An Assessment of Portfolio Managers' Awareness of Big Data Analytics (BDA) Role in Achieving Portfolio Management (PFM) Success: A Qualitative Study

As big data analytics become the most valuable resource held by all administrations, every huge organization will be investing in initiatives of big data in a succession of Portfolio Management at the next level (Grover et al., 2018). This research aims to study the extent to which portfolio managers are aware of the role of big data in the efficiency of portfolio management.This study includes a qualitative research method to assess portfolio managers' awareness of the role of big data analytics (BDA) in portfolio management success. The researcher followed a theoretical, descriptive approach. The researcher applied the onion analysis methods. The researcher surveyed many portfolio managers in several companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Only portfolio managers were chosen because they are more concerned with achieving strategic goals than program and project managers. The researcher conducted a qualitative study by interviewing 38 company portfolio managers.The concept of BDA in this study contains four components (Volume – Veracity- velocity- variety). In this research, five main questions have been extracted to link big data analytics with portfolio management methodology as per PMI standard guidelines for managing business portfolios. The central themes and sub-themes have been extracted for conducting the interview.The results indicated that the portfolio managers' awareness of the (PMI) Portfolio Management (PFM) methodology is very high and compatible with the directions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030. The researcher recommends future research to apply another quantitative study for a specific sector to investigate clear awareness regarding the value of using BDA in managing several portfolios. Keywords: Big Data Analytics (BDA)- Portfolio Management (PFM)- Portfolio Decision Support (PDS). DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-24-07 Publication date: December 31st 202

Synthesis and characterization of cupric oxide (CuO) nanoparticles and their application for the removal of dyes

In the present work, cupric oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by adopting aqueous precipitation method using copper sulphate 5-hydrate as a precursor and NaOH as a stabilizing agent. This gives a large scale production of CuO-NPs which are utilized for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye. The CuO NPs were characterized for the studying of their structure and composition from XRD which reveals the single phase monoclinic structure. The surface morphology of these NPs was carried out by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, the effect of optimization parameters such as time, concentration and temperature was also examined. Spectrophotometric technique was used to evaluate the removal of MB in aqueous solution by NPs. The equilibrium adsorption of cationic dye (MB) was carried out at various temperatures ranging from 303 to 318 K ± 2K. The adsorption isotherm equations like Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich were applied and the values of their respective constants were evaluated by adopting graphical method. Thermodynamic and kinetic studies were also performed to determine the feasibility of the process. The maximum MB removal was observed to be 88.93%. The pH of point zero charge (pHPZC) of adsorbent was also estimated by pH drift method. The results indicate that aqueous precipitation method is a reliable and cheap method for the development of CuO-NPs which can be effectively used for the removal of dyes from effluents. This method is beneficial for the remediation of industrial waste.Key words: CuO nanoparticles, XRD, SEM, methylene blue, adsorption, UV Spectrophotometer

One Dimensional Steady Flow Analysis Using HECRAS – A case of River Jhelum, Jammu and Kashmir

Floods have been recurrent phenomena in the study area. A heavy precipitation, usually coming during the end months of the summer season in association with sudden cloudburst, leads to severe flooding in the study area. By now the catchment area of the river is already saturated and the high run-off swells the rivers beyond their capacity. The present study describes the application of HEC RAS Model for flood studies in the river Jhelum Kashmir valley. The peak flood records were used as inputs into HEC RAS model to find out the resultant expected flood levels. The resultant output generated by the model shows an overflow at maximum locations of the river under study for 50 years and above return period. This purpose is to give a hand to policy makers, planners and insurers, to develop a robust strategy for the development of flood mitigation measures and plans to minimise the losses associated with the disaster in the study area

Application of chitosan padded rice and wheat husk for the removal of reactive dye from aqueous solution

Industrial waste especially textile effluents contain many harmful ingredients, which cause environmental problems. In the present study, the removal of reactive red 195 dye was carried out using chitosan padded wheat husk (CWH) and rice husk (CRH) adsorbents. Chitosan was prepared in the laboratory from chitin which was obtained from crab shells by adopting reported method. The removal of dye was carried out by batch adsorption method under the optimized conditions of amount of adsorbent, stay time, temperature and dye concentration. Spectrophotometric technique was adopted for the measurement of concentration of dye before and after adsorption. Adsorption data was fitted in Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption isotherm equations. The values of the corresponding constants were evaluated from the slope and intercept of their respective plots. Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy (ΔGo), enthalpy (ΔHo), and entropy (ΔSo) of the system were also calculated by using distribution coefficient KD. From the percent removal data, it was concluded that chitosan-rice husk (CRH) and chitosan- wheat husk (CWH) systems showed about 83 and 79% removal tendency respectively. Chitosan itself act as a good adsorbent and its derivative with rice and wheat husk (mainly cellulose) show high removal tendency and may be used as low cost biosorbents for the removal of pollutants from the industrial effluent.Keywords: Adsorption, reactive red 195 dye, chitosan, rice husk, wheat hus

Venous thromboembolism-incidence of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in patients with head and neck cancer: a tertiary care experience in Pakistan

Abstract Introduction Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is seen with morbidity and mortality in various surgical specialties, scarce data are available in the head and neck surgery domain. Objective We aim to determine the incidence of VTE in patients receiving surgery for head and neck cancer. Methods Four hundred thirteen patients who underwent head and neck surgery procedures between 2005 and 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients with head and neck surgery had received thromboprophylaxis (i.e., compression stockings and subcutaneous heparin). Patient demographics, operating time, and length of hospital stay were analyzed. The incidence of symptomatic deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) during the initial postoperative hospitalization was assessed. Results Twelve patients were identified who developed VTE. Three patients developed DVT, and nine developed PE. The incidence of DVT and PE was 0.72 and 2.17%, respectively. Interestingly, all of these patients had undergone excision of extensive head and neck cancers accompanied by a reconstructive procedure. Patients who developed PE had a longer hospital stay compared with those who only had DVT. There were overall three mortalities in the nine patients who developed PE. Conclusion Although VTE has a low incidence, it is a known complication of extensive head and neck surgeries with life-threatening outcomes. We recommend early mobilization and physiotherapy with the possible aid from appropriate mechanical and pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis

Impact of land use/land cover dynamics on himalayan wetland ecosystem

Wetland ecosystems integrate many upstream processes and the differential contributions of spatially distributed controlling factors, especially land use / land cover. In view of the significant importance of wetlands in the ecosystem and regional economy, an attempt has been made to analyze the impact of land use / land cover dynamics on spatial status of Hokar Sar wetland, a Ramsar Site located in Kashmir Himalayas. The impact assessment has been carried out by analyzing the multi-temporal (1986, 1995, 2005) changes in the upstream land use / land cover characteristics of wetland watershed, by using remote sensing data of SPOT HRV-I, Landsat-ETM and IRS-LISS-III, respectively. The multi-temporal land use / land cover statistics revealed that significant changes have taken place from 1986 to 2005 in the watershed. And in response to these upstream watershed changes, the Hokar Sar wetland has exhibited changes in spatial extension, structure and hydrological characteristics. As a consequence of continuous inflow of sediment load and nutrients from the upper catchment due to changing land use, the wetland has fragmented into various spatial zones with varying physicochemical characteristics. Average water depth of the wetland has reduced significantly, wetland has attained eutrophication condition and the overall ecosystem of the wetland has been found to be degraded

Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology in parotid lesions

Objective:Histopathology of parotid gland tumors is extremely varied and complex due to heterogeneous cellular composition. Preoperative diagnostic tools include fine needle aspiration cytology, the role of which remains controversial. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the usefulness and accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of parotid gland tumors. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts of 129 Patients who underwent parotidectomy for parotid lesions at Aga Khan University Hospital from 2002 to 2010. We compared the results of preoperative FNAC with final histopathological diagnosis. Results: Concordance with histological results was observed in 86%, specificity was 98%, sensitivity was 84%, and diagnostic accuracy was 94%. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that preoperative cytology in parotid lesions is fairly accurate and useful in diagnosing benign from malignant and in planning appropriate approach for treatment

Harmonic scalpel versus electrocautery tonsillectomy: a comparative study in adult patients

OBJECTIVE: To compare harmonic scalpel (HS) tonsillectomy with electrocautery (EC) tonsillectomy in terms of operating time, intra-operative blood loss, post-operative pain and secondary haemorrhage.METHODS: Sixty adult patients subjected to tonsillectomy only, were evaluated in this prospective study. The patients were stratified into 2 groups (30 each) based on the dissecting instrument used (HS vs. EC) at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi Pakistan from June, 2006 to August, 2008.RESULTS: The mean operative time was less in electrocautery group (EC 3.57 +/- 0.85 minutes Vs HS 4.20 +/- 1.37 minutes;

Endovascular Management of Traumatic Iliac Vessel Disruption—Report of Two Cases

AbstractVascular injuries in a multi-trauma patient are associated with significant cardiovascular instability and organ injury. Injuries with active bleeding are best treated with a quick, safe and the least less invasive procedure available to the trauma surgeon. We report two cases of blunt trauma induced common and external iliac vessel injury, managed by endovascular treatment. In the second case, endovascular treatment prevented histological examination of the artery, which would have revealed an alternative diagnosis