BANKS, GROWTH AND GEOGRAPHY

This paper presents a general equilibrium endogenous growth model, in which financial intermediaries evaluate the quality of projects, mobilize savings to finance the most promising ones and diversify risk. Information technology available to banks is linked to geographic proximity. This evaluation capacity increases the proportion of high-return projects being financed, and thereby accelerates economic growth. This positive effect does not depend on the degree of individuals´ risk aversion.

How Should Subnational Government Borrowing Be Regulated?Some Cross-Country Empirical Evidence

Countries have adopted various institutional responses to subnational government borrowing. Using a sample of 43 countries over the period 1982-2000, this paper provides a panel data analysis to determine the most effective borrowing constraints for containing local fiscal deficits. The results suggest that no single institutional arrangement is superior under all circumstances. The appropriateness of specific arrangements depends on other institutional characteristics, particularly the degree of vertical fiscal imbalance, the existence of any bailout precedent, and the quality of fiscal reporting. Copyright 2006, International Monetary Fund

Taxation reforms and changes in revenue assignments in China

The value-added tax (VAT) in China has the unusual feature that capital goods are included in the VAT base. In addition, most services are subject to the business tax, which is not creditable against VAT, but which accrues to local governments, and operates as a turnover tax. On grounds of economic efficiency, it would be desirable to eliminate these distortions so that domestic producers are not increasingly placed at a disadvantage as China dismantles tariff and nontariff barriers on competing goods. Reforming indirect taxation would however generate considerable revenue losses for local governments and, in the absence of any compensatory mechanisms, there would be significant impediments to the needed reforms. This paper focuses on the extent of revenue losses, their distribution across provinces, and possible options for compensation

Detection of Cognitive States from fMRI data using Machine Learning Techniques

Over the past decade functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has emerged as a powerful technique to locate activity of human brain while engaged in a particular task or cognitive state. We consider the inverse problem of detecting the cognitive state of a human subject based on the fMRI data. We have explored classification techniques such as Gaussian Naive Bayes, k-Nearest Neighbour and Support Vector Machines. In order to reduce the very high dimensional fMRI data, we have used three feature selection strategies. Discriminating features and activity based features were used to select features for the problem of identifying the instantaneous cognitive state given a single fMRI scan and correlation based features were used when fMRI data from a single time interval was given. A case study of visuo-motor sequence learning is presented. The set of cognitive states we are interested in detecting are whether the subject has learnt a sequence, and if the subject is paying attention only towards the position or towards both the color and position of the visual stimuli. We have successfully used correlation based features to detect position-color related cognitive states with 80% accuracy and the cognitive states related to learning with 62.5% accuracy

Endodontic management of three-rooted maxillary second premolar in a patient with bilateral occurrence of three roots in maxillary second premolars

The possibility of bilateral maxillary second premolars having three separate roots is quite low; however, it must be taken into account in clinical and radiographic evaluations during endodontic treatment. A correct clinical and radiographic diagnosis based on knowledge of root canal anatomy and critical interpretation of radiographs is necessary for a safer and successful endodontic treatment of these teeth. Failure of root canal treatment can occur due to missed roots/canals and often diagnosed when patient experiences continuous post-operative pain and discomfort. This case report describes the root canal treatment of a three-rooted maxillary second premolar in a patient with bilateral occurrence of three roots in maxillary second premolars

Enhancement of Confidentiality of Data Transmitted over Covert Channel Using Grid Cipher Scheme

In this fast developing world, the interchange of information is playing a key role. Everything needs information and processes them. This interchange of information needs an authentication, confidentiality and integrity. The security of information is provided many algorithms. There are vast numbers of algorithms for symmetry key cipher. All these algorithms have used either complicated keys to encrypt the plain text to cipher text or a complicated algorithms used for it. The level of security of algorithms is dependent on either number of iterations or length of keys. A comparative study have been made with RSA, DES, IDEA, BAM and other algorithms with frequency distribution, bit ratio to check the security level of proposed algorithm. Finally, a comparison has been made for time complexity for encryption of plain text and decryption from cipher text with above existing algorithms

DETERMINATION OF PARTICULATE MATTER FRACTIONS PM2.5, PM10 AND CO2 IN URBAN SCHOOLS IN IMPHAL, INDIA

Measurements were carried out to determine the PM2.5, PM10 and, CO2 levels in schools located in the urban areas of Imphal, Manipur. The particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10) were monitored gravimetrically with standardised particulate samplers, while the CO2 in the air was measured by gas chromatography. Average PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in the classrooms was 41.0 ± 9.0 µg/m3 and 79.4 ± 20.2 µg/m3, respectively, and it was comparatively higher than the outdoor concentration of 34.8 ± 8.0 µg/m3 and 64.7 ± 18.9 µg/m3, respectively. The average concentration of CO2 in the indoor and outdoor air was 1250.6 ± 131.3 ∙ 103 µg/m3 and 885.7 ± 94.7 ∙103 µg/m3. The highest levels of PM2.5 (58.3 µg/m3), PM10 (112.5 µg/m3) and CO2 (1457.5 ∙ 103 µg/m3) were recorded indoors, in a school located at the heart of the city, whereas the lowest levels of PM2.5 (25.0 µg/m3), PM10 (45.8 µg/m3) and CO2 (1045.7 ∙ 103 µg/m3) were recorded in a school located away from the city centre. The levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in the air were found to exceed the permissible limits prescribed by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in more than half of the sampling. There was a strong positive correlation between indoor and outdoor pollutant concentrations

A rare occurrence of bilateral C-shaped roots in mandibular first and second premolars diagnosed with the aid of spiral computed tomography

The C-shaped canal system is an anatomical variation mostly seen in mandibular second molars, although it can also occur in maxillary and other mandibular molars. Such variation in the root canal anatomy is uncommon in mandibular first premolars and very rare in mandibular second premolars. The C-shaped canal is so named for the cross-sectional morphology of the root and root canal. The main anatomic feature of C-shaped canals is the presence of a fin or web connecting the individual root canals. Failure of the Hertwig's epithelial root sheath to fuse on the lingual or buccal root surface is the main cause of C-shaped roots, which always contain a C-shaped canal. This case report describes an unusual occurrence of C-shaped roots in mandibular first and second premolars bilaterally, diagnosed with the aid of spiral computed tomography