Rollover Risk and Tax Avoidance

This study examines the association between rollover risk and tax avoidance. Rollover risk, also referred to as refinancing risk, is the risk that firms are not able to obtain new debt to refinance their existing debt. On the one hand, firms may avoid taxes to generate cash internally. On the other hand, tax avoidance can increase the cost of debt. Our findings suggest that, in general, a positive relationship exists between rollover risk and tax avoidance. In cross-sectional analyses, we find that the positive association between rollover risk and tax avoidance is more (less) pronounced for firms with financial constraints (alternative financing sources). Additional analyses reveal that this positive association is attenuated when the market interest rates are higher. Furthermore, financially constrained firms operating in a higher market interest rates environment exhibit a further reduction in the positive association between rollover risk and tax avoidance. Finally, we find that firms engage in tax avoidance in anticipation of debt maturing in the following year. The findings are informative to shareholders and policy makers who have an interest in shaping firms’ tax avoidance activities

Developing a SCORM-based U-Learning LMS System

An integrated content and learning management system (LMSs) which has the characteristic of being ubiquitous is the most essential component of U-Learning. However, most modern learning management systems have different architectures, which makes it’s difficult to integrate the numerous learning resources, and reusability is hard to achieve. Otherwise, most learning resources read on mobile platforms are still restricted to electric books or digital learning materials. So, it’s not easy to manage the learning progress and immediately information providing or interactions between learners and instructors are impossible. A research is proposed in this paper to develop a SCORM compliant blended U-Learning LMS system, which emphasizes the content compilation, content packaging and the implement of SCORM run-time environment to have learning materials being reusable and interoperable

Numerical Calculation of Transient Thermal Characteristics in Gas-Insulated Transmission Lines

For further knowledge of the thermal characteristics in gas-insulated transmission lines (GILs) installed above ground, a finite-element model of coupling fluid field and thermal field is established, in which the corresponding assumptions and boundary conditions are given.  Transient temperature rise processes of the GIL under the conditions of variable ambient temperature, wind velocity and solar radiation are respectively investigated. Equivalent of surface convective heat transfer coefficient and heat flux boundary conditions are updated in the analysis process. Unlike the traditional finite element method (FEM), the variability of the thermal properties with temperature is considered. The calculation results are validated by the tests results reported in the literature. The conclusion provides method and theory basis for the knowledge of transient temperature rise characteristics of GILs in open environment

Quantum Hall Effects in a Non-Abelian Honeycomb Lattice

We study the tunable quantum Hall effects in a non-Abelian honeycomb optical lattice which is a many-Dirac-points system. We find that the quantum Hall effects present different features as change as relative strengths of several perturbations. Namely, a gauge-field-dressed next-nearest-neighbor hopping can induce the quantum spin Hall effect and a Zeeman field can induce a so-called quantum anomalous valley Hall effect which includes two copies of quantum Hall states with opposite Chern numbers and counter-propagating edge states. Our study extends the borders of the field of quantum Hall effects in honeycomb optical lattice when the internal valley degrees of freedom enlarge.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Using artificial intelligence to study the impact of jobseekers\u27 Facebook profile pictures on recruiters’ interview decision

Previous research has shown that jobseekers’ information on Facebook influences recruiters’ decision-making. This study extends previous research by using artificial intelligence to study the impact of jobseekers\u27 Facebook profile pictures sharing on recruiters\u27 decision-making during the pandemics. For most people, Facebook is an integral part of everyday life. Facebook allows its jobseekers to interact with passive and active jobseekers in a low-cost and relatively easy way. Facebook is a useful business tool for companies and individuals to promote their brands, personal image and personality types. Jobseekers are one of the largest groups of Facebook jobseekers. Smart business recruiters and recruiters are using many tools and strategies to find the best Jobseekers on Facebook. Jobseekers’ Facebook profile pictures sharing has been a topic of interest to searchers in recent years. This study collected data from 500 Jobseekers\u27 Facebook profile pictures and recruited 50 recruiters. The results show that the jobseekers\u27 Facebook profile pictures are positively correlated with recruiters\u27 interview decisions during the pandemic. This study uses artificial intelligence to judge the personality traits of jobseekers based on Facebook profile pictures and examines the impact of jobseekers\u27 Facebook profile pictures and recruiters’ interview decisions

Septic Pulmonary Embolism Requiring Critical Care: Clinicoradiological Spectrum, Causative Pathogens and Outcomes

OBJECTIVES: Septic pulmonary embolism is an uncommon but life-threatening disorder. However, data on patients with septic pulmonary embolism who require critical care have not been well reported. This study elucidated the clinicoradiological spectrum, causative pathogens and outcomes of septic pulmonary embolism in patients requiring critical care. METHODS: The electronic medical records of 20 patients with septic pulmonary embolism who required intensive care unit admission between January 2005 and December 2013 were reviewed. RESULTS: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome developed in 85% of the patients, and acute respiratory failure was the most common organ failure (75%). The most common computed tomographic findings included a feeding vessel sign (90%), peripheral nodules without cavities (80%) or with cavities (65%), and peripheral wedge-shaped opacities (75%). The most common primary source of infection was liver abscess (40%), followed by pneumonia (25%). The two most frequent causative pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae (50%) and Staphylococcus aureus (35%). Compared with survivors, nonsurvivors had significantly higher serum creatinine, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, and they were significantly more likely to have acute kidney injury, disseminated intravascular coagulation and lung abscesses. The in-hospital mortality rate was 30%. Pneumonia was the most common cause of death, followed by liver abscess. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with septic pulmonary embolism who require critical care, especially those with pneumonia and liver abscess, are associated with high mortality. Early diagnosis, appropriate antibiotic therapy, surgical intervention and respiratory support are essential

Comparison of Sterile and Clean Dressing Techniques in Post-operative Surgical Wound Infection in a Chinese Healthcare Facility

Purpose: To investigate the effect of sterile and clean dressing techniques on wound management in a Chinese hospital, and to compare their impact on wound healing and the cost of the dressing materials with respect to postoperative surgical wounds.Methods: A total of 130 patients, comprising 70 (53.8 %) males and 60 (46.2 %) females, who had undergone surgery in The Affiliated Hospital of Changchun Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Changchun, China in 2012 – 2014 were enrolled in the study. Of these, 65 (50 %) received sterile dressings and 65 (50 %) clean dressings. A control group comprising 25 patients, 15 (60 %) males and 10 (40 %) females, who attended the clinic for change dressings only, was also included. The patients’ dressings were changed four times daily with 2x sterile and 2x clean dressings. Details of all the changes, including the nutritional status of the patients, were recorded. The patients were followed-up up to the time of their discharge.Results: Twelve (18.5 %) patients out of those who received sterile or clean dressings were found to have acquired an infection. The size of the wounds was approximately 1.8 to 32.4 cm3 (mean: 5.2 ± 6.4 cm3) in size at the start of the study and 0.6 to 4.2 cm3 at the end of the study. A significant difference was identified between the sterile and clean dressing groups at the beginning of the study (U = 72.5; p < 0.12). A decrease in wound size was observed in both of these groups but was not statistically significant, while the change in wound volume, was significantly different (U = 84.5; p < 0.25). When the cost of the two dressing types was compared, the sterile items were more expensive than that of the clean items; thus, sterile dressing procedure was significantly more costly than clean dressing procedure (p < 0.01).Conclusion: With mounting concern regarding antimicrobial resistance and hospital-acquired infections, suitable wound dressing techniques are required to prevent infection and reduce the duration of wound healing after surgery without compromising patient safety.Keywords: Wound dressing, Postoperative, Antimicrobial resistance, Hospital acquired infection