Blasting pattern optimization using gene expression programming and grasshopper optimization algorithm to minimise blast-induced ground vibrations

Engineering with Computers - Blast-induced ground vibration is considered as one of the most hazardous phenomena of mine blasting, which can even cause casualties and severe damages to the adjacent...     

Smart aptamer-modified calcium carbonate nanoparticles for controlled release and targeted delivery of epirubicin and melittin into cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

To explore the effect of combination therapy of epirubicin (Epi) and melittin (Mel) to cancer cells, calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CCN), as carriers, were developed which were modified with MUC1-Dimer aptamers as targeting agents. Both Epi and Mel were delivered at the same time to cancer cells overexpressing the target of MUC1 aptamer, mucin 1 glycoproteins (MCF7 and C26 cells). CCN were prepared with a water-in-oil emulsion method. Epi and Mel were separately encapsulated in CCN and the nanoparticles were modified with MUC1-Dimer aptamers. In vitro studies, including MTT assay, flow cytometry analysis and fluorescence imaging were applied to investigate the targeting and cell proliferation inhibition capabilities of MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Mel complex and MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex in the target (MCF-7 and C26 cells) and nontarget (HepG2) cells. Also, the function of the developed complexes was analyzed using in vivo tumor growth inhibition. The release of Epi from MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex was pH-sensitive. Cellular uptake studies showed more internalization of the MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex into MCF-7 and C26 cells (target) compared to HepG2 cells (nontarget). Interestingly, the MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Mel complex and MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex indicated very low toxicity as compared to target cells. Moreover, co-delivery of Epi and Mel using the mixture of MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Mel complex and MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex exhibited strong synergistic cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and C26 cells. Furthermore, the presented complexes had a better function to control tumor growth in vivo compared to free Epi.     

Shape optimization of structures under earthquake loadings

The optimum design of structures under static loads is well-known in the design world; however, structural optimization under dynamic loading faces many challenges in real applications. Issues such as the time-dependent behavior of constraints, changing the design space in the time domain, and the cost of sensitivities could be mentioned. Therefore, optimum design under dynamic loadings is a challenging task. In order to perform efficient structural shape optimization under earthquake loadings, the finite element-based approximation method for the transformation of earthquake loading into the equivalent static loads (ESLs) is proposed. The loads calculated using this method are more accurate and reliable than those obtained using the building regulations. The shape optimization of the structures is then carried out using the obtained ESLs. The proposed methodologies are transformed into user-friendly computer code, and their capabilities are demonstrated using numerical examples.     

A survey of IEEE 802.15.4 effective system parameters for wireless body sensor networks

Wireless body sensor networks are offered to meet the requirements of a diverse set of applications such as health‐related and well‐being applications. For instance, they are deployed to measure, fetch and collect human body vital signs. Such information could be further used for diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions. IEEE 802.15.4 is arguably considered as a well‐designed standard protocol to address the need for low‐rate, low‐power and low‐cost wireless body sensor networks. Apart from the vast deployment of this technology, there are still some challenges and issues related to the performance of the medium access control (MAC) protocol of this standard that are required to be addressed. This paper comprises two main parts. In the first part, the survey has provided a thorough assessment of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol performance where its functionality is evaluated considering a range of effective system parameters, that is, some of the MAC and application parameters and the impact of mutual interference. The second part of this paper is about conducting a simulation study to determine the influence of varying values of the system parameters on IEEE 802.15.4 performance gains. More specifically, we explore the dependability level of IEEE 802.5.4 performance gains on a candidate set of system parameters. Finally, this paper highlights the tangible needs to conduct more investigations on particular aspect(s) of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC protocol. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Persian speech synthesis using enhanced tacotron based on multi-resolution convolution layers and a convex optimization method

Multimedia Tools and Applications - An end-to-end text-to-speech system generates acoustic features directly from input text to synthesize speech from it. The challenges of using these models for...     

A probabilistic framework for copy-move forgery detection based on Markov Random Field

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Copy-move forgery is one of the most common kind of image tampering where some part of an image is copied, may be with minor modifications, pasted to another...     

Optimal business hours of the newsvendor problem for retailers

This paper proposes a new model for the classical newsvendor problem (NVP), focusing on retailers to discuss an optimal number of business hours per day as well as an optimal stocking quantity. The proposed model assumes that customers’ residences are uniformly distributed over the Hotelling unit interval, and individual customers depart from their residences for the store at a finite velocity. Each individual customer can purchase a single product only if she arrives at the retailer's store during business hours and if there still remain products on her arrival. Under these circumstances, this study explores the existence of an optimal strategy for the retailer—an optimal stocking quantity along with an optimal number of business hours. Numerical examples are also provided to illustrate the theoretical underpinnings of the proposed model formulation.     

Processing of a multi‐layer polyetheretherketone composite for use in acetabular cup prosthesis

The hydroxyapatite polyetheretherketone (HAPEEK) as a non‐degradable bioactive polymer composite material with coating of hydroxyapatite (HA) as a bioactive ceramic material can enhance the osteointegration of carbon fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFRPEEK) as a non‐degradable bioinert polymer composite. This study describes the joining process of CFRPEEK and HAPEEK beam components and coating process of HA on the HAPEEK substrate to achieve the multi‐layer PEEK composite for use in the application of acetabular cup prosthesis. The CFRPEEK and HAPEEK components were ultrasonically welded while the HA was plasma sprayed on the HAPEEK substrate. Ultrasonic welding parameters (length and direction of the energy directors at the interface, welding time, and pressure) were investigated by single cantilever beam and lap shear tests to achieve the optimum bonding strength of CFRPEEK and HAPEEK components. Plasma spraying parameters (e.g., surface speed, powder feed, current, primary gas flow, and system voltage) were altered to achieve the good adhesion of HA coating on the HAPEEK substrate, which was evaluated by scratch test. The results showed that the proposed multi‐layer composite was successfully processed by carrying out the ultrasonic welding and plasma spraying coating processes. The outcomes of this study could be used to develop a non‐metal acetabular cup prosthesis using the proposed multi‐layer composition. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40915.     

Monotonic change point estimation in the mean vector of a multivariate normal process

When a control chart sounds the alarm that the process is out of control (OC), the process will be paused and specialists will start the procedure of finding the root cause(s) that made the process out of control. Knowing the time of change will substantially aid the process engineer to figure out the assignable causes and solve the problem sooner, so the time, energy, and costs spent to implement corrective actions will be considerably reduced. Maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) as one of the statistical technique is frequently used for estimating the change point time. In this paper, an MLE is derived to estimate the time of first change in the mean vector of a multivariate normal process when the type of change is monotonic. The performance of the proposed change point estimator is evaluated in terms of accuracy and precision in comparison with the change point estimators developed under the assumptions of a step shift and drift. Finally, a numerical example is presented to show the application of the proposed change point estimator.