Strategic Alliances in the U.S. Beef Supply Chain

This study analyzes vertical-coordination practices in the U.S. beef supply chain focusing on strategic alliances. We present results from a survey of beef alliances describing their organizational structure, the nature of participantsÂ’' involvement, contractual requirements, information-sharing practices, services offered to alliance participants, and marketing strategies. Survey results provide a detailed description of 13 beef alliances and are intended to inform potential participants about vertical-coordination alternatives. In addition, the study provides relevant information for future economic research on the formation, organization, and functioning of beef alliances.Livestock Production/Industries, Marketing,

On the interplay between multiscaling and stocks dependence

We find a nonlinear dependence between an indicator of the degree of multiscaling of log-price time series of a stock and the average correlation of the stock with respect to the other stocks traded in the same market. This result is a robust stylized fact holding for different financial markets. We investigate this result conditional on the stocks' capitalization and on the kurtosis of stocks' log-returns in order to search for possible confounding effects. We show that a linear dependence with the logarithm of the capitalization and the logarithm of kurtosis does not explain the observed stylized fact, which we interpret as being originated from a deeper relationship.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, 9 table

Santonian—Campanian Calcareous Nannofossil Paleobiogeography

Calcareous nannofossil abundance data from 11 DSDP/ODP sites were analyzed by multivariate methods to assess the paleoceanographic change that is associated with the Santonian-Campanian boundary transition. Data were divided into Santonian or Campanian age groups based on the presence or absence of the lower Campanian nannofossil species, Aspidolithus parcus parcus. All assemblages are dominated by Watznaueria barnesiae, Micula decussata, and Prediscosphaera intercisa. Analyses determined that the relative abundance of M. decussata generally reflects a change in temperature, with a preference for cool water. Prediscosphaera intercisa appears to have had an inverse abundance relationship with M. decussata, suggesting that P. intercisa exploited niche space M. decussata could not fill due to environmental restrictions. W. barnesiae exhibits no clear distribution patterns associated with temperature. The composition of nannofossil assemblages indicates that temperature was a factor accounting for only 21.2% of the variance within the Santonian, but was responsible for dominating 56.3% of the variance within the Campanian. The factor responsible for the most variance (35.9%) within Santonian assemblages is unknown, as it also was not dictated by nutrient availability or preservation. This study provides clarity on the paleobiogeographic environmental controls affecting nannofossil communities by demonstrating that distribution of taxa became more temperature-dependent across the Santonian-Campanian boundary. Advisor: David K. Watkin

Empowering Voices: Exploring the Career Trajectories of Women of Color HR Professionals Amid Disruptive Change

This study investigated strategies to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives in organizational leadership, focusing on supporting women of color in the workplace. The specific problem addressed was the underrepresentation and barriers faced by women of color in leadership positions despite their potential contributions to organizational success. The study employed a qualitative approach, combining qualitative interviews with socioeconomic data analysis. Data collection methods included semistructured interviews with women of color and a survey to gather demographic and employment information. The sample consisted of 16 women of color human resource professionals working in various industries and organizational settings across the United States. Research procedures involved thematic and sentiment analysis of interview transcripts, qualitative analysis of survey data, and integration of findings to derive key insights. The results indicated that women of color encountered systemic barriers related to gender, race, and intersectional identities in the workplace, leading to limited access to leadership opportunities and disparities in career advancement. Key conclusions from the study underscored the importance of implementing targeted diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives to address the unique challenges faced by women of color, including mentorship programs, flexible work arrangements, and recognition of transformational leadership behaviors. Overall, the study contributed to the growing body of literature on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in organizational leadership by offering actionable recommendations for promoting equity and empowerment among women of color

Embracing Change with Power and Love: Shifting Organizational Paradigms Leveraging Systems Thinking

This article delves into the complexities of organizational change, emphasizing the critical roles of power and love in facilitating successful transitions. It distinguishes between the generative and degenerative effects of power and love within organizational contexts and underscores the importance of balancing these elements to foster collaboration, innovation, and sustainable change. Furthermore, the principles of systems thinking are highlighted, advocating for a holistic approach to understanding and analyzing organizational systems. The interconnectedness of system components and the necessity of feedback loops for informed decision-making and strategic planning are examined. Additionally, the article discusses the detrimental impact of overconfidence bias on decision-making processes, delineating various sub-biases and their implications for leadership effectiveness. Strategies for mitigating overconfidence bias through reflective practices and feedback mechanisms are proposed, emphasizing the importance of integrating these strategies within a systems thinking framework to enhance decision-making efficacy and organizational performance

The multifrequency behaviour of the recurrent nova RS Ophiuchi

This review concentrates on the multifrequency behaviour of RS Ophiuchi and in particular during its latest outburst. Confirmation of the 1945 outburst, bipolar outflows and its possible fate as a Type Ia Supernova are discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, in The Golden Age of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects, F. Giovannelli & L. Sabau-Graziati (eds.), Mem. SAIt. 83 N.2 (in press

A Two-Step Synthesis of Avobenzone.

Avobenzone is an important agent in sunscreen that reacts with the full spectrum of UVA/UVB light. In fact, avobenzone has one of the largest UV light absorbance ranges of all sunscreen agents. The wide absorbance range of avobenzone helps the sunscreen better protect the skin. This project involved two steps to synthesize avobenzone. Starting with 4-tert-butylbenzaldehyde, 4-methoxyacetophenone, and a base, an Aldol reaction was used to create a ketol intermediate. This step involved experimentation with several bases, including sodium hydroxide and potassium-tert-butoxide, to attempt to stop the product at this intermediate ketol form. Two different mixing methods were also compared in the synthesis of this ketol intermediate. The second step involved conversion of the ketol to the diketone avobenzone product after combination with an oxidizing agent. To make this synthesis more green, a one-step synthesis relying on a Claisen reaction was also attempted

Chaos in one-dimensional lattices under intense laser fields

A model is investigated where a monochromatic, spatially homogeneous laser field interacts with an electron in a one-dimensional periodic lattice. The classical Hamiltonian is presented and the technique of stroboscopic maps is used to study the dynamical behavior of the model. The electron motion is found to be completely regular only for small field amplitudes, developing a larger chaotic region as the amplitude increases. The quantum counterpart of the classical Hamiltonian is derived. Exact numerical diagonalizations show the existence of universal, random-matrix fluctuations in the electronic energy bands dressed by the laser field. A detailed analysis of the classical phase space is compatible with the statistical spectral analysis of the quantum model. The application of this model to describe transport and optical absorption in semiconductor superlattices submitted to intense infrared laser radiation is proposed.Comment: 9 pages, RevTex 3.0, EPSF (6 figures), to appear in Europhys. J.

The Impact of the Early Covid-19 Pandemic Response on Kentucky’s Library Workforce

Although prior research has examined the Pandemic responses of libraries in terms of physical closures and innovation in services, the impact these measures have had on library workers is largely unexplored. This study seeks to understand the impact of initial library responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kentucky from March 2020 through June 2020. A survey of Kentucky Library Workers found a wide range of impacts during the initial pandemic response period, with 30.49% of respondents affected by some type of employment-related measure, and 11.28% either furloughed or laid off during this time. Workers at different types of libraries and in different position classifications received somewhat different impacts during the period covered by the survey. Regardless of employment-related impacts, library workers have struggled economically, as well as with their emotional and psychological well-being, and many are concerned about long-term economic impacts of the pandemic on their organizations, even if their employment situation was largely unchanged during the initial response period