Regional trade and macroeconomic indicators in Pakistan: A cointegration analysis

Abstract. This paper empirically estimates the relationship among selected variables trade, agricultural value-added foreign direct investments, domestic credit to private sectors, official exchange rate and gross capital formation, and population, for the particular Southeast Asian economies including Pakistan, China, Malaysia, India, and South Korea during 1985-2016. Using autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) approach, this study statistically proved the presence of long time association among national credit to private zones, foreign direct investment, population, in addition to gross capital formation for the selected Southeast Asian countries. This study further shows gross capital formation significantly contributes during the long and short period towards trade. Albeit, national credit to private sectors, overseas direct investment, and population maintain a supportive relationship with trade but they are not found to be significant. Furthermore, agricultural value-added and the official exchange rate uphold a non-supportive relationship with the trade. The official exchange rate has a negative but insignificant relationship during the long period however all through the short period has an encouraging and significant association with trade. Whereas agricultural value-added maintains significant negative undesirable relationship through the trade throughout the long and short-run. The strategy implication is that selected countries need to focus on outlays on the addition of fixed assets that consist of machinery, land improvement, structure of roads, railways and drains, stable and profitable industrial buildings, schools, hospitals, universities and work in progress that would help in attracting the FDI in economies to boost the trade.Keywords. Trade, Cointegration, Variables, Growth, Short and long-run.JEL. F35, G10, G11, G15

An MFS Transporter-Like ORF from MDR Acinetobacter baumannii AIIMS 7 Is Associated with Adherence and Biofilm Formation on Biotic/Abiotic Surface

A major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter-like open reading frame (ORF) of 453 bp was identified in a pathogenic strain Acinetobacter baumannii AIIMS 7, and its association with adherence and biofilm formation was investigated. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) showed differential expression in surface-attached biofilm cells than nonadherent cells. In vitro translation showed synthesis of a ~17 kDa protein, further confirmed by cloning and heterologous expression in E. coli DH5α. Up to 2.1-, 3.1-, and 4.1- fold biofilm augmentation was observed on abiotic (polystyrene) and biotic (S. cerevisiae/HeLa) surface, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gfp-tagged fluorescence microscopy revealed increased adherence to abiotic (glass) and biotic (S. cerevisiae) surface. Extracellular DNA(eDNA) was found significantly during active growth; due to probable involvement of the protein in DNA export, strong sequence homology with MFS transporter proteins, and presence of transmembrane helices. In summary, our findings show that the putative MFS transporter-like ORF (pmt) is associated with adherence, biofilm formation, and probable eDNA release in A. baumannii AIIMS 7

A Three-Dimensional Analysis of Symmetric Composite Laminates with Damage

Damage behavior of a symmetric composite laminate without an initial im perfection or macro-crack is analyzed based on a three-dimensional lamination theory under multi-axial loading. The global response of the laminate during the damaging pro cess is determined from the individual response of its constituent plies and their mutual relations. Some specific results are presented to illustrate the damage characteristics of several typical composite laminates when they are subjected to proportional loading. The application of the method to characterize damage initiation and growth in more complex structures is also discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/67341/2/10.1177_105678959300200304.pd

Determining ‘Age at Death’ for Forensic Purposes using Human Bone by a Laboratory-based Analytical Method

Determination of age-at-death (AAD) is an important and frequent requirement in contemporary forensic science and in the reconstruction of past populations and societies from their remains. Its estimation is relatively straightforward and accurate (±3 years) for immature skeletons by using morphological features and reference tables within the context of forensic anthropology. However, after skeletal maturity (>35 yrs) estimates become inaccurate, particularly in the legal context. In line with the general migration of all the forensic sciences from reliance upon empirical criteria to those which are more evidence-based, AAD determination should rely more-and-more upon more quantitative methods. We explore here whether well-known changes in the biomechanical properties of bone and the properties of bone matrix, which have been seen to change with age even after skeletal maturity in a traceable manner, can be used to provide a reliable estimate of AAD. This method charts a combination of physical characteristics some of which are measured at a macroscopic level (wet & dry apparent density, porosity, organic/mineral/water fractions, collagen thermal degradation properties, ash content) and others at the microscopic level (Ca/P ratios, osteonal and matrix microhardness, image analysis of sections). This method produced successful age estimates on a cohort of 12 donors of age 53–85 yr (7 male, 5 female), where the age of the individual could be approximated within less than ±1 yr. This represents a vastly improved level of accuracy than currently extant age estimation techniques. It also presents: (1) a greater level of reliability and objectivity as the results are not dependent on the experience and expertise of the observer, as is so often the case in forensic skeletal age estimation methods; (2) it is purely laboratory-based analytical technique which can be carried out by someone with technical skills and not the specialised forensic anthropology experience; (3) it can be applied worldwide following stringent laboratory protocols. As such, this technique contributes significantly to improving age estimation and therefore identification methods for forensic and other purposes

Ultrasonic Nondestructive Evaluation of Cracked Composite Laminates

The use of guided waves in the ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation of structural components, e.g., bonded plates and composite laminates, has received considerable attention in recent years. Highly accurate and efficient experimental techniques have been developed to generate, record and analyze these waves in laboratory specimens, leading to an improved capability in flaw detection and material characterization in a variety of materials [1–4]. A convenient method to generate guided waves in a plate or laminate is the so-called leaky Lamb wave (LLW) technique. It has been demonstrated in several recent papers [5–7] that phase velocity and amplitude of guided waves composite laminates can be determined very accurately in a broad range of frequencies and velocities by the LLW technique

A Thermodynamically-Based Mesh Objective Work Potential Theory for Predicting Intralaminar Progressive Damage and Failure in Fiber-Reinforced Laminates

A thermodynamically-based work potential theory for modeling progressive damage and failure in fiber-reinforced laminates is presented. The current, multiple-internal state variable (ISV) formulation, enhanced Schapery theory (EST), utilizes separate ISVs for modeling the effects of damage and failure. Damage is considered to be the effect of any structural changes in a material that manifest as pre-peak non-linearity in the stress versus strain response. Conversely, failure is taken to be the effect of the evolution of any mechanisms that results in post-peak strain softening. It is assumed that matrix microdamage is the dominant damage mechanism in continuous fiber-reinforced polymer matrix laminates, and its evolution is controlled with a single ISV. Three additional ISVs are introduced to account for failure due to mode I transverse cracking, mode II transverse cracking, and mode I axial failure. Typically, failure evolution (i.e., post-peak strain softening) results in pathologically mesh dependent solutions within a finite element method (FEM) setting. Therefore, consistent character element lengths are introduced into the formulation of the evolution of the three failure ISVs. Using the stationarity of the total work potential with respect to each ISV, a set of thermodynamically consistent evolution equations for the ISVs is derived. The theory is implemented into commercial FEM software. Objectivity of total energy dissipated during the failure process, with regards to refinements in the FEM mesh, is demonstrated. The model is also verified against experimental results from two laminated, T800/3900-2 panels containing a central notch and different fiber-orientation stacking sequences. Global load versus displacement, global load versus local strain gage data, and macroscopic failure paths obtained from the models are compared to the experiments

Investigation of progressive damage and fracture in laminated composites using the smeared crack approach

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97056/1/AIAA2012-1537.pd

Computational Implementation of a Thermodynamically Based Work Potential Model For Progressive Microdamage and Transverse Cracking in Fiber-Reinforced Laminates

A continuum-level, dual internal state variable, thermodynamically based, work potential model, Schapery Theory, is used capture the effects of two matrix damage mechanisms in a fiber-reinforced laminated composite: microdamage and transverse cracking. Matrix microdamage accrues primarily in the form of shear microcracks between the fibers of the composite. Whereas, larger transverse matrix cracks typically span the thickness of a lamina and run parallel to the fibers. Schapery Theory uses the energy potential required to advance structural changes, associated with the damage mechanisms, to govern damage growth through a set of internal state variables. These state variables are used to quantify the stiffness degradation resulting from damage growth. The transverse and shear stiffness of the lamina are related to the internal state variables through a set of measurable damage functions. Additionally, the damage variables for a given strain state can be calculated from a set of evolution equations. These evolution equations and damage functions are implemented into the finite element method and used to govern the constitutive response of the material points in the model. Additionally, an axial failure criterion is included in the model. The response of a center-notched, buffer strip-stiffened panel subjected to uniaxial tension is investigated and results are compared to experiment