Supplier firm and customer firm relationship on the performance of working capital management

Purpose: This paper examines how supplier-firm relationship and firm-customer relationship affect the performances of the firm's working capital management of purchasing channels and marketing channels respectively. Design/Methodology/ Approach: The article selects data of listed companies in manufacturing industry from 2016 to 2017 as a sample, and empirically analyzes the mechanism of supply chain management of manufacturing enterprises that affects the performance of operational working capital management. Findings: Our results reveals that working capital turnover in purchasing channels is adversely related to the timeliness of payments (receivables), which shows that overdue loan (undue credit) decreases the efficiency of working capital management in purchasing channels. Our results also describe that the association between working capital conversion cycle in purchasing channels and the supplier concentration is “U-shaped”, which demonstrate that both centralize and diversification of suppliers have their drawbacks and an appropriate number of suppliers need to be taken into considerations. Beside this, we find in this study that the relationship between working capital conversion cycle in marketing channels and customer focus is negative and U-shaped, which shows that different degrees of customer focus need to be treated differently. In addition, we find out that both the purchasing channels and working capital turnover periods of marketing channels are negatively correlated with the degree of leverage and the relationship between banks and enterprises. Practical Implications: We introduce the performance of working capital management based on “channel management” and study the influence of customer relationship and supplier relationship on the “purchasing channels” of the enterprise and the working capital management performance of the “marketing channel” respectively to improve the working capital management performance through the supply chain management. Originality/Value: Therefore, firms should make full use of leverage and maintain fair and good relationship with banks.peer-reviewe

Level of Job Satisfaction in Doctors

Background: To assess and compare the level of job satisfaction in different medical specialties and to identify the areas needing improvement. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among doctors of Rawalpindi Medical College and teaching hospitals (Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Rawalpindi General Hospital (RGH) and District Head Quarters Hospital (DHQ) over a period of 3 months from April-July 2006. A total of 99 doctors, 33 each from the department of Medicine, Surgery and Basic Sciences were included in the study by non-probability purposive sampling. Medical officers and registrars of medical and surgical units in teaching hospitals and demonstrators of basic sciences employed in Rawalpindi Medical College were included. Data was collected by means of self designed structured questionnaire. A standardized tool, Warr-Cook-Wall scale was used to assess the level of job satisfaction in doctors. Results: Of the total 99 study participants, 51.5% doctors of basic sciences and 43.9% of clinical sciences (Medicine and Surgery) were satisfied with their total income. Working environment was satisfactory in the opinion of 73% and 66.6% doctors of basic and clinical sciences respectively. Of the study participants, 78.7% were satisfied with the behaviour of colleagues. Overall 60.6% and 44.4% doctors were satisfied with their working hours and system of promotion respectively. Only 42.4% doctors of clinical sciences were satisfied with their work-load. 64.6% were satisfied with the freedom to choose their method of work. Overall job satisfaction was found to be 61.9%. Conclusion: Majority of the doctors are satisfied with their jobs. However a significant number on the clinical side has reservations regarding income, working hours and system of promotion

Iris recognition Using Fast Walsh Hadamard Transform Based feature Space

The significance of Iris detection and recognition in area of bioinformatics and pattern recognition has been increased from last few decades. Looking at the importance of Iris detection and recognition, we propose a robust, stable and reliable computational model. Features are extracted from iris images using two different approaches such as Hilbert transform and Fast wavelet Hadamard Transform (FWHT).Random forest is used as a classification algorithm. 5-folds cross validation test is applied to evaluate the performance of K-nearest neighbor. Among three feature spaces, FWHT feature space has achieved promising results. The success rate of K-nearest neighbor on FWHT feature space is 94.4%. After examining the results, we have observed that our model might be useful and helpful for iris detection in future work

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases Among Office Workers

Background : To measure the frequency of therisk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) amongoffice workers and to assess the relationshipbetween the demographic characteristics and the riskfactors.Methods: In this cross-sectional study a 20-itemquestionnaire especially designed for this study wasdistributed using non-probability conveniencesampling. The variables included demographiccharacteristics, lifestyle behaviours and familyhistory of the subjects – factors that have beenidentified as risk factors, both modifiable and nonmodifiable,for cardiovascular diseases.Results: Among the participants in our study, thefrequency of smoking, hypertension, diabetes andangina/myocardial infarction was found to be 19%,24%, 9% and 7%, respectively. Risk factors thatturned out to be important among office workerswere age, family history, high cholesterol levels andoccupational stress.Conclusion: Among office workers, the risk ofCVDs caused by occupational stress is relativelyhigher since their jobs demand strict obligations andmeeting of deadlines

Prediction of membrane proteins using split amino acid and ensemble classification

Knowledge of the types of membrane protein provides useful clues in deducing the functions of uncharacterized membrane proteins. An automatic method for efficiently identifying uncharacterized proteins is thus highly desirable. In this work, we have developed a novel method for predicting membrane protein types by exploiting the discrimination capability of the difference in amino acid composition at the N and C terminus through split amino acid composition (SAAC). We also show that the ensemble classification can better exploit this discriminating capability of SAAC. In this study, membrane protein types are classified using three feature extraction and several classification strategies. An ensemble classifier Mem-EnsSAAC is then developed using the best feature extraction strategy. Pseudo amino acid (PseAA) composition, discrete wavelet analysis (DWT), SAAC, and a hybrid model are employed for feature extraction. The nearest neighbor, probabilistic neural network, support vector machine, random forest, and Adaboost are used as individual classifiers. The predicted results of the individual learners are combined using genetic algorithm to form an ensemble classifier, Mem-EnsSAAC yielding an accuracy of 92.4 and 92.2% for the Jackknife and independent dataset test, respectively. Performance measures such as MCC, sensitivity, specificity, F-measure, and Q-statistics show that SAAC-based prediction yields significantly higher performance compared to PseAA- and DWT-based systems, and is also the best reported so far. The proposed Mem-EnsSAAC is able to predict the membrane protein types with high accuracy and consequently, can be very helpful in drug discovery. It can be accessed at http://111.68.99.218/membrane . © 2011 Springer-Verlag

Diagenetic setting, dolomitization and reservoir characterization of Late Cretaceous Kawagarh Formation, Khanpur Dam section, Hazara, Pakistan

The Kawagarh Formation is well exposed in Hazara basin in different sections. Due to deep depositional settings, the Kawagarh Formation is least appealing to geologists to investigate it as a hydrocarbon reservoir. In the present study, the diagenetic settings of Kawagarh Formation were chronologically studied to interpret its diagenetic history and the effect of different diagenetic phases on the reservoir potential. The dolomitization is also studied in depth to use it as a key for its reservoir potential. Kawagarh Formation is sampled at Khanpur Dam Section for porosity analysis. The samples were taken from limestone and dolomite facies randomly. The dolomites are in the form of veins and well developed thick size beds. These dolomites are secondary in nature which is hosted by fractures and joints of limestone, which affect about 25% of limestone facies. At outcrop scale different types of dolomites are recognised on the basis of color and texture, yellowish fine-grained, brown blackish coarse-grained in the top portion and saddle dolomites. In petrographic study partial and complete dolomitization are observed. On the basis of crystal sizes and geometry different types of dolomites are recognized which are; (1) fine crystalline planar-euhedral dolomite, (2) medium crystalline planar-subhedral dolomite, (3) medium crystalline non-planar-anhedral dolomite, (4) coarse crystalline planar-subhedral dolomite, (5) coarse crystalline, non-planar-anhedral dolomite and (6) saddle dolomites (SD1). In petrographic study, high inclusions and disturbance are observed at the surfaces of dolomitic rhombs which indicate low Mg replacement or dedolomitization phenomena. On image J porosity analysis, the porosity is found of limestone and dolomitic samples. In limestone facies which is mostly, non-laminated mudstone has very low up to 2 to 3% in the form of vugs and fractures. In dolomitic facies, the porosity is ranging from 5% to 14%. In most of the dolomitic samples, the porosity is round about 5%. From the structural analysis and the study of other carbonate formations, it is concluded that this dolomitization occurs in the Kawagarh Formation along the Khui da Maira fault. Near the fault, the dolomites occur in the irregular pattern, but as we move away from faulted section, the dolomites are converted into horizontal veins and beds. The dolomitization model has been evaluated for better understanding of the phenomenon of dolomitization

Immunization Coverage in a Rural Area

Background: To assess the immunization status of children less than 2 years of age. The impact of mother’s education, presence of health workers in the area and gender on immunization status was studied.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out in slums, nomads and other areas of a union council in Islamabad,a total of 768 children were recruited for study less than 2 years of age. Data collection was carried out by using a structured performa, interviewing parents of children for dates on vaccination cards looking at the BCG scar mark. Cluster sampling technique was adopted and a total of 96 clusters were taken in whole of the area.Results: Out of total 786 study participants 98% received some form of immunization and 2% received no immunization at all. 52% were males whereas 48% were females. Among the males the immunization status distribution was 80% fully immunized, 17% partially immunized and 3% not immunized against any antigen. In the females 80% were fully immunized, 19% partially immunized and 1% not immunized against any antigen. In the children age group 15 months and above who completed their age for EPI schedule, 81% were fully immunized, 17% partially immunized and 2% were not immunized against any EPI antigen. The valid coverage (vaccination card only) of these vaccines by antigen was highest in penta1/pneumococcal1/opv1 of 86% and lowest in measles2 which was 75%. The coverage of antigens by card plus history was highest of 97% in BCG and penta1/pneumococcal1/opv1 and lowest of 88% in measles2. Lady health workers covered areas had a better coverage rate ( 99%).Conclusion:EPI coverage in union council Islamabad is quite well established. The immunization coverage status for male and female children is equal. The surveillance and monitoring system is well designed both by district health authorities and WHO as well. Factors which encourage higher immunization rates were better maternal education, presence of lady health workers in the area and nearby availability of immunization service

One partition, many divisions? Ethnicities and education in Pakistan

International audienceIf historical shocks influence educational outcomes, how long does the effect last, and does it differ among ethnic groups? This study answers these questions by exploiting the historical experiment of partition—that is the splitting of the British Raj into India and Pakistan—and by presenting a theoretical model that explains the trade-offs such a shock uncovers for different ethnic groups that have to decide between assimilation through education and maintaining their ethnic specificity. We use different rounds of Pakistan social and living standard measurement (PSLM) survey and analyze the educational outcomes of the grandchildren of partition (i.e., whose grandparents were born during the partition). We show that the scar from partition is long-lasting, as the present generation is still living under its influence. More importantly, our results reveal the different adaptation strategies of ethnic and cultural groups in the long run