15 research outputs found
Engineering Properties of Badlands in Semi-Arid Regions
No full textA Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Applied Science in Environmental Systems Engineering, University of Regina. xi, 108 l.Geology and seasonal weather variations govern the engineering properties of Avonlea
badlands in Saskatchewan, Canada. Three surface sediments exhibiting distinct lithologic
variations were found: a steep and fissured sandstone; a mildly-sloped and popcorntextured
mudrock; and a flat and eroded pediment. The variation in material composition
and the water availability conditions increase the saturation-desaturation cycle that
ultimately affect material behavior. The fines content increased from dry to wet state with
17% to 33% for sandstone, 4% to 98% for mudrock, and 21% to 42% for pediment. The
water adsorption capacity was found to be highest for mudrock (wl = 96% and wp = 47%)
followed by sandstone (wl = 39% and wp = 31%) and then by pediment (wl = 31% and
wp= 23%). The SWCC of sandstone and mudrock showed bimodal distributions with a
low AEV (6 kPa and 9 kPa) pertaining to drainage through cracks and a high AEV (160
kPa and 92 kPa) associated with flow through the soil matrix. The pediment followed a
unimodal SWCC with a single matrix AEV of 4 kPa. The saturated hydraulic
conductivity for sandstone, mudrock and pediment measured 8.5 x 10-6 m/sec, 4.0 x 10-8
m/sec, and 1.8 x 10-5 m/sec respectively. XRD analyses indicated that the major clay
minerals present were 14% illite (micaceous clay) in sandstone, 2.3% smectite, 7%
kaolinite and 3.1% illite in mudrock while 3.8% illite in pediment. Mudrock was
identified as the severe swelling potential badland sediment if desiccated. Overall, the
swelling potential observed for sandstone, mudrock and pediment was approximately
19%, 102%, and 2% respectively.Studentye
Post-liberalisation Efficiency and Productivity of the Banking Sector in Pakistan
No full textIt has been long debated in economic literature whether financial markets play a significant role in economic growth and development. [For review see Gertler (1988) and Levine (1997)]. Findings of some recent empirical literature show that well-functioning financial system plays an instrumental role in economic growth, and the causality runs from finance to growth [for cross country evidences see King and Levine (1993, 1993a); Levine and Zervos (1998); Levine, Loayza and Beck (1999); Beck, Levine, and Loayza (1999)]. This, in turn, has led to a search for the key factors that determine the better functioning financial markets. Within the banking sector, efficiency is the core concern of both academics and bank officials. A number of studies have sought to measure the efficiency of financial institutions, to identify the factors that contribute to efficiency of financial system, and to recommend the ways to attain the peer group efficiency levels [Berg (1993); Leaven (1999); Berger and Mester (1997); Miller and Noulas (1996)]. These empirical findings suggest a healthy competitive financial market pave the way for efficient market participants that leads to overall efficiency of the system and hence productivity. Following this notion, liberalisation of financial markets has been initiated to improve the performance of financial institutions both in developed and developing countries. Some empirical tests have been carried out to measure the effects of liberalisation and deregulation of financial institutions on the efficiency and productivity of banking sector.
Institutional Credit and Agricultural Production: An Empirical Evidence from Pakistan
No full textIn our prevalent and deprived agrarian sector, sufficient credit provision is a serious problem to implant technological advancements and achieve technical efficiency, moreover to hire efficient inputs to improve and rise agriculture output/income collectively and alleviate poverty eventually. In the middle of embroiled informal credit sector and recent increase in banking services in last decade shrink the attention to intend the formal sector’s optimum potential. In this perspective, this study is going to explore the relationship of agriculture credit on agriculture output. We analyzes the role of institutional credit on agricultural production using the time series data for the period of 1970 to 2008 and to give suggestions and recommendations about the promotion of institutional credit in agriculture sector of Pakistan. Cobb-Douglas production function is estimated using simple OLS, and all the variables are transformed to per cultivated hectare. Results show that agricultural credit, availability of water, cropping intensity and agricultural labor force has significant positive impact on agricultural production. The study recommend that institutional credit should be provided by the concerned organizations in order to boost agricultural output. The credit provision should be made to ensure the contribution of agriculture sector in economic development of the economy. Keywords: Agricultural Production, Institutional credit, Pakista
Measuring the Impact of Total Revenue, Total Labor Force and Oil Prices on Economic Growth of Pakistan
No full textThis study establishes the empirical relationship between GDP and total revenue, total labor force and oil prices. Numerous studies concluded profound impact of these variables on GDP of Pakistan as well as other economies. In this study, all the sources of revenue generating including tax and non-tax revenue and financial aid and grants are included. In total labor force, both male and female labor force are included. The impact of oil prices on GDP is also included in the model. This study is conducted to measure the impact and significance of these variables on GDP of Pakistan for years 1970-2012 using time-series data. Regression analysis results shows significant concluded coefficients. Unit root test verified the stationarity of the data. The results of co-integration test show long run association between the GDP and the independent variables. The empirical results conclude positive impact of total revenue, total labor force and negative impact of oil prices on GDP of Pakistan
Empirical Analysis of Tax Revenues and Its Impact on Economic Growth of Pakistan
No full textTax is being considered as the leading source of government revenues in the history of mankind. The same is true for current advanced countries as well as for Pakistan. Government revenues play the leading role in economic growth of every country. In Pakistan Income tax, Sales tax, custom duties, excise duties, worker welfare tax and surcharges etc. are the main sources of tax revenues. This study was conducted to find the relationship between different kinds of taxes and GDP of Pakistan for years 1979-2010 using time series data. Statistical techniques used in analysis include Regression analysis, Unit root test, co-integration test, white test, and so other tests for reliability of the study. The study shows that there is significant positive impact of taxation on economic growth of Pakistan except WWT. Keywords: Income Tax, Sales Tax, Custom and Excise Duties, Workers Welfare Tax, GDP, Pakistan
Effect of optimized tilt angle of PV modules on solar irradiance for residential and commercial buildings in different cities of Pakistan: simulation-based study
No full textThe tilt angle of a solar PV panel is a critical factor in improving the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. While trackingsystems can enhance performance, they are typically not cost‐effective for residential areas. Alternatively, setting an opti-mized fixed tilt angle or adjusting the tilt seasonally can mitigate power losses. This study evaluates optimal seasonal tiltangles and the corresponding solar radiation on PV panels for 10 major cities across Pakistan. A novel mathematicalframework is proposed to calculate the optimal tilt angle using parameters such as alignment, azimuth, gradient, andtemporal angles. Seasonal adjustments are shown to increase solar intensity from 0.4 KWh/m 2 to 0.6 KWh/m 2 duringwinter, significantly enhancing output power. For instance, an improvement of up to 5.61 mW/cm 2 in output power densitywas observed at the Quaid‐e‐Azam Solar Park using crystalline solar cells. These findings demonstrate the potential forsubstantial improvements in solar power production through seasonally optimized tilt angles, particularly during the shorterwinter days
A Comprehensive Analysis of Adaptive Image Restoration Techniques in the Presence of Different Noise Models
No full textAny deprivation caused in the image signal can be thought as a noise. When any image signal is routed through wireless or wired medium it experiences deterioration because of channel characteristics. By knowing the type of noise interfered in the signal, we can use the pertinent filtering techniques to remove the noise from the image. Restoration of the image signal corrupted by noise is very essential for better communication. This paper provides the digital image handling techniques in MATLAB to restore the corrupted image. In this paper, different filtering methods have been discussed in the presence of two separate noise models that distort images. Four different techniques of filtering, ‘Mean/Average filtering', 'Median filtering', 'Adaptive median filtering' and 'Image Averaging' have been chosen against selected noise models. At the end of the paper we will compare which filtering technique works best for removing a particular noise
On the Design of Resistive Reflectarray Elements having Both Amplitude and Phase Control
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