Synergistic fillers in polymer concrete : new composites

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of synergistic fillers on underwater construction, burning and mechanical properties of polymer portland cement concrete(PPCC). Fine grains of hydrous calcium sulfate, Trihydrated alumina, Calcium carbonate and fibrous unhydrous calcium sulfate were examined in PPCC. It has been observed that these synergistic filler improves the mechanical property (stress) and reduce the average time of burning of PPCC. With fixed quantity of polymer, the deterioration of PPCC in water increases by replacing the sand with above stated fillers

Generating background network traffic for network security testbeds

With the advancement of science and technology, there has been a rapid growth in computer network attacks. Most of them are in the form of sophisticated and smart attacks, which are hard to trace. Although researchers have been working on this issue - attack detection, prevention and mitigation - the existing network security evaluation techniques lack effective experimental infrastructure and rigorous scientific methodologies for developing and testing the cyber security technologies. To make progress in this area, we need to address one of the major shortcomings in evaluating network security mechanisms -- lack of relevant, representative network data. The research community is in need of tools that are able to generate scalable, tunable, and representative network traffic. Such tools are vital in a tested environment, where they can be used to evaluate the behavior and performance of security related tools. In this context, we present the Markov Traffic Generator (MTG), which is able to generate representative network traffic. The MTG follows a unique approach of generating background traffic at the session level, unlike the previous approaches operated on the packet level. The tool is application dependent and is able to generate various types of TCP traffic. The resulting tool is useful for researchers and developers in building, testing and evaluating cyber security related tools. In this work, we develop the classifications of background traffic generation models based on the past work and present a new toolkit, the Markov Traffic Generator (MTG). As opposed to past work, MTG uses a first order hierarchical Markov agent to generate background user behavior in network testbed. The Markov agents can be used to generate behavior that mimics observed traffic in real networks. The thesis concludes by showing that MTG can realistically replicate observed network behavior

Implications, Challenges, and Incentives of CPEC for Regional Connectivity and Economic Development

CPEC is a multifarious project, connecting two atomic powers of Asia with railways and roadways. Bringing two in-every-way different and diversified nations closer. Much has already been written, scrutinized, and said with minute details about project but no one knows the project in its entirety. The ongoing project has yet to take final shape. The culmination of CPEC will clear the mist surrounding it. Some say CPEC is debt trap by China while others claim that it is purely a business deal between two states. Mainstream media in Pakistan projects almost the shadowy picture. Chinese media says that the project is aimed to tie the everlasting knot of fraternity between two great nations. China has personal interests in this project so does Pakistan. This study aims to unravel the mystery surrounding the project and find out what the project really is, its implications, challenges and prospects for economic development and regional connectivity. Particularly it is explored that how and to what extent will this project impact Pakistan? This is a qualitative study with secondary data resources that aims to depict the CPEC in a broader picture. Key Words: Pakistan-China Relations, Debt Trap, Gwadar, CPEC, Belt and Road Initiative, Economic Developmen

Impact of WTO’s Trade Liberalisation on Selected Food Crops in Pakistan

WTO has major implications for almost all the sectors of economy but agriculture sector is the one which is more prone to the implementation of its agreements, particularly the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). The study intended to evaluate the impact of WTO on domestic ma rket and farm-level prices, production and consumption of major food commodities like wheat and rice and ultimately their impact on the producer’s and consumer’s surpluses. The farm level impact was also evaluated to chalk out the eventual position at farm level with the purpose to identify necessary policies and actions to cope with the new world situation. The study tries to provide a useful guide to the likely impacts of agricultural trade liberalisation. It was found that openness of the economy would affect the domestic demand, supply and consumption along with affecting the producer and consumer surpluses. It was estimated that increased prices would have increased production of wheat which would have generated a gain of producer’s surplus of Rs 10,682 million. On the other hand due to increased wholesale price of wheat, the domestic demand of wheat would have declined and caused a loss to consumer surplus of Rs 12,557 million. Similarly, the increased production of rice would have generated a gain of producer’s surplus of Rs 3,708 million. However, due to increase in the wholesale price of rice, its domestic demand would have declined thus causing a loss to consumers’ surplus. Overall the impact of the increase in the international price of wheat would have resulted in a net loss to Pakistan of Rs 1,875 million during 2004-05 while in case of rice it would have resulted in a gain of Rs 1,215 million in 2004-05.Trade Liberalisation, Food Crops, Export, Consumer Surplus, Comparative Advantage, Free Trade.

ON PERFORMANCE OF QUANTUM LOCKING FOR WHEEL-LESS TRANSPORTATION

Transportation has continuously been a vital side of human civilization reflective the extent of general economic and technological advancement of a given society. The recent technological advancements in power electronics are pushing for Maglev train using Quantum locking. For levitation the most important factor is temperature which is affecting the efficiency of the train. In this work we have compared different prototypes of Maglev trains including Japanese, German and Chinese technologies. We also did mathematical modeling to relate the magnetic force required for a certain weight of the train to levitate.  We suggest that Japanese maglev is better than Germany and china maglev

Enzymatic method for assaying calcium in serum with Ca++ -ATPase

A kinetic assay for total calcium in serum was developed which is based on the activation of Ca(++)-ATPase by free Ca(++) [Ca(++)](f) maintained by EGTA in the reaction mixture. The concentration of Ca(++)(f) was dependent on total reference calcium added or serum calcium. Ca(++)-ATPase activity was coupled to the reduction of NADH by pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and monitored by change in absorbance at 340 nm. The calcium in normal serum was 10.08 +/- 0.24 mg/dl (n = 35) by our method while with o-cresolphthalein complexone (CPC) method, the total calcium in the same 35 serum samples was 10.14 +/- 0.54 mg/dl. The range of within-run coefficient of variations (CVs) by this method was 0.9-2.87% at 8-12 mg/dl and day-to-day CVs were 0.72-3.17%. The presence of other ions and standard clinical interfering agents did not affect this assay system. The correlation between values obtained with our method (y) and CPC method (x) for normal serum was: y = 1.064x-0.580 mg/dl (r = 0.912, n = 59)

Factional federalism, state capacity, and fiscal constraints: Pakistan's COVID-19 challenges

As Covid-19 spreads across Pakistan, Hassan Javid, Sameen M. Ali, and Umair Javed (Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan) explain how the country's ability to effectively deal with the virus will be impeded by tensions between the central and provincial governments, a lack of state capacity, and fiscal constraints

Antibacterial activity of some medicinal plants against human pathogens

Objective: To assess the antibacterial goods of unrefined solvent methanol concentrate of Calligonum polygonoids, Asphadalous tenuiflous, Pulicaria crispa, and Fagonia cretica against a few human microorganisms. Method: Unrefined methanol concentrates of, Calligonum polygonoids, Asphadalous tenuiflous, Pulicaria crispa and Fagonia cretica at grouping of 500, 250 and 100µg/ml were considered in contrast to Gram-positive Staphylococcus carnosus and Gram -ve K. pneumoniae, S. typhi, E. coli and P. aurogenosa by utilizing circle dissemination strategy. Ciprofloxacin (5µg/ml) was utilized as a kind of perspective medication. Results: The concentrates of all plants showed expansive range antibacterial exercises in a portion subordinate way. The most noteworthy inhibitory area was seen from methanol concentrate of Fagonia cretica against Klebsiella pneumoniae (19mm), S. carnosus (19mm), E. coli (18.67mm) and S. typhi (14mm); Calligonum polygonoids showed against E. coli (15mm), S. typhi (16milimeter) and P. aurogenosa (16milimeter); Pulicaria crispa displayed against K. pneumoniae (19milimeter), E. coli (17milimeter) S. typhi (18milimeter), S. carnosus (19milileter) and P. aurogenosa (16milimeter) while Asphadalous tenuiflous displayed against K. pneumoniae (15milimeter), and E. coli (15milimeter) S. typhi (14.33milimeter), S. carnosus (13.67milimeter) and P. aurogenosa (13.67milimeter). Conclusion: These restorative plants have strong antibacterial action and might be the new hotspot for novel antibacterial compound disclosure for the treatment of medications safe human microorganisms