SECURITISATION OF #SWEDISH MILITARY #CONSCRIPTION ON TWITTER

On March 02 2017, the Swedish government announced that it is bringing mandatory military services back into practice due to the shortage of military personnel and to meet country’ security needs. The practice had been abandoned in 2010 after being in place for well over a century. The announcement was a hot topic locally and internationally in the context of changing security situation in the Baltics. Political actors took to social media to deliberate with general public and to control the public discourse. This paper looks at securitisation discourse being deliberated through social media. Using a mix methods approach, I examined how social media, Twitter, facilitated securitisation discourse regarding Swedish military conscription. Twitter’s advanced search option is utilised to collect Top tweets posted during the first week of March 2017 that included keywords Sweden conscription or Swedish conscription. I apply van Dijk’s sociocognitive critical discourse analysis and Hansen’s intertextual research model in examining 21 tweets, along with the platform facilitated intertextuality and multimodality. The analysis reveals that political actors framed and centred securitisation discourse through tweets and associated multimodal elements, in particular images and hyperlinks, while the discussion concerning human resource needs of the military was largely ignored. Tweets and comments exposed ideology–based themes and topics, including refugees as threat and Racism–Xenophobia, being exploited as discourse strands within securitisation discourse. Spatial references to Russia and its proximity to the Baltics are invoked by the actors as existential threats against which Swedish sovereignty needs protection. It is evident that the textual and linguistic elements of tweets along with their non–lexical components afforded by the medium are exploited by the actors in framing the discourse. Audience interaction is gauged by the likes, shares, and comments on each tweet; however, comment section more clearly shows discursive production of securitisation. It is imperative that a future comprehensive analysis take into consideration platform specific elements, such as interaction across platforms and Social Network Analysis (SNA) of actors, as this would allow us to understand how various discourse layers treat the same discursive event and how securitisation is being accepted, rejected, or repurposed based on networked communities

FRICTION STIR WELDING OF TUBE-TO-TUBESHEET AND SPOT JOINTS FOR VIRGIN AND RECYCLED THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS.

Thermoplastic materials are becoming popular, due to their chemically inert and anti-fouling properties, for use in industrial heat exchanger applications involving heating/cooling of highly reactive fluids like acids. A novel nonconventional joining framework, based on the friction stir welding (FSW) technique, is developed to create high-quality thermoplastic tube-to-tubesheet joints (TTJs). The proposed technique has applications in the thermoplastic shell-andtube heat exchanger and piping industries (as flange-to-pipe joints). The primary objective is to study the feasibility of the FSW technique for developing thermoplastic TTJs, followed by optimization of the process parameters and detailed material characterizations. This work used workpieces (tube, tubesheet) made of carbon black reinforced high-density polyethylene. The effect of different FSW parameters (dwell time, plunge depth, rotational speed, and tube protrusion) on the tube pull-out behavior was studied. The FSW technique showed capabilities at a wide range of operating conditions. The macroscopic and microscopic (SEM-based) fractographic studies suggest that the FSW joints can fail in a ductile, brittle, or mixed manner, depending on the FSW conditions used. The DSC results showed no significant crystallinity changes of the weld material. The TGA results showed no significant thermal degradation of the weld material. The FTIR analysis indicated possible oxidation of the weld material. The capability to form TTJs with high leak path, high load bearing capacity, and no significant material degradations makes the FSW technique suitable for thermoplastic shell-and-tube heat exchanger applications. Further, as a second objective, the effect of adhesive reinforcement and radial clearance (RC) on the development of FSW-based thermoplastic tube-to-tubesheet hybrid joints (TTHJs) was investigated. The FSW technique provides higher load bearing capacity (326 N (0.0 RC), 517 N (0.5 mm RC)) than adhesive joints (226 N (0.0 RC), 206 N (0.5 mm RC)). For 0.0 RC, the adhesive reinforcement improved the load bearing capacity of hybrid joints by 15.6% compared to FSW joints. On the contrary, for 0.5 mm RC, the adhesive reinforcement negatively impacted the load bearing capacity and reduced it by 40.6%. The FSW technique with 0.5 mm RC provided a higher leak path (along with a high load bearing capacity) of 77% remaining tubesheet thickness (\u3e tube thickness) compared to that of 46.6% (\u3c tube thickness) achieved at 0.0 RC. However, the adhesive reinforcement can enhance the leak path of 0.0 RC FSW joints to around 100% remaining tubesheet thickness (\u3e tube thickness) by introducing the adhesive material at the tube-sheet interface. There is also a real demand for sustainable lightweight thermoplastic structures (like thermoplastic heat exchangers) because of growing environmental concerns. One important solution is developing structures through recycled scrap/waste thermoplastic materials. As a third objective, the lap-joint configuration friction stir spot weldability of recycled thermoplastics was studied, to help with analyzing the potential of friction stir-based welding techniques towards developing these sustainable structures. The combined behavior of recycling-welding procedures is investigated, as they may cause degradations; to ensure that the base thermoplastic polymer\u27s chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties are retained. In this work, scrap laban bottles made from HDPE material are used. The highest lap-shear load of 1528 N was achieved at the optimum welding conditions of 1600 rpm rotational speed, 1 mm plunge depth, and 60 s dwell time. Fractographic studies (macroscopic and SEM-based) suggested four types of fracture morphologies depending on welding conditions used. The DSC results showed no significant differences in melting temperature and crystalline content of the polymeric material. The TGA tests showed no significant thermal degradations. The FTIR analysis of all the samples (bottle, recycled sheet, weld material) exhibited characteristic HDPE peaks. All these results suggest that combined welding-recycling processes had a minimal impact on the polymeric structure. Thus, friction stir spot welding (FSSW) technique joins recycled thermoplastic scrap/waste materials with high lap-shear load and without any significant polymer degradations

Prospects & Challenges of Implementing Knowledge Management System in IT Industry

Recent past has seen an epidemic growth in the adoption of strategic information systems. In order to be successful, enterprises are putting in huge investments into implementation of information technology (IT) and knowledge management systems (KMS). KMS implementation in an IT industry has been discussed in this paper. Several challenges including multiple information sources, access control, and employee’s mistrust among others are being identified along with their possible solutions. Later foreseen benefits of KMS implementation including quicker problem identification, faster response time, and cost saving among others are being highlighted. The paper concludes with revealing future research possibilities

Implementing TQM practices in Pakistani Higher Education Institutions

Implementing TQM practices at the Higher Educational Institutions of Pakistan, especially at the business schools, is relatively a new concept and it is in its initial stages. The theoretical framework of this study is based upon the instrument that measures the extent of TQM implementation in Higher Education Institutions. Based upon literature review, the framework having 14 dimensions is used in this study. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) extracted 13 factors as the determinants of TQM Implementation in business schools of Pakistan such as Stakeholders’ Focus, Recognition and Reward, Measurement and Evaluation, Process Control and Improvement, Resources, Leadership, Empowerment are some of the main factors as each of these factors are explaining more than 5% of the variation in the dat

Mortality from esophagectomy for esophageal cancer across low, middle, and high-income countries: An international cohort study

Background: No evidence currently exists characterising global outcomes following major cancersurgery, including esophageal cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to characteriseimpact of high income countries (HIC) versus low and middle income countries (LMIC)on the outcomes following esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Method: This international multi-center prospective study across 137 hospitals in 41 countriesincluded patients who underwent an esophagectomy for esophageal cancer, with 90-dayfollow-up. The main explanatory variable was country income, defined according tothe World Bank Data classification. The primary outcome was 90-day postoperative mortality,and secondary outcomes were composite leaks (anastomotic leak or conduit necrosis)and major complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade III - V). Multivariable generalized estimatingequation models were used to produce adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidenceintervals (CI 95%). Results: Between April 2018 to December 2018, 2247 patients were included. Patients from HICwere more significantly older, with higher ASA grade, and more advanced tumors. Patientsfrom LMIC had almost three-fold increase in 90-day mortality, compared to HIC (9.4%vs 3.7%, p < 0.001). On adjusted analysis, LMIC were independently associated withhigher 90-day mortality (OR: 2.31, CI 95%: 1.17–4.55, p = 0.015). However, LMIC were not independently associated with higherrates of anastomotic leaks (OR: 1.06, CI 95%: 0.57–1.99, p = 0.9) or major complications (OR: 0.85, CI 95%: 0.54–1.32, p = 0.5), compared to HIC. Conclusion: Resections in LMIC were independently associated with higher 90-day postoperativemortality, likely reflecting a failure to rescue of these patients following esophagectomy,despite similar composite anastomotic leaks and major complication rates to HIC. Thesefindings warrant further research, to identify potential issues and solutions to improveglobal outcomes following esophagectomy for cancer

A review on gastric diverticulum.

The gastric fundal diverticulae are rare. They can present with variable symptoms. We are enclosing a literature review on gastric fundal diverticulum. Lessons have emerged which may help in the management of this rare condition in future

Socio-Economic Determinants of Household access to Health Services in Selected District of Punjab

Background: Sound health is basic right of every individual and access to health care is necessary. The right to use health services (HS) is a multifarious idea. In Pakistan provision of basic health facilities of health are inadequate. Current study was aimed at highlighting the primary reasons behind it. Methods: This study used cross sectional data from Pakistan Social and Living Standard Measurement (PSLM) to determine the social and economic determinants of health care services in selected districts of province Punjab. Logistic regression technique is used to measure the impact of selected variables on health access. Results:&nbsp; Results of the study showed that the health access services in the district of Faisalabad are greater as compared to the Rawalpindi and Layyah districts. Moreover, people were using private health facilities as compared to government health facilities. Conclusion: The study indicated that the education level, household (HH) head gender, work status, region and place of residence, and economic situation, affect the health access services in selected regions. Measures should be taken to reduce the monopoly of private health sector by providing better government health facilities

Effect of planting methods and pinching techniques on the growth, flowering, and seed production of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

This research study aimed to assess the impact of different planting methods (ridge and bed planting) and pinching techniques on the growth, flowering, and seed production of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.). The experiments were conducted at the Floricultural Research Substation in Multan, Pakistan. The ridge planting method (T1) and bed planting method (T2) were employed, along with pinching treatments (T1) at a height of 30 cm compared to a control group (T2). Various growth, floral development, flower weight measurements, and seed metrics were systematically recorded and analyzed. The results demonstrated that bed planting significantly influenced Marigold plant growth, leading to taller plants, more leaves, and a higher population compared to ridge planting. Bed planting also accelerated floral development, with earlier spike emergence, quicker floret opening, and a greater number of florets plant-1. Pinching resulted in shorter plants and promoted more lateral branches and a higher number of flowers plant-1 compared to the control group. The pinched plants displayed reduced single fresh and dried flower weights, but the control group consistently produced heavier flowers. Additionally, pinching contributed to a reduction in the number of seeds flower-1 but increased the average seed yield plant-1 compared to the control group. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing planting methods and employing pinching techniques to enhance the growth, flowering, and seed production of African Marigold. The study emphasizes the importance of selecting appropriate cultivation practices to maximize the economic returns for flower growers and traders in the floriculture industry. © 2020 The Author(s

Is Innovation in Pakistan Driven by Specialisation or Diversity?

Innovation is among the main drivers of industrial development leading to economic growth. However, the question triggers that what drives innovation? Is innovation driven by specialisation or diversification? The literature has supported both, the specialisation and diversification as driver of innovation. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of innovation in Pakistan with a special emphasis on specialisation and diversity. The analysis is based on the cross sectional data set of 784 firms across 13 different cities of Pakistan, i.e. Investment Climate Survey (ICS) 2007, compiled by the World Bank Enterprise Group. Our findings have showed the positive relation between innovation and diversity i.e. diversity is conducive to innovation. On the other hand, specialisation has a negative effect i.e. it hinders innovation in cities of Pakistan. JEL Classification: C21, C25, O31, O32 Keywords: Innovation, Specialisation, Diversity, Logistic Regressio