4,438 research outputs found
Normal limit for serum alanine aminotransferase level and distribution of metabolic factors in old population of Kalaleh, Iran
Backgrounds: Normal or elevated values of serum alanine aminotransferase level (ALT) vary in different studies mostly related to characteristics of reference population including age, gender, body mass index, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic syndrome prevalence. Objectives: To measure upper normal limit (UNL) for serum ALT in an apparently healthy Iranian old population (which we had not sufficient data before this study), and its modulating factors. Patients and Methods: All inhabitants (> 50 years old) of Kalaleh, Golestan, Iran (N = 1986) were invited to the study. ALT measurements were performed for all subjects using the same laboratory method. Upper limit of normal (ULN) ALT was calculated based on its 95th percentile in normal weight subjects. Modulating factors of ALT were determined by multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 1309 subjects, with the mean age of 61.5 ± 7.5 years were included. UNL of ALT was 18.8 U/L and 21.4 U/L in women and men, respectively. Based on univariate analysis, waist circumference (r = 0.124, P = 0.01), body mass index (r = 0.118, P = 0.01), triglyceride (r = 0.143, P = 0.01), and having metabolic syndrome (OR = 2.04) modulate ALT levels in men. Also triglyceride (r = 0.119, P = 0.01) modulates ALT levels in women. Conclusions: The calculated level for UNL of ALT is considerably far lower than previous accepted value. Age, gender, ethnicity, and metabolic factors should be accounted in future studies to determine normal ALT level. © 2013, Kowsar Corp.; Published by Kowsar Corp
Market Efficiency, Time-Varying Volatility and Equity Returns in Bangladesh Stock Market
This paper empirically examines the issue of market efficiency and time- varying risk return relationship for Bangladesh, an emerging equity market in South Asia. The study utilizes a unique data set of daily stock prices and returns compiled by the authors which was not utilized in any previous study. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) equity returns show positive skewness, excess kurtosis and deviation from normality. The returns display significant serial correlation, implying stock market inefficiency. The results also show a significant relationship between conditional volatility and the stock returns, but the risk- return parameter is negative and statistically significant. While this result is not consistent with the portfolio theory, it is possible theoretically in emerging markets as investors may not demand higher risk premia if they are better able to bear risk at times of particular volatility (Glosten, Jagannathan and Runkle, 1993). While circuit breaker overall did not have any impact on stock volatility, the imposition of the lock-in period has contributed to the price discovery mechanism by reverting an overall negative risk-return time-varying relationship into a positive one. As a policy to improve the capital market efficiency, the timely disclosure and dissemination of information to the shareholders and investors on the performance of listed companies should be emphasized.
Hierarchical Design Based Intrusion Detection System For Wireless Ad hoc Network
In recent years, wireless ad hoc sensor network becomes popular both in civil
and military jobs. However, security is one of the significant challenges for
sensor network because of their deployment in open and unprotected environment.
As cryptographic mechanism is not enough to protect sensor network from
external attacks, intrusion detection system needs to be introduced. Though
intrusion prevention mechanism is one of the major and efficient methods
against attacks, but there might be some attacks for which prevention method is
not known. Besides preventing the system from some known attacks, intrusion
detection system gather necessary information related to attack technique and
help in the development of intrusion prevention system. In addition to
reviewing the present attacks available in wireless sensor network this paper
examines the current efforts to intrusion detection system against wireless
sensor network. In this paper we propose a hierarchical architectural design
based intrusion detection system that fits the current demands and restrictions
of wireless ad hoc sensor network. In this proposed intrusion detection system
architecture we followed clustering mechanism to build a four level
hierarchical network which enhances network scalability to large geographical
area and use both anomaly and misuse detection techniques for intrusion
detection. We introduce policy based detection mechanism as well as intrusion
response together with GSM cell concept for intrusion detection architecture.Comment: 16 pages, International Journal of Network Security & Its
Applications (IJNSA), Vol.2, No.3, July 2010. arXiv admin note: text overlap
with arXiv:1111.1933 by other author
Sector-wise dividend payment by all listed companies in Dhaka stock exchange : an empirical analysis
Purpose: The purpose of this article is to examine the sectorwise dividend payment of all the listed companies in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). This paper also indicates the highest and lowest percentage of dividend paid by companies in each sector, as well as illustrates the reason for distributing such amount of dividend. Design/methodology/approach: The empirical analysis was done by using the last fifteen years (i.e., 2004-2018) of dividend payment by all listed firms in DSE. Data was collected from the secondary sources to perform the analysis. On collected data, average dividend amount was calculated for each listed company by adding the percentage of cash and stock dividend paid by those companies. Trend analysis was performed on the average dividend to see which company among all listed companies is distributing a high or low percentage of dividend to their shareholders' over the years. Findings: The results from this article show that companies in the declining industry fail to meet their shareholders’ expectations in terms of dividend payment. On the other hand, companies in booming industries are consistently disbursing dividend for their shareholders’. Besides, companies are in the growth stage, and the multinational companies are distributing a considerable percentage of dividend. Practical implications: The results of this article will be helpful for the fund managers’, investment analysts’ and investors’ who makes decisions to invest in the capital market because the paper presented the historical average dividend payment by listed companies. Originality/value: This article presents the average dividend payment by companies listed in stock exchange in an emerging economy, also finds out sector-wise dividend payment and suggests some remedial for companies.peer-reviewe
Beyond philanthropy : the Rockefeller Foundation's public health intervention in Thiruvithamkoor, 1929-1939
This paper examines the public health intervention of the
Rockefeller Foundation, one of the major ‘philanthropic’ organisations
in the world during the twentieth century, in the erstwhile princely state
of Thiruvithamkoor, which currently constitutes a part of Kerala state in
India. It discusses the specific historical context of the intervention, the
methods of intervention and their outcomes. It is argued that the
Foundation’s interests in Thiruvithamkoor went beyond its avowed
objective of philanthropy. Thiruvithamkoor provided a fertile ground
to the Foundation to be used as a ‘tropical observatory’s for research on
diseases on which it had already been preoccupied. It is also pointed out
that the activities of the Foundation became critical in the
institutionalisation of public health in Thiruvithamkoor and in helping
the region in controlling and finally eradicating some of the diseases at
a later date.
Key words: Rockefeller Foundation, public health, Thiruvithamkoor
JEL Classification : I 1
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