A Study in the Developments of the Macro-Structure of Siraiki Dictionaries

The present study investigates and evaluates the macro-structure of the dictionaries of the Siraiki language. The main objective of this research is to explore the strengths and weaknesses of almost all the existing Siraiki dictionaries in the light of the modern postulates of lexicography. This research is of qualitative nature. A check-list of the properties of the macro-structure of dictionaries was prepared following the studies of Hartmann (1983), Bergenholtz and Trap (1995), Béjoint (2000), Hartmann (2001), Landau (2001), Jackson (2002), Bowker (2003) and Ahmad (2009, 2010). Seventeen dictionaries of the Siraiki language were collected from different sources and were analyzed. A list consisting of thirteen properties of the macro-structure of dictionaries was prepared. These dictionaries were divided into two sections: (a) dictionaries compiled before the creation of Pakistan and (b) dictionaries compiled after the creation of Pakistan. The study reported that the dictionaries, published before and after the partition, have been found with many deficiencies regarding their macro-structure. The most important components of the macro-structure of the dictionaries just like guide for user, symbol of pronunciation, encyclopedic note, middle matter, indices, information label and list of defining vocabulary were not entertained by a single dictionary.</p

Factors Leading to Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in Neonates

Background: To determine the factors leading to meconium aspiration syndrome in neonates Methods: In this descriptive study 100 neonates, with complaint of meconium staining of body, vocal cords and / or respiratory distress, whether delivered at home or at hospital, were included. Babies were first diagnosed as a case of meconium aspiration syndrome by meconium staining of body and vocal cords, and / or tachypnea and respiratory distress. They were examined for crepitations in chest on auscultation. Chest X-rays were done of all patients to see infiltrates and hyperinflation. Results: The most frequent factor was birth asphyxia which was predicted by poor APGAR score (40% cases). The other factor was post term pregnancy(30%). &nbsp;Males constituted 58%and 42% were females. One patient (1%) case was preterm and IUGR. While 30% cases were post-term and 69% cases were born by appropriate age.&nbsp; 60% cases were delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery. &nbsp;Commonest complications observed were&nbsp; pneumothorax (15%) and sepsis. Chest X-Ray findings&nbsp; showed infiltrates and hyper expansion in 50% cases. Conclusion: Factors which lead to meconium aspiration syndrome are birth asphyxia, post term pregnancy, maternal diseases, prolong labour and IUG

Global Citizenship Skills among University Students and its Relationship with their Identity Orientation

Major purpose of the current study was to examine the prevalence of global citizenship skills among university students in Pakistan and its relationship with their identity orientations. Three indicators of global citizenship including social responsibility, global competence and global civic engagement were accepted to execute the research objective. The study followed four aspects of identity orientations including personal, social, collective and relational orientations. 324 students enrolled in selected Pakistani public sector universities participated in the study. Aspects of Identity Questionnaire (AIQ-IV) developed by Cheek and Briggs (2013) and global citizenship scale developed by Morais and Ogden (2011) were adapted as research instruments to collected the required data. Results show the prevalence of global civic engagement and social responsibility is comparatively lesser among the participants than other global citizenship skills. The students supported all four types of identity orientations. The study concludes that the four identity orientations have significant and direct associations with major global citizenship skills

Word-Picture Conjunction: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis of Cellular Network Companies Slogans in Pakistan

Word -picture conjunction is an effective mode of communication. Words cannot be understood without pictures and vice versa. The present study investigates how linguistic and meta-linguistic features of cellular network companies are employed to propagate desired ideology to the target audience to win their consent through discursive moves.  The data for the present research has been collected from Mobilink Jazz's slogans. The time span for data collection ranges from year 2015-16. The methodological perspectives used in the present research include Fairclough (1993) model of Critical Discourse Analysis, Barthes' (1974) model of Semiological Discourse Analysis and Kruger's (2000) model of Focus Group Discussion analysis. The data used in the study comprises three modes (linguistic, visual and views of focus group participants). This justifies the use of tri-angular research method employed in the study. The research contends that role of new media has increased communication among the people the world over. Additionally, it finds that new media is one of the best sites for ideological investment because significance of visual and verbal practices has increased many folds.</p

A unified definition of clinical anthracycline resistance breast cancer

The purpose of the study was to determine the response rates (RR) and duration to second- and third-line chemotherapy programmes in patients with anthracycline-resistant breast cancer, utilizing various definitions of anthracycline resistance. This was a retrospective analysis performed on 1335 patients with metastatic breast cancer who participated in consecutive clinical trials of first line, anthracycline-containing combination chemotherapy (ACCC) at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center between July 1973 and April 1980. Anthracycline-resistant groups were identified using definitions of anthracycline resistance found in the literature: progressive disease as best response to ACCC (Group 1, n = 56 patients); progressive disease while receiving ACCC after an intervening response to the drug (Group 2, n = 84); progressive disease within 6 months of last dose of ACCC (Group 3, n = 233); and progressive disease within 12 months of last dose of ACCC (Group 4, n = 272). Second- and third-line therapies administered to these patients included methotrexate, doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, bisantrene, vinblastine, vindesine, melphalan, mitomycin, cisplatin, etoposide and others, but not taxanes. The distribution of patients' characteristics was similar between the four groups, as was the use of second- and third-line regimens. Response rate (RR) to second-line chemotherapy were 5% and 7.7% for Group 1 and Group 2 respectively. In contrast, RR to second-line chemotherapy were 21.6% and 15% for Group 3 and 4. The differences in response rate between the combination of Groups 1 and 2 and Groups 3 or 4 were significant (P = 0.005 and P = 0.04 respectively). These results indicate that strictly defined anthracycline resistance as defined in Groups 1 and 2 is associated with resistance to many other cytotoxic drugs. The definitions used in Groups 3 and 4 include many patients with responsive tumours, and a more favourable prognosis. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig