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Co-creating faculty development courses or activities through student-teacher partnership is a promising recent educational advancement that also introduces new challenges. This study aimed at exploring the perceptions of students and teachers regarding their experiences as co-creators of a faculty development programmes so that valuable lessons can be learned from their experiences, leveraging towards better programme design in the future. The perceived value of contributions and ways to improve student-teacher partnership in future co-creation activities were also explored. Although some negative and demotivating factors were reported, participants mostly perceived their co-creation experience positively. The inclusion of both students and teachers in co-creating faculty development programmes was perceived essential, because it conveys multiple benefits for stakeholders, the created faculty development programmes, and the design process itself. However, purposeful recruitment of participants and their pre-training are crucial to ensure a successful and productive co-creation activity.

Pre-service teacher education (PTE) is vital because adequately-prepared teachers positively add to student performance, school effectiveness, and the efficiency of an entire system of education in a country. This study aimed to examine the current pre-service teacher education (PTE) practices in Turkey by identifying the significant factors of pre-service teacher education to provide suggestions for the improvement of PTE. Therefore, the findings of this study will provide a reasonable basis for strengthening the quality of pre-service teacher education, which will, in turn, contribute positively to the quality of teachers. The present study is designed to examine Turkish secondary school teachers' perceptions of their preparation for the teaching profession. The sample of this study was selected by random cluster sampling as 800 teachers from 14 different cities located in seven geographical regions -- two cities in each region. AMOS 20.0 was used for the testing of the pre-service teacher education model through path analysis. Attitude towards pre-service teacher education in general, curriculum, practice, proficiency, and relevance of theory with the practice was considered as endogenous variables, and preparedness was considered as an exogenous variable. Data obtained from quantitative results have shown that teacher preparedness as a dependent factor consistently relates to independent factors that are inter-related; i.e., teaching practice has a significant impact on the relevance of teaching practice, the relevance of teaching practice has a significant impact on proficiency and proficiency has a significant impact on curriculum, and curriculum has a significant impact on PTE in general. Future research would be conducted on the factors affecting the in-service teacher training programs.

The major aim of the study was to develop Classroom Assessment Literacy Training Program for university teachers. At first stage, the researchers investigated the classroom assessment literacy of university teachers. The data were collected from 500 public and private sector university teachers using stratified proportionate sampling technique, i.e., 40% of public and private sector universities' regular teaching faculties in Lahore, Punjab using SPSS. The data on teachers' classroom assessment literacy was collected by adapting a test developed by Mertler (2003). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that teachers have low level of classroom assessment literacy, and due to its importance there is dire need to enhance it. In the light of the results and recommendations of the researchers in previous international studies on teachers' classroom assessment literacy, the researcher addressed the issue of low classroom assessment literacy in teachers by developing a related training program.

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) plays an important role in providing education to the students of rural and remote areas. In ODL, learning feedback and assessment process of learners requires time and cost using classical communication techniques. Emerging technologies like Mobile Assessment (M-Assessment) has gained momentum because of its potential as a useful electronic assessment tool available on widely used mobile devices. The mobile phone usage in Pakistan over the last ten years has been increased incredibly but the potential of Short Messaging Service (SMS) technology in assessment activity has not been fully explored. This study focuses on mobile SMS usage for formative assessment in distance learning environment of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). The key objective of this study was to investigate AIOU students' satisfaction about the technology acceptance model for M-Assessment. The software has been developed in open source programming language using SMS web-service on the backend to conduct mobile based quiz. The survey methodology applied to test the technology acceptance model for M-Assessment showed that the majority (87%) of the respondents are satisfied with this mobile assessment method. It was tested on 277 selected students of Intermediate, Bachelor and Master's level enrolled in English and Information Technology courses at AIOU. Around 90% of the respondents regarded it as one of the quickest assessment methods. It was recommended to use this software in the assessment of ODL students.

The focus of the present study was to investigate the relationship between leadership styles of principals and job satisfaction of teachers in women colleges in the province of Punjab. This study was designed to identify the leadership styles of principals practiced by them in colleges for women and to find out the relationship between leadership styles and level of job satisfaction. The data were collected by using the Survey method from the selected sample comprised of 1005 college teachers from 100 colleges all over the Punjab. Leadership style was identified using leadership style questionnaire and job satisfaction was measured by using job satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analyzed with the help of descriptive and inferential statistics. The major findings revealed that democratic leadership style is the most practiced leadership style in women colleges and this style has a positive and significant correlation with job satisfaction. Democratic leadership style also has a positive effect on teachers' job satisfaction.

The main objective of the study was to investigate the assessment literacy of university teachers. The study was quantitative in nature. A survey was conducted to investigate the assessment literacy of regular teaching faculty of universities. A total of 5755 in public and private sector general universities in Lahore, Pakistan constituted the population of the study. A sample of 500 university teachers was randomly selected. Teachers' Classroom Assessment Literacy test was adapted to collect the data. It was developed by Mertler (2003). It covers seven standards for measuring teachers' competence in educational assessment of students. The test consisted of 35 MCQs type items. It was piloted, and the Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient value was found to be 0.89. The findings of the study revealed the significant difference between the mean achievement scores of classroom assessment literacy of private and public sector university teacher. It highlighted the need to develop related training sessions and programs to deal with the issue of low level of teachers' classroom assessment literacy.

Reflection to maintain classroom momentum, to overcome unwanted practices e.g. 'shyness', 'shivering' and 'repetition of words' during the process of teaching, led student teachers to shift their attention towards acquisition of professional skills during practicum. This paper examines the role of Reflection-in-Action to acquire professional skills during practicum. Quantitative data was collected from 800 student teachers through a questionnaire. Likewise, 10% of the total sample was observed to collect qualitative evidences. Descriptive analysis of the data was made to see the tendencies of the data and then variables were computed to test the hypotheses. Reflection of student teachers over students' discourteous attitudes, 'student teachers' own unwanted practices (shyness, shivering and repetition of words), class room momentum, class room discipline and reflection over hesitation to respond to students' questions nearly increased 49% chances for student teachers to smoothly complete their lesson plans. A significant relationship exists between Reflection-in-Action and smooth progression of the lesson plan. Reflection-in-action significantly contributes to wards professional development of student teachers.

The rapid expansion of online content and big data has precipitated an urgent need for efficient summarization techniques to swiftly comprehend vast textual documents without compromising their original integrity. Current approaches in Extractive Text Summarization (ETS) leverage the modeling of inter-sentence relationships, a task of paramount importance in producing coherent summaries. This study introduces an innovative model that integrates Graph Attention Networks (GATs) with Transformer-based Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), further enhanced by Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) values, to improve sentence selection by capturing comprehensive topical information. Our approach constructs a graph with nodes representing sentences, words, and topics, thereby elevating the interconnectivity and enabling a more refined understanding of text structures. This model is stretched to Multi-Document Summarization (MDS) from Single-Document Summarization, offering significant improvements over existing models such as THGS-GMM and Topic-GraphSum, as demonstrated by empirical evaluations on benchmark news datasets like Cable News Network (CNN)/Daily Mail (DM) and Multi-News. The results consistently demonstrate superior performance, showcasing the model's robustness in handling complex summarization tasks across single and multi-document contexts. This research not only advances the integration of BERT and LDA within a GATs but also emphasizes our model's capacity to effectively manage global information and adapt to diverse summarization challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In statistical inference and real world, the Bayesian analysis is a modern parameter estimation technique. We have used power function distribution (PFD) and informative prior (Gamma Distribution) to find the Bayes estimators of parameter  under various loss functions: The square error loss function (SELF), the quadratic error loss function (QELF), the weighted square error loss function (WSELF), the precautionary error loss function (PELF), the K loss function (KLF), the entropy error loss function (EELF), the modified linear exponential error loss function (MLINEXELF) and the non-linear exponential error loss function (NLINEXLF). Furthermore, we compared the Bayes Estimators with the classical Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE) to evaluate their performance in terms of loss functions. Finally, the results have been shown graphically by using R software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a longitudinal study to understand how evidence-based practice evolves during the initial years of occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy (PT) practice, we held an end-of-grant symposium with representatives from education, practice, research, and policy. The objectives were to: (1) elicit feedback on the implications of the study results; and (2) co-develop a list of actionable recommendations for each sector. Qualitative participatory approach. The symposium was held over two half days and consisted of a presentation of study findings, a discussion on the implications of the research for each sector and future recommendations. Discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. The themes related to implications of the longitudinal study included: (1) A need to rethink what evidence-based practice (EBP) really is; (2) How to practice EBP; and (3) The continuing challenge of measuring EBP. The co-development of actionable recommendations resulted in nine strategies. This study highlighted how we may collectively promote EBP competencies in future OTs and PTs. We generated sector-specific avenues that may be pursued to promote EBP and argued for the importance of pooling efforts from the four sectors so that we may achieve the intended ethos of EBP. There is a need to revisit the definition of evidence-based practice (EBP) and the traditional 3-circle model in rehabilitation to include a broader conceptualization of what constitutes evidence. We recommend using EBP measures as tools for self-reflection and professional development that can support practitioners to be reflective and accountable evidence-based practitioners. Optimal promotion of EBP competencies in occupational therapists and physiotherapists should rest upon collaborative efforts from the education, practice, research, and policy sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the HRM practices of public and private universities in Punjab province of Pakistan. The data for the study was collected through a questionnaire comprising 30 items mainly related to job definition, training and development, compensation, team work, employee's participation and performance appraisal. The instrument was validated through pilot testing. The internal reliability of the instrument was found to be 0.85. The sample was comprised of 60 executives (directors/heads of departments) selected randomly from six universities. The collected data was analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential statistical techniques such as means and independent sample t-test. The results showed that there was a significant difference in HRM practices according to executives of public and private universities. HRM practices in the areas of job definition, training and development, compensation, team work and employees participation were better in the public universities than private universities. However, performance appraisal practices were found better in the private universities than public sector universities. At the end recommendations were made for the HRM executives of private and public universities to improve their HRM practices in favor of their employees.

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Introduction: Contextual factors can influence healthcare professionals' (HCPs) competencies, yet there is a scarcity of research on how to optimally measure these factors. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a comprehensive tool for HCPs to document the contextual factors likely to influence the maintenance, development, and deployment of professional competencies. Methods: We used DeVellis' 8-step process for scale development and Messick's unified theory of validity to inform the development and validation of the context tool. Building on results from a scoping review, we generated an item pool of contextual factors articulated around five themes: Leadership and Agency, Values, Policies, Supports, and Demands. A first version of the tool was pilot tested with 127 HCPs and analyzed using the classical test theory. A second version was tested on a larger sample (n = 581) and analyzed using the Rasch rating scale model. Results: First version of the tool: we piloted 117 items that were grouped as per the themes related to contextual factors and rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Cronbach alpha for the set of 12 retained items per scale ranged from 0.75 to 0.94. Second version of the tool included 60 items: Rasch analysis showed that four of the five scales (ie, Leadership and Agency, Values, Policies, Supports) can be used as unidimensional scales, whereas the fifth scale (Demands) had to be split into two unidimensional scales (Demands and Overdemands). Discussion: Validity evidence documented for content and internal structure is encouraging and supports the use of the McGill context tool. Future research will provide additional validity evidence and cross-cultural translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) form part of the industrial growth strategies of the respective countries to stimulate economic growth and community development. China has emerged as the most prosperous country in developing SEZs for long-term economic and social transformations of its people. Bangladesh, treading its path, achieved long-term foreign direct investments and developed its SEZs. Indian development of SEZs faced problems but contributed to attracting FDIs and triggering exports. SEZs Act 2016 in Pakistan laid the outlines for developing and regulating SEZs in Pakistan¹. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with integrated SEZs can be a potential economic growth stimulus. Critical Success Factors (CSF) like bold policy initiatives, customised designs, correct location with proficient and effective management, and institutional protocols through internal connectivity and integration can be the recipe for the success of SEZs in Pakistan². [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trustworthiness and product traceability are essential factors in the apparel industry 4.0 for establishing successful business relationships among stakeholders such as customers, manufacturers, suppliers, and consumers. Each stakeholder has implemented different technology-based systems to record and track product transactions. However, these systems work in silos, and there is no intra-system communication, leading to a lack of complete supply chain traceability for all apparel stakeholders. Moreover, apparel stakeholders are reluctant to share their business information with business competitors; thus, they involve third-party auditors to ensure the quality of the final product. Furthermore, the apparel manufacturing industry faces challenges with counterfeit products, making it difficult for consumers to determine the authenticity of the products. Therefore, in this paper, a trustworthy apparel product traceability framework called ChainApparel is developed using the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain to address these challenges of authenticity and traceability of apparel products. specifically, multiple smart contracts are designed and developed for registration, process execution, audit, fault, and product traceability to authorize, validate, and trace every business transaction among the apparel stakeholders. Further, the real-time performance analysis of ChainApparel is carried out regarding transaction throughput and latency by deploying the compute nodes at different geographical locations using Hyperledger Fabric. The results conclude that ChainApparel accomplished significant performance under diverse workloads while ensuring complete traceability along the complex supply chain of the apparel industry. Thus, the ChainApparel framework helps make the apparel product more trustworthy and transparent in the market while safeguarding trust among the industry stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previous metabolomic and genome-wide association analysis of maize screened a glucose-6-phosphate 1-epimerase (ZmG6PE) gene, which responds to low-phosphorus (LP) stress and regulates yield in maize's recombinant inbred lines (RILs). However, the relationship of ZmG6PE with phosphorus and yield remained elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the underlying response mechanism of the ZmG6PE gene to LP stress and its consequential impact on maize yield. The analysis indicated that ZmG6PE required the Aldose_epim conserved domain to maintain enzyme activity and localized in the nucleus and cell membrane. The zmg6pe mutants showed decreased biomass and sugar contents but had increased starch content in leaves under LP stress conditions. Combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis showed that LP stress activated plant immune regulation in response to the LP stress through carbon metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and fatty acid metabolism. Notably, LP stress significantly reduced the synthesis of glucose-1-phosphate, mannose-6-phosphate, and β-alanine-related metabolites and changed the expression of related genes. ZmG6PE regulates LP stress by mediating the expression of ZmSPX6 and ZmPHT1.13. Overall, this study revealed that ZmG6PE affected the number of grains per ear, ear thickness, and ear weight under LP stress, indicating that ZmG6PE participates in the phosphate signaling pathway and affects maize yield-related traits through balancing carbohydrates homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Introduction: Health care professionals work in different contexts, which can influence professional competencies. Despite existing literature on the impact of context on practice, the nature and influence of contextual characteristics, and how context is defined and measured, remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to map the breadth and depth of the literature on how context is defined and measured and the contextual characteristics that may influence professional competencies. Methods: A scoping review using Arksey and O'Malley's framework. We searched MEDLINE (Ovid) and CINAHL (EBSCO). Our inclusion criteria were studies that reported on context or relationships between contextual characteristics and professional competencies or that measured context. We extracted data on context definitions, context measures and their psychometric properties, and contextual characteristics influencing professional competencies. We performed numerical and qualitative analyses. Results: After duplicate removal, 9106 citations were screened and 283 were retained. We compiled a list of 67 context definitions and 112 available measures, with or without psychometric properties. We identified 60 contextual factors and organized them into five themes: Leadership and Agency, Values, Policies, Supports, and Demands. Discussion: Context is a complex construct that covers a wide array of dimensions. Measures are available, but none include the five dimensions in one single measure or focus on items targeting the likelihood of context influencing several competencies. Given that the practice context plays a critical role in health care professionals' competencies, stakeholders from all sectors (education, practice, and policy) should work together to address those contextual characteristics that can adversely influence practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to explore the transformative potential of digital storytelling in reinterpreting ancient narratives for social-emotional learning (SEL) enhancement among aspiring teachers, specifically targeting self-awareness. We utilised a quasi-experimental research design in present quantitative study. The participants were 66 potential teachers, comprising both males and females, enrolled at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in Islamabad. The control group had 37 participants, whilst 29 were assigned to the experimental group. Data were collected via pre-test and post-test, and analysis using SPSS (version 26). The findings indicated that aspiring teachers displayed a modest disposition towards the self-awareness. The findings provide significant support for the research hypotheses, indicating that digital storytelling has a positive effect on the self-awareness of aspiring teachers. This method significantly improves the level of self-awareness among aspiring teachers. It is in line with the incorporation of SEL into teacher training programs. Based on the study findings, we suggest to deploy digital story-telling for enhancing SEL among aspiring teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]