Three-dimensional visualisation and quantitative characterisation of fossil fuel flames using tomography and digital imaging techniques

This thesis describes the design, implementation and experimental evaluation of a prototype instrumentation system for the three-dimensional (3-D) visualisation and quantitative characterisation of fossil fuel flames. A review of methodologies and technologies for the 3-D visualisation and characterisation of combustion flames is given, together with a discussion of main difficulties and technical requirements in their applications. A strategy incorporating optical sensing, digital image processing and tomographic reconstruction techniques is proposed. The strategy was directed towards the reconstruction of 3-D models of a flame and the subsequent quantification of its 3-D geometric, luminous and fluid dynamic parameters. Based on this strategy, a flame imaging system employing three identical synchronised RG B cameras has been developed. The three cameras, placed equidistantly and equiangular on a semicircle around the flame, captured six simultaneous images of the flame from six different directions. Dedicated computing algorithms, based on image processing and tomographic reconstruction techniques have been developed to reconstruct the 3-D models of a flame. A set of geometric, luminous and fluid dynamic parameters, including surface area, volume, length, circularity, luminosity and temperature are determined from the 3-D models generated. Systematic design and experimental evaluation of the system on a gas-fired combustion rig are reported. The accuracy, resolution and validation of the system were also evaluated using purpose-designed templates including a high precision laboratory ruler, a colour flat panel and a tungsten lamp. The results obtained from the experimental evaluation are presented and the relationship between the measured parameters and the corresponding operational conditions are quantified. Preliminary investigations were conducted on a coal-fired industry-scale combustion test facility. The multi-camera system was reconfigured to use only one camera due to the restrictions at the site facility. Therefore the property of rotational symmetry of the flame had to be assumed. Under such limited conditions, the imaging system proved to provide a good reconstruction of the internal structures and luminosity variations inside the This thesis describes the design, implementation and experimental evaluation of a prototype instrumentation system for the three-dimensional (3-D) visualisation and quantitative characterisation of fossil fuel flames. A review of methodologies and technologies for the 3-D visualisation and characterisation of combustion flames is given, together with a discussion of main difficulties and technical requirements in their applications. A strategy incorporating optical sensing, digital image processing and tomographic reconstruction techniques is proposed. The strategy was directed towards the reconstruction of 3-D models of a flame and the subsequent quantification of its 3-D geometric, luminous and fluid dynamic parameters. Based on this strategy, a flame imaging system employing three identical synchronised RG B cameras has been developed. The three cameras, placed equidistantly and equiangular on a semicircle around the flame, captured six simultaneous images of the flame from six different directions. Dedicated computing algorithms, based on image processing and tomographic reconstruction techniques have been developed to reconstruct the 3-D models of a flame. A set of geometric, luminous and fluid dynamic parameters, including surface area, volume, length, circularity, luminosity and temperature are determined from the 3-D models generated. Systematic design and experimental evaluation of the system on a gas-fired combustion rig are reported. The accuracy, resolution and validation of the system were also evaluated using purpose-designed templates including a high precision laboratory ruler, a colour flat panel and a tungsten lamp. The results obtained from the experimental evaluation are presented and the relationship between the measured parameters and the corresponding operational conditions are quantified. Preliminary investigations were conducted on a coal-fired industry-scale combustion test facility. The multi-camera system was reconfigured to use only one camera due to the restrictions at the site facility. Therefore the property of rotational symmetry of the flame had to be assumed. Under such limited conditions, the imaging system proved to provide a good reconstruction of the internal structures and luminosity variations inside the This thesis describes the design, implementation and experimental evaluation of a prototype instrumentation system for the three-dimensional (3-D) visualisation and quantitative characterisation of fossil fuel flames. A review of methodologies and technologies for the 3-D visualisation and characterisation of combustion flames is given, together with a discussion of main difficulties and technical requirements in their applications. A strategy incorporating optical sensing, digital image processing and tomographic reconstruction techniques is proposed. The strategy was directed towards the reconstruction of 3-D models of a flame and the subsequent quantification of its 3-D geometric, luminous and fluid dynamic parameters. Based on this strategy, a flame imaging system employing three identical synchronised RG B cameras has been developed. The three cameras, placed equidistantly and equiangular on a semicircle around the flame, captured six simultaneous images of the flame from six different directions. Dedicated computing algorithms, based on image processing and tomographic reconstruction techniques have been developed to reconstruct the 3-D models of a flame. A set of geometric, luminous and fluid dynamic parameters, including surface area, volume, length, circularity, luminosity and temperature are determined from the 3-D models generated. Systematic design and experimental evaluation of the system on a gas-fired combustion rig are reported. The accuracy, resolution and validation of the system were also evaluated using purpose-designed templates including a high precision laboratory ruler, a colour flat panel and a tungsten lamp. The results obtained from the experimental evaluation are presented and the relationship between the measured parameters and the corresponding operational conditions are quantified. Preliminary investigations were conducted on a coal-fired industry-scale combustion test facility. The multi-camera system was reconfigured to use only one camera due to the restrictions at the site facility. Therefore the property of rotational symmetry of the flame had to be assumed. Under such limited conditions, the imaging system proved to provide a good reconstruction of the internal structures and luminosity variations inside the flame. Suggestions for future development of the technology are also reported

Therapeutic targeting of the RB1 pathway in retinoblastoma with the oncolytic adenovirus VCN-01

Retinoblastoma is a pediatric solid tumor of the retina activated upon homozygous inactivation of the tumor suppressor RB1. VCN-01 is an oncolytic adenovirus designed to replicate selectively in tumor cells with high abundance of free E2F-1, a consequence of a dysfunctional RB1 pathway. Thus, we reasoned that VCN-01 could provide targeted therapeutic activity against even chemoresistant retinoblastoma. In vitro, VCN-01 effectively killed patient-derived retinoblastoma models. In mice, intravitreous administration of VCN-01 in retinoblastoma xenografts induced tumor necrosis, improved ocular survival compared with standard-of-care chemotherapy, and prevented micrometastatic dissemination into the brain. In juvenile immunocompetent rabbits, VCN-01 did not replicate in retinas, induced minor local side effects, and only leaked slightly and for a short time into the blood. Initial phase 1 data in patients showed the feasibility of the administration of intravitreous VCN-01 and resulted in antitumor activity in retinoblastoma vitreous seeds and evidence of viral replication markers in tumor cells. The treatment caused local vitreous inflammation but no systemic complications. Thus, oncolytic adenoviruses targeting RB1 might provide a tumor-selective and chemotherapy-independent treatment option for retinoblastoma.Fil: Pascual-Pasto, Guillem. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Bazan-Peregrino, Miriam. No especifíca;Fil: Olaciregui, Nagore G.. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Restrepo Perdomo, Camilo A.. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Mato Berciano, Ana. No especifíca;Fil: Ottaviani, Daniela. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Weber, Klaus. No especifíca;Fil: Correa, Genoveva. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Paco, Sonia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Vila Ubach, Monica. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Cuadrado Vilanova, Maria. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Castillo Ecija, Helena. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Botteri, Gaia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Garcia Gerique, Laura. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Moreno Gilabert, Helena. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Gimenez Alejandre, Marta. No especifíca;Fil: Alonso Lopez, Patricia. No especifíca;Fil: Farrera Sal, Marti. No especifíca;Fil: Torres Manjon, Silvia. Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Bellvitge; EspañaFil: Ramos Lozano, Dolores. Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Bellvitge; EspañaFil: Moreno, Rafael. Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Bellvitge; EspañaFil: Aerts, Isabelle. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Doz, François. Universite Paris Descartes; Francia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Cassoux, Nathalie. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Francia. Universite Paris Descartes; FranciaFil: Chapeaublanc, Elodie. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Torrebadell, Montserrat. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Roldan, Monica. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: König, Andrés. No especifíca;Fil: Suñol, Mariona. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Claverol, Joana. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Lavarino, Cinzia. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: De Torres, Carmen. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Fu, Ligia. Hospital Escuela Universitario; HondurasFil: Radvanyi, François. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; FranciaFil: Munier, Francis L.. Hopital Ophtalmique Jules Gonin; SuizaFil: Catalá-Mora, Jaume. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Mora, Jaume. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; EspañaFil: Alemany, Ramón. Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Bellvitge; EspañaFil: Cascalló, Manel. No especifíca;Fil: Chantada, Guillermo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Montero Carcaboso, Angel. Hospital Sant Joan de Déu; Españ