Assessment of Students’ Academic Performance in Government Schools of Pakistan

The main purpose of this study was to reduce the gaps in the evaluation of academic performance in Pakistan government schools. This study analyzed the students’ academic performance with respect to social media usage, physical activity, and motivation. A sample of 204 students was selected for studying in different government schools located in Lahore (Pakistan). Both stratified random sampling and simple random sampling techniques were used to draw the sample. This study focused on 9th class and 10th class students who were the respondents of primary data collection. Both correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results showed that all the predicted variables were significant and positively correlated with academic performance

Workload, Work Stress, Role Conflict, and Workplace Deviant Behaviour in Banks: an Empirical Analysis

This study identifies and explains the relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict, and workplace deviant behaviour. This study uses the Affective Events Theory (AET) as a foundation to test a proposed model. All Data were gathered using self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 125 bank employees who work in banks around Faisalabad. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used in this study. The findings demonstrate a low level of workplace deviant behaviour. The results showed a significant relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict and workplace deviant behavior. The role conflict was the major contributor to workplace deviant behaviour. This study has practical implications where the bank should take initiatives within banks provided

Workload, Work Stress, Role Conflict, and Workplace Deviant Behaviour in Banks: an Empirical Analysis

This study identifies and explains the relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict, and workplace deviant behaviour. This study uses the Affective Events Theory (AET) as a foundation to test a proposed model. All Data were gathered using self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 125 bank employees who work in banks around Faisalabad. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used in this study. The findings demonstrate a low level of workplace deviant behaviour. The results showed a significant relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict and workplace deviant behavior. The role conflict was the major contributor to workplace deviant behaviour. This study has practical implications where the bank should take initiatives within banks provided

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of new cytokinin metabolic genes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Cytokinins (CKs) are involved in determining the final grain yield in wheat. Multiple gene families are responsible for the controlled production of CKs in plants, including isopentenyl transferases for de novo synthesis, zeatin O-glucosyltransferases for reversible inactivation, β-glucosidases for reactivation, and CK oxidases/dehydrogenases for permanent degradation. Identifying and characterizing the genes of these families is an important step in furthering our understanding of CK metabolism. Using bioinformatics tools, we identified four new TaIPT, four new TaZOG, and 25 new TaGLU genes in common wheat. All of the genes harbored the characteristic conserved domains of their respective gene families. We renamed TaCKX genes on the basis of their true orthologs in rice and maize to remove inconsistencies in the nomenclature. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the early divergence of monocots from dicots, and the gene duplication event after speciation was obvious. Abscisic acid-, auxin-, salicylic acid-, sulfur-, drought- and light-responsive cis-regulatory elements were common to most of the genes under investigation. Expression profiling of CK metabolic gene families was carried out at the seedlings stage in AA genome donor of common wheat. Exogenous application of phytohormones (6-benzylaminopurine, salicylic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellic acid, and abscisic acid) for 3 h significantly upregulated the transcript levels of all four gene families, suggesting that plants tend to maintain CK stability. A 6-benzylaminopurine-specific maximum fold-change was observed for TuCKX1 and TuCKX3 in root and shoot tissues, respectively; however, the highest expression level was observed in the TuGLU gene family, indicating that the reactivation of the dormant CK isoform is the quickest way to counter external stress. The identification of new CK metabolic genes provides the foundation for their in-depth functional characterization and for elucidating their association with grain yield

Treatment of intracranial aneurysms using detachable coils; initial results at a university hospital in Pakistan

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the technical success, safety and outcome of endovascular coiling procedure in intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: From April 2003 to April 2009, 43 patients (23 males and 20 females), age range 11 to 70 years, mean age 46.67 +/- 11.57 years were treated for intracranial aneurysms by detachable coil deployment at Radiology Department of Aga Khan University Hospital. Aneurysm rupture with subarachnoid haemorrhage was the cause of presentation in 39 patients while 4 patients were diagnosed with un-ruptured aneurysms. At time of presentation, grading of subarachnoid haemorrhage was done according to Hunt and Hess grading system. Eleven patients presented with Grade I haemorrhage, other 11 presented with grade II haemorrhage, 8 patients had grade III haemorrhage and 9 patients had grade IV haemorrhage. Preliminary diagnostic workup was performed by cross sectional imaging, CT angiography or digital substraction angiography. Coiling procedures were performed under general anaesthesia through femoral artery approach. Detachable platinum coils were densely packed in all aneurysms by endovascular technique. Patient files and radiology reports were retrospectively reviewed. Technical success and safety of the procedure were analyzed. Modified Rankin Score was used to determine clinical outcome. Score 0-2 represented good outcome, score 3-5: dependency (Can not attend own bodily needs and carry out daily activities without assistance) and score 6: death. RESULTS: Aneurysm size ranged from 3mm - 22mm (mean size 8 mm +/- 4). 74.4% aneurysms had narrow necks while 25.6% aneurysms were wide necked. Most common aneurysm site was anterior communicating artery. Technical success rate for endovascular intracranial aneurysm coiling was 95.3% (n = 41). Major complication rate was 11.6 % (n = 5). Mortality rate was 2.3% (n = 1). 78% patients showed good clinical outcome after coiling including 4 patients with un ruptured aneurysms (n = 32). CONCLUSION: Results of endovascular aneurysm coiling at our center showed high technical success rate (95.3%) and good short term clinical outcome in 78% patients

Impact of Supervision, Working condition and University policy on Work-Life balance of University Employees

In Pakistan, university employees often find it difficult to keep a balance between their jobs in the workplace and their home tasks. Nowadays, Pakistani universities are equally in accordance with different nations to bring work life balance among employees by presenting flexible timings, child care, part time work, and children’s education facilities, like different nations. This research on work-life balance in Universities was done to study the level of work-life balance of employees. This study used a quantitative technique. A survey method was used to gather data from participants. The sample of 150 employees (87 males and 63 females) contained of academic and non-academic employees. This study examined the relationship between independent variables that comprised of supervision, working conditions, and university policy on the dependent variable which is work life balance. The outcomes of this study indicate the current situation of work life balance and the factors that impacting work life balance on employees of public sector universities in Pakistan

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS); review of initial experience at Aga Khan University Hospital

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively assess the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of transjugular intrahepafic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with portal hypertension related complications. METHODS: Over a period of 7.5 years 19 patients (10 males and 9 females, age range 25-69 years) were referred for TIPS at our radiology department. Thirteen patients suffered from liver cirrhosis while 6 had Budd Chiari syndrome. All patients were evaluated with colour doppler ultrasonography and cross sectional imaging. Shunt procedures were performed under sedation or general anaesthesia through internal jugular approach. Metallic self expandable uncovered stents were placed in 15 patients and covered stent in 1 patient. Follow up of patency was evaluated with ultrasound in majority and by venography in some patients. Safety of the procedure and clinical outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: Indications of procedure included variceal bleeding (n=8), ascites (n=4), ascites and bleeding (n=1) and Budd-Chiari syndrome (n=6). Technical success rate was 84.21%. Complication rate was 10.53%. Three days mortality was 15.79%. Mean primary shunt patency was 306.62 +/- 533 days. During follow-up stent occlusion occurred in 5 patients (31.25%). Four of these patients underwent successful reintervention. Recurrence of symptoms occurred in 68.75% patients. CONCLUSION: TIPS is useful for management of complications of portal hypertension that are refractory to pharmacological and endoscopic treatment, however shunt stenosis or occlusion may cause recurrence of symptoms. Repeated interventions are often required to maintain shunt patency

Carrot and Stick Approach: The Exploitative Leadership and Absenteeism in Education Sector

Utilizing the conservation of resources theory, this study investigates serial mediation of facades of conformity and depression between exploitative leadership and absenteeism. A total of 211 education sector employees using the convenient sampling technique took part in the survey with data collected in a time-lagged research design. Findings of the study reveal that facades of conformity and depression mediate the independent paths and play a serial mediating role between EL and absenteeism path. This study suggests that EL works as a workplace stressor, under which employees try to protect their valuable resources from further loss in the form of facades of conformity, in doing so, it leads to depression; thus, employees ultimately use absenteeism as an active coping strategy to cope with workplace stressors

Career goals of trainee physicians in internal medicine

OBJECTIVE: To survey Internal Medicine trainees\u27 future career choices and factors influencing their decision-making. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from November 2006 to January 2007. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A standard questionnaire was administered to the residents and Interns working in the Department of Internal Medicine of The Aga Khan University Hospital. The questionnaire covered demographic details, specialty choice, work-time distribution and factors influencing career choice. Descriptive statistics were applied. RESULTS: A total of 49 doctors participated with 57% females; and 43% males, having 33% interns and 67% residents. A minority (22%) opted for internal medicine, while 78% selected sub-specialties with cardiology (20%) being the most sought- after sub-specialty. Majority (69%) wanted to spend more time in clinical activities compared to administration (18%) or research (13%). Majority (92%) wanted to work in an academic setting. Availability of a structured training program (61%), ability to practice broad area of medicine (41%) and prestige of the specialty (41%) highly influenced their career choices. Forty one (82%) wanted to proceed abroad for further training and 80% wanted to eventually practice in Pakistan. CONCLUSION: Most of the interviewed under-training physicians wanted to pursue sub-specialty. Clinical work was more attractive compared to research. A structured training program was detrimental in affecting their choices. Majority wanted further training abroad but eventual settlement in Pakistan. The study results can help us create the basis for reforming the current training programs

Development and Exploitation of KASP Assays for Genes Underpinning Drought Tolerance Among Wheat Cultivars From Pakistan

High-throughput genotyping for functional markers offers an excellent opportunity to effectively practice marker-assisted selection (MAS) while breeding cultivars. We developed kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) assays for genes conferring drought tolerance in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In total, 11 KASP assays developed in this study and five already reported assays were used for their application in wheat breeding. We investigated alleles at 16 loci associated with drought tolerance among 153 Pakistani hexaploid wheat cultivars released during 1953–2016; 28 diploid wheat accessions (16 for AA and 12 for BB) and 19 tetraploid wheat (AABB) were used to study the evolutionary history of the studied genes. Superior allelic variations of the studied genes were significantly associated with higher grain yield. Favored haplotypes of TaSnRK2.3-1A, TaSnRK2.3-1B, TaSnRK2.9-5A, TaSAP-7B, and TaLTPs-1A predominated in Pakistani wheat germplasm indicating unconscious pyramiding and selection pressure on favorable haplotypes during selection breeding. TaSnRK2.8-5A, TaDreb-B1, 1-feh w3, TaPPH-7A, TaMOC-7A, and TaPARG-2A had moderate to low frequencies of favorable haplotype among Pakistani wheat germplasm pointing toward introgression of favorable haplotypes by deploying functional markers in marker-assisted breeding. The KASP assays were compared with gel-based markers for reliability and phenotypically validated among 62 Pakistani wheat cultivars. Association analyses showed that the favorable allelic variations were significantly associated with grain yield-contributing traits. The developed molecular marker toolkit of the genes can be instrumental for the wheat breeding in Pakistan