Image processing analysis of sigmoidal Hadamard wavelet with PCA to detect hidden object

Innovative tactics are employed by terrorists to conceal weapons and explosives to perpetrate violent attacks, accounting for the deaths of millions of lives every year and contributing to huge economic losses to the global society. Achieving a high threat detection rate during an inspection of crowds to recognize and detect threat elements from a secure distance is the motivation for the development of intelligent image data analysis from a machine learning perspective. A method proposed to reduce the image dimensions with support vector, linearity and orthogonal. The functionality of CWD is contingent upon the plenary characterization of fusion data from multiple image sensors. The proposed method combines multiple sensors by hybrid fusion of sigmoidal Hadamard wavelet transform and PCA basis functions. Weapon recognition and the detection system, using Image segmentation and K means support vector machine A classifier is an autonomous process for the recognition of threat weapons regardless of make, variety, shape, or position on the suspect’s body despite concealment

Effect of Longitudinal Hollows on Behavior and Capacity of High Strength Reinforced Concrete One Way Slabs

This work involves experimental study for the effect of longitudinal hollows on behavior of HSC one way slabs. Six slabs of 1000×450×70 mm were tested. The parameters of the study are number, diameter and volume of the hollows and flexural reinforcement ratio (ρ). The hollows were made by embedding PVC pipes. Presence of hollows reduces cracking and ultimate capacities of the slab. The reductions are larger with increasing number, diameter and volume of hollows. Maximum reduction in cracking capacity is 26.9 % when 32 % hollows are used with ρ = 0.45 %. Using 32 % hollows reduces the ultimate capacity by 12.9 % when ρ = 0.45 % and by 20.3 for ρ = 1.2 %. Using 32 % hollows with ρ = 1.2 % prevents the flexural failure to finally take place due to the bearing failure at supporting region. Increasing (ρ) has significant effect on ultimate capacity and this effect is smaller in hollowed slab than in solid slab. Presence of hollows increases deflection values and makes load – deflection response softer especially in advanced loading stages. Also, crack width values at service stage increases with increasing volume of the hollows. Longitudinal hollows have convergent effects in reduction of the ultimate capacity and ultimate loads that result to very small effect on slab adequacy for carrying the applied loads. This makes it is useful using the hollows in construction of one way slabs especially when HSC is used. Keywords: one way slab, hollow, high strength, cracking, ultimate capacit

Observation of Consolidation and Permeability Parameters of Soil Stabilized By Cutback Asphalt

من الضروي معرفة انضغاطية طبقات التربة المعرضة للأجهادات الفعالة وكذلك معرفة معدل جريان الماء خلال للأغراض التصميمية خاصة لمنشآت الردم و المنشآت البحرية الملامسة للتربة.ومن الأمور المهمة معرفة هذه الخصائص وذلك من خلال دراسة ومعرفة معامل الأنضمام ومعامل النفاذية للتربة.ان هذه الدراسة لمعرفة تأثير تثبيت التربة بالأسفلت على هذه الخصائص, تم التحقيق في هذه الدراسة على عينات من تربة طينية-غرينية, وتم تحضير النماذج بخلط التربة مع نسب مختلفة من الأسفلت (0-10)% وتم أجراء فحص الأنضمام أحادي المحور لعينات بقطر 50ملم واتفاع 20ملم مشبعة في الماء. وقد وجد أن معامل الأنضمام يزداد للترب المثبتة بالأسفلت بنسب (2-6)% وينخفض للترب المثبتة بالأسفلت بنسب (8-10)%. في الجهة الأخرى تزداد النفاذية ومعامل الأنضغاط الحجمي للتربة المثبتة بالأسفلت بنسب (2-4)% ثم تقل بأستمرار أضافة الأسفلت للتربة لغاية 10%. ان معامل الأنضغاط يزداد الى حده الأمثل عند الترب المثبتة بنسبة أسفلت 2% وبعدها يبدأ معامل الأنضغاط بالأنخفاض في الترب المثبتة بالأسفلت لغاية نسبة 10%. ان معامل أعادة الأنضغاط سوف يزداد لجميع عينات التربة المثبتة بالأسفلت, حيث انه سوف يزداد لحين الوصول لأعلى قيمة له عند الترب ذات نسبة الأسفلت 6% ثم سوف تنخفض للترب مع استمرار زيادة نسبة الأسفلت لغاية 10%, ان قيم معامل اعادة الأنضغاط سوف تزداد للتربة ذات نسبة الأسفلت 10% عن التربة المثبتة ب8% أسفلت وذلك قد يعود لزيادة معامل الأنتفاخ نتيجة زيادة حد السيولة و أنغلاق الفراغات الهوائية الموجودة بين حبيبات التربة.For design purposes, it`s necessary to know the compression rate of soil layers which might be happened when it`s subjected to effective stresses. Also, it`s essential to know the rate of flow through soil mass specially for the design of marine structures or earth embankment. These two important behavior could be predicted from the coefficient of consolidation (Cv) and the coefficient of permeability (k). This study shows the effect of cutback asphalt stabilization on Cv and k and other compressibility factors, the investigation was done for silty clay samples, specimens were prepared by mixing the soil with different percentage of asphalt from (0-10)% and subjected to one-dimensional consolidation test of 50mm diameter and 20mm height were done at soaked condition, it was conducted that Cv increased for asphaltic soil of (2-6)% Cutback and decreased for soil with cutback of (8-10)%. On the other hand, the the coefficient of permeability (k) and the coefficient of volume change (mv) increased for soil with (2-4)% cutback and decreased by adding more cutback asphalt to soil till 10%. The compression index (Cc) value increase to the optimum value at 2% cutback content then start to decrease till reaching the 10%. The re-compression index (Cr) shows a general increase in values when add cutback asphalt to the soil, it increase until reaching its maximum value at 6% cutback content then decrease with increasing of cutback asphalt till 10%, the values of (Cr) shows an increase for the 10% cutback from 8%, that’s might be due to increasing of swelling potential due to increasing of liquid limit and blocking of voids ratio

Optimization of Heat Treatment Parameters for the Tensile Properties of Medium Carbon Steel

The purpose of this study is designate quenching and tempering heat treatment by using Taguchi technique to determination optimal factors of heat treatment (tempering temperature, percentage of nanoparticles, type of base media, nanoparticles type and tempering time)for increasing ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and ductility properties of medium carbon steel. An (L18) orthogonal array was chosen for the design of experiment. The optimum process parameters were determined by using signal-to-noise ratio (larger is better) criterion. The importance levels of process parameters on tensile properties were obtained by using analysis of variance, which applied with the help of (Minitab18) software. Percentage of volumetric fractions of nanoparticles with three different levels(0.01, 0.03 and 0.08 %) were prepared by dispersing nanoparticles that are (α-Al2O3,TiO2 and CuO) with base fluids (De-ionized water, salt solution and engine oil).Medium carbon steel specimens were suffered to hardening and tempering heat treatment process. The variables of tempering heat treatment were temperatures (400 C˚, 550 C˚) and a soaking times (30, 45 and 60 minutes) respectively. Tensile testing performed on samples using united universal hydraulic machine. The results for ( S/N) ratios showed the order of the factors in terms of the proportion of their effect on ultimate tensile strength, yield strength and ductility properties as follow: Tempering temperature ( 400 C˚) ,Nanoparticles type (TiO2 ),Tempering time (30 min),Type of base media (salt solution, engine oil) and Percentage of nanoparticles ( 0.03%) was the least influence for ultimate strength and yield strength while for the elongation were as follows: Tempering temperature (550 C˚),Tempering time(60min), Nanoparticles type (CuO),Type of base media (deionized water) and last percentage of nanoparticles (0.08%)

Production of TiO2 nanoparticles in different phases and shapes by using PLA and hydrothermal method

Abstract Titanium dioxide was prepared using pulsed laser ablation (PLA) and hydrothermal method. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the product from hydrothermal method had a nanotube shape, whereas those from PLA in liquid were nanoparticles. The optical properties in the absorption curve of product from the hydrothermal method were slightly greater than those from the PLA method, and the energy gaps were 3.39 and 3.26 eV for the hydrothermal method and PLA, respectively. XRD results showed that the TiO2 prepared through PLA showed one phase (rutile), whereas those prepared through hydrothermal method showed two phases (anatase and rutile). Moreover, the product from hydrothermal method had smaller particle size smaller than that from PLA. Furthermore, the product yield and the required reaction time of the hydrothermal method were higher than those of PLA

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. Objective: To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin. Between March 9 and June 17, 2020, 614 adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized within at least 1 domain following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory or cardiovascular organ support at 121 sites in 8 countries. Of these, 403 were randomized to open-label interventions within the corticosteroid domain. The domain was halted after results from another trial were released. Follow-up ended August 12, 2020. Interventions: The corticosteroid domain randomized participants to a fixed 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg or 100 mg every 6 hours) (n = 143), a shock-dependent course (50 mg every 6 hours when shock was clinically evident) (n = 152), or no hydrocortisone (n = 108). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was organ support-free days (days alive and free of ICU-based respiratory or cardiovascular support) within 21 days, where patients who died were assigned -1 day. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model that included all patients enrolled with severe COVID-19, adjusting for age, sex, site, region, time, assignment to interventions within other domains, and domain and intervention eligibility. Superiority was defined as the posterior probability of an odds ratio greater than 1 (threshold for trial conclusion of superiority >99%). Results: After excluding 19 participants who withdrew consent, there were 384 patients (mean age, 60 years; 29% female) randomized to the fixed-dose (n = 137), shock-dependent (n = 146), and no (n = 101) hydrocortisone groups; 379 (99%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The mean age for the 3 groups ranged between 59.5 and 60.4 years; most patients were male (range, 70.6%-71.5%); mean body mass index ranged between 29.7 and 30.9; and patients receiving mechanical ventilation ranged between 50.0% and 63.5%. For the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively, the median organ support-free days were 0 (IQR, -1 to 15), 0 (IQR, -1 to 13), and 0 (-1 to 11) days (composed of 30%, 26%, and 33% mortality rates and 11.5, 9.5, and 6 median organ support-free days among survivors). The median adjusted odds ratio and bayesian probability of superiority were 1.43 (95% credible interval, 0.91-2.27) and 93% for fixed-dose hydrocortisone, respectively, and were 1.22 (95% credible interval, 0.76-1.94) and 80% for shock-dependent hydrocortisone compared with no hydrocortisone. Serious adverse events were reported in 4 (3%), 5 (3%), and 1 (1%) patients in the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with severe COVID-19, treatment with a 7-day fixed-dose course of hydrocortisone or shock-dependent dosing of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, resulted in 93% and 80% probabilities of superiority with regard to the odds of improvement in organ support-free days within 21 days. However, the trial was stopped early and no treatment strategy met prespecified criteria for statistical superiority, precluding definitive conclusions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02735707

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

OPTIMIZATION OF STEEL HARDNESS USING NANOFLUIDS QUENCHANTS

The goal of this study is to specify the optimal factors for the hardening process (tempering temperature, the percentage of nanoparticles, type of base media, nanoparticles type and tempering time) in order to maximize the hardness of medium carbon steel by using Taguchi technique. An (L18) orthogonal array was chosen for the design of the experiment. The optimum process parameters were determined by using signal-to-noise ratio(larger is better) criterion. The important levels of process parameters on hardness were obtained by using analysis of variance which applied with the help of (Minitab17) software to investigate the effect of parameters on the hardness. Percentage of volumetric fractions of nanoparticles with three different levels (0.01, 0.03 and 0.08%) was prepared by dispersing nanoparticles that are (α- Al2O3, TiO2 and Cuo) with base fluids (De-ionized water, salt solution, and engine oil). Medium carbon steel specimens were suffered to hardening and tempering heat treatment process. Tempering temperature was (400℃, 550℃) for (30,45and 60 minutes). Results ended up with a conclusion that tempering temperature (400℃) had the major influence on hardness behavior then type of nanoparticles (TiO2) followed by time tempering (30min) then base media (salt solution) and finally volume fraction of nanoparticles (0.03%)

An evaluation of neurotoxic effect of metronidazole in rabbits

The present study was undertaken to assess the neurotoxic effect of metronidazole in rabbits .Eighteen rabbits were randomly divided into three equal groups ,first group was injected with metronidazole at the therapeutic dose 20 mg/kg.B.W. , second group was injected with metronidazole at double therapeutic dose where as the last group serve as a control .Each animal in all groups was administered  intraperitoneally twice daily for (20) days .    The evaluations markers have used in this study were monitering of clinical symptoms and determination of histopathological changes in brain and sciatic nerve. The careful observation of clinical signs ,reflexes (patellar ,cross extensor ,and  papillary light) and certain responses (pupil size ,nystagmus and  a menance response) in first and second group showed a remarkable nervous system dysfunction has improved by histopathological examination of brain and sciatic nerve .there were sever vacuolation in brain ,where the lesion was characterized by spongiform changes ,and degeneration of the nerve bundles in sciatic nerve were detected in rabbits treated with metronidazole at therapeutic dose ,where as there is degeneration and selective loss of parkinjii cells with sever congestion in brain as well as demylination and degeneration in sciatic nerve in rabbits treated with metronidazole at double therapeutic dose .This study revealed that metronidazole has a neurotoxic effect in rabbits (both centrally and peripherally ) with a severity depended on its dose and duration of administration