Antecedents of “Quality of Work” in Islamic Perspective Through Mediating Effect of Perceived Job Performance

In most of service organizations particularly in Pakistan financial sector, employees have reduced their job performance and shortened quality of work due to many factors influencing them at workplace. This research study aims to explore such antecedents in view of Islam that can improve the quality of work in banking sector wherein mediating effect of perceived job performance has been tested. Model variables of this study have also been described in the Islamic perspective. Islam is complete religion in all respect and provides foundation for quality of work. Accuracy & beatification in work, discipline, sequence of tasks, impartiality, and Islamic job satisfaction, knowing ourselves and its link with knowing to our God are parts of quality of work and employees’ performance in the Islamic point of view.  The target population of this study covers 20,514 employees of banking sector working in capital cities of Pakistan. Data were collected via cross sectional approach from 380 desk and frontline officials of Public and private banks. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling techniques were used for data analysis. Findings of this research are demonstrated that job satisfaction and emotional intelligence are found the valuable antecedents of job performance and quality of work where employee’s job performance has been proved as a partial mediator between antecedents and quality of work. The two antecedents i.e. Job satisfaction, emotional intelligence of perceived job performance and quality of work have been supposed in this study to take as interpreters for the improvement of employees’ contentment and abilities in the working environment of banking sector. These are positively persuaded to job performance and quality of work. A practical exposure is offered by this research that organizational education about importance to employee’s satisfaction and emotional intelligence would be vital for achieving optimum results in this industry.

Stratification of White Matter Hyperintensities in Young and Middle Age Adults Using Hydrogen Magnetic Resonance H-Mr Spectroscopy

Objective: The objective of this study was to stratify white matter hyperintensities on the basis of neuronal integrity in young and middle age adults by comparing the level of N-acetyl aspartate and creatine ratios in white matter hyperintensity lesions and normal appearing white matter using hydrogen magnetic resonance (H-MR) spectroscopy at 1.5 Tesla(T) Methods: Fifty consecutive patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria aged 18-50yrs who were referred for magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of the brain at the Radiology department of Aga Khan University Hospital over a six month period between January and June 2011 were included in the study. These patients had undergone routine MRI brain using the department protocol and were found to have white matter hyperintensities ≥5mm and no other intra-axial abnormalities. The patients underwent MR spectroscopy of the white matter hyperintensity lesions and a corresponding region of normal appearing white matter at 1.5 Tesla. Ratios of N-acetyl aspertate/creatine were compared for the white matter hyperintensity lesions and normal appearing white matter. The NAA/creatine ratios of the white matter hyperintensities and normal appearing white matter were analyzed and inferences made regarding neuronal integrity, clinical presentation and location of the white matter lesions. Results:Fifty patients, 25 male and 25 female were included in the final analysis. Thirty nine (78%) patients showed lower levels of NAA/creatine ratios in the white matter hyperintensities compared to normal appearing white matter. Eleven (22%) patients showed higher levels of NAA/creatine ratios in the white matter hyperintensities compared to normal appearing white matter. Paired T test showed a statistically significant difference between the NAA/creatine ratios in the white matter hyperintensity lesions compared to normal white matter(p value of Forty seven (94%) sampled lesions were in the subcortical and deep white matter compared to 3(6%) lesions in the periventricular location. There was no statistically significance difference in the ratios of NAA/creatine between the periventricular and deep white matter lesions. Forty seven (94%) of the study patients presented with headache . Twelve (24%) presented with dizziness. No correlation was found between the levels of NAA/creatine ratios and clinical presentation. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that white matter hyperintensities in young and middle age adults are associated with actual neuronal destruction. These patients should be investigated to define the aetiology and if possible interventions to reverse or prevent further neuronal damage.