The Moderating Effect of Internal Control on Performance of Cross-Border M&A under the Uncertainty of Economic Policy: Evidence from China

Xiao-Lin Huang,Guan-Ting Chen,Eun-Hye Lee 한국무역학회 2019 Journal of Korea trade Vol.23 No.7

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between internal control, economic policy uncertainty, and performance of cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) based on the panel data of Chinese listed firms. The authors expected that internal control has a positive moderating effect on the performance of cross-border M&A and that it mainly occurs during periods when economic policies are relatively stable. In addition, the authors tried to find out the mechanism of internal control affecting cross-border M&A and the corporate performance. Design/methodology - The authors tested the hypotheses by a multivariate regression model based on the panel data of Chinese listed firms from 2009 to 2017. The dependent variable is the change value of business performance (DROA_1,2,3) and the explanatory variables are cross-border M&A (MA), China’s uncertainty of economic policy (EPU), and internal control level (IC) respectively. Findings - The authors find that internal control has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between cross-border M&A and corporate performance. Further, the authors find that the moderating effect is more significant in state-owned enterprises and that it mainly occurs during periods when economic policies are relatively stable. Originality/value - This paper is the leading study that tries to analyze empirically the relationship between internal control, economic policy uncertainty, and performance of cross-border M&A. It provides a new avenue through which internal control might reasonably mitigate the risks of crossborder M&A and correspondingly improve the performance of cross-border M&A. It also confirms the moderating effect of internal control on the performance of cross-border M&A under the uncertainty of economic policy.

Long-term Survivals, Toxicities and the Role of Chemotherapy in Early-Stage Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Treated with Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy: A Retrospective Study with 15-year Follow-up

Lin Wang,Jingjing Miao,Huageng Huang,Boyu Chen,Xiao Xiao,Manyi Zhu,Yingshan Liang,Weiwei Xiao,Shaomin Huang,Yinglin Peng,Xiaowu Deng,Xing Lv,Weixiong Xia,Yanqun Xiang,Xiang Guo,Fei Han,Chong Zhao 대한암학회 2022 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.54 No.1

Purpose This study was aimed to investigate long-term survivals and toxicities of early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in endemic area, evaluating the role of chemotherapy in stage II patients. Materials and Methods Totally 187 patients with newly diagnosed NPC and restaged American Joint Committee on Cancer/ International Union Against Cancer 8th T1-2N0-1M0 were retrospectively recruited. All received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)±chemotherapy (CT) from 2001 to 2010. Results With 15.7-year median follow-up, 10-year locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were 93.3%, 93.5%, 92.9% and 88.2%, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed cervical lymph nodes positive and pre-treatment prognostic nutritional index ≥ 52.0 could independently predict DMFS (p=0.036 and p=0.011), DSS (p=0.014 and p=0.026), and OS (p=0.002 and p < 0.001); Charlson comorbidity index < 3 points could predict DSS (p=0.011); age > 45 years (p=0.002) and pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 240 U/L (p < 0.001) predicted OS. No grade 4 late toxicity happened; grade 3 late toxicities included subcutaneous fibrosis (4.3%), deafness or otitis (4.8%), skin dystrophy (2.1%), and xerostomia (1.1%). No differences on survivals were shown between IMRT+CT vs. IMRT alone in stage II patients, even in T2N1M0 (p > 0.05). Unsurprising, patients in IMRT+CT had more acute gastrointestinal reaction, myelosuppression, mucositis, late ear toxicity, and cranial nerve injury (all p < 0.05) than IMRT alone group. Conclusion Superior tumor control and satisfying long-term outcomes could be achieved with IMRT in early-stage NPC with mild late toxicities. As CT would bring more toxicities, it should be carefully performed to stage II patients.

Thalidomide Combined with Chemotherapy in Treating Patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Huang, Xin-En,Yan, Xiao-Chun,Wang, Lin,Ji, Zhu-Qing,Li, Li,Liu, Meng-Yan,Qian, Ting,Shen, Hui-Ling,Gu, Han-Gang,Liu, Yong,Gu, Ming,Deng, Li-Chun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.17

Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of thalidomide (produced by CHANGZHOU PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY CO.LTD) combined with chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Method: A consecutive cohort of pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with thalidomide combined with chemotherapy. And chemotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer were administered according to the condition of patients. Thalidomide was orally administered at a dosage of 50mg/day to 150mg/day before sleeping for at least 14 days. After at least 14 days of treatment, safety and side effects were evaluated. Results: There were 12 female and 3 male patients with advanced cancer recruited into this study, including 9 patients with colon, 6 patients with rectal cancer. The median age of patients was 57(41-82) years. Partial response was observed in 2 patients (2/15), and stable disease in 3 patients(3/15). Incidences of Grade 1 to 2 myelosuppression was observed in 1/15 patients, and Grade 1 to 2 elevation of hepatic enzyme was recorded in 1/15 patients. Adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract were documented in 1/15 patients, and were Grade 1. No Grade 3-4 toxicities were diagnosed. No treatment related death was found. Conclusions: Thalidomide combined with chemotherapy was safe and mildly effective in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer. However, further study should be conducted to clarify the effectiveness of this combination.

Repairing Facial Soft Tissue Defects by Swelling Anesthesia after Tumor Resection with Narrow Pedicle Flaps

Huang, Chun-Hui,Qian, Han-Gen,Zhao, Xiao-Yu,Shen, Guo-Liang,Lin, Wei,Qi, Qiang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.15

Aims: To investigate the role of swelling anesthesia in repairing facial soft tissue defects after tumor resection and temporal superficial artery frontal branch of narrow pedicle flap. Materials and Methods: From January 2008 to June 2008, 16 patients from Department of Ophthalmology with eye or eyelid tumors after eyeball removal of eye and part resection of surrounding soft tissue, undergoing postoperative swelling anesthesia with superficial temporal artery flap repair to prevent facial soft tissue defect formation and bone exposure, were recruited. Results: In all 16 patients facial soft tissue defect repair had good effects, with limited bleeding, and short operation times. Seven days after surgery, all flaps were in good repair. On postoperative follow-up after 3 months, flaps showed a similar appearance as with facial tissue. Conclusions: Swelling anesthesia for superficial temporoparietal artery frontal branch of narrow pedicle flap to repair soft tissue defect after facial tumor resection is feasible, and is linked with good analgesic effects, high postoperative survival of skin flaps, and good cosmetic effects.

Electronic Structure of Co Islands on Ag/Ge(111) √3×√3 Surfaces

Xiao-Lang Huang,Chi-HaoChou,Chun-Liang Lin,Tsu-Yi Fu 한국자기학회 2010 한국자기학회 학술연구발표회 논문개요집 Vol.2010 No.12

Molecular Characterization of a Thermophilic and Salt- and Alkaline-Tolerant Xylanase from Planococcus sp. SL4, a Strain Isolated from the Sediment of a Soda Lake

( Xiao Yun Huang ),( Juan Lin ),( Xiu Yun Ye ),( Guo Zeng Wang ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.5

To enrich the genetic resource of microbial xylanases with high activity and stability under alkaline conditions, a xylanase gene (xynSL4) was cloned from Planococcus sp. SL4, an alkaline xylanase-producing strain isolated from the sediment of soda lake Dabusu. Deduced XynSL4 consists of a putative signal peptide of 29 residues and a catalytic domain (30-380 residues) of glycosyl hydrolase family 10, and shares the highest identity of 77% with a hypothetical protein from Planomicrobium glaciei CHR43. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that deduced XynSL4 is closely related with thermophilic and alkaline xylanases from Geobacillus and Bacillus species. The gene xynSL4 was expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli and the recombinant enzyme showed some superior properties. Purified recombinant XynSL4 (rXynSL4) was highly active and stable over the neutral and alkaline pH range from 6 to 11, with maximum activity at pH 7 and more than 60% activity at pH 11. It had an apparent temperature optimum of 70oC and retained stable at this temperature in the presence of substrate. rXynSL4 was highly halotolerant, retaining more than 55% activity with 0.25.3.0 M NaCl and was stable at the concentration of NaCl up to 4M. The enzyme activity was significantly enhanced by β-mercaptoethanol and Ca2+ but strongly inhibited by heavy-metal ions and SDS. This thermophilic and alkaline- and salt-tolerant enzyme has great potential for basic research and industrial applications.

Low Prevalence of HPV in Male Sexual Partners of HR-HPV Infected Females and Low Concordance of Viral Types in Couples in Eastern Guangdong

Huang, Yue,Lin, Min,Luo, Zhao-Yun,Li, Wen-Yu,Zhan, Xiao-Fen,Yang, Li-Ye Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.3

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of genital high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in male sexual partners of HR-HPV infected women and the concordance of viral types in couples in China, and comprehend the role of men play in HPV transmission to women. Methods/Materials: 94 asymptomatic women and their husbands from rural Chaozhou participated in epidemiologic screening for HPV infection. Cervical cells from females were collected for high risk HPV screening by real time-PCR, and they were positive for at least 1 of 13 HR-HPV subtypes, then these samples were genotyped. Approximately one mouth later, penile epithelial cells from 94 asymptomatic husbands were collected for HPV genotyping. At the same time, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 366 male patients from sexually transmitted disease (STD) outpatient clinic in China for the prevalence of genital HR-HPV infection in men having frequent sex behavior. Penial epithelial cells were collected for HPV 6/11 and HPV 16/18 detection by fluorescent real-time quantified PCR. Results: Among 94 couples, the prevalence of genital HR-HPV infection in men whose wife was positive for cervical HR-HPV was 5.32% (5/94). Only 2.63% (2/76) had the same high risk viral type presented by their wife. HPV 16 proved to be the most prevalent viral type in men and in couples. Of 366 male patients from STD outpatient clinic, the prevalence of HPV 16/18 infection in men with or without HPV 6/11 was 6.85% and 8.16%, respectively. The incidence of HPV 16/18 was higher in men aged more than 35 years than the young men (18-35 years). Conclusion: The prevalence of genital HR-HPV infection in male sexual partners of HPV-positive women in China was lower than that expected, and the concordance of high risk viral type between couples was extremely low. These data suggested that infected men consitute an important viral reservoir, contributing to transmission of HR-HPV to women and maintenance of infection, but HR-HPV infection may be less likely to persist in men than in women.

Performance optimization of flexible a-Si:H solar cells with nanotextured plasmonic substrate by tuning the thickness of oxide spacer layer

Xiao, Huapeng,Wang, Jun,Huang, Hongtao,Lu, Linfeng,Lin, Qingfeng,Fan, Zhiyong,Chen, Xiaoyuan,Jeong, Chaehwan,Zhu, Xufei,Li, Dongdong Elsevier 2015 Nano energy Vol.11 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Plasmonic thin film solar cells deposited on periodically textured photonic crystal substrates have been extensively studied since the substantially enhanced light absorption. The reduction of parasitic absorption losses in the metal and spacer layers becomes one of the key issues to achieve high efficiency solar cells. Herein, plasmonic amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) flexible thin film solar cells with different thickness of oxide spacer layers are systematically investigated. An increase of the spacer layer thickness leads to an evolution in surface morphology of AZO and final devices. More intriguingly, the increase of spacer layer thickness reduces the absorption in Ag layer while induces more absorption in spacer layer. The highest light absorption in silicon layer is observed as applying 100nm spacer layer, which is further verified by electrical measurements. Our observations demonstrate a versatile and convenient route towards rational design of light harvesting nanostructure for high performance plasmonic solar cells based on a broad range of materials.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Amorphous silicon thin film solar cells are constructed on patterned substrates. </LI> <LI> The devices properties are studied as a function of spacer layer thickness. </LI> <LI> An increase of spacer layer thickness reduces the absorption loss of Ag layer. </LI> <LI> The device with 100nm spacer layer confines more incident light in silicon layer. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Salt Processed Food and Gastric Cancer in a Chinese Population

Lin, Si-Hao,Li, Yuan-Hang,Leung, Kayee,Huang, Cheng-Yu,Wang, Xiao-Rong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

To investigate the association between salt processed food and gastric cancer, a hospital based case-control study was conducted in a high risk area of China. One hundred and seven newly diagnosed cases with histological confirmation of gastric cancer and 209 controls were recruited. Information on dietary intake was collected with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression was applied to estimate the odds ratios with adjustment for other potential confounders. Comparing the high intake group with never consumption of salt processed foods, salted meat, pickled vegetables and preserved vegetables were significantly associated with increased risk of gastric cancer. Meanwhile, salt taste preference in diet showed a dose-response relationship with gastric cancer. Our results suggest that consumption of salted meat, pickled and preserved vegetables, are positively associated with gastric cancer. Reduction of salt and salt processed food in diets might be one practical measure to preventing gastric cancer.

Behavior and calculation on concrete-filled steel CHS (Circular Hollow Section) beam-columns

Lin-Hai Han,Guo-Huang Yao,Xiao-Ling Zhao 국제구조공학회 2004 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.4 No.3

A mechanics model is developed in this paper for concrete-filled steel CHS (circular hollow section) beam-columns. A unified theory is described where a confinement factor (ξ) is introduced to describe the composite action between the steel tube and the filled concrete. The predicted load versus deformation relationship is in good agreement with test results. The theoretical model was used to investigate the influence of important parameters that determine the ultimate strength of concrete-filled steel CHS beam-columns. The parametric and experimental studies provide information for the development of formulas for the calculation of the ultimate strength of the composite beam-columns. Comparisons are made with predicted beam-columns strengths using the existing codes, such as LRFD-AISC-1999, AIJ-1997, BS5400-1979 and EC4-1994.