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Exploring the Relationship between Social-Self-Esteem, Psychological Distress, and Disordered Eating Patterns among University Students
Get PDFThis study aimed to investigate the correlation between disordered eating patterns, psychological distress, and social self-esteem among university students in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The study included University Students as participants and it utilized a correlational cross-sectional research design. The data collection involved administering a series of questionnaires, which included the Social Self Esteem Scale (SSES), Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), and DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale). The study adhered to ethical considerations in a rigorous manner. The results indicated a statistically significant and positive correlation between psychological distresses and disordered eating behaviors. Furthermore, a notable inverse relationship was identified between psychological distress and social self-esteem, as well as between psychological distress and disordered eating behaviors. The findings of this study carry significant implications for the design and implementation of targeted interventions aimed at promoting the mental and physical well-being of college students. Additionally, these results may contribute to the development of educational initiatives that seek to prevent the emergence and advancement of eating disorders within this susceptible group. Limitations of the study include the utilization of a cross-sectional design and the limited representativeness of the sample. These factors should be taken into account in future research endeavors
Exploring English Language Learning Needs of Pakistani ESL Postgraduate Research Students: A Qualitative Study
Get PDFEnglish has gained supremacy as the primary language in a range of domains including business, science, technology, higher education, and research. This dominance has created a necessity for a curriculum that meets learners\u27 needs. In Pakistan, postgraduate students face challenges related to the English language in coursework, research paper writing, and dissertation preparation. The objective of this research was to examine the English language requirements of potential Pakistani postgraduate students, who were pursuing studies in science disciplines. The sample included 26 prospective MS students and 4 prospective PhD students, who were preparing for admission tests. The researchers used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect the data, which had been validated by two experts. Thematic analysis revealed that the prospective postgraduate students needed reading skills for reading and comprehending research papers, followed by writing skills for research proposal writing and thesis writing. Participants also recognized the importance of speaking skills for research presentations and communication with supervisors, and listening skills for better understanding of lectures and seminars. The findings suggest that ESP learner-cantered courses should be offered to Pakistani MS/MPhil and PhD candidates that focus on the four language skills for research purposes
Language Skills in English Course Books for HSC I and II, Prescribed by Baluchistan Textbook Board, Quetta
Get PDFLanguage is the fundamental trait of human beings through which they communicate with each other. Every human language has four primary skills of language: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Listening and reading are considered receptive skills, whereas speaking and writing are regarded as productive skills. An individual has to get mastery over all four skills to get command on any language. Textbooks are significant sources to educate students in all subjects. Similarly, in teaching and learning a non-native language, the use of textbooks is indispensable. To enable students’ competency in all four skills, ELT teachers take the help of textbooks in the classrooms. This study aims to find out the presentation of language skills in the textbooks that are used to teach the English language to HSC I and II in Balochistan, Pakistan. For this study, textbooks were analyzed for language skills by using a checklist prepared by Abdul (2013). It was intended to find out the skills that are focused on and the skills that are neglected in the textbooks. The study concluded that the textbook content is predominantly for reading and writing skills. Listening is ignored; however, some of the activities and exercises trigger the speaking skills of the students. It is, therefore recommended that the textbook content be modified and a balanced proportion of the language skills should be included to provide plenty of opportunities to practice all four skills in the classroom under teachers’ guidance
From Likes to Buys: Exploring the Impact of Social Media Influencer Marketing on Consumer Purchase Intentions Through Credibility
Get PDFThis study integrated a model breaking social media influencers’ characteristics into several variables and testing its relationship with consumer purchase intention with the mediation of the credibility of the influencer. To test proposed the model, data was collected from 300 regular social media users who followed at least one social media influencer on social media. Subsequently, the data was analysed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings of the study supported the relationship between the credibility of the influencer and with consumer’s purchase intention. It also supported the mediation of credibility with purchase intention for all the influencer characteristics (expertise, trustworthiness, entertainment value, information quality, likability) except for the expertise of the influencer. In addition, all the characteristics except likability were found to be not significant with purchase intention, and all characteristics with credibility were supported. Thus, brands are recommended to target those influencers who possess such qualities so their product or service could reach the audience through credible sources because the study showed a positive relation between the credibility of an influencer and the consumer’s purchase intention
Does Positive Organizational Climate Embed Employees? Evidence from Pakistan
Get PDFThe primary objective of the current study has been to assess the impact of a positive organizational climate on organizational embeddedness. It intends to foresee whether the following elements of organizational climate i.e. perceived organizational support, trust, and procedural justice result in fostering organizational embeddedness or not. For this, data had been collected from employees of different organizations in Pakistan, particularly Karachi. The sample size for the study is 411 while only those employees had been contacted who have spent at least a year in the current organization. Moreover, the data from employees have been gathered through a questionnaire and then the results have been assessed using SPSS and Smart PLS. The results depict a positive relationship between organizational climate and organizational embeddedness. Thus, the study implies that if organizations want to embed their employees, then they should ensure the provision of support, trust, and procedural justice
Mechanochemical Synthesis of Host-Guest Inclusion Complexes of Cyclodextrin: A Review
Get PDFMechanochemical activation by grinding appears to be the preferred method for the solid-state synthesis of the cyclodextrin inclusion complex because it is fast, highly effective, convenient, and versatile. It is also sustainable and eco-friendly since it uses no solvents. As a result of this review, we will highlight both the advantages and shortcomings of such an approach. Furthermore, we will review the current data in this area systematically. Several possible mechanisms have been illustrated to explain complex formation in the solid state as a result of grinding. We examined the process variables associated with each type of milling instrument applied, as well as the features of the resulting products. We also discussed the physio-chemical properties of the drug as well as cyclodextrin. As a result of the critical process parameters, a rational selection of conditions for the efficient preparation of inclusion complexes by grinding has been demonstrated, with the ultimate objective of increasing the use of this solvent-free process for preparing cyclodextrin inclusion complexes in solids
Introduction to Opioids: A Review
Get PDFOpioids are psychoactive chemical substances that have been known to reduce feelings of pain. They are a class of drugs that have been implicated in depressing the central nervous system and causing several physical and psychological reactions including numbness, inducing sleep, hyperactivity, drowsiness, mental confusion, nausea, euphoria as well as constipation. The commonest examples of opioids are tramadol, heroin, morphine, codeine, etc. The main reason for Opioid use is for therapeutic purposes. However, the use of Opioids has also been widely implicated in increasing energy and libido. It is also used as a coping mechanism against pressure, the impact of post-traumatic stress, poverty, crime, etc. The indiscriminate use of opioids is usually associated with overdose, addiction and withdrawal. This study focuses on the incidence of opioid use in Nigeria that has become an epidemic in all regions of the country. In addition to being an active component of cough syrups, Codeine and tramadol which are the predominant types of opioids in Nigeria, have been reported to be a leading cause of health implications and fatality amongst Nigerians, cutting across religion, gender, age, social and educational backgrounds. Due to their availability, ease of accessibility, relative affordability, and the euphoric sensation they cause, Codeine and Tramadol have been tremendously used indiscriminately. There are recorded incidents of fatal overdose and adverse interactions between opioids and other drug classes such as Indian hemp. The addictive ability and the resultant antisocial behaviour, fatality and potential health implication poses Opioid use as a threat in the society. This menace has therefore incited the government to put measures in place to enforce the reduction in Opioid use
Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Electrochemical Method for Environmentally Friendly Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Applications (DSSCs)
Get PDFIn this research, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were made utilizing an electrochemical method. Which has the advantages of being quick, simple, producing no side products, and being inexpensive. Advanced techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize the generated zinc oxide. Using methyl orange dye, the analysis showed that the shape of zinc oxide nanoparticles was rice-like and the band gap value was 3.62. ZnO NPs is used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) it has many advantages including its ease of use and low cost, its ability to be integrated into buildings, and its fantastic performance under diffuse and indoor lighting. DSSCs have attracted more attention and have been deemed viable alternatives to conventional photovoltaic devices. The solar cell\u27s efficiency (η %) and fill factor with methyl orange as a dye were 2.3, and 74.1, respectively
Endemicity of Urogenital Schistosomiasis and Its Associated Risk Factors among Children in Danbatta, Northwestern Nigeria
Get PDFUrogenital schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzias is a digenean parasitic infection, classified among the neglected tropical diseases, which has remained endemic in Nigeria, despite efforts in mass drugs administration (MDA) across the country. This study reported the endemicity of urogenital schistosomiasis and its associated risks factors among children in Danbatta, Northwestern Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children of Danbatta, Kano State, Northwestern Nigeria. A total of 400 urine samples were collected from children in 4 conventional Primary Schools (198) and 4 Tsangaya (almajiris) schools (202). Urine sedimentation microscopy technique was used in sample analysis. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and other exposure information to explore associated risk factors for the infection. Data were expressed in prevalence (%) and subjected to chi-square analysis at 95%CI, p≤0.05. Out of the 400 children, 282 70.5% turned out positive, with Tsangaya children having highest infection prevalence, 92.6% compared to Primary School children, and was significant with type of school (χ 2=95.611, p=0.000). Those who visited water body for irrigation purposes and those who visited daily had highest prevalence of 83.3% and 88.6% respectively. In addition, those who visited water bodies in the afternoon hours had highest prevalence of 85.6%. Urogenital schistosomiasis is hyper-endemic in Danbatta despite previous MDAs and activities that involve contact with water bodies are predisposing factors. Strategic and all-inclusive MDAs should be deployed to Danbatta to arrest the surge in endemicity of urogenital schistosomiasis
Isolation and Identification of Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria from Different Types of Cheese in Baghdad’s Local Markets
Get PDFThe current study was undertaken to determine the occurrence of different types of bacteria in cheese samples. A total of 100 samples of white cheese were collected from different locally supermarkets. Plate Count Agar was used to determine the total Counts of the samples. Ten milliliters of the pre-enrichment, sample were incubated in Petri dishes from Violet Red Bile Agar (VRBA), Mannitol Salt agar, and Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate agar (XLD agar) mixing vigorously to ensure homogeneity. The agar was put upside-down in the laboratory incubator that was set to 37°C overnight. Plates with 20 to 300 colonies were counted using Manual Colony Counter with a 100mm magnifying glass. The results of current survey based on microbial plate counts showed that there are different types of bacteria present in different kinds of cheese samples. The most predominant bacterial species isolated from cheese were E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus in which a considerable number of contaminations with these bacteria were detected. The current study demonstrated a high number of bacterial isolates particularly E. coli and S. aureus in the cheese samples as a result of poor cheese manufacturing and storage conditions, inadequate refrigeration, and a lack of quality control measures throughout transportation