An expert system for choosing the best combination of options in a general purpose program for Automated Design Synthesis

An expert system called EXADS has been developed to aid users of the Automated Design Synthesis (ADS) general purpose optimization program. ADS has approximately 100 combinations of strategy, optimizer, and one-dimensional search options from which to choose. It is difficult for a nonexpert to make this choice. This expert system aids the user in choosing the best combination of options based on the users knowledge of the problem and the expert knowledge stored in the knowledge base. The knowledge base is divided into three categories; constrained problems, unconstrained problems, and constrained problems being treated as unconstrained problems. The inference engine and rules are written in LISP, contains about 200 rules, and executes on DEC-VAX (with Franz-LISP) and IBM PC (with IQ-LISP) computers.     

Evaluation of atrial septal defects with 4D flow MRI—multilevel and inter-reader reproducibility for quantification of shunt severity

Purpose

With the hypothesis that 4D flow can be used in evaluation of cardiac shunts, we seek to evaluate the multilevel and interreader reproducibility of measurements of the blood flow, shunt fraction and shunt volume in patients with atrial septum defect (ASD) in practice at multiple clinical sites.

Materials and methods

Four-dimensional flow MRI examinations were performed at four institutions across Europe and the US. Twenty-nine patients (mean age, 43 years; 11 male) were included in the study. Flow measurements were performed at three levels (valve, main artery and periphery) in both the pulmonary and systemic circulation by two independent readers and compared against stroke volumes from 4D flow anatomic data. Further, the shunt ratio (Q_p/Q_s) was calculated. Additionally, shunt volume was quantified at the atrial level by tracking the atrial septum.

Results

Measurements of the pulmonary blood flow at multiple levels correlate well whether measuring at the valve, main pulmonary artery or branch pulmonary arteries (r = 0.885–0.886). Measurements of the systemic blood flow show excellent correlation, whether measuring at the valve, ascending aorta or sum of flow from the superior vena cava (SVC) and descending aorta (r = 0.974–0.991). Intraclass agreement between the two observers for the flow measurements varies between 0.96 and 0.99. Compared with stroke volume, pulmonic flow is underestimated with 0.26 l/min at the main pulmonary artery level, and systemic flow is overestimated with 0.16 l/min at the ascending aorta level. Direct measurements of ASD flow are feasible in 20 of 29 (69%) patients.

Conclusion

Blood flow and shunt quantification measured at multiple levels and performed by different readers are reproducible and consistent with 4D flow MRI.

     

Étude et réalisation de modulateurs et de démodulateurs directs quadriphases pour la régénération à bord des satellites relais

This paper presents the study of a four phase remodulation demodulator which is part of a microwave signal regenerator for communications payload or data relay satellites. At first, 3.87 GHz biphase (bpsk) balanced modulator has been produced, using planar technology with slotlines and microstrip lines engraved on an Epsilam-type substrate, and two beam-lead Schottky diodes. Under modulation, carrier and even harmonic rejection of better than 50 dB is obtained, with insertion losses lower than 2 dB. A fourphase (qpsk) modulator is also produced using two bpsk modulators. Each phase state is achieved at ± 1.3° with 5.2 dB of insertion losses and a residual amplitude modulation of ± 0.14 dB. Carrier and even harmonic rejection of 45 dB is obtained.     

Critical Role of Estrogens on Bone Homeostasis in Both Male and Female: From Physiology to Medical Implications

Bone is a multi-skilled tissue, protecting major organs, regulating calcium phosphate balance and producing hormones. Its development during childhood determines height and stature as well as resistance against fracture in advanced age. Estrogens are key regulators of bone turnover in both females and males. These hormones play a major role in longitudinal and width growth throughout puberty as well as in the regulation of bone turnover. In women, estrogen deficiency is one of the major causes of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In this review, we will summarize the main clinical and experimental studies reporting the effects of estrogens not only in females but also in males, during different life stages. Effects of estrogens on bone involve either Estrogen Receptor (ER)α or ERβ depending on the type of bone (femur, vertebrae, tibia, mandible), the compartment (trabecular or cortical), cell types involved (osteoclasts, osteoblasts and osteocytes) and sex. Finally, we will discuss new ongoing strategies to increase the benefit/risk ratio of the hormonal treatment of menopause.     

Foaming parameter identification of polyurethane using FOAMAT® device

A key problem in the modeling of polyurethane (PU) foaming is the determination of relevant physical parameters for the viscosity, the gas expansion, and the curing rate. Indeed, it is difficult to measure the chemical kinetics parameters as well as the viscosity of industrial PU formulations (polyol–isocyanate–water mixture) because the time scales of gas production and PU crosslinking are very short and hardly compatible with the installation of the sample in characterization devices such as differential scanning calorimetry and parallel plates rheometer. A FOAMAT® system has been developed to get these experimental data but the relationship between measurements and the rheo-chemical parameters has not been clearly established. In this paper, an analytical model of the foaming process is developed in the cylindrical FOAMAT geometry, which allows identifying the parameters of the curing and gas production kinetics equations, as well as the viscosity. This analytical model is based on a set of simplifying hypotheses which validity is checked using the finite element computation software REM3D dedicated to foaming modeling and applicable for injection-molding processing.     

Delivering scalable video with QoS to the home

User satisfaction is a key factor in the success of novel multimedia services. Yet, to enable service providers and network operators to control and maximize the quality (QoS, QoE) of delivered video streams, quite some challenges remain. In this paper, we particularly focus on three of them. First of all, objectively measuring video quality requires appropriate quality metrics and methods of assessing them in a real-time fashion. Secondly, the recent Scalable Video Coding (SVC) format opens opportunities for adapting video to the available (network) resources, yet the appropriate configuration of video encoding as well as real-time streaming adaptation are largely unaddressed research areas. Thirdly, while bandwidth reservation mechanisms in access/core networks do exist, service providers lack a means for guaranteeing QoS in the increasingly complex home networks (which they are not in full control of). In this paper we offer a broad view on these interrelated issues, by presenting the developments originating in a Flemish research project (including proof-of-concept demonstrations). From a developmental perspective, we propose an architecture combining a real-time video quality monitoring platform, on-the-fly adaptation (optimizing the video quality) and QoS reservation in a heterogeneous home network based on UPnP QoS?v3. From a research perspective, we propose a new subjective test procedure that revealed user preference for temporal scalability over quality scalability. In addition, an extensive study on optimizing HD SVC encoding in IPTV scenarios with fluctuating bandwidth showed that under certain bandwidth constraints (prohibiting sufficient fidelity) spatial scalability is a better option than quality scalability.     

Non-linear failure criteria for a double lap bonded joint

This article introduces an analytical procedure based on the well-known Shear Lag theory of Volkersen [Die nietkraftverteilung in zugbeanspruchten mit konstanten laschenquerschritten, Luftfahrtforschung 1938;15:41–7], but allowing to take into account a multilinear mechanical behaviour of the adhesive in order to determine an average shear stress profile along the bonded joint. The aim is to provide for a civil engineering application a simple design tool of bonded anchorages. Using this method, more consistent results are obtained concerning the anchorage length and a failure criteria can be expressed in terms of a maximum yielded length along the bonded joint. The validity of this criteria is assessed via an experimental investigation which includes material characterization as well as double lap joints quasi-static loading. The studied materials are a two-component commercial epoxy adhesive and glass fibre pultruded adherends. Different parameters of the joint are varied (surface preparation, adherend and bond thickness, lap length, geometrical configuration) so that it is possible to check qualitative expectations, and define a quantitative failure prediction parameter. In the last part, the shear stress profiles obtained using the described analytical procedure are compared to finite element results and good agreement is found between both approaches.     

mtDNA replicative potential remains constant during ageing: polymerase gamma activity does not correlate with age related cytochrome oxidase activity decline in platelets

Progressive age-related oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) decline is well known in human tissues. Depletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) causes OxPhos defects in patients with myopathic syndromes and deficient mtDNA replication has been observed in cells cultured from patients with mitochondrial disease. Patients undergoing treatment for AIDS develop OxPhos defects via mtDNA depletion resulting from inhibition of mtDNA polymerase gamma (Polgamma) by 2'-deoxy 3'-azido thymidine. These findings by others give rise to a possible link between mtDNA replication and bioenergetic decline in disease and during ageing. We have designed an in vitro assay for Polgamma function in small tissue samples to explore this possible link. Platelet homogenate Polgamma showed an activity with a K m of 150 microM (dTTP), a V max of 11.8 pmol/min/mg, inhibited (41% inhibition; 50 microM) by ethidium bromide. Determination of several storage characteristics showed that platelets were a convenient source of Polgamma for assay. Polgamma activity in 45 subjects did not coincide with significant age-related decline (P<0.002; P) observed in cytochrome oxidase (CytOx) activity or with citrate synthase activity. Of the activities studied, the only significant age-wise variation was a 24% CytOx deficiency in elderly (>50; n = 19) compared to young (<51; n = 24) individuals (P<0.01; t). These results suggest a maintenance of total cellular mtDNA Polgamma processive levels during ageing, largely independent of total cellular bioenergetic status or mitochondrial number/density. The processive component of Polgamma is therefore unlikely to make a major contribution to age-related bioenergetic activity decline. This does not, however, preclude the possibility that transient periods of inhibition at crucial points of the cell cycle or development may augment existing intracellular deficiencies. The assay described here greatly facilitates study of Polgamma activity in patients with conditions involving mtDNA depletion or rearrangement.