Competitive Prices and Asymmetric Cost Behavior for Iraqi Firms: Capacity Utilization as a Moderator

Prior literature on asymmetric cost behavior mainly focuses on internal factors. While information knowledge considers that managers should use both internal and external factors when making strategic cost decisions. In this study, the purpose is to provide an alternative examination that investigates the relationship between asymmetric cost behavior and competitive price as an external competition factor. The results find that cost stickiness is pronounced for firms in an industry competition with managerial optimism, whereas cost anti-stickiness is pronounced for firms in an industry competition with managerial pessimism when managers like to utilize their resources. The findings suggest that the asymmetric cost behavior is affected by competitive price as an external competition factor as well as internal factors, stressing the importance of using cost stickiness model specification to gain insights about managers\u27 pricing decisions

Competitive Prices and Asymmetric Cost Behavior for Iraqi Firms: Capacity Utilization as a Moderator

Keywords: Asymmetric cost behavior, Competitive prices, Cost stickiness, Industry Competition, Capacity utilization, Iraq Prior literature on asymmetric cost behavior mainly focuses on internal factors. While information knowledge considers that managers should use both internal and external factors when making strategic cost decisions. In this study, the purpose is to provide an alternative examination that investigates the relationship between asymmetric cost behavior and competitive price as an external competition factor. The results find that cost stickiness is pronounced for firms in an industry competition with managerial optimism, whereas cost anti-stickiness is pronounced for firms in an industry competition with managerial pessimism when managers like to utilize their resources. The findings suggest that the asymmetric cost behavior is affected by competitive price as an external competition factor as well as internal factors, stressing the importance of using cost stickiness model specification to gain insights about managers' pricing decisions

Adaptation Genomics of a Small-Colony Variant in a Pseudomonas chlororaphis 30-84 Biofilm

The rhizosphere-colonizing bacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis 30-84 is an effective biological control agent against take-all disease of wheat. In this study, we characterize a small-colony variant (SCV) isolated from a P. chlororaphis 30-84 biofilm. The SCV exhibited pleiotropic phenotypes, including small cell size, slow growth and motility, low levels of phenazine production, and increased biofilm formation and resistance to antimicrobials. To better understand the genetic alterations underlying these phenotypes, RNA and whole-genome sequencing analyses were conducted comparing an SCV to the wild-type strain. Of the genome's 5,971 genes, transcriptomic profiling indicated that 1,098 (18.4%) have undergone substantial reprograming of gene expression in the SCV. Whole-genome sequence analysis revealed multiple alterations in the SCV, including mutations in yfiR (cyclic-di-GMP production), fusA (elongation factor), and cyoE (heme synthesis) and a 70-kb deletion. Genetic analysis revealed that the yfiR locus plays a major role in controlling SCV phenotypes, including colony size, growth, motility, and biofilm formation. Moreover, a point mutation in the fusA gene contributed to kanamycin resistance. Interestingly, the SCV can partially switch back to wild-type morphologies under specific conditions. Our data also support the idea that phenotypic switching in P. chlororaphis is not due to simple genetic reversions but may involve multiple secondary mutations. The emergence of these highly adherent and antibiotic-resistant SCVs within the biofilm might play key roles in P. chlororaphis natural persistence

Clinical and Immunopathological Features of Moyamoya Disease

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a cerebrovascular disease characterized by progressive stenosis or occlusion of the terminal portion of internal carotid arteries and the formation of a vascular network at the base of the brain. The pathogenesis of MMD is still unclear. Methodology/Principal Findings: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data for 65 consecutive patients with MMD in our institutions and evaluated the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of intracranial vessels from 3 patients. The onset age distribution was found to have 1 peak at 40–49 year-old age group, no significant difference was observed in the female-to-male ratio (F/M = 1.2). Intracranial hemorrhage was the predominant disease type (75%). Positive family history was observed in 4.6 % of patients. Histopathological findings were a narrowed lumen due to intimal fibrous thickening without significant inflammatory cell infiltration, and the internal elastic lamina was markedly tortuous and stratified. All 3 autopsy cases showed vacuolar degeneration in the cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells. Immunohistochemical study showed the migration of smooth muscle cells in the thickened intima, and aberrant expression of IgG and S100A4 protein in vascular smooth muscle cells. The Complement C3 immunoreactivity was negative. Conclusion/Significance: This study indicated that aberrant expression of IgG and S100A4 protein in intracranial vascular wall of MMD patients, which suggested that immune-related factors may be involved in the functional and morphologica

Electrochemical mechanical micromachining based on confined etchant layer technique

National Science Foundation of China [91023006, 91023047, 91023043, 21061120456, 21021002]; Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China [2012J06004]; Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2010121022]; Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars (State Education Ministry)The confined etchant layer technique (CELT) has been proved an effective electrochemical microfabrication method since its first publication at Faraday Discussions in 1992. Recently, we have developed CELT as an electrochemical mechanical micromachining (ECMM) method by replacing the cutting tool used in conventional mechanical machining with an electrode, which can perform lathing, planing and polishing. Through the coupling between the electrochemically induced chemical etching processes and mechanical motion, ECMM can also obtain a regular surface in one step. Taking advantage of CELT, machining tolerance and surface roughness can reach micro-or nano-meter scale

The Relationship between Intellectual Capital and Corporate Performance in Chinese Bio-pharmaceutical Industry

With the advent of the knowledge economy, intellectual capital is playing an increasingly important role in the enterprise. Research on the relationship between intellectual capital and corporate performance has important theoretical and practical significance for enterprise to manage and use intellectual capital. Paper selected bio-pharmaceutical A-share listed companies’ data from 2008~2012, and used the method of factor analysis and correlation analysis to verify the relationship between intellectual capital and corporate performance. According to the results, the following conclusion can be made. In bio-pharmaceutical industry, intellectual capital and corporate performance have significant positive correlation, but the degree of correlation is weaker than physical capital. Human capital and structural capital have significant positive correlation with corporate performance. Customer capital and corporate performance are positive related, but not significant. The various components of intellectual capital impact each other, and produce an effect on corporate performance together

Empirical Research on the Effect of Independent Audit Opinion on Trade Credit

This paper takes listed companies from 2014 to 2018 as a research sample. The results show that the independent audit opinion will affect the trade credit decision of the supplier to the enterprise. A good institutional environment can weaken the impact of non-standard independent audit opinion on the cost and scale of trade credit. And good industry environment can weaken the positive correlation between non-standard independent audit opinion and trade credit cost