The nature and sources of international variation in formal institutions related to initial coin offerings:preliminary findings and a research agenda

As prior researchers have suggested,a firm’s success in an international market depends on how well its strategy fits the nonmarket environment,such as formal institutions.This paper examines the determinants of formal institutions around new areas of economic activities.Specifically,we propose a framework for understanding how the quality of formal institutions in promoting entrepreneurship drives the focus of such institutions concerning initial coin offering(ICO),which is emerging as a popular fundraising method.The paper uses inductive analysis to examine how nonmarket factors—such as a jurisdiction’s tax haven nature,regulators’perceptions of ICOs as threats to national or political interests,and trade and industry associations—might moderate the relationship between the quality of institutions and the focus of such institutions regarding ICOs.One of this study’s key findings is that an economy’s quality of entrepreneurship-related institutions,perceived threats to national/political interests,and tax haven nature lead to different policy orientations.Consequently,regulators assign different importance when promoting crypto-entrepreneurship and dealing with associated risks.Regulators focusing mainly on promoting crypto-ventures have taken measures to enrich the blockchain ecosystem and provided tax and non-tax incentives to attract such ventures.Regulators focusing mainly on dealing with crypto-venture risks rely on a regulatory sandbox and close regulatory monitoring of such ventures.

Seasoned Equity Offerings and " Herd Behavior " of Earnings Management

A model to explain the dynamic characters of earnings management was developed based on the interactionamong several firms’ disclosure policies. Under the condition of incomplete information, each firm’s earnings man-agement will be influenced by the earnings disclosure policies of other firms. It can lead to "herd behavior" of earningsmanagement. This paper studies the relationship between earnings manipulation and rights issue policy based on thedistribution of earnings after management. The results indicate that Chinese listed companies trend towards controllingROE in the narrow ranges just above 6% and 10% .Therefore, "herd behavior" exists in the earnings management.

Retailers Enliven Catalog Offerings Through Apps

New York Times reported on November 20 that when you browsed Anthropologie’s stores, you would feel as if you’re wandering through an artsy home, where there are sure to be closets full of eclectic outfits, bedrooms with bohemian quilts and kitchen tables with

Initial coin offerings(ICOs):Why do they succeed?

Recent literature has addressed initial coin offering(ICO)projects,which are an innovative form of venture financing through cryptocurrencies using blockchain technology.Many features of ICOs remain unexplored,leaving much room for additional research,including the success factors of ICO projects.We investigate the success of ICO projects,with our main purpose being to identify factors that influence a project’s outcome.Following a literature review,from which several potential variables were collected,we used a database comprising 428 ICO projects in the banking/financial sector to regress several econometric models.We confirmed the impacts of several variables and obtained particularly valuable results concerning project and campaign variables.We confirmed the importance of a well-structured and informative white-paper.The proximity to certain markets with high availability of financial and human capital is also an important determinant of the success of an ICO.We also confirm the strong dependency on cryptocurrency and the impact of cryptocurrency valuations on the success of a project.Furthermore,we confirm the importance of social media in ICO projects,as well as the importance of human capital characteristics.Our research contributes to the ICO literature by capturing most of the success factors previously identified and testing their impacts based on a large database.The current research contributes to the building of systems theory and signaling theory by adapting their frameworks to the ICO environment.Our results are also important for regulators,as ICOs are mainly unregulated and have vast future potential,and for investors,who can benefit from our analysis and use it in their due diligence.

Growth Enterprise Board Initial Public Offerings:Characteristics,Volatility and the Initial-day Performance

We use the Chinese initial public offering data from October 2009 to August 2010 to examine the newly-established growth enterprise board （GEB）. The results indicate that the GEB has been successful and is providing a viable channel for new small and medium-sized firms to raise external capital. Four variables, the volatility variable, the turnover ratio, the winning lottery ratio and the price-earnings ratio, are important factors driving the initial- day returns in the regression analysis. The implementation of the new trading-halts policy on the GEB is found to be effective in mitigating excessive speculation. Our analysis results could be used by policy-makers to gauge the effects of policy changes on the underpricing of the initial public offerings of the GEB.

Ten-year emission characteristics of atmospheric pollutants from incineration of sacrificial offerings in China

The incineration of sacrificial offerings is a significant widely practiced custom that is also a kind of neglected air pollution source in China.Our results showed that the emission factors of particulate matter,SO_(2),CO,NO_(x),and VOCs emitted from the incineration of sacrificial offerings with purification systems were reduced by 95%,19%,9%,82%,and 42%,respectively,compared with those without a purification system,revealing a significant effect of the flue gas purification system on reducing particulate matter and gaseous pollutants.The emission level of air pollutants from the incineration of sacrificial offerings remained stable before 2013 and then showed a remarkable decrease after the implementation of China′s Air Pollution Prevention Action Plan in 2013.The emissions of TSP(total suspended particulate),PM_(10),PM_(2.5),and NO_(x)in 2009 were 8222,6106,5656 and 15,878 ton,respectively,obviously higher than 3434,2551,2305 and 8579 ton in 2019.Such trend was affected by both the quantity of incineration and the installation rate of purification systems after the Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Crematory(GB 13801-2015)issued in China.Distinct spatial distribution of atmospheric pollutants from incineration of sacrificial offerings was found with higher in the east and south of China than the west and north of China,which is proportional to the regional economy and population.The maximum ground-level concentration typically occurred at 0.12-0.2 km from the pollution source,posing potential health risks to people entering and exiting funeral and burial sites and nearby residents.

EATING SOUTH KOREA A culinary journey through our neighbor's delectable offerings

Think of Korean food,and the first things thafll come to mind are probably kimchi,bibimbap,BBQ and fried chicken.Don't get us wrong,we're all for them.But that's not the only top-notch grub that can be found in South Korea.A trip to Seoul and the honeymoon des-tination Jeju Island reveals plenty of other,equally enticing culinary treats.

ST. REGIS SHANGHAI JINGAN Exquisite offerings at Socials Sunday Brunch

Every Sunday,Social at St.Regis Shanghai Jingan prepares a sumptuous feast made up of a lavish internati onal buffet and sign ature dishes in spired by the hotels six dining venues.Premium sushi and sashimi,roast Wagyu beet lamb chops and the signature dim sum will get your appetite going,and since drinks make the brun ch,there's free flow of Chand on,the signature St.Regis Bloody Mary and fresh juices.

EATING SOUTH KOREA A culinary journey through our neighbor’s delectable offerings

A Korean institution,fried chicken is crisp,juicy and,in some cases,so chili-drenched you’ll be at risk of hallucinating.Think of Korean food,and the first things that’ll come to mind are probably kimchi,bibimbap,BBQ and fried chicken.Don’t get us wrong,we’re all for them.But that’s not the only top-notch grub that can be found in South Korea.

PIKA PIKA Endearing offerings

Shopping malls here can surprise us.Some of our favorite restaurants lurk in the upper reaches of their fluores・cent confines.Food courts are often great places to chow down.And sometimes,we are treated to little tastes of originality.Such is the case with Pika Pika,yet another Spanish tapas spot to hit the Shanghai scene.Located downstairs from Salmos Lounge(venue of our Food and Drink Awards extravaganza)at the bottom of 1718 shopping mall,the restaurant has a big heart and simple,good・quality fare.

Information Security in the Cloud: Emerging Trends and Challenges

This article explores the evolution of cloud computing, its advantages over traditional on-premises infrastructure, and its impact on information security. The study presents a comprehensive literature review covering various cloud infrastructure offerings and security models. Additionally, it deeply analyzes real-life case studies illustrating successful cloud migrations and highlights common information security threats in current cloud computing. The article concludes by offering recommendations to businesses to protect themselves from cloud data breaches and providing insights into selecting a suitable cloud services provider from an information security perspective.

The osteoclastic activity in apical distal region of molar mesial roots affects orthodontic tooth movement and root resorption in rats

The utilization of optimal orthodontic force is crucial to prevent undesirable side effects and ensure efficient tooth movement during orthodontic treatment.However,the sensitivity of existing detection techniques is not sufficient,and the criteria for evaluating optimal force have not been yet established.Here,by employing 3D finite element analysis methodology,we found that the apical distal region(A-D region)of mesial roots is particularly sensitive to orthodontic force in rats.Tartrate-resistant acidic phosphatase(TRAP)-positive osteoclasts began accumulating in the A-D region under the force of 40 grams(g),leading to alveolar bone resorption and tooth movement.When the force reached 80 g,TRAP-positive osteoclasts started appearing on the root surface in the A-D region.Additionally,micro-computed tomography revealed a significant root resorption at 80 g.Notably,the A-D region was identified as a major contributor to whole root resorption.It was determined that 40 g is the minimum effective force for tooth movement with minimal side effects according to the analysis of tooth movement,inclination,and hyalinization.These findings suggest that the A-D region with its changes on the root surface is an important consideration and sensitive indicator when evaluating orthodontic forces for a rat model.Collectively,our investigations into this region would aid in offering valuable implications for preventing and minimizing root resorption during patients’orthodontic treatment.

Promoting public health through the 2024 Compendium of Physical Activities:Strategies for adults,older adults,and wheelchair users

Physical activity(PA)is fundamentally linked to public health,^(1)providing benefits including chronic disease prevention and treatment,^(2)mental health,^(3)musculoskeletal health,^(4)and healthy aging,^(5)along with socioeconomic advantages.^(6)These benefits highlight the importance of promoting PA for all populations.The recent publication of the Compendium of Physical Activities(Compendium)serves as a valuable resource,^(7)offering an updated and expanded guide for adults(ages 19-59)with tailored energy cost values for diverse populations.

Safety for all temperature zinc-ion batteries

Zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs)have emerged as a promising candidate in the grid scale energy storage,offering an alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries.However,as research and development efforts in this field progress,it becomes increasingly important to address potential hazards associated with flammable gases and electrolyte components.This future paper aims to raise awareness of safety issues that may be overlooked and underscore two primary temperature-induced hazards:long-term cycling H_(2) gas accu-mulation and flammable organic solvents.We evaluate various electrolytes aimed at minimizing gas pro-duction and improving high-temperature adaptability.Particularly,we emphasize the effectiveness of electrolyte modifications,especially co-solvent approach in addressing the above safety concerns and suggest pathways for formulating practical safe electrolytes.Notably,apart from examining the inherent electrochemical stability window(EsW)of the electrolyte,we urge consideration of side reaction prod-ucts on electrode interfaces and high temperatures as factors influencing a battery's EsW.

Single cell analysis unveils B cell-dominated immune subtypes in HNSCC for enhanced prognostic and therapeutic stratification

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)is characterized by high recurrence or distant metastases rate and the prognosis is challenging.There is mounting evidence that tumor-infiltrating B cells(TIL-Bs)have a crucial,synergistic role in tumor control.However,little is known about the role TIL-Bs play in immune microenvironment and the way TIL-Bs affect the outcome of immune checkpoint blockade.Using single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)data from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,the study identified distinct gene expression patterns in TIL-Bs.HNSCC samples were categorized into TIL-Bs inhibition and TIL-Bs activation groups using unsupervised clustering.This classification was further validated with TCGA HNSCC data,correlating with patient prognosis,immune cell infiltration,and response to immunotherapy.We found that the B cells activation group exhibited a better prognosis,higher immune cell infiltration,and distinct immune checkpoint levels,including elevated PD-L1.A prognostic model was also developed and validated,highlighting four genes as potential biomarkers for predicting survival outcomes in HNSCC patients.Overall,this study provides a foundational approach for B cells-based tumor classification in HNSCC,offering insights into targeted treatment and immunotherapy strategies.

Introduction to the Special Issue on Computational Intelligent Systems for Solving Complex Engineering Problems: Principles and Applications

Computational Intelligent(CI)systems represent a pivotal intersection of cutting-edge technologies and complex engineering challenges aimed at solving real-world problems.This comprehensive body of work delves into the realm of CI,which is designed to tackle intricate and multifaceted engineering problems through advanced computational techniques.The history of CI systems is a fascinating journey that spans several decades and has its roots in the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques.Through a wide array of practical examples and case studies,this special issue bridges the gap between theoretical concepts and practical implementation,shedding light on how CI systems can optimize processes,design solutions,and inform decisions in complex engineering landscapes.This compilation stands as an essential resource for both novice learners and seasoned practitioners,offering a holistic perspective on the potential of CI in reshaping the future of engineering problem-solving.

职场观察类综艺节目《令人心动的offer》第四季研究

当前,就业形势日益严峻,真实的职场生态引起了人们的关注,职场观察类综艺节目也因此得到高度关注。文章以职场观察类综艺节目《令人心动的offer》第四季为出发点,分析了该节目的热播原因,并梳理了节目中存在的问题,并为以后的发展提供了一些建议,希望为之后的职场观察类综艺节目提供借鉴。

Navigating the future of malaria control:Insights from India's pioneering malaria slide bank

We applaud the authors for their illuminating perspective on India's malaria slide bank(MSB),featured in the recent publication in your esteemed journal[1].The article provides a comprehensive overview of the establishment,challenges,and future potential of MSBs,offering valuable insights into the complexities and opportunities inherent in this critical asset for India's malaria elimination program.

Foreword

Motivated by the spirit ignited during the I Provincial Scientific Congress on Antarctica in the city of Ushuaia,in Tierra del Fuego,Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur Province,Argentina,convened in October 2022,we proudly introduce this special volume entitled“Past and present climatic change in Antarctica:geological proxies and biological processes”.What began as a collaborative effort emerging from that landmark event has blossomed into a collection of diverse works,each offering unique perspectives and analytical scales on climate change and the Antarctic environment.

Yinxu Museum Unveils Grandeur of the Shang Dynasty

ON the banks of the An-yang River and on the Yinxu archeological site in Anyang City,central China’s Henan Province,the grand new building of the Yinxu Museum stands imposingly.This magnificent building,designed in the shape of an ancient Chinese cooking vessel with two loop handles and four legs called ding,is the first national museum offering panoramic views of the civilization of the Shang Dynasty(around 1600-1046 B.C.).The museum,boasting numerous oracle bone inscriptions,has also become one of the new cultural landmarks in China.