In situ regeneration of the Ni-based catalytic reformer of a 5 kW PEMFC system

The paper reports the results of on-site regeneration catalytic bed of the natural gas reformer in a 5 kW PEM fuel cell system. The Ni catalyst previously poisoned by sulphur from the available natural gas, could be re-activated by injection of pure water steam, following the method developed for industrial reformers using the same metal catalyst: this method was shown to be perfectly efficient, provided no natural gas was fed during the operation. Results of the tests conducted are presented and discussed in relation to published data on S-sorption on Ni surfaces.     

BRAF Gene and Melanoma: Back to the Future

As widely acknowledged, 40–50% of all melanoma patients harbour an activating BRAF mutation (mostly BRAF V600E). The identification of the RAS–RAF–MEK–ERK (MAP kinase) signalling pathway and its targeting has represented a valuable milestone for the advanced and, more recently, for the completely resected stage III and IV melanoma therapy management. However, despite progress in BRAF-mutant melanoma treatment, the two different approaches approved so far for metastatic disease, immunotherapy and BRAF+MEK inhibitors, allow a 5-year survival of no more than 60%, and most patients relapse during treatment due to acquired mechanisms of resistance. Deep insight into BRAF gene biology is fundamental to describe the acquired resistance mechanisms (primary and secondary) and to understand the molecular pathways that are now being investigated in preclinical and clinical studies with the aim of improving outcomes in BRAF-mutant patients.     

Aerosols sampling using a new cryogenic instrument

A new cryogenic instrument was designed for the trapping of aerosols such as cigarette mainstream smoke at low temperature. The technique enabled the trapping of the mainstream smoke of a single cigarette and the particulate and vapor phases were trapped simultaneously. 2R4F reference cigarettes were smoked under International Standard Organization (ISO) regime and trapped at low temperature using the cryogenic instrument. After trapping, the mainstream smoke of the 2R4F reference cigarette was diluted with a solvent and selected smoke components could be quantified using gas-mass spectrometry (GCMS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The capability of the instrument for trapping the mainstream smoke was demonstrated. The feasibility of the procedure for the detection and the quantification of a large range of smoke components including carbonyls, alkaloids and organic volatile compounds (VOC) in the mainstream of a single cigarette was also shown.     

Continuous collision detection for adaptive simulation of articulated bodies

We perform continuous collision detection (CCD) for articulated bodies where motion is governed by an adaptive dynamics simulation. Our algorithm is based on a novel hierarchical set of transforms that represent the kinematics of an articulated body recursively, as described by an assembly tree. The performance of our CCD algorithm significantly improves as the number of active degrees of freedom in the simulation decreases.     

Self-stabilizing minimum degree spanning tree within one from the optimal degree

We propose a self-stabilizing algorithm for constructing a Minimum Degree Spanning Tree (MDST) in undirected networks. Starting from an arbitrary state, our algorithm is guaranteed to converge to a legitimate state describing a spanning tree whose maximum node degree is at most Δ^∗+1, where Δ^∗ is the minimum possible maximum degree of a spanning tree of the network.To the best of our knowledge, our algorithm is the first self-stabilizing solution for the construction of a minimum degree spanning tree in undirected graphs. The algorithm uses only local communications (nodes interact only with the neighbors at one hop distance). Moreover, the algorithm is designed to work in any asynchronous message passing network with reliable FIFO channels. Additionally, we use a fine grained atomicity model (i.e., the send/receive atomicity). The time complexity of our solution is O(mn²logn) where m is the number of edges and n is the number of nodes. The memory complexity is O(δlogn) in the send-receive atomicity model (δ is the maximal degree of the network).     

Software Architecture Reconstruction: A Process-Oriented Taxonomy

To maintain and understand large applications, it is important to know their architecture. The first problem is that unlike classes and packages, architecture is not explicitly represented in the code. The second problem is that successful applications evolve over time, so their architecture inevitably drifts. Reconstructing the architecture and checking whether it is still valid is therefore an important aid. While there is a plethora of approaches and techniques supporting architecture reconstruction, there is no comprehensive software architecture reconstruction state of the art and it is often difficult to compare the approaches. This paper presents a state of the art in software architecture reconstruction approaches.     

Device-based decision-making for adaptation of three-dimensional content

The goal of this research was the creation of an adaptation mechanism for the delivery of three-dimensional content. The adaptation of content, for various network and terminal capabilities – as well as for different user preferences, is a key feature that needs to be investigated. Current state-of-the art research of the adaptation shows promising results for specific tasks and limited types of content, but is still not well-suited for massive heterogeneous environments. In this research, we present a method for transmitting adapted three-dimensional content to multiple target devices. This paper presents some theoretical and practical methods for adapting three-dimensional content, which includes shapes and animation. We also discuss practical details of the integration of our methods into MPEG-21 and MPEG-4 architectures.     

Finite element evaluation of free-edge singular stress fields in anisotropic materials

A finite element formulation based on the work of Yamada and Okumura¹⁴ is presented to determine the order of singularity and angular variation of the stress and displacement fields surrounding a singular point on a free edge of anisotropic materials. Emphasis is placed on the computational aspects of this method when applied to configurations including fully bonded multi-material junctions intersecting a free edge as well as materials containing cracks intersecting a free edge. The study shows that the singularity of the three-dimensional stress field may be accurately determined with a relatively small number of elements only when a proper level of numerical integration is used. The method is applied to isotropic and orthotropic materials with a crack intersecting a free edge and an anisotropic three-material junction intersecting a free edge. The efficiency and accuracy of the method indicates it could be used to develop a numerical solution for the singular field that could in turn be used to create free-edge enriched finite elements.     

Noise Feedback Coding Revisited： Refurbished Legacy Codecs and New Coding Models

Noise feedback coding(NFC) has attracted renewed interest with the recent standardization of backward-compatible enhancements for ITU-T G.711 and G.722.It has also been revisited with the emergence of proprietary speech codecs,such as BV16,BV32,and SILK,that have structures different from CELP coding.In this article,we review NFC and describe a novel coding technique that optimally shapes coding noise in embedded pulse-code modulation(PCM) and embedded adaptive differential PCM(ADPCM).We describe how this new technique was incorporated into the recent ITU-T G.711.1,G.711 App.III,and G.722 Annex B(G.722B) speech-coding standards.