In this study bimetallic Ag-Cu alloy has been synthesized using chemical reduction method. Fabricated Ag-Cu nanoparticles were used as conductive filler and the epoxy resin as polymer to produce ...Ag-Cu epoxy composites. Conductive filler with different concentration (1 wt% 2 wt%, 3 wt%, 4 wt%, 5 wt% and 10 wt%) were added in epoxy resin to investigate the electrical properties of Ag-Cu based epoxy composites . XRD pattern of Ag-Cu alloy formed fcc phase with miller indices (0 0 2), (1 1 1) and (2 0 0). For surface morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to perceive structure of alloy based epoxy composites and EDX confirmed the Ag-Cu elements in samples. Surface and volume resistivity of epoxy-based composite was investigated by Mega Ohm Meter-1865. Electrical conductivity of the Ag-Cu based epoxy polymer composites was measured to enhance the flow of electron in dielectric property of epoxy resin with conductive material of Ag-Cu alloy for practical application and potential fabrication of numerous electronic devices such as electrical conductive adhesives as well as micro/nano electro-mechanical systems.
Effective mitigation of coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) pandemic requires true adoption of precautionary measures by the masses, that primarily depends upon their knowledge and practices behaviors. ...The current study aimed to assess the knowledge; practices of Pakistani residents regarding COVID-19 and factors associated with adequate knowledge and positive practices.
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 15-April 2020 to 20 May 2020 among 689 Pakistanis by using a validated self-administered questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha 0.77). The questionnaire included questions on the assessment of demographics, the source of information, knowledge, and practice of COVID-19 on google forms and shared links with the WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages and other online platforms. Regression analysis was applied to find potential predictors of knowledge and practices.
Of 689 participants, 431 (62.6%) were male, 64.3% (
= 443) were aged <30 years, and\328 (47.6%) of participants were married. 48.19% (
= 332) had adequate knowledge; 81% (
= 555) had positive practices regarding COVID-19 and majority (66.62%,
= 459) seek knowledge from social media. Knowledge was significantly higher (OR > 1.00,
< 0.05) among educated and higher income participants. Positive practices were significantly (OR > 1.00,
< 0.05) related to the older age (≥50 years), higher education, higher income and good knowledge regarding COVID-19.
The study concluded that Pakistani residents had average knowledge and good practices toward COVID-19 yet there are gaps in specific aspects of knowledge, and practice that should be focused in future awareness and educational campaigns. The study recommends the ministry of health authorities to promote all precautionary and preventive measures of COVID-19-consisting of a better-organized approach to all strata of society: less privileged people, older ones and less educated people, in order to have equilibrium of knowledge about COVID-19; hence effective implementation of precautionary measures.
The report starts with an overview and introduces the main findings. It addresses major constraints, instruments, and outcomes important to unleash the potential of infrastructure investments and ...policy fine-tuning. Chapter one discusses the infrastructure and growth nexus, given the country's macroeconomic scenario. It examines the long-term sustainability, particularly considering the Mahinda Chintana's high infrastructure investment targets, and how the country can achieve its high economic growth targets, given its historical and current investment levels. Chapter two argues that the two principal drivers of sustained high economic growth and productive employment are: (a) international competitiveness that results in export-led growth; and (b) urbanization that facilitates productive economic activity. Chapter three reviews key infrastructure sectors to identify the regulatory issues that need to be addressed and estimate the needed investment. Redressing infrastructure constraints, however, cannot be piecemeal and product specific. Instead, a sector-wide approach is needed. In light of the large investment requirement and high public debt and deficit, chapter four discusses the potential of public-private partnership in infrastructure delivery and supportive regulatory reform. Finally, chapter five concludes the analysis, summarizing major highlights.
Pakistans population is growing and becoming more urbanized. By 2020, Karachi and Lahore will each have a population of well over 10 million people and several other cities will have a population of ...at least one million. These trends offer both risks and opportunities. Badly managed urban centers with poor services and slim opportunity for gainful employment could become centers of discontent and social conflict. Alternatively, properly managed and well-connected cities can help firms become more competitive, and with the right set of policies, promote industrialization and life-changing employment opportunities. In order to capitalize on these opportunities, Pakistan will need to take decisive steps to deepen the pool of skills, strengthen the commercial environment, upgrade infrastructure, diversify production, and climb up the technology ladder. Revitalizing Industrial Growth in Pakistan: Trade, Infrastructure, and Environmental Performance addresses ways in which Pakistan can revitalize its manufacturing by reducing the cost of doing business, improving the investment climate, and strengthening institutions to facilitate the flow of people, goods, and ideas and thus stimulate medium-term growth and job creation. Such revitalization is sorely needed to place the country on a sustained path of high economic growth. The authors lay out priorities and strategies for greening Pakistans industrial growth and provide a comprehensive analysis of issues in the debate on this strategy. They examine the ways in which Pakistan can encourage and assist its private sector to fill the void in low-skilled labor-intensive manufacturing left by other economiesand do so while creating and distributing new wealth. To increase the chances of success, appropriate actions will need to come from different actors in government, the private sector, and civil society. This book will be of interest to government officials and academic researchers working in the fields of industry, the environment, and energy, as well as to the general public.
Objective: To analyze the x-ray findings in patients suspected of foreign body aspiration and to report different types of observed foreign bodies. Study Design: Prospective study. Place and Duration ...of Study: Combined Military Hospitals of Rawalpindi, Lahore, Malir, and Quetta following collaboration between departments of Otolaryngology, Thoracic Surgery, and Diagnostic Radiology, from Aug 2008 to May 2017. Methodology: Patients of any age who were suspected to have foreign body aspiration into the tracheobronchial tree were consecutively included. Patients with liquid aspiration, regurgitated gastric contents’ aspiration, parasite infection, or foreign body via transcutaneous penetration were excluded. All patients underwent anteroposterior and lateral imaging of the soft tissues of the neck and chest and then went through bronchoscopy under general anesthesia. Surgery was carried out if bronchoscopy was unadvisable due to the character or location of foreign body, or the patient’s general condition. Results: Out of 110 patients (mean age: 5.6 ± 6.9 years), the highest incidence (49.5%) was seen in patients ≤3 years of age (p<0.001). The male: female ratio was 2.3:1 (p<0.001). Chest x-rays showed a radiopaque foreign body as the commonest finding (28.2%). Twenty-six (23.6%) cases had a normal chest x-ray. The non-organic foreign bodies were more common than organic foreign bodies (60.9% vs 39.1%) (p=0.022). The commonest non-organic foreign body was whistle in 16 (14.5%) cases and the commonest organic foreign bodies were seeds and betel nuts found in 15 (13.6%) cases each. Conclusion: Tracheobronchial foreign bodies had a peak incidence in children ≤3 years of age with...
Building Competitive Firms Nabi, Ijaz; Luthria, Manjula; Luthria, Manjila
2001, 10-15-2002, 2002-09, 20020101
eBook, Book
Odprti dostop
This publication presents a framework that emphasizes the economic and policy incentives needed to create competitive firms and national economies. It also explains the key capabilities that firms ...must develop in-house in order to become more competitive. The framework provides a link between important policy issues such as corporate governance, foreign direct investment, innovation readiness, intellectual property rights, e-commerce, skill training, and supply chain management. The papers presented here emphasize that, while individual firms must take the lead in enhancing competitiveness, the role of public policy remains vital. This book also presents examples of private effort and public policies that exemplify the lessons drawn from international experience in designing policies and institutions that strengthen competitiveness in industrializing countries
I am thankful to PIDE for giving me the opportunity to be here
and participate in this important discussion. It is always exciting to
come back to this audience because this is where I started my ...career as
an economist. We have with us Dr S. M. Naseem and Dr Nawab Haider Naqvi
who guided me in my earlier years and I would like to thank them also. I
will try to restore some balance after Dr Ashfaque’s alarming comments
on the state of the economy, recognising well that we have challenges
that need to be addressed. Mr Baldridgde in his discussion has given us
fifty questions that capture many of the challenges. But first let me
say a few words about whether politics should triumph over economics or
the other way around. Lets not forget that we have a democratically
elected government that represents a delicate coalition of several
political parties and competing political interests. In this setting, it
is not at all surprising that technocratic economic solutions are
secondary to the political ones, and that “economics does not triumph
over politics” as lamented by the previous panelist. In a democratic
framework, the economists’ role is to ensure that political objectives
are met without inflicting an unsustainable fiscal burden and
sacrificing the long term development objectives.
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