The eye of the team : critical incidents analysis of team metaphors used by teams in a health setting : a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

This study sought to explore working teams' mental models of their success and failure, to cast light on what improves rather than undermines the teams' performance. Implicit team mental models may become explicit through exploring the language, specifically metaphors, that teams use to describe successful and unsuccessful performance. Ten teams comprising 69 individuals from a large district health board and including one all Māori team, participated in semi-structured interviews, that focused on the positive and negative critical incidents, when working together. Twin Content analyses of each type of incident revealed classical attribution biases, for example self-serving biases (team failures externalised using system metaphors as in "It is not our fault, it is the computer's fault" and successes internalised as in "the high standard of work is a reflection on the integrity and skills of the team"). At the same time however teams occasionally sidestepped these biases by reflecting on whether they could have achieved even more. Unlike their counterparts, the single all-Māori team used the same "two worlds" metaphor to describe both success and failure through bi-cultural harmony and bi-cultural conflict. Discussion focuses on how metaphors enhance team development. For example through discourse analysis of training sessions, teams may become aware of what biases the team is engaging in, thereby fuelling organisational learning

Effect of heavy metals on the level of vitamin E, total lipid and glycogen reserves in the liver of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The aim of this study is to examine some changes in the biochemical profile of the liver tissue of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) exposed to a sublethal concentration of heavy metal mixture (cadmium, chromium, nickel and lead). The biochemical profile, specifically glycogen, total lipid and vitamin E content in the liver tissue was examined and compared to that of the control group. The exposed group showed a marked decline in glycogen and vitamin E reserves. Conversely an increase in total lipid in comparison to control was observed. The result reflects the sensitivity of these biochemical parameters to the effects of sublethal levels of combined heavy metals for this the widely consumed freshwater fish

Fair and optimal resource allocation in wireless sensor networks

There is a large amount of research in wireless networks focuses on optimization of either network routing and power control alone. In contrast, this work aims at jointly optimizing the transmission power and routing path selection in order to optimize allocation of resources in interference constrained wireless environment. Moreover, we consider a multipath routing where multiple alternative paths are employed to transmit data between the end nodes. One of modern communication techniques that it applies to a network coding, though not explicitly implemented in this work. The proposed approach is first analyzed theoretically using Lagrangian optimization for a three-node scenario. We analyze this basic scenario, as it is essential for development of the overall multi-path routing schemes for multi-hop networks. The optimal solution for the three-node topology is replicated throughout the network to converge to a network-level solution. In contrast to existing studies, we explicitly consider interference from adjacent links, which varies with traffic flow thus optimizing the routing, and flow control decisions. The results and conclusions provide guidance as to the optimum routing decisions and a corresponding theoretical performance limits. The optimization of the throughput of the wireless network scenario is considered as a multi-variable optimization problem subject to flow and power constraints. Numerical analysis performed in Matlab-Simulink indicates that, given loose outage constraints, an optimal trade-off between the channel parameters renders optimum results even when the gain of the channel varies with time. The theoretical analysis and simulations demonstrate and validate that the channel capacity and efficiency are maximized when the routing decisions consider the network performance trade-offs. Next, the proposed routing and power control scheme is experimentally evaluated in hardware using universal software radio peripheral (USRP2). The USRP testbed utilizes the proposed multi-variable optimization algorithm. The communication system is implemented using GNU Radio software where the physical layer employs two direct-spread spectrum variants: (a) binary phase shift keying (DS-BPSK) and (b) orthogonal frequency division modulation (DS-OFDM) schemes. The experimental results are compared with the simulation results --Abstract, page iii

Malicious-URL Detection using Logistic Regression Technique

Over the last few years, the Web has seen a massive growth in the number and kinds of web services. Web facilities such as online banking, gaming, and social networking have promptly evolved as has the faith upon them by people to perform daily tasks. As a result, a large amount of information is uploaded on a daily to the Web. As these web services drive new opportunities for people to interact, they also create new opportunities for criminals. URLs are launch pads for any web attacks such that any malicious intention user can steal the identity of the legal person by sending the malicious URL. Malicious URLs are a keystone of Internet illegitimate activities. The dangers of these sites have created a mandates for defences that protect end-users from visiting them. The proposed approach is that classifies URLs automatically by using Machine-Learning algorithm called logistic regression that is used to binary classification. The classifiers achieves 97% accuracy by learning phishing URLs

Vitamin E in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea

Background: The objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of Vitamin E in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea compared to the placebo.Methods: Sixty women, aged 17-25 years old who suffered from primary dysmenorrhoea, among 1000 Women attending the gynec OPD in Kilpauk Medical College. 30 women were given 200 units of vitamin E (each tablet twice daily) and 30 were given a placebo tablets (each tablet twice daily). The treatment began two days before the beginning of menstruation and continued through the first three days of bleeding. The severity of pain and duration of pain before and after the treatment was studied. Treatment in both groups was carried out in three consecutive menstrual periods.Results: As to the findings, the mean age of the participants was 22.6 years. There was a significant difference between the pre- and post-treatment periods in terms of pain severity (P=0.72 and P=0.002, respectively) and pain duration (P=0.514 and P=0.027, respectively) in Vitamin E group. There was a significant difference observed between the Vitamin E group and placebo group regarding the mean of pain severity and duration (P=0.002 and p=0.027 respectively).Conclusions: Vitamin E helps to relieve pain in primary dysmenorrhoea. As this is a relatively easier method for control of pain with lesser amount of side effects and as it is cost effective, it can be considered as a universal drug in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea

GAMMA-GLUTAMYL TRANSFERASE AS AN INDICATOR OF OBESITY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

ABSTRACTObjective: Obesity, characterized by an increase in excessive fat accumulation, represents a social problem worldwide and has been recognizedas a major underlying factor in the pathogenesis of several diseases. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is a cell-surface protein contributing tothe extracellular catabolism of glutathione. Elevated GGT is strongly associated with obesity and excess deposition of fat in the liver, termed nonalcoholicfatty liver disease, which is thought to cause hepatic insulin resistance and contribute to the development of systemic insulin resistanceand hyperinsulinemia. Therefore, we have investigated the serum GGT levels in obese individuals and the correlation of serum GGT with bodymass index (BMI) and waist circumference.Methods: The study was carried out in 100 obese patients and 100 non-obese individuals.Results: Patients with obesity showed a significant increase in GGT levels when compared to the control group. The mean levels of BMI, WC, totalcholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), very LDL-cholesterol, total protein, and aspartate aminotransferase werefound to be significantly elevated in the obese individuals compared to controls. The mean levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol showed asignificant decrease in the obese participants.Conclusion: Elevated liver enzymes, although in normal ranges, especially at upper quartiles as observed in our study, may play a central role inearly diagnosis of fat overflow to the liver. The findings of our study suggest that serum GGT levels may be a simple and reliable marker of visceral fataccumulation.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Gamma-glutamyl transferase, Insulin resistance, Metabolic syndrome, Obesity

INCIDENCE AND VIRULENCE TRAITS OF CANDIDA DUBLINIENSIS ISOLATED FROM CLINICALLY SUSPECTED PATIENTS

            Objective: Fungal infections are caused by Candida species are increasing mainly in immunocompromised patients. Among Candida species, Candida dubliniensis has recently increasing opportunistic pathogenic yeast. The present study was aimed to assess the incidence and virulence factors of C. dubliniensis isolated from urine samples of various hospitalized clinically suspected patients. Methods: Totally 1,406 urine samples were processed, among that 9(0.64%) were identified as C. dubliniensis by germ tube production, biochemical test (Candida identification kit), CHROM agar Candida differential medium and growth at 45°C. Virulence factors of the C. dubliniensis viz., phospholipase, proteinase, esterase, lipase, haemolysin and biofilm production were detected by standard procedures. Results: Maximum number of C.dubliniensis have ability to produce protienase 6(66.66%), followed by esterase 5(55.55%), biofilm formation 4(44.44%), haemolysin 2(22.22%) and phospholipase, lipase 1(11.1%) respectively. Conclusion: The result revealed that these enzymes are potential virulence factors are the most important thing to realize pathogenesis of C. dubliniensis.Â

Analysis of High Rise Building with Dual Systems

The dangerous natural hazards earthquake is the one which, cause great damage of the building and livelihood as well. The ground motion and structure behavior itself are the characters on which response of the structure depends during earthquake. In medium to high rise structures situated in earthquake prone area coupled shear walls are one of the systems commonly used to resist lateral forces. ETAB stands for extended version three dimensional analysis of building. Commonly Skyscrapers, parking garages, steel and concrete structures, high rise structures, portal frame structures with coupled shear wall are modelled using ETAB software. The study in this paper mainly emphasizes on structural behaviour of multi-storey building of regular shape with combination of coupled shear wall and bracings. Lateral load analysis for the following type of structures such as regular model, mass reduction model and soft storey models with coupled shear wall is done. Different storey height such a s 30, 40 and 50 storey heights is considered. The above analysis is done using ETABS. Parameters such as axial force, shear force, bending moment and seismic response of regular model, soft storey model, mass reduction model, V bracing model and X bracing model for 30, 40 and 50 storey structures are studied. Axial force increase with increase in storey height. Soft storey and mass reduction models possess less axial force compared to regular model. Regular model is stiffer than other two models. V bracing model were effective in reducing the bending moment and axial forces in columns. Storey displacementswere within permissible limits

Correlation of lipids and lipoprotein concentration with body mass index in obese, overweight and normal weight south Indian adults

Background: Obesity a chronic disorder is gradually becoming a serious public health problem in many countries. The aim of the study was designed to measure serum lipids and lipoproteins as marker for cardiovascular disease among obese and overweight South Indian adults.Methods: The study was done between June 2016 to December 2016, in SRM medical college hospital and research centre, Kattankulathur which comprised of 270 participants of both gender in the age of 18- 55 years. 90 individuals with body mass index (BMI ≥25kg/m2), 90 individuals with BMI in the range of 23.0 to 24.99kg/m2 and 90 age and sex matched controls (BMI = 18 to 22.99kg/m2) were selected for the study. Serum levels of total cholesterol, Triacylglycerol, high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) were analyzed by using auto analyzer Beckman Coulter AU480. The cardiac risk ratio 1 (cholesterol/HDL-C ratio) and 2 (LDL-C/HDL-C) ratio were calculated.Results: The difference between the mean values of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C, were found to be statistically significant across the three groups. Positive correlation was observed between BMI and cardiac risk ratios one and two in both obese and overweight groups.Conclusions: Cardiac risk is increased in South Indian overweight and obese individuals which is evident from the elevated levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C and cardiac rick ratio one (cholesterol/HDL-C ratio) and two (LDL-C/HDL-C)