Enabling initiation of a lean management system in SMEs: a case study of a high performance plastics manufacturer

This paper investigates the challenges in developing a Lean Management System in a typical Small to Medium Size Enterprise (SME’s) in the UK. Through a series of pilot projects measured and implemented by action research this case study reflects on the changes in mind-set and behaviours that are required on the part of the researcher in order to implement a Lean Manufacturing System. The implementation and suggestions by the researcher to adopt the observational methods such as visual data management and Hoshin Kanri were part of the action research. The data gathered influenced management strategy and planning to incorporate lean practices in the organisation. The actions and results were achieved by the workforce commitment to ensure embedding and sustainability for the future. Benefits realised included a 21% increase in on time delivery performance and cross functional problem solving actions resulted in a lead time reduction of 8 to 4 weeks

The Effect of Human Resource Maintenance Strategies on Job Satisfaction of the Employees, Case Study: Social Security Branches of Ahwaz

Manpower is the most valuable organizational resource and the growth and development of organizations and subsequently society depends on the proper use of manpower. Therefore, the more qualified staff organization can attract and be able to maintain and use them properly; it will be more successful in achieving its objectives. The present study is an applied research in terms of objective and a descriptive survey in nature. The study population consisted of six branches of social security organization of Ahwaz. The main data collection tool is the standard questionnaire of Moghimim distributed by simple stratified sampling method among employees. The sample determined 201 individuals using Kerjcie and Morgan's table, and the reliability was calculated and approved using Cronbach's alpha. In this study, there is a main hypothesis and three sub-hypotheses collected for data analysis. SPSS software was used for data analysis, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for the normality of the data. Finally, it was found that there is a significant relationship between manpower maintenance strategies and job satisfaction of the employees at the confidence level of 95%

Experimental techniques for the isolation of pancreatic stellate cells

Background: Two decades ago the pancreatic stellate cell (PSC) was identified as the cell type predominantly responsible for the ‘desmoplastic reaction’ associated with pancreatic cancer. PSCs have since been found to exhibit a great deal of interaction with cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This feature, combined with their contribution to the stromal reaction, makes PSCs fundamental to pancreatic cancer progression. Understanding the mechanisms which mediate the transformation of stellate cells from their non proliferative quiescent state, to their tumour promoting activated state is vital, since inactivation of stellate cells in pancreatic tumours should reduce the mass of fibrotic tissue in and around the tumour, and enable better delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. Methods: Attempts were made to isolate PSCs from pathological human pancreatic tissue using an ‘explant’ method. Cells which grew from the tissue were propagated and characterised according to morphology and the fluorescent expression of stellate cell markers: alpha SMA, GFAP, desmin, vimentin. Results: Primary cells were isolated from 10 patients who possessed a variety of pancreatic diseases. Characterisation revealed three distinct cell types, one of which most closely resembled the PSC due to its morphology and expression of cell markers. However, several difficulties encountered during characterisation, particularly the lack of suitable cell controls, meant that it was not possible to identify these primary cells as PSCs. Alpha SMA and GFAP were expressed in the primary cells, and antibody binding was specific according to isotype control stains. Unfortunately, the immortalised PSCs that were utilised as a positive cell control failed to exhibit alpha SMA. Furthermore, numerous epithelial cancer cell lines unexpectedly expressed GFAP, desmin, and vimentin. Around eighty flasks of primary cells were cryopreserved for use in future experiments. Two of the primary cell samples, along with the immortalised PSC line were taken forward for preliminary investigations of microRNA-29 expression. However, this yielded inconclusive data. Discussion: A subsequent literature search revealed several studies which also demonstrated the mesenchymal characteristics of epithelial cancer cells. This suggests that specific binding may well have taken place in our experiments. As a result of the work described in this thesis, there are now stocks of tumour derived- and inflammatory derived primary pancreatic cells, which following complete characterisation, will be ready to be utilised as an adjunct to the epithelial cancer cell lines frequently used for pancreatic cancer research in this laboratory

PREDVIĐANJA MEHANIČKE BRZINE BUŠENJA KORIŠTENJEM STIJENSKO-INŽENJERSKE METODE, ANALIZA SLUČAJA BUŠOTINE S NAFTNOGA POLJA AZADEGAN

One of the criteria in the operational efficiency of drilling is the rate of penetration of the drill bit. Numerous factors affect the rate of penetration. Identification of the effective factors on rate of penetration may lead to a more accurate assessment of drilling time, and as a result, the controlling of operational costs. The concurrent effect of the entire influential factors as well as the differing significance of each of them on the rate of penetration makes the study and optimization of drilling operations much more complicated and difficult. Using the rock engineering systems (RES), the impact of effective operational and geomechanical factors on the rate of penetration has been assessed in this article and a model has been proposed for the prediction of the rate of penetration. Data from one of the wells within the Azadegan oilfield have been used in order to study the impact of effective factors on the rate of penetration. To this end, the effective factors on rate of penetration are initially identified and then an index called “the rate of penetration index (ROPi)” is proposed through the application of the rock engineering systems approach. This index has been calculated at four different depths along the aforementioned well. The results suggested the compliance of penetration rate predictions with field observations. Moreover, porosity and uniaxial compressive strength are the most effective factors on the rate of penetration whereas the weight of drilling fluid has the smallest impact. Finally, a classification for the penetration rate index is presented.S obzirom na to da su čimbenici koji izravno utječu na troškove izrade bušotina, vrijeme i operativna učinkovitost imaju veliku važnost tijekom bušenja. Jedan od kriterija operativne učinkovitosti bušenja jest mehanička brzina bušenja (engl. rate of penetration, ROP). Velik broj čimbenika utječe na mehaničku brzinu bušenja. Njihova identifikacija omogućuje točnu procjenu vremena bušenja, a time i kontrolu operativnih troškova. S obzirom na istodobno djelovanje navedenih čimbenika, kao i specifičnosti njihova pojedinačnog djelovanja na ROP, analize i optimizacija operacija bušenja vrlo su složene i teške. U ovome je radu vrednovan utjecaj operativnih i geomehaničkih čimbenika na ROP korištenjem stijensko-inženjerske metode (engl. rock engineering system, RES), temeljem čega je predložen model predviđanja mehaničke brzine bušenja. Podatci korišteni u radu dobiveni su iz jedne bušotine s naftnoga polja Azadegan (Iran). Do sada su početno utvrđeni čimbenici koji utječu na ROP te je, korištenjem RES metode, predložen tzv. indeks ROP (ROPi). Navedeni je indeks za ranije spomenutu bušotinu izračunan za četiri različite dubine. Dobiveni rezultati upućuju na poklapanje predviđene brzine bušenja i stvarnih terenskih podataka. Također, rezultati su pokazali da na mehaničku brzinu bušenja najveći utjecaj imaju šupljikavost i jednoosna tlačna čvrstoća, dok gustoća isplake ima najmanji utjecaj. U radu je također prikazana klasifikacija indeksa ROP

Protective effect of Sildenafil on contralateral epididymal sperm concentration and motility following unilateral blunt testicular trauma in pre-pubertal male mice

Background and aims: Blunt testicular trauma adversely affects fertility in later periods. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of sildenafil on contralateral epididymal sperm count and motility following unilateral blunt testicular trauma in mice. Methods: In this randomized controlled experimental study, 24 pre-pubertal male mice were distributed into four groups of six mice each. In two groups of mice, the abdomen was opened and the right testis was placed on a sterile firm surface and 5 g sterile weight was dropped on to the testis from a height of 10 cm. One of these groups received sildenafil (0.1 mg/kg per day) intraperitoneally for 7 days starting from the day of induction of trauma. A control group and a sildenafil control group were also included. The left epididymal sperm characteristics of all animals were evaluated after 7 weeks. Results: Trauma caused a significant decrease in the sperm concentration and motility as compared to control mice (P<0.05). Sildenafil administration markedly ameliorated all changes in the above-mentioned parameters (P<0.05). Conclusion: Sildenafil administration could attenuate blunt testicular trauma-induced contralateral epididymal sperm impairment

The Effect of 8 Weeks of Resistance Training and Supplementation of Apple Vinegar on Resistin and Glycemic Indices in Obese Women

Introduction: The use of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory supplements is important in improving the function of obese people. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of resistance training with apple vinegar on resistin and glycemic indices of obese women.Method: 60 women (mean ± SD: age 23.8 ± 4.81 years, weight 89.04 ± 4.68 and body mass index 34.39 ± 4.31 kg / m2) were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to four groups of 15: 1-resistance training, 2- resistance training and apple vinegar, 3-apple vinegar and 4-control Groups 1 and 2 performed 8 weeks of resistance training, 3 sessions per week and 60 minutes each session with 80% intensity of 1RM. During this period, groups 2 and 3 consumed 500 mg of apple vinegar per day and the control group did not receive any interventions. Blood samples were taken before and after the study period. To analyze the findings, paired sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test were used (p≤0.05). Result: Resistance training, apple vinegar consumption, and resistance training with apple vinegar had a significant effect on decreasing resistin, insulin, fasting glucose and insulin resistance in obese women (p≤0.05). Resistance training with apple vinegar compared with resistance training and apple vinegar consumption had a greater effect on decreasing resistin, insulin, fasting glucose and insulin resistance in obese women (p≤0.05). Conclusion: It seems that apple vinegar supplementation and resistance training are likely to be a suitable method for reducing resistine and glycemic indexes and preventing metabolic, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases in obese women

Autogenous Transplantation for Replacing a Hopeless Tooth

Autogenous tooth transplantation (ATT) is a simple and reasonable choice for replacing the missing teeth when a proper donor tooth is available. This report presents a case of successful ATT of a maxillary right third molar for replacement of mandibular right second molar with a concomitant endodontic-periodontal disease. The mandibular second molar was believed to be hopeless due to a severe damage to coronal tooth structure, inappropriate root canal treatment and apical radiolucency. After extraction of mandibular second molar and maxillary third molar (the donor), the tooth was re-implanted into the extracted socket of second molar site. Root canal therapy was then performed. After 3 years, clinical and radiographic examinations revealed satisfying results, with no signs and symptoms. The patient is asymptomatic and the transplanted tooth is still functional with no signs of marginal periodontal pathosis. Radiographies showed bone regeneration in the site of previous extensive periapical lesion, normal periodontal ligament with no signs of root resorption.Keywords: Autogenous; Auto-Transplantation; Endodontic; Surgical Procedure; Third Mola

The role of boron oxide and carbon amounts in the mechanosynthesis of ZrB2-SiC-ZrC nanocomposite via a self-sustaining reaction in the zircon/magnesium/boron oxide/graphite system

Herein, ZrSiO4/B2O3/Mg/C system was used to synthesize a ZrB2-based composite by means of a high energy ball milling process. A mechanically induced selfsustaining reaction was achieved in this system. A nanocomposite powder of ZrB2– SiC–ZrC was prepared with an ignition time of approximately 6 minutes of milling. The role of the stoichiometric amounts of B2O3 and carbon was investigated to clarify the governing mechanism for the formation of the productGobierno de España No. MAT2011-2298

Scale-free equilibria of self-gravitating gaseous disks with flat rotation curves

We introduce exact analytical solutions of the steady-state hydrodynamic equations of scale-free, self-gravitating gaseous disks with flat rotation curves. We express the velocity field in terms of a stream function and obtain a third-order ordinary differential equation (ODE) for the angular part of the stream function. We present the closed-form solutions of the obtained ODE and construct hydrodynamical counterparts of the power-law and elliptic disks, for which self-consistent stellar dynamical models are known. We show that the kinematics of the Large Magellanic Cloud can well be explained by our findings for scale-free elliptic disks.Comment: AAS preprint format, 21 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

The protective effect of vitamin E on rats’ ovarian follicles following an administration of diazinon: An experimental study

Background:&nbsp;Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphate insecticide that has been widely&nbsp;utilized in agriculture all over the world and caused many negative effects on different&nbsp;species such as plants and animal species, especially on a human. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin E on rats’ ovarian follicles following an administration of diazinon. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 adult female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: a control group (without any intervention), sham group (received only pure olive oil, as solvent), experimental group I (DZN+olive oil, 60 mg/kg), experimental group II (vitamin E, 200 mg/kg), and experimental group III (DZN: 60 mg/kg+vitamin E: 200 mg/kg). All drugs were injected intraperitoneally, except vitamin E which was administrated by gavage. The animals were sacrificed after two weeks and the left ovary was used to measure proliferation of ovarian follicles. Tissues were analyzed by the PCNA technique and viewed with an optical microscope for evaluating cell proliferation. Results: The result of the present study revealed that the number of proliferative cells in the experimental group I decreased significantly in contrast to the control group in secondary and Graffian follicles (p&lt; 0.001). The administration of vitamin E plus DZN significantly increased proliferative cells compared to the DZN group (p&lt; 0.001). Primordial follicles showed that all study groups were lacking PCNA positive cells, which means no expression of PCNA in these follicles. The results of this study showed that primary follicles in all study groups had a few and scattered PCNA positive cells with no significant difference between the groups (p&gt; 0.05). Conclusion:&nbsp;Results showed that DZN reduced proliferation in secondary and Graffian&nbsp;follicles and vitamin E increased it. The results of this study suggested that vitamin E&nbsp;by its antioxidant activity was able to improve the DZN-induced ovarian toxicity. Key words: Diazinon, Proliferation, Ovary, Vitamin E, Rat