Virtual Branches Research Articles

Data envelopment analysis for identification of bank branches appropriate locations in terms of their efficient operation

One of the main banking activities is the branch network. It provides the effective banking, the profitability. Choosing the right location of branches is very important for the bank effective operation. Random or intuitively locations can have a negative impact on key performance indicators in the future. The correct and thoughtful choice of the bank branch location ultimately determines its maximum efficiency. The paper concerns with the determining of the bank branch location in terms of thorough mathematical calculation and many factors influencing bank activity. We developed a special calculation method using the DEA (Data Envelope Analysis) methodology, considering financial, branch location, location features, etc. The paper dwells on the issue of one large branch effectiveness comparing to several smaller branches covering a wider consumer area on the example of the branch on A. Sharifzade street, Baku, Azerbaijan. Indeed, it is important to consider the location in terms of its geolocation and landscape. However, one of the main issues is expediency of establishing one large or several small branches in densely populated areas. Moreover, it is necessary to take into account the infrastructure to improve the bank performance. To consider this issue, we use both hypothetical and statistical data of Capital Bank. It is one of the largest banks in Azerbaijan. Also it has a large network of branches. The article examines expediency of establishing one large or several small branches in the area close to the existing branch of Capital Bank on A. Sharifzade street. The efficiency of the current operating branch was compared with the total efficiency of virtual branches in several combinations. We analysed the indicators of the Inshaatchylar branch and virtual branches in different combinations in different locations in accordance with DEA CRS (Constant Return to Scale) method. Additionally, we determined the effectiveness of both the Inshaatchylar branch and virtual branches in various combinations. Thus, the highest score is the most effective one.

금융 메타버스 플랫폼의 혁신저항과 수용의도에 관한 연구

Recently, as the metaverse market has grown rapidly, there has been a movement to strategically link metaverse in various fields such as distribution, manufacturing, and finance. The financial sector is actively using the metaverse platform and is conducting executive meetings, opening virtual branches, training new employees, and providing financial education services on the financial metaverse platform. The number of financial companies providing services linked to the metaverse is increasing due to expectations that the financial metaverse platform can improve information delivery of financial products and customer convenience. In particular, because financial consumers can use financial services without visiting a store through metaverse, financial companies are also accelerating the construction of their own metaverse platforms. In this way, the financial metaverse platform goes beyond the limitations of smartphones and is fundamentally changing the work methods, customer needs, and services of the financial industry based on the technical characteristics of online and offline connectivity.
 The purpose of this study is as follows. From the perspective of financial consumers, literature research and metaverse-related expert interview survey methodology were used to derive the benefits gained by accepting the metaverse platform and the sacrifice factors such as investment losses and security risks that occur to acquire value. As a result of the study, the utility factors gained by accepting the financial metaverse platform include perceived relative advantage, perceived suitability, and perceived usability. Cost factors included perceived privacy risk and perceived complexity. In addition, perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, and remote presence were presented as benefit factors of the financial metaverse platform service, and technical complexity, perceived cost, and perceived security risk were presented as sacrifice factors.

Investigation on the basic principles of human-machine contact force, based on screw theory

In this paper, to introduce a spatial rigid body mechanics analytical method and start the analysis, the human-machine contact force is equivalent to a spatially rigid body: the mechanism and skin surfaces are equivalent to two different rigid planes, and the motion between the mechanism and skin surfaces is equivalent to virtual branches motion. By considering the elastic deformation of each virtual branch axis, an equivalent human-machine contact force model is established, along with the deformation coordination equation of each virtual branch. The analytical solution of the tension/compression and the expression of the internal force of each virtual branch are obtained by solving the pseudo inverse and weighted generalized inverse solutions of the human-machine contact force. The physical meaning of the internal force of each virtual branch is also denoted. In addition, this paper contains an experimental platform for testing human-machine contact force, in which the linear stiffness of each branch is evaluated, therefore simulating and verifying the theoretical model introduced above. The contact force model proposed in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the development of human-machine synergetic motion.

Resonance analysis of multiple grid‐connected inverters’ series and parallel network

AbstractMultiple inverters are connected to the distribution network with complex non‐linear loads and may interact with the background harmonics in some cases. In addition to the parallel resonance caused by the harmonic current, the harmonic voltage also causes the series resonance. The matching of frequencies of the resonance voltage and current results in serious distortion of the grid‐connected bus voltage waveform, or even threatens the stability of its operating point. A general method to analyze the network series and parallel resonance of multiple grid‐connected inverters is yet to be proposed. In view of this, the authors provide an inverter model and an analytical method to traverse all the resonance points. Two typical control inverters were modelled under the transfer function model, and the defects of the traditional modal analysis method in traversing the series resonance were analyzed. Then, the authors propose to use an improved modal analysis method by adding virtual branches for resonance analysis. The obtained analytical results are consistent with the frequency sweeping results and simulation results, verifying the effectiveness of the proposed method. In order to prove the generality of the proposed method for traversing the series and parallel resonance of multiple grid‐connected inverters, the inverter to suppress background harmonics of the grid voltage was incorporated into the multiple inverters network for case study. Using the improved modal analysis method to traverse the series and parallel resonance, the participation factor values of each node and loop under resonance mode were calculated. Finally, the proposed method was verified by hardware‐in‐the‐loop simulation, and the result shows its universality.

New realization of the conversion calculation for reactor antineutrino fluxes

Validation of the effective conversion method in the reactor antineutrino flux calculation is examined using the \textit{ab initio} calculation of the electron and antineutrino spectra from the state-of-the-art nuclear database. It turns out that neglecting the shape variation of beta decay branches between the allowed and forbidden transitions would induce significant bias in the total inverse-beta-decay yields and energy spectral distributions. We propose a new realization of the conversion method with both the allowed and forbidden virtual branches, and apply it to both the \textit{simulated} data from the nuclear database and \textit{real} data from the fission measurements at ILL by virtue of statistical properties of the allowed and forbidden decays in the database. Two kinds of dominant uncertainty sources are identified and it turns out that the new realization of the conversion calculation can largely reduce the rate and spectral bias and thus present a reliable prediction of the antineutrino fluxes if accurate beta decay information is available in the high endpoint energy range.

Повышение эффективности управления информационным потоком в цепях поставок индустрии моды

In this article the questions connected with the organization of information streams in supply chain management of the fashion industry are investigated. The main problems which hinder the way of increase in effective management of information in the companies of the fashion industry are allocated. Information streams in a chain of deliveries of the companies of the industry of fashion on macro and micro levels are considered. The main losses arising in a chain of delivery of the industry of fashion and connected with shortcomings of information exchange between participants of such chain are revealed. Among the losses connected with failures in deliveries are distinguished from such losses; the losses which arose because of regrading of goods; the losses which arose because of high stock rate in different links of a chain of deliveries, caused by «effect of a whip»; the losses which arose because of deficiency of goods, best-selling and the losses which arose because of surplus of a goods season, unsold by the end. On the basis of the analysis the author came to conclusion, that the existing control system of information stream in the companies of the industry of fashion needs change. The new model of the organization of information exchange in a chain of deliveries of the industry of fashion is offered, which is organized on the basis of creation of a common information space and the virtual enterprise. Prerequisites and advantages of creation of the virtual enterprise in the fashion industry are considered. In the offered model the virtual enterprise consists of the company owner of a brand of clothes or the focal company and network of the affiliated virtual branches organized by the territorial principle. The structure of this model of the virtual enterprise relies on the strategy of outsourcing which is traditionally used by the companies of the industry of fashion. In such virtual enterprise all participants of a chain of deliveries who are in any part of the world can address the general information resource and learn needs of partners in a chain of deliveries in real time. When using various mathematical models and algorithms they can also receive recommendations about the further actions that allows to reduce considerably the losses connected with non-optimal action of participants of a chain of deliveries

The Information Needs of Virtual Users: A Study of Second Life Libraries

As virtual worlds continue to proliferate globally, libraries are faced with the question of whether to provide information services to virtual patrons. This study, utilizing a mixed-method approach of interviews, focus groups, and surveys, represents one of the largest studies of virtual libraries attempted to date. Taking a holistic perspective, the design and implementation of virtual library services and the information needs of 366 participants were examined with both traditional and virtual library users and librarians. Findings suggest that the information needs of traditional and virtual users differ significantly and the overall match between information provided and user needs of virtual branches are typically low. The study’s impact centers on the findings that virtual library users represent a disparate group of first-time visitors whose primary information goals are exploratory; successful virtual libraries provide nontraditional information services utilizing the unique virtual reality conte...

Collaborative Spectrum Sensing for Cognitive Radio: Diversity Combining Approach

In this paper it is shown that cyclostationary spectrum sensing for Cognitive Radio networks, applying multiple cyclic frequencies for single user detection can be interpreted (with some assumptions) in terms of optimal incoherent diversity addition for “virtual diversity branches” or SIMO radar. This approach allows proposing, by analogy to diversity combining, suboptimal algorithms which can provide near optimal characteristics for the Neyman-Pearson Test (NPT) for single user detection. The analysis is based on the Generalized Gaussian (Klovsky-Middleton) Channel Model, which allows obtaining the NPT noise immunity characteristics: probability of misdetection error (PM) and probability of false alarm (Pfa) or Receiver Operational Characteristics (ROC) in the most general way. Some quasi-optimum algorithms such as energetic receiver and selection addition algorithm are analyzed and their comparison with the noise immunity properties (ROC) of the optimum approach is provided as well. Finally, the diversity combining approach is applied for the collaborative spectrum sensing and censoring. It is shown how the diversity addition principles are applied for distributed detection algorithms, called hereafter as SIMO radar or distributed SIMO radar, implementing Majority Addition (MA) approach and Weighted Majority Addition (WMA) principle.

Guest editorial for special issue on massively multiplayer online gaming systems and applications

Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs), now a profitable sector of the industry and subject to academic and industry research, are gaming platforms that allow hundreds of thousands of players to simultaneously play in the same online game, often interacting with tens or even hundreds of other players. Although originally designed for gaming, MMOGs are now widely used for socializing, business, commerce, scientific experimentation, and many other practical purposes. One could say that MMOGs are the “killer app” that brings Virtual Reality into the realm of eSociety. This is evident from the fact that real companies are opening “virtual branches” in these online games, such as Reebok, IBM, and CNN, to name a few. Virtual currencies such as Linden (or L$) in Second Life are already being exchanged for real-world money 1 . Similarly, virtual goods and virtual real-state are being bought and sold with real-world money. Massive numbers of users spend their time with their fellow players at online games like EverQuest, Half-Life, World of Warcraft, and Second Life. World of Warcraft, for example, has over 11.5 million users [3] with a peak of over 500,000 players online at a given time [1]. MMOGs have the potential to be the cornerstone of any eSociety platform in the near future, because they bring the massiveness, awareness, and inter-personal interaction of the real society into the digital realm.

Performance of Orthogonal Space-Time Block Codes With Generalized Complex Orthogonal Design for Arbitrary Rectangular QAM Over Correlative Fading Channels

We derive the symbol error probability (SEP) expressions for orthogonal space-time block codes with any form of generalized complex orthogonal design (GCOD) employing arbitrary rectangular quadratic-amplitude modulation signaling over correlative fading channels. By first decorrelating the physical branches into uncorrelated virtual branches, a general expression for the moment generating function of the received signal-to noise ratio (SNR) is obtained, from which the SEP is derived. The result can be applied to correlative fading channels with any form of Gaussian fading gains. Moreover, channels having joint fading models, as well as mixed channel powers, are considered. We also discover that, for certain GCOD codes, different information symbols may exhibit different SEPs. The above features are demonstrated by two GCOD examples used for simulations. Theoretical performance curves are compared with Monte Carlo simulated results in excellent agreement.

Virtual branch analysis of symbol error probability for hybrid selection/maximal-ratio combining in Rayleigh fading

We derive analytical expressions for the symbol error probability (SEP) for a hybrid selection/maximal-ratio combining (H-S/MRC) diversity system in multipath-fading wireless environments. With H-S/MRC, L out of N diversity branches are selected and combined using maximal-ratio combining (MRC). We consider coherent detection of M-ary phase-shift keying (MPSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (MQAM) using H-S/MRC for the case of independent Rayleigh fading with equal signal-to-noise ratio averaged over the fading. The proposed problem is made analytically tractable by transforming the ordered physical diversity branches, which are correlated, into independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) "virtual branches," which results in a simple derivation of the SEP for arbitrary L and N. We further obtain a canonical structure for the SEP of H-S/MRC as a weighted sum of the elementary SEPs, which are the SEPs using MRC with i.i.d. diversity branches in Rayleigh fading, or equivalently the SEPs of the nondiversity (single-branch) system in Nakagami fading, whose closed-form expressions are well-known. We present numerical examples illustrating that H-S/MRC, even with L/spl Lt/N, can achieve a performance close to that of N-branch MRC.

MRC performance for M-ary modulation in arbitrarily correlated Nakagami fading channels

We derive the symbol error probability for coherent detection of several types of M-ary modulation schemes using maximal ratio combining. We consider Nakagami fading channels, where the instantaneous signal-to-noise ratios of the diversity branches are not necessarily independent or identically distributed. The proposed problem is made analytically tractable by transforming the correlated physical diversity branches into independent virtual branches.

Revitalizing the party system or Zeitgeist‐on‐line? Virtual party headquarters and virtual party branches in Germany

(2000). Revitalizing the party system or Zeitgeist‐on‐line? Virtual party headquarters and virtual party branches in Germany. Democratization: Vol. 7, The Internet, Democracy and Democratization, pp. 59-75.