New Technique for Imputing Missing Item Responses for an Ordinal Variable: Using Tennessee Youth Risk Behavior Survey as an Example.

Surveys ordinarily ask questions in an ordinal scale and often result in missing data. We suggest a regression based technique for imputing missing ordinal data. Multilevel cumulative logit model was used with an assumption that observed responses of certain key variables can serve as covariate in predicting missing item responses of an ordinal variable. Individual predicted probabilities at each response level were obtained. Average individual predicted probabilities for each response level were used to randomly impute the missing responses using a uniform distribution. Finally, likelihood ratio chi square statistics was used to compare the imputed and observed distributions. Two other forms of multiple imputation algorithms were performed for comparison. Performance of our imputation technique was comparable to other 2 established algorithms. Our method being simpler does not involve any complex algorithms and with further research can potentially be used as an imputation technique for missing ordinal variables

CD20 positivity in classical hodgkin\u27s lymphoma: diagnostic challenge or targeting opportunity.

BACKGROUND:It is now well established that Hodgkin cells are clonal B cells with a CD30 and CD15 phenotype. However, on immunohistochemistry, in our experience and the experience of others, CD20 positivity in an otherwise typical classical Hodgkin\u27s Lymphoma is not uncommon and if associated with CD15 negativity poses a potential diagnostic trap and is likely to be called B-NHL.OBJECTIVE:To assess the frequency of B-cell related antigens CD20 and CD79a in classical Hodgkin\u27s Lymphoma.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A total of 91 consecutive cases of classical Hodgkin\u27s Lymphoma were analyzed for co-expression of CD20 and CD79a. Both males and females of all ages were included in this study. All cases of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin\u27s Lymphoma were excluded. All the cases were stained with a panel of antibodies including LCA, CD20, CD79a, CD30, CD15, CD3, EMA and Alk. Protein.RESULTS:All 91 cases of classical Hodgkin\u27s Lymphoma showed negativity for LCA and positivity for CD30. Eighteen cases (19.8%) showed distinct membrane staining with CD20 in most of the large atypical cells. However, out of these, only 7 cases (7.7%) showed CD79a co-expression, which was largely focal. CD15 negativity with CD20 positivity was seen in 7 (7.7%) cases of otherwise typical classical Hodgkin\u27s LymphomaCONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS:CD20 expression is frequent in classical Hodgkin\u27s Lymphoma and our results are in consensus with reported literature on this subject. In these cases, LCA negativity of large cells was extremely useful in clinching the right diagnosis

ev->ev Aspirant for New Physics

This work focuses on the topical survey of precision measurements via ev->ev scattering in the frame work of Non-Standard Interaction (NSI). Both Model Independent (MI) and Model Dependent (MD) are used in addition the Standard Model (SM). R-parity violating Supersymmetry (SUSY) Model is used to perform MD analysis, where the scattering cross-section is influenced by new S-bosons. By using LSND experimental value, we obtain limits for SUSY coupling parameter (lambda) and obtain physically allowed and disallowed regions rather than just limits/bounds for MI paramters. Under the limits of CHARMII, BNL-COL and BNL-E734 experimental values, we get physically allowed and disallowed regions for MI and MD couplings parameters. Sensitivity of these coupling parameters with each other is also discussed. Furthermore, we establish a relation between MI coupling parameters and R-parity violating SUSY Model coupling parameters.Comment: 14 pages, 15 figure

Impact of Brand Loyalty on Brand Extension

The key objective of this study is to explore the effects of different dimensions of brand loyalty towards the original brand on the evaluation of brand extensions. This was a primary research and questionnaire was distributed among 200 respondents and 183 were processed for analysis. The target respondents were the students of different universities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The scale was taken from the existing research (Hem and Iversen, 2003). SPSS was used to analyze the data. The result finds that there is positive and significant relationship between brand loyalty and brand extension. So on the bases of these results that all the hypotheses (H1, H2, H3, H4 and H5) are proved positively and significantly and affect the evaluation of brand extension. Keywords: Brand Loyalty, Brand Extension, original bran

Biotic elicitor enhanced production of psoralen in suspension cultures of Psoralea corylifolia L.

AbstractCell cultures of Psoralea corylifolia L. were established from the leaf disk derived callus. The effect of different biotic elicitors prepared from the fungal extract (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum), yeast extract and chitosan with different concentrations was studied. The increased synthesis of psoralen in 16-day old cell cultures under 16h of light and 8h of dark period was studied. Elicitation of psoralen in A. niger elicitor treated cells was found 9-fold higher over control cells. Treating the cells with P. notatum, yeast extract and chitosan elicitors lead to four to seven-fold higher psoralen accumulation over control cells. The extract of A. niger at 1.0% v/v increased the significant accumulation of psoralen (9850μg/g DCW) in the cultured cells. Our study clearly shows that all the elicitors had the potential to increase the accumulation of psoralen but the A. niger elicitor at 1.0% v/v induced maximum accumulation

Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in Mobile Telecumunication

Purpose:This research has been conducted to discuss customer loyalty in mobile telecommunication. Study measures different features of service assortment, price satisfaction, quality, employee service and satisfaction to check which attribute influence the loyalty more in mobile telecommunication. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted in university of Sargodha. For this purpose the questionnaires were filled from the students of different departments of the university who were the customers of any one of the mobile network operators from the five main mobile networks in Pakistan named as Ufone, Telenor, Warid, Zong and Mobilink. The ?ve-point Likert scale was used (where 1 equals strongly disagree and 5 equals strongly agree). Finding:Research found that Price satisfaction, quality, employee service, service assortment and satisfaction positively related to the customer loyalty. Research also found that Service assortment highly affects the customer loyalty among the all independent variables.Limitations:This research includes a limitation that the people under consideration of sample are highly educated and young people.Originality/value:Regardless of the development of new products and services, only some studies have examined customer satisfaction and loyalty in the mobile telecom sector

Financial Stability of Islamic Versus Conventional Banks in Pakistan

This study aims to analyze and compare the financial stability of Pakistani banks covering a timeframe of 5 years from 2012 to 2016. This study employs the financial soundness indicators of the International Monetary Funds and State Bank of Pakistan and the z-score index. The comparative analysis through average scores is performed using 3 indicators of financial stability namely Z-Score, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and Equity to Total Assets Ratio. The findings of the research reveal that (i) conventional banks are more financially stable than Islamic banks; (ii) large conventional banks are more financially stable than large Islamic banks; (iii) small Islamic banks are less stable than small conventional bank. The implication of this paper is that conventional banks have the potential of absorbing financial stability shock as compare to Islamic banks on the basis of stated financial soundness indicators and Z-Score specifically.DOI: 10.15408/aiq.v10i2.650

Prophylactic use of carvedilol to prevent ventricular dysfunction in patients with cancer treated with doxorubicin

Objective: Deterioration in ventricular function is often observed in patients treated with anthracyclines for cancer. There is a paucity of evidence on interventions that might provide cardio-protection. We investigated whether prophylactic use of carvedilol can prevent doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and whether any observed effect is dose related. Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study in patients treated with doxorubicin, comparing placebo (n = 38) with different doses of carvedilol [6.25 mg/day (n = 41), 12.5 mg/day (n = 38) or 25 mg/day (n = 37)]. The primary endpoint was the measured change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from baseline to 6 months. Results: LVEF decreased from 62 ± 5% at baseline to 58 ± 7% at 6-months (p = 0.002) in patients assigned to placebo but no statistically significant changes were observed in any of the 3 carvedilol groups. At 6 months, only one of 116 patients (1%) assigned to carvedilol had an LVEF < 50% compared to four of the 38 assigned to placebo (11%), (p = 0.013). No significant differences were noted between carvedilol and placebo in terms of the development of diastolic dysfunction, clinically overt heart failure or death. Conclusions: Carvedilol might prevent deterioration in LVEF in cancer patients treated with doxorubicin. This effect may not be dose related within the studied range