Effects of SMS Texting on Academic Writing Skills of Undergraduate Students at a Public Sector University in Pakistan

The growing concern about the use of texting endangering the standard forms in language prompted the present research to determine the presence or absence of SMS features in the academic writing of the participants. Triangulation was used for data collection i.e. questionnaires for learners and educators and samples of the learners’ English written work were examined for SMS features. Simple average and ratio were used for descriptive analysis of the data. Contrary to the expectation, there were no significant evidences of these features in the sample. It seems being proficient in standard forms, these learners are context conscious and can switch to the appropriate register or style when writing formally .Thus the present study has demystified the popular belief about texting adversely affecting writing and thus destroying Standard English. Moreover, the evidences of one punctuation mark used in place of another indicate there can be other factors like carelessness or lack of knowledge of students and the lack of training, feedback or emphasis by educators or the system. So the matter of concern should be the general neglect of punctuation even out of the context of texting. It is found that the higher the exposure to the SMS, more the negative effect on the writing skills of the university students. The excessive use of this medium is leading students towards writing wrong spellings and using SMS language’s short abbreviations that are not standard in examinations and daily academic work that is very harmful in academia. Keywords: Orthography, Phonetic Transcriptions, SMS (texting), Writing skills DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/75-05 Publication date: January 31st 202

Association of hypoadiponectemia with smokeless/dipping tobacco use in young men

Background: Low levels of adiponectin, an adipocytokine with anti-diabetic, antiatherogenic and cardioprotective properties, is associated with increased risk of coronary disease in young men. Previous studies have demonstrated that smokeless tobacco is linked with a reduction of plasma adiponectin levels. However, the influence of smokeless tobacco (dipping tobacco) on plasma adiponectin levels still remains unknown. This study was conducted to assess the plasma adiponectin levels in young men who were using dipping tobacco. Methods: This was a community based study, which consisted of 186 young lean healthy males aged 20 to 35 years. Among these, 96 men were dipping tobacco users (BMI = 23.07 ± 2.68) and 90 were non-dipping tobacco users (BMI = 23.67 ± 1.46). Serum adiponectin levels were assessed by Enzyme Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). Results: A statistically significant difference in the mean adiponectin level between tobacco dipper and non-dipper groups was observed (p = 0.0001). A significant difference between the two groups was also observed in baseline parameters including triglyceride and random blood sugar levels (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in other clinical parameters. Conclusions: Findings of this study suggest that dipping tobacco use was significantly associated with low level of adiponetin in community dwelling young males. This emphasizes the importance of developing community intervention to reduce the use of dipping tobacco, which will reduce the tobacco associated disease burden in the community and will improve public health

An Empirical Analysis of the Linder

This paper presents empirical evidence in support of the Linder theory of international trade for three of the South Asian countries, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. This finding implies that these countries trade more intensively with countries of other regions, which may have similar per capita income levels, as predicted by Linder in his hypothesis. The contribution of this research is threefold: first, there is new information on the Linder hypothesis by focusing on South Asian countries; second, this is one of very few analyses to capture both time-series and cross-section elements of the trade relationship by employing a panel data set; third, the empirical methodology used in this analysis corrects a major shortcoming in the existing literature by using a censored dependent variable in estimation.

HESITANCY TOWARDS ONLINE SHOPPING, A STUDY OF PAKISTANI CONSUMERS

To study the influence of Perceived cost, risk, convenience and enjoyment on online consumer purchases. Being more convenient online shopping seems painless compared to in store shopping, why consumers are still reluctant to shop online?.A sample of 220 questionnaires was filled from different departments at University of Sargodha. Respondents were asked to fill the questionnaire based on four factors (Perceived cost, Perceived risk, Perceived convenience, Perceived enjoyment), there were 2 general questions. Out of 220, 207 questionnaires were returned. One sample test is applied in this study to check the reliability of independent variables. Analysis was also done on basis of gender and their ages. The most important factor out of four, which can persuade the customer's online buying decision, is delivery cost for purchased items and it has negative relationship with dependent variable, moreover perceived risk has also negative relationship with dependent one. Perceived convenience and Perceived enjoyment has positive relationship with online shopping preference. As online shopping is easier to do but due to extra delivery cost and risk factors consumers do not adopt online shopping and these factors should be minimized to promote online shopping. Online shopping should be promoted and to gain the consumer confidence, delivery cost and risk factor should be minimized. As online shopping is easier to do as compared to offline shopping but people still reluctant to use internet for online shopping, so to promote online shopping delivery cost and risk factor should be minimized to gain consumers attraction and confidence. People want to experience online shopping but it won’t be promoted until delivery cost and perceived risk factors be reduced. A little work has been done on exploring the factors that influence the online buying decision. These factors are called situational factors and include delivery charges, risk factors, convenience factors and enjoyment factors. In Pakistan consumers are not too much affiliated to online shopping as compared to European countries and not too much researches have been done related to online shopping in Pakistan , so this research been conducted to promote online shopping

The role of technology acceptance model on RHB mobile banking

Mobile banking developments and trends in recent years had great impacts on banking sector worldwide. Therefore, the disruptive innovative technology has accelerated changes in the way of banking business. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of Technology Acceptance Model on RHB Mobile Banking. The sample used in this study includes 85 responses of RHB Mobile Banking users collected through structured questionnaire distributed via cyberspace. For statistical analysis, structural equation model (SEM) approach was used. The present study suggests that mobile banking use increases as long as customer perceives it as useful tool. Findings confirmed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and perceived trust were the key constructs for promoting mobile banking usage in Malaysia. Furthermore, the importance performance matrix analysis trust has seen the most important factor. Thus, banks can focus on cultivation of positive trust beliefs about mobile banking among prospect customers

Small-scale fisheries: Overview, importance, vulnerabilities and management

183-192The objective of this study is to develop an understanding of the concept related to small-scale fisheries (SSF) and to highlight its role in various dimensions. SSF contributes about 50% in the global fish catch and supplies food for local, national, and global markets. SSF also plays a major role in social and economic benefits to communities including poverty alleviation, nutrition, food security, livelihoods and supporting their local cultures. Nevertheless, communities that depend on SSF are at risk. The plausible reasons for these hazards include climate change, habitat loss, and overfishing, which not only contribute to the declining health of the oceans but also threaten this sector itself. Mostly, SSF lacks scientific information to access resources, which results in sustainable management failure of this sector

An Empirical Analysis of the Linder Theory of International Trade for South Asian Countries.

This paper presents empirical evidence in support of the Linder theory of international trade for three of the South Asian countries, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. This finding implies that these countries trade more intensively with countries of other regions, which may have similar per capita income levels, as predicted by Linder in his hypothesis. The contribution of this research is threefold: first, there is new information on the Linder hypothesis by focusing on South Asian countries; second, this is one of very few analyses to capture both time-series and cross-section elements of the trade relationship by employing a panel data set; third, the empirical methodology used in this analysis corrects a major shortcoming in the existing literature by using a censored dependent variable in estimation

The effect of video presentation on hotel booking intentions: a conceptual model

The tourism industry has been growing tremendously throughout the world especially during the last two decades. The number of international tourists is forecasted to reach 1.4 billion travelers in 2020. In 2016 only, the hotels worldwide made a revenue of 550 billion U.S. dollars. These figures show the importance of the tourism industry in the general and hotel sector in particular and their significant contribution to the world economy. Consequently, hoteliers are forced to enhance their website design by exploring the factors that affect the booking intention and through understanding the behavior, the needs and the expectations of the travelers since they are in desperate need of solutions to overcome the current challenges and potential risks. The purpose of this study is to develop a conceptual framework to explore the factors that influence the online hotel booking intention and examine the relationship between video presentation and online booking intention utilizing Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework

Association of fahr disease with Rhabdomyolysis and hypoparathyroidism

Fahr syndrome is an idiopathic deposition of calcium in the basal ganglia (most commonly in the Globus pallidus) of the brain; other most common sites may include striatum pallidum. It can have a wide variety of presentations like progressive psychosis, dementia, movement disorders, gait disturbances or it can also be asymptomatic. Department of Neuro-medicine Hyderabad admitted this 28 year old male first. And then was referred to us in the department of Neuro-medicine JPMC Karachi. He is a known case of epilepsy for 8 years, who now presented with the complaint of fever, fits, and altered sensorium for 3 days. The CT scan of his brain showed hyperdense areas, bilateral symmetrical extensive basal and cerebral calcifications. CSF examination of the patient showed unremarkable results. On further examinations, it was found he also had Rhabdomyolysis and Hypoparathyroidism. It is unusual to have an association of Fahr syndrome with Rhabdomyolysis and Hypoparathyroidism. Our case report describes the unique behavior of this syndrome