Improving transition into university life through real and virtual groups

In this talk we will present an overview of the initiatives undertaken within the Student Learning Service in order to ease transition into the numerate disciplines at the University of Glasgow. We will discuss how we make use of social networking tools in order to communicate with students and support virtual PAL type activities. In particular, we will show how we are using Facebook groups as a mechanism for students to support each other both academically and socially and explain how we have introduced pre-entry support and offered advice for new entrants in the College of Science & Engineering using these groups. We will also briefly discuss plans to run maths support labs during summer school for local students during the next academic session and show how we have successfully introduced semi-formal events such as maths-related film afternoons and craft activities

Using Social Media to Promote Deep Learning and Increase Student Engagement

In this paper we discuss an intervention that was introduced at the University of Glasgow in order to address problems of scheduling face to face Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) sessions in the College of Science and Engineering (CoSE). Using Facebook groups, the authors have successfully implemented a Virtual Peer Assisted Learning (VPAL) model. We begin by discussing the background to choosing VPAL as a model and Facebook groups as a method of delivery, and then set out our model in detail. We next present some recent student feedback and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our model. We end by also commenting on the sustainability and transferability of this design

Maths Advice and Revision for Chemistry (MARC)

It has been recognised for some time by Science and Engineering departments that students are entering Higher Education ill-equipped in terms of their mathematical skills, despite having in many cases, attained good grades at Higher/A level (The Engineering Council 2000; Fry, Ketteridge Marshall 1999; Score Education 2009). In an attempt, therefore, to ensure that all students progressing on to Chemistry degrees are equally prepared (in terms of ability and confidence) to attempt the more mathematical aspects of our courses, the School of Chemistry has over recent years been sequentially introducing   mathematics support into the curriculum.  As part of the School’s ongoing mathematical support provision, the aim of this project was two-fold:  1)    to assess the popularity and effectiveness of tailored maths support sessions and 2)    in relation to the teaching of mathematical concepts to science students, collate examples of existing appropriate open educational resources to provide additional support to facilitate student learning such as RSC Discover Maths for Chemistry and Math Centre (Royal Society of Chemistry; MathCentre 2016). A pilot project has been carried out during the academic year 2015-2016, where support sessions were delivered in tutorial format by the Maths Adviser. Although the sessions were open to all 3rd year students studying on chemistry degree programmes, the expectation was that they would mainly be attended by students with little formal mathematics training and those who are less confident about their abilities.  Keywords:  Chemistry, Mathematics, Student Support, Maths Support

Pool Management Practices of Islamic Banks and Their Impact on Profitability

The purpose of this paper aims to investigate the impact of pool management practices of Islamic banks in terms of multiple pool management, liquidity management practices, use of alternative contracts, risk mitigation, and input of alternative functions along with its impact on the profitability of Pakistan through moderating function of profit smoothening. This study is primary in nature and has selected a quantitative research approach based on a review of the literature. The study has selected an explanatory research procedure to examine the impact of selected independent variables on the profitability of Islamic banks in Pakistan through moderating input of profit smoothening. The targeted population of the current study is Islamic banking professionals working in different departments of Islamic banks. The current study has selected multi-variate regression techniques for current study along with descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. The relative impact of the use of alternative contracts was found higher on the profitability of Islamic banks followed by multiple pool management, portfolio risk, and profit smoothening in the case of Islamic banks in Pakistan. &nbsp

Evaluating Sukuk Investment Intentions from A Social Cognitive Perspective: The case of Pakistan

This research study was conducted to understand the influence of compatibility, internal influence, external influence, extrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation in the determination of intention to invest in Sukuk with the moderating role of religious aspect in the case of Pakistan. This research study is based on a quantitative approach with the collection of primary responses as data set for the current research. Using the quantitative approach, the study selected the explanatory process to understand the impact of compatibility, internal influence, external influence, extrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation in the determination of intention to invest in Sukuk for Pakistan with the moderating role of the religious factor. The population targeted under the current investigation belongs to the Islamic banking profession having job experience with Islamic banks in Pakistan. The study was selected with a convenience sampling technique and estimated with a sample size of 300 for response collection at a 95 percent Confidence interval. This study adopted a survey method to collect the required number of responses and used a questionnaire as a data collection instrument. Structural equation modeling using smart PLS was selected as a statistical technique for investigation purposes. Results revealed that compatibility, internal influence, external influence, and extrinsic motivation are essential variables in the determination of intention to invest in Sukuk. The study's originality stems from the fact that Sukuk is a relatively new area of research in Pakistan and has yet to be extensively studied through the social cognitive perspective earlier. &nbsp

Efficiency of blood utilization and characteristics of patients receiving blood transfusion at an associated hospital in North India

Background: Blood is the liquid connective tissue composed of cells and plasma. It is the most precious and unique gift that one person gives to another. Blood banks are not the manufacturing factories. It can only be available on replacement basis. Periodic review of blood components usage is essential to assess the blood utilization pattern in hospitals. This study was conducted to analyse the efficiency of blood utilization and to minimize the inappropriate use of blood.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of blood transfusion and immunohematology, government medical college and associated hospital, Rajouri for a period of one year with effect from November 2019 to November 2020. Data was collected using blood bank record. Blood utilization was calculated using crossmatch to transfusion ratio (C/T), transfusion probability (T%) and transfusion index (TI) indices.Results: A total of 974 patients were requested to prepare 1270 crossmatched units. Of these 1141 blood units were transfused for 664 patients. The total donations during that period were 1197. 998 donors were replacement donors and 199 were voluntary non-remunerated blood donors donated at various blood donation camps. The overall values of C/T, T% and TI were 1.1:1, 68.1% and 1.1 respectively.Conclusions: Blood utilization indices show efficient usage of blood. However, a blood ordering policy (MSBOS) must be developed to guide the clinicians regarding blood usage which can decrease overordering of blood thereby reducing unnecessary usage of reagents, manpower and also wastage of blood due to outdating.

Identification of novel anticancer terpenoids from Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC (Leguminosae) pods

Purpose: To identify a novel source of terpenoid anticancer compounds from P. juliflora (Sw.) DC. (Leguminosae) pods as a medicinal substitute for cancer medicines.Methods: The pods were collected, dried and pulverized. The ethanol extract was prepared by maceration. Various phyto-constituents were detected in the extract by UV-VIS spectroscopy at a wavelength ranging from 200 - 800 nm. The molecular formula, chemical structure, and percent peak area of these phyto-constituents were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used for functional group determination of bioactive compounds.Results: P. juliflora pods were rich in tannins, carotenoid and terpenoids. Nineteen bioactive compounds were detected. Out of these, thirteen are here reported for the first time with four of them exhibiting anticancer activities, while two belong chemically to terpenoids. Furthermore, FTIR established characteristic peaks for the various biologically-active functional groups.Conclusion: The results show that P. juliflora pods is a valuable source of anticancer, antitumor and chemoprotective compounds, especially terpenoids, that can potentially be developed as alternatives to current painful and costly cancer therapies.Keywords: Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC., Anticancer terpenoids, Attenuated total reflectance-FTIR, Herbal medicin

Working Women and Child Care in Pakistan

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between working hours of the mother and the child care in Pakistani context. The main objective of the study was to understand the effect of working hours; full time, half time and part time, which one has higher impact on child care/ development. Also it was hypothesized that in Pakistani context working hours of mother will be significantly negatively correlated with child care. It was also investigated that full time working mothers would affect more than part time and half time. Moreover, the study also investigated that effect of demographic variables pertinent to Pakistani cultural context like, SES, family size, mother’s education and income will play significant role. WwCcI (2013), namely Working women and child care inventory was developed using standardized scientific procedure. Sample of the study comprised of total 90 females with the division of 30 full time workers, 30 half time workers and 30 part time workers all belongs to middle adulthood age, while using the quota sampling technique. The result indicated that there is significant negative correlation α= (-0.16) between working hours and child care. As working hours of the mother’s job increases the care given by them to their kids decreases.  As the classification of fulltime, half time and part time describe that working hours of the mother effect the child care. Half time variable showed the highest mean value. So, ANOVA showed there is significant difference in the variables. To analyze the impact of demographic variables MANOVA and POST Hoc Analysis was carried out. The results have shown that effect of income, family size and education had the significant impact with the reason to work. The results of other values were independent and non-significant. Overall the results of MANOVA and LSD Post Hoc has shown the significant impact of the pertinent demographic of the Pakistani cultural context on working hours of the mother with reference to child care given by mother. These results have significant implications in Pakistan. Furthermore results have been discussed in the light of Pakistani cultural context.

Organic osmolyte betaine mitigates the deleterious effects of Diclofenac in vivo in wistar albino rats

Diclofenac sodium (DF) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that possesses antipyretic, analgesic, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Like other NSAIDs, DF is known to be associated with renal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal complications. The present study was carried out to evaluate the adverse effects of DF in vivo in wistar albino rats and to assess if oral administration of the organic osmolyte betaine mitigates the adverse effect of DF. Eighteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups, one group of animals was fed orally with 20 mg/kg of DF once/day, and the other group received a combination of 20 mg/kg of DF and 30 mg/kg of betaine, once/day. Apart from the hematological and biochemical parameters, histopathological changes in the liver, lungs, brain, heart and kidney were also investigated. Histopathological alterations that were found in the liver, kidney, and lungs of DF-treated animals were found to be minimal or absent in DF + betaine-treated animals, as compared to untreated control. The results showed that betaine mitigates the adverse effects associated with DF treatment