40 research outputs found
Individual, Interpersonal, and Organizational Factors Affecting Physical Activity of School Adolescents in Pakistan
No full textThe purpose of this study was to explore individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors that may influence the physical activity of adolescents (ages 10-14) in Pakistani schools. A set of questionnaires that included individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors and PA behavior was completed by the 618 students selected from Pakistani schools. Stepwise forward regression model was applied to check the possible effects of multilevel variables on physical activity and to extract the stronger predictors. The results showed that physical activity was significantly predicted by individual level factors such as self-efficacy, motivation, and attitude. Among the demographic correlates, gender, age, and BMI did not affect physical activity, while socioeconomic status and geographic characteristics had a meaningful association with PA. At the interpersonal level, adolescents' perception of family support had a potential influence on physical activity, while there was no impact of friends/peers and teachers support on adolescents' PA. A school environmental characteristic, such as PA facility, was positively related to PA; however, the impact of PA equipment, safety, and policy and PA culture were statistically non-significant. The findings suggest that public health intervention strategies aimed at promoting PA in adolescents should recognize multiple levels of influences that may either enhance or impede the likelihood of PA among adolescents
Demand-Driven Challenges to Food Security: A Developing World Perspective
No full textObjective: This study explores the impact of short-run and long-run demand-side drivers on the food security in developing countries.
Research Gap: The paper utilizes a rich dataset consisting on 89 nations spanning from the years 1990 to 2020. A research gap exists in the collective exploration of all four dimensions of food security. Prior to the present study, there was a scanty literature addressing this comprehensive approach.
Methodology: The present study employs Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR). The application of the MMQR technique to analyze the interconnections among food security, agricultural exports, income inequality, economic growth and demand-driven forces of food security has limited in previous literature. This underscores the need for a more nuanced understanding of the relationships between these variables.
The Main Findings: The results reveal that overall population growth (PG) as well as urban population growth (UPG) serves as the persistent impediment towards the achievement of sustainable food security. However, official development assistance (ODA) shows a positive impact on availability and utilization dimensions. As well as, ODA can reduce undernourishment leading to improved access to nutritious food in developing countries.
Implications of Findings: The study recommends promoting family planning to address population pressures and emphasizes active engagement with international donors for technical and financial support in enhancing food security.
Originality/Value: The existing literature was limited in its coverage of this holistic approach prior to the current research. Additionally, this study applied the MMQR, a novel technique in this field, to assess such associations
Comparative Efficiency Analysis of Public and Private Colleges of Multan District: Data Envelope Approach Analysis
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of public and private sector colleges in Multan district. We use output oriented data envelopment analysis to measure technical and scale efficiency of a sample of 40 colleges, using data for the year 2014. DEA, which is the most popular technique used to measure the relative efficiency of non-profit organizations due to the absence of prices or relative values of educational outputs, is employed to compare efficiency of both types of colleges. Moreover, it can handle multiple inputs and outputs with great ease. As public and private colleges are working under similar environmental conditions, we have used a single frontier, incorporating four educational inputs and four outputs. The results of the data demonstrate that private colleges lag behind public colleges in terms of CRS and VRS technical efficiency scores and scale efficiency scores. Our study of colleges is in contrast with the dominant paradigm that private colleges outperform the state-run colleges
Need Analysis of Prospective Science Teachers about Pedagogical Content Knowledge through Learning Activities
No full textPedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) is a blend of content knowledge and pedagogy knowledge, which can illustrate the ability of teachers to design and to teach a content by accessing what they knows about the material, students, curriculum and how best to teach the content. PCK develop in learners through different learning activities so that when they come in passion they deal more effectively with students. The objectives of study were ;to find out the need of Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Prospective Science Teachers, to explore the Pedagogical Content Knowledge in prospective Science Teachers, to evaluate the performance of Prospective Science Teachers through Pedagogical Content Knowledge and to compare the Pedagogical Content Knowledge of Prospective Science Teachers at IIUI and NUML. This study focused on “Need Analysis of Prospective Science Teachers about Pedagogical Content Knowledge through learning activities”. The random sampling technique was used to conduct the study. The study was delimited to the public universities of Islamabad. To achieve objectives of the study mixed method research approach was selected. Keeping in view the research method, survey was conducted through self-developed questionnaire. Furthermore, semi-structure interview were also drawn. Descriptive and Inferential Statics was used to analyze data.
Effects of Anaerobic Exercises on Cardiac Workload, Peripheral Resistance, and Lipid Index in Grade-I Hypertensive Young Adults
No full textPurpose: Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for various cardiovascular diseases. With the soaring prevalence globally, there is a need to identify the non-pharmacological management for the maintenance of blood pressure. Hence this study is aimed to determine the impact of an-aerobic exercise in grade-I hypertensive young adults. Methods: A total of 92 participants were recruited from the OPD of a tertiary care hospital between the periods of 11 months (August 2017-June 2018) and were allocated in an anaerobic and aerobic group. The intervention was given based on ACSM, FITT protocol for 8 weeks. The pre- and post-systolic blood pressure, ankle brachial index (ABI), and lipid index were determined. Results: The results obtained from the study showed that eight weeks of prescribed exercises significantly improved systolic blood pressure, ankle brachial index, and lipid index of the hypertensive patients in both groups (CI: 95%, pConclusion: The study concluded that 8 weeks of supervised training programs were found to be effective in improving blood pressure, ABI, and lipid index among grade-I hypertensive young adults. Both exercises regimes were found to be equally effective, however, in term of their impact on the dose-response relationship curve resisted exercises were found to be more potent than aerobic exercises as only 24 sessions of resisted exercises performed for 8 weeks provided an equally effective result as were obtained after 40 sessions of aerobic exercises
Children Story Books as a Means of Social and Intellectual Development
No full textThe proposed study has explored the interpersonal meta-function in two children story books entitled “Four Feet Two Sandals” and “The Spirit of Cheetah”. It was aimed to explore what type of social and intellectual messages were being conveyed in these stories. The study was based on qualitative method and Halliday & Mathiessen (2004) modal of interpersonal meta-function was applied as a theoretical framework. Meanwhile, a sample of 10 passages was drawn from the selected story books. Data was analyzed through the lens of content analysis technique. In both aspects of mood and modality, the findings revealed the author’s intention to convey several useful values like sacrifice, friendship, patience, determination to boost the social and intellectual level of the children
In vitro and in silico study for plant growth promotion potential of indigenous Ochrobactrum ciceri and Bacillus australimaris
No full textInsights into plant and bacterial associations, along with their genome mining, have paved the way for the improvement of the agriculture sector. Initially, 69 morphologically different bacterial strains were isolated from 6 different extreme environment samples. For in vitro screening of plant growth-promoting bacteria, auxin, hydrogen cyanide, and antibiotic production along with phosphate solubilization potential was estimated. Only 15 strains exhibited noteworthy production of plant growth-promoting compounds. Ochrobactrum ciceri CS-10 fostered Triticum aestivum and Zea mays seedling root growth remarkably (104.12 and 159%, respectively), while Bacillus australimaris TP-10 significantly increased the number of leaves in T. aestivum (166.66%) and Z. mays (133.33%) seedlings. These strains also boosted seedling biochemical traits, like indole acetic acid, peroxidase, and soluble protein content. Particularly, O. ciceri elevated peroxidase content greatly in T. aestivum (249.7%) and Z. mays (260.5%). Scanning electron micrographs of inoculated roots revealed the aggregation of cells at the roots of Z. mays, whereas single cells/micro-colonies were observed on T. aestivum roots. For in silico analysis, AntiSMASH was used for genome mining of the environmental Ochrobactrum sp. and B. australimaris reference genome. This genome mining unveiled diverse gene clusters encoding; terpenes, beta-lactones, acyl-amino-acids, aryl polyenes, lanthipeptide, and siderophores, etc. Two common biosynthetic gene clusters (terpenes and beta-lactones) were identified in these strains, which can act as plant growth promoters. This symbiotic plant–bacteria relationship has promising ecological and economic implications, offering avenues for beneficial applications
Comparative Efficiency Analysis of Public and Private Colleges of Multan District: Data Envelope Approach Analysis
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of public and private sector colleges in Multan district. We use output oriented data envelopment analysis to measure technical and scale efficiency of a sample of 40 colleges, using data for the year 2014. DEA, which is the most popular technique used to measure the relative efficiency of non-profit organizations due to the absence of prices or relative values of educational outputs, is employed to compare efficiency of both types of colleges. Moreover, it can handle multiple inputs and outputs with great ease. As public and private colleges are working under similar environmental conditions, we have used a single frontier, incorporating four educational inputs and four outputs. The results of the data demonstrate that private colleges lag behind public colleges in terms of CRS and VRS technical efficiency scores and scale efficiency scores. Our study of colleges is in contrast with the dominant paradigm that private colleges outperform the state-run colleges.
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Occupational stress among academic coordinators at university level in Pakistan: a gender based comparative study
No full textThis research compared the stress level among male and female academic coordinators at the post-graduate level in public sector universities. The study\u27s conceptual framework was based on a meta-analysis study where the factors affecting job stress were discussed. The study was based on a quantitative research approach with a descriptive research design. To select the population and sample size, universal sampling was used. The number of whole academic coordinators was 32, 16 males and 16 females, at the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan. To collect the data, a self-developed questionnaire was made. The data were analysed through Percentage Frequency Distribution and Independent t-test methods. According to the results, job satisfaction and workload have shown a significant impact on occupational stress. The study could not find significant difference in gender-based comparison as it was found that both genders were at the same level having the same situations to face, and duties to perform, so their stress regarding each indicator was also similar. In the case of other indicators that cause stress, that is, role conflict, work-family conflict, and total working hours also need to be focused on, as they also have a significant impact on increasing stress among coordinators
