Search

The purpose of the paper is to explore Students' perception of university teaching behaviours in Pakistan. Three hundred and fifty students from the six public sector Pakistani universities returned questionnaires. Assessment framework, learning activities and instructional strategies emerged from factor analysis as common factors. Students' views on five conceptual variables were also analysed: instructional design, active teaching, learning activities, questioning styles; and assessment framework. University teaching in Pakistan was found to be driven by assessment. This is a matter of concern for all stake holders, including the administration of the universities, teachers, students and the Higher Education Commission. A teaching behaviour paradigm shift is required, switching from knowledge-oriented teaching behaviour focused on successful passage through assessment, to teaching behaviour focused upon the development of transferable skills demanded by external markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing concern expressed in the literature, together with local concerns about the practice of seclusion, prompted an audit of its use in an acute psychiatric unit in East Berkshire. All seclusion episodes between July 1993 and June 1994 were studied retrospectively to provide a baseline measure of performance against the Department of Health Code of Practice guidelines (Code of Practice, 1990). As a result of these initial findings, a new seclusion policy was written and implemented after consultation with the multi-disciplinary teams involved with in-patient care. The same information was then collected for all episodes of seclusion between April 1995 and March 1996. Statistically significant improvements were seen with regard to interventions prior to seclusion, seclusion plans, legibility of staff signatures and overall use of seclusion, which fell by 66%. It is concluded that audit and education improved clinical practice and reduced seclusion use, although other possible reasons for this are discussed. Continued audit is recommended in order to maintain standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levels of seven heavy metal residues, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc were monitored in samples of the American oyster (Crassostrea virginical, the soft shell clam (Mya arenaria), the hard shell clam (Hprcinaria mercinaria) and the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Samples were taken from the Maryland section of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries over a five year period (1976–80). This study was undertaken to provide an estimate of a baseline for values of trace heavy metals. Also, the oyster, being a non‐mobile filter feeder, provides information regarding the level of metal residues in its environment (water and sediment), because heavy metal uptake is related to the surrounding metal concentrations. Additionally, this type of monitoring program is essential to ensure that shellfish sold for human consumption are within safe limits established for toxic substances by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Results of the study are consistent with data from previous years and no statistically significant year‐to‐year trends were observed over the period of the investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Features research on maternal medicine. Pruritus in pregnancy; Identification of obstetric cholestasis risk; Mapping of human cervical leucocyte subpopulations during pregnancy and labor; Expression of hemeoxygenase in placentae from high-altitude pregnancies.