Energy Demand in Pakistan: A Disaggregate Analysis

This study examines the demand for energy at disaggregate level (gas, electricity and coal) for Pakistan over the period 1972-2007. Over main results suggest that electricity and coal consumption responds positively to changes in real income per capita and negatively to changes in domestic price level. The gas consumption responds negatively to real income and price changes in the short-run, however, in the long-run real income exerts positive effect on gas consumption, while domestic price remains insignificant. Furthermore, in the short-run the average elasticities of price and real income for gas consumption (in absolute terms) are greater than that of electricity and coal consumption. The differences in elasticities of each component of energy have significant policy implications for income and revenue generation.Energy Demand, Disaggregate Analysis, Cointegration

Visual Interactive Linear Programming: The Concept, An Example And An Empirical Assessment Of Its Value In Supporting Managerial Decision-making

Decision support systems (DSS) and visual interactive (VI) modelling emerged during the 1970s at roughly the same time (Sprague and Watson, 1989), (Belton, 1991). Both ideas seem to have been driven more by advances in computer technology and increasing management demands than any theory. There are both similarities and differences between them. DSS often use some visual and interactive features (see Turban and Carlson, 1989), but seldom refer to them in terms of a VI model. On the other hand, a VI model is almost always built to support decision-making, and is often referred to as a DSS. Both have developed their own methodology from different perspectives. Their integration should be complementary and should result in models that may answer many questions commonly encountered by both VI and DSS disciplines.;This thesis presents a visual interactive linear programming (LP) model for managerial decision support. The model is unique in its use, information display and user-model interface.;The thesis also empirically investigates the value of the LP-based VI-DSS through comparison with a more traditional LP-based DSS.;The empirical study was conducted at the Western Business School. Data was collected over a period of about seven weeks, during which 80 MBA students voluntarily participated. The analysis of the data provided support that VI-DSS are, on average, more effective DSS for making managerial decisions. The result of the experiment also supported a proposition that VI-DSS aid learning more effectively than non VI-DSS.;This study made research contributions to the area of LP, DSS, and VIM. The study demonstrated that VIM is a better modelling methodology to exploit the existing computer technology and to build improved DSS. The study also demonstrated that visual displays help LP to be used to its full potential and help to make effective managerial decisions

Medico-Botanical Investigation of Medicinally Important Plants from Galliyat Areas, NWFP (Pakistan)

A survey of medico-botanical investigation was conducted between October 2003 to April, 2004 in the Galliyat areas of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. Our survey focused on four specific Gullies: Donga Galli, Bara Galli, Nathia Galli and Chhangla Galli. Indigenous knowledge of local inhabitants about the use of native plants was collected during field trips through questionnaire. The medico-botanical investigation about 30 species belonging to 28 genera of 21 families were recorded during course of study. Voucher specimens were collected and deposited in the botany lab of University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, for future reference. For each species the information regarding the botanical names is followed by local name, family name, flowering period, voucher specimen number, part used and ethnomedicinal uses

Improved multi-model predictive control to reject very large disturbances on a distillation column

A multi model predictive control and proportional-integral controller switching (MMPCPIS) approach is proposed to control a nonlinear distillation column. The study was implemented on a multivariable nonlinear distillation column (Column A). The setpoint tracking and disturbance rejection performances of the proposed MMPCPIS were evaluated and compared to a proportional-integral (PI) controller and the hybrid controller (HC). MMPCPIS developed to overcome the HC's limitation when dealing with very large disturbance changes (50%). MMPCPIS provided improvements by 27% and 31% of the ISE (integral of square error) for feed flow rate and feed composition disturbance changes, respectively, compared with the PI controller, and 24% and 54% of the ISE for feed flow rate and feed composition disturbance change, respectively, compared with HC

Ethnobotanical Study of Galliyat for Botanical Demography and Bioecological Diversification

The present research work was based on the results of an enthnobotanical research project conducted in the Galliyat areas of NWFP, Province (Pakistan) during July 2003-March 2004. The region is mountainous with pine forests. Botanists have rarely studied the remote villages of the area, hence ethnobotanical information is quite meager. The local people of the area have always used surrounding natural resources that is wild plants for medicinal purposes and have for a long time dependent on the surrounding plant sources for their food, shelter, fodder, timber, fuel and health care. The present study mainly focus on the information regarding indigenous uses of plants for medicinal as well as other purposes by the native people of the area The ethnobotanical data of 40 plant species belonging to 37 genera and 26 families, during summer and winter season were collected. Among them the two families belong to gymnosperms, two families of pteridophytes, one family of monocot and 21 families of dicot (Angiosperms) were studied ethnobotanically. The ethnobotanical inventory consist of botanical name of plant followed by its local name, family, habit and habitat, flowering period, voucher specimen number, part use, ethnomedicinal uses and other ethnobotanical uses

Overview of benign and malignant prostatic disease in Pakistani patients: A clinical and histopathological perspective

Background: To present the overall clinical and histological perspective of benign and malignant prostatic disease as seen in our practice in the Section of Histopathology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.Materials and Methods: All consecutive prostate specimens (transurethral resection or TUR, enucleation, needle biopsies) received between July 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012 were included in the study.Results: Of the total of 785 cases, 621 (79.1%) were TUR specimens, 80 (10.2%) enucleation specimens, and 84 (10.7%) needle biopsies. Some 595 (75.8%) were benign, while 190 (24.2%) were malignant. Mean weight of BPH specimens was 19 grams and 43 grams for TUR and enucleation specimens respectively. Almost 67% of adenocarcinomas were detected on TUR or enucleation specimens. Of the above cases, 41.7% were clinically benign while 58.3% were clinically malignant. The average volume of carcinoma in all cases ranged between 60 to 65%. The average number of cores involved in needle biopsies was 5. In general, higher Gleason scores were seen in TUR/enucleation specimens than in needle biopsies. Overall, in all types of specimens, commonest Gleason score was 7, seen in 74 (38.9%) cases, followed by Gleason score 9 seen in 47 (24.7%) cases. Out of the 63 needle biopsies with carcinoma, radical prostatectomy was performed in 16 cases (25.4%).Conclusions: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is extremely common and constitutes the bulk of prostate specimens. TMajority of prostatic carcinomas are still diagnosed on TUR or enucleation specimens. These included both clinically benign and clinically malignant cases. The volume of carcinoma in these specimens was quite high indicating extensive disease. Gleason scores were also generally high compared with scores from needle biopsies. Commonest Gleason score in all type of specimens was 7. Pathologic staging was possible in very few cases since radical prostatectomies are rarely performed