Gaps in Marketing Competencies Between Employers’ Requirements and Graduates’ Marketing Skills

This study was conducted to highlight the gaps in marketingcompetencies that are required by employers and those thatgraduates learn at business school. The existing literature wassurveyed to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities required byemployers in the field of marketing and then contextualizedaccording to the requirements of employers in Pakistan. A surveyof marketing graduates was conducted in two parts, competencysurvey 1 was designed to identify the importance of differentcompetencies required in marketing jobs and competency survey 2was to make out the level of those competencies present in freshgraduates, according to their (graduates) own perceptions. Acomparison was made between the results of two cohorts and it wasfound that statistically significant gaps existed in required andactual level of few marketing competencies like ‘design andimplement marketing plan’, ‘conduct market research’ and‘forecasting and budgeting’

Perceived Parenting Styles and Juvenile Delinquency in Pakistan

Life transitions are stages in development when human experiences key changes (Lenz, 2001). Adolescence is a transitional phase because it is denoted with rapid physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes (Steinberg, 2014). Research examines the outcome of this transitional process and in this perspective also highlights the factors that may influence these outcomes. There are many genetic, hormonal and environmental factors that contribute to the process of development. However, literature shows that the influence of environmental factors is stronger than the hormonal influence (Brooks-Gunn, Graber &Paikoff, 1994). Within the environmental factors, parenting exerts important influence on healthy personality development (Zarrett & Eccles, 2006). Hence, the present research aims at the assessment of the relationship between parenting styles and juvenile delinquency, and to evaluate the impact of an indigenous parent training program for managing delinquent tendencies on change in delinquency among adolescents of Pakistan. Furthermore, a meta-analysis is conducted to calculate cultural variations in the association of parenting styles with problem behaviours and academic achievement of adolescents. The research has been conducted in three phases. In first phase, an adolescent sample has been drawn from five different randomly selected schools where 1140 students (aged 11-17 years) filled a modified version of the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) (Buri, 1991), Self-reported Delinquency Scale (SRDS) (Naqvi & Kamal, 2008), and a demographic form. In the second phase, 110 parents of adolescents with elevated levels of delinquent tendencies, screened from adolescents participated in previous phase, have participated in a randomized control trial. Participants were placed randomly either in the intervention or in the control condition. Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) (Buri, 1991) and Informant-reported Delinquency Scale (IRDS) (Naqvi & Kamal, 2008) were used for assessments at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages. Participants of the intervention condition have participated in seven sessions of an indigenous parent training program which is developed to promote behaviours related to authoritative parenting. In the third phase, 428 studies on associations of parenting styles with child and adolescent outcomes are searched by using different electronic databases. These studies are included in a meta-analysis to measure the cultural variations in the association of parenting styles and child outcome (internalizing and externalizing behaviours, and academic achievement). In the first study, results show that there is a negative association between authoritative parenting and juvenile delinquency, and a positive correlation between neglectful parenting and juvenile delinquency. Mothers’ parenting was more strongly associated with adolescents’ delinquency than father’s parenting. In the second study, results also reveal that the parents of the intervention group show significant improvements in their behaviours relating to authoritative parenting and they also report that their children have also shown improvements in their delinquent behaviours. Participants of the control condition report significant changes neither in their parenting nor in the delinquent behaviours of their adolescent child from the period of pre-test to follow-up. Based on regression analyses, it is concluded that decrease in delinquent behaviours of adolescents can be explained by an increased level of authoritative parenting. Findings of the meta-analysis indicate few cultural/ethnic differences in the association of authoritative parenting with the prescribed variable. Therefore, it is concluded that there are more similarities than differences on the effectiveness of authoritative parenting in the western and non-western countries. Meta-analysis provides sufficient evidences to claim that Baumrind’s typology is applicable around the globe

Pulmonary infections after tuberculosis

Aims and Objective: Despite effective treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients, destruction of lung parenchyma may lead to complications including repeated infections. These infections are often misdiagnosed or wrongly identified as TB recurrence, and hence are not treated effectively. The frequency and severity of these infections vary with the extent of damage, and are much more prominent in patients with post-TB bronchiectasis and fibrocavitary diseases. This presentation will focus on the epidemiology, treatment, and management of post-TB infections and challenges, and the impact of these infections on public health in high-TB-burden countries.Methods: Published literature and review articles were evaluated to address this objective.Results: Apart from conventional agents of pneumonia, patients with post-TB bronchiectasis and post-TB fibrocavitary diseases are prone to develop chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. A high burden of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis has been reported in TB-endemic countries. Similarly, prior TB increases the risk of acquiring nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. Diagnosis and management of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections require expertise and high-level care.Conclusion: Limited diagnostic and therapeutic capacities compounded by nonavailability of essential antimicrobials in most high-TB-burden countries pose great challenges to physicians involved in the management of these infections. These infections affect the overall outcome and lead to high cost for public health systems

Resistome Identification from Whole Genome Sequencing Data of Norwegian Isolates

Masters in Applied and Commercial Biotechnology. Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural sciences and BiotechnologyAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered a potential threat to global health. Norway have had a low prevalence of resistant bacteria. But in the recent years there has been an increase in resistant bacteria including, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. Traditionally, clinical microbiology has used culture-based techniques to determine antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance profiles, but now whole–genome sequencing for antibiotic susceptibility (WGS-AST) has emerged as a potential alternative. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes and plasmids in WGS of 111 clinical Norwegian isolates of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and A. baumannii, to identify correlations between phenotypic and genotypic resistance in the isolates, which are related to antibiotic resistance to β-lactam, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolone, trimethoprim, tetracycline, and phenicol. The most occurring drug class was β-lactam antibiotic with TEM (38%) in E.coli, SHV (67%) in K. pneumoniae, and OXA (100%) and TEM (45%) gene families in A. baumannii. In silico detection of plasmids with Brooks et al database showed plasmid p2_000837 as prominent plasmid 12% E.coli isolates. There were four plasmids (pIB_NDM_1, p2_W5-6, pCHL5009T-102k-mcr3, pVir_020022) in 2% K. pneumoniae isolates which were also shared with E. coli. Only one plasmid (pHZ23-1-1) was confirmed in 9% of A. baumannii isolates. PLSDB detected Plasmid A and plasmid 4 with the maximum percentage in E.coli (10%) and K. pneumoniae isolates (4%). In E. coli and K. pneumoniae, the presence of incompatibility groups was observed; IncFIB (64% and 27%), Col156 (74% and 27%), IncFII (43% and 15%), while IncHI-1B(pNDM-MAR) (12%) were present only in K. pneumoniae . A total of 75 isolates had resistance to the tested β-lactam antibiotics, out of which 63 had the corresponding resistance genes (ampC, SHV, CTX-M, TEM, LEN, OXA). Only 11 E.coli and one K. pneumoniae isolates were found to have resistance genes and the plasmids on the same node to confirm plasmid mediated resistance. This study demonstrates the utility of WGS in defining resistance elements and highlights the diversity of resistance within the selected isolates to further the diagnostics and therapeutics for the treatment of the relevant infections

Enhancing QoS in Wireless Network using Distributed Routing Protocol

Distributing the Qos resources in the applications of multimedia on the wireless network task has got challenging. Here we developed cross layer architecture, the services are provided. It also enabled at the physical layer of the layered architecture. Here the QoS-guaranteed and respected users proposed different technique provide good utilization of bandwidth also simultaneously increased. Furthermore, the cross-layer architecture should enables the low-complexity implementation and analysis, provides service across the network and increases the scalability. QoS reduces the transmission delay. Respective protocols are used in this paper to enhance the quality of service. Effective performance of quality of service is checked and faces robustness issues are briefly discussed. Various examples demonstrate the increased performance in multiple and single users as the network behavior for a large number of users should also be matters. Hence the data transmission will be secured across the wireless networks. The QoS increases the network capacity and increases the scalability of Various examples demonstrate the increased performance for a single and multiple users, as well as the network behavior for a large number of users should also be matters. the network. This should also increases the life tie of a network. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15035

Diversity unsupported is diversity derailed

In this view point challenges of a diverse student body and its impact on quality of education and student’ social interactions are discussed. Enhanced institutional responsibility and ownership of all institutional members to provide adequate support for all individuals that make up the student body has been discussed as a major strategy to overcome these challenges

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF FLOATING TABLET OF METOPROLOL SUCCINATE FOR INCREASED BIOAVAILABILITY VIA IN VIVO STUDY

Objective: This study was performed to formulate a floating tablet using hydrophobic glyceryl behenate (GB) and hydrophilic hydroxypropyl methylcellulose polymers, optimization of the same for retention in stomach and sustained drug delivery over a period of 20 h from upper gastrointestinal tract so as to increase its oral bioavailability.Methods: Granules of GB with the metoprolol succinate (MS) was formulated and compressed with the other ingredients to formulate a floating tablet. Physiochemical parameters of an optimized formulation along with its in vitro buoyancy study, dissolution study, in vivo studies in rabbit, and stability studies were performed.Results: Differential scanning calorimetry data show no interaction between polymers and the drug MS. A 32 factorial design was applied for optimization purpose, and from ANOVA and surface response plot the best formulation (F3) was obtained. In vitro dissolution study shows sustained drug release for 20 h for all the formulations and in vivo studies using rabbit model show increased bioavailability of an optimized formulation F3 as compared to the marketed sustained release formulation of MS (25 mg). Stability study shows no comparable differences in physical parameters and the drug release of initial formulation and the one which is kept for accelerated stability testing.Conclusion: Hence, we can conclude that a floating tablet containing a combination of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers can be used for gastric retention for more than 20 h which will increase the oral bioavailability of MS

A comparative study of intramuscular sulfate versus intravenous magnesium injection among eclampsia patients in Eastern, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Hypertensive in pregnancy is the second most common cause of maternal mortality in India. Among the hypertensive disorders that complicate pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia stand out as major causes of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The majority of deaths due to pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are avoidable through the provision of timely and effective care to the women presenting with these complications. Objectives of this study were to find out the effectiveness of intravascular and intramuscular magnesium sulfate in management of eclampsia. To compare the side effects and complications of intravascular and intramuscular magnesium sulfate in management of eclampsia.Methods: A total 100 patients presenting with eclamptic fits reporting to the center that has been included in the study. The study has been conducted in the labor room of Nehru Chikitsalaya of B. R. D. Medical College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh for 12 months duration period. Statistical analysis of observations has been done by Chi-square test with p-value <0.05 has been considered in the study.Results: Majority of eclampsia patients belonged to 20-25 years age group (63%) followed by above 30 years of age (22%).  Nearly 16% patients in IM MgSO4 group and 12% patients in IV MgSO4 received recurrence of seizure after starting of treatment (p value >0.5). About 26% patients in IM MgSO4 group and 18% patients in IV MgSO4 group had mild side effects of MgSO4 but no patients in both the group had major side effects of MgSO4.Conclusions: The study concludes that intramuscular injection of MgSO4 is painful and the chances of abscess formation that's why compliance of intramuscular MgSO4 is not very good in compared to intravascular infusion of MgSO4. The chances of Mg toxicity are more MgSO4 regimen because of the dose required in IM MgSO4 regimen is more (44gm) that of IV MgSO4 (28 gm)