Simultaneous allocation of service times and buffer capacities in manufacturing systems a random environment is NP-hard combinatorial optimisation problem. This paper presents sophisticated simulation-based approach for the design unreliable production lines to maximise rate. The proposed method allows global search using Genetic Algorithm (GA), which coupled with Finite Perturbation Analysis (...

Infrared detector development and characterization at NASA Langley Research Center will be reviewed. These detectors were intended for ground, airborne, and space borne remote sensing applications. Discussion will be focused on recently developed single-element infrared detector and future development of near-infrared focal plane arrays (FPA). The FPA will be applied to next generation space-ba...

References 1 Baraitser P, Fettiplace R, Dolan F, et al. Quality, mainstream services with proactive and targeted outreach: a model of contraceptive service provision for young people. J Fam Reprod Health Care 2002; 28: 90–94. 2 Social Exclusion Unit. Report on teenage pregnancy. London: Department of Health, June 1999. 3 Family Planning Association. Putting sexual health on the agenda: listenin...

Fibrinopeptide A (FpA) concentrations in plasma and in 24 hr urine specimens as well as betathromboglobulin (BTG) in plasma were measured in 17 patients with severe angina pectoris, including both stable and unstable angina, and in 19 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Patients with unstable angina had plasma FpA and BTG levels of 5.2 + 1.7 ng/ml and 91 23 ng/ml, respectively. The corre...

BACKGROUND The relations of plasma activated factor XII (FXIIa) concentration and a common polymorphism (C46T) of the factor XII gene with hemostatic status and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) were examined by prospective surveillance. METHODS AND RESULTS Genotyping for the C46T variant was performed in 2624 men 50 to 61 years of age who were free of CHD at baseline. The genotype distrib...

The regular accumulation of nanoparticles in the liver makes them hepatotoxic and decreases the circulation time, thus reducing their therapeutic effect. Resolving this problem will be significant in improving bioavailability and reducing side effects. In this study, we reduced the phagocytosis of epirubicin (EPI)-loaded folic acid-conjugated pullulan acetate (FPA/EPI) nanoparticles by Kupffer ...

BACKGROUND During clotting, a thrombin cleaves fibrinogen releasing fibrinopeptide A (FPA). FPA is easily identified in serum using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Using MALDI-TOF MS, we observed multiple, progressively shorter fragments of serum FPA. Following ambient incubation of serum, variations in the content of FPA fragments ...

BACKGROUND Blood clotting activation is an important component of the inflammatory response; the outbursts of unstable angina are usually associated with increased thrombin formation and coronary mural thrombosis. METHODS AND RESULTS To investigate 1) whether monocyte activation is responsible for the enhanced thrombin formation during bursts of unstable angina and 2) what mechanism(s) might ...