Frency Sau-Fun Ng

A new fuzzy approach to improve fashion product development

This study attempts to use a fuzzy expert system with gradient descent optimization for prediction of fabric specimens in fashion product development. Compared with the traditional methods used fabric mechanical properties to predict fabric specimens, our advisory system accepts fabric hand descriptors which are more closely related to the sensory judgments made by individuals during fabric selection. Fifty participants were selected to evaluate the performance of the proposed fuzzy fabric advisory system. They were asked to express their preferred fabric specimen on inputs of the 14 bipolar fabric hand descriptors in the system. The fuzzy prediction rules associated with the membership functions of each fabric specimen were developed from a survey. After fine-tuning of the proposed system, the prediction accuracy is over eighty percent. The outcomes of this study could help consumers to select the most appropriate fabric and provide field practitioners appropriate suggestions for effective product development in clothing and fashion industries.

Handling the assembly line balancing problem in the clothing industry using a genetic algorithm

Assembly line balancing problems that occur in real world situations are dynamic and are fraught with various sources of uncertainties such as the performance of workers and the breakdown of machinery. This is especially true in the clothing industry. The problem cannot normally be solved deterministically using existing techniques. Recent advances in computing technology, especially in the area of computational intelligence, however, can be used to alleviate this problem. For example, some techniques in this area can be used to restrict the search space in a combinatorial problem, thus opening up the possibility of obtaining better results. Among the different computational intelligence techniques, genetic algorithms (GA) is particularly suitable. GAs are probabilistic search methods that employ a search technique based on ideas from natural genetics and evolutionary principles. In this paper, we present the details of a GA and discuss the main characteristics of an assembly line balancing problem that is typical in the clothing industry. We explain how such problems can be formulated for genetic algorithms to solve. To evaluate the appropriateness of the technique, we have carried out some experiments. Our results show that the GA approach performs much better than the use of a greedy algorithm, which is used by many factory supervisors to tackle the assembly line balancing problem.

Application of artificial neural networks to the prediction of sewing performance of fabrics

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the use of artificial neural networks (ANN) to predict the sewing performance of fabrics. The purpose of this study is to verify the ANN techniques that could be emulated as human decision in the prediction of sewing performance of fabrics.Design/methodology/approach – In order to verify the ANN techniques that could be emulated as human decision in the prediction of sewing performance of fabrics, 109 data sets of fabrics were tested by using fabric assurance by simple testing system and the sewing performance of each fabrics specimen was assessed by the domain experts. Of these 109 input‐output data pairs, 94 were used to train the proposed backpropagation (BP) neural network for the prediction of the unknown sewing performance of a given fabric, and 15 were used to test the proposed BP neural network.Findings – After 10,000 iterations of training of BP neural network, the neural network converged to the minimum error level. The experimental results reveal the gr...

Fuzzy operator allocation for balance control of assembly lines in apparel manufacturing

Production processes in apparel manufacturing typically involve hybrid assembly lines. In order to perform at predetermined production rates, careful balance control of the sewing operations on these assembly lines is very important. The right number of operators to be moved in and out of a sewing section has to be accurately determined. In this paper, the authors extend the literature on fuzzy logic applications to control systems by proposing a simple, yet effective, rule-based system that captures the knowledge of experienced supervisors in a set of fuzzy rules. These rules specify how balance control can be achieved based on the level of difference between; (1) the actual and target buffer level; and (2) the actual and target section performance. Since these parameters are normally expressed in linguistic terms, they are encoded in rules expressed with fuzzy logic. The number of operators to be moved in and out of a sewing section can, therefore, be determined by means of fuzzy inferences. To evaluate the effectiveness of the system, we compared its performance to the decisions made by experienced supervisors at a large shirt factory. The system was found to increase in production efficiency by 30%.

Microencapsulation of Traditional Chinese Herbs—PentaHerbs extracts and potential application in healthcare textiles

In this work, Traditional Chinese Herbs (TCH)-PentaHerbs--was successfully microencapsulated in chitosan-sodium alginate (CSA) blend matrix using emulsion-chemical cross-linking method and the final product was characterised with regard to structure, surface morphology, particle size, in vitro drug release and skin toxicity by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), laser diffraction particle size analysis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays respectively. Results showed that the microcapsules were in spherical form with diameter mostly in the range of 3-18 μm and that the release performance of the microcapsules was influenced by pH value of phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The microcapsules had no toxic effects on cells and were successfully grafted onto the surface of cotton fabrics. These results indicated that PentaHerbs loaded CSA microcapsule may possess potential application in clinical treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Dual-functional transdermal drug delivery system with controllable drug loading based on thermosensitive poloxamer hydrogel for atopic dermatitis treatment.

The treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) has long been viewed as a problematic issue by the medical profession. Although a wide variety of complementary therapies have been introduced, they fail to combine the skin moisturizing and drug supply for AD patients. This study reports the development of a thermo-sensitive Poloxamer 407/Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (P407/CMCs) composite hydrogel formulation with twin functions of moisture and drug supply for AD treatment. It was found that the presence of CMCs can appreciably improve the physical properties of P407 hydrogel, which makes it more suitable for tailored drug loading. The fabricated P407/CMCs composite hydrogel was also characterized in terms of surface morphology by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), rheological properties by a rheometer, release profile in vitro by dialysis method and cytotoxicity test. More importantly, the findings from transdermal drug delivery behavior revealed that P407/CMCs showed desirable percutaneous performance. Additionally, analysis of cytotoxicity test suggested that P407/CMCs composite hydrogel is a high-security therapy for clinical trials and thus exhibits a promising way to treat AD with skin moisturizing and medication.

Preparation and characterisation of chitosan microcapsules loaded with Cortex Moutan

The process of preparation and characterisation of chitosan microcapsules loaded with Cortex Moutan was studied and the optimum condition for microcapsule preparation was investigated by orthogonal array analysis. Based on the yield percentage of microcapsule, the optimum condition for microcapsule preparation was (i) core-shell ratio=1:2; (ii) chitosan concentration=6% (w/v); (iii) agitation speed=1100 rpm; and (iv) cross-linking time=90 min. Meanwhile, relative importance of the preparation parameters was in the order: core-shell ratio, agitation speed, chitosan concentration and cross-linking time. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that Cortex Moutan has been completely encapsulated into chitosan microcapsule. The release rate of Cortex Moutan from microcapsules in pH 5.4 phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was slightly better than that in pH 5.0 PBS after the initial 48 h and the release rate became steady after that.

In vitro drug release and percutaneous behavior of poloxamer-based hydrogel formulation containing traditional Chinese medicine

For the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD), we have developed a transdermal functionalized textile therapy based on thermosensitive poloxamer 407 (P407) hydrogel containing a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. This study aims to investigate the effects of various formulation variables of P407/carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (P407/CMCs) composite hydrogel on the release of Cortex Moutan (CM) extract. Concentrations of P407 and CMCs showed significant influence on the release due to alteration of bulk viscosity of the system. An increase in pH values of release medium was found to appreciably impede the release of polar drug (CM) due to ionization. Elevated temperatures were also shown to facilitate the drug release. Moreover, the diffusional release behavior of CM from P407/CMCs composite hydrogel was found to follow the first-order kinetic model. Additionally, transdermal studies showed that permeability of the drug through the skin can be enhanced with addition of CMCs in the hydrogel formulation.

Enhanced Transdermal Permeability via Constructing the Porous Structure of Poloxamer-Based Hydrogel

A major concern for transdermal drug delivery systems is the low bioavailability of targeted drugs primarily caused by the skin’s barrier function. The resistance to the carrier matrix for the diffusion and transport of drugs, however, is routinely ignored. This study reports a promising and attractive approach to reducing the resistance to drug transport in the carrier matrix, to enhance drug permeability and bioavailability via enhanced concentration-gradient of the driving force for transdermal purposes. This approach simply optimizes and reconstructs the porous channel structure of the carrier matrix, namely, poloxamer 407 (P407)-based hydrogel matrix blended with carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMCs). Addition of CMCs was found to distinctly improve the porous structure of the P407 matrix. The pore size approximated to normal distribution as CMCs were added and the fraction of pore number was increased by over tenfold. Transdermal studies showed that P407/CMCs saw a significant increase in drug permeability across the skin. This suggests that P407/CMC with improved porous structure exhibits a feasible and promising way for the development of transdermal therapy with high permeability and bioavailability, thereby avoiding or reducing use of any chemical enhancers.

A Critical Review on Life Cycle Assessment Studies of Diapers

One of the challenging issues to be dealt in priority and of any countrys agenda today is the management of solid waste, and it is a difficulty to environmentalists also. Diapers are one of the important products leading to this waste management issue. Diapers are classified into two major categories: single use (disposable) and reusable. Landfills of any country are mainly clogged with disposable products, such as diapers. It is one of the problematic topics of today that needs to be investigated in detail. There is a longstanding debate among environmentalists to conclude disposable and reusable diapers in terms of which one poses more threat to the environment. The authors aim to critically review this issue and discusses the major findings from the previous studies along with highlighting of the gaps in the literature in each area of environmental impact studies on diapers. They also recommend the scope for further research as far as the studies associated with diapers are concerned.