Audit Opinion and Earnings Quality: Evidence from Korea

This study examines whether the decrease in qualified opinions is due to improved accruals quality. The proportion of qualified opinions has been declining in Korea for about 10 years. However, it has not been reported that earnings quality has improved. We analyze this contradictory relationship using two models. We find that Korean firms’ accruals quality has no association with unqualified opinions. This means that the increasing trend in unqualified opinions is occurring regardless of earnings quality, although audit opinion chiefly depends on it. Thus, our results suggest that more researches are required to determine why qualified opinions are declining. Keywords: audit opinion; earnings quality; accruals DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-30-02 Publication date:October 31st 202

Simplified Analytical Method for Optimized Initial Shape Analysis of Self-Anchored Suspension Bridges and Its Verification

A simplified analytical method providing accurate unstrained lengths of all structural elements is proposed to find the optimized initial state of self-anchored suspension bridges under dead loads. For this, equilibrium equations of the main girder and the main cable system are derived and solved by evaluating the self-weights of cable members using unstrained cable lengths and iteratively updating both the horizontal tension component and the vertical profile of the main cable. Furthermore, to demonstrate the validity of the simplified analytical method, the unstrained element length method (ULM) is applied to suspension bridge models based on the unstressed lengths of both cable and frame members calculated from the analytical method. Through numerical examples, it is demonstrated that the proposed analytical method can indeed provide an optimized initial solution by showing that both the simplified method and the nonlinear FE procedure lead to practically identical initial configurations with only localized small bending moment distributions

Purification and characterization of microbial protease produced extracellularly from Bacillus subtilis FBL-1

An ammonium sulfate precipitation of fermentation broth produced by Bacillus subtilis FBL-1 resulted in 2.9-fold increase of specific protease activity. An eluted protein fraction from the column chromatographies using DEAE-Cellulose and Sephadex G-75 had 94.2- and 94.9-fold higher specific protease activity, respectively. An SDS-PAGE revealed a band of purified protease at approximately 37.6 kDa. Although purified protease showed the highest activity at 45°C and pH 9.0, the activity remained stable in temperature range from 30 to 50°C and pH range from 7.0 to 9.0. Protease activity was activated by metal ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Ca2+ and K+, but 10 mM Fe3+ significantly inhibited enzyme activity (53%). Protease activity was inhibited by 2 mM EDTA as a metalloprotease inhibitor, but it showed good stability against surfactants and organic solvents. The preferred substrates for protease activity were found to be casein (100%) and soybean flour (71.6%)

Ionothermal Synthesis of Metal-Organic Framework

Ionothermal synthesis employs ionic liquids for synthesis of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as solvent and template. The cations and anions of ionic liquids may be finely adjusted to produce a great variety of reaction environments and thus frameworks. Organisation of the structures synthesised from related ionic liquid combinations give rise to provocative chemical trends that may be used to predict future outcomes. Further analysis of their structures is possible by reducing the complex framework to its underlying topology, which by itself brings more precision to prediction. Through reduction, many seemingly different, but related classes of structures may be merged into larger groups and provide better understanding of the nanoscopic structures and synthesis conditions that gave rise to them. Ionothermal synthesis has promised to enable us to effectively plan the synthesis ahead for a given purpose. However, for its promise to be kept, several difficult limitations must be overcome, including the inseparable cations from the solvent that reside in the framework pore

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome in young people, from childhood to young adulthood: relationships between age and clinical and electrophysiological findings

PurposeThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of electrophysiologic studies (EPS) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) performed in subjects aged less than 30 years with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, particularly pediatric patients under 18 years of age, based on our experience.MethodsTwo hundred and one consecutive patients with WPW syndrome were recruited and divided to 3 groups according to age: group 1, 6 to 17 years; group 2, 18 to 29 years; and group 3, 30 to 60 years. The clinical, electrophysiological, and therapeutic data for these patients were evaluated by a retrospective medical record review.ResultsA total of 73 (36%) of these patients were <30 years of age. Although there were more males than females in group 2 (male:female, 31:11), there was no sex difference in group 1 (male:female, 16:15). Left accessory pathway was detected less frequently in group 1 (32%, 10/31) than in group 2 (57%, 24/42) and group 3 (63%, 81/128) (P=0.023 and P=0.002, respectively).ConclusionThe present study describes several different electrophysiological characteristics in children and adolescents with WPW syndrome. Therefore, when EPS and RFA are performed in children and adolescence with WPW syndrome, we recommend that these characteristics be considered

Novel Diagnostic Model for the Deficient and Excess Pulse Qualities

The deficient and excess pulse qualities (DEPs) are the two representatives of the deficiency and excess syndromes, respectively. Despite its importance in the objectification of pulse diagnosis, a reliable classification model for the DEPs has not been reported to date. In this work, we propose a classification method for the DEPs based on a clinical study. First, through factor analysis and Fisher's discriminant analysis, we show that all the pulse amplitudes obtained at various applied pressures at Chon, Gwan, and Cheok contribute on equal orders of magnitude in the determination of the DEPs. Then, we discuss that the pulse pressure or the average pulse amplitude is appropriate for describing the collective behaviors of the pulse amplitudes and a simple and reliable classification can be constructed from either quantity. Finally, we propose an enhanced classification model that combines the two complementary variables sequentially

BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF BACK-SOMERSAULT KICKS IN TAEKWONDO

This study was purposed to investigate biomechanical differences between best and worst trials in performing back-somersault kicks in Taekwondo. Six elite members of college Taekwondo demonstration team participated in this study and executed each ten trials of single back-somersault kick and double back-somersault kick, respectively. High speed motion capturing system collected positions of 21 markers on major anatomical locations to obtain motion data of full body segments. After post-processing procedure, results showed that the best trial of back-somersault kicks indicated longer preparation time (countermovement), larger range of motions of hip joint, and higher peak angular velocities of knee and hip joints prior to take-off than those of the worst trial. We concluded that athletes should avoid a quick countermovement before take-off, which induces insufficient strain energy of lower extremities and ground reaction impulse. Therefore, a sufficient time for muscle contractions are required to develop high power

Review on the current trends in tongue diagnosis systems

AbstractTongue diagnosis is an essential process to noninvasively assess the condition of a patient's internal organs in traditional medicine. To obtain quantitative and objective diagnostic results, image acquisition and analysis devices called tongue diagnosis systems (TDSs) are required. These systems consist of hardware including cameras, light sources, and a ColorChecker, and software for color correction, segmentation of tongue region, and tongue classification. To improve the performance of TDSs, various types TDSs have been developed. Hyperspectral imaging TDSs have been suggested to acquire more information than a two-dimensional (2D) image with visible light waves, as it allows collection of data from multiple bands. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging TDSs have been suggested to provide 3D geometry. In the near future, mobile devices like the smart phone will offer applications for assessment of health condition using tongue images. Various technologies for the TDS have respective unique advantages and specificities according to the application and diagnostic environment, but this variation may cause inconsistent diagnoses in practical clinical applications. In this manuscript, we reviewed the current trends in TDSs for the standardization of systems. In conclusion, the standardization of TDSs can supply the general public and oriental medical doctors with convenient, prompt, and accurate information with diagnostic results for assessing the health condition