Reflective Teaching and the Teachers' Self Efficacy in the Post Method Era: A Case Study of Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

The theoretical and practical underpinnings of reflective teaching and the teachers' self-efficacy were examined in this research to bring forth coherence in the construct and measurement of these apparently competing conceptual strands. The research found many implications of applying reflective teaching with its reconciliation with the teachers' self-efficacy for the practicing teachers. The study used Teacher Reflectivity questionnaire (short form) coined by Akbari, et al (2010) and the Teachers' Self Efficacy Scale developed on Bandura's (1997a) Social Cognitive Theory. The objectives of the study were to find correlation in (1) teachers’ reflective practices and self-efficacy in overall teaching practice (2) teachers’ reflective practices and self-efficacy on the basis of gender (3) teachers’ reflective practices and self-efficacy on the basis of their educational level, and (4) teachers’ reflective practices and self-efficacy on the basis of their job experience. A total of 96 teachers participated in this study. The study found that there was a positive correlation between the teachers' reflectivity and self-efficacy which means that the reflective practices by the teachers will obviously lead to teachers' self-efficacy. Keywords: Language teaching, reflective teaching, self-efficacy, post-method era

Bubble continuous positive airway pressure as a primary modality of respiratory support in meconium aspiration syndrome

Background: Approximately 3–4% of neonates with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) develop meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), of which nearly 30–50% need continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or mechanical ventilation (MV). Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of bubble CPAP as a respiratory support in neonates admitted with MAS and to enumerate factors affecting the CPAP failure. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted, involving all the neonates born with a history of MSAF with respiratory distress within 6 h of life (Downe’s score 4–7), SpO2 <90% with chest X-ray suggestive of MAS. Bubble CPAP was started with pressure and FiO2 adjusted to maintain a SpO2 between 89% and 95%, maximum pressure limit of 6 cm, and FiO2 of 100%, respectively. CPAP was removed when SpO2 was >90% with FiO2 requirement <25% and when respiratory distress was passive (Respiatory rate <60/min, no or mild retractions and no grunt). The primary outcome was measured in terms of improvement in Downe’s score and clinical condition of neonates. CPAP failure was defined as the need for MV, pulmonary leak syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension, and progression of Downe’s score. Results: Downe’s score at the start of CPAP was 6 which decreased to 4, 6 h post-CPAP. There was an improvement in FiO2, RR, and heart rate from 68%, 76/min, and 181/min to 84%, 48/min, and 123/min post-CPAP, respectively. The success rate of CPAP was 77% and failure rate was 23%. Conclusion: Early initiation of CPAP in MAS neonates decreases the need for MV and improves outcomes

PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF RED COTTON BUG SPECIES (HEMIPTERA: PYRRHOCORIDAE) IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Traditional techniques for identifying the red cotton bugs Dysdercus koenigii and Dysdercus cingulatus (Pyrrhocoridae: Hemiptera) depend on phenotypic and morphological data. These methods are suitable when species have well-defined structures and when huge taxonomic knowledge is at hand. In this study, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was selected for the molecular identification of D. koenigii and D. cingulatus. The sequence data showed that one species of the red cotton bug sample was identified as Dysdercus koenigii with 35-100% similarity to other Dysdercus species present in the NCBI database, while the other species was identified as Dysdercus cingulatus with 88-94% similarity to other red cotton bugs species present in the NCBI database. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that our     D. koenigii Seq (>180319003-A02-102-DK-.ab1) shares the same cluster with four D. koenigii isolates (ZSI/SRC_I.28B, ZSI/SRC_I.28, GQ306227.1, KJ459924.1). While the D. cingulatus Seq (>180319003-A02-103-DC-.abl) shares a cluster with D. cingulatus voucher (RO_DC2015). This is the first molecular identification of red cotton bugs (D. koenigii and     D. cingulatus) reported in Pakistan. Thus, in the current study, molecular identification has been accepted as a reliable method for the identification of these agriculturally important insect pests

Characterization of regional hydrological drought using improved precipitation records under multi-auxiliary information

Drought is a complex natural hazard that has been recurrently occurred in many regions across the globe. Therefore, precise drought characterization and its regional monitoring are key challenges for advanced water management and hydrological research. In this research, we provided a novel method to improve annual average time series data for the Standardized Drought Index (SDI)-type drought monitoring tools. We proposed multi-auxiliary information-based estimation strategy that improves annual moving average/total precipitation time series records. Therefore, we incorporated a minimum and maximum temperature as auxiliary variables under multi-auxiliary regression estimator. In summary, this study propagates a new drought index named: the Precision-Weighted Standardized Precipitation Index (PWSDI). We evaluated the performance of PWSDI for 10 meteorological stations in Pakistan. We found that improved estimates of temporal precipitation time series are good candidates for modelling and monitoring hydrological drought at the regional settings under SDI procedure

Population Fluctuation of Bemisia Tabaci (L) and its Associated Predators under Combined Effects of Sowing Date and Varieties

The sowing date is very crucial among agronomic techniques for ensuring productivity and controlling insect pest. In 2018 and 2019, sowings were carried out 15 days intervals, starting on March 1 and ending on June 16. The dates were: March 1, March 16, April 1, May 1, May 16, and June 1. On advanced cultivars of Bt cotton, namely MNH-1026, MNH-1050, and IUB-13, the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Aleyrodidae: Hemiptera), and beneficial/predatory fauna were researched (control). The statistical analysis was multivariate. The relationship between the predatory fauna and the prey (whiteflies) in the correlogram was favourable. Predators showed a positive association with whitefly (0.592), boll weight (0.681), boll number (0.872), and seed cotton production (0.886) per acre, in that order. It was determined through Principal Components Analysis (PCA) that PC1 had an Eigen value \u3e1 and accounted for 79.3% of the overall variation due to the greatest positive loading vectors. It was determined that because late planting had a short growing period, whiteflies attacked it less frequently. It was determined that short-season crop cultivation and the breeding of resistant germplasm are advantageous in the face of climate change

Material Study of Co2CrAl Heusler Alloy Magnetic Thin Film and Co2CrAl/n-Si Schottky Junction Device

The structural, optical, magnetic, and electrical properties of Co2CrAl Heusler alloy magnetic thin films grown on n-type silicon (100) substrate (n-Si) and glass substrate were studied. The films were deposited using DC magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the polycrystalline nature of the films. The effect of grain size on transmittance was investigated. Magnetic measurements revealed the presence of magnetic ordering in the films. Partial densities of states (PDOS) of the Co2CrAl were calculated by density functional theory (DFT) methods using the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP). Co2CrAl thin film deposited over a silicon substrate was investigated for I-V characteristics. The electrical behaviour confirmed the existence of a Co2CrAl/n-Si Schottky contact, which suggests a spin injection phenomenon from Co2CrAl to n-Si by tunnelling through the lowered Schottky barrier

Bis(μ-hexa­deca­noato-κ2 O:O)bis­[(2,2′-bipyridine-κ2 N,N′)(hexa­deca­noato-κO)copper(II)] methanol disolvate

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Cu2(C16H31O2)4(C10H8N2)2]·2CH3OH, contains one half-mol­ecule of the metal complex solvated by a methanol mol­ecule. In the complex, two of the metal atoms are doubly bridged by two monodentate bridging hexa­deca­noate ligands around a center of inversion. The square-pyramidal geometry around each CuII ion is completed by a terminal hexa­deca­noate O atom and two N atoms from a 2,2′-bipyridine ligand. The alkyl chains of the carboxyl­ate ligands are arranged in a parallel manner with an all-trans conformation. In the crystal, a π–π inter­action formed by the bipyridine rings [centroid–centroid separation = 3.7723 (17) Å] and inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the complex mol­ecules into infinite chains along the b axis. An O—H⋯O interaction between the methanol solvate and one of the carboxylate O atoms is also observed

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MULTIPLICITY SCALING IN NUCLEAR COLLISIONS AT HIGH ENERGIES

Koba-Nielsen-Olesen (KNO) and generalized KNO (KNO-G) scalings are examined in ns and nc distributions by studying the behaviours of and Sn(z) versus z plots. A distinct departure from the KNO predictions is observed in the present study involving 3.7, 60 and 200A GeV/c 16O-nucleus collisions and 4.5, 14.5A GeV/c 28Si- nucleus interactions. However, KNO-G predictions are found to be essentially consistent with the results obtained by us for different projectiles in both ns and nc distributions