The impact of cash holding, and exchange rate volatility on the firm’s financial performance of all manufacturing sector in Pakistan

Exchange rate movement is a mostly debatable issue amongst economists and strategic financial planners in the economies as a vital phenomenon, of every economy in the developing the world. This study sets out to examine the impact of cash conversion cycle, Size, Age, and exchange rate movement on firms’ financial decisions. The estimation used techniques of static panel data analysis in this study; pooled OLS, random effects, and fixed effects. Interaction techniques are applied to check the impact of the exchange rate by multiplying this variable with the main variables of cash conversion cycle, that is receivable in days and payables in days. The results depict there is a significant negative relationship between return on assets and exchanger rate during the period of review while the beta of cash conversion cycle has negative value; age and size are positive and significant at 1% level with return on assets. Therefore, it is recommended that organizations that have some measure to agreement in foreign currencies can adopt some advanced hedging technique to occupy the exchange rate movements risk to improve firm’s performance

Novel Current-Conveyor-Based Universal Current-Mode Biquad Filter with Three Inputs and One Output

A novel universal current-mode filter with three inputs and one high imedance output is presented. The proposed circuit uses four plus-type second-generation current-conveyors, grounded resistors and grounded capacitors. The proposed circuit enjoys low active and passive sensitivities and independent control of the parameters ω0/Q0 using grounded resistors

Key Performance Indicators for Sustainable Freight Transport and Scenario-based Impediments in Pakistan Freight Industry

Freight transport enables economic growth, market connectivity, and access to the global supply chain systems which contribute to the societal progress and inclusive development of a country. However, it may undermine the sustainable operations by incurring external costs, inefficiency, and economic losses due to non-reliability, poor services, and information systems. In this research study, the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Sustainable Freight Transport Systems (SFTS) are discussed based on available literature review and standards of sustainability measurement in freight transport. Then, based on KPIs some of the scenario-based impediments are highlighted which hinder the performance of the freight transport in Pakistan for achieving sustainable development goals. The core impediments included are Strategic Determinants (SD), Information Systems (IS), Infrastructure Management Systems (IMS) and City Logistics (CL). The negative direct impacts of the key identified factors are also highlighted and linked with each scenario-based impediment. This research study would provide an opportunity for the stakeholders to get tangible idea for policy making and upgradation of the freight transport industry in the country. The highlighted implications will also be validated via expert surveys and Delphi-analysis in the future study.

Descriptive Analysis of Human Emotions Based on Eye pupils

Facial emotional expressions are viewed as the most descriptive way to understand the human’s state of temperament during confronting communication. In this work numerous statistical approaches have been applied on human eye pupil with static images of Chicago face dataset (CFD) to analyze and classify the considered categories for emotions which are Happy, Fear, Anger and Neutral. The aim of this study is to develop the specific architecture for image processing domain after applying different enhancement techniques on human eye pupil for analysis & recognition of the facial expressions. This work is divided into three phases initially in the first phase data preprocessing is performed to prepare according to the requirement of work and also the color images are converted in to negative by applying the pixel intensity controlled mechanism. Second phase define the boundary to compute the feature by using Circular Hough Transform algorithm. Lastly statistical approaches are applied on extracted features to corporate the central point of pupil. This corporation the central point presents the effects of emotions. While comparing peoples of different Age groups it is concluded that pupil constricted on Anger at different levels on different age groups. If further it is discussed about cross cultural and gender wise comparison then Happy Emotion effects most and resulted towards dilated pupil same like that Anger emotion effects most on constricting the pupil size

Actividad antioxidante de extractos de metanol al 80% y al 100% de semillas de cebada (Hordeum vulgare L.): estabilización del aceite de girasol.

The antioxidant potential of 100% and 80% methanol extracts from the seeds of three barley varieties (Jou 83, Jou 87 and Haider 93) was assessed. The extract yields from barley seeds ranged from 3.23% (Haider 93,100% methanol) to 5.31% (Jou 83, 80% methanol). The total phenolic contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50 values) and inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation of barley seed extracts (BSE) were determined to be 88.1-145.7 mg/100g, 90.8-168.6 μg/mL and 62.6-74.6%, respectively. The antioxidant effectiveness of BSE was also assessed by stabilizing sunflower oil (SFO) with BSE at a concentration of 600 ppm (oil weight basis). The stabilized (treated with extract) and the control (without extract addition) SFO samples were subjected to accelerated (oven heating at 60ºC for 30 days, 8 h heating cycle/day) storage. These were analyzed at regular intervals for the extent of oxidative changes according to the measurements of their contents of peroxide value, para-anisidine value, conjugated dienes and conjugated trienes. Generally, the 80% methanol extract of barely seeds demonstrated better antioxidant action than the 100% methanol extract. The antioxidant activity of BSE was also found to be considerably varied among the varieties tested. The present results suggest that antioxidant extracts from barely seeds might be used to protect vegetable oils from oxidation.El potencial antioxidante de extractos de metanol al 100% y el 80% de semillas de tres variedades de cebada (Jou 83, Jou 87 y Haider 93) fue evaluada. El rendimiento de los extractos de las semillas de cebada vario desde un 3.23% (Haider, 100% methanol) a un 5.31% (Jou 83, 80% metanol). El contenido total de fenoles, la actividad atrapadora del radical DPPH (valores IC50) y la inhibición de la oxidación del ácido linoleico de los extractos de semilla de cebada (BSE) fueron 88.1-145.7 mg/100g, 90.8-168.6 μg/mL y 62.6- 74.6%, respectivamente. La efectividad antioxidante de BSE fue también evaluada mediante su capacidad para estabilizar aceite de girasol con concentraciones de BSE de 600 ppm (respecto al peso del aceite). La muestras estabilizadas (tratadas con extractos) y el control (sin adición de extractos) SFO fueron tratadas bajo condiciones de almacenamiento acelerado (calentamiento en un horno a 60ºC durante 30 días y ciclos de calentamiento de 8 h/día). Estas fueron analizadas a intervalos regulares para evaluar la extensión de los cambios oxidativos mediante la medida del valor de peróxidos, valor de para-anisidina y los contenidos de dienos conjugados y trienos congujados. Generalmente, los extractos de semilla de cebada al 80% demostraron una mejor acción antioxidante que los extracto al 100% de metanol. La actividad antioxidante de BSE varió también considerablemente entre las distintas variedades ensayadas. Los presentes resultados sugieren que los extractos antioxidantes de semillas de cebada podrían ser usadas para proteger aceites vegetales de la oxidación

Efecto de la salinidad en la producción y calidad del aceite de semilla de Moringa oleifera

Variation in the yield and composition of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) seed oil from two differently adopted (non-saline and saline) provinces of Pakistan was examined. Hexaneextracted M. oleifera seeds from saline and non-saline areas contained 33.50% and 32.79% oil yield, respectively. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no significant differences in the physical (refractive index (40 oC), color and specific gravity (24 °C) or chemical (iodine value, free fatty acid value, peroxide value, unsaponifiable matter, saponification value, conjugated diene and triene values and  p-anisidine value) characteristics of the oils obtained from both areas. The concentration of C18:1 and C16:0 was significantly (P < 0.001) higher whereas, that of C14:0 was lower in M. oleifera seed oils from the saline area. A tocopherol analysis demonstrated the concentration of α- and δ-tocopherol of Moringa seed oils to be significantly (P < 0.001) higher from the saline area. Whereas, the contents of γ-tocopherol was found to be significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the Moringa seed oils native to the non-saline area. Results from the present study revealed that salinity did not affect the oil content of M. oleifera seeds. Nevertheless, it might affect the tocopherol and fatty acid profiles of M. oleifera seed oil.Ha sido examinada la variación en la producción y composición del aceite de semilla de Moringa oleifera extraído a partir de semillas cultivadas en Pakistan con diferente concentración salina en el cultivo. La producción obtenida por extracción con hexano fue de 33.50% y 32.79% respectivamente para las semillas cultivadas en áreas con alto y bajo contenido salino. El análisis de la varianza (ANOVA) reveló la inexistencia de diferencias significativas entre las características físicas (índice de refracción a 40 °C, color y gravedad específica) y las químicas (índice de yodo, acidez libre, índice de peróxidos, materia insaponificable, índice de saponificación, valores de dienos y trienos conjugados e índice de p-anisidina) de los aceites procedentes de ambas áreas. En el área de mayor salinidad las concentraciones de C18:1 y C16:0 de los aceites de semilla de Moringa oleifera fueron significativamente mayores (P< 0.001), mientras que el de C14:0 fue significativamente menor. El análisis de tocoferoles demostró que las concentraciones de α- y δ-tocoferol eran superiores significativamente (P< 0.001) en los aceites procedentes de las áreas con alta salinidad, mientras que el contenido en γ-tocoferol fue superior significativamente (P< 0.001) en los procedentes del área de baja salinidad. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que la salinidad no afecta sobre el contenido en aceite de estas semillas. Sin embargo, puede afectar al contenido en tocoferoles y el perfil de ácidos grasos

COVID-19 IMPACT ON E-COMMERCE USAGE: AN EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIAN HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study is to investigate the COVID-19 impact on e-commerce usage in the Malaysian healthcare industry through the Technological, Organizational, and Environmental (TOE) model. Methodology: This is a quantitative online survey-based research. The questionnaires are distributed among 100 samples from a healthcare provider, namely doctors, hospital management, medical assistant nurses, and medical supplier, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia. The sample comprised 45% male and 55% female. The data were analyzed by using SPSS 25 and PLS-SEM 3.0 to examine the relationship between variables and to test the hypotheses. Main Findings: The finding reveals that organization readiness, e-commerce knowledge, and supply chain integration have a significant positive impact. In contrast, IT infrastructure and external pressure have an insignificant effect on e-commerce usage. Applications of the Study: The benefits obtained from this study can be used to empower e-commerce usage in the healthcare industry of Malaysia. Also, it will enhance the quality of services hence advancing the healthcare services and operations. Novelty/Originality of the Study: The combined effect of the TOE and DOI theory on e-commerce usage for the healthcare industry to contribute to the literature

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) Peel, Flesh and Seeds Powders

This research work was designed to investigate and utilize all three parts (peel, flesh and seeds) of pumpkin for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Pumpkin parts were separated, dried, grinded to powder and extracted by using 80% methanol. Percentage yield of pumpkin peel, flesh and seeds extracts, was found 12.37±0.10, 8.84±0.07 and 3.53±0.06% respectively. DPPH free radical scavenging activity (mg AAE/100 g) of pumpkin peel, flesh and seeds extracts was found 13.00±0.08, 10.58:0.06 and 16.53±0.09 respectively. All three types of extracts exhibited prominent antifungal activities against four fungal strains Candida albicans, Fusarium oxysporum, Mucor miehei and Trichoderma spp. Pumpkin seeds extracts exhibited greater zone of inhibition against these fungal strains as compared to pumpkin peel and flesh extracts. For antibacterial study four bacterial strains Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus aureus were used. Pumpkin flesh extracts exhibited greater antibacterial activities as compared to pumpkin peel and seeds extracts. Keywords: Pumpkin, Extracts, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Zone of inhibition, Free radicals DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-6-05 Publication date:March 31st 202