A new approach for motion capture using magnetic field : models,algorithms and first results

Indoor and outdoor applications such as sports and health monitoring as well as realistic 3D movie and game animations require ambulatory motion capture. Thus, creating a new low‐cost light‐weight wearable motion capture system that offers realistic motion estimates is of great interest. This paper presents a new approach for ambulatory human motion capture, featuring a body mounted magnetic field source and magnetic field sensors together with an estimation algorithm. A complete study of the model, the hardware, and the estimation algorithms is presented. Results obtained in the context of motion capture of human upper limbs illustrate the proposed approach.Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large third-order optical nonlinearity of chalcogenide glasses within gallium-tin-selenium ternary system

We explore the third-order optical nonlinear properties of arsenic- and germanium-free chalcogenide glasses (ChGs) within a gallium-tin-selenium (Ga-Sn-Se, GSS) ternary system at wavelength of 1.064 μm in the picosecond region. A classical characterization showing the values of the absorption and the linear index will be given. Then, using D4σ-Z-scan technique, both nonlinear refractive index (n₂) and nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) of the GSS ChGs will be measured. A comparison of the results is made with other families of chalcogenide glasses considering the figure of merit calculation. The first results show that GSS system would give better NL performance promising high potential for n₂(β)-based photonic devices performed under clean production and green/sustainable chemistry.     

3D crack network analysis during a scratch test of a polymer: A combined experimental and multigrid X-FEM based numerical approach

The scratch behavior of a thermoset solid polymer exhibiting brittle behavior in tension is investigated. The surfaces are scratched and an imaging system is used to record real time photographs. The 3D crack pattern is analyzed using fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy. A finite element simulation is performed to determine the indenter/specimen contact conditions. They are used as input data for the 3D crack network analysis based on combined 3D localized multigrid and X-FEM/level set techniques. The computed stress distributions within the 3D cracked specimen are of great interest to understand the crack network formation observed during the experiments.     

Hygrothermal effect on moisture kinetics and mechanical properties of hemp/polypropylene composite: Experimental and numerical studies

The exposition of thermoplastic composites reinforced with natural fibers to moisture and heat is likely to lower their mechanical properties and restrain their use in the design of parts. The present work is focussed on investigating the effects of hygrothermal aging on the mechanical behaviour of injected polypropylene reinforced with short hemp fibers. Moreover, the kinetic of isothermal moisture absorption has been studied for four immersion temperatures. The experimental results show that the time taken to reach saturation decreases significantly with increase in immersion temperature. These tests also reveal that moisture absorption in this type of materials does not follow Fick's law. Thus, a new model is proposed to predict this behaviour by the use of a variable coefficient of diffusion. This model is implemented using both analytical and finite element analysis (FEA) approaches. The results obtained with this new model show a very good correlation between experimental, analytical, and FEA absorption curves. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2342–2352, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Evaluating Ketoreductase Exchanges as a Means of Rationally Altering Polyketide Stereochemistry

Modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) are multidomain multienzymes responsible for the biosynthesis in bacteria of a wide range of polyketide secondary metabolites of clinical value. The stereochemistry of these molecules is an attractive target for genetic engineering in attempts to produce analogues exhibiting novel therapeutic properties. The exchange of ketoreductase (KR) domains in model PKSs has been shown in several cases to predictably alter the configuration of the β‐hydroxy functionalities but not of the α‐methyl groups. By systematic screening of a broad panel of KR domains, we have identified two donor KRs that afford modification of α‐methyl group stereochemistry. To the best of our knowledge, this provides the first direct in vivo evidence of KR‐catalyzed epimerization. However, none of the introduced KRs afforded simultaneous alteration of methyl and hydroxy configurations in high yield. Therefore, swapping of whole modules might be necessary to achieve such changes in stereochemistry.     

Time‐domain vector potential technique for the meshless radial point interpolation method

A time‐domain meshless algorithm based on vector potentials is introduced for the analysis of transient electromagnetic fields. The proposed numerical algorithm is a modification of the radial point interpolation method, where radial basis functions are used for local interpolation of the vector potentials and their derivatives. In the proposed implementation, solving the second‐order vector potential wave equation intrinsically enforces the divergence‐free property of the electric and magnetic fields. Furthermore, the computational effort associated with the generation of a dual node distribution (as required for solving the first‐order Maxwell's equations) is avoided. The proposed method is validated with several examples of 2D waveguides and filters, and the convergence is empirically demonstrated in terms of node density or size of local support domains. It is further shown that inhomogeneous node distributions can provide increased convergence rates, that is, the same accuracy with smaller number of nodes compared with a solution for homogeneous node distribution. A comparison of the magnetic vector potential technique with conventional radial point interpolation method is performed, highlighting the superiority of the divergence‐free formulation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gold Nanorods Coated with Mesoporous Silica Shell as Drug Delivery System for Remote Near Infrared Light‐Activated Release and Potential Phototherapy

In this study, we report the synthesis of a nanoscaled drug delivery system, which is composed of a gold nanorod‐like core and a mesoporous silica shell (GNR@MSNP) and partially uploaded with phase‐changing molecules (1‐tetradecanol, TD, T_m 39 °C) as gatekeepers, as well as its ability to regulate the release of doxorubicin (DOX). Indeed, a nearly zero premature release is evidenced at physiological temperature (37 °C), whereas the DOX release is efficiently achieved at higher temperature not only upon external heating, but also via internal heating generated by the GNR core under near infrared irradiation. When tagged with folate moieties, GNR@MSNPs target specifically to KB cells, which are known to overexpress the folate receptors. Such a precise control over drug release, combining with the photothermal effect of GNR cores, provides promising opportunity for localized synergistic photothermal ablation and chemotherapy. Moreover, the performance in killing the targeted cancer cells is more efficient compared with the single phototherapeutic modality of GNR@MSNPs. This versatile combination of local heating, phototherapeutics, chemotherapeutics and gating components opens up the possibilities for designing multifunctional drug delivery systems.     

VTT真空引纸系统--极高的引纸性能在Condat实现了

存在的问题 Condat,自1998年与意大利的Garda公司和西班牙的Torras公司合并后,成为Lecta集团的一员,是非磨木浆涂布纸的制造商.其89号生产线,纸机网宽5.768m,纸宽5.245m,成品定量90～135g/m2,设计车速1000m/min,生产能力566t/d.在运行10年后,面临着一些特殊问题:一个效率差的成形部,干燥部的大量断头,较长清洁时间和不可靠的慢引纸工艺.由于在纸机上进行在线涂布,引纸特别困难.在完成对89号生产线进行综合的引纸分析后,认为存在下列问题:1号涂布机的引纸困难且不稳定,纸耳在干燥部内就脱离了引纸绳,引纸性能因操作班组不同而不同,手工引纸危及到操作人员的安全,并且在断纸后清洗时间太长.     

Production of oligosaccharides in yogurt containing bifidobacteria and yogurt cultures

Yogurts were prepared by using yogurt cultures combined to mixed cultures of bifidobacteria (Bifidobacterium animalis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium longum) and by adding a preincubation step (1.5 h at 50 degrees C) with bifidobacteria to the conventional method of manufacture in order to produce oligosaccharides. The survival of bifidobacteria was drastically affected during storage of yogurts, except for products containing B. animalis, in which viable counts remained at >10(6) cfu/g after 28 d of storage at 4 degrees C. Oligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization of 3 were produced during the preincubation step (0.31 to 0.68%), and the amount in the final products varied according to the species of bifidobacteria inoculated during the preincubation step or the concentration of bifidobacteria used as second inoculum during the fermentation process. In fact, the higher concentration of oligosaccharides measured at the end of the fermentation process (0.72%) and the 28 d-storage period (0.67%) was obtained for yogurts containing B. infantis. However, yogurts containing B. breve showed higher beta-galactosidase activities and had lower lactose concentrations after the fermentation process and the storage period than the other yogurts. The use of a mixed cultures of bifidobacteria (B. animalis, B. infantis, or B. breve) thus allows the production of yogurts in which bifidobacteria can survive in relatively high cell numbers and contain appreciable amount of oligosaccharides.     

Angular behavior of the absorption limit in thin film silicon solar cells

We investigate the angular behavior of the upper bound of absorption provided by the guided modes in thin film solar cells. We show that the 4n² limit can be potentially exceeded in a wide angular and wavelength range using two‐dimensional periodic thin film structures. Two models are used to estimate the absorption enhancement; in the first one, we apply the periodicity condition along the thickness of the thin film structure, but in the second one, we consider imperfect confinement of the wave to the device. To extract the guided modes, we use an automatized procedure that is established in this work. Through examples, we show that from the optical point of view, thin film structures have a high potential to be improved by changing their shape. Also, we discuss the nature of different optical resonances that can be potentially used to enhance light trapping in the solar cell. We investigate the two different polarization directions for one‐dimensional gratings, and we show that the transverse magnetic polarization can provide higher values of absorption enhancement. We also propose a way to reduce the angular dependence of the solar cell efficiency by the appropriate choice of periodic pattern. Finally, to obtain more practical values for the absorption enhancement, we consider the effect of parasitic loss that can significantly reduce the enhancement factor. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.