Behaviour of ±45° glass/epoxy filament wound composite tubes under quasi-static equal biaxial tension–compression loading: experimental results

The primary aim of this paper is to present results describing in detail the behaviour of ±45° E-glass/MY750 (GRP) tubes, of various wall thicknesses, subjected to equal biaxial tension–compression loading, generated under combined internal pressure and axial compression. The role played by the non-linear lamina shear has also been assessed by comparing various shear stress–strain curves for embedded laminae (extracted from tests on ±45° tubes subjected to circumferential: axial stress ratios SR=1:0, 1:−1 and 2.3:−1) with that of an ‘isolated’ lamina (measured from torsion of 90° tubes). Extracted shear failure strains, for embedded laminae, were more than four fold larger than those measured at ultimate failure for an ‘isolated’ lamina. Soft characteristics were observed in the embedded lamina and these were believed to be due to interaction between early matrix damage initiation (and propagation) and shear. Factors affecting the behaviour of the tubes, such as bulging, scissoring, thermal stresses and stress variation through the thickness are discussed.     

Bush‐Mosteller learning for a zero-sum repeated game with random pay-offs

This paper deals with the design and analysis of a modified version of the Bush-Mosteller reinforcement scheme applied by partners in a zero-sum repeated game with random pay-offs. The suggested study is based on the learning automata paradigm and a limiting average reward criterion is tackled to analyse the arising Nash equilibrium. No information concerning the distribution of the pay-off is a priori available. The novelty of the suggested adaptive strategy is related to the incorporation of a 'normalization procedure' into the standard Bush-Mosteller scheme to provide a possibility to operate not only with binary but also with any bounded rewards of a stochastic nature. The analysis of the convergence (adaptation) as well as the convergence rate (rate of adaptation) are presented and the optimal design parameters of this adaptive procedure are derived. The obtained adaptation rate turns out to be of o(n 1/3 ).     

Near‐infrared spectroscopy for the determination of lipid oxidation in cereal food products

The present study was aimed at determining the ability of near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to in situ describe fat oxidation kinetics in three different cereal‐based products: salted crackers (20% saturated palm oil and lauric oil, sprayed on surface); healthy crackers (10% unsaturated rapeseed oil, homogeneously distributed inside the product matrix); and moist pasteurised Asian noodles (1.5% unsaturated rapeseed oil, sprayed on surface). Products were stored under accelerated oxidation conditions at 40 °C. Lipid oxidation rates were determined from peroxide value (PV) measurements. We observed no significant changes in PV for the dry crackers (3 meq/kg after 60 days), a slight linear increase in PV for the healthy crackers (40 meq/kg after 60 days), and a rapid increase for the Asian noodles (80 meq/kg after 20 days). The NIR spectra were recorded between 1000 and 2500 nm by using a Fourier Transform NIR spectrometer, using an external probe. Measurements were done directly in situ on the product, on the ground samples, and on the extracted fat phase. The analysis of NIR spectral data by PLS statistical methods demonstrated some correlation trends (R² = 0.575–0.897; RMSEC = 17–55%) for the products having a significant increase in PV. It was not possible to propose predictive models to calculate the oxidation rate.     

Proportional integral-fractional filter controller design for first order lag plus time delay system

In this work, a design approach of proportional integral-fractional filter (PI-FF) controller for first order plus time delay (FOPTD) system is proposed in order to enhance the feedback control system performances characteristics. The controller design method is drawn up such that the transfer function of the overall closed-loop system is equivalent to the transfer function of the general fractional Bagley–Torvik reference model whose behaviour ranges from relaxation to oscillation for different values of the fractional order derivative and the damping ratio-like parameter. The tuning parameters of the PI-FF controller are derived analytically from the FOPTD process model and the general fractional Bagley–Torvik reference model parameters. Illustrative examples were presented to test the effectiveness and the usefulness of the proposed PI-FF controller on the feedback control system performance characteristics enhancement.     

Increased Postprandial Triglyceride-Rich Lipoprotein Levels in Elderly Survivors of Myocardial Infarction

Postprandial triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) levels are a predictor for coronary atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to compare fasting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, and postprandial TRL between elderly survivors of myocardial infarction (MI) and healthy controls. A case-control study was performed in 44 elderly patients 65-85 years of age with a previous history of MI and 43 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Each participant underwent physical examination and was given a standard oral fat load with subsequent blood sampling over the next 8 h. Total and chylomicron triglycerides were assessed by area under the curve (AUC), incremental are under the curve (AUCi) and triglyceride response (TGR). Elderly MI patients had significantly lower postheparin LPL activity (87.4 +/- 36.9 mU/ml) (mean +/- 1 SD) than healthy controls (106.0 +/- 29.0 mU/ml) (P = 0.014). Decreased postheparin LPL activity was accompanied by significant increased and delayed clearance of postprandial TRL. Fasting HDL cholesterol was significantly lower in elderly MI patients than controls (1.45 +/- 0.32 and 1.66 +/- 0.47 mmol/l, respectively, P = 0.048). Multiple regression analysis revealed postheparin LPL activity as an independent predictor for postprandial TRL and fasting HDL cholesterol. Logistic regressions analysis revealed HDL cholesterol, triglycerides measured 2 h after the oral fat load, and postheparin LPL activity as independent predictors for MI. Our findings indicate that decreased fasting HDL cholesterol is associated with increased postprandial triglyceridemia which could be a target for life-style and therapeutic interventions in patients at risk for cardiovascular disease.     

Maximum likelihood estimation of higher‐order integer‐valued autoregressive processes

Abstract. In this article, we extend the earlier work of Freeland and McCabe [Journal of time Series Analysis (2004) Vol. 25, pp. 701–722] and develop a general framework for maximum likelihood (ML) analysis of higher‐order integer‐valued autoregressive processes. Our exposition includes the case where the innovation sequence has a Poisson distribution and the thinning is binomial. A recursive representation of the transition probability of the model is proposed. Based on this transition probability, we derive expressions for the score function and the Fisher information matrix, which form the basis for ML estimation and inference. Similar to the results in Freeland and McCabe (2004) , we show that the score function and the Fisher information matrix can be neatly represented as conditional expectations. Using the INAR(2) specification with binomial thinning and Poisson innovations, we examine both the asymptotic efficiency and finite sample properties of the ML estimator in relation to the widely used conditional least squares (CLS) and Yule–Walker (YW) estimators. We conclude that, if the Poisson assumption can be justified, there are substantial gains to be had from using ML especially when the thinning parameters are large.     

Proportional integral-fractional filter controller design for first order lag plus time delay system

In this work, a design approach of proportional integral-fractional filter (PI-FF) controller for first order plus time delay system (FOPTD) is proposed in order to enhance the feedback control system performance characteristics. The controller design method is drawn up such that the transfer function of the overall closed-loop system is equivalent to the transfer function of the general fractional Bagley–Torvik reference model whose behaviour ranges from relaxation to oscillation for different values of the fractional order derivative and the damping ratio-like parameter. The tuning parameters of the PI-FF controller are derived analytically from the FOPTD process model and the general fractional Bagley–Torvik reference model parameters. Illustrative examples were presented to test the effectiveness and the usefulness of the proposed PI-FF controller on the feedback control system performance characteristics enhancement.     

Influence of process parameters on thermal and mechanical properties of polylactic acid fabricated by fused filament fabrication

Fused filament fabrication is considered one of the most used processes in additive manufacturing rapid prototypes out of polymeric material. Poor strength of the deposited layers is still one of the main critical problems in this process, which affects the mechanical properties of the final parts. To improve the mechanical strength, investigation into various process parameters must be considered. In this article, the influence of different process parameters has been experimentally investigated by means of physicochemical and mechanical characterizations. Special attention was given to the thermal aspect. In that respect, the in situ measurement of temperature profile during deposition indicated that several parameters affect the cooling rate of material and consequently have an influence on the final parts. It was found that the influence of increasing the extruder temperature is more significant in comparison with other process parameters.