A Study of Idioms Used in Newspaper Front Page Headlines

The aim of the study is to look for the use of idioms in different Pakistani newspaper headlines of front page. For the conduct of this comparative study a mixed approach was used to collect the data. Purposive sampling was done. Front page headlines of three different Pakistani newspapers containing idioms were shortlisted and the frequency of the use of idioms in a particular use was analyzed. Quantitative research was used to analyze data. It was seen that the idiom of Power and Authority was used at large in Political and Local news, whereas other type of idioms were used less. Keywords: Idioms, Expression, Newspaper, Headlines etc

Robustness of dengue complex network under targeted versus random attack

Dengue virus infection is one of those epidemic diseases that require much consideration in order to save the humankind from its unsafe impacts. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 3.6 billion individuals are at risk because of the dengue virus sickness. Researchers are striving to comprehend the dengue threat. This study is a little commitment to those endeavors. To observe the robustness of the dengue network, we uprooted the links between nodes randomly and targeted by utilizing different centrality measures. The outcomes demonstrated that 5% targeted attack is equivalent to the result of 65% random assault, which showed the topology of this complex network validated a scale-free network instead of random network. Four centrality measures (Degree, Closeness, Betweenness, and Eigenvector) have been ascertained to look for focal hubs. It has been observed through the results in this study that robustness of a node and links depends on topology of the network. The dengue epidemic network presented robust behaviour under random attack, and this network turned out to be more vulnerable when the hubs of higher degree have higher probability to fail. Moreover, representation of this network has been projected, and hub removal impact has been shown on the real map of Gombak (Malaysia)

Nature of complex network of dengue epidemic as a scale-free network

Objectives: Dengue epidemic is a dynamic and complex phenomenon that has gained considerable attention due to its injurious effects. The focus of this study is to statically analyze the nature of the dengue epidemic network in terms of whether it follows the features of a scale-free network or a random network. Methods: A multifarious network of Aedes aegypti is addressed keeping the viewpoint of a complex system and modelled as a network. The dengue network has been transformed into a one-mode network from a two-mode network by utilizing projection methods. Furthermore, three network features have been analyzed, the power-law, clustering coefficient, and network visualization. In addition, five methods have been applied to calculate the global clustering coefficient. Results: It has been observed that dengue epidemic follows a powerlaw, with the value of its exponent γ = –2.1. The value of the clustering coefficient is high for dengue cases, as weight of links. The minimum method showed the highest value among the methods used to calculate the coefficient. Network visualization showed the main areas. Moreover, the dengue situation did not remain the same throughout the observed period. Conclusions: The results showed that the network topology exhibits the features of a scale-free network instead of a random network. Focal hubs are highlighted and the critical period is found. Outcomes are important for the researchers, health officials, and policy makers who deal with arbovirus epidemic diseases. Zika virus and Chikungunya virus can also be modelled and analyzed in this manner. © 2019 The Korean Society of Medical Informatics

China’s Strategic Involvement in Africa and its Regional Implications (1949-2022)

China’s strategic involvement in the African region is multi-faceted as it seeks to bolster economic, political, and security ties. Chinese security and political engagement with African countries are driven by its interest in stimulating its economic rise. This research is qualitative and exploratory in nature and utilizes the concept of strategic culture to analyze the motivations behind Beijing’s interests and behavior in the African continent. Confucian-Mencian and Parabellum form two major strands of Chinese Strategic Culture, making it a unique Cult of Defense. Three important case studies have been analyzed through the prism of the country’s strategic culture, i.e. Chinese economic engagement with one of its largest trading partners― South Africa―, Chinese political engagement in the conflicts of Sudan and South Sudan, and lastly, its security engagement in Djibouti where it established its first foreign military base. Chinese three-dimensional engagements in Africa have had both positive and negative implications for the region. This research concludes that Chinese strategic culture is not static and likely to adapt itself in accordance with the opportunities available for Beijing and its goals in Africa.

Structural Factors Hinder Sustainable Employment of Visually Impaired Persons: A Qualitative Approach

One of the basic rights of human beings is to gain sustainable employment, in which both parties i.e. employee and employer gain mutual benefit. It is the duty of employer and organization to facilitate their visually impaired employees with accessible and comfortable structural factors. The basic aim of this study was to explore “structural factors hinder sustainable employment of visually impaired persons”. Study aimed to investigate the basic objective i.e. exploration of structural factors hinders sustainable employment of visually impaired persons. Study was qualitative in nature. Case study was used as research design. Qualitative research paradigm was used for in-depth study of structural factors hinder sustainable employment of visually impaired persons. The population of this study comprised of visually impaired employees from special education school department and higher education institutions. Sample was selected by using purposive sampling technique. A sample of 15 employees with visual impairment were selected from different educational institutions. A semi-structured interview protocol was used as a research instrument. Interview protocol was validated by field experts. Researcher approached respondents, take their consent and administer semi-structured interview. Interviews were recorded with consent of respondents and field notes were also noted. Thematic analysis technique was used to analyze the qualitative data. It was concluded that visually impaired employees face structural barriers hinder their employment at work place

Two-mode complex network modeling of dengue epidemic in Selangor, Malaysia

There are many examples of complex systems in the world. These systems are very difficult to analyze due to huge number of interacting elements and complex interaction patterns between the elements. These systems can be properly analyzed by converting them into complex networks, where nodes can represent elements of the systems and links depicts the interaction patterns between these elements. Recently, many dengue fever cases are reported in Malaysia which shows the exponential increase of this fever in the country. In this paper we have formalized the dataset of dengue fever cases in Malaysia into two-mode complex network to analyze its impact on the localities. By applying network analysis metrics this research has revealed that few locations have high impact of dengue and they should be treated as critical to minimize the overall impact of spreadin

Enhanced performance of mixed HWMA-CUSUM charts using auxiliary information.

Quality control (QC) is a systematic approach to ensuring that products and services meet customer requirements. It is an essential part of manufacturing and industry, as it helps to improve product quality, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Quality practitioners generally apply control charts to monitor the industrial process, among many other statistical process control tools, and to detect changes. New developments in control charting schemes for high-quality monitoring are the need of the hour. In this paper, we have enhanced the performance of the mixed homogeneously weighted moving average (HWMA)-cumulative sum (CUSUM) control chart by using the auxiliary information-based (AIB) regression estimator and named it MHCAIB. The proposed MHCAIB chart provided an unbiased and more efficient estimator of the process location. The various measures of the run length are used to judge the performance of the proposed MHCAIB and to compare it with existing AIB charts like CUSUMAIB, EWMAAIB, MECAIB (mixed AIB EWMA-CUSUM), and HWMAAIB. The Run length (RL) based performance comparisons indicate that the MHCAIB chart performs relatively better in monitoring small to moderate shifts over its competitor's charts. It is shown that the chart's performance improves with the increase in correlation between the study variable and the auxiliary variable. An illustrative application of the proposed MHCAIB chart is also provided to show its implementation in practical situations

Predictors of Poor Outcome in Hospitalized Chronic Liver Disease Patients.

Abstract BACKGROUND: The tremendous global burden of Chronic Liver disease has been well documented with high mortality rate. Many prognostic models have been developed over the years to help classify the severity of Liver disease and direct the aggressiveness of medical care,(including CTP and MELD scores) but the subjectivity of the variables (ascites and encephalopathy), inter-laboratory variability, and lack of inclusion of comorbids and complications of CLD limited their accuracy. Yet there is much to explore about the impact ..

Advances in stability of perovskite solar cells

Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) with efficiency greater than 25% have shown promising prospects for future green technology. However, exposure to moisture, along with thermal and photo instability are critical issues limiting commercialization of the PSC devices. Indeed, perovskite-provoked instability of PSCs together with decomposition of hole transport layer (HTL) and electron transport layer (ETL) contribute to overall degradation process and hence affecting the performance of the device. Herein, we discuss instability of PSCs in various operating conditions such as UV light, humidity, environmental ingredients and temperature. Furthermore, we report the recent progress towards improvement in long-term stability of PSCs and those efforts include but not limited to introducing new HTLs, engineering of perovskite materials, interfacial modification, electrodes and novel device configurations and behavior of the device under encapsulation and un-encapsulation conditions. Moreover, we also discuss the researcher's efforts to improve the optical, electrical and chemical properties of different layer of PSCs. Additionally, to address the future research directions such as the need to improve the intrinsic stability of the perovskite absorber layer, design architecture of the device, and search for new durable materials are also proposed