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.

Urdu text steganography: Utilizing isolated letters

This paper presents an imperceptible and high capacity feature based approach which hides a secret message into Urdu text cover media by utilising all isolated letters. Existing techniques are less imperceptible and also not robust against steganalysis attacks and some of these schemes are failed to provide the better capacity rates. Previous lexical based and syntax based schemes are ineffective to provide the better capacity rate and image based approaches are not robust against format attacks. Moreover, Feature based approaches are more perceptible and thus, cannot resist against visual attacks. This paper proposes an improved algorithm that encompasses all isolated letters of Urdu text for hiding data to provide better capacity rates. Furthermore, this technique is more secured by using strong public key encryption algorithm. In addition, scheme is also imperceptible, since it does not affect the external appearance of the text. Implementation shows that the proposed text steganography technique provides high concealing capacity

Validation of updated partin’s table in Pakistani patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer

Objectives: To establish the usefulness and validity of 2007 Partin’s table in our population with prostate cancer. Materials and methods: Between January 1998 to June 2009, all patients with clinically localized carcinoma prostate who were treated with intent of radical retro-pubic prostatectomy (RRP) were included. Clinical, operative and pathological data was gathered. All biopsy and final histopathology Gleason scores were re-assigned in a double blind manner. Pre-operative serum PSA, TNM clinical stage and biopsy Gleason scores were plotted on Partin’s table and its predictive value and pathological findings of specimen were compared and analyzed by using Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: A total of 109 of 138 patients were included in final analysis. The median age was 65 ± 5.8 years. The pre-operative serum PSA values and clinical stages were higher in our cohort of patients as compared to Partin’s cohort. At pathological assessment of resected specimen, organ confined disease was present in 58 % of patients, seminal vesicles were involved in 22 % and lymph node metastasis was present in 12 % of patients. The accuracy of Partin’s table derived probability was high with area under curve (AUC) of 0.82 for organ confinement, 0.805 for seminal vesicle involvement and 0.714 for lymph node involvement respectively. Conclusions: The 2007 Partin’s table has a reasonably high predictive value for the final histo-pathological features. This predictive model can be used in Pakistani patients with carcinoma prostate with comparable accuracy

Asymmetrical D-channel photonic crystal fiber-based plasmonic sensor using the wavelength interrogation and lower birefringence peak method

Funding Information: This work was supported in part by Independent University, Bangladesh ( IUB ), and in part by Sejong university through its faculty research program ( 20192021 ). This paper was also supported by research funds of Jeonbuk National University in 2020.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Amyloid Precursor-like Protein 2 Expression Increases during Pancreatic Cancer Development and Shortens the Survival of a Spontaneous Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer.

In the United States, pancreatic cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Although substantial efforts have been made to understand pancreatic cancer biology and improve therapeutic efficacy, patients still face a bleak chance of survival. A greater understanding of pancreatic cancer development and the identification of novel treatment targets are desperately needed. Our analysis of gene expression data from patient samples showed an increase in amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) expression within primary tumor epithelium relative to pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) epithelial cells. Augmented expression of APLP2 in primary tumors compared to adjacent stroma was also observed. Genetically engineered mouse models of spontaneous pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were used to investigate APLP2\u27s role in cancer development. We found that APLP2 expression intensifies significantly during pancreatic cancer initiation and progression in the LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53R172H/+; Pdx-1-Cre (KPC) mouse model, as shown by immunohistochemistry analysis. In studies utilizing pancreas-specific heterozygous and homozygous knockout of APLP2 in the KPC mouse model background, we observed significantly prolonged survival and reduced metastatic progression of pancreatic cancer. These results demonstrate the importance of APLP2 in pancreatic cancer initiation and metastasis and indicate that APLP2 should be considered a potential therapeutic target for this disease

Choice of Mode for the Worktrip in a Third World City: Karachi

The paper is an analysis of the demand for different travel modes in the city of Karachi. The model analyses the probability that an individual makes a certain choice as a function of the mode characteristics and transport system and the socio-economic characteristics of the individual traveller. The analysis focuses on the worktrip: The model used is the disaggregated probabilistic choice and it is estimated through the maximum likelihood multinomial logit technique. The data for the analysis comes from a sample of 5696 workers in the city of Karachi. The main determinants of the mode choice analysed are: transport-related characteristics (travel time, official transport, shared transport, peak-hour travel) and socioeconomic characteristics (number of dependents, income, head-of-households status, sex, type of occupation). The results show that the overall model is robust and has high prediction accuracy. The estimated model is useful since it is responsive to most variables and can be used to calculate the effect of changes in the various attributes on the demand for different travel modes. Estimates of the model can also be of value to planners, who can predict probabilities for different modes and calculate the effect of specific policy changes on the demand for travel

Gender equality and women's empowerment in rural Pakistan

PRIFPRI2; A Ensuring Sustainable food productionEPTD; DSG

Measuring women’s disempowerment in agriculture in Pakistan

Pakistan performs poorly withrespect to gender equality, women’s empowerment, and other gender-related indicators. Few studies in Pakistan measure the multiple dimensions of empowerment along which women are marginalized or disenfranchised, particularly in the country’s rural areas. Even fewer studies address the gender gaps in empowerment levels of men and women. This paper calculates a Women’s Disempowerment Index to examine women’s control over production, resources, income, household decisions, and time burden. The index is based on a slightly modified methodology than that used for WEAI calculation by Alkire et al. (2012). The analysis is based on a sample of 2,090 households in the rural areas of Pakistan. Data used for the study werecollected in three rounds of the Pakistan Rural Household Panel Survey from 2012–2014 by International Food Policy Research Institute/ Innovative Development Strategies for its Pakistan Strategy Support Program. The results show low empowerment levels of only 17 percent for women in the rural areas of Pakistan. The results also show very low empowerment of women in all indicators and domains except the time burden/workload indicator. We then analyze women’s disempowerment by subsamples based on individual and household characteristics. We also calculate disempowerment levels among men and compare it to disempowerment levels among women. Comparison within the household reveals large disparities in empowerment levels among men and women. In a comparative analysis, men are found to be more empowered in domains of production, income,and autonomy. Both men and women were found to be most disempowered in access to and control over resources. The paper provides a baseline for tracking women’s empowerment over time and identifies areas that need to be strengthened through policy interventionsNon-PRIFPRI1; CRP2; PSSP; D Transforming AgricultureDSGD; PIMCGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM