Tournament-Based Incentives and Mergers and Acquisitions

This research examines the relation between tournament-based incentives, which are proxied by the difference between a firm’s CEO pay and the median pay of the senior managers, and mergers and acquisitions (M&As). We find that tournament-based incentives are positively related to firm acquisitiveness and acquiring firms’ stock and operating performance. Further analysis indicates that positive acquisition performance increases the likelihood of the CEO being promoted from inside the acquiring firm. Our evidence is consistent with the view that tournament-based incentives motivate acquiring firms’ managers to make greater efforts and take more risk that result in superior acquisition performance

Multi-response optimization of process parameters for powder mixed electro-discharge machining according to the surface roughness and surface micro-hardness using Taguchi-TOPSIS

In this study, the efficiency of integration between Taguchi and TOPSIS in multi-response optimi-zation of powder mixed electrical discharge machining (PMEDM) process was evaluated. The in-put parameters, such as workpiece and tool electrode material, polarity, pulse on time (ton), pulse off time (toff), Current (I) and powder concentration have been selected to optimize two responses; namely surface roughness (Ra) and surface hardness (HV). The results show that titanium powder mixed dielectric fluid improves multi-response optimization efficiency in PMEDM. In addition, machining conditions, such as tool electrode material, powder concentration, pulse on time, polarity, current density, A×G and B×G interactions play a very important role on S/N ratio of C* whereby powder concentration has the strongest influence. TOPSIS -Taguchi is a potential method for multi-response optimization in PMEDM. However, the optimal results using ANOVA analysis show that there is a necessity to have more studies in TOPSIS-Taguchi to improve the in-tegration efficiency between two methods for optimizing multiple responses in PMEDM

Case Report: Successful Treatment of a Child With COVID-19 Reinfection-Induced Fulminant Myocarditis by Cytokine-Adsorbing oXiris® Hemofilter Continuous Veno-Venous Hemofiltration and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

BACKGROUND: Indirect cardiomyocyte damage-related hyperinflammatory response is one of the key mechanisms in COVID-19-induced fulminant myocarditis. In addition to the clinical benefit of using cytokines absorption hemofiltration, the effectiveness of instituting veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support for cardiac compromise has been reported. However, current literature enunciates a paucity of available data on the effectiveness of these novel modalities. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported a 9-year-old boy with recurrent COVID-19 infection-causing fulminant myocarditis, who was treated successfully by using novel modalities of CONCLUSION: We conclude that the novel highly-absorptive hemofilter CVVH and VA-ECMO may be effective treatment modalities in managing SARS-CoV-2-induced fulminant myocarditis. Our report highlights the need for further well-designed investigations to confirm this extrapolation

Establishing bacterial infectivity models in striped Catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (Sauvage) with Edwardsiella ictaluri

A bacterial infectivity challenge model of Edwardsiella ictaluri in striped catfish was developed. All experiments were conducted using a bacterial isolate of E. ictaluri that had been recovered during a natural outbreak of bacillary necrosis of Pangasianodon (BNP) in farmed striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in Vietnam. Time of immersion in 107 CFU.ml−1 had a significant effect on mortality. The immersion bacterial dose of 107 CFU/ml for 30 s resulted in a cumulative percentage mortality of 63%. Three to four days post‐bacterial challenge, fish showed gross clinical signs of natural BNP and E. ictaluri was recovered and identified from these fish. Moreover, a cohabitation challenge was evaluated as an alternative challenge method, although the mortalities among the infected fish were lower at around 15%–40%. This study confirmed the horizontal transmission of E. ictaluri in striped catfish and elucidated that cohabitation challenge could be used in reproducing the disease under controlled conditions

Systematic Transcriptome Profiling of hPSC-Derived Osteoblasts Unveils CORIN’s Mastery in Governing Osteogenesis Through CEBPD Modulation

The commitment of stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts is a highly regulated and complex process that involves the coordination of extrinsic signals and intrinsic transcriptional machinery. While rodent osteoblastic differentiation has been extensively studied, research on human osteogenesis has been limited by cell sources and existing models. Here, we systematically dissect human pluripotent stem cell-derived osteoblasts to identify functional membrane proteins and their downstream transcriptional networks involved in human osteogenesis. Our results reveal an enrichment of type II transmembrane serine protease CORIN in humans but not rodent osteoblasts. Functional analyses demonstrated that CORIN depletion significantly impairs osteogenesis. Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation enrichment and mechanistic studies show that p38 MAPK-mediated CCAAT enhancer binding protein delta (CEBPD) upregulation is required for CORIN-modulated osteogenesis. Contrastingly, the type I transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan SDC1 enriched in mesenchymal stem cells exerts a negative regulatory effect on osteogenesis through a similar mechanism. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-seq, bulk and single-cell transcriptomes, and functional validations indicated that CEBPD plays a critical role in controlling osteogenesis. In summary, our findings uncover previously unrecognized CORIN-mediated CEBPD transcriptomic networks in driving human osteoblast lineage commitment

The Scaffolding Function of LSD1 Controls DNA Methylation in Mouse ESCs

Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 (LSD1), which demethylates mono- or di- methylated histone H3 on lysine 4 (H3K4me1/2), is essential for early embryogenesis and development. Here we show that LSD1 is dispensable for mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal but is required for mouse ESC growth and differentiation. Reintroduction of a catalytically-impaired LSD1 (LSD1MUT) recovers the proliferation capability of mouse ESCs, yet the enzymatic activity of LSD1 is essential to ensure proper differentiation. Indeed, increased H3K4me1 in Lsd1 knockout (KO) mouse ESCs does not lead to major changes in global gene expression programs related to stemness. However, ablation of LSD1 but not LSD1MUT results in decreased DNMT1 and UHRF1 proteins coupled to global hypomethylation. We show that both LSD1 and LSD1MUT control protein stability of UHRF1 and DNMT1 through interaction with HDAC1 and the ubiquitin-specific peptidase 7 (USP7), consequently, facilitating the deacetylation and deubiquitination of DNMT1 and UHRF1. Our studies elucidate a mechanism by which LSD1 controls DNA methylation in mouse ESCs, independently of its lysine demethylase activity

Associations of Underlying Health Conditions With Anxiety and Depression Among Outpatients: Modification Effects of Suspected COVID-19 Symptoms, Health-Related and Preventive Behaviors

Objectives: We explored the association of underlying health conditions (UHC) with depression and anxiety, and examined the modification effects of suspected COVID-19 symptoms (S-COVID-19-S), health-related behaviors (HB), and preventive behaviors (PB).Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 8,291 outpatients aged 18–85 years, in 18 hospitals and health centers across Vietnam from 14th February to May 31, 2020. We collected the data regarding participant's characteristics, UHC, HB, PB, depression, and anxiety.Results: People with UHC had higher odds of depression (OR = 2.11; p < 0.001) and anxiety (OR = 2.86; p < 0.001) than those without UHC. The odds of depression and anxiety were significantly higher for those with UHC and S-COVID-19-S (p < 0.001); and were significantly lower for those had UHC and interacted with “unchanged/more” physical activity (p < 0.001), or “unchanged/more” drinking (p < 0.001 for only anxiety), or “unchanged/healthier” eating (p < 0.001), and high PB score (p < 0.001), as compared to those without UHC and without S-COVID-19-S, “never/stopped/less” physical activity, drinking, “less healthy” eating, and low PB score, respectively.Conclusion: S-COVID-19-S worsen psychological health in patients with UHC. Physical activity, drinking, healthier eating, and high PB score were protective factors

Requirements Engineering

Requirements Engineering (RE) aims to ensure that systems meet the needs of their stakeholders including users, sponsors, and customers. Often consid- ered as one of the earliest activities in software engineering, it has developed into a set of activities that touch almost every step of the software development process. In this chapter, we reflect on how the need for RE was first recognised and how its foundational concepts were developed. We present the seminal papers on four main activities of the RE process, namely (i) elicitation, (ii) modelling & analysis, (iii) as- surance, and (iv) management & evolution. We also discuss some current research challenges in the area, including security requirements engineering as well as RE for mobile and ubiquitous computing. Finally, we identify some open challenges and research gaps that require further exploration