Ozone Treatment of Small–Size Swimming Pools and Whirlpools

Current pool water treatment system designs tend to ignore the relationships between rates of disinfection of microorganisms present and performances of the filters. In this paper, the two subjects will be discussed, with relationship to small swimming pools and whirlpools (spas), emphasizing the problems arising when operating at different system volumes. The effects of proper and improper disinfection upon the operating characteristics and performances of pool and whirlpool water filters will be presented. Furthermore, conditions reducing the trihalomethane concentrations are compared. The role of ozone in overcoming current problems in these two areas will be discussed, in particular, the recent use of compact high frequency ozone generators is examined.     

Yellow electroluminescent diodes utilizing poly(2,5-bis(cholestanoxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene)

We report visible yellow light emission from diodes made from a new derivative of poly(p-phenylene vinylene). The soluble di-cholestanol derivative, poly(2,5-bis(cholestanoxy)-l, 4-phenylene vinylene), allows fabrication of the light emitting diodes by spinning the electroluminescent polymer film from solution prepared at room temperature with no subsequent processing or heat treatment required. These initial devices turn on at >8 V and have a peak emission wavelength of 570 nm at room temperature with quantum efficiencies of approximately 0.3% photons per electron.     

On the Analysis of Cryptographic Assumptions in the Generic Ring Model

The generic ring model considers algorithms that operate on elements of an algebraic ring by performing only the ring operations and without exploiting properties of a given representation of ring elements. It is used to analyze the hardness of computational problems defined over rings. For instance, it is known that breaking RSA is equivalent to factoring in the generic ring model (Aggarwal and Maurer, Eurocrypt 2009). Do hardness results in the generic ring model support the conjecture that solving the considered problem is also hard in the standard model, where elements of ? _n are represented by integers modulo n? We prove in the generic ring model that computing the Jacobi symbol of an integer modulo n is equivalent to factoring. Since there are simple and efficient non-generic algorithms which compute the Jacobi symbol, this provides an example of a natural computational problem which is hard in the generic ring model, but easy to solve if elements of ? _n are given in their standard representation as integers. Thus, a proof in the generic ring model is unfortunately not a very strong indicator for the hardness of a computational problem in the standard model. Despite this negative result, generic hardness results still provide a lower complexity bound for a large class of algorithms, namely all algorithms solving a computational problem independent of a given representation of ring elements. From this point of view, results in the generic ring model are still interesting. Motivated by this fact, we also show that solving the quadratic residuosity problem generically is equivalent to factoring.     

A new concept of planar self-reconfigurable modular robot for conveying microparts

Modularity and self-healing are two interesting properties that could help to design more flexible conveyors of micro-objects. In the Smart Blocks project, we propose to design a 2D modular and self-reconfigurable robot composed of centimeter-scale sliding blocks that embed their own actuators and control electronics. This article presents a proof-of-concept of the linkage and of the traveling system as well as an algorithm able to reconfigure a set of blocks from a spatial configuration to another one. Prototype blocks have been realized using electro-permanent magnets which show a good motion speed while saving power consumption during the linkage. Our reconfiguration algorithm is implemented in a simulator software showing in real-time the reconfiguration of the robot.     

Characterisation of lactic acid bacteria from spoiled, vacuum-packaged, cold-smoked rainbow trout using ribotyping

A total of 405 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from spoiled, vacuum-packaged, salted, sodium nitrite- or potassium nitrate-treated, cold-smoked rainbow trout stored at 4 degrees C or 8 degrees C were characterised and identified using a molecular method. The isolates were initially classified according to their restriction endonuclease profiles using HindIII and EcoRI restriction endonucleases and further characterised by rRNA gene restriction patterns (ribotypes). Numerical analysis of these ribopatterns was performed together with 19 reference LAB strain patterns in order to identify the isolates to species level. The strains were divided with HindIII and EcoRI ribopatterns into ten and nine clusters at the similarity level of 65% and 50%, respectively. The Leuconostoc-clusters and the Lb. sakei/Lb. curvatus-clusters formed the two main groups. Only one isolate was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum and no Carnobacterium strains were discovered. For both enzymes, the 35 isolates possessing six individual ribotypes and forming five clusters could not be identified further with the reference strains used. The relative proportion of Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides was higher in all samples stored at 4 degrees C. Most of the Leuconostoc citreum were found in the samples stored at 8 degrees C, and particularly in the nitrite-treated samples.     

A comparison of biological activities of a new soya biopeptide studied in an in vitro skin equivalent model and human volunteers

During aging, the epidermis and dermis become thin and an efficient anti-aging product should be able to stimulate the metabolism of senescent fibroblast and keratinocytes, in order to increase the quantity of extra-cellular matrix components such as collagen and glycosaminoglycans. A study performed in parallel on an in vitro skin equivalent model, and in vivo, with human volunteers, demonstrated the efficacy of one specific soya biopeptide for anti-aging properties. Such a biopeptide induces a significant increase of glycosaminoglycans synthesis in vitro and in vivo after a one-month treatment. We also showed that this new cosmetic ingredient is able to stimulate favourably the collagen synthesis in vitro and in vivo. This study provided the proof for anti-aging properties of a new soya biopeptide and also validated the skin equivalent model developed for this experimentation as an alternative method to animal or human testing for some cosmetic efficacy evaluations.     

Optimum processing of qpsk signals for site diversity

For satellite communications systems which use frequencies above 10 GHz, rain and clouds attenuate signals severely, leading to an increase in bit error rate (BER) in digital links. This may be coped with by using two or more receivers on the ground, spaced far enough apart to avoid simultaneous rain outages. In this paper, a BER-minimizing decision processor is derived for two receivers and QPSK modulation. In particular, it is applied to a linear attenuating transmission channel adding independent white Gaussian noise. It is found that gains of nearly 3 dB compared to a switched system are possible in down-link limited cases.     

An even magneto-optic effect: Linear polarization of the spectral thermal emission from ferromagnetic iron

The thermal spectral emission from ferromagnetic iron observed at normal incidence and with the magnetization parallel to its surface is partially linearly polarized. Measurements of the new even magneto-optic effect have been performed in the spectral range from 1.8 μm to 5 μm wave-length.     

Automated CT image evaluation of the lung: a morphology-based concept

Computed tomography (CT) provides the most reliable method to detect emphysema in vivo. Commonly used methods only calculate the area of low attenuation [pixel index (PI)], while a radiologist considers the bullous morphology of emphysema. The PI is a good, well-known measure of emphysema. But it is not able to detect emphysema in cases in which emphysema and fibrosis occur at the same time. This is because fibrosis leads to a low number of low-attenuation pixels, while emphysema leads to a high number of pixels. The PI takes the average of both and, consequently, may present a result within the normal range. METHOD: The main focus of this paper is to present a new algorithm of thoracic CT image evaluation based on pulmonary morphology of emphysema. The PI is extended, in that it is enabled to differentiate between small, medium, and large bullae (continuous low-attenuation areas). It is not a texture-based algorithm. The bullae are sorted by size into four size classes: class 1 being within the typical size of lung parenchyma; classes 2-4 presenting small, medium, and large bullae. It is calculated how much area the different classes take up of all low-attenuation pixels. The bullae index (BI) is derived from the percentage of areas covered, respectively, by small, medium, and large bullae. From the relation of the area of bullae belonging to class 4, to that of those belonging to class 2, a measure of the emphysema type (ET)is calculated. It classifies the lung by the type of emphysema in bullous emphysema or small-sized, diffuse emphysema, respectively. RESULTS: The BI is as reliable as the PI. In cases in which the PI indicates normal values while in fact emphysema is coexisting with fibrosis, the BI, nevertheless, detects the destruction caused by the emphysema. The BI combined with the ET reflects the visual assessment of the radiological expert. CONCLUSION: The BI is an objective and reliable index in order to quantify emphysematous destruction, hence, avoiding interobserver variance. This is particularly interesting for follow-up. The classification of the ET is a helpful and unique approach to achieving an exact diagnosis of emphysema.