A STUDY OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN THE ROYAL KINGDOM OF BHUTAN

Research Objectives. The researchers have put following major objectives in the study, which contribute to Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management and overall performance of the manufacturing industries in Bhutan. 1. To study Organizational Culture (OC) in manufacturing industries in Bhutan. 2. To do comparative analysis of OC in manufacturing industries of different ownership in Bhutan. Research Results. Study of OC show that “Human Relations” culture in the companies is at high level though “Rational Goal” culture and “Internal Process” culture needs to be changed for better because the way how organizations do things has never changed very much. They do not have cultivated properly “Open Systems” culture. The comparative analysis of OC in three manufacturing industries of different ownership shows that “Human Relations”, “Rational Goal”, “Internal Process” cultures are better cultivated in the private company than in both of the government owned company and the Joint venture. Practical Significance of the Research. The practical significance of the work lies in the fact that the results of the research can be used to reorient the Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management practices in Bhutan towards an innovative path of development. Innovative ideas, practices and recommendations in the study can be used to improve the Organizational Culture , Organizational Behavior, Industrial Relations, which will lead to better performance of the company in terms of higher efficiency and effectiveness on the one hand and on the other hand higher social and emotional well-being of employees, which are the part of national goal of GNH in Bhutan. The results of the research are of interest to Industrial Relations’ specialists, lawyers, as well as for management people, who are engaged in collective agreement practices and social regulation of labor Relations. Research materials can be used in the process of teaching Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, Organizational behavior and other applied disciplines.Research Objectives. The researchers have put following major objectives in the study, which contribute to Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management and overall performance of the manufacturing industries in Bhutan. 1. To study Organizational Culture (OC) in manufacturing industries in Bhutan. 2. To do comparative analysis of OC in manufacturing industries of different ownership in Bhutan. Research Results. Study of OC show that “Human Relations” culture in the companies is at high level though “Rational Goal” culture and  “Internal Process” culture needs to be changed for better because  the way how organizations do things has never changed very much. They do not have cultivated properly “Open Systems” culture. The comparative analysis of OC in three manufacturing industries of different ownership shows that  “Human Relations”, “Rational Goal”, “InternalProcess” cultures  are better cultivated  in the private company than in both of the government owned company and the Joint venture. Practical Significance of the Research. The practical significance of the work lies in the fact that the results of the research can be used to reorient the Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management practices in Bhutan towards an innovative path of development. Innovative ideas, practices and recommendations in the study can be used to improve the Organizational Culture , Organizational Behavior, Industrial Relations, which will lead to better performance of the company in terms of higher efficiency and effectiveness on the one hand and on the other hand higher social and emotional well-being of  employees, which are the part of national goal of GNH in Bhutan. The results of the  research are of interest to Industrial Relations’ specialists, lawyers, as well as for management people, who are engaged in collective agreement practices and social regulation of labor Relations. Research materials can be used in the process of teaching Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, Organizational behavior and other applied disciplines

Managing Hazardous Municipal Wastewater: A Membrane-Integrated Hybrid Approach for Fast and Effective Treatment in Low Temperature Environment

Protection of natural water resources like lakes from the onslaught of hazardous municipal wastewater is often a challenge particularly in the cold regions. For treatment of enormous quantity of municipal wastewater, biological treatment is normally adopted but high COD (Chemical Oxygen demand) of such wastewater turns biological treatment slow and difficult. At low temperature environment, effective treatment of such municipal wastewater becomes extremely difficult due to weakened microbial activities. The present study was carried out with a hybrid approach comprising chemical treatment and membrane separation under psychrophilic conditions. Well–known Fenton’s treatment was adopted under response surface optimized conditions that helped recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients as value–added struvite fertilizer or magnesium ammonium phosphate (NH4MgPO4∙6H2O). The optimal COD removal was found to be 96% at a low temperature of 15oC and pH of 6.3 using Fe2+/H2O2 ratio of 0.10 and of H2O2 1.9 g/l with reaction time of 2 h. Down–stream purification of the struvite-free water by microfiltration and nanofiltration largely fouling–free flat sheet cross flow membrane modules ultimately turned the treated water reusable through reduction of dissolved solids, conductivity and salinity

Seasonal variations in Home Range Size of Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) in a degraded habitat in Assam, India

A group of capped langurs, Trachypithecus pileatus comprising eight individuals was studied in Sri Surya Pahar, a degraded habitat in Goalpara district of Assam to record the seasonal variations in distance travelled, home range, and habitat utilization through direct observation supplemented by Geographical Information system (GIS). Scan sampling method was followed to record data on ranging behaviour. Seasonality in the home range size was evident and significant (P<0.01), it was 20 ha in winter, 17 ha in pre-monsoon, 17.75 ha in monsoon and 16.25 ha in retreating monsoon. The mean daily travel distance varied significantly (P<0.01), it was 375 m in retreating monsoon to 490 m in winter. The mean daily travel length was 439 m and the total annual home range size was 38.25 ha. The variation of home range size was correlated with the distribution and abundance of food resources. Home range size and daily travel distance showed significant seasonal variations. In both the cases the ranging patterns were longer during the winter season. This may be due to shortage of new leaves during winter, which is the preferred food item of capped langur. Spatial availability of the different food resources over different seasons may also be a reason for significant changes in ranging pattern during different seasons. The present data on home range size and ranging pattern of capped langur in degraded habitat could be useful for improvement of habitat and the conservation of this endangered species in Assam

REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AS POSSIBLE MEDIATOR OF ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF PARKIA JAVANICA, AGAINST BACTERIAL SPECIES PREDOMINANTLY FOUND IN CHRONIC WOUND.

The crude methanol extract of Parkia javanica was screened for antibacterial activity. against bacterial species predominantly found in chronic wound, by serial dilution technique. Growth kinetics study was performed and percentage of ROS production was measured by NBT reduction assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were obtained with a range of IC100 5-40 mg/ml in case of standard bacterial strains. The lag phase of all extract treated bacteria is extended compared to untreated cells. The normalized % of ROS is increased in presence of crude extract. This study suggests that the crude methanol extract of Parkia javanica possesses promising antimicrobial substances which are having activity against Standard ATCC bacterial species and ROS induced DNA damage could be the possible mediator of its antimicrobial activity. Keywords: Parkia javanica, antibacterial activity, standard ATCC bacterial strains, growth curve, ROS, DNA damag

Lewis acid-induced rearrangment of α-[bis(methylthio)methylene]ethyl-2-styrylcyclopropylcarbinols: unexpected formation of a novel bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene framework

The α-[bis(methylthio)methylene]ethyl-2-styrylcyclopropylcarbinols 9a-c undergo a simple but unexpected skeletal rearrangement in the presence of stannic chloride in nitromethane to afford bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene derivatives 10a-c exclusively in good yields. The structure of 10a was conclusively elucidated by X-ray diffraction studies. A possible mechanism governing the formation of 10 is proposed

Pinpointing The Extent Of Electronic Delocalization In The Re(i)-to-tetrazine Charge-separated Excited State Using Time-resolved Infrared Spectroscopy

Femtosecond mid-IR transient absorption spectroscopy (TRIR) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations on Re(CO)(3)Cl(Me(2)BPTZ) [Me(2)BPTZ = 3,6-bis(5-methyl-2-pyridine)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine] are used to demonstrate that the lowest excited state of the complex is a triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) state with a lifetime of 225 ps. The short excited-state lifetime is explained by the energy-gap taw. Vibrational cooling of the (3)MLCT state shows up as early-time dynamics (3.6 ps). The structural changes in the excited state are deduced from the frequency shifts in the TRIR vibrational bands. The vibrational frequencies of the CO groups increase upon excitation as a result of decreased back-bonding between the CO ligands and the oxidized Re center in the (3)MLCT state. The vibrational frequencies of the central tetrazine ring of Me(2)BPTZ decrease because of the decrease in the bond order upon reduction of the Me(2)BPTZ ligand in the (3)MLCT state. Interestingly, the TRIR signals from the pyridine moieties of Me2BPTZ were not detected. These results can be explained by localization of the electronic charge on the central tetrazine ring in the (3)MLCT state of Re(CO)(3)Cl(Me(2)BPTZ), as supported by TD-DFT calculations

Inhibition of translation by IFIT family members is determined by their ability to interact selectively with the 5'-terminal regions of cap0-, cap1- and 5'ppp- mRNAs.

Ribosomal recruitment of cellular mRNAs depends on binding of eIF4F to the mRNA's 5'-terminal 'cap'. The minimal 'cap0' consists of N7-methylguanosine linked to the first nucleotide via a 5'-5' triphosphate (ppp) bridge. Cap0 is further modified by 2'-O-methylation of the next two riboses, yielding 'cap1' (m7GpppNmN) and 'cap2' (m7GpppNmNm). However, some viral RNAs lack 2'-O-methylation, whereas others contain only ppp- at their 5'-end. Interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFITs) are highly expressed effectors of innate immunity that inhibit viral replication by incompletely understood mechanisms. Here, we investigated the ability of IFIT family members to interact with cap1-, cap0- and 5'ppp- mRNAs and inhibit their translation. IFIT1 and IFIT1B showed very high affinity to cap-proximal regions of cap0-mRNAs (K1/2,app ∼9 to 23 nM). The 2'-O-methylation abrogated IFIT1/mRNA interaction, whereas IFIT1B retained the ability to bind cap1-mRNA, albeit with reduced affinity (K1/2,app ∼450 nM). The 5'-terminal regions of 5'ppp-mRNAs were recognized by IFIT5 (K1/2,app ∼400 nM). The activity of individual IFITs in inhibiting initiation on a specific mRNA was determined by their ability to interact with its 5'-terminal region: IFIT1 and IFIT1B efficiently outcompeted eIF4F and abrogated initiation on cap0-mRNAs, whereas inhibition on cap1- and 5'ppp- mRNAs by IFIT1B and IFIT5 was weaker and required higher protein concentrations

Research for practice in small human service organisations: doing and disseminating smallscale research

A series of novel alkynyl substituted 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one (DHPM) derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated in vitro as potential inhibitors of chorismate mutase (CM). All these compounds were prepared via a multi-component reaction (MCR) involving sequential I2-mediated Biginelli reaction followed by Cu-free Sonogashira coupling. Some of them showed promising inhibitory activities when tested at 30 μM. One compound showed dose dependent inhibition of CM with IC50 value of 14.76 ± 0.54 μM indicating o-alkynylphenyl substituted DHPM as a new scaffold for the discovery of promising inhibitors of CM

2-[2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylamino)thiazol-4-yl]acetic acid (Activator-3) is a potent activator of AMPK

AMPK is considered as a potential high value target for metabolic disorders. Here, we present the molecular modeling, in vitro and in vivo characterization of Activator-3, 2-[2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylamino)thiazol-4-yl]acetic acid, an AMP mimetic and a potent pan-AMPK activator. Activator-3 and AMP likely share common activation mode for AMPK activation. Activator-3 enhanced AMPK phosphorylation by upstream kinase LKB1 and protected AMPK complex against dephosphorylation by PP2C. Molecular modeling analyses followed by in vitro mutant AMPK enzyme assays demonstrate that Activator-3 interacts with R70 and R152 of the CBS1 domain on AMPK γ subunit near AMP binding site. Activator-3 and C2, a recently described AMPK mimetic, bind differently in the γ subunit of AMPK. Activator-3 unlike C2 does not show cooperativity of AMPK activity in the presence of physiological concentration of ATP (2 mM). Activator-3 displays good pharmacokinetic profile in rat blood plasma with minimal brain penetration property. Oral treatment of High Sucrose Diet (HSD) fed diabetic rats with 10 mg/kg dose of Activator-3 once in a day for 30 days significantly enhanced glucose utilization, improved lipid profiles and reduced body weight, demonstrating that Activator-3 is a potent AMPK activator that can alleviate the negative metabolic impact of high sucrose diet in rat model

The Role of UPF0157 in the Folding of M. tuberculosis Dephosphocoenzyme A Kinase and the Regulation of the Latter by CTP

BACKGROUND:Targeting the biosynthetic pathway of Coenzyme A (CoA) for drug development will compromise multiple cellular functions of the tubercular pathogen simultaneously. Structural divergence in the organization of the penultimate and final enzymes of CoA biosynthesis in the host and pathogen and the differences in their regulation mark out the final enzyme, dephosphocoenzyme A kinase (CoaE) as a potential drug target. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We report here a complete biochemical and biophysical characterization of the M. tuberculosis CoaE, an enzyme essential for the pathogen's survival, elucidating for the first time the interactions of a dephosphocoenzyme A kinase with its substrates, dephosphocoenzyme A and ATP; its product, CoA and an intrinsic yet novel inhibitor, CTP, which helps modulate the enzyme's kinetic capabilities providing interesting insights into the regulation of CoaE activity. We show that the mycobacterial enzyme is almost 21 times more catalytically proficient than its counterparts in other prokaryotes. ITC measurements illustrate that the enzyme follows an ordered mechanism of substrate addition with DCoA as the leading substrate and ATP following in tow. Kinetic and ITC experiments demonstrate that though CTP binds strongly to the enzyme, it is unable to participate in DCoA phosphorylation. We report that CTP actually inhibits the enzyme by decreasing its Vmax. Not surprisingly, a structural homology search for the modeled mycobacterial CoaE picks up cytidylmonophosphate kinases, deoxycytidine kinases, and cytidylate kinases as close homologs. Docking of DCoA and CTP to CoaE shows that both ligands bind at the same site, their interactions being stabilized by 26 and 28 hydrogen bonds respectively. We have also assigned a role for the universal Unknown Protein Family 0157 (UPF0157) domain in the mycobacterial CoaE in the proper folding of the full length enzyme. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:In view of the evidence presented, it is imperative to assign a greater role to the last enzyme of Coenzyme A biosynthesis in metabolite flow regulation through this critical biosynthetic pathway