A high performance link layer mobility management strategy for professional private broadband networks

In this paper, we present an innovative approach to solving the mobility management problem in the context of professional private broadband networks in the vehicular scenario. These heterogeneous communication networks are commonly deployed and managed by mission-critical organisations with the aim of supporting their specific and highly demanding services. Taking advantage of the specific characteristics of these networks, we propose to solve the mobility problem at Layer 2. This way, the mobility management overhead is reduced compared to solutions that operate at Layer 3 or above and therefore, shorter handover delays and better end-to-end application performances are achieved. The core element of our proposal is an intelligent mobile switch that makes use of the services provided by the IEEE 802.21 protocol to enhance vertical or heterogeneous handover performance. To validate our approach, we have developed a prototype implementation of the designed mobile switch with IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.16 support. Using this mobile switch implementation, we have carried out a set of experiments over a real testbed and measured some key indicators to assess the mobility management process. The obtained results show that our handover strategy comfortably meets the requirements of the ITU-T Y.1541 recommendation for highly demanding applications and ITU-R report M.2134 for high-speed handover. To the best of our knowledge, our contribution is the first proposal that solves the mobility management problem at Layer 2 while addressing the multi-access technology context in the vehicular professional private network scenario.     

Kinetic study of fast pyrolysis of sawdust in a conical spouted bed reactor in the range 400–500 °C

An original reactor (a conical spouted bed reactor) is used for the kinetic study of Pinus insignis sawdust pyrolysis in the range 400–500 °C under the usual conditions of this reactor for pyrolysis in a continuous regime. The equipment meets the requirements for pyrolysis kinetic study (bed isothermality, high mass and heat transfer between phases and short residence time of gaseous products). The results of yield of products are evidence of the good performance of the conical spouted bed reactor for obtaining a liquid product, with a maximum yield of 70 wt% in the range 440–460 °C. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Bias Error Analysis of the Generalised Hough Transform

The generalised Hough transform (GHT) extends the Hough transform (HT) to the extraction of arbitrary shapes. In practice, the performance of both techniques differs considerably. The literature suggests that, whilst the HT can provide accurate results with significant levels of noise and occlusion, the performance of the GHT is in fact much more sensitive to noise. In this paper we extend previous error analyses by considering the possible causes of bias errors of the GHT. Our analysis considers both formulation and implementation issues. First, we compare the formulation of the GHT against the general formulation of the standard HT. This shows that, in fact, the GHT definition increases the robustness of the standard HT formulation. Then, in order to explain this paradoxical situation we consider four possible sources of errors that are introduced due to the implementation of the GHT: (i) errors in the computation of gradient direction; (ii) errors due to false evidence attributed to the range of values defined by the point spread function; (iii) errors due to the contribution of false evidence by background points; and (iv) errors due to the non-analytic (i.e., tabular) representation used to store the properties of the model. After considering the effects of each source of error we conclude that: (i) in theory, the GHT is actually more robust than the standard HT; (ii) that clutter and occlusion have a reduced effect in the GHT with respect to the HT; and (iii) that a significant source of error can be due to the use of a non-analytic representation. A non-analytic representation defines a discrete point spread function that is mapped into a discrete accumulator array. The discrete point spread function is scaled and rotated in the gathering process, increasing the amount of inaccurate evidence. Experimental results demonstrate that the analysis of errors is congruent with practical implementation issues. Our results demonstrate that the GHT is more robust than the HT when the non-analytic representation is replaced by an analytic representation and when evidence is gathered using a suitable range of values in gradient direction. As such, we show that errors in the GHT are due to implementation issues and that the technique actually provides a more powerful model-based shape extraction approach than has previously been acknowledged.     

Interpretation of the pressuremeter test using numerical models based on deformation tensor equations

The pressuremeter test in boreholes has proven itself as a useful tool in geotechnical explorations, especially comparing its results with those obtained from a mathematical model ruled by a soil representative constitutive equation. The numerical model shown in this paper is aimed to be the reference framework for the interpretation of this test. The model analyses variables such as: the type of response, the initial state, the drainage regime and the constitutive equations. It is a model of finite elements able to work with a mesh without deformation or one adapted to it.     

Framework to predict the orientation of fibers in FRC: A novel philosophy

This paper aims at providing a link between fiber orientation and the properties of FRC, the structure to be built and its respective production process. Since the proposed framework is to a large extent new, the main components are described in the beginning. Then, two major subjects are approached from a theoretical perspective: fiber orientation in 3-D and the wall-effects of fibers in anisotropic conditions. Finally, in the last part, the main steps of the proposed framework are analyzed in detail and validated with experimental results. This comprehensive and straightforward model has shown to be capable of estimating the average orientation of fibers with very good accuracy. Thereby, this paper is a meaningful contribution to create an engineering toolbox for the prediction of fiber orientation in practical applications of fiber reinforced concrete.     

Developments in injectable multiphasic biomaterials. The performance of microporous biphasic calcium phosphate granules and hydrogels

Calcium phosphate bioceramic granules associated with hydrosoluble polymers were developed as bone substitutes for various maxillofacial and orthopaedic applications. These injectable bone substitutes, support and regenerate bone tissue and resorb after implantation. The efficiency of these multiphasic materials is due to the osteogenic and osteoconductive properties of the microporous biphasic calcium phosphate. The associated hydrosoluble polymers are considered as carriers in order to achieve the rheological properties of injectable bone substitutes (IBS). In this study, we used 2 semi synthetic hydrosoluble polymers of polysaccharidic origin. The hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), with and without silane, was combined with microporous BCP granules. The presence of silane induced considerable gelation of the suspension. The 2 IBS used (without gelation, IBS1, with gelation, IBS2) were implanted in critical size femoral epiphysis defects in rabbits. No foreign body reactions were observed in either sample. However, because of the higher density from gelation, cell colonisation followed by bone tissue ingrowth was delayed over time with IBS2 compared to the IBS1 without gelation. The results showed resorption of the BCP granule and bone ingrowth at the expense of both IBS with different kinetics. This study demonstrates that the hydrogel cannot be considered merely as a carrier. The gelation process delayed cell and tissue colonisation by slow degradation of the HPMC Si, compared to the faster release of HPMC with IBS1, in turn inducing faster permeability and spaces for tissue ingrowth between the BCP granules.     

Estimation of dry matter content in leaves using normalized indexes and PROSPECT model inversion

This work applies remote sensing techniques to estimate dry matter (DM) content in tree leaves. Two methods were used to estimate DM content: a normalized index obtained from the radiative transfer model (RTM) leaf optical properties spectra (PROSPECT) in direct mode and the inversion of the PROSPECT model. The data were obtained from the Leaf Optical Properties Experiment 93 (LOPEX93) database, and only 11 species were used in this study. The species selection was based mainly on the availability of data on fresh and dry samples. The estimation of DM content was obtained from an exponential function that correlated the values of the index proposed, (R₂₃₀₅???R₁₄₉₅)/(R₂₃₀₅?+?R₁₄₉₅), against the DM content of fresh and dry leaf samples. The determination coefficient obtained (r ²?=?0.672) was higher than the coefficient obtained from the inversion of the PROSPECT model (r ²?=?0.507). The data set used to validate the normalized index was provided by the Accelerated Canopy Chemistry Program (ACCP). The determination coefficient between the values obtained from ACCP data and the values estimated for the normalized index was r ²?=?0.767.     

Thermal and catalytic conversion of used tyre rubber and its polymeric constituents using Py-GC/MS

This paper investigates the effect of various acid catalysts in the conversion of tyre rubber into hydrocarbon products. A used tyre rubber and three pure elastomers (cis-1,4-polyisoprene, polystyrene-co-butadiene and cis-polybutadiene) were characterised for their chemical composition and thermal behaviour in order to determine the main constituent of the waste material. Five acid solids of comparable aluminium contents but varying textural and/or acid characteristics were used as catalysts, including three zeolites (standard ZSM-5, nanocrystalline n-ZSM-5 and beta) and two mesostructured materials (Al-MCM-41 and Al-SBA-15). The presence of catalysts did not affect the degradation temperature of waste tyre rubber, although significant differences were observed in the nature of the resulting hydrocarbons. All zeolitic materials showed a marked selectivity towards the formation of aromatic species, particularly toluene (up to 19.82%), m/p-xylene (up to 16.91%) and benzene (up to 10.28%). This behaviour was slightly more marked in zeolites with stronger acid properties and reduced steric impediments, like nanocrystalline n-ZSM-5. Mesostructured catalysts (Al-MCM-41 and Al-SBA-15) not only exhibited strong aromatisation properties but also a marked benzene alkylation capacity, which resulted in the formation of a wider range of alkylaromatic products. This behaviour was associated with their weaker Lewis type acid character and also to their larger pore sizes, which posed no impediment to the formation of larger molecular size products.     

Comparative study of preemptive and postincisional lumbar epidural morphine in pulmonary resection. Preliminary report

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and incidence of side effects of two types of lumbar epidural analgesia with morphine, preemptive or postincisional, combined with total intravenous anesthesia in chest surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This double-blind prospective study enrolled 20 patients (ASA I-IV) undergoing lobectomy or pneumonectomy. Anesthetic induction and maintenance was provided with propofol, atracurium and alfentanil. Lumbar epidural analgesia (L2-L3) with morphine was provided for group A patients with 2 to 4 mg upon excision of tissue and for group B with 2 to 4 mg during anesthetic induction. The following variables were recorded: arterial blood gas concentrations, heart rate, SpO2, EtCO2, postanesthetic recovery, arterial gases, side effects and pain on a visual analogue scale. Top-up analgesia was provided by intravenous metamizole and/or epidural morphine. For statistical analysis we used ANOVA, chi-square tests and Student-Newman-Keuls tests. RESULTS: The need for propofol and alfentanil during anesthesia, and for morphine and metamizole after surgery were statistically greater in group A. Pain 18 hours after surgery was also greater in group A. No significant differences between groups for other variables was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Preemptive analgesia with lumbar epidural morphine in addition to the general anesthesia described here seems to provide higher-quality analgesia with few side effects, reducing the need for propofol and alfentanil during surgery and for postoperative morphine and metamizole.     

MBCP® biphasic calcium phosphate granules and tissucol® fibrin sealant in rabbit femoral defects: The effect of fibrin on bone ingrowth

An ageing population implies an increase in bone and dental diseases, which are in turn a source of numerous handicaps. These pathologies are an expensive burden for the European health system. As no specific bioactive materials are efficient enough to cope with this burden, we have to develop an injectable, mouldable, self-hardening bone substitute to support bone tissue reconstruction and augmentation.New, highly bioactive and suitable biomaterials have been developed to replace bone grafts in orthopedic revision and maxillofacial surgery for bone augmentation. These mouldable, self-hardening materials are based on the association of MBCP® Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Granules and Tissucol® Fibrin Sealant. The in vivo evaluation of ingrowth in relation to the composite was made in an experiment on rabbits. The results indicate that in the presence of fibrin sealant, newly-formed bone developed at a small distance from the surface of the calcium phosphate ceramic. Two different bone apposition processes were identified. Without the fibrin component (MBCP group), bone rested directly on the surface of the granules. This observation is commonly described as osteoconduction in calcium phosphate materials. On the contrary, the presence of the fibrinogen component seemed to modify this standard osteoconduction phenomenon: the newly-formed bone essentially grew at a distance from the surface of the granules, on the fibrillar network, and could be considered as an inductive phenomenon for osteogenic cell differentiation from mesenchymal stem cells.