Total Quality Management A Recommended Strategy For The Pakistani Banking Sector

Keeping in view the significance of TQM in todays competitive banking environment, the study was designed to look into the quality implementation level of commercial banks in Pakistan. Main offices of all commercial banks operating in Pakistan were contacted and were asked about the level of implementation of TQM in their bank; whether the quality implementation is at its introductory, middle, final or fully implemented stage. The data indicated that majority of the banks in Pakistan are at the introductory stage where as almost one fifth claim having TQM fully implemented. The situation highlights the level of effort put by management of banks operating in Pakistan and initiatives taken by them in respect of quality management. The findings of the study may be passed on to Central Bank for further necessary action and follow up

Precise Computation of Energy Levels and Radiative Lifetimes in the s, p, d, and f Sequence of Hydrogen Isotope, with Natural Line Widths

Energy levels and Radiative lifetimes in Deuterium for the following: ns 2S1/2(n≥2), np2Po(1/2,3/2)(n≥2), nd 2D(3/2,5/2)(n≥3), and nf 2Fo(5/2,7/2)(n≥4) sequence have been  evaluated with uncertainties in energies caused due to uncertainty principal. Theoretical calculations performed utilizing the Weakest Bound Electron Potential Model Theory (WBEPMT). Both sets of data show quite an excellent agreement with the experimental data listed at NIST.  This theoretical computation is also a continuation of the work by Raza. S. et al. in Neutral Hydrogen. The high ‘n’ (principal quantum number) values for both sets  of data are presented very first time by utilizing WBEPMT. Keywords: Energy levels, Radiative lifetimes, Quantum defects, Weakest bound electron, Natural line width. DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-10-07 Publication date:May 31st 201

Optimization of Knitted Fabrics for better Thermo-Physiological Comfort by using Taguchi-based Principal Component Analysis

The water, air permeability and thermal resistance of fabrics are important attributes that have a significant impact on the thermal comfort properties of sportswear fabrics in different environmental conditions. In this work, terry and fleece fabrics were developed by varying the fibre content and mass per unit area of fabrics. Moreover, the thermo-physical properties of the developed fabrics, including air permeability, water vapor permeability and thermal resistance, were analysed before and after washing. The multi-response optimization of the thermal comfort properties of knitted fabrics was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) and the Taguchi signal-to-noise ratio (PCA-S/N ratio) to achieve optimal properties. It was determined that the selected parameters (fabric type, finishing, fibre content and fabric mass per unit area) had a significant effect on the thermal comfort properties of knitted fabrics. The PCA analysis showed that 100% cotton terry fabric before washing with an aerial weight of 220 g/m2 had higher air and water vapor permeability value, but a lower thermal resistance value

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Cotton in the new millennium: advances, economics, perceptions and problems

Cotton is the most significant natural fibre and has been a preferred choice of the textile industry and consumers since the industrial revolution began. The share of man-made fibres, both regenerated and synthetic fibres, has grown considerably in recent times but cotton production has also been on the rise and accounts for about half of the fibres used for apparel and textile goods. To cotton’s advantage, the premium attached to the presence of cotton fibre and the general positive consumer perception is well established, however, compared to commodity man-made fibres and high performance fibres, cotton has limitations in terms of its mechanical properties but can help to overcome moisture management issues that arise with performance apparel during active wear. This issue of Textile Progress aims to: i. Report on advances in cotton cultivation and processing as well as improvements to conventional cotton cultivation and ginning. The processing of cotton in the textile industry from fibre to finished fabric, cotton and its blends, and their applications in technical textiles are also covered. ii. Explore the economic impact of cotton in different parts of the world including an overview of global cotton trade. iii. Examine the environmental perception of cotton fibre and efforts in organic and genetically-modified (GM) cotton production. The topic of naturally-coloured cotton, post-consumer waste is covered and the environmental impacts of cotton cultivation and processing are discussed. Hazardous effects of cultivation, such as the extensive use of pesticides, insecticides and irrigation with fresh water, and consequences of the use of GM cotton and cotton fibres in general on the climate are summarised and the effects of cotton processing on workers are addressed. The potential hazards during cotton cultivation, processing and use are also included. iv. Examine how the properties of cotton textiles can be enhanced, for example, by improving wrinkle recovery and reducing the flammability of cotton fibre

Mutation in the intracellular chloride channel CLCC1 associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa

We identified a homozygous missense alteration (c.75C>A, p.D25E) in CLCC1, encoding a presumptive intracellular chloride channel highly expressed in the retina, associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) in eight consanguineous families of Pakistani descent. The p.D25E alteration decreased CLCC1 channel function accompanied by accumulation of mutant protein in granules within the ER lumen, while siRNA knockdown of CLCC1 mRNA induced apoptosis in cultured ARPE-19 cells. TALEN KO in zebrafish was lethal 11 days post fertilization. The depressed electroretinogram (ERG) cone response and cone spectral sensitivity of 5 dpf KO zebrafish and reduced eye size, retinal thickness, and expression of rod and cone opsins could be rescued by injection of wild type CLCC1 mRNA. Clcc1+/- KO mice showed decreased ERGs and photoreceptor number. Together these results strongly suggest that intracellular chloride transport by CLCC1 is a critical process in maintaining retinal integrity, and CLCC1 is crucial for survival and function of retinal cells

Mutation in the intracellular chloride channel CLCC1 associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa

This is the final version. Available on open access from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this recordData Availability: Exome and genome .vcf files and SNP array data are available from Dryad Digital Repository: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.3vv31qqWe identified a homozygous missense alteration (c.75C>A, p.D25E) in CLCC1, encoding a presumptive intracellular chloride channel highly expressed in the retina, associated with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) in eight consanguineous families of Pakistani descent. The p.D25E alteration decreased CLCC1 channel function accompanied by accumulation of mutant protein in granules within the ER lumen, while siRNA knockdown of CLCC1 mRNA induced apoptosis in cultured ARPE-19 cells. TALEN KO in zebrafish was lethal 11 days post fertilization. The depressed electroretinogram (ERG) cone response and cone spectral sensitivity of 5 dpf KO zebrafish and reduced eye size, retinal thickness, and expression of rod and cone opsins could be rescued by injection of wild type CLCC1 mRNA. Clcc1+/- KO mice showed decreased ERGs and photoreceptor number. Together these results strongly suggest that intracellular chloride transport by CLCC1 is a critical process in maintaining retinal integrity, and CLCC1 is crucial for survival and function of retinal cells

Geometrical Model to Determine Sewing Thread Consumption for Stitch Class 406

This study aimed at developing a geometrical model for predicting the sewing thread consumption of stitch class 406. Stitch class 400 is a multi-thread chain stitch which consumes a less amount of thread as compared with stitch class 500 but more thread as compared with stitch class 300. Sewing thread calculation plays a significant role in determining the exact amount of thread for completing a garment and predicting the right quantity of thread for bulk production. The geometrical model developed was used for predicting sewing thread consumption by using different factors like stitch density (8 and 12 SPI), material thickness (2, 4 and 6 layers of fabric), and type of material (denim, knitted and fleece). The model was validated with a total of 18 samples sewn with different kinds of fabric, SPI, and material thickness. It was concluded that the model could predict sewing thread consumption with more than 97.18% accuracy

Influence of Chemical Treatments and Nanocellulose Spray Coating on the Mechanical, Low Velocity Impact and Compression after Impact Performance of Nonwoven Jute Composites

This paper reports the preparation and characterization of nonwoven jute composites. The untreated and chemically treated waste jute fibers were used to prepare needlepunched nonwoven fabrics. The treated waste jute fibers were also used to extract nanocellulose by pulverization, followed by acid hydrolysis. The prepared 2 wt% suspension of nanocellulose was spray coated over chemically treated nonwoven jute fabric. Afterward, the composites were prepared by compression molding technique. The surface morphologies of treated jute fibers and nanocellulose were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The crystallinity of chemically treated jute fibers and nanocellulose was measured by X-ray diffraction. The effect of chemical treatments and nanocellulose spray coating over nonwoven jute reinforcement on the tensile, flexural, drop weight impact, and compression after impact properties of prepared composites has been investigated. The results revealed the improvement in mechanical properties after chemical treatments and nanocellulose coating. The overall better results were shown by composite sample prepared from chemically treated followed by nanocellulose sprayed jute nonwoven reinforcement