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Schematic for the preparation of the PLA/CCPU blend films.

Animals utilize conserved mechanisms to regulate oxidative stress. The C. elegans SKN-1 protein is homologous to the vertebrate Nrf (NF-E2-related factor) family of cap 'n' collar (CnC) transcription factors and functions as a core regulator of xenobiotic and oxidative stress responses. The WD40 repeat-containing protein WDR-23 is a key negative regulator of SKN-1 activity. We previously found that the oxidative stress induced by excess iodide can be relieved by loss of function in the BLI-3/TSP-15/DOXA-1 dual oxidase complex. To further understand the molecular mechanism of this process, we screened for new mutants that can survive in excess iodide and identified gain-of-function mutations in skn-1 and loss-of-function mutations in wdr-23 The SKN-1C isoform functions in the hypodermis to affect animal's response to excess iodide, while the SKN-1A isoform appears to play a minor role. wdr-23(lf) can interact with bli-3 mutations in a manner different from skn-1(gf) Transcriptome studies suggest that excess iodide causes developmental arrest largely independent of changes in gene expression, and wdr-23(lf) could affect the expression of a subset of genes by a mechanism different from SKN-1 activation. We propose that WDR-23 and SKN-1 coordinate with the BLI-3/TSP-15/DOXA-1 dual oxidase complex in response to iodide-triggered oxidative stress.

The recent integration of digital technology and financial services has given rise to the newly emerging modality of digital finance. However, does digital finance improve the efficiency of financial services while influencing the investment behavior of brick-andmortar businesses? With the help of the data about Chinese listed companies, this paper uses multiple regression analysis, instrumental variables, and other methods to empirically test whether and how digital finance affects the financial asset allocation decisions of brick-and-mortar enterprises. The findings suggest that digital finance has a galvanizing effect on financial asset allocation. However, this effect mainly stems from the fact that firms allocate more illiquid financial assets and has a dampening effect on liquid financial assets. Path analysis shows that easing financing constraints is a causal pathway through which digital finance dampens firms’ liquid financial asset allocation. Moreover, rising risk exposure levels partially mediate the stimulus of digital finance, motivating firms to allocate illiquid financial assets. This paper contributes to the research on the economic consequences of digital finance and provides policy recommendations on how digital finance can better serve the real economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to leverage the advantages of state-owned capital to promote the high-quality development of private enterprises is a central issue of mixed-ownership reform. We empirically explore the effect of reverse mixed-ownership reform on the cost of equity financing for private enterprises and the underlying mechanism from two perspectives: equity structure and high-level governance using fixed-effect and IV regressions. We find that reverse mixed-ownership reform significantly reduces the cost of equity financing for private enterprises. The mediation effect tests suggest that the improvement of information disclosure quality and equity liquidity partially play intermediary roles in the relation between the reform and the equity financing cost. Heterogeneity tests suggest that cost of equity financing for private enterprises are significantly reduced for firms operating in highly competitive industry environment and firms located in regions with lower level of marketization. We contribute to the understanding of the economic consequences of reverse mixed-ownership reform and provide policy insights for further advancing the reform in private enterprises while effectively harnessing the advantages of state-owned capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]