CEO Pay-for-Performance Heterogeneity Using Quantile Regression (CRI 2009-002)

We provide some examples of how quantile regression can be used to investigate heterogeneity in pay–firm size and pay-performance relationships for U.S. CEOs. For example, do conditionally (predicted) high-wage managers have a stronger relationship between pay and performance than conditionally low-wage managers? Our results using data over a decade show, for some standard specifications, there is considerable heterogeneity in the returns to firm performance across the conditional distribution of wages. Quantile regression adds substantially to our understanding of the pay-performance relationship. This heterogeneity is masked when using more standard empirical techniques

Temperature dependence of modified CNO nuclear reaction rates in dense stellar plasmas

We study the dependence of the CNO nuclear reaction rates on temperature, in the range of $10^7\div 10^8$ K, the typical range of temperature evolution from a Sun-like star towards a white dwarf. We show that the temperature dependence of the CNO nuclear reaction rates is strongly affected by the presence of non-extensive statistical effects in the dense stellar core. A very small deviation from the Maxwell-Boltzmann particle distribution implies a relevant enhancement of the CNO reaction rate and could explain the presence of heavier elements (e.g. Fe, Mg) in the final composition of a white dwarf core. Such a behavior is consistent with the recent experimental upper limit to the fraction of energy that the Sun produces via the CNO fusion cycle.Comment: Presented at NEXT2003 (Second International Conference on "News and Expectations in Thermostatistics"), Villasimius (Cagliari)- Italy in 21-28 September 2003. 7 pages including 3 figure

Manufacturing milk producers in Cannon County, Tennessee : Problem A: Characteristics of Cannon County manufacturing milk producers and their farms : Problem B: Management practices of Cannon County manufacturing milk producers : Problem C: Factors influencing dairy management practice adoption by Cannon County manufacturing milk producers : three related special problems in lieu of thesis /

This survey-type study was one of three related problems concerning manufacturing milk production in Cannon County, Tennessee. The specific purpose was to determine the characteristics of Cannon County manufacturing milk producers, including those who annually produce in high, medium, and low thirds in terms of butterfat. A random sample of 60 producers out of 120 was interviewed and comparative analysis was made in simple numbers and percents

Transitioning in a Time of Crisis: Understanding the Impact Students’ Prior Online Learning Experiences Have on Online Course Achievement

This quantitative study examines the impact that selected academic and personal demographic characteristics had on the successful completion of online coursework during the Covid-19 pandemic. Focused on a high-research university in the Southeastern United States during the Fall of 2020, this research looked the potential influence that prior online learning experiences had on students’ abilities to transition to the online modality during a time of crisis. Data for this study was retrieved from institutional sources and the sample consisted of 5,739 second-year students at the institution. After describing the sample and population, exploratory regressions were conducted to establish models for explaining variance in online GPA performance and percentage of online course completion during the Fall 2020 semester. The resulting models account for 40% of the earned online GPA and 19% of the variance in online course completion percentage. In addition to the aforementioned models, the results of this study showed significant differences in online learning performance by race, with White students significantly outperforming students of color. This held for students with and without prior online learning experiences, which were found to have little impact on the performance of students in the online modality during a time of crisis. The results of the study also showed that academic discipline, while having a negligible relationship in most cases, did negatively impact the performance of some STEM students. This ex-post facto research highlights the fact that crisis learning differs from traditional learning in more ways than originally thought. Overall, performance during the semester studied declined, indicating the impact of added stresses during a time of crisis. The study sheds light on opportunities for future research, including the prospect of investigating how students initially experiencing online learning during a time of crisis perform in subsequent online classes and the need to focus on how teacher preparation and course design may impact learner engagement in the online modality

A failure index for high performance computing applications

This dissertation introduces a new metric in the area of High Performance Computing (HPC) application reliability and performance modeling. Derived via the time-dependent implementation of an existing inequality measure, the Failure index (FI) generates a coefficient representing the level of volatility for the failures incurred by an application running on a given HPC system in a given time interval. This coefficient presents a normalized cross-system representation of the failure volatility of applications running on failure-rich HPC platforms. Further, the origin and ramifications of application failures are investigated, from which certain mathematical conclusions yield greater insight into the behavior of these applications in failure-rich system environments. This work also includes background information on the problems facing HPC applications at the highest scale, the lack of standardized application-specific metrics within this arena, and a means of generating such metrics in a low latency manner. A case study containing detailed analysis showcasing the benefits of the FI is also included

An experimental correlation of the nonreactive properties of injection schemes and combustion effects in a liquid-propellant rocket engine. Part II. Instrumentation, experimental apparatus, and experimental techniques

Apparatus, techniques, and instrumentation for experimental correlation of nonreactive injection schemes and combustion effects in liquid propellant rocket engin