A method of production fine layout planning based on self-organising neural network clustering

Organising and optimising production in small and medium enterprises with batch production and many different products can be very difficult due to high complexity of possible solutions. The paper presents a method of fine layout planning that rearranges production resources and minimises work and material flow transfer between production cells. The method is based on self-organising map clustering which organises the production cells into groups sharing similar product properties. The proposed method improves the internal layout of each cell with respect to a material flow diagram and a from-to matrix, and fine workspace positioning also considers various restrictions on placement, specifications and types of transportation. The method is particularly suitable for improving the existing layouts. The method was applied in the Slovenian company KGL d.o.o. and promising results were achieved. A reduction by more than 40% in the total transport length with respect to the current production layout was observed.     

Exploring the ‘Just City principles’ within two European sustainable neighbourhoods

The objective of this paper is to analyse and compare in detail the social structure of the two most acclaimed European sustainable neighbourhoods, which have had a completely different implementation approach: bottom-up urban development in Vauban (Freiburg) and top-down urban development in Western Harbour (Malmö). The goal is to uncover the unrevealed urban elements that determine social sustainability. The paper uses an innovative methodological framework - the Fainstein’s ‘Just City’ concept, which encompass several social determinants within three main pillars/principles: democracy, equity and diversity. The ‘Just City’ principles and its determinants add a new perspective to social urban manifestation encompassing ‘social justice’ and ‘local governance’ dimensions. These dimensions represent innovative research approaches in exploring urban social sustainability. Through the Just City framework, the social structure of the two representative case studies is dissected to establish the level of urban social sustainability in each urban area. The aim of the paper is to answer to the question: “Do the most acclaimed leading sustainable neighbourhoods embody democratic values, assure equality and respect (allow) diversity?”     

Photophysical studies and in vitro skin permeation/retention of Foscan/nanoemulsion (NE) applicable to photodynamic therapy skin cancer treatment

In this work we evaluated the photophysical and in vitro properties of Foscan, a second-generation photosensitizer drug (PS) widely used in systemic clinical protocols for cancer therapy based on Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). We employed biodegradable nanoemulsions (NE) as a colloidal vehicle of the oil/water (o/w) type focusing in topical administration of Foscan and other photosensitizer drugs. This formulation was obtained and stabilized by the methodology described by Tabosa do Egito et al., based on the mixture of two phases: an aqueous solution and an organic medium consisting of nonionic surfactants and oil. The photodynamic potential of the drug incorporated into the NE was studied by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. We also analyzed the in vitro biological behavior carried out in mimetic biological environment protocols based on the animal model. After topical application in a skin animal model, we evaluated the Foscan/NE diffusion flux into the skin layers (stratum corneum and epidermis + dermis) by classical procedures using Franz Diffusion cells. Our results showed that the photophysical properties of PS were maintained after its incorporation into the NE when compared with homogeneous organic medium. The in vitro assays enabled the determination of an adequate profile for the interaction of this system in the different skin layers, with an ideal time lag of 6 h after topical administration in the skin model. The Foscan diffusion flux (J) was increased when this PS was incorporated into the NE, if compared with its flux in physiological medium. These parameters demonstrated that the NE can be potentially applied as a drug delivery system (DDS) for Foscan in both in vitro and in vivo assays, as well as in future clinical applications involving topical skin cancer PDT.