Adoption and Implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): An Empirical Study

The study is an attempt to unearth the current state of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) adoption and implementation in both manufacturing and service firms. Drawing on the conceptualization of multiple theories based in technology acceptance and innovation diffusion model, this study examines the above objectives with a particular reference to the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Following the deductive reasoning approach, we applied a self-administered questionnaire survey and used 235 replies from 255 collected responses, leaving the data affected with missing and un-matched responses. The result is applied using the structural equation modeling via SmartPLS 2, a second generation regression model, for testing hypothesized relationships. Findings reveal that all the hypothesized influences are found significantly linked through the explanatory variables with the endogenous variables at different levels of significance, except the impact of effort efficiency and resistance to change. Policy implications are also proposed for the full adoption and utilization of ERP to achieve sustainable development goals. Furthermore, we recommend future researchers to focus on action research or experimental data for preventing the generalizability of the observed results

Factors Affecting Academic Performance of Undergraduate Students at International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC), Bangladesh

This study was conducted to examine different factors influencing socio-economic background and the academic performance of undergraduate students enrolled at International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) with a view to assessing their individual performances and improvements. The assessment covers comparative achievements of different faculties of IIUC-Shariah & Islamic Studies, Business Administration, Science & Engineering, Arts &Humanities and Laws. The data were collected from 200 undergraduate students from different faculties of International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) through separate structured questionnaire using the simple random sampling technique. For analysis, simple percentage and linear regression model were run to evaluate comparative importance of the factors. The result shows that over all CGPA of IIUC student is 3.25 (Out of 4.00). Regression results of academic performance of students have varied from faculty to faculty. The result also reveals that age, gender, past academic track, medium of education and absence in the classes have also influenced the academic performances of a student. The study has covered the period of academic year Autumn-2013 to Spring-2014. Keywords: Socio-economic Background, Regression, Faculties, IIUC, Bangladesh

Inhibition of snake venom induced sterile inflammation and PLA2 activity by Titanium dioxide Nanoparticles in experimental animals.

Sterile inflammation (SI) is an essential process in response to snakebite and injury. The venom induced pathophysiological response to sterile inflammation results into many harmful and deleterious effects that ultimately leads to death. The available treatment for snakebite is antiserum which does not provide enough protection against venom-induced pathophysiological changes like haemorrhage, necrosis, nephrotoxicity and often develop hypersensitive reactions. In order to overcome these hindrances, scientists around the globe are searching for an alternative therapy to provide better treatment to the snake envenomation patients. In the present study TiO2 (Titanium dioxide)-NPs (Nanoparticles) has been assessed for antisnake venom activity and its potential to be used as an antidote. In this study, the synthesis of TiO2-NPs arrays has been demonstrated on p-type Silicon Si  substrate (∼30 ohm-cm) and the surface topography has been detected by Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The TiO2-NPs successfully neutralized the Daboia russelii venom (DRV) and Naja kaouthia venom (NKV)-induced lethal activity. Viper venom induced haemorrhagic, coagulant and anticoagulant activities were effectively neutralized both in in-vitro and in vivo studies. The cobra and viper venoms-induced sterile inflammatory molecules (IL-6, HMGB1, HSP70, HSP90, S100B and vWF) were effectively neutralised by the TiO2-NPs in experimental animals

Dynamical spectral structure of density fluctuation near QCD critical point

The expression for the dynamical spectral structure of the density fluctuation near the QCD critical point has been derived using linear response theory within the purview of Israel-Stewart relativistic viscous hydrodynamics. The change in spectral structure of the system as it moves toward critical end point has been studied. The effects of the critical point have been introduced in the system through a realistic equation of state and the scaling behaviour of various transport coefficients and thermodynamic response functions. We have found that the Brillouin and the Rayleigh peaks are distinctly visible when the system is away from critical point but the peaks tend to merge near the critical point. The sensitivity of structure of the spectral function on wave vector ($k$) of the sound wave has been demonstrated. It has been shown that the Brillouin peaks get merged with the Rayleigh peak because of the absorption of sound waves in the vicinity of the critical point.Comment: One LaTeX file with 6 eps files for figure

Clinicopathological pattern and risk factors of carcinoma breast in younger age group

Worldwide, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed life-threatening cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women. Approximately 7% of all breast cancers are diagnosed in women <40 years of age. Young age at diagnosis influences prognosis negatively as they present with more advanced disease at diagnosis and a poorer 5-year survival than older patients. The present study includes breast cancer patients in the age group of 18 to 40 years to enrich our knowledge about clinical presentation and pathological characteristics of breast cancer. To find out the clinical presentation and pathological characteristics of breast cancer among the young age group.  This cross-sectional study was done over 100 cases of histopathologically proven breast cancer from structured Questionnaire was used as data collection tool. Mean age was 33.89 years. Among the respondents 88% are married. Among the total studied population 61 respondents had the history of oral contraceptive pill use. Family history of cancer presents in 13.0% respondents and absent in 87.0% respondents. Among the respondents 95% patients presented with lump in the breast. 97.0% had invasive carcinoma 90% were invasive ductal carcinoma in which 46.0% were moderately differentiated. 51.0% patients were in the stage IIa and stage IIb

Entropy Generation Analysis for Variable Thermal Conductivity MHD Radiative Nanofluid Flow through Channel

The present work inspects the entropy generation on radiative heat transfer in the flow of variable thermal conductivity optically thin viscous Cu–water nanofluid with an external magnetic field through a parallel isothermal plate channel. Our approach uses the power series from the governing non-linear differential equations for small values of thermal conductivity variation parameter which are then analysed by various generalizations of Hermite- Padé approximation method. The influences of the pertinent flow parameters on velocity, temperature, thermal conductivity criticality conditions and entropy generation are discussed quantitatively both numerically and graphically. A stability analysis has been performed for the rate of heat transfer which signifies that the lower solution branch is stable and physically acceptable, whereas the upper solution branch is unstable

The causality and stability of relativistic spin-hydrodynamics

We study the causality and stability of the relativistic hydrodynamics when the spin degree of freedom is included as a hydrodynamic field, by considering two specific models of spin-hydrodynamics. A linear mode analysis for the simplest static background with no flow velocity shows that the model of dissipative first-order spin-hydrodynamics remains acausal and admits unphysical instabilities as reported for the relativistic Navier-Stokes (NS) equation. Besides, the inclusion of the spin field in hydrodynamics can lead to new kinds of linear modes in the system. These new modes also exhibit instability and an acausal behavior. The second model of the spin-hydrodynamics that we have considered has no dissipative fluxes and is equivalent to a particular second-order conventional hydrodynamics \cite{Li:2020eon}. For a static background, it is found that the linear modes of this model support the sound waves only. However, when the background has constant vorticity, the model can have instability in certain situations and the mode also has acausal behavior. It is found that the spin-dynamics have an effect on the hydrodynamic response of the fluid. These findings point toward the need for a causal and stable theory with spin as a hydrodynamic field to describe the spin-polarized fluid.Comment: 31 page

Roles of Glycinebetaine on Antioxidants and Gene Function in Rice Plants Under Water Stress

Antioxidants activities and gene expression in rice up-regulated during water stress condition. The activation of antioxidants (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) such as glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in plants is related to the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) accumulation in plant under stress conditions. Glycine betaine, however, plays a pivotal role as an osmoprotectant in response to water stress. Exogenous application of glycine betaine improves the activities of antioxidants and expression of gene, which might lead to the improvement and sustainability of rice production during climate change conditions. Understanding the association of antioxidant enzyme activities and its expression in response to water stress is essential for further understanding the molecular mechanisms by which controlling antioxidant defense for drought tolerance. This also will be useful information on theory basis for drought resistance breeding and cultivation of rice as an effort to sustain rice production. In this review, literatures for the potential of glycinebetaine to improve antioxidants defense activity and gene expression during the water stress condition in related to sustainable rice production have been discussed

Concurrent Weekly versus Three Weekly Cisplatin with Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Uterine Cervical Carcinoma.

Introduction: Uterine cervical carcinoma is the commonest form of gynecological malignancy in Bangladesh as well as in South Asia. Outcome of weekly versus three weekly Cisplatin concurrent with External beam radiotherapy followed by intracavitary radiotherapy in locally advanced cervical carcinoma was compared in this study. Methods: A quasi experimental study was carried out from April 2016 to September 2017. Total eighty patients of uterine cervical cancer were included and received External beam radiotherapy concurrent with either weekly or three weekly Cisplatin followed by High dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy. External beam radiotherapy was given with a dose of 50 Gray (Gy) in conventional fractionation over 5 weeks. Cisplatin 40 mg/m2, weekly was given along with radiotherapy to the patients of Arm A (n=40) while the patients of Arm B (n=40) received cisplatin 75 mg/m2, 3 weekly along with the radiotherapy. Patients were evaluated weekly during treatment and afterwards up to 6 months. Results: The mean age of patients were 48±9 years for Arm A and 42±9 years for Arm B. Complete response at 6 months of follow up was observed in 30 (75%) and 36 (90%) patients of Arm A and B respectively.Overall complete response was observed in 66 (82.5%)patients. Common toxicities were nephrological, hematological, skin and bowel related and were managed accordingly. Grade III-IV neutropenia was more in patients of Arm A (42.5%) than B (20%). Conclusions: This study showed that the radiotherapy concurrent with three weekly Cisplatin is effective and less toxic than weekly Cisplatin in locally advanced cervica