Evaluation of riskiness of Indian Banks and probability of book value insolvency

Recently, a lot of questions were raised about the financial health of commercial banks in India. This paper analyzes the Indian banks' riskiness and the probability of book-value insolvency under the framework developed by Hannan and Hanweck (1988). A risk index, known as Z score, for Global Trust Bank that became insolvent in 2004 suggests that the framework developed by Hannan and Hanweck (1988) is also relevant in the Indian context. For a random sample of 15 Indian Banks (public & private sector), we determine the riskiness/probability of book value insolvency over the years and also carry out a relative comparison between public and private sector banks in India. Results obtained in the study show that the probability of book value insolvency of Indian Banks has reduced over years and the probability of book value insolvency is lower in case of public sector banks in comparison to private sector banks.Riskiness, insolvency, Z-statistic

Evaluation of riskiness of Indian Banks and probability of book value insolvency

Recently, a lot of questions were raised about the financial health of commercial banks in India. This paper analyzes the Indian banks' riskiness and the probability of book-value insolvency under the framework developed by Hannan and Hanweck (1988). A risk index, known as Z score, for Global Trust Bank that became insolvent in 2004 suggests that the framework developed by Hannan and Hanweck (1988) is also relevant in the Indian context. For a random sample of 15 Indian Banks (public & private sector), we determine the riskiness/probability of book value insolvency over the years and also carry out a relative comparison between public and private sector banks in India. Results obtained in the study show that the probability of book value insolvency of Indian Banks has reduced over years and the probability of book value insolvency is lower in case of public sector banks in comparison to private sector banks

Evaluation of riskiness of Indian Banks and probability of book value insolvency

Recently, a lot of questions were raised about the financial health of commercial banks in India. This paper analyzes the Indian banks' riskiness and the probability of book-value insolvency under the framework developed by Hannan and Hanweck (1988). A risk index, known as Z score, for Global Trust Bank that became insolvent in 2004 suggests that the framework developed by Hannan and Hanweck (1988) is also relevant in the Indian context. For a random sample of 15 Indian Banks (public & private sector), we determine the riskiness/probability of book value insolvency over the years and also carry out a relative comparison between public and private sector banks in India. Results obtained in the study show that the probability of book value insolvency of Indian Banks has reduced over years and the probability of book value insolvency is lower in case of public sector banks in comparison to private sector banks

Last-male sperm precedence in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier): observations in laboratory mating experiments with irradiated males

The Red PalmWeevil (RPW)Rhynchophorus ferrugineus(Olivier 1790) is an invasive pest from southeastern Asia and Melanesia that in the last 30 years has spread widely in the Middle East and Mediterranean Basin. Its stem-boring larvae cause great damage to several palm species of the Arecaceae family, many of which are economically important for agricultural and ornamental purposes. Therefore, great attention has recently been focused in studying this species to identify sustainable and effective eradication strategies, such as sterile insect technique (SIT). The rapid spread of RPW is associated with its high reproductive success. To evaluate the suitability of a SIT strategy, particular physiological and behavioral aspects of RPW reproduction, such as the presence of polyandry and post-copulatory sperm selection mechanisms, were investigated. To determine paternity of progeny from multiply mated females, double-crossing experiments were carried out confining individual females with either a wild-type male or a γ-irradiated male (Co-60). Fecundity and fertility of females were scored to evaluate post-copulatory sperm selection. Results showed that progeny were almost exclusively produced by the sperm of the second male, suggesting that a last-male sperm precedence is expressed at high levels in this species, and providing interesting insights for an area-wide RPW management strategy such as the SIT

Health seeking behaviour, health system experience and tuberculosis case finding in Gambians with cough

BACKGROUND: Studies in Africa investigating health-seeking behaviour by interviewing tuberculosis patients have revealed patient knowledge issues and significant delays to diagnosis. We aimed to study health-seeking behaviour and experience of those with cough in The Gambia and to identify whether they had tuberculosis. METHODS: During a round of a population under 3-monthly demographic surveillance, we identified people >10 years old who had been coughing ≥ 3 weeks. A questionnaire was administered concerning demographic data, cough, knowledge, health seeking, and experience at health facilities. Case finding utilised sputum smear and chest X-ray. RESULTS: 122/29,871 coughing individuals were identified. Of 115 interviewed, 93 (81%) had sought treatment; 76 (81.7%) from the health system. Those that visited an alternative health provider first were significantly older than those who visited the health system first (p = 0.03). The median time to seek treatment was 2 weeks (range 0 – 106). 54 (58.1%) made their choice of provider because they believed it was right. Of those who left the health system to an alternative provider (n = 13): 7 believed it was the best place, 3 cited cost and 2 failure to improve. 3 cases were identified by sputum analysis, 11 more by X-ray; all had visited the health system first. Total 'excess' cough time was 1079 person weeks. CONCLUSION: The majority of people with cough in this population seek appropriate help early. Improved case detection might be achieved through the use of chest X-ray in addition to sputum smear

Pulmonary tuberculosis among people living with HIV/AIDS attending care and treatment in rural northern Tanzania

Tuberculosis is the commonest opportunistic infection and the number one cause of death in HIV/AIDS patients in developing countries. To address the extent of the tuberculosis HIV coinfection in rural Tanzania we conducted a cross sectional study including HIV/AIDS patients attending care and treatment clinic from September 2006 to March 2007. Sputum samples were collected for microscopy, culture and drug susceptibility testing. Chest X-ray was done for those patients who consented. Blood samples were collected for CD4+ T cells count. The prevalence of tuberculosis was 20/233 (8.5%). Twenty (8.5%) sputum samples were culture positive. Eight of the culture positive samples (40%) were smear positive. Fifteen (75%) of these patients neither had clinical symptoms nor chest X-ray findings suggestive of tuberculosis. Nineteen isolates (95%) were susceptible to rifampicin, isoniazid, streptomycin and ethambutol (the first line tuberculosis drugs). One isolate (5%) from HIV/tuberculosis coinfected patients was resistant to isoniazid. No cases of multi- drug resistant tuberculosis were identified. We found high prevalence of tuberculosis disease in this setting. Chest radiograph suggestive of tuberculosis and clinical symptoms of fever and cough were uncommon findings in HIV/tuberculosis coinfected patients. Tuberculosis can occur at any stage of CD4+T cells depletion

Thoracic peri-aortic fibrosis in a patient of psoriasis – Cyclosporine as a putative etiologic agent

The article describes an unusual occurrence of peri-aortic fibrosis with consequent luminal stenosis in descending thoracic aorta in an adult case of Psoriasis. The report also illustrates the role of Multi-detector CT in the diagnosis of thoracic peri-aortic fibrosis. The patient had received cyclosporine on multiple occasions during acute exacerbation of disease. In absence of any concomitant infective-inflammatory system disorder or atherosclerotic process, the cyclosporine is suggested as a putative etiologic agent for peri-aortic fibrosis

To assess the prevalence of obesity among school children of age group 5-12 years

Background: Many countries are going through an economic and nutrition transition which is associated with a change in dietary habits, decreasing physical activity and rising prevalence of obesity. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors for a number of chronic diseases. The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of obesity among school children of age group 5-12 years.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of obesity among school children of age group 5-12 years over a period of 6 months. The total children included in the study were 1000. A predesigned and pretested interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect information. A weighing scale and stadiometer were used to measure the weight and height of each child using standard procedure. BMI was calculated as weight (kg)/height 2 (m 2 ). The date of birth of each child was taken from the school records. Data was collected. Children were categorized into three groups: obese, overweight and normal. Data were analyzed using Statistical package for the Social Sciences (version 21.0). For all statistical tests, P < 0.05 was taken as the significance level.Results: In the present study total children selected for he study were 1000 in which 544 were boys and 456 were girls. The overweight boys were 5.88% and girls were 5.04% and obese boys were 2.20% and girls were 1.09%. Overweight children were maximum in the age 9-10 yrs and minimum in 11-12 yrs. Obese children were maximum in age group 8-9yrs and minimum in 11-12 yrs.Conclusion: This study concluded that overweight and obese boys were more than girls. Overweight children were maximum in the age 9-10 yrs and minimum in 11-12 yrs. Obese children were maximum in age group 8-9yrs and minimum in 11-12 yrs