Pleth Variability Index predicts fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients

International audienc

Modeling the phase equilibria of refrigerant fluids with the COSMO-SAC and COSMO-RS approaches. Application to process simulation

International audienceOn account of the constraints imposed by the European and International legislations, the refrigerant industry must constantly find alternative refrigerant fluids that have lower impacts on the global warming of Earth and Ozone layer. Working with refrigerant blends is often preferable to pure component fluids for energy saving and flexibility of operation. In order to select the optimal mixture composition for the design and operation of a refrigeration process, it is necessary to know the phase diagram and thermodynamic properties of mixtures. Vapor-liquid equilibria (VLE) and the location of azeotropes must be accurately known. In this work three different thermodynamic models based on the COSMO approach have been used to predict the phase equilibria of mixtures of refrigerant molecules: the COSMO-RS model developed by Klamt and co workers [1, 2], the 2002 version of COSMO-SAC model [3], and the COSMO-SAC-dsp model [4] that includes a dispersion term. The vapor-liquid equilibria can be reasonably well predicted by the COSMO-RS model, however bad predictions are obtained with COSMO-SAC 2002. In particular, the COSMO-SAC model is unable to predict the azeotropic behavior observed in mixtures of alkanes and fluorinated molecules. By adjusting some universal parameters, it is possible to obtain reasonable predictions with the COSMO-SAC dsp model

Confirmation De Ségrégation, Au Moyen Du BC1, De L’un Des Deux Loci Codant Pour La Couleur Du Germe Chez Le Cocotier Nain à Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Pour confirmer la ségrégation de l’un des deux loci codant pour la couleur du germe chez les cocotiers nains, le Back cross 1 : NJM x (NJM x GOA+) a été réalisé dans le cadre d’un projet de cartographie du génome du cocotier. Un donneur NJM x GOA+ (Nain jaune de Malaisie x Grand Ouest Africain+) et une receveuse NJM (Nain jaune de Malaisie) ont été impliqués dans le BC1. Les statistiques descriptives, le test U de Mann-Withney et le test du Khi-deux de conformité ont été appliqués. Pour un total de 1034 noix semences germées, les résultats ont montré que sur 5 ségrégations testées, seule la 1:1 vérifie la conformité des données observées à celles théoriques au seuil de risque de 5 %. Ceci suggère que le couple d’allèles Vert/Jaune codant pour l’expression phénotypique y afférente ségrége selon les lois de la génétique classique. Ces résultats s’apparentent à ceux de Bourdeix. Fort malheureusement, son analyse génétique était sous-tendue par de nombreuses hypothèses. De plus, les semences de noix étaient issues de pollinisations libres de pieds d’hybrides F1. Dans les deux cas, ce sont les germes issus des noix F2 germées qui ont été analysées. La ségrégation 1 : 1 issu du BC1 : NJM x (NJM x GOA+) suggère un contrôle monofactoriel du marqueur vert/jaune. Ce marqueur pourrait être introgressé dans les génotypes d’intérêt avant d’être utilisé, par la suite, pour la sélection précoce en germoir.  To confirm the segregation of one of the two loci coding for the color of the germ in dwarf coconut palms, back cross 1: MYD x (MYD x WAT+) was carried out as part of a coconut genome mapping project. An MYD x WAT+ (Malayan Yellow Dwarf x West African Tall+) donor and an MYD (Malayan Yellow Dwarf) recipient were involved in BC1. Descriptive statistics, the Mann-Withney U test and the Chi-two conformance test were applied. For a total of 1034 seed nuts germinated, the results showed that out of 5 segregations tested, only the 1: 1 verifies the compliance of the observed data with the theoretical ones at the risk threshold of 5%. This suggests that the pair of Green / Yellow alleles encoding the related phenotypic expression segregates according to the laws of classical genetics. Those results are similar to those of Bourdeix. Unfortunately, his genetic analysis was underpinned by many hypotheses. In addition, the nut seeds were obtained from free pollination of F1 hybrid feet. In both cases, only germs from the germinated F2 nuts were analyzed. The 1:1 segregation from BC1: MYD x (MYD x WAT+) suggests a monofactorial control of the green / yellow marker. This marker could be moved into the interest of the genotypes before being used, thereafter, for early selection in the germinator.  &nbsp

Ste20-Related Proline/Alanine-Rich Kinase (SPAK) Regulated Transcriptionally by Hyperosmolarity Is Involved in Intestinal Barrier Function

The Ste20-related protein proline/alanine-rich kinase (SPAK) plays important roles in cellular functions such as cell differentiation and regulation of chloride transport, but its roles in pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation remain largely unknown. Here we report significantly increased SPAK expression levels in hyperosmotic environments, such as mucosal biopsy samples from patients with Crohn's disease, as well as colon tissues of C57BL/6 mice and Caco2-BBE cells treated with hyperosmotic medium. NF-κB and Sp1-binding sites in the SPAK TATA-less promoter are essential for SPAK mRNA transcription. Hyperosmolarity increases the ability of NF-κB and Sp1 to bind to their binding sites. Knock-down of either NF-κB or Sp1 by siRNA reduces the hyperosmolarity-induced SPAK expression levels. Furthermore, expression of NF-κB, but not Sp1, was upregulated by hyperosmolarity in vivo and in vitro. Nuclear run-on assays showed that hyperosmolarity increases SPAK expression levels at the transcriptional level, without affecting SPAK mRNA stability. Knockdown of SPAK expression by siRNA or overexpression of SPAK in cells and transgenic mice shows that SPAK is involved in intestinal permeability in vitro and in vivo. Together, our data suggest that SPAK, the transcription of which is regulated by hyperosmolarity, plays an important role in epithelial barrier function

Aerial dust concentrations in 12 pig houses

Aerial dust concentrations in 12 pig houses Dust concentration was measured during 3 days at hourly intervals in 5 farrowing houses and 7 fattening houses. The number concentration of aerial particles was measured using a counter which sizes the total numbers in 5 categories: from 0.3-0.5 mum to > 5 mum. The mean dust concentrations were significantly higher in the farrowing houses than in the fattening houses (179 +/- 91 vs 97 +/- 65 particles/ml). Over a 24-h period, the ratio between the highest and the lowest hourly concentrations was 3 +/- 1 in the farrowing houses and 5 +/- 4 in the fattening houses; the difference between the 2 types of houses is significant. The smallest particles were the most numerous; 82 % of the aerial particles were in the size range 0.3-0.5 mum, with less than 1 % being 5 mum or larger. During the most polluted hours, there was proportionally more particles in the size range 0.5-1 mum and significantly less particles in the size ranges 1-2 mum and 2-5 mum, as compared to the less polluted hours. This study shows that most of the aerial particles in piggeries are smaller than 5 mum, the size below which deposition is regarded to occur in the lower respiratory tract, the farrowing houses being more polluted than the fattening houses

Effect of 2 yucca extracts on the reduction of ammonia concentrations from pig slurry

The effects of two commercial yucca extracts on the ammonia release from pig slurry have been tested in laboratory and in one fattening house. In laboratory, tests were carried on with 4 litre samples whose ammonia production was recorded during 35 days. One of the two products, at the factory recommanded dose of 5 g/l, has successfully lowered the ammonia emission rate of the slurry. In the pig house, the two same products were given in the pigs' diet at the dose of 160 and 200 g/ton of feed. Inside a same building, pigs of one room received feed plus yucca extracts and those of the second room feed alone; none of the 2 products has significantly reduced the ammonia concentrations recorded on a three month period. One can expect improvements of the yucca extracts but up to now no guaranty can be given of their efficiency

Comparison of the temperature in the bedding and of the air pollution level in 2 deep litter systems, deep sawdust and deep straw, for fattening pigs

peer reviewedTwo rooms of a pig house were used to study 2 deep litter systems where the animals were kept on a 50 cm deep layer of sawdust or chopped straw (chopped to lengths of 10 cm). Seven days before the arrival of the animals, slurry and a microbial product used to stimulate the fermentation were added to the litters. Fifteen pigs on sawdust and 17 pigs on straw were fattened from 23.1 to 93.3 kg live weight. Excreta was dug into the bedding weekly and treated with the microbial product. This labour was discontinued on the straw after 105 days as the labour was considered too hard. No sawdust was added during the fattening period but straw was added 5 times to keep the pigs clean and to keep the temperature in the bedding above 30C. The mean bedding temperature was greater for the sawdust (38 5C) than in the straw (35 15C) and the mean daily variations were lower for the sawdust (1.3 1.6C) than the straw (2.2 2.4C). The air temperature and relative humidity were similar for both rooms (21C and 60%). The concentration of ammonia in the air was substantially higher in the room with the straw (48 36 ppm) than with the sawdust (12 9.2 ppm) during the 7 days before the animals arrived and 11 5.6 ppm and 6.7 3.9 ppm, respectively after the eighth day. Dust concentration was 2 times lower in the room with straw. Growth rates and feed conversion ratios were similar for both groups. It is concluded that the results were better for the sawdust litter as it provided a higher bedding temperature and lower ammonia concentration in the air and the routine weekly task of digging was easier

A compact bidirectional reconfigurable 2nd-order low-pass filter for 5G FR2 applications

International audienceThis paper presents a novel architecture of a secondorderbidirectional low-pass filter (LPF) and compares it withits conventional, unidirectional, version. In phased arraysystems, both of reception (RX) and transmission (TX) chains arephysically separated in order to work alternatively, they operatein time division duplexing (TDD). Hence, each baseband analogLPF is usually alternatively addressed with switching componentsto operate depending on the selected mode. By doing so, thesilicium is not efficiently used: when a given filter operates,the other is turned off. To address this issue, bidirectional architecturesseem to be perfect candidates. They guarantee bilateraloperation mode sharing the same electrical nodes. A bidirectionalfilter was designed in GF 22nm FD-SOI (Fully Depleted Silicon-On-Insulator). It exhibits -0.54, -0.58, -0.69 and -0.9dB in-bandgain over infinite loading, depending on the chosen bandwidth(BW) configuration (50-100-200 and 400MHz respectively), hasa DC power of 3.64mW, an input compression point (ICP1)of -8.67dBm and an input third-order intermodulation product(IIP3) of 7.58dBm and occupies a silicium area of 0.0055mm2

On the electrical properties of slotted metallic planes in CMOS processes for RF and millimeter-wave applications

This paper presents a study of the effects of slottedmetallicplanes in passive structures built using CMOSprocesses for RF and millimeter-wave (mmW) applications. The impact of holes on the reference plane resistance and in the capacitance of any surrounding structure to the plane are investigated through electromagnetic (EM) simulations. Two analytical expressions are derived that capture the holes impact on the plane resistivity and on the dielectric constant of the materials found between the plane and the surroundings. These expressions are used to propose a simplified EM simulation methodology for on-chip microstrip transmission lines.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Design of a 37-40GHz bidirectional amplifier for 5G FR2 radio beamforming systems in 22nm CMOS FD-SOI

International audienceThis paper presents the operation of a bidirectional amplifier (PA-LNA) for digital beamforming (DBF) radio systems within the 5G FR2-1 n260 frequency band ranging from 37GHz to 40GHz, using the GlobalFoundries 22nm CMOS FD-SOI technology. This amplifier is intended to be integrated into a complete bidirectional transceiver. The PA-LNA consists of a transformer-based differential architecture and interconnected differential pairs using NMOS and PMOS transistors both enabled using tale transistors. This solution eliminates the need for lossy TRX SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) switches, conventionally used to address alternatively the PA or the LNA in order to operate in time division duplexing (TDD). In this design, matching networks are reused leading to a strong required area reduction, close to a factor of two, compared with conventional architectures. The proposed PA-LNA achieves a small signal gain of 14.4dB in PA mode and 23.8dB in LNA mode. In PA mode, it achieves a saturated output power (Psat) of 7.5dBm and a 7.1dBm OCP1 consuming a static DC power of 11.6mW with a 27.4% power added efficiency (PAE) at OCP1, while the LNA mode achieves a noise figure (NF) of 4.6dB consuming a DC power of 21mW. The core area of the amplifier is only 0.11mm2