Seismic performance assessment of a timber log house

The current work presents a full scale shaking table test conducted on a twostoreyed timber log house, designed according to the state of the art on timber engineering. The test was performed within the framework of the SERIES Project “Multi-storey timber buildings” at LNEC, Lisbon, Portugal. Several tests and studies have been carried out by the University of Minho to characterize the behavior of the different components (logs, walls, slabs, connections, etc.) of log houses in the past few years for the European Technical Approval (ETA) of this construction system. The main results of the shaking table test are presented along with the preliminary analysis of the overall behavior of the log house. The analysis was carried out based on the shaking table tests and on a numerical model developed to estimate the main seismic parameters using the data obtained from the different individual studies on each component of the construction system performed within the framework of the ETA

Seismic analysis of a 2-storey log house

The current paper deals with the analysis of the results yielded by a series of tests performed to evaluate the seismic behaviour of a model log construction. The study was based on an experimental investigation performed to improve the existing knowledge on log houses subject to seismic events. The main part of the experimental work is based on a full scale shaking table test, conducted on a two-storey log house designed by the Portuguese company Rusticasa® in compliance with design rules for timber buildings. The test was performed by the University of Minho within the framework of the SERIES Project ‘Multi-storey timber buildings’ and was coordinated by the University of Trento, at LNEC, Lisbon, Portugal. The geometry of the specimen, the design of the test, the setup and the instrumentation layout are first presented in this paper. The test procedure was conducted in stages with maximum accelerations (bi-directional) of 0.07g, 0.28g and 0.5g. The experimental results of each test have been analyzed and the resultant values of inter-storey drift, wall slippage and uplift measurements, shear deformations and hold-down forces measured are presented. Most importantly, the dynamic properties (fundamental period and mode shapes) of the system have been determined

The valuation relevance of credit ratings: Empirical evidence from financial institutions around the world

This study investigates whether the market valuation of the two summary accounting measures, book value of equity and net income, is higher (lower) for the financial institutions positively (negatively) rated by the Moddy’s and/or by the Standard and Poor’s, when compared to financial institutions that are not rated by these credit rating agencies. Findings suggest that positive ratings have an impact in valuation both in developed and emerging countries, and that in the case of emerging countries negative ratings do not impact market valuation significantly. Overall, the results are consistent with the idea that credit ratings are useful in reducing value uncertainty of the issuing firms and in mitigating information asymmetry in capital markets.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sustainability and cultural heritage buildings

[Excerpt from Introduction] Conservation of cultural heritage buildings is a demand from society, which recognizes this heritage as a part of their identity, but it is also an economical issue. In Europe, tourism accounts for 10% of the GDP and 12% of the employment, if linked sectors are considered [x.1]. The EU is the world's number one tourist destination, with 40 % of arrivals in the world and with 7 European countries among the top ten [x.2]. According to the WTO estimates, international tourist arrivals in Europe will increase significantly. The built European heritage, namely monuments or historical centres, is a main attractor for tourism, with 45% of the UNESCO World Heritage sites within the EU. Therefore, the need for their conservation is unquestionable. [...

How is the accounting academy playing the publication game? Type of authorship and international diversity and networks

This study analyses 3,262 papers published in 18 accounting top journals between 2013 and 2017. We have classified these papers based on the type of authorship in Solo (only one author), Homogeneous Multiple (more than one author from the same university), Heterogeneous National (with authors from different universities from the same country) and Heterogeneous International (with authors from universities belonging to different countries). We perform a set of cluster analysis, which suggests a classification of the papers distinguishing between two broad groups of journals: the North American journals, where there is a predominance of national networks and where most authors are affiliated to a North American journal, and the Non-North American journals, where there is a predominance of international networks and a higher level of authors’ international diversity. Regarding the heterogeneous international authorship, we perform a social network analysis suggesting that researchers affiliated with North-American universities and their counterparts from European universities seem to ignore each other. Whereas the first have been publishing mainly with co-authors affiliated with universities from Asia, the latter have been publishing articles with one another.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The effects of corruption on earnings management

This study provides empirical evidence on the effects of corruption, as proxied by Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, on earnings management. It tests the hypothesis of positive association between the countries’ level of corruption and the level of earnings management using a sample of foreign firms with American Depositary Receipts (ADR) in the U.S. market. Findings indicate that corruption perception is related to higher incentives for firms to manipulate earnings in the case of emerging countries. Such results are not identified in developed countries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Gobierno corporativo y el efecto da la aplicación de las IFRS: el caso brasileño

Este estudo analisa o efeito da adoção das International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) no valor relevante da informação contábil apresentada pelas empresas brasileiras de capital aberto e a influência do nível de governança corporativa neste processo de mudança do normativo local para o normativo internacional. Analisa-se o efeito da adoção das IFRS no valor relevante da informação contábil das empresas dos segmentos da BM&FBOVESPA que exigem melhores práticas de governança corporativa (Novo Mercado e Nível 2), comparando-o com as empresas dos restantes níveis de adesão a práticas de governação corporativa. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a adoção das IFRS teve um efeito positivo no valor relevante do resultado líquido mas apenas no grupo de empresas que sinalizam melhores práticas de governação corporativa. Este estudo contribui para literatura que sugere que consoante as características das próprias empresas que as adotam podem ser diferenciadas as consequências económicas da adoção das IFRS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Are CSR leaders less prone to engage in impression management?

This study examines the readability of corporate communication in the CEO letters included in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports presented by the firms that comprise the S&P 500 Index. These documents were content analyzed through the use of an automated algorithm provided by Readable.IO. Using a frame of analysis based on the social psychology theory of impression management, we studied the impression management tactics used. The main findings suggest that leading CSR companies (those listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index) present more readable CSR information in terms of comprehension and extension. These companies disclose CSR information generally in a positive way. However, these disclosure patterns are mediated by the “goal relevance of the impressions” and the “value of desired goals” related to the impression management tactics usedinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Determinants of the classification of the share of profit or loss of equity investments

This paper examines the determinants of European Union companies’ classification choices of profit or loss of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method within or outside the operating income. Based on a sample of 242 firms from 20 European countries that apply IFRS, we found that firms from Anglo-Saxon and Nordic countries are significantly more likely to choose to classify this share of profit or loss as operating income than their counterparts. In addition, we found that companies presenting a positive amount in the line item pertaining to the share of the profit or loss, companies with higher leverage, with higher annual change in revenues and companies audited by Big 4 audit firms are more likely to classify the share of profit or loss as operating income.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The impact of media pressure on corporate sustainability in the cement industry: a Portuguese case study

In this study we examine the sustainability reporting practices and sustainability strategies of a leading Portuguese cement company. The Portuguese cement industry had to deal since 1997 with scrutiny and pressure because of its involvement in co-incineration of hazardous industrial waste. Grounded on a lens of analysis combining legitimacy theory and media agenda-setting theory and based on a content analysis of sustainability reports and semi-structured interviews, we analyse the strategies used by the company to deal with said scrutiny and pressure and present its sustainability performance. Media pressure does seem to have impacted sustainability reporting and sustainability strategies as tools for the company to restore its legitimacy. Findings generally suggest that strategies of communication designed to legitimate the company actions were used. In particular, we suggest that the company managed its legitimacy by using simultaneously two sustainability reporting strategies: one of image enhancement and other of avoidance of threatening topics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio