Japan's Corporate returns on value and cost: a comprehensive look.

The paper documents that for 1974-95 the Japanese non-financials' return on cost, a measure of return on (direct) investment, is consistently higher than their return on value (an estimate of the expected return or cost of capital). Against conventional wisdom, when translated into USD terms, the Japanese cost of capital is actually higher than the U.S. counterpart. The paper further shows that as of the 90s the main-bank centered keirestu firms, with their internally disciplined corporate governance system, lost their traditional advantage of lower cost of capital, compared to the non-keiretsu firms. Examining corporate earnings, investment, and forms of financing reveals that, in recent years, keiretsu firms have become more liquidity constrained than non-keiretsu firms. Their investment drops dramatically, and while (also much reduced) retained cash earnings provide most of the financing, debt financing is replaced by more expensive new equity as the major source of outside financing. Non-keiretsu firms are suffering as well, but to a lesser degree, and are still able to finance their investment even with substantial short-term debts. The main-bank system seems starting to crumble following an over-investment episode in late-80s.Value;

Legged robot gait locus generation based on genetic algorithms

Achieving an effective gait locus for legged robots is a challenging task. It is often done manually in a laborious way due to the lack of research in automatic gait locus planning. Bearing this problem in mind, this article presents a gait locus planning method using inverse kinematics while incorporating genetic algorithms. Using quadruped robots as a platform for evaluation, this method is shown to generate a good gait locus for legged robots. Copyright © held by author

Morphology Analysis and Characteristics Evaluation of Typical Super Abrasive Grits in Micron Scale

Distribution characterization of geometry shape and size of abrasive grits with high quality in tight size band and exact pattern is crucial for modern tool manufacturer to make fine powder abrasive tool and other powder tools, but complex to be classified and evaluated accurately due to the lack of scientific method. In contrast to industrial methods with sieving mesh size or simplified projection criteria with circumscribed (inscribed or escribed) circle or rectangle, a set of new systemic criteria is developed and validated by measuring three representative grits samples in micron scale under 2D/3D microscopy platform. The features of micron abrasive grits under morphology classification include total four groups, six subgroups and eighteen sub-types in consideration of spatial geometry and statistical size distribution. For grinding performance analysis and simulation, it would be better to use a set of dominant volumetric geometries rather than use single simple geometry. Furthermore, the significance of abrasive grits geometries in grinding performance is discussed

A systematic simulation methodology for LNG ship operations in port waters: a case study in Meizhou Bay

With the increment for liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand, LNG carriers are becoming larger in size. The operational safety of the carriers and the associated terminals is increasingly attracting attention. This is particularly true when a large LNG vessel approaches a terminal, requiring a detailed investigation of ship handling in port waters, especially in certain unusual cases. A full mission simulator provides an effective tool for research and training in operations of both port terminals and ships. This paper presents an experimental design methodology of the full mission simulation. The details as to how the simulation is achieved are described, and the simulation strategies applicable to LNG ships are specified. A typical case study is used to demonstrate and verify the proposed design methodology. The proposed methodology of the full mission simulation provides guidance for port safety research, risk evaluation and seafarer training. © 2017 Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technolog

Determination and Distribution Study of Pogostone in Rat Tissues by Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography

Purpose: To develop and validate a rapid, sensitive and reliable ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) method with photodiode array (PDA) detection for the determination of pogostone (PO) in rat tissues using honokiol as internal standard (IS).Methods: Rats were randomly divided into two groups (intravenous administration group and oral administration group) and given of a single dose of 10 mg/kg PO by intravenous administration and oral administration, respectively. After intravenous injection, the rats were sacrificed at 15, 60 and 360 min, while rats, after oral administration, were euthanasized at 30, 90 and 360 min, respectively. For the analysis of the preparation, optimal chromatographic conditions were determined using Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column with acetonitrile-water containing 0.1 % formic acid (55:45, v/v) as the mobile phase, at a flow rate of 400 μL/min. UV detection wavelength was set at 310 nm with temperature maintained at 30 °C.Results: Good linear relationship of calibration curve (r > 0.9984) was achieved over the range of 0.1 - 40 μg/mL for all the tissue samples. The limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) were 0.1 and 0.05 μg/mL, respectively. This method proved to have good precision, accuracy, stability, extraction recovery and matrix effect for tissue distribution studies of PO in rats.Conclusion: The developed method is suitable for tissue distribution studies in rats following intravenous and oral administration of PO at a dose of 10 mg/kg.Keywords: Ultra-fast liquid chromatography, Tissue distribution, Pogostone, Honokiol, Rat

First Measurements of eta_c Decaying into K^+K^-2(pi^+pi^-) and 3(pi^+pi^-)

The decays of eta_c to K^+K^-2(pi^+pi^-) and 3(pi^+pi^-) are observed for the first time using a sample of 5.8X10^7 J/\psi events collected by the BESII detector. The product branching fractions are determined to be B(J/\psi-->gamma eta_c)*B(eta_c-->K^+K^-pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^-)=(1.21+-0.32+- 0.23)X10^{-4}$,B(J/\psi-->gamma eta_c)*B(eta_c-->K^{*0}\bar{K}^{*0}pi^+pi^-)= (1.29+-0.43+-0.32)X10^{-4}$, and (J/\psi-->gamma eta_c)* B(eta_c-->pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^-)= (2.59+-0.32+-0.48)X10^{-4}. The upper limit for eta_c-->phi pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^- is also obtained as B(J/\psi-->gamma eta_c)*B(eta_c--> phi pi^+pi^-pi^+pi^-)< 6.03 X10^{-5} at the 90% confidence level.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Resonances in J/ψ→ϕπ+π−J/\psi \to \phi \pi ^+\pi ^- and ϕK+K−\phi K^+K^-

A partial wave analysis is presented of $J/\psi \to \phi \pi ^+\pi ^-$ and $\phi K^+K^-$ from a sample of 58M $J/\psi$ events in the BES II detector. The $f_0(980)$ is observed clearly in both sets of data, and parameters of the Flatt\' e formula are determined accurately: $M = 965 \pm 8$ (stat) $\pm 6$ (syst) MeV/c$^2$, $g_1 = 165 \pm 10 \pm 15$ MeV/c$^2$, $g_2/g_1 = 4.21 \pm 0.25 \pm 0.21$. The $\phi \pi \pi$ data also exhibit a strong $\pi \pi$ peak centred at $M = 1335$ MeV/c$^2$. It may be fitted with $f_2(1270)$ and a dominant $0^+$ signal made from $f_0(1370)$ interfering with a smaller $f_0(1500)$ component. There is evidence that the $f_0(1370)$ signal is resonant, from interference with $f_2(1270)$. There is also a state in $\pi \pi$ with $M = 1790 ^{+40}_{-30}$ MeV/c$^2$ and $\Gamma = 270 ^{+60}_{-30}$ MeV/c$^2$; spin 0 is preferred over spin 2. This state, $f_0(1790)$, is distinct from $f_0(1710)$. The $\phi K\bar K$ data contain a strong peak due to $f_2'(1525)$. A shoulder on its upper side may be fitted by interference between $f_0(1500)$ and $f_0(1710)$.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. Submitted to Phys. Lett.

Measurement of the Branching Fraction of J/psi --> pi+ pi- pi0

Using 58 million J/psi and 14 million psi' decays obtained by the BESII experiment, the branching fraction of J/psi --> pi+ pi- pi0 is determined. The result is (2.10+/-0.12)X10^{-2}, which is significantly higher than previous measurements.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, RevTex

Search for K_S K_L in psi'' decays

K_S K_L from psi'' decays is searched for using the psi'' data collected by BESII at BEPC, the upper limit of the branching fraction is determined to be B(psi''--> K_S K_L) < 2.1\times 10^{-4} at 90% C. L. The measurement is compared with the prediction of the S- and D-wave mixing model of the charmonia, based on the measurements of the branching fractions of J/psi-->K_S K_L and psi'-->K_S K_L.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

A natural product-like JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor induces apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells

The JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway plays a critical role in tumorigenesis, and has been suggested as a potential molecular target for anti-melanoma therapeutics. However, few JAK2 inhibitors were being tested for melanoma therapy. In this study, eight amentoflavone analogues were evaluated for their activity against human malignant melanoma cells. The most potent analogue, compound 1, inhibited the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3 in human melanoma cells, but had no discernible effect on total JAK2 and STAT3 levels. A cellular thermal shift assay was performed to identify that JAK2 is engaged by 1 in cell lysates. Moreover, compound 1 showed higher antiproliferative activity against human melanoma A375 cells compared to a panel of cancer and normal cell lines. Compound 1 also activated caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, which are markers of apoptosis, and suppressed the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 level. Finally, compound 1 induced apoptosis in 80% of treated melanoma cells. To our knowledge, compound 1 is the first amentoflavone-based JAK2 inhibitor to be investigated for use as an anti-melanoma agent.published_or_final_versio