Management challenges within multiple project environments: lessons for developing countries

In the construction industry, multiple project environments (MPE) exist where more than one project is managed simultaneously. The driving force behind MPEs is the pragmatic allocation of resources encumbered by uncertain economic times. However, MPEs create management challenges that need to be addressed. For that reason, this paper aims to investigate the challenges in respect to managing MPEs within the construction industry. It essentially reviews state-of-art knowledge in respect to MPEs identifying the rationale behind their development. At this stage it would appear that the interdependency and uncertainty within inputs, processes and outputs are major contributing factors to the MPE problem. It is of note that the majority of these findings were based within the context of developed countries. Hence, this review sets out to inform practitioners from developing countries in respect to lessons learned within more developed countries. This review is expected to lead to further investigations on MPEs and their inherent challenges.Noor Ismah Hashim, Nicholas Chileshe, Bassam Baroud

Antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of piper maingayi HK. Essential oils

The study was aimed to investigate the chemical components of stem and fruit volatile oils of Piper. maingayi Hk. with their antioxidant and antityrosinase activities. GC and GC-MS analysis of the essential oils obtained from the fresh stem and fruit of P. maingayi Hk. resulted in the identification of 34 and 18 components accounting for 83.6% and 78.7% of the total amount, respectively. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes were the most highly represented classes as the former ranging from 64.7% to 70.7%, and the latter varying from 7.4% to 8.6%. The main constituents of the stem oil were: α-caryophyllene (26.2%), α-cedrene (8.4%), caryophyllene oxide (6.7%) and cis-calamenene (6.2%), while the fruit oil was dominated by δ-cadinene (22.6%), β-caryophyllene (18.8%), α-copaene (11.2%) and α-cadinol (7.1%). The stem and fruit of P. maingayi oils showed significant value for antioxidant and antityrosinase activities

Fluorescence spectroscopy for analysing deterioration of palm olein in batch deep-fat frying

Palm olein has been commercially used as frying medium in batch deep-fat frying. During frying, the oil usually deteriorates due to the exposure to high temperature. In this study, a fluorescence spectroscopy technique was applied to monitor the deterioration of refined, bleached, and deodorized palm olein (RBDPO) in batch deep-fat frying. 22.5 kg of French fries were used as the frying material. In 30 batches, the french fries were intermittently fried at 185 ± 5°C for eight hours a day over five consecutive days capturing 40 hours. The fluorescence intensity of the RBDPO was recorded with excitation at 390 nm and resulting emission of 465 nm. The fluorescence intensity of the RBDPO over five days of frying decreased considering the wavelength range of emission 430-640 nm and excitation 360-430 nm. The decreased in intensity of fluorescence emission and excitation spectra were inversely correlated with the FFA content of the oil samples. This study demonstrates the potential of fluorescence spectroscopy in monitoring the deterioration of RBDPO during batch deep-fat frying

Examining the determination of flood victim’s knowledge sharing behavior: From the perspectives of social cognitive theory

During the occurrence of disaster, knowledge sharing plays as important role. Through effective knowledge sharing, it can help victims save lives; received immediate relief and support; and minimize the disaster effect. But lack of works has been done to examine the determinants of knowledge sharing within disaster management context.Therefore, this study aims to provide a better understanding of knowledge sharing during the occurrence of disaster.In order to examine the determinant of individual’s knowledge sharing behavior during the occurrence of disaster, the researcher will use social cognitive theory (SCT) to conceptualize a theoretical model for this study.This study holds self-efficacy, reciprocity, social support and social recognition as an influence individual in sharing knowledge during the occurrence of disaster.The methodology begins with constructing a questionnaire to investigate the theoretical model. The respondents are victims that have had experience in sharing knowledge during the flood.This study was used a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test causal relationships between constructs.Hopefully, by proposed theoretical model through this research can provide additional insight on what influence knowledge sharing behavior within disaster management context

Efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi, paecilomyces fumosoroseus, beauvena bassiana and metarhizium anisopliae var. majus against crocidolomia binotalis (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae)

Laboratory bioassays of three local isolates of entomopathogenic hypomycetes against the cabbage-heart caterpillar, Crocidolomia binotalis Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and[reid efficacy ofseveralformulations ofPaecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wise) Brown and Smith were evaluated. Dosage-mortality bioassays revealed that all the isolates were able to cause mortality to second instar larvae. Majority of the larvae became moribund within two days after treatment. Exposures to doses varying from 2 x 1(jl conidia mLl to 2 x 107 conidia mLl resulted in mean larval mortalities from 10.3 to 100%. At concentrations exceeding 2 x lOS conidia mLl larval mortality was in excess of 80% and 100% mortality was observed at 2 x 107 conidia mLl for all three fungal species. Significant relationships (P<0.05) were obtained between log dosage and probit mortality for all the isolates. The EC5o for P. fumosoroseus was estimated at 1.926 x 1rY conidia mL1 , and was significantly lower than that ofBeauveria bassiana (Bals) Yuill at 5.038 x 103 conidia mL-l. The EC5o for Metarhizium anisopliae var majus (Metsch) Sorokin was significantly the highest, at 2.0 x 104 conidia mL-l. The best isolate was P.fumosoroseus which had LT50 almost half a day lower at a comparable dosage of 2 x107 conidia mLl, with a gradient of 4.656 as compared to 4.356 for B. bassiana and 4.193 for M. anisopliae var majus. In [reid treatments, plants were sprayed with suspensions containing 107 conidia mLl. Mean percent mortality for all the treatments were in excess of 70% and significantly higher (P<O. 05) than the control. Conidia in palm oil Vesawit® gave the most promising result against the cabbage-heart caterpillar