A K-Chart based implementation framework to attain lean & agile manufacturing

[EN] Lean manufacturing has always ensured production optimization by eliminating wastes, and its implementation has helped in improving the operational performance of the organization since it eliminates the bottlenecks from the processes, thus making them efficient. In lean scenarios, the focus is on “waste” elimination, but in agile manufacturing, the focus is on the ability of comprehension of changing market dynamics and the resilience. One of the major factors in the combined implementation of lean and agile approaches is inadequate planning, monitoring and lack of awareness regarding changing market trends, and this can be countered by utilizing the effective tool of K-Chart. Through a systematic literature review, the authors establish the requirement of effective planning and monitoring in the implementation of integrated lean and agile approach, concluding that K-Chart is a handy tool to adopt for their effective implementation. 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Resource offload consolidation based on deep-reinforcement learning approach in cyber-physical systems.

In cyber-physical systems, it is advantageous to leverage cloud with edge resources to distribute the workload for processing and computing user data at the point of generation. Services offered by cloud are not flexible enough against variations in the size of underlying data, which leads to increased latency, violation of deadline and higher cost. On the other hand, resolving above-mentioned issues with edge devices with limited resources is also challenging. In this work, a novel reinforcement learning algorithm, Capacity-Cost Ratio-Reinforcement Learning (CCR-RL), is proposed which considers both resource utilization and cost for the target cyber-physical systems. In CCR-RL, the task offloading decision is made considering data arrival rate, edge device computation power, and underlying transmission capacity. Then, a deep learning model is created to allocate resources based on the underlying communication and computation rate. Moreover, new algorithms are proposed to regulate the allocation of communication and computation resources for the workload among edge devices and edge servers. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve a minimal latency and a reduced processing cost compared to the state-of-the-art schemes

Irradiation Maintains Functional Components of Dry Hot Peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) under Ambient Storage

Hot peppers used as natural flavoring and coloring agents are usually irradiated in prepacked form for decontamination. The effects of gamma radiation on the stability of functional components such as capsaicinoids and antioxidant compounds (carotenoids, ascorbic acid and total phenolics) were investigated in hot peppers (Capsicum annuum). Whole dried peppers packed in polyethylene bags were gamma irradiated at 0 (control), 2, 4, and 6 kGy and subsequently stored at 25 °C for 90 days. The irradiation dose did not substantially affect the initial contents of capsaicinoids, ascorbic acid and total phenolics, though the concentration of carotenoids declined by 8% from the control (76.9 mg/100 g) to 6 kGy radiation dose (70.7 mg/100 g). Similarly, during storage for 90 days at ambient temperature the concentrations of capsaicinoids and total phenolics remained fairly stable with mean percent reductions from 3.3% to 4.2%, while the levels of total carotenoids and ascorbic acid significantly (p < 0.05) declined by 12% and 14%, respectively. Overall, neither irradiation nor subsequent ambient storage could appreciably influence the contents of functional components in hot peppers. These results revealed that gamma irradiation up to 6 kGy can be safely used for decontamination to meet the needs for overseas markets without compromising product quality

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation &lt;92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p&lt;0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p&lt;0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Thermo-solutal dual diffusive flow of chemically reactive magneto couple-stress nanomaterial capturing robin conditions, transpiration and thermal generation/sink

Nanomaterials have attracted extensive relevance from researchers and scientists around the globe because of their unique thermo-physical features and ample potential advantages and utilizations in crucial areas, for illustration, biomedicine, electronics, energy, vehicles and aerospace. This attempt accounts magnetohydrodynamics and chemical reaction consideration in couple-stress nanomaterial confined by convectively heated vertical surface. Flow is mixed convective and thermally radiative. Brownian motion, heat generation, thermophoresis, Robin conditions and transpiration are considered for formulation. Boundary-layer expressions representing couple-stress liquid are implied utilizing transformation procedure. The obtained nonlinear expressions are tackled analytically by implementing series solution methodology (known as homotopy analysis method (HAM)). Convergence of analytical solutions is authenticated arithmetically (i.e., via table) and by drawing ℏ− curves. In addition, the significant parameters occurring in dimensionless expressions are addressed graphically. Our findings indicate retardation in flow when suction variable is augmented. Transfer of heat is higher for radiation and heat source parameters. Nanoparticles concentration decays for larger estimations of destructive reaction factor while it upsurges for generative reaction factor

Forward backward asymmetry in e+e− \to t¯t at \sqrt = 500GeV for fully hadronic decays of the t¯t pair

DESY 12-123H, DESY-PROC-2013-02 ISBN 978-3-935702-73-7, ISSN 1435-807International audienceWe determine the statistical precision for the forward back asymmetry AtFB in e+e− \to t¯t for the fully hadronic decay mode t¯t \to (bq¯q)(¯bq¯q) at ps = 500 GeV. Results are given for the beam polarisations P(e−, e+) = (−80%, +30%) and P(e−, e+) = (+80%,−30%) for an integrated luminosity of 250 fb−1 for each polarisation. Only signal events are used for the analysis, with overlay. The expected precisions are 2.9% in case of P(e−, e+) = (−80%, +30%) and 3.2% in case of P(e−, e+) = (+80%,−30%)

A systematic planning scheme for deployment of technology combined lean implementation framework

In this modern age, use of technology combined lean implementation framework seems beneficial which not only helps in lean implementation but also contributes to speed up the process with the availability of proper planning scheme. However, based on previous literature available, a gap has been observed regarding the availability of “Systematic Planning Scheme” which is essential for the deployment of technology combined lean implementation frameworks. Based on this, the aim of this study is to propose “Systematic Planning Scheme” for such frameworks and since, lean has its stakes in a wide range of sectors but carries the maximum stake in the automotive industry (based on literature review utilized) so it is feasible to develop planning scheme for automotive sectors. With the help of data collection methods that have been utilized were field observations, on-site plant visits, and organizational documents in case study, a Systematic Planning Scheme has been developed. The designed systematic planning scheme critically required three steps which were team selection, phase wise distributions of work, and access to lean tools for lean implementation (by the team to implement framework. The contribution and significance of this study is the provisions of new planning strategy which carried originality in its structure by following three goal steps and visions to implement modern frameworks in a systemized way

Organizational safety climate: a case study of comparing two OHSAS certified food processing plants

Current study determines the level of safety climate in food sector of Pakistan that has been done two different milk processing plants of the same organization, with different management and locations. Safety climate was measured through survey using questionnaire. Reliability of the questionnaire prepared to measure safety climate was found good. Response rate of the respondents was quite encouraging (69%) as 226 out of 300 respondents replied back. Mean scores of safety climate at plant A is 4.16 and plant B is 4.19 out of 5, which indicates good safety climate at both plants. Out of eight safety climate dimensions ‘safety training’ and ‘safety priority over production ‘have low mean scores which indicates need for improvement in these areas .Results of independent sample t-test show that two dimensions ‘management commitment to safety’ and ‘safety priority over production’ differ significantly between two plants. Results further conclude that out of 226 respondents only 01 respondent reported an accident during period of twelve months and this accident was non-fatal, which is also an indication of good safety climate at both plants