From ANT to Material agency: a design and science research workshop

International audienceThis paper studies a design workshop that investigates complex collaboration between fundamental physics and design. Our research focuses on how students create original artefacts that bridge the gap between disciplines that have very little in common. Our goal is to study the micro-evolutions of their projects. Elaborating first on Actor Network Theory (Latour, 1996; 2005) we study how students' projects evolved over time and through a diversity of inputs and media. Throughout this longitudinal study, we use then a semiotic and pragmatic approach to observe three "aesthetical formations": translation, composition, and stabilization. These formations suggest that the question of material agency developed in the field of archeology and cognitive science (Knappett & Malafouris, 2008) need to be considered in the design field (Renon, 2016) to explain metamorphoses from the brief to the final realizations

Multilocal programming and applications

Preprint versionMultilocal programming aims to identify all local minimizers of unconstrained or constrained nonlinear optimization problems. The multilocal programming theory relies on global optimization strategies combined with simple ideas that are inspired in deflection or stretching techniques to avoid convergence to the already detected local minimizers. The most used methods to solve this type of problems are based on stochastic procedures and a population of solutions. In general, population-based methods are computationally expensive but rather reliable in identifying all local solutions. In this chapter, a review on recent techniques for multilocal programming is presented. Some real-world multilocal programming problems based on chemical engineering process design applications are described.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Orientational Effects and Random Mixing in 1‑Alkanol + Nitrile Mixtures

1-Alkanol + alkanenitrile or + benzonitrile systems have been investigated by means of the molar excess functionsenthalpies (Hm E ), isobaric heat capacities (Cp,m E ), volumes (Vm E ), and entropiesand using the Flory model and the concentration−concentration structure factor (SCC(0)) formalism. From the analysis of the experimental data available in the literature, it is concluded that interactions are mainly of dipolar type. In addition, large Hm E values contrast with rather low Vm E values, indicating the existence of strong structural effects. Hm E measurements have been used to evaluate the enthalpy of the hydroxyl−nitrile interactions (ΔHOH−CN). They are stronger in methanol systems and become weaker when the alcohol size increases. In solutions with a given short chain 1-alkanol (up to 1-butanol), the replacement of ethanenitrile by butanenitrile weakens the mentioned interactions. Application of the Flory model shows that orientational effects exist in methanol or 1- nonanol, or 1-decanol + ethanenitrile mixtures. In the former solution, this is due to the existence of interactions between unlike molecules. For mixtures including 1-nonanol or 1-decanol, the systems at 298.15 K are close to their UCST (upper critical solution temperature), and interactions between like molecules are dominant. Orientational effects also are encountered in methanol or ethanol + butanenitrile mixtures because self-association of the alcohol plays a more important role. Aromaticity effect seems to enhance orientational effects. For the remainder of the systems under consideration, the random mixing hypothesis is attained to a rather large extent. Results from the application of the SCC(0) formalism show that homocoordination is the dominant trend in the investigated solutions, and are consistent with those obtained from the Flory model

Prospective randomized study on reversed saphenous vein infrapopliteal bypass to treat limb-threatening ischemia: Common femoral artery versus superficial femoral or popliteal and tibial arteries as inflow

Background and Purpose. The use of inflow sources distal to the common femoral artery (CFA) for bypasses to infrapopliteal arteries has been reported as a compromise measure when the length of the vein was not adequate. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of vein infrapopliteal bypasses arising from the CFA and from the distal superficial femoral or popliteal and tibial arteries in patients with limb-threatening ischemia. Methods. Over 13 years, 160 vein infrapopliteal vein bypasses (160 patients) were randomized into two groups comprising 80 with an inflow arising from the CFA (group I) and 80 from below the CFA (group II). Patency and limb salvage rates were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. All patients underwent graft surveillance at discharge, at 30 days and 6 months after surgery, then every 6 months thereafter. Follow-up ranged from 30 days to 127 months (mean 49 months). Results. Groups were similar with regard to age, sex and most atherosclerotic risk factors. Gangrene as an indication for surgery was statistically more frequent in group I (73.7% vs. 48.7%, P = .002), whereas nonhealing ulcer and rest pain were statistically more frequent in group II (51.2% vs. 25%, P = .001 and 46.2% vs. 28.7%, P = .03, respectively). None of the patients died during the perioperative (30-day) period. At 1, 3 and 5 years patency and limb salvage rates were comparable between the groups, tending towards significance in the 5-year primary patency rate (73% vs. 57%, P = .08). Conclusions. In the absence of significant proximal disease, infrapopliteal revascularizations arising distal to the CFA can assure patency and limb salvage rates statistically similar to those performed using the CFA; moreover, the former needed fewer graft revisions to maintain the patency of failing grafts

Direct Oral Anticoagulants Plasma Levels Measurement: Clinical Usefulness from Trials and Real-World Data

Measurement of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) activity is not routinely necessary. Indeed, evaluation of DOACs plasmatic concentration is discouraged for the majority of patients, due to the lack of outcome data supporting this approach. Nevertheless, DOAC measurements may be useful in emergency situations such as serious bleeding events, need for urgent invasive procedures, and acute ischemic stroke or in managing anticoagulation in special populations not adequately studied in clinical trials, for example the very elderly or those at the extremes of body weight. The aim of this review is to describe and summarize the methods for DOACs activity evaluation and the settings in which their plasma level measurement may be indicated, analyzing indications from scientific societies and evidence from clinical trials, as well as real world data on the usefulness of DOACs plasma levels monitoring