26 research outputs found
Identification of Candida species by direct inoculation of cornmeal tween™ 80 agar from blood culture bottles: Rapid and cost-effective approach
No full textBackground: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of Candida species identification by direct inoculation of positive blood culture specimens into CornMeal Tween™ (CMT) 80 agar with the conventional methods. Methods: This study was performed in two phases: Phase 1: Inoculation of direct CMT from artificially spiked blood culture bottles with identified Candida species. Phase 2: Direct inoculation of smear-positive bottles on CMT agar for identification. Routine identification method was carried out using urease production, sensitivity to cycloheximide, CMT inoculation, and colony morphology on BiGGY agar. All isolates were also evaluated for sugar assimilation on the biochemical test panel Analytical profile index (API) 20C AUX (BioMerieux). Statistical Analysis Used: The correlation between both methods was determined as percentage agreement rate using kappa score. Results: In the first phase 50 artificially spiked blood culture bottles were included in the study. The sample set consisted of 24% C albicans, 38% C tropicalis, and 22% C glabrata isolates. There was 100% agreement between the directly inoculated and CMT inoculated from colonies at 48 hours. Phase 2: The overall agreement between directly inoculated CMT and conventional method of identification at 72 h was 92%. Conclusion: Direct inoculation of CMT agar can easily differentiate common Candida species microscopically on the basis of chlamydospores, blastopores, and arrangement of pseudo hyphae. However, identification of rare species from specimens containing two different species using direct method is challenging. Therefore, conventional methods including macroscopic/microscopic characteristics and biochemical profile with the aid of API with API 20 AUX would be a better choice for such cases
J Pak Med Assoc
Get PDFObjectiveTo compare phenotypic and genotypic methods of yeast identification.MethodsThe in-vitro cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2006 to May 2009. Invasive yeasts isolated at the clinical microbiology laboratory at the Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi, Pakistan, were identified. Speciation by phenotypic and molecular methods was compared. All yeasts isolated during the study period from blood and other invasive sites were identified using standard methods. Isolates were shipped to Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, for identification by Luminex flow cytometric multianalyte profiling (xMAP) system. Ribosomal ITS2 DNA sequencing was performed on isolates not identified by Luminex.ResultOf the 214 invasive yeasts evaluated, Candida species were 209 (97.7%) while the frequency of non-Candida species was 5 (2.3%). Overall agreement between phenotypic and molecular identification was 81.3%, 90.3% amongst the more common Candida species, and only 38.8% amongst the uncommon yeasts.ConclusionPhenotypic methods of identification proved adequate for common Candida species, but were deficient in recognising rare Candida and non-Candida yeasts, highlighting the importance of molecular methods for identification.CC999999/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States
Unlocking growth within SMEs through digital transformation : a study of digital maturity and its effect on profitability amongst SMEs in the Greater Oslo region
Get PDFSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) classify as the very backbone of Norwegian business and industry. According to SSB, there were a total of nearly 630 000 active enterprises operating in Norway in 2022 (SSB, 2022). This constitutes more than 99% of all companies in the country. The SMB-market also account for half of the value creation in the country. On the other side, we see that these companies have a great need for a digital competence boost which is an important driver for innovation and competitiveness. Their path to becoming more digital, in context with lack of economic capital, fewer employees and minimal resources, is an interesting topic in itself. It has previously been proven through research that digitization in large companies is profitable. Unfortunately, there is little research on the same topic regarding the SME market.
The purpose of this master’s thesis is to shed light on whether there is any significant correlation between digitalization and financially profitable for small and medium-sized companies. This is done through qualitative interviews with 30 top leaders from companies in the greater Oslo, who participated in the study. The main aim is to evaluate their digital and technological implementations made in the time period 2014-2019, which is the period the study is based on. Furthermore, these implementations are sorted based on the functions marketing, logistics, organization / management, and production, based on the conceptual product that has been developed by the authors. This conceptual product quantifies the company's digital maturity by quantifying it through a digital index. The economic profitability ratio Return on Sales (RoS), which denotes the relationship between operating profit and turnover, are the parameter used to measure whether the implementations are profitable or not.
The result of the study shows that digitization does not necessarily have a significant connection with profitability. This means that implementation that is introduced does not show any improvement in the financial results even five years after the digital implementation has been introduced. On the other hand, implementations in the organizational / management function are an exception. The findings from the study show that a digital implementation leads to financial profitability 3 years after it is implemented. This thesis explains favorable digital implementations for SMEs, and why some are insufficient in achieving their desired goals where the effect has been negative.Små og mellomstore bedrifter (SMB) klassifiseres som selve ryggraden til norsk næringsliv. Ifølge SSB er det i 2022 til sammen nærmere 630 000 aktive virksomheter i Norge (SSB, 2022). Dette utgjør mer enn 99% av alle bedriftene i landet. Disse står også for nærmere halvparten av verdiskapningen i landet. Allikevel ser vi at disse virksomhetene har et stort behov for et digitalt kompetanseløft som er en viktig driver for innovasjon og konkurransekraft i Norge. Dette sett i sammenheng med lite ressursintensitet og mangelen på økonomisk- og humankapital. Det har tidligere blitt bevist gjennom forskning at digitalisering i store virksomheter er lønnsomt. Dessverre er det lite forskning rundt same tematikk som gjelder samme tematikk i SMB-markedet.
Hensikten med oppgaven er å belyse om det er noe signifikant sammenheng mellom digitalisering og økonomisk lønnsomt for små og mellomstore selskap. Dette blir gjort gjennom kvalitative intervju med 30 toppledere fra selskap i Oslo og Viken som deltok på studiet. Disse forteller om deres digitale og teknologiske implementeringer gjort i tidsperioden 2014-2019, som er den perioden studien baserer seg på. Videre blir disse implementeringene sortert basert på funksjonene markedsføring, logistikk, organisasjon/ledelse og produksjon, basert på det konseptuelle produktet som har blitt utviklet av forfatterne. Dette konseptuelle produktet kvantifiserer bedriftens digitale modenhet med en gjennom å tallfeste en digital indeks. Dette ses på i sammenheng med det økonomiske lønnsomhetsfunksjonen driftsmarginen, som betegner forholdet mellom driftsresultat og omsetning.
Resultatet av studiet viser at digitalisering av de samtlige funksjonene ikke har en signifikant sammenheng med lønnsomhet. Dette betyr at implementering som blir innført ikke viser noen bedring i de økonomiske resultatene selv fem år etter at den digitale implementeringen har blitt innført. Derimot så er implementeringer i organisasjons/ledelse funksjonen et unntak. Funnene fra studiet viser at en digital implementering fører til økonomisk lønnsomhet 3 år etter at den er iverksatt.
Denne oppgaven gir implikasjoner på hva som er gunstige implementeringer. Det redegjøres også for hvorfor implementeringene bedriftene har gjennomført ikke har klart å nå sitt ønskede formål.M-Ø
Diversity of Bacillus-like bacterial community in the rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil of halophytes (Salsola stocksii and Atriplex amnicola) and characterization of osmoregulatory genes in halophilic Bacilli
Get PDFSalinity is one of the major abiotic stresses, with a total of 3% of the worldâ s land mass being affected by salinity. Approximately 6.3 million hectares of land in Pakistan is affected by salinity to varying degree and most of the areas are arid to semiarid with low annual precipitation. The aim of present study is to identify and characterize Bacillus and Bacillus-derived bacterial genera from the rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil samples from Khewra Salt Mine, Pakistan by using culture-independent as well as culture-dependent methods. Seven Bacillus-like bacterial genera Bacillus, Halobacillus, Virgibacillus, Brevibacillus, Paenibacillus, Tumebacillus and Lysinibacillus were detected by using pyrosequencing analysis whereas only four genera Bacillus, Halobacillus, Oceanobacillus and Virgibacillus were identified by culture-dependent methods. Most of Bacillus-like isolates identified in this study were moderately halophilic, alkaliphilic and mesophilic bacteria and were considered as a good source of hydrolytic enzymes because of their ability to degrade proteins, carbohydrates and lipids. Eight Bacillus-like strains from the genera Bacillus, Halobacillus, Oceanobacillus and Virgibacillus showed positive results for the presence of ectABC gene cluster (ectoine), six strains could synthesize betaine from choline and six strains tested positive for the synthesis of proline from either glutamate or ornithine by using proline dehydrogenase enzyme.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
Geographical distribution of reported cases across Pakistan. (Map is created by author using QGIS software).
No full textGeographical distribution of reported cases across Pakistan. (Map is created by author using QGIS software).</p
Gaps in Marketing Competencies Between Employers’ Requirements and Graduates’ Marketing Skills
Get PDFThis study was conducted to highlight the gaps in marketingcompetencies that are required by employers and those thatgraduates learn at business school. The existing literature wassurveyed to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities required byemployers in the field of marketing and then contextualizedaccording to the requirements of employers in Pakistan. A surveyof marketing graduates was conducted in two parts, competencysurvey 1 was designed to identify the importance of differentcompetencies required in marketing jobs and competency survey 2was to make out the level of those competencies present in freshgraduates, according to their (graduates) own perceptions. Acomparison was made between the results of two cohorts and it wasfound that statistically significant gaps existed in required andactual level of few marketing competencies like ‘design andimplement marketing plan’, ‘conduct market research’ and‘forecasting and budgeting’
Patient Educ Couns
Get PDFObjectiveTo describe the development, pilot testing, and dissemination of a psychosocial intervention addressing concerns of young breast cancer survivors (YBCS).MethodsIntervention development included needs assessment with community organizations and interviews with YBCS. Based on evidence-based models of treatment, the intervention included tools for managing anxiety, fear of recurrence, tools for decision-making, and coping with sexuality/ relationship issues. After pilot testing in a university setting, the program was disseminated to two community clinical settings.ResultsThe program has two distinct modules (anxiety management and relationships/sexuality) that were delivered in two sessions; however, due to attrition, an all day workshop evolved. An author constructed questionnaire was used for pre- and post-intervention evaluation. Post-treatment scores showed an average increase of 2.7 points on a 10 point scale for the first module, and a 2.3 point increase for the second module. Qualitative feedback surveys were also collected. The two community sites demonstrated similar gains among their participants.ConclusionsThe intervention satisfies an unmet need for YBCS and is a possible model of integrating psychosocial intervention with oncology care.Practice ImplicationsThis program developed standardized materials which can be disseminated to other organizations and potentially online for implementation within community settings.R25 CA087949/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United StatesU58 DP003429/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States1U58DP003429/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United StatesR25CA 87949/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United State
Parental Cultural Values, Qualities of Parenting, and Diurnal Cortisol Patterns in Middle Childhood: Differences in White and Hispanic Families?
No full textabstract: It is widely understood that qualities of the home environment greatly influence child health outcomes (Nancy, 1999; Simons et al., 2010). While there has been much research regarding the role of direct parenting behaviors, there remains little research regarding how other qualities of the parent, such as cultural values, may affect child physiological outcomes. Furthermore, research has also suggested that the way in which parenting and culture may be associated with child outcomes may differ based on race/ethnicity (Pinquart & Kauser, 2018). In this thesis, I examined the direct associations between parental cultural values (i.e., mainstream, traditional) and child diurnal cortisol outcomes as well as other qualities of parenting (parental warmth, authoritarianism) and child diurnal cortisol outcomes in Hispanic and White identifying primary caregivers. A moderating model was then used to investigate the racial/ethnic differences which may exist in these associations through mixed model regressions.
Participants were 475 twins and their primary caregivers (mean age=8.48; Primary caregivers: 64% White, 36% Hispanic; 53.8% middle class or above). I found no main effects between parental cultural values and child cortisol outcomes and no main effects between parenting behaviors and child cortisol outcomes. However, when exploring the moderating role of race/ethnicity, it was found that, as compared to children of White primary caregivers, children of Hispanic primary caregivers who had higher levels of parental authoritarianism had steeper PM slopes, indicating more adaptive cortisol outcomes. This suggests that the adaptiveness of certain parenting behaviors may differ across racial/ethnic groups such that what is considered to be “good parenting” may not translate across differing racial/ethnic groups. Ultimately, further research should be conducted in order to further explore the impact of race/ethnicity in the outcomes of our children
Species identification of invasive yeasts including candida in Pakistan: limitations of phenotypic methods
Get PDFObjective: To compare phenotypic and genotypic methods of yeast identification. Methods: The in-vitro cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2006 to May 2009. Invasive yeasts isolated at the clinical microbiology laboratory at the Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi, Pakistan, were identified. Speciation by phenotypic and molecular methods was compared. All yeasts isolated during the study period from blood and other invasive sites were identified using standard methods. Isolates were shipped to Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, for identification by Luminex flow cytometric multianalyte profiling (xMAP) system. Ribosomal ITS2 DNA sequencing was performed on isolates not identified by Luminex. Result: Of the 214 invasive yeasts evaluated, Candida species were 209 (97.7%) while the frequency of non-Candida species was 5 (2.3%). Overall agreement between phenotypic and molecular identification was 81.3%, 90.3% amongst the more common Candida species, and only 38.8% amongst the uncommon yeasts. Conclusion: Phenotypic methods of identification proved adequate for common Candida species, but were deficient in recognising rare Candida and non-Candida yeasts, highlighting the importance of molecular methods for identification
Determining the construct validity of assessment of clinical competence in internal medicine clerkship (at AgaKhan University)
No full textBackground: With modern curricular planning methods, the curricular content, the instructional methods and assessment strategies are continually monitored to ensure that quality standards are maintained. Quiet often a robust measure and analysis of the validity of clerkship assessments is overlooked. This study was done to explore the construct validity related evidence of the multi-method assessments used by the department of medicine for assessing student performance in the undergraduate medicine clerkship program at Aga Khan University.
Methods: This was an ex-post facto study of the assessments scores of 167 students of two consecutive cohorts who rotated in the clinical clerkships of the department of medicine from 2009-2011. Analysis consisted of reliability, factor and regression analyses of end of clerkship scores in 3-5 years. The multi-trait multi-method matrix (MTMM) was developed to assess the construct validity.
Findings: It was found that the reliability of the assessment instruments used were moderate to high (0.62 - 0.94). Factor analysis isolated 2 attributes which were identified as clinical reasoning ability and professional behaviour. Regression analysis found that the third year scores were predictive of final year score. Construct validity of the multi-method assessments was determined by application of the Campbell and Fiscke criteria to the MTMM developed.
Conclusions The undergraduate assessment of clinical competence conducted by the department of medicine at Aga Khan University predominantly assesses students’ clinical reasoning and professional behaviour; both traits are essential for physicians to be certified as clinically competent.
Key words: Assessment, Construct Validity, Psychometrics, Clinical competenc
