An Impact of Capital Adequacy Ratio on the Profitability of Private Sector Banks in India – A Study

Profitability being one of the cardinal principles of bank lending acts as a game changer for the survival and success of private sector banks in India. In order to stay profitable, banks have to capitalise on every penny advanced to yield the expected returns. However, considering the constraints laid down by the Reserve Bank of India, banks have to maintain a minimum capital adequacy ratio, as per the current BASEL III regulations active in India. With the mergers of public sector banks, the challenge has got just tougher for the private sector banks in India. Expansion and Diversification are the key strategies adopted by the key players from the private banking sector, however, with the minimum capital adequacy ratio observed by them, it is necessary to understand its actual impact on the bank’s profitability. This research paper aims to throw light upon the linkage that capital adequacy has with the bank’s profitability. It attempts to establish a relation between the Capital Adequacy Ratio with the Net profits of the bank. For the purpose of this study, data from the past 5 years of the leading private sector banks has been collected, namely, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, AXIS Bank and YES Bank. The collected data has been analysed using Pearson’s Correlation to establish a relation between the CAR Ratio & the bank’s profitability. Hypothesis testing has been further done to study the quantum of proportionate change in the profitability with a change in the CAR Ratio for private sector banks using applicable research tools. The said research tools are applied to achieve the desired results while maintaining the required quantum of accuracy. It also aims to understand the proportionate impact of changes in CAR to the bank’s profitability, which can act as a suggested measure for banks to develop a reliable framework for efficient capital management and increase overall efficiency. The results derived from the data collected and analyzed aim to pro

Efficacy of farmer field schools in achieving participatory technology development among smallholder farmers in the Hoima district, Uganda

Purpose: This study investigated the efficacy of FFS for participatory technology development among smallholder farmers in Hoima district, Uganda. It is anticipated that by making FFS concrete, household food security will be enhanced. Research methodology: The study utilised primary data, which was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. While 120 respondents were sampled, 103 responded, generating a response rate of 85.83%. This was an excellent response seeing that it merited above 75%. The researcher administered all questionnaires in one month. Results: From the findings indicate that PTD is more desirable in the Hoima district. In addition, the construct of the ability to solve problems from time to time indicates that problem-solving is very desirable for PTD in the Hoima district. The results suggest a positive correlation between FFS and PTD among the study population, indicating that a unit-change in the FFS constructs will lead to a proportionate change in the constructs of PTD in the same direction. This implies that improving FFS quality by a single unit will translate into progressive improvement in PTD in the Hoima district. This study also suggests that FFS alone has a strong positive influence on PTD in the Hoima district. Limitations: This study merely covered farmer-field schools, yet several interventions aim to raise the quality of agriculture in Uganda, such as National Agricultural Advisory Services and Emyoga. Contribution: This study contributes to the deeper understanding of what ought to be done to improve the quality of farming in Uganda.

An Effectual Role of Molybdenum Ions on the Semiconducting Temperament of Na2O-PbO-Bi2O3-SiO2 Glasses

Melt quenching method is adopted to synthesize multi-component glasses 10Na2O –30PbO –10Bi2O3 – (50-x)SiO2 – xMoO3 (where x = 0 to 5 mol%). These samples are characterized by XRD as well as analysed by optical absorption, EPR, and FTIR spectroscopic techniques in order to discuss the structure of the glass network. The proportionate change of Mo6+ ions into Mo5+ local states, which depolymerize the glass network, is publicized by optical absorption studies. EPR spectral analysis of the samples revealed C4v symmetry in a square pyramidal with a Mo=O bond. FTIR spectra of doped glasses report the presence of MoO4 and MoO6 structural units. All spectroscopic studies propped up the semi-conducting nature of sodium lead bismuth silicate glasses doped with the higher content of MoO3.

Spatial and socioeconomic analysis of host participation in the sharing economy

Purpose In recent years, short-term sharing accommodation platforms such as Airbnb have made rapid forays in populous cities worldwide, impacting neighborhoods profoundly. Emerging work has focused on demand-side motivations to engage in the sharing economy. The purpose of this paper is to analyze rarely examined supply-side motivations of providers. Design/methodology/approach To address this gap and to illuminate understanding of how Airbnb supply is configured and influenced, this study examines spatial patterns and socioeconomic influences on participation in the sharing accommodation economy by Airbnb hosts in New York City (NYC). An exploratory conceptual model of host participation is induced, which posits associations of demographic, economic, employment, social capital attributes, and attitudes toward trust and sustainability with host participation, measured by Airbnb property density in neighborhoods. Methods employed include ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, k-means cluster analysis and spatial analytics. Findings Spatially, clusters of high host densities are in Manhattan and northern Brooklyn and there is little proportionate change longitudinally. OLS regression findings reveal that gender ratio, black race/ethnicity, median household income, and professional, scientific, and technical occupation, and attitudes toward sustainability for property types are dominant correlates of property density, while host trust in customers is not supported. Research limitations/implications These results along with differences between Queens and Manhattan boroughs have implications for hosts sharing their homes and for city managers to formulate policies and regulate short-term rental markets in impacted neighborhoods. Originality/value The study is novel in conceptualizing and analyzing the supply-side provider motivations of the sharing accommodation economy. Geostatistical analysis of property densities to gauge host participation is novel. Value stems from new insights on NYC’s short-term homesharing market.

Using response ratios for meta-analyzing single-case designs with behavioral outcomes

Methods for meta-analyzing single-case designs (SCDs) are needed to inform evidence-based practice in clinical and school settings and to draw broader and more defensible generalizations in areas where SCDs comprise a large part of the research base. The most widely used outcomes in single-case research are measures of behavior collected using systematic direct observation, which typically take the form of rates or proportions. For studies that use such measures, one simple and intuitive way to quantify effect sizes is in terms of proportionate change from baseline, using an effect size known as the log response ratio. This paper describes methods for estimating log response ratios and combining the estimates using meta-analysis. The methods are based on a simple model for comparing two phases, where the level of the outcome is stable within each phase and the repeated outcome measurements are independent. Although auto-correlation will lead to biased estimates of the sampling variance of the effect size, meta-analysis of response ratios can be conducted with robust variance estimation procedures that remain valid even when sampling variance estimates are biased. The methods are demonstrated using data from a recent meta-analysis on group contingency interventions for student problem behavior.

EXTENDING THE ROTTERDAM DEMAND MODEL TO ANALYZE MARKET PARTICIPATION

The dependent variable in the Rotterdam model is shown to consist of two additive components: the proportionate change in the average product weight consumed by existing buyers and the proportionate change in the share of total consumers who actually purchase the product. Applying the extended model to household data on salmon consumption in France, results suggest prices have a larger effect on attracting new buyers to the product in question than on getting existing buyers to consume more. However, generic advertising was found to affect consumption intensity but have no effect on market participation in the short run.

Financial Performance and Dividend Policy

Past studies on the relationship between dividend policy and firm performance continue being an unresolved predicament with few studies interrogating the causality relationship between financial performance and dividend policy. The purpose of this study was to establish the nature of relationship between financial performance and dividend policy of firms listed at the Nairobi securities exchange. The study applied positivism research philosophy and descriptive causal research design. The study was anchored on hypothetical view that the relationship between financial performance and dividend policy of firms listed at the Nairobi securities exchange is not significant which was tested against a sample size of 31 firms listed at the Nairobi securities exchange selected using purposive sampling technique. The research findings were as follows: There was a statistically significant direct association between return on equity and dividend policy. This implies that as firm profitability improve; a corresponding proportionate change in dividend payout ratio is initiated by management. In addition, it was established that there was a statistically significant positive linkage between operating cash flows and dividend policy which denotes that as cash flow levels from operating activities change, dividend payout ratio will change in the same direction leading to increased distribution of cash dividend to investors. Also, a statistically significant direct connection between price earnings and dividend policy was established. This relationship shows that increase in share market value positively prompts increased dividend payout ratio whereby the management follow a more acceptable dividend policy by the shareholders. However, market to book value depicted a weak insignificant inverse relationship with dividend policy and was dropped. In general it was concluded that the link between financial performance and dividend policy of firms listed at the Nairobi securities exchange was significant. The study outcome augment existing knowledge on financial performance and dividend policy for it is evident that firms with ability to generate income directly influence dividend payout ratio and therefore, top management should focus on financial performance strategies and not dividend policy which is irrelevant. Regulatory bodies such as Capital Market Authority and Centre for Corporate Governance use these research findings to improve their financial viability assessment approach of firms listed at the Nairobi securities exchange.

Use of Aqueous Silver To Enhance Inactivation of Coliphage MS-2 by UV Disinfection

ABSTRACT A synergistic effect between silver and UV radiation has been observed that can appreciably enhance the effectiveness of UV radiation for inactivation of viruses. At a fluence of ca. 40 mJ/cm2, the synergistic effect between silver and UV was observed at silver concentrations as low as 10 μg/liter (P < 0.0615). At the same fluence, an MS-2 inactivation of ca. 3.5 logs (99.97%) was achieved at a silver concentration of 0.1 mg/liter, a significant improvement (P < 0.0001) over the ca. 1.8-log (98.42%) inactivation of MS-2 at ca. 40 mJ/cm2 in the absence of silver. Modified Chick-Watson kinetics were used to model the synergistic effect of silver and UV radiation. For an MS-2 inactivation of 4 logs (99.99%), the coefficient of dilution (n) was determined to be 0.31, which suggests that changes in fluence have a greater influence on inactivation than does a proportionate change in silver concentration.

All STDs are not created equal: an analysis of the differential effects of sexual behaviour changes on different STDs

The same sexual behaviours that transmit HIV are implicated in the transmission of certain other STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis. Consequently, it is often assumed that preventive methods that are effective against HIV should be equally effective against other STDs. The purpose of this study was to examine this assumption. We applied a mathematical model of HIV/STD transmission to empirical data from a large HIV prevention intervention that stressed sexual behaviour change. We modelled the effects of two behavioural strategies - reducing the number of sex partners and increasing condom use—on the proportionate change in intervention participants' cumulative risk of acquiring HIV or a highly-infectious STD, such as gonorrhoea. The results of this modelling exercise indicate that decreasing the number of partners is a more effective strategy for reducing STD risk than it is for HIV risk. In contrast, condoms are somewhat more effective at reducing the cumulative transmission risk for HIV than for highly infectious STDs. The protection provided by condoms for multiple acts of intercourse critically depends on the infectiousness of the STD. The results of this study suggest caution in extrapolating from one STD to another, or from one behavioural risk reduction strategy to another.