Modeling of Traceability Information System for Material Flow Control Data.

This paper focuses on data modeling for traceability of material/work flow in information layer of manufacturing control system. The model is able to trace all associated data throughout the product manufacturing from order to final product. Dynamic data processing of Quality and Purchase activities are considered in data modeling as well as Order and Operation base on lots particulars. The modeling consisted of four steps and integrated as one final model. Entity-Relationships Modeling as data modeling methodology is proposed. The model is reengineered with Toad Data Modeler software in physical modeling step. The developed model promises to handle fundamental issues of a traceability system effectively. It supports for customization and real-time control of material in flow in all levels of manufacturing processes. Through enhanced visibility and dynamic store/retrieval of data, all traceability usages and applications is responded. Designed solution is initially applicable as reference data model in identical lot-base traceability system

Trends in integrated reporting: a state owned company analysis

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Commerce (Accountancy).Accountability by state owned companies has been lacking in recent times. The need for an oversight mechanism to improve governance and as such accountability is required for state owned companies (IOD and PWC, 2011). Integrated reporting has answered this call due to its ability to provide a holistic view of the factors that create value for an entity in the short, medium and long-term. South African state owned companies have realised the benefit integrated reporting can have on their corporate governance and as such have adopted integrated reporting in terms of King III and the IR Framework. The purpose of this study is to investigate the trends in integrated reporting by state owned companies per The Public Finance Management Act 1999 for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 financial periods. This report examines the extent of disclosure made by state owned companies per the King III and IR Framework recommendations and requirements in respect of integrated reporting; by means of using a scorecard approach to identify the level of disclosure made by each state owned company. The key findings of this study was that the level of reporting disclosure by state owned companies increased following an upward positive trend with the disclosures on average increasing from providing little information on a poor to average basis in 2013 to providing some information at a satisfactory level in 2015. It was found that there were no instances of noncompliance with overall disclosure by any of the state owned companies analysed over the three year period. Furthermore, not a single company provided disclosure overall at an excellent level in any of the three years analysed. This finding suggests that although improving, the level of integrated reporting disclosure by state owned companies is still only satisfactory and as such there is a lot of room for improvement over time. Areas that are in need of reform relate to governance, the governance of information technology, the provision of information on the outlook of the entity and information as to the basis upon which integrated reports are prepared.MT201

Molecular characterization of cDNA encoding resistance gene-like sequences in Buchloe dactyloides

Current knowledge of resistance (R) genes and their use for genetic improvement in buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides [Nutt.] Engelm.) lag behind most crop plants. This study was conducted to clone and characterize cDNA encoding R gene-like (RGL) sequences in buffalograss. This report is the first to clone and-characterize of buffalograss RGLs. Degenerate primers designed from the conserved motifs of known R genes were used to amplify RGLs and fragments of expected size were isolated and cloned. Sequence analysis of cDNA clones and analysis of putative translation products revealed that most encoded amino acid sequences shared the similar conserved motifs found in the cloned plant disease resistance genes RPS2, MLA6, L6, RPM1, and Xa1. These results indicated diversity of the R gene candidate sequences in buffalograss. Analysis of 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), applied to investigate upstream of RGLs, indicated that regulatory sequences such as TATA box were conserved among the RGLs identified. The cloned RGL in this study will further enhance our knowledge on organization, function, and evolution of R gene family in buffalograss. With the sequences of the primers and sizes of the markers provided, these RGL markers are readily available for use in a genomics-assisted selection in buffalograss

University Incubators: A Gateway to an Entrepreneurial Society

The paper argues that universities would enhance their participation through an effective and well-integrated incubation system for the development of sustainable entrepreneurial society. This study reviews the shifting trend of universities in society from teaching to research and development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and recently to facilitate an entrepreneurial society by promoting entrepreneurial culture and institutional development. It is categorically accepted by researchers that the 21st century will rely on knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship, and business incubators. However, universities are lacking to contribute with full strength in research commercialization, entrepreneurship and economic growth. In this study, the strengths and weaknesses of university incubators are highlighted to enhance their efficacy for a better economic output. University incubators provide a facilitative environment for revenue generation by ensuring a cloud with financial, legal and technical support for a win-win interaction between universities, business tycoons, government and community. The ideas of human capital, knowledge and, research and development have evolved the economies towards knowledge based economies by having creativity, innovation, knowledge transfer, information access and supportive infrastructure. In an entrepreneurial society, universities move one step ahead by structuring the mechanisms to facilitate entrepreneurial culture and, creating institutes and leaders. Finally, the study presents some future directions for university incubators with policy recommendations. Keywords: University incubator; Entrepreneurial society; Knowledge transfer; University industry linkages; Commercialization; Entrepreneurship; Spinoffs; Institutional Development

Success Factors and Potential Problems in Applying of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems

This study aims to review and analyze the industry and academic literature on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, in order to identify possible trends or factors, which may help future ERP initiatives. The study diagnosed potential problems with ERP systems and determined how to solve it. It also provide criteria’s to measure the success of the implementation of ERP systems. Keywords: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP); Information Technology (IT); Project Management

Effects of deficit irrigation and partial rootzone drying on growth, dry matter partitioning and water use efficiency in young coffee plants(Coffea arabica L.) plants

The effects of three irrigation regimes (partial root zone drying, PRD; normal deficit irrigation, NDI and full irrigation or well watering, WW) on vegetative growth, dry matter yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L. cv. F-59) were studied under a rain shelter in Ethiopia. Relative water content (RWC) of leaves and stomatal conductance decreased by NDI and PRD treatments, but plants grown in PRD had leaf RWC values closer to those of WW plants on some measurement occasions. Shoot growth and total dry matter yield were significantly reduced by NDI and PRD. Root: shoot ratio was higher for plants in the PRD compared with WW or NDI. PRD also saved 50% of the water required for full irrigation and resulted in significantly (21 to 43%) higher IWUE compared to NDI and WW treatments. Therefore, it was concluded that PRD could be practically advantageous for the production of coffee seedlings in areas where water is scarce for irrigation and dry spells are prolonged

The Universal Bases in (Muhgni Allabeeb) for Ibn Hisham (Died 761 H) and AlKullyat Dictionary for Alkafawi (Died 1094 H): A Comparative Study

        شغل موضوع القواعد النحويّة الكثير من الباحثين قديمًا وحديثًا في محاولة الوصول إلى الأصول والضوابط المُنظمة للحكم الكليّ، وظهر اتجاه المتأخرين من العلماء النزوع إلى البحث الكليّ في مؤلفاتهم متابعين ومخالفين ما سبقهم؛ كاشفين عن نظر دقيق في الفكر اللُّغويّ والمُصطلحيّ. ومِن هُنا جاءت أهمية البحث في انتخاب كتابين ذاعت شُهرتهما في الآفاق وهما (مُغني اللبيب عن كتب الأعاريب) لابن هشام الأنصاري (ت761هـ) و(معجم الكُليات) لأبي البقاء الكفوي (1094هـ) ودراستهما وفق المنهج المُوازن في ضوء القواعد الكُليّة التي اهتدى إليها المؤلفان للكشف عن خصوصية الفكر العلميّ لكل منهما. وانتظم البحث  في توطئة تمهيدية،وثلاثة مباحث :بحث الأول معايير المُوازنة بين المُؤَلِفَينِ من حيث  المرجعيات الفكرية والثقافية، والمنهجية في الكتابين،والثانيّ: المُوازنة في مُصطلح (الكُل) والكُليّات)،والثالث: أنماط الكليات وخصائصها المشتركة ،وخُتِم بالخاتِمةِ.Many researchers have been occupied with the subject of grammatical rules, in the past and present times, in an attempt to reach the principles and rules governing the total judgment. The tendency of recent scholars seems to examine the books in full, following and contradicting those who have preceded them, revealing a careful consideration of the linguistic and terminological thought. “Muhgni Allabeeb” for Ibn Hisham (Died 761 H) and AlKullyat Dictionary for Alkafawi (Died 1094 H) were studied comparatively via the universal bases that showed the specificity of scientific thought. This study falls in some preliminaries, the discussion of parameters of the prototypes in the Two Books in terms of the intellectual and methodological references of the two books. The terms “whole” and “totalities” are studied in addition to the models and their common characteristics. &nbsp

Combined effect of knowledge management and entrepreneurial orientation on performance of small and medium enterprises

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of knowledge management and entrepreneurial orientation on performance of small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia.The study also seeks to examine the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation on the knowledge management and SME performance relationship. Data were collected by means of a mail survey questionnaire completed by the owner/managers who were randomly selected from a sampling frame of registered SMEs.A total of 115 usable responses were received.The findings reveal that significant relationships exist between knowledge management and performance, and also between entrepreneurial orientation and performance, while entrepreneurial orientation was found to partially mediate the relationship between knowledge management and performance

Using Nintendo Wii to improve Cognition in Traumatic Brain Injury

The unfortunate accident of Michael Schumacher had highlighted the fact that Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can happen unexpectedly. Those who survive have to grapple with physical and cognitive disabilities. Hence it is important to investigate all possible treatment approaches to curtail TBI-related morbidity. This paper explores and evaluates the research evidence pertaining to treatment approaches relating to cognitive remediation and the use of electronic virtual reality. It describes a study whose objective was to identify improvement of cognition among Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patients by using Nintendo Wii Sports (NWS) as the intervention tool and to determine if months since injury, virtual reality experience and Glasgow Coma Scale affect Mini Mental State Examination Score after intervention. The experiment can be easily repeated in Neuro Clinics & Wards and Occupational Therapy Centres to test for improvements in cognition in the treatment of other ailments or injuries which have resulted in brain impairments. Thirty (30) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patients with Mild Glasgow Coma scale (GCS) 33.3% (10) and Moderate Glasgow Coma scale (GCS) 66.7% (20) were selected.They were ? 16 years old and the number of months after injury was calculated at the time when GCS test was conducted.This is not to be confused with the work done at UCLA (Babikian et al., 2011) where the studies were on a  sample of children with mild TBI . The number of months was longitudinal time points of the study. The main outcome measures used was the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). It was observed that there was significant improvement in cognitive functions from purposeful use of NWS. Even patients with moderate traumatic brain injury improved MMSE score after intervention. Mean MMSE result increased from 19.8 to 26.4. NWS intervention did show significant improvement in cognition among Traumatic Brain Injury patients with mild or moderate score of GCS independent of VR experience. Keywords Nintendo Wii Game Sports (NWS), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI

Aluminum- and Iron-Doped Zinc Oxide Nanorod Arrays for Humidity Sensor Applications

Metal-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays have attracted much attention due to improvement in their electrical, structural, and optical properties upon doping. In this chapter, we discuss the effects of aluminum (Al)- and iron (Fe)-doping on ZnO nanorod arrays properties particularly for humidity sensor applications. Compared to Fe, Al shows more promising characteristics as doping element for ZnO nanorod arrays. The Al-doped ZnO nanorod arrays showed dense arrays, small nanorods diameter, and high porous surface. The I-V characteristics showed that Al-doped sample possesses higher conductivity. From the humidity sensing performance of the samples, Al-doped ZnO nanorod arrays possess the superior sensitivity, more than two times higher than that of the undoped ZnO nanorod arrays sample, demonstrating great potential of Al-doped ZnO nanorod arrays in humidity sensor applications