Commercial Class Research Articles

Executive pay restrictions, political promotion, and firm efficiency: Evidence from China

Using the mandatory reform in executive pay restrictions within Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as a quasi-natural experiment, we investigate the effects of compensation incentives and political promotion on firm efficiency. Our difference-in-differences analyses reveal that firm efficiency significantly decreases following the reform, and political promotion can attenuate this negative association. Firm risk-taking is a potential mechanism underlying this observed phenomenon. The negative relationship and mitigation effect are more pronounced for central SOEs and commercial class II SOEs. Furthermore, these findings exhibit variations based on distinctive attributes in compensation structures, CEO characteristics, and political promotion ranks. Overall, our study underscores the complementary roles of explicit and implicit incentives within SOEs, providing a strong rationale for government regulation and reform of executive compensation.

The spatial heterogeneity of urban green space distribution and configuration in Lilongwe City, Malawi.

Urban green spaces provide several benefits related to the quality of urban life. The existence and spatial arrangement of these spaces within neighbourhoods and functional land uses have significant implications for the well-being of urban dwellers. Previous studies on green spaces in urban areas of Malawi have focused on a broader and macro-level perspective, offering insightful information on general trends in different cities. However, there is a significant research shortage in localised understanding, which requires carrying out micro-level assessments concentrating on land use zones and neighbourhoods within these cities. In this study, we used remote sensing data and landscape metrics to understand the distribution and configuration of urban green spaces in the city's neighbourhoods and functional land uses and their relationship with urban form. The study revealed that 20% of neighbourhoods fail to meet the WHO-recommended standard of 9 m2 of green space per person, with a predominant concentration of these undersupplied areas in high-density and quasi-residential zones. In addition, 56.2% of Lilongwe City's total green area was contained under functional land uses. Particularly, high-rise residential, medium-density residential, low-density residential, quasi-residential, high-rise flat area, commercial class, high-rise commercial, heavy industry, light industry, and government land use zones contained 17.3%, 12.0%, 22.2%, 12.0%, 4.1%, 6.4%, 6.1%, 5.0%, 1.6%, and 13.3% of the total green spaces in functional land uses, respectively. Importantly, this research found significant correlations between urban form metrics, namely building coverage, building density, building perimeter area ratio, road density, and the distribution and configuration of urban green spaces. This necessitates an integrated approach to urban planning and design, emphasising the importance of balancing development with green space preservation.

The Political Economy of Status Competition: Sumptuary Laws in Preindustrial Europe

Sumptuary laws that regulated clothing based on social status were an important part of the political economy of premodern states. We introduce a model that captures the notion that consumption by ordinary citizens poses a status threat to ruling elites. Our model predicts a non-monotonic effect of income—sumptuary legislation initially increases with income, but then falls as income increases further. The initial rise is more likely for states with less extractive institutions, whose ruling elites face a greater status threat from the rising commercial class. We test these predictions using a new dataset of country and city-level sumptuary laws.It is unfortunately an established fact that both men and womenfolk have, in utterly irresponsible manner, driven extravagance in dress and new styles to such shameful and wanton extremes that the different classes are barely to be known apart. —Nuremberg Ordnance of 1657, Quoted in Hunt (1996)

Nutritional and cooking quality of grains from different commercial classes of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.)

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is a crop of great socioeconomic importance in the Northeast region of Brazil, being a generator of employment and income for thousands of people and a source of proteins, minerals, diet fibers and bioactive compounds, which help in the prevention of various diseases. This work aimed to evaluate the nutritional and cooking quality of grains from different commercial classes of cowpea. Raw and cooked grains from 10 cowpea genotypes were evaluated. The proximate composition and total energy value (TEV) were determined, according to AOAC; iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) contents, by ICP-OES; phytic acid content by method 986.11 AOAC; and cooking quality, using an electric pressure cooker and Matsson cooker. The nutritional and cooking quality index (IQNC) was estimated, considering proteins, Fe, Zn, Se, and cooking quality as positive characteristics and the phytic acid content as a negative characteristic. Genotype means were grouped using the Scott-Knott test (p<0.05) and raw and cooked grains using Student's t test (p<0.05). There were significant differences between genotypes for all traits except for proteins and carbohydrates in raw grains. Cooking increased protein content in genotypes IT97KD-1042 and BRS Olhonegro, and Zn, in all genotypes, and reduced phytic acid by 10.43 to 30.64%. Cooking quality was greater than 52% for all genotypes. The cultivars BRS Tumucumaque, BRS Imponente and BRS Olhonegro, both belonging to the white commercial class, highlighted with the highest IQNC. These cultivars can be used in programs aimed at combating malnutrition and confirm the nutritional value of cowpea and the quality contribution it can provide when included in a balanced diet.

Opportunities to Breed Diverse Sweetpotato Varieties for California Organic Production

Sweetpotatoes are a major crop in California, ranking sixth in value among organic commodities in the state. In recent years, there has been growing consumer interest in diverse specialty varieties, particularly purple types and those associated with Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, some of which are currently imported into the state. In this study, we screened 45 diverse sweetpotato varieties and breeding lines under California organic conditions in a preliminary characterization of their agronomic performance. We then conducted culinary evaluations with a tasting panel of students primarily identifying as Asian/Asian American to determine the preference for each type in terms of flavor and culinary appeal. Our results indicated that major tradeoffs exist among existing germplasm, with no variety or line excelling across all agronomic and culinary traits. These results suggest that sweetpotato breeding could be an effective mechanism to combine superior agronomic traits of major commercial classes with the high culinary quality of diverse materials that are not adapted to California organic production. These results provide a strong justification for the value of sweetpotato breeding to ultimately promote a more profitable, sustainable, and just food system in the region.

In-flight vitrification of granitic aggregate: Characterization and performance of a scalable supplementary cementitious material

Using supplementary cementitious material (SCM) to replace clinker is the cheapest and most effective way to lower CO2 impact of concrete, but supply of conventional SCMs is not currently sufficient. Manufactured SCMs must scale to help meet demand. Traditional calcination approaches up to 1000 °C are only able to activate mineral groups like hydrous clays and zeolites that are not available in all markets. To manufacture SCM from even more abundant and widespread lithologies, a new in-flight vitrification technique was developed. Microspherical glassy SCM was made from archetypal granitic rock sourced from low-value construction aggregate. Vitrified granitic SCM has excellent pozzolanic reactivity compared to a well-known commercial Class F fly ash, as measured by strength activity index of mortar, R3 calorimetry, rapid alkali silica reactivity testing, and realistic concrete mix designs. Aggregate mines with silicate mineralogy are an overlooked feedstock resource for vitrified SCM manufacture with this new technique.

Response of commercial classes of wheat to contrasting irrigation regimes

A 3-year experiment was established in which four wheat classes were evaluated including soft, medium hard, hard and durum wheat with the objective to determine which class is more efficient in water use under reduced irrigation. The experiments were established during three growing seasons (2016–2018). The amount of water applied were: 26, 34 and 54 cm distributed in 2, 3 and 5 irrigations, respectively. Eighteen genotypes from each wheat class were evaluated in an alpha lattice design with three replicates. Phenological data, yield and yield components were analyzed. Yield in the two-irrigation regime ranged from 3974 to 5436, 4453 to 6909 under three and 6177 to 9107 kg ha−1 under five. Correlation analysis showed that with two irrigations there is a greater association of grain yield with thousand kernel weight (TKW), but under three and five irrigations, grain yield was associated to a greater degree with kernel number per unit area (KNO). When analyzing the grain yield, it was observed that under reduced irrigation (2 and 3 irrigations), bread wheats were superior to durum wheats regardless of the class. Under five irrigations, durum wheats showed the highest yield (8303 kg ha−1); however, they were only significantly superior (Tukey ≤ 0.05) to the hard wheats (7721 kg ha−1). In general, the tested wheats showed higher water efficiency (considered as water productivity) under reduced irrigation than under normal irrigation. The lowest losses in water productivity when going from two to five irrigations were observed in durum wheats (0.17 kg m−3) and the highest losses in the hard wheats (0.38 kg m−3).

Comparative analysis of aromatic and nutraceutical traits of six basils from Ocimum genus grown in floating raft culture

The purpose of the research was to analyze the aromatic and nutraceutical features of six accessions of basil representing important morphological and commercial classes. The six basil types were five varieties belonging to the Ocimun basilicum L. species (namely: thyrsiflora, Cinnamon, Dark Opal, Italiano Classico, Purple Ruffle) and O. × citriodorum Vis., all growing in an hydroponic floating raft system. Ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatographic (UHPLC) analysis coupled with high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry (HRMS) identified and quantified 13 phenolics. Although the significant differences observed among the different basil types, cichoric acid was found to be the most abundant phenolic (277.912 mg kg−1 fw). Anise and Purple Ruffle had the highest phenolics, with the latter showing the highest antioxidant activities (DPPH•, ABTS•+, and FRAP). Hierarchical cluster analysis of the aromatic compounds analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC/MS) identify the similarity of the aromatic profiles of the six basils. While Italiano Classico and Dark Opal were characterized by higher linalool content and Anise, Cinnamon, and Purple Ruffle by estragole, Lemon had a preponderant aroma profile of α-citral and β-citral.

Free cash flow productivity among Chinese listed companies: A comparative study of SOEs and non-SOEs

This paper investigates the free cash flow productivity of SOEs compared with non-SOEs and examines its possible determinants. We find that SOEs have slightly weak free cash flow productivity but significantly stronger than non-SOEs. Similar performance exists among commercial class I and II SOEs and public-benefit SOEs. Further analyses suggest that firm size, age, sales growth, ownership concentration, government subsidies, and industry monopoly factors cannot explain this phenomenon. The common driver for all types of SOEs to generate stronger free cash flows than non-SOEs is their stronger expense control capability.

Analysis of compositional differences between commercial rice grains by the study of the photoluminescence response

This paper presents the optical characterization of five commercial classes of rice: two classes of white rice, one fortified, one integral, and one parboiled. The differences between the line shapes of the photoluminescence spectra of rice grains and the contribution of its components, starch, fat, and ash, to the rice spectrum were discussed. The fat contributes to rice emission at wavelengths 676 nm and 715 nm, while the starch components contribute at low wavelengths with maxima at 552 and 591 nm. As for the ash, the photoluminescence spectra are of low intensity for all samples, with no significant incidence in the rice photoluminescence spectrum. However, the ashes of the fortified rice and parboiled rice show structures in the line shape at 744, 774, 842, and 881 nm, attributed to minerals not present in the other classes of rice. Additionally, we present these comparisons on absorption spectra in the infrared region; it was observed that there are differences between the white classes of rice and the classes of rice with husk; a high similarity between the absorption spectrum of rice and its starch was also observed, masking the contribution of fat and ash, thus validating the sensitivity of the photoluminescence technique.

Assessment of sweet cherry fruit quality according to the requirements of the modern market

Assessment of commercial properties of sweet cherry fruit determines the competitiveness of fresh fruit in the modern market. The selection of cultivars with the highest number of high-quality fruits to meet the preferences of all stakeholders is relevant. The purpose of this study was to substantiate the commercial indicators for assessing the quality of sweet cherry fruit of three ripening periods and to select the most competitive cultivars for sustainable supply of fresh fruit to the modern market. The methods used in the study were field, laboratory, and comparative. The commercial properties of 33 sweet cherry cultivars of early, middle, and late ripening were determined. The sweet cherry fruits of the cultivars under study were divided into two commercial classes according to fruit size and defects. The fruits were analysed for the following defects: cracked, scarred, and browned skin. The amount of non-standard sweet cherry fruit production for each cultivar was determined. For each ripening period of sweet cherry varieties, the average value of the volume of fruits of classes I-II and non-standard products was established. A general trend towards an increase in the amount of high-quality fruit raw materials for late-ripening cultivars was identified. The most valuable cultivars of early (Skazka and Zabuta), medium (Uliublenytsia Turovtseva and Temp) and late (Anons) ripening were identified, which provided the maximum number of class I fruits. The maximum production was determined in the Merchant (early ripening), Cordia (medium ripening) and Karina (late ripening) cultivars. The lowest volume of non-standard products was found in cultivars of different ripening periods – Skazka, Prostir, and Anons. The fruit classification into commercial classes can be used to evaluate the fruit of sweet cherry cultivars and determine the possibility of using them fresh, for long-term chilled storage and for various further processing methods

Synthesis of a Water-Soluble Tridentate (Dimethylamino)ethyl Cu(I)/Cu(II)-Ligand

AbstractCopper-catalyzed alkyne azide click chemistry (CuAAC) plays an important role in drug development and labeling of biological materials. Stabilizing ligands prevent Cu(I)-species from oxidation, increases the solubility of copper, and increases the acceleration of the catalyzed process. In this context, we report on the synthesis of a tris-amine tridentate Cu-ligand (TDETA), with terminal (dimethylamino)ethyl-substitution, which can be legally synthesized as a replacement of toxic nitrogen mustard HN3 as an intermediate and is a scalable alternative to the previously found amine ligand DTEA. The class II ligand TDETA exhibits excellent solubility properties in organic solvents and aqueous solutions, outcompetes the commercial class I ligands THPTA and TBTA for a broad range of azide and alkyne combinations using Cu(I)- and Cu(II)-species, and was shown to be recoverable in a yield of 80%.

Economic evaluation of solar PV electricity prosumption in Ghana

Residential and commercial facility users are looking for ways to reduce their energy bills; this has resulted in nano and micro solar energy production in the form of electricity prosumption in contemporary times. Several technical factors characterise rooftop solar projects informing the decision to go solar. Amongst these factors are the solar energy available from the PV system, self-consumption ratio and overall system efficiency. However, from the investor's viewpoint, the most critical factor is the economic viability of the proposed project. Since energy economics is vital to investors, the paper seeks to analyse the economics (financial feasibility and profitability) associated with different types of prosumers in Ghana's residential and commercial classes. The net present value, internal rate of return, profitability index, and discounted payback were the economic indicators used to appraise Ghana's financial feasibility and profitability of electricity prosumption. The study shows that electricity prosumption in Ghana is worth investing in. The best investment option in the residential and commercial classes is the prosumers with grid integration and without storage (type 2). In the residential tariff class, the best investment option is the prosumers, whose energy demands are between 301 kWh and 600 kWh.

A Proteomics Data Mining Strategy for the Identification of Quinoa Grain Proteins with Potential Immunonutritional Bioactivities.

Quinoa proteins are attracting global interest for their wide amino acid profile and as a promising source for the development of biomedical treatments, including those against immune-mediated diseases. However, information about the bioactivity of quinoa proteins is scarce. In this study, a quinoa grain proteome map obtained by label-free mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomics was investigated for the identification of quinoa grain proteins with potential immunonutritional bioactivities, including those related to cancer. After carefully examining the sequence similarities of the 1211 identified quinoa grain proteins against already described bioactive proteins from other plant organisms, 71, 48, and 3 of them were classified as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), oxidative stress induced peptides (OSIPs), and serine-type protease inhibitors (STPIs), respectively, suggesting their potential as immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer agents. In addition, data interpretation using Venn diagrams, heat maps, and scatterplots revealed proteome similarities and differences with respect to the AMPs, OSIPs, and STPIs, and the most relevant bioactive proteins in the predominant commercial quinoa grains (i.e., black, red, white (from Peru), and royal (white from Bolivia)). The presented proteomics data mining strategy allows easy screening for potentially relevant quinoa grain proteins and commercial classes for immunonutrition, as a basis for future bioactivity testing.

Teaching and Learning Geography in Selected Secondary Schools in Ondo Town, Nigeria

The act of teaching and learning Geography in selected secondary schools in Ondo Town, Nigeria was assessed using a well structured questionnaire that was administered to fifty (50) randomly selected Senior Secondary 2 and 3 students and twelve (12) Geography teachers in the study area. Data gathered were subjected to analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Version 16) to generate means, frequencies and percentages. The results revealed that 25% of the total number of teachers are first degree holder in geography education, 16.7% having second degree, 33.3% are degree holder in science but not in education, 8.3% are H.N.D holder and 16.7% are N.C.E holder. Furthermore, 2 out of the respondents had three years of teaching experience. Or less 6 out of the respondents 50%, that is half of the population had 10 years or less experience. Four teachers (33.3%) uses demonstration method while the remaining two uses assignment and 16.7% used model as teaching aid while 33.3% make use of charts. It was obvious that 9 out of 12 respondents assessed their students to have average performance in the subject geography while three respondents have students with very good performance in geography. The results also revealed that none of the students choose geography as a result of friends influence or as a result of parents forcing them to do it. 6% of the students said that they choose geography because they have no choice, 86% offered geography because of the future plan while 8% offer geography because of the fact that it is simple. It is discovered that six students out of 50 students are in commercial class which can as social science department while 44 students are in science class. The results of this study if properly harnessed could improve the act of teaching and learning Geography in Nigeria.

Nedozvoljena trgovina u kaznenom pravu

Trade, as a form of commodity-money relations, has a long history. It begins with the first forms of exchange of goods for money and other valuables. Given that the purpose of trade is the acquisition of profit based on the sale and purchase of goods and services, this activity undoubtedly enabled the commercial class of society to accumulate significant wealth. This is why merchants are considered to be among the wealthiest people in the society, from the beginning of the first states, up to the present day. However, trading often represents an 'ideal' way of acquiring illegal gains, which can rapidly increase if it is carried out over a long period of time. The suppression of various forms of illegal trade is carried out at the legal and institutional level. Hence, regulations in this field can be classified into basic ones (governing trading activities), criminal ones (specifying particular criminal offenses), and misdemeanor ones (prescribing penalties for legal entities and individuals). The legal peculiarity in regulating trade, including its legal forms, lies in the extensive catalog of different procedures. In the field of criminal law, there is an independent criminal offense of the same name with multiple forms. In our country, judicial practice is full of various cases in which the criminal ingenuity of the actors of illegal trade is especially manifested. The inspection authorities are the society's first line of defense against various forms of illicit trade. In the process of carrying out regular and extraordinary supervision, they observe and initiate investigation into the responsibility for offenses in the domain of illegal trade. In the field of criminal law, there is an independent criminal offense of the same name, which has several forms. Consequently, this paper gives an overview of the legal mechanisms for suppressing illegal trade in our country.

Caracterização molecular de acessos de feijão comum por meio de marcadores microssatélites

ABSTRACT The common bean, a legume of significant economic importance, is renowned for its extensive genetic variability. It is crucial to comprehend genetic diversity, analyze population structure, and understand relationships among commercial classes of accessions to facilitate genetic improvement. This study aimed to molecularly characterize 143 common bean accessions by employing 25 SSR molecular markers. The objectives were to estimate genetic diversity, analyze genetic structure, and cluster populations using the UPGMA and PCoA methods. A total of 105 alleles were amplified using microsatellite loci, and the observed heterozygosity was lower than expected across all loci, indicating inbreeding within the populations. Among the loci, 22 were highly informative, demonstrating their effectiveness and polymorphism in detecting genetic diversity. The genetic variability within the population was found to be the highest, while variation between populations was the lowest. The analysis of population structure revealed the presence of three populations with a notable rate of gene introgression. The UPGMA analysis categorized the accessions into 15 groups, but they did not form distinct clusters based on their geographic regions or gene pool. The first two principal coordinates accounted for 13.95% of the total variation among the accessions. The SSR markers employed effectively detected genetic variability among the common bean accessions, revealing that their genetic diversity was not correlated with their geographic distribution in this study.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Association and Enlightenment: Scottish Clubs and Societies, 1700-1830, ed. Marc C. Wallace and Jane Rendell

<i>Association and Enlightenment: Scottish Clubs and Societies, 1700-1830</i>, ed. Marc C. Wallace and Jane Rendell

Miniaturized cost-effective broadband spectrometer employing a deconvolution reconstruction algorithm for resolution enhancement.

We demonstrate a miniaturized broadband spectrometer employing a reconstruction algorithm for resolution enhancement. We use an opto-digital co-design approach, by firstly designing an optical system with certain residual aberrations and then correcting these aberrations with a digital algorithm. The proposed optical design provides an optical resolution less than 1.7 nm in the VIS-channel (400-790 nm) and less than 3.4 nm in the NIR-channel (760-1520 nm). Tolerance analysis results show that the components are within a commercial class, ensuring a cost-efficient design. We build the prototype with a size of 37x30x26 mm3 and demonstrate that by applying a restoration algorithm, the optical resolution can be further improved to less than 1.3 nm (VIS-channel) and less than 2.3 nm (NIR-channel).