Typologies of didactical strategies and teachers’ pedagogical beliefs : a theoretical review

Didactical strategies are one of the most influential vehicles that directly contribute to transforming knowledge. Varying types of didactical approaches are being adopted and implemented in the preparation of future teachers in the initial teacher education set up. The current conceptual paper is based on rigorous literature review on the typologies of didactical strategies adopted in the initial teacher education. The purpose of this conceptual and theoretical study is to evaluate and contrast varying didactical approaches while navigating through literature. The study also aims at exploring the interrelationship of didactical approaches with teacher cognitions i.e., teacher pedagogical beliefs. The methodology of this study based on the selection of six types of didactical strategies by Van De Grift (2007) and to compare and contrast them with other typologies available in literature and to explore the interrelationship with teachers’ pedagogical beliefs. The study concludes that the varying typologies of didactical strategies are being adopted and implemented in the ITE set up and these strategies have strong relationship with teacher’s pedagogical beliefs. The study recommends that the teachers’ cognitions i.e., teachers’ pedagogical beliefs may be included in the curriculum when preparing future teachers in the initial teacher education setting. These findings are substantial for policy makers, curriculum developers, head teachers, and other stakeholders in the initial teacher education

Incidence and Attributing Factors of Impaired Blood Glucose in Non-Diabetic Patients on Steroid Therapy

Objective: To determine the incidence and attributing factors of impaired blood glucose in non-diabetic patients on steroid therapy. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Sheikh Zayed Hospital Lahore during 6 months from April 2019 to September 2019. Patients of both genders with age of 18-70 years and receiving steroid therapy (at least 1 pulse) were included. After taking ethical approval, 371 patients were counseled and explained the details of the study. A bolus of 1 gram Methylprednisolone was given and blood was drawn after 2 hours and blood glucose levels were measured. All the labs were acquired from same lab (Hospital lab) and glucometer to eliminate bias and confounding variables were controlled by exclusion. Data was collected via study proforma. Results: The average age of the patients was 43.75 ± 14.33 years with a range of 18 to 70 years. There were 42% males and 57%.1 females with a male to female ratio of 1:1.3. Average BMI of patients 27.34±3.72kg/m2. Impaired blood glucose was observed in 55% of patients after steroid pulse therapy. Frequency of impaired blood glucose after steroid pulse therapy was statistically insignificant according to age and BMI (p->0.05). Positive family history was significantly higher in a patient with impaired blood glucose after pulse therapy (p-0.001). Conclusion: Impaired blood glucose level was observed to be highly prevalent among non-diabetic patients receiving steroid pulse therapy. Female gender and positive family history of diabetes observed as attributing factors

Pollution Characteristics of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and Constituent Carbonaceous Aerosols in a South Asian Future Megacity

The future megacity of Faisalabad is of prime interest when considering environmental health because of its bulky population and abundant industrial and anthropogenic sources of coarse particles (PM10) and fine airborne particulate matter (PM2.5). The current study was aimed to investigate the concentration level of PM2.5 and PM10, also the characterization of carbonaceous aerosols including organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and total carbon (TC) in PM2.5 and PM10 samples collected from five different sectors (residential, health, commercial, industrial, and vehicular zone). The data presented here are the first of their kind in this sprawling city having industries and agricultural activities side by side. Results of the study revealed that the mass concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 is at an elevated level throughout Faisalabad, with ambient PM2.5 and PM10 points that constantly exceeded the 24-h standards of US-EPA, and National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) which poses harmful effects on the quality of air and health. The total carbon concentration varied between 21.33 and 206.84 μg/m3, and 26.08 and 211.15 μg/m3 with an average of 119.16 ± 64.91 μg/m3 and 124.71 ± 64.38 μg/m3 for PM2.5 in summer and winter seasons, respectively. For PM10, the concentration of TC varied from 34.52 to 289.21 μg/m3 with an average of 181.50 ± 87.38 μg/m3 (for summer season) and it ranged between 44.04 and 300.02 μg/m3 with an average of 191.04 ± 87.98 μg/m3 (winter season), respectively. No significant difference between particulate concentration and weather parameters was observed. Similarly, results of air quality index (AQI) and pollution index (PI) stated that the air quality of Faisalabad ranges from poor to severely pollute. In terms of AQI, moderate pollution was recorded on sampling sites in the following order; Ittehad Welfare Dispensary > Saleemi Chowk > Kashmir Road > Pepsi Factory, while at Nazria Pakistan Square and Allied Hospital, higher AQI values were recorded. The analysis and results presented in this study can be used by policy-makers to apply rigorous strategies that decrease air pollution and the associated health effects in Faisalabad

Ancestral European roots of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> in India

Background. The human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori is co-evolved with its host and therefore, origins and expansion of multiple populations and sub populations of H. pylori mirror ancient human migrations. Ancestral origins of H. pylori in the vast Indian subcontinent are debatable. It is not clear how different waves of human migrations in South Asia shaped the population structure of H. pylori. We tried to address these issues through mapping genetic origins of present day H. pylori in India and their genomic comparison with hundreds of isolates from different geographic regions. Results. We attempted to dissect genetic identity of strains by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of the 7 housekeeping genes (atpA, efp, ureI, ppa, mutY, trpC, yphC) and phylogeographic analysis of haplotypes using MEGA and NETWORK software while incorporating DNA sequences and genotyping data of whole cag pathogenicity-islands (cagPAI). The distribution of cagPAI genes within these strains was analyzed by using PCR and the geographic type of cagA phosphorylation motif EPIYA was determined by gene sequencing. All the isolates analyzed revealed European ancestry and belonged to H. pylori sub-population, hpEurope. The cagPAI harbored by Indian strains revealed European features upon PCR based analysis and whole PAI sequencing. Conclusion. These observations suggest that H. pylori strains in India share ancestral origins with their European counterparts. Further, non-existence of other sub-populations such as hpAfrica and hpEastAsia, at least in our collection of isolates, suggest that the hpEurope strains enjoyed a special fitness advantage in Indian stomachs to out-compete any endogenous strains. These results also might support hypotheses related to gene flow in India through Indo-Aryans and arrival of Neolithic practices and languages from the Fertile Crescent

Ancestral European roots of Helicobacter pylori in India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The human gastric pathogen <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>is co-evolved with its host and therefore, origins and expansion of multiple populations and sub populations of <it>H. pylori </it>mirror ancient human migrations. Ancestral origins of <it>H. pylori </it>in the vast Indian subcontinent are debatable. It is not clear how different waves of human migrations in South Asia shaped the population structure of <it>H. pylori</it>. We tried to address these issues through mapping genetic origins of present day <it>H. pylori </it>in India and their genomic comparison with hundreds of isolates from different geographic regions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We attempted to dissect genetic identity of strains by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of the 7 housekeeping genes (<it>atp</it>A, <it>efp</it>, <it>ure</it>I, <it>ppa</it>, <it>mut</it>Y, <it>trp</it>C, <it>yph</it>C) and phylogeographic analysis of haplotypes using MEGA and NETWORK software while incorporating DNA sequences and genotyping data of whole <it>cag </it>pathogenicity-islands (<it>cag</it>PAI). The distribution of <it>cag</it>PAI genes within these strains was analyzed by using PCR and the geographic type of <it>cag</it>A phosphorylation motif EPIYA was determined by gene sequencing. All the isolates analyzed revealed European ancestry and belonged to <it>H. pylori </it>sub-population, hpEurope. The <it>cag</it>PAI harbored by Indian strains revealed European features upon PCR based analysis and whole PAI sequencing.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These observations suggest that <it>H. pylori </it>strains in India share ancestral origins with their European counterparts. Further, non-existence of other sub-populations such as hpAfrica and hpEastAsia, at least in our collection of isolates, suggest that the hpEurope strains enjoyed a special fitness advantage in Indian stomachs to out-compete any endogenous strains. These results also might support hypotheses related to gene flow in India through Indo-Aryans and arrival of Neolithic practices and languages from the Fertile Crescent.</p

Comparative genomics of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> isolates recovered from ulcer disease patients in England

Background. Genomic diversity of H. pylori from many different human populations is largely unknown. We compared genomes of 65 H. pylori strains from Nottingham, England. Molecular analysis was carried out to identify rearrangements within and outside the cag-pathogenicity-island (cag PAI) and DNA sequence divergence in candidate genes. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out based on various high-resolution genotyping techniques. Results. Analyses of virulence genes (cagT, cagE, cagA, vacA, iceA, oipA and babB) revealed that H. pylori strains from England are genetically distinct from strains obtained from other countries. The toxigenic vacA s1m1 genotype was found to be less common and the plasticity region cluster was found to be disrupted in all the isolates. English isolates showed a predominance of iceA1 alleles and a functional proinflammatory oipA gene. The English H. pylori gene pool revealed several Asian/oriental features. This included the predominance of cagA – glr (cagA right junction) motif types III and II (up to 42%), presence of vacA m1c alleles and phylogenetic affinity towards East Asian / Amerindian gene pools based on fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism (FAFLP) analysis and glmM sequence analysis. Conclusion. Overall, our results demonstrated genetic affinities of H. pylori in England with both European and the Asian gene pools and some distinctive genetic features of virulence genes that may have evolved in this important European population

An investigation of mechanical properties of fly ash based geopolymer and glass fibers concrete

This paper presents an innovative approach towards the development of a green concrete. The geopolymer is an environmentally friendly construction/repairing material. In addition, glass fibers are helpful to influence the strength properties and to reduce hair line cracks and bleeding in concrete. This study is based on the use of fly ash and glass fibers as a partial replacement of cement and, subsequently, its effect on compressive strength and split tensile strength of concrete. The geopolymer is manufactured after the process of geopolymerization between class F fly ash and alkali activator fluid (sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide). In geopolymer concretes (GPC), an inorganic polymer called aluminosilicate will act as a binder, the same as conventional concrete has Portland cement (OPC)-generated C-S-H gel. The glass fibers are added in the ratios of 3%, 6%, and 10% by weight of cement. To check the effect of geopolymer and glass fibers on compressive strength and split tensile strength of concrete, concrete cubes of size 150 × 150 × 150 mm and concrete cylinders of size 150 × 300 mm with or without geopolymer and glass fibers were casted and cured for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. The compressive strength and split tensile strength of all concrete cubes and cylinders were determined by compression testing machine. The findings of the research study revealed that concrete having geopolymer and glass fibers used as a partial replacement of cement showed lesser strength as compared to conventional concrete. Concrete having glass fibers showed reduced workability and more segregation as compared to geopolymer concrete and normal concrete. However, the concrete made either with geopolymer or glass fibers is economical as compared to conventional concrete

Pollution Characteristics of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and Constituent Carbonaceous Aerosols in a South Asian Future Megacity

The future megacity of Faisalabad is of prime interest when considering environmental health because of its bulky population and abundant industrial and anthropogenic sources of coarse particles (PM10) and fine airborne particulate matter (PM2.5). The current study was aimed to investigate the concentration level of PM2.5 and PM10, also the characterization of carbonaceous aerosols including organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and total carbon (TC) in PM2.5 and PM10 samples collected from five different sectors (residential, health, commercial, industrial, and vehicular zone). The data presented here are the first of their kind in this sprawling city having industries and agricultural activities side by side. Results of the study revealed that the mass concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 is at an elevated level throughout Faisalabad, with ambient PM2.5 and PM10 points that constantly exceeded the 24-h standards of US-EPA, and National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) which poses harmful effects on the quality of air and health. The total carbon concentration varied between 21.33 and 206.84 µg/m3, and 26.08 and 211.15 µg/m3 with an average of 119.16 ± 64.91 µg/m3 and 124.71 ± 64.38 µg/m3 for PM2.5 in summer and winter seasons, respectively. For PM10, the concentration of TC varied from 34.52 to 289.21 µg/m3 with an average of 181.50 ± 87.38 µg/m3 (for summer season) and it ranged between 44.04 and 300.02 µg/m3 with an average of 191.04 ± 87.98 µg/m3 (winter season), respectively. No significant difference between particulate concentration and weather parameters was observed. Similarly, results of air quality index (AQI) and pollution index (PI) stated that the air quality of Faisalabad ranges from poor to severely pollute. In terms of AQI, moderate pollution was recorded on sampling sites in the following order; Ittehad Welfare Dispensary > Saleemi Chowk > Kashmir Road > Pepsi Factory, while at Nazria Pakistan Square and Allied Hospital, higher AQI values were recorded. The analysis and results presented in this study can be used by policy-makers to apply rigorous strategies that decrease air pollution and the associated health effects in Faisalabad.This research was funded through HEC-NRPU, grant number 5635 and the data presented here are a part of a Ph.D. thesis at GCUF. The authors further acknowledge the financial support provided by IERI-GIST project

Isocitrate Dehydrogenase of Helicobacter pylori Potentially Induces Humoral Immune Response in Subjects with Peptic Ulcer Disease and Gastritis

Background. H. pylori causes gastritis and peptic ulcers and is a risk factor for the development of gastric carcinoma. Many of the proteins such as urease, porins, flagellins and toxins such as lipo-polysaccharides have been identified as potential virulence factors which induce proinflammatory reaction. We report immunogenic potentials of isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD), an important house keeping protein of H. pylori. Methodology/Principal Findings. Amino acid sequences of H. pylori ICD were subjected to in silico analysis for regions with predictably high antigenic indexes. Also, computational modelling of the H. pylori ICD as juxtaposed to the E. coli ICD was carried out to determine levels of structure similarity and the availability of surface exposed motifs, if any. The icd gene was cloned, expressed and purified to a very high homogeneity. Humoral response directed against H. pylori ICD was detected through an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 82 human subjects comprising of 58 patients with H. pylori associated gastritis or ulcer disease and 24 asymptomatic healthy controls. The H. pylori ICD elicited potentially high humoral immune response and revealed high antibody titers in sera corresponding to endoscopically-confirmed gastritis and ulcer disease subjects. However, urea-breath-test negative healthy control samples and asymptomatic control samples did not reveal any detectable immune responses. The ELISA for proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 did not exhibit any significant proinflammatory activity of ICD. Conclusions/Significance. ICD of H. pylori is an immunogen which interacts with the host immune system subsequent to a possible autolytic-release and thereby significantly elicits humoral responses in individuals with invasive H. pylori infection. However, ICD could not significantly stimulate IL8 induction in a cultured macrophage cell line (THP1) and therefore, may not be a notable proinflammatory agent