A methodology for the performance evaluation of data querystrategies in universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS)

The anticipated emergence of third-generation mobile systems, referred to as universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS), raises the problem of reconsidering the design of the databases destined to contain the user information. In particular, it is expected that the key concepts of the new database architectures will be high distribution and fast updating of information. So far, the problem of determining the most appropriate distributed database (DDB) architectures for third-generation mobile systems has not been widely dealt with in literature. This paper presents a methodology for evaluating hierarchical DDB architectures by means of an analytical model of the data querying operation. This methodology allows for structural alternatives, differing on account of the number of levels and branches in the hierarchy, to be evaluated in terms of query loads and mean response times, according to a given user mobility characterization and a given search protocol operation. By way of illustration, the paper discusses a case study, concerning a query operation arising from a location updating procedure and applied to a hierarchical tree-like DDB in which some structural alternatives are considered     

Laplacian colormaps: a framework for structure‐preserving color transformations

Mappings between color spaces are ubiquitous in image processing problems such as gamut mapping, decolorization, and image optimization for color‐blind people. Simple color transformations often result in information loss and ambiguities, and one wishes to find an image‐specific transformation that would preserve as much as possible the structure of the original image in the target color space. In this paper, we propose Laplacian colormaps, a generic framework for structure‐preserving color transformations between images. We use the image Laplacian to capture the structural information, and show that if the color transformation between two images preserves the structure, the respective Laplacians have similar eigenvectors, or in other words, are approximately jointly diagonalizable. Employing the relation between joint diagonalizability and commutativity of matrices, we use Laplacians commutativity as a criterion of color mapping quality and minimize it w.r.t. the parameters of a color transformation to achieve optimal structure preservation. We show numerous applications of our approach, including color‐to‐gray conversion, gamut mapping, multispectral image fusion, and image optimization for color deficient viewers.     

The combination of Indian ink staining with immunochemiluminescence detection allows precise identification of antigens on blots: application to the study of glycosylated barley storage proteins

The localization after blotting of specific spots in two-dimensional electrophoretic protein pattern was achieved using, in that order, Indian ink protein staining and immunodetection with chemiluminescence on the same membrane. Indian ink did not inhibit significantly the antibody reactions even after overnight staining. It produces permanent staining that did not quench the chemiluminescent signal, recorded on a film. This allowed perfect matching between the specific and the total protein patterns. The procedure was applied to the identification of glycoproteins present in barley storage protein preparations.     

Shape‐from‐Operator: Recovering Shapes from Intrinsic Operators

We formulate the problem of shape‐from‐operator (SfO), recovering an embedding of a mesh from intrinsic operators defined through the discrete metric (edge lengths). Particularly interesting instances of our SfO problem include: shape‐from‐Laplacian, allowing to transfer style between shapes; shape‐from‐difference operator, used to synthesize shape analogies; and shape‐from‐eigenvectors, allowing to generate ‘intrinsic averages’ of shape collections. Numerically, we approach the SfO problem by splitting it into two optimization sub‐problems: metric‐from‐operator (reconstruction of the discrete metric from the intrinsic operator) and embedding‐from‐metric (finding a shape embedding that would realize a given metric, a setting of the multidimensional scaling problem). We study numerical properties of our problem, exemplify it on several applications, and discuss its imitations.     

Predictive control and thermal energy storage for optimizing a multi-energy district boiler

As part of the OptiEnR research project, the present paper deals with optimizing the multi-energy district boiler of La Rochelle (France) adding to the plant a controlled thermal storage tank. This plant supplies domestic hot water and heats residential and public buildings, using renewable and fossil resources. Due to the complexity of the district boiler as a whole and the strong interactions between the sub-systems, previous works focused first on a modular approach used for the modeling of the plant. Next, a methodology based on both a multi-resolution analysis and the use of artificial neural networks was proposed to forecast the outdoor temperature and the thermal power consumption of the hot water distribution network. The present paper deals first with the modeling of a stratified thermal storage tank. Next, a basic and easy-to-implement controller was developed. Finally, using the global model of the district boiler, a model predictive controller generated optimal command sequences dealing with the flow of the water passing through the storage tank and the wood boiler set-point temperature. As a result, the consumption of fossil fuels, CO₂ emissions and functioning cost were significantly reduced. Energy is stored during low-demand periods and used when demand is high, instead of engaging the gas–fuel oil boiler.     

Ultrastructural changes of the luminal plasma membrane of the transitional epithelium of the rat urinary tract in essential fatty acid deficiency

Rats fed an essential fatty acid deficient diet (EFAD) showed a statistically significant decrease in the thickness and ultrastructural asymmetry of the luminal membrane and cytoplasmic vesicles of transitional epithelium of the urinary tract, due to a marked thinning of the peculiar thick luminal leaflet. These changes were reversed by adding EFA to the diet. This indicates that the unusual EM appearance of urothelial membrane depends on its content in EFA.     

Product-Service Systems for servitization of the automotive industry: a literature review

Nowadays companies are facing several transformations of their activities, empowered and pulled by technological and social evolutions over the few past decades. As competitiveness is a leitmotiv in the market economy paradigm, it is necessary to improve activities through excellence and new offers. In a focus on the consumers’ needs, the limits between tangible and intangible offer are challenged through new kind of offers merging products and service under one common offer. Manufacturing companies, and more precisely the automotive industry, endeavour to integrate new constraints of sustainability, economic globalisation and new ways of consumption made possible with this new kind of offerings. This supports the opportunity to change consumption offers, historically driven by production and consumption of tangible assets. The paper explores a key concept to operate this shift towards a new type of offer gathering products and service into an integrated bundle entitled product-service system (PSS). This paper proposes a review of PSS definitions, methodologies and its applications to clarify the contribution of the literature in enabling its adoption. Requirements to adopt PSS are extracted from case studies and methodologies for servitization are evaluated as means to overcome barriers of PSS adoption. A specific focus is given on the automotive industry.     

Biomechanical properties of human os calcanei: relationships with bone density and fractal evaluation of bone microarchitecture

The relationship between bone strength and bone mass is well established. The link between trabecular microarchitecture and biomechanical properties has been less extensively explored. To address this question, we have tested the mechanical behaviour of calcaneus bone samples and investigated the correlations between mechanical properties on the one hand, bone density and fractal analysis of microarchitecture on the other hand. Mechanical properties of 43 human os calcanei were determined by uniaxial compression testing of samples from tuber calcanei. Ash density, bulk density and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of the samples were measured. Fractal analysis of the trabecular bone on calcaneus radiographs was performed by two estimators derived from the fractional Brownian motion model. The mechanical properties of human os calcis were found to correlate with age and density measurements. Fractal parameters derived from the bone texture analysis showed weaker but significant correlations with bone strength. Fractal analysis of texture could account in part for the variations of bone strength, but in this study cannot explain better than density the mechanical properties of trabecular bone. Nevertheless, it provides a non-invasive means of assessing molecular bone microarchitecture.     

Geometric skeleton computation enabling concurrent product engineering and assembly sequence planning

This paper introduces a novel modelling approach to geometric skeleton computation enabling concurrent product engineering and assembly sequence planning. Current engineering vision has recently moved towards new modelling and management paradigms to maintain competitive edges all along the product lifecycle. Consistent with concurrent engineering and design for X stakes, this recent shift promotes cross-X and knowledge-intensive philosophies in the product development process, principally focused on lifecycle engineering.The main objective of this research is to integrate assembly process engineering information and knowledge in the early phases of the product development process in a top-down and proactive manner, in order to provide a geometric skeleton-based assembly context for designers. The definition of the product and its related assembly sequence requires both the enhancement and the entire understanding of product relationships between the various product components, and its related assembly rationale. As a consequence, this new modelling approach highlights the need to integrate various stakeholders’ viewpoints involved in the beginning of the product lifecycle. In such a context, earlier work has achieved the early generation of an optimal assembly sequence in the product development process, before the product geometry is completely defined. As a result, previous research has made possible to control and bind the product modelling phase through an assembly oriented product structure.The aim of the proposed approach is to compute and define a geometric skeleton model based on product relational information and the early-defined assembly sequence. The proposed approach–called SKeLeton geometry-based Assembly Context Definition (SKL-ACD)–enables the control of the product modelling phase by introducing skeleton entities consistent with product relationships and assembly sequence planning information. A prototype application within a CAD tool has been developed for aiding geometric skeleton computation and generation. Lastly, an industrial case study is introduced to highlight the feasibility and the relevance of the proposed modelling approach.     

Real time UAV altitude, attitude and motion estimation from hybrid stereovision

Knowledge of altitude, attitude and motion is essential for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle during critical maneuvers such as landing and take-off. In this paper we present a hybrid stereoscopic rig composed of a fisheye and a perspective camera for vision-based navigation. In contrast to classical stereoscopic systems based on feature matching, we propose methods which avoid matching between hybrid views. A?plane-sweeping approach is proposed for estimating altitude and detecting the ground plane. Rotation and translation are then estimated by decoupling: the fisheye camera contributes to evaluating attitude, while the perspective camera contributes to estimating the scale of the translation. The motion can be estimated robustly at the scale, thanks to the knowledge of the altitude. We propose a robust, real-time, accurate, exclusively vision-based approach with an embedded C++ implementation. Although this approach removes the need for any non-visual sensors, it can also be coupled with an Inertial Measurement Unit.