Implementation of lean tools and techniques in an ethical papers production industry

Lean manufacturing (LM) is established as a best practice to improve the performance of manufacturing industries. Not all the manufacturing industries realize the benefits of LM practices specifically continuous process industries. The present research work is intended to study the advantages of implementing LM practices in an ethical paper industry which is a continuous production industry. Presently, the industry suffers with the problems such as lack of productivity, raw material wastes, underutilized resources, and lack of standard practices in the production. Gemba technique is adapted to record the information related to the present manufacturing environment. Based on the current state analysis, the feasible lean tools are selected and implemented such as 5S, Kaizen, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). The improvements have been noted as reduced tool change over time, reduced material wastes, effective utilization of resources and provide safety guidelines to workers and operations. The implications of these improvements increased the productivity also

Variation in the Biomolecular Interactions of Nickel(Ii) Hydrazone Complexes Upon Tuning the Hydrazide Fragment

Three new bivalent nickel hydrazone complexes have been synthesised from the reactions of [NiCl2(PPh3)(2)] with H2L {L = dianion of the hydrazones derived from the condensation of o-hydroxynaphthaldehyde with furoic acid hydrazide (H2L1) (1)/thiophene-2-acid hydrazide (H2L2) (2)/isonicotinic acid hydrazide (H2L3) (3)} and formulated as [Ni(L-1)(PPh3)] (4), [Ni(L-2)(PPh3)] (5) and [Ni(L-3)(PPh3)] (6). Structural characterization of these compounds 4-6 were accomplished by using various physico-chemical techniques. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data of complexes 4 and 5 proved their distorted square planar geometry. In order to ascertain the potential of the above synthesised compounds towards biomolecular interactions, additional experiments involving interaction with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were carried out. All the ligands and corresponding nickel(II) chelates have been screened for their scavenging effect towards O-2(-), OH and NO radicals. The efficiency of complexes 4-6 to arrest the growth of HeLa, HepG-2 and A431 tumour cell lines has been studied along with the cell viability test against the non-cancerous NIH 3T3 cells under in vitro conditions.University Grants Commission, New Delhi under the UGC-SAP-DRSRobert A. Welch Foundation F-0003Chemistr

Unveiling the Online-Offline Divide: Predicting Retail Channel Membership for Luxury Jewelry Consumers Using Discriminant Analysis

The study explores the factors that influence consumers to choose between online and offline channels for purchasing products and services. Using a quantitative approach, data was collected from 352 respondents through a survey and analyzed using discriminant analysis. The study found that consumers tend to purchase products online for self- gratification, better offers, relative price, variety of products, product information, and better price comparison. On the other hand, consumers choose offline channels for quality, reliable information, quality of judgment, and better after-sales services. The papers implications extend to marketing practitioners, specifically in luxury product marketing for segmentation, targeting, and positioning

Optimization of medium for the production of subtilisin from Bacillus subtilis MTCC 441

Subtilisins (E.C.3.4.21.62) are alkaline proteases that are secreted by members of the genus Bacillus. They are serine proteases that exhibit high specific activity on proteinaceous substrates, function optimally at moderate temperatures, and are stable under alkaline conditions. Thus the use of subtilisin as an enzyme additive could help in development of quality laundry detergents. In this work the subtilisin production from Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441) was improved by altering and optimizing the media components. This alteration was brought up by process development strategy. The effect of yeast extract, casein, peptone and sodium chloride on subtilisin production was studied and were optimized using Box Behnken Design. The optimal growth conditions for B. subtilis MTCC 441 were found to 37oC, and pH 7.5. The optimal media composition for subtilisin production was found to beyeast extract at 6.75 g/L, peptone at 4.41 g/L, sodium chloride at 6.08 g/L, casein at 10.75 g/L with glucose at 5 g/L. The predicted and observed response were 181.00 U/mg (with desirability =0.87) and 185.70 U/mg, respectively

Intense ү-Ray bursts following the interaction of laser pulse with steep density gradients

We investigate the production of intense ү-rays following the interaction of ultraintense laser pulse with a hybrid combination of under-dense plasma associated with a thin foil of fully ionized Al or Cu or Au at the rear side. Relativistic electrons are accelerated following the interaction of high intensity laser pulses with an under-dense plasma. These electrons are then stopped by the thin foils attached to the rear side of the under-dense plasma. This results in the production of intense-ray bursts. So, the enhancement of photon generation is due to the under-dense plasma electrons interacting with different over-dense plasma. Using open-source PIC code EPOCH, we study the effect of different electron densities in the under-plasma on photon emission. Photon emission enhancement is observed by increasing the target Z in the hybrid structure. Hybrid structure can enhance photon emission; it can increase the photon energy and yield and improve photon beam divergence. Simulations were also performed to find the optimal under-dense plasma density for ү-ray production

Soft-chemical routes to synthesis of solid oxide materials

We describe three different families of metal oxides, viz., (i) protonated layered perovskites, (ii) framework phosphates of NASICON and KTiOPO4 (KTP) structures and (iii) layered and three-dimensional oxides in the H-V-W-O system, synthesized by 'soft-chemical' routes involving respectively ion-exchange, redox deintercalation and acid-leaching from appropriate parent oxides. Oxides of the first family, HyA2B3O10(A = La/Ca; B = Ti/Nb), exhibit variable Bronsted acidity and intercalation behaviour that depend on the interlayer structure. V2(PO4)3 prepared by oxidative deintercalation from Na3 V2(PO4)3 is a new host material exhibiting reductive insertion of lithium/hydrogen, while K0.5Nb0.5 M0.5OPO4 (M = Ti, V) are novel KTP-like materials exhibiting second harmonic generation of 1064nm radiation. HxVxW1-xO3 for x = 0·125 and 0·33 possessing α-MoO3 and hexagonal WO3 structures, prepared by acid-leaching of LiVWO6, represent functionalized oxide materials exhibiting redox and acid-base intercalation reactivity

Smart Cultivation

The proposed project is about a serious issue in today’s world that is insufficient food production, which prevails in many parts of the world. Farming plays an important role in food production and economic development in India and in the world as a whole. Getting high yield from the available land depends on fertility, moisture content of the soil and other climatic factors. The proposed work helps to overcome this problem, which aims at developing an automatic fertilizer-irrigation control and management system. It improves soil porosity and nutrient content through periodic application of required amount of fertilizers and water for crop’s growth. This will metabolize the soil texture, give nutrients to the crops, build plant tissues as well as increase the rate of crop productivity. The implementation of the work is achieved by sensors which include potassium sensor, nitrogen sensor, humidity sensor and temperature sensor, applying Intelligence technique by using Arduino nano to control the valve of the irrigation system. The system automatically applies soluble agrochemical fertilizers and water based on plant needs, as a result of which productivity is increased to considerable amount to meet out increasing needs

Smart Cultivation

The proposed project is about a serious issue in today’s world that is insufficient food production, which prevails in many parts of the world. Farming plays an important role in food production and economic development in India and in the world as a whole. Getting high yield from the available land depends on fertility, moisture content of the soil and other climatic factors. The proposed work helps to overcome this problem, which aims at developing an automatic fertilizer-irrigation control and management system. It improves soil porosity and nutrient content through periodic application of required amount of fertilizers and water for crop’s growth. This will metabolize the soil texture, give nutrients to the crops, build plant tissues as well as increase the rate of crop productivity. The implementation of the work is achieved by sensors which include potassium sensor, nitrogen sensor, humidity sensor and temperature sensor, applying Intelligence technique by using Arduino nano to control the valve of the irrigation system. The system automatically applies soluble agrochemical fertilizers and water based on plant needs, as a result of which productivity is increased to considerable amount to meet out increasing needs

High-intensity laser-accelerated ion beam produced from cryogenic micro-jet target

We report on the successful operation of a newly developed cryogenic jet target at high intensity laser-irradiation. Using the frequency-doubled Titan short pulse laser system at Jupiter Laser Fa- cility, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, we demonstrate the generation of a pure proton beam a with maximum energy of 2 MeV. Furthermore, we record a quasi-monoenergetic peak at 1.1 MeV in the proton spectrum emitted in the laser forward direction suggesting an alternative acceleration mechanism. Using a solid-density mixed hydrogen-deuterium target, we are also able to produce pure proton-deuteron ion beams. With its high purity, limited size, near-critical density, and high-repetition rate capability, this target is promising for future applications

Synthesis, characterization and biological activity of novel Cu(II) complexes of 6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carbaldehy de-4N-substituted thiosemicarbazones

Three new 6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carbaldehyde-thiosemicarbazones-N-4-substituted pro-ligands and their Cu(II) complexes (1, -NH2; 2, -NHMe; 3, -NHEt) have been prepared and characterized. In both the X-ray structures of 1 and 3, two crystallographically independent complex molecules were found that differ either in the nature of weakly metal-binding species (water in 1a and nitrate in 1b) or in the co-ligand (water in 3a and methanol in 3b). Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) measurements carried out on complexes 1 and 3 confirmed the presence of such different species in the solution. The electrochemical behavior of the pro-ligands and of the complexes was investigated, as well as their biological activity. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibited a high cytotoxicity against human tumor cells and 3D spheroids derived from solid tumors, related to the high cellular uptake. Complexes 2 and 3 also showed a high selectivity towards cancerous cell lines with respect to non-cancerous cell lines and were able to circumvent cisplatin resistance. Via the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) imaging technique, preliminary insights into the biological activity of copper complexes were obtained