IRIS - UNIRSM (Univ. degli Studi della Repubblica di San Marino)
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Improving sales turnover in fashion retailing by means of an RFID-based replenishment policy
No full textIn this paper, we aim to provide evidence of the capability to generate an increase in sales turnover by implementing an RFID-based system able to improve the shelf replenishment operations, reducing stock-out situations in fashion retailing. To evaluate the increase in sales turnover, we developed a pilot project involving a store of a major fashion firm located in northern Italy. RFID technology was used to generate daily a list of models that turned out to be available in the backroom, but not on the shelves (referred to as scandals), to drive employees in the replenishment process. By subsequently monitoring the consumer's purchase, we estimated the contribution of RFID technology to the store turnover. We found that increasing the availability of products (and of scandals in particular) on the shelves leads to a significant increase in the sales volume. Moreover, the availability of those products on the shelves stimulates the customers to ask for different sizes or colours of the items exposed, generating further potential for sales increase. The results of this study may encourage fashion retailers to invest in RFID technology, whose cost often appears as high, since the increase in turnover can significantly contribute to recover the initial investment required. Also, since we carried out an in-field implementation, targeting a real scenario of the fashion industry, our results are realistic, solid and reliable. Fashion retailers can look at them as a concrete possibility to improve their business by adopting RFID technology
Il rilievo giuridico del benessere organizzativo nei contesti lavorativi
No full textL'articolo analizza le fonti giuridiche dalle quali si evidenzia la tutela del benessere organizzativo nei contesti lavorativi
Developing a new framework for value added indicators enabled by RFID data in the fashion and apparel sector
No full textThe aim of this paper is to develop a novel framework of Value Added Indicators (VAIs), based on RFID data, that can be used specifically in the fashion and apparel sector. We use the acronym VAIs, instead of the more common Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) already used to monitor all operational parameters, because of the intrinsic goal of our key metrics, that is to increase the value of the fashion and apparel supply chain by using RFID technology. After a preliminary literature review phase, aimed at addressing Business Intelligence literature as well as sets of KPIs available for different industries and different supply chain areas, we developed a framework that illustrate how to leverage KPIs to generate value. Then, we integrated the results of the literature review with new VAIs based on end users voice: we set up two panels of experts, both from different industries and from the academia, to validate the framework and integrate it with additional indicator sets relevant for the end users. The study has produced a set of 60 different VAIs that use, or might use, RFID technology to produce, monitor and increase the overall value of the fashion and apparel supply chain. These VAIs are organised in a structured framework, built and validated by more than 10 experts from the field. The results of the paper are promising both for researchers and practitioners. The first, in fact, could use this list of VAIs to set benchmarks for different market segments of the fashion and apparel retail sector. Practitioners, on the other hand, could use the results of this study to evaluate which use case of RFID could fit and, also, which VAI could be handy for their company
Boundary conditions in 2D numerical and 3D exact models for cylindrical bending analysis of functionally graded structures
No full textThe cylindrical bending condition for structural models is very common in the literature because it allows an incisive and simple verification of the proposed plate and shell models. In the present paper, 2D numerical approaches (the Generalized Differential Quadrature (GDQ) and the finite element (FE) methods) are compared with an exact 3D shell solution in the case of free vibrations of functionally graded material (FGM) plates and shells. The first 18 vibration modes carried out through the 3D exact model are compared with the frequencies obtained via the 2D numerical models. All the 18 frequencies obtained via the 3D exact model are computed when the structures have simply supported boundary conditions for all the edges. If the same boundary conditions are used in the 2D numerical models, some modes are missed. Some of these missed modes can be obtained modifying the boundary conditions imposing free edges through the direction perpendicular to the direction of cylindrical bending. However, some modes cannot be calculated via the 2D numerical models even when the boundary conditions are modified because the cylindrical bending requirements cannot be imposed for numerical solutions in the curvilinear edges by definition. These features are investigated in the present paper for different geometries (plates, cylinders, and cylindrical shells), types of FGM law, lamination sequences, and thickness ratios
Finite Element Method based on a Strong Formulation Isogeometric Analysis
No full textIn computational mechanics Finite Elements (FE) are the most common and versatile tool for studying structural components when discontinuities and general shapes are present. FEs are the main items included in all domain decomposition techniques which can be based on the weak or strong formulations. The most famous approach is termed FE method (FEM) and implements a variational formulation with low order approximating polynomials with mapping technique to transform a general shape element into one in the computational space. Novel techniques based on the strong formulation has been recently published [1-10], where a hybrid scheme given by the Differential Quadrature (DQ) method and the FEM has been presented using classic Lagrangian shape functions for the element mapping. Advanced blending function mapping must be employed for treating any discontinuity and distortion effect using the smallest number of elements, since the present strong form technique can deal with variable order approximating polynomials. The DQ method is utilized for solving the mathematical problem, whereas a nonlinear isogeometric mapping is implemented for mapping complex shapes. Therefore, the present methodology can be part of the Isogeometric Analysis (IGA) framework, because it can treat meshes made of NURBS functions that are taken from CAD software. For this reason, this implementation is named Strong Formulation Isogeometric Analysis (SFIGA). Figure 1a shows a general SFIGA mesh wherein four highly distorted elements are used to model a square simply-supported plate. The four elements are described by four NURBS drawn in a CAD software. Since the free vibrations of simply-supported plates have an exact solution, a comparison can be performed on the natural frequencies of the structure depicted in Figure 1a. Figure 1b depicts the convergence trend of the first natural frequency considering different point collocations and number of grid points per element. The basis function of the presented computation is considered as Lagrange basis due to its extreme versatility and numerical stability when the number of points is large. It can be observed that even for a highly distorted mesh a very good accuracy can be reached for the case under investigation. This work gives particular attention to the accuracy, stability and reliability of the SFIGA when it is applied to different structural problems such as beams, plates and shells. All the numerical applications are compared to well-known analytical, semi-analytical and numerical solutions of one- and two-dimensional systems. Ultimately, this work presents typical aspects of an innovative domain decomposition approach that should be of wide interest to the computational mechanics’ community
Ear reconstruction. Tridimensionality and deception
No full textFossa and antihelix regions of the ear are often the sites of squamous cell carcinomas. A good reconstruction of these regions has to take into account tridimensionality of both cartilaginous frame and skin covering. The gold standard for re-construction of these structures involves harvesting of a cartilage graft (usually from posterior concha) and turning over of a skin flap to cover the structures.
If cartilage is not involved, the use of skin grafts alone is adequate.Whenever an important reconstruction is not operable because of patient’s general condition, fiction and optical illusion can come to our aid. We reported a case report of a patient with squamous cell carcinoma occupying almost the entire antihelix (crura) and triangular fossa. Our technique allowed us to create a fake ear, retaining, at first glance, the same structures (helix, hollow, triangular fossa) of original one. At the same time, this technique allowed us to make an aesthetically acceptable reconstruction in 15 minutes in a patient who could not stand a longer or more complex surgery. Complete healing occurred in 14 days without complications and with complete patient satisfaction
TRPA1 Is Expressed in Central But Not in Peripheral Glia
Get PDFTRPA1 are cation channels expressed in sensory neurons and in several other cell types. This channel is specifically activated by ally isothiocyanate (AITC), the pungent component of mustard oil, as well as by other electrophilic compounds. Although TRPA1 expression in central glia has been reported, its subcellular localization and its expression in peripheral glia have not been investigated before. In this paper we report the molecular and functional expression of TRPA1 in rat cortical astrocytes. Real-time RT-PCR identified low but significant amounts of TRPA1 mRNA in cortical astrocytes while no signal was seen in peripheral glia isolated from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) or in a glial cell line (DITNC-1). Calcium imaging showed AITC-induced signals in astro-cytes while no response in peripheral glia. AITC induced calcium signals in astrocytes in the presence and in the absence of extracellular calcium, suggesting an intracellular localization of TRPA1 channels. Whole cell electrophysiological recordings were performed in astrocytes, in peripheral glia and in DITNC-1 cells transfected with TRPA1 during AITC application. In TRPA1-transfected DITNC-1 cells typical TRPA1 currents were recorded with a reversal potential near 0 mV, consistent with the opening of a non-selective cation channel. No such currents were recorded in untransfected DITNC-1 cells, in astrocytes and in peripheral glial cells, where even high concentrations of AITC (up to 10 mM) induced no significant outward current. In astrocytes AITC transiently induced an outward rectifying current with the reversal potential near ?90 mV, consistent with K channel activation, likely activated by intracellular release of calcium. Our results suggest that TRPA1 channels are molecularly and functionally expressed in calcium-containing organelles of rat cortical astrocytes, with no expression in the plasma membrane