12 research outputs found
Supply network position and firm performance: evidence from Chinese listed manufacturing companies
The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between supply network position and firm performance. A-share manufacturing companies listed from 2013 to 2015 are chosen as the initial samples, and large sample supply networks are constructed with relational embeddedness and structural embeddedness. The location of supply network is depicted by network centrality and structural hole with social network analysis, and the influence of supply network position on the corporate performance is examined with multiple OLS regression analysis. This paper observes that a firms’ supply network position is an important factor affecting its performance. The higher the network centrality is, the richer the structural holes are, and the worse the company’s performance is. The results suggest that firms that have a high level of centrality or rich structural holes in their supply networks will gain limited information, resource and control benefits and face great business risks that may negatively influence their performance
NBS1 rs2735383 polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of laryngeal carcinoma
Abstract Background Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1 (NBS1), as a key protein in the DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) repair pathway, plays an important role in maintaining genomic stability. Although single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NBS1 have frequently been studied in multiple cancers, the relationships of two functional NBS1 polymorphisms (rs2735383 and rs1805794) with laryngeal carcinoma are yet unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we performed a case-control study including 342 cases and 345 controls to analyze the associations between two polymorphisms of NBS1 and the risk of laryngeal carcinoma. Methods We used the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method to determine the genotypes of the functional SNPs in NBS1 gene. Results In comparison with the homozygous rs2735383GG genotype, the CC genotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of laryngeal carcinoma (adjusted OR = 1.884, 95%CI = 1.215–2.921). The rs2735383C variant genotypes (GC + CC) conferred a 1.410-fold increased risk of laryngeal carcinoma (adjusted OR = 1.410, 95%CI = 1.004–1.980). Furthermore, when compared to rs2735383GG genotype in laryngeal carcinoma tissues, the combined GC and CC genotypes exerted a significantly lower mRNA level of NBS1 (P = 0.003). In contrast, no significant association was found between rs1805794G > C polymorphism and cancer risk (adjusted OR = 1.074, 95%CI = 0.759–1.518 for GC; adjusted OR = 1.100, 95%CI = 0.678–1.787 for CC; adjusted OR = 1.079, 95%CI = 0.774–1.505 for GC + CC). Conclusions These findings indicate that rs2735383G > C polymorphism in NBS1 may play a crucial role in the development of laryngeal carcinoma
SUPPLY NETWORK POSITION AND FIRM PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM CHINESE LISTED MANUFACTURING COMPANIES
Biodegradable Poly(l‑Lactic Acid) Films with Excellent Cycle Stability and High Dielectric Energy Storage Performance
Polymer-based film capacitors play
key roles in numerous applications,
such as converter/inverter systems in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs),
smart grids, and pulsed power sources. However, nearly all actively
studied dielectric polymers are nondegradable. In this work, we prepare
flexible biodegradable poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) films via
a simple solvent casting method and achieve enhanced dielectric performances
by polymer crystallization. The recoverable energy density (Urec) with charge–discharge efficiency
(η) of 90% was improved from ∼2.9 J/cm3 for
amorphous PLLA to ∼5.7 J/cm3 for the crystallized
PLLA film at room temperature. Under 200 MV/m at 85 °C (the operation
conditions of commercial biaxially oriented polypropylene-based capacitors
in HEVs), Urec of 0.82 J/cm3 with η of 95% is achieved in the crystallized PLLA film, which
is much higher than that of BOPP (below 0.5 J/cm3). In
particular, the remarkable cyclic stability of the crystallized PLLA
film is demonstrated by charge–discharge tests for 20 000
cycles at both room temperature and 85 °C under 200 MV/m. Moreover,
the low C/(H+O) atom ratio helps metalized PLLA films exhibit a valuable
self-healing ability after breakdown. With excellent recoverable energy
density, high efficiency, good cyclic reliability, low-cost preparation
method, self-healing ability, and eco-friendliness, the crystallized
biodegradable PLLA film provides an eco-friendly and high-performance
candidate to develop high-energy-storage capacitors
Additional file 1: of NBS1 rs2735383 polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of laryngeal carcinoma
Table S1. Combined analysis of the cumulative effect of rs1805794 and rs2735383 on laryngeal carcinoma risk. (DOC 34 kb
Downregulation of LncRNA GCLC-1 Promotes Microcystin-LR-Induced Malignant Transformation of Human Liver Cells by Regulating GCLC Expression
Microcystin-LR (MCLR) is an aquatic toxin, which could lead to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered important regulatory elements in the occurrence and development of cancer. However, the roles and mechanisms of lncRNAs during the process of HCC, induced by MCLR, remain elusive. Here, we identified a novel lncRNA, namely lnc-GCLC-1 (lncGCLC), which is in close proximity to the chromosome location of glutamate–cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). We then investigated the role of lncGCLC in MCLR-induced malignant transformation of WRL68, a human hepatic cell line. During MCLR-induced cell transformation, the expression of lncGCLC and GCLC decreased continuously, accompanied with a consistently high expression of miR-122-5p. Knockdown of lncGCLC promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but reduced cell apoptosis. A xenograft nude mouse model demonstrated that knockdown of lncGCLC promoted tumor growth. Furthermore, knockdown of lncGCLC significantly upregulated miR-122-5p expression, suppressed GCLC expression and GSH levels, and enhanced oxidative DNA damages. More importantly, the expression of lncGCLC in human HCC tissues was significantly downregulated in the high-microcystin exposure group, and positively associated with GCLC level in HCC tissues. Together, these findings suggest that lncGCLC plays an anti-oncogenic role in MCLR-induced malignant transformation, by regulating GCLC expression
Polyphenylene Oxide Film Sandwiched between SiO<sub>2</sub> Layers for High-Temperature Dielectric Energy Storage
The commercial capacitor using dielectric
biaxially oriented polypropylene
(BOPP) can work effectively only at low temperatures (less than 105
°C). Polyphenylene oxide (PPO), with better heat resistance and
a higher dielectric constant, is promising for capacitors operating
at elevated temperatures, but its charge–discharge efficiency
(η) degrades greatly under high fields at 125 °C. Here,
SiO2 layers are magnetron sputtered on both sides of the
PPO film, forming a composite material of SiO2/PPO/SiO2. Due to the wide bandgap and high Young’s modulus
of SiO2, the breakdown strength (Eb) of this composite material reaches 552 MV/m at 125 °C
(PPO: 534 MV/m), and the discharged energy density (Ue) under Eb improves to 3.5
J/cm3 (PPO: 2.5 J/cm3), with a significantly
enhanced η of 89% (PPO: 70%). Furthermore, SiO2/PPO/SiO2 can discharge a Ue of 0.45 J/cm3 with an η of 97% at 125 °C under 200 MV/m (working
condition in hybrid electric vehicles) for 20,000 cycles, and this
value is higher than the energy density (∼0.39 J/cm3 under 200 MV/m) of BOPP at room temperature. Interestingly, the
metalized SiO2/PPO/SiO2 film exhibits valuable
self-healing behavior. These results make PPO-based dielectrics promising
for high-temperature capacitor applications