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Encourage or inhibit: A study on the impact of corporate digital transformation on management’s tone manipulation of information disclosure
Digitalization is anticipated to substantially improve information transparency and enhance the capital market’s information environment. However, during the initial phase of digital transformation, companies face challenges in achieving high-quality information disclosure. This is because digital technology implementation and organizational adjustment are still at early stages. Concurrently, investors face difficulties in assessing the accuracy of disclosed information. This challenge provides management with the opportunity to overstate the benefits of digital transformation. This study investigates the impact of corporate digital transformation on management’s tone manipulation behavior, using a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2021. Findings indicate that corporate digital transformation significantly fosters management’s tone manipulation during its exploration phase. Media slant positively moderates this relationship. Further analysis supports the paper’s hypothesis: companies with weaker financial flexibility and lower risk information disclosure levels show a stronger positive correlation between digital transformation and tone manipulation. Concurrently, mechanism analysis reveals that management overconfidence partially mediates the relationship. This suggests that digital transformation increases managerial overconfidence, thereby promoting tone manipulation. The conclusion offers new insights into enhancing management discussion and analysis information disclosure quality from a corporate strategic transformation perspective. It serves as a valuable reference for accurately identifying misleading management signals.
The mediating role of behavioral systems in linking physical activity and anxiety symptoms in college students
Factors affecting prognosis in traumatic cerebral contusions: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Traumatic cerebral contusion (CC) is a severe type of injury among traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Individuals with traumatic CC typically exhibit rapid deterioration in their condition, leading to increased mortality rates. Despite this, there is a gap in evidence-based research. This study aims to identify the risk factors associated with adverse outcomes in patients with traumatic CC, with a particular focus on relevant biomarkers. Mortality will be the primary outcome, while the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score will be considered as a secondary outcome. Methods and analysis We intend to conduct a comprehensive search through multiple Chinese and English repositories, covering the duration from the establishment of these databases up to the current era, in order to pinpoint appropriate studies. Additionally, a manual search of the references within the included literature and other pertinent works will be undertaken. The primary endpoint of this study will be the survival status of patients with traumatic brain contusion. Meta-analysis will be executed using STATA 16.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX). Article selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. The assessment of bias risks will be conducted via the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool. Depending on the heterogeneity evaluation, either a fixed-effect model or a random-effects model will be applied. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be conducted as needed. The examination of publication bias will be carried out, and the quality of evidence for the primary outcomes will be graded. Trial registration number: CRD42023389456
Combined bio fortification of spinach plant through foliar spraying with iodine and selenium elements
Effect of drainage layers on water retention of potting media in containers
Excess water retention in the potting medium can be a significant problem for plants grown in containers due to the volume of saturated medium which forms above the drainage hole. Adding a layer of coarse material like gravel or sand at the bottom is a common practise among gardeners with the aim of improving drainage, but some researchers have argued that such layers will raise the saturated area and in fact increase water retention. Two different depths and four different materials of drainage layer were tested with three different potting media to determine the water retention in the container after saturating and draining freely. For loamless organic media, almost all types of drainage layer reduced overall water retention in the container compared to controls. For loam-based media, most drainage layers had no effect on the overall water retention. Two simple models were also used to estimate the water retention in the media alone, excluding the drainage layer itself. All drainage layers reduced water retention of loamless organic media, according to both models. There was disagreement between the two models applied to loam-based media, and further study is required to determine the most accurate. Both models showed that some drainage layers with smaller particle sizes reduced water retention in loam-based media, but disagreed on the effect of drainage layers with larger particle sizes. Overall, any drainage layer was likely to reduce water retention of any medium, and almost never increased it. Thicker drainage layers were more effective than thinner layers, with the most effective substrate depending on the potting media used. A 60 mm layer of coarse sand was the most universally-effective drainage layer with all potting media tested.
A deep learning based prediction model for effective elastic properties of porous materials
Impact of β-defensin 103 (DEFB103) copy number variation on bull sperm parameters and post-insemination uterine gene expression
Pregnancy rates for elite bulls used in artificial insemination (AI) can vary significantly and therefore the identification of molecular markers for fertility and targets to improve bull selection is important. β-defensin peptides have diverse regulatory roles in sperm function across multiple species but the role of copy number variation (CNV) on fertility parameters has not been previously evaluated. In this study, Holstein-Friesian bulls were screened based on reliable field fertility data to identify two groups (High and Low fertility (HF and LF, respectively)) of n = 10 bulls/group which were genotyped for β-defensin 103 (DEFB103) gene CNV by droplet digital PCR. Overall, low DEFB103 copy number (CN) was associated with increased sperm motility across all bulls (n = 20, p < 0.05). As genetic diversity of DEFB103 CN was only apparent in the LF group, three bulls per CNV class (low, intermediate and high CN) were chosen for more detailed comparative functional analysis. Sperm from low CN bulls exhibited higher binding to the oviductal epithelium, while high CN increased sperm membrane fluidity in vitro (p < 0.05). To investigate the functional effect of DEFB103 CNV on the uterine response in vivo, 18 heifers were inseminated with sperm from bulls with low, intermediate and high CN. Transcriptomic analysis on uterine tissue harvested 12 h post-insemination showed differential expression of 58 genes (FDR < 0.1) involved in sperm migration, immune signalling and chemotaxis. Although field fertility results from a complex number of interactive factors, these novel results suggest a contributory role for DEFB103 CN in both sperm function and the uterine response to bull sperm, thereby potentially contributing to pregnancy outcomes in cattle. Further analysis of the role of CNV in additional β-defensin genes in bull fertility is now warranted.
Discovery and characterization of a novel telomerase alternative splicing isoform that protects lung cancer cells from chemotherapy induced cell death
Abstract All cancer cells must adopt a telomere maintenance mechanism to achieve replicative immortality. Most human cancer cells utilize the enzyme telomerase to maintain telomeres. Alternative splicing of TERT regulates the amount and function of telomerase, however many alternative splicing isoforms of TERT have unknown functions. Single molecule long read RNA/cDNA sequencing of TERT revealed 45 TERT mRNA variants including 13 known and 32 novel variants. Among the variants, TERT Delta 2–4, which lacks exons 2–4 but retains the original open reading frame, was selected for further study. Induced pluripotent stem cells and cancer cells express higher levels of TERT Delta 2–4 compared to primary human bronchial epithelial cells. Overexpression of TERT Delta 2–4 enhanced clonogenicity and resistance to cisplatin-induced cell death. Knockdown of endogenous TERT Delta 2–4 in Calu-6 cells reduced clonogenicity and resistance to cisplatin. Our results suggest that TERT Delta 2–4 enhances cancer cells’ resistance to cell death. RNA sequencing following knockdown of Delta 2–4 TERT indicates that translation is downregulated and that mitochondrial related proteins are upregulated compared to controls. Overall, our data indicate that TERT produces many isoforms that influence the function of TERT and the abundance and activity of telomerase.
Fetal genetic factors in pregnancy loss: Insights from a meta-analysis and effectiveness of whole exome sequencing
Spontaneous pregnancy loss commonly occurs during the first trimester and can be caused by various factors including chromosomal abnormalities and submicroscopic aberrations. After the first trimester, the etiology of most pregnancy losses remains undetermined. This study aims to fill this gap by an in-depth investigation of the fetal genome and its effect on pregnancy outcome. Data from 1016 spontaneously aborted fetuses previously referred for genetic testing (2017–2023) were used for meta-analysis. Fetuses were categorized based on gestational age and genetic test result. Additionally, 35 second-third trimester fetuses, that were spontaneously aborted, terminated or died neonatally, with abnormal ultrasounds and unrevealing routine genetic testing were collected. Trio-based whole-exome sequencing was performed for identification of fetal variants that may have caused the pregnancy loss. The meta-analysis revealed that 822 of 1016 fetuses (80.91%) were aborted during the first trimester, with 569 of 822 (69.22%) successfully diagnosed using conventional genetic testing. The remaining 194 fetuses (19.09%) were aborted during the second-third trimester. Of the 194 second-third trimester aborted fetuses, 163 (84.02%) lacked genetic diagnosis using conventional testing (karyotype and array-CGH). Aneuploidies were the leading cause of spontaneous pregnancy loss in both first and second-third trimester fetuses followed by polyploidies. Thus, the meta-analysis demonstrated that undiagnosed second-third trimester pregnancy losses are more likely to benefit from further genetic investigation. Application of whole exome sequencing on second-third trimester pregnancy losses, revealed causative variants in 6 of 33 families (18.18%), in genes linked to Mendelian disorders associated with the phenotypes of interest. Pathogenic findings were identified in two additional families in heterozygosity in genes following autosomal recessive inheritance. Accurate identification of variants in such genes creates new genotype-in utero phenotype associations, with the prospect of new additions in preconception/prenatal diagnostic panels. This study highlights the importance of whole exome sequencing in resolving undiagnosed pregnancy losses.
An improved A* algorithm for generating four-track trajectory planning to adapt to longitudinal rugged terrain
Evaluation of psychiatric conditions in asymptomatic outpatient clinic patients
Introduction A significant part of the internal medicine outpatient clinic burden consists of patients who are asymptomatic and intend to have routine check-up tests. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between visit frequency within a year and the undiagnosed anxiety, depressive mood or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Methods We included in our study 129 participants who applied for routine check-up tests to our hospital’s internal medicine outpatient clinic, without any complaint and known diseases. Individuals were divided into two groups: Group 1 comprised individuals who applied once a year, whereas Group 2 included those who applied more than once a year. Participants underwent routine blood testing, and their mental health was assessed with the Beck`s Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck`s Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Vancouver Obsessinal Compulsive Inventory (VOCI). Results 66% of the 129 participants included in the study were female (n = 85/44, p < 0.001). When laboratory parameters were examined, no significant difference was found except serum vitamin D levels (14.5/19.8 µg/L, p = 0.024, respectively). BDI and BAI scores were statistically significantly higher in Group 2 (10/14, p = 0.032, 11/13.5, p = 0.027, respectively). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of VOCI scores. Conclusion Asymptomatic patients who are visiting clinics for routine checkups constitute a significant part of the outpatient clinic workload. Assessing the mental health of patients who are attending frequently might be helpful in reducing this burden as well as in diagnosing and initiating treatment of undiagnosed underlying mental disorders. To ensure timely referrals of these patients to psychiatry, an adequate referral system and awareness of early signs of anxiety and depression among healthcare professionals are needed.
The role of RNA structural motifs in RNA-lipid raft interaction
Effects of pressure on the survival and viability of cancer cells in vitro: An analytical study
Intense cancer research is underway to discover possible therapies but no major breakthrough appears to be in sight in terms of its cure when diagnosed late. The cytostatic and growth inhibitory effect of high pressure on cells is well documented. In the present study, two cancer cell lines viz. MDA-MB-231 (breast carcinoma) and A549 (lung carcinoma) and one normal cell line (Vero) were subjected to increased pressure of 18 psi in a specially constructed pressure chamber. It was found that a pressure of 18 psi induced a significant change in the growth parameters of both cancer cell lines versus normal cells. Exposure to increased pressure greatly increased the proportion of MDA-MB-231 cells in the S phase while concurrently reducing the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase as compared to their untreated counterparts. SEM and AFM analysis revealed presence of characteristic ‘pores’ and ‘pits’ on the cell surface of pressure-treated versus untreated cancer cells. TEM analysis also revealed significant intracellular differences between pressure-treated and untreated cancer cells. Hyperbaric nitrogen therapy is proposed as a novel cancer-treatment modality involving administration of N2 at the tumor site in murine models of breast and lung cancer. This would eventually pave the way for development of a device effective treatment strategy for human tumors in future.
Mechanism of calcitonin gene related peptide against acute pancreatitis in rats by modulating amino acid metabolism based on metabonomics
Astragalus polyphenols attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by activating the PI3K/AKT/NRF2 pathway
Background Doxorubicin (DOX) is a powerful chemotherapeutic agent commonly employed in cancer treatment. However, its clinical utility is constrained by dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, which can result in heart failure and sudden cardiac death. The molecular mechanisms of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the activation of cell death pathways, including ferroptosis. There is an urgent need for effective therapeutic strategies to mitigate DIC. Methods This study investigates the cardioprotective effects of Astragalus Polyphenols (ASP), a bioactive compound extracted from Astragalus membranaceus. In the context of DIC, we utilized AC16 and H9C2 cardiomyocytes to establish a DIC model and assessed the effects of ASP on cell viability, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and the PI3K/AKT/NRF2 signaling pathway. The expression of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), markers of cardiac injury, was also evaluated. Results ASP treatment significantly reversed DOX-induced reductions in cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) while also decreasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, ASP also downregulated the expression of ANP and BNP, indicating a protective effect on cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, ASP activated the PI3K/AKT/NRF2 pathway, which was suppressed by DOX. Inhibition of this pathway using LY294002 and ML385 abolishes the protective effects of ASP, suggesting that ASP mediates its effects through the PI3K/AKT/NRF2 signaling axis. Conclusion ASP exhibits a protective effect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by regulating the PI3K/AKT/NRF2 pathway to reduce oxidative stress and preserve mitochondrial function. These findings suggest that ASP may serve as a potential therapeutic agent to alleviate DIC. Our results provide a novel strategy to protect the heart in patients undergoing DOX chemotherapy.
Multi-material 3D printed composites inspired by nacre: a hard/soft mechanical interplay
Abstract Structural materials are used extensively in nature where mechanical function is required. These structures are composites consisting of soft and, in some cases, hard phases precisely distributed over different length scales. Bio-inspiration aims at producing materials with structure, design and/or mechanical properties adopted from biological tissues. To reproduce complex structures found in nature, additive manufacturing (AM) using three-dimensional printing (3DP) is an attractive method to assemble complex topologies with resolutions approaching the micro and nano-composition. Specifically, high-resolution MultiJetPrinting (MJP) 3D printing allows the simultaneous deposition of soft and hard photo curable plastic resins. Nacre is a prevalent example of a complex biological composite material organization that can test the ability of MJP to manufacture a bio-inspired engineering structure, where the organization of materials in nacre is optimized to avoid catastrophic failure. The ability to generate complex 3D organizations required to mimic the structure of nacre by controlled organization of soft and hard materials is achieved here using a generative design approach. Such a generative design is further enhanced by incorporating two differing MJP directions that provide relatively strong and weak interfaces between the soft and hard material phases. Consideration of classical stress transfer theory between at a hard material reinforcement interface was shown to correlate with experimental observations of mechanical performance and failure in 3D printed nacre inspired composites. Thus, the ability to distribute materials with a range of mechanical properties and incorporate further interfacial design is demonstrated. The approach presented is flexible and allows complex bio-inspired composites to be 3D printed that incorporate different interfacial quality through changing printing direction.
Influence of new qualitative productivity forces on quality-effective change in China’s Yangtze river economic belt sports industry: The mediating effect of industry–University–Research Cooperation
Due to the lack of empirical research on the influence of new qualitative productivity forces on quality-effective change in the sports industry, entropy-weighted threshold-based estimation (TOPSIS) is used based on panel data for 11 provinces and cities in China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2016–2022. The results are used to measure the levels of new qualitative productivity forces and quality-effective change in the sports industry and to analyze the relationships among these factors and industry–university–research cooperation through a bidirectional fixed effects model and a mediating effects model. The study reveals that new qualitative productivity forces have a significant positive effect on quality-effective change in the sports industry that is heterogeneous by region. Industry–university–research cooperation plays a partially intermediary role in promoting quality-effective change in the sports industry through new qualitative productivity forces. In this context, we propose the following measures: focus on cultivating new-quality industries and strengthening their application in the sports industry, emphasize the intermediary effect of industry–university–research cooperation to promote quality-effective change in the sports industry, formulate strategies according to local conditions, and focus on the development of new qualitative productivity forces in sports.
Light-induced negative differential resistance and neural oscillations in neuromorphic photonic semiconductor micropillar sensory neurons
Consumption of protect and risk food groups for non-communicable diseases among women of reproductive age in rural areas of Morogoro, Tanzania
Malnutrition has been persistently high in Tanzania, especially in the rural areas. Although some interventions have been implemented to reduce the rate of undernutrition, improvement is much slower than expected. Moreover, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age has been on the increase. Changes in lifestyles specifically in eating habits may contribute to the observed increase trend in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. However, there are limited studies that have assessed diet quality for women. Hence, this study aimed to assess the consumption of protective and risk food groups for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in rural areas of the Morogoro region, Tanzania. The cross-sectional study involved 512 randomly selected women of reproductive age in Mvomero district. All mothers or caretakers with children of age 6–23 months who resided in the area for over three months were eligible to participate. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and the Global Diet Quality Questionnaire was used to collect dietary intake data for women. A multivariate regression model was used to identify factors associated with consumption of diversified diets, NCD-protect, and NCD-risk food group scores. The results show that about 42% of the women had no formal education and about one in three women own a mobile phone. About 70% consumed vegetables while 33% consumed deep fried foods. Only 34% of the women met the minimum diet diversity (MDD-W) of five or more food groups. The mean NCD-protect score was 2.8 ± 1.4 and the NCD-risk score was 0.77 ± 0.97. Household income was positively associated with an increase in both protect scores and NCD-risk. Mobile phone ownership was positively associated with NCD-risk. Other factors such as age and self-employment in agriculture were positively associated NCD-protect while the number of children was negatively associated with NCD-protect score. Rural communities should be educated on the importance of food diversification starting from production to consumption and the need for multiple sources of income to increase purchasing power of the household while considering proper food choices to avoid the risk of NCDs. The Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders should support and promote production of bio-fortified crops and keeping small animals. The Ministry of Education should ensure that school children are aware of the NCD-risk foods and make available healthier food choices around the school environment.