Model order reduction of large scale ODE systems : MOR for ANSYS versus ROM workbench

In this paper we compare the numerical results obtained by different model order reduction software tools, in order to test their scalability for relevant problems of the microelectronic-industry. MOR for ANSYS [2J is implemented in C++ and ROM Workbench [3J is a MATLAB code. The chosen benchmarks are large scale linear ODE systems, which arise from the finite element discretisation of electro-thermal MEMS models

Hypomorphic NOTCH3 Alleles Do Not Cause CADASIL in Humans

Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is caused by stereotyped missense mutations in NOTCH3. Whether these mutations lead to the CADASIL phenotype via a neomorphic effect, or rather by a hypomorphic effect, is subject of debate. Here, we report two novel NOTCH3 mutations, both leading to a premature stop codon with predicted loss of NOTCH3 function. The first mutation, c.307C>T, p.Arg103*, was detected in two brothers aged 50 and 55 years, with a brain MRI and skin biopsy incompatible with CADASIL. The other mutation was found in a 40-year-old CADASIL patient compound heterozygous for a pathogenic NOTCH3 mutation (c.2129A>G, p.Tyr710Cys) and an intragenic frameshift deletion. The deletion was inherited from his father, who did not have the skin biopsy abnormalities seen in CADASIL patients. These individuals with rare NOTCH3 mutations indicate that hypomorphic NOTCH3 alleles do not cause CADASI

Pessary or Progesterone to Prevent Preterm delivery in women with short cervical length: the Quadruple P randomised controlled trial

Contains fulltext : 177872.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is in quantity and in severity the most important topic in obstetric care in the developed world. Progestogens and cervical pessaries have been studied as potential preventive treatments with conflicting results. So far, no study has compared both treatments. METHODS/DESIGN: The Quadruple P study aims to compare the efficacy of vaginal progesterone and cervical pessary in the prevention of adverse perinatal outcome associated with preterm birth in asymptomatic women with a short cervix, in singleton and multiple pregnancies separately. It is a nationwide open-label multicentre randomized clinical trial (RCT) with a superiority design and will be accompanied by an economic analysis. Pregnant women undergoing the routine anomaly scan will be offered cervical length measurement between 18 and 22 weeks in a singleton and at 16-22 weeks in a multiple pregnancy. Women with a short cervix, defined as less than, or equal to 35 mm in a singleton and less than 38 mm in a multiple pregnancy, will be invited to participate in the study. Eligible women will be randomly allocated to receive either progesterone or a cervical pessary. Following randomization, the silicone cervical pessary will be placed during vaginal examination or 200 mg progesterone capsules will be daily self-administered vaginally. Both interventions will be continued until 36 weeks gestation or until delivery, whichever comes first. Primary outcome will be composite adverse perinatal outcome of perinatal mortality and perinatal morbidity including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular haemorrhage grade III and IV, periventricular leukomalacia higher than grade I, necrotizing enterocolitis higher than stage I, Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) or culture proven sepsis. These outcomes will be measured up until 10 weeks after the expected due date. Secondary outcomes will be, among others, time to delivery, preterm birth rate before 28, 32, 34 and 37 weeks, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, maternal morbidity, maternal admission days for threatened preterm labour and costs. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide evidence on whether vaginal progesterone or a cervical pessary is more effective in decreasing adverse perinatal outcome in both singletons and multiples. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number: NTR 4414 . Date of registration January 29th 2014

Model order reduction : methods, concepts and properties

This chapter offers an introduction to Model Order Reduction (MOR). It gives an overview on the methods that are mostly used. It also describes the main concepts behind the methods and the properties that are aimed to be preserved. The sections are in a prefered order for reading, but can be read independentlty. Section 4.1, written by Michael Striebel, E. Jan W. ter Maten, Kasra Mohaghegh and Roland Pulch, overviews the basic material for MOR and its use in circuit simulation. Issues like Stability, Passivity, Structure preservation, Realizability are discussed. Projection based MOR methods include Krylov-space methods (like PRIMA and SPRIM) and POD-methods. Truncation based MOR includes Balanced Truncation, Poor Man’s TBR and Modal Truncation.Section 4.2, written by Joost Rommes and Nelson Martins, focuses on Modal Truncation. Here eigenvalues are the starting point. The eigenvalue problems related to large-scale dynamical systems are usually too large to be solved completely. The algorithms described in this section are efficient and effective methods for the computation of a few specific dominant eigenvalues of these large-scale systems. It is shown how these algorithms can be used for computing reduced-order models with modal approximation and Krylov-based methods.Section 4.3, written by Maryam Saadvandi and Joost Rommes, concerns passivity preserving model order reduction using the spectral zero method. It detailedly discusses two algorithms, one by Antoulas and one by Sorenson. These two approaches are based on a projection method by selecting spectral zeros of the original transfer function to produce a reduced transfer function that has the specified roots as its spectral zeros. The reduced model preserves passivity.Section 4.4, written by Roxana Ionutiu, Joost Rommes and Athanasios C. Antoulas, refines the spectral zero MOR method to dominant spectral zeros. The new model reduction method for circuit simulation preserves passivity by interpolating dominant spectral zeros. These are computed as poles of an associated Hamiltonian system, using an iterative solver: the subspace accelerated dominant pole algorithm (SADPA). Based on a dominance criterion, SADPA finds relevant spectral zeros and the associated invariant subspaces, which are used to construct the passivity preserving projection. RLC netlist equivalents for the reduced models are provided.Section 4.5, written by Roxana Ionutiu and Joost Rommes, deals with synthesis of a reduced model: reformulate it as a netlist for a circuit. A framework for model reduction and synthesis is presented, which greatly enlarges the options for the re-use of reduced order models in circuit simulation by simulators of choice. Especially when model reduction exploits structure preservation, we show that using the model as a current-driven element is possible, and allows for synthesis without controlled sources. Two synthesis techniques are considered: (1) by means of realizing the reduced transfer function into a netlist and (2) by unstamping the reduced system matrices into a circuit representation. The presented framework serves as a basis for reduction of large parasitic R/RC/RCL networks