MAPPING LIFE SCIENCES & BIOMEDICINE RESEARCH

Purpose: This study analyzes and highlights the research productivity and the trend in the top fields of “Life sciences and Biomedicine”. Methods: The data were collected from Clarivate Analytic’s “Web of Science” for a period of 10 years (2006-2016). The search was further refined to the top 10 fields in the field of “Life Sciences and Biomedicine”. The data were downloaded on the following parameters: “author productivity”, “country contribution”, “organisational involvement”, “funding agencies”, “publication year”, “most preferred document type” and “language”. Findings: No consistent growth is observed in the research activities pertinent to the fields of “Life sciences and Biomedicine”. Among the studied fields, “Neurosciences and Neurology” is in lead with “2016” as the most productive year. Research in “Life sciences and Biomedicine” is quantitatively dominated by the “USA”, followed by the “England” and “Japan”. Authors have mostly reported their findings in the form of “Research articles” and “English” as a language of publication has remained a dominant medium of communication. Furthermore, it is also observed that “National Institute of Health (NIH)” and “National Natural Science Foundation of China” are the top funders across all the fields with “Harvard University”, “Chinese Academy of Science” and “University Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre” as the leading organizations in terms of contribution. Limitations: However, more research would have been published across other indexing and abstracting services, but the results of the study are confined to the data indexed by “Web of Science”. Research implications: The study may serve as a summary of global history on “Life sciences and Biomedicine” research and a potential basis for future research

Teachers’ and Parents’ perspective as how the Social Environment of immediate vicinity can affect the academic learning of a Child 4-6 years age group

In the process of human development environment plays a pivotal role. At the age of 4 -6 years, children\u27s immediate vicinity expands from home to school and in his social environment parents and teachers play a vital role. Therefore, in this study which was conducted in Phander district Ghizer, Northern areas; of Pakistan, employing descriptive research design five parents and five school teachers were enrolled. Participants shared their definition and understanding about social environment and immediate vicinity and its effects on academic learning. This research is part of Advanced Diploma in Human Development: Early Child Development Programme, Aga Khan University. Thus clearance was obtained from the University\u27s Ethics Review Committee. After approval of schools’ administration teachers were contacted and individual consent was obtained from all the study participants (n=10). Due to specific geographical area and population, its results cannot be generalized but it may provide some guidelines for future studies of similar nature

Reproductive Health Education in NCTB Curriculum and Text Books: A Critical Review

The Education Policy-2010, paved the way to introduce Reproductive Health (RH) as part of curricula of few selected subjects for the secondary school children in Bangladesh, which can be considered as a first step in the right direction. Consequently subjects like Physical Education and Health and Home Science has been chosen to incorporate some aspects of RH for the students of classes VI-VIII, and Science are for the students of classes IX-X. This article aimed to explore, examine and review critically to what extent incorporation has taken place and whether this has fulfilled the learning needs of the adolescent groups at the secondary level. Class/grade wise analysis revealed that topics, contents, narration of information, facts, examples, illustrations and use of language are aged and grade specific and need oriented to a moderate extent. However the lapses were observed in the use of language in describing contents and illustrations for the younger children (particularly for class VI) and other classes also. A more gender balanced approach should have been undertaken in the whole development process of curriculum and text books which incorporated RH as part of other subjects. Intensive teacher training program along with development of supplementary learning and teaching materials will be needed in order to provide right and proper knowledge, information and facts to these young learners and keep the safe from wrong information from wrong sources. For the students of 21st century knowing about Reproductive Health in broader terms and Sexual Reproductive Health is not merely a policy issue but a right also

Effective Adsorption of Hexavalent Chromium and Divalent Nickel Ions from Water through Polyaniline, Iron Oxide, and Their Composites

Water pollution caused by industrial wastes containing heavy metals and dyes is a major environmental problem. This study reports on the synthesis, characterization, and utilizations of Polyaniline (PANI) and its composites with Fe3O4 for the removal of hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) and divalent nickel Ni(II) ions from water. The adsorption data were fitted in Freudlich, Langmuir, Tempkin, Dubbanin–Ruddishkawich (D–R), and Elovich adsorption isotherms. The Freundlich isotherm fits more closely to the adsorption data with R2 values of 0.9472, 0.9890, and 0.9684 for adsorption of Cr(VI) on Fe3O4, PANI, and PANI/Fe3O4 composites, respectively, while for adsorption of Ni(II) these values were 0.9366, 0.9232, and 0.9307 respectively. The effects of solution pH, initial concentration, contact time, ionic strength, and adsorbent dosage on adsorption behavior were investigated. The adsorption ability of composites was compared with pristine PANI and Fe3O4 particles. Activation energy and other thermodynamic properties such as changes in enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy indicated spontaneous and exothermic adsorption

Physical, Chemical, and Electrochemical Properties of Redox-Responsive Polybenzopyrrole as Electrode Material for Faradaic Energy Storage

Polybenzopyrrole (Pbp) is an emerging candidate for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. There is a need to develop synthesis strategies for this class of polymers that can help improve its overall properties and make it as suitable for energy storage applications as other well-studied polymers in this substance class, such as polyaniline and polypyrrole. In this study, by synthesizing Pbp in surfactant-supported acidic medium, we were able to show that the physicochemical and electrochemical properties of Pbp-based electrodes are strongly influenced by the respective polymerization conditions. Through appropriate optimization of various reaction parameters, a significant enhancement of the thermal stability (up to 549.9 °C) and the electrochemical properties could be achieved. A maximum specific capacitance of 166.0 ± 2.0 F g−1 with an excellent cycle stability of 87% after 5000 cycles at a current density of 1 A g−1 was achieved. In addition, a particularly high-power density of 2.75 kW kg−1 was obtained for this polybenzopyrrole, having a gravimetric energy density of 17 Wh kg−1. The results show that polybenzopyrroles are suitable candidates to compete with other conducting polymers as electrode materials for next-generation Faradaic supercapacitors. In addition, the results of the current study can also be easily applied to other systems and used for adaptations or new syntheses of advanced hybrid/composite Pbp-based electrode materials

Synthesis, Characterization and Electrochemical Performance of a Redox-Responsive Polybenzopyrrole@Nickel Oxide Nanocomposite for Robust and Efficient Faraday Energy Storage

A polybenzopyrrole@nickel oxide (Pbp@NiO) nanocomposite was synthesized by an oxidative chemical one-pot method and tested as an active material for hybrid electrodes in an electrochemical supercapattery device. The as-prepared composite material exhibits a desirable 3D cross-linked nanostructured morphology and a synergistic effect between the polymer and metal oxide, which improved both physical properties and electrochemical performance. The unprocessed material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy/energy disperse X-ray analysis, and thermogravimetry. The nanocomposite material was deposited without a binder on gold current collectors and investigated for electrochemical behavior and performance in a symmetrical two- and three-electrode cell setup. A high specific capacity of up to 105 C g$^{-1}$ was obtained for the Pbp@NiO-based electrodes with a gravimetric energy density of 17.5 Wh kg$^{-1}$, a power density of 1,925 W kg$^{-1}$, and excellent stability over 10,000 cycles

Study on Direct Synthesis of Energy Efficient Multifunctional Polyaniline-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite and Its Application in Aqueous Symmetric Supercapacitor Devices

The synthesis of promising nanocomposite materials can always be tricky and depends a lot on the method of synthesis itself. Developing such synthesis routes, which are not only simple but also can effectively catch up the synergy of the compositing material, is definitely a worthy contribution towards nanomaterial science. Carbon-based materials, such as graphene oxide, and conjugative polymers, such as conductive polyaniline, are considered materials of the 21st century. This study involves a simple one pot synthesis route for obtaining a nanocomposite of polyaniline and graphene oxide with synergistic effects. The study was carried out in a systematic way by gradually changing the composition of the ingredients in the reaction bath until the formation of nanocomposite took place at some particular reaction parameters. These nanocomposites were then utilized for the fabrication of electrodes for aqueous symmetric supercapacitor devices utilizing gold or copper as current collectors. The device manifested a good capacitance value of 264 F/g at 1 A/g, magnificent rate performance, and capacitance retention of 84.09% at a high current density (10 A/g) when gold sheet electrodes were used as the current collectors. It also showed a capacitance retention of 79.83% and columbic efficiency of 99.83% after 2000 cycles

Efficacy of resomal versus low osmolar ORS in severe acute malnutrition children with diarrhea age 6 months to 59 months

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Resomal versus low Osmolar ORS in severe acute malnutrition in children with diarrhea age 6 months To 59 months.Methodology: This Randomized Control Trial was carried out at Nutrition stabilization Centre pediatrics Department, Liaquat university hospital, Hyderabad, with duration of one year from 1st April-2016- to 31st March-2017. All the children having severe acute Malnutrition were included. After admission, severity of diarrhea was assessed on clinical basis. After informed consent, patients of Severe Acute Malnutrition were divided into two groups i.e Group-A and Group-B on randomized selection. Group A was given Resomal and Group–B was given low Osmolar ORS. Electrolytes were sent on admission then again after 12 hours of giving rehydration solution, response of diarrhea was assessed on the basis of Laboratory investigations and clinical assessment.Results:  Mean age of the children was 20.83 months and standard deviation was 3.52 months. Female children were in the majority 172 as compared to males 152 out of 324 cases. No significant difference was found in Z-score of both groups, P-value 0.07. Acute diarrhea was the most common in both groups, Diarrhea frequency-1 was found significantly more in both groups, having p-value 0.001, while frequency 2 and 3 were found without significant difference in both groups.  Statistically there was a significant difference in pre rehydration electrolytes in both groups, having p-value 0.001.  After rehydration no significant difference was found in electrolytes in both groups.Conclusion: It was concluded that resomal and low osmolar ORS were similarly efficacious in the rehydration of severely malnourished children with diarrhea and dehydration after rehydration

Poly(o-toluidine) salt as low cost electrode material for high performance electrochemical supercapacitor

Binder-free, low cost poly(o-toluidine) (POT) has been synthesized by emulsion polymerization method. The synthesized POT salt has been tested for supercapacitor application through cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge discharge analysis. The POT salt exhibits a specific capacitance value of 301 F/g. The synthesized material was further characterized by FTIR, UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis