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Zero emission is a very popular terminology used, and a lot of research is also focused on this. Fossil fuel consumption is one of the big factors that is responsible for carbon emissions. In this scenario, a pilot project is carried out in Norway that focuses on reducing fuel usage at the construction sites where the power grid is not reachable and instead the machines are powered with a battery. A generic scheduling optimization and charging cost optimization with proper scheduling is proposed in this thesis for the ongoing project that involves the battery charging in the area where the grid power is easily available and then these batteries are transported to the remote construction sites to power up the construction machines. The solution for cost optimization is also based on eased charging techniques including the installation of solar panels and charging through electric vehicle chargers. Different methods like Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) and Large Neighbourhood Search (LNS) algorithms are studied to address the optimization problem. The model as MILP is formed, with the defined objective function, constrains and other parameters, then solved using a large neighbourhood search algorithm with the Microsoft Excel Solver. A study case is formulated to understand the impact of charging scheduling optimization in different scenarios. Power electronics involved in charging stations are simulated through MATLAB/Simulink, using the converter values proposed in another research to demonstrate the charging through low voltage sources like PV and EV chargers.

This study discusses the factors affecting the gender pay gap in Pakistan.When we look back over the decades; we can see that there has been an increase in advanced and exploratory research on the topic of the Gender Pay Gap. Differences in the workplace and the reasons for them have piqued the public's interest. The reasons for these disparities in the workplace are significant because access to these opportunities has numerous economic, social, and psychological consequences. With the rising issues of the gender pay gap not gaining enough awareness and the injustice for women in the workplace by not getting compensated for their hard work while men continue to pocket their bumped-up salaries, it is a shame there is no policy governing women's rights in the workplace. Hence, the requirement for this study is to study the in-depth reasoning behind this problem.

Songklanakarin Journal of Science an Technology (SJST), 43, 6, 1677-1684

Technological progress has played an important role to identify the demand of agro food in different decades. Total factor productivity index is used as proxy for the technological progress. The data consisted of output and input variables for the technological progress has been taken from the year of 1961-2013from different sources. The tremendous growth in the TFP has been observed during the decade of 60’s and lowest rates during the decade of 70s and in 2000. The results realized those factors which affected the productivity in different decades. Increase in inputs is not only the cause of favourable production, but the main thing is to efficiently utilize those resources. TFP index showed that in 60’s when government implement strategies effectively it increased the TFP rate. The results significantly proved that technological progress in different decades has highly affected the growth rates in agricultural sector.Keywords: Tornqvist-theil (T-T) index, technological progress, output variables and input variables.

Open mold composite (OMC) body panels, comprising three thermosetting layers, warp significantly after removal from the mold. Due to an asymmetric layup of these laminates, a residual stress develops due to chemical shrinkage of the gel coat resin during cure. The resulting bending moment distorts the panel. This work first develops a finite element model (FEM) to calculate panel deformation based on the chemical shrinkage and mechanical properties of the laminated panel. The FEM is then validated by a direct comparison with the measured distortion of door-outer panels produced using a conventional panel-shaped mold. This FEM is then integrated into an algorithm to calculate a mold shape that corrects for this distortion. Starting with a mold duplicating the desired panel shape, the initial panel deformation is calculated using the FEM. Trial molds are then generated by partial inversion of the deformed panel's deviation from the desired shape. The algorithm is iterated until it converges to a corrective mesh that deforms to the mesh of the desired shape of the panel. A corrective mold for a door-outer panel is fabricated and the effectiveness of the corrective mold is evaluated by measuring the distortion of the door-outer panels it produces. Compared to the panels produced by the conventional mold, the corrective mold reduces panel distortion by 45%.

The finite dierence time domain (FDTD) method is based on Yee algorithmwhich employs a very simple way to discretize maxwell equations. Any structureof interest is decomposed into cubic unit cells called voxels and the size of thearea that can be simulated is limited by computer resources.LOD method is an alternative method for the application of the FDTDmethod and it is by design implicit in nature. Implicit methods were introducedto overcome the time step limation inherent in the conventional explicit methods.This implies that a larger time step can be used for the computational domainwhen compared to the normal explicit FDTD method. This results in the speedup of the overall simulation time, highly desirable when electromagnetic fieldsare to be determined for a large computational space or whenever objects havingvery fine details are to be modeled.However during simulation as the wave propagates outward, it will eventuallycome to the edge of the allowable space, which is dictated by how the arrayshave been dimensioned in the program. If nothing were done to address this,unpredictable reflections would be generated that will go back inward. Thus,there would be no way to determine which is the real wave and which is thereflected noise.This is the reason that Absorbing Boundary Conditions (ABCs) have beenan issue for as long as FDTD has been used. In using these absorbing boundaryconditions the objective is to achieve an ideal ABC which absorbs all the outgoingwaves and produces no reflection, along with catering for all incident angles of thewaves propagating towards it. The idea is to simulate the open space in such away that the waves appear to propagate indefinitely. Huygens Absorbing boundaryconditions (HABC) are proactive in both in its design and implementation. Theyincorporate the idea of a hypothetical "Huygens surface" separating the two connectingfield regions such that any field propagating towards the HABC can becanceled by generating a counter field that is equal in magnitude and opposite indirection to its original counterpart. CD-ROM containing supplementary codes submitted in pocket inside back cover of print version of thesis.'

This paper examines the marble industry of North-West Pakistan. Although this low-tech (LT) sector is characterized by a lack of innovation and resource wastage, it has been earmarked for upgrade as one of Pakistan’s three SME-based industries where policy or institutional actions can have the greatest positive impact for regional development. The aim of this study is to generate an in-depth understanding of the sector by exploring the perspectives of key stakeholders. In doing so, it is hoped that entrepreneurship and SME development will be stimulated with positive benefits for the region. A systemic perspective is employed to try and gain insight into interactions and connections between actors in the value creation system, to better identify where improvement might be made. The paper uses a multilevel analytical framework within a case study approach overall. The study adds to our knowledge of LT innovation, which tends to be forgotten in innovation policy, particularly in developing countries. The study also adds to our understanding of the potential for entrepreneurial behaviour at the micro-level where ongoing conflict is a significant element to consider in achieving change. The results of the study enable a sharper focus on where improvement attempts should be made.

High performance work systems (HPWS) and their effect on firm performance is examined using a single holistic case study design in which the Total Strategic Resource Approach (TSRA) is used to measure the extent of HPWS implementation in a private Pakistani hospital. Using a mixed methodology case approach, it is discovered that Pakistan Hospital & Medical College (PHMC) has begun to implement aspects of an HPWS. Profound weaker human resource areas include information sharing and compensation although improvement is needed in all 12 HR practice areas. Firm performance was measured using perceptual measures of the organization's employees, and it was determined that the HPWS does have a significantly positive effect on firm performance. The study was also designed to test the reliability of the TSRA for the Pakistani context given its unique cultural setting, and it was confirmed that the TSRA is a reliable model that future researchers can use in order to measure the extent of HPWS implementation in other Pakistani organizations.

This research aims to generate an in-depth understanding of the existence or nonexistence of low-technology innovation from a sectoral system of innovation (SSI) perspective. Embedded in the critical realist paradigm, this study espouses the notion of a stratified ontology. Moreover, it considers innovation to be systemic and nonsequential influenced by multiple objects and their relations. Deriving from a systematic literature review, this research addresses knowledge gaps including lack of an exclusive and all-encompassing understanding of LT innovation from the critical realist and SSI perspectives. It also addresses the lack of research on the influence of individual within firm, various sectoral elements and sectoral structure on LT innovation through use of a conceptual framework derived from systems thinking, SSI and micro-meso-macro (individual-firm-contextual) framework. Empirically rooted in the marble industry of north-west Pakistan, this research applies retroduction to explain causal mechanisms by understanding events, objects/entities, necessary and contingent relations and causal powers. Following case study approach a multiple (two) case design (embedded type 4) having two cases/sectors, Peshawar Marble Sectoral System (PeMaS) and Buner Marble Sectoral System (BuMaS) has been chosen. A case study protocol has been applied to increase reliability along with a three-phased data collection, the use of mixed methods and a two-step analysis procedure. Research outcomes reveal limited occurrences of incremental LT innovation amongst firms (events). The lack of innovation is a result of the systemic interplay of many sectoral elements identified and presented as the causal mechanisms of stasis. Moreover, the causal mechanisms that can result in LT innovation have been provided, a significant contribution that critical realism makes to the work. Seventy factors (causal powers) that explain the lack of LT innovation categorized across elements/objects and micro-meso-macro origins are discovered. These help identify the extant but latent causal powers that underlie the occurrence of LT innovation. The research makes a number of key contributions. It draws influence from critical realism to understand LT innovation and integrates its tenets with empirical work through use of mixed methods, as opposed to the predominant use of positivism and phenomenology found in previous research. It offers a unique and previously non-existent perspective of the SSI that is all-encompassing and exhaustive. Particularly, it addresses the lack of research on the sectoral elements including individual, learning processes and demand as well as the sectoral structure. Moreover, it complements the SSI approach with a first-time use of a micro-meso-macro (individual-firm-contextual) framework to offer a powerful explanation of the complex interplay within a low-tech SSI. Finally, this research addresses the lack of empirical work on LT innovation from a developing country context.

Under stressed conditions, vinpocetine (1; ethyl apovincamin-22-oate) equilibrates with vincaminic acid ethyl ester (2) and 14-epivincaminic acid ethyl ester (3), and hydrolyzes to apovincaminic acid (4). Sequentially, 2 is equilibrated with 14-epivincaminic acid ethyl ester (3) and hydrolyzes to vincaminic acid (5), which equilibrates with 4 and 14-epivincaminic acid (6). At acidic pH, the major route of degradation is 1 in equilibrium 2----5. However, at neutral pH, the major route of degradation is 1----4 in equilibrium 5. The kinetics for the degradation of 1 in the pH 1-3 region is represented by a consecutive reaction with a reversible step (second-order), but the degradation of 1 in the pH 3.5-6.0 region follows pseudo first-order kinetics. Significant buffer catalysis is observed with acetate and phosphate buffers. Reactions are dependent on the ionic strength, pH, and temperature. No oxygen effect on the degradation of vinpocetine is found.