How Does Lending from Commercial Banks Impact Performance of Small Enterprises: A Case Study of District Hafizabad, Pakistan

Abstract: This study examines the impact of lending from commercial banks on performance of small enterprises. Financial data of forty business entities of district Hafizabad have been collected from commercial banks, for the period of 2005 to 2013. “Net profit” in the first model and “sales” in the second model are used as dependent variables. Working capital, accumulated profit, net-worth and lending/financing amount are used as independent variables. The study suggests: Firstly, banks’ lending positively affects the performance of small enterprises. Secondly, financing amount illustrates positive effect on net profits of the firms. Thirdly, the preferred amount of lending to small enterprises is less than two million PKR

Concrete Studies 2017

The first study is “Comparison of Fire Resistance of RC Slabs Determined according to Different Methods“. We construct our buildings and facilities to last 50, 100 or even 200 years. There is a high probability that fire will eventually occur during the service life of practically every structure. Fire can happen anytime and anywhere. This study explores fire resistance of RC slabs that are the most sensitive concrete elements in fire situation. We compared the results of determination of fire resistance according to four different methods. We got some conclusions, but also opened an area for new research on fire resistance of some other concrete elements. Concrete is principal construction material in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is very common. However, concrete of high compression strength is almost unknown in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study of “High-Strength Concrete (HSC) and Possibilities for Production in Bosnia and Herzegovina“ discusses the recent history, advantages and disadvantages, application and benefits of it, as well as the constituent materials, mix design and proportioning and properties of high strength concrete. Experimental part of this study proves that it is feasible to produce highstrength concrete of slightly modified ordinary concrete mix improved by domestic admixtures and additives at minimal cost. This study aims to encourage concrete factories to produce it and engineers to apply it in their designs and actual construction

BOOK OF ABSTRACTS Publication Office (2015 – 2016), Sarajevo, BiH

BOOK OF ABSTRACTS Publication Office (2015 – 2016), Sarajevo, Bi

Labour Market Transition Differences between Natives and Immigrants in EU Economies

Abstract: The recent economic crisis has had an adverse effect on the labour markets of European economies and certain population groups have been disproportionally affected by it. Increased migration flows may very well have created further pressures on the labour markets of host countries. The focus of the analysis here is on differences in transitions from unemployment to employment and vice versa between native and immigrant populations in European economies during the 1998-2015 period. The analysis reveals different outcomes to transitions from unemployment to employment, where in certain countries and years, the unemployed natives find proportionally more jobs, while in other countries and years, it is the immigrants. In most of the countries, however, employed immigrants are more likely to lose a job than natives. In addition to identifying the immigrant-native gap, the characteristics of individuals as potential contributing factors to the gap have also been assessed. The results of this analysis show that similar individual characteristics exert a different influence on the immigrant-native gap in labour market outcomes in different countries. Thus, similar individual characteristics are rewarded differently in different countries, i.e., their labour markets

5th International Student Symposium

PUBLISHER Faculty of Education and Humanities, International Burch Universit

Performance of Moving Average Investment Timing Strategy in UK Stock Market: Individual Stocks versus Portfolios

Abstract: This paper aims to test whether moving average (MA) investment timing strategy is applicable on individual stocks, portfolios formed from these stocks, or both. Moreover, our objective is to compare the performance of MA strategy with a buy-and-hold strategy. The data on individual stocks listed on London Stock Exchange, United Kingdom (UK) is collected over the period starting from December 31, 1999, through February 29, 2016. For the same period, we use daily values of UK-DS Market-PRICE INDEX and 1-Month Treasury bill rate. The paper follows Han et al. (2013) to peruse our investigation. The study applies both MA and buy-and-hold strategies to individual stocks and portfolios sorted by volatility. Since most results are found insignificant, no evidence is found to support that one strategy is better than the other when applied to individual stocks. However, trading behavior and success ratios across groups provide mixed results, hinting slightly towards the failure of MA strategy. The pervasive noise in daily stock return data is the reason why MA strategy consistently produces insignificant results. Moreover, when applied to volatility-sorted portfolios, MA strategy substantially beats buy-and-hold strategy by yielding higher average return and risk-adjusted returns, lower standard deviations, large-and-positive skewness and Sharpe ratios, and much success ratios across portfolios. Both for individual stocks and portfolios, dynamics of returns and especially trading behavior suggest that the performance of MA strategy decreases with rising lag lengths, meaning MA signal weakens for a longer history

Bilingualism in Kuwait – a linguistic landscape approach

Abstract: This paper examined the linguistic landscape of the Governorate of Farwaniya, the biggest governorate in the State of Kuwait, by means of public and private signs displayed in the city center and side streets. A corpus of 150 photos of diverse signs, both official and non-official, was collected, categorized, analyzed and discussed. The results point to an undeniable representation of the Arabic language in both public and private spheres of life as well as to a substantial presence of the English language on a wide range of signage therefore confirming the imprint the process of globalization has made on this EFL context. The findings also indicate that some other world languages, namely Bengali, Hindi, and Chinese, are represented in the linguistic landscape of Kuwait but rather poorly

FORENSIC GENETICS, THEORY AND APPLICATION

FOREWORD The science of the 21st century has not given up on its rapid development. The pace of evident progress in certain scientifc disciplines, especially those relying on applied genetics, does not allow for a breakthrough in the collection, sorting and presentation of the latest achievements made in hundreds of laboratories around the world. Continuous education of scientists, professors, experts, and users of scientifc achievements has never been this prominent and observable. After a brief analysis of the development of forensic genetics in the past fve years, we have decided that it would be wise to approach the complementation of existing material available with, as we then thought, “some new information”. But when we included everything we wanted to add onto the previous edition, we found that the new facts, hypotheses and models have been generated, as well as a promising direction for potential development established. Soon upon this realization, we had nothing left to do but to, signifcantly infuenced by young and enthusiastic associates, “roll up our sleeves” and prepare a new textbook. As a result, this book was created, which at the moment of its creation is probably the only existing edition that includes the most up-to-date information, especially related to the new multiplex STR systems, next-generation sequencing platforms and lineage markers, as well as new approaches in forensic DNA analysis in general. Two completely new chapters have been prepared, including the topics of food forensics and microbiology in forensic investigations. We are especially proud of the last chapter of this book that gives brief, understandable and highly applicable guidelines for proper sample handling, collection and storage, and overall model of behavior at the crime scene. As in the previous editions of this material, we tried to present the basic molecular biological, biochemical, statistical and technological knowledge, and other principles that must be known in order to comprehend the application of fundamental scientifc knowledge in forensic genetics. Also, we aimed at adding everything that is important into this book, and also what is written within the best books of the world, and everything that we have learnt from our practical work in the past decade. By preparing this edition in English language, we have thought of potential international readers of our book and tried our best to make this text as accessible worldwide as possible