Product market relationships and cost of bank loans: evidence from strategic alliances

This paper examines the effects of strategic alliances on non-financial firms’ bank loan financing. We construct several measures to capture firms’ alliance activities using the frequency of alliance activities, the prominence of the alliance partner and the relative networking position in the overall alliance network. We find that firms with active alliance involvement experience a lower cost of debt from banks. We also document that allying with a prestigious partner (ie S&P 500 firms) can provide an endorsement effect and benefit the borrowers by reducing the price of bank loans. Moreover, a borrowing firm positioned at the centre of an alliance network enjoys a lower cost of bank loans. Finally, we find that borrowing firms with alliance experience are less likely to use collateral and covenants in their loan contracts.cost of bank loans; strategic alliances; product market relationships

Development of the Coach Identity Prominence Scale: A role identity model perspective

The general purpose of this dissertation was to develop a psychometrically sound measure of coach identity prominence. This dissertation was divided into three manuscripts. The first manuscript was designed to gain a more in-depth understanding of the coach identity. Coaches (n = 8) participated in semi-structured interviews and answered questions pertaining to the meanings and prominence of the coach identity. Participants’ responses were used to create the initial 20 items of the Coach Identity Prominence Scale (CIPS). Manuscript 2 included three studies; item generation and pilot study, Study 1, and Study 2. The item generation and pilot study was designed to investigate the technical qualities and the content validity of the CIPS items. Six construct and 10 context specialists served as participants in this study. Based on participants’ responses, 13 items that were deemed technically sound and demonstrated adequate content validity were selected to serve as the CIPS items. Study 1 and Study 2 assessed the reliability and factorial validity of the CIPS items. Additionally, Study 2 investigated the group invariance, concurrent validity, and nomological validity of the CIPS items. Coach participants in Study 1 (n = 343) and Study 2 (n = 454) completed the CIPS, while participants in Study 2 also completed a measure of commitment (Raedeke, 2004). The results of both studies demonstrated evidence of reliability and factorial validity of participants’ scores on the CIPS. Based on the results of Study 1, eight items were selected and were assigned to one of the two subscales (centrality, 5 items; evaluative emotions, 3 items). The findings of Study 2 also provided support for group invariance and the nomological validity of the CIPS items, and partial support for the concurrent validity of the CIPS. Manuscript 3 examined predictive validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. A varied sample of coaches (n = 336) completed the CIPS, the Coach Motivation Questionnaire (CMQ; McLean, Mallet, & Newcombe, 2012) and Vallerand et al’s Passion Scale (2003). The findings presented in Manuscript 3 provided support for the three types of validity tested

History of early life adversity is associated with increased food addiction and sex-specific alterations in reward network connectivity in obesity.

Background:Neuroimaging studies have identified obesity-related differences in the brain's resting state activity. An imbalance between homeostatic and reward aspects of ingestive behaviour may contribute to obesity and food addiction. The interactions between early life adversity (ELA), the reward network and food addiction were investigated to identify obesity and sex-related differences, which may drive obesity and food addiction. Methods:Functional resting state magnetic resonance imaging was acquired in 186 participants (high body mass index [BMI]: ≥25: 53 women and 54 men; normal BMI: 18.50-24.99: 49 women and 30 men). Participants completed questionnaires to assess ELA (Early Traumatic Inventory) and food addiction (Yale Food Addiction Scale). A tripartite network analysis based on graph theory was used to investigate the interaction between ELA, brain connectivity and food addiction. Interactions were determined by computing Spearman rank correlations, thresholded at q < 0.05 corrected for multiple comparisons. Results:Participants with high BMI demonstrate an association between ELA and food addiction, with reward regions playing a role in this interaction. Among women with high BMI, increased ELA was associated with increased centrality of reward and emotion regulation regions. Men with high BMI showed associations between ELA and food addiction with somatosensory regions playing a role in this interaction. Conclusions:The findings suggest that ELA may alter brain networks, leading to increased vulnerability for food addiction and obesity later in life. These alterations are sex specific and involve brain regions influenced by dopaminergic or serotonergic signalling

Who are the prominent players in the UEFA champions league? : an approach based on network analysis

This study aimed to analyze the centrality levels of elite football players. Tactical positions and tactical line-ups were considered factors to be used in analyzing the variance in the prominence of players, measured by social network measures. The best 16 teams from the UEFA Champions league were analyzed during the entire competition. A total of 109 matches were analyzed for this study. Significant statistical differences between positions were found in % indegree (p = 0.001; ES = 0.268, moderate effect), % outdegree (p = 0.001; ES = 0.301, moderate effect) and % betweenness (p = 0.001; ES = 0.114, minimum effect). No statistical differences between tactical line-ups in % outdegree (p = 1.000; ES = 0.001, no effect) or % indegree (p = 1.000; ES = 0.001, no effect) were found. Central midfielders had the greatest values of centrality, thus confirming their importance in the linkage process of the team. Position had great influence on the centrality levels of players.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Network measures and digraph theory applied to soccer analysis : midfielder is the key player in youth teams

Graph and digraph theories have been used to test the relationships between teammates and the network properties of team sports. Nevertheless, no studies in young soccer teams have been found, as far we know. Therefore, the objective of the study was to apply network measures to identify centrality levels of young soccer players during official matches and analyse the variance between tactical positions and tactical line-ups. Seventy young soccer players from under-10 competitive level were observed during 10 matches. Significant statistical differences were found between players’ positions in IDC (p = 0.001; ES = 0.090; minimum effect); ODC (p = 0.001; ES = 0.156; minimum effect); and BC (p = 0.001; ES = 0.110; minimum effect) variables. No significant statistical differences were found between 1-3-2-1 and 1-2-3-1 line-ups for %IDC (p = 0.113; ES = 0.056; minimum effect), %ODC (p = 0.126; ES = 0.048; minimum effect) and %BC (p = 0.204; ES = 0.035; minimum effect). This study found that midfielder is the key position on the field, being a linkage player to attacking building.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Network analysis in small-sided and conditioned soccer games: the influence of additional players and playing position

The purpose of this article was to investigate the influence of additional players and playing position on the network properties during 2x4 minutes small-sided and conditioned games (SSCG) in soccer. Eighteen young soccer players (age 16.4±0.7 years), six defenders, six midfielders, and six forwards, voluntarily participated in SSCGs with different task conditions (4vs.3, with an additional player inside the pitch, 3vs.3+2, with two support players at the side of the pitch, and 3vs.3, numerical equality). General (density, total links and clustering coefficient) and individual (degree centrality, degree prestige, and page rank) network properties were analyzed using the SocNetV® software. Results showed higher values of density (F=59.354, p=.001), total links (F=40.951, p=.001), and clustering coefficient (F=21.851, p=.001) during the 4vs.3 SSCG. Besides, midfielders showed higher values of degree centrality than defenders and forwards (F=10.669, p=.001). Midfielders and forwards also showed higher values of degree prestige than defenders (F=5.527, p=.005). These results indicate that both task condition and playing position influence the general and individual network properties during SSCGs. For this reason, it is suggested that both task condition and team composition need to be adjusted to the coaches’ purpose for each training session in order to maximize the possibilities of cooperation among the teammates

Physical and technical performances are not associated with tactical prominence in U14 soccer matches

The aim of this study was to analyse the association between physical/technical variables and the tactical prominence variables in U14 soccer matches. Twenty-two young amateur soccer players (13.5 0.5 years old, 5.4 0.5 years of practice, 163.3 9.8 cm in body height) from two teams of the Portuguese regional league volunteered for the study. Our results showed positive and moderate correlation between dribbling test and betweenness centrality (r = 0.324; p = 0.142), and negative moderate correlation between %fatigue index and betweenness centrality (r = −0.390; p = 0.073). Physical and technical variables had no statistical differences among tactical positions. Nevertheless, when tactical prominence of players from four tactical positions were compared, significant differences were found in terms of degree prestige (p = 0.001) and degree centrality (p = 0.002). This pilot study did not find strong correlations between physical/technical levels and tactical prominence in soccer matches.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Correlating densities of centrality and activities in cities : the cases of Bologna (IT) and Barcelona (ES)

This paper examines the relationship between street centrality and densities of commercial and service activities in cities. The aim is to verify whether a correlation exists and whether some 'secondary' activities, i.e. those scarcely specialized oriented to the general public and ordinary daily life, are more linked to street centrality than others. The metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spain) is investigated, and results are compared with those found in a previous work on the city of Bologna (Italy). Street centrality is calibrated in a multiple centrality assessment (MCA) model composed of multiple measures such as closeness, betweenness and straightness. Kernel density estimation (KDE) is used to transform data sets of centrality and activities to one scale unit for correlation analysis between them. Results indicate that retail and service activities in both Bologna and Barcelona tend to concentrate in areas with better centralities, and that secondary activities exhibit a higher correlation

The interaction between inter-firm and interlocking directorate networks on firm's new product development outcomes

This paper explores the interaction between a prominent board of directors and the network of inter-firm relationships on new product development. Specifically, we posit a positive interaction effect between a prominent board and the inter-firm network and structural holes positions on the number of new products developed by the firm. We test the theoretical framework on a sample of 1758 agreements among 1890 biopharmaceutical firms over the period 2006–2010. We find that by filtering, complementing and legitimizing information coming from the inter-firm network, a prominent interlocking directorate network can improve the inter-firm network's effects on new product development. We discuss important implications for how inter-personal networks (such as the board interlock directorate network) help to develop the effectiveness of inter-firm relationship networks in achieving new product development outcomes

On the Road to Samaria: Urban Religious Congregations as Resource Brokers

Concentrated poverty is an increasing problem in urban U.S. neighborhoods leading to social isolation and marginalization from mainstream institutions. Conventional thought has argued that the urban poor lack resources necessary for social and economic mobility due to constrained social networks endemic in homogeneously poor communities. However, neighborhood based organizations may be one place where the urban poor can engage heterogeneous resource networks to advance socially and economically. Religious congregations are enduring neighborhood organizations that present the opportunity for social interaction and resource access. Thus, this study examines the role of religious congregations in providing access to resources embedded in congregational social networks. Using survey and network methods, data were gathered on network relations, positional resources, and resource structure of active adult members of two Christian congregations in an urban neighborhood: N=122). The congregations represent two types of urban churches - neighborhood-based: n=59) and one that draws membership from within and beyond the neighborhood: n=61). Exploratory social network analysis is used to assess the network structure and distribution of resources, regression analyses to examine the effect of factors on social and economic returns, and exponential random graph modeling is used to predict the likelihood of ties between congregants of varying resource positions. Resource gatekeepers were more easily identified in the neighborhood congregation and both congregations were densely connected. Congregants generally reached high on the social ladder and reported access to a broad range of resources across four domains. Further, resources were spread widely across networks and not concentrated with any one group or congregants with certain characteristics. Neighborhood congregations offered a place for interactions to occur across upper reachability and income at the neighborhood congregation and across income at the mixed congregation. The mixed income congregation demonstrated less interactions among diverse populations within the congregation. Urban congregations are important neighborhood-based organizations where the urban poor can interact to access heterogeneous resource networks. However, access to resources does not necessarily translate into social and economic returns. Access is a necessary but insufficient condition to produce the returns essential for social and economic mobility. While urban religious congregations may act as brokers of resources, other forces impact the capitalization of those resources to make a significant, measurable difference in the lives of the urban poor