The Relative Performance of a Benchtop Scanning Monochromator and Handheld Fourier Transform Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectrometer in Predicting Forage Nutritive Value

Advanced manufacturing techniques have enabled low-cost, on-chip spectrometers. Little research exists, however, on their performance relative to the state of technology systems. The present study compares the utility of a benchtop FOSS NIRSystems 6500 (FOSS) to a handheld NeoSpectra-Scanner (NEO) to develop models that predict the composition of dried and ground grass, and alfalfa forages. Mixed-species prediction models were developed for several forage constituents, and performance was assessed using an independent dataset. Prediction models developed with spectra from the FOSS instrument had a standard error of prediction (SEP, % DM) of 1.4, 1.8, 3.3, 1.0, 0.42, and 1.3, for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), true in vitro digestibility (IVTD), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and crude protein (CP), respectively. The R2P for these models ranged from 0.90 to 0.97. Models developed with the NEO resulted in an average increase in SEP of 0.14 and an average decrease in R2P of 0.002.

Layer-By-Layer Fabrication of Thicker and Larger Human Cardiac Muscle Patches for Cardiac Repair in Mice

The engineered myocardial tissues produced via most manufacturing techniques are typically just a few dozen micrometers thick, which is too thin for therapeutic applications in patients. Here, we used a modified layer-by-layer (LBL) fabrication protocol to generate thick human cardiac muscle patches (hCMPs) with thicknesses of ~3.75 mm. The LBL-hCMPs were composed of a layer of endothelial cells (ECs) sandwiched between two layers of cardiomyocytes (CMs): both cell populations were differentiated from the same human induced pluripotent stem cell line (hiPSCs) and suspended in a fibrin matrix, and the individual layers were sutured together, leaving channels that allowed the culture medium to access the internal cell layer. The LBL-hCMPs were cultured on a dynamic culture platform with electrical stimulation, and when compared to Control-hCMPs consisting of the same total number of hiPSC-ECs and -CMs suspended in a single layer of fibrin, hiPSC-CMs in the LBL-hCMPs were qualitatively more mature with significantly longer sarcomeres and expressed significantly higher levels of mRNA transcripts for proteins that participate in cardiomyocyte contractile activity and calcium handing. Apoptotic cells were also less common in LBL- than in Control-hCMPs. The thickness of fabricated LBL-hCMP gradually decreased to 0.8 mm by day 28 in dynamic culture. When the hCMP constructs were compared in a mouse model of myocardial infarction, the LBL-hCMPs were associated with significantly better measurements of engraftment, cardiac function, infarct size, hypertrophy, and vascularity. Collectively these observations indicate that our modified LBL fabrication protocol produced thicker hCMPs with no decline in cell viability, and that LBL-hCMPs were more potent than Control-hCMPs for promoting myocardial repair in mice.

Energy Absorption Enhancement by Unit Cell Angle Grading or Sandwich Panels with Auxetic Core

Architectured structures, particularly auxetic materials, have demonstrated encouraging applications in energy absorption as they facilitate the customization of their structural response. Specific geometries of unit cells can thus be tailored for particular needs due to recent progress in additive manufacturing techniques. This paper experimentally studies how the grading of the cell unit angle of an auxetic core in a sandwich panel affects its energy absorbing capability and structural response. 3D printed sandwich panels with uniform and graded auxetic cellular core were tested under quasistatic compression. The results show that sandwich panels with graded core exhibit much better energy absorption capabilities with higher plateau stress and densification strain. This indicates that, by appropriately controlling its geometry, auxetic structures can show further potential as core in sandwich panels for energy absorption applications.

Study on the Characteristics of Materials and Manufacturing Techniques for the Mural Paintings in Daeunjeon at Ssanggyesa Temple, Jindo

This study identifies the structure and material characteristics of the mural paintings in Daeungjeon at Ssanggyesa temple in Jindo by conducting scientific research and analysis including microscope examination, SEM-EDS, XRD, particle size analysis, and others. According to the analyses, the murals were considered to be of a typical soil mural style for Korean Buddhist murals, given that the walls were made of sand and soil and the murals had layers consisting of wall layers and a finishing layer. However, some finishing layer used calcite, while some ground layer used zinc white beneath the thick paint. In addition, there were similar features to those found on the surfaces of oil paintings such as cracks along with the paint layer, high gloss on surfaces, and thick brush strokes in many areas. It was found that the walls on which the murals were painted were made of soil but that the paint layer was created based on the oil painting technique using drying oil. It determined that the murals were painted in a unique painting style that is rarely found in other typical Buddhist murals in Korea.

Industrial Case Study on Lean Manufacturing Implemented on Manufacturing Polypropylene Ropes Industry Amravati

Lean manufacturing has been one of the most standard method in the manufacturing and service industry for elimination of waste. Every manufacturing industry has to put in continuous effort for its survival in the current impulsive and competitive economy. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the adoption of lean manufacturing tools and techniques in the manufacturing industries. This paper is based on actual implementation of lean manufacturing techniques. It focuses on the execution of flow from the start until the end of the implementation, types of analysis and tools applied, evaluation methods and how the industry benefited from the implementation. In this case study we particularly focused on Shop floor management, Quality Management (QM), Supplier and Customer Management (SCM) and Workforce Management (WM). After going through various testing on implementation of Lean Manufacturing principles in Micro Small medium Enterprise (MSME), researcher studied thoughts of some author where they discussed pragmatic problems they overcome while implementing lean principles in developing economies MSME. At the end, the result shows that there is monthly increment in capital productivity and labour productivity. And decrement in inhouse rejection, breakdown hours and customer complaint from the implementation of lean.

Pharmaceutical Lozenges: Recent Trends and Developments with an Update on Research and Patents

Pharmaceutical oral dosage forms are tremendously preferred by both consumers as well as pharmaceutical manufacturers owing to the plethora of benefits they offer. Lozenges (LZs) are one of the dosage forms that provide a palatable means of drug administration and have great importance with respect to their pharmaceutical applications. LZs offer additional benefits to pediatric and geriatric patients, along with people having associated problems with the gastro-intestinal tract. Dysphagia is a common problem faced by all age groups, which gives rise to the need for LZs. Moreover, the foremost merit presented by the medicated LZs includes its augmented retention time in the oral cavity that results in an enhanced bioavailability for buccal or upper gastro-intestinal disorders. Further, LZs can also be used to bypass the first-pass effect. The present review covers various aspects of LZs such as formulation, manufacturing techniques, evaluation parameters, marketed products, patents, and a compilation of research work that has been done on lozenges as a delivery system.