Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Price-sensitive announcements and stock return anomalies: Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of price-sensitive announcements on stock return anomalies and the interaction effect of corporate announcements of firms with abnormal returns (AR). The study focused on 279 announcements for a period of two years from Jan-2016 till Dec-2017. The announcements were related to plant expansion, change in capital structure, change in ownership, and financial results. We adopted the event study methodology to calculate the Cumulative Abnormal Return (CAR) for the event window of 30 days (−15, +15). The study also used hierarchical moderated regression analysis to examine the moderating effect of corporate announcements on abnormal returns. The findings revealed that insiders received higher abnormal returns when they buy stocks before corporate announcements. The results also indicated that these returns are specifically related to purchases made before announcing plant expansion, financial results, and change in the capital structure. The study also exposed that insiders having prior information on corporate announcements can increase predictability and drive the return irrespective of the firms’ operating business. The results provide more insight into the effectiveness of the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in curbing insider trading in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX). The study recommends to the individual investors to diversify their investment to safeguard the returns.
On the structure and dynamics of secondary n-alkyl cations

A variety of computational studies was undertaken to examine and establish the relative importance of open versus closed structures for unbranched secondary n-alkyl cations. First, the PW91 level of density functional theory was used to optimize over 20 minimum-energy structures of sec-pentyl, sec-hexyl, and sec-heptyl ions, demonstrating that closed structures are more stable than open ones on the potential energy surface (PES). Second, PW91 was used with a theoretical Andersen thermostat to perform a molecular dynamics simulation (150 ps) of C9H19+ at a typical catalytic temperature of 800 K, demonstrating that the structure preference is inverted on the free-energy surface. Third, both quantum (rigid-rotor/harmonic oscillator) and classical partition functions were used to demonstrate that the simulated structure-opening at catalytic temperatures is due to the floppiness of the open forms, which improves its free energy by both lowering its zero-point vibrational energy and increasing its molecular ent.
Hand posture classification with convolutional neural networks on VGG-19 net Architecture

This study aims to classify the image depth data Hand Posture. Hand Posture is a form of hand and movement used to communicate. Hand Posture is difficult to classify because various human hand objects are complex articulation objects. The model used in this study is Convolutional Neural Networks using the VGG-19 Net architecture. Based on the results shows an increase in the percentage of classification accuracy in each subject is 0.9976, 1.0, 0.9984, 1.0, and 0.9992 respectively.
Does the narrative ability during retelling differ in 5-year-olds born with and without unilateral cleft lip and palate?

Abstract Background A previous study has indicated poorer narrative ability during retelling in 5-year-olds with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) as a group, compared to peers without UCLP. Aim To investigate if there are any differences between 5-year-olds with and without UCLP in narrative ability during retelling. Methods A total of 83 children participated, 51 with UCLP and 32 without. They had no known additional malformations or syndromes. The children were audio recorded while performing the Bus Story Test (BST). The recordings were orthographically transcribed. From the transcriptions the BST information score was calculated. The macrostructure of the narratives was assessed with the Narrative Scoring Scheme (NSS), and the microstructure with mean length of utterance in words, grammaticality, grammatical complexity and lexical diversity. Results for children with and without UCLP were compared. Results The group with UCLP performed better than the group without UCLP in the NSS sub-category Conclusion. No other significant differences were seen between the groups. The UCLP group had a larger standard deviation for the information score than the group without UCLP. Conclusions The group with UCLP displayed at least as good results as the group without UCLP, but the information score was more varied for the UCLP group than for the group without UCLP.
Multi-Dimensional Data Aggregation in the Analysis of Self-Similar Processes

Analyzing self-similar processes in various fields requires fast and efficient processing of large amounts of data. The frequency and time scalability of self-similar processes require analysis over multiple time periods. Thus it is necessary to develop effective methods of data aggregation. The paper considers the hierarchical organization of time series and multidimensional aggregation based on a graph. The effectiveness of the proposed aggregation methods and their applicability to the analysis of self-similar processes in various fields are evaluated.
Structural phase transitions in (K1-xNax)MnF3 and (K1-xLix)MnF3 mixed perovskite crystals

Profile analysis of powder diffraction lines was used to determine the variations in lattice parameters as a function of temperature. Using this procedure, phase diagrams of (K1-xNax)MnF3 and (K1-xLix)MnF3 were obtained in the concentration range x<or=0.02. From the splitting of cubic (220) and (400) Bragg's lines the temperatures of the structural phase transitions and the types of distortion were determined. The following sequence of distortions was observed: cubic to tetragonal to orthorhombic to monoclinic.
Twitter Sentiment Analysis on Big Data in Spark Framework

Earlier for communication between people is something which is delivered by hand from one person to another. In some words, or letter Social Media an important and also an integral part of everyone’s life now days. Twitter is a social media site and its primary purposes are to convert people and allow people to share their thoughts. Twitter an American Microbe Using twitter social media users post their views, opinions and to communicate with messages called as tweets. It is one of the social media that is gaining popularity now days. As of 2014 twitter social media has more than 284 million users are in active in monthly basis and above 500 million messengers sent messages on a daily base. Twitter is created by Jack Dorsey, Noah Class, Biz stone and Evan Willians in March 2006 and it was launched in the month of July in that year. Sentimental analysis means the analysis and classification of the emotions and feelings such as positive thought, negative thought and neutral thought using text analysis techniques within text data. The aim of the proposed analysis is to identify the public opinion using NLP (Natural Language Processing) with n-gram stemming algorithm in Spark framework.
Heterogeneity of stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer—different tumours, different nodal status, different treatment, different prognosis: a narrative review

Stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) consists of a heterogeneous group of disease, ranging from small T1a tumours with ipsilateral mediastinal lymph node involvement over T3 tumours with chest wall invasion, up to T4 tumours with mediastinal invasion with or without positive hilar lymph nodes. Based on this heterogeneity, treatment approaches as well as prognosis are very dependent on specific subgroups. Therapy recommendations should be based on multidisciplinary case discussions in high volume centres including medical and radiation oncologists, pneumologists and experienced thoracic surgeons specialized in thoracic cancer surgery. Recommendations may differ from standards in highly selected cases. Therefore, independent of age, in medically fit (operable) patients with resectable stage IIIA tumours, an aggressive approach in a curative setting is key to obtain good overall survival rates. Moreover, maintaining quality of life is essential. In this narrative review the different aspects of all the subgroups of stage IIIA NSCLC and their heterogeneity as well as the variety of treatment modalities, their combined treatment approaches and survival rates are discussed. Again, the reported 5-year survival rates, ranging from 5% in patients with bulky N2 disease, up to 50% for patients with superior sulcus tumours with hilar lymph node disease, reflect the heterogeneity of stage IIIA NSCLC.
Long‐Wavelength Gravity Field Constraint on the Lower Mantle Viscosity in North America

The long‐wavelength negative gravity anomaly over Hudson Bay coincides with the area depressed by the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum, suggesting that it is, at least partly, caused by glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). Additional contributions to the static gravity field stem from surface dynamic topography, core‐mantle boundary (CMB) topography, and density anomalies in the subsurface. Previous estimates of the contribution of GIA to the gravity anomaly range from 25% to more than 80%. However, these estimates did not include uncertainties in all components that contribute to the gravity field. In this study, we develop a forward model for the gravity anomaly based on density models and dynamic models, investigating uncertainty in all components. We derive lithospheric densities from equilibrium constraints but extend the concept of lithospheric isostasy to a force balance that includes the dynamic models. The largest uncertainty in the predicted gravity anomaly is due to the lower mantle viscosity, uncertainties in the ice history, the crustal model, the lithosphere‐asthenosphere boundary, and the conversion from seismic velocities to density have a smaller effect. A preference for lower mantle viscosities >1022 Pa s is found, in which case at least 60% of the observed long‐wavelength gravity anomaly can be attributed to GIA. This lower bound on the lower mantle viscosity has implications for inferences based on models for mantle convection and GIA.
An Improved Secant Algorithm of Variable Order to Solve Nonlinear Equations Based on the Disassociation of Numerical Approximations and Iterative Progression

We propose an iterative method to evaluate the roots of nonlinear equations. This Secant-based technique approximates the derivatives of the function numerically through a constant discretization step h disassociated from the iterative progression. The algorithm is developed, implemented, and tested. Its order of convergence is found to be h-dependent. The results obtained corroborate the theoretical deductions and evidence its excellent behavior. For infinitesimal h-values, the algorithm accelerates the convergence of the Secant method to order 2 (the one of the Newton-Raphson method) with no need for analytic expression of derivatives (the advantage of the Secant method).
Promoting Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Skills in Science Education Students: A Panacea for Employability

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how science teachers can teach science education students in order to promote innovative, creative and entrepreneurship skills in them to enable them become employable in the labour market. Unemployment in Nigeria is a time bomb waiting to explode at any time except proper and effective interventions is put in place to mitigate the impact of high youth unemployment. This paper uses descriptive survey research design. The population of the study is all the 933 science education students in the Department of Science Education of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Methodology : A simple random sampling technique was used to sample 100 (80 males and 70 females) science education students. Three research questions and three hypotheses that were tested at 0.05 level of significance guided the study. The instrument for data collection was the researcher’s developed questionnaire of the four-point Likert Scale type of Strongly Agree (SA), Agree(A), Disagree(D) and Strongly Disagree (SD) which are rated 4, 3, 2 and 1 respectively. The instrument was validated and its coefficient of reliability obtained as 0.89. Data collected were analyzed using mean to answer the research questions and t- test to analyze the hypotheses. Findings: The results obtained indicated that teaching science students in such a way that they will be able to make use of facilitation technique that allows for sharing ideas and freedom to innovate; develop skills for accessing funds and accounting; develop critical skills that will enhance innovative ideas; develop collaborative skills needed for joining cooperative societies like producer and consumer cooperative and develop the ability to organize and build network are some of the things the science teacher should do to promote innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship skills in science students. Unique Contribution to theory, practice and policy: Based on the findings, it was therefore recommended that science education students should be taught science properly so that they can develop critical skills to enhance their innovative ideas. Also, science students should be taught science in a way that will help them develop collaborative skills needed for joining and organizing cooperative societies.
A Child is a Human Being Now. Responsible Parenthood in the Light of Janusz Korczak’s Pedagogy

Abst rac t: The author extracts from the Humanae Vitae encylical the thread of responsible parenthood. He asks about the situation of a child in family half a century after the publication of the papal document. He points towards a number of threats and disruptions in the adult-child relations, which result from an improper understanding of who a child is from the philosophical perspective. He opts for a development of philosophical reflection on a child and enriching it with new aspects. He reaches out for inspiration to the works by Janusz Korczak, which present an outline of the original philosophy of a child. What deserves particular recognition is the perception of a child as a “a project of a future man,” and not as a full-valued person who deserves appreciation of the contemporary ontic and social status. In the conclusion the author develops and clarifies Korczak’s controversial postulate of the “children’s right to death,” giving it a contemporary interpretation.
Microwave Spectrum of Ethyl Isocyanide

The microwave spectrum of ethyl isocyanide has been observed in the frequency range 8–36 GHz. The ground state and several excited vibrational states have been assigned. A small Coriolis effect is seen in two of the excited states. An upper limit on the quadrupole coupling constants of 0.5 MHz is determined. The dipole moment is found to be 4.01 ± 0.03 D. From splittings in the excited torsional state, the barrier to internal rotation is calculated to be 3650 cal/mole, and this is compared to the value for ethyl cyanide.
Alternatives to the use of antibiotics for laying hens in growing phase

This study evaluated the performance, immune response to vaccination, digestive organs, intestinal histomorphometry, and microbiological development in the diet and litter of Isa Brown strains at growing receiving phase alternative additives in the place of antibiotics. Four treatments were arrayed in a completely randomized design: T1) Basal diet without antibiotics, T2) Basal diet with antibiotics, T3) Basal diet with probiotics, and T4) Basal diet without antibiotics and water modified by a photoelectron generator. There were six replications of eight birds each and thus a total of 192 birds. Performance was evaluated for eight weeks and during this period blood samples were collected at 9, 12 and 15 weeks of age for serological evaluation. At the end of the experimental period, 24 birds were euthanized, collecting the intestinal tract and later performing histomorphometry. Microbiological analyses were performed in the experimental diets and in the material of the litter of the boxes. The results obtained were analyzed by analysis of variance and the contrast between treatment means when significant by Tukey’s test. The results indicate that the replacement of antibiotics with T3 or T4 did not interfere negatively (P >0.05) in the performance of the birds, immunological response, viscera analyses and intestinal histomorphometry. In addition, use of T3 and T4 might lead to more rapid decomposition of excreta and reduce antibiotic residue in the soil when the litter is used in crop production.Keywords: dileka, Gallus domesticus, histomorphometry, laying hens, probiotics, serum biochemistry, water
Student Voice in an Extended Curriculum Programme in the Era of Social Media: A systematic Review of Academic Literature

Student voice in this digital age and across higher learning institutions is increasing exponentially with the function of social media. Student voice provides a vibrant communication pathway to extended curriculum programme students in higher education institutions. Social media ensures active participation of extended curriculum programme students in generating views and ideas that define the higher learning environment and experience towards better learning conditions and outcomes. A systematic literature review was used in gathering scientific papers through trusted academic databases. The systematic literature review was conducted between the period of 1 April 2019 and 28 September 2019, by looking into the contents of articles covering the current research objectives. The study’s findings show that social media provides an effective and instant spread of the extended curriculum programme students’ voice across higher education learning institutions. It also allows the students in the extended curriculum programme to engage with each other and the institutional management promptly. Social media promotes extended curriculum programme students’ voice in reaching the right audience at the right time. The results of this study are key for extended curriculum programme students, lecturers, and university management in understanding and applying social media effectively and in bringing transformation to South African higher education institutions and beyond.
A Linear Brushless Direct Current Motor Design Approach for Seismic Shake Tables

The progress in material and manufacturing technologies enables the emergence of new research areas in electromagnetic actuator applications. Permanent magnet (PM) linear motors are preferred to achieve precise position control and to meet the need for high dynamic forces in the seismic shake tables that are used in analyzing reactions of structure models. The design approaches on the linear motors used in the seismic shake tables may vary depending on the desired force, stroke and acceleration values. Especially, the maximum width, the maximum depth, the maximum linear motor length in longitudinal direction and the maximum travelling distance parameters are the primary design criteria in seismic shake table drive systems. In this paper, a design approach for a linear PM brushless direct current (BLDC) motor with high force/volume, force/weight and force/input power ratios is developed. The design was analyzed using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) finite element method (FEM) approaches through the ANSYS Maxwell software. The mathematically designed linear BLDC motor was manufactured and subjected to displacement, acceleration and force tests that are used in seismic analyses. The results of the experimental tests validate the convenience of the proposed design approach and the selected parameters.
Secret Key Generation Assisted by Intelligent Reflecting Surface with Discrete Phase Shift in Static Environment

Physical layer secret key generation is a promising candidate to achieve one-time-pad encryption approach for wireless communication system. The main issue of this method is the insufficient secret key rate. Especially in a static environment, the entropy of the channel complex coefficient is limited due to the lack of channel time-variation. To solve the problem, this paper proposes a novel secret key generation scheme assisted by intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) with discrete phase. We construct a dynamic time-varying channel by switching the phase of the reflection elements rapidly and randomly, and use channel estimation samples to update the secret key. Based on the common IRS channel model, we derive the expression of secret key rate. Monte Carlo simulation and numerical results show that the scheme can update secret key even if the channel coefficient is constant, and the secret key rate is higher than schemes based on artificial random signal. In addition, we comprehensively analyze the influence of various factors, such as the number of reflection elements and the IRS switching frequency on the secret key rate.
Managing expectations with emotional accountability: making City Hospitals accountable during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey

Purpose: This paper explores the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in the financial and parliamentary accountability mechanisms of public-private partnership (PPP) “City Hospitals” in Turkey Diverse and changing accountability mechanisms are explored regarding budgetary, affordability and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic Design/methodology/approach: This is a case study of City Hospitals in Turkey Empirical data are collected and analyzed qualitatively from publicly available government and related sources, Turkish National Audit reports (Sayistay), strategic healthcare investment plans, relevant laws, decrees and NGO reports and news articles Findings: Existing accountability mechanisms for arranging and/or delivering value-for-money (VfM) in Turkish PPP hospitals are weak This provided policy makers with more flexibility to manage expectations of its citizens in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic Political decision makers, through PPPs, created political capital for themselves by engaging in emotional accountability at the expense of better financial and parliamentary accountability Originality/value: This article contributes to the literature by articulating how roles of accountability change in crisis and introduces the concept of emotional accountability during a period of heavy infrastructure investments in City Hospitals in Turkey © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited
Python Regius (Ball Python) shed skin: Biomimetic analogue for function-targeted design of tribo-surfaces

A major concern in designing tribo-systems is to minimize friction, save energy, and to reduce wear. Satisfying these requirements depends on the integrity of the rubbing surface and its suitability to sliding conditions. As such, designers currently focus on constructing surfaces that are an integral part of the function of the tribo-system. Inspirations for such constructs come from studying natural systems and from implementing natural design rules. One species that may serve as an analogue for design is the Ball python. This is because such a creature while depending on legless locomotion when sliding against various surfaces, many of which are deemed tribologically hostile, doesn't sustain much damage. Resistance to damage in this case originates from surface design features. As such, studying these features and how do they contribute to the control of friction and wear is very attractive for design purposes. In this work we apply a multi scale surface characterization approach to study surface design features of the Python regius that are beneficial to design high quality lubricating surfaces (such as those obtained through plateau honing). To this end, we studied topographical features by SEM and through White Light Interferrometery (WLI). We further probe the roughness of the surface on multi scale and as a function of location within the body. The results are used to draw a comparison to metrological features of commercial cylinder liners obtained by plateau honing.