Uncertainty propagation in inverse reliability-based design of composite structures

An approach for the analysis of uncertainty propagation in reliability-based design optimization of composite laminate structures is presented. Using the Uniform Design Method (UDM), a set of design points is generated over a domain centered on the mean reference values of the random variables. A methodology based on inverse optimal design of composite structures to achieve a specified reliability level is proposed, and the corresponding maximum load is outlined as a function of ply angle. Using the generated UDM design points as input/output patterns, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is developed based on an evolutionary learning process. Then, a Monte Carlo simulation using ANN development is performed to simulate the behavior of the critical Tsai number, structural reliability index, and their relative sensitivities as a function of the ply angle of laminates. The results are generated for uniformly distributed random variables on a domain centered on mean values. The statistical analysis of the results enables the study of the variability of the reliability index and its sensitivity relative to the ply angle. Numerical examples showing the utility of the approach for robust design of angle-ply laminates are presented.

An approach for reliability-based robust design optimisation of angle-ply composites

Variations of manufacturing process parameters and environmental aspects may affect the quality and performance of composite materials, which consequently affects their structural behaviour. Reliability-based design optimisation (RBDO) and robust design optimisation (RDO) searches for safe structural systems with minimal variability of response when subjected to uncertainties in material design parameters. An approach that simultaneously considers reliability and robustness is proposed in this paper. Depending on a given reliability index imposed on composite structures, a trade-off is established between the performance targets and robustness. Robustness is expressed in terms of the coefficient of variation of the constrained structural response weighted by its nominal value. The Pareto normed front is built and the nearest point to the origin is estimated as the best solution of the bi-objective optimisation problem.

Uncertainty assessment approach for composite structures based on global sensitivity indices

The problem of uncertainty propagation in composite laminate structures is studied. An approach based on the optimal design of composite structures to achieve a target reliability level is proposed. Using the Uniform Design Method (UDM), a set of design points is generated over a design domain centred at mean values of random variables, aimed at studying the space variability. The most critical Tsai number, the structural reliability index and the sensitivities are obtained for each UDM design point, using the maximum load obtained from optimal design search. Using the UDM design points as input/output patterns, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is developed based on supervised evolutionary learning. Finally, using the developed ANN a Monte Carlo simulation procedure is implemented and the variability of the structural response based on global sensitivity analysis (GSA) is studied. The GSA is based on the first order Sobol indices and relative sensitivities. An appropriate GSA algorithm aiming to obtain Sobol indices is proposed. The most important sources of uncertainty are identified.

A reliability-based measure of robustness for concrete structures subjected to corrosion

This work is a contribution to the definition and assessment of structural robustness. Special emphasis is given to reliability of reinforced concrete structures under corrosion of longitudinal reinforcement. On this communication several authors’ proposals in order to define and measure structural robustness are analyzed and discussed. The probabilistic based robustness index is defined, considering the reliability index decreasing for all possible damage levels. Damage is considered as the corrosion level of the longitudinal reinforcement in terms of rebar weight loss. Damage produces changes in both cross sectional area of rebar and bond strength. The proposed methodology is illustrated by means of an application example. In order to consider the impact of reinforcement corrosion on failure probability growth, an advanced methodology based on the strong discontinuities approach and an isotropic continuum damage model for concrete is adopted. The methodology consist on a two-step analysis: on the first step an analysis of the cross section is performed in order to capture phenomena such as expansion of the reinforcement due to the corrosion products accumulation and damage and cracking in the reinforcement surrounding concrete; on the second step a 2D deteriorated structural model is built with the results obtained on the first step of the analysis. The referred methodology combined with a Monte Carlo simulation is then used to compute the failure probability and the reliability index of the structure for different corrosion levels. Finally, structural robustness is assessed using the proposed probabilistic index.

Influence of the sample area in the variability of losses in the mechanical harvesting of soybeans

The mechanical harvesting is an important stage in the production process of soybeans and, in this process; the loss of a significant number of grains is common. Despite the existence of mechanisms to monitor these losses, it is still essential to use sampling methods to quantify them. Assuming that the size of the sample area affects the reliability and variability between samples in quantifying losses, this paper aimed to analyze the variability and feasibility of using different sizes of sample area (1, 2 and 3 m²) in quantifying losses in the mechanical harvesting of soybeans. Were sampled 36 sites and the cutting losses, losses by other mechanisms of the combine and total losses were evaluated, as well as the water content in seeds, straw distribution and crop productivity. Data were subjected to statistical analysis (descriptive statistics and analysis of variance) and Statistical Control Process (SCP). The coefficients of variation were similar for the three frames available. Combine losses showed stable behavior, whereas cutting losses and total losses showed unstable behavior. The frame size did not affect the quantification and variability of losses in the mechanical harvesting of soybeans, thus a frame of 1 m² can be used for determining losses.

Chronological Monte Carlo-based assessment of distribution system reliability

Regulatory authorities in many countries, in order to maintain an acceptable balance between appropriate customer service qualities and costs, are introducing a performance-based regulation. These regulations impose penalties, and in some cases rewards, which introduce a component of financial risk to an electric power utility due to the uncertainty associated with preserving a specific level of system reliability. In Brazil, for instance, one of the reliability indices receiving special attention by the utilities is the Maximum Continuous Interruption Duration per customer (MCID). This paper describes a chronological Monte Carlo simulation approach to evaluate probability distributions of reliability indices, including the MCID, and the corresponding penalties. In order to get the desired efficiency, modern computational techniques are used for modeling (UML -Unified Modeling Language) as well as for programming (Object- Oriented Programming). Case studies on a simple distribution network and on real Brazilian distribution systems are presented and discussed. © Copyright KTH 2006.

Specialized genetic algorithm for transmission network expansion planning considering reliability

This paper presents a methodology to solve the transmission network expansion planning problem (TNEP) considering reliability and uncertainty in the demand. The proposed methodology provides an optimal expansion plan that allows the power system to operate adequately with an acceptable level of reliability and in an enviroment with uncertainness. The reliability criterion limits the expected value of the reliability index (LOLE - Loss Of Load Expectation) of the expanded system. The reliability is evaluated for the transmission system using an analytical technique based in enumeration. The mathematical model is solved, in a efficient way, using a specialized genetic algorithm of Chu-Beasley modified. Detailed results from an illustrative example are presented and discussed. © 2009 IEEE.

Network reconfiguration of distribution systems using metaheuristics and reliability measures

In an evermore competitive environment, power distribution companies need to continuously monitor and improve the reliability indices of their systems. The network reconfiguration (NR) of a distribution system is a technique that well adapts to this new deregulated environment for it allows improvement of system reliability indices without the onus involved in procuring new equipment. This paper presents a reliability-based NR methodology that uses metaheuristic techniques to search for the optimal network configuration. Three metaheuristics, i.e. Tabu Search, Evolution Strategy, and Differential Evolution, are tested using a Brazilian distribution network and the results are discussed. © 2009 IEEE.

Influence of the sample area in the variability of losses in the mechanical harvesting of soybeans

The mechanical harvesting is an important stage in the production process of soybeans and, in this process; the loss of a significant number of grains is common. Despite the existence of mechanisms to monitor these losses, it is still essential to use sampling methods to quantify them. Assuming that the size of the sample area affects the reliability and variability between samples in quantifying losses, this paper aimed to analyze the variability and feasibility of using different sizes of sample area (1, 2 and 3 m²) in quantifying losses in the mechanical harvesting of soybeans. Were sampled 36 sites and the cutting losses, losses by other mechanisms of the combine and total losses were evaluated, as well as the water content in seeds, straw distribution and crop productivity. Data were subjected to statistical analysis (descriptive statistics and analysis of variance) and Statistical Control Process (SCP). The coefficients of variation were similar for the three frames available. Combine losses showed stable behavior, whereas cutting losses and total losses showed unstable behavior. The frame size did not affect the quantification and variability of losses in the mechanical harvesting of soybeans, thus a frame of 1 m² can be used for determining losses.

Propuesta metodológica para la identificación de medidas de adaptación al cambio climático en sistemas de recursos hídricos

Esta tesis realiza una contribución metodológica en el estudio de medidas de adaptación potencialmente adecuadas a largo plazo, donde los sistemas de recursos hídricos experimentan fuertes presiones debido a los efectos del cambio climático. Esta metodología integra el análisis físico del sistema, basándose en el uso de indicadores que valoran el comportamiento de éste, y el análisis económico mediante el uso del valor del agua. El procedimiento metodológico inicia con la construcción de un conjunto de escenarios futuros, que capturan por un lado las características de variabilidad de las aportaciones de diversos modelos climáticos y, por otro, las características hidrológicas de la zona de estudio. Las zonas de estudio seleccionadas fueron las cuencas del Guadalquivir, Duero y Ebro y se utilizaron como datos observados las series de escorrentía en régimen natural estimadas por el modelo SIMPA que está calibrado en la totalidad del territorio español. Estas series observadas corresponden al periodo 1961-1990. Los escenarios futuros construidos representan el periodo 2071-2100. La identificación de medidas de adaptación se apoyó en el uso de indicadores que sean capaces de caracterizar el comportamiento de un sistema de recursos hídricos frente a los efectos del cambio climático. Para ello se seleccionaron los indicadores de calidad de servicio (I1) y de confiabilidad de la demanda (I2) propuestos por Martin-Carrasco et al. (2012). Estos indicadores valoran el comportamiento de un sistema mediante la identificación de los problemas de escasez de agua que presente, y requieren para su cuantificación el uso de un modelo de optimización. Para este estudio se ha trabajado con el modelo de optimización OPTIGES. La determinación de estos indicadores fue realizada para análisis a corto plazo donde los efectos del cambio climático no son de relevancia, por lo que fue necesario analizar su capacidad para ser usados en sistemas afectados por dichos efectos. Para este análisis se seleccionaron tres cuencas españolas: Guadalquivir, Duero y Ebro, determinándose que I2 no es adecuado para este tipo de escenarios. Por ello se propuso un nuevo indicador “Indicador de calidad de servicio bajo cambio climático” (I2p) que mantiene los mismos criterios de valoración que I2 pero que responde mejor bajo fuertes reducciones de aportaciones producto del cambio climático. La metodología propuesta para la identificación de medidas de adaptación se basa en un proceso iterativo en el cual se van afectando diversos elementos que conforman el esquema del sistema bajo acciones de gestión previamente identificadas, hasta llegar a un comportamiento óptimo dado por el gestor. Las mejoras de estas afectaciones son cuantificadas mediante los indicadores I1 e I2p, y de este conjunto de valores se selecciona la que se acerca más al comportamiento óptimo. Debido a la extensa cantidad de información manejada en este análisis, se desarrolló una herramienta de cálculo automatizada en Matlab. El proceso seguido por esta herramienta es: (i) Ejecución del modelo OPTIGES para las diferentes modificaciones por acciones de gestión; (ii) Cálculo de los valores de I1 e I2p para cada una de estas afectaciones; y (iii) Selección de la mejor opción. Este proceso se repite hasta llegar al comportamiento óptimo buscado, permitiendo la identificación de las medidas de adaptación mas adecuadas. La aplicación de la metodología para la identificación de medidas de adaptación se realizó en la cuenca del Guadalquivir, por ser de las tres cuencas analizadas bajo los indicadores I1 e I2p la que presenta los problemas más serios de escasez de agua. Para la identificación de medidas de adaptación se analizaron dos acciones de gestión: 1) incremento de los volúmenes de regulación y 2) reducción de las demandas de riego, primero bajo la valoración del comportamiento físico del sistema (análisis de sensibilidad) permitiendo identificar que la primera acción de gestión no genera cambios importantes en el comportamiento del sistema, que si se presentan bajo la segunda acción. Posteriormente, con la acción que genera cambios importantes en el comportamiento del sistema (segunda acción) se identificaron las medidas de adaptación más adecuadas, mediante el análisis físico y económico del sistema. Se concluyó que en la cuenca del Guadalquivir, la acción de reducción de las demandas de riego permite minimizar e incluso eliminar los problemas de escasez de agua que se presentarían a futuro bajo diferentes proyecciones hidrológicas, aunque estas mejoras implicarían fuertes reducciones en dichas demandas. Siendo las demandas más afectadas aquellas ubicadas en cabecera de cuenca. Los criterios para la reducción de las demandas se encuentran en función de las productividades y garantías con las que son atendidas dichas demandas. This thesis makes a methodological contribution to the study of potentially suitable adaptation measures in the long term, where water resource systems undergo strong pressure due to the effects of climate change. This methodology integrates the physical analysis of the system, by the use of indicators which assess its behavior, and the economic analysis by the use of the value of water. The methodological procedure begins with the building of a set of future scenarios that capture, by one hand, the characteristics and variability of the streamflow of various climate models and, on the other hand, the hydrological characteristics of the study area. The study areas chosen were the Guadalquivir, Ebro and Duero basins, and as observed data where used runoff series in natural regimen estimated by the SIMPA model, which is calibrated in the whole Spanish territory. The observed series are for the 1961-1990 period. The future scenarios built represent the 2071-2100 periods. The identification of adaptation measures relied on the use of indicators that were able of characterize the behavior of one water resource system facing the effects of climate change. Because of that, the Demand Satisfaction Index (I1) and the Demand Reliability Index (I2) proposed by Martin-Carrasco et al. (2012) were selected. These indicators assess the behavior of a system by identifying the water scarcity problems that it presents, and require in order to be quantified the use of one optimization model. For this study the OPTIGES optimization model has been used. The determination of the indicators was made for the short-term analysis where the climates change effect are not relevant, so it was necessary to analyze their capability to be used in systems affected by those these. For this analysis three Spanish basins were selected: Guadalquivir, Duero and Ebro. It was determined that the indicator I2 is not suitable for this type of scenario. It was proposed a new indicator called “Demand Reliability Index under climate change” (I2p), which keeps the same assessment criteria than I2, but responsive under heavy reductions of streamflow due to climate change. The proposed methodology for identifying adaptation measures is based on an iterative process, in which the different elements of the system´s schema are affected by previously defined management actions, until reach an optimal behavior given by the manager. The improvements of affectations are measured by indicators I1 e I2p, and from this set of values it is selected the affectation that is closer to the optimal behavior. Due to the large amount of information managed in this analysis, it was developed an automatic calculation tool in Matlab. The process followed by this tool is: Firstly, it executes the OPTIGES model for the different modifications by management actions; secondly, it calculates the values of I1 e I2p for each of these affectations; and finally it chooses the best option. This process is performed for the different iterations that are required until reach the optimal behavior, allowing to identify the most appropriate adaptation measured. The application of the methodology for the identification of adaptation measures was conducted in the Guadalquivir basin, due to this was from the three basins analyzed under the indicators I1 e I2p, which presents the most serious problems of water scarcity. For the identification of adaptation measures there were analyzed two management actions: 1) To increase the regulation volumes, and 2) to reduce the irrigation demands, first under the assessment of the physical behavior of the system (sensibility analysis), allowing to identify that the first management action does not generate significant changes in the system´s behavior, which there are present under the second management action. Afterwards, with the management action that generates significant changes in the system´s behavior (second management action), there were identified the most adequate adaptation measures, through the physical and economic analysis of the system. It was concluded that in the Guadalquivir basin, the action of reduction of irrigation demands allows to minimize or even eliminate the water scarcity problems that could exist in the future under different hydrologic projections, although this improvements should involve strong reductions of the irrigation demands. Being the most affected demands those located in basins head. The criteria for reducing the demands are based on the productivities and reliabilities with which such demands are meet.

La estabilidad del frente de excavación de un túnel en terrenos heterogéneos o con un criterio de rotura no-lineal

El frente de un túnel puede colapsar si la presión aplicada sobre el es inferior a un valor limite denominado presión “critica” o “de colapso”. En este trabajo se desarrolla y presenta un mecanismo de rotura rotacional generado punto a punto para el cálculo de la presión de colapso del frente de túneles excavados en terrenos estratificados o en materiales que siguen un criterio de rotura nolineal. La solución propuesta es una solución de contorno superior en el marco del Análisis Límite y supone una generalización del mecanismo de rotura mas reciente existente en la bibliografía. La presencia de un terreno estratificado o con un criterio de rotura no-lineal implica una variabilidad espacial de las propiedades resistentes. Debido a esto, se generaliza el mecanismo desarrollado por Mollon et al. (2011b) para suelos, de tal forma que se puedan considerar valores locales del ángulo de rozamiento y de la cohesión. Además, la estratificación del terreno permite una rotura parcial del frente, por lo que se implementa esta posibilidad en el mecanismo, siendo la primera solución que emplea un mecanismo de rotura que se ajusta a la estratigrafía del terreno. Por otro lado, la presencia de un material con un criterio de rotura no-lineal exige introducir en el modelo, como variable de estudio, el estado tensional en el frente, el cual se somete al mismo proceso de optimización que las variables geométricas del mecanismo. Se emplea un modelo numérico 3D para validar las predicciones del mecanismo de Análisis Limite, demostrando que proporciona, con un esfuerzo computacional significativamente reducido, buenas predicciones de la presión critica, del tipo de rotura (global o parcial) en terrenos estratificados y de la geometría de fallo. El mecanismo validado se utiliza para realizar diferentes estudios paramétricos sobre la influencia de la estratigrafía en la presión de colapso. Igualmente, se emplea para elaborar cuadros de diseño de la presión de colapso para túneles ejecutados con tuneladora en macizos rocosos de mala calidad y para analizar la influencia en la estabilidad del frente del método constructivo. Asimismo, se lleva a cabo un estudio de fiabilidad de la estabilidad del frente de un túnel excavado en un macizo rocoso altamente fracturado. A partir de el se analiza como afectan las diferentes hipótesis acerca de los tipos de distribución y de las estructuras de correlación a los resultados de fiabilidad. Se investiga también la sensibilidad de los índices de fiabilidad a los cambios en las variables aleatorias, identificando las mas relevantes para el diseño. Por ultimo, se lleva a cabo un estudio experimental mediante un modelo de laboratorio a escala reducida. El modelo representa medio túnel, lo cual permite registrar el movimiento del material mediante una técnica de correlación de imágenes fotográficas. El ensayo se realiza con una arena seca y se controla por deformaciones mediante un pistón que simula el frente. Los resultados obtenidos se comparan con las estimaciones de la solución de Análisis Límite, obteniéndose un ajuste razonable, de acuerdo a la literatura, tanto en la geometría de rotura como en la presión de colapso. A tunnel face may collapse if the applied support pressure is lower than a limit value called the ‘critical’ or ‘collapse’ pressure. In this work, an advanced rotational failure mechanism generated ‘‘point-by-point” is developed to compute the collapse pressure for tunnel faces in layered (or stratified) grounds or in materials that follow a non-linear failure criterion. The proposed solution is an upper bound solution in the framework of limit analysis which extends the most advanced face failure mechanism in the literature. The excavation of the tunnel in a layered ground or in materials with a non-linear failure criterion may lead to a spatial variability of the strength properties. Because of this, the rotational mechanism recently proposed by Mollon et al. (2011b) for Mohr-Coulomb soils is generalized so that it can consider local values of the friction angle and of the cohesion. For layered soils, the mechanism needs to be extended to consider the possibility for partial collapse. The proposed methodology is the first solution with a partial collapse mechanism that can fit to the stratification. Similarly, the use of a nonlinear failure criterion introduces the need to introduce new parameters in the optimization problem to consider the distribution of normal stresses along the failure surface. A 3D numerical model is employed to validate the predictions of the limit analysis mechanism, demonstrating that it provides, with a significantly reduced computational effort, good predictions of critical pressure, of the type of collapse (global or partial) in layered soils, and of its geometry. The mechanism is then employed to conduct parametric studies of the influence of several geometrical and mechanical parameters on face stability of tunnels in layered soils. Similarly, the methodology has been further employed to develop simple design charts that provide the face collapse pressure of tunnels driven by TBM in low quality rock masses and to study the influence of the construction method. Finally, a reliability analysis of the stability of a tunnel face driven in a highly fractured rock mass is performed. The objective is to analyze how different assumptions about distributions types and correlation structures affect the reliability results. In addition, the sensitivity of the reliability index to changes in the random variables is studied, identifying the most relevant variables for engineering design. Finally, an experimental study is carried out using a small-scale laboratory model. The problem is modeled in half, cutting through the tunnel axis vertically, so that displacements of soil particles can be recorded by a digital image correlation technique. The tests were performed with dry sand and displacements are controlled by a piston that supports the soil. The results of the model are compared with the predictions of the Limit Analysis mechanism. A reasonable agreement, according to literature, is obtained between the shapes of the failure surfaces and between the collapse pressures observed in the model tests and computed with the analytical solution.

Análise de confiabilidade de estruturas com paredes portantes de concreto pré-moldado

O método construtivo com painéis portantes de concreto é economicamente viável, porém relativamente novo no cenário nacional, sobretudo no caso dos pré-moldados. As incertezas referentes às peculiaridades desse método, bem como a nova norma brasileira de painéis pré-moldados, ainda em elaboração, vem a motivar uma análise probabilística dos critérios de projeto disponíveis. Utilizando-se a técnica da confiabilidade estrutural, é possível propagar as incertezas referentes às variáveis a uma resposta final no índice de confiabilidade, sendo um cálculo totalmente probabilístico. Neste trabalho, emprega-se tal técnica com informações estatísticas referentes a lajes de concreto moldadas in loco para verificar, de maneira mais verossímil, a segurança dos critérios de projeto impostos pelo Precast Concrete Institute Design Handbook - Precast and Prestressed Concrete - 7th Edition (2010) às fases transitórias (desforma, transporte e içamento) e pela Norma Brasileira ABNT NBR 6118: 2014 - Projeto de estruturas de concreto, à fase em uso. Prossegue-se a uma análise crítica dos resultados bem como sugestões para diminuir a variação dos resultados, sobretudo pela calibração de novos coeficientes parciais de segurança, processo para o qual este trabalho pode servir de base.

RELIBILITY ANALYSIS OF SIMPLE SLOPES AND SOIL-STRUCTURES WITH LINEAR LIMIT STATES

The first objective of this research was to develop closed-form and numerical probabilistic methods of analysis that can be applied to otherwise conventional methods of unreinforced and geosynthetic reinforced slopes and walls. These probabilistic methods explicitly include random variability of soil and reinforcement, spatial variability of the soil, and cross-correlation between soil input parameters on probability of failure. The quantitative impact of simultaneously considering the influence of random and/or spatial variability in soil properties in combination with cross-correlation in soil properties is investigated for the first time in the research literature. Depending on the magnitude of these statistical descriptors, margins of safety based on conventional notions of safety may be very different from margins of safety expressed in terms of probability of failure (or reliability index). The thesis work also shows that intuitive notions of margin of safety using conventional factor of safety and probability of failure can be brought into alignment when cross-correlation between soil properties is considered in a rigorous manner. The second objective of this thesis work was to develop a general closed-form solution to compute the true probability of failure (or reliability index) of a simple linear limit state function with one load term and one resistance term expressed first in general probabilistic terms and then migrated to a LRFD format for the purpose of LRFD calibration. The formulation considers contributions to probability of failure due to model type, uncertainty in bias values, bias dependencies, uncertainty in estimates of nominal values for correlated and uncorrelated load and resistance terms, and average margin of safety expressed as the operational factor of safety (OFS). Bias is defined as the ratio of measured to predicted value. Parametric analyses were carried out to show that ignoring possible correlations between random variables can lead to conservative (safe) values of resistance factor in some cases and in other cases to non-conservative (unsafe) values. Example LRFD calibrations were carried out using different load and resistance models for the pullout internal stability limit state of steel strip and geosynthetic reinforced soil walls together with matching bias data reported in the literature.

AtPIN: Arabidopsis thaliana Protein Interaction Network

Background: Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) constitute one of the most crucial conditions to sustain life in living organisms. To study PPI in Arabidopsis thaliana we have developed AtPIN, a database and web interface for searching and building interaction networks based on publicly available protein-protein interaction datasets. Description: All interactions were divided into experimentally demonstrated or predicted. The PPIs in the AtPIN database present a cellular compartment classification (C(3)) which divides the PPI into 4 classes according to its interaction evidence and subcellular localization. It has been shown in the literature that a pair of genuine interacting proteins are generally expected to have a common cellular role and proteins that have common interaction partners have a high chance of sharing a common function. In AtPIN, due to its integrative profile, the reliability index for a reported PPI can be postulated in terms of the proportion of interaction partners that two proteins have in common. For this, we implement the Functional Similarity Weight (FSW) calculation for all first level interactions present in AtPIN database. In order to identify target proteins of cytosolic glutamyl-tRNA synthetase (Cyt-gluRS) (AT5G26710) we combined two approaches, AtPIN search and yeast two-hybrid screening. Interestingly, the proteins glutamine synthetase (AT5G35630), a disease resistance protein (AT3G50950) and a zinc finger protein (AT5G24930), which has been predicted as target proteins for Cyt-gluRS by AtPIN, were also detected in the experimental screening. Conclusions: AtPIN is a friendly and easy-to-use tool that aggregates information on Arabidopsis thaliana PPIs, ontology, and sub-cellular localization, and might be a useful and reliable strategy to map protein-protein interactions in Arabidopsis. AtPIN can be accessed at http://bioinfo.esalq.usp.br/atpin.

Quantitative three-dimensional power Doppler angiography: a flow-free phantom experiment to evaluate the relationship between color gain, depth and signal artifact

Objectives To evaluate the presence of false flow three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler signals in `flow-free` models. Methods 3D power Doppler datasets were acquired from three different flow-free phantoms (muscle, air and water) with two different transducers and Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis was used to generate a sphere that was serially applied through the 3D dataset. The vascularization flow index was used to compare artifactual signals at different depths (from 0 to 6 cm) within the different phantoms and at different gain and pulse repetition frequency (PR F) settings. Results Artifactual Doppler signals were seen in all phantoms despite these being flow-free. The pattern was very similar and the degree of artifact appeared to be dependent on the gain and distance from the transducer. False signals were more evident in the far field and increased as the gain was increased, with false signals first appearing with a gain of 1 dB in the air and muscle phantoms. False signals were seen at a lower gain with the water phantom (-15 dB) and these were associated with vertical lines of Doppler artifact that were related to PRF, and disappeared when reflections were attenuated. Conclusions Artifactual Doppler signals are seen in flow-free phantoms and are related to the gain settings and the distance from the transducer. In the in-vivo situation, the lowest gain settings that allow the detection of blood flow and adequate definition of vessel architecture should be used, which invariably means using a setting near or below the middle of the range available. Additionally, observers should be aware of vertical lines when evaluating cystic or liquid-containing structures. Copyright (C) 2010 ISUOC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.