Evans Blue Reduces Neuropathic Pain Behavior by Inhibiting Spinal ATP Release

Yin,,Hong,,Phạ,m,,Shin,,Gwon,,Kwon,,Shin,,Shin,,Lee,,Lee,,Kim, MDPI AG 2019 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES Vol.20 No.18

<P>Upon peripheral nerve injury, vesicular ATP is released from damaged primary afferent neurons. This extracellular ATP subsequently activates purinergic receptors of the spinal cord, which play a critical role in neuropathic pain. As an inhibitor of the vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT), Evans blue (EB) inhibits the vesicular storage and release of ATP in neurons. Thus, we tested whether EB could attenuate neuropathic pain behavior induced by spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in rats by targeting VNUT. An intrathecal injection of EB efficiently attenuated mechanical allodynia for five days in a dose-dependent manner and enhanced locomotive activity in an SNL rat model. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that EB was found in VNUT immunoreactivity on neurons in the dorsal root ganglion and the spinal dorsal horn. The level of ATP in cerebrospinal fluid in rats with SNL-induced neuropathic pain decreased upon administration of EB. Interestingly, EB blocked ATP release from neurons, but not glial cells in vitro. Eventually, the loss of ATP decreased microglial activity in the ipsilateral dorsal horn of the spinal cord, followed by a reduction in reactive oxygen species and proinflammatory mediators, such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. Finally, a similar analgesic effect of EB was demonstrated in rats with monoiodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Taken together, these data demonstrate that EB prevents ATP release in the spinal dorsal horn and reduces the ATP/purinergic receptor-induced activation of spinal microglia followed by a decline in algogenic substances, thereby relieving neuropathic pain in rats with SNL.</P>

연 X-선 현미경을 이용한 금 나노입자 세포영상

권영만,김한경,김경우,김선희,윤홍화,천권수,강성훈,박성훈,정선관,윤권하 韓國電子顯微鏡學會 2008 Applied microscopy Vol.38 No.3

연 x-선 현미경은 ‘물의 창’ 영역(2.3~4.4 nm)의 파장을 이용하여, 수십 nm의 분해능으로 세포를 파괴하지 않고 살아있는 상태에서 세포의 내부구조를 관찰할 수 있어 가시광선현미경과 전자현미경을 단점을 보완하는 특징을 갖는 세포 생물학 연구에 적합한 현미경이다. 그러나 기존 연 x-선 현미경은 광원으로 방사선 가속기를 이용하기 때문에 사용이 제한적이었다. 이에, 본 연구에서는 2.88 nm의 연 x-선을 광원으로 사용하는 소형 연 x-선 현미경을 이용하여, 내포작용에 의해 금 나노입자를 포획한 HT1080과 MDA-MB 231 세포의 영상을 약 60 nm 분해능으로 획득하였다. 금 나노입자의 세포에 대한 독성을 제거하기 위하여 폴리에틸렌 글리콜을 캡핑하였고, 2.88 nm 파장의 연 x-선에 대하여 충분한 조영효과로 인하여 세포영상에서 뚜렷한 대조도를 나타내었다. 내포작용에 의해 액포에 포함되어 있는 다양한 크기의 금 나노입자 군집을 확인하였으며, 세포내부의 액포의 분포상태도 관찰할 수 있었다. 따라서 고분해능을 가진 소형 연 x-선 현미경을 이용하여 금 나노입자를 세포내의 미세기관이나 특정 단백질에 표지하면 연 x-선에 대한 조영효과의 증가에 의하여 더욱 유용한 정보를 획득할 수 있을 것으로 생각한다. A compact soft x-ray microscope operated in the ‘water window’ wavelength region (2.3~4.4 nm) was used for observing cells with nano-scale spatial resolution. To obtain cellular imaging captured with colloidal gold nanoparticles using a compact soft x-ray microscope. The colloidal gold nanoparticles showed higher contrast and lower transmission more than 7 times than that of cellular protein on the soft x-ray wavelength region. The structure and thickness of the cell membrane of the Coscinodiscus oculoides (diatome) and red blood cells were seen clearly. The gold nanoparticles within the HT1080 and MDA-MB 231 cells were seen clearly on the soft x-ray microscopy. The gold nanoparticles were aggregated within vesicles by endocytosis.

Societal culture and teachers’ responses to curriculum reform: experiences from China

Hong-biao Yin 서울대학교 교육연구소 2013 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.14 No.3

Educational change is intrinsically bound to the cultural characteristics of the society. However, the relationship between educational change and societal culture is rarely explored, especially in the context of mainland China. Following a 3-year qualitative research project, the present study explored the influence of societal culture on teachers’ responses to the national curriculum reform of upper secondary education in mainland China. The results generated three themes highly relevant to teachers’ responses to curriculum reform in Chinese culture, namely teachers’ obedience, teachers’ facework and teachers’ collaboration. These teachers’ responses reflected some Confucian ethics rooted in Chinese culture and explained the absence of radical teacher resistance to the national curriculum reform. It was suggested that a culturally sensitive approach to change leadership may have been more fruitful for facilitating the aims of curriculum reform in mainland China.

A Study on Audit Regulation Engagement Interview and Audit Quality

Hong YIN,Yanbin DU 한국유통과학회 2021 The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business( Vol.12 No.8

Do Firms with Historical Loss Disclose Less Social Responsibility Information?

Hong YIN 한국유통과학회 2020 The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business( Vol.11 No.1

Purpose: This research aims to empirically investigate the motivation of corporate voluntary disclosure by exploring the impact of historical loss on corporate social responsibility disclosure (CSRD). Research design, data, and methodology: This paper takes Chinese A-share listed firms that issued standalone social responsibility reports during the period of 2009-2017 as a sample. Drawing on extant literature, this paper defines historical loss firms as firms with net profit greater than or equal to 0 and undistributed profit less than 0. The tendency score matching method (PSM) is used to find matching samples for historical loss firms. Then OLS regression is conducted to investigate the relationship between historical loss and corporate social disclosure. Results: The results show that historical loss has a significant positive impact on the quality of corporate social responsibility disclosure. After changing the measurement of independent and dependent variables as well as adopting different matching methods to screen the control group, the results still hold. Further research indicates that the relationship between historical loss and CSRD is influenced by corporate financing constraints and industry competition. Conclusions: This research supports the resource motivation hypothesis of corporate social responsibility disclosure, and provides empirical evidence for regulators to strengthen supervision on corporate disclosure.

Determinants of Corporate Anti-Corruption Practice Disclosure: Evidence from Chinese Firms

Hong Yin,Ruonan Zhang 한국유통과학회 2019 The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business( Vol.10 No.3

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of corporate anti-corruption practice disclosure (ACPD) from the perspective of rent-seeking theory. Research design, data, and methodology - Data are hand-collected from corporate social responsibility reports (CSRR) issued by 724 A-share listed firms in China. This paper provides an empirical analysis of the relationship between ownership structure and corporate ACPD as well as its moderating role in the institutional environment. Results - Our findings indicate that rent-seeking is a key factor in influencing corporate ACPD. State-owned enterprises disclose significantly more anti-corruption information than private ones in order to achieve personal promotion of top executives. Monopoly enterprises reported significantly less anti-corruption information than enterprises in competitive industries due to their rent-seeking behavior. The reduction of government intervention and improvement of legal environment are helpful to curb corporate rent-seeking activities and enhance the level of corporate ACPD. Conclusions - Rent-seeking is an important factor in explaining corporate voluntary disclosure in emerging countries. Institutional environment also plays a moderating role in the relationship between ownership structure and corporate voluntary disclosure. Our results are of interest to policy makers, regulators and market participants that are interested in corporate voluntary disclosure and corruption prevention.

The Impact of Auditor-Client Traffic Convenience on Earnings Management in China

Hong YIN,Yanbin DU 한국유통과학회 2021 Asian Journal of Business Environment (AJBE) Vol.11 No.4

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the impact of auditor-client traffic convenience on accrual -based and real earnings management of the client firms. Research design, data and methodology: Using a sample of firms listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges over the period of 2007 to 2018, this paper empirically investigates the association between auditor-client traffic convenience and earnings management. We use three measures of auditor-client traffic convenience: railway traffic convenience, expressway traffic convenience, and air traffic convenience. The accrual-based earnings management is measured by abnormal accruals estimated by industry and year using the Modified Jones Model. Results: Findings indicate that traffic convenience is conducive to detecting and restraining positive accrual earnings management and real earnings management. After changing the measurement of independent variable and dependent variable, including potential omitted variables, the results are statistically unchanged. Further, the research shows that traffic convenience can not only improve audit quality, but also lead to higher fee premiums. Auditors didn’t share with clients the cost reduction benefits caused by traffic convenience. Conclusions: Traffic convenience provides auditors with easy access to the client firms, alleviating the information asymmetry and improving corporate earnings quality. The findings have implications for regulators, audit practitioners and stakeholders.

The Effect of Corporate Integrity on Stock Price Crash Risk

Hong Yin,Ruonan Zhang 한국유통과학회 2020 Asian Journal of Business Environment (AJBE) Vol.10 No.1

Purpose: This research aims to investigate the impact of corporate integrity on stock price crash risk. Research design, data, and methodology: Taking 1419 firms listed in Shenzhen Stock Exchange in China as a sample, this paper empirically analyzed the relationship between corporate integrity and stock price crash risk. The main integrity data was hand-collected from Shenzhen Stock Exchange Website. Other financial data was collected from CSMAR Database. Results: Findings show that corporate integrity can significantly decrease stock price crash risk. After changing the selection of samples, model estimation methods and the proxy variable of stock price crash risk, the conclusion is still valid. Further research shows that the relationship between corporate integrity and stock price crash risk is only found in firms with weak internal control and firms in poor legal system areas. Conclusions: Results of the study suggest that corporate integrity has a significant influence on behaviors of managers. Business ethics reduces the likelihood of managers to overstate financial performance and hide bad news, which leads to the low likelihood of future stock price crashes. Meanwhile, corporate integrity can supplement internal control and legal system in decreasing stock price crash risks.

The Effect of Maturity Mismatch between Investing and Financing on Audit Pricing

YIN, Hong,ZHANG, Ruo Nan Korea Distribution Science Association 2020 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.7 No.9

This research investigates the consequences of the increase in corporate use of short-term debt in China over the past decades. Using a sample of Chinese firms from 2007 to 2018, we empirically explore the effect of corporate use of short-term debt for long-term investment (SFLI) on audit pricing. We first examine the relationship between SFLI and audit pricing for different groups of firms. Then, we investigate the role of the increase in short-term debt in alleviating principal-agent conflicts and reducing agency costs. We have four primary empirical findings. First, auditors tend to charge SFLI clients higher fees. Second, the negative relationship between SFLI and audit fee is found in private firms, firms audited by Chinese domestic auditors, and firms with higher information asymmetry. Third, the time auditors spent on SFLI clients is significantly more than that spent on non-SFLI clients, suggesting that the decrease in audit fee is not due to the decrease in cost. Fourth, SFLI significantly reduces the agency costs of the firm, which auditors regard as a low risk signal and grant an audit fee discount. Our findings suggest that the decrease in debt maturity, not only influences managerial behaviors, but also influences auditors' risk assessment and pricing decisions.

The Nature of Controlling Shareholders, Political Background and Corporate Anti-Corruption Practice Disclosure

Hong Yin,Ruonan Zhang 한국유통과학회 2019 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.6 No.1

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the nature of controlling shareholders and corporate anti-corruption practice disclosure (ACPD) as well as the mediating role of political background of the chairman or CEO of the firm on the relationship between the two. The content analysis was conducted to extract ACPD from standalone corporate social responsibility reports (CSRR) of 703 China’s A-share listed companies. A dummy variable was constructed according to whether a firm disclosed ACPD or not. Logistic regression analysis was used then. Results show that the nature of controlling shareholders has a significant impact on corporate ACPD, with central enterprises disclosing the most frequently, local state-owned enterprises the second and private enterprises the least. Political background of the chairman or CEO has a negative impact on corporate ACPD of state-owned enterprises. These findings have some useful insights in understanding the rent-seeking behavior and information disclosure behavior of corporates in emerging markets. In order to curb the serious corruption problem which is commonplace in developing countries like China, the government should exert certain pressure to strengthen the supervision of information disclosure of listed firms and improve information transparency.