Conservation of the tomb of Safi-ud-Din Garzoni at Uch Sharif, district Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan

Urban spirit assessment and its value are crucial globally in developed countries when it comes to protecting heritage, and the same should be taken into consideration in developing countries as well. Due to their dynamic nature and ongoing evolution, historic cities present a more challenging assessment. In Pakistan, several historical buildings have been the custodian of regional cultural and architectural heritage for many decades. They are currently in bad condones and require immediate conservation/restoration to keep them alive for the next generations. Uch Sharif has a long history of religious and architectural significance. Monumental tombs are the container for a city\u27s most significant social, cultural, and architectural characteristics. However, they must contend with several degrading processes, including weathering, vandalism, a lack of organized mechanisms for maintenance and repair, and improper use by various stakeholders. This paper attempts to conservation of a 13th Century monument in Uch Sharif, namely the tomb of Safi-ud-Din Garzoni. It is a marvellous combination of many civilizations in the form of its architectural styles and significant element and construction techniques. The study\u27s findings, in the form of proposed interventions, will apply to other overlooked monuments in Uch Sharif and other cities throughout Pakistan

Assessment of Change Orders Attributes in Preconstruction and Construction Phase

Construction projects are very complex in nature. Each activity involves multiple varying tasks. Construction industry is the main source of economic growth. When change order occur performance of projects momentously affected.  Change orders often have a serious impact on the quality, time and cost. Eventually it results in disputes, delays, and dissatisfactions among stakeholders and ultimately results in failures of projects. In past several studies have been done to evaluate the causes of change order and its effects. Attempts have been made to quantify these impacts by many researchers, but the aim of this study is to identify the causes of change order in two different phases i.e. preconstruction and construction stage. Views were taken from relevant experts over included factors after in-depth literature review from past researches. A questionnaire was made and floated with different construction players from clients, consultants and contractors side. The data was analyzed by SPSS using average index technique. The analysis of data showed that, Mistakes in specifications, Mistakes in design and Lack of experience in selecting construction team by client are the most critical factors during preconstruction phase. Whereas, Design modification by owner, change in scope at later stage and Delays in payment by client are most critical factors of construction phase, responsible for change order. The extensive discussion of these factors revealed various parameters related to Pakistan construction. This study will enable the clients, consultants and contractors to be aware of factors which causes changes in orders and their consequences on project completion. By the identification of possible reasons, the right decisions can be made to mark the project successful

Impact of Personality Characteristics on Innovative Work Behavior through Emotional Labor in Education Sector of Pakistan

The aim of this study is to examine the role of big five personality characteristics (Extraversion, Openness to change, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism) in predicting the innovative work behavior of teachers, with mediation of emotional labor. Self administered questionnaires were distributed to 350 teachers at public and private sector universities in Lahore. The study uses the spss 24 and structural equation modeling 24 to test the hypotheses among 350 respondents. The results specify that big five personality characteristics showed positive relationship with innovative work behavior while two characteristics of big five personality i.e. Extraversion and openness to change showed insignificant relationship with innovative work behavior through mediated effect of emotional labor. The other personality characteristics i.e. agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism were significantly related to innovative work behavior through mediated effect of emotional labor. Prior studies have recognized teachers as vital sources of innovation, thus managers can develop new emotional strategies to make their teachers free from psychological problems and to boost innovative work behavior among teachers in universities, a personality characteristics without a suspicion a critical contributor in making innovative teachers

Effectiveness of Locally Available Superplasticizers on the Workability and Strength of Concrete

Though superplasticizers (SP) are well-known chemical admixtures which are added into concrete to enhance the workability and achieve higher strength while reducing the water content. But the rapid increase in different SP in Pakistan has created confusion on the effectiveness of SP. This experimental study was carried out to study the effect of locally available SP on the workability and compressive strength of M15 grade concrete. Three different SP were utilized, with dosage ranging from 0.5% to 2.5% with an increment of 0.5%. The water-cement ratio remained constant at 0.5 for all samples. Based upon the results, all three SP increased the workability as well as strength of concrete. The optimum dosage was determined to be 1.5% to 2.00% for all three SPs used in this research work. BASF 561 was determined to be more effective, as it achieved the maximum workability as well as compressive and flexural strengths

Huge ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm 13 years after Bental surgery with tube graft

Pseudoaneurysms of the ascending aorta are rare, disastrous complications of surgical manipulation of the aorta and its surroundings. They frequently require emergency surgical intervention due to a high risk of sudden rupture and hemorrhage. We herein present the case of a pseudoaneurysm (130 mm in diameter) of the ascending aorta with a compressive effect on the left atrium and right coronary artery ostium at the site of a tube graft implanted 13 years previously via the Bental procedure in a 34 year-old man. The susceptibility of these pseudoaneurysms to silently increase in size through the years leads to a delayed diagnosis, with an increased risk of rupture and mortality, necessitating long-term follow-ups with a view to detecting it in the initial stages, when it is easier to perform surgical or endovascular interventions with a lower risk of mortality. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 2: 185-188

PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF RED COTTON BUG SPECIES (HEMIPTERA: PYRRHOCORIDAE) IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Traditional techniques for identifying the red cotton bugs Dysdercus koenigii and Dysdercus cingulatus (Pyrrhocoridae: Hemiptera) depend on phenotypic and morphological data. These methods are suitable when species have well-defined structures and when huge taxonomic knowledge is at hand. In this study, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was selected for the molecular identification of D. koenigii and D. cingulatus. The sequence data showed that one species of the red cotton bug sample was identified as Dysdercus koenigii with 35-100% similarity to other Dysdercus species present in the NCBI database, while the other species was identified as Dysdercus cingulatus with 88-94% similarity to other red cotton bugs species present in the NCBI database. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that our     D. koenigii Seq (>180319003-A02-102-DK-.ab1) shares the same cluster with four D. koenigii isolates (ZSI/SRC_I.28B, ZSI/SRC_I.28, GQ306227.1, KJ459924.1). While the D. cingulatus Seq (>180319003-A02-103-DC-.abl) shares a cluster with D. cingulatus voucher (RO_DC2015). This is the first molecular identification of red cotton bugs (D. koenigii and     D. cingulatus) reported in Pakistan. Thus, in the current study, molecular identification has been accepted as a reliable method for the identification of these agriculturally important insect pests

Impact of CSR, Quality of Work Life and Organizational Structure on Employee’s Performance in Pakistan

The trends of organizations are changing and demanding satisfied employees rather than dissatisfied employees. This paper provides factors through which employee’s performance can be increased to achieve organizational goals and objectives. To attract the motivated employees and building relations, CSR can perform for society which will change the thoughts of stakeholders. Quality of work life has impact on organization’s effectiveness which is essential for firms to be healthy and productive. Firms should adopt employee oriented policies which satisfies them to achieve organizational objectives. This study also indicates that effective organizational structure is necessary for improving the performance of employees and the organization. The structure is a source of success or failure because it empowers the employee which will increase the sense of responsibility. For the improvement in the organization and removing stress of the employees management must consider the hygiene factors to motivate the employees. The conceptualized work is conducted which is proved through evidence. For further study statistical analysis can be done for confirmation of the hypothesis

Study of Debris Flow Impact on Bridge Pier

The destructive nature of debris has ability to transport large boulders and wooden material along with the flow whose impact can pose serious safety risks to a bridge. In this study an effort has been made to study the impact of varying debris densities on a bridge pier.  The experimentation was carried out in Hydraulics Laboratory, Civil Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology Taxila. Hexagonal wooden pier model was used. Wooden sticks of uniform size and mass were used to act as debris in flow. Respective discharges were determined against different flow velocities. Dial gauge was installed carefully beside the bridge pier in a way that deflections were easily measurable. This debris of masses 189, 253, 316, 379 and 442 grams was floated on water for five trials at discharges of 10.3, 12.8, 16, 23.8 and 28.9 liters per second. Debris hit the pier and caused a deflection in it. These deflections were measured by a dial gauge. The results show that with increasing debris mass and intensity of flow velocity, the impact on the pier bridge in term of deflection increased. A hydraulic structure's health can be monitored using the findings of the current study

The effect of dynamic assessment on L2 learners' listening comprehension

Group dynamic assessment (G-DA), which is grounded in Vygotsky's sociocultural theory (SCT), explores the role of social interaction and collaboration in the development of participants' listening performance. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of G-DA approach on listening comprehension of English as a foreign language(EFL) learners in two time intervals. To this end, twenty learners were selected from among Iranian EFL learners at an English language institute. The quantitative data analysis revealed that mediational strategies which were offered to learners within the group's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) could enhance their listening comprehension. These findings have important implications for all classroom teachers who can benefit from different designs of integrating instruction and assessment through offering mediational strategies to assist L2 learners in the development of their listening skill.L'avaluació dinàmica en grup (G-DA), que es fonamenta en la teoria sociocultural (SCT) de Vygotsky, explora el paper de la interacció i la col·laboració socials en el desenvolupament de l'actuació de la comprensió oral dels participants. Aquest estudi investiga l'efectivitat de l'aproximació G-DA en la comprensió oral dels aprenents d'anglès com a llengua estrangera (EFL) en dos intervals de temps. Amb aquesta finalitat es van seleccionar una vintena d'aprenents d'EFL iranians en un centre d'ensenyament d'anglès. L'anàlisi de les dades quantitatives va revelar que les estratègies de mediació que es van oferir als aprenents enquadrats a la zona de desenvolupament pròxim (ZDP) del grup van poder millorar la comprensió oral. Aquests resultats tenen implicacions importants per a tots els professors, que es poden beneficiar de les diferents maneres d'integrar instrucció i avaluació oferint d'estratègies de mediació per ajudar els alumnes d'L2 a l'hora de treballar les habilitats de comprensió oral.La evaluación dinámica en grupo (G-DA), que se fundamenta en la teoría sociocultural (SCT) de Vygotsky, explora el papel de la interacción y la colaboración sociales en el desarrollo de la actuación de la comprensión oral de los participantes. Este estudio investiga la efectividad de la aproximación G-DA en la comprensión oral de los aprendices de inglés como lengua extranjera (EFL) en dos intervalos de tiempo. Con esta finalidad se seleccionaron una veintena de aprendices de EFL iraníes en una centro de enseñanza de inglés. El análisis de los datos cuantitativos reveló que las estrategias de mediación que se ofrecieron a los aprendices encuadrados en la zona de desarrollo próximo (ZDP) del grupo pudieron mejorar la comprensión oral. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones importantes para todos los profesores, que se pueden beneficiar de las diferentes maneras de integrar instrucción y avaluación ofreciendo estrategias de mediación para ayudar a los alumnos de L2 cuando trabajan las habilidades de comprensión oral.L'évaluation dynamique groupale (Group dynamic assessment, G-DA), fondée sur la théorie socioculturelle de Vygotsky (SCT), explore le rôle joué par l'interaction sociale et la collaboration dans le développement des compétences de compréhension orale des participants. Cette recherche se donne pour objectif d'étudier l'efficacité de d'une approche fondée sur la G-DA portant sur la compréhension orale d'apprenants d'anglais langue étrangère (EFL) par des intervalles à deux temps. Dans ce but, vingt apprenants ont été sélectionnés parmi les étudiants iraniens d'EFL d'une école de langues. L'analyse quantitative des données montre que les stratégies de médiation proposées aux apprenants dans la zone proximale de développement (ZPD) du groupe pourraient améliorer leur compréhension orale. Ces découvertes comportent d'importantes implications pour les professeurs de tout type de cours, qui peuvent bénéficier de différents modèles d'intégration et d'évaluation en proposant aux apprenants de L2 des stratégies de médiation leur permettant d'appuyer le développement de leur compétence de compréhension orale

Prevalence of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dentists: Symptoms and Risk Factors

Aim. The purpose of the present research was to examine the factors that lead to musculoskeletal disorders in dentists by assessing their posture using RULA method. Materials and Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 130 dentists (84 male and 46 female) participated. The posture of the subjects during their normal workload was recorded by using the RULA method, and the range of musculoskeletal pains by using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and individual and professional data was assessed by a demographics questionnaire. All tests were performed at the P<0.05 level. Results. Assessment of the physical status of the subjects showed that 82.8% of subjects were at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The majority of musculoskeletal pains were in the neck (55.9%) and the shoulder (43.8%). Moreover, 68.9% of the subjects had experienced pain at least once over the last year. Significant relationships were observed between musculoskeletal pain and daily work hours P=0.07 and number of patients P=0.02, but the pain was not significantly associated with BMI and experience. Conclusion. The present findings showed that unsuitable posture of dentists during work has a considerable effect on musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, further investigation is required to avoid the detrimental effects of wrong posture