A Moderated Mediation Model of Empowering Leadership and Employees’ Innovative Work Behavior

This study examined the moderated mediation model of empowering leadership and employees’ innovative work behavior (IWB) by analyzing the mediating role of employees’ psychological empowerment and high-performance work system (HPWS). Using the convenience sampling technique, time-lagged data was collected from 433 software engineers working in different software companies operating in Pakistan. Hierarchical regression analysis and PROCESS macro were used to perform the analysis. The findings revealed that empowering leadership impacts employees’ IWB directly as well as through their psychological empowerment, while HPWS moderates the relationship between empowering leadership and employees’ psychological empowerment. The findings further articulated that the moderated mediation effects of HPWS also arbitrate between empowering leadership and employees’ IWB. The results of this study implied that when employees work in the context of a high HPWS, they reciprocate positively to the support and resources received from their leaders. Similarly, in the context of a high HPWS, empowering leadership greatly enhances employees’ psychological empowerment and creativity. In the context of a low HPWS, employees’ IWB depends upon their leaders’ behavior and also on their own psychological empowerment. Hence, the study analyzed when (contextual boundary conditions) and how (the underlying mechanism) empowering leadership enhances employees’ IWB by utilizing the moderated mediation model

ICT Business Case Approach in Public-Sector: A Case Study of the Australian Federal Government

Many private organisations and public sector agencies develop information and communication technology (ICT) business cases, and utilise them for better ICT investment decision making. The development of ICT business cases in private sector is relatively ad hoc and compact in size. In contrast, agencies in public sector are accountable to taxpayers for their use of public funds and to ensure that public money is spent efficiently and value for money is obtained. This accountability in the public sector has cultivated a norm of increased control over public agencies’ spending and led to the requirement for a robust and evidence-based ICT business cases. So far, scant research has investigated the development and utilisation of ICT business cases in the public sector. To fill this gap, this research-in-progress proposes a study to take a closer look at ICT business case approach in the public sector and its related benefits and disadvantages perceived by ICT business case experts. Preliminary data was collected from archival data and interviews with ICT business case experts working at a professional services firm. Our preliminary findings show that a structured and complex two-pass ICT business case approach was adopted in the Australian Federal Government. This research-in-progress briefly outlines benefits and disadvantages which business case practitioners can adopt to enhance their related ICT business case approach

Source of Bleeding and Per-Operative Findings in Extradural Hematoma (EDH): A Three-Year Experience in a Teaching Institute

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the main source of bleeding and operative findings in an extradural hematoma (EDH). Material and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted at the Neurosurgery Department of Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from March 2017 to April 2020.The study included 550 patients that met the criteria of inclusion well. Demographic profile, location of Extra-Dural hematoma, the source of bleeding, presence or absence of skull fracture and per operative findings were documented in structured proforma. Results: 69% were male and 31% were female patients. The middle age group of 21 – 40 years mostly affected. Rupture or laceration of middle meningeal artery was the communal source of bleeding in 355 (64.5%) patients, followed by fracture bone in 285 (51.8%) of patients and dural venous sinus in 70 (12.7%) of patients. Preoperative findings in our study were linear skull fracture in 250 (45.4.0%), underlying contusion in 165 (30%), and contralateral hematoma in 70 (12.7%) of cases. Conclusion: Rupture or laceration of a Middle meningeal artery (MMA) was the most communal source of bleeding in extradural hematoma. Therefore, per-operative cauterization of this vessel is important to prevent the chances of re-bleed and re-do surgeries

A Lattice Boltzmann Model for Phase Change Material (PCM) Melting with Porous Media in Heat Exchanger

Phase change material (PCM) is widely used in thermal energy storage systems as it can absorb and release a large amount of heat by the phase change process. Both experimental and numerical studies of PCM have increased substantially in the past two decades. Among them, the phase change in porous media is one of the significant topics. The simulation of PCM melting in porous media is required to characterize the fluid flow and heat transfer behavior, and to provide guidance for the further design and optimization of PCM heat exchangers and thermal energy storage systems. In this paper, a model is developed based on the Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to simulate transient phase change in porous media. Double distribution functions coupled with a multirelaxationtime (MRT) scheme are utilized in LBM for the simulation of the fluid flow and temperature field, respectively. An enthalpy updating scheme is also applied to determine the liquid fraction of PCM, which is used to track the solidliquid interface. The basic model in Cartesian coordinate is verified with the simulation of PCM phase change in a porous rectangular container. The model is further adapted for use in cylindrical coordinates for simulating the phase change process within porous media in a cylindrical heat exchanger. The developed model is verified by two vertical annulus cases and the results indicate that the developed model can successfully simulate the effects of natural convection and porous media on the thermal flow. More validation cases are expected to be conducted for the developed model to test its ability to simulate the phase change process. And the fully developed model is expected to be applied in a wider field of PCM phase change, which can benefit the design and improvement of PCM heat exchangers in thermal energy storage systems

Impact of HR Practices on Perceived Performance of Hospital Employees in Pakistan

The objective of our study is to establish the relationship between Employee’s Performance and HR practices in the developing countries like Pakistan. Few studies have been conducted to examine the relationship between employee’s performance and HR practices in the developing countries. The core aim of our study is to investigate relationship between employee’s performance and three Human Resource practices (Performance Evaluation, Promotion and Compensation) among hospital employees in Pakistan. The outcomes of this paper shows the positive association between promotion practices and compensation practices with employee performance but employee performance are not significantly associated with performance evaluation. Pakistani hospitals need to change some compensation practices for the improvement of hospital employee’s performance. Keywords: Employee performance, HR practices, Hospital employees, Pakistan

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in a child presenting as a solitary intracranial epidural mass

Acute Lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy, CNS involvement occurs in 3-5% of the patients. We present a case of a 14-year-old boy who presented to us with nighttime fever, headache, and right-sided focal fits. Reports showed decreased platelets, increased WBC with predominant eosinophils and imaging showed a subgaleal, epidural and subdural collection. Bone marrow biopsy and CSF analysis were negative for any hematological malignancy. A biopsy and histopathology of the CNS lesion confirmed the diagnosis of Precursor B-cell Lymphocytic Leukemia. Although CSF analysis is useful for evaluating CNS involvement, ALL cannot be ruled out by negative CSF report

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in a child presenting as a solitary intracranial epidural mass

Acute Lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy, CNS involvement occurs in 3-5% of the patients. We present a case of a 14-year-old boy who presented to us with nighttime fever, headache, and right-sided focal fits. Reports showed decreased platelets, increased WBC with predominant eosinophils and imaging showed a subgaleal, epidural and subdural collection. Bone marrow biopsy and CSF analysis were negative for any hematological malignancy. A biopsy and histopathology of the CNS lesion confirmed the diagnosis of Precursor B-cell Lymphocytic Leukemia. Although CSF analysis is useful for evaluating CNS involvement, ALL cannot be ruled out by negative CSF report