CDA as an Approach to Analyze Language Ideologies in Supervisory Meetings

This qualitative case study research set out to look at the concepts of hegemony and power in supervisory meetings centered on the idea of linguistic ideologies. Two BS (English) study supervisees and their supervisors were chosen for the study as two case studies their supervisory meetings were recorded and later transcribed for analysis purpose. The study adopted Halliday’s Systematic Functional Linguistics (SFL) for data collection and Norman Fairclough's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) analytical methodology for the empirical investigation of the concepts of power as well as hegemony in supervision procedures (1989; 2003). The study's findings show how language contributed to the development of power relationships among the study's participants. In research supervisory meetings, language was a significant issue along with educational experience and knowledge that contributed to the development of unequal power relations among the participants. In terms of methodology and supervisory style, case B was slightly different from case A, due to its flexibility. This study suggests a fair and democratic style of supervision that can be beneficial and flexible for participants involved in research supervision regardless of their educational background. Keywords: Critical discourse analysis (CDA), SFL, Power, Research supervision, Hegemony, Language ideologies. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/13-33-13 Publication date: November 30th 202

Assessment of Change Orders Attributes in Preconstruction and Construction Phase

Construction projects are very complex in nature. Each activity involves multiple varying tasks. Construction industry is the main source of economic growth. When change order occur performance of projects momentously affected.  Change orders often have a serious impact on the quality, time and cost. Eventually it results in disputes, delays, and dissatisfactions among stakeholders and ultimately results in failures of projects. In past several studies have been done to evaluate the causes of change order and its effects. Attempts have been made to quantify these impacts by many researchers, but the aim of this study is to identify the causes of change order in two different phases i.e. preconstruction and construction stage. Views were taken from relevant experts over included factors after in-depth literature review from past researches. A questionnaire was made and floated with different construction players from clients, consultants and contractors side. The data was analyzed by SPSS using average index technique. The analysis of data showed that, Mistakes in specifications, Mistakes in design and Lack of experience in selecting construction team by client are the most critical factors during preconstruction phase. Whereas, Design modification by owner, change in scope at later stage and Delays in payment by client are most critical factors of construction phase, responsible for change order. The extensive discussion of these factors revealed various parameters related to Pakistan construction. This study will enable the clients, consultants and contractors to be aware of factors which causes changes in orders and their consequences on project completion. By the identification of possible reasons, the right decisions can be made to mark the project successful

Electricity Consumption and Economic Growth in Kazakhstan: Fresh Evidence from a Multivariate Framework Analysis

This paper visits the relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth by incorporating trade openness, capital and labour in production function using annual data of Kazakhstan. We have applied the ARDL bounds testing and the VECM Granger causality approach to examine long run and causality relationship between the variables. Our results confirm the existence of long run relationship among the series. The empirical evidence reveals that electricity consumption adds in economic growth. Trade openness stimulates economic growth. Capital and labour promote economic growth. The causality analysis finds electricity consumption Granger causes economic growth. The feedback effect exists between Trade and economic growth. This study opens new insights for policy makers to articulate comprehensive economic, trade and energy policy to sustain long run economic growth

Electricity Consumption and Economic Growth in Kazakhstan: Fresh Evidence from a Multivariate Framework Analysis

This paper visits the relationship between electricity consumption and economic growth by incorporating trade openness, capital and labour in production function using annual data of Kazakhstan. We have applied the ARDL bounds testing and the VECM Granger causality approach to examine long run and causality relationship between the variables. Our results confirm the existence of long run relationship among the series. The empirical evidence reveals that electricity consumption adds in economic growth. Trade openness stimulates economic growth. Capital and labour promote economic growth. The causality analysis finds electricity consumption Granger causes economic growth. The feedback effect exists between Trade and economic growth. This study opens new insights for policy makers to articulate comprehensive economic, trade and energy policy to sustain long run economic growth

PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF RED COTTON BUG SPECIES (HEMIPTERA: PYRRHOCORIDAE) IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Traditional techniques for identifying the red cotton bugs Dysdercus koenigii and Dysdercus cingulatus (Pyrrhocoridae: Hemiptera) depend on phenotypic and morphological data. These methods are suitable when species have well-defined structures and when huge taxonomic knowledge is at hand. In this study, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was selected for the molecular identification of D. koenigii and D. cingulatus. The sequence data showed that one species of the red cotton bug sample was identified as Dysdercus koenigii with 35-100% similarity to other Dysdercus species present in the NCBI database, while the other species was identified as Dysdercus cingulatus with 88-94% similarity to other red cotton bugs species present in the NCBI database. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that our     D. koenigii Seq (>180319003-A02-102-DK-.ab1) shares the same cluster with four D. koenigii isolates (ZSI/SRC_I.28B, ZSI/SRC_I.28, GQ306227.1, KJ459924.1). While the D. cingulatus Seq (>180319003-A02-103-DC-.abl) shares a cluster with D. cingulatus voucher (RO_DC2015). This is the first molecular identification of red cotton bugs (D. koenigii and     D. cingulatus) reported in Pakistan. Thus, in the current study, molecular identification has been accepted as a reliable method for the identification of these agriculturally important insect pests

Impact of CSR, Quality of Work Life and Organizational Structure on Employee’s Performance in Pakistan

The trends of organizations are changing and demanding satisfied employees rather than dissatisfied employees. This paper provides factors through which employee’s performance can be increased to achieve organizational goals and objectives. To attract the motivated employees and building relations, CSR can perform for society which will change the thoughts of stakeholders. Quality of work life has impact on organization’s effectiveness which is essential for firms to be healthy and productive. Firms should adopt employee oriented policies which satisfies them to achieve organizational objectives. This study also indicates that effective organizational structure is necessary for improving the performance of employees and the organization. The structure is a source of success or failure because it empowers the employee which will increase the sense of responsibility. For the improvement in the organization and removing stress of the employees management must consider the hygiene factors to motivate the employees. The conceptualized work is conducted which is proved through evidence. For further study statistical analysis can be done for confirmation of the hypothesis

Electricity Consumption, Economic Growth and Trade Openness in Kazakhstan: Evidence from Cointegration and Causality

We investigate the relation between electricity consumption and economic growth by incorporating trade openness, capital, and labor in production function of Kazakhstan using annual data for 1991-2014. We apply the ARDL bounds testing and the VECM Granger causality approach to examine long run and causality relation between the variables. Our results confirm the existence of long run relation among the series. The empirical evidence reveals that electricity consumption adds in economic growth. Trade openness stimulates economic growth, and capital and labor promote economic growth, as well. The causality analysis shows that electricity consumption Granger causes economic growth and trade openness. We also document feedback effect between trade openness and economic growth. Our study provides new insights for policy makers to articulate a comprehensive economic, trade and energy policy to sustain long run economic growth in Kazakhstan

Office blood pressure measurement: A comprehensive review

The conventional auscultatory methods for measuring blood pressure have been used to screen, diagnose, and manage hypertension since long. However, these have been found to be prone to errors especially the white coat phenomena which cause falsely high blood pressure readings. The Mercury sphygmomanometer and the Aneroid variety are no longer recommended by WHO for varying reasons. The Oscillometric devices are now recommended with preference for the Automated Office Blood Pressure measurement device which was found to have readings nearest to the Awake Ambulatory Blood Pressure readings. The downside for this device is the cost barrier. The alternative is to use the simple oscillometric device, which is much cheaper, with the rest and isolation criteria of the SPRINT study. This too may be difficult due to space constraints and the post-clinic blood measurement is a new concept worth further exploration

Structural model of cost overrun factors affecting Pakistani construction projects

Cost overruns are a global challenge to successfully completing construction projects. Cost overrun has a substantial impact resulting in most construction projects failing to be completed. Several factors have contributed significantly to the industry's decline. The factors were discovered in the literature, assessed, and applied to the construction industry in Pakistan. This study scrutinized and identified the relationships between the factors causing cost overruns in the Pakistani construction industry using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach. The structural model was created and tested with Smart-PLS software using data from a questionnaire survey of 131 construction practitioners. Six constructs were used to categorise the factors. The model identifies 21 critical factors in Pakistani construction projects, with resource management ranking first. Contract management issues can also contribute significantly to project cost overruns. Model assessment results indicate that the developed model has a substantial power of explaining the factors of cost performance while R2 value showed that 45.7% variance is explained by the model. The model developed model will serve as a jumping-off point for academics, researchers, and practitioners in developing a cost-control system. It is suggested that establishing an efficient and effective contract management protocol among stakeholders throughout the design and supervision stages is extremely beneficial for improving project cost performance and significantly reducing time overruns