Stuck in a rut - Can I try something different? The role of intrinsic motivation and mood in the creative performance of ICT professionals : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Human Resource Management at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

In a hyper-competitive and knowledge-based economy, creativity and innovation are considered as the lifeblood of success for ICT firms. Literature suggests that intrinsic motivation and positive mood drive the creative performance of employees. Nonetheless, the mechanism through which creativity antecedents influence the creative performance of IT professionals is seldom examined. Furthermore, the assertion that intrinsic motivation and positive mood – through motivational-affective mechanisms – spur employee creativity has rarely been tested. Therefore, drawing on Self-Determination theory, Cognitive Evaluation theory and Componential theory of creativity, the current study examines the relationship between specific creativity antecedents (job flexibility, perceived supervisor support for creativity, creative role identity and creative self-efficacy), intrinsic motivation, positive mood and creative performance of IT employees. Partial-least-squares based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was conducted using survey data collected from 157 IT professionals working in various organisations, including both multinational corporations and tech start-ups, in United States (USA). The results suggested that job flexibility, perceived supervisor support for creativity, creative role identity and creative self-efficacy positively and significantly influence creative performance of IT professionals. Specifically, both intrinsic motivation and positive mood were found to mediate the relationship between personal and contextual factors (creativity antecedents) and employee creativity, thereby playing a role of chain mediators. The findings highlight the significance of motivational-affective mechanisms underpinning employee creativity. Implications of the results for theory and practice are also discussed

Validation Aspects of Water Treatment Systems for Pharmaceutical Products

The goal of conducting validation is to demonstrate that a process, when operated within established limits, produces a product of consistent and specified quality with a high degree of assurance. Validation of water treatment systems is necessary to obtain water with all desired quality attributes. This also provides a framework to establish a total control over the process which monitors safety, efficacy and ultimately, the process outcomes. The present overview is an attempt to discuss various aspects of validation including different approaches, components of water treatment systems, equipment qualifications, phases of performance testing, documentation and post-validation monitoring.Keywords: Validation; Water treatment systems; Quality attributes; Pharmaceutical product

Studies in Coordination Chemistry

Several new 14-membered tetradentate macrocyclic ligands and their metal complexes were synthesized. The macrocycles, 5,6,12,13 - Tetramethyl - 1,4,8,11 - tetra-azacyclotetradeca - 4,11 - diene dihydroperchlorate; Me4 [14]diene.2HC104 (A) and 5,12 - Diethyl - 1,4,8,11 - tetra-azacyclotetradeca - 4,11 - diene dihydroperchlorate; Et2[14]diene.2HC104 (B) were prepared by the reaction of 1,2 - diaminoethane monohydroperchlorate with methylisopropenyl ketone (MIK) and ethyl vinyl ketone (EVK) respectively. [Diagram (A)] [Diagram (B)] Both reactions appeared to be stereospecific giving the transoid-isomers (A) and (B) rather than the cisoid-isomers of the macrocycles. Metal ion complexes of Me4 [14]diene.2HC104 (A) of the general formulation [M(Me4[14]diene)](C104)2 (M = Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+ and Hg2+) were prepared and the studies extended to the isolation of [CIII (Me4[14]diene )X2]n+ (where X = Cl ¯, Br ¯, N02 ¯, SCN ¯ , N3 ¯ , CH3CO2 ¯, NH3) complexes. The structures of all compounds were confirmed by elemental analyses and by spectroscopic investigations. The spectroscopic properties of the complexes are consistent with a square planar geometry for the metal (II) perchlorate salts (M=Cu(II) and Ni(II)) and a trans-arrangement of the unidentate ligands in the octahedral cobalt(III) derivatives [Co(Me4[14]diene)X2]n+. Reduction of the 5,12 - Dimethyl - 1,4,8,11 - tetra-azacyclotetradeca - 4,11 - diene dihydroperchlorate with Ni/Al alloy gave two isomeric amines i.e C - meso – 5,12 - imethyl - 1,4.8,11 - tetra-azacyclotetradecane (Isomer (a)) (LA) and C - rac - 5,12 - dimethyl - 1,4,8,11 – tetra-azacyclotetradecane (Isomer (b)) (LB). [Diagram (LA)] [Diagram (L¬B)] The preparation and properties of some Ni(ll),Cu(ll),Zn(ll),Mn(ll),Rh(IIl) and Co(lll) complexes of (LA) and (LB) are reported. Methylation of the secondary nitrogen protons in several macrocyclic amine ligands yielded the corresponding N-tetramethyl derivatives. The second section of the investigation dealt with the reactivity of octahedral complexes of cobalt(lll) of the type cis-[Co(en)2 (RNH2)Br]Br2 (where R=H, CH3,C2H5,n-C3H7,n-C5H11,n-C6H13, aminoacetaldehyde dimethylacetal, cyclopropylamine, 3-amino-1-propanol, 6-amino-1-hexanol). All of these complexes were assigned cis-configurations on the basis of their spectral characteristics. The base hydrolysis kinetics for bromide release were studied spectrophotometrically at 25.0°C and 1=0.10M. Loss of coordinated halide results in the formation of hydroxo product i.e. cis - [Co(en)2 (RNH2 )0H]2+ with retention of configuration. Some features of the base hydrolysis kinetics of amino acids and dipeptide esters coordinated to cobalt(lll) were also studied. [Co(dien)(aa)X]n+ (X = Cl, N02; aa = glycinate anion, glycylglycine ethyl ester, glycinamide) complexes were prepared. The rate constant kOH for peptide bond hydrolysis normally falls within the range 0.67 - 0.88 M-1s-1 at 25.0° and 1 = 0.10m. Base hydrolysis of the complexed peptide is ca 2 X 104 times faster than for the uncomplexed peptide. The kinetics of base hydrolysis of chloro - and nitro substituents in these complexes were also studied. Very rapid chloride hydrolysis occurs if the dien ligand adopts a mer - configuration and the reactions are 102 – 104 times faster than for analogous complexes where the dien ligand adopts a fac - configuration

Envisioning a Dream University : from the Lens of Internationalisation at Home (IaH)

In Irish third-level education, less than four per cent of students have traditionally benefited from an international mobility experience as part of their studies through international exchanges, Erasmus programmes, etc. (HEA, 2023). Since most students are not able to access mobility opportunities, Internationalisation at Home (IaH) helps them build their global competencies at their home institution. IaH seeks to provide international and intercultural learning to the majority who cannot take advantage of the mobility opportunities due to socio-economic, physical, or personal circumstances or a lack of interest or awareness about IaH, defined as ‘the purposeful integration of international and intercultural dimensions into the formal and informal curriculum for all students within domestic learning environments’ (Beelen & Jones, 2015). As an Irish Research Council doctoral student researching IaH in the Irish higher education context at SETU, the author presents a poster using the imagery of the SETU building, symbolising it as a dream university. This visual metaphor is depicted from the prism of IaH and encompasses international experiences for its students at their home institution campus. IaH will prepare students as future leaders to tackle global challenges that may or may not necessarily be limited to societal, environmental, economic and technological problems. The author represents key aspects of IaH across four categories bringing the canvas to life- contribution to United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, emphasis on an inclusive campus, and formal and informal curricula. These will amplify the impact in shaping global citizens that prepare students to thrive in the 21st-century world where they live and work, contributing to ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakkam’ – the world is one family

Clonidine as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in spinal anaesthesia for infra-umbilical surgeries in children: a prospective randomized, double-blind trial

Objective: Spinal anaesthesia (SA) is a well-established technique for infra-umbilical surgeries but is underutilized in children. One important reason is the limited duration of action. Clonidine is a useful adjuvant in this regard but has not been studied in a dose of 1.5 μg/kg.Design: a prospective randomized study Setting: A single centre study conducted at a Super speciality paediatric tertiary care centre.Participants: Sixty children (5-12yrs) scheduled for lower abdominal surgery with duration <90min were included.Interventions: The participants were randomized into two groups to receive 0.4mg/kg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with clonidine 1.5μg/kg (Group-I, n=30) or 0.4mg/kg of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine with saline(Group-II, n=30) in the subarachnoid block.Main outcome measures: The sensory and motor block duration, time to two-segment regression, time to first rescue analgesic, and the number of rescue doses required were recorded.Results: Mean duration of sensory blockade (147.5±7.28 vs 310.33±10.17min; P<0.001) and motor blockade (132.5±10.06 vs 283.33±11.77min; P < 0.001) and duration of analgesia (172±9.61 vs 364.50±28.75min; P < 0.001) were significantly prolonged in the clonidine group. In the control group, most patients needed three analgesic doses over 24hr while in the clonidine group, the majority needed two doses. Adverse effects were infrequent in both groups.Conclusions: Clonidine as an adjuvant to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine significantly prolonged the duration of analgesia with improved quality of anaesthesia while maintaining safety. We recommend the routine use of clonidine 1.5 μg/kg dose as an adjuvant to 0.5% bupivacaine in paediatric SA

N-[4-(2-Morpholino­eth­oxy)phen­yl]acetamide monohydrate

In the title compound, C14H20N2O3·H2O, the geometry about the morpholine N atom implies sp 3 hybridization. In the crystal, symmetry-related mol­ecules are linked by inter­molecular N—H⋯O, O—H⋯O and O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming infinite chains along the b axis. The chain structure is further stabilized by intra­molecular C—H⋯O inter­actions

GASTRORETENTIVE FLOATING TECHNOLOGY FOR ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI: AN INSIGHT VIEW

Helicobacter pylori is a virulent human pathogen infecting about 50% of the population worldwide. Being a leading cause of gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastritis, dyspepsia, gastric tumorigenesis etc., this organism has been the focus of concerted study to establish uncertainty of its genetics, immunopathogenesis and cell biology. Scientists have tried to effectively eradicate this pathogen from the gastrointestinal tract in various manners. Inquest of this venture, gastroretentive drug delivery systems including floating dosage forms have emerged as a boon and offer significantly improved therapeutic effects of different antimicrobial drugs. This article presents an evocative review of the structural features, epidemiological evidences and various pharmacotherapeutics vistas. In addition, various novel gastroretentive dosage forms developed so far to combat Helicobacter pylori infection are also discussed. Comprehensive literature review has been performed for this manuscript by utilizing relevant databases like PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar etc., from 1997 up to the year 2020