Exchange Rates Predictability in Developing Countries

The main objective of this study is to re-investigates the exchange rates predictability puzzle using monetary model. It is hypothesised that the performance of exchange rate predictability is better off in countries with monetary instability. We employ bootstrap technique as proposed by Kilian (1999) to alleviate statistical inference intricacies inherit in the long horizon forecasting for three different monetary models (flexible price, sticky price and relative price) for selected developing economies. The empirical result shows the superiority of sticky price model along with the evidence of exchange rate predictability for high inflation economies.Foreign exchange; international finance; forecasting;

Food is our medicine

The paper describes the role of foods and nutrition in the promotion of human health. The relationship between foods, metabolism, homeostasis and metabolic disorder are briefly described. The aim of the paper is to highlight a simple strategy based on biochemistry, process engineering, human physiology and foods to achieve cellular homeostasis and health

Analisis dan Perancangan Sitem Informasi Penjaminan Mutu Standar Pendidikan dan Pengajaran pada STMIK DCI Tasikmalaya

The quality assurance system at STMIK DCI Tasikmalaya is now started with the determination of policies, standards, manuals, and form documents. Only in the implementation is not supported by information systems, so the process of socialization of policies, standards, manuals, and is not effective and may result in limited access for the parties in need. In addition, in the implementation of monitoring and evaluation (Monev) the standard documents of education and teaching also became less efficient and can hamper the implementation of internal quality assurance system. To that end, then created a prototype web-based quality assurance information system for STMIK DCI Tasikmalaya and modeled it using UML. With the prototype of quality assurance information system is expected to assist the implementation of quality assurance system for the STI Tasikmalaya DCI to improve the quality of the institution

A proanthocyanidin from cinnamomum zeylanicum stimulates phosphorylation of insulin receptor in 3t3-l1 adipocytes

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is due to in large part to insulin resistance, a state where the target cells are no longer responding to ordinary levels of circulating insulin. A drug that promotes the initiation of insulin receptor (IR) signaling by enhancing IR phosphorylation should be useful in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. To investigate a compound that is able to phosphorylate IR, a proanthocyanidin, cinnamtannin B1, has been isolated from the stem bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (Lauraceae). The structure of the compound was established by spectroscopic methods. Cinnamtannin B1 (0.11 mM) activates the phosphorylation of insulin receptor â-subunit on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Like insulin, cinnamtannin B1-stimulated phosphorylation of insulin receptor was inhibited by wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of the glucose transporter (GLUT4); otherwise the phosphorylation was enhanced by vanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. These results suggest that the activity of cinnamtannin B1 is specially mediated by phosphorylation of IR through activation of the PI3K

Representasi Moralitas Dalam Novel Pecinankota Malangkarya Ratna Indraswari Ibrahim

Novel merupakan refleksi pemikiran dan kondisi sosial. Terkait dengan itu, moralitas salah satu yang direpresentasikan dalam novel. Novel Pecinan Kota Malang karya Ratna Indraswari Ibrahim dipilih dalam tulisan ini sebagai salah satu novel yang dideskripsikan dari segi representasi moralitas. Dengan menggunakan cara kerja hermeneutika fenomenologis, penelitian ini menghasilkan penjelasan tentang representasi moralitas dalam novel tersebut

Standardization of the bio-active compounds (rotenoids) from the extract of local plant species (derris elliptica) using the internal standard method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

It is well known now that some plant species represent an efficient factory of chemicals, which are manufactured and used as bio-weapons against pest attacks. Extensive work has been done during the last few decades on these potentially useful compounds. During the last few decades a growing interest has been paid for safe agricultural production i.e free residual toxicity hazards to human beings and to the environment. Plant extracts-based biocides possess a great advantage compared with the chemical ones. Their efficacies are also acceptable. Research carried out was to standardize and determine the bio-active compounds from the extract of local plant species (Derris elliptica) using the internal standard method of the isocratic High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis system. The raw plants were collected from Kota Johor Lama, Johor and sorted to collect the root and stem. Only the root and stem were utilized as a raw material of the extraction process. The root and stem were extracted by using the Normal Soaking Extraction (NSE) method at 28 0C to 30 0C with 95.0 % (v/v) of acetone as a solvent and the solvent-to-solid ratio of the extraction is (10.0 ml/g). The extraction was carried out for 24 hours and further cleaned up to remove fine debris of root and stem prior to determination of the rotenone and its derivatives content. The rotenone cube resin of SAPHYR S.A.R.L (France) was used to verify the appearances of the compounds in the extract. The employed method of analysis shows significant appearances of the bio-active compounds in the extract compared with the commercial grade of rotenone cube resin

Dynamic inter-relationship between trade, economic growth and tourism in Malaysia

This study aims to test a hypothesis that postulate a positive inter-relationship between international flows of tourist, trade and economic growth. Although tourism is one of the major components in the trade of services, and it has been certified by large number of literatures on the strong correlation between tourism industry and economic development, yet not much is known on the dynamic inter-relationship between these three variables. Closing-up this gaping hole, this study employs the cointegration tests under autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) structure to investigate a dynamic inter-relationship between economic development, total trade (import and export) and number of tourist arrival for Malaysia and her major tourism partners ((ASEAN countries) . The estimated result based on the long run time series behavior for number of tourist arrival, volume of total trade and economic development’s indicator shows that these three variables are moved in tandem. Interestingly, in the analysis of short run behavior, we find that number of tourist arrival has significantly Granger caused total trade flows at least for some countries. At the same time, in the short-run, we find that both growth in total trade (export and import) and international tourists’ arrival to Malaysia have uni-directionally Granger caused real income growth and there is statistical evidence for international trade to lead tourist arrival.economic growth, trade, tourism, cointegration, and Malaysia

Antioxidant properties of cashew leaves' extracts before and after treatment with activated carbon used in cosmetics

Natural ingredients such as cashew leaves extract could be an attractive candidate in cosmetic formulation. However, the plant extracts are normally dark brown and greenish color that might spoil the appearance of the products if they are added in cosmetic formulation. In order to solve this problem, use of activated carbon was tested to eliminate the intense color of plant extract without affecting the cosmeceutical properties. Ethanol and water extracts of cashew leaves were compared for the cosmeceutical properties mainly antioxidants. The system was tested with different concentrations of cashew leaves extract (CLE-5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30%) for solid and liqufied form of cashew leaves extract (CLE) before treatment with activated carbon and after treatment with (10, 15, 20 and 25g). The study shows that 15g activated carbon using 20%CLE (water) produces 0.13 radical scavenging activity (RSC%) antioxidant. Moreover, using a similar system, 25%CL (ethanol) produces 0.10(RSC%) antioxidants

The effect of virgin coconut oil loaded solid lipid particles (VCO-SLPs) on skin hydration and skin elasticity

Virgin Coconut Oil is usually extracted from well matured and fresh coconut through specialized processes without damaging its natural nutrition. In this work, formulation, characterization and efficacy of VCO-SLPs have been studied. VCO-SLPs were prepared using ultrasonification of molten stearic acid and virgin coconut oil in an aqueous solution and particles with the size of 0.608 μm have been obtained. 20% concentration of VCO-SLPs of 0.608 μm particle size was added into the base lotion. Sensory study and skin evaluation study was conducted to compare the difference between lotion containing VCO-SLPs and lotion without VCO-SLPs. Moisturizing lotion incorporated with VCO-SLPs was found to increase skin hydration and skin elasticity by 24.8% and 2.60% respectively from day 0 to day 28. This shows that solid lipid particles has the potential to be utilized as a carrier for improved dermal delivery of VCO