9,351 research outputs found
Financial Development and Economic Growth: Evidence from a Heterogeneous Panel of High Income Countries
Full text linkThis paper examines the empirical relationship between financial development and economic growth for high income countries. The study focuses on both indirect finance and direct finance, separately as well as jointly. Applying the methodology of Nair-Reichert and Weinhold (2001) for causality analysis in heterogeneous panel data, two sets of results are reported. First, the evidence regarding the relationship between financial development and economic growth from a contemporaneous non-dynamic fixed effects panel estimation is mixed. Negative and statistically significant estimates of the coefficient of the inflation and financial development interaction variable indicate that financial sector development may even be harmful to economic growth when inflation is rising. Second, in contrast with the recent evidence of Beck and Levine (2003), heterogeneous panel causality analysis applied on a refined model indicates that there is no definite evidence that finance spurs economic growth or growth spurs finance. Most of our findings are in line with the Lucas (1988) view that the importance of financial matters is over-stressed. The only exception is the case of activity in stock markets where our result supports the Robinson (1952) view that finance follows enterprise.
Introducing Iqbal the Economist
Full text linkThe Iqbal Memorial Lecture was instituted in 1994 when the Pakistan Society of Development Economists (PSDE) celebrated the completion of a decade of steady progress. A brief announcement stated: “The Iqbal Memorial Lecture attributed to the national poet [Emphasis added], Allama Muhammad Iqbal has been included in the programme for the first time. Professor Ian M. D. Little is delivering that lecture” [Secretary’s Report (1994), p. 1472]. Iqbal, the poet and philosopher par excellence, has made incisive remarks or comments on economic and social issues in his poetry, philosophical writings, and in the course of his discourses as well as some famous letters, particularly those written to the Quaid-i-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. But these do not make Iqbal an economist. The Secretary of the PSDE was, therefore, careful in observing that the lecture commemorates our “national poet”. However, it will be of great interest to this largest national congregation of economists and other scholars concerned with development to know that the very first published book of Iqbal related neither to poetry nor philosophy, but economics. It was written in Urdu. He also taught the subject at undergraduate and Master’s level, even though he had not studied it as a student. At the Government College, Lahore, Iqbal studied English, Philosophy and Arabic for his B.A. and then completed the M.A. in Philosophy.
A critical analysis of Christian responses to Islamic claims about the work of the Prophet Muhammad, ‘the Messenger of God’.
Full text linkThe aims of this study are to analyse critically the different Christian responses to the Islamic understanding of the work of Muhammad. Chapter one consists a short introduction leading to an appraisal of Muhammad which incorporates historical, hagiographal and Quranic source material, and in the light of relevant Christian and Muslim scholarship. The second chapter presents a summary critical analysis of Muhammad in Christian theological perspective, from 661 A.D. to modern times. Chapter three presents a critique of Christian responses to the Muslim allegations that the text of the Bible has been infected with corruption; and that Muhammad's advent and status are foretold in the unadulterated' scriptures, and in the Gospel of Barnabas. Chapter four examines the theological significance of the work of Muhammad for Christians. Thus, Jesus and Muhammad are critically assessed and contrasted in order to ascertain the importance, for Christians, of the Muslim claims in respect of Muhammad as ’the messenger of God’. Chapter five provides a critical evaluation of the various Christian responses to Muhammad. It is argued that many of the said responses have been entangled in myths and misperceptions which have severely distorted the true account of Muhammad's work. Consequently, many Christians have failed to appreciate the divine legitimacy of Muhammad's call to prophethood. Further, it is argued that Christians should accept that Muhammad is a genuine prophet, and the messenger of God. However, Muhammad's use of the power-structure in order to maintain Islam is in sharp contrast to Jesus’ decision to face the consequences of his ministry passively through faith in God. Accordingly, orthodox Christian belief in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus provides another dimension to prophethood, where the messenger and the message become one, an identification which finds no parallel in Islam, and which, in the nature of the case, cannot find a parallel
Sustainable management of water resources in large river basins in a climate change scenario – A case study of Po River Basin
No full textLe risorse di acqua dolce a livello globale sono sotto pressione a causa dell'aumento delle emissioni di gas serra, dell'aumento delle temperature e del forzamento antropogenico. Il settore agricolo, in quanto principale consumatore di acqua dolce, è particolarmente vulnerabile a questi cambiamenti. Il bacino del fiume Po, il più grande bacino fluviale e centro agricolo d'Italia, negli ultimi anni ha subito frequenti siccità. Questo studio intende fornire alcune informazioni sulla gestione sostenibile delle risorse idriche nei grandi bacini fluviali colpiti dal cambiamento climatico. Gli obiettivi specifici comprendevano l'analisi delle tendenze climatiche storiche, la valutazione dei modelli di evapotraspirazione e la valutazione delle minacce di aridità nel bacino del Po su scala stagionale e spaziale. I test di Mann-Kendall e stagionali di Mann-Kendall, combinati con la pendenza di Theil-Sen, sono stati applicati per rilevare le tendenze passate e i tassi di cambiamento dal 1960 al 2020. La classificazione pluviometrica di Bandini per l'Italia è stata aggiornata utilizzando i dati attuali per meglio caratterizzare i regimi di precipitazione. I dati relativi alla temperatura e alle precipitazioni sono stati estrapolati altitudinalmente per eliminare gli effetti della quota, e sono state elaborate mappe climatologiche mensili aggiornate per il bacino. Il fabbisogno idrico del bacino è stato valutato utilizzando l'evapotraspirazione potenziale di Thornthwaite (indicativa della domanda d'acqua dell'ecosistema come caratteristica climatica) e l'evapotraspirazione delle colture ottenuta dall'evapotraspirazione di riferimento di Hargreaves e Samani corretta con i coefficienti di coltura (secondo le classi di copertura del suolo accoppiate con il metodo FAO). Inoltre, la domanda di evapotraspirazione delle colture è stata determinata per quattro scenari colturali: miglio e lenticchie, orzo e lenticchie, frumento invernale e fagiolo verde, riso e lenticchie. Le tendenze spaziali e temporali dell'aridità sono state valutate utilizzando quattro indici di aridità basati su due diversi aspetti. Essi son oindici basati su temperatura e precipitazioni, cio gli indici di aridit' di e indici di De Martonne e De Martonne Pinna sul l'evapotraspirazione, cioè indici di aridità di Melisenda e Budyko. I risultati hanno mostrato tendenze significative verso l'alto in tutte le metriche di temperatura, soprattutto durante le stagioni estive con tassi da 0,5 \degree C a 0,7 \degree C per decennio. Oltre l'80\% del bacino presentava una domanda evapotraspirativa delle colture superiore a quella potenziale, indicando esigenze di irrigazione. Mentre il bacino è classificato come umido su base annua, circa il 40\% sperimenta condizioni mediterranee o semi-aride durante l'estate, che coincide con la stagione di crescita massima. Tra quelli considerati, lo scenario di coltivazione del riso e delle lenticchie ha mostrato il deficit idrico più elevato, raggiungendo i 500 mm annui. Questi risultati evidenziano la necessità di un'azione immediata attraverso strategie sostenibili che includano selezione delle colture, efficienza dell'irrigazione e gestione integrata delle risorse idriche per garantire la sostenibilità idrologica e agricola del bacino.Freshwater resources globally are under stress due to increasing greenhouse gas emissions, rising temperatures, and anthropogenic forcing. The agricultural sector, as the largest consumer of freshwater, is particularly vulnerable to these changes. The Po river basin, Italy's largest river basin and agrarian hub, has been experiencing frequent droughts in recent years. This study set out to provide some insights regarding the sustainable management of water resources in large river basins suffering from climate change.
The specific objectives included the analysis of historical climatic trends, assessment of evapotranspiration patterns and, evaluation of aridity threats across the Po river basin on seasonal and spatial scales. Mann-Kendall and seasonal Mann-Kendall tests, combined with Theil-Sen's slope, were applied to detect past trends and rates of change from 1960 to 2020. The classical Bandini Pluviometric classification for Italy was updated using current data to better characterize precipitation regimes. Temperature and precipitation data were altitudinally detrended to eliminate elevation influences, and updated monthly climatological maps were developed for the basin. The basin’s water demand was assessed using Thornthwaite potential evapotranspiration (indicative of ecosystem water demand as a climatic characteristic) and crop evapotranspiration obtained from the Hargreaves and Samani's reference evapotranspiration adjusted with crop coefficients (as per Corine land cover classes). Additionally, crop evapotranspiration demand was determined for four cropping scenarios which were millet and lentils, barley and lentils, winter wheat and green beans, and rice and lentils. The spatial and temporal trends in aridity were assessed using four aridity indices based on two different aspects. Temperature and precipitation-based i.e., De Martonne and De Martonne Pinna combinative indices, and evapotranspiration-based i.e., Melisenda and Budyko aridity indices.
Results showed significant increasing trends in all temperature metrics, most prominently during summer seasons with rates of 0.5 degree C to 0.7 degree C per decade. Over 80% of the basin showed higher crop evapotranspiration than potential evapotranspiration, indicating irrigation needs. While the basin is classified as humid on an annual basis, about 40% experiences Mediterranean to semi-arid conditions during summer, coinciding with peak growing season. The rice-lentils cropping system showed the highest water deficit, reaching 500 mm annually. These findings highlight the need for immediate action through sustainable strategies including crop selection, irrigation efficiency, and integrated water resources management to ensure the basin's hydrological and agricultural sustainability
Scattering from an electric–magnetic anisotropic rough interface
No full textScattering from a rough interface between a simple isotropic medium and a uniaxial lossy medium is analyzed using the first-order perturbation theory (PT) and the small slope approximation (SSA). We consider a more generic uniaxial lossy medium exhibiting electric and magnetic anisotropy and an arbitrarily oriented optic axis. Scattering from the rough interface of such a medium is analyzed by assuming both deterministic sinusoidal function and a Gaussian distribution for the surface roughness. We also study the coherent and incoherent intensities employing both the PT and the SSA. The impact of surface roughness, anisotropy and material losses on scattering characteristics is examined. We show that the parameters describing the surface roughness, i.e., height, period, and slope may add significant contribution to the electromagnetic scattering from the anisotropic interface
Pioneers of Library Movement in Pakistan
Full text linkThe paper aims to describe in brief the contribution of seven leaders of Pakistan librarianship, viz. K.B. Khalifa M. Asadullah, Prof. Dr. Abdul Moid, Dr. Abdus Subuh Qasimi, Muhammad Shafi, Fazal Elahi, Khawaja Nur Elahi and S. V. Hussain. The early library developments are given for better understanding of the role of these leaders
Balbuk haus / Muhammad Hanif Danial Basri
No full textEstablished in 2019 by Ahmad Soffi Bin Abdul Manah, BALBUK HAUS initially started as a regular café serving traditional cuisine. Over time, it transformed into a unique café oGering a picturesque view due to its strategically located position, drawing visitors seeking a distinctive experience. The cafe's unique selling proposition revolves around the challenge of savoring delicious food while relishing the breathtaking backdrop of the nearby hill. The phrase 'RASA DISEBALIK ANCALA' signifies that the café's allure lies not only in its exceptional menu but in its captivating location, capturing the a ention of a wide audience. The term 'Ancala' within the tagline refers to the ancient Malay word for hill or mountain. My primary focus is on enabling everyone to relish the traditional dishes served by the café, such as porridge, lempeng, and keropok lekor-my top preferences-alongside the changing landscapes throughout the day. These range from the blueness of the morning, the verdant hues at midday, to the crimson beauty during sunset. The decision to rebrand this company stemmed from a lack of awareness about its unique location and the café situated within it. Insufficient social media activity contributed to this obscurity. To address this, a website was developed to showcase the café's ambiance, oGerings, and allow for reservations due to limited seating. Additionally. commercial advertise- ments were strategically placed on TikTok, considering its widespread popularity, to expand outreach and a ract a broader audience. The name "Balbuk Haus" originates from the village of Balbuk, where the café is nestled. "Balbuk" translates to "back of the hill" in the local dialect, while "haus" means thirst. This unique name amalgamates these meanings, symbolizing both the café's geographical location and the essence of yearning or thirst, culminating in the distinctive and meaningful identity of "Balbuk Haus." In conclusion, I chose "Balbuk Haus' for its meaningful name, aiming to evoke the serene sensation I experience-an essence of tranquility that accompanies enjoying food amidst the picturesque landscape behind Chuping Hill. This choice also serves to show-case the allure of remote regions in Malaysia, highlighting their inherent charm and unique appeal, disproving any preconceived notions about their lack of intrigue
Ndz Teluk Enterprise / Muhammad Hanif Mohd Razalli
Full text linkRegarding to fulfil Fundamental Of Entrepreneurship (ENT300) course requirements,I
need to carry out a study case. In this, I need to collect information about a company to
complete this study case. So, I decided to choose NDZ Teluk Enterprise and find information
as much about this company. NDZ Teluk Enterprise is a sole proprietorship company under
the small and medium enterprise (SMEs) that register under the Companies Commission Of
Malaysia with the register number, KT0295859-U. The owner of this company is Zulaimi Bin
Ahmad. This company is focusing on producing many kinds of furniture with many design,
colour and others factors at affordable price for its customers. This company not only focusing
on producing household furniture, they also producing furniture for office, school, workshops,
decorations and others. The special about NDZ Teluk Enterprise is they provided a delivery
service for their customer without any fee charge which means if the customer can get the
same price even they buy online. So, by doing this, this company can attract many buyers to
buy their product from home. As we know, nowadays is Covid-19 pandemic which lead the
government to announce the Movement Control Order (MCO). The MCO had effected the
business which encourage them to do more online business. So, during MCO, the service
provided by NDZ Teluk Enterprise can be the factor to grow up their business during the
current economic condition. The details of this company are divided by a few sections such
as introduction, entrepreneur profile, company background, entrepreneurial characteristics
and conclusion
PruNet: Class-Blind Pruning Method For Deep Neural Networks
Full text linkDNNs are highly memory and computationally
intensive, due to which they are unfeasible to deploy in real time
or mobile applications, where power and memory resources are
scarce. Introducing sparsity in the network is a way to reduce
those requirements. However, systematically employing pruning
under given accuracy requirements is a challenging problem.
We propose a novel methodology that iteratively applies a
magnitude-based Class-Blind pruning to compress a DNN for
obtaining a sparse model. It is a generic methodology and can
be applied to different types of DNNs. We demonstrate that
retraining after pruning is essential to restore the accuracy of
the network. Experimental results show that our methodology
is able to reduce the model size by around two orders of
magnitude, without noticeably affecting the accuracy. It requires
several iterations of pruning and retraining, but can achieve up
to 190x Memory Saving Ratio (for the LeNet on the MNIST
dataset) when compared to the baseline model. Similar results
are also obtained for more complex networks like 91x for
VGG-16 on the CIFAR100 dataset. If we combine this work
with an efficient coding for sparse networks, like Compressed
Sparse Column (CSC) or Compressed Sparse Row (CSR), we
can obtain a reduced memory footprint. Our methodology can
be complemented by other compression techniques, like weight
sharing, quantization or fixed-point conversion, that allows to
further reduce memory and computations
Experimental validation of a novel piezoelectric energy harvesting system employing wake galloping phenomenon for a broad wind spectrum
No full textIn this paper, a novel piezoelectric energy harvesting system using the wake galloping phenomenon is explored for the broad wind spectrum. Wake galloping is an aerodynamic instability phenomenon which has promising potential in energy harvesting. The offered advantage by the proposed system is having a wider wind speed range for a reliable and sustainable energy source for a small wireless sensor node, in addition to being simple and easily applicable to civil structures. In the proposed system, the flow of wind runs parallel to the placed cylinders with upstream cylinder fixed at one end while the downstream one is placed over an unimorph cantilever beam with piezoelectric film attached to it. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed system, several tests were conducted against wind speeds approaching till 10 m/s with varying cylinder spacing. The results revealed an optimum spacing between two cylinders of 3D and the cut-in speed was estimated to be 4 m/s. The attained results were smartly analyzed to further explore the effect of cylinder spacing on the aerodynamic vibrations and the other associated parameters. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- …
