Dynamics of variables underlying Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in English (L2): A case study of postgraduate business students at a university classroom in Sukkur, Pakistan

Modern approaches to second language (L2) pedagogy emphasise authentic L2 use for successful L2 learning. However, it has been a common observation L2 contexts that despite possessing years of experience in L2 learning, sometimes even students with higher L2 proficiency shy away from communication, while others plunge themselves in a conversation involving L2. It has been argued that in order for learners to become successful L2 users they not only have to have competence and motivation but a higher willingness to communicate in the target language as well. The present study was, therefore, designed to explore the situational variables and their interaction determining the willingness to communicate (WTC) in English (L2) of six postgraduate business students in a university classroom in Pakistan. While much research has been undertaken to examine trait-like psychological antecedents, only a few studies have examined the nature of the interaction between situational variables affecting L2 WTC in a classroom context. Adopting the Dynamic Systems Theory (DST) framework, the present study utilised classroom observations, learners’ diaries, stimulated recall interviews and biographic questionnaires to collect the data over ten weeks. The study results showed that participants’ L2 WTC emerged as a result of the complex, dynamic and non-linear interaction between contextual, psychological, linguistic and physiological factors. Most notably, the study revealed that while learners’ L2 use was a manifestation of their willingness to talk, their silence was not always a reflection of their un-willingness but involved an active cognitive engagement in L2 communication. The current study, therefore, reinforces the need for teachers to be aware of the multiple factors which affect learners’ L2 WTC and silence in L2 classroom. Owing to the complexity and non-linearity of interaction of variables, the current study proposes pre-service and in-service teacher training for English language teachers in Pakistan.

A Nonparametric Analysis for Stability of Wheat Genotypes Tested in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

The objective of our study is to investigate the relationship amongst nonparametric stability statistics. Genotype environment interaction (G × EI) of eighteen genotypes wheat, tested at seven locations was interpreted by non-parametric measures. Different nonparametric measures for (G×EI) on the grain yield data of eighteen wheat’s genotypes were selected from NUWYT in the year 2016-17 in Pakistan. The experiments were conducted in Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) and were replicated twice at each location. The nonparametric steps were used to attain improvement for G×EI at (P < 0.01) which recommended the various interaction of the wheat’s genotype to be tested in each environment. Rank correlation by Spearman was applied to calculate the relationship amongst the stability of statistics with (PCA) biplot. The results of (PCA) and correlation analysis of nonparametric stability measures indicate to select stable and highly yield genotype by using Si1, Si2, Si3 and Si6 (Huehn, 1979), the NPi1, NPi2, NPi3 and NPi4 (Thennarasu.1995) and rank sum (Kang’s 1988).  G16, G1 and G5, were found to be the most stable genotypes and G10 was unstabl

A Nonparametric Analysis for Stability of Wheat Genotypes Tested in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

The objective of our study is to investigate the relationship amongst nonparametric stability statistics. Genotype environment interaction (G × EI) of eighteen genotypes wheat, tested at seven locations was interpreted by non-parametric measures. Different nonparametric measures for (G×EI) on the grain yield data of eighteen wheat’s genotypes were selected from NUWYT in the year 2016-17 in Pakistan. The experiments were conducted in Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) and were replicated twice at each location. The nonparametric steps were used to attain improvement for G×EI at (P < 0.01) which recommended the various interaction of the wheat’s genotype to be tested in each environment. Rank correlation by Spearman was applied to calculate the relationship amongst the stability of statistics with (PCA) biplot. The results of (PCA) and correlation analysis of nonparametric stability measures indicate to select stable and highly yield genotype by using Si1, Si2, Si3 and Si6 (Huehn, 1979), the NPi1, NPi2, NPi3 and NPi4 (Thennarasu.1995) and rank sum (Kang’s 1988).  G16, G1 and G5, were found to be the most stable genotypes and G10 was unstabl

Energy Performance Analysis of a Multi-Story Building Using Building Information Modeling (BIM)

There is an enormous rise in building construction to meet serious demands of population increase. Besides its benefits, certain negative impacts on climate change and environments are associated with the built environment due to substantial energy requirements during operational phase. The current work aims to assess the energy consumption pattern of a residential facility based upon solar path analysis using simulation technique. A multi-story conventional building has been developed in a virtual 3D parametric environment using building information modeling. The BIM model was converted into the energy model using cloud computing. The energy model, at the proposed current orientation, was analyzed using insight 360 and solar energy analysis performed accordingly. Based upon the solar path analysis, the study observed that, at the present trajectory of solar path, provision of solar panels arrangements on 106,221 ft2 Photovoltaic panel area can produce the energy of 2,163,417 kwh/year with a payback period of 0.8 years.Keyword: Building Information Modelling, Energy analysis, Energy Optimization, Architecture 2030 Challeng

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

FABRICATION AND EVALUATION OF SMART NANOCRYSTALS OF ARTEMISININ FOR ANTIMALARIAL AND ANTIBACTERIAL EFFICACY

Background: Nanocrystals have the potential to substantially increase dissolution rate, solubility with subsequent enhanced bioavailability via the oral route of a range of poor water soluble drugs. Regardless of other issues, scale up of the batch size is the main issue associated with bottom up approach. Material and Methods: Smart nanocrystals of artemisinin (ARM) was produced relatively at large batch sizes (100, 200, 300 and 400ml) compared to our previously reported study by (Shah, et al., 2016). ARM nanosuspensions/nanocrystals were characterised using zeta sizer, SEM, TEM, DSC, PXRD and RP-HPLC. The nanosuspensions were finally subjected to in vitro antimalarial and antimicrobial activity. Results: The average particle size (PS) for 400 ml batches was 126.5 ±1.02 nm, and the polydispersity index (PI) was 0.194 ± 0.04. The saturation solubility of the ARM nanocrystals was substantially increased to (725.4± 2.0 μg/ml) compared to the raw ARM in water 177.4± 1.3 μg/ml and stabilizer solution (385.3± 2.0 μg/ml). The IC50 value of ARM nanosuspension against P. vivax was 65 and 21 folds lower than micronized 19.5 ng/mL and unprocessed drug (6.4 ng/mL) respectively. The ARM nanosuspension was found highly effective compared to unprocessed drug against all the tested microorganism except E. coli, Shigella and C. albican. Conclusion: The simple precipitation-ultrasonication approach was efficiently employed for fabrication of ARM nanosuspension to scale up the batch size. Similarly, the solubility, antimalarial potential and antimicrobial efficacy of ARM in the form of nanosuspension were significantly enhanced. Findings from this study can persuade research interest for further comprehensive studies using animals model

Experimental Results of the Tribology of Aluminum in the Presence of Polytron Additive

Friction is an ever-present obstacle that causes energy loss in mechanical parts. To alleviate this nuisance, we carried out experimental studies on a brand new additive called Polytron to assess its role in the minimization of friction and wear. The wear, the volume wear rate, the wear coefficient, and the coefficient of friction of the aluminum surface were measured at room temperature with pin-on-disk tribometer without and with 10% Polytron in Helix oil. In the base oil Helix, their values were found to be 70 μm, 1.28×10−3mm3/min, 1.27×10−10m2/N, and 0.012, respectively, which with the incorporation of Polytron additive in the Helix oil correspondingly reduced to 20μm, 6.08×10−5mm3/min, 4.22×10−11m2N, and 0.004. The experimental verdict points to an ionic character of the additive in that it impregnates the crystal structure of the metal, thereby prompting a hard surface layer which subsequently curtails wear and friction

Spatial analysis of food poisoning cases and its environmental relations in Sabah, Malaysia

Food poisoning usually occurs with the consumption of contaminated food. Some related factors are unsafe water supply, poor sanitation, unhygienic waste disposal and unhygienic practices or poor personal hygiene by food handlers. The purpose of this study is to describe the spatial epidemiology of food poisoning cases in the four districts of Sabah. Methods: This review consists of all food poisoning cases reported from 2011 to 2014 from Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan and Papar, Sabah. The coordinates used for locations of cases are based on home addresses. Tools such as SPSS v20, ArcGIS v10 and CrimeStat IV were used for data analysis and mapping. Results: A total of 1,787 cases of food poisoning were reported during this review period. In 2011, only Kota Kinabalu and Papar illustrated significant food poisoning clusters. Meanwhile, in the year 2012 to 2014, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan had clustering of cases. Analysis of nearest neighbour hierarchical clustering analysis showed 32 food poisoning clusters. There were 4 food poisoning points at 500 meters radius around a market place, 2 food poisoning points near a sewage plant and 1 food poisoning point near a water treatment plant. No cases were near a municipal landfill. For rivers and coastline, there were 37 points of food poisoning cases in the proximity of 500 meters. Conclusion: Food poisoning usually occurs in clusters with possible associated environmental factors

Spatial clustering of Cholera in Sabah, Malaysia

Cholera epidemics can produce devastating public health outcomes. Cholera distribution is influenced by temperature, precipitation, elevation, distance to the coastline and oceanic environmental factors such as sea surface temperature, sea surface height and ocean chlorophyll concentration. The purpose of this study is to describe the spatial epidemiology of cholera in the four districts of Sabah. Methods: This is a retrospective review of 4 years (2011 to 2014) data from the districts of Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan and Papar, Sabah. All reported cases of cholera from those areas are included. Coordinates for locations of the cases are based on home addresses. SPSS v20, ArcGIS v10 and CrimeStat IV were used for data analysis and mapping. Results: Cholera showed several clustering of cases, such as in 2011 and 2014 in Kota Kinabalu. In the year 2011 and 2013, Penampang and Papar districts had the nearest neighbour index of less than 1, but p value was not significant, meaning the pattern did not appear to be significant. Nearest neighbour hierarchical clustering analysis further revealed cholera had 7 clusters, of those 6 were first order and 1 was a second order cluster. Conclusion: Cholera shows disease clustering which could mean it is due to its common point source or localised human to human transmission. Using GIS as a tool may help in surveillance and control of cholera infections

The descriptive study of anxiety levels among diabetics: insulin users versus non-insulin users

Background: Anxiety is an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of turmoil often accompanied by nervous behaviours such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints and rumination. Diabetes is the most metabolically active disease which can influence the psychological state. This study evaluates the anxiety levels among diabetics (Insulin users versus non-insulin users) along with its relation to certain demographic factors like age, sex, education, type of medication and medication compliance.Methods: Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A) was used to test the anxiety levels in 187 diabetic patients visiting the diabetic clinic and research centre, Nishtar Hospital, Multan and other diabetic clinics in the area. 97 (51.87%) patients of the total sample are males and 90 (48.12%) patients are females.Results: In this study, 170 (91%) had type 2 diabetes while 17 (9%) suffered from Type 1 Diabetes. 66.66% of the patients in the sample were insulin users while 34.34% were non-insulin users. The overall mean anxiety level in insulin users is 24.55 and in non-insulin users is 23.92.Conclusions: Our study showed a high prevalence of anxiety levels in insulin users as compared to non-insulin users. Certain symptoms like anxious mood, tension, fears, depressed mood, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms appeared with mild anxiety levels while other symptoms like insomnia, somatic symptoms, autonomic symptoms, respiratory and genitourinary symptoms appeared with high severity levels. The presence of risk factors for anxiety among patients of diabetes predicts a causal relationship and deserves attention from clinicians