Liapunov's second method

Stability theorem based on Liapunov function, and using invariance property of limit sets of solutions to differential equation

La Banque de France et la gestion des billets.

Au cours des vingt-cinq dernières années, le rôle de la banque centrale et celui des sociétés de transport de fonds se sont renforcés dans l’organisation de la filière fiduciaire en France.monnaie fiduciaire, billets, cycle fiduciaire, banque centrale, transport de fonds.

Using the SA-CMM as a Tool for Estimating the User and Management Costs for Software Acquisition Projects

The SA-CMM is based on the expectation that a mature organization and its project managers will do a thorough job of planning software acquisitions. Each key process area within the SA-CMM addresses a project management process that must take place as an adjunct to planning and managing the software acquisition project. This requires the allocation of resources to plan and oversee the acquisition activities. While software project cost estimation tools are becoming more precise in their ability to predict the costs associated with software production, few address the costs associated with acquisition planning, oversight and management. Such costs are considered “hidden.” This paper describes a methodology used and the research done to determine the effort expended by organizations in overseeing software acquisitions and the implications for predicting costs of proposed projects. A major goal of the research was to encourage a quantitative approach in collecting acquisition costs within an organization so that databases of completed projects can be used to forecast costs for future projects. Such a quantitative approach helps identify the true cost of the project which is essential to economic analysis techniques used in the decision making process for software projects. Although both the CMM and SA-CMM were used in the research as frameworks to assess software management processes, the SA-CMM was primarily used for assessing the acquisition processes and measuring their costs

Basics for performing a high-quality color Doppler sonography of the vascular access

: In the last years, the systematic use of ultrasound mapping of the upper limb vascular network before the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) implantation, access maturation, and clinical management of late complications is widespread and expanding. Therefore, a good knowledge of theoretical outlines, instrumentation, and operative settings is undoubtedly required for a thorough examination. In this review, the essential Doppler parameters, B-Mode setting, and Doppler applications are considered. Basic concepts on the Doppler shift equation, angle correction, settings on pulse repetition frequency, operative Doppler frequency, gain are reported to ensure adequate and correct sampling of blood flow velocity. A brief analysis of the Doppler inherent artefacts (as random noise, blooming, aliasing, and motion artefacts) and the adjustment setting to minimize or eliminate the confounding artefacts are also considered. Doppler aliasing occurs when the pulse repetition frequency is set too low. This artefact is particularly frequent in vascular access sampling due to the high velocities range registered in the fistula's different segments. Aliasing should be recognized because its correction is crucial to analyse the Doppler signals correctly. Recent advances in instrumentation are also considered about a potential purchase of a portable ultrasound machine or a top-of-line, high-end, or mid-range ultrasound system. Last, the pulse wave Doppler setting for vascular access B-Mode and Doppler assessment is summarized

Microstructure and hardness performance of AA6061 aluminium composite using friction stir processing

Rice husk ash (RHA) is an industrial waste that has become a potential reinforced material for aluminium matrix composite (AMCs) due to low cost and abundantly available resources. Friction stir processing (FSP) has been introduced as a method to modify surface properties of the metal and alloy including theirs composite as well. The present work reports the production and characterization of AA6061 and AA6061/5 vol% RHA using FSP using parameters rotation speed 1000 rpm and traversed speed 25 mm/min. The microstructure was studied using optical microscopy (OM). A homogenous dispersion of RHA particles was obtained in the composite. No agglomeration or segregation was observed. The produced composite exhibited a fine grain structure. An improvement in hardness profile was observed as AA6061/5 vol% RHA improves in hardness compared to FSPed of AA6061 without reinforcement

Equine meniscal degeneration is associated with medial femorotibial osteoarthritis

Background: There is limited information available concerning normal equine meniscal morphology, its degeneration and role in osteoarthritis (OA). Objectives: To characterise normal equine meniscal morphology and lesions and to explore the relationship between equine meniscal degeneration and femorotibial OA. Study design: Ex vivo cadaveric study. Methods: Menisci were harvested from 7 normal joints (n = 14 menisci) and 15 joints with OA (n = 30 menisci). A macroscopic femorotibial OA score (cartilage degeneration and osteophytosis) was employed to measure disease severity in each compartment. The femoral and tibial meniscal surfaces were scored for macroscopic fibrillation and tears (1–4). Histological sections (regions: cranial and caudal horn; body) were also scored for microscopic fibrillation and tears (0–3) and inner border degeneration (0–3). Results: Partial meniscal tears were present on both femoral and tibial surfaces in all 3 regions and most frequently identified on the femoral surface of the cranial horn of the medial meniscus and body of the lateral meniscus. There was a significantly positive correlation between the global medial meniscal macroscopic scores and osteophyte (r = 0.7, P = 0.002) or cartilage degeneration (r = 0.5, P = 0.03) scores within the medial femorotibial joint. The global medial meniscal macroscopic score was greater (P = 0.004) in the advanced OA joints compared with control joints. Main limitations: The menisci were principally from abattoir specimens without a known clinical history because of the challenge in obtaining a large number of specimens with a clinical diagnosis of femorotibial OA. Conclusions: This study is the first to describe normal equine meniscal morphology and lesions. Meniscal lesions were identified in all segments and on both articular surfaces. Meniscal degeneration significantly correlated with OA severity in the equine medial femorotibial joint. The relationship between OA and meniscal pathology remains to be elucidated