DCE-MRI of hepatocellular carcinoma: perfusion quantification with Tofts model versus shutter-speed model—initial experience

Objective

To quantify hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) perfusion and flow with the fast exchange regime-allowed Shutter-Speed model (SSM) compared to the Tofts model (TM).

Materials and methods

In this prospective study, 25 patients with HCC underwent DCE-MRI. ROIs were placed in liver parenchyma, portal vein, aorta and HCC lesions. Signal intensities were analyzed employing dual-input TM and SSM models. ART (arterial fraction), K ^trans (contrast agent transfer rate constant from plasma to extravascular extracellular space), v _e (extravascular extracellular volume fraction), k _ep (contrast agent intravasation rate constant), and τ _i (mean intracellular water molecule lifetime) were compared between liver parenchyma and HCC, and ART, K ^trans, v _e and k _ep were compared between models using Wilcoxon tests and limits of agreement. Test–retest reproducibility was assessed in 10 patients.

Results

ART and v _e obtained with TM; ART, v _e , k _e and τ _i obtained with SSM were significantly different between liver parenchyma and HCC (p < 0.04). Parameters showed variable reproducibility (CV range 14.7–66.5 % for both models). Liver K ^trans and v _e ; HCC v _e and k _ep were significantly different when estimated with the two models (p < 0.03).

Conclusion

Our results show differences when computed between the TM and the SSM. However, these differences are smaller than parameter reproducibilities and may be of limited clinical significance.

     

Circle-criterion Based Nonlinear Observer Design for Sensorless Induction Motor Control

This paper deals with the design of a nonlinear observer for sensorless induction motor control. Based upon the circle criterion approach, a nonlinear observer is designed to estimate pertinent but unmeasurable state variables of the considered induction machine for sensorless control purpose. The observer gain matrices are computed as a solution of linear matrix inequalities(LMI) that ensure the stability conditions of the state observer error dynamics in the sense of Lyapunov concepts. Measured and estimated state variables can be exploited to perform a state feedback control of the machine system. The simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for nonlinear observer design.     

Analysis of the distribution of thermal residual stresses in bonded composite repair of metallic aircraft structures

In this study, the distribution of the thermal residual stresses due to the adhesive curing in bonded composite repair is analysed using the finite element method. The computation of these stresses comprises all components of the structures: cracked plate, composite patch and adhesive layer. In addition, the influence of these residual stresses on the repair performance is highlighted by analysing their effect on the stress intensity factor at the crack tip. The obtained results show that the normal thermal stresses in the plate and the patch are important and the shear stresses are less significant. The level of the adhesive thermal stresses is relatively high. The presence of the thermal stresses increases the stress intensity factor at the crack tip, what reduce the repair performance.     

Crack deflection at an interface of alumina/metal joint: A numerical analysis

Deflection of a crack at the bimaterial interface is the initial mechanism required for obtaining enhanced toughness in bimaterial system. In this paper, a criterion is presented to predict the competition between crack deflection and penetration at the interface, using an energy release rate criterion. The finite element methods are used to calculate the strain energy release rates at the crack tip of alumina–metal bimaterial that either deflect or penetrate at the interface as a function of elastic mismatch and length of the deflected or penetrated crack. The effects of the elastic properties of two bonded materials were highlighted in order to evaluate the conditions for the crack deflection by the interface as well as the distance between the crack tip and the interface.     

Metabolically blocked analogs of housefly sex pheromone: I. Synthesis of alternative substrates for the cuticular monooxygenases

Cuticular monooxygenases in the cuticle of the female houseflyMusca domestica oxidize (Z)-9-tricosene to m-9,10-epoxytricosane and to (Z)-9-tricosen-14-one. One possible explanation for these two products is that a single monooxygenase accepts the alkene substrate in two different orientations. Eleven analogs of (Z)-9-tricosene bearing methyl substituents, cyclopropyl groups, fluorine substituents, deuterium substituents, and additional double bonds were synthesized to probe the substrate requirements of this monooxygenase system. In addition, the 11 corresponding epoxides were prepared to aid in identification of the metabolites of each modified alkene.     

Fatigue life prediction under variable loading based on a new damage model

To examine the performance of nonlinear models proposed in the estimation of fatigue damage and fatigue life of components under random loading, a batch of specimens made of 6082 T 6 aluminium alloy has been studied and some of the results are reported in the present paper. The paper describes an algorithm and suggests a fatigue cumulative damage model, especially when random loading is considered. This paper contains the results of mono-axial random load fatigue tests with different mean and amplitude values performed on 6082 T 6 aluminium alloy specimens. Cycles were counted with rainflow algorithm and damage was cumulated with a new model proposed in this paper and with the Palmgren–Miner model. The proposed model has been formulated to take into account the damage evolution at different load levels and it allows the effect of the loading sequence to be included by means of a recurrence formula derived for multilevel loading, considering complex load sequences. It is concluded that a ‘damaged stress interaction damage rule’ proposed here allows a better fatigue damage prediction than the widely used Palmgren–Miner rule, and a formula derived in random fatigue could be used to predict the fatigue damage and fatigue lifetime very easily. The results obtained by the model are compared with the experimental results and those calculated by the most fatigue damage model used in fatigue (Miner’s model). The comparison shows that the proposed model, presents a good estimation of the experimental results. Moreover, the error is minimized in comparison to the Miner’s model.     

Stress distribution in dental implant with elastomeric stress barrier

Dental implant has been used and studied for the replacement of missing teeth for many years. It has been well known that the success of dental implant is heavily dependent on initial stability and long-term Osseointegration due to optimal stress distribution in the surrounding bones. For this reason, the search of the rational solutions to reduce these stresses has become an important issue in this field. Alternatives to reduce the forces transmitted to implants have been studied, including variations in implant positioning, implant design, prosthesis shape, occlusal requirements, prosthetic components and prosthetic materials. Thus, a new concept of adding a bio-elastomer to the prosthetic components of implant system was interposed between the abutment and the framework crown in order to damp the occlusive shocks and to attenuate the stress concentrated at the implant/bone interface. The new implant system design was assessed by the three dimensional finite element techniques using ABAQUS program to study the effect of elastomer material under an occlusal load on the induced equivalent von Mises interface stresses. These stresses were compared with those provoked by the standardized implant. The von Mises stress distribution indicated that stress was maximal around the top of the implant with varying intensities in the different loading cases. The stress was highest in the cortical bone at the neck of implant and lowest in the cancellous bone. Overall, the novel implant provoked lower interface stresses only in the cortical bone due to the stress shielding effect of the elastomeric stress barrier.     

Optimization of phenolic compound recovery and antioxidant activity of light and dark dried fig (Ficus carica L.) varieties

The optimum conditions for extraction of total phenolic contents (TPC) and for enhancing the antioxidant activity from light and dark dried figs were determined. The effects of the solvent nature (acetone, ethanol, methanol, or water), solvent concentration (20–80%), acetic acid concentration (0–2%), extraction temperature (25–70°C), extraction time (0.5–4 h), sample to solvent ratio (1/25–1/100), and number of extractions (1, 2, and 3) were determined. The TPC was used to identify antioxidant compounds. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was used to evaluate antioxidant activity. All extraction parameters had significant effects (p<0.05) on the TPC and the antioxidant activities. The best conditions were obtained with double extraction using 60% acetone without acidification, at 40°C for 120 min, and with a 1/75 solid to solvent ratio. These conditions resulted in TPC concentrations of 469.46 (light variety) and 399.79 mg of gallic acid (GAE)/100 g (dark variety), and antioxidant activities of 96.47 and 102.28 mg of GAE/100 g, respectively.     

Influence of secondary source technologies and energy management strategies on Energy Storage System sizing for fuel cell electric vehicles

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have some limitation which make them less competitor to thermal ones and delay their commercialization. The most important problems as the range, the durability and the cost depend directly on the energy storage problematic issues. In this context, this work presents an optimal sizing methodology for an Energy Storage System (ESS) composed by a fuel cell and an assistant source to supply a lightweight vehicle with 700 km driving range. Firstly, a comparative study between single and hybrid source is carried out to show the benefits of hybridization according to the range in terms of weight, cost and fuel consumption. Moreover, in order to improve the hybrid source characteristics, three technologies of the secondary source are tested and evaluated to be chosen for hybridization with fuel cell system purposes. Furthermore, the influence of three Energy Management Strategies (EMSs) on ESS sizing is studied where an optimal strategy provides the most favorable dimensions of the hybrid system. Simulation results give us the best technology needed for hybridization and allow us adopting the optimal management strategy to design the hybrid source. Finally, in order to show the influence of the driving cycles on the ESS design, a comparison study using the New European Driving Cycle “NEDC” and the Assessment and Reliability of Transport Emission Models Inventory Systems (ARTEMIS) confirms that there is a slow influence of the driving cycle on the ESS sizes.