The Relationship between Stock Price and EPS: Evidence Based on Taiwan Panel Data

In this study, we use panel cointegration methods to investigate the relationship between stock prices and earnings-per-share (EPS). Furthermore, we consider whether stock prices respond to EPS under the different level of growth rate of operating revenue. The empirical result indicated that the cointegration relationship existed between stock prices and EPS in the long-run. Furthermore, we found that for the firm with a high level of growth rate, EPS has less power in explaining the stock prices however, for the firm with a low level of growth rate, EPS has a strong impact in stock prices.Earnings Response Coefficient (ERC)

Discotic Liquid Crystals and Polymersomes: Molecule Goniometers

Controlling the assembly of amphiphilic molecules and micron-sized, disk-shaped particles at different length scales into ordered structures enables bottom-up organization which is of great interest to emerging technologies based on structured materials. The primary object of this work is the investigation of structure forming components - Zirconium phosphate (ZrP) discotic particles and polymersomes/ amphiphiles on their self-assembly and interactions. The effect of bilayer architecture of polymersomes on surface reactivity was investigated via fluorescent probing method. Established through complementary experiments, correlation between reactivity and molecule diffusivity in polymer-rich environment revealed the mechanism of reduced reactivity when tethered reactive groups are located deeper within the hydrophilic polymer layer. The phase diagram of charged nanoplatelets was constructed as a function of particle concentration, surface cation moiety, and ionic strength. Influence of surface cation on the isotropic-nematic transition was done by measuring the transition boundaries of discotic suspensions prepared by acid-base exfoliation reaction with a series of exfoliating agents. Furthermore, a novel phase transition was found, where platelet-platelet interaction was influenced synergistically by ionic strength and ion exchange. At low pH, directional inter-platelet attractions lead to the formation of low volume fraction colloidal gels. Alternative surface modification approaches, including biomolecule deposition and alkyl chain grafting were explored. Finally, self-assembly of platelets in emulsions and oil-water interface was examined. Surface modification was applied to link surface properties to stable emulsion-forming ability in mixed surfactant-particle system. Emulsion uniformity was achieved by microfluidic flow focusing method. Surface engineering and interaction control was demonstrated throughout this work to be viable approaches to the fundamental understanding of collective behaviors of individual building blocks

Effects of natto extract on endothelial injury in a rat model

Vascular endothelial damage has been found to be associated with thrombus formation, which is considered to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A diet of natto leads to a low prevalence of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of natto extract on vascular endothelia damage with exposure to laser irradiation. Endothelial damage both in vitro and in vivo was induced by irradiation of rose bengal using a DPSS green laser. Cell viability was determined by MTS assay, and the intimal thickening was verified by a histological approach. The antioxidant content of natto extract was determined for the free radical scavenging activity. Endothelial cells were injured in the presence of rose bengal irradiated in a dose-dependent manner. Natto extract exhibits high levels of antioxidant activity compared with purified natto kinase. Apoptosis of laser-injured endothelial cells was significantly reduced in the presence of natto extract. Both the natto extract and natto kinase suppressed intimal thickening in rats with endothelial injury. The present findings suggest that natto extract suppresses vessel thickening as a synergic effect attributed to its antioxidant and anti-apoptosis properties

Risk Analysis of Cargos Damages for Aquatic Products of Refrigerated Containers: Shipping Operators’ Perspective in Taiwan

As the development of refrigerated container, transportation of aquatic products is growing rapidly in recent years. It is very important to avoid cargos damages for aquatic products of refrigerated containers, while the shipping operators are running this scope of business. Hence, the risk issue of adopting various improvement strategies would be important for the container shipping operators. In the light of this, the main purpose of this paper is to analyze the risks of cargos damages for aquatic products of refrigerated containers based on the container shipping operators’ perspective in Taiwan. We use four risk assessment procedures - risk identification, risk analysis and evaluation, risk strategies, and risk treatment - as the research method in this paper. The risk factors are generated from literature review and experts interviewing. Then, three dimensions with nineteen risk factors are preliminary identified. We used these risk factors to proceed with the empirical study via questionnaires. Three points of empirical results are presented. At first, the top factor of perceived risk as well as of risk severity is ‘container data setting errors.’ Secondly, the top factor of risk frequency is ‘lack of the goods’ pre-cooling themselves.’ Thirdly, three risk factors are classified into the low-risk area, whereas sixteen risk factors are placed on the medium-risk area. There is no risk factor fix on the high-risk area. Furthermore, three risk strategies - risk prevention, risk reduction, and risk transfer - are suggested to adopt by different risk factors