Attaining organisational agility through competitive intelligence: the roles of strategic flexibility and organisational innovation

Organizational agility can play an important role in an organization’s emergent strategy for survival in an increasingly competitive market-place. This paper examines the impact of competitive intelligence on organizational agility through strategic flexibility and organizational innovation. We gathered data from 83 agency managers of insurance companies in Iran, using random simple sampling. These were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) with partial least squares (PLS). Competitive intelligence was found to have an indirect influence on organizational agility through strategic flexibility, which was a mediating variable. Though competitive intelligence influenced organizational innovation organizational innovation did not have a significant effect on organizational agility. Our research contributes to the organizational agility literature by showing that organizational agility is influenced by competitive intelligence but organizational innovation is not as significant as has been assumed, instead strategic flexibility is a more important factor and suggests the human factor may be key to a successful strategy

Eclampsia: a comparative study in a tertiary hospital setting in South-South Region of Nigeria

Background: Eclampsia remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality often in settings of poor health seeking behaviour and services. Objective of this study was to determine the incidence, investigate the risk factors, obstetric outcomes and suggest ways of improving the impact of eclampsia.Methods: An analytical observational study on consecutive cases of eclampsia managed in a tertiary hospital setting from 2014 to 2019. For each case of eclampsia recruited the next gestational hypertensive and normotensive cases managed in the period were recruited to serve as controls. Computer statistical software, Chi square for test of associations were used for analysis with statistical significance set at p<0.05.Results: Among 3625 deliveries within the study period were 57 cases of eclampsia; an incidence of 1.57%. Most (74.4%) were antepartum eclampsia. Majority of the eclamptic mothers were unbooked (81.4%), of lower social class (86.0%), poorly educated (81.4%) and nulliparous (58.1%). Eclamptic mothers were more likely to be youth ≤24 years (39.5%), teenagers (25.6%), and unmarried. Twenty-four (55.8%) had abdominal delivery, anaemia (23.3%) and were transfused. Three women died from eclampsia; a case fatality of 6.98%. Twenty-four (55.8%) neonates were preterm, low birth weight (48.8%), intrauterine growth restriction (25.6%), special care baby unit admission (32.6%) and perinatal mortality 13 (30.2%).Conclusions: Eclampsia is still an un-mitigating malady in this study settings with increased maternal and perinatal complications. Nulliparity, low social status, young age and lack of prenatal care appeared significant risk factors. Quality prenatal care, early detection and management of pre-eclampsia will mitigate eclampsia occurrence and severity. Women empowerment is proffered

Reproductive Effeciency of an Indigenous Irabian Goat ( Capra Hircus)

Goats (Capra hircus) are economical animal in livestock production especially in rural areas. It is well known that goat can tolerate harsh conditions; however there are little information about its reproduction functions such as testis histomorphometry and efficiency of sertoli cells. This study aimed to estimate germ cell types and number per sertoli cell of an indigenous Iranian goat (Lori goat). Semen was collected from five Lori goats by means of an artificial vagina. Semen volume, concentration, normality and motility of spermatozoa were determined. After removing both testes, tissue paraffin section (5μ thickness) were prepared and stained using Haematoxylin and Eosin method. Mean weight of testis was 114.40 ±27.00 grams. Means of seminiferous tubule diameter and tubule length per gram testis were 197.20 ± 1.80 μm and 9956.00 ± 93.00 m, respectively. The mean number of spermatids per each tubule, spermatogonia and spermatocytes at stage I were 163.00 ± 99.9, 140.30 ± 28.60 and 146.40 ± 19.80, respectively. From this study it can be concluded that the Lori goat has high reproductive potentials probably due to high number of sertoli cell per germ cells.Keywords: Lori goat, Testis, Sertoli cell, Seminiferous tubule, Spermatocytes, Spermatogonia, Spermatozoa, Seme

The Effects of Massage Therapy by the Patients Relative on Vital Signs of Males Admitted in Critical Care Unit

Background: Changes in vital signs may affect the myocardial oxygen demand. Massage therapy has been used in intensive care units to relive patients’ physical and psychological problems. In all of the studies massaging has been done by a nurse and the patients’ family did not have any role. Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the effects of massage therapy by patient’s relative on vital signs of patients with acute coronary syndrome and acute myocardial infarction. Patients and Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 male patients hospitalized in coronary care units. In the intervention group, massage therapy was done by one of the patient’s male relatives on the third day of admission. The control group only received the routine care. Vital signs were recorded before and after the massage therapy session. SPSS 11.5 software was employed to analyze data using qui-square, Fischer exact test, independent t-test, paired t-test and descriptive statistics. Results: The pre intervention mean of systolic blood pressure of the intervention group were 126.36 ± 16.80 and changed to 121.70 ± 13.31 after the massage therapy session (P = 0.021). The mean pulse rate of the intervention group was 79.46 ± 10.41 and reached 69.30 ± 9.47 after the intervention (P = 0.001). The mean respiration rate of the intervention group also decreased after massage (P = 0.001). No significant changes were observed in diastolic blood pressure and temperature of the intervention group. No significant changes were observed in vital signs of the control group either. Conclusions: Massage therapy by the patients’ relative, decreased systolic blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates of patients admitted in critical care Unite (CCU). Because of the useful effects of those changes, it can be recommended that massage therapy by a member of the patient’s family be used to balance vital signs of patients admitted in CCU. This study was registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT). The registration number of the study is IRCT201112048296N

GROWTH STIMULATING EFFECTS OF ASPILIA AFRICANA FED TO FEMALE PSEUDO-RUMINANT HERBIVORES (RABBITS) AT DIFFERENT PHYSIOLOGICAL STATES

Background: In recent times, there has been a significant short fall between the production and supply of animal protein to meet the ever increasing population. To meet the increasing demand for animal protein, there is need to focus attention on the production of livestock whose nutritional requirement does not put much strain on the limited sources of feed ingredients to which men subscribe. An example of such livestock is rabbit. Rabbit is a pseudo-ruminant herbivore which utilizes much undigested and unabsorbed feed materials as sources of nutrient for maintenance and production. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding Aspilia africana as forage on the growth rates of female pseudo-ruminant herbivores (rabbits) at different physiological states. Method: Thirty (30) dutch breed rabbit does of 5 – 6 months of age were used for the experiment which was conducted in a completely randomized design for a period of four (4) months. The rabbits were divided into three treatment groups, ten (10) does per treatment group; which consisted of mixed forages (Centrosema pubescens (200g), Panicum maximum (200g) and Ipomea batatas leaves (100g) without Aspilia africana (T1; control), fresh Aspilia africana (500g/doe/day) (T2) and wilted Aspilia africana (500g/doe/day) (T3). Rabbits in all treatment groups received the same concentrate (300g/animal/day) throughout the period of the study and mixed forages from the commencement of the experiment till the does kindled. After parturition, fresh and wilted Aspilia africana were introduced in treatments 2 and 3 respectively, whereas the control group continued on mixed forages throughout the study. Conclusion: The result of the study revealed that the initial average body weight of the rabbit does was 1.74kg. At mating and gestation periods, the body weights of the does in T2 was significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) than the rest. There were no significant differences (P&lt;0.05) in the body weights of does at kindling between the various treatment groups. During the physiological states of lactation, weaning and re-mating, the control group (T1) had significantly lower body weight than those of the treated groups (T2 and T3). Furthermore, T2 had significantly higher body weight than T3. The study revealed that Aspiliaafricana; particularly the fresh leaves have greater growth stimulating effects when fed to pseudoruminants (rabbits), thereby enhancing body weights of does during lactation and weaning

Aqueous extract of Echlum amoenum elevate CSF serotonin and dopamine level in depression rat

Based on a traditional belief, Echlum amoenum (Boraginaceae) dried flowers are used In Iran as an anxiolytic remedy and also as a mood enhancer. But Interfering mechanisms unknown, In this study, efficacy of an aqueous extract of E.amoenum in depressive rat was evaluated, using measurement the changes level CSF serotonin and dopamine as indicator mood. Four groups of male wistar rats each group of seven rats were enrolled in this study. Depressive induced with intraperitoneal injection of reserpine (5mg/kg) and assessment depression by swimming test, the next two weeks of oral performing aqueous extract Echlum amoenum, CSF serotonin and dopamine concentration of rats were measured using ELISA kit. Our finding indicated, performing aqueous extract Echlum amoenum increased CSF serotonin and dopamine concentration in depression rats. The level of CSF serotonin enhanced in control group receiving Echlum amoenum compared control group alone. These results showed the serious changes of neurotransmitters due to Echlum amoenum which can be translated as mood enhancer. It can be concluded, Echlum amoenum induce antidepressant effective In part by increasing level CSF serotonin and dopamine

Positive emotion regulation strategies as mediators in depression and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms: A Transdiagnostic framework investigation

Positive emotion regulation (ER) strategies may contribute to the development and maintenance of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and depression; nonetheless, the underlying and transdiagnostic mechanisms are still unknown. To examine: 1) the mediating role of positive ER strategies in the relationship between ER deficits and experiential avoidance in GAD and depression symptoms; 2) differences in positive ER strategies among participants with elevated symptoms of GAD, depression, depression comorbid with GAD, and a nonclinical sample. 532 Tehran University students completed questionnaires assessing experiential avoidance, deficits in ER, positive ER strategies (dampening, positive rumination), and GAD and depression symptoms. Differences were assessed in four groups: GAD, depression, depression comorbid with GAD, and nonclinical. Data were analysed with path analysis and MANCOVA. Dampening and positive rumination mediated the relationship between deficits in ER and experiential avoidance in participants with depression and GAD symptoms. As for the between groups comparisons, the comorbid group obtained the highest scores on dampening and the nonclinical group the lowest. By contrast, nonclinical participants had the highest scores on positive rumination, whereas the comorbid group had the lowest. Positive ER strategies might be transdiagnostic variables. Dampening was more associated with psychopathology than positive rumination, suggesting that this strategy could be more clearly considered a transdiagnostic factor. Future studies with clinical samples must support this suggestion

THE ROLE OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH СHRONIC HEART FAILURE IN THE EXAMPLE OF A CLINICAL CASE

Anemia is common comorbidity in patients with heart failure. In Europe one in two patients with chronic heart failure has iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anemia is associated with a worse prognosis in the heart failure patient population and is an independent risk-factor for mortality, poor exercise capacity and low quality of life

Is it cheating or learning the craft of writing? Using Turnitin to help students avoid plagiarism

Plagiarism is a growing problem for universities, many of which are turning to software detection for help in detecting and dealing with it. This paper explores issues around plagiarism and reports on a study of the use of Turnitin in a new university. The purpose of the study was to inform the senior management team about the plagiarism policy and the use of Turnitin. The study found that staff and students largely understood the university’s policy and Turnitin’s place within it, and were very supportive of the use of Turnitin in originality checking. Students who had not used Turnitin were generally keen to do so. The recommendation to the senior management team, which was implemented, was that the use of Turnitin for originality checking should be made compulsory where possible - at the time of the study the use of Turnitin was at the discretion of programme directors. A further aim of the study was to contribute to the sector’s body of knowledge. Prevention of plagiarism through education is a theme identified by Badge and Scott (2009) who conclude an area lacking in research is "investigation of the impact of these tools on staff teaching practices". Although a number of recent studies have considered educational use of Turnitin they focus on individual programmes or subject areas rather than institutions as a whole and the relationship with policy