Manjot Kaur

Bio: Manjot Kaur is an academic researcher from Khalsa College, Amritsar. The author has contributed to research in topics: Biomedical engineering & Collaborative learning. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 115 citations.

Novel Hyaluronic Acid ethosomes based gel formulation for topical use with reduced toxicity, better skin permeation, deposition, and improved pharmacodynamics

Abstract: Abstract Hyaluronic Acid (HA) has been applied as an anti-ageing molecule in the form of topical products. Current topical commercial formulations of HA face the limitations of very small and stagnant skin permeation, thereby demanding enduring administration of the formulation to sustain its action. In this study, Lipid-based nanocarriers in the form of ethosomes were formulated in a 1% w/w HA strength and were extensively evaluated in vitro, ex-vivo, and in vivo parameters along with a comparison to it’s commercial counterpart. The optimised ethosomes-based HA gel formulation revealed required pH (6.9 ± 0.2), small globule size (1024 ± 9 nm), zeta potential of −6.39 ± 0.2 mV, and 98 ± 1.1% HA content. The ex vivo skin permeation and deposition potenwere conferred on synthetic membrane Strat-M, Human cadaver skin, mice skin, rat skin, and pig skin, and both parameters were found to be much higher in comparison to the commercial topical formulation. Skin deposition capacity of the optimised HA formulation was further confirmed by Scan Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) and it was observed that the developed ethosomal gel formulation got deposited more on the treated skin. The in vivo anti-ageing effect of optimised ethosomal gel on rats was found to be greater when compared to commercial formulation of HA and the developed carrier-based system proved to deliver the HA molecule in very small amounts into the systemic circulation. The results endorse the ethosomal carrier-based formulation of HA as a attractive technique for better local bioavailability of HA.

Accuracy Differences in Cannabis Retailer Information Ascertained from Webservices and Government-Maintained State Registries Across US States Legalizing the Sale of Cannabis in 2019

Abstract: Cannabis retailer locations used to investigate geographic cannabis access are frequently ascertained from two sources: 1) webservices which provide locations of cannabis retailers (e.g., Yelp) or 2) government-maintained registries. Characterizing the operating status and location information accuracy of cannabis retailer data sources on a state-by-state level can inform research examining the health implications of cannabis legalization policies. This study ascertained cannabis retailer name and location from webservices and government-maintained registries for 26 states and the District of Columbia legalizing cannabis sales in 2019. Validation subsamples were created using state-level sequential sampling. Phone surveys were conducted by trained researchers for webservice samples (n=790, November 2019 – May 2020) and government-maintained registry (n=859, February – June 2020) to ascertain information about operating status and location. Accuracy was calculated as the percent agreement among subsample and phone survey data. For operating status and location, webservice derived data was 78% (614/790) and 79% (484/611) accurate, whereas government-maintained registry derived data was 76% (657/859) and 95% (622/655) accurate, respectively. Fifty-nine percent (15/27) of states and the District of Columbia had over 80% accuracy for operating status and 48% (13/27) states had over 80% accuracy for location information with both data sources. However, government-maintained registry derived information was more accurate in 33% (9/27) states for operating status and 41% (11/27) states for location information. Both data sources had similar operating status accuracy. Research using spatial analysis may prefer government-maintained registry derived data due to high location information accuracy, whereas studies looking at broad trends across states may prefer webservice derived. State level COVID-19 restrictions had minimal impact on ascertainment of cannabis retailer operating status and location information via phone survey derived from webservices and government-maintained registries.

Online Education: Benefits, Challenges and Strategies During and After COVID-19 in Higher Education

Abstract: The pandemic COVID-19 has forcefully shifted the mode of teaching and learning from only face to face to online in the higher education of Nepal, which is new experiences and practices for many of the teachers and students. In this context, this study investigated teachers’ and learners’ perspectives on online education in relation to its benefits, challenges and strategies during and after COVID-19 in higher education of Nepal. To achieve this objective, online survey research design was employed. Survey questionnaire were used in the study to determine the perspectives of 280 teachers and students from five universities of Nepal. The results showed that the participants experienced online education beneficial primarily for promoting online research, connecting the practitioners to the global community and getting huge and authentic resource of knowledge though they have found time-management skills, more freedom to the teachers and learners, and reliable internet at workplace as the extreme challenges. The research also revealed time management skills, technological prepared and computer literate are the basic qualities for the practitioners who want to have online education. The participants suggested that ICT policy should be clear and courses should be developed accordingly. Only online mode of teaching and learning in the context of Nepal cannot be effective so the participants preferred blended learning. The findings of the research indicated that online education can be an alternative means of traditional education. Thus, if blended approach is implemented, the education process would be more effective and successful in the contexts like Nepal.

Blended Learning Adoption and Implementation in Higher Education: A Theoretical and Systematic Review

Abstract: Technological innovations such as blended learning (BL) are rapidly changing teaching and learning in higher education, where BL integrates face to face teaching with web based learning. Thus, as polices related to BL increases, it is required to explore the theoretical foundation of BL studies and how BL were adopted and implemented in relation to students, lecturers and administration. However, only fewer studies have focused on exploring the constructs and factors related to BL adoption by considering the students, lecturers and administration concurrently. Likewise, prior research neglects to explore what practices are involved for BL implementation. Accordingly, this study systematically reviews, synthesizes, and provides meta-analysis of 94 BL research articles published from 2004 to 2020 to present the theoretical foundation of BL adoption and implementation in higher education. The main findings of this study present the constructs and factors that influence students, lecturers and administration towards adopting BL in higher education. Moreover, findings suggest that the BL practices to be implemented comprises of face-to-face, activities, information, resources, assessment, and feedback for students and technology, pedagogy, content, and knowledge for lecturers. Besides, the review reveals that the ad hoc, technology acceptance model, information system success model, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology, and lastly diffusion of innovations theories are the mostly employed theories employed by prior studies to explore BL adoption. Findings from this study has implications for student, lecturers and administrators by providing insights into the theoretical foundation of BL adoption and implementation in higher education.

Exploring the role of blended learning for teaching and learning effectiveness in institutions of higher learning: An empirical investigation

Abstract: As the years progress there has been rapid growth in Blended Learning (BL) adoption, but only few research focused on adoption issues related to learners, academic staffs and management. Thus, research is needed to guide universities in strategically examining learners, academic staffs and management adoption of BL. Accordingly, this study develops a model to facilitate university policy makers in their decision making to assess students learning and academic staffs teaching outcome. Furthermore, this study explores on the factors that influence BL adoption in universities, through an empirical study from the perspectives of learners, academic staffs, and management. In particular, it examines the current BL practice adoption effectiveness in universities. Based on extensive review of prior studies, survey questionnaires was designed and distributed to convenience samples of 87 students, academic staffs, and management in 3 Malaysia universities to validate the developed model. Next, Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the survey data. Findings reveal that supportive factors, attitude, learning mode, satisfaction, course management, and ease of use positively predict the perception of learners and academic staffs’ to adopt BL. Similarly, findings suggest that the perception of management towards BL adoption is positively determined by the strategy, structure, and support factors. Moreover, findings reveal that the impact of BL on learners’ effectiveness is positively predicted by achievement, engagement, involvement, retention, and cognitive outcome. Additionally, findings suggest that the impact BL on academic staffs’ effectiveness is significantly influence by delivery, performance, evaluation, motivation. Theoretical implications from this study contribute to enhance teaching quality by enriching course management, improving learning content, and facilitate management policies towards effective BL adoption.