MONETARY EXCHANGE RATE MODEL REVISITED: COINTEGRATION AND FORECASTING IN HETEROGENEOUS PANEL DATA

ABSTRACT This study re-examines the exchange rate-monetary fundamentals link with in a panel data framework. Pure time series and pooled time series-based tests fail to find empirical support for monetary exchange rate models (Sarantis (1994) and Groen (2000)). Using recently developed Panel Data Techniques; we would test the exchange rates and monetary fundamentals in a quarterly panel of 19 countries mostly from developed region extending from 1973.1 to 1997.1. Present analysis would be centered on three issues. First, we test whether exchange rates cointegrated with long run determinants predicted by economic theory. For this purpose, we would be employed Pedroni (1997) and Larsson et al (2001) panel cointegration tests for empirical validation of the study. Second, we will also test the short run implications of exchange rate model. These short run implications will be tested; through adapting the panel VEC model the short run identification schemes of Johansen and Juselius (1994). The last issue is to examine the ability for monetary fundamentals to forecast future exchange rate returns. The present endeavor will follow Mark and Sul (2001) approach for forecasting in the case of Panel Data Testing.Panel cointegration; Prediction; Exchange rates.

Effects of Father Absence on Childrens Academic Performance

Historically father has been viewed as presented in a variety of different images to describe the script that they have been fulfilling. They have variously been presented as, normal observer, breadwinner, sex role model, and nurturing. The death of parents is one of the most severe trauma that a child can suffer. The loss of parents causes so many problems that a deprived child faces, among those problems the important problem is the effects on academic performance of children. This research study explain how father absence affect the academic performance of children, for this purpose a sample of 45 subjects is selected from population of same socioeconomic status, with no cultural differences. All the subjects were the students of 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade. The subjects were selected from three types of families, intact father children, died father children and divorced father children and was kept in three groups as: present father group, died father group and divorced father group. The statistical analysis of the results by applying statistical treatment test with critical region =1.4, and significance level =0.10 show that intact father children show better academic performance than absent father children. The dyed father children and divorcees children show the same academic performance which reveals that father presence play a very significant role in the academic performance of children. The implication of the study will be discussed further.Keyword: Academic performance, father presence, and absent father

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy detects alterations induced by organotin(IV) carboxylates in MCF-7 cells at sub-cytotoxic/-genotoxic concentrations.

The environmental impact of metal complexes such as organotin(IV) compounds is of increasing concern. Genotoxic effects of organotin(IV) compounds (0.01 μg/ml, 0.1 μg/ml or 1.0 μg/ml) were measured using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay to measure DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay to determine micronucleus formation. Biochemical-cell signatures were also ascertained using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. In the comet assay, organotin(IV) carboxylates induced significantly-elevated levels of DNA SSBs. Elevated micronucleus-forming activities were also observed. Following interrogation using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, infrared spectra in the biomolecular range (900 cm-1 – 1800 cm-1) derived from organotin-treated MCF-7 cells exhibited clear alterations in their biochemical-cell fingerprint compared to control-cell populations following exposures as low as 0.0001 μg/ml. Mono-, di- or tri-organotin(IV) carboxylates (0.1 μg/ml, 1.0 μg/ml or 10.0 μg/ml) were markedly cytotoxic as determined by the clonogenic assay following treatment of MCF-7 cells with ≥ 1.0 μg/ml. Our results demonstrate that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy can be applied to detect molecular alterations induced by organotin(IV) compounds at sub-cytotoxic and sub-genotoxic concentrations. This biophysical approach points to a novel means of assessing risk associated with environmental contaminants

Correlation of Atrial Fibrillation with Left Atrial Volume in Patients with Mitral Stenosis. a Single Centre Study From Pakistan

Background: Rheumatic heart disease has a strong association with mitral valve stenosis. Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common complications of this condition and is a poor prognostic factor. Early detection and prompt management of atrial fibrillation can help to improve the quality of life and increase the life expectancy of the patients. We carried out this study to investigate the significance of left atrial volumetric changes in mitral stenosis and its correlation with atrial fibrillation. Methodology: We audited the data of 60 patients of rheumatic heart disease who had mitral valve stenosis. The patients were randomized into atrial fibrillation (Group A) and normal sinus rhythm (Group B). We conducted this cross-sectional analytical study at Cardiology Department, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from 1st February 2017 to 31st January 2018. We only included those patients who consented to be a part of this study and fulfilled our predefined inclusion criteria. Left atrial volume was measured by prolate ellipse method and biplane methods on echocardiography. The Data was analyzed on SPSS v20. Results: Sixty patients were included in the study. Among the subjects, thirty-six (60%) were males, and twenty-four (40%) were females. Atrial fibrillation was noted in 43.33% of the patients of mitral valve stenosis. There was a marked difference in the mean volume of the left atrium among the two groups. We observed that the mean area of the mitral valve for Group A patients was larger than that of patients in Group B. Our study showed an inverse correlation between left atrial volume and mitral valve area among Group A patients. Conclusion: Patients of mitral stenosis are at an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation if the left atrial volume is increasing. All patients with mitral stenosis should have routine echocardiography & measurement of left atrial volumes, so that proper treatment can be started if the left atrial volume is increasing, to prevent atrial fibrillation

Pengembangan Website Jurnal Teknologi Informasi sebagai Media Publikasi Artikel Ilmiah

Jurnal Teknologi Informasi (JTIf) dalam pengelolaan media publikasi jurnal ilmiah masih perlu adanya pengembangan dari segi tampilan media publikasi itu sendiri, serta web jurnalnnya masih ada yang belum sesuai dengan standar Open Journal System (OJS). Seiring dengan perkembangan teknologi informasi dan komuniasi, internet menjadi salah satu faktor utama pendorong perkembangan website Jurnal sebagai media publikasi artikel ilmiah. Website jurnal tentu saja dapat diakses melalui jaringan elektronik yang mana jaringan ini merupakan kumpulan jaringan-jaringan yang menghubungkan komputer di seluruh dunia. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah melakukan pengembangan website jurnal JTIf yang sesuai dengan standar Open Journal System (OJS). Hasil yang telah dicapai dari pengembangan adalah website jurnal ilmiah sudah berstandar OJS dalam bentuk web portal jurnal ilmiah dalam bidang Teknologi informasi yang memiliki beberapa fitur seperti manajemen jurnal dan manajemen editor dan reviewer, menu sidebar, dan poster pengguuuna. Kesimpulan dari pengembangan website jurnal JTIf dapat membantu pihak pengelola web portal dalam melakukan pengelolaan jurnal yang akan dipublikasikan

Altered Metabolism in Down Syndrome

Down syndrome (DS) is associated with aberrations in genetic, morphological, biochemical and physiological characteristics. A number of genes located on human chromosome 21 (HSA21) encode proteins which are thought to be involved in numerous metabolic pathways, e.g., phosphofructokinase, cystathionine β-synthase etc. Perturbations of the metabolic pathways may lead to altered drug metabolism in DS individuals. We present a review of metabolic aberrations linked to HSA21 genes in DS. We particularly focus on drug disposition, efficacy, sensitivity and toxicity of anti-leukaemic agents including methotrexate, glucocorticoids, anthracyclines and cytarabine in DS leukaemia. The different outcomes of therapy due to differential drug response, varied drug toxicity and treatment related mortality in DS leukaemia is a subject of much research and speculation. Altered drug response in DS individuals may stem from differences in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics. Further large-cohort studies in different age groups dissecting metabolic and molecular pathways involved in drug response may increase our understanding in this regard and stipulate pharmacotherapies in DS

Membangun Sumber Daya Manusia Berkarakter melalui Metode Pendidikan Karakter

The quality of human resources (HR) owned by a nation is also determine the quality and competitiveness of a nation. Developed countries in the World, such as Japan, China, do not actually have abundant natural resources, because they have strong human resources they are transformed into giant countries in a world that is so competitive Strong in the world. This study aims to determine the role of prime character education methods at basic education institutions in Malang, in realizing quality human resources. This research model is expected to help know the factors that influence the effectiveness of character education method in the basic education institution in realizing the human resources character. The population in this research is the teacher in elementary school in Malang, namely SD Islam Sabilillah, SD Anak Saleh, and Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Negeri 1 (MIN). The result of the research shows that from the six indicators of character education method, five of them are assignment, habituation, training, learning, direction, influence to the realization of human resources characterized. While the exemplary indicator in this research does not have an influence on the formation of human resources character. That is, the method of character education is a powerful method to internalize the values of noble and noble characters for the formation of Human Resources character, because in it there are elements of habituation important to embed in each individual

Dose Optimization of Calcusol™ and Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate (COM) on Primary Renal Epithelial Cells Cultures of Mice (Mus Musculus)

Kidney stones are one of the urologic diseases that have plagued mankind for centuries. The main constituents of stones in the kidney are calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals. Nowadays, there are varieties of drugs and treatments that can be made to minimize the grievances due to kidney stone disease. The treatment can be done either by using chemicals or traditional medicine. Calcusol™ is one of the popular herbal products that have been used by Indonesian people in curing the kidney stone disease. The main constituent that was contained in Calcusol™ is an extract of the tempuyung leaves (Sonchus arvensis L.), which is expected could cure the kidney stone disease. This study used primary cultured renal epithelial cells of mice to determine the optimal dose of Calcusol and the optimal dose of COM. The primary Kidney epithelial cell were treated with Calcusol™ and COM at various doses. The analysis of the cell death either by necrosis or apoptosis pathways was analyzed by flow cytometric analysis. The results that were obtained is the percentage of cell death that is then analyzed by using a complete randomized design (CRD) One Way Anova. Based on the results that were obtained, it is known that the optimal dose of Calcusol™ in vitro were ranging from 75 ppm to 100 ppm, whereas the optimal dose of COM suggested for 500 ppm