Improving lead time in product development process of an agricultural machinery company through value-stream mapping (VSM)

The constant search for process improvement requires a comprehensive knowledge of a company's resources, especially with regard to strategic processes for the organization, such as product development, which is directly related to technological changes and the needs of customers, which are becoming increasingly customized and difficult to meet. The value stream mapping method can help managers identify activities that cause losses in the process and may be effective in reducing the lead time in the product development process. Based on these assumptions, this work presents a case study on the application of value stream mapping in the product development process of an agricultural machinery company. The major sources of waste were identified and the process analyzed using value-stream mapping; proposals for changes were then made in consultation with the personnel involved in the projects. The application of the value-stream mapping method allowed the identification of waste in waiting time and in processing. We observed that if the improvement proposals are implemented, there may be a 41% reduction in the total lead time, which is a significant improvement for the process. Value-stream mapping allowed a simplified view of the process and facilitated the identification of waste and the understanding of process constraints, making value analysis more agile

Inspiratory Muscular Training devices in older people with weaning of mechanical ventilation and with tracheostomy

Objetivo: investigar os efeitos de dois dispositivos de treino muscular inspiratório em idosos com desmame prolongado da ventilação mecânica invasiva e com traqueostomia. Materiais e Métodos: O estudo foi realizado com 12 idosos em desmame prolongado da ventilação mecânica e traqueostomia, nas Unidades de Terapia Intensiva do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Seis idosos foram submetidos ao uso do dispositivo Powerbreathe plus medic® (PPM), e seis idosos ao Powerbreathe K5® (PK5). Foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros respiratórios antes e depois da intervenção: índice de respiração rápida e superficial (IRRS) e pressão inspiratória máxima (PImáx). A análise dos dados foi conduzida por meio da estatística descritiva e inferencial (p<0,05). Resultados: os resultados evidenciaram diferença significativa na PImáx (p = 0,014), onde média do grupo PPM foi superior a do grupo PK5. Houve efeito do tempo (F = 7,756) no IRRS, com variações negativas após o período de intervenção no grupo PK5. Foi encontrado efeito do grupo (F = 8,394) e do tempo (F = 8,141) na PImáx, sugerindo que os grupos eram diferentes e que apresentaram variação positiva ao longo do tempo. Houve efeito do tempo (F = 43,808) e da interação (F = 12,020) na carga de treinamento, indicando maior incremento de carga no grupo PPM, com tamanho do efeito grande (d=1,261). Conclusão: Concluiu-se que o PK5 se mostrou mais efetivo para a melhora do IRRS, PImáx e frequência respiratória.Objective: to investigate the effects of two inspiratory muscle training devices in the elderly with prolonged weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation and with tracheostomy. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out with 12 elderly people on prolonged weaning from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy, in the Intensive Care Units of Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Six elderly people underwent the use of the Powerbreathe plus medic® (PPM) device, and six elderly people under the Powerbreathe K5® (PK5). The following respiratory parameters were evaluated before and after the intervention: rapid and shallow breathing index (RSRI) and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP). Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics (p <0.05). Results: the results showed a significant difference in MIP (p = 0.014), where the mean of the PPM group was higher than that of the PK5 group. There was an effect of time (F = 7.756) on IRRS, with negative variations after the intervention period in the PK5 group. The effect of the group (F = 8.394) and time (F = 8.141) on MIP was found, suggesting that the groups were different and that they presented positive variation over time. There was an effect of time (F = 43.808) and interaction (F = 12.020) on the training load, indicating greater load increase in the PPM group, with a large effect size (d = 1.261). Conclusion: It was concluded that PK5 was shown to be more effective in improving IRRS, MIP and respiratory rate

Building the sugarcane genome for biotechnology and identifying evolutionary trends

Abstract Background Sugarcane is the source of sugar in all tropical and subtropical countries and is becoming increasingly important for bio-based fuels. However, its large (10 Gb), polyploid, complex genome has hindered genome based breeding efforts. Here we release the largest and most diverse set of sugarcane genome sequences to date, as part of an on-going initiative to provide a sugarcane genomic information resource, with the ultimate goal of producing a gold standard genome. Results Three hundred and seventeen chiefly euchromatic BACs were sequenced. A reference set of one thousand four hundred manually-annotated protein-coding genes was generated. A small RNA collection and a RNA-seq library were used to explore expression patterns and the sRNA landscape. In the sucrose and starch metabolism pathway, 16 non-redundant enzyme-encoding genes were identified. One of the sucrose pathway genes, sucrose-6-phosphate phosphohydrolase, is duplicated in sugarcane and sorghum, but not in rice and maize. A diversity analysis of the s6pp duplication region revealed haplotype-structured sequence composition. Examination of hom(e)ologous loci indicate both sequence structural and sRNA landscape variation. A synteny analysis shows that the sugarcane genome has expanded relative to the sorghum genome, largely due to the presence of transposable elements and uncharacterized intergenic and intronic sequences. Conclusion This release of sugarcane genomic sequences will advance our understanding of sugarcane genetics and contribute to the development of molecular tools for breeding purposes and gene discovery

Building the sugarcane genome for biotechnology and identifying evolutionary trends

Sugarcane is the source of sugar in all tropical and subtropical countries and is becoming increasingly important for bio-based fuels. However, its large (10 Gb), polyploid, complex genome has hindered genome based breeding efforts. Here we release the largest and most diverse set of sugarcane genome sequences to date, as part of an on-going initiative to provide a sugarcane genomic information resource, with the ultimate goal of producing a gold standard genome151CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP2009/51632-1; 2009/09217-7; 2008/58243-8; 2009/09116-6; 2011/05317-7; 2008/54201-9sem informação2008/52074-0; 2010/05591-9; 2008/58031-0; 2008/52197-4; 08/52146-