Archives-January 2012

By using Mawhin continuation theorem and comparison theorem, the sufficient conditions ensuring the existence of exponential periodic attractor and exponential convergence of a class of functional differential equation with time varying delays are established. The results are very different from some previously known results [1,19,28]. Finally, applications and an example are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the results.

Project management is not a new management trend; it is a professional practice that has reached wide acceptance in many facets of industries. The purpose of project management is to foresee as many of the dangers and problems as possible and to plan, organize and control activities so that projects are completed successfully in spite of all the risks. This process should start well before any resource is committed, and must continue until all work is finished. Organizations that have adopted project management as a key competency have benefited from improved project outcomes to significant competitive advantage. There are many aspects involved in successful project management: Solid processes, tools & techniques, experience, hard work, good teamwork and good work practices. This paper focuses on two important aspects of project management – the processes and the tools & techniques we use for the successful completion of a project.

This study was to investigate perceptions of selected International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) students’ regarding the definition and manifestation of Comprehensive Excellence in the university’s vision and mission statement of Integration, Internationalization, Islamization, and Comprehensive Excellence (Triple ICE) – irrespective of gender, nationality or academic achievement. Individual interview sessions lasting between 45 minutes to 55 minutes were conducted on selected IIUM students at separate venues and times. Each dimension was transcribed from the interview questions and decoded into a template. Main ideas were extracted from the template to answer the research questions within the purpose of the study. Two selected co-raters were identified to evaluate the main ideas of the researcher’s template in order to assure its reliability and validity. A percentage range of 96% to 100% showed that the items were highly reliable and valid. The results showed that Comprehensive Excellence was understood by a selected group of students only, thus more students need to be exposed to the conception of Comprehensive Excellence and other components of Triple ICE of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). This study may aid IIUM to compete and excel with other universities – locally and/or internationally as well as to prepare employable and marketable graduates.

In order to assess the antioxidant activity of the basidiocarp of mushrooms, viz., Boletus edulis, Ganodrema tsugae and Micoporus xanthopus., an invitro investigation was carried out. The result of the study revealed that the enzymatic antioxidants like catalase and peroxidase were recorded maximally in the basidiocarp of the fungus M. xanthopus (34.190 U mg^-1 and 116.53 U mg^-1 enzyme protein) and minimally in G. tsugae and B. edulis (9.602 U mg^-1 and 66.59 U mg?1 enzyme protein). The non-enzymatic antioxidants like ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and tocopherol (vitamin E) were much pronounced in B. edulis basidiocarp (17.15 µg^-1 and 56.13 µg g^-1 ) compared to M. xanthopus and G. tsugae (17.15 µg^-1 and 26.07 µg g^-1 ) respectively.

An in vitro investigation was carried out to explore the production of cellulase and xylanase enzyme in the basidiocarp of Pleurotus spp .The result of the study revealed that exo ?-1,4 glucanase and ?-glucosidase activities were highly pronounced in Pleurotus ostreatus (0.87 and 1.29 Umg-1 enzyme protein) than Pleurotus cornucopiae (0.38 and 0.71 Umg-1enzyme protein). Endo ? 1,4, glucanase was expressed maximally (1.56 Umg-1 enzyme protein) in P.cornucopiae than in P.ostreatus (1.28 Umg-1 enzyme protein). Xylanase activity was registered at a higher level of 0.058 Umg-1 enzyme protein in P.ostreatus than in P.cornucopiae (0.037 I Umg-1 enzyme protein)

The incidence, effect, and causal organism of fungal leaf spot diseases of orange tree (Citrus spp.) in Southeastern Nigeria were investigated. Healthy and diseased samples of orange leaves were obtained from Aba, Amagunze, Awka, Nkpor , and Onitsha all in Southeastern Nigeria. Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) was used for isolation of fungi. Ten trees with disease symptoms were sampled at each location using visual assessment method and their percentage frequency calculated. The occurrence of fungal leaf spot was least at Nkpor (30%) and highest at Aba (43%). The fungi identified were Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, F. oxysporium, Botryodiplodia theobromae, and Geotrichium spp. The F. solani occurred at highest percentage of 37.5% incidence while the lowest was B. theobromae at 6.25%. The pathogenicity test revealed that the major cause fungal leaf spot disease of orange was B. theobromae, Fusarium solani, and F. oxysporium. Although, leaf spot disease is a minor economic problem that reduces crop yield, a number of control measures need to be adopted.

This paper is concerned with the controllability of impulsive functional differential equations with infinite delay in a Banach space. Sufficient conditions for controllability are obtained by using the measures of noncompactness and Monch fixed point therem under the assumption of noncompactness of the evolution system.

Purpose: To present a comprehensive literature review of Green HR practices and to report the results of a survey on Green HR practices in certain automobile manufacturing organizations in India. Design/Methodology/Approach- A structured questionnaire was designed, pre-tested, modified and used to capture data on a section of organizations using Green HR practices in certain automobile organizations in India. The questionnaire was pilot-tested by practicing HR professionals. Based on the feedback from pilot-test, the questionnaire was modified and final questionnaire was developed and mailed to several automobile manufacturing companies in India. Most automobile industries in India perceived greatest benefit to implementation of Green HR practices were improved employee morale and greatest barrier was cost of implementation. Drivers for implementation of Green HR practices were contribution to society followed by environmental considerations. Among top environmental practices is encouraging employees to work more environmental friendly. Research Limitations/Implications-Further research should be done on differences in perception of HR professionals and employee regarding benefits and barriers of Green HR Practices. Practical Implications—It provides some insights into the implementation of Green HR Practices by certain automobile organizations in India which should help HR practitioners acquire a better to understanding of the current status of HR practices implemented in these organisations. Value- Little research has been done on Green HR practices in automobile organizations, various barriers and drivers in the implementation of Green HR practices. This study is timely and important in that it examines the current status of Green HR practices in certain automobile organizations in India.

In this present work, we have studied the hydraulic conductivity of soils in Na, Mg, Ca and their Different types of soil Mixture under different condition with distilled water. Different types of soil samples have been collected from the specific area of the Gujarat state like Ahmedabad, Surat and Ghandhidham. In this work, mixed soil samples were prepared and Study of hydraulic conductivity has been measured with distilled water.

An orchid Bulbophyllum tremulum Wight has been collected from Sirumalai hills of Southern Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu for the first time. This species was earlier known to occur only in Western Ghats. Hence, the present collection of this species is being reported here as a new record for Eastern Ghats.