This article studies whether the volume and composition of capital flows affect the degree of credit crunch during the 2007—2009 crisis. Using data on 3,823 firms in 24 emerging countries, we find ...that, on average, the decline in stock prices was more severe for firms that are intrinsically more dependent on external finance for working capital. Interestingly, while the volume of capital flows per se has no significant effect, the composition matters a lot. In particular, greater dependence on non-FDI capital inflows before the crisis worsens the credit crunch during the crisis, while exposure to FDI alleviates the liquidity constraint.
Talc pleurodesis has been widely used to control malignant pleural effusion; however, it is still not clear whether talc pleurodesis is more effective than other local therapies. We performed a ...meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of talc pleurodesis in the management of malignant pleural effusion.
PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for English-language studies of clinical controlled trials comparing talc pleurodesis with control therapies until August 8, 2013. Success rate and incidence of adverse events were evaluated. Relative risks were estimated using random- or fixed- effects model and statistical heterogeneity was assessed using I² test.
Twenty trials involving 1,525 patients with malignant pleural effusion were included. The success rate of talc pleurodesis was significantly higher than that of control therapies (relative risk, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.45; p = 0.035) with similar adverse events. In addition, thoracoscopic talc poudrage was more effective than bedside talc slurry (relative risk, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.23; p = 0.026).
The current evidences suggested the benefit for talc pleurodesis in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion. Talc pleurodesis, especially thoracoscopic talc poudrage pleurodesis, should be performed in patients with malignant pleural effusion, especially those with life-expectancy longer than one month.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Procyanidins (PCs), which are organic antioxidants, suppress oxidative stress, exhibit anti-apoptotic properties, and chelate metal ions. The potential defense mechanism of PCs against cerebral ...ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) was investigated in this study. Pre-administration for 7 days of a PC enhanced nerve function and decreased cerebellar infarct volume in a mouse middle cerebral artery embolization paradigm. In addition, mitochondrial ferroptosis was enhanced, exhibited by mitochondrial shrinkage and roundness, increased membrane density, and reduced or absent ridges. The level of Fe
and lipid peroxidation that cause ferroptosis was significantly reduced by PC administration. According to the Western blot findings, PCs altered the expression of proteins associated with ferroptosis, promoting the expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11 while reducing the expression of TFR1, hence inhibiting ferroptosis. Moreover, the treatment of PCs markedly elevated the expression of HO-1 and Nuclear-Nrf2. The PCs' ability to prevent ferroptosis due to CIRI was decreased by the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385. Our findings showed that the protective effect of PCs may be achieved via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis. This study provides a new perspective on the treatment of CIRI with PCs.
While the multi effect distillation desalination industry has made definite strides in terms of improving efficiency, the potential of low-grade heat sources and renewable energies remains ...overlooked. Although the basic principle remains the same, the nature of sensible heat sources requires different optimisation approaches than conventional steam driven systems. We hold that the conventional performance measure is incongruent with such applications and posit a new benchmark. We demonstrate this with the optimisation of multi effect distillation systems, so that freshwater yield can be improved by up to 40% for both conventional and advanced systems. This modus operandi significantly stretches the viability of multi effect distillation, and rejuvenates the potential of waste heat streams.
•We couple multi effect distillation systems with sensible low-grade heat sources.•Gain output ratio and performance ratio are incongruent with sensible heat sources.•We posit a novel waste heat performance ratio (PRWH).•Using PRWH raises freshwater yield by 40% for multi effect distillation systems.
Li-rich Mn-based cathode materials are regarded as promising cathode materials for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their high electrochemical capacity and low cost. However, residual Li compounds on ...the surface and dissolution of metal ions cause severe degradation of the electrochemical performance, thereby hindering their practical applications. Li4V2Mn(PO4)4 is a composite cathode material with three-dimensional Li-ion diffusion channels and a stable structure at high operating voltages (>4.5 V). Herein, we modify the surface of LiLi0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 with Li4V2Mn(PO4)4. The Li4V2Mn(PO4)4 coating layer can not only reduce the content of residual Li compounds on the surface but also restrain the dissolution of transition metals. Theoretical calculations illustrate that Li4V2Mn(PO4)4 reduces the Li-ion diffusion energy barrier and provides efficient diffusion pathways. LiLi0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2@Li4V2Mn(PO4)4 compounds deliver a discharge capacity of 300 mAh g−1 with a high initial coulombic efficiency (84.2%) and an excellent cycling stability (capacity retention of 78.1% after 200 cycles at 1C). Hence, the proposed modification strategy of phosphate-based materials could shed light on the structural design of surface-sensitive electrode materials for LIBs.
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•Li4V2Mn(PO4)4 reduces the Li ions diffusion energy barrier to facilitate Li ions transport.•Li4V2Mn(PO4)4 reduces the content of LiOH and Li2CO3 residues on the surface of LiLi0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2.•Li4V2Mn(PO4)4 layer prevents the cathode material from HF attack and restrains transition metal dissolution during cycling.
Two novel red thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters triazatruxene (TAT)–dibenzoa,cphenazine (DBPZ) and TAT–fluorine-substituted dibenzoa,cphenazine (FDBPZ) were developed by ...incorporating TAT as the electron donor (D) and DBPZ or FDBPZ as the electron acceptor (A). Both compounds showed aggregation-induced emission behaviors and bright red emission in neat films. Benefited from the rigid and large planar conjugated structure of TAT and DBPZ, TAT–DBPZ and TAT–FDBPZ realized high photoluminescence quantum yields in solid states. Meanwhile, the large steric hindrance between TAT and DBPZ segments produced small singlet–triplet energy splitting (ΔE ST), leading to short delayed fluorescence lifetimes and high reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) rate (>106 s–1) for both compounds. The solution-processable doped organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on TAT–DBPZ achieved a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 15.4% with a red emission peak at 604 nm, which was one of the highly efficient solution-processable red TADF OLEDs. TAT–FDBPZ-based doped devices also showed a red emission peak at 611 nm with a maximum EQE of 9.2% and low-efficiency roll-off ratios of 1.0% at 100 cd m–2 and 19% at 1000 cd m–2. Furthermore, their solution-processable nondoped devices displayed EQEs of 5.6 and 2.9% with the red-shifted emission peaks at 626 and 641 nm, respectively. These results indicate the huge potential of utilization of TAT as the donor unit to achieve highly efficient and low-efficiency roll-off solution-processable red TADF OLEDs.
Narcissistic CEOs and their earnings management Kontesa, Maria; Brahmana, Rayenda; Tong, Ashley Hui Hui
Journal of management and governance,
03/2021, Letnik:
25, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
This study investigates the role narcissism in corporate leadership has on the earnings management for a sample of 514 listed companies in Bursa Malaysia between year 2009 and 2015. Using the ...unobtrusive method and robust panel regression, we find that the narcissistic CEO has positive association with the earnings management. It means that a narcissistic CEO has a tendency to manage corporate earnings to fulfil their ego, which brings a new perspective to agency theory. For shareholders, the number of CEO photographs in the annual report may be an early warning sign of self-centric earnings management.
The recycling, development, and application of keratin-containing waste (e.g., hair, wool, feather, and so on) provide an important means to address related environmental pollution and energy ...shortage issues. The extraction of keratin and the development of keratin-based functional materials are key to solving keratin-containing waste pollution. Keratin-based biofilms are gaining substantial interest due to their excellent characteristics, such as good biocompatibility, high biodegradability, appropriate adsorption, and rich renewable sources, among others. At present, keratin-based biofilms are a good option for various applications, and the development of keratin-based biofilms from keratin-containing waste is considered crucial for sustainable development. In this paper, in order to achieve clean production while maintaining the functional characteristics of natural keratin as much as possible, four important keratin extraction methods—thermal hydrolysis, ultrasonic technology, eco-friendly solvent system, and microbial decomposition—are described, and the characteristics of these four extraction methods are analysed. Next, methods for the preparation of keratin-based biofilms are introduced, including solvent casting, electrospinning, template self-assembly, freeze-drying, and soft lithography methods. Then, the functional properties and application prospects of keratin-based biofilms are discussed. Finally, future research directions related to keratin-based biofilms are proposed. Overall, it can be concluded that the high-value conversion of keratin-containing waste into regenerated keratin-based biofilms has great importance for sustainable development and is highly suggested due to their great potential for use in biomedical materials, optoelectronic devices, and metal ion detection applications. It is hoped that this paper can provide some basic information for the development and application of keratin-based biofilms.
Imaging cells and microvasculature in the living brain is crucial to understanding an array of neurobiological phenomena. Here, we introduce a skull optical clearing window for imaging cortical ...structures at synaptic resolution. Combined with two-photon microscopy, this technique allowed us to repeatedly image neurons, microglia and microvasculature of mice. We applied it to study the plasticity of dendritic spines in critical periods and to visualize dendrites and microglia after laser ablation. Given its easy handling and safety, this method holds great promise for application in neuroscience research.
Purpose
Although some parameters of positron emission tomography with
18
F-fluorodeoxyglucose (
18
F-FDG) and computed tomography (PET-CT) are somehow helpful in differentiating malignant pleural ...effusion (MPE) from benign effusions, no individual parameter offers sufficient evidence for its implementation in the clinical practice. The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic accuracy of a scoring system based on PET-CT (the PET-CT score) in diagnosing MPE.
Methods
One prospective derivation cohort of patients with pleural effusions (84 malignant and 115 benign) was used to develop the PET-CT score for the differential diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. The PET-CT score was then validated in another independent prospective cohort (
n
= 74).
Results
The PET-CT parameters developed for discriminating MPE included unilateral lung nodules and/or masses with increased
18
F-FDG uptake (3 points); extrapulmonary malignancies (3 points); pleural thickening with increased
18
F-FDG uptake (2 points); multiple nodules or masses (uni- or bilateral lungs) with increased
18
F-FDG uptake (1 point); and increased pleural effusion
18
F-FDG uptake (1 point). With a cut-off value of 4 points in the derivation cohort, the area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of the PET-CT score to diagnose MPE were 0.949 (95% CI: 0.908–0.975), 83.3% (73.6%–90.6%), 92.2% (85.7%–96.4%), 10.7 (5.6–20.1), and 0.2 (0.1–0.3), respectively.
Conclusions
A simple-to-use PET-CT score that uses PET-CT parameters was developed and validated. The PET-CT score can help physicians to differentiate MPE from benign pleural effusions.
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