An Investigation into the Farm Households Consumption Patterns in Punjab, Pakistan

In the present study, the consumption data of paddy and wheat growing farm households were analysed using the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model, incorporating the household composition in addition to the usual price/income variables. Although the general restrictions of demand theory were rejected, the overall results were not seriously out of line of a priori expectations. All the own-price elasticities were negative and most of them were significant. Paddy and wheat were found to be gross complements in consumption whereas meat and pulses emerged as gross substitutes. Dairy products and meat were regarded as luxuries by the sample farm households and expenditure on these items was curtailed in response to any addition to household size. Significant quantitative dietary impacts were found associated with change in the age composition of farm households. A more detailed analysis of consumption behaviour of rural families may be merited; this may explore alternative groupings of consumption goods, additional socio-economic factors or use of panel data.

Designing an e-Model for Open and Distance Learning in Pakistan

This descriptive research focused on designing an e-model for open and distance learning (ODL) in Pakistan. After studying various e-models, blended learning and issues relating to ODL in Pakistan, the researcher designed and executed an e-model on a group of students. The researcher designed and offered online Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) offered by Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Islamabad, Pakistan. The participants’ feedback supported e-model as a solution to their problems which they were facing in traditional ODL programs. The online courses improved their learning, reduced their expenses incurred on attending tutorials, improved tutor-students and student-student interaction. Keywords: e-learning, open and distance learning, English language teachin

Emotional Intelligence and Language Competence: A Case Study of the English Language Learners at Taif University English Language Centre

Variation in general abilities of human beings gave birth to the concept of intelligence. Since 1990, when for the first time emotional intelligence was introduced, it has become a buzzword in many fields including education, management studies, and artificial intelligence. Within the context of foreign language learning, it is being applied in educational institutions for language competence. An empirical study was conducted on English language learners at Taif University English Language Centre (TUELC) to find out relationship between their Emotional Intelligence (EI) and language competence. For this study, a group of 200 (male and female) students were selected randomly studying English at the undergraduate level. Data collected through EI Inventory was matched with their academic achievement in English language based on assessment of four skills. The result revealed a close relationship between EI and language competence of undergraduate students at TUELC and EI also affects students’ English language competence

Adoption and Impacts of Zero-Tillage in the Rice-Wheat Zone of Irrigated Punjab, Pakistan

This study documents the adoption and impacts of zero-tillage (ZT) wheat in the ricewheat systems of Pakistan’s Punjab province primarily drawing on a detailed empirical survey of 458 rice-wheat farmers. Our random stratified sample revealed 19% to be ZT wheat adopters and a similar share of the wheat area in the surveyed communities to be under ZT. The study suggests that diffusion has stagnated and also flags the issue of disadoption (14%). ZT adopters, non-adopters, and disadopters differ significantly in terms of their resource bases, with adopters typically showing the most favorable values. ZT drastically reduces tractor operations in farmers’ ZT wheat fields from an average of 8 passes to a single pass, implying a saving of 7 tractor hours and 35 liters of diesel per hectare. ZT did not have any significant effect on the mean farmer estimated wheat yield of 3.3 tons per hectare. ZT also had no significant effect on water productivity for wheat or spillover effect on the subsequent rice crop. ZT primarily appears to be a cost-saving technology for wheat in Pakistan’s Punjab. Based on these findings, the study provides a number of recommendations for research and development in Pakistan Punjab’s rice-wheat systems.Wheat, Rice, Agricultural development, Drilling equipment, Economic analysis, Innovation adoption, Farming systems, Cropping patterns, Production costs, Zero tillage, Pakistan, Crop Production/Industries, E16, F08,

The Role of E-Recruitment in Attracting Potential Candidates: Evidence from Fresh Graduate Job Seekers

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of an online recruitment system and its impact on organizational attraction towards fresh graduate job seekers. A sample, comprised of 302 fresh graduate job seekers from the HEC recognized well known business schools in the Lahore region, selected by Stratified Random Sampling through a questionnaire. Since the data was not normal, the Kruskill Wallis test of mean differences was applied. Furthermore, the Macro process tool for Regression analysis was used to investigate the matter of cost effectiveness, ease of use and site quality. It is concluded that E-Recruitment has a positive impact on organizational attraction. However, results also conclude that this positive relation between E-Recruitment and organizational attraction depends on the quality of the recruitment website. So, this study provides useful information for organizations seeking to adopt an E-Recruitment system to attract potential job seekers while concentrating on the quality of the websites. KEYWORDS: Recruitment, E-Recruitment, Cost Effectiveness, Easy to Use, Site quality, Organizational Attraction

Requirement Elicitation Model (REM) in the Context of Global Software Development

Contxext Requirement elicitation is difficult and critical phase of requirement engineering and the case is worst in global software development GSD The study is about requirement elicitation in the context of GSD Objective Development of requirement elicitation model REM which can address the factors that have positive impact and the factors that have negative impact during elicitation in GSD The propose model will give solutions and practices to the challenges during elicitation Method Systematic literature review SLR and empirical research study will be used for achieving the goals and objectives Expected Outcomes The expected results of this study will be REM that will help vendor organizations for better elicitation during GS

H. Pylori Fecal Antigen Detection taking endoscopic biopsy as gold standard in Dyspeptic Patients

Introduction: There are several invasive and non-invasive techniques used to diagnose H. pylori infection, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. Invasive methods require biopsy samples from stomach and duodenum and can be tested by various methods such as histology, Rapid urease test (RUT), microbiological culture and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) whereas non-invasive tests include stool antigen test, serology and Urea breath test Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of H. Pylori Fecal Antigen Detection taking endoscopic biopsy as gold standard in dyspeptic Patients (18-65 years). Materials & Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducting during 30th April 2019 to 30th October 2019 in Gastroenterology Unit, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. A total of 85 patients irrespective of gender having age 18-65 years having symptoms of dyspepsia were included. Patients having gall stones, celiac disease, pancreatic disease, Diabetes Mellitus, thyroid disease and any other patients on PPI or H2 receptors. Patients with history of alcoholism, diagnosed cases of H. Pylori infection or treatment history of H Pylori. Patients diagnosed for pancreatitis, cholecystitis, Hepatitis B or C Virus positive cases of Chronic Liver Diseases, HIV, malignancy or Ischemic Heart Disease or being pregnant were excluded. H. Pylori on Fecal Antigen Detection and endoscopic biopsy were noted. Results: Fecal Antigen Detection found that 42 were True Positive and 04 were False Positive. Among 39, Fecal Antigen negative patients, 04 (False Negative) had H. Pylori on endoscopic biopsy whereas 35 (True Negative) had no H. Pylori involvement on endoscopic biopsy (p=0.0001). Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of H. Pylori Fecal Antigen Detection taking endoscopic biopsy as gold standard in dyspeptic Patients was 91.30%, 89.74%, 91.30%, 89.74% and 90.59% respectively. Conclusion: This study concluded that diagnostic accuracy of H. Pylori Fecal Antigen Detection in dyspeptic Patients is quite high. Keywords: helicobacter pylori, Fecal Antigen Detection, endoscopic biopsy.   &nbsp

H. Pylori Fecal Antigen Detection taking endoscopic biopsy as gold standard in Dyspeptic Patients

Introduction: There are several invasive and non-invasive techniques used to diagnose H. pylori infection, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. Invasive methods require biopsy samples from stomach and duodenum and can be tested by various methods such as histology, Rapid urease test (RUT), microbiological culture and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) whereas non-invasive tests include stool antigen test, serology and Urea breath test Objectives: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of H. Pylori Fecal Antigen Detection taking endoscopic biopsy as gold standard in dyspeptic Patients (18-65 years). Materials & Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducting during 30th April 2019 to 30th October 2019 in Gastroenterology Unit, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. A total of 85 patients irrespective of gender having age 18-65 years having symptoms of dyspepsia were included. Patients having gall stones, celiac disease, pancreatic disease, Diabetes Mellitus, thyroid disease and any other patients on PPI or H2 receptors. Patients with history of alcoholism, diagnosed cases of H. Pylori infection or treatment history of H Pylori. Patients diagnosed for pancreatitis, cholecystitis, Hepatitis B or C Virus positive cases of Chronic Liver Diseases, HIV, malignancy or Ischemic Heart Disease or being pregnant were excluded. H. Pylori on Fecal Antigen Detection and endoscopic biopsy were noted. Results: Fecal Antigen Detection found that 42 were True Positive and 04 were False Positive. Among 39, Fecal Antigen negative patients, 04 (False Negative) had H. Pylori on endoscopic biopsy whereas 35 (True Negative) had no H. Pylori involvement on endoscopic biopsy (p=0.0001). Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of H. Pylori Fecal Antigen Detection taking endoscopic biopsy as gold standard in dyspeptic Patients was 91.30%, 89.74%, 91.30%, 89.74% and 90.59% respectively. Conclusion: This study concluded that diagnostic accuracy of H. Pylori Fecal Antigen Detection in dyspeptic Patients is quite high. Keywords: helicobacter pylori, Fecal Antigen Detection, endoscopic biopsy.   &nbsp

Exploiting Authentic Materials for Developing Writing Skills at Secondary Level

Writing is an extremely complex process; there are various ways, means and techniques involved in teaching writing. The present study intends to scrutinize the efficacy of authentic materials for enhancing writing skills of the second language assimilators at secondary level in Pakistan. Authentic materials are very interesting, absorbing and motivating. Change and variety is something very important for human development and upbringing. Authentic materials can serve this purpose very well. Moreover, authentic materials are diverse in nature and have a variety of things to offer. They have been popular for last decade or so and are a very impressive technique. There is a great variety of materials available in newspapers, broadcasts, magazines etc in the form of advertisements, cartoons, bulletins, horoscopes, weather reports etc. Exploited appropriately, they can be of great help to improve students writing skills. Authentic materials can even more be useful to those learners who intend to go to a foreign country for higher education. Such materials will acquaint them not only with the language but also with the culture and value system of the country concerned. Authentic materials, of course, hold great promise for those who are in the process of learning and improving writing skills. The use of authentic materials creates a lot of interest in the learners and they do not feel bored and tired. There comes a big part of charming and attractive outside world into the classroom. Authentic materials reduce the dullness of specially contrived text material. It makes significant contributions toward meeting the learning objective of a programme. Authentic materials are varied and very flexible in nature, which allow free play to the students and never restrict them at a place. Key words: Authentic materials, writing skills, second languag