In order to reduce the size of compiled forms in knowledge compilation, we propose a new approach based on a splitting of the main representation into a nucleus representation and satellite representations. Nucleus representation is the projection of the original representation onto the “main” variables and satellite representations define the other variables according to the nucleus. We propose a language and a method, aimed at OBDD/OMDD representations, to compile into this split form. Our experimental study shows major size reductions on configuration-and diagnosis-oriented benchmarks.

Valued decision diagrams (VDDs) are data structures that represent functions mapping variable-value assignments to non-negative real numbers. They prove useful to compile cost functions, utility functions, or probability distributions. While the complexity of some queries (notably optimization) and transformations (notably conditioning) on VDD languages has been known for some time, there remain many significant queries and transformations, such as the various kinds of cuts, marginalizations, and combinations, the complexity of which has not been identified so far. This paper contributes to filling this gap and completing previous results about the time and space efficiency of VDD languages, thus leading to a knowledge compilation map for real-valued functions. Our results show that many tasks that are hard on valued CSPs are actually tractable on VDDs.

Les diagrammes de decision values (VDDs) sont particulierement interessants pour la compilation de problemes de satisfaction de contraintes valuees (VCSPs). L'interet des differents langages de la famille VDD (en particulier, les langages ADD, SLDD, AADD) est qu'ils admettent des algorithmes en temps polynomial pour des traitements (comme l'optimisation) qui ne sont pas polynomiaux a partir des VCSPs de depart. Comme l'efficacite pratique de tels traitements depend de la taille du VDD compilee obtenu, il est important d'obtenir une forme la plus compacte possible. Nous decrivons dans cet article quelques resultats issus de nos travaux sur la compacite experimentale des VDDs. Nous presentons un compilateur ascendant de VCSPs en SLDD+ et SLDD, un jeu d'heuristiques d'ordonnancement des variables, ainsi que des procedures de traduction des langages SLDD+ et SLDD_ vers les langages ADD et AADD. Les differents langages cibles et les heuristiques ont ete testes sur deux familles de jeux d'essai, des VCSPs additifs representant des problemes de configuration de voitures avec fonctions de cout, et des VCSPs multiplicatifs representant des reseaux bayesiens. Il apparait que, bien que le langage AADD soit strictement plus succinct en theorie que SLDD+ et SLDD_, ces deux langages conviennent bien en pratique quand il s'agit de compiler des problemes de nature purement additive (respectivement purement multiplicative).

Valued decision diagrams (VDDs) are data structures that represent functions mapping variable-value assignments to non-negative real numbers. They prove useful to compile cost functions, utility functions, or probability distributions. While the complexity of some queries (notably optimization) and transformations (notably conditioning) on VDD languages has been known for some time, there remain many significant queries and transformations, such as the various kinds of cuts, marginalizations, and combinations, the complexity of which has not been identified so far. This paper contributes to filling this gap and completing previous results about the time and space efficiency of VDD languages, thus leading to a knowledge compilation map for real-valued functions. Our results show that many tasks that are hard on valued CSPs are actually tractable on VDDs.

Existing languages in the valued decision diagrams (VDDs) family, including ADD, AADD, and those of the SLDD family, prove to be valuable target languages for compiling multivariate functions. However, their efficiency is directly related to the size of the compiled formulae. In practice, the existence of canonical forms may have a major impact on the size of the compiled VDDs. While efficient normalization procedures have been pointed out for ADD and AADD the canonicity issue for SLDD formulae has not been addressed so far. In this paper, the SLDD family is revisited. We modify the algebraic requirements imposed on the valuation structure so as to ensure tractable conditioning, optimization and normalization for some languages of the revisited SLDD family. We show that AADD is captured by this family. Finally, we compare the spatial efficiency of some languages of this family, from both the theoretical side and the practical side.

Orthophosphate was mobilized from iron phosphate (FePO(4)) contained in digested sewage sludge by microbial fuel cell power. FePO(4) was reduced through electrons and protons obtained from metabolic activity of Escherichia coli. The process yielded up to 82% or 600 mg/l. Optical emission spectroscopy was used for phosphate dosage. (31)P NMR showed a singlet at δ(p)=3.72 ppm indicating that orthophosphate (H(3)PO(4), HPO(4)(-), HPO(4)(2-) and PO(4)(3-)) was recovered. The phosphate containing supernatant solution was reacted with stoichiometric amounts of MgCl(2) and NH(4)OH to precipitate struvite (MgNH(4)PO(4)·6H(2)O). The crystalline fertilizer was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy comprising elemental analysis, revealing a composition accuracy of ∼ 90% and the absence of any toxic metals such as As, Cd, Pb, or Cr. The phosphate extraction is also a means to reduce the volume of digested sewage sludge while increasing the heat of combustion. This study represents a concept for sustainable decentralized phosphate recycling.

This paper introduces a novel method to estimate the parameters of a linear dissipative wave model from noisy observations. We focus on the case of constant coefficients and an unknown localized source. These constraints are motivated by applications in computational neuroscience and in particular separation of sources in the visual cortex in optical imaging modality. The proposed method takes advantage of the specificity of the model, namely the small number of parameters and the knowledge of the spatial support of the sources. It makes use of a temporal dimensionality reduction performed using a Laplace transform to drastically reduce the numerical complexity of the method. A Green kernel representation of the partial differential equation (PDE) solution exploiting the locality of the sources allows us to recover the parameters without the precise knowledge of the sources. A numerical evaluation of the method on synthetic data shows the strong robustness to noise of our method.

This paper introduces a mathematical model of the spatio-temporal patterns of visually evoked activity observed using Voltage-Sensitive Dye Imaging (VSDI) of the visual cortex. The cortical activity is described using a linear superposition of waves traveling with different speeds. This model improves the quality of the wave detection and still respects the previous approaches, as it integrates several biologically plausible constraints: 1) separability of the sources in terms of cortical location; 2) separability of the waves in terms of propagation speed, and 3) additivity of the depolarizing effects of the waves. Under these assumptions, a traveling component analysis algorithm performs a full separation of the set of waves and recovers the locations of the neural sources. Both features could help to better understand the dynamics of evoked activity in cortical sensory networks.

This study (ACSEPT) aimed to assess anxiety evolution according to coping strategy in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) during their first months of treatment with interferon (IFN)-β1a. Recently diagnosed relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients (n = 255) were included and received standardized information on MS. At inclusion, the preferred coping mode was determined using the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Anxiety and depression were assessed at inclusion and after 3 months using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. At inclusion, the preferred coping strategy was task-oriented for most patients (53%), 51% were considered as anxious, and the mean Beck depression score was low. Emotion-oriented patients were more anxious and more depressed than the 2 other coping groups (task- and avoidance-oriented). During the first 3 months of IFN treatment, the anxiety level slightly decreased in the total population, more intensively in the emotion-oriented group, and there were no clinically significant changes in the Beck depression score. Anxiety and depression remained stable or decreased during the first 3 months of IFN treatment, depending on coping strategy. Identifying these coping strategies during therapy initiation may allow customized support and improve treatment adherence.

Spike train analysis generally focus on two purposes: (1) the estimate of the neuronal information quantity, and (2) the quantification of spikes or bursts synchronization. We introduce here a new multivariate index based on Lempel-Ziv complexity for spike train analysis. This index, called mutual Lempel-Ziv complexity (MLZC), can measure both spikes correlations and estimate the information quantity of spike trains (i.e. characterize the dynamic state). Using simulated spike trains from a Poisson process, we show that the MLZC is able to quantify spike correlations. In addition, using bursting activity generated by electrically coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neurons, the MLZC is able to quantify and characterize bursts synchronization, when classical measures fail.

The helium-cooled lithium-lead (HCLL) breeder blanket concept is one of the two breeder blanket lines presently developed by the EU for DEMO reactor. In the short-term so-called DEMO relevant test blanket modules (TBMs) of these breeder blanket concepts shall be designed, manufactured, tested, installed, commissioned and operated in ITER for first tests in a fusion environment.For the purpose of licensing such rest module in the ITER facility, a safety assessment of the different possible accidental conditions has to be performed. This paper presents the results of the thermo-mechanical calculations that have been obtained in case of internal module leak occurring between the 8.0 MPa pressurised helium circuit and the lithium-lead circuit. In a conservative manner, it is also assumed that helium cooling of the TBM box is stopped at the accident initiation.In such situation the TBM box will be entirely pressurised at 8.0 MPa and the different challenges are related to the thermo-mechanical behaviour, the plasma power hold up and the heat removal capacity of the module. An assessment to estimate the time when the TBM box can withstand the different loads induced by the situation is presented. Particularly the available time span to trigger an emergency plasma shutdown is estimated in regards of the maximal allowable stress for the EUROFER which is the test blanket module material.A 3D finite element model has been developed with CAST3M computer code taking into account the beryllium layer, the decay heat after shutdown and the thermal radiation phenomena. After a description of the model, the paper presents and explains the results and particularly the methodology followed to determine the maximal allowable stress location which must combine the thermal transient calculations and the pure mechanical calculation under the 8.0 MPa loading.The results show that the hottest spot of the first wall (FW)was the most challenged location and that the structure can withstand such accidental conditions without plasma shutdown up to 15s. Afterwards, the structural design criteria defined by ITER for in-vessel components (SDC-IC) is not any more fulfilled. This does not necessary mean that a lithium-lead leakage can occur in the vacuum vessel. More research and development are needed to have a clear understanding of crack propagation and break size in a material like EUROFER where few data are available, particularly at the temperature reached in this accident.Finally as a conclusion of the studies presented in this paper, it can be stated that, although very conservative assumptions were taken, the time span is large enough to trigger a plasma shutdown in order to avoid more severe operational and safety consequences of this accidental situation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An imaging method has been developed to examine thermo responsive polymer coagulates by optical and electron microscopy. Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM), poly-N-dimethylacrylamide (PDMAM) and a 1:1 PNIPAM–PDMAM copolymer were encapsulated in a gelatin matrix as coagulates above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), and subsequently examined by optical and electron microscopy. The linear macromolecules PNIPAM and PDMAM were synthesized by chain transfer polymerization with mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) as chain transfer reagent. The resulting polymers have an average molar mass of ∼1800g/mol and low polydispersity. The LCST of thermo responsive polymers is defined in pure water but can also be stimulated at lower than the phase transition temperature employing electrolytes containing inorganic salts such as (NH4)2SO4. Under such conditions the polymers show the typical thermo responsive phase transfer property in form of a visible clouding point. Gelatin was used to maintain this biphasic state by slowly adding water-softened gelatin sheets at a temperature above the LCST, followed by cooling to 3°C in order to induce gelation. Examination of the gelatin–coagulate matrices by optical and electronic microscopy showed that PNIPAM and its copolymer (PNIPAM/PDMAM 1:1) are entrapped as globular spheres and clusters of spheres. In comparison pure PDMAM, even if it shows a clouding point, does not form typical LCST coagulates. With PNIPAM and the copolymer, micro globule formation is also possible with slow gelatin formation, without first provoking an LCST. In this particular case, the phase transition, or entropic demixing of the polymers respectively, are induced in this case by water absorption of the gelatin matrix.

BACKGROUND:Many studies have shown that recently detoxified alcoholic persons perform poorly on tasks thought to be sensitive to frontal lobe damage, supporting the hypothesis that the frontal lobes are highly vulnerable to chronic alcohol consumption. However, it appeared that most of the executive tasks used in these studies also involved nonexecutive components, and these tasks had been shown to be impaired as a result of nonfrontal lobe lesions. In this study, we examined further the "frontal lobe vulnerability" hypothesis using executive tasks, proved to be associated with frontal lobe functioning, that allowed us to distinguish the relative importance of executive and nonexecutive processes.METHOD:Thirty recently detoxified asymptomatic male alcoholic inpatients and 30 control subjects were tested for planning, inhibition, rule detection, and coordination of dual task, as well as the speed of processing and nonexecutive functions (such as short-term memory storage).RESULTS:Alcoholics performed worse than controls in almost all tasks assessing executive functions. However, they were not slower than the controls and showed normal results for nonexecutive functions.CONCLUSIONS:Chronic alcohol consumption seems to be associated with severe executive function deficits, which are still present after a protracted period of alcohol abstinence. These data support the idea that the cognitive deficits in recently detoxified sober alcoholic subjects are due, at least partly, to frontal lobe dysfunctioning.

The basis of amnesia in alcoholic Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) has been generally associated with diencephalic lesions and more specifically with lesions of the anterior thalamic nuclei. These brain structures are considered to be involved in encoding/consolidation processes of episodic memory. However, frontal lobe damage responsible for executive function deficits has also been documented. The present report details the nature and extent of amnesia in an alcoholic patients with WKS and which appears to be mainly due to frontal lobe (executive) deficits.