Family Exit and Firms' Investment Efficiency Based on Dynamic Changes: Evidence from Chinese Family Firms.

This study provides evidence about the influence of family exit on firms' investment efficiency using a sample of 6,842 firm-year observations of Chinese family (and family-exiting) firms from 2003 to 2019. Based on panel data, we find that family exit has negative effects on firms' investment efficiency. Further analysis also indicates that family exit can decrease firms' investment efficiency under low investment levels and increase their investment efficiency under high investment levels. We test the market reaction when family members are punished by the SEC and find that the market's reaction is significantly negative, which implies that the capital market cares about family managers and controllers.

Cognitive functioning in elderly women who underwent unilateral oophorectomy before menopause.

The objective of this study is to compare differences in the cognitive functioning of elderly women who underwent unilateral oophorectomy before menopause with women who passed through natural menopause. A case-control study was conducted from December 2009 to August 2010. We studied the cognitive functioning of 50 elderly women who had undergone unilateral oophorectomy alone (20 cases) or with abdominal hysterectomy (30 cases) before menopause for a benign indication between May 1985 and December 1989. Tests of cognitive functioning were compared with results from 50 demographically matched control women. Test results for the unilateral oophorectomy group were lower than the control group, as measured on three separate trials for immediate and delayed word recall (p < .05). Hence we can conclude unilateral oophorectomy before menopause may have long-term deleterious effects on cognitive functioning in elderly women.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Chinese big-headed turtle, Platysternon megacephalum, with a novel gene organization in vertebrate mtDNA.

The mitochondrial genome of the Chinese big-headed turtle, Platysternon megacephalum, was obtained using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The entire mtDNA sequence, the longest mitochondrial genome in turtles reported so far, is 19161 bp. This mitochondrial genome exhibits a novel gene order, which greatly differs from that of any other vertebrates. It is characterized by four distinctive features: 1) the translocation of a gene cluster including three tRNA genes (tRNAHis, tRNASer, tRNALeu(CUN)) and ND5 gene, 2) two tRNAThr pseudogenes, 3) a duplication of pseudo tRNAThr/tRNAPro/D-loop region and 4) 3 non-coding spacers. These unique identities represent a new mitogenomic gene order in vertebrates. The TDRL model was proposed to account for the generation of the gene order in P. megacephalum.

Neuroprotective effect of garlic compounds in amyloid-beta peptide-induced apoptosis in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Neuronal apoptosis is one of the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is associated with senile plaques containing amyloid-b peptide (Abeta). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are proposed to be involved in the apoptotic mechanism of Abeta-mediated neurotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of aged garlic extract (AGE) and S-allyl cysteine (SAC) on Abeta(25-35)-induced apoptosis and ROS generation in a rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line. MATERIAL/METHODS: PC12 cells were grown in RPMI 1640 medium containing 5% fetal calf serum and 10% horse serum. Cells were incubated with AGE or SAC for 24 h prior to exposure to Abeta(25-35) for various times. Cell viability, DNA fragmentation, number of apoptotic cells, caspase activity and generation of ROS were determined. RESULTS: Abeta(25-35)-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells was demonstrated by: 1) A dose-dependent loss of cell viability; 2) A time- and dose-dependent increase in apoptotic cells; 3) An induction of DNA fragmentation; and 4) An increase in caspase-3 activity and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). After exposing PC12 cells to Abbeta(25-35), a significant increase in ROS preceded apoptotic events. AGE and SAC not only suppressed the generation of ROS but also attenuated caspase-3 activation, DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage and eventually protected against Ab-induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that ROS may be involved in Ab-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. They further suggest that garlic compounds can reduce apoptosis, possibly by enhancing the endogenous antioxidant defenses.

Kyolic and Pycnogenol increase human growth hormone secretion in genetically-engineered keratinocytes.

The amount of human growth hormone (HGH) decreases significantly after the age of 30. This decrease has been implicated as one of the major causes in the signs of aging, such as thinning of the skin and bones, a decrease in lean muscle mass and an increase in adipose tissue. Supplementing the body's dwindling supply with recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH) has been shown to reverse the signs and symptoms of aging. However, drawbacks in rHGH replacement therapy include prohibitively high cost, the need for repeated injection and side effects such as carpel tunnel syndrome, gynecomastia and insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to establish an in vitro model using genetically-engineered keratinocytes to screen natural compounds for the ability to stimulate HGH secretion. We now report that a combination of equal amounts of L-arginine and L-lysine, aged garlic extract (Kyolic), S-allyl cysteine and Pycnogenol significantly increased secretion of HGH in this in vitro model. The data indicate that this in vitro model may be used to screen for other secretagogues.