Behavior of Composite Unreinforced Masonry–Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Wall Assemblages Under In-Plane Loading

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the in-plane behavior of face shell mortar bedded unreinforced masonry (URM) wall assemblages retrofitted with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates. Forty-two URM assemblages were tested under different stress conditions present in masonry shear and infill walls. Tests included prisms loaded in compression with different bed joint orientation (on/off-axis compression), diagonal tension specimens, and specimens loaded under joint shear. The behavior of each specimen type is discussed with emphasis on modes of failure, strength and deformation characteristics. Results showed that the application of FRP laminates on URM has a great influence on strength, postpeak behavior, as well as altering failure modes and maintaining the specimen integrity. The retrofitted specimens reached compressive strength of 1.62–5.64 times that of their unretrofitted counterparts, depending on the bed joint orientation, and joint shear strength increased by eightfold.     

The pleural thickening approximation from thoracic CT scans

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The involvement of medical imaging in medical procedures plays an important role in the diagnosis and planning of a therapeutic treatment. Computerized...     

An E-Business Event Stream Mechanism for Improving User Tracing Processes

With the rapid development in business transactions, especially in recent years, it has become necessary to develop different mechanisms to trace business user records in web server log in an efficient way. Online business transactions have increased, especially when the user or customer cannot obtain the required service. For example, with the spread of the epidemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the world, there is a dire need to rely more on online business processes. In order to improve the efficiency and performance of E-business structure, a web server log must be well utilized to have the ability to trace and record infinite user transactions. This paper proposes an event stream mechanism based on formula patterns to enhance business processes and record all user activities in a structured log file. Each user activity is recorded with a set of tracing parameters that can predict the behavior of the user in business operations. The experimental results are conducted by applying clustering-based classification algorithms on two different datasets; namely, Online Shoppers Purchasing Intention and Instacart Market Basket Analysis. The clustering process is used to group related objects into the same cluster, then the classification process measures the predicted classes of clustered objects. The experimental results record provable accuracy in predicting user preferences on both datasets.     

Improved crossover firefly algorithm based deep Beleif network for low-resolution face recognition

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Face detection by low-resolution image (LR) is one of the key aspects of Human-Computer Interaction(HCI). Due to the LR image, which has changes in pose,...     

Solution Structure of the Leader Sequence of the Patellamide Precursor Peptide,PatE1–34

The solution structure of the leader sequence of the patellamide precursor peptide was analysed by using CD and determined with NOE‐restrained molecular dynamics calculations. This leader sequence is highly conserved in the precursor peptides of some other cyanobactins harbouring heterocycles, and is assumed to play a role in targeting the precursor peptide to the post‐translational machinery. The sequence was observed to form an α‐helix spanning residues 13–28 with a hydrophobic surface on one side of the helix. This hydrophobic surface is proposed to be the site of the initial binding with modifying enzymes.     

Effective components of TORDIA cognitive–behavioral therapy for adolescent depression: Preliminary findings.

In this report, we conducted a secondary analysis of the Treatment of SSRI-Resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA) study to explore the impact of specific cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment components on outcome. In TORDIA, 334 youths (ages 12 to 18 years) with major depressive disorder who had failed to respond to an adequate course of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication were randomized to a medication switch (either to an alternative SSRI or venlafaxine) with or without 12 weeks of adjunctive CBT. Participants who had more than 9 CBT sessions were 2.5 times more likely to have adequate treatment response than those who had 9 or fewer sessions. CBT participants who received problem-solving and social skills treatment components, controlling for number of sessions and other confounding variables, were 2.3 and 2.6 times, respectively, more likely to have a positive response. These preliminary findings underscore the importance of receiving an adequate number of sessions to attain an adequate clinical response. Finally, social skills and problem solving may be active elements in CBT for adolescent depression and should be considered in treatment by those working with seriously depressed youths. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in free amino acids and biogenic amines of Egyptian salted-fermented fish (Feseekh) during ripening and storage

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the formation of amino acids and biogenic amines in Egyptian salted-fermented fish (Feseekh) during ripening (20 days) and storage (40–60 days). The total concentration of free amino acids increased from 8 (dry weight; DW) to 72 g/kg (DW) after 60 days of storage. The predominant free amino acids were leucine, glutamic acid, lysine, alanine, valine, aspartic acid, isoleucine and citrulline. Their concentrations accounted for 68% of the total concentration of amino acids after 60 days. The total contents of biogenic amines ranged from 84 to 1633 mg/kg (DW) during the investigated period. Cadaverine was the major amine detected in Feseekh at all sampling stages and its concentration varied between 21 and 997 mg/kg (DW). The histamine content (211 mg/kg DW) only exceeded the maximum tolerance level (200 mg/kg) after 60 days. It could be concluded that Feseekh can be consumed without any health risks between 20 and 40 days but it can be hazardous after 60 days due to the biogenic amine content.     

Effect of porosity and pressure on the PEM fuel cell performance

This paper presents a numerical modeling, provides an improved understanding of the fundamental transport phenomena inside the PEM fuel cell. The problem is stated in a steady-state, two-dimensional model and Cartesian coordinates system by using a single domain and a control volume method. The model consists of non-linear, coupled partial differential equations representing the conservation of mass, momentum, species, charges and energy with electrochemical reactions that are valid for gas diffusion electrodes, catalyst layers and membrane region. The modeling of bidirectional, non-isothermal and steady problem of PEMFC provides results concerning the species fraction, potential and temperature distribution in different domain.