PENGARUH PENERAPAN TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) TERHADAP KINERJA PADA PT. PLN (PERSERO) DISTRIBUSI JAWA TIMUR

PT. PLN (Persero) Distribusi Jawa Timur is one of the main implementing unit under PT. PLN (Persero) is engaged in the distribution and sale of electric power in East Java. Achievement of organizational performance can be supported by the application of total quality management within the company. Factors that can affect organizational performance are customer focus, top management, employee engagement and empowerment, training education, and continuous improvement. This study aims to examine and analyze the effect of total quality management implementation on organizational performance at PT. PLN (Persero) Distribusi Jawa Timur. Type of research with method of quantitative approach. The sample in this study amounted to 83 respondents PT. PLN (Persero) Distribusi Jawa Timur with sampling technique that is slovin method. Statistical analysis used in this study is multiple linear regression with the help of SPSS Version 21 program. The result of this study explains the focus of customer positively influence to organizational performance, top management have positive effect on organizational performance, involvement and empowerment have positive effect to organizational performance, training education have positive effect to organizational performance, continuous improvement have positive effect to organizational performance, total quality management simultaneously have a positive effect on organizational performance. Keywords : total quality management, organizational performance

Editorial: XXXIII SIMGBM Congress 2019 - Antimicrobials and Host-Pathogen Interactions

This Research Topic (RT) is intended to provide a collection of selected contributions in the broad area “Antimicrobials and Host-Pathogen Interactions” from the participants of “Microbiology 2019” congress organized by the Italian Society for General Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology (SIMGBM, www.simgbm.it), which was held in Florence, Italy, on June 19–22, 2019. The congress was attended by 224 scientists from all over the world, and contributions relevant to this RT were collected from presentations in the following congress sessions: (i) Antibiotic resistome: where do antibiotic resistance genes come from? (ii) New antimicrobial strategies in the post-antibiotic era; (iii) Intercellular communication in host-pathogen interactions; (iv) New approaches to unravel fungal-host interactions; (v) Bacterial cell surface and signaling. The unifying concept of this RT originates from the increasing awareness that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex problem which should be addressed by a multifocal approach. Fundamental microbiological investigations in this direction involve understanding of the flow of AMR genes from the environment to human and animal pathogens, the development of new drugs to tackle AMR, and the discovery of new druggable targets to impairmicrobial growth and/or pathogenicity

PENGARUH PENERAPAN TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) TERHADAP KINERJA PADA PT. PLN (PERSERO) DISTRIBUSI JAWA TIMUR

PT. PLN (Persero) Distribusi Jawa Timur is one of the main implementing unit under PT. PLN (Persero) is engaged in the distribution and sale of electric power in East Java. Achievement of organizational performance can be supported by the application of total quality management within the company. Factors that can affect organizational performance are customer focus, top management, employee engagement and empowerment, training education, and continuous improvement. This study aims to examine and analyze the effect of total quality management implementation on organizational performance at PT. PLN (Persero) Distribusi Jawa Timur. Type of research with method of quantitative approach. The sample in this study amounted to 83 respondents PT. PLN (Persero) Distribusi Jawa Timur with sampling technique that is slovin method. Statistical analysis used in this study is multiple linear regression with the help of SPSS Version 21 program. The result of this study explains the focus of customer positively influence to organizational performance, top management have positive effect on organizational performance, involvement and empowerment have positive effect to organizational performance, training education have positive effect to organizational performance, continuous improvement have positive effect to organizational performance, total quality management simultaneously have a positive effect on organizational performance. Keywords : total quality management, organizational performance

Susceptibility testing of colistin for acinetobacter baumannii: How far are we from the truth?

Acinetobacter baumannii is involved in life-threatening nosocomial infections, mainly in the intensive care units (ICUs), and often colistin may represent the last therapeutic opportunity. The susceptibility to colistin of 51 epidemiologically typed A. baumannii strains isolated in 2017 from clinical samples of patients hospitalized in the ICU of a tertiary care academic hospital was investigated. All isolates were carbapenem-resistant due to the presence of the blaOXA-23 gene in sequence group 1 (international clonal lineage II) and sequence group 4 (related to international clonal lineage II) isolates, and to the blaOXA-24/40 gene in sequence group 2 (international clonal lineage I) isolates. Vitek®2, agar diffusion, and broth microdilution tests showed major discordancy (≥2 dilution factors) in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for colistin in 24 out of 51 isolates, resulting in erroneous reporting of qualitative susceptibility data for eight isolates. In growth kinetics experiments in the presence of colistin, five isolates grew with drug concentrations above the susceptibility breakpoint when incubated for >12 h, and three isolates showed the presence of heteroresistant subpopulations. This study highlights that the high frequency of isolation of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains in high-risk infectious wards requires an accurate application of methods for detecting susceptibility to antibiotics, in particular to colistin, so as to ensure a correct therapeutic approach

Brittle asthma: still on board?

(1) Background: “Brittle Asthma” was considered an asthma clinical phenotype and deemed to be life-threatening in the early 2000s; then, this definition disappeared. The purpose of this review is to examine what has historically been referred to as this term and see whether it may be applied to modern clinical practice, thus acquiring fresh relevance and meaning. (2) Methods: A non-systematic search of the literature was conducted using both MeSH and free-text phrases. No limitations on the research design or type of publication were applied. (3) Results: Reliable data regarding “Brittle Asthma” are lacking due to the paucity of current data and the few studies available. After a few years of reworking, it was divided into two sub-classes: one characterized by a wide PEF variability despite high-dose therapy and the other by sudden acute attacks in otherwise apparently normal airway functions or well-controlled asthma. Their characteristics were hardly defined because of their low prevalence. Data regarding risk factors, atopy, mechanisms, and treatments were analyzed. (4) Conclusions: Over time, different terminology has been introduced to define asthma severity and control. It would be worth investigating whether the term “Brittle Asthma” previously used may be helpful to find new hints to stratify patients and improve disease management

Expanding drug resistance through integron acquisition by IncFI plasmids of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium.

We conducted a 30-year retrospective analysis of IncFI plasmids from Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium. These plasmids have been associated with the emergence of epidemic clones of multidrug-resistant Salmonella. Molecular and genetic evidence indicates that IncFI plasmids are evolving through sequential acquisition of integrons carrying different arrays of antibiotic- resistance genes

Oral health conditions and cardiovascular diseases in elderly italian patient

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between oral health status and presence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in elderly patients. METHODS: The study population consisted of 533 patients (308 females, 225 males) aged 65 to 98 years. The mean age of patients was 73.93 (±7.8 standard deviation (SD)). Patients were asked to visit the Geriatric Dentistry Department of “Policlinico Umberto I” of Rome for a routine check of their oral health status. All subjects gave informed, signed consent to participate in the study. A predesigned medical history questionnaire including social status, habits, medical history, general health and drug assumption were filled by each patient. Medical history, particularly focused on CV D and common atherosclerotic risk factors (arterial hypertension, diabetes, body mass index, etc.) have been recorded. Dental status was detected measuring the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Community Periodontal Index (CPI) indexes. Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI ) was also used to evaluate masticatory function, oral self-perception and psychosocial impact on patients. The chi-square test with a 95% confidence level was used to assess qualitative variables. Odds ratios (ORs) and stepwise logistic regression were used to calculate risk estimates; the independent variables: age, gender, DMFT, CPI index, GOHAI index score, and tooth loss were included in the statistical model. P value <0.05 was considered a statistically significant cut-off. RESULT S:S: The mean of the DMFT was 13.8 (SD: 7.1). Among all patients, 8.6% (n = 46) had more than 12 decayed teeth, 43.7% (n = 233) had more than 12 missing teeth. A total of 122 patients (52.4%) had more than 18 missing teeth. No difference between females and males was seen in DMFT and CPI index. GOHAI data were worst for females and it significantly decreased with age. Vascular diseases affected 69.8% of subjects (n = 372). Patients with CVD had less education and oral care (P < 0.05), higher CPI index and lower of filled teeth (P < 0.05). Moreover, the number of missing teeth was higher in patients with vascular disease and patients with more than 18 missing teeth have 2.5 times greater risk of CVD. CVDs are also associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, underweight, and obesity (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: From the finding of this study, it can be confirmed a significant link between CVD and oral health. A cooperation among geriatrician, cardiologist, and dentist is suitable to counteract the development of CVD and to early identify patients risk of CVD

Draft Genome Sequence of the Carboxydotrophic Alphaproteobacterium Aminobacter carboxidus Type Strain DSM 1086

Aminobacter carboxidus is a soil Gram-negative alphaproteobacterium belonging to the physiological group of carboxydobacteria which aerobically oxidize CO to CO2. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the A. carboxidus DSM 1086 type strain and the identification of both form I and form II CO dehydrogenase systems in this strain

Bone damage induced by different cutting instruments: an in vitro study

The aim of this study was to compare the peripheral bone damage induced by different cutting systems. Four devices were tested: Er:YAG laser (2.94 mm), Piezosurgery, high-speed drill and low-speed drill. Forty-five bone sections, divided into 9 groups according to different parameters, were taken from pig mandibles within 1 h post mortem. Specimens were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, decalcified and cut in thin sections. Four different parameters were analyzed: cut precision, depth of incision, peripheral carbonization and presence of bone fragments. For statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to assess equality of sample medians among groups. All sections obtained with the Er:YAG laser showed poor peripheral carbonization. The edges of the incisions were always well-shaped and regular, no melting was observed. Piezosurgery specimens revealed superficial incisions without thermal damage but with irregular edges. The sections obtained by traditional drilling showed poor peripheral carbonization, especially if obtained at lower speed. There was statistically significant differences (p<0.01) among the cutting systems for all analyzed parameters. Er:YAG laser, gave poor peripheral carbonization, and may be considered an effective method in oral bone biopsies and permits to obtain clear and readable tissue specimens

Draft genome sequence and secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential of the lysobacter niastensis type strain DSM 18481

Lysobacter niastensis belongs to a group of bacterial predators that produce a number of bioactive small molecules endowed with lytic properties toward other microorganisms. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the type strain DSM 18481 and the identification of gene clusters implicated in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites