Outcome-Based Engineering Education: A Global Report of International OBE Accreditation and Assessment Practices

Outcome-based education (OBE) is a paradigm in which instructional and assessment/ evaluation are explicitly designed for ensuring the attainment and mastery of predefined learning outcomes. OBE is now the underlying paradigm followed by global accreditation efforts such as the Washington Accord (ratified in 1989). The shift to OBE is so pronounced that some education experts identify the shift to outcome-based education and accreditation as one of the top 5 major changes of the last 100 years. OBE is starkly different from the previous content-based educational approaches in shifting the aim from covering the content to a student-centric mastery that is driven by exit-outcomes and educational objectives. And while OBE is often criticized for straitjacketing education, and resisted by hesitant faculty members suspecting additional burden, studies show that the OBE movement, on the whole, has helped in improving the educational standards and outcomes by helping ensure proper planning of curriculum and assessment and their alignment with the program objectives and desired outcomes. OBE is also flexible in the sense that it does not dictate the choice of specific education strategies or teaching methods. New OBE schemes have also diversified in response to early misgiving about OBE (related to excessive paperwork, and bean-counting-like auditing) and now admit diverse types of evidence (including qualitative and quantitative, formative and summative, formal and informal assessments). In this paper, we present—as a geographically dispersed set of academics from Pakistan, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia—a global international perspective on OBE accreditation standards, practices, and attitudes. We will trace the historical development leading to the great shift to OBE in recent times and also synthesize insights from our diverse transnational experience in meeting accreditation requirements in different countries

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] herbage yield and nutritional quality in cowpea-sorghum mixed strip intercropping systems

En los sistemas tradicionales de cultivo intercalado de frijol caupí y sorgo en franjas y filas, el rendimiento de forraje del frijol caupí se reduce significativamente debido a la intensa competencia y al dominio del sorgo en la adquisición de recursos para el cultivo. Este estudio de campo evaluó novedosos sistemas de cultivo intercalado en franjas mixtas de frijol caupí forrajero y sorgo con diferente número de filas de cultivo en diferentes disposiciones espaciales. El frijol caupí se intercaló con el sorgo en franjas de 8, 12 y 16 filas con un espaciamiento de 30, 45 y 60 cm entre las filas. En cada franja se mantuvo igual número de filas de frijol caupí y sorgo. Para la ejecución de los ensayos de campo durante las temporadas de verano de 2013 y 2014 se utilizó un diseño factorial en bloques completos aleatorizados con tres repeticiones. Las franjas con 12 filas y un espaciamiento de 60 cm entre las filas afectaron positivamente a todas las variables agronómicas del frijol caupí que condujeron al máximo rendimiento forrajero (22.2 y 23.7 t/ha en 2013 y 2014, respectivamente) y de biomasa de materia seca (6.63 y 6.94 t/ha en 2013 y 2014, respectivamente). En cambio, las franjas de 8 filas con un espaciamiento de 30 cm superaron a otros sistemas de cultivo intercalado al obtener el rendimiento máximo de hierba y de biomasa de materia seca del sorgo. El sistema de cultivo intercalado compuesto por franjas de 12 filas con un espaciamiento de 60 cm entre las filas siguió siendo superior, al registrar el contenido máximo de proteína bruta, grasas y cenizas junto con el mínimo contenido de fibra de frijol caupí. Además, este sistema de cultivo intercalado bajo el resto de las disposiciones espaciales también permaneció incomparable, mientras que las franjas de 16 filas bajo todas las geometrías de siembra permanecieron inferiores a otros sistemas de cultivo intercalado. Por lo tanto, el cultivo intercalado de frijol caupí con sorgo en franjas de 12 filas con un espaciado de 60 cm ofrece una solución biológicamente viable para mejorar la biomasa y la calidad del forraje del caupí en cultivo intercalado con sorgo.In traditional row and strip cowpea-sorghum intercropping systems, cowpea forage yield reduces significantly due to intense competition and dominance of sorghum in acquiring growth resources. This field study evaluated novel mixed strip intercropping systems of forage cowpea and sorghum having different number of crops rows arranged under different spatial arrangements. Cowpea was intercropped with sorghum in 8, 12 and 16 rows strips with row-row spacing of 30, 45 and 60 cm. In each strip, equal number of rows of cowpea and sorghum were maintained. Factorial arrangement of randomized complete block design with three replicates was used to execute the field trials during summer seasons of 2013 and 2014. Strips having 12 rows and 60 cm row-row spacing positively affected all agronomic variables of cowpea which led to maximum forage yield (22.2 and 23.7 t ha-1 during 2013 and 2014 respectively) and dry matter biomass (6.63 and 6.94 t ha-1 during 2013 and 2014 respectively). In contrast, 8-rows strips having line spacing of 30 cm outperformed other intercropping systems by yielding the maximum herbage yield and dry matter biomass of sorghum. The intercropping system comprising of 12-rows strips with 60 cm row-row spacing remained superior in recording the maximum crude protein, fats and total ash along with the minimum fiber content of cowpea. In addition, this intercropping system under rest of spatial arrangements also remained unmatched, while 16-rows strips under all planting geometries remained inferior to other intercropping systems. Thus, cowpea intercropping with sorghum in 12-rows strips having 60 cm spacing offers biologically viable solution to improve biomass and forage quality of cowpea in intercropping with sorghum

Molecular docking and dynamics of Nickel-Schiff base complexes for inhibiting beta-lactamase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

In recent years, multidrug-resistance has become a primary concern in the treatment and management of tuberculosis, an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this context, searching new anti-tuberculosis agents particularly targeting the β-lactamase (BlaC) is reported to be promising as this enzyme is one of the key player in the development of multidrug resistance. This study reports the design of some Nickel (Ni) based tetradentate N₂O₂ Schiff bases, employing density functional theory. All analogs are optimized at B3LYP/SDD level of theory. Dipole moment, electronic energy, enthalpy, Gibbs free energy, HOMO–LUMO gap, and softness of these modified drugs are also investigated. Molecular interactions between designed ligands and BlaC have been analyzed by molecular docking approach, followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. All designed compounds show low HOMO–LUMO gap, while addition of halogen increases the dipole moment of the compounds. Docking and MD simulation investigations reveal that the designed compounds are more potent than standard inhibitor, where Ile117, Pro290, Arg236 and Thr253 residues of BlaC are found to play important role in the ligand binding. Through MD simulation study, the best binding compound is also observed to form stable complex by increasing the protein rigidness. The ADME/T analysis suggests that modified drugs are less toxic and shows an improved pharmacokinetic properties than that of the standard drug. These results further confirm the ability of Ni-directed Schiff bases to bind simultaneously to the active site of BlaC and support them as potential candidates for the future treatment of tuberculosis disease.Md. Junaid, Md. Jahangir Alam, Md. Kamal Hossain, Mohammad A. Halim, M. Obayed Ulla

Electronic, magnetic and optical properties of reduced hybrid layered complex Ni(pyz)V4O10 (pyz=C4H4N2) by first-principles

This article reports the electronic, structure, magnetic and optical properties of reduced hybrid layered complex Ni(pyz)V4O10 (pyz=C4H4N2) studied by employing density functional theory with local density approximation (LDA), generalized gradient approximation (GGA) of Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof-96 (PBE) and modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) exchange-correlation potential and energy. The band structure and density of states of these compounds are also presented. The total density of states (DOS) for up and down spin states clearly split, which means that the exchange interaction causes the ordered spin arrangement. PBE-mBJ calculation reveals a wider band gap in spin down state, which shows a half-metallic electronic character at the equilibrium state. The spin-polarized calculations indicate metallic nature in orthorhombic crystalline phase. It is also noted that the optical conductivity for PBE-mBJ is larger than that of LDA and PBE-GGA. Furthermore, the results show a half-metallic ferromagnetic ground state for Ni(pyz)V4O10 in PBE-mBJ potential. The present results suggest Ni(pyz)V4O10 compound as a potential candidate for the future optoelectronic and spintronic applications.clos

Effect of proton pump inhibitors on Magnesium levels in Type II diabetic patients: a single centre study from Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, increasing evidence suggests an association between low Magnesium levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It has also been reported that the use of proton pump inhibitors may induce hypomagnesemia. Although some case reports have described patients with Proton Pump Inhibitor-induced hypomagnesemia, the impact of Proton Pump Inhibitor use on hypomagnesemia has not been fully clarified in comparative studies. The objective of the study was to determine the Magnesium levels in patients with diabetes who are taking proton pump inhibitors and also to correlate the Magnesium levels in diabetic patients who take proton pump inhibitors with those not taking proton pump inhibitors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the study population comprising adult patients attending internal medicine clinics in King Khalid Hospital, Majmaah, KSA. A total of 200 patients who gave informed consent were recruited into the study over one year. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of hypomagnesemia was observed among 128 patients out of 200 (64%) diabetic patients. Relatively more patients with hypomagnesemia were found in group 2 (without PPI use) (38.5%) compared to group 1 (with PPI use) (25.5%). A statistically significant difference was not observed in group 1 using proton pump inhibitors and group 2 not using proton pump inhibitors (p-value = 0.473). CONCLUSIONS: Hypomagnesemia is seen in diabetic patients and patients who take proton pump inhibitors. There was no statistically significant difference in Magnesium levels in diabetic patients, irrespective of proton pump inhibitor use

Enhanced production of active photosynthetic and biochemical molecules in Silybum marianum L. using biotic and abiotic elicitors in hydroponic culture

Elicitors are stressors that activate secondary pathways that lead to the increased production of bioactive molecules in plants. Different elicitors including the fungus Aspergillus niger (0.2 g/L), methyl jasmonate (MeJA, 100 µM/L), and silver nanoparticles (1 µg/L) were added, individually and in combination, in a hydroponic medium. The application of these elicitors in hydroponic culture significantly increased the concentration of photosynthetic pigments and total phenolic contents. The treatment with MeJA (methyl jasmonate) (100 µM/L) and the co-treatment of MeJA and AgNPs (silver nanoparticles) (100 µM/L + 1 µg/L) exhibited the highest chlorophyll a (29 µg g−1 FW) and chlorophyll b (33.6 µg g−1 FW) contents, respectively. The elicitor MeJA (100 µM/L) gave a substantial rise in chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophyll contents. Likewise, a significant rise in carotenoid contents (9 µg/g FW) was also observed when subjected to meJA (100 µM/L). For the phenolic content, the treatment with meJA (100 µM/L) proved to be very effective. Nevertheless, the highest production (431 µg/g FW) was observed when treated with AgNPs (1 µg/L). The treatments with various elicitors in this study had a significant effect on flavonoid and lignin content. The highest concentration of flavonoids and lignin was observed when MeJA (100 mM) was used as an elicitor, following a 72-h treatment period. Hence, for different plant metabolites, the treatment with meJA (100 µM/L) and a co-treatment of MeJA and AgNPs (100 µM/L + 1 µg/L) under prolonged exposure times of 120–144 h proved to be the most promising in the accretion of valuable bioactive molecules. The study opens new insights into the use of these elicitors, individually or in combination, by using different concentrations and compositions.</p