A SURREALIST READING OF MOHSIN HAMID'S EXIT WEST

The study aims at exploring the surrealist elements in Mohsin Hamid's novel Exit West. It analyzes the motifs and a technique employed by Hamid, and discusses how they contribute to the overall themes of displacement, migration, and identity in the novel. The study also examines how Hamid uses surrealist imagery, dream-like sequences, and unconventional perspectives to depict the characters' experiences of dislocation and otherness. The knowledge of the elements of surrealism will add depth and nuance to the novel's exploration of complex and timely issues. Using a close reading approach to the selected passages, the paper evaluates the ways in which the author employs surrealist techniques to challenge conventional notions of time, space, and reality, and to convey the experiences of displacement, migration, and the erosion of identity. Through the knowledge of surrealism in the context of the novel, the readers can gain a greater understanding of the power of the imagination to shape their understanding of the world and human experience

INEQUALITY OF POWER AND DOMINANCE IN MOHSIN HAMID’S THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST: A NEW HISTORICISM PERSPECTIVE

New Historicism (NH) emerged in the practice of criticism by Stephen Greeblatt in 1990. The theory describes the constituents of the history and regards the history as the while entity rather than the series of incidents. The present study is conducted in the perspectives of NH employed on The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) by Mohsin Hamid. The novel comparatively analyzed the core values of native and USA culture and intention soon after 9/11 incident. The elements of NH are described in the present study to highlight the presence of core values of the theory for the purpose of manipulation of power relations between powerful nations to marginalized nations, attitude of capitalist society and the system of marginalizing the values through systematic intentions. The findings of the study have suggested that there is existence of NH elements in the novel based on the personal experiences of Mohsin Hamid

WRITING CHALLENGES FACED BY ESL LEARNERS IN PAKISTAN: REVIEW OF THE RESEARCH

This paper aims at investigating the writing challenges faced by ESL learners in Pakistan, surveying previous research studies as the basis. In Pakistan English is taught as a second language. ESL learners often confront numerous difficulties in their writing proficiency. The existing research literature reveals that ESL learners in Pakistan encounter several common obstacles, namely, grammar, vocabulary, coherence, cohesion spelling mistakes, interlingual and intralingual errors, cultural disparities. The findings demonstrate that grammar continues to be a significant hurdle, as learners struggle with intricate grammatical structures, verb tenses, and subject-verb agreement. Their limited vocabulary and struggle to locate suitable words impede their ability to express ideas effectively. Additionally, organizing their writing coherently and structuring their sentences present challenges for ESL learners. Thus, the dissimilarities in culture and rhetoric between English and the learners' native language impact their writing style and organization. The study underscores the significance of targeted instructional strategies in addressing these challenges. It proposes the incorporation of explicit grammar instruction, lexical growth exercises, writing strategies focusing on organization, and the provision of authentic writing tasks. By addressing these challenges, ESL learners in Pakistan can enhance their writing skills and attain higher proficiency in English

Development of a hybrid framework for inventory leanness in Technical Services Organizations.

Inherent uncertainties in demand and supply make it problematic for supply chains to accomplish optimum inventory replenishment, resulting in loss of sales or keeping excessive inventories. To cope with erratic demands, organizations have to maintain excessive inventory levels, sometimes taking up to one-third of an organization's annual budget. The two most pressing concerns to handle in inventory management are: how much to order and when to order. Therefore, an organization ought to make the correct and timely decisions based on precise demand information to avoid excessive inventory accumulation resulting in enhanced competitive advantage. Owing to the significance of inventory control and analysis, this paper reports on developing and successfully implementing a hybrid framework for optimum level inventory forecasting in Technical Services Organizations. The proposed framework is based on a case study of one of Pakistan's leading Technical Services Organization. The paper presents a statistical analysis of historical data and a comprehensive fault trend analysis. Both these analyses set a solid foundation for the formulation of a comparative analysis matrix based upon price and quantity based analysis of inventory. Finally, a decision criterion (Forecasting Model) is proposed using three primary forecasting techniques with minimum error calculations. The study's finding shows a forecast error of 142.5 million rupees in the last five years, resulting in the accumulation of more than 25 thousand excessive inventory stock. Application of price and quantity based analysis identifies that 65% of the annual budget is significantly dependent upon only 9% (in terms of quantity) of "High Price and Small Quantity" Items (HS). These HS items are forecasted through three different forecasting methods, i.e., Weighted Moving Average, Exponential Smoothing, and Trend Projection, with Minimum Absolute Deviation to significantly reduce the forecasting error while predicting the future required quantity. The research work aims to contribute to the inventory management literature in three ways. First, a new comparative analysis matrix concept for identifying the most critical items is introduced. Second, a Multi-Criteria Forecasting Model is developed to capture a wide range of operations. Third, the paper suggests how these forecasting criteria can be integrated into a single interactive DSS to maintain optimum inventory level stock. Even though the DSS framework is based on data from a single organization, the application is expected to manage inventory stock in a wide range of manufacturing and services industries. This study's proposed hybrid framework is the first of its kind that encapsulates all four dimensions of inventory classification criteria, forming a multi-criteria hybrid model within a DSS framework

Plant Volatiles and Herbivore Induced Plant Volatiles from Chili Pepper Act as Attractant of the Aphid Parasitoid <i>Aphelinus varipes</i> (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Plants have evolved a number of different chemical defenses, covering nearly all classes of (secondary) metabolites, that represent a major barrier to herbivory: some are constitutive; others are induced after attacks from herbivores (HIPVs) and may elicit the attraction of predators and parasitoids. Here, we studied how the female solitary endoparasitoid Aphelinus varipes responds to plant and host aphid volatiles in a series of experiments on five commercially important vegetables that were either healthy or infested with the aphid Myzus persicae: chili pepper, eggplant, crown daisy, Chinese cabbage and cabbage. The results for the olfactory responses of A. varipes showed that the presence of M. persicae increased the attraction of the endoparasitoid to the infested plants. In a second experiment, volatiles from highly attractive and repellent plants were obtained via headspace collection to investigate volatiles from healthy and aphid-damaged plants. The results for the differences in volatile profiles in response to aphid infestation in chili pepper cultivar were dominated by the volatile blends, including α-pinene, decanal and phthalic acid, while in cabbage they were dominated by isophorone. Moreover, when HIPVs with different concentrations were compared, α-pinene at a dose rate of 100 ng/μL attracted more parasitoids, and the comparison was useful to understand the mechanisms of plant secondary volatiles during aphid infestation and to provide new resources to control this insect pest. Overall our study shows how HIPVs can bolster tritrophic interactions by enhancing the attractiveness of parasitoids

Tritrophic Interactions among Arthropod Natural Enemies, Herbivores and Plants Considering Volatile Blends at Different Scale Levels

Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are released by plants upon damaged or disturbance by phytophagous insects. Plants emit HIPV signals not merely in reaction to tissue damage, but also in response to herbivore salivary secretions, oviposition, and excrement. Although certain volatile chemicals are retained in plant tissues and released rapidly upon damaged, others are synthesized de novo in response to herbivore feeding and emitted not only from damaged tissue but also from nearby by undamaged leaves. HIPVs can be used by predators and parasitoids to locate herbivores at different spatial scales. The HIPV-emitting spatial pattern is dynamic and heterogeneous in nature and influenced by the concentration, chemical makeup, breakdown of the emitted mixes and environmental elements (e.g., turbulence, wind and vegetation) which affect the foraging of biocontrol agents. In addition, sensory capability to detect volatiles and the physical ability to move towards the source were also different between natural enemy individuals. The impacts of HIPVs on arthropod natural enemies have been partially studied at spatial scales, that is why the functions of HIPVs is still subject under much debate. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge and loopholes regarding the role of HIPVs in tritrophic interactions at multiple scale levels. Therefore, we contend that closing these loopholes will make it much easier to use HIPVs for sustainable pest management in agriculture

Host-Plant Variations Affect the Biotic Potential, Survival, and Population Projection of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a polyphagous insect pest is a major threat to a wide range of crops worldwide. Aiming to evaluate the life history traits of M. persicae, feeding on different host plants, we used five vegetables: cabbage, Brassica oleracea (Brassicaceae); chinese cabbage, B. rapa (Brassicaceae); chili pepper, Capsicum annum (Solanaceae); crown daisy, Chrysanthemum coronarium (Asteraceae); and eggplant, Solanum melongena (Solanaceae). TWOSEX-MSchart software was used for the statistical analysis about the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. The highest fecundity (69.65 individuals) rate of M. persicae, intrinsic rate of increase (r = 0.425 d−1), finite rate of increase (λ = 1.531 d−1), net reproductive rate (R0 = 69.65 offspring), and shortest mean generation time (T = 9.964 d) were recorded on the chili pepper plant. Whereas, lower fitness occurred on cabbage. The findings attained from population growth parameters indicate that chili pepper is the most susceptible plant, while cabbage is resistant to aphids. Population projection results also supported this statement, as the final total population size on cabbage was significantly lower than other plants. The reported information would be useful for devising integrated pest management programs, particularly those involving M. persicae. This information also suggests the adaptability of M. persicae causing economic damage to these vegetable cultivars