Helping students to get better grades in mathematics at the elementary level

The current study is conducted to explore the learning potential of students at the elementary level by using the scaffolding technique. The study aimed to measure the efficiency of the scaffolding teaching method provided to the students at the elementary level. As it was an experimental study, so, no population was defined. The sample was selected from Gov. Girls Higher Secondary SchoolModel Town A, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. All 6th classes of this school were included to analyze the effect of scaffolding as an intervention. Retention of learning after 3 months, the provision of scaffolding in comparison to the traditional method was assessed. After the posttest, there was a retention test as the final test from all four groups. Solomon's four-group design was used for this experiment in which there were 40 students in each group and 160 total participants. In the current study, Pretest, posttest, and after 3months retention test was conducted as research tools. To analyze the data, SPSS version 20 one-sample t-test were used to analyze the data. The Data revealed that scaffolding was proved to be a better strategy compared to the control group. Even the results of retention of learning skills were higher than the control group. Students showed good understanding, remembering, and better-solving processes in experimental groups. Study recommended that scaffolding teaching needs a highly structured supervised environment and may be conducted in controlled conditions. It is recommended that in teacher education, the prospective teachers may be prepared in the principles, procedures, and rules of scaffolding. A due consideration may be given to teaching strategies in all teacher education programs in the country as it is an innovative and progressive way of teaching

Optimal energy management of a campus microgrid considering financial and economic analysis with demand response strategies

An energy management system (EMS) was proposed for a campus microgrid (µG) with the incorporation of renewable energy resources to reduce the operational expenses and costs. Many uncertainties have created problems for microgrids that limit the generation of photovoltaics, causing an upsurge in the energy market prices, where regulating the voltage or frequency is a challenging task among several microgrid systems, and in the present era, it is an extremely important research area. This type of difficulty may be mitigated in the distribution system by utilizing the optimal demand response (DR) planning strategy and a distributed generator (DG). The goal of this article was to present a strategy proposal for the EMS structure for a campus microgrid to reduce the operational costs while increasing the self-consumption from green DGs. For this reason, a real-time-based institutional campus was investigated here, which aimed to get all of its power from the utility grid. In the proposed scenario, solar panels and wind turbines were considered as non-dispatchable DGs, whereas a diesel generator was considered as a dispatchable DG, with the inclusion of an energy storage system (ESS) to deal with solar radiation disruptions and high utility grid running expenses. The resulting linear mathematical problem was validated and plotted in MATLAB with mixed-integer linear programming (MILP). The simulation findings demonstrated that the proposed model of the EMS reduced the grid electricity costs by 38% for the campus microgrid. The environmental effects, economic effects, and the financial comparison of installed capacity of the PV system were also investigated here, and it was discovered that installing 1000 kW and 2000 kW rooftop solar reduced the GHG generation by up to 365.34 kg CO2/day and 700.68 kg CO2/day, respectively. The significant economic and environmental advantages based on the current scenario encourage campus owners to invest in DGs and to implement the installation of energy storage systems with advanced concepts

Estimation of Genetic Variability, Heritibility and Correlation for Some Morphological Traits in Spring Wheat

This study was conducted to assess correlation among the six wheat genotypes and their nine crosses at cool climatic conditions of Rawalakot, Azad Jammu & Kashmir. High heritability was observed in flag leaf area, peduncle length and spike length, whereas 1000-grain weight, number of spikelets per spike and plant height showed moderate heritability. Peduncle length, grain yield and plant height, flag leaf area and days to 50% heading showed low genetic advance. Positive direct effect was observed by flag leaf area, numbers of tillers per plant, plant height and number of spikelets per spike while days to 50% heading, number of spikelets per spike and 1000-grain weight showed direct negative effects on yield. High genotypic and  phenotypic  variability  was  observed  by  plant  height,  peduncle  length  and  grain  yield  per  plant. Values of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits under study. Key words: Spring Wheat, Heritability, Genetic Variability, Correlation and Flag leaf

Evaluation of seed priming on germination of Gladiolus alatus

Seed priming improves seed performance under environmental conditions. The study was designed to evaluate the effect of different priming treatments on germination behavior of Gladiolus alatus. The experiment was conducted under complete randomized design (CRD) with four replications. Seed priming was done with different concentration of potassium nitrate (KNO3) and hydropriming. All the treatments had significant effect on germination percentage, germination test in growth room, time for 50% germination and mean germination time. Results show that maximum invigoration was observed in seeds osmoprimed at lower concentrations of KNO3 and with hydropriming while minimum invigoration was observed at higher concentration of KNO3-. It was concluded that germination percentage can be increased by using lower concentrations of KNO3 and with hydropriming.Key words: Priming, hydropriming, gladiolus, germination

First report of field evolved resistance to agrochemicals in dengue mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae), from Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Agrochemicals have been widely used in Pakistan for several years. This exposes mosquito populations, particularly those present around agricultural settings, to an intense selection pressure for insecticide resistance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the toxicity of representative agrochemicals against various populations of <it>Aedes albopictus </it>(Skuse) collected from three different regions from 2008-2010.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For organophosphates and pyrethroids, the resistance ratios compared with susceptible Lab-PK were in the range of 157-266 fold for chlorpyrifos, 24-52 fold for profenofos, 41-71 fold for triazofos, and 15-26 fold for cypermethrin, 15-53 fold for deltamethrin and 21-58 fold for lambdacyhalothrin. The resistance ratios for carbamates and new insecticides were in the range of 13-22 fold for methomyl, 24-30 fold for thiodicarb, and 41-101 fold for indoxacarb, 14-27 fold for emamectin benzoate and 23-50 fold for spinosad. Pair wise comparisons of the log LC_50sof insecticides revealed correlation among several insecticides, suggesting a possible cross resistance mechanism. Moreover, resistance remained stable across 3 years, suggesting field selection for general fitness had also taken place for various populations of <it>Ae. albopictus</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Moderate to high level of resistance to agrochemicals in Pakistani field populations of <it>Ae. albopictus </it>is reported here first time. The geographic extent of resistance is unknown but, if widespread, may lead to problems in future vector control.</p

A model of influencing factors of online social networks for informal learning in research institutes

Currently, online social networks (OSN) have become active collaborative learning and a popular e-learning platform for sharing knowledge. Informal learning is any form of learning that occurs outside the formal curricula of higher educational institutes. There is plenty of studies on the use of OSN for formal learning; however, the use of OSN for informal learning particularly by academic researchers got limited attention. This study attempts to fill this gap in the literature. This research aims to examine the factors which motivate academic researchers to accept OSN as a platform for informal learning. Also, a technology, interactivity, individuality, and behavior (TIIB) model is proposed based on feedback from academic researchers from research universities. To achieve this aim, a quantitative study based on the theory of constructivism and technology acceptance model 3 (TAM3) is done. With 786 valid questionnaires received, the proposed model is tested and statistically evaluated using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The study results showed that collaborative, interactive, communication, quality of information, and subjective norms are the major factors of the behavioral intention of academic researchers to use OSN for informal learning. The study suggests instructional recommendations containing important technological, individual, and interactive features that could be considered by practitioners to encourage the acceptance of OSN for informal learning. The results of this research guide OSN for informal learning education providers in terms of developing an effective platform for academic researchers

Understanding the role of social media in informal learning by researchers in Malaysian higher education

Social media is progressing rapidly, and it holds great potentials for everyday lives, including for educational purposes. These potentials can be harnessed in improving the acceptance of social media in informal learning. Informal learning has broken the barriers inherent in the old order of formal learning. However, there is a lack of research in social media acceptance relating to informal learning for academic researchers. This research aims to develop an acceptance model of social media for informal learning from an academic researcher's perspective. To achieve this aim, this research integrates two theories as to the foundation for the development of the model: Technology acceptance model 3 and theory of constructivism. The proposed model was evaluated using the quantitative approach with social media users. The proposed model includes key technological, individual, and interactive factors. The findings of this study provide an understanding of the interaction of social media and informal learning

Additions of Tropospheric Ozone (O3) in Regional Climates (A case study: Saudi Arabia)

Anthropogenic activities are responsible for enhancing the concentration of various toxic gases that produces bad Ozone in the troposphere which is harmful to human health. The specific objective of this research was to analyze the spatiotemporal variations in a vertical column of Ozone (O3) over Saudi Arabia during 2006-2016 using Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) onboard AQUA platform and AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) data. The results show that the optical depth of Ozone column varied from 252 Dobson Units (DU) to 264 DU. The main reason of this variation corresponds to the increase in O3 precursors including Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2). The concentration of CO2 varied between (379-401) Parts Per Million (PPM), SO2 varied (3.5x10-6 - 4x10-6kg m-2) kg m-2 and NO2 varies (2.25x1015 - 2.5x1015)1/cm2 during the investigated timeframe. The results confirm that NO2 and SO2 have contributed directly in O3 formation while CO2 just increased regional temperatures that enhanced the optical depth of O3. Full Tex