Improving Changeover Efficiency in Opticap XL Encapsulation Process

This project studied MilliporeSigma’s changeover efficiency within the Opticap® XL encapsulation process to alleviate throughput issues associated with increasing demand. Our team conducted time and observational studies, together with stakeholder interviews, to identify and prioritize improvement areas. We developed a production schedule optimization tool, Single Minute Exchange of Dies analysis for changeover tasks, and conditions to streamline melt-check procedures. We recommend our deliverables be implemented to improve changeover efficiency, and estimate that 230 minutes can be saved in changeover time over two days

The Process of Innovation at Oakton High School

This project studied the implementation of 21st century teaching and learning within a leading progressive Virginia high school. The study incorporated literature research, observational studies, interviews, surveys of teachers, and dialogue with administrators and other institutions. Overall, we found widespread acceptance of 21st century principles and learning outcomes within the institution because of their alignment with established values. Faculty exhibited strong comfort levels within their own academic subjects and were likely to collaborate with those within their own or similar disciplines. Constraints included diverse conceptions of projects, perceptions of constraints imposed by standardized testing, and the need for updated technology

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead