Higher education grant system and challenges in Pakistan: a brief review

This paper discusses about the background of higher education system, grant distribution system and its related issues and challenges at higher education institutions in Pakistan. Accordingly, higher education is considered as a broad horizon of vision which explores the possibilities and offers awareness to new doors for development. In this study, briefed literature based on recently published work by higher education commission of Pakistan has been and concluded. As per overall results, the government of Pakistan does not give preference for the increment of education budged due to national security and terrorism in the country. While, higher education commission of Pakistan has taken sufficient and effective measures for the enhancement of the system of higher education institutions in Pakistan. Moreover, higher education commission of Pakistan also focused for the development of research culture in public privet universities. In, conclusion, this research paper provides the detailed indication of grant distribution system and education policies along with associated issues in Islamic republic of Pakistan

Effect of Nanosilica and Carbon Nanotubes Addition on Mortar Mechanical and Durability Properties

Nowadays, nanomaterials are being extensively used in civil engineering works for improving their quality. Improved compressive strength, flexural strength, modulus of elasticity, and good durability performance of nanocomposites attracted the researcher's interest in understanding these nanomaterials’ behavior in cementitious composites. In the present paper, mechanical and durability properties of 1.0 wt% nanosilica (NS) and four different types of 0.3 wt% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) admixed cement mortar was assessed at 28, 56, 90 and 120 days under sulphate water curing. The outside diameters of CNTs are 10-20 nm and 30-50 nm, each type are un-treated and treated with COOH group, respectively. Results showed that flexural and compressive strength was improved for mortar sample admixed with nanomaterials than normal one. Also, nanomaterials came up as a good solution against abrasion and sulphate attacks. The durability is also enhanced for such mortar samples as the density increases, reducing the porosity and water absorption capacity. Resistivity results indicated negligible to low risk of corrosion, thus increasing the durability of these mortar samples. Overall, the sample formed with treated CNTs and 30nm – 50nm outside diameter gave better results than control specimen and other admixed mortar. Scanning Electron Microscopic  images were in strong correlation with the experimental results

Two Stage Portfolio Selection and Optimization Model with the Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization

The selection criteria play an important role in the portfolio optimization using any ratio model. In this paper, the authors have considered the mean return as profit and variance of return as risk on the asset return as selection criteria, as the first stage to optimize the selected portfolio. Furthermore, the sharp ratio (SR) has been considered to be the optimization ratio model. In this regard, the historical data taken from Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) has been considered. A metaheuristic technique has been developed, with financial tool box available in MATLAB and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Hence, called as the hybrid particle swarm optimization (HPSO) or can also be called as financial tool box particle swarm optimization (FTB-PSO). In this model, the budgets as constraint, where as two different models i.e. with and without short sale, have been considered. The obtained results have been compared with the existing literature and the proposed technique is found to be optimum and better in terms of profit

Physical Properties of Undisturbed Tropical Peat Soil at Pekan District, Pahang, West Malaysia

Peat soil are considered soft soil with having weak characteristics such as low shear strength, high moisture content, and compressibility. Construction perspective, peat soil is considered as unstable soil due to its poor engineering properties. It may cause an extensive loss in road or building construction projects. The key objectives of the current study are to examine the physical properties of peat soil including shear strength, liquid limit, moisture content, organic content, pH, and dry density of peat soil in Pekan district. The peat samples were collected from Kampung Bahru (KB), Kampung Lancing I (KLI), and Kampung Lancing II (KL II), Pekan District, Pahang, Malaysia. The finding indicates that the shear strength (kPa) for was measured in between 7.2 to 8.2 kPa. The water content was recorded 537.10 % to 635.28 %. The liquid limit was examined 137.638% to 152.540 %, the maximum dry density was examined 6.68 x 10-7 kg/cm3 to 7.99 x 10-7 kg/cm3. The average organic content was calculated as approximately 95.88 % to 98.48 %. In comparison with previous study, its indicated that the investigated peat soil in Pekan area is mainly content with lower shear strength, high water content, liquid limit, and low density, resulting in low strengthening properties. Based on the examined physical properties, its specified that peat did not have adequate stability as a road or building foundation. Strengthen of peat are highly recommended for any types of construction on peatland in Pekan district, Pahang, Malaysia

Barkhausen noise analysis of friction stir processed steel plate

670-676This work investigates the variation in material properties of steel upon friction stir processing through its magnetic response. The steel plate of grade IS 2062 having a thickness of 3 mm have been friction stir processed (FSPed) using a tool of tungsten carbide with a 15 mm shoulder diameter along with 3 mm pin diameter with traverse of 150 mm/minute and a 800 RPM revolving speed. Magnetic response of these processed plate and base metal has been recorded using Barkhausen noise (BN) analyzer in terms of BN signal parameters i.e. the rms value and pulse count or number of pulses. Barkhausen noise analysis results have been validated with micro-hardness testing and metallographic study of as received metal and the processed samples. Higher microhardness has been found in processed sample in comparison to the as received metal due to grain refinement owing to the combined effect of plastic flow of material during stirring action of the rotating tool and the frictional heat. Barkhausen noise analysis has been performed in a wide range of magnetic field intensity (MFI) and excitation frequencies to study their effect on variation in rms value and the number of pulses

Barkhausen noise analysis of friction stir processed steel plate

This work investigates the variation in material properties of steel upon friction stir processing through its magneticresponse. The steel plate of grade IS 2062 having a thickness of 3 mm have been friction stir processed (FSPed) using a toolof tungsten carbide with a 15 mm shoulder diameter along with 3 mm pin diameter with traverse of 150 mm/minute and a800 RPM revolving speed. Magnetic response of these processed plate and base metal has been recorded using Barkhausennoise (BN) analyzer in terms of BN signal parameters i.e. the rms value and pulse count or number of pulses. Barkhausennoise analysis results have been validated with micro-hardness testing and metallographic study of as received metal and theprocessed samples. Higher microhardness has been found in processed sample in comparison to the as received metal due tograin refinement owing to the combined effect of plastic flow of material during stirring action of the rotating tool and thefrictional heat. Barkhausen noise analysis has been performed in a wide range of magnetic field intensity (MFI) andexcitation frequencies to study their effect on variation in rms value and the number of pulses

A Miniaturized and Highly Sensitive Microwave Sensor Based on CSRR for Characterization of Liquid Materials

In this work, a miniaturized and highly sensitive microwave sensor based on a complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) is proposed for the detection of liquid materials. The modeled sensor was designed based on the CSRR structure with triple rings (TRs) and a curve feed for improved measurement sensitivity. The designed sensor oscillates at a single frequency of 2.5 GHz, which is simulated using an Ansys HFSS simulator. The electromagnetic simulation explains the basis of the mode resonance of all two-port resonators. Five variations of the liquid media under tests (MUTs) are simulated and measured. These liquid MUTs are as follows: without a sample (without a tube), air (empty tube), ethanol, methanol, and distilled water (DI). A detailed sensitivity calculation is performed for the resonance band at 2.5 GHz. The MUTs mechanism is performed with a polypropylene tube (PP). The samples of dielectric material are filled into PP tube channels and loaded into the CSRR center hole; the E-fields around the sensor affect the relationship with the liquid MUTs, resulting in a high Q-factor value. The final sensor has a Q-factor value and sensitivity of 520 and 7.032 (MHz)/Er) at 2.5 GHz, respectively. Due to the high sensitivity of the presented sensor for characterizing various liquid penetrations, the sensor is also of interest for accurate estimations of solute concentrations in liquid media. Finally, the relationship between the permittivity and Q-factor value at the resonant frequency is derived and investigated. These given results make the presented resonator ideal for the characterization of liquid materials.Publicad

Synthesis and biological activity of oxadiazole and triazolothiadiazole derivatives as tyrosinase inhibitors

A series of 16 oxadiazole and triazolothiadiazole derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors. Five derivatives were found to display high inhibition on the tyrosinase activity ranging from 0.87 to 1.49 lM. Compound 5 exhibited highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 0.87 ± 0.16 lM. The in silico protein–ligand docking using AUTODOCK 4.1 was successfully performed on compound 5 with significant binding energy value of 5.58 kcal/mol. The docking results also showed that the tyrosinase inhibition might be due to the metal chelating effect by the presence of thione functionality in compounds 1–5. Further studies revealed that the presence of hydrophobic group such as cycloamine derivatives played a major role in the inhibition. Piperazine moiety in compound 5 appeared to be involved in an extensive hydrophobic contact and a 2.9 Å hydrogen bonding with residue Glu 182 in the active site