Adopting Microsoft Excel for Biomedical Signal and Image Processing

Microsoft Excel was recently added to the list of software applications for signal and image processing. The use of Excel as a powerful tool for teaching signal and image data processing techniques as demonstrated in agriculture and natural resource management can be easily adopted for biomedical applications. In the same vein, Excel’s proven utility as a research tool can also be harnessed. This chapter expands the methodology of signal and image formation, visualization, enhancement, and image data fusion using Excel. Different types of techniques used in biomedical imaging are introduced, including: X-ray radiography (X-rays), computerized tomography (CT), ultrasound (U/S), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and optical imaging. However, the chapter mainly focuses on optical imaging involving a single spectrum or multiple spectra such as RGB. Specific illustrations of corresponding outputs from different techniques are discussed in the chapter for a better appreciation by the reader

Advances in friction stir welding of steel : Project HILDA

A microstructure and property evaluation of friction stir welded DH36 6mm plate has been undertaken. The study examined a wide range of process parameters and, from this, a process parameter envelope has been developed and an initial process parameter set established that gives good welding properties. Thermo-mechanical deformation studies were developed to generate flow stress regimes over a range of stain rates and temperatures and these data will support the on-going local numerical modelling development. A preliminary thermo-fluid model has been developed to predict temperature and material flow during the FSW of steel grade DH36. In this model, materials are considered as highly viscous incompressible fluid. The welded material is flowing around the rotating tool thanks to the modelling of the friction at tool/workpiece interface. In parallel, a global numerical model is being developed to predict the inherent residual stresses and distortion of FSW butt welded assemblies often in excess of 6m long plate

Numerical modelling techniques applicable for the prediction of residual stresses and distortion due to mild steel DH36 frictions stir welding

Friction stir welding involves a multi-physics phenomena, including visco-plasticity, material flow, metallurgical transformation, heat generation, thermal straining and structural interaction. Numerical modelling provides an efficient and cost effective tool capable to analysis and predict the different phenomena. This study integrates different numerical modelling strategies to ultimately develop a robust yet computationally efficient modelling technique capable of predicting residual stresses and distortion due to FSW. A computational efficient local-global numerical model capable of predicting the material visco-plastic flow, thermal transients, stir/heat affected zone, residual stresses and distortion developed due to friction stir welding of DH36 plates is described. Different thermo-elasto-plastic modelling strategies ranging from analytical to transient numerical models are explored and the most robust and computational efficient strategy is identified through cross-reference with the realistic experimental test results

Boundedly rational expected utility theory

We build a satisficing model of choice under risk which embeds Expected Utility Theory (EUT) into a boundedly rational deliberation process. The decision maker accumulates evidence for and against alternative options by repeatedly sampling from her underlying set of EU preferences until the evidence favouring one option satisfies her desired level of confidence. Despite its EUT core, the model produces patterns of behaviour that violate standard EUT axioms, while at the same time capturing systematic relationships between choice probabilities, response times and confidence judgments, which are beyond the scope of theories that do not take deliberation into account

Boundedly rational expected utility theory

We build a satisficing model of choice under risk which embeds Expected Utility Theory (EUT) into a boundedly rational deliberation process. The decision maker accumulates evidence for and against alternative options by repeatedly sampling from her underlying set of EU preferences until the evidence favouring one option satisfies her desired level of confidence. Despite its EUT core, the model produces patterns of behaviour that violate standard EUT axioms, while at the same time capturing systematic relationships between choice probabilities, response times and confidence judgments, which are beyond the scope of theories that do not take deliberation into account

A Comparative Study of the Quality of Wastewater from Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Against EPA Standards and its Effect on the Environment

The proliferation of industrialization has resulted in increased wastewater generation and its disposal has rapidly been of serious concern in recent times to environmental scientists. The discharge of these untreated or partially treated effluents into the environment, especially, surface water poses a great threat to the environment and also causes adverse human health. Industrial wastewater may contain high levels of contaminants such as suspended, colloidal and dissolved minerals, inert organic matter, heavy metals, possible pathogenic bacteria which might be either excessively acidic or alkaline in a way that may  have negative impact on all forms of life in the environment. This study was therefore conducted to determine the treated effluent quality of Tema (Ghana) Oil Refinery against the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (EPA standards and also assess its impact on the environment. Samples of the effluents discharged from the refinery were taken and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters as well as Heavy Metals; lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), chromium(Cr), vanadium (V), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) for three consecutive months and their mean values compared with EPA standard. The results revealed that, all the heavy metals were within the standard of the EPA regulatory standard but mean conductivity was very high with a mean value of 10399.0 as against 1500. Also a high TDS mean value of 5358.67mg/l was recorded as against the EPA standard of 1000mg/l. Unsatisfactory mean levels of BOD and COD which reflected the organic load in the water were recorded. The BOD value was found to be 60mg/l as against the EPA standard of 50mg/l while COD value was 423.7mg/l which was far above the EPA standard of 250mg/l. It is therefore recommended that, the wastewater treatment unit of the Tema Oil Refinery should be revamped to enhance the control of contaminant levels of the final effluent discharged into the environment. Keywords: Tema Oil Refinery; environment; wastewater; regulatory bodies; waste management; Environmental Protection Agenc

Boundedly Rational Expected Utility Theory

We build a satisficing model of probabilistic choice under risk which embeds Expected Utility Theory (EUT) into a boundedly rational deliberation process. The decision maker accumulates evidence for and against alternative options by repeatedly sampling from her underlying set of EU preferences until the evidence favouring one option satisfies her desired level of confidence. Notwithstanding its EUT core, the model produces patterns of behaviour that violate standard axioms, while at the same time capturing the systematic relationship between choice probabilities, response times and confidence judgments, which is beyond the scope of theories that do not take deliberation into account

Deterioration of Basic Properties of the Materials in FRP-Strengthening RC Structures under Ultraviolet Exposure

This paper presents an experimental study of the basic properties of the main materials found in reinforced concrete (RC) structures strengthened by fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets with scope to investigate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) exposure on the degradation of FRP, resin adhesive materials and concrete. The comparison studies focused on the physical change and mechanical properties of FRP sheet, and resin adhesive materials and concrete before and after UV exposure. However, the degradation mechanisms of the materials under UV exposure were not analyzed. The results show that the ultimate tensile strength and modulus of FRP sheets decrease with UV exposure time and the main degradation of FRP-strengthened RC structures is dependent on the degradation of resin adhesive materials. The increase in the number of FRP layers cannot help to reduce the effect of UV exposure on the performance of these materials. However, it was verified that carbon FRP materials have a relatively stable strength and elastic modulus, and the improvement of the compression strength of concrete was also observed after UV exposure

Behaviour of Circular Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Steel-Confined Concrete Columns Subjected to Reversed Cyclic Loads: Experimental Studies and FE Analysis

This paper studies experimentally the behaviour of circular FRP-steel-confined columns subjected to reversed cyclic loads. The influence of main structural factors on the cyclic behaviour of the columns is discussed. Test results show the outstanding seismic performance of FRP-steel confined reinforced concrete (RC) and steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) column. The lateral confinement effectiveness of FRP materials is verified in the steel tube confined RC columns. A simplified finite element method (FEM) model supported by OpenSees is developed to simulate the experimental results of the test columns. Based on the proposed FEM model, a parametric analysis is conducted for investigating the effects of several main factors on the reversed cyclic behaviour of GFRP-steel confined RC columns. Based on the test and numerical analyses, the study discusses the influence of variables such as the lateral confinement on the plastic hinge region and peak drift ratio of the studied concrete columns under reversed cyclic loads. Results indicate that the lateral confinement significantly affects the height of plastic hinge region of circular confined columns without H-steel. Based on the analysies of test data from the study and literature, the paper suggests a simple model to predict the peak drift ratio of the confined RC columns

Therapeutic strategies based on modified U1 snRNAs and chaperones for Sanfilippo C splicing mutations

Mutations affecting RNA splicing represent more than 20% of the mutant alleles in Sanfilippo syndrome type C, a rare lysosomal storage disorder that causes severe neurodegeneration. Many of these mutations are localized in the conserved donor or acceptor splice sites, while few are found in the nearby nucleotides. In this study we tested several therapeutic approaches specifically designed for different splicing mutations depending on how the mutations affect mRNA processing. For three mutations that affect the donor site (c.234 + 1G > A, c.633 + 1G > A and c.1542 + 4dupA), different modified U1 snRNAs recognizing the mutated donor sites, have been developed in an attempt to rescue the normal splicing process. For another mutation that affects an acceptor splice site (c.372-2A > G) and gives rise to a protein lacking four amino acids, a competitive inhibitor of the HGSNAT protein, glucosamine, was tested as a pharmacological chaperone to correct the aberrant folding and to restore the normal trafficking of the protein to the lysosome. Partial correction of c.234 + 1G > A mutation was achieved with a modified U1 snRNA that completely matches the splice donor site suggesting that these molecules may have a therapeutic potential for some splicing mutations. Furthermore, the importance of the splice site sequence context is highlighted as a key factor in the success of this type of therapy. Additionally, glucosamine treatment resulted in an increase in the enzymatic activity, indicating a partial recovery of the correct folding. We have assayed two therapeutic strategies for different splicing mutations with promising results for the future applications