Pathogenicity of two seed-borne fungi commonly involved in maize seeds of eight districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

This study was aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of two mostly prevailing fungal species on maize (Zea maize L.) from different localities of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. Pathogenic fungi deteriorate food grains by producing mycotoxins and aflotoxins during storage consequently shedding menace on its nutritive quality. There were 12 species of mycoflora associated with maize seeds in the analyzed samples. Fusaium and Aspergillus species were the largest group of seed-borne fungal species present in all localities (87.25% and 82.50%, respectively). Fusarium moniliforme causes ear rot, kernel rot, stalk rot, seedling blight, seed rot, wilt and stunt and Aspergillus niger is responsible for rot of stored grain. These species were tested to determine their pathogenicity to maize seed germination and seedlings. Pathogenicity findings depicted that maize variety under cultivation in the area was highly susceptible to these fungal pathogens as Bhimber (61.5%) and Mirpur (60.25%) zones had more prevalence than other areas of AJK (23.5%). Results show that Fusarium moniliforme had 50.2% pathogenicity on seeds and 6.55% on seedlings, whilst Aspergillus niger had 62.87% on seeds and 11.24% on seedlings. These depicts that mycoflora had significant detrimental impacts on seeds and seedling’s life of maize.Keywords: Pathogenicity, seed-borne, mycoflora, maize, germination, Azad KashmirAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(12), pp. 1363-137

An Empirical Study to Evaluate the Impact of Ethical Leadership on Organizational Citizenship and Innovative Behavior: Mediated by Psychological Empowerment at the Workplace: none

Purpose:This study aims to identify the impact of ethical leadership on organizational citizenship behavior and innovative behavior Methodology:The self-explanatory questionnaires were distributed to the real-time employees of the services sector (more specifically university employees) in Pakistan. 350 questionnaires were distributed using the convenience sampling technique and 280 returned fully answered. The response rate was 80 percent. Findings:The findings of the study suggest the strong influence of ethical leadership on organizational citizenship behavior, innovative behavior, and psychological empowerment. Psychological empowerment was studied to have a strong impact on organizational citizenship behavior but a mild impact on innovative behavior. Partial mediation was identified between both the mediation paths of the model. i.e., ethical leadership - organizational citizenship (EL → PE → OCB) and ethical leadership – innovative behavior (EL → PE → IB). Conclusion:It is concluded that organizations must develop ethical leadership approach to maximize the organizational citizenship behavior as well as innovative behavior at the workplace. Moreover, it is also suggested that employers must also consider PE as an essential predictor for developing a culture packed with better citizenship and innovative behavior. Practical Implications: The role of leaders in the services sector is significant to enable members to come up with innovative behaviour and behave more organized and well suited to the organizational culture to make sure they have adopted the hot spots of the organizational citizenship behavior standards at the workplace

Chemically cross-linked poly(acrylic-co-vinylsulfonic) acid hydrogel for the delivery of isosorbide mononitrate.

We report synthesis, characterization, and drug release attributes of a series of novel pH-sensitive poly(acrylic-co-vinylsulfonic) acid hydrogels. These hydrogels were prepared by employing free radical polymerization using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and benzyl peroxide (BPO) as cross-linker and initiator, respectively. Effect of acrylic acid (AA), polyvinylsulfonic acid (PVSA), and EGDMA on prepared hydrogels was investigated. All formulations showed higher swelling at high pHs and vice versa. Formulations containing higher content of AA and EGDMA show reduced swelling, but one with higher content of PVSA showed increased swelling. Hydrogel network was characterized by determining structural parameters and loaded with isosorbide mononitrate. FTIR confirmed absence of drug polymer interaction while DSC and TGA demonstrated molecular dispersion of drug in a thermally stable polymeric network. All the hydrogel formulations exhibited a pH dependent release of isosorbide mononitrate which was found to be directly proportional to pH of the medium and PVSA content and inversely proportional to the AA contents. Drug release data were fitted to various kinetics models. Results indicated that release of isosorbide mononitrate from poly(AA-co-VSA) hydrogels was non-Fickian and that the mechanism was diffusion-controlled

Institutional Climate and Its Impact on Teachers’ Retention: Mediated by Transformational Leadership: A Comprehensive Study of Public Sector Educational Institutions of Pakistan

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of institutional climate on teachers’ retention mediated by transformational leadership. Methodology: A total of 230 participants were randomly selected from public sector educational institutions in Pakistan using a random sampling technique. The study used a quantitative research methodology. Institutional climate has been composed of four sub-variables including recognition of efforts, workplace incivility, career development, and reward management. The data was analyzed using statistical software (SPSS) Findings: The results of the study indicated that there was a significant relationship between institutional climate and teachers’ retention. The findings of the study showed that transformational leadership had a significant impact on teachers’ retention. There has also been identified that there is an existence of mediation in the model which indicates that transformational leadership mediates the relationship between institutional climate and teachers’ retention at public sector universities in Pakistan. Conclusion: The study concludes and recommends that the government should take steps to improve the institutional climate to retain talented teachers. Practical Implications: Teachers' retention is a concern for educational institutions. The findings of this study suggest that leaders who create a supportive and stimulating environment for their employees are more likely to retain them. Leaders can use this information to cultivate a culture of innovation and creativity in their institutions, which in turn, would help to improve teacher retention

Analyzing the mediating role of Brand association for Brand awareness and loyalty

Brands are of top priority and interest for many companies and marketing Professionals. Marketing managers are continuously realizing the power of the brands. In today’s competitive environment measuring the exact association of brands is most desirable goal for the organizations. The aim of research is to test empirically the mediating role of brand association for brand awareness and brand loyalty of customers and non-customers. In order to investigate the mediating role of the brand association for customers and non-customers, primary data were collected through a survey from both customers and non-customers of a mobile phone. Findings of the study confirm the mediating role of the brand association for awareness and loyalty for both customers and non-customers. Statistical Results show that Brand associations mediating role does not differ for customers and non-customers, across the product categories whereas the level of the association influents the level of the loyalty for a product

The study of silicon carbide filled adiprene.

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1977 .M344. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-07, page: . Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1977

STATIC FIELD BREAKDOWN AND CORONA CHARACTERISTICS OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ROD-PLANE GAPS FILLED WITH SULFUR-HEXAFLUORIDE - NITROGEN MIXTURES.

Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1979 .M355. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 40-04, Section: B, page: 1831. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1979

Frequency Estimation Of Single-Tone Sinusoids Under Additive And Phase Noise

We investigate the performance of main frequency estimation methods for a single-component complex sinusoid under complex additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) as well as phase noise (PN). Two methods are under test: Maximum Likelihood (ML) method using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and the autocorrelation method (Corr). Simulation results showed that FFT-method has superior performance as compared to the Corr-method in the presence of additive white Gaussian noise (affecting the amplitude) and phase noise, with almost 20dB difference

Role of Probiotics Saccharomyces Boulardii in The Management of Acute Watery Diarrheas in Children

Objective: To determine role of probiotics saccharomyces Boulardii in management of acute watery diarrhea in children Methods: The study was conducted on 64 children in Bahawal Victoria Hospital’s pediatrics wards in Bahawalpur. This was placebo controlled randomized control trial. Ethical issue was solved by taking permission from the institutional committee. Informed consent from parents or guardians were taken of every child. All children with age from two months to twelve years, who presented with acute watery diarrhea, were recruited by non-probability consecutive sampling and were divided into two groups by lottery method. Group A was treated by recommended WHO protocol plus saccharomyces Boulardii (250mg twice a day orally for three days). Group B was treated with recommended WHO protocol plus placebo. Whole data of study was processed by SPSS volume 23. All the numerical variables in study were statistically calculated and analyzed in their mean values and standard deviation and t test was used to determine the significance. similarly, all qualitative variables in study were analyzed by percentage and frequency and significance were checked by applying chi square test. A significance is considered when p value was <0.05. Results: . The mean age and weight of the patients of group A was 22.25±10.09 months and 8.65±2.84 kg respectively. There were 68.8% (n=22) boys and 31.2% (n=10) girls. While, the mean age and weight of the patients of group B was 25.81±6.75 months and 9.46±2.62 kg respectively. There were 56.2% (n=18) boys and 43.8% (n=14) girls. Bacteria isolated noted as 68.8% (n=22) and 18.8% (n=6) for the group A and B respectively. Mean number of stools reported on d 0, mean number of stools reported on d 3 and duration of diarrhea (d) of the patients of group A was 10.25±1.03, 2.72±1.82 and 3.16±1.80 days respectively. While, the Mean number of stools reported on d 0, mean number of stools reported on d 3 and duration of diarrhea (d) of the patients of group B was 9.33±1.25, 4.66±1.55 and 4.95±1.11 days respectively. The differences were statistically significant among the groups at (p=0.000). Conclusion: Study concluded that use of probiotics saccharomyces Boulardii is significantly associated with reduction of duration and frequency of diarrhea. It should be used with oral rehydration in treating acute watery diarrhea. It can result in early recovery. Key words: saccharomyces Boulardii, diarrhea, children, probiotics