Liquidity Risk and Bank Performance: Empirical Evidence from Chinese Commercial Banks

Liquidity risk is been attached more importance after the 2008 financial crisis. Unforeseen events that happened in recent years impacted the liquidity of Chinese commercial banks, furtherly posing a threat to bank performance. This paper focuses on the relationship between liquidity risk and bank performance. Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR), liquid assets to total assets (LATA), liquidity ratio (LR), loan to deposit ratio (LTD) and cash to total assets ratio (CTA) are proxies for liquidity risk. Bank performances are measured by NIM, ROAA and ROAE respectively. The dataset consists of 16 representative Chinese commercial banks from 2012 to 2021, and the two-way fixed effect model is adopted in this study. It is found that the selected liquidity variables have different impacts on them. Firstly, LCR and LTD are negatively significant in determining NIM and ROAE respectively from a statistical view. Secondly, LATA has a significant and positive relationship with NIM and ROAE, while a significantly negative relationship is found only between CTA and NIM. Thirdly, all the selected liquidity risk variables do not have an impact on ROAA, but it is influenced by the first order lag of LCR and LTD. The empirical results may provide some guidance for the staff in Chinese commercial banks on how to maintain a balance between liquidity risk and bank performance

Structural characterization of inclusion complex of arbutin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

Purpose: To improve the solubility and stability of arbutin and to expand its application by preparing its inclusion complex with hydroxypropyl-β- cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD).Methods: An inclusion complex made of arbutin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) was prepared by freeze-drying method. Various analytical techniques, including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffractometry (XRD) and thermo-gravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC), were used to characterize the inclusion complex.Results: UV spectra indicated that no new unsaturated bond was formed in the inclusion complex. Infrared analysis showed that the smaller peaks in the proximity of 1450 - 1600 cm-1 were characteristic of the aromatic nucleus, indicating that the phenyl ring of arbutin was involved in the formation of the inclusion complex. Scanning electron micrographs of the inclusion complex showed that the original morphology of both components disappeared, and some tiny aggregates of amorphous areas of irregular size were present, revealing that the arbutin was dispersed in HP-β-CD. The powder XRD pattern of the inclusion complex was more similar to that of amorphous HP-β-CD and did not exhibit the characteristic peaks of arbutin which suggest that arbutin in HP-β-CD matrix was molecularly dispersed, and existed in an amorphous state. The TG curve of the inclusion complex was a one-step process, partly proving the formation of the complex. Complex formation with HP-β-CD remarkably improved the physical and chemical stabilities of arbutin.Conclusion: Inclusion complex of arbutin with HP-β-CD improves the heat stability of arbutin remarkably. This has a potential for expanding the application of arbutin to pharmaceuticals and food.Keywords: Arbutin, Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, Inclusion complex, Physicochemical properties, Stability, Solubilit

Optimized Live 4K Video Multicast

4K videos are becoming increasingly popular. However, despite advances in wireless technology, streaming 4K videos over mmWave to multiple users is facing significant challenges arising from directional communication, unpredictable channel fluctuation and high bandwidth requirements. This paper develops a novel 4K layered video multicast system. We (i) develop a video quality model for layered video coding, (ii) optimize resource allocation, scheduling, and beamforming based on the channel conditions of different users, and (iii) put forward a streaming strategy that uses fountain code to avoid redundancy across multicast groups and a Leaky-Bucket-based congestion control. We realize an end-to-end system on commodity-off-the-shelf (COTS) WiGig devices. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our system with extensive testbed experiments and emulation

Spatial variation decomposition via sparse regression

In this paper, we briefly discuss the recent development of a novel sparse regression technique that aims to accurately decompose process variation into two different components: (1) spatially correlated variation, and (2) uncorrelated random variation. Such variation decomposition is important to identify systematic variation patterns at wafer and/or chip level for process modeling, control and diagnosis. We demonstrate that the spatially correlated variation can be accurately represented by the linear combination of a small number of “templates”. Based upon this observation, an efficient algorithm is developed to accurately separate spatially correlated variation from uncorrelated random variation. Several examples based on silicon measurement data demonstrate that the aforementioned sparse regression technique can capture systematic variation patterns with high accuracy.Interconnect Focus Center (United States. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Semiconductor Research Corporation)Focus Center Research Program. Focus Center for Circuit & System SolutionsNational Science Foundation (U.S.) (Contract CCF-0915912

Determination of cordycepin content of Cordyceps militaris recombinant rice by high performance liquid chromatography

Purpose: To assess the suitability of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the determination of cordycepin content of Cordyceps militaris recombinant riceMethods: Cordyceps militaris recombinant rice was made by mixing brown rice with artificial Chinese caterpillar fungus culture medium powder using twin-screw extrusion technology. Cordycepin content was determined by reversed-phase HPLC with water:acetonitrile (95:5, v/v) as mobile phase, detection wavelength of 260 nm, and flow rate of 1.0 mL/min.Results: Cordycepin contents showed good linearity in the range of 1 - 50.0 μg/mL (r2 = 0.9996), and while recovery ranged from 103.2 to 109.9 %. Relative standard deviation (RSD), precision and repeatability RSD was 2.38, 0.76 and 1.46 %, respectively.Conclusion: The HPLC method is simple, fast, accurate and reproducible. It is suitable for determination of cordycepin content of artificial Chinese caterpillar fungus culture medium and brown rice recombinant rice.Keywords: Recombinant rice, Cordycepin, Chinese caterpillar fungus, Aweto, Cordyceps militari

Inhibitory effect of α-cyclodextrin on α-amylase activity

Purpose: To explore the effect of α-cyclodextrin on the activity of α-amylase with a view to expanding its application range.Methods: The concentration of α-cyclodextrin, temperature, pH and interaction time were used as single factors to explore the influence of α-cyclodextrin on the activity of α-amylase and endogenous fluorescence in the enzyme system.Results: The results showed that the concentration, time, pH and temperature affect the interaction of them. The most obvious conditions for inhibition of α-amylase activity are as follows: 10 mmol/L concentration of α-cyclodextrin, pH 6.9, duration of 120 min and temperature at 55 oC. In addition, the fluorescence intensity of α-amylase changed as a result of the addition of α-cyclodextrin.Conclusion: The activity of α-amylase can be inhibited by α-cyclodextrin. At the same time, the addition of α-cyclodextrin will lead to the transfer of tryptophan group in α-amylase, which cause the change of microenvironment and changes the endogenous fluorescence intensity of α-amylase.Keywords: α-Cyclodextrin, α-Amylase, Fluorescence intensity, Inhibitio

Modeling and analyzing the action process of monoamine hormones in depression: a Petri nets-based intelligent approach

In contemporary society, the incidence of depression is increasing significantly around the world. At present, most of the treatment methods for depression are psychological counseling and drug therapy. However, this approach does not allow patients to visualize the logic of hormones at the pathological level. In order to better apply intelligence computing methods to the medical field, and to more easily analyze the relationship between norepinephrine and dopamine in depression, it is necessary to build an interpretable graphical model to analyze this relationship which is of great significance to help discover new treatment ideas and potential drug targets. Petri net (PN) is a mathematical and graphic tool used to simulate and study complex system processes. This article utilizes PN to study the relationship between norepinephrine and dopamine in depression. We use PN to model the relationship between the norepinephrine and dopamine, and then use the invariant method of PN to verify and analyze it. The mathematical model proposed in this article can explain the complex pathogenesis of depression and visualize the process of intracellular hormone-induced state changes. Finally, the experiment result suggests that our method provides some possible research directions and approaches for the development of antidepressant drugs

Modeling and Analysis of ETC Control System with Colored Petri Net and Dynamic Slicing

Nowadays, an Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) control system in highways has been widely adopted to smoothen traffic flow. However, as it is a complex business interaction system, there are inevitably flaws in its control logic process, such as the problem of vehicle fee evasion. Even we find that there are more than one way for vehicles to evade fees. This shows that it is difficult to ensure the completeness of its design. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a novel formal method to model and analyze its design, detect flaws and modify it. In this paper, a Colored Petri net (CPN) is introduced to establish its model. To analyze and modify the system model more efficiently, a dynamic slicing method of CPN is proposed. First, a static slice is obtained from the static slicing criterion by backtracking. Second, considering all binding elements that can be enabled under the initial marking, a forward slice is obtained from the dynamic slicing criterion by traversing. Third, the dynamic slicing of CPN is obtained by taking the intersection of both slices. The proposed dynamic slicing method of CPN can be used to formalize and verify the behavior properties of an ETC control system, and the flaws can be detected effectively. As a case study, the flaw about a vehicle that has not completed the payment following the previous vehicle to pass the railing is detected by the proposed method

Risk factors for hypoxaemia following hip fracture surgery in elderly patients who recovered from COVID-19: a multicentre retrospective study

ObjectivesTo explore the risk factors associated with postoperative hypoxaemia in elderly patients who have recovered from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and underwent hip fracture surgery in the short term.DesignMulticentre retrospective study.SettingThe study was performed in three first 3A-grade hospitals in China.ParticipantsA sequential sampling method was applied to select study participants. Medical records of 392 patients aged ≥65 years who had recovered from COVID-19 and underwent hip fracture surgery at three hospitals in China between 1 November, 2022, and 15 February, 2023, were reviewed.InterventionsPatients were assigned to hypoxaemia or non-hypoxaemia groups, according to whether hypoxaemia occurred after surgery. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for postoperative hypoxaemia.ResultsThe incidence of postoperative hypoxaemia was 38.01%. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, presence of expectoration symptoms, preoperative hypoxaemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary inflammation, time between recovery from COVID-19 and surgery, anaesthetic mode, surgical procedure, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative infusion, duration of surgery, and length of hospital stay (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patients with BMI ≥28.0 kg/m2, expectoration symptoms, presence of preoperative hypoxaemia, ASA classification III, time between recovery from COVID-19 and surgery ≤2 weeks, and general anaesthesia were potential risk factors for postoperative hypoxaemia.ConclusionObesity, expectoration symptoms, preoperative hypoxaemia, ASA classification III, time between recovery from COVID-19 and surgery ≤2 weeks, and general anaesthesia were potential risk factors for postoperative hypoxaemia in elderly patients who recovered from COVID-19 and underwent hip fracture surgery in the short term

Anatomical study of simple landmarks for guiding the quick access to humeral circumflex arteries

BACKGROUND: The posterior and anterior circumflex humeral artery (PCHA and ACHA) are crucial for the blood supply of humeral head. We aimed to identify simple landmarks for guiding the quick access to PCHA and ACHA, which might help to protect the arteries during the surgical management of proximal humeral fractures. METHODS: Twenty fresh cadavers were dissected to measure the distances from the origins of PCHA and ACHA to the landmarks (the acromion, the coracoid, the infraglenoid tubercle, the midclavicular line) using Vernier calipers. RESULTS: The mean distances from the origin of PCHA to the infraglenoid tubercle, the coracoid, the acromion and the midclavicular line were 27.7 mm, 50.2 mm, 68.4 mm and 75.8 mm. The mean distances from the origin of ACHA to the above landmarks were 26.9 mm, 49.2 mm, 67.0 mm and 74.9 mm. CONCLUSION: Our study provided a practical method for the intraoperative identification as well as quick access of PCHA and ACHA based on a series of anatomical measurements