Measuring loop lengths of elasticised knitted fabrics

The methods for loop length measurement have mostly been developed for knitted fabrics made from conventional yarns. When measuring the loop lengths of knitted structures made from highly extensible staple yarns, problems arise because of an uncontrolled yarn extension at the low stresses. The present study proposes a test method for knitted loop length determination in which variable preloads are applied. In the study, the loop lengths measured on an INSTRON dynamometer using variable preloads and a HATRA Course Length Tester using a fixed preload were compared. The results demonstrated that knitted structures made from elasticised yarns exhibit only small changes in loop length after relaxation. The addition of elastane does not significantly influence loop lengths for fabrics knitted using the same machine, the same cam setting and relaxed by the same process. The loop lengths measured on an INSTRON dynamometer exceed the loop lengths measured on a HATRA Course Length Tester.     

A multi-agent approach to process planning and fabrication in distributed manufacturing

In the paper a multi-agent approach to the development of a distributed manufacturing architecture is presented. An essential building block introduced here is the virtual work system (VWS) which represents a manufacturing work system in the information space. The VWS is structured as an autonomous agent and is a constituent entity of an agent network. In the network dynamic clusters of cooperating agents are solving manufacturing tasks. A machining work system and its VWS is demonstrated in a case study. Its role in the agent communication network is discussed in a process planning and fabrication domain.     

Scalability in manufacturing systems design and operation: State-of-the-art and future developments roadmap

The paper covers the main design, management and operational aspects of scalability in manufacturing systems (MS). It promotes scalability as an area of research of MS theory and practice in order to enhance techniques and methodologies in existing MS paradigms using advanced and emerging design and management approaches and ICT, and meet challenges of emerging MS paradigms and support their promotion and effective and efficient deployment in practice. The paper presents an introduction to scalability, state-of-the art in manufacturing and computer science, and related applications including manufacturing and education and a roadmap for future research and developments.     

Local and systemic control after ablative and limb sparing surgery in patients with osteosarcoma

Limb salvage surgery in patients with osteosarcoma is reported to cause a higher rate of local recurrences with a poorer chance of survival. It was the aim of the study to analyze differences between ablative and limb sparing surgery in patients with osteosarcoma who are treated with chemotherapy with respect to local and systemic tumor control and to determine independent prognostic factors. One hundred thirty consecutive patients younger than the age of 21 years who were operated on at the authors' institution for osteosarcoma of the extremities were reviewed. Histologic evaluations of surgical margins according to Enneking and coworkers revealed mostly wide (n = 109) and radical (n = 10) resection margins. The 5-year disease free survival rate was 60% for those patients treated by amputation and 71% for those treated by limb salvage. The overall local recurrence rate was 2.3%; 4.3% for ablation but only 1.2% for limb sparing surgeries. Multivariate analysis showed an independent effect of tumor volume, response to chemotherapy, and as expected, metastases at the time of diagnosis on overall survival. These data indicate that in patients where wide or radical tumor resection can be achieved, no difference in the outcome between ablative and limb sparing surgery occurred in local and systemic tumor control.