Archives-September 2013

Black Carbon (BC) in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in Ashaiman, a semi-urban area of Ghana, were determined in 2008 using IVL PM2.5 and PM10 particle samplers. The aerosols were sampled on Teflon filters for three months, and the particulate mass PM2.5 and PM10 determined by gravimetrical method. Aerosol filters were analyzed to determine BC concentration levels using the black smoke method. PM2.5 mass concentrations determined averaged 23.26µg/m3 (3.85 - 46.43 µg/m3) and that of PM10 was 96.56µg/m3 (37.10 - 293.06 µg/m3). For fine particulates (PM2.5), the contribution of BC have been found to be about 18% of the total mass, while for particulate matter PM10, it has been found to be about 4% , its averaged 2.83µg/m3 (1.67-4.89µg/m3) for PM2.5 and 3.98µg/m3( 1.99-12.44µg/m3) for PM10. The results were compared with some literature values and World Health Organization guideline values. The mean 24-h BC values for the particulate mass varied daily and shows that the semi-urban background during the period, not only involved combustion activities which are largely responsible for the PM2.5 particulate matter but also involved in other man-made or natural activities that resulted in the high value of PM10.

This physico-chemical study of soil is based on various parameters like pH, conductivity, Total Organic Carbon, Available Nitrogen (N), Available Phosphorus (P2O5) and Available Potassium (K2O). This study lead us to the conclusion of the nutrient’s quantity of soil of Kalol and Godhra Taluka, District- Panchmahal, Gujarat. Results show that average all the villages of both these taluka have medium and high potassium content. The fertility index for available potassium for both this taluka is 2.18. This information will help farmers to decide the problems related to soil nutrients amount of fertilizers to be added to soil to make the production economic.

The purpose of the study is to empirically examine the impact of firm size and its performance on total cash compensation of executives. The study uses a sample of 32 companies from three different sectors listed at Karachi stock exchange for the period ranging from 2006 to 2010. Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis are used to analyze the impact of firm performance and its size on total cash compensation of executives. We find the firm size and its performance have significant and positives impact on total cash compensation of executives. The firm size is the most significant determinant of total cash compensation of executives as compared to firm performance. Most of the executive pay and performance literature is published with reference to USA, UK and other developed economies but fewer studies are conducted in developing economies like Pakistan. This is the pioneer study of its kind with reference to Pakistan so it can be a useful source of reference.

Nowadays, conducting supervision and inspection to prevent occurrence of crime and to remove its commitment grounds in the society is one of the main criminal policies of the governments which is usually done by governmental and judicial institutions. Planning and creating supervisory and inspective institutions and sanctions can be used to achieve the abovementioned goals. However, the role of people and NGOs in prevention of crime occurrence cannot be ignored; fear of social reactions forces a person to respect the values of the society and avoid norm-breaking. The viewpoint of Islam is using the inspective and supervisory tools with an emphasis on the role of people to obviate the grounds of crime occurrence in society. The rulers of the Islamic societies have practiced fighting against crime with an emphasis on the situational prevention. Moreover, promotion of good and prevention of evil has been an instance of the citizens’ participation in supervising each others’ deeds through recommendation of the admirable actions and prevention of the evil deeds.

In the information era, all the processes, sciences and different structures, under the shadow of IT and communication, grow and differ so fast that it puts staff and organizations in need of some tools to use them for coordinating themselves with the fast evolutions that have happened. Therefore, officials should perceive the potential advantages of achieving applications of IT and communication and they should apply these applications in their universities. This current research has the aimed of studying the preparation for establishment of web-based business processes in Zabol University. The method of research is descriptive-survey research. In this research, all the officials and experts of the organizational scope of Zabol University have been chosen as actuarial society. Since the actuarial society was very small, sampling in the form of census was used, so the whole actuarial society was chosen as sample. Therefore, the total number of officials and experts in the organizational scope are 57 People that were chosen as sample. For collecting data, questionnaire with adoption of Kirty Roykar (2004) has been used. The justifiability of the questionnaire is content type and its stability has been calculated by using Cranach’s alpha coefficient of 98%.

The climate of Bihar remains warm and humid for most part of the year. Regular visit of flood and drought along with fluch factors as high level of illiteracy, socioeconomic backwardness and use of primitive agronomic practices in field and storage enhance mycotoxin risk in Bihar drastically. 75 samples of 15 common drug plants were collected from different flood prone districts of Bihar. Vital parts, used for medicinal purposes, of these plants were chemically analysed for the natural occurrence of mycotoxins in them. Most samples contained mycotoxin as a natural contaminant. Among the mycotoxins, aflatoxins occurred most frequently. Other mycotoxins reported to be present were ochratoxin, citrinin, zearalenone and fumonisin. These mycotoxins are very harmful to both man and animals. Some of these mycotoxins are carcinogenic, mutagenic and/or teratogenic. This is a matter of great concern as these plants are used for the preparation of traditional medicines. Treatment of one disease will be the unintentelyded cause of another which is still more dangerous. The problem needs our serious attention.

The measurement of ultrasonic velocity in pure liquids and mixtures is an important tool to study the physico-chemical properties and also explain the nature of molecular interactions. The study of thermodynamic parameters to explain molecular interaction of drugs in aqueous or non-aqueous medium provides useful information in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry. In present work molecular interaction of aqueous solution of Gabpentin (2-[1-(amino methyl) cyclohexyl] acetic acid) at various concentrations and different temperatures such as 303, 308, 313, 318, 323K was studied by measuring ultrasonic velocity, density and viscosity of the solution. The ultrasonic parameters such as adiabatic compressibility, free volume, free length, acoustic impedance, absorption coefficient, viscous relaxation time, available volume, and Lenard Jones Potential were calculated. These parameters explained formation of hydrogen bond and molecular interaction existing in the solution.

Our research deals with a boosting sector in Pakistan’s economy that is the small and medium enterprises that are being managed and run by the families (family business), because these firms are the very important asset of Pakistan like any other country which contribute about 65% in the economy of Pakistan. The aim of this contemplate is to diagnose the ownership and management style in family businesses. That is whether there is any difference in running a family business and a non family business. And if there a difference exists then to investigate that difference. This research design is a self reported research because it is the most commonly used method of business research for small business and entrepreneurship quantitative research. In our research we are going to understand and investigate the different variables like leadership style, family conflicts while running a family business, succession planning in family business and many other variables with a non family firm. In the past there are many researches on these issues in family business yet these areas need much more attention of the researchers and the other businessmen. The result of our research showed that there are significant difference in a family firm and a non family firm because a family firm has much more other pressures on it. The result of our research suggest that the leader of the family business should adopt a participative leadership style through this he/she can share all business and management decision with his/her family and employees which helps him/her to get family trust and employees loyalty along with increase productivity and expansion in the family business. This research is being conducted in on the small and medium enterprises in a selected area of Sargodha Pakistan. Therefore results may not be generalized around the globe.

This paper is focused on selection of optimal parameters in drilling of Aluminium Metal Matrix Composites (AMMC) using “Fuzzy Logic”. AMMC samples are prepared based on selected material parameters and drilling experiments are conducted on these samples as per Taguchi OA L27 which is designed based on material and drilling parameters. The experimental results: power consumption, temperature, surface roughness, and burr height are measured for each experimental run. These results are analyzed using Fuzzy Logic and optimal parameters combination is identified. The identified combination of influential factors is tested through confirmation experiment and is satisfactory.

We are very happy to announce that from 11th September 2013, Dr.C.Surendra Dilip has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Chemistry. Dr.C.Surendra Dilip is currently working as Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Anna University, BIT Campus, Tiruchirappalli. The appointment of Dr.C.Surendra Dilip 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 elixirpublishers@gmail.com. Sincerely Editor-in-Chief