Applying SMED methodology in cork stoppers production

Organizations are increasingly required to have a high level of quality and flexibility in production. In order to remain in the market and become competitive, the working methods practiced must be reliable and efficient. The present project sought the improvement of an equipment of the cork industry by introducing a variation, through the application of Lean methods. The equipment under study performs the union of a cork stopper to a capsule, which is done by gluing it with hot-melt glue. The amount of production makes the changeover activity a regular process. The method followed in this work was the study and collection of information on the Lean production philosophy and its application in the cork industry. The working conditions of the assembly machine were also analyzed in order to find opportunities for improvement. Thus, the tool used was the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) technique in order to acknowledge the processes that really add value to the product. The SMED (Single Minute of Exchange of Die) methodology was applied in a way to reduce the downtime caused by tool changes, and a reduction of 43% in total changeover time was obtained. It was also created an A3 model to monitor the entire development of the SMED project, Finally, the OEE (Overall Equipment Efficiency) calculation was implemented as an indicator of overall equipment efficiency, in order to improve the monitoring of possible deviations during production. The feedback also proves that lean tools are a powerful method to get solid returns without large investments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comparative Review Between COVID-19 and Stunting: Communication Framework Toward Risk-Mitigating Behavior

In addition to COVID-19, stunting is another threat facing Indonesia. Although not as deadly as COVID-19, stunting requires immediate responses; otherwise it will burden our development agenda. Substantial evidences from application of Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) accumulate significant relationship of health intentions to individuals’ behavior. Further extension of TPB that include other variables confirm the role of knowledge and risk perception in predicting health intentions and behavior. Similarly involve risk factors within public health area, risk communication of COVID-19 seems outperforms that of stunting. Using TPB’s perspective, this review of literature aims to analyze health promotion impacts of these health threats. Result indicates differences in risk communication strategy for COVID – indicated by emerging amateur health promoters – as to stunting. There is a need for intensive collaboration of Psychology and Communication studies in exploring communication strategies to help building health intentions toward performing risk-mitigating behaviors beyond COVID-19 and stunting alone

Pelibatan Lembaga Keuangan Daerah di Jawa Tengah untuk Meningkatkan Kepemilikan Sarana Sanitasi Layak

Tidak memiliki jamban memaksa keluarga miskin buang air besar sembarangan (BABS). Hal tersebut meningkatkan risiko terjadinya masalah gizi kronis sehingga mengakibatkan terhambatnya pertumbuhan pada anak (stunting), yakni tinggi badan anak lebih rendah atau pendek (kerdil) dari standar usianya. Opsi kredit jamban keluarga tersedia bagi keluarga miskin yang belum mampu membangun sarana sanitasi dasar ini. Namun, kurangnya promosi dan karakter calon nasabah mengakibatkan sedikit lembaga keuangan yang menawarkan kredit jamban. Berbagi peran dengan stakeholders terkait untuk menerapkan fitur kredit yang lebih ‘ramah’ bagi keluarga miskin serta penyediaan insentif diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kepemilikan jamban melalui keterlibatan lembaga keuangan

Improvement and validation of Zamak die casting moulds

The automotive industry, like many other industries, uses a wide range of parts produced by the die-cast process. Parts like engine blocks, wheel spacers, alternator housings and command cable terminals, are made by die casting with different kinds of materials like aluminium and zinc alloys. Despite being a reliable process both in terms of quantity and quality, it is very important to keep the process parameters controlled, in order to achieve a minimum percentage of defective parts, which may be caused by several factors such as, porosities, segregations, incomplete fill, soldering, cracks, etc. The main goal of the die casting industry is to achieve the zero per cent defects target, a goal that goes along with the automotive industry and its quality system, and to accomplish this objective the stakeholders need to invest in research and development. In the casting industry, for instance, it is very important to have a complete knowledge of the entire process developed inside the casting machine, from the melting pot to the die, in order to obtain data so one can improve the filling parameters, machine parts, and moulds. The focus of the presented study is the improvement of the methodologies used to design moulds for control cable terminals in Zamak alloys. The work starts by characterizing the flow happening inside the mould at the moment of cavity fill by analysing computer fluid dynamics simulations (CFD). The study proceeds by quantifying the porosities detected on cut terminal surfaces, and the ultimate goal is achieved with the modification of molten metal flow systems, like channels and sprues, and the introduction of venting systems, with a resource to mathematical and geometrical calculus developed in MATLAB® specifically for that purpose. The paper ends with the validation of the improvements, by comparing the initial results with the ones obtained through an improved mould, building bases for novel design concepts of moulds for this kind of parts, as well as new studies trying to improve the results now achieved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Binding affinities and activation of Asp712Ala and Cys100Ser mutated kinin B1 receptor forms suggest a bimodal scheme for the molecule of bound-DABK

AbstractMutant forms of kinin B1 receptor (B1R) and analogs of the full agonist des-Arg9-bradykinin (DABK) were investigated aiming to verify the importance of selected receptor residues and of each agonist-peptide residue in the specific binding and activation. Linked by a specific disulfide bond (Cys100–Cys650), the N-terminal (Nt) and the EC3 loop C-terminal (Ct) segments of angiotensin II (AngII) receptor 1 (AT1R) have been identified to form an extracellular site for binding the agonist Nt segment (Asp1 and Arg2 residues). Asp712 residue at the receptor EC3 loop binds the peptide Arg2 residue. By homology, a similar site might be considered for DABK binding to B1R since this receptor contains the same structural elements for composing the site in AT1R, namely the disulfide bond and the EC3 loop Asp712 residue. DABK, Alan-DABK analogs (n=Ala1-, Ala2-, Ala3-, Ala4-, Ala5-, Ala6-, Ala7-, Ala8-DABK), and other analogs were selected to binding wild-type, Asp712Ala and Cys100Ser mutated B1R receptors. The results obtained suggested that the same bimodal scheme adopted for AngII-AT1R system may be applied to DABK binding to B1R. The most crucial similarity in the two cases is that the Nt segments of peptides equally bind to the homologous Asp712 residue of both AT1R and B1R extracellular sites. Confirming this preliminary supposition, mutation of residues located at the B1R extracellular site as EC3 loop Asp712 and Cys100 caused the same modifications in biological assays observed in AT1R submitted to homologous mutations, such as significant weakening of agonist binding and reduction of post-receptor-activation processes. These findings provided enough support for defining a site that determines the specific binding of DABK to B1R receptors

Qualidade Tecnológica E Produtividade Da Cana-de-açúcar Sob Doses De Nitrogênio Via Fertirrigação Subsuperficial Por Gotejamento

This study characterized the technological quality and yield of sugarcane cv. SP80-3280 under nitrogen doses via subsurface drip fertigation. Five treatments were established using N-fertilizer in the form of urea (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N ha-1), with four replicates, applied via subsurface drip fertigation. The technological quality (fiber% cane; Brix% juice; pol% juice, pol% cane; juice purity and total recoverable sugar -TRS), as well as yield of stalks and sugar were determined 381 days after the third harvest. The technological variables Brix%, pol% juice, purity% and TRS of sugarcane, cultivar SP80-3280, were altered by the application of nitrogen doses via subsurface drip fertigation, with significant reductions at the dose of 200 kg N ha-1. Stalk and sugar yields increased linearly with the increment in nitrogen doses applied through subsurface drip fertigation. © 2016, Departamento de Engenharia Agricola - UFCG/Cnpq. All rights reserved.20320921

Numeric taxonomy approaches for lytic evaluation of Salmonella specific bacteriophages

This study explored the lytic ability of bacteriophages as a future tool for reducing the Salmonella spp. loads in food animals. It investigated (a) the concept of a phage cocktail resulting from an exploratory analysis of the 13 phages which were examined, and (b) the possibility of using them in phage typing techniques for a broad range of serotypes. By using the conventional plaque assay method and cluster analysis, it was possible to select the 2/2, N5, 2a, 135KP and 120 phages, as potential elements of a cocktail as a means of efficiently eliminating the greatest number of several types of Salmonella. The 2/2 and N5 phages were also the most efficacious infective elements against the Typhimurium and Enteritidis serovars, respectively.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of exercise training on atrophy gene expression in skeletal muscle of mice with chronic allergic lung inflammation

We evaluated the effects of chronic allergic airway inflammation and of treadmill training (12 weeks) of low and moderate intensity on muscle fiber cross-sectional area and mRNA levels of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 in the mouse tibialis anterior muscle. Six 4-month-old male BALB/c mice (28.5 ± 0.8 g) per group were examined: 1) control, non-sensitized and non-trained (C); 2) ovalbumin sensitized (OA, 20 µg per mouse); 3) non-sensitized and trained at 50% maximum speed _ low intensity (PT50%); 4) non-sensitized and trained at 75% maximum speed _ moderate intensity (PT75%); 5) OA-sensitized and trained at 50% (OA+PT50%), 6) OA-sensitized and trained at 75% (OA+PT75%). There was no difference in muscle fiber cross-sectional area among groups and no difference in atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expression between C and OA groups. All exercised groups showed significantly decreased expression of atrogin-1 compared to C (1.01 ± 0.2-fold): PT50% = 0.71 ± 0.12-fold; OA+PT50% = 0.74 ± 0.03-fold; PT75% = 0.71 ± 0.09-fold; OA+PT75% = 0.74 ± 0.09-fold. Similarly significant results were obtained regarding MuRF1 gene expression compared to C (1.01 ± 0.23-fold): PT50% = 0.53 ± 0.20-fold; OA+PT50% = 0.55 ± 0.11-fold; PT75% = 0.35 ± 0.15-fold; OA+PT75% = 0.37 ± 0.08-fold. A short period of OA did not induce skeletal muscle atrophy in the mouse tibialis anterior muscle and aerobic training at low and moderate intensity negatively regulates the atrophy pathway in skeletal muscle of healthy mice or mice with allergic lung inflammation.FAPESPCNP

COMPILATION OF ACTIVE FAULT DATA IN PORTUGAL FOR USE IN SEISMIC HAZARD ANALYSIS

To estimate where future earthquakes are likely to occur, it is essential to combine information about past earthquakes with knowledge about the location and seismogenic properties of active faults. For this reason, robust probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) integrates seismicity and active fault data. Existing seismic hazard assessments for Portugal rely exclusively on seismicity data and do not incorporate data on active faults. Project SHARE (Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe) is an EC-funded initiative (FP7) that aims to evaluate European seismic hazards using an integrated, standardized approach. In the context of SHARE, we are developing a fully-parameterized active fault database for Portugal that incorporates existing compilations, updated according to the most recent publications. The seismogenic source model derived for SHARE will be the first model for Portugal to include fault data and follow an internationally standardized approach. This model can be used to improve both seismic hazard and risk analyses and will be combined with the Spanish database for use in Iberian- and European-scale assessments