Wavelet Multiresolution Analysis of High-Frequency FX Rates, Summer 1997

FX pricing processes are nonstationary and their frequency characteristics are time-dependent. Most do not conform to geometric Brownian motion, since they exhibit a scaling law with a Hurst exponent between zero and 0.5 and fractal dimensions between 1.5 and 2. This paper uses wavelet multiresolution analysis, with Haar wavelets, to analyze the nonstationarity (time-dependence) and self-similarity (scale-dependence) of intra-day Asian currency spot exchange rates.foreign exchange, anti-persistence, multi-resolution analysis, wavelets, Asia

Wavelet Multiresolution Analysis of High-Frequency Asian FX Rates, Summer 1997

FX pricing processes are nonstationary and their frequency characteristics are time-dependent. Most do not conform to geometric Brownian motion, since they exhibit a scaling law with a Hurst exponent between zero and 0.5 and fractal dimensions between 1.5 and 2. This paper uses wavelet multiresolution analysis, with Haar wavelets, to analyze the nonstationarity (time-dependence) and self-similarity (scale-dependence) of intra-day Asian currency spot exchange rates. These are the ask and bid quotes of the currencies of eight Asian countries (Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand), and of Germany for comparison, for the crisis period May 1, 1998 - August 31, 1997, provided by Telerate (U.S. dollar is the numeraire). Their time-scale dependent spectra, which are localized in time, are observed in wavelet based scalograms. The FX increments can be characterized by the irregularity of their singularities. This degrees of irregularity are measured by homogeneous Hurst exponents. These critical exponents are used to identify the fractal dimension, relative stability and long term dependence of each Asian FX series. The invariance of each identified Hurst exponent is tested by comparing it at varying time and scale (frequency) resolutions. It appears that almost all FX markets show anti-persistent pricing behavior. The anchor currencies of the D-mark and Japanese Yen are ultra-efficient in the sense of being most anti-persistent. The Taiwanese dollar is the most persistent, and thus unpredictable, most likely due to administrative control. FX markets exhibit these non- linear, non-Gaussian dynamic structures, long term dependence, high kurtosis, and high degrees of non-informational (noise) trading, possibly because of frequent capital flows induced by non-synchronized regional business cycles, rapidly changing political risks, unexpected informational shocks to investment opportunities, and, in particular, investment strategies synthesizing interregional claims using cash swaps with different duration horizons.foreign exchange markets, anti-persistence, long-term dependence, multi-resolution analysis, wavelets, time-scale analysis, scaling laws, irregularity analysis, randomness, Asia

Down Syndrome: Development Of A Non-Invasive Prenatal Dna Screening Test Using Superoxide Dismutase 1 Gene In Maternal Blood And Detection Of Cystathionine P-Synthase Gene Mutations

Down syndrome or Trisomy 21, is the most commonly occurring genetic disorder that stems from the failure of ·chromosome 21 to segregate normally during meiosis, resulting in an individual carrying an extra copy of chromosome 21. The main aims of this study were to develop a relatively non-invasive prenatal DNA screening method using maternal blood and to detect mutations on cystathionine J3-synthase (CBS) gene, a folate pathway gene located on chromosome 21. As an initial step, the presence of foetal cells and DNA in the maternal blood was firstly determined by foetal haemoglobin (HbF) staining and polymerase chain reaction (PeR). It was found that the ratio ofthe nucleated foetal cell to maternal cell increased from 2 in 106 to 3 in 106 and 5 in 106 at the first, second and third trimester, respectively. By using Y chromosome specific primers, DNA from male foetuses could be detected as early as 6 weeks of gestation in 200 Jil maternal blood obtained from fingertip. This is in line with the current technology in non-invasive screening methods of foetal aneuploidies which is focused on detecting Y chromosomal sequences which is impossible to be used for female foetus pregnancies. Therefore, the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD'!) gene sequence, which is located on the Down Syndrome Critical Region, was used to overcome this situation by using real-time quantitative PCR The level of SOD1 sequences in maternal blood was found to be significantly elevated in the third trimester normal pregnancies (mean = 11728 copies/Ill) when compared to the second trimester (mean = 5705.6 copies/Ill), p<0.OO5 and non-pregnant normal women (mean = 3580.2 copies/Ill), p<O.OOOl. Down syndrome pregnancies have the greatest elevation compared to all the three trimesters of normal singleton pregnancies and twin pregnancies,p<0.05. The traditional approach ofprenatal chromosomal diagnosis using amniotic fluid was found to be cumbersome and time-consuming compared to the newly developed method. The mutation detection on CBS gene was carried out using DNA sequencer and denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). This study revealed that the Down syndrome patients have four mutations, which are in intron 1 (A9231C), exon 10 (C20628T) and exon 17 (T277%C and C27817T). The Down syndrome children were found to have the same genotype as their mothers. The number ofmothers and children having the substitutions in the CBS gene was twice the number ofmothers and children with normal genotype, suggesting that the mothers who have these substitutions are at higher risk of having a child with Down syndrome. In conclusion, non-invasive prenatal diagnosis at first trimester using Y chromosomal sequence IS feasible for diagnosis of foetal-derived paternally-inherited polymorphism/mutations or genes. Quantitative analysis using gene associated with a disorder has a potentially significant advantage over the invasive techniques currently used widely for prenatal diagnosis. Finally, the discovery of the mutations in the CBS gene of Down syndrome patients and mothers will help contribute to new knowledge and the future studies on the folate pathway genes mutation and occurrence of Down syndrome. It may also suggest an opportunity to improve public health strategies for the primary prevention ofDown syndrom

Enhancing the quality of teacher-child interactions in Singapore pre-school classrooms

This exploratory study was aimed primarily at developing baseline data on the quality of teacher-child interactions in Singapore pre-school classrooms. Data were collected through observations of teacher-child interactions in 80 pre-schools, using the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) in the three key domains which are 1) Emotional Support, 2) Classroom Organisation, and 3) Instructional Support (Pianta, La Paro, &amp; Hamre, 2008). It was found that the overall quality of teacher-child interactions in the Singapore pre-school classrooms was low to moderate, with Instruction Support being the lowest. This finding is similar to that found in studies conducted in many other countries including China and the U.S. (Slot, 2017). Possible reasons and explanations will be presented, and suggestions to improve or enhance the quality of teacher-child interactions will be proposed. This study has implications on pre-school teacher education and professional development as well as government policies and regulations for the Singapore pre-school sector

Investigating the Influence of Work Safety Scale (WSS) on Safety Behaviour: A Study among Employees of a Utility Company

This study is to determine the influence of the five facets of Work Safety Scale (WSS) on compliance with safety behaviour among the employees of a utility company in Malaysia. The study was held as there were only limited studies on safety being carried out in utility industry. Trainings and awareness programs had been aggressively put into actions to get the staffs involvement and commitment over safety; yet there are still incidents and accidents occurring on safety issues. In addition, this study also investigates how the safety perception measurement contributes to the safety behavior among the employees in utility industry. A total of 110 questionnaires had been distributed to the sample chosen on the study consisting of five independent variables of Work Safety Scale that are: (a) job safety, (b) co-worker safety, (c) supervisor safety, (d) management safety practices and (e) satisfaction of the safety programme. All those independent variables later will be measured on the perception of workplace safety towards the compliance of safety behaviour as the determinants (dependent variable). Finally, the finding of the study presented that co-worker safety, supervisor safety, management safety practices and safety programmes are significantly related to compliance safety behaviour whilst job safety have no any intercorrelation to safety behaviour in the study

Education and Training Practices in Four Selected Malaysian Manufacturing Companies

One of the company's major problems in education and training is how to identify the results of investments and human resources and how to compare these results with those of others. The lack of good comparative information on education and training expenditures has fixstrated training decision makers, to make decisions about training and comparing the results with some standards. The objective of this case study is to identify investments and human resource practices in the education and training in selected companies. Information obtained on education and training from the respondent companies will be compared with the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) database. These results will serve as a benchmark in education and training in these selected companies. This study was done using adapted questionnaire which are designed by the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). The questionnaire was sent to 4 selected manufacturing companies from Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMDEC), Enterprise 50 award winners. The data collected from the 4 companies was compared with the ASTD database The results showed that the selected companies are giving less importance to employees' education and training compared to ASTD database. Companies A, B, C and D, overall investments such as total training expenditures per employee (RM), total hours of training eligible employees, trainers' wages and salaries per employee (RM) and training payments to outside companies per employee (RM) were less than the ASTD expenditures. Companies A, B, C and D are using more on classroom delivery method as a tool of training delivery to their employees. The result also showed that Companies A, B, C and D provided more on management and skill type of training to their middle managers, first-line managers and production employees. Based on this study, some recommendations are made for the Companies A, B, C and D. These companies should increase its employee's education and training expenditures as this are important to produce a good quality workforce. It also needs to use more new methods of training delivery. It should take advantage of learning technologies and try to use electronic or computer-based training methods such as CD-ROMs, Electronic Performance Support System (EPSS) and web-based learning. These companies also needs to improve its education and training contents such as the type of training provided, type of employee received training and the amount time of IT training. Type of training provided should included management, soft skills and technical skill training topic. The training should be provided to all type of employee in the Companies A, B, C and D. Overall this study provided the selected companies with helpful data to monitor and improve the effectiveness of their employees' education and training syste

Identifying training needs for multicultural education of pre-school teachers:: a Singapore case study

The purpose of this study is to Identify the training needs for multicultural education of pre-school teachers In Singapore. There are two tasks involved in this study. The first task Is to Investigate the concepts and issues related to multicultural education and pre-school teacher education In the context of Singapore. The second task is to use the results of the investigation in the first task as input for the design of a framework for a multicultural component to be conducted In the teacher-training program for preschool teachers in Singapore. While a review of related local and international literature was done to meet the first task, a survey was conducted to meet the second task. The survey was aimed at answering the overall research question, that is, What do pre-schoolteachers in Singapore already know or understand about multicultural education? The overall research question was further broken down into sub-research questions from which items for the questionnaire were drawn. A sample of about 60 pre-school teachers was selected and asked to complete the questionnaire to ascertain their level of understanding of and experience in multicultural education and its importance in early childhood, as well as their views on what they thought were the training needs In multicultural education for pre-school teachers. The data collected were analyzed using the Information gathered from the review of related local and International literature. The data showed that while most teachers believe that multicultural education is important and should be taught in the early years, they have a simplistic, narrow or superficial understanding of multiculturalism and multicultural education. The data also showed that while some teachers have a positive experience in multicultural environments and with multicultural people, their knowledge and experience was superficial and limited. Finally, the data also showed that the teachers agreed that a multicultural component be incorporated in the pre-schoolteachers-training program. These findings are Important in identifying the needs of pre-school teachers in Singapore as well as to develop a framework to meet their needs. This framework would then provide the basis for designing the multicultural component in the pre-school teacher-training program. This study could lead to further research on meeting the needs of pre-school teachers in other areas of teacher-training, as well as meeting the needs of preschool teachers in other teacher-training institutes in or outside Singapore. It could also lead to a new research on the effectiveness of the component on multicultural education for pre-school teachers

What are Singapore parents’ perception of play in the early years?

International research indicate that play is the most effective way for children to learn and develop physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally as well as reduces stress and enhances confidence, curiosity and creativity. Despite the importance and benefits of play for children’s learning and development, play seems to be vanishing from preschool classrooms globally (and in Singapore) for various reasons.   It is believed that one of the reasons for this phenomenon could be the lack of parents’ support for children’s play due to their high expectations and demand for academic achievement and the lack of their awareness or understanding on the importance of play in children’s development.  Hence, the key purpose of this exploratory study is to gather data from parents on their perception of play and holistic development in Singapore preschools.  Data were collected from 30 parents through interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data collected were transcribed verbatim and coded and subsequently, organised by research question and analysed and interpreted constructively and reflexively.  The findings of the study revealed that although most Singapore parents understood and recognised the importance of play and holistic development in the early years, some of them wanted preschools to prepare their children academically for primary school. Parents also shared a list of factors which supported or impeded their support for children’s play and some of them felt that they could benefit from parent education programmes. These findings highlight the importance of the school-family-community partnership in the education of young children in Singapore

Nutritional Composition, Antioxidant Activity And Anticarcinogenic Effect Of Typhonium Flagelliforme (Nicholson 1029) Extract In Rat

Typhonium flagelliforme from the family Araceae is locally known as rodent tuber. It is being used traditionally in Malaysia to treat cancer. The major aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Typhonium flagelliforme crude extract on hepatocarcinogenesis in rats induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2- acetylaminofluorene (AAF). Besides the in vivo study, the plant's nutrient and non-nutrient composition, and its antioxidant activity were also determined. Typhonium flagelliforme has carbohydrate (0.5% in leaves-stalks and 27.5% in tubers-roots) as its main constituent. It has high content of vitamin C (106.5 mg/100g in leaves-stalks and 11.6 mg/100g in tubers-roots) and potassium (1276.8 mg/100g in leaves-stalks and 534 mg/100g in tubers-roots). Alkaloid (0.4 mg/100g in leaves-stalks and 0.9 mg/100g in tubers-roots) and catechin (1.5% in leaves-stalks and 0.7% in tubers-roots) were found in this plant. The phytochemicals of Typhonium flagelliforme showed a greater antioxidant activity than vitamin E