Achieving Learning Outcomes in Online Education

Online education is proliferating fast for its many advantages, cost-effectiveness being one of the prime reasons. The most recent pandemic situation around the world has made it a serious and an urgent need. While there is a general agreement that online education is as good as face-to-face or better, except for some dissenting views, there is no literature available that can inform on the minimum essentials for achieving learning outcomes in online learning modality. This Major paper presents a synthesis of the latest studies on the most studied variables having significant effect on the online learning outcomes to extract the factors as ‘necessary and sufficient’ for a successful and satisfying online learning experience. This Major paper includes the resources on the school as well as post-secondary level online learning (thought there is extremely little empirical research available at K-12 level). The paper also finds intricate nature of these variables and mediators that are mutually reinforcing and creating synergy towards improved learning outcomes

PREVALENCE OF LIBRARY ANXIETY AMONG UNDERGRADUATE MEDICAL STUDENTS

This study aimed to explore the frequency of library anxiety among the medical students (first year to fourth year) of Khyber Medical College (KMC), one of the oldest medical institutes of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Out of 1500 populations of the study, data were collected from 306 students using a convenient sampling technique. The AQAK library anxiety instrument was used to measure the respondents’ library anxiety level and significance differences with respect to respondents’ gender and their level/year of study. The study found that the respondents’ library anxiety level with respect to ‘‘library staff’ were little higher than the ‘user knowledge’. This study also reported that no significance difference was found between the male and female students with respect to library anxiety. However, the library anxiety mean score for the first-year students were little higher than the final year students. This study has not only filled a gap in the literature with respect to examining the library anxiety of medical students in the study context, but would also help the competent authority and medical librarians to formulate effective strategic plan to overcome the library anxiety level among the medical students, improve library services and provide users education

Interobserver reliability of the renal nephrometry scoring system: Experience from a developing nation

Introduction: The RENAL (radius, exophytic/endophytic properties, nearness of tumor to the collecting system or sinus in millimeters, anterior/posterior, location relative to polar lines) nephrometry score (RENAL-NS) has been described as a structured and quantifiable method to describe a renal tumor’s relevant anatomic features as they relate to the complexity of the lesion. We aim to evaluate a tumor’s RENAL-NS and to assess the reproducibility of the score among different observers.Methods: This retrospective study included 49 patients diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who had complete computed tomography (CT) data, RENAL-NS, and histopathology results. All patients underwent renal surgery/intervention at our center between January 2008 and December 2018. The radius of the lesion, exophytic/endophytic properties, nearness to the collecting system, anterior or posterior description, and location relative to the polar lines was used to calculate the score. Tumor complexity was graded as low, intermediate, or high. Two body imaging radiologists evaluated the data independently.Results: Interobserver agreement for each of the RENAL-NS parameters, respectively, and overall complexity was calculated. The total agreement was 82%, 51%, 84%, 69%, 73%, and 90%, corresponding to Kappa values of 0.72, 0.33, 0.44, 0.49, 0.58, and 0.83, respectively. The radius, nearness to the collecting system, and total complexity showed the best agreement. Exophytic properties of the lesion showed the least agreement. For cases that were discordant in terms of the final score, no major implications in surgical planning were observed.Conclusion: The results of this study show that the RENAL-NS is a useful tool to assess the anatomical features of renal tumors and it is easily reproducible, even for less experienced radiologists in a developing nation

Humoral response of broilers to live Newcastle Disease virus vaccines manufactured by different companies

Increased incidence and severity of fatal Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in commercial and domestic poultry has been reported from across Pakistan. The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of various live NDV vaccines (Gallivac, Intervet and Ceva) by adapting different vaccination schemes in broilers. Antigenic count of each vaccine and its generated antibody were determined by Haeamagglutination and Haemagglutination inhibition tests respectively. Two different NDV vaccination schemes were tested in such a way that one group had received three vaccines in different time periods whereas, the other after priming at 0 day, was followed by a single booster dose. For this purpose, healthy broilers were divided into four groups A, B, C, and D. On zero day of vaccination, there was no detectable anti NDV-HI titer for all vaccines (Gallivac=2, Intervet=2 & Ceva=2). In first vaccination scheme, detectable anti NDV-HI titer was observed on 16th day of vaccination (Gallivac=3.8, Intervet=4.2 & Ceva=3.6). All vaccines showed protective anti NDV-HI titer on 32nd day, post vaccination (Gallivac=5.8, Intervet=6.2, Ceva=5.8). In second vaccination scheme, detectable anti NDV-HI titer was achieved on 16th day of post vaccination (Gallivac=3.8, Intervet=4.2 & Ceva=3.6). While on 32nd day vaccination, all vaccines showed protective anti NDV-HI titer (Gallivac=5.4, Intervet=5.6 & Ceva=5.2). It is concluded that the two-dose vaccination program, with interval of 12 days, is much effective than the 3-dose vaccination scheme. However, in broilers, anti-NDV antibody titer was induced by all three types of vaccines manufactured by various companies. Keywords: Newcastle disease virus, Humoral Response, Haemagglutination inhibition test, Vaccine schedul

Tensile properties of polypropylene/linear low-density polyethylene/nano-titanium dioxide nanocomposites using a two-level factorial experiment

In this paper, a 23 factorial design analysis was used to study the parameters affecting the mechanical characteristics of polypropylene/linear low-density polyethylene/nano-titanium dioxide (PP/LLDPE/TiO2) nanocomposites, and to optimize these factors in order to predict the maximum ultimate tensile strength (UTS), elastic modulus (EM), and yield strength (YS) simultaneously. To do this, two levels of nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) as the coupling agent were selected and eight experiments were conducted for every response. The most effective factors influencing the UTS, EM, and YS were found, and acceptable prediction regression models were taken. One noted that nanoparticles increased the elastic modulus. The attendance of high levels of LLDPE and SEBS resulted in a decrease in YS and UTS. Moreover, the optimum values of variables were determined by using the contour plot

Development and optimization of virus neutralization test in chicken embryonated eggs for indirect identification of avian influenza and Newcastle disease virus

Avian viral problems have been consistently reported in commercial poultry of Pakistan causing heavy economic losses to the poultry farmers. Authentic idenfication and confirmation of the causative agent is always been question mark for the selection of vaccinal strain in this regard. Current study was therefore undertaken to optimize the virus neutralization test for the serological survey of vaccinated poultry particularly for avian influenza virus’s subtypes and Newcastle disease virus. Various physiochemical factors such as concentration of antigen and antibody, Incubation temperature and incubation period for in vitro and in-vivo reaction of antigen and antibody were optimized in chicken embryonated eggs. Serum samples were obtained from vaccinated breeder birds of five commercial poultry breeder companies and subjected for VNT using different concentration of three antigen and their respective homologous antibodies under optimized conditions. AIV H9 (EID50-1×109.0/ml) and NDV (EID50-1×108.2/ml) having biological titer of 10-7 /50ul  HA units were neutralize with 10-2/50ul HIU of antibody and incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes was injected subsequently into 10 day old chicken embryo followed by incubation at 37°C for 38 hours showed ≥90% neutralizing specificity. Furthermore, sera obtained from five AIV-H9, AIV-H5 and NDV exposed commercial poultry farms revealed that Big bird broiler, Big bird breeders and A&S chicks are 100% sensitive and specific whereas, Gateway chicks and Waqas poultry breeders showed 100% homology for AIV-H5 virus but do not confers similarity with prevailing AIV-H9 and NDV field strains. Therefore, high sensitivity, reproducibility and specificity VNT, it could be a tool for indirect detection of homology between vaccinal strain and wild virus antigen using known antisera. Particularly, for those organisms possess natural ability to mutate in the adverse climatic conditions. Keywords: Virus neutralization test, Avian Influenza Virus, Newcastle Disease Virus, Sensitivity, Specificit

Exposure to low concentrations of heavy metals alone and in combination induces histopathological and genotoxic effects in fish (Labeo rohita)

Background: The terrestrial and agro-aquatic ecosystems are continuously at the pity of human's negative impacts. Extensive and indiscriminate application of agrochemicals like heavy metals, industrial wastes, germicides, drug residues and different feed additives has become serious threats to public health. The current experimental trial was executed to investigate genotoxic potential of different heavy metals in fresh water fish (Labeo rohita).Methods: A total of 120 active, healthy, free from  disease and internal parasites fish having three months of age were procured from local fish breeding center and were kept in glass aquarium having 100 liter water. After two weeks of acclimatization, fish were arbitrarily distributed and placed in different eight groups (A-H). Prior to start of experiment, acute toxicity of various heavy metals alone such as lead, cadmium, chromium and in combination (Pb +Cr), (Cr+Cd), (Cd+Pb) and (Pb+Cr+Cd) mixture were determined in-term of 96-h LC50 and lethal doses for Labeo rohita. After assessment of acute toxicity, all the fish were exposed to three sub-lethal concentrations (5, 7 and 9%) of heavy metals alone and in combinations for a period of 30 days in triplicate experiments.Results: Different clinical ailments like, increased surface breathing, loss of coordination, rapid opercular movement, erratic swimming, air gulping, jerking movement and tremors were noted in fish. Histopathological observations of gills of various fish exhibited severe microscopic alterations. Results on micronucleus assay exhibited increased frequency of formation of micronuclei in red blood cells, while comet assays showed significantly increased DNA damage in peripheral erythrocytes in-term of arbitrary units of comets, average percentile rate of damaged cell and genomic damage index.Conclusion: From the results of our experimental study, it can be concluded that fresh water fish are useful and reliable bio-indicators of heavy metal toxicity. Micronucleus and comet assays showed that heavy metals alone and in combination induced DNA damage in fish.Keywords: Labeo rohita; Heavy metals; Histopathology; Erythrocytes; DNA damag

Projected changes in temperature and precipitation over the United States, Central America and the Caribbean in CMIP6 GCMs

The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) dataset is used to examine projected changes in temperature and precipitation over the United States (U.S.), Central America and the Caribbean. The changes are computed using an ensemble of 31 models for three future time slices (2021–2040, 2041–2060, and 2080–2099) relative to the reference period (1995–2014) under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs; SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5). The CMIP6 ensemble reproduces the observed annual cycle and distribution of mean annual temperature and precipitation with biases between − 0.93 and 1.27 °C and − 37.90 to 58.45%, respectively, for most of the region. However, modeled precipitation is too large over the western and Midwestern U.S. during winter and spring and over the North American monsoon region in summer, while too small over southern Central America. Temperature is projected to increase over the entire domain under all three SSPs, by as much as 6 °C under SSP5-8.5, and with more pronounced increases in the northern latitudes over the regions that receive snow in the present climate. Annual precipitation projections for the end of the twenty-frst century have more uncertainty, as expected, and exhibit a meridional dipole-like pattern, with precipitation increasing by 10–30% over much of the U.S. and decreasing by 10–40% over Central America and the Caribbean, especially over the monsoon region. Seasonally, precipitation over the eastern and central subregions is projected to increase during winter and spring and decrease during summer and autumn. Over the monsoon region and Central America, precipitation is projected to decrease in all seasons except autumn. The analysis was repeated on a subset of 9 models with the best performance in the reference period; however, no signifcant diference was found, suggesting that model bias is not strongly infuencing the projections.Universidad de Costa Rica/[805-B9-454]/UCR/Costa RicaNational Science Foundation/[AGS-1849654]/NSF/Estados UnidosNational Science Foundation/[AGS-1623912]/NSF/Estados UnidosDepartment of Energy/[2316‐T849‐08]/DOE/Estados UnidosNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/[2316‐T849‐08]/NOAA/Estados UnidosUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones Geofísicas (CIGEFI)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR