Browsing by Author "Wang, Y."
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Item Embargo Co-delivery of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase prevents loss of expression of an antigenic transgene in dystrophic mouse muscles.(Springer, 2016-12) Sharma, D.; Al-Khalidi, Rasha; Edgar, S.; An, Q.; Wang, Y.; Young, Christopher N. J.; Nowis, D.; Gorecki, DariuszA significant problem affecting gene therapy approaches aiming at achieving long-term transgene expression is the immune response against the protein product of the therapeutic gene, which can reduce or eliminate the therapeutic effect. The problem is further exacerbated when therapy involves targeting an immunogenic tissue and/or one with a pre-existing inflammatory phenotype, such as dystrophic muscles. In this proof-of-principle study, we co-expressed a model antigen, bacterial β-galactosidase, with an immunosuppressive factor, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), in muscles of the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This treatment prevented loss of expression of the transgene concomitant with significantly elevated expression of T-regulatory (Treg) markers in the IDO1-expressing muscles. Moreover, co-expression of IDO1 resulted in reduced serum levels of anti-β-gal antibodies. These data indicate that co-expression of genes encoding immunomodulatory enzymes controlling kynurenine pathways provide a viable strategy for preventing loss of transgenes targeted into dystrophic muscles with pre-existing inflammation.Item Open Access Corporate Governance Mechanisms and Firm Performance: Evidence from the Emerging Market Following the Revised CG Code(Emerald, 2019-11-21) Wang, Y.; Abbasi, K.; Babajide, Bola; Yekini, K.Purpose: This study examines the extent to which board characteristics and ownership structure affect firm performance with specific focus on providing new empirical insights following the revised Corporate Governance (CG) code 2012. Design/methodology/approach: This study uses a sample of non-financial firms listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)-100 index for the years 2011 to 2014. Firm performance is measured by accounting-based performance indicators (ROA and ROE) and market-based performance indicators (Tobin’s Q and MTB). This study employs multivariate regression techniques including Fixed Effects Model (FE) and Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS). Findings: The findings show that board diversity increases over the two time periods (Pre-2012 and Post-2012), whereas there are cases that companies have not fully complied with the revised CG code 2012 in terms of board independence. In addition, the multiple regression results show that firm performance is negatively and significantly associated with institutional ownership. Nevertheless, the results show that board size, board independent, board diversity and board meetings do not have significant impact on firm performance. The findings are fairly consistent and robust across two time periods (Pre-2012 and Post 2012) and a number of econometric models that sufficiently address the potential endogeneity problems. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical study which investigates the impact of the compliance and implementation of 2012 corporate governance code on firm performance in Pakistan. This study is different from the most prior studies in that we utilize independent non-executive directors rather than conventional non-executive directors to measure board independence.Item Open Access Exercising D. melanogaster modulates the mitochondrial proteome and physiology - the effect on lifespan depends upon age and sex(2021-10-27) Ewbanks, B.; Wang, Y.; Katyal, G.; Sargent, C.; Ingram, T.L.; Bowman, A.; Moisoi, Nicoleta; Chakrabarti, LisaAgeing is a major risk factor for many of the most prevalent diseases, including neurodegenerative disease, cancer and heart disease. As the global population continues to age, behavioural interventions that can promote healthy ageing will improve quality of life and relieve the socio-economic burden that comes with an aged society. Exercise is recognised as an effective intervention against many diseases of ageing, but we don’t know the stage in an individual’s lifetime in which exercise is most effective at promoting healthy ageing and whether it has a direct effect on lifespan. We exercised w 118 Drosophila melanogaster, interrogating effects of sex and group size, at different stages of their lifetime and recorded their lifespan. Climbing scores at 30 days were measured to record differences in fitness in response to exercise. We also assessed the mitochondrial proteome of w1118 Drosophila that had been exercised for one week, alongside mitochondrial respiration measured using High-Resolution Respirometry, to determine changes in mitochondrial physiology in response to exercise. We found that age-targeted exercise interventions improve lifespan in male and female Drosophila, and grouped males exercised in late life had improved climbing scores, when compared with those exercised throughout their entire lifespan. The proteins of the electron transport chain were significantly upregulated in expression after one week of exercise, and complex II linked respiration was significantly increased in exercised Drosophila. Taken together our study provides a basis to test specific proteins and complex II of the respiratory chain as important effectors of exercise induced healthy ageing.Item Embargo Explaining the surge in M&A as an entry mode: home country and cultural influences(Emerald Publishing Limited, 2017) Boateng, Agyenim; Du, Min; Wang, Y.; Wang, C.; Ahammad, Mohammad F.Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the trends, patterns and the impact of cultural and home country macroeconomic influences on Chinese cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBM&A) as foreign entry strategy for the period of 1998-2011. Design/methodology/approach – Using three regression models, namely, ordinary least squares, the random effects and fixed effects to examine the impact of home country macroeconomic and cultural factors on CBM&A outflows as an entry mode of Chinese firms. The authors check the robustness of the results using system GMM. Findings – The findings suggest that CBM&A as a preferred mode of market entry provides a means for obtaining strategic resources to develop competitive advantages for the Chinese emerging market firms. The regression results indicate that home country macroeconomic and cultural variables, including gross domestic product (GDP), liquidity, interest rates, inflation, acquisitions in resource seeking sectors and cultural distance play an important role in explaining the trends of CBM&A outflows by the Chinese firms. Research limitations/implications – The results imply that government support to emerging market multinational enterprises (EMEs) to acquire strategic assets and economic policies in the home country play an important role in shaping international expansion behaviour of EMEs through CBM&A. The study demonstrates that outward investments of EMEs are partly a function of the level of economic policies and government support at home. The limitation is that most of the Chinese CBM&A transactions took place in Asia/Pacific locations. Future studies appear warranted if new data become available. Originality/value – The study demonstrates how the institutions, strategic asset seeking with government support and economic policies in the home country play important role in shaping international expansion behaviour of emerging market enterprises through CBM&A thereby contributing to the political economy literature and institutional theory. More importantly, the study shows that the level of economic policies and development such as GDP, money supply, interest rates, inflation of the home country are important for EME growth in the international marketItem Metadata only Software Evolution for Evolving China(2008) Yang, Hongji; Chen, Feng; Zhou, Y.; Zhao, M.; Wang, Y.; Guo, H.