Transformational leadership and innovation at the Lebanese banking industry

Purpose: Transformational leadership (TL) has been recognized as one of the most important factor influencing innovation. It is argued that this style plays an essential role in developing the process, structure and climate for organizations to become innovative. This research aims to examine the impact of TL on two aspects of innovation namely product and process innovation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The quantitative and explanatory analysis was taken by using the Structural equations modeling (SEM) with AMOS 20 to examine the relationship between TL and innovation. Research data were collected through a survey method. The sample result was determined by the probability stratified sampling technique of about 310 employees at 27 banks in Lebanon. Findings: The findings confirmed the importance of TL in enhancing innovation in banking sector. The main implication of the research highlights that individualized consideration is the most important predictor of product and process innovation followed by, inspirational motivation and idealized influence, respectively, whereas, intellectual stimulation has insignificant influence on product and process innovation. Practical Implications: Findings point to how transformational style of leadership produce better outcomes for the banks by mobilizing employees to engage in innovative products and processes. Originality/Value: These findings extends the understanding of the processes through which transformational styles of leadership stimulate innovation, and also highlight the benefits gained by cultivating more transformational styles of leadership to generate more innovative outcomes.peer-reviewe

The effect of transformational leadership on innovation : evidence from Lebanese banks

Purpose: Transformational leadership (TL) has been recognized as one of the most important factor influencing innovation. It is argued that this style plays an essential role in developing the process, structure and climate for organizations to become innovative. This research aims to examine the impact of TL on two aspects of innovation namely product and process innovation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The quantitative and explanatory analysis was taken by using the Structural equations modeling (SEM) with AMOS 20 to examine the relationship between TL and innovation. Research data were collected through a survey method. The sample result was determined by the probability stratified sampling technique of about 310 employees at 27 banks in Lebanon. Findings: The findings confirmed the importance of TL in enhancing innovation in banking sector. The main implication of the research highlights that individualized consideration is the most important predictor of product and process innovation followed by, inspirational motivation and idealized influence, respectively, whereas, intellectual stimulation has insignificant influence on product and process innovation. Practical Implications Findings point to how transformational style of leadership produce better outcomes for the banks by mobilizing employees to engage in innovative products and processes. Originality/Value: These findings extends the understanding of the processes through which transformational styles of leadership stimulate innovation, and also highlight the benefits gained by cultivating more transformational styles of leadership to generate more innovative outcomes.peer-reviewe

Optimized and integrated alignment system for functional proton radiosurgery

In this thesis work, a system for proton beam alignment was studied and optimized in many of its functional areas. The resulting system was named Positioning Alignment Control System (PACS). The PACS system is an integrated and efficient system as a result of the work done on it in the course of this thesis work

Enzymatic Production of Biodiesel from Fats Extracted From Lamb Meat Using Supercritical Co2

Due to the reduction in fossil fuel reserves and associated environmental impacts from using petroleum fuels, biodiesel has been presented as a feasible alternative because it is sustainable and environmentally friendly. In this study, it is proposed to investigate the feasibility of enzymatic production of biodiesel from waste animal fats using supercritical fluid technology for the extraction and reaction. The operating conditions that resulted in the optimum extraction and biodiesel production yield were identified. To the best of my knowledge of the investigators, the waste animal fat extracted by supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) for the production of biodiesel in SC-CO2 media has never been investigated. Waste fat extracted from lamb meat was selected as feedstock for the transesterification reaction using Novozym 435 as a biocatalyst for biodiesel production and SC-CO2 as an extraction solvent and reaction medium. Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis was accomplished using gas chromatography equipped with ionization detector (GC-FID). The effect of temperature in the range of 35-55 °C, pressure in the RANGE OF 300-500 bar and SC-CO2 flow rate in the range of 3-5 ml min-1 on the fat extraction effectiveness and yield were investigated and optimized using response surface methodology. To evaluate the feasibility of using Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) as an alternative extraction method, its fat extraction yield was compared to that using soxhlet extraction. Statistical analysis was done using Minitab 15 software. In addition, the effect of temperature in the range of 35-60°C, methanol molar ratio in the range of 3:1-6:1 and enzyme loading in the range of 10-50%, on reaction rate and yield were also tested. The experimental results were used to fit a suitable reaction kinetic model to estimate the model parameters using non-linear regression analysis. The result indicated that effective SFE requires dry meat sample at moderate temperature. At optimum conditions, the system was capable of extracting up to 87.4% of the total fat content from freeze-dried and grind meat sample at 45°, 500 bars and 3 ml min-1. The statistical analysis indicated that the yield was a function temperature and SC-CO2 flow rate, whereas that extraction pressure showed insignificant effect. Biodiesel production by enzymatic transesterification of extracted lamb meat fat with methanol, using Novozym 435 proved to be of high potential, with a conversion of almost 40%. Effect of reaction conditions and reaction kinetics were investigated. The optimal conditions for transesterification of lamb meat using Novozym 435 in SC-CO2 reaction medium were: 50 °C, 30% loading, 4:1 methanol to fat molar ratio and 25 hr. reaction. When subjected to repeated uses, Novozym 435 showed significant loss in its activity. The experimental results were used to fit simplified model based on Ping Pong Bi Bi with methanol inhibition to determine kinetic parameters using non-linear regression technique

Monitoring of uncultured Dunaliella sp. in an Egyptian solar saltern field based on RuBisCO-encoding gene cbbL

Culture-independent molecular approach was used to explore and evaluate the diversity of Dunaliella species living at the salt field Malahat El-Max Alexandria, Egypt. Bulk genomic DNA was extracted directly from the collected salt water samples. Specific PCR primers and methodology were designed to amplify the gene cbbL, which encodes the large subunit of the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO, EC 4.1.1.39) of only Dunaliella species, from the extracted microbial metagenome. The 700 bp-PCR amplicons were cloned and cbbL clone library was constructed and analyzed by sequencing. Rarefaction curve was saturated at sequence analyses of 23 clones, obtaining 19 phylotypes of Dunaliella cbbL, representing the total composition of Dunaliella in the collected sample. All recorded phylotypes had the known deduced amino acid cbbL motive sequence and catalytic sites. Fingerprint sequence, characterizing Dunaliella cbbL, was recorded. The cbbL phylotypes were grouped into two distinct phylogenetic clusters. The cluster 1, consisting of 18 current  cbbL phylotypes was rooted with a cluster containing cbbLs of Dunaliella salina, Dunaliella bioculata, Dunaliella primolecta and Dunaliella tertiolecta. The single phylotype, uncultured Dunaliella ElMax.3, forming cluster 2, showed a unique phylogenetic lineage in the evolution of Dunaliella cbbL. This study introduced the first functional gene markers for exploring Dunaliella species in salt waters without culture.Keywords: Uncultured Dunaliella, RuBisCO cbbL, solar saltern water, diversity.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(34), pp. 5361-536

Chemical Composition of the Temporal Gland Secretion of an Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

The non-volatile chemical constituents of a temporal gland secretion of a male Asian elephant are reported for the first time, and they seem to be different, in part, from those of the African elephant

Technology-Independent Algorithm for Collision Warning System at Semi-Controlled Intersections

Most of the collision warning systems that are available in the automotive market are mainly designed to detect imminent rear-end and/or lane-departure collisions. So far, no collision warning system is commercially available to detect imminent angle and turning collisions at semi-controlled intersections where the driver of a vehicle attempts to depart a minor road (controlled by a stop sign) to turn right, to turn left, or to cross an uncontrolled major road. One of the major causes for collisions at non-signalized intersections is the human error and misjudgment of the driver of the minor-road vehicle. Therefore, using a properly-designed collision warning system will have the potential to reduce, or even eliminate, this type of collision by reducing human error. This paper introduces a technology-independent algorithm for a collision warning system that can detect imminent collisions at semi-controlled intersections. The system utilizes commercially-available detectors to detect the approaching vehicles on the major road and calculate their speeds, accelerations, and rates of change of acceleration to estimate the time required to reach the intersection. The time required by the minor-road vehicle to clear the intersection is modeled as a function of driver and vehicle characteristics. By comparing the two times, the system displays a message for the driver of the minor-road vehicle when the departure maneuver is safe. An application example is provided to illustrate the proposed algorithm

Development of New and Improved Driver-sensitive Car-following Model

One of the important components of traffic simulation models is a car-following model that describes the driver behaviour in a car-following situation. The existing car-following models have some limitations that may adversely affect the performance of in-vehicle rear-end collision warning systems. This paper presents a car-following model that addresses some limitations of the existing models. The proposed model considers the variations in the drivers’ perception-reaction time and the effect of the front and back vehicles in the car-following situation. The proposed model explicitly considers the driver’s age and gender in car-following modeling. Actual vehicle tracking data obtained from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration were used to calibrate and validate the proposed model. The results of the proposed model in terms of replicating actual speed and spacing profiles of the following vehicle are promising

Efficient Processes for Power Generation and Energy Storage

Finite fossil fuels reserves and unprecedented carbon dioxide levels warrant the need for efficient energy utilization and/or carbon free energy sources. This dissertation addresses the aforementioned issue and provides two solutions. 1) An efficient Natural Gas (NG) based Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power plant equipped with near 100% carbon dioxide capture. The power plant uses a unique refrigeration based process to capture and liquefy carbon dioxide from the SOFC exhaust. Here, carbon dioxide is captured and condensed at different pressure levels by contacting the gas stream with liquid carbon dioxide reflux generated at higher pressure. The uncondensed gas mixture, comprising of relatively high purity unconverted fuel, is recycled to the SOFC and found to boost up the power generation of the SOFC by 22%, when compared to a stand alone SOFC. If Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is available at the plant gate, then the refrigeration available from its evaporation is used for carbon dioxide Capture and Liquefaction (CO2CL). If NG is utilized, then a Mixed Refrigerant (MR) vapor compression cycle is utilized for CO2CL. Alternatively, the necessary refrigeration can be supplied by evaporating the captured liquid carbon dioxide at a lower pressure, which is then compressed to supercritical pressures for pipeline transportation. From rigorous simulations, the power generation efficiency of the proposed processes is found to be 70-76% on a lower heating value (LHV) basis. The benefit of the proposed designs is evident from the similar efficiency (73%) achieved by a conventional SOFC-Gas Turbine power plant without carbon dioxide capture. The refrigeration based process that capture and liquefy carbon dioxide is also found to be applicable for capturing and liquefying carbon dioxide from flue gases other than SOFC. An oxygen based Natural Gas Combined Cycle (oxy-fuel NGCC) process is developed and tested to implement the above mentioned capture process. The power generation efficiency here is estimated to be near 49% with almost 98% liquid carbon dioxide recovery. 2) Efficient means of using intermittent renewable energy such as solar for baseload applications with dense large-scale energy storage. Unique carbon recirculation cycles are developed for this purpose. Here, during the period of renewable energy availability, a suitable carbon molecule is synthesized from the stored liquid carbon dioxide and then stored in a liquid state. Subsequently, when renewable energy is unavailable, the carbon molecule is oxidized to deliver electricity and carbon dioxide is recovered and liquefied for storage. Eexergy based metrics are introduced to systematically identify candidate carbon molecules for the cycle. Such a search provides us the trade-off between the exergy stored per carbon atom, exergy used to synthesize the molecule and the exergy stored per unit volume. While no carbon molecule simultaneously has the most favorable values for all three metrics, favorable candidates identified include methane, methanol, propane, ethane and dimethyl ether. For cases where the molecule to be stored is gaseous under ambient conditions, we suggest synergistic integration between liquefaction and boilup of this gas and that of recirculating carbon dioxide. This unique feature allows for minimizing the energy penalty associated with the recovery, purification and liquefaction of carbon dioxide and storage of carbon molecules. Using process simulations we show that these cycles have a potential to provide GWh of electricity corresponding to an overall energy storage efficiency of 53-58% at much reduced storage volumes compared to other options

The productivity of #Ness and +ity

The theme of this paper is associated with word -formation rules that deal with productivity; however, the main discussion will be limited to morphological productivity. If a WFR is productive, then the native speaker can produce and understand new words. The productivity of two nominal suffixes, #ness and +ity, when attached to adjectives ending in Xal, Xar and Xic is the main issue of this research. The question deals with the derivation of nouns from adjectives and how productive these nominal suffixes are; even though there are pragmatic restrictions on word lengths and whether the process in question is actually that of suffixation or prefixation