Archives-December 

Marketing in today’s world is so difficult for existing players and the new entrants due to the fast growing, changes in the customer preference and tastes, rapid growth of technology, penetration of foreign players in the local market, price sensitiveness of customers and quality consciousness of government for attracting, acquiring, retaining customers in the business. To identify the attitude of the customer in the banking sector, a study has been made in the Tiruchirappalli region among private bank.

In this study, the long-term impacts of poultry manure (PM) on vertical distribution of soil macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) have been determined. In addition, change in other soil fertility indicators such as organic matter (OM) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) levels were assessed. Soil samples from four depths (0-15, 15-30, 30-60, and 60-120 cm) from the sites were analyzed. Generally, the mean total soil nitrogen increased with depth in the cultivated poultry manure amended soils up to 60cm depth and decreased sharply at depth range 60-120 cm in both wet and dry seasons. At both the cultivated and uncultivated sites at Deduako, available P levels were highest at the top 15 cm depth of the soil and decreased rapidly with increasing depths for both seasons in both the cultivated and uncultivated sites. The exchangeable K content at Deduako during the wet and dry season was significantly higher at all sampling depths than the corresponding depths of uncultivated land. Generally, the exchangeable Ca levels were significantly higher in cultivated soils at the experimental sites than those of the uncultivated land. There were significantly higher exchangeable Ca levels in wet season than that of dry season at both sites. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) Mg levels recorded in wet season. The OM contents at all sampling depths of cultivated site were also higher than that of the uncultivated sites. At the Deduako vegetable site, during the wet season, the CEC in cultivated soils at the various sampling depth were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of uncultivated soil. Increases in all selected soil properties were, generally, higher in the wet season than the dry season.

We are very happy to announce that from 6th November 2016, Dr. Anissa Benramdane has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He/She will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Management. Dr. Anissa Benramdane working as Assistant Professor, Department of Management, External Relations Officer, A. Belkaid University, Tlemcen, Algeria. The appointment of Dr. Anissa Benramdane as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal.

We are very happy to announce that from 10th January 2017, Dr. Christo Ananth has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He/She will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Electronics and Communication Engineering. Dr. Christo Ananth working as Associate Professor, Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Francis Xavier Engineering College, Tirunelveli. The appointment of Dr. Christo Ananth as member Editorial Advisory Board strengthens the links and will make it easier for prospective authors to establish contact with the journal.

The study was aimed to analyse “Effect of problem solving teaching strategy on 8th graders’ achievement ". Major objective was to compare the achievement of the 8th grade students in General Science taught through problem solving teaching strategy and traditional methods. The population of the study was 150 grade 8th students of the Federal Government Model secondary school F-8/3, Islamabad. Two groups of 30 each were selected randomly including 10 in each category of high, average and low achievers. These groups were randomly assigned as experimental and control group. A research tool ‘Achievement Test in Science (ATS) for 8thgrade was developed to use as pre-test and post- test. The test was validated through peer review, expert opinion and pilot testing. In the beginning of treatment pre-test was administered, after six moths teaching through problem solving teaching strategy to experimental group only, the post-test was administered. On the collected data, t-test and ANOVA was applied. It was concluded that the students taught through problem solving teaching strategy, showed better achievement than the students taught through traditional teaching methods.

Maize is one of the cereals crop dominantly grown in tropic and mainly used as food for human being, feed for live stock and the by product also used for construction and fuel. Common bean crop is one of the pulse crop highly cultivated around the low land areas of tropics. Afield experiment was conducted in Guduru animal production research site, during 2015 cropping season to determine the effect of varieties and intra row spacing of common bean intercropped with maize on growth and yield component of the associated crops. Maize variety 540 at 100% (44,444 plants ha-1) was intercropped with four varieties of common bean (Ibbado, Omo, Nasire and Tibe) in a factorial combination with three intra row spacing (5cm, 10cm and 15cm) of the recommended sole common bean and maize. The field was laid out as randomized complete block design with three replications. Common bean varieties were significantly (p< 0.01) affected on ear length, dry biomass, and grain yield and harvest index of the associated maize. Intra row spacing was shown significant effect (p<0.05) on days to 50% tessling, leaf area, dry biomass, grain yield and harvest index of maize crop intercropped with common bean. The highest grain yield (2597.5kg/ha-1) was recorded when maize intercropped with common bean variety of Nasire at 5cm intra row spacing. While the interaction effect was significant effect on plant height, number of ear per plant, and thousand seed weight of maize crop. The main effect of common bean varieties had significant (p<0.01) effect on days to 50% flowering, Plant height, Number of branches, number of seed per pods, dry biomass, grain yield and harvest index when intercropped with maize. The intra row spacing of common bean was shown significant (p<0.05) differences on plant height, number of seed per pods, dry biomass, grain yield and harvest index of common bean intercropped with maize. Interaction effect was significant differences on days to 90% maturity, leaf area index, number of pods per plant, thousand seed weight of common bean intercropped with maize. The highest grain yield (2256kg/ha-1) was recorded when common bean varieties of Nasire intercropped with maize at intra row spacing of 5cm. The main effect of varieties and intra row spacing and interaction were significant (p<0.05) differences on total land equivalent ratio and total growth monetary value. The highest total LER (2.03) and (2.01) was observed when Omo variety of common bean intercropped with maize at intra row spacing of 5cm. The highest total GMV of (23102.1 ETB ha- 1) and (23471.9 ETB ha-1) were recorded when maize intercropped with bean variety of Nasire at intra row of 5cm. While the lowest total GMV (21,123.93kgha-1) was obtained when Tibe variety of common bean was intercropped with maize at 15cm intra row spacing. Therefore, maize (100%) intercropped with common bean variety of Nasire at 5cm intra row spacing was recommended for intercropping in the study area. However, the experiment has to be repeated across locations and over the growing seasons with consideration of farmer’s preference of the common bean varieties to reach at conclusive recommendation were significantly affected by the interaction.

In today’s dynamic world where innovation is central to organizational long-term success, national culture shaped the behavior of individual and organizations which in turn affects their innovative capability. This research has analyzed the Hofstede’s cultural dimensions effects on organizational innovativeness. We have based our study on the dimensions which are taken form Hofstede’s model, which included; Power Distance, Masculinity versus Femininity, Long & short term approach, Avoidance to uncertainties and Collectivism. We have aggregated data form 350 differential organizations which belong to various sectors of Pakistan. We have utilized Structure Equation Modeling technique to examine and interpret data. The study has found, higher power distance and uncertainty avoidance are having distressing relationship with organization innovativeness. On the other hand collectivism, short term approach and masculinity are having significant relationship impact with organizational innovativeness.

The effect of temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity on magneto hydrodynamic flow, heat and mass transfer of an incompressible micropolar fluid past an accelerated infinite vertical plate is studied where the viscosity and thermal conductivity are assumed to be inverse linear functions of temperature. The partial differential equations governing the flow, heat and mass transfer of the problem are transformed into dimensionless form of ordinary differential equations by using similarity substitutions. The governing boundary value problems are then solved numerically using shooting method. The effects of various parameters viz. viscosity parameter, thermal conductivity parameter, mass transfer parameter, coupling constant parameter, Prandtl number, Schmidt number, Grashoff number, Reynolds number and magnetic parameter on velocity, micro-rotation, temperature and concentration field are obtained and presented graphically. The Skin-friction, Nusselt number and Sherwood number are also computed and presented in table.

Computer and network based technologies now hold great potential for increasing the access to information as well as a means of promoting learning and that shape the process of education. Schools and classrooms never before had such universal access to information. Technologies are transforming classrooms into more engaging, collaborative and productive learning environments in which instructions can be customized to student’s specific needs, interests and learning styles. It is also redefining the way educators teach as well as the role they serve – from being the sole source of information to being a guide, facilitator and coach in the learning process.

Mefenamic acid, an anti-inflammatory drug, exhibits poor water solubility, dissolution and flow properties. Thus, the aim of the present study was to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of Mefenamic acid by preparing crystals by freeze drying technique. Mefenamic acid crystals were prepared by freeze drying using THF, isopropyl acetate and water as solvents system to enhance solubility and dissolution rate. The prepared crystals containing Mefenamic acid were evaluated for in vitro dissolution and solubility. The prepared formulations were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Dissolution profile of the freeze dried crystals was compared with its recrystallized sample and pure sample. The samples were stored in stability chamber to investigate their physical stability Freeze dried crystals exhibited decreased crystallinity and the solubility and dissolution of the mefenamic acid crystals were significant improved compared with its recrystallized and pure sample of mefenamic acid. In stability test, the release profile of the freeze dried crystals was almost unchanged as compared with the freshly prepared freeze dried crystals stored at 40 ⁰C and 75% relative humidity for 90 days. Hence this technique can be used for formulation of tablets of mefenamic acid by direct compression with directly compressible tablet excipients.