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This paper discusses the decision support system for the chipping unit of a paper plant. The chipping unit consists of six subsystems arranged in series and parallel configurations. The decision support system for the chipping unit was developed with the help of a mathematical formulation based on Markov Birth-Death process using a probabilistic approach. For this purpose, first differential equations were generated. These equations were then solved using normalizing condition so as to determine the steady-state availability of the chipping unit. After that, decision matrices were developed which provide various availability levels for different combinations of failure and repair rates for all subsystems. The model developed helps in the operations and quantitative management of various maintenance decisions and actions. The results of this paper are, therefore, beneficial in deciding the relative repair priorities of the various subsystems of the chipping unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-year-old girl sustained severe injury to 2 fingers from a home paper shredder. This case illustrates the risk of injury from paper shredders, which are increasingly common household items. Toddlers are at risk of finger injury and amputation. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission performed an investigation of reported injuries and the characteristics of paper shredders that might have contributed to the injuries, and we summarize their findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple cutting devices such as used in the printing industry allow precise and fine sectioning of frozen peats and sediments, thus enabling research with high temporal resolution. Large slices are useful in the collection of multiple synchronous subsamples for multidisciplinary research. This article describes the apparatus (called DAMOCLES) and its operation, and presents some examples from practice. These include combined microfossil, macrofossil and chemical analyses of the same sample with a sample resolution of 0.5 cm (temporal resolution c. 1 year): rapid changes occur that would have remained unnoticed with a coarser sampling distance. The final example presents a sample resolution of only 0.5 mm. These examples illustrate the possible uses of the DAMOCLES apparatus in palaeoecological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a novel indexing mechanism to improve the productivity of the paper cutting machines. The mechanism is based on dual light sources and an optical detector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that the Montalvo Corp.'s web control systems and products such as the retrofit consisting of T-Series load cells, V-510 brakes, and X-3000 series tension controllers had enabled a customer to achieve eight-pocket sheeter of 399 pounds daily.