We test if managerial preferences explain how firms hedge using hand-collected data on derivative portfolios in the oil and gas industry. How firms hedge involves choosing between linear contracts and put options, and deciding whether to finance these hedging positions with cash-on-hand or by selling call options. The likelihood of being a hedger increases with CEO age, and near-retirement CEOs pr

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The role of floral scent in facilitating reproductive isolation between closely related plants remains poorly understood. Yucca brevifolia and Yucca jaegeriana are pollinated by different moth species in allopatry, but in a narrow contact zone, pollinator–host specificity breaks down, resulting in hybridization between species. We explored the chemical basis for reproductive

Three-dimensional (3D), city models have been applied in a variety of fields. One of the main problems in 3D city model utilization, however, is the large volume of data. In this paper, a method is proposed to generalize the 3D building objects in 3D city models at different levels of detail, and to combine multiple Levels of Detail (LODs) for a progressive distribution and visualization of the ci

This study empirically analyzes whether gender diversity enhances boards of directors’ independence and efficiency. Using data from 3,876 public firms in 47 countries and controlling for a wide set of corporate governance mechanisms, we find that firms with more female directors have higher firm performance by market (Tobin’s Q) and accounting (return on assets) measures. The results also suggest

Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an abnormal CAG repeat expansion within exon 1 of the huntingtin gene HTT. While several genetic modifiers, distinct from the Huntington's disease locus itself, have been identified as being linked to the clinical expression and progression of Huntington's disease, the exact molecular mechanisms driving its pathogenic cascade and clini

This article focuses on how the Life Course Model Web site can help family members build on the strengths of individuals with spina bifida and address areas of difficulty. A developmental perspective is adopted, which maintains that the Life Course Model Web site is useful at all stages of development, with the information provided for families at one stage of development building on the informati

To achieve optimal virologic suppression for children undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART), adherence must be excellent. This is defined as taking more than 95% of their prescribed doses. To our knowledge, no study in Ethiopia has evaluated the level of treatment adherence at the beginning of the child's treatment. Our aim was therefore to evaluate caregiver-reported ART non-adherence among chi

Abstract is not available

The last years have been characterized by tremendous institutional change in the university sector induced by far-reaching Higher Education Reforms (e.g. Bologna). Building on loose-coupling theory, we hypothesize that smaller universities were better able to adapt to the Higher Education Reforms of the recent years, triggering a decline in the optimal size of universities in the reform period. Us

Impaired attentional flexibility is considered to be one of the core cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the mechanisms that underlie this impairment are contested. Progress in resolving this dispute has also been hindered by the fact that cognitive deficits in PD are heterogeneous; therefore, it is unclear whether attentional impairments are only present in a subgroup of pati

Background: Breast edema is reported as a common complaint after breast conserving surgery and radiotherapy (RT). Measurements of local water in skin and upper subeutis with tissue dielectric constant (TDC) technique have the potential to detect breast edema in patients after breast cancer treatment. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine development of edema in breast, axilla

Lymphedema is the accumulation of lymph fluid in the interstice with secondary tissue changes. The accumulated lymph stimulates adipose tissue deposition, and a marked adipose tissue hypertrophy can be seen in patients with chronic lymphedema. The basis for all lymphedema treatment is adequate compression therapy. However, if the lymphedema has started to transform into adipose tissue, conservativ

Mot lagens anda. Riksbanken tycks ha feltolkat sitt uppdrag. Riksbankslagen erbjuder flexibilitet, trots det håller Riksbanken fast vid 2-procentmålet till nästan vilket pris som helst. Dessutom bryter man mot lagens anda när man köper statsobligationer för mångmiljardbelopp, skriver Fredrik NG Andersson, Andreas Bergh och Anders Olshov.

Aim: Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in premature infants. By the time symptoms appear, it may already be too late to prevent a severe course, with bronchopulmonary dysplasia or mortality. We aimed to develop a rapid test of lung maturity for targeting surfactant supplementation. Methods: Concentrations of the most surface-active lung phospholipid di