The Impact Of The International Standards Organization Quality Management System On The In Vitro Diagnostics Industry In South Africa

Quality is an important subject in the modern business world and Total Quality Management (TQM) and the ISO-based Quality Management System (QMS) have been the most common approaches to quality management by organizations. This paper assesses customer service, operational performance, quality, competitive advantage and benefits obtained through ISO certification of IVD products. Five hypotheses were tested through a survey conducted among a random probability sample of 337 employees of IVD companies in South Africa, using the online platform, Survey Monkey. The findings revealed that top management’s commitment has a strong positive effect on the adoption of ISO certification in the IVD industry and ISO certification has a positive and strong effect on product quality performance, customer service satisfaction focus as well as organisational performance. Based on the research findings, it is recommended that top management of IVD companies should be committed to the adoption of ISO certification and use it as a strategic tool to influence product quality performance, customer service satisfaction focus and organisational performance in the IVD industry

Pd-catalyzed enantioselective aerobic oxidation of secondary alcohols: Applications to the total synthesis of alkaloids

Enantioselective syntheses of the alkaloids (-)-aurantioclavine, (+)-amurensinine, (-)-lobeline, and (-)- and (+)-sedamine are described. The syntheses demonstrate the effectiveness of the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric oxidation of secondary alcohols in diverse contexts and the ability of this methodology to set the absolute configuration of multiple stereocenters in a single operation. The utility of an aryne C-C insertion reaction in accessing complex polycyclic frameworks is also described

The Direct Acyl-Alkylation of Arynes

An efficient and mild acyl-alkylation of arynes is described. The method is used to synthesize medium-sized carbocycles by the ring-expansion of cyclic β-ketoesters

Setting Up an Adolescent Clinic in a Suburban Pediatric Office Group Practice

Teenagers in the United States experience significant mortality and morbidity because of high-risk behaviors. Adolescents need routine health supervision aimed at reducing these risks. A Teen Clinic within the Pediatrics Clinic at the Henry Ford Hospital Fairlane Center offers separate facilities, longer appointments, and an emphasis on adolescent issues. This plan is a model for practitioners in various office settings who seek to improve adolescent care

Progress toward the Total Synthesis of Saudin: Development of a Tandem Stille-Oxa-Electrocyclization Reaction

A diastereoselective tandem Stille-oxa-electrocyclization reaction provides access to the core of the diterpenoid natural product saudin. Additionally, this new reaction sequence was extended to the convergent preparation of related polycyclic pyran systems

The First Total Synthesis of Dragmacidin D

The first total synthesis of the biologically significant bis-indole alkaloid dragmacidin D (5) has been achieved. Thermal and electronic modulation provides the key for a series of palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions that furnished the core structure of the complex guanidine- and aminoimidazole-containing dragmacidins. Following this crucial sequence, a succession of meticulously controlled final events was developed leading to the completion of the natural product

Development of an Enantiodivergent Strategy for the Total Synthesis of (+)- and (−)-Dragmacidin F from a Single Enantiomer of Quinic Acid

An enantiodivergent strategy for the total chemical synthesis of both (+)- and (−)-dragmacidin F beginning from a single enantiomer of quinic acid has been developed and successfully implemented. Although unique, the synthetic routes to these antipodes share a number of key features, including novel reductive isomerization reactions, Pd(II)-mediated oxidative carbocyclization reactions, halogen-selective Suzuki couplings, and high-yielding late-stage Neber rearrangements

Heterogeneous Reductive Isomerization Reaction Using Catalytic Pd/C and H_2

A highly selective catalytic reductive isomerization reaction is described. The extremely mild and neutral reaction conditions (10% Pd/C, H_2, and MeOH at 0 °C) tolerate a wide range of functional groups and generally result in excellent yields. Mechanistic studies suggest that this reaction does not proceed via a stepwise reduction/elimination sequence or a π-allylpalladium intermediate

A Convergent and Enantioselective Synthesis of (+)-Amurensinine via Selective C−H and C−C Bond Insertion Reactions

A convergent and enantioselective synthesis of the natural product amurensinine is described. The synthetic strategy takes advantage of mild and selective C−H and C−C bond insertion reactions, in addition to the palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution recently developed in these laboratories