Background &objectives Though there are studies to evaluate the effectiveness of blended learning in pharmacy education, most of them originate from USA and have used previous year students' scores ...as control. Also there is less research in comparing use of self -regulated learning strategies between blended and other learning strategies. Primary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of blended learning on knowledge score using clinical research modules. Secondary objective was designed to compare the use of self-regulated learning strategies between blended learning, web-based e-learning and didactic teaching. Materials and methods A prospective cluster randomized trial was conducted with didactic teaching as control and web-based e-learning and blended learning as interventions. The target population was final year Pharm D students. Outcome was assessed using a validated knowledge questionnaire, a motivated strategies for learning questionnaire and a feedback form. All statistical analyses were carried out using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 20. Results A total of 241 students from 12 colleges completed the study. Mean knowledge score of students in blended learning group was higher than those in the didactic teaching and web- based e- learning program (64.26±18.19 Vs 56.65±8.73 Vs 52.11±22.06,p<0.001).Frequency of use of learning strategies namely rehearsal, elaboration, organization and critical thinking was statistically significantly higher in the blended learning group compared to those of didactic and web-based e-learning group (p<0.05) But there were no statistically significant difference of motivational orientations between didactic and blended learning group except strategies of extrinsic goal orientation and self-efficacy. Students preferred blended learning (86.5%) over didactic and web-based e-learning. Conclusion Blended learning approach is an effective way to teach clinical research module. Students of blended learning group employed all motivational and learning strategies more often than students of the didactic and web- based e-learning groups except strategies of intrinsic goal orientation, task value, control of learning belief and help seeking.
Activation of the innate immune system is commonly associated with depression. Immunomodulatory drugs may have efficacy for depressive symptoms that are co-morbidly associated with inflammatory ...disorders. We report a large-scale re-analysis by standardized procedures (mega-analysis) of patient-level data combined from 18 randomized clinical trials conducted by Janssen or GlaxoSmithKline for one of nine disorders (N = 10,743 participants). Core depressive symptoms (low mood, anhedonia) were measured by the Short Form Survey (SF-36) or the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and participants were stratified into high (N = 1921) versus low-depressive strata based on baseline ratings. Placebo-controlled change from baseline after 4-16 weeks of treatment was estimated by the standardized mean difference (SMD) over all trials and for each subgroup of trials targeting one of 7 mechanisms (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-12/23, CD20, COX2, BLγS, p38/MAPK14). Patients in the high depressive stratum showed modest but significant effects on core depressive symptoms (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI 0.12-0.45) and related SF-36 measures of mental health and vitality. Anti-IL-6 antibodies (SMD = 0.8, 95% CI 0.20-1.41) and an anti-IL-12/23 antibody (SMD = 0.48, 95% CI 0.26-0.70) had larger effects on depressive symptoms than other drug classes. Adjustments for physical health outcome marginally attenuated the average treatment effect on depressive symptoms (SMD = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06-0.35), but more strongly attenuated effects on mental health and vitality. Effects of anti-IL-12/23 remained significant and anti-IL-6 antibodies became a trend after controlling for physical response to treatment. Novel immune-therapeutics can produce antidepressant effects in depressed patients with primary inflammatory disorders that are not entirely explained by treatment-related changes in physical health.
► ZnO:Cu nano particles are prepared via solution combustion technique with ODH fuel at low temperature. ► Analysis of X-ray line broadening and micro strain in nanoparticles are evaluated using W-H ...plots. ► PXRD results confirm that the nanopowders exhibit hexagonal wurtzite structure. ► Decrease in the green emission and enhancement of UV emission in Cu doped ZnO due to the decrease in defects. ► EPR spectrum exhibits a broad resonance signal at
g
∼
2.049 and two narrow resonances one at
g
∼
1.990 and other at
g
∼
1.950.
Cu (0.1
mol%) doped ZnO nanopowders have been successfully synthesized by a wet chemical method at a relatively low temperature (300
°C). Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV–Visible spectroscopy, Photoluminescence (PL) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) measurements were used for characterization. PXRD results confirm that the nanopowders exhibit hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO without any secondary phase. The particle size of as-formed product has been calculated by Williamson–Hall (W–H) plots and Scherrer's formula is found to be in the range of ∼40
nm. TEM image confirms the nano size crystalline nature of Cu doped ZnO. SEM micrographs of undoped and Cu doped ZnO show highly porous with large voids. UV–Vis spectrum showed a red shift in the absorption edge in Cu doped ZnO. PL spectra show prominent peaks corresponding to near band edge UV emission and defect related green emission in the visible region at room temperature and their possible mechanisms have been discussed. The EPR spectrum exhibits a broad resonance signal at
g
∼
2.049, and two narrow resonances one at
g
∼
1.990 and other at
g
∼
1.950. The broad resonance signal at
g
∼
2.049 is a characteristic of Cu
2+ ion whereas the signal at
g
∼
1.990 and
g
∼
1.950 can be attributed to ionized oxygen vacancies and shallow donors respectively. The spin concentration (
N) and paramagnetic susceptibility (
χ) have been evaluated and discussed.
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► A ZnO nanopowder by LSC method with ODH as a fuel is reported for the first time. ► PXRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, UV–Vis, Raman, PL, TL and EPR studies were carried out. ► We report for ...first time TL properties of ZnO nanopowders irradiated by γ-rays. ► Trapping parameters with various γ- doses are calculated using peak shape method.
Spherical shaped ZnO nanopowders (14–50
nm) were synthesized by a low temperature solution combustion method in a short time <5
min. Rietveld analysis show that ZnO has hexagonal wurtzite structure with lattice constants
a
=
3.2511(1)
Å,
c
=
5.2076(2)
Å, unit cell volume (
V)
=
47.66(5) (Å)
3 and belongs to space group P63mc. SEM micrographs reveal that the particles are spherical in shape and the powders contained several voids and pores. TEM results also confirm spherical shape, with average particle size of 14–50
nm. The values are consistent with the grain sizes measured from Scherrer's method and Williamson–Hall (W–H) plots. A broad UV–vis absorption spectrum was observed at ∼375
nm which is a characteristic band for the wurtzite hexagonal pure ZnO. The optical energy band gap of 3.24
eV was observed for nanopowder which is slightly lower than that of the bulk ZnO (3.37
eV). The observed Raman peaks at 438 and 588
cm
−1 were attributed to the E
2 (high) and E
1 (LO) modes respectively. The broad band at 564
cm
−1 is due to disorder-activated Raman scattering for the A
1 mode. These bands are associated with the first-order Raman active modes of the ZnO phase. The weak bands observed in the range 750–1000
cm
−1 are due to small defects.
•Semiconductor laser irradiation assisted synthesis of CCT crystals.•FTIR and EDX confirms the presence of functional and metal–oxygen bonds.•Laser irradiated crystals show high thermal stability ...(>600 °C) in its oxide state.•The grown crystals are highly crystalline and belongs to monoclinic crystal system.
In the present investigation, the effect of semiconductor laser (GaAs) irradiation on silica gel medium during the crystal growth have been reported. After the growth, laser irradiated cadmium doped copper (CCT) tartrate single crystals were compared with without irradiate CCT single. The obtained single crystals having different morphologies, such as bluish semi-transparent, star-shaped, needle-shaped crystals. The effect of semiconductor laser irradiation during the growth, changes the crystals morphology, reduces the number and size of crystals compared to the crystals grown without irradiation. This is due to the variation of supersaturation. This effect of semiconductor laser irradiation of grown crystals was characterized using energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA), and Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD).
Novel crystals of pure nickel cadmium oxalate (NCO) and calcium-doped nickel cadmium oxalate (CNCO) were grown by single diffusion method in silica hydrogel by optimizing the growth parameters. The ...grown crystals were characterized using field-emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV–visible spectrometer. Ca
2+
ions were used to occupy the vacancies of intrinsically available Ni
2+
and Cd
2+
ions in the lattice of NCO crystals. This causes change in morphology of NCO crystals and resulted in the growth of CNCO. Crystallinity and lattice parameters of the grown crystals are analysed by XRD technique. Thermal studies show the thermal stability of grown crystals. Number of water molecules present and molecular weight of the crystals were also determined using EDX and TGA studies. Electrical susceptibility, real and imaginary parts of the dielectric constant, energy gap of the as-grown crystals were calculated using the UV–visible spectroscopy. The results of doped crystal were compared with undoped NCO crystal.
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• Nanocrystalline ZnO powders have been synthesized by combustion method. • PL and TL intensities of defect related emissions have been studied. • The results are correlated with the ...EPR spectroscopy and discussed.
Nanocrystalline ZnO powders have been synthesized by a low temperature solution combustion method. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of as-formed and heat treated ZnO shows strong violet (402, 421, 437, 485
nm) and weak green (520
nm) emission peaks respectively. The PL intensities of defect related emission bands decrease with calcinations temperature indicating the decrease of Zn
i and V
o
+ caused by the chemisorptions of oxygen. The results are correlated with the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies. Thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves of gamma irradiated ZnO nanoparticles exhibit a single broad glow peak at ∼343
°C. This can be attributed to the recombination of charge carriers released from the surface states associated with oxygen defects, mainly interstitial oxygen ion centers. The trapping parameters of ZnO irradiated with various γ-doses are calculated using peak shape method. It is observed that the glow peak intensity increases with increase of gamma dose without changing glow curve shape. These two characteristic properties such as TL intensity increases with gamma dose and simple glow curve structure is an indication that the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles might be used as good TL dosimeter for high temperature application.
Estimates of the prevalence of tuberculous infection among children 1-9 years of age were available for four defined zones of India from a recently concluded tuberculin survey. These were pooled ...together and the average annual risk of infection in the country was computed as 1.5%. It was higher in urban areas, at 2.2%, than in rural areas, at 1.3%. The results call for further intensification of tuberculosis control activities, especially in urban areas, greater involvement of private practitioners and information, education and communication (IEC) for high-risk groups, to reduce the diagnostic and treatment delay thereby reducing the transmission of infection in all settings.
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► ZnO:Mn nanophosphors (∼40
nm) via LSC technique with ODH as a fuel at 300
°C was prepared first time. ► Our method involves easy preparation, low cost, low temperature, and the lack ...of organic reactants. ► The nanopowders are well characterized by PXRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, UV–visible, PL and EPR techniques. ► From EPR spectra the spin-Hamiltonian parameters have been evaluated and discussed. ► The spin concentration (
N), its paramagnetic susceptibility (
χ) have been evaluated.
Nanocrystalline ZnO:Mn (0.1
mol%) phosphors have been successfully prepared by self propagating, gas producing solution combustion method. The powder X-ray diffraction of as-formed ZnO:Mn sample shows, hexagonal wurtzite phase with particle size of ∼40
nm. For Mn doped ZnO, the lattice parameters and volume of unit cell (
a
=
3.23065
Å,
c
=
5.27563
Å and
V
=
47.684 (Å)
3) are found to be greater than that of undoped ZnO (
a
=
3.19993
Å,
c
=
5.22546
Å and
V
=
46.336 (Å)
3). The SEM micrographs reveal that besides the spherical crystals, the powders also contained several voids and pores. The TEM photograph also shows the particles are approximately spherical in nature. The FTIR spectrum shows two peaks at ∼3428 and 1598
cm
−1 which are attributed to O–H stretching and H–O–H bending vibration. The PL spectra of ZnO:Mn indicate a strong green emission peak at 526
nm and a weak red emission at 636
nm corresponding to
4T
1
→
6A
1 transition of Mn
2+ ions. The EPR spectrum exhibits fine structure transition which will be split into six hyperfine components due to
55Mn hyperfine coupling giving rise to all 30 allowed transitions. From EPR spectra the spin-Hamiltonian parameters have been evaluated and discussed. The magnitude of the hyperfine splitting (
A) constant indicates that there exists a moderately covalent bonding between the Mn
2+ ions and the surrounding ligands. The number of spins participating in resonance (
N), its paramagnetic susceptibility (
χ) have been evaluated.
Cadmium magnesium oxalate (CdMgO) crystals were grown by silica gel technique. Crystals were optimized by parameters like specific gravity of sodium meta silicate (SMS), concentration of the oxalic ...acid (C2H2O4·2H2O) solution, pH of the gel, gel setting time, concentration of the cadmium chloride (CdCl2·2H2O) and Magnesium chloride (MgCl2·6H2O) solutions. Grown oxalate crystals examined under Powder X-Ray Diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum, Raman spectrum and Z-scan instruments. Grown materials are crystallizes in the triclinic system space group P1 with lattice parameters, a = 5.9906 Å, b = 6.6215 Å, c = 8.4736 Å and α = 74.55°, β = 74.091°, γ = 80.911°. Comparison study of FTIR and Raman spectrum of grown crystals were discussed. Third order non-linear optical parameters such as nonlinear absorption coefficient (β=∼10−4cm/W), nonlinear refractive index (n2 = ∼10 −9 cm2 /W), susceptibility (χ(3) =∼10−7esu) and molecular hyperpolarizability (hγ =∼10−27esu) were determined from Z-scan experimental data analysis.
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