A study of English teachers and students’ perception about the differences between annual and semester system of education at postgraduate level in Mardan

AbstractThis research study tried to seek the perception of English teachers and students’ about the differences between Annual and Semester system in terms of students’ learning strategies at postgraduate level. A public sector university in Mardan (established in February 2009) provided the researchers a population who were new to Semester system and who had been seeking education in Annual system before joining it. In order to achieve the objective of the study, a questionnaire was distributed among a randomly selected 120 students having experience of both the educational systems, and interviews with 10 teachers were conducted to record their perception towards both systems of education.The analysis of the data got from both the tools showed that there was found a significant difference between Annual and Semester system in terms of students learning strategies. In Annual system students used to get ample time to master the target subjects, whereas in Semester system, the students had to synthesize the subjects and were not only made to undergo rigorous evaluation in terms of both intellectual and emotional growth

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

A Comparative Study of Students' Perceptions about the Effectiveness of Teachers in English Language Classroom at College Level in Saudi Arabia

English is taught as a foreign language at school and university level in Saudi Arabia. The issue of teachers, who are better performer according to their effectiveness in a classroom, still remains unresolved. The present paper focuses on this issue of native and non-native speaker English teachers about their effectiveness. It reports the outcome of a study carried out in Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted with 120 Saudi male students. The object was to get a deeper insight into the students' perceptions about the Effectiveness of Native English speaker teachers and Non-Native English speaker teachers in English Language Teaching classroom. The effectiveness of the model study was based on enhancing the language proficiency level of the learners in the context of pedagogical behavior of teachers. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through the questionnaire surveys, interviews and end semester results of the participants. The learners involved in this model study were Preparatory Year students of (Level-1&2) taking Intensive English Language Course at Jazan University, KSA. The findings of the study statistically indicated the students' perceptions in favour of such Native English speaker teachers and Non-Native English speaker teachers (Arabs, Non-Arabs) both, who leave no stone unturned to maintain a serious learning environment. They apply varying strategies in order to enhance and improve the language proficiency level of the learners. The results will be beneficial for native and non‐native teachers in terms of realizing their deficiencies and raising awareness. Keywords: language proficiency, native, non-native, preference, students' perceptio

Standred interferon therapy and its Response rates in Chronic HCV Patients in District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

To eradicate the Hepatitis C Virus from the bodies of the infected individuals Interferon and Ribavirin based therapy is used. HCV is highly prevalent in District Mardan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that is why it is important to determine the response of standard interferon based therapy in Chronic HCV patients of this region. A total of 215 patients were selected for interferon based therapy. The patients were selected from three different Tehsil of District Mardan. After confirmation of active HCV infection by q-PCR, standard interferon with Ribavirin was given to patients for 6 months. After completion of therapy, end of treatment virologic response (ETR) was calculated. After completion of the 6 months long therapy, the results obtained were as. Out of total 215 patients, 168 (78.13%) were negative for HCV RNA and showing end of treatment response (ETR) while 47 (21.86%) were positive for HCV RNA and did not show ETR. In Tehsil Mardan, out of 102 patients who had completed therapy, 76 patients (74.51%) showed ETR and 26 (25.49%) did not show the ETR. In Tehsil Kattlang, we found that out of total 51 patients who had taken 6 months therapy, 41 (80.39%) were negative for HCV RNA and 10 (19.61%) were resistant to therapy while in Tehsil Tkhatbhai, out of 62, 50 (80.64%) were negative and 12 (19.35%) were positive. The above discussion shows that antiviral therapy against HCV infection in chronic HCV patients of District Mardan KPK province is 78.13%. The high response rate may be due to the prevalence of genotypes 2 and 3

Burden of severe maternal morbidity and association with adverse birth outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia: protocol for a prospective cohort study

Objectives The AMANHI morbidity study aims to quantify and describe severe maternal morbidities and assess their associations with adverse maternal, fetal and newborn outcomes in predominantly rural areas of nine sites in eight South Asian and sub-Saharan African countries. Methods AMANHI takes advantage of on-going population-based cohort studies covering approximately 2 million women of reproductive age with 1- to 3-monthly pregnancy surveillance to enrol pregnant women. Morbidity information is collected at five follow-up home visits - three during the antenatal period at 24-28 weeks, 32-36 weeks and 37+ weeks of pregnancy and two during the postpartum period at 1-6 days and after 42-60 days after birth. Structured- questionnaires are used to collect self-reported maternal morbidities including hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, infections, difficulty in labor and obstetric fistula, as well as care-seeking for these morbidities and outcomes for mothers and babies. Additionally, structured questionnaires are used to interview birth attendants who attended women's deliveries. All protocols were harmonised across the sites including training, implementation and operationalising definitions for maternal morbidities. Importance of the AMANHI morbidity study Availability of reliable data to synthesize evidence for policy direction, interventions and programmes, remains a crucial step for prioritization and ensuring equitable delivery of maternal health interventions especially in high burden areas. AMANHI is one of the first large harmonized population- based cohort studies being conducted in several rural centres in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and is expected to make substantial contributions to global knowledge on maternal morbidity burden and its implications

Comparison of Motivation Attributes Among Teachers at Cadet and Public Sectors Colleges.

Motivation refers to a reason that motivates manners that is characterized by readiness and wish. This research was focused to compare the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of teachers teaching in Cadet and Public sector colleges. The population of this study was comprised of all Cadet and Public Colleges of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan).One hundred teachers teaching in Cadet and Public sectors colleges included in the sample. Probability sampling technique was used to select sample of the study. The study was descriptive in nature therefore a questionnaire was used as an instrument to collect the data. The researcher developed the questionnaire by using five point Likert Scale on the basis of Literature, related studies and under the guidance of supervisor. The questionnaire was consisting ten statements related to the motivation. Findings based on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of teachers teaching in Cadet and Public sectors colleges showed that no significant difference was found between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of Cadet and Public sectors college’s teachers. Keeping in view the objectives of the study the statistical analysis and findings of the study the following conclusions were derived that the cadet and public colleges teachers have the similar opinion regarding the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation relating their job because both sectors teachers can meet their living needs from their jobs.

Encephalitis as a clinical manifestation of COVID-19: A Case Series

COVID-19 is a novel virus which causes a variety of clinical manifestations in the body some of which are still yet to be discovered. The main aim of our study is to highlight the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 as it is still new to the medical world and to emphasize the fact that the physicians have to be vary of the possibility that patients affected with COVID-19 can present with encephalitis. Only a few studies are available so far regarding the neurological manifestations of this novel virus which highlights the need of this study. We present a case series of four patients who were found to have COVID-19 encephalitis. There is still no disease defining test for diagnosis so the mainstay of diagnosis is exclusion of all the common causes of encephalitis. Brain MRI and CSF analysis performs an ancillary in the diagnostic tools. Our study also supports the use of IV Tocilizumab (4-8 mg/kg) and IV methylprednisolone (0.5-2 mg/kg) as possible treatment options with good results as the patients described in our case series responded well to these medications

Analysis of inclined magnetized unsteady cross nanofluid with buoyancy effects and energy loss past over a coated disk

The current study presents an analysis of an inclined magnetized unsteady Cross fluid flowing over a coated disk with buoyancy effects and energy loss. The flow is modeled using the Navier-Stokes equations, including buoyancy, magnetic field, and energy loss effects based on the coated disk. The governing equations are solved numerically by applying the process of bvp4c to analyze the effects of inclination angle, magnetic field strength, and coating thickness using the flow characteristics. The results indicate that the buoyancy effects have a significant impact on the flow along with the results of flow velocity increment along with static pressure decrement. The magnetic field also has significant effects on the flow, which shows the decreasing velocity by increasing the magnetic field. Additionally, the coating thickness has significant effects on energy loss that decrease by increasing the coating thickness. The purpose of this work is to provide the valuable insight using the buoyancy, magnetic field, and coating thickness effects on the flow characteristics and energy loss based on the inclined magnetic unsteady cross flow passing over a coated disk

Manure storage operations mitigate nutrient losses and their products can sustain soil fertility and enhance wheat productivity

Livestock manure is a valuable source of nutrients for plants. However, poor handling practices during storage resulted in nutrient losses from the manure and decrement in its nitrogen (N) fertilizer value. We explored the influence of divergent storage methods on manure chemical composition, carbon (C) and N losses to the environment as well as fertilizer value of storage products after their application to the wheat. Fresh buffalo manure (FM) was subjected to different storage operations for a period of ∼6 months, (i) fermentation by covering with a plastic sheet (CM) (ii) placed under the roof (RM) (iii) heap was unturned (SM) to remain stacked at an open space and (iv) manure heap turned monthly (TM) to make compost. During storage, 8, 24, 45 and 46% of the initial Ntotal was lost from CM, RM, SM, and TM, respectively. The respective C losses from these treatments were 16, 34, 47 and 44% of the initial C content. After stored manures application to the wheat crop, mineral N in the soil remained 27% higher in CM (14.1 vs. 11.1 kg ha−1) and 3% (10.8 vs. 11.1 kg ha−1) lower in SM compared to FM treatment. In contrast, microbial biomass C and N was 35 (509 vs.782 mg C kg−1 soil) and 25% (278 vs.370 mg N kg−1 soil) lower in CM than FM treatment, respectively indicating lower N immobilization of CM in the soil. These findings could result in the highest grain yield (5166 kg ha−1) and N uptake (117 kg ha−1) in CM and the lowest in SM treatments (3105 and 61 kg ha−1, respectively). Similarly, wheat crop recovered 44, 15 and 13% N from CM, TM and SM, respectively. Hence, management operations play a critical role in conserving N during storage phase and after stored manure application to the field. Among the studied operations, storing animal manure under an impermeable plastic sheet is a much better and cheaper option for decreasing N losses during storage and improving wheat yield when incorporated into the soil. Therefore, by adopting this manure storage technique, farmers can improve the agro-environmental value of animal manure in Pakistan