Exploración de la relación entre TQM y la productividad del software

Introduction: This publication is the product of research, carried out in the field of management in year 2018-19, which supports the work of a PhD in Business Management at Chandigarh University.  The purpose of this research is to explore the relation between Total Quality Management (TQM) constructs and productivity in the IT industry. This study has been conducted for organizations operating in the Tricity (Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali) and NCR (Noida, Gurgaon and Delhi) regions. Problem: The control of rising operational costs in any organization has become a challenge and is a major aspect in the sustainability of an organization. Implementation of TQM may reduce these costs by improving productivity in the software development process. Objective: The objective of the research is to explore if there any relationship exists between TQM and productivity in software development organization and whether TQM positively impacts productivity. Methodology: The study is based on a descriptive research design. A total of 206 respondents were selected using convenient sampling while 90 responded back on the survey. Exploratory factor Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression techniques were applied to obtain the results. Results: Out of 4 elements of TQM considered in this study, Customer Focus and Continuous improvement were found to be positively related to productivity while Total Management Commitment was found to not be related to productivity.  The hypothesis related to People Management was abandoned because it was highly correlated to other TQM elements. Conclusion: TQM positively impacts productivity in software development organizations. Originality: This study tried to create a causal mathematical model between TQM variables and productivity. Limitations: Sample size and TQM elements were limited based on availability of time and resources.Introducción: este artículo es producto de una investigación realizada en el campo de la gestión en el año2018-2019, que respalda el trabajo de un doctorado en gestión empresarial en la Universidad de Chandigarh. Objetivo:  explorar la relación entre las construcciones de Gestión de Calidad Total (TQM) y la productividad en la industria de TI. Este estudio se realizó para organizaciones que operan en las regiones de Tricity (Chandigarh, Panchkula y Mohali) y NCR (Noida, Gurgaon y Delhi). Problema: el control del aumento de los costos operativos en cualquier organización se ha convertido en undesafío y es un aspecto importante en la sostenibilidad de una organización. La implementación de TQM puede reducir estos costos al mejorar la productividad en el proceso de desarrollo de software. Metodología: el estudio se basa en un diseño de investigación descriptivo. Un total de 206 encuestados fueron seleccionados mediante un muestreo conveniente, mientras que 90 respondieron a la encuesta. Se aplicaron técnicas de análisis factorial exploratorio y de regresión lineal múltiple para obtener los resultados. Resultados: de los cuatro elementos de TQM considerados en este estudio, se encontró que el enfoque al cliente y la mejora continua están relacionados positivamente con la productividad, mientras que el compromisototal de gestión no está relacionado con la productividad. La hipótesis relacionada con la gestión de personasse abandonó porque e taba altamente correlacionada con otros elementos TQM. Conclusión: TQM impacta positivamente la productividad en las organizaciones de desarrollo de software. Originalidad: este estudio trató de crear un modelo matemático causal entre las variables TQM y la productividad. Limitaciones: el tamaño de la muestra y los elementos TQM se limitaron en función de la disponibilidad detiempo y recursos

Effect of solar activity on diurnal and seasonal variations of electron temperature measured by the SROSS C2 over Indian low latitudes

The local time, seasonal and solar activity variations of electron temperature T-e measured by the SROSS C2 satellite at equatorial and low latitudes during the low to moderate solar activity period of 1994-1998 are investigated. The mean height of the satellite is similar to 500 km and covered the latitude belt of 31 degrees S-34 degrees N and the longitude range of 40-100 degrees E. Results show that T-e varies between 700 and 900 K during nighttime (20:00-04:00 LT), rises sharply in the sunrise period (04:00-06:00 LT) to reach a level of 3500-5000 K within a couple of hours and then falls between 07:00 and 10:00 LT to a daytime (10:00-14:00 LT) average of 1600-2000 K. A secondary maximum is observed around 16:00-18:00 LT in the June solstice in all years and in the equinoxes in the years of moderate activity. The morning enhancement is more pronounced in the equinoxes. Electron temperature during the day was found to be higher in spring compared to that in autumn. Within the solstices, the amplitude of the morning enhancement is higher in winter compared to that in summer. The afternoon enhancement in summer decreases as the solar activity increases. Both day and nighttime T-e bears a positive correlation with solar activity. The observed T-e was also compared with the values predicted by the International Reference Ionosphere, IRI. Comparison reveals that the IRI predicts nighttime T-e well within 100 K of measured temperature. But, in the morning and afternoon, which are periods of enhanced temperature, IRI underestimates T-e in all seasons irrespective of solar activity. Daytime predicted T-e is lower than the measured values when solar activity is low. The difference between measurement and prediction during daytime decreases as the solar activity increases

A Fresh Look on Bergenin: Vision of Its Novel Drug Delivery Systems and Pharmacological Activities

Bergenin (BER), a key constituent of Bergenia crassifolia (Saxifragaceae), has gained extensive attention, owing to its array of pharmacological actions, including anti-infective, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-urolithiatic, anti-hyperuricemic, and anti-bradykinin properties. Despite ever-intensifying support for its therapeutic features, the poor solubility, lower oral bioavailability, shorter half-life, and more intestinal pH degradation (pH 6.8 or above) of BER have puzzled researchers. To circumvent these pharmaceutical challenges, and to improve its therapeutic efficacy, newer approaches have been adopted by research scientists. Thus, a discussion of the existing literature may provide complete information about the advances in delivery strategies for enhancing its utility. This paper summarizes up-to-date works on the design and development of novel delivery carriers of this bioactive compound, such as phospholipid complexes, extended-release core tablets, prodrugs, herbal gels, polyherbal ointments, nanoparticles, and poly (lactic acid) polymers, with the objective of harnessing its full potential. This review also provides a deep insight into its bioactivities, along with mechanisms. Additionally, the physicochemical attributes, chemistry, and pharmacokinetics of BER are discussed herein. Hence, the comprehensive information documented in this review may introduce new avenues for research advancements of BER

Targeting of efavirenz loaded tuftsin conjugated poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers to HIV infected macrophages in vitro

HIV infected macrophages are considered as reservoirs for spreading the virus in AIDS patients. Tuftsin not only binds specifically to the mononuclear phagocytic cells but also enhances their natural killer activity. The purpose of this study is to explore the targeting potential and anti-HIV activity of efavirenz (EFV) loaded, tuftsin conjugated 5th generation poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers (TuPPI) in vitro. Tuftsin was chemically conjugated to 5th generation poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers (PPI). The entrapment efficiency of PPI and TuPPI were found to be 37.43\ua0±\ua00.3% and 49.31\ua0±\ua00.33%, respectively. TuPPI was found to slow down and prolong the in vitro release of EFV upto 144\ua0h against PPI, which releases the drug completely within 24\ua0h. TuPPI possessed negligible cytotoxicity as compared to that of PPI. The cellular uptake of TuPPI was found to be 34.5 times higher than that of the free drug in first 1\ua0h and was significantly higher in HIV infected macrophages than that of uninfected cells. TuPPI was found to reduce the viral load by 99% at a concentration of 0.625\ua0ng/ml, which is due to the enhanced cellular uptake, reduced toxicity and the inherent anti-HIV activity of TuPPI. © 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V

Toxicological investigation of surface engineered fifth generation poly (propyleneimine) dendrimers in vivo

Dendrimers are three dimensional polymers, nanoscopic in size, most widely explored in the field of drug delivery in recent times. In order to establish these polymers as controlled and targeted drug delivery systems, they should be non-toxic, biocompatible and biodegradable. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the toxicological profile of fifth generation poly (propyleneimine) dendrimers (PPI) and some of its surface engineered derivatives. Functionalized PPI dendrimers (TPPI, MPPI and TuPPI) were synthesized to mask the primary amino groups responsible for the positive charge and associated toxicity. Each polymer is administered in three different doses: 2.5 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg (i.e., low, intermediate and high dose) to Wister rats, and blood as well as tissue samples were collected after 24 h and 15 days. Decrease in RBC count and hemoglobin content after 24 h, in case of animals administered with PPI suggests hemolytic activity of PPI. Significant increase in SGOT, SGPT and LDH indicates that PPI causes severe damage to the membranes of the various tissues of the body, especially that of the liver leading to the leakage of these marker enzymes in blood. Sections of liver of animals administered with PPI showed signs of tissue degeneration after 24 h. No signs of toxicity were observed in case of animals administered with functionalized PPI. Neither PPI nor its surface engineered derivatives showed any signs of immunogenicity. It can be concluded that functionalization of dendrimers leads to drastic reduction of toxicity and increases biocompatibility

Formulation, Characterization, Anti-Inflammatory and Cytotoxicity Study of Sesamol-Laden Nanosponges

Sesamol (SES) possesses remarkable chemotherapeutic activity, owing to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. However, the activity of SES is mainly hampered by its poor physicochemical properties and stability issues. Hence, to improve the efficacy of this natural anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic agent, it was loaded into β-cyclodextrin nanosponges (NS) prepared using different molar ratios of polymer and crosslinker (diphenyl carbonate). The particle size of SES-laden NS (SES-NS) was shown to be in the nano range (200 to 500 nm), with a low polydispersity index, an adequate charge (−17 to −26 mV), and a high payload. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the bioactive-loaded selected batch (SES-NS6). This batch of nanoformulations showed improved solubilization efficacy (701.88 µg/mL) in comparison to bare SES (244.36 µg/mL), polymer (β-CD) (261.43 µg/mL), and other fabricated batches. The drug release data displayed the controlled release behavior of SES from NS. The findings of the egg albumin denaturation assay revealed the enhanced anti-inflammatory potential of SES-NS as compared to bare SES. Further, the cytotoxicity assay showed that SES-NS was more effective against B16F12 melanoma cell lines than the bioactive alone. The findings of this assay demonstrated a reduction in the IC50 values of SES-NS (67.38 μg/mL) in comparison to SES (106 μg/mL). The present investigation demonstrated the in vitro controlled release pattern and the enhanced anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity of SES-NS, suggesting its potential as a promising drug delivery carrier for topical delivery