Being a Researcher in Stigmatised Communities: Insider and Outsider Reflections

Being a Researcher in Stigmatised Communities: Insider and Outsider Reflection

A Pragma-Stylistic Analysis of the Blind Man’s Garden by Nadeem Aslam

This paper aims at describing Pragma-stylistic Analysis used in the Novel “Blind Man’s Garden” published in 2013 by British Pakistani author Nadeem Aslam. The study is intended to investigate the role of speech act theory (SAT) in understanding dramatic texts through using pragma-stylistic approach. It is also an attempt to examine the pragma-stylistic effects of using speech acts (SAs) and their implication in conveying the theme of the play and the intentions of the characters. The researcher explores the application of speech act theory proposed by J.L. Austin and John Searle. This study was conducted using textual analysis and descriptive qualitative method. Based on the data analysis the eight extracts are selected from Nadeem’s novel and they are Locutionary, Perlocutionary, Illocutionary, Representatives, Declaratives, Commissive, Expressive and Directives. The analysis reveals that the interaction between stylistics and pragmatics is a vital tool for analyzing dramatic texts in terms of (SAT). SAs are grouped into systematic combination depending on the purpose of the speaker or the play wright. By using Pragma-stylistic Analysis the writer able to catch reader’s attention to focus on the content of the novel. Keywords: Stylistics, Pragmatics, Pragma-stylistic and Speech Acts

The English Learner’s Identity in O’ Level EFL Classroom and Its Effect on EFL Learning Investment

The relation between language and identity is not a new thing to discuss, but it has a powerful influence on learner’s self. This issue specifically with English non-native learners is prominent through its greater demand in academic and popular discourse on language usage and its learning throughout the country of Pakistan. The aim of the study is to investigate the construction of identity of L2 learners within English-only ideology in O’ level classroom and its impact on EFL Learning Investment. The findings of the present study indicate that the huge impact of investment on learner’s identity inside and outside the classroom. In this study, data was collected from three learners from Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan whose identities are in a state of adaptation in the process of learning. It is observed that English language has a dominance by its number of learners which are increasing day by day and it has become a medium of communication by many of the cultures adopting it as a ‘must learn language’. Keywords: Identity; investment; English learners’ identity; English language learning. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-18-04 Publication date:September 30th 202

Teaching shock pathophysiology by flipped classroom

Objective: To assess usefulness of flipped style of teaching conducted as small-group format in Cardiovascular and Respiration module for Year-I undergraduate medical students at Aga Khan University.Methods: The study was planned and conducted over a period of eight months from March to October 2017 including the time taken for planning, mock run, execution followed by analysis and dissemination. It was carried out at the Aga Khan University Medical College, Karachi. Pre and post test scores of students after flipped class room sessions was compared. Moreover, perception of students was assessed on Likert scale (0-4) by a pretested validated questionnaire.Results: The mean pre-test scores of the students was 4.86 ± 0.91 which improved to 6.09 ± 0.81 (p = 0.021) after attending the flipped class session. Students approved that the frame work helped to promote their learning motivation and engagement with improvement in understanding of the course materials and enhancement of learning during Face to Face activity.Conclusions: The flipped classroom approach showed promise in teaching and learning of \u27Pathophysiology of Shock\u27 by clinical scenarios in small group discussions. Implementation of flipped class room activity on a wider scale however needs careful selection of course objectives and logistics

Teaching shock pathophysiology by flipped classroom: Views and perspectives

Flipped classroom (FCR) is an active learning pedagogical method in which the students prepare prior to class using different modalities, for example, reading materials and videos, and afterward spend the time in class discussing the content and reinforcing the concepts. We chose to replace one problem-based case on Shock with flipped-style teaching in the respiration circulation module of a private medical university. Our objective was to use the clinical presentation of Shock to open a window to interrelate basic science concepts of cardiovascular physiology and pathology. It aimed to merge the case-based discussion with small-group discussions in the form of FCR activity. The qualitative study gives an overview of comments of facilitators, observers, and leadership of the Department and University obtained during focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis of responses emphasized the importance of FCR as an effective teaching learning modality, which can be made more effective by careful selection of topic and provision of facilities to support technology-enhanced learning. The discussions with facilitators, observers, and leadership revealed its usefulness through student\u27s engagement and increased participation to build learning of the key concepts. Student satisfaction in these activities can be enhanced by construction of knowledge acquired in non-face-to-face component with substantial pre-reading materials, videos, peer discussions, quizzes, and prompt feedback

A Descriptive Study on Patterns of Traumatic Spinal Injuries in a Tertiary Care Hospital Rawalpindi

Introduction: Spinal injuries are one of the most debilitating injuries if not fatal and affect every dimension of patients' lives i.e. early mortality and late complications. Lifelong disability due to spinal cord injury is very common even if the patient survives early death. The current study was aimed to investigate the frequency, management, mortality, the pattern of spinal injuries and to recommend plans for better patient management based on assessment.Material and Methods: The study was descriptive, cross-sectional, and was conducted at the Neurosurgery Department of Rawalpindi Medical University and Allied Hospitals for the duration of October 2018 to January 2019. All cases of traumatic spinal injuries were included and variables noted were gender, age, mode of Injury, presenting motor power in limbs, ASIA score, diagnosis, management, outcome, and deaths.Results: In the sample size of 84 patients, the mean age was 37.1 years, the mechanism of injury due to falls was most common at 73%, the lumbar region was found to be the most common area involved. Male patients outnumbered females in the study. 14% of the patients could not survive due to the injury, 15% received cervical traction, 4% received cervical traction and anterior cervical plating, and 43% of patients underwent Transpedicular Screw Fixation, the total number of patients who expired was 25%.Conclusion: Patterns of traumatic spinal injuries are changing, shifting from road traffic accidents to falls being the primary cause nowadays, with prolonged hospital stay periods, disability for life, and high-cost treatments putting a huge burden on our already exhausted health resources. Efforts should be made to make a national registry for traumatic spinal injuries presented to the emergency department and guidelines should be established regarding occupational hazards. Awareness should be given to the general population regarding hazards at home regarding falls

Video microscope robotic arm-assisted, neuronavigation-guided glioma resection and regional sampling

High-grade gliomas possess internal pathological heterogeneity. Selective sampling of different tumor regions can help in the study of this heterogeneity. In this report, we have described the use of a novel navigation and optical system for the selective regional sampling of a high-grade glioma lesion. A 45-year-old gentleman presented to us with complaints of intermittent frontal headaches for past eight months. On examination, he had subtle pyramidal weakness in left upper and lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a large contrast-enhancing, space-occupying lesion in the right frontal lobe causing perilesional edema and midline shift. We marked four different regions on the preoperative MRI using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping and contrast enhancement pattern in four different combinations using presurgical planning software (BrightMatter™ Plan) (Synaptive Medical, Inc., Toronto, Canada). These pre-identified areas were exported into BrightMatter™ Servo (Synaptive Medical, Toronto, Canada), an integrated robotic video microscope with a neuronavigation system where these areas were selectively sampled and sent for analysis. The BrightMatter™ Servo not only helped us to the target areas but also helped to identify a safe trajectory, respecting white matter tracts. Histopathology showed a neoplastic lesion composed of mononuclear round cells with the perinuclear halo in a fibrillary stroma with admixed mini-gemistocytes consistent with the diagnosis of a Grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma. A selective regional sampling of the gliomas can be reliably performed using BrightMatter™ technologies to study the pathological heterogeneity of these lesions

Higher scrotal uptake ratio of (99m)Tc-MDP on bone scans in newly diagnosed prostate cancer : a reliable indicator of pelvic node metastasis.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is the gold standard procedure for nodal staging in prostate cancer (PC) but less commonly used due to its invasiveness. More commonly computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used although these have limited sensitivities and specificities. The aim of this study was to find out the correlation between higher scrotal uptake ratio (SUR) of (99m)Tc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP) on bone scan and pelvic nodemetastasis in patients with PC at high risk for nodal metastasis. METHODS: This was a retrospective study which included 68 biopsy proven newly diagnosed PC patients who had bone scan from January 2008 till January 2012. MRI of the pelvis, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason\u27s score were available in all patients. Whole body bone scan was performed in all patients and SUR was calculated by dividing mean counts over scrotum and soft tissue over lateral aspect of right thigh. PLND was carried out within 2-3 weeks of MRI study in these patients. RESULTS: Mean age of studied males was 71 ± 07 years with a mean PSA level of 65 ± 162 ng/ml. Prostate biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in all patients with mean Gleason\u27s score 7 ± 1. Mean SUR was 2.786 ± 0.496. MRI was positive for pelvic lymphadenopathy in 32/68 (47 %). PLND revealed evidence of nodal metastasis in 16/68 (24 %) patients. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed good diagnostic strength of SUR for nodal metastasis with a cut off value of \u3e2.99 with an area under curve (AUC) 0.708 (95 % CI 0.533-0.847, p value \u3c0.05) and a mean sensitivity of 68.75 % and mean specificity of 80 %. Diagnostic strength of MRI for nodal metastasis was found to be low (AUC 0.566, 95 % CI 0.047-0.657, non-significant p value). No significant correlation was found between SUR and PSA in nodes positive and nodes negative patients. CONCLUSION: We conclude that in newly diagnosed PC patients, higher SUR on bone scan has a high diagnostic accuracy for pelvic node metastasis. Furthermore, a bone scan with a SUR \u3c2.99 and negative for bone metastasis can stratify newlydiagnosed PC patients as low risk

Outcome of Kangaroo Mother Care in Preterm, Low Birth Weight Neonates; A Randomized Control Trial

In a recent meta-analysis, based on 13 randomized control trials, the researchers concluded that the neonates care with KMC at least 6 hours per day got significant weight gain as compared to the Non-KMC group with a mean difference 8.99 gm per day. They also concluded that the infants received KMC for less or equal to 02 hours per day not showed a significant difference in weight gain as compared to controls.1