Analysis and Integration of Design for X Approaches in Lean Design as basis for a Lifecycle Optimized Product Design

AbstractAll product lifecycle processes are highly determined by product design. The concept of Lean Design focuses on maximizing customer value and minimizing waste throughout all stages of product lifecycle by an optimized product design. Design for X approaches are essential elements of Lean Design to make the right design decisions by help of concrete qualitative design guidelines. However, Design for X approaches focus on a specific stage of product lifecycle or specific aspect of products or processes, what makes a holistic optimization of product design highly complex. Therefore, the paper analyses the vast range of qualitative design guidelines given in Design for X approaches concerning their effects on product lifecycle and derives recommendations for a lifecycle optimized product design

Phase engineering in tantalum sulfide monolayers on Au(111)

We prepare monolayers of tantalum sulfide on Au(111) by evaporation of Ta in a reactive background of H$_2$S. Under sulfur-rich conditions, monolayers of 2H-TaS$_2$ develop, whereas under sulfur-poor conditions TaS forms, a structure that can be derived from 2H-TaS$_2$ by removal of the bottom S layer. We analyse the alignment of the layers with respect to the substrate and the relation with the domains in the Au(111) herringbone reconstruction using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). With the help of density functional theory (DFT) calculations we can determine the registry of the two phases with the substrate. We develop a growth process that allows preparation of uniquely oriented 2H-TaS$_2$ on Au(111). 2H-TaS$_2$ and TaS have a remarkably similar in-plane lattice structure and we observe the formation of lateral 2H-TaS$_2$-TaS heterostructures with atomically well-defined and defect-free boundaries. We observe mirror twin boundaries within 2H-TaS$_2$ along the S- and Ta-edge

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p<0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (<1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (<1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

Micro-raman investigation of mechanical stress in Si device structures and phonons in SiGe

This thesis consists of two parts. The first part presents an investigation of mechanical stress in silicon device structures processed with variations of the shallow trench isolation (STI) process. The measurements were performed with high spatial resolution using micro-Raman spectroscopy with ultra-violet (364 nm) laser light to excite the Raman scattering. This thesis describes in detail the advantages of UV over visible light excitation. The influence of different process parameters on the amount of mechanical stress introduced into the silicon substrate is presented. A correlation of mechanical stress levels with defect generation and degrading electrical properties is shown. The second part of this thesis presents an investigation of phonons in SiGe bulk crystals. These measurements were performed using Raman spectroscopy to clarify the assignments of various vibrational modes and explain the shift of the Ge phonon as small amounts of Si are added into a pure Ge crystal. In addition, the silicon local vibrational modes (LVM) of all three silicon isotopes are shown, thus verifying the assignment of this mode experimentally.Diese Arbeit besteht aus zwei Teilen. Der erste Teil zeigt eine Untersuchung mechanischer Verspannungen in Silizium Bauelementestrukturen, die mit Variationen des "shallow trench isolation" (STI) Prozesses hergestellt wurden. Die Messungen wurden mit hoher Ortsauflösung mittels Mikro-Raman Spektroskopie durchgeführt. Zur Anregung wurde ultraviolettes (364 nm) Laserlicht verwendet. Die Arbeit beschreibt detailiert die Vorteile von UV gegenüber sichtbarem Licht und diskutiert den Einfluss verschiedener Prozessparameter auf die mechanische Verspannung im Si Substrat. Eine Korrelation zwischen mechanischer Verspannung und Defektbildung sowie degradierender elektrischer Eigenschaften wird gezeigt. Der zweite Teil dieser Arbeit präsentiert die Untersuchung der Phononen in SiGe Volumenkristallen. Die Messungen mittels Raman Spektroskopie leisten einen Beitrag zur Klärung widersprüchlicher Moden-Zuordnungen. Das Verhalten des Ge-Phonons unter Beimischung von Si in einen reinen Ge-Kristall wird gezeigt. Die Zuordnung der lokalisierten Si-Schwingungsmode (Si LVM) konnte experimentell durch die Beobachtung der Schwingungen aller drei Si Isotope bestätigt werden

Prozessorganisation in deutschen Unternehmen: Eine Studie zum aktuellen Stand der Umsetzung

Unternehmen agieren in einem dynamischen Umfeld mit hoher Komplexität und Unsicherheit. Um dabei langfristig wettbewerbsfähig zu bleiben, ist eine kontinuierliche Optimierung der Prozesse erforderlich. Eine konsequente Prozessorientierung wird daher seit langem angestrebt. Zur Ermittlung des aktuellen Standes der Prozessorganisation in deutschen Unternehmen hat die Gesellschaft für Organisation e. V. (gfo) eine Studie durchführen lassen, deren erste Ergebnisse hier vorgestellt werden

Mb/s PHY-PR

In addition to the convenient access to Internet applications from mobile devices, new types of service are expected to arise with a wide range of requirements on the mobile terminal. A major bottleneck is the need to develop handheld devices with enough processing power and battery life to support these applications

SKP2 cooperates with N-Ras or AKT to induce liver tumor development in mice.

Mounting evidence indicates that S-Phase Kinase-Associated Protein 2 (SKP2) is overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of SKP2 in hepatocarcinogenesis remains poorly delineated. To elucidate the function(s) of SKP2 in HCC, we stably overexpressed the SKP2 gene in the mouse liver, either alone or in combination with activated forms of N-Ras (N-RasV12), AKT1 (myr-AKT1), or β-catenin (ΔN90-β-catenin) protooncogenes, via hydrodynamic gene delivery. We found that forced overexpression of SKP2, N-RasV12 or ΔN90-β-catenin alone as well as co-expression of SKP2 and ΔN90-β-catenin did not induce liver tumor development. Overexpression of myr-AKT1 alone led to liver tumor development after long latency. In contrast, co-expression of SKP2 with N-RasV12 or myr-AKT1 resulted in early development of multiple hepatocellular tumors in all SKP2/N-RasV12 and SKP2/myr-AKT1 mice. At the molecular level, preneoplastic and neoplastic liver lesions from SKP2/N-RasV12 and SKP2/myr-AKT1 mice exhibited a strong induction of AKT/mTOR and Ras/MAPK pathways. Noticeably, the tumor suppressor proteins whose levels have been shown to be downregulated by SKP2-dependent degradation in various tumor types, including p27, p57, Dusp1, and Rassf1A were not decreased in liver lesions from SKP2/N-RasV12 and SKP2/myr-AKT1 mice. In human HCC specimens, nuclear translocation of SKP2 was associated with activation of the AKT/mTOR and Ras/MAPK pathways, but not with β-catenin mutation or activation. Altogether, the present data indicate that SKP2 cooperates with N-Ras and AKT proto-oncogenes to promote hepatocarcinogenesis in vivo

Convergence and Contradiction Between Lean and Industry 4.0 for Inventive Design of Smart Production Systems

Part 4: TRIZ and FunctionsInternational audienceDue to the globalization, we have witnessed the emergence of new challenges, driven by a sharp drop in industrial production costs and a great ability to produce high quality products at competitive prices. To cope with these growing challenges, Industry 4.0 were launched in 2011. This concept represents the digitalization of the industry, integrating resources into production: people, machines and processes. These networked resources can interact with each other. Industry 4.0 optimizes the production system. The plant becomes agile, with flexible production methods, reconfigurable tools, and more efficient.Considering the Lean requirements during the early stages of production system design could facilitate the development of Industry 4.0.This paper mainly focuses on both Lean and Industry 4.0 by considering their requirements during the early stages of production system design. In this study, we analyze the convergence and contradictions for the implementation of these two concepts