Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Health Communication in Times of Pandemic: The Perspective of Portuguese National Health Service Users

The covid-19 disease, caused by infection with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has introduced numerous global health communication challenges. The need for behavioral change, such as mask-wearing, hand washing, or social distancing, has become imperative to prevent the spread of this disease. Primary health care, due to its population coverage throughout the Portuguese territory and almost free of charge, plays a central role in health care provision, being the preferred contact between people and health services. The main objective of this study was to analyze, from the perspective of users of the Portuguese national health service (NHS; Serviço Nacional de Saúde, SNS), the contribution of the health center clusters, institutions responsible for primary health care in health communication regarding covid-19. Data were collected by online questionnaire from 904 users of the national health service residing in the 18 districts of Portugal between December 2020 and January 2021. Our research confirmed that health center clusters were the source of information the least sought after by users to learn about covid-19. Participants in this study also revealed that they had not received any information about the new coronavirus from their health center (80%), although they wished to have been contacted, preferably by email (87.2%), phone/mobile (36.5%), or mail (20.2%).
COVID Asymmetric Impact on the Risk Premium of Developed and Emerging Countries’ Stock Markets

We estimated the stock market risk premium during the COVID-19 pandemic with a GARCH-in-Mean (GARCH-M)(1,1) model. The analysis then explored the presence of regime changes using a two-regime Markov-Switching GARCH (MS GARCH)(1,1) model. The sample we used included the stock market indexes of nine countries from three geographical regions, including: North America (Canada, USA, and Mexico), South America (Brazil and Argentina), and Asia (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Singapore), over two periods: (a) pre-COVID (from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019); and (b) COVID (from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021). Our GARCH-M(1,1) estimation results indicate that the more developed countries’ stock markets experienced an important increase in their risk premium during the COVID period, likely explained by the massive government anticyclical policies. By contrast, developing countries’ stock markets, particularly in Latin America, experienced a reduction, and in some cases, even a total loss of the risk premium effect. From the perspective of investors and portfolio risk managers, the identification of high and low volatility periods and their estimated probability of occurrence is useful for the characterization of stress scenarios and the design of emerging strategies. For governments and central bankers, the implementation of different policies should respond to the more likely scenarios but should also be prepared to respond to other less likely scenarios. Institutional preparedness to respond to as many different scenarios as may be identified with the use of MS GARCH models can make their interventions more successful. This work presents an objective example of how the use of MS GARCH models may be of use to practitioners in both the financial industry and government. We confirmed that the results of a two-regime MS GARCH model are superior to those obtained from a single-regime model.
Cross-Temporal Snapshot Alignment for Dynamic Multi-Relational Networks

A dynamic network is often represented as a sequence of snapshots evolving over time. In certain real-world scenarios, the identities of nodes in snapshots of a dynamic network are unknown and need to be figured out. To deal with such a challenge, recently, the task of cross-temporal snapshot alignment for dynamic networks is proposed, which aims to match equivalent nodes across temporal snapshots of a dynamic network given a small set of identified nodes. However, in many dynamic multi-relational networks like temporal knowledge graphs, the relation type information of edges, which can be useful for the alignment task, is neglected by existing methods. In this paper, we focus on a similar task but pay special attention to dynamic multi-relational networks. We propose a Relation-Aware Cross-Temporal Snapshot Alignment model (RCTSA) that incorporates time-dependent topological structure information into temporal node embeddings and temporal relation embeddings. To disentangle time-dependent information and time-independent information of the dynamic multi-relational network, RCTSA maintains a time embedding for each snapshot to preserve the temporal information which is incorporated into entity embeddings and relation embeddings to get the temporal embeddings. After training, the learned entity embeddings of unidentified nodes together with time embeddings can be used for the alignment task. Experimental results on real-world dynamic multi-relational networks demonstrate the effectiveness of our model.
Self-supervised flow field decoupling for Controllable face reenactment

Face reenactment is a face image generation method. Its main task is to generate a new image given a source image and a driving image, which has the facial motion information of the driving image while retaining the content information of the source image. Existing flow-based approaches have demonstrated high-quality results, but these works regard the head movement as a whole, and cannot achieve more flexible movement control, and often suffer from the loss of identity information. In this paper, we propose a novel Controllable multi-identity face reenactment(CFReenet), which uses the prior information of facial motion to decompose the movement as two parts of pose and expression and use the curriculum strategy to decouple movement and identity information and better maintain identity information. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Face­to­face or Cyberspace: Analysis of Course Delivery in a Graduate Educational Research Course

Student attitudes and outcomes in a graduate educational research course in both direct instruction and online delivery methods were compared over four semesters. A t­test for independent samples determined that there were no significant differences in 11 out of 13 questionnaire response means for items measuring student attitudes, and an analysis of student outcomes yielded a significant difference in just one out of six assessments. Also, online delivery group means were higher for items measuring instructor’s overall teaching effectiveness, overall quality of the course, organization of the course, and understanding of concepts and principles in the field. It may then be concluded that online courses in graduate research can be developed for instruction, conducted similarly, and yield similar results as direct instruction.
The Spectrum Variabilities of FSRQ 3C 273

3C 273 is a well-studied FSRQ. In order to analyze its spectrum variabilities, we make spectroscopic observations of 3C 273 using the 2.16 m telescope at Xinglong Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatories. Based on these observations and some other spectra from the literature, we study the spectrum variabilities and the physical origin of the optical spectrum. The main results are as follows: (1) The continuum spectrum (S c ) shows obvious variabilities and displays quasi-periodic properties, P = 3.39 ± 1.13 yr, consistent with the result calculated from photometric observations. (2) The spectral energy distribution (SED) was modeled by a combination of blackbody emission that originated from the accretion disk and the dusty torus, synchrotron emission from the jet, the synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission, and the external Compton (EC) emission from the broad-line region, accretion disk, and dusty torus. The SED suggests that the optical continuum is dominated by the thermal emission from the accretion disk. (3) A time delay of τcHβ=209.42±9.38 days lies between the slope of the continuum spectrum (S c ) and H β emission line. (4) The relationships between the spectrum and polarization can be explained by the jet model.
Research on initiation of oriented perforation fracturing and perforation optimization design method

In the oriented perforation fracturing,current predicting initiation pressure just considers the naked borehole and neglects the effect of casing,which will lead to the greater errors in the engineering applications.Considering the effect of casing,wellbore stress models of directional well are obtained.According to tensile failure criteria,fracturing initiation pressure and angle models of oriented perforation well are presented.A software is developed,which includes the initiation prediction and perforation optimization of oriented perforation well.The software can predict the initiation pressure and initiation angle of oriented perforation fracturing considering the effect of casing,and optimize the perforation angle and length.Comparing to the actual initiation pressures,the maximum error of the prediction initiation pressures in the software is 4.33% and the predicting initiation angles are consistent with actual initiation angles,so as to prove the accuracy of fracturing initiation pressure and angle models.The models and software can offer instructions to the field fracturing and perforation optimization.
How Sri Lankan Farm Households Intend to Reduce the Risk of Developing the Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Cause Prevalent in Their Communities

A chronic kidney disease (CKDu), independent of known causes, such as diabetes and hypertension, is emerging as an epidemic in certain agrarian regions of the developing world. Given the unprecedented incidence of the disease among farm households, in the North Central Province (NCP) of Sri Lanka, CKDu is considered a public health emergency. Ever since the disease was first reported over two and a half decades ago, both local and international research communities have taken significant efforts to reveal the aetiology of the disease. Although the causes of the disease still remain unrevealed, much of the research findings supports a set of environmental and behavioural risk factors that are deemed to be associated with the occurrence and progression of the disease. To encourage healthy behaviours such as consumption of safe, uncontaminated water that minimise the deemed risk factors, several health extension programs have been launched in the high-risk areas of the NCP. However, according to reports, the programs have not achieved the expected success due to non-compliance of the people of the target population. Under a context of uncertainty of proven facts, the effectiveness of such programs and compliance of people to risk reduction behaviour is brought into question by two interrelated socio-cognitive concerns. One concern raises the importance of knowing how the people living in epidemic areas perceive and interpret the disease in terms of causes and risk preventive methods. The second concern being the socio-cognitive determinants that may prevent people from adopting the expected risk reduction behaviour. Highlighting the importance of the above knowledge gap, this study attempts to understand how an agrarian population in Sri Lanka, vulnerable to CKDu, perceive the disease as a health risk. The study further explores, how their psycho-social beliefs structure preventive behaviour against the unknown disease under a context of uncertainty. To achieve the latter objective, the study refers to a theoretical framework based on an extended Protection Motivation Theory.
Improvement of Thai Sweet Sausage (Goon Chiang) Properties by Oleogel Made of Rice Bran Wax and Rice Bran Oil: A Textural, Sensorial, and Nutritional Aspect

Oleogel (OG) has been emphasized as an alternative fat in several food products nowadays. This study aimed to determine the texture profile, fatty acids composition, and sensorial attributes of sweet sausage (Goon Chiang) as well as the fundamental properties of the final product through the supplementation of a mixture of rice bran wax and rice bran oil-oleogel (RBOG). The sausage sample was divided into 4 groups including i) without RBOG added; control, followed by 25%, 50%, and 75% RBOG substitute animal fat, respectively. All samples were measured the texture (hardness, springiness, chewiness, and cohesiveness), total cholesterol together with fatty acids profile as well as sensory properties. The results found out that the highest ratio of animal fat replacement by RBOG in the sweet sausage sample was softer and promoting the lowest cholesterol level when compared with other treatments (p<0.05). Besides, there is no significant difference was observed with total unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) level between 50% and 75% RBOG adding in meat sample. Overall acceptance of the final product was indexed with 50% RBOG (p<0.05). According to the results, it could be used as the fundamental data for developing and improving sweet sausage as a healthy meat product to meet consumer requirements.
Integrable nonlocal derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equations

Integrable standard and nonlocal derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equations are investigated. The direct and inverse scattering are constructed for these equations; included are both the Riemann–Hilbert and Gel’fand–Levitan–Marchenko approaches and soliton solutions. As a typical application, it is shown how these derivative NLS equations can be obtained as asymptotic limits from a nonlinear Klein–Gordon equation.
On the state of the pedunculate oak plants (Quercus robur L.) of the orenburg climatype

The degradation of oak forests is an acute problem throughout the territory of the Russian Federation. Pedunculate oak is a valuable and durable tree species. The stability of oak forests is largely determined by biotypic characteristics. However, in recent years, anthropogenic impact is the main reason for the drying out of oak forests, which leads to the death of resistant pedunculate oak climatypes. The article presents the results of a study of pure stands of low-stemmed pedunculate oak on the territory of the Orenburg region. The silvicultural characteristics of plantings are given, their phytocenotic structure is described. It was found that in dry oak forests and oak undergrowth the stand was characterized by a low growth class, in fresh oak forests the highest growth class was noted. The plant density varied significantly from 0.3 to 0.7. In dry oak forests, the density index tended to decrease with age. The maximum plant density was observed at the junction of ripe and overmature ages, at the age of 60 years. The state of pure pedunculate oak stands on the territory of the Orenburg region can be assessed at the moment as satisfactory, but requires significant measures to promote seed reforestation.
Thermodynamic Signatures of Structural Transitions and Dissociation of Charged Colloidal Clusters: A Parallel Tempering Monte Carlo Study

Computational simulation of colloidal systems make use of empirical interaction potentials that are founded in well-established theory. In this work, we have performed parallel tempering Monte Carlo (PTMC) simulations to calculate heat capacity and to assess structural transitions, which may occur in charged colloidal clusters whose effective interactions are described by a sum of pair potentials with attractive short-range and repulsive long-range components. Previous studies on these systems have shown that the global minimum structure varies from spherical-type shapes for small-size clusters to Bernal spiral and “beaded-necklace” shapes at intermediate and larger sizes, respectively. In order to study both structural transitions and dissociation, we have organized the structures appearing in the PTMC calculations by three sets according to their energy: (i) low-energy structures, including the global minimum; (ii) intermediate-energy “beaded-necklace” motifs; (iii) high-energy linear and branched structures that characterize the dissociative clusters. We observe that, depending on the cluster, either peaks or shoulders on the heat–capacity curve constitute thermodynamics signatures of dissociation and structural transitions. The dissociation occurs at T=0.20 for all studied clusters and it is characterized by the appearance of a significant number of linear structures, while the structural transitions corresponding to unrolling the Bernal spiral are quite dependent on the size of the colloidal system.
Double standards in the COVID‐19 pandemic: The moderation of perceived threat

Abstract This research explored whether people hold double standards in a public crisis. We proposed that during the COVID‐19 pandemic, people required others to strictly follow self‐quarantine rules and other preventive behaviours, whereas they themselves would not, demonstrating double standards. Moreover, this effect would be moderated by the perceived threat from the pandemic. Using data collected in the United States and China, three studies (N = 2180) tested the hypotheses by measuring (Study 1) and manipulating the perceived threat (Studies 2 and 3). We found that people generally applied higher standards to others than to themselves when it came to following the self‐quarantine rules. This effect was strong when a relatively low threat was perceived, but the self–other difference disappeared when the perceived threat was relatively high, as the demands they placed on themselves would increase as the perceived threat intensified, but their requirements of others would be constantly strict.
Knowledge and Willingness to Accept Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Among Undergraduate Medical Students in Delhi, India

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the most desired solution to combat COVID-19. Understanding the willingness to accept vaccines is essential to make appropriate strategies for the vaccination programme's success. There was a lack of published literature in India among medical students. Hence, we conducted this online, cross-sectional study to assess the knowledge and willingness to accept COVID-19 vaccines among undergraduate medical students of a medical school in Delhi. A complete enumeration of all the undergraduate medical students was done. All the students were invited to participate in this online survey. The questionnaire through Google forms was shared through email and WhatsApp. The questionnaire contained questions on the socio-demographic details, questions related to the knowledge and perceptions about COVID-19 vaccines, willingness to accept the vaccine and vaccination status of the participant. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out. Out of 320 students contacted, 298 consented to participate in the survey, and 274 participants (85%) completed the questionnaire. Three-fourths of the participants were male; the mean age of the study participants was 19.6 years. Only 70.4% were willing to accept the vaccine. Those who perceived COVID-19 vaccines as safe (AOR=3.946; 95% CI: 1.946 to 7.912); and effective (AOR=2.079; 95% CI: 1.054 to 4.101); and who has knowledge about the vaccines (AOR=2.206; 95% CI: 1.186 to 4.104) were more likely to accept the vaccine. There is a need for enhancing the knowledge on vaccines, and their safety and effectiveness to promote the vaccine acceptance.
Spatial and seasonal group size variation of wild mammalian herbivores in multiple use landscapes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

Group sizes of wild herbivores can be indicators of ecosystem health and proxies for individual and population fitness, particularly in areas where human activities have become increasingly common. We recorded 176 single- and multi-species groups of wild herbivores in human-dominated landscapes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) during dry and wet seasons. We analyzed how wild herbivore group sizes were affected by: (1) season, (2) distance to fully protected area (NCA crater) and to streams, (3) distance to human settlements, and (4) numbers of livestock. Group sizes were generally larger during the wet season than during the dry season and varied seasonally with distance to NCA crater, streams, and human settlements. During the wet season, larger groups were observed further away from the NCA crater whereas the opposite pattern was apparent during the dry season. Average wild herbivore group sizes increased by about three-fold with increasing distance from the streams during the dry season but were invariant to streams during the wet season. Furthermore, during the dry season, group sizes were larger close to settlements but varied little with distance to settlements during the wet season. While livestock presence did not directly affect wild herbivore group size, distance to settlements, streams and distance to the Ngorongoro crater in interaction with rainfall seasonality did. We conclude that the NCA crater functions as a key resource area for wild herbivores such as wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and zebra (Equus quagga burchelli) during the dry season, highlighting the need for its full protection status in this Man and Biosphere reserve.
Robotic Adrenalectomy: A 10-Year Clinical Experience at a Tertiary Medical Center

Background and Objective: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is now the preferred approach for most adrenal tumors. As minimally invasive surgery departments gain familiarity with the robotic platform, the safety profiles and efficacy of robotic adrenalectomy has been an area of continued discussion. The objective of this study is to outline our experience with transitioning to the robotic platform and determining the effectiveness and safety of transperitoneal robotic adrenalectomy. Methods: We performed a single-center, retrospective review of 37 patients who underwent transperitoneal robotic adrenalectomy between August 1, 2010 and August 31, 2020. Outcomes included patient morbidity, hospital length of stay, operative time, estimated blood loss, gland volume, pathology, and postoperative complications. Results: Sixty-five percent of the total robotic adrenalectomies were of the left adrenal gland. The average operating room time was 213 minutes. The average gland volume was 71 cm3, estimated blood loss was 74 mL and length of stay was 1.4 days. There were no significant differences in outcomes between the right and left total robotic adrenalectomies. Approximately one-third of our cohort had an adrenal cortical adenoma, while only one patient had adrenal cortical carcinoma. Four patients experienced postoperative complications that resulted in unplanned hospital readmissions and there was one mortality. Conclusions: Although the standard of care for most adrenal tumors is laparoscopic resection, our 10-year experience has shown that robotic adrenalectomy is highly effective and can be a valuable tool in the community and academic setting.
Early Lung Ultrasound Findings in Patients With COVID‐19 Pneumonia: A Retrospective Multicenter Study of 479 Patients

Lung ultrasound (LUS) holds the promise of an accurate, radiation‐free, and affordable diagnostic and monitoring tool in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pneumonia. We sought to evaluate the usefulness of LUS in the diagnosis of patients with respiratory distress and suspicion of interstitial severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pneumonia, in comparison to other imaging modalities.
Measuring the Information Content of Stock Trades

This paper examine empirically the relation between trades and quote changes for stocks trades in order-driven market.Estimates for samples of Shanghai Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange issues suggest:the price impact of trades is positive and persistent,this means the information content of trades is substantial;Large trades convey more information than small trades;Information asymmetries are more significant for small firms.