Remittances, exchange rate regimes, and the Dutch disease: a panel data analysis

Using disaggregated sectorial data, this study shows that rising levels of remittances have spending effects that lead to real exchange rate appreciation and resource movement effects that favor the nontradable sector at the expense of tradable goods production. These characteristics are two aspects of the phenomenon known as Dutch disease. The results further indicate that these effects operate more strongly under fixed nominal exchange rate regimes.Emigrant remittances ; Foreign exchange rates

Capital inflows, Dutch disease effects, and monetary policy

Thesis advisor: Fabio GhironiThesis advisor: Peter N. IrelandThis dissertation consists of three essays on Dutch disease effects of capital inflows in emerging market economies. In chapter one, I develop a twosector dynamic, stochastic, general equilibrium model of a small open economy, incorporating an investment technology that utilizes both domestic and foreign capital, and show that as capital inflow increases, tradable sector output increases initially but later contracts as output of the nontradable sector expands in response to an increase in consumption of nontradables. The increase in nontradables consumption causes the relative price of nontradables to rise, thereby exerting pressure on the real exchange rate to appreciate. The model is consistent with features of the business cycle in emerging market economies that were recipients of capital inflows. Chapter two investigates the question of whether capital inflows cause the real exchange rate to appreciate, and whether different forms of capital inflow have variable effects on the real exchange rate. I use panel data for a group of sub-Saharan African countries to estimate a dynamic real exchange rate model specifying a set of capital inflow variables. The results reveal that increases in foreign direct investment and, especially official aid cause the real exchange rate to appreciate. Chapter three develops a monetary version of the model in the first chapter, with monopolistic competition and sticky prices in the nontradable sector. I examine the roles and welfare implications of a set of monetary policy rules in a small open economy that is susceptible to the Dutch disease. The results show that Dutch disease effects occur under a fixed nominal exchange rate regime, mimicking the dynamics in economies that pegged the nominal exchange rate during episodes of capital inflow; whereas Taylor-type interest rate rules featuring either the real exchange rate or the nominal exchange rate avert Dutch disease effects. Welfare results reveal that the optimal rule is a generalized Taylor rule consistent with nominal exchange rate flexibility.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2006.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Economics

Potential of the Pentacam in Screening for Narrow Angles in Patients with Chronic Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Background: Chronic angle-closure glaucoma (CACG) is a visually destructive disease. Effective management of CACG requires identifying eyes with narrow angle. Objective: To compare pentacam with gonioscopy in detecting narrow angles in eyes with CACG. Method: We enrolled 101 eyes with glaucoma. Gonioscopy was performed on all eyes. Using Shaffer’s grading, subjects were classified into angle closure and open angle. Anterior chamber volume (ACV) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were measured with the pentacam. Receiver operating curve was constructed for each parameter and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Results: Ten eyes (9.9%) were classified as angle closure on gonioscopy. To detect narrow angles, ACV (AUC 0.956; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.894–0.987) performed similar to ACD (AUC=0.930, p=0.33). Using a cutoff of 102 mm3 , ACV had 100% sensitivity and 88.5% specificity for detecting narrow angles in CACG patients. With an ACV cutoff of 102 mm3 , the PPV for detecting angle closure was 48.9% (95% CI, 34.8–68.2), while the NPV was 100% (94.1– 100%), using 9.9% prevalence of angle closure from this study. Conclusion: ACV and ACD measured by the pentacam have the potential to determine narrow angles in eyes with CACG. Keywords: Chronic angle-closure glaucoma, Pentacam HR, Anterior chamber volume, Gonioscop

Leverage and performance : do size and crisis matter?

Peer reviewedPostprin

Indications and Outcomes of Corneal Transplant Surgery in Ghana

Background: Corneal blindness contributes to 25% of all blindness. We review corneal transplant, a common surgical remedy, in Ghana to determine indications and visual outcomes in resource-poor environments. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of keratoplasty evaluating indications, pre- and postoperative outcomes complications and  their associations, between January 2014 and December 2018 at a teaching  hospital in Ghana. Descriptive statistics and McNemar’s test were used for the analyses. Results: Seventy-five eyes were studied. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of patients was 45.08 ± 17.85 years, the majority being 20–39 years (58.7% were male). Pseudophakia bullous keratopathy (PBK) was the commonest indication for keratoplasty (26.7%) followed by keratoconus (21.3%). Preoperatively 96% of eyes were blind with vision <3/60 with 64% out of the total eyes with vision <1/60. Postoperatively, 60% of all grafts had uncorrected vision of 3/60 or better after the last follow-up. McNemar’s test revealed a statistically  significant difference between postsurgical and pre-surgical visual acuity (VA) (p < 0. 001). The median follow-up period was 12 months. The commonest postsurgical complication was raised intraocular pressure (IOP) (22.7%) with a total of 14.7% of grafts failures. Conclusion: In this setting, PBK is the leading indication for corneal transplant. Visual outcomes for corneal transplant in this  resource poor area are not worse than in other settings. We need to pay attention to corneal transplant services to cater for the expected increase  in PBK from the increasing cataract surgical rate

R&D spending intensity of private versus public firms: the role of cashflow, leverage and information quality

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.Purpose: This study provides a large sample comparison of R&D spending intensity in private and public firms and the extent to which these firms’ unique characteristics affect their R&D spending rate. Design/method/approach: The study compares both private and public data from UK firms for the period 2006-2016, generating a total matched 232,029 firm-year observations, and applies a probability model technique to our large panel datasets. Findings: We uncover that private firms show lower R&D spending intensity compared to their public counterparts. Our evidence also shows that privately owned firms in the technological (non-technological) sector display higher (lower) probability of R&D spending intensity. Compared with public firms, we further observe that the intensity of private firms’ R&D spending increases with higher internal cash flow, leverage, and industry information quality. Our results remain robust to alternative econometric models. Originality/value: By combining both private and public firms’ datasets, we are able to provide new evidence to suggest that the intensity of private firms’ R&D spending is dependent on internal cash flow, leverage and the industry information level. In fact, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that explores these relationships

E-Learning Model to Improve Students' Performance

The objective of this research is to determine the extent to which students' academic performance is affected by online learning and to develop a model that can be utilized by both students and those who educate them. The theory of e-learning, which is based on the principles of cognitive science, demonstrates how the implementation and development of educational technology can improve the effectiveness of learning. Adjustments need to be made to these three different types of load to get the most out of learning. Because the quantity of space available in working memory is limited, the brains of students will get overwhelmed if they are presented with an excessive amount of knowledge. To ensure that students who make appropriate use of technology do not have to waste their time thinking about things that are not essential, the rules were developed. In addition to this, they make certain that students are not required to contemplate matters that are very vital to them. These concepts, design techniques, and technology improvements are all things that are included in e-learning theory. The theory of e-learning is a subset of the connective grand theory because it focuses on how technology may be utilized and adapted to generate new forms of learning and to assist in the process of learning effectively. Investigate how students' learning is impacted by online education, as well as the factors that led to its implementation on students' learning platforms both during and after the pandemic. In addition, the research will investigate the connection between traditional classroom instruction and online learning, as well as the impact that online education, commonly referred to as e-learning, has on the learning outcomes of students. The courses can be completed either online or in a hybrid format, which mixes online learning with learning that takes place in person. A significant number of university courses include an online component that makes use of web-based technologies. This is done to either simplify the dissemination of course information or provide assistance with assignments and examinations. Keywords: E-Learning Model, Students, Learning, Performance, Education. DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/14-1-02 Publication date: January 31st 202

Effect of pesticides applied in cowpea production on rumen microbial fermentation of cowpea haulms as reflected in in vitro gas production

The present study assessed the effect of lambda cyhalothrin, cypermethrin and dimethoate residues in cowpea haulm on microbial fermentation using gas syringes as incubators. The lambda cyhalothrin, cypermethrin and dimethoate were applied at the vegetative, flowering and podding stages of the cowpea at the rate of 2.66 mg/L, 5.14 mg/L and 6.68 mg/L of water, respectively. Dimethoate was detected in the cowpea haulm at the highest concentration of 1.38 mg/kg. The haulm with no pesticide treatment was incubated with media containing rumen fluid, and pesticides were added at concentrations of 40 mg/kg, 80 mg/kg and 120 mg/kg. In vitro gas production was measured at 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h to estimate the rate of gas evolution. Gas production in general was influenced by pesticide application. In general, gas evolution was reduced by increasing levels of lambda cyhalothrin up to 80 mg/kg. However, an increase in gas accumulation was observed with increasing levels of dimethoate, while the application of cypermethrin yielded no noticeable change in gas production. The study indicates that pesticide residues may function as toxins at concentrations greater than those encountered in the field or lethal dose (LD50) and may inhibit the growth of rumen microbes