The Combined Effect of Market Orientation and Owner/Manager's Innovativeness on Innovation and Business Performance of Small and Medium Sized Manufacturing Firms in Pakistan

The study investigated various aspects of market orientation and owner/manager's innovativeness relationship with innovation and performance in the small and medium sized manufacturing firms in Pakistan. The objectives of the study were 1) to examine the relationship and effect of market orientation and owner/managers innovativeness in relation to innovation and performance, 2) to examine the relationship and effect of innovation in relation to performance, 3) to examine the combined effect of owner/managers innovativeness and market orientation in relation to innovation and performance, and 4) to examine the level of owner/manager's innovativeness and market orientation based on firm's and respondent's characteristics. This study used owner/manager's innovativeness, market orientation and innovation as they relate to firm overall performance. The innovativeness constructs used to measure the owner/manager's innovativeness and domain specific innovativeness had been widely used in consumer research studies. Based on the theories of Ricardian (1871), Penrose (1959), Schumpeter (1934) and Roger's Adoption of Innovation concept (2003), a model of relationship was proposed and developed to examine the relationships between market orientation, owner/manager's innovativeness, innovation and the small and medium sized firms' performance. To test the relationship of the variables in the model, data from 170 textile and apparel/garment manufacturing small and medium sized firms in Karachi-Pakistan were used. To test the relationship hypotheses of the study, correlation, multiple regression analysis, T-test and ANOVA were performed. The correlation analysis suggested a significant and positive relationship among all the four variables used in the model. Multiple regression analysis result indicated that owner/manager's general innovativeness as well as innovativeness in product-strategy and process domain has a significant influence on the overall innovation. The general innovativeness and innovativeness in product-strategy domain also significantly influenced the firm performance. Results from correlation and multiple regression analysis further suggested that market orientation and its three components appeared to be associated directly with innovations and firm performance. However customer orientation, which is one of the key variables, appeared to cause a main effect on firm overall innovation and also SMEs overall performance. It is also proven in this study that among the three innovation strategies, only product innovation significantly influenced the firm performance. One-way ANOVA results indicated that a significant difference of the level of owner/manger's general innovativeness and domain specific innovativeness in product-strategy and process domain. The result confirmed that younger managers and owners with higher qualification had better scores on innovativeness scale than the older and less qualified owner/managers. Other results of One-way ANOVA indicated that export oriented manufacturers were more market oriented than the non-export oriented. The results findings further confirmed that small and medium-sized firms can be market oriented at any stage of their life cycle and did not need to be established firms in the industry for being market oriented. Findings of this study showed that owner/manager's innovativeness permeated all the variables in the model and had a positive influence to market orientation, innovation and firm performance. The study confirmed the existence of the linear relationship between all the variables and in relation to SMEs performance, and further suggested that manufacturing textile SMEs must focus on innovative owners and managers, who could build a strong market orientation culture for the firm and greater level of adoptions of innovations and firm performance

EFFECT OF MARKET ORIENTATION ON SMALL BUSINESS PERORMANCE IN SMALL TOWN IN MALAYSIA: AN EMPRICAL STUDY ON MALAYSIAN SMALL FIRMS

Most research on market orientation, and performance was related to big firms. In this study, based on the theoretical framework, a model was developed to investigate the effect of market orientation on business performance in small firms. To test the relationships among the variables, data from 53 small firms in the small town of Chunglun at Sintok, Kedah was used. The findings show that the three components of market orientation are related positive to business performance of small firms. The further analysis also confirmed that customer orientation and competitor orientation are strong predictors of small firm performance. The findings of this study confirm that market orientation behavior also applies to small firms

Relationship of Physical Properties of Limestone and Marble with Rock Strength Under Specific Geological Conditions from Khyber Region Hunza

The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) is one of the input parameters mostly used in surface andunderground designs. A literature review revealed that most of the empirical equations between UCS and Schmidthammer rebound number (N) are not satisfactory because of the low coefficient of correlation. In most of the cases, asingle formula is used for all types of rocks. In this study, a relationship UCS with N, slake durability, moisture content,and specific gravity has been developed for a particular limestone and marble deposit. These equations help todetermine the strength of these deposits directly using N value and other properties. The UCS value increased withincreasing N value, specific gravity, and slake durability. While the UCS value decreased with increasing moisturecontent. A relation between slaking cycles and slake durability index is also developed. In this study, the slakedurability value decreased with increasing slaking cycles for both limestone and marble. The UCS showed a linearrelationship with these physical properties

Common Genotypes of Hepatitis B virus prevalent in Injecting drug abusers (addicts) of North West Frontier Province of Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The epidemiological significance of Hepatitis B virus genotypes has been well established and becoming an essential concern day by day however, much little is known about the mixed infection with more than one Hepatitis B virus genotypes and their clinical relevance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Intravenous drug abusers are considered as a major risk group for the acquisition and transmission of blood borne infections like hepatitis B, however, in Pakistan, no such data has ever been reported about the epidemiology of HBV and its genotypes in Injecting Drug Users. 250 individuals were analyzed for hepatitis B virus genotypes after prior screening with serological assay for the detection of HBsAg.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>56 (22.4%) individuals were found positive on ELSIA for HBsAg. The genotype distribution was found to be as: genotype D, 62.5%; genotype A, 8.92% while 28.57% individuals were found to be infected with a mixture of genotype A and D.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There is an urgent need of the time to develop public health care policies with special emphasis towards the control of HBV transmission through high risk groups especially Injecting Drug Users.</p

Comparison of eleven RNA extraction methods for poliovirus direct molecular detection in stool samples

Direct detection by PCR of poliovirus RNA in stool samples provides a rapid diagnostic and surveillance tool that can replace virus isolation by cell culture in global polio surveillance. The sensitivity of direct detection methods is likely to depend on the choice of RNA extraction method and sample volume. We report a comparative analysis of 11 nucleic acid extraction methods (7 manual and 4 semiautomated) for poliovirus molecular detection using stool samples (n = 59) that had been previously identified as poliovirus positive by cell culture. To assess the effect of RNA recovery methods, extracted RNA using each of the 11 methods was tested with a poliovirus-specific reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), a pan-poliovirus RT-PCR (near-whole-genome amplification), a pan-enterovirus RT-PCR (entire capsid region), and a nested VP1 PCR that is the basis of a direct detection method based on nanopore sequencing. We also assessed extracted RNA integrity and quantity. The overall effect of extraction method on poliovirus PCR amplification assays tested in this study was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001), thus indicating that the choice of RNA extraction method is an important component that needs to be carefully considered for any diagnostic based on nucleic acid amplification. Performance of the methods was generally consistent across the different assays used. Of the 11 extraction methods tested, the MagMAX viral RNA isolation kit used manually or automatically was found to be the preferable method for poliovirus molecular direct detection considering performance, cost, and processing time

Genomic Characterization of Novel Human Parechovirus Type

Using a simple metagenomic approach, we identified a divergent human parechovirus (HPeV) in the stool of a child in Pakistan. Genomic characterization showed this virus was distinct enough from reported HPeV types to qualify as candidate prototype for the seventh HPeV type

Rapid and sensitive direct detection and identification of poliovirus from stool and environmental surveillance samples using nanopore sequencing

Global poliovirus surveillance involves virus isolation from stool and environmental samples, intratypic differential (ITD) by PCR, and sequencing of the VP1 region to distinguish vaccine (Sabin), vaccine-derived, and wild-type polioviruses and to ensure an appropriate response. This cell culture algorithm takes 2 to 3 weeks on average between sample receipt and sequencing. Direct detection of viral RNA using PCR allows faster detection but has traditionally faced challenges related to poor sensitivity and difficulties in sequencing common samples containing poliovirus and enterovirus mixtures. We present a nested PCR and nanopore sequencing protocol that allows rapid (99.9%. This novel method shows promise as a faster and safer alternative to cell culture for the detection and real-time sequencing of polioviruses in stool and environmental samples

Serology based disease status of Pakistani population infected with Hepatitis B virus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The infection rate of hepatitis B virus is continuously increasing in Pakistan. Therefore, a comprehensive study of epidemiological data is the need of time.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1300 individuals were screened for HBV infection markers including HBsAg, anti-HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBcAg. The association of these disease indicators was compared with patients' epidemiological characteristics like age, socio-economic status and residential area to analyze and find out the possible correlation among these variables and the patients disease status.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>52 (4%) individuals were found positive for HBsAg with mean age 23.5 ± 3.7 years. 9.30%, 33.47% and 12% individuals had HBeAg, antibodies for HBsAg, and antibodies for HBcAg respectively. HBsAg seropositivity rate was significantly associated (<it>p </it>= 0.03) with the residing locality indicating high infection in rural areas. Antibodies titer against HBsAg decreased with the increasing age reflecting an inverse correlation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicate high prevalence rate of Hepatitis B virus infection and nationwide vaccination campaigns along with public awareness and educational programs are needed to be practiced urgently.</p

The Karachi intracranial stenosis study (KISS) Protocol: an urban multicenter case-control investigation reporting the clinical, radiologic and biochemical associations of intracranial stenosis in Pakistan.

Background: Intracranial stenosis is the most common cause of stroke among Asians. It has a poor prognosis with a high rate of recurrence. No effective medical or surgical treatment modality has been developed for the treatment of stroke due to intracranial stenosis. We aim to identify risk factors and biomarkers for intracranial stenosis and to develop techniques such as use of transcranial doppler to help diagnose intracranial stenosis in a cost-effective manner. Methods/Design: The Karachi Intracranial Stenosis Study (KISS) is a prospective, observational, case-control study to describe the clinical features and determine the risk factors of patients with stroke due to intracranial stenosis and compare them to those with stroke due to other etiologies as well as to unaffected individuals. We plan to recruit 200 patients with stroke due to intracranial stenosis and two control groups each of 150 matched individuals. The first set of controls will include patients with ischemic stroke that is due to other atherosclerotic mechanisms specifically lacunar and cardioembolic strokes. The second group will consist of stroke free individuals. Standardized interviews will be conducted to determine demographic, medical, social, and behavioral variables along with baseline medications. Mandatory procedures for inclusion in the study are clinical confirmation of stroke by a healthcare professional within 72 hours of onset, 12 lead electrocardiogram, and neuroimaging. In addition, lipid profile, serum glucose, creatinine and HbA1C will be measured in all participants. Ancillary tests will include carotid ultrasound, transcranial doppler and magnetic resonance or computed tomography angiogram to rule out concurrent carotid disease. Echocardiogram and other additional investigations will be performed at these centers at the discretion of the regional physicians. Discussion: The results of this study will help inform locally relevant clinical guidelines and effective public health and individual interventions

Molecular epidemiology of Hepatitis B virus genotypes in Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Eight genotypes of Hepatitis B virus designated A-H, have been known but in Pakistan, no such data is available on the prevalent HBV genotypes. Therefore, the subject study was conducted to determine HBV genotypes in the indigenous Pakistani population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 690 individuals were enrolled for HBV screening with EIA and nested PCR. Positive samples were further analyzed to determine HBV genotypes (A-F) by multiplex-PCR using type specific primers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>110 (15.94%) individuals were positive for HBV, including 64% males and 36% females. Out of these, 66 samples (65.34%) were classified into genotype D, 27 (26.73%) were of genotype B while 5(4.95%) had genotype A. In 3 (2.98%) samples, multiple genotypes were detected (genotype A+B; 2(1.99%) and genotypes B+D; 1(0.99%). Nine (8.18%) samples remained untyable.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In Asia, genotypes B and C are the most prevalent but our study reveals that genotype D is predominant and HBV infection constitutes a significant health problem in Pakistan.</p