Effectiveness of bagasse ash for performance improvement of asphalt concrete pavements

AbstractThe performance of asphalt concrete pavements (ACP) is greatly related to the rate of rutting. Stone dust is mostly used as a filler in ACP. Bagasse ash being cementitious in nature, and costless waste can also be used as a filler. The overall aim is to select a suitable filler for better performance of asphalt concrete pavements. The effectiveness of locally available bagasse ash is examined as a filler for asphalt concrete in terms of its effect on job mix formula, stability, rutting depth, the rise in temperature, and cost of asphalt concrete. All tests are performed as per AASHTO standards. The bagasse ash asphalt concrete showed a reduction in rutting depth, temperature rise, and cost as compared to that of the stone dust asphalt concrete without disturbing the job mix formula. Hence, bagasse ash can be helpful for the performance enhancement of asphalt concrete pavements

Safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins: An initial experience from Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for varicose veins. STUDY DESIGN: Observational case series. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Section of Vascular Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from September 2016 to August 2018. METHODOLOGY: Data of RFA procedures performed on 40 patients were collected on a questionnaire from the medical records. It included patients\u27 demographics, pre- and postoperative clinical, etiological, anatomical and pathological (CEAP) system score, venous clinical severity score (VCSS), procedural details and intra- or postoperative complications. Outcome measures were \u27safety of the procedure, which was measured by presence of any complications; and \u27efficacy of the procedure\u27 which was measured by improvements in the CEAP and VCSS score. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 44.7±11.5 years. Twenty-one (52.5%) patients were women. Preoperative median VCSS [range] was 7 [2-15], which improved to 1 [0-3] (p \u3c0.001). Preoperative median CEAP [range] was 3 [2-6] and improved to 1 [0-4] (p \u3c0.001). One patient had recurrence and five patients (12.5%) had minor complications, which were treated conservatively. CONCLUSION: RFA in patients with symptomatic varicose veins can be performed with minimal complications. This modality is also effective in reducing the disease severi

Application of Certain π-Acceptors for the Spectrophotometric Determination of Alendronate Sodium in Pharmaceutical Bulk and Dosage Forms

Two simple, fast, and accurate spectrophotometric methods for the determination of alendronate sodium are described. The methods are based on charge-transfer complex formation of the drug with two π-electron acceptors 7,7,7,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) in acetonitrile and methanol medium. The methods are followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the maximum absorbance at 840 nm and 465 nm, respectively. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the calibration curves showed a linear relationship over the concentration ranges of 2–10 μg mL−1 and 2–12 μg mL−1, respectively. The optimal reactions conditions values such as the reagent concentration, heating time, and stability of reaction product were determined. No significant difference was obtained between the results of newly proposed methods and the B.P. Titrimetric procedures. The charge transfer approach using TCNQ and DDQ procedures described in this paper is simple, fast, accurate, precise, and extraction-free

Does Macroeconomic and Firm Specific Factors drive Corporate Profitability? New Evidence from Pakistan

The aim of the paper is to analyze the impact of macroeconomic and firm specific factors on corporate profitability. Data for the period 2010-2019 is collected from listed Pakistani firms. Findings of the study reveal that corporate profitability is significantly and positively influenced by firm size and liquidity whereas corporate profitability is significantly and negatively influenced by leverage. GDP affects EPS positively but its impact on ROE and ROA is negative. Exchange rate also has a negative impact on corporate profitability. Real interest has a strong negative effect on ROA but on EPS and ROE, the effect is insignificant. Real interest has a strong negative effect on ROA but on ROE and EPS the effect is insignificant

NEGATIVE AFFECTIVITY, CONSCIENTIOUSNESS AND JOB SCOPE (A CASE OF IT AND TELECOM INDUSTRY)

Based on a sample of 350 employees in the telecommunication and telecommunication, we obtained empirical evidence suggesting that while individuals high on conscientiousness tended to react more positively to job scope, individuals high on negative affinity tended to react less positively. Job scope was defined as the extent to which a job required the jobholder to be mentally and physically involved to get it done effectively. Typically, a job characterized by a high job scope would be non-repetitive, would need a great deal of independent thought/action and training, would entail the job holder to keep track of his/her progress, and others. The affirmative results obtained in regard of the moderating roles of personality factors in the present study suggested that job design researchers should further explore individuals’ personality differences in response to job scope

FINANCIAL LEVERAGE, WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND FIRM PROFITABILITY: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN STOCK EXCHANGE

This study aims to investigate the working capital management practices and its effects on firms’ profitability with moderating role of leverage. The Generalized Method of Moments estimation technique under fixed effect specification is used to analyze the cross-industries sample of 210 nonfinancial firms listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange. The result showed that receivable collection period and payable payment period have positive significant impact on profitability of firms, on the other hand cash cycle has significant negative impact on profitability of firms, and where as the impact of payable payment period is found insignificant on profitability. In case of moderation of leverage with respect to relationship of working capital with profitability the results showed that leverage weakens this relationship significantly. The study suggests that managers in nonfinancial sector should take into consideration the moderating role of leverage with respect to working capital management

Knowledge gain of the non-vascular surgeons after attending a course on traumatic vascular emergencies

Objective: To measure the effectiveness of the workshop in enhancing the knowledge and skills of the non-vascular surgeons in dealing with traumatic vascular emergencies.Methodology: It was a Quasi-experimental pre-post design study conducted at Section of Vascular Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi (Pakistan) in February 2019. One-day workshop was conducted to enhance the knowledge and operative skills of the non-vascular surgeons in managing traumatic vascular emergencies. A written test and course evaluation survey were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the course in achieving the desired objectives.Results: Total of 21 participants attended the workshop with mean age of 29 ± 6.06 years. Majority of participants 15 (71%) were surgery residents from different subspecialties. Only 3 (14%) had prior exposure in Vascular Surgery. Mean pretest score was 11.9 ± 4.27 (59.52% ± 21.3) which improved to 16.14 ± 3.69 (81.6% ± 16.6). Gain in knowledge was measured using paired t-test and there was 21% of gain in knowledge of the participants compared between the pretest and posttest score. Overall participants found this workshop to be very useful in refining their skills and learning innovative techniques in managing vascular emergencies.Conclusions: Carefully designed workshop improves the knowledge of non-vascular surgeons in dealing with common vascular emergencies

Environmental Risk, Corporate Strategy, Financing Strategy and Firm Profitability: Evidence from South East Asian Countries

The aim of the paper is to analyze the simultaneous influence of environmental risk, corporate strategy and financing strategy on firm profitability. Data for the period of 2013-2019 was collected from COMPUSTAT and respective Stock exchanges. The sample consists of a total of 4837 publicly traded firms from South East Asian Countries. Using fixed effects model, the findings of the study revealed that independent constructs explain significant variation in firm profitability. These findings are helpful for managers in formulating better strategies particularly those that are concerned with addressing the volatility and uncertainty dimension of the environment as well as resource development for supporting their decisions related to strategy formulation

DOES OWNERSHIP CONCENTRATION MODERATES CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY-FIRM PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIP?

CSR is basically a commitment demanded from companies to protect stakeholder interests, enhance societal conditions, and contribute to sustainable development. This study investigated the relationship between corporate social responsibility and firm financial performance with a particular focus on measuring the moderating impact of ownership concentration on the CSR-performance relationship. The data is collected from the companies’ annual reports, State Bank of Pakistan database and the Pakistan Stock Exchange for the period 2014-2020. The fixed effect regression model is used to measure the impact of CSR on firm financial performance. The results of the study revealed that CSR has a significant negative impact on firm financial performance. Furthermore, ownership concentration also negatively moderates the relationship between CSR and firm financial performance

DIVIDEND POLICY ATTRIBUTES AND ITS IMPACT ON FIRM PROFITABILITY

The objective of the study was to analyze the impact of dividend policy on firm profitability. Dividend paying firms from three industrial sectors namely cement, automobile and sugar were selected for the period 2010-2020. Out of the total 74 dividend paying firms in these three industrial sectors only 33 were selected for which data was available for the entire study period. Fixed effects model is used to measure the impact of dividend policy from firm profitability. Findings of the study revealed that both attributes of dividend policy namely DPR and DY has a significant positive impact on all three proxies of firm profitability (ROA, ROE, EPS) except for DPR impact on EPS in Model III where the impact is also positive but insignificant