Impact of Cultural Differences on the Results of Overseas Mergers and Acquisitions by Chinese Enterprises

107–111This study examines 154 Chinese enterprises that completed overseas mergers and acquisitions (M&As) between 2008 and 2017. Based on Hofstede's cultural dimension theory, the cultural distance variable is calculated and the short-term impact of cultural differences on Chinese enterprises’ overseas M&As outcomes is then quantitatively analyzed through multiple linear regression analysis

Impact of Cultural Differences on the Results of Overseas Mergers and Acquisitions by Chinese Enterprises

This study examines 154 Chinese enterprises that completed overseas mergers and acquisitions (M&As) between 2008 and 2017. Based on Hofstede's cultural dimension theory, the cultural distance variable is calculated and the short-term impact of cultural differences on Chinese enterprises’ overseas M&As outcomes is then quantitatively analyzed through multiple linear regression analysis

Research on China’s Industrial Green Development based on the Pressure-State-Response Model

541-546This study developed a system to evaluate China’s industrial green development based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model. After analyzing the unbalanced industrial green development among China’s four major economic regions, the study found that strengthening technological research and development and brain gain is the key to promoting potential and inter-regional coordination for industrial green development

Metronidazolium perchlorate

In the crystal structure of the title compound [systematic name: 1-(2-hy­droxy­eth­yl)-2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-3-ium perchlorate], C6H10N3O3 +·ClO4 −, the cations are linked by inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds into zigzag chains along the c axis. The cations and anions are connected by O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. A weak intra­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bond is also observed

Concentration- and time-dependent response of human gingival fibroblasts to fibroblast growth factor 2 immobilized on titanium dental implants

Qianli Ma1*, Wei Wang1*, Paul K Chu2, Shenglin Mei1,2, Kun Ji3, Lei Jin4, Yumei Zhang11Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China; 2Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China; 3Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China; 4Stomatology Department, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workBackground: Titanium (Ti) implants are widely used clinically, but peri-implantitis remains one of the most common and serious complications. Healthy integration between gingival tissue and the implant surface is critical to long-term success in dental implant therapy. The objective of this study was to investigate how different concentrations of immobilized fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) on the titania nanotubular surface influence the response of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs).Methods: Pure Ti metal was anodized at 20 V to form a vertically organized titanium dioxide nanotube array on which three concentrations of FGF2 (250 ng/mL, 500 ng/mL, or 1000 ng/mL) were immobilized by repeated lyophilization. Surface topography was observed and FGF2 elution was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The bioactivity changes of dissolvable immobilized FGF2 were measured by methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium assay. Behavior of HGFs was evaluated using adhesion and methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium bromide assays.Results: The FGF2 remained for several days on the modified surface on which HGFs were cultured. Over 90% of the dissolvable immobilized FGF2 had been eluted by Day 9, whereas the FGF2 activity was found to diminish gradually from Day 1 to Day 9. The titania nanotubular surface with an optimal preparing concentration (500 ng/mL) of FGF2 immobilization exhibited improved HGF functions such as cellular attachment, proliferation, and extracellular matrix-related gene expression. Moreover, significant bidirectional as well as concentration- and time-dependent bioactivity was observed.Conclusion: Synergism of the FGF2-impregnated titanium dioxide nanotubular surface revealed good gingival-implant integration, indicating that these materials might have promising applications in dentistry and other biomedical devices.Keywords: dental implants, titanium dioxide nanotube, fibroblast growth factor 2, extracellular matrix, real-time polymerase chain reactio

3a,11b-Dihy­droxy-3a,11b-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline-2(3H)-thione

The title compound, C13H10N4O2S, was prepared through a cyclization reaction of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione and thio­urea. The dihedral angle between the pyridine rings is 8.22 (2)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are connected by N—H⋯O, O—H⋯N, N—H⋯S and O—H⋯S hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network

Recombinant VP1, an Akt Inhibitor, Suppresses Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inducing Apoptosis and Modulation of CCL2 Production

BACKGROUND: The application of viral elements in tumor therapy is one facet of cancer research. Recombinant capsid protein VP1 (rVP1) of foot-and-mouth disease virus has previously been demonstrated to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines. Here, we aim to further investigate its apoptotic mechanism and possible anti-metastatic effect in murine models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common human cancers worldwide. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Treatment with rVP1 inhibited cell proliferation in two murine HCC cell lines, BNL and Hepa1-6, with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.1-0.2 µM. rVP1 also induced apoptosis in these cells, which was mediated by Akt deactivation and dissociation of Ku70-Bax, and resulted in conformational changes and mitochondrial translocation of Bax, leading to the activation of caspases-9, -3 and -7. Treatment with 0.025 µM rVP1, which did not affect the viability of normal hepatocytes, suppressed cell migration and invasion via attenuating CCL2 production. The production of CCL2 was modulated by Akt-dependent NF-κB activation that was decreased after rVP1 treatment. The in vivo antitumor effects of rVP1 were assessed in both subcutaneous and orthotopic mouse models of HCC in immune-competent BALB/c mice. Intratumoral delivery of rVP1 inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth as a result of increased apoptosis. Intravenous administration of rVP1 in an orthotopic HCC model suppressed tumor growth, inhibited intra-hepatic metastasis, and prolonged survival. Furthermore, a decrease in the serum level of CCL2 was observed in rVP1-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The data presented herein suggest that, via inhibiting Akt phosphorylation, rVP1 suppresses the growth, migration, and invasion of murine HCC cells by inducing apoptosis and attenuating CCL2 production both in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant protein VP1 thus has the potential to be developed as a new therapeutic agent for HCC