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Heavy structures built on untreated collapsible soil remain susceptible to failure due to abrupt changes in the soil structure upon wetting. Industrial wastes like cement kiln dust (CKD) can be used to solve this problem. For this study, undisturbed and disturbed collapsible soil samples were collected from Thal Haro arid area, Punjab, Pakistan. CKD was mixed up to 20% to stabilize the collapsible soil with a maximum of 28 days of curing time. To perform strength tests and collapsible potential tests, samples were remolded at optimal water content and maximum dry unit weight. The CKD content exponentially improves the unconfined compression strength, deformation modulus, and soaked California bearing ratio; however, it marginalizes the ductility of treated soil. With the addition of CKD, the strain at failure and deformability index is significantly decreased. Moreover, for microstructural characteristics comparison, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analyses were performed on untreated and treated samples. Due to the addition of CKD, XRD and EDAX results show the new peaks of calcium and calcium silicate, respectively, in treated samples. The formation of the new element and compound indicates the generation of bonds among soil partials owing to the hydration and pozzolanic reactions which is also verified by the SEM results. The SEM analyses manifest the conversion of the dispersed and silt-dominated structure of the native collapsible soil to a reticulated structure without micropores due to the addition of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to highlight the stress factors influencing primary school female teachers in southern Punjab, Pakistan. A causation model is developed to determine the effect of the three main domains of stress. Data were collected through a questionnaire using a convenient sampling technique. Cronbach's alpha is computed to determine the internal consistency of the items of the questionnaire. The factors involved in the causation model are confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. The perceived stress scale is used to check the stress level in primary school female teachers. A structural pathway of social, health and environmental factors is designed to determine the influence of different variables on stress. The examined problems included the four following major areas: social factors, economic factors, health factors and environment factors. Among our results, it is shown that the marital status has an effect on the stress level of both public and private female school teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]