GAINING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH MULTI-SOURCE FEEDBACK PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL

The article discusses about gaining competitive advantageof a company through multi-source feedback performance appraisal.In a turbulence and high competitive environment, a company will facemany obstacles to run its business. In order to be able to sustain itsgrowth, it must have competitive advantages. Through human resourcemanagement, a company can have unique, scarce and difficult to imitatecompetencies. Performance appraisal is one of aspects of humanresource management practices. Traditional top-down approach inperforming appraisal is not sufficient anymore to accommodate thechanges of organizational need (structure, culture, etc). Multi-sourcefeedback if implemented well will be a good alternative to fulfill theneed of organization performance appraisal. The success of multi-source feedback implementation will give a company competitiveadvantage

PREDICTORS OF CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN INDIAN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE ENCEPHALOPATHY: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY FROM A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN INDIA

Objective: Objective of the study was to evaluate the predictors of poor disease outcome at discharge and at 1 month in patients with acute encephalopathy. Methods: This prospective, observational, single center study included adult patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for acute confusion state and admitted in the intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. A modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of <3 was considered as “good outcome,” while mRS ≥3 was considered as an indicator of “poor outcome.” Results: Among the total population of 219, 52.5% (n=115) were male, the mean age was 41.58 (±18.10) years and mean disease duration was 14.30 (±10.05) days (range: 1–30 days). Lethargy was the most common history at presentation (84.93%), while sleep abnormalities were least common (4.57%), and tuberculous meningitis was the most common etiology (21%). Diminution of vision, diplopia, dysarthria, cranial nerve symptoms, abdominal pain, difficulty in breathing, seizures, high-risk behavior, loss of appetite and the diagnosis of posterior reversible encephalopathy, retroviral disease, stroke and tuberculous meningitis were significant predictors of “poor outcome” at discharge (p<0.05). A diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis, history of headache, diminution of vision, diplopia, dysarthria, seizures, sensory deficits and loss of appetite and neuroimaging findings of atrophy, intracranial bleeding, demyelination, and space-occupying lesion were found to be significant predictors of “poor outcome” at 1 month post-discharge in this population (p<0.05). Conclusion: In patients with acute encephalopathy, tuberculous etiology, the presence of focal brainstem deficits and specific neuroimaging findings indicate poor outcomes at discharge as well as at 1 month follow-up

Pengaruh Temperatur dan Waktu Penyimpanan terhadap Potensi Vaksin Polio Oral Trivalen (Sabin Type)

The effect of temperature and duration of storage on the potency of trivalent oral polio vaccine (Sabin type) were investigated. Temperature was set up at the beginning from : —20 C, 0 C, 5 C, 10 C, 15°C, 25 C and 30°C. During 30 days period of storage, the polio virus was titrated at 4 days interval using micromethod of TCID5 0 calculation in Vero cells. The result of the study showed that the effect of -20°C, 0°C and 5°C for 30 days of storage was not significantly different. Whereas at 10°C the vaccine potency had started to decrease at day 24 up to day 30. At 15°C the potency had started to decrease at day 12, while at 25°C and 30°C the potency of vaccine drooed sharply at day 4 of storage

Pendugaan Distribusi Pencemaran Airtanah Bebas dengan Aplikasi Geolistrik Metode Electrical Resistivity Tomography (Ert) di Sekitar Pabrik Gula (Pg) dan Pabrik Spiritus (Ps) Madukismo di Kecamatan Kasihan, Kabupaten Bantul

Pabrik Gula (PG) / Pabrik Spiritus (PS) Madukismo di Desa Tirtonirmolo merupakan industri manufaktur yang bergerak di bidang pengolahan tebu. Aktivitas industri ini tentu berpotensi menghasilkan limbah. Limbah yang dihasilkan salah satunya adalah limbah cair yang dibuang melalui saluran irigasi. Limbah tersebut berpotensi menurunkan kualitas lingkungan salah satunya berupa penurunan kualitas airtanah. Tujuan dari penelitian ini yaitu untuk mengidentifikasi distribusi pencemaran airtanah bebas disekitar PG/PS Madukismo dengan menggunakan aplikasi Geolistrik metode Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT). Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian yaitu pengukuran geolistrik metode ERT dengan konfigurasi dipole-dipole yang disusun dengan spasi 5 meter. Hasil pengukuran menunjukan rentang nilai DHL airtanah di lokasi penelitian berkisar antara 304-1050 μS/cm. Kemudian berdasarkan pengukuran pada 3 lintasan di zona diduga terpengaruh limbah dengan rentang nilai DHL >550 μS/cm, terdapat 2 lintasan diduga terpengaruh limbah. Nilai resistivitas diduga pencemaran airtanah akibat limbah terideteksi memiliki rentang nilai 5-18 Ωm dengan kedalaman antara 5-6 meter pada lintasan 2 dan 2-3 meter pada lintasan 3. Hal ini dibuktikan dengan adanya peningkatan nilai parameter TSS, TDS, dan COD berdasarkan uji kualitas air. Nilai kadar COD yang merupakan parameter penciri pengaruh limbah menunjukan nilai di atas baku mutu dan titik kontrol yaitu sebesar 37,2 mg/l hingga 245 mg/l

Evaluation of external radiological hazard in bottom and fly ash from coal fired pilot plant

Coal is the most important fossil fuel for non-nuclear power generation industries. The burning of coal generates ashes which contain natural radionuclides namely 238U and 232Th series including 40K that are released into the environment. This study presents an evaluation of the radioactivity content found in the feed coal and ashes sampled from typical coal fired power plants. The sample was measured for activity concentration of the radionuclides and the results were used to evaluate the radiological hazard index of the sample.The findings revealed that the values of the external radiological hazard obtained were acceptable and safe to be reutilized

Natural radioactivity from non-nuclear power generation power industries: regulatory control of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) for environmental sustainability

Coal is a widely used mineral and contains almost all elements which include Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) from natural origin such as from Uranium-238 (238U) and Thorium-232 (232Th) Series along with Potassium-40 (40K). It is the most important source of fossil fuel for non-nuclear power generation industries due to its accessibility and abundance in nature. The burning of coal generates bottom and fly ash which are released into the atmosphere. This process potentially tends to distribute the natural radionuclides originating from coal and enriched in the environment that could contribute to higher external radiation exposure to the population at large. This study aimed to presents an analysis of radioactivity concentration of feed coal burned and ashes from a typical coal fired power plants (CFPP) which is a non-nuclear power generation in Malaysia. The sample was analyzed for two most important natural radionuclides content namely 238U and 232Th by using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). An extensive investigation of this nature is warranted for radiation protection towards legislative compliance in ensuring safety of the public and workers and the protection of the environment

Pembangunan usahawan tani melalui inisiatif Tanggungjawab Sosial Korporat (CSR): Satu kajian kes

Pembangunan usahawan Tani adalah merupakan salah satu usaha yang boleh dibangunkan oleh syarikat korporat melalui inisiatif Tanggungjawab Sosial Korporat (CSR) bagi tujuan untuk meningkatkan kualiti hidup komuniti. Kertas ini akan membincangkan sumbangan yang telah dilakukan oleh sebuah syarikat korporat multinasional di Malaysia melalui pelaksanaan projek CSR perladangan cili kontrak terhadap kewujudan usahawan tani di Pasir Puteh Kelantan. Seramai 45 petani yang terlibat dengan program CSR syarikat telah ditemu bual bagi mengenal pasti sejauh mana sumbangan CSR telah membangunkan komuniti tani yang terlibat. Kajian yang menggunakan pendekatan kontruktivisme ini telah menggunakan analisa tematik terhadap data temu bual kajian. Tema-tema kajian mendapati melalui program CSR, petani berpeluang untuk memiliki, mengelola dan mengurus ladang serta menanggung risiko pengeluaran tani mereka. Tema-tema ini menunjukkan wujudnya usahawan tani di kalangan komuniti yang terlibat dengan projek CSR yang dilaksanakan tersebut. Selain dari itu sumbangan dari pihak syarikat dan juga pihak kerajaan melalui Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan (PPK) juga membantu menyediakan persekitaran yang kondusif bagi pembangunan usahawan tani ini

Ethyl ({5-[5′-(2-eth­oxy-2-oxoeth­oxy)-4,4′′-difluoro-1,1′:3′,1′′-terphenyl-4′-yl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl}sulfan­yl)acetate

In the title compound, C28H24F2N2O6S, the whole mol­ecule is disordered over two sites with refined occupancies of 0.778 (3) and 0.222 (3). The central benzene ring makes dihedral angles of 56.0 (4), 34.5 (4) and 70.9 (4)°, respectively, with the two terminal benzene rings and the 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring in the major component of the disordered mol­ecule. The corresponding angles in the minor component are 59.7 (16), 25.6 (13) and 75.5 (14)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked via C—H⋯F, C—H⋯N, C—H⋯O and C—H⋯S hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional network. In addition, C—H⋯π inter­actions are observed

Effects of gamma irradiation on egg hatchability, pupation, and adult emergence of the immature stages of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (hendel) (diptera: tephritidae) from Malaysia

Studies on the effect of irradiation on egg hatchability, pupation and adult emergence of the immature stages of the Oriental Fruit Fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) was conducted in Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Dengkil, Selangor, Malaysia using a Co-60 source. Eggs, 1st instars to 3rd instars larvae and pupae stages were treated separately with dosages 50Gy to 400Gy to determine the most tolerance stage and the optimum dose for provide quarantine security. Each treatment involves a minimum of 100 individuals for each dose with four replications. The hatch from eggs to 1st instar larvae, pupation from eggs and all of three instars larvae to pupae, and eclosion from pupae to adult, were used as criteria to determine the effect of irradiation. Egg hatch was completely inhibited by 100Gy for early egg and 300Gy for late eggs. Dose of 200Gy and 250Gy were able to prevent completely pupation when treated from egg stage and 1st instar larvae, respectively. Unfortunately, those dosages did not affect pupation when applied to 2nd and 3rd instars, but it did prevent any from emerging as adults. Adult emergence was 100% prevented when eggs and all larvae were treated at 100Gy as compared to pupae was not completely prevented even by 400Gy. Among the four immature stages of B. dorsalis, the 3rd instar larvae (inside fruits) and pupae (outside fruits) were found to be the most tolerance stage and the early eggs are the most susceptible stage to irradiation. Our results suggest that minimum dose 100 to 150Gy is sufficient to provide a high level of quarantine security against this important pest and the dose might allow for irradiation be accepted as a quarantine treatment for most tropical fruits from Malaysia