ESG disclosure, CEO power and incentives and corporate risk-taking

This paper investigates the impact of ESG disclosure on corporate risk-taking and how this impact is further affected by CEO power and incentives within US companies. We find that ESG disclosure decreases corporate risk-taking based on both accounting-based and marketbased returns. Further, we find that ESG disclosure is more effective in mitigating marketbased risk-taking than accounting-based risk-taking in a firm with a powerful CEO. In contrast, CEO’s ESG incentivized engagement bonuses weaken ESG disclosure impacts in reducing both types of risk-taking. Our analysis helps understanding of different trade-offs of ESG disclosure in aligning all stakeholders’ benefits under different managerial-related factors.</p

Microwave-assisted NaHSO₄-catalyzed synthesis of ricinoleic glycol ether esters

<p>The synthesis of several ricinoleic acid glycol ether esters by high-pressure microwave radiation is described. Ricinoleic acid which is from castor oil reacted fastly with glycol ethers in the presence of NaHSO₄ · H₂O and dichloromethane (DCM) in special microwave reactor. The influences of reaction factors such as catalyst and solvent type, reaction temperature, and time were investigated and the optimal reaction conditions were obtained. The activity of catalyst had a higher performance up to the 10th cycle and the excellent values of turnover numbers and turnover frequency were obtained. Compared with the traditional esterification in reflux heating systems., the microwave-assisted process has many advantages such as shorter reaction time, less side effects, higher yield, which is a great potential for the development of green chemistry.</p

Organoselenium-Catalyzed C2,3-Diarylation of N–H Indoles

An organoselenium-catalyzed C2,3-diarylation of unprotected N–H indoles with electron-rich aromatics has been developed. This one-pot multicomponent tandem cross-dehydrogenation coupling reaction allows for the incorporation of two different aromatic groups to indoles. More importantly, this approach offers significant advantages, including a high atom and step economy, eliminating the need for prepreparation of the reaction substrates, streamlining the synthetic process and enhancing its practicality. Overall, this organoselenium-catalyzed C2,3-diarylation reaction presents an efficient and versatile strategy for the functionalization of indole derivatives

Hg concentration in the five measured tissues in the RIL population.

<p>Note: KHC, Hg concentration in kernels; AHC, Hg concentration in the axis; SHC, Hg concentration in stems; BHC, Hg concentration in bracts; LHC, Hg concentration in leaves.</p><p>Hg concentration in the five measured tissues in the RIL population.</p

Correlation coefficients among five measured tissues in the RIL population.

<p>Note: **significant at <i>P</i><0.01.</p><p>Correlation coefficients in Xixian are above the diagonal, while those in Changge are below the diagonal.</p><p>Correlation coefficients among five measured tissues in the RIL population.</p

Chromosomal locations of QTLs for Hg concentration for five maize tissues.

<p>Note: <i>Moon</i> QTL detected for Hg content in kernels, <i>Triangle</i> QTL detected for Hg content in the axis, <i>Cylinder</i> QTL detected for Hg content in stems, <i>Heart</i> QTL detected for Hg content in bracts, <i>Quadrangle</i> QTL for Hg content in leaves. Black indicates a QTL detected in Xixian, and lucidity indicates a QTL detected in Changge.</p

Variance analysis of the five measured tissues in the RIL population.

<p>Note: *significant at <i>P</i><0.05, **significant at <i>P</i><0.01.</p><p>Variance analysis of the five measured tissues in the RIL population.</p

Histogram of Hg concentration in the five tissues of the RIL population.

<p>Histogram of Hg concentration in the five tissues of the RIL population.</p

QTLs detected for Hg concentration in five maize tissues.

<p>Notes: ^aQTL detected for Hg concentration in the five maize tissues; ^bLOD for each QTL; ^cAdditive effect; positive values indicate that Zong3 alleles increase rates; ^dR², contribution ratio.</p><p>QTLs detected for Hg concentration in five maize tissues.</p

Combination Patterns of Major <i>R</i> Genes Determine the Level of Resistance to the <i>M</i>. <i>oryzae</i> in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.)

<div><p>Rice blast caused by <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i> is the most devastating disease of rice and poses a serious threat to world food security. In this study, the distribution and effectiveness of 18 <i>R</i> genes in 277 accessions were investigated based on pathogenicity assays and molecular markers. The results showed that most of the accessions exhibited some degree of resistance (resistance frequency, RF >50%). Accordingly, most of the accessions were observed to harbor two or more <i>R</i> genes, and the number of <i>R</i> genes harbored in accessions was significantly positively correlated with RF. Some <i>R</i> genes were demonstrated to be specifically distributed in the genomes of rice sub-species, such as <i>Pigm</i>, <i>Pi9</i>, <i>Pi5</i> and <i>Pi1</i>, which were only detected in <i>indica</i>-type accessions, and <i>Pik</i> and <i>Piz</i>, which were just harbored in <i>japonica</i>-type accessions. By analyzing the relationship between <i>R</i> genes and RF using a multiple stepwise regression model, the <i>R</i> genes <i>Pid3</i>, <i>Pi5</i>, <i>Pi9</i>, <i>Pi54</i>, <i>Pigm </i>and <i>Pit</i> were found to show the main effects against <i>M</i>. <i>oryzae</i> in <i>indica</i>-type accessions, while <i>Pita</i>, <i>Pb1</i>, <i>Pik</i>, <i>Pizt</i> and <i>Pia</i> were indicated to exhibit the main effects against <i>M</i>. <i>oryzae</i> in <i>japonica</i>-type accessions. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis revealed that combination patterns of major <i>R</i> genes were the main factors determining the resistance of rice varieties to <i>M</i>. <i>oryzae</i>, such as ‘<i>Pi9</i>+<i>Pi54</i>’, ‘<i>Pid3</i>+<i>Pigm</i>’, ‘<i>Pi5</i>+<i>Pid3</i>+<i>Pigm</i>’, ‘<i>Pi5</i>+<i>Pi54</i>+<i>Pid3</i>+<i>Pigm</i>’, ‘<i>Pi5</i>+<i>Pid3</i>’ and ‘<i>Pi5</i>+<i>Pit</i>+<i>Pid3</i>’ in <i>indica</i>-type accessions and ‘<i>Pik+Pib</i>’, ‘<i>Pik+Pita</i>’, ‘<i>Pik+Pb1</i>’, ‘<i>Pizt+Pia</i>’ and ‘<i>Pizt+Pita</i>’ in <i>japonica</i>-type accessions, which were able to confer effective resistance against <i>M</i>. <i>oryzae</i>. The above results provide good theoretical support for the rational utilization of combinations of major <i>R</i> genes in developing rice cultivars with broad-spectrum resistance.</p></div