445 research outputs found

    Metal Ion Catalysed Adenosine-5’-triphosphate Hydrolysis: Part II-Zn(II) & Mn(II) Catalysed Hydrolysis

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    Problem-Based Versus Conventional Curricula: Influence on Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical Students Towards Health Research

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    Background Medical education curricula in developing countries should emphasize training in health research. This study compares the knowledge and attitudes towards health research between undergraduate medical students undertaking Problem Based Learning (PBL) versus conventional Lecture Based Learning (LBL). Methods Two groups comprising 66 (LBL) and 84 (PBL) 4th and 5th year students from the medical college of Aga Khan University were administered a structured and validated questionnaire. Knowledge and attitudes of the two groups were recorded on a scale (graduated in percentages) and compared for statistical difference. Results PBL students scored 54.0% while LBL students scored 55.5% on the knowledge scale [p-value; 0.63]. On the attitudes scale, PBL students scored 75.5% against a 66.7% score of LBL students [p-value; 0.021]. A higher proportion of PBL students (89%) had participated in research activities compared to LBL students (74%) and thus felt more confident in conducting research and writing a scientific paper. Conclusion The PBL students showed slightly healthier attitudes towards health research compared to LBL students. Both groups demonstrated a similar level of knowledge about health research. The positive impact of the PBL curriculum on attitudes of medical students towards health research may help in improving research output from developing countries in future

    Photofixation of carbon dioxide in semiconductor particulate and microbial systems

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    Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to HCOOH and HCHO was carried out in a Pt/CdS/RuO2 semiconductor particulate system using [RuIII(EDTA-H)H2O] complex as catalyst. Upon illumination at 505 nm (band gap energy of CdS), the system produced HCOOH and HCHO at rates equal to 3.05×l0−2 Mh−1 and 2.0×10−2 M h−1, respectively. Trace amounts of CH2OH, CH4 and CO were also detected in the reaction vessel. Photobiological conversion of CO2 to formic acid was achieved by using Halobacterium halobium MMT22 in aqueous solution at a rate equal to 0.45 M h−1. A one-and-half-fold increase in the rate of formation of formic acid was observed when the photobiological reduction of CO2 was performed in the presence of L-ascorbic acid as electron-donating agent and [RuIII(bipy)3]2+ as photosensitizer

    Equilibrium, Thermodynamic, and Kinetic Studies

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    Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Razia Sulthana et al.The economic viability of adsorbing crystal violet (CV) using pepper seed spent (PSS) as a biosorbent in an aqueous solution has been studied. A parametrical investigation was conducted considering parameters like initial concentration of dye, time of contact, pH value, and temperature variation. The analysis of experimental data obtained was carried out by evaluating with the isotherms of Freundlich, Sips, Tempkin, Jovanovic, Brouers-Sotolongo, Toth, Vieth-Sladek, Radke-Prausnitz, Langmuir, and Redlich-Peterson. The adsorption kinetics were studied by implementing the Dumwald-Wagner, Weber-Morris, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, film diffusion, and Avrami models. The experimental value of adsorption capacity (Qm=129.4 mg g-1) was observed to be quite close to the Jovanovic isotherm adsorption capacity (Qm=82.24 mg g-1) at (R2), coefficient of correlation of 0.945. The data validation was found to conform to that of pseudo-second-order and Avrami kinetic models. The adsorption process was specified as a spontaneous and endothermic process owing to the thermodynamic parametrical values of ΔG0, ΔH0, and ΔS0. The value of ΔH0 is an indicator of the process's physical nature. The adsorption of CV to the PSS was authenticated from infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy images. The interactions of the CV-PSS system have been discussed, and the observations noted suggest PSS as a feasible adsorbent to extract CV from an aqueous solution.publishersversionpublishe

    Retinopathy of prematurity: an evaluation of existing screening criteria in Pakistan

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    Abstract AIM: To evaluate if broadening the criteria for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening to include babies with gestational age ≥32 weeks and/or birth weight ≥1500 g, would have an impact on the number of babies diagnosed as having ROP. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Infants with gestational age ≤35 weeks or birth weight ≤2000 g born in this hospital from May 2010 to December 2012 were screened for the presence of ROP 4-6 weeks after birth. Subsequent examinations were performed at intervals based on the findings of initial eye examinations. Infants diagnosed as having ROP were treated with argon laser therapy. Neonatal risk factors were also assessed. Cumulative incidence of ROP was calculated for babies falling within and outside current screening criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the predictors of ROP. RESULTS: A total of 301 infants were screened: 27 (9%) babies developed ROP, of which 19 had stage 3 ROP or worse. None of the babies falling outside the current screening criteria developed ROP. The incidence of ROP in the infants meeting the current screeningcriteria was 11.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only gestational age (adjusted relative risk 0.774, 95% CI 0.603 to 0.994) was independently associated with the development of ROP. CONCLUSIONS: In our population ROP was not seen to occur in infants older than 32 weeks gestational age and/or weighing more than 1500 g

    Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Gender differences and prevalence in a Pakistani medical student population

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by a preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect which causes significant distress or impairment in functioning. Few studies have assessed gender differences in BDD in a non clinical population. Also no study assessed BDD in medical students. This study was designed to determine the point prevalence of BDD in Pakistani medical students and the gender differences in prevalence of BDD, body foci of concern and symptoms of BDD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The medical students enrolled in a medical university in Karachi, Pakistan filled out a self-report questionnaire which assessed clinical features of BDD. BDD was diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of the 156 students, 57.1% were female. A total of 78.8% of the students reported dissatisfaction with some aspect of their appearance and 5.8% met the DSM-IV criteria for BDD. The male to female ratio for BDD was 1.7. Regarding gender differences in body foci of concern, the top three reported foci of concern in male students were head hair (34.3%), being fat (32.8%), skin (14.9%) and nose(14.9%), whereas in females they were being fat (40.4%), skin (24.7%) and teeth (18%). Females were significantly more concerned about being fat (p = 0.005). Male students were significantly more concerned about being thin (p = 0.01) and about head hair (p = 0.012).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>BDD is fairly common in our medical student population, with a higher prevalence in males. Important gender differences in BDD symptomatology and reported body foci of concern were identified which reflected the influence of media on body image perception. The impact of cultural factors on the prevalence as well as gender differences in BDD symptomatology was also established.</p

    Oxidation of olefins catalysed by (HEDTA) Ru<SUP>v</SUP>=O

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    The complex K[RuIII(HEDTA)Cl].H2O 1&#x0332; and [(HEDTA) Ruv=O] 2&#x0332; were prepared and characterised by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, conductivity, magnetic susceptibility and electrochemical studies (HEDTA-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediaminetriacetate anion). The kinetics of oxygen atom transfer of [RuIII(HEDTA) (H2O)]1a&#x0332; to [(HEDTA) Ruv=O] 2&#x0332; with iodosoylbenzene was studied spectrophotometrically by using stopped-flow technique. The oxygen atom transfer from complex 2&#x0332; to cyclohexene, cyclooctene, styrene, cis andtrans-stilbene was studied by the disappearance of the characteristic oxo peak (&#955;max=391 nm) at constant pH (3.0) and ionic strength (&#956;=0.1 M NaClO4) and also product analysis by gas chromatography (GC). The activation parameters for both the oxygenation of complex1 to complex 2&#x0332;, and oxygen atom transfer from complex 2&#x0332; to the organic substrates studied were evaluated and suitable mechanisms proposed
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