to validate the model. For a specific shear strength profile, FE analysis with a linear elastoplastic soil model showed relatively small differences in soil pressure with the field test results along the depth of the trench. Results were also compared with the predictions of well-established analytical formulae.
FINANCIAL AVAILABILITY, INCOME GAP AND HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION RATE IN TRANSITIONAL CHINA: A THEORETICAL APPROACH AND EMPIRICAL TEST

Based on the characteristics of financial exclusion and income gap, this paper attempted to elucidate the fluctuation of China’s consumption rate through the mechanism of financial availability of low-income residents and its influence on household consumption in the reform era. The study showed that improving financial availability affects the consumption rate by increasing investment opportunities for low-income earners who can adjust the portfolio of composition. Meanwhile, this effect is affected by the income gap which plays a “threshold” role in the relationship between financial availability and consumption rate. Therefore, inclusive finance development must be adapted to economic development in order to prevent “too much finance”.
Shackling the Leviathan: balancing state and society powers against corruption

ABSTRACT Based on the relationship between the powers of the state and society, this paper aims to identify the democratic components that positively and significantly impact the perception of corruption results. The public administration and theoretical economics references focus on the themes of state, society, institutions, democracy, governance, and corruption. This investigation is a quantitative regression study based on multivariate panel data of 14 years covering 164 countries. The paper’s main contribution is the identification of scientific evidence that democratic levels related to the functioning of government and political participation have a positive and significant impact on the perception of corruption.
Statistical analysis of the impact of 2D reticle variability on wafer variability in advanced EUV nodes using large-scale Monte Carlo simulations

In this submission we describe a framework to simulate mask variability in the form of CD distributions, edge placement error distributions and edge roughness. The impact of each method on wafer variability is then simulated. The results show that assumptions of mask edge placement correlation affect the match of simulated wafer variability to experiment, and that simulated mask contributions to wafer variability are not negligible. The authors demonstrate that for a DRAM use case, wafer level variability increases with scaling, but can be reduced with mask and wafer process improvement. For a curvilinear use case it is demonstrated that the contribution of mask roughness to wafer level variation can be large compared to typical process specs.
Role of a -adrenoceptor in the regulation of glucose uptake into white

In an attempt to know the functional role of a -adrenoceptors in adipose tissue, white adipocytes (WAT) of Wistar rats were used to 1A investigate the change of glucose uptake after pharmacological activation of a -adrenoceptors. Methoxamine enhanced the uptake of 1 radioactive glucose into isolated WAT in a concentration-dependent manner. Translocation of glucose transporter (GLUT4) from cytosol to membrane was also stimulated with methoxamine. Action of methoxamine to raise glucose uptake was abolished in WAT pre-incubated with the antagonists, both tamsulosin and WB 4101, at concentrations sufficient to block a -adrenoceptors. However, 1A chlorethylclonidine (CEC), the antagonist of a -adrenoceptors, showed the inhibition of methoxamine-induced action only at a higher 1B concentration. Even under the treatment with maximal concentration of CEC, methoxamine can produce action about 80% of the vehicle-treated control. The major role of a -adrenoceptors in the stimulation of glucose uptake by methoxamine can thus be considered. 1A In the presence of specific inhibitor of phospholipase C (PLC), U73312, methoxamine-stimulated glucose uptake into WAT was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner and U73343, the negative control of U73312, did not affect the action of methoxamine. Moreover, chelerythrine and GF 109203X diminished the methoxamine-stimulated glucose uptake at a concentration sufficient to inhibit protein kinase C (PKC). Inhibition of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase) by LY294002 also abolished methoxamine-stimulated glucose uptake. Therefore, the obtained data suggest that an activation of a -adrenoceptors, presence in WAT, by agonist and / or neuro- 1A transmitter may increase the glucose uptake via PLC-PKC pathway and the activation of PI-3 kinase. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Structural Diversity of Solid Solutions Formed between 3-Chloro-trans-cinnamic acid and 3-Bromo-trans-cinnamic Acid

The formation and structural properties of solid solutions containing 3-chloro-trans-cinnamic acid (3-ClCA) and 3-bromo-trans-cinnamic acid (3-BrCA) are explored across a range of compositions. Two distinct γ-type structures of 3-ClCA/3-BrCA solid solutions and two distinct β-type structures of 3-ClCA/3-BrCA solid solutions are reported and structurally characterized. One of the γ-type structures is isostructural with the known γ polymorphs of pure 3-ClCA and pure 3-BrCA, whereas the other γ-type structure has not been observed previously for either pure 3-ClCA or pure 3-BrCA (representing a rare case in which the structure of the solid solution is not known for the pure phases of either of the constituent molecules). One of the β-type structures of the 3-ClCA/3-BrCA solid solutions is similar to the β polymorph of pure 3-ClCA, whereas the other β-type structure is similar to the β polymorph of pure 3-BrCA. The specific β-type structure formed is found to depend on the relative amounts of 3-BrCA and 3-ClC.
Zero Voltage Switching Condition in Class-E Inverter for Capacitive Wireless Power Transfer Applications

This paper presents a complete design methodology of a Class-E inverter for capacitive wireless power transfer (CWPT) applications, focusing on the capacitance coupling influence. The CWPT has been investigated in this paper, because most of the literature refers to inductive power transfer (IWPT). However, CWPT in perspective can result in lower cost and higher reliability than IWPT, because it does not need coils and related shields. The Class-E inverter has been selected, because it is a single switch inverter with a grounded MOSFET source terminal, and this leads to low costs and a simple control strategy. The presented design procedure ensures both zero voltage switching (ZVS) and zero derivative switching (ZDS) conditions at an optimum coupling coefficient, thus enabling a high transmission and conversion efficiency. The novelties of the proposed method are that the output power is boosted higher than in previous papers available in the literature, the inverter is operated at a high conversion efficiency, and the equivalent impedance of the capacitive wireless power transfer circuit to operate in resonance is exploited. The power and the efficiency have been increased by operating the inverter at 100 kHz so that turn-off losses, as well as losses in inductor and capacitors, are reduced. The closed-form expressions for all the Class-E inverter voltage and currents waveforms are derived, and this allows for the understanding of the effects of the coupling coefficient variations on ZVS and ZDS conditions. The analytical estimations are validated through several LTSpice simulations and experimental results. The converter circuit, used for the proposed analysis, has been designed and simulated, and a laboratory prototype has been experimentally tested. The experimental prototype can transfer 83.5 W at optimal capacitive coupling with operating at 100 kHz featuring 92.5% of the efficiency, confirming that theoretical and simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental tests.
The New Chinese Individual: Confronting the Divided Self in Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child

ABSTRACT Researchers have demonstrated how the image of the Chinese child has shifted from that of a political messenger in the socialist period to that of a consumer with rights in the reform era. Using the concept of the guai (“good”) child, this article expands on these understandings of the Chinese child by examining the tensions a divided self faces between balancing individual desires and societal expectations in the 21st century. Through a close semiotic analysis of the blockbuster Chinese animated film Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child (2019), we argue that the child characters Ne Zha and Ao Bing represent a new, multi-layered Chinese individual. This ideal contemporary Chinese child is an agentive critical thinker who resists traditional expectations and takes control of their future instead of blindly obeying adult authority. These characters are simultaneously individualistic and collectivist.
Identifying High-Frequency Shocks with Bayesian Mixed-Frequency VARs

We contribute to research on mixed-frequency regressions by introducing an innovative Bayesian approach. Based on a new “high-frequency” identification scheme, we provide novel empirical evidence of identifying uncertainty shock for the US economy. As main findings, we document a “temporal aggregation bias” when we adopt a common low frequency model instead of estimating a mixed-frequency framework. The bias is amplified when we identify a higher frequency shock.
Resistance of European Spring 2-Row Barley Cultivars to Pyrenophora graminea and Detection of Associated Loci

Pyrenophora graminea is the seed-borne pathogen causal agent of barley leaf stripe disease. In this work, we screened a collection of 206 spring two-row barley cultivars from Europe for their resistance to the fungal pathogen. Artificial inoculation with the highly virulent isolate Dg2 revealed a continuous variation for the incidence of infection, with few highly resistant or highly susceptible genotypes. On average, old cultivars showed higher resistance than the more modern ones. Genome-Wide Association Scan was performed by exploiting available molecular data for >4000 SNP markers and revealed a single, highly significant association on the short arm of chromosome 6H, in a genomic position where quantitative trait loci (QTL) for barley resistance to P. graminea were not detected before. Based on the last version of the reference barley genome, genes encoding for proteins with a kinase domain were suggested as candidates for the locus.
Phenetic analysis and habitat preferences of wild orchids in Gunung Gajah, Purworejo, Indonesia

Abstract. Purba THP, Chasani AR. 2021. Phenetic analysis and habitat preferences of wild orchids in Gunung Gajah Purworejo. Biodiversitas 22: 1371-1377. Orchid (Orchidaceae) is one of the largest flowering plant families comprising more than 25.000 species. Knowledge of wild orchid diversity and their habitat preferences is useful for its conservation efforts. Research of wild orchid diversity in Indonesia has been done before, however, there is still few information about phenetic analysis and habitat preferences of wild orchids in Indonesia particularly in Gunung Gajah, Purworejo, Indonesia. Therefore, our research aimed to study species diversity and phenetic relationship of wild orchids and their habitat preferences in Gunung Gajah, Purworejo. Exploration was done using purposive sampling method. Phenetic analysis was carried out using MVSP 3.1, implemented by clustering method to understand phenetic relationships and ordination by PCA method to reveal morpho-anatomical characters which determine the clustering pattern. Thirteen orchid species of subfamily Vanilloideae, Orchidoideae, and Epidendroideae were found. Two clusters were formed on dendrogram and each of them was separated into two sub-clusters. PCA analysis based on stem, leaf, and flower characters showed different clusters compared to dendrogram. Habitat preferences of wild orchids in Gunung Gajah are alkaline soil, low soil moisture, air temperature 24-29°C, and low to high light intensity. Epiphytic orchids preferences on their host tree are dominated by median and upper part of main stem.
POD Mode of Payment, Return Policies and Virtual-Try-on Technology as Predictors of Trust: An Emerging Economy Case

Abstract This study examines virtual-try-on technology (VTO), return policy, and pay-on-delivery (POD) mode of payment as predictors of trust in an online context. The study further investigates trust as an influencer of repurchase intentions while positing habit as a moderator of the relationship between trust and repurchase intention. Data was collected through a self-administered and structured questionnaire targeting online shoppers in North Indian states. A sample of 424 online shoppers was considered in this research. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the constructs. CFA was applied to calculate validity and composite reliability. To examine the hypothesized relationships, path analysis was carried out. The results confirmed that both return policies and POD are significant predictors of trust. Interestingly, VTO has no significant effect on trust, while habit strengthens the positive relationship between trust and repurchase intentions.
Microbial Safety of Black Summer Truffle Collected from Sicily and Umbria Regions, Italy

Background: Tuber aestivum Vittad. , known as black summer truffle, represents high-value food especially used as garnishment in nouvelle cuisine. The aim of this study was to investigate on the viable microbial populations associated with T. aestivum ascomata collected in different sites of Sicily and one locality of Umbria (Italy). Methods: The ripe ascomata of black summer truffles were collected from Central Italy. Cell densities of spoilage bacteria, fecal indicators, potential pathogens, yeasts, and molds were analyzed. Statistical analysis was conducted with XLSTAT software. Results: The microbiological counts of truffles ranged between 6.00 and 9.63 log Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/g for total mesophilic count and between 6.18 and 8.55 log CFU/g for total psychrotrophic count; pseudomonads were in the range 6.98-9.28 log CFU/g. Listeria spp. and coagulase-positive streptococci detected in no samples. Coagulase-negative streptococci were found in some samples with 2.11-4.76 log CFU/g levels. Yeasts and filamentous fungi were detected at consistent levels of 3.60-7.81 log CFU/g. Significant differences (p<0.01) were found between samples and also for all microbial groups. Conclusion: This study evidenced that the common brushing procedure applied for preparation of truffles is not sufficient to eliminate microbial risks for consumers. The application of an efficient decontamination treatment is strongly suggested before consumption of fresh truffles.
Predictors of Intensive Care Unit Admission among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in a Large University Hospital in Tehran, Iran

Background: The rapid increase in the spread of COVID-19 and the numbers of infected patients worldwide has highlighted the need for intensive care unit (ICU) beds and more advanced therapy. This need is more urgent in resource-constrained settings. The present study aimed to identify the predictors of ICU admission among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Study design: The current study was conducted based on a retrospective cohort design. Methods: The participants included 665 definite cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) hospitalized in Imam Hossein Hospital from February 20 to May 14, 2020. The baseline characteristics of patients were assessed, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to determine the significant odds ratio (OR) for ICU admission. Results: Participants were aged 59.52±16.72 years, and the majority (55.6%) of them were male. Compared to non-ICU patients (n=547), the ICU patients (n=118) were older, had more baseline comorbidities, and presented more often with dyspnea, convulsion, loss of consciousness, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypoxia, and less often with myalgia. Significant OR (95% CI) of ICU admission was observed for the 60-80 age group (2.42, 95%CI: 1.01; 5.79), ≥80 age group (3.73, 95%CI: 1.44; 9.42), ≥3 comorbidities (2.07, 95%CI: 1.31; 3.80), loss of consciousness (6.70, 95%CI: 2.94, 15.24), tachypnea (1.79, 95%CI: 1.03, 3.11), and SpO2<90 (5.83, 95%CI: 2.74; 12.4). Abnormal laboratory results were more common among ICU-admitted patients; in this regard, leukocytosis (4.45, 95%CI: 1.49, 13.31), lymphopenia (2.39, 95%CI: 1.30; 4.39), elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) (1.99, 95%CI: 1.04; 3.83), and increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (2.25, 95%CI: 1.18-4.30) had a significant OR of ICU admission. Chest computer tomography (CT) revealed that consolidation (1.82, 95%CI: 1.02, 3.24), pleural effusion (3.19, 95%CI: 1.71, 5.95), and crazy paving pattern (8.36, 95%CI: 1.92, 36.48) had a significant OR of ICU admission. Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, the predictors of ICU admission were identified among epidemiological characteristics, presenting symptoms and signs, laboratory tests, and chest CT findings.
Assessing Multi-Hazard Vulnerability and Dynamic Coastal Flood Risk in the Mississippi Delta: The Global Delta Risk Index as a Social-Ecological Systems Approach

The tight coupling of the social-ecological system (SES) of the Mississippi Delta calls for balanced natural hazard vulnerability and risk assessments. Most existing assessments have approached these components in isolation. To address this, we apply the Global Delta Risk Index (GDRI) in the Mississippi Delta at high-resolution census tract level. We assess SES spatial patterns of drought, hurricane-force wind, and coastal flood vulnerability and integrate hazard and exposure data for the assessment of coastal flood risk. Moreover, we compare current coastal flood risk to future risk in 2025 based on the modelled effects of flood depth, exposure, and changes in ecosystem area in the context of ongoing efforts under the 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan. Results show that the Master Plan will lead to decreases in risk scores by 2025, but the tracts that are currently the most vulnerable benefit less from risk reduction efforts. Along with our index output, we discuss the need for further advancements in SES methodology and the potential for catastrophic hazard events beyond the model parameters, such as extreme rainfall events and very strong hurricanes. Assessing SES risk components can lead to more targeted policy recommendations, demonstrated by the need for Master Plan projects to consider their unequal spatial effects on vulnerability and risk reduction.
Does GW170814 rule out non-tensorial gravitational wave polarization?

To determine the polarization character of gravitational waves, we use strain data from the GW170814 binary black hole coalescence event detected by the three LIGO-Virgo observatories, extracting the gravitational wave (GW) strain signal amplitude ratios and phase differences directly from those data. Employing a geometric approach that links those ratios and phase differences to the GW polarization properties, we find that there is a range of source sky locations, close to the LIGO-Virgo 90% credible range of GW170814 source locations, for which vector polarization is consistent with the observed amplitude ratios and phase differences. A Bayesian inference analysis indicates that the GW170814 data cannot rule out vector polarization for gravitational waves. We suggest a plausible explanation of why the LIGO-Virgo collaboration came to the opposite conclusion. Scalar polarization, however, is ruled out by the data. Confirmation of a vector polarization component of gravitational waves would be a sign of post-general-relativity physics.
Disasters and economic growth: evidence for Argentina

ABSTRACT Disasters pose a serious threat globally. In this paper we estimate the impact of disasters on economic growth at the district level for Argentina, for the period 1992–2013. Due to the lack of disaggregated GDP data, night light maps reported by the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are used as a proxy for economic activity. Disaster information comes from the records of the Disaster Inventory System (DesInventar), which include the full range of disasters, from mild to severe ones. A regression analysis is carried out considering a panel of districts, linking luminosity with disasters. We find that an additional disaster -weighted by its severity- is associated with a small though statistically significant reduction in the district's economic growth rate, specifically, of 0.53 percentage points in the year of its occurrence. This result is mainly driven by the impact of hydrological disasters. However, we find no evidence of persistence of this effect over time; on the contrary there seems to be a recovery in the following period. Given the methodological limitations due to data constraints, estimates found here probably constitute a lower bound of the true macroeconomic effect. Thus, further research on the topic is recommendable.