Mannich bases derivatives of 2-Phenyl-5-Benzimidazole sulfonic acid; Synthesis, Characterization, Computational studies and Biological evaluation

A new series of N-Mannich bases of 2-Phenyl-5-benzimidazole sulfonic acid have been synthesized through amino methylation reaction with secondary amines. The two moieties were held together through a methylene bridge, which comes from formaldehyde (Formalin Solution 37%) used in the reaction. Chemical structures of the newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed using FT-IR, 1HNMR and 13CNMR. Different in vitro assays including Anti-oxidant, Enzyme inhibition, Anti-microbial and Cytotoxicity assay were performed to evaluate the biological potential with reference to the standard drug. Among the synthesized library, compound 3a shows maximum alpha-glucosidase inhibition with an IC50 value of 66.66 μg/ml, compound 3d was found most toxic with LC50 value of 10.17 μg/ml. ADME evaluation studies were performed with the help of Molinspiration online software. Docking calculations were also performed. Given the importance of the nucleus involved, the synthesized compound might find extensive medicinal applications as reported in the literature

Phytochemical Analyses for Antibacterial Activity and Therapeutic Compounds of Convolvulus arvensis L., Collected from the Salt Range of Pakistan

Background: Pharmaceutical world is currently facing a major issue of bacterial resistance against antibiotics. For the past few years, plants being an excellent source of phytochemicals have replaced many traditional antibacterial agents. Keeping this in view, the current study was conducted to detect the antibacterial activity and the presence of various phytochemicals in Convolvulus arvensis leaves and stem extracts.Methods: Eight different organic and aqueous extracts of Convolvulus arvensis L. (C. arvensis) leaves and stem were prepared and their antimicrobial activity against 13 clinically important bacterial species was investigated using the disc diffusion assay. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous extracts of C. arvensis was performed using qualitative tests.  Results: All the thirteen bacterial species tested in this study were found sensitive to the stem and leaf extracts of C. arvensis. Highest antimicrobial activity was observed against   Escherichia coli while among all the extracts butanol extract was the most effective antimicrobial agent. Phytochemical analyses using organic and aqueous extracts confirmed the presence of various secondary plant metabolites of therapeutic value i.e. saponins, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, phlobatannins, cardiac glycosides and coumarins.Conclusion: Our results indicate that C. arvensis plant contains some phytochemicals with antimicrobial affects. These chemicals possess great potential to be used as advanced therapeutic compounds against broad range of pathogenic bacteria

Handover Architectures for Heterogeneous Networks Using the Media Independent Information Handover (MIH)

In heterogeneous networks, network selection by nature is a multi-dimensional problem. Many parameters need to be considered for handover decision making. Apart from handover accuracy and efficiency, an important consideration is the scalability and signaling overhead of such handover algorithms. In this article we propose to break down a Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) based heterogeneous handover algorithm in two parts. The execution of the first part is carried out in an independent and proactive manner prior to the actual handover, assuming three different handover architectures. The handover architectures are differentiated based upon the level of the distribution of the handover algorithm among multiple network components. The Media Independent Handover (MIH) and its different services are used to retrieve and share information among MIH enabled nodes and for conformity among heterogeneous network standards. The proposed algorithm is evaluated with respect to handover accuracy, handover delay efficiency and signaling overhead. The evaluation is carried out for all three handover architectures using simulations. Only handovers between Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) and WiMAX (IEEE 802.16) networks are considered. But the handover framework is general and can be extended to consider other wireless and mobile communication networks

Axial compressive behaviour of circular CFFT: Experimental database and design-oriented model

Concrete Filled Fibre Reinforced Polymer Tube (CFFT) for new columns construction has attracted significant research attention in recent years. The CFFT acts as a formwork for new columns and a barrier to corrosion accelerating agents. It significantly increases both the strength capacity (Strength enhancement ratio) and the ductility (Strain enhancement ratio) of reinforced concrete columns. In this study, based on predefined selection criteria, experimental investigation results of 134 circular CFFT columns under axial compression have been compiled and analysed from 599 CFFT specimens available in the literature. It has been observed that actual confinement ratio (expressed as a function of material properties of fibres, diameter of CFFT and compressive strength of concrete) has significant influence on the strength and ductility of circular CFFT columns. Design oriented models have been proposed to compute the strength and strain enhancement ratios of circular CFFT columns. The proposed strength and strain enhancement ratio models have significantly reduced Average Absolute Error (AAE), Mean Square Error (MSE), Relative Standard Error of Estimate (RSEE) and Standard Deviation (SD) as compared to other available strength and strain enhancement ratios of circular CFFT column models. The predictions of the proposed strength and strain enhancement ratio models match well with the experimental strength and strain enhancement ratios investigation results in the compiled database

Entropy generation in magnetohydrodynamic mixed convection flow over an inclined stretching sheet

This research focuses on entropy generation rate per unit volume in magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) mixed convection boundary layer flow of a viscous fluid over an inclined stretching sheet. Analysis has been performed in the presence of viscous dissipation and non-isothermal boundary conditions. The governing boundary layer equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations by an appropriate similarity transformation. The transformed coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations are then solved numerically by a shooting technique along with the Runge-Kutta method. Expressions for entropy generation (Ns) and Bejan number (Be) in the form of dimensionless variables are also obtained. Impact of various physical parameters on the quantities of interest is seen

Impact of HR Practices on Perceived Performance of Hospital Employees in Pakistan

The objective of our study is to establish the relationship between Employee’s Performance and HR practices in the developing countries like Pakistan. Few studies have been conducted to examine the relationship between employee’s performance and HR practices in the developing countries. The core aim of our study is to investigate relationship between employee’s performance and three Human Resource practices (Performance Evaluation, Promotion and Compensation) among hospital employees in Pakistan. The outcomes of this paper shows the positive association between promotion practices and compensation practices with employee performance but employee performance are not significantly associated with performance evaluation. Pakistani hospitals need to change some compensation practices for the improvement of hospital employee’s performance. Keywords: Employee performance, HR practices, Hospital employees, Pakistan

FACTORS AFFECTING INVESTOR’S DECISION-MAKING IN SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT   Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of financial literacy on the investment decisions of the SME’s investors in Pakistan

Thermal Conductivity of Dusty Plasmas through Molecular Dynamics Simulations

The studies of strongly coupled complex plasmas are of significant in the area of science and technology. The plasma thermal conductivity strongly coupled (complex) plasmas is of significant in scientific technology, because it behaves as complex fluids. The two-dimensional (2D) plasma thermal conductivity of strongly coupled complex dusty plasmas (SCCDPs) has been investigated by using the homogenous nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (HNEMD) simulations, proposed by Evan-Gillan scheme, at higher screening parameter к. In our case, we have chosen particularly higher screening strength (к) for calculating plasma thermal conductivity. The new simulations of plasma thermal conductivity are computed over an extensive range of plasma states (Г, к) for suitable system sizes by applying the HNEMD simulation method at constant external force field strength (F*). It is found that the plasma thermal conductivity of SCCDPS decreases by increasing plasma states (Г, к). The calculations show that the kinetic energy of SCCDPS depends upon the system temperature (1/Г) and it is independent of к for higher screening parameter. The new results of thermal conductivity obtained from an improved HNEMD algorithm are in satisfactory agreement with earlier known numerical results and experimental data for 2D SCCDPS. It is depicted that the HNEMD method is a powerful tool to calculate an accurate plasma thermal conductivity of 2D SCCDPS