Emulsions stabilised by whey protein microgel particles: Towards food-grade Pickering emulsions

We have investigated a new class of food-grade particles, whey protein microgels, as stabilisers of triglyceride-water emulsions. The sub-micron particles stabilized oil-in-water emulsions at all pH with and without salt. All emulsions creamed but exhibited exceptional resistance to coalescence. Clear correlations exist between the properties of the microgels in aqueous dispersion and the resulting emulsion characteristics. For conditions in which the particles were uncharged, fluid emulsions with relatively large drops were stabilised, whereas emulsions stabilized by charged particles contained smaller flocculated drops. A combination of optical microscopy of the drops and spectrophotometry of the resolved aqueous phase allowed us to estimate the interfacial adsorption densities of the particles using the phenomenon of limited coalescence. We deduce two classes of particle arrangement. Complete adsorption of the particles was obtained when they were neutral or when their charges were screened by salt resulting in at least one particle monolayer at the interface. By contrast, only around 50% of the particles adsorbed when they were charged with emulsion drops being covered by less than half a monolayer. These findings were supported by direct visualization of drop interfaces using cryo-scanning electron microscopy. Uncharged particles were highly aggregated and formed a continuous 2-D network at the interface. Otherwise particles organized as individual aggregates separated by particle-free regions. In this case, we suggest that some particles spread at the interface leading to the formation of a continuous protein membrane. Charged particles displayed the ability to bridge opposing interfaces of neighbouring drops to form dense particle disks protecting drops against coalescence; this is the main reason for the flocculation and stability of emulsions containing sparsely covered drops. © 2014 the Partner Organisations

SBG for Health Monitoring of Fuel Cell System

To guarantee the safe operation of the Fuel Cell (FC) systems, it is necessary to use systematic techniques to detect and isolate faults for diagnosis purposes. The problematic for Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) model-based of fuel cell consists in that such system is bad instrumented, its model is complex (because of coupling of multi-physical phenomena such as electrochemical, electrical, thermo fluidic…) and the numerical values related to it are not always known. This is why qualitative model (based on existence or not of the links between variables and the relations) is well suited for fuel cell diagnosis. In this paper, we propose a new graphical model (named Signed Bond Graph) allowing to combine both qualitative and quantitative features for health monitoring (in terms of diagnosis and prognosis) of the fuel cell. The innovative interest of the presented paper is the use of only one representation for not only structural model but also diagnosis of faults which may affect the fuel cell. The developed theory is illustrated by an application to a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC).

Robust fault decision : Contribution to Omni directional Mobile Robot

Fault diagnosis is crucial for ensuring the safe operation of complex engineering systems and avoiding the execution of an unsafe behaviour. This chapter deals with Robust Decision Making (RDM) for fault detection of electromechanical systems by combining the advantages of Bond Graph (BG) modeling and Fuzzy logic reasoning. A fault diagnosis method implemented in two stages is proposed. In the first stage, the residuals are deduced from the BG model allowing the building of a Fault Signature Matrix (FSM) according to the sensitivity of residuals to different parameters. In the second stage, the result of FSM and the robust residual thresholds are used by the fuzzy reasoning mechanism in order to evaluate a degree of detectability for each set of components. Finally, in order to make robust decision according to the detected fault component, an analysis is done between the output variables of the fuzzy system and components having the same signature in the FSM. The performance of the proposed fault diagnosis methodology is demonstrated through experimental data of an omni directional robot. - See more at: http://www.eurekaselect.com/102039/chapter/robust-fault-decision%3A-appl...

Addressing decision making for remanufacturing operations and design-for-remanufacture

Remanufacturing is a process of returning a used product to at least original equipment manufacturer original performance specification from the customers' perspective and giving the resultant product a warranty that is at least equal to that of a newly manufactured equivalent. This paper explains the need to combine ecological concerns and economic growth and the significance of remanufacturing in this. Using the experience of an international aero-engine manufacturer it discusses the impact of the need for sustainable manufacturing on organisational business models. It explains some key decision-making issues that hinder remanufacturing and suggests effective solutions. It presents a peer-validated, high-level design guideline to assist decision-making in design in order to support remanufacturing. The design guide was developed in the UK through the analysis of selections of products during case studies and workshops involving remanufacturing and conventional manufacturing practitioners as well as academics. It is one of the initial stages in the development of a robust design for remanufacture guideline

Innføring av screening for underernæring på en medisinsk avdeling

Sammendrag Temaet ernæring og helse er stadig oppe til diskusjon. Vi ønsket derfor å se nærmere på hvordan pasienters ernæringsstatus vurderes og ivaretas på sykehus. Etter forutgående undersøkelser valgte vi å utrede spørsmål om innføring av screening for underernæring ved medisinsk avdeling på Gjøvik. Hensikten var dels å se på utbredelsen av underernæring hos eldre og kronisk syke, korrelasjon mellom underernæring og dårlig prognose/morbiditet/mortalitet, om screening er effektivt for å finne underernærte, og eventuelt hvilket screeningsverktøy som bør brukes. Oppgavens overordnede formål var definert innenfor rammene av KloK (temaene kunnskapshåndtering, ledelse og kvalitetsforbedring). Med de valgte problemstillinger fokuserer oppgaven i hovedsak på spørsmål om kvalitetsforbedring. Kunnskapsgrunnlaget er hentet fra medisinske databaser med hovedvekt på Medline, Cochrane og Clinical Evidence. Det har vært lagt vekt på å finne relevante artikler basert på RCT-studier, epidemiologiske studier, meta-analyser og relevante retningslinjer, som har blitt vurdert opp mot kunnskapssenterets lister. Vi ønsket å se på hvordan medisinsk avdeling på Gjøvik håndterte spørsmål om utredning av ernæringsstatus, og da særlig hvordan avdelingen forholdt seg til de spørsmål vi har reist i oppgaven. Kunnskapsgunnlaget ga klare holdepunkter for at ernæringsstatus burde utredes med sikte på å bedre mortalitet, morbiditet m.v. Oppgaven sikter på å vurdere innføring av sreening av ernæringsstilstand som tiltak. Ulike screeningmetoder er vurdert, og den screeningmetoden vi fant best dokumentasjon på er foreslått som egnet tiltak ( ). Informasjon om praksis ble hentet inn gjennom intervjuer av helsepersonell i avdelingen og observasjoner fra detaltakelse i avdelingen under studentutplassering. Avdelingen syntes i praksis ikke å ha nevneverdige implementerte tiltak som tok sikte på å avklare disse problemstillingene på en systematisk måte. Utredning og tiltak tilknyttet ernæringsstatus var i hovedsak tilfeldig organisert rundt det kliniske arbeidet. På denne bakgrunn ble aktuelle tiltak foreslått innført ved avdelingen. Som indikator har vi foreslått et surrogatmål, gjennomgang av dokumentert screening og ernæringsstatus i aktuelle journaler

Surveillance sanitaire des cocoteraies adultes en Afrique de l'Ouest. I. Contrôles ordinaires

La plupart des ravageurs connus dans les cocoteraies d'Afrique de l'Ouest passent le plus souvent inaperçus, bien qu'ils soient toujours présents. Dans certaines conditions, difficiles à définir, il y a pullulation d'un ou de plusieurs d'entre eux et, en conséquence, des dégâts importants peuvent alors se produire. Des contrôles sanitaires fréquents sont nécessaires pour la conduite de la méthode de lutte intégrée, généralement adoptée à présent en défense des cultures, ce qui suppose une bonne connaissance des ravageurs, de leur biologie et de leurs ennemis naturels. Comme pour le palmier à huile, il y a deux types de contrôles phytosanitaires : - les contrôles ordinaires, décrits dans ces " Conseils ", qui permettent de suivre l'ensemble des populations de ravageurs, d'insectes auxiliaires, et de détecter toute anomalie susceptible de se traduire par des dégâts préjudiciables ; - les contrôles spéciaux, spécifiques d'un ravageur donné, qui feront l'objet d'une autre page de Pratique agricole (1 ), et sont réalisés sur un échantillon d'observation plus important. Ils permettent de suivre plus précisément l'évolution de ce ravageur, l'intensité et l'étendue des dégâts qu'il provoque. Toutefois, la décision d'intervention par traitement ne peut être prise à bon escient qu'après examen attentif des résultats d'un ou de plusieurs contrôles spéciaux réalisés après détection de l'attaque par un contrôle ordinaire. La présente " Page de pratique agricole " traite de la conduite des contrôles phytosanitaires en cocoteraie de plus de quatre ans, entrée en production. La surveillance des jeunes cocoteraies, beaucoup plus vulnérables, fera également l'objet d'autres " Conseils ". (Résumé d'auteur

The German dual system: a model for Europe?

"Die Stärke und Flexibilität des dualen Systems der Berufsausbildung wird im allgemeinen mit dem sozialen Konsens im deutschen System der industriellen Beziehungen erklärt. Viele Studien führen sogar den wirtschaftlichen Erfolg , speziell im Export, auf die Qualität der Berufsausbildung zurück, die dieses System stützt. Deshalb ist zu erwarten, daß das deutsche Modell auf das besondere Interesse in den europäischen Ländern stößt, in denen das Bildungssystem in einer Krise zu stecken scheint. Basierend auf einem Vergleich mit Frankreich wird in diesem Beitrag versucht, eine dynamischere und globalere (die berufliche Fort- und Weiterbildung umgreifende) Sicht des deutschen dualen Systems zu entwerfen. Es wird argumentiert, daß sich die internen Spannungen des 'beruflichen' Modells verstärkt haben und seine Grundlagen radikal verändern, sowohl was die Ausbildungsmethoden als auch die Arbeitsorganisation und die Arbeitsbeziehungen in den Betrieben anbelangt. Anschließend werden die aktuellen Veränderungen des französischen Modells untersucht, das sich - von einer anderen Seite - einer mehr beruflichen Struktur des Arbeitsmarktes nähert." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku

Design and evaluation of a novel technology for ambulatory monitoring of bruxism events

International audienceBruxism is a widespread phenomenon whose diagnosis is usually made from non reliable, self-evaluation of the patient on one hand, and clinical signs whose absence does not mean absence of bruxism on the other hand. Different methods have been used in research setting for the assessment of bruxism such as portable electromyography but currently there exists no reliable method for the diagnosis of bruxism at home. In this paper, the hardware and software architecture of a complete ambulatory system, enabling long term monitoring of bruxism by measuring clenching/grinding forces of the patient is presented. The results of the tests conducted in vitro to evaluate the sensor's response are also presented. In vivo tests exhibited good correlation with an electromyography of the masseter muscle. With a maximum thickness of 2 mm, the discomfort for the patient is reduced and corresponds nearly to the usual thickness of an occlusal splint. This inductively rechargeable instrumented splint enables a long-term use over different periods and clenching/grinding data can be retrieved locally or transmitted wirelessly via WiFi, on a secured server, for further analysis