Board System Research Articles

Does a Foreign Board Improve Corporate Social Responsibility?

This study examines the effect of foreign boards on corporate social responsibility, exploring the issues of two-tier board systems (boards of directors and boards of commissioners). Using data for manufacturing firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange over the sample period of 2017–2019, the results suggest that a foreign board engages more in corporate social responsibility activities. Our key finding remains robust with respect to all foreign board measures (foreign ownership, foreign board members, foreign directors, foreign commissioners, foreign CEO, and foreign chairperson) and to alternative estimation methods, and pass a series of endogeneity checks. We established the causal effect from foreign boards to CSR, supporting institutional theory and contesting agency theory.

Study of the functional parameters of the freshwater generation system, as an integral part of the waste heat recovery system for a tanker ship

A ship needs fuel for both travel and on-board operations. In the most general case, the fuel is converted on board the ship into energy in the form required for its end use: mechanical power for propulsion, electrical power for auxiliary board systems and thermal power for thermal needs. In this paper, I propose to deal with both elements of theoretical calculation and real elements of the operation of the freshwater generation system from the main engine of the ship. I chose to treat this system because it is the main subassembly of the residual heat recovery system from the main engine through cooling water. In the theoretical calculation, The results of the paper will be focus on calculation of the geometric and functional parameters of the fresh water generator. In the final part of the chapter, I will refer to the real parameters of the freshwater generation system where I will draw operation diagrams to highlight as concretely as possible the operation of this system on board the ship.

Research Progress of Multi-Agent Technology for Aircraft Carrier Electronic Display Panel

<p indent="0mm">The electronic display board of aircraft carrier is an important tool to deduce, verify, evaluate and improve the operation scheme of aircraft carrier deck. It can help to improve the efficiency of aircraft carrier deck operation, ensure the safety of operation, and improve the comprehensive combat capability of aircraft carrier. The multi-agent technology can construct the operation process of aircraft carrier deck through the bottom-up and dynamic cooperation of each agent, and then construct the task planning, decision-making evaluation and control model of aircraft carrier deck. The research progress of multi-agent technology for aircraft carrier electronic display board is summarized. Firstly, the typical operation and operation manning of modern aircraft carrier deck are analyzed. Secondly, it introduces the research progress of aircraft carrier electronic display board. Then, it summarizes the research of multi-agent technology at present stage from the aspects: multi-agent collaborative architecture of aircraft carrier deck operation, multi-agent group collaboration in complex scenes, multi-agent modeling based on belief, desire and intention, multi-agent modeling platform and effectiveness evaluation. Finally, some further research directions are put forward to promote the theoretical research progress and industrial application of aircraft carrier electronic display board system and equipment in China.

The Psychology of Word Use in Depression Forums in English and in Spanish: Testing Two Text Analytic Approaches

The present studies demonstrate two computerized approaches to examining the expression of depression on the Internet. Study 1 observed linguistic markers of depression in English and Spanish forums. English and Spanish posts by depressed (N=160) and non-depressed individuals (N=160) were collected from Internet forums using bulletin board systems (bbs). A computer program (LIWC2001) was used to compare linguistic categories across groups within the English and Spanish language. Study 2 analyzed the themes people use when talking about their depression in forums in English and Spanish. Posts by English speaking (N=404) and Spanish speaking depressed people (N=400) were collected from bbs. An automated inductive approach to content analysis was used to compare how the expression of depression varies across cultures. The results for Study 1 showed that linguistic cues previously associated with depression were found to be higher in depressed than in non-depressed posts in English and Spanish. Study 2 showed that depressed people who wrote in Spanish were more likely to mention relational concerns than depressed people who wrote in English, who were more likely to mention medicinal concerns. Implications for informational and support needs and concerns in psychotherapy vs. online support across cultures are addressed and discussed.

Consumer Protection: The Interaction Between Written and Unwritten Law

The scope of consumer protection according to both written and unwritten law is assessed through an analysis of court decisions and decisions of the Consumer Complaints Board in Danish law with references to other Scandinavian law and to EU case law. The article analyses consumer protection in Scandinavian contract law according to general principles of interpretation and statutory law in the form of national legislation implementing Article 5 of Directive 93/13/EEC on unfair terms in consumer contracts. The so-called (larger) general clause of invalidity in the form of section 36 of the relevant national Contracts Acts is included as it greatly influences interpretation in Scandinavian contract law. The analysis involves a discussion of interpretation as a legal source in Scandinavian contract law, and a presentation of the Scandinavian consumer complaints board system with an emphasis on the Danish system. It is argued that the (traditional) general principles of interpretation in contract law play an important role as a supplement to written law in the aim of consumer protection, and that both courts and the Consumer Complaints Boards seem to operate with protection of consumers as a relevant underlying legal basis when interpreting consumer contracts. Both general rules of interpretation and the underlying legal basis (in the form of i.a. non-mandatory rules and customs) thereby seem to enhance consumer protection in Scandinavian contract law.

HISTORY OF THE ENTRY OF CHRISTIANITY INTO CYBERSPACE

This article emphasizes the influx of Christianity into cyberspace, the history of the first virtual forums, groups, networks, and websites relevant to this religion. It discusses the results of the studies on the widespread of faith, particularly Christianity, on the Internet. Examples, obtained as a result of American, Canadian, and British scientists’ observation of these processes, are provided. As it is known, scientists divide the studies on the correlation between religion and the Internet into three periods. Based on this fact, we paid attention to the studies of the leading representatives of each period and their results. In the second half of the twentieth century, the process, which began with a simple message on a bulletin board system (BBS), began to develop rapidly. Special forums on the expression of religious views (e.g. “Origins”, 1983) and virtual groups dedicated to Christianity (“net.religion.Christian”, 1984) come to light. The author analyzes and justifies these groups were paid much attention and participated actively by the general population and the church. The article identifies the most discussed topics in the virtual communities, which were established in the first network for religious dialogue Ecunet in their public and private (paid) conversations. It provides information about an online religious ceremony on the memory of the missing astronauts of the Challenger spacecraft. It shows how the emergence of the free World Wide web and the possibility of working with hypertext and creating websites influenced the dynamics of Christianity in cyberspace. It also provides information on the leading websites of cyber-communication technologies and which sects and churches they belong to.

Intelligent Medical System with Low-Cost Wearable Monitoring Devices to Measure Basic Vital Signals of Admitted Patients.

This article presents the design of a low-cost Wireless Body Sensor Network (WBSN) for monitoring vital signs including a low-cost smart wristwatch that contains an ESP-32 microcontroller and three sensors: heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and body temperature (BT), and an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. The vital signs data are processed and displayed on an OLED screen of the patient’s wristwatch and sent the data over a wireless connection (Wi-Fi) and a Cloud Thing Board system, to store and manage the data in a data center. The data can be analyzed and notified to medical staff when abnormal signals are received from the sensors based on a set parameters from specialists. The proposed low-cost system can be used in a wide range of applications including field hospitals for asymptotic or mild-condition COVID-19 patients as the system can be used to screen those patients out of symptomatic patients who require more costly facilities in a hospital with considerably low expense and installation time, also suitable for bedridden patients, palliative care patients, etc. Testing experiments of a 60-person sample size showed an acceptable accuracy level compared with standard devices when testing with 60 patient-samples with the mean errors heart rate of 1.22%, systolic blood pressure of 1.39%, diastolic blood pressure of 1.01%, and body temperature of 0.13%. According to testing results with 10 smart devices connected with the platform, the time delay caused by the distance between smart devices and the router is 10 s each round with the longest outdoor distance of 200 m. As there is a short-time delay, it does not affect the working ability of the smart system. It is still making the proposed system be able to show patient’s status and function in emergency cases.

The use of hēi diào (‘to turn black’) and its related [V diào] forms in social media

Abstract Hēi diào ‘to turn black’ (黑掉) denotes a change-of-state meaning, but in social media, it has a special pragmatic use that emphasizes “bad consequences” following an uncooperative act, whether right or wrong. This metaphorical and new transitive use of hēi diào, which is unique among netizens, has changed the literal status of hēi ‘black’ to other additional accomplishment/achievement meanings. Our study examined the expression hēi diào using data from a social media corpus, the PTT Bulletin Board System. We also analysed all the constructions of hēi diào and similar [V diào (掉)] patterns in the corpus. Unlike most previous work, which analysed the uses of [V diào] only, our study observed pragmatic connotations of hēi diào in social media—uses that only materialized in certain contexts.

From government management to board governance: the development history and practice of Board of Trustees in Chinese museums, a comparative analysis of museum boards in China and the US

ABSTRACT The Board of Trustees is a governance body that has been adopted internationally in the museum field. The United States has a well-developed board system and governance philosophy, which have brought guidance to China. There has been some progress in the promotion of the board governance in China over the last decade. However, few studies have focused on the role of the board in Chinese museums. This article summarizes the history of boards in Chinese museums and compares boards in China with those in the US in terms of formation and structure; power and responsibility and checks and balances; board meetings and rules of procedure; and guarantee and restraint mechanisms. This article aims to provide a Chinese perspective on the study of museum boards and to give suggestions based on the US experience to facilitate the improvement of the board system in Chinese museums.

An Investigation of Learners’ Perception of an Online Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) Training Model

Developing students’ Intercultural communicative competence (ICC) has been viewed as the English as a foreign language teachers’ responsibility in the globalized world, especially after the birth of COVID-19 pandemic. Amidst the flourishing development of ICC cultivation studies, a noted absence is on the study of how to actualize ICC in the online teaching based English language teaching. This study, by presenting a pedagogical case, explores the application of the online ICC training model, and focuses on how the online teaching can be established at the four teaching stages, namely, attitude development, knowledge construction, skills practice, and reflection. Attitude development is a pre-class activity to motivate students’ learning curiosity. In the stage of knowledge construction, various kinds of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are selected as teaching resources for students to learn the key concepts and theories for the course. Skills practice requires students to make full use of WeChat or Bulletin Board System (BBS) to have online intercultural encounter, in this process students practice both their linguistic and intercultural communicative competence. The last stage provides chances for both students and teacher to rethink about their learning and teaching and move to the new circle of teaching stages. An eight-weeks’ action research with a class of second-grade English Majors in a Chinese university has been conducted. Questionnaire and interview are the main methods for data collection, combined with teacher and students’ reflective journals. The results of both quantitative and qualitative evaluation show that adopting online-teaching may serve as an effective way to develop students’ ICC during epidemic and in the future.

The Effectiveness of Qualified Independent Supervisory Boards : Evidence from Indonesia

The objective of our empirical research is to examine the characteristics of independent supervisory board (SB) on corporate’s risk in dual tier corporate board setting, Indonesia from 2015-2017. This study is different with previous literature in several ways. First, we examine the value of qualified independent SBs in Indonesian dual board setting, while previous studies focus on one-tier board system and developed countries. Second, we also test the effectiveness of several characteristics of qualified independent supervisory board, including size, financial expertise, and tenure on operating and market risks. Based on 1,089 firm-year observations, the results suggest that both independent SB size and financial expertise help company to reduce operating and market risks. Further, we find that independent SB tenure is negatively associated with operating risk. Our results are robust after addressing endogeneity problem.

Will Bulgaria's Path to Eurozone Derail? A comparison with Argentina

In the wake of the prospects of Bulgaria joining the Euro area and the recent Eurozone crisis, it is pertinent to find out how parallel are the circumstances faced by the recent Bulgaria with the conditions of the then Argentina whose currency board had to be abandoned. In a nutshell, this paper compares Bulgaria in 2000-20101 to Argentina in 1991-2001, the period of the Argentine convertibility system. The dimensions explored are (1) adherence to currency board principles, (2) performance indicators associated with exchange rate fixity, and (3) conformity to the criteria inspired by the optimum currency areas (OCA) theory. Raw data are sourced from credible international organizations while computed data are analyzed using charts. On the whole, Bulgaria does bear a resemblance to Argentina and this poses a hindrance to the sustainability of its currency board system and to its hope for Eurozone accession.

Preparation of Gr-Reinforced Cu Foil: A Challenge to Ultrathin Thickness

A layered Cu/Gr/Cu ultrathin foil via a one-step electrochemical route A layered structure has a better effect on improving performance of the graphene (Gr)-reinforced composites due to its unique two-dimensional structure and excellent properties. In this work, a novel “one-step” electrochemical route was proposed for synthesizing the Gr-reinforced ultrathin copper (Cu) foil with high performance. The process includes: 1) A loose graphene oxide (GO) membrane, was prepared by electrophoresis deposition (EPD), that allows Cu ions passing through; 2) According to the difference of Cu deposition potential on different substrates, a potential step was designed for electrodepositing Cu successively on both sides of the GO membrane, i.e., the bottom Cu layer forms under low over-potential, while the top Cu layer forms under high over-potential. The experimental results show that the foil thickness reaches to as thin as 4-5 μm, and the tensile strength is almost twice as large as that of pure Cu foil. This process is simple, controllable and possible mass production, and expected to further practical applications in fields of Cu clad plate, printed circuit board and lithium-ion battery cathode collector system for saving raw material and also the space. In addition, this work proposes a new idea for preparing the layered composites via electrochemical route. A Cu-(CNTs+Gr) composite ultrathin foil via electrodeposition The incorporation of nano-reinforcement, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene (Gr), into copper (Cu) matrix via electrodeposition is a promising method to improve its comprehensive property. However, the challenge is to achieve a uniformly suspended electrolyte with these reinforcements or surfactant due to their inferior dispersibility. In this work, we report a process to produce a kind of high performance Cu-(CNTs+Gr) composite foil by using hybrid self-dispersing reinforcement CNTs+Gr via a direct current (DC) electrodeposition, which further results in an ultrathin foil reach to the thickness as low as 4 μm. In this process, firstly, the precursor graphene oxide (GO) with amphipathicity acts as a surfactant-like substance and disperses CNTs uniformly through the π-π bonding in-between GO and CNTs in the copper sulfate electrolyte. Then, GO is reduced into Gr during electrodeposition, and the synergistic effects of CNTs and Gr play a key rule to improve the ultrathin Cu-(CNTs+Gr) composite foil’s properties, including tensile strength up to 436 MPa, inoxidizability and superior electrical conductivity. This work provides a possibility to have mass-production of Cu foil as thin as 4 μm in industry and broad applications in the future.

Evaluation of dystrophin expression by immunohistochemistry as a prognostic factor in leiomyosarcomas (LMS).

e23525 Background: Leiomyosarcomas (LMS) are soft tissue sarcomas that derive from smooth muscle cells and can arise anywhere in the body (most frequently in extremities, uterus or retroperitoneum). The clinical prognostic factors are well established but molecular factors influencing prognostic are unknown. The DMD gene, which codifies for the dystrophin protein, has been proposed as tumour suppressor gene in LMS. The aim of our study is to evaluate dystrophin expression in LMS and its relation with the patient prognosis. Methods: A total of 103 patients (pts) with LMS were analysed. Clinical and pathological data were collected retrospectively from patients’ electronic board system. Dystrophin expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in paraffin embedded tissue LMS samples using the Novocastra NCL-DYS2 (Leica Biosystems). Semiquantitative assessment of the staining was classified from score 0 to 3 (0 = no dystrophin expression, 1 = low expression, 2 = moderate expression, 3 = high expression). Results: Of all 103 pts, 70 (68%) had localized disease and the majority of tumours were larger than 5 cm (75%). The most frequent locations of primary LMS were extremities (n = 31; 30.1%), uterus (n = 23; 23.2%) and retroperitoneum (n = 21; 20.4%). Most LMS were high grade (G): 7 pts G1 (6.8%), 35 pts G2 (34%) 2 and 53 pts G3 (51.5%). 50 of all grade LMS (48.6%) had loss of dystrophin expression (score 0), 17 (16.5%) had score 1, 23 (22.3%) score 2 and 10 (9.7%) score 3. Loss/low dystrophin expression measured as score 0 or 1, was more frequent in grade 3 LMS compared to grade 2 or grade 1 (77.4% vs. 57.1% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.005). There were no differences in dystrophin loss between localized or metastatic disease at diagnosis (64.2% vs. 72.2%; p &gt; 0.05). In our series, loss or reduced dystrophin expression did not correlate with the risk of relapse in localized patients or overall survival in metastatic patients. Conclusions: Loss of dystrophin expression is a common event in LMS. Loss/low dystrophin expression is more frequent in grade 3 LMS compared to grade 2 and grade 1 LMS. Loss of dystrophin expression did not correlate with risk of relapse or overall survival in our series. Additional genetic evaluations to study DMD in LMS are underway.

Aeroponics Root Chamber Temperature Conditioning Design for Smart Mini-Tuber Potato Seed Cultivation

The aeroponic plant root environment has a significant role in producing high-quality seed tuber potatoes. However, in lowland and tropical regions, the aeroponic system cannot yield high-quality potato seed because the average environment temperature year-round is high. In a high-temperature environment, the potato plant roots cannot optimally absorb the nutrient solution for healthy plant growth. This paper presents the method used to maintain the aeroponics root chamber temperature conditions. An air conditioning system was adopted to supply air with the optimal temperature range for mini-tuber potato seed cultivation. The vapor compression refrigeration type was applied in the air conditioning system. The root chamber temperature is controlled and monitored using an Arduino Uno board system. The mini-tuber potato seed cultivation field experiment results show the proposed method can maintain the aeroponic root chamber temperature. The root chamber temperature treatment operated in the 10 °C–20 °C range. This temperature range improved the potato seed tuber yield. The potato seed tuber yield potential is observed from the stolon number produced by the mini-tuber potato plants cultivated in the root chamber with the conditioned temperature. The field experiment reveals that the stolon number produced by potato seeds cultivated in the root chamber with conditioned temperature was up to 77% greater than the number of potato seeds cultivated in the root chamber with the unconditioned temperature.

Solving e-learning adoption intention puzzles among private universities in Nigeria: an empirical approach

PurposeE-learning system has been widely acknowledged to have positive impacts on the learning process. Nevertheless, the intention to use it is globally low, thereby constituting puzzles to be solved. This study aims to proffer some insights to solve the puzzles.Design/methodology/approachThe data of the study were collected through an online survey among 425 students of four private universities using interactive electronic board systems. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe significant results of the study reveal that system quality, information quality and teaching materials significantly influenced perceived usefulness. Technology innovativeness and information quality also significantly influenced perceived ease of use. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use equally influenced e-learning intention.Originality/valueThis research is one of the few studies that conceptualize a framework to study intention to use e-learning generally, and interactive electronic board in particular among four private universities using technology innovativeness, system quality, information quality, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and teaching materials.

Digital cynical romanticism: Japan’s 2channel and the precursors to online extremist cultures

In the West, the concern surrounding the rise of online harassment, trolling and other malicious and antisocial behaviors tend to be hyper focused on websites like 4chan, 8chan and reddit. However, the rise of online hate culture that laid the groundwork for movements like Gamergate and the alt right has a precedent in Japan – specifically, the culture that was borne out of the 2channel text board, which was the inspiration for the American 4chan. As society decayed around many Japanese in the 1990s (an economic recession, terrorist attacks, earthquakes, to name a few events), the Internet came to prominence in the form of Bulletin Board Systems. Despite its lasting impact and influence on digital culture more globally, it is understudied and ignored in larger discussions around trolling, harassment, and online hate. Using a case study of the anti-Korean manga Kenkanryu and through the lens of Cynical Romanticism, this essay examines the ways that 2channel and the netto uyoku (the Japanese extreme far right) created a digital subculture that has had a lasting impact on global online hate. Though the netto uyoku never achieved significant successes in terms of actual societal and political change, what they did leave behind is a blueprint for online reactionaries.

Board Diversity and Earnings Quality of Listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

Instability due to frequent threats of financial distress has been a major problem facing deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria. Efforts by the Nigerian government in the past to address this problem seem to have yielded little results as recent developments of instability in the banking industry indicate. In making such efforts, not much attention has been directed to the area of deceptive earnings reporting, and how board diversity can help checkmate such practices to enhance the quality of earnings reports which is essential in detecting in time financial distress warnings and identifying the necessary steps required to arrest the distress. In view of this, the study investigated the issue of board diversity as it affects the earnings quality of 13 out of 14 listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. The board diversity variables studied include board independence, block-shareholding, gender, age, expertise in accounting and finance, and board diversity combined index (representing the joint effect of the board diversity attributes on earnings quality). Earnings quality was measured from the accruals quality perspective using loan loss provision accruals quality. The study adopted fixed effect regression, employing two models to achieve the research objectives. It was found that Board Diversity Index had negative and significant effect on the discretionary loan loss provision of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Hence, the study concluded that the joint effect of the board diversity attributes improves the earnings quality of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. The study recommended that the regulatory authority for the DMBs should ensure that appointment of board members aligns with corporate governance code demands on board diversity best practices, as this holds the potential of optimizing the joint effect of the board diversity attributes on earnings quality in a typical unitary board system setting as obtains in Nigeria.

WOMEN IN A DUAL BOARD SYSTEM AND DIVIDEND POLICY

We investigate whether firms with the presence of female on its board of commissioners and board of directors are associated with higher dividend policy. This paper uses Indonesian setting as a country with a dual board system implying that the role of board of commissioners and board of directors is explicitly separated. Using panel data on 525 publicly listed firms in Indonesia between 2011 and 2018, we find that the women's presence has different impacts on the dividend policy depending on their role as an executive or non-executive on the board. Female directors are negatively associated with cash dividend payments, while female commissioners positively impact dividend payment in the case of family-controlled firms only. Our results contribute to the literature on board gender diversity by showing different roles and behavior of boards in each tier in the corporate dividend policy, thus providing insights on corporate governance in a two-tiered board system in developing countries.

Reference Power Supply Connection Scheme for Low-Power CMOS Image Sensors Based on Incremental Sigma-Delta Converters

Modern Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors, aimed to target low-noise and fast digital outputs, are fundamentally based on column-parallel structures, jointly designed with oversampling column converters. The typical choice for the employed column converters is the incremental sigma-delta structures, which intrinsically perform the correlated multiple sampling, creating an averaging effect over the system thermal noise when used in conjunction with 4T-pinned pixels. However, these types of column converters are known to be power-hungry, especially if the imaging device needs to target high frame rate levels as well. In this sense, the aim of this paper was to address the excess of power dissipation problem that arises from image sensors while employing oversampling high-order incremental converters, by means of using a different connection scheme to supply and to drive the required reference signals across the image sensor on-chip column converters. The proposed connection scheme revealed to be fully functional with no unwanted artifacts in the imager output response, allowing it to avoid 20% to 50% of the power dissipation, relative to the classical on-chip references generation and driving method. Furthermore, this solution allows for a much less complicated and less crowded printed circuit board (PCB) system.