43 research outputs found
An agilized roadmap for user-centered requirements and prototype derivation
No full textIn interactive software system engineering, the user-interface requirement is a crucial phase. Practitioners are always looking for better guidelines and roadmaps for requirements engineering that not only ensure the usability in future system, but are also easy to master and use. This is one of the major challenges of the current HCI methods for user requirements. Agile methodologies are known for their ease of use, flexibility, and fast, iterative approach. The ideas from agile methodologies along with user-centered requirements engineering practices give a great motivation for a unified approach for user-interface requirements engineering. In this thesis, we propose a roadmap for user-centered requirements engineering that has agile characteristics. This roadmap, we believe, will be helpful in acquiring usability requirements and will be easy to follow. The major artifacts in this roadmap are Scenarios. A Prototype Derivation Process presented in this thesis complements the SUCRE framework, which was developed in our research group for scenario based requirements engineering. This process serves important milestones in the roadmap for quick requirements verification. The prototype thus created is in the form of storyboard and could be used for evaluation by end-users or developers. Therefore, the major contributions of this thesis are an Agilized Roadmap for User-Centered Requirements and process for Prototype Derivation from scenarios that are created as the major artifacts of the roadmap
Transforming concrete with steel slag: exploring the pores’ dual effect for sustainable and high−performance urban construction
No full textAbstract This study explores the role of steel slag, a byproduct of steel production, as a complete replacement for natural coarse aggregates in concrete. Unlike conventional aggregates, the porous nature of steel slag aggregates promotes enhanced interlocking with the cement-sand matrix, improving adhesion and bond strength. A detailed evaluation of the slag aggregates was conducted, revealing an impact value of 29.5%, a bulk density of 1550 kg/m3, a crushing value of 31.3%, and a flakiness index of 10.95%. Concrete samples were prepared using an M20 mix ratio (1:1.5:3), and their performance was benchmarked against conventional concrete. The steel slag concrete exhibited compressive strengths of 9, 13, and 22 MPa at 3, 7, and 28 days, respectively. The mix exhibited a low slump of 25 mm and a compacting factor of 0.83 suitable for mass concrete applications. This research highlights the previously unreported synergistic effects of steel slag's porous structure and enhanced bonding characteristics on concrete performance. This research provides insights into steel slag's potential as a sustainable alternative to natural aggregates and highlights areas requiring further investigation, such as cost-effectiveness and long-term environmental impact. The findings suggest that steel slag aggregates can contribute to reducing natural aggregate dependency and may enhance urban infrastructure resilience when applied under suitable conditions
Doing Taxes Better: Simplify, Open and Grow Economy
No full textTaxes have been the cornerstone of IMF-led adjustment programs
for Pakistan for over four decades. During this period, long term growth
and productivity have declined while the tax policy has become more
contentious and fragmented. Measures multiply as unrealistic targets are
chased with mini budgets every quarter. The following arose from a
high-level conference arranged by PIDE to outline future directions in
tax policy
Quality of Underground Water of Tehsil Khanewal-An Overview
No full textAgriculture is the back bone of Pakistan’s economy of Pakistan with 21 % contribution to GDP and providing livelihood to about 45 % of the total labor force of the country. The industry of Pakistan is mainly agro based (Economic survey of Pakistan, 2009-10). Due to change in climate and thereby extended drought, surface water resources of the country had reduced by 70% in 2003, compared with normal years (Kahlown et al., 2003). Unfortunately, canal water is not sufficient to meet requirements of soil and crop under intensive cropping system. A water quality study has shown that out of 560,000 tube wells in Indus Basin, about 70% are pumping sodic water which in turn is affecting the soil health and crop yield (Kahlown et al., 2003).
The ground waters of different areas and depths have different types of salts which deteriorate the soil accordingly (Masood and Gohre, 2000). It is also reported that 73.38% (681) of the 922 water samples analyzed by the soil and water laboratory Vehari during the year 2006-07, were unfit for irrigation purpose, while 11.93% (110) were marginally fit and only14.21 (131) were found fit for irrigation purpose (Ashraf et al., 2008). According to the estimates, discharge of 50-60 % of the existing wells was brackish in nature (Ashraf et al., 2009) and still more formidable figures of Lahore district declaring that groundwater of 76.6% villages of the district was detrimental for crops and soil health (Ali et al., 2009).
According to Shakir et al. (2002), 64 water samples were collected from new tube well bores from various locations of district Kasur to check the quality of under-groundwater for irrigation purpose. The results show that electrical conductivity of the samples varied from 524 to 5700 μS cm-1, sodium adsorption ration of the samples ranged from 0.49 to 26.00, while residual sodium carbonate ranged from 0.00 to 17.00 meL-1. Out of 64 samples, 26 samples were fit, 8 marginally fit and 30 unfit for irrigation.
The successful crop production on sustainable basis, mainly depends on the quality of groundwater. The common characteristics considered are electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption rations (SAR) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) (Idris and Shafiq, 1999). The concentration and composition of dissolved constituents in water determine its quality for irrigation use. It is difficult to define the critical limits of EC, RSC and SAR because the effect of different qualities of water of soil health and crop yield is also governed by the type of soil, climate and management practices (Singh et al., 1992).
Gravity of the situation of groundwater of the majority districts of Pakistan implies that something will have to be done without further loss of time to prevent the rapid conversion of productive fertile lands of Pakistan into unproductive barren lands. Besides, making investment on creating awareness among farming community about bio-saline technology/ saline agriculture by the private and public sectors, a watchful eye on the quality and quantity of ground water of every district of Pakistan by all the stakeholders and timely tackling the detrimental impact of brackish groundwater by using the available technology to the possible extent is imperative
Organic manures: an efficient move towards maize grain biofortification
No full textAbstract Purpose In a novel approach, certain organic wastes byproducts of agro industries were assessed for their ability to support maize growth and Zn bioavailability in maize grain. Methods In a field experiment, maize (Zea mays) was supplemented with farm yard manure (FYM), press mud (PM), fisheries manure (FM), and slaughter house waste (SHW) in combination with Zn soil application (ZnS) and Zn foliar spray (ZnF) with recommended doses of N:P:K (140:100:60 kg ha−1), respectively. Besides assessing the maize growth, grain, and straw yield, Zn bioavailability in maize grain was also studied. Results Organic materials combined with ZnS and ZnF significantly increased the maize yield and Zn bioavailability. PM + ZnS increased the grain yield by 69.71%, while FM + ZnF and FYM + ZnF increased the grain Zn concentration by 86.37 and 86.16%, respectively. Moreover, grain Zn content was greatly influenced by PM + ZnS and PM + ZnF resulted an average increase by 160%. Phytate concentration and phytae:Zn molar ratio in grain were decreased by 30.34 and 66.92%, respectively by FYM + ZnF. Estimated Zn bioavailability ranged from 0.92 to 2.04 mg Zn/300 g in maize grain, and was maximum by PM and FYM combined with ZnF. Conclusion Organic manures influence the nutrient uptake from soil, increase the product quality, and act as a good organic fertilizer. The current study revealed that organic manures can enhance crop growth and Zn uptake in grain in sustainable manner. It would be an eco-friendly approach by utilizing organic wastes annually generated by agro industries
Psychiatric Symptoms as the First Clinical Presentation of Multiple Sclerosis: A Case Report
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