Transformative Ethics and Moving Toward “Greatness” – Problems and Realities

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the role of Transformative Ethics as leaders and organizations move toward the achievement of greatness. It is a conceptual paper that explains the key importance of the pursuit of greatness and the role of Transformative Ethics in that pursuit. The paper suggests that each of the twelve perspectives that comprise Transformative Ethics supports the pursuit of greatness and that the pursuit of excellence is necessary for individuals and firms in today’s global marketplace. The research implications from this study support the importance of Transformative Ethics as a contributing ethical perspective for leaders and organizations. As leaders and organizations interact with others, the need for ethical leadership is critical for establishing trust and earning follower commitment This paper is one of the first to address the practical implications of Transformative Ethics for leaders and organizations

Factors influencing the electronic government adoption among PSM in Oman: A structural equation modeling approach

The dynamic movement of electronic government (e-government) needs a clear pathway on the adoption level of stakeholders within the public sector organization. This research has identified gaps in the movement of the adoption. The respondents comprised 237 public sector managers at the ministry level who conduct e-government services in the Sultanate of Oman. A questionnaire was designed to tap into the manager's perception of the Internet's Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Credibility of technology, Intention to use the technology, and adoption of the Internet itself. Seven hypothesized relationships were tested in the structural model. An advanced quantitative data analysis using multivariate data analysis was employed. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the causal and mediating effects of latent variables. Based on the research, the hypothesized model fit fails to be supported (p<.05). The findings support the TAM theory extremely well, whereby, all the hypothesized paths were asserted. The generated model found three significant direct paths between Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Credibility, and intention as well as between intention and adoption

Transformative Ethics and Moving Toward “Greatness” – Problems and Realities

The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the role of Transformative Ethics as leaders and organizations move toward the achievement of greatness. It is a conceptual paper that explains the key importance of the pursuit of greatness and the role of Transformative Ethics in that pursuit. The paper suggests that each of the twelve perspectives that comprise Transformative Ethics supports the pursuit of greatness and that the pursuit of excellence is necessary for individuals and firms in today’s global marketplace. The research implications from this study support the importance of Transformative Ethics as a contributing ethical perspective for leaders and organizations. As leaders and organizations interact with others, the need for ethical leadership is critical for establishing trust and earning follower commitment This paper is one of the first to address the practical implications of Transformative Ethics for leaders and organizations

The Effect of Nutrition on Immune System Review Paper

The most basic definition of immunity is the ability of the organism to resist the invasion of microorganisms and harmful substances. Blood plays an important role in immune development due to the presence of certain types of white blood cells in the blood and in some other tissues have the ability to eliminate strange organisms and destroy it as well the blood plasma contains antibodies made by certain immune cells to resist any strange proteins or any other substances linked to proteins, such proteins that stimulate the body tissues to form antibodies called antigen generators or antigens.Some objects work on precipitation these strange proteins to isolate them, so it called precipitins, while others work on the conglomerate of microorganisms or red blood cells. These are called agglutinins, while some act on neutralizing of toxins, called antitoxins.Immunizations are either natural immunity or innate immunity or acquired immunity. When the body resists the invasion of a particular species of microorganisms for the first time, it will have natural immunity, But the immunity acquired by the individual as a result of immunizations or vaccination of such microorganisms is known as acquired immunity, However, acquired immunity may be natural or artificial. The immunity generated in the individual an actual measles infection is known as naturally acquired immunity, but the immunity that is formed as a result of vaccinating the individual of typhoid or diphtheria vaccine is artificially acquired immunity (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).However, acquired immunity may be natural or artificial. The immunity generated in the individual following an actual measles infection is known as naturally acquired immunity (6). DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/90-06 Publication date:September 30th 201

A novel pathogenic mutation of the CYP27B1 gene in a patient with vitamin D-dependent rickets type 1: a case report

BACKGROUND: Rickets can occur due to Vitamin D deficiency or defects in its metabolism. Three rare genetic types of rickets with different alterations of genes have been reported, including: Vitamin D dependent rickets type 1, Vitamin D dependent rickets type 2 or also known as Vitamin D resistant rickets and 25 hydroxylase deficiency rickets. Vitamin D dependent rickets type 1 is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, and is caused by mutations in the CYP27B1 gene encoding the 1α-hydroxylase enzyme. We report here a new mutation in CYP27B1, which lead to Vitamin D dependent rickets type 1. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on a 13-month-old Arabic Saudi girl with Vitamin D dependent rickets type 1 presented with multiple fractures and classic features of rickets. A whole exome sequencing identified a novel pathogenic missense mutation (CYP27B1:Homozygous c.1510C > T(p.Q504X)) which results in a protein truncating alteration. Both parents are heterozygous carriers of the mutation. Based on data search in Human Gene Mutation Database, 63 CYP27B1 alterations were reported: only 28.6% are protein truncating (5 nonsense, 13 frameshift insertions/deletions, 0 gross deletions), while 61.9% are non-truncating (38 missense, 1 small in-frame insertions/deletion), and 9.5% are possible protein-truncating (5 splice, 1 regulatory). CONCLUSION: The deleterious effect of this alteration, which was the only mutation detected in the CYP27B1 common gene of Vitamin D dependent rickets type 1 in the proband, and its autosomal recessive inheritance fashion, both support a pathogenic nature of this mutation as the cause of Vitamin D dependent rickets type 1

Relationship between pulmonary function tests, sputum eosinophilia and total serum IgE levels among asthmatic patients in Duhok, Iraq

Background: Bronchial asthma is a disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction, airway inflammation; and hyper-responsiveness. The prevalence of asthma is high, and both its prevalence and burden have increased over the last several decades. The study of inflammatory markers has implications for the appropriate management of this disease. Inflammatory markers has implications for the appropriate management of this disease. Objective of the study is to determine the correlation between asthma severity using pulmonary function tests with sputum eosinophilia and total serum IgE levels.Methods: This case-control study was conducted from March 2017 to September 2018 in the respiratory unit of Azadi general teaching hospital. It included 42 asthmatic patients and 18 healthy subjects. They underwent pulmonary function tests and measurement of total serum IgE levels. Induced sputum was done for asthmatic patients.Results: The age of asthmatic patients ranged from 16-70 years (mean 42±19 years). The asthmatic patient’s female: male ratio was 1.8. Mild asthma was the most common severity group (N=18, 43%) followed by moderate asthma (N=14, 33%) then severe asthma (N=10, 24%). Abnormal sputum eosinophilia (≥3%) was detected in 90% of severe asthma (N=9) compared to 36% in moderate asthma (N=5) and 5.6% in mild asthma (N=1). There was significant statistical association between asthma severity and sputum eosinophilia (p=0.00004). The association between asthma severity and total serum IgE levels was highly significant (p<0.0000) with levels of total serum IgE increasing as the severity of asthma increases.Conclusions: Severe asthma is the least common severity group in this study. Both abnormal sputum eosinophilia and total serum IgE levels are associated with the severity of asthma

Association between smoking and chronic kidney disease: a case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains one of the main challenges in clinical nephrology. Therefore, identifying the pathophysiological mechanisms and the independent preventable risk factors helps in decreasing the number of patients suffering end stage renal disease and slowing its progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Smoking data was analyzed in patients with CKD throughout 2005-2009. One hundred and ninety-eight patients who had recently been diagnosed with stage three CKD or higher according to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) 2002 Classification were studied. The control group was randomly selected and then matched with the case subjects using a computerized randomization technique. The relative risk was estimated by computing odds ratio (OR) by using multinomial logistic regression in SPSS ® for Windows between the two groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Smoking significantly increases the risk of CKD (OR = 1.6, <it>p </it>= 0.009, 95% CI = 1.12-2.29). When compared to nonsmokers, current smokers have an increased risk of having CKD (OR = 1.63 <it>p </it>= 0.02, 95% CI = 1.08-2.45), while former smokers did not have a statistically significant difference. The risk increased with high cumulative quantity (OR among smokers with > 30 pack-years was 2.6, <it>p </it>= 0.00, 95% CI = 1.53-4.41). Smoking increased the risk of CKD the most for those classified as hypertensive nephropathy (OR = 2.85, <it>p </it>= 0.01, 95% CI = 1.27-6.39) and diabetic nephropathy (2.24, <it>p </it>= 0.005, 95% CI = 1.27-3.96). No statistically significant difference in risk was found for glomerulonephritis patients or any other causes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study suggests that heavy cigarette smoking increases the risk of CKD overall and particularly for CKD classified as hypertensive nephropathy and diabetic nephropathy.</p

Antimicrobial Modification of LDPE Using Non-thermal Plasma

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) represents polymer having good chemical and physical characteristics for which it is widely used in many applications, such as biomedical and food packaging industry. This polymer excels by good transparency, flexibility, low weight and cost which makes it suitable material compared to non-polymer packaging materials. However, its hydrophobicity cause many limitations for antimicrobial activity which can result in absence of some characteristics required in food packaging applications. For that purpose, some researches have done experiments to modify the polymer surface to increase the surface free energy (hydrophilicity). This can be done by introducing some polar functional groups into the LDPE surface which will permit an increment of its surface free energy and so its wettability or adhesion without any disruption in its bulk properties [1]. One of the most preferable modification techniques is known as non-thermal radio-frequency discharge plasma, and it is preferred technique due to the ability to modify only thin surface layer leading to noticable improvement of the surface properties [2].Moreover, it represents environmentally friendly technique since it does not require the use of any hazardous chemicals or dangerous radiations and therefore non-thermal plasma is highly recommended for food packaging applications [1]. In addition, the surface modification of LDPE can lead to the enhancement of the antimicrobial activity, which was the main purpose of this research. Food packaging materials requires preventing any growth of bacteria, fungal, or any other microbial organisms for health and food safety. Some approved preservatives are commonly used directly in foods to preserve them form microorganisms growth and spoilage. Nowadays, some innovative ways are applied to graft acrylic acid on polymers surfaces [3] for biomedical applications to create an effective layer for an immobilization of antibacterial agents and this results in bacteria prevention on the LDPE surface. In this research, we focused on grafting of sorbic acid as one of the most commonly used preservatives in food and beverage for being safe, and effective in bacteria inhibition (whether pathogenic strains or spoilage kinds), molds, and yeasts [4]. It is also used in cosmetic industries since it has good compatibility with skin and it is easily usable [5]. For the potential enhancement of the antimicrobial efficiency, chitosan representing antimicrobial agent was used for the immobilization on sorbic acid created layer. Chitosan (a derivative of chitin polysaccharide) was chosen as a natural occurring antimicrobial agent (from crabs shrimps, and other sea shells [5]) that has strong and effective antimicrobial activity along with its nontoxicity, biofunctionality, biodegradability, and biocompatibility [6]. In this study, the LDPE surface was modified by several modification steps. The first step involved the modification of the LDPE surface by non-thermal radio-frequency discharge plasma as a radical graft initiator for the subsequently polymerization of sorbic acid containing double bonds. In the next step, grafting of sorbic acid was carried out immediately after plasma treatment allowing the interaction of plasma created radicals on LDPE surface with sorbic acid. Final step was focused on the immobilization of chitosan on grafted sorbic acid platform. Each modification step was analyzed by different analytical techniques and methods to obtain detailed information about the modification process. The surface parameters changes after modification of the LDPE surface, such as surface free energy (contact angles measurements), graft yield (gravimetric measurements) surface morphology (scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy) and chemistry (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance) were obtained allowing understanding the modification process.Qscienc

Isolation and characterization of pathogenic bacteria from Rhipicephalus spp. adult female hard tick

Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods established in basically all global regions of the world. Around the world, there are about 900 species of ticks. Ixodid or hard ticks are University, Baghdad, Iraq; 3 Department of Biology, Science College, Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq made about 700 species, while 200 species are soft ticks. Ticks act as vectors of a wide range of disease agents, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. It is well documented that more than 100 000 diseased conditions in a human being in the world are associated with the tick- borne infection. This study intended to isolate some enterobacteriacae (Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp) from live adult female Rhipicephalus spp hard tick. Sixty-seven ticks were collected from cattle and sheep during the period extended from November 2015 till March 2016 from Baghdad governorate. Totally, there were 15 (22.38%) samples revealed bacterial isolates out of 67. The number and percentage of E. coli, Salmonella spp and both E. coli and Salmonella spp isolates were 10 (14.92 %), 2 (2.98 %) and 3 (4.47 %) respectively. Moreover, the results showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) difference between the isolated bacteria. In conclusion, this study approved the isolation of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp from adult female Rhipicephalus spp hard tick. The author recommends taking a prevention precaution to control the distribution of ticks that have serious roles in the transmission and distribution of bacterial diseases in domestics animals