Voorspelling van golfoverslag over golfbrekers en zeeweringen met behulp van neurale netwerken = Neural network prediction of wave overtopping at coastal structures

Development of a neural network based on a large database of field and laboratory data in order to calculate overtopping. Comparison with existing formulas.Clas

The Geoff Egan Memorial Lecture 2011. Artefacts, art and artifice: reconsidering iconographic sources for archaeological objects in early modern Europe

A first systematic analysis of historic domestic material culture depicted in contemporaneous Western painting and prints, c.1400-1800. Drawing on an extensive data set, the paper proposes to methodologies and hermeneutics for historical analysis and archaeological correspondence

Improving the nautical access to Zeebrugge harbor: a multidisciplinary study

A multidisciplinary study was set up to tackle the nautical problems faced by Zeebrugge Harbor by the Maritime Access Division of the Flemish Community. The problem is twofold: strong cross-currents at the harbor mouth hinder the entrance of the ships around high water, and the occurrence of thick muddy layers hinders the navigation in the harbor and causes very high dredging costs. The article focuses on the global project set up, and explains more in detail the numerical and physical modeling research

Reconstruction microchirurgicale et prise en charge globale des patients porteurs de cancer ORL : l’importance d’une approche qualité et d’un circuit protocolisé [Microsurgical reconstruction and full management of patients with head and neck cancer: Importance of a quality approach and a circuit protocolisation]

Main of study: Management and surgical reconstruction of head and neck cancers remain a challenge. From the first consultation to surgery and radiotherapy, it is necessary to save time to ensure optimum treatment and better survival rates. Objectif: To establish a kind of quality approach to the management of patients with head and neck cancers. 54 patients who had microsurgical reconstruction after head and neck cancer were included in this study between 1997 and 2006. Results : Multiple data were considered: body mass index (BMI), ASA stage, age, existence of a pre-or postoperative radiotherapy, the surgeon's experience and the number of veins drainage. The success rate is superior when more than one draining vein is sutured to the flap for patients with a BMI > 20. Radiotherapy does not seem to affect the survival of the flap. Conclusion: According to current literature, the survival rate of these patients is better when the overall time care is less than 100 days. That period is possible with a perfect organization of the medical and paramedical team. Therefore, we propose to include these patients in a circuit protocolisation care, which saves time, to better inform patients and improve survival rates. Buts: la prise en charge et la reconstruction chirurgicale des cancers ORL restent un challenge. De la première consultation à la chirurgie et la radiothérapie, il est nécessaire de gagner du temps afin d’assurer une traitement optimum et un meilleur taux de survie. Objectif : établir une sorte d’approche qualité de la prise en charge des patients porteurs de cancers ORL. 54 patients qui ont bénéficié d’une reconstruction microchirurgicale suite à un cancer ORL ont été inclus dans cette étude entre 1997 et 2006. Résultats : plusieurs données ont été étudiées : l’index de masse corporelle (IMC), le stade ASA, l’âge, l’existence d’une radiothérapie pré ou post opératoire, l’expérience du chirurgien ainsi que le nombre de veines de drainage. Le taux de succès se révèle supérieur lorsque plus d’une veine de drainage est suturée au lambeau, pour des patients ayant un IMC > 20. La radiothérapie ne semble pas avoir de répercussion sur la survie du lambeau. Conclusion : conformément à la littérature actuelle, le taux de survie de ces patients est meilleur lorsque le temps global de prise en charge est inférieur à 100 jours. Ce délai court n’est possible qu’avec une parfaite organisation de l’équipe médicale et paramédicale. De ce fait, nous proposons d’inclure ces patients dans un circuit de prise en charge protocolisé, ce qui permet de gagner du temps, de mieux informer le patient et d’améliorer le taux de survie

Modular Moose: A new generation software reverse engineering environment

Advanced reverse engineering tools are required to cope with the complexity of software systems and the specific requirements of numerous different tasks (re-architecturing, migration, evolution). Consequently, reverse engineering tools should adapt to a wide range of situations. Yet, because they require a large infrastructure investment, being able to reuse these tools is key. Moose is a reverse engineering environment answering these requirements. While Moose started as a research project 20 years ago, it is also used in industrial projects, exposing itself to all these difficulties. In this paper we present ModMoose, the new version of Moose. ModMoose revolves around a new meta-model, modular and extensible; a new toolset of generic tools (query module, visualization engine, ...); and an open architecture supporting the synchronization and interaction of tools per task. With ModMoose, tool developers can develop specific meta-models by reusing existing elementary concepts, and dedicated reverse engineering tools that can interact with the existing ones

Silicone adhesive multilayer foam dressings as adjuvant prophylactic therapy to prevent hospital-acquired pressure ulcers : a pragmatic noncommercial multicentre randomized open-label parallel-group medical device trial

Background: Silicone adhesive multilayer foam dressings are used as adjuvant therapy to prevent hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers (PUs). Objectives: Determine if silicone foam dressings in addition to standard prevention reduce PU incidence category 2 or worse compared to standard prevention alone. Methods: Multicentre, randomised controlled, medical device trial conducted in eight Belgian hospitals. At risk adult patients were centrally randomised (n=1633) to study groups based on a 1:1:1 allocation: experimental group 1 (n=542) and 2 (n=545) ‐ pooled as the treatment group ‐ and the control group (n=546). Experimental groups received PU prevention according to hospital protocol, and a silicone foam dressing on these body sites. The control group received standard of care. The primary endpoint was the incidence of a new PU category 2 or worse at these body sites. Results: In the intention‐to‐treat population (n=1605); 4.0% of patients developed PUs category 2 or worse in the treatment group and 6.3% in the control group (RR=0.64, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.99, P=0.04). Sacral PUs were observed in 2.8% and 4.8% of the patients in the treatment group and the control group, respectively (RR=0.59, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.98, P=0.04). Heel PUs occurred in 1.4% and 1.9% of patients in the treatment and control group respectively (RR=0.76, 95% CI 0.34 to 1.68, P=0.49). Conclusions: Silicone foam dressings reduce the incidence of PUs category 2 or worse in hospitalised at‐risk patients when used in addition to standard of care. Results show a decrease for sacrum, but no statistical difference for heel/trochanter areas

Antitrypanosomatid Pharmacomodulation at Position 3 of the 8-Nitroquinolin-2(1H)-one Scaffold Using Palladium-Catalysed Cross-Coupling Reactions

International audienceAn antikinetoplastid pharmacomodulation study at position 3 of the recently described hit molecule 3-bromo-8-nitroquinolin-2(1H)-one was conducted. Twenty-four derivatives were synthesised using the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction and evaluated in vitro on both Leishmania infantum axenic amastigotes and Trypanosoma brucei brucei trypomastigotes. Introduction of a para-carboxyphenyl group at position 3 of the scaffold led to the selective antitrypanosomal hit molecule 3-(4-carboxyphenyl)-8-nitroquinolin-2(1H)-one (21) with a lower reduction potential (-0.56 V) than the initial hit (-0.45 V). Compound 21 displays micromolar antitrypanosomal activity (IC50 =1.5 μm) and low cytotoxicity on the human HepG2 cell line (CC50 =120 μm), having a higher selectivity index (SI=80) than the reference drug eflornithine. Contrary to results previously obtained in this series, hit compound 21 is inactive toward L. infantum and is not efficiently bioactivated by T. brucei brucei type I nitroreductase, which suggests the existence of an alternative mechanism of action

Streptozotocin, Type I Diabetes Severity and Bone

As many as 50% of adults with type I (T1) diabetes exhibit bone loss and are at increased risk for fractures. Therapeutic development to prevent bone loss and/or restore lost bone in T1 diabetic patients requires knowledge of the molecular mechanisms accounting for the bone pathology. Because cell culture models alone cannot fully address the systemic/metabolic complexity of T1 diabetes, animal models are critical. A variety of models exist including spontaneous and pharmacologically induced T1 diabetic rodents. In this paper, we discuss the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T1 diabetic mouse model and examine dose-dependent effects on disease severity and bone. Five daily injections of either 40 or 60 mg/kg STZ induce bone pathologies similar to spontaneously diabetic mouse and rat models and to human T1 diabetic bone pathology. Specifically, bone volume, mineral apposition rate, and osteocalcin serum and tibia messenger RNA levels are decreased. In contrast, bone marrow adiposity and aP2 expression are increased with either dose. However, high-dose STZ caused a more rapid elevation of blood glucose levels and a greater magnitude of change in body mass, fat pad mass, and bone gene expression (osteocalcin, aP2). An increase in cathepsin K and in the ratio of RANKL/OPG was noted in high-dose STZ mice, suggesting the possibility that severe diabetes could increase osteoclast activity, something not seen with lower doses. This may contribute to some of the disparity between existing studies regarding the role of osteoclasts in diabetic bone pathology. Examination of kidney and liver toxicity indicate that the high STZ dose causes some liver inflammation. In summary, the multiple low-dose STZ mouse model exhibits a similar bone phenotype to spontaneous models, has low toxicity, and serves as a useful tool for examining mechanisms of T1 diabetic bone loss

Stapling and Section of the Nasogastric Tube during Sleeve Gastrectomy: How to Prevent and Recover?

Bariatric surgery has become an integral part of morbid obesity treatment with well-defined indications. Some complications, specific or not, due to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) procedure have recently been described. We report a rare complication unpublished to date: a nasogastric section during great gastric curve stapling. A 44-year-old woman suffered of severe obesity (BMI 36.6 kg/m2) with failure of medical treatments for years. According to already published technique, a LSG was performed. Six hours postoperatively, a nurse removed the nasogastric tube according to the local protocol and the nasogastric tube was abnormally short, with staples at its extremity. Surgery was performed with peroperative endoscopy. In conclusion, this is the first publication of a nasogastric section during LSG. Therefore we report this case and propose a solution to prevent its occurrence. To avoid this kind of accident, we now systematically insert the nasogastric tube by mouth through a Guedel cannula. Then, to insert the calibrating bougie, we entirely withdraw the nasogastric tube