The quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects: from weak to strong system-environment coupling

By repeatedly measuring a quantum system, the evolution of the system can be slowed down (the quantum Zeno effect) or sped up (quantum anti-Zeno effect). We study these effects for a single two-level system coupled to a collection of harmonic oscillators. Previously, such systems have been studied in both the weak and the strong system-environment coupling regimes. In this paper, we apply a polaron transformation in a manner that allows us to study the quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects for a large variety of system-environment parameters. Using this approach, we reproduce previous results for the weak and strong system-environment coupling regimes. Moreover, as long as the environment is super-Ohmic, we show how our approach can be used to explore regimes such as the moderate system-environment coupling regime that could not be investigated before in a straightforward manner.Comment: 9 pages, comments most welcom

Critical Review of Ibsen’S Female Character Hedda Gabler

My research aims at highlighting the controversy in Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler being a feminist character. Although Ibsen is a renowned Feminist playwright, yet Hedda Gabler is deprived of the true feminist traits and has a number of negative aspects highlighted in her. My purpose in this research is to highlight Ibsen’s female character , Hedda Gabler as a dominant character ruling over others; having no mother-like traits and emotions which makes her a man-like character rather than mother-like. Aim of my research is to justify that Hedda is in no respect appropriate to play a motherly role in the play, as her step of suicide at the end of the play was extremely cruel for her unborn child. The framework of my research is Critical Discourse Analysis. With the help of CDA, I will reveal the hidden ideologies of the character Hedda Gabbler and from text; prove that she has no feminist, rather mother-like traits. Keywords:Dominant, Feminist, Hedda Gabler, mother-like traits, suicide

Aplicación del modelo de gravedad aumentada de las TIC: análisis por sectores en la región de Asia Pacífico

The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in commerce improves the commercial structure and economic capacity of a country. This study empirically assesses the impact of ICTs on international trade in 36 countries in Asia and the Pacific, at the sectoral level, between 2007 and 2018. The study evaluates whether ICTs improve international trade by hiring the gravity model of international trade and increasing it with the ICT variable. An ICT development indicator (IDI) is formed by joining seven different ICT variables that show ICT infrastructure, use, and skills. Using the Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) estimation technique, this study shows that ICTs improve trade by reducing transaction costs. The findings reveal that information and communication technology positively and significantly influence international trade in all sectors of the Asia-Pacific region, and that trade intensifies when both trading partners have a high endowment of information and communications technology. The study recommends that governments in developing countries upgrade their ICT infrastructure levels.El uso de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC) en el comercio mejora la estructura comercial y la capacidad económica de un país. Este estudio evalúa empíricamente el impacto de las TIC en el comercio internacional en 36 países de Asia y el Pacífico a nivel sectorial entre 2007 y 2018. El estudio prueba si las TIC mejoran el comercio internacional mediante la contratación del modelo de gravedad del comercio internacional al aumentarlo con la variable TIC. Un indicador de desarrollo de las TIC (IDI) se forma uniendo siete variables TIC diferentes que muestran la infraestructura, el uso y las habilidades de las TIC. Al emplear la técnica de estimación de Poisson pseudo-máxima verosimilitud (PPML), este estudio muestra que las TIC mejoran el comercio al reducir los costos de transacción. Las conclusiones revelan que la tecnología de la información y las comunicaciones influye positiva y significativamente en el comercio internacional en todos los sectores de la región de Asia y el Pacífico y que el comercio se intensifica cuando ambos interlocutores comerciales tienen una alta dotación de tecnología de la información y las comunicaciones. El estudio recomienda que los gobiernos de los países en desarrollo actualicen sus niveles de infraestructura TIC

DETRIMENTAL CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF ORGANIZATIONAL INJUSTICE IN THE WORKPLACE: EVIDENCE FROM PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS

This study investigated the causes of organizational injusticeand how this influences employees’ job outcomes in public sectororganizations in Pakistan. Two models were constructed and analyzed to fulfill the research goals. Data were obtained using a simple random sampling technique. Of the sample, 254 employees of public sector organizations filled out self-administered questionnaires. Multiple regression was applied to test direct proposed hypotheses. To evaluatethe organizational injustice’s indirect effect on organizationalperformance due to employees’ job dissatisfaction, the mediation test of Preacher and Hayes (2004) was applied. The results showed that organizational injustice negatively impacts affective commitment and perceived organizational performance. Moreover, job dissatisfaction impacts the relationship in organizational injustice, perceived organizational performance and affective commitment

PICTORIAL REVIEW OF EXTRAOSSEOUS EWING’S TUMOUR: A SINGLE CENTER EXPERIENCE

Purpose: Ewing’s family tumour is an extremely rare tumour, with annual incidence rates amongst Caucasian children <21 years being in the range of 2–3 cases per million in the U.S. There are mainly three subtypes including Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) of bone, extraosseous (EO) Ewing’s tumour and Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour. Although extremely rare, this study represents a review of various types of cases and the significance of imaging including its baseline and post-treatment response radiological characteristics. There are a very few cases of EO ES in the current literature with variable spectrum of tumour site and their imaging characteristics.Materials and Methods: Electronic records were retrospectively reviewed from 1 May 2011 to 1 May 2016 with patients who were diagnosed as histologically proven ES. A number of patients, gender and base line computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging findings for staging were reviewed.Results: A total of 568 patients with diagnosed ES were analysed, of which 15 patients had EO type of ES. Of these only 8 patients had baseline imaging available which included tumours arising from the occipital region, orbit, anterior mediastinum, anterior abdominal wall, mesentery, kidney, prostate gland and presacral region.Conclusion: EO ES is a rare entity and can involve a wide array of soft tissue organs. A cross-sectional imaging with CT and MR has a key role in pre- and post-treatment assessment.Key words: Computed tomography, Ewing’s sarcoma, extraosseous Ewing’s, magnetic resonance imaging, peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumou

Seawater salinity modelling based on electromagnetic wave characterization

Wireless communications have experienced tremendous growth, and improving their performance based on specific parameters requires an accurate model. Salt seawater, being an abundant resource, could play a crucial role in various applications such as enhancing electrical conductivity, monitoring security, improving battery power efficiency, and creating liquid antennas. Salinity is an essential factor to consider when developing these applications. This paper focused on investigating the electromagnetic properties of seawater salinity in the context of marine wireless communications. The results of the study showed that salinity has a significant impact on the Fresnel reflection coefficient in terms of magnitude, phase shift, and polarization, and can either constructively or destructively affect it. The new model paved the way for the development of an integrated salt seawater model that addressed the complex salinity issues involved in these applications

High Grade B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Masquerading as Thyroid Carcinoma; a Case Report

Introduction: High grade B-cell lymphoma and diffuse large B cell exhibiting myelocytoma (MYC) translocation with B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and/or B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) re-arrangements, also known as double and triple hit lymphomas, are aggressive entities. World Health Organization update 2017 includes this cytogenetically defined category of “High grade B cell lymphoma with myelocytoma MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements” as a distinct entity on their own. We present an interesting case of an obese patient presenting with a neck mass, suspected to be an aggressive thyroid carcinoma, which eventually turned out to be a high grade B-cell lymphoma. Case description: A 64 years-old male presented with complaints of neck pain for 10 weeks and a huge swelling in front of neck for 4 weeks. Respiratory system evaluation revealed cough, pleuritic pain and expectoration. Rest of the systemic review was unremarkable. Baseline reports showed hypothyroid status. Ultrasonography (USG) thyroid showed right upper pole Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems - 4 (TIRADS-4) nodule with bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy for which correlation with fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was advised. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) films were submitted for review which showed overall features of locally invasive primary thyroid malignancy. Case was discussed in a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting and suspicion arose of non-thyroidal origin of tumor. Patient underwent Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) as per MDT recommendations. PET/CT findings were highly suggestive of lymphomatous disease as opposed to thyroidal malignancy suspicion early on, which was confirmed on histopathology of cervical nodes. Practical implications: High grade B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive entity and can be very deceptive in its presentation, as evident from this case report. Functional imaging modalities such as Fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) PET/CT can provide crucial assistance in unmasking a deceptive disease entity masquerading as some other, thus changing the management plan completely

Role of Probiotics Saccharomyces Boulardii in The Management of Acute Watery Diarrheas in Children

Objective: To determine role of probiotics saccharomyces Boulardii in management of acute watery diarrhea in children Methods: The study was conducted on 64 children in Bahawal Victoria Hospital’s pediatrics wards in Bahawalpur. This was placebo controlled randomized control trial. Ethical issue was solved by taking permission from the institutional committee. Informed consent from parents or guardians were taken of every child. All children with age from two months to twelve years, who presented with acute watery diarrhea, were recruited by non-probability consecutive sampling and were divided into two groups by lottery method. Group A was treated by recommended WHO protocol plus saccharomyces Boulardii (250mg twice a day orally for three days). Group B was treated with recommended WHO protocol plus placebo. Whole data of study was processed by SPSS volume 23. All the numerical variables in study were statistically calculated and analyzed in their mean values and standard deviation and t test was used to determine the significance. similarly, all qualitative variables in study were analyzed by percentage and frequency and significance were checked by applying chi square test. A significance is considered when p value was <0.05. Results: . The mean age and weight of the patients of group A was 22.25±10.09 months and 8.65±2.84 kg respectively. There were 68.8% (n=22) boys and 31.2% (n=10) girls. While, the mean age and weight of the patients of group B was 25.81±6.75 months and 9.46±2.62 kg respectively. There were 56.2% (n=18) boys and 43.8% (n=14) girls. Bacteria isolated noted as 68.8% (n=22) and 18.8% (n=6) for the group A and B respectively. Mean number of stools reported on d 0, mean number of stools reported on d 3 and duration of diarrhea (d) of the patients of group A was 10.25±1.03, 2.72±1.82 and 3.16±1.80 days respectively. While, the Mean number of stools reported on d 0, mean number of stools reported on d 3 and duration of diarrhea (d) of the patients of group B was 9.33±1.25, 4.66±1.55 and 4.95±1.11 days respectively. The differences were statistically significant among the groups at (p=0.000). Conclusion: Study concluded that use of probiotics saccharomyces Boulardii is significantly associated with reduction of duration and frequency of diarrhea. It should be used with oral rehydration in treating acute watery diarrhea. It can result in early recovery. Key words: saccharomyces Boulardii, diarrhea, children, probiotics

Examining the extent of and drivers for materiality assessment disclosures in sustainability reports

Purpose: This paper aims to evaluate the extent of materiality assessment disclosures in sustainability reports and their determinants. The study examines the disclosure practices of listed companies based in the member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, colloquially referred to as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Design/methodology/approach: First, the materiality assessment disclosures were scored through a content analysis of sustainability reports published by listed GCC companies during a five-year period from 2013 to 2017. Second, a fixed effect ordered logic regression was used to examine the determinants of materiality assessment disclosures. Findings: While sustainability reporting rates improved across the sample period, a significant majority of listed GCC companies do not engage in sustainability reporting. The use of internationally recognised standards has also declined. While reporters provide more information on their materiality assessment, the number of sustainability reports that offer information on how the reporter identifies material issues has declined. These trends potentially indicate the existence of managerial capture. Materiality assessment disclosure scores are positively influenced by higher financial performance (Return on Assets), lower leverage and better corporate governance. However, company size and market-to-book ratio do not influence materiality assessment disclosures. Practical implications: The findings may prove useful to managers responsible for preparing sustainability reports who can benefit from the examples of materiality assessment disclosures. An evaluation of the materiality assessment should be included in the scope of assurance engagements and practitioners can use the examples of best practice when evaluating sustainability reports. Stock exchanges may consider developing improved corporate governance guidelines as these will lead to materiality assessment disclosures. Social implications: The findings may assist in improving sustainability reporting quality, through better materiality assessment disclosures. This will allow corporate stakeholders to evaluate the reporting entities underlying processes, which leads to transparency and corporate accountability. Improved corporate sustainability reporting supports the GCC commitment to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and transition to sustainable development. Originality/value: This study addresses the call for greater research examining materiality within a sustainability reporting context. This is the first paper to examine sustainability reporting quality in the GCC region, focussing particularly on materiality assessment disclosures