Teacher-Researchers’ Reflective Narratives on Their Experiences at the Language Center Research Committee, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

The current study reports on findings of using self-narrations by three teacher-researchers, (two of whom are the authors and the narrative inquirers of this study) to reflect on an English as a Foreign Language -based research experience in a newly established Research Committee (RC) in their work place. Narrative frame tool in the form of sentence starters has been utilized to guide the narration and generate data from the three teachers’ previously lived research experiences in the Committee. It is worth noting here that these three teachers had been working and actively engaging in research work before they had their memberships in the RC. Findings of this study are hoped to be significant and useful in learning about and highlighting the expectations of these three teacher-researchers of the research committee work, their learning experiences about research, their challenges and how they defeated them plus their future inspirations. Further, reflecting on these findings can also help the trio with their professional development and growth as well as the ones of their colleagues at the Centre for Preparatory Studies (CPS) that was formerly known as the Language Centre (LC) at the time of their memberships. The study concludes with some pedagogical and practical implications regarding the experience of reflection, narration and learning research

Effective interventional approach to control anaemia in pregnant women

Anaemia in pregnancy and low birth weight babies, a serious public health problem, troubles India and several other nations. This article reports the results of a approach to address the issue. Women up to 20 week pregnancy with haemoglobin (Hb) 9.0 g/dl or less, those with urinary fluoride beyond 1.0 mg/l and not suffering from any other ailments, were selected. Out of the 205 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (ANCs) during 1st and 2nd trimesters, the sample and control groups were selected through computerized random sampling procedure. Ninety pregnant women formed the sample group and 115 formed the control group. The sample group was introduced to two interventions, viz.: (1) removal of fluoride from ingestion through drinking water, food and other sources, (2) counselling based intake of essential nutrients, viz. calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamins C, E and other antioxidants through dairy products, vegetables and fruits. No intervention was introduced for the control group. Sample and control groups were monitored for urinary fluoride and Hb until delivery during their visits to ANC. Birth weight of the babies were recorded from the labour room register. Results reveal that (1) the urine fluoride levels decreased in 67% and 53% of the pregnant women respectively, who attended ANCs during 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy. (2) An increase in Hb upon withdrawal of fluoride followed by nutritional intervention in 73% and 83% respectively has also been recorded. (3) Body mass index (BMI) also enhanced. (4) The percentage of pre-term deliveries was decreased in sample group compared to control. (5) Birth weight of babies enhanced in 80% and 77% in sample group women who attended ANC in 1st and 2nd trimester respectively as opposed to 49% and 47% respectively in the control group. (6) The number of low birth weight babies was reduced to 20% and 23% respectively in sample as opposed to 51% and 53% in control groups

Corporate Social Responsibility and Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs): Management Perceptions from IFIs in Bahrain

Islamic finance is gaining greater attention in the finance industry, and this paper analyses how Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) are responding to the welfare needs of society. Using interview data with managers and content analysis of the disclosures, this study attempts to understand management perceptions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in IFIs. A thorough understanding of CSR by managers, as evident in the interviews, has not been translated fully into practice. The partial use of IFIs’ potential role in social welfare would add further challenges in the era of financialisation

Role of Sox-9, ER81 and VE-Cadherin in Retinoic Acid-Mediated Trans-Differentiation of Breast Cancer Cells

Many aspects of development, tumor growth and metastasis depend upon the provision of an adequate vasculature. This can be a result of regulated angiogenesis, recruitment of circulating endothelial progenitors and/or vascular trans-differentiation. The present study demonstrates that treatment of SKBR-3 breast cancer cells with retinoic acid (RA), an important regulator of embryogenesis, cancer and other diseases, stimulates the formation of networks in Matrigel. RA-treatment of SKBR-3 cells co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells resulted in the formation of mixed structures. RA induces expression of many endothelial genes including vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin. VE-cadherin was also induced by RA in a number of other breast cancer cells. We show that RA-induced VE-cadherin is responsible for the RA-induced morphological changes. RA rapidly induced the expression of Sox-9 and ER81, which in turn form a complex on the VE-cadherin promoter and are required to mediate the transcriptional regulation of VE-cadherin by RA. These data indicate that RA may promote the expression of endothelial genes resulting in endothelial-like differentiation, or provide a mechanism whereby circulating endothelial progenitor cells could be incorporated into a growing organ or tumor

Anti-bacterial activity of inorganic nanomaterials and their antimicrobial peptide conjugates against resistant and non-resistant pathogens

This review details the antimicrobial applications of inorganic nanomaterials of mostly metallic form, and the augmentation of activity by surface conjugation of peptide ligands. The review is subdivided into three main sections, of which the first describes the antimicrobial activity of inorganic nanomaterials against gram-positive, gram-negative and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. The second section highlights the range of antimicrobial peptides and the drug resistance strategies employed by bacterial species to counter lethality. The final part discusses the role of antimicrobial peptide-decorated inorganic nanomaterials in the fight against bacterial strains that show resistance. General strategies for the preparation of antimicrobial peptides and their conjugation to nanomaterials are discussed, emphasizing the use of elemental and metallic oxide nanomaterials. Importantly, the permeation of antimicrobial peptides through the bacterial membrane is shown to aid the delivery of nanomaterials into bacterial cells. By judicious use of targeting ligands, the nanomaterial becomes able to differentiate between bacterial and mammalian cells and, thus, reduce side effects. Moreover, peptide conjugation to the surface of a nanomaterial will alter surface chemistry in ways that lead to reduction in toxicity and improvements in biocompatibility

Qur’anic Ethics for Environmental Responsibility: Implications for Business Practice

Despite the growing interest in examining the role of religious beliefs as a guide towards environmental conscious actions, there is still a lack of research informed by an analysis of divine messages. This deficiency includes the extent to which ethics for environmental responsibility are promoted within textual divine messages; types of environmental themes promoted within the text of divine messages; and implications of such religious environmental ethics for business practice. The present study attempts to fill this gap by conducting a thorough content analysis of environmental themes within the divine message of Muslims (the Qur’an) focusing on their related ethical aspects and business implications. The analysis has revealed 675 verses in 84 chapters throughout all 30 parts of the Qur’an, with environmental content relating to the core components of the natural world, i.e. human beings, water, air, land, plants, animals, and other natural resources. This environmental content and its related ethics are grounded on the belief that humans are vicegerents of God on the earth and their behaviours and actions are motivated by earthly and heavenly rewards. Implications of these findings for different sectors/businesses are also highlighted

Isolation of Galactose-Fermenting Thermophilic Cultures and Their Use in the Manufacture of Low Browning Mozzarella Cheese

The objectives of this study were to isolate galactose-fermenting, galactosenonreleasing strains of Streptococcus and Lactobacillus and to use these strains as starter cultures in the manufacture of low browning Mozzarella cheese. Four Streptococcus isolates having the desirable phenotype, combined with a Lactobacillus helveticus strain, were acceptable as starter cultures based on activity tests. Fifteen vats of Mozzarella cheese were produced, in triplicate, representing four experimental treatments (made with galactose-nonreleasing strains) and one control (made with a galactosefermenting, galactose-releasing Streptococcus). Analyses were performed on cheese after 5 and 28 d of refrigerated storage. The lactose and galactose content of cheese remained constant or decreased over the 28-d testing period for all experimental treatments. The galactose content in the control cheese increased over the testing period and was significantly higher by d 28 than in the test cheeses. Browning was greatest on d 28 and at the more severe baking conditions. Control cheese browned more than experimental cheeses did. Melt behavior and free oil formation were generally not affected by treatment. The results indicated that the galactose- fermenting, galactose-nonreleasing strains could be used to make low browning Mozzarella cheese

An Investigation of the Nature and Purpose of Critical Thinking in the Revised Intermediate Ontario Science Curricula (Grades 9 and 10): Educators’ and Administrators’ Meta-Perspectives.

Critical thinking instruction in Ontario intermediate science is poorly understood. The importance of this qualitative study is underscored since is the first to examine the importance of critical thinking instruction in secondary science following the last iteration of the Ontario intermediate science curriculum. This research employs a multi-method, single case study to encapsulate the meta-perspectives of two retired science teachers, two practicing science teachers and two secondary vice-principals and their divergent and convergent views about the nature and purpose of critical thinking and critical thinking instruction in the revised intermediate Ontario Science curricula (Grades 9 and 10). This study was viewed through the lens of Situativity (Cobb Bowers, 1999), developed from Lave and Wenger (1991) seminal work on Situated Learning Theory. Viewing knowledge from a situated learning perspective in a school setting involves studying how knowledge is being acquired, transmitted and transformed in context which promotes the application of new understandings for science teachers and administrators, their design of their lesson plans and PD activities, respectively. Data was collected from six research participants through surveys, questionnaires, observations, interview sessions (two per participant), and field notes. Additionally, this study analyzed the Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10: Science (2008) and the Ontario Curriculum, Grades 9 and 10, Science (1999) from the Ontario Ministry of Education and document analyses of several other sources of secondary data including board improvement plans. Four interconnected findings emerged from my research which include a need to emphasize the role of science-teacher PCK in critical thinking instruction, underscore the importance of exemplars of science lesson plans that use explicit microteaching strategies to develop students’ critical thinking, effective collaboration on developing high-quality PD on critical thinking and elevating the importance of critical thinking instruction in pre-service educational programs and in elementary science. An overarching future direction is to use in-depth longitudinal studies to enhance the generalizability of this study to foster the sustainable development of critical thinking instruction in high school science and in science teacher PD. This could inform the need to make critical thinking instruction explicit in the next iteration of science curriculum in Ontario.Ph.D

In Situ Formed Phase Transited Drug Delivery System of Ketoprofen for Achieving Osmotic, Controlled and Level A In Vitro In Vivo Correlation

A dry process induced phase transited, non disintegrating, controlled release, in situ formed asymmetric membrane capsular system for poorly water soluble drug, ketoprofen, was developed and evaluated both in vitro and in vivo for osmotic and controlled release of the drug. In situ formed asymmetric membrane capsules were prepared using fabricated glass capsule holders via dry, phase inversion process. Effect of varying osmotic pressure of the dissolution medium on drug release was studied. Membrane characterization by scanning electron microscopy showed an outer dense region with less pores and an inner porous region for the prepared asymmetric membrane. In vitro release studies and statistical test for all the prepared and marketed formulation were done at P >0.05. The drug release was found to be independent of the pH, but dependent on the osmotic pressure of the dissolution medium. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed a level A correlation (R2>0.99) with 39.24 % relative bioavailability compared to immediate release tablet of ketoprofen. Excellent correlation achieved suggested that the in vivo performance of the phase transited in situ formed AMCs could be accurately predicted from their in vitro release profiles and could a means for controlled delivery of drugs with varying solubility