Context-aware support for cardiac health monitoring using federated machine learning

Context-awareness provides a platform for healthcare professionals to assess the health status of patients in their care using multiple relevant parameters such as heart rate, electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and activity data. It involves the use of digital technologies to monitor the health condition of a patient in an intelligent environment. Feedback gathered from relevant professionals at earlier stages of the project indicates that physical activity recognition is an essential part of cardiac condition monitoring. However, the traditional machine learning method f developing a model for activity recognition suffers two significant challenges; model overfitting and privacy infringements. This research proposes an intelligent and privacy-oriented context-aware decision support system for cardiac health monitoring using the physiological and the activity data of the patient. The system makes use of a federated machine learning approach to develop a model for physical activity recognition. Experimental analysis shows that the federated approach has advantages over the centralized approach in terms of model generalization whilst maintaining the privacy of the user

Asymmetric Impact of Crude Oil Cost on Diesel Price in Canada: Evidence from Nonlinear ARDL Model

This paper examined the retail diesel market in Canada for evidence of asymmetric price adjustment and rent-seeking arising from the fluctuations in crude oil prices over the period January 2005 to December 2015. The study used the recently introduced nonlinear ARDL model. The findings indicate sluggish speed of adjustment of 22% for both ex-tax prices and pump prices, which is typical of markets witnessing weak competition and prolonged periods of mispricing. However, the results further indicate that Canadian consumers of retail automotive diesel are sufficiently insulated from the fluctuations of the international crude oil market since the estimated long-run coefficients ranged between 0.60 and 0.69. At the 5% level, the results did not show significant evidence of long run asymmetry in the retail diesel market. In addition, the results did not indicate significant short run additive asymmetry at the 5% level or the prevalence of the rockets and feathers effect. The absence of the rockets and feathers effect also means that the market is free from the problem of rent-seeking by retailers. This is desirable and indicates that regulatory policies should continuously monitor the market in order to preserve competition and the overall social welfare. Keywords: Asymmetric Price Adjustment, Rockets and Feathers Effect, Nonlinear ARDL Model, Canada. JEL Codes: Q43; D40; C22; N12 DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-4-1

Response of Italian Domestic Heating Oil Market to Variations in Crude Oil Costs: Symmetric or Asymmetric?

This study examined the Italian domestic heating oil market for evidence of asymmetric price adjustment and rent-seeking following changes in crude oil costs. The study adopted the recently developed nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) modeling framework, and used monthly time series data for the period January 2005 to December 2015. The findings reveal that the speed of adjustment was sluggish at 17% all through, which is typical of markets witnessing irregular behaviours such as collusion and rent-seeking. The results further indicate the presence of short-run additive asymmetry at 5% level only at pump, which is consistent with the rockets and feathers effect. However, the results did not show any evidence of long-run asymmetry or long-run rent-seeking. Even in the short-run, the results did not reveal any pattern of rent-seeking. Thus, the study concludes that the presence of sluggish speed of adjustment and rockets and feathers effect in the pump prices raise serious anti-trust issues. Accordingly, the study recommends that the market should be continuously monitored so that the dominant status of retailers like the Eni brand is not abused, thereby leading to less competition and collusive behaviours. Keywords: Rockets and Feathers effect; Rent-seeking; Asymmetric Price Adjustment; Nonlinear ARDL model; Italy JEL Codes: Q43; D40; C22; N94. DOI: 10.7176/JETP/9-2-0

ACCESS TO CREDIT AND PHYSICAL CAPITAL STOCK: A STUDY OF NON-FARM HOUSEHOLD ENTERPRISES IN NIGERIA

This study investigated the influence of access to credit on the physical capital stock of non-farm household enterprises in Nigeria. The study used the binary logistic regression technique and Nigeria’s 2018-19 General Household Survey data (Wave 4). We find that the influence of access to credit on the physical capital stock of nonfarm household enterprises in Nigeria is positive and significant. This implies that access to credit enhances the capacity of these enterprises to procure physical capital stock. Our results also indicate that expenditure on raw materials, profit, and years of operations are other key drivers of physical capital stock accumulation. Consequently, we conclude that there is a need for policies to enhance access to credit by non-farm household enterprises in Nigeria to strengthen their operations on a sustainable basis

Informality and Bank Performance in Nigeria: A Panel Data Analysis

The informal sector in Nigeria is one of the major components of the overall economy, which is capable of starving the banking system of the deposits needed for investment purposes. This study empirically examined the impact of informality on the performance of the banking industry in Nigeria. The results indicate that if bank performance is measured by profit after tax (PAT) or return on assets (ROA), then informality impacts negatively on the performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Other variables that impact negatively on bank performance are inflation rate and asset quality (measured as the ratio of total non-performing loans to total loans). Based on these findings, the study recommends that deposit money banks in Nigeria should pursue policies and products that will assist them to capture the huge economic activities taking place in the informal sector, while the government (that is the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN) should also reconsider its policies that are capable of driving economic units underground. The study concludes that deposit money banks in Nigeria must work together with the CBN to achieve an all inclusive banking system, thereby reducing the negative impact of informality on the performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. Key words: Informality; Bank Performance; Panel Analysis; Return on Asset; Profit After Ta

Context-aware system for cardiac condition monitoring and management: a survey

Health monitoring assists physicians in the decision-making process, which in turn, improves quality of life. As technology advances, the usage and applications of context-aware systems continue to spread across different areas in patient monitoring and disease management. It provides a platform for healthcare professionals to assess the health status of patients in their care using multiple relevant parameters. In this survey, we consider context-aware systems proposed by researchers for health monitoring and management. More specifically, we investigate different technologies and techniques used for cardiac condition monitoring and management. This paper also propose "mCardiac", an enhanced context-aware decision support system for cardiac condition monitoring and management during rehabilitation

Testing for Asymmetric Pricing in the French Retail Industrial Fuel Oil Market

This study investigated the French industrial fuel oil market for evidence of asymmetric price adjustment and rent-seeking following changes in crude oil prices. The study adopted the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) framework recently advanced for modeling cointegrating relationships. The study also used monthly time series data for the period January 2005 to December 2015. The results indicate that French industrial fuel oil market is fraught with sluggish speed of adjustment, which is typical of markets witnessing uncompetitive pricing and other irregular behaviours by retail firms. The results further indicate that French industrial fuel oil market is bedeviled by the problem of short-run asymmetric price transmission from crude oil market, which is consistent with the rockets and feathers effect. However, the results did not show any evidence of rent-seeking since the observed short-run asymmetry is not obscured at pump. The study concludes that in view of the prevailing problem of rockets and feathers effect, policies that encourage continuous monitoring of the market in order to preserve competition and the overall social welfare should be embraced by policymakers and regulators in this market. Keywords: Rockets and Feathers effect; Rent-seeking; Asymmetric Price Adjustment; Nonlinear ARDL model; France JEL Codes: Q43; D40; C22; N94. DOI: 10.7176/JETP/9-2-0

Size and Causes of the Informal Sector of the Nigerian Economy: Evidence From Error Correction Mimic Model

This work was motivated mainly by the need to empirically examine the magnitude of economic loss attributed to informality in Nigeria. Specifically, the objective of the study is to examine the size, development, and causes of the informal sector of the Nigerian economy. In recent times, multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) models are applied to time series estimating the size and development of the informal economy for a particular country. However, in order to obtain more accurate estimates about the size, development and causes of the informal economy in Nigeria, this work applied an error correction MIMIC (EMIMIC) model which estimates the cointegration equilibrium relationship and the error correction short run dynamics. The results show that since 1970, the size of the informal economy has hovered between 53.6 – 77.2% of GDP, and that the average size of the informal economy was about 64.6% of GDP. Specifically, the results indicate that informal sector was about three-quarters of GDP in 2010. Furthermore, the results show that unemployment, tax burden, government regulation, and inflation are the most important drivers of informality in Nigeria. Key words: Informal Sector, Nigerian Economy, Cointegration, Error Correction, MIMIC Mode

Is Japanese Retail Industrial Fuel Oil Price Stickier Downwards Than Upwards in Response to Oil Cost Shocks?

This paper examined the Japanese industrial fuel oil market for evidence of asymmetric price adjustment and rent-seeking following changes in crude oil prices. The study used the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) modeling framework and monthly time series data for the period January 2005 to December 2015. The results indicate that Japanese industrial fuel oil market is fraught with sluggish speed of adjustment, which is typical of markets witnessing uncompetitive pricing and other irregular behaviours by retail firms. The results further indicate that Japanese industrial fuel oil market is bedeviled by the problem of short-run asymmetric price transmission from crude oil market, which is consistent with the rockets and fathers effect. However, the results did not show any evidence of rent-seeking since the observed short-run asymmetry is not obscured at pump. In view of the prevailing problem of rockets and feathers effect, the paper supports policies that will encourage continuous monitoring of the market in order to preserve competition and the overall social welfare. Keywords: Rockets and Feathers effect; Rent-seeking; Asymmetric Price Adjustment; Nonlinear ARDL model; Japan JEL Codes: Q43; D40; C22; N94. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/10-4-1

Small Scale Enterprises, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation in Nigeria: Lessons from Burnt Bricklayers in Benue State

This empirical study examined the efficacy of tackling the twin economic challenges of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria through the small scale enterprise commonly known as burnt bricklaying. The study also examined the socio-economic characteristics of the bricklayers as well as the major challenges militating against their growth and performance. The results indicate that burnt bricklaying has significant positive impact on poverty alleviation, job creation, and income generation in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that the challenges of poor infrastructure, low prices of bricks, low demand for bricks, and low operating capital faced by these small scale enterprises should be addressed by the various tiers of government and the financial system as a viable means of job creation, poverty alleviation and income generation in Nigeria. Keywords: Small Scale Enterprises; Poverty Alleviation; Job Creation; Unemployment; Bricklayin