Teachers: the Epitome of Pedagogy

This study focuses on almost all factors, those if, found collectively in a teacher makes him a role model. The paper highlights the fact that an ideal teacher is one who is a friend, a performer, an artist, a speaker, an analyst, a trainer, a guide, an anchorperson and a judge. The paper concludes that the blend of personal and professional qualities and didactic knowledge of the subject are valued key points. This study also sets path for further and deeper discussion of images of a good teacher at all educational levels in general and at tertiary level in particular. Key words: Role model; Quality Education; Lucidity; Ideal Teacher; Evaluation; Instructional objectives

Ultraviolet protection and antibacterial properties of silk fabric dyed with Cinnamomum camphora plant leaf extract

In this study, natural dyes have been extracted from camphor plant (Cinnamomum camphora) dry leaves in alkaline medium and are then applied on to silk fabric by exhaust dyeing process. The UV protection, antimicrobial property, color strength values and colorfastness of the silk dyed with plant extract are studied. The results show that the fabric samples treated with extract have excellent UV protection properties and are very effective in blocking UVA and UVB radiations. The fabric dyed with natural extract shows antimicrobial properties, which is proved by bacterial reduction in quantitative tests. The color fastness to washing and rubbing is found very good to excellent and color fastness to light is poor. Silk fabric dyed for less time shows golden color, while the increased dyeing time shows reddish-brown color. The UV protection and antimicrobial performance of camphor plant leaf extract are found excellent

PERCEIVED RISK AND ONLINE PURCHASE INTENTION: THE INTERACTION EFFECT OF TRUST

This study is aimed to investigate the relationship between perceived risk and online purchase intention, as well as the moderating role of trust on the mentioned link among the university students in Pakistan. The existing literature has mainly focused on the effects of perceived risk on online purchase intention in the developed countries and oversighted the potential role of trust affecting the relationship between perceived risk and online purchase intention. This research study, thus, bridges these gaps in the literature. Purposive sampling was utilized and data was collected from 200 enrolled students through questionnaire. Results of the regression analysis demonstrated that perceived risk in online shopping is adversely related to purchase intention. Moreover, results of hierarchal regression analysis indicated that trust positively moderates the link between perceived risk and purchase intention, indicating that trust dampens the mentioned link. This study provides significant implications to online sellers to understand the underlying role of trust in reducing the perceived risk of consumers and encouraging them to engage in online shopping. This study also suggests the policy makers to devise clear, transparent and uniform policies regarding product return by consumers, product damages and exchange etc so that online businesses flourish and consumer may get benefit of ease, convenience, economy and satisfaction in the online shopping. Limitations and future research directions are provided

Serological and molecular detection of bovine brucellosis at institutional livestock farms in Punjab, Pakistan

Bovine brucellosis remains a persistent infection in ruminants in Pakistan. A total of 828 (409 buffaloes and 419 cattle) sera were collected from 11 institutional-owned livestock farms in Punjab, Pakistan. The samples were tested by rose bengal plate agglutination test (RBPT) and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). The seroprevalence along with 95% confidence interval (CI) was determined. Univariable and multivariable analysis of the epidemiological background data was conducted and odds ratio (OR) was calculated to understand any association between the risk factors and the seroprevalence. An overall seroprevalence of 3.9% (Positive/Tested = 32/828) and 3.3% (27/828) was detected by RBPT and iELISA, respectively. The seroprevalence of 5.6% (CI 3.6–8.3) and 4.7%, (CI 2.8–7.2) and the odds ratio of 2.63 (CI 1.20–5.77) and 2.50 (CI 1.08–5.78) for testing positive by RBPT and iELISA, respectively were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in buffaloes than in cattle. Breed, sex, history of abortion and retention of fetal membranes (RFM) in the animals were not found statistically significantly associated with the infection. RBPT and iELISA based results agreed almost perfect (k = 0.877). In total, Brucella abortus-DNA (9/27) was amplified from seropositive samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction. This study identified for the first time the etiological agents of brucellosis at a molecular level at institutional-owned livestock farms in Pakistan. View Full-Tex

Assessment of active pharmaceutical ingredients in drug registration procedures in Pakistan : implications for the future

Introduction: There are concerns over the quality of generic medicines in Pakistan. This is due to perceived non-compliance with good manufacturing practice (GMP), whereby the quality of the raw materials is not being assessed. If not addressed, this will impact on the potential for generics exports from Pakistan, as well as on patient care. Consequently, there is a need to assess the current assessment and regulatory situation in Pakistan and to recommend a way forward that ensures the future quality of products. Objective: To assess the quality of the raw materials that are either imported to, or manufactured in Pakistan, that are then used to produce a leading analgesic (ibuprofen). As part of the assessment, the presence and levels of impurities will be determined. Subsequently, the findings will be used to recommend potential regulatory changes to improve patient care. Methods: The quality of 27 sourced raw materials and the reference product were assessed using a variety of quality assessment methodologies, including assay tests, and infrared spectroscopy and UV-spectrophotometry. The calculated values were then compared to values documented in the Certificate of Analysis (CoA), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: All but one sample passed the spectroscopy identification tests. However, 81.5% of samples failed to comply with pharmacopoeia assay limits. There were also concerns with the use of HPLC methods used to assess the quality of raw materials, and over the fact that assay values obtained were not the same as those listed in the CoA. In addition, where manufacturers had concerns over the amount of ibuprofen in the raw material, rather than rejecting the product, they typically used higher quantities to make up any shortfall. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that there is an urgent need to improve the registration process for generic products in Pakistan. This should include implementing Common Technical Documents (CTDs) based on international standards. In this way, we will see generics being produced that result in improved patient care and that have potential for export from Pakistan

Sensibilidade do fluxo de caixa de investimento em empresas paquistanesas familiares

Different governance structure of family owned firms may impact their investment decisions and hence performance in the long run. This study investigates the impact of family ownership and control on investment-cash flow sensitivity of family owned firms listed in Pakistan Stock Exchange. Using the ownership threshold of &gt;50% share holdings, panel data of 135 firms is analyzed from 2004-2017. Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) was used to estimate the coefficients of model. Results reveal the financing decisions are significantly sensitive to the cash flows generated by the firms in a credit constraint environment. The study recommends policy makers to facilitate capital funding to family owned firms and encourage the placement of professional CEOs instead of family members.La mayoría de la estructura de gobierno de la familia de propiedad propia puede afectar sus inversiones tomadas y rendimiento en el largo plazo. Este estudio investiga el impacto de la propiedad de la propiedad y el control en la inversión de flujo de flujo de la población de la sociedad de propiedad de la sociedad en cuestión. El uso de la propiedad de propiedad del 50% de los contenedores, se establece el certificado de seguridad de 135 de 135 a partir de 2004-2017. Se utilizó el método utilizado para medir los coeficientes del modelo (GMM). Los resultados que muestran las medidas de aprobación son sensibles a los flujos de flujo generados por la entidad en un entorno de restricción de contenido. El estudio considera que los responsables de la política de toma de posesión de capital para una sociedad de propiedad privada y la colocación de profesionales profesionales en lugar de miembros de familia.Diferentes estruturas de governança de empresas familiares podem afetar suas decisões de investimento e, portanto, o desempenho a longo prazo. Este estudo investiga o impacto da propriedade familiar e controle sobre a sensibilidade do fluxo de caixa de investimento das empresas familiares listadas na Bolsa de Valores do Paquistão. Utilizando o limite de propriedade de mais de 50% das participações acionárias, os dados de painel de 135 empresas são analisados de 2004 a 2017. O Método Generalizado de Momentos (GMM) foi utilizado para estimar os coeficientes do modelo. Os resultados revelam que as decisões de financiamento são significativamente sensíveis aos fluxos de caixa gerados pelas empresas em um ambiente de restrição&nbsp;de crédito. O estudo recomenda formuladores de políticas para facilitar o financiamento de capital para empresas familiares e incentiva a colocação de CEOs profissionais em vez de membros da família

Red shifting of absorption maxima of phenothiazine based dyes by incorporating electron-deficient thiadiazole derivatives as π-spacer

AbstractThis study was carried out to design phenothiazine based dyes by incorporating electron-deficient thiadiazole derivatives as π-spacer. Density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory calculations of the geometries, electronic structures and absorption spectra of the dyes before and after binding to titanium oxide were carried out. Effects of the electron-deficient units on the spectra and electrochemical properties have been investigated. Compared with the reference compound CS1A, Dyes 1–4 display remarkably enhanced spectral responses in the red portion of the solar spectrum. The newly designed dyes demonstrate desirable energetic and spectroscopic parameters, and may lead to efficient metal-free organic dye sensitizers for DSSCs

Multivariate Analysis of Some Mangrove Forests from Coastal Areas of Pakistan

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