Life-cycle carbon footprint of a residential steel framed building in different climates

in World Sustainable Building Conference: SB11, Helsinki 18-21 October 2011 (2011, October 19)

Faire vivre un projet au quotidien

in XIXe universités d'automne de la FNJE (2011, October 14)

Territorial planning system and urban development - From a deterministic to a strategic model

in Norte Pinto, Nune; Tenedorio, Jose Antonio; Santos, Mark (Eds.) et al Proceedings of the 7th International conference on Virtual Cities and Territories (2011, October 13)

FRACOF: Fire resistance assessment of partially protected steel-concrete composite floors

in De Luca, Antonello (Ed.) XXIII Giornate italiane della costruzione in acciaio (2011, October 12)

Large scale fire tests and observations of actual building fires have shown that the fire performance of composite steel framed buildings is much better than is indicated by fire resistance tests on ... [more ▼]

Large scale fire tests and observations of actual building fires have shown that the fire performance of composite steel framed buildings is much better than is indicated by fire resistance tests on isolated elements. This contribution presents application of a simple design method, so-called FRACOF concept, for the analysis of non sway steel framed buildings with composite floors. Starting point were the outstanding results obtained in the BRE Cardington large scale building fire test programme carried out during 1995 and 1996. The method was further validated by large-scale standard furnace tests in 2008 and 2009, as well as with natural fire tests in 2010. A recent test has also shown the possibility of application of this concept to composite floors with castellated beams. The recommendations are in line with the reliability level imposed by current design rules and are limited to structures similar to that tested. The method permits designers to spare the fire protection for the framing elements for which it is not needed by keeping the same safety requirement than traditional codes. [less ▲]

A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF DEVELOPING DIRECT INJECTION SPRAYING TECHNOLOGY FOR SMALL SCALE FARMS

in SZABÓ, Istvan; MAGÓ, László; KURJÁK, Zoltán (Eds.) II. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE CIGR HUNGARIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE, THE FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING OF THE SZENT ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY, AND THE AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING BOARD OF THE HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (2011, October 12)

The present study focuses on designing hydraulic scheme and process control system for small direct injection sprayer equipped with five meters' boom (10 tip nozzles) based on DC electrical energy supply ... [more ▼]

The present study focuses on designing hydraulic scheme and process control system for small direct injection sprayer equipped with five meters' boom (10 tip nozzles) based on DC electrical energy supply. A numerical model was developed by using finite volume method to study dynamic of concentration change process and to optimize the hydraulic boom design required to overcome lag transport problem related to real time application. The schemes of serial and parallel boom layouts were studied to obtain minimal lag transport for chemical concentration change process. The process control system was modelled in Matlab-SimulinkTM, and a laboratory test bench was implemented with a PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) feedback control for evaluating the performance of the constant carrier flow and the variable total flow strategies. The results of the hydraulic modelling of the serial boom layout showed that 6 mm boom diameter gave a satisfying performance in term of application uniformity (up to 97%) and lag transport along nozzles (from 0.8 to 1.5 s). The prospection of parallel scheme by feeding individually nozzles gave an even reduced lag transport (2 s) along the boom (diameter of 4 mm). The modelling of constant carrier flow control strategy showed a lag time of 2.5 s for the step speed change of 0.6 to 1.2 m/s at constant pressure of 2 bars. The total flow control strategy showed the advantage of reducing lag transport from 4 to 2.3 s when speed varied from 0.6 to 1.2 m/s in accordance with operating pressure (from 1 to 3 bars). The experimental tests showed the importance of varying carrier flow rate to improve the controller dynamic in comparison to the constant carrier flow control. [less ▲]

How to perform the diagnosis in a case with icterus ?

in In proceedings of the II Encontro de Formação da Ordem dos Médicos Veterinários (2011, October 08)

Clinical cases of anemia

in In proceedings of the II Encontro de Formação da Ordem dos Médicos Veterinários (2011, October 08)

Imaging the inner regions of debris disks with near-infrared interferometry

in EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2011 (2011, October 01)

Most debris disks resolved so far show extended structures located at tens to hundreds AU from the host star, and are more analogous to our solar system's dusty Kuiper belt than to the AU-scale zodiacal ... [more ▼]

Most debris disks resolved so far show extended structures located at tens to hundreds AU from the host star, and are more analogous to our solar system's dusty Kuiper belt than to the AU-scale zodiacal disk inside our solar system's asteroid belt. Over the last few years however, a few hot debris disks have been detected around a handful of main sequence stars thanks to the advance of infrared interferometry. The grain populations derived from these observations are quite intriguing, as they point towards very high dust replenishment rates, high cometary activity or major collisional events. In this talk, we review the ongoing efforts to detect bright exozodiacal disks with precision near-infrared interferometry in both hemispheres with CHARA/FLUOR and VLTI/PIONIER. We discuss preliminary statistical trends on the occurrence of bright exozodi around nearby main sequence stars and show how this information could be used to constrain the global architecture and evolution of debris disks. [less ▲]

Using Dynamic Line Rating to minimize curtailment of Wind power connected to rural power networks

in Proceedings of the 10th International Workshop on Large-Scale Integration of Wind Power into Power Systems (2011, October)

Elia, the Belgian TSO, is aiming to minimize curtailment of wind power plants connected to its 70kV rural network to the absolute minimum by using Dynamic Line Rating in combination with advanced flow ... [more ▼]

Elia, the Belgian TSO, is aiming to minimize curtailment of wind power plants connected to its 70kV rural network to the absolute minimum by using Dynamic Line Rating in combination with advanced flow simulation. This combination allows Elia to use its network assets to their real time maximum, without increasing risk and decreasing the security of supply. In situations like the one described below, where it’s possible to control the flow in near real-time via curtailment it becomes possible to use all of the extra capacity available via Dynamic Line Rating. On average more then 30% extra capacity is available but this figure can easily increase to 100% extra capacity as soon as there is more then 4 m/s wind perpendicular to the line [less ▲]

Response of plankton communities of the Bay of Calvi (northwestern Mediterranean) to climate variation over the past three decades

in Symposium "Vulnerability of coastal ecosystems to global change and extreme events", Biarritz, France, 18-21 October 2011 (2011, October)

Long-term changes of surface plankton dynamics are studied from three decades at a permanent station in the oligotrophic Bay of Calvi (Corsica, northwestern Mediterranean) where water quality is unbiased ... [more ▼]

Long-term changes of surface plankton dynamics are studied from three decades at a permanent station in the oligotrophic Bay of Calvi (Corsica, northwestern Mediterranean) where water quality is unbiased by terrestrial inputs. As a distinctive feature of the Bay, a plurimodal plankton bloom occurs generally between January and April, with very large interannual variability reaching one order of magnitude from one year to another. Later in the season, the plankton biomass remains very low from May to December. Contrarily to the 1979 - 1998 period where a continuous decrease of phyto- and zooplankton biomasses was observed, observations from the last decade (1999 - 2011) emphasize abrupt changes in plankton biomass and bloom duration from one year to another in response to succession of mild and rigorous winters. Studies conducted to understand mechanisms controlling plankton variability emphasize a close relationship between winter wind stress intensity, water temperature, nutrient inputs and phytoplankton biomass. Total phytoplankton biomass is maximum during years characterized by high winter wind stress and low winter water temperature. From a specific point of view, flagellates are always the dominant component of the winter - spring phytoplankton communities. However, diatoms tend to be more abundant during rigorous winter years. Shifts in phytoplankton community structure contribute to control the dynamics of zooplankton that rely on phytoplankton as food and influence the temporal succession of zooplankton assemblages. Time-series results indicate the high sensitivity of the plankton ecosystem to climate change and confirm that the Bay of Calvi reacts rapidly to external perturbations, which are driven by climate variation. [less ▲]

Textural Descriptors for Multiphasic Ore Particles

in Proceedings 13 Int. Congress for Stereology (2011, October)

The monitoring of mineral processing circuit based on particle liberation analysis using quantitative image analysis has become a routine technique within the last decades. But liberation indices are ... [more ▼]

The monitoring of mineral processing circuit based on particle liberation analysis using quantitative image analysis has become a routine technique within the last decades. But liberation indices are computed as weight proportions, which is not convenient when complex texture ores are treated by flotation. In these cases, liberation has to be computed as phase surface available to reactants, and the type of intergrowth between phases has to be characterized so as to determine the possibility of liberation. To achieve this characterization some indices have been developed in terms of 2D phase contact and mineral surfaces exposed. These indices, as well as indices suggested by other authors and additional measures, have been explored on simple synthetic textures ranging from single to multiple inclusions and single to multiple veins. The ability of these parameters to discriminate the various textures is analyzed [less ▲]

Quality Surface Meshing Using Discrete Parametrizations

in Proceedings of the 20th International Meshing Roundtable (2011, October)

A Frontal Delaunay Quad Mesh Generator Using the L ∞  Norm

in Proceedings of the 20th International Meshing Roundtable (2011, October)

Model predictive control of HVDC power flow to improve transient stability in power systems

in Proceedings of the Second IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Communications (IEEE SmartGridComm) (2011, October)

This paper addresses the problem of HVDC control using real-time information to avoid loss of synchronism phenomena in power systems. It proposes a discrete-time control strategy based on model predictive ... [more ▼]

This paper addresses the problem of HVDC control using real-time information to avoid loss of synchronism phenomena in power systems. It proposes a discrete-time control strategy based on model predictive control, which solves at every time step an open-loop optimal-control problem using an A* event-tree search. Different optimisation criteria based on transient stability indices are compared. The paper presents simulations results for two benchmark systems with 9 and 24 buses, respectively, and an embedded HVDC-link. The results show that the control strategy leads to a modulation of the HVDC power flow that improves significantly the system’s ability to maintain synchronism in the aftermath of a large disturbance. [less ▲]

Usefulness of a Vancomycin pretreatment when challenging chickens in order to evaluate anti-Salmonella preparations

in Ceylan, Necmettin; Ciftci, Ibrahim; Adabi, Shahram (Eds.) 18th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition: Proceedings (2011, October)

For many years, Salmonella infection models have been developed in chickens with the aim to study the effects of prophylactic or therapeutic measures on the colonization of the gut. However, although the ... [more ▼]

For many years, Salmonella infection models have been developed in chickens with the aim to study the effects of prophylactic or therapeutic measures on the colonization of the gut. However, although the literature includes numerous challenge models, few studies investigated the infection rates among the inoculated population. We have implemented an antibiotic pretreatment of the chickens (vancomycin hydrochloride, 25 mg/bird) as an infection promoter. Indeed, vancomycin affects the normal gut microflora and releases sites for Salmonella at the intestinal epithelium. Two experiments were undertaken and a presence/absence cloacal swab method was used to evaluate cecal colonization. In the first experiment, birds were orally inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium at 21 days of age. Three inoculum doses (3 × 103, 3 × 106, 3 × 109 cfu/bird) and an uninfected control were compared according to whether or not vancomycin had been used. Higher levels of Salmonella colonization (more than 70 %) were achieved in the gut by pretreating birds with vancomycin before inoculation (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, chicks were inoculated at 7 days of age with 108 cfu/bird after a vancomycin pretreatment, leading to an infection rate of 87.5 %. In conclusion, vancomycin promotes efficiently the percentage of colonized birds in the challenged population, with either young animals or olders. [less ▲]

Target classification system based on the characterization of targets by subspaces

in Proceedings of 2011 IEEE CIE International Conference on Radar (2011, October)

Characterization of fine aggregates in concrete by different experimental approaches

in Proceedings 13 Int. Congress for Stereology (2011, October)

Being its major component, aggregate can occupy up to three-quarter of the volume of concrete. The structure of aggregate formed in hardened state impacts largely on mechanical and durability properties ... [more ▼]

Being its major component, aggregate can occupy up to three-quarter of the volume of concrete. The structure of aggregate formed in hardened state impacts largely on mechanical and durability properties of concrete. On another hand, physical characteristics of aggregate are primarily assumed to be relevant to granular behavior of aggregate. Therefore, characterization of aggregate is of high relevance to concrete studies. In this study, different types of fine aggregate used in concrete, namely river sand and crushed limestone, are selected for morphological characterization. Traditional sieve analysis and laser diffraction method are employed for separation and size analysis of specimens. Different types of fine aggregate samples with comparable size ranges are then analyzed by two advanced dry (static) and wet (dynamic) image analysers. These new analysers are especially suitable for characterization of fine particles, which is difficult by traditional image analysis equipments. Size and shape characteristics of different fine aggregates will be revealed by different experimental methods. The results on different parameters for shape characterization will be compared and discussed [less ▲]

Les géosites d'Ampsin et d'Engis (Belgique) : deux exemples de reconversion de carrières désaffectées

in Blieck, A.; Auguste, P.; Derycke, C. (Eds.) Programme et résumés (2011, October)

La nouvelle carte géologique de Wallonie et ses applications

in Blieck, A.; Auguste, P.; Derycke, C. (Eds.) Programme et résumés (2011, October)

Performances of DAHT connected to building airthightness and indoor hygrothermal climate

in Proceedings of the 32nd AIVC Conference (2011, October)

As building insulation level increases, the coupling of ventilation systems with building enveloppe airtightness becomes an important issue in order to improve buildings energy performances. A building ... [more ▼]

As building insulation level increases, the coupling of ventilation systems with building enveloppe airtightness becomes an important issue in order to improve buildings energy performances. A building ventilation model can be built on a set of resistances and generators in order to handle infiltration, natural ventilation as well as fan driven air flows. The model is able to assess the indoor air humidity level and the building energy balance. Double flow ventilation can be handled through decentralized air handling terminals (DAHT), integrated in window ledges. A model of DAHT can be combined with the model of a whole building envelope, including infiltrations as well as dynamic behaviour, allowing comparisons with classical ventilation systems, such as natural or hybrid systems, or with centralized double flow systems. Results regarding energy consumptions, air humidity levels and superficial condensation risks can be analysed. Fresh air flow can be calibrated in order to meet air quality standards related to indoor humidity level and CO2 concentration. The modelization of buiding indoor hygro-thermal climate allows a complete assessment of the seasonal heat exchanger efficiency, including heat recovery through the condensation of indoor air humidity when it flows through the exchanger. [less ▲]

The future European standard to determine odour in ambient air by using field inspection

in Proceedings of the 4th IWA specialized conference on odours and VOCs, Vitoria, Brazil, 17-21 October, 2011. (2011, October)

This paper presents the methodologies to determine odour in ambient air by field inspection that will be a new European standard. The objective is to characterize the odour in a defined area. Without ... [more ▼]

This paper presents the methodologies to determine odour in ambient air by field inspection that will be a new European standard. The objective is to characterize the odour in a defined area. Without making a link with potential annoyance due to the presence of odours, the described methods propose the way to characterize an exposed environment. Two approaches are defined in the new standard: the grid method and the plume method. The grid method can be used determine the exposure to ambient odours in a defined area of study, using direct observation of recognizable odours in the field by human panel members. This method must be applied over a sufficiently long period of time (6 or 12 months) to be representative for the meteorological conditions of that location. The result is the distribution of the frequency of exposure to odours within the assessment area. The plume method can be used to determine the extent of detectable and recognizable odours from a specific source using direct observation in the field by human panel members under specific meteorological conditions. [less ▲]

3D EXPLORATION OF PERCOLATED POROSITY IN VIRTUAL CONCRETE

(2011, October)

The paper introduces two novel methods developed for porosimetry in DEM-produced virtual concrete. Inspiration came from robotics. Some available methods like quantitative image analysis render possible ... [more ▼]

The paper introduces two novel methods developed for porosimetry in DEM-produced virtual concrete. Inspiration came from robotics. Some available methods like quantitative image analysis render possible assessment of porosity and 3D pore size distribution. For durability applications it is necessary also to know the fraction of porosity that is continuous (percolated). This can be easily obtained from the methods introduced herein. [less ▲]

Actualités du droit des marchés: état de la transposition

in Droit de la construction : CUP septembre 2011 (2011, September 23)

Flood risk analysis in the Meuse river basin

in Urban Flood Risk Management (2011, September 21)

The goal of the study presented in the paper consists in understanding the vulnerability of economic systems to a modification of the hydrology due to climate change in the Meuse river basin. The latter ... [more ▼]

The goal of the study presented in the paper consists in understanding the vulnerability of economic systems to a modification of the hydrology due to climate change in the Meuse river basin. The latter extends over several regions in four different countries. A transnational approach is thus necessary to keep consistency throughout the international catchment. In this paper, we begin by illustrating how a strong collaboration between scientists and water authorities of the different parts of the basin has lead to a consistent approach for conducting flood risk analysis. Hazard modeling was conducted to get flood maps in the whole basin, considering various climate scenarios. In Wallonia, accurate hydraulic simulations were performed with the fully dynamic flow model WOLF2D entirely developed at the University of Liege (Erpicum et al., 2010). The outcomes of this inundation modeling constitute suitable inputs for the subsequent exposure analysis. The latter has been performed at a meso-scale using land use maps (CORINE) and geographic database (PLI), aggregated into a set of five damage categories. Recently developed damage functions, which are the key part of the vulnerability analysis, has been chosen in relation with the damage categories indentified in the exposure analysis. To determine the value of the assets, a monetary approach has been employed, with the purpose of assessing prices per square meter for each damage category. In this paper, the focus is set on comparing several approaches to calculate the specific price of the residential damage category in Wallonia, and to compare with an existing micro-scale approach (Ernst et al., 2010). [less ▲]

Screening of Basic Properties of Amphiphilic Molecular Structures for Colloidal System Formation and Stability: The Case of Carbohydrate-Based Surfactants

in Nagarajan, Ramananthan (Ed.) Amphiphiles: Molecular Assembly and Applications (2011, September 19)

Colloidal systems are bubbles, droplets, or/and particles dispersed in a continuous media, which are encountered in nature, biological system, and manufactured products. As site of interfaces between at ... [more ▼]

Colloidal systems are bubbles, droplets, or/and particles dispersed in a continuous media, which are encountered in nature, biological system, and manufactured products. As site of interfaces between at least two bulk phases, their formation and stability need the presence of amphiphilic molecules. Carbohydrate-based surfactants (CBS) take part of these groups of compound having numerous attractive features: an abundance of precursor raw material sources, an excellent environmental compatibility, and a possible quasi-unlimited design of their molecular structure and geometry by different preparation routes. Numerous properties and activities including the aptitude to form and stabilize colloidal systems are therefore expected from a wide range of CBS compounds. Screening of their interfacial behaviors, which govern their functionalities in colloidal system properties, are then relevant in fundamental and practical point of view. In this chapter, interfacial properties of uronic acid-based surfactants are presented as examples of screening approaches. Experimental measurements of both dynamic and equilibrium properties at air-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces, as well as a computational approach are reported. [less ▲]

Analysis of Passive cooling and heating potential in Vietnam using Graphical Method and Typical Meteorological Year weather file

in Proceedings of CISBAT 2011 (2011, September 15)

This paper studies the potential to improve thermal comfort in Vietnam thanks to passive strategies. First, a thermal comfort zone for the Vietnamese is proposed by using the PMV-PPD heat balance model of ... [more ▼]

This paper studies the potential to improve thermal comfort in Vietnam thanks to passive strategies. First, a thermal comfort zone for the Vietnamese is proposed by using the PMV-PPD heat balance model of Fanger and the effects of adaptive mechanism of the people living in tropical hot humid region. Then, the comfort zone is enlarged using the algorithms proposed by the authors to calculate the effects of the passive heating and cooling strategies. Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) weather data are used for graphically printing of hourly environmental parameters on the psychrometric chart and for climate analysis, subsequently. The limitation and the scope of this method are also specified. Results of this study show that in all climatic zones of Vietnam, natural ventilation is an efficient cooling solution, low-cost and easy to apply. Thermal comfort improvement of natural ventilation strategy varies with the climatic zones, increasing from 17.1% in Hanoi, 21% in Danang to 31.4% in Hochiminh city. Meanwhile, passive solar heating is not really effective since winter in Vietnam is usually not too cold and the capacity of the passive solar collector system is usually limited. Direct evaporative cooling also has a great cooling effect compared with that of natural ventilation, but significant humidity augmentation in the air in hot and humid conditions may be inappropriate. Seasonal analysis reveals that natural ventilation gives higher performance than other methods and is particularly effective in mild seasons. During 12 months in Hanoi, the analysis clearly shows significant contribution of natural ventilation in the period from April to October during which comfort period achieved might vary from 30% to 81%. The combination of all passive strategies considerably improves thermal comfort: 22.6%, 31.7% and 47.6% of total time in Hanoi, Danang and Hochiminh city, respectively. Finally, the findings of this study indicate that conventional heating and cooling methods are also needed during extreme weather conditions in summer and winter, especially in Hanoi. [less ▲]

Improving Groundwater Flow Model Conceptualisation and Calibration with ERT and Self-potential Methods

in EarthDoc - Near Surface 2011 – 17th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics (2011, September 14)

The self-potential (SP) method relies on passive measurements of the ambient electrical potential at the ground surface or in boreholes. When the electrokinetic effect is the dominant contribution, the ... [more ▼]

The self-potential (SP) method relies on passive measurements of the ambient electrical potential at the ground surface or in boreholes. When the electrokinetic effect is the dominant contribution, the resulting signal is called the streaming potential and contains information about groundwater fluxes that can be useful for calibration of groundwater flow models. The streaming potential forward equation was implemented in the HydroGeoSphere model, which simulates 3D groundwater flow and solute transport in porous media, including fractured geological formations. HydroGeoSphere is able to calculate the streaming potential given a distribution of Darcy velocity and electrical resistivity. Since groundwater flow modelling relies on a conceptual model, prior information on the distribution of the geological units and hydraulic conductivity at the site is mandatory. However, this information is often scarce or missing. In this work, we use the electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and the SP methods as an additional source of information for building the groundwater flow model. ERT is used to identify the location of fractured zones in a fractured and karstified calcareous aquifer of South Belgium. The SP signal is used with PEST in order to calibrate the groundwater flow model and better constrain the hydraulic conductivity of the fractured zones. [less ▲]

Impact measurements of different 40mm non-lethal sponge grenades

in Ballistics 2011: 26th International Symposium (2011, September 11)

In the world of kinetic energy non-lethal weapons (KENLW), the 40mm sponge grenade is a modern projectile that is widely being used. Indeed, it presents different advantages: firstly, thanks to its 40mm ... [more ▼]

In the world of kinetic energy non-lethal weapons (KENLW), the 40mm sponge grenade is a modern projectile that is widely being used. Indeed, it presents different advantages: firstly, thanks to its 40mm diameter, it can be fired with a classic cost-effective grenade launcher. Secondly, its big diameter makes it very unlikely to penetrate the human body, even for impact energy above 100J. Thirdly, it’s a quite accurate projectile for long distance non-lethal impacts, typically between 20m and 50m. These considerations explain why many ammunition manufacturers tend to develop their own 40mm sponge grenade. The 40mm sponge grenade is usually composed of a hard plastic body, with a deformable nose made in foam rubber. The deformation of the nose allows the projectile to absorb energy at impact, making it less lethal for a given velocity than an equivalent stiff projectile. The muzzle velocity is usually between 70m/s and 110m/s, and the mass between 30g and 40g. The muzzle kinetic energy is usually between 120J and 170J. The main issue in the study of this kind of projectiles is its ability to deform at impact. On the one hand, it makes measurements of the impact phenomena more complicated than for a stiff projectile. On the other hand, most of the published studies about KENLW deal with stiff projectiles, and their conclusions may not be applicable for deformable projectiles. Another problem is the wide variety of existing sponge grenades. As the way the projectile deform during the impact can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, we can expect that the impact phenomena and its induced lethality can also vary, even for the same level of energy. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of different sponge grenades with force sensors and a high-speed camera. The 2 main goals are the following: • Different sponge grenades are shot at different velocities on a stiff surface equipped with a force sensor. The force and deformation occurring during the impact are measured for each projectile and then compared. • A relationship between force and deformation during the impact is established, and then compared at different velocities, for different sponge grenades. [less ▲]

Numerical simulation of non lethal projectiles on human thorax

in Ballistics 2011: 26th International Symposium (2011, September 11)

These last decades have seen the development of a new type of weapons, the non lethal weapons. Unlike the conventional weapons which may cause severe or fatal injuries and whose injury mechanisms are well ... [more ▼]

These last decades have seen the development of a new type of weapons, the non lethal weapons. Unlike the conventional weapons which may cause severe or fatal injuries and whose injury mechanisms are well documented, the non lethal weapons are designed for temporary incapacitation with reversible consequences or minor damage to the human body. They try therefore to fill the gap wherever the use of excessive forces or conventional weapons is not necessary. There are various non lethal technologies but here we will focus on non lethal kinetic energy weapons (NLKEW). The non penetrating characteristics of non lethal projectiles lead to different injury mechanisms to those related to conventional lethal projectiles. In order to better understand these effects and assess the injury severity, experiments are carried out on Post Mortem Human Surrogates (PMHS), animals and mechanical anthropomorphic systems. Nevertheless nowadays with the development of high performance computing systems, numerical simulations based on finite element method are increasingly used because of their cost-effectiveness, their predictive capabilities and their adaptability (for example the possibility of adapting the geometry to take into account various morphologies, …). Physical injury is a consequence of the interaction between the human body and the projectile. To assess the severity of injury, injury criteria are defined. The most used criterion on the assessment of the thorax injury is the maximum viscous criterion. Because of the human body complexity, reliable information on injury mechanisms and tolerance level to the impact of non lethal projectiles is limited. The major challenge in the numerical simulations is the human tissue material model as human tissue responses to impacts are various and complex. As a consequence, models which are biofidelic to the human living tissues are a key issue. To investigate and predict the human thorax response to the impact of the usual non lethal kinetic projectiles (like the FN303, the 40mm COUGAR), a finite element thorax model has been developed from thorax CT-scan images and the projectile FN303 was used. The model was validated by using results (force-time and deflection-time characteristics of the thorax) from experiments on PHMS published in the litterature. Two types of projectiles made of polyvinyl chloride cylinder with 37 mm diameter and respectively 28.5 mm and 100 mm long were used and the human tissue material models were found in open litterature. [less ▲]

1. Implantation des cultures

in Livre Blanc - Céréales-Gembloux - Informations avant les semis (2011, September 08)

2. Variétés - 2. Escourgeon et orge d’hiver fourragers

in Livre Blanc: Céréales-Gembloux - Informations avant les semis (2011, September 08)

2. Variétés - 1. Froment d'hiver

in Livre blanc: Céréales-Gembloux - Informations avant les semis (2011, September 08)

How to diagnose atypical myopathy

in In proceedings: 50th British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress (2011, September 08)

Concentrations of pepsinogens A and C in peripheral blood of cattle at different developmental stages.

in Proceedings of the 6th European Congress of Bovine Health and Management (ECBHM) (2011, September 07)

Measurements of global proteolytic activity of pepsinogens are successfully used for diagnosis of gastric nematode parasitism in cattle. Higher pepsinogen concentrations detected in peripheral circulation ... [more ▼]

Measurements of global proteolytic activity of pepsinogens are successfully used for diagnosis of gastric nematode parasitism in cattle. Higher pepsinogen concentrations detected in peripheral circulation were found to be associated with damage in gastric mucosa The aim of the present study was to investigate the ontogenesis of PgnA and PgnC in cattle. Bovine PgnA and PgnC were isolated in our laboratory. Both antigens were labeled to 125I by using chloramine T method. Standard curves ranged from 125 to 1.0 ng/mL. Antisera were raised in rabbits: AS866 (anti-PgnA) and AS869 (anti-PgnC). The optimal dilutions for primary antisera were 1:15,000 and 1:20,000 for AS866 and AS869, respectively. In order to establish the ontogenesis of both PgnA and PgnC, samples were collected from 50 bovine fetuses (3rd to the 9th month), 18 calves and 57 adult cattle. Mean(±SEM) concentrations of PgnA were 4.6±0.7 ng/mL, 78.9±6.7 ng/mL and 133.2±17.6 ng/mL in fetuses, calves and mature cows, respectively. Concentrations of PgnC were <0.9 ng/mL, 13.5±1.1 ng/ml and 201.5±26.5 ng/ml in fetuses, calves and mature cows, respectively. The ratio PgnA/PgnC concentrations decrease from fetal age (maximal ratio due to undetectable PgnC concentrations), being 5.8 in young calves and lowest (0.7) in mature cows. In conclusion, PgnA and PgnC concentrations can be distinctly measured by specific RIA systems. Ratio PgnA/PgnC concentrations can be useful to better understand the ontogenesis of gastric aspartic proteinases in cattle. It is expected that clinical application of these assays will help vet practitioners to establish diagnosis of gastric nematode parasitism in dairy and beef herds taking into account the age of the animal. [less ▲]

Prediction of stillbirth in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows by monotoring endocrine profiles in the periparturient period.

in Proceedings of the 6th European Congress of Bovine Health and Management (ECBHM) (2011, September 07)

During the last decades, there is a declining trend in conception and calving rates in high yielding Holstein dairy cattle. At the same time, the gradual increase in stillbirth rates, especially in ... [more ▼]

During the last decades, there is a declining trend in conception and calving rates in high yielding Holstein dairy cattle. At the same time, the gradual increase in stillbirth rates, especially in Holstein heifers, has until recently received relatively little attention. Birth weight and gender of the calf, parity, age and breed of the dam, and season of calving are all factors associated with calving difficulties and stillbirths. Other causes of stillbirths not related to calving difficulties are, for example, herd size, infections (e.g. BVD), insufficient placenta development and/or function, metabolic disorders of the cow, and congenital malformations of the calf. The objective of the present study was to investigate the possible effect of hormonal disturbances on the incidence of stillbirth in dairy cows on a Holstein-Friesian dairy farm in Hungary. Dairy cows (n=173) were sampled three times during the periparturient period (at drying-off, 3 weeks prior to expected calving, and within 1 h after calving) in 2006 and two times (3 weeks prior to expected calving, and within 1 h after calving) in 2007. Dairy cows were grouped according to the incidence of stillbirth: Group 1 (control): n=165 and Group 2 (stillbirth): n=8. Hormone and pregnancy protein parameters measured by RIA were as follows: progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2), cortisol, triiodine-thyronin (T3), thyroxin (T4), insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and pregnancy associated glycoprotein (PAG). To determine, which of the hormones and PAG were the best predictors of the presence or absence of stillbirth at a given time (2 months and 3 weeks before calving and within 1 h after calving), a generalised linear model was used with binomial error distribution and logit link function (multivariate logistic regression). All analyses were carried out by R 2.7.2. Statistical Software. The significant level was set at P< 0.05 and an effect was considered a trend when P was between 0.05 and 0.10. The overall prevalence of stillbirth was 4.6 % (4.0% in 2006 and 5.4% in 2007). Interestingly, most calves (7 out of 8) with stillbirth were bulls, but this difference was not significant. Weight of the calves, body score condition of the cows and number of people needed to assist at calving also did not affect the presence or absence of stillbirth significantly, and there was no significant difference among the groups regarding the gestation length or parity either (P>0.100 in all cases). Regarding hormone and pregnancy protein parameters, no significant differences were found during the periparturient period (at 2 months and 3 weeks before expecting calving), however, there was a trend for lower IGF-1 values (P=0.079, OR=0.96) in stillbirth group compared to controls at dry off (2 months before expecting calving). Within one hour after calving significant differences were observed in case of P4 (P<0.001, OR= 3.06), and IGF-1 (P=0.021, OR= 0.94), resulting significantly higher values in P4 and lower values in IGF-1 in stillbirth cows compared to controls. The higher P4 values observed in stillbirth cows also resulted a higher P4/E2 ratio compared to controls (P=0.003, OR= 1.60). Changes in the IGF-1, P4 and P4/E2 ratio may be one of the reasons for stillbirth in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows however more examinations are needed to be confirmed. Other hormones (P4, cortisol, T3, T4, insulin, PAG) did not mirror dependency due to the incidence of stillbirth in dairy cows. [less ▲]

Development of a new ELISA for measurement of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein.

in Proceedings of the 6th European Congress of Bovine Health and Management (ECBHM) (2011, September 07)

In the present study we report the development of a new ELISA for PAG measurement (Ref. code E.G.7, CER, Maloie) in ruminant species. Purified boPAG67kDa protein was purified in our laboratory and used as ... [more ▼]

In the present study we report the development of a new ELISA for PAG measurement (Ref. code E.G.7, CER, Maloie) in ruminant species. Purified boPAG67kDa protein was purified in our laboratory and used as standard. Antiserum raised against caprine PAG 55kDa+62kDa (AS707) was used as capture antibody (1:40,000). Antiserum raised against PAG purified from buffalo placentas (AS859) was used as detection antibody (1:32,000 dilution). Avidin-HRP and TMB completed the ELISA system. Reproducibility was determined by calculating the intra- and inter-assay CV. Accuracy was determined by adding increasing concentrations of purified boPAG67kDa to bovine sera containing low PAG concentrations. Specificity was tested regarding 25 different compounds: carbohydrates, aspartic proteinases, hormones and major plasma proteins. Parallelism was assessed by serially diluting pregnant cow serum containing high PAG concentrations. Sera was collected from pregnant cows (n=4) during the whole duration of gestation. Samples were tested by both RIA and ELISA. Samples giving high PAG concentrations were serially diluted in order to fit with optical density (OD) of the ELISA standard curve. Intra-and inter-assay CV ranged from 5.5 to 9.1%. Accuracy ranged from 92.9 to 105.5%. No cross reaction was observed with almost all tested compounds excepting lactic acid at supra-physiological levels (1 mg/ml). Dilutions of bovine maternal sera were parallel to standard curve. Profiles obtained by ELISA in pregnant cows were very similar to those obtained by RIA. In conclusion, a new PAG-ELISA is available for measurement of PAG concentrations in cattle. This new test was validated in vitro and can be used for pregnancy diagnosis and follow-up of gestation in cattle. [less ▲]

Cardiac troponin and natriuretic peptide in canine emergencies with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome

in Proceedings of 21st ECVIM Meeting (2011, September 06)

Numerical optimization of an injection volumetric expander for use in waste heat recovery organic Rankine cycle

in Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Compressors and their Systems (2011, September 05)

Waste heat recovery organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems allow generating mechanical or electrical power from local low grade heat sources. This paper shows how the power produced by the system can be ... [more ▼]

Waste heat recovery organic Rankine cycle (ORC) systems allow generating mechanical or electrical power from local low grade heat sources. This paper shows how the power produced by the system can be increased by achieving several evaporating pressure levels and injecting low pressure flow during expansion. A numerical model of the vapour injection expansion is developed and different system configurations are compared. In comparison with a simple configuration of the cycle, vapour injection configuration yields a maximum increase of 16% of the power production. Moreover, the specific power can be increased by 26%, which would largely reduce the specific investment cost of the waste heat recovery system. [less ▲]

New developments for an efficient solution of the discrete material topology optimization of composite structures

in Faester, S.; Juul Jensen, D.; Ralph, B. (Eds.) et al Composite materials for structural performance: towards the higher limits (2011, September 05)

Optimal design of composite structures can be formulated as an optimal selection of material in a list of different laminates. Based on the seminal work by Stegmann and Lund (2005), the optimal problem ... [more ▼]

Optimal design of composite structures can be formulated as an optimal selection of material in a list of different laminates. Based on the seminal work by Stegmann and Lund (2005), the optimal problem can be stated as a topology optimization problem with multiple materials. The research work carries out a large investigation of different interpolation and penalization schemes for the optimal material selection problem. Besides the classical Design Material Optimization (DMO) scheme and the recent Shape Function with Penalization (SFP) scheme by Bruyneel (2011), the research introduces a generalization of the SFP approach using a bi-value coding parameterization (BCP) (Gao, Zhang, and Duysinx, 2011) The paper provides a comparison of the different parameterization approaches. It also proposes alternative penalization schemes and it investigates the effect of the power penalization. Finally, we discuss the solution aspects in the perspective of solving large-scale industrial applications. The conclusions are illustrated by a numerical application for the compliance maximization of an in-plane composite ply. [less ▲]

Simplified Fire Design for Slim Floor Beams

in Dunai, Laszlo (Ed.) Proceedings of the 6th European Conference on Steel and Composite Structures (2011, September 02)

Circulation atmosphérique simulée par les modèles de circulation générale en Europe de l'ouest : évaluation et projections futures

in Fazzini, Massimiliano; Beltrando, Gérard (Eds.) XXIVème colloque de l'Association Internationale de Climatologie - Climat montagnard et risques (2011, September)

Atmospheric circulation simulations from general circulation models are used as forcing for downscaling methods and for future projections. Thus, it is essential to evaluate them. An automatic circulation ... [more ▼]

Atmospheric circulation simulations from general circulation models are used as forcing for downscaling methods and for future projections. Thus, it is essential to evaluate them. An automatic circulation type classification is applied to daily 500 hPa geopotential height data. Firstly, the classification is done for the NCEP-NCAR 1 reanalysis, and then the main circulation types are imposed to the simulations of six general circulation models. For recent climate (20C3M scenario), it appears that most models are not able to simulate well the circulation over western Europe, due to biases in the mean geopotential height and an underestimation of the circulation variability. For future climate (A1B scenario), a general increase of the geopotential height is projected, leading to the emergence of new circulation types. [less ▲]

Detection of food antigens in dog foods used as elimination diets

in Castrillo, Carlos (Ed.) Congress Proceedings 15th Congress ESVCN (2011, September)

Rural electrification through decentralized concentrating solar power: technological and socio-economic aspects

(2011, September)

This paper presents the development of small-scale solar Organic Rankin Cycle for rural electrification in remote areas of Lesotho. It is subdivided in two parts. The first part deals with the success ... [more ▼]

This paper presents the development of small-scale solar Organic Rankin Cycle for rural electrification in remote areas of Lesotho. It is subdivided in two parts. The first part deals with the success conditions of decentralized rural electrification projects. Through a literature survey, different guiding principles and recommendations are formulated. The second part of the paper describes the proposed system. This system is designed in agreement with the above recommendations. [less ▲]

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity in plasma of dogs : physiological determinants and effect of heart failure

in 21th ECVIM Meeting - Séville, Espagne - du 6 au 10 septembre 2011 (2011, September)

Distributed MPC of wide-area electromechanical oscillations of large-scale power systems

in Proceedings of ISAP 2011 (2011, September)

We investigate distributed Model Predictive Control (MPC) to damp wide-area electromechanical oscillations. Our distributed MPC schemes are derived from and compared with a fully centralized MPC scheme ... [more ▼]

We investigate distributed Model Predictive Control (MPC) to damp wide-area electromechanical oscillations. Our distributed MPC schemes are derived from and compared with a fully centralized MPC scheme proposed in a previous publication. Based on simulations carried out using a 16-generator, 70-bus, two-area test power system, we show that simple coordination schemes based on additional local measurements’ feedback yield already a significant improvement with respect to a scheme with only implicit coordination, improve significantly with respect to purely local controls, and in this respect reach about 75% of the improvements obtained by an ideal centralized MPC scheme. [less ▲]

An Efficient Dual and Triple Frequency Preprocessing Method for GALILEO and GPS Signals

in 3rd International Colloquium – Scientific and Fundamentals Aspects of the GALILEO Programme (2011, September)

Data preprocessing is a mandatory stage for most of GNSS applications. In the frame of space weather and precise point positioning applications, the Geomatics Unit of the University of Liège has purchased ... [more ▼]

Data preprocessing is a mandatory stage for most of GNSS applications. In the frame of space weather and precise point positioning applications, the Geomatics Unit of the University of Liège has purchased two Septentrio PolaRx3eG receivers which allow tracking GPS L1/L5 and Galileo E1/E5a signals. In order to fully exploit these new data, we developed a preprocessing method extending existing techniques. Our preprocessing method consists of three consecutive steps. The first step is devoted to the compensation of receiver clock slips affecting code pseudorange and carrier-phase measurements. The second step covers cycle slips detection and the third step assesses data quality in terms of noise essentially affecting code pseudorange measurements. This preprocessing method was initially developed for GPS L1/L5 and Galileo E1/E5a dual frequency data but finally enhanced to also preprocess triple frequency data from first operational Galileo satellites as soon as data are available. The developed method already showed promising results. [less ▲]

Impact of the mesh on the accuracy and efficiency of cardiovascular simulations

in Proceedings of the ECCOMAS Thematic International Conference on Simulation and Modeling of Biological Flows (SIMBIO 2011) (2011, September)

ROBUSTNESS OF BUILDING STRUCTURES - Recent developments and adopted strategy

in Eurosteel 2011 - 6th European Conference on Steel and Composite Structures - Proceedings (2011, September)

Recent events such as natural catastrophes or terrorism attacks have highlighted the necessity to ensure the structural integrity of buildings under an exceptional event. According to the Eurocodes and ... [more ▼]

Recent events such as natural catastrophes or terrorism attacks have highlighted the necessity to ensure the structural integrity of buildings under an exceptional event. According to the Eurocodes and some different other national design codes, the structural integrity of civil engineering structures should be ensured through appropriate measures but, in most cases, no precise practical guidelines on how to achieve this goal are provided. At the University of Liège, the robustness of building frames is investigated following the so-called “alternative load path method”, with the final objective to propose design requirements to mitigate the risk of progressive collapse considering the conventional scenario “loss of a column” further to an unspecified event. In particular, a complete analytical procedure has been developed for the verification of the robustness of steel or composite plane frames. For sake of simplicity, these first works have been based on the assumption that the dynamic effects linked to the column loss were limited and could therefore be neglected. More recently, complementary works have been carried out with the objective to address the dynamic effects. Besides, the extension of the static procedure to actual 3D frames is under investigation in Liège. The present paper gives a global overview of the ongoing researches in the field of robustness at the University of Liège and, in particular, the global strategy aiming at deriving design requirements is detailed. [less ▲]

Infiltration de concentré plaquettaire dans le traitement des tendinopathies rotuliennes : résultats préliminaires

in 4ème Congrès commun SFMS & SFTS (2011, September)

Introduction : L’évolution de certaines tendinopathies, et plus particulièrement, les tendinopathies rotuliennes aussi appelées Jumper’s knee demeurent relativement rebelles aux traitements ... [more ▼]

Introduction : L’évolution de certaines tendinopathies, et plus particulièrement, les tendinopathies rotuliennes aussi appelées Jumper’s knee demeurent relativement rebelles aux traitements «conservateurs». Divers travaux expérimentaux ont souligné les propriétés réparatrices des plaquettes et de divers facteurs de croissances libérés localement. Ceux-ci peuvent effectivement accélérer la cicatrisation de certains tissus : os, muscles et tendons. Ces recherches ont permis de comprendre l’action plaquettaire en qualité de médiateur et/ou activateur de la cicatrisation tissulaire. Depuis janvier 2010, ce traitement des lésions tendineuses n’est plus repris sur la liste des méthodes dopantes. Matériel et méthodes : Le but de l’étude est de réaliser une injection locale de concentré plaquettaire (PRP) chez des patients présentant une tendinopathie rotulienne supérieure rebelle, évoluant depuis plus de 3 mois, n’ayant plus bénéficié de traitement physique (programme excentrique, ondes de choc) depuis 4 semaines. Les patients bénéficient d’un bilan d’imagerie (échographie et IRM), un bilan fonctionnel ainsi qu’un test clinique algique palpatoire à l’aide d’un algomètre avant le traitement et à 6 semaines. Ils sont également invités à répondre à un questionnaire relatif à l’importance de la douleur et de la situation médico-sportive et fonctionnelle. Le PRP est prélevé à partir de sang autologue par l’intermédiaire d’un système d’aphérèse. L’injection de PRP (± 6 mL) est réalisée, sans anesthésie locale, de manière stérile au niveau de l’insertion proximale du tendon rotulien. Un repos relatif 48 heures après l’infiltration est préconisé. Une rééducation excentrique complémentaire est initiée 1 semaine après l’injection. Un repos sportif spécifique de 6 semaines est maintenu. En cas de douleur, le patient ne peut pas prendre d’anti-inflammatoire mais bien un antidouleur de classe I ou II. Notre protocole a été examiné et approuvé par le Comité d’Ethique Hospitalo-Facultaire Universitaire de Liège. Résultats et discussion : Dix patients présentant une tendinopathie rotulienne supérieure chronique sont actuellement inclus dans l’étude. Les tests et évaluation pré-injection révèlent une douleur persistante à la pointe de la rotule associée généralement à une perte de fonction. L’imagerie permet de confirmer le diagnostic. A 6 semaines de l’injection de PRP, l’évolution clinique est globalement favorable, avec une diminution significative des scores algo-fonctionnels (questionnaires et EVA lors des tests fonctionnels), mais sans amélioration significative des performances physiques. Il n’y a pas non plus de différence significative quant aux explorations d’imagerie médicale 6 semaines après l’injection de PRP. Conclusion: Une injection de PRP in situ semble améliorer cliniquement les patients atteints d’une tendinopathie rotulienne supérieure, à 6 semaines post-infiltration. Cependant, celle-ci ne semble pas avoir de répercussion sur les performances fonctionnelles ni sur l’imagerie médicale après 6 semaines. Un suivi sur une période plus importante est nécessaire pour en apprécier les effets à long terme. [less ▲]

La troponine T ultrasensible : un nouvel outil diagnostic pour le médecin sportif?

in 4ème Congrès commun SFMS & SFTS (2011, September)

Introduction : Le risque d’accidents cardiaques ou de mort subite après effort physique intense est bien connu. Ces évènements indésirables se produisent souvent chez des sujets présentant une maladie ... [more ▼]

Introduction : Le risque d’accidents cardiaques ou de mort subite après effort physique intense est bien connu. Ces évènements indésirables se produisent souvent chez des sujets présentant une maladie coronarienne asymptomatique et ignorée. Néanmoins, vu ce risque, l’American Heart Association recommande de réaliser un screening cardiovasculaire chez les athlètes de tout âge. Dans cette optique, le dosage de marqueurs cardiaques de nouvelle génération, plus sensibles, comme la troponine T ultrasensible (hsTnT) peut certainement apporter des informations très intéressantes par la détection de dommages myocardiques mêmes mineurs. Matériels et méthodes : Des 20 sujets masculins volontaires âgés de 22.36±2.02 années, sédentaires, 8 ont dû être exclus (abandon, malaise à l’effort...). La VO2max a été préalablement déterminée lors d’un test à l’effort sur cycloergomètre une semaine avant le test afin de ne pas interférer avec les résultats de l’effort physique intense (EPI) pour lequel les sujets ont couru sur tapis roulant durant 1 heure à 75% de la VO2max. Quatre échantillons sanguins de 5 ml (tube hépariné-lithium) ont été prélevés : juste avant (T1), directement après (T2), 4 heures après (T3) et 24 heures après l’EPI (T4). Le dosage de hsTnT (Modular de Roche Diagnostic®) est réalisé sur du plasma par une technique d’électrocheminiluminescence. Résultats : Une augmentation statistiquement significative des résultats à T3 (p<0.01) est observée. L’élévation de la hsTnT est progressive pour atteindre un pic maximum à T3 et revenir dans les normes à T4. Le seuil critique de 0.03 ng/mL a été retenu et 75% des sujets présentent un taux supérieur à ce dernier à T3 (moyenne : 0.053 ng/mL), alors que 100% des sujets se trouvent en dessous de ce seuil à T1 (0.0041 ng/mL). Discussion - Conclusions : Ces résultats, extrêmement intéressants, suggèrent que la libération de hsTnT serait due soit à un processus physiologique de remodelage, soit à un processus irréversible de lésions au niveau des cardiomyocytes (nécrose). Il est également possible que cette élévation des troponines soit due à une libération à partir du pool cytosolique mais aussi elle peut être la conséquence de dommages membranaires potentiellement induits par le stress oxydatif. A l’issue de cette étude, nous démontrons que la hsTnT peut être un nouvel outil diagnostic dans le domaine de la cardiologie du sport. [less ▲]