Understanding heterogeneity of investor sentiment on social media: A structural topic modeling approach.

Investors nowadays post heterogeneous sentiments on social media about financial assets based on their trading preferences. However, existing works typically analyze the sentiment by its content only and do not account for investor profiles and trading preferences in different types of assets. This paper explicitly considers how investor sentiment about financial market events is shaped by the relative discussions of different types of investors. We leverage a large-scale financial social media dataset and employ a structural topic modeling approach to extract topical contents of investor sentiment across multiple finance-specific factors. The identified topics reveal important events related to the financial market and show strong heterogeneity in the social media content in terms of compositions of investor profiles, asset categories, and bullish/bearish sentiment. Results show that investors with different profiles and trading preferences tend to discuss financial markets with heterogeneous beliefs, leading to divergent opinions about those events regarding the topic prevalence and proportion. Moreover, our findings may shed light on the mechanism that underlies the efficient investor sentiment extraction and aggregation while considering the heterogeneity of investor sentiment across different dimensions.

Mechanism of Additive-Assisted Room-Temperature Processing of Metal Halide Perovskite Thin Films.

Perovskite solar cells have received substantial attention due to their potential for low-cost photovoltaic devices on flexible or rigid substrates. Thiocyanate (SCN)-containing additives, such as MASCN (MA = methylammonium), have been shown to control perovskite film crystallization and the film microstructure to achieve effective room-temperature perovskite absorber processing. Nevertheless, the crystallization pathways and mechanisms of perovskite formation involved in MASCN additive processing are far from clear. Using in situ X-ray diffraction and photoluminescence, we investigate the crystallization pathways of MAPbI3 and reveal the mechanisms of additive-assisted perovskite formation during spin coating and subsequent N2 drying. We confirm that MASCN induces large precursor aggregates in solution and, during spin coating, promotes the formation of the perovskite phase with lower nucleation density and overall larger initial nuclei size, which forms upon reaching supersaturation in solution, in addition to intermediate solvent-complex phases. Finally, during the subsequent N2 drying, MASCN facilitates the dissociation of these precursor aggregates and the solvate phases, leading to further growth of the perovskite crystals. Our results show that the nature of the intermediate phases and their formation/dissociation kinetics determine the nucleation and growth of the perovskite phase, which subsequently impact the film microstructure. These findings provide mechanistic insights underlying room-temperature, additive-assisted perovskite processing and help guide further development of such facile room-temperature synthesis routes.

Electronic structure and photophysics of a supermolecular iron complex having a long MLCT-state lifetime and panchromatic absorption.

Exploiting earth-abundant iron-based metal complexes as high-performance photosensitizers demands long-lived electronically excited metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) states, but these species suffer typically from femtosecond timescale charge-transfer (CT)-state quenching by low-lying nonreactive metal-centered (MC) states. Here, we engineer supermolecular Fe(II) chromophores based on the bis(tridentate-ligand)metal(II)-ethyne-(porphinato)zinc(II) conjugated framework, previously shown to give rise to highly delocalized low-lying 3MLCT states for other Group VIII metal (Ru, Os) complexes. Electronic spectral, potentiometric, and ultrafast pump-probe transient dynamical data demonstrate that a combination of a strong σ-donating tridentate ligand and a (porphinato)zinc(II) moiety with low-lying π*-energy levels, sufficiently destabilize MC states and stabilize supermolecular MLCT states to realize Fe(II) complexes that express 3MLCT state photophysics reminiscent of their heavy-metal analogs. The resulting Fe(II) chromophore archetype, FeNHCPZn, features a highly polarized CT state having a profoundly extended 3MLCT lifetime (160 ps), 3MLCT phosphorescence, and ambient environment stability. Density functional and domain-based local pair natural orbital coupled cluster [DLPNO-CCSD(T)] theory reveal triplet-state wavefunction spatial distributions consistent with electronic spectroscopic and excited-state dynamical data, further underscoring the dramatic Fe metal-to-extended ligand CT character of electronically excited FeNHCPZn. This design further prompts intense panchromatic absorptivity via redistributing high-energy absorptive oscillator strength throughout the visible spectral domain, while maintaining a substantial excited-state oxidation potential for wide-ranging photochemistry--highlighted by the ability of FeNHCPZn to photoinject charges into a SnO2/FTO electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) architecture. Concepts enumerated herein afford opportunities for replacing traditional rare-metal-based emitters for solar-energy conversion and photoluminescence applications.

Thermodynamically Stable Orthorhombic γ-CsPbI3 Thin Films for High-Performance Photovoltaics.

All-inorganic lead halide perovskites demonstrate improved thermal stability over the organic-inorganic halide perovskites, but the cubic α-CsPbI3 with the most appropriate bandgap for light harvesting is not structurally stable at room temperature and spontaneously transforms into the undesired orthorhombic δ-CsPbI3. Here, we present a new member of black-phase thin films of all-inorganic perovskites for high-efficiency photovoltaics, the orthorhombic γ-CsPbI3 thin films with intrinsic thermodynamic stability and ideal electronic structure. Exempt from introducing organic ligands or incorporating mixed cations/anions into the crystal lattice, we stabilize the γ-CsPbI3 thin films by a simple solution process in which a small amount of H2O manipulates the size-dependent phase formation through a proton transfer reaction. Theoretical calculations coupled with experiments show that γ-CsPbI3 with a lower surface free energy becomes thermodynamically preferred over δ-CsPbI3 at surface areas greater than 8600 m2/mol and exhibits comparable optoelectronic properties to α-CsPbI3. Consequently, γ-CsPbI3-based solar cells display a highly reproducible efficiency of 11.3%, among the highest records for CsPbI3 thin-film solar cells, with robust stability in ambient atmosphere for months and continuous operating conditions for hours. Our study provides a novel and fundamental perspective to overcome the Achilles' heel of the inorganic lead iodide perovskite and opens it up for high-performance optoelectronic devices.

A binder-free NiCo2O4 nanosheet/3D elastic N-doped hollow carbon nanotube sponge electrode with high volumetric and gravimetric capacitances for asymmetric supercapacitors.

To increase the volumetric and gravimetric capacitances of supercapacitors, a new class of electrode materials with high electrochemical activity and favorable structures is extremely desired. In this work, a hollow novel nitrogen-doped 3D elastic single-walled carbon nanotube sponge (NSCS) which is ultra lightweight with the lowest density of 0.8 mg cm-3, and has a high open surface structure for electrolyte accessibility and excellent compressible properties as the electrode scaffold has been successfully fabricated by the pyrolysis method which could produce the carbon nanotube sponge easily on a large scale without high-cost and time-consuming processes. Moreover, a NiCo2O4 nanosheet supported on the NSCS has been successfully fabricated. The highest volumetric and gravimetric capacitance of this electrode is 790 F cm-3 at 1.43 g cm-3 and 1618 F g-1 at 0.54 g cm-3 with excellent cycling stability. The density of NiCo2O4/NSCS electrode was adjusted by mechanical compression and the most favorable density of the film for both high volumetric and gravimetric capacitances obtained was 1.21 g cm-3. The thick NiCo2O4/NSCS film of 72 µm has been fabricated at this favorable density, presenting both high volumetric and gravimetric capacitances of 597 F cm-3 and 1074 F g-1 at 1 A g-1, respectively, indicating that the structure of the NSCS is extremely feasible for obtaining a thick film electrode with excellent volumetric and gravimetric capacitances. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor of NiCo2O4/NSCS//NGN/CNTs was fabricated, exhibiting a high gravimetric energy density of 47.65 W h kg-1 at 536 W kg-1 and a volumetric energy density of 33.44 W h L-1 at 376.16 W L-1.

Two-Dimensional Lead(II) Halide-Based Hybrid Perovskites Templated by Acene Alkylamines: Crystal Structures, Optical Properties, and Piezoelectricity.

A series of two-dimensional (2D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite (HOIP) crystals, based on acene alkylamine cations (i.e., phenylmethylammonium (PMA), 2-phenylethylammonium (PEA), 1-(2-naphthyl)methanammonium (NMA), and 2-(2-naphthyl)ethanammonium (NEA)) and lead(II) halide (i.e., PbX42-, X = Cl, Br, and I) frameworks, and their corresponding thin films were fabricated and examined for structure-property relationship. Several new or redetermined crystal structures are reported, including those for (NEA)2PbI4, (NEA)2PbBr4, (NMA)2PbBr4, (PMA)2PbBr4, and (PEA)2PbI4. Non-centrosymmetric structures from among these 2D HOIPs were confirmed by piezoresponse force microscopy-especially noteworthy is the structure of (PMA)2PbBr4, which was previously reported as centrosymmetric. Examination of the impact of organic cation and inorganic layer choice on the exciton absorption/emission properties, among the set of compounds considered, reveals that perovskite layer distortion (i.e., Pb-I-Pb bond angle between adjacent PbI6 octahedra) has a more global effect on the exciton properties than octahedral distortion (i.e., variation of I-Pb-I bond angles and discrepancy among Pb-I bond lengths within each PbI6 octahedron). In addition to the characteristic sharp exciton emission for each perovskite, (PMA)2PbCl4, (PEA)2PbCl4, (NMA)2PbCl4, and (PMA)2PbBr4 exhibit separate, broad "white" emission in the long wavelength range. Piezoelectric compounds identified from these 2D HOIPs may be considered for future piezoresponse-type energy or electronic applications.

Highly Stretchable Conductive Fibers from Few-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Coated on Poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) Polymer Core/Shell Structures.

A core/shell stretchable conductive composite of a few-walled carbon nanotube network coated on a poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) fiber (FWNT/PMIA) was fabricated by a dip-coating method and an annealing process that greatly enhanced interactions between the FWNT network and PMIA core as well as within the FWNT network. The first strain-conductivity test of the as-prepared FWNT/PMIA fiber showed a stretching-induced alignment of nanotubes in the shell during the deformation process and a good conductivity stability with a slight conductivity drop from 109.63 S/cm to 98.74 S/cm (Δσ/σ0 = 10%) at a strain of ∼150% (2.5 times the original length). More importantly, after the first stretching process, the fiber can be recovered with a slight increase in length but a greatly improved conductivity of 167.41 S/cm through an additional annealing treatment. The recovered fiber displays a similarly superb conductivity stability against stretching, with a decrease of only ∼13 S/cm to 154.49 S/cm (Δσ/σ0 = 8%) at a strain of ∼150%. We believe that this conductivity stability came from the formation and maintaining of aligned nanotube structures during the stretching process, which ensures the good tube-tube contacts and the elongation of the FWNT network without losing its conductivity. Such stable conductivity in stretchable fibers will be important for applications in stretchable electronics.

Lysophosphatidic Acid Stimulates Ovarian Cancer Cell Migration via a Ras-MEK Kinase 1 Pathway.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is present at high concentrations in ascites and plasma of ovarian cancer patients. Studies conducted in experimental models demonstrate that LPA promotes ovarian cancer invasion/metastasis by up-regulating protease expression, elevating protease activity, and enhancing angiogenic factor expression. In this study, we investigated the effect of LPA on ovarian cancer migration, an essential component of cancer cell invasion. LPA stimulates both chemotaxis and chemokinesis of ovarian cancer cells and LPA-stimulated cell migration is G(I) dependent. Moreover, constitutively active H-Ras enhances ovarian cancer cell migration, whereas dominant negative H-Ras blocks LPA-stimulated cell migration, suggesting that Ras works downstream of G(i) to mediate LPA-stimulated cell migration. Interestingly, H-Ras mutants that specifically activate Raf-1, Ral-GDS, or phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase are unable to significantly enhance ovarian cancer cell migration, suggesting that a Ras downstream effector distinct from Raf-1, Ral-GDS, and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase is responsible for LPA-stimulated cell migration. In this article, we demonstrate that LPA activates mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1) in a G(i)-Ras-dependent manner and that MEKK1 activity is essential for LPA-stimulated ovarian cancer cell migration. Inhibitors that block MEKK1 downstream pathways, including MEK1/2, MKK4/7, and nuclear factor-kappa B pathways, do not significantly alter LPA-stimulated cell migration. Instead, LPA induces the redistribution of focal adhesion kinase to focal contact regions of the cytoplasm membrane, and this event is abolished by pertussis toxin, dominant negative H-Ras, or dominant negative MEKK1. Our studies thus suggest that the G(i)-Ras-MEKK1 signaling pathway mediates LPA-stimulated ovarian cancer cell migration by facilitating focal adhesion kinase redistribution to focal contacts.

TL1A synergizes with IL-12 and IL-18 to enhance IFN-gamma production in human T cells and NK cells.

TL1A, a recently described TNF-like cytokine that interacts with DR3, costimulates T cells and augments anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 IFN-gamma production. In the current study we show that TL1A or an agonistic anti-DR3 mAb synergize with IL-12/IL-18 to augment IFN-gamma production in human peripheral blood T cells and NK cells. TL1A also enhanced IFN-gamma production by IL-12/IL-18 stimulated CD56(+) T cells. When expressed as fold change, the synergistic effect of TL1A on cytokine-induced IFN-gamma production was more pronounced on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells than on CD56(+) T cells or NK cells. Intracellular cytokine staining showed that TL1A significantly enhanced both the percentage and the mean fluorescence intensity of IFN-gamma-producing T cells in response to IL-12/IL-18. The combination of IL-12 and IL-18 markedly up-regulated DR3 expression in NK cells, whereas it had minimal effect in T cells. Our data suggest that TL1A/DR3 pathway plays an important role in the augmentation of cytokine-induced IFN-gamma production in T cells and that DR3 expression is differentially regulated by IL-12/IL-18 in T cells and NK cells.

Rac1-MKK3-p38-MAPKAPK2 pathway promotes urokinase plasminogen activator mRNA stability in invasive breast cancer cells.

We reported previously that down-regulating or functionally blocking alphav integrins inhibits endogenous p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) expression in invasive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells whereas engaging alphav integrins with vitronectin activates p38 MAPK and up-regulates uPA expression (Chen, J., Baskerville, C., Han, Q., Pan, Z., and Huang, S. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 47901-47905). Currently, it is not clear what upstream and downstream signaling molecules of p38 MAPK mediate alphav integrin-mediated uPA up-regulation. In the present study, we found that alphav integrin ligation activated small GTPase Rac1 preferentially, and dominant negative Rac1 inhibited alphav integrin-mediated p38 MAPK activation. Using constitutively active MAPK kinases, we found that both constitutively active MKK3 and MKK6 mutants were able to activate p38 MAPK and up-regulate uPA expression, but only dominant negative MKK3 blocked alphav integrin-mediated p38 MAPK activation and uPA up-regulation. These results suggest that MKK3, rather than MKK6, mediates alphav integrin-induced p38 MAPK activation. Among the potential downstream effectors of p38 MAPK, we found that only MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 affects alphav integrin-mediated uPA up-regulation significantly. Finally, using beta-globin reporter gene constructs containing uPA mRNA 3'-untranslated region (UTR) and adenosine/uridine-rich elements-deleted 3'-UTR, we demonstrated that p38 MAPK/MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 signaling pathway regulated uPA mRNA stability through a mechanism involving the adenosine/uridine-rich elements sequence in 3'-UTR of uPA mRNA.