Cut order planning for apparel manufacturing

Cut order planning is the problem of planning the fabric cut for a set of apparel orders. A specified set of garments is ordered by the customer to be produced by a given date. Affiliated with this order is a set of garment sizes, and patterns for cutting each size. The fabric for cutting the order must be arranged on the cutting table in such a way as to minimize the cost of cutting the order. This plan must incorporate a partition of the pattern pieces to be arranged on top of the fabric layout. A mathematical model of the problem is developed and analyzed. On the basis of this analysis, solution approaches are developed that have been implemented on a desktop PC-based computer. Validated on representative industry problems, the approach is shown to be effective and versatile.     

Maximum a posteriori estimation of activation energies that control silicon self-diffusion

Self-diffusion in crystalline silicon is controlled by a network of elementary steps whose activation energies are important to know in a variety of applications in microelectronic fabrication. The present work employs maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation to improve existing values for these activation energies, based on self-diffusion data collected at different values of the loss rates for interstitial atoms to the surface. Parameter sensitivity analysis shows that for high surface loss fluxes, the energy for exchange between an interstitial and the lattice plays the leading role in determining the shape of diffusion profiles. At low surface loss fluxes, the dissociation energy of large-atom clusters plays a more important role. Subsequent MAP analysis provides significantly improved values for these parameters.     

Chemical and Structural Changes in Manganese-Doped Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Studied by Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy Combined with Electron Diffraction

Solid solution of manganese in yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) may occur in the electrolyte of solid oxide fuel cells. Possible changes in valence, coordination, and site occupancy of Mn in YSZ are of interest. Also, subsequent structural modification of the cubic YSZ, as well as the possible ordering of vacancies, has important consequences for the ionic conductivity. Electron energy loss spectroscopy was used to measure the O K and the Mn L edge of Mn in solid solution in a zirconia host lattice. The ratio Mn L ₃/ L ₂was determined for some manganese oxides and for Mn in solid solution. It is shown that the L ₃/ L ₂ratio does not simply reflect the oxidation state of the Mn ions in solid solution. Selected area diffraction experiments were also made in the TEM. This showed ordering of the cations and the anion vacancies at high doping levels. It is concluded that the number of O ions surrounding each Mn ion may be very important in interpreting the obtained L ₃/ L ₂ratio.     

Thioether Analogues of Disulfide‐Bridged Cyclic Peptides Targeting Death Receptor 5: Conformational Analysis,Dimerisation and Consequences for Receptor Activation

Cyclic peptides containing redox‐stable thioether bridges might provide a useful alternative to disulfide‐bridged bioactive peptides. We report the effect of replacing the disulfide bridge with a lanthionine linkage in a 16‐mer cyclic peptide that binds to death receptor 5 (DR5, TRAIL‐R2). Upon covalent oligomerisation, the disulfide‐bridged peptide has previously shown similar behaviour to that of TNF‐related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), by selectively triggering the DR5 cell death pathway. The structural and biological properties of the DR5‐binding peptide and its desulfurised analogue were compared. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) data suggest that these peptides bind DR5 with comparable affinities. The same holds true for dimeric versions of these peptides: the thioether is able to induce DR5‐mediated apoptosis of BJAB lymphoma and tumorigenic BJELR cells, albeit to a slightly lower extent compared to its disulfide homologue. NMR analysis revealed subtle variation in the conformations of the two peptides and suggests that the thioether peptide is slightly less folded than its disulfide homologue. These observations could account for the different capability of the two dimers to cluster DR5 receptors on the cell surface and to trigger apoptosis. Nevertheless, our results suggest that the thioether peptide is a potential candidate for evaluation in animal models.     

Antimicrobial enzymes: Applications and future potential in the food industry

Antimicrobial enzymes are ubiquitous in nature, playing a significant role in the defense mechanisms of living organisms against infection by bacteria and fungi. Hydrolytic antimicrobial enzymes function by degrading key structural components of the cell walls of bacteria and/or fungi, whereas antimicrobial oxidoreductases exert their effects by the generation in situ of reactive molecules. The potential of these enzymes in food preservation is still far from realized at present.     

Supporting Scientific Collaboration: Methods, Tools and Concepts

This paper discusses the interrelationship between e-Science and CSCW in terms of key substantive, methodological and conceptual innovations made in both fields. In so doing, we hope to draw out the existing relationship between CSCW and e-Science research, and to map out some key future challenges where the two areas of research may become more closely aligned. In considering what may be required to draw the two more closely together, the paper focuses primarily on investigations that have been undertaken in two dedicated initiatives into e-Science, along with the key issues emerging from these studies.     

Comparison of two methods for extraction of volatiles from marine PL emulsions

The dynamic headspace (DHS) thermal desorption principle using Tenax GR tube, as well as the solid phase micro‐extraction (SPME) tool with carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane 50/30 µm CAR/PDMS SPME fiber, both coupled to GC/MS were implemented for the isolation and identification of both lipid and Strecker derived volatiles in marine phospholipids (PL) emulsions. Comparison of volatile extraction efficiency was made between the methods. For marine PL emulsions with a highly complex composition of volatiles headspace, a fiber saturation problem was encountered when using CAR/PDMS‐SPME for volatiles analysis. However, the CAR/PDMS‐SPME technique was efficient for lipid oxidation analysis in emulsions of less complex headspace. The SPME method extracted volatiles of lower molecular weights more efficient than the DHS method. On the other hand, DHS Tenax GR appeared to be more efficient in extracting volatiles of higher molecular weights and it provided a broader volatile spectrum for marine PL emulsion than the CAR/PDMS‐SPME method.