Effects of knowledge management practices on innovation in SMEs

The management of knowledge assets is crucial for gaining competitive advantage and has a huge strategic importance for the firms. Knowledge management has become one of the emerging fields in today’s research world and has turned out to be a major concern for the organizations as it plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the organization. Knowledge management is a new concept that is why it is gaining increased attention among small and large organizations. In this study three important knowledge management practices are discussed and the necessary insights regarding knowledge management processes and their positive impacts within an organization are provided. The study also brings forth the relationships which knowledge management processes have with radical innovation in small and medium enterprises. The explanatory method of research and quantitative type of research to test the hypothesis of research was used to carry out the study and survey type was involved by using questionnaire. The knowledge management and innovation instruments were adapted from previous researchers. This study’s target population consisted of small and medium-sized enterprises that included service sectors in Quetta, Balochistan. A convenient sampling was applied to collect the necessary data from SMEs. A total of 850 firms were communicated and requested to participate in this survey but 300 (35.6% response rate) accepted to fill out the survey questionnaire. The study utilized structural equation modelling to examine numerous complex cause and effect relationships between variables. The results indicate a positive association between Knowledge management processes and radical innovation. The positive link between Knowledge management processes and innovation indicates the importance and value of knowledge management in achieving competitive advantage through innovation

Role of the Uterine Artery Ligation (UAL) In Control of Postpartum Hemorrhage

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of uterine artery ligation (UAL) in control of Postpartum Hemorrhage. Methodology: This case series study was conducted at Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Peoples University of Medical & Health Sciences for Women Nawabshah. All the women age between 20-45 years, gestation duration at and beyond 34 weeks, antepartum hemorrhage; intraoperative atonic postpartum hemorrhage and discovery of a placenta accreta; or an adherent placental part after piecemeal removal of the placenta, with bleeding from the placental site were included. After failure of treatment from medical measures, the initial surgical approach of uterine artery ligation (UAL) was done. Efficacy was defined as positive when patient improves or clinically doesn’t develop any complication throughout admission after UAL. Safety was assessed by appearance of side effects if any occurred after procedure. Data was recorded via study proforma and analysis was done by using SPSS version 20. Results: Out of 76 patients admitted of postpartum hemorrhage mean age was 58 years. Most of the patients 59.2% were multiparous and 40.8% were primiparous. The most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage was uterine atony 56.5% and adherent Placenta accreta 43.42%. Most of the patients 81.6% had no postoperative complications except for 11 patients, who had developed gaping of the wound from which they recovered and discharged. The patients required hysterectomy due to intractable hemorrhage and 2.3% mortality was observed due to DIC. Conclusion:  Uterine devascularization by bilateral uterine artery ligation is a simple, effective and the safest initial surgical option with less blood loss and less surgical time for controlling postpartum hemorrhage during cesarean section. It should be used as the first surgical step of choice after medical managements fail in controlling postpartum hemorrhage due to minimal rate of complications and mortality

Mechanical properties of magnesium hydroxide/halloysite nanotubes reinforced polyamide 11 nanocomposites

In this study, polyamide 11 (PA 11) and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) with varying magnesium hydroxide (MH) contents were prepared using a twin-screw extruder and injection moulding process. The mechanical properties of nanocomposites were investigated. The nanocomposites are made up of 100 phr of PA11 and 4 phr of HNTs, with three different MH loadings of 10, 20 and 30 phr. Tensile and flexural strength showed slightly increase while Young’s and flexural modulus continuously increased with addition of MH. Meanwhile, the impact strength and elongation at break decreases

Thermal, dynamic mechanical, mechanical and flammability properties of halloysite nanotubes filled polyamide 11 nanocomposites

The effects of various filler contents on the thermal, dynamic mechanical, mechanical, as well as flammability properties of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) filler and polyamide 11 (PA 11) matrixes are investigated in this research. The nanocomposites were made out of 100 phr of PA 11 and three distinct HNTs loadings of 2, 4, and 6 phr each. PA 11 nanocomposites without HNTs filler was used as the reference sample. To melt-compound the nanocomposites, a twin-screw extruder was used, and the specimen for testing was then injected using an injection mold. SEM, TGA, DSC, FTIR, DMA, tensile, flexural, impact, and UL-94 flammability tests were conducted on the nanocomposites. Incorporation of 4 phr HNTs into the nanocomposites resulted in the highest tensile and flexural strength. Maximum improvement in the DMA, Young’s and flexural modulus was achieved at 6 phr HNTs content. The elongation at break and TGA resulted the highest increase at 2 phr HNTs content. However, the impact strength decreased with increasing HNTs content. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the ductility of the nanocomposites with increased HNTs content up to 4 phr. The DSC showed a steady increase in melting temperature (Tm) as HNTs content increased up to 4 phr, while the crystallization temperature (Tc) remained unchanged. TGA of PA 11/HNTs nanocomposites showed high thermal stability at 2 phr HNTs content. However, on further addition of HNTs up to 6 phr, thermal stability of the nanocomposites decreased due to the excess amount of HNTs. All the nanocomposites passed the horizontal and vertical UL-94 test with HB and V-2 grade. PA 11/4HNTs nanocomposite has the highest tensile strength, flexural strength compared to other PA 11/HNTs nanocomposites. PA 11/4HNTs nanocomposite can be suggested as an optimum formulation with balanced mechanical properties in terms of toughness

Compositional analysis of dark colored particulates homogeneously emitted with combustion gases (dark plumes) from brick making kilns situated in the area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

In Pakistan raw coal and a little quantity of waste plastics are burnt to sustain high temperature inside brick making kilns. The gaseous emissions of the kilns contain a considerable amount of darkish colored particulates. It is currently believed that the plastic burning produces these particulates. Advanced characterization instruments, such as a scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffractometer, surface area analyzer using nitrogen gas adsorption isotherms, and thermogravimetric analyzer, were used to find out the chemistry and physics of the particulates. At a magnification of 30,000x, the SEM picture shows masses that are roughly roundish in shape and their size is in between 0.1 to 0.5 microns. The elements detected in these particles are carbon, oxygen, and sulfur (EDS analysis), or in other words, these elements are a typical composition of raw coal. This elemental analysis suggest that fine coal particles come out with usual combustion gases and these emitted particulates are not plastic combustion product. To strengthen this finding, the sample when calcined discarded a significant amount of sulphur oxides species, as determined in the XRF study by noticing a considerable decrease of sulphur content in the calcined particles, suggesting that the particles are actually a coal. The N2 isotherm graph reveals that the light weight flying coal particles has a very low surface area. Additionally, the XRD and TGA studies supports the conclusion that these dark colored particulate emissions are primarily fine coal particles (cenosphere)

LEARN: A multi-centre, cross-sectional evaluation of Urology teaching in UK medical schools

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the status of UK undergraduate urology teaching against the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Undergraduate Syllabus for Urology. Secondary objectives included evaluating the type and quantity of teaching provided, the reported performance rate of General Medical Council (GMC)-mandated urological procedures, and the proportion of undergraduates considering urology as a career. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LEARN was a national multicentre cross-sectional study. Year 2 to Year 5 medical students and FY1 doctors were invited to complete a survey between 3rd October and 20th December 2020, retrospectively assessing the urology teaching received to date. Results are reported according to the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). RESULTS: 7,063/8,346 (84.6%) responses from all 39 UK medical schools were included; 1,127/7,063 (16.0%) were from Foundation Year (FY) 1 doctors, who reported that the most frequently taught topics in undergraduate training were on urinary tract infection (96.5%), acute kidney injury (95.9%) and haematuria (94.4%). The most infrequently taught topics were male urinary incontinence (59.4%), male infertility (52.4%) and erectile dysfunction (43.8%). Male and female catheterisation on patients as undergraduates was performed by 92.1% and 73.0% of FY1 doctors respectively, and 16.9% had considered a career in urology. Theory based teaching was mainly prevalent in the early years of medical school, with clinical skills teaching, and clinical placements in the later years of medical school. 20.1% of FY1 doctors reported no undergraduate clinical attachment in urology. CONCLUSION: LEARN is the largest ever evaluation of undergraduate urology teaching. In the UK, teaching seemed satisfactory as evaluated by the BAUS undergraduate syllabus. However, many students report having no clinical attachments in Urology and some newly qualified doctors report never having inserted a catheter, which is a GMC mandated requirement. We recommend a greater emphasis on undergraduate clinical exposure to urology and stricter adherence to GMC mandated procedures

Experiences of suffering a stroke at working age

Bakgrund: Stroke är en allvarlig sjukdom och leder oftast till kvarstående symtom för den drabbade. Livskvalitén påverkas negativt och sjukdomen kräver en lång återhämtningsprocess som kräver både tålamod och energi. Stödet som sjuksköterskan ger är viktig och underlättar återhämtningsprocessen. Delaktigheten är också viktig och främjar patientens välbefinnande.  Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva personers erfarenheter av att ha drabbats av stroke i arbetsför ålder. Metod: En litteraturbaserad studie valdes där sju kvalitativa artiklar med patientperspektiv analyserats. Resultat: Ur analysen framkom tre kategorier; Förändrad vardag, återgå till normalvardag och vill vara en del av samhället med åtta underkategorier. Konklusion: Deltagarna upplever att livet förändras och behöver struktureras och prioriteras om. Stödet från omgivningen är betydelsefullt för återhämtningen och bidrar till att deltagarna blir motiverade att fortsätta framåt.Background: Stroke is a serious illness and usually leads to persistent symptoms for the sufferer. The quality of life is negatively affected and the disease requires a long recovery process that requires both patience and energy. The support provided by the nurse is important and facilitates the recovery process. Participation is also important and promotes the patient's well-being. Aim: The purpose was to describe people's experiences of having suffered a stroke in working age. Method: A literature-based study was chosen and seven articles with patient perspective were analyzed. Findings: Three categories emerged from the analysis; Changed everyday life, to return to normal everyday life and want to be part of society with eight subcategories.  Conclusion: The participants feel that life is changing and needs to be structured and prioritized again. The support from the environment is important for the recovery and contributes to the participants being motivated to continue forward

Coverage of Pakistani tribal areas conflict: Prospects of peace journalism

Conflict coverage of Pakistani tribal areas from two Pakistani English-language newspapers demonstrated significance of variations on indicators of war and peace journalism. Overall, the mean on war journalism was significantly higher than peace journalism. Despite dissimilar newspapers’ ideologies, the reporting patterns were the same across newspapers. The mean differences within war journalism were significant across events and types of stories. The findings discussed in the light of theory and context suggested areas of interventions for peace journalism. The dominance of peace journalism indicator, “causes and consequences”, is promising in a way to create a space for analysis of the conflict dynamics