The Effects of the Manager\u27s Behavior on the Retention of High Potential Employees for Different Generations

The purpose of this study was to identify the behavior of the manager that affects the retention of high potential individuals within an organization. Research suggests that the reason why employees leave organizations is their manager. A high potential is defined as an individual who exhibits the capabilities of developing into a future leader of the organization. The study also investigated high potentials\u27 perception as to how effectively their expectations of those managerial behaviors are being met. Managerial behavior is defined as the manner or conduct displayed toward employees by the manager. High potential individuals who participated in the study were identified as belonging to one of the two generational categories: Baby Boomers (born between 1943 and 1960) and Generation X (born between 1961 and 1989) to determine if there were any generational differences within the high potentials regarding these managerial behaviors. The survey consisted of 36 managerial behaviors that the high potential participant rated as important to their staying with the organization. The participant also rated how well their manager was doing in each of the 36 managerial behaviors. Results of the study indicated that high potentials of the two generational categories are more alike than different. The results also indicate that there are four managerial behaviors that affect the intention of high potential individuals to remain with the organization. They are: utilizing their talents and strengths, providing challenging job assignments, providing opportunities to contribute and make a difference, and allocating appropriate salary increases based on their job performance. The managerial behavior that most affected the high potential\u27s job satisfaction was for the manager to utilize their talents and strengths. When managers develop and utilize these key behaviors with high potential individuals, they increase the overall likelihood for the high potential to remain with the organization

Effect of Medicinal Herbal, Panax Notoginseng, on the Fate and Function of Professional Antigen Presenting Cells

Antigen presenting cells (APCs) perform the essential task of integrating responses between the innate and adaptive immune system. Several approaches have been undertaken to manipulate the effects of APCs for therapeutic purposes. Panax notoginseng is a medicinal herb that is purported to possess a number of properties including modulation of the immune system. However, limited information exists on the effects and toxicities of this herbal on APCs. In this regard, we assessed the effects of Panax notoginseng on the fate and function of professional APCs in murine models using macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). APCs were stimulated with the toll-like receptor ligands LPS, CpG and poly(I:C) and treated with notoginseng (0-200 ìg/ml). The LPS induced levels of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-á, as well as the expression of accessory molecules MHC II, CD40 and CD86, were decreased dependent on notoginseng exposure time-points relative to LPS stimulation. LPS induced IL-1â, IL-6 and IL-12 production was also decreased with concurrent notoginseng treatment for 24 hours. Notoginseng decreased TNF-á and CD40 activation by CpG and poly(I:C), but had varied effects on the induction of IL-6 and CD86. Furthermore, treatment of APCs with ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 had differential effects on the production of TNF-á and IL-6. Phagocytosis of FITC-conjugated ovalbumin antigen by DCs was decreased by notoginseng. Furthermore, the uptake of FITC-conjugated modified LDL was reduced in notoginseng treated DCs. However, T cell proliferation in response to notoginseng treated-antigen-loaded DCs was not affected in vitro or in vivo. Mechanistically, notoginseng reduced nuclear levels of the transcription factor NFêB, but had no effect on glucocorticoid receptor activation. No immunotoxicities were observed with low dose notoginseng (660 ìg/kg) treatment of Balb/c mice in vivo. Collectively, our results indicate that notoginseng decreased inflammatory mediator production by APCs, without altering their ability to induce antigen specific CD 4+ T cell proliferation. Our research provides insight into the potential use of this herbal in the treatment of inflammatory diseases as a safe and effective complement to existing remedies

A community programme to reduce salt intake and blood pressure in Ghana

Background In Africa hypertension is common and stroke is increasing. Detection, treatment and control of high blood pressure (BP) is limited. BP can be lowered by reducing salt intake. In Africa salt is added to the food by the consumer, as processed food is rare. A population-wide approach with programmes based on health education and promotion is thus possible. Methods We carried out a community-based cluster randomised trial of health promotion in 1,013 participants from 12 villages (628 women, 481 rural dwellers); mean age 55 years to reduce salt intake and BP. Average BP was 125/74 mmHg and urinary sodium (UNa) 101 mmol/day. A health promotion intervention was provided over 6 months to all villages. Assessments were made at 3 and 6 months. Primary end-points were urinary sodium excretion and BP levels. Results There was a significant positive relationship between salt intake and both systolic (2.17 mmHg [95% CI 0.44 to 3.91] per 50 mmol of UNa per day, p < 0.001) and diastolic BP (1.10 mmHg [0.08 to 1.94], p < 0.001) at baseline. At six months the intervention group showed a reduction in systolic (2.54 mmHg [-1.45 to 6.54]) and diastolic (3.95 mmHg [0.78 to 7.11], p = 0.015) BP when compared to control. There was no significant change in UNa. Smaller villages showed greater reductions in UNa than larger villages (p = 0.042). Irrespective of randomisation, there was a consistent and significant relationship between change in UNa and change in systolic BP, when adjusted for confounders. A difference in 24-hour UNa of 50 mmol was associated with a lower systolic BP of 2.12 mmHg (1.03 to 3.21) at 3 months and 1.34 mmHg (0.08 to 2.60) at 6 months (both p < 0.001). Conclusion In West Africa the lower the salt intake, the lower the BP. It would appear that a reduction in the average salt intake in the whole community may lead to a small but significant reduction in population systolic BP

Farm level impact of feeding improved diets to pigs in the Jomoro District of Ghana

The economic impact at farm-level for feeding improved diets to grower-finisher pigs in the Jomoro District of Ghana was assessed using partial budgeting techniques. Three diets were considered: the farmers’ diet, which contained mainly coconut chaff and cake; a cereal based commercial diet and improved agro-industrial by-products (AIBP) based diet. The category of farmers considered reared mainly large-white pig breed. The study uses growth, feed consumption and price data, obtained from an on-farm feed evaluation studies, which results, in terms of nutrition, growth performance, and economy of gain, have been reported elsewhere. The paper estimates alternative measures of the economics of using improved feed by accounting for the reduction in the time to slaughter (70 kg) in the computation of benefits. The net additional benefit resulting from the use of AIBP diet instead of farmer’s diet was ¢1,879,227. The simple benefit-cost ratio was 1.71. The additional benefit due to the use of AIBP diet is about two times more than the extra cost incurred

Assessment of GFR by four methods in adults in Ashanti, Ghana: the need for an eGFR equation for lean African populations

Background. Equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) have not been validated in Sub-Saharan African populations, and data on GFR are few. Methods. GFR by creatinine clearance (Ccr) using 24-hour urine collections and estimated GFR (eGFR) using the four-variable Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD-4)[creatinine calibrated to isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) standard], Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and Cockcroft–Gault equations were obtained in Ghanaians aged 40–75. The population comprised 1013 inhabitants in 12 villages; 944 provided a serum creatinine and two 24-hour urines. The mean weight was 54.4 kg; mean body mass index was 21.1 kg/m2. Results. Mean GFR by Ccr was 84.1 ml/min/1.73m2; 86.8% of participants had a GFR of 60 ml/min/1.73m2. Mean MDRD-4 eGFR was 102.3 ml/min/1.73m2 (difference vs. Ccr, 18.2: 95% CI: 16.8–19.5); when the factor for black race was omitted, the value (mean 84.6 ml/min/1.73m2) was close to Ccr. Mean CKD-EPI eGFR was 103.1 ml/min/1.73m2, and 89.4 ml/min/1.73m2 when the factor for race was omitted. The Cockcroft–Gault equation underestimated GFR compared with Ccr by 9.4 ml/min/1.73m2 (CI: 8.3–10.6); particularly in older age groups. GFR by Ccr, and eGFR by MDRD-4, CKD-EPI and Cockcroft–Gault showed falls with age: MDRD-4 5.5, Ccr 7.7, CKD-EPI 8.8 and Cockcroft–Gault 11.0 ml/min/1.73m2/10 years. The percentage of individuals identified with CKD stages 3–5 depended on the method used: MDRD-4 1.6% (7.2 % without factor for black race; CKD-EPI 1.7% (4.7% without factor for black race), Ccr 13.2% and Cockcroft–Gault 21.0%. Conclusions. Mean eGFR by both MDRD-4 and CKD-EPI was considerably higher than GFR by Ccr and Cockcroft–Gault, a difference that may be attributable to leanness. MDRD-4 appeared to underestimate the fall in GFR with age compared with the three other measurements; the fall with CKD-EPI without the adjustment for race was the closest to that of Ccr. An equation tailored specifically to the needs of the lean populations of Africa is urgently needed. For the present, the CKD-EPI equation without the adjustment for black race appears to be the most useful

The Potential Contribution of Water-Soluble Vitamins in Ready Meals to the UK Reference Nutrient Intakes

The UK ready meal (RM) food industry had an estimated value of £2.7 billion in 2017/18. These meals are a convenient option for many people and are described as a processed food that require reheating before consumption. However, food processing techniques such as heating, irradiation, and freezing can degrade process labile nutrients, especially essential water-soluble vitamins (WSVs), B-vitamins and vitamin C. Although RMs are an increasingly popular meal option, little is known about the contribution of these meals to the dietary intake of those that are consuming RMs. There is no current guidance available for the recommended nutrient content of RMs, however, Public Health England recommend that meals served as part of public catering should provide at least 30% of the reference nutrient intake (RNI) for all micronutrients for adults when the serving is considered a ‘main meal’. Due to the functional importance of these vitamins, it is imperative to have accurate estimations of nutrients present in the reheated RM. The most susceptible to degradation during food processing are B-group vitamins; thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2) and folate (vitamin B9), and vitamin C. The rise in consumption of RMs mean that it is important to understand the potential contribution of these meals to the UK diet. Therefore, the aim of this research is to assess the thiamine, riboflavin, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin C content of a popular RM in the UK. This study will highlight opportunities to enhance the WSV quality of meals where these nutrients may be lacking. A literature review taking a systematic approach was carried out to determine the current patterns of RM consumption in the UK, along with the thiamine, riboflavin, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin C content of RMs. Five academic articles met the inclusion criteria for consumption, and 15 that examined the nutrient content of RMs, respectively. The review concluded that RMs were consumed 1-2 times per week by the majority of RM consumers, and that those with annual household incomes below £20,000 were the population group most likely to consume RMs. Analysis of RMs found that vitamin C had the greatest susceptibility to processing including, heating, freezing and storage. Thiamine, riboflavin, folate was liable to processing through hot-holding, irradiation and storage. Vitamin B12 was the least labile of the vitamins reviewed, however only one study analysed the vitamin B12 content of RMs. Secondary analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) revealed that RMs did not meet the 30% RNI for WSV recommendation for folate and vitamin C. The 30% of the RNI recommendations were met for thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B12. There was no difference in income between those that consumed RMs and those that did not. Chemical testing was used to quantify the thiamine, riboflavin, folate and vitamin C content of the RMs. Thiamine method testing revealed that High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was the most accurate method. Vitamin B12 was not analysed because of safety issues associated with quantifying the vitamin. The thiamine, riboflavin (analysed by HPLC with fluorescence detection), folate (analysed using the Vitafast microbiological assay) and vitamin C (analysed by Campden BRI) content of the sausage and mashed potato RMs were significantly different between five different RMs from four providers. None of the RMs tested met the 30% of the RNI for WSV recommendations for riboflavin, folate, and vitamin C, although they did for thiamine. Lastly, the effect of hot-holding, a method used by catering services to keep food warm, on WSVs was determined. The study found that hot-holding RMs for three-hours at 90oC led to a significant increase in folate concentration in the vegetable portion (peas), but there was no effect on other meal components or vitamins. This research has shown that there is a need for more accurate information regarding nutrient content of RMs, especially food targeted at older adults, a population group who are at greater risk of nutrient deficiency. Reformulation of RMs, such as incorporating more vegetables into RMs would increase the WSV content of these meals

Self-templating and in situ assembly of a cubic cluster-of-clusters architecture based on a {Mo24Fe12} inorganic macrocycle

Engineering self-templating inorganic architectures is critical for the development of bottom-up approaches to nanoscience, but systems with a hierarchy of templates are elusive. Herein we describe that the cluster-anion-templated (CAT) assembly of a {CAT}⊂{Mo24Fe12} macrocycle forms a giant ca. 220 nm3 unit cell containing 16 macrocycles clustered into eight face-shared tetrahedral cluster-of-clusters assemblies. We show that {CAT}⊂{Mo24Fe12} with different CATs gives the compounds 1–4 for CAT=Anderson {FeMo6} (1), Keggin {PMo12} (2), Dawson {P2W18} (3), and {Mo12O36(HPO3)2} (4) polyoxometalates. “Template-free” assembly can be achieved, whereby the macrocycle components can also form a template in situ allowing template to macrocycle to superstructure formation and the ability to exchange the templates. Furthermore, the transformation of template clusters within the inorganic macrocycle {Mo24Fe12} allows the self-generation of an uncapped {Mo12O36(HPO3)2} in compound 4

A new β-octa­molybdate(VI) salt based on 1,4-bis­(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)butane

The title compound, bis­[2,2′-dimethyl-3,3′-(butane-1,4-di­yl)diimidazol-1-ium] β-octa­molybdate(VI), (C12H20N4)2[Mo8O26], was produced by hydro­thermal reaction of an acidified aqueous solution of Na2MoO4 and 1,4-bis­(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)butane (hereafter L). The structure of the title compound consists of the β-octa­molybdate anions having a center of symmetry, and protonated [H2 L]2+ cations, which link the β-octa­molybdate anions, generating a supra­molecular chain via hydrogen bonds

Unprecedented chemical transformation: crystallographic evidence for 1,1,2,2-tetrahydroxyethane captured within an Fe6Dy3 single molecule magnet

A nonanuclear {Fe6Dy3} coordination cluster displaying SMM behaviour in which an unprecedented chemical transformation provides structural information for the existence of 1,1,2,2-tetrahydroxyethane is reported