ATM: A contribution to the debate on broadband ISDN

The definition of broadband ISDN recently became a major topic of research and predevelopments. Fast packet technologies are widely recognized as the basis for BISDN. Even if international consensus has appeared far more quickly than could have been expected a few years ago, a lot of issues remain open. This paper is a contribution to discussions on some important topics relating to the definition of asynchronous transfer mode.     

Application du concept d'echelles multiples a l'ecoulement dans une turbomachine axiale

An asymptotic theory to the flow in an axial compressor is presented with the aim of devising a coupling process between the so-called meridian through flow and the flow around cascades. The small parameter ? is the inverse of the (supposed ? 1) number of blades per row and/or number of stages. As a matter of fact, the cascade flow is treated as a small perturbation of the through flow and has to be computed, locally, as the two dimensional unsteady flow around an array of couples of cascades alternately fixed and in motion. The array is constructed by developing on a plane the section of the compressor by a circular cylinder, and continuing by periodicity, the couple of cascades, so obtained, at each location. The coupling between through flow and cascade flow is part of the analysis. It occurs by the way that the equations of through flow are obtained through an averaging process, completed on a domain of periodicity of the array of cascades, while the through flow appears, locally, as an unperturbed flow for the linearized problem defining the cascade flow. The tridimensional nature of the complete flow is built in by the coupling itself, as is visualized by the occurence of source terms in each of the two sets of equations describing through flow and cascade flow. This paper is aimed at giving a preliminary answer to the question of how to devise an, as rational as possible, way of inscribing the familiar scheme of cascade flow within the computation of a mean through flow. The main output is that the concept of cascade flow should be revisited and reassessed as one of unsteady flow around an array of cascades.     

The characterization of porous electrodes by impedance measurements

Impedances of a gold-powder and a Raney-gold electrode were measured over a wide frequency range, and were found to be very similar to those of cylindrical pore of finite depth. The simulation calculation for sphere-packed electrode impedance was performed. It was observed that even though each sphere-layer shows the impedance related to an occluded pore-shape, the overall impedance is similar to that of a cylindrical pore electrode. When the penetration depth approaches the pore depth, the shape of the pore wall has little influence on the impedance. Thus, impedance measurement techniques can be applied to porous electrodes of more intricate pore-texture, and evaluate the radius, depth and pore number of its equivalent cylindrical pore electrode. These values determined for a Raney-gold electrode are in very good agreement with those determined by other methods. The case of a more realistic fuel cell electrode such as Raney-nickel with a metal-electrolyte-gas system, was also tentatively examined.     

Asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation. Design of new Ru catalysts and chiral ligands: from laboratory to industrial applications

This Account covers the design of Ru catalysts and ligands. Two classes of chiral phosphine ligands are prepared: the electron-rich trans-2,4-substituted phosphetanes, readily available from optically pure 1,3-diol cyclic sulfates, and atropoisomeric ligands (SYNPHOS, MeO-NAPhePHOS, bearing heterotopic biaryl moieties, and a chiral water-soluble diguanidinium binaphthyl diphosphine, Digm-BINAP). Applications of these ligands to rhodium- and ruthenium-mediated hydrogenation of ketones and olefins have been reported with high enantioselectivities. The recognition abilities of Ru-SYNPHOS for a wide range of ketones is superior to those observed with BINAP, MeO-NAPhePHOS, and MeO-BIPHEP. Several biologically active compounds have been prepared through dynamic kinetic resolution. This work gives access to a number of highly active catalysts of the type [Ru(biphosphane)(H)(eta(6)-cot)]BF(4). These catalysts have demonstrated their utility in the enantioselective hydrogenation of the tetrasubstituted cyclopentenone "dehydrodione", which leads to the commercially important perfume component Paradisone (Firmenich).     

Computer-aided method for quantification of cartilage thickness and volume changes using MRI: validation study using a synthetic model

The primary objective of this study was to develop a computer-aided method for the quantification of three-dimensional (3-D) cartilage changes over time in knees with osteoarthritis (OA). We introduced a local coordinate system (LCS) for the femoral and tibial cartilage boundaries that provides a standardized representation of cartilage geometry, thickness, and volume. The LCS can be registered in different data sets from the same patient so that results can be directly compared. Cartilage boundaries are segmented from 3-D magnetic resonance (MR) slices with a semi-automated method and transformed into offset-maps, defined by the LCS. Volumes and thickness are computed from these offset-maps. Further anatomical labeling allows focal volumes to be evaluated in predefined subregions. The accuracy of the automated behavior of the method was assessed, without any human intervention, using realistic, synthetic 3-D MR images of a human knee. The error in thickness evaluation is lower than 0.12 mm for the tibia and femur. Cartilage volumes in anatomical subregions show a coefficient of variation ranging from 0.11% to 0.32%. This method improves noninvasive 3-D analysis of cartilage thickness and volume and is well suited for in vivo follow-up clinical studies of OA knees.     

High resolution processing techniques for ultrasound doppler velocimetry in the presence of colored noise. Part II: Multiplephase pipe-flow velocity measurement

For pt.I see ibid., vol.50, no.3, p.267-78 (2003). This paper presents an application of continuous wave ultrasound Doppler velocity measurements to two-phase flow in pipes. In many petroleum wells, the multiphase flow is separated into two phases: the first is a liquid phase and the second is a gas phase with small scatterers. The problem of multiphase velocity profile measurements has not been satisfactorily solved by classical approaches due to the multiphase nature of the fluid and the presence of colored noise, which introduces a significant bias in classical frequency estimators. We propose the use of resolution frequency techniques to overcome the classical limitations. Direct estimation of Doppler frequency then obtained using either time frequency maximum frequency or arguments of poles of the parametric model that identifies the Doppler part of the signal is discussed. The tests made with synthetic Doppler signals and two-phase flow have demonstrated the excellent performance of the high resolution techniques based on reassignment and parametric techniques.     

Polarization independence of a one-dimensional grating in conical mounting

We demonstrate theoretically a polarization-independent guided-mode resonant filter with only a one dimensional grating. A rigorous method, the modal method by Fourier expansion, is used to compute the diffracted efficiencies of the grating. Wave-vector analysis fails to correctly design a polarization-independent structure. We show that a rigorous analysis of the resonances must be employed to obtain such a device; using a pole approach, we study the effects of grating parameters on the resonances of both polarizations.     

High pass filter with above IC integrated SrTiO3 high K MIM capacitors

This paper describes realization and characterization of SrTiO₃ (STO) high K MIM capacitors above BiCMOS integrated circuit (IC). These capacitances are connected to IC and are used as coupling capacitors in order to realize a high pass filter. Surface capacitance achieved is 10 nF/mm² with capacitance value of 1.2 nF. The process for STO MIM fabrication does not exceed 400 °C, which is compatible with interconnections. Typical K and dielectric losses values obtained are, respectively 110% and 2%. Yield obtained reaches 83% for capacitors. A functional high pass filter using these STO capacitors was realized in this study. It exhibits a cut-off frequency at 6.5 kHz and a constant gain at higher frequencies of −1.3 dB.     

The MISTIGRI thermal infrared project: scientific objectives and mission specifications

This article presents the MISTIGRI project of a microsatellite developed by the French space agency Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) in cooperation with Spain (Image Processing Laboratory of the University of Valencia and Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (CDTI)). MISTIGRI is a mission that has the originality of combining a high spatial resolution (～50 m) with a daily revisit in the thermal infrared (TIR). MISTIGRI is an experimental mission devoted to demonstrate the potential of such TIR data for future operational missions. The scientific goals and expected applications of the mission are described: they encompass the monitoring of (i) agricultural areas and related hydrological processes, (ii) urban areas, and (iii) coastal areas and continental waters. Then, the specifications on spatial resolution, revisit frequency, overpass time, and spectral configuration are justified. The strategy of the mission is based on the combination with a network of long-term experimental sites. It will also make possible observing some areas facing rapid climatic change. The choice of the orbit is presented. Finally, we give rapid overviews of both the instrumental concept and the proposed mission architecture.