Exploring the asymmetric effect of COVID‑19 pandemic news on the cryptocurrency market:evidence from nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag approach and frequency domain causality

This paper explores the asymmetric effect of COVID-19 pandemic news,as measured by the coronavirus indices(Panic,Hype,Fake News,Sentiment,Infodemic,and Media Coverage),on the cryptocurrency market.Using daily data from January 2020 to September 2021 and the exponential generalized autoregressive conditional heter-oskedasticity model,the results revealed that both adverse and optimistic news had the same effect on Bitcoin returns,indicating fear of missing out behavior does not prevail.Furthermore,when the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model is esti-mated,both positive and negative shocks in pandemic indices promote Bitcoin’s daily changes;thus,Bitcoin is resistant to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic crisis and may serve as a hedge during market turmoil.The analysis of frequency domain causality supports a unidirectional causality running from the Coronavirus Fake News Index and Sentiment Index to Bitcoin returns,whereas daily fluctuations in the Bitcoin price Granger affect the Coronavirus Panic Index and the Hype Index.These findings may have significant policy implications for investors and governments because they highlight the impor-tance of news during turbulent times.The empirical results indicate that pandemic news could significantly influence Bitcoin’s price.

Probability of informed trading during the COVID‑19 pandemic:the case of the Romanian stock market

Using data from the Bucharest Stock Exchange,we examine the factors influencing the probability of informed trading(PIN)during February—October 2020,a COVID-19 pandemic period.Based on an unconditional quantile regression approach,we show that PIN exhibit asymmetric dependency with liquidity and trading costs.Furthermore,building a customized database that contains all insider transactions on the Bucharest Stock Exchange,we reveal that these types of orders monotonically increase the infor-mation asymmetry from the 50th to the 90th quantile throughout the PIN distribution.Finally,we bring strong empirical evidence associating the level of information asym-metry to the level of fake news related to the COVID-19 pandemic.This novel result suggests that during episodes when the level of PIN is medium to high(between 15 and 50%),any COVID-19 related news classified as misinformation released during the lockdown period,is discouraging informed traders to place buy or sell orders condi-tioned by their private information.

Gazing through the bubble:an experimental investigation into financial risk‑taking using eye‑tracking

Eye tracking can facilitate understanding irrational decision-making in contexts such as financial risk-taking.For this purpose,we develop an experimental framework in which participants trade a risky asset in a simulated bubble market to maximize individual returns while their eye movements are recorded.Returns are sensitive to eye movement dynamics,depending on the presented visual stimuli.Using eye-tracking data,we investigated the effects of arousal,attention,and disengagement on individual payoffs using linear and nonlinear approaches.By estimating a nonlinear model using attention as a threshold variable,our results suggest that arousal positively influences trading returns,but its effect becomes smaller when attention exceeds a certain threshold,whereas disengagement has a higher negative impact on reduced attention levels and becomes almost irrelevant when attention increases.Hence,we provide a neurobehavioral metric as a function of attention that predicts financial gains in boomand-bust scenarios.This study serves as a proof-of-concept for developing future psychometric measures to enhance decision-making.

Accessory renal arteries-a source of hypertension:A case report

BACKGROUND Secondary hypertension is a relatively rare condition most commonly caused by renovascular disease due to atherosclerotic vascular disease or fibromuscular dysplasia.Although accessory renal arteries are frequent,to date,only six cases of secondary hypertension determined by their existence have been reported.CASE SUMMARY We describe a case of a 39-year-old female who came to the emergency department with an urgent hypertensive crisis and hypertensive encephalopathy.Despite normal renal arteries,the computed tomography angiography revealed an inferior polar artery with 50%stenosis of its diameter.Conservative treatment with amlodipine,indapamide and perindopril was adopted,leading to blood pressure control within one month.CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge,there are controversies regarding accessory renal arteries as a potential etiology for secondary hypertension,but the seven similar cases already described,along with the current case,could reinforce the necessity of more studies concerning this subject.

Adapted Metrics for a Modified Coulomb/Newton’s Potential

Modified Theories of Gravity include spin dependence in General Relativity, to account for additional sources of gravity instead of dark matter/energy approach. The spin-spin interaction is already included in the effective nuclear force potential, and theoretical considerations and experimental evidence hint to the hypothesis that Gravity originates from such an interaction, under an averaging process over spin directions. This invites to continue the line of theory initiated by Einstein and Cartan, based on tetrads and spin effects modeled by connections with torsion. As a first step in this direction, the article considers a new modified Coulomb/Newton Law accounting for the spin-spin interaction. The physical potential is geometrized through specific affine connections and specific semi-Riemannian metrics, canonically associated to it, acting on a manifold or at the level of its tangent bundle. Freely falling particles in these “toy Universes” are determined, showing an interesting behavior and unexpected patterns.

A NECESSARY AND A SUFFICIENT CONDITION FOR THE EXISTENCE OF THE POSITIVE RADIAL SOLUTIONS TO HESSIAN EQUATIONS AND SYSTEMS WITH WEIGHTS

In this article, we consider the existence of positive radial solutions for Hessian equations and systems with weights and we give a necessary condition as well as a sufficient condition for a positive radial solution to be large. The method of proving theorems is essentially based on a successive approximation technique. Our results complete and improve a work published recently by Zhang and Zhou（existence of entire positive k-convex radial solutions to Hessian equations and systems with weights. Applied Mathematics Letters,Volume 50, December 2015, Pages 48–55）.

Does board gender diversity affect firm performance?Empirical evidence from Standard & Poor’s 500 Information Technology Sector

The essence of this study is to investigate the influence of the board gender diversity on firms’accounting and market-based performance using a sample of Standard&Poor’s 500 companies belonging to the information technology sector over 12 years.Using the pooled ordinary least squares(OLS)method,the outcomes provide evidence for a positive influence of women on corporate boards on both measures of company performance,except for the percentage of female executives in the case of return on assets(ROA).After estimating the fixed effects and random-effects through panel data,the econometric outcomes show no statistically significant association among board gender diversity and ROA but a positive influence of the number and percentage of women on board on price-to-earnings ratio.

Circulating microRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for hepatitis B virus liver fibrosis

Viruses can alter the expression of host microRNAs(miRNA s) and modulate the immune response during a persistent infection. The dysregulation of host miRNA s by hepatitis B virus(HBV) contributes to the proinflammatory and profibrotic changes within the liver. Multiple studies have documented the differential regulation of intracellular and circulating miRNA s during different stages of HBV infection. Circulating miRNA s found in plasma and/or extracellular vesicles can integrate data on viral-host interactions and on the associated liver injury. Hence, the detection of circulating miRNA s in chronic HBV hepatitis could offer a promising alternative to liver biopsy, as their expression is associated with HBV replication, the progression of liver fibrosis,and the outcome of antiviral treatment. The current review explores the available data on miRNA involvement in HBV pathogenesis with an emphasis on their potential use as biomarkers for liver fibrosis.

Peri-Gondwanan terranes in the Romanian Carpathians:A review of their spatial distribution,origin,provenance,and evolution

The basement of the Romanian Carpathians is made of Neoproterozoic to early Paleozoic peri- Gondwanan terranes variably involved in the Variscan orogeny, similarly to other basement terrains of Europe. They were hardly dismembered during the Alpine orogeny and traditionally have their own names in the three Carpathian areas. The Danubian domain of the South Carpathians comprises the Dragsan and Lainici-Paiius peri-Amazonian terranes. The Dragsan terrane originated within the ocean surrounding Rodinia and docked with Rodinia at -800 Ma. It does not contain Cadomian magmatism and consequently it is classified as an Avalonian extra-Cadomian terrane, The Lainici-Pfiius terrane is a Ganderian fragment strongly modified by Cadomian subduction-related magmatism, It is attached to the Moesia platform. The TisoviD terrane is an ophiolite that marks the boundary between Drfagsan and Lainici-Paius terranes. The other basement terranes of the Romanian Carpathians originated close to the Ordovician North- African orogen, as a result of the eastern Rheic Ocean opening and closure. Except for the Sebes-Lotru terrane that includes a lower metamorphic unit of Cadomian age, all the other terranes （Bretila, Tulghes, Negrisoara and Rebra in the East Carpathians, Somes, Biharia and Baia de Aries in the Apuseni mountains, Fagaras, Leaota, Carat and Pades in the South Carpathians） represent late Cambrian-Ordovician rock assemblages. Their provenance, is probably within paleo-nortbeast Africa, close to the Arabian-Nubian shield. The late Cambrian-Ordovician terranes are defined here as Carpathian-type terranes. According to their lithostratigraphy and origin, some are of continental margin magmatic arc setting, whereas others formed in rift and back-arc environment and closed to passive continental margin settings. In a paleo- geographic reconstruction, the continental margin magmatic arc terranes were first that drifted out, followed by the passive continental margin terranes with the back-arc terranes in their front. They accreted to Laurussia during the Variscan orogeny. Some of them （Sebes-Lotru in South Carpathians and Baia de Aries in Apuseni mountains） underwent eclogite-grade metamorphism. The Danubian terranes, the Bretila terrane and the Somes terrane were intruded by Variscan granitoids.

Socio-Economic Inequality and Economic Growth: Measurements for Central and Eastern Europe

The objective of this work is the study of social and economic inequality in the space of Central and Eastern Europe and its impact on economic growth. Our study includes a three-stage methodology:(1) application of a clustering method based on neural network (Self Organising Maps), to the series of panel data in order to divide countries into clusters, corresponding to the degree of economic and social inequality;(2) computing a composed index of economic and social inequality, using Principal Component Analysis and an extension of the method provided by OECD for computing composite indicators;(3) constructing an econometric model to establish the impact of social and economic inequality on economic growth and a VAR model to determine the causality between main determinants to growth and inequality as well as the response to shocks to the dynamics of the variables. The 24 Eastern and Central European countries have been grouped in five clusters, according to 11 attributes. In the results obtained, the third cluster comprises countries with the most equitable income distribution: Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Slovenia. To the opposite side is the fifth cluster with the deepest inequality, including only one country, namely Georgia. The second and third steps of our methodology, were applied only for the extreme clusters namely, the clusters with the highest (C5) and lowest (C3) inequality respectively.

Exotic break-up modes in heavy ion reactions up to Fermi energies

We discussed recent studies, within the framework of transport theories, on heavy ion reactions between charge asymmetric systems, from low up to Fermi energies. We concentrated on the analysis of ternary breakup events of dynamical origin occurring in semi-central reactions, where the formation of excited systems in various conditions of shape, excitation energy and spin is observed. At beam energies around 20 A Me V, we showed how this fragmentation mode emerges from the combined action of surface(neck) instabilities and angular momentum effects, leading to the observation of three aligned massive fragments in the exit channel. At Fermi energies, a transition towards a prompt emission of small fragments from the neck region with larger relative velocity with respect to projectile and target remnants is observed. We also focus on isospin sensitive observables, aiming at extracting information on the density dependence of the isovector part of the nuclear effective interaction and of the nuclear symmetry energy.

Considerations Regarding the Legal Regime of Authorized Natural Persons,the Sole Proprietorship and Family Businesses in Romania

The present study will examine the legal regime of authorized natural persons,individual enterprises,and family businesses as regulated in Romania.Such an analysis aims at presenting a panoramic view of the legal framework in a representative country in Eastern Europe.Business activities can be carried out individually by individuals as well as large corporations,firms,and companies that have the status of legal persons.The business carried out by individuals,mainly in terms of the quality of an authorized natural person,is particularly important because it contributes to the development of the middle class within society and to giving professional and financial independence to different categories of professionals.The main aspects related to the qualification of specific notions in the field,the administrative steps for acquiring the status of an authorized natural person,individual enterprise and family enterprise,and their legal regime will be found in the article.

The Relationship Between Poverty and Agricultural Growth in Countries Within Central and Eastern Europe

The paper aims to analyze the relationship between economic growth and increasing agricultural productivity at macroeconomic level, relationship that determines a decrease of poverty. Data sets are analyzed using econometric methods in order to test the cointegration relationships. The results of the data show that, in Romania’s case, the added value of agriculture has no significant impact on the evolution of the country’s GDP, so also the impact on raising the standard of living is marginal. To increase productivity and profitability of agriculture requires a complex approach: a financial system to support development of the sector by providing specific financial products and services, the reorganization/retechnologization of farms, encouraging young people to invest in agriculture, ownership structure of agricultural land.

Listening and the Well-tempered Controversy（With Reference to Intercultural Exchange）

The issue of this study continues the analysis of persuasive truth （the ＂truth＂ of beliefs）, a problem debated by us inseveral articles already published, especially in two of them： Doxastic Dialectics （1999） and The Probable and theProblem （2010）. In this new ＂chapter,＂ our intention is to develop more details from the perspective of subjectivity,which has a grounding role in doxastic dialectics. Doxa＇s axiomatic mechanism tries to temper the subjectivedimension of persuasive truth, by submitting the doxastic proofs to the control of the oppositional principle（=antithetic ＂reasoning＂）. Doxastic thinking discovers dialectically its own ratio （=measure）, progressivelyincreasing the relevance of the listening capacity. In the text that follows, the concept of listening is used in a largerthan sensitive sense, being equivalent to condition of receptivity.

Transatlantic Integration:The TTIP under Scrutiny

In view of the already relatively low most-favored-nation(MFN)rates on average,today’s most impeding barriers to transatlantic trade are not custom tariffs but so-called behind-the-border measures.TTIP was originally destined to become a verily comprehensive trade and investment agreement in acknowledgment of this circumstance.But its distinctively ambitious agenda exposed both camps’opposing positions on several fronts at the same time.Considering that the negotiations had already hit several road blocks under the espousing Obama administration,the protectionist convictions and“America First”policy of the incumbent US President promised to complicate many of these contentious issues.Cherished as a popular tool in the business environment,the SWOT analysis also stood the test in the innovative context of identifying internal strengths and weaknesses of TTIP as well as external opportunities and threats to its conclusion further down the line.Juxtaposing its intrinsic strengths and weaknesses of TTIP unveils a mixed picture,alike so often in real life where no absolute truth exists.Nevertheless,the research demonstrates that there are compelling economic incentives for revitalizing the bilateral talks with respect to the likely transformations it would bring about in terms of market organization and functioning,production and distribution efficiency,national income,consumer satisfaction and,not least,regulation harmonization.Examining the matter from a different angle by asking“What are the probable implications of the scenario where the negotiations on a transatlantic trade and investment agreement will not be reinstated in the near future?”provided further illuminating insights.This approach revealed that neither the EU nor the US can actually afford to perpetuate the current status quo.Without TTIP,the relative size of the transatlantic pole is bound to dwindle in the global economy.Let alone the long-term geostrategic damage caused by its absence,as the EU and the US would miss out on the last chance to impose their joint vision of 21st century commerce on the rest of the world and preempt China from doing so instead.A glance at the corresponding external opportunities and threats suggests that the pendula could swing in either direction in terms of the TTIP’s destiny.The author believes that Brussels will be hesitant to re-embark on delicate trade negotiations until the next US presidential election,in the hope that a more amicable and more reliable counterpart would enter the White House.The Commission will be too distracted anyway by the coinciding Brexit from taking the initiative any time soon.The UK’s exit represents a double-edged sword in this context,as the dueling race for a Free Trade Agreement(FTA)with the US will immediately start once this all-consuming affair is settled and tied up capacities are recuperated.But for also reaching the finishing line—synonymous for the successful ratification of TTIP—it is imperative to learn from the mistakes of the past.Aloof officials have to put themselves in the shoes of ordinary citizens if they want to formulate convincing narratives and draw the right lessons from previous mistakes.

Basic Principles Underlying Human Physiology

This is to declare that the article entitled “Basic Principles Underlying Human Physiology” [Health 6 (2014) 1816-1821] published in Health has been withdrawn due to the fact that the contents of this paper need further research and study. The article content (HTML and PDF) is removed and replaced with this announcement. The approval has been obtained from the author of this paper regarding the withdrawal of the article. In making this decision, the editorial office of Health is guided by the policies of the journal's editorial board and constrained by such legal requirements regarding libel, copyright infringement and plagiarism. In this context, Health strives to promote the circulation of scientific research, offering an ideal research publication platform to the world with specific regard to the ethical, moral and legal concerns involved. We would like to extend our sincere apologies for any inconvenience it may cause.

Perspective on the Economic Evolution of the European Union States Under the Impact of the Pandemic and Financial-Economic Crisis

The European Union,which is at the beginning of its term of office for all Member States in the European Parliament,the European Commission,its governing body and the Member States,is concerned with finalizing directives and future development strategies.Of course,the fundamental objective of the European Union would be to establish strategies to ensure economic growth in all the Member States of the European Union and,on the other hand,to establish how each Member State seeks to implement the European directives aimed at this end desideratum.There are a number of areas in which some countries,especially those that have joined European Union in recent waves,still have difficulty responding to the European Union’s desires and concerns to ensure economic growth,with a tendency to level the playing field trains in the next period.It aims at establishing a minimum wage in the European Union,divides a number of other issues in the field of environment,in the field of economic development,being important challenges for all Member States.Of course,it should be noted that these Member States have different possibilities to respond to these challenges,through strategies that correlate,on the one hand,the individual interests of each of the Member States,but at the same time,in close coordination(correlation)with the major objectives set by the European Union.All these aspects are important,but must be reconsidered,in the context of the global effect of the pandemic and financial-economic crisis.The European Union is now considering a program to support all states,but especially those most affected by the above-mentioned crisis.