This paper deals with the problem of finding optimal feeding sequence in a manufacturing cell with feeders fed by a mobile robot with manipulation arm. The performance criterion is to minimize total traveling time of the robot in a given planning horizon. Besides, the robot has to be scheduled in order to keep production lines within the cell working without any shortage of parts fed from feede...

The purpose of this study was (a) to investigate the validity of the revised Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale (NOMAS) in discriminating between efficient and inefficient feeders in a sample of high-risk premature neonates and (b) to identify significantly different oral motor behaviors in the two groups. The revised NOMAS rates normal and abnormal characteristics of nutritive and nonnutriti...

This paper presents FEEDERS(1), an access scheme for sharing, in TDMA(2) mode, the capacity of a satellite channel among a number of stations, on the basis of user demand. This scheme and its companion, DRIFS(3) [14], result from a study carried out by the authors on distributedcontrol protocols for geostationary satellite access. Both protocols derive from the FODA/IBEA(4) centralised-control ...

This paper introduces a design for agile manufacturing workcells intended for light mechanical assembly of products made from similar components (i.e. parts families). We define agile manufacturing as the ability to accomplish rapid changeover from the assembly of one product to the assembly of another product. Rapid hardware changeover is made possible through the use of robots, flexible part ...

Abstract Gilthead sea bream ( Sparus aurata ) was raised in six individual recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) whose biofilters’ performance analyzed. Fish were fed with three different diets (a control diet, a fishmeal-based diet (FM), and plant meal-based (VM)) feeding strategies (manual to apparent satiation, automatic restricted ration, auto-demand feeding). For every combination of str...

OBJECTIVE To derive new human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines on pathogen-free human placental fibroblast feeders under serum-free conditions. Because the embryo develops in close contact with extraembryonic membranes, we hypothesized that placental mesenchyme might replicate the stem cell niche in situ. DESIGN We isolated and characterized human placental fibroblast lines from individual do...

Biogenic reefs built by oysters and other suspension feeders are vital components of estuarine ecosystems. By consuming phytoplankton, suspension feeders act to suppress accumulation of organic matter in the water column. Nutrient loading increases the rate of primary production, thereby causing eutrophication. As suspension feeders consume more organic matter from increasing abundance of phyto...

The feeding diversity of macroinvertebrates from the estuary of Mondego was estimated with Shannon–Wiener complementary evenness following the methodology presented in Gamito and Furtado (2009. Ecological Indicators, 9: 1009-1019). Results were compared with those from BAT (Benthic Assessment Tool; Teixeira et al., 2009. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 58: 1477-1786) applied to the same data set, ob...

The duration of blood feeding by similar-sized Aedes aegypti (L.) was determined under laboratory conditions in Trinidad, West Indies. Ae. aegypti from the F0 generation contained individuals that fed quickly (106.2 seconds) as well as slowly (330.0 seconds). Among the fast feeders (<2 min), the time taken for blood feeding during the first gonotrophic cycle was much shorter than that observed ...

Abundant, localized foods can concentrate predators and their foraging efforts, thus altering both the spatial distribution of predation risk and predator preferences for prey that are encountered incidentally. However, few investigations have quantified the spatial scale over which localized foods affect predator foraging behavior and consumption of incidental prey. In spring 2010, we experime...