Factorial Design of Cement Slurries Containing Limestone Powder for Self-Consolidating Slurry-Infiltrated Fiber Concrete

Slurries with high penetrability for production of Self-consolidating Slurry Infiltrated Fiber Concrete (SIFCON) were investigated in this study. Factorial experimental design was adopted in this investigation to assess the combined effects of five independent variables on mini-slump test, plate cohesion meter, induced bleeding test, J-fiber penetration test and compressive strength at 7 and 28 days. The independent variables investigated were the proportions of limestone powder (LSP) and sand, the dosages of superplasticiser (SP) and viscosity agent (VA), and water-to-binder ratio (w/b). A two-level fractional factorial statistical method was used to model the influence of key parameters on properties affecting the behaviour of fresh cement slurry and compressive strength. The models are valid for mixes with 10 to 50% LSP as replacement of cement, 0.02 to 0.06% VA by mass of cement, 0.6 to 1.2% SP and 50 to 150% sand (% mass of binder) and 0.42 to 0.48 w/b. The influences of LSP, SP, VA, sand and W/B were characterised and analysed using polynomial regression which identifies the primary factors and their interactions on the measured properties. Mathematical polynomials were developed for mini-slump, plate cohesion meter, J-fiber penetration test, induced bleeding and compressive strength as functions of LSP, SP, VA, sand and w/b. The estimated results of mini-slump, induced bleeding test and compressive strength from the derived models are compared with results obtained from previously proposed models that were developed for cement paste. The proposed response models of the self-consolidating SIFCON offer useful information regarding the mix optimization to secure a highly penetration of slurry with low compressive strength

Cavity-Enhanced Photoacoustic Detection Using Acoustic and Fiber-Optic Resonators

A wineglass has been used as an acoustic resonator to enhance the photoacoustic signal generated by laser excitation of absorbing dyes in solution. The amplitude of the acoustic signal was recorded using a fiber-optic transducer based on a Fabry-Pérot cavity attached to the rim of the wineglass. The optical and acoustic properties of the setup were characterized, and it was used to quantify the concentration of phosphomolybdenum blue and methyl red solutions. Detection limits of 1.2 ppm and 8 muM were obtained, respectively.

Photonic Guitar Pick-up: Fiber Strain Sensors Find Applications in Music Recording

In this report we give a summary of our work on the development of low-noise fiber-optic strain sensors. Three types of strain sensors were developed and were tested by attaching them to the bodies of acoustic guitars. The fibers are strained as the soundboards of the guitars vibrate. The resulting spectral shift of either a Fiber Bragg Grating or a fiber Fabry-Perot cavity is then used to record the sound of the instrument.

Chemical Sensing Using a Polymer Coated Long-Period Fiber Grating Interrogated by Ring-Down Spectroscopy

An etched long-period grating was used as a refractive index sensor for vapours of four volatile organic compounds, i.e. m-xylene, cyclohexane, trichloroethylene and commercial gasoline. The sensitivity to the vapours was further increased by solid-phase microextraction into a coating made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/polymethyl-octylsiloxane (PMOS) co-polymer. By further amplification of the optical loss in an optical cavity made of two identical fiber-Bragg gratings and interrogation by phase-shift cavity ring-down spectroscopy we could detect and distinguish xylene (detection limit: 134ppm) from trichloroethylene (3300ppm), cyclohexane (1850ppm) and gasoline (10,500ppm).

Single-Mode Fiber Refractive Index Sensor Based on Core-Offset Attenuators

Mach-Zehnder and Michelson interferometers using core-offset attenuators were demonstrated. As the relative offset direction of the two attenuators in the Mach-Zehnder interferometer can significantly affect the extinction ratio of the interference pattern, single core-offset attenuator-based sensors appear more robust and repeatable. A novel fiber Michelson interferometer refractive index (RI) sensor was subsequently realized by a single core-offset attenuator and a layer of ~ 500-nm gold coating. The device had a minimum insertion loss of 0.01 dB and maximum extinction ratio over 9 dB. The sensitivity (0.333 nm) of the new sensor to its surrounding RI change (0.01) was found to be comparable to that (0.252 nm) of an identical long period gratings pair Mach-Zehnder interferometric sensor, and its ease of fabrication makes it a low-cost alternative to existing sensing applications.

Optical Fiber Sensing Based on Reflection Laser Spectroscopy

An overview on high-resolution and fast interrogation of optical-fiber sensors relying on laser reflection spectroscopy is given. Fiber Bragg-gratings (FBGs) and FBG resonators built in fibers of different types are used for strain, temperature and acceleration measurements using heterodyne-detection and optical frequency-locking techniques. Silica fiber-ring cavities are used for chemical sensing based on evanescent-wave spectroscopy. Various arrangements for signal recovery and noise reduction, as an extension of most typical spectroscopic techniques, are illustrated and results on detection performances are presented.

Fiber-Optic Ring-Down Spectroscopy Using a Tunable Picosecond Gain-Switched Diode Laser

Visible and near-infrared laser light pulses were coupled into two different types of optical fiber cavities. One cavity consisted of a short strand of fiber waveguide that contained two identical fiber Bragg gratings. Another cavity was made using a loop of optical fiber. In either cavity ∼ 40 ps laser pulses, which were generated using a custom-built gainswitched diode laser, circulated for a large number of round trips. The optical loss of either cavity was determined from the ring-down times. Cavity ring-down spectroscopy was performed on 200 pL volumes of liquid samples that were injected into the cavities using a 100 μm gap in the fiber loop. A detection limit of 20 ppm of methylene blue dye in aqueous solution, corresponding to a minimum absorptivity of εC < 6 cm−1, was realized.

Glycemic index, carbohydrate and fiber intakes and risk of reflux esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma

Objective: To examine the association between dietary glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), total carbohydrate, sugars, starch, and fiber intakes and the risk of reflux esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: In an all-Ireland study, dietary information was collected from patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (n = 224), long-segment Barrett’s esophagus (n = 220), reflux esophagitis (n = 219), and population-based controls (n = 256). Multiple logistic regression analysis examined the association between dietary variables and disease risk by tertiles of intake and as continuous variables, while adjusting for potential confounders.

Results: Reflux esophagitis risk was positively associated with starch intake and negatively associated with sugar intake. Barrett’s esophagus risk was significantly reduced in people in the highest versus the lowest tertile of fiber intake (OR 0.44 95%CI 0.25–0.80). Fiber intake was also associated with a reduced risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, as was total carbohydrate intake (OR 0.45 95%CI 0.33–0.61 per 50 g/d increase). However, an increased esophageal adenocarcinoma risk was detected per 10 unit increase in GI intake (OR 1.42 95%CI 1.07–1.89).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that fiber intake is inversely associated with Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma risk. Esophageal adenocarcinoma risk is inversely associated with total carbohydrate consumption but positively associated with high GI intakes.

Abnormal integrity of association fiber tracts in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

The association fiber tracts integrity of the inter-hemispheric and within-hemispheric communication was poor understood in amnestic type mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). A region of interest-based DTI approach was applied to explore fiber tract differences between 22 aMCI patients and 22 well-matched normal aging. Correlations were also sought between fractional anisotropy (FA) values and the cognitive performance scores in the aMCI patients. Extensive impairment of association fiber tracts integrity was observed in aMCI patients, including bilateral inferior fronto-occipital fascicles, the genu of corpus callosum, bilateral cingulate bundles and bilateral superior longitudinal fascicles II (SLE II) subcomponent. In addition, the FA value of right SLE II was significantly negatively correlated to the performance of Trail Making Test A and B, whilst the values of right posterior cingulate bundle was significantly positive correlation with MMSE score. As aMCI is a putative prodromal syndrome to Alzheimer's disease (AD), this study suggested that investigation of association fiber tracts between remote cortexes may yield important new data to predict whether a patient will eventually develop AD.

Development and Longer Term In Situ Evaluation of Fiber-Optic Sensors for Monitoring of Structural Concrete

In this paper, new solutions to the problem of making measurements, of carbonation and chloride ingress, in particular, in concrete structures are considered. The approach has focused on the design, development, and use of fiber-optic sensors (FOSs), recognizing the need in that conventional devices are often either inaccurate, expensive, or unsuitable for encapsulation in the material. The sensors have been designed to monitor, in situ and nondestructively, relevant physical, and chemical changes in cementitious materials. Three different types of FOS were constructed, tested, and evaluated specifically for this application, these being a temperature sensor (based on the fluorescence decay) and pH and chloride sensors, based on sol-gel (solidified gel) technology with appropriate impregnated indicators. The sensors were all designed to be inserted into the structures and evaluated under the harshest conditions, i.e., being mounted when the mortar is poured and thus tested in situ, with the temperature and pH sensors successfully embedded in mortar. The outcomes of these tests have shown that both the temperature sensor and the pH sensor were able to function correctly for the duration of the work - for over 18 months after placement. The laboratory tests on the chloride sensor showed it was able to make measurements but was not reversible, limiting its potential utility for in situ environments. Research is ongoing to refine the sensor performance and extend the testing.

The effect of 3D weaving and consolidation on carbon fiber tows, fabrics, and composites

This article investigates the damage imparted on load-bearing carbon fibers during the 3D weaving process and the subsequent compaction behavior of 3D woven textile preforms. The 3D multi-layer reinforcements were manufactured on a textile loom with few mechanical modifications to produce preforms with fibers orientated in the warp, weft, and through-the-thickness directions. Tensile tests were conducted on three types of commercially available carbon fibers, 12k HTA, 6k HTS, and 3k HTS in an attempt to quantify the effect of fiber damage induced during the 3D weaving process on the mechanical and physical performance of the fiber tows in the woven composite. The tests were conducted on fiber tows sampled from different locations in the manufacturing process from the bobbin, through the creel and loom mechanism, to the final woven fabric. Mechanical and physical testing were then conducted to quantify the tow geometry, orientation and the effect of compaction during manufacture of two styles of 3D woven composite by vacuumassisted resin transfer molding (VaRTM).