Archives-February 2015

This research examines the impact involving macroeconomic variables like inflation, real exchange rate and interest rate on GDP of Pakistan within the light involving 32 year time series data from 1980 to 2011. Research was a secondary data based, Descriptive statistics and multiple regression investigation was used to analyze the information. Econometric model used by analysis was comprised of GDP seeing that dependent variable even though the independent factors were interest rate, exchange rate and inflation rate. Data taken from intending for these variables through the website of the State Bank of Pakistan in addition to the World Bank. The individual significance of the variables, overall value and fairness of the econometric model analyzed. The study found that there's a significant effect of inflation rate, interest rate and exchange rate of GDP. So far as the indicators of co-efficient are concerned, the inflation rate interest rate had a negative impact on GDP while exchange rate possessed positive relation to GDP. Based on the results and analysis it is suggested that the Government adopted tight monetary policy due to inflation because the results suggest that inflation provides significant effect but negative relation to GDP. In the case of developing countries like the Pakistan quality value of the exchange rate must be maintained since the results show that there's a considerable and constructive impact involving exchange rate with GDP. Ceiling of interest rate should reduce to boost the economy.

Research has found that active student engagement in classroom activities can enhance academic achievement, promote retention and application of knowledge. This study investigated the relationship between students’ engagement and facilitation in a student-centred learning environment. The study was conducted at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. 307 Vocational Education students formed the population, from where 174 were drawn to form the sample. The results of the study indicated that facilitation is positively related to students’ engagement. It was concluded that facilitative learning environment is positively related to student engagement as quality instruction mediates students’ engagement.

Different sizes and colours of fresh C. nitida nuts were collected from “Ogunmakin market” Ogun state, nutritive and anti- nutrient evaluation was investigated. There was a significant increase in all the mineral elements analyzed from the smallest (very young) nuts to the biggest (matured) nuts with the preponderance of potassium (K) which ranged from 9.72mg/100g dry matter to 12.60mg/100g dry matter, followed by phosphorus (p) with values 4.21mg/100mg dry matter to 6.43mg/100g dry matter and the least was obtained for zinc with values 1.87mg/100g dry matter to 3.14mg/100g dry matter. The result obtained for different colours shows that the red nuts had the highest value in potassium (11.96mg/100g dry matter), followed by pink nuts (11.82mg/100g dry matter) and the white nut the least (10.41mg/100g dry matter); followed by P with value 5.94mg/100g dry matter (red nuts), 5.58mg/100g dry matter (pink nuts) and 4.69mg/100g dry matter (white nuts). Similar result was obtained for proximate with increase values from the smallest (very young) nuts to the biggest (matured) nuts with the preponderance of moisture content which ranged from 83.26 for the smallest (very young) nuts to 91.54 for the biggest (matured) nuts, followed by carbohydrate with values 82.97 for the smallest (very young) nuts to 88.43 for the biggest (matured) nuts and the least was obtained for % crude fat with values 1.87 for the smallest (very young) nuts to 2.72 for the biggest (matured) nuts. White nuts had the highest value for moisture content (90.25), followed pink (89.84) and red the least (86.09). Oxalate had the highest value in all the parameters tested with 1.70mg/100g dry matter for the smallest (very young) nuts to 3.16mg/100g dry matter for the biggest (matured) nuts; followed by trypsin inhibitors with value 1.29mg/100g dry matter for the smallest (very young) nuts to 2.08mg/100g dry matter for the biggest (matured) nuts and least, phytate with value 1.28mg/100g dry matter to 2.07mg/100g dry matter. These results reveal that these seeds/nuts contain appreciable amounts of nutrients especially carbohydrates and proteins with good caloric value and low levels of toxicants and should be included in human diets to supplement our daily allowance needed by the body.

The role of corporate board of directors in aligning the interest of diverse groups, ensuring discipline and effectiveness among board members cannot be over emphasised, although there are limited empirical investigations on African firms and Nigeria in particular about the nature of the relationship between board variables and firms financial performances. This study apply Pearson correlation and regression analyses to examined the relationship between board composition (proportion of; non-executive directors, executive directors and women directors) and corporate financial performance for a sample of commercial banks in Nigeria. Using two financial performance indicators; return on asset and return on equity from 2008-2012, the study find out that board composition as defined above is not related to corporate financial performance.

The aim of study was to screen out rice (Oryzae sativa L.) genotypes with better drought tolerance, to explore observable responses of rice plants towards drought stress and multivariate statistics were used to compare the relationships among the responses as well as their effects on yield and yield reduction under drought stress. Genotypes responded differently under same level of stress. Results revealed that as a response to drought, all the genotypes showed 42 % average increase in seedling root length; 39 % average decrease in seedling shoot length; 21 % average reduction in 1000 grain weight; delay in heading time of 13 days in average; average yield per plant reduction of 47 %; reduction in grains per panicle of 52% in average, when subjected to simulated drought stress. It was concluded that in addition to correlation and path analysis of yield components, cluster analysis, factor analysis and principal component analysis are also very important methods for screening drought tolerant cultivars of rice in large populations and give better understandings of associations and helps better to choose important variables and genotypes. Factor analysis and Principal component analysis revealed the importance of drought response index, as a best measurement for yield under stress condition. Seedling root length to shoot length ratio, followed by seedling root length ratio contrubute majorly in yield per plant under drought stress. Reduction in plant height and delay in heading time were main causes of yield reduction under stress. It was further concluded that selecting the genotypes showing higher drought response index, higher increase in s ling root length, seedling root to shoot length ratio and less reduction in plant height and delay in heading time, are important criteria in screening for drought tolerance. Also these characters showed high heritability and genetic advance, signifying their values in selection breeding, and higher phenotypic correlation values indicating their polygenic behavior and high influence of environment.

The determination of a company’s capital structure constitutes a difficult decision, one that involves several and antagonistic factors, such as risk and profitability. That decision becomes even more difficult, in times when the economic environment in which the company operates presents a high degree of instability. Therefore, the choice among the ideal proportion of debt and equity can affect the value of the company, as much as the return rates can. This study analyses how far the capital structure (cs) affects the Profitability (p) of corporate firms in India. The study tries to establish the hypothesized relationship as to how far the cs affect the business revenue of firms and what the interrelationship is between cs and Profitability. This study is carried out after categorizing the selected firms into three categories based on two attributes, viz. business revenue and asset size. First, firms are grouped into low, medium and high based on business revenue. Second, firms are classified into small, medium and large based on asset size to establish the hypothesized relationship that cs has significant impact on Profitability of Manufacturing firms in India. Regression Analysis in addition to descriptive statistics such as Mean, Standard Deviation, and Ratios has been used. The study proves that there has been a strong one-to-one relationship between Capital Structure variables and Profitability variables, Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) and the Capital Structure has significant influence on Profitability, and increase in use of debt fund in Capital Structure tends to minimize the net profit of the Manufacturing firms listed in Bombay Stock Exchange in India.

The synthesis of non-electrolyte mixed-ligand complexes of the general formula [M(Hdmg)B], Ni(II), Hdmg=dimethylgloximato monoanion, B=2-aminophenol(2-aph), diethylamine (dea) or malonic acid (MOH) has been synthesized and characterized. However theoretical calculations were carried out to obtain the geometric and thermodynamic parameters, vibrational and electronic parameters, dipole moments and HOMO-LUMO band gaps of the complex with different substituents. These properties were obtained using the PM3 and DFT with B3LYP at 6-31G* level. Comparisons were made on the calculated bond length, bond angle, dihedrals and vibrational frequencies and it was observed that the calculated data are in good agreement with experimental data.

Wireless ATM is upcoming as solution in the era of telecommunication. As wireless ATM gaining popularity is essential to find the subsequent use of ATM network . One of the major issue is the optimized usage of bandwidth for ATM networks. In this paper an Enhanced Genetic Algorithm (EGA) algorithm approach based solution is proposed for optimization of bandwidth through dynamic routing in ATM network. In this paper non-traditional optimization technique for EGA has been approached. The results obtained thus prove that EGA can algorithm solves the purpose for obtaining optimized bandwidth and minimization cell delay. Due to it many attractive business applications like high speed LAN interconnection, teleconferencing would become feasible. A comparative study of the selection mechanisms in GA and listed the best selection mechanism. It is a new technique which improves the efficiency of the EGA.

We are very happy to announce that from 2nd February 2015, Mr.Mohammedreza Babaei has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Human Resource Management. Mr.Mohammedreza Babaei currently working as Assistant Professor, Islamic azad University of Shahre, Rey Branch, Iran. The appointment of Mr.Mohammedreza Babaei 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 11th February 2015, Mr. Sadeq Ali Saad Al Yaari has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Neurolinguistics and Language Communication. Mr. Sadeq Ali Saad Al Yaari currently working as Neurolinguistics Researcher, Language Communication and Cognitive Neuroscience (JEKON-LCCN), School of Medicine, Zagreb University. The appointment of Mr. Sadeq Ali Saad Al Yaari 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.