Status of Small and Medium Enterprises in Punjab, Pakistan

The Sole purpose of the study is to carve out the performance and structure of the small and medium scale manufacturing sector of Pakistan in terms of employment and productivity. The present study has incorporated the transcendental logarithmic cost function to apply on secondary, cross section data of the 3-digit forty nine SMEs of Pakistan. This functional form allows for and assists in exploring the true production structure of the firms. It has been revealed that structure of SMEs in Pakistan is based on Non-homothetic, Non- homogeneous, Variable returns to scale and Non-unitary elasticises. It has further been found that SMEs are overwhelmingly efficient as the pro- SMEs advocate them, in terms of employment generation and productivity, as capital and labour are found to be substitutes, which means employment generation is possible without the expansion in capital in a densely populated country like Pakistan. The conclusion suggests that although public policy should be targeted to provide parallel support to capital and labour yet distinguished favour should be given to labour to generate employment in SMEs of Pakistan. Key Words: Training, Technology and Information Tools

Effect of the Rolling Mode on Texture Development of Cu26Fe2Ni Alloy System

The main objective of the present work was to study the cold rolled texture of Cu26Fe2Ni alloy system at different reductions using the XRD analysis techniques and then co-relate it with various mechanical properties. The Cu26Fe2Ni alloy was produced from pure elemental constituents using a vacuum induction melting furnace and casted as cylindrical ingots having 10 cm length and 5 cm diameter. For homogenization of the structure the cast ingots were heated to 950 ºC for six hours and cooled in the furnace. Then, these ingots were hot forged using an open die forging to form samples having dimensions 200 x 45 x 10 mm approximately. The forged plates were cut into two halves and each one was cold rolled (unidirectionally) to a final thickness of 0.69 mm. During rolling after every 25 % reduction, the cold rolled samples were annealed at a temperature of 900 ºC for one hour. The diffraction patterns were scanned using Siemens JEOL JDX-99C X-Ray Diffractometer with Ni-filter and Cu-Ka radiation for XRD analysis of cast and rolled samples. The deformation texture was then co-related with the mechanical properties, e.g. hardness, UTS, yield strength and elongation. It was observed that the intensity of (111) plane gradually decreases where as intensity of (220) plane gradually increases after cold rolling

EFFECTS OF RECYCLING ON THE PROPERTIES OF GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED POLYPROPYLENE

Recycled polymers are considered low performance materials because their properties are expected to reduce drastically with recycling. The objective of the present study was to characterize 30 wt. % glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (GFRPP) recycled for four generations. Samples for tensile testing of virgin and four recycled generation of GFRPP were prepared by injection molding techniques and tested using Instron 20 KN. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was also carried out to study the thermal properties of recycled and virgin samples of glass fibre reinforced polypropylene. Results showed that the thermal properties especially the transition temperature of GFRPP was not affected at all by the recycling process. In contrast the tensile strength decreased as number of recycling generations of glass fibres reinforced polypropylene increased. This research work demonstrates that 100 % recycled GFRPP can be used effectively only for two recycle generations. However, some modifications/treatments are necessary for GFRPP to use it more efficiently for further recycles

Effect of diabetic counseling based on conversation map as compared to routine counseling on diabetes management self-efficacy and diabetic distress among patients with diabetes in Pakistan: a randomized controlled trial (study protocol)

Background: Novel interactive and pictorial health education tool named Diabetes Conversation Map (DCM) might be effective for the improvement of diabetes management self-efficacy (DMSE) and diabetes distress (DD) among diabetic patients in lower middle-income setting. This study protocol will assess the effectiveness of DCM as compared to routine care (RC) to improve DMSE, decrease DD and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods: This will be two arms randomized controlled trial, conducted at national institute of diabetes and endocrinology (NIDE) in Karachi, Pakistan. A sample of 120 T2DM patients of age 30–60 years with suboptimal diabetes control will be screened through eligibility criteria and DD screening tool. Patients who fulfill the eligibility criteria and have diabetes distress will be randomized into interventional and control arm. The intervention arm will receive four education sessions (40 min each) using DCM for 4 weeks duration of enrollment. Controlled arm will receive RC. DMSE and DD will be measured using the validated Likert tools at baseline and after 3 months of enrollment. Latest results of HbA1c will be retrieved from the respective medical record files at baseline and 3 months. Change in DMSE, DD scores and HbA1c levels within groups (pre-post) and between the groups after 3 months of enrollment will be compared. Multivariable linear regression will be conducted to adjust for any potential confounders. Discussion: In a study in UK, 70% of the patients with diabetes reported DCM had helped them in controlling their diabetes and recommended this method to teach other patients with diabetes also. In China, a study found that patients with diabetes who received DCM based education had significantly lower DD and significantly higher diabetes empowerment score after six months of the intervention as compared to the traditional counselling. A cross sectional study conducted in Pakistan also demonstrated that teaching based on DCM was useful in improving the knowledge, attitude and practices of patients with T2DM. Besides, no other study has evaluated the effectiveness of these novel tools for DMSE and diabetes distress DD in well-designed, sufficiently powered clinical trials. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03747471. Date of registration: Nov 20. 2018. Version and Date of Protocol: Version 1, IRB Approval date 28 June 2018

Injection Moulding and Heat Treatment of Ni-Cr-Si-B Alloy Powder

Injection moulding, debinding, sintering and heat treatment of Ni-Cr-Si-B alloy powder of high hardness value have been studied. A binder system comprised of two polymers, a major component of water soluble polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and a minor component of very finely dispersed polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) derived from an emulsion was employed. Mixing of a number of different feedstocks was carried out manually. Following the identification of the optimum binder composition (20 wt. % PMMA, 80 wt. % PEGs) and solid loading (65 Vol. %), several test specimens were injection moulded for further processing. The PEGs were removed by leaching with water. The PMMA was removed by pyrolysis, prior to the sintering stage. Samples were sintered to ~ 99 % of theoretical density. With careful control of the various processing parameters, including sintering temperature and time, cooling rate and heat treatment conditions, good mechanical properties including high hardness of HRC ~57 were attained. In an attempt to reduce the process cycle time, the sintering ramp was modified to include solutionising and oil-quenching in a single sintering cycle. The hardened samples were tempered at temperatures from 250 to 350 °C for 2 hours. Scanning electron microscopy was used to reveal the micro-structural changes during various sintering and heat-treatment stages

A Study on Injection Moulding of Two Different Pottery Bodies

Injection moulding of a conventional high clay pottery body and an unconventional low clay pottery body has been described. The Sheffield Binder System comprising of a major component of PEG and a minor component of PMMA was used. The behavior of these pottery bodies during various stages of injection moulding has been analyzed. Optical and scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the structure of green and sintered specimens

Effects of Laser Treatment on WC-12%Co Cermet Coating Deposited by Air Plasma Spraying Technique

Tungsten carbide powder with 12% Co was deposited on AISI 321 stainless steel substrate using Air Plasma Spraying (APS) technique. The coating was produced at 80 mm standoff distance. The coated samples were treated with CO2 Laser under the shroud of nitrogen gas. A series of experimentation was carried out in order to optimize the laser parameters. After laser melting, the modified surfaces were characterized and compared with as sprayed surfaces.It was observed that the laser melting process produced defect free surfaces compared to conventional coating

Production of Tin Powder Using Gas Atomization Process

Gas atomization process is widely used for the production of various metal and pre-alloyed powders. The process involves the disintegration of a liquid stream of molten metal into liquid metal droplets by the impingement of high pressure gas jets. The liquid metal droplets subsequently cool and solidify into metal powder particles, which can typically range from 1 to 150 µm. After a detailed study of various atomizing processes, the cross jet gas atomizing scheme was selected for the present research work. Experiments were carried out using air and argon gas as atomizing media. Particle shape was observed using Scanning Electron Microscope. The particle size distribution was measured using the Laser Particle Size Analyzer. XRD analysis of different powder samples was carried out to measure the oxygen contents. Spherical shape particles ranging from 1 µm to 60 µm sizes were produced

Comparison of Efficacy of Resin-Modified Glass Ionomer and Composite Restoration in Inhibition of Secondary Caries in Primary Molars

Objective: To evaluate and compare clinical performance and caries inhibition of Resin modified glass ionomer cement and composite restoration in primary molars Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Operative Dentistry, Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Feb 2019 to Jan 2020. Methodology: Eighty-three patients fulfilling the selection criteria having at least one carious mandibular primary molar on both sides were divided by split-mouth design. Resin-modified Glass ionomer restorations were done on one side and termed Group-A, and Composite Restorations were done on the other side and termed Group-B. Each restoration was clinically evaluated regarding the appearance of secondary caries at 3, 6 and 12 months after placement by the same operator who performed the treatment. Results: A total of 166 conventional restorations were placed in the 83 children having carious mandibular primary molars, at least one on each side of the arch. The assessment of restorations, performed after six months, showed an 89.2% success rate of Resin modified Glass ionomer restorations and a 66% success rate of Composite Restoration. One year of follow-up showed an 80% success rate for Resin modified Glass ionomer restorations and 60% for Composite Restoration, as regards secondary caries; statistically significant differences were found in both groups. Conclusion: The study results showed that Resin modified Glass ionomer cement used to restore primary molars affected by caries performed better clinically than composite in assessing secondary caries

Diabetes conversation map - A novel tool for diabetes management self-efficacy among type 2 diabetes patients in Pakistan: A randomized controlled trial

Background: This study aimed to measure the effect of diabetes education using the novel method of diabetes conversation map (DCM) as compared to routine counselling (RC) on diabetes management self-efficacy (DMSE) among patients living with type 2 diabetes in Karachi, Pakistan.Methods: A parallel arm randomized controlled trial among patients with type 2 diabetes aged 30-60 years, with HbA1c \u3e 7%, diagnosed for at least 5 yrs., was conducted at the national institute of diabetes and endocrinology in Karachi, Pakistan. A total 123 type 2 diabetes patients were randomized into DCM (n = 62) or RC (n = 61). Four weekly diabetes control sessions of 40 min each using the DCM or RC was provided. DMSE was measured using a validated Urdu language DMSE tool at baseline and after three months of the randomization. Change in DMSE and HbA1c levels within groups (pre-post) and between the groups after 3 months of enrollment was compared.Results: Baseline characteristics except HbA1c were similar between the two arms. After 3 months of enrollment, there was no change in the DMSE score in the RC arm however, significant increase in DMSE score was noted in the DCM arm (P = \u3c 0.001). The average difference (95% confidence interval) in DMSE score between the DCM and RC arm was 33.7(27.3, 40.0; p = \u3c 0.001) after 3 months of the enrollment. Difference in HbA1c within groups was not significant.Conclusions: DCM significantly improved DMSE among type 2 diabetes patients in a developing country setting like Pakistan. Healthcare workers caring for type 2 diabetes patients need to be trained on DCM to effectively utilize this novel tool for educating diabetes patients.Trial registration: This trial was prospectively registered. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03747471. Date of registration: Nov 20. 2018