An investigation into factors relating to speaking up in the workplace : a thesis (90 credits) presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master's in Business Studies in Management at Massey University, Extramural, New Zealand

This study investigates the factors that enable or prevent employees to speak up. Effective employee communication is vital in early detection of problems. Employee silence is defined as the deliberate withholding of information useful to the progress of an organization. Empowered employees will take personal accountability and ownership of issues. In an increasingly competitive market employee communication and reaction to change is vital for the success or failure of an organization. Previous research has found that failure of employees to speak up can have significant consequences, including decreased innovation and productivity; unreported health and safety incidents; stress; depression; and lower commitment and job satisfaction. This study (N = 240) has confirmed that employees may not speak up out of fear of being labelled in a negative manner. Employees are more likely to speak up when they feel it is safe and worthwhile. This study provides recommendations for managers for enabling and encouraging employees. The present study has found trust in supervisor, supervisor support and self-monitoring were found to be significant predictors of speaking up. Key words: Employee voice, employee silence, communication, management, speaking u

Age- and sex- specific all-cause mortality risk greatest in metabolic syndrome combinations with elevated blood pressure from 7 U.S. cohorts

Background The association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and all-cause mortality is well established but it is unclear if there are differences in mortality risk among the 32 possible MetS combinations. Hence, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the associations between different MetS combinations and its individual components with all-cause mortality, and to examine differences in the association by age and sex. Methods A merged sample of 82,717 adults from 7 U.S. cohorts was used. Results In our sample, MetS was present in 32% of men, 34% of women, 28% of younger adults (18–65 years) and 62% of older adults (>65 years) with 14,989 deaths over 14.6 ± 7.4 years of follow-up. Risk of all-cause mortality was higher in younger individuals with a greater number of MetS factors present, but in older adults having all 5 MetS factors was the only combination significantly associated with mortality. Regardless of age or sex, elevated blood pressure was the MetS factor most consistently present in MetS combinations that were significantly and most strongly associated with mortality. In fact, elevated blood pressure in the absence of other risk factors was significantly associated with mortality in men (HR, 95% CI = 1.56, 1.33–1.84), women (HR = 1.62, 1.44–1.81) and younger adults (HR = 1.61, 1.45–1.79). Conversely, waist circumference, glucose and triglycerides in isolation were not associated with mortality (p>0.05). Conclusion In a large U.S. population, different combinations of MetS components vary substantially in their associations with all-cause mortality. Men, women and younger individuals with MetS combinations including elevated blood pressure had stronger associations with greater mortality risk, with minimal associations between MetS and mortality risk in older adults. Thus, we suggest that future algorithms may wish to consider differential weighting of these common metabolic risk factors, particularly in younger populations.York University Librarie

Production of Silicomanganese Alloy from Low Manganese Containing Leached Sea Nodules Residue

Leached sea nodules residue was used for the present study for exploring its utilization. The residue generated in ammoniacal-SO2 pressure leaching was water washed to reduce the sulphur content. To improve the Mn/Fe ratio in the residue, it was blended with Fe-Mn slag or Mn ore in the calculated amount and smelting was carried out in 50 kVA submerged arc furnace. Various parameters such as holding time, amount of reductant, power input etc. were investigated. The maximum recovery of Mn from residue blended with Fe-Mn slag and Mn ore was 58% and 65% respectively in the form of silicomanganese

Lead sorption by sea nodule residue generated in reduction roasting – ammonia leaching.

Residue generated in reduction roast – ammonia leaching of sea nodules has been utilised for the remediation of aqueous lead. Characterization of sea nodule residue (SNR) reveals fine granulometry (d50 = 11.4 µm) and high surface area of 66.7 m2 g-1. Batch adsorption experiments have been performed varying different parameters. Equilibrium experimental data fitted well in the Langmuir isotherm and derived maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of lead onto SNR has been found to be 840.34 mg Pb(II)/g SNR at 303 K. The qm enhanced to very high value of 2500 mgPb/gSNR upon raising the temperature to 323 K. The pseudo second-order model has been found applicable to the lead removal kinetics

Viticulture in the tropical regions of India

By an intelligent appreciation of the vine's physiology grapes are being grown successfully in the tropical regions of India, where the vine stays evergreen throughout the year. The vines are pruned twice a year, once in April for vegetative growth and again in October for the fruiting cycle. The canes which bear the fruit al·e less than one year old. But, since the growth is continuous and rapid, the canes are equivalent in development differentiation to one-year-old canes of the warm temperate and sub-tropical grape growing regions.The ever present over-abundant crop potential of the vine has been exploited by separating out the period of maturity of fruit and maturity of the wood for the next crop. The yields are very high as the depressive effects of high crops are eliminated by 1back or foundation' pruning in April and by heavy doses of fertilizers and manures at the time of pruning.The growers have been able to harvest grapes almost the year round of the 'Bangalore Blue' (V. labrusca type) by staggering the pruning. In the V. vinifera types, the grape season is also extended, within limits, by adjusting the pruning time.Because of shorter period in which the vines come into bearing, ready germination of seeds and the year round availability of flowers, this area is ideal for breeding and genetic studies.As has been shown by the successful grape cultivation in the tropical regions of India, it seems probable that some grapes will do equally well in other tropical regions of the world where the climatological conditions are similar

Different applications of waste generated in reduction roasting – ammonia leaching of manganese nodules.

CSIR-NML, Jamshedpur has been engaged in technology development to recover valuable metals (Cu, Ni & Co) from manganese nodules (MN). Extensive R&D work led to development of a process based on reduction roast – ammonia leaching – solvent extraction (SX) – electrowining (EW) route. This process generates large amount of waste/residue (70% of the MN weight) after selective leaching of Cu, Co and Ni, which may be considered hazardous, if untreated, due to its fineness and heavy metal contents. Characterisation studies have shown that this leaching residue waste contains oxides/oxyhydroxides of Fe, Mn, Al and Si with a high porosity and surface area, which are suitable for catalytic activity and adsorption of various aqueous pollutants. In addition, appreciable amount of manganese content of the manganese nodule leached waste may be recovered for the improvement of the economics of MN processing. Keeping these in view, studies for utilisation of waste leach residue have been carried out in three different ways: i) The use of leaching residue as catalyst has been successfully assessed for decolourisation of methylene blue (MB). The surface complex between wMNR and MB at a rate limiting step followed by electron transfer from MB to active metal centre of wMNR and release of products has been found to be operative during the decolourisation process. ii) The potential of water washed leaching residue as adsorbent has been evaluated for removal of anionic pollutants phosphate (PO43-), selenite (SeO32-) and cationic pollutants like Cu2+ and Cd2+, showing a maximum phosphate uptake of 9.88 mgP g-1 and selenite uptake of 15.17 mg Se g-1 for wMNR calcined at 400 C. The monolayer adsorption capacities (Qo) has been found to be temperature dependent showing 26.95 mg g-1 and 40.32 mg g-1 at 303 and 323 K, respectively for Cu2+ ion while the values are 32.23 and 38.14 mg g-1 at 303 and 323 K, respectively for Cd2+ adsorption. iii) In the third application of leached residue, a value added material like silicomanganese alloy has been produced by smelting of MN leaching waste in a 50 kVA electric arc furnace, with manganese recovery of about 77%

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation in pediatric acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: disease-specific morbidity survival analysis.

BackgroundMultiple ventilatory strategies for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) in children have been advocated, including high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). Despite the frequent deployment of HFOV, randomized controlled trials remain elusive and currently there are no pediatric trials looking at its use. Our longitudinal study analyzed the predictive clinical outcome of HFOV in pediatric AHRF given disease-specific morbidity.MethodsA retrospective 8-year review on pediatric intensive care unit admissions with AHRF ventilated by HFOV was performed. Primary outcomes included survival, morbidity, length of stay (LOS), and factors associated with survival or mortality.ResultsA total of 102 patients underwent HFOV with a 66 % overall survival rate. Survivors had a greater LOS than nonsurvivors (p = 0.001). Mortality odds ratio (OR) for patients without bronchiolitis was 8.19 (CI = 1.02, 65.43), and without pneumonia it was 3.07 (CI = 1.12, 8.39). A lower oxygenation index (OI) after HFOV commencement and at subsequent time points analyzed predicted survival. After 24 h, mortality was associated with an OI > 35 [OR = 31.11 (CI = 3.25, 297.98)]. Sepsis-related mortality was associated with a higher baseline FiO(2) (0.88 vs. 0.65), higher OI (42 vs. 22), and augmented metabolic acidosis (pH of 7.25 vs. 7.32) evaluated 4 h on HFOV (p < 0.05).ConclusionHigh-frequency oscillatory ventilation may be safely utilized. It has a 66 % overall survival rate in pediatric AHRF of various etiologies. Patients with morbidity limited to the respiratory system and optimized oxygenation indices are most likely to survive on HFOV