Archives-March 2013

The study assesses long and short run dynamics between nonperforming loans and macro economic variables covering the period from January 2002 till December 2011 belongs to commercial banks in Pakistan. Macroeconomic variables include inflation, exchange rate, interest rate, gross domestic product and money supply. A long run relationship is found among the time series of variables under studied by employing Johansen and Juselius multivariate co integration while pair wise bivariate co integration reveals pair wise long run relationship between nonperforming loans with Money supply and interest rate. Granger causality test is used to evaluate the cause and effect relationship within the sample and is found that inflation and exchange rate granger cause Nonperforming loans. Short run dynamics is explored by vector error correction model provides that weak short run relationship exist between Nonperforming loans with inflation and exchange rate. Macro economic indicators are the sizeable determinates of non performing loans is a contribution of this research also assists policy makers to keep in attention the impact of aggravating economy on non performing loans consequently hurts profitability and overall health of financial system while formulating fiscal and monetary measures.

The present study examined the prevalence of vocabulary level on reading comprehension performance among EFL language learners. The ultimate intention was to determine the association between levels of vocabulary knowledge as well as was to clarify the relationship among vocabulary knowledge on reading comprehension performance of EFL Iranian students on subtest of VLT and IELTS. The quantitative data were collected from 220 EFL Iranian adult students at the beginning of second semester of 2011in BAHAR institute, Shiraz, Iran. The Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT) and Reading Comprehension Test (IELTS) were performed in one session as research instruments. The findings indicated that there were positively relationship among different levels of vocabulary levels test and also test score on vocabulary size/breadth of vocabulary knowledge, and reading comprehension were positively correlated.

This study aims to investigate the determinants of e-relationship quality on e-satisfaction in Malaysian hotel websites. The objectives of this study are to investigate the association between determinants of e-relationship quality and e-satisfaction. This research adopts the quantitative method (correlational design) so that the questionnaire could be sent to a large number of informants, making the collection of great samples feasible. The researcher gathered data through survey and used close coding to code the data as well as constant comparative methods to analyze them. In addition, based on the aim of this study, 150 respondents were randomly selected by using the accidental sampling method comprised of Malaysian adult male and female with age ranging from 25 to above 65 years old. This survey was conducted in Malaysian hotels which are located in Kelang Valley. The findings revealed that the communicational function, followed by relational function and transactional function was the most important dimensions that would affect customer e-satisfaction. Furthermore, the findings of this study indicated that there is a positive relationship between the e-relationship quality and e-satisfaction.

A convenient, rapid and accurate chromatographic method was developed for authentication and quality control of commercial product Flos Arnicae. Chromatography (HPTLC or TLC) was performed on silica gel 60 F254 (Merck) plates with toluene–dioxane –acetic acid (95:25:4) as mobile phase. Compounds were visualized by spraying with ‘Naturstoffreagenz A’ reagent. Detection was performed at ?=366 nm. Eight flavonoid aglycones were detected of the exudates of Arnica montana and Arnica chamissonis by co-chromatography with authentic markers. Differences in the fluorescence emission were observed in flavonoid profiles between A. montana and A. chamissonis under mentioned above conditions of analysis. Flavonoid profile of Arnica montana is presented by flavonoids with brown fluorescence while the flavonoid profile of Arnica chamissonis is composed of flavonoids with yellow-green fluorescence. These visually noted differences of the flavonoid profiles of the both species allow they to be quickly distinguished. The proposed method could be used for quality control of identity and purity of commercial product Flos Arnicae.

The conduction polymer Polypyrrole base is soluble in selected organic solvents. The Polypyrrole becomes conductive upon partial oxidation or reduction by a processcommonly known as doping. The Polypyrrole base was doped by chemical method usingHydrochloric acid (HCl) as a dopant. The doped conducting polymer was dissolved inthree selective organic solvents namely p-Cresol (PCL), Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO)and 2-Chlorophenol (2CPL). The variation in the ultrasonic velocity values measured using fixed frequency (3MHz) continuous wave ultrasonic interferometer techniquewith temperature and their related thermodynamic parameters have been discussed with a view to understand the molecular interactions of the conduction polymers in solutions. Hence the acoustic properties of Polypyrrole base and its doped polymer in solutions will pave the way to obtain possibly a new product ideas and benefits over the traditional polymers.

This empirical study attempts to examine Random walk and Weak Form Efficiency of capital markets of Pakistan , India , Srilanka and Bangladesh constituted as SAARC countries . The Daily , Weekly and Monthly observations of period Jan 2005 to Dec 2010 were examined by using broadly used tests; Autocorrelation, Ljung-Box Q-Statistic, Run test, Unit root test and Variance Ratio tests were used. All daily returns of indices found to be follow non-normal distribution and all monthly returns of all indices were negatively skewed. To sum all, we conclude that none of capital markets is characterized by Random walk and hence are not Weak form Efficient for the examined period. This indicates that there exists utility for technical analysis, availability of arbitrage profit and opportunities for investment management by diversification of portfolios across the markets.

Due to the convincing revolution in power electronic technology and the growing concern about greenhouse effect that is intensified due to the burning of fossil fuels, wind power generation is significantly increasing globally. Transmission line operators developed various grid codes that require wind turbines to remain connected to support power grids during intermittent disturbance events which motivated researchers to investigate the impact of various grid disturbances on the overall performance of the wind energy conversion system (WECS). No attention, however, has been given to investigate the impact of voltage source converter (VSC) faults on the low voltage ride through (LVRT) of the DFIG-based WECS. In this paper, the impact of a fire-through fault when it takes place within the RSC and the GSC on the LVRT capability of the DFIG are investigated. A STATCOM controller to mitigate the effects of these faults is proposed. The DFIG compliance with recently released LVRT grid codes under the studied faults with and without the STATCOM were examined and compared. Simulation results indicated that fire-through faults have a serious impact on the DFIG voltage profile, especially when they occur in the GSC. The proposed STATCOM controller is effective in improving the dynamic performance of the DFIG during the studied faults and hence the connection of wind turbine to the grid can be maintained.

Internet connections involve various security threats to computer networks and systems. Complexity of the threats and intrusions are ever-increasing so that development of flexible methods for ensuring security of computer systems has become a serious challenge ahead of computer experts. As an advantageous solution for development of intrusion detection systems, data mining is an effective technology to detect attempts for intrusions. The present paper is a try to optimize Apriori algorithm. To this end, data are divided equally between two systems and consequently considerable improvement in abnormal pattern is obtained. This study enables IDSs to detect intrusions faster and facilitates proper reactions.

Earned Value Management System (EVMS) is designed for controlling the costs and determining the periods of attracting financial credits (domestic or Rial and foreign currencies) in the project. Unfortunately, this controlling system is poorly carried out in most of the operational projects or merely its show-off aspects are highlighted. But, in reality, this system is able to predict the process of attracting costs at the beginning of the executive operation, and also, to control the amount of costs spent during the executive activities. Furthermore, the project status can be assessed in different time intervals using the key indices of this system and different cost analyses acquired from these indices. The aim of this project is the examination of the concepts involved in the earned value method, the methods and metrics it employs as well as the performance measurements and methods of forecasting project progress that are used. A case study regarding the construction of a Cattle Barn in Qazvin city, an actual project, is utilized to illustrate the comparison between traditional methods and the EVMS method. By utilizing information obtained when employing the earned value method with the project, findings the valuable would be early warning with regard to a problematic situation, it is possible to take steps to correct the problem before too much time has elapsed. It is possible to make more informed decisions about the project's direction with accurate forecasting. With accurate forecasting, it is possible to make better decisions with regard to issues that are outside the scope of the project but that may be affected by the project's progress. Sponsor confidence is boosted when a view of progress is available that is open and that can be verified.

We are very happy to announce that from 2nd March 2013, Mr. Ebrahim Azarpour has joined the team of Elixir Editorial Advisory Board. He will carry a special responsibility for dealing with manuscripts based on Agronomy Science. Mr. Ebrahim Azarpour is currently working as Society of Agronomy, Islamic Azad University of Lahijan, Iran and member of Young Researchers Club, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran. The appointment of Mr. Ebrahim Azarpour 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