ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF ADOLESCENTS IN RELATION TO ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION AND STUDY HABITS

The present study aimed to find the significance of relationship in academic achievement as well as achievement motivation and study habits.The sample of the study was 200 students in  the four Government Senior Secondary Schools of Ludhiana  city.Correlation approach was adopted to ascertain the relationship between academic achievement  of adolescents in relation to  academic motivation and study habits.Significance of relationship between means was worked out to know the difference between boys and girls adolescents regarding academic achievement of adolescents in achievement motivation and study habits. In this study marks of 10th class board examination were taken as Academic Achievement.Deo Mohan Achievement Motivation scale(2002).Study Habit Inventory (2002) Revised version by Mukhopadhya & Sansanwal.The study concludes that there is significance of relationship between Academic Achievement of Adolescents their Achievement Motivation and their study Habits. Achievement  Motivation and Study Habits conjointly predict Academic Achievement significantly higher as compared to their separate prediction for Adolescents.The Academic Achievement can thus be improved by developing good Study Habits and by proper Achievement Motivation

Reasoning Ability Of Adolescents In Relation TO Mental Health

The present study aimed to find the significance of  relationship in reasoning ability as well as mental health of adolescent boys and girls.The sample of the study was 200 adolescent (100 boys and  100 girls) of Government /Government aided schools of Ludhiana city of Punjab.Correlation approach was adopted to ascertain the relationship between reasoning ability and mental health of adolescents. Significance of relationship between means was worked out to know the difference between boys and girls adolescents regarding reasoning ability and mental health. In this study  Reasoning Ability means Reasoning Ability Test by (R.A.T) (2006) by Dubey and Mental Health Battery (M.H.B) (2012) by Singh & Gupta. The study concludes that there is significance of relationship between reasoning ability as well as mental health  of adolescent boys and girls and there is no significant differences in mental health of adolescent  boys and girls

Best practices of teaching and engaging international students in online learning: An Australian perspective

Teaching international students can be challenging, either online or face-to-face. However, it can also be fruitful if one knows how to engage with international students in the learning and teaching environments, especially online. In Australia, traditional delivery of teaching was still going on for schools and higher educational institutions until the end of March 2020, but this changed within weeks to remote or online methods, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At La Trobe University in Australia, teaching was paused for a week to cope with the learning and teaching ‘shock’ – that is to re-orientate teaching from face-to-face to completely offering courses remotely to international and domestic students. The symbiotic relationship between learning and teaching, as well as between students and teachers, must go on via the online medium. Therefore, this presentation illustrates the journey of reflections of an award-winning, early-career, international, academic unpacking of the best online practices of teaching and engaging international students in online learning environments at La Trobe University

Leadership challenges and opportunities experienced by international women academics: A case study in Australia

Scholarly articles on international academics have been weighted towards understanding their broad personal and professional challenges related to teaching. Limited research is conducted with international women academics in Australia in, especially, exploring their leadership-related challenges and opportunities. Using an intersectionality lens, this paper addresses this gap by exploring key related challenges and opportunities for international women academics in gaining leadership positions at Australian universities. It draws on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with seven international women academics. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge in exploring two major challenges faced by international women academics in Australia: 1) administrative-related interruption impacting their research performance; and 2) lack of understanding of university policies and processes. International women academics also cited the opportunities provided to them or gained by them for their overall professional growth at Australian universities. The practical implications of these findings for international women academics and higher education institutions are also considered

A UV assisted methodology for functional oxide film formation from small molecules

The development of organic electronics has progressed rapidly due to the demand for lower cost, large scale fabrication of devices using inexpensive materials with flexible substrates. The field has seen the discovery of many suitable organic substitutes for traditional electronic component materials, in particular, by polymers and small molecules. One class of materials, metal oxides, have yet to find organic alternatives capable of performing to standards required. In this thesis, a non-toxic, room temperature method for functional oxide film formation from small molecules frequently employed as active layers in devices is explored to fully determine the mechanism by which the metal oxide is formed. Comparison of precursors, ZnPc (zinc phthalocyanine) and ZnTPP (zinc tetraphenylporphyrin), with contrasting morphology when deposited as thin films demonstrates the importance of the oxygen-assisted mechanism and its relation to grain boundaries. It is demonstrated that efficiency of oxide formation may be improved by choice of a crystalline precursor. Heterostructures of ZnPc and PTCDA (3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride), an archetypal organic semiconductor, are used as a model to determine the effect of the UV process for oxide production on underlying organic layers. We show that approximately half the precursor film reacts before the underlying layer is affected. The structures also reveal no effect of molecular orientation on the rate of oxide formation and templated films of ZnPc on PTCDA are correctly indexed for the first time. The use of PTCDA also confirms that inclusion of an oxygen-containing molecule can be employed as a method to increase the rate of film degradation. Finally, nanosphere lithography of ZnPc films is combined with the UV assisted process to form regular arrays of hollow triangular nanostructures or pillars with the aim of creating structures suitable for photonic use.Open Acces

The Effects of Mind Mapping Strategies on the Development of Writing Skills of Selected Form Three Students

Education is one of the most powerful mechanisms for developing intellectual prowness. Because the research in brain growth, development and functioning is exemplifying our understanding of the neuro-sciences. In order to nourish students with healthy learning strategies, this research is based on a technique that will prove to enhance students’ thinking and writing skills. This study intends to expose students to the approaches and methods of using mind maps and brainstorming strategies in developing their mental capacities. The research design used in this study was a nonrandomised control group; pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design on to groups of hetrogenous form three Malay students selected based on their form two final year examination academic performance on two classes of students (25 students in the control group and 25 students in the experimental group). The instruments used were pretest composition questions and post-test composition questions, direct observations and in-depth interviews. The data and results collected were analysed using the SPSS for percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-tests and repeated- measures analysis of variance. The finding showed that there was no significant difference in the mean scores in the pretest between the two groups of subjects administered in the first semester of 2002 after the teaching of composition in the normal method. However, there was a significant difference in the mean scores in the experimental group as compared to the control group in the post-test admistered in the second semester of 2002 after the treatment. The findings also showed that the subjects in the experimental group responded more positively to the technique of mindmapping and brainstorming. This study concluded that the teaching method, mindmapping and brainstorming strategies during the prewriting stage had a positive and consistent effect on this group of from three students’ composition writing skills immediately after treatment as compared to the control group with the normal classroom teaching metho

Early-career international academics’ learning and teaching experiences during COVID-19 in Australia: A collaborative autoethnography

Scholarly articles on international academics mainly focuses on personal and professional challenges endured by international academics’ during conventional times. This includes adjustments to new roles and living in a foreign country, pedagogical differences stemming from intercultural differences, language barriers and unequal access to resources (funding, exploitation). This paper explores experiences of two international early-career academics in Australia highlighting their teaching-related challenges, strategies and opportunities during COVID-19, using a collaborative autoethnography qualitative approach. At this Australian university, teaching was paused for a week in March 2020 to cope with the learning and teaching ‘shock’ – to reorientate teaching from face-to-face to completely offer courses remotely to ensure that students were not disadvantaged in their learning and provide space for academic staff to reorientate their learning and teaching materials to suit online delivery. Personalised reflections encapsulate some bizarre teaching related experiences of these international academics in the online learning and teaching space, underpinned by their cultural differences. There were four major challenges identified: transition to online learning and teaching, learning and teaching online practices, relationship issues between students and academic staff, and language-related issues. Specific strategies to overcome these challenges are also identified that led to overall teaching success endured by these international early-career academics in Australia

Graphic organiser as a strategic tool for enhancing summary writing / Shameem Rafik-Galea and Jasvir Kaur Amar Singh

Summary writing can be used to bridge success in both the English language and content area reading and writing classroom. The ability to summarise a lengthy text or article into its essential ideas is a mark of a proficient reader and writer, thus, making it a critical study skill. Research has shown that summary writing helps improve students’ comprehension. Hence, it is considered an effective learning strategy because students must make decisions about the relative importance of elements in a text in order to summarise it and they also need to comprehend a text at a higher level than when they are simply reading it. Students would be able to increase their comprehension of a text if they are well trained in summary writing skills. Summary writing is an essential aspect of the Malaysian upper secondary school curriculum. However, the writers’ observations reveal that students are not given adequate practice in summary writing although it is a critical skill. Furthermore, the textbooks in use do not provide appropriate techniques for practice in summary writing. Hence, this paper describes an action research that explores the application of graphic organisers along side other strategies in the teaching of summary writing

MICROBICIDAL EVALUATION OF PLANT EXTRACTS - IRON METAL IONS COMPLEX

  Objective: The aim of this study is to screen and evaluate the antimicrobial or microbicidal effect of plant metabolites, conjugated with essential iron metal ions.Methods: First batch of study includes screening of antimicrobial activity of leaves of mint (Mentha), methi (Trigonella foenum-graecum), and neem (Azadirachta indica) against Bacillus, Aspergillus, and Rhizopus sp., respectively. Inhibition of microbial growth and propagation was investigated using agar well diffusion method (minimum inhibitory concentration evaluation). Antibiotic agent, streptomycin sulfate, and antimycotic agent, and fluconazole was used as a positive control. The polar, non-polar, and aqueous extracts of plants leaves of abovementioned plant species were screened for their antibacterial activity against Bacillus sp. and antifungal activity against Aspergillus and Rhizopus sp. and their mix culture, respectively. Second batch of study includes evaluation of combinatorial effect of plant extracts of mint (Mentha piperita), methi (T. foenum-graecum), and neem (A. indica) complexed with ferric ions (Fe3+, Iron metal ions) in concentrations at acceptable dosage range.Results: The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the plants leaves extracts in different combinations was evaluated. The plant extracts from selected plant of neem, methi, and mint after conjugation with essential iron metal ions and at a concentration of 100 mg/ml show an enhanced microbicidal (2-3 fold) activity compared to only plant extracts used in the experiment.Conclusion: Based on the above investigation, it can be concluded that the plant extracts possessing antimicrobial property when conjugated with essential metal ions (iron metal ions) show enhanced antimicrobial efficacy compared to only plant extracts used. The result from this investigation could be very helpful in the food preservation and packaging industry

Curcumin And Etoricoxib Encapsulated Liposomes: Formulation, Characterization And Anti-Inflammatory Effects In Rat Models

To enhance anti-inflammatory efficacy of Curcumin (CURC) and Etoricoxib (ETRX); and to reduce their notorious side effects, they were loaded into liposomal formulations (LFs). The present study aimed at formulation, characterization and evaluation of anti-inflammatory effects of LFs of CURC in combination with ETRX in experimental acute inflammation (AI) in rat model induced by carrageenan administration. The existing pharmaceuticals for treating arthritis are analgesics, steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which reduce the symptoms such as severe pain and inflammation. Classical NSAIDs are cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors that inhibit prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxane synthesis, thereby reducing inflammation. New NSAIDs selectively inhibit COX-2 and are usually specific to inflamed tissue, which decreases the risk of peptic ulcer. However, their long-term use cannot be sustained due to inadequate pain relief, immune disturbances and serious gastrointestinal and cardiovascular adverse events. Therefore, plant-based product like CURC with anti-inflammatory properties and minimum side effects are needed for the treatment of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis, especially after the withdrawal of many Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved anti- inflammatory drugs. However, its poor solubility, low chemical stability and short half-life following systemic absorption contribute to CURC being considered a pharmaceutical challenge. Numerous delivery systems have been proposed as means to tailor its biological properties. In this research, we are particularly interested in potential of CURC as an anti-inflammatory agent in combination with ETRX and delivery in the form of LFs. ETRX; a NSAID is proposed to treat inflammation in rat model as it is known for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects. ETRX, a widely prescribed anti- inflammatory drug belongs to class IΙ under BCS (biopharmaceutical classification system) and exhibit variable oral bioavailability due to its poor aqueous solubility. This research is aimed to study synergistic effect of a natural compound CURC and an allopathic NSAID moiety ETRX to treat inflammation in rat model, by oral ingestion in the form of LF as an efficient drug delivery system. Hence, we propose LF as a mean to overcome the CURC limitations. Liposomes (LPs) encapsulation of CURC makes this formulation amenable to circumvent the problem of poor oral availability that limits the utility of free CURC. The LFs can potentiate the effects of encapsulated drugs by sustaining the release over an extended period of time. The results of our study demonstrated that the association of CURC with ETRX in the form of LFs could potentiate the anti-inflammatory effects in reduced doses in vitro and in rat model. The LFs were spherical in shape in TEM images at various resolutions. The particle size of optimized CURC-ETRX LPs was found to be 276.1 nm with PDI value of 24.5. The maximum EE for CURC and ETRX in optimized formulation (F2) was found 98.915% and 93.877% respectively. The % EE of CURC-ETRX loaded LFs was found to be dependent on the lipid concentration, resulting almost quantitatively for a maximum 15 mg of total lipids (PC+CL) and progressively decreasing at higher 20 mg of total lipid (PC+CL) content, may be due to precipitation of drugs at higher lipid concentrations. The cumulative percentage release of CURC and ETRX from optimized formulations was found to be 59.64% and 83.11% respectively, for a period of 24 hours. We investigated the in vivo effect of CURC and ETRX loaded LF on local edema in carrageenan-induced paw edema in rat model. The percentage inhibition of edema in rat model was found to be better for CURC-ETRX LF in comparison to conventional CURC and ETRX in solution forms (p<0.05). Hence, the association of CURC and ETRX to a low dose in the form of LFs could be an appropriate combination to decrease NSAID doses used to reduce pain, inflammatory cytokines, and histological changes in AI