CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND EARNINGS MANAGEMENT: THE ROLE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR

This study investigates the association between earnings management and corporate governance characteristics in the Chinese context. Chinese corporate governance system is improved in past two decades after deciding to move away from planned economy to market-oriented one. The data is collected from the Chinese A-listed firms for the period of 2008 to 2016 to investigate the impact of Board characteristics on Earnings management. Additionally, this study demonstrates if earnings management is still an issue in the Non-SOE or not?. This study finds that board size mitigates the earnings management, and board independence is not playing there due role in monitoring the top management. The board meetings are not so effective and therefore not contributing to mitigating the earnings management. CEO duality is not a big issue just like in developed countries. Furthermore, When segrgating the sample on the basis of ownership type, we find that, a board meeting is affective in SOE as compare to Non-SOE.Furthermore, board size substitutes the weak external governance mechanism and constrains Earnings management. Board meeting plays a complementary effect when external governance mechanism is strong. The findings of this study are significant for all stakeholders to analyze and to improve the board effectiveness and the financial reporting quality before making any decision

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND EARNINGS MANAGEMENT: THE ROLE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR

This study investigates the association between earnings management and corporate governance characteristics in the Chinese context. Chinese corporate governance system is improved in past two decades after deciding to move away from planned economy to market-oriented one. The data is collected from the Chinese A-listed firms for the period of 2008 to 2016 to investigate the impact of Board characteristics on Earnings management. Additionally, this study demonstrates if earnings management is still an issue in the Non-SOE or not?. This study finds that board size mitigates the earnings management, and board independence is not playing there due role in monitoring the top management. The board meetings are not so effective and therefore not contributing to mitigating the earnings management. CEO duality is not a big issue just like in developed countries. Furthermore, When segrgating the sample on the basis of ownership type, we find that, a board meeting is affective in SOE as compare to Non-SOE.Furthermore, board size substitutes the weak external governance mechanism and constrains Earnings management. Board meeting plays a complementary effect when external governance mechanism is strong. The findings of this study are significant for all stakeholders to analyze and to improve the board effectiveness and the financial reporting quality before making any decision

Seismic Performance Assessment of Deteriorating Reinforced Concrete Box Culvert

A culvert is a crucial component of highways whose proper operation is connected indirectly to the state's economy and the effectiveness and safety of road transportation. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the culvert structure's safety. In this work, a seismic assessment of undamaged and damaged reinforced concrete box culverts is performed. The deterioration in culvert slab thickness over time due to corrosion is considered. The structure was subjected to seismic loading along with standard static loading to observe the performance of a box culvert. The results show that the seismic response of culverts would be influenced by aging and deterioration of slab thickness from its original conditions. The finding of this study highlights the importance of considering the effect of corrosion on the slab thickness when assessing the seismic performance of culverts, as it can have a significant impact on the structure's safety

Lafora Disease Masquerading as Hepatic Dysfunction

Lafora disease is fatal intractable progressive myoclonic epilepsy. It is frequently characterized by epileptic seizures, difficulty walking, muscle spasms, and dementia in late childhood or adolescence. We chronicle here an unusual case of an asymptomatic young male soccer player who presented with elevated liver enzymes. Neurological examination was unremarkable. The diagnostic workup for hepatitis, infectious etiologies, autoimmune disorders, hemochromatosis, Wilson\u27s disease, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and other related diseases was inconclusive. He subsequently underwent an uneventful percutaneous liver biopsy. Based on the pathognomonic histopathological findings, Lafora disease was considered the likely etiology. The present study is a unique illustration of this rare disorder initially manifesting with abnormal liver enzymes. It underscores the importance of clinical suspicion of Lafora disease in cases with unexplained hepatic dysfunction. Prompt liver biopsy and genetic testing should be performed to antedate the onset of symptoms in these patients

Lipid Profiles and Its Association with Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia in Nulliparous Pregnant Women

Objectives: To access the lipid profiles and its association with pre-eclampsia and eclampsia in nulliparous pregnant women. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 234 nulliparous pregnant women with gestation period of  > 20 weeks and aged 15-45 years, from March to October 2014, in Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS), Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar, Pakistan with cooperation from gynecology and obstetrics departments of three tertiary-care hospitals of Peshawar & Khyber Medical College, Peshawar,  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Subjects were assigned to three groups i.e., group A, group B and group C. For performing biochemical assays and lipid profiling, through ELISA, blood samples were collected from already subjects both with the disease and the controls. Results: Both subjects having pre-eclampsia and eclampsia showed significant elevated levels (p < 0.001) for low density lipoproteins cholesterols (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c ratio. But TC of pre-eclampsia subjects were found significantly elevated (p < 0.001) in relation to controls. LDL-c/HDL-c and TC/HDL-c also revealed an elevated significant change (p < 0.001) both for pre-eclamptic and eclamptic subjects. On the other hand, only TG/HDL-c in pre-eclamptic patients was found significantly higher (p<0.004) when compared to control group.  Conclusion: Serum lipid levels were observed higher in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia patients hence an early assessment is necessary to prevent complications in such patients