OSU-AGRANI Bank Rural Deposit Mobilization Experiment

Three models of incentive mechanisms to mobilize rural bank deposits were experimented with between February 1, 1986 and April 30, 1986 in three branches in each of two regions in Bangladesh. One model, the Tangible Incentive Model, was designed to test tangible incentives given to depositors, in addition to the normal interest income, for opening a new account or adding to an existing account and maintaining in those accounts an additional deposit of Tk. 500 or more for at least 90 days. Prize bonds valued at one percent of the eligible deposit balance were given to the depositors. Another model, the Marketing Model, was designed to test the impact of cash incentives paid to two specially appointed Field Assistants in the branch for marketing of bank deposits. The Field Assistants were paid Tk. 150 per month for incidental expenses, and an incentive bonus of one percent of eligible deposits mobilized of Tk. 1000 or more, and 10 or more accounts opened or reactivated. The third model, Employee Incentive Model, was designed to test additional financial incentives given to existing branch staff beyond the benefits currently provided. The branch staff, except the Manager, received the same incentive bonus and at the same rate as the Field Assistants in the Marketing Model. Over 800 new accounts were opened or dormant accounts reactivated in the six branches through the experiment. Total deposits of Tk. 1.4 billion were mobilized by these accounts. These deposits ranged from one percent to over eight percent of the branch's existing deposit base. The increase in number of accounts ranged from over one-half of one percent to almost thirteen percent of the branch's existing number of accounts. The Tangible Incentive Model produced the most cost effective result in generating new deposits and deposit accounts at the lowest cost per taka or per account mobilized. This model clearly shows that rural deposits can be mobilized by direct incentives. The overall implication of the experiment is that banks can mobilize rural deposits if serious efforts are made to reach this objective with appropriate incentive schemes

Optimal disturbance rejecting control of hyperbolic systems

Optimal regulation of hyperbolic systems in the presence of unknown disturbances is considered. Necessary conditions for determining the optimal control that tracks a desired trajectory in the presence of the worst possible perturbations are developed. The results also characterize the worst possible disturbance that the system will be able to tolerate before any degradation of the system performance. Numerical results on the control of a vibrating beam are presented

Assentication: User Deauthentication and Lunchtime Attack Mitigation with Seated Posture Biometric

Biometric techniques are often used as an extra security factor in authenticating human users. Numerous biometrics have been proposed and evaluated, each with its own set of benefits and pitfalls. Static biometrics (such as fingerprints) are geared for discrete operation, to identify users, which typically involves some user burden. Meanwhile, behavioral biometrics (such as keystroke dynamics) are well suited for continuous, and sometimes more unobtrusive, operation. One important application domain for biometrics is deauthentication, a means of quickly detecting absence of a previously authenticated user and immediately terminating that user's active secure sessions. Deauthentication is crucial for mitigating so called Lunchtime Attacks, whereby an insider adversary takes over (before any inactivity timeout kicks in) authenticated state of a careless user who walks away from her computer. Motivated primarily by the need for an unobtrusive and continuous biometric to support effective deauthentication, we introduce PoPa, a new hybrid biometric based on a human user's seated posture pattern. PoPa captures a unique combination of physiological and behavioral traits. We describe a low cost fully functioning prototype that involves an office chair instrumented with 16 tiny pressure sensors. We also explore (via user experiments) how PoPa can be used in a typical workplace to provide continuous authentication (and deauthentication) of users. We experimentally assess viability of PoPa in terms of uniqueness by collecting and evaluating posture patterns of a cohort of users. Results show that PoPa exhibits very low false positive, and even lower false negative, rates. In particular, users can be identified with, on average, 91.0% accuracy. Finally, we compare pros and cons of PoPa with those of several prominent biometric based deauthentication techniques

Search for a Signal on QCD Critical Point in Central Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions

We discuss that the QCD critical point could appear in central collisions in percolation cluster. We suggest using the nuclear transparency effect and the one of the light nuclear production to identify the critical point.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions (QM2008), Jaipur, India, February 4-10, 200

Screening the risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus in minor ethnic Bishnupriya Manipuri community in Bangladesh

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development involves various interrelated risk factors, including age, gender, obesity, and inactivity. However, research lacks insights into the risk factors within the minor ethnic Bishnupriya Manipuri community in Bangladesh. This study aimed to identify T2DM risk factors within this community. Methods: This survey-based prospective observational study was conducted in different villages of Kamalgonj Upazila under the Moulvibazar district in Bangladesh from March 2023 to June 2023 enrolled 280 individuals using purposive sampling. Data collection involved a questionnaire, verbal agreement, and diagnostic documentation. Analysis utilized Microsoft Office and the student’s t-test. Results: Participants exhibited a 1:1.2 male-female ratio, with 64% aged 36-65. 43% were housewives, 55% engaged in moderate work, 15% smoked, and 41% had a family history of diabetes. Diabetic cases accounted for 39%, with an average age of 57.39±11.99 years, significantly higher than non-diabetic cases (46.79±17.93 years). Diabetic cases also showed significantly higher waist circumference (94.11±6.63 cm versus 84.71±14.76 cm) and body mass index (BMI) (26.12±7.61 kg/m2 versus 21.44±6.97 kg/m2). Conclusions: T2DM predominantly affects older individuals in the Bishnupriya Manipuri community. Increased waist circumference, overweight, and obesity emerged as significant risk factors for T2DM within this population