A state observer for the Virgo inverted pendulum

We report an application of Kalman filtering to the inverted pendulum (IP) of the Virgo gravitational wave interferometer. Using subspace method system identification techniques, we calculated a linear mechanical model of Virgo IP from experimental transfer functions. We then developed a Kalman filter, based on the obtained state space representation, that estimates from open loop time domain data, the state variables of the system. This allows the observation (and eventually control) of every resonance mode of the IP mechanical structure independently.     

Effects of Air Inlet Configuration on Forced-Ventilation Enclosure Fires on a Naval Ship

The effects of air inlet configuration on pool fire behavior in a mechanically ventilated cabin were investigated. The closed cabin used was a model of a certain machinery cabin on a naval ship. Two air inlet configurations of one vent and two vents were taken into account together with five different elevations of air inlet. In one-vent cases, mass loss rate and gas temperature were lower and oxygen concentrations were higher than those of two-vent cases. With the increase of air inlet elevation, a sudden drop in average mass loss rate and peak temperature were found in the two-vent cases at the air inlet elevation of 1.56 m. In one-vent cases, a similar drop in average mass loss rate was found at the air inlet elevation of 0.88 m, while the peak temperature was almost unaffected by inlet elevation. According to temperature profiles and the characteristic parameter of the smoke layer stability, the formation of the smoke layer was destroyed by increasing the air inlet elevation or reducing the air inlets, and furthermore a more uniform distribution could be found. For the current cabin, the one-vent case with a lower air inlet elevation was recommended for smoke control, and the inlet should be set away from the essential equipment and the entrances of the cabin.     

Production and structural analysis of triacylglycerols containing capric acid and conjugated linoleic acid isomers obtained by enzymatic acidolysis

BACKGROUND: Structured lipids containing medium‐chain fatty acids have interesting applications as reduced‐calorie fats; moreover, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers have shown interesting biological properties. The aim of this study was to synthesize triacylglycerols (TAGs) containing capric acid in the sn‐1‐ and sn‐3‐ positions and CLA isomers in the sn‐2‐ position, using different commercial available lipases. RESULTS: The homogeneous CLA‐TAGs (Tri‐CLA) were chemically synthesized starting from glycerol and CLA isomers, 9‐cis,11‐trans and 10‐trans,12‐cis CLA. The acidolysis reactions of Tri‐CLA with capric acid were carried out at 55 °C for different times in hexane; after 96 h the acidolysis average yield was 65%. The best capric acid incorporation in total TAGs was obtained after 96 h with Lipozyme IM (56.6%). The results of structural analysis carried out on the obtained TAGs showed that both Novozyme 435 and anhydrous Lipozyme IM gave the best incorporation of capric acid in sn‐1(3)‐ positions (61.8%). However, anhydrous Lipozyme IM gave also the highest CLA percent content in sn‐2‐ position (73.2%). CONCLUSION: Anhydrous Lipozyme IM appears to be the more effective enzyme in acidolysis reactions to obtain structured TAGs containing CLA isomers in the central position and capric acid at external positions. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

一株源于北派酱香白酒酿造环境中产淀粉酶细菌的筛选、鉴定及其特性研究

采用平板涂布法从酱香型白酒酿造环境（大曲、酒醅和窖泥）筛选产淀粉酶细菌菌株,通过菌落形态、细胞显微结构、生理生化特性和分子生物学方法对其进行鉴定,并对其生长特性及耐受性进行研究。结果表明,从酱香型白酒大曲中筛选得到一株产淀粉酶的细菌,编号为2-2,经鉴定菌株2-2为解淀粉芽孢杆菌（Bacillus amyloliquefaciens）。菌株2-2能够在25～45 ℃和pH 5～9范围内生长良好,属于乙醇高耐受性菌株,在乙醇体积分数为12%时仍能生长,并具有较高的NaCl和葡萄糖耐受性,最高耐受质量分数分别为15%和70%。菌株2-2在高粱酶解液中能产生酱香型白酒中的多种重要风味物质,如苯乙醇、糠醇3-羟基-2-丁酮、2,5-二甲基吡嗪和乙烯基愈创木酚等,是酱香型白酒酿造中重要的功能菌株。     

Antioxidant intake among Brazilian adults - The Brazilian Osteoporosis Study (BRAZOS): a cross-sectional study

Background  

Antioxidant nutrient intake and the lesser formation of free radicals seem to contribute to chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the intake profile of the main dietary antioxidants in a representative sample of the adult Brazilian population and discuss the main consequences of a low intake of these micronutrients on overall health.     

Second allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in acute leukemia: a multicenter study from the Gruppo Italiano Trapianto Di Midollo Osseo (GITMO)

Thirty-eight second allogeneic bone marrow transplants (BMT) for acute leukemia relapsed after first BMT were performed in 13 Italian centers between 1987 and 1994. Twenty-one patients had acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 17 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); at second BMT 24 patients were in complete remission (CR) and 14 in relapse. The median time to relapse after first BMT was 10 months (range 1-70). Grade II or greater acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after second transplant occurred in 34.2% of patients and a chronic GVHD in 31.5% of patients. Twenty-four patients died: seven from early transplant-related mortality (TRM), 13 from relapse and four from late toxicity. As of 31 July 1996, at a median follow-up of 47 months (range 22-85), there are 14 survivors. The three-year probability of TRM, relapse and event-free survival (EFS) is 28%, 40% and 42% respectively. In 20 of 27 evaluable patients, remission duration after second BMT was longer than after the first BMT. A diagnosis of AML was correlated with a better outcome. These data support the usefulness of second allograft in selected patients with AML relapsing after a first BMT.     

The nutraceutical value of grain legumes: characterisation of bioactives and antinutritionals related to diabesity management

Beyond the nutritional value, legumes and particularly common beans are found in several dietary supplements used to treat diabesity (diabetes and obesity). These products contain not only inhibitors of carbohydrate-hydrolising enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase), but also antinutritional factors that can cause adverse effects on human health. In the present research, twenty-two accessions of grain legumes were screened for bioactive (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors) and antinutritional (lectins, flatulence-producing sugars, trypsin inhibitors) phytochemicals. Results showed that four accessions had high α-amylase inhibiting activities (AI > 30%), and particularly the common bean ‘Great Northern’ resulted of interest for its high carbo-blocker activity (AI = 42.6 ± 0.5%), absence of lectins, low amounts of flatulence-producing oligosaccharides (2.5 ± 0.2 g/100 g DW) and low anti-trypsin activity (22.5 ± 4.3 trypsin inhibiting unit/mg DW). The knowledge offered from this work provides leads to the ultimate goal of developing new, more effective and safer dietary supplements for diabesity management.     

四川电网黑启动恢复控制研究及试验(一)——指导原则及电压控制

根据四川电网的实际特点,从调度运行的角度对大电网黑启动的指导原则及电压问题进行了分析,指出在省级电网的黑启动过程中应该遵循化整为零、分片启动,先主后次、有序供电,由下到上、按级恢复,快稳兼顾、可靠扩展的原则有序地进行电力系统的重构.在实际黑启动试验及分布式线路模型的基础上对发电机定子过电压的机理进行分析,并得出发电机低励磁的动作值与线路长度的关系,此外还讨论了负荷恢复后的系统起始电压幅值与电机、线路参数、负荷类型的关系式.RTDS仿真结果及现场黑启动带一定空载长线运行时的实测电压数据验证了结论的正确性和有效性.