Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing a product supply chain, including managing and maintaining an optimum product inventory with respect to stock levels, frequency of use, and replenishment intervals for products in a clinical setting. Actual or historical par data and simulation parameters, such as par types, delivery schedules, and/or vendor settings, are received or updated, and one or more simulations are performed. The product supply chain is optimized based on the results of the simulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to collections of repeat proteins comprising repeat modules which are derived from one or more repeat units of a family of naturally occurring repeat proteins, to collections of nucleic acid molecules encoding said repeat proteins, to methods for the constructions and application of such collections and to individual members of such collections.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring a plate member such as a wafer by supporting the plate member with a plurality of support pins, and vacuum-sucking the plate member with a suction disk without allowing the suction disk to make contact with the plate member. Vacuum generated in a space between the plate member (51) and the suction disk (8) is introduced into a space between a hollow resilient body (3) via a conduit (11) formed in a lever (9), to drive the suction disk by expansion/contraction of the hollow resilient body, to attract the plate member without allowing the suction disk to make contact with the plate member, and to hold the plate member on the support pins (5). The suction disk has an outer ring area (49) on a suction surface (S) having at least one continuous groove surrounding the inner area of the suction disk. Vacuum is introduced into the inside of the suction surface (S) to suck the plate member.