Molecular Memory with Atomically-Smooth Graphene Contacts

We report the use of bilayer graphene as an atomically-smooth contact for nanoscale devices. A two-terminal Bucky ball (C60) based molecular memory is fabricated with bilayer graphene as a contact on the polycrystalline nickel electrode. Graphene provides an atomically-smooth covering over an otherwise rough metal surface. The use of graphene additionally prohibits the electromigration of nickel atoms into the C60 layer. The devices exhibit a low-resistance state in the first sweep cycle and irreversibly switch to a high resistance state at 0.8-1.2 V bias. The reverse sweep has a hysteresis behavior as well. In the subsequent cycles, the devices retain the high-resistance state, thus making it write-once read-many memory (WORM). The ratio of current in low-resistance to high-resistance state is lying in 20-40 range for various devices with excellent retention characteristics. Control sample without the bilayer graphene shows random hysteresis and switching.Comment: 13 pages and 4 figure

Impact of Leadership Training on Competitive Advantage: A Study on Telecommunication Industry of Pakistan

This study is sought to examine the impact of leadership training on competitive advantage in the telecommunication sector of Pakistan. A field survey using a structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The sample for the study was 150 subjects because telecommunication sector has limited employees located at different faraway geographic allocations. Participation was voluntary and completion of questionnaire was anonymous. Moderate multiple regression results reveal that leadership training leaves positive impact on organizational competitive advantage and helps the employees to polish their skills and team building abilities and transforms them to become effective leaders. The limitations of this study include reliance on cross-sectional data collection using self-reports from private sector employees from Islamabad – one city only. Further researches may take the samples from other cities to enhance the generalizability of study. Employers can realize the significance of leadership training in their organizations and also calculate the importance of competitive advantage in any type of organization to gain optimum output. Therefore effective leadership training with the combination of motivation, team building, and job satisfaction can achieve and sustain the competitive advantage of any organization. Keywords: Leadership Training, Competitive Advantage, Motivation Factors, Team Building Skills, Job Satisfaction

Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Employee’s Job Satisfaction: A Case of Private Bank in Karachi

The banking sector is considered as the backbone of every economy and when it comes to underdeveloped countries its role and importance increases. The sector works in a distressing environment where stability is a question mark. The banking sector of Pakistan reflects the same image and is trying to gallop towards a better position. In this whole scenario, there are many areas which have been focused on and discussed but this study indicates and highlights the nervous system of banking sector which are employees and their job satisfaction level through emotional intelligence. The Goleman model has been used and it is compared in contrast to its effect on job satisfaction. The theme behind this research is to find out the effect of emotional intelligence on employee’s job satisfaction, either its effects in a positive or negative manner. A quantitative survey is conducted with the help of a questionnaire in which the selected population are the employees of Askari Bank, working in the demographic location of Karachi. For this purpose convenience sampling is done in two stages first of all random selection of branches is done. Secondly, all available employees are selected for the study. Sample size of 386 out of 400 is used to collect the data. The regression model is applied to test the variables. The results of this study prove that all the constructs of emotional intelligence act as a catalyst on every aspect on job satisfaction in a positive manner. This study suggests that by emphasizing on emotional intelligence, not only does it impacts the job satisfaction but also contributes and boost the efficiency and effectiveness in their respective fields. Keywords: Emotional intelligence, Self-awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy, Social skills and Job Satisfaction

Educating Peace in Pakistan

Historical record reveals that out of three and a half thousand years only two hundred and fifty years were peaceful. In other words, the history of civilization is history of constant warfare, destruction and violence and not of prosperity, peace and development. In the last century the culture of war and intolerance, in all its manifestation, became one of the greatest evil of humankind. The post 9/11 Pakistan has witnessed alarming levels of violence. The conflict between the state and the non-state actors has resulted in a massive socioeconomic and political turmoil in the country. During last eleven years over three hundred and twenty suicide attacks killed nearly forty thousand innocent people. This violence and terrorism has emerged as the most devastating threat to already marginalized and poorly managed public sector education system. The paper highlights the significance of peace education for internally peace starved Pakistan in the light of efforts made by the government in this regard and stimulates further discussion for a clearer articulation of good practice and networking in Peace Education. Short term as well as long term remedies of the problem including development of Integrated, organized and uniform national education system to achieve better dividends of peace education efforts made by all stake holders has also been suggested. Key Words: Peace and Development, Culture of War, Intolerance, Peace education, Remedie

An Emergence and Paradigm Shift of Biographical Research in Electronic Era

The present era which is called the Research century has raised and diversified the elements of research in many different aspects, categories and subcategories. This research paper has first developed the theme for clearing the mirror of biographical research. The biographical research is based on an individual life and it revolves around aspects of life. This research owns the diamond shape because it includes method, experience, ethnography, oral history, life story, history, autobiography, life, personal history, ethnography story, epiphany, life history, case, and biography, self-story, narrator, writing presence, personal experience story, discourse and fiction. The core concept of this research is to draw the clear picture of biographical research by analyzing common and agreed techniques from different researchers and practitioners. The biographical research revolves around the human life and it observes it how a person’s acts, behave, react and understand towards a particular condition or event. Furthermore, researcher of a biographical research interprets in such a way that the reader feels himself as the part of that particular event and is able to conclude and learn from the experiences. Keywords: Biographical research, Life story, Life history, Paradigm