Total Quality Management Practices and Technology Transfer in Malaysian Public University

It is widely accepted that the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) as a management philosophy has significantly contributed to good management practice in business organization particularly in the manufacturing and service sectors. The applications of that concepts, techniques and tools have been successfully tailored to non-profit service or government-based organization. In the context of higher education institution, it has been seriously debated by the TQM scholars and academicians on the issue of to what extent TQM can be applied and how relevant its practices are to higher education\u27s core business i.e. teaching and research. Despite having sufficient knowledge and research on TQM implementation in the scope of manufacturing practices and administration-related services, it is hard to find a research on TQM, which focuses on the scope of R&D at a university. This gap has to be filled because the management of research is a critical topic for universities worldwide. For developing countries such as Malaysia the need to have good management practice in R&D is even greater. Without effective research management, the task of becoming significant players in the global knowledge market will become harder. Thus, the first part of this paper will discuss the applicability of TQM and propose a theoretical framework or model of TQM to suit the need of R&D context. The constructs for the TQM framework are based on previous empirical studies and the evaluation criteria of world standard criteria such as MBNQA, EFQM, and QMS ISO 9000. The TQM constructs that will be proposed are leadership, strategic planning, student/stakeholder & industry focus, data & information management, staff management, process & system approach, partnership & resource and continuous improvement. The second part of the paper will discuss the performance indicators of R&D activities particularly in the context of public university. The review of International literatures stressed that the performance of R&D activities have to be measured. The current issue related to research performance at university is the level the research output that can be transferred to the stakeholders. Therefore, this study will use technology transfer framework to measure research performance such as publication, patents, royalty and Spin-off Company. Finally, this paper will conceptually develop a model that would show the relationship between the TQM practices in the area of research and the level of technology transfer

<i>In silico</i> Neuropeptidome of Female <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i> Based on Transcriptome and Peptide Mining of Eyestalk, Central Nervous System and Ovary

<div><p><i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i> is the most economically important of the cultured freshwater crustacean species, yet there is currently a deficiency in genomic and transcriptomic information for research requirements. In this study, we present an <i>in silico</i> analysis of neuropeptide genes within the female <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i> eyestalk, central nervous system, and ovary. We could confidently predict 37 preproneuropeptide transcripts, including those that encode bursicons, crustacean cardioactive peptide, crustacean hyperglycemic hormones, eclosion hormone, pigment-dispersing hormones, diuretic hormones, neuropeptide F, neuroparsins, SIFamide, and sulfakinin. These transcripts are most prominent within the eyestalk and central nervous system. Transcript tissue distribution as determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of selected neuropeptide genes of interest mainly in the nervous tissues while others were additionally present in the non-nervous tissues. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of eyestalk peptides confirmed the presence of the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone precursor. This data set provides a strong foundation for further studies into the functional roles of neuropeptides in <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i>, and will be especially helpful for developing methods to improve crustacean aquaculture.</p></div

Tissue-specific expression of <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i> neuropeptide genes, using RT-PCR.

<p>Expression of 11 neuropeptide genes using gene-specific primers, as well as the β-actin gene. PCR used cDNA derived from 13 tissues of female (including 4 stages of ovarian tissue) and 1 tissue of male (testis). Negative control represents no cDNA in PCR. CCAP, Crustacean cardioactive peptide; CLDH, Calcitonin-like diuretic hormone; EH, Eclosion hormone; NPF, Neuropeptide F; SK, Sulfakinin; SIF, SIFamide; NP, Neuroparsin.</p

Molecular characterization of <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i> neuroparsin, NPF, SIFamide, and sulfakinin.

<p>The schematic diagrams show the organization of putative neuropeptide precursors of the <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i>, including signal peptides (blue), putative proteolytic cleavage sites (red), C-terminal glycine residues responsible for amidation (green), Cys residues, and putative neuropeptides (yellow). Precursor sequence alignments are shown with site of putative neuropeptide denoted with a yellow bar. Conserved amino acids are shown in black shading while similar amino acids are shown with grey shading. Mro, is <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i> and for other species abbreviations see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0123848#pone.0123848.s003" target="_blank">S1A Table</a>.</p

Molecular characterization of <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i> bursicon, CCAP, CLDH, eclosion hormone, and PDHs.

<p>The schematic diagrams show the organization of putative neuropeptide precursors of <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i>, including signal peptides (blue), putative proteolytic cleavage sites (red), C-terminal glycine residues responsible for amidation (green), Cys residues and putative neuropeptides (yellow). Precursor sequence alignments are shown with site of putative neuropeptide denoted with a yellow bar. Conserved amino acids are shown in black shading while similar amino acids are shown with grey shading. Mro, is <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i> and for other species abbreviations see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0123848#pone.0123848.s003" target="_blank">S1A Table</a>.</p

Predicted mature peptides from the eyestalk, CNS, and ovary transcriptomes of <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i>.

<p>Predicted mature peptides from the eyestalk, CNS, and ovary transcriptomes of <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i>.</p

Summary of transcripts encoding neuropeptides in <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i> eyestalk, CNS, and ovary transcriptomes.

<p>Summary of transcripts encoding neuropeptides in <i>M</i>. <i>rosenbergii</i> eyestalk, CNS, and ovary transcriptomes.</p

Gene-specific primers and expected amplicon sizes.

<p>Gene-specific primers and expected amplicon sizes.</p

Summary of BLAST searches in combined three-transcriptome dataset and unigene analyses in individual datasets (eyestalk, CNS, and ovary) of <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i>.

<p>(A) E-value distribution of BLASTx hits from all unigenes obtained within combined eyestalk, CNS, and ovary dataset. (B) Species distribution of BLASTx hits. (C) Comparison of unigenes present in individual datasets. (D) Pfam annotation of unigenes present in individual datasets.</p