30 research outputs found
Development of a non-living model system for cell membranes and investigation of its mechanical and tribological properties
Full text linkWhile our exposure to nanomaterials (NMs) has increased with advancements in nanotechnology, understanding harmful effects of such materials on humans is still wanting. Here we have proposed and developed a non-living model system for cell membranes which is suitable for elucidating interactions between NMs and living cells. In contrast to existing model systems for cell membranes, PAAm hydrogel was used as soft support for the lipid. Grafting of lipid with PAAm was achieved through layer by layer deposition of alternating poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEM). Single step bilayer formation was observed under QCM on the PAAm-PEM support owing to high electrostatic interactions between the PEM and lipid vesicles with frequency and dissipation changes of ~-30 Hz and ~0.8x10-6, respectively. It is also shown that the PEM architecture is robust and reproducible on gels of different elastic modulus. AFM images confirm bilayer formation on top of PAAm-PEM supports with uniform bilayer patches of ~ 0.5 μm. AFM indentation experiments show significant differences in the elastic modulus and adhesion forces for systems with soft underlying supports compared to systems having a hard substrate. The physiological relevance of the developed system is clear from its mechanical characterization via AFM, where the system undergoes considerable deformation before and after bilayer rupture. This behavior is similar to behavior of real cells, in which deformation of cytoskeleton is dominant over that of the cell membrane. The model cell membrane system was also used to study shear forces at the interface of the lipid bilayer on hydrogel, which gave insights into the frictional behavior of the system and its mechanical interactions with nanoprobes.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2018-12-01The student, Tooba Shoaib, accepted the attached license on 2016-07-22 at 08:53.The student, Tooba Shoaib, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2016-07-22 at 10:40.This Thesis was approved for publication on 2016-07-22 at 15:06.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #10071 on 2017-02-28 at 14:35:29Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-01T16:36:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2016-07-22Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 98552
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Influence of the Supervision Related Background Variables on the Supervisees’ Supervision Experiences at Postgraduate Level
Full text linkThis research aims to investigate the influence of some supervision related background variables on the supervisees’ supervision experiences during their research at postgraduate level. We conducted a survey from (N= 422) supervisees using Supervisor-Supervisee. Relationship Questionnaire (SSRQ, 65 items) scored on six point scale. The items of SSRQ were developed on six supervision aspects to find the supervision related experiences in addition to the selected background variables. The subscale wise content validity and reliability of the SSRQ was ensured. Inferential statistics were applied to achieve the main objectives of the research. The findings of the research highlighted the importance of supervisors’ expertise and research skills in the supervisees’ area of research. The supervisees who were not given choice for the selection of the supervisor have reported negative supervision experiences. Giving choice to the selection of a supervisor can improve the supervision experiences of supervisees and can minimize the potential personality and research interest related anomalies. Supervisees from the social sciences disciplines reported the problem of workload management during the supervision process. On the basis of findings it is suggested that supervision allotment procedure, alignment between supervisors’ area of specialization and supervisee research topic and discipline specific supervision trainings may be initiated.</jats:p
Dignity at Workplace: A Study of Female Employees at Allama Iqbal Open University Pakistan
Full text linkThis research collected evidence about the workplace environment-related experiences reported by female employees at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Islamabad. A total of 100 female faculty members and administrative staff were included in the sample of the study. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse data from a questionnaire collected from university female employees including faculty members and administrative departments of AIOU. The findings of the study reported overall positive experiences of female employees regarding gender parity, civility and the overall workplace environment at AIOU. An Independent sample t-test was conducted and on the subscale of gender parity, a significant difference was found (p=.020) in the experiences of teaching and non-teaching females was observed and females from non-teaching departments reported positive experiences regarding gender parity at the workplace. In addition to this, there was no significant difference in the workplace experiences of married and non-married female employees at the university level. Similarly, no significant difference in workplace experiences of female employees from four different age groups was found in this research. Based on the findings, it may be recommended that females be given more awareness regarding their rights in the workplace
Softmatter tribology: Understanding the microstructure to property relationships of hydrogel-like materials
Full text linkBiological tribosystems are excellent examples of nature leveraging soft matter properties to achieve exceptional lubrication for prolonged periods of activity. In these systems, lubrication is provided by sparsely crosslinked, polymeric surface layers imbibed with an aqueous lubricant. A prominent biological tribosystem is the articular cartilage, an avascular tissue consisting of an extracellular matrix made of collagen fibrils and proteoglycans, with a small number of chondrocyte cells. However, in this tissue, there exists a gradient in the orientation of the collagen fibers and water content as a function of the distance from the bone, which emphasizes the importance of the microstructure in cartilage’s functionality, i.e. a load-bearing tissue that maintains low friction and wear. In fact, recent studies have shown that the cartilage’s articulating surface comprises of a network of highly hydrated mucins, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and phospholipids, which play a key role in maintaining low friction in boundary lubrication. This has been evident in studies performed on multiple other biphasic, non-biological hydrogels as well, where a prominent effect of the interfacial microstructure is observed on their mechanical and tribological properties. Yet, not only there is a lack of knowledge but also wide discrepancy about the fundamental underlying mechanisms relating the dynamic and static frictional dissipation to the microstructure of these materials. Conversely, this fundamental gap in knowledge also limits progress in the design of functional replacements, based on hydrogel-like materials.
Our aim was to not only advance the existing knowledge about the frictional dissipation of hydrogels, by precisely correlating the role of microstructure to the tribological performance, but also, to establish design principles that can help combat some of the existing challenges related to their application as tribological biomaterials. In light of this, the doctoral work presented here has achieved the following specific goals:
I. Studied, modeled and quantified influence of the microstructure, crosslinking degree and stiffness of the polymer on the dynamic and static frictional response
II. Scrutinized the relation between friction force and interfacial rheology of hydrogels
III. Elucidated the pathways of network formation in double network hydrogels which lead to enhanced mechanical and frictional response
IV. Scrutinized mechanical and tribological response of biological hydrogels in physiologically relevant conditions
By combining powerful state-of-the-art experimental techniques such as the Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and extended surface forces apparatus (SFA), we have demonstrated that the main mechanisms behind the frictional dissipation of hydrogels arise directly from their biphasic nature – the polymeric network and the imbibing fluid. In the context of dynamic friction, the viscous-adhesive model developed here quantifies the hydrogel’s frictional response by considering an interplay of adhesive and viscous dissipation directly arising from the hydrogel’s microstructure. The model accounts for confinement effects, poroelastic deformation, and the influence of the polymer on the viscous friction force, and helps reconcile seemingly contradictory models proposed previously. The adhesive contribution was modeled as a combination of reversible, transient adhesive bonds between the hydrogel and the countersurface and the poroelastic deformation of the hydrogel during shear, while the role of viscous dissipation was revealed to be directly related to the rheological performance of the hydrogel’s interface. In the latter, the polymer and imbibed fluid, both dictated viscous dissipation. Scrutiny of the rheological behavior of hydrogel thin films in tandem with nanotribology was conducted to show that the effective viscosity measured in rheology agrees with the friction behavior, although it is not sufficient to capture the rich frictional response of hydrogels as a function of sliding velocity. In the context of static friction, the combined effects of microstructure, interfacial shear stresses, interfacial ageing, and temperature were all tied together into a conceptual phase diagram for the static friction of hydrogels. Feasibility of the models developed for the dynamic and static friction was validated by extending the concepts to other hydrogel systems such as physically crosslinked agarose and cartilage, thereby demonstrating the universality of the proposed mechanisms for biphasic soft materials.
The study was further extended to DN hydrogels and biological hydrogels. Systematic investigations of the DN hydrogels comprising of agarose and polyacrylamide hydrogels as independent, interpenetrating networks revealed the design limitations of achieving high strength and high lubricity, simultaneously. Lastly, the novel experimental study on the gel-like surface of the articular cartilage was conducted as a direct application of this research. The graded response of the cartilage’s gel-like articulating surface in elevated calcium concentrations was traced back to changes in the surface and sub-surface microstructure, which was reported to subsequently modulate the mechanical and tribological response of the material.
In summary, through its collective experimental studies and comprehensive models, this doctoral work provides the basic framework to understand lubrication mechanisms of hydrogel-like materials in light of their microstructure. Furthermore, it also helps provide the basic design principles for fabricating hydrogels capable of achieving low friction coefficients and augmented wear resistance through the precise control of their microstructure. Lastly, the novel methodologies and protocols stemming from this dissertation open up previously unexplored research avenues and hence can influence diverse areas of inquiries, not only limited to biolubrication and biomedical applications but soft robotics and microelectromechanical devices.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2023-08-01The student, Tooba Shoaib, accepted the attached license on 2021-07-14 at 11:30.The student, Tooba Shoaib, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2021-07-14 at 11:37.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2021-07-16 at 11:52.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #16930 on 2022-01-12 at 12:55:05Made available in DSpace on 2022-01-12T22:35:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2021-07-16Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 121121
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Assessing the Quality of Supervision Experiences in the Different Research Stages at Postgraduate Level
Full text linkThe nature of supervisory relationship is dynamic that changes over the course of candidacy. Subsequently, the supervision demands of supervisees also change to help them in performing certain tasks at specific research stages. In this context, this research is proposed to investigate the supervision experiences of supervisees in four different research stages (i.e. Stage 1: developing synopsis, Stage 2: collecting data, Stage 3: writing thesis and Stage 4: submitted thesis). In the light of six supervision aspects (i.e. Project management, Intellectual support, pertinent research skills, Inter-personal communication skills, Workload management and Supportive skills) the quality of supervision was assessed from supervisees’ perspective. Cross-sectional survey design was used to assess the supervision experiences of (N=422) supervisees in four distinct stages of research supervision. The data were collected from 12 public and private universities of the Punjab. For this study, a multi-sectioned, self-constructed Supervisor-Supervisee Relationship Questionnaire (Saleem, 2014) was used. The findings of the study highlighted the need to train the supervisors to manage their time not just in terms of teaching and supervision of research students, but also keeping the stages of their research in mind. By addressing the stage specific needs of supervisees the quality of supervision could be improved.Keywords: quality of supervision, research stages, supervision dynamics, supervision experience
An Empirical Investigation of Supervisory Management Styles and Associated Factors for Postgraduate Level Research Supervision
Full text linkBased on the dynamic model of supervisory management styles this research focused on the empirical verification of the preferred supervisory management styles and their associated baseline characteristics of supervisors and supervisees. The study used a mixed-methods research approach and conducted in two phases. In the first phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted from 30 supervisors from different disciplines to get an overview of the context specific supervision problems faced by supervisors and their approaches to solve them during the different research stages. These interviews helped to develop items of supervisory management styles questionnaire (SMSQ). This questionnaire was based on 12 different situations. In the second phase, supervisors and supervisees from the 13 different universities of Punjab were selected purposively to respond the supervisory management styles questionnaire. The chi-square tests were performed to analyze the preferred supervisory management styles and their association with personal, academic and institutional characteristics of supervisors and supervisees. The results showed significant influence of the supervisees’ background profile characteristics and supervisors’ administrative position on the adoption of a particular supervisory management style at postgraduate level. The study identified the baseline characteristics associated with different supervision styles that may help to resolve possible supervisory alignment conflict
Metadiscourse Markers in English and Persian Scientific Texts
Full text linkMetadiscourse markers are aspects of a text which exclusively guide readers toward the meanings intended by the author. The present study aimed to investigate the organization of metadiscourse markers across scientific genre in Persian and English. It also attempted to explore the frequency of the two types of metadiscourse markers in English and Persian. The data for this study were supplied through different text types of scientific genre, such as biology, geology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Out of the existing scientific textbooks in English and Persian, 20 books were randomly selected. The materials were originally written in English or Persian. In order to have ample instances of texts, 2 paragraphs of about 150 words were selected from each book. By analyzing the collected data, it was found that there is a relation between English and Persian in using metadiscourse markers. Both languages used high degree of metadiscourse markers, which contributed to their homogeneity in terms of metadiscourse usage. The findings also revealed that the average frequencies of the two types of metadiscourse are relatively different in Persian and English languages
TO REVEAL THE RISK FACTORS RELATED WITH HYPERTENSION AMONG YOUNG AND AGED PATIENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
No full textObjective: The aim of our study was to define the risk factors related with hypertension in young and aged individuals and knowledge about status of their health.
Study Design: A cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration: This study was conducted at Outpatient departments (OPDs) of four tertiary care hospitals (Services Hospital, Shalamar Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, Mayo Hospital) of Lahore, Pakistan for the duration of six months starting from March, 2020 to August, 2020.
Methodology: In this study we selected a total of 364 patients aging from 18 years to 60 years from OPDs of four tertiary care hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. Structured survey method was used to collect data regarding demographic details, medical history and blood pressure measurements. We analyzed the data by using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS V20).
Result: In our study there were 38.70% participants were suffering from hypertension. Among these maximum cases were having age from 40 years to 60 years and having body mass index (BMI) greater than 23/kg2. Bivariate analysis showed a significant association of age, marital status, gender, weight, and physical activity with hypertension having P-value of less than 0.005.
Conclusion: It is concluded that Hypertension is related with several risk factors including age, marital status, gender, weight, and physical activity. While smoking didn’t show a significant association with HTN. Although, hypertensive patients were knowledgeable about their health status but were not interested in maintaining good health.
Key words: Knowledge, Age, Determinants, Obesity, Hypertension
Unveiling the Invasion of Afghanistan : Analysis and Creative Collection of the Media Coverage Surrounding Muslim and Afghan Women through Orientalist and Imperialist Frameworks
No full text52 p.This project aims to shed a brief light on the ways in which U.S. media coverage of Muslims post-September 11, 2001 was inherently negative and used orientalist and imperialist stereotypes and caricatures of Muslims, Muslim women, and Afghan women in order to build public support and justification for the United States invasion of Afghanistan and continued military intervention in the region. In addition, the circulation of these negative narratives, specifically those referencing Muslim women, is impactful and leads to negative perceptions of the Muslim community and lends itself to the support of harmful policies and unjust apathy. Furthermore, this work emphasizes the ways in which Afghan women in particular were portrayed through an orientalist lens as inherently oppressed women who needed rescuing, promoting the U.S. invasion as their needed savior. The second part of this project delves into a brief collection of creative works from the author that aims to bring light to the emotions and experiences of a young Muslim woman growing up in the post-9/11 era
EdJAM Pakistan Children’s Series – Beautifully illustrated stories of historical and contemporary figures
No full textThe EdJAM Children’s Series focuses on historical and contemporary figures and events that have been left out or silenced in mainstream textbooks and curricula in Pakistan. Undergraduate students and illustrators were hired to work together to develop each script and illustration. Students engaged in research over the months of July and August 2021 to produce the narratives that have been illustrated by 6 early-career female artists of Pakistan. These illustrations are in English, Urdu, Sindhi and Balochi. They are designed for children, helping parents and teachers talk about topics related to identity(s), rights and the environment.Objective: The EdJAM Children’s Series has been designed to highlight historical and contemporary figures and stories that are left out of the traditional curriculum in Pakistan. These booklets provide a starting point for conversations with children (and teenagers) about the diverse histories and experiences of women, religious and ethnic minority groups, and pertinent issues such as land rights, and environmental changes taking place in Pakistan.The Team: The booklets are a collaboration between university undergraduate students, and 6 early career female artists. The students include Anusheh Azhar, Shamim Bano, Wasib Iftikhar, Emaan Jafer, Zoha Batool Khan, Nayab Wali Khan, andSanha Tahir. The artists include Mahliqa Baloch, Areeba Haseeb, Emil Hasnain, Bushra Saleem, Tooba Shahbaz and Rida Zaidi.The project was led by EdJAM’s Pakistan Co-I’s Dr. Tania Saeed and Dr. Sameen Mohsin Ali.The Process: Students and Artists were paired together to work on a topic of interest. The students conducted research during the summer months of 2021. Primary and secondary research was undertaken, including interviews with members of different religious and ethnic minority communities, trans communities, activists, politicians and NGO workers. Students drafted scripts, which were then developed into illustrations by the artists.<br/
