Automated generation of flat tileable patterns and 3D reduced model simulation

The computational fabrication community is developing an increasing interest in the use of patterned surfaces, which can be designed to show ornamental and unconventional aesthetics or to perform as a proper structural material with a wide range of features. Geometrically designing and controlling the deformation capabilities of these patterns in response to external stimuli is a complex task due to the large number of variables involved. This paper introduces a method for generating sets of tileable and exchangeable flat patterns as well as a model-reduction strategy that enables their mechanical simulation at interactive rates. This method is included in a design pipeline that aims to turn any general flat surface into a pattern tessellation, which is able to deform under a given loading scenario. To validate our approach, we apply it to different contexts, including real-scale 3D printed specimens, for which we compare our results with the ones provided by a ground-truth solver

Echocardiographic changes in the development of the athlete's heart in 9 to 20-year-old male subjects

The purpose of this cross-sectional investigation was to estimate the age at which specific traits of the “athlete's heart”first appear and how they evolve from the beginning of regular physical training until young adulthood in healthy active males. Male athletes (n=389) and non-athletes (n=55) aged between 9 and 20 years were examined by two-dimensionally guided M-mode and Doppler echocardiography. Intragroup differences were examined by t-tests for independent samples between age groups of two years each. Morphologic variables were related to body size by using ratio indices in which the power terms of numerator and denominator were matched. Relative left ventricular muscle mass (LVMM) was significantly larger in the athletic males at age of 11–12, and this significant difference was maintained with advancing age. Most of this increase of LVMM could be attributed to the increase in wall thickness that became significantly manifest first in the 13- to 14-year-old athletic subjects but was demonstrable in all the other groups. A significantly larger left ventricular internal diameter was only found in the age-group of 15–16. Fractional shortening percentage (FS%) did not show any change, while resting heart rate was decreased in our athletic groups

Multifocality of thyroid carcinomas: a “privilege” of papillary tumors or not?

Obiettivo. Studio della frequenza della multifocalità nei carcinomi tiroidei ben differenziati non midollari e della sua correlazione con diversi fattori epidemiologici, oltre che con la sopravivenza dei pazienti. Pazienti e metodi. Lo studio è stato condotto in 80 pazienti sottoposti a tiroidectomia totale dal gennaio 1985 al dicembre 2004 nel Primo Dipartimento di Chirurgia della Università della Tracia Democritus, Grecia, per carcinoma ben differenzato (papillare e follicolare). Sono stati analizzati età, sesso, tipo istologico, multifocalità dei tumori, sopravvivenza. Risultati. La multifocalità è stata identificata in 17/80 pazienti (21,25%). Tumore multifocalizzato è stato trovato in 4/20 (20%) e in 13/60 donne (21,67%), in percentuali quindi sovrapponibili. Alta frequenza di multifocalità si è trovata nei seguenti gruppi di età 20-29, 30-39 e 70-79, bassa frequenza è stata trovata nei gruppi 0-9, 10-19 e 60-69 anni. La frequenza nei follicolari è stata del 20%, analoga a quella dei papillari (22,2%). Invece, frequenza molto alta è stata trovata nei tumori misti papillari-follicolari (75%). La sopravvivenza non è influenzata dalla multifocalita del tumore. Conclusioni. La multifocalita non deve essere considerata un “privilegio” dei tumori tiroidei papillari, ma caratteristica comune dei carcinomi tiroidei. In caso di tiroidectomia totale la presenza di multifocalita non influenza ovviamente la prognosi e la sopravvivenza del paziente

Quality of Life Indices for Analysing Convergence in the European Union

GIANNIAS D., LIARGOVAS P. and MANOLAS G. (1999) Quality of life indices for analysing convergence in the European Union, Reg. Studies 33 , 27-35. This paper investigates convergence and tests it empirically across countries of the European Union between 1970 and 1990. Convergence is defined not only in terms of economic indicators, but also in terms of social and quality of life indicators. Real convergence is computed by evaluating a weighted average coefficient of variation based on economic and quality of life variables. The weights are based on an experts' opinion survey. Country rankings, based on the values of a composite quality of life index, are also constructed. The results confirm that real convergence was achieved between 1970-75 for most of the countries. Convergence stagnated between 1980-85 and then it increased. Southern European Member States did not exhibit similar patterns. GIANNIAS D., LIARGOVAS P. et MANOLAS G. (1999) L'analyse de la convergence au sein de l'Union europeenne a partir des indices de la qualite de la vie, Reg. Studies 33 , 27-35. Cet article cherche a examiner la notion de convergence et a l'evaluer empiriquement quant aux pays membres de l'Union europeenne entre 1970 et 1990. La notion de convergence s'exprime non seulement en fonction des clignotants economiques, mais aussi a partir des indices sociales et de la qualite de la vie. On calcule la convergence reelle en evaluant un coefficient de variation de la moyenne ponderee fonde sur des variables economiques et relatives a la qualite de la vie. Les ponderations proviennent d'une enque⁁te des opinions des experts. Les pays sont classes en fonction des valeurs d'une indice composee de la qualite de la vie. Les resultats confirment que la convergence reelle avait ete atteinte entre 1970 et 1975 pour la plupart des pays. La convergence stagnait entre 1980 et 1985 pour redemarrer. Les pays-membres du sud de l'Europe n'ont pas fait preuve des tendances similaires. GIANNIAS D., LIARGOVAS P. und MANOLAS G. (1999) Lebensqualitatsindexe zur Analyse der Konvergenz in der EU, Reg. Studies 33 , 27-35. Dieser Aufsatz untersucht Konvergenz und uberpruft sie empirisch in Landern der ganzen EU fur den Zeitraum 1970-1990. Konvergenz wird nicht nur unter dem Aspekt wirtschaftlicher Indikatoren, sondern auch dem der Lebensqualitat- und Sozialindikatoren definiert. Wirkliche Konvergenz wird duch Bewertung gewichteter durchschnittlicher Koeffizienten der Unterschiede berechnet, die sich wirtschaftlichen und Lebensqualitatsvariablen beruhen. Gewichtung stutzt sich auf Untersuchung von Expertenansichten. Daruberhinaus werden Landerranglisten aufgestellt, die auf Werten eines zusammengesetzten Lebensqualitatsindex beruhen. Die Ergebnisse bestatigen, dass wahre Konvergenz in den meisten Landernim Zeitraum 1970-75 erreicht wurde, im Zeitraum 1980-85 jedoch stagnierte und danach zunahm. Sudeuropaische Mitgliedstaaten weisen keine derartigen Muster auf.European Union, Convergence, Quality Of Life Indices, Union Europeenne, Convergence, Indices De La Qualite De La Vie, Eu, Konvergenz, Lebensqualitatsindexe,

Defence expenditure and economic growth in the European Union - A causality analysis

This paper examines the relationship between military expenditure and growth among the EU15 members using co-integration and causality tests for the period 1961-2000. Although the results reported herein do not reveal a uniformity among the 15 countries, the apparent prevalence of the direction of causality from growth to military expenditure as well as the absence of the reverse causal ordering may be an indication that an important number of governments in the European Union (EU) make defence spending policy decisions based on the state of their economy with the concomitant implications for the objective of a Common European Security and Defence Policy (CESDP). (C) 2004 Society for Policy Modeling. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Wheat Supply Response in Greece and The European Union Policy

This paper attempts to estimate the supply response for wheat production in Greek agriculture. In our analysis we use the rigorous cointegration and the error correction method, as it is superior to the generally used Nerlovian partial-adjustment model. Since wheat is one of the most important commodities in the Greek agriculture, comprising 26 percent of the total cultivated land, the estimation of its price responsiveness is vitally important in supporting agricultural policy decisions. The results of our analysis reveal that there is a long-term stable relationship between the supplied quantity of wheat and real gross revenue of wheat producers, suggesting that in order to raise wheat yield and farmer incomes, considering the European Union agricultural policy, productivity increases play a vital role. The government’s policy should therefore be channelled through measures that will encourage productivity increases.Greek agriculture, supply wheat response, co-integration, error correction model

Generation and Absorption of Periodic Waves Traveling on a Uniform Current in a Fully Nonlinear BEM-based Numerical Wave Tank

Accurate and efficient numerical wave generation and absorption of two-dimensional nonlinear periodic waves traveling on a steady, uniform current were carried out in a potential, fully nonlinear numerical wave tank. The solver is based on the Βoundary Εlement Μethod (ΒΕΜ) with linear singularity distributions and plane elements and on the mixed Eulerian–Lagrangian formulation of the free surface equations. Wave generation is implemented along the inflow boundary by imposing the stream function wave solution, while wave absorption at both end-boundaries is effectively treated by introducing absorbing layers. On the absorbing beach side, the outflow boundary condition is modified to ensure that the solution accurately satisfies the dispersion relation of the generated waves. The modification involves a free-parameter that depends on the mass flux through the domain and is determined through a feedback error-correction loop. The developed method provides accurate time domain wave solutions for shallow, intermediate, and deep water depths of high wave steepness (wave heights up to 80% of the maximum value) that remain stable for 150 wave periods. This also holds in case a coplanar or opposing uniform current of velocity up to 20% of the wave celerity interacts with the wave