Modified gravity a la Galileon: Late time cosmic acceleration and observational constraints

In this paper we examine the cosmological consequences of fourth order Galileon gravity. We carry out detailed investigations of the underlying dynamics and demonstrate the stability of one de Sitter phase. The stable de Sitter phase contains a Galileon field $\pi$ which is an increasing function of time (\dot{\pi}>0). Using the required suppression of the fifth force, supernovae, BAO and CMB data, we constrain parameters of the model. We find that the $\pi$ matter coupling parameter $\beta$ is constrained to small numerical values such that $\beta$<0.02. We also show that the parameters of the third and fourth order in the action (c_3,c_4) are not independent and with reasonable assumptions, we obtain constraints on them. We investigate the growth history of the model and find that the sub-horizon approximation is not allowed for this model. We demonstrate strong scale dependence of linear perturbations in the fourth order Galileon gravity.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, references added, final version to appear in PR

Solar system tests in constraining parameters of dyon black holes

In the present letter we examine the possibility of constraining dyon black holes based on the available observational data at the scale of the Solar system. For this we consider the classical tests of general relativity, viz., the perihelion precession of the planet Mercury and the deflection of light by the Sun. In connection to mathematical analysis we are considering static and spherically symmetric dyon black hole which carries both the electric and magnetic charge simultaneously, which are encoded it by the parameters $\lambda_0$ and $\beta_0$. We constrain these two parameters using the Solar system tests and obtain the permissible range from the observations.Comment: 10 pages, major changes in the text, Accepted in European Physical Journal

A Comparative Study of Domestic and Hospital Environmental Microbial Populations in Al-Ain (UAE)

This is the first attempt to estimate biological indoor pollution in the environment of AI-Ain city. The numbers and types of bacteria and fungi in the air and on the surfaces were measured in AI-Ain hospital and three different types of domestic environments. Five different types of wards at AI-Ain hospital, medical, surgical, pediatrics, operating theater, and intensive care unit were studied. Their estimated indoor bioaerosols were compared to indoor bioaerosols in three types of dwelling houses, very good, average, and poor quality houses in AI-Ain city. A bacteriological mechanical air sampler, MK2 (Casella London) was used in this study. The result of this study showed that the same groups of bacteria and fungi isolated from the hospital environment were also found in domestic air samples. The highest number of bacteria in the hospital was found in the pediatric and female medical wards while the lowest were in the operating theater. The number of bacteria in the domestic environment was related to the type of housing; the higher the quality of house the lower the number of micro-organisms. Pathogenic and human related micro-organisms were found to be more prevalent in a hospital environment than in the domestic environment. In general the hospital air microbial counts were comparable to very good quality houses. The commonest species of fungi found in both environments were AsperigiIlus niger. Surface samples in hospital and homes showed that surface micro-organisms originated from air contaminants. A comparison of hospital and domestic bacterial sensitivity was carried out using coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS). These were also compared to the patients\u27n CNS. The sensitivity pattern of CNS indicated that the environment or the source of the microbes had some effect upon the micro-organisms. Domestic airborne CNS were very sensitive to nearly all the antibiotics tested while patients harbored the most resistant CNS with hospital airborne CNS falling in between. Hospital airborne agents would seem to be a mixture of patients\u27 strains and the environmental strains possibly brought in by visitors to the hospital

The assessment of comprehension skills and development of a programme for enhancing comprehension skills for fourth grade students in the State of Qatar

This study aimed to explore the reading comprehension learning needs of fourth grade pupils in Qatar; to identify and test assessment techniques that may be helpful in studying reading comprehension; and to investigate the effects on reading comprehension of a metacognitive teaching programme.Exploratory interviews with fourth grade teachers showed that they focus on pronunciation, word-recognition and grammar. Pupils are not taught the strategies of comprehension and thinking while they read. A need was identified for innovative assessment activities and interventions to enhance reading comprehension skills.A quasi-experimental research design was chosen to investigate the effect of a metacognitive teaching programme in which two groups of pupils were compared on various measures of comprehension performance, including reading self-awareness and strategy use before and after a three month teaching programme: the standard Qatar reading programme for the control group and the Reading and Thinking Strategy programme for the experimental group.Reading comprehension was measured by a comprehension test and cloze test developed by the researcher. Strategy use and reading awareness were assessed by think-aloud tasks, the Index of Reading Awareness (Paris, Cross and Lipson, 1984), a Self-perception scale (Henk and Melrick, 1998) and metacognitive interviews. The reliability and validity of all measures were tested with classes of 4th grade pupils from three randomly selected schools in Qatar. The reading strategy programme was applied in a single school selected from among the three that had been involved in piloting the instruments. Valid, usable data was collected from 64 pupils: 31 in the control and 33 in the experimental group.The experimental group made significantly greater gains over all measures than the control group in association with the intervention showing the effectiveness of the metacognitive approach. The significant gains in reading awareness experienced by the experimental group extended to individual strategies: evaluation, planning, regulation and conditional knowledge. The metacognitive interviews and think-aloud protocols supported these findings. Following the intervention, the experimental group made more use than the control group of evaluation, self-questioning, monitoring and planning, and unlike the control group, used strategies in combination. It is concluded that, by training pupils in metacognitive skills, teachers can improve reading comprehension and help them to become active learners in the reading process

Seed policy in Pakistan: The impact of new laws on food sovereignty and sustainable development

This paper highlights the challenges that genetically modified (GM) seeds pose for farmers, citizens and the land itself in Pakistan. It explores the history of agricultural policy in Pakistan from the Green Revolution to what is now being dubbed the “Gene Revolution”, and analyzes how harmful effects of both are being amplified by two recently passed laws: the Seed (Amendment) Act 2015 and the Plant Breeders\u27 Rights Act 2016. The analysis of these laws is done from a food sovereignty perspective on sustainable development, where food sovereignty represents “the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through sustainable methods and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.” Finally, the paper offers comparative perspectives on seed policy and activism from Ecuador, Bolivia, India and Europe to suggest ways in which GM seeds have been approached with caution or outright bans, in order to promote health safety, farmers\u27 rights, resistance to corporate monopolies over seed, and preservation of indigenous biodiversity. Ultimately, the paper sheds light on the forms of control and corporatization that patented GM seeds embody, and asks: who owns the seed and want kind of food do we want to leave for our future generations

Combating Nutrient Deficiency in Pakistan

To quantify the micronutrient deficiencies and their overtime trends, food quantities reported to be consumed in HIES surveys data during 1991-92 and 2011-12 are converted into major and micronutrients using the FAO Food Composition Table for Pakistan. To see the impact of different price and income support policies on micronutrient consumption, nutrient demand elasticities are estimated for 2011-12 for carbohydrates (energy), protein, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and Niacin. The Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) is applied to estimate the demand elasticities of the eight food groups which are then converted into nutrient demand elasticities using the transformation of Hunag (1996). On average, per capita consumptions of almost all micronutrients are deficient compared to their respective recommended levels. Our analysis suggest that income support to the poor in Pakistan through programmes like BISP would have been much more effective to eradicate nutrient deficiency, if deficient nutrient(s) are targeted and support is provided to those foods having highest demand elasticity for that nutrient. For example, the promotion of wheat and other cereals are important to eradicate energy deficiency, and promotion of vegetables, fruits, and milk are particularly important in eradicating vitamin A, C and iron deficiencies. These commodities are also high value crops for farmers, thus the price support in these crops will also impact micronutrient consumption through income effect

Frequency and Severity of Perineal tears among women during vaginal delivery

Objective: to arbitrate the frequency and severity of perineal tears among the patients of Vaginal delivery. Study Design: A Cross-sectional Study.Place and Duration of study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Nishtar Hospital Multan and Allied Hospital, Faisalabad from 29 December 2016 to 28 June 2017.  Methodology: the study was conducted after obtaining the approval of ethical committee for collecting data from patients. The patients aged 20-40 years were included in the study, both multipara and  primipara. An examination was performed on the perineum, vulva, vagina, and cervix at the third stage of labor in order to discover any tears or injuries. All the informations were collected on per designed Performa. Collected data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS software. Results: the incidence of perineal tears was calculated to be 79.89%. The most commonly observed injury was the first-degree perineal tear. it accounted for 101(68.70%) cases. while the second-degree perineal tear was found to be 39(26.53%) cases. third and fourth degree perineal tear remained the least in observed frequency as in 2.72% and 2.04% of cases respectively. Conclusion: The observations of our study concluded that majority of patients delivered vaginally experienced perineal tear, among those first degree perineal tear was more prevalent. KEY WORDS: Perineal tear, perineal trauma, severity of perineal tears