Impacts of Ownership Balance and Nonexecutive Directors on Bank Performance and Risk Taking: Evidence from City Commercial Banks in China

Fangzhao Zhou,Yajing Fu,Yunbi An,Jun Yang 연세대학교 동서문제연구원 2019 Global economic review Vol.48 No.1

This paper investigates the impacts of nongovernmental stake, ownership balance, and nonexecutive directors on bank performance and risk taking in city commercial banks (CCBs) in China. We find that ownership balance can improve CCBs’ financial performance and reduce their bankruptcy risk as well as nonperforming loan level. Nonexecutive directors can help reduce bankruptcy risk, but have no significant effect on performance or nonperforming loans. The impacts of ownership balance and nonexecutive directors become more prominent when the nongovernmental stake is relatively high, suggesting that mixed ownership reform can promote bank performance and risk control via these two avenues.

A fast and powerful aggregated Cauchy association test for joint analysis of multiple phenotypes

Lili Chen,Yajing Zhou 한국유전학회 2021 Genes & Genomics Vol.43 No.1

Background Pleiotropy is a widespread phenomenon in complex human diseases. Jointly analyzing multiple phenotypes can improve power performance of detecting genetic variants and uncover the underlying genetic mechanism. Objective This study aims to detect the association between genetic variants in a genomic region and multiple phenotypes. Methods We develop the aggregated Cauchy association test to detect the association between rare variants in a genomic region and multiple phenotypes (abbreviated as “Multi-ACAT”). Multi-ACAT frst detects the association between each rare variant and multiple phenotypes based on reverse regression and obtains variant-level p-values, then takes linear combination of transformed p-values as the test statistic which approximately follows Cauchy distribution under the null hypothesis. Results Extensive simulation studies show that when the proportion of causal variants in a genomic region is extremely small, Multi-ACAT is more powerful than the other several methods and is robust to bi-directional efects of causal variants. Finally, we illustrate our proposed method by analyzing two phenotypes [systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)] from Genetic Analysis Workshop 19 (GAW19). Conclusion The Multi-ACAT computes extremely fast, does not consider complex distributions of multiple correlated phenotypes, and can be applied to the case with noise phenotypes.

Excellent microwave absorption of FeCo/ZnO composites with defects in ZnO for regulating the impedance matching

Bao, Xiukun,Wang, Xiaolei,Zhou, Xinao,Shi, Guimei,Xu, Ge,Yu, Jin,Guan, Yinyan,Zhang, Yajing,Li, Da,Choi, Chuijin Elsevier 2018 JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS Vol.769 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>FeCo/ZnO composites have been successfully prepared through liquid-phase reduction process for the formation of FeCo polyhedrons and sequentially thermal decomposition of colloidal mixture of FeCo and Zn(Ac)<SUB>2</SUB>·2H<SUB>2</SUB>O under nitrogen atmospheres. ZnO nanoparticles are homogeneously deposited on the surface of FeCo polyhedrons and the level of oxygen-vacancy defects in ZnO can be elevated with the increase of ZnO content. By comparison with FeCo polyhedrons, FeCo/ZnO composites exhibit excellent microwave absorption. The optimal RL value can reach −34.8 dB at 14.8 GHz and effective bandwidth (RL < −10 dB) is 5.1 GHz in the frequency range of 12.4–17.5 GHz with a matching thickness of 1.5 mm. The integrated bandwidth with RL < −10 dB can reach 14.1 GHz covering 3.4–17.5 GHz. Theory analysis demonstrates the interfacial polarization, dipole polarization and high conductivity due to oxygen-vacancy defects in FeCo/ZnO composites contribute to enhancement of dielectric loss capacity, which is more favorable for impedance matching.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The preferable impedance matching of FeCo/ZnO composites can be achieved by regulating the ZnO content. </LI> <LI> The optimal reflection loss (RL) can reach −34.8 dB with a matching thickness of 1.5 mm. </LI> <LI> The effective bandwidth with RL < −10 dB achieve 14.1 GHz covering 3.4–17.5 GHz with integrated thickness of 1.5–5 mm. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Segmentation of Slow Slip Events in South Central Alaska Possibly Controlled by a Subducted Oceanic Plateau

Li, Haotian,Wei, Meng,Li, Duo,Liu, Yajing,Kim, YoungHee,Zhou, Shiyong American Geophysical Union 2018 Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth Vol.123 No.1

Preparation and In Vitro Characterization of Gelatin Methacrylate for Corneal Tissue Engineering

Yan Yayun,Cao Yanyan,Cheng Rong,Shen Zhizhong,Zhao Yajing,Zhang Yixia,Zhou Guohong,Sang Shengbo 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2022 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.19 No.1

BACKGROUND: Corneal disease is second only to cataract considered as the leading cause of blindness in the world, with high morbidity. Construction of corneal substitutes in vitro by tissue engineering technology to achieve corneal regeneration has become a research hotspot in recent years. We conducted in-depth research on the biocompatibility, physicochemical and mechanical properties of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBM-MSCs)-seeded gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) as a bioengineered cornea. METHODS: Four kinds of GelMA with different concentrations (7, 10, 15 and 30%) were prepared, and their physicchemical, optical properties, and biocompatibility with rBM-MSCs were characterized. MTT, live/dead staining, cell morphology, immunofluorescence staining and gene expression of keratocyte markers were performed. RESULTS: 7%GelMA hydrogel had higher equilibrium water content and porosity, better optical properties and hydrophilicity. In addition, it is more beneficial to the growth and proliferation of rBM-MSCs. However, the 30%GelMA hydrogel had the best mechanical properties, and could be more conducive to promote the differentiation of rBM-MSCs into keratocyte-like cells. CONCLUSION: As a natural biological scaffold, GelMA hydrogel has good biocompatibility. And it has the ability to promote the differentiation of rBM-MSCs into keratocyte-like cells, which laid a theoretical and experimental foundation for further tissue-engineered corneal stromal transplantation, and provided a new idea for the source of seeded cells in corneal tissue engineering.

Disease burden of prostate cancer from 2014 to 2019 in the United States: estimation from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

Shen Lin,Dong Lin,Yiyuan Li,Lixian Zhong,Wei Zhou,Yajing Wu,Chen Xie,Shaohong Luo,Xiaoting Huang,Xiongwei Xu,Xiuhua Weng 한국역학회 2023 Epidemiology and Health Vol.45 No.-

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease burden of prostate cancer (PC) and assess key influencing factors associated with the disease expenditures of PC in the United States. METHODS: The total deaths, incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years of PC were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used to estimate healthcare expenditures and productivity loss and to investigate patterns of payment and use of healthcare resources in the United States. A multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to identify key factors influencing expenditures. RESULTS: For patients aged 50 and older, the burden for all age groups showed a modest increase over the 6-year period. Annual medical expenditures were estimated to range from US$24.8 billion to US$39.2 billion from 2014 to 2019. The annual loss in productivity for patients was approximately US$1,200. The top 3 major components of medical costs were hospital inpatient stays, prescription medicines, and office-based visits. Medicare was the largest source of payments for survivors. In terms of drug consumption, genitourinary tract agents (57.0%) and antineoplastics (18.6%) were the main therapeutic drugs. High medical expenditures were positively associated with age (p=0.005), having private health insurance (p=0.016), more comorbidities, not currently smoking (p=0.001), and patient self-perception of fair/poor health status (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: From 2014 to 2019, the national real-world data of PC revealed that the disease burden in the United States continued to increase, which was partly related to patient characteristics.

Osmanthus fragrans Flower Extract and Acteoside Protect Against d-Galactose-Induced Aging in an ICR Mouse Model

Lina Xiong,Shuqin Mao,Baiyi Lu,Jiajia Yang,Fei Zhou,Yinzhou Hu,Yirong Jiang,Canxi Shen,Yajing Zhao 한국식품영양과학회 2016 Journal of medicinal food Vol.19 No.1

Osmanthus fragrans flower extract (OFE) is an organic extract from O. fragrans flower, which exhibits neuroprotective, free radical scavenging, and antioxidant effects. Therefore, the protective effect of OFE and acteoside against aging was studied. An aging ICR mouse model was established by chronically administering d-galactose (250 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. d-galactose induced spatial learning and memory impairments that were successfully inhibited by OFE and acteoside, which could shorten escape latency, improve platform crossing times, and increase zone time. The antioxidant potential of OFE and acteoside in vivo was evaluated by estimating the following: activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase and aging-related enzyme, particularly monoamine oxidase; contents of lipid peroxidation methane dicarboxylic aldehyde, advanced glycation end products, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (a DNA damage product); and levels of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2. OFE and acteoside also inhibited d-galactose-induced neurological aging by suppressing the increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurotrophin-3. Considering the dose-dependent protective effects of OFE and acteoside, we concluded that OFE, rich in acteoside, was a good source of natural antiaging compounds.

Disease burden of prostate cancer from 2014 to 2019: estimation from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey

Lin Shen,Lin Dong,Li Yiyuan,Zhong Lixian,Zhou Wei,Wu Yajing,Xie Chen,Luo Shaohong,Huang Xiaoting,Xu Xiongwei,Weng Xiuhua 한국역학회 2023 Epidemiology and Health Vol.45 No.-

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease burden of prostate cancer (PC) and assess key influencing factors associated with the disease expenditures of PC in the United States. METHODS The total deaths, incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years of PC were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used to estimate healthcare expenditures and productivity loss and to investigate patterns of payment and use of healthcare resources in the United States. A multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to identify key factors influencing expenditures. RESULTS For patients aged 50 and older, the burden for all age groups showed a modest increase over the 6-year period. Annual medical expenditures were estimated to range from US$24.8 billion to US$39.2 billion from 2014 to 2019. The annual loss in productivity for patients was approximately US$1,200. The top 3 major components of medical costs were hospital inpatient stays, prescription medicines, and office-based visits. Medicare was the largest source of payments for survivors. In terms of drug consumption, genitourinary tract agents (57.0%) and antineoplastics (18.6%) were the main therapeutic drugs. High medical expenditures were positively associated with age (p=0.005), having private health insurance (p=0.016), more comorbidities, not currently smoking (p=0.001), and patient self-perception of fair/poor health status (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS From 2014 to 2019, the national real-world data of PC revealed that the disease burden in the United States continued to increase, which was partly related to patient characteristics.