Search results

An estimated 52% of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 25, and like their counterparts elsewhere around the globe, Generation Z in Pakistan was born into a world overrun with technology, Internet, and social media. This generation of consumers possess information processing ability that is much faster than any other generation. Generation Z consumers in Pakistan are active users of social media platforms connecting with local and international users, brands and exchanging information, photos, videos, ideas, and opinions with people inside and outside Pakistan. To develop insights into the consumption patterns, preferences, attitudes, and preferences of this segment of consumers, this chapter provides an overview of cultural and social values underpinning consumption choices and social media preferences. The chapter identifies and discusses the dynamic nature of Generation Z in Pakistan by identifying some of its defining features: the generation consists of confident, able, and multilingual consumers who are largely collectivists in orientation but shows strong individualistic tendencies. Such consumers have a global outlook and actively seek engagement with brands via digital platforms and influencer marketers expecting authenticity, respect, and equality. The chapter discusses work-related implications such as the need for providing transformational leadership and training programs to harness the intellectual skills of Generation Z in Pakistan. The chapter concludes by identifying and discussing issues relevant to handling Generation consumers in Pakistan including effective marketing strategies.

In this application paper, we present an analytical process to identify teaching/learning (T/L) methods used in leadership education. Applying this process to a global program for leadership development of healthcare professionals, we highlight nine methods that teachers most often used, and learners viewed as most impactful. Seven of the pedagogies identified were aligned with literature, indicating the applicability of the process for leadership education in general. We identified two methods that had not been previously or explicitly described and that learners validated as important: building a respectful and inclusive environment and sharing personal narratives. These methods appear critical for success in a diverse group of learners. The process we describe for analyzing T/L methods will be a useful addition for designers of leadership development programs.

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between financial development (FD) and monetary policy effectiveness (MPE) on output and inflation in ASEAN-3 countries (Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines).

This study uses an open economy structural vector autoregressive model to generate MPE. Then, an autoregressive distributed lagged (ARDL) model is used to analyze the effect of FD on MPE across countries.

The findings revealed that FD plays a different role in MPE across countries. In Malaysia, a more developed financial system tends to reduce the MPE on output, whereas in Singapore, results show that the more developed financial system (stock market capitalization) tends to increase MPE on output. However, in the Philippines, the main results show that the effect of FD (liquid liabilities) upon MPE on output is depending on the policy variable (interest rates or money supply).

This paper fills this gap by providing the first study of ASEAN-3 countries in examining how effective is a monetary policy in response to the development of the financial market across the country. Second, this paper considers two FD indicators, namely, the banking sector and capital market development in investigating its effect on MPE on output and inflation. Third, the authors construct the MPE in each country using a structural (identified) VAR model by aggregating the response of output growth and inflation rate on monetary policy changes (interest rate and money supply) using impulse–response function. Regarding this, the results of this study provide new empirical evidence and insight into the long debate on the relationship between FD and the MPE.

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative investigation for incompressible electrically conducting nanofluid fluid through wall jet. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiple-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are considered as the nanoparticles. To record the effect of Lorentz forces, a magnetic field is applied normally with the assumption that the induced magnetic field is negligible.

Boundary layer approximation is used to convert governing equations into ordinary differential equations along with appropriate boundary conditions. To obtain the results, used homotopy analysis method (HAM) has been used as an analytical technique and to validate the obtained results a famous numerical Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method is also exploited. It has been observed that the results obtained through both of the methods are in excellent agreement with exact solution.

The Hartmann number is used as controlling parameter for velocity and temperature profile. That can be recorded as its extended values help to normalize the velocity, whereas it controls the rapid increase in temperature. The temperature profile is boosted by increasing the value of the Biot number, a physical parameter. Similarly, it also increases for an increased percentage of volume fraction of particles (SWCNTs/MWCNTs). The Hartmann number plays an important role in decreasing local skin friction coefficient. The influence of the Biot number and volume fraction of nanoparticles caused similar increasing effects on the local Nusselt number. Nanoparticles of the form SWCNT provide better heat transfer as compared to MWCNTs. Influence of the Biot number and volume fraction of nanoparticles caused similar increasing effects on the local Nusselt number. Nanoparticles of the form SWCNT provide better heat transfer as compared to MWCNTs.

To gain insight into the problem, the effects of various emerging parameters and physical quantities such as Biot number, Nusselt number and skin friction coefficient, have been explored.

In this paper, non‐linear compartment modelling is used to study drug transport of anticancerous substance across brain tissues. The aim of the work is to identify the pharmacokinetic parameters of the model created.

A combination of the Adomian decomposition method and the Alienor reducing transformation method were used to solve the identification problem as if it were a classical one‐dimensional minimization problem.

The numerical results using this methodology have shown that local therapeutic method should be preferred, when it comes to evaluate the rate (of healthy cells/cancerous cells), especially when, somehow, the drug transition into the tumour is speeded up. The combination method of Adomian and Alienor proved a successful strategy, and could take into account many of the pharmacokinetic parameters as necessary and use well‐known algorithms.

It is believed that this modest work can be considered as preliminary steps for improving local drug administration.

The study has shown that pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling can help to understand the drug behaviour in such complex media and hence avoid the most threatening side effects by predicting the toxicity threshold of a drug and therefore minimize the therapeutic index.

Shows the powerful tools of Adomian and Alienor techniques that can be applied successfully in biomedical applications.

The purpose of this paper is to derive a closed-form expression for the steady-state availability of a cold standby repairable k-out-of-n system. This makes the availability calculation much easier and accurate.

Assuming exponential distributions for system failure and repair, the Markov method is employed to derive the formula.

The proposed formula establishes an easier and faster venue and provides accurate steady-state availability.

The formula is valid for the case when the probability density function of the component failure and the repair is exponential.

The Markov method has never been used in the literature to derive the steady-state availability of a cold standby repairable k-out-of-n: G system.

A two‐compartmental open model to study metabolism/elimination that arise in clinical observation and pharmacokinetics, is presented. The purpose of this work is to show how it is possible to combine the two methods of Alienor and Adomian with observability identification and controllability principles to optimize drug doses.

Cliniciansa try to know how to detect patients at high risk of 5‐Fu (intravnous administration). The approach is to use a two‐compartmental open model to study its metabolism/elimination and assume that it has a nonlinear behaviour. The methodology chosen brings together two proven techniques to solve the arising differential system. A case study “5‐Fu pharmacokinetics” provides an illustrative application of the combined methods.

On the basis of the numerical results obtained in the case study it was found that a chart could be set up for individual dose adjustment according to individual parameters relating to dose and plasma concentration. The use of mathematical modeling in this field was shown to be justified.

This research is especially important in the pharmaceutical industry since it allows the prediction of drug behaviour in the body. In future work, we will consider the controllability of this problem.

Improved mathematical modelling would allow physicians to treat patients in an optimal way without compromising their comfort or safety. The practitioner would need only to follow a specified procedure.

The new procedure will be especially important to the pharmaceutical industry and this methodology, combined with statistical analysis, will help to improve drug benefits.

To show how the combined Adomian/Alienor methods for solving adaptive control problems can successfully be applied to chemotherapy.

Problem formulation is first developed and combined mathematical methods (Adomian/Alienor) are used for the solution of non‐linear differential equations/systems with unknown parameters and without discretization or linearization. The approach is applied to biological systems and in particular the drug/tumour two compartment model is addressed.

A general abstract framework for the identification and the control of a non‐linear evolution system has been developed. It was found that it is possible to identify and control a system using a powerful technique based on a combination of the Adomian/Alienor methods. This produced a methodology which showed its superiority over the traditional methods in that as a result of their implementation we can predict and optimize the individual dosage in the described application.

The combined techniques proved to be successful for the optimization of drug administration where account is taken of effectiveness, usefulness and safety. Further research collaboration between multidisciplinary scientists and practitioners directed towards more insight into drug/cancerous cells behaviour is required.

An alternative to other classical techniques to solve control/identification problems has been produced.

New combined technique given which is superior to traditional ones for certain therapeutic cases.

Consumer expectations of quality have grown in recent years, forcing organisations, both service and manufacturing, to adopt total quality management (TQM) principles to satisfy customer demands efficiently. However, previous studies on the performance impacts of total quality management practices have mainly focused on the financial performance of firms in the manufacturing sector. This study focusses on the research questions: (1) What is the effect of TQM practices on operational performance? and (2) How do TQM practices combine to influence the operational performance of healthcare facilities?

Using a sample of 154 health facilities (i.e. private hospitals, pharmacies, maternity clinics, and diagnostic centres), the authors applied symmetric (PLS-SEM) and asymmetric (fsQCA) data analysis approaches to examine how TQM practices influence the operational performance of health facilities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

The PLS-SEM results revealed that five out of the seven TQM practices investigated influenced operational performance. However, the fsQCA results identify five different complex combinations of TQM practices that lead to operational performance.

Longitudinal studies can be conducted in the future to assess changes in the variables over time. A control variable, such as firm size, should be considered to assess the level of implementation of TQM practices based on firm size. A different performance measure, for instance, sustainability indicators or the balance score card, could be used to examine performance.

A proper and coordinated integration of the TQM practices is required for firms to be able to achieve operational performance. TQM practices vary in their sufficiency for operational outcomes; therefore, management needs to carefully consider their implementation as part of the organisation's strategy.

This research, by focussing on TQM practices from both symmetrical and asymmetrical perspectives, contributes to the understanding of the literature on TQM, thereby providing actionable insight on how to invest in the various TQM practices for improved operational performance.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the readiness of contracted and non-contracted first-level healthcare facilities in Pakistan to deliver quality maternal and neonatal health (MNH) care. A balanced scorecard (BSC) was used as the assessment framework.

Using a cross-sectional study design, two rural health centers (RHCs) contracted out to Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan were compared with four government managed RHCs. A BSC was designed to assess RHC readiness to deliver good quality MNH care. In total 20 indicators were developed, representing five BSC domains: health facility functionality, service provision, staff capacity, staff and patient satisfaction. Validated data collection tools were used to collect information. Pearson χ2, Fisher’s Exact and the Mann-Whitney tests were applied as appropriate to detect significant service quality differences among the two facilities.

Contracted facilities were generally found to be better than non-contracted facilities in all five BSC domains. Patients’ inclination for facility-based delivery at contracted facilities was, however, significantly higher than non-contracted facilities (80 percent contracted vs 43 percent non-contracted, p=0.006).

The study shows that contracting out initiatives have the potential to improve MNH care.

This is the first study to compare MNH service delivery quality across contracted and non-contracted facilities using BSC as the assessment framework.