An optimization method based on the evolutionary and topology approaches to reduce the mass of composite wind turbine blades

In optimization of transient problems, a robust, stable, and efficient numerical scheme for time integration is of much importance. Recently, the mixed Lag     

Disquiet in the plasma

The metaphor of plasma is taken up to present and discuss movement and engagement by participants in mixed reality installation arts. Two works involving full body video portraits exhibited through large plasma screens in a variety of public settings are covered. Machinic mediations of video realism are considered in terms of embodied interaction in which viewer-participants contribute to the ‘disquiet’ of gendered figuring. Processural, proximal and personal aspects of responsive engagement are discussed. This is extended to performativity that may lead us to critical reflection of our own actions and responses in mixed reality arts.     

Computing median and antimedian sets in median graphs

The median (antimedian) set of a profile π=(u ₁,…,u _k ) of vertices of a graph G is the set of vertices x that minimize (maximize) the remoteness ∑ _i d(x,u _i ). Two algorithms for median graphs G of complexity O(n idim(G)) are designed, where n is the order and idim(G) the isometric dimension of G. The first algorithm computes median sets of profiles and will be in practice often faster than the other algorithm which in addition computes antimedian sets and remoteness functions and works in all partial cubes.     

A novel real-time polymerase chain reaction method for the detection of macadamia nuts in food

A real-time PCR-based method for the detection of macadamia nuts (fruits of Macadamia integrifolia or M. tetraphylla or their hybrids) in food products is described. The method consists of DNA isolation by chaotropic solid phase extraction and subsequent PCR with macadamia-specific primers and a TaqMan fluorescent probe. The primers and the probe were targeted to the gene encoding for vicilin precursor. The method was positive for M. integrifolia and M. tetraphylla and negative for 16 other plant species used in food industry, including peanuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachio nuts, cashew nuts, Brazil nuts, and chestnuts. The DNA-based detection limit of the method was 1.45 pg. Using a series of model samples with defined macadamia nut contents, a practical detection limit of 0.02% (w/w) macadamia nuts was determined. Practical applicability of the PCR method was tested by the analysis of 14 confectionery samples. For all of the samples, results conforming to the labeling were obtained. The presented PCR method is useful for relatively fast, highly selective, and moderately sensitive detection of macadamia nuts in food samples.     

Hysteretic Behavior of Bridge Columns with FRP-Jacketed Lap Splices Designed for Moderate Ductility Enhancement

This paper presents test results of six specimens representing older bridge columns with inadequate reinforcement detailing consisting of short lap splices at the base and widely spaced transverse reinforcement. Four of these specimens were rehabilitated using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) jackets of two different composite materials (carbon and aramid) to avoid premature failure of the lapped bars after a limited number of postyield cycles. The test results indicate that thin FRP jackets can be used to avoid failure of short lap splices at moderate displacement ductilities. Displacement capacities consistent with expected demands in regions of moderate or low seismicity were achieved after jacket retrofitting. The hysteretic behavior of rehabilitated columns was assessed with emphasizing issues related to variation of stiffness and damping ratio as a function of ductility demand for this class of columns. Equations that account for the effect of axial load level on estimates of effective stiffness and damping as a function of displacement ductility are proposed for this class of columns.     

On the measurement of crystal size distributions in the micrometer size range

The steady state crystal size distribution in a continuous mixed suspension mixed product removal crystallizer has been measured during the precipitati of calcium oxalate trihydrate from aqueous solution. Two different instruments, both working over the size range 1.4–25 μm, were used, a Coulter Counter and an instrument based on the principle of forward scattering of laser light. The form of size distribution obtained with both instruments was very similar and lends confidence to such measurements at these sizes. The crystal number density for sizes less than about 5 μm was much higher than expected from the number density at larger sizes. This behaviour is similar to that found for systems of higher solubility but raises important questions concerning the reasons for such effects.     

Yeast diversity investigation of wine-related samples from two different Slovakian wine-producing areas through a multistep procedure

A multistep procedure was applied in order to investigate the yeasts diversity during the must fermentation of two wine varieties Frankovka Modra (Blaufränkisch) and Veltlinske Zelene (Grüner Veltliner) from two different Slovakian wine-producing areas. The procedure combined a cultivation step with a PCR-based selection step (f-ITS PCR; fluorescence internal transcribed spacer 2 polymerase chain reaction), and a final identification step oriented to the sequencing of ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region of the selected yeasts. The strategy demonstrated to be suitable for the rapid analysis of a large panel of isolates. The f-ITS PCR was able to discriminate the isolated yeasts by one PCR run and capillary electrophoresis separation. The investigation showed the presence of non-Saccharomyces strains on grapes and during the initial and middle stages of must fermentation. Members of the genus Saccharomyces appeared only during the middle fermentation stage and they were the predominant species until the final phase of the process. The presented simple and reliable multistep procedure can be useful for the investigation of the yeast microflora from any wine-producing area and also for studying other kinds of food environments.     

Computational modeling of natural ventilation in low-rise non-rectangular floor-plan buildings

Natural ventilation (NV) is a relevant passive strategy for the design of buildings in seek of energy savings and the improvement of the indoor air quality and the thermal comfort. The main aim of this work is to present a comprehensive NV modeling study of a non-rectangular floor-plan dwelling. Given the arbitrary shape of the building, recourse is made to computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to determine the surface-averaged pressure coefficients (\(\overline {{C_p}} \)). The CFD model was calibrated to match experimental data from an extensive wind tunnel database for low-rise buildings. Then, \(\overline {{C_p}} \) computation via CFD is used to feed the building performance simulation software EnergyPlus, in replacement of the built-in Swami and Chandra parametric model that is only valid for estimating \(\overline {{C_p}} \) in rectangular floor-plan buildings. This computational tool is used to investigate the effect of NV on the thermal performance and the airflow rate in a social housing located in the Argentine Littoral region. Simulation results of the considered building show that NV enables to reduce even more than 65% of the cooling degree-hours. Furthermore, regarding to the \(\overline {{C_p}} \) source (either CFD or Swami and Chandra’s), it is also found that this data has a considerable effect on the airflow rates, but a little effect on the thermal performance.     

Culture-independent detection of microorganisms in traditional Slovakian bryndza cheese

In order to investigate the microflora of Slovakian bryndza cheese (a cheese containing unpasteurized or pasteurized ewes' milk component) by a culture-independent method, DNA was extracted directly from 7 bryndza samples and analysed by an innovative method. Using the universal prokaryotic and fungal primers, ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions with variable length were amplified. The standard universal reverse primer L1 aligning to bacterial 23 s rDNA was found unsuitable for some lactic acid bacteria and other species based on in silico analysis. Therefore, L1 primer was replaced by a combination of novel primers GplusR and GminusR aligning to the adjacent, more conserved DNA region. The amplification profiles were visualised by both standard electrophoresis and by fluorescent capillary gel electrophoresis. From representative samples, major amplicons were excised from the gel, cloned and sequenced. Sequencing revealed that the samples contained Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillus brevis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus raffinolactis, Streptococcus macedonicus, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, Debaromyces hansenii, Mucor fragilis, Yarrowia lipolytica and Galactomyces geotrichum. These results represent an extension of the knowledge on the microflora of Slovakian bryndza cheese. The introduced automated ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer analysis of the bacterial and fungal genomes proved to be very effective in the application of studying microflora of cheese.