Technical and Scale Efficiency of Chinese Apparel Firms

This paper aimed at assessing the recent technical efficiency and scale efficiency of Chinese T&A firms. The findings showed that the T&A firms in sample had fairly high technical efficiency, meanwhile they have a remarkably high scale efficiency. This is contrary with Ye and Zhou’s (2013) research, though, still suggested that Chinese T&A firms would set increasing TE as the priority and pay more attention to the utilization of resources, or technology updates, rather than increasing production scale. Moreover, the difference on TE between firm categories warned that Men’s wear and Sportswear firms may need urgent willing to improve their firm’s performance

Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use of New Technologies Described by Chinese Textile and Apparel Firm Owners and Managers

In order to assess the Textile and Apparel firms\u27 technology acceptance behavior, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in this paper. A total of 13 firm owners/senior managers from 13 different Chinese Textile and Apparel firms were interviewed by the researchers. Two major themes of perceived usefulness and three themes of perceived ease of use were generated from this study, working as fundamental determinants of firms\u27 technology acceptance. The study findings highlight the need for new ways to measure perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use that could successfully assess Textile and Apparel firms\u27 determinants of new technology acceptance, which will further develop appropriate technology acceptance model at the firm level

The Motivations to Adopt Eco-fashion Products: were Chinese Consumers Underestimated?

Fueled by increased affluence and modernization process, China is experiencing dramatic changes in its culture, social value, and consumption values. Chinese consumers\u27 attitude and products selection are moving towards health, happiness, and self-satisfaction. In addition, due to higher educational level on average, more disposable income, as well as increasing social responsibility and environmental awareness, Chinese consumers are shaping up to promote sustainable consumption. Although a variety of studies have been done on sustainable consumption in developed countries, understanding of Chinese consumers\u27 sustainable consumption is lacking. To address the research gap in addition to delivering practical formation for sustainable development and consumption in the context of fashion business in China, the purpose of the study is to determine the factors that influence Chinese consumers on pursuing eco-fashion consumption

Expectancy, perceived benefit and perceived cost of new technology : scale development in the context of Chinese textile and apparel firm mangers

Includes vitaThe textile and apparel industry have been fundamentally changed due to technology development. However, developing countries are falling behind for adopting new technologies, such as China. To explore factors that may influence motivation to adopt new technology, firm managers' expectancy, perceived benefit and perceived cost of new technology were addressed in this study. However, future literation examination suggested a lack of proper and relevant scales to measure such concepts. Thus, to clearly and effectively understand factors that may influence Chinese T&A firm managers' motivation to adopt new technology, this study was designed to develop scales that measure firm managers' expectancy, perceived benefit and perceived cost of new technology adoption. The psychometric method of item response theory was used as the data collection and analysis paradigm for the research. After item generation, item bank development, and psychometric evaluation by 599 Chinese textile and apparel firm managers, valid and reliable scales of firm managers' expectancy, perceived benefit and perceived cost of new technology were built. The three scales provide a holistic view of firm managers' concerns in the decide-making process of new technology adoption, which would help research Chinese T&A firm managers' motivation to adopt new technology and guide textile and apparel industry upgrades in China.Includes bibliographical reference

Autotaxin is induced by TSA through HDAC3 and HDAC7 inhibition and antagonizes the TSA-induced cell apoptosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted glycoprotein with the lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activity to convert lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) into lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a bioactive lysophospholipid involved in diverse biological actions. ATX is highly expressed in some cancer cells and contributes to their tumorigenesis, invasion, and metastases, while in other cancer cells ATX is silenced or expressed at low level. The mechanism of ATX expression regulation in cancer cells remains largely unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, we demonstrated that trichostatin A (TSA), a well-known HDAC inhibitor (HDACi), significantly induced ATX expression in SW480 and several other cancer cells with low or undetectable endogenous ATX expression. ATX induction could be observed when HDAC3 and HDAC7 were down-regulated by their siRNAs. It was found that HDAC7 expression levels were low in the cancer cells with high endogenous ATX expression. Exogenous over-expression of HDAC7 inhibited ATX expression in these cells in a HDAC3-dependent manner. These data indicate that HDAC3 and HDAC7 collaboratively suppress ATX expression in cancer cells, and suggest that TSA induce ATX expression by inhibiting HDAC3 and HDAC7. The biological significance of this regulation mechanism was revealed by demonstrating that TSA-induced ATX protected cancer cells against TSA-induced apoptosis by producing LPA through its lysoPLD activity, which could be reversed by BrP-LPA and S32826, the inhibitors of the ATX-LPA axis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We have demonstrated that ATX expression is repressed by HDAC3 and HDAC7 in cancer cells. During TSA treatment, ATX is induced due to the HDAC3 and HDAC7 inhibition and functionally antagonizes the TSA-induced apoptosis. These results reveal an internal HDACi-resistant mechanism in cancer cells, and suggest that the inhibition of ATX-LPA axis would be helpful to improve the efficacy of HDACi-based therapeutics against cancer.</p

Protective effect of theaflavins on neuron against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells

Theaflavins, the oxidation products of tea polyphenols are important biologically active components of black tea. 6-hydroxydopamine is a pro-parkinsonian neurotoxin. Theaflavins could inhibit the auto-oxidation of 6-hydroxydopamine in a dose-dependent manner from 0.5 µg/ml to 25 µg/ml. Here we investigated the protective effect of theaflavins on 6-hydroxydopamine induced SH-SY5Y cells against apoptosis (within this concentration range). It was found that pretreating SH-SY5Y cells with 0.5 µg/ml of theaflavins prevented 6-hydroxydopamine-induced loss of cell viability, condensed nuclear morphology, attenuated 6-hydroxydopamine-induced apoptosis, decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential and the increase of intracellular nitric oxide levels. Our results indicated that theaflavins had protective effect against 6-hydroxydopamine induced apoptosis at low concentrations, possibly through inhibition of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide production

IgG glycosylation profile and the glycan score are associated with type 2 diabetes in independent Chinese populations: A case-control study

Background. The relationship between the IgG glycan panel and type 2 diabetes remains unclear in Chinese population. We aimed to investigate the association of the IgG glycan profile and glycan score with type 2 diabetes. Methods. In the discovery population, 162 individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 162 matched controls from Beijing health management cohort were included. We analyzed the IgG glycan profile and composed a glycan score for type 2 diabetes. Findings were validated in the replication population from Beijing Xuanwu community cohort (280 cases and 508 controls). Area under curve (AUC) using 10-fold and bootstrap validation, net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination index (IDI) were calculated for the glycan score. Results. In the discovery population, 5 initial IgG glycans and 7 derived traits were significantly associated with type 2 diabetes after Bonferroni correction and Lasso selection, which were validated in the replication population subsequently. The glycan score composed of these IgG glycans and traits showed a strong association with type 2 diabetes (combined odds ratio (OR): 3.78) and its risk factors. In the replication population, AUC of the model involving clinical traits improved from 0.74 to above 0.90, and the values of NRI and IDI were 0.35 and 0.42, respectively, with the glycan score added. Conclusions. IgG glycosylation profiles were associated with type 2 diabetes and the glycan score may be a novel indicator for diabetes which reflected a proinflammatory status

Mitochondrial Ferritin Deletion Exacerbates β

Mitochondrial ferritin (FtMt) is a mitochondrial iron storage protein which protects mitochondria from iron-induced oxidative damage. Our previous studies indicate that FtMt attenuates β-amyloid- and 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. To explore the protective effects of FtMt on β-amyloid-induced memory impairment and neuronal apoptosis and the mechanisms involved, 10-month-old wild-type and Ftmt knockout mice were infused intracerebroventricularly (ICV) with Aβ25–35 to establish an Alzheimer’s disease model. Knockout of Ftmt significantly exacerbated Aβ25–35-induced learning and memory impairment. The Bcl-2/Bax ratio in mouse hippocampi was decreased and the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and PARP were increased. The number of neuronal cells undergoing apoptosis in the hippocampus was also increased in Ftmt knockout mice. In addition, the levels of L-ferritin and FPN1 in the hippocampus were raised, and the expression of TfR1 was decreased. Increased MDA levels were also detected in Ftmt knockout mice treated with Aβ25–35. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the neurological impairment induced by Aβ25–35 was exacerbated in Ftmt knockout mice and that this may relate to increased levels of oxidative stress

Technical and Scale Efficiency of Chinese Apparel Firms

This paper aimed at assessing the recent technical efficiency and scale efficiency of Chinese T&A firms. The findings showed that the T&A firms in sample had fairly high technical efficiency, meanwhile they have a remarkably high scale efficiency. This is contrary with Ye and Zhou’s (2013) research, though, still suggested that Chinese T&A firms would set increasing TE as the priority and pay more attention to the utilization of resources, or technology updates, rather than increasing production scale. Moreover, the difference on TE between firm categories warned that Men’s wear and Sportswear firms may need urgent willing to improve their firm’s performance.</p

Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use of New Technologies Described by Chinese Textile and Apparel Firm Owners and Managers

In order to assess the Textile and Apparel firms' technology acceptance behavior, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in this paper. A total of 13 firm owners/senior managers from 13 different Chinese Textile and Apparel firms were interviewed by the researchers. Two major themes of perceived usefulness and three themes of perceived ease of use were generated from this study, working as fundamental determinants of firms' technology acceptance. The study findings highlight the need for new ways to measure perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use that could successfully assess Textile and Apparel firms' determinants of new technology acceptance, which will further develop appropriate technology acceptance model at the firm level.</p