A 3D regression surface for the room temperature tightness gasket data reduction and bolt load design

The purpose of the present work is to propose a new approach for modelling the tightness behaviour of the gaskets used in bolted flange joints. This new approach consists of developing a mathematical model for a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the gasket tightness performance. Rather than considering a 2D graph for characterizing the complete gasket behaviour, a third axis is added to the S_g vs. Tp plot to dissociate the unloading cycles from initial gasket tightening. This leads to the definition of a surface that is represented by a simple polynomial equation that contains six coefficients that are determined by a simple regression calculation. In the first part of the paper, the new approach is tested through a database of 406 room temperature tightness (ROTT) tests performed on different gasket styles. Then, a statistical analysis of the predictions made with the new model demonstrates its ability to predict gasket leak rates much more accurately than it was previously possible with the gasket constants derived from the ROTT Draft 9 or 10 methods. It is also demonstrated that the new approach can be used to model successfully complex gasket behaviours such as the tightness hardening phenomenon. Secondly, the effect of gas pressure change on the leak rate is analysed. It turns out that at high gasket stresses, the actual scheme of the ROTT tests may not allow enough time for reaching a stabilized leak rate value because of a transitory time effect in the porous structure of gaskets. Then, in order to evaluate the characteristic waiting period (dwell time) before a stabilized flow rate is achieved following a change in the gas pressure level, a simple phenomenological analysis of the flow is performed.     

Closed-form inverse kinematics for interventional C-arm X-ray imaging with six degrees of freedom: modeling and application

For trauma and orthopedic surgery, maneuvering a mobile C-arm fluoroscope into a desired position to acquire an X-ray is a routine surgical task. The precision and ease of use of the C-arm becomes even more important for advanced interventional imaging techniques such as parallax-free X-ray image stitching. Today's standard mobile C-arms have been modeled with only five degrees of freedom (DOF), which definitely restricts their motions in 3-D Cartesian space. In this paper, we present a method to model both the mobile C-arm and patient's table as an integrated kinematic chain having six DOF without constraining table position. The closed-form solutions for the inverse kinematics problem are derived in order to obtain the required values for all C-arm joint and table movements to position the fluoroscope at a desired pose. The modeling method and the closed-form solutions can be applied to general isocentric or nonisocentric mobile C-arms. By achieving this we develop an efficient and intuitive inverse kinematics-based method for parallax-free panoramic X-ray imaging. In addition, we implement a 6-DOF C-arm system from a low-cost mobile fluoroscope to optimally acquire X-ray images based solely on the computation of the required movement for each joint by solving the inverse kinematics on a continuous basis. Through simulation experimentation, we demonstrate that the 6-DOF C-arm model has a larger working space than the 5-DOF model. C-arm repositioning experiments show the practicality and accuracy of our 6-DOF C-arm system. We also evaluate the novel parallax-free X-ray stitching method on phantom and dry bones. Using five trials, results show that parallax-free panoramas generated by our method are of high visual quality and within clinical tolerances for accurate evaluation of long bone geometry (i.e., image and metric measurement errors are less than 1% compared to ground-truth).     

Genetic transformation of Brevibacterium linens strains producing high amounts of diverse sulphur compounds

By its numerous properties and importance in cheese technology (production of colour, flavour, bacteriocins and resistance to salt) Brevibacterium linens is a major cheese ripening bacteria. However, the genetic approach of such biological functions has been hindered, up to now, by the lack of tools necessary to realise genetic modifications in this species. Our objective was to demonstrate that it is possible to genetically modify several strains exhibiting interesting technological properties, especially the production of sulphur compounds. We worked with a phenotypically and genetically diverse collection of 11 strains. We genetically transformed several Brevi. linens with acceptable rates with plasmids classically used to transform lactic acid bacteria and other Gram+ bacteria. These results open up new prospects to investigate the most interesting Brevi. linens metabolic pathways both at the biochemical and genetic level.     

Dropwise Condensation Enhancement Using a Wettability Gradient

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with the modeling of dropwise condensation process on a wettability gradient surface. The proposed heat transfer model explicitly takes into account the mechanical nonequilibrium on the periphery of the droplet due to the surface-energy gradient and the contact-angle hysteresis. The model aims to predict the dynamic behavior of a droplet placed on a wettability gradient surface regarding the temperature difference between the wall and the saturated vapor. A comprehensive analysis of all the contributing thermal resistances is proposed. The influences of contact angle, temperature difference, and other representative parameters on a single droplet on a horizontal surface are also discussed. The results indicate that a wettability gradient can cause a reduction of the mean size of the droplets on the condensing surface and thus enhance significantly the heat transfer rate.     

Amino acid catabolism by Lactococcus lactis during milk fermentation

Two wild-type Lactococcus lactis strains isolated from naturally Tunisian fermented milk (Leben), and one laboratory strain, were used to investigate the ability of L. lactis to transform amino acids into aroma compounds during milk fermentation. The α-ketoacid acceptor used for leucine transamination, the first step of catabolism, was identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the ¹⁵N-labelled amino acids that formed from ¹⁵N-labelled leucine in fermented milk. Furthermore, the amino acids produced or catabolized by the laboratory strain via transamination were identified by comparing the free amino acids in milk fermented with the wild-type strain and the double mutant for aromatic and branched-chain aminotransferases, which cannot transaminate amino acids. The three L. lactis strains strongly catabolized leucine and valine during milk fermentation. The principal amino acid formed via leucine and valine transamination was glutamate indicating that α-ketoglutarate was the principal α-ketoacid acceptor and was generated during milk fermentation.     

Lower working heights decrease contraction intensity of shoulder muscles in a herringbone 30° milking parlor

Musculoskeletal disorders have been a main concern in milkers for many years. To improve posture, a formula was developed in a previous study to calculate ergonomically optimal working heights for various milking parlor types. However, the working height recommendations based on the formula for the herringbone 30° parlor were broad. To clarify the recommendations for the optimal working height, we investigated the effect of working height on upper limb and shoulder muscle contraction intensities. We evaluated 60 milking cluster attachment procedures in a herringbone 30° milking parlor in 7 men and 9 women. Specifically, we examined the effect of working height on muscle contraction intensity of 4 arm and shoulder muscles bilaterally (flexor carpi ulnaris, biceps brachii, deltoideus anterior, and upper trapezius) by using surface electromyography. The working heights (low, medium, and high), which reflect the ratio of the subject's height to the height of the udder base, were used in the milking health formula to determine and fit individual depth of pits. Data were evaluated for each muscle and arm side in the functions holding and attaching. Statistical analysis was performed using linear mixed effects models, where muscle contraction intensity served as a target variable, whereas working height coefficient, sex, subject height, and repetition were treated as fixed effects, and repetition group nested in working height nested in subject was considered a random effect. Contraction intensities decreased with decreasing working height for the deltoideus anterior and upper trapezius, but not for the flexor carpi ulnaris or the biceps brachii muscles in both holding and attaching arm functions. We found that milking at a lower working height reduced muscle contraction intensities of the shoulder muscles. Women showed higher contraction intensities than men, whereas subject height had no effect. The study demonstrated that a lower working height decreased muscular load during milking. These lower working heights should be used within the recommendations made by the milking health formula for the herringbone 30°. Working heights could be adjusted effectively for milkers of varying body height. Future studies should therefore use the milking health formula as a tool to objectively compare and improve the accuracy of the working height coefficients.     

Thermal Tolerance and Survival of Cronobacter sakazakii in Powdered Infant Formula Supplemented with Vanillin, Ethyl Vanillin, and Vanillic Acid

The thermal tolerance Cronobacter sakazakii was examined in sterile powdered infant formula (PIF) rehydrated at 58 °C in water or apple juice supplemented with vanillin, ethyl vanillin, or vanillic acid. All three compounds decreased thermal tolerance during-rehydration and the lowest decimal reduction time (D-value, 0.19 ± 0.01 min) was measured in PIF rehydrated in apple juice supplemented with 20 mM vanillic acid. At this level of supplementation no C. sakazakii were detected in PIF stored for 48 h at 10 and 24 h at 21 °C subsequent to a sublethal heat treatment. Thermal tolerance during rehydration and survival in reconstituted PIF were influenced by compound type, concentration, and temperature. Supplementation of PIF with vanillin, ethyl vanillin, or vanillic acid could enhance the safety of PIF or other dehydrated foods contaminated with C. sakazakii.     

Gevrey Order and Summability of Formal Series Solutions of some Classes of Inhomogeneous Linear Partial Differential Equations with Variable Coefficients

We investigate Gevrey order and summability properties of formal power series solutions of some classes of inhomogeneous linear partial differential equations with variable coefficients and analytic initial conditions. In particular, we give necessary and sufficient conditions under which these solutions are convergent or are k-summable, for a convenient k, in a given direction.     

Colloidal α-Al2O3 Europium(III) and humic substances interactions: a macroscopic and spectroscopic study

Eu(III) sorption onto α-Al(2)O(3) in the presence of purified Aldrich humic acid (PAHA) is studied by batch experiments and time-resolved laser-induced luminescence spectroscopy of Eu(III). Experiments are conducted at varying pH, at 0.1 mol/L NaClO(4), 10(-6) mol/L Eu(III), 1 g/L α-Al(2)O(3) and 28 mg/L PAHA, which assured a complete Eu(III)-PAHA complexation. Adsorption of Eu(III) presents the expected pH-edge at 7, which is modified by addition of PAHA. Presence of Eu(III) slightly increases PAHA sorption throughout the pH range. The evolutions of luminescence spectra and decay times of the binary systems, that is, Eu(III)/α-Al(2)O(3) and Eu(III)/PAHA, indicate a progressive surface- and humic-complexation with increasing pH. The typical biexponential luminescence decay in Eu(III)/PAHA system is also recorded; the fastest deactivation depending barely on pH. In ternary Eu(III)/PAHA/α-Al(2)O(3) system, the existence of a luminescence biexponential decay for all pH means that Eu(III) is always in the direct neighborhood of the humic substance. Below pH 7, the spectra of the ternary system (Eu(III)/PAHA/α-Al(2)O(3)) are not different from the ones of Eu(III)/PAHA system, implying the same complex symmetry. Nevertheless, the increase of luminescence decay time points to a change in PAHA conformation onto the surface.