USFDA

 Source: https://www.expresspharma.in/drug-approvals/pfizer-get-usfda-nod-for-xeljanz-tofacitinib-to-treat-active-polyarticular-course-juvenile-idiopathic-arthritis/

Pfizer get USFDA nod for XELJANZ (tofacitinib) to treat active polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Two formulations were approved, a tablet and an oral solution, and are dosed based upon weight

 

Tips on How to Become an Effective Engineering Student

 Source: https://indiacsr.in/tips-on-how-to-become-an-effective-engineering-student/

This article will give you some useful tips on becoming an effective engineering student.

 

1. Find an inspiration 

You should identify the people who inspire you. If you are an Apple fan and love to watch Steve jobs talk about apple products, you should study more about him and see what qualities he possesses. You can also find people who are examples of real engineering success. Always listen to their interviews in which they are talking about their struggle. We always see the product but never see what goes into the making of it. You will get inspired instantly when you hear them talking about the harsh times and how they stayed determined. If you want more information on people who have excelled in the field of engineering writing, then check out essaybasics.com

 

2. The importance of networking

You might be surprised, but Networking indeed helps an engineering student a lot. Staying connected with your batch fellow, alumni, and professors can help you in many ways. First is that you can form a study group. You will be able to discuss ideas and concepts with your group members. In this way, you can gain multiple perspectives regarding a topic. Second, by being connected to your alumni and professors, you can know what is going on in the engineering world.  They can give you tips on how to be a successful engineer. Through Networking, you can open the door to multiple opportunities. It is because you will be continually interacting with people. They will have a positive impression of you and might even consider you for any available positions.

 

3. Develop your portfolio

You can gain insights into the job market through Networking. The next step is to start working on them. You should participate in everything and keep a record of it. In this way, you will always be prepared to show these projects to employers. Also, when you graduate, you will have a comprehensive record of the projects that you have worked on. It will be of tangible value to the employer. Do not just focus on the courses that you are or will be covering. Remember, we are talking about “how to be a better engineer,” so think out of the box. Always stay updated on the skills that are required in the job market. You will not have time to learn all of them after you graduate. Start working on them one at a time. It would be best if you learned how to use MATLAB, MS Excel, Computer-aided design (CAD), and Python language, to name a few. Software engineers do not just use this software. By learning these, you will have an excellent chance to stand out among other engineers. If you will also need help with any paper writing, you can use EssayKitchen as you will be getting help from professionals.

 

4. Work in teams

Group study is not the only benefit of working in teams; there are other positive points too. It is one of the best tips so far regarding “how to get through engineering school.” When you start networking, you will become a part of a group. There is also a chance that you do not make a group, and the professor makes it for you. In both cases, your group can participate in many engineering-related competitions. It can be designing a car or a machine or a sports-related event. When you work in a team, you work with the members who possess diverse skill sets. What you can do next is to reflect on yourself. If you lack those skills, try to learn them from your group members. After you graduate, you can add the skill of working in teams in your resume. Many companies form cross-functional teams for new projects, and for that, they need people who can work in teams. So, it is an added benefit of working with others that you land in your dream job.

 

5. Always ask questions

Always ask your professors to give you tips on how to study engineering as they have been in the field for years. In this way, you can take control of your learning curve. Try to keep it steady and on an upwards trajectory. Asking questions will also help you in clearing your concepts. You will also be gaining a fresh perspective of your professors or from your batch mates. I recommend you study the concepts the day before, and then you can actively participate during the class. Do not be scared to give answers even if you think you are wrong. If you want to become an effective engineering student, then you should not hold yourself back. You can also visit the teachers during office hours to gain extra clarity.

 

6. Use you free time effectively

The journey of becoming an exemplary student demands much more than you think. Time management should be your top skill. You should divide your time wisely between classes, extracurricular, family, and extra study hours. It would be best if you used all your free time to prepare for lectures, make notes, or read material related to engineering. Use your time to learn the skills that were mentioned earlier. Try achieving a balance in life while staying ahead of the pack. You should be familiar with the industry, the best practices, and the new technology taking over the old ones. It will seem not easy to you now, but you will see its benefits when entering professional life.

 

7. Plan and do not stress out 

It would be best if you always planned while leaving spaces in your schedule for relaxation. Do not put yourself in a stressful situation by putting in maximum effort at the beginning. Learning is a steady process, so do not speed it up. If you have a test coming up, then do not leave it for the last day. Start studying for it in smaller chunks. You can also visit Edu Jungles if you cannot complete all your assignments on time. By removing the extra burden, you can focus on the test.

Engineering is a challenging and demanding field for students. Plan everything and try to manage your time effectively. By following all the tips given above, you will stay ahead of the group. Start implementing them and get one step closer to success.

 

 

Give grace marks in final-year online MCQ exams: Mumbai University

 Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/give-grace-marks-in-final-yr-online-mcq-exams-mumbai-university/articleshow/78375529.cms

Give grace marks to students in final-year online exams wherever required and in consultation with the lead colleges in their clusters, the Mumbai University directed colleges in a recent circular.

While giving grace marks in a multiple choice question (MCQ)-based exams may be contentious, many principals agree that it is necessary as students are appearing for an exam in a new format and that too online. But some claimed that the university could have given broader uniform guidelines. Colleges have seen 5-10%of students failing in the first few backlog (ATKT) exams.

While the Mumbai University is going by the books in allowing grace marks, it also needs to ensure the sanctity of the certifying exam is restored in the new format. With decentralisation of exams, it becomes all the more important for the university to monitor or have some kind of checks in place to ensure there are no malpractices. Smooth conduct of exams is important, but it is equally important for students to be competent in the course they are graduating in.

“When you have question papers based on descriptive answers, the success rate can help in deciding the difficulty level and therefore, in deciding the grace marks. In the MCQ format, the questions are mostly objective in nature, so grace marks may not be needed,” said a college principal. “But more than the difficulty level, it is important to address the fact that students are giving their certifying exams in such a format for the first time. Also, the exams are online, leaving scope for glitches. It is fair to give grace marks to students in this format, only the university could have issued a broader guideline to maintain some uniformity.”

A teacher from a suburban college said that students are scared of the exam pattern. “The MCQ exam is a completely different ball game—you either score full marks or zero for a question. We have not groomed our students in this exam format.”

“Many students are calling up to seek revision. In all the government flip-flop that has happened over the last six months, they may have forgotten concepts. Some topics were taught in college nine months ago,” said the teacher, adding that they saw around 10% failures in the first few backlog exams. Not many students have scored above 40 out of 50 marks, she added.

According to the university ordinance, statutory grace marks are given to students only if they clear the exams after giving it. The grace marks are not more than 1% of the aggregate marks and not more than five marks in any subject. Students participating in NSS, NCC and other inter-university cultural or sports programmes are also eligible for grace marks. However, what differs every year is the internal gracing given in different subjects.

Another principal said, “After answer sheets are evaluated and the draft results are prepared, internal grace marks are decided by examiners based on the difficulty level of the paper. If one subject in commerce sees a very low success rate, then examiners unanimously decide on a minimum grace mark. Now, since the question papers are framed by individual colleges, they are free to decide their own grace marks.”

 

 

 

How to choose research topic, avoid plagiarism — new UGC document details good practices

 Source: https://theprint.in/india/education/how-to-choose-research-topic-avoid-plagiarism-new-ugc-document-details-good-practices/512978/

Titled ‘Guidance document – Good academic research practices’, the UGC document also calls for setting up an office at each institution to ensure best practices.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) Tuesday released detailed guidelines to provide a framework for good research practices across institutions in India. It presents information on how to choose a research topic, collect data, arrive at findings, and avoid plagiarism.

Titled ‘Guidance document – Good academic research practices’, the document also called for setting up an Office of Research Integrity (ORI) at each institution to ensure that the best practices are followed.

“Each institution is different and may use this framework as it best applies to its own context,” the document said.

Under its Vice Chairman Bhushan Patwardhan and other academicians, the UGC has been trying to work on improving the research standards in Indian universities. This latest document is an effort in that direction.

 

What the guidelines say

According to the guidelines, researchers should have clarity about the questions they are asking in their research and the rationale before planning the research.

“While translation of research comes at a later stage, researchers should proactively think about the downstream impact. Does the project potentially have positive outcomes for society, industry, country, or the ecosystem in general?” it said.

It also enumerated the ways in which a researcher should store data. “A researcher needs to ensure — clear data ownership and accountability; data integrity by using a copy of the original data; careful and reliable data collection, storage, and retrieval among other things,” it said.

Data that cannot be easily reproduced should be retained indefinitely, the document added.

It also highlighted the ethics of research, explaining the difference between ‘fabrication’ —making up data or results — and ‘plagiarism’ — the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit — and ‘falsification’ —manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.

The guidelines asked researchers to stay away from such malpractices and ensure that their work is original and not fabricated.

It also explained that research findings can be translated to real life application if a researcher focuses on — research that is aimed at real world problems; uses widely available materials and components, feasible on a large scale, and pose minimum hazard to life and the environment to aid manufacturing; maintain complete records of all experimentation and surveys so that technologies can be reliably and efficiently scaled up.

The guidelines also detailed how a researcher can chose an appropriate journal for the publication of the research.

The questions that a researcher should keep in mind while choosing a journal are — whether the aims and scope of the journal match that of the research; whether the journal has published articles of similar nature; what is the journal peer review process; and if the journal reaches the relevant audience.