Effect of assertiveness skills on job burnout

Assertiveness is the ability to express oneself and one’s rights without violating the rights of others. The need for assertiveness is widely acknowledged in different work settings, and in order to manage the stress of working as part of a team every day, one has to become assertive. The purpose of present study is to investigate the effect of assertiveness skills on job burnout. The random sampling technique was employed. The data were gathered from 100 respondents. The adapted questionnaire was used. The advanced econometric technique was employed for data analysis. The SPSS 22 was employed as tool for data analysis. The findings of study revealed that assertiveness skills have negative effect on job burnout. With increase the level of assertiveness skills, increase consistency and confidence and reduce conflict and stress leads to decrease burnout. The study also recommends improving the management, regulation and facilities for preventing of risk of job burnout

Study of gold-based alloy phase diagrams

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.The partial constitutions of the Au-Ge-X and Au-Pb-X ternary alloys have been investigated, where X is a metallic element, selected from the sub-groups period 1m and rrm of the periodic table (In, Ga, Zn, or Cd), which forms one or more stable compounds with gold, but which forms no stable compound with Ge and Pb. The Smith Thermal Analysis Method, supplemented by metallographic and X-ray techniques, was used to determine the constitutions of the ternary systems. Eutectiferous, pseudobinary systems were found between Ge and the stable congruent intermediate compounds, AuIn, Auln2' AuGa, AuGa2' AuZn and AuCd. The solubility of Ge in the AuX compounds was not determined directly. However, it was 1.3 at.% Ge for Zn and Cd containing alloys and less than 1.0 at. % Ge for In and Ga containing alloys at the eutectic temperatures, which is in accordance with the Hume-Rothery rule. Ternary eutectic points were also determined in the Auln-AuIn2-Ge, Auln2-In-Ge and AuGa-AuGa2-Ge partial ternary systems. No evidence of liquid immiscibility was found in any of these ternary systems. The experimental results obtained were in good agreement with computed features of the diagrams. However, pseudobinary systems were not found between Pb and the stable congruent melting intermediate compounds, AuGa, AuGa2, AuZn and AuCd (the AuIn-Pb and AuIn2-Pb sections had already been investigated). The evidence of an extensive liquid immiscibility was found in each of these systems. The miscibility in the liquid state was found to decrease progressively down group IV when the elements of this group react with AuX compounds, which can be attributed to the progressive increase of the atomic size and decrease in electronegativities and solubility parameters of the elements, down this group. Two rules were derived to relate the liquid immiscibility/miscibility of ternary systems. One of the rules based upon the atomic sizes and melting points of the constituent elements showed a fair agreement with many systems. However, the other rule based upon the solubility parameter and electronegativities of the constituent elements showed good agreement with immiscible systems, but gave a poor predictability for miscible systems. The lower temperature equilibria of the Au-rich portion of the Au-Sn binary phase diagram are not well defined. So, long term heat treatment of samples at appropriate temperatures and compositions was carried out. Optical microscopy and SEMIEDAX techniques were employed and hence the low temperature equilibria of the Au-Sn binary system have been amended.This study is partly funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of Pakistan for the S & T scholarship award and Punjab University, Lahore

Optimal Planning of PV and Battery Resources in Remote Microgrids Considering Degradation Costs: An Iterative Post-Optimization Correction-based Approach

The benefits of shifting to renewable energy sources have granted microgrids considerable attention, especially photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, given the inherent variable and intermittent nature of solar power, battery energy storage systems (BESS) are pivotal for a reliable and cost-effective microgrid. The optimal sizing and energy scheduling of PV and BESS pose significant importance for minimal investment and operational cost. The associated costs of degradation for both these sources further add complexity to the overall planning problem. This paper proposes a microgrid resource planning model for determining the optimal PV and BESS sizes in combination with natural gas generators, considering their technical and financial characteristics as well as the degradation costs of both PV and BESS. Its objective is to minimize the microgrid-wide total operational and capital cost. The optimization model is formulated using mixed-integer linear programming to ensure the resource sizing problem converges with a reasonably small optimality gap. In addition, an iterative post-optimization BESS degradation cost correction algorithm is proposed for enhanced accuracy. The results showcase the savings in the overall objective cost and reductions in solar energy curtailment upon BESS's inclusion

Association of tobacco use and other determinants with pregnancy outcomes: a multicentre hospital-based case-control study in Karachi, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to identify the effects of maternal tobacco consumption during pregnancy and other factors on birth outcomes and obstetric complications in Karachi, Pakistan. DESIGN: A multicentre hospital-based case-control study. SETTING: Four leading maternity hospitals of Karachi. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 1275 women coming to the gynaecology and obstetric department of selected hospitals for delivery was interviewed within 48 hours of delivery from wards. Cases were women with adverse birth outcomes and obstetric complications, while controls were women who had normal uncomplicated delivery. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Adverse birth outcomes (preterm delivery, low birth weight, stillbirth, low Apgar score) and obstetric complications (antepartum haemorrhage, caesarean section, etc). RESULTS: Final multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that with every 1 year increase in age the odds of being a case was 1.03 times as compared with being a control. Tobacco use (adjusted OR (aOR): 2.24; 95% CI 1.56 to 3.23), having no slits in the kitchen (proxy indicator for indoor air pollution) (aOR=1.90; 95% CI 1.05 to 3.43), gravidity (aOR=0.83; 95% CI 0.73 to 0.93), non-booked hospital cases (aOR=1.87; 95% CI 1.38 to 2.74), history of stillbirth (aOR=4.06; 95% CI 2.36 to 6.97), miscarriages (aOR=1.91; 95% CI 1.27 to 2.85) and preterm delivery (aOR=6.04; 95% CI 2.52 to 14.48) were significantly associated with being a case as compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that women who had adverse pregnancy outcomes were more likely to have exposure to tobacco, previous history of adverse birth outcomes and were non-booked cases. Engagement of stakeholders in tobacco control for providing health education, incorporating tobacco use in women in the tobacco control policy and designing interventions for tobacco use cessation is warranted. Prenatal care and health education might help in preventing such adverse events

A systematic review of observational studies, demonstrating smoking among school going adolescents

Objective: To characterize the methods of design and analysis currently adopted in survey research of school-based observational studies for smoking, and to identify the common pitfalls made by researchers.Methods: The systematic review was conducted in 2009 and consisted of observational studies in school settings published between January 2005 and January 2009. Smoking status was the main outcome of interest. Following Cochrane style, five steps were followed: setting selection criteria for studies and conducting a literature search; review of abstracts; review of complete articles; data extraction and quality assessment of included studies; and, finally, synthesis of studies.Results: Of the 292 abstracts retrieved, 45 (15.4%) articles were selected for the final review. Inconsistencies were found in the definition of smoking behaviour which impeded generalisability. Individual-level factors had importance, but environmental level factors were also important in studying the aetiology of smoking. Results showed that studies inappropriately reported sample size estimation and important confounding factors. Hierarchical linear modelling, random effects modelling and structural equation modelling were employed in comparatively few studies.Conclusions: There were concerns regarding data analysis of complex surveys. Fifty five percent of reviewed studies ignored environmental effects which may have produced unreliable inferences. Multi-level analysis assisted in understanding school-level effects

Do Non-Traditional Income, Size, and Growth Affect the Performance of the Banks? : Evidence from the Big Three Countries of South Asia

Purpose- The aim of this study is to examine the impact of non-traditional income, size and growth on the performance of the banks in big three economies of South Asia, as in the modern banking, non-traditional income plays a vital role by acting as a link between bank and its customers. Design- This study utilized the annual data over the period from 1996 to 2015, data were obtained from Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED). This study examines the long-run as well as the short-run relationship among variables through the statistical technique of Panel ARDL. Findings- The findings of this study showed a significant and positive relationship between non-traditional income and return on assets as well as bank size and return on assets. While the association among the growth and return on assets is negative but significant. Policy Implications- Policy recommendation of this study suggests that banks should also explore new avenues of non-interest valued added services to their customers which will not only facilitate their customers also attract new customers which ultimately enhance the performance of the banks as well as the country

Corrosion trends of Ti based Shape Memory Alloys having biomedical applications: A perspective study

Ti-based shape memory alloys (SMAs) have been investigated as materials for medical devices and as a biomaterial that can be implanted in a living system as an alternative of any part. The behavior of such materials is evaluated by its activity, corrosion resistance, stability and compatibility with the living body. The direction of this paper is to deliver a brief description of the trends of corrosion in these materials. Titanium (Ti) shows satisfactory resistance to corrosion in natural and acidic environment but it has a trend toward corrosion in reducing acids. The shape memory alloys based on Ti are much favorable corrosion resistant materials to use in reducing acids. Normally human body fluid is analogous to a solution of about 0.9% NaCl which has a pH value 7.4. During surgery this value can be changed, with an increase of 7.8 and then dropping it to 5.5. Later some days the standard pH value of 7.4 can be re-gained. To evaluate corrosion rate of Ti based shape memory alloys in human body fluid, 0.9% NaCl solution was used as a medium. The basics of the shape memory material i.e. the mechanisms for shape memory, the shape memory effect and characterization of the evaluation of corrosion in systems based on Ti shape memory alloy is also reviewed in this article

Epiphyseal Fusion of Iliac Crests in Male and Female Adolescents: An Age Estimation Criterion

Background: Determination of age depends upon physical examination, dental assessment, and skeletal evaluation. The radiological examination of bone for appearance and fusion of ossification centers helps in the assessment of skeletal maturity as the process occurs in a particular sequence which is almost constant for that particular bone. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the age of fusion of iliac crest by radiological examination of subjects of age bracket 17-25 years coming to Shalamar Hospital Lahore Methods: In this cross-sectional study, radiological examinations (Digital X-Rays) were performed to evaluate the fusion of Iliac Crest in 200 subjects of both genders of 17 – 25 years. Data analysis was done using SPSS Version 23. Conclusions were drawn and compared with available results of previous work done in this field. Results: Out of 200 subjects, there were 132 males (66 %) and 68 females (34%). The mean ± SD age of both genders was 20.41± 2.55. There were 93 cases (70.45%) of complete fusion among males, showing 100 % union in the age groups of 21-25 years, while 40 cases (58.83%) of complete union among females were observed during 20-25 year of age groups. The mean ± SD age of complete union for males was 20.67± 2.61 years and for females 19.90 ± 2.38 years, with a significant p value of <0.05. Similarly, a statistically significant difference was observed among people of different socio-economic statuses. No difference was observed among different ethnic groups. Conclusions: The fusion of the iliac crest is not affected by ethnicity. Factors like diet and nutrition directly affect bone growth and hence bone age. More studies should be conducted across the country to formulate a standard in setting up a uniform criterion for assessing the age of adolescent

Purification and characterization of α-amylase from Ganoderma tsuage growing in waste bread medium

The objective of this study was to purify and characterize the α-amylase for industrial perspective. The production of α-amylase through solid-state fermentation by Ganoderma tsuage was investigated by using waste bread as substrates. Production parameters were optimized as 2 mL of inoculum size, moisture 50%, additional carbon source (glucose) and nitrogen source (ammonium nitrate) 10:1, 1 mM/mL MgSO4, 0.75 mM/mL CaCl2 and 0.50 mM/mL KH2PO4. The purification value of α-amylase was observed as 1.2 fold with specific activity of 112 U/mg having a yield of 22%. Specific activity of α-amylase increased up to the level of 143 U/mg and had 1.5-fold purification factor having a yield of 6% after Sephadex gel filtration. Optimum value of α-amylase was obtained at 35°C and at pH 6 for the time duration of 72 h. The Km and Vmax values for α-amylase were 1.3 mg and 39 mg/min, respectively. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) was found to increase the activity of α-amylase while all other compounds seemed to have inhibitory action against α-amylase. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was the strongest inhibitor and therefore would not be advised for use in future research against α-amylase production.Keywords: α-Amylase, purification, characterization, waste bread, Ganoderma tsuag