721 research outputs found
The effect of geographic distance on independent directorsâ performance from the perspective of inefficient investment
Geoeconomics has attracted sustained attention in recent years,
but the role of independent directorsâ geographic distance in
investment efficiency remains unexplored. We explore the governance
effects of independent directors from a geographic location
perspective. Specifically, the Great Circle Distance Formula is
employed to calculate the geographic distance between the independent
directors and the enterprise. Then, we measure the inefficient
investment. Using a detailed sample in the Chinese market
from 2009 to 2018, we find that geographic distance is not conducive
to the functioning of independent directors and that there is a
positive relationship between independent directorsâ geographic
distance and inefficient investment. The coefficients are robust to
multiple robustness checks. In addition, the positive effect of independent
directorsâ geographic distance on inefficient investment
will increase (become more positive) when there is no high-speed
rail and the marketisation process is low in the enterpriseâs location.
Mechanism tests show that geographic distance does affect inefficient
investment by inhibiting independent directorsâ access to
information as well as their reputation. Our results have important
implications for investment policy and corporate governance
Airworthiness Compliance Verification Method Based on Simulation of Complex System
AbstractA study is conducted on a new airworthiness compliance verification method based on pilot-aircraft-environment complex system simulation. Verification scenarios are established by âblock diagramâ method based on airworthiness criteria. A pilot-aircraft-environment complex model is set up and a virtual flight testing method based on connection of MATLAB/Simulink and Flightgear is proposed. Special researches are conducted on the modeling of pilot manipulation stochastic parameters and manipulation in critical situation. Unfavorable flight factors of certain scenario are analyzed, and reliability modeling of important system is researched. A distribution function of small probability event and the theory on risk probability measurement are studied. Nonlinear function is used to depict the relationship between the cumulative probability and the extremum of the critical parameter. A synthetic evaluation model is set up, modified genetic algorithm (MGA) is applied to ascertaining the distribution parameter in the model, and a more reasonable result is obtained. A clause about vehicle control functions (VCFs) verification in MIL-HDBK-516B is selected as an example to validate the practicability of the method
The androgen receptor plays different roles in macrophage-induced proliferation in prostate stromal cells between transitional and peripheral zones of benign prostatic hypertrophy
Macrophages play a critical role in the process of excessive stromal proliferation of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In our previous study, we used a BPH mouse model to elucidate a potential mechanism whereby macrophage infiltration promotes stromal cell proliferation in the prostate via the androgen receptor (AR)/inflammatory cytokine CCL3-dependent pathway. In our present study, we used the co-culture system of human macrophages and various prostatic zone stromal cells to further demonstrate that infiltrating macrophages promote prostatic stromal cell proliferation through stromal AR-dependent pathways, and we show that the stroma of TZ and PZ respond to macrophages differently because of differences in stromal AR signaling; this could possibly be one of the key pathways for stromal expansion during BPH development and progression. We hypothesize that AR and different downstream inflammatory mediators between TZ and PZ could serve as potential targets for the future design of therapeutic agents for BPH and our results provide significant insights into the search for targeted therapeutic approaches to battle BPH
Tracking the nematicity in cuprate superconductors: a resistivity study under uniaxial pressure
Overshadowing the superconducting dome in hole-doped cuprates, the pseudogap
state is still one of the mysteries that no consensus can be achieved. It has
been suggested that the rotational symmetry is broken in this state and may
result in a nematic phase transition, whose temperature seems to coincide with
the onset temperature of the pseudogap state around optimal doping level,
raising the question whether the pseudogap results from the establishment of
the nematic order. Here we report results of resistivity measurements under
uniaxial pressure on several hole-doped cuprates, where the normalized slope of
the elastoresistivity can be obtained as illustrated in iron-based
superconductors. The temperature dependence of along particular lattice
axis exhibits kink feature at and shows Curie-Weiss-like behavior above
it, which may suggest a spontaneous nematic transition. While seems to
be the same as around the optimal doping and in the overdoped region,
they become very different in underdoped LaSrCuO. Our results
suggest that the nematic order, if indeed existing, is an electronic phase
within the pseudogap state.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Impacts of basin-scale climate modes on coastal sea level: a review
Global sea level rise (SLR) associated with a warming climate exerts significant stress on coastal societies and low-lying island regions. The rates of coastal SLR observed in the past few decades, however, have large spatial and temporal differences from the global mean, which to a large part have been attributed to basin-scale climate modes. In this paper, we review our current state of knowledge about climate modesâ impacts on coastal sea level variability from interannual-to-multidecadal timescales. Relevant climate modes, their impacts and associated driving mechanisms through both remote and local processes are elaborated separately for the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans. This paper also identifies major issues and challenges for future research on climate modesâ impacts on coastal sea level. Understanding the effects of climate modes is essential for skillful near-term predictions and reliable uncertainty quantifications for future projections of coastal SLR
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