Estimation of losses for adobe buildings in Pakistan

Adobe buildings are vulnerable to seismic forces. Large scale destructions and casualties have been caused due to the collapse of adobe buildings during the past earthquakes. A significant number of adobe structures exist in different parts of Pakistan, similar to other parts of the world. Since Pakistan lies in a seismic active region, it is necessary to assess the level of vulnerability of these buildings in order to estimate associated losses during a seismic event. This paper presents the results of a study which was conducted to quantify damages to adobe buildings based on their fragility curves. The adobe buildings were found to be highly vulnerable to low intensity earthquakes. The vulnerability of these buildings has been compared with the European adobe buildings. It was noted that Pakistani adobe buildings were slightly less resistant to earthquakes as compared to similar buildings in Europe. Retrofitting solutions were suggested in order to increase the seismic capacity of adobe buildings in Pakistan

Assessment of seismic performance of adobe structures in Pakistan and Portugal

Adobe buildings exist in different parts of the world. The construction of these buildings can be carried out economically, using locally available materials and skills that do not require use of modern machinery. Therefore, adobe buildings provide an economic housing option. The construction of adobe structures is carried out based on traditional construction practices which vary from region to region. This paper presents the results of a study which was conducted to study the construction practices of adobe buildings in Pakistan and Portugal in the context of their seismic vulnerability. The adobe buildings in both these countries were found to be subjected to seismic hazard levels which, although is low in some regions, may cause significant damages. Lack of essential elements or details for the adequate seismic performance was found in the adobe buildings in both regions

Extreme-Point-based Heuristics for the Three-Dimensional Bin Packing problem

One of the main issues in addressing three-dimensional packing problems is finding an efficient and accurate definition of the points at which to place the items inside the bins, because the performance of exact and heuristic solution methods is actually strongly influenced by the choice of a placement rule. We introduce the extreme point concept and present a new extreme point-based rule for packing items inside a three-dimensional container. The extreme point rule is independent from the particular packing problem addressed and can handle additional constraints, such as fixing the position of the items. The new extreme point rule is also used to derive new constructive heuristics for the three-dimensional bin-packing problem. Extensive computational results show the effectiveness of the new heuristics compared to state-of-the-art results. Moreover, the same heuristics, when applied to the two-dimensional bin-packing problem, outperform those specifically designed for the proble

Big Ideas of Cryptography in Primary School

We present a learning path on cryptography for primary school students (Grade 5), which we designed and tested. The project aims to raise initial awareness of the core ideas of modern cryptography, which are fundamental concepts for becoming informed and active citizens in modern digital society. For this reason, we designed a progression of unplugged activities (sometimes integrated with task-specific, block-based programming environments) to expose students to different cryptographic techniques, where each new activity is motivated by an analysis of the criticalities encountered previously. We used unplugged activities to show that Computer Science (CS) does not necessarily imply the use of digital devices and to allow students to focus on its general scientific principles. We describe the designed learning module, discuss the main hinges in the experiment, and reflect on the lessons learned. The final evaluation showed excellent learning outcomes and high satisfaction with the activities. As cryptography uses mathematical tools (e.g., modular arithmetic, statistics), some parts of which are within reach of primary school children but rarely taught to them, it was possible to dwell on these aspects, making them experience mathematical objects in a non-standard context, and also stimulating a greater awareness of the impact of mathematics and CS in everyday life

A variable neurodegenerative phenotype with polymerase gamma mutation

mtDNA replication and repair, causes mitochondrial diseases including autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO),1 childhood hepato-encephalopathy (Alpers– Huttenlocher syndrome), adult-onset spinocerebellar ataxia, and sensory nerve degeneration with dysarthria and ophthalmoparesis (SANDO)

A new method for ultrasonographic measurement of kidney size in healthy dogs

Introduction: The authors propose a simple method for assessment of canine kidney size derived from the radiological technique described by Finco et al in 1971. Methods: In 26 healthy dogs ultrasonography was used to measure the length, height, and thickness of each kidney. These measurements were correlated with the lengths of the fifth and sixth lumbar vertebrae (L5 and L6), also measured by ultrasound. The resulting values were compared with the linear correlation method and the ratios defined using descriptive statistics. Results: No significant differences were observed between the dimensions of the right and left kidneys. The length of both kidneys displayed significant correlation with both the length of L5 and that of L6. In both cases, the renal:vertebral length ratios ranged from 1.3 to 2.7. Discussion: The ratio of kidney length to the length of L5 or L6 can be considered a useful parameter for assessing the size of the kidneys in healthy dogs. The normal range we iden- tified in this study (from 1.3 to 2.7) is sufficiently narrow to allow sonographic detection of even limited changes in renal length

Two cases of canine gallbladder carcinoid: clinical and ultrasonographic findings

Gallbladder carcinoid is a rare neoplasia that arise from the dispersed cells of the neuroendocrine system of the biliary three. This tumour have been described in humans and dogs. In the few reports we can nd in literature, canine patients a ected by this neoplasia present a combination of symptoms such as: vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, fever, melena, anaemia, hematemesis and jaundice. Haemobilia, hemocholecyst and common bile duct dila- tion have been found in few dogs presenting gallbladder car- cinoid. Clinical-ultrasonographic ndings and long term follow up of two asymptomatic dogs a ected by gallbladder carcinoid are described. Dog 1: Mixed breed, 10 years old, 28 kg, underwent ultrasonographic examination for a routine follow up control because previously a ected by low grade splenic lymphoma. Liver was sonographically normal and a 4 cm, round shaped, inhomogeneous mass was found into the gallbladder arising absence of airway disease and of clinical signs as cough, exercise intolerance, anorexia, syncope, ascites and dysp- nea, were collected from a total of 477 medical records. All dogs included in the study underwent a complete physical and echocardiographic examination. In dogs in stage B1 or B2 that presented with cough, cough was con rmed to be due to concomitant airway disease by radiographic and echocardiographic examination in conjunction with informa- tion regarding follow-up and response to therapy. From the 477 medical records, 235 had complete infor- mation regarding clinical signs. In these 235 records, 139 symptomatic dogs were identi ed. At baseline examination, 90 (64.7%) dogs presented with cough, 48 (34.5%) with exercise intolerance, 36 (25.9%) with dyspnea, 36 (25.9%) with syncope, 25 (18%) with anorexia and 8 (5.8%) with ascites. Out of the 90 dogs that had cough, 44 (48.9%) were in stage B1 or B2, which means that in these cough was caused by concomitant airway disease. Of the 177 dogs with information regarding cardiac auscultation and murmur intensity, 156 (88.1%) had a left apical systolic murmur. Mur- mur grades were mainly between 2 and 5 (95.6%). The mean SBP was 149.5 \ub1 26.51 mmHg (n= 63), and the mean HR was 135 \ub1 37.9 bpm (n= 477). The ndings of this study regarding clinical signs reported are in agreement with the results from previous studies. The concomitant presence of airway disease seems to represent the higher risk factor for coughing in dogs with MMVD. There- fore, this should be taken into account when considering diagnosis and clinical management of these dogs. from its wall. This mass presented a massive Doppler vascu- lar signal. Bile was hypoechoic and inhomogeneous with a small amount of biliary sludge. Common bile duct (CBD) diameter was normal (< 3 mm). Visceral lymphadenopathy was not reported Dog 2: English Bulldog, 9 years old, 30 kg, underwent ultrasonographic examination because of a routine control of urate cystolithiasis. Liver was sonographically normal and a 1,5 cm, round shaped, inhomogeneous mass with regular margins was found into the gallbladder. This mass pre- sented a massive Doppler vascular signal. Fluid content of gallbladder was anechoic. CBD diameter was normal (< 3 mm). Visceral lymphadenopathy was not reported. Dogs underwent laparotomic cholecystectomy and hepatic biopsy. Any abdominal lesion was found during sur- gery, the patency of CBD was veri ed with a retrograde catheterization and no blood or clots were found into the gallbladder or biliary three. Histology and immunohistochemistry con rmed the diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoid. Hepatic biopsy did not reveal any alteration except from a mild portal hepatitis. Dogs recovered well and they remained asymptomatic; they were sonographically evaluated 3 and 12 months after surgery and no abnormalities attributable to metastasis were found. However both dogs presented a CBD dilation (almost 1 cm) without any sign of post-hepatic jaundice. CBD dilation have been described in humans with an history of cholecystectomy and it seems to be related to senior age

Synchronization of spatiotemporal semiconductor lasers and its application in color image encryption

Optical chaos is a topic of current research characterized by high-dimensional nonlinearity which is attributed to the delay-induced dynamics, high bandwidth and easy modular implementation of optical feedback. In light of these facts, which adds enough confusion and diffusion properties for secure communications, we explore the synchronization phenomena in spatiotemporal semiconductor laser systems. The novel system is used in a two-phase colored image encryption process. The high-dimensional chaotic attractor generated by the system produces a completely randomized chaotic time series, which is ideal in the secure encoding of messages. The scheme thus illustrated is a two-phase encryption method, which provides sufficiently high confusion and diffusion properties of chaotic cryptosystem employed with unique data sets of processed chaotic sequences. In this novel method of cryptography, the chaotic phase masks are represented as images using the chaotic sequences as the elements of the image. The scheme drastically permutes the positions of the picture elements. The next additional layer of security further alters the statistical information of the original image to a great extent along the three-color planes. The intermediate results during encryption demonstrate the infeasibility for an unauthorized user to decipher the cipher image. Exhaustive statistical tests conducted validate that the scheme is robust against noise and resistant to common attacks due to the double shield of encryption and the infinite dimensionality of the relevant system of partial differential equations.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures; Article in press, Optics Communications (2011

3-d visualization and animation of architectonic elements for prehistoric megalithic temples of the island of Gozo: the temple of Ggantija

Laser scanning can now be defined without doubt as the newest frontier in the field of survey technique, and recent technological developments of instruments and processing software have encouraged the introduction of this technique in the world of applications connected to archaeological site and other related disciplines. The temple of Ggantija on the island of Gozo was considered to be representative of the entire series of temple complexes due to their particular architectural characteristics, their stage of evolution and form of deterioration, both material and structural. The survey was conducted by the use of the local geodetic network in the different phases: • Topographic survey • 3D laser scanner survey • Photographic Survey: both traditional and digital pictures will be taken in order to fully documentation internal and external surfaces of the site. The treatment and analysis of data collections was divided into the following sub-stages: elaboration and compensation of close polygonal, thickening polygonal and direct measurements; elaboration and compensation of altimetric network; linking of the above data with the existing Maltese national networks; elaboration of laser scanner positions and absolute orientations; elaboration of points coordinates for georeferencing and linking the point clouds coming from laser; final data verification end quality control; analysis of laser measured point clouds, for filtering and subsequent elaboration; scanning orientations and subdivision into “islands” (internal rooms and external sides); analysis of laser measured point clouds over the grid determined by the topographic survey.; modelling of the Archaeological site, elimination of noises and metric "pollution" by statistics and verification; accentuation and reduction of triangles on areas interested by complex geometries; triangles transformation into complex surfaces (mesh); model checking by topographic points; mapping of digital photocolors covering all the surfaces of the site. The digital model will be cut by vertical and horizontal section plans at heights requested by customer 2D graphic editing of the plans, sections and elevations. Finishing of vertical sections (sections and views) using the mapped model created by rendering calculated, generating contours lines from the 3D model; of a light model (low density model) of the laser scanner data using the filtering tools of the software package; of an virtual animation of the high density model; of a mapped VRML (Virtual Reality Modelling Language) model for a web interactive and hypertestual navigation, using the low density model. This part of the study was aimed at defining the architectural characteristics and mode of construction of this monument