Adaptive Control for the Position of Magnetic Particles using Magnetic Traps

Magnetic traps are an important instrument for analyzing the behavior of systems and biological processes. They manipulate magnetic particles by applying a force under the influence of magnetic fields. Controlling the position of the magnetic particle for single molecule studies is difficult due to the complexity of the instrument because its dynamics can change per experiment. This results in users spending an immense amount of time designing compensators to meet experimental requirements, yielding insufficient time spent concentrating on the experiment.One method to alleviate users of designing compensators is to incorporate adaptive control methods into the design of magnetic traps. Adaptive control is able to adjust the parameters of the compensator to ensure the performance of the instrument meets specific requirements. The magnetic particle constantly moves from the Brownian disturbances acting upon it. These disturbances can be minimized by using an adaptive Q-parametrized compensator structure with LMS to minimize a frequency weighted version of the displacement of the magnetic particle for low frequencies.An adaptive Q-parametrized compensator structure was incorporated into the design of the magnetic trap, resulting in the position of the magnetic particle being stabilized, the effects of the Brownian disturbances being reduced, and the dynamics of the instrument changing into account. The displacement of the magnetic particle due to the Brownian disturbances was suppressed more as the number of FIR weights increased than using the nominal adaptive compensator

Touristic Travelling on Horseback : Travelling through built Emotion

International audienc

From work men-horse to beloved women-companion: the Revolution of the human-horse relation (XIX-XXIth centuries)

International audienc

The equine business: the spectacularly growth of a new segment market in France

A social revolution in riding has created incredible growth in the equine-product market. This new equine economy is, in fact, characterized by the range of activities available (32 riding styles are listed by the FFE), by riders’ needs (equipment for both riders and their horses including fences, water troughs, horse-boxes etc.), by product ranges (from entry-level to luxury goods), but also by fashion which, thanks to the profile of today’s horse-riders (predominantly female and young) has become a key part of the market. This enthusiasm has led to the development of businesses, the majority of which have appeared in the last thirty years in France (Antarès, CWD, GPA, Cheval Shop, EquipHorse, Fautras etc.). While they have become key references in the sector, and account for nearly half of all jobs related to the equine sector in France (38,900 agricultural jobs compared to 32,800 non-agricultural jobs including business, veterinary care, farriers and public bodies - IFCE 2011), their characteristics remain largely unexplored

Off the track: A profile of non-tenure track faculty at McGill University

A survey conducted at McGill University suggests that non-tenure track faculty are a diverse group of highly-qualified individuals whose employment status involves a high degree of uncertainty. In accordance with other Canadian and American studies, the survey also found that a disproportionate number of women occupy non-tenure track as opposed to tenured or tenure track positions. Since the 1980s, North American universities have responded to increasing student enrollments and con- tinued cuts to government funding by appointing significant numbers of faculty to full-time and part-time non-tenure track positions. Due to the precariousness of their employment status, non-tenure track faculty rep- resent an attractive buffer in times of financial restraint. Despite their increasing numbers, however, little is known about the composition and concerns of non-tenure track faculty as a group. This article describes this group at one university and puts into question the structural and power relations that have led to their increased use and abuse.Une étude faite à l'université McGill suggère que le corps enseignant dont le statut ne donne pas accès à la permanence est fortement diversifié et composé d'individus très qualifiés, mais que ce même statut implique une grande incertitude d'emploi. A l'instar des études canadiennes et américaines, cette étude montre également qu'à l'université McGill, un nombre disproportionné de femmes occupent des postes qui ne donnent pas accès à la permanence par opposition à des postes permanents ou qui donnent accès à la permanence. Depuis les années 1980, les universités Nord-américaines ont réagi à l'accroissement de la clientèle étudiante et aux compressions répétées des subventions de l'État en embauchant un nombre important d'enseignants à des postes à temps partiel ou plein temps qui ne donnent pas accès à la permanence. La précarité inhérente à ce statut d'emploi est une solution attrayante en période de restriction budgétaire. Quoique le nombre de postes soit en croissance constante, on connait peu de choses sur la composition de ce groupe et leurs préoccupations à propos de leur statut. Cet article décrit un groupe dans une université et soulève des questions de relations structurales et de pouvoir qui ont mené à accroître et à abuser de cette forme d'emploi