Thermodynamics of Modified Cosmic Chaplygin Gas

In this paper, we examine the thermodynamic features of an exotic fluid known as modified cosmic Chaplygin gas in the context of homogeneous isotropic universe model. For this purpose, the behavior of physical parameters are discussed that help to analyze nature of the universe. Using specific heat formalism, the validity of third law of thermodynamics is checked. Furthermore, with the help of thermodynamic entities, the thermal equation of state is also discussed. The thermodynamic stability is explored by means of adiabatic, specific heat and isothermal conditions from classical thermodynamics. It is concluded that the considered fluid configuration is thermodynamically stable and expands adiabatically for an appropriate choice of parameters.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, to appear in AHE

Integrating libraries across continents: A case of Aga Khan University’s nine libraries in five countries

The Aga Khan University (AKU) is perhaps the only university throughout the developing world that is serving through eleven campuses spread across eight countries and three continents. It has a network of nine libraries, although small in size, in five courtiers in three regions (South Asia, East Africa, and the UK). The university has recently implemented a library management system to integrate all libraries using single shared database. The purpose of this study is to share Aga Khan University Libraries’ process of Integrated Library System (ILS) selection, project initiation and planning, system implementation including installation to data conversion and migration to training, and impact on skill development of library staff. Following a one-year selection effort, Symphony was chosen as the new system for AKU libraries. This study also describes the challenges faced by staff and the mitigation strategies. A comprehensive review of selection to go-live efforts is described including system and client configuration, functional testing and problem reporting. Training and lessons learned is also part of this study. After successful implementation of the system, nine AKU libraries are sharing their resources from different geographical locations i.e. Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK. There is a single search interface to see library holdings of each or all AKU libraries. Eventually it is very helpful for resource sharing and interlibrary loan process. Users of AKU are very happy to see a new user-friendly interface. They are enjoying the empowerment to renew and hold their books remotely through web-based secured login. Also they are able to receive alerts for overdue and new arrivals in their respective fields. With the implementation of this new system, the internal processing activities of libraries are improved and library staff across contents is following same processes and helping each other. They are also learning new standards adopted in this system

Implementing Institutional Repository (IR) system in a multi-campus international university: Nuts and bolts

The Aga Khan University (AKU) is serving through eleven campuses spread across eight countries in three continents. It has a network of eleven libraries, although small in size, in five developing courtiers in three regions (South Asia, East Africa, and Europe). The university has recently implemented an Institutional Repository (IR) system to show-case the intellectual and scholarly output of the university. The selection of this system was done after a thorough study of available platforms, and in line with AKU vision and mission. The stakeholders were involved in decision making. After a careful evaluation of the teams involved, Digital Commons was selected as the AKU’s IR. Digital Commons is a suite of tools and services that enable institutions to manage, display, and publish scholarship to the web in a highly visible online showcase. Besides having all features of a traditional IR, it also offers professional-grade publishing tools with a peer-review workflow. So the institutions can publish their journals, books, conference proceedings and other stuff using this platform. It also has an additional module through which the individual faculty and scholars of an institution can develop their profiles and populate them with their scholarly works. The purpose of this paper is to share our experience of implementing IR in our various campuses, from selection of the product to its marketing. A lot of steps were involved in implementing and populating the works. Information architecture, page setup, layout, branding, building communities, campuses and departments, content recruitment, policy making, copyright issues, measuring success were among the major milestones. This paper also reports some technical, technological, and content related issues that were faced during the implementation process. Some issues were known and expected but some were out of the mind. Some were manageable while some were beyond the control. Investigating copyright and acquiring copyright permissions from publishers and/or authors have been among the big challenges. Acquisition of content was also a test for AKU libraries’ teams. With the implementation of this system, the AKU faculty was satisfied with the performance of the system and they were happy to see themselves globally visible in the field of research. In future, Aga Khan University is going to encourage graduate and undergraduate students to submit their research work online. The workflow will manage these research works from submission to publish on this platform. AKU is also planning to subscribe to an additional module of this system that will host faculty/researchers profile pages

How economists cite literature: citation analysis of two core Pakistani economic journals

Selected volumes of the Pakistan Development Review (PDR) and the Pakistan Economic and Social Review (PESR) were analysed to find the citation pattern of their articles. Eight volumes of each journal were selected, two volumes representing a decade. The results revealed that the PDR has been the most cited journal. The mean score of citations per article remained insignificantly different in the two core journals. More than 50 per cent of the citations from both journals were single-authored. More than 50 per cent of the citations were from non-journal sources, mainly books. Although citations from online sources were seen, it was a negligible number. About 47 per cent of the total citations of the PDR were up to five years old compared with the citations of the PESR, where only 25 per cent fell into this category. Most of the authors used foreign books as citations. There is a significant similarity in the top most cited journals in both cases. Most of the frequently cited journals were from the USA

Connecting Aga Khan University\u27s nine campus libraries across three continents through a shared library system

The Aga Khan University (AKU) is the only university in the developing world that is serving through its eleven campuses spread across eight countries and three continents. It has a network of nine libraries, although small in size, in four developing courtiers in two regions (South Asia and East Africa). The university has recently implemented a library management system to integrate all nine libraries in four counties using a single shared database. The purpose of this paper is to share our experience of implementing the industry standard-base state-of-the-art library system. The geographical location of AKU libraries and multilingual collections makes this experience more significant. Keeping in view the complexity of geographical locations, multilingual collections, different time zones, and diversity of staff involved, one can consider it a unique occurrence in the field of library and information science

Impact of computer training on professional library activities in Pakistan

Report on a survey of alumni of the Pakistan Library Association’s Computer Training Center in Lahore to determine the impact of the Certificate in Library Automation (CLA) on librarianship in Pakistan. The survey provided information on: the profile of the respondents; their participation in computer training before and after taking the CLA; the impact of their training on their success in job seeking; their access to and use of computers; their participation in library automation projects and other auto-mation related activities; and suggestions regarding further courses and the improvement of the Training Centre. The results showed that the courses were attended mainly by comparatively young professional librarians, most of whom were working in Lahore. Their computer training contributed a lot to their success in getting new jobs. Most of them had access to computer facilities in their offices and use them daily, and have participated significantly in automation activities in their libraries. Many also applied their computing knowledge in writing books, articles, delivering lectures and providing consultancy services. Many suggestions were made for improving the courses

Pulmonary embolism in pemphigus vulgaris, the need for judicious immunotherapy

Pemphigus vulgaris is a serious chronic mucocutaneous ailment. In recent decades advances in diagnostic and therapeutic measures have led to a significant decline in morbidity and mortality. However, with the advent of active and prolonged immunotherapy involving corticosteroids, there has been a rise in steroid-associated complications. This has led to significant concern globally over the sensible use of treatment regimen in pemphigus patients. We present a patient who underwent a massive pulmonary embolism following over usage of corticosteroid therapy for pemphigus vulgaris. Whilst the patient survived owing to timely assessment and aggressive surgical intervention, the need for cautious and judicious immunotherapy in pemphigus is emphasized

Life threatening mediastinal haematoma: a complication of central venous catheterization

Central venous catheterization (CVC) has established risks and benefits in its application as a vascular access source, particularly in situations involving temporary cannulation. We present a rare case of life-threatening mediastinal haematoma resulting from CVC usage. Even though aggressive intervention yielded survival, the patient was left with permanent vocal compromise owing to traumatic palsy of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve. One should be careful in selection of venous access and be aware of alternatives routes

Assessing the needs and measuring the impact of the information literacy sessions at the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan

Main objective of this paper is to assess the information literacy needs of the fresh M.Ed. students at the AKU-IED and to measure the impact of the information literacy sessions over the students by using the pretest and post-test tool.Document the users’ reflections to improve the forthcoming information literacy sessions. Pretest questionnaire was sent to the M.Ed. students of AKU-IED to know the information literacy needs, and to know about their understanding about collection, OPAC and e-resources. As a result needs identified through this questionnaire were addressed in the information literacy session. This hands-on information literacy session was complimented with the handouts and assignments were given to the students as well. After the information literacy session, posttest questionnaire was sent to the users. This posttest questionnaire was having some questions taken from the pretest with a purpose to measure the impact the session had made over the students. This measurement was carried out by comparing the responses collected in the pretest and posttest. Posttest questionnaire was also having the questions to know the users reflections about the weak part of the session, strongest part of the session and their opinion to improve the forthcoming sessions. Present results showed the weak areas of the students which include the concepts of call number, classification number, author mark, ways to access the library collection, use of OPAC, databases, full-text articles were needed to be covered in the IL session. Some areas needed less attention and time during the sessions because majority of the students were already familiar to them. These were concepts of on-campus access, type of searches through OPAC and the definition of OPAC. Post-test analysis showed us the impact the session has made

Transforming pedagogy through audio visual aid: An Accomplishment at the Aga Khan University, Karachi

In the developing world, the Aga Khan University (AKU) is the only university which has the presence in eight countries. Besides having a network of eleven libraries, it has audio visual and learning resource centres (AV-LRCs) in each campus as a part of AKU libraries\u27 network. Equipped with modern facilities like a shooting studio, large format printing plotters, and other facilities, the A V -LRC in AKU Karachi serves the community with the aim to provide high quality audio-visual support to the faculty, students and staff in their research, teaching and co-curricular events. Digital design, photography, video production, audio visual library, learning resource centre and equipment borrowing are some of the services and functions of this department. Digital photography, large-size researcher poster design and printing, video recording and editing, researcher poster carrier and equipment borrowing have been the top five services in the last five years. The objective of this paper is to introduce this unique service being provided to support research and teaching at AKU, so that other libraries can get the benefit of our experience and can setup similar, or even better, facilities in their respective institutions