Multiscale Fitting Procedure Using Markov Modulated Poisson Processes

This paper proposes a parameter fitting procedure using Markov Modulated Poisson Processes (MMPPs) that leads to accurate estimates of queuing behavior for network traffic exhibiting long-range dependence behavior. The procedure matches both the autocovariance and marginal distribution of the counting process. A major feature is that the number of states is not fixed a priori, and can be adapted to the particular trace being modeled. The MMPP is constructed as a superposition of L 2-MMPPs and one M-MMPP. The 2-MMPPs are designed to match the autocovariance and the M-MMPP to match the marginal distribution. Each 2-MMPP models a specific time-scale of the data. The procedure starts by approximating the autocovariance by a weighted sum of exponential functions that model the autocovariance of the 2-MMPPs. The autocovariance tail can be adjusted to capture the long-range dependence characteristics of the traffic, up to the time-scales of interest to the system under study. The procedure then fits the M-MMPP parameters in order to match the marginal distribution, within the constraints imposed by the autocovariance matching. The number of states is also determined as part of this step. The final MMPP with M2 ^L states is obtained by superposing the L 2-MMPPs and the M-MMPP. We apply the inference procedure to traffic traces exhibiting long-range dependence and evaluate its queuing behavior through simulation. Very good results are obtained, both in terms of queuing behavior and number of states, for the traces used, which include the well-known Bellcore traces.     

Evolution of biochemical and rheological characteristics and breadmaking quality during a multistage wheat sour dough process

Summary The evolution of some biochemical (acetic and lactic acid contents, fermentation quotient and changes in mono-, di-, and trisaccharides), rheological and fermentative characteristics (extensigram, maturogram and impulsogram) and bread quality (volume, density, texture, and degree of acidification) during a multistage wheat sour dough process have been investigated. Acetic acid contents of sour doughs (SD), bread doughs (BD) and breads (B) increased with the increase in number of processing stages. Lactic acid followed similar trends in SD, but in BD and B it reached maximum levels during the third stage. SD contained higher amounts of acids than BD and B. Dynamics of sugars followed patterns according to the fermentative activity and microflora evolution in the different steps. An improvement as the number of SD stages increased was observed in rheological and fermentative properties of BD, such as in oven spring. A positive effect on B characteristics (volume, density, texture, and acidity) was also observed. The last stage of the SD process led to the best final product, with noticable differences in relation to those occurring with a smaller number of stages.

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Entwicklung biochemischer und rheologischer Eigenschaften und des Backverhaltens während einer mehrstufigen Weizensauerteigführung

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Entwicklung biochemischer Daten (Essigsäure- und Milchsäuregehalt, Gärungsquotient und Veränderungen an Mono-, Di- und Trisacchariden, rheologischer und Gäreigenschaften (Extensograph, Maturograph und Ofentrieb) und der Brotqualität (Volumen, Dichte, Textur und Säuregrad) während einer mehrstufigen Weizensauerteigführung untersucht. Die Essigsäuregehalte von Sauerteigen, Brotteigen und Broten stiegen mit der Zahl der Führungsstufen an. Beim Milchsäuregehalt ergaben sich ähnliche Tendenzen, jedoch beim Brotteig und Brot wurde das Maximum erst in der dritten Stufe erreicht. Veränderungen des Zuckergehaltes stimmten mit der Gäraktivität und der Mikrofloraentwicklung in den verschiedenen Stufen überein. Es ergab sich eine Verbesserung in den rheologischen und Gäreigenschaften von Brotteigen sowie im Ofentrieb, wenn die Zahl von Sauerteigstufen anstieg. Es wurde auch ein positiver Einfluß auf die Broteigenschaften (Volumen, Dichte und Säuregrad) beobachtet. Die letzte Stufe der Sauerteigführung ergab das beste Endprodukt mit deutlichen Unterschieden, wenn mit einer geringeren Zahl von Stufen hergestellt.

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Paper presented in part at the 7th World Congress of Food Science and Technology, Singapore (Singapore), September–October, 1987     

What can we think about diastolic hypertension?

Isolated diastolic hypertension is not officially recognized as a form of hypertension. It is currently defined as a diastolic pressure greater than 90 mm Hg with systolic pressure < 140 mmHg. It implies an elevation of vascular resistance in the arteriolar sector and small arteries, and persistence of distensibility of the aorta and large vessels. It therefore predominantly affects young patients with relatively recent HT, without any accentuation of aging of the vessel wall by smoking, diabetes, or atheroma. It is responsible for a reduction of pulse pressure, and does not appear to be associated with deterioration of the prognosis. The demonstration of diastolic HT indicates the presence of excess adrenergic tone with predominance of alpha tone, or raised plasma renin, in the absence of any alteration of myocardial function capable of reducing systolic pressure. Monotherapy with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, which reduce stimulation of growth of smooth muscle fibres, and calcium channel blockers, whose effects increase with increasing vasoconstrictor tone, would be preferable to diuretics and non-selective beta-blockers.     

Noninvasive infrared thermometry for application in skin biology.I. Model measurements and local measurements on the dorsal surface ofthe rabbit

Understanding thermal energy distribution is essential to interpret skin temperature for diagnosing various pathological and experimental conditions. The present paper investigates temperature data measurements acquired with an infrared thermometer system and in vivo temperature measurements on the backs of New Zealand rabbits. Local differences in skin temperature are significant around bony structures and in visceral areas. The results suggest that the location of experimental sites must be considered when interpreting data which use local temperature as an indicator of microvascular phenomena on the skin surface. Our techniques have proven valuable for quantifying thermal effects on small fields or skin lesions of experimental animals, and can be used noninvasively to measure the onset and transient vascular effects caused by noxious insults including laser radiation.     

Combustion of a substitution fuel made of cardboard and polyethylene: influence of the mix characteristics—modeling

The model proposed in this paper describes the combustion of a porous medium subjected to a radiative heat flux at its surface. There is no forced convection of air through the medium; hence this situation corresponds to the one encountered at the surface of fuel elements such as pellets, bricks or ballots, inside a furnace or kiln. Ash is not removed from the surface. No assumption is made a priori in terms of the limiting phenomena. The medium is composed of cardboard and polyethylene (PE). Based on previous experimental work (Fuel 2004; 83 :451–462), the material is assumed to be a macroscopically homogeneous porous medium. Local thermal equilibrium is also assumed. Most of the parameters required for the modeling were determined from specific experiments. Good predictions of the sample mass evolution and of the temperature levels inside the sample body were obtained for a large range of densities and PE content. A devolatilization front of about 20 mm first propagates inside the medium. The volatile matter flux is advected to the surface, which leads to the formation of the flame above the surface. Then a second char oxidation front propagates, starting from the surface. The front thickness is approximately 25 mm under the experimental conditions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aldosterone precursors and hypertension with hypokalemia and adrenal module non caused by primary hyperaldosteronism

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the interest of aldosterone precursors assays in arterial hypertension with hypokaliemia and adrenal nodules non due to aldosterone. Seven hypertensive patients, 3 men and 4 women, aged 59.5 +/- 10.1 years were included in the study. After drug withdrawal, kaliemia was 3.1 +/- 0.3 mmol/l (2.7-3.6), active renin 2.9 +/- 1.4 ng/l, plasma aldosterone (aldo) 108 +/- 49.4 pg/ml, cortisol 13 +/- 3.1 micrograms/100 ml, and [S] 0.47 +/- 0.5 micrograms/100 ml. Adrenal CT scan showed an adenoma in 3 patients (30.5 +/- 5 mm) and an unilateral nodular hyperplasia in 4 patients. In all patients, the plasma levels (RIA, chomatographic step) of the following steroids in the mineralocorticoid (MC) pathway were determined: DOC, 18 OH-DOC, B, 18 OH-B and aldosterone. Two from 7 (28%) exerted aldosterone precursors excess, 1 with DOC-producing adenoma (DOC-PA) (table), and 1 with a partial 11 beta hydroxylase deficiency (DOC: 211 pg/ml; S: 1 mu/100 ml). Aldosterone/DOC + 18 OH-DOC ratio proposed as a malignancy index was decreased in the patient with DOC-PA (8.1). No dysfunction in the MC pathway was identified in the 5 other patients. [table: see text] The study suggests the relevance of aldosterone precursors assays in low renin hypertension non due to aldosterone and in incidentally discovered adrenal masses.