Dividend Guidance to Manage Analyst Dividend Expectations

Using a sample of dividend payers from 12 European countries, we document that managers guide analyst dividend expectations to avoid reporting dividends below the consensus forecast. Specifically, we show that dividend guidance predicts (1) a substantial reduction in analyst dividend forecast optimism over the course of the fiscal year and (2) that a firm will meet or beat the consensus dividend forecast by a small margin. Managers guide analyst dividend expectations to avoid negative price reactions when reporting negative dividend surprises. Our results, which are robust to endogeneity and self-selection concerns and control for contemporaneous earnings guidance, highlight the important role dividend guidance plays in managing analyst dividend expectations

Investigation of Kepler Objects of Interest Stellar Parameters from Observed Transit Durations

The Kepler mission discovery of candidate transiting exoplanets (KOIs) enables a plethora of ensemble analysis of the architecture and properties of exoplanetary systems. We compare the observed transit durations of KOIs to a synthetic distribution generated from the known eccentricities of radial velocity (RV) discovered exoplanets. We find that the Kepler and RV distributions differ at a statistically significant level. We identify three related systematic trends that are likely due to errors in stellar radii, which in turn affect the inferred exoplanet radii and the distribution thereof, and prevent a valid analysis of the underlying ensemble eccentricity distribution. First, 15% of KOIs have transit durations >20% longer than the transit duration expected for an edge-on circular orbit, including 92 KOIs with transit durations >50% longer, when only a handful of such systems are expected. Second, the median transit duration is too long by up to ~25%. Random errors of <50% in the stellar radius are not adequate to account for these two trends, and they are present for all spectral types in the Kepler sample. We identify that incorrect estimates of stellar metallicity and extinction could account for these anomalies, rather than astrophysical effects such as eccentric exoplanets improbably transiting near apastron. Third, we find that the median transit duration is correlated with stellar radius, when no such trend is expected. All three effects are still present, although less pronounced, when considering only multiple transiting KOI systems which are thought to have a low false positive rate. Improved stellar parameters for KOIs are necessary for the validity of future ensemble tests of exoplanetary systems found by Kepler.Comment: PASP, in pres

Training Undergraduates to Sell It: #SciComm in an Ecology Course

Stop. Being. Boring. Science: Soft Skill? No. Essential Transferable Skill: “Students would be better served by an education that is integrated with the job market they will encounter post-graduation, and one that provides not only technical skills but also the soft skills that are most in demand by employers such as communication…” #SciCommin a senior Ecology course: Course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). Ecosystem services at the wildland-urban interface: involving undergraduates in ecological investigations Pre- assignment “Summarize the Results of an ecological research project related to the effects of urbanization on ecosystems. The research summaries will be presented orally to the class ‐ 5 minutes per group.” Post- assignment Pre-assignment #SciComm Blog Posts “Nature, it’s all Around Me” “Plants & Plots” “Desperately Seeking Species: A Look Into the Ecological Methods of Determining Diversity” FUTURE #SciComm with undergraduates Want to collaborate

Training Undergraduates to Sell It: #SciComm in an Ecology Course

Stop. Being. Boring. Science: Soft Skill? No. Essential Transferable Skill: “Students would be better served by an education that is integrated with the job market they will encounter post-graduation, and one that provides not only technical skills but also the soft skills that are most in demand by employers such as communication…” #SciCommin a senior Ecology course: Course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). Ecosystem services at the wildland-urban interface: involving undergraduates in ecological investigations Pre- assignment “Summarize the Results of an ecological research project related to the effects of urbanization on ecosystems. The research summaries will be presented orally to the class ‐ 5 minutes per group.” Post- assignment Pre-assignment #SciComm Blog Posts “Nature, it’s all Around Me” “Plants & Plots” “Desperately Seeking Species: A Look Into the Ecological Methods of Determining Diversity” FUTURE #SciComm with undergraduates Want to collaborate

Pandemic

https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/covid-journal-prose/1000/thumbnail.jp

The Meaning of Health of Rural Saskatchewan Children: A Mixed Methods Approach

Background: An understanding of the meaning of health is an integral component in the development of effective health promotion programs aimed at promoting health or preventing diseases such as childhood obesity. One group of Canadian children known to be at higher risk for obesity is those living in rural settings. The purpose of this current research was to explore the meaning of health of preadolescent children living in rural Saskatchewan. The following four research questions were addressed: (a) What are the general health characteristics of the study sample?, (b) What is the rural context of children participating in this study?, (c) What is the meaning (i.e. values, norms, beliefs, behaviors) of health from the perspectives of a group of preadolescent children?, and (d) Is the meaning of health thematically congruent from the perspectives of healthy weight and unhealthy weight children?. Study Design: Mixed methods explanatory sequential design (Participant selection model) with qualitative emphasis. Methods: Participants were recruited through classroom presentations and invitational letters sent out to all children attending a rural elementary school in Saskatchewan. Ninety-nine children (51.0% response rate) participated in the quantitative component [measurement of height and weight for purposes of determining healthy weight and unhealthy weight (overweight or obese) status and completion of health questionnaire examining dietary and physical activity patterns]. Of the children who met the selection criteria for qualitative follow up (Grade 4, 5, & 6 children who agreed to be interviewed and had a parent who agreed to be interviewed), twenty children and their parents were randomly selected to be individually interviewed for a total of 71 interviews. An observational assessment of the community was conducted by the researcher for the purpose of gaining a greater understanding of the rural context in which the study participants construct their meaning of health. Results: Prevalence of unhealthy weights in these rural children was high (34%) with gender differences evident at a very young age. Regardless of weight or health status, children described their cultural meaning of health as an integration of Knowing Stuff, Having a Working Body, and Feeling Happy. Of these three themes Feeling Happy was recognized as the most meaningful and children described that receiving encouragement and support from valued relationships contributed to their happiness and overall meaning of health. The rural environment appeared to provide a sense of safety, security, and freedom in which children frequently engaged. Significance of Findings: The high prevalence of unhealthy weights in this sample of rural children has the potential to negatively influence the present and future health of these children. Developing an understanding of the cultural meaning of health and how this culture may influence patterns of healthy behaviors may be a foundation to the development of successful interventions aimed at promoting healthy weights in rural children

Estuarine Sediments from the Boreal Region – an Indication of Weathering

Öre estuary (Northern Sweden) was chosen as a model for other anthropogenically unpolluted estuaries in the boreal region. Sediments were studied in detail in order to characterize the weathering products of silicate rocks. Primary rocks are mostly composed of granite and gneiss. Chemical analysis of total sediments was performed by the XRF method. SiO2 predominated (71.1–59.2 %) in all samples, decreasing seaward. Al2O3 (11.58–12.89 %) and Fe2O3 (3.71–6.92 %) were the other main chemical components and they increased seaward. Fourteen elements within the fine silt and clay fraction (f < 32 &micro;m) were analyzed by the ICP-AES method. The most abundant microelement was Ti, followed by Mn, Zn, Ba, Cr, Sr, V, while Cu, Co and Ni were the least abundant. Organic matter was characterized as total carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. Mineralogical composition was studied by the XRD method. The minerals found were quartz, different minerals from the feldspar group (albite, microcline, plagioclase, sanidine), biotite, chlorite and hornblende. Some weathering products, such as montmorillonite-15&#197; and Al(OH)3, were detected in the fine silt and clay fraction (f < 32 &micro;m). Amorphous iron hydroxide could not be detected by the XRD method. Most of the trace elements determined by ICP-AES (Co, Mg, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Zn) were in very good correlation with iron. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy was used for further characterization. Measured at room temperature, Mössbauer spectra did not display magnetic ordering. In only one sample, closest to the river mouth, a better fit was obtained by adding one sextet pattern, but it was of minor significance. Relative amounts of Fe(II) and of Fe(III) were determined in each sample and the Fe(III)/Fe(II) ratio was calculated. It was observed that the amount of Fe(III) increased with the distance from the river mouth and it was either retained at the silicate sites or precipitated as amorphous iron oxide. Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates that the sediments sampled are mostly formed from metamorphic rocks due to the presence of altered biotite and chlorite. The results of this work demonstrate that sediments can be used to study weathering. Some of the reactions, according to the literature, are connected with the consumption of CO2. Examples of such reactions include the weathering of K-feldspar, albite and hornblende

Estuarine Sediments from the Boreal Region – an Indication of Weathering

Öre estuary (Northern Sweden) was chosen as a model for other anthropogenically unpolluted estuaries in the boreal region. Sediments were studied in detail in order to characterize the weathering products of silicate rocks. Primary rocks are mostly composed of granite and gneiss. Chemical analysis of total sediments was performed by the XRF method. SiO2 predominated (71.1–59.2 %) in all samples, decreasing seaward. Al2O3 (11.58–12.89 %) and Fe2O3 (3.71–6.92 %) were the other main chemical components and they increased seaward. Fourteen elements within the fine silt and clay fraction (f < 32 &micro;m) were analyzed by the ICP-AES method. The most abundant microelement was Ti, followed by Mn, Zn, Ba, Cr, Sr, V, while Cu, Co and Ni were the least abundant. Organic matter was characterized as total carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. Mineralogical composition was studied by the XRD method. The minerals found were quartz, different minerals from the feldspar group (albite, microcline, plagioclase, sanidine), biotite, chlorite and hornblende. Some weathering products, such as montmorillonite-15&#197; and Al(OH)3, were detected in the fine silt and clay fraction (f < 32 &micro;m). Amorphous iron hydroxide could not be detected by the XRD method. Most of the trace elements determined by ICP-AES (Co, Mg, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Zn) were in very good correlation with iron. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy was used for further characterization. Measured at room temperature, Mössbauer spectra did not display magnetic ordering. In only one sample, closest to the river mouth, a better fit was obtained by adding one sextet pattern, but it was of minor significance. Relative amounts of Fe(II) and of Fe(III) were determined in each sample and the Fe(III)/Fe(II) ratio was calculated. It was observed that the amount of Fe(III) increased with the distance from the river mouth and it was either retained at the silicate sites or precipitated as amorphous iron oxide. Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates that the sediments sampled are mostly formed from metamorphic rocks due to the presence of altered biotite and chlorite. The results of this work demonstrate that sediments can be used to study weathering. Some of the reactions, according to the literature, are connected with the consumption of CO2. Examples of such reactions include the weathering of K-feldspar, albite and hornblende