Computed Research Articles

Bond strength prediction of spliced GFRP bars in concrete beams using soft computing methods

The bond between the concrete and bar is a main factor affecting the performance of the reinforced concrete (RC) members, and since the steel corrosion reduces the bond strength, studying the bond behavior of concrete and GFRP bars is quite necessary. In this research, a database including 112 concrete beam test specimens reinforced with spliced GFRP bars in the splitting failure mode has been collected and used to estimate the concrete-GFRP bar bond strength. This paper aims to accurately estimate the bond strength of spliced GFRP bars in concrete beams by applying three soft computing models including multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), Kriging, and M5 model tree. Since the selection of regularization parameters greatly affects the fitting of MARS, Kriging, and M5 models, the regularization parameters have been so optimized as to maximize the training data convergence coefficient. Three hybrid model coupling soft computing methods and genetic algorithm is proposed to automatically perform the trial and error process for finding appropriate modeling regularization parameters. Results have shown that proposed models have significantly increased the prediction accuracy compared to previous models. The proposed MARS, Kriging, and M5 models have improved the convergence coefficient by about 65, 63 and 49%, respectively, compared to the best previous model.

Dig That Lick (DTL): Analyzing Large-Scale Data for Melodic Patterns in Jazz Performances

Dig That Lick (DTL): Analyzing Large-Scale Data for Melodic Patterns in Jazz Performances

Computing for the social good in education

No abstract available.

Seismic performance improvement of RC buildings with external steel frames

In this study, in order to improve the seismic performance of existing reinforced concrete (RC) framed structures, various external attachment of corner steel frame configurations was considered as a user-friendly retrofitting method. The external steel frame is designed to contribute to the lateral stiffness and load carrying capacity of the existing RC structure. A six story building was taken into account. Four different external corner steel frame configurations were suggested in order to strengthen the building. The 3D models of the building with suggested retrofitting steel frames were developed within ABAQUS environment using solid finite elements and analyzed under horizontal loadings nonlinearly. Horizontal top displacement vs loading curves were obtained to determine the overall performance of the building. Contributions of steel and RC frames to the carried loads were computed individually. Load/capacity ratios for the ground floor columns were presented. In the study, 3D rendered images of the building with the suggested retrofits are created to better visualize the real effect of the retrofit on the final appearance of the facade of the building. The analysis results have shown that the proposed external steel frame retrofit configurations increased the lateral load carrying capacity and lateral stiffness and can be used to improve the seismic performance of RC framed buildings.

A Symbolic Contour Representation of Shape for Recognition and Retrieval

Image retrieval technique is one of the most important and vital part of huge image storages. A precise retrieval engine is required to meet the needs of users. In this regard, content-based image retrieval (CBIR) methods based on image contents such as shape, color and texture have been introduced as an alternative of traditional methods to improve the retrieval precision. Of all features of an image, shape holds more valuable information than others. However, due to the dynamic nature of real worlds’ objects, a shape of an object is subject to occlusion, transformation and deformation. This is the main challenge of shape-based retrieval techniques and shape descriptors. In this paper, a new shape representation and description called Symbolic Contour-based Shape Retrieval (SCSR) method is introduced to overcome drawbacks of previous methods in terms of computation time and accuracy. The performance of the proposed method has been compared to other state-of-art methods on three popular datasets, Vehicles, Brown and Mpeg7.

Computing in Science & Engineering

Computing in Science & Engineering

Computing in Science & Engineering

Computing in Science & Engineering

Computing and society:

No abstract available.

Computing in Sciences and Engineering

Computing in Sciences and Engineering

Calculation (Computation) of Habitat Suitability Index for Swimming Fish Species Living in Miho Stream in Geum River Water System

Calculation (Computation) of Habitat Suitability Index for Swimming Fish Species Living in Miho Stream in Geum River Water System

Advances in privacy-preserving computing

Advances in privacy-preserving computing

An Adult Case of Heart Failure due to Left Main Coronary Artery Atresia

Left main coronary artery (LMCA) atresia is a rare congenital heart disease and can be fatal in pediatric patients. We report an adult case of LMCA atresia, in which heart failure developed without episodes suggesting angina. A 40-year-old man presented with difficulty breathing. Echocardiography revealed diffuse hypokinesis of the left ventricle with an ejection fraction of 22% in the absence of significant valvular disease. A diagnosis of heart failure was made, and diuretics, enalapril, bisoprolol and warfarin were administered. Coronary angiography demonstrated no trace of the ostium of the LMCA in the sinuses of Valsalva; the middle to distal part of the LMCA was visualized by rich collateral flow from the right coronary artery to the left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery. No trace of the ostium of the LMCA from the aorta or main pulmonary artery was detected on computed tomography angiography or echocardiography. The patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and a final diagnosis of congenital atresia of LMCA was made. The clinical course was uneventful and computed tomography angiography, performed 5 days after surgery, showed a patent bypass graft. This case demonstrates the importance of considering LMCA atresia even in the absence of chest symptoms suggesting angina in patients with heart failure. J Med Cases. 2021;12(6):233-237 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3681

Left Atrial Thrombus Mimicking Myxoma Secondary to Rebound Hypercoagulable State

Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have made the use of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) much more convenient and predictable. It is a very common practice to hold anticoagulation either in anticipation of surgical procedures (to prevent excessive bleeding) or in case of acute bleeding episodes. This abrupt withdrawal of anticoagulation tilts the balance in favor of pro-thrombotic state in the body. We present a case of a 60-year-old man with past medical history of AFib who abruptly discontinued his apixaban (Eliquis). This patient presented to emergency room with the complaint of weakness and numbness of left arm and left half of the face. Stroke code was activated, and patient received tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). This resulted in significant improvement of symptoms within hours of receiving treatment. Later during the same day, patient developed numbness and tingling of fingers of left hand. On physical exam, left hand was cold to touch and radial pulse was absent. Arterial duplex revealed occluded ulnar and radial arteries. Vascular surgery performed embolectomy to establish blood flow in the radial and ulnar arteries. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed large left atrial mass attached to the atrial septum. Most likely t-PA infusion in the setting of atrial mass led to distal showering of emboli resulting in stenosis of radial and ulnar arteries. The left atrial mass was most likely thrombus as patient had cardiac imaging including transthoracic echocardiogram and computed tomography of heart prior to these events which did not reveal any mass in left atrium. In short, as clinicians we should be aware of the hypercoagulability associated with withdrawal of anticoagulation. In addition, we should be wary of the challenges associated with differentiating cardiac masses of different etiology. J Med Cases. 2021;12(6):243-247 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3656

Pericardial Tamponade Caused by Rotational Atherectomy Ablation Grinding Through a Barrier Stent Protruding From the Diagonal Artery: A Case Report

Rotational atherectomy (RA) has been described in case reports to be effective in ablating under-expanded stents. We present a case of calcified bifurcation lesion percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), in which the branch stent protruding into main branch blocked the balloon getting through, and the following RA led to pericardial tamponade. The first stent was deployed from the proximal of left anterior descending artery (LAD) to the proximal of diagonal for an 80-year-old man who suffered from non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction to make a Culotte dual stent PCI. The operator failed to make balloon get through the struts protruding into LAD lumen anyway. After RA drill through the LAD lumen, it showed an excellent angiographic outcome. Stent deployment in LAD was successful, but pericardial tamponade occurred in a short time. After pericardiocentesis was performed under fluoroscopic guidance, the patient was uneventful. After 1 year, the follow-up coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography showed no in-stent restenosis, stent fracture or disrupted struts protruding outside of the vessel’s outline of LAD and the first diagonal (D1). This case shows stents’ RA could be dangerous in grinding across the stents’ lateral hole in an unsymmetrical lumen. Although RA could be a useful remedy in the situation of under-expansion of implanted stents, the debulking should be performed for longitudinal stent ablation and cautiously performed for bifurcation lesion in which the protruding stents from side branch were unsymmetrically blocking the path. J Med Cases. 2021;12(6):230-232 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3678

Incline Impact: A Case Study

An incline impact test can be used as a shock test in lieu of a drop test in several test protocols, including ISTA Procedure 1A [1]. Some test protocols, such as ISTA Procedure 1E [2], only allow for an incline impact test and horizontal impact test. In this case study, a graph was developed for a 500-lb impact tester at Christian Brothers University (CBU) Packaging Laboratory. It determines sliding platform location on the incline for a given packaged-product weight to meet the impact velocity recommended by the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA). One station of the platform location higher than the station obtained from the graph is recommended to ensure the meeting of ISTA recommended impact velocity. It is well known that weight is not used in impact velocity of a free fall drop. However, this case study shows that weight contributes to impact velocity of an incline impact test. It contributes to the rolling friction. A heavier weight yields a smaller coefficient of rolling friction ( 𝜇𝑘 ), which results in a higher impact velocity. The coefficient of rolling friction for CBU’s incline impact tester can be computed from 𝜇𝑘 = −9 −5𝑤 + 0.1092, where w is the total weight of the sliding platform and packaged product.

Reflections on black in computing

Seeking to improve systemic fairness in the computing realm.

A Morphological Study for Identified the Potential of Ganpatipule Coastal Tourism in Western Maharashtra (India): Analytical Hierarchy Process

This present study Analytical Hierarchy Processes (AHP) techniques, PVI and SVI indices were applied, calculate and identified the physical and socio-economic, cultural, historical and environment criterion and sub-parameters (05 major criteria and 22 sub-parameters) based on the evaluation of tourism potential ability of each parameter and its scenic beauty for a selected site of Ganpatipule beach in Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra (India) most significant importance to tourism. AHP-OS software was used to calculating pairwise comparisons matrix and determine the weight of selected criterion and parameters. The physical of vulnerability index (PVI) and socio-economic vulnerability index (SVI) calculating the physical computation of consistency ratio, CR=CI/RI (CR=0.07) the socio-economic computation of consistency ratio, CR = 0.08 values identified study area tourism potential is relevant. The PVI and SVI classes i.e. very highly coastal tourism potential to low coastal tourism potential are identified to the coastal area natural potential site. GIS-based Arc 10.3; Global Mapper (2011) the software was used to analyze beach potential in the study area. The AHP techniques are most applicable for in this study area for coastal tourism planning, management and development of local level.

An evaluation of wall functions for RANS computation of turbulent flows

An evaluation of wall functions for RANS computation of turbulent flows

USPSTF Expands Its Recommendation for Lung Cancer Screening with Low-Dose Computed Tomography

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Background The USPSTF has updated its previous guideline (NEJM JW Gen Med Feb 15

Trajectory tracking control and optimal computation of attraction domain for aircraft in perching maneuvers

Trajectory tracking control and optimal computation of attraction domain for aircraft in perching maneuvers