Improving the Quality of Technology-Enhanced Learning for Computer Programming Courses

Teaching computing courses is a major challenge for the majority of lecturers in Libyan higher learning institutions. These courses contain numerous abstract concepts that cannot be easily explained using traditional educational methods. This paper describes the rationale, design, development and implementation stages of an e-learning package (including multimedia resources such as simulations, animations, and videos) using the ASSURE model. This training package can be used by students before they attend practical computer lab sessions, preparing them by developing technical skills and applying concepts and theories presented in lecture through supplementary study and exercises

Pakistan’s Ranking in Social Development: Have We Always Been Backward?

Consensus is emerging between development thinkers and practitioners that social progress is a necessary pre-condition for sustained economic growth. Social development leads to higher levels of literacy, better health standards and overall improvement in the society’s living conditions. In fact, empirical evidence suggests that there is a two-way relationship between economic growth and social development [Ghaus-Pasha et al. (1998)]. Economic growth leads to higher revenues for government and higher per capita income, encouraging both public and private spendings on human development. Improvements in social indicators feedback as higher economic growth through enhanced productivity for labour and capital. In other words, well-developed human capital makes a significant contribution to economic growth which, in turn, offers improved welfare and better living conditions. However, if there is a breakdown in this chain and economic development is not translated into social development, then the pace of economic development eventually suffers. Pakistan is an example of a country where this chain has broken. Despite moderate economic growth of about 5 percent during the last decade or so, the state of social indicators leaves a lot to be desired. Currently, the female literacy rate is 33 percent, being somewhat higher for males at 56 percent; primary school enrolment for females is 55 percent, for males 78 percent; and infant mortality rate is 105 out of 1000. Today, Pakistan is ranked 138 in the human development index by the UNDP (1999) among 174 countries. The purpose of this paper is to see the state of social development in Pakistan in the international context.

Proteasome targeted therapy in arthritis models -effects on pain and inflammation

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) regulates numerous cellular functions by selectively degrading cellular proteins. It controls activation of the transcription factor NF-ĸB which is involved in the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. The UPS regulates neuronal signalling by controlling levels of synaptic proteins during chronic pain. Pain and inflammation are the major components of inflammatory joint disorders. The focus of this thesis has been to further investigate mediators of pain and inflammation and to explore the role of UPS in pathogenesis of chronic arthritic conditions such as the rat models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Opioid peptides dynorphins are involved in the maintenance of pathological pain. The localization and distribution pattern of dynorphins precursor protein prodynorphin (PDYN) was studied in the brain. We could demonstrate that high levels of PDYN were present in the amygdala, hippocampus and stratum and lower amounts in the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, PDYN was detected in the ventral trigeminal area and in the hypocampal CA3 regions that do not have cell bodies of PDYN-producing neurons but contain axons and axon terminals. PDYN is thus transported to and stored in axon terminals prior to release from secretary granules as mature peptides. Furthermore, we could demonstrate that the depolarization of neuronal cells stimulates processing of PDYN into mature dynorphins which may represent the local regulation of synaptic transmission. The UPS regulates the processing and secretion of dynorphins and CGRP during neuropathic pain. We investigated the role of UPS in pain and inflammation in adjuvant arthritis by the using proteasome inhibitor MG132. We demonstrated an increased expression of p50 (a subunit of NF-κB) and NF-κB activity in arthritic joints. A decrease in p50 expression and in NF-κB activity was observed and coincided with reduced arthritic severity when MG132 was administered. Furthermore, an increased expression of SP and CGRP was observed in arthritic joints to correspond with increased pain. MG132 therapy reversed the up-regulated expression of SP and CGRP in the arthritic joints and of SP and PDYN in both the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and in the spinal cord (SC). These results suggest that the UPS regulates pain and inflammation at the peripheral tissues. UPS-mediated protein regulation in the peripheral and central nervous system most likely also regulates inflammatory and nociceptive mediators. In addition, the role of UPS in the mediation of pain and disease progression was studied in OA. Pain mechanisms in OA are unclear but the sensitization of nociceptors in the synovium and bone probably contributes to the initiation and maintenance of pain. We demonstrated that the decreased pain thresholds were related to the increased expression of SP and CGRP in the knee joint and in corresponding DRG. We observed an enhanced expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in the knee joints that coincided with pathological changes in the OA cartilage. MG132 administration caused a significant reversal of pain behavior, attenuated cartilage and bone destruction and resulted in a decrease in SP, CGRP and MMP-3 expression in knee joint. In conclusion, the UPS represents a major intracellular pathway that critically regulates the development of both joint inflammation and inflammatory pain. In future perspectives, novel safe proteasome inhibitors with limited adverse side-effects would be available with the benefit of targeting both pain and inflammation

Investigating critical thinking skills practices in Qatari Elementary Schools

The purpose of this study was to examine how government and independent elementary school teachers in Qatar compare on promoting students' critical thinking skills in the classroom. A total of 441 participants completed a 30-item, critical thinking skills questionnaire based on Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives - cognitive domain, which aimed at assessing teachers' frequency of using certain critical thinking activities in the context of classroom instruction. Multivariate analysis of variance procedure indicated significant differences on the application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation levels, but not on knowledge and comprehension. No significant differences were observed between the government and independent school teachers based on years of teaching experience. These results are discussed in light of their implications for the undergoing education reform in Qatar

An Adaptive Teaching Model For Flipped Classroom

Individual differences are important for the learning environments so that it can be said that learning environments that are designed by using adaptation techniques are effective in improving the performance level of students. In this study a flipped classroom model was developed for elementary school students by using adaptivetechniques in English lectures. In this way advantageous and strong aspects of adaptive and flipped learning complete each other. In the research, two different flipped learning environments were developed. The flipped learning environment was designed without adaptations and with adaptations. The students worked for a period of ten weeks in the designed environments. The aim of the study is to show the benefits of adaptive technologies for flipped learning environments. In total 60 students from Libya were selected randomly then placed in adaptive flipped learning and Flipped learning environments. T-test was used in the substance analysis performed for knowledge test. Based on the findings obtained from the success rates of the students displayed on tests, administered as a pre and post test, it was demonstrated that adaptability of the flipped learning environment and levels of the adaptability have a positive effect on the academic achievement rates of the English lecture students

Pakistan’s Ranking in Social Development: Have We Always Been Backward?

Consensus is emerging between development thinkers and practitioners that social progress is a necessary pre-condition for sustained economic growth. Social development leads to higher levels of literacy, better health standards and overall improvement in the society’s living conditions. In fact, empirical evidence suggests that there is a two-way relationship between economic growth and social development [Ghaus-Pasha et al. (1998)]. Economic growth leads to higher revenues for government and higher per capita income, encouraging both public and private spendings on human development. Improvements in social indicators feedback as higher economic growth through enhanced productivity for labour and capital. In other words, well-developed human capital makes a significant contribution to economic growth which, in turn, offers improved welfare and better living conditions

New Properties for Certain Generalized Ces´aro Integral Operator

In this work, we obtain the order of convexity of the integral operator which is a generalization to Ces´aro integral operator. Furthermore, some other properties of the integral operator by using the concept of the norm and pre-Schwarzian derivatives are obtained

Acute hypotensive and diuretic activities of Berberis vulgaris root bark aqueous extract in normal rats

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous administration of Berberis vulgaris root bark aqueous extract (BRBD) on the cardiovascular and renal functions of healthy normotensive rats. The different doses of BRBD 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg were administered intravenously (i.v) in normal rats. Blood pressure, diuretic activity and serum renal profile were analyzed. Intravenous injection of BRBD at the different doses of 1, 10 and 20 mg/kg showed a dose-dependent reduction in mean arterial blood pressure (

Diagnostic Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Detecting Parametrial Invasion in Carcinoma of Cervix

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI in the evaluation of parametrical invasion in carcinoma of the cervix using histopathological findings as gold standard.Methodology: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at diagnostic radiology department of KIRAN hospital Karachi; study duration was 12 months from December 2012 to November 2013. All the patients having carcinoma of cervix proven by the biopsy were included in the study. MRI scan was performed using MRI system (Toshiba aport, 0.35 Tesla) with the pelvic array coil for the scan of the pelvis. After MRI the patients are referred to a gynecologist for hysterectomy and then surgical specimen was reviewed by two experienced histopathologists and reported the positive/negative parametrium invasion on surgical specimen.Results: The average age of the patients was 49.42 ± 8.92 years.  Sensitivity and specificity was 81.7% and 82.2% respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 86% and 77.1%, while the accuracy of MRI in detecting parametrial invasion was 81.9%.Conclusion: It is concluded that MRI is a best diagnostic tool with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in detecting parametrial invasion of cervix carcinoma and its exact staging, size and location