Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capital structure decisions along the supply chain: Evidence from import competition

This paper studies the spillover effect of import competition in downstream industries on upstream capital structure. We find that a large reduction in import tariffs in a customer industry induces suppliers to choose more conservative financial policies. We show that firms lower their leverage more when the customer–supplier relationship is more valuable to the firms and when firms are more vulnerable to the downstream shock. Finally, firms adjust their leverage mainly by issuing more equity. RésuméCet article étudie l’effet de contagion de la concurrence des importations dans les industries en aval sur la structure du capital en amont. Nous constatons qu’une forte réduction des taxes d’importation dans un secteur client incite les fournisseurs à choisir des politiques financières plus conservatrices. Nous montrons que les entreprises réduisent davantage leur endettement lorsque la relation client-fournisseur est plus importante pour les entreprises et que les entreprises sont plus vulnérables à un choc situé en aval. Enfin, les entreprises ajustent leur endettement principalement en émettant davantage d’actions.ResumenEste artículo estudia el efecto de las repercusiones de la competencia de las importaciones en industrias derivadas en la estructura de capital ascendente. Encontramos que una gran reducción en los aranceles de importación en una industria de consumidores induce a los proveedores a elegir políticas financieras más conservadoras. Mostramos que las empresas disminuyen su apalancamiento más cuando la relación entre el consumidor y el proveedor es más valiosa para las empresas y cuando las empresas son más vulnerables al impacto posterior. Finalmente, las empresas ajustan su apalancamiento principalmente mediante la emisión de más capital.ResumoEste artigo estuda o efeito de transbordamento da concorrência de importações nas indústrias downstream na estrutura de capital upstream. Descobrimos que uma grande redução nas tarifas de importação em uma indústria de clientes induz fornecedores a escolher políticas financeiras mais conservadoras. Mostramos que as empresas reduzem sua alavancagem quando a relação cliente-fornecedor é mais valiosa para empresas e quando empresas são mais vulneráveis ao choque downstream. Por fim, empresas ajustam sua alavancagem principalmente emitindo mais capital. 摘要本文研究了下游产业进口竞争对上游资本结构的溢出效应。 我们发现, 客户行业的进口关税大幅下降会导致供应商选择更为保守的金融政策。 我们表明, 当客户–供应商关系对公司更有价值而公司更容易受到下游冲击时, 公司会更多地降低杠杆率。 最后, 公司主要通过发行更多股权来调整杠杆。
New α-Glucosidase inhibitors from Croton bonplandianum Croton bonplandianum Baill (Euphorbiaceae)

Purpose: To isolate and evaluate α-glucosidase inhibitors from dichloromethane extract of Croton bonplandianum Baill as probable remedy for management of diabetes. Methods: Activity-guided isolation of constituents from dichloromethane extract was carried out. Fractionation of dichloromethane extract by column chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH 20 using different mobile phase systems led to the isolation of compounds (A-I). The structures of these isolated compounds were established by ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR), 13 C NMR and mass spectrophotometry, electron impact mass spectroscopy (EIMS) and high resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS) were used for structural elucidation. All the isolated compounds were screened for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity using standard in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition assay. Acarbose was used as positive control. Results: On the basis of their physical and spectral data from literature, the isolated compounds were identified as n-pentacosanyl-n-nonadeca-7′-en-9′-α-ol 1′-oate (A), n-tridecanyl n-octadec-9,12-dienoate (B), nonacosyl hexadecanoate (C), heptacosanoic acid (D), 1,3,5-trihydroxy-2-hexadecanoylamino- (6e,9e) heptacosdiene (E),cumarin (F), betulin (G), stigmasterol (H), and 3,5-dimethoxy 4-hydroxy cinnamic acid (I). Compounds F, GandI possessed significant α glucosidase inhibitory activity in a concentration-dependent manner with 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values ranging from 23.0 to 26.7 μg/mL, relative to that of the positive control, acarbose (IC 50 , 38.2 μg/mL). Conclusion: The plant contains bioactive compounds with α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. This lendssome support for the traditional use of this herb in the management of diabetes. Compound F, GandI possessed significant α glucosidase inhibitory activity in a concentration-dependent manner and may be developed as a new α-glucosidase inhibitor. Keywords: α-Glucosidase, Inhibition, Diabetes, Acarbose, Cumarin, Betulin, 3,5 Dimethoxy 4-hydroxy cinnamic acid, Croton bonplandianum
Ab initio study of symmetrical tilt grain boundaries in bcc Fe: structural units, magnetic moments, interfacial bonding, local energy and local stress

We present first-principle calculations on symmetric tilt grain boundaries (GBs) in bcc Fe. Using density functional theory (DFT), we studied the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Σ3(111) and Σ11(332) GBs formed by rotation around the [110] axis. The optimized structures, GB energies and GB excess free volumes are consistent with previous DFT and classical simulation studies. The GB configurations can be interpreted by the structural unit model as given by Nakashima and Takeuchi (2000 ISIJ 86 357). Both the GBs are composed of similar structural units of three- and five-membered rings with different densities at the interface according to the rotation angle. The interface atoms with larger atomic volumes reveal higher magnetic moments than the bulk value, while the interface atoms with shorter bond lengths have reduced magnetic moments in each GB. The charge density and local density of states reveal that the interface bonds with short bond lengths have more covalent nature, where minority-spin electrons play a dominant role as the typical nature of ferromagnetic Fe. In order to understand the structural stability of these GBs, we calculated the local energy and local stress for each atomic region using the scheme of Shiihara et al (2010 Phys. Rev. B 81 075441). In each GB, the interface atoms with larger atomic volumes and enhanced magnetic moments reveal larger local energy increase and tensile stress. The interface atoms constituting more covalent-like bonds with reduced magnetic moments have lower local energy increase, contributing to the stabilization, while compressive stress is generated at these atoms. The relative stability between the two GBs can be understood by the local energies at the structural units. The local energy and local stress analysis is a powerful tool to investigate the structural properties of GBs based on the behavior of valence electrons.
Sliding-Mode Antisway Control of an Offshore Container Crane

In this paper, a sliding-mode control for an offshore container crane is discussed. The offshore container crane is used to load/unload containers between a huge container ship (called the “mother ship”) and a smaller ship (called the “mobile harbor”), on which the crane is installed. The purpose of the mobile harbor is to load/unload containers in the open sea and transport them to shallower water where they can be offloaded at existing conventional ports, thereby obviating the need for expansive and expensive new facilities. The load/unload control objective is to suppress the pendulum motion (i.e., “sway”) of the load in the presence of the wave- and wind-induced movements (heave, roll, and pitch) of the mobile harbor. A new mechanism for lateral sway control, therefore, is proposed as well. A sliding surface is designed in such a way that the longitudinal sway of the load is incorporated with the trolley dynamics. The asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed by a control law derived for the purpose. The proposed new mechanism can suppress lateral sway, which functionality is not possible with conventional cranes. Simulation results are provided.
Effect of the In-Flight Meal Service Quality on the Customer Value and Loyalty

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among in-flight meal service quality, customer value and loyalty. To accomplish this, a questionnaire was developed based on previous studies. Methods/ Statistical analysis: A convenience sample of 400 respondents was surveyed and a total of 368 usable questionnaires were analyzed. SPSS 21.0 was used as statistical tool for data analysis. Descriptive analysis was conducted to examine the demographic characteristics of the participants. And to test the constructive validation of the instrument for evaluation, factor analysis was carried out. And multiple regression analysis was performed to know the impact among variables. Findings: The average of in-flight meal service quality score was 3.27/5.00 and in-flight meal service quality was highest with service factor of 3.30, followed by sanitation factor with 3.27 and food factor with 3.25. Meanwhile, the average of customer value score was 3.14 and loyalty was 3.28 respectively. Furthermore, there was a significantly positive correlation among food, service, sanitation, customer value and loyalty (**p<0.01, *p<0.05). Specifically, service factor and the sanitation factor (p <0.01) showed a significant high correlation (p2=0.41, p<0.001). Furthermore, influences of in-flight service quality on loyalty showed significantly positive effects in food (β=0.160, p<0.01), service (β=0.315, p<0.001) and sanitation (β=0.385, p<0.001) factors. Regarding the degrees of influences on customer value and loyalty, sanitation showed the highest effects. Application/Improvements: It is necessary for an airline to continuously understand customers’ needs for supplementary services and hygienic management for in-flight meal, not to mention the quality of in-flight service.
Resource integration in smallholder farms for sustainable livelihoods in developing countries

Abstract The need for sustainable agricultural advancements remain at the forefront of global development practices, with smallholder farms emerging as an essential factor in creating long-lasting improvements in food security, enhanced nutrition, and economic development. Sustainable intensification and diversification in small farms can achieve these outcomes and often take the form of integration among farm resources to achieve sustainable livelihood. However, such integration is promoted in the form of integrated farming system (IFS) models as a single farm innovation for the smallholder systems of developing countries without considering the heterogeneity and priorities of farm families. Using the sustainable livelihoods (SL) framework, we propose a modified model for IFS promotion, particularly applicable for developing nations. The model modifies the standard SL model and illustrates how, based on the resources and vulnerabilities of small farms, IFS needs to be customised to achieve multifunctional benefits for smallholder farmers depending on the locations. It should first integrate the available assets of a farm, and then consider the micro-intervention that are strategically designed in a conscious livelihood based on their socioeconomic, bio-physical, political, and cultural situations. The goal of this article is to achieve multiple desirable livelihood outcomes at farm and community levels. This conceptualisation should help to develop IFS models based on local resources and farmers’ priorities that become more flexible than rigid.
Sponge biomass and bioerosion rates increase under ocean warming and acidification

The combination of ocean warming and acidification as a result of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is considered to be a significant threat to calcifying organisms and their activities on coral reefs. How these global changes impact the important roles of decalcifying organisms (bioeroders) in the regulation of carbonate budgets, however, is less understood. To address this important question, the effects of a range of past, present and future CO2 emission scenarios (temperature + acidification) on the excavating sponge Cliona orientalis Thiele, 1900 were explored over 12 weeks in early summer on the southern Great Barrier Reef. C. orientalis is a widely distributed bioeroder on many reefs, and hosts symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Symbiodinium. Our results showed that biomass production and bioerosion rates of C. orientalis were similar under a pre‐industrial scenario and a present day (control) scenario. Symbiodinium population density in the sponge tissue was the highest under the pre‐industrial scenario, and decreased towards the two future scenarios with sponge replicates under the ‘business‐as‐usual’ CO2 emission scenario exhibiting strong bleaching. Despite these changes, biomass production and the ability of the sponge to erode coral carbonate materials both increased under the future scenarios. Our study suggests that C. orientalis will likely grow faster and have higher bioerosion rates in a high CO2 future than at present, even with significant bleaching. Assuming that our findings hold for excavating sponges in general, increased sponge biomass coupled with accelerated bioerosion may push coral reefs towards net erosion and negative carbonate budgets in the future.
THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF INFORMAL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTIONS AND AUDIT COMMITTEES: SURVEY OF AUSTRALIAN CHIEF AUDIT EXECUTIVES

We provide evidence on the growing importance of informal interactions (II) between internal audit functions (IAF) and audit committees (AC). Using a survey of Australian Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) we focus on the existence and nature of II. Nearly 90% of CAEs report that, in addition to formally scheduled meetings, they have II with ACs. II occur on average 12 times per year and are mainly CAE initiated. CAEs that are capable of challenging management and who command senior management’s respect are more likely to engage in II. More importantly, increase in II is associated with the AC chair being independent and the AC being active. However, we find that AC chairs with accounting and finance knowledge and experience are less likely to engage in II. Perhaps, their background makes them more accounting-centric and more at ease with financial reporting/external auditing matters than with internal audit issues.
From Theory to Evidence: Long-Term Evaluation of the Mechanism of Action and Flap Integration of Distal Vascularized Lymph Node Transfers

Abstract Background Nonanatomic (distal) placement of vascularized lymph node (VLN) transfers have shown efficacy in the treatment of extremity lymphedema, but the mechanism by which these flaps provide relief of lymphedema remains unclear. Intrinsic lymphovenous connections have been previously shown to exist in the transferred flap. But, the long-term interaction of the VLN flap and surrounding lymphedematous extremity has not been previously investigated. Patients and Methods A retrospective review of a prospective maintained database of patients who underwent VLN transfer was evaluated. Patients who underwent distal VLN transfer and had more than 1-year follow-up were identified. Lymphodynamic evaluation was performed using 0.3 to 0.6 mL indocyanine green (ICG) injection at 5 cm proximal to the flap edge on identified patients. Migration direction of dye and latency period was evaluated. Results In total, 20 patients were identified who met inclusion criteria. Average long-term follow-up was 27.3 months. The average circumference reduction of the affected extremity was 40.5%. ICG appearance within the VLN flap was found in all patients occurring on average in 178.3 seconds. In all cases, flow occurred in the distal direction (toward the flap) with proximal placement of dye. Latency period was found to inversely correlate with circumference reduction (p < 0.01). Conclusions Distal, nonanatomic placement of VLN flaps provide sustained limb circumference reduction in extremity lymphedema patients following a minimum of 1-year postoperatively. Flap integration with the recipient site reliably occurs as witnessed with consistent ICG drainage, and occurs in the gravity-dependent direction. Faster clearance of ICG will result in improved clinical limb circumference reduction.
The Memory, Cognitive and PsychologicalFunctions of Sleep: Update from Electroencephalographic and Neuroimaging Studies

Sleep is a universal biological feature in almost all, if not in all species, and represents a global state of immobility with greatly reduced responsiveness to environmental stimuli, which can be distinguished from coma or anaesthesia by its rapid reversibility (Cirelli & Tononi, 2008). It is by no means a dormant state. When it is prevented, the body tries to recover the lost amount. The existence of sleep rebound after deprivation reveals that sleep is not simply a period of reduced activity or alertness regulated by circadian or ultradian rhythms (Dinges et al., 2005). Notably, in most vertebrates and all mammal species, including man, sleep displays a specific architecture roughly described as a cyclic occurrence of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep. Further, dramatic changes in brain electrophysiology, neurochemistry and functional anatomy biologically distinguish the different sleep stages from one another (Hobson & Pace-Schott, 2002; PaceSchott & Hobson, 2002). Also, human and animal neurophysiologic studies have shown that the magnitude of changes in brain metabolism and neuronal activity in many discrete brain structures during certain sleep stages exceeds that during most of the waking periods (Gottesmenn, 1999; Maquet et al., 1996; Nofzinger et al., 1997; Steriade & Timofeev, 2003). Although the precise functions of sleep are still beyond comprehensive understanding (Cirelli & Tononi, 2008), many studies point to the critical role of sleep for physiological functioning and adaptation. Its vital importance is well documented by the fact that its deprivation in rodents and flies can cause death more quickly relative to food deprivation (Rechtschaffen, 1998). Thus, sleep is shown to serve many energetic and metabolic, immune, thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and respiratory functions, all responsible for normal brain and body homeostasis (Siegel, 2009; Tononi & Cirelli, 2006). Notably, along with these functions, sleep is shown to play a key role for important cognitive and psychological processes, among which learning and memory have been most intensively studied (Diekelmann & Born, 2010; Rasch & Born, 2007; Stickgold, 2005; Walker, 2008; Walker & Stickgold, 2006; 2010). Accordingly, an extensive body of research has revealed a cruicial
Body mass index and acute asthma severity among children presenting to the emergency department

Ginde AA, Santillan AA, Clark S, Camargo CA Jr. Body mass index and acute asthma severity among children presenting to the emergency department. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2010: 21: 480–488. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S
A rotational social work field placement model in regional health

Increases in student numbers and education providers have combined with pressures on the human services sector to create field-placement-shortage stress in many parts of Australia. In this climate some Australian social work programs have sought alternatives to the traditional, labour-intensive, one student/one field educator, single-site model of field placement. The rotation model, as an alternative, has a longer history in America, but is only recently being trialled and evaluated in Australia. The introduction of fee charges for placements in public health triggered a potential loss in local placements and regional workforce development. Although this initiative was the catalyst, the focus of this paper is on the development of (and a successful small pilot) a sequential, rotation model of social work field placement. Implementation of the rotation model was enabled by a collaborative partnership between social work staff at a regional university and public health social workers. The generally positive reaction to the rotation model from staff and students suggests it warrants further implementation and evaluation. Strengths and limitations of the model are discussed.
Several versions of Devour Digest Tidy-up Heuristic for Large-Scale Unconstrained Binary Quadratic Problem

The unconstrained binary quadratic optimization problem (UQP) is known to be NP-hard and due to its computational challenge and application potential, it becomes more and more considered and involved by the recent research studies, including both exact and heuristic solution approaches. Our work is in line with that of Glover, Alidaee, Rego and Kochenberger (2002) who proposed one pass heuristics as alternatives to the well-known Devour Digest Tidy-up procedure (DDT) of Boros, Hammer and Sun (1989). The “devour” step sets a term of the current representation to 0 or 1, and the “tidy-up” step substitutes the logical consequences derived from the “digest” step into the current quadratic function. We propose several versions of the DDT constructive heuristic based on the alternative representation of the quadratic function. We also present an efficient implementation of local search using r-flip moves that simultaneously change the values of r binary variables. Computational experiments performed on large scale instances show the efficiency of our implementation in terms of quality and CPU time.
Information Disclosure, Product Market Competition, and Firm Value

This study examines the relationship between information disclosures and firm value under different levels of product market competition. Using a unique information rating scheme that draws from 114 measures over five dimensions of information disclosure from 2005 to 2013, we find that firms with higher levels of information disclosure (better information transparency) are related to higher industry-adjusted Tobin’s Q. We also find that the levels of information disclosure and product market competition interact in affecting firm value. This relationship is robust after controlling for a number of firm-specific factors and agency-based measures. Our paper brings two streams of research that aim to explain the variation in firms’ value together, and suggests that information disclosure and product market competition complement each other in enhancing a firm’s value.
Sovereignty At Bay The Multinational Spread Of Us Enterprises

Thank you for reading sovereignty at bay the multinational spread of us enterprises. As you may know, people have search hundreds times for their chosen books like this sovereignty at bay the multinational spread of us enterprises, but end up in malicious downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they cope with some harmful bugs inside their desktop computer.
Market Reactions to the Closest Peer Firm's Analyst Revisions

Prior analyst literature focuses on the impact of financial analysts on the firms they cover, and prior information-transfer literature concentrates on the externalities of information provided by management. This paper fills gaps in both streams of literature by examining the focal firm’s market reactions to the closest peer firm’s (identified by product similarity) analyst revisions. We find that the focal firm’s stock price reacts to the closest peer’s analyst revisions made by analysts who are not covering the focal firm. The focal firm’s CAR for a five-day window centered on the revision date is 0.54% higher if the peer firm’s analyst revision magnitude is in the top decile than if it is in the bottom decile. Cross-sectional tests show that the sensitivity of the focal firm’s market reactions to the peer firm’s revisions increases with the revision informativeness and the similarity between the focal firm and the peer firm. In addition, we find that focal firms do not react to peer firms’ revisions in industries with strong competition where the competitive effects cancel out the spillover effects. Finally, we find that the focal firm’s market reactions can predict its own future analyst revisions, suggesting that the reactions are at least partially rational.