The impact of corporate social responsibility performance on earnings management: Family versus non-family firms

The study analyses the impact of corporate social responsibility performance on earnings management in family firms as compared with non-family firms. We analysed 650 Spanish firms, listed and unlisted, in the period 2011-2016. The result shows a higher quality of financial information in family firms, a relationship which is reinforced by good governance factors, including the participation of women in management. The factors analysed are supported by agency and institutional theories. The study contributes to reducing the gap in the literature on the quality of financial information associated with family firms vs. non family firms.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The effect of corporate governance factors on the quality of financial reporting in family and non-family firms

The objective of this study is to explore the quality of financial information of Spanish firms, by comparing family firms with non-family firms, and relating this quality with corporate governance practices. For this purpose, a sample of 650 Spanish firms was analysed during the period 2011-2016. Based on agency theory and socioemotional wealth literature, the results show a higher quality of financial information in family firms, a relationship which is reinforced by corporate governance factors. Our results are consistent with the scant previous research, and with the premises of agency theory, which indicate lower asymmetry of information between owners and managers in the singular context of family firms. Additionally, our work provides evidence that the participation of women on the board boosts the quality of financial information in family firms, contributing to the justification of family firm heterogeneity in terms of earnings management. This study contributes to reducing the gap in the literature on the influence of the family business context and the influence of women on the board on the quality of financial reporting.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Governação das sociedades e qualidade da informação financeira em empresas familiares versus não familiares

O presente estudo analisa a qualidade da informação financeira em empresas familiares versus não familiares, relacionando medidas de transparência na governação das sociedades. Foram analisadas 650 empresas espanholas, cotadas e não cotadas, no período de 2011-2016. O resultado demonstra a maior qualidade da informação financeira em empresas familiares, relação que é reforçada pela participação de mulheres na administração, experiência da empresa e intangibilidade de ativos. Os fatores analisados estão suportados nas teorias da agência, da riqueza socio-emocional e institucional. O estudo contribui para reduzir a lacuna na literatura sobre qualidade da informação financeira associada à governação familiar versus não familiar.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Application of photoluminescence and electroluminescence techniques to the characterization of intermediate band solar cells

The intermediatebandsolarcell (IBSC) is a photovoltaic device with a theoretical conversion efficiency limit of 63.2%. In recent years many attempts have been made to fabricate an intermediateband material which behaves as the theory states. One characteristic feature of an IBSC is its luminescence spectrum. In this work the temperature dependence of the photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) spectra of InAs/GaAs QD-IBSCs together with their reference cell have been studied. It is shown that EL measurements provide more reliable information about the behaviour of the IB material inside the IBSC structure than PL measurements. At low temperatures, the EL spectra are consistent with the quasi-Fermi level splits described by the IBSC model, whereas at room temperature they are not. This result is in agreement with previously reported analysis of the quantum efficiency of the solarcell

Realistic performance prediction in nanostructured solar cells as a function of nanostructure dimensionality and density

The behavior of quantum dot, quantum wire, and quantum well InAs/GaAs solar cells is studied with a very simplified model based on experimental results in order to assess their performance as a function of the low bandgap material volume fraction fLOW. The efficiency of structured devices is found to exceed the efficiency of a non-structured GaAs cell, in particular under concentration, when fLOW is high; this condition is easier to achieve with quantum wells. If three different quasi Fermi levels appear with quantum dots the efficiency can be much higher

Earnings management and corporate social responsibility: Family and non-family firms

El presente estudio investiga la relación entre las prácticas de earnings management y la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC) en empresas familiares y no familiares. Se analizaron 135 empresas francesas cotizadas en el período 2011-2016. Los resultados muestran menores niveles de earnings management en las empresas familiares, mientras que las acciones de RSC también surgen asociadas positivamente a la mayor calidad de la información financiera. Adicionalmente, observamos la heterogeneidad de las empresas familiares en lo que respecta a la relación con el RSC, verificándose niveles más elevados de gestión del resultado cuando se trata del mantenimiento del valor de mercado de las acciones. Este resultado parece estar asociado a la preservación de la riqueza financiera de la familia que se superpone a los efectos de las acciones de RSC en el refuerzo de la transparencia, aspecto corroborado para medidas alternativas de earnings management. Las evidencias obtenidas agregan valor a la investigación previa en la compleja relación de la calidad de la información financiera en empresas familiares frente a no familiares.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The peculiar chemical abundance of the transitional millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038-Li enhancement

Using high-resolution optical spectroscopy we determine the chemical abundance of the secondary star in the binary millisecond pulsar PSR J1023+0038. We measure a metallicity of [Fe/H] = 0.48 ± 0.04 which is higher than the Solar value and in general find that the element abundances are different compared to the secondary stars in X-ray binaries and stars in the solar neighbourhood of similar Fe content. Our results suggest that the pulsar was formed in a supernova explosion. We find that supernova models, where matter that has been processed in the supernova is captured by the secondary star leading to abundance anomalies, qualitatively agree with the observations. We measure Li abundance of A(Li) = 3.66 ± 0.20, which is anomalously high compared to the Li abundance of stars with the same effective temperature, irrespective of the age of the system. Furthermore, the Li abundance in PSR J1023+0038 is higher than the Cosmic value and what is observed in young Population I stars and so provides unambiguous evidence for fresh Li production. The most likely explanation is the interaction of high-energy gamma-rays or relativistic protons from the pulsar wind or intrabinary shock with the CNO nuclei in the secondary star’s atmosphere via spallation which leads to substantial Li enrichment in the secondary star’s atmosphere

Adaptación Metodológica al EEES de la asignatura de Técnicas Instrumentales del Grado de Farmacia de la Universidad de Barcelona

[cast] En el plan de estudios del Grado de Farmacia de la Universidad de Barcelona, la asignatura de Técnicas Instrumentales se imparte en el cuarto semestre, después de haber cursado Física, Fisicoquímica y Química Analítica. El equipo docente de la asignatura está integrado por once profesores que mediante trabajo colaborativo y adecuada coordinación organizan la docencia de la misma que se distribuye en clases teóricas y prácticas. Con el objetivo de adaptar la asignatura a las necesidades del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, se distribuyó en tres Bloques: I, Técnicas Espectroscópicas; II, Técnicas Electroquímicas y III, Técnicas de Separación. Las actividades teórico-prácticas se han planificado de manera secuencial. Así se inicia el ciclo con las clases teóricas del Bloque I y a continuación de manera paralela se imparten las clases prácticas del Bloque I y las clases teóricas del Bloque II y así sucesivamente, de manera que se termina la docencia con las prácticas del último Bloque. En este proceso adquiere especial relevancia tanto la formación práctica en el laboratorio como el trabajo tutorizado que debe realizar el estudiante. Se realiza un proceso de evaluación continuada teórico/práctico en cada uno de los Bloques. Se da especial relevancia a la adquisición de habilidades y destrezas que permitan una correcta realización de las prácticas de laboratorio, es decir la integración de los contenidos específicos a la aplicación de las diferentes técnicas instrumentales, la resolución de los cálculos numéricos y la interpretación de los resultados. [eng] In the new syllabus of the Pharmacy degree at the University of Barcelona, the subject Analytical Techniques is taught at the fourth semester, after the subjects Physics, Physical chemistry and Analytical chemistry. The teaching team of this subject is integrated by eleven teachers that by means of collaborative work and an appropriate coordination, organize the docent activity into practical and theoretical classes. With the aim to adapt this subject to the requirements of the European space for higher education, it has been designed in three blocs: I. Spectroscopic techniques, II. Electrochemical techniques and, III. Separation techniques, by planning the theoretical and practical activities in a sequential manner. Therefore, the cycle begins with the theory of the first bloc followed with the practice corresponding to it together with the theory of the second bloc, and so on. The course ends with the practical part of the third bloc. In this process is of great importance the tutorial work that the student should do. The evaluation of the theory and of the practical part of each bloc is done in a continuous way paying special focus on the acquisition of abilities and handiness that will allow the correct performance in the laboratory. In summary, the integration of the specific contents to the application of the different instrumental techniques, the resolution of the numerical calculations and the interpretation of the results