INSECTICIDAL ACTIVITY OF AERIAL PARTS OF SYNEDRELLA NODIFLORA GAERTN (COMPOSITAE) ON SPODOPTERA LITURA (FAB.)

Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) is the most serious pest of many cultivated and non-cultivated crops and it developed resistance against many synthetic pesticides. The impact of a Compositae annual weed, Synedrella nodifl ora Gaertn. solvent extracts on the fourth instar larvae of S. litura has been evaluated by leaf dip method. The LD50 results revealed that methanol extract is the most toxic to the pest followed by benzene and chloroform, petroleum ether (400 – 600 C) and water. Qualitative phytochemical analysis has also been performed

Green Lean Six Sigma Sustainability Oriented Project Selection and Implementation Framework for Manufacturing Industry

Green Lean Six Sigma (GLS) project selection has been done based on the six sustainability-oriented criteria formed from seventeen sub-criteria (found from the literature and developed by authors).The weights of the criteria have been determined through the entropy method. The projects have been ranked based on the criteria through the advanced decision-making approach: Grey relation analysis (GRA). The results of the study were validated using best worst method (BWM) and sensitivity analysis. Purpose: The present study deals with the selection of the sustainability-oriented GLS project for the manufacturing industry in the complex decision-making environment. Moreover, the study also proposes a GLS implementation framework for improved organizational performance. It has been found that the productivity-related criterion is the most significant among other criteria with entropy weight of 0.2721. GRA has been used in this research work to rank the potential GLS projects in a manufacturing industry based on six sustainability criteria, to select a project that exhibits the maximum potential for sustainable improvement. The machine shop has been found as the most significant GLS project with grey relation grade of 0.4742. Originality: With increased globalized competition in recent times, new projects are being considered as the foundation stone for organizational success. The decision making becomes quite complex to select an effective project due to the intriguing nature of various criteria, subcriteria, and different aspects of sustainability. The present study is the first of its kind that provides ways for the selection of sustainability-oriented GLS projects.The present study facilitates practitioners and industrial managers to implement an inclusive GLS approach for improved sustainability dynamics through effective GLS project selection and implementation framework

Effect of physical and chemical treatments on breaking the seed dormancy of Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb.

Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Caesalpiniaceae was used for the present study. It is a prickly shrub widely distributed all over the world. Keeping the economic and social medicinal uses of C. bonduc seeds are being used widely in Folk, Ayurvedha, Siddha, Unani medicines to treat skin disease, eyesores, cancer, asthma, tuberculorosis, fever, toothaches etc. The aim of this study is to determine the requirements for breaking seed dormancy and germination of C. bonduc. The germination is prevented due to hard seed coat. C. bonduc seeds were experimented with various physical and chemical treatments to break the dormancy. The seeds were subjected to various treatments like mechanical scarification, dry heat method, light, hot water, acid scarification, inorganic compounds, plant growth regulators etc. The seeds treatment with mechanical scarification at 50, 40 and 30 seconds showed 100%, 80% and 10% of germination, whereas no changes was observed in dry heat. White light treatment showed 100% germination at 48 hrs, whereas darkness and red light showed least germination of about 10%. The hot-water treatment showed 100% germination. In chemical treatments, concentrated sulphuric acid scarification showed highest germination percentage, whereas lowest germination was found in nitric acid. Among the plant growth regulators, Gibberellic acid showed 100% germination whereas 2-isopentyl adenine showed least germination of 10% at 50 ppm. Results of this study prove that mechanical scarification was the most effective treatment to overcome dormancy of seeds in C. bonduc

A toolset for complex decision making in analyze phase of Lean Six Sigma Project: A case validation

The analyze phase of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) project is an important phase where the project heads and organizational directors need to select the critical issues for further improvements. The present work is primarily focused on analyze phase of LSS project to prioritized the Critical to Quality (CTQs) in a particular case industry. The CTQs prioritization is being done based on the five evaluation criteria found from the literature. The weights of the criteria are determined through the Modified Digital Logic (MDL) method. The identified CTQs in assembly section of case industry have been ranked through the Grey Relation Analysis (GRA) under fuzzy environment. The results of the study have been validated using fuzzy VIKOR. It is found that the ‘cost’ criterion is the most significant among other criteria with MDL weight of 0.3. Through fuzzy-GRA, out of ten identified CTQs, non availability of rack system is found to be the most critical issue in assembly section of case industry. The perceptions of industrial manager and production head of case industry are strongly in favor of the obtained results and has implemented the suggested solutions.To sustain in the competitive environment and produce quality product at right time, organizations need to control their CTQs as per their criticality. For this, the decision making becomes quite complex to select the most critical factors due to the fascinating nature of various criteria and sub-criteria. The present study is the first attempt that has implemented the multi-criteria decision-making approach in analyze phase of LSS project

Integrating Green Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0: A Conceptual Framework

This research aims to propose a framework to integrate Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) and Industry 4.0 to improve organizational sustainability. The integration of GLSS and Industry 4.0 is proposed based on theoretical facets of the individual approaches. A generic, conceptual framework of an integrated GLSS-Industry 4.0 approach is then proposed using the application of different tools and techniques of GLSS and Industry 4.0 at different stages of the realization of a project. Both approaches have common facets related to enablers and barriers, and the integrated application of tools and techniques of each approach supplements the common focus of both related to sustainability enhancement. The proposed, conceptual framework provides systematic guidelines from the project selection stage to the sustainment of the solution, with the enumerated application of different techniques and tools at each step of the framework. This research is the first of its kind to propose the integration of GLSS and Industry 4.0 under the umbrella of a unified approach, including a conceptual framework of this integrated GLSS-Industry 4.0 approac

An alternative osteosynthesis technique: single column anatomical plate fixation for distal humerus diaphyseal fractures

Background: The treatment of distal humerus diaphyseal fractures presents significant challenges for orthopedic surgeons. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of a single column anatomical plate as an alternative method of osteosynthesis for fixing distal humerus diaphyseal fractures. Methods: A Prospective analysis of patients who underwent surgery for distal humerus diaphyseal fractures at a tertiary care medical center was conducted. Patients who received treatment using a single column anatomical plate were included in the study. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data, including fracture type, surgical approach, complications, range of motion, and radiographic outcomes, were collected and analyzed. Results: Type B2 fractures were more common in our study i.e., 80%. The maximum incidence was between 18 to 59 years i.e., 21 cases (77%). Average radiological union was seen at 15 weeks. This study shows Excellent outcome in 67% and Good in 30% of patients. Average post-operative ROM at 1 year was mean flexion 120°(SD 7), mean extension of 6 degrees (SD 4.7), mean pronation 81.25°(SD 2.5) and mean supination 82.5°(2.8). Average MEPS score was 95.5 at 1 year. The mean metaphyseal-diaphyseal angle was 85°, the mean humeral-ulnar angle was 14°, which was within the normal limits. Conclusion: The use of a single column anatomical plate for fixing distal humerus diaphyseal fractures appears to be a promising alternative method of osteosynthesis. However, further prospective studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are warranted to validate the efficacy and safety of this technique

Thidiazuron-induced shoot organogenesis of Cleome viscosa (L) through cotyledonary explants culture

A reproducible protocol for direct shoot organogenesis of Cleome viscosa, an important medicinal weed herb was developed. The seed explants were collected primarily from field grown mature plants for in vitro germination on different strength of MS basal medium with or without selection of GA3 at various concentration (0.1 to 1.0 mg/L). The highest rate of seed germination (55.3%) was noticed on full strength MS basal medium fortified with 0.5 mg/L GA3 after 30 days of culture. The excised 7 to 10 days old cotyledonary leaf, cotyledonary node and hypocotyls explants cultured on MS medium fortified with different concentration of individual cytokinin (BA/KIN/TDZ) alone or BA+KIN or TDZ+KIN or TDZ in  combinations with different auxins (IBA/NAA/IAA) influenced the frequency of adventitious microshoot formation. The rate of shoot multiplication was greatest (100%) in cotyledonary leaf explants cultured on 3.0 mg/L TDZ and 0.3 mg/L IBA tested medium after 45 days of culture. The individual microshoots were elongated well in 0.3 mg/L TDZ and 0.1 mg/L GA3 treated medium, but more number of adventitious micro roots were developed on half strength MS medium fortified with 0.1 mg/L NAA. The regenerated healthy plants were hardened in pots containing soil mix and well established into complete state similar to that of field grown plants under greenhouse condition.Keywords: Cleome viscosa L, medicinal weed plant, shoot multiplication, direct organogenesisAfrican Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 13(9), pp. 1027-1036, 26 February, 201

Structure–property relationships of ‘safe’ aromatic oil based passenger car tire tread rubber compounds

In this study, the effect of Treated Distillate Aromatic Extract (TDAE) was investigated in medium styrene/high vinyl solution styrene butadiene rubber (S-SBR) and high cis-polybutadiene rubber (BR). Three properties were evaluated: (i) molecular structure (polarity/aromaticity), (ii) molecular weight and (iii) chemical reactivity of the TDAE oil. The fore-mentioned properties of the oil allow the prediction of its behavior in a rubber compound. It was known from literature that the addition of oil causes a shift in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the compound [2]. Therefore, the study was focused on the variation in the α-relaxation process or Tg of a rubber compound upon addition of TDAE. The conventional techniques for determination of Tg such as Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) as well as more sophisticated relaxation studies using Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) were used to characterize the TDAE-extended S-SBR and BR compounds. Theoretical prediction of the Tg of TDAE-extended compounds was obtained based on the Fox equation for miscible mixtures. Ultimately, the theoretical predictions were correlated with experimental findings

Ruptured cornual ectopic pregnancy at 8 weeks gestation- successful conservative approach: a case report

Cornual pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy that usually leads to uterine rupture with resultant life threatening hemorrhage. The mortality of interstitial pregnancies is more than twice that of other tubal pregnancies.  Cornual pregnancies often rupture later than other tubal pregnancies because the myometrium is more distensible than the fallopian tube. We report a case where a patient presented at 8 weeks of gestational age with ruptured cornual ectopic pregnancy and hemoperitoneum. Emergency Laparotomy was done and cornual rupture was sutured successfully. Close monitoring of pregnancies in these patients is important to prevent a deleterious delay in treatment of a cornual pregnanc