Full Sample Research Articles

Assessing and Improving Data Integrity in Web-Based Surveys: Comparison of Fraud Detection Systems in a COVID-19 Study.

Web-based surveys increase access to study participation and improve opportunities to reach diverse populations. However, web-based surveys are vulnerable to data quality threats, including fraudulent entries from automated bots and duplicative submissions. Widely used proprietary tools to identify fraud offer little transparency about the methods used, effectiveness, or representativeness of resulting data sets. Robust, reproducible, and context-specific methods of accurately detecting fraudulent responses are needed to ensure integrity and maximize the value of web-based survey research. This study aims to describe a multilayered fraud detection system implemented in a large web-based survey about COVID-19 attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors; examine the agreement between this fraud detection system and a proprietary fraud detection system; and compare the resulting study samples from each of the 2 fraud detection methods. The PhillyCEAL Common Survey is a cross-sectional web-based survey that remotely enrolled residents ages 13 years and older to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted individuals, neighborhoods, and communities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Two fraud detection methods are described and compared: (1) a multilayer fraud detection strategy developed by the research team that combined automated validation of response data and real-time verification of study entries by study personnel and (2) the proprietary fraud detection system used by the Qualtrics (Qualtrics) survey platform. Descriptive statistics were computed for the full sample and for responses classified as valid by 2 different fraud detection methods, and classification tables were created to assess agreement between the methods. The impact of fraud detection methods on the distribution of vaccine confidence by racial or ethnic group was assessed. Of 7950 completed surveys, our multilayer fraud detection system identified 3228 (40.60%) cases as valid, while the Qualtrics fraud detection system identified 4389 (55.21%) cases as valid. The 2 methods showed only "fair" or "minimal" agreement in their classifications (κ=0.25; 95% CI 0.23-0.27). The choice of fraud detection method impacted the distribution of vaccine confidence by racial or ethnic group. The selection of a fraud detection method can affect the study's sample composition. The findings of this study, while not conclusive, suggest that a multilayered approach to fraud detection that includes conservative use of automated fraud detection and integration of human review of entries tailored to the study's specific context and its participants may be warranted for future survey research.

Detection of FG-4592 and metabolites in equine plasma, urine and hair following oral administration.

FG-4592 is a hypoxia-inducible factor inhibitor that has been approved for therapeutic use in some countries. This class of compounds can increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood and thus have the potential to be used as performance enhancing agents in sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate the detection of FG-4592 and metabolites in equine plasma and mane hair following a multiple dose oral administration to two Thoroughbred racehorses, to identify the best analytical targets for doping control laboratories. Urine samples were also analysed, and the results compared to previously published urine data. Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry was used for metabolite identification in urine and plasma. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used for full sample analysis of urine, plasma and hair samples and generation of urine and plasma profiles. FG-4592 and a mono-hydroxylated metabolite were detected in plasma. FG-4592 was detected with the greatest abundance and gave the longest duration of detection, up to 312 h post-administration, and would be the recommended target in routine doping samples. FG-4592 was detected in all mane hair samples collected post-administration, up to 166 days following the final dose, showing extended detection can be achieved with this matrix. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of FG-4592 and metabolites in equine plasma and hair samples. Urine results were consistent with the previously published data, with FG-4592 offering the best target for detection and longest detection periods.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: A proof-of-concept for mechanisms of change and target engagement.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID; CBT-AR) theoretically targets three prototypic motivations (sensory sensitivity, lack of interest/low appetite, fear of aversive consequences), aligned with three modularized interventions. As an exploratory investigation, we: (1) evaluated change in candidate mechanisms in relationship to change in ARFID severity, and (2) tested if assignment (vs. not) to a module resulted in larger improvements in the corresponding mechanism. Males and females (N = 42; 10-55 years) participated in an open trial of CBT-AR. Decreases in scaled scores for each candidate mechanism had medium to large correlations with decreases in ARFID severity-sensory sensitivity: -0.7 decrease (r = .42, p = .01); lack of interest/low appetite: -0.3 decrease (r = .60, p < .0001); and fear of aversive consequences: -1.1 decrease (r = .33, p = .05). Linear mixed models revealed significant weekly improvements for each candidate mechanism across the full sample (ps < .0001). There were significant interactions for the sensory and fear of aversive consequences modules-for each, participants who received the corresponding module had significantly larger decreases in the candidate mechanism than those who did not receive the module. Sensory sensitivity and fear of aversive consequences improved more if the CBT-AR module was received, but lack of interest/low appetite may improve regardless of receipt of the corresponding module. Future research is needed to test target engagement in CBT-AR with adaptive treatment designs, and to identify valid and sensitive measures of candidate mechanisms. The mechanisms through which components of CBT-AR work have yet to be elucidated. We conducted an exploratory investigation to test if assignment (vs. not) to a CBT-AR module resulted in larger improvements in the corresponding prototypic ARFID motivation that the module intended to target. Measures of the sensory sensitivity and the fear of aversive consequences motivations improved more in those who received the corresponding treatment module, whereas the lack of interest/low appetite measure improved regardless of if the corresponding module was received.

Modeling the Volatility of Daily Listed Real Estate Returns during Economic Crises: Evidence from Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity Models

In this paper, we focus on the dynamic volatility behavior of the daily Swedish Real Estate Sector Index and analyze the existence and degree of a long-range dependence or asymmetric news effect since 2003. More specifically, we give extra attention to the 2007–2008 financial crisis, the 2009–2012 European debt crisis, and the first two years of the global COVID-19 pandemic era (2020–2021). We examine changes in volatility during these extreme events. We apply standard GARCH models, asymmetric GARCH models, and long-memory GARCH models with various error distributions to identify the most accurate volatility models of the daily returns of the Swedish Real Estate Sector Index for the full sample period, January 2003 to June 2021. Our results show that the volatility of the Swedish Real Estate Sector Index is time-varying and highly volatile. The impacts of the global financial crisis, European debt crisis, and COVID-19 pandemic are noticeable. Moreover, the volatility pattern during COVID-19 displays significant time-varying long-range dependence and an asymmetrical news impact, which lead to market inefficiency. Finally, the volatility pattern shows a tendency towards increasing leverage effects and less persistent behavior, indicating that the market stakeholders are highly sensitive to negative returns and becoming quicker to respond to market changes.

Susceptibility to radiation adverse effects in veterans with Gulf War illness and healthy civilians

We evaluated whether veterans with Gulf War illness (VGWI) report greater ionizing radiation adverse effects (RadAEs) than controls; whether radiation-sensitivity is tied to reported chemical-sensitivity; and whether environmental exposures are apparent risk factors for reported RadAEs (rRadAEs). 81 participants (41 VGWI, 40 controls) rated exposure to, and rRadAEs from, four radiation types. The relations of RadAE-propensity (defined as the ratio of rRadAEs to summed radiation exposures) to Gulf War illness (GWI) presence and severity, and to reported chemical-sensitivity were assessed. Ordinal logistic regression evaluated exposure prediction of RadAE-propensity in the full sample, in VGWI, and stratified by age and chemical-sensitivity. RadAE-propensity was increased in VGWI (vs. controls) and related to GWI severity (p < 0.01) and chemical-sensitivity (p < 0.01). Past carbon monoxide (CO) exposure emerged as a strong, robust predictor of RadAE-propensity on univariable and multivariable analyses (p < 0.001 on multivariable assessment, without and with adjustment for VGWI case status), retaining significance in age-stratified and chemical-sensitivity-stratified replication analyses. Thus, RadAE-propensity, a newly-described GWI-feature, relates to chemical-sensitivity, and is predicted by CO exposure—both features reported for nonionizing radiation sensitivity, consistent with shared mitochondrial/oxidative toxicity across radiation frequencies. Greater RadAE vulnerability fits an emerging picture of heightened drug/chemical susceptibility in VGWI.

Building the Largest Sample of IR Galaxies. Preliminary Results

To build the IRAS full extragalactic sample (including both point-like sources - QSOs, and extended ones - galaxies), we have applied several approaches. Cross-correlation of IRAS PSC/FSC Combined Catalogue with optical catalogues of already known galaxies, quasars and blazars such as The NGC 2000.0 Catalog, Third Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies, The Roma BZCAT, Astrometric Catalogue 5 and many others. Cross-correlation of IRAS PSC/FSC Combined Catalogue with optical catalogues giving data, which can be used to determine galaxy candidates, for example Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS, contains data about point like and extended objects), The APM North Catalogue (contains data about ellipticity of objects), etc. Cross-correlation of IRAS PSC/FSC Combined Catalogue with GAIA DR3, which gives data about proper motions of objects (we can consider the objects having real proper motions as stars and exclude them from the sample). If all data show the same type of object, then we give it as a genuine one, and if there is an ambiguity, we give the most probable type with a flag. All this will lead to construction of a confident sample of optical counterparts of extragalactic objects of IRAS PSC/FSC: galaxies and quasars. We also will study IR/opt flux ratios, which may serve as one more characteristic to reveal galaxies with very high SFR. We will carry out calculation of IR luminosities for all IR galaxies. We expect revelation of many new ULIRGs and HLIRGs and building their largest samples.

Does ICT influence carbon emissions in the context of universal connectivity: a global perspective?

The Connect 2030 initiative, launched by the International Telecommunication Union, is in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030. Its main objective is to achieve universal connectivity, a goal that is closely related to environmental issues. This topic currently receives attention from researchers and policymakers. Given these considerations, our study investigates the impact of information and communication technologies on carbon dioxide emissions for a panel of 84 countries spanning the years 2009 to 2020. Using principal component analysis, we construct an ICT index that encompasses international bandwidth, reflecting the universal connectivity, and participation in international data exchanges. The empirical analysis applies the pooled mean group-panel autoregressive distributive lag (PMG-ARDL) approach to estimate both the long-run and short-run coefficients of CO2 emissions' determinants. Our findings show that ICT and renewable energy mitigate CO2 emissions, unlike financial development, GDP, and non-renewable energy, which contribute significantly to emissions for the full sample. These outcomes suggest that promoting ICTs in general and international bandwidth in particular, as part of universal connectivity, improves the quality of the global environment.

Accounting of aviation carbon emission in developing countries based on flight-level ADS-B data

The aviation industry is one of the key areas to achieve carbon neutrality due to its difficulty in fuel substitution. In developing countries, aviation industry will be in a period of rapid growth for a long time, which means that it will be more affected by the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). Therefore, aviation carbon emission reduction in developing countries needs to be paid more attention. This study utilizes the full sample data of global developing countries' fight-level information of June 2018, including a total of 1,048,655 flight data, to account for the aviation fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, and emission intensity of 109 developing countries based on 70 aircraft types. The impacts of aircraft structure and flight pattern on energy efficiency and emission intensity are explored by combining micro fight-level aviation data with spatial index decomposition method. The results show that the average emission intensity of developing countries is actually better than that of developed countries. Most of them are concentrated in the range of 65–85 gCO2 per seat-kilometers. The emission reduction potential of traditional measures in developing countries can theoretically close to 20%, of which about three-fifths comes from the adjustment of aircraft structure, while the remainder comes from the improvement in flight pattern. There is still a lot of room for structural adjustment of long-haul large-sized aircraft in developing countries by avoiding less efficient four-engine aircrafts and choosing more efficient ones in terms of new fleet deployments. But the potential for restructuring of medium-sized aircraft is limited, thus needing to further improve efficiency by increasing flight distance. Large-sized aircraft should be avoided as much as possible within the range that medium-sized aircraft can reach, which is crucial in route planning in many developing countries.

Spillovers in the U.S.-China Stock Markets - A Study of Returns and Volatility under Full Sample Periods and Multi-Special Periods

This paper adopts the ARMA-GARCH model and selects the S&amp;P500 and the SSEC to study the return rate and volatility spillover effect of the US stock market(USM) and the Chinese stock market(CSM) in the full sample period, the Chinese stock market crash in 2015 and the duration when coronavirus spread. In both the full sample period and the two specific periods, it is discovered that the USM significantly increases the return on the CSM. While the CSM barely has any impact on the USM. Although the impact is favorable over the whole sample, it is less pronounced during the The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus and the China's 2015 stock market debacle. In the whole sample, the S&amp;P500 is unaffected by the SSEC's volatility, whereas the SSEC is significantly harmed by the S&amp;P500's volatility. The S&amp;P500's volatility will have a major beneficial influence on the SSEC, but it won't be communicated from the SSEC to the S&amp;P500 during the global spread of COVID-19. Both of the fluctuation transmission to each other were negligible during the 2015 stock market turmoil. For risk management and stock asset allocation, this study can offer important information to financial institutions, everyday individuals, and governments.

Empirical assessment of methane emissions, socioeconomic factors, and infant mortality in Europe

AbstractThe 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Target 3.9 aims to “reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” Methane belongs to the class of greenhouse gases and it is a harmful ambient atmospheric pollutant with adverse effects on human health. Hence, this paper aligns with SDG 3 and 11 to analyze the impact of methane emissions on infant mortality rate in Europe. Using an unbalanced panel data on 53 European countries from 1990 to 2018, we probe if the impact differs by union membership. Consistent findings from static and dynamic panel data techniques reveal that: methane emissions exhibit mortality‐inducing properties on the full sample, European Union (EU) and non‐EU countries by 0.041%, 0.037%, and 0.047%, respectively; EU countries show lower mortality rates relative to non‐EU countries by −0.164%; and mortality rate is persistent. Additional sensitivity checks by including nitrous oxide as a regressor indicates that it picks up the mortality effects of methane emissions due to collinearity (in the static analysis) but the aggravating impact of methane is upheld in the dynamic model. Likewise, the results are sustained when we control for outliers by excluding Russia (the largest emitter in Europe) and robustness checks using under‐5 mortality rate uphold the mortality‐increasing effect of methane emissions. Based on our empirical investigations, adequate policy recommendations are provided to help in stemming the harmful effects of methane emissions on the environment such that it reduces its adverse effect on infant mortality rate in Europe. These outcomes enrich the health economics and child health literature, and policy recommendations are discussed.

Writing instruction with grade-level/college-bound secondary deaf students.

In the current study, we used a sequential explanatory design to examine secondary writing instruction for deaf students in various school settings. An examination of secondary writing instruction was carried out in two cycles using a survey and subsequent focus group discussions. The first cycle (n = 222) presented an overview of secondary writing instruction for deaf students with diverse skill levels. The second cycle (n = 18) focused on writing instruction specific to grade-level or college-bound deaf students. We compared results from both cycles to investigate the similarities and differences in instructional practices and research needs between the two groups. We found that teachers are generally more prepared to instruct deaf students who are at grade level due to widely available curricula aligned with grade-level benchmarks. This contrasts with the challenges teachers face with creating or adapting materials for those who have experienced language deprivation. According to teachers, grade-level students receive 1.5hr more weekly in writing instruction compared to the full sample. This study also indicates the importance of training teachers to teach skills in crafting arguments through writing, given its applicability to deaf students' future academic and personal goals.

The relationship between performance validity testing, external incentives, and cognitive functioning in long COVID

ABSTRACT Introduction Performance validity test (PVT) failures occur in clinical practice and at higher rates with external incentives. However, little PVT research has been applied to the Long COVID population. This study aims to address this gap. Methods Participants were 247 consecutive individuals with Long COVID seen for neuropsychological evaluation who completed 4 PVTs and a standardized neuropsychological battery. The sample was 84.2% White and 66% female. The mean age was 51.16 years and mean education was 14.75 years. Medical records were searched for external incentive (e.g., disability claims). Three groups were created based on PVT failures (Pass [no failures], Intermediate [1 failure], and Fail [2+ failures]). Results A total of 8.9% participants failed 2+ PVTs, 6.4% failed one PVT, and 85% passed PVTs. From the full sample, 25.1% were identified with external incentive. However, there was a significant difference between the rates of external incentives in the Fail group (54.5%) compared to the Pass (22.1%) and Intermediate (20%) groups. Further, the Fail group had lower cognitive scores and higher frequency of impaired range scores, consistent with PVT research in other populations. External incentives were uncorrelated with cognitive performance. Conclusions Consistent with other populations, results suggest Long COVID cases are not immune to PVT failure and external incentives are associated with PVT failure. Results indicated that individuals in the Pass and Intermediate groups showed no evidence for significant cognitive deficits, but the Fail group had significantly poorer cognitive performance. Thus, PVTs should be routinely administered in Long COVID cases and research.

Does the RBNZ respond to exchange rate fluctuations?

This note re-visits the evidence on whether the Reserve Bank of New Zealand targets exchange rates in its Taylor rule. Estimating a standard small-open-economy DSGE model of the New Zealand economy using Bayesian methods, we find that the DSGE model with exchange rate in the Taylor rule generates a statistically significant better fit compared to the model without the exchange rate. This supports the view that while inflation has the highest weight in the Taylor rule, the RBNZ targets the exchange rate when making interest rate decisions. We also find a large weight on the smoothing parameter. The weight on the exchange rate is statistically significant but is smaller compared to the parameter attached to output. We use a large time span (1975–2018) for New Zealand standards for the full sample, and we also perform various subsample analyses and find time-variation in the Taylor rule parameters.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Lithuanian version of the Spine Functional Index.

Low back pain is one of the most frequent medical problems caused by different factors. It is important to evaluate low back pain by choosing the best suited tool for the specific spine condition and pain severity. The Spine Functional Index (SFI) is a relatively new physical functioning-related questionnaire that can be used to assess different aspects of daily activities and movements. The purpose of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the SFI for the Lithuanian language and to determine its psychometric properties of validity, reliability, construct stability, internal consistency and factor structure. The study was designed as a two-stage observational study. Double forward and backward translations of SFI were performed for cultural adaptation for the Lithuanian language. For evaluation of psychometric properties, 125 participants with non-specific low back pain (duration of symptoms ≥ 6 weeks) rated their pain using Numeric Rating Scale, completed the Lithuanian version of SFI and Oswestry Disability Index. In 3 to 7 days all participants completed Lithuanian version SFI for the second time. The full sample was employed to determine internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct stability, measurement error, construct validity and factor structure. There was good internal consistency and reliability with Lithuanian version of SFI as Cronbach's α = 0.92 and r = 0.82. Spearman-Brown coefficient was 0.97 representing good construct stability. Measurement error from standard error of the mean (SEM) was 6.96, from Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) was 16.24. Construct validity between the Lithuanian version of SFI and Oswestry Disability Index was excellent (ρ = 0.83), and good between the SFI and Numeric Rating Scale (ρ = 0.55). The factor analysis demonstrated a one-factor solution explaining 35.04% of total variance. Lithuanian version of SFI is a new reliable and valid instrument for functional evaluation of back pain in Lithuanian speaking patients.

Preliminary Validation of the Pain Relief Motivation Scales.

Pain typically prompts individuals to seek relief. This study aimed to develop and psychometrically validate the Pain Relief Motivation Scales, applying revised "reinforcement sensitivity theory" to measure the neuropsychological systems underlying motivation for pain relief. We hypothesized a 6-factor structure based on previous work, including one Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) factor, one Fight-Flight-Freeze System factor, and 4 Behavioral Activation System (BAS) factors. Items were generated by adapting the reinforcement sensitivity theory of personality questionnaire for relevance to pain relief. Adults with chronic pain were recruited internationally to participate in online survey batteries at baseline and 1 week later in 2021. We randomly split the sample to conduct exploratory factor analysis (n = 253) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 253). Psychometric properties were estimated using the full sample (N = 506). Parallel analysis revealed that a 5-factor structure best fits the data (21 items): (1) hopelessness about pain relief (BIS), (2) hesitancy for engaging in pain treatments (BIS), (3) persistence in engaging in pain treatments (BAS), (4) relief reactivity (BAS), and (5) risky relief seeking (BAS). Acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.68 to 0.80) and test-retest reliability (Intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.71 to 0.88) were observed. Construct validity varied from weak to moderate ( r = 0.02 to 0.45). As the first attempt to create an instrument measuring neuropsychological systems underlying motivation for pain relief, the findings show that additional work is needed to refine theory and psychometric rigor in this area. Cautiously, the results suggest that a BIS-BAS model, with minimal Fight-Flight-Freeze System contributions, might be useful for understanding the motivation for relief.

Broadening understanding of executive function in children with different hearing histories: The roles of fathers and coparenting

Fathers and family-level characteristics are understudied but potentially impactful contributors to at-risk outcomes for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children who use spoken language. We investigated associations between paternal parenting stress, paternal self-efficacy for supporting language, and executive function (EF) development in DHH children and children with typical hearing (TH). Main and moderating effects of the coparenting relationship were also investigated. TH fathers of DHH children (n = 44) and TH children (n = 46) completed the Parenting Stress Index-4-Short Form, the Scale of Parental Involvement and Self-Efficacy, and the Coparenting Relationship Scale. Child EF was assessed via the Behavior Rating Index of Executive Function. Regression analyses revealed that paternal parenting stress was significantly associated with child EF difficulties regardless of child hearing status. Coparenting undermining moderated relations between paternal parenting stress and child difficulties with inhibition in the full sample. Coparenting undermining was associated with greater child difficulties with set-shifting for DHH children only. Paternal parenting stress represents a possible risk factor for child EF development, particularly in families with higher levels of coparenting undermining. DHH children might also be susceptible to adverse coparenting relations. Fathers of DHH children have previously been shown to be less involved and integrated during intervention, and a better understanding of the important contributions fathers have to child development could lead to novel, father-embedded intervention models.

Longitudinal study of childhood sleep trajectories and adolescent mental health problems.

To investigate whether childhood sleep trajectories are associated with mental health symptoms such as social phobia, generalized anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct problems, and opposition at age 15. A total of 2120 children took part in the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development. Childhood sleep trajectories were computed from maternal reports at 2.5, 3.5, 4, 6, 8, 10, and/or 12 years. At age 15, 1446 adolescents filled out mental health and sleep questions. A path analysis model was assessed in the full sample. Four childhood nocturnal sleep duration trajectories were identified: (1) a short pattern (7.5%), (2) a short-increasing pattern (5.8%), (3) a 10 hours pattern (50.7%), and (4) an 11 hours pattern (36.0%). Three childhood sleep latency trajectories were found: (1) a short pattern (31.7%), (2) an intermediate pattern (59.9%), and (3) a long pattern (8.4%). Finally, two childhood wakefulness after sleep-onset trajectories were found: (1) a normative pattern (73.0%) and (2) a long pattern (27.0%). The path analysis model indicated that children following a long childhood sleep latency trajectory were more likely to experience symptoms of depression (β = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.12), ADHD (β = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.13), conduct problems (β = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.00 to 0.10) and opposition (β = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.13) at age 15. This longitudinal study revealed that children presenting a long sleep latency throughout childhood are at greater risk of symptoms of depression, ADHD, conduct problems, and opposition in adolescence.

TANAMI: Tracking active galactic nuclei with austral milliarcsecond interferometry

Context. With the emergence of very high energy astronomy (VHE; E &gt; 100 GeV), new open questions were presented to astronomers studying the multi-wavelength emission from blazars. Answers to these open questions, such as the Doppler crisis, and finding the location of the high-energy activity have eluded us thus far. Recently, quasi-simultaneous multi-wavelength monitoring programs have shown considerable success in investigating blazar activity. Aims. Such quasi-simultaneous observations across the electromagnetic spectrum became possible thanks to the launch of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope in 2008. In addition, with very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations, we can resolve the central parsec region of active galactic nuclei (AGN) and compare morphological changes to γ-ray activity in order to study high-energy-emitting blazars. To achieve our goals, we need sensitive, long-term VLBI monitoring of a complete sample of VHE-detected AGN. Methods. We performed VLBI observations of TeV-detected AGN and high-likelihood neutrino associations as of December of 2021 with the Long Baseline Array (LBA) and other southern-hemisphere radio telescopes at 2.3 GHz. Results. In this paper, we present first light TANAMI S-band images, focusing on the TeV-detected subsample of the full TANAMI sample. In addition to these VHE-detected sources, we show images of two flux density calibrators and two additional sources included in the observations. We study the redshift, 0.1–100 GeV photon flux, and S-band core brightness temperature distributions of the TeV-detected objects, and find that flat-spectrum radio quasars and low-synchrotron-peaked sources on average show higher brightness temperatures than high-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacs. Sources with bright GeV γ-ray emission also show higher brightness temperature values than γ-low sources. Conclusions. Long-term monitoring programs are crucial for studying the multiwavelength properties of AGN. With the successful detection of even the faintest sources, with flux densities below 50 mJy, future work will entail kinematic analysis and spectral studies both at 2.3 and 8.4 GHz to investigate the connection between the radio and γ-ray activity of these objects.

PENGARUH MANAJEMEN SARANA PRASARANA DAN KOMPETENSI PEDAGOGIK GURU TERHADAP MINAT BELAJAR SISWA PADA MATA PELAJARAN PENDIDIKAN AGAMA ISLAM

This study aims to determine the effect of management of facilities and infrastructure, teacher pedagogical competence, and quality of learning on students' interest in learning PAI at Unggulan Bina Insan Mulia 2 Senior High School Cirebon. The research was carried out with a quantitative approach. The population in this study were all students in class X and XI SMA Unggulan Bina Insan Mulia 2 Cirebon, while the sample for this study used a full sample, they are all students in class X and XI SMA Unggulan Bina Insan Mulia 2 Cirebon. The data analysis technique used is PLS-SEM. PLS-SEM is a structural equation model to develop or predict an existing theory. The equation model analyzed is the outer model, inner model and hypothesis testing. Based on calculations using SmartPLS 3.0 . The results showed that the management of facilities and infrastructure had an effect on student learning interest by 0.763 or 76.3%, teacher pedagogic competence had an effect on student learning interest by 0.312 or 31.2%, and the quality of learning had an effect on student learning interest by 0.335 or 33, 5%. The implications of the results of this study indicate that SMA Unggulan Bina Insan Mulia 2 Cirebon must improve the planning of educational facilities and infrastructure, because the completeness of educational facilities and infrastructure will assist teachers in organizing the learning process. The results of testing the hypothesis showed that there was a significant influence between the management of facilities and infrastructure on students' learning interest (t-statistic 3.554 and p values &lt;0.05), there was a significant effect between teacher pedagogical competence on student learning interest (t statistic 3.934 and p values &lt;0.05), and there is a significant influence between the quality of learning on students' learning interest (t statistic 4.161 and p values .0.05).

The Volatility and Risk-Return Trade-Off of Malaysian Islamic and Conventional Indexes During the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-19 Pandemic

Manuscript type: Research paper Research aims: This study aims to investigate the volatility characteristics and risk-return trade-off of Islamic and conventional indexes in the Malaysian market. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research covers the daily data of the period from August 2007 to December 2022, divided into four distinct periods: the full sample, the period during and after the 2007- 08 financial crisis, and the period during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research employs a hybrid model that combines ARIMA with GARCH family models. Research findings: In this research, both Islamic and conventional indexes in the Malaysian market demonstrate a memory effect, emphasising the persistence of market volatility through the influence of past volatility. Additionally, historical data, represented by lagged values, significantly shape volatility, while negative shocks have an immediate and pronounced impact compared to positive shocks, providing valuable insights for investors and risk management. Lastly, during the COVID-19 crisis, the conventional index showed no leverage effect, and the Islamic index lacked safe haven characteristics, making this crisis unique in the Malaysian financial context. Theoretical contribution/Originality: This research contributes to the understanding of market volatility dynamics in the Malaysian context by utilising a hybrid ARIMA-GARCH model. The identification of memory effects, asymmetric responses, and the unique characteristics observed during the COVID-19 crisis adds to the body of knowledge on financial market behaviour. Practitioner/Policy implication: The findings of this study have practical implications for investors and supervisory entities operating in the Malaysian market. Understanding the persistence of volatility and the differential impact of positive and negative shocks can help investors make more informed decisions, while regulators can use this information to quantify and manage market volatility effectively. Research limitation/Implications: The limitation of the present study is that the results may be influenced by the selection of the sample period, potentially yielding different outcomes depending on market conditions, such as the presence of bull or bear markets, periods of high or low volatility, or other contextual factors.