Beer Clarification by Novel Ceramic Hollow‐Fiber Membranes: Effect of Pore Size on Product Quality

In this work, the crossflow microfiltration performance of rough beer samples was assessed using ceramic hollow‐fiber (HF) membrane modules with a nominal pore size ranging from 0.2 to 1.4 μm. Under constant operating conditions (that is, transmembrane pressure difference, TMP = 2.35 bar; feed superficial velocity, v_S = 2.5 m/s; temperature, T = 10 °C), quite small steady‐state permeation fluxes (J^*) of 32 or 37 L/m²/h were achieved using the 0.2‐ or 0.5‐μm symmetric membrane modules. Both permeates exhibited turbidity <1 EBC unit, but a significant reduction in density, viscosity, color, extract, and foam half‐life with respect to their corresponding retentates. The 0.8‐μm asymmetric membrane module might be selected, its corresponding permeate having quite a good turbidity and medium reduction in the aforementioned beer quality parameters. Moreover, it exhibited J^* values of the same order of magnitude of those claimed for the polyethersulfone HF membrane modules currently commercialized. The 1.4‐μm asymmetric membrane module yielded quite a high steady‐state permeation flux (196 ± 38 L/m²/h), and a minimum decline in permeate quality parameters, except for the high levels of turbidity at room temperature and chill haze. In the circumstances, such a membrane module might be regarded as a real valid alternative to conventional powder filters on condition that the resulting permeate were submitted to a final finishing step using 0.45‐ or 0.65‐μm microbially rated membrane cartridges prior to aseptic bottling. A novel combined beer clarification process was thus outlined.     

The influence of consolidation and artificial weathering on all‐PP composite behavior

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of consolidation parameters on the mechanical properties of all‐polypropylene composites. Consolidation time does not induce any significant influence, whereas processing temperature and in particular coextruded tape characteristics deeply affect laminate performance. The DSC analysis demonstrated that the proximity of copolymer and homopolymer melting points results in a reduction in the operating window. This suggests the implementation of a more effective temperature control during thermoforming to avoid reinforcement relaxation and localized melting. Artificial weathering was conducted under noon summer light condition to assess the effect of ultraviolet exposure on laminates. After 100 and 250 h, sample performance drops significantly, with overall strength and elongation reduction up to 70 and 88%, respectively. Low molecular weight by‐products were identified using Raman spectroscopy on specimens surface, confirming the mechanical property decrement due to photo‐oxidation process. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41283.     

Ageing, Demand for Care and the Role of Migrant Care Workers in the UK

In recent decades, rapid population ageing has dramatically increased the need for older adult care provision in the UK. A prominent role in meeting the care needs of the older population has been played by migrant workers. The aim of this paper is to explore the characteristics of the UK social care system that shape demand for migrant labour, the conditions under which migrant care workers are employed, and older people’s and migrant care workers’ experiences of the quality of care. Our analysis draws on the findings of a survey of providers of social care for older people, in-depth interviews with migrant care workers, and focus groups with older people. The findings show that the underfunding of social care and interrelated workforce shortages are largely responsible for the extensive reliance on migrant workers among social care providers, and raise concerns for workforce inequalities and for the quality of care.     

Low-intensity optical bistability in an active Fabry-Perot mirror induced by input-phase-insensitive parametric downconversion

A Fabry-Perot resonator filled with second-order nonlinear optical material is investigated. Attention is devoted to making the resonator act as a nonlinear mirror for ultralow-intensity light signals that can be switched by a control beam at the second-harmonic frequency. The interaction process is an input-phase-independent parametric downconversion. The theoretical problem is solved through implementation of a dummy variable method optimized for a parametric process. Efficient amplification and bistability of low-intensity signals have been found.     

On structuring proof search for first order linear logic

Full first-order linear logic can be presented as an abstract logic programming language in Miller's system Forum, which yields a sensible operational interpretation in the ‘proof search as computation’ paradigm. However, Forum still has to deal with syntactic details that would normally be ignored by a reasonable operational semantics. In this respect, Forum improves on Gentzen systems for linear logic by restricting the language and the form of inference rules. We further improve on Forum by restricting the class of formulae allowed, in a system we call G-Forum, which is still equivalent to full first-order linear logic. The only formulae allowed in G-Forum have the same shape as Forum sequents: the restriction does not diminish expressiveness and makes G-Forum amenable to proof theoretic analysis. G-Forum consists of two (big) inference rules, for which we show a cut elimination procedure. This does not need to appeal to finer detail in formulae and sequents than is provided by G-Forum, thus successfully testing the internal symmetries of our system.     

Numerical models for the simulation of currents in naples gulf

Two numerical hydrodynamic models of wind-driven water circulation in a basin are considered.Some results from their application to the Gulf of Naples are described.     

Reports of the DAS02 working groups

This document is a collection of four working group reports in the areas of digital libraries, document image retrieval, layout analysis, and Web document analysis. These reports were the outcome of discussions by participants at the Fifth IAPR International Workshop on Document Analysis Systems held in Princeton, NJ on 19-21 August 2002.Published online: 16 March 2004     

Quasiparticle correction for electronic transport in molecular wires

In this paper we present calculations of ballistic transport in molecular wires. The calculations are performed using an approximated version of the GW correction in the plasmon-pole framework, which is used to improve the starting Density Functional Theory energy spectrum of the molecule between metallic leads. We show that this correction reduces the error of the correlation part for the electron energy. Finally a model with complex bands is implemented in order to get the damping regime for long polymers.