Archives-May 2016

The purpose of this research is to understand and quantify the impact of Building Human Resources on Business-IT Alignment and strength of interaction among them. A theoretical framework is proposed regarding the constructs of Human Resources (BHR), and Business-IT Alignment (BIA) and the construct validity was established. The sample data from 65 firms were obtained through structured questionnaires. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to understand the relationships among each of the construct and its attributes. Building Human resources had a strong effect on the Business-IT Alignment , and is statistically significant.

This experiment was conducted to determine the potential of formulated Annona squamosa (Linn) and Moringa oleifera (Lam) against Podagrica species (jacoby) and Zonocerus variegatus (Loew) of okra during the major planting season of 2013 and 2014. The experiment was set up in a Randomized Complete Block Design and each treatment was replicated three times. The paste was separately mixed with Texapol, Nitrosol, Black soap and Salt at different proportion. The solution collected was stored in a 5-littre keg for further use. The result revealed that the formulated extracts had significant effect in all the tested parameters when compared with unprotected plants. Ethanolic plant extracts had higher insecticidal efficacy (36.1 to 46.9%) than Acetonic extracts which had the efficacy ranging from 18.4 to 29.3%. The yield obtained from ethanolic plant extracts treated plots was two times that of Acetonic extracts. The solution was stored at a room temperature for three months without being fermented. Therefore, these plant extracts can be used in the management of insect pests of okra especially in organic farming system.

In this study, the relationship between capital structure, and new criteria to evaluate the performance, by smoothing and non-smoothing companies profit, the companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Tehran. The population, including companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange, and the study period is between 2009-2013. According to the data analysis, correlation and regression tests were performed using, to the conclusion that, in companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange, the smoothing doing, the ratio of current debt, equity ratio, with adjusted economic value added, there is a significant inverse relationship. But the proportion of long-term debt, and new criteria to evaluate the performance, there is no significant relationship.

The process of international integration arising from the interchange of world views, products, ideas and other aspects of culture is the currency of the day. This has many aspects and expatriates play several crucial roles in this process of change. There are a number of vital determinants that affect this change. This study examines some of the determinants of expatriate performance in Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach: The extant literature has been studied to explore the theoretical base for the research. And on the basis of the previous research theoretical scope was designed. To analyze the determinants, views of 109 expatriates from four different sectors; education, construction, telecommunication, and press and media were collected through a survey. Multiple regression analysis was employed. Findings: The empirical evidence revealed that 67.3% variation in performance is explained by factors like expatriate selection, cross-culture training, language skills, family related issues, personality characteristics, expatriate motivations. However, the role of personality characteristics is very significant compared to the rest. The results of the correlation and regression analysis supported the hypothesis is supported by the empirical data. Research limitations/implications: The study has some limitations like comparatively small sample size and limited number (sectors) of international organizations in Pakistan. Apart from such limitations the study has all the positives of expatriate research. One notable aspect of the study is that it is one of the first to study expatriation in Pakistan. Practical implications: The research has practical implications for international organizations in providing in-depth understanding regarding the role of these factors in affecting the behavior of their employees and thereby the performance of the organizations and would help them in taking into account these determinants while making reasoned decisions about expatriation in Pakistan. Originality/value: Though the amount of research on expatriation is abundant, contextual studies in Pakistan are in the nascent stages. Such studies (new and replications both) will be of greater value in advancing the cause of good HR practices and encouraging future research in this field.

Mild and efficient synthesis of 5, 7-dihydroxy-6-methoxy-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one (Oroxylin A) has been reported. MEM is used as protecting group to get Oroxyline A. Screening of protecting groups and solvents system are described in detail. Optimal reaction conditions towards achieving maximum selectivity are discussed. Oroxylin A is characterized by NMR and Mass spectroscopy.

Cloud Computing involves aggregation of computing, storage and network resources into a single entity called cloud in which task is performed. Cloud computing is an evolution of the virtualization, Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Utility Computing. In efficient resource management, the virtualized data center is always a practical concern and it has attracted significant attention. This allocation mechanism is desired to maximize the spaces for technical cloud providers. In this paper uses the overbooking and automatic from physical machine management to avoid resource over-provision problem according to its runtime demand. It proposes an automatic model to control the overbooking policy while it provides usages probability based on the performance and risk estimation. To cooperate with overbooking policy, it optimizes the VM placement with resource-aware strategy to satisfy application's QoS requirement. In this paper, Automated VM provisioning approach in which multiple VMs are consolidated and provisioned based on an estimate of their aggregate capacity needs. To implement cloud analytics in cloud computing in which it have reached the goal of achieves the overload avoidance and green computing concept successfully.

Surface soils representing a wide range of pH, EC and OC in Sundarbans were studied to determine the relationships between microbial growth efficiency and soil properties besides temperature changes. The field study shows that bacterial and fungal growth efficiency are maximum (100 %) in November and in January and minimum (9 -21 %) in April and May months respectively. Regression analysis indicates that pH, EC and OC besides temperature accounted for most of the variability in efficiency of microbial population over 85%. Multiple regression analysis predicted the growth efficiency of bio inoculates in different soil conditions in Sundarbans. Further field study shows that the application of Azotobactor increases tomato yield 2.5-20.4 % and chilli yield 2.1-16.1 % over balanced 75% NPK doses. These percentage of increases yield of tomato and chilli are highly statistical significant (r= 0.975 and r= 0.961 respectively) with bacterial growth efficiency. Increases of percentage of tomato and chilli yield on Azotobactor application based on bacterial growth efficiency depending on soil properties in Sundarbans is also predicted from regression equation. Soil and temperature requirements for microbial growth efficiency are tabulated according to Sys et al. (1993) from regression equation.

The algorithm of the JPEG image compression based on DCT and IDCT was developed and implemented . The proposed algorithm can cope with the problem of impairing dependency of noised digital image. The result indicates that the algorithm is an effective way for grayscale image compression and the image rebuilt is acceptable. The practical experiments were done with MATLAB7.0. The algorithm doing experiments with MATLAB is simple and with little error, and it can improve the efficiency and precision of the image compression greatly.

The study investigated the comparative effect of Tectona grandis to different concentration level of CCA preservative. The species were obtained from five plantation trees from Burgma forest at Onigambari Forest Reserve, a total of 75 test samples consisting 60 samples treated to CCA and the remaining 15 as control experiment. The samples were later subjected to termite attack at a termittarium for 3months. The preservation absorption, retention and penetration were measured while analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Results showed that Teak had the highest absorption, retention and penetration of 48.33km/m3 and longitudinal and lateral penetration of 4.1mm and 2.0mm at 5% concentration. The absorption of 4% concentration was 42.89kg/m3 with retention of 1.59kg/m and 47.78kg/m3 with retention of 1.40kg/m3. After exposure to termite, Tectona grandis immersed in 5% concentration of CCA produce the most durable. Analysis of variance showed a significant difference among the absorption rate while the retention shows insignificant differences among the absorption rate while the retention shows insignificant differences among the concentration. In conclusion, preservative treatment at 5% concentration produce the most durable, the higher the concentration the better the durability of Tectona grandis, hence, the treatment of the species at 5% concentrate by immersion is recommended.

ABSTRACT The study investigated challenges of communication practices in the seven Colleges of Education in the Ashanti Region. The population comprised College administrators and tutors and the sample included 21 administrators 178 tutors. The instrument was pre-tested and a reliability coefficient of 0.89 was realized and it was deemed to be good for the final data administration. Consequently, data collected were analysed descriptively using frequencies and percentages. The results of the study showed that the College had communication practices that use three traditional channels of communication, namely: downward, upward and horizontal. Also, media of communication like face to face, telephone, text messages, staff meetings as well as notice boards were used to convey the needed information on regular basis.