This study investigates the incremental effects of managerial ability on tax avoidance. Managerial ability is estimated through a data envelopment analysis (DEA) and tobit regressions. We find that there is a negative relationship between tax avoidance and firm value. In addition, we document a statistically meaningful negative relation between managerial ability and tax avoidance. The results also suggest that high managerial ability mitigates the negative relationship between tax avoidance and firm value. These findings suggest that managerial ability influences the tax avoidance behavior of the firm.

Electronic textile (e-textile) allows for high-end wearable electronic devices that provide easy access for carrying, handling and using. However, the related technology does not seem to be mature because the woven fabric hampers not only the device fabrication process directly on the complex surface but also the transfer printing of ultrathin planar electronic devices. Here we report an indirect method that enables conformal wrapping of surface with arbitrary yet complex shapes. Artificial cilia are introduced in the periphery of electronic devices as adhesive elements. The cilia also play an important role in confining a small amount of glue and damping mechanical stress to maintain robust electronic performance under mechanical deformation. The example of electronic applications depicts the feasibility of cilia for ‘stick-&-play' systems, which provide electronic functions by transfer printing on unconventional complex surfaces.

A secondary method for modulation of the sensitivity in silver nanowire (AgNW) resistive-type strain sensors without the need to change the material or coating process in the sensory layer is demonstrated. Instead of using a planar elastomer (polydimethylsiloxane is used in this study) substrate, diverse relief structures are introduced to induce nonuniform and complex strain within the elastic substrate and thereby different distributions of the crack density of the AgNWs upon stretching, which plays an important role in the modulation of the gauge factor (GF). Analysis of the sensory layer and mechanical studies reveal that a lower height ratio and greater number of trenches enhance the sensor sensitivity, for example, reaching a GF of 926 at 9.6% in this study. The demonstration of wrist-motion sensors using the technology illustrates the feasibility of using relief structures for various types of sensors and sensitivity ranges using an identical sensor layer.

This prospective randomized study compared the effects of two types of anaesthesia on peri-operative anaesthetic profiles from induction to recovery and on immunological and neurohormonal responses to anaesthesia and surgical stress. Forty patients were assigned to undergo either volatile induction and maintenance of anaesthesia (VIMA) with sevoflurane or total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) with propofol and remifentanil. Plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, glucose and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured at baseline, induction, incision and extubation. TIVA produced a significantly lower intubation score, shorter time to intubation and faster waking time than VIMA, but recovery profiles did not differ. Adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol and glucose levels were significantly lower with TIVA than VIMA, but there was no difference in IL-6 levels between the two groups.TIVA with propofol and remifentanil may be preferable to VIMA with sevoflurane alone because it leads to smoother, more rapid induction, more rapid awakening and lower stress responses to surgical stimuli.

in the FOXO gene family and association analysis with BMI. Obesity. 2006;14:188 -193. Forkhead transcription factors of the FOXO subfamily are emerging as shared components of pathways that regulate a variety of cellular functions. In an effort to identify genetic polymorphisms in candidate genes to determine associations with BMI, we sequenced all exons of the FOXO genes (FOXO1a, FOXO3a, and FOXO4) and examined their associations with BMI in a Korean population (n ϭ 734). Sixteen polymorphisms were identified in FOXO genes: three in FOXO1a, seven in FOXO3a, and six in FOXO4. Associations of FOXO polymorphisms with BMI were analyzed using multiple regression, adjusting for age and sex as covariates. One promoter single nucleotide polymorphism in the 5Ј flanking region of FOXO3a showed significant association with BMI, e.g., the lowest BMI (23.3 Ϯ 2.69 kg/m

PurposePain in terminal cancer patients may be refractory to systemic analgesics or associated with adverse drug reactions to analgesics. Epidural analgesia has been effectively used in such patients for pain control. However, this method does not provide pain relief to all patients. The efficacy and complications of continuous epidural analgesia were evaluated for expanding efficacy in terminal cancer patients.Materials and MethodsThe charts of patients who received epidural analgesia for over 5 years for the control of terminal cancer pain were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsNinety-six patients received 127 epidural catheters. The mean duration for epidural catheterization was 31.5±55.6 (5-509) days. The dose of epidural morphine increased by 3.5% per day. The efficacy of epidural analgesia at 2 weeks follow up revealed improved pain control (n=56), as the morphine equivalent drug dose dropped from 213.4 mg/day to 94.1 mg/day (p<0.05) at 2 weeks follow up. Accordingly, after 2 weeks institution of epidural analgesia, there was a significant reduction in the proportion of patients with severe pain, from 78.1% to 19.6% (p<0.05).ConclusionEpidural analgesia was an effective pain control method in patients with terminal cancer pain, however, a systematized algorithm for the control of cancer-related pain in needed.

We aimed to compare fentanyl, remifentanil and dexmedetomidine with respect to hemodynamic stability, postoperative pain control and achievement of sedation at the postanesthetic care unit (PACU). In this randomized double-blind study, 90 consecutive total laparoscopic hysterectomy patients scheduled for elective surgery were randomly assigned to receive fentanyl (1.0 µg/kg) over 1 minute followed by a 0.4 µg/kg/hr infusion (FK group, n = 30), or remifentanil (1.0 µg/kg) over 1 minute followed by a 0.08 µg/kg/min infusion (RK group, n = 30), or dexmedetomidine (1 µg/kg) over 10 minutes followed by a 0.5 µg/kg/hr infusion (DK group, n = 30) initiating at the end of main procedures of the operation to the time in the PACU. A single dose of intravenous ketorolac (30 mg) was given to all patients at the end of surgery. We respectively evaluated the pain VAS scores, the modified OAA/S scores, the BIS, the vital signs and the perioperative side effects to compare the efficacy of fentanyl, remifentanil and dexmedetomidine. Compared with other groups, the modified OAA/S scores were significantly lower in DK group at 0, 5 and 10 minutes after arrival at the PACU (P < 0.05), whereas the pain VAS and BIS were not significantly different from other groups. The blood pressure and heart rate in the DK group were significantly lower than those of other groups at the PACU (P < 0.05). DK group, at sedative doses, had the better postoperative hemodynamic stability than RK group or FK group and demonstrated a similar effect of pain control as RK group and FK group with patient awareness during sedation in the PACU. (World Health Organization registry, KCT0001524).

Background:Adjuvant perineural dexmedetomidine can be used to prolong the analgesic effect of interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB). We investigated the optimal dose of dexmedetomidine in ISB for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.Methods:One hundred patients scheduled for elective shoulder arthroscopic surgery were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind study. Ultrasound-guided ISB was performed before general anesthesia using 22 mL of ropivacaine 0.5% combined with 1, 1.5, or 2 μg/kg of dexmedetomidine (group D1, D2, and D3, respectively) or with normal saline as a control (group R, n = 25 per group). The primary outcome was the duration of analgesia (DOA), numeric pain rating scale (NRS), and consumption of additional analgesics during 36 h after ISB. Secondary outcome included durations of motor and sensory block (DOM and DOS), hemodynamic variables and sedation and dyspnea scores.Results:Ninety-seven patients completed the study. The DOS, DOM, and DOA were significantly longer in the dexmedetomidine groups than in group R. The DOA was significantly longer in group D3 than in groups D1 (P = .026) and D2 (P = .039). The DOA was 808.13 ± 179.97, 1032.60 ± 288.14, 1042.04 ± 188.13, and 1223.96 ± 238.06 min in groups R, D1, D2, and D3, respectively. The NRS score was significantly higher in group R than in the dexmedetomidine groups 12 h after ISB (P < .001) and significantly lower in group D3 than in the other groups 18 h after ISB (P = .02). The incidence of hypotension was higher in groups D2 and D3 than in group R during surgery (P = .008 and P = .011, respectively). There were no significant differences in consumption of rescue analgesics, sedation, and dyspnea scores between the study groups.Conclusion:Perineural dexmedetomidine 2 μg/kg could be the optimal dose in ISB for arthroscopic shoulder surgery in that it provides an adequate DOA. However, this dose was associated with increased risk of hypotension.