Noise Immunity of High-Precision Low-Temperature Experiments

In the high-precision low-temperature experiments, noise immunity has long been an important issue. We consider the problem of measuring the slowly changing data in the presence of both white noise and sudden, short noise spikes. The Kalman filter is applied to attenuate the white noise and a spike detecting algorithm is applied to remove spikes resulting from the charged particles. Experimental data show that, with the Kalman filter, the RMS of the measurement noise in a 0.5 Hz bandwidth can be attenuated from 4 nK to 0.2 nK in the best case. A simple spike detecting algorithm worked effectively to remove spikes without increasing the random noise level.     

Robust maximum principle for multi-model LQ-problem

This paper presents the version of the robust maximum principle in the context of multi-model control formulated as the minimax Bolza problem. The cost function contains a terminal term as well as an integral one. A fixed horizon and terminal set are considered. The necessary conditions of the optimality are derived for the class of uncertain systems given by an ordinary differential equation with parameters from a given finite set. This problem consists in the control design providing a good behaviour for a given class of multi-model system. It is shown that the design of the minimax optimal controller is reduced to a finite-dimensional optimization problem given at the corresponding simplex set containing the weight parameters to be found. The robust optimal control may be interpreted as a mixture (with the optimal weights) of the controls which are optimal for each fixed parameter value. The proof is based on the recent results obtained for minimax Mayer problem (Boltyanski and Poznyak 1999a). The minimax linear quadratic control problem is considered in detail and the illustrative examples dealing with finite as well as infinite horizons conclude this paper.     

Interphase Formation and the Characterisation of Polymer/Ceramic Adhesion

The adhesion of photocured resins to ceramic substrates has been investigated using a variety of surface analytical techniques. Work has been aimed at establishing the physical and chemical interactions between resin and substrate in the interphase region and the effect of environmental exposure on these Analysis was aided by use of specially-designed, in-situ fracture facilities attached by an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer. Specific attention was focused on identification of localised regions of varying chemical composition in adhesive and adherend by imaging spectroscopies (imaging XPS and ToF SIMS imaging) and the study of the significance of such heterogeneities on adhesion and subsequent failure mechanisms.     

Awareness of coeliac disease and the gluten status of ‘gluten‐free’ food obtained on request in catering outlets in Ireland

The only current effective treatment for coeliac disease (CD) is a lifelong diet that is as free from gluten as possible. This study provides baseline evidence to inform future interventions of benefit to CD sufferers by examining awareness of CD issues by food servers and preparation staff, assessing their claims to provide gluten‐free foods by analysis of a meal concurrently sampled. While the majority of attempts to purchase a ‘gluten‐free’ meal on request in restaurants were successful, some 10% of all samples contained gluten, 2.7% between 21 and 100 mg kg^?1, and 7.7% >100 mg kg^?1 and two unsatisfactory samples were purchased from so‐called coeliac‐friendly restaurants. These findings were consistent with those obtained previously by Collin et al. [Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 19 (2004) 1277], Størsrud et al. [European Food Research & Technology 217 (2003) 481], Gélinas et al. [International Journal of Food Science & Technology 43 (2008) 1245] for cross contamination with gluten. Staff confidence, ‘gluten‐free’ notices, signs and menu choices were no guarantee of risk‐free dining for CD sufferers. Based on our findings we suggest the need for further training, specifically for chefs and managers.     

Extended Thermodynamics Derivation of Energy Dissipation in Unsteady Pipe Flow

Extended irreversible thermodynamics (EIT) provides a framework for deriving extensions to phenomenological equations (e.g., Newton's law of viscosity, Fick's law of mass transport, and Darcy's law for porous media flow) for problems involving high frequencies (i.e., rapid transients). In this paper, a phenomenological equation is derived for energy loss in 1D unsteady pipe flow using an EIT formalism. The resulting wall shear stress is equal to the sum of (1) the steady-state shear stress; (2) a term that is proportional to the local (i.e., temporal) acceleration; and (3) a term that is proportional to the product of the velocity and the convective (i.e., spatial) acceleration. The form of this EIT-based wall shear stress formula shows that EIT provides a physical basis for instantaneous acceleration based unsteady friction formulas. It also illustrates the limitations and underlying assumptions of these models. For example, instantaneous acceleration based unsteady friction formulas are limited to fast transients (i.e., transients in which the water hammer timescale is significantly smaller than the diffusion timescale). A characteristics solution for unsteady pipe flow is proposed in which the phenomenological equation is used to model energy dissipation. Comparison of numerical test results with measured data from upstream and downstream valve closure laboratory experiments shows excellent agreement.     

Analysis of the Stability of I-Walls with Gaps between the I-Wall and the Levee Fill

Following Hurricane Katrina an extensive investigation of the performance of floodwalls in the New Orleans area was undertaken by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and others. This investigation included detailed study of failures of cantilevered sheet pile “I-walls” during the hurricane. An important lesson from this investigation was that gaps can form on the canal side of I-walls as the water rises in the canal and causes the I-wall to deflect. Once formed, these gaps filled with water, resulting in significantly higher loads on the walls. Gap formation was a key factor in several I-wall failures, and modeling such gaps correctly is clearly an important aspect of analyzing I-wall stability. This paper describes simple procedures for estimating the depths of gaps behind I-walls, for calculating the loads to which they are subjected, and for including them in stability analyses. The effects of gaps on the stability of the 17th Canal and the London Avenue Canal I-walls are discussed.     

Effect of pulse consumption on perceived flatulence and gastrointestinal function in healthy males

Despite their demonstrated health benefits, consumption of pulses in Western societies has traditionally been low. This is, in part, due to the perception that pulses cause flatulence and gastrointestinal upset. This randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled, cross-over study assessed the impact of 28 consecutive days consumption of 100 g dry weight Kabuli chickpeas, green Laird lentils, and green peas, in comparison to a potato control, on perceived flatulence, abdominal comfort, bowel movements and overall gastrointestinal function using a questionnaire with yes/no and visual analog rankings, in 21 healthy males between the ages of 19–40. Questionnaires were completed during three phases (PRE, EARLY, LATE) of each treatment period. Chi-square (occurrence) and Wilcoxon test (severity rank) analyses revealed minor changes in occurrence and/or severity of flatulence and abdominal comfort, but no changes in overall gastrointestinal function. These results demonstrate that pulses containing oligosaccharides are well tolerated with negligible perceived changes in flatulence and overall gastrointestinal function when incorporated into the diet of healthy adult males.     

Biomedical applications of thermally activated shape memory polymers

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are smart materials that can remember a primary shape and can return to this primary shape from a deformed secondary shape when given an appropriate stimulus. This property allows them to be delivered in a compact form via minimally invasive surgeries in humans, and deployed to achieve complex final shapes. Here we review the various biomedical applications of SMPs and the challenges they face with respect to actuation and biocompatibility. While shape memory behavior has been demonstrated with heat, light and chemical environment, here we focus our discussion on thermally stimulated SMPs.