HR Practices and Organizational Innovation: The Mediating Role of Knowledge Management Effectiveness

Organizational innovation has been recognized as an important instrument for organizations to compete in the competitive environment. Pakistan telecom sector strive to transform their business model from labour-intensive to knowledge-intensive, which intend to thrust themselves in higher value added activities such as, developing new products, processes, and services, to continual sustain the competitiveness. One of the means to increase the organizational innovation is through effective human resource management practices and effective knowledge management. This study examined the direct association between human resource management practices (performance appraisal, career management, training, reward system, recruitment and employee recognition) and organizational innovation. Moreover, it also observed the mediating role of knowledge management effectiveness on the direct relationship. Data was collected from a sample of 290 personnel of telecom sector of Pakistan. The regression results showed that human resource management practices generally had a positive impact on organizational innovation. Particularly, the results signify that training and employee recognition were positively related to three dimensions of organizational innovation. Performance appraisal also established to have a positive impact on administrative innovation. Additionally, this study also demonstrates that training, performance appraisal, and employee recognition were positively associated to knowledge management effectiveness

HR Practices and Organizational Innovation: The Mediating Role of Knowledge Management Effectiveness

Organizational innovation has been recognized as an important instrument for organizations to compete in the competitive environment. Pakistan telecom sector strive to transform their business model from labour-intensive to knowledge-intensive, which intend to thrust themselves in higher value added activities such as, developing new products, processes, and services, to continual sustain the competitiveness. One of the means to increase the organizational innovation is through effective human resource management practices and effective knowledge management. This study examined the direct association between human resource management practices (performance appraisal, career management, training, reward system, recruitment and employee recognition) and organizational innovation. Moreover, it also observed the mediating role of knowledge management effectiveness on the direct relationship. Data was collected from a sample of 290 personnel of telecom sector of Pakistan. The regression results showed that human resource management practices generally had a positive impact on organizational innovation. Particularly, the results signify that training and employee recognition were positively related to three dimensions of organizational innovation. Performance appraisal also established to have a positive impact on administrative innovation. Additionally, this study also demonstrates that training, performance appraisal, and employee recognition were positively associated to knowledge management effectiveness. Keywords: human resource management practices, organizational innovation, knowledge management effectiveness

Non-Destructive Testing of Fully Recycled Aggregate Concrete Bricks Prepared by Compression Casting Technique

This research study aims to investigate the quality and strength of fully recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) bricks made by using Compression Casting Technique (CCT). Standard size RAC bricks were manufactured using 70% recycled coarse and 30% recycled fine concrete aggregates with 15% cement content by weight of total aggregates. Three values of casting pressure (i.e., 25, 30 and 35 MPa) were studied. Recycled concrete aggregates (fine and coarse) required for this study were produced by crushing of tested concrete samples having compressive strength range of 3000 to 4000 psi. Both destructive and non-destructive testing were performed on RAC bricks. Among NDT, ultrasonic pulse velocity test was performed to assess the quality of RAC bricks and based on results, a correlation between compressive strength and UPV test values is proposed. In addition, Schmitt hammer test was also performed, and their values were compared with laboratory tested samples. Results have highlighted that Schmitt hammer and UPV test can be consider as convenient and reliable way to assess the strength and quality of RAC bricks in the field

Effect of Casting Pressure on the Properties of 100% Recycled Aggregate Concrete Pavers

The construction and demolition (C&D) waste is required to be recycled for sustainable development and to save natural resources. In this study, the influence of casting pressure on the properties of pavers made using Recycled Aggregate Concrete (RAC) was investigated. RAC mix having 60% fine and 40% coarse recyled aggregates was prepared using 20% cement (by weight of total aggregates). The same mix was used in making concrete pavers of size 200 mm x 100 mm x 60 mm by employing Compression Casting Technique (CCT). For comparison purposes, pavers of same size were also prepared using Natural Aggregate Concete (NAC) under the same casting pressure. Pavers were tested to determine their density, initial rate of water absorption, porosity and efflorescence. The tests were performed after 28 days of casting. The results showed that above mentioned properties of RAC pavers are improved with the increase of casting pressure; by increasing the casting pressure from 5 to 30 MPa, density, initial rate of water absorption and prosity of RAC was improved up to 2.01%, 83.6% and 51.7%, respectively. The results further indicated that compared to NAC pavers, RAC pavers exhibit inferior properties. No efflorescence was observed in RAC and NAC pavers

SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION AND AFGHANISTAN: INTERESTS AND LIMITATIONS

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has greater relevance in Afghanistan because of its strategic importance and geographic proximity. For years, the country has harboured numerous extremist groups and insurgents. It has remained a battleground for US-led coalition forces and the Taliban for about two decades. Despite efforts by the US and its allies, peace has yet to be restored in Afghanistan, and the responsibility now rests on regional countries. It is crucial for these states, especially Eurasian nations, to work together to stabilise the war-torn country and bring lasting peace to the region. Therefore, the study examines the push and pull factors of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s interests in Afghanistan and the challenges that come with implementing their peace plans. The data has been collected from various primary and secondary sources, including websites, newspapers and research articles. The paper also highlights two major concerns for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the economic crisis in Afghanistan and the international recognition of the Taliban government.   Bibliography Entry Khan, Hameed Ullah, Muhammad Farooq Shah and Muhammad Ilyas Khan. 2023. "Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Afghanistan: Interests and Limitations." Margalla Papers 27 (1): 82-95

Effect of Captopril on Toll Like Receptor Expression in Adjuvant Induced Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease with autoimmune origin that affect joints firstly and then progress to be a systemic disease. Toll like receptor (TLR) play an important role in the evolution and progression of this disease. Captopril is an angiotensin enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) that is widely used to control elevation in the blood pressure. This drug has anti-inflammatory activities, for this reason we try to investigate its action in RA. In this study we found that captopril decreases both expression and intensity of TLR2.

Free Convection of Ag/H2O Nanofluid in Square Cavity with Different Position and Orientation of Egg Shaped Cylinder

A numerical simulation was conducted to study the free convection of Ag/H2O nanofluid between a square cavity with cold walls and an egg shaped cylinder with a hot wall. Utilizing the egg equation, dimensionless governing equations were solved using the Galerkin Finite Element Method (GFEM). In this work, several parameters were studied, i.e. Rayleigh number (103 ≤ Ra ≤ 106), volume fraction (0 ≤ φ ≤ 0.05), position (-0.2 ≤ Y ≤ 0.2), and orientation angle (-90° ≤ γ ≤ 90°). The numerical results are presented as streamline contours, isotherm contours, and local and average Nusselt numbers. Moreover, the results were used to analyze the fluids’ structure, temperature distribution, and heat transfer rate. The numerical results confirmed that the stream intensity value increased with an increase of the Rayleigh number as well as the movement of the cylinder towards the bottom wall for all values of the orientation angle. Variation of the vertical position of the cylinder inside the cavity had a noticeable effect on , which increased by 50% at γ = -90°, and by 58% at γ = -45°. However, at Y = -0.2,  increased by 58% at γ = -45° and decreased by 7% at γ = -90°. The highest heat transfer rate was obtained at high Rayleigh number (Ra = 106), volume fraction (φ = 0.05), negative position (Y = -0.2), and the highest positive orientation angle (γ = 90°)

Comparing effectiveness of two client follow-up approaches in sustaining the use of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) among the underserved in rural Punjab, Pakistan : a study protocol and participants' profile

Background: Pakistan observes a very high i.e. 37 percent modern contraceptive method related discontinuation rates within 12 months of their initiation. And almost 10 percent of these episodes of discontinuation happened due to the side effects or health concerns experienced by the women. Most importantly, it was noted that more than 12,000 first-level care facilities are located in the rural areas, including rural health centers, basic health units, and family welfare centers, but more than 30% of these facilities are nonfunctional. This paper presents a study protocol and participants' profiling of a prospective cohort follow-up to compare the effectiveness of household based and telephonic approaches in sustaining the use of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) whilst to facilitate lowering method related discontinuation and increasing switching amongst the contraceptive users. Methods: A 12-month multi-centre, non-inferiority prospective user follow-up is employed using three different study categories: a) household based follow-up; b) telephonic follow-up; and c) passive or need-based follow-up along with the hypothetical assumption that the telephonic client follow-up is not inferior to the household based follow-up by continuation rate of LARC and the telephonic follow-up is less-costly than the household based client follow-up. This follow-up will be conducted in 22 health facilities -(16 rural and 6 urban based facilities) in district Chakwal. The first two study categories will receive scheduled but different follow-up from the field workers at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 month while the third one i.e. the 'passive or need-based follow-up' will serve as a control group. Using sampling software PASS 11, it was estimated to have 414 clients in each study category and around 1366 clients will be recruited to account for 10% attrition rate. Discussion: The study will help us to examine a more convenient method of effective follow-up for managing side effects, decreasing method discontinuation and increasing switching amongst users. The study information will also facilitate to develop a robust, effective and efficient mechanism for client follow-up to promote the continuation rates of LARC methods. The follow-up results and lessons learnt will be widely shared with stakeholders for their implementation and streamlining in health system

Comparing effectiveness of two client follow-up approaches in sustaining the use of long acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) among the underserved in rural Punjab, Pakistan: A study protocol and participants\u27 profile

Background: Pakistan observes a very high i.e. 37 percent modern contraceptive method related discontinuation rates within 12 months of their initiation. And almost 10 percent of these episodes of discontinuation happened due to the side effects or health concerns experienced by the women. Most importantly, it was noted that more than 12,000 first-level care facilities are located in the rural areas, including rural health centers, basic health units, and family welfare centers, but more than 30% of these facilities are nonfunctional. This paper presents a study protocol and participants\u27 profiling of a prospective cohort follow-up to compare the effectiveness of household based and telephonic approaches in sustaining the use of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARC) whilst to facilitate lowering method related discontinuation and increasing switching amongst the contraceptive users.Methods: A 12-month multi-centre, non-inferiority prospective user follow-up is employed using three different study categories: a) household based follow-up; b) telephonic follow-up; and c) passive or need-based follow-up along with the hypothetical assumption that the telephonic client follow-up is not inferior to the household based follow-up by continuation rate of LARC and the telephonic follow-up is less-costly than the household based client follow-up. This follow-up will be conducted in 22 health facilities - (16 rural and 6 urban based facilities) in district Chakwal. The first two study categories will receive scheduled but different follow-up from the field workers at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 month while the third one i.e. the \u27passive or need-based follow-up\u27 will serve as a control group. Using sampling software PASS 11, it was estimated to have 414 clients in each study category and around 1366 clients will be recruited to account for 10% attrition rate.Discussion: The study will help us to examine a more convenient method of effective follow-up for managing side effects, decreasing method discontinuation and increasing switching amongst users. The study information will also facilitate to develop a robust, effective and efficient mechanism for client follow-up to promote the continuation rates of LARC methods. The follow-up results and lessons learnt will be widely shared with stakeholders for their implementation and streamlining in health system