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PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to revisit Ishikawa's statement: “95% of problems in processes can be accomplished using the original 7 Quality Control (QC) tools”. The paper critically investigates the validity of this statement in higher education institutions (HEIs). It involves analysis of the usage of the 7 QC tools and identifying the barriers, benefits, challenges and critical success factors (CSFs) for the application of the 7 QC tools in a HEI setting.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey instrument was developed, and as this is a global study, survey participants were contacted via social networks such as LinkedIn. Target respondents were HEIs educators or professionals who are knowledgeable about the 7 QC tools promulgated by Dr Ishikawa. Professionals who work in administrative sectors, such as libraries, information technology and human resources were included in the study. A number of academics who teach the 7 basic tools of QC were also included in the study. The survey link was sent to over 200 educators and professionals and 76 complete responses were obtained.FindingsThe primary finding of this study shows that the diffusion of seven QC tools is not widespread in the context of HEIs. Less than 8% of the respondents believe that more than 90% of process problems can be solved by applying the 7 QC tools. These numbers show that modern-quality problems may need more than the 7 basic QC basic tools and there may be a need to revisit the role and contribution of these tools to solve problems in the higher education sector. Tools such as Pareto chart and cause and effect diagram have been widely used in the context of HEIs. The most important barriers highlighted are related to the lack of knowledge about the benefits and about how and when to apply these tools. Among the challenges are the “lack of knowledge of the tools and their applications” and “lack of training in the use of the tools”. The main benefits mentioned by the respondents were “the identification of areas for improvement, problem definition, measurement, and analysis”. According to this study, the most important factors critical for the success of the initiative were “management support”, “widespread training” and “having a continuous improvement program in place”.Research limitations/implicationsThe exploratory study provides an initial understanding about the 7 QC tools application in HEIs, and their benefits, challenges and critical success factors, which can act as guidelines for implementation in HEIs. Surveys alone cannot provide deeper insights into the status of the application of 7 QC tools in HEIs, and therefore qualitative studies in the form of semi-structured interviews should be carried out in the future.Originality/valueThis article contributes with an exploratory empirical study on the extent of the use of 7 QC tools in the university processes. The authors claim that this is the first empirical study looking into the use of the 7 QC tools in the university sector.

Purpose: This original exploratory research study was to examine the influence of children's pestering on parents buying process called as pester power. Methodology: Data were collected from 654 respondents of 6-15 years age group children and their parents using non-probability samplings through survey and interview methods by a structured questionnaire, from two states of Andhra Pradesh and the Telanagna States of India. Finally, 437 (66.8%) samples data was analyzed using the IBM SPSS and AMOS package using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings: The study results revealed that entertainment, advertisement likability, content credibility, quality information and celebrity endorsement had a significant impact on children's pestering power, that affects their parents buying process. Families who want to shield their kids from needless commercial exploitation have a clear understanding of their problems, and the legislature must take crucial measures to control such advertisements to protect children, parents and society. Business people and media advertisers must focus on children attracting ads to provide quality, reliable, accurate and timely information about products as well as employing likeable and popular celebrity endorsement in the TV advertisements. Novelty: The study helpful to marketer and advertiser to build strong advertising strategy improve the consumer retention.

Infective endocarditis (IE) occurs more frequently in individuals living with congenital heart disease, often with high morbidity and mortality. Although gram-positive bacterial infections commonly cause IE, prosthetic valves are a known risk factor for fungal IE. We report a case of prosthetic pulmonary valve Candida parapsilosis IE in a 58-year-old male with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. He presented with fatigue, petechiae, and hematochezia. He had severe thrombocytopenia from idiopathic/immune thrombocytopenia purpura, which resolved with steroids and immunoglobulin. Treatment with antifungals as well as a surgical pulmonary valve replacement resulted in recovery without relapse at greater than a year.

Infective endocarditis (IE) occurs more frequently in individuals living with congenital heart disease, often with high morbidity and mortality. Although gram-positive bacterial infections commonly cause IE, prosthetic valves are a known risk factor for fungal IE. We report a case of prosthetic pulmonary valve

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family and is estimated to affect 15%-30% of high-risk solid organ transplant recipients. Typical manifestations of CMV end-organ disease in this population include colitis, esophagitis, and pneumonitis, and myocarditis is a rarely reported manifestation. We describe two cases of CMV myocarditis in solid organ transplant recipients and review the literature regarding previously published cases of CMV myocarditis.

Mental health conditions are common among persons with HIV (PWH). An understanding of factors associated with prescription medication use for these conditions and clinical impact of the prescription medications may improve care of mental health disorders in PWH.Psychotropic medication use was examined among PWH within the AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5322 (HAILO) study. Multivariable logistic models and Cox regression models estimated the association between psychotropic medications (any/none) with baseline and incident slow gait (1 s/m) and neurocognitive impairment (NCI) for more than 4 years.Of 1035 participants, the median age was 51 years.81% were men, 30% black, non-Hispanic, and 20% Hispanic. Psychotropic medication use was similar between men (34%) and women (38%; P = 0.19). PWH using psychotropic medications had greater odds of baseline slow gait {odds ratio 1.61, [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23 to 2.10]; P0.001}. Men but not women using psychotropic medications had an increased risk of developing slow gait [hazard ratio 1.85; (1.29 to 2.65) vs 0.77; (CI: 0.35 to 1.68), P interaction = 0.045]. The sex-specific odds ratios for medication use and NCI were qualitatively but not statistically different [men: 1.79; (1.14-2.80); women: 1.27; (0.56-2.90); P interaction = 0.47]. Psychotropic medication use was associated with an increased risk of incident NCI [hazard ratio 2.18; (95% CI: 1.23 to 3.84), P = 0.007] in both men and women.Psychotropic medications are associated with impairment in functional outcomes of aging, with a greater risk of baseline NCI and incident slow gait among men. Further investigation is needed to optimize outcomes in PWH and prescription of psychotropic medications among both men and women.

The present study was carried with the objective to assess the relief in dysmenorrhoea attained by the consumption of two indigenous foods namely ginger aliquot and ajwain powder. The study was carried on a sample of 90 subjects who were divided into two groups namely test and control, with 45 subjects in each group. The Test group were administered ginger aliquot or ajwain powder according to the subject's willingness to consume, whereas the control did not receive any food item, and were only a platform for comparison. The intervention was for two cycles of menstruation and the subjects began consuming the relieving agents from the first day of menstruation. A questionnaire was the tool of study to collect information from the subjects. The information collected was both general and specific in nature. The general information included age, educational status, type of family of the subjects, while the specific information was in reference to the haemoglobin levels, clinical signs and symptoms, beliefs about food and their relation to menstrual cycle. The menstrual pattern which is specific for each female was also assessed. The last part of the questionnaire was the judgement of relief experienced by the subjects after the intervention trial. The analysis of the data obtained was done in the form of percentages. The results revealed that majority of the subjects in both the groups were anaemic when compared with the standards given by WHO. Some of the subjects reflected clinical signs and symptoms of anaemia. Pallor face was seen in 28.88 per cent and 22.22 per cent of subjects in control and test, respectively and pale conjunctiva in 35.55 per cent and 33.33 per cent of the subjects in control and test, respectively. Other signs like patches on cheeks, pale palms were also looked for in both control and test group. Signs of anaemia like headache, easy fatigue, and loss of appetite were also studied in the subjects, and some subjects in both control and test group were suffering from the above due to anaemia. Majority of the subjects in the control (66.66%) and more than half (55.55%) in the test group said that they avoided specific foods during menstruation. Sour and heat producing foods were such. The analysis of data obtained for the specific information reflected that majority in the control and the test group starting menstruating between the age of 12-16 years. The gap between two cycles was normal that is 28-30 days in 62.22 per cent of the subjects in the control and 66.66 per cent of the test group, respectively. The duration of pain that is dysmenorrhoea was 48 hours in 88.88 per cent and 80.00 per cent of the subjects in the control and test group, respectively and majority that is 62.22 per cent and 77.77 per cent of the subjects in control and test groups had a regular cycle. The last part of the study was the assessment of ginger aliquot and ajwain powder on relief in dysmenorrhoea. The results revealed that out of 15 samples consuming ginger aliquot nine (9) felt moderate relief from cramping abdominal pain and from amongst the 30 sample units consuming ajwain 24 experienced a moderate relief in pain. The two values made the percentage of subjects experiencing relief equal to 60 per cent and 80 per cent after receiving ginger aliquot and ajwain powder, respectively. In conclusion it can be said that both ginger and ajwain can be used as home remedies for dysmenorrhoea in young adult women. They are both safe, non toxic and have great medicinal and therapeutic properties.

Background Mental health (MH) conditions and pain are common among people living with HIV (PLWH). An understanding of factors associated with prescriptions for these conditions and clinical impact of the prescriptions may improve care of MH disorders in PLWH. Methods The use of mental health/pain-related medications was examined among PLWH within the AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5322 (HAILO) study. Use of medications (any use and class) was compared by sex. Multivariable logistic models estimated the association between MH medications (any/none) with (i) insurance status and race/ethnicity and (ii) baseline and incident slow gait (>1 second/m) and neurocognitive impairment (NCI) over 4 years. Results Of 1035 participants, the median age was 51. 81% were men, 30% black, and 20% Hispanic. Similar numbers of men (34%) and women (38%) were on MH medications (P = 0.19).Women were more likely to be prescribed opioids (12% vs. 5%; P < 0.001); other classes were similar. In multivariable models, MH-medicated PLWH were more likely to have Medicare (odds ratio [OR] 2.50, 95% CI 1.50–4.16, P < 0.001) or public insurance (1.85; 1.23–2.78, P = 0.003) vs. no/unknown insurance; and less likely to be Hispanic vs. white (0.48; 0.33–0.69; P < 0.001). MH-medicated PLWH had greater odds of baseline slow gait (1.80; 1.34–2.40; P < 0.001). The sex-specific ORs for NCI were qualitatively different (men: 1.70; 1.09–2.66; women: 0.96; 0.43–2.18); but this difference was not significant in the multivariable model (P interaction = 0.227). There was an increased risk of incident slow gait among MH-medicated men but not women (hazard ratio 1.74; 1.22–2.48 vs. 0.76; 0.38–1.52, P interaction = 0.038), and a trend toward increased risk of incident NCI (1.76; 0.91, 3.39, P = 0.09) for both sexes. Conclusion Our results highlight socioeconomic and ethnic differences in prescription of MH medications. The higher proportion of opiate prescriptions among women needs confirmation and should be a priority for intervention. The greater risk of baseline NCI and incident slow gait among men may be the result of differences in toxicity, drug interactions, or persistent mental health symptoms; further investigation is needed to optimize outcomes in PLWH and prescription of mental health medications. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

In today's world of globalization, engineering students should have high level technical skills and multidisciplinary skills to face current industry requirements. The engineering students should develop the communication skills, leadership skills, management skills, interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team. However, there is a competency gap between the skills required by industry and those developed by students during their undergraduate courses, these skills can be indulged while students are working in laboratories, tutorial classes and projects. The paper proposes an approach called Self Help Group to incorporate the team working spirit. This approach is implemented by involving higher performance students in teaching learning process for improving various skills of weaker students and makes the group asa high achievers group.

With the emergence of global players, the Indian banking industry is facing fierce competition not only at its homeland but also with the international market. Due to continuous changes taking place in information technology, preferences of customers and competition, there is a need to redefine the mission objectives and process of the organization, so that the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization can be improved. While State Bank of India continues to dominate the Indian banking industry and its profits continue to grow, it is coming under increasing competitive pressure. The flattening of the world as a result of networking, information technology and globalization, necessitates SBI to bring out the drastic change in its procedural activities and redesign its business process. Business Process Reengineering aims at making the processes to be focused on producing the desired results. It also aims to be efficient by optimally using the available resources, to be cost effective by minimizing overall costs and should be adaptable by being able to adapt the changing customer and business needs. The present study focuses on business process reengineering interventions implemented in State Bank of India and the changes in the organization structure with special emphasis on Agra branches. The broad objective of the study was to relate the concept of Business Process Reengineering as a tool to enhance the competitive strength of State Bank of India and to improve its functioning to a world class level.