When does Improvisational Capability Matter to International Entrepreneurship? The Contingent Role of Home-Based Network Ties and the Boundary Condition of Competitive Turbulence

Xiaolin Chen,안진예 한국무역학회 2022 Journal of Korea trade Vol.26 No.7

Purpose – As ahigher-order ability, improvisational capability is often employed to help a firm cope with unexpected or unanticipated issues. In light of the severe global business challenges and turbulent environmental changes, this study aimed to explore whether home-based network ties could shape the influence of improvisational capability on international entrepreneurship, alongside investigating the boundary conditions of competitive turbulence in their moderating effects. Design/methodology – The sample for the international entrepreneurship sector was obtained from the Industry and Information Technology Department of Jiangsu. In September 2021, the questionnaires were sent to the targeted ventures and required the top managers to complete the survey by e-mail or telephone. The final research sample comprised 113 international new ventures. To test the hypotheses, moderated hierarchical regression analysis was conducted. Findings – Our empirical results suggested that (1) unlike some previous literature, a positive effect of improvisational capability on the performance of international new ventures was not found; (2) home country-based networks (both political ties and business ties) are contingent factors that may partially stimulate the value creation of improvisational capability; and (3) in a highly competitive environment, the moderating role of business ties at home may become much stronger, however, the contingent role of political ties at home was not found. Originality/value – This study mainly concentrates on the two important types of home country-based networks, political and business ties at home, that may help international new ventures access strategic resources necessary for supporting the performance implications of improvisational capability. Thus, it extends the existing improvisational theory to encompass international entrepreneurship. Purpose – As ahigher-order ability, improvisational capability is often employed to help a firm cope with unexpected or unanticipated issues. In light of the severe global business challenges and turbulent environmental changes, this study aimed to explore whether home-based network ties could shape the influence of improvisational capability on international entrepreneurship, alongside investigating the boundary conditions of competitive turbulence in their moderating effects. Design/methodology – The sample for the international entrepreneurship sector was obtained from the Industry and Information Technology Department of Jiangsu. In September 2021, the questionnaires were sent to the targeted ventures and required the top managers to complete the survey by e-mail or telephone. The final research sample comprised 113 international new ventures. To test the hypotheses, moderated hierarchical regression analysis was conducted. Findings – Our empirical results suggested that (1) unlike some previous literature, a positive effect of improvisational capability on the performance of international new ventures was not found; (2) home country-based networks (both political ties and business ties) are contingent factors that may partially stimulate the value creation of improvisational capability; and (3) in a highly competitive environment, the moderating role of business ties at home may become much stronger, however, the contingent role of political ties at home was not found. Originality/value – This study mainly concentrates on the two important types of home countrybased networks, political and business ties at home, that may help international new ventures access strategic resources necessary for supporting the performance implications of improvisational capability. Thus, it extends the existing improvisational theory to encompass international entrepreneurship.

Transplantation of Gelatin Microspheres Loaded with Wharton's Jelly Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Facilitates Cartilage Repair in Mice

Chen Xiaolin,Huang Sunxing,Niu Yongxia,Luo Mingxun,Liu Haiying,Jiao Yiren,Huang Junjiu 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2024 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.21 No.1

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent chronic joint disease caused by various factors. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy is an increasingly promising therapeutic option for osteoarthritis. However, the chronic inflammation of knee joint can severely impede the therapeutic effects of transplanted cells. Gelatin microspheres (GMs) are degradable biomaterial that have various porosities for cell adhesion and cell–cell interaction. Excellent elasticity and deformability of GMs make it an excellent injectable vehicle for cell delivery. Methods: We created Wharton’s jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs)-GMs complexes and assessed the effects of GMs on cell activity, proliferation and chondrogenesis. Then, WJMSCs loaded in GMs were transplanted in the joint of osteoarthritis mice. After four weeks, joint tissue was collected for histological analysis. Overexpressing-luciferase WJMSCs were performed to explore cell retention in mice. Results: In vitro experiments demonstrated that WJMSCs loaded with GMs maintained cell viability and proliferative potential. Moreover, GMs enhanced the chondrogenesis differentiation of WJMSCs while alleviated cell hypertrophy. In KOA mice model, transplantation of WJMSCs-GMs complexes promoted cartilage regeneration and cartilage matrix formation, contributing to the treatment of KOA. Compared with other groups, in WJMSCs+GMs group, there were fewer cartilage defects and with a more integrated tibia structure. Tracking results of stable-overexpressing luciferase WJMSCs demonstrated that GMs significantly extended the retention time of WJMSCs in knee joint cavity. Conclusion: Our results indicated that GMs facilitate WJMSCs mediated knee osteoarthritis healing in mice by promoting cartilage regeneration and prolonging cell retention. It might potentially provide an optimal strategy for the biomaterial-stem cell based therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent chronic joint disease caused by various factors. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy is an increasingly promising therapeutic option for osteoarthritis. However, the chronic inflammation of knee joint can severely impede the therapeutic effects of transplanted cells. Gelatin microspheres (GMs) are degradable biomaterial that have various porosities for cell adhesion and cell–cell interaction. Excellent elasticity and deformability of GMs make it an excellent injectable vehicle for cell delivery. Methods: We created Wharton’s jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs)-GMs complexes and assessed the effects of GMs on cell activity, proliferation and chondrogenesis. Then, WJMSCs loaded in GMs were transplanted in the joint of osteoarthritis mice. After four weeks, joint tissue was collected for histological analysis. Overexpressing-luciferase WJMSCs were performed to explore cell retention in mice. Results: In vitro experiments demonstrated that WJMSCs loaded with GMs maintained cell viability and proliferative potential. Moreover, GMs enhanced the chondrogenesis differentiation of WJMSCs while alleviated cell hypertrophy. In KOA mice model, transplantation of WJMSCs-GMs complexes promoted cartilage regeneration and cartilage matrix formation, contributing to the treatment of KOA. Compared with other groups, in WJMSCs+GMs group, there were fewer cartilage defects and with a more integrated tibia structure. Tracking results of stable-overexpressing luciferase WJMSCs demonstrated that GMs significantly extended the retention time of WJMSCs in knee joint cavity. Conclusion: Our results indicated that GMs facilitate WJMSCs mediated knee osteoarthritis healing in mice by promoting cartilage regeneration and prolonging cell retention. It might potentially provide an optimal strategy for the biomaterial-stem cell based therapy for knee osteoarthritis.

Occurrence, evolution, and functions of DNA phosphorothioate epigenetics in bacteria

Tong, Tong,Chen, Si,Wang, Lianrong,Tang, You,Ryu, Jae Yong,Jiang, Susu,Wu, Xiaolin,Chen, Chao,Luo, Jie,Deng, Zixin,Li, Zhiqiang,Lee, Sang Yup,Chen, Shi National Academy of Sciences 2018 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF Vol.115 No.13

<P><B>Significance</B></P><P>Phosphorothioate (PT) modification of the DNA sugar-phosphate backbone is an important microbial epigenetic modification governed by DndABCDE, which together with DndFGH, constitutes a restriction-modification system. We show that up to 45% of 1,349 identified bacterial <I>dnd</I> systems exhibit the form of solitary <I>dndABCDE</I> without the restriction counterparts of <I>dndFGH</I>. The combination of epigenomics, transcriptome analysis, and metabolomics suggests that in addition to providing a genetic barrier against invasive DNA, PT modification is a versatile player involved in the epigenetic control of gene expression and the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. This finding provides evolutionary and functional insights into this unusual epigenetic modification. Our results imply that PT systems might evolve similar to other epigenetic modification systems with multiple cellular functions.</P><P>The chemical diversity of physiological DNA modifications has expanded with the identification of phosphorothioate (PT) modification in which the nonbridging oxygen in the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA is replaced by sulfur. Together with DndFGH as cognate restriction enzymes, DNA PT modification, which is catalyzed by the DndABCDE proteins, functions as a bacterial restriction-modification (R-M) system that protects cells against invading foreign DNA. However, the occurrence of <I>dnd</I> systems across a large number of bacterial genomes and their functions other than R-M are poorly understood. Here, a genomic survey revealed the prevalence of bacterial <I>dnd</I> systems: 1,349 bacterial <I>dnd</I> systems were observed to occur sporadically across diverse phylogenetic groups, and nearly half of these occur in the form of a solitary <I>dndBCDE</I> gene cluster that lacks the <I>dndFGH</I> restriction counterparts. A phylogenetic analysis of 734 complete PT R-M pairs revealed the coevolution of M and R components, despite the observation that several PT R-M pairs appeared to be assembled from M and R parts acquired from distantly related organisms. Concurrent epigenomic analysis, transcriptome analysis, and metabolome characterization showed that a solitary PT modification contributed to the overall cellular redox state, the loss of which perturbed the cellular redox balance and induced <I>Pseudomonas fluorescens</I> to reconfigure its metabolism to fend off oxidative stress. An in vitro transcriptional assay revealed altered transcriptional efficiency in the presence of PT DNA modification, implicating its function in epigenetic regulation. These data suggest the versatility of PT in addition to its involvement in R-M protection.</P>

In situ growth of hollow Cu2O spheres using anionic vesicles as soft templates

Xiaolin Luo,Zhe Pan,Fei Pei,Zhipeng Jin,Kangkang Miao,Pengfei Yang,Huaming Qian,Qiang Chen,Guodong Feng 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.59 No.-

Geometrically optimizing anionic vesicles were fabricated using two types of anionic surfactants with antipodal molecular configuration. The influence of counterions on the anionic vesicles was systematically investigated to maintain electrostatic interaction between the anionic vesicles and the precursors, as well as to ensure the structural integrity of the vesicle templates. The transcription from vesicles to hollow Cu2O spheres was achieved through an in situ reduction approach. The obtained hollow Cu2O spheres were assembled by abundant nanoparticles around the vesicle interface and showed preferable adsorption capacity for methyl orange in the dark compared with the solid Cu2O spheres synthesized without any surfactants.

Metabolic Risk Factors Are Associated with the Disease Severity and Prognosis of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute on Chronic Liver Failure

Chen Lu,Dai Jinjin,Xie Qing,Wang Xiaolin,Cai Wei 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2022 Gut and Liver Vol.16 No.3

Background/Aims: Metabolic risk factors could accelerate hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related mortality; however, their impacts on disease severity in HBV-related acute on chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) patients remain unexplored. In this study, we assessed the effects of metabolic risk factors on the outcome of HBV-ACLF patients. Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled antiviral therapy naïve HBV-ACLF patients from a single center in China. Patients were evaluated according to Child-Turcotte-Pugh score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, 30-day, 90-day mortality and survival rate to estimate the prognosis of HBV-ACLF. The impacts of different metabolic risk factors were further analyzed. Results: A total of 233 patients, including 158 (67.8%) with metabolic risk factors and 75 (32.2%) without metabolic risk factors, were finally analyzed. Patients with metabolic risk factors had significantly higher MELD score (22.6±6.1 vs 19.8±3.8, p<0.001), 90-day mortality rate (56.3% vs 38.7%, p=0.017), and shorter median survival time (58 days vs 75 days: hazard ratio, 1.553; 95% confidence interval, 1.061 to 2.274; p=0.036) than patients without them. Moreover, metabolic risk factors were independently associated with patients’ 90-day mortality (hazard ratio, 1.621; 95% confidence interval, 1.016 to 2.585; p=0.043). Prediabetes/diabetes and hypertension were related to higher rates of infection and worse renal function in HBV-ACLF patients. Conclusions: HBV-ACLF patients with metabolic risk factors, especially prediabetes/diabetes or hypertension, could have more severe disease and lower survival rates. In addition, the existence of metabolic disorder is an independent risk factor for HBV-ACLF patients’ 90-day mortality.

Structural basis for synaptic adhesion mediated by neuroligin-neurexin interactions

Chen, Xiaoyan,Liu, Heli,Shim, Ann H R,Focia, Pamela J,He, Xiaolin Nature Publishing Group 2008 Nature Structural and Molecular Biology Vol. No.

The heterophilic synaptic adhesion molecules neuroligins and neurexins are essential for establishing and maintaining neuronal circuits by modulating the formation and maturation of synapses. The neuroligin-neurexin adhesion is Ca<SUP>2+</SUP>-dependent and regulated by alternative splicing. We report a structure of the complex at a resolution of 2.4 Å between the mouse neuroligin-1 (NL1) cholinesterase-like domain and the mouse neurexin-1β (NX1β) LNS (laminin, neurexin and sex hormone–binding globulin–like) domain. The structure revealed a delicate neuroligin-neurexin assembly mediated by a hydrophilic, Ca<SUP>2+</SUP>-mediated and solvent-supplemented interface, rendering it capable of being modulated by alternative splicing and other regulatory factors. Thermodynamic data supported a mechanism wherein splicing site B of NL1 acts by modulating a salt bridge at the edge of the NL1-NX1β interface. Mapping neuroligin mutations implicated in autism indicated that most such mutations are structurally destabilizing, supporting deficient neuroligin biosynthesis and processing as a common cause for this brain disorder.

Is Payment Mode Important? - Evidence from Credit Rating of Bond of China

CHEN Guanting,HUANG Xiaolin,ZHU Song 한국무역학회 2019 한국무역학회 국제학술대회 Vol.2019 No.08

The question that whether Issuer-Pay mode is better than Investor-Pay mode or not is controversial in theory and practice. Basing on the credit rating and bond interest rate in Chinese bond market during 2007-2015, this paper finds that credit ratings given under different payment modes are significantly different, and the credit rating given by an investor-paid credit rating agency (CRA) is significantly lower than that given by an issuer-paid CRA for the same bond issuer; moreover, compared to the dual rating by an investor-paid CRA and an issuer-paid CRA, the single rating by an issuer-paid CRA will boost the credit rating and the bond interest rate. The main reason might be that both ratings are informative.

Convergence rates in the strong law of large numbers for negatively orthant dependent random variables with general moment conditions

Chen , Pingyan,Li , Xiaolin,Sung , Soo Hak University of Debrecen/ Debreceni Egyetem - Public 2018 Publicationes mathematicae Vol.93 No.1

Economic Policy Uncertainty, Internal Control and M&A Performance

Huang Xiaolin,Chen Guanting 한국무역학회 2019 한국무역학회 국제학술대회 Vol.2019 No.08

Experimental and Numerical Research on Uplift-Restricted and Slip-Permitted Screw-Shaped Connectors

Yuxuan Chen,Quansheng Yan,Xiaolin Yu,Buyu Jia,Yu Wu,Yufan Luo 한국강구조학회 2022 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.22 No.1

Improving mechanical performance of the negative moment regions of continuous composite beams is essential for composite beam bridges. Uplift-restricted and slip-permitted (URSP) screw-shaped connectors can enhance the crack resistance of a concrete slab through free slip between the concrete slab and the steel beam. Furthermore, URSP screw-shaped connectors are more adaptable to the requirements of rapid construction than URSP T-shaped connectors. To investigate the slip and mechanical behavior of URSP screw-shaped connectors, nine push-out tests with various parameters were conducted. In these tests, the thickness of the foam sleeve wrapped outside the screw exerted a highly signifi cant eff ect on free slip performance. A refi ned 3D nonlinear fi nite element model with the foam’s constitutive model was established using ABAQUS. The stress mechanism and failure modes of the FE models were analyzed. Lastly, to estimate the slip performance of URSP screw-shaped connectors, an equation with a simple form was proposed via mechanism analysis and a regression method.