The development of new functionalized materials with increased performance is growing to meet the regulatory standards in response to public concerns for environment. This dissertation is an effort in this direction and describes the synthesis, characterization, and application of various functionalized silica hybrids keeping the perspective of recent technological advancements. The objective of present research is mostly driven by inadequate control of increasing concentration of toxic pollutants in environmental compartments. The synthesized functionalized hybrids are expected to find progressively their place as economical adsorbents. The direct method adopted for the synthesis of Mesoporous Silica and its functionalized hybrids offers advantage of providing uniform surface coverage and better control of the amount of incorporated organic moiety. The synthesized products are grouped as Mesoporous Silica (SBA- 15, MSU-H), Monodispersed ORMOSILS (VO, PO, MO), Functionalized Silica Hybrids (AS, GS, MS, VS, PS, AM, GM, MM, VM, PM), and Polysulfone Mixed Matrix Membranes (PM-15, PM-H, PM-VO, PM-PO, PM-MO). The resulting hybrid materials are thoroughly characterized to determine the surface and bulk properties and to develop understanding of intricate relationship of structural artifacts with its functionalities as adsorbents. The characteristics Si–O–Si stretching vibration bands at 1047cm-1 for Mesoporous Silica is identified on ATR-FTIR. The peculiar hexagons image is scanned under SEM. Further, the distribution of Si, O, and C element to locate the binding sites on fabricated membranes is clearly demonstrated through Mapping. The surface area of 521-580 m2/g is calculated by BET for Mesoporous Silica. The thermal stability is assessed by TG/DTA analysis. The synthesized Mesoporous Silica based hybrids were subjected to 13 C and 1H NMR studies and possible structure is deduced. The selection of novel adsorbents with multiple and diverse application range is a challenge. In the same spirit, the functionalized silica based hybrids are applied in batch mode for the removal of toxic species prevalent in air (N2, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons-PAHs), soil and water (metal cations of Hg, As, Cr, Pb, and nitro-, amino-phenols). Each adsorbent demonstrates the removal efficiency for these pollutants. The qualitative performance scale of each adsorbent is characterized as Excellent for Chromium, Very good for Lead, Good for Arsenic and fairly good for Mercury. A general comparison of silica based hybrids as adsorbents for the removal of PAHs and Phenols highlight the different efficacy extent. Phenols are observed to take the lead by showing more adsorption than PAHs. Larger molecular weight and fused aromaticity likely appear as hindrances to better retention of selected PAHs. It is concluded that Mesoporous silica better retains the liquid pollutants (metals, phenols) attributed to its larger surface area. Desorption for SBA-15 and MSU-H follows Type IV and Type I hysteresis, respectively. It is reported here that –phenyl and –methacrylate substituted ORMOSILS (PO and MO) did not construct the breakthrough curve and deformed because of non-sustainability under the applied temperature-pressure conditions. It is generally concluded from the results that basic silica framework offers good adsorptive properties. Further, adsorption in functionalized hybrids is facilitated through binding sites provided by organic moiety. The present study, thus, proposes a decontamination model for pollutants ranging from metal cations to gases. The efficient removal with regeneration capacity offer direct compliance to 3R principles. That is to Reduce (pollutants), Reuse and Recycle (functionalized hybrids/membranes). It is expected that these materials will help to reduce the pollution load on the environment. The possibility for commercialization of mixed matrix membrane is also important output of this research. The application of these materials in existing industrial processes is another avenue to find niches for applications in advanced waste water treatment technologies with no comprise on improved industrial production and sustainable environment.
Personality development is the process of improvement in behaviors and attitudes to make an individual a unique person. Sufism brings about positive changes in the behaviors of individuals. The positive changes are brought through moral development within inductive environment griped by building of character. Moral development guides through “Zuhud” and “Taqwa” for minimization of material luxuries, enhancement of repentance and self-purification. The purpose of moral development is achieved with an institution articulated with teacher-student (Murshid-Murid) relationships; this environment ensures the provision of guidance and scholarships for the engaged students. The engagement of students revolves around knowledge, awareness and behavior. In the dimension of knowledge students are helped with raising moral and spiritual awarenessto enhance firmness in faith and encouragement towards good deeds. In addition, behavioral (amal) dimension is covered with remembrance of Allah, optional prayers, fasting services, alms giving along with obligatory ones. All these behavioral deeds are performed with devotion for the sake of closeness “Taqarrub” to Allah. Finally, ma’rifat (Recognition) is applied to secure soundness in building of character.
In Pakistan, education is evaluation-driven. Students spend the entire academic session preparing for the summative examinations. Currently these summative examinations for MBBS final year students consist of theory papers. If the summative examination fails to test/ evaluate the students on all the cognitive, psychomotor and affective competencies, this could have serious even fatal consequences for the community as well as the doctors. To identify valid, reliable yet cost-effective and feasible tools of evaluation in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains that will not only lower the economic and psychological burden of evaluation but shall also improve the quality of the product i.e. the Doctors. This was a prospective mixed quantitative and qualitative study of two years duration centered at University of Health Sciences, Lahore (UHS). The student population included final year MBBS students in the academic sessions 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 (Annual 2009 and Annual 2010) in the Medical Colleges of Punjab affiliated with UHS. Stratified random sampling was done to invite two groups of 100 Students each from the population to attend UHS for the Psychomotor and Affective Domains Assessments in this study in 2009 as well as 2010. The data was entered and analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 16.0 software. Relevant tests of significance were applied. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Qualitative data was entered into Ethnograph Version 6 and common themes were identified. The study indicates that a Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) is an objective instrument of assessment. If constructed properly and with care keeping in mind the competency outcomes associated with assessment, this cost-effective instrument is capable of measuring higher order cognitive skills. A large majority of MCQs constructed at UHS testediii higher cognitive skills than the Structured Answer Questions (SAQs). The Long Essay Question (LEQ) can be specifically targeted for assessment of higher order evaluation and creative cognitive skills. In order to reduce the duration related to assessment through this instrument, it should be used sparsely and only where it cannot be replaced by an MCQ or an SAQ. The currently structured standardized format of clinical, viva voce and Objectively Structured Performance Evaluation (OSPE) for assessment of psychomotor and affective domains in the examinations of UHS has support from all the stakeholders. Especially OSPE, through its wider content coverage and direct observation of clinical skills and attitudes, has been well received. Finally, educational, socioeconomic and geographical background has been seen to affect the scores of students. However, no difference in the perception of students towards the examination, as a whole, or the instruments individually was identified based on the same demographic and educational divisions.