Bridging strategy versus buffering strategy: enhancing crisis management capability in public management for relational and reputational improvement,and conflict avoidance

This study seeks to understand the effectiveness of an organization’s communication strategy in enhancing its crisis management capability in public management. The relationships between two types of communication strategies (bridging and buffering), crisis management capability in public management, relational improvement, reputational improvement, and conflict avoidance have been tested to suggest how an organization’s overall strategic orientation may help its ability to weather a crisis. A survey of communication managers was conducted in South Korea with 105 responses, representing 105 organizations. Results revealed that organizations which are predisposed toward adopting the bridging strategy as their main communication strategy also report better crisis management capability in public management, and as a result, experience positive relational and reputational outcomes.     

Web & wild

Conclusion Afew columns ago I likened many instructional technologists to marine biologists who were afraid of water and had never been to the sea. I suppose this column claims that they really don’t practice their biology, either. It’s not that we don’t know instructional technology; it’s not even that we don’t do instructional technology; it’s that many of us haven’t yet learned tobe instructional technologists. Let’s go there. Come on, it’ll be fun.     

Activating Adult-Learning Principles Through Small Groups in Preparing Social Work Students to Achieve CSWE Research Competencies

The research classroom is a prime venue for socializing master’s-level students as evidence-based practitioners. This article identifies an innovative approach to teaching research based on five adult-learning principles and the use of small ongoing groups that, when blended as the signature pedagogy, enable students to successfully actualize the Council on Social Work Education Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards required for professional practice. The article describes and discusses the five adult-learning principles that form the basis of this approach and four types of small-group activities that are used over the yearlong course, concluding with implications for reorganizing the traditional research classroom.     

Effect of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitex negundo</Emphasis> leaf extract on the free radicals scavengers in complete Freund's adjuvant induced arthritic rats

The effect of the oral administration ofVitex negundo leaf extract on the levels of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants were studied in the adjuvant induced arthritic (AIA) rats The levels of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, GPx, G6PD, GSH and Vit-C were estimated in various groups of the experimental rats. It was observed that the antioxidant enzyme levels in the AIA were significantly low when compared to normal rats. A significant decrease in enzymic antioxidant—SOD, CAT, GPx, G6PD and non-enzymic antioxidant—GSH, Vit-C were observed in the liver of AIA rats compared to the normal rats. These results suggest that the leaf extract ofVitex negundo possesses antioxidant activity.     

Iron deficiency and anemia in vegetarian mothers and their newborns

Blood haemoglobin, serum iron, iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation and ferritin levels were determined in two groups of mothers as well as their cords—strict vegetarians (lactovegetarians) and non-vegetarians (omnivores), closely comparable in age, weight, parity and gestation period but differing in their diet and food habits. All these parameters, except total iron binding capacity, were found to be significantly lower in vegetarian mothers and their cords as compared to nonvegetarian mothers and their cords, respectively, despite receiving supplemental iron for six months. Further, there was a greater incidence of anemia and iron deficiency in mothers consuming only vegetarian diet. Moreover, a significant correlation existed between mother's ferritin to cord ferritin confirming that maternal iron deficiency does affect neonatal iron status. All these observations suggest that strict vegetarian mothers as well as their newborns have a greater incidence and risk of anemia and iron deficiency.     

中国-喜玛拉雅特有属——蓝钟花属的分类修订

 Cyananthus Wallich ex Bentham, the only genus of Campanulaceae with superior ovary, is revised to clarify infrageneric relationships and phylogeny of the genus. Evidence obtained from the comparative gross morphology, anatomy, palynology, and karyomorphology recommends a new infrageneric classification of the genus, recognizing 23 species, belonging to two subgenera, four sections and four subsections. One subgenus(Subgen. Micranthus), one section(Sect. Suffruticulosi) and two subsections(Subsect. Flavi and Subsect. Lichiangenses)are described as new taxa. New combinations at sectional(Sect. Annui) and subsectional(Subsect. Stenolobi) ranks are also proposed. The genus Cyananthus is strictly distributed in the high mountains of China(Xizang, Yunnan and Sichuan), extending to Bhutan, Nepal and India(Kumaon-Garhwal, Assam and Sikkim), with altitudinal ranges from 2500～5300 m. It is observed that 13 species are endemic to SW China and only three species are endemic to the Himalayas(two species in Nepal and one to NW India). It is evident that Cyananthus is one of the most primitive genera of Campanulaceae and within the genus, subgenus Cyananthus(Sect. Stenolobi) is more primitive than the subgenus Micranthus. It is also suggested that SW China(most probably Yunnan) is the center of origin of Cyananthus, considering the occurrence of as many as 20 species of Cyananthus, representing several primitive taxa and many endemic species.     

Estimation of Ischemia Modified Albumin (IMA) Levels in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Myocardial ischemia produces free radicals that catalyze a series of oxidative reactions that damage healthy tissues. The N-terminal sequence of albumin is one of the proteins modified by these highly reactive oxygen species and forms the ischemia modified albumin (IMA). This study involves investigations undertaken in different study groups to assess the levels of IMA. Mean serum IMA levels (U/mL) in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (92.1 ± 10.6), non-ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (87.3 ± 5.95) and unstable angina (UA) (88.9 ± 6.16) were significantly higher than non-cardiac chest pain (77.9 ± 6.69) and also healthy subjects (54.7 ± 17.2) (p < 0.001). IMA is a highly sensitive marker and has a high predictive value, which might prove the usefulness of this biomarker for early detection of myocardial ischemia. These data indicate a possible role of the IMA test in the early triage of patients with chest pain.     

Effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternanthera sessilis</Emphasis> on Liver Function in Carbon Tetra Chloride Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wister Rat Model

Alternanthera sessilis commonly known as ‘sessile joy weed’ or ‘dwarf copperleaf’ is found throughout the hotter parts of India up to an altitude of 1200 m². In Assam, the plant has been traditionally used in the treatment of jaundice along with other ailments. The study focuses primarily on the evaluation of hepatoprotective activity of the plant with special references to its putative protective role in carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury on Wister albino rat. The in vivo hepatoprotective activity of the methanolic extract at the dose of 250 mg/kg body weight was highly effective in controlling SGPT, SGOT, ALP, serum cholesterol and serum bilirubin level as compared to silymarin. The said extract also significantly lowered the lipid profile caused by CCl₄. The activity shown by methanolic extract of the whole plant of A. sessilis is of considered importance and thus justified its use in controlling hepatic diseases in traditional treatment system.     

Serum Lipid Alterations in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients on Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatoid Therapy

Dyslipidaemia is a major CVD risk factor in the general population. Current evidence suggests that lipid metabolism is altered in RA due to inflammation, and that use of anti-inflammatory therapy may reverse some of these changes. The objective of our study is to compare the effect of treatment with DMARD on lipid fractions after 6 months of therapy. Forty patients who met the American College of Rheumatology, ACR/EULAR criteria for rheumatoid arthritis, with disease duration of less than 1 year and no prior treatment were included in the study. Thirty healthy volunteers were included as controls. The mean DAS-28 at disease onset was 5.15 ± 1.3. Early Rheumatoid Arthritis (ERA) patients exhibited higher serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lower serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels compared to controls. As a consequence, the atherogenic index of plasma [log (TG/HDL-C)], the atherogenic indices: TC/HDL-C as well as LDLC/HDL-C was significantly higher in ERA patients compared to controls. After 6 months of treatment, there was significant reduction of the DAS 28, HDL-C and Apo A-I improved and Lp(a) decreased significantly. All lipid ratios improved, a phenomenon primarily due to the increase in serum HDL-C levels. These changes were inversely correlated with CRP and ESR. In conclusion, ERA patients are characterized by an atherogenic lipid profile, which improves with DMARD therapy.