The Granger causality between confidence and consumption in South Africa

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, University of the Witwatersrand. Johannesburg, April 2018.South Africa’s news headlines are dominated by controversial stories of corruption, crime and politics. This research report investigates if people always accept these events as a "normal” part of the country’s history, or if these factors influence or are influenced by expenditure decisions of businesses and consumers. The variables included in the investigation are household consumption, business capital formation, consumer confidence and business confidence. The investigation establishes that these variables are non-stationary and cointegrated, with the cointegrating relationship assessed using Johansen’s procedure. The short-run and long run dynamics between the variables are determined using vector error correction models. Granger causality tests were used to explore the causal relationship between the variables. The Granger Causal relationship between confidence and consumption is assessed using quarterly data from June 1982 to March 2017. It showed that changes in household consumption Granger cause changes in consumer consumption, and no such relationship exists between business confidence and capital formation. The Granger Causal relationship between confidence indicators was also explored, which found that a bi-directional Granger causality relationship existed between business confidence and consumer confidence. The results of variance decomposition (VDC) and impulse response functions (IRFs) were applied thereafter to further examine the causal relationship between the variables. The former determines the amount each variable contributes to each other while latter assess the impact on the dependent variable given a shock to the system. The results supported the outcome of the Granger causality tests. The variance decomposition found in most cases that a shock to the dependent variable can explain more of the forecast error in the dependent variable than a shock to the other predictor variable. This was observed in the short and long run. The impulse response functions found that confidence measures, both for consumers and businesses, may respond in the initial periods to impulses but the increments of the increase reduce after 1 to 2 periods.LG201

Robust Techniques for Feature-based Image Mosaicing

Since the last few decades, image mosaicing in real time applications has been a challenging field for image processing experts. It has wide applications in the field of video conferencing, 3D image reconstruction, satellite imaging and several medical as well as computer vision fields. It can also be used for mosaic-based localization, motion detection & tracking, augmented reality, resolution enhancement, generating large FOV etc. In this research work, feature based image mosaicing technique using image fusion have been proposed. The image mosaicing algorithms can be categorized into two broad horizons. The first is the direct method and the second one is based on image features. The direct methods need an ambient initialization whereas, Feature based methods does not require initialization during registration. The feature-based techniques are primarily followed by the four steps: feature detection, feature matching, transformation model estimation, image resampling and transformation. SIFT and SURF are such algorithms which are based on the feature detection for the accomplishment of image mosaicing, but both the algorithms has their own limitations as well as advantages according to the applications concerned. The proposed method employs this two feature based image mosaicing techniques to generate an output image that works out the limitations of the both in terms of image quality The developed robust algorithm takes care of the combined effect of rotation, illumination, noise variation and other minor variation. Initially, the input images are stitched together using the popular stitching algorithms i.e. Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) and Speeded-Up Robust Features (SURF). To extract the best features from the stitching results, the blending process is done by means of Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) using the maximum selection rule for both approximate as well as detail-components

A STUDY ON DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL TRIBOLOGY IN INDIA WITH SOME FUTURE PROSPECTS

The Indian industry is facing tough challenges from various others countries in different areas. Environmental challenges, government pressure to improve efficiencies, urgent technological advancement requirement, emission cut from tribological and lubricating systems. A brief review of industrial development in India is outlined in this paper. I will also discuss about fields of tribology like Engine Tribology, Green Tribology, Transmission Tribology and Tire Tribology with some suggestions. Role of education in tribology to makes a balance between technology and environment. At lasts a review on future trends in industrial tribology

Morphometric study of the diaphysial nutrient foramen of the humerus in the Indore population

Background: The nutrient arteries may be affected to a consequence of fracture/surgical intervention of fracture of the humeral shaft, which may result in nonunion or delayed union of fracture. Number and position of nutrient arteries must be determined. In order to preserve them during any surgical procedure of the humeral shaft, it is therefore essential to be aware of the existence of the nutrient foramen. The primary objective of this research is to identify the number, location, and orientation of nutrient foramina (NF) of humerus. Methods: The study was conducted on 100 dried humeri of unknown gender obtained from department of anatomy, Index Medical College, Indore (M.P), India. The number, location, and direction of NF were observed. Results: One nutrient foramen was present in 77% of humeri, followed by double foramen in 20% of cases and triple foramen in 3% of cases. The anteromedial surface hosted the majority (80.16%) of the NF, followed by the anterolateral (4.76%) and posterior surfaces (15.08%). The middle third of the shaft (96.03%) included the greatest number of NF, followed by the distal third (3.97%). On the distal end of the humerus, there was no nutrient foramen to be observed. All NF were directed downward. Conclusions: The location of the nutrient foramen of the humerus was not constant; it may present on anteromedial, anterolateral, or posterior surfaces. Similarly, it may present on the middle or distal third of the shaft of the humerus. This study will help surgeons planning the surgical intervention of the shaft of the humerus, which will possibly reduce the chances of nonunion or delayed union

The Indore population's morphometric study of the nutrient foramina of the dried radius

Background: Bone formation, growth and its vitality necessitates blood supply. Nutrient artery is the key source of blood supply to the long bone apart from the other important sources like periosteal, metaphyseal and epiphyseal arteries. Nutrient foramina allow nutrient artery. Typically, the direction of the nutrient foramina is towards the elbow joint in radius, away from its growing end. Knowledge of foramen index, number, direction and size of the nutrient foramina assists the surgeon to take and exact section of bone in case of bone resection and transplantation techniques. The aim of the present study is to determine the number, position, size direction of the nutrient foramina and the Foramen Index of the human dry radius bones. Methods: In the present study, 100 radius bones of unknown age and sex were taken into consideration from the department of anatomy Index Medical College, Indore (MP), India. Results: Most of the foramen was observed on the anterior surface of the bone. Nutrient foramina was found to be absent in 4 right sided and 3 left sided bones. The foramen index on right side was 34.92±4.97 cm whereas on the left side 34.79±4.43 cm. The nutrient foramen was directed towards the proximal end of radius in all the bones studied. Conclusions: In the present study the average length of the bone and foramina of the size larger are more on the right side when compared to the left side. The foramina are located mostly in the middle third of the bone of the anterior surface. This study may add to the present statistical data available on foramen index number of foramen and their location in the population of Indore region, during recent orthopaedic techniques like bone resection and transplantation

Fast dynamic magnetic resonance imaging using sparse recovery methods and novel signal encoding formulations

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging modality that provides excellent soft tissue contrast without using ionizing radiations. These qualities/properties make MRI the preferred imaging modality for critical organs like heart and brain. Over the past decade, the advancement in hardware and image reconstruction algorithms has led to substantial improvements in MRI in terms of imaging speeds, quality and reliability. However, MRI speeds need to be further improved while retaining/maintaining the image quality given that the emerging medical diagnostic procedures are increasingly relying on detailed characterization of physiological functions that evolve on time scales too fast to be captured using conventional MRI methods. This dissertation starts with presenting a sparse signal recovery based fast MRI method. This method synergistically combines a data redundancy scheme for high frequency details with a novel and physically realizable MR signal encoding formulation. The new signal encoding formulation uses clinically deployed tagging radio frequency pulses to mix information in the spatial frequency domain prior to acquisition. Thus, the new formulation leads to a more uniform coverage of spatial frequency information even at high accelerations. The synergistic combination of image-detail redundancy encoding with tagging based signal encoding allows recovery of edges and fine structures with unprecedented quality. Next, this dissertation evaluates the use of fast spiral trajectories for high spatial resolution functional imaging of human superior colliculus. Gradient efficient and motion-robust spiral trajectories are used to keep fMRI scan durations short. . However, high resolution imaging of human subcortical structures using these trajectories is limited due to the weak functional responses of SC structures and also low signal-to-noise ratio associated with small voxels. To improve the functional sensitivity of spiral trajectories, dual echo variants are used. Combination of two echoes of the dual-echo variants reduces noise and thereby improves the functional sensitivity of high resolution fMRI. Lastly, this dissertation presents a novel formulation for fast dynamic MRI which combines the generic linear dynamical system model with sparse recovery techniques. Specifically, the formulation uses a known prior spatio-temporal model to predict the underlying image and uses sparse recovery techniques to recover the residual image. The spatio-temporal evolution model inherently encodes for coupled data redundancies in the spatial- and temporal-dimensions. Also, the generalizability of the formulation in choosing the evolution model allows it to be applicable to various physiological functions.Electrical and Computer Engineerin

Stem Cell Antigen CD34 In Native And Engineered Form Alter Its Binding Ability To Stromal Cells And Ligands: A Classical Example Of Clinical Benefits Of Therapeutic Genetic Engineering Of Stem Cells In Transplantation

CD34 is a highly glycosylated surface-expressed sialomucin and, because it is present on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), has demonstrated immense clinical utility in their enumeration in aphaeresis products, immunoaffinity purification for transplantation, and disease monitoring. The success of CD34 based reagents in identifying hematopoietic progenitors led to the assumption that CD34 is expressed on cells with regenerative potential and is sufficient for hematopoietic reconstitution in marrow-ablated recipients. However, its role has not been identified in substantial detail. 

With the advent of the fact that CD34 binds adapter protein like CRK-L in cytosol and CD34 knock out studies identified a a signaling role, CD34 antigen has been proposed to play a signaling function. Since it is a sialomucin, a member of the group adhesion molecules, we attempted to identify a role by over-expreesing its gene in cell lines. We report here that CD34 and engineered forms (Ser306 & Tyr318) significantly regulates adhesion to stromal cells, like mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow ligands. These enhance binding of cells overexpressing CD34 by upregulating integrins and we therefore propose that such cells may effectively potentiate the success of transplantation through greater homing if they are used for transfusion

Machine Learning and Grounded Theory: New Opportunities for Mixed-Design Research

In this emerging research forum paper, we propose a novel framework for mixed-design research by integrating machine learning (ML) with grounded theory (GT). Contrary to existing belief that ML can only be used for prediction and not for explaining a phenomenon, in this paper, we illustrate that ML and GT complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses and can be integrated through mixed design research for theory building. We also propose a framework and guidelines to integrate ML in GT, with an example from an ongoing research project. This paper not only attempts to addresses the call for methodologies to employ ML techniques in social sciences research but also provides clear guidelines for executing such empirical researc