In low flow rates, red blood cells (RBCs) fasten together along their axis of symmetry and form a so-called rouleaux. The scattering of He-Ne laser light by a rouleau consisting of n (2 ≤ n ≤ 8) average-sized RBCs is investigated. The interaction problem is treated numerically by means of an advanced axisymmetric boundary element—fast Fourier transform methodology. The scattering problem of one RBC was solved first, and the results showed that the influence of the RBC’s membrane on the scattering patterns is negligible. Thus the rouleau is modeled as an axisymmetric, homogeneous, low-contrast dielectric cylinder, on the surface of which appears, owing to aggregated RBCs, a periodic roughness along the direction of symmetry. The direction of the incident laser light is considered to be perpendicular to the scatterer’s axis of symmetry. The differential scattering cross sections in both perpendicular and parallel scattering planes and for all the scattering angles are calculated and presented in detail.

The study describes the acoustic emission (AE) activity during human femur tissue fracture. The specimens were fractured in a bending-torsion loading pattern with concurrent monitoring by two AE sensors. The number of recorded signals correlates well with the applied load providing the onset of micro-fracture at approximately one sixth of the maximum load. Furthermore, waveform frequency content and rise time are related to the different modes of fracture (bending of femur neck or torsion of diaphysis). The importance of the study lies mainly in two disciplines. One is that, although femurs are typically subjects of surgical repair in humans, detailed monitoring of the fracture with AE will enrich the understanding of the process in ways that cannot be achieved using only the mechanical data. Additionally, from the point of view of monitoring techniques, applying sensors used for engineering materials and interpreting the obtained data pose additional difficulties due to the uniqueness of the bone structure.

In the present work, an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system for the protection against corrosion of a 399-m-length container ship throughout its service life is designed. The study is carried out with the aid of a boundary element method code, accelerated by an adaptive cross approximation scheme, utilizing a detailed large-scale model. The exact geometry of the ship, the progressive damage of the coating system, and the dynamic state during the cruise of the ship are the main parameters taken into consideration in modelling. The main objective of the design process is to minimize the electric power, delivered by the ICCP system, determining the optimal number and location of the installed inert anodes to accomplish the absolute minimum protection potential on the immersed steel surfaces of the ship and, simultaneously, avoid overprotection. Performing an extensive parametric study, a six-zone ICCP system is proposed, consisting of 10 anodes at the hull and four identical anodes at each of four thrusters.