PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of human resource management (HRM) practices on employee retention mediated by reward and compensation. Also, this study has examined the ...moderating role of performance appraisal, and training and development on the relationship between HRM practices and employee retention. METHODOLOGY: A sample of 250 respondents among the employees working in the retail sector in Capital City of Maldives was selected using the random probability sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was distributed, and data was collected. Structural equation modeling analysis was carried out to examine the causal effect of HRM practices on employee retention. FINDINGS: The results showed that reward and compensation (R&C) practices had significant and positive effects on employee retention. However, the study found no significant effect of career development, training and development, and performance appraisal on employee retention. In terms of mediating effects, R&C had significantly positive mediating effects on the relationship between training and development (T&D) and employee retention as well as on the relationship between performance appraisal and employee retention. However, there were no moderating effects between performance appraisal as well as T&D and employee retention. Therefore, it was concluded that increasing the positive perception towards HRM practices, particularly R&C practices in the retail sector of Maldives, causes an increase in employee retention (ER). Also, it was concluded that HRM practices such as R&C mediate the relationship between Training and Development (T&D) and Employee Retention along with the relationship between Performance Appraisal (PA) and ER. This means, indirectly PA and T&D can increase ER in the retail sector of Maldives. Similarly, we conclude that there is no moderating effect of PA and T&D in the relationship between HRM practices and ER. The overall conclusion is that R&C has a partial mediating effect on the relationship between HRM practices and ER. IMPLICATIONS: This study contributes to the current knowledge of HRM by confirming that reward and compensation is a key determinant and a significant mediator for employee retention. This study contributes to developing new knowledge in the theoretical domains of HRM practices. In particular, the findings of the study strengthen Hertzberg‘s Two-Factor theory by confirming that career growth opportunities, advancement and salary significantly determine employee retention. This showed that both motivators and hygiene factors are crucial in retaining employees. In practice, the findings also enable managers to make new organizational and HRM policy decisions on improving and enhancing employee retention. This study can be useful for organizational management to formulate effective reward and compensation policies. This study signifies the importance of training and development and performance appraisal by linking these with reward and compensation practices. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: This could be one of the pioneering studies carried out in the retail sector of Maldives by examining the four constructs of human resource management practices to shed light on how retail sector business organizations in Maldives make decisions on improving employee retention. Furthermore, the current study indicated that reward and compensation have full mediating effects on the relationship between employee retention and training and development as well as performance appraisal. This filled the existing research gaps by adding value to the existing literature. Moreover, the current study adds practical values by confirming that reward and compensation should be emphasized to retain employees through other human resource management practices in the retail sector of Maldives.
In this paper, a novel capacitive sensor for noncontact microdroplet detection has been developed and tested successfully. For an accurate and highly repeatable droplet detection, the sensor makes ...use of a cross-capacitive structure, which is an extension of the Thompson and Lampard theorem. The sensor consists of four identical copper electrodes with infinitesimally small gaps etched out of double-sided copper-cladded polyimide substrate by screen printing and chemical etching process. The sensor prototype has been tested for different sizes of the droplets as well as the droplets from liquids having different dielectric constants and conductivities. The response characteristics of the presented sensor are very accurate, significant, fast, highly repeatable (±0.13%), and drift free. The achieved characteristics of the presented sensor are suitable for employing it for the noncontact microdroplet detection.
The capacitive humidity sensor is normally fabricated by an interdigitated electrode (IDE) or parallel plate structure. In this paper, the principle of the cross-capacitance proposed by ...Thompson-Lampard theorem has been utilized for the first time to fabricate a precise and accurate relative humidity (%RH) sensor. A thin film of porous alumina (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">\gamma </tex-math></inline-formula>-Al 2 O 3 ) was deposited on the inner wall of the quartz tube for adsorbing humidity. The four symmetrical silver electrodes of the cross-capacitor are formed around the quartz tube by the screen printing technique. The sensor has been tested for different levels of humidity in the range of 0-90 %RH. The capacitive response of the fabricated sensor was very accurate (±2 %RH), highly repeatable (± 0.01%), very low hysteresis (±0.3%), and less drift. Thus, it can be used for making hygrometer for commercial applications. The main advantage of the cross-capacitor is the single-dimensional accuracy. The sensitivity of the sensor for humidity without any hydrophilic film was found to be less. However, by depositing the thin sensing film on the inner surface of the quartz tube, the sensitivity was considerably improved.
As COVID-19 grips the world, many people are quarantined or isolated resulting in adverse consequences for the mental health of youth. This rapid review takes into account the impact of quarantine on ...mental health of children and adolescents, and proposes measures to improve psychological outcomes of isolation. Three electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science were searched. Two independent reviewers performed title and abstract screening followed by full-text screening. This review article included 10 studies. The seven studies before onset of COVID 19 about psychological impact of quarantine in children have reported isolation, social exclusion stigma and fear among the children. The most common diagnoses were acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, grief, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Three studies during the COVID-19 pandemic reported restlessness, irritability, anxiety, clinginess and inattention with increased screen time in children during quarantine. These adverse consequences can be tackled through carefully formulated multilevel interventions.
Moisture measurement and control is very essential for gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). For safe and reliable operation, the moisture inside GIS needs to be kept within the prescribed limit. This ...article presents a capacitive sensor for traces of moisture measurement in SF6 gas used in GIS. The sensor is fabricated using fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass as the base substrate and silver as the upper electrode. A thin film of porous alumina (Al2O3) is used as a sensing layer for detecting the presence of moisture at parts-per-million (ppm) scale. The performance of the presented sensor is experimentally validated for different moisture concentrations in SF6 gas. The sensor shows a good sensitivity (0.238 pF/ppm) with linear characteristics (±2.05%) over the moisture range of 246-725 ppm. The response of the fabricated sensor is very accurate (±0.84%), with low hysteresis (±0.32%) and highly repeatable (±0.013%). All the data of the fabricated sensor are obtained experimentally that validate its use for an effective moisture measurement in GIS where the live conductors and other electrical equipment are surrounded by SF6 gas. The cost-effectiveness of the sensor is ensured because of its simple fabrication process and robust design.
Abstract Fish protein is serving as a source of nutrition for protein starving world. However, sustainable aquaculture products require inexpensive plant by-products due to finite sources of fish ...meal. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine nutrient utilization, growth performance and hematological indices of Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings fed on Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) based diets. Fish were fed with six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets having MOLM as a substitute of fish meal (FM) at the levels of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% for the period of 90 days. Fingerlings having initial weight 6.35±0.04g were reared in triplicate tanks at the stocking density of 15 and hand fed at the rate of 5% of total biomass twice regularly. Chromic oxide inclusion level was 1% in diets. After analysis, maximum growth performance and improved digestibility of nutrients were found in fish fed with diet at 10% replacement level as compared to fish fed on control diet and other test diets. Additionally, it was found that the red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration of fish showed a significantly (p<0.05) inverse correlation with the increase in MOLM. In present research, it was concluded that MOLM has good potential to be used as a FM substitute in C. mrigala diet with maximum effect at 10% showing positive hematological indices.
Resumo A proteína do peixe está servindo como fonte de nutrição para o mundo faminto por proteína. No entanto, produtos de aquicultura sustentáveis requerem subprodutos vegetais baratos devido às fontes finitas de farinha de peixe. Portanto, este estudo foi conduzido para examinar a utilização de nutrientes, o desempenho do crescimento e os índices hematológicos de alevinos de Cirrhinus mrigala alimentados com dietas à base de farelo de folhas de Moringa oleifera (MOLM). Os peixes foram alimentados com seis dietas isonitrogênicas e isoenergéticas contendo MOLM como substituto da farinha de peixe (FM) nos níveis de 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% e 50% pelo período de 90 dias. Os alevinos com peso inicial de 6,35 ± 0,04g foram criados em tanques triplicados com densidade de 15 animais e alimentados à mão a uma taxa de 5% da biomassa total duas vezes regularmente. O nível de inclusão de óxido crômico foi de 1% nas dietas. Após análise, desempenho máximo de crescimento e melhor digestibilidade de nutrientes foram encontrados em peixes alimentados com dieta em nível de reposição de 10% em comparação com peixes alimentados com dieta controle e outras dietas teste. Além disso, verificou-se que as concentrações de hemácias, leucócitos, hemoglobina e hemoglobina corpuscular média dos peixes apresentaram correlação inversa significativa (p < 0,05) com o aumento do MOLM. Na presente pesquisa, concluiu-se que o MOLM tem bom potencial para ser utilizado como substituto do FM na dieta de C. mrigala com efeito máximo a 10% apresentando índices hematológicos positivos.
Abstract The growth of aquaculture sector is strongly dependent upon the continuous supply of inexpensive fish feed with balanced nutritional profile. However, fish meal (FM) is unable to satisfy ...this demand due to its scarce supply and high cost. In order to test the potential of cottonseed meal (CSM) as a fish meal replacer, a feeding trial of 12 weeks was conducted to check growth performance and proximate composition of Labeo rohita fingerlings. The protein ration of the test feed was satisfied by replacing FM with CSM at 0, 25, 50 and 75%. Sixteen test diets viz., TD1 (control), TD2, TD3, TD4, TD5, TD6, TD7, TD8, TD9, TD10, TD11, TD12, TD13, TD14, TD15 and TD16 were supplemented with citric acid (CA; 0 and 2.5%) and phytase (PHY; 0 and 750 FTU/kg) in a completely randomized design with 3×3 factorial arrangement. The highest weight gain (11.03g), weight gain% (249.21%), specific growth rate (1.39) and best feed conversion ratio (1.20) were recorded by fish fed with TD12. Furthermore, the same level increased the crude protein (59.26%) and fat (16.04%) being significantly different (p<0.05) than that of control. Conclusively, the addition of acidified phytase (CA; 2.5%, PHY; 750 FTU/kg) in TD12 (CSM=50%) led to the improved growth and proximate composition of L. rohita fingerlings.
Resumo O crescimento do setor de aquicultura é fortemente dependente do fornecimento contínuo de rações baratas para peixes com perfil nutricional equilibrado. Porém, a farinha de peixe (FM) não consegue atender a essa demanda devido à sua escassa oferta e alto custo. Com o objetivo de testar o potencial da farinha de semente de canola (MSC) como substituto da farinha de peixe, um ensaio alimentar de 12 semanas foi conduzido para verificar o desempenho de crescimento e a composição centesimal de alevinos de Labeo rohita. A ração de proteína da ração teste foi satisfeita substituindo FM por CSM em 0, 25, 50 e 75%. Dezesseis dietas de teste, viz., TD1 (controle), TD2, TD3, TD4, TD5, TD6, TD7, TD8, TD9, TD10, TD11, TD12, TD13, TD14, TD15 e TD16 foram suplementadas com ácido cítrico (CA; 0 e 2,5%) e fitase (PHY; 0 e 750 FTU / kg) em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com arranjo fatorial 3 × 3. O maior ganho de peso (11,03g), % de ganho de peso (249,21%), taxa de crescimento específico (1,39) e melhor taxa de conversão alimentar (1,20) foram registrados por peixes alimentados com TD12. Além disso, o mesmo nível aumentou a proteína bruta (59,26%) e a gordura (16,04%), sendo significativamente diferente (p <0,05) do controle. Conclusivamente, a adição de fitase acidificada (CA; 2,5%, PHY; 750 FTU / kg) em TD12 (CSM = 50%) levou a um melhor crescimento e composição próxima de alevinos de L. rohita.
Abstract Fishmeal; being a limited and costly feed ingredient is continuously been substituted with locally available plant proteins. However, the occurrence of anti-nutritional factors in plant meal ...suppresses its potential to be fully replaced. Therefore, in this study we aimed to study the synergistic effects of dietary additives like citric acid and phytase enzyme supplementation on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings. Canola meal (CM) was used as a test ingredient to replace fishmeal (FM) as; 0%, 25%, 50% and 75%. These four diets were further supplemented by varying levels of phytase (0 and 750 FTU kg-1) and citric acid (0% and 2.5%) to formulate total sixteen test diets as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12, T13, T14, T15 and T16. Each treatment contained three replicates; applied to fish groups having 15 fingerlings each; following 3×3 factorial arrangement. 1% of chromic oxide was added as an inert marker. Maximum weight gain% (288%) and the lowest value of FCR (1.07) were recorded when fish was fed on diet T12 as compared to fish fed control diet (T1). Similarly, optimum nutrient digestibility values such as crude protein (77%), crude fat (84%) and gross energy (70%) were noted on same level. It was concluded that 50% canola meal can optimally replace fishmeal when supplemented with phytase and citric acid at the levels of 750 FTU kg-1 and 2.5%, respectively.
Resumo A farinha de peixe, por ser um ingrediente alimentar limitado e caro, é continuamente substituída por proteínas vegetais disponíveis localmente. No entanto, a ocorrência de fatores antinutricionais na farinha de plantas suprime seu potencial de ser totalmente substituída. Portanto, neste estudo objetivamos estudar os efeitos sinérgicos de aditivos dietéticos como ácido cítrico e suplementação com enzima fitase sobre o desempenho de crescimento e digestibilidade de nutrientes de alevinos de Cirrhinus mrigala. A farinha de canola (CM) foi usada como ingrediente de teste para substituir a farinha de peixe (FM) como: 0%, 25%, 50% e 75%. Essas quatro dietas foram suplementadas por níveis variados de fitase (0 e 750 FTU kg-1) e ácido cítrico (0% e 2,5%) para formular um total de 16 dietas de teste como T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12, T13, T14, T15 e T16. Cada tratamento continha três repetições; aplicado a grupos de peixes com 15 alevinos cada; seguindo o arranjo fatorial 3 × 3. 1% de óxido crômico foi adicionado como um marcador inerte. % de ganho de peso máximo (288%) e o valor mais baixo de FCR (1,07) foram registrados quando os peixes foram alimentados com dieta T12 em comparação com peixes alimentados com dieta controle (T1). Da mesma forma, valores ótimos de digestibilidade de nutrientes, como proteína bruta (77%), gordura bruta (84%) e energia bruta (70%) foram anotados no mesmo nível. Concluiu-se que 50% da farinha de canola pode substituir de forma ideal a farinha de peixe quando suplementada com fitase e ácido cítrico nos níveis de 750 FTU kg-1 e 2,5%, respectivamente.
OBJECTIVES: To compare the different smile variables amongst patients with varying vertical skeletal patterns, and to find whether there is a correlation between the dynamic contributing factors and ...the vertical smile parameters. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at department of Orthodontics, Nishtar Institute of Dentistry, Multan, Pakistan from 01-10-2020 to 01-04-2021. The posed smiles of 120 participants, aging 15-25 years, having well-aligned dental arches were videotaped for objective measurements and comparisons with their underlying vertical skeletal growth patterns. RESULTS: The evaluation of smile parameters showed a significantly decreased inter-labial gap in patients with skeletal low angle in males (8.92±3.6mm) and females (9.44±2.58 mm) p<0.004. Upper lip length was significantly decreased in low angle (16.23±1.59 mm) cases for males as compared to vertically high (18.57±1.47 mm) and normal angle (18.24±2.08 mm) cases. Inter commissural width was increased significantly in the low angle cases (63.39±8.14 mm) when compared with the high angle cases (58.24±5.44 mm) in females. Maximal Incisal Display was significantly increased in high angle cases (9.03±1.31 mm) p<0.001 as compared to the low angle cases (7.64±1.98 mm). A 65.8% (n=79) of the sample showed a flat smile arc with 26.7% (n=32) having consonant smiles while 7.5% (n=9) showed a reverse smile arc. CONCLUSION: Smile dynamics are influenced by underlying skeletal patterns. Individuals with skeletally high angles showed an increased incisal display and an increased upper lip elevation upon smiling. While the low angle patterns displayed a decreased inter-labial gap and majority showed a flat smile arc.
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