Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Responses of Economic News on Asset Prices: A Study of Indian Stock Index Futures

The study examines the role of economic news surprises on the volatility of the returns of the Indian Index futures market. Theoretical literature posits that news arrivals influence price discovery. In similar lines, we investigated the relationship between economic news releases, trading activity variables, and returns volatility. We find that economic news surprises and trading activity variables significantly affect returns volatility. However, among volume and news surprises, economic news surprises are much stronger informational signals, and the news surprises effects are found seemingly asymmetric in the index futures contract.
Water solubilization of hydrophobic nanocrystals by means of poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene)

Poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene), a cheap and commercially available polymer, was used to water-solubilize colloidal nanocrystals with various compositions, morphologies, and sizes. Highly pure nanoparticles with homogeneous distributions of sizes and surface charges were obtained after a single purification step of the polymer-coated particles by ultracentrifugation, saving precious time as compared to a previously published and similar polymer coating procedure. This simple strategy proved also to be generally applicable and represents a valid methodology to water-solubilize nanoparticles.
Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic Fracture Extension Based on the Meshless Method

The fracture propagation in hydraulic fracturing is described as a nonlinear problem dynamic boundary. Due to the limitation of mesh refinement, it is difficult to obtain the real crack propagation path using conventional numerical methods. Meshless methods (MMs) are an effective method to eliminate the dependence on the computational grid in the simulation of fracture propagation. In this paper, a hydraulic fracture propagation model is established based on the element-free Galerkin (EFG) method by introducing jump and branch enrichment functions. Based on the proposed method, three types of fracturing technology are investigated. The results reveal that the stress interference between fractures has an important impact on the propagation path. For the codirectional fracturing simultaneously, fractures propagate in a repel direction. However, the new fracture is attracted and eventually trapped by the adjacent fracture in the sequential fracturing case. For the opposite simultaneous fracturing in multiwells, two fractures with a certain lateral spacing will deflect toward each other. The effect of stress shadow should be used rationally in the optimization of construction parameters; for the single well multistage fracturing, the stage spacing should be out of stress inversion area, while for the simultaneous fracturing of multiple wells, stress inversion zones should be used to maximize communication between natural fractures. Overall, this study establishes a novel and effective approach of using MM to simulate the propagation of hydraulic fractures, which can serve as a useful reference for understanding the mechanism of hydraulic fracture propagation under various conditions.
Unexpected cryptic species diversity of parasites of the family Xenidae (Strepsiptera) with a constant diversification rate over time

Parasitism is one of the most successful and ancient strategies. Due to the specialized lifestyle of parasites, they are usually affected by reductions and changes in their body plan in comparison with nonparasitic sister groups. Extreme environmental conditions may impose restraints on behavioural or physiological adaptations to a specific host and limit morphological changes associated with speciation. Such morphological homogeneity has led to the diversity of parasites being underestimated in morphological studies. By contrast, the species concept has dramatically changed in many parasitic groups during recent decades of study using DNA sequence data. Here we tested the phenomenon of cryptic species diversity in the twisted‐wing parasite family Xenidae (Strepsiptera) using nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data for a broad sample of Xenidae. We used three quantitative methods of species delimitation from the molecular phylogenetic data – one distance‐based (ABGD) and two tree‐based (GMYC, bPTP). We found 77–96 putative species in our data and suggested the number of Xenidae species to be more diverse than expected. We identified 67 hosts to species level and almost half of them were not previously known as hosts of Xenidae. The mean number of host species per putative species varied between 1.39 and 1.55. The constant rate in net diversification can be explained by the flexibility of this parasitic group, represented by their ability to colonize new host lineages combined with passive long‐range dispersal by hosts.
Roles of information propagation of Chinese microblogging users in epidemics: a crisis management perspective

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to investigate the usage characteristics and the information propagation patterns of Chinese microblogs in different stages of an epidemic, given that the microblogging in China is different from other parts of the world. In addition, the authors aim to conceptualize the roles of different users and provide insights for using microblogging platforms to disseminate information in this context.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted an analysis on Sina Weibo microblogs about the African Swine Fever epidemic from August to October 2018. The authors firstly applied a label propagation algorithm to classify users into government, media, verified users and nonverified users. The authors analyzed several user metrics, traced the information propagation patterns of their microblogs and calculated the average speed of information propagation using computational approaches.FindingsThe authors’ findings show that different types of users played different roles, such as supplying information, amplifying information, relaying information and engaging with other users. The microblogs posted by media dominated the propagation in most cases, but general users can propagate information faster. The direction of information propagation is one-way for the majority of microblogs, and few users repost earlier information. Additionally, microblogs attract more attention at the beginning and the middle phases of an epidemic. In the context of managing epidemics, the authors recommend governments and other verified users can work together to use microblogging platforms efficiently.Originality/valueThis research is one of the few studies to investigate information propagation patterns of different user categories on a Chinese microblogging platform during an epidemic. The authors’ work can be used by government agencies and public health authorities for disseminating information efficiently during epidemics or emergencies, especially in the early stages.
Combined experimental and computational investigation of the effect of coating on operation characteristics of solid–liquid two-phase flow centrifugal pump

The objective of this paper is to apply combined experimental and computational modeling to investigate the influence of different coating thickness on the operation characteristics of solid–liquid two-phase flow centrifugal pump. According to the characteristics of sediment flow in the Yellow River Basin, the effects of polyurethane coating thickness on the energy performance and pressure fluctuation are analyzed under the condition of solid–liquid two-phase flow and clean water. Meanwhile, the internal flow characteristics and radial force of the coated pump under the condition of solid–liquid two-phase flow are studied. The results show that the blade inlet and outlet of impeller are easy to wear, and the pressure fluctuation at the outlet of the model pump can be reduced by spraying proper coating thickness. The model pump with coating increases the low-speed zone of internal flow, which is mainly due to the increase of the viscous bottom layer area. The variation amplitude of radial force in sediment-laden water decreases with the increase of coating thickness.
Analysis of the electronic structure of the primary electron donor of photosystem I of Spirodela oligorrhiza by photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)

Abstract The electron donor in photosystem I (PSI), the chlorophyll dimer P700, is studied by photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (photo-CIDNP) magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on selectively 13C and uniformly 15N labeled PSI core preparations (PSI-100) obtained from the aquatic plant duckweed (Spirodela oligorrhiza). Light-induced signals originate from the isotope-labeled nuclei of the cofactors involved in the spin-correlated radical pair forming upon light excitation. Signals are assigned to the two donor cofactors (Chl a and Chl a ') and the two acceptor cofactors (both Chl a ). Light-induced signals originating from both donor and acceptor cofactors demonstrate that electron transfer occurs through both branches of cofactors in the pseudo- C2 symmetric reaction center (RC). The experimental results supported by quantum chemical calculations indicate that this functional symmetry occurs in PSI despite similarly sized chemical shift differences between the cofactors of PSI and the functionally asymmetric special pair donor of the bacterial RC of Rhodobacter sphaeroides. This contributes to converging evidence that local differences in time-averaged electronic ground-state properties, over the donor are of little importance for the functional symmetry breaking across photosynthetic RC species.
Is there hope for action research in a ‘directed profession’?

In this conceptual article, we explore the idea that neo-liberalism has created a ‘directed profession’ with consequences for action research. There are dominant discourses of compliance and performativity which have diminished teachers’ capacity to ask research questions that are disruptive of existing orthodoxies and restricted curriculum and pedagogical models. The article explores the implications of this for teachers as they reflect on practice and wish to make meaningful change to learning and teaching. It has been written from the perspective of four teacher educators who have first-hand experience of developing inquiry-based projects with teachers. First, we consider how action research has been appropriated by policymakers and is in many cases a long way from emancipatory traditions. We explore the importance of dialogue in generating ‘cognitive conflict’ and ‘values–practice dissonance’ among action researchers. Finally, we discuss a ‘dialogic framework’ as a protocol that can help to generate critical perspectives among teachers. We highlight the ‘incubation phase’ of action research, and we suggest that such a protocol has a role in the early stages of thinking about a focus for action research projects. It may help to reclaim action research from bending to the pressures of accountability and performativity in what it sets out to change.
First Au monolayer formation on Cu(110) surface

We study in this work the growth of a gold monolayer on a Cu (110) surface thanks to the kinetic Monte Carlo method. We considered a coverage of 0.1% of the monolayer. Indeed, the growth of a monolayer is done through the intermediary of several diffusion processes. All activation energies for each process were calculated using the static method coupled with the KMC method. This coupling is established by the ABBM anisotropic bond breaking model. The study of the results obtained in the temperature range (100-300K) at different deposition rates shows the formation of small 1D islands and certain 2D islands at high temperature (280 k-300 K).
Reliability of recharge rates estimated from groundwater age with a simplified analytical approach

Groundwater age is often used to estimate groundwater recharge through a simplified analytical approach. This estimated recharge is thought to be representative of the mean recharge between the point of entry and the sampling point. However, given the complexity in actual recharge, whether the mean recharge is reasonable is still unclear. This study examined the validity of the method to estimate long‐term average groundwater recharge and the possibility of obtaining reasonable spatial recharge pattern. We first validated our model in producing reasonable age distributions using a constant flux boundary condition. We then generated different flow fields and age patterns by using various spatially varying flux boundary conditions with different magnitudes and wavelengths. Groundwater recharge was estimated and analysed afterwards using the method at the spatial scale. We illustrated the main findings with a field example in the end. Our results suggest that we can estimate long‐term average groundwater recharge with 10% error in many parts of an aquifer. The size of these areas decreases with the increase in both the amplitude and the wavelength. The chance of obtaining a reasonable groundwater recharge is higher if an age sample is collected from the middle of an aquifer and at downstream areas. Our study also indicates that the method can also be used to estimate local groundwater recharge if age samples are collected close to the water table. However, care must be taken to determine groundwater age regardless of conditions.
Ecosystem service bundle index construction, spatiotemporal dynamic display, and driving force analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Existing studies on ecosystem service relationships are mainly qualitative or semi-quantitative assessments, but lack of quantitative exploration of aggregated ecosystem services and their influencing factors. We mapped the distributions of 12 ecosystem services of Zhejiang Province in 2000 and 2015 at the district and county level, analyzed their relationships using Spearman’s correlation analysis, constructed ecosystem service bundle index (ESBI) for each district and county by structural equation model, and then through multiple linear regression, we explored factors associated with ESBI variations. Outcomes: Our results showed that (1) most ecosystem services were spatially clustered. There were synergies between individual ecosystem services in categories of provisioning and regulating services, respectively; (2) our proposed ESBI index system consists of overall index and sub-indices of provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. The higher the ESBI value, the more important the corresponding place for multiple aggregated ecosystem service provision. Compared to 2000, ESBI in 2015 distributed more unevenly, and the average dropped by 3.10%; and (3) the increase of ESBI was associated with its initial value, and four socioeconomic and natural factors; the decrease of ESBI was influenced by the initial value and six key socioeconomic factors. Discussion and Conclusion: Our proposed ESBI system has several advantages (e.g., scale free, flexible weighting, quantitative and continuous indices for further analyses, and alternative non-monetary solution) in understanding and managing relationships among multiple ecosystem services.
Impact of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League on Financial Sustainability—Case Study of Two Small Football Portuguese Teams

Qualifying for European competitions allows football clubs to have access to the two most important football competitions played in Europe, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Thereby, participation in these important competitions has both direct (participation prizes) and indirect (player transactions, television rights, box office, advertising, sponsorship) impacts on the sustainability of European football clubs’ accounts. The current competition model, which now includes more football teams, has become more attractive for small clubs. In this context, this research aims to analyze the impact of qualification for European competitions on the sustainability of a strong economic and financial structure of small clubs through a case study analysis of two small Portuguese clubs. The quantitative analysis is also supported by a comparative analysis, which was reinforced with nonparametric statistical analysis. The results show that the economic and financial impact on small clubs was not immediate, but was beneficial if it was managed efficiently. This research contributes to increasing knowledge of the decision-making agents of clubs that are participating for the first time in European competitions, or, if recurrent, are seeking answers and guidelines for the effective management of football teams.
Patterns of flea infestation in rodents and insectivores from intensified agro-ecosystems, NW Spain

Background: Fleas frequently infest small mammals and play important vectoring roles in the epidemiology of (re)emerging zoonotic disease. Rodent outbreaks in intensified agro-ecosystems of NW Spain have been recently linked to periodic zoonotic disease spillover to local human populations. Obtaining qualitative and quantitative information about the composition and structure of the whole flea and small mammal host coexisting communities is paramount to understand disease transmission cycles and to dilucidate the disease-vectoring role of flea species. The aims of this research were to: i) characterise and quantify the flea community parasiting a small mammal guild in intensive farmlands in NW Spain, and ii) determine and evaluate patterns of co-infection and the variables that may influence parasitological parameters.Methods: We conducted a large scale survey stratified by season and habitat of fleas parasitizing the small mammal host guild. We report on the prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance of flea species parasitizing Microtus arvalis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus spretus and Crocidura russula. We also report on aggregation patterns (variance-to-mean ratio and Discrepancy index), co-infection of hosts by different flea species (Fager Index), and used Generalized Linear Mixed Models to study flea parameter variation according to season, habitat and host sex. Results: Three flea species dominated the system: Ctenophthalmus apertus gilcolladoi, Leptopsylla taschenbergi and Nosopsyllus fasciatus. Results showed a high aggregation pattern of fleas in all hosts. All host species in the guild shared C. a. gilcolladoi and N. fasciatus, but L. taschenbergi mainly parasitized mice (M. spretus and A. sylvaticus). We found significant male-biased infestation patterns in mice, seasonal variations in flea abundances for all rodent hosts (M. arvalis, M. spretus and A. sylvaticus), and relatively lower infestation values for voles inhabiting alfalfas. Simultaneous co-infections occurred in a third of all hosts, and N. fasciatus was the commonest flea co-infecting small mammal hosts. Conclusions: The generalist N. fasciatus and C. a. gilcolladoi dominated the flea community, and a high percentage of co-infections with both species occurred within the small mammal guild. Nosopsyllus fasciatus may show higher competence of inter-specific transmission, and future research should unravel its role in the circulation of rodent-borne zoonoses.
Inventory renewal for a perishable product: Economies of scale and age‐dependent demand

We consider a finite‐horizon, periodic‐review system for a perishable product at a retailer that faces stochastic, age‐dependent demand and loses excess demand, if any. For this system, we build three models that capture two sources of unfilled demand, insufficient inventory and inappropriate age, and penalize them at different rates. The models are characterized by increasing replenishment flexibility, and the goal of each model is to identify when to place an order and the quantity whenever an order is placed. In the first model, reorder intervals are equal. In the second model, reorder intervals can vary across orders. In the third model, reorder intervals continue to remain flexible but the retailer can also partially salvage her inventory whenever she has excess inventory. Using the models, we explore the effect of lost‐sales penalties on the structure of the optimal value function. We find that the inventory‐related cost in a period may lack convexity if the ratio of penalties for stockout and high age is below a threshold, which percolates to the value function as well. We also identify properties of the optimal replenishment policy for the three models. Finally, we conduct numerical experiments to identify the marginal value added by the flexibility in reorder intervals and the option to partially salvage inventory as a function of model parameters.
Genetic Evolution and Implications of the Mitochondrial Genomes of Two Newly Identified Taenia spp. in Rodents From Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The larva of Taeniidae species can infect a wide range of mammals, causing major public health and food safety hazards worldwide. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), a biodiversity hotspot, is home to many species of rodents, which act as the critical intermediate hosts of many Taeniidae species. In this study, we identified two new larvae of Taenia spp. , named T. caixuepengi and T. tianguangfui, collected from the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) and the Qinghai vole (Neodon fuscus), respectively, in QTP, and their mitochondrial genomes were sequenced and annotated. Phylogenetic trees based on the mitochondrial genome showed that T. caixuepengi has the closest genetic relationship with T. pisiformis, while T. tianguangfui was contained in a monophyletic group with T. crassiceps, T. twitchelli, and T. martis. Biogeographic scenarios analysis based on split time speculated that the speciation of T. caixuepengi (∼5.49 Mya) is due to host switching caused by the evolution of its intermediate host. Although the reason for T. tianguangfui (∼13.11 Mya) speciation is not clear, the analysis suggests that it should be infective to a variety of other rodents following the evolutionary divergence time of its intermediate host and the range of intermediate hosts of its genetically close species. This study confirms the species diversity of Taeniidae in the QTP, and speculates that the uplift of the QTP has not only a profound impact on the biodiversity of plants and animals, but also that of parasites.
Leadership in Marriage and Family Therapy Programs is Under-Explored: A Thematic, Narrative Overview

Institutions of higher education rely on identified leaders to continue the mission of the organization, hire and retain quality faculty and staff, and sustain and further develop vigorous academic programs that retain students and prepare graduates to enter the work force. Discipline specific departments are subject to many demands and resources are pulled in different directions. As a result, the body of literature on leadership in higher education is robust and diverse. However, research on leadership in graduate marriage and family therapy programs is paltry in addressing if a relationship exists between leaders and student capacity to employ skills in a field focused on relationships. This study was a thematic, narrative overview. An exhaustive search of literature was conducted over the span of four years. Articles were assessed for relevance and appropriateness, organized by theme, and the findings were consolidated and are presented within this article. The three identified themes were: leadership in higher education, rigor in marriage and family therapy programs, and leadership in marriage and family therapy programs and other mental health fields. Gaps were identified in the literature and include the role of leadership style identification and self-exploration, the extent to which program leaders interact with students, and how the relationship between administrators and students impacts the development of field related skills.