Lean Thinking For Lead-Time Reduction And Efficient Knowledge Creation In Product Development

There are many distinct differences between manufacturing process and Product Development (PD) process, so lean tools have to be customized to deliver results in the later domain. The main focus of this dissertation is to extend them to manage and improve the PD process in order to develop the product faster while improving or at least maintaining the level of performance and quality. For aforesaid purpose, value stream mapping (VSM) method is used to explore the wastes, inefficiencies, non-valued added steps in a single, definable process out of complete PD process. Besides numerous intangible benefits, VSM framework will help the development team to reduce the lead-time by over 50%. Next, a set of ten lean tools and methods is proposed in order to support and improve efficiency of the knowledge creation (KC) process. The approach establishes a KC framework in PD environment, and systematically demonstrates how these lean tools and methods conceptually fit into and play a significant role in enhancing the performance of KC process. Following this, each of them is analysed and appropriately positioned in a SECI (socialization-externalization-combination-internalization) mode depending on the best fit. Quick and correct KC at the right time aids in further improving the development lead-time and product quality. Such successful innovation is often associated with adoption and execution of all SECI modes within any PD phase. This dissertation attempts to argue with this general notion and to distinguish different PD phases\u27 affinity corresponding to distinct SECI mode. In this regard, an extended Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (EFAHP) approach to determine the ranking in which any PD phase is influenced from SECI modes is proposed. In the EFAHP approach, the complex problem of KC is first itemized into a simple hierarchical structure for pairwise comparisons. Next, a triangular fuzzy number concept is applied to capture the inherent vagueness in linguistic terms of a decision-maker. This dissertation recommends mapping the triangular fuzzy numbers (TFNs) with normal distributions about X-axis when the pessimistic value of one TFN is less than the optimistic value of other TFN (t23 ≤ t11). This allows us to develop a mathematical formulation to estimate the degree of possibility of two criteria as opposed to zero resulted by the use of the current technique in the literature. In order to demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of the proposed EFAHP in ranking the SECI modes, an empirical study of development phase is considered. After stringent analysis, we found that the combination mode was the mode that highly influenced the development phase

Evaluation of antihyperlipidemic activity of ethanolic root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.

Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn. is an Indian medicinal plant demonstrated to exert multiple health cures. This plant grows naturally in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions. It is traditionally used as anti-acne, anti-arthritic, anti-convulsant, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti inflammatory, wound healing, anti-oxidant, anti-platelet, anti-stress and nootropic, anti-viral, diuretic and gastroprotective. The antihyperlipidemic effect of ethanolic root extracts of Glycyrrhizaglabrawas studied in wistar rats using High Fat Diet (FD) induced hyperlipidemic model, at the doses of 400 mg/kg body weight. The efficacy of extract was compared with standard drug simvastatin. The ethanolic extracts, significantly decreased the serum lipid profile level in a dose dependent manner in wistar rats. Ethanolic extracts at 400 mg/kg have shown significant antihyperlipidemic action. These results support the fact that this plant is used traditionally as antihyperlipidemic. The study will help in exploring new plant source as an antihyperlipiedemic agent which can minimize the risk and side effects as compared to that of conventional medicine.  Keywords: Glycyrrhizaglabra, Antihyperlipidemic Activity, Simvastatin, High Fat Diet (FD) induced hyperlipidemic model

<i>Cajanus platycarpus</i> Flavonoid 3′5′ Hydroxylase_2 (<i>CpF3′5′H_2</i>) Confers Resistance to <i>Helicoverpa armigera</i> by Modulating Total Polyphenols and Flavonoids in Transgenic Tobacco

Pod borer Helicoverpa armigera, a polyphagus herbivorous pest, tremendously incurs crop damage in economically important crops. This necessitates the identification and utility of novel genes for the control of the herbivore. The present study deals with the characterization of a flavonoid 3′5′ hydroxylase_2 (F3′5′H_2) from a pigeonpea wild relative Cajanus platycarpus, possessing a robust chemical resistance response to H. armigera. Though F3′5′H_2 displayed a dynamic expression pattern in both C. platycarpus (Cp) and the cultivated pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (Cc) during continued herbivory, CpF3′5′H_2 showed a 4.6-fold increase vis a vis 3-fold in CcF3′5′H_2. Despite similar gene copy numbers in the two Cajanus spp., interesting genic and promoter sequence changes highlighted the stress responsiveness of CpF3′5′H_2. The relevance of CpF3′5′H_2 in H. armigera resistance was further validated in CpF3′5′H_2-overexpressed transgenic tobacco based on reduced leaf damage and increased larval mortality through an in vitro bioassay. As exciting maiden clues, CpF3′5′H_2 deterred herbivory in transgenic tobacco by increasing total flavonoids, polyphenols and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity. To the best of our knowledge, this is a maiden attempt ascertaining the role of F3′5′H_2 gene in the management of H. armigera. These interesting leads suggest the potential of this pivotal branch-point gene in biotic stress management programs

A 51 ka sedimentary sequence in a seamount basin, Eastern Arabian Sea: Records for paleoceanographic and paleoclimate conditions

A 5.4 m thick sediment core at ∼ 517 m water depth from a seamount basin off the Goa coast in the Eastern Arabian Sea (EAS) is examined for the mineral magnetic, carbonate and organic carbon variability. The 51 ka BP dated record is represented by Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 3 to 1 under varying rates of sedimentation from 1.9 to 5.2 cm/ka. Comparison with records from adjacent cores for OC, TN, and CaCO3, this study indicates strong coupling of the seamount basin sedimentation with paleo-oceanographic conditions governed by southwest (SW) monsoon. The mineral magnetic parameters assigned three zones of variable paleo-oceanographic-paleoclimatic conditions marked by the interplay of high coercivity (oxidative) and low coercivity (reducing) mineralogy, that can be attributed to various factors including ocean ventilation governed by bottom water inflow of oxygen-depleted Sub-Antarctic Mode Waters and Antarctic Intermediate Water flows (SAMW-AAIW). This study emphasizes the significance of seamount basins as faithful recorders of long-term thermocline changes along with strong coupling to paleoceanographic conditions.The author K.N is grateful to the Department of Science and Tech- nology, Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (DST-PURSE), for providing Junior Research Fellowship (JRF), File No. C.5/JRF-PURSE Phase II/ Geology /2014/655/ DT: 15.12.2014

Genomics

Not AvailableAn increase in the rate of crop improvement is essential for achieving sustained food production and other needs of ever-increasing population. Genomic selection (GS) is a potential breeding tool that has been successfully employed in animal breeding and is being incorporated into plant breeding. GS promises accelerated breeding cycles through a rapid selection of superior genotypes. Numerous empirical and simulation studies on GS and realized impacts on improvement in the crop yields are recently being reported. For a holistic understanding of the technology, we briefly discuss the concept of genetic gain, GS methodology, its current status, advantages of GS over other breeding methods, prediction models, and the factors controlling prediction accuracy in GS. Also, integration of speed breeding and other novel technologies viz. high throughput genotyping and phenotyping technologies for enhancing the efficiency and pace of GS, followed by its prospective applications in varietal development programs is reviewed

Impact of the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines on the prevalence of hypertension among Indian adults: Results from a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundThe impact of the 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for diagnosis and management of hypertension on the prevalence of hypertension in India is unknown.MethodsWe analyzed data from the Cardiac Prevent 2015 survey to estimate the change in the prevalence of hypertension. The JNC8 guidelines defined hypertension as a systolic blood pressure of ≥140&nbsp;​mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of ≥90&nbsp;​mmHg. The 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines define hypertension as a systolic blood pressure of ≥130&nbsp;​mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of ≥80&nbsp;​mmHg. We standardized the prevalence as per the 2011 census population of India. We also calculated the prevalence as per the World Health Organization (WHO) World Standard Population (2000-2025).ResultsAmong 180,335 participants (33.2% women), the mean age was 40.6&nbsp;​±&nbsp;​14.9 years (41.1&nbsp;​±&nbsp;​15.0 and 39.7&nbsp;​±&nbsp;​14.7 years in men and women, respectively). Among them, 8,898 (4.9%), 99,791 (55.3%), 35,694 (11.9%), 23,084 (12.8%), 9,989 (5.5%) and 2,878 (1.6%) participants belonged to age group 18-19, 20-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74 and&nbsp;​≥&nbsp;​75 years respectively. The prevalence of hypertension according to the JNC8 and 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines was 29.7% and 63.8%, respectively- an increase of 115%. With the 2011 census population of India, this suggests that currently, 486 million Indian adults have hypertension according to the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines, an addition of 260 million as compared to the JNC8 guidelines.ConclusionAccording to the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines, 3 in every 5 Indian adults have hypertension