Transactional leadership as a moderator between self-leadership strategies and innovative behavior

Leadership in organizations is important in shaping workers’ perception and increase employee work performance. There are several types of leadership style that are important in affecting employee work performance and one of it is transactional leadership. Transactional leadership, in contrast to transformational leadership, is based more on reinforcement and exchanges approach. Previous studies that explored about the transactional leadership effect in terms of direct effect or moderating effect relating to organizational behavior such as innovative behavior are scare. Innovation is a complex process and not happened in a vacuum situation, interaction between each of the organizational members is very important. Addressing this issue, this study proposes that transactional leadership moderates the relationship of self-leadership strategies (behavior-focused, constructive thought pattern, natural reward and physical vitality) with innovative behavior. In a field study with 485 engineers from Electrical and Electronics (E&E) manufacturing in Malaysia, this study showed that behavior-focused strategies, constructive thought pattern strategies, natural reward strategies and physical vitality strategies of self-leadership positively related to innovative behavior when transactional leadership is high. Transactional leadership positively and significantly moderates the relationship between each of self-leadership strategies with innovative behavior. The finding contributes to the enrichment of innovative behavior concept by including the transactional leadership as moderator in helping the researcher to explore on how leadership differences contribute to difference research outcomes

A patient presenting with intact sensory modalities in acute spinal cord ischemia syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Acute spinal cord ischemia syndrome is a rare condition comprising a small fraction of neurovascular accidents, the majority of which occur within the cerebral circulation. The circulation of the spinal cord has several unique features that determine the clinical presentation.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>In this case of a 67-year-old Caucasian man who came to our emergency department with sudden-onset, severe right-sided pain and bilateral upper limb weakness, an atypical pattern of sensory deficit was observed. In this case report, we review acute spinal cord ischemia syndrome and consider the pathophysiology, diagnostic measures and prognostic factors associated with patient recovery.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Acute spinal cord ischemia syndrome with atypical patterns of sensory deficit is uncommon. Clinicians must consider acute spinal cord ischemia syndrome when assessing all patients with acute neck pain and focal neurological deficits; atypical presentations can present a diagnostic challenge. Current knowledge of the long-term outcome in patients with spinal cord ischemia is based on only a few small studies, some of which are discussed here.</p

The evolution of Geography Markup Language (GML) compression model

This paper will discuss about the evolution of Geography Markup Language (compression model.GML is a type of XML files normally used to store spatial data from database.However due to the huge size processing and transferring this type of file will cost performance and storage issue. Throughout the years several GML file compression model has been developed to help in addressing this problem.Four GML file compression model which are GPress, Delta Sp Compression and Extrapolation Model, GMill, and GPress++ has been selected to be discussed in this paper.In addition a comparison and the enhancement done in each model will be discussed in here.From the assessment GPress++ compression model h significant file compression rate on synthetic dataset with 77.10% improvement on gzip compressor

Islamic Bank’s Financial Performance Indicators

Financial performance is pertinent in verifying the strength and survival of a company or business as the market player in the industry. However, there is an element which applied in the conventional bank but been prohibited to be applied and recognized by Islamic bank which is riba’ (interest) element. Conventional and Islamic banks have different practice in doing business which conventional bank would generate their main income from interest charged, but, Islamic bank is prohibited involve in riba’ (interest) practice. Unfortunately, financial performance of Islamic banks currently still be measured by conventional performance measurement which widely be measured by financial ratios. Since the recognition and approval of interest from these two types of bank is differ, hence, there is a need for different performance measurement indicators. In order to develop a unique indicator for financial performance, it should be refer to the objective of establishing the business. As for Islamic bank, supposedly the establishment of the institution is to fulfill the maslahah and shouldn’t be focused on profit-earnings as the priority.It is suggested Islamic banks should put maslahah and Maqasid al-Shari'ahas the main framework for Islamic financial performance measurement indicators. Hence, further study need to be done on reconstructing the pure framework of Islamic financial performance measurement

Spiritual leadership values and organisational behaviour in Malaysian private institutions of higher education

Malaysia wants to be a part of the bandwagon in the industry of higher education, thus, the number of private higher education institutions has grown drastically in the recent years. Moreover, the assimilation of cultures and values among the races in Malaysia has contributed distinctive organisational cultures that affect leadership values and organisational behaviour specifically in the private institutions of higher education sector. The purpose of this study is to identify spiritual leadership values embraced by the leaders in private institutions of higher education, as well as the relationship between spiritual leadership values and organisational behaviour (job satisfaction, organizational commitment and intention to quit). In total, 302 academics and administrative staff from 7 private institutions of higher education in Malaysia participated in the study. Questionnaire and non-probability sampling were used in the data collection for this study. The findings show that love, hope, and peace are associated with membership and meaning, meanwhile membership and meaning are associated with organisational behaviour. Hence, this study has contributed in leadership training that will affect the turnover rate and ultimately result a cost effective managerial policing in the Malaysian private institutions of higher education

Use of YouTube as a source of information for quitting or cutting down alcohol

Background: Although research has been done on considering YouTube for dissuading and encouraging unhealthy behaviours such as smoking, less focus has been placed on its role in quitting or cutting down alcohol. This study aims to analyse the alcohol cessation videos available and accessible on YouTube to gain a more in-depth insight into the ways that YouTube as a platform is being used to persuade with relation to alcohol cessation. Methods: We systematically searched for content on YouTube related to alcohol cessation and these videos were analysed and evaluated for the format, themes, specific alcohol cessation advice, and uploader. Results: The results demonstrated that the collected alcohol cessation videos included a fairly even presence of the themes of discussing the negative impacts of alcohol and the benefits of quitting or staying away from it. At the same time, however, we found the videos were not sourced from professional institutions, such as government or anti-alcohol misuse non-government organisations. Conclusion: More research is needed to investigate utilising YouTube to support those looking to quit or cut down alcohol

A study of spiritual leadership values in a Malaysian education institution

The study is to explore the set of spiritual leadership values embraced by Malays, Chinese and Indians leaders or managers in a Malaysian educational institution. Spiritual leadership values enable employee to work intrinsically for an organization. This is a qualitative study which utilized semi structured interview. The study revealed understanding and praise are the common values, however, there are some differing values which were discovered among the three races. The study provides an understanding of spiritual leadership values which upheld by the three races in Malaysia

Anti-Contraction Effects of Euscaphic Acid Isolated from Crataegus azarolus var. aronia L on Rat’s Aortic Smooth Muscle

The current study represents the first attempt to investigate the effect of the Euscaphic acid (EA) on Rats isolated  thoracic aortic smooth muscle cells. Isolated aorta was used to test the anti-contraction effects and the possible mode of action(s) of the EA (1*10-7 M) and (3*10-7 M) isolated from Crataegus azarolus var. aronia L. Euscaphic acid showed high anti-contraction effects on norepinephrin (NE), (1*10-9-10-4 M) induced contraction in aortic smooth muscle cells in endothelium-intact, endothelium-denuded, and aortic rings pre-incubated with potassium (K+)-channels blocker (tetraethylammonium, TEA), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) inhibitor (indomethacin) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) inhibitor ( methylene blue). On the other hand, other K+ channels subtype blockers glibenclamide (GLIB); barium chloride (BaCl2) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) demonstrated that adenosine triphosphate sensitive K+ (KATP), inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) and voltage-dependent K+ (KV) channels played no role in anti-contraction induced by EA. Furthermore, the role of L-types calcium (Ca++) channels in EA anti-contractile effects on aortic smooth muscle cells was proved, by using the Ca++-channel blocker verapamil, as indicated by the production of a potent anti-contraction effect . The results of the current study indicate that the anti-contraction effects of EA may be due to the activation of calcium dependent, K+ (KCa) channels and blocking of L-type Ca++ channels. Thus, from these results it can be concluded that both K+ and Ca++ channels play an important role in anti-contraction effects of EA, which are mediated possibly through opening of KCa channels and blockade of voltage-dependent calcium channels, which may justify the use of medicinal plant C. azarolus in cardiovascular disease. Keywords: Crataegus azarolus var. aronia, Euscaphic acid, smooth muscle cells, K+-channels blockers, Ca++-channels blocker

COMO A JURIMETRIA PODE AUXILIAR NA EFETIVIDADE JURISDICIONAL SEM FERIR GARANTIAS CONSTITUCIONAIS?

A jurimetria tem ganhado espaço no âmbito nacional por buscar por padrões quantitativos nas decisões judiciais. O artigo discorre sobre a possibilidade da utilização e implementação da jurimetria como ferramenta de apoio eficaz no auxílio ao poder judiciário, buscando contribuir com a efetividade jurisdicional e com a consequente celeridade processual. E isso sob as rígidas observâncias da lei, sem ferir as garantias constitucionais, estando totalmente em acordo com o devido processo legal, o contraditório e a ampla defesa.&nbsp; O problema da pesquisa que buscar-se-á solucionar está em como e quando a jurimetria poderá ser utilizada, bem como quais os meios necessários para que a jurimetria traga em sua essência a segurança jurídica tão almejada por todos

Understanding Stress, Job Satisfaction and Physical Well Being of Managers

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengidentifikasi model untuk sumber stres, kepuasan dan kesejahteraan fisik serta hubungan dari ketiganya. Sebanyak 338 manajer sektor swasta dari Klang Valley diberikan sebuah laporan survei diri. Dari hasil yang didapat menunjukkan pemodelan persamaan struktural tidak merubah indeks fit, sumber stres yang meliputi beban kerja, penerimaan, serta keseimbangan antara hubungan relasi dengan pekerjaan rumah.Selain itu, sumber stres yang berhubungan negatif dengan kepuasan dan kesejahteraan fisik, kepuasan adalah mediator untuk sumber stres dan kesejahteraan fisik. Stres mempengaruhi kesejahteraan fisik manajer melalui kepuasan