20 research outputs found
Asset Pricing in China: Evidence from the Shanghai Stock Exchange
Get PDFCapital market theory is concerned with the equilibrium relationship between risk and expected return on financial claims. Within this framework, this paper seeks to extend the mounting evidence against the view that the beta coefficient of the Capital Asset Pricing Model is the sole measure of risk. In this paper we test the multifactor approach to asset pricing in one of the most challenging international markets, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, China. Firstly, we seek to determine whether size and value premia exist in China. Secondly, we address the challenge that size and value premia are largely determined by seasonal factors (such as the January and/or Chinese New Year effect). Our findings suggest that mean-variance efficient investors in China can select some combination of small and low book-to-market equity firms in addition to the market portfolio to generate superior risk-adjusted returns. Moreover, we find no evidence to support the view that seasonal effects explain the findings of the multifactor model. In summary, we suggest the market factor alone is not sufficient to describe the cross-section of average stock returns in China.Asset Pricing; Seasonal Effects; China.
The effects of R&D and advertising on firm value: An examination of manufacturing and nonmanufacturing firms
No full text10.1109/TEM.2004.839943IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management5213-14IEEM
Is Idiosyncratic Volatility Priced? Evidence from the Shanghai Stock Exchange
Get PDFThis paper employs the mimicking portfolio approach of Fama and French (1996) and asks whether idiosyncratic volatility is priced. This paper also provides evidence on whether returns on small stocks are higher in January than in remaining months. Our findings reveal that (a) idiosyncratic volatility is priced; and, (b) the multifactor model provides a better description of average returns than the traditional CAPM. We also find that the absolute pricing errors of the CAPM are large when compared with the multifactor model. We argue that firm size and idiosyncratic volatility may serve as proxies for systematic risk. We also dismiss the claim that returns on small stocks are on average higher in January than in remaining months. In summary, investors interested in taking additional risks should invest in small and low idiosyncratic volatility firms in addition to the market portfolio. This is because our findings indicate that investors can generate substantial returns by investing in strategies unrelated to market movements.Idiosyncratic Volatility, Firm Size, Asset Pricing, China.
The effects of debt subsidies on corporate investment behavior
Get PDFThis paper argues that credit subsidies are ineffective in stimulating business investment in productive assets. Instead, they lead to an increase in corporate holdings of financial assets and real estate. For empirical verification, the investment patterns in a sample of 241 Korean corporations listed on the Korean Stock Exchange between 1984 and 1988 were examined. The authors found a significant positive relation between corporate speculative asset holding and access to subsidized loans. Their estimates indicate that without interest rate controls and other forms of subsidy, corporate holdings of speculative assets would have been one-seventh of observed levels. Moreover, most corporate real estate holdings appear to be unrelated to production activities. Little evidence is found that the Korean government's interest rate controls and credit allocation policy have accelerated expansion of corporate investment. If anything, the controls are partly to blame for the overheated Korean stock market during 1986-88.Economic Theory&Research,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Banks&Banking Reform,Environmental Economics&Policies,Municipal Financial Management
Ranunculus ternatus Thunberg 1784
No full textRanunculus ternatus Thunberg (1784: 241). Figs. 1–15, 17. Type:— JAPAN. Precise locality unknown, C. Thunberg s.n. (holotype UPS-THUNB 13194!). Fig. 3. = Ranunculus huainingensis Wang et al. (2016: 97), syn. nov.; Wang et al. (2019: 288), isonym. Type:— CHINA. Anhui: Huaining, Shijing town, Denglin village, 85 m, 29 March 2015, D.Q. Wang 150329032 (holotype PE 02099720!; isotype ACM, not seen). Fig. 1. = Ranunculus lujiangensis Wang & Wang in Wang (2018: 801), syn. nov. Type:— CHINA. Anhui: Lujiang, Tangchi town, 150 m, 19 March 2018, D.Q. Wang W1804 (holotype PE, not seen; isotype PE, not seen). Fig. 2 (the line illustration in the protologue). For a complete synonymy of this species see Lauener & Green (1963), Liou (1980), Yang et al. (1996), and Wang & Gilbert (2001). Description:—Perennial herbs, sometimes with filiform, tuberiferous stolons. Roots tuberous and fibrous, with tubers obconic or ovoid, often fascicled. Stems 5–25 cm tall, glabrous or sparsely puberulent, branched. Basal leaves 5–10; petioles 2–10 cm, glabrous or sparsely puberulent; blades simple or ternate, subreniform or subpentagonal, 1.2–4.5 cm long, 2.4–6.5 cm broad, thinly papery; simple ones 3-lobulate or 3-parted, with the central primary lobe entire, or 1- or 2-lobed, the lateral primary lobes unequally 1‒3-lobed, with the terminal lobes entire, inconspicuously crenulate, denticulate, or more or less serrate; ternate ones larger, leaflets petiolulate, 1–4-lobed, 1- or 2-parted, or 1- or 2-sect, with the terminal lobes entire, inconspicuously crenulate, denticulate, or more or less serrate. Stem leaves 1–3, ternate, sessile, lobes obliquely narrowly ovate or sublinear, few-dentate or entire, glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Flowers solitary, terminal, 1–1.5 cm in diameter. Receptacle glabrous. Sepals 5, rarely 6 or 7, yellowish-greenish, elliptic to broadly elliptic, 3–4 mm long, 1.2–2 mm broad, abaxially glabrous to sparsely puberulent, reflexed or patent, concave, with the nerves obscure or even invisible. Petals 5, rarely 6 or 7, yellow, narrowly obovate to obovate, 5–7 mm long, 3.5–4 mm broad, at apex rounded, claw inconspicuous; nectary cup-shaped without a scale or pocket-like with an adaxial flap-like scale. Stamens numerous, 2–4 mm long; filaments linear, 1.8–2.5 mm long; anthers oblong, 1–2 mm long. Gynoecium ovoid, 2–4 mm long, 2–3 mm broad. Carpels 1–1.5 mm long; ovaries obliquely ovate to broadly ovate, 0.6–1 mm long; styles 0.2–0.8 mm long, straight or slightly curved at apex. Aggregate fruit ovoid, 2–4 mm long, 4–5 mm broad. Achenes ellipsoid-orbicular to obovoid-orbicular, 1.4–1.8 mm broad, 2–2.5 mm long, with styles beaked, 0.2–0.8 mm long. Phenology:—Flowering from February to April; fruiting from April to June. Distribution and habitat:— Ranunculus ternatus is widely distributed in China (Anhui, Chongqing, Guangdong, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shanghai, Taiwan, Zhejiang) (Fig. 16), Japan and South Korea. Its occurrence in Chongqing and Guangdong belongs to new records at provincial level (see below). This species grows by streams, in fields or at forest margins at elevations below 500 m. Additional specimens examined:— CHINA. Anhui: Chuzhou, Anonymous 1519 (NAS), Y.F. Xiao 433 (PE); Fanchang, M.E. Chen et al. XMG1803002 (PE), M.E. Chen et al. XMG1803003 (PE), M.E. Chen et al. XMG1803004 (PE); Hefei, Anonymous 53 (NAS), D.Q. Wang WDQ150329031 (PE); Huaining, W.Q. Fei & Q.E. Yang 201 (IBSC), J. Yang et al. HN20150310003 (PE), J. Yang et al. HN20150310005 (PE); Huangshan, Anonymous 51 (NAS), J.X. Fang TangXS0708 (KUN); Huoshan, X.L. Zhao CSH08942 (PE); Lu’an, D.Q. Wang W1805 (PE), D.Q. Wang W1806 (PE), D.Q. Wang W1807 (PE); Lujiang, W.Q. Fei & Q.E. Yang 204 (IBSC); Precise locality unknown, M. Cerillang 57 (NAS), M.B. Deng 61 (NAS); Qingyang, Anonymous 2474 (PE, PEY), Anonymous 27065 (NAS), H. Jame 18519 (NAS); Wuhu, H. Migo s.n. (NAS), K.K. Tsoong 3278 (PEY); Xiuning, Anonymous 44 (NAS). Chongqing: Nanchuan, Z.Y. Liu et al. RQHZ06041 (IMC). Guangdong: Qujiang, S.P. Ko 50151 (NAS); Ruyuan, S.P. Ko 51121 (NAS). Guangxi: Lingchuan, Lingchuan Exped. 450323130321033LY (IBK); Lingui, L.Q. Chen 93361 (PE), Guinan Exped. s.n. (PE), G.Z. Li 13703 (PE), G.Z. Li 15747 (PE), A.M. Liao 443 (IBK), A.M. Liao 475 (IBK), Z.S. Chung 808029 (IBK), Z.S. Chung 808793 (PE), Z.S. Chung 808882 (IBK, PE, SZ); Nanning, Y.Q. Su 15385 (GXMG); Precise locality unknown, Anonymous s.n. (NAS), M. Guo et al. 451324130419018LY (GXMG), Z.S. Chung 808823 (IBK); Xing’an: F. Liu 89 (PE); Yangshuo, R.H. Shan 742 (PE), R.H. Shan 782 (NAS, PE); Yongfu, Yongfu Exped. 450326130309011LY (IBK), Yongfu Exped. 450326130325020LY (IBK, GXMG). Henan: Xinyang, J.R. Chen s.n. (PE), J.R. Chen 281 (HENU), C. Wang 150411003 (BNU), L. Zhang 107 (HENU), M. Zhang 167 (HENU); Linzhou, M.Z. Zhang 466 (HENU). Hubei: Precise locality unknown, Y.H. Zhang 9 (PE); Wuchang, L.Y. Dai 2090 (NAS), G.X. Guo 177a (NAS), S.S. Chien 399 (NAS), S.S. Chien 1839 (NAS), Y.Z. Sun 1483 (WUK); Wuhan, H.B. Chen s.n. (FJSI). Hunan: Changsha, Anonymous 3278 (PE), X.M. Wen & Q. Lin 33 (PE), X.M. Wen & Q. Lin 46 (PE); Hengyang, B.H. Liang 84975 (SZ), J.L. Xia 201001 (NYA); Shaodong, J.H. Liu 7058 (PE); Shaoyang, L.D. Duan 632 (PE), L.D. Duan 681 (PE); Xinning, W.Q. Fei & Q.E. Yang 191 (IBSC), Y.B. Luo 513 (PE); Yiyang, L.D. Duan 3011 (PE), L.D. Duan 3070 (PE); Yizhang, S.Q. Chen 252 (IBK); Yongshun, K.D. Lei 4331271503051544 (JIU), D.G. Zhang yd00047 (JIU), D.G. Zhang zdg10046 (JIU), D.G. Zhang zdg10240 (JIU), D.G. Zhang zdg10313 (JIU); Yongzhou, Y.Q. Li & H.F. Wang ANUB00760 (ANUB); Zhangjiajie, H. Zhou & D.S. Zhou 2015040806 (CSFI), H. Zhou & J.L. Luo 15032506 (CSFI), H. Zhou & J.L. Luo 15032544 (CSFI). Jiangsu: Gaochun, Y.N. Xiong et al. 1526 (NAS); Jurong, B.C. Wu & Z.Y. Wang HANGYY8134 (KUN); Nanjing, Anonymous 13 (NAS), Anonymous 29 (NAS), Anonymous 1016 (NAS), Anonymous 1017 (NAS), Anonymous s.n. (NAS), C.N. Chen 8753 (NAS), C.Y. Chiao 1912A (CQNM), W.P. Fang 16 (NAS), W.Z. Fang et al. 125 (IBK, LBG, NAS, SZ, WUK), W.Q. Fei & H.M. Li 510 (IBSC), J.Y. Gong 607 (NAS), S.Y. He 570649 (BNU), Y.Y. Ho 2008 (NAS), Y.Y. Ho 2017 (NAS), Y.Y. Ho 2087 (NAS), Y.Y. Ho 3797 (NAS), Z.Y. Huang et al. 76 (NAS), P.P. Ling 1 (NAS), P.P. Ling 2 (MW, NAS), P.P. Ling 3 (NAS), P.P. Ling 4 (NAS), P.P. Ling 5 (NAS), P.P. Ling 7 (NAS), P.P. Ling 8 (NAS), P.P. Ling 9 (NAS), P.P. Ling 10 (NAS), P.P. Ling 11 (NAS), P.P. Ling 12 (NAS), P.P. Ling s.n. (NAS), P.P. Ling & S.S. Sun 65 (NAS, PE, SZ), F.S. Lui 840 (HZ, NAS, PE), C.Y. Luh 323 (NAS), C.Y. Luh 383 (NAS), Q.X. Liu et al. 5076 (NAS), A.N. Stewart 1912 (WUK), J. Sun 5030 (NAS), X.Y. Sun 16 (PE), Y.N. Xiong et al. 1137 (NAS), Y.N. Xiong et al. 1193 (NAS), S.J. Yang 178 (NAS), S.J. Yang et al. 49 (NAS), K. Yao et al. 8004 (FJSI, HZ, NAS), C.S. Yok 10 (NAS), X.Y. Zong & P.P. Ling s.n. (NAS); Precise locality unknown, Anonymous 791 (NAS), Anonymous 2493 (NAS), Anonymous 3278 (PE), F. Courtois s.n. (NAS), R.H. Shan 221 (NAS), C.L. Tso 9 (PE), W.X. Wu 4876 (NAS); Suzhou, C.C. Chen 983 (NAS), P.P. Ling & S.S. Sun 93 (NAS, PE), H. Migo s.n. (NAS); Wuxi, F. Courtois 9050 (NAS), W.X. Wu 7838 (NAS), S.T. Xiang 37 (NAS), W.P. Xue 565 (NAS); Yixing, Y.Z. Sun 310 (NAS); Zhenjiang, F. Courtois s.n. (PE), J.M. Delavay 1853 (NAS), H. Migo s.n. (NAS). Jiangxi: Anyuan, C.M. Hu & A.Y. Li 1975 (LBG, PE); Ji’an, Anonymous 408 (LBG), Anonymous 421 (LBG); Jiujiang, Anonymous 86 (LBG), W.Q. Fei & Q.E. Yang 198 (IBSC), X.Z. Li & D.Z. Gan 7020 (JJF, PE), X.Z. Li & L.P. Zhang 13027 (JJF), M.X. Nie 6982 (KUN, LBG, PE), C.M. Tan 8045 (JJF), C.M. Tan 20068 (PE), C.M. Tan 89118 (JJF), C.M. Tan 93011 (JJF, PE), C.M. Tan 94026 (PE), C.M. Tan 95031 (JJF), C.M. Tan 95063A (JJF), C.M. Tan 97099 (JJF), C.M. Tan 9604003A (NAS), C.M. Tan 9604035 (NAS, PE), C.M. Tan et al. 4046 (JJF), C.M. Tan et al. 6270 (JJF), C.M. Tan et al. 11086 (JJF), C.M. Tan et al. 1504126 (JJF), C.M. Tan & C.P. Hu 89118 (JJF), C.M. Tan & Y. Zhou 94026 (JJF, SN), G.H. Yi 12072 (JJF), G.H. Yi & C. Zheng 8001 (JJF); Lushan, A.M. Dong 652 (JJF), A.M. Dong 1266 (CCAU), A.M. Dong & C.M. Wu Tancm1506 (JJF), S.S. Lai & S.C. Zhang 780057 (LBG), C.M. Tan 97089 (JJF, KUN), M.K. Wang 124 (LBG), M.K. Wang & H. Zou 1666 (LBG), M.K. Wang & H. Zou 1680 (LBG), M.K. Wang & H. Zou 1706 (LBG); Nanchang, Anonymous 541 (JXU), Y. Lin 13009 (JXU, PE); Precise locality unknown, Anonymous s.n. (LBG), H.M. Mo 20558 (JXU); Suichuan, 236 Task Group 148 (PE); Xinjian, M.X. Nie 1975 (IBSC, LBG); Xingzi, J.L. Wang & S.C. Zhang 156 (LBG), J.L. Wang & S.C. Zhang 7808 (LBG). Shanghai: Anonymous 73 (NAS), Anonymous 1077 (NAS), Anonymous 2061 (NAS), B.J. Ge GBJ04853 (CSH), J.H. Gu 14350 (SHM), M. Heude 2293 (NAS), K.C. Kuan 7 (PE), P.P. Ling 2 (NAS, PE, SZ), P.P. Ling 6 (NAS, PE), Y.H. Liu 1437 (NAS), R.L. Lu et al. 5160 (SHM), H. Migo s.n. (NAS), X.K. Qin 19434 (SHM), X.K. Qin 19541 (SHM), C.Q. Wen et al. 22281 (SHM). Taiwan: Taipei, C.C. Chuang 2557 (TAI), N. Fukuyama 4654 (TAI), T. Kawakami & Y. Shimada 4266 (TAI), Kawakami & Y. Shimada s.n. (TAI), C.C.Kou & M.T. Kao 4499 (TAI), C.M. Kuo 4723 (TAI), S.H. Lin 688 (TAI), G. Masamune s.n. (TAI), Nakamura-Taizo 4277 (TAI), R. Oldham 135 (BM), S. Sasaki s.n. (TAI), Simada-Hidetaro 1179 (TAI), S. Suzuki 4205 (TAI), S. Suzuki 10221 (TAI), S. Suzuki s.n. (TAI), Suzuki-Tokio 8322 (TAI), T. Tanaka s.n. (NTUF), T. Tanaka & Y. Shimada 10961 (E, TAI), H.N. Yang 2555 (TAI). Zhejiang: Dinghai, Z.H. Chen 910180 (PE), Z.H. Chen 910181 (PE), C. Pei 2493 (NAS); Dongtou, W.P. Ku et al. XY00185 (CSH), W.P. Ku et al. XY00419 (CSH), W.P. Ku et al. XY00423 (CSH), W.P. Ku et al. XY00546 (CSH); Jinhua, D. Chen 867 (NAS), H. Migo s.n. (NAS); Hangzhou, Anonymous 5 (SZ), Anonymous 15 (SZ), Anonymous 17 (HZ), Anonymous 35 (PE), Anonymous 56 (SZ), Anonymous 58 (SZ), Anonymous 179 (ZM), Anonymous 184 (HZ), Anonymous 201 (HZ, PE), Anonymous 550 (NAS), Anonymous 652 (HZ), Anonymous 1876 (HZ), Anonymous 1978 (HTC, HZ, SZ), Anonymous 2041 (HZ, PE), J.B. Mao 1471 (ZM), H. Wang 19 (ZM), C.C. Wu 1420 (PE), S.G. Zhang 184 (HZ, NAS, PE), Y.H. Zhang 83070 (ZM), Zhejiang Museum 3071 (ZM), Z.Y. Zhu & C.M. Chen s.n. (HHBG); Ningbo: W. Hancock 34 (K); Pinghu, R.L. Chen 8967 (PE), Herbarium Plant Group 8651 (SHM), B.M. Liao 7861A (SHM); Pingyang, X.K. Qin 17219 (SHM), L.Q. Qiu et al. 6204 (SHM); Precise locality unknown, Y.Y. Ho 833 (NAS), K.K. Tsoong 214 (NAS), Z.Y. Zhu & C.M. Chen s.n. (HZ); Taizhou, H. Migo s.n. (NAS); Zhenhai, Y.Y. Ho 790 (NAS), Y.Y. Ho 833 (NAS); Zhoushan, Y.K. Bi et al. BYK476 (CSH), Y.K. Bi et al. BYK3736 (CSH), Y.K. Bi et al. BYK3790 (CSH), Y.K. Bi et al. BYK3847 (CSH), X.Y. Ye DJD13013 (CSH). JAPAN. Ibarraki: M. Furuse 49967 (PE). Kanagawa: Y. Asai 8346 (E). Saitama: M. Furuse 33425 (PE), M. Furuse 33430 (PE), H. Migo s.n. (NAS), H. Takeda s.n. (E). Tokyo: H. Migo s.n. (NAS), M. Togashi MT 6802 (E, P), T. Makino s.n. (HIMC), J. Bisset s.n. (E), H. Sakurai s.n. (E). SOUTH KOREA. Jeju: U.J. Faurie 1729 (BM, E), T. Taquet 2970 (E, K), T. Taquet 4551 (E), T. Taquet 4552 (E), T. Taquet 9393 (E). Notes:— Ranunculus ternatus was described as annual by Liou (1980), Wang (1991), Lin (1992), Anonymous (1993), Wang (1995), Liu (2000), Zhao & Liu (2010), Zhang (2021), or as perennial by Ohwi (1965), Anonymous (1972), Ding et al. (1981), Wang (1986), Yang et al. (1996), Wang & Gilbert (2001), Yang & Huang (2008), Deng & Ye (2013). Our critical observations on living plants have revealed that plants of R. ternatus constantly produce tubers, with new tubers continuously growing from plants of past years (Figs. 5C, 6C, 7C, 8C, 12C, 14C) or from the nodes of stolons (Figs. 5C, 12C, 14C). The tubers can help the plants survive in winter. Ranunculus ternatus, therefore, is a perennial herb, not an annual. Ranunculus ternatus has been previously recorded to be widely distributed in China, including Anhui, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Zhejiang. Our examination of herbarium specimens indicated that this species also occurs in southern Chongqing and northern Guangdong (two sheets, Z.Y. Liu et al. RQHZ06041 and S.P. Ko 51121, shown in Figure 17). The collection Z.Y. Liu et al. RQHZ06041 (IMC, three sheets) has been misidentified as R. monophyllus Ovczinnikov (1922: 54) on the determination slips, a species most easily distinguishable from R. ternatus by having only fibrous (vs. both tuberous and fibrous) roots, fewer basal leaves (1–3 vs. 5–10), reniform or orbicular-ovate (vs. subreniform or subpentagonal) blades, and puberulent (vs. glabrous) carpels and achenes. Geographically R. monophyllus is distributed in northern China (Beijing, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Shanxi, Xinjiang) and Russia (Siberia). Ranunculus zuccarinii var. dissectissimus Migo (1934: 4) was described on the basis of a collection, H. Migo s.n. (TI; Fig. 18), from the Botanical Garden of the Shanghai Science Institute (“ Horto Institutionis Scientiarum Shanghaiensis ”) in Shanghai, China. In the protologue, the author stated that this variety differed from the type variety, var. zuccarinii, by its polymorphic and extremely dissected basal leaves. It was transferred to R. ternatus as a variety, i.e. R. ternatus var. dissectissimus (Migo) Handel-Mazzetti (1939: 167), as R. zuccarinii Miquel (1867: 5) was reduced to the synonymy of R. ternatus. Liou (1980) placed R. ternatus var. dissectissimus in synonymy with R. ternatus, pointing out that R. ternatus was highly variable in all parts. This treatment was only accepted by Kadota (2006) (under the name R. extorris Hance) and Yang et al. (2014), while Wang (1995), Wang & Gilbert (2001) and Deng & Ye (2013) recognized R. ternatus var. dissectissimius as an independent variety. It was elevated as an independent species, i.e. R. dissectissimus (Migo) Luferov (2014: 147), without any reason given. As shown in the type specimen (Fig. 18), the basal leaves of R. ternatus var. dissectissimius are indeed extremely dissected. Here we put the treatment of R. ternatus var. dissectissimius aside for a further study.Published as part of Fei, Wen-Qun, Yuan, Qiong & Yang, Qin-Er, 2022, Ranunculus huainingensis and R. lujiangensis (Ranunculaceae), described from Anhui in China, are both synonymous with R. ternatus, a polymorphic eastern Asian species, pp. 15-38 in Phytotaxa 573 (1) on pages 32-37, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.573.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/732940
Fatty acids and their metabolism critically regulate podocyte survival
Get PDFDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease in industrialized countries, and most affected patients have type 2 diabetes. Podocyte injury and loss are considered critical in the development, and progression of DN. Several factors of the diabetic milieu are well known to impair function and survival of podocytes. However, the role of free fatty acids (FFAs), which are elevated in type 2 diabetes, and the role of their metabolism are just emerging in the pathogenesis of DN. FFAs were reported to regulate podocyte survival. Saturated FFAs, i.e. palmitic acid, were found to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and podocyte death, whereas monounsaturated FFAs, i.e. palmitoleic acid or oleic acid, were protective.
The aims of the present study were to investigate whether FFA metabolism is regulated in glomeruli of type 2 diabetic patients with DN and whether regulation of FFA metabolism affects the susceptibility of podocytes towards palmitic acid. Particularly, I aimed to investigate whether regulation of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) modifies palmitic acid-induced podocyte death. As genome wide association studies suggest that acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) 2, an important enzyme in the regulation of FAO, is involved in the pathogenesis of DN, I performed detailed studies investigating the role of ACCs in podocytes. Furthermore, I explored the effect of palmitic acid on podocytes in combination with well-known proapoptotic stimuli of the diabetic milieu.
The present study uncovered that palmitic acid can aggravate the toxicity of other factors which are known to be important in the pathogenesis of DN and which are considered to cause podocyte loss. In particular the toxicity of high glucose concentrations and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β are substantially increased by palmitic acid, whereas the effect of palmitic acid on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α induced podocyte death is discret.
In the main part of this study FFA metabolism and its effect on palmitic acid induced podocyte death was investigated. The study finds that in glomeruli of type 2 diabetic patients mRNA expression levels of several key enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism are altered. Of particular relevance for my detailed studies on FAO, a significant upregulation of all three isoforms of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT)-1, the rate-limiting enzyme for FAO, and a downregulation of ACC-2, which catalyzes the formation of the CPT-1 inhibitor malonyl-CoA, are found which suggest a disposition for increased FAO. In vitro, stimulation of FAO by aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1β-D-ribofuranoside (Aicar) or by adiponectin, activators of the low-energy sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), protect from palmitic acid induced podocyte death. Conversely, inhibition of CPT-1, a downstream target of AMPK, by etomoxir augments palmitic acid toxicity and impedes the protective Aicar effect. Etomoxir blocked the Aicar induced FAO measured with tritium labeled palmitic acid. Of note, only double knockdown of ACC1 and ACC2 has a protective effect on palmitic acid induced cell death, which indicates that both isoforms contribute to the regulation of FAO in podocytes. Furthermore, the effect of Aicar is associated with a reduction of ER-stress as indicated by a significant attenuation of the palmitic acid induced upregulation of immunoglobulin heavy chain binding protein (BiP), an ER chaperone, and of the proapoptotic transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP).
In conclusion, palmitic acid increases the toxicity of other factors known to contribute to podocyte loss, which underlines the potentially important contribution of elevated saturated FFAs in the pathogenesis of DN. An important role of FFAs and of their metabolism in the pathogenesis of DN is further suggested by profound changes in gene expression levels of key enzymes of FFA metabolism in glomerular extracts of type 2 diabetic patients. The changed expression profile indicates a compensatory, protective response. Moreover, the results of this study uncover that stimulation of FAO by modulating the AMPK-ACC-CPT-1 pathway protects from palmitic acid induced podocyte death. The results of this study should encourage further investigations to evaluate the therapeutic potential of interfering with FFA metabolism specifically with stimulating FAO for the prevention and therapy of DN
Knowledge representation within information systems in manufacturing environments
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.Representing knowledge as information content alone is insufficient in providing us with an understanding of the world around us. A combination of context as well as reasoning of the information content is fundamental to representing knowledge in an information system. Knowledge Representation is typically concerned with providing structures and theories that are used as a basis for intelligent reasoning. For this research however, the author defines an alternative meaning, which is related to how knowledge is used in a given context. Thus, this dissertation provides a contribution to the field of knowledge within information systems, in terms of the development of a frame-of-reference that will support the reader in navigating through the different forms of explicit and tacit knowledge use within the manufacturing industry. In doing so, the dissertation also presents the generation of a novel classification of three forms of knowledge (Structural, Interpretive and Evaluative forms); the development of a conceptual framework which highlights the drivers for knowledge transformation; and the development of a conceptual model which seeks to envelop both the content as well as the context of knowledge (Semiotic as well as Symbiotic factors). This is established through the use of an Empirical, Quantitative case study approach, that seeks to explore an interpretivist view of knowledge representation within two information systems contexts, within two UK manufacturing organisations. The first case study presents how a-priori knowledge assumptions are used in a computer aided engineering decision-making task within a high technology manufacturing company. The second case study shows how knowledge is used within the IT/IS investment evaluation decision making process, within a manufacturing SME. In doing so, both case studies attempt to elucidate the inherent, underlying relationship between explicit and tacit knowledge, via a frame-of-reference developed by the author which defines key drivers for knowledge transformation
ALMA/ACA CO Survey of the IC 1459 and NGC 4636 Groups: Environmental Effects on the Molecular Gas of Group Galaxies
No full textFull list of authors: Lee, Bumhyun; Wang, Jing; Chung, Aeree; Ho, Luis C.; Wang, Ran; Michiyama, Tomonari; Molina, Juan; Kim, Yongjung; Shao, Li; Kilborn, Virginia; Wang, Shun; Lin, Xuchen; Kim, Dawoon E.; Catinella, Barbara; Cortese, Luca; Deg, Nathan; Denes, Helga; Elagali, Ahmed; For, Bi-Qing; Kleiner, Dane; Koribalski, Barbel S.; Lee-Waddell, Karen; Rhee, Jonghwan; Spekkens, Kristine; Westmeier, Tobias; Wong, O. Ivy; Bigiel, Frank; Bosma, Albert; Holwerda, Benne W.; van der Hulst, Jan M.; Roychowdhury, Sambit; Verdes-Montenegro, Lourdes; Zwaan, Martin A.--This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.We present new results of a 12CO(J = 1–0) imaging survey using the Atacama Compact Array (ACA) for 31 H i detected galaxies in the IC 1459 and NGC 4636 groups. This is the first CO imaging survey for loose galaxy groups. We obtained well-resolved CO data (∼0.7–1.5 kpc) for a total of 16 galaxies in two environments. By comparing our ACA CO data with the H i and UV data, we probe the impacts of the group environment on the cold gas components (CO and H i gas) and star formation activity. We find that CO and/or H i morphologies are disturbed in our group members, some of which show highly asymmetric CO distributions (e.g., IC 5264, NGC 7421, and NGC 7418). In comparison with isolated galaxies in the xCOLD GASS sample, our group galaxies tend to have low star formation rates and low H2 gas fractions. Our findings suggest that the group environment can change the distribution of cold gas components, including the molecular gas and star formation properties of galaxies. This is supporting evidence that preprocessing in the group-like environment can play an important role in galaxy evolution. © 2022. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.B.L. acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation of China (12073002, 11721303, 11991052) and the National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFA0400702). B.L. is supported by the Boya Fellowship at Peking University. B.L. gratefully thanks Hyein Yoon for useful discussions. This work was partly supported by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (Project No. 2022-1-840-05). Support for this work was also provided by the National Research Foundation of Korea by grant No. 2018R1D1A1B07048314. J.W. acknowledges the science research grants from the China Manned Space Project with No. CMS-CSST-2021-B02. L.C.H. was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (11721303, 11991052, 12011540375) and the China Manned Space Project (CMS-CSST-2021-A04, CMS-CSST-2021-A06). T.M. appreciates support from NAOJ ALMA Scientific Research grant No. 2021-17A. T.M. is supported by JSPS KAKENHI grant No. 22K14073. J.M.vdH. acknowledges funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013)/ERC grant Agreement No. 291531 ('HIStoryNU'). Y.K. was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No. 2021R1C1C2091550) and acknowledges the support from China Postdoc Science General (2020M670022), and Special (2020T130018) grants funded by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. Parts of this research were supported by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D), through project number CE170100013. L.C. is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT180100066) funded by the Australian Government. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement no. 679627; project name FORNAX). K.S. acknowledges support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). A.B. acknowledges support from the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France. L.V.M. acknowledges financial support from the State Agency for Research of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the "Center of Excellence Severo Ochoa" awarded to the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia (SEV-2017-0709), from grant RTI2018-096228-B-C31 (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities/State Agency for Research/European Regional Development Funds, European Union), and grant IAA4SKA (Ref. P18-RT-3082) from the Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades de la Junta de Andalucia and the European Regional Development Fund from the European Union.F.B. acknowledges funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No. 726384/Empire).Peer reviewe
Targeting RTK signaling pathways in cancer
No full textThe RAS/MAP kinase and the RAS/PI3K/AKT pathways play a key role in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation and survival. The induction of these pathways depends on Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) that are activated upon ligand binding. In cancer, constitutive and aberrant activations of components of those pathways result in increased proliferation, survival and metastasis. For instance, mutations affecting RTKs, Ras, B-Raf, PI3K and AKT are common in perpetuating the malignancy of several types of cancers and from different tissue origins. Therefore, these signaling pathways became prime targets for cancer therapy. This review aims to provide an overview about the most frequently encountered mutations, the pathogenesis that results from such mutations and the known therapeutic strategies developed to counteract their aberrant functions
Estudo da atividade biológica de Baccharis articulata, Musa x paradisiaca e rutina na homeostasia da glicose em modelos experimentais in vivo e in vitro
Get PDFTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Programa de Pós-Graduação em FarmáciaA insulina é o principal hormônio anabólico responsável pelo controle da captação, utilização e armazenamento dos nutrientes celulares como carboidratos, proteínas e lipídios, sendo essencial para a manutenção da homeostasia da glicose, o crescimento e diferenciação celular. Defeitos na ação e/ou na secreção de insulina podem levar à hiperglicemia, característica da diabetes melito. A diabetes melito é uma patologia complexa e multifatorial de elevada morbidade e mortalidade e, por esse motivo, é considerada uma epidemia, caracterizando um problema de saúde pública mundial. Muitas plantas são conhecidas na medicina popular de diferentes culturas pelas propriedades hipoglicemiantes e tem um uso crescente no tratamento da diabetes. Os compostos fenólicos derivados de plantas, especialmente os flavonóides, apresentam diversas propriedades e tem um potencial terapêutico muito investigado. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar o efeito de extratos e frações de Bacharis articulata (carqueja) e de Musa x paradisiaca (banana), assim como do flavonóide rutina, na homeostasia da glicose em modelos experimentais in vivo e in vitro. As duas espécies foram avaliadas quanto às atividades anti-hiperglicêmica e/ou hipoglicemiante na curva de tolerância à glicose e em modelos de diabetes induzidos experimentalmente, como a secreção de insulina, o conteúdo de glicogênio hepático e muscular, a inibição das enzimas ?-glicosidases e a propriedade anti-glicação, assim como o conteúdo de flavonóides. Além disso, foi estudado o mecanismo de ação da rutina na captação de glicose e de cálcio em músculo sóleo, e também a secreção de insulina in vivo e o mecanismo de ação da rutina na captação de cálcio em ilhotas pancreáticas isoladas. Para tanto, foram utilizados ratos Wistar machos entre 50-55 dias de idade. Para a realização da curva de tolerância à glicose as coletas de sangue, para determinação da glicose e insulina sérica, foram realizadas nos tempos zero, 15, 30, 60, 120 e 180 minutos. Nos ensaios para a determinação do conteúdo de glicogênio os tecidos foram retirados dos animais 3 h após os tratamentos. As atividades das dissacaridases intestinais e a propriedade anti-glicação foram realizadas in vitro. A captação de 14C-glicose e de 45-cálcio (45Ca2+) foi estudada após a incubação do músculo sóleo com a rutina. As ilhotas pancreáticas foram isoladas e incubadas com 45Ca2+ e rutina, na presença ou não de diferentes inibidores e ativadores. Os extratos brutos, as frações n-butanol e residual aquosa de B. articulata e de M. x paradisiaca reduziram significativamente a glicemia de ratos normais hiperglicêmicos e potencializaram a secreção de insulina induzida por glicose. Além disso, observou-se um aumento no conteúdo de glicogênio no músculo sóleo e fígado após os tratamentos, principalmente com as frações n-butanol das duas espécies vegetais. Os extratos e as frações reduziram a atividade da maltase e preveniram a glicação. A rutina estimulou a captação de glicose e cálcio no músculo, estimulando a captação de glicose através da ativação de uma via insulinomimética e uma via independente da sinalização clássica da insulina. Além disso, a rutina estimulou a secreção de insulina in vivo e a captação de cálcio em ilhotas pancreática isoladas, atuando como um potencial agente secretagogo de insulina. Desta forma, apoiado nos resultados obtidos neste trabalho, propõe-se que as espécies vegetais, Baccharis articulata e Musa x paradisiaca, e o flavonóide rutina aqui estudados possam regular a homeostasia da glicose. Os mecanismos envolvem a inibição da enzima que permite a absorção intestinal da glicose, a inibição da glicação, o estímulo da secreção de insulina e o aumento na utilização de glicose pelos tecidos periféricos, evidenciando que estas duas espécies e a rutina podem atuar por múltiplos mecanismos de ação para regular a homeostasia da glicose e colaborar na prevenção das complicações da diabetes.Insulin is the main anabolic hormone responsible for controlling the uptake, use and storage of cellular nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. It is essential for the maintenance of glucose homeostasis, growth and cellular differentiation. Defects in action and / or secretion of insulin may lead to hyperglycemia, which characterizes diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is a complex and multifactorial disease with high morbidity and mortality, therefore is considered epidemic causing a public health problem worldwide. Many plants are known in folk medicine of different cultures for their hypoglycemic properties showing an increasing use in the treatment of diabetes. The plant-derived phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, have several properties and their therapeutic potential has been investigated. The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of extracts and fractions of Baccharis articulata ("carqueja") and Musa x paradisiaca ("banana"), as well as the flavonoid rutin, in glucose homeostasis using in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Antihyperglycemic and / or hypoglycemic activity in the curve of glucose tolerance and in models of experimentally induced diabetes, insulin secretion, the hepatic glycogen content and muscle, inhibition of the enzymes á-glucosidases and anti-glycation property were investigated, as well as the content of flavonoids. In addition, was also studied the mechanism of action of rutin in glucose and calcium uptake in soleus muscle, and also the in vivo insulin secretion and the mechanism of action of rutin on calcium uptake in rat isolated pancreatic islets. For in vivo experiments, Wistar male rats with 50-55 days of age were used. To glycemia and serum insulin determination blood samples were collected at zero, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min in glucose tolerance curve. Tissues were removed from animals 3 h after oral administration of treatments to determine glycogen contents. The intestinal disaccharidases activities and anti-glycation property were performed in vitro. The glucose and calcium uptake was studied after incubation of the soleus muscle with rutin, in the presence or not of different inhibitors and of 14C-glucose or calcium (45Ca2+). The pancreatic islets were isolated and incubated with 45Ca2+ and rutin in the presence or absence of various inhibitors or activators. The crude extracts and n-butanol and residual aqueous fractions of B. articulata and of M. x paradisiaca showed potential anti-hyperglycemic activity in hyperglycemic normal rats and potentiated glucose-induced insulin secretion. Additionaly, it was observed an increase on glycogen content in muscle and liver after treatments, mainly with the n-butanol fractions of two species. The extracts and fractions reduced the activity of maltase and prevented glycation. Also, rutin stimulated glucose and calcium uptake in soleus muscle, stimulating glucose uptake via activation of an insulin-mimetic and an insulin-independent signaling pathways. Additionally, rutin stimulated insulin secretion in vivo and calcium uptake in isolated pancreatic islets, as a potential insulin secretagogue agent. Thus, these results suggest that Baccharis articulata, M. x paradisiaca and rutin are able to regulate glucose homeostasis. The mechanisms involve the inhibition of the enzyme that allows the intestinal absorption of glucose, the inhibition of glycation, the stimulation of insulin secretion and increase in glucose utilization by peripheral tissues showed that these plant species and rutin may act by multiple mechanisms of action to regulate glucose homeostasis, thereby contributing to the prevention of diabetes-related complications
