IMPACT : International Journal of Research in Applied, Natural and Social Sciences

1-6

Authors: Sangeeta Das & Jatin Kalita

Scelionid wasps are considered as idiobionts that attacks and consumes spider eggs. This group of parasitic hymenopteran insects parasitize the egg sacs of spiders, thereby playing a significant role in controlling the spider population. Wasps of Baeini tribe, due to their unique morphology have succeeded in parasitizing eggs of a number of spider families. Though a number of reports confirm spiders as the host of Baeus sp. But, identification of host species of this group of wasp still remains lacking. The present paper reports the incidence of egg parasitism in Argiopepulchella Thorell, 1881 by Baeus sp. for the first time from India.

15-26

Authors: Shanta Kumari

The study was conducted in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh in India to assess farmers’ awareness of pesticide usage, productivity, change in climate and adopted strategies used by the farmers to minimize adverse impact of pesticide usage on biodiversity and soil. The collection of primary data was done from the farmers who were using the agro-chemicals for growing the vegetable and apple crops. Awareness about the impact of pesticide use was more on large farms than small farms. While awareness for immediate treatment practices for pesticide poisoning and precautionary measures against the exposure of pesticides was slightly more on small farms in comparison to large farms. The farmers’ response on the perception of decrease in productivity was more on large farms and for increase in cost of production was almost similar on both farms. The farmers of both farms responded that climate was the main factor to decrease in productivity followed by disease and pest and lack of pollination. There is a variation in the perception of farmers of small and large farm for the change in temperature and rainfall. Whereas, similar perception was reported by the farmers of both farms for decrease in humidity and snowfall. The temperature fluctuation and hail storm were the main prevailing problems of the study area which are affecting the productivity of apple particularly on both farms. A few farmers were using the anti hail net against the hail storm on both farms. Due to its more cost, farmers were not using to protect their apple orchards. Therefore, there is a need to provide awareness by the extension workers for growing resistant varieties of crops to tolerate fluctuation in temperature and government should give anti hail net on subsidized rate for the farmers. It will be helpful to reduce the cost of production to some extent. Also, the government should pay attention to strengthen extension facilities, the promotion of use of agro-chemicals in a scientific way and for the use of organic agro-chemicals. This could be very useful to minimize the adverse impact on biodiversity, soil and human health. It will play a vital role to save the livelihood of the farmers and our ecosystem.

33-46

Authors: Isis Fawzy Zaki, Nehad Ezz-Eldin Fekr & Magda Abd El-Hamed

Performance Appraisal helps to improve the organizational health; viability and growth through optimal utilization of the nursing staff in the interest of the organization. The ultimate goal of performance appraisal is to ensure safe, effective patient care. Therefore, performance appraisal is a required process in healthcare organizations to ensure that the quality of care is met. This study was an attempt to develop a performance appraisal system (PAS) for staff nurses. The objectives of this research were: (1) assess the current performance appraisal system for staff nurses at selected (MOH) hospitals in El-Minya governorate; (2) designing a system for appraising performance of staff nurses and (3) validation of the developed performance appraisal system and appraisal form. This study employed a Descriptive, Methodological design. The participants were purposively selected from staff nurses and nurse administrators, actors all of the hospital units in a five main (MOH) hospitals in El-Minya governorate in Egypt 2014. Data were collected using two tools, the first tool “an Effective Characteristics of Performance Appraisal System Questionnaire” to assess the performance appraisal system for staff nurses used currently at selected hospitals, the second tool “an assessment of developing a performance appraisal system for staff nurse questionnaire” to assess the validation of the developed performance appraisal system and the performance appraisal form by the jury group. The numbers of participants were 141 staff nurses and 55 nurse administrators. The study results indicated that the nursing staff in general disagreement with the statements of all dimensions of effective characteristics of performance appraisal system. The findings of this study revealed that the PAS used currently at selected hospital ineffective and needed to develop new PAS for staff nurses at these hospitals. Depending on these findings the investigator developed a performance appraisal system for staff nurses. The developed performance appraisal system is composed of five parts: (1) manual performance appraisal system instructions; (2) performance plan form; (3) performance appraisal form (appraisal period & time, critical elements and standards; summary performance levels; the summary rating); (4) performance improvement plan. (5) Explanation criteria for performance standards. The investigator recommends a proposal for the researchers to adopt the results of this study and applied widely in the field of nursing and various nursing specialties.

53-58

Authors: Niru Sharan

Sustainable Development means an integration of developmental and Environmental imperatives. To be sustainable, development must possess both economical and ecological sustainability. Care has to be taken, the way in which developmental planning should be approached. Both the environment as well as the development means not end in themselves. The environment and development are for people and not vice versa. Sustainable development is essentially a policy and strategy for continued social and economic development. It should not be detrimental to the environment and natural resources, on the quality of which further development depends. My article has a comprehensive approach to sustainability. It includes details on our approaches, commitments, performance insights and our efforts in the direction of Sustainable Development. Climate is changing at a fast pace, and so are the developmental activities. To strike a workable balance between the two is the need of the hour. Based on empirical evaluations of the findings, this article offers solutions as well as recommendations, that could be of some help in solving the issue of the amalgamation of economics and ecology in our future planning.