A design of turnover intention antecedents and their relation on work design for firms

Most of the time Employees turnover intentions has been examined with the level of Human Resource Practices (HRP) in previous studies. Present study added social and Job characteristic study of 214 employees and managers from a fast food – outlet of Pakistan retail food service. Employee’s turnover intention was significantly associated at firm level and individual level factors and demonstrates the upgrading of food quality and service in the chain. The regression analysis was used to measure the relationship and significance among the observed constructs using SPSS 26. Job characteristics explains within-store variance. The hypothesis statement of the study projected that turnover intention has significantly affected due to individual level and firm level constructs setting in this situation. Outlet variance is described in adding to compensation, transformational leadership among employees in perspective of age and tenure similarity in the firm employees. Further research, limitation are managerial implication and theoretical framework can be discussed in detail

Information Literacy Skills of LIS Students in Pakistan: A study of University of Sargodha and University of the Punajab, Lahore

This study aimed to investigate the perceived level of IL skills, strength, weakness, challenges, and levels of IL programs attended by ILS students of two leading library schools of Pakistan. This research used descriptive survey method and distributed questionnaire among 330 participants which returned 232 complete usable responses. This study found that participants of both LIS schools perceived good level of IL skills while the majority of them prefer internet sources as they possess adequate internet surfing skills. In addition to challenges the large number of participants lacks knowledge and skills to use computer and personal computer (M = 2.71, SD = 1.245) and (M = 2.84, SD = 1.439). Whereas, the results of IL program attended depicted that majority of participants obtained low mean of (M = 2.76, SD = .985) to (M = 2.57, SD = .991). This study concludes that students of both IL schools were performing well with regard to their IL skills even though there is a dire need for advance level of IL instructions and embedded IL course integration at all a level of degree programs to equipped students with necessary skills

Influence of Bank Specific and Macroeconomic Factors on Profitability of Commercial Banks: A Case Study of Pakistan

The intended aim of study is to identify the influence of bank specific and macroeconomic factors on profitability of commercial banks in Pakistan over the period of 2007 to 2011. Return on assets and return on equity are used as dependent variable. Deposit to assets, bank size, capital ratio, net interest margin and nonperforming loans to total advances are utilized as bank specific measures. Inflation, real gross domestic product and industry production growth rate are macroeconomic factors. By employing descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis researcher conclude that bank size, net interest margin, and industry production growth rate has positive and significant impact on the ROA and ROE. Nonperforming loans to total advances and inflation have negative significant impact on Return on assets while real gross domestic product has positive impact on ROA. Capital ratio has positive significant impact on ROE. Key words: Return on Assets, Return on Equity, Inflation, Capital Ratio, Nonperforming loan

Integrated neuro-evolution-based computing solver for dynamics of nonlinear corneal shape model numerically

[EN]In this study, bio-inspired computational techniques have been exploited to get the numerical solution of a nonlinear two-point boundary value problem arising in the modelling of the corneal shape. The computational process of modelling and optimization makes enormously straightforward to obtain accurate approximate solutions of the corneal shape models through artificial neural networks, pattern search (PS), genetic algorithms (GAs), simulated annealing (SA), active-set technique (AST), interior-point technique, sequential quadratic programming and their hybrid forms based on GA–AST, PS–AST and SA–AST. Numerical results show that the designed solvers provide a reasonable precision and efficiency with minimal computational cost. The efficacy of the proposed computing strategies is also investigated through a descriptive statistical analysis by means of histogram illustrations, probability plots and one-way analysis of variance

Outcome of radiologically placed tunneled haemodialysis catheters

Objective: To study the outcome of radiologically placed double lumen tunneled haemodialysis catheters for the management of renal failure.STUDY Design: Case series.PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Interventional Suite of Radiology Department at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from April 2010 to June 2011.METHODOLOGY: All consecutive patients who were referred to the department of radiology by the nephrologists for double lumen tunneled haemodialysis catheter (Permacath) placement during the study period were included. Patients with septicemia, those for whom follow-up was not available, those coming for catheter exchange or who died due to a noncatheter related condition were excluded. A radio-opaque, soft silicone double lumen catheter was inserted through a subcutaneous tunnel created over the anterior chest wall. The catheter tip was placed in the right atrium via the internal jugular vein. Ultrasound guidance was used for initial venous puncture. The rest of the procedure was carried out under fluoroscopic guidance. Technical success, catheter related bacteremia rates, adequacy of dialysis, patency, and adverse events were analyzed.Results: Overall 88 tunneled haemodialysis catheters were placed in 87 patients. Patients were followed-up for duration of 1 - 307 days with mean follow-up period of 4 months. Immediate technical success was 100%. The procedural complication rate was 5.6% (5 catheters). Eight patients died during the study period, seven from causes unrelated to the procedure. One patient died due to septicemia secondary to catheter related infection. Of the remaining 69 patients, 50 (72.4%) predominantly had uneventful course during the study period. Twelve patients developed infection (17.3%); two were successfully treated conservatively while in 10 patients catheter had to be removed. Seven catheters (10.1%) failed due to mechanical problems. In 3 patients the internal jugular veins got partially thrombosed. One catheter was accidentally damaged in the ward and had to be removed.CONCLUSION: Radiological guided tunneled haemodialysis catheter placements are a safe and reasonable means of providing temporary vascular access for haemodialysis patients

EFFECTS OF RECYCLING ON THE PROPERTIES OF GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED POLYPROPYLENE

Recycled polymers are considered low performance materials because their properties are expected to reduce drastically with recycling. The objective of the present study was to characterize 30 wt. % glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (GFRPP) recycled for four generations. Samples for tensile testing of virgin and four recycled generation of GFRPP were prepared by injection molding techniques and tested using Instron 20 KN. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was also carried out to study the thermal properties of recycled and virgin samples of glass fibre reinforced polypropylene. Results showed that the thermal properties especially the transition temperature of GFRPP was not affected at all by the recycling process. In contrast the tensile strength decreased as number of recycling generations of glass fibres reinforced polypropylene increased. This research work demonstrates that 100 % recycled GFRPP can be used effectively only for two recycle generations. However, some modifications/treatments are necessary for GFRPP to use it more efficiently for further recycles

EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF PRIVATIZATION PROCESS IN PAKISTAN: EVIDENCE FROM STATISTICAL EXPERIENCE

Why privatization processes fall short to deliver expected result in Pakistan. To answer this question, current study aims is to examine the privatization process in the Pakistan. The privatization process is dividing into four sections, privatization policy, buyer selection in the privatization process, assets evaluation and the factors affecting the development after privatization. The main objective of the study is to see the influence of development after privatization on the relationship between privatization policy, buyer selection in the privatization process, assets Evaluation and Privatization process improvement. Detailed survey based on the structured questionnaire is enquired through random sampling technique. Structured Equation Model (SEM) has been used for making an analysis. The finding of the study concludes that development process privatization mediates the between privatization policy, buyer selection in the privatization process, assets Evaluation and Privatization process improvement.  The findings of the study advocate that the privatization policy, buyer selection process, assets evaluation methods must be in line with the objective of government and line ministry. This effort may help for getting the optimum level of result from privatization process