Quality Management System Implementation at KELTEC-A Case Study

The scenario of quality is expanding exponentially. In the present-day world, quality is now in the driver's seat. With this globalisation of industrial products, many problems and opportunities have risen, primarily due to inconsistent standards existing in the market. The International Standards Organisation has tried (and seem to be very successful in doing so) to standardise a minimum level of quality norms. These norms act as the foundation to implements total quality management (TQM). TQM has been identified as a philosophy of interdependent characteristics, such as customer focus, commitment, measurement, systematic support, and continuous improvement. This paper presents a case study on the implementation of ISO 9002: 1994 at Kerala Hitech Industries (KELTEC), with the benefits, hurdles faced, and shortcomings. Upgradation of KELTEC's quality management system to the requirements of ISO 9001: 2000 is currently under progress

Lower Back Pain in Staff Nurses

A Study to assess the prevalence of mechanical lower back pain among staff nurse and to determine the effectiveness of planned teaching programme in terms of knowledge regarding back strengthening exercises among staff nurse’ working in ICU of a selected hospital of Delhi was conducted. Quantitative research approach with pre experimental one group pre-test post-test research design was used in the study. The prevalence of mechanical lower back pain was assessed by a rating scale and a structured questionnaire was used to assess the effectiveness of the planned teaching programme. Data obtained were analyzed and interpreted using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. It was found that 46.66% staff nurses were having moderate low back pain and planned teaching programme was effective in increasing knowledge of staff nurses working in ICU

BRCA Gene Mutation and Young Women - Nurses’ Perception

The breast cancer 1 (BRCA1 [Breast Cancer Susceptibility]) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) genes are the genes most commonly affected in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. Normally, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes protect from getting certain cancers. But certain mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes prevent them from working properly; inheriting one of these mutations, increases the susceptibility of breast, ovarian, and other cancers. Genetic counseling and testing for heritable susceptibility to breast cancer caused by mutations in BRCA genes are largely unavailable to young women in India. This process enables patients to make informed decisions about genetic testing and management based on the associated potential benefits, limitations, and risks, as well as their own values, preferences, and goals.

(R2027) A New Class of Pareto Distribution: Estimation and its Applications

The classical Pareto distribution is a positively skewed and right heavy-tailed lifetime distribution having a lot many applications in various fields of science and social science. In this work, via logarithmic trans-formed method, a new three parameter lifetime distribution, an extension of classical Pareto distribution is generated. The different structural properties of the new distribution are studied. The model parameters are estimated by the method of maximum likelihood and Bayesian procedure. When all the three parameters of the distribution are unknown, the Bayes estimators cannot be obtained in a closed form and hence, the Lindley’s approximation under squared error loss function is used to compute the Bayes estimators. A Monte Carlo simulation study is also conducted to compare the performance of these estimators using mean square error. The application of the new distribution for modelling earthquake insurance and reliability data are illustrated using two real data sets

TensorFlow Enabled Genetic Programming

Genetic Programming, a kind of evolutionary computation and machine learning algorithm, is shown to benefit significantly from the application of vectorized data and the TensorFlow numerical computation library on both CPU and GPU architectures. The open source, Python Karoo GP is employed for a series of 190 tests across 6 platforms, with real-world datasets ranging from 18 to 5.5M data points. This body of tests demonstrates that datasets measured in tens and hundreds of data points see 2-15x improvement when moving from the scalar/SymPy configuration to the vector/TensorFlow configuration, with a single core performing on par or better than multiple CPU cores and GPUs. A dataset composed of 90,000 data points demonstrates a single vector/TensorFlow CPU core performing 875x better than 40 scalar/Sympy CPU cores. And a dataset containing 5.5M data points sees GPU configurations out-performing CPU configurations on average by 1.3x.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures; presented at GECCO 2017, Berlin, German

An Experimental Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Cryotherapy on Occurrence of Oral Mucositis among Patients Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy in Selected Hospitals of New Delhi

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of cryotherapy on occurrence of oral mucositis among patients receiving cancer chemotherapy in selected hospitals of New Delhi. The objectives of the study were to assess and compare the effectiveness of cryotherapy on occurrence of oral mucositis among patients receiving cancer chemotherapy in experimental and control groups to establish relationship between occurrence of oral mucositis among patients receiving cancer chemotherapy in experimental group and control group with selected variables. The conceptual framework adopted for the study was based on system model. Quantitative research approach was used in the study to accomplish the objectives of the study. The research design for the study was pre-test and post-test control group design. The sample comprised 60 patients in oncology units of Safdarjung Hospital, selected by random sampling by lottery method. The collected data was analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that there was significant difference between occurrence of oral mucositis among patients receiving cancer chemotherapy in experimental and control groups. In experimental group, there was no significant association between occurrence of oral mucositis among patients receiving cancer chemotherapy with selected variables, viz., gender, nutritional status, duration of illness, concurrent illness, and time period of chemotherapy treatment started, course/cycle, frequency, and other treatment modalities at 0.05 level of significance. In the control group, there was no significant relationship between occurrences of oral mucositis among patients receiving cancer chemotherapy with selected variables, viz., nutritional status, duration of illness, time period of chemotherapy treatment started, course/cycle, frequency, and other treatment modalities at 0.05 level of significance. In the control group, there was significant relationship between occurrence of oral mucositis among patients receiving cancer chemotherapy with selected variables, viz., gender and concurrent illness at 0.05 level of significance. The finding of the present study showed that the majority of the patients with chemotherapy treatment, who were exposed to cryotherapy, experienced reduced occurrence of oral mucositis as compared to patients who were not exposed to cryotherapy

Effectiveness of nutritional intervention on anemia among adolescent girls with iron deficiency aneamia in Nanchiyampalayam at Dharapuram

Anemia is a clinical condition that results from an insufficient supply of healthy Red Blood Cells to oxygenate the body’s tissue adequately; hypoxia results. Iron deficiency anemia is a chronic hypo chromic, microcytic anemia resulting from an insufficient supply of iron in the body, without iron. It is necessary to improve the hemoglobin level for preventing anemia. This study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of nutritional intervention on anemia among adolescent girls with Iron Deficiency Anemia in Nanchiyampalayam at Dharapuram. The conceptual framework of the study was based on the modified revised Pender’s Health Promotion Model(2002). The design used for the study was one group pretest posttest pre experimental design. Non- Probability Purposive sampling technique was used to select 50 samples for the study. The tool used for the study was observational checklist and Sahli’s Hemometer. Samples were visited every day in their homes and made to consume nutritional balls and one guava. The intervention was done continuously for 30 days. After 30days hemoglobin level was checked and the anemia signs and symptoms were assessed by using observational checklist to find out the level of iron deficiency anemia. The data gathered was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. There is significant difference between pretest and post test score (‘t’ value = 8.94). Statistical analysis showed that the nutritional intervention in posttest was highly significant at P<0.05 level. The study findings revealed that there was a significant improvement in hemoglobin level followed by nutritional intervention among adolescent girls with iron deficiency anemia

A Descriptive Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practice of Staff Nurses regarding Intravenous Therapy and Its Complications in a Selected Hospital in New Delhi

More than 25 million patients have peripheral intravenous catheters placed each year in hospitals. Infusion therapy is believed to account for one-third of all the nosocomial bacteremia and other intravenous therapy-related complications. In this regard, a randomized, prospective, controlled study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice of staff nurses regarding complications of intravenous therapy. Staff nurses were purposively selected and knowledge regarding intravenous therapy and its complications was assessed using a structured questionnaire and their practice using a structured checklist. The data collected showed that majority of the staff nurses were having average knowledge (83%) and average practice (90%) about the intravenous therapy and the related complications. There was a significant relationship between the knowledge of staff nurses related to intravenous therapy and the complications and the practice followed by them. Furthermore, it was found that although their knowledge was above average yet there were only few staff nurses (3%) showing above average performance. It was also found that about (7%) staff nurses were not able to perform correctly during the administration of intravenous medication and were categorized as below average. This study concluded that the knowledge regarding intravenous therapy and its related complications should be improved among staff nurses by incorporating various in service education and induction classes. For better results in relation to practice of intravenous therapy and reduction in complications regular supervision of practice should be conducted