Modeling of active holonic control systems for intelligent buildings

Building facilities have become important infrastructures for modern productive plants dedicated to services. In this context, the control systems of intelligent buildings have evolved while their reliability has evidently improved. However, the occurrence of faults is inevitable in systems conceived, constructed and operated by humans. Thus, a practical alternative approach is found to be very useful to reduce the consequences of faults. Yet, only few publications address intelligent building modeling processes that take into consideration the occurrence of faults and how to manage their consequences. In the light of the foregoing, a procedure is proposed for the modeling of intelligent building control systems, considersing their functional specifications in normal operation and in the of the event of faults. The proposed procedure adopts the concepts of discrete event systems and holons, and explores Petri nets and their extensions so as to represent the structure and operation of control systems for intelligent buildings under normal and abnormal situations. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Symmetry insights for design of supercomputer network topologies: roots and weights lattices

We present a family of networks whose local interconnection topologies are generated by the root vectors of a semi-simple complex Lie algebra. Cartan classification theorem of those algebras ensures those families of interconnection topologies to be exhaustive. The global arrangement of the network is defined in terms of integer or half-integer weight lattices. The mesh or torus topologies that network millions of processing cores, such as those in the IBM BlueGene series, are the simplest member of that category. The symmetries of the root systems of an algebra, manifested by their Weyl group, lends great convenience for the design and analysis of hardware architecture, algorithms and programs.

Profiling Three-Dimensional Nuclear Telomeric Architecture of Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Acute Myeloid Leukemia Defines Patient Subgroups

Purpose: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of disorders characterized by cytopenias, with a propensity for evolution into acute myeloid leukemias (AML). This transformation is driven by genomic instability, but mechanisms remain unknown. Telomere dysfunction might generate genomic instability leading to cytopenias and disease progression. Experimental Design: We undertook a pilot study of 94 patients with MDS (56 patients) and AML (38 patients). The MDS cohort consisted of refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (32 cases), refractory anemia (12 cases), refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB) 1 (8 cases), RAEB2 (1 case), refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts (2 cases), and MDS with isolated del(5q) (1 case). The AML cohort was composed of AML-M4 (12 cases), AML-M2 (10 cases), AML-M5 (5 cases), AML-M0 (5 cases), AML-M1 (2 cases), AML-M4eo (1 case), and AML with multidysplasia-related changes (1 case). Three-dimensional quantitative FISH of telomeres was carried out on nuclei from bone marrow samples and analyzed using TeloView. Results: We defined three-dimensional nuclear telomeric profiles on the basis of telomere numbers, telomeric aggregates, telomere signal intensities, nuclear volumes, and nuclear telomere distribution. Using these parameters, we blindly subdivided the MDS patients into nine subgroups and the AML patients into six subgroups. Each of the parameters showed significant differences between MDS and AML. Combining all parameters revealed significant differences between all subgroups. Three-dimensional telomeric profiles are linked to the evolution of telomere dysfunction, defining a model of progression from MDS to AML. Conclusions: Our results show distinct three-dimensional telomeric profiles specific to patients with MDS and AML that help subgroup patients based on the severity of telomere dysfunction highlighted in the profiles. Clin Cancer Res; 18(12); 3293-304. (C) 2012 AACR.

Dos diagramas aos parâmetros: transformações no design digital

The article is part of an ongoing theoretical research about the emergence of parametric architecture. It discusses some of the last developments in digital design from the transition of the discourse and operativity by “diagrams” to the theories and processes derived from “parameters”. Centered in Peter Eisenman’s and Patrik Schumacher’s propositions, it is in its horizon to comprehend what relations are established between “diagram” and “parameter” -­‐ similarities, complementarities and differences -­‐, contributing for the critical contextualization of theoretical movements and design processes in contemporary architecture.