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The current study explored the possible effect of workplace diversity on employees' performance in Allama Iqbal Open University. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of workplace diversity on the performance of employees. The sample of study comprised of 105 Head of departments and 545 regular (BPS-2 to15), contractual, daily wagers and laborers employees working in AIOU main campus as well as regional campuses. Stratified random sampling scheme was applied to select the participants. Data was collected through questionnaire. Pearson correlation test and Regression Analysis test was applied to extract the results. The results revealed that age diversify; gender diversity and ethnicity diversity have negative relationship on the performance of the employees. Experience diversity has positive effect on employees' performance.

The learning and instruction process in Pakistan is geared around teacher-centered activities. This research aimed at involving high school students in an interactive online learning experience and to explore the acquiring of scientific argumentation skills through this online engagement. The secondary objective of the study was to investigate the transfer of argumentation skills learned through online learning to its application in other subjects. The sample consists of students of grade X who were engaged in constructing argument in Physics topics for one month using a web blog. The argumentation reports were collected for four weeks and then analyzed for quality and progression. The researchers found that students learnt the argumentation skills using the web blog and were able to transfer the skill in the subject of Pakistan Studies. The result of this study provides the prospect for using online learning in schools and the significance of scientific argumentation in improving the learning process.

The present study aimed to assess the performance of a non-formal basic education (NFBE) schools project initiated in the province of Punjab with the assistance of the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). The study was conducted in 120 NFBE schools in four districts of Punjab and it lasted for a period of three months. It was a survey study in which data were collected from female teachers, officers of NFBE, students and their parents.100 NFBE school teachers, 20 officers of NFBE schools and 500 students and their parents participated in the study. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews. It was found that the project is achieving its targets as planned. It also found that students' drop-out rate was higher in NFBE schools and the teachers were not satisfied with job structure. It was further found that a proper media campaign might usefully be initiated to mobilize the community to participate in NFBE projects. The study recommended that learning materials be developed in different local languages. (Contains 11 tables.)

Instructional design refers to planning, development, delivery and evaluation of instructional system. It is an applied field of study aiming at the application of descriptive research outcomes in regular instructional settings. The present study was designed to critically review the process of instructional design at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). It was survey study. Population of the study consisted of 120 academicians of different academic department of AIOU. Survey was conducted through questionnaire for academic staff. It was revealed that need assessment is not done before conceiving the outlines of a course. Also the course did not contain sufficient activities, picture and illustrations. It was also found that did not confirm the course objectives. The study recommended that proper of the course writers for distance learning may be arranged.

Background Inadvertent delays in access to appropriate therapeutic interventions in high-risk group coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients contribute to mortality in patients with severe/critical disease presentation. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the effect of timely admission to the hospital on mortality of patients with severe/critical COVID-19. Another secondary aspect of this study was to observe the efficacy of time-dependent use of corticosteroids on mortality of critical/severe COVID-19 patients. Methods Clinical data of 659 patients with severe/critical COVID-19, admitted to four major tertiary care hospitals from the Islamabad-Rawalpindi region of Pakistan was retrospectively collected from a period February–August 2020. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the predictors of mortality in severe/critical COVID-19 patients. Results Out of a total of 659 patients, 469 (71.2%) patients died. Age > 60 years, presence of hypertension, heart disease and kidney disease along with late admission (>5 days) were significant predictors of mortality in patients with severe/critical COVID-19. Conclusions The study highlights the importance of well-timed provision of appropriate medical interventions control COVID-19-associated mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to investigate the moderating role of GDP and information disclosure in the nexus between Risk Management and Financial Performance. This research used annual data for the period 2010 to 2015. The data was collected from 25 commercial banks listed on the Pakistan stock exchange through a random sampling method. The study results were analyzed through correlation and Hierarchical regression. The results showed that CAR and Z-score have a positive significant outcome on the financial performance of banks, whereas NPL and CRR were found negatively correlated with the financial performance of banks. The results also demonstrated that both GDP and information disclosure have a moderation role in the association between risk management and financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 became a pandemic rapidly after its emergence in December 2019. It belongs to the coronavirus family of viruses, which have struck a few times before in history. Data based on previous research regarding etiology and epidemiology of other viruses from this family helped played a vital role in formulating prevention and precaution strategies during the initial stages of this pandemic. Data related to COVID-19 in Pakistan were not initially documented on a large scale. In addition, due to a weak health care system and low economic conditions, Pakistan's population, in general, already suffers from many comorbidities, which can severely affect the outcome of patients infected with COVID-19., Objective: COVID-19 infections are coupled with a manifestation of various notable outcomes that can be documented and characterized clinically. The aim of this study was to examine these clinical manifestations, which can serve as indicators for early detection as well as severity prognosis for COVID-19 infections, especially in high-risk groups., Methods: A retrospective observational study involving abstraction of demographic features, presenting symptoms, and adverse clinical outcomes for 1812 patients with COVID-19 was conducted. Patients were admitted to the four major hospitals in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad region of Pakistan, and the study was conducted from February to August 2020. Multivariate regression analysis was carried out to identify significant indicators of COVID-19 severity, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ventilator aid, and mortality. The study not only relates COVID-19 infection with comorbidities, but also examines other related factors, such as age and gender., Results: This study identified fever (1592/1812, 87.9%), cough (1433/1812, 79.1%), and shortness of breath (998/1812, 55.1%) at the time of hospital admission as the most prevalent symptoms for patients with COVID-19. These symptoms were common but not conclusive of the outcome of infection. Out of 1812 patients, 24.4% (n=443) required ICU admission and 21.5% (n=390) required ventilator aid at some point of disease progression during their stay at the hospital; 25.9% (n=469) of the patients died. Further analysis revealed the relationship of the presented symptoms and comorbidities with the progression of disease severity in these patients. Older adult patients with comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and asthma, were significantly affected in higher proportions, resulting in requirement of ICU admission and ventilator aid in some cases and, in many cases, even mortality., Conclusions: Older adult patients with comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and chronic kidney disease, are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 infections, with an increased likelihood of adverse clinical outcomes., (©Hashaam Akhtar, Sundas Khalid, Fazal ur Rahman, Muhammad Umar, Sabahat Ali, Maham Afridi, Faheem Hassan, Yousef Saleh Khader, Nasim Akhtar, Muhammad Mujeeb Khan, Aamer Ikram. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 14.12.2021.)

Background: Since the first reports of COVID-19 infection, the foremost requirement has been to identify a treatment regimen that not only fights the causative agent but also controls the associated complications of the infection. Due to the time-consuming process of drug discovery, physicians have used readily available drugs and therapies for treatment of infections to minimize the death toll., Objective: The aim of this study is to provide a snapshot analysis of the major drugs used in a cohort of 1562 Pakistani patients during the period from May to July 2020, when the first wave of COVID-19 peaked in Pakistan., Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed to provide an overview of the major drugs used in a cohort of 1562 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the four major tertiary-care hospitals in the Rawalpindi-Islamabad region of Pakistan during the peak of the first wave of COVID-19 in the country (May-July 2020)., Results: Antibiotics were the most common choice out of all the therapies employed, and they were used as first line of treatment for COVID-19. Azithromycin was the most prescribed drug for treatment. No monthly trend was observed in the choice of antibiotics, and these drugs appeared to be a random but favored choice throughout the months of the study. It was also noted that even antibiotics used for multidrug resistant infections were prescribed irrespective of the severity or progression of the infection. The results of the analysis are alarming, as this approach may lead to antibiotic resistance and complications in immunocompromised patients with COVID-19. A total of 1562 patients (1064 male, 68.1%, and 498 female, 31.9%) with a mean age of 47.35 years (SD 17.03) were included in the study. The highest frequency of patient hospitalizations occurred in June (846/1562, 54.2%)., Conclusions: Guidelines for a targeted treatment regime are needed to control related complications and to limit the misuse of antibiotics in the management of COVID-19., (©Hashaam Akhtar, Samar Akhtar, Fazal-Ul Rahman, Maham Afridi, Sundas Khalid, Sabahat Ali, Nasim Akhtar, Yousef S Khader, Hamaad Ahmad, Muhammad Mujeeb Khan. Originally published in JMIR Public Health and Surveillance (https://publichealth.jmir.org), 27.05.2021.)