Highly Transmissive Scalable Colored Coatings for Architectural Photovoltaic Panels

Highly transmissive coatings were developed by fabricating thin films using SiO2 and SiO2/TiO2 core/shell nanoparticles on glass substrates and on the photovoltaic cell glass covers. This coating is to maintain an attractive color appearance of the exterior surface for architecturally integrated photovoltaics and can be coated on fabricated photovoltaic panels. The color and optical properties of the nanoparticle coating was investigated for different nanoparticle diameters of 200-400 nm for SiO2 nanoparticles and core/shell nanoparticles having SiO2/TiO2 structure with 300 ± 11 nm diameter, and SiO2/TiO2/SiO2 structure with 506 ± 13 nm diameter. We describe controlled coating of glass surfaces by the nanoparticles to form an ordered structure on the surface with selective reflection and high transmission in the photon energy range needed for photovoltaic panels, while reflecting a selected part of the spectra to achieve a certain color. The effect of the concentration of colloidal solution based on the size of nanoparticles was examined and properties of the coating fabricated on glass slides were studied. An optical spectrometer was used to measure the transmission and reflectance of the coating. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the stacking of the nanoparticles, while atomic force microscopy was used to determine the roughness of coating deposited on glass slides. The nanoparticle coating was fabricated on Si photovoltaic cells to observe the effect of the coating on the solar cell performance using a solar cell simulator. The solar cells coated using commercial 200 nm, 300 nm, and 400 nm nanoparticles showed blue, pink, and green colors respectively, and the solar cells coated using SiO2/TiO2/SiO2 nanoparticles showed pink color. The solar cell power loss observed is 5.47 %, 15.61 %, and 10.73 % for coatings done using 200, 300, and 400 nm particles respectively, and ~ 11. 01 % power loss was observed with three coats of SiO2/TiO2/SiO2 nanoparticles

Exploring the effects of socio-emotional wealth and family social capital on family firm growth and innovation – a comparative study.

The concepts of socio-emotional wealth (SEW) and family social capital (FSC) have been extensively used by previous researchers to understand how family firms operate and how this affects their business or innovation performance. However, the overall findings of previous research on the influence of SEW and FSC on family firms are mixed, and little research has been done that examines this influence in the context of different cultures and business environments. It was evident from the study of literature that the existing research, although very promising, is still in its infancy. Existing theory was deemed to be inadequate to answer the questions we have because it holds diverging views on many of the subjects of this study. It was thus decided that this exploratory study would further research existing theories, in order to produce new ideas and hypotheses. It is imperative to fill this gap since family firms of all sizes play a crucial role in the economies of most countries, providing many jobs and contributing to their GDP. Research into the role of SEW and FSC in contributing to or hindering family firm performance is important in providing an enhanced understanding of how to improve business growth in individual firms and in the family firms sector, taken as a whole. This qualitative study investigates the influence of socio-emotional wealth and family social capital on business growth and innovation, based on interviews with samples of Pakistani-owned family firms in Pakistan and in the United Kingdom. The purpose is twofold: first to provide an enhanced qualitative understanding of how national culture and business setting may influence the ways in which socio-emotional wealth and family social capital contribute to or hinder business growth and innovation in family firms, and second to investigate how these overlapping concepts might be used in a complementary way in future research. The interviews of respondents, both in Pakistan and the United Kingdom, gave insights not only into how these family businesses operated and performed, but also about the participants’ understanding of FSC and SEW. The findings demonstrate a number of routes socio-emotional wealth and family social capital have taken to influence business growth and innovation activity in these family firms, and confirm the importance of acknowledging national culture, as well as the business environment in which family firms operate, when investigating their behaviour and performance. They also reveal many overlaps between the concepts of socio-emotional wealth and family social capital when investigating this sample of Pakistani-owned family firms. It is concluded that these concepts can be refined and modified for use as complementary research tools in future studies of family firms, emerging from different national cultures. By building on the theoretical and practical findings of the current study, such future studies might help generate an expanded body of evidence about family firms that will help overcome some of the historically mixed research findings and provide clearer guidance to help family firms improve their business and innovation performance

The Ulam stability of non-linear Volterra integro-dynamic equations on time scales

This manuscript presents the Ulam stability results of non-linear Volterra integro-dynamic equation and its adjoint equation on time scales. First, we obtain the Ulam stability of adjoint equation by using the integrating factor method. Then, the Ulam stability of the corresponding equation is proved by means of the property of the exponential function and related results that are proved in adjoint equation with the help of integrating factor method. At the end, an example is given that shows the validity of our main results

BIOSORPTION AND RECOVERY OF HEAVY METALS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS BY EICHHORNIA CRASSIPES (WATER HYACINTH) ASH

Heavy metal’s release without treatment poses a significant threat to the environment. Heavy metals are non-biodegradable and persistent. In the present study the ash of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), was used to remove six metals from aqueous solutions through biosorption. Results of batch and column experiments showed excellent adsorption capacity. Removal of lead, chromium, zinc, cadmium, copper, and nickel was 29.83, 1.263, 1.575, 3.323, 2.984 and 1.978 µgg-1, respectively. The biosorptive capacity was maximum with pH >8.00. Desorption in µgg-1 of ash for lead, chromium, zinc, cadmium, copper, and nickel was 18.10, 9.99, 11.99, 27.54, 21.09, and 3.71 respectively. Adsorption/desorption of these metals from ash showed the potential of this technology for recovery of metals for further usages. Hydrogen adsorption was also studied with a Sievert-type apparatus. Hydrogen adsorption experiments showed significant storage capacity of water hyacinth ash

Wireless Power Transfer Techniquies : A Review

The invention of various wireless technologies are great revolution in the field of communication. Wireless technology can be used for transmission of electric power wirelessly from one end to other end. This technology will reduce the losses incurred in power transmission through wires. This paper presents the inclusive review and detailed analysis of different techniques used for wireless power transmission. In this paper, we have compared the different techniques of wireless power transmission. Advantages and disadvantages of different techniques are discussed in this paper with the other wireless power transfer (WPT) technologies

Reintegration of Karachi port through sustainable adaptive reuse of abandoned and underused industrial buildings

The economic capital and one of Pakistan’s most important cities gain popularity due to the reputable Karachi port. Karachi was referred to as Korokala and Debal in ancient times; a city conquered by famous conquerors, including Alexander the Great and Muhammad bin Qasim due to its seaport importance. However, most of the port’s tangible and material heritage were built by the British during the 19th–20th century. The Britishers conquered the city and started developing Karachi port because of the seaport. Due to the port, the area of Karachi grew from a small fishermen’s village to a bustling metropolitan city. During the second industrial revolution in the late 19th century, the Britishers developed Indian industries so that they depended on British capital goods. To transport the goods, the British empire constructed railways and maritime routes in the mid and late nineteenth century, The port of Karachi was one of them.Karachi port remains the hub of Pakistan’s main logistic transportation, but some of its heritage buildings have been neglected on this site. After the 9/11 tragedy in the US, due to security reasons, Karachi port trust restricted the port to the public. Now, the security situation is better, and the port can be reintegrated and made accessible to the public through sustainable adaptive reuse of abandoned or underused buildings. Karachi is a congested city with few places for recreation; reintegrating this site can open opportunities for tourism while showcasing the city’s industrial heritage.This paper wants to articulate the potential of industrial heritage. But the latter in Pakistan is not yet recognized as part of a heritage discourse. The port offers a rich case study due to its layered history and various typologies of buildings on site

Components of Motivation in the ESL/EFL Classroom

Motivation is clearly a critical factor for second language and foreign language learning because it affects students' willingness to approach learning and using English language. Teachers who hope to provide meaningful instruction need to consider how to increase the motivational levels of their students in order to ensure student success in learning.  This paper examines what university students studying English as a second language or a foreign language (ESL/EFL) have to say about what does or does not positively affect their motivation to study English language. The ways in which intrinsic and extrinsic motivation affect ESL/EFL learners are explained by examining student surveys and current research. How self-directed or autonomous learning stimulates intrinsic motivation is a major part of the paper, as is how teacher-centered classrooms tend to make ESL students more extrinsically motivated

Leadership Practiece Among Nurses in Tertiary Care Hospital Lahore

Introduction: The planned role of leadership can be used to examine on how to engage leadership models and use leadership behavior to progress organizational performance. The intangible assets such as leadership styles, culture, skill and competence, and motivation are key sources of strength in firms that can combine people and processes and organizational performance. Methodology: Leadership Practices - Self assessment and Leadership Practices – Observer: The data collection tool was used for this study is self-assessment scale. It was designed in 1987 to be utilized by a leader to self-evaluate them in how frequently they engage in leadership practices. The thirty descriptive statements are given and a Likert scale was used. The five practices are identified as challenge the process, inspire a shared vision, enable others to act, model the way, and encourage the heart same repeatedly question asked from nurses to assess the perception (Posner & Kouzes, 1988). Results: The study revealed that the managers moderately performed the leadership practices. A significantly positive relationship was found between the manager and subordinate's assessment of challenging the process and inspiring a shared vision (p=.345). Discussion: the results of this study support the existence of a relationship between the self-assessment and the subordinate's assessment. This study also indicates that the managers in this study moderately exhibited the leadership practices as identified in Kouzes and Posner's (1987) research. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/60-06 Publication date:March 31st 201

Total Quality Management System in an Education Environment: The Case of a Private University in Bahrain

The study aims to analyze and explain the effectiveness and efficiency of implementing total quality management principles in private educational institutions. The context of the study narrowed down the areas of comparisons to tutorial conducts, student affairs and infrastructure. A detailed analysis of the existing total quality management currently in place at the selected university was duly comprehended. This resulted in finding the flaws/weaknesses in the system of universities in the kingdom of Bahrain generally. Findings through a survey and interview sessions indicated that teachers were not consulted for any changes in curriculum which leads to a lack of co-operation between management and teachers. Another problem in regards to the total quality management implementation was that students perceived the university as not being concerned with maintenance of the premises. Moreover, student affairs/services section was seriously lacking sport facilities, limited training sessions, poor equipment maintenance