Utilizing Machine Learning Techniques for Classifying Translated and Non-Translated Corporate Annual Reports

Globalization has led to the widespread adoption of translated corporate annual reports in international markets. Nonetheless, it remains largely unexplored whether these translated documents fulfill the same function and communicate as effectively to international investors as their non-translated counterparts. Considering their significance to stakeholders, differentiating between these two types of reports is essential, yet research in this area is insufficient. This study seeks to bridge this gap by leveraging machine learning algorithms to classify corporate annual reports based on their translation status. By constructing corpora of comparable texts and employing thirteen syntactic complexity indices as features, we analyzed the reports using eight different algorithms: Naïve Bayes, Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, k-Nearest Neighbors, Neural Network, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting and Deep Learning. Additionally, ensemble models were created by combining the three most effective algorithms. The best-performing model in our study achieved an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 99.3%. This innovative approach demonstrates the effectiveness of syntactic complexity indices in machine learning for classifying translational language in corporate reporting, contributing valuable insights to text classification and translational language research. Our findings offer critical implications for stakeholders in multilingual contexts, highlighting the need for further research in this field.</p

Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Colloidal Superparticles from Nanocubes

This communication reports a shape-controlled synthesis of colloidal superparticles (SPs) from iron oxide nanocubes. Our results show that the formation of SPs is under thermodynamic control and that their shape is determined by Gibbs free energy minimization. The resulting SPs adopt a simple-cubic superlattice structure, and their shape can be tuned between spheres and cubes by varying the relative free energy contributions from the surface and bulk free energy terms. The formation of sphere-shaped SPs from nanocubes suggests that the size-dependent hydration effect predicted by the Lum–Chandler–Weeks theory plays a very important role in the self-assembly of nano-objects. In addition, the iron oxide SPs exhibit shape-dependent therapeutic effects in magnetomechanical treatments of cancer cells in vitro

In Vivo and in Situ Activated Aggregation-Induced Emission Probes for Sensitive Tumor Imaging Using Tetraphenylethene-Functionalized Trimethincyanines-Encapsulated Liposomes

The design and exploration of fluorescent probes with high-sensitivity and low-background are essential for noninvasive optical molecular imaging. The in vivo and in situ activated aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probes were found to be ideal for achieving higher signal-to-background ratios for tumor detections. We herein developed novel tetraphenylethene-encapsulated liposomes (TPE-LPs) constructed by loading TPE-trimethincyanine into liposomes for the first time, and the probes were applied to tumor bioimaging in vivo. TPE-functionalized trimethincyanines were synthesized with a new and efficient one-pot reaction. In TPE-LPs, TPE-functionalized bicarboxylic acids benzoindole trimethinecyanine (TPE-BICOOH) fluorophores were found to be well dispersed in lipid bilayers (with non-restricted rotation) during the blood circulation, and then aggregated (with restriction of intramolecular rotation) upon liposome rupture in the tumor tissue, achieving a low-background and high-target signal for tumor imaging. The in situ activated AIE probes not only had great accumulation at the tumor site after intravenous injection in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice but also demonstrated excellent signal-to-background ratios, as well as low cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility. The proposed strategy is believed to be a simple and powerful tool for the sensitive detection of tumors

Bioinspired Nanocomplex for Spatiotemporal Imaging of Sequential mRNA Expression in Differentiating Neural Stem Cells

Messenger RNA plays a pivotal role in regulating cellular activities. The expression dynamics of specific mRNA contains substantial information on the intracellular milieu. Unlike the imaging of stationary mRNAs, real-time intracellular imaging of the dynamics of mRNA expression is of great value for investigating mRNA biology and exploring specific cellular cascades. In addition to advanced imaging methods, timely extracellular stimulation is another key factor in regulating the mRNA expression repertoire. The integration of effective stimulation and imaging into a single robust system would significantly improve stimulation efficiency and imaging accuracy, producing fewer unwanted artifacts. In this study, we developed a multifunctional nanocomplex to enable self-activating and spatiotemporal imaging of the dynamics of mRNA sequential expression during the neural stem cell differentiation process. This nanocomplex showed improved enzymatic stability, fast recognition kinetics, and high specificity. With a mechanism regulated by endogenous cell machinery, this nanocomplex realized the successive stimulating motif release and the dynamic imaging of chronological mRNA expression during neural stem cell differentiation without the use of transgenetic manipulation. The dynamic imaging montage of mRNA expression ultimately facilitated genetic heterogeneity analysis. <i>In vivo</i> lateral ventricle injection of this nanocomplex enabled endogenous neural stem cell activation and labeling at their specific differentiation stages. This nanocomplex is highly amenable as an alternative tool to explore the dynamics of intricate mRNA activities in various physiological and pathological conditions

C–H···π Interaction Induced Formation of Microtubes with Enhanced Emission

High luminescent bis­(salicylaldehyde)<i>o</i>-phenylenediimine­(salophen) microtubes with rectangular cross sections were successfully synthesized by a self-assembly method. Accompanied by the formation of microtubes, a remarkable enhanced emission was observed. Crystal structure analysis and theoretical studies were both investigated in detail. It was found that a conformation change induced by multiple C–H···π interactions between adjacent molecules was responsible for the formation of microtubes. The edge-to-face C–H···π interactions also resulted in molecular structural rigidification, which made salophen a stronger emitter in microtubes

Hypochlorous Acid Promoted Platinum Drug Chemotherapy by Myeloperoxidase-Encapsulated Therapeutic Metal Phenolic Nanoparticles

This study applies <i>in situ</i> production of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to improve the therapeutic efficacy of platinum drugs. The phagocytic enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) is coated with two functional polyphenol derivatives (platinum prodrug polyphenols and PEG polyphenols) and ferric ion by metal phenolic coordination, which can shield MPO from degradation by other compounds in the blood. Moreover, the platinum prodrug can be reduced to cisplatin in cells and produce hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The MPO catalyzes the conversion of H₂O₂ to HOCl in the intercellular environment. The as-prepared MPO Pt PEG nanoparticles (MPP NPs) can be employed as a reactive oxygen species cascade bioreaction to enhance platinum drug therapy. The MPP NPs show prolonged blood circulation and high tumor accumulation as evidenced by ⁸⁹Zr-based positron emission tomography imaging. The MPP NPs effectively inhibit tumor growth <i>in vivo</i>. As a first-in-class platform to harness the highly toxic HOCl in nanomedicine for cancer therapy, this strategy may open doors for further development of progressive therapeutic systems

TqPCR: A Touchdown qPCR Assay with Significantly Improved Detection Sensitivity and Amplification Efficiency of SYBR Green qPCR

<div><p>The advent of fluorescence-based quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) has revolutionized the quantification of gene expression analysis in many fields, including life sciences, agriculture, forensic science, molecular diagnostics, and medicine. While SYBR Green-based qPCR is the most commonly-used platform due to its inexpensive nature and robust chemistry, quantifying the expression of genes with low abundance or RNA samples extracted from highly restricted or limited sources can be challenging because the detection sensitivity of SYBR Green-based qPCR is limited. Here, we develop a novel and effective touchdown qPCR (TqPCR) protocol by incorporating a 4-cycle touchdown stage prior to the quantification amplification stage. Using the same cDNA templates, we find that TqPCR can reduce the average Cq values for <i>Gapdh</i>, <i>Rps13</i>, and <i>Hprt1</i> reference genes by 4.45, 5.47, and 4.94 cycles, respectively, when compared with conventional qPCR; the overall average Cq value reduction for the three reference genes together is 4.95. We further find that TqPCR can improve PCR amplification efficiency and thus increase detection sensitivity. When the quantification of Wnt3A-induced target gene expression in mesenchymal stem cells is analyzed, we find that, while both conventional qPCR and TqPCR can detect the up-regulation of the relatively abundant target <i>Axin2</i>, only TqPCR can detect the up-regulation of the lowly-expressed targets <i>Oct4</i> and <i>Gbx2</i>. Finally, we demonstrate that the MRQ2 and MRQ3 primer pairs derived from mouse reference gene <i>Tbp</i> can be used to validate the RNA/cDNA integrity of qPCR samples. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that TqPCR may increase detection sensitivity and PCR amplification efficiency. Overall, TqPCR should be advantageous over conventional qPCR in expression quantification, especially when the transcripts of interest are lowly expressed, and/or the availability of total RNA is highly restricted or limited.</p></div

Comparative analysis of moderately abundant reference gene <i>Rps13</i> expression detected by conventional qPCR and TqPCR.

<p>The cDNA sample was prepared from the exponentially growing iMEF cells and was 5-fold serially diluted for PCR amplification, as described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0132666#pone.0132666.g002" target="_blank">Fig 2</a>. Primers specific for mouse <i>Rps13</i> were used to detect its expression with the conventional qPCR <b>(A)</b> and TqPCR <b>(B)</b> protocols using CFX-Connect qPCR unit (Bio-Rad). The qPCR SYBR Green fluorescence history vs. cycle numbers <b>(<i>a</i>)</b> and the qPCR efficiencies of <i>Rps13</i><b>(<i>b</i>)</b> were analyzed and presented. The mean Cq value comparison of the two procedures was further graphed <b>(C)</b>. “**”, indicating the Cq difference between qPCR and TqPCR groups is significant with p<0.001.</p

Scatter plotting of the correlation of differential Cq values between Bio-Rad’s RQ (BRQ) primers and MRQ primer pairs.

<p>Pearson correlation coefficient analysis for RQ1/RQ2 and MRQs on the 13 cDNA samples was carried out by using SAS v9.3 software. The differential Cq values between BRQ1/2 and MRQ2/3 <b>(A)</b>, MRQ2/4 <b>(B)</b>, MRQ2/5 <b>(C)</b>, MRQ2/6 <b>(D)</b>, as well as MRQ2/1 (data not shown), were all statistically positively correlated. The correlation between BRQ1/2 and MRQ2/3 is the largest, while the BRQ1/2 and MQR2/1 is the least (data not shown).</p

Evaluation of customized TqPCR primers that can be used to assess the RT-reverse transcription quality (RQ) of qPCR templates from mouse RNA samples.

<p><b>(A)</b> Schematic representation of the sizes and locations of the PCR primers (also see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0132666#pone.0132666.s002" target="_blank">S2 Table</a>). <b>(B)</b> Comparison and correlation analyses of mean Cq value differences between Bio-Rad’s RQ1 and RQ2 primers (BRQ1 and BRQ2) and customized RQ primers (e.g., MRQ1 through MRQ6). The mean Cq values were obtained by performing TqPCR assay. Possible correlations between BRQ1/2 and MRQ primers were further analyzed statistically.</p