Value stream mapping and earned value management : two perspectives on value in product development

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2005.Includes bibliographical references (p. 151-152).The concepts of value and value stream are crucial to the philosophy of Lean, and a better understanding of how these concepts relate to product development (PD) is essential for the creation of a Lean PD strategy. This thesis focuses on value by looking at PD processes through two different value perspectives: Product Development Value Stream Mapping and Earned Value Management. Product Development Value Stream Maps (PDVSMs) were created for two different PD projects, and the tasks from the maps were analyzed for how they each create value. The official value measurement for the two projects, Earned Value Management System data, was analyzed and compared to the PDVSMs. This comparison of the two value perspectives proved valuable, as it showed that despite some misalignments, they are congruent. The comparison also highlighted several flaws in EVMS. Finally, a combined EVMS/PDVSM hybrid management tool is proposed and discussed.by Ryan Brent Whitaker.S.M

Characterization of ichthyocidal activity of Pfiesteria piscicida: Dependence on the dinospore cell density

The ichthyocidal activity of Pfiesteria piscicida dinospores was examined in an aquarium bioassay format by exposing fish to either Pfiesteria-containing environmental sediments or clonal P. piscicida. The presence of Pfiesteria spp. and the complexity of the microbial assemblage in the bioassay were assessed by molecular approaches. Cell-free water from bioassays that yielded significant fish mortality failed to show ichthyocidal activity. Histopathological examination of moribund and dead fish failed to reveal the skin lesions reported elsewhere. Fish larvae within "cages" of variable mesh sizes were killed in those where the pore size exceeded that of Pfiesteria dinospores. In vitro exposure of fish larvae to clonal P. piscicida indicated that fish mortality was directly proportional to the dinospore cell density. Dinospores clustered around the mouth, eyes, and operculi, suggesting that fish health may be affected by their direct interaction with skin, gill epithelia, or mucous surfaces. Molecular fingerprinting revealed the presence of a very diverse microbial community of bacteria, protists, and fungi within bioassay aquaria containing environmental sediments. Some components of the microbial community were identified as potential fish pathogens, preventing the rigorous identification of Pfiesteria spp. as the only cause of fish death. In summary, our results strongly suggest (i) that this aquarium bioassay format, which has been extensively reported in the literature, is unsuitable to accurately assess the ichthyocidal activity of Pfiesteria spp. and (ii) that the ichthyocidal activity of Pfiesteria spp. is mostly due to direct interactions of the zoospores with fish skin and gill epithelia rather than to soluble factors.Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raul A. Ringuelet"Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

What determines growth potential and juvenile quality of farmed fish species?

Enhanced production of high quality and healthy fry is a key target for a successful and competitive expansion of the aquaculture industry. Although large quantities of fish larvae are produced, survival rates are often low or highly variable and growth potential is in most cases not fully exploited, indicating significant gaps in our knowledge concerning optimal nutritional and culture conditions. Understanding the mechanisms that control early development and muscle growth are critical for the identification of time windows in development that introduce growth variation, and improve the viability and quality of juveniles. This literature review of the current state of knowledge aims to provide a framework for a better understanding of fish skeletal muscle ontogeny, and its impact on larval and juvenile quality as broadly defined. It focuses on fundamental biological knowledge relevant to larval phenotype and quality and, in particular, on the factors affecting the development of skeletal muscle. It also discusses the available methodologies to assess growth and larvae/juvenile quality, identifies gaps in knowledge and suggests future research directions. The focus is primarily on the major farmed non-salmonid fish species in Europe that include gilthead sea bream, European sea bass, turbot, Atlantic cod, Senegalese sole and Atlantic halibut

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Illustrations for Health Assessment Techniques of the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, Limulus polyphemus

Horseshoe crab blood cells detect extremely small amountsof bacteria allowing them to be used in medicine to test thesterilization of medical devices, vaccines, and implants. This is aworldwide standard test called Limulus Amebocyte Lysate. TheNational Aquarium in Baltimore, MD, has developed guidelinesfor health examinations that are aimed to improve healthmaintenance and conservation strategies for horseshoe crabs.Illustrations were created to accompany this specic literatureto ensure the overall eectiveness of the material. A total of 28color illustrations were created to help educate veterinariansand veterinarian technicians, aquarists, and biologists

Effects of Blockade of Muscarinic Receptors and Nicotinic Receptors on Spatial Discrimination

Previous studies reported that blocking muscarinic receptors disrupts performance in spatial working memory task, and that performance impairment worsens when the delay period gets longer, suggesting that spatial working memory is sensitive to muscarinic receptor blockade. The present study compared the effects of muscarinic receptor antagonist (scopolamine) and nicotinic receptor antagonist (mecamylamine) on visuospatial discrimination using a spatial task without a delay component. Wistar rats were trained on a visuospatial task that required a correct barpress opposite to the cue location. Once the animals reached a behavioral criterion (\u3e85% correct, 2 consecutive sessions), the drug phase began. On the day of testing, the animals received either a single dose of scopolamine (0.25-1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), mecamylamine (2.5-10mg/kg, i.p.), or saline in a counterbalanced manner. The same behavioral criterion (\u3e85% correct, 2 consecutive sessions) was required between injections. We found that scopolamine disrupted correct responses in a dose-dependent manner and increased response latencies. Mecamylamine failed to affect correct responses. Our data are consistent with previous report that successful performance in spatial discrimination depends on activation of muscarinic receptors. Given the absence of a delay in our task, our results provide critical evidence that performance deficit after scopolamine reflects deficits in reference memory rather than working memory

Safeguards Guidance for Designers of Commercial Nuclear Facilities – International Safeguards Requirements for Uranium Enrichment Plants

For the past two years, the United States National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of International Regimes and Agreements (NA-243), has sponsored the Safeguards-by-Design Project, through which it is hoped new nuclear facilities will be designed and constructed worldwide more amenable to nuclear safeguards. In the course of this project it was recognized that commercial designer/builders of nuclear facilities are not always aware of, or understand, the relevant domestic and international safeguards requirements, especially the latter as implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). To help commercial designer/builders better understand these requirements, a report was prepared by the Safeguards-by-Design Project Team that articulated and interpreted the international nuclear safeguards requirements for the initial case of uranium enrichment plants. The following paper summarizes the subject report, the specific requirements, where they originate, and the implications for design and construction. It also briefly summarizes the established best design and operating practices that designer/builder/operators have implemented for currently meeting these requirements. In preparing the subject report, it is recognized that the best practices are continually evolving as the designer/builder/operators and IAEA consider even more effective and efficient means for meeting the safeguards requirements and objectives