Metacognitive Instruction and Students’ Achievement in Solving Mathematical Word Problems

Mathematics is considered as an important subject of elementary curriculum throughout the world due to its use in different fields of life. The compulsory component of mathematics is mathematical word problems. Word problems are considered as the difficult part of mathematics not only by students but mathematics teachers as well. Special teaching strategies are required to teach mathematical word problems to cope with the recent educational standards. Metacognitive instruction for teaching word problems has been proved affective by different educationists and researchers of world. Metacognitive instruction uses the hypothetical definition of metacognition, metacognitive knowledge and metacognitive skills and practicing of self addressed questions. Students are practiced to ask a series of self addressed questions while solving word problems about: understanding, connection, strategies, and reflection. The present study was an attempt to experiment metacognitive instruction for teaching mathematical word problems on sixth class students at Govt. High School Abbottabad and to check its effectiveness as compared to traditional method of teaching. The study used true experimental research design; specifically the pretest-posttest control group design with 80 subjects (40 + 40) and data was collected and analyzed by t-test and descriptive analysis. The finding of study proved metacognitive instruction as an effective method for teaching mathematical word problems at elementary level

Association of airborne Aspergillus with asthma exacerbation in Southern Pakistan.

Background: Exposure to airborne fungi has been related with exacerbation of asthma in adults and children leading to increased outpatient, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations. Hypersensitivity to these airborne fungi may be an important initial predisposing factor in the development and exacerbation of asthma. Objective: This study was conducted to determine an association between fungal types and spore concentrations with the risk of asthma exacerbation in adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2008 to August 2009 at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, Pakistan. All adult (age≥16 years) patients presenting to the hospital with acute asthma exacerbation were enrolled after informed consent. A home survey was conducted for each patient to assess their environmental characteristics. Indoor air samples were also obtained from the patient’s home to determine the type and spore concentration of fungi within the week of their enrollment in the study. Results: Three hundred and ninety-one patients with an acute asthma exacerbation were enrolled during the study period. The mean age of participants was 46 years (standard deviation, ±18 years) and 247 (63.2%) were females. A trend of higher asthma enrollment associated with higher Aspergillus concentrations was found in two consecutive summers. A total of nineteen types of fungi were found in air samples. Aspergillus spp. was the most frequently isolated fungus with acute asthma exacerbation. Conclusion: An association of higher concentration of indoor Aspergillus spp. with asthma exacerbation in adults was observed in this study

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Primary drug resistance to anti-tuberculous drugs in Karachi

Objective: To assess the frequency of primary drug resistance among newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases in Karachi. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Multicentric study involving various TB clinics and treatment centres of Karachi between April to December 2005.Methodology: The frequency of drug resistance among new TB patients was evaluated using a non-probability convenient sampling methodology. Sputum sample was obtained from 140 newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive patients of pulmonary tuberculosis from various centres of Karachi. Sensitivities were performed by proportion method. Results: Fifteen (11.5%) samples in 130 eligible patients showed primary resistance to one or more drugs. Ten (7.6%) of the isolates tested were resistant to a single drug, none were resistant to 2 drugs, 4 (3.0%) to 3 drugs and 1 (0.76%) to 4 drugs while 1 (0.76%) to all 5 first line agents. Resistance to streptomycin (10 ug/ml) was seen in 8 (6.1%), isoniazid (1ug/ml) in 12 (9.2%), Rifampicin (5 ug/ml) in 4 (3.0%), ethambutol (10 ug/ml) in 1 (0.76%) and pyrazinamide in 6 (4.6%) samples. Primary Multi-Drug Resistance (PMDR) was found in 2 (1.5%) patients. (Isoniazid 1 ug/ml, rifampicin 5 ug/ml with or without other drugs). Conclusion: In the studied patients, primary drug resistance to at least one anti-tuberculosis drug was 11.5%. It requires an efficiently working anti-tuberculosis programme to prevent escalation including resistance

Resilient Capabilities to Tackle Supply Chain Risks: Managing Integration Complexities in Construction Projects

Due to the increased globalization and the disruptions caused by pandemics, supply chains (SCs) are becoming more complex in all industries. Such increased complexities of the SCs bring in more risks. The construction industry is no exception; its SC has been disrupted in line with its industrial counterparts. Therefore, it is important to manage the complexities in integrating SC risks and resilient capabilities (RCs) to enable a resilient SC in construction. This study investigated the complexity involved in the dynamics of effects between organizations’ SC risks and RCs to overcome disruptive events. Past researchers investigated how to improve the performance of construction projects, regardless of the complexities and interdependencies associated with the risks across the entire SC. However, the system dynamics (SD) approach to describe the diversity of construction SCs under risks has received limited attention indicating a research gap pursued by this study. This work aimed to analyze and establish interconnectivity and functionality amongst the construction SC risks and RCs using systems thinking (ST) and SD modeling approach. The SD technique is used to assess the complexity and integrated effect of SC risks on construction projects to enhance their resilience. The risks and RCs were identified by critically scrutinizing the literature and were then ranked through content analysis. Questionnaire surveys and expert opinions (involving 10 experts) helped develop causal loop diagrams (CLDs) and SD models with simulations to assess complexity qualitatively and quantitatively within the system. Research reveals that construction organizations are more vulnerable to health pandemics, budget overruns, poor information coordination, insufficient management oversight, and error visibility to stakeholders. Further, the most effective RCs include assets visibility, collaborative information exchange, business intelligence gatherings, alternative suppliers, and inventory management systems. This research helps industry practitioners identify and plan for various risks and RCs within their organizations and SCs. Furthermore, it helps understand trade-offs between suitable RCs to abate essential risks and develop preparedness against disruptions to improve organizational policymaking, project efficiency, and performance

Mapping of E-Entrepreneurship Research: Bibliometric Review

E-entrepreneurship has gotten more attention. E-entrepreneurship is the harmonization of electronic business elements with entrepreneurial activities and the use of information technology in entrepreneurship. E-entrepreneurship roles have fundamentally altered economic growth, industrial progress, and societal sustainability. This study aims to map e-entrepreneurship research at the global level. To achieve this, 182 relevant international publications from 1995 to 2021 were mapped using bibliometric analysis with Scopus and VOSviewer. The results show an increasing trend and evolution of literature related to e-entrepreneurship. This research study indicates that Kollmann, T., and Universität Duisburg- Essen were the most productive individual researcher and research institutions in e-entrepreneurship. The most prolific researcher in the entrepreneurship area was usually from UK affiliates. The United States was a leading research country on e-entrepreneurship. This study proposes a conceptual framework from the IBEEE research theme for the e-entrepreneurship topic based on the keyword cluster categorization of innovation and policy, business, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial process, and e-business. The IBEEE research theme can be used to develop e-entrepreneurship studies in the future

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV2 Antibodies among Patients and Healthy Individuals of Lahore

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV2 antibodies in patients and healthy individuals presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Lahore. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Pathology Department of Surayya Azeem Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from May to Jul 2020. Methodology: The study included clinically suspected patients of COVID-19 referred by clinicians and healthy individuals presenting to the hospital for the SARS-CoV-2 antibody test, irrespective of age and gender. Results: The SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was 704(59.4%) in our study. Out of 1184 individuals tested, 690 patients had a positive clinical history of COVID-19 infection, and 517(74.9%) were positive for COVID-19 antibodies. Out of 494 asymptomatic healthy individuals, positivity for COVID-19 antibodies was 187(37.8%). It was observed that positivity was significantly higher 169(44.0%) in contacts of COVID-19 infection patients compared to asymptomatic healthy individuals 18(16.3%). Conclusion: Our study shows that the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general public in Pakistan has greatly increased

Association Of BCR-ABL Alternative Splice Variants with Disease Progression, Treatment Response and Survival in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients Treated with Firstline imatinib Monotherapy

Background: Alternative RNA splicing has diverse biological effects in heath as well as disease. It also contributes to cancer onset and progression. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) results due to BCR-ABL fusion oncogene that is created due to chromosomal translocation t [9; 22] [q34; q11]). BCR-ABL is target of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). BCR-ABL through alternative splicing can generate b2a2, b3a2 and some other rare splicing variants. BCR-ABL variants may vary in their response to TKI treatment and disease progression potential, which is a major factor contributing to dismal treatment outcome in CML. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate correlation of BCR-ABL splice variants with TKI treatment outcome and survival in three phases of CML that has rarely been studied previously.Methods: BCR-ABL splice variants were studied using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). in 70 CML patients from three phases of CML who were receiving imatinib (TKI) treatment.Results: Frequencies of different BCR/ABL splice variants like b3a2, b2a2 and b3a2+b2a2 were 49 (70%), 15 (21.4%) and 6 (8.6%), respectively. Splice variant b2a2 were more common (53.3%) in chronic phase CML (CP-CML) while b3a2 had higher frequency in advanced phases of CML (44.9%). CML patients with b2a2 transcript had better complete cytogenetic response and major molecular response to TKI treatment overall (100% vs. 24.5%) as well as in CP-CML (100% vs. 85.7%) and superior survival when compared to patients with b3a2 splice variant. All patients who died had male gender, less than 33 years age, b3a2 transcript, advanced phases of CML and imatinib resistance.Conclusions: Splice variant b3a2 was associated with CML progression, poorer survival and inferior treatment outcome as compared to b2a2. Further investigations on BCR-ABL splice variants and their roles in CML pathogenesis can provide deeper insights into CML biology and new targets for BCR-ABL positive leukemia treatment.          Keywords: CML; BCR-ABL splice variants; Progression; Survival; Treatment outcome 

Evaluation Of Educational Environment Based On Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure Inventory In Institute Of Nursing: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: To assess the educational environment at the Institute of Nursing using the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Institute of Nursing, Wah Medical College from July 2022 to June 2023. All students (n= 216) enrolled in Generic and post-RN programs of BScN of the Institute of Nursing, Wah Medical College were given a DREEM questionnaire. The inventory consists of 50 items. The mean and standard deviation of all the variables were calculated and presented as tables. For each of the five domains, scores were calculated as the cumulative total of individual responses for all of the items in that domain. Data was analysed by SPSS 23. Results: The total DREEM score was found to be 138.08+18.77 out of a maximum of 200 corresponding to 67.48% of the maximum score (95% CI: 1.08-3.65). Students tend to have a more favourable perception of their educational environment rather than a negative one. The domain with the highest mean score was the Students’ Perception of atmosphere for which the mean score was 33.63 ±6.50. The lowest mean score was for the students’ self-perception of performance for which the mean score was 17.29 ± 2.98. Conclusion: The present study revealed that all groups of nursing students perceived the learning environment highly positively. Nevertheless, the study also revealed areas of the learning environment which can be improved further

Comparing the Pretreatment with Lignocaine 40 mg and Fentanyl 100 ug as an Adjuvant for Preclusion of Pain Associated with Intravenous Propofol Injection

Abstract Background: Propofol (2,6-di-isopropylphenol) is one of the most favored drugs used for induction of anesthesia. Pain on injection is a common problem. Various methods have been tried to alleviate this pain but with conflicting results. Objective: To compare effectiveness of lignocaine versus fentanyl in patients receiving propofol for general anesthesia in population of Pakistan who come to PIMS hospital in Islamabad. Materials and Methods: 120 participants of either sex, between 18 and 40 years of age, belonging to ASA physical status I and II, undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia, were randomized into two equal groups of 60 participants. They received, intravenously, either lignocaine 2 ml (20 mg/ml )or fentanyl 2 ml (50 mcg/mL) as a pretreatment before propofol injection. Results: The efficacy of lignocaine as a pretreatment drug injection was higher (96.7%) compared to fentanyl (85.0%). In the lignocaine group, 2.3% of the participants experienced pain as compared with 15% in the fentanyl group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with fentanyl, lignocaine pretreatment was more effective in preventing pain on propofol injection. KEY WORDS: Comparison, Fentanyl, LIgnocaine, Propofol, Pain