Improving Organizational Performance Through HRM-line Partnership: A Case of Higher Education Sector of Pakistan

In todays’ knowledge economy, the organizations focus on creating value through their most valuable resources i.e. human resource. For an effective management of human capital, a healthy partnership between HRM function and the line managers (heads of other departments/sections) is essential. Such type of partnership can augment the strategic success at different levels of organization. The main focus of this study is to evaluate how the partnership of line managers and HR managers in managing different HRM activities help a firm to achieve competitive advantage. The data was collected through the departments/section heads of public sector universities of Pakistan. The results indicate that when line managers actively participate in managing the HRM function of an organization, it yielded improved organizational outcomes. Therefore, the results of this study have an important implication for the managers of higher education institutes to devise mechanism to involve the line managers in managing HRM activities and thereby achieve higher performance outcomes in higher education sector of Pakistan

Synthesis of visible light driven TiO2 coated carbon nanospheres for degradation of dyes

Herein, we report the successful synthesis of visible light driven metal doped TiO2 coated carbon nanospheres (CNS) via a facile hydrothermal approach. The synthesized materials were characterized by standard analytical techniques, such as XRD, SEM-EDS-mapping, TEM, FTIR, PL, Raman and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The effect of dopants on the band gap energy, crystallite size and photocatalytic properties of the TiO2 coated CNS was investigated systematically. The incorporation of dopants in TiO2 matrix found to significantly extend the absorption edge toward visible region and efficient separation of charge carriers on excitation. The photodegradation of two different organic dyes were investigated to evaluate the activity of the photocatalyst under different conditions such as dopant percentage, catalyst dose, different quenchers and calcination temperature. The best photocatalytic activity was observed with 3.0% Ce, doped TiO2 coated CNS with 1.5gL-1 concentration calcined at 400°C. We also performed the antibacterial activity of pure and doped-TiO2 coated CNS against pathogenic gram negative and gram positive bacteria. The doped-TiO2 coated CNS exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against both bacteria

To identify the features differentiating peritoneal tuberculosis from carcinomatosis on CT scan abdomen taking omental biopsy as a gold standard

OBJECTIVE: To differentiate peritoneal tuberculosis from carcinomatosis on computed tomography scan of abdomen, taking omental biopsy as the gold standard.. METHODS: This retrospective diagnostic accuracy review of cases was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised patient\u27s medical record files from February 2007 to February 2016. Computed tomography scan findings were compared with diagnosis made on the basis of histopathology. Multiple logistics regression analysis was done and sensitivity and specificity were tested through Pearson chi square test. RESULTS: Of the 98 patients identified, 62(63.2%)were found to be cases of disseminated tuberculosis and 36(36.7%) were diagnosed as malignant on histopathology. Computed tomography features were significantly specific to differentiate abdominal tuberculosis from carcinomatosis (p=0.004). On computed tomography,4 findings showed statistical significance: Smooth thickening of the peritoneum (p\u3c0.001), abdominal mass (p=0.03), lymph node necrosis (p=0.024) and high-density ascitic fluid (p\u3c0.001). Out of these, smooth thickening of the peritoneum (sensitivity=77%; specificity=86.1%) and high-density ascitic fluid (sensitivity=68.9%; specificity=72.2%) were more specific findings. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography was found to be 88.5% and 83.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although no single finding on a computed tomography scan was diagnostic proof of peritoneal tuberculosis, a combination of findings could reliably distinguish between peritoneal tuberculosis and carcinomatosis

Computing Graph Descriptors on Edge Streams

Feature extraction is an essential task in graph analytics. These feature vectors, called graph descriptors, are used in downstream vector-space-based graph analysis models. This idea has proved fruitful in the past, with spectral-based graph descriptors providing state-of-the-art classification accuracy. However, known algorithms to compute meaningful descriptors do not scale to large graphs since: (1) they require storing the entire graph in memory, and (2) the end-user has no control over the algorithm's runtime. In this paper, we present streaming algorithms to approximately compute three different graph descriptors capturing the essential structure of graphs. Operating on edge streams allows us to avoid storing the entire graph in memory, and controlling the sample size enables us to keep the runtime of our algorithms within desired bounds. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed descriptors by analyzing the approximation error and classification accuracy. Our scalable algorithms compute descriptors of graphs with millions of edges within minutes. Moreover, these descriptors yield predictive accuracy comparable to the state-of-the-art methods but can be computed using only 25% as much memory.Comment: Extension of work accepted to PAKDD 202

In silico mutation analysis of human beta globin gene in sickle cell disease patients

Background: Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell conditions make a different form of hemoglobin a called hemoglobin S. Sickle cell conditions are inherited from parents in much the same way as blood type, hair color and texture, eye color and other physical traits. Sickle cell disease occurs due to a single mutation on the b-globin gene, namely, a substitution of glutamic acid for valine at position 6 of the b chain. Several mutations in HBB gene can cause sickle cell disease. Abnormal versions of beta-globin can distort red blood cells into a sickle shape. The sickle-shaped red blood cells die prematurely, which can lead to anemia. The study is focused on analysis of HBB gene with its different variants, Evolutionary pathways and protein domains by using various bioinformatics tools.Methods: The study is focused on analysis of HBB gene with its different variants, Evolutionary pathways and protein domains by using various bioinformatics tools.Results: Sickle cell disease occurs due to a single mutation on the b-globin gene, namely, a substitution of glutamic acid for valine at position 6 of the b chain. Several mutations in HBB gene can cause sickle cell disease. Abnormal versions of beta-globin can distort red blood cells into a sickle shape. Comparative study shown 38 different genes with little genetic variation among different species.Conclusion: Studies suggested that there is need to maintain a primary prevention program to detect sickle cell disease at earlier stages despite having a large high risk. Preventive diagnosis and follow-up would reduce infant mortality by preventing the development of severe anemia as well as dangerous complications. In short, sickle cell disease surveillance would avert loss of life, measured as the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death.

Cellular Signaling Pathways in Insulin Resistance-Systems Biology Analyses of Microarray Dataset Reveals New Drug Target Gene Signatures of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic and metabolic disorder affecting large set of population of the world. To widen the scope of understanding of genetic causes of this disease, we performed interactive and toxicogenomic based systems biology study to find potential T2DM related genes after cDNA differential analysis. Methods: From the list of 50-differential expressed genes (p < 0.05), we found 9-T2DM related genes using extensive data mapping. In our constructed gene-network, T2DM-related differentially expressed seeder genes (9-genes) are found to interact with functionally related gene signatures (31-genes). The genetic interaction network of both T2DM-associated seeder as well as signature genes generally relates well with the disease condition based on toxicogenomic and data curation. Results: These networks showed significant enrichment of insulin signaling, insulin secretion and other T2DM-related pathways including JAK-STAT, MAPK, TGF, Toll-like receptor, p53 and mTOR, adipocytokine, FOXO, PPAR, P13-AKT, and triglyceride metabolic pathways. We found some enriched pathways that are common in different conditions. We recognized 11-signaling pathways as a connecting link between gene signatures in insulin resistance and T2DM. Notably, in the drug-gene network, the interacting genes showed significant overlap with 13-FDA approved and few non-approved drugs. This study demonstrates the value of systems genetics for identifying 18 potential genes associated with T2DM that are probable drug targets. Conclusions: This integrative and network based approaches for finding variants in genomic data expect to accelerate identification of new drug target molecules for different diseases and can speed up drug discovery outcomes

CdS Decorated on Hierarchically Structured Single Crystal TiO2 Nanosheets for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical H2 Generation

Abstract Single crystal anatase TiO2 nanosheets (TNS) were grown on a fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate and then modified via multiple TiCl4 treatments to produce a hierarchical TiO2 structure. This high surface area hierarchical structure was then decorated with CdS (as a visible light absorber) using SILAR treatments. The resulting photoanodes provide a greatly enhanced photoelectrochemical H2 generation capability. For the optimized TiO2 and CdS decorated TNS electrode, a photocurrent magnitude of 3.5mA/cm2 at 0.5V Ag/AgCl (under AM 1.5G, 100mW/cm2) was obtained, and an applied bias to photoconversion efficiency (ABPE) of 2.5% could be reached. The increase in the specific surface was provided by the hierarchical TiO2 structure responsible for the improved performance in comparison to the plain, non‐hierarchical electrode with an ABPE=0.8%. Even after particle decoration, the rapid electron flow through the single‐crystalline scaffold was maintained. Consequently, the photoanode presented here best integrates in a synergistic manner, a larger surface area, a fast electron transport, and effective visible light harvesting properties