Systematic Risk Factors and Stock Return Volatility

This study analyzes the transmission of systematic risk exhaling from macroeconomic fundamentals to volatility of stock market by using auto regressive generalized auto regressive conditional heteroskedastic (AR-GARCH) and vector auto regressive (VAR) models. Systematic risk factors used in this study are industrial production, real interest rate, inflation, money supply and exchange rate from 2000-2014. Results indicate that there exists relationship among the volatility of macroeconomic factors and that of stock returns in Pakistan. The relationship among the volatility of macroeconomic variables and that of stock returns is bidirectional; both affect each other in different dynamics

Status of Phosphorous in Soil and Plants of Apple Orchads in Quetta Valley

The study was planned to assess the phosphorous status of apple orchards around Quetta valley through soil and plant analysis. Two hundred soil samples were acquired from 40 different locations of 05 orchards at  0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60- 75 and 75-90 cm depths. The soil samples were analyzed for available phosphorous by AB-DTPA method. At the same time forty apple trees were selected for leaves samples and analyzed for plant phosphorous content by Rhoades, 1982 .AB-DTPA phosphorous in soil showed a sizeable variation ranging from 0.24 to 14.46 mg kg-1. Whereby plant analysis registered minimum phosphorous content 0.06% and the maximum phosphorous content 0.47% in apple plant leaves which confirms phosphorous concentration found deficient in apple orchards of Quetta valle

Status of Phosphorous in Soil and Plants of Apple Orchads in Quetta Valley

The study was planned to assess the phosphorous status of apple orchards around Quetta valley through soil and plant analysis. Two hundred soil samples were acquired from 40 different locations of 05 orchards at  0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60- 75 and 75-90 cm depths. The soil samples were analyzed for available phosphorous by AB-DTPA method. At the same time forty apple trees were selected for leaves samples and analyzed for plant phosphorous content by Rhoades, 1982 .AB-DTPA phosphorous in soil showed a sizeable variation ranging from 0.24 to 14.46 mg kg-1. Whereby plant analysis registered minimum phosphorous content 0.06% and the maximum phosphorous content 0.47% in apple plant leaves which confirms phosphorous concentration found deficient in apple orchards of Quetta valley

Water Permeability Characteristics of Normal Strength Concrete Made from Crushed Clay Bricks as Coarse Aggregate

Water permeability characteristic of concrete made from crushed clay bricks as coarse aggregate is investigated and compared with concrete made from natural stone aggregate. For this, six different brick and five different natural stone samples were selected. Crushing strength of brick samples and water absorption of aggregate produced from them were also measured. Concrete samples of three different compressive strengths were prepared as per ACI mix design method from each of these aggregate samples. Compressive strength of concrete that could be achieved with brick aggregate varied between 19 and 28 MPa, whereas, for stone aggregate, compressive strength varied between 24 and 46 MPa. These samples were then tested for water permeability using the AT 315 machine as per EN 12390-8: “Depth of Penetration of Water under Pressure.” Experimental results and subsequent analysis indicate that water permeability of brick aggregate concrete is 225% to 550% higher than that of concrete made from natural stone aggregate of identical compressive strength. Water permeability was found to be directly related to compressive strength, water absorption, and porosity of hardened concrete. It was also observed that water permeability of concrete is influenced by water absorption of brick aggregate and crushing strength of brick

Efficient design in building construction with rubber bearing in medium risk seismicity: case study and assessment

Earthquakes pose tremendous threats to life, property and a country's economy, not least due to their capability of destroying buildings and causing enormous structural damage. The hazard from ground excitations should be properly assessed to mitigate their action on building structures. This study is concerned with medium risk seismic regions. Specifically, the heavily populated capital city Dhaka in Bangladesh has been considered. Recent earthquakes that occurred inside and very close to the city have manifested the city's earthquake sources and vulnerability. Micro-seismicity data supports the existence of at least four earthquake source points in and around Dhaka. The effects of the earthquakes on buildings are studied for this region. Rubber base isolation is selected as an innovative option to lessen seismic loads on buildings. Case studies have been carried out for fixed and isolated based multi-storey buildings. Lead rubber bearing and high damping rubber bearing have been designed and incorporated in building bases. Structural response behaviours have been evaluated through static and dynamic analyses. For the probable severe earthquake, rubber bearing isolation can be a suitable alternative as it mitigates seismic effects, reduces structural responses and provides structural and economic benefits

Somatic Cell Cycle Regulation By Histone H3 Modifications: Action of OGT and Kinases

Abstract.-Histone H3 is amongst the most evolutionarily conserved proteins, and is located along with histone 2A, 2B and 4 in the core of the nucleosome. The N-terminal tails of the histone protrude the chromatin structure and become accessible to various enzymes for post translational modifications (PTMs). Phosphorylation of H3 has been found to have an impact on progression of the cell cycle, especially during mitosis. Another equally abundant PTM is the glycosylation at serine/threonine by O-GlcNAc (O-linked glycosylation) that occurs on the same or neighboring Ser or Thr residues, which also are accessible to kinases (Yin Yang sites). O-GlcNAc is added by O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), and is found exclusively in the nucleus or cytoplasm of the cell. By using computational methods like Netphos 2.0 and Yinoyang 1.2 we found that OGT, Aurora B kinase and OGT, Death-associated protein (DAP)-like kinase, work together in a Yin Yang way, and thereby control specific checkpoints during mitosis. Bioinformatics tool, thus, are very helpful to elucidate the function of the protein by predicting the PTMs in proteins

Mechanical and Durability Properties of Induction-Furnace-Slag-Incorporated Recycled Aggregate Concrete

Most of the steel mills in Bangladesh use induction furnace which produces large quantities of slags that have very little use except land filling. Therefore, feasibility of using this slag is examined in concrete with recycled aggregate, which is another waste product that is generated due to removal of old structures. Concrete with three target strengths, 17.23, 20.68, and 24.13 MPa, was prepared using recycled concrete acquired from a recently demolished building in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Recycled coarse aggregate was replaced with induction furnace slag by 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% for each target strength. Samples prepared from these concretes were tested for workability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and durability properties e.g., porosity, absorption, and rapid chloride penetration. Review of test results suggests that workability of concrete was not adversely affected by incorporation of induction furnace slag. For up to 50% of induction furnace slag replacement, both compressive strength and splitting tensile strength increased in recycled aggregate concrete. Further, for all ratios of induction furnace slag replacement, modulus of elasticity increased compared to 100% recycled aggregate concrete. Porosity and absorption also decreased in concrete where up to 50% of recycled aggregate was replaced by induction furnace slag. Considering these, it is concluded that 50% of recycled aggregate can be replaced by induction furnace slag that will result in superior mechanical and durability properties in recycled aggregate concrete

A financial performance comparison of group and non-group firms in textile sector of Pakistan

Pakistan is a developing economy and business groups are key players of the Pakistan’s economy. Previous research evidence shows that in the emerging economies group affiliation creates value for the firms. This study is intended to empirically investigate to know that whether group affiliated (GA) firms perform financially better than non-group affiliated firms or not? GA firms in emerging economies can have better financial performance by sharing tangible and intangible resources at group level. The financial ratio is used to compare performance of affiliated and non-group affiliated firms by using the data of 70 textile firms listed at Karachi Stock Exchange(now Pakistan Stock Exchange) covering a period from 2008 to 2012. Based on mean values of return on assets (ROA), results of the study show that GA firms have higher financial performance than non-group affiliated firms in each year and over all five years