Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Straight from the Horse's Mouth: Determinants and Consequences of Managers’ Conference Call Participation

We examine how firms decide which managers participate in their earnings conference calls and whether this choice affects the information content of the calls. We find significant variation in the managers who participate in the presentation and Q&A portions of the call. Calls frequently include managers other than the CEO, CFO, and IR (37% of calls) and managers who only participate in the Q&A (28% of calls). Moreover, only 37% of calls have the same manager presenting on the call as in the prior four quarters. Thus, the managers who participate in conference calls vary over time. We further find that firms are more likely to add a new manager to the call in firm-quarters with unusual firm events that likely increase information demands. However, firms recognize the cost of adding a new manager – they are less likely to do so if they have fewer managers that are familiar to market participants. We also find that adding a manager is negatively associated with analysts’ forecast timeliness. Overall, our findings suggest that managers with more direct knowledge of certain firm events are viewed by the firm as more effective at communicating this information; however, the presence of a new manager may make processing the information more difficult for market participants.
Private supplementary tutoring and educational inequality in secondary education in Kazakhstan

ABSTRACT This mixed-methods study is the first to explore the association between fee-charging private supplementary tutoring (PT) participation and access to higher education in Kazakhstan from the perspectives of Grade 11 students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by the work of Entrich in 2018, a four-dimensional model of educational inequality in PT, this study found that the scale of PT had expanded during the pandemic, with 75.06% (623 out of 830) of participants engaged in PT, mainly to excel in the university entrance examinations and gain a state grant at their preferred university in Kazakhstan. Also, 73.8% of the students spent 40,000 tenge (US$88) or less on PT per month. Although participants’ families prioritized boys for providing PT services, most participants neither agreed nor disagreed that PT was a financial pressure on their families, probably because the majority attended group tutoring delivered at tutorial centres, and this mode of tutoring reduced the unit cost and gave them the attention they needed from their tutors. The 30 interviewees had positive attitudes towards PT, but some mentioned a few of its disadvantages, including the spread of less qualified, costly tutors due to the unregulated PT market in Kazakhstan. This study suggests pedagogical implications and areas for ongoing research.
Examining the Views of Instructors Regarding the Utilization of Online Final Assessments in EFL Environments: Advantages and Challenges

: The purpose of the study is to explore the perceptions of English teachers regarding the benefits of online summative assessment in terms of practicality, authenticity, and security in a private school in Sharjah, UAE. The study also explores the main obstacles teachers encounter with regard to the implementation of online summative assessment and their perceptions of the essential considerations needed for a successful implementation of these exams at schools. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, the phenomenological qualitative research approach has been adopted. An open-ended questionnaire and semi-structured interviews have been used as data collection tools and thematic content analysis has been selected to analyse the findings qualitatively. The study's findings show that teachers are generally positive regarding implementing online summative assessments. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate some challenges teachers encounter, including technical failure, forming objective questions and teachers’ readiness to implement online exams. Hence, it is recommended that school managements provide teachers with enough training and support and ensure online exam security and authenticity by providing teachers with a relevant and practical platform to conduct online assessments.
Study on Microstructure Evolution Mechanism of Gradient Structure Surface of AA7075 Aluminum Alloy by Ultrasonic Surface Rolling Treatment

The materials with grain size gradient variation on the surface, which were prepared with mechanical-induced severe plastic deformation, always show high resistance to high and low cycle fatigue and frictional wear because of their good strength–ductility synergy. The ultrasonic surface rolling treatment (USRT) has the advantages of high processing efficiency, good surface quality, and large residual compressive stress introduced to the surface after treatment. The USRT was used to prepare aluminum alloy (AA7075) samples with a surface gradient structure; meanwhile, the microstructural evolution mechanism of the deformation layers on the gradient structure was studied with XRD, SEM, and TEM. The microstructure with gradient distribution of grain size and dislocation density formed on the surface of AA7075 aluminum alloy after USRT. The surface layer consists of nanocrystals with random orientation distribution, and high-density dislocation cells and subgrains formed in some grains in the subsurface layer, while the center of the material is an undeformed coarse-grained matrix. The results show that the dislocation slip dominates the grain refinement process, following the continuous cutting and refinement of dislocation cells, subgrains, and fragmentation of the second precipitates. This study systematically clarified the mechanism of grain refinement and nanocrystallization on the surface of high-strength aluminum alloys and laid a theoretical foundation for further research on mechanical behavior and surface friction and wear properties of high-strength non-ferrous materials with gradient structure.
Circulating Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Increase with Age and Are Associated with Worse Physical Function and Body Composition in Men but Not in Women

This study aimed to assess the relationship between age-related changes in Neurofilament Light Chain (NFL), a marker of neuronal function, and various factors including muscle function, body composition, and metabolomic markers. The study included 40 participants, aged 20 to 85 years. NFL levels were measured, and muscle function, body composition, and metabolomic markers were assessed. NFL levels increased significantly with age, particularly in men. Negative correlations were found between NFL levels and measures of muscle function, such as grip strength, walking speed, and chair test performance, indicating a decline in muscle performance with increasing NFL. These associations were more pronounced in men. NFL levels also negatively correlated with muscle quality in men, as measured by 50 kHz phase angle. In terms of body composition, NFL was positively correlated with markers of fat mass and negatively correlated with markers of muscle mass, predominantly in men. Metabolomic analysis revealed significant associations between NFL levels and specific metabolites, with gender-dependent relationships observed. This study provides insights into the relationship between circulating serum NFL, muscle function, and aging. Our findings hint at circulating NFL as a potential early marker of age-associated neurodegenerative processes, especially in men.
Simulation Analysis of Capacity Evaluation of Bus Stops under Connected and Automated Vehicles Environment

The application of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) technology has changed the operation characteristics of vehicles. Investigating the traffic capacity of bus stops under a CAVs environment can allocate traffic flow more reasonably, which is effective in alleviating traffic congestion. Therefore, this paper proposes a method that can be used to evaluate the traffic capacity of bus stops under a CAVs environment. First, two evaluation indexes, failure duration time (FD) and forced lane-changing rate (FLR) are proposed. Second, the simulation scheme with ten scenarios is determined, and simulation experiments are conducted. Then, the relationships between FD, FLR, and traffic flow under different penetration rates of CAVs are analyzed. Finally, the relationship models between FD, FLR, and traffic capacity are fitted to verify their validity for traffic capacity analysis. Additionally, a predictive model is proposed for estimating capacity under a CAVs environment using indicators from HV traffic flow. Results indicate that: (i) FD and FLR both positively correlate with capacity, and perform well in capacity evaluation of bus stops; (ii) FD and FLR can be utilized to predict the capacity under a CAVs environment; (iii) the higher the penetration rate of CAVs, the smaller the impact of the bus failure phenomenon and forced lane change on traffic flow.
The Expression of Triticum aestivum Cysteine-Rich Receptor-like Protein Kinase Genes during Leaf Rust Fungal Infection

Understanding the role of cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases (CRKs) in plant defense mechanisms is crucial for enhancing wheat resistance to leaf rust fungus infection. Here, we identified and verified 164 members of the CRK gene family using the Triticum aestivum reference version 2 collected from the international wheat genome sequencing consortium (IWGSC). The proteins exhibited characteristic features of CRKs, including the presence of signal peptides, cysteine-rich/stress antifungal/DUF26 domains, transmembrane domains, and Pkinase domains. Phylogenetic analysis revealed extensive diversification within the wheat CRK gene family, indicating the development of distinct specific functional roles to wheat plants. When studying the expression of the CRK gene family in near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying Lr57- and Lr14a-resistant genes, Puccinia triticina, the causal agent of leaf rust fungus, triggered temporal gene expression dynamics. The upregulation of specific CRK genes in the resistant interaction indicated their potential role in enhancing wheat resistance to leaf rust, while contrasting gene expression patterns in the susceptible interaction highlighted potential susceptibility associated CRK genes. The study uncovered certain CRK genes that exhibited expression upregulation upon leaf rust infection and the Lr14a-resistant gene. The findings suggest that targeting CRKs may present a promising strategy for improving wheat resistance to rust diseases.
Growth Performance of Photoperiod-Sensitive Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties in Different Soil Types under Rainfed Condition in Cambodia

In Cambodia, rice is predominantly produced in areas with rainfed lowland conditions where photoperiod-sensitive varieties are cultivated. A number of varieties have been released for rainfed lowland areas, and the rice grain yield has reportedly increased by approximately 12% over the past ten years. Moreover, great fluctuations in yield performance have been observed across different soil types of the rainfed ecosystems of Cambodia. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the grain yield and stability among ten popular varieties that were released for rainfed lowland ecosystems across the four different soil types in Cambodia in two years. The grain yield varied 566 g m−2 as the highest in clay soil and about 220 g m−2 as the lowest in sandy soil. A combined ANOVA revealed significant differences for the main effect of genotype, environment, and genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) for all yield-related traits and grain yield per square meter. The principal component test results showed that the heterogeneity of grain yield was mainly attributable to the effect of environment, followed by the effect of genotype. In fertile conditions, a higher percentage of filled grains was supported by higher leaf N until the late stage with a wider flag leaf. In conditions of moderate fertility, larger numbers of panicles were supported by a higher percentage of productive culms with higher leaf N until the late stage. In conditions of poor fertility, a higher percentage of filled grains was supported by higher leaf N until the late stage, which is considered to be important for higher grain yield. The variety Phka Rumduol showed these preferable traits and produced higher yields in fertile to poor natural soil fertility conditions with moderate variation. This variety is considered to be more desirable and ideal due to its stability and higher grain yield. The other varieties, namely, Phka Mealdei, Phka Rumdeng, and CAR4, were identified as above-average yielders. Therefore, those varieties potentially may be recommended for cultivation in rainfed lowland rice ecosystems in Cambodia due to their high yields. CAR4 showed moderate variation at the same level as Phka Rumduol. From the point of stability, Phka Rumduol and CAR4 can be expected to excel.
Analytical input-output modelling of surface dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuator

Surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) actuators are a type of asymmetric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) actuator that can be used to generate ions and produce thrust for near-space vehicles. In this paper, a physics-based model for SDBD produced thrust is developed that accounts for geometric and environmental variation between SDBDs. The presented SDBD analytical model (SDBD-AM) is based on models for parallel-plate DBDs but accounts for the ‘virtual electrode’ resulting from changing plasma length that is particular to SDBDs. To validate the model, thrust measurements from 12 different configurations from previous studies were used, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) between each configuration and SDBD-AM was determined. The observed effects on the model were attributed to structural effects including electrode width, electrode spacing, dielectric, and environmental effects including pressure, and the apparent uncertainties are different for each effect. As a result, it was obtained that the MAPE between SDBD-AM and the experimental data for different structures is 11%, and for different pressures, it is 12%. The body force field has been simulated using SDBD-AM and a distribution function in COMSOL software, and the body force profile near the exposed electrode has been validated with a previous numerical model. This model can be used for the design and optimization of SDBD actuators and also in the design of control systems such as spacecraft attitude control in order to increase the accuracy and performance of the controller.
Effects of habitat and location on Chipping Sparrow song characteristics

The acoustic adaptation hypothesis states that animal calls should adapt to their environment: birds singing in a closed forest should have lower frequency and slower rate than birds in open habitats in order for their songs to be heard best at far distances. To test the acoustic adaptation hypothesis in Chipping Sparrow song, we recorded and analyzed maximum frequency, minimum frequency, frequency range, and trill rate of Chipping Sparrows in two different habitat types. We found no statistically significant results, but all four song characteristics slightly opposed the acoustic adaptation hypothesis. Although Chipping Sparrows may not follow the predictions of the acoustic adaptation hypothesis, insignificant results should not be interpreted as rejecting the acoustic adaptation hypothesis in Chipping Sparrows as their interactions with neighboring Pine Warblers, our small sample size, closeness of sites, and little habitat differences could have altered our results.
Generation of a coherent squeezed-like state defined with the Lie–Trotter product formula using a nonlinear photonic crystal

In this paper, we investigate how to generate coherent squeezed-like light using a nonlinear photonic crystal. Because the photonic crystal reduces the group velocity of the incident light, if it is composed of a material with a second-order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ(2) , the interaction between the nonlinear material and the light passing through it strengthens and the quantum state of the emitted light is largely squeezed. Thus, we can generate a coherent squeezed-like light with a resonating cavity in which the nonlinear photonic crystal is placed. This coherent squeezed-like state is defined with the Lie–Trotter product formula and its mathematical expression is different from those of conventional coherent squeezed states. We show that we can obtain this coherent squeezed-like state with a squeezing level 15.9 dB practically by adjusting the physical parameters for our proposed method. Feeding the squeezed light whose average number of photons is given by one or two into a beam splitter and splitting the flow of the squeezed light into a pair of entangled light beams, we estimate their entanglement quantitatively. This paper is a sequel to Azuma (2022 J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 55 315106).
Contextual Spatial-Channel Attention Network for Remote Sensing Scene Classification

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been widely used in the field of remote sensing (RS) scene classification, which have achieved remarkable results. In RS scene classification, local key objects are particularly crucial for classification results. However, most existing CNN methods directly utilize the deep-level global features of CNN, ignoring object-level information in shallow features or leading to redundant and erroneous information when using shallow features. To fully utilize the important information in shallow features, we proposed an end-to-end contextual spatial-channel attention network (CSCANet) to learn multilayer feature representations and further improve classification performance by employing shallow object-level semantic information. First, ResNet34 is pretrained to extract different levels of features. Second, a contextual spatial-channel attention module (CSCAM) is constructed to generate contextual spatial-channel attention features by exploiting features at different levels. Finally, the triple loss function is combined with the central loss function to guide the model training. Experiments on three public RS scene classification datasets [UC-Merced (UCM), aerial image dataset (AID), and NWPU-RESISC45 (NWPU)] demonstrate that the proposed method achieves highly competitive results.
What Are the Most Efficacious Herbicides Applied Postemergence for Control of Multiple-Herbicide-Resistant Canada Fleabane [Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq.] in Corn?

Multiple-herbicide-resistant (MHR) Canada fleabane [Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq. ] control has become a major concern for corn producers in Ontario. Postemergence (POST) herbicides are critical for the control of emerged MHR Canada fleabane in corn. A study that consisted of five field experiments was conducted in southwestern Ontario in fields with confirmed MHR Canada fleabane to evaluate various herbicide mixtures applied POST for the control of MHR Canada fleabane in corn. Glyphosate + 2,4-D amine, glyphosate/2,4-D choline, glyphosate + clopyralid, glyphosate + S-metolachlor/mesotrione/bicyclopyrone, glyphosate + tolpyralate + atrazine, glyphosate + dicamba, glyphosate + dicamba/atrazine, glyphosate + S-metolachlor/mesotrione/ atrazine, glyphosate + mesotrione + atrazine, glyphosate + bromoxynil + atrazine, glyphosate + S-metolachlor/ mesotrione/bicyclopyrone/atrazine, glyphosate/S-metolachlor/mesotrione + atrazine, glyphosate/dicamba + tembotrione, glyphosate + tembotrione + bromoxynil, glyphosate/dicamba + tembotrione + atrazine, and glyphosate + tembotrione + atrazine applied POST provided 63-99% control, 77-100% density reduction, and 88-100% shoot biomass reduction of MHR Canada fleabane in corn. MHR Canada fleabane interference reduced corn yield up to 58%; reduced MHR Canada fleabane interference with all herbicide treatments resulted in corn yield similar to the weed-free control. Results of this study indicate that among the herbicide mixtures evaluated glyphosate + mesotrione + atrazine, glyphosate + bromoxynil + atrazine, glyphosate + S-metolachlor/ mesotrione/bicyclopyrone/atrazine, glyphosate/S-metolachlor/mesotrione + atrazine, glyphosate/dicamba + tembotrione, glyphosate + tembotrione + bromoxynil, glyphosate/dicamba + tembotrione + atrazine, and glyphosate + tembotrione + atrazine applied POST provided the most consistent control of MHR Canada fleabane in corn.
Trade and the transnational cleavage in European party politics

ABSTRACT Theorists of the transnational cleavage, defined as a political reaction against European integration and immigration, also regularly conceptualise international trade preferences as a component of this contemporary societal divide. Yet empirical analyses of this cleavage focus on the former two topics, while trade and the transnational cleavage has not been systematically investigated. Making use of a new item in the 2019 Chapel Hill Expert Survey that measures party support for protection of domestic producer groups versus support for trade liberalisation, we examine the applicability of explanations for European integration positioning for the topic of trade. The results show that party positions on international trade correlate with parties’ underlying two-dimensional ideology: parties of the economic left and culturally conservative parties support trade protection. The findings advance previous studies on the transnational cleavage and party positioning on trade, and demonstrate the continued importance of economic factors in driving patterns of trade protection.
Properties of Superelastic Nickel–Titanium Wires after Clinical Use

The aim of the present study was to describe and determine changes in the superelastic properties of NiTi archwires after clinical use and sterilization. Ten archwires from five different manufacturers (GAC, 3M, ODS, GC, FOR) were cut into two segments and evaluated using a three-point bending test in accordance with ISO 14841:2006. The center of each segment was deflected to 3.1 mm and then unloaded to 0 N to obtain a load–deflection curve. Deflection at the end of the plateau and forces at 3, 2, 1 and 0.5 mm on the unloading curve were recorded. Plateau slopes were calculated at 2, 1 and 0.5 mm of deflection. Data obtained were statistically analyzed to determine differences (p < 0.001). Results showed that the degree of superelasticity and exerted forces differed significantly among brand groups. After three months of clinical use, FOR released a greater force for a longer activation period. GC, EURO and FOR archwires seemed to lose their mechanical properties. GC wires released more force than other brand wires after clinical use. Regarding superelasticity after sterilization, GAC, 3M and FOR wires recovered their properties, while EURO archwires lost more.