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Abstract : Modeling For Valuing Knowledge as Perceived by Business Managers Using Statistical Tools
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Abstract: Knowledge is a valuable asset as it brings success and sustainability to the organizations. Till recently, the value of an organization is determined from its financial statements. These statements are historical in nature and contain the book value of physical assets, hence do not depict the true worth of an organization. The future revenue/profit from the organization depends upon its capability to make best use of its assets. This depends on the quality of knowledge an organization possess and its capability to use that knowledge asset. Therefore, knowledge is the most important asset in an organization. However there is no financial statement or business document that shows the volume and value of knowledge present in the organization. Hence, it is critical to determine the value of knowledge to ascertain true worth of an organization. This research study attempts to present factors that influence the value of knowledge during its life cycle. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaire instrument was used to get subsequent data from 521 business managers working in various industries. The collected data was subjected to various statistical tools to evaluate the factors and their hypothesis. The twenty two factors identified initially were first analyzed for their verification and authenticity. Later each item was regrouped through the Rotated Component Matrix analysis – first order for meaningful set of factors. Based on the result of second order Rotated Component Matrix analysis, all the newly identified factors were finally grouped into two groups of factors that influences the value of knowledge. These groups were: ‘Efforts’ and ‘Business’. The integration of ‘Efforts’ and ‘Business’ factors forms the Knowledge Value Wheel (KVW) that helps in defining the “Knowledge Value Line” (KVL). The KVL depicts the value of knowledge at any given time. The KVL and KVW combines to form the “Knowledge Value Life Cycle” (KVLC). The findings will help further research in the area of knowledge management. Managers would be able to differentiate most valuable and useful knowledge asset for effective management. Need for further R&D on critical knowledge can be identified. It would also be beneficial to the investors in determining the true worth of an organization in terms of its knowledge asset. Keywords: Knowledge Management, Value of Knowledge, Knowledge Lifecycle, Knowledge Value Line, Knowledge Value Wheel, Knowledge Value Lifecycle. |
Abstract : Influence of Varying Temperature on Life Stages of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) under Laboratory Conditions
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Abstract: A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the influence of different temperatures on life stages of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) on frozen eggs of Sitotroga crealella. The study was conducted under laboratory conditions at Department of Plant Protection, SAU, Tandojam Sindh, Pakistan during 2013-14. The result revealed that the maximum hatching 88 % of eggs was recorded at 28 ºC followed by 25, 31, 22, 34 and 37 ºC. The highest mortality (dx) was recorded in first instar at 34 ºC followed by at 22, 31, 37, 25 and 28 ºC, whereas, minimum (dx) was recorded in third instar and pupal stages as well. The highest and lowest apparent mortality (100qx) was observed in the first instar and egg stages at 37 ºC. The data further depicted that the highest survival fraction (Sx) was recorded as (0.98) in second instar, third instar and pupa at 28 ºC, whereas, the lowest (Sx) was observed as (0.13) in the first instar at 37 ºC. The maximum indispensable mortality (IM) was 42 in egg stage at 37 ºC and lowest 1.0 in pupal stage at all temperature regimes. The number of the surviving at the beginning of the stage (lx) was highest 39 adults emerged at 28 ºC followed by 31, 24, 20 and 5 adults emerged at 25, 31, 22 and 34 ºC, respectively. On the other hand, minimum total generation mortality (K) was recorded as 0.11 at 28 ºC followed by 0.21, 0.32, 0.40, and 1.00 at 25, 31, 22 and 34 ºC, respectively. The minimum duration from egg to adult emergence was 12.0 days at 34 ºC and maximum 23.5 days at 22 ºC. There was significant difference between the duration and treatments (P<0.05). It is concluded that the maximum mortality was recorded at 37 ºC in egg and first instar stages, no any stage was survived after second instar. The temperature ranges from 25 to 31 ºC have been proved suitable for the development of C. carnea.. However, 1st and 2nd instar survived for short period at 37 ºC only. Keywords: Chrysoperla carnea, Sitotroga cerealella, Life stages, Development time, Temperature. |
Abstract : Synthesis of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) via IndustriallyPreferred Route
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Abstract: The assigned study is dedicated to the synthesis, improvement and characterization of acrylic-based superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) which can be used in versatile applications notably in disposable diapers and pharmaceutics. The industrially preferred solution polymerization route and low cost monomers were used to synthesize SAPs. Homopolymer and copolymer based SAPs were prepared with varying amount of cross-linker and initiator concentrations and compared for swelling rate with a commercially available SAP sample. Swelling capacity linearly decreases with increase in cross-linker content for both the synthesized SAPs samples whereas it first increases and then decreases with initiator content for the synthesized copolymer SAP. Swelling kinetics of the synthesized and commercial SAPs were modelled using model equation proposed by Omidian et al. Both the synthesized SAPs showed substantial increase in swelling capacity whereas copolymer SAP exhibited the highest swelling rate (rate parameter 2.78 min) when compared to homopolymer SAP and the commercially available SAP samples. Accordingly, the copolymer SAP may find its application in disposable diapers or pharmaceutics where the higher swelling rate is of prime importance. Copolymer and commercially available SAPs depicted significant decrease in swelling capacity even at very low saline solution concentration (0.01 %). Keywords: Copolymer, SAP, swelling capacity, swelling rate, solution polymerization. |
Abstract : Determination of Quality Characteristics of Kundhi Buffalo Bull Semen
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Abstract: The objective of present study was to investigate the quality characteristics of semen collected from kundhi bulls. Semen was collected by an artificial vagina and transported into laboratory immediately for evaluation. Total of 96 (Twenty four from each bull) semen the samples were evaluated and found creamy white. The mean (±SEM) were mass activity (+++), volume (2.25 ± 0.01 ml), pH (6.10 ± 0.007), progressive motility (69 ± 0.34%,) sperm concentration (1542 ± 9.20x106/ml), morphology (79 ± 1.37%) and sperm membrane (55.56 ± 1.37%) respectively. Non-significant (P>0.05) difference between the bulls for the characteristics except percentages morphology and sperm membrane where a significant (P<0.05) variation was found. It was concluded that the quality characteristics of khundi buffalo bull maintained standard score considered for freezing and cryopreservation and A.I programme. Keywords: Buffalo, bull, semen, pre freezing evaluation. |
Abstract : Sub-Cellular Damage of Hepatocytes Caused by Different Doses of Diclofenac Sodium in Rabbit
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Abstract: Diclofenac sodium is a potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug that is extensively prescribed in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, postoperative pain, and chronic pain associated with cancer. The present study was designed to elucidate the qualitative and quantitative changes in rough endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes after recommended single, double and triple therapeutic dose of Diclofenac sodium in rabbits. The aim of study is to minimize the indiscriminate use of this drug in community and among physicians. Experimental study was carried at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) and Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) from March 2009 to June 2010. Eighty eight healthy animals of three months age and 900~1000 gm body weight were isolated from the animal house of DUHS. These animals were divided into four groups categorized into Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, each containing twenty two animals. Diclofenac sodium were administered intraperitoneally with the daily doses of 2, 4, and 6 mg/kg body weight for 14 consecutive days in Groups B, C and D while the control group (Group A) received normal saline. Animals were sacrificed on day fifteen and livers were removed and fixed in 4% gluterldehyde. They were processed for electron microscopy and examined under transmission electron microscope. Data was collected and subjected for statistical analysis a ‘P’ value less than 0.05 was taken as significant. It was observed that Diclofenac sodium produces significant changes in hepatocytes. There was de-granulation and swelling of the cisternae of Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER) when the dose is doubled and these changes were highly significant when the dose is increased to three times the therapeutic. Keywords: Diclofenac sodium, Ultrastructure, Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum. |