The Effect of Lean Manufacturing on the Financial Performance: Case of the Manufacturing Companies in South Lebanon

Businesses have been trying to implement new business initiatives such as lean manufacturing to stay alive in the latest competitive market place. Such initiative concentrates on cost reduction by removing the non-value added activities to achieve better financial performance. This study examined the effect of lean manufacturing on financial performance from the perspective of managers in the industrial sector in South Lebanon. The methodology of this study was quantitative in which 152 self-administered questionnaires were distributed randomly among managers. The data was analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were identified and proposed hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation and regression analysis. The results showed that lean manufacturing has a significant and positive effect on financial performance. Future studies are encouraged to expand the research to other regions in Lebanon over a longer time horizon and apply different quality improvement tools

ASSESSMENT OF OIL QUANTIFICATION METHODS IN SOYBEAN AND CHIA SEEDS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF OIL AND PROTEIN IN MUTANT CHIA (\u3cem\u3eSALVIA HISPANICA\u3c/em\u3e L.) SEEDS

This thesis includes two main parts: I. Evaluation of techniques for oil (total lipid) quantification of chia and soybean seeds. This study evaluated ten different methods of seed oil quantification, including some methods that have not been applied to oilseeds before. The main aim of this study was to find one or more techniques that are easy, inexpensive, safe and fast with a small amount of ground seeds. The Soxhlet method was used as a standard to compared between techniques of oil quantification. The oil extraction by the Soxhlet method was evaluated with two solvents petroleum ether and acetone. There is not a statistically significant difference between petroleum ether and acetone solvents. No significant differences for the amount of oil recovered via the Soxhlet method were found between Medium Moisture Content (MMC \u3e 10%) and Low Moisture Content (LMC \u3c 4.0 %). The Folch technique provided higher percentages of oil extraction than Bligh and Dyer and hexane-isopropanol techniques. There is not a statistically significant difference (P =0.0844) between Soxhlet method and Folch method but less than the Soxhlet method. A supercritical fluid extraction (HCH) method provided a lower yield of oil extraction compared with the Soxhlet method for three varieties of bias samples. A Direct Transesterification (DT) method with LMC and MMC provided a statistically significant difference than the Soxhlet method. The DT with LMC produced higher yield than DT with MMC between samples but lower than the Soxhlet method. A Double Direct Transesterification (DDT) following Griffiths protocol provided more accurate results with the stir bar technique than sonication technique. 11 oilseeds bias samples (10 bias samples of soybean and one of chia) covering an oil content range of 15.4 to 32.6% showed, there is a significant difference between the Soxhlet and DDTG method and high oil quantification found with DDTG. A Double Direct Transesterification following Qiao et al. (2015) provided similar oil extraction to the Griffiths et al. (2010) method and also there is a significant difference between the Soxhlet and DDTQ method and higher oil recovered with DDTQ. The Bead Beating Extraction (BBE) protocol showed, there is a statistically significant difference ( P\u3c 0.001) than the Soxhlet method. The BBE provided high oil quantification comparing with the Soxhlet method. The BBE provided the best results since it is the easiest, cheapest and fastest oil quantification method. A Nile red fluorescence technique yield no clear results. II. Characterization of oil and protein in mutant chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds. The objectives of this study were to (1) measure heritability in chia plants of levels of oil and protein content and seed yield and (2) Compare differences between two locations over two years for oil and protein percentages in chia and seeds yield. A population of 180 M3 mutant individual chia plants was harvested and for which forty M4 chia seeds were planted based on seed composition characteristics, with six plants representing each characteristic (high and lower oil, protein, and density and high yield). The forty M4 chia seeds were planted, with two replications for two locations, have been chosen in Kentucky one on Spindletop farm and the other in Quicksand farm. The M5 progeny seeds from plants grown in Spindletop and Quicksand contained significantly (P \u3c 0.05) more protein than did seeds from the M4 parents. There were significant differences (P \u3c 0.05) between locations where Quicksand obtain higher oil content than Spindletop. There was no significant difference between M5 parents seeds and M4 progeny seeds and higher yield kg/ha at Quicksand than Spindletop

Factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions among arab students

Entrepreneurship can be defined as the process and mind-set to initiate and develop economic activity. Studies have shown entrepreneurship to be a crucial driver of economic growth. This study sought to examine the factors that influence entrepreneurial attitudes among students in Arab countries. More specifically, it sought to examine the role of universities, role models, the entrepreneurial curriculum and students’ demographic characteristics in promoting Arab students’ entrepreneurial attitudes. The study employed a quantitative research design, where data was gathered from a sample of 1500 undergraduate Arab students in government universities and subjected to one-way ANOVA tests. Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) was used to draw additional conclusions from the gathered data. The results showed that Arab students acknowledge the role played by universities, the entrepreneurship curriculum, role models and demographic variables in influencing their attitudes towards entrepreneurship. Universities and the entrepreneurial curriculum were found to be the greatest influencers of students’ entrepreneurial attitudes, ahead of role models and demographic variables. However, the low overall mean showed that most students do not believe that these institutions have played their role satisfactorily. Regarding the moderating effect of demographic variables, ANOVA results showed that age, academic major and work experience were not important determinants of students’ entrepreneurial attitudes. However, one’s country, their gender and academic level were found to be significant influencers of entrepreneurial attitudes. Male students were more entrepreneurially inclined than their female counterparts were and so were those in third and fourth years of study, compared to those in their freshman and sophomore years. The overall finding of the study was that universities need to play a more profound role in influencing students’ entrepreneurial attitudes.Scopu

Developing Oral Fluency among Sudanese EFL Learners at University Level

This study aims at eliciting  university teacher's views on the use of phrases as a means of developing oral fluency skills for English learners and to show the importance of language function, context and authentic situations to develop and promote oral fluency skills in Sudanese EFL learners at university level. To achieve the objectives, the study used a questionnaire in order to address the study questions and objectives.100 employed teachers participated in the questionnaire. The Study found out that the teachers have positive views towards using phrases inside and outside the lecture rooms so as to enhance the students  oral fluency skill  in using the target language as well as to take care of the language forms to avoid imperfect use of the language

Effect of the clinical application of the diode laser (810 nm) in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity

BACKGROUND: Dentine hypersensitivity is a common clinical finding with a wide variation in prevalence values. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of diode laser (810 nm) in the treatment of cervical dentine hypersensitivity. METHODS: Five patients, with at least two sensitive teeth were selected. A total of 14 teeth were included in this trial. By using Visual Analogous Scale the pain of dentine hyper sensitivity was detected and the pre- treatment readings were recorded. The Diode laser (810 nm), was irradiated on (non contact) mode at the cervical region. The samples were divided into two groups according to exposure duration: For Group 1 exposure duration was 30 seconds and for group 2 exposure duration was one minute. The efficiency of the treatment was assessed at two examination period :15 minutes after first application and 7 days after first application, the degree of sensitivity was determined by using Visual Analogous Scale. RESULTS: The results show significant reduction of pain after 15 minutes of laser application in the group with 30 seconds exposure duration (P = .001), and the pain completely fade away after one week in the same group, while in the group with 1 minute exposure duration the pain completely disappeared (visual analogous scale = (0)) after 15 minutes and one week of laser application (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that application of diode laser (810 nm) was effective for the reduction of dentine hypersensitivity

Direct Extraction and Assessment of Genomic DNA of Mycetoma Fungi from Black-grains Specimen

Background: Direct isolation of genomic DNA of mycetoma fungi from black-grains achieve rapid diagnosis and may overcome culture disadvantages. Objectives: This study aimed to isolate and assess the DNA of mycetoma fungi using black-grains and to apply amplification of ITS region and nucleotide sequences. Methods: CTAB method was followed by manual homogenization alternatively to liquid nitrogen and glass beads disruption to obtain the genomic DNA. Results: Yielded DNA concentrations vary from 1.50 to 47.97 μg/ml (mean 10.09 μg/ml) while the optimum DNA purity recorded with 75.8% of specimens (n=69/91).Successful amplification of ITS region was done using pan-fungal primers (ITS4/5) with 90.1 (n=82/91)percentage. Species nucleotide sequences were detected with 67 (94.4%) amplicons from a total of 71.Conclusion: The study recommended using of black-grain specimens for DNA extraction of mycetoma fungi parallel with culture to insure rabid diagnosis and identification

The effect of financial literacy on investment decision making in southern Lebanon

This study examines the effect of financial Literacy on investment decision making among investors in South Lebanon. Financial literacy is expressed in terms of knowledge and awareness while investors‟ decision-making is described as the act of investors and the way they interpret, anticipate, investigate, and assess the steps and transaction for decision making. This includes investment risk, investment decision model and process. To achieve the research objective, a quantitative approach was applied in which 150 self-administered questionnaires were collected using convenience sampling. The sample includes customers of four different Banks in South Lebanon. The data was analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics were identified and proposed hypotheses were tested using Pearson correlation and multi-regression analysis. Results showed a positive significant relationship between financial literacy and investment decision making. Future studies are encouraged to expand the research to other regions in Lebanon over a longer time horizon in addition to applying other variables.peer-reviewe

Evaluating the effect of unsteady air flow on a slotted aerofoil of wind turbines

In this study, three types of aerofoils were examined at various angles of attack and at a steady value then fluctuated of air flow. Then, the findings were compared to the XFOIL prediction results. The experimental and simulation results were consistent to some extent with the XFOIL prediction results. The shape of the chosen aerofoils was modified by making a slot through the blade the aerofoil and studying their effect on the aerodynamics of the modified shape. The slotted aerofoil shape was studied as it faced a fluctuated wind flow. The results revealed that the increase in angles of attack, the lift force increased and approximated its maximum value and then began to decrease with the slot. During the calculations, a case study for the number of elements was done to obtain the best mesh. The experimental and simulations were conducted by using ANSYS CFD at Reynolds number 106 and AOA equals (0°, 4°, 8°, 10°, 12°, 15°, 16°, 17°, 18°) for three shapes of aerofoils which are without a slot, two of which are symmetrical, NACA 0012 and NACA 0015, and one asymmetrical, which is NACA 4415. The slotted aerofoil (existence of an opening after 40% from the leading edge) which is the NACA 0015 aerofoil, was simulated

Experimental Investigation of Diesel-WCOB Engine Performance with A Small Proportion of Ethanol/Isobutanol as A Fuel Additive

The globe is beginning to face fast-expanding global warming concerns that require immediate treatment. Biodiesel can be considered the most widely used and versatile sustainable fuel for a variety of uses. Because it is biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and renewable, it offers a viable solution to the looming energy crisis. Waste cooking oil is among the locally available sources that might be utilized as an extra source in different countries at a reasonable cost. Combining used cooking oil and diesel is a viable option for diesel engines because it has been certified for use at blending ratios as low as 20% as a commercial fuel. However, when it comes to fuel additives, the best alternative is to use waste cooking oil at high mixing ratios with diesel to power diesel engines. The goal of this research is to examine the various performance parameters of a diesel engine and the characteristics of biodiesel blended fuels by measuring the specific fuel consumption of the brakes and the thermal efficiency of the brakes and to investigate the impact of isobutane and ethanol additions at rates of 5% and 10% on the properties of the fuel and engine efficiency to enhance the specifications of the blended fuel in high proportions B40. Mixed fuel B40 with 10% ethanol (B40E10) can be used as a highly mixed fuel to enhance diesel engine performance. The density, kinematic viscosity, and flash point of diesel fuel were the lowest and rise with the amount of WCOB in the mixture, while the blended fuel B40 had the greatest value and improved with the percentage of additives. Increases in the proportion of additives also result in a visible rise in the braking force and fuel consumption.

Thermal performance of double-layer porous copper strips mounted as hollow cylinders

The thermal performance of thin double-layer porous copper strips was experimentally examined. To fabricate double-layer porous copper strips the lost carbonate sintering procedure was employed. The suitability of these materials for applications of heat sink was systematically investigated. Then, the thermal properties of an external heat transfer facility, which operates under a forced heat convection process using air as a coolant, were assessed. In this case, a cylindrical heating system was chosen to be used with the air passing across the samples at mass rates of 0.1- 0.5 kg/s. The temperatures of the air at the inlet and outlet in addition to the surface temperature of the system were monitored and used to determine the heat transfer performance. The results showed that both the porosity and roughness in a surface of a material could play an essential role in such type of material in enhancing heat transfer at a surface of the system. With high porosity and surface roughness of up to 82% and Ra ≤ 1.21 mm, respectively, the sample achieved a thermal transmittance 57% higher than that of a reference smooth copper sheet under the same Reynolds number. Finally, the heat transmittance of the examined porous sheets in the current research increased with the bulk porosity and surface roughness