Cointegration and conditional correlations among German and Eastern Europe equity markets

This paper aims to examine the long term relationship between German and three Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) equity markets. Application of Johansen as well as Engle-Granger cointegration tests show that there is no long-term relationship among these markets while the Gregory-Hansen cointegration test rejects the null hypothesis of no cointegration with structural break. An additional objective is to capture the time-varying correlation among these markets through the dynamic conditional correlation models. Empirical results suggest that correlations increased after the accession of the CEE countries into the European Union.Equity markets; Cointegration; Dynamic conditional correlation models.

Commercialization of Traditional Knowledge Based Technologies by Small Entrepreneurs: An Exploration of Strategic and Policy Options

The paper is based on the case study of an entrepreneur who has invested his career in developing a new product based on traditional knowledge. Using this case we highlight the issues faced by a small entrepreneur in the commercialization of traditional knowledge based technologies in pharmaceuticals industry. The framework developed by Teece is used to analyze the strategic options available to the entrepreneur in a weak appropriability regime. We also analyze a hypothetical scenario of strategic options available to the entrepreneur if the appropriability regime was strong. Since traditional knowledge based entrepreneurial activities have significant scope in India, it is important to explore the policy and strategic options that are available to us. In the context of the case study, the concluding part of the paper reviews these options and the associated implications for the holders of traditional knowledge.

Metal-plate Connected Tension Joints Under Different Loading Conditions

Metal-plate connected tension-splice wood truss joints were tested under six different loading conditions: pure axial tension, pure bending, and four different levels of combined (axial tension/bending) loading. All joints were fabricated from 2- by 4-in. nominal No. 2 southern yellow pine lumber and 20-gage metal truss plates. Joints were tested to failure on a newly developed testing apparatus. Combined loading tests showed that the axial load capacity of joints decreased with an increase in applied bending moment. The most common mode of failure was tooth withdrawal, which indicates that tooth-holding capacity governs the strength of the joint

Weak-form market efficiency and calendar anomalies for Eastern Europe equity markets

In this paper we test the weak form of the efficient market hypothesis for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) equity markets for the period 1999-2009. To test weak form efficiency in the markets this study uses, autocorrelation analysis, runs test, and variance ratio test. We find that stock markets of the Central and Eastern Europe do not follow a random walk process. This is an important finding for the CEE markets as an informed investor can identify mispriced assets in the markets by studying the past prices in these markets. We also test the presence of daily anomalies for the same group of stock markets using a basic model and a more advanced Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity in Mean (GARCH-M) model. Results indicate that day-of-the-week effect is not evident in most markets except for some. Overall results indicate that some of these markets are not weak form efficient and an informed investor can make abnormal profits by studying the past prices of the assets in these markets.Emerging stock markets, day-of-the-week effect , market efficiency, variance ratio test, GARCH-M.

Governance of communicable disease control services : a case study and lessons from India

The authors study the impact of governance and administrative factors on communicable disease prevention in the Indian state of Karnataka using survey data from administrators, frontline workers, and elected local representatives. They identify a number of key constraints to the effective management of disease control in India, in misaligned incentives, and the institutional arrangements for service delivery. The authors discuss these under five headings: administrative issues; human resource management; horizontal coordination; decentralization, community involvement, and public accountability; and implementation of public health laws and regulations. They find that India's public health system is configured to be highly effective at top-down reactive work, such as bringing disease outbreaks under control, but not for the more routine collaborations required for proactive disease prevention. The authors conclude with policy recommendations that take into account the complexity of India's system of public administration and the need for simple reforms that can be easily implemented.Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Health Systems Development&Reform,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Public Health Promotion,Disease Control&Prevention,Health Systems Development&Reform,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,National Governance,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Health Economics&Finance

Differences in self-reported weekend catch up sleep between children and adolescents with and without primary hypertension

Background: The data on the association of sleep duration and blood pressure in the pediatric age group have been mixed and most studies have focused on weekday sleep duration. The purpose of this study was to compare the weekday and weekend sleep patterns between children and adolescents with newly diagnosed primary hypertension and a normotensive control group. Methods: Children and adolescents from a pediatric nephrology clinic, aged 6-18 years with newly diagnosed primary hypertension were compared to an age and sex matched normotensive control group from a general pediatric clinic. The questions about bed time and getting out of bed times from the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) were used to obtain weekday and weekend bed time, getting out of bed time and sleep duration. The Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS) was used to assess subjective sleepiness. Results: In both groups of 60 subjects each, weekday total sleep time was similar. Subjects in both groups went to bed later and woke up later on the weekends. However, in the hypertensive group, weekend getting out of the bed time was earlier (8:52 AM +/-93 min vs. 9:36 AM +/-88 min, p = 0.013) and weekend catchup sleep was about 40 min less (62.8 +/- 85.5 vs. 102.7 +/- 84.9, p = 0.035). Hypertensive children perceived less subjective sleepiness (PDSS scores 8.28 +/- 4.88 vs. 10.63 +/- 5.41, p = 0.007). The p values were calculated after adjusting for body mass index (BMI), race, daytime nap, caffeine use, sleep related breathing disorder (SRBD) scale and periodic limb movement of sleep (PLMS) scale subcomponents of the PSQ. Conclusions: Hypertensive children obtained less weekend catch up sleep and reported less subjective sleepiness compared to the control group. More weekend sleep may potentially mitigate the effect of weekday sleep deprivation on blood pressure

A Rare Nasopharyngeal Foreign Body

Nasopharynx is an exceptionally rare anatomical location for foreign body impaction. We present a rare case of nasopharyngeal foreign body (NFB) in a 7 years old child. The diagnosis was confirmed by nasal endoscopy. Immediate removal of foreign body (FB) in the nasopharynx was performed under general anesthesia. This rare situation is potentially dangerous, since its dislodgment may cause fatal airway obstruction. Therefore, in all cases with missing foreign bodies in the aerodigestive system, nasopharyngeal impaction should be kept in mind and endoscopic examination of the region should be considere