Understanding the impact of lifestyle on the academic performance of middle- and high-school students

This paper presents a path analysis investigating the direct and indirect influence of lifestyle on academic performance for middle-school and high-school students. The correlation between the following sets of variables are studied: (a) lifestyle and stress; (b) stress and obesity; (c) lifestyle and obesity; (d) lifestyle on academic performance; (e) stress on academic performance; and (f) obesity on academic performance. Adolescent students from 18 schools in India participated in this study. While academic performance is estimated using GPA, questionnaires are used to capture the lifestyle habits of students as well as to assess various forms of stressors such as academic, psychological and health-related. Our results suggest that, a healthier lifestyle is positively correlated to academic performance, while high-stress level has a negative influence. A significant negative relationship is observed between lifestyle and stress, and stress and obesity are observed to be positively related. Obesity, surprisingly, is not a significant predictor of student academic performance for the collected survey data. Our investigation further exposes the need to consider lifestyle in future research.Includes bibliographical references

The role of self-efficacy as an attribute of principals’ leadership effectiveness in K-12 private and public institutions in Lebanon

© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. The aim of this study is to explore the role of K-12 school principals’ self-efficacy as an attribute for their leadership effectiveness in Lebanon. The Norwegian principal self-efficacy scale (NPSES) instrument was translated into Arabic and used to collect quantitative data from participants. Internal consistency of factors within this study was checked (24 items; α = 0.73). By comparing private and public schools in Lebanon, all located in the governorate of Mount Lebanon, the researchers revealed the extent to which principals’ self-efficacy plays a role in their leadership. In addition, while no statistical difference was found between self-efficacy levels of private and public principals, females reported higher scores on the majority of the dimensions than their male counterparts in both types of schools. This study highlights the importance of the interaction effect of age and gender on self-efficacy levels. Moreover, it offers knowledge and practice to policy makers when recruiting principals or designing training programs. It also suggests the implementation of an in-house mentoring program to create school-school partnerships. Finally, this paper offers a platform for future researchers interested in principal self-efficacy in similar conflict-affected places with high economic depression. Limitations are further mentioned

Secondary level.

www.ijcrar.com Psycho-social correlates of academic achievement of student

Effect of oil pulling on <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> count in plaque and saliva using Dentocult SM Strip mutans test: A randomized, controlled, triple-blind study

<b>Background:</b> Oil pulling has been used extensively for many years, without scientific evidence or proof, as a traditional Indian folk remedy to prevent teeth decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, dryness of throat and cracked lips, and for strengthening the teeth, gums, and jaws. <b>Aims:</b> The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oil pulling with sesame oil on the count of <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> in plaque and saliva of children, using the Dentocult SM Strip mutans test, and to compare its efficacy with that of chlorhexidine mouthwash. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Twenty age-matched adolescent boys were selected based on information obtained through a questionnaire. They were divided randomly into two groups: the control or chlorhexidine group (group I) and the study or oil pulling group (group II); there were ten subjects in each group. Plaque and saliva samples were collected from all the 20 subjects on the strips from the Dentocult SM kit and, after incubation, the presence of <i>S. mutans</i> was evaluated using the manufacturers&#x2032; chart. The study group practiced oil pulling with sesame oil and the control group used chlorhexidine mouthwash for 10 min every day in the morning before brushing. Samples were collected from both groups after 24 h, 48 h, 1 week, and 2 weeks and the efficacy of oil pulling was compared with that of chlorhexidine mouthwash. <b>Results:</b> There was a reduction in the <i>S. mutans</i> count in the plaque and saliva samples of both the study and the control groups. The reduction in the <i>S. mutans</i> count in the plaque of the study group was statistically significant after 1 and 2 weeks (<i>P</i> = 0.01 and <i>P</i> = 0.008, respectively); the control group showed significant reduction at all the four time points (<i>P</i> = 0.01, <i>P</i> = 0.04, <i>P</i> = 0.005, and <i>P</i> = 0.005, respectively, at 24 h, 48 h, 1 week, and 2 weeks). In the saliva samples, significant reduction in <i>S. mutans</i> count was seen in the control group at 48 h, 1 week, and 2 weeks (<i>P</i> = 0.02, <i>P</i> = 0.02, <i>P</i> = 0.008, respectively). <b>Conclusion: </b>Oil pulling can be used as an effective preventive adjunct in maintaining and improving oral health

Surfactant-free synthesis of anisotropic gold nanostructures: can dicarboxylic acids alone act as shape directing agents?

The present study describes the synthesis of gold nanostructures using different dicarboxylic (viz. oxalic, malonic, succinic, glutaric and adipic) acids as reducing agents in the absence of any other additives or surfactants. Various anisotropic structures such as kites, tadpoles, triangular/hexagonal plates and twinned particles were seen to evolve depending on the molar ratio of dicarboxylic acid to HAuCl4 used. It was also demonstrated that gold nanostructure formation is hampered as the chain length/distance between two carboxylic acid groups increases. Among the various structures obtained the kite like structures displayed the largest surface enhanced Raman enhancement factors