Leadership Effectiveness: A New Integrative Leadership Model

What makes an executive effective? Are effective executives born with some unique abilities and skills? Or do they learn and practice some special strategies that make them superior? This paper explores whether effective executives are born or made, and analyzes some leadership studies done over the years. Also, it suggests an integrative model of effective leadership that organizations may use to develop and enhance better leaders and that individuals may use to improve their organizational leadership

Genetic mapping and molecular characterisation of Russian wheat aphid resistance loci in wheat

The Russian wheat aphid (RWA, Diuraphis noxia Kurdmojov) is considered as one of the most destructive pest of wheat around the world, causing significant yield loss in wheat cultivation. A continuous process of searching for novel resistance loci (Dn) to combat evolving new RWA biotypes has been successful in providing RWA resistance to breeding programs. Australia was declared as a RWA free country but Infestation of RWA was first time reported in Tarlee, South Australia in April, 2016. A novel resistance source, PI94365 with expressing resistance to several biotypes found in other countries was selected to incorporate its resistance into the Australian cultivar EGA Gregory. A double haploid (DH) population developed through the microspore technique was phenotyped in South Africa, Turkey and Morocco with respective biotypes. A genetic linkage map was constructed with 4053 molecular markers including simple sequence repeats (SSR), genome by sequencing (GBS) and Diversity array technology (DArT) molecular markers. Major QTLs to RWA resistance were mapped on 1DS, 7DS and 7BL and minor QTLs were mapped on 3BL, 4AS and 4DL. POPSEQ genetic map distances for the QTLs identified on chromosomes 1DS and 7DS were determined by comparative genomics studies with published consensus and POPSEQ maps. A large number of molecular markers have been identified in the region of RWA resistance loci for the marker assisted plant breeding. Proteomics studies in the absence of live aphids (due to quarantine restriction in Australia) were carried out in order to reveal the resistance mechanism driven by constitutive genes. Ten proteins were significantly differentially expressed between resistance and susceptible lines selected from the double haploid population that was mapped in detail through haplotype analysis. These proteins were annotated using the current wheat genome assembly and functional annotation in relation to RWA resistance. Studies identified several induced proteins with RWA infestations. Differentially expressed genes identified in these studies annotated to the wheat genome together with their genetic map location assigned some of the genes to major RWA resistance QTLs and thus this study provided some new insights into RWA resistance. Over all, the work carried out in this study delivered RWA resistant wheat lines for breeding resistance cultivars that are well characterized by a broad range of molecular markers in the regions of the RWA resistance loci. The high density of new molecular markers provides for the efficient tracking of RWA resistance loci in the pipe-line of cultivar development within the framework of quarantine restrictions

The influence of task accomplishment and attitude on active teaching in Malaysian universities

The present study is designed to propose a framework for the implementation of active teaching in the higher education institutions (HEI). Its aim is to develop lecturers’ commitment in using the active teaching method in the classroom, which can improve the development of students’ soft skills. The proposed motivational factors are faith, sincerity, contemplation, goal obsession, means and attitude towards the university. The commitment to encourage students to share knowledge in the classroom is also included as a mediating variable. The researcher has applied the cross-sectional survey research to validate the framework. The respondents are lecturers in Malaysian public and private HEI. It is found that faith, sincerity, contemplation, goal obsession, means and attitude towards the university factors influenced active teaching commitment amongst lecturers significantly. On the other hand, commitment to encourage students to share knowledge is only influenced by faith, means, contemplation and sincerity factors. However, commitment to encourage students to share knowledge did not function as a mediating variable. The practical implications are the discovery of theoretical, personal, and workplace practical best practices for developing lecturers’ commitment to encourage students to share knowledge and in turn implement active teaching activity in the classroom. This study contributes to the limited body of research on the implementation of active teaching in the Malaysian HEI. The factors of faith, sincerity, contemplation, goal obsession and means are the new variables in active teaching research. This extends the boundary of knowledge in active teaching implementation. As data in this study was gathered just once to answer the research questions, a longitudinal study is highly recommended in the future since human views and behaviors are likely to change over tim

Optimization of Malaysian Mica in Oil Based Mud

It has been observed that lost circulation is one of the troublesome and costly problems encountered during drilling operation even with the best drilling practices. severity of loss of circulation can be classified according to the mud lost rate in the fractured formation. Considering the fact that lost circulation is one of the most serious and expensive problems the drilling industry is currently facing, lost circulation material (LCM) is one of the methods to solve this problem. This report basically discusses the preliminary research and basic understanding of the chosen topic, which is Optimization of Malaysian Mica in Oil Based Mud. Preliminary research will lead to further study on the subject until the satisfactory result is obtained. This research will be a stepping stone for future research of the potential drilling fluid additives which is obtainable from abundant local resources. Malaysia has not been explored for the possible use of local mica. Local mica will be experimented for possible use as mica and to be compared with the characteristics of the existing mica in the market. The source of Mica is taken from Bidor, Malaysia where KAOLIN(M) SDN BHD is operating the quary. This project involves a lot of lab work to test the efficiency of Malaysian Mica. Finally, this project will identify the optimization of Malaysian Mica to be use in drilling operation as LCM in oil based mud

CINNARIZINE LIQUID SOLID COMPACTS: PREPARATION EVALUATION

Objective: The objective of this research was to formulate cinnarizine tablets using the liquid-solid compact technique to enhance its solubility and dissolution rate.Methods: Cinnarizine liquid-solid compacts were formulated using propylene glycol as the non-volatile solvent, Neusilin US2 as the carrier material, Aerosil 200 as the coating material and croscarmellose sodium as the disintegrant. The interaction between drug and excipients were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies. Different batches of liquid, solid compacts were prepared by using varying carrier-coating excipient ratio and different concentration of liquid medication. Flow parameters such as bulk density, tapped density, Carr's Index, Hausner's Ratio as well as an angle of repose were used to test the flowability of the powder blend. The liquid-solid compacts were produced by direct compression method and were evaluated for tests such as weight variation, drug content, hardness, thickness, friability, wetting time, disintegration time as well as the in vitro dissolution studies.Results: The results of the preformulation studies of liquisolid compacts showed acceptable flow properties. The results of FTIR and DSC studies showed that there is no drug-excipient interactions. The different R values and concentrations were found to have a marked effect on the dissolution profile. Formulations with higher carrier: coating ratio (R-value) and lower drug concentrations displayed a better dissolution profile. The percentage of drug release of F3 with an R-value of 20 and a drug concentration of 10% was found to be 88.11% when compared to the conventional marketed tablet which released only 44.07% at the end of 2 h.Conclusion: From this research, it is inferred that liquid-solid technique is a promising and effective approach that can be used to enhance the dissolution rate of cinnarizine

Interrelation between biography and ethnography: cultural analysis as an experimental system

The interrelationship between ethnography and biographic studies has recently become a popular form of qualitative research. The current discourse on this field of investigation refers exclusively to “evocative autoethnography” that draws upon postmodern sensibilities, whose advocates distance themselves from realist and analytic ethnographic traditions. The dominance of evocative autoethnography and biographic has obscured recognition of the compatibility of autoethnographic investigation with more traditional ethnographic practices. Similarly, the modes of cultural analysis also have been systematically revised over a period, changing its variables that took on new cultural projection. The revision of the 1980’s included new approaches, using ethnography to investigate the changing nature of cultural and social forms. At the end of the twentieth century, inquiries drawn towards multidisciplinary tools that could be employed in making cultural analysis more trenchant and revealing. The most widely applied approach by anthropologists in development projects is the ethnographic approach, which investigates the changing nature of culture and applies qualitative/narrative analysis. The challenge for culture change, according to the anthropologist, is to understand the “everyday” form of thinking, expression, verbalization and comprehension. This paper tries to substantiate that performance of expressions are drawn from “cultural schemas”, and such community expression serves to explain more recent community ethnographic transformations. The paper also justifies the voices and expression of community performance as a ritual which has been empirically validated with the appreciation of community-level transformation/adaptation which can perceive to enhance universal ethnographic. The paper justifies the argument through a case study on a tribal-community in India, their voices of expression and the sacred/clandestine sexuality performance which has been incorporated within the public ethnography in order to prove their identity as a “tribe”, compromising their sacred value privacy

Synthesis, spectral characterization, electrochemical and anti-microbial activities of new binuclear Schiff base metal complexes derived from 3,3’ diaminobenzedine

A novel oxime ligand has been synthesized by refluxing 3,3’-diaminobenzedine and phthalaldehyde monoxime. Copper (II), cobalt (II), nickel (II) and manganese (II) binuclear complexes of this ligand have been prepared and characterized by using elemental analysis, molar conductance studies, IR, UV, NMR, EPR and magnetic studies. The molar conductance measurements correspond to a non-electrolytic nature for all complexes which can be formulated as [M2(L)X4] (Where M = Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Mn(II); X = Cl−). The UV-visible spectra of all the complexes are well characterized by broad weak d-d band and a high intensity charge-transfer transition. Thermal studies supported the chemical formation of these complexes showed that they decomposed in three or four stages depending on the type of ligand. The far-IR spectrum confirms the presence of coordinate chloride ion in all the complexes as evidenced by one intense far IR bands around 310-330 cm−1. In electrochemical studies the resulting cyclic voltammogram consists of single quasi-reversible one electron transfer. The ligand and complexes have been screened for their antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive bacteria, two Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The binuclear metal complexes were found to possess potent antimicrobial, antifungal activity better than ligand alone

A pathological study on gastric outlet obstruction

INTRODUCTION: Gastric outlet obstruction is due to obstruction in first part of duodenum at the site of chronic scarring from ulceration or antrum where a benign gastric ulcer (type II and type III) or carcinoma is a problem. Stenotic complications of peptic ulcer disease are hour glass deformity and tea pot deformity (gastric ulcer). Stenotic complications arise from repeated cycles of ulceration and healing resulting in dense fibrosis with narrowing and deformity. Common causes of gastric outlet obstruction are 1. Chronic duodenal ulceration / fibrosis, 2. Antral gastric carcinoma, 3. Carcinoma of the head of pancreas, 5. Annular pancreas, 6. Mucosal diaphragm, 7. Megaduodenum, 8. Arteriomesenteric compression (Wilke’s disease). Clinical features of gastric outlet obstruction: a. Abdomen pain, b. Upper abdominal discomfort, c. Vomiting (effortless, projectile, absence of bile, presence of partially digested food eaten hours or days previously), d. Constipation. Rare causes of gastric outlet obstruction: 1. Lymphomas, 2. Crohn’s disease, 3. Duodenal haematoma, 4. Adult pyloric hypertrophy. AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. Age and sex incidence of gastric outlet obstruction. 2. Pathological study on causes of gastric outlet obstruction. 3. Correlate the results of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, biopsy and peroperative findings in gastric outlet obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a pathological study on gastric outlet obstruction comprising of 34 cases of gastric outlet obstruction. The patients have been selected from Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital in the Surgery department from December 2010 to December 2011. The cases were selected with following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion Criteria: 1. Peptic ulcer disease with gastric outlet obstruction. 2. Carcinoma pyloric region with gastric outlet obstruction. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, 2. Congenital lesion, 3. Gastro intestinal tuberculosis. An elaborate study of all the patients with regard to history, clinical features, routine investigations, endoscopy and biopsy report, pre operative management, per-operative findings, post operative management and complications during post operative period is managed. Patient general condition, nutrition status, hydration and co-morbid conditions were managed before surgery. RESULTS: Gastric outlet obstruction is common in age less than 50 years is 14 (40%). In 10 patients it is due to malignancy and in 4 patients it is due to benign lesion. In age between 50 to 55 years 8 pateints (24%) develop gastric outlet obstruction. In 7 patients the cause is malignant lesion and in one patient the cause is cicatrized duodenal ulcer in 1st part of duodenum. In age between 56 to 60 years 4 patients had gastric outlet obstruction and in all 4 patients cause was malignant lesion. In age between 61 to 65 years 5 patients had gastric outlet obstruction. In 3 patients the cause is malignant lesion and in 2 patients it was due to benign lesion. In age above 65 years 3 patients develop gastric outlet obstruction and the cause is malignant lesion. In this study young age to develop gastric outlet obstruction is 30 years due to cicatrized duodenal ulcer and oldest age is 75 years due to gastric carcinoma. The age incidence is 30 to 75 years with mean of 52.5 years. The young age to develop gastric carcinoma is 35 years. CONCLUSION: The present study is a pathological study on gastric outlet obstruction. The observations from the data and results obtained in the present study were Male patients are more commonly affected by gastric outlet obstruction. Carcinoma in pyloric antral region was the most common cause of gastric outlet obstruction. Vomiting and dehydration are the common symptoms and signs of gastric outlet obstruction. Upper gastro intestinal endoscopy and biopsy are the Gold standard investigation for gastric outlet obstruction. It has been used for both diagnostic purpose and taking biopsy from the lesion. Patient general condition, correction of anemia, fluid and electrolyte imbalance and preparation of stomach must be done preoperatively. Patients with gastric outlet obstruction due to cicatrized duodenal ulcer require truncal vagotomy with posterior gastrojejunostomy. In patients with carcinoma pyloric antral region require curative surgery in early stage or a palliative surgery depending on the stage of the disease. All patients above 40 years with symptoms of dyspepsia should undergo upper gastro intestinal endoscopy and biopsy examination