Impact of Organization Politics on Human Resource Management Practices and Employee Performance

Purpose- The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of nepotism & favoritism as a form of organization politics on HRM practices and employee performance. Design/Methodology- Explanatory research design was employed to determine the effect of nepotism & favoritism on HRM practices and employee performance. Primary data collection method was used among employees working in different public-sector hospitals based on their accessibility. For this study, the sample of 150 employees was used. The adapted questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS.  Findings- The correlation analysis revealed a significant relationship between favoritism, employee performance & HRM practices whereas nepotism has a significant association with employee performance but the insignificant relationship with HRM practices. The outcomes of the study unveiled a significantly negative effect of nepotism on employee performance & HRM practices while favoritism has a significantly positive effect on employee performance & HRM practices.  Practical Implications- The study outcomes might help public sector hospitals HR department to incorporate some changes regarding their policies to prevent the nepotistic & favoritism practices which can lead to creating a politics in the organization in which everyone works to fulfill his or her self- interest without focusing towards organizational goals achievement

The Role of Supervisor Support on Work-Family Conflict and Employee Turnover Intentions in the Workplace with Mediating Effect of Affective Commitment in Twin Cities in the Banking Industry, Pakistan

Organizations compete in today's world through its intangible assets which literature describe as human capital. Technology can be replaced but human capital cannot be replaced completely ever. Employee retention is center of attention for all the organizations' nowadays. Retentions of employees' mainly based on supervisors support and their affiliation with organization. This paper attempts to examine the impact of supervisor support on work family conflict and turnover intentions directly and indirectly through affective commitment. In order to collect the data this study used closed ended questionnaires from banking industry of twin cities of Pakistan. SEM (AMOS) was employed to test hypotheses. Findings reveal the mediating role of affective commitment particularly in context banking sector of Pakistan. This study filled the gap by investigating supervisor support on work family conflict along with affective commitment. Findings of this study are important from two perspectives. First is the banking sector and secondly the twin cities in which there is almost no study has been conducted before. Implications are particular for banking industry top managers and practitioners. Top management can implement such practices in order to retain their employees'. Keywords: Supervisor Support, Work-Family Conflict, Employee Turnover Intentions, SEM JEL Classifications: H15, M16 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/irmm.1080

The Role of HR Practices on Turnover Intentions Directly and Through Organizational Citizenship Behavior in the Banking Sector of Malaysia

In the recent years, the banking industry of Malaysia has grown rapidly and the roles of employees are undeniable. In todays, dynamic environment banking industry is striving hard to retain the employees in the organization. Employee provides the basis for organization to be successful. The aim of this paper was to investigate the role of HR practices on turnover intentions directly and indirectly through organizational citizenship behavior in banking sector of Malaysia. Data collected through 510 questionnaires from top five banks (by Capital) branches in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In order to investigate the hypotheses, this study applied Structural equation modelling (AMOS). Findings of this study portray that HR practices had negative effect on turnover intentions while the interesting finding is that indirect effect of HR practices through organizational citizenship were also significant. The results are beneficial for top management of banking sector of Malaysia in order to keep motivating employees and to retain them through proper implementation of OCB. To build and align the HR practices and OCB which results in reducing turnover intentions of employees. Keywords: HR Practices, Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Turnover Intentions, SEM. JEL Classifications: H11; S12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/irmm.1076

Development of the PSYCHS: Positive SYmptoms and Diagnostic Criteria for the CAARMS Harmonized with the SIPS

Aim: To harmonize two ascertainment and severity rating instruments commonly used for the clinical high risk syndrome for psychosis (CHR-P): the Structured Interview for Psychosis-risk Syndromes (SIPS) and the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS). Methods: The initial workshop is described in the companion report from Addington et al. After the workshop, lead experts for each instrument continued harmonizing attenuated positive symptoms and criteria for psychosis and CHR-P through an intensive series of joint videoconferences. Results: Full harmonization was achieved for attenuated positive symptom ratings and psychosis criteria, and modest harmonization for CHR-P criteria. The semi-structured interview, named Positive SYmptoms and Diagnostic Criteria for the CAARMS Harmonized with the SIPS (PSYCHS), generates CHR-P criteria and severity scores for both CAARMS and SIPS. Conclusions: Using the PSYCHS for CHR-P ascertainment, conversion determination, and attenuated positive symptom severity rating will help in comparing findings across studies and in meta-analyses

Comprehensive Cancer-Predisposition Gene Testing in an Adult Multiple Primary Tumor Series Shows a Broad Range of Deleterious Variants and Atypical Tumor Phenotypes.

Multiple primary tumors (MPTs) affect a substantial proportion of cancer survivors and can result from various causes, including inherited predisposition. Currently, germline genetic testing of MPT-affected individuals for variants in cancer-predisposition genes (CPGs) is mostly targeted by tumor type. We ascertained pre-assessed MPT individuals (with at least two primary tumors by age 60 years or at least three by 70 years) from genetics centers and performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on 460 individuals from 440 families. Despite previous negative genetic assessment and molecular investigations, pathogenic variants in moderate- and high-risk CPGs were detected in 67/440 (15.2%) probands. WGS detected variants that would not be (or were not) detected by targeted resequencing strategies, including low-frequency structural variants (6/440 [1.4%] probands). In most individuals with a germline variant assessed as pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP), at least one of their tumor types was characteristic of variants in the relevant CPG. However, in 29 probands (42.2% of those with a P/LP variant), the tumor phenotype appeared discordant. The frequency of individuals with truncating or splice-site CPG variants and at least one discordant tumor type was significantly higher than in a control population (χ2 = 43.642; p ≤ 0.0001). 2/67 (3%) probands with P/LP variants had evidence of multiple inherited neoplasia allele syndrome (MINAS) with deleterious variants in two CPGs. Together with variant detection rates from a previous series of similarly ascertained MPT-affected individuals, the present results suggest that first-line comprehensive CPG analysis in an MPT cohort referred to clinical genetics services would detect a deleterious variant in about a third of individuals.JW is supported by a Cancer Research UK Cambridge Cancer Centre Clinical Research Training Fellowship. Funding for the NIHR BioResource – Rare diseases project was provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR, grant number RG65966). ERM acknowledges support from the European Research Council (Advanced Researcher Award), NIHR (Senior Investigator Award and Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre), Cancer Research UK Cambridge Cancer Centre and Medical Research Council Infrastructure Award. The University of Cambridge has received salary support in respect of EM from the NHS in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS or Department of Health. DGE is an NIHR Senior Investigator and is supported by the all Manchester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre

Bi-allelic Loss-of-Function CACNA1B Mutations in Progressive Epilepsy-Dyskinesia.

The occurrence of non-epileptic hyperkinetic movements in the context of developmental epileptic encephalopathies is an increasingly recognized phenomenon. Identification of causative mutations provides an important insight into common pathogenic mechanisms that cause both seizures and abnormal motor control. We report bi-allelic loss-of-function CACNA1B variants in six children from three unrelated families whose affected members present with a complex and progressive neurological syndrome. All affected individuals presented with epileptic encephalopathy, severe neurodevelopmental delay (often with regression), and a hyperkinetic movement disorder. Additional neurological features included postnatal microcephaly and hypotonia. Five children died in childhood or adolescence (mean age of death: 9 years), mainly as a result of secondary respiratory complications. CACNA1B encodes the pore-forming subunit of the pre-synaptic neuronal voltage-gated calcium channel Cav2.2/N-type, crucial for SNARE-mediated neurotransmission, particularly in the early postnatal period. Bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in CACNA1B are predicted to cause disruption of Ca2+ influx, leading to impaired synaptic neurotransmission. The resultant effect on neuronal function is likely to be important in the development of involuntary movements and epilepsy. Overall, our findings provide further evidence for the key role of Cav2.2 in normal human neurodevelopment.MAK is funded by an NIHR Research Professorship and receives funding from the Wellcome Trust, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital Charity, and Rosetrees Trust. E.M. received funding from the Rosetrees Trust (CD-A53) and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. K.G. received funding from Temple Street Foundation. A.M. is funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Biomedical Research Centre. F.L.R. and D.G. are funded by Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre. K.C. and A.S.J. are funded by NIHR Bioresource for Rare Diseases. The DDD Study presents independent research commissioned by the Health Innovation Challenge Fund (grant number HICF-1009-003), a parallel funding partnership between the Wellcome Trust and the Department of Health, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (grant number WT098051). We acknowledge support from the UK Department of Health via the NIHR comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy's and St. Thomas' National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust in partnership with King's College London. This research was also supported by the NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre. J.H.C. is in receipt of an NIHR Senior Investigator Award. The research team acknowledges the support of the NIHR through the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, Department of Health, or Wellcome Trust. E.R.M. acknowledges support from NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, an NIHR Senior Investigator Award, and the University of Cambridge has received salary support in respect of E.R.M. from the NHS in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve. I.E.S. is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Program Grant and Practitioner Fellowship)

Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of COVID-19 Infection in Patients Presenting to A Tertiary Care Hospital

Background and Objective: COVID-19 disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) having a wide variety of clinical features ranging from asymptomatic carriers to respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. The objective of the study was to analyze the spectrum of different symptoms, laboratory findings and complications in patients who were admitted in either COVID ward or intensive care unit (ICU) of a local hospital. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of the medical records of 100 COVID-19 disease patients with PCR detected SARS-CoV-2 infection were collected. Participant information was retrospectively obtained from the hospital medical records which included clinical records and laboratory findings. All statistical analyses were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.8 &plusmn;5.86 with male predominance (79%). Most frequent co-morbidities were diabetes mellitus (42%) and hypertension (36%). Most frequent symptoms were fever (95.9%) and fatigue (95.9%) followed by dry cough (86.5%), myalgia (85.1) and shortness of breath (70%). Amongst the patients admitted, leukocyte count was 10.95 x 103, C-reactive protein (CRP) was 12.8mg/dl, ferritin was 730.8ng/ml and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) was found to be 1254.7 U/l. Hepatic and renal functions were borderline deranged. Conclusion: COVID-19 disease has a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms. Patients with raised inflammatory markers have severe disease and are more likely in need of an ICU care. By carefully observing these markers may help in better management of COVID-19 disease.</p

Effect of Temperature and Storage Time on DNA Quality and Quantity from Normal and Diseased Tissues

DNA extraction and purification is an initial step for authentic results in advance molecular biology, therefore DNA degradation is unavoidable. The aim of present study is to investigate the DNA quality and quantity in terms of shorter time preservation with normal and diseased tissue, therefore tissues of normal (n = 18) and diseased (n = 18) liver, lung and heart was collected from goat after slaughtered. For DNA extraction Gene JET Genomic DNA Purification Kit protocol was followed, then stored at -20 oC and -04 oC temperatures for 24hrs and 48hrs period of time. The concentration and purity of the extracted DNA were measured with Spectrophotometer and purity confirmed at an absorbance ratio of 260 or 280. It was observed that at a -20 oC temperature for 24hours the concentration of DNA yield was numerically higher than at -04 oC temperature for tissue stored at 48hrs, whereas absorbance was higher, however in normal tissues in contrast with diseased the concentration and absorbance of DNA was somehow same at -20 and -04 oC but different in storage time. On the basis of these findings, it was concluded that time elapsed between sampling with the storage condition and with normal or diseased samples for DNA extraction will largely depend on the experiment. If tissue preservative conditions and sampling are appropriate, storage time will not be a factor at least for short storage periods