Factors Influencing Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Thais in the U.S.

This study examined factors related to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake among Thais in the United States. A total of 121 Thais between 50 and 75 years of age, who were married and living in southern California participated in the survey (mean age = 61 years). Out of all the participants, only 21% of the participants had fecal occult blood tests, 21% had sigmoidoscopy, and 45% had colonoscopy that were within the recommended period. Overall, 55% of participants met CRC screening adherence criteria. Participants who had had regular checkups in the previous 2 years without having any symptoms were 16 times more likely to have obtained CRC screening than their counterparts (OR 16.01, CI 3.75-68.75) in the multivariable logistic regression model. Other significant predictors of screening adherence included older age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.17), having lived in the U.S. 15 years or longer (OR 6.65, 95% CI 1.55-28.59), having had at least some college education (OR 3.74, 95% CI 1.23-11.37), and higher levels of perceived self-efficacy (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.01-3.50) to obtain CRC screening. Targeted interventions for Thais who are less likely receive CRC screening could be effective in improving CRC screening. Interventions to improve the populations' awareness of the importance of preventive measures when they are not sick could be also effective

How Cultural Divergence Influences Expatriate’s Performance in Malaysia

Malaysia is one of the countries which welcome expatriates from all over the world to fill the need for skilled employees. This paper provides an overview of how cultural divergence influence expatriates performance in Malaysia. The main purpose of this study is to identify the important issues which directly or indirectly, positively or negatively influence expatriate’s performance in day to day work. This study reviewed 55 papers related to cultural divergence, employee performance, cultural intelligence, and human resource management practices in Malaysia. The finding highlights that expatriates experience cultural clashes between foreign and local values, which pose direct influences on expatriates’ performance. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in the cross-cultural management field as well as practical implications to expatriating firms. Finally, this research is beneficial and informative, especially for Malaysian researchers and managers in International Human Resource Management (IHRM) field

Use of vouchers to reinforce abstinence and positive behaviors among clients in a drug court treatment program

In response to the growing number of drug offenders cycling in and out of the criminal justice system without treatment for underlying drug problems, the judicial system has increasingly adopted drug courts as a strategy to divert these offenders from incarceration to supervised drug treatment. Our aim was to determine if drug court treatment effectiveness could be improved using contingency management, in the form of twice-weekly vouchers, to reinforce abstinence and positive behaviors for 163 clients over 26 weeks. We found no significant differences in outcomes among the study groups, although the Treatment Plan Group that received reinforcement for positive behaviors showed a trend toward poorer performance. We suspect that the influence of the judge within the courtroom had a stronger impact on drug court clients' attitudes, drug use behaviors, and other outcomes than the relatively low-value vouchers awarded as part of the treatment protocol

Enhancing Authentic Leadership PsyCAP, Job Stress and Job Satisfaction: Innovating Combined Effect

The purpose of this paper is to review the relationship of authentic leadership, psychological capital or PsyCap, job satisfaction, and job stress. The job satisfaction has great importance in any organization because employees who are highly stressed in their workplace may not be satisfied. Many kinds of research already tried to develop authentic leadership and psychological capital, researchers also attempted to find out different job outcomes by practicing authentic leadership and PsyCap. A number of previous studies reviewed to understand the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction, and how job stress affects job satisfaction. Each component of authentic leadership and psychological capital will be supportive of increasing leaders and employee's job satisfaction. The components of authentic leadership and psychological capitals are described in a manner that assists to prove its ability to minimize job stress and achieve job satisfaction. Observing from the previous literature present paper proposing that authentic leadership and psychological capital together could be one of the solutions to decrease job stress and increase job satisfaction. Furthermore, this study put together previous studies, which supports the proposed solution and concludes by discussing the reasons behind this proposed solution

Association of non-daily hookah tobacco smoking and cardiovascular disease-related exposure biomarkers among U.S. users: The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study.

Hookah smoking has grown to become a global tobacco epidemic. While cigarette smoking is a well-established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, the CVD risks of hookah smoking are unknown, particularly among regular U.S. adult hookah users who are predominantly non-daily users. Herein, we examined the association between hookah smoking and biomarkers of CVD risk among regular exclusive hookah smokers (n = 75), compared to regular exclusive cigarette smokers (n = 1773), dual hookah and cigarette smokers (n = 43) and never tobacco users (n = 757), using data from a nationally representative sample of adults from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (2013-2014). Whereas 84% of cigarette smokers reported daily use, only 8% of hookah smokers reported daily use, with more than a third reporting monthly use. Adjusting for age and sex and as compared to exclusive cigarette smokers, exclusive hookah smokers had significantly lower geometric mean concentrations in serum sICAM-1 and urinary F2-isoprostane (p < 0.05). Although not statistically significant, a signal of increased oxidative stress was observed among hookah smokers as compared to never tobacco users (urinary F2-isoprostane). CVD-related harm biomarkers appear to be lower among hookah smokers than cigarette smokers. These findings represent patterns of hookah smoking predominantly shared among adult U.S. users who report non-daily occasional use and do not reflect solitary, daily use as is common in the Middle East. Future studies with longer exposure and longitudinal hookah use are warranted to explore the association between hookah smoking and CVD risk

An innovated HRM framework for sustainability: Multiple case studies in Bangladesh

In this study researchers have innovated a novel HRM framework by focusing on the Bangladeshi listed and large-scale manufacturing organisations. To execute the smooth HRM processes, these organizations have developed their distinctly customized HRM policies and practices those contain necessary HRM perspectives and themes. Nevertheless, in this study two new perspectives regarding managing grievances management system and employees’ rights standards have been addressed and mapped in this framework with each other. Bangladesh Govt. has declared an isolated regulation naming the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 for all the Bangladeshi listed organizations, where various sections and provisions are included and highlighted regarding employee rights and employees’ grievance management. Nevertheless, researchers applied multiple case studies method in twelve companies and took in-depth interviews to analyze and map these two perspectives in the HRM framework for sustainability. Collected data have been organized and analyzed by using NVIVO Mac and the connections between the themes are developed by using Amos on high level. Findings revealed that perspective named ‘employees’ rights’ has three themes named UDHR, ILO and BDL and the other perspective named ‘grievance management system’ has three themes also named ‘Turnover’, ‘Absenteeism’ and ‘Visible expression of grievances

Impact Assessment of Commercialization of Main Roads in Planned Housing Schemes: A Case Study of PIA Housing Scheme

The phenomenon of commercialization of residential properties is taking place rapidly. Although conversion of landuse from residential to commercial in built-up areas is not new in developing countries but planned housing schemes also start experiencing this land-use conversion, and now are no more predominantly residential. Furthermore, declaring a road commercial by the competent authorities, even without taking necessary improvements in infrastructure and consent of the community, further exaggerate the problem.  The negative consequences of this phenomenon have a severe effects on residential areas and include environmental problems, traffic congestion, noise, and air pollution, and affect the residential character of the area in negative manner for which they were initially developed. The aim of the study is to describe briefly about remits of commercialization polices in Lahore and then to assess the functionality of commercialized residential roads through assessment criteria based upon the indicators established to assess capacity of road infrastructure before declaring it commercial. This includes road management plan, details of road network with condition of road, its width, Pedestrian and Public transport facilities, structure, including the primary, mixed-use, and secondary nodes. Perception of the users and residents regarding the change in the use of land is also weighed up. The findings of this research will draw the attention of responsible authorities to improve the design guidelines, which are essential to consider before commercializing the residential roads

Impact Assessment of Commercialization of Main Roads in Planned Housing Schemes: A Case Study of PIA Housing Scheme

The phenomenon of commercialization of residential properties is taking place rapidly. Although conversion of landuse from residential to commercial in built-up areas is not new in developing countries but planned housing schemes also start experiencing this land-use conversion, and now are no more predominantly residential. Furthermore, declaring a road commercial by the competent authorities, even without taking necessary improvements in infrastructure and consent of the community, further exaggerate the problem.  The negative consequences of this phenomenon have a severe effects on residential areas and include environmental problems, traffic congestion, noise, and air pollution, and affect the residential character of the area in negative manner for which they were initially developed. The aim of the study is to describe briefly about remits of commercialization polices in Lahore and then to assess the functionality of commercialized residential roads through assessment criteria based upon the indicators established to assess capacity of road infrastructure before declaring it commercial. This includes road management plan, details of road network with condition of road, its width, Pedestrian and Public transport facilities, structure, including the primary, mixed-use, and secondary nodes. Perception of the users and residents regarding the change in the use of land is also weighed up. The findings of this research will draw the attention of responsible authorities to improve the design guidelines, which are essential to consider before commercializing the residential roads

Association of non-daily hookah tobacco smoking and cardiovascular disease-related exposure biomarkers among U.S. users: The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study

Hookah smoking has grown to become a global tobacco epidemic. While cigarette smoking is a well-established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, the CVD risks of hookah smoking are unknown, particularly among regular U.S. adult hookah users who are predominantly non-daily users. Herein, we examined the association between hookah smoking and biomarkers of CVD risk among regular exclusive hookah smokers (n = 75), compared to regular exclusive cigarette smokers (n = 1773), dual hookah and cigarette smokers (n = 43) and never tobacco users (n = 757), using data from a nationally representative sample of adults from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (2013–2014). Whereas 84% of cigarette smokers reported daily use, only 8% of hookah smokers reported daily use, with more than a third reporting monthly use. Adjusting for age and sex and as compared to exclusive cigarette smokers, exclusive hookah smokers had significantly lower geometric mean concentrations in serum sICAM-1 and urinary F2-isoprostane (p < 0.05). Although not statistically significant, a signal of increased oxidative stress was observed among hookah smokers as compared to never tobacco users (urinary F2-isoprostane). CVD-related harm biomarkers appear to be lower among hookah smokers than cigarette smokers. These findings represent patterns of hookah smoking predominantly shared among adult U.S. users who report non-daily occasional use and do not reflect solitary, daily use as is common in the Middle East. Future studies with longer exposure and longitudinal hookah use are warranted to explore the association between hookah smoking and CVD risk