HR Issues and Challenges in Implementing Business Process Reengineering in Government Organizations in India

Business Process Reengineering (BPR) in an Organization is redesigning of its business processes to radically change the system for service improvement, quality enhancement, cost reduction and cycle time reduction. It is not a onetime exercise, but is a continuous one. The requirement and feasibility of a business process reengineering, at present, exists for two reasons – one, the expectations of the stakeholders are rising day by day and secondly the changing technological environment permits the process improvements due to new inventions. Due to these changes, BPR is increasingly being seen as the answer to the challenges that the organizations, especially in service sector, face in delivering services more effectively and efficiently. A large number of government organizations in India have responded to these calls and have initiated BPR interventions not only to improve internal business operations but also to strengthen accountability in public service sphere. However, despite the best intentions of the organizations to improve their functioning, it is noted that many of these BPR initiatives have failed totally or partially to achieve their objectives. An analysis, at broad level, indicates that most of these BPR initiatives have been perceived as technology initiatives only. The importance of corresponding changes in Human Resource (HR) Management has not been gauged properly and consequently these initiatives have failed to take off. This calls for a need to examine the HR issues related to the BPR with focus on making these initiatives success. This theoretical paper, based only on secondary data source, is an attempt to identify the HR issues related to the implementation of BPR mainly in the service oriented government organizations with an objective to provide an input for effective implementation of various BPR initiatives. Keywords: Business Process Reengineering, Change Management, e-governance, Human Resource, India

COELENTERATE TOXINS, ITS PHARMACEUTICAL AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS

Present review article emphasizes species specific coelenterate toxins, its pharmaceutical and therapeutic effects. Most of the coelenterates inflict venom accidently by using nematocysts found on arms. These animals very quickly do massive and multiple inflictions of venom which causes cardiotoxicity that leads to the death of human beings. Coelenterate venom toxin groups differ in their composition and show diverse biological activity i.e. cytolytic or neurotoxic, hemolytic, anti-parasitic activity, α-amylase inhibitor activity, and analgesic activity anti-cancerous and antitumor activity, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. Coelenterate venom initiates toxic and immunological reactions exert their effects by modifying the properties of the ion channels involved in action potential generation in nerve, heart, and skeletal muscles. This article suggests available information, on coelenterate toxins could be used to develop potential therapeutic interventions for various human diseases and disorders

THERAPEUTICS APPROACHES OF INVERTEBRATE ANIMAL TOXINS: A REVIEW

The present review article describes invertebrate venoms and various toxins secreted by them. Animal venoms are stores of novel peptides which exhibit a wide variety of biological effects and actively interact with pathogen and parasites. Animal toxins selectively bind to ion channels and receptors and display show hemolytic, cytolytic, proteolytic, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial and analgesic activity. These generate allergic and inflammatory responses in victims. These disrupt cell membranes and inhibit bacterial growth and kill them. Animal toxins inhibit virus entry into host cells and obstruct virus replication. These were also found highly effective against protozoan and fungal pathogens. By using bioinformatics tools, methods and approaches, both structural and functional diversity of toxin peptides could be harnessed to develop highly effective broad-spectrum drugs for therapeutics. Animal venoms are an inexhaustible source of bioactive molecules, which could be used for the development of immune diagnostics, various pharmaceuticals for therapeutics and bio-insecticides. Present article tries to explore the exceptional specificity and high potency of animal toxins for drug development

HYMENOPTERA TOXINS: BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY, PHARMACEUTICAL AND THERAPEUTIC USES

The present review article explains the salient features of hornet venom toxins, their physiological, biological and pharmacological effect on animals and man. Hornets sting very fast and inflict venom, which is more dangerous than those of bees. Hornet venom contains both proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous peptides i.e. scapin, adolapin, mellitin, mastoparans and enzymes, mainly phospholipase and hyaluronidase, which show multiple biological effects i.e. cytolytic, hemotoxic, neuro-inhibitor, anticancer, anti-parasitic, immune hypersensitive, inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-insect activities. Hornet stings are more painful to humans than typical wasp stings because hornet venom contains a large amount (5%) of acetylcholine. Hornet toxin components interact with receptors, ion channels and gated channels and affect the permeability functions of cells. Heavy envenomation shows quick pathophysiological lethal effects in man and pet. This article emphasizes the use of various hornet venom components for the production of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic and analgesic, anticancer drugs and insecticides. Hornet venom allergens could be used to prepare the rational design of component-resolved diagnosis of allergy and venom immunotherapy of inflicting patients

Service Quality Assessment in Insurance Sector: A Comparative Study between Indian and Chinese Customers

Globalisation and open market system have created the complex competitive environment not only for the manufacturing sector but also for the service sector. Recent developments in global economy have led the service companies especially the insurance companies to plan and execute their strategies towards increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty through improved service quality. The present study focuses on developing a valid and reliable instrument to measure customer perceived service quality and comparing these between Indian and Chinese Insurance companies. The resulting validated instrument comprised of six dimensions: assurance, personalized financial planning, competence, corporate image, tangibles and technology. The study finds that although both the countries are operating in similar service environment but the responses to these service quality components differ from customers of one country to another. Keywords: Service Quality, Cross Cultural, Insurance, GAP analysis

TOXIC AND IMMUNE ALLERGIC RESPONSES OF ANT VENOM TOXINS: A REVIEW

Present review article explains ant venom components and its allergic and biological effects in man and animals. Red ants or small fire ants secrete and inject venom very swiftly to defend their nest against predators, microbial pathogens, and competitors and to hunt the prey. Ant venom is a mixture of various organic compounds, including peptides, enzymes, and polypeptide toxins. It is highly toxic, allergic, invasive and venomous. It imposes sever paralytic, cytolytic, haemolytic, allergenic, pro-inflammatory, insecticidal, antimicrobial, and pain-producing pharmacologic activities after infliction. Victims show red ring-shaped allergic sign with regional swelling marked with intense pain. Ant venom also contains several hydrolases, oxidoreductases, proteases, Kunitz-like polypeptides, and inhibitor cysteine knot (ICK)-like (knottin) neurotoxins and insect defensins. Ant venom toxins/proteins generate allergic immune responses and employ eosinophils and produce Th2 cytokines, response. These compounds from ant venom could be used as a potential source of new anticonvulsants molecules. Ant venoms contain many small, linear peptides, an untapped source of bioactive peptide toxins. The remarkable insecticidal activity of ant venom could be used as a promising source of additional bio-insecticides and therapeutic agents

COMPARISON OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE DRUGS FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES WITH NATURAL MOLECULE FROM TINOSPORA

Objective: Efficacy of natural molecule from Tinospora cordifolia versus commercially available drugs to control diabetes 2.Methods: Twelve different drug molecules were selected to study drug properties, bioactivity and detailed mode of action. A comparative study was carried out among the drugs and plant metabolite to understand the putative mechanism of metabolite action and its potential to be developed as an herbal drug. PharmaGist Server was used to carry out pharmacophore modeling. The sequence of the target molecule (Q09428) was retrieved from UniProtKB/SwissProt, and structure prediction was carried out using ITASSER. The best model generated was further refined by energy minimization using Deep View. Validation of the structure was performed by Ramachandran plot analysis using PDBSum. Interaction analysis of the docked complex was done using LigPlot+.Results: The potential of natural plant metabolite to target ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 8 seems probable based on docking and interaction analysis results. The natural molecule showed comparable binding energy (-5.57) in four out of seven drugs.Conclusion: Natural molecule from Tinospora cordifolia may serve as a potential lead drug molecule after modification and optimization for enhanced interaction.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Natural molecule, Tinospora, Type 2 diabete

Studying of Acoustical Parameters of Some Binary Liquid Mixture at 303.15 K and 3 M. Hz

The ultrasonic velocity, density and viscosity of 1,4- dioxane with alkanols systems have been measured experimentally at 303.15 K over the frequency 3 M. Hz. From these three values, we have calculated thermodynamic and excess thermodynamic parameters such as adiabatic compressibility, deviation in adiabatic compressibility, molar volume excess molar volume, free length, excess free length, Viscosity, deviation in viscosity, internal pressure ,excess internal pressure, acoustic impedance, excess acoustic impedance, excess sound velocity, Rao,s constant, Wada constant, relaxation time and relaxation strength of binary liquid mixture to interpret the nature of the interactions taking place in the binary liquid mixtures. The results analyzed in the sight of molecular interaction between the components. The interaction resulting in the interstitial accommodation of 1, 4- dioxane into alkanols are the predominant factor over dipole-dipole interaction

TO EVALUATE THE MORPHOLOGICAL AND MORPHOMETRIC FEATURES OF ADULT HUMAN CADAVERIC RIGHT LUNG IN NORTH INDIAN POPULATION

Objectives: In the present study, different morphological and morphometric features of adult human cadaveric right lungs were observed and noted on the predesigned pro forma. Not much of such measurements have been done in the past. The mean values and standard deviations are calculated. The data thus obtained were tabulated scrutinized, analyzed, and compared with the earlier studies wherever possible. If any variant from the normal is observed, an attempt has been made to explain the same on ontogenic or phylogenic basis. Methods: The present study has been conducted on 50 adult human cadaveric right lungs obtained from embalmed cadavers, used for dissection in the department of Anatomy, Govt. Medical College, Amritsar, formed the material for the current study. Results: Majority of the lungs (49 [98%]) were spongy in texture while 1 (2%) lung was firm to touch. It is evident that majority of lungs depicted mottling in the form of black, brown or grey in color in 38%, 28%, and 26% of the specimens, respectively. A complete grey, brown, or brownish black color was seen in 2% lungs each. In one lung yellow mottling was seen which could be because of fat deposition. Length of posterior border (19.9cm) was more as compared to anterior border (17.8 cm). Lungs were measured both along lateral and medial surfaces. Along the lateral surface its mean value was 18.52±3.178 cm (Range 12–25 cm) while along medial surface its mean value was 15.11±2.241 cm (Range 9–23 cm). The mean AP width of right lung at center was 11.05±2.864 cm (Range 7–23 cm) and along inferior border was 13.26±2.743 cm (Range 9–20 cm). The mean mediolateral width was found to be 7.536±2.318 cm with range being 4–15.2 cm. Conclusion: Knowledge of normal measurements of lungs and their variations may help cardiothoracic surgeons to avoid undue complications during surgery. Furthermore, it may help radiologist to resolve perplexed radiographic findings

Template free synthesis of PbS nanoparticles by sol-gel facile method under IR radiation at room temperature

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles have been synthesized from the precursor of lead nitrite tetrahydrate [Pb(NO3)2.4H2O] and thiourea [CH4 N2S] at room temperature by sol-gel method under the infrared (IR) irradiation. The synthesized PbS nanoparticles have been characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, UV-vis spectrophotometer, and FTIR. The dominant peak (200) in XRD pattern, microstructure and the absorption of PbS have been confirmed the formation of nanoparticles. The crystallite size of PbS nanoparticle has been observed to be 13 nm. The lattice constant