A novel approach to predict shear strength of tilted angle connectors using artificial intelligence techniques

Shear connectors play a prominent role in the design of steel-concrete composite systems. The behavior of shear connectors is generally determined through conducting push-out tests. However, these tests are costly and require plenty of time. As an alternative approach, soft computing (SC) can be used to eliminate the need for conducting push-out tests. This study aims to investigate the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, as sub-branches of SC methods, in the behavior prediction of an innovative type of C-shaped shear connectors, called Tilted Angle Connectors. For this purpose, several push-out tests are conducted on these connectors and the required data for the AI models are collected. Then, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is developed to identify the most influencing parameters on the shear strength of the tilted angle connectors. Totally, six different models are created based on the ANFIS results. Finally, AI techniques such as an artificial neural network (ANN), an extreme learning machine (ELM), and another ANFIS are employed to predict the shear strength of the connectors in each of the six models. The results of the paper show that slip is the most influential factor in the shear strength of tilted connectors and after that, the inclination angle is the most effective one. Moreover, it is deducted that considering only four parameters in the predictive models is enough to have a very accurate prediction. It is also demonstrated that ELM needs less time and it can reach slightly better performance indices than those of ANN and ANFIS.

     

Parallel implementation of finite-element/newton method for solution of steady-state and transient nonlinear partial differential equations

Domain decomposition by nested dissection for concurrent factorization and storage (CFS) of asymmetric matrices is coupled with finite element and spectral element discretizations and with Newton's method to yield an algorithm for parallel solution of nonlinear initial-and boundary-value problem. The efficiency of the CFS algorithm implemented on a MIMD computer is demonstrated by analysis of the solution of the two-dimensional, Poisson equation discretized using both finite and spectral elements. Computation rates and speedups for the LU-decomposition algorithm, which is the most time consuming portion of the solution algorithm, scale with the number of processors. The spectral element discretization with high-order interpolating polynomials yields especially high speedups because the ratio of communication to computation is lower than for low-order finite element discretizations. The robustness of the parallel implementation of the finite-element/Newton algorithm is demonstrated by solution of steady and transient natural convection in a two-dimensional cavity, a standard test problem for low Prandtl number convection. Time integration is performed using a fully implicit algorithm with a modified Newton's method for solution of nonlinear equations at each time step. The efficiency of the CFS version of the finite-element/Newton algorithm compares well with a spectral element algorithm implemented on a MIMD computer using iterative matrix methods.Submitted toJ. Scientific Computing, August 25, 1994.     

Hybrid Paper–Plastic Microchip for Flexible and High‐Performance Point‐of‐Care Diagnostics

A low‐cost and easy‐to‐fabricate microchip remains a key challenge for the development of true point‐of‐care (POC) diagnostics. Cellulose paper and plastic are thin, light, flexible, and abundant raw materials, which make them excellent substrates for mass production of POC devices. Herein, a hybrid paper–plastic microchip (PPMC) is developed, which can be used for both single and multiplexed detection of different targets, providing flexibility in the design and fabrication of the microchip. The developed PPMC with printed electronics is evaluated for sensitive and reliable detection of a broad range of targets, such as liver and colon cancer protein biomarkers, intact Zika virus, and human papillomavirus nucleic acid amplicons. The presented approach allows a highly specific detection of the tested targets with detection limits as low as 10² ng mL^?1 for protein biomarkers, 10³ particle per milliliter for virus particles, and 10² copies per microliter for a target nucleic acid. This approach can potentially be considered for the development of inexpensive and stable POC microchip diagnostics and is suitable for the detection of a wide range of microbial infections and cancer biomarkers.     

MRI and PET image fusion using structure tensor and dual ripplet-II transform

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Medical image fusion aims at preserving salient image features, reducing the redundancy, and increasing the interpretation quality of images in clinical...     

PALAEO‐EXPOSURE SURFACES IN THE APTIAN DARIYAN FORMATION,OFFSHORE SW IRAN: GEOCHEMISTRY AND RESERVOIR IMPLICATIONS

Palaeo‐exposure surfaces within and at the top of the carbonate‐dominated Aptian Dariyan Formation have been poorly studied in the Iranian sector of the Persian Gulf. This paper presents an integrated sedimentological and geochemical study of the Dariyan Formation at four oil and gas fields located in the western, central and eastern parts of the Gulf. Facies stacking patterns in general indicate shallowing‐upwards trends toward the exposure surfaces, which are interpreted to correspond to unconformities. The Dariyan Formation in the study area is divided into upper and lower carbonate units by a deep‐water, high‐gamma shale‐marl interval. At fields in the western and central Gulf, significant diagenetic changes were recorded in the top of the upper carbonate unit, including meteoric dissolution and cementation, brecciation and paleosol formation. An exposure surface is also present at the top of the lower carbonate unit in all the fields in the study area, and is associated with meteoric dissolution and cementation of grain‐dominated facies. Age calibration of studied intervals was carried out using microfossil assemblages including benthic and planktonic foraminifera. Negative excursions of both δ¹⁸O (?10‰ VPDB) and δ¹³C (?0.66‰ VPDB) were recorded in weathered intervals located below the unconformity surfaces. A sequence stratigraphic framework for the Dariyan Formation was established by integrating sedimentological, palaeontological and geochemical data. The δ¹³C curve for the formation in the Iranian sector of the Persian Gulf can be correlated with the reference curve for the northern Neotethys and used as a basis for regional stratigraphic correlation. Where the top‐Aptian unconformity is present, it has resulted in an enhancement of the reservoir characteristics of the underlying carbonate succession. Accordingly, the best reservoir zones in the Dariyan Formation occur in the upper parts of the lower and upper carbonate units which are bounded above by significant palaeo‐exposure surfaces.     

A replenishment policy based on joint optimization in a downstream pharmaceutical supply chain: centralized vs. decentralized replenishment

This paper considers a number of problems in a pharmaceutical downstream supply chain under specific constraints related to pharmaceutical products (e.g., their expiry date and regulations) and to inventory control (e.g., low prices of products, gift products or prices near zero, shortages prohibited but excess inventory allowed). As traditional models of inventory control and replenishment cannot optimize the total cost of the system, it is very important to consider the transportation cost as well. In this paper, we take into account some of these constraints and propose two models for multi-product replenishment policies, namely centralized and decentralized models. We seek to identify the best quantity and period of replenishment of products for a joint optimization of inventory and transportation costs. The proposed models can be applied to a specific family of products with a stable demand and high turnover rate, low prices (or gift products for some of them), and without any shortage. These two models are compared and the global approach is illustrated by a numerical example taken from a real-case study.     

Irreducible compositions of polynomials over finite fields of even characteristic

This paper presents some results with the constructive theory of synthesis of irreducible polynomials over a Galois field with even characteristic. We prove a theorem that plays an important role for constructing irreducible polynomials. By this theorem two recurrent methods for constructing families of irreducible polynomials of degree $n2^{k}~(k=1,2,\ldots )$ over $\mathbb F _{2^{s}}$ are proposed. It is shown that in this special case, the sequences of irreducible polynomials are N-polynomial of degree $2^{k}$ .     

Assessment of myocardial viability by dobutamine echocardiography, positron emission tomography and thallium-201 SPECT: correlation with histopathology in explanted hearts

OBJECTIVES: We examined the relationship among viability assessment by dobutamine echocardiography (DE), positron emission tomography (PET) and thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography (TI-SPECT) to the degree of fibrosis. BACKGROUND: DE, PET and TI-SPECT have been shown to be sensitive in identifying viability of asynergic myocardium. However, PET and TI-SPECT indicated viability in a significant percentage of segments without dobutamine response or functional improvement after revascularization. METHODS: Twelve patients with coronary artery disease and severely reduced left ventricular function (EF 14.5+/-5.2%) were studied with DE prior to cardiac transplantation: 5 had additional PET and 7 had TI-SPECT studies. Results of the three techniques were compared to histologic findings of the explanted hearts. RESULTS: Segments with >75% viable myocytes by histology were determined to be viable in 78%, 89% and 87% by DE, PET and TI-SPECT; those with 50-75% viable myocytes in 71%, 50% and 87%, respectively. Segments with 25-50% viable myocytes showed response to dobutamine in only 15%, but were viable in 60% by PET and 82% by TI-SPECT. Segments with <25% viable myocytes responded to dobutamine in 19%; however, PET and TI-SPECT demonstrated viability in 33% and 38%, respectively. Discrepant segments without dobutamine response but viability by PET and SPECT had significantly more viable myocytes by pathology than did those classified in agreement to be nonviable but had significantly less viable myocytes than those classified in agreement to be viable (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that contractile reserve as evidenced by a positive dobutamine response requires at least 50% viable myocytes in a given segment whereas scintigraphic methods also identify segments with less viable myocytes. Thus, the methods may provide complementary information: Nuclear techniques appear to be highly sensitive for the detection of myocardial viability, and negative tests make it highly unlikely that a significant number of viable myocytes are present in a given segment. Conversely, dobutamine echo may be particularly useful for predicting recovery of systolic function after revascularization.