A clustering based system for instant detection of cardiac abnormalities from compressed ECG

Compressed Electrocardiography (ECG) is being used in modern telecardiology applications for faster and efficient transmission. However, existing ECG diagnosis algorithms require the compressed ECG packets to be decompressed before diagnosis can be applied. This additional process of decompression before performing diagnosis for every ECG packet introduces undesirable delays, which can have severe impact on the longevity of the patient. In this paper, we first used an attribute selection method that selects only a few features from the compressed ECG. Then we used Expected Maximization (EM) clustering technique to create normal and abnormal ECG clusters. Twenty different segments (13 normal and 7 abnormal) of compressed ECG from a MIT-BIH subject were tested with 100% success using our model. Apart from automatic clustering of normal and abnormal compressed ECG segments, this paper presents an algorithm to identify initiation of abnormality. Therefore, emergency personnel can be contacted for rescue mission, within the earliest possible time. This innovative technique based on data mining of compressed ECGs attributes, enables faster identification of cardiac abnormalities resulting in an efficient telecardiology diagnosis system.     

Experimental Testing of a Hybrid Power Plant for a Dirigible UAV

Dirigibles have the ability to take off and land vertically, hover and maintain lift without consuming energy, and can be easily deflated for packaging and transportation. As such, dirigibles are well suited for surveillance and surveyance missions such as rescue and aid operations after disasters. This paper reviews hybrid dirigible UAV design considerations, then presents a novel hybrid power plant design. The hybrid power plant design consists of a 2-stroke 4cc glow engine in-line with a brushless DC motor/ generator and variable pitch propeller. The experimental results have shown that the hybrid power plant is capable of producing a power output of 148.4 W.     

Energy storage using the reaction cycle: Methyl alcohol/acetaldehyde

The kinetics of the exothermic reaction of acetaldehyde with methyl alcohol has been studied using calorimetry in the temperature range of 263–283 K. Based on this study the reaction rate constant for the reaction was found to be and the heat of reaction was found to be These kinetics were based on the assumption of a pseudoisothermal first-order reaction.     

Structural Analysis of Impact Damage to World Trade Center Buildings 1, 2, and 7

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conducted an extensive investigation of the collapse of World Trade Center towers (WTC 1 and WTC 2) and the WTC 7 building. This paper describes the reconstruction of impact damage to each of the WTC buildings, as well as analytical studies related to the WTC building collapses. In addition, data and evidence that were collected, tests of the floor truss systems in the WTC towers that were conducted, the overall structural analysis approach, and the development of the collapse hypotheses are discussed to provide a basis for the impact analyses and the fire and structural response analyses in a companion paper. Three companion papers address the primary structural systems of the WTC towers and WTC 7, the effects of fire on the three buildings, and how these events contributed to building collapse. The papers provide an overview of the complex and extensive investigations undertaken by NIST at a level of detail that has scientific merit but presents key aspects from the voluminous official reports at a level suitable for the technical literature. The aircraft impact damage to structural members and their passive fire protection in WTC 1 and 2 were estimated through detailed aircraft impact simulations. The impact damage to WTC 7 was estimated from photographs after the collapse of WTC 1, where falling debris damaged the southwest corner of WTC 7. Based on the aircraft impact simulation, over half of the exterior columns on the north face of WTC 1 were severed and approximately 20% of the core columns were severed or heavily damaged. Spray-applied fire resistive material (SFRM) was dislodged by direct debris impact over five floors (Floors 94 to 98). WTC 2 structural damage was concentrated on the east side of the building. Over half of the exterior columns on the south face were severed and approximately 25% of the core columns were severed or heavily damaged. SFRM was dislodged by direct debris impact over six floors (Floors 78 to 83). WTC 7 was structurally damaged by debris from the collapse of WTC 1. Photographic evidence showed that seven exterior columns were severed near the southwest corner at the lower floors. Unlike the towers, the SFRM in WTC 7 likely remained intact except for local areas around the debris impact damage at the southwest corner. All three buildings were stable with the impact damage, but the WTC 2 building section above the aircraft impact damage leaned to the east and south.     

Effect of laser irradiation on abrasive wear of glass fibre polyester composite

Low power laser irradiation improves the wear resistance of glass-fibre-reinforced polyester composites, if irradiation time is restricted to short periods. Laser irradiation (i) enhances crosslinking in unsaturated polyester, (ii) modifies surface microstructure and (iii) increases the hardness of the composite material. Improved mechanical properties, in turn, increase the material's resistance to wear.     

Progressive collapse analysis of seismically designed steel braced frames

The progressive collapse resistance of seismically designed steel braced frames is investigated using validated computational simulation models. Two types of braced systems are considered: namely, special concentrically braced frames and eccentrically braced frames. The study is conducted on previously designed 10-story prototype buildings by applying the alternate path method. In this methodology, critical columns and adjacent braces, if present, are instantaneously removed from an analysis model and the ability of the model to successfully absorb member loss is investigated. Member removal in this manner is intended to represent a situation where an extreme event or abnormal load destroys the member. The simulation results show that while both systems benefit from placement of the seismically designed frames on the perimeter of the building, the eccentrically braced frame is less vulnerable to progressive collapse than the special concentrically braced frame. Improvement in behavior is due to improved system and member layouts in the former compared to the latter rather than the use of more stringent seismic detailing.     

Hardness estimated from the indentation of a spherical body. Some implications for nanoindentation test results

Spherical bodies made of copper were macro-indented by steel balls. The estimated hardness was found to increase with the specimen curvature and vary with the location of contact on the spherical surface. The implications of these results on the nanoindentation test results, especially when the indented surface is rough or displacement measurement is faulty, is discussed.On sabbatical from Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Bhopal 462 026, India.     

Serum LDH and ALP isozyme activities in mice bearing solid Ehrlich carcinoma and/or treated with the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of aloin

After a large-scale contamination of an urban area with gamma-ray emitting radionuclides (e.g. caesium isotopes) decision makers will need guidance as to its potential radiological consequences and to optimum means of mitigation. To provide such information, a dynamic radioecological model PARATI has been developed and used to simulate the contamination of realistic urban environments in a computer model and to estimate the various radiation fields in such environments. In this study, the computer-simulated realistic behaviour and movements of individuals and populations in such radiation fields are described, and the resulting radiation exposures and their variabilities are estimated. For the scenarios considered, the doses of individuals in the same contaminated environment may vary by more than one order of magnitude. Studies on population habits and on the behaviour of radionuclides on important urban surfaces even a long time after the contamination might reduce the uncertainty considerably.     

Peak Non-Gaussian Wind Effects for Database-Assisted Low-Rise Building Design

Current procedures for estimating the peaks of the stochastic response of tall buildings to wind are based on the assumption that the response is Gaussian. Those procedures are therefore inapplicable to low-rise buildings, in which time histories of wind-induced internal forces are generally non-Gaussian. In this paper, an automated procedure is developed for obtaining from such time histories sample statistics of internal force peaks for low-rise building design and codification. The procedure is designed for use in software for calculating internal force time series by the database-assisted design approach. A preliminary step in the development of the procedure is the identification of the appropriate marginal probability distribution of the time series using the probability plot correlation coefficient method. The result obtained is that the gamma distribution and a normal distribution are appropriate for estimating the peaks corresponding, respectively, to the longer and shorter tail of the time series’ histograms. The distribution of the peaks is then estimated by using the standard translation processes approach. It is found that the peak distribution can be represented by the Extreme Value Type I (Gumbel) distribution. Because estimates obtained from this approach are based on the entire information contained in the time series, they are more stable than estimates based on observed peaks. The procedure can be used to establish minimum acceptable requirements with respect to the duration and sampling rate of the time series of interest, so that the software used for database-assisted design will be both efficient and accurate.