Successful Acquisition Research Articles

Towards a successful secure software acquisition

Towards a successful secure software acquisition

Analysis of Grand Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.'s Successive Acquisitions of Two Companies Within Two Years

Since the 21st century, the phenomenon of acquisition and merger of enterprises has become more and more intense. The benefits of the enterprises acquisitions include cost savings, increased revenue, and improved market competitiveness. However, there are risks involved, so it's critical to select the ideal acquisition company and execute an effective acquisition plan. In this paper, Grand Pharmaceutical has acquired two enterprises in the past two years as an example of analysis and research, using scientific valuation methods, to draw a successful conclusion of the acquisition, to provide experience for the future acquisition of enterprises. Grand Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.s acquisition is forward-looking, and no major company has committed to exploring the amino acid market before, thus filling the gap in the industry and market. In addition to interests, entrepreneurs must also be concerned with market rules and legal norms. When making acquisitions, an enterprise should design a solid development plan while also abiding by market regulations and engaging in competitive activity within appropriate bounds. These results shed light on guiding further exploratio of enterprises M&A.

Motion Rejection and Spectral Unmixing for Accurate Estimation of In Vivo Oxygen Saturation Using Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography.

Multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT) uniquely enables spatial mapping in high resolution of oxygen saturation (SO2), with potential applications in studying pathological complications and therapy efficacy. MSOT offers seamless integration with ultrasonography, by using a common ultrasound (US) detector array. However, MSOT relies on multiple successive acquisitions of optoacoustic (OA) images at different optical wavelengths and the low frame rate of OA imaging makes the MSOT acquisition sensitive to body/respiratory motion. Moreover, the estimation of SO2 is highly sensitive to noise, and artifacts related to the respiratory motion of the animal were identified as the primary source of noise in MSOT. In this work, we propose a two-step image processing method for SO2 estimation in deep tissues. First, to mitigate motion artifacts, we propose a method of selection of OA images acquired only during the respiratory pause of the animal, using ultrafast ultrasound (US) images acquired immediately after each OA acquisition (US image acquisition duration of 1.4 ms and a total delay of 7 ms). We show that gating is more effective using US images than OA images at different optical wavelengths. Second, we propose a novel method that can estimate directly the SO2 value of a pixel and at the same time evaluate the amount of noise present in that pixel. Hence, the method can efficiently eliminate the pixels dominated by noise from the final SO2 map. Our postprocessing method is shown to outperform conventional methods for SO2 estimation, and the method was validated by in vivo oxygen challenge experiments.

Uyghur–Chinese early successive bilingual children's acquisition of voluntary motion expressions

Abstract This study explores the implications of Talmy's (2000) motion event typology and its subsequent articulations in relation to Slobin's (1996, 2006) thinking-for-speaking hypothesis for the early successive bilingual acquisition of Uyghur (verb-framed) and Mandarin Chinese (equipollently-framed). Specifically, it examines how 4-, 6-, 8- and 10-year-old bilingual children acquire motion expressions in their L1 and L2 respectively, and how cross-linguistic influence shapes their L2 acquisition process. Results show that, in their L1 Uyghur, bilinguals follow general developmental trajectories observed for children acquiring verb-framed languages. While sensitive to the equipollent Chinese system from early on, due to L1 and other factors, bilinguals fully converge on the Chinese pattern only at age 10, a feat in place in monolinguals from age 3. Our findings highlight that bilingual children do eventually come to develop language-specific thinking-for-speaking patterns in their L2, but they traverse a distinct developmental path.

Design and Development of an Intelligent Decision Support System for HR Recruitment

In the current era of globalized business environments, the effective management of human resources (HRM) plays a critical role in attracting and retaining skilled employees as companies expand into international markets. This study aims to tackle the challenges encountered in the HR recruitment process by designing and developing an intelligent decision support system based on the Mamdani fuzzy inference system. The proposed system harnesses the capabilities of fuzzy logic and advanced analytics to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and efficacy of candidate selection. By automating tasks, the system streamlines the recruitment process and enhances candidate-job matching through the utilization of linguistic variables such as Technical Skillset, Experience, Certifications, Qualification, and Projects completed. The Mamdani fuzzy inference system facilitates adaptable decision-making based on imprecise or uncertain inputs, capturing expert knowledge and domain-specific heuristics. This approach optimizes the candidate ranking process, contributing to the successful acquisition of talented individuals and fostering organizational growth. By adopting this technology-driven HRM approach, organizations can surmount the limitations of manual methods, elevate their recruitment processes, and make more well-informed hiring decisions. The proposed Mamdani fuzzy inference system presents a robust and efficient solution that capitalizes on the potential of information technology to augment human resource management practices and gain a competitive edge in talent acquisition.

A new promising new choice for modern medical CT scanners: Cerium-doped gadolinium yttrium gallium aluminum garnet ceramic scintillator

Cerium-doped gadolinium yttrium gallium aluminum garnet (GYGAG) ceramics show great promise as scintillators for modern medical CT scanners. They exhibit exceptional scintillation efficiency, fast decay, low afterglow, and high X-ray stopping power. However, the performance of GYGAG ceramic scintillators in modern medical CT scanners has not been thoroughly investigated, as previous research has primarily focused on optimizing material performance. To address this research gap, we prepared a high-quality GYGAG ceramic scintillator and compared its performance to that of a widely used commercial GOS ceramic scintillator in medical CT scanners. The GYGAG scintillator showed comparable afterglow intensity, but significantly higher light yields and faster scintillation decay. Additionally, we developed two-dimensional GYGAG scintillator arrays integrated into a CT detector and assessed their spatial resolution and low-contrast detectability. The successful acquisition of CT images of an adult head phantom demonstrates the promising potential of GYGAG ceramic scintillators as alternatives for modern medical CT scanner detectors.

Acquisition of Communicative Skills by Foreign Students in a Multicultural Learning Environment

The study's relevance was determined by the lack of attention towards specific aspects of foreign students' acquisition of communicative skills in a multicultural setting and the need to record the psychological and pedagogical circumstances of academic activities that facilitate successful intercultural communication skills acquisition. This study aimed to provide evidence for theoretical claims and describe the experiment that aimed to validate the psychological and pedagogical conditions under which foreign students can acquire communicative skills within a multicultural environment at Kazakh University. To investigate the cognitive, emotional, and personality-based behavioural components of communicative skills, a range of valid methods were selected. The study was conducted using a mixed method. The research comprised 22 students from China, 14 students from the Republic of Korea, 19 students from Afghanistan, 20 students from the Republic of Iran, and 9 students from Vietnam, all pursuing their education in Kazakhstan at two universities. The research results showed that high levels of empathy and ethnic tolerance were obtained by 26.4% of the experimental group and 28.2% of the control group students respectively. It was found that conflict situations were more likely to arise as a result of competition, which was confirmed by 36.8% of the experimental group and 34.8% of the control group. The results obtained have significantly broadened the parameters of foreign students' learning and work activity's communicative and personality aspects.

Production of marmoset eggs and embryos from xenotransplanted ovary tissues

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) has attracted attention as a valuable primate model for the analysis of human diseases. Despite the potential for primate genetic modification, however, its widespread lab usage has been limited due to the requirement for a large number of eggs. To make up for traditional oocyte retrieval methods such as hormone administration and surgical techniques, we carried out an alternative approach by utilizing ovarian tissue from deceased marmosets that had been disposed of. This ovarian tissue contains oocytes and can be used as a valuable source of follicles and oocytes. In this approach, the ovarian tissue sections were transplanted under the renal capsules of immunodeficient mice first. Subsequent steps consist of development of follicles by hormone administrations, induction of oocyte maturation and fertilization, and culture of the embryo. This method was first established with rat ovaries, then applied to marmoset ovaries, ultimately resulting in the successful acquisition of the late-stage marmoset embryos. This approach has the potential to contribute to advancements in genetic modification research and disease modeling through the use of primate models, promoting biotechnology with non-human primates and the 3Rs principle in animal experimentation.

On increasing students’ motivation for studying English as a foreign language at university

Most English language teachers support the opinion that the students' learning potential increases, when they are positive about studying a language and are highly motivated. The research into the connection between positive attitude and successful second language acquisition confirms this idea. However, it is important to understand that this correlation is influenced by a variety of factors including complex social and psychological aspects of behaviour. The paper looks at the issues related to attitude to and motivation for learning a foreign language. It describes in detail the implemented project that studied the factors that have an influence on motivation and assessed the impact of using special strategies, materials and assignments on developing a positive attitude to language learning. The project is based on action research, which is a useful method with clear stages that allow a teacher to identify, research and apply teaching strategies as well as to analyze results and make recommendations in order to improve these strategies and educational process as a whole.

Chance Favors the Prepared Genomes: Horizontal Transfer Shapes the Emergence of Antibiotic Resistance Mutations in Core Genes.

Bacterial lineages acquire novel traits at diverse rates in part because the genetic background impacts the successful acquisition of novel genes by horizontal transfer. Yet, how horizontal transfer affects the subsequent evolution of core genes remains poorly understood. Here, we studied the evolution of resistance to quinolones in Escherichia coli accounting for population structure. We found 60 groups of genes whose gain or loss induced an increase in the probability of subsequently becoming resistant to quinolones by point mutations in the gyrase and topoisomerase genes. These groups include functions known to be associated with direct mitigation of the effect of quinolones, with metal uptake, cell growth inhibition, biofilm formation, and sugar metabolism. Many of them are encoded in phages or plasmids. Although some of the chronologies may reflect epidemiological trends, many of these groups encoded functions providing latent phenotypes of antibiotic low-level resistance, tolerance, or persistence under quinolone treatment. The mutations providing resistance were frequent and accumulated very quickly. Their emergence was found to increase the rate of acquisition of other antibiotic resistances setting the path for multidrug resistance. Hence, our findings show that horizontal gene transfer shapes the subsequent emergence of adaptive mutations in core genes. In turn, these mutations further affect the subsequent evolution of resistance by horizontal gene transfer. Given the substantial gene flow within bacterial genomes, interactions between horizontal transfer and point mutations in core genes may be a key to the success of adaptation processes.

A Literature Review of the Effect of Individual Differences on Second Language Acquisition

Since the 1950s, the influence of individual differences in second language acquisition has received widespread attention, and each learner's individual differences affect the success of second language acquisition. However, the research on individual differences is very complex. In order to further investigate how individual differences affect the second language acquisition process, this paper starts from three aspects of individual differences influencing factors: (1) the study of general individual factors of second language learners, such as age, gender and cognitive style; (2) the study of second language learners' attitudes and motivation, such as learners' attitudes toward learning the target language, learners' research on second language learners' attitudes and motivations, such as learners' attitudes toward the target language, learners' attitudes toward the social and cultural background of the target language, integration motivation and instrumental motivation (3) research on second language learners' strategies, such as learners' cognitive strategies, learners' meta-cognitive strategies and learners' social strategies, in order to explore the effects of these individual factors in second language acquisition, so as to find countermeasures that can really help improve second language learners' learning efficiency and further improve and develop better The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of these individual factors on second language acquisition, so as to find out the measures that can really help improve the learning efficiency of second language learners, and further improve and develop a better method of teaching foreign languages according to their abilities.

Unraveling the Path to Success: Exploring Self-Regulated Language Learning among Chinese College EFL Learners

Self-regulated language learning (SRLL) plays a crucial role in the language development of Chinese college English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. This study presents a systematic literature review aimed at identifying the key variables associated with SRLL among Chinese college EFL learners. By conducting an extensive search of the Web of Science and Scopus databases, 88 relevant research articles were analyzed to gain insights into the effectiveness of SRLL in this context. Through a meticulous analysis of the target articles, this review uncovers the essential variables that shape the landscape of SRLL in the context of China’s tertiary education. To examine the interrelationship among these variables, this study utilized Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for a comprehensive quantitative analysis. PLS-SEM enables a robust examination of multiple variables simultaneously, making it an ideal statistical technique for analyzing the complex dynamics of SRLL. By identifying the crucial factors that drive the SRLL process, researchers and educators can develop targeted interventions to enhance language learning outcomes among Chinese college EFL learners. Moreover, this research will shed light on the existing gaps in the literature and pave the way for future investigations in areas such as technology-assisted learning, individual differences, and the relationship between self-regulation and language proficiency. By unraveling the complexities of SRLL among Chinese college EFL learners, this study strives to empower educators and researchers with valuable insights to foster successful language acquisition and proficiency.

Comparison of Plerixafor or Cyclophosphamide Combined with G-CSF in Mobilization of Peripheral Blood Stem Cells in Multiple Myeloma

To compare the efficacy of plerixafor (PXF) combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (PXF+G-CSF) and cyclophosphamide (Cy) combined with G-CSF (Cy+G-CSF) in the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The clinical data of 41 MM patients who underwent PBSC mobilization using PXF+G-CSF (18 cases) or Cy+G-CSF (23 cases) in Shanxi Bethune Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including the count of collected CD34+ cells, acquisition success rate, failure rate, and optimal rate. The correlation of sex, age, disease type, DS staging, ISS staging, number of chemotherapy cycle, disease status before mobilization, and mobilization regimen with the collection results was analyzed, and the adverse reactions, length of hospital stay, and hospitalization costs were compared between the two mobilization regimens. The 41 patients underwent 97 mobilization collections, and the median number of CD34+ cells collected was 6.09 (0-34.07)×106/kg. The acquisition success rate, optimal rate, and failure rate was 90.2%, 56.1%, and 9.8%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that sex, age, disease type, and disease stage had no significant correlation with the number of CD34+ cells collected and acquisition success rate (P >0.05), but the patients with better disease remission than partial remission before mobilization were more likely to obtain higher CD34+ cell count (P <0.05). The PXF+G-CSF group had a larger number of CD34+ cells and higher acquisition success rate in the first collection than Cy+G-CSF group (both P <0.05), and had lower infection risk and shorter length of hospital stay during mobilization (both P <0.05), but the economic burden increased (P <0.05). PXF+G-CSF used for PBSC mobilization in MM patients has high first acquisition success rate, large number of CD34+ cells, less number of collection times, and short length of hospital stay, but the economic cost is heavy.

Efficacy and Safety of Etoposide Combined with Cyclophosphamide for Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Mobilization in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of etoposide combined with cyclophosphamide (EC) regimen for mobilization of autologous peripheral blood stem cells (APBSCs) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The clinical data of 48 MM patients who received APBSC transplantation (APBSCT) in Department of Hematology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2015 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The mobilization success rate and mobilization optimal rate of EC regimen were counted, and its effect on transplant efficacy, adverse reactions, hematopoietic reconstitution after transplantation, and survival time of MM patients were analyzed. APBSCs were collected on day 14 (10-19) after EC administration. The median of collected CD34+ cells was 6.82 (1.27-22.57)×106/kg, and the median number of apheresis session was 2 (1-4). The mobilization success rate (collecting CD34+ cells≥2×106 cells/kg after completion of apheresis) was 98% (47/48), and mobilization optimal rate (collecting CD34+ cells≥5×106 cells/kg after completion of apheresis) was 71% (34/48). The depth of remission were improved after APBSCT, and the complete remission (CR) rate increased from 45.8% before transplantation to 87.5% after transplantation (P <0.01). There was no transplant-related death, no blood transfusion during mobilization, and no mucositis occurred in the patients. The most common complication was neutropenia, with an incidence of 75.0% (36/48). After transplantation, all the patients successfully achieved hematopoietic reconstitution. The median time to neutrophil engraftment was 10 (9-26) days, and median time to platelet engraftment was 10 (8-33) days. By the end of follow-up, both the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) time were not reached. The 5-year estimated PFS rate and OS rate was 53.8% and 82.4%, respectively. The EC regimen for mobilization of APBSC has a high acquisition success rate and controllable adverse reactions, which can be an effective and safe mobilization regimen in MM patients.

The influence mechanism of industrial policies on Chinese companies' cross-border M&A decision-making

This study explored the potential links between Chinese industrial policy and cross-border mergers and acquisitions by Chinese firms from 2009 to 2019. Based on describing China's industrial strategy and evaluating the then-current situation of Chinese enterprises' cross-border mergers and acquisitions, this empirical study constructed a two-way fixed-effect panel model and an intermediate effect model to assess the mechanism of industrial policy's influence on Chinese enterprises' cross-border mergers and acquisitions decisions. The findings were as follows: (1) Industrial policy could promote the implementation of cross-border mergers and acquisitions of Chinese enterprises; (2) By easing financial restrictions, industrial policy could improve firms' access to capital and encourage cross-border mergers and acquisitions. (3) Industrial policies could promote the high political relevance of state-owned enterprises, thus promoting the success of transnational mergers and acquisitions of enterprises. Therefore, it was significant to promote the transformation of industrial policy from subsidy-oriented to performance-oriented and rationally evaluate the risks and benefits of M&A for enterprises to complete cross-border M&A.

Quantitative hemodynamic assessment of stenotic below-the-knee arteries using spatio-temporal bolus tracking on 4D-CT angiography.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a chronic occlusive disease that restricts blood flow in the lower limbs, causing partial or complete blockages of the blood flow. While digital subtraction angiography (DSA) has traditionally been the preferred method for assessing blood flow in the lower limbs, advancements in wide beam Computed Tomography (CT), allowing successive acquisition at high frame rate, might enable hemodynamic measurements. To quantify the arterial blood flow in stenotic below-the-knee (BTK) arteries. To this end, we propose a novel method for contrast bolus tracking and assessment of quantitative hemodynamic parameters in stenotic arteries using4D-CT. Fifty patients with suspected PAD underwent 4D-CT angiography in addition to the clinical run-off computed tomography angiography (CTA). From these dynamic acquisitions, the BTK arteries were segmented and the region of maximum blood flow was extracted. Time attenuation curves (TAC) were estimated using 2D spatio-temporal B-spline regression, enforcing both spatial and temporal smoothness. From these curves, quantitative hemodynamic parameters, describing the shape of the propagating contrast bolus were automatically extracted. We evaluated the robustness of the proposed TAC fitting method with respect to interphase delay and imaging noise and compared it to commonly used approaches. Finally, to illustrate the potential value of 4D-CT, we assessed the correlation between the obtained hemodynamic parameters and the presence ofPAD. 280 out of 292 arteries were successfully segmented, with failures mainly due to a delayed contrast arrival. The proposed method led to physiologically plausible hemodynamic parameters and was significantly more robust compared to 1D temporal regression. A significant correlation between the presence of proximal stenoses and several hemodynamic parameters was found. The proposed method based on spatio-temporal bolus tracking was shown to lead to stable and physiologically plausible estimation of quantitative hemodynamic parameters, even in the case of stenotic arteries. These parameters may provide valuable information in the evaluation of PAD and contribute to itsdiagnosis.

Pre-Сonscription and Non-Military Training of Railway Soldiers in the 1920s (on the Example of the Beslan Training Center)

The article examines the activities of the Beslan training center for pre-conscription and non-military training of railway personnel on the North Caucasian Railway named after S.D. Markov in the 1920s. The basis of the research is the materials extracted from the Central State Archive of North Ossetia-Alania and introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The author analyzes the features of compulsory military service by pre-conscripts and non-conscripts of railway troops in the conditions of the territorial-militia system of recruitment of the armed forces of the Soviet Union in the interwar period. The article reveals the process of training railway soldiers: training programs and terms, forms and methods of working with personnel. The training programs for pre-conscripts and non-conscripts, which consisted of two main parts: combined arms, mandatory for of the Red Army servicemen and a special railway, are thoroughly investigated. Combined arms training was aimed at the successful acquisition of shooting skills, tactical and drill training, as well as the political education of a fighter, the development of class consciousness and Soviet patriotism. Special railway training included the following sections: track, traction, movement, communications, which corresponded to specific military accounting railway specialties. The author shows that the training of pre-conscripts and non-conscripts had significant differences due to different goals and objectives achieved during the training of these categories of military personnel. Based on the analysis of a large volume of archival material, the author concludes that the Beslan training center, along with personnel railway units, successfully performed the tasks assigned to it for the training of military personnel - pre-conscripts and non-military personnel of railway troops.

Impact of Mergers and Acquisition On Performance of Select Public Sector Banks in India

The Banking sector has been seen ongoing mergers &amp; amalgamation in recent years. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Central Government can create a scheme for the amalgamation of any nationalized bank with any other nationalized bank or banking sector in accordance with the banking companies Acts 1970 and 1980 (Acquisition and Transfer of undertaking). The banking industry has been experiencing major Merger and Acquisition in the recent years, with the number of global players emerging through successive Merger and Acquisition in the banking sectors. Only in today’s tough environment will large organizations thrive. Government banks are in bad condition following demonetization. A lot of government banks have incurred huge losses owing to bad loans, which the lenders have not been willing to recover because they have ruined their company due to a range of factors, including demonetization. The above study shows the impact of merger and acquisition on selected banks like Vijaya Bank, Dena Bank merge with Bank Of Baroda, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India merged into Punjab National Bank, Syndicate Bank merged with Canara Bank, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank merged with Union Bank Of India and Allahabad Bank merged with Indian Bank

The Role of Age in SLA: A Review of the Literature between 2012-2023

Second Language Acquisition (SLA) is a complex process of acquiring a second language after a first language is already established, one of the factors is the age factor. Over the past few years, there has been a lot of study that argued that age plays an important role in learning a second language. Some studies stated that age has been considered a major factor in determining language learners’ success in second language acquisition. There is an assumption that the younger the learner, the better it is for them to acquire a second language. Even so, those studies did not specifically talk about how the role of age has an effect on second language acquisition. Therefore, in order to fill that gap, this study aimed to give some contribution in offering some answers regarding the role of age in second language acquisition. The result of this study indicated that age can be a contributing factor in someone’s second language acquisition. However, it is not the only driving factor since there are still so many variables that can affect one’s ability to acquire a second language.

Path of Chinese Cross Border Merges and Acquisition: Past, Present, and the Future

The cross-borer merges and acquisition came a long way in China and has experienced a significant growth in the past few decades, while at the same time encountering several problems that impede the further success of merges and acquisition with foreign companies, including lack of regulations and transparency, the blurry line between government intervention and company corporate system, and the difficulty of dealing with growing vigilance of foreign companies and countries which are gradually limiting trades with Chinese firms. The cross-borer merges and acquisition system in China is waiting for future reforms. This paper aims to investigate the cross-border merges and acquisition situation in the current Chinese market. Meanwhile, it also manages to provide several suggestions about how to give rebirth to the current cross border merges and acquisition market in China, including reducing the multiple stages required for examination and approval procedures, and adjusting relationship between the government and companies.