Hong Kong Baptist University

About: Hong Kong Baptist University is a education organization based out in Hong Kong, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & China. The organization has 7811 authors who have published 18919 publications receiving 555274 citations. The organization is also known as: Hong Kong Baptist College & HKBU.

Stochastic dominance analysis of Asian hedge funds

Abstract: We employ the stochastic dominance approach (that utilizes the entire returns distribution) to rank the performance of Asian hedge funds as traditional mean-variance and CAPM approaches are inappropriate given non-normal returns We find both first-order and higherorder stochastic dominance relationships amongst the funds and conclude that investors would be better off investing in the first-order dominant funds to maximize their utility For higherorder dominant funds, risk-averse investors can maximize their expected utility but not their wealth We conclude that the stochastic dominance approach is more appropriate compared with traditional approaches as a filter in the hedge fund selection process

An enzyme–inorganic hybrid nanoflower based immobilized enzyme reactor with enhanced enzymatic activity

Abstract: A facile approach for the synthesis of enzyme–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers and their application as an immobilized α-chymotrypsin (ChT) reactor (IMER) for highly efficient protein digestion was described. The hybrid nanoflowers were room-temperature synthesized in aqueous solution using calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) as the inorganic component and ChT as the organic component. The effects of reaction parameters on the formation of the enzyme-embedded hybrid nanoflowers and their growth mechanism were investigated systematically. By monitoring the reaction of N-benzoyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester (BTEE), the enzymatic activity of the immobilized ChT was calculated and the results showed 266% enhancement in enzymatic activity. The performance of such a nanoreactor was further demonstrated by digesting bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA), with a stringent threshold for unambiguous identification of these digests, the yielding sequence coverages for nanoflower-based digestion were 48% and 34%, higher than those obtained with the free enzyme. The digestion time of BSA and HSA in the former case was less than 2 min, about 1/360 of that performed in the latter case (12 h). Furthermore, the residual activity of the nanoflowers decreased slightly even after eight repeated use, demonstrating promising stability. In addition, the hybrid nanoflower-based IMER was applicable to the digestion of a complex human sample, showing great promise for proteome analysis.

A Metal-Based Inhibitor of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α

Abstract: Staying in the pocket: A cyclometalated iridium(III) biquinoline complex targets the protein-protein interface (see picture; C yellow, N blue, Ir dark green) of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) trimer. Molecular-modeling studies confirm the nature of this interaction. Both enantiomers of the iridium complex display comparable in vitro potency to the strongest small-molecule inhibitor of TNF-α.

Real-time taxi dispatching using Global Positioning Systems

Abstract: Hailing a taxi in Singapore now employs the latest positioning technology for matching passengers with the nearest available cabs, thus achieving greater productivity and customer satisfaction.

Gut microbiota-involved mechanisms in enhancing systemic exposure of ginsenosides by coexisting polysaccharides in ginseng decoction

Abstract: Oral decoctions of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) serve for therapeutic and prophylactic management of diseases for centuries. Small molecules and polysaccharides are the dominant chemicals co-occurred in the TCM decoction. Small molecules are well-studied by multidisciplinary elaborations, whereas the role of polysaccharides remains largely elusive. Here we explore a gut microbiota-involved mechanism by which TCM polysaccharides restore the homeostasis of gut microbiota and consequently promote the systemic exposure of concomitant small molecules in the decoction. As a case study, ginseng polysaccharides and ginsenosides in Du-Shen-Tang, the decoction of ginseng, were investigated on an over-fatigue and acute cold stress model. The results indicated that ginseng polysaccharides improved intestinal metabolism and absorption of certain ginsenosides, meanwhile reinstated the perturbed holistic gut microbiota, and particularly enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus spp. and Bacteroides spp., two major metabolic bacteria of ginsenosides. By exploring the synergistic actions of polysaccharides with small molecules, these findings shed new light on scientization and rationalization of the classic TCM decoctions in human health care.