340 research outputs found
Promoting growth in Sri Lanka : lessons from East Asia
No full textSri Lanka's weak economic performance, although compounded by the civil war and budgetary imbalance, largely reflects the following: 1) a stop-and-go pattern of policy reform, because of political constraints - even though the results of reform were generally positive; 2) weak economic management, resulting in high inflation and a high fiscal and balance of payments deficit; 3) poor management of public spending; 4) mixed performance in exchange-rate management, with periods of substantial overvaluation; 5) financial policies that (despite recent improvements) hamper efficient financial intermediation; 6) prolonged trade protection, followed by selective trade liberalization; 7) continued distortion in agricultural policies; 8) inflexible labor markets and, despite Sri Lanka's outstanding track record on human development, problems with the quality of the labor force. To address a substantially unfinished policy agenda, Sri Lanka needs to intensify efforts to peacefully resolve civil conflict. There is also a need to squarely address its macroeconomic imbalances, involving a sharp reduction in the fiscal deficit, a cutback on public spending and redefinition of spending priorities, improvement of cost recovery for public services, and continuing to improve the management of the exchange rate. In trade policy, eliminate most quanitative restrictions, further reduce tariff protection, simplify the tariff structure, and, possibly, reform customs (to reduce leakage and abuse). Rationalize employment, exit, and bankruptcy regulations and procedures. The authors recommend improvement in communications between government and the private sector. It is necessary for the financial sector to become more competitive by legislating banking reform, giving state-owned banks more autonomy and putting private commercial banks on an equal footing with the two state banks, with the ultimate goal of privatizing the state banks, and also strengthen the supervision of banking. Also in the financial sector the authors have identified a need for privatization in insurance and pension funds to strengthen the capital market. Several aspects of the agricultural sector need to be revamped. Primarily, privatization of the estate plantations, perhaps through long-term management contracts and the gradual sale of share in assets; reduced trade protection; implementation of land reform; strengthen agricultural support; and possibly support rural financing institutions. Lastly, the authors suggest an end to government controls on hiring, firing, and wage setting as well as rationalization in civil service employment decisions.Labor Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Decentralization,Banks&Banking Reform,Banks&Banking Reform,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Achieving Shared Growth,Inequality
Impacts of Ta Buffer Layer and Cu-Ge-Te Composition on the Reliability of GeSe-Based CBRAM
No full textsponsorship: This work was supported by imec's Core Partner Industrial Affiliation Program on Emerging Memories. The review of this article was arranged by Editor P. Du. (Corresponding author: Janaki Radhakrishnan.) (imec's Core Partner Industrial Affiliation Program on Emerging Memories)status: Publishe
Efficacy of sugarcane bagasse to produce bacterial biofilm in water for fish culture
No full textThe present study has been conducted to understand the efficacy of sugarcane bagasse to produce bacterial biofilm in water. The study period was 90 days. Total Plate count (TPC) in water and substrate was estimated on nutrient agar at room temperature by spread plate method. The TPC in water was the highest (2.10 x 104 ml–1) after 45 days. The average TPC of bacteria on bagasse varied from 140.0 (15d) to 30.25 (90d) x104·g–1. The present study demonstrates that the sugarcane bagasse can produce more bacteria in water thereby the fish can effectively utilize biofilm grown on sugarcane bagasse and provision of a substrate reduces the need for artificial feed.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Efficacy of sugarcane bagasse to produce bacterial biofilm in water for fish culture M.V. Radhakrishnan and E.SugumaranDepartment of Zoology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar – 608 002, Tamilnadu, India *Corresponding Author, Email: [email protected] Cite This Article As: M.V. Radhakrishnan, E. Sugumaran. 2010. Efficacy of sugarcane bagasse to produce bacterial biofilm in water for fish culture. J. Ecobiotechnol. 2(2):41-44
Baclofen-induced neurotoxicity in a patient with end-stage renal disease
No full textBaclofen, predominantly excreted by the kidneys is accumulated in patients with renal insufficiency leading to the central nervous system toxicity. Here the author reports a patient with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) who developed drowsiness and became unresponsive within a day after taking single 10 mg dose of baclofen. Patient improved completely after two sessions of HD
GLOBAL RESEARCH TRENDS IN ENTOMOLOGY DURING 2012 – 2016: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY
No full textThe present study explores the quantum of productivity in the field of Entomology. For this study, the data were downloaded from the ‘Web of Science Core Collection’ database and there were 1671 records contributed globally level over a period of five years i.e. 2012-2016. The study contributes to the different aspects of Entomology research, such as year wise distribution, country wise, authorship pattern, the degree of collaboration, and most prolific authors etc. The highest number of records was published in the year 2016, while lowest numbers of records was published in 2012. The doubling time for publications at the decreased level has been computed during 2013 - 2016. The frequency occurrence of words among the publications revealed that the word ‘Diptera’ is found more with 276 (16.5%). Lotka\u27s law with regard to author productivity of Entomology research output was applied. It could be seen that the proportion of all output based on single contribution is important. The total numbers of publications in entomology with collaboration among the top 10 countries are presented. Largest contribution of USA was 307 (18.4%), followed by South Korea with 264 (15.8%)
A monolithically integrated power JFET and Junction Barrier Schottky diode in 4H silicon carbide
No full textEfficiency of power management circuits depends significantly on their constituent switches and rectifiers. The demands of technology are increasingly running up against the intrinsic properties of Si based power devices. 4H-Silicon Carbide (SiC) has superior properties that make it attractive for high power applications. SiC rectifiers are already a competitive choice and SiC switches have also been commercialized recently. Junction Barrier Schottky (JBS) diodes, which combine the advantages of PN and Schottky, have higher Figure of Merit (FOM) as rectifiers. Among switches, a robust and mature process has been developed for Silicon Carbide Vertical Junction Field Effect Transistors (VJFETs), which currently gives it the highest unipolar FOM. Switches are frequently combined with anti-parallel diodes in power circuits. This thesis describes the development of a SiC-based monolithically integrated power switch and diode. Monolithic integration increases reliability and efficiency, and reduces cost. Because of their superior properties and similarities in fabrication, we chose the SiC VJFET and JBS diode as the switch and rectifier. Detailed design, fabrication and characterization of the integrated switch to block above 800 V and conduct current beyond 100 A/cm2 is explained. In this process, the first physics-based 2-D compact model is developed for reverse leakage in a JBS diode as a function of design parameters. Since the gate-channel junctions of SiC VJFETs cannot be assumed to be abrupt, an existing analytical model for Si VJFETs is extended to account for graded gate-channel junctions. Using these analytical models, design rules are developed for the VJFET and JBS diode. Finite element simulations are used to find the best anode layout of the JBS diode and optimize electric field termination in the integrated device to ensure their capability to operate at high voltage. Finally, a spin-on glass based process is developed for filling the gate trenches of the VJFET to improve long-term robustness in extreme environments. The integrated power switch developed in this thesis points to the attractions of monolithic integration in SiC power circuits. Analytical compact design equations derived here will facilitate faster and easier design of switches and rectifiers for desired circuit operation.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Rahul Radhakrishna
- …
