The organizational implications of medical imaging in the context of Malaysian hospitals

This research investigated the implementation and use of medical imaging in the context of Malaysian hospitals. In this report medical imaging refers to PACS, RIS/HIS and imaging modalities which are linked through a computer network. The study examined how the internal context of a hospital and its external context together influenced the implementation of medical imaging, and how this in turn shaped organizational roles and relationships within the hospital itself. It further investigated how the implementation of the technology in one hospital affected its implementation in another hospital. The research used systems theory as the theoretical framework for the study. Methodologically, the study used a case-based approach and multiple methods to obtain data. The case studies included two hospital-based radiology departments in Malaysia. The outcomes of the research suggest that the implementation of medical imaging in community hospitals is shaped by the external context particularly the role played by the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, influences from both the internal and external contexts have a substantial impact on the process of implementing medical imaging and the extent of the benefits that the organization can gain. In the context of roles and social relationships, the findings revealed that the routine use of medical imaging has substantially affected radiographers’ roles, and the social relationships between non clinical personnel and clinicians. This study found no change in the relationship between radiographers and radiologists. Finally, the approaches to implementation taken in the hospitals studied were found to influence those taken by other hospitals. Overall, this study makes three important contributions. Firstly, it extends Barley’s (1986, 1990) research by explicitly demonstrating that the organization’s internal and external contexts together shape the implementation and use of technology, that the processes of implementing and using technology impact upon roles, relationships and networks and that a role-based approach alone is inadequate to examine the outcomes of deploying an advanced technology. Secondly, this study contends that scalability of technology in the context of developing countries is not necessarily linear. Finally, this study offers practical contributions that can benefit healthcare organizations in Malaysia

Chemical constituents of Rennelua Elliptica: The Malaysian ginseng / Nor Hadiani Ismail, Rohaya Ahmad and Faridahanim Mohd Jaafar

Rennellia ellitpica Korth. is a tropical shrub that can be found in lowland tropical rainforest in Malaysia. It is locally known as 'segemuk' and dubbed as Malaysia Ginseng due to the resemblance between roots of R. elliptica and roots of ginseng, as well as its many traditional uses. The decoction of the roots of this plant is traditionally used as treatment of body aches, as afterbirth tonic and also being claimed as aphrodisiac. The dried roots of R. elliptica that were previously collected from Taman Negara Kuala Keniam, Pahang were successively extracted using hexane, dichloromethane and methanol. The dichloromethane extract were absorbed onto acid washed silica (previously shaken with 4% oxalic acid, filtered and activated at 89 °C) and introduced to acid washed silica gel bed (60 cm X 5 cm) eluted with series of solvents, comprising of various compositions of hexanedichloromethane and dichloromethane-methanol in increasing polarity. Further isolation and purification utilizing various chromatographic procedures followed by careful analysis of spectral data including MS, IR, UV, 1D and 2D NMR as well as x-ray crystallography lead to identification of one new anthraquinone, 1,2-dimethoxy-6-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (1) along with ten known anthraquinones namely nordamnacanthal (2), 2-formyl-3-hydroxy-9.10- anthraquinone (3), damnacanthal (4), 1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-6-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (5), lucidin-cj-methyl ether (6), 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (7), rubiadin (8), 2- hydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone (9), rubiadin-1-methyl ether (10) and 3- hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-9,10-anthraquinone (11). The dichloromethane crude extract and the anthraquinones were screened for antiplasmodial activity in vitro. The dichloromethane extract inhibited the Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro with IC50 value of 4.04 (jg/ml while most of anthraquinones tested were active inhibitors and the strongest inhibitor was shown by 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone with IC500.34|jM. The new anthraquinone, 1,2-dimethoxy-6-methyl-9,10-anthraquinone is an active inhibitor with IC50 value of 1.10 |jM

Implementation of Sustainability Standard into Commodity Supply Chain Networks: A Processual Case Approach

This paper investigates the process of implementing sustainability standard into shea butter supply chain networks. Using an exploratory processual case study methodology informed by Pettigrew Contextual Approach. In this paper a conceptual model was developed using the relationship among the external actors to investigate the contextual factors that support or obstruct the implementation process over a period of time. The findings suggest that the standard setting organizations are the pace-setters for the other external actors in the implementation process, while contextual factors related to socio-cultural context, historical context and political context are responsible for the slow implementation process in the supply chain networks. Research implication for the study was presented together with contributions and conclusion

Shea Kernel Supply Chain and Suppliers Relationships in Rural Borgu,Niger State, Nigeria

This paper explores the roles of strong suppliers in shea kernel supply chains and the impact of their roles on the livelihood of weak suppliers (rural women) who are engaged in shea nut picking and processing. In the last few years, the media recognised that the Nigerian shea butter industry is not fully regulated, and it is confronted with a lot of sustainability challenges. While there is a call on the relevant stakeholders to take responsible action such as public enlightenment and reshaping of the supply chain network. The mechanisms that supports and create connections for actors involved in the supply chain is not very clear and as such the measures taken by the stakeholders to curb the menace seems not to hit the target. Furthermore, the negative effect of these activities on the weak suppliers seems to be greatly ignored. Therefore, studying the relationships between the strong and weak suppliers defines the specific roles of actors involved in shea kernel trade: More specifically, the local buying agents (LBAs) who create and hold the link to the broader domestic and export supply chain are studied