Factors Influencing Teaching Process At Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan: A Comparative Study

This paper represents the results of a descriptive study investigating the factors influencing teaching Process at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (Pakistan). The university is located in the province of KPK and is established in 2009. The major factors influencing teaching process are Professional Commitment, Working Environment, and Job Satisfaction. No Significant difference was found between natural and social science departments. While differences was found designation wise i.e.,  lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor and professors and also qualification wise. It can be concluded that designation and qualification matter in factors influencing teaching process

MODERATING ROLE OF NEUROTICISM BETWEEN TOKOPHOBIA AND MENTAL HEALTH AMONG PRIMIGRAVIDAS

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between tokophobia, neuroticism and mental health; and to examine the role of neuroticism as a moderator between tokophobia and mental health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September, 2019, to January, 2020, at different hospitals. Three instruments Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), and The Wajima Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (WDEQ) were administered on 100 women along with a demographic sheet to collect data and were analyzed using SPSS V 23. RESULTS: Results showed that tokophobia had a significant positive relationship with neuroticism and significant negative relationship with mental health ({β = -0.23, t = -2.20, p = 0.030}). Neuroticism also predicted Mental health {β = -0.51, t = 5.45, p = 0.001} and create 22% in it {ΔR2 = 0.22, ΔF (1,97) = 29.72, p = 0.001}. The interaction of tokophobia and neuroticism significantly predicted mental health {β = -0.17, t = 2.85, p = 0.48} and about 30% change {ΔR2 = 0.30, ΔF (1,96) = 3.42, p = 0.048} in mental health. Neuroticism significantly moderates the relationship between tokophobia and mental health in negative direction. Residential areas do not have significant differences on neuroticism, tokophobia and mental health among primigravidas. CONCLUSION: Primigravida women with neuroticism personality have higher tendency to develop tokophobia and both significantly affect mental health of pregnant women

Impacts of hydrological model calibration on projected hydrological changes under climate change—a multi-model assessment in three large river basins

This study aimed to investigate the influence of hydrological model calibration/validation on discharge projections for three large river basins (the Rhine, Upper Mississippi and Upper Yellow). Three hydrological models (HMs), which have been firstly calibrated against the monthly discharge at the outlet of each basin (simple calibration), were re-calibrated against the daily discharge at the outlet and intermediate gauges under contrast climate conditions simultaneously (enhanced calibration). In addition, the models were validated in terms of hydrological indicators of interest (median, low and high flows) as well as actual evapotranspiration in the historical period. The models calibrated using both calibration methods were then driven by the same bias corrected climate projections from five global circulation models (GCMs) under four Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios (RCPs). The hydrological changes of the indicators were represented by the ensemble median, ensemble mean and ensemble weighted means of all combinations of HMs and GCMs under each RCP. The results showed moderate (5–10%) to strong influence (> 10%) of the calibration methods on the ensemble medians/means for the Mississippi, minor to moderate (up to 10%) influence for the Yellow and minor (< 5%) influence for the Rhine. In addition, the enhanced calibration/validation method reduced the shares of uncertainty related to HMs for three indicators in all basins when the strict weighting method was used. It also showed that the successful enhanced calibration had the potential to reduce the uncertainty of hydrological projections, especially when the HM uncertainty was significant after the simple calibration. © 2020, The Author(s)

Extreme hydrological changes in the southwestern US drive reductions in water supply to Southern California by mid century

The Southwestern United States has a greater vulnerability to climate change impacts on water security due to a reliance on snowmelt driven imported water. The State of California, which is the most populous and agriculturally productive in the United States, depends on an extensive artificial water storage and conveyance system primarily for irrigated agriculture, municipal and industrial supply and hydropower generation. Here we take an integrative high-resolution ensemble modeling approach to examine near term climate change impacts on all imported and local sources of water supply to Southern California. While annual precipitation is projected to remain the same or slightly increase, rising temperatures result in a shift towards more rainfall, reduced cold season snowpack and earlier snowmelt. Associated with these hydrological changes are substantial increases in the frequency and the intensity of both drier conditions and flooding events. The 50 year extreme daily maximum precipitation and runoff events are 1.5–6 times more likely to occur depending on the water supply basin. Simultaneously, a clear deficit in total annual runoff over mountainous snow generating regions like the Sierra Nevada is projected. On one hand, the greater probability of drought decreases imported water supply availability. On the other hand, earlier snowmelt and significantly stronger winter precipitation events pose increased flood risk requiring water releases from control reservoirs, which may potentially decrease water availability outside of the wet season. Lack of timely local water resource expansion coupled with projected climate changes and population increases may leave the area in extended periods of shortages

Predicting glacio-hydrologic change in the headwaters of the Zongo River, Cordillera Real, Bolivia

In many partially glacierized watersheds glacier recession driven by a warming climate could lead to complex patterns of streamflow response over time, often marked with rapid increases followed by sharp declines, depending on initial glacier ice cover and rate of climate change. Capturing such “phases” of hydrologic response is critical in regions where communities rely on glacier meltwater, particularly during low flows. In this paper, we investigate glacio-hydrologic response in the headwaters of the Zongo River, Bolivia, under climate change using a distributed glacio-hydrological model over the period of 1987–2100. Model predictions are evaluated through comparisons with satellite-derived glacier extent estimates, glacier surface velocity, in situ glacier mass balance, surface energy flux, and stream discharge measurements. Historically (1987–2010) modeled glacier melt accounts for 27% of annual runoff, and 61% of dry season (JJA) runoff on average. During this period the relative glacier cover was observed to decline from 35 to 21% of the watershed. In the future, annual and dry season discharge is projected to decrease by 4% and 27% by midcentury and 25% and 57% by the end of the century, respectively, following the loss of 81% of the ice in the watershed. Modeled runoff patterns evolve through the interplay of positive and negative trends in glacier melt and increased evapotranspiration as the climate warms. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that the selection of model surface energy balance parameters greatly influences the trajectory of hydrological change projected during the first half of the 21st century. These model results underscore the importance of coupled glacio-hydrology modeling.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The article is copyrighted by American Geophysical Union and published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It can be found at: http://sites.agu.org/The Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) reanalysis meteorological data can be downloaded from the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES-DISC, http://disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov). Most of the glaciological and meteorological data measured in the watershed that were utilized in this study can be downloaded from the Glacioclim database (http://www-lgge.ujfgrenoble.fr/ServiceObs/). Nonpublic glaciological and meteorological data can be obtained with agreement from the Institute of Research for Development (IRD). The CMIP5 general circulation model output can be downloaded from the World Climate Research Program (WCRP, http://cmippcmdi.llnl.gov/cmip5/). The Landsat Thematic Mapper scenes can be downloaded from the United States Geological Survey (USGS, http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/). All glacio-hydrological model data presented in this manuscript are available by request through the corresponding author ([email protected]). Surface energy balance observations were provided by Jean Emmanuel Sicart ([email protected])

Multicomponent polysaccharide alginate-based bioinks

3D-Bioprinting has seen a rapid expansion in the last few years, with an increasing number of reported bioinks. Alginate is a natural biopolymer that forms hydrogels by ionic cross-linking with calcium ions. Due to its biocompatibility and ease of gelation, it is an ideal ingredient for bioinks. This review focuses on recent advances on bioink formulations based on the combination of alginate with other polysaccharides. In particular, the molecular weight of the alginate and its loading level has an impact on materials performance, as well as the loading of the divalent metal salt and its solubility, which affects the cross-linking of the gel. Alginate is often combined with other polysaccharides that can sigificantly modify the properties of the gel, and can optimise alginate for use in different biological applications. It is also possible to combine alginate with sacrificial polymers, which can temporarily reinforce the 3D printed construct, but then be removed at a later stage. Other additives can be formulated into the gels to enhance performance, including nanomaterials that tune rheological properties, peptides to encourage cell adhesion, or growth factors to direct stem cell differentiation. The ease of formulating multiple components into alginate gels gives them considerable potential for further development. In summary, this review will facilitate the identification of different alginate-polysaccharide bioink formulations and their optimal applications, and help inform the design of second generation bioinks, allowing this relatively simple gel system to achieve more sophisticated control over biological processes

Integrating depression care within NCD provision in Bangladesh and Pakistan : a qualitative study

Background Co-morbidity of depression with other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worsens clinical outcomes for both conditions. Low- and middle-income countries need to strengthen mechanisms for detection and management of co-morbid depression within NCDs. The Behavioural Activation for Comorbid Depression in Non-communicable Disease (BEACON) study explored the acceptability and feasibility of integrating a brief depression intervention (behavioural activation, BA) into NCD services in healthcare facilities in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Methods Face-to-face qualitative interviews were conducted with 43 patients and 18 health workers attending or working in NCD centres in four healthcare facilities in Bangladesh and Pakistan, and with three policy makers in each country. The interviews addressed four research questions (1) how NCD care is delivered, (2) how NCD patients experience distress, (3) how depression care is integrated within NCD provision, and (4) the challenges and opportunities for integrating a brief depression intervention into usual NCD care. The data were analysed using framework analysis, organised by capability, opportunity and motivation factors, cross-synthesised across countries and participant groups. Results Patients and health workers described NCD centres as crowded and time pressured, with waiting times as long as five hours, and consultation times as short as five minutes; resulting in some patient frustration. They did not perceive direct links between their distress and their NCD conditions, instead describing worries about family and finance including affordability of NCD services. Health worker and policy maker accounts suggested these NCD centres lacked preparedness for treating depression in the absence of specific guidelines, standard screening tools, recording systems or training. Barriers and drivers to integrating a brief depression intervention reflected capability, opportunity and motivation factors for all participant groups. While generally valuing the purpose, significant challenges included the busy hospital environment, skill deficits and different conceptions of depression. Conclusions Given current resource constraints and priorities, integrating a brief psychological intervention at these NCD centres appears premature. An opportune first step calls for responding to patients’ expressed concerns on service gaps in provisioning steady and affordable NCD care. Acknowledging differences of conceptions of depression and strengthening psychologically informed NCD care will in turn be required before the introduction of a specific psychological intervention such as BA

The hydrologic sensitivity of the upper Indus River to glacier changes in the western Karakoram Himalayas

Recent controversy regarding the rates of disappearance of glaciers in the Himalayas, the world’s highest mountain chain, has primarily been focused on the eastern Himalayas. Studies carried out in the Central Karakoram Himalayan region suggest an expansion of glaciers. Little information exists about long-term glacier changes and their impact on streamflow in the Karakoram Himalayas where field surveys are difficult due to complex terrain and long term measurements have not been collected. The availability of global remotely sensed and climate datasets in the public domain provides an opportunity for studying large data sparse drainage basins. Following this approach, here I use remotely sensed datasets in combination with observational-based and simulated climate data to estimate glacier changes and their impact on streamflow variability in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) located in the Karakoram Himalayas. Using Landsat images acquired between 1977 and 2006 and climate data from the Climate Research Unit (CRU), change detection analysis shows that the extent of perennial snow cover at higher elevations in the Central Karakoram has increased coinciding with a significant increase in winter precipitation and a decrease in summer temperature. Similarly, analysis of glacier thickness change estimated from the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) altimeter data available between 2003 and 2008 with respect to the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) elevation data acquired in year 2000 identifies two clear patterns of change in the UIB. Strong thickening rates are observed within highly glacierized northern sub-watersheds (i.e. the Hunza and Shyok River basins), while thinning glaciers are identified in southern sub-watersheds. Statistically significant decreasing streamflow trends identified in all seasons for the Hunza River basin and increasing trends identified in other sub-basins of UIB for the period of 1974 – 2000 illustrate that observed streamflow response among sub-watersheds is closely related to the existence of distinct patterns in observed glacier changes. Trend analysis of water equivalence, snowmelt and glacier melt simulated using the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model, modified to represent glacier storage and melt, clarifies that increasing trends in ice and snow water equivalence and positive glacier thickening rates in the Hunza River basin decrease the melt contribution from higher altitude areas. Conversely, in other sub-basins increasing trends in streamflow are associated with increases in snow and ice melt contributions to the total streamflow. As a result of this study, an improved understanding of the governing factors of annual variability and timing of flows allow us to better assess the impacts of glaciers on streamflow in a changing climate. Additionally, the presented methodology for estimating glacier changes and their impact on streamflow requires relatively few data, mostly derived from global datasets. It therefore can be utilized for other data sparse drainage basins of the world

Ali Shariati, an Aficionado Adherent of Iqbal´s Philosophy علی شریعتی فلسفہ اقبال کا شیداٸ

Ali shariati was a generational icon having multi-faceted personality,a socioligist,august intellectual,political-activist,scholor,revolutionary,philosopher and most influential social reformer of 20th century.In addition to his ancestors,French Paul Sartre,Albert Camus,Iranian Muhammad Ali Barqi,Jamal-ul-Din Afghani aad Allama Iqbal´s thoughts in particular, have a profound influence on the life philosophy and revolutionary mood of shariati.He has delved deep in to Iqbal´s mind and soul and presented his message in simple and lucid form for readers to understand Iqbal´s pivotal role as the leader of contemporary Islamic resurgence.Iranian,known for their poetic appetite have a special admiration for Iqbal,Iqbal is also considered to have laid the foundation for the Iranian revolution.The intellectual currents of Iqbal and Shariati flow in the same direction.Their prime concern is the development and prosperity of muslims in every field of life.They wake up their slacking nation from slumber and remind them of their glorious past.Both are the most influential social reformers and prominent figures of international calibre.Shariati´s &nbsp;liking for Iqbal and being madly influenced by him can be estimated from these words,"Iqbal is a man who attains the height of political awareness of his time to the extent that some people believe him to be solely a political figure and a liberated nationalist leader.A man who,in philosophical thought,rises to such a high level that he is regarded as a modern ideologue and scholor on par with 'Bergesen' in the Europe today or of the same stature as 'Ghazzali' in the past of islamism.Shariati developed a new perspective towards politic,society,history and sociology of Islam by following the footsteps of Iqbal.Both Iqbal and shariati were influenced by the Muslim world´s contemporary "encounter with the west".Although Iqbal lived in an earlier period of this encounter,the problems produced by it were generally the same in shariati´s life.Therefore the diagnosis and analysis made by both muslim intellectuals naturally resembled each other.Iqbal was one of the most beloved personalities of late shariati,he was disciple of Iqbal,in shariati´s writing and speeches Iqbal and his renewed religious thought are repeatedly mentioned and there is a repitation of adoration and unparalleled tributes to Iqbal,how ever in this particular paper we are going to discuss only four topics,"selfhood"(khudi),"revival of the nation","casuistry"(Ijtihad)and "Anti-colonialism" regarding the influence of Iqbal on shariati´s thoughts. Key words: delve, lucid, pivotal, resurgence, slacking, slumber, contemporary, disciple, revival