Estimating probabilistic confidence for mixture components identified using a spectral search algorithm

Providing a confidence measure associated with the substance(s) identified in an unknown mixture by a spectral search technique is critical for non-expert users of devices and techniques based on spectroscopy. In this work, a technique for estimating probabilities associated with substances identified by spectral searching is described. In the proposed approach, a mixture analysis algorithm processes the spectrum of an unknown sample using a spectral library to generate a list of substances that may be present in the sample. The partial correlation of each of the substances in the list is then computed. The estimation of the probability is accomplished through a generalized linear model that converts the partial correlation values to a probability measure for each of the mixture components. The statistical properties of partial correlation allow probability estimation irrespective of whether a substance is present in a pure form or within a mixture. The technique was evaluated using both simulated and real Raman spectra of multi-component mixtures, and adequate performance was demonstrated.     

Effect of polymerization conditions on polyacetylene morphology

In an effort to optimize the synthesis of polyacetylene we have studied the evolution of its morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and also determined the density of the polymer. Both results are correlated and discussed.     

Breast Cancer Detection in Saudi Arabian Women Using Hybrid Machine Learning on Mammographic Images

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cause of women’s deaths worldwide. The mammography technique is the most important modality for the detection of BC. To detect abnormalities in mammographic images, the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADs) is used as a baseline. The correct allocation of BI-RADs categories for mammographic images is always an interesting task, even for specialists. In this work, to detect and classify the mammogram images in BI-RADs, a novel hybrid model is presented using a convolutional neural network (CNN) with the integration of a support vector machine (SVM). The dataset used in this research was collected from different hospitals in the Qassim health cluster of Saudi Arabia. The collection of all categories of BI-RADs is one of the major contributions of this paper. Another significant contribution is the development of a hybrid approach through the integration of CNN and SVM. The proposed hybrid approach uses three CNN models to obtain ensemble CNN model results. This ensemble model saves the values to integrate them with SVM. The proposed system achieved a classification accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F1-score of 93.6%, 94.8%, 96.9%, 96.6%, and 95.7%, respectively. The proposed model achieved better performance compared to previously available methods.     

Etude numérique de l'évaporation dans un courant d'air humide laminaire et turbulent d'un film d'eau ruisselant sur une plaque inclinée

The authors have proposed an appropriate model based on the liquid film transfer equations which are one‐dimensional, partially two‐dimensional and two‐dimensional. They have compared their results with those of other works and studied the influence of the liquid mass flow rate and the inclined angle. They have shown that the interracial heat transfer is dominated by the latent heat transfer; the contribution of the sensible heat is only important in the turbulent region where the interfacial temperature and the evaporating mass flux are practically constant and the thickness of the liquid film is uniform. For the adiabatic plate, the liquid mass flow rate and the inclined angle have no influence on the transfers. For the isothermal or the heated plate, the liquid mass flow rate essentially influences the turbulent region by reducing the interrfacial temperature and the heat and mass transfer coefficients. However, the inclination angle affects mainly the laminar region by increasing the interfacial velocity, reducing the film thickness and has little effects on the transfer coefficients.     

Improving the performance of a Seawater Greenhouse desalination system by assessment of simulation models for different condensers

The main aim of this paper was the development of a mathematical model for a new proposed passive condenser in order to enhance the performance of a humidification–dehumidification Seawater Greenhouse desalination system. Seawater Greenhouse desalination is used to create a cool environment and at the same time to produce fresh water for irrigation of crops grown inside the unit. The condenser in particular is currently one of the main bottlenecks in the commercialization of the technology. In addition to the current pump driven condenser, two new designs were considered: a passive cooling system with a condenser immersed in a water basin, and an external passive condenser connected to a basin of water placed on top of the cooling unit. The simulated condensate values for the proposed passive cooling condenser were compared with that of the actual measured values of the installed condenser. Preliminary results suggest that the passive condenser has a much greater water production capacity than the existing pump driven system. While the model for the proposed system still needs to be validated experimentally the initial study indicates that the passive containment cooling system is a promising improvement in the further development of greenhouse desalination.     

Formulation and rheology of eco-self-compacting concrete (Eco-SCC)

This article presents the results of an experimental study on the rheology of eco-SCC, formulated on the basis of the modified Chinese method and on the new standard EN206/CN. The studied ecological concretes consist of Portland pozzolana cement, containing large amounts of limestone filler or natural pozzolana, which can replace cement up to 50%. In addition, the compactness of the granular mixture is optimized; therefore, the total amount of the incorporated binder is further reduced in the body of concrete. The study of the rheological behavior of these fluid concretes was carried out in the laboratory, using a coaxial vane-type rheometer. The results showed that both rheological models, i.e. modified Bingham and Herschel–Bulkley, describe satisfactorily the shear-thinning character of the formulations tested. However, the rheological parameters obtained with the modified Bingham model seem to have better correlations with the measurements of the slump test. These same results also indicated that replacing 30% of cement by one of the additions selected for our study, resulted in mixtures with yield stress and plastic viscosities that are within the validity range of SCC. This allowed reducing CO₂ emissions by about 40% for each cubic meter of concrete produced.