Perceptions towards Music Preferences in Pakistan

The purpose of this paper is to present the public perceptions towards Music preferences in Pakistan. For this survey research 125 Men and 115 Women, aged between 18 and 34 from different universities were interviewed. The data was Factor Analyzed and six factors were extracted (1) Moody; (2) Modern; (3) Manifest; (4) Mild; (5) Milieu; (6) Mingy. Moody are straight forward and have a preference of heavy music beat. Modern wants the top-hit list music to be there in their playlists with the latest gadgetry. Manifest enjoys the music made on several instrumental ballads mostly of high beat.  Mild ranges from slow, emotional ballads to the classical melodies that are mostly designed for dancing purpose. Milieu has a preference of going in musical concerts and love for vulgar lyrics.  Mingy enjoys listening cheap music. Age and gender differences among different music preferences also highlighted here. These factors have more preference over one another, and as the new generation are found to be ‘’Addicted’’ towards Music. The findings indicate that each preference group has demonstrated its own style of Music. Keywords: Music Preferences, Perceptions, Factor Analysis, personality trait

The Impact of Strategic Leadership on Competitive Advantage: The Mediating Role of Ambidexterity and Information System: Evidence from Islamic Banks in Jordan

The purpose linked with the existing study is to examine the impact of strategic leadership on the competitive advantage of the Islamic banks in Jordan. The mediating analysis of organizational ambidexterity and information system among the links of strategic leadership on the competitive advantage of the Islamic banks in Jordan also included in the aim of the ongoing study. This study has executed the quantitative techniques of data collection through which data has been gathered from the employees of the Islamic banks by using questionnaires. The analysis part of the existing study has been accomplished by using the AMOS. The results indicated that the positive nexus has been found among the links of strategic leadership and competitive advantage while the findings also exposed that the ambidexterity positive mediates among the links of strategic leadership and competitive advantage of the Islamic banks in Jordan. These findings provided the guidelines to the regulators while formulating regulation for competitive advantage along with leadership and also helpful for the future studies who aim to investigate this area in the future

An Ad Hoc Movement Monitoring Algorithm for Indoor Tracking During Examinations

Academic dishonesty includes cheating in examinations tests and any academic assignments, plagiarism, fabrication of information or citations, facilitation of acts of academic studies by others, unauthorized possession of examination materials, and tampering with the academic work of other researchers or scholars. These acts can be done before, during, and after the actual examination. This paper proposes a holistic algorithm for setting up an ad-hoc monitoring system to track candidates who leave the examination hall during the examination for either toilet breaks, medical breaks, or otherwise. Since most examinations are held indoors it is especially difficult to use existing GPS and GPRS based methods. We submit a proposal to deploy an indoor monitoring system based on the RSS of carefully placed receivers as they communicate with active tags held by the candidates. This paper outlines an algorithm that is used to place the receivers in such a way as to avoid any blind spots which may be utilized as cheating spots. The algorithm was deployed into a testbed system which was 100% foul proof. The proposed algorithm can be used to set up the deployment of the monitoring system in any environment where a clearly defined path is identified

Repositioning Virtual University of Pakistan

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the concept of repositioning with a single case study design.  Case study selected for this research is the Virtual University (VU) of Pakistan. VU is the first Pakistani university based completely on modern information and communication technologies, was established by the Government as a public sector, not-for-profit institution. One of the challenges VU management faces as of now is regarding the perception of the university. Generally, VU is perceived as a sub-standard university and it is thought that only those who could not secure admission anywhere else have joined this institution. Secondly, masses have always been skeptical about the quality of education imparted at VU. The low fees are assumed to indicate poor quality of education and the government funding and subsidies are not considered as efforts to improve the standard of education in the country. VU has also signed a number of MOUs with top foreign and local universities, but these important associations have not been promoted effectively by VU so far.  Perhaps the greatest challenge surrounding the VU management is the consumer’s perception about the employability of VU graduates. This perception of masses about VU could have been changed by repositioning VU with an appropriately redesigned promotion campaign. Soon VU management realized the lack of advertising effectiveness and changed their positioning strategy. Three important changes they have made. Firstly, instead of targeting graduation ceremony or convocation, they moved towards Endorsements. They contacted their well-placed graduates in corporate sector and ask their endorsements. This was sensed immediately by the target audience and helped VU in enhancing their image.  Secondly they moved towards color advertisements in black and white classified pages which resulted in immediate recognition of their advertisements. Thirdly, they changed their program offerings and started offering 18-year MS degree programs which has resulted in enhancing consumer perceptions towards high quality education at VU. This capstone decision was proved fruitful measured by subsequent perception surveys. Keywords: Marketing, Positioning, Repositioning, Advertising Campaign, Services, University, Pakista

On Trust Dynamics of Economic Growth

Trust among individuals in society may have various economic and social implications. Though, worldwide data on economic growth rarely consider trust as an ingredient in manipulating economic outcomes. Thus, we include trust instigating from individual, affecting community and state thus, forming trust-based economy. In order to explore the relationship of trust with growth and its benefits implications, this study suggests a model which is validated by Markov process. Consequently, results indicate significant impact of trust on economic growth by achieving convergence in very few iterations in the case of trust-based economy. On the other hand, economy with lowest trust level shows delayed convergence and takes around 4 times more iterations to attain equilibrium. Additionally, socio-economic benefits are more visible in a trust-based economy

On Trust Dynamics of Economic Growth

Trust among individuals in society may have various economic and social implications. Though, worldwide data on economic growth rarely consider trust as an ingredient in manipulating economic outcomes. Thus, we include trust instigating from individual, affecting community and state thus, forming trust-based economy. In order to explore the relationship of trust with growth and its benefits implications, this study suggests a model which is validated by Markov process. Consequently, results indicate significant impact of trust on economic growth by achieving convergence in very few iterations in the case of trust-based economy. On the other hand, economy with lowest trust level shows delayed convergence and takes around 4 times more iterations to attain equilibrium. Additionally, socio-economic benefits are more visible in a trust-based economy

HEROISM IN CRESSIDA COWELL’S NOVEL: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

Skripsi ini membahas novel karangan penulis asal London bernama Cressida Cowell yang berjudul How to Train Your Dragon. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis unsur-unsur kepahlawanan pada novel tersebut. Unsur unsur kepahlawanan yang dimaksudkan ialah pola perjalanan kepahlawanan Hiccup dalam menyelesaikan misi, tipe kepahlawanan Hiccup berdasarkan deskripsi cerita, dan karakter penyeimbang cerita kepahlawanan Hiccup. Penelitian ini bersifat kualitatif dimana penelitian ini memaparkan ide-ide dan argument-argumen peneliti atas penyelesaian masalah-masalah terkait isu kepahlawanan Hiccup. Data diambil dari novel How to Train Your Dragon itu sendiri dan dipadu dengan sumber-sumber yang berkaitan pada bahasan penelitian ini. Masalah-masalah pada penelitian ini diselesaikan menggunakan teori yang dikemukakan oleh Joseph Campbell dan Christopher Vogler yang mana tercakup dalam pendekatan mitologi yang diprakarsai oleh Carl. G. Jung. Dari penelitian ini peneliti menemukan kesimpulan bahwa perjalanan kepahlawanan Hiccup mengikuti pola siklus Monomyth yang dikemukakan oleh Joseph Campbell dan juga didapati bahwa Hiccup merupakan pahlawan tipe Warrior yang unik dan berbeda dari pahlawan klasik lain nya. Perjalan kepahlawanan Hiccup membawa pesan bahwa menjadi seorang pahlawan tidaklah hanya dengan memiliki kekuatan fisik, namun juga kekuatan intelektual agar mampu mencari jalan keluar yang efektif untuk suatu masalah. Dari penelitian ini juga dapat diambil pelajaran bahwa untuk menjadi pahlawan, seseorang harus melalui serangkaian proses penempaan diri. Kata kunci: Cressida Cowell, Monomyth, Heroism, Arketip, Pahlawan

Analysis and evaluation of prescriptions in Al-Ahsa (Saudi Arabia)

Objetivo: Los fallos de medicación, generalmente definidos como cualquier error en el asesoramiento,distribución o manejo de un tratamiento, sin importar si dichos errores conllevan sanciones o no, son lacausa más inevitable de mal tratamiento en el paciente. Las tasas de errores de medicación estudiadasson muy variables, como resultado de la alta variedad de definiciones y métodos de estudio utilizados.Miles de personas mueren en el mundo cada año debido a errores de prescripción lo que supone ungasto anual de miles de millones de dólares. El presente estudio se llevó a cabo en el departamento deFarmacia Práctica, Facultad de Farmacia Clínica, Universidad de King Faisal, Al-Ahsa, Arabia Saudí del 1de Octubre de 2010 al 31 de Diciembre de 2011 con el objetivo de investigar errores de prescripción.Material y método: Las prescripciones fueron recogidas de diferentes hospitales de la región este deArabia Saudí y fueron analizadas en el departamento de Farmacia Práctica, Facultad de Farmacia Clínica.La información de las prescripciones fue analizada estadísticamente.Resultados: Se procesaron un total de 500 prescripciones. Tras la evaluación se detectaron errores fatalescomo edad (4,6%), peso (98,8%), diagnóstico (30%), o dosificación (14,6%), que no fueron notificados. Sedetectaron errores adicionales e inconsistencias en las prescripciones estudiadas.Conclusión: Es necesario una revisión en profundidad de los sistemas gubernamentales para el control delos errores de prescripción en Al-Ahsa, Arabia Saudí.Aims: Medication faults, broadly defined as any error in the advising, distributing, or management ofa treatment, nevertheless whether such mistakes lead to confrontational penalties or not, are the singlemost inevitable cause of patient maltreatment. Incidences of medication error rates vary widely, as a resultof the variety of altered study methods and descriptions used. Several thousand individuals are dyingin the world because of the prescription errors every year, at the same time these errors cost billions ofdollars annually. This study was conducted in the department of Pharmacy Practice, College of ClinicalPharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia from 1st October 2010 to 31st December 2011, toinvestigate the prescriptions regarding errors.Materials and Methods: The prescriptions were collected from different hospitals of Eastern region ofSaudi Arabia and analyzed in the department of Pharmacy Practice College of Clinical Pharmacy Al-Ahsa. The information in the prescriptions was evaluated statistically.Results: A total of 500 prescriptions were processed. In evaluation it was found that out of 500 prescriptionswere having fatal errors like age (4.6%), weight (98.8%), Diagnosis (30%), Dosage (14.6%), were not declared.Along with that a number of errors and inconsistencies were noticed in the prescriptions studied.Conclusion: There is need of a comprehensive review of the government’s control system on prescriptionerror in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Iot Solutions for Enhancing Agricultural Practices and Environmental Sustainability

This investigate points to think about the results of way better appropriation of IoT within the field of farming. The think about points to appear how made strides cultivating strategies through IoT can give superior results for the environment. The research was able to extend the keen water system and precisely anticipate the yields through optimization calculations. Agriculturists can make their farms' results way better by taking more brilliant and productive choices through Choice Back Frameworks (DSS). The savvy cultivating (accuracy cultivating) has demonstrated to be useful for the environment.  Through detailed studies and evaluations of the life cycle and impact on ecosystems, it has been revealed that this method provides healthier soil, increased biodiversity and lowers carbon emissions. The expenses of cultivation can be minimized by lowering water consumption. This is important because it lowers the issue of the shortage of water. The outputs from the model will highlight the importance of utilizing water resources in an optimized way for farming through IoT based methods. The Decision-Making Systems have been proved to be significantly useful in agricultural activities; they provide an efficient way to make important business decisions. The systems were designed to provide in-time data to the network so that farmers can make their desicions up-to-date

The role of technological innovation and cleaner energy towards the environment in ASEAN countries: proposing a policy for sustainable development goals

The association between economic growth (EG) and environmental degradation (ED) has been highlighted extensively in prior studies. However, investigation regarding ‘technological innovation and clean energy role’ in dealing with environmental concerns has comprised limited context while considering the ASEAN economies under sustainable development goals. Therefore, the study attempts to investigate the phenomenon by using CS-ARDL analysis under short as well as long run. The findings through CSARDL in long- and short-run indicate that REN have impact carbon emission and ecological footprints negatively. Additionally, the EG in targeted economies is causing a higher level of CE and ecological footprints. Whereas, GDP2ofund to be significant in lowering the ED in the form of CE and ecological footprints. It is suggested that policies related to CE through EG should be developed in order to control the environmental issues in the future