Psychological Contracts, OCB and Customer Service: An Exploratory Examination

This paper examines the relationships among the psychological contract, fairness, OCB, and customer service. We report on two exploratory studies that provide insight into psychological contract violations and subsequent perceptions of fairness, as well as OCB activity. A linkage is made between psychological contracts and behavior directed internally and those directed externally (i.e., customer service). We extend the current theory to suggest implications for effectively managing customer service employee OCB. Finally, suggestions are made for both practice and future research to be conducted in a multidisciplinary design

Lessons learned in promoting evidence-based public health: Perspectives from managers in state public health departments

Evidence-based public health (EBPH) practice, also called evidence-informed public health, can improve population health and reduce disease burden in populations. Organizational structures and processes can facilitate capacity-building for EBPH in public health agencies. This study involved 51 structured interviews with leaders and program managers in 12 state health department chronic disease prevention units to identify factors that facilitate the implementation of EBPH. Verbatim transcripts of the de-identified interviews were consensus coded in NVIVO qualitative software. Content analyses of coded texts were used to identify themes and illustrative quotes. Facilitator themes included leadership support within the chronic disease prevention unit and division, unit processes to enhance information sharing across program areas and recruitment and retention of qualified personnel, training and technical assistance to build skills, and the ability to provide support to external partners. Chronic disease prevention leaders\u27 role modeling of EBPH processes and expectations for staff to justify proposed plans and approaches were key aspects of leadership support. Leaders protected staff time in order to identify and digest evidence to address the common barrier of lack of time for EBPH. Funding uncertainties or budget cuts, lack of political will for EBPH, and staff turnover remained challenges. In conclusion, leadership support is a key facilitator of EBPH capacity building and practice. Section and division leaders in public health agencies with authority and skills can institute management practices to help staff learn and apply EBPH processes and spread EBPH with partners

Biosystematics studies on medicinal plant Urginea indica Kunth. liliaceae - A review

Indian squill, Urginea spp. is a very important and rare medicinal plant endemic to India, Africa and Meditteranian Regions. It has magical potential to heal many human diseases with cardiatonic, anticarcinomic, anti jaundice, anti dropsy, anti asthmatic, anti epileptic, dermatological and diuretic properties. Besides it has abortifacient effects and affects on menstrual cycle. It also finds its use as pesticides against fungus, insects and rats. Wide genetic and chromosomal variations were also still being researched to differentiate the different populations of Urginea. The biodiversity and germplasm collection is also a major area of emphasis to protect the rare genus. The basic taxonomic work to higher molecular developmental studies are still being explored in this genus. It is also a great source for many organic compounds yet to be characterized and discovered for its extensive possibility as potential bioactive molecule. The genetic variability and genomic studies are still being a hot topic in research

Clinico-pathological study of intradural extramedullary spinal tumors

Background: The intradural extramedullary tumours of the spine are one of the commonest tumours of the spine. Early diagnosis and surgical removal helps in best outcome. The objective of the study was to analyze the clinical presentation, imageology, resectability, to know the incidence of different types of tumours in intradural extramedullary compartment and to study the surgical outcome.Methods: This was a prospective study of 32 cases of intradural extramedullary tumours. The clinical presentation, imageology, resectability, histopathology, surgical outcome were studied. The patients were investigated with plain spinal radiography and MRI. All cases were treated surgically by posterior or posterolateral approaches. Outcome and complications were evaluated. They were followed up regularly and the results were analyzed. Ambulatory status was classified on admission by using Nurick-grading scheme.Results: The incidence of intradural extramedullary spinal tumours was 57.14%. Most of the tumours presented in the third decade (37.5%). Mean age of Presentation for meningioma was 36 years and for nerve sheath tumours was 39.5 years. The nerve sheath tumours contributed 35% followed by meningioma 28%. Nerve sheath tumours were found to be most commonly located in thoracic region (56%). Total excision of tumour was achieved in 87.7% cases.Conclusions: Nerve Sheath tumours and Meningiomas were the most common in intradural extramedullary spinal lesions and complete excision was possible in almost all cases. Prognosis was usually good, in spite of poor neurological status at the time of presentation.

Gender and displacement in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

This report presents the preliminary results of a household survey of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Jaffna District in Northern Province, one of the areas that still has a large IDP population. The main focus of this survey conducted in October 2020 employing Covid-19 safety protocols was to examine the gendered experiences arising from protracted displacements spanning over three decades. The survey covered 220 households (182 male-headed and 38 female-headed), which accounts for 54.3 per cent of the total IDP households in the Jaffna District. Among other topics, the survey gathered data on the respondents’ current living conditions, finances, asset ownership, safety and security concerns, access to services, social networks and relationship with other IDPs and the host community, and water, sanitation and hygiene issues they face. It also gathered data on the respondents’ pre-displacement experiences to compare that with their current lives, in order to examine the role of displacement in gendered issues they face

Prediction of Stock Market Index Using Genetic Algorithm

The generation of profitable trading rules for stock market investments is a difficult task but admired problem. First stage is classifying the prone direction of the price for BSE index (India cements stock price index (ICSPI)) futures with several technical indicators using artificial intelligence techniques. And second stage is mining the trading rules to determined conflict among the outputs of the first stage using the evolve learning. We have found trading rule which would have yield the highest return over a certain time period using historical data. These groundwork results suggest that genetic algorithms are promising model yields highest profit than other comparable models and buy-and-sell strategy. Experimental results of buying and selling of trading rules were outstanding. Key words: Data mining, Trading rule, Genetic algorithm, ANN, ICSPI predictio

Women's perceptions of their healthcare experience when they choose not to breastfeed

Research Question How do women who choose not to breastfeed perceive their healthcare experience? Method This qualitative research study used a phenomenographic approach to explore the healthcare experience of women who do not breastfeed. Seven women were interviewed about their healthcare experience relating to their choice of feeding, approximately four weeks after giving birth. Six conceptions were identified and an outcome space was developed to demonstrate the relationships and meaning of the conceptions in a visual format. Findings There were five unmet needs identified by the participants during this study. These needs included equity, self sufficiency, support, education and the need not to feel pressured. Conclusion Women in this study who chose not to breastfeed identified important areas where they felt that their needs were not met. In keeping with the Code of Ethics for Nurses and Midwives, the identified needs of women who do not breastfeed must be addressed in a caring, compassionate and just manner. The care and education of women who formula feed should be of the highest standard possible, even if the choice not to breastfeed is not the preferred choice of healthcare professionals

in Silico Microsatellite Development in Arum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)

Microsatellites are an important class of molecular markers having wide application in genetic research. Development of microsatellites using conventional methods is laborious and expensive. Alternatively, in silicoapproach can be followed to detect simple sequence repeats (SSRs) from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) available in public biological databases. The in silico developed EST-SSRs have been found to be transferrable across species and genera. A study was undertaken to mine simple sequence repeats (SSRs) from the expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of arum lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica, belongs to the family Araceae. A total of 4283 ESTs of Zantedeschia aethiopica, downloaded from dbEST of NCBI, were pre-processed and subjected to clustering and assembly. In all, 1968 clusters (800 contigs and 1168 singletons) were obtained, resulting in 54 % reduction in ESTs. In addition, 1936 SSRs were obtained, which included 617 mono, 101 di-, 201 tri-, 80 tetra-, 23 penta- and 898 hexa-nucleotide repeats. The plant has an abundance of 0.70 SSRs/ kb. We designed 1091 primers for these SSRs. A few in silico designed SSR primers were tested for polymorphism in Anthurium, belonging to the Araceae family, resulting in 40% amplification success