The evaluation of manufacturing issues in the product development process

Many companies still do not achieve the success rates they desire with new product introductions to the market. A method has been developed to aid companies to self-evaluate their product development processes (PDP). The method meets an identified need for a non-prescriptive procedure to evaluate an existing or proposed PDP at a detailed level, both in the context of the company's own products, processes, procedures and markets, and in the context of accepted good practice. The specification and development of the process and facilities needed for the manufacture of a product are identified as fundamental generic issues within the PDP that must be handled effectively to achieve successful product outcomes. The paper describes the main constructs of the evaluation method in relation to manufacturing issues, and presents results and findings from trials conducted in industry. It is seen that great care is needed to ensure that company practitioners make objective assessments of the important factors. Further work is planned to develop the method as an interactive computer tool and to conduct more trials

Quantifying Asphalt Emulsion-Based Chip Seal Curing Times Using Electrical Resistance Measurements

Chip sealing typically consists of covering a pavement surface with asphalt emulsion into which aggregate chips are embedded. The asphalt emulsion cures through the evaporation of water, thus providing mechanical strength to adhere to the pavement while keeping the aggregate chips in place. The curing time for the chip seal depends on many factors, such as the asphalt emulsion and aggregate types, aggregate moisture content, emulsion and aggregate application rates, and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and solar radiation). Currently, no field technique is available to quantify when sufficient mechanical strength has developed in the binder to allow traffic on a newly sealed roadway or to remove the surplus aggregate from a fresh chip seal through brooming. Instead such decisions are made by empirical factors that rely on the experience of field personnel. This study investigated the use of electrical resistance measurements to develop a quantitative method for determining the optimum curing time for chip seals. First, full frequency, two-point, uniaxial electrical impedance spectroscopy was used to characterize the electrical properties of asphalt emulsions and various asphalt emulsion-aggregate combinations. The laboratory test results suggest a relationship between the changes in the electrical resistance of an asphalt emulsion and the amount of curing that has occurred in the system. Additionally, standardized mechanical strength tests and full-scale field trials were conducted using a variety of materials. The electrical properties of the fresh seals were quantified using a handheld electrical device with a two-point probe to measure resistance. The findings suggest that chip seal systems gain significant mechanical strength when the initial electrical resistance measurement increases by a factor of 10. Finally, the implementation of the methodology for five full-scale chip seal projects in Indiana indicates that curing times for the chip seals range from 3.5 to 4.0 hours

A Mobile Concrete Laboratory to Support Quality Concrete, Technology Transfer, and Training

This report is a summary of work performed by the Mobile Infrastructure Materials Testing Laboratory (MIMTL) as a part of the Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) through SPR-3858. The development of the MIMTL began in February of 2014 and became fully operational by June of 2014. The MIMTL was deployed in the field for a total of 46 days. This report describes the activities of the MIMTL as of December 2015. The MIMTL was involved in the field testing of concrete bridges, concrete pavements, and asphalt pavements. This report describes the development of the mobile testing laboratory and provides some examples of how the MIMTL was used. The main highlights of the MIMTL’s implementation are as follows: The MIMTL’s high mobility and extensive inventory of research equipment allowed graduate students and researchers to conduct field studies on a wide range of infrastructure materials to accomplish the research objectives of their specific projects. More extensive details of the background, objectives, methods, findings, results and implementation from those projects can be found in the respective reports for those projects; The MIMTL supported a culture of safety that allowed students to work safely on jobsites in the State of Indiana ranging from roadside interstates, rural country roads, to ready-mix batching plants, often around heavy equipment, traffic, and in close quarters. During the operation of the MTIML described in this report, there were zero workplace accidents, and zero near misses reported; The MIMTL assisted in technology transfer between the infrastructure materials experts at Purdue University and contractors and suppliers in the State of Indiana. A wide range of new technologies evaluating infrastructure materials were utilized on a variety of projects. On each of these projects, MIMTL researchers educated industry personnel (contractors and suppliers), agency personnel (INDOT and local agencies), and consultants within the state. The MIMTL attended demonstrations with INDOT district and central office personnel to further highlight capabilities as well as the emerging technologies; The MIMTL was established a joint investment with partners in industry, local agencies, and INDOT. Operated by the Joint Transportation Research Program and the Local Technical Assistance Program as pay-per-use model, means this sustainable venture will offer services to researchers, industry, or agency entities that can cover the pay-per-use costs

Envolvimento de "stakeholders" em direcção à construção sustentável

A mudança de paradigma requerida para evoluir na direcção da construção sustentável exige a conjugação efectiva de diferentes condições determinantes, que inclui a percepção, comportamento e envolvimento de partes em todo o processo, em particular os actores que efectam, bem como aqueles que são afectados pela tomada de decisão. Para além das formas convencionais de envolvimento dos stokholders, novas formas de cooperação precisam de ser exploradas. O presente artigo tem por obectivo reflectir sobre a melhor estratégia de gestão a aplicar nos actores-chave num contexto de networking sobre construção sustentável em Portugal. A análise efectuada permitiu verificar que o sucesso de uma plataforma de cooperação está condicionada pela participação dos actores-chave, pelo que há necessidade de fazer o mapeamento, a hierarquização e a definição de uma estratégia de gestão que maximize asua cooperação, isto é, que vá ao encontro das necessidades de cada um deles, para que a plataforma de cooperação se torne um efectivo espaço de partilha, diálogo, aprendizagem e inovação

Bradyzoite pseudokinase 1 is crucial for efficient oral infectivity of the Toxoplasma gondii tissue cyst.

The tissue cyst formed by the bradyzoite stage of Toxoplasma gondii is essential for persistent infection of the host and oral transmission. Bradyzoite pseudokinase 1 (BPK1) is a component of the cyst wall, but nothing has previously been known about its function. Here, we show that immunoprecipitation of BPK1 from in vitro bradyzoite cultures, 4 days postinfection, identifies at least four associating proteins: MAG1, MCP4, GRA8, and GRA9. To determine the role of BPK1, a strain of Toxoplasma was generated with the bpk1 locus deleted. This BPK1 knockout strain (Δbpk1) was investigated in vitro and in vivo. No defect was found in terms of in vitro cyst formation and no difference in pathogenesis or cyst burden 4 weeks postinfection (wpi) was detected after intraperitoneal (i.p.) infection with Δbpk1 tachyzoites, although the Δbpk1 cysts were significantly smaller than parental or BPK1-complemented strains at 8 wpi. Pepsin-acid treatment of 4 wpi in vivo cysts revealed that Δbpk1 parasites are significantly more sensitive to this treatment than the parental and complemented strains. Consistent with this, 4 wpi Δbpk1 cysts showed reduced ability to cause oral infection compared to the parental and complemented strains. Together, these data reveal that BPK1 plays a crucial role in the in vivo development and infectivity of Toxoplasma cysts

A sensitive APEX and ALMA CO(1-0), CO(2-1), CO(3-2), and [CI](1-0) spectral survey of 40 local (U)LIRGs

We present a high sensitivity spectral line survey of CO(1-0), CO(2-1), CO(3-2) and [CI](1-0) in 40 local (ultra) luminous infrared galaxies ((U)LIRGs), all with previous Herschel OH119 $\mu$m observations. We use single-dish observations (PI and archival) conducted with APEX, complemented with ALMA and ACA data. We study the total emission and pay special attention to the extended low-surface brightness components. We find a tight correlation between low-J CO and [CI] line luminosities suggesting their emission arise from similar regions, at least when averaged over galactic scales. We estimate a median CO-to-H$_2$ conversion factor of $1.7\pm 0.5$ M$_{\odot}$ (K km s$^{-1}$ pc$^2)^{-1}$ for ULIRGs, using [CI] as an independent tracer. We derive median galaxy-integrated CO line ratios ($r_{21}$, $r_{31}$ and $r_{32}$), as well as $r_{CICO}$, significantly higher than normal star forming galaxies, confirming the exceptional molecular gas properties of ULIRGs. We find that $r_{21}$ and $r_{32}$ are poor tracers of CO excitation in ULIRGs, while $r_{31}$ shows a positive trend with $L_{IR}$ and SFR, and a negative trend with the H$_2$ gas depletion timescales ($\tau_{dep}$). When studying CO line ratios as a function of gas kinematics, we find a positive relation between $r_{21}$ and $\sigma_v$, which can be explained by CO opacity effects. We find that the linewidths of [CI] lines are ~10% narrower than CO lines, which may suggest that the low optical depth of [CI] can challenge its detection in diffuse, low-surface brightness outflows, and so its use as a tracer of CO-dark H$_2$ gas in these components. Finally, we find that higher $L_{AGN}$ are associated to longer $\tau_{dep}$, consistent with the hypothesis that AGN feedback may reduce the efficiency of star formation.Comment: Accepted for publication by A&A. 42 pages, 22 figures. Abstract summarised for arXiv submissio

Evaluation of a biometric keystroke typing dynamics computer security system.

This study evaluates an inexpensive personal computer access control system that relies on biometric keystroke typing dynamics technology, BioPassword Model 2100 (BioPassword). Enrollment time, verification time, false rejection error rate, false acceptance error rate, and user acceptance were evaluated for this system. The results show that BioPassword provides multilayer security through the inclusion of privilege control, audit functions, passwords, and verification of a personal behavioral characteristic, the rate and variation of typing a given password string. Enrollment and verification times were considered satisfactorily fast. Overall false rejection error rate was 22.5%, while false acceptance error rate was 3.4%. The false rejection error rate for acceptance as a function of trial number from one trial to five trials were 4. 4%, 1.4%, O.7%, O.4%, andO.3% respectively. These values were achieved under relatively uncontrolled conditions and should be improved on by using recommendations that are included. Users generally reported satisfaction with the system, which should be acceptable as part of an office automation system when used in conjunction with other standard security measures. BioPassword Model 21 00, Biometric technology, Keystroke Typing Dynamics, False Rejection Error Rate, False Acceptance Error Rate, Enrollment Time, Verification Timehttp://archive.org/details/evaluationofbiom00kuanCommander, Republic of China NavyLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Atmospheric water triggers supramolecular gel formation of novel low molecular weight maslinic and oleanolic triterpenic derivatives

Pentacyclic triterpenes have a rigid lipophilic backbone decorated with polar functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl, which make them attractive natural amphiphiles. The ability of this type of compound to self-assemble into complex nanostructures has recently gained interest due in part to the abundant existence of renewable feedstocks. Herein, we present two new maslinic and oleanolic triterpene pentacyclic derivatives that have the ability to self-assemble into long fibers giving rise to homogeneous gels. Quite remarkably, these molecules are able to form gels by slowly capturing atmospheric water from their DMSO and DMF solutions. To the best of our knowledge, this mechanism of gel formation has not been previously reported for other LMWGs and highlights the versatility of these compounds to form gels as a response to different external stimuli. The micro- and macroscopic properties of the resulting gels have been studied in detail by TEM, SEM, NMR, VCD, FTIR, XRD and rheology. We have demonstrated that gels prepared by capturing atmospheric water in DMSO are more homogeneous and stiffer than those obtained by direct addition of water to the organic solution.Departamento de Química Orgánic

Mixing rich and asynchronous communication for new service development performance

This article explores the nature of relationships between internal communication modes, new service development (NSD) competencies (specifically learning and development competencies) and NSD performance. To do so, it draws on and advances communication theory by comparing and contrasting the contingent approach, favoured by media richness theory and media synchronicity theory, with the multiplicative manner of dual coding theory. Antecedent roles of rich and asynchronous communication modes for two NSD competencies are investigated, and their function as critical contingency variables affecting the competencies–performance link is unravelled. An empirical quantitative study of senior managers of leading service firms was conducted, with a survey-based methodology. Results show that a learning competency drives development competency which in turn drives NSD performance. Asynchronous communication is essential for learning competency but not for development competency. In contrast, rich communication underpins development but has no direct effect on learning competency. Rich communication is essential for NSD performance when a firm has a low development competency. The interaction between asynchronous and rich communication is shown to be positive for learning, whereas surprisingly it is negative for development competency