One step ahead: examining new predictors of affective organizational and occupational commitment

Studies around the world forecast a shortage of skilled academic researchers - high turnover rates of academics have been reported while lowering attractiveness of academic profession is leading to ever increasing recruitment and retention problems each year. The phenomenon is reported to be of global nature affecting both developing and industrialized countries. Academic retention should be a strategic priority as it is difficult to replace the knowledge, skills and experience of existing employees. Organizations will continue to lose valuable employees until HR managers are able to identify and apply appropriate retention strategies to help reduce employee turnover. Against this backdrop, this book aims to address the issue of retention of academic researchers. Higher education institutions– more than any other organizations – are, dependent on the intellectual abilities and commitment of academic staff. In order to function effectively, higher education institutions are, to a large extent, dependent on the commitment of academics. Therefore, the current study moves a step ahead and examines ‘new’ predictors of organizational and occupational commitment that are expected to contribute effectively towards a better understanding of academic retention. The new determinants of commitment introduced in this dissertation could be grouped into (a) organizational antecedents such as dual LMX relationships, satisfaction with HR practices, employability (b) situational antecedents such as work engagement, job satisfaction, occupational satisfaction and (c) personality antecedents such as motivation, self efficacy, proactive personality and political skills. Moreover, different mechanisms have been examined that could explain the relationships between predictors and commitment, and between commitment and turn over. For better generalizatbility of findings, hospital sample was also employed to test the research model. Results suggested that the research model can also be extended to the organizations outside academia

Having Two Bosses; Considering the Relationships between LMX, Satisfaction with HR Practices, and Organizational Commitment

The current study went beyond previous research on leader-member exchange (LMX) by examining employees who are supervised by more than one boss. Using data from 122 PhDs from a Dutch university, the current study had three research objectives. First, to examine the effects of PhDs' LMX with both their promoter and their assistant promoter on affective organizational commitment (AOC). Second, to examine the mediating role of satisfaction with HR practices in the two LMX - AOC relationships. Since the promoter as the higher level boss has more influence on different HR practices the third objective was to examine whether the LMX - AOC relationship is stronger for the promoter than for the assistant promoter. The results showed that both promoter LMX and LMX assistant promoter were positively related to PhDs’ AOC, and both relationships were fully mediated by PhDs’ satisfaction with HR practices. As expected, these effects were significantly stronger for the promoter than for the assistant promoter

ASSOCIATION OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY WITH PRETERM BIRTH

Background; Every year, 15 million neonates worldwide are born preterm.  Of these, 1.1 million die as a result of complications of being born too soon and even more suffer from serious prematurity-related complications including learning disabilities. Several studies point to the fact that vitamin D is involved in the regulation of acquired and innate immune responses at the fetal-maternal interface across gestation. Vitamin D reduces the risk of spontaneous preterm birth also by maintaining myometrial quiescence. This study was conducted to determine the role of Vitamin D deficiency with preterm labor in our population. Objective; To determine the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in preterm labour. Setting; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fatima Memorial Hospital Lahore. Results; A total of 167 pregnant women were registered mean age of our study cases was 28.48 ± 3.58 years. Mean parity was 3.95 ± 1.15. Mean gestational age of our study cases was 30.29 ± 3.02 weeks. Majority of our study cases i.e. 105 (62.9%) had poor socioeconomic status, while 62 (37.1%) were from middle class while none of them were from rich class. Mean vitamin D level was 40.86 ± 8.51 ng/dl (with minimum vitamin D level was 22 ng/dl and maximum vitamin D level was 56 ng/dl). Vitamin D deficiency was seen in 27 (16.2%) of our study cases. Conclusion; High frequency of Vitamin D deficiency was noted in our study population. Pregnant women should be screened routinely for Vitamin D levels, particularly those with previous history of preterm births to avoid them in subsequent pregnancies. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with poor socio-economic status, increasing age and gestational age less than 30 weeks. Keywords; Vitamin D deficiency, preterm labor, gestational age

Preference for relationship help and emotional help from third parties across cultures

Purpose In this paper, the authors examine the role of idiocentric and allocentric cultural orientations in employees’ preference for relationship help and for emotional help from third parties in two cross-cultural samples. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the psychological dynamics of cultural dimensions in relation to cross-cultural conflict intervention. Design/methodology/approach The authors tested the theoretical assumptions by using questionnaire survey in two cross-cultural samples. Study 1 is a cross-cultural comparison within a country, including 83 Dutch employees and 106 Turkish immigrants in the Netherlands. Study 2 is a comparison between countries, including 123 Germany-based German employees and 101 Pakistan-based Pakistani employees. Findings The results show that employees’ allocentric orientation, but not idiocentric orientation, explains the differences in preference for relationship help in both the within-country comparison (Study 1: individualistic Dutch culture vs collectivistic Turkish culture) and the between-country comparison (Study 2: individualistic German culture vs collectivistic Pakistani culture). However, only in the between-country comparison (Study 2), the findings reveal that the difference in preference for emotional help between individualistic German culture and collectivistic Pakistani culture is mediated by idiocentric orientation (not by allocentric orientation). Research limitations/implications The study confirms that the extent to which disputants’ preference for third-party help regarding social and personal aspects does differ across national cultures, and supports that the argument that social relationship is one of the paramount concerns in conflict handling in the collectivistic cultures. In addition, the study signals an alternative way of conducting two culture comparisons and expands our view on the cultural dimension of individualism-collectivism. Practical implications The findings have practical implications both for third-party intervention and for managing cultural diversity in the workplace. Social implications In general, this study contributes to our understanding on how culture influences conflict handling and provides suggestions for third parties to be culturally adaptive. Originality/value The research demonstrates that culture plays an important role in determining the extent to which disputants favour relationship help and emotional help from third parties. The research is also valuable in terms of reliability. The authors tested the hypotheses in two cross-cultural samples both within a country and between countries. </jats:sec

Maternal Serum Ferritin Levels and its effect on Cord Blood Hemoglobin in patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common medical complication of pregnancy that can have harmful impacts on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Literature shows that elevated serum maternal ferritin levels may cause dysregulation in glucose metabolism in GDM. This study aims to determine the association between serum ferritin, iron and hemoglobin levels in GDM patients at the time of delivery as well as cord hemoglobin and iron levels in newborns. Methods In this case-control study, a total of 100 patients were included i.e., 50 cases (GDM) and 50 controls (non-GDM) having aged-matched individuals of normal pregnancy. The hemoglobin, iron and serum ferritin, and hsCRP levels of the mother were determined using maternal blood. A cord blood sample was taken to determine neonatal iron and hemoglobin levels. Results The&nbsp; study participants mean age &nbsp;was 29.2 ± 5.6 years. The ferritin levels of GDM mothers (42.3 ± 6.7) were significantly higher than non-GDM patients (34.4 ± 3.8) with p&lt;0.001. Similarly, Cord hemoglobin levels of newborns of GDM mothers were significantly higher than newborns of non-GDM patients (p&lt;0.01). In GDM mothers, maternal ferritin levels were inversely correlated to cord hemoglobin levels (r= - 0.29, p =0.004). Conclusions Elevated maternal serum ferritin levels are linked to increased oxidative stress and effects fetal intrauterine and post-partum health. The placental iron transfer and fetal hemoglobin synthesis will be affected by oxidative stress

Ultrasonographic Comparison of Previous Caesarean Scar Thickness in Second and Third Trimester of Current Pregnancy

Background: The rate of caesarean section is increasing in the world. With which there is an increase in complications of pregnancy. There is risk of the uterine rupture if there is trial of the normal delivery. The aim of study is to determine and compare previous caesarean scar thickness in second and third trimester of pregnancy. Objective(s): To determine previous caesarean scar thickness in second and third trimester of current pregnancy. Methodology: An analytical study was conducted in the Saima medical center Shalimar link road Lahore. Sixty-two patients were enrolled in this study with convenient sampling. Toshiba nemio 10 ultrasound machines with convex transducer frequency range 3.5 MHz.patients with placenta previa and twin gestation were excluded from this study. Transabdominal technique was used in this study. Data were collected through data collection sheets and was tabulated and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS)version 24(SPSS, IBM, Armonk, NY, United States of America) Microsoft excel. Results: A total of 62 patient were examined in the study. The age incidence of the cases in this study varied between 22 years to 36 years. The mean age of the patients in the study was 27. 2903.The mean gestational age was 27.47. The mean scar thickness at 24-28 weeks was3.3925. parity varied patient to patient.16(25.8%) females had para 2.23(37.1%) had para 3 and 16(25.8%) had para 4.3(4.8%) females had para 5 and 4(6.5%) had para 6. In the current study out of sixty-two patients 13(21%) were gravida1,24(38.7%) was gravid 2,17(27.4) were gravid 3,4(6.5%) gravid 4 and (6.5) gravid. A statistical significance difference found in mean scar thickness at 24-28 weeks of gestation and at 32-36 weeks of gestation-value = 0.000 &lt; α = 0.05. Conclusion(s): ultrasound is the useful modality for determining scar thickness. The scar thickness of previous c section in the current pregnancy. Keywords: Analytical study, cesarean scar thickness DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/93-02 Publication date:September 30th 202

In Vitro Antifungal Potential of Vanillic Acid against Sclerotium rolfsii

The worldwide demand for making agriculture greener, safer, and more efficient can be met aptly by the application of biopesticides. Vanillic acid is a naturally occurring versatile phenolic molecule with promising antifungal activity, however, there have been no studies of the possible use of vanillic acid for its antifungal activity against a serious soil-borne fungal plant pathogen namely Sclerotium rolfsii. This study was performed to assess the antifungal potential of vanillic acid by analyzing growth, morphological, and biochemical changes in S. rolfsii under laboratory conditions. The results revealed that vanillic acid (0.003-0.10 %) significantly reduced fungal growth, distorted fungal morphology (hyphae, and sclerotia), altered activity of enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase). However, 0.05 and 0.10 % concentrations caused complete inhibition in the fungal growth. The results explained in this work serve as a basis for further research to formulate fungicides using vanillic acid

Awareness and Knowledge Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening and its Association with Demographic Characteristics

&nbsp;Objective: To assess awareness and knowledge regarding cervical cancer screening, Pap smear screening, HPV infection, vaccine and their association with demographic characteristics. Methodology: This is a questionnaire based cross sectional study with a sample size of 100 female patients. This study was conducted in (OB/GYN OPD) in tertiary care setting of Military Hospital and Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. Duration of study was 1 month April 2018. Results: Only 44.4% of patients had heard about cervical cancer. Awareness regarding PAP smear and HPV vaccination was present in around 20% patients. The results of the study revealed that higher socio-economic status (p=0.048) and education (p=0.03) was linked to more awareness regarding cervical cancer. Educational status had a linear relationship. Conclusion: The lack of knowledge to cervical cancer occurs in higher socio economic class also. There is a need of more education for increased awareness in all patients to enhance uptake of preventive strategie

Frequency of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients Infected with Hepatitis C Virus visiting a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore for Computed Tomographic Evaluation

Background: Hepatitis C virus has been identified as one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease and its complications world-wide. Subsequent development of hepatocellular carcinoma in these patients is a major complication of this infection having serious implications on morbidity and mortality rates. The objective of this study was to find out the frequency of Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients suffering from Hepatitis C visiting Radiology department of a tertiary care hospital for multi-detector computed tomography evaluation.Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Shalamar Hospital Lahore. A total of 195 patients, suffering from Hepatitis C, visiting Shalamar Hospital, Lahore for evaluation by CT during 6 months study interval were included in this study. Abdominal CT was performed using Triphasic contrast enhancement protocol. All images were interpreted by a senior Radiologist. Frequency of Hepatocellular carcinoma was calculated. Statistical analysis was made using MEDCALC.Results: Out of 195, 63(32.3%) patients were seen to have hepatocellular carcinoma. This disease was more common in male, 45(34.6%) as compared to female patients 18 (27.7%). The presence of HCC showed statistically significant association with alcoholism, obesity, diabetes mellitus and cirrhosis.Conclusion: The study concluded that a substantial number of HCV positive patients develop HCC, which is more common in men as compared to women. The presence of HCC is strongly associated with alcoholism, obesity, diabetes mellitus and cirrhosis.Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); Hepatitis C (HCV); Multi-detector Computed Tomography (MDCT)