Extracting dimensional information from steel reinforcing bars in concrete using neural networks trained on data from an inductive sensor

A new method is presented for extracting dimensional information from steel bars using images generated by an inductive sensor. The technique is based on the application of two feedforward backpropagation neural networks; one to estimate bar depth and the other to estimate bar diameter. Both of the networks have been trained on a set of data that consists of the peak parameters of six different bars scanned at 41 different bar depths. These input and target data must be pre-processed to obtain a good network generalisation. By testing the two networks with a completely different set of data, accurate performance has been obtained. Real, two-dimensional scan data have then been applied to both of the networks and the bar dimensional parameters have been extracted successfully. The advantage of the neural network method for extracting information is that it continues to operate reliably for very deep bars, for which the signal strength is severely attenuated and manifests a poor signal-to-noise ratio. Depth and diameter measurements have been obtained for bars located down to 58 mm, with errors that satisfy the requirements of the BS 1881 standard. At a depth of 40 mm, these measurements yield an error of ±4%, and this decreases as the depth reduces; in other words, the extracted bar diameter is within the requirements of the DIN 488 standard.     

Interleukin-8 in chronic renal failure and dialysis patients

A total of 105 patients participated in this study, including 10 with chronic glomerulonephritis with normal renal function (CGN patients), 36 uraemic patients (CRF patients), 19 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients (CAPD) without peritonitis, three CAPD patients with peritonitis, 37 patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis (HD) divided into short-term HD, 15 patients; medium-term HD, 12 patients; and long-term HD, 10 patients. IL-8 and two other proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNF alpha were tested using a specific immunoassay. IL-8, IL-6, and TNF alpha serum levels were significantly increased in patients with chronic renal failure compared to their levels in normal individuals (P < 0.0001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.0001 respectively). The most pronounced increment in IL-8, IL-6 and TNF alpha serum levels was observed in CAPD patients (P < 0.0001). CAPD patients without peritonitis showed relatively low levels of IL-8 or IL-6 in peritoneal dialysate effluents (PDE), whereas PDE-TNF alpha were not detectable in almost all patients tested. Patients with peritonitis showed very high serum and PDE levels of IL-8, IL-6 and TNF alpha. The clinical recovery from peritonitis was characterized by a rapid fall in IL-8, IL-6 and TNF alpha in serum and dialysate. HD patients showed a significant increase in serum levels of IL-8 and also IL-6 and TNF alpha compared to normal individuals (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Wind speed and wind energy potential of Jordan

Routine wind data from 11 stations in Jordan have been analysed. Monthly average, and seasonal wind speed and average power density distributions were determined for each station. The monthly average wind speed for the two most potential sites Ras Muneef (RA) and Mafraq (MF) ranged from 3.0 to 7.4 m/sec and the average power density for these two sites ranged from 110 to 370 W/m² at RA and from 105 to 470 W/m² at MF. An application of wind power as supplementary power supply is suggested and cost analysis is given.     

An alternative solution of the neutron diffusion equation in cylindrical symmetry

Alternative analytical solutions of the neutron diffusion equation for both infinite and finite cylinders of fissile material are formulated using the homotopy perturbation method. Zero flux boundary conditions are investigated on boundary as well as on extrapolated boundary. Numerical results are provided for one-speed fast neutrons in ²³⁵U. The results reveal that the homotopy perturbation method provides an accurate alternative to the Bessel function based solutions for these geometries.     

Annealing temperature effect on structural and morphological properties of nano photonic LiNbO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

In this work, thermal annealing processes was depended in order to prepare (Δ) phase LiNbO₃ and the properties of nanostructure films was characterized. The sol–gel method was used to grow and deposit high purity Lithium-Niobate Nano and Micro-structure on a quartz substrate, at three different annealing temperatures. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of grown films have been investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, optical study through Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis and Photoluminescence. The measurements showed that the structure was crystalline in nature and the grains are regularly distributed within the film as a result of increasing the annealing temperature. This observation is typically used in optical waveguides and other optoelectronics applications.     

Some mechanical and thermal properties of clay bricks for the Jordan valley region

An experimental investigation was carried out to study the use of different locally available additives to Al-Karamah clay to produce bricks to suit the weather conditions in the Jordan Valley region. The parameters investigated were the percentages of additives by volume, compaction rate, and drying rate. The ultimate compressive strength and thermal properties of the bricks were measured. The study indicated that Al-Karamah clay can be used successfully to manufacture solid clay bricks which suit the Jordan Valley region.     

Envelope detection and correction of SSB

Envelope detection is significantly less complex to implement and use than coherent detection if applied to SSB results in gross distortion unless the carrier component is very large. A method of correcting this distortion is discussed and a variant which achieves partial correction with some hardware simplification is investigated. Computer simulation shows that a reduction of 15 dB in second-harmonic distortion can be achieved, and this is confirmed by tests on a prototype system.     

A chemically amplified fullerene-derivative molecular electron-beam resist

Current lithographic resists depend on large polymeric materials, which are starting to limit further improvements in line-width roughness and feature size. Fullerene molecular resists use much smaller molecules to avoid this problem. However, such resists have poor radiation sensitivity. Chemical amplification of a fullerene derivative using an epoxy crosslinker and a photoacid generator is demonstrated. The sensitivity of the material is increased by two orders of magnitude, and 20-nm line widths are patterned.