Does the Percentage of Investment Grades Given by Rating Agencies Impact their Market Share?

The credit ratings industry has controlled by three core credit ratings agencies; Fitch, Moody’s and S&P that are contributing to financial markets by providing reliable and transparent credit ratings information on which stakeholders can rely. These key players could manipulate this information by allocating high percentages of quality ratings just for the sake of increasing their market shares. This research is conducting to examine the impact for assigning the percentage of investment grades given by CRA’s on their market share

Offspring sex ratio bias and sex related characteristics of eggs in chicken

Understanding the factors influencing sex of egg and sex ratio in laying chicken may lead to finding potential solutions for the problem of killing of day old male chicks, which is the current practice in breeding of laying hens. In studies described in this thesis, it was investigated if the sex of the chicken egg can be predicted by measurable differences in male and female eggs at unincubated stage and if the female primary sex ratio can be induced in laying chicken using different experimental conditions such as feed restriction and corticosterone feeding. The method of sex determination in unincubated chicken eggs using PCR targeted to CHD1 gene was first developed. This method was subsequently used to study the primary sex ratio bias as well as relationship between egg sex and yolk hormones. No significant relationship of the sex of egg with concentrations of several hormones (testosterone, estradiol, androstenedione, progesterone, dihydrotestosterone) and glucose in yolk as well as of egg parameters (mass, width and length) was found. Effect of feed availability on sex ratio was tested in two separate studies. In one study, the rate of change of hen body mass between day of laying and day of laying minus 2 days (encompass time of meiosis completion) was a significant predictor for the sex of that egg, suggesting meiotic drive as mechanism of sex ratio bias. This relationship was not found in the later study. The difference in results could be due to the reason that hens decreased in body mass much less in the later study as compared to earlier study. Blood corticosterone concentrations were associated with sex ratio per hen in the earlier study. Effect of egg mass on egg sex was studied during the later experiment of feed restriction. The egg sex ratio per hen was negatively associated with the average egg mass per hen in the feed restriction group. Two groups of hens were selected from the feed restriction group i.e. male biased hens with low egg mass and female biased hens with high egg mass for microarray analysis of gene expression in the germinal disc of collected F1 follicle. The results did not show differential expression of genes between the groups. However, gene set enrichment analysis showed that a number of processes related to cell cycle progression, mitotic/meiotic apparatus and chromosomal movement were differently enriched between the groups, supporting meiotic drive as potential mechanisms underlying sex ratio determination. In another experiment, blood circulating levels of corticosterone in hens were increased by feeding corticosterone mixed feed under ad libitum. The blood levels of corticosterone were significantly higher in treated hens but these levels were not associated with sex ratio. Treatment did not affect the overall sex ratio, but affected the sex ratio in interaction with hen body mass. In the corticosterone group, sex ratio, laying rate, and fertility rate per hen were decreased in heavy hens. These results suggest that three parameters (sex ratio, laying rate and fertility rate) are connected at the level of ovarian physiology. Interference with meiosis have been shown to affect these three parameters, suggesting the involvement of meiotic drive as mechanism of sex ratio bias.</p

Footwear-integrated force sensing resistor sensors: A machine learning approach for categorizing lower limb disorders

Lower limb disorders are a substantial contributor to both disability and lower standards of life. The prevalent disorders affecting the lower limbs include osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, and ankle. The present study focuses on the use of footwear that incorporates force-sensing resistor sensors to classify lower limb disorders affecting the knee, hip, and ankle joints. The research collected data from a sample of 117 participants who wore footwear integrated with force-sensing resistor sensors while walking on a predetermined walkway of 9 meters. Extensive preprocessing and feature extraction techniques were applied to form a structured dataset. Several machine learning classifiers were trained and evaluated. According to the findings, the Random Forest model exhibited the highest level of performance on the balanced dataset with an accuracy rate of 96%, while the Decision Tree model achieved an accuracy rate of 91%. The accuracy scores of the Logistic Regression, Gaussian Naive Bayes, and Long Short-Term Memory models were comparatively lower. K-fold cross-validation was also performed to evaluate the models’ performance. The results indicate that the integration of force-sensing resistor sensors into footwear, along with the use of machine learning techniques, can accurately categorize lower limb disorders. This offers valuable information for developing customized interventions and treatment plans

Efficient Plant regeneration through leaf, In vitro Flowering and Biochemical studies during morphogenesis of Solanum nigrum L.

In this investigation, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium when supplemented with 6-benzylamino purine (BAP) or Kinetin produced high frequency of in vitro shoot directly from in vitro raised Solanum nigrum leaves without any callusing stage. Among the plant growth regulators (PGRs) the best response was noted at 2.0 mgl-1 BAP and 1.5 mgl-1 kinetin. Shoot formation and multiplication were more pronounced on dorsal leaf surface (0.5-1.5 cm2) compared to ventral. Biochemical studies including soluble protein, sugar and amino acid were carried out in order to know the differences in reserves of some biochemical entities. Nearly all parameters were high in samples derived from dorsal leaf, which was grown in MS augmented with 2.0 mgl-1 BAP or 1.5 mgl-1kinetin. The present investigation also describes first successful induction of in vitro flowering in S. nigrum, which can augment selective hybridization. Finally, the in vitro raised shoots were treated with various concentrations of auxins for obtaining roots, the rooted plantlets were transplanted with 100% survival in field conditions

A Variable Control Chart Based on Process Capability Index Under Generalized Multiple Dependent State Sampling

This paper proposed a process capability index-based control chart under the new extended form of multiple-dependent state sampling (MDS) named generalized MDS (GMDS). The scheme is based on inner and outer control limits and utilizes the previous state of the samples. The performance comparisons of the proposed chart with the existing charts are made by using out-of-control ARL. The simulation study showed the superiority of the proposed chart over the existing PCI-based control charts under Shewhart and MDS schemes. An empirical illustration is also given to demonstrate the application of the proposed chart.11Ysciescopu

Alleviation of Boron Stress through Plant Derived Smoke Extracts in Sorghum bicolor

Boron is an essential micronutrient necessary for plant growth at optimum concentration. However, at high concentrations boron affects plant growth and is toxic to cells. Aqueous extract of plant-derived smoke has been used as a growth regulator for the last two decades to improve seed germination and seedling vigor. It has been established that plant-derived smoke possesses some compounds that act like plant growth hormones. The present research was the first comprehensive attempt to investigate the alleviation of boron stress with plant-derived smoke aqueous extract on Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) seed. Smoke extracts of five plants, i.e. Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Peganum harmala, Datura alba and Melia azedarach each with six dilutions (Concentrated, 1:100, 1:200, 1:300, 1:400 and 1:500) were used. While boron solutions at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ppm were used for stress. Among the dilutions of smoke, 1:500 of E. camaldulensis significantly increased germination percentage, root and shoot length, number of secondary roots and fresh weight of root and shoot while, boron stress reduced growth of Sorghum. It was observed that combined effect of boron solution and E. camaldulensis smoke extract overcome inhibition and significantly improved plant growth. Present research work investigated that the smoke solution has the potential to alleviate boron toxicity by reducing the uptake of boron by maintaining integrity of plant cell wall. The present investigation suggested that plant derived smoke has the potential to alleviate boron stress and can be used to overcome yield losses caused by boron stress to plants

Effects of debinding and sintering atmosphere on properties and corrosion resistance of powder injection molded 316 L - stainless steel

316L stainless steel is a common biomedical material. Currently, biomedical parts are produced through powder injection molding (PIM). Carbon control is the most critical in PIM. Improper debinding can significantly change the properties of the final product. In this work, thermal debinding and sintering were performed in two different furnaces (i.e. laboratory and commercially available furnaces) to study the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Debounded samples were sintered in different atmospheres. The samples sintered in inert gas showed enhanced mechanical properties compared with wrought 316L stainless steel and higher corrosion rate than those sintered in the vacuum furnace. The densification and tensile strength of the hydrogen sintered samples increased up to 3% and 51%, respectively, compared with those of the vacuum-sintered samples. However, the samples sintered in inert gas also exhibited reduced ductility and corrosion resistance. This finding is attributed to the presence of residual carbon in debonded samples during debinding

Marketing margins of selected stakeholders in the supply chain of dates in South Punjab, Pakistan

Date is one of the major cash fruits in Pakistan. Presently Pakistan stands at sixth position in dates producing countries. Date occupies third position after citrus and mango in terms of fruit area and production. The present study was conducted to explore the current margins of various stakeholders involved in the existing marketing system of dates in two leading districts of South Punjab district, as Dera Ghazi Khan and Muzaffar Garh. A sample of 40 farmers, 30 commission agents, 30 wholesalers, 30 retailers and 30 consumers was selected randomly. Pretested questionnaires were used to collect the data from selected respondents through personal interviews. Private sector is dominant in all major marketing activities. The market intermediaries in date marketing system involve commission agent, wholesaler and retailer. Different intermediaries were taking different margins according to form of dates and locality. In Dera Ghazi khan, commission agent was getting 13.55%, wholesaler 11.71% and retailer, 18.09% margins of marketing chain for fresh date and share of growers in consumer price was 56.09%. Commission agent was taking 14.13%, wholesaler, 10.67% and retailer 17.2%; margin of marketing chain for fresh date and share of growers in consumer price was 58% in Muzaffar Garh. The price of date is much high due to long chain of marketing system. In order to reduce the wholesale and retail prices, government should take measures to establish date marketing centers and supply chain management training programs for the date growers

Comparative evaluation of in vitro cytotoxic effects among parent abietyl alcohol and novel fatty acid ester derivatives against MCF7 and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines

Synthesis of twelve hitherto unreported esters of abietyl alcohol and screening of these esters against four cancer cell lines including one breast cancer line MCF7 and four hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HCC) Huh7, Hep3B, Snu449 and Plc has been determined using SRB assay. The Cell cycle progression showed changes in cellular behaviour after 48 and 72 hours in MCF7 and Huh7 cell lines. Abietyl alcohol was obtained from the reduction of abietic acid, a tricyclic diterpene, isolated from oleoresin of Pinus longifolia Roxberghii