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This study investigated the value of investor communication in a firm's market valuations. The higher the frequency of communication and degree of investor involvement, the greater the increase in firm value. This effect is more prominent in companies with less information transparency, more volatile performance, and investor relations officers holding multiple executive positions and are highly experienced. Furthermore, investor relations (IR) activities can affect market valuations, including liquidity, market visibility, and institutional holdings. This study provided a new approach to measuring IR management and practical implications for governments to actively encourage companies to improve IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a characteristic fermented food in China, "Jiangshui" has a high nutritional value and unique mouthfeel and flavor. In order to investigate whether the microbial community structures in the fermented broth "Jiangshui" show regional differences, the microbial community structures of the Jiangshui samples collected from Tianshui City of Gansu Province, Guyuan City of Ningxia Province and Ankang City of Shaanxi Province were examined based on high-throughput sequencing technology, and the dominant floras were identified. The results showed that the bacterial community structure of Jiangshui from each region was relatively stable and showed relatively small differences, whilst the fungal community structure had low stability and showed large differences among different regions and samples. Lactobacillus was the dominant bacterial genus for the three regions, with its relative abundance in the range of 72.69%~99.95%. The samples from Guyuan City of Ningxia Province had relatively high abundance of Acetobacter (25.24%) and Gluconacetobacter (1.39%). Dipodascus was the dominant fungi in Jiangshui, with its relative abundance over 40%, though the dominant fungi in different samples varied greatly. This study revealed the similarities and differences in microbial community structure and diversity in the Jiangshui samples from Tianshui City of Gansu Province, Guyuan City of Ningxia Province and Ankang City of Shanxi Province. This study shows that there are certain regional differences in the microbial community structure of Jiangshui, which provides a theoretical basis for stabilizing the quality, mouthfeel and flavor of Jiangshui products, and discovering the characteristic microbial resources in Jiangshui from different regions. fungi in Jiangshui, with its relative abundance over 40%, though the dominant fungi in different samples varied greatly. This study revealed the similarities and differences in microbial community structure and diversity in the Jiangshui samples from Tianshui City of Gansu Province, Guyuan City of Ningxia Province and Ankang City of Shanxi Province. This study shows that there are certain regional differences in the microbial community structure of Jiangshui, which provides a theoretical basis for stabilizing the quality, mouthfeel and flavor of Jiangshui products, and discovering the characteristic microbial resources in Jiangshui from different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Question/Issue: Based on Property Rights Theory and Empowerment Theory, this paper uses the establishment of local State‐Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commissions (SASACs) as a quasi‐natural experiment to investigate whether and how SASACs improve the efficiency of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs). Research Findings/Insights: (1) After the establishment of SASACs, and compared to those not supervised by the SASACs (i.e., the control group), SOEs governed by local SASACs (i.e., the treatment group) have experienced a significant increase in decentralization and empowerment from the government, proxied by corporate pyramid levels. We also find increased pay‐performance sensitivity for SOE managers and higher productivity measured by total factor productivity (TFP). (2) SASACs adopt different strategies to manage SOEs in monopolistic and competitive industries. (3) The above effect of the SASACs is more pronounced in SOEs supervised by high‐quality governments that effectively protect property rights, enforce fair contracts, apply laws and regulations to everyone, and sufficiently refrain from expropriation. Theoretical/Academic Implications: Using a quasi‐natural experiment, this paper expands the existing literature on SOE reform from the perspective of incentive reform at the regulatory level based on Property Rights Theory and Empowerment Theory. Practitioner/Policy Implications: (1) Privatization is not necessarily the only optimal solution for SOE reform. We show that the unification of power and responsibilities can be very effective and is perhaps less costly and more practical than privatization. Thus, our study provides an encouraging solution for SOE reform for other countries. (2) Countries experiencing SOE reform should also work on strengthening their government quality in order to fully maximize the benefit of the reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we investigate the parameter estimation of solar photovoltaic (PV) models using the self-adaptive differential evolution algorithm with dynamic fitness-ranking mutation and pheromone strategy (SDE-FMP). The dynamic mutation divides the population into three groups according to fitness values and selects groups and their vectors with adaptive probabilities to create a mutant vector. The algorithm also encodes scaling factor and crossover rate values into target vectors to use in mutation and crossover operations and adjusts them with pheromones in the selection process. Experimental results show that the SDE-FMP algorithm can give the solutions with the lowest errors and is overall competitive with the compared methods regarding the mean errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridge cables under traffic loads are more prone to failure during the service life due to the corrosion–fatigue coupling effect. In this study, a novel lifespan model based on the equivalent initial flaw size (EIFS) theory is established to analyze the various stages of the lifespan of steel wires. Additionally, a comprehensive corrosion-fatigue lifespan calculation method for parallel steel wire cable is established based on the series–parallel model. A case study of the Runyang Suspension Bridge is conducted to evaluate the evolution of corrosion-fatigue damage in bridge cables during the service life. The results indicate that under the action of corrosion-fatigue, steel wires are more prone to crack initiation, and their fracture toughness is further reduced. In cases where the corrosion level is relatively low, the steel wires of the bridge cables experience no corrosion-fatigue fracture. When the steel wires have initial defects and are subject to corrosion-fatigue conditions, their fracture lifespan is dependent on the severity of the corrosive medium. The reduction in the service life of the cables under the corrosion environment is much greater than that under heavy loads. This research may contribute to the understanding of corrosion-fatigue damage in bridge cables, involving assessment, maintenance, and replacement for bridge cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Coal Geology & Exploration is the property of Xian Research Institute of China Coal Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Science Technology & Engineering is the property of Chinese Society of Technology Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Salicylic acid (SA) is a crucial hormone involved in plant immunity. Rice (Oryza sativa) maintains high SA levels that are not induced by pathogens. However, the roles of SA in rice immunity and yield remain largely unknown. Here, we identified SA 5‐hydroxylases 1 (OsS5H1) and 2 (OsS5H2) as the primary enzymes engaged in catalysing SA to 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,5‐DHBA) in rice. SA levels were significantly increased in the oss5h mutants, while they were dramatically decreased in the OsS5H1 and OsS5H2 overexpression lines. The mutants were resistant, whereas the overexpression lines were susceptible to Pyricularia oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. Oryzae. Moreover, the pathogen‐associated molecular patterns‐triggered immunity responses, including reactive oxygen species burst and callose deposition, were enhanced in all the mutants and compromised in the overexpression lines. Quantification of the agronomic traits of the oss5h mutants grown in the paddy fields demonstrated that the grain number per panicle was decreased as the SA levels increased; however, the tiller number and grain size were enhanced, resulting in no significant yield penalty. Collectively, we reveal that mildly increasing SA content in rice can confer broad‐spectrum resistance without yield penalty and put new insights into the roles of SA in immunity and growth. Summary statement: Disruption of rice (Oryza sativa) primary salicylic acid (SA) hydroxylase OsS5H1 and OsS5H2 by CRISPR/Cas9 technology mildly increases the SA levels and confers broad‐spectrum resistance to both blast fungus and blight bacteria pathogens without significantly affecting yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nonferrous Metals (Mineral Processing Section) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: The impacts of the current COVID‐19 pandemic on maternal and foetal health are enormous and of serious concern. However, the influence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection at early‐to‐mid gestation on maternal and foetal health remains unclear. Materials and methods: Here, we report the follow‐up study of a pregnant woman of her whole infective course of SARS‐CoV‐2, from asymptomatic infection at gestational week 20 to mild and then severe illness state, and finally cured at Week 24. Following caesarean section due to incomplete uterine rupture at Week 28, histological examinations on the placenta and foetal tissues as well as single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) for the placenta were performed. Results: Compared with the gestational age‐matched control placentas, the placenta from this COVID‐19 case exhibited more syncytial knots and lowered expression of syncytiotrophoblast‐related genes. The scRNA‐seq analysis demonstrated impaired trophoblast differentiation, activation of antiviral and inflammatory CD8 T cells, as well as the tight association of increased inflammatory responses in the placenta with complement over‐activation in macrophages. In addition, levels of several inflammatory factors increased in the placenta and foetal blood. Conclusion: These findings illustrate a systematic cellular and molecular signature of placental insufficiency and immune activation at the maternal–foetal interface that may be attributed to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection at the midgestation stage, which highly suggests the extensive care for maternal and foetal outcomes in pregnant women suffering from COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the Cycling Stability of Metal-Nitride Supercapacitor Electrodes with a Thin Carbon Shell Energy Mater i . B 2014 b , I 4 i , 1300994 Figure S5d in the supporting information is incorrect, the correct figure is, GRAPH The authors apologize for any inconvenience caused. [Extracted from the article]

Different crystallization times were studied during hydrothermally synthesis of ZSM-5 framework at moderate temperature to investigate the physicochemical properties and MTO catalytic behavior. The ZSM-5 samples were synthesized at moderate temperature (250 °C) and different crystallization times (24, 18, 12, 6, and 3 h). The synthesized samples were analyzed by XRD, FESEM, EDX, BET-BJH, FTIR, and TPD-NH3 experimental approaches. The results revealed that the purity of crystalline phase, nucleation rate, crystallinity, morphology, porosity, and acidic properties of catalysts depended on the condition of moderate temperature synthesis with strong dependence on crystallization time. This was indicative of the ZSM-5 zeolite prepared at short crystallization time (3 h) facilitated facile design of coffin-shaped ZSM-5 particles which were capable of producing improved properties could provide some useful indication for MTO reaction. So, the MTO catalytic process was carried out using the specific MTO reaction condition of T = 460 °C, CH3OH: H2O = 1:1 (vol:vol) and the feed gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) = 10500 cm3/gcat.h). The ZSM-5(250-3) catalyst showed an enhanced selectivity toward desired olefins, whereas it presented 65% selectivity to propylene and 9% selectivity to ethylene after 35 h on stream. The possible reaction pathway for facile design synthesis of ZSM-5 catalyst via moderate temperature was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated mechanical transmission has many advantages such as simple structure, high mechanical efficiency, and low cost. But the poor gearshift performance restricts the massive application of the automated mechanical transmission, and it can be improved through innovation of structure and control. To reduce the requirement of shift force and improve the shift performance, a new direct-drive electromagnetic gearshift system which consists of servo synchronizer and 2-degree-of-freedom electromagnetic actuator is adopted. The specific structure and working principle of the gearshift system including servo synchronizer are described, and the equation of force-amplifying ratio is deduced. Due to the complexity of the gearshift system and uncertainties of the gearshift process, active disturbance rejection control method is designed. The active disturbance rejection controller can eliminate the nonlinearity of the 2-degree-of-freedom actuator. The extended state observer can estimate and compensate the uncertainties, parameter variations, and external disturbances. Simulations are carried out, and the result comparison with proportional–integral–derivative controller indicates the superiority of the active disturbance rejection control method. Test bench and control system are developed to verify the performance of the newly designed system and control method. The experimental results show that, when the gearshift system is equipped with servo synchronizer, the driving force and the maximum volatility of driving force can be reduced by 35% and 5%, respectively, and the impact generated by active disturbance rejection control method is reduced by 36% compared with proportional–integral–derivative method. The new gearshift system achieves a better gearshift performance. Combined with the newly designed control strategy, the direct-drive electromagnetic gearshift system provides a new solution for automated mechanical transmission applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical stability of metal–nitride (TiN and VN) electrodes is improved by a general strategy involving the addition of a thin carbon shell to the metal–nitride nanowires (NWs), producing TiN@C and VN@C NWs. The carbon shell effectively suppresses any electrochemical oxidation reactions, allowing the metal nitrides to retain their structure, without sacrificing their electrochemical performance for charge storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the invocation of the legislative legacy of Ming founder Zhu Yuanzhang in the late Ming dynasty in China in the late 16th century and at the turn of the 17th century. An examination of how Ming scholar Guan Zhidao interpreted the Ming policy on ritual protocols is presented using Guan's "Congxian weisu yi/Proposals for Following the Men of Former Times to Safeguard Customs." According to the author, Guan emphasized the way a certain Hongwu edict differentiated retired officials within their local communities. Also explored is Guan's invocation of Zhu's ritual regulations.