Resumo Objetivo: Este trabalho busca examinar o relacionamento entre os determinantes do desempenho organizacional, como apoio da alta administração, foco no cliente, orientação dos funcionários, orientação tecnológica e orientação empreendedora na Malásia. Metodologia: Um projeto de pesquisa quantitativa foi aplicado para este estudo. Os dados foram coletados através de pesquisa por questionários aplicados a donos de negócio e gerentes sêniores que trabalham em PMEs localizadas em três estados malaios, utilizando a técnica da amostragem orientada. O SmartPLS 2.0 (M3) foi utilizado para testar as hipóteses. Resultados: Os resultados sugerem que a orientação tecnológica e a orientação empreendedora são fatores significativos de sucesso para as PMEs em termos do desempenho financeiro e não financeiro. Além disso, descobriu-se que o apoio da alta administração está significativa e positivamente relacionado ao desempenho financeiro. Contribuições: A análise empírica indica que a orientação tecnológica e a orientação empreendedora agregam mais valor ao desempenho organizacional. Portanto, é vital para as PMEs focar nesses dois fatores críticos de sucesso para melhorar o seu desempenho.

Abstract Purpose: This paper seeks to examine the relationship between the determinants of organizational performance such as top management support, customer focus, employees’ orientation, technology orientation, and entrepreneurial orientation in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research design was applied for this study. Data was collected through survey questionnaires applied to business owners and senior managers working in SMEs located in three Malaysian states, using purposive sampling technique. SmartPLS 2.0 (M3) was applied to test the hypotheses. Findings: The findings suggest that both technology and entrepreneurial orientations are significant success factors for SMEs in terms of financial and non-financial performance. In addition, top management support is found to be significantly and positively related to financial performance. Originality/value: The empirical analysis indicates that technology orientation and entrepreneurial orientation add more value to organizational performance. Therefore, it is vital for SMEs to focus on these two critical success factors in order to improve their performance.

ABSTRACT A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for rapid, sensitive and specific detection of African swine fever virus (ASFV). A set of LAMP primers was designed based on the sequence of the ASFV gene K205R. Reaction temperature and time were optimized to 64 oC and 60 min, respectively. LAMP products were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis or visually with the addition of fluorescent dye. The detection limit of the LAMP assay was approximately 6 copies of the target gene per microliter, 100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. LAMP is a simple and inexpensive molecular assay format for ASFV detection. To date, African swine fever has not been reported in China. LAMP can be used to monitor ASFV spread into China, thereby reducing the threat of ASF.

There is a lack of definitive information regarding the precise indications, implementation, and outcomes of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for the treatment of critically ill children. Six children (three boys, three girls) aged from 3 days to 8 years, all of whom had multiple organ failure, were submitted to bedside CRRT using M60 filter membranes. Modified Port carbonate formula was used and clotting time was maintained between 20 and 30 minutes. Activated partial thromboplastin time was 1.5- to 2-fold normal. One patient discontinued treatment due to family decision. Marked improvements were seen in the remaining five patients, including normalization of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, stabilization of electrolytes, and improvements in markers of organ function. Of note, one patient (a six-year-old male) underwent the treatment for 241 hours. All five patients were subsequently discharged and recovered uneventfully. CRRT is effective for the management of children who are critically ill due to multiple organ failure.

This paper reports on the development and validation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (LAMP) for the rapid and specific detection of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae). A set of six primers were designed derived from the dsbE-like gene of A.pleuropneumoniae and validate the assay using 9 A. pleuropneumoniae reference/field strains, 132 clinical isolates and 9 other pathogens. The results indicated that positive reactions were confirmed for all A. pleuropneumoniae strains and specimens by LAMP at 63ºC for 60 min and no cross-reactivity were observed from other non-A.pleuropneumoniae including Haemophilus parasuis, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Streptococcus suis, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), and Pseudorabies virus. The detection limit of the conventional PCR was 10² CFU per PCR test tube, while that of the LAMP was 5 copies per tube. Therefore, the sensitivity of LAMP was higher than that of PCR. Moreover, the LAMP assay provided a rapid yet simple test of A. pleuropneumoniae suitable for laboratory diagnosis and pen-side detection due to ease of operation and the requirement of only a regular water bath or heat block for the reaction.