Macroeconomic and bank specific determinants of non-performing loans in UAE conventional bank

This paper uses panel data methodology including Random Effects model to identify the bank-specific determinants and macroeconomic determinants of non-performing loans in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) conventional banks for the period 2008-2015. Among the bank-specific determinants, non-performing loans (NPL, t-1) indicate a significant positive relationship with NPL and liquidity ratio indicate a significant negative relationship with NPL, whereas capital adequacy ratio and return on assets was found to have an insignificant relationship due to the robust banking regulations in UAE. All the macroeconomic determinants, namely, gross domestic product, growth, inflation, domestic credit to private sector, unemployment and government debt appeared to be insignificant in determining the level of NPLs, suggesting that the crisis is more intrinsic to internal issues within the corporates and not related to macroeconomic factors

Study on Strength Characteristics of High Strength Rice Husk Ash Concrete

AbstractThe objective of the study is to investigate the mechanical properties of high strength concrete with different replacement levels of ordinary Portland cement by Rice Husk Ash. The standard cubes (150mmX150mmX150mm), cylinders (150mmdiaX300mm height) and prisms (100mmX100mmX500mm) were caste. In all 144 specimens with M40 and M50 grade mix cases were caste and tested. The strength effect of High-strength concrete of various amounts of replacement of cement viz., 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% with Rice Husk Ash of both the grades were compared with that of the high-strength concrete with out Rice Husk Ash. The compressive strength at 7, 28 and 56 days have been obtained. The results of the mechanical properties of the rice husk ash at 28 days have shown quite encouraging and interesting results. The optimum replacement of rice husk ash found to be 10% in both the grades of the concrete

Effect of impurity substitution on band structure and mass renormalization of the correlated FeTe0.5_{0.5}Se0.5_{0.5} superconductor

Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we studied the effect of the impurity potential on the electronic structure of FeTe$_{0.5}$Se$_{0.5}$ superconductor by substituting 10\% of Ni for Fe which leads to an electron doping of the system. We could resolve three hole pockets near the zone center and an electron pocket near the zone corner in the case of FeTe$_{0.5}$Se$_{0.5}$, whereas only two hole pockets near the zone center and an electron pocket near the zone corner are resolved in the case of Fe$_{0.9}$Ni$_{0.1}$Te$_{0.5}$Se$_{0.5}$, suggesting that the hole pocket having predominantly the $xy$ orbital character is very sensitive to the impurity scattering. Upon electron doping, the size of the hole pockets decrease and the size of the electron pockets increase as compared to the host compound. However, the observed changes in the size of the electron and hole pockets are not consistent with the rigid-band model. Moreover, the effective mass of the hole pockets is reduced near the zone center and of the electron pockets is increased near the zone corner in the doped Fe$_{0.9}$Ni$_{0.1}$Te$_{0.5}$Se$_{0.5}$ as compared to FeTe$_{0.5}$Se$_{0.5}$. We refer these observations to the changes of the spectral function due to the effect of the impurity potential of the dopants.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Creep Analysis of a Variable Thickness Rotating FGM Disc using Tresca Criterion

The study investigates steady-state creep in a rotating Al-SiCp disc having different thickness profiles and reinforcement (SiCp) gradients. The disc material is assumed to creep according to threshold-stress based law and yield following Tresca criterion. The stresses and strain rates in the disc are estimated by solving the disc equilibrium equation along with creep constitutive equations. It was observed that on increasing the disc thickness gradient, the radial stress decreases towards the inner radius but increases towards the outer radius, whereas the tangential stress decreases over the entire radius. With the increase in SiCp gradient in the FGM disc, the radial stress increases significantly throughout, however, the tangential stress increases towards the inner radius but decreases towards the outer radius. The strain rates in the disc reduce significantly over the entire disc radius and become relatively uniform with the increase in either disc thickness gradient or reinforcement gradient. Thus, the composite disc having higher thickness and higher reinforcement gradients exhibits lesser distortion.Defence Science Journal, Vol. 65, No. 2, March 2015, pp.163-170, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.65.804

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF CONTENT BASED IMAGE RETRIEVAL ALGORITHMS USING STATISTICS BASED TRANSFORMS

In this paper we use statistics based transforms for Content Based Image Retrieval (CBIR). Image signature computed by using the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), Schur algorithm and K-L Transform (KLT). Singular values used as feature are obtained from SVD of an image. Schur algorithm is a fast procedure for the Cholesky factorization of positive-definite structured matrices. KLT analyzes a set of vectors or images, into basis functions of images where the choice of the basis set depends on the statistics of the image. By using these three transforms similarity between the query image and database image measured here by using simple Euclidean distance (ED). Thus by these statistical transforms we retrieve the relevant image

Global temperature estimates in the troposphere and stratosphere: a validation study of COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 measurements

This paper mainly focuses on the validation of temperature estimates derived with the newly launched Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC)/Formosa Satellite 3 (FORMOSAT-3) system. The analysis is based on the radio occultation (RO) data samples collected during the first year observation from April 2006 to April 2007. For the validation, we have used the operational stratospheric analyses including the National Centers for Environmental Prediction - Reanalysis (NCEP), the Japanese 25-year Reanalysis (JRA-25), and the United Kingdom Met Office (MetO) data sets. Comparisons done in different formats reveal good agreement between the COSMIC and reanalysis outputs. Spatially, the largest deviations are noted in the polar latitudes, and height-wise, the tropical tropopause region noted the maximum differences (2–4 K). We found that among the three reanalysis data sets the NCEP data sets have the best resemblance with the COSMIC measurements

Seismic Response Control Systems for Structures

Structures constructed in developing world are typically RC frames with masonry infill. These structures have little resistance for lateral loads caused by earthquake and wind. Even for  adequately designed structures also, due to permissible deformation beyond elastic limits, failure of masonry causes severe loss of life and property. In the case of structures designed to sustain excessive deformation such as of defence establishments, functioning and serviceability of machines and equipment installed therein are adversely affected. This co-lateral damage may be reduced by adopting another design philosophy of structure response control. In this methodology, a supplementary damping device is incorporated in the primary structure, which absorbs most of the seismic energy imparted to it, restricting the structural response within serviceable limits. These devices may be passive, active, semi-active or hybrid types. Other than passive all options are technology-intensive and dependent on external energy source, not a favourable proposition for developing nations. Among all the passive devices, tuned liquid dampers (TLDs) promise to be most suitable. Here, existing overhead water tanks (OHWT) may be used as TLD with slight adjustment and modification. This method will be able to control the structural response without putting any extra load on the existing or newly-designed buildings. This paper reviews various types of dampers and discusses evolution of tuned liquid dampers. A method has also been proposed for incorporating TLDs in existing and new structures. This methodology may be very useful for structures of defence establishment which are scattered and remotely placed by location, housing important equipments sensitive to vibrations, as it is free from external power dependence and regular maintenance.Defence Science Journal, 2009, 59(3), pp.239-251, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.59.151

Effect of Chelating Agents on Push-Out Bond Strength of NeoMTA Plus to Root Canal Dentin

Objective: To evaluate and compare the effect of 17% Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA), 9% Etidronic acid (HEDP), and 7% Maleic acid (MA) on the push-out bond strength of NeoMTA Plus sealer to the coronal, middle, and apical thirds of root canal dentin. Material and Methods: Forty single-rooted human maxillary central incisors were selected and decoronated to 12 mm long root fragments. Working length was established and root canals were then enlarged up to rotary Protaper F3. After each instrumentation, the root canal was irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl. For the final irrigation regimen, the specimens were divided into 4 groups (n=10) and treated with EDTA, HEDP, MA or Saline. Root canals were coated with NeoMTA Plus sealer, and obturation was done with single cone obturation technique. Subsequently, three horizontal sections were taken from the coronal, middle and apical thirds of each specimen, and POBS was measured using a universal testing machine. The type of bond failures was assessed under a stereomicroscope. Statistical analysis was done with One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s Post hoc analysis. Results: MA and EDTA showed the highest POBS. There was no significant difference in bond strength between MA and EDTA (p>0.05). HEDP and Saline showed lower POBS. Among all the four groups, the coronal third showed the highest values, followed by middle and apical thirds. Conclusion: The type of chelating agent used during the root canal treatment significantly affects the bond strength of NeoMTA Plus to the root canal dentin

Thoracic empyema: clinical course and management in Trivandrum Medical College

Background: The incidence of empyema thoracis among adults is increasing steadily. It may be primary empyema (pleural infection developing without pneumonia) or secondary empyema. The common cause of secondary empyema being- community acquired pneumonia or hospital acquired pneumonia, empyema due to iatrogenic causes, secondary to trauma etc. With advancement in science and technology, early recognition of empyema in patients with symptoms is now possible. But the treatment guidelines are not unified so that each physician may treat this condition in a different way without referring to higher concerned specialties making it complicated. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical profile of thoracic empyema in Trivandrum Medical College a tertiary care centre in South Kerala.Methods: A total of 56 patients with empyema admitted to Government Medical College, Trivandrum, Kerala in 2018-2019 were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic details, clinical presentation, etiology, microbiological findings, and management were recorded in a planned proforma, and analysis was done.Results: The mean age was 49.1 years with peak incidence seen in 40-60 years of age. The male to female ratio was 4.6:1.0 and right pleura was more involved than left pleura. Risk factors were diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary tuberculosis, and smoking. Etiology of thoracic empyema was infective in 78.6% cases and traumatic in 21.4% cases. Only two cultures showed gram positive aerobe, rest of the culture was sterile. Only a few cases resolved with medical management. Decortication was needed for 52 patients (82.1%).Conclusions: A unified protocol need to be formulated and followed up in all centres for the management of empyema before its evolution and thus reducing the incidence of empyema and its associated complications.