The Impact of Switch Leadership on Project Success: Empirical Evidence from UAE

This research project documents an empirical analysis of the switch leadership in project management practices in U.A.E. This is an examination study for which 50 projects were studied representing in U.A.E. The main objective of this research is to study the project leadership phenomenon whereas the impact of switch leadership that plays a pivotal role in achieving project success whiles the inclusion of project manager’s experience. Since the U.A.E has a diverse working environment and it is multicultural research study that represents the present day project environment in U.A.E. The results from the analysis of data obtained through questionnaires, which further explores the degree of impact of switch leadership between distinctive leadership styles and project success and also it was discovered that project manager’s experience does not significantly moderates the relationship between switch leadership and project success. At the end the researcher provides suggestive recommendations for switch in leadership styles displaying the impact on project success

Thermo-Mechanical Structural Response of Profiled Metal-Faced Insulating Sandwich Panels

Metal-faced insulating sandwich panels (MFISPs) typically consist of two cold-formed thin metal face sheets which may be flat, lightly, or heavily profiled with an intermediate thick insulating layer made from rigid or flexible polymer foam core. This thesis investigates the thermo-mechanical structural response of such panels under typical summer conditions that incorporate the effects of high temperatures, thermal cycles, and lateral loading with a particular emphasis on their local buckling (wrinkling) behaviour. In the first phase of the thesis, the effects of sustained high temperatures and thermal cycles on the mechanical properties of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam core were examined through a comprehensive experimental investigation on small-scale sandwich specimens. A total of 117 specimens were cut from metal-faced sandwich panels with EPS core and were exposed to different numbers of thermal cycles and/or sustained high temperatures. The specimens were then loaded under compression, tension, and four-point bending for evaluating the degradation of the mechanical properties of the foam. The thermal cycles reflect typical surface temperature during daily summer conditions in Australia, with a cycle period of 24 hours each and with a temperature varying between 24°C to 80°C. Although the ambient temperature in most hot summer conditions is around 40°C, the temperature of metal surface exposed to sunlight depends on its color and reflectivity and can reach up to 80°C. The results show that the modulus of elasticity of EPS foam in compression reduced by about 38% after exposure to thermal cycles for 45 days, whereas the tensile and shear moduli reduced by about 5.7% and 13.8%, respectively. Exposure to sustained high temperature after thermal cycles led to larger degradation of the elastic and shear moduli in the range of 38%-50%. These degradations can lead to early failures in applications that rely on the EPS foam as a structural component like in MFISPs. In the second phase, an experimental and numerical investigation of the influence of sustained and cyclic temperatures on the thermo-mechanical response of MFISPs under lateral pressure was carried out. A total of 20 full-scale panels made with two different thicknesses were tested under instantaneous loading at ambient conditions as well as under various combinations of sustained high temperatures, thermal cycles, and loading. The panels were 3.25 m long by one meter wide with a core thickness of 50 mm or 75 mm. The load was applied through a vacuum chamber whereas thermal blankets were used for sustained and cyclic thermal exposure of the panels. Each thermal cycle entails 24 hours of time duration with a temperature range between 20⁰C to 80⁰C. The results show a consistent reduction in the initial stiffness, local buckling pressure, and strength of the panels when they were loaded at high temperatures. These reductions were more substantial (up to 24%) under the combined effects of high temperature (80⁰C), 45 thermal cycles, and loading. The study also shows that the thickness of the foam core can play an important role in controlling the local buckling capacity and strength of MFISPs. The numerical investigation is based on the development of a nonlinear 3D finite element (FE) model using the commercially available software ABAQUS. The FE results are in relatively good agreement with the test results. The numerical results provide further insights into the structural response and explain certain aspects that could not be obtained from the test results. Numerical investigation of the structural response of continuous panels is also conducted. The results show that the critical failure mode of continuous profiled MFISPs when subjected to uplifting (suction) wind pressure is local buckling at intermediate supports followed by steel yielding. Moreover, the thermal exposures combined with a wind load significantly affect the structural performance of the continuous sandwich panels. The strength of these panels is reduced by about 17.5% under the combined effects of high temperature (80⁰C), 45 thermal cycles, and uplifting pressure. Finally, a simplified FE modeling approach is proposed to estimate the local buckling pressure of MFISPs. Within the proposed approach, only the face sheet under compression is modeled; thus avoiding the need to perform a full 3D structural analysis. The working assumption is that the relative deflection of the buckled face against the face under tension (unbuckled face) can be modeled by the use of a two-parameter elastic foundation approach. The elastic foundation is simulated by closely spaced horizontal and vertical springs that model the rigidities of the foam core. Two models are used to determine the elastic foundation properties. The simplified approach is validated through comparison with 3D analyses of full sandwich panels, and through comparison with available experimental results from the literature and the test results generated in this study. The results reveal that the proposed approach can be applied to all types of MFISPs (flat or heavily profiled) with a variety of foam cores and thicknesses of the face sheet. This modeling approach is also applied to investigate the effects of various parameters including the height of the profiling region, spacing of profiling ribs, length of the panel, thickness and modulus of the foam core, and thickness of the profiled face sheet, on the local buckling capacity of profiled MFISPs. It was found that all the above-mentioned parameters play important roles in controlling the buckling capacity of the panel. However, the slenderness ratio of the panel is the most dominant parameter among all. Furthermore, the influence of debonding at the face-core interface was investigated numerically and showed a substantial reduction in the local buckling pressure and strength of profiled MFISPs. Based on the results presented in this thesis, it can be concluded that typical environmental conditions like sustained and cyclic temperatures combined with wind load can significantly affect the strength of profiled MFISPs. Given that such panels are typically used for roofing in the construction industry, where the combination of the above-mentioned loads are inevitable at certain regions, the results presented in this thesis are recommended for consideration in their design. The simplified FE approach presented in this work, as well as, the full FE analysis provide the numerical tools required to predict the local buckling and strength of such panels

Current Standing and Future Challenges of Dairying in Pakistan: A Status Update

Pakistan is considered among the leading raw milk producing countries. Unlike the production systems in the developed countries, milk production systems in Pakistan represent smallholding with subsistence- or market-oriented-level farming followed by peri-urban or commercial-level farming. Historically, dairy sector has been owned and managed by the private sector. During the past two decades, new initiatives have been taken because of the active involvement of corporate private sector. These efforts have resulted in improvements like enlargement of herds and import of high-quality milk germ plasm, the productivity per animal, milk collection, processing and marketing, the supply of dairy inputs (machinery, equipment, feeds, semen, and elite dairy animals), and farmers knowledge, and skills on modern management practices. Conclusively, the dairy sector is performing at some sustainable level to meet the food requirements of the growing population and helping save a handful of foreign exchange. Yet, challenges like local replacements of high genetic potential dairy animals, health hazards of β-casein proteins, antibiotics and aflatoxins, and uneconomical operational costs facing the dairy industry in the near future need to be addressed. The main objective of this chapter is to identify the current trends in dairy industry of Pakistan and describe those factors, which can influence the sustainability and profitability of dairying in the near future

Ground water quality of selected areas of Punjab and Sind Provinces, Pakistan: Chemical and microbiological aspects

The assessment of groundwater is essential for the estimation of suitability of water for safe use. An attempt has been made to study the groundwater of selected areas of Punjab (Sheikhupura & Sahiwal) and Sindh (Sindh, Jawar Dharki and Dharki), Pakistan. The results indicate that pH, color and odor were all within limits of WHO that is pH ranges 6.5–8.5, colorless and odorless respectively. The high values of suspended solids were observed in the Sindh-1 and Dharki samples. Microbiologically only Sahiwal and Jawar Dharki were found fit for drinking purpose. Trace metals analysis of Sheikhupura-1 and Sindh-1 has showed that they do not fall within limits of WHO for Iron. The ionic concentration analysis showed that high bicarbonate (HCO3-), ions are present in the samples of Sahiwal and Dharki; Sindh-1 and Jawar Dharki samples have showed very high concentration for chloride ions, all samples were satisfactory level for sulphate (SO42-), sodium, magnesium and phosphate ions except samples of Sindh-1 and Jawar Dharki. High concentration of calcium and potassium ions noticed in samples of Sindh-1 while all samples were found fit for drinking purposes in respect of nitrate, nitrite and ammonium ions. The high concentration of Fluoride was found only in Sheikhupura-2 samples

Synchronization of N-Non-Linear Slave Systems with Master System Using Non-Adaptive and Adaptive Coupled Observers

Synchronization of N-slave chaotic systems with a master system is a challenging task, particularly in recent times. In this paper, a novel methodology is proposed for synchronizing the N number of slave systems with a master system. The proposed methodology is based on coupled adaptive synchronous observers. The difference between the corresponding states of master and slave systems is converged to the origin by means of a novel feedback control scheme to achieve synchronization between the master and slave systems. The efficacy of the proposed methodology is verified through a simulation of FitzHugh–Nagumo non-linear systems in MATLAB. The simulation results validate and prove claims, and these systems are successfully synchronized by CCS and CCAS observer-based control

Disclosure of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Serostatus to the Patient; Issues for Laboratory Staff

Background: The disclosure of positive HIV status to a patient is not an easy task. In the developed world with established protocols for doing this, it becomes relatively simpler to present the results to the patient. In underdeveloped countries like Pakistan, it is not easy for the laboratory personnel in particular to convey such results to the patient.  Case Presentation: The problem has been discussed in the light of two cases presenting to Shalamar Teaching Hospital. The first case is an example of “Provider referral” and the second one the “Self-referral”. At the end, recommendations are made to effectively handle the situation in an underdeveloped setup like Pakistan. Discussion: Complete knowledge of the disease is an essential requirement for anybody from the pathology department contemplating this responsibility. In addition, all communications should be in the local language and the counselor must be able to address all the questions/concerns raised by the patients and/or their families. The counselor learns the skill more through supervised training rather than a taught course.  Conclusion: This responsibility should be accepted only if the laboratory staff has no other option

Is Natural Resource Abundance a Stimulus for Financial Development in the USA?

This paper investigates the stimulating role of natural resource abundance in financial development for the case of the USA over the period of 1960-2016. We included education, economic growth and capitalization as additional determinants of financial development in finance demand function. Thus, we applied traditional and recent unit root tests, accommodating unknown structural breaks in the series for examining the unit root properties of the variables. To examine cointegration between the variables, we apply the Bayer-Hanck cointegration approach. The robustness of cointegration relationship is tested by applying the bounds testing approach to cointegration. The empirical results show the presence of cointegration between financial development and its determinants. In the long run, we observe that natural resource abundance contributes to financial development. Education has a positive impact on financial development. A positive relationship exists between economic growth and financial development. Capitalization is inversely linked with financial development. The causality analysis reveals a feedback effect between natural resource abundance and financial development i.e. natural resource abundance causes financial development; in turn, financial development Granger causes natural resource abundance. This empirical evidence provides new insights for policy makers to use natural resource abundance as an economic tool to improve the performance of financial sector by considering the role of economic growth and education

Is Natural Resource Abundance a Stimulus for Financial Development in the USA?

This paper investigates the stimulating role of natural resource abundance in financial development for the case of the USA over the period of 1960-2016. We included education, economic growth and capitalization as additional determinants of financial development in finance demand function. Thus, we applied traditional and recent unit root tests, accommodating unknown structural breaks in the series for examining the unit root properties of the variables. To examine cointegration between the variables, we apply the Bayer-Hanck cointegration approach. The robustness of cointegration relationship is tested by applying the bounds testing approach to cointegration. The empirical results show the presence of cointegration between financial development and its determinants. In the long run, we observe that natural resource abundance contributes to financial development. Education has a positive impact on financial development. A positive relationship exists between economic growth and financial development. Capitalization is inversely linked with financial development. The causality analysis reveals a feedback effect between natural resource abundance and financial development i.e. natural resource abundance causes financial development; in turn, financial development Granger causes natural resource abundance. This empirical evidence provides new insights for policy makers to use natural resource abundance as an economic tool to improve the performance of financial sector by considering the role of economic growth and education

Acute toxicity study of a polysaccharide based hydrogel from linseed for potential use in drug delivery system

Linseed hydrogel (LSH) was evaluated by acute toxicity for its potential application in oral drug delivery design. White albino mice and rabbits were divided in four groups (I–IV) and different doses of LSH (1, 2 and 5 g/kg body weight) were given except to the control group (I) that was left untreated. Rabbits were monitored for eye irritation, acute dermal toxicity and primary dermal irritation, whereas, body weight, food and water consumption, hematology and clinical biochemistry, gross necropsy and histopathology of vital organs were scrutinized in mice. LSH was considered safe after eye irritation test as no adverse signs or symptoms were seen in the eye. In dermal toxicity and irritation study, skin of treated rabbits was found normal in color without any edema or erythema. After oral administration, there was no sign of any abnormalities in treated group animals (II–IV). The hematology and clinical biochemistry of treated group animals was comparable with the control group. Histopathology of vital organs has not shown any lesion or abnormalities. In the light of these outcomes, it can be concluded that LSH is not a hazardous biomaterial and could be incorporated as an excipient in oral and dermal preparations