published_or_final_version / abstract / Dentistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

The price difference of the Chinese dual-listed companies is a interesting issue. The price of the same asset should be consistent after risk-adjusted, but there is an obvious difference between A-share and H-share which the same company¡¦s shares listed in the Shanghai or Shenzhen Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This study found that not only liquidity, demand, required risk premium, and information asymmetry can lead to the price difference, but also manipulation, investor¡¦s preference, and the market emotion. This also verified the investors are more speculative in China than the investors in Hong Kong. Besides, this research analysis the price difference ratio form the viewpoint of valuation, the difference ratio provides a way to understand whether the stock is undervaluation or overvaluation. Finally, this study discussed the Taiwan Depository Receipts. The result indicated that most of the factors which influence the price difference between A-share and H-share also affected the price difference between TDR and the original share. The difference ratio between TDR and original share can also provide some information about the stocks are undervaluation or overvaluation.

More than half of the women aged from 45-55 suffer from menopausal symptoms which can seriously affect the quality of life of the midlife women. The menopause transition has become a very active research area in healthy aging in the last several decades. In recent years, more and more women have turned to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to manage their menopausal symptoms. Among various Chinese medicine formulae, Er-Xian Decoction (EXD) is one of the most acceptable Chinese medicine formulae to relieve menopausal symptoms. Although EXD is popular in the management of menopausal symptoms, its effectiveness has not been evaluated by strictly designed clinical study. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the current evidence to assess the efficacy and safety of EXD as a basic formula for menopausal symptoms. A total of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included for further analysis. The results of these studies suggested that EXD was more effective than the control interventions, which included various HRT and other Chinese herbal medicine. Seven of the studies compared EXD with HRT and the meta-analysis seemed to suggest that EXD as a basic formula was superior to hormone replacement therapy. However, the included studies were insufficient in methodological quality and had a high probability of bias. A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was then conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of EXD for menopausal symptoms. Of 557 recruited women, 108 subjects were eligible to participate in the study and 101 subjects finished the study. Comparisons between placebo and EXD groups were conducted by using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with baseline as covariate. EXD granules when compared with placebo significantly reduced the frequency and severity of hot flushes and night sweats. EXD compared with placebo significantly reduced the frequency of hot flushes (P=0.041) and the hot flush severity score (P=0.016). Superiority of EXD over placebo was also observed in greater improvement in total scores of MRS (P=0.028) and MENQOL questionnaires (P=0.021). There were no differences between EXD and placebo group in serum hormones and bone markers. There were no serious adverse events and the safety indices of whole blood counts, renal and liver functions were normal before and after the treatment. Both EXD and placebo were well tolerated. In summary, this Chinese herbal formula EXD was found to be superior to placebo in reducing hot flushes and improving menopausal symptoms in Hong Kong perimenopausal women. It was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events noted during the study period. / published_or_final_version / Chinese Medicine / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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Inaug.-Diss.--Upsala. / "Literatur": p.[vii]-xii.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Harvard University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

目的：通过对柴胡桂枝汤从古至今文献的整理，了解柴胡桂枝汤的应用规律，并对其方证应用做出归纳、总结。 方法：在充分收集资料的基础上，对各类相关文献进行整理、归类，分为方论类文献、医论类文献、本草类文献、临床观察类文献和医案类文献。根据不同文献特点提取相共不同信息。其中前三类文献以文义阐释和解读为主进行归纳总结；余下两类文献则以数据统计为主进行频次分析，从统计数据中提取疾病谱、典型指征等信息。 结果：一. 通过文献阐释方药含义，对柴胡桂枝汤病机、方义、适应证进行了初步归纳、总结；二．通过文献数据统计、分析，对柴胡桂枝汤疾病谱、适应证、适应体质作了详细归纳。 结论：一．柴胡桂枝汤病机：太少两感、营卫不和 适应证型：太少两枝轻证 偏虚证 二．从典型指征、患者体质状态和疾病谱对柴胡桂枝汤方证作如下 表述： （一） 1.王证（典型指征）：恶寒、肢节烦疼、发热、喜呕、腹痛、胸闷气短； 2.兼证（重要指征）：纳呆、神疲乏力、口干、口苦脇痛、往来寒热、汗出。 （二）适合体质：体虚、气郁之人 （三）疾病谱： 1.外感类疾病：如小儿外感热病、产后发热等 2.体痛类疾病：如坐骨神经痛、颈椎病等 3.心腹痛类疾病：冠心病、慢性胃炎、膜腺炎等。 4.神志相关类疾病：如更年期综合征、癫痫等。 關鍵詞：柴胡桂枝汤 方证研究 太少两戚 医案文献

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The number of dividend paying firms has been on the decline since the popularity of stock repurchases in the 1980s, and the recent financial crisis has brought about a wave of dividend reductions and omissions. This dissertation examined the U.S. firms and American Depository Receipts that are listed on the U.S. equity exchanges according to their dividend paying history in the previous twelve quarters. While accounting for the state of the economy, the firm’s size, profitability, earned equity, and growth opportunities, it determines whether or not the firm will pay a dividend in the next quarter. It also examined the likelihood of a dividend change. Further, returns of firms were examined according to their dividend paying history and the state of the economy using the Fama-French three-factor model. Using forward, backward, and step-wise selection logistic regressions, the results show that firms with a history of regular and uninterrupted dividend payments are likely to continue to pay dividends, while firms that do not have a history of regular dividend payments are not likely to begin to pay dividends or continue to do so. The results of a set of generalized polytomous logistic regressions imply that dividend paying firms are more likely to reduce dividend payments during economic expansions, as opposed to recessions. Also the analysis of returns using the Fama-French three factor model reveals that dividend paying firms are earning significant abnormal positive returns. As a special case, a similar analysis of dividend payment and dividend change was applied to American Depository Receipts that trade on the NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX exchanges and are issued by the Bank of New York Mellon. Returns of American Depository Receipts were examined using the Fama-French two-factor model for international firms. The results of the generalized polytomous logistic regression analyses indicate that dividend paying status and economic conditions are also important for dividend level change of American Depository Receipts, and Fama-French two-factor regressions alone do not adequately explain returns for these securities.