Orientation management in organization as a tool to increase the employee productivity

Orientation programs are prudent for the employees in a new environment for undergo plan and strategic orientation to speed up their acceptance into the organization’s system. Organizations with policies and guidelines on orientation program remain more relevant and competitive in their business fields because they equip the employees with relevant knowledge, competence, and skills necessary for the modern work place. This study is one of the most important management skills that a human resource manager must possess to give the employees the opportunity to understand the environment where they intend to work. This paper will seek to find answers to three research questions: (i) what is the importance of orientation management to the employee and organization? (ii) What the best ways of managing orientation in an organization?, and (iii) Who is responsible for managing the orientation program in an organization? Research studies involve the process of relevant collective data that would help the researcher to arrive at the right conclusion about the findings. Many research studies have linked the success of the organization to the organization’s ability to organize successful orientation programs for the employees. Thus, orientation remains one of the most effective methods of improving productivity in organizations. Keywords: Orientation Program, Productivity, Competence, Strategic orientation, Socialization Process DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/62-06 Publication date: November 30th 201

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Fetomaternal Outcomes of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a growing global public health problem that can have short- and long-term health consequences for the mother and the child. Despite its criticalness, many countries still do not have the epidemiological data which could guide them in responding to the problem. Due to the lack of knowledge on GDM and the fact that diabetes and obesity are high in Kuwait, this study sought to estimate the prevalence of GDM and determine its risk factors and outcomes. Methods. This cross-sectional study enrolled 947 mothers living in Kuwait, who had given birth within the previous four years. Participants were recruited from primary health care clinics and public hospitals. GDM status was self-reported by the mother. Associations between exposures and outcomes were evaluated using logistic regression, and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Results. Of the 868 mothers with no prior history of diabetes mellitus, 109 (12.6%, 95% CI: 10.4, 14.8) reported having been given a GDM diagnosis during their last pregnancy. The prevalence of GDM increased with maternal age and prepregnancy body mass index. GDM was positively associated with caesarean section delivery (aOR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.66) and fetal macrosomia (aOR=2.36, 95% CI: 1.14, 4.89). Conclusion. GDM is prevalent in Kuwait and is associated with poor maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. To date, GDM has received little attention, and there is a need for more research to identify and respond to individual and public health implications of GDM in Kuwait

Knowledge, Awareness, and Practice of Gingival Veneer Prosthesis Among Dental Students, Interns, and Practitioners in the Riyadh Region: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Survey

Background: The treatment modality of using gingival veneer prosthesis for anterior gingival recession is not widely known even in the dental fraternity. This survey has been conducted considering its essential nature and absence of data on its awareness in the Riyadh region. Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, awareness, and practice of gingival veneer prosthesis among dental students, interns, and practitioners in the Riyadh region. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted on dental students, interns, and practitioners of both genders in Saudi Arabia, using a convenient sampling method. The final questionnaire consisted of 12 questions. The percentage of various responses, with reference to the demographics, and statistical significance, were tested by independent sample t-test and p-value &lt;0.05. The responses/data of 446 participants were tabulated and processed in SPSS (version 21.0). Results: The preferred treatment option for an anterior gingival recession proposed by prosthodontists was prosthetic correction (p&lt;0.05), and for other groups, it was periodontal surgery (p&lt;0.05). 66% of general practitioners’ group and 56% of dental students and interns’ group, respectively, were not sure about the ideal treatment option for Miller’s class III &amp; IV gingival defects, while 70% of general practitioners’ group and 65% of the students and interns’ group, respectively, were not sure about the ideal treatment option for the management of gingival tissue loss between implants,. Conclusion: There is a significant lack of knowledge on using gingival veneer prosthesis as a treatment option for anterior gingival defects among general dental practitioners, interns, and dental students (p˂0.05). </jats:sec

Laparoscopy in Acute Care Surgery: Repair of Perforated Duodenal Ulcer

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Introduction:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; The use of laparoscopic management as a first choice for the treatment of duodenal perforation is gaining ground but is not routine in many centers. In this report, we aim to report our experience with laparoscopy as the first approach for the repair of duodenal perforation. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; This is a retrospective review of patients during our initial experience with the use of laparoscopy for the treatment of duodenal perforation between 2009 and 2013. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; A total of 100 patients underwent management of duodenal perforation. Laparoscopy was attempted initially in 76 patients (76%) and completed in 64 patients (64%). The length of hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopic group (mean 2.6) than in the open group (mean 3.1) (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.008). Complications developed in 14 patients (20%). There was a tendency towards fewer admissions to intensive care, less acute kidney injuries, and less acute respiratory distress syndrome in the laparoscopic group. In patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery, the chances of uneventful recovery were 4.3 times higher than in those patients who underwent open surgery (95% CI 1.3–13.5, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.014). &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; Laparoscopy in the treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer is safe and can be utilized as a routine approach for the treatment of this pathology.</jats:p

Prevalence of asthma among the adult general population of five Middle Eastern countries: results of the SNAPSHOT program

Abstract Background Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease leading to morbidity, mortality and impaired quality of life worldwide. Information on asthma prevalence in the Middle East is fragmented and relatively out-dated. The SNAPSHOT program was conducted to obtain updated information. Methods SNAPSHOT is a cross-sectional epidemiological program carried out in five Middle Eastern countries (Egypt, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the latter three grouped into a Gulf cluster) to collect data on asthma, allergic rhinitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and bipolar disorder. The survey was carried out by telephone in a random sample of the adult general population with quotas defined according to country demographics. The analysis presented in this paper focuses on asthma. Subjects were screened for asthma based on criteria from the global Asthma Insights and Reality studies. Current prevalence (last 12 months) was estimated. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate risk factors related to asthma and the association with allergic rhinitis and other co-morbidities. Quality of life was assessed using the three-level EQ-5D questionnaire. Results 2124 out of the 33,486 subjects enrolled in the SNAPSHOT program fulfilled the criteria for asthma. The adjusted prevalence of asthma ranged from 4.4% [95% CI: 4.0–4.8%] in Turkey, to 6.7% [95% CI: 6.2–7.2%] in Egypt and 7.6% [95% CI: 7.1–8.0%] in the Gulf cluster. Prevalence was higher (p < 0.0001) in women than men and increased with age (p < 0.0001). Co-morbidities occurred more frequently in asthma subjects compared to the non-asthma population (38% vs. 15% p < 0.0001). Subjects with asthma reported a lower (p < 0.0001) EQ-VAS score (68.2 ± 22.9) compared to the general population (78.1 ± 17.5). The risk factors associated with asthma were age, gender, country, and certain co-morbidities, namely respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nervous, and neurological diseases. Conclusion The observed adjusted prevalence of asthma in the Middle East ranges from 4.4% to 7.6%, which is comparatively lower than the reported prevalence in Europe and North America. Asthma has a negative impact on quality of life, and is associated with high levels of co-morbid diseases, indicating a need for physicians to check for co-morbidities and ensure they are managed correctly in all asthma patients