Does Islamic insurance development promote economic growth? a panel data analysis

This paper examines the impact of Islamic insurance development on economic growth. The Islamic insurance market has been experiencing tremendous growth in its activities since inception, particularly in the ASEAN and GCC markets. Using the difference GMM estimation technique for dynamic panel data model for a set of 22 countries for the period 2004 to 2012, we find a strong evidence of a positive and significant effect from the Islamic insurance activities on economic growth. We further find a robust positive and significant link between trade and economic growth, a positive but insignificant relationship between CPI and economic growth while government consumption show a negative relation. Our result provides further support for the supply-leading hypothesis in the finance growth literature

Noninvasive Methods for Condition Monitoring and Electrical Fault Diagnosis of Induction Motors

This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of noninvasive methods to diagnose stator winding insulation faults of an induction motor. Further, a novel noninvasive method is proposed to diagnose the root cause of winding failure due to unbalanced voltage to avoid catastrophic failure. Therefore, a winding function approach is utilized to derive an analytical expression for stator winding distribution and magnetomotive force (MMF). This tactic qualifies the conductor segment that generates MMF, and it also helps to analyze a healthy current spectrum. One can easily observe higher order harmonics in current spectrum; therefore, a new series of rotor harmonics is introduced to diagnose unbalanced supply. The locus of these harmonics is dependent on the poles, rotor bars, and slip. Due to the rapid complexity in industrial plants, it is inconceivable to continue human inspection to diagnose the faults. Thus, to avoid human inspection, in addition to new series of rotor harmonic, a fully automatic method based on neural network is proposed. This method not only diagnoses unbalanced voltage but it also recognize the percentage of unbalanced voltage by use of feed-forward multilayer perceptron (MLP) trained by back propagation. Finally, the experimental results shows the validation of this research work proposed method

Axial Load and Bending Moment Behaviour of Square High Strength Concrete (HSC) Columns Reinforced with Steel Equal Angle (SEA) Sections

This paper presents the behaviour of square high-strength concrete (HSC) specimens reinforced longitudinally with steel equal angle (SEA) sections under different loading conditions. For the same cross-sectional area, a SEA section has a higher second moment of area than a steel bar, which results in a greater bending stiffness of the concrete member reinforced with SEA sections. Also, the area of confined concrete is greater in concrete members reinforced with SEA sections compared to members reinforced with steel bars, which results in higher strength and ductility. A total of 8 specimens of 210 mm square cross-section and 800 mm height were constructed and tested. The specimens were divided into two groups with four specimens in each group. Group R-S50 specimens serve as the reference group and were reinforced longitudinally with four N12 (12 mm diameter) deformed steel bars. Group A30-S50 specimens were reinforced longitudinally with four A30 (29.1 mm x 29.1 mm x 2.25 mm) SEA sections. All specimens were reinforced laterally with R10 (10 mm diameter) plain steel bars and spaced at 50 mm centres. The main variables considered in the study included the type of longitudinal reinforcement and the magnitude of load eccentricity. It was obtained from the experimental results that specimens reinforced longitudinally with SEA sections showed greater ductility compared to specimens reinforced longitudinally with steel bars under different loading conditions

Behavior of High-Strength Concrete Columns Reinforced with Galvanized Steel Equal-Angle Sections under Different Loading Conditions

Experimental results are presented for a new method of reinforcing concrete columns with galvanized steel equal-angle (GSEA) sections. For the same cross-sectional area, a GSEA section has a higher second moment of area than a conventional steel bar, which leads to a higher bending stiffness of the GSEA reinforced concrete member. In addition, the area of confined concrete is higher in GSEA reinforced concrete members than in steel bar reinforced members, which results in higher strength and ductility. The experimental program involved testing of 20 square, high-strength concrete (HSC) specimens under concentric axial load, eccentric axial load, and four-point loading. The specimens were reinforced longitudinally with either four N12 (12-mm-diameter deformed steel) bars or four GSEA sections and transversely with R10 (10-mm-diameter plain steel) bars. The specimens were 800 mm high with a 210 x 210 mm square cross section. Fifteen specimens were tested under either a concentric or eccentric axial load. The remaining five specimens were tested under four-point loading. Effects of the type of longitudinal reinforcement, spacing of transverse reinforcement, and loading conditions on the behavior of HSC specimens were investigated and discussed. Experimental results showed that, in general, specimens reinforced with GSEA sections had higher load-carrying capacities than the specimens reinforced with steel bars. In addition, the postpeak load-deformation behavior was observed to be more pronounced in specimens reinforced with GSEA sections than in specimens reinforced with steel bars

Debt and economic growth in an oil rich economy: evidence from Saudi Arabia

The objective of this paper is to examine the impact of debt on economic growth in Saudi Arabia based on autoregressive distributed lags approach for the period of 1969-2013. The result indicates that variables are cointegrated and null hypothesis was rejected at the 5% significance level. The coefficients of long-run result reveal that public debt affects economic growth in a positive and statistically significant manner. Furthermore, inflation was found to also enhance economic growth in the oil rich kingdom. Despite the overwhelming evidence in the literature suggesting debt stifles growth, our study recommend that policymakers maintain the current level of debt-to- gross domestic product in the country

Occipital Encephalocele and Review of Literature

Encephalocele is a rare congenital malformation of the central nervous system. It is defined as a congenital herniation of the intracranial compartments through a long defect and contains various rudimentary cerebral tissue components or sometimes only cerebrospinal fluid. They are located at midline of parietal or occipital region when the defect is small. Usually only the meninges herniate and the anomaly is cranial Meningocele or cranium bifidum with Meningocele. We present 47 cases of encephalocele, mostly occipital encephalocele, operated during last 5 years in our hospital at the department of Neurosurgery SZH, RYK. This is a retrospective study.Material and Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2013. Forty seven cases of encephalocele have been treated at our department. They were diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings and CT scan was done in all patients. All patients were operated and diagnosis was confirmed at peroperatively. Demographic, clinical, radiological and operative data were reviewed from hospital charts.Results: The total number of patients was 47, out of which 23 were male and 24 were female. Neurosurgical data of patients with encephalocele over the five years and three months from January 2008 to April 2014 were retrospectively studied. The average age of the patients at the time presentation was 10 months and seven days.Conclusion: Encephalocele is a relatively uncommon neurosurgical entity largely seen in the pediatric population. Treatment of this condition can be rewarding if properly managed early. Occipital, parietal, frontal, and frontonasal types may be approached without opening the cranium, while sincipital and basal encephalocele usually require craniotomy. In this series we present our experience in the operative management of encepha-locele with good outcome and also share our recommendation in technical consideration for surgical approaches

An Assessment on the Non-Invasive Methods for Condition Monitoring of Induction Motors

The ability to forecast motor mechanical faults at incipient stages is vital to reducing maintenance costs, operation downtime and safety hazards. This paper synthesized the progress in the research and development in condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of induction motors. The motor condition monitoring techniques are mainly classified into two categories that are invasive and non-invasive techniques. The invasive techniques are very basic, but they have some implementation difficulties and high cost. The non-invasive methods, namely MCSA, PVA and IPA, overcome the disadvantages associated to invasive methods. This book chapter reviews the various non-invasive condition monitoring methods for diagnosis of mechanical faults in induction motor and concludes that the instantaneous power analysis (IPA) and Park vector analysis (PVA) methods are best suitable for the diagnosis of small fault signatures associated to mechanical faults. Recommendations for the future research in these areas are also presented

Neurosurgical Management of Intracranial Epidermoid

Objective: Epidermoid cyst or cholesteatoma is a congenital slow growing lesion. The objective was to analyze clinical presentation surgery and outcome after surgery.Study Design: Retrospective observational study.Materials and Methods: This study represents a retrospective review of patients treated with epidermoid cyst, during a period of 18 years between 1995 to 2012. It was conducted at the department of Neurosurgery Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan and department of Neurosurgery PGMI / LGH Lahore and department of Neurosurgery AMDC Farooq Hospital, Lahore.Results: The age of our patients ranged from 18 to 40 years, with male predominance. The predominating symptoms were related to the 5th, 7th and 8th cranial nerve and headache. Our study included 10 cases of epidermoid cysts; four of them were in CPA area, two suprasellar region and one was at pineal region. It was not always possible to determine if the signs and symptoms were due to local involvement by the epidermoids, increased intracranial pressure or both. The age of our patients ranged from 18 to 40 years, with male predominance. The retrosigmoid approach was used in 5 patients, ® Frontal craniotomy in 2 cases, Rt interhemispheric transtentorial approach in one patient and sub-temporal approach in one case. Parental portaline approach in 1 case. Total resection of epidermoid cyst was accomplished in 7 cases. To minimize recurrence, the residual epidermoid was carefully coagulated with the aid of microscope and bipolar diathermy without damaging surrounding neurovascular structures.Conclusion: Surgical management of intracranial dermoid has encouraging and good results. Use of endoscope is good adjunct for complete removal of epidermoid from angles and corners of the lesion

Surgical Outcome of Cerebellopontine (CP) Angle Tumors

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical outcome of CP angle tumors.Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 10 cases admitted in the Department of Neurosurgery, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan during the last 8 years. The predominating symptoms here related to the seventh and eighth cranial nerves and headache.Results: Study included 10 cases of CPA Tumour clinical presentation was hearing loss, tinnitus, abnormal bala-nce, headache, facial numbness and buccal numbness, ataxia and trigeminal neuralgia. We had 10 patients, came with above clinical presentations. All cases were operated through retromastoid sub-occipital craniectomy. VP shunt was inserted in 1 case. Histopathology report was four patients vestibular schwanoma three tentorial meni-ngioma, two epidermoid cyst and one patient had choroid plexuses papilloma.Complications: One patient developed meningitis due to cerebrospinal Fluid leakage at operative site. Lumber drain was placed to control leakage and infection was controlled by aggressive treatment. There was no mortality in our study. One patient developed recurrence of epidermoid cyst at the same site after seven and half years. None of the patients developed further cranial nerve deficit as compare to preoperative deficit. The maximum period of follow-up of one patient was seven and half year.Conclusion: It is concluded from this study that the retrosigmoid corridor is the safe surgical approach for CPA tumors. In case of CP angle epidermoid, there was no recurrence symptoms on the immediate follow-up. At ope-ration, the root entry zone of TN should be examined for evidence of additional vascular compressio