Journal of Excellence in Social Sciences

Internet of Things (IoT) Based Health Monitoring & Facility System for Remote Homes

Ihsan Malik — 2024-04-08

This research study explores IoT's potential in the healthcare sector. The proposed system
comprises a series of smart devices connected to the patients, a data collection and
transmission system, intelligent software for basic medical analysis, and a team of medical
practitioners to handle complex scenarios. To test the efficacy of the proposed mechanism,
the healthcare system was simulated using the ns-3 software, and a pilot project was
conducted on a small scale, where the medical conditions of three to five patients were
monitored, and a medical practitioner coordinated remotely. The pilot project results were
encouraging, and the proposed IoT-based healthcare system demonstrated a significant
reduction in the burden, improved efficiency and a better quality of life for patients. The
proposed mechanism has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare sector and provide
relief to the overburdened healthcare systems in developing countries. IoT in healthcare
can help provide remote medical assistance to patients in remote areas, reduce hospital
load, and enable doctors to monitor patients' health in real time. Furthermore, the proposed
system could facilitate access to medical care for marginalized communities where access
to healthcare is limited due to geographical or financial constraints. The system proposed
in this study has the potential to significantly improve healthcare outcomes and alleviate
the challenges faced by the healthcare sector in developing countries. The system has
demonstrated its effectiveness in a pilot project, and its implementation could positively
impact the healthcare system.

Socio-Economic Determinants of Migration in Pakistan

Nazesh Altaf — 2024-03-05

Different migration theories represent different variables about determinants, degrees, and dynamics of migration. Some other theories discuss the economic aspects of migration at the personal and household level, such as the neo-classical and the new economics of colonial theories. This study examines the determinants of migration based on current theories of migration. We use primary (micro) data for this purpose: Pakistan Demographic Household Survey (PDHS) 2017-18. Moreover, we think that the decision to migrate is not the individual’s decision; it is the collective decision of the home, and we have included the household-level characteristics in the analysis. The study aims to analyse the socio-economic determinants of migration in Pakistan. Logistic regression is applied to assess the impact of socio-economic determinants of migration in Pakistan. Marriages (71%) play a major role in immigration decision-making in Pakistan, and migration in Pakistan is the predominant factor. Education has a positive relationship with migration. The better economic opportunities have a significant impact on migration.

Unleashing the Potential of Industry 4.0: Analyzing Pakistan's Tourism in the Global Arena

Munazza Rashid — 2024-04-18

Research on Pakistan's Tourism Development has increased in recent years. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of quantitative investigations on Pakistan's tourism development for many reasons, including a need for more infrastructure and incorporation of the digital Industry. However, in recent years, many research publications in this area have been published, and a bibliometric analysis of 500 publications was collected from the Scopus database. Biblioshiny and RStudio software tools were used for descriptive and network analyses. Regarding publications and citations, Sustainability and Journal of Cleaner Production have earned the top rankings among journals. China currently holds the leading position in both Industry 4.0 and tourism. University Utara Malaysia has published 22 articles and is dominant in this field. From 2015 to 2023, Fig. 11 shows that China and Pakistan have emerged as the frontrunners in research article publications related to Tourism and Industry 4.0. Pakistan shares the second position with Saudi Arabia, having many publications. The research results showed that the overall publication trend in this domain increased. According to the World Tourism Organization's report, the number of international tourists who reached their destinations in 2019 reached 1.5 billion, reflecting 4%. The tourism industry played a substantial role in the worldwide economy during the year 2018, constituting 10.4% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generating job opportunities for an estimated 319 million people across the globe. Pakistan can potentially improve its digital marketing efforts, incorporate virtual and augmented reality experiences, establish intelligent tourism infrastructure, and promote contactless payments and digital services as per the analysis. Moreover, leverage data analytics for personalized marketing, and prioritize sustainability by analyzing the strategies implemented by countries like Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Japan. The adoption of cutting-edge technologies has the potential to establish Pakistan as a prominent tourism destination, leading to the promotion of economic growth and societal advancement. The study will contribute toward a better understanding of the existing tourism in Pakistan and its impact on the economy of Pakistan. By researching and exploring, we have concluded that the adoption of cutting-edge technologies has the potential to establish Pakistan as a prominent tourism destination, promoting economic growth and societal advancement.

Exploring politeness strategies: A comparative study of speeches of American and Chinese Presidents at UNGA 78th session

Saira Batool — 2024-03-11

Politeness is the practical application of good manners or etiquette so as not to offend others and to put them at ease. It is a culturally defined phenomenon, and therefore what is considered polite in one culture can sometimes be quite rude or simply eccentric in another cultural context. Brown and Levinson suggested four different politeness strategies that can help to make successful conversation by avoiding face threatening acts. Aim of the present study was to explore politeness strategies proposed by Brown and Levinson [4] in the speeches of the American and Chinese presidents at UNGA 78th session. The study was a comparative analysis of politeness strategies used by presidents in their speech at UNGA. The study used mixed methods research approach for the detailed analysis and comparison of politeness strategies in the speech. In present study both quantitative and qualitative analysis were used. Both speeches were analysed qualitatively by applying Brown and Levinson theory of politeness. Excel sheets were used to analyse data quantitatively. Findings showed that American president used more politeness strategies as compared to Chinese president. It was also observed that cultural difference was the reason of difference in the use of politeness strategies by American and Chinese president in their speech.

The Role of IT Infrastructure in Enabling Remote Work: Productivity and Employee Satisfaction

Arfan Arshad — 2024-01-05

The study has aimed to examine the impact of organisational citizenship behaviour of university teachers as a possible mediator between supervisors' paternalistic leadership style and the educational institute's overall effectiveness. Since Pakistan is a developing country, education needs to be a major and vital focus to advance towards a developed country. The top 10 universities, chosen from the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan’s current list, were investigated. Pal Scale was distributed to the faculty members of the universities (N=322), reporting about their supervisor’s leadership style. Moreover, employees were told to address their extra-role behaviour, i.e. organisational citizenship behaviour, using the scale developed by Welbourne, Johnson and Erez (1996). In addition, employees evaluated the overall effectiveness using the organisational effectiveness scale for the Higher Education Institutes of Kwan and Walker. This investigation supported the substantial impact of organisational citizenship behaviour on the relationship between paternalistic leadership and the effectiveness of higher education institutes. Moreover, a direct relationship among variables is also found. Thus, the supervisors must recognise, foster and realise the importance of paternalistic leadership as this may eventually influence organisational citizenship behaviour and the effectiveness of higher education institutes.

Cyber-Bullying Impact on Young Adults; Examining Stress, Coping Mechanism and Self-Esteem

Noor Ul Ain Soomra — 2024-04-11

The current study aimed to identify the relationship among Cyberbullying, stress, coping
and self-esteem in young adults. A correlational study design was used with purposive
sampling for data collection. An online survey method was used to collect data due to the
global COVID-19 pandemic, and N = 152 students from public and private universities
from around the country participated in this study. Scale of Revised Cyber-bullying Scale
II (Topcu & Erdur-Baker, 2018) α =.75, perceived stress scale (Sheldon Cohen, 1994), α
=.87, coping scale (Hamby, Grych, & Banyard, 2013). The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
(Rosenberg, 1965) α=.70 was used to assess the variables. The researcher also devised a
demographic sheet. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Pearson Product Moment
Correlation Analyses were computed to find a relationship among cyberbullying, stress,
coping, and self-esteem. Linear regression analyses were carried out to analyse the role of
cyberbullying, stress, and dealing with self-esteem. The findings of the study revealed that
cyberbullying, stress, and coping predicted self-esteem, whereas coping was a significant
mediator between cyberbullying and stress. This study will be helpful for the students in
highlighting the issue of cyberbullying and the importance of coping, which affects their
self-esteem.

Effect Of Teacher Competency And Classroom Environment On Students’ Academic Achievement In Secondary Schools

Amatul Qadeer — 2024-01-09

This study investigated the effect of teacher competency and classroom environment on students' academic performance in public secondary schools in South Punjab, Pakistan. The study used a descriptive and mixed-approach approach, gathering information through quantitative and qualitative methods, such as surveys and interviews. The sample was chosen using a multi-stage sampling process, including 48 headteachers, 1280 male students, and 1280 female students from grade 10 in the four tehsils of Rahim Yar Khan district. Academic performance was judged using students' accomplishment results in the 9th grade yearly exams, validated by the Bahawalpur Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, and school records. The data were analyzed using statistical techniques such as ANOVA and conventional t-tests. The study's key findings showed that teacher subject matter knowledge and pedagogical abilities considerably impacted students' academic achievement in public secondary schools. Based on these findings, the research advised that instructors in secondary schools seek both long-term and short-term training to improve their core knowledge and teaching abilities. Furthermore, the government should guarantee that all secondary schools have suitable competent and certified teachers.

Collecting staple by the Hustadvika Biokraft AS planned biogas plant from local farms

Brit Flemmen Berg — 2024-01-05

The real-world vehicle routing problem with pick up (VRPP) for the company Hustadvika Bioekraft AS is presented. The collection of manures from the farms is made. The objective is to reduce the total transportation in terms of time. The model presented in this paper is nontrivial and analysed by using the firm’s selective data using CPLEX linear solver. The delineated model handles the fraction of the complete problem. Thus, it can be used as a foundation to real world problem with extended constraints. The mathematical model is developed and tested on companies' data. The results are given. The paper aims to develop a model that gives an optimal solution and further can be used as a foundation for similar vehicle routing problems. The model presented in this paper can be used for future research and may be extended by adding more constraints like rolling horizon and loading/unloading time.

Factors Driving Performance of Public Sector Organizations (PSOs): A Systematic Literature Review

Muhammad Moin Zafar — 2024-01-05

This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) has been conducted to identify factors that drive Public Sector Organizations (PSOs) performance. A research question has been formulated to pursue the objective, and the ‘Organizational Performance’ concept has been operationalised. 3,423 research results have been obtained after searching the identified keywords in the ‘ISI Web of Science’, which have been reduced to 921 after refinement. Finally, 304 research articles were included for analysis after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. After a comprehensive review of the included research articles, more than 200 factors that influence the performance of PSOs have been identified. These factors were later classified and summarized into 9 main categories/themes. The author concludes the review paper by presenting a comprehensive model summarising the factors influencing PSOs' performance.

Evaluating the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employee Engagement and Performance in Pakistan

Syed Intasar Hussain Kazmi — 2024-01-10

This study addresses the pressing issue of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) impacts employee performance in the unique context of Pakistan. With the global integration of AI technologies rapidly reshaping workplaces, understanding its implications on employees becomes imperative. Grounded in the Social Cognitive Theory, this research investigates the complex relationships between AI integration, employee training, AI awareness, and employee performance. Employing quantitative methods and survey data, the study uncovers significant positive associations between these factors and employee performance. These findings underscore the importance of holistic AI adoption strategies that encompass employee development. This study carries vital implications for policymakers, business leaders, and practitioners navigating the evolving AI landscape, offering insights into optimizing workforce performance.

Measuring Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Schooling in Sindh: An Application of Censored Ordered Probit Modeling

Muhammad Kazim Jafri — 2024-01-09

This study aimed to explore the socioeconomic determinants of child education in Sindh, Pakistan. This study is based on the sample of 50,016 children aged 3-17 years, extracted from the micro-data of Sindh MICS 2018-19. The censored Ordered Probit Model is applied to calculate the impact of different socioeconomic factors on a child's educational attainment. Estimation on an aggregated level (Sindh) explains that gender and urban-rural variables are positively associated with child education means females are more deprived than males, and the children who are inhabitants of rural areas are more deprived more than children of urban areas. The impact of family size on child education is negative and significant. The findings of the urban-rural model show that children of poor households are less likely to get an education, and the family size in rural areas is a significant barrier to child education. The gender-based model identifies household economic status and area of residency (urban) are major sources of gender disparity. The model of big cities and the rest of Sindh explains that poverty and residence (rural) are the main causes of regional disparity.

Factors Influencing Character Building of Learners at Secondary Level

Abida Qadeer — 2024-02-09

Character building plays a pivotal role in shaping the holistic development of learners at the secondary level. This extended abstract examines the multifaceted factors influencing character-building among students at this crucial stage of their education. Drawing upon a synthesis of existing literature and research findings, the abstract identifies and discusses several key factors that significantly impact the character-building of secondary-level learners. Family dynamics, parental involvement, and the quality of parent-child relationships profoundly shape students' moral and ethical values. Supportive family environments foster empathy, responsibility, and self-discipline, laying the foundation for positive character traits. Institutions, including schools and teachers, play a pivotal role in character building. School culture, leadership and effective pedagogical strategies facilitate the cultivation of traits such as honesty, respect, and integrity. Furthermore, peer relationships exert a significant influence on character development during adolescence. Peer interactions and social norms shape students' attitudes. Individual differences, including temperament, personality traits, and life experiences, contribute to the complexity of character development. Resilience, self-efficacy, and moral reasoning abilities vary among students, influenced by genetic predispositions and environmental factors.