COMPUTER-AIDED MATERIAL DEMAND PLANNING USING ERP SYSTEMS AND BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY

Effective decision-making in industry conditions requires access and proper presentation of manufacturing data on the realised manufacturing process. Although the frequently applied ERP systems allow for recording economic events, their potential for decision support is limited. The article presents an original system for reporting manufacturing data based on Business Intelligence technology as a support for junior and middle management. As an example a possibility of utilising data from ERP systems to support decision-making in the field of purchases and logistics in  small and medium enterprises

Normal ranges of renal function parameters for 99mTc-EC renal scintigraphy

BACKGROUND: Dynamic renal scintigraphy remains the recognized method for evaluation of kidney function and perfusion.Although there is an extensive body of knowledge about the use of technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3),much less has been written about renal technetium-99m-ethylenedicysteine (99mTc-EC) scintigraphy.The aim of this study was to determine the normal value of renal function parameters in 99mTc-EC dynamic renal scintigraphy:Tmax and T1/2. The effects of age, left or right side in the retroperitoneal space, and sex on those parameters were examined.MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was conducted on 123 patients (F/M: 70/53; aged 2–71; averaging 14.8 years ofage) with at least one normal kidney. A total of 194 healthy kidneys were examined, including pediatric kidneys.RESULTS: According to this study, the normal value of Tmax is 2.85 min (± 1.16) and T1/2 is 8.7 min (± 3.61). Values calculatedfor pediatric studies are Tmax is 2.81 (± 1.16) and T1/2 is 8.63 (± 3.71).CONCLUSIONS: The normal value of secretory and excretory renal function parameters was calculated. Although the valueis slightly lower for children, this is not statistically significant, as globally there are no differences between the kidney-locationsides and sexes for any parameter

THE USE OF SIMULATION ENVIRONMENT FOR SOLVING THE ASSEMBLY LINE BALANCING PROBLEM

The paper describes the application of a simulation environment (Tecnomatix Plant Simulation) for solving a real manufacturing problem. The studied case consisted in rebalancing the production line with a specified number of operators on the line. The first stage of the study involved determination of the production cycle and key performance indicators. The production system was then divided into work cells. After that, proposed design assumptions were verified via a simulation model

Potentiation of 5-fluorouracil encapsulated in zeolites as drug delivery systems for in vitro models of colorectal carcinoma

The studies of potentiation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a traditional drug used in the treatment of several cancers, including colorectal (CRC), were carried out with zeolites Faujasite in the sodium form, with different particle sizes (NaY, 700nm and nanoNaY, 150nm) and Linde type L in the potassium form (LTL) with a particle size of 80nm. 5-FU was loaded into zeolites by liquid-phase adsorption. Characterization by spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C and 27Al solid-state MAS NMR), chemical analysis, thermal analysis (TGA), nitrogen adsorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), demonstrated the successful loading of 5-FU into the zeolite hosts. In vitro drug release studies (PBS buffer pH 7.4, 37°C) revealed the release of 80-90% of 5-FU in the first 10min. To ascertain the drug release kinetics, the release profiles were fitted to zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, Korsmeyer-Peppas and Weibull kinetic models. The in vitro dissolution from the drug delivery systems (DDS) was explained by the Weibull model. The DDS efficacy was evaluated using two human colorectal carcinoma cell lines, HCT-15 and RKO. Unloaded zeolites presented no toxicity to both cancer cells, while all DDS allowed an important potentiation of the 5-FU effect on the cell viability. Immunofluorescence studies provided evidence for zeolite-cell internalization.RA is recipient of fellowship SFRH/BI/51118/2010 from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). This work was supported by the FCT projects refs. PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011 and PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2011 and the Centre of Chemistry and Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (University of Minho, Portugal). The NMR spectrometer is part of the National NMR Network (RNRMN), supported with funds from FCT/QREN (Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional)

Zeolite structures loading with an anticancer compound as drug delivery systems

The authors are thankful to Dr. A. S. Azevedo for collecting the powder diffraction data.Two different structures of zeolites, faujasite (FAU) and Linde type A (LTA), were studied to investigate their suitability for drug delivery systems (DDS). The zeolites in the sodium form (NaY and NaA) were used as hosts for encapsulation of α-cyano-4- hydroxycinnamic acid (CHC). CHC, an experimental anticancer drug, was encapsulated in both zeolites by diffusion in liquid phase. These new drug delivery systems, CHC@zeolite, were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C and 27Al solidstate MAS NMR, and UV−vis), chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of the zeolites and CHC@zeolite drug deliveries on HCT-15 human colon carcinoma cell line viability was evaluated. Both zeolites alone revealed no toxicity to HCT-15 cancer cells. Importantly, CHC@zeolite exhibit an inhibition of cell viability up to 585-fold, when compared to the non-encapsulated drug. These results indicate the potential of the zeolites for drug loading and delivery into cancer cells to induce cell deathO.M. and R.A. are recipients of fellowships (SFRH/BD/36463/2007, SFRH/BI/51118/2010) from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). This work was supported by the FCT projects refs PEst-C/ QUI/UI0686/2011, PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2011, and PTDC/ SAU-FCF/104347/2008, under the scope of “Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade” (COMPETE) of “Quadro Comunitário de Apoio III” and cofinanced by Fundo Comunitário Europeu FEDER, and the Centre of Chemistry and Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (University of Minho, Portugal)

New nanocomposite proton conducting membranes based on a core–shell nanofiller for low relative humidity fuel cells

New hybrid inorganic-organic proton conducting membranes containing a ZrTa nanofiller dispersed in a Nafion® matrix are described. The ZrTa nanofiller exhibits a "core-shell" morphology, where the harder ZrO2 forms the "core", which is covered by a "shell" of the softer Ta2O5. The hybrid membranes are thermally stable up to 170 °C. Interactions between the polymer matrix and the nanofiller increase the thermal stability of both the -SO3H groups and the fluorocarbon polymer backbone. In comparison with Nafion, the hybrid membranes have a lower water uptake (W.U.) that depends on the concentration of nanofiller. The residual water, which is approximately 4 wt%, is likely located at the Nafion-nanofiller interface. Infrared results indicate that the nanofiller does not neutralize all of the R-SO3H groups in the hybrid membrane and the small amount of residual water in the material does not cause the dissociation of the R-SO3H protons. Fuel cell tests show that the maximum power density yielded by the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) containing the hybrid membrane is better than that of the MEA containing Nafion, particularly at low values of relative humidity. The hybrid membranes require much less water to conduct protons effectively and are more efficient at retaining water than Nafion at low water activities

Machine safety - determination safety integrity level

W artykule przedstawiono metodę oceny bezpieczeństwa maszyn polegajacą na obliczaniu poziomu nienaruszalności bezpieczeństwa SIL (ang. Safety Integrity Level). Problematyka bezpieczeństwa maszyn została przedstawiona w kontekście obowiazujących przepisów prawnych i norm międzynarodowych. Na podstawie literatury oraz norm zostały zaprezentowane metody określania poziomu nienaruszalności bezpieczeństwa, miary ilościowe i jakościowe używane w ramach normy PN-EN 62061 oraz podstawowe pojęcia związane z wymaganiami funkcjonalnymi. Dodatkowo przedstawiono zależność między poziomem nienaruszalności bezpieczeństwa SIL a poziomem zapewnienia bezpieczeństwa PL. Artykuł jest kontynuacja poprzedniej publikacji autora dotyczacej bezpieczeństwa maszyn [1].The article presents a method for determining machine safety by calculating the safety integrity level (SIL). Problems of machine safety were presented in the context of applicable legal regulations and international standards. On the basis of the literature and standards, methods for determining the safety integrity level, quantitative measures used within the PN-EN 62061 standard and basic concepts related to functional requirements have been presented. In addition, the author compares the method of determining the SIL level from the PL level of safety assurance. The article is a continuation of the author's previous publication on machine safety [8]

Computer aided quantitative methods in machine safety

W artykule przedstawiono problematykę bezpieczeństwa maszyn w kontekście obowiązujących przepisów prawnych i norm międzynarodowych oraz komputerowo wspomagane metody przeprowadzania oceny zgodności i szacowania ryzyka. Na podstawie literatury oraz norm zostały za prezentowane najczęściej stosowane współczynniki oraz metody szacowania bezpieczeństwa. Następnie na przykładzie z praktyki przemysłowej autora została zaprezentowana metoda szacowania ryzyka z wykorzystaniem metod wspomaganych komputerowo. Do przeprowadzenia oceny zgodności autor wykorzystał oprogramowanie SISTEMA niemieckiego instytutu IFA [10]. Prezentowany przykład pokazuje możliwości zautomatyzowanie procedury obliczeniowej, przyspieszenia procesu oceny ryzyka oraz zmniejsza możliwość popełnienie błędu podczas projektowania układów związanych z bezpieczeństwem maszyn i urządzeń. Dodatkowym atutem metod komputerowych jest łatwość skalowania na większe i bardziej złożone układy.The paper present aspect of machine safety in addition to current legal regulations and international standards and computer aided method of risk analysis. Based on literate and international standards paper author presents most common factors and method of safety estimation. Next, based on author industry experience, computer aided risk analysis has been present. To proceed conformity assessment author used SISTEMA software developed by German institute IFA [10]. The example shown shows simplify calculation method of risk analysis and decrees level of mistake during to designee of machine safety component. Another advantages of computer aided method is simplify to scale it to the more complex system