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As a kind of geophysical method, the principle of transient electromagnetic method (TEM) observes the secondary vortex field in the gap of the primary field, which is applied to the investigation of resources and environmental engineering survey. In order to realize the rapid and precise detection of the deep targets (due to its relative great detection depth and high accuracy), the short offset time-domain electromagnetic method (SOTEM) is proposed in this paper. In addition, its feasibility, observation and interpretation techniques are researched. The results show that SOTEM has the same near source detection capability as the central loop configuration when choosing the step waveform, and as a result, the primary and secondary fields can be separated theoretically. The application has shown the effectiveness and superiority of SOTEM in the deep target exploration.

This study investigates the role of formal and informal institutions in the credit ratings of foreign firms cross-listed in the U.S. listing market. The U.S. regulatory environment and national culture are employed to capture formal and informal institutions, respectively. To the extent these institutional influences could affect firms' default risks and agency costs, credit analysts are expected to adjust corporate ratings accordingly. First, I find that the credit ratings of cross-listed firms are significantly lower than those of comparable U.S.-domiciled firms. The evidence reflects that cross-listed firms do not face exactly the same regulatory stringencies as U.S. domestic firms, which may reduce the credibility of cross-listed firms. Credit analysts, therefore, may find the accounting information of cross-listed firms less informative or credible to formulate ratings. Thus, they perceive an increase in default risks and agency costs resulted from the information asymmetry between cross-listed firms and external stakeholders. Next, using Schwartz's two cultural dimensions (embeddedness and mastery) as proxies for culture, I document robust evidence of higher credit ratings of cross-listed firms domiciled in high-embeddedness or strong-mastery countries. This finding reveals that credit analysts recognize the cultural power in moderating the negative impacts induced by the SEC's lax enforcement on cross-listed firms. Specifically, it is consistent with cultural effects that influence managers' behaviours and decisions, and then restrain managers from investing in high default-risk projects. My study contributes to the credit rating and culture literature by showing that credit analysts consider both formal and informal institutional factors in firms' agency costs and default risks. This evidence further implies that cross-listed firms and U.S.-domiciled firms are not regulated on a level playing field in a one-size-fits-all legal environment in the eyes of credit analysts. However, culture helps moderate the different regulatory enforcements between cross-listed firms and U.S. firms.

BACKGROUND: Just as high‐risk populations for cardiac arrest exist in patients with Brugada syndrome or long QT syndrome, high‐risk and low‐risk populations for cardiac arrest also exist in patients with early repolarization pattern (ERP). HYPOTHESIS: Electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics can aid the risk stratification of patients with ERP. METHODS: Electrocardiographic parameters such as magnitude of J‐point elevation and J/R ratio were measured. The magnitude of J‐point elevation, leads with J points elevated, J/R ratio, morphology of the ST segment, and QT/QTc interval were used in comparative analysis in 2 groups: 57 patients with ERP and cardiac arrest (cardiac arrest group) and 100 patients with ERP but without cardiac arrest (control group). RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in clinical characteristics of the 2 groups. The J/R ratio in the cardiac arrest group was significantly higher than in the control group (26.8% ± 18.1% vs 16.3% ± 10.3%, respectively; P < 0.001) and the proportion of horizontal/descending ST segments (70.2%) was significantly higher than in the control group (29.0%), but the proportion of ascending/upsloping ST segments (29.8%) was significantly lower than in the control group (71.0%; P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that higher J/R ratio and horizontal/descending ST segment were independently associated with increased risk of cardiac arrest in patients with ERP. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ERP and cardiac arrest, J/R ratios were relatively higher and mostly with horizontal/descending ST segments, suggesting that J/R ratio and ST‐segment morphology may be used as indicators for risk stratification in patients with ERP.