Causality between Export and Growth: Evidence from South Asian Countries

Strong economic growth accompanied with robust export performance leads many people to conclude that export sector of a country has pivotal role in the economic growth of that country. Empirical evidence on export growth nexus has been mixed and inconclusive. This study examined whether there was any time series support for such export-led growth hypothesis for South Asian Countries. Engle-Granger's Error Correction Model (ECM) was used to test the Granger causality between export and output. The study had produced fairly mixed results, and did not find any conclusive evidence in favor of export-led growth for South Asian Countries. While Pakistan, Srilanka and Bhutan were the cases of export-led growth, India, Nepal, and Maldives show the opposite result of growth-led exports. In one country, namely Bangladesh, the data had failed to detect any causality in either direction which is attributed in low value addition in export.Export-led growth hypothesis, Granger causality test, Unit Root Tests, Error Correction Model

The Sorrows of the Dead

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Analysis of stress induced ICS1 phosphorylation and effect of different photoperiod on MAPKs (MPK-P) activation under stress

Stress response in plants is influenced by several external and internal factors and is executed in a modular way. Environmental stimuli or stress is sensed by cellular receptors and the signal is transduced inside cell via the phospho-activation of highly conserved intracellular signaling cascades like mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. The signal then activates biosynthesis pathways of major stress response hormones like Salicylic acid (SA). In Arabidopsis about 90% SA is synthesized via isochorismate pathway and Isochorismate synthase 1 (ICS1) is a rate limiting enzyme in this pathway. In this study, goal was to select transgenic ICS1 (homozygous) candidate lines from parent ICS1-CFP by selective regeneration. Then, by molecular and physiological characterization of transgenic ICS1-CFP plants, the function of ICS1 phosphorylation, more specifically, impact of different photoperiods (Long day; LD and Short day; SD) and stress conditions on ICS1 activity would have resolved. However, there were no homozygous candidate line from any parent ICS1-CFP plants after several screening. Nevertheless, ozone treated stress sensitivity test was performed with heterozygous ICS1-CFP candidate plants (T2 generation). Ozone treated stress depends on stomata factor because ozone enters into plants through stomata. Therefore, stomata index analysis was performed with sid2 and WT (Col-0) phenotypes and grown in LD and SD conditions. Since, stomata number was different between LD and SD plants of both sid2 and WT phenotypes, a different method named Xanthine-Xanthine oxidase (X/XO) treatment was applied that induce oxidative stress regardless of stomata. Although, WT and sid2 had shown sensitivity to the treatment, the overall cell death percentage was very low. Lastly, our aim was to observe the impact of different photoperiods on the activation of two particular MAPKs i.e MPK3 and MPK6 under stress conditions. The phosphorylated (P-MPK3 and P-MPK6) are found abundantly in ozone treated plants as an early response. In this experiment, plants were grown in both LD and SD, stressed with both ozone and X/XO treatments, the activation of P-MPK3 and P-MPK6 was observed by protein level analysis (western blotting) in detailed time course. Although, the activation was visualized in both LD and SD plants, qualitatively the pattern was similar between day type samples and activation signal was very weak in both stress methods. In addition, anti-ICS1 antibody provided by Agrsera TM was tested for its efficiency to detect endogenous ICS1 protein in plants in two experimental set-up. Although the antibody could detect overexpressed ICS1-CFP protein in samples, it was not that efficient to detect endogenous ICS1 in any of the experiments

Al-‘Aqqad: His contribution to modern Arab thought and literature

One of the most well-known scholars in Arab literary world of the twentieth century was Abbas Mahmud al-‘Aqqad (1889-1964). He was a famous writer, poet, intellectualist, novelist, journalist, columnist and a literary critic. Throughout the creative periods of ‘Aqqad’s life; many facts were responsible for his modern cultural views, intellectual thoughts as well as memorable for his influential literary contribution. The purpose of this article is to analyze the biography of Abbas Mahmud al-‘Aqqad and focus the influential contributions to modern Arab thought and literature of him. He was one of the most important figures who contributed immense for shaping Arabic prose literature in a standard trend as well as modernized the Arabic poetry and criticism. He also wrote for socio-political modification and up gradation which brought a distinct and profound change in modern Arab thought, literary conscience and intellectual domain as expressed in his different writings. Keywords: Al-‘Aqqad, Freedom of thought, Intellectual domain, literary fashion, literary contributio

In Search of God: A Scientific Review

This article is about the in quest of God, which is in the context of monotheism and search for the eternal Deity as well as a long journey to believe in God. We have a universe which is before us. We see it, feel it, experience it and so are forced to believe in its existence. Even when a man rejects the godhead, he still believes in the universe. But when and how did it come into being? Explaining its existence as the creation of God is no final answer--so it is generally held--since the very next question which simply arises is if God made the universe, then who made God? The universe itself does not have the ability to create anything. It can neither increase nor must decrease by itself. We choose not between the universe with God and the universe without God, but between God and a non-existent universe. Since a non-existent universe is unconceivable, we must perforce opt for the concept of the universe with God

Development of solar powered irrigation system

Development of a solar powered irrigation system has been discussed in this paper. This system would be SCADA-based and quite useful in areas where there is plenty of sunshine but insufficient water to carry out farming activities, such as rubber plantation, strawberry plantation, or any plantation, that requires frequent watering. The system is powered by solar system as a renewable energy which uses solar panel module to convert Sunlight into electricity. The development and implementation of an automated SCADA controlled system that uses PLC as a controller is significant to agricultural, oil and gas monitoring and control purpose purposes. In addition, the system is powered by an intelligent solar system in which solar panel targets the radiation from the Sun. Other than that, the solar system has reduced energy cost as well as pollution. The system is equipped with four input sensors; two soil moisture sensors, two level detection sensors. Soil moisture sensor measures the humidity of the soil, whereas the level detection sensors detect the level of water in the tank. The output sides consist of two solenoid valves, which are controlled respectively by two moistures sensors

The construction and demolition wastes in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Numerous activities in construction and demolition (C&D) projects are generally considered as complex and distant that may affect surrounding environment and public health. Construction, remodelling, repairing, refurbishing or demotion works of buildings and other infrastructures such as roads generate huge amounts of hazardous and non-hazardous materials. In the present work, an attempt has been made to highlight a number of issues in C&D waste management in the Klang valley of Malaysia and which then discusses the current traditions of managing those materials in Malaysian perspectives. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations that can help to improve C&D waste management in Malaysia national perspectives