Search

In this study, we focus on the relation between bank governance and bank merger results under Taiwan’s special regulatory environment in 2000. Adopting governance variables (executive remuneration, managerial ownership, and board diversity), we find that managerial ownership is positively related to bank merger results and that board size is negatively correlated with bank mergers’ performance. This study supports sound governance mechanisms to prevent banks from pursuing a value-loss merger and acquisition (M&A). Our results offer the insight that internal bank governance structures have a bigger impact on the value effects from bank mergers. Thus, regulators may elevate the performance of bank M&As by enhancing corporate governance codes.

Objective To evaluate the predictive role of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score concerning changes in testosterone levels following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and the effects of LDLT on total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels, the free androgen index (FAI) and erectile function in LDLT recipients. Participants 41 adult male recipients of LDLT were evaluated before transplantation and six months after LDLT. Main outcome measures We evaluated the effects of LDLT on total testosterone and SHBG levels, the FAI and erectile function in LDLT recipients. In this prospective study, MELD score, serum total testosterone, SHBG levels and FAI were measured in the morning of the operation day and 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after LDLT. The 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire was administered before LDLT and six months after LDLT to evaluate erectile function. Results The main outcome measure was dynamic parameter changes of total testosterone, SHBG, FAI and erectile dysfunction. The mean FAI value before LDLT was 16.75±10.10. The mean FAI was significantly higher 1 month (32.75±15.56; p < 0.01), 3 months (25.23±10.26; p < 0.01) and 6 months (29.16±11.05; p < 0.01) after LDLT. Mean IIEF-5 scores significantly increased after LDLT (from 11.7±7.7 before LDLT to 14.7±7.5, p< 0.01). Conclusions MELD score correlates with severity of hypogonadism in men with end-stage liver disease. LDLT results in a reduction in serum levels of SHBG, an increase in FAI and improvement in erectile function.

This study focus on the relation between bank governance and bank merger results under Taiwan’s special regulatory environment in 2000. Adopting governance variables (executive remuneration, managerial ownership, and board diversity), we find that managerial ownership is positively related to bank merger results and that board size is negatively correlated with bank mergers’ performance. This study supports sound governance mechanisms to prevent banks from pursuing a value-loss merger and acquisition (M&A). Our results offer the insight that internal bank governance structures play bigger role upon the value effects from bank mergers. Thus, regulators may elevate the performance of bank M&A by enhancing corporate governance codes

Oriental lacquer, a natural and renewable polymeric coating, comes from the sap produced by lacquer trees. For practical applications, oriental lacquer must be refined to reduce its water content and enhance its quality. In this study, drying oils were blended with oriental lacquer during a refining process to produce oil-modified refined lacquer (OMRL). Rhus succedanea lacquer, composed of 54.1% urushiols, 34.3% water, 7.2% plant gum, and 4.4% nitrogenous compounds, and drying oils, including tung oil (TO), linseed oil (LO), and dehydrated castor oil (DCO), were used as materials in this study. The effect of type and amount (0%, 10%, and 20% by wt %) of drying oils added to lacquer on lacquer properties were evaluated. Results show that the drying oils acted as a diluent, which reduced the viscosity, and enhanced workability, shortened touch-free drying time and accelerated the hardened drying of the OMRL. The results also indicated that the hardness, mass retention, Tg, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and lightfastness of OMRL films decreased as more drying oils were blended with lacquer. Conversely, the bending resistance, elongation at break, impact resistance increased. Gloss was greatly improved through the blending of more drying oils with lacquer. In conclusion, the LO-modified refined lacquer (RL) had the highest film gloss and the DCO-modified RL had the shortest drying time for coating. Otherwise, the film properties were similar among the three types of drying oils.

Although annual statistics present data on the growth of endowments for specific institutions (CAE, 2006; NACUBO, 2006), relatively little research has been conducted to better understand the institutional factors that account for differential changes in the overall endowment value of institutions. This study is to determine what relationships exist between institutional characteristics and endowment growth by comparing and categorizing institutions with endowment market values in excess of $120 million in 1995 and tracing the pattern of growth for the past decade. The set of 147 institutions included 100 private institutions and 47 public institutions of several types (that is, 94 research/doctoral universities, 8 master's universities and 45 liberal arts colleges based on the Carnegie classification). Based on the literature and discussion about endowment growth, the following 10 variables were identified as possible predictors of growth in endowments: governance, institution type, enrollment, geographical location, region, research activities, state funding, tuition revenue, alumni giving rate (AGR) and student selectivity. The findings revealed that endowment growth was closely intertwined with a variety of crucial institutional characteristic factors, including SAT scores, R&D expenditures, AGR and tuition revenue, which indicates that these institutional characteristics are significantly and positively correlated to endowment growth.