In the era of global economic integration, the banking domain stands as a pivotal influence in determining a nation's economic health and stability. This piece explores the mounting significance of ...appraising banking hazards, especially in the face of the unparalleled obstacles brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. The international economic scenery has experienced significant transformations due to the pandemic, influencing economic endeavors, corporate earnings, and workforce dynamics. As a result, banks confront mounting credit, market, and liquidity risks, demanding strategic measures for operational stability. The essay focuses on assessing banking risks, with an emphasis on interest rate hikes, providing valuable insights for the industry's prudent development. It scrutinizes liquidity risk, highlighting challenges stemming from rising interest rates and urging diversification of funding sources and effective liquidity management. The credit risk landscape, influenced by pandemic-induced financial distress, increased defaults, and the need for enhanced risk management, is discussed. Additionally, the examination of market risk, particularly affected by interest rate hikes, explores fluctuations in asset prices and heightened volatility. The interplay of these risks during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes the necessity for banks to comprehensively strengthen their risk management strategies. The challenges associated with liquidity risk, including run risk, credit risk amid economic downturns, and market risk dynamics influenced by interest rate changes, are highlighted. The essay concludes by underscoring the substantial impact of the pandemic on the global economy, prompting the need for effective risk management strategies to ensure sustained operations and resilience in evolving market conditions.
Accurate and timely prediction of remaining useful life (RUL) of a machine enables the machine to have an appropriate operation and maintenance decision. Data-driven RUL prediction methods are more ...attractive to researchers because they can be deployed quicker and cheaper compared to other approaches. The existing deep neural network (DNN) models proposed for the applications of RUL prediction are mostly single-path and top-down propagation. In order to improve the prognostic accuracy of the network, this paper proposes a directed acyclic graph (DAG) network that combines long short term memory (LSTM) and a convolutional neural network (CNN) to predict the RUL. Different from the existing prediction models combined with CNN and LSTM, the method proposed in this paper combines CNN and LSTM organically instead of just using CNN for feature extraction. Moreover, when a single timestamp is used as an input, padding the signals in the same training batch would affect the prediction ability of the developed model. To overcome this drawback, the proposed method generates a short-term sequence by sliding the time window (TW) with one step size. In addition, based on the degradation mechanism, the piece-wise RUL function is used instead of the traditional linear function. In the experimental test, the turbofan engine degradation simulation dataset provided by NASA is used to validate the proposed RUL prediction model. By comparing with the existing methods using the same dataset, it can be concluded that the prediction method proposed in this paper has better prediction capability.
The basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor family exists in all three eukaryotic kingdoms as important participants in biological growth and development. To date, the comprehensive ...genomic and functional analyses of bHLH genes has not been reported in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).
Here, a total of 142 bHLH genes were identified and classified into 32 subfamilies according to the conserved motifs, phylogenetic analysis and gene structures in cucumber. The sequences of CsbHLH proteins were highly conserved based on the results of multiple sequence alignment analyses. The chromosomal distribution, synteny analysis, and gene duplications of these 142 CsbHLHs were further analysed. Many elements related to stress responsiveness and plant hormones were present in the promoter regions of CsbHLH genes based on a cis-element analysis. By comparing the phylogeny of cucumber and Arabidopsis bHLH proteins, we found that cucumber bHLH proteins were clustered into different functional clades of Arabidopsis bHLH proteins. The expression analysis of selected CsbHLHs under abiotic stresses (NaCl, ABA and low-temperature treatments) identified five CsbHLH genes that could simultaneously respond to the three abiotic stresses. Tissue-specific expression profiles of these five genes were also analysed. In addition, 35S:CsbHLH041 enhanced the tolerance to salt and ABA in transgenic Arabidopsis and in cucumber seedlings, suggesting CsbHLH041 is an important regulator in response to abiotic stresses. Lastly, the functional interoperability network among the CsbHLH proteins was analysed.
This study provided a good foundation for further research into the functions and regulatory mechanisms of CsbHLH proteins and identified candidate genes for stress resistance in cucumber.
Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries are largely restricted by the unsatisfactory performance of zinc (Zn) anodes, including their poor stability and irreversibility. In particular, the mechanism behind the ...electrochemical contrast caused by the surface crystal plane, which is a decisive factor of the electrochemical characteristics of the hostless Zn anode, is still relatively indistinct. Hence, new insight into a novel anode with a surface‐preferred (002) crystal plane is provided. The interfacial reaction and morphology evolution are revealed by theoretical analysis and post‐mortem/operando experimental techniques, indicating that Zn anodes with more exposed (002) basal planes exhibit free dendrites, no by‐products, and weak hydrogen evolution, in sharp contrast to the (100) plane. These features benefit the Zn (002) anode by enabling a long cyclic life of more than 500 h and a high average coulombic efficiency of 97.71% for symmetric batteries, along with delivering long cycling stability and reversibility with life spans of over 2000 cycles for full batteries. This work provides new insights into the design of high‐performance Zn anodes for large‐scale energy storage and can potentially be applied to other metal anodes suffering from instability and irreversibility.
A novel stable and reversible Zn anode with surface preferred crystal plane via crystal orientation is reported, revealing the relationship between the surface structure and the interfacial reaction of the Zn anode. Both theoretical and experimental analyses indicate that a Zn anode with more (002) basal plane exposed exhibits free dendrites, no by‐products and weak hydrogen evolution compared to the (100) one.
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•Optimized strategies of stable operation for anammox process were summarized.•Applying granular sludge and biofilms favors retention of anammox biomass.•Achieving well performance by ...coordinating the activity of AOB and AnAOB.•Restraining NOB to avoid the deterioration of nitrogen removal performance.•Competition, synergy and cooperation between denitrification and anammox.
The one-stage nitritation/anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) process is an energy-saving technology, which has been successfully developed and widely applied to treat industrial wastewaters. For the one-stage nitritation/anammox process, key functional microbes generally include anaerobic ammonia oxidation bacteria (AnAOB), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB), and heterotrophic bacteria (HB). Cooperation and competition among the key functional microbes are critical to the stability and performance of anammox process. Based upon key functional microorganisms, this review summarizes and discusses the optimized strategies that promote the operation of one-stage nitritation/anammox process. In particular, the review focuses on strategies related to: (1) the retention of anammox biomass through granular sludge or biofilm, (2) the balanced relationship between AOB and AnAOB, (3) the NOB suppression and (4) the HB management by controlling the influent organic matter. In addition, the review proposes further research to address the existing challenges.
lFloc aggregation (< 200 μm) results in a quick enrichment of AnAOB.lAggregated flocs alter the physio-morphology and microbial community in sludge.lFloc aggregates supply an initial carrier and ...anaerobic microenvironment for AnAOB.lAnAOB rapid enrichment further facilitates anammox granules maturation.
Rapid enrichment of anaerobic ammonia oxidation bacteria (AnAOB) is highly associated with the granulation process; however, the interactive mechanism remains unclear, especially for the initial granulation process. A single-stage partial nitritation-anammox (PN/A) bioreactor combined with granular/floc sludge was operated for 400 days. During the experimental period, the nitrogen removal rate increased from 0.60 to 1.21 kg N m−3d−1, and the nitrogen removal capability improved primarily during a transition period (days 200–250), which was accompanied by a particle size increase and AnAOB proliferation (4.9 ± 1.7 days). Moreover, as observed by the biomass physio-morphology, the size distribution, and the microbial community shift, small flocs (< 200 μm) aggregated due to the addition of excess sodium acetate. The emerging floc aggregates represented an early form of granules, providing the initial biological carrier and necessary anaerobic microenvironment for the growth of attached AnAOB, resulting in a high AnAOB growth-rate. These results are the first direct evidence that floc aggregates are essential to AnAOB enrichment, and that they can be affected by operational conditions. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the link between floc aggregations and AnAOB enrichment and broadens the feasibility of optimizing PN/A applications.
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Recent progress in high power ultrafast short-wave and mid-wave infrared lasers has enabled gas-phase high harmonic generation (HHG) in the water window and beyond, as well as the demonstration of ...HHG in condensed matter. In this Perspective, we discuss the recent advancements and future trends in generating and characterizing soft X-ray pulses from gas-phase HHG and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses from solid-state HHG. Then, we discuss their current and potential usage in time-resolved study of electron and nuclear dynamics in atomic, molecular and condensed matters.
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•Low COD/N could improve nitrogen removal of SPN/A.•AMX activity was decreased without influent COD.•The microbial distribution difference between granules/flocs was ...observed.•Biodiversity of AOB and NOB increased with COD/N decreasing at low DO (0.2mgL−1).
This study investigates the effects of varying COD/N ratios on single-stage partial nitritation/anammox (SPN/A) process in a SBR. The operational period was divided into three phases with different influent COD/N ratios (0.4, 0 and 0.5). Stable nitrogen removal was achieved in phase I with a COD/N of 0.4. In phase II COD was absent, effluent nitrite and nitrate increased and nitrogen removal performance gradually deteriorated. In phase III SPN/A failed to recover from nitrate accumulation when COD/N was increased. Microbial activity was measured and microbial community was analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. These results revealed that ordinary heterotrophic organisms (OHO) was suppressed when influent COD was absent, leading to the promotion of nitrification even at a low DO (0.2mgL−1). Therefore, nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) was gradually enriched and anammox bacteria was suppressed. Besides, it was observed that flocs were sensitive to influent COD variations than granules, which requires further investigation.
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•Mature macroporous carrier (Mac) biofilms possess larger oxygen loading area.•Mac-biofilms enrich anammox bacteria mainly via partial nitritation/anammox.•Larger anoxic layer avail ...enriching anammox bacteria inside microporous carrier.•Microporous carrier biofilms polish nitrogen mainly via a denitrification/anammox.•Microporous carrier biofilms are more stable with sparse microbial correlations.
In this study, two typical carrier types, microporous and macroporous carriers, were collected from a full-scale partial nitritation/anammox reactor for analysis and comparison of the biofilm structure characteristics, performance and removal nitrogen pathway. For microporous carriers, a thicker biofilm (>5 mm) was obtained with higher biomass and abundance of anammox bacteria as well as a higher nitrogen removal efficiency due to the integration of denitrifying and anammox bacteria. In addition, higher microbial community stability can be expected under varying environmental conditions. In comparison, macroporous carrier biofilm exhibited a lower thickness (0.4–2.3 mm) and lower microbial richness, with a strong network correlation among genera. Analysis showed that the mainly positive correlation between anammox bacteria and ammonium oxidizing bacteria, enhancing coupling partial nitritation and anammox. These findings help further our understanding of the mechanisms of anammox biofilm nitrogen removal and provide a baseline for optimization of the design of carrier structures.
This paper deals with gear pitting fault diagnosis problem and presents a method by integrating convolutional neural network (CNN) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) networks with vibration and acoustic ...emission signals to solve the problem. The presented method first trains a one-dimensional CNN with acoustic emission signals and a GRU network with vibration signals. Then the gear pitting fault features obtained by the two networks are concatenated to form a deep learning structure for gear pitting fault diagnosis. Seven different gear pitting conditions are used to test the feasibility of the presented method. The diagnosis result of the gear pitting fault shows that the accuracy of the presented method reaches above 98% with only a relatively small number of training samples. In comparison with the results using CNN or GRU network alone, the presented method gives more accurate diagnosis results. By comparing the results of different loads and learning rates, the robustness of the presented method for gear pitting fault diagnosis is proved. Moreover, the presented deep structure can be easily extended to more other sensor input signals for gear pitting fault diagnosis in the future.
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