Analysis on Evolution Model of Zombie Company under the Absence of Bank Data

In view of the fact that the data of bank loaning is difficult to be collected, this paper innovatively explores the evolution model of zombie companies by text analysis based on the researches of previous papers at home and abroad based on the financial data of zombie companies. Through the relevant researches on 27 zombies collected, the common characteristics of zombies are found out by the grounded theory. According to the relevant models of enterprise life cycle theory, the evolution model of zombie companies is drawn up, and the corresponding feedback loop of system dynamics causality in each link is further found out, so as to explore the evolutionary rules and the reasons of zombie companies, which is helpful for government to further research on zombies, and favorable for the efficient allocation of market resources and the further rapid development of social economy

Construct validity, longitudinal measurement invariance, incremental validity and predictive validity of the Original Grit Scale in Chinese young adults

Although many studies have attempted to validate grit scales because of the construct’s popularity, most have considered the shorter rather than the longer Original Grit Scale (Grit-O). We examined the Grit-O’s construct validity, longitudinal measurement invariance, incremental validity for academic performance, and longitudinal predictive validity for subjective well-being among young Chinese. We used a cross-sectional sample of 3,322 college students and a longitudinal sample of 1,884 college students, tested twice over 10 months. The first-order factor model fit the data better than other models and showed partial configural and metric measurement invariance over time. Grit and its two facets longitudinally predicted subjective well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, happiness, positive affect, negative affect, and depression) but had negligible incremental validity for two semesters’ grades after controlling for conscientiousness. So, while the Grit-O could be a useful construct for young adults, its predictive value overlaps with a better-established construct, conscientiousness

The ways of the world? Cross-sample replicability of personality trait-life outcome associations

Research in (mostly) Western samples has indicated that personality domains’ associations with life outcomes are replicable but often driven by their facets or nuances. Using three diverse samples (English-speaking, N=1,232; Russian-Speaking, N=1,604; Mandarin-speaking, N=1,216), we compared personality trait-outcome associations at domain, facet, and nuance levels, both within and among samples. Trait-outcome associations were at least moderately consistent among samples for all trait-hierarchy levels (average intraclass correlations = 0.64 to 0.74). Nuances provided the strongest predictive accuracy, both within and among samples. Trait-outcome associations were higher among English-speakers than Mandarin and Russian-speakers. Our observations suggested moderate generalizability among diverse samples, with nuances providing unique and replicable information. This offers potential to improve understanding of trait-outcome patterns

Effects of novel coronavirus Omicron variant infection on pregnancy outcomes: a retrospective cohort study from Guangzhou

ObjectiveSince 2022, Omicron has been circulating in China as a major variant of the novel coronavirus, but the effects of infection with Omicron variants on pregnant women and newborns are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of Omicron infection during pregnancy and its effect on pregnancy outcomes.MethodsThis study retrospectively analyzed the data of 93 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 109 non-infected patients admitted to the isolation ward of Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Hospital from December 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023, and statistically analyzed the clinical features of Omicron variant infection during pregnancy and its impact on pregnancy outcomes. Further effects of underlying diseases on Omicron infection in pregnant women were analyzed.ResultsThe incubation period of COVID-19 infection was 0.99±0.86 days, 94.38% of patients had fever or other respiratory symptoms, the lymphocyte count in the infected group was lower than that in the uninfected group, and the lymphocyte count was further reduced in the patients with pregnancy complications or complications. Compared with the uninfected group, APTT and PT were prolonged, platelet count and fibrinogen were decreased in the infected group, all of which had statistical significance. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy increased the rate of cesarean section compared to uninfected pregnant patients, and COVID-19 infection in gestational diabetes resulted in a 4.19-fold increase in cesarean section rate. There was no statistically significant difference in gestational age between the two groups. The incidence of intrauterine distress, turbidity of amniotic fluid and neonatal respiratory distress were higher in the infection group. No positive cases of neonatal COVID-19 infection have been found.ConclusionThe patients infected with omicron during pregnancy often have febrile respiratory symptoms with lymphocyopenia, but the incidence of severe disease is low. Both Omicron infection and gestational diabetes further increase the incidence of cesarean section, and this study found no evidence of vertical transmission of Omicron

The ways of the world? Cross-sample replicability of personality trait-life outcome associations

Research in (mostly) Western samples has indicated that personality domains’ associations with life outcomes are replicable but often driven by their facets or nuances. Using three diverse samples (English-speaking, N = 1,232; Russian-Speaking, N = 1,604; Mandarin-speaking, N = 1,216), we compared personality trait-outcome associations at domain, facet, and nuance levels, both within and among samples. Trait-outcome associations were at least moderately consistent among samples for all trait-hierarchy levels (intraclass correlations .66 to .73). Nuances provided the strongest predictive accuracy, both within and among samples. Trait associations were higher among English-speakers than Mandarin and Russian-speakers. Our observations suggested moderate generalizability among diverse samples, with nuances providing unique and replicable information. This offers potential to improve understanding of trait-outcome patterns

Nrf2–ARE Signaling Acts as Master Pathway for the Cellular Antioxidant Activity of Fisetin

Fisetin, a dietary flavonoid, is reported to have cellular antioxidant activity with an unclear mechanism. In this study, we investigated the effect of fisetin on the nuclear factor, erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in HepG2 cells to explore the cellular antioxidant mechanism. Fisetin upregulated the mRNA expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), and induced the protein of HO-1 but had no significant effect on the protein of GCLC, GCLM and NQO1. Moreover, nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 was clearly observed by immunofluorescence analysis and western blotting after fisetin treatment, and an enhanced luciferase activity of antioxidant response element (ARE)-regulated transactivation was obtained by dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. In addition, fisetin upregulated the protein level of Nrf2 and downregulated the protein level of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). However, fisetin had no significant effect on Nrf2 mRNA expression. When protein synthesis was inhibited with cycloheximide (CHX), fisetin prolonged the half-life of Nrf2 from 15 min to 45 min. When blocking Nrf2 degradation with proteasome inhibitor MG132, ubiquitinated proteins were enhanced, and fisetin reduced ubiquitination of Nrf2. Taken together, fisetin translocated Nrf2 into the nucleus and upregulated the expression of downstream HO-1 gene by inhibiting the degradation of Nrf2 at the post-transcriptional level. These data provide the molecular mechanism to understand the cellular antioxidant activity of fisetin

Comparison between Tonifying Kidney Yang and Yin in Treating Segmental Bone Defects Based on the Induced Membrane Technique: An Experimental Study in a Rat Model

Tonifying kidney therapy consisting of tonifying kidney yang and yin is the basic principle of Chinese medicine in treating segmental bone defects (SBDs). Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of the differences between tonifying kidney yang and yin in bone metabolism of osteoporosis and distraction osteogenesis models. However, whether the difference between the two tonifying kidney methods in bone repair for the induced membrane (IM) technique occurs or what is the difference remain unclear. Angiogeneic-osteogenic coupling plays an important role in bone repair and the induced membrane couples angiogenesis with the later osteogenesis during the IM process. This study aimed at investigating the effects of tonifying kidney yang (total flavonoids of Rhizoma Drynariae, TFRD) and yin (plastrum testudinis extract, PTE) on angiogenesis and osteogenesis in the IM-treated SBDs. Rats of 6 mm tibia bone defect model treated with IM were divided into five groups: the control group, the model group, the tonifying kidney yang group (TFRD-treated group), the tonifying kidney yin group (PTE-treated group), and the western medicine group. At 4 weeks after insertion of the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), three caudal vertebrae from the tail in each rat were implanted into the 6 mm defect gap. Radiographical, histological, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescent analyses were performed to assess bone and vessel formation at 4 or 12 weeks after insertion of the PMMA, respectively. Our results revealed that TFRD and PTE were beneficial to both angiogenesis and osteogenesis. TFRD exerted a better effect on angiogenesis than PTE and achieved a better result in stage 1 rather than in stage 2 of IM, whereas PTE was superior to TFRD in osteogenesis and achieved a better result in stage 2 instead of stage 1. Collectively, these findings elucidated the beneficial effects of tonifying kidney yang and yin on angiogenesis and osteogenesis of SBD repair during the IM process, as well as the difference that tonifying kidney yang surpasses tonifying kidney yin in angiogenesis while tonifying kidney yin outperforms tonifying kidney yang in osteogenesis, which suggests that the combination between the application of tonifying kidney yang method in stage 1 of IM and tonifying kidney yin method in stage 2 may achieve better repair efficiency