ABSTRACT
We investigate how the mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by publicly listed firms in the European Union affects peer private firms. We find that ...private firms’ capital investment decreases significantly after the IFRS mandate, relative to public firms. Private firms also display decreased investment when benchmarked against firms relatively insulated from the impact of the IFRS mandate, but the magnitude of the effect is smaller in this case. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that mandatory IFRS reporting (combined with other reforms), while increasing public firms’ financing and investment, crowds out funding for private firms. The effect is more pronounced for larger private firms and in industries where public peers have greater external financing needs. Our evidence suggests that financial reporting regulations cause shifts in resource allocation in an economy.
Under the condition of partial shadow ,the power-voltage (P-V) characteristic curve of photovoltaic array presents multiple peaks.In the multi-peak case, the conventional maximum power point tracking ...(MPPT) algorithm is prone to fall into local optimal solution,which affects the solar energy conversion efficiency.This paper presents an MPPT algorithm based on fuzzy control with load voltage scan.At first ,the voltage scanning method is used to quickly reach the maximum power point, and then the fuzzy control algorithm is used to stabilize the maximum power point.The algorithm improves the convergence speed of MPPT under multi-peak condition, which can solve the problem of voltage spike produced on the switch tube durng the particle switching. The feasibility and practicability of the algori thm are verbed by Matlab simulation and hardware experiments.
Heat shock transcription factorA2 (HsfA2) is a key regulator in response to heat stress in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), and its heat shock (HS)-induced transcription regulation has been ...extensively studied. Recently, alternative splicing, a critical posttranscriptional event, has been shown to regulate HS-inducible expression of HsfA2; however, the molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate a new heat stress-induced splice variant, HsfA2-III, is involved in the self-regulation of HsfA2 transcription in Arabidopsis. HsfA2-III is generated through a cryptic 5' splice site in the intron, which is activated by severe heat (42°C-45°C). We confirmed that HsfA2-III encodes a small truncated HsfA2 isoform (S-HsfA2) by an immunoblot assay with anti-S-HsfA2 antiserum. S-HsfA2 has an extra leucine-rich motif next to its carboxyl-terminal truncated DNA-binding domain. The biological significance of S-HsfA2 was further demonstrated by its nuclear localization and heat shock element (HSE)-binding ability. In yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), the leucine-rich motif can inhibit the transcriptional activation activity of S-HsfA2, while it appears not to be required for the truncated DNA-binding domain-mediated binding ability of S-HsfA2-HSE. Further results reveal that S-HsfA2 could bind to the TATA box-proximal clusters of HSE in the HsfA2 promoter to activate its own transcription. This S-HsfA2-modulated HsfA2 transcription is not mediated through homodimer or heterodimer formation with HsfA1d or HsfA1e, which are known transcriptional activators of HsfA2. Altogether, our findings provide new insights into how HS posttranscriptionally regulates HsfA2 expression. Severe HS-induced alternative splicing also occurs in four other HS-inducible Arabidopsis Hsf genes, suggesting that it is a common feature among Arabidopsis Hsfs.
Walnut green husks (WGHs), by-products of walnut production, are believed to possess antimicrobial properties, making them a potential alternative to antibiotics. In this study, the antibacterial ...activities of three extracts, derived from WGH, against
,
, and
were investigated, and the antibacterial mechanisms of an anhydrous ethanol extract of WGH (WGHa) were examined. The results showed that WGHa exhibited inhibitory effects on all tested bacteria. The ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the major active compounds present in WGHa were terpenoids, phenols, and flavonoids. Treatment with WGHa resulted in the leakage of intracellular ions and alkaline phosphatase; a reduction in intracellular ATP content, ATPase activity, and nucleic acid content; as well as cellular metabolic viability. The transmission electron microscopy images showed varying degrees of cell deformation and membrane damage following WGHa treatment. The transcriptome sequencing and differentially expressed gene enrichment analyses revealed an up-regulation in pathways associated with RNA degradation, translation, protein export, and oxidative phosphorylation. Conversely, pathways involved in cell movement and localization, as well as cell wall organization and carbohydrate transport, were found to be down-regulated. These findings suggest that WGHa alters cell membrane permeability and causes damage to the cell wall. Additionally, WGHa interferes with cellular energy metabolism, compromises RNA integrity, and induces DNA replication stress, consequently inhibiting the normal growth and proliferation of bacteria. These findings unveiled the antimicrobial mechanisms of WGHa, highlighting its potential application as an antibiotic alternative.
In this study, 14 structurally novel gefitinib-1,2,3-triazole derivatives were synthesized using a click chemistry approach and characterized by
H NMR,
C NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry ...(HRMS). Preliminary cell counting kit-8 results showed that most of the compounds exhibit excellent antitumor activity against epidermal growth factor receptor wild-type lung cancer cells NCI-H1299, A549 and NCI-H1437. Among them,
and
showed the most prominent inhibitory effects. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC
) values of
were 4.42 ± 0.24 μM (NCI-H1299), 3.94 ± 0.01 μM (A549) and 1.56 ± 0.06 μM (NCI-1437). The IC
values of
were 4.60 ± 0.18 µM (NCI-H1299), 4.00 ± 0.08 μM (A549) and 3.51 ± 0.05 μM (NCI-H1437). Furthermore, our results showed that
and
could effectively inhibit proliferation, colony formation and cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner, as well as induce apoptosis in H1299 cells. In addition,
and
exerted its anti-tumor effects by inducing cell apoptosis, upregulating the expression of cleaved-caspase 3 and cleaved-PARP and downregulating the protein levels of Bcl-2. Based on these results, it is suggested that
and
be developed as potential new drugs for lung cancer treatment.
•Three cardanol-based polyols were synthesized by thiol-ene.•A series of cardanol-based polyurethane was prepared.•C15 side chain and benzene ring of cardanol was included in polyurethane main ...chain.•Particular focus was placed on the effect of polyol structure on properties of polyurethane film.•The cardanol-based polyurethane has good thermal and water-resistance properties.
Industrial-grade cardanol and 2-mercaptoethanol were reacted to generate hydroxyl-functionalized cardanol by UV, free-radical-initiated thiol-ene coupling between the double bond moieties of the cardanol long carbon side chain and thiol functional groups. The average hydroxyl number of the hydroxyl-functionalized cardanol was controlled by reaction time, with the hydroxyl values of this ranging within 168–201mg KOH g−1. This cardanol was then used as a polyol to prepare cardanol-based polyurethane with hexamethylene diisocyanate and a NCO/OH ratio of 1. To compare the effect of cardanol-based polyols with the properties of cardanol-based polyurethane, cardanol modified with 10-undecylenate was used as a raw material to prepare cardanol-based polyols, including the long carbon chain of 10-undecylenate. All properties were examined, and data revealed that cardanol-based polyols including this long carbon chain can improve the hydrophobic and mechanic properties of the cardanol-based polyurethane.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor （G-CSF） is an essential regulator of neutrophil trafficking and is highly expressed in multiple tumors. Myeloid derived suppressor cells （MDSCs） promote ...neoplastic progression through multiple mechanisms by immune suppression. Despite the findings of G-CSF function in colon cancer progression, the precise mechanism of G-CSF on MDSCs regulation and its blockade effects on tumor growth remains a worthy area of investigation. In this study we observed an overexpression of G-CSF in a mouse colitis-associated cancer （CAC） model, which was consistent with the accumulation of MDSCs in mouse colon tissues. Further in vitro studies demonstrated that G-CSF could promote MDSCs survival and activation through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） signaling pathway. Moreover, compared with isotype control, anti-G-CSF mAb treatment demonstrated reduced MDSC accumulation, which led to a marked decrease in neoplasm size and number in mice. Our results indicated that G-CSF is a critical regulating molecule in the migration, proliferation and function maintenance of MDSCs, which could be a potential therapeutic target for cancer.
We investigate the spacelike hypersurface $M^n$ with constant mean curvature (CMC) in a Lorentz Einstein manifold $L^{n+1}_1$, which is supposed to obey some appropriate curvature constraints. ...Applying a suitable Simons type formula jointly with the well known generalized maximum principle of Omori-Yau, we obtain some rigidity classification theorems and pinching theorems of hypersurfaces. KCI Citation Count: 0
Balanced symmetric and asymmetric divisions of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are crucial for brain development, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we report that mitotic ...kinesin KIF20A/MKLP2 interacts with RGS3 and plays a crucial role in controlling the division modes of NPCs during cortical neurogenesis. Knockdown of KIF20A in NPCs causes dislocation of RGS3 from the intercellular bridge (ICB), impairs the function of Ephrin-B-RGS cell fate signaling complex, and leads to a transition from proliferative to differentiative divisions. Germline and inducible knockout of KIF20A causes a loss of progenitor cells and neurons and results in thinner cortex and ventriculomegaly. Interestingly, loss of function of KIF20A induces early cell cycle exit and precocious neuronal differentiation without causing substantial cytokinesis defect or apoptosis. Our results identify a RGS-KIF20A axis in the regulation of cell division and suggest a potential link of the ICB to regulation of cell fate determination.
To reduce the environmental pollution from cement production and the damage to natural resources from aggregate mining in the concrete industry, a relatively new concrete, termed geopolymer recycled ...lump concrete (GRLC), which uses geopolymer as the binding material to replace traditional cement and uses large demolished concrete lumps (DCLs) to partly replace concrete, is prepared in this study. Cubic and cylindrical GRLC specimens containing fresh geopolymer concrete and DCLs were tested under axial compression with various parameters, including the compressive strength levels of both fresh geopolymer concrete and DCLs, and the replacement ratio of DCLs. The compressive behavior of the GRLC specimens was compared with traditional cement recycled lump concrete (CRLC) specimens, with test results showing that GRLC specimens possess higher compressive strength than CRLC specimens under the same experimental conditions, which is due to the strengthening effect that fresh geopolymer concrete has on the DCLs. From the scanning electron microscope pattern of the GRLC specimen, it is found that the geopolymer bonds well with the old mortar attached to DCLs. As the replacement ratio increases from 0% to 33%, the elastic modulus of GRLC increases by 5%-11% but Poisson's ratio remains almost constant (in the 0.16-0.17 range). Based on the measured strength and the predicted results, which coincide with one another well, a modified method for predicting the compressive strength of GRLC cubic and cylindrical specimens is proposed.
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