Use of Discourse Markers by Chinese EFL Professors: A Corpus-Based Study of Academic Lectures by Natives and Non-natives

This paper reports a study that examines the use of discourse markers (DMs) by non-native professors of English in China and compares their use with their counter parts, native professors of English. In this study, six DMs: ‘so, and, but, ok, well and right’ are specifically analyzed as these DMs appear most frequently among the talk of native and non-native professors. Fifteen lectures of five native and non-native professors were recorded and transcribed to build a small corpus of linguistic lectures. The results show that there is good deal of discrepancy in the functional use of DMs by the Chinese professors. Although, non-natives have acquired the use of some DMs like ‘so’, and ‘and’, their use of these DMs is limited and lacks pragmatic functions. Mostly, other DMs like ‘ok, well and right’ are inappropriately used in the talks of Chinese professors. We have studied the professors with highly advanced language skills but the results confirm the previous research which demonstrates that non-native learners of English have limited proficiency in the use of DMs. Based upon the findings; we provide some implications for second language learning in general, and for foreign language teaching in particular. Keywords: Applied Linguistics, Discourse Markers, Teachers’ talk, Foreign Language Teaching, Pragmatic Functions

The UK at the crossroads between a ‘dirty recovery’ and ‘build back better’

More important than whether the recovery will be V or W-shaped is whether it will have sustainability at its core, write Muhammad Ali Nasir and Muhammad Shahba

Climate change, Covid-19, and our existential challenge

Problems of this severity and scope can only be solved through global cooperation, write Muhammad Shahbaz and Muhammad Ali Nasi

Do Exchange Rates Fluctuations Influence Gold Price in G7 Countries? New Insights from a Nonparametric Causality-in-Quantiles Test

In the recent era, gold is considered an essential investment source, a source of hedging inflation, and a medium of monetary exchange. The gold and exchange rate nexus become prominent after events like sovereign debt crisis, subprime mortgage crisis, low-interest rate problem, and global financial market solvency. These events attract the attention of researchers and academician for investigating the dynamics of the relationship between gold and exchange rates, and the majority of the studies discusses the linear dynamics, but the non-linear dynamics are ignored. Therefore, the current research investigates the non-linear dynamics of gold price and exchange rate relationship in G7 countries using the new technique named the nonparametric causality approach. This study uses monthly data from the years 1995(January)-2017 (March). The empirical results show that exchange rate return causes gold prices in four out of G7, especially at the low tails. This study also gives valuable insights for monetary policymakers, gold exporter’s international portfolio managers, and hedge fund managers

Structural Design and Non-linear Modeling of a Highly Stable Multi-Rotor Hovercraft

This paper presents a new design for a Multi-rotor Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). The design is based on the requirement of highly stable hover capability other than typical requirements of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), forward and sidewise motions etc. Initially a typical Tri-rotor hovercraft is selected for modeling and analysis. Then design modifications are done to improve the hover stability, with special emphasis on compensating air drag moments that exist at steady state hover. The modified structure is modeled and dynamic equations are derived for it. These equations are analyzed to verify that our structural modifications have the intended stability improvement effect during steady state hover. Keywords: Multi-rotor Crafts, T-Copter, Rotational Matrix, Pseudo Inertial Matrix, Coriolis Acceleration, Air drag moment, Swash Plat

Exports-Led Growth Hypothesis in Pakistan: Further Evidence

This paper examines the exports-led growth hypothesis using quarterly data from 1990 up to 2008 for Pakistan. In doing so, ARDL bounds testing approach, Error Correction Method (ECM) and Ng-Perron test for integration have been employed. The empirical findings show that exports are positively correlated with economic growth. This confirms the validity of exports-led growth hypothesis in the case of Pakistan both for short run and long span of time. Exchange rate depreciation declines economic growth while running real capital stock improves it

Impact of Lean Management Practices on Operational Performance: An Empirical Investigation from Construction Supply Chain of Pakistan

Construction sector is considered as the backbone for any country, whereas, supply chain has become an essential part of all industries. Thus, the construction supply chain emerged as a new, independent and crucial segment. During the last few decades, this industry has affected greatly in Pakistan due to unfavorable conditions like inflation, political unrest and the war against terrorism. However, various strategy and approaches are available in the literature that helps this industry to tackle the problems by creating efficiency and effectiveness. Lean management is considered a decisive element for every organization; by applying lean approaches, organizations can enhance the performance for not only the manufacturing sector but also service sectors. The aim of this study is to explore the potential benefits of lean approaches (Total Quality Management, Using 5’s Services and Quick Change Over) in the construction supply chain of Pakistan. Questionnaire has been distributed to the construction supply chain of Pakistan by systematic probability sampling. The population of this study consists of listed construction companies in the ‘Pakistan Engineering Council’. Meanwhile, after the screening, 367 responses have been considered and valid for data analysis. The Pearson correlation result indicates that there is strong correlation between Total Quality Management and Operational Performance with r = 0.801. The study performed multiple regressions analysis and found that has a positive impact on the Operational Performance, Using 5S Practices and Quick Change Over. The results revealed that all three approaches positively and significantly enhance. This study will help the organizations to better understand how construction managers can reduce their workload; make their operations more efficient and productive

Some new generalized modular relations

In view of the Rogers-Ramanujan theta function, several researchers have emphasized the subject of integer partitions and their generating functions for years. The work has not dealt with in an inclusive and closed-form by now. Thus, these generating functions are extremely desirable to be developed in a generalized way. In this paper, a novel methodology is proposed to build many new modular relations. By incorporating these new relations, generalized forms of regular partitions in the spirit of Rogers-Ramanujan and G¨ollnitz-Gordon functions with four, six, and nine dissections are established. As an application of these generalized generating functions, an infinite family of new congruences modulo 2 has also been developed.Publisher's Versio

Review of Catalytic Transesterification Methods for Biodiesel Production

Attempts for improving the synthesis procedure of catalysts for fatty acid methyl ester production have been progressing for a considerable length of time. Biodiesel lessens net carbon dioxide emissions up to 78% with reference to conventional fuel. That is the reason for the improvement of new and operative solid catalysts necessary for inexhaustible and efficient fuel production. Homogenous base catalysts for transesterification is risky in light of the fact that its produces soap as byproduct, which makes difficult issues like product separation and not temperate for industrial application. In comparison, heterogeneous process gives higher quality FAME which can be effectively isolated and facilitate costly refining operations that are not required. A focus of this review article is to study and compare various biodiesel synthesis techniques that are being researched. The catalytic strength of numerous heterogeneous solid catalysts (acid and base), specially earth and transition metal oxides were also appraised. It was observed that catalytic proficiency relied upon a few factors, for example, specific surface area, pore size, volume and active site concentration at catalyst surface. This review article will give assistance in assortment of appropriate catalysts and the ideal conditions for biodiesel generation