A proposed method to reconstruct the three‐dimensional dispersion profile of polymeric fibres based on variable wavelength interferometry

In this paper, we suggest a modification to the conventional variable wavelength interferometry. This modification allowed us to calculate the dispersion curve of each point inside polymeric fibres instead of calculating the mean dispersion of these fibres. This modified mathematical treatment was used to calculate the three‐dimensional dispersion profile of isotactic polypropylene fibres suffering from necking deformation. The different steps of calculating the three‐dimensional dispersion profile of the fibre were demonstrated. The application of this modified method revealed the variation of the fibre material dispersion before, inside and after the necking region. In addition, the birefringence profile of the necked isotactic polypropylene was determined using the proposed mathematical treatment. This allowed us to diagnose the interaction of the incident waves with necked polypropylene fibres, which gives extensive information on the orientation of the molecular chains during the formation of the necking phenomenon.     

NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF STUFFED VINE LEAVES: A MEDITERRANEAN DIETARY

Stuffed grape vine leaves, dolma is a well-liked Turkish dish, common to Mediterranean diets. Moisture, ash, energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, sodium, iron, β-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C analyses were conducted to determine the nutritional value of dolma. β-carotene level per 100 g serving of dolma (1041 IU) supplies 20.82% of the USRDA (5000 IU) and an INQ (Index of Nutritional Quality) for vitamin A of 2.54. Although the fat content and INQ for fat were found to be high in dolma, it can still be considered a healthy choice due to the type of oil used, namely olive oil, which has been shown to have beneficial effects on health.     

A novel double‐image Fizeau system for accurate investigation of anisotropic polymer fibres

This paper introduces a double‐image multiple‐beam Fizeau fringes system. The introduced system can dynamically determine the variations of the refractive indices for both parallel and perpendicular polarization simultaneously. This is achieved by the simultaneous capturing of two multiple‐beam interference patterns during the mechanical processing of isotactic polypropylene fibre. This parallel determination of the refractive indices of both polarization directions allowed us to determine the full‐field distribution of the stress vector, S . To accomplish this, a mathematical model was deduced to calculate the components of the stress vector, S , i.e. parallel stress component, S₁, and perpendicular stress component, S₂. Double‐image Fizeau fringes system and the deduced mathematical model were used to investigate the variation of the refractive index and stress components of the fibre during the stretching process and propagation of necked regions.     

Thermodynamic and relative approach to compute glass-forming ability of oxides

This study deals with the evaluation of glass-forming ability (GFA) of oxides and is a critical reading of Sun and Rawson thermodynamic approach to quantify this aptitude. Both approaches are adequate but ambiguous regarding the behaviour of some oxides (tendency to amorphization or crystallization). Indeed, ZrO₂ and Al₂O₃ were inappropriately listed by Sun and Rawson to be glassformer oxides while being intermediate ones. We present a non-dimensional approach to value GFA of single oxide by affecting to each one of the coefficients (without measuring units). Obeying to the non-dimensional analysis rules, we introduce a neglected (in all prior thermodynamic models) characteristic: the isobaric heat capacity (C _p) of oxides, and execute a mathematical treatment of oxides thermodynamic data. We note this coefficient as thermodynamical relative glass-forming ability (ThRGFA) and formulate a model to compute it. Computed values of 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th period metal oxides reveal a clear differentiation between them. Indeed, all glass former oxides are characterized by ThRGFA values over 1·709. Moreover, the value intervals confirm the oxides classification into three groups (forming, intermediate and modifier) and sorting of the former ones in distinctive strong and fragile oxides.     

Solutions of minimum time problem and minimum fuel problem for discrete linear admissible control systems

In this paper the minimum time problem and the minimum fuel problem for discrete linear admissible control systems arc formulated (is one linear programming problem with two different objective functions. It is found that the obtained problem is very similar to the dual form of the linear programming problem for the discrete linear L₁ approximation problem. An efficient dual simplex algorithm for the latter problem is used with the necessary modification* to obtain the solution of either of the former problems. Numerical results show that the present, method compares favourably with other known methods.     

Interkey timing in piano performance and typing

In typing, when the fingers executing two successive movements are on the same hand, the time between keystrokes is longer than when the fingers are on different hands. Biomechanical limitations of the hands are thought to account for this difference. The generality of this finding was explored by investigating skilled pianists' performance of two successive notes. Experiment 1 failed to find comparable differences in timing as a function of the hands involved. Experiment 2, employing both a piano production and a typing task, replicated the previous piano performance results, and revealed that the timing differences in typing were limited to letter sequences requiring fore-aft and lateral finger movements. Experiment 3 extended this finding to piano performance. Together, these findings clarify the nature of biomechanical constraints on skilled manual performance.     

Use of computed radiography in the study of an historic painting

The authors demonstrate the use of radiography in the investigation of an historic painting and describe the potential benefits of computed radiography compared with conventional screen-film radiography. The subject for the comparison was a 16 x 19-foot oil-on-canvas painting, Scipio Africanus Freeing Massiva, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Radiographs of the painting were obtained by using a portable, industrial radiographic unit and both conventional screen-film and photostimulable phosphor plate cassettes. For this investigation, computed radiography had a number of advantages over screen-film radiography, largely due to its wider dynamic range and its capabilities for enhancing the digital images with image processing tools such as magnification, edge enhancement, colorization, and airbrushing. The ability to electronically combine images from the large painting into a single composite image file was extremely valuable, as this technique was much less cumbersome and resulted in much higher quality composite images than could be achieved with conventional radiography. An additional advantage of computed radiography includes the capability to easily archive and transmit these images in a digital format for subsequent review.