Time-dependent spectral analysis of epidemiological time-series with wavelets.

In the current context of global infectious disease risks, a better understanding of the dynamics of major epidemics is urgently needed. Time-series analysis has appeared as an interesting approach to explore the dynamics of numerous diseases. Classical time-series methods can only be used for stationary time-series (in which the statistical properties do not vary with time). However, epidemiological time-series are typically noisy, complex and strongly non-stationary. Given this specific nature, wavelet analysis appears particularly attractive because it is well suited to the analysis of non-stationary signals. Here, we review the basic properties of the wavelet approach as an appropriate and elegant method for time-series analysis in epidemiological studies. The wavelet decomposition offers several advantages that are discussed in this paper based on epidemiological examples. In particular, the wavelet approach permits analysis of transient relationships between two signals and is especially suitable for gradual change in force by exogenous variables.     

Image Decomposition into a Bounded Variation Component and an Oscillating Component

We construct an algorithm to split an image into a sum u + v of a bounded variation component and a component containing the textures and the noise. This decomposition is inspired from a recent work of Y. Meyer. We find this decomposition by minimizing a convex functional which depends on the two variables u and v, alternately in each variable. Each minimization is based on a projection algorithm to minimize the total variation. We carry out the mathematical study of our method. We present some numerical results. In particular, we show how the u component can be used in nontextured SAR image restoration.Jean-François Aujol graduated from 1 Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan in 2001. He was a PHD student in Mathematics at the University of Nice-Sophia-Antipolis (France). He was a member of the J.A. Dieudonné Laboratory at Nice, and also a member of the Ariana research group (CNRS/INRIA/UNSA) at Sophia-Antipolis (France). His research interests are calculus of variations, nonlinear partial differential equations, numerical analysis and mathematical image processing (and in particular classification, texture, decomposition model, restoration). He is Assistant Researcher at UCLA (Math Department).Gilles Aubert received the These dEtat es-sciences Mathematiques from the University of Paris 6, France, in 1986. He is currently professor of mathematics at the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis and member of the J.A. Dieudonne Laboratory at Nice, France. His research interests are calculus of variations, nonlinear partial differential equations and numerical analysis; fields of applications including image processing and, in particular, restoration, segmentation, optical flow and reconstruction in medical imaging.Laure Blanc-Féraud received the Ph.D. degree in image restoration in 1989 and the Habilitation á Diriger des Recherches on inverse problems in image processing in 2000, from the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France. She is currently director of research at CNRS in Sophia Antipolis. Her research interests are inverse problems in image processing by deterministic approach using calculus of variation and PDEs. She is also interested in stochastic models for parameter estimation and their relationship with the deterministic approach. She is currently working in the Ariana research group (I3S/INRIA) which is focussed on Earth observation.Antonin Chambolle studied mathematics and physics at the Ecole normale Supérieure in Paris and received the Ph.D. degree in applied mathematics from the Université de Paris-Dauphine in 1993. Since then he has been a CNRS researcher at the CEREMADE, Université de Paris-Dauphine, and, for a short period, a researcher at the SISSA, Trieste, Italy. His research interest include calculus of variations, with applications to shape optimization, mechanics and image processing.     

A knowledge-based approach to automatic detection of the spinal cord in CT images

Accurate planning of radiation therapy entails the definition of treatment volumes and a clear delimitation of normal tissue of which unnecessary exposure should be prevented. The spinal cord is a radiosensitive organ, which should be precisely identified because an overexposure to radiation may lead to undesired complications for the patient such as neuronal disfunction or paralysis. In this paper, a knowledge-based approach to identifying the spinal cord in computed tomography images of the thorax is presented. The approach relies on a knowledge-base which consists of a so-called anatomical structures map (ASM) and a task-oriented architecture called the plan solver. The ASM contains a frame-like knowledge representation of the macro-anatomy in the human thorax. The plan solver is responsible for determining the position, orientation and size of the structures of interest to radiation therapy. The plan solver relies on a number of image processing operators. Some are so-called atomic (e.g., thresholding and snakes) whereas others are composite. The whole system has been implemented on a standard PC. Experiments performed on the image material from 23 patients show that the approach results in a reliable recognition of the spinal cord (92% accuracy) and the spinal canal (85% accuracy). The lamina is more problematic to locate correctly (accuracy 72%). The position of the outer thorax is always determined correctly.     

Influence of chain flexibility and crosslink density on mechanical properties of epoxy/amine networks

Blends of a bisphenol A diglycidyl ether prepolymer and an aliphatic diepoxy diluent crosslinked with a cycloaliphatic diamine were studied. These model networks have the characteristic that the crosslink density and the chain flexibility increase with the amount of diluent. These combined effects were studied by observing their mechanical properties. The decreases in the Young's modulus and the ultrasonic modulus were associated with the secondary thermomechanical relaxations that have been recorded and identified. Pre-plastic and plastic behaviors were discussed in terms of flexibility and crosslink density. A linear relationship was established between pre-plastic activation volume and crosslink density at temperatures lower than the activation of molecular chain motions responsible for the sub-T_g relaxations. At 0°C, a temperature above these secondary transitions, the higher the flexibility, the more defect nucleation and propagation increased. The work hardening rate and the upper yield stress decreased as the amount of diluent was increased. Fracture toughness was improved as the amount of diluent was increased. Crack propagation was related to the ability of the networks to deform plastically.     

Effects of mineral and chemical admixtures on high-strength concrete in seawater

The effects of mineral and chemical admixtures namely fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume and superplasticizers on the porosity, pore size distribution and compressive strength development of high-strength concrete in seawater curing condition exposed to tidal zone were investigated. In this study, three levels of cement replacement (0%, 30% and 70% by weight) were used. The total cementitious content used was 420 kg/m³. A water/binder ratio of 0.4 was used to produce concrete having a target compressive strength ranging between 54 and 63 MPa at the age of 28 days. At the age of 364 days, the compressive strength of the specimens produced ranged between 59 and 74 MPa. The pore size distribution of both high-strength concrete (MSS-0 and MSS-40) was significantly finer and the mean volume pore radii (MVPR) at the age of 6 months were reduced about three times compared to NPC concrete. Results of this study indicate that both concrete mixes (30% and 70%) exhibited better performance than the NPC concrete in seawater exposed to tidal zone. Hence, it is believed that both high-strength concrete produced would withstand severe seawater exposure without serious deterioration.     

Characterization and role of an elastomeric interphase on carbon fibers reinforcing an epoxy matrix

Oxidized carbon fibers were coated using an on-line filament winding process with an elastomeric adduct crosslinkable and compatible with an epoxy matrix. The coating and modifications of the epoxy network were studied by dynamic mechanical measurements. Assuming that apparent activation energies of the secondary relaxation β_e of the epoxy network and main relaxation α_a of adduct are very different, it is possible at low frequencies to separate the two peaks. The composite material can be described as a three phase system: an epoxy network as matrix, carbon fibers, and a soft interlayer. The mechanical behavior of unidirectional composite materials studied by impact and bending tests is strongly dependent on the presence and the thickness of the coating at the carbon fiber surface.     

中跨横隔板对组合铁路桥梁静力和动力特性的影响(案例分析)

为高速列车而设计的中等跨度多肋铁路桥的桥梁上,混凝土桥面是提供横向刚度的主要构件,但横梁上的作用力是未知的。由于横梁需要现场操作和焊接,所以增加了桥梁的成本。研究了一种横隔板的影响,这种横隔板应用在法国的一个典型的多跨度铁路桥梁上。第一个目的是为了提出一种合适的建模方法,可以被用于评估在这种交通荷载呈横向分布的结构上应用横隔板的作用和有效性。第二个目的是为了探究应用横隔板的必要性。为解决这些问题,建立了一个三维模型和非线性材料本构关系,分析了带有横向横隔板的和不带横隔板的桥面在不同的静力荷载条件下(自重,UIC荷载,TGV)的反应。考虑到桥面的动力特性,TGV采用移动荷载模拟。在动力分析中还考虑到了火车的极限速度。静力和动力分析结果表明:横隔板可能并不是必须采用的,除非桥梁受到意外的侧向力作用。因此,在这些桥梁上也许可以不需要安装横隔板。     

Assessment of fibre orientation in ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete and its effect on flexural strength

Fibre distribution and orientation in a series of round panel specimens of ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) was investigated using electrical resistivity measurements and confirmed by X-ray CT imaging. By pouring specimens in different ways, the orientation of steel fibres was influenced and the sensitivity of the electrical resistivity technique was investigated. The round panels were tested in flexure and the results are discussed in relation to the observed orientation of fibres in the panels. It was found that the fibres tended to align perpendicular to the direction of flow. As a result, panels poured from the centre were significantly stronger than panels poured by other methods because the alignment of fibres led to more fibres bridging the radial cracks formed during mechanical testing.     

Finite element analysis of free-edge stresses in composite laminates under mechanical an thermal loading

In this paper, a multi-particle finite element [Nguyen VT, Caron JF. A new finite element for free edge effect analysis in laminated composites. Comput Struct, accepted for publication] is applied for general laminated and is shown to be capable of simultaneously predicting global and local responses. The analysis of free-edge stresses of composite laminates subjected to mechanical and thermal loads is performed using this C^o${\mathbb{C}}^o$ eight-node layer-wise finite element after a classical bending validation. Laminates with finite dimensions are considered and three-dimensional out-of-plane stresses in the interior and near the free edges are evaluated. The results obtained with this finite element modelling are compared with those available in the literature. The present calculation provides accurate stresses and can be utilised as and operational tool to predict interlaminar stresses under the loads of mechanical and thermal combined.