Organize Training Courses Research Articles

METHODOLOGICAL AND INCLUSIVE COMPETENCE OF A VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TEACHER OF AS A GOAL OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Introduction: On the basis of the analysis of legal documents trends of state policy in the field of inclusive higher education are identified, state, social and professional order for the activities of University teachers in the field of education of persons with disabilities is defined. The study of the conditions for the competence of a modern University teacher helped to determine the importance of the system of additional professional education in providing staff with inclusive higher education and the need to form a methodic-inclusive competence of University teachers in the training of persons with disabilities in the process of organizing training courses. Materials and methods: in writing the article theoretical methods were used: legislative documents of different levels, thesis and scientific psychological and pedagogical works on the problem were analyzed, theoretical positions and empirical data of generalization and formalization of the problem. were generalized Results: The vector of development of higher education in the direction of implementation of inclusion principles as a governmental requirement, formulated in the legal documents of different levels, is identified; trends in the development of inclusive higher education in domestic science and practice, the need to prepare teachers of vocational education for professional activities in an inclusive education; the concept of methodological and inclusive competence of a teacher of vocational education, the formation of which has not been studied by scientists to date; the problem of insufficient training of vocational education teachers in the field of training persons with disabilities is actualized. Discussion and Conclusions: According to the results of the presented analysis, it is proposed to consider the formation of methodological-inclusive competence as the purpose of professional development of vocational education teachers. This will allow to solve the problems defined by the legislative framework of the state in relation to improving the availability and quality of higher education for people with disabilities.

Organizations teacher training course with blended learning model

The renovation program of general education require organize training courses with large numbers of teachers in the country to meet the basic requirements of innovation education. With these powerful capabilities and efficiency of the course in the model of Blended learning will save time, budget and improve the effectiveness of teacher training courses.
 Blended learning model is the coordination between “face to face”teaching with the online learning model today. Blended learning is seen as a pedagogical approach, integrating the efficiency and social opportunities in the classroom with the ability to promote positive learning with the support of technology in environmental online course.
 The study refers to building a model of teacher training on a cloud computing platform that will "simplify" and "technologyize" all the activities of stakeholders in the training process. The organization of these activities takes place through LMS with a large number of participants, with no restrictions on space, time, interoperability, and integration of resources support the training of teachers regularly, continuously.

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH CHANGE MANAGEMENT

Transformational leadership is considered one of the main leadership styles that influence organizational and individual outcomes to achieve competitive advantage. This study aims to identify the relationship between some dimensions of transformational leadership namely: Idealized Influence, Inspirational motivation, Intellectual stimulation and empowerment, and change management in Jordanian Insurance companies. A questionnaire was developed to investigate the dimensions of the study and was applied to a sample that consisted of 500 respondents. SPSS package was utilized to analyze the quantitative data. The study has concluded that the dimensions of the transformational leadership (Idealized Influence, Inspirational motivation, Intellectual stimulation and Empowerment) and change management are available in Jordanian Insurance companies. The study contributes by recommending organizations to conduct and organize training courses to enhance the capability of the workers by promoting empowerment’s behaviors, also taking into account the individual differences between the employees, particularly in assigning work and tasks.

The level of awareness of the emergency department nurses of the triage principles in teaching hospitals

Context: Awareness of types of triage methods in different situations and locations is one of the most important needs of the medical staff, especially due to the high number of patients, and is necessary for nurses in the emergency department. Aims: This study aimed to determine the level of awareness of nurses working in the emergency department. Setting and Design: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted in 2017, the study population was all nurses working in the emergency departments of educational hospitals affiliated to Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, who were included by the census method (n = 73). Materials and Methods: The data collection tool included a questionnaire on individual characteristics and an assessment of the emergency department personnel's awareness level of triage systems in Iran. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using descriptive-inferential statistics in the SPSS version 16. Results: Totally 47 female nurses (64.4%) and 26 male nurses (35.6%), with a mean age of 30.37 ± 3.83, participated in the study. The results showed that 64 nurses (87.7%) had poor awareness, 9 nurses (12.3%) had a moderate awareness about different methods of triage, and the mean score of total knowledge of nurses was poor (20.75 ± 8). There was a significant statistical relationship between knowledge score and marital status, employment status, and teaching methods of triage principles (P Conclusion: Due to the employed nurses' knowledge low score, it is necessary to organize training courses of the triage.

The continuing training program of oncology network of Piemonte and Valle d'Aosta: a model for improving the management of oncologic patients

Background: One of the goals of Oncologic Networks is to organize training courses for operators involved in the diagnostic and therapeutic pathways of cancer patients, in order to update everyone of them about innovations introduced every year. Methods: We yearly plan a training offer, both as residential and “on field” education, allowing to earn credits within the “continuos medical education program”. These courses have the dual purpose of technical-scientific updating and of raising relational and communicative skills. Results: During 2017 the Oncology Network of Piemonte e Valle d'Aosta has organized 31 residential courses: 7 dedicated to medical doctors, 10 to nurses, 5 to district directors and territorial nurses, 2 to biomedical lab technician, 7 to psycho-oncologist, administrative employees and social assistants. Reguarding “on field education”, 32 courses have been conducted, carachterized by 5 lessons/year and 20 CME credits: 18 for cancer-site specific groups, including 2 for hematologists, 5 for groups engaged in trasversal topics such as cardiooncology, support therapies, late toxicities, geriatric oncology and palliative care, 1 for nurses and 1 for hospital pharmacists. Moreover, 8 study groups composed of pathologists have been formed to allow clinical cases discussions and to enhance diagnostic uniformity. 108 recommandations and 17 consensus documents have been drafted during the last 5 years, and they are entirely published on Oncology Network web site (www.reteoncologica.it). Since 2016, P.I.C.O. System has been applied to draw up consensus documents. Conclusions: Continuous medical education is an effective and basic tool to enhance operators' knowledge. It allows to decrease mistakes and time and money waste, to improve and uniformate clinical assistance; training enables operators to acquire high innovative value interventions and to recognizetheir limits. Patients benefit by CME programs, and their negative experiences can reduce.

Promoting literacy from the UK: The contribution of the British Association for Literacy in Development (BALID)

Apart from a few brief intervals, adult literacy has remained low on the development agenda. This article details the contribution of the British Association for Literacy in Development (BALID), a voluntary association based in the UK, to highlighting the importance of literacy in development and, in particular, the importance of reading and writing for adults. For almost 30 years, BALID has sought to raise the profile of literacy by organizing training courses, conferences, and discussions that equip literacy professionals to respond to the literacy needs within their own contexts and spheres of influence. BALID members have considerable experience in working overseas and have a high level of expertise in the field of literacy, education, and development. The organization has an particularly important role in bridging the divide between academics, researchers, and practitioners so each can benefit and learn from the experience of others.

THE DETERMINANTS OF WOMEN BEHAVIOR WHEN CHOOSING BEAUTY CARE COURSES

INTRODUCTION:The goal of this paper is to define the socioeconomic profile of woman and to determine the key drivers of a female behavior when selecting one of the beauty courses (massage, cosmetics, make -up, hair-styling and manicure-pedicure). The findings help professional beauty schools and private beauty institutes to create a new marketing perspective. Based on the results of this article, public or private schools can better understand the consumer behavior and they can create a new marketing strategy by linking company value to consumer needs. In the past, beauty had different meanings, trends, standards, all these depending on geographic region, culture, education, age, race and style. Today, the globalization offers to young people the possibility of creating their own style in terms of make-up, skin treatment or hair style, all empowered by the available technology of every beauty salon. (Miller, 2006)According to the U SA Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of specialists in beauty centers or beauty salons will increase with 14 percent by 2022. The employment rate will increase and the jobs in beauty industry in 2022 will jump by over 40 percent as compared to 2012.In this context, recent studies show that nowadays beauty and wellness services are no longer considered a luxury but a need. In order to prepare specialists in wellness and beauty industry there are two types of courses: unrecognized training courses (they are not recognized by the industry and students do not receive a diploma - this type of courses are organized in beauty salons or in small beauty institutes) and organized training courses where students receive official certification/diploma and where the beauty institute operates like a school.On wellness market, there are a lot of public and private beauty schools and training programs, wellness concepts, therapist trainings which include new and specific techniques in beauty and wellness industry. To have success, the specialists should follow business management programs, beauty services marketing and customer communication programs. (KPMG, 2007; SRI International, 2010)Based on this assessment of the business and educational environment, this study aims to give a clear and realistic picture on how women make decision to follow a beauty program. Based on obtained results, specific beauty companies can implement marketing strategies to offer courses with an improved quality of teaching and help women with advices.LITERATURE REVIEW:THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEAUTY INDUSTRY:Wellness industry includes spas, complementary and alternative medicine, healthy diet/nutrition, preventive behavior, medical tourism, wellness tourism, workplace wellness, fitness industry, beauty & anti-aging industry. The last segment is one of the most important and largest segments of wellness industry. The entire industry refers to health, relaxation and the mental health of consumers, which increase the quality of life and develop a well-being feeling for the people who use these services. (SRI International, 2010; Cohen & Bodker, 2008)In 2010, at Global Spa Summit conference, beauty and anti -aging market was estimated to generate revenues of $679.1 billion. For the next period, beauty industry and the employment rate in this industry are expected to grow. In future, the new opportunities will appear as more people believe that beauty ritual is an escape from the daily routine (SRI International, 2010; Steers et al. 2010).In 2016, American Massage Therapy Association estimates a growth with an average rate of 3.6 percent in comparison with 2015. The development of beauty and wellness industry determines the increase of demand for professional specific courses. In 2015 in United Stated were between 300 and 350 accredited massage therapy schools and programs, the employment rate increased to 19 percent from since 2011 and continues to increase with an average rate of 3. …

Readiness Assessment of Tele-ICU implementation in Technical and Human Aspects in Teaching Hospitals with ICUs Affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2015

Tele-ICU is a solution to shortage of intensive care specialists providing simultaneously health care services in several ICUs. The study aimed to determine readiness of Tele-ICU implementation in technical and human aspects in teaching hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS). This research was a descriptive analytical study. Samples included 16 anesthesiologists and 120 nurses having experience in ICU, that were chosen through convenient sampling. This method was not conducted for information technology (IT) officials due to their society limitations, and census was performed, instead. For data gathering, questionnaires and checklists were used. Content and face validity were confirmed by IUMS health information technology (HIT) and computer professors. The average correlation reliability coefficient for physicians-nurses and IT officers questionnaires were 0.93 and 0.96, respectively. Technical checklists were completed through researcher's direct observation. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, percentage) and inferential statistics methods (t-test, ANOVA) by SPSS software. Given infrastructure-hardware facilities, technical readiness were assessed as moderate (mean positive responses was 54.7%). The level of knowledge was measured with seven questions, and third quartile (above 75%) of correct answers was considered as desired knowledge that included 56.6 % of samples. The problems and barriers of implementation of this project from the perspective of samples were found to be high cost to set up and resources constraints as main obstacle to set up tele-ICU with 65.2%. Improving technical infrastructures, developing comprehensive strategic plan and the deployment of tele-ICU standards and creating electronic record, organizing training courses to raise knowledge and promote culture of applying tele-technologies are recommended.

Quality control on ERC advanced life: Support courses in Serbia and Europe: Preliminary data, original research

Aim Affirm through the survey, the satisfaction of the participants of ERC ALS courses in Serbia and compare the collected data from previous years to the data about quality of the courses from the other countries. Method: The processed data were gathered in CMS system, included preparation of the courses, the reports of the course director and evaluation questionnaires that have been filled in by the seminar attendants. Twelve questions that are related to the organization and performance of ALS seminary have been processed. The criteria for inclusion was that at least one ERC ALS seminary has been held in the country, that has been a part of this survey, and that the organizer has enabled evaluation by the presence of an participants e-mail addresses. Results: Results implicate data collected in 37 countries, where ERC ALS courses took place in first five months of the year, and contain internet addresses of the participants. Seventeen of them have complete data. The number of ERC ALS training course is 1.02/100.000 inhabitants, with minimal value of 0.11/100.000 inhabitants in Italy, to the maximum value 8.44/100.000 inhabitants in Denmark. It's 2.81/100.000 in Serbia. The average number of organized ERC ALS courses is 0.83/1.000.000 inhabitants and the lowest is in Turkey, where upon 1.000.000 residents, 0.05 courses were organized. The highest number of organized training courses has taken place in Denmark, with the number of 5.53 courses upon million habitants. Serbia has arranged 2.81 course upon one million residents, where the activity and the agility of the course organizer has been graded with an excellent mark. The Egypt's attendants valuated -100% the usefulness of the course content with the highest grade. The Dutch were the least satisfied with the content of the course, and their result is just above the figure of 87%. Right behind them are the Italians, Slovenians, Finns, Swedish placed. In Serbia, the grade is 96.49% and is among the best in Europe. Training course will be recommended 100% by the Serbian attendants. Conclusion The change of the performance and the method of work of the course, human resource renewal brought the new quality in presentation the ERC training in Serbia. Young and enthusiastic instructors, significantly contributed with the enthusiasm, enjoyable and regular method of presentation, so the seminary ERC ALS can get one of the highest grades in Europe, in fact, the highest mark according to the satisfaction of the attendants.

Assessing the most-in-need leadership skills among community nutrition managers: A qualitative exercise in Iranian health system

Community nutrition is a multi-disciplinary and inter-sector branch of nutrition sciences, which significantly relies on multi-stakeholder understanding, collaboration, and action. In most countries, community nutrition professionals operate within the larger governmental health system. Therefore, community nutrition managers are not only supposed to fulfill their responsibilities within the health system, but also advocate, coordinate, and supervise for multi-disciplinary initiatives and activities. The diverse set of responsibilities and tasks requires high levels of commitment (confidence and motivation) and leadership skills, besides technical competencies, among the target group. In this study, leadership requirements and most-in-need capacity building necessities of community nutrition managers were derived from analyses of their latest role statements and semi-structured interviews, made with four senior health policy leaders (key informants). Analysis of the role statement showed necessity of almost every leadership skill for the fulfillment of responsibilities. Similar leadership requirements emerged from key informant interviews. The interviews also revealed that commitment and a number of leadership competencies, such as effective communication and team working skills, are highly in need, and must seriously be considered. Meanwhile, these skills are mainly in the inter-personal and organizational leadership domains. This study may argue, therefore, that aspects of self-leadership competencies, described as mental models and personal mastery elements by Senge, are somewhat masked by other aspects of leadership. According to the key informants, leadership competencies could be developed and flow in the system through organizing training courses for human resource professionals, as well as accurate selection of candidates for managerial positions and facilitating on-the-job experiencing.

Are They Being Served? Delivering Relevant Training for the Next Generation of Community Archaeologists and their Future Employers

This paper offers a personal account of the Community Archaeology Bursaries Project (coordinated by the Council for British Archaeology) from a host organization’s point of view, in particular from the perspective of being a mentor for two placement holders starting at different times (April 2011 and September 2012). The Surrey County Archaeological Unit (SCAU) has substantial experience of supervising volunteers and organizing training courses, but this was the first time it had delivered a year-long structured programme, based around on-the-job training. The aim of experiencing a placement with SCAU was to prepare the placement holders to continue the community archaeologist’s role within other organizations. Both trainees described here have gone on to secure exciting roles in other organizations, and one of the questions addressed in this paper is whether their success is a result of the training they received or some other factor (such as personality or just luck). Taking views from the mentor, former placement-holders and their current employers, this paper examines the factors that influenced candidates’ success at finding employment in a tough economic climate.

A questionaire study evaluating the knowledge and approach by physicians about arterial blood gas.

Arterial blood pressure analysis is a frequently applied method in the diagnosis and follow-up of respiratory insufficiency and in the treatment of patients under risk. It is very important to take and analyze the blood gas sample properly. Therefore, a questionary study was performed which evaluated the knowledge and the approach of doctors working in various specialties. A questionary form consisting of 27 questions were filled by 100 specialist physicians who participated in the study. It was observed that doctors participating in our study had partly sufficient knowledge regarding administration and evaluation of arterial blood gas. It was considered that in intensive care unit experience of participant doctors during their intern periods was a very important factor. But it was observed that most of the participant specialist physicians performed Allen test before radial artery puncture, and they frequently preferred femoral artery for their first puncture option, and they did not pay attention in the proper transportation of the samples and in sending cultures from arterial cannula against risk of infection. The majority of doctors who participated in our study stated that they would like to receive training in arterial blood gas administration and evaluation. In conclusion, to take samples from arterial blood gas is an invasive operation and if not performed correctly it can cause complications to develop. Transportation and evaluation is as much important as sampling. It is very important to provide sufficient education to candidates of specialist physicians and to organize training courses aimed to increase their knowledge and experience during the period of their speciality without taking their speciality into account.

Pollution minimizing at traditional craft village by micro-credit program - case study from Tan Phu Dong rice powder production village

This paper introduces the results of a project initiated by Cantho University (CTU) on the introduction of micro-credits for addressing the environmental pollution in Vietnam’s craft villages. At Tan Phu Dong, a traditional rice powder production village in Sa Dec, Dong Thap, all wastes from domestic and production activities and animal husbandry were freely disposed into open water sources. This practice led to a negative impact on the local environment. With the financial support provided by the Bread for the World (BfdW), a micro-credit program was initiated in which farmers could borrow money to construct a biogas plant to treat animal husbandry and domestic wastes. In addition, the staff transferred biogas plant construction technology to the local masons and organized training courses on biogas plant operation and maintenance and biogas usage for the farmers and the local officials. 61 farmers borrowed money from the program to construct their biogas plants, followed by more than 250 farmers that constructed their biogas plants by their own finance after realizing the positive benefits of biogas plants. As result, the environmental pollution issue was solved step-by-step, thereby helping enhance the living conditions of the local community.
 Bài báo này trình bày biện pháp sử dụng nguồn quỹ tín dụng nhỏ để các hộ dân cải thiện tình trạng ô nhiễm môi trường ở các làng nghề Việt Nam. Tại làng nghề làm bột Tân Phú Đông -Sa Đéc -Đồng Tháp,các loại chất thải sinh hoạt, chất thải sản xuất và chăn nuôi xả thải bừa bãi đã gây ônhiễm môi trường nghiêm trọng. Với kinh phí tài trợ từ tổ chức Bánh mỳ cho thế giới (BfdW), các cán bộ trường Đại học Cần Thơ đã tổ chức cho người dân luân phiên vay vốn để xây dựng hầm ủ khí sinh học xử lý chất thải chăn nuôi và chất thảisinh hoạt. Bên cạnh đó còn tổ chức các lớp tập huấn chuyển giao công nghệ xây hầm ủ khí sinh học cho thợ xây địa phương, hướng dẫn vận hành và bảo dưỡng hầm ủ cho người dân và cán bộ địa phương. Thông qua nguồn vốn vay của dự án, có 61 hộ dân đã xây dựng hầm ủ khí sinh học và trên 250 hộ dân khác đã tự đầu tư xây dựng khi thấy được lợi ích của hầm ủ. Nhờ đó tình trạng ô nhiễm môi trường từng bước được giải quyết góp phần cải thiện điều kiện sống của người dân tại địa phương.

Continuous Professional Training- the Condition for the Romanian Tourism Survival

The quality of services provided by tourist units in Romania and their image is a matter of survival for them. In order to obtain performance comparable to the well-known states in the tourism sector, besides infrastructure development and quality products, the development of tourism in Romania also requires the creation of suitable conditions to ensure appropriate vocational training. The study aims to accomplish a quantitative and qualitative assessment of human resources employed in tourism in Romania's counties. A map that highlights the regional features is being developed, based on the official statistical information and forms and on the educational programs that are aimed at adult education in tourism. This map of the qualification level in tourism, is strongly related to the population's level of education It can be the basis for organizing training courses, where a shortage of skilled labor is noticed. Training and continuous training of human resources in order to provide competitive tourism services adaptable to structural changes in the context of skill shortages identified on the labour market, is a chance for Romania to be redefined as a tourist destination.

Mouse Bank at CARD Kumamoto University, Japan

Cryopreservation of mouse embryos and spermatozoa has become the foremost technique for preserving large numbers of different strains of mice with induced mutations. In 1998, our mouse bank was established in the Center for Animal Resources and Development (CARD), Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Japan, based on the Preservation, supply and development of genetically engineered animals report published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. We cryopreserve mouse embryos and sperm, supply these resources, organize training courses to educate people and form part of a domestic and international network of both mutagenesis and resource centers. We currently have over 1,500 mouse strains, 842,000 frozen embryos and 26,000 straws containing frozen sperm. Moreover, we disclose information about 1,300 deposited strains. Furthermore, over 400 strains of frozen embryos or mice produced from frozen embryos and sperm are being supplied to the requesters both domestically and internationally. Additionally we hold training courses on the cryopreservation of mouse germplasm 2~3 times a year, both domestically and internationally. In the course, we teach basic reproductive engineering techniques to trainees on a man-to-man basis. We have already held 28 training courses on the cryopreservation of mouse germplasm at our center and at other institutes.

Fostering a Strategic Alliance Between Patients' Associations and Health Care Professionals

The Laboratory for Medical Research and Consumer Involvement was established in 2005 at Mario Negri Institute, a nonprofit institute for pharmacological research, as a consequence of the increasing interest in boosting citizens' and patients' involvement in the health care debate. It has developed several projects with patients' associations, researchers, and clinicians. Its objectives are to foster a strategic alliance among health care professionals, patients, and their organizations, developing activities with different levels of involvement. Among the laboratory' s activities, the PartecipaSalute project has organized training courses for consumers, published a Web site disseminating evidence-based information and critical appraisal tools, and collected research priorities set by patients. Two consensus conferences have been organized, one dealing with brain injury patients' assistance and the other with hormone therapy and menopause. The quality of health information covered by different sources (press articles, Web sites, and brochures) has also been assessed. Seventy consumers attended the training courses from 2006 to 2008, and between January 2008 and June 2009 the PartecipaSalute Web site registered a mean of 30 500 single visits monthly. At the consensus conference Informing women on hormone replacement therapy, 7 members of the 14-member panel defining the final recommendations were lay people. Other data from the laboratory's main activities are given in this article. The criteria for selecting patients and their organizations, the methods of involvement, and evaluation of the impact of the activities are still open questions. We are now developing ways of evaluating our activities, and trying to boost citizens' and patients' participation in decisional settings, concerning health care assistance and research studies.

Current Activities of CARD as an International Core Center for Mouse Resources

The Center for Animal Resources and Development (CARD), Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University was established in 1998 based on recommendations published in the report "Preservation, Supply and Development of Genetically Engineered Animals" by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. We provide a comprehensive and integrated set of research services designed for the mouse-based biological research community. All services are conducted in accordance with the highest standards of animal health and genetic quality and are delivered to meet researcher's research goals. To promote biological sciences worldwide, we produce genetically engineered mice and exchangeable gene trap ES clones, cryopreserve mouse embryos and sperm, supply these resources, organize training courses to educate people, and form a hub of the domestic and international networks of both mutagenesis and resource centers. Up to now, we have produced more than 600 genetically engineered mouse strains and have more than 1,100 strains and stocks of mice for supply to the scientific community. More than 150 studies using genetically engineered mice produced or supplied by CARD have been published so far. As a founding member of the Federation of International Mouse Resources, the Asian Mouse Mutagenesis and Resource Association, and the International Gene Trap Consortium, we are contributing to the promotion of biological sciences in the world.

An analysis of trends related to hospital solid wastes management in Kuwait

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine the amount of different kinds of solid wastes produced, segregated, collected, stored, transported and disposed off in the governmental hospitals of Kuwait.Design/methodology/approachThe research in this paper shows that all governmental hospitals were assessed in a period of six months (September, 2005 through December, 2005 and June, 2006 through July, 2006). The weight fraction of each component in the sorting sample was calculated by the weights of the components. The amount of non‐infectious and infectious waste generated in kg/day in each ward and various hospital blocks were determined and recorded.FindingsThe findings in this paper indicated that the waste generation rate is between 3.87 kg/bed/day and 7.44 kg/bed/day. Subsequently, this waste consists of 10,534.5 kg (71.44 percent) of domestic waste, 4,099.4 kg (27.8 percent) of hazardous/infectious waste, and 112.1 kg (0.76 percent) of sharps. Hospital waste makes up approximately 30 percent of all the hazardous waste generated in Kuwait. Segregation of the different types of wastes is practiced in nearly all of the hospitals. All infectious/medical wastes are finally disposed of through incineration.Practical implicationsThe paper shows that the hospitals under study do not organize training courses on hospital waste management and the hazards associated with them. There is a need to establish a detailed database regarding the quantity and quality of the waste generated by the various hospitals.Originality/valueThis paper systematically assesses the obstacles in the existing hospital solid waste management system in all governmental hospitals in Kuwait. Subsequently, recommendations and improvements are suggested.

In memoriam: Oluf L. Gamborg, 1924–2007

Oluf was born on a farm in Denmark and attended school there. His teenage years were influenced by the Second World War and the occupation by the German military forces. It was during that period that he got the inspiration to move to North America, which he did in 1949. He had attended a horticultural college in Denmark, but after arriving in Chauvin, Alberta, the home of a distant cousin, he entered the University of Alberta in Edmonton in 1952 where he obtained a B.Sc. in Agriculture with distinction in 1956 and a M.Sc. in Plant Biochemistry in 1958. He then worked at the Prairie Regional Laboratory (PRL) of the National Research Council of Canada in Saskatoon. The job also allowed him to study, and he registered as a Ph.D. student at the University of Saskatchewan in Fall 1958. He worked on the synthesis of phenolic compounds in plants. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1962 and continued to work at PRL. Oluf began working with plant cell suspension cultures in the 1960s and made some seminal findings relating to the nutritional requirements for such cultures. During his career, he energetically worked to establish plant tissue culture as a viable and essential agricultural tool in many parts of the developing world, particularly Asia. Through his travels and his training activities, the technology spread rapidly. As a result, tissue culture techniques—such as micropropagation of elite genotypes and in vitro germplasm storage—now play a key role in the agricultural selfsufficiency of many countries. Indeed, one paper outlined a medium now referred to as Gamborg’s B5 medium, which is still one of the most widely used media for plant tissue and cell cultures at present. In the early 1970s, he began working on protoplasts and discovered inter alia, the value of polyethleneglycol as an aid to protoplast fusion. This method is still widely used. His work in the 1960s and 1970s made the Prairie Regional Lab, Saskatoon (now Plant Biotechnology Institute) of the National Research Council of Canada a highly recognized center worldwide for in vitro technology. The second phase of his career took Oluf to the USA where he was a Senior Scientist/Research Director/Scientific Consultant for different biotechnology companies in California between 1979 and 1985 and where he exploited in vitro technology for applied purposes. He then moved on to Colorado State University (1985–1991) where he was Associate Director and Research Coordinator of the “Plant Tissue Culture for Crops” project of the US Aid for International Development Agency. This involved various areas of in vitro research for salt tolerance and also included organizing training courses, networking, and consultancies in several developing countries. Some of this research resulted in publications, but more importantly, it led to the establishment of tissue culture-based research activities in several of these countries. From 1991 to 1998, he was a full time consultant to private companies and had major projects in Indonesia and Viet Nam. Oluf also played a role in the personal development of numerous scientists with whom he interacted in the early phases of their careers. My first working relationship with him was as a member of the Tissue Culture Association Committee that he chaired on “Chemically Defined Media” in 1972, which also included Toshio Murashige and Indra Vasil. The report “Plant Tissue Culture Media” was published in In Vitro in 1976 and is still widely quoted. The International Association for Plant Tissue Culture was headquartered in Canada in 1974–1978, mainly because of In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.—Plant (2007) 43:281–282 DOI 10.1007/s11627-007-9070-5

ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR MUSHROOM PRODUCTION IN SMALL ENTERPRISES

Many countries are interested in production of Mushroom because of its high nutritive value. In Egypt, production of Mushroom is about 0.06% of the world production. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the economic feasibility of Mushroom production to evaluate the predicted profits in Egypt. The results showed that production of Mushroom significantly increased by 0.15 thousand ton/year. China, U.S.A and Germany are the top producing countries where 46.11% from the total world production is produced by these countries. The top exporting countries are China, Poland and Ireland since they export 57.67% from the total world exports of Mushroom. Meanwhile, Germany, Japan, England and U.S.A. are the top importing countries which import about 574.82% thousand tons/year through (2002- 2004). The study revealed that production of Mushroom is profitable as an enterprise for small investors in Egypt. Total production costs per year is about L.E. 8000. This small project gives two work opportunities and income of L.E. 12 thousand per year. The Internal rate of return of the enterprise is about 35% and the Payback period is about three years. Mushroom, the simple rate of return on investment is about 36%. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the least Internal rate of return supposing reduction of total income, is about 10% or increasing the total costs by 10%, the least Internal rate of return reached to14%. Whereas, simple rate of return on investment was estimated by 24% which was more than the interest rate in commercial banks that reached 10%. Therefore, This study recommends encouraging young-people enterprises in rural communities in new lands to produce Mushroom, by introducing technical consults, financial facilities for small investors. Also, limiting production and marketing difficulties, improving efficiency of marketing systems. In addition to maximizing production of Mushroom for exporting to the international markets and organizing training courses for spotting light on the economic feasibility of Mushroom to increase number of the investors to produce Mushroom.