Social Achievement goals and Academic Adjustment among College Students: Data from Pakistan

The study was conducted to investigate the social achievement goals and academic adjustment among college students in Pakistan. These variables were studied with gender and family system. The sample was consisting of 750 students from which 429 were boys and 321 were girls, age range was 15-20 years. Students form joint family system were 585 and 165 students were form nuclear family system. Student Adaption to College Questionnaire (SACQ) developed by Baker and Siryk (1984) and Social Achievement Goals Questionnaire (SAGQ) developed by Ryan and Shim (2006) were used to collect the data. After analyzing the questionnaire responses of the students, this research was highlighted the problems that the students may face while living in a joint family system. Results indicated that boys have more adaptation to college environment and have more social achievement goals as compared to girls. This research was also helping in knowing that the students from nuclear family system have more social achievement and adjustment to college environment as compared to students from joint family system

Essential oil of Eucalyptus citriodora: Physio-Chemical analysis, Formulation with Hand Sanitizer Gel and Antibacterial Activity

Background: The essential oil-bearing plants are extensively being used in traditional systems of medicine due to the occurrence of the diversity of phytochemical constituents. The emerging crisis of developing resistance to conventional drugs has increased public health awareness and reliance on natural compounds as safer alternatives.Methods: The essential oil extracted from Eucalyptus citriodora (Hook.) leaves was characterized for physicochemical attributes, formulated with hand sanitizer gel, tested for organoleptic parameters, and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis.Results: E. citriodora essential oil (EEO) had a camphorous scent, and dark yellow coloration, while exhibiting 0.60% yield (v/w, 97% pure), 0.94 density, 1.47 refractive index, 11.10 viscosity, 0.92 specific gravity, 0.0-9.98º optical rotation, 11.20 acid number, 50.60 ester number, which satisfy the standards specified by ISO (The International Organization for Standardization). The chromatographic analysis of oil identified eucalyptol as the most abundant compound (80.08%) followed by α-terpinyl acetate, isopinocarveol, and globulol as the moderately abundant compounds (4.46-4.81%), while viridiflorol and terpinen-4-ol as less abundant compounds (3.06 and 2.69%, respectively). Formulated hand sanitizer with EEO exhibited physical and microbiological properties that were comparable with the market products. It also had a pleasant scent, was compatible with the skin, was easy to apply, and is acceptable to the users.Conclusion: The current study clearly shows that EEO could be utilized as a potential ingredient in alcohol-based gel hand sanitizer formulation for giving a pleasant smell, acceptable physical appearance and microbial quality parameters.Keywords: Essential oil; Eucalyptol; Hand sanitizer; Gel Formulation; Antimicrobial effect

Statistical Analysis of Dispositional and Psychological Factors and their Association with Cardiovascular Diseases

This study aims to explore the effects of dispositional and psychological factors on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as personality type ‘A’ and type ‘B’, pessimism, optimism, anxiety, depression and stress in the cardiac patients. Overall 292 adult patients (132 males, and 160 females, 133 from private sector and 159 from public sector job holders) were approached in Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology Multan, Pakistan for survey and Pearson correlation also independent sample t-test was performed to test the objectives of the present study. The results indicate that all the variables are significantly correlated with each other as well as clearly signify the effect of gender and job sector on above-said variables.  The findings also reveal that the level of personality type “A”, pessimism, depression, anxiety and stress are higher in females and private job holders therefore more indispose to suffering with cardiovascular diseases, where as the level of personality type “B” and optimism are higher in male patients and public job sectors holders. Type ‘A’ personality is more prone to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), due to its patron of behavior. Moreover, type and nature of job and level of satisfaction also considered as vital as a type of personality in regarding cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Certainly, workplace and environment exert and impact either positive or negative upon the health of an individual

Statistical Analysis of Dispositional and Psychological Factors and their Association with Cardiovascular Diseases

This study aims to explore the effects of dispositional and psychological factors on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as personality type ‘A’ and type ‘B’, pessimism, optimism, anxiety, depression and stress in the cardiac patients. Overall 292 adult patients (132 males, and 160 females, 133 from private sector and 159 from public sector job holders) were approached in Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology Multan, Pakistan for survey and Pearson correlation also independent sample t-test was performed to test the objectives of the present study. The results indicate that all the variables are significantly correlated with each other as well as clearly signify the effect of gender and job sector on above-said variables.  The findings also reveal that the level of personality type “A”, pessimism, depression, anxiety and stress are higher in females and private job holders therefore more indispose to suffering with cardiovascular diseases, where as the level of personality type “B” and optimism are higher in male patients and public job sectors holders. Type ‘A’ personality is more prone to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), due to its patron of behavior. Moreover, type and nature of job and level of satisfaction also considered as vital as a type of personality in regarding cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Certainly, workplace and environment exert and impact either positive or negative upon the health of an individual

Factors Associated with School Burnout in High School Students of South Punjab, Pakistan

The present study aimed to investigate the factors associated with school burn out among high school students in South Punjab. It was hypothesized that high achievement goals and achievement emotions negatively affect the school burnout among students. Data was collected from different high schools situated in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan in South Punjab. The sample was consisted of 813 students from which 387 were females and 426 were males. The age range of participants was 14 to 16, with a mean age of 15.5 ± 0.85. The Achievement Goal Questionnaire, Achievement emotions Questionnaire (AEQ) and The Maslach Burnout Inventory–Student Survey were used as the data collection tools. Findings indicated that the investigated variables (i.e., students’ levels of school burnout, achievement goals, and achievement emotions) displayed the expected correlation patterns, with a negative association between high achievement goals, high achievement emotions and school burnout. Furthermore, these correlation patterns were confirmed for both female and male students. Findings revealed that females are higher in the level of performance approach, mastery approach, performance avoidance, class related emotions, learning related emotions and test emotions as compared to males and males are higher in emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and academic efficiency. Findings also indicate that on the family side students from nuclear family systems have higher in performance approach, performance avoidance and class related emotions whereas students from joint family system were higher in emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and academic efficiency. On the public and private school comparison results revealed that students from public schools have higher level of performance approach, mastery approach, class related emotions, learning related emotions and test emotions as compared to students of private schools

Statistical Analysis to Explore the Factors of ICT that Effect and Promote Global Citizenship among Undergraudate Students: A Case Study of Karachi

This study aimed to explore the underlying relation between ICT and the factors that promote global citizenship among university undergraduate of Karachi, Pakistan through quantitative method approach. Globalization has had numerous and multifaceted effects on education policies and practices at various levels. Therefore, this study attempted to highlight the significance of ICT uses as a tool for fostering global citizenship among undergrads of both sectors in Karachi. The impact of ICT on factors that promote global citizenship among university students are also examined. The Global Citizenship Survey questionnaire was used for quantitative data. A total of 400 students from private and public sector universities participated in this study. The reliability of the responses calculated through Cronbach’s alpha and found to be almost 0.82 for all constructs. This indicates that responses are highly consistent within each construct. An advanced Multivariate Statistical tool “ Exploratory Factor Analysis” (EFA) was also carried out to identify the hidden pattern of the data and identify the most important factors of ICT that promote global citizenship. For the adequacy of data that is the data are suitable for the factor analysis Kaiser Meyer Olkin (KMO) criteria was considered and its value is found to be 0.784. This value indicates that the Global citizenship survey data are adequate and good enough to carry out factor analysis. For the interpretation and discussion of the results we consider first 5 factors with eigen value greater than 1. The results of factor analysis indicate that factors with items of high positive loading are the communication skill and world perspective. In the view of research findings it may be concluded that ICT promotes global citizenship among undergraduate university students

Inhibition of Janus kinases by tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitor, Tyrphostin AG-490

<div><p>Janus kinases (JAKs) belong to a crucial family of tyrosine kinases, implicated in the patho-physiology of multiple cancer types, and serve as striking therapeutic targets. To date, many potent, either ATP-competitive (PTK domain) or non-ATP-competitive JAK inhibitors have been identified. Among them, Tyrphostin AG-490 (2-cyano-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-N-(phenylmethyl)-2-propenamide) is a well-known ATP-competitive inhibitor. However, its mode of action, details of interacting residues, and induced conformational changes in JAK-specific binding sites remain elusive. Here, through comparative structure analysis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation assays, we explored comparative binding patterns of AG-490 against JAK1, JAK2, and JAK3. Our results entail noteworthy observations about the binding affinity of AG-490 by illustrating distinctive amino acid residues lying at the conserved ATP-binding domains of JAK family members. By subsequent assessment of their structural homology and conserved structural folds, we highlight intriguing prospects to design more specific and potent inhibitors for selective targeting of JAK family members. Our comparative study provides a platform for the rational design of precise and potent inhibitor for selective targeting of JAK family members.</p></div

PRESCRIPTION WRITING PRACTICES AND ERRORS IN PRESCRIPTIONS CONTAINING CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS ESPECIALLY ACE INHIBITORS IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN

ABSTRACTObjective: This is the first study related to the prescribing errors in cardiovascular prescription drugs especially Angiotensin converting enzymeinhibitors (ACEIs) conducted with the aim to identify the prescribing errors in ACEIs prescriptions and to determine how to reduce these errors.Methods: The study period was September' 2012 till September' 2013. A total of 460 prescriptions containing ACE inhibitor drugs were retrospectivelyanalyzed to identify the common errors in them after collecting from different outpatient settings of Karachi, Pakistan.Results: The extent of occurrence of errors was calculated; the highest number of the prescriptions (94.34%) failed to mention the patient's weightand in least proportion of the prescriptions (0.43%) prescriber signature was not mentioned. The drug-drug interaction was found in 80.65% ofprescriptions. Only the brand name of the drug was mentioned in all the prescriptions. The main reason of prescription errors was maximum numbersof patients, less knowledge related to prescription writing guidelines to prescribers, and lack of pharmacy services.Conclusions: We concluded from this study, that there is a high percentage of prescription errors in outpatient settings. The only solution is thatthe physicians should be provided with the educational training to improve their prescription writing skills according to World Health Organizationguidelines for prescription writing or other recognized and published standards. The computerized physicians order entry system should beintroduced. The pharmacist can also play a vital role in minimizing and preventing these prescription errors. The health care system withoutpharmacists is unable to cope effectively.Keywords: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, Outpatients, Prescriptions, Prescribing error , Karachi.  Â

Enhanced visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet dye using Cr doped BaFe12O19 prepared via facile micro-emulsion route

The Cr ion doping effect on various properties of Cr doped BaCrxFe12-xO19 nanoparticles was investigated, which were synthesized via a facile microemulsion approach and properties were studied using XRD, SEM, FTIR, Raman, photoluminescence and UV–visible techniques along with dielectric, optical and ferroelectric properties. The BaCrxFe12-xO19 structure was hexagonal involving P63/mmc space group with average crystalline size of 9–18 nm. The NPs exhibited agglomerated platelet heterogeneous morphology. The presence of the Ba-O-Fe functional group was also confirmed by FTIR analysis. The PL analysis revealed that the doping reduced the recombination rate and charge (e−-h+) separation is facilitated. The coercivity (Hc) and saturation polarization (Ps) increased with doping content and dielectric loss reduces with frequency and dopant concentration. The dopant contents also increased the AC conductivity and the optical bandgap found in 1.75–2.83 (eV) range. The BaCrxFe12-xO19 exhibited a significantly higher photocatalytic efficiency versus BaFe12O19, and 91 % CV dye was degraded in 90 min under visible light irradiation. Additionally, a recycling experiment was conducted to confirm the stability of the prepared photocatalyst and Cr doped BaCrxFe12-xO19 exhibited excellent stability and reusability. The Cr doping affected the dielectric, optical and ferroelectric properties and based on photocatalytic properties of BaCrxFe12-xO19, it has potential applications for the destruction of dyes in wastewater under visible light exposure, which will make the process highly feasible for photocatalytic applications