The monetary transmission mechanism in Pakistan: a sectoral analysis

The present paper takes a first step in investigating the monetary transmission mechanism in Pakistan at a sectoral level. Using quarterly data spanning from 1973:1 to 2003:4, we examine whether monetary policy shocks have different sectoral effects. Taking note of structural transformation of the economy and the monetary and financial reforms during 1990s, we also assess whether the reform process has notable impact on the monetary transmission mechanism. We find evidence supporting sector-specific variation in the real effects of monetary policy. Our results also suggest significant changes in the transmission of monetary shock to real sector of the economy during post-reform period.Monetary transmission mechanism; VAR; Pakistan; Sectoral analysis

Graph Based Semi-supervised Learning with Convolution Neural Networks to Classify Crisis Related Tweets

During time-critical situations such as natural disasters, rapid classification of data posted on social networks by affected people is useful for humanitarian organizations to gain situational awareness and to plan response efforts. However, the scarcity of labeled data in the early hours of a crisis hinders machine learning tasks thus delays crisis response. In this work, we propose to use an inductive semi-supervised technique to utilize unlabeled data, which is often abundant at the onset of a crisis event, along with fewer labeled data. Specif- ically, we adopt a graph-based deep learning framework to learn an inductive semi-supervised model. We use two real-world crisis datasets from Twitter to evaluate the proposed approach. Our results show significant improvements using unlabeled data as compared to only using labeled data.Comment: 5 pages. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1805.0515

Screening-Limited Response of NanoBiosensors

Despite tremendous potential of highly sensitive electronic detection of bio-molecules by nanoscale biosensors for genomics and proteomic applications, many aspects of experimentally observed sensor response (S) are unexplained within consistent theoretical frameworks of kinetic response or electrical screening. In this paper, we combine analytic solutions of Poisson-Boltzmann and reaction-diffusion equations to show that the electrical response of nanobiosensor varies logarithmically with the concentration of target molecules, time, the salt concentration, and inversely with the fractal dimension of sensor surface. Our analysis provides a coherent theoretical interpretation of wide variety of puzzling experimental data that have so far defied intuitive explanation.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figure

Fundamentals of PV Efficiency Interpreted by a Two-Level Model

Elementary physics of photovoltaic energy conversion in a two-level atomic PV is considered. We explain the conditions for which the Carnot efficiency is reached and how it can be exceeded! The loss mechanisms - thermalization, angle entropy, and below-bandgap transmission - explain the gap between Carnot efficiency and the Shockley-Queisser limit. Wide varieties of techniques developed to reduce these losses (e.g., solar concentrators, solar-thermal, tandem cells, etc.) are reinterpreted by using a two level model. Remarkably, the simple model appears to capture the essence of PV operation and reproduce the key results and important insights that are known to the experts through complex derivations.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Financial development and energy consumption nexus in Malaysia: A multivariate time series analysis

Despite a bourgeoning literature on the existence of a long-run relationship between energy consumption and economic growth, the findings have failed to establish clearly the direction of causation. A growing economy needs more energy, which is exacerbated by growing population. Evidence suggests that financial development can reduce overall energy consumption by achieving energy efficiency. Economic growth and energy consumption in Malaysia have been rising in tandem over the past several years. The three public policy objectives of Malaysia are: economic progress, population growth and financial development. It is of interest to the policymakers to understand the dynamic interrelation among the stated objectives. The paper implements Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach to cointegration to examine the existence of a long-run relationship among the series: energy consumption, population, aggregate production, and financial development for Malaysia; and tests for Granger causality within the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The results suggest that energy consumption is influenced by economic growth and financial development, both in the short and the long-run, but the population-energy relation holds only in the long run. The findings have important policy implications for balancing economic growth vis-à-vis energy consumption for Malaysia, as well as other emerging nations.Financial development; Energy consumption; ARDL; Economic growth

Post- Operative Recovery Profile after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Comparing Inhalational Versus Intravenous Anaesthetic Regimen

Background: To compare inhalational anaesthetic regimen with intravenous regimen with regard to post operative recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy Methods: In this comparative study 166 patients were selected by lottery and assigned into two groups. Induction was done with sevoflurane 8% in 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen (group-A) and propofol 2mg/kg (group-B).All patients had volume controlled ventilation and standard monitoring.Before shifting Fast Track criteria was used inside operating room and Post Anaesthesia Discharge score employed in recovery area. Spearman’s Rank correlation was used to check interdependence between the two recovery scores i.e.Fast-Track criteria and Post Anaesthesia Discharge score in both groups. Results: Fast track criteria and post op anaesthesia scores were equal in both groups.Inhalation induction(group-A) was slightly slower as compared to intravenous induction with propofol (group-B) but a higher incidence of un-expected movement/cough was noted during propofol induction as compared to sevoflurane. ASA physical status classes of both groups are identical. Though different anaesthesia techniques were used in both groups while standardizing anaesthetic maintenance factors and per-operative medications, no clinical superiority in recovery times was noted in ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The value of correlation co-efficient(r) was .372 and .556 respectively in both groups and significant at 0.01 level