Modeling of Traceability Information System for Material Flow Control Data.

This paper focuses on data modeling for traceability of material/work flow in information layer of manufacturing control system. The model is able to trace all associated data throughout the product manufacturing from order to final product. Dynamic data processing of Quality and Purchase activities are considered in data modeling as well as Order and Operation base on lots particulars. The modeling consisted of four steps and integrated as one final model. Entity-Relationships Modeling as data modeling methodology is proposed. The model is reengineered with Toad Data Modeler software in physical modeling step. The developed model promises to handle fundamental issues of a traceability system effectively. It supports for customization and real-time control of material in flow in all levels of manufacturing processes. Through enhanced visibility and dynamic store/retrieval of data, all traceability usages and applications is responded. Designed solution is initially applicable as reference data model in identical lot-base traceability system

Molecular characterization of cDNA encoding resistance gene-like sequences in Buchloe dactyloides

Current knowledge of resistance (R) genes and their use for genetic improvement in buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides [Nutt.] Engelm.) lag behind most crop plants. This study was conducted to clone and characterize cDNA encoding R gene-like (RGL) sequences in buffalograss. This report is the first to clone and-characterize of buffalograss RGLs. Degenerate primers designed from the conserved motifs of known R genes were used to amplify RGLs and fragments of expected size were isolated and cloned. Sequence analysis of cDNA clones and analysis of putative translation products revealed that most encoded amino acid sequences shared the similar conserved motifs found in the cloned plant disease resistance genes RPS2, MLA6, L6, RPM1, and Xa1. These results indicated diversity of the R gene candidate sequences in buffalograss. Analysis of 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), applied to investigate upstream of RGLs, indicated that regulatory sequences such as TATA box were conserved among the RGLs identified. The cloned RGL in this study will further enhance our knowledge on organization, function, and evolution of R gene family in buffalograss. With the sequences of the primers and sizes of the markers provided, these RGL markers are readily available for use in a genomics-assisted selection in buffalograss

Effects of deficit irrigation and partial rootzone drying on growth, dry matter partitioning and water use efficiency in young coffee plants(Coffea arabica L.) plants

The effects of three irrigation regimes (partial root zone drying, PRD; normal deficit irrigation, NDI and full irrigation or well watering, WW) on vegetative growth, dry matter yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L. cv. F-59) were studied under a rain shelter in Ethiopia. Relative water content (RWC) of leaves and stomatal conductance decreased by NDI and PRD treatments, but plants grown in PRD had leaf RWC values closer to those of WW plants on some measurement occasions. Shoot growth and total dry matter yield were significantly reduced by NDI and PRD. Root: shoot ratio was higher for plants in the PRD compared with WW or NDI. PRD also saved 50% of the water required for full irrigation and resulted in significantly (21 to 43%) higher IWUE compared to NDI and WW treatments. Therefore, it was concluded that PRD could be practically advantageous for the production of coffee seedlings in areas where water is scarce for irrigation and dry spells are prolonged

Purification and characterization of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. G1

A cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) was successively purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, and affinity chromatography on a-CD (epoxy)-Sepharose 6B column. The specific activity of the CGTase was increased approximately 2200-fold, from 8.43 U/mg protein to 18,866 U/mg protein. SDS-PAGE showed that the purified CGTase was homogeneous and the molecular weight of the purified CGTase was about 75 kDa. The molecular weight of the enzyme that was estimated by gel filtration under native condition was 79 kDa. This has indicated that Bacillus sp. G1 CGTase is a monomeric protein. The isoelectric point (pI) of the enzyme was about 8.8. Characterization of the enzyme exhibited optimum pH and temperature of 6.0 and 60 8C, respectively. The enzyme was stable from pH 7.0 to 9.0 and retained its high activity up to 60 8C. However, in the presence of 20 mM Ca2+, the purified CGTase is able to prolong its thermal stability up to 70 8C. CGTase was strongly inhibited by ZnSO4, CuSO4, CoCl2, FeSO4, FeCl3 and EDTA. Km and Vmax for the purified enzyme were 0.15 mg/ml and 60.39 mg bcyclodextrin/( ml min), respectively, with soluble starch as substrate. In cyclodextrin production, tapioca starch was found to be the best substrate used to produce CDs. The enzyme produced g- and b-CD in the ratio of 0.11:0.89 after 24 h incubation at 60 8C, without the presence of any selective agents

Combined effect of knowledge management and entrepreneurial orientation on performance of small and medium enterprises

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of knowledge management and entrepreneurial orientation on performance of small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia.The study also seeks to examine the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation on the knowledge management and SME performance relationship. Data were collected by means of a mail survey questionnaire completed by the owner/managers who were randomly selected from a sampling frame of registered SMEs.A total of 115 usable responses were received.The findings reveal that significant relationships exist between knowledge management and performance, and also between entrepreneurial orientation and performance, while entrepreneurial orientation was found to partially mediate the relationship between knowledge management and performance

The Exploitation of Root-sourced Signals to Reduce Irrigation and to Regulate Leaf Growth of Pepper Plants Capsicum annuum L.

The effect of partial root drying (PRD) on growth and physiological responses of pepper plants Capsicum annuum L. cultivar MC12 was investigated under high temperatures and a humid tropical climate. The leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of Capsicum plants grown under PRD over a period of 10 days were lower than those grown under well watered conditions. Removal of the droughted roots resulted in resumption of all leaf gas exchange parameters confirming the presence of signals coming directly from the droughted roots. Leaf growth rate was negatively affected by PRD techniques; as a consequence leaf area per plant was reduced. Total fruit yield ofPRD plants was about 73% of the control plants' fruit yield while the amount of water added to the PRD plants was half the quantity added to the controls

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) sengon: an innovative sustainable building material in Indonesia

Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) is recently available in Indonesian markets. The veneers are majority from Sengon wood (Paraserianthes falcataria), which is a fast-growing timber species native to Indonesia. Their use in practice is limited to non-structural components since Sengon wood species has low engineering properties and less resistance to termite attacks. The LVL production introduced few years ago has significantly improved both mechanical properties and durability as well as has expanded its utilization into various structural components. This remarkable improvement has made LVL Sengon wood as an innovative sustainable building materials in Indonesia. This paper summarized a series of authors’ work conducted since couple years ago to initiate the utilization of LVL Sengon in structural components such as shear walls and floor systems as parts of a project to develop its design standard. In addition, creep behavior of this LVL is also highlihgted here as this phenomenon is essential for designers and engineers to anticipate their designs within their service life. In particular, the test results showed that addition of diagonal members increased both racking resistance and equivalent viscous damping ratio of the developed LVL shear walls. And the LVL floor model which is composed of built-up box joists and plywood sheathing remained liniear-elastic under bearing load up to 18.75 kN/2

Plant water relations, crop yield and quality of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) as affected by supplemental deficit irrigation.

Low amount and erratic distribution of the seasonal precipitation and recurrent droughts are major threats to coffee production in Ethiopia. This necessitates application of supplemental deficit irrigation for coffee production. This study evaluated the impact of two supplemental irrigations, viz. supplemental full (SFI) and deficit irrigation (SDI) in comparison to rain-fed (RF) control on plant water relations, yield and quality of Coffea arabica L. during the dry season using three cultivars (cv. F-59, 74110 and 75227). Supplemental full irrigation consistently improved soil and plant water status and stomatal conductance (gs) during the dry season and resulted in significantly higher yield. However, the difference between SFI and SDI was not significant for crop yield, but had higher yield than RF control. Overall quality in terms of raw appearance and total quality of coffee beans was substantially improved and the amount of irrigation water applied was considerably reduced by SDI compared to SFI practice. Therefore, SDI appears to be more effective than SFI for coffee production in areas of frequent water scarcity and recurrent drought as for eastern and northern parts of Ethiopia

Ergonomics and manual handling workplace improvement: a case study of firefighter at Pagoh

Firefighter are constantly at risk since they are directly exposed to various physical factors, harmful chemicals and mental stress during rescue and fire-fighting. In fire extinguishing, unstable posture is one of the possible hazardous factors and contribute to high ergonomic risk factor. Due to manual handling and lack of proper standard operation procedure, firefighter are at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders problem such as awkward postures. This paper identify ergonomics risk factor that may cause harm to firefighter during rolling of fire hose. This study was conducted in Pagoh fire station. In order to achieve those aims, observational method was used by applying Ergonomic Risk Assessment (ERA).The Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) method is used by calculating the severity, occurrence and failure detection which has rating score from one (1) to ten (10). Then, the risk priority number (RPN) was calculated to get the highest priority number which led to identification of ergonomic risk factor. A set of questionnaire was distributed to 20 firefighter located at Pagoh fire station for analyzing the ergonomic risk factor and compared to the FMEA result. The result of the analysis shows 56% of the respondent experienced awkward posture during handling of fire hose. The result of the questionnaire was compared to the highest RPN value from FMEA to obtain the solution on ergonomic workplace improvement at Pagoh fire station. In addition, a new tool that is expected to improve the ergonomic and manual handling of firefighter was proposed