Archives-February 2013

This study attempts the evaluation of the geogenic release metals due to weathering of basement rock on the shallow groundwater system around Ilesha and environs. The study involves collection of twelve (12) soil samples over four (4) soils profiles. In addition to a total of nineteen (19) groundwater samples obtained from shallow dug wells <25m in areas surrounding the sampled soil profiles. Geochemical analysis revealed the presence of SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, MnO, P2O5 and Cr2O3 as the major oxides. Ruxton Ratio depicts weathering intensity decreasing from Muscovite schist (MS) > Amphibolite (AS) > Talc schist (TS) > Quartzite quartz schist (QS). Physico-Chemical results of water samples revealed a slightly acidic to basic water with electric conductivity values of 443µS/cm, 94µS/cm and 267µS/cm for the AM, QS and MS respectively. Hydro-geochemical analysis of the groundwater samples indicate the presence of major cations and trace elements and further analysis revealed the order of mean cations abundance for the mafic unit to be Ca2+>Mg2+>Na+>K+, and Ca2+>Na+>K+>Mg2+ for the felsic. Groundwater around the mafic bedrocks shows high concentration of the major cations, except for Potassium (K), thereby revealing a relationship that correspond to the mineralogy of the bedrock and weathered profile.

The aim of this study is to offer a commentary on the sustainability of sustainable design science. After a brief introduction on the subject, key concepts of sustainability are presented and then discussed from the viewpoint of management. Although sustainability may survive in the theory domain, we argue that it is impossible for the concept to survive as a practice under current circumstances. It is vital to draw the attention of top-level leaders to this subject; development can only be realised if the issue is placed on the agenda of top-level decision makers.

Scientific, historical, and interpretive methods to conduct the study. We intend to answer the questions below: How can the time of Vitruvius be interpreted? How did Vitruvius conceptualize architecture? What did Vitruvius emphasize most on in his study? Are there any surviving buildings from the time of Vitruvius, and if there are, how exactly do they fit the explanations of Vitruvius? What can we offer our peers as results of this study? Did he, in fact, ever live and is there really a book called De Architectura? It is argued that neither such a book nor the author existed in the first century before the birth of Jesus. This study’s hypothesis is that neither the man nor the book De Architectura existed. We intend to criticize the sources and attempt to reveal the truth on the subject.

The aim of the study was to evaluate ciprofloxacin-hydrochloride loaded microspheres using copolymers synthesized from acrylic and methacrylic acid esters as a the retardant material for nasal administration.. Microspheres prepared by emulsion solvent diffusion method using an acetone and dichloro methane system. Formulation parameters and processing parameters like ratio of drug to polymer (1:1, 1:1.5, 1:2 and 1:3) concentration of aerosol, volume of water and stirring speed were optimized. Aerosil was used as the inert dispersing carrier to increase the dissolution rate. The prepared microspheres characterized for their micromeritic propertics and drug loading, as well as Differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy. The in vitro release studies performed in Phosphate buffer PH 7.4. The prepared microspheres should white, free flowing and spherical in shape. The drug-loaded microspheres showed 86-96% of entrapment and release contected up to 8-10 hr.

We have to make comparison among differential transformation method (DTM) and Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM). We provide two examples in order to compare our results and find exact solutions also. The numerical examples show that the DTM is a good method compared to the HPM since it is effective, uses less time in computation, easy to implement and achieve high accuracy. From the numerical results, DTM is suitable to apply for nonlinear problems. Numerical results show that DTM is a promising and powerful tool for solving the higher-order boundary value problems as compared to HPM.

This study discusses skills of workers, especially educational attainment and technical and vocational training capacity and its relationship with wages in district Faisalabad. The analysis highlights the need to promote technical and vocational skills and education of labour force through greater investment on training programs so that male and female productivity could be increased. Education and vocational training of female needs to be increased in order to increase labour force participation rate of women in the district. Furthermore, education reforms especially in technical and vocational education are necessary which needs to be closely linked to the requirements of the domestic industry, service and agriculture sector in the district.

Biotechnology is one of the new and strategic technologies which have been regarded as a suitable and powerful tool for access to sustainable development. For this reason, some countries have made long-term investments and planning for utilization of its potential. In Iran, many efforts have been made to progress biotechnology and pharmaceutical biotechnological projects have been transferred to the country. But requirement of a suitable technology transfer to the country is transfer of this technology based on a compiled and conscious plan. In this article, three objectives have been considered: The first objective is views of the experts about essential questions including barriers to technology transfer in pharmaceutical biotechnology, methods of technology transfer and the used models for transfer. The second objective is study of technology transfer process in projects transferred to the country. In this regard, different phases of technology transfer were specified and the specialists were asked to answer this question to specify weak and strong points in technology transfer. The third objective is study of factors effective on technology transfer in pharmaceutical biotechnology. In this regard, important elements in technology transfer process which can cause to progress this industry in the country were specified by coordination with specialists and experts and such indices were studied with use of DEMATEL technique to specify what elements are effective on technology transfer process and which elements are affected in technology transfer process which can play important role in decision of the authorities.

Supply chain resilience is an increasing area of interest for researchers and companies as its impact on efficiency and effectiveness of supply chains is mirrored on the ability of enterprises to compete in a fiercely competitive marketplace. Today’s supply chains are more exposed to vulnerability due to the increasing probability of demand and supply uncertainty in complex supply chains. Some authors have reported how the risk of supply chain disruption has grown and how great the consequences of that disruption might be. However, literature have mainly focused on characteristics of supply chain to define the level of the risk or of the resilience to external (terrorist attacks, floods, earthquakes, etc.) and internal (failure of actors inside the supply chain) disruption causes. The paper presents a tactical approach to counteract the supply chain disruption issue, leading to operative rules that mitigate the effects of this negative occurrence. The approach relies on establishing novel ordering policies based on an information sharing approach. Orders placed are divided into two streams, transmitting the real demand information to the whole supply chain echelons and the required inventory adjustments in order to keep a stable inventory. A simulation model of a four echelons supply chain is developed to investigate the effect of a disruptive situation. Four ordering policies of information sharing approach are investigated and evaluated in terms of supply chain adaptability. The simulation results showed how the suggested approach can recover supply chain normal performance by reducing effects on inventories and increasing service levels of the supply chain.

Leaders are backbone in an organization. They are the one that determine the direction of an organization whether to be further victorious or not. Leaders have an undeviating and massive impact on the followers as well. Past research indicated that when followers are selecting their leaders it is based on many indistinct characteristics. Thus this study is to identify the characteristics that develop into the factors to select a good leader among students. Findings from this present study indicated that from the five dimension of independent variables (responsibility, education, personality, skill and gender), three (education, personality and skill) were directly associated with selecting a good leader among the students. Among the three, education had the biggest impact on selection of a good leader among students. Education being the most imperative factor because a leader with first-class education will gain reverence without much difficulty, be trusted and their words are considered to be more significant and grant greater impact on the followers. It is highly hoped that information gleaned from this present study will shape and produce leaders with first-class qualities for the world of tomorrow.

We are very happy to announce that from 1st February 2013, Dr.V.Mahalakshmi has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Management. Dr.V.Mahalakshmi is currently working as Dean& Professor(MBA) from Panimalar Engineering College, Poonamallee, Chennai- 600123. The appointment of Dr.V.Mahalakshmi as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal. Please send any expressions of interest to chiefeditor@elixirjournal.org. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief