Does the Value Spread Predict International Stock Returns?

Yu-Ru Huang,Kuan-Cheng Ko,Hsiang-Tai Lee,Shinn-Juh Lin 한국재무학회 2012 한국재무학회 학술대회 Vol.2012 No.09

This paper conducts an extensive empirical study on the predictive ability of the value spread based on a sample of 42 MSCI countries. Methodologically, we extend Liu and Zhang's (2008) analysis in an international framework, and nd consistent results that the value spread has little predictive ability on stock returns, while the two components (the book-to-market spread, and the market-to-book spread) predict stock returns with signicant yet opposite signs. Compared with the book-to-market spread and the value spread, the market- to-book spread demonstrates particularly stronger predictive power not only for country-specic returns, but also for returns of regional and industrial port- folios.

Transitional Percentage of Minute Volume as a Novel Predictor of Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation in Patients with Chronic Respiratory Failure

Ya-Ru Liang,Mei-Chen Yang,Yao-Kuang Wu,I-Shiang Tzeng,Pei-Yi Wu,Shiang-Yu Huang,Chou-Chin Lan,Chin-Pyng Wu 한국간호과학회 2020 Asian Nursing Research Vol.14 No.1

Purpose: Some patients with respiratory failure fail initial weaning attempts and need prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). Prolonged MV is associated with many complications and consumption of heathcare resources. Objective weaning indices help staffs to identify high-potential patients for weaning from the MV. Traditional weaning indices are not reliable in clinical practice. Transitional percentage of minute volume (TMV%) is a new index of the work of breathing. This study aimed to investigate the utility of TMV% in the prediction of weaning potential. Methods: This study was prospectively performed including all patients with prolonged MV. Researchers recorded their demographics, TMV%, respiratory parameters, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and laboratory data upon arrival at the respiratory care center. The factors associated with successful weaning were analyzed. Results: Out of the 120 patients included, 84 (70.0%) were successfully weaned from MV. Traditional weaning indices such as rapid shallow breathing index could not predict the weaning outcome. TMV% was a valuable parameter as patients with a lower TMV%, higher tidal volume, higher hemoglobin, lower blood urea nitrogen, and lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores had a higher rate of successful weaning. TMV%, tidal volume, and HCO3- levels were independent predictors of successful weaning, and the area under the curve was .79 in the logistic regression model. Conclusion: TMV% is a novel and effective predictor of successful weaning. Patients with lower TMV% had a higher MV weaning outcome. Once patients with a high potential for successful weaning are identified, they should be aggressively weaned from MV as soon as possible.

Value of Cash Holdings: the Impact of Cash from Operating, Investment and Financing Activities

Yenn-Ru Chen,C.S. Agnes Cheng,Yu-Lin Huang 한국재무학회 2011 한국재무학회 학술대회 Vol.2011 No.09

The literature shows that increases in cash holdings can increase firm value but the marginal value of cash decreases with the level of cash holdings. Increases in cash holdings may come from operation, investment, and financing activities and their implications to the value of cash holdings shall differ. This study examines the effects of cash sources on the value of cash holdings. Consistent with both of the trade-off motives and the agency theory of cash holdings, our results show that the decreased marginal value of cash holdings is significantly lowered when the additional cash comes from operating activities (CFO), indicating lower incentive to accumulate cash and potential higher agency problem concern from accumulating cash internally in profitable firms. On the contrary, the marginal value decrease is significantly mitigated when the additional cash comes from the investment activities (CFI) or financing activities (CFF), and the positive impact of CFF mainly comes from the equity-based financing, suggesting positive signal of managers’ confidence on future growth. In addition, investors value the cash higher if firms also payout cash dividend, except in low-levered firms. Overall, the agency explanation to the value of cash holdings is more pronounced in firms with higher capability of generating cash internally. For firms with better access to external financing for cash holdings, the value of cash holdings is highly determined by the economical rationales of holding large cash.

Effects of Home Nursing Intervention on the Quality of Life of Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma after Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

Shi, Ru-Chun,Meng, Ai-Feng,Zhou, Weng-Lin,Yu, Xiao-Yan,Huang, Xin-En,Ji, Ai-Jun,Chen, Lei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.16

Background: The effects of home nursing intervention on the quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy and chemotherapy are unclear. According to the characteristics of nursing home patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, we should continuously improve the nursing plan and improve the quality of life of patients at home. Materials and Methods: We selected 180 patients at home with NPC after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patients were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (90 patients each). The experimental group featured intervention with an NPC home nursing plan, while the control group was given routine discharge and outpatient review. Nursing intervention for patients was mainly achieved by regular telephone follow-up and home visits. We use the quality of life scale (QOL-C30), anxiety scale (SAS) and depression scale (SDS) to evaluate these patients before intervention, and during follow-up at 1 month and 3 months after the intervention. Results: Overall health and quality of life were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05), Emotional function score was significantly higher after intervention (p<0.05), as were cognitive function and social function scores after 3 months of intervention (p<0.05). Scores of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, appetite and constipation were also significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). Rates of anxiety and depression after 3 months of intervention were 11.1%, 22.2% and 34.4%, 53.3%, the differences being significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: NPC home nursing plan could effectively improve overall quality of life, cognitive function, social function (after 3 months) of patients, but improvement regarding body function is not suggested. Fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, appetite, constipation were clearly improved. We should further pursue a personalized, comprehensive measurements for nursing interventions and try to improve the quality of life of NPC patients at home.

Feasible Management of Southern Corn Leaf Blight via Induction of Systemic Resistance by Bacillus cereus C1L in Combination with Reduced Use of Dithiocarbamate Fungicides

Yi-Ru Lai,Pei-Yu Lin,CHAO-YING CHEN,Chien-Jui Huang 한국식물병리학회 2016 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.32 No.5

Dithiocarbamate fungicides such as maneb and mancozebare widely used nonsystemic protectant fungicidesto control various plant fungal diseases. Dithiocarbamatefungicides should be frequently applied toachieve optimal efficacy of disease control and avoideither decline in effectiveness or wash-off from leafsurface. Dithiocarbamates are of low resistance riskbut have the potential to cause human neurological diseases. The objective of this study was to develop a strategyto effectively control plant disease with reduceduse of dithiocarbamtes. Southern corn leaf blight wasthe model pathosystem for the investigation. Whencorn plants were drench-treated with Bacillus cereusC1L, a rhizobacterium able to induce systemic resistancein corn plants against southern leaf blight, frequencyof spraying dithiocarbamate fungicides couldbe decreased. The treatment of B. cereus C1L was ableto protect maize from southern leaf blight while residuesof dithiocarbamates on leaf surface were too lowto provide sufficient protection. On the other hand,frequent sprays of mancozeb slightly but significantlyreduced growth of corn plants under natural conditions. In contrast, application of B. cereus C1L cansignificantly promote growth of corn plants whethersprayed with mancozeb or not. Our results provide theinformation that plant disease can be well controlledby rhizobacteria-mediated induced systemic resistancein combination with reduced but appropriate applicationof dithiocarbamate fungicides just before a heavyinfection period. An appropriate use of rhizobacteriacan enhance plant growth and help plants overcomenegative effects caused by dithiocarbamates.

Chinese herbal injections in combination with radiotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Yun-Ru Chen,Ruo-Tong Zhao,Yi-Fang Xu,Yin-Jie Ma,Shao-Bo Hu,Xue-Hui Wang,Bing-Bing Fan,Yan-Ji Zhou,Yu-Bei Huang,Nicola Robinson,Jian-ping Liu,Zhao-Lan Liu 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.4

Background: Advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) is a fatal disease with limited treatment options. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different Chinese herbal injections (CHIs) as adjuvants for radiotherapy (RT) in APC and compare their treatment potentials using network meta-analysis. Methods: We systematically searched three English and four Chinese databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to July 25, 2023. The primary outcome was the objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcomes included Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs). The treatment potentials of different CHIs were ranked using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). The Cochrane RoB 2 tool and CINeMA were used for quality assessment and evidence grading. Results: Eighteen RCTs involving 1199 patients were included. Five CHIs were evaluated. Compound Kushen injection (CKI) combined with RT significantly improved ORR compared to RT alone (RR 1.49, 95 % CrI 1.21–1.86). Kanglaite (KLT) plus RT (RR 1.58, 95 % CrI 1.20–2.16) and CKI plus RT (RR 1.49, 95 % CrI 1.16–1.95) were associated with improved KPS score compared to radiation monotherapy, with KLT+RT being the highest rank (SUCRA 72.28 %). Regarding AEs, CKI plus RT was the most favorable in reducing the incidence of leukopenia (SUCRA 90.37 %) and nausea/vomiting (SUCRA 85.79 %). Conclusions: CKI may be the optimal choice of CHIs to combine with RT for APC as it may improve clinical response, quality of life, and reduce AEs. High-quality trials are necessary to establish a robust body of evidence. Protocol registration: PROSPERO, CRD42023396828.

Aberrant DNA Methylation of P16, MGMT, and hMLH1 Genes in Combination with MTHFR C677T Genetic Polymorphism and Folate Intake in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Chen, Jing,Huang, Zhi-Jie,Duan, Yu-Qin,Xiao, Xin-Rong,Jiang, Jian-Qing,Zhang, Ru Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.10

Aim: The present case-control study was conducted to explore the association of MTHFR gene polymorphism and relations of P16, MGMT and HMLH1 to MTHFR and folate intake. Methods: A total of 257 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma confirmed by histopathological examination were collected. Genotyping of P16, MGMT and HMLH1 was accomplished by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after sodium bisulfate modification of DNA and the MTHFR C677T genetic polymorphism was detected by PCR-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: The proportions of DNA hypermethylation in P16, MGMT and hMLH1 in cancer tissues were significantly higher than in paracancerous normal tissue. The proportion of hypermethylation in at least one gene was 88.5% in cancer tissue, and was also significantly higher than that in paracancerous normal tissue. Our finding showed individuals with homozygotes (TT) of MTHFR C677T had significant risk of DNA hypermethylation of MGMT in cancer tissues, with an OR (95% CI) of 3.15 (1.12-6.87). Similarly, patients with high intake of folate also showed a slight high risk of DNA methylation of MGMT, with OR (95% CI) of 2.03 (1.05-4.57). Conclusion: Our study found the P16, MGMT and hMLH1 demonstrate a high proportion of hypermethylation in esophageal squamous cell cancer cancer tissues, which might be used as biomarkers for cancer detection.

Development of Sensing Signal Transmission and System in Intelligent Field

( Wen-luh Huang ),( Shu-yu Yang ),( Wen Sheng Chen ),( Yan-ru Huang ),( Yi-chen Wu ) 한국농업기계학회 2018 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.23 No.1

There is a problem which is large manpower consumption on contract sweet potato field when measure the soil moisture, control weeds, pests and diseases currently. In addition, serious problems of aging and labor shortage are especially troublesome in domestic rural areas. Therefore, we develop a management system combined sensor, single-chip control module and real-time irrigation module to meet the needs. Throughout the wireless signal transmission, the management of operating system with instant control and output data achieves intelligent control. At present, the system has been able to collect moisture data from field and to do the corresponding treatment immediately. At the same time, upload the data to cloud, then we can monitor field in real-time. With the establishment of the database, we have been to achieve long-term or short-term analysis and management. We really hope that the result can enhance the intelligence of agricultural technology, increase farmers profits, sustain development of agriculture and keep competitiveness.

Glulathione-S-transferases Gene Polymorphism in Prediction of Gastric Cancer Risk by Smoking and Helicobacter Pylori Infection Status

Jing, Chen,Huang, Zhi-Jie,Duan, Yu-Qin,Wang, Pei-Hong,Zhang, Ru,Luo, Ke-Shu,Xiao, Xin-Rong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.7

Aim: To evaluate the association of glutathione S-transferases gene polymorphisms with the risk of gastric cancer, with reference to smoking and Helicobacter pylori infection. Methods: We conducted a 1:1 matched case-control study with 410 gastric cancer cases and 410 cancer-free controls. Polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 were determined using PCR-CTPP. Results: The GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes were significantly associated with the risk of gastric cancer after adjusting for potential confounding factors (OR=1.68, 95% CI=1.32-2.23 for null GSTM1, OR=1.73; 95% CI=1.24-2.13 for null GSTT1). The combination of null GSTM1 and null GSTT1 conferred an elevated risk (OR=2.54, 95% CI=1.55-3.39). However, no association was found for GSTP1 polymorphism The smoking modified the association of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes with the risk of gastric cancer. Conclusion: GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are associated with increased risk of gastric cancer, and smoking modifies the association.

Research on the Machine for Acquiring Pineapple Stems

( Wen-luh Huang ),( Yu-hao Kang ),( Yan-ru Huang ) 한국농업기계학회 2018 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.23 No.1

This research just want to pick up the stem of the pineapple plant which originally be abolished and be discarded as to be fertilizer in the pineapple field before, and let the stem of the pineapple plant be utilized by the Biotech Company extract pineapple raw materials of enzyme to make good use of waste materials again. This machine is mainly composed of an overhead pineapple exclusively machine, getting rid of the leaf apparatus and taking off the leaf apparatus.Especially, getting rid of the leaf apparatus is composed of one of Robin 22HP petrol engines been, oil pressure system which be raised , two sets of cutting knives, one set of longitudinal knife and other steering components. Through test statistics, it shows that getting rid of leaf rate is 53.40% much high if the cutting height and the process speed are under the terms of 35 cm and 0.56 m/s. Meanwhile, the rate of getting rid of leaf and taking off leaf will become reciprocal. According to the test, the result shows that the average of discarding rate of the leaf is 88.52% which proceeded by the whole 216 pineapple plant samples counted, and the average of rate of recovery is 10.13%. Under the above tests, the costs that the raw Biotech Company obtains pineapple stem raw materials are extremely high. That’s why to develop this machine should be much more important and urgent to study in the near future.