Automotive electric scroll compressor: Testing and modeling

in International Journal of Refrigeration (2012)

The aim of this research is to characterize experimentally and by modelling an electrically driven automotive scroll compressor. The experimental characterization is carried out through 13 tests at ... [more ▼]

The aim of this research is to characterize experimentally and by modelling an electrically driven automotive scroll compressor. The experimental characterization is carried out through 13 tests at compressor speeds varying between 3000 and 5000 rpm. The DC/AC converter used to supply the compressor was characterized through a calorimetric balance, obtaining an efficiency that depends only on the compressor speed, ranging from 92.5 %, for a compressor speed of 1500 rpm, to 97.5%, for a compressor speed of 5000 rpm. The experimental results are used to identify the parameters of a semi-empirical compressor model, which is able to predict with an acceptable accuracy the main outputs of the mathematical model: confidence limits on the exhaust temperature of ± 1.0 K, on the refrigerant flow rate of ± 2 g s-1 and on the compressor power of ±60 W. This model is then used to determine the compressor cooling power at different compressor speeds and condensing pressures. [less ▲]

Scientific Evidence and Rationale for the Development of Curcumin and Resveratrol as Nutraceutricals for Joint Health

in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2012), 13

Interrelations genetique- environnement: la broncho-pneumopathie chronique obstructive.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2012), 67(5-6), 292-7

Smoking is the main environmental risk factor of COPD and accounts for 85% to 90% of COPD. However, 10-15% of COPD patients have never smoked and only a fraction of smokers ever develop COPD. Indeed ... [more ▼]

Smoking is the main environmental risk factor of COPD and accounts for 85% to 90% of COPD. However, 10-15% of COPD patients have never smoked and only a fraction of smokers ever develop COPD. Indeed, genetic and environmental (pollution, occupational and infectious) factors, also influence the risk of developing COPD. Finaly COPD must be considered as the clinical consequence of multiple complex interactions between environmental factors and genetic susceptibility. The latter is not clearly understood, with the exception of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. In this article, we present the different aspects of this complex disease which is primarily environmental. [less ▲]

Physical and chemical characteristics of natural limestone fillers: mix properties and packing density

Scientific conference (2012)

Outcomes and lessons from the PROactive study.

in Diabetes Research & Clinical Practice (2012), epub ahead of print

Beyond improvement of glucose control, thiazolidinediones exert pleiotropic effects, which may contribute to some cardiovascular protection. PROactive ("PROspective pioglitAzone Clinical Trial In ... [more ▼]

Beyond improvement of glucose control, thiazolidinediones exert pleiotropic effects, which may contribute to some cardiovascular protection. PROactive ("PROspective pioglitAzone Clinical Trial In macroVascular Events") has provided valuable, although controversial, information on the impact of pioglitazone on cardiovascular outcomes in a high-risk population of patients with type 2 diabetes and established macrovascular disease. Since 2005, there has been much debate on the relative value of the statistically non-significant 10% reduction in the quite challenging primary composite endpoint (combining cardiovascular disease-driven and procedural events in all vascular beds) versus the statistically significant 16% decrease in the more robust and conventional main secondary endpoint (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke) observed with pioglitazone. Revisiting PROactive deserves much interest following the report of inconclusive results on cardiovascular efficacy and safety of rosiglitazone in RECORD, the withdrawal (limitation) of rosiglitazone because of cardiovascular safety concern, the recent publication of a statement positioning pioglitazone in type 2 diabetes and the near availability of cheaper generics of pioglitazone. Although subanalyses may have more limited value from a statistical viewpoint, they nonetheless can provide valuable information on the drug efficacy/safety profile and clinical insights into which patients might benefit most (in terms of cardiovascular outcomes) from pioglitazone therapy. [less ▲]

A feedback loop between the liver-enriched transcription factor network and mir-122 controls hepatocyte differentiation.

in Gastroenterology (2012), 142(1), 119-29

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocyte differentiation is controlled by liver-enriched transcription factors (LETFs). We investigated whether LETFs control microRNA expression during development and whether this ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocyte differentiation is controlled by liver-enriched transcription factors (LETFs). We investigated whether LETFs control microRNA expression during development and whether this control is required for hepatocyte differentiation. METHODS: Using in vivo DNA binding assays, we identified miR-122 as a direct target of the LETF hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) 6. The role and mechanisms of the HNF6-miR-122 gene cascade in hepatocyte differentiation were studied in vivo and in vitro by gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments, using developing mice and zebrafish as model organisms. RESULTS: HNF6 and its paralog Onecut2 are strong transcriptional stimulators of miR-122 expression. Specific levels of miR-122 were required for proper progression of hepatocyte differentiation; miR-122 stimulated the expression of hepatocyte-specific genes and most LETFs, including HNF6. This indicates that HNF6 and miR-122 form a positive feedback loop. Stimulation of hepatocyte differentiation by miR-122 was lost in HNF6-null mice, revealing that a transcription factor can mediate microRNA function. All hepatocyte-specific genes whose expression was stimulated by miR-122 bound HNF6 in vivo, confirming their direct regulation by this factor. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocyte differentiation is directed by a positive feedback loop that includes a transcription factor (HNF6) and a microRNA (miR-122) that are specifically expressed in liver. These findings could lead to methods to induce differentiation of hepatocytes in vitro and improve our understanding of liver cell dedifferentiation in pathologic conditions. [less ▲]

Toussaint

in Mathis-Moser, Ursula; Mertz-Baumgartner, Birgit (Eds.) Passages et ancrages en France. Dictionnaire des écrivains migrants de langue française (1981-2011) (2012)

Notice concernant l'écrivain belge Jean-Philippe Toussaint, qui a vécu une partie de sa jeunesse à Paris.

Historiographies périphériques. Enjeux et rhétoriques de l'histoire littéraire en francophonie du Nord (Belgique, Suisse romande, Québec)

Book published by Académie royale de Belgique (2012)

Enseignement des langues en Communauté française de Belgique et problématique de l'équité

in Approche par compétences et réduction des inégalités d'apprentissage entre élèves (2012)

Ce chapitre propose d'abord une analyse des prescrits légaux dans le domaine des langues modernes en CFB, puis de différents documents produits par le Conseil de l'Europe dont le Cadre Européen Commun de ... [more ▼]

Ce chapitre propose d'abord une analyse des prescrits légaux dans le domaine des langues modernes en CFB, puis de différents documents produits par le Conseil de l'Europe dont le Cadre Européen Commun de Référence pour les Langues. L'influence des travaux du Conseil de l'Europe sur les prescrits légaux en CFB est décrite et commentée. Ensuite, l'auteur se penche sur les risques d'inéquité engendrés par l'adoption (en surface) de l'approche par compétences articulée autour du concept de "tâches". Enfin, différentes pistes de solution sont proposées pour réduire les risques d'inéquité préalablement identifiés. [less ▲]

L'origine des mégalithes du Fond de Quarreux (Ardenne, Belgique)

in Bulletin de la Société Géographique de Liège (2012), 58

Origin of megaliths of the Fond de Quarreux (Ardenne, Belgium). Distribution of megaliths was studied in the Ambleve valley throughout its gorge developed within the quartzites of the Cambrian-aged La ... [more ▼]

Origin of megaliths of the Fond de Quarreux (Ardenne, Belgium). Distribution of megaliths was studied in the Ambleve valley throughout its gorge developed within the quartzites of the Cambrian-aged La Venne Formation (Fond de Quarreux) in the south-eastern part of high Belgium. The high concentration of megaliths at this place can be essentially explained by mass movements which have occurred on the adjacent slopes in periglacial periods of cold Ocean Isotopic Stages in Quaternary times, and especially the coldest ones i.e. even O.I.S.#22 through #2. Stratigraphical studies of deposits in the Chefna and Ambleve valleys allowed us to place final periglacial deposits during the Younger Dryas. The critical shear stress and the critical unit stream power are used in order to evaluate the Ambleve River competence. It results that, under the present climatic conditions, this river cannot move boulders of more than 50 cm in diameter. Hence, it is concluded that ice rafting has been the main process responsible for carrying away the megaliths which have got the Ambleve river bed throughout the Quaternary Period. [less ▲]