Using agency theory, this study empirically examined the relationship between board composition and corporate philanthropy. Generally, the ratio of insiders to outsiders, the percentage of insider stock ownership, and the proportion of female and minority board members were found to be positively and significantly associated with firms'' charitable contributions.

In the era of big data, data-driven methods mainly based on deep learning have been widely used in the field of intelligent fault diagnosis. Traditional neural networks tend to be more subjective when classifying fault time-frequency graphs, such as pooling layer, and ignore the location relationship of features. The newly proposed neural network named capsules network takes into account the size and location of the image. Inspired by this, capsules network combined with the Xception module is applied in intelligent fault (...) diagnosis, so as to improve the classification accuracy of intelligent fault diagnosis. Firstly, the fault time-frequency graphs are obtained by wavelet time-frequency analysis. Then the time-frequency graphs data which are adjusted the pixel size are input into XCN for training. In order to accelerate the learning rate, the parameters which have bigger change are punished by cost function in the process of training. After the operation of dynamic routing, the length of the capsule is used to classify the types of faults and get the classification of loss. Then the longest capsule is used to reconstruct fault time-frequency graphs which are used to measure the reconstruction of loss. In order to determine the convergence condition, the three losses are combined through the weight coefficient. Finally, the proposed model and the traditional methods are, respectively, trained and tested under laboratory conditions and actual wind turbine gearbox conditions to verify the classification ability and reliable ability. (shrink)

While it is widely assumed that greater diversity in corporate governance will enhance a firm’s corporate social performance, this study considers an alternative thesis which relates managerial control to corporate philanthropy. The study empirically evaluates both board diversity and managerial control of the board as possible predictors of corporate philanthropy. The demonstration of a positive relationship between managerial control and corporate philanthropy contributes to our understanding that corporate social performance results from a complex set of economic and social motives. Possible (...) future research and managerial implications are discussed. (shrink)

While it is widely assumed that greater diversity in corporate governance will enhance a firm’s corporate social performance, this study considers an alternative thesis which relates managerial control to corporate philanthropy. The study empirically evaluates both board diversity and managerial control of the board as possible predictors of corporate philanthropy. The demonstration of a positive relationship between managerial control and corporate philanthropy contributes to our understanding that corporate social performance results from a complex set of economic and social motives. Possible (...) future research and managerial implications are discussed. (shrink)

The Mancos Shale of the San Juan Basin has been an important resource for the exploration and development of oil and gas. However, as with most unconventional plays, the shales have low porosity and extremely low permeability with predominantly nanometer-sized pores. Thus, it is critical to understand the nanopetrophysical properties of the reservoir so a proper assessment of the reservoir quality can be made. Working with three as-received core samples from three different wells of the Tacito Marine Bar and Offshore (...) Mancos play types, we have developed an initial understanding of the nanopetrophysical properties of the pore structure as well as fluid-rock interactions in these tight reservoirs. We have performed a suite of integrated tests, such as mercury intrusion porosimetry, low-pressure nitrogen physisorption, core plug porosity and permeability, scanning electron microscopy imaging, water immersion porosimetry after vacuum pulling, contact angle, and fluid imbibition. In addition, we obtained supplementary data for total organic carbon, X-ray diffraction, and pyrolysis to further evaluate reservoir quality. The Mancos Shale samples exhibit petrophysical characteristics that are controlled by a predominant presence of nanometer-sized pore space, with 56%–96% pore volumes present as 3.4–50 nm in pore-throat sizes, as shown by the MIP approach. Contact angle and fluid imbibition tests demonstrate that samples are oil wet to mixed wet, with a tendency of pore networks to imbibe oil over water. The findings from integrated pore structure and wettability studies provide a database and some insights, from the perspectives of nanopetrophysical characterization, into the reservoir quality of the Mancos Shale. (shrink)

To systematically study the whole-aperture pore-structure characteristics of the marine-continental transitional shale facies in the Upper Palaeozoic Taiyuan and Shanxi Formations of the Qinshui Basin, we have collected a total of 11 samples for high-pressure mercury intrusion, low-pressure gas adsorption, nuclear magnetic resonance, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy with argon-ion polishing experiments to determine the pore morphology and distribution characteristics of shale samples in detail and to perform quantitative analyses. Then compared the pore-development characteristics of the Taiyuan Formation samples with (...) those of the Shanxi Formation to determine which is preferable. The experimental results indicate that the shale samples of the Qinshui Basin mainly develop three types of pores: organic pores, intergranular pores, and microfractures. High-pressure mercury intrusion and gas-adsorption experiments indicate that the pore-size distributions exhibit multiple peaks. The samples contained varying proportions of macropores, mesopores, and micropores, among which the former two are dominant, accounting for approximately 85% of the total pore volume, whereas micropores account for only 15%. However, mesopores and micropores dominate the specific surface area; between them, the micropores are much more prevalent, accounting for more than 99% of the total specific surface area. Macropores contribute less than 1% of the specific surface area and therefore can be neglected. The pore morphology resembles the slit type parallel platy pores with a ballpoint pen structure. The NMR [Formula: see text] spectra have multiple-peak values. In addition, the large difference between the curved areas before and after centrifugation indicates that the samples contain a large proportion of mesopores and macropores, which is consistent with the results presented above. The results demonstrate that the development of pores in the Taiyuan Formation is better than that in the Shanxi Formation. (shrink)

Based on a survey of 2,361 directors in 291 of the largest companies of the Southeast States, this study empirically examined boards of directors' stakeholder orientations. The results indicate that there exist distinct stakeholder groups perceived by directors, directors have high stakeholder orientations, directors view some stakeholders differently depending on their occupation and type.

This paper investigates the hybrid-driven mechanism problem for Markov jump system, where both channel quantization and network-induced delay based on uncertain network are considered. Firstly, comparing with the traditional event-triggered scheme, a hybrid-driven mechanism is employed in networked control systems for the finite capacity of communication bandwidth resources and system performance in equilibrium. Then, the quantization technology is applied in the communication channel from sensor-to-controller and controller-to-actuator. The application of BCQ is for further investigation that mitigate data packet transmission rate. (...) Thirdly, Markov jump system is modeled for the hybrid-driven mechanism and network-induced delay. By constructing the Lyapunov–Krasovskii function, a sufficient condition is derived as the stability criterion, and the controller is designed in which the nonlinear term is rewritten for simplifying the calculation. Finally, two simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. (shrink)

We investigate a reduced generalized -dimensional shallow water wave equation, which can be used to describe the nonlinear dynamic behavior in physics. By employing Bell’s polynomials, the bilinear form of the equation is derived in a very natural way. Based on Hirota’s bilinear method, the expression of N-soliton wave solutions is derived. By using the resulting N-soliton expression and reasonable constraining parameters, we concisely construct the high-order breather solutions, which have periodicity in x,y-plane. By taking a long-wave limit of the (...) breather solutions, we have obtained the high-order lump solutions and derived the moving path of lumps. Moreover, we provide the hybrid solutions which mean different types of combinations in lump and line wave. In order to better understand these solutions, the dynamic phenomena of the above breather solutions, lump solutions, and hybrid solutions are demonstrated by some figures. (shrink)

Remnants of ancient retroviral infections during evolution litter all mammalian genomes. In modern humans, such endogenous retroviral (ERV) sequences comprise at least 8% of the genome. While ERVs and other types of transposable elements undoubtedly contribute to the genomic “junk yard”, functions for some ERV sequences have been demonstrated, with growing evidence that ERVs can be important players in gene regulatory processes. Here we focus on one particular large family of human ERVs, termed HERVH, which several recent studies suggest has (...) a key regulatory role in human pluripotent stem cells. Remarkably, this is not the first instance of an ERV controlling pluripotency. We speculate as to why this convergent evolution might have come about, suggesting that it may reflect selection on the virus to extend the time available for transposition. Alternatively it may reflect serendipity alone. (shrink)

Drawing on both a managerial discipline perspective and an information intermediary perspective, we explore how media coverage of a firm’s controlling shareholder influences firm valuation in corporate China. Using 366 listed family firms in China from 2003 to 2006, we find that firms in which controlling shareholders receive more neutral media reports enjoy higher valuation, whereas negative media reports on controlling shareholders impose adverse effects on firm valuation. Interestingly, favorable media coverage of the controlling shareholders does not enhance firm value. (...) Further analyses reveal that ownership structure and audit quality moderate the relationship between media coverage and firm valuation. Our study complements the emerging literature on the monitoring role of the media on the stock markets. (shrink)

The varied terrain and complex subsurface structure in the foothill segment of fold and thrust belts results in low-quality seismic data. Therefore, a structural model built only on the basis of seismic will have low reliability and be nonunique. To solve these problems, we have developed a comprehensive modeling method for foothill zones that combines gravity, magnetic, electric, and seismic data. Information from gravity, MT, electric, and seismic data is fully used in each step of modeling. This reduces the nonuniqueness (...) and guarantees the rationality and reliability of the tectonic model. The core of this procedure is simultaneous joint inversing gravity, MT, electric, and seismic multiparameters, which improves the accuracy of velocity model and results in a higher quality of seismic image. The Hala’alate Mountain area in the Junggar Basin, western China, is chosen as the application place, and the process of modeling is evaluated in detail; the structural model is proven to be correct by drilling data. Our method is more accurate and reliable than methods only using seismic data to build a geologic model in foothill zones. (shrink)

In this paper, the Hopf bifurcation and control of the magnetic bearing system under an uncertain parameter are investigated. Firstly, the two-degree-of-freedom magnetic bearing system model with uncertain parameter is established. The method of orthogonal polynomial approximation is used to obtain the equivalent magnetic bearing model which is deterministic. Secondly, combining mathematical analysis tools and numerical simulations, the Hopf bifurcation of the equivalent model is analyzed. Finally, a hybrid feedback control method is introduced to control the Hopf bifurcation behavior of (...) the magnetic bearing system. (shrink)

“Place” as an argumentative domain, which has been taken for granted and treated by theorists of argumentation simply as a physical notion designating the occasion where an argumentation takes place, carries far more complex meanings beyond its traditionally assumed domain in the following three dimensions: as a geographical locale; as a concept, an idea, a history or a notion with its own disputable narratives and presumptions; and as an imaginative geography. Similarly, an image or a character projected through argumentative discourse (...) should be among the central concerns for argumentation studies, however, limited attention has nevertheless been paid to this traditional face of argument in general and the collective face in particular. We argue that image is a site of discursive production, a symbolic field or a discursively disputable space. The discursive interplay among “place,” “image,” “argument” and “time” offer a new way of thinking about ethotic argument and its key role in the establishment of discursive credibility. (shrink)