Mean Reversion in Stock Prices: New Evidence from Panel Unit Root Tests for Seventeen European Countries

There is a large and growing literature that investigates evidence for mean reversion in stock prices. Empirically, there is no consensus as to whether stock prices are mean reverting or random walk processes at best, the results are mixed. In this paper, we provide further evidence on the mean reversion hypothesis for seventeen European countries using the Levin and Lin (1992), seemingly unrelated regression and the multivariate augmented Dickey-Fuller panel unit root tests. Our main finding is that stock prices of all seventeen European countries are characterised by a unit root, consistent with the efficient market hypothesis.

Single-particle excitations across the many-body localization transition in quasi-periodic systems

We study many-body localization transition in one dimensional systems in the presence of a deterministic quasi-periodic potential. We focus on single-particle excitations produced in highly excited many-body eigenstates obtained through single-particle Green's function in real space. A finite-size scaling analysis of the ratio of the typical to average value of the local density of states of single particle excitations is performed assuming that the correlation length $\xi$ diverges at the transition point with a power-law $\xi \sim |h-h_c|^{-\nu}$. Both for the Aubry-Andre (AA) model and the generalized AA model, the finite size scaling of the local density of states obeys the single parameter scaling. A good quality scaling collapse is obtained for $\nu \ge 1$ which satisfies the generalized Luck's criterion for quasiperiodic systems. This analysis supports the continuous nature of the many-body localization transition in systems with AA and generalized AA potentials.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figure

Client Selection in Federated Learning under Imperfections in Environment

Federated learning promises an elegant solution for learning global models across distributed and privacy-protected datasets. However, challenges related to skewed data distribution, limited computational and communication resources, data poisoning, and free riding clients affect the performance of federated learning. Selection of the best clients for each round of learning is critical in alleviating these problems. We propose a novel sampling method named the irrelevance sampling technique. Our method is founded on defining a novel irrelevance score that incorporates the client characteristics in a single floating value, which can elegantly classify the client into three numerical sign defined pools for easy sampling. It is a computationally inexpensive, intuitive and privacy preserving sampling technique that selects a subset of clients based on quality and quantity of data on edge devices. It achieves 50–80% faster convergence even in highly skewed data distribution in the presence of free riders based on lack of data and severe class imbalance under both Independent and Identically Distributed (IID) and Non-IID conditions. It shows good performance on practical application datasets

Field compatibility of microbial pesticide SL NPV with synthetic pesticide Roket, [Cypermethrin+Profenofos] against tobacco caterpillar Spodoptera litura [Fabricus]

ABSTRACT Synthetic chemicals are causing a serious threat of resistance and persistence in the environment. Cost effec tivity is another aspect not to be ignored in developing and underdeveloped countries. Hence, introduction of an economically feasible and ecosafe pesticide is definitely a welcoming strategy in crop field by farmers.Microbials and herbals have been proving very safe and target oriented biopesticides provided they are formulated properly and farmers are convinced to use them in fields. The aim of present investigation was to check the compatibility and feasibility of microbial bio-pesticide, Spodoptera litura Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus When number of infested florets wer e observed in Sl NPV treated blocks, only 11 infested florets out of 120 florets in a block were observed with highest dose of 750 LE giving only 9.16 percent of infestations as compared to 37.58 in control. Comparative economics of Sl NPV with synthetic pesticides ROKET on the basis of yield and cost benefit ratio revealed, maximum yield over control with 750 LE i.e. 95.2 quintals followed by 79.93 and 67.05 quintals for 500 and 250 LE per hectare Although increase in yield was slightly better with ROKET[147.8]against 95.2for highest dose of 750LE for SLNPV, the cost benefit ratio was 1:12:56, 1:15:24, and 1:22:77 with 750, 500 and 250 LE per hectare respectively as compared to 1:42:21 with ROKET. The above results clearly indicated that synthetic insecticide, although superior in yield but looking to their drawbacks, overall performance was better with bio-pesticide SL NPV, therefor e successfully advocating the inclusion of bio-pesticides in Integrated Pest Management Program [IPM]

Prevalence of goitre among school going children in urban area of Dehradun

Background:Iodine is an important micro-nutrient required for human nutrition. Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs) are one of the major world-wide public health problems of today which causes wide spectrum of disabilities. It includes impairment of reproductive functions, lowering of IQ levels in school age children, goiter, deaf mutism, mental defects, weakness and paralysis of muscles as well as lesser degree of physical dysfunction.Methods:Selection of population: The school children in age group of 6-18 years from both the sexes were screened from SGRR Schools of different locations at Dehradun, after taking approval from principal and the parents.Results:The prevalence of goitre among school going children was 5%. Prevalence of goitre among female was 6.4% compare to male were 4.1%. There was significant association found between prevalence of goitre and vegetarian diet. In pre pubertal age (11-14 years) maximum (7.6%) cases of goitre were seen. A significant association of goitre with pallor was also observedConclusion:The sustained efforts in implementing the guidelines of National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP) have been able to reduce the prevalence of goitre in Uttrakhand state. In spite of reduction in prevalence over years, goitre continues to be a major public health problem in the state.

Use of Complementary Therapies Among Primary Care Clinic Patients With Arthritis

INTRODUCTION: Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for chronic conditions has increased in recent years. There is little information, however, on CAM use among adults with clinic-confirmed diagnoses, including arthritis, who are treated by primary care physicians. METHODS: To assess the frequency and types of CAM therapy used by Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women and men with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or fibromyalgia, we used stratified random selection to identify 612 participants aged 18–84 years and seen in university-based primary care clinics. Respondents completed an interviewer-administered survey in English or Spanish. RESULTS: Nearly half (44.6%) of the study population was of Hispanic ethnicity, 71.4% were women, and 65.0% had annual incomes of less than $25,000. Most (90.2%) had ever used CAM for arthritis, and 69.2% were using CAM at the time of the interview. Current use was highest for oral supplements (mainly glucosamine and chondroitin) (34.1%), mind-body therapies (29.0%), and herbal topical ointments (25.1%). Fewer participants made current use of vitamins and minerals (16.6%), herbs taken orally (13.6%), a CAM therapist (12.7%), CAM movement therapies (10.6%), special diets (10.1%), or copper jewelry or magnets (9.2%). Those with fibromyalgia currently used an average of 3.9 CAM therapies versus 2.4 for those with rheumatoid arthritis and 2.1 for those with osteoarthritis. Current CAM use was significantly associated with being female, being under 55 years of age, and having some college education. CONCLUSION: Hispanic and non-Hispanic white arthritis patients used CAM to supplement conventional treatments. Health care providers should be aware of the high use of CAM and incorporate questions about its use into routine assessments and treatment planning

EVALUATION OF ANTI CANCER POTENTIAL OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF CURCUMA ZEDOARIA.

Objective: Evaluation of anti cancer activity of methanol extracts of Curcuma zedoaria against Ehrlich's ascities carcinoma (EAC) cell line in Swiss albino mice. Method: In vitro cytotoxicity assay has been evaluated by using the trypan blue and MTT assay method. In vivo anti cancer activity was performed by using EAC cells induced mice groups (n=12), at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w. respectively, half of the mice were sacrificed and the restwere kept alive for life span parameter. The anti cancer potential of MECZ was assessed by evaluating tumor volume, viable and nonviable tumorcell count, tumor weight, hematological parameters and biochemical estimations. Furthermore, antioxidant parameters were assayed by estimatingliver tissue enzymes. Result: Dose dependent cytotoxicity was observed in (* p < 0.05) Trypan blue and MTT assay method. In vivo anti cancer parameters like tumorvolume, tumor weight, and viable cell count were decreased compared to the EAC control group. MECZ treated EAC cell–bearing mice had anincreased life span to that of EAC control group. Hematological and serum biochemical profiles were restored to normal levels in MECZ-treated micecompared to the EAC control group. Among the tissue parameters lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione,superoxide dismutase, and catalasetoward normal levels compared to the EAC control group. In short, Conclusion: MECZ exhibited remarkable antitumor activity in Swiss albino mice, which is attributed to its augmentation of endogenous antioxidantactivities and cytotoxic nature. Keywords: Curcuma zedoaria, Zingiberaceae, EAC cell line, antitumor activity, 5-Flurouraci