IMPACT OF FINANCIAL CRISIS ON CONSTRUCTION FIRM`S COST OF CAPITAL

The average cost of debt is negatively related with size, tangibility, firm growth, the leverage ratio, and the ratio of long- to short-term debt and positively to profitability. We find that the recent international crisis did have a significant impact on the set of firms in our sample, but affected the way in which leverage and the interest to debt ratio relate to firm fundamentals. In this article, we want to study the impact of financial crisis on the cost of capital using a sample of construction companies.asset pricing cost of capital, financial crisis,CAPM

High-pressure synthesis, crystal and electronic structures of a new scandium tungstate, Sc0.67WO4

Negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials possess a low-density, open structure which can respond to high pressure conditions, leading to new compounds and/or different physical properties. Here we report that one such NTE material -- white, insulating, orthorhombic Sc2W3O12 -- transforms into a black compound when treated at 4 GPa and 1400 oC. The high pressure phase, Sc0.67WO4, crystallizes in a defect-rich wolframite-type structure, a dense, monoclinic structure (space group P2/c) containing 1-D chains of edge-sharing WO6 octahedra. The chemical bonding of Sc0.67WO4 vis-a-vis the ambient pressure Sc2W3O12 phase can be understood on the basis of the Sc defect structure. Magnetic susceptibility, resistivity, thermoelectric power and IR spectroscopic measurements reveal that Sc0.67WO4 is a paramagnet whose conductivity is that of a metal in the presence of weak localization and electron-electron interactions. Oxygen vacancies are suggested as a potential mechanism for generating the carriers in this defective wolframite material.Comment: 29 pages total, 1 table, 7 figure

A Brief Review of the Effects of Pressure on Wolframite-Type Oxides

In this article, we review the advances that have been made on the understanding of the high-pressure (HP) structural, vibrational, and electronic properties of wolframite-type oxides since the first works in the early 1990s. Mainly tungstates, which are the best known wolframites, but also tantalates and niobates, with an isomorphic ambient-pressure wolframite structure, have been included in this review. Apart from estimating the bulk moduli of all known wolframites, the cation-oxygen bond distances and their change with pressure have been correlated with their compressibility. The composition variations of all wolframites have been employed to understand their different structural phase transitions to post-wolframite structures as a response to high pressure. The number of Raman modes and the changes in the band-gap energy have also been analyzed in the basis of these compositional differences. The reviewed results are relevant for both fundamental science and for the development of wolframites as scintillating detectors. The possible next research avenues of wolframites under compression have also been evaluated

Maureen Dolan Interview 2017

In a short interview, Maureen Dolan discusses her experiences working as a professor in the Sociology Department at Western Oregon University. She details her duties as a professor of Sociology, as well as projects she has undertaken with students. She also explains how she arrived at Western Oregon University

POLLEN VIABILITY AND GERMINATION CAPACITY OF SOME NEW SWEET CHERRY CULTIVARS

Pollen of 16 new sweet cherry cultivars (‘Carmen’, ‘Katalin’, ‘Vera’, ‘Bigarreau Burlat’, ‘Starking Hardy Giant’, ‘Early Red’, ‘Giant Red’, ‘Lapins’, ‘Canada Giant’, ‘Earlise’, ‘Kordia’, ‘Karina’, ‘Merchant’, ‘Sylvia’, ‘Regina’, ‘Summit’) was collected and investigated microscopically in laboratory for viability and germination capacity. Pollen viability was determinated by applying the colorimetric method, and germination capacity by cultivating pollen on solid medium with 1.5 g agar + 15 g sucrose + 100 ml distilled water. It was noticed that fertile pollen varied from approximately 32 % to 80 %, and the pollen germination percentages after 3 hours of incubation at temperature of 10oC, varied between 15.53 % and 82.75 %. After 24 hours of incubation under the same temperature of 10o C, germination capacity ranged between 23.07 % and 84.51 %. Germination capacity increased with increasing incubation temperature and period, and the highest germination was obtained at the temperature of 20oC after 24 hours of incubation, with 90.09 % capacity of germination in case of ‘Carmen’ cultivar, and the lowest capacity in case of ‘Canada Giant’ cultivar, with 42.39 % germination capacity

Chemical Methods of Fight Against Monarthropalpus Buxi Geoff. Species

The Monarthropalpus buxi Geoff. lives on Buxus senpenvirens bushes of landscaping in our country- in adult stage for 1 month only, whilst in larva stage for almost 9 months. The most poignant damages are made by larvae, which gnaw within the interior of the leaf, determining a goffering aspect of the leaf on its inferior side, yellow-rusty in colour. The experiment started on May 10, 2012 and ended on May 18, 2012.With the purpose of fighting chemically against this pest, treatments have been undergone on five chemical products, on five series of the Buxus senpenvirens bushes in the city of Cluj-Napoca. The pest population has been monitored after 24 hours, 48 hours, and also after 7 days from spraying, by counting the number of adults on the coloured panels (white, blue, yellow, green).It has been proved that the product Karate-Zeon has registered the best results in the fight against the adult population of this pest, with a mortality rate of 100% after 7 days from spraying. Also, the systemic products have registered a fairly high mortality rate in larvae of the Monarthropalpus Buxi Geoff..According to personal results, the commercial product KarateZeon is recommended for fighting the adult stage, and Confidor 200 SL, Actara 25 WG, Calypso 480 SC and Mospilan 20 SG for larva stage of the Monarthropalpus buxi Geoff. pest, with the purpose of maintaining the Buxus senpenvirens species in landscaping

Optimization of Hermetia illucens (L.) egg laying under different nutrition and light conditions

The black soldier fly Hermetia illucens is gaining growing interest as a tool for the valorisation of bio-waste in a circular economy perspective. Although a wide variety of studies are available for larvae rearing, the indoor breeding of adults still presents a great challenge for industrial purposes. This study was designed to assess the simultaneous influence of 3 different light sources (the Mix of LED UV:blue:green 1:1:3, White LED, Neon light) and 3 types of nutrition (sugar and water, only water, no sugar no water) on adult performances, obtaining different egg production parameters that included the number and weight of the egg masses and single eggs laid by the females, the duration of pre-oviposition and oviposition period, the adult life span, the hatchability of the eggs. Our results showed that production parameters are influenced mainly by nutrition rather than light factor, although light plays an important secondary role. Moreover, the presence of sugar positively affects the egg production (12,93-27,10 mg eggs/female) and increases oviposition period (18,2-31,8 days) and adult lifespan (20,79-27,11 days). Light sources also affect egg production parameters, with the exposure to the Mix of LEDs resulting in the best performance of flies. Results obtained from this study are very useful for the design and management of an efficient industrial black soldier fly mass rearing process

Assessing the Factorial Validity of the Attitudes and Belief Scale 2-Abbreviated Version: A Call for the Development a Gold Standard Method of Measuring Rational and Irrational Beliefs

Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) does not possess a measure of rational and irrational beliefs that meets internationally recognised standards for acceptable psychometric properties. Without such a measure the theory/practice of REBT cannot be rigorously evaluated, thus undermining its scientific veracity. The current study investigates the validity and reliability of a recently developed measure of rational and irrational beliefs: the Attitudes and Belief Scale 2-Abbreviated Version (ABS-2-AV). University students from three countries completed the ABS-2-AV (N = 397). An alternative models framework using confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a theoretically consistent eight-factor model of the ABS-2-AV provided the best fit of the data. A number of post-hoc modifications were required in order to achieve acceptable model fit results, and these modifications revealed important methodological limitations with the ABS-2-AV. Results indicated that the validity of the ABS-2-AV was undermined due to items measuring both the psychological process of interest (rational and irrational beliefs) and the context in which these beliefs processes are presented. This is a serious methodological limitation of the ABS-2 and all questionnaires derived from it, including the ABS-2-AV. This methodological limitation resulted in the ABS-2-AV possessing poor internal reliability. These limitations are discussed in relation to the broader REBT literature and the impact such problems have on research and practice. A call is made for REBT researchers to come together to develop a “gold standard” method of assessing rational and irrational beliefs that meets international standard for psychometric excellence

Results on Parasitic Level of Larvae and Pupae of Cameraria ohridella Deschka-Dimić

The main pest of ornamental chestnut of landscaping in Cluj-Napoca is Cameraria ohridella Deschka-Dimić. Frequency of attacked leaves shows fluctuation from one year to another and from one location to another. Upon the numerical density of the population of this pest, an important role is repesented by useful entomofauna, especially species of parasitoids. During the period 2012-2013 was studied the percentage of parasitic larvae and pupae of Cameraria ohridella Deschka-Dimić in two locations. In 2012 the parasitic level (%) of larvae in the central park of the city was on average 7.9% and 5.7% on the Paris Street, leading on 2013 at rate of parasitic level (%) in central park to 9.8% and 6.3% on the Paris Street. Parasitic level (%) of pupae in 2012 was 8.8% in Central Park and 6.1% on the Paris Street, and in 2013 the parasitic level (%) was 10.4% in Central Park and 6 9% on the Paris Street. Parasitic level (%) of larvae and pupae of Cameraria ohridella species is different from one location to another. This is due to the fact that entomofauna parasitoid is polyphagous, and where we have a more diversified composition of tree species, the chances of developing parasitoid hymenoptera are higher

Use of Semiochemical Products in Monitoring and Control of Epicometis Hirta Poda

Epicometis hirta Poda. is a dangerous pest which can be observed on annual crops and also on fruit tree species.The adult is a beetle can be easily recognized due to existing pubescence found all over it’s body. The pest causes damage by consuming the reproductive organs of flowers. Adults are phytophagous and feed on leaves and flowers of plants such as orchard trees, cereals or ornamental plans. The timeing chemical control against this species is very difficult considering that the moment of sprays application is during bloom,thus the pollinating entomofauna is affected. Therefore the need to develop alternative control methods is highlighted. Semiochemical products represent a method of perspective whereas involve only the target species. For this purpose the team of entomology discipline along with Institute of Chemistry “Raluca Ripanâ€colegues, tested the attractiveness of two new synthetic products which were placed in three types of traps (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3). Experiments were located in UASVM Cluj Napoca Orchard, fruit tree farm SteluÅ£a and fruit tree farm Agroindustriala Cluj Napoca. The best results were obtained by Type 1 trap, in all three locations