A Clinical Audit of blood component transfusion practices in Paediatric intensive care unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital, Rawalpindi

Background: To audit the practices involved in blood component transfusion in the management of patients in paediatric intensive care unit of our hospital and to determine the appropriateness of transfusion after comparing them with clinical practice guidelines recommended by Royal Children Hospital (RCH). Methods: All patients admitted in pediatric intensive care which were managed with blood component transfusions were retrospectively audited for 8 weeks. Management details including indications of transfusion and its appropriateness were recorded. Clinical practice guidelines recommended by Royal Children Hospital (RCH) were used as standards. Results: One hundred and ninety-two transfusions were done during the study period out of which 58 percent were done to males and 41 percent to females. Majority of transfusions were done in infants (44%) and O Positive blood group was found rampant among blood groups of all recipients (33.3%). Red cell concentrates were predominantly (55.7%) and appropriately (72%) transfusion among all blood components. Platelet concentrates were most inappropriately transfused (57%) followed by fresh frozen plasma (54%) and red cell concentrates (27%). There was significant percentage of inappropriate transfusion of all blood components (p=0.00). Conclusion: All blood components were significantly found inappropriately transfused, commonest component being platelet concentrates

THE IMPACT OF THE FIRM GENERATED CONTENTS AND THE USER GENERATED CONTENTS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA ON BRAND EQUITY ELEMENTS

It is an era of modern communication technology, whereconsumers are well aware and connected to products and brands. Bygenerating content related to products or brands consumers can nowmake or destroy a brand. Communication through online social mediahas shaped the overall communication strategy of the firms, as moreand more firms are struggling hard to understand and control theonline social media communication for better and secured future ofthe brand and the firm. The aim of this study was to measure the impactof the firm generated social media communication and the usergenerated social media communication on the elements of brandequity. A conceptual framework was developed based on Aaker’s BrandEquity model. The constructs and scale items were adopted fromprevious studies and had valid reliability. SEM was performed throughAMOS. Findings of this research revealed that both the firm generatedand the user generated social media communications have a positiveinfluence on the brand equity elements

Impact of Total Quality Management Practices on an Organization Performance

Purpose: Although impact of TQM practices have been founded to improve the organization performance, the management literature has overlooked on the effort of individual level or in form of group outcomes, the purpose of this paper to explore the impact of TQM practices on organization performance in banking sectors. Practices has an impact on three dimensions of employee (physically, psychologically, social) weather well being should be consider as a mediator of the TQM practices and organization performance relationship. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: The paper use qualitative data collected from in depth case study via documents analysis and Sami structured interviews with quality expert’s practices about how to enhance the level of performance. Finding: Thepaper shows that impact of TQM practices can lead to both positive and negative motivation outcomes. Furthermore they create trade-off between the three dimensions of well-beings. While they increase employee well being on one dimension they are dramatic to another. Research limitation/Implications: Due to the scope of the research the paper bounded itself to analyzing three TQM practices. Different trade off may exist for other practices. Practical Implications: Many organization introducing TQM practices assuming that they will improve performance. However, the existence of well being trade-off need to be acknowledges and managed. Originality/ Value: This paper show that for a comprehensive understanding of the effects of TQM practices further studies need to contemplate the different dimension of well being separately, as trade-off may occur between them. It further suggests that well being may be an unexplored mediator of the TQM practice and organization performances relationship. Key words: TQM practices, organization performance, motivatio

Impact of Science Technology and Innovation (STI) on Economic Growth and Development: A Case Study of Pakistan

The study reports the case study research about the impact of STI on economic growth and development. 305 scientists responded the questionnaire. Out of 305, 94% (288) confirmed that STI has the impact on economic growth and economic development.  In response to the 2nd question, about the impact of their research on economic growth and development, 85 %(260) scientists supported that STI has the positive impact on economic growth. The STI system of Pakistan is also discussed and found that STI system in Pakistan is very weak. To improve STI system of Pakistan, there is dire need of long-term STI policy. Therefore, at the end of the study on the basis of survey results and STI capacity indicator, the policy recommendations and implications of the study are presented. These recommendations are very useful for STI policy makers and planners for Pakistan as well as developing countries, to improve STI situation.&nbsp

Streptococcus viridans osteomyelitis and endocarditis following dental treatment: a case report

Vertebral osteomyelitis is an uncommon complication of infective endocarditis with the organism Streptococcus viridans being a rare cause of the condition. This case highlights an unusual presentation of Streptococcus viridans associated with infective endocarditis and pyogenic osteomyelitis in a patient following a dental procedure

Outsourcing and Organizational Performance in Banking Sector of Punjab, Pakistan

Organizations are more competitive these days .To maintain competitive position, Firms are developing new strategies and introducing new techniques. Outsourcing is widely recommended technique for this purpose. Outsourcing, support functions is a common practice in organizations so that the management can focus on its core functions. Outsourcing helps organization’s to improve their performance. This paper explores the impact of outsourcing on organizational performance in banking sector of Punjab, Pakistan. Key words outsourcing, organizational performance, banking, Pakista

Transformational Leadership and Corporate Reputation: Mediation Effects of Employer Branding

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of transformational leadership and corporate reputation on employer branding by testing a hypothesized model. This study employed a quantitative online survey technique. The researcher distributed 350 questionnaires through purposive sampling out of which 132 questionnaires received back for data analysis. Regression analysis was selected to analyze the collected data to test the hypothesis developed from past literature. Results validate that transformational leadership has an impact on employer branding and employer branding has a direct impact on corporate reputation but correlation amid transformational leadership and business reputation goes insignificant when added employer branding showing full mediation of this variable. The present study backs the writings of business reputation that can be developed through transformational leadership and employer branding. The findings would be helpful for organizational leaders in developing strategies to create a corporate reputation

Health Effects Associated with Fluoridated Water Sources - A Review of Central Asia.

Water fluoridation is a common practice in different parts of the world, mostly as a means of decontaminating water. It has been used in developed, as well as in developing countries. In recent years however, other countries have minimized, even eliminated its use due to health issues. In Central Asia, usage of fluoride is profoundly extant, thus occasioning the citizens’ exposure to various health risks. An excessive level of fluoride causes various health issues, mostly on dental and skeletal fluorosis which often leads to vulnerabilities in the bones and teeth. Studies also indicate that excessive levels of fluoride have been known to contribute to poor neurological development among children, hip fractures to older adults, as well as osterosclerosis. Moreover, the review has concluded that fluoride contamination in groundwater is very high in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In contrast, fluoride levels are below threshold value of 1.5 mg/L in Bangladesh. Fluorosis cases have been observed in Nepal but available data is quite unsystematic and incomplete, thus rendering them of no statistical significance. In India, districts such as Kerala, Gujrat, Bakresh (West Bengal), Khudra (Orissa), Manikaran (Hima Pradesh), Unkeeher (Mahar) and Tattapani (Chattisgarh) are currently facing a high level of fluoride. In Pakistan, fluoride data of 29 major cities are reviewed and 34% of the cities show fluoride levels with mean value greater than 1.5 mg/L where Lahore and Quetta are having the maximum values of 23.60 mg/L and 24.48 mg/L, respectively. Sri Lankan dry zone is polluted with fluoride having maximum value of 8.00 mg/L. Considering these verities, health authorities urgently need to establish alternative means of water decontamination in order to prevent associated health problems