Electromagnetic informed data model considerations for near-field DOA and range estimates.

Localizing sources in the near-field is one of the emerging challenges for array signal processing, which has received a great deal of attention in recent years. The development of accurate localization algorithms requires the definition of a reliable model of the received signal that takes into account all wavefront characteristics, such as angle, range, and polarization, as well as electromagnetic effects, such as mutual coupling between antennas and the amplitude and phase behaviour of electromagnetic wavefronts. A system model that considers the electromagnetic-informed wave behaviour effects, independent of the type of receiver antennas, array structure, degree of correlation of sources signals and other electromagnetic effects, is considered an " exact model " in the literature. However, due to the mathematical complexity of this modeling approach, simplifications using several approximations are conventionally used. For instance, the phase of the exact model is approximated using the Fresnel approximation, while the magnitude of the exact model is simplified by assuming equal distances between the source and all elements in the array. In this work, we evaluate the accuracy of a localization algorithm, the multiple signal classification (MUSIC), using the exact and approximated models in the near-field region. Through a series of simulations, we demonstrate that the localization algorithm designed based on the electromagnetic-informed exact model outperforms the one designed using the approximated model. We also show that considering electromagnetic factors in the system model through the exact model results in a 13% improvement in the direction of arrival (DOA) root mean square error (RMSE) and a 57.7% improvement in range RMSE at signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 15 dB.

An end-to-end gait recognition system for covariate conditions using custom kernel CNN.

Gait recognition is the identification of individuals based on how they walk. It can identify an individual of interest without their intervention, making it better suited for surveillance from afar. Computer-aided silhouette-based gait analysis is frequently employed due to its efficiency and effectiveness. However, covariate conditions have a significant influence on individual recognition because they conceal essential features that are helpful in recognizing individuals from their walking style. To address such issues, we proposed a novel deep-learning framework to tackle covariate conditions in gait by proposing regions subject to covariate conditions. The features extracted from those regions will be neglected to keep the model's performance effective with custom kernels. The proposed technique sets aside static and dynamic areas of interest, where static areas contain covariates, and then features are learnt from the dynamic regions unaffected by covariates to effectively recognize individuals. The features were extracted using three customized kernels, and the results were concatenated to produce a fused feature map. Afterward, CNN learns and extracts the features from the proposed regions to recognize an individual. The suggested approach is an end-to-end system that eliminates the requirement for manual region proposal and feature extraction, which would improve gait-based identification of individuals in real-world scenarios. The experimentation is performed on publicly available dataset i.e. CASIA A, and CASIA C. The findings indicate that subjects wearing bags produced 90 % accuracy, and subjects wearing coats produced 58 % accuracy. Likewise, recognizing individuals with different walking speeds also exhibited excellent results, with an accuracy of 94 % for fast and 96 % for slow-paced walk patterns, which shows improvement compared to previous deep learning methods.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cosmo ArduSiPM: An All-in-One Scintillation-Based Particle Detector for Earth and Space Application.

Thanks to advancements in silicon photomultiplier sensors (SiPMs) and system-on-chip (SoC) technology, our INFN Roma1 group developed ArduSiPM in 2012, the first all-in-one scintillator particle detector in the literature. It used a custom Arduino Due shield to process fast signals, utilizing the Microchip Sam3X8E SoC's internal peripherals to control and acquire SiPM signals. The availability of radiation-tolerant SoCs, combined with the goal of reducing system space and weight, led to the development of an innovative second-generation board, a better-performing device called Cosmo ArduSiPM, suitable for space missions. The architecture of the new detector is based on the Microchip SAMV71 300 MHz, 32-bit ARM® Cortex®-M7 (Microchip Technology Inc., Chandler, AZ, USA). While the analog front-end is essentially identical to the ArduSiPM, it utilizes components with the smallest possible package. The board fits in a CubeSat module. Thanks to the compact design, the board has two independent channels, with a total weight of only 40 grams within a CubeSat form factor. The ArduSiPM architecture is based on a single microcontroller and fast discrete analog electronics. It benefits from the continued development of SoCs related to the IoT (Internet of Things) market. Compared with a system with a custom ASIC, this architecture based on software and SoC capabilities offers considerable advantages in terms of cost and development time. The ability to incorporate new commercial SoCs, continuously emerging from advancements in the aerospace and automotive industries, provides the system with a robust foundation for sustained growth over the years. A detailed characterization of the hardware and the system's response to different photon fluxes is presented in this article. Additionally, coupling the device with a scintillator was tested at the end of this article as a preliminary trial for future measurements, showing potential for further enhancement of the detector's capabilities.

Delayed Closure of Ventricular Septal Defect with Prolonged Mechanical Support.

Introduction: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a severe complication following acute myocardial infarction (MI) resulting from mechanical disruption of the interventricular septum due to extensive myocardial necrosis. Despite advances in management, the mortality rate approaches 50%. We report a case of a 58-year-old male with VSD following MI who was successfully treated with a delayed surgical approach after haemodynamic support using Impella. Case description: A 58-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension presented with three days of chest pain. Testing revealed late presenting acute anterior ischaemic infarction and left-to-right shunt in the apical ventricular septum. Urgent cardiac catheterisation showed near-total occlusion of the left anterior descending artery. An Impella CP® was placed before angioplasty with a drug-eluting stent to optimise haemodynamics. After a multidisciplinary discussion, the Impella CP® was upgraded to Impella 5.5®, and surgery was delayed allowing for scar formation. The patient remained in the intensive care unit, where he underwent physical therapy, showing improvements in exercise tolerance by the time of surgery. He underwent a left ventriculotomy with a successful repair via an endocardial patch 28 days after initial presentation. Post-operative recovery was uneventful, with the patient discharged five days later, reporting no physical limitations one month post-discharge. Conclusion: The successful management of VSD post-MI relies on interdisciplinary collaboration, careful timing of surgical intervention and the strategic use of mechanical support devices such as the Impella. This case highlights the potential for favourable outcomes when tailored treatment approaches are employed. LEARNING POINTS: Given the rarity of ventricular septal defects (VSD) post-myocardial infarction (MI), maintaining a high index of suspicion, particularly in patients with anterior infarcts and other high-risk features, is imperative for ensuring early recognition and management of this life-threatening complication.Surgical repair is the treatment of choice for VSD post-MI, offering improved survival rates, particularly when intervention is delayed to allow for myocardial scarring.Mechanical circulatory support devices, such as the Impella, can play a crucial role in bridging patients to surgical repair by providing temporary haemodynamic stabilisation. However, timing is vital, and early initiation of mechanical support can prevent the progression of cardiogenic shock and multi-organ failure.

Insight on the structural, electronic and optical properties of Zn, Ga-doped/dual-doped graphitic carbon nitride for visible-light applications.

The density functional theory (DFT) was applied for the first time to study the doping and co-doping of Ga and Zn metals on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The doping of these metal impurities into g-C3N4 leads to a significant decrease in the bandgap energy. Moreover, the co-doping leads to even lower bandgap energy than either individual Zn or Ga-doped g-C3N4. The theoretical electronic and optical properties including the density of state (DOS), energy levels of the frontier orbital, excited state lifetime, and molecular electrostatic potential of the doped and co-doped g-C3N4 support their application in UV-visible light-based technologies. The quantum mechanical parameters (energy band gap, binding energy, exciton energy, softness, hardness) and dipole moment exhibit higher values (ranging from 1.36 to 4.94 D) compared to the bare g-C3N4 (0.29 D), indicating better solubility in the water solvent. The time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations showed absorption maxima in between the UV-Vis region (309-878 nm). Additionally, charge transfer characteristics, transition density matrix (TDM), excited state lifetime and light harvesting efficiency (LHE) were investigated. Overall, these theoretical studies suggest that doped and co-doped g-C3N4 are excellent candidates for electronic semiconductor devices, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, and photodetectors.

Wearable Graphene-based smart face mask for Real-Time human respiration monitoring.

After the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, the use of face-masks is considered the most effective way to prevent the spread of virus-containing respiratory fluid. As the virus targets the lungs directly, causing shortness of breath, continuous respiratory monitoring is crucial for evaluating health status. Therefore, the need for a smart face mask (SFM) capable of wirelessly monitoring human respiration in real-time has gained enormous attention. However, some challenges in developing these devices should be solved to make practical use of them possible. One key issue is to design a wearable SFM that is biocompatible and has fast responsivity for non-invasive and real-time tracking of respiration signals. Herein, we present a cost-effective and straightforward solution to produce innovative SFMs by depositing graphene-based coatings over commercial surgical masks. In particular, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) are integrated into a polycaprolactone (PCL) polymeric matrix. The resulting SFMs are characterized morphologically, and their electrical, electromechanical, and sensing properties are fully assessed. The proposed SFM exhibits remarkable durability (greater than1000 cycles) and excellent fast response time (∼42 ms), providing simultaneously normal and abnormal breath signals with clear differentiation. Finally, a developed mobile application monitors the mask wearer's breathing pattern wirelessly and provides alerts without compromising user-friendliness and comfort.

Effects of Exercise Training in Patients with Lung Cancer during Chemotherapy Treatment.

Background: Cancer is the second greatest cause of death and disability after cardiovascular disease. Objective: To determine the effects of exercise training in patients with lung cancer during chemotherapy treatment. Methods: A randomised clinical trial was conducted in Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM) Peshawar. A total of 40 participants were randomly divided into two groups: i) the Experimental group (EG, n = 20) and ii) Control group (CG, n = 20). Both groups received exercise training for 4 weeks, with five sessions per week. The EG received pulmonary rehabilitation and aerobic training. The CG received only pulmonary rehabilitation. Both groups were evaluated at baseline and after 6 weeks through Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) Urdu version, Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), digital spirometry, Borgs scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADs) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: Both the EG and CG showed significant improvement in MAAS scores at post-study with a (P < 0.001). The scores of 6MWT were improved significantly in both groups after intervention with a (P = 0.001). The patient's anxiety scores were significantly improved in both groups after intervention with a (P < 0.001), while depression scores were also improved considerably between the two groups at post-level with a (P < 0.001). Regarding spirometry value, both groups showed significant improvement after intervention for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC (P < 0.001). Both groups show significant differences in patient pain intensity and dyspnea at post-level with P < 0.001. Conclusion: This study concluded that pulmonary rehabilitation along with aerobic training can be more effective than pulmonary rehabilitation alone for patients with lung cancer during chemotherapy treatment.

A multi-criteria evaluation and optimization of sustainable fiber-reinforced concrete developed with nylon waste fibers and micro-silica.

Nylon waste fibers similar to new nylon fibers possess high tensile strength and toughness; hence, they can be used as an eco-friendly discrete reinforcement in high-strength concrete. This study aimed to analyze the mechanical and permeability characteristics and life cycle impact of high-strength concrete with varying amounts of nylon waste fiber and micro-silica. The results proved that nylon waste fiber was highly beneficial to the tensile and flexural strength of concrete. The incorporation of a 1% volume of nylon waste fiber caused net improvements of 50% in the flexural strength of concrete. At the combined addition of 0.5% volume fraction of nylon fiber and 7.5% micro-silica, splitting tensile and flexural strength of high-strength concrete experienced net improvements of 49% and 55%, respectively. Nylon fiber-reinforced concrete exhibited a ductile response and high flexural toughness and residual strength compared to plain concrete. A low volume fraction of waste fibers was beneficial to the permeability resistance of high-strength concrete against water absorption and chloride permeability, while a high volume (1% by volume fraction) of fiber was harmful to the permeability-resistance of concrete. For the best mechanical performance of high-strength concrete, 0.5% nylon waste fiber can be used with 7.5% micro-silica. The use of micro-silica minimized the negative effect of the high volume of fibers on the permeability resistance of high-strength concrete. The addition of nylon waste fibers (at 0.25% and 0.5% volume) and micro-silica also reduced carbon emissions per unit strength of concrete.

In Silico Identification of Cassava Genome-Encoded MicroRNAs with Predicted Potential for Targeting the ICMV-Kerala Begomoviral Pathogen of Cassava.

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) is caused by several divergent species belonging to the genus Begomovirus (Geminiviridae) transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci cryptic species group. In India and other parts of Asia, the Indian cassava mosaic virus-Kerala (ICMV-Ker) is an emergent begomovirus of cassava causing damage that results in reduced yield loss and tuber quality. Double-stranded RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) is an evolutionary conserved mechanism in eukaryotes and highly effective, innate defense system to inhibit plant viral replication and/or translation. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize cassava genome-encoded microRNAs (mes-miRNA) that are predicted to target ICMV-Ker ssDNA-encoded mRNAs, based on four in silico algorithms: miRanda, RNA22, Tapirhybrid, and psRNA. The goal is to deploy the predicted miRNAs to trigger RNAi and develop cassava plants with resistance to ICMV-Ker. Experimentally validated mature cassava miRNA sequences (n = 175) were downloaded from the miRBase biological database and aligned with the ICMV-Ker genome. The miRNAs were evaluated for base-pairing with the cassava miRNA seed regions and to complementary binding sites within target viral mRNAs. Among the 175 locus-derived mes-miRNAs evaluated, one cassava miRNA homolog, mes-miR1446a, was identified to have a predicted miRNA target binding site, at position 2053 of the ICMV-Ker genome. To predict whether the cassava miRNA might bind predicted ICMV-Ker mRNA target(s) that could disrupt viral infection of cassava plants, a cassava locus-derived miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed using Circos software. The in silico-predicted cassava locus-derived mes-miRNA-mRNA network corroborated interactions between cassava mature miRNAs and the ICMV-Ker genome that warrant in vivo analysis, which could lead to the development of ICMV-Ker resistant cassava plants.

Life cycle impact of concrete incorporating nylon waste and demolition waste.

The large consumption of natural resources by the construction industry and resultant pollution have inspired the necessity to investigate the potential of eco-friendly materials, such as recycled aggregates and recycled fibers. In this study, the effect of different percentages of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) and nylon waste fibers (NWFs) was investigated on engineering performance and performance-related carbon emissions of high-performance concrete (HPC). Engineering performance indices include compressive strength (CS), splitting tensile strength (STS), water absorption (WA), and chloride ion penetration (CIP). The environmental impact of designed mixes was evaluated using a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment approach on the HPC mixes. The results showed that the incorporation of 0.25-0.5% yielded maximum STS for all percentages of RCA. The use of NWF helped overcome the negative impact of RCA on the STS of HPC. The use of the 0.1-0.25% volume of NWF was beneficial to the permeability-related durability indicators of HPC. CS-related emissions were minimum for concrete mixes incorporating 0.1-0.25% NWF with 0% and 50% substitution levels of RCA. While STS-related emissions were lowest for HPC incorporating 0.5% NWF with 50% and 100% substitution levels of RCA.

MIMO antenna array with the capability of dual polarization reconfiguration for 5G mm-wave communication.

This communication presents a polarization reconfigurable antenna array (PRAA) with Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) formation for 5th generation (5G) millimeter wave (mm-Wave) communications. At first a single corner curtailed diagonal slotted cylindrical patch is printed on Roger RT Duriod 5880 and the overall size of the single antenna is 12 × 12 × 0.787 mm3. The circular polarization (CP) is realized by adding the diagonal slot in the circular patch. The antenna design is extended into two elements antenna array which occupies 20 × 20 × 0.787 mm3 footprint. The collection is formed using a T-shaped power divider/combiner. Pin-diodes are integrated with the patches to switch the polarization state between LP (Linear polarization) and CP radiation. The edge-to-edge distance between antenna elements is 6 mm. The design covers the 25.2-29.4 GHz band, and the maximum peak gain is 11.5 dBi. Moreover, a two-port (2 × 2) MIMO design is formed to increase the channel capacity. To isolate the ports, a sin-like slot is engraved in the ground, defected ground structure (DGS) technique of mutual coupling reduction; it can easily be implemented and increases the design efficiency. The port isolation is well above 30 dB for the entire operating band. Moreover, the Mean Effective Gain (MEG), Diversity Gain (DG), and Envelope Correlation Coefficient (ECC) are investigated, which are key performance metrics of MIMO. A prototype of the realized MIMO antenna system is fabricated, and the simulated outcomes carried out by Computer Simulation Technology (CST) tools are validated by experimental findings.

Level of physical activity and its association with depression among chronic spinal cord injury patients at a paraplegic centre in Peshawar / Nivel de actividad física y su asociación con la depresión entre pacientes con lesión medular crónica en un centro para parapléjicos en Peshawar

Introduction: Spinal cord injury results in disability, limited participation in physical activities, and mental health problems which greatly affects the quality of life of the injured person. Engaging in physical activity is necessary for optimal recovery in individuals with spinal cord injury. Chronic spinal cord injury patients suffer from many secondary complications which become a challenge for the patient and the health care community to manage due to which recovery will be complex and difficult. The aim of this study is to find out the association of physical activity with depression among chronic spinal cord injury patients at Paraplegic Centre Peshawar.Material and methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey in which a consecutive sampling technique was used. Data was collected from n=109 spinal cord injury patients in which 85 (78.0%) were males and 24 (22.0%) were females. Physical activity was measured using the PARA-SCI scale and the CESD-R-10 questionnaire was used to assess depression.Results: The average minutes of participating in mild physical activity was 67.72 ± 17.98 minutes/week, moderate physical activity was 140.79 ± 33.47 minutes/week, heavy physical activity was 21.92 ± 9.18 minutes/week and total PA was 247.93 ± 55.76. P value= .004 for mild physical activity with depression, p value= .097 for moderate physical activity with depression, p value= .137 for heavy physical activity with depression and p value= .001 for total physical activity with depression.Conclusions: Mild and total physical activity was associated with depression. Moderate and heavy physical activity was not associated with depression. (AU)

Introducción: La lesión de la médula espinal produce discapacidad, participación limitada en actividades físicas y problemas de salud mental que afectan en gran medida la calidad de vida de la persona lesionada. La actividad física es necesaria para una recuperación óptima de las personas con lesión de la médula espinal. Los pacientes con lesiones crónicas de la médula espinal sufren muchas complicaciones secundarias que se convierten en un desafío para el paciente y la comunidad de atención médica debido a que la recuperación será compleja y difícil. El objetivo de este estudio es averiguar la asociación de la actividad física con la depresión entre los pacientes con lesiones crónicas de la médula espinal en el Centro Parapléjico de Peshawar.Material y métodos: Este estudio fue una encuesta transversal en la que se utilizó una técnica de muestreo consecutivo. Se recopilaron datos de n = 109 pacientes con lesión de la médula espinal, de los cuales 85 (78,0 %) eran hombres y 24 (22,0 %) eran mujeres. La actividad física se midió mediante la escala PARA-SCI y el cuestionario CESD-R-10 para evaluar la depresión.Resultados: El promedio de minutos de participación en actividad física leve fue 67,72 ± 17,98 minutos/semana, actividad física moderada 140,79 ± 33,47 minutos/semana, actividad física intensa 21,92 ± 9,18 minutos/semana y AF total 247,93 ± 55,76. Valor de p= .004 para actividad física leve con depresión, valor de p= .097 para actividad física moderada con depresión, valor de p= .137 para actividad física intensa con depresión y valor de p= .001 para actividad física total con depresión.Conclusiones: La actividad física leve y total se asoció con la depresión. La actividad física moderada e intensa no se asoció con la depresión. (AU)

Role of Intravenous Magnesium in the Management of Moderate to Severe Exacerbation of Asthma: A Literature Review.

Asthma is a respiratory disorder marked by bronchial irritation and hyperresponsive airway smooth muscle. According to new research, magnesium's dual activity as an anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator may be important in asthma therapy. The goal of this study was to see how effective intravenous magnesium sulfate is in treating severe acute asthma. In addition to checking Clinicaltrials.gov, we ran a database search in Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Embase. Studies were chosen based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria to prevent the chance of bias. Most researchers believed that intravenous magnesium sulfate improved symptoms and lung function significantly. Mortality and morbidity data were not available.

Myxomatous Liposarcoma of the Mediastinum: A Review of the Literature.

Myxomatous liposarcoma is an extremely rare type of mediastinal tumour that manifests in a manner comparable to other lung pathologies. Chest pain, shortness of breath, and dysphagia are the common presenting complaints. Radiological examinations or postoperative histological examinations provide the majority of the diagnostic evidence. The cornerstone of therapy consists of surgery and sometimes chemotherapy. Those who are afflicted have a better chance of experiencing favourable outcomes if they receive a diagnosis and treatment quickly.

Prevalence of oral anticoagulant use among people with and without Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Although cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases are common among people with Alzheimer's disease (AD), it is unknown how the prevalence of oral anticoagulant (OAC) use changes in relation to AD diagnosis. We investigated the prevalence of OAC use in relation to AD diagnosis in comparison to a matched cohort without AD. METHODS: Register-based Medication use and Alzheimer's disease (MEDALZ) cohort includes 70 718 Finnish people with AD diagnosed between 2005-2011. Point prevalence of OAC use (prescription register) was calculated every three months with three-month evaluation periods, from five years before to five years after clinically verified diagnosis and compared to matched cohort without AD. Longitudinal association between AD and OAC use was evaluated by generalized estimating equations (GEE). RESULTS: OAC use was more common among people with AD until AD diagnosis, (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.13-1.22), and less common after AD diagnosis (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.85-0.89), compared to people without AD. At the time of AD diagnosis, prevalence was 23% and 20% among people with and without AD, respectively. OAC use among people with AD began to decline gradually two years after AD diagnosis while continuous increase was observed in the comparison cohort. Warfarin was the most common OAC, and atrial fibrillation was the most common comorbidity in OAC users. CONCLUSION: Decline in OAC use among people with AD after diagnosis may be attributed to high risk of falling and problems in monitoring. However, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) that are nowadays more commonly used require less monitoring and may also be safer for vulnerable people with AD.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) of precast concrete blocks utilizing ground granulated blast furnace slag.

Concrete paving block (CPB) has become a popular construction material for pavements subjected to passive loads (parking, toll plazas, gas stations, and street pavements). Due to the short time in the production of CPB, the concrete block industry has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade. In this scenario, the environmental distress cannot be ignored due to the increased extraction of raw materials (fossil fuels, limestone, river sand, and crushed aggregates) in the manufacturing of CPB. The sustainability issues demand the utilization of eco-friendly materials instead of natural ones to minimize the abiotic depletion caused by the construction industry. This study investigates the technical and environmental performance of CPB production incorporating an eco-friendly mineral admixture, i.e., ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), as a cement replacement material. The optimum level of GGBS was decided based on the required engineering performance and minimal environmental impact. For the determination of the engineering performance of CPB, several parameters were considered such as compressive strength (CS), impact toughness (IT), and water absorption (WA). The environmental impact of Global Warming Potential (GWP) was assessed based on a cradle-to-gate LCA analysis. The results suggested that maximum mechanical performance and minimum GWP can be simultaneously achieved at 5-10% replacement of cement with GGBS, while to satisfy the minimum strength requirement, CPB can be prepared using 25% GGBS as a replacement for cement that accounts for 17% lower GWP than that of the conventional CPB manufacturing.

Mechanical performance and environmental impact of normal strength concrete incorporating various levels of coconut fiber and recycled aggregates.

This study presents the fresh and mechanical properties of concrete made with recycled aggregates (RAs) and coconut fibers (CFs), with an emphasis on the development of sustainable and ductile cementitious composite through the valorization of coconut and construction wastes. For this purpose, the effect of different percentages of CF, i.e., 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% by wt. of cement, was examined on the mechanical and physical properties of concrete incorporating RA (0%, 30%, 50%, and 100%). To avoid the negative effect of CF on workability, a plasticizer was used to achieve the target workability. The performance of mixes was evaluated based on the results of workability, density, compressive strength (CS), splitting-tensile strength (STS), flexural strength (FS), and water absorption. The results showed that incorporation of 1-2% CF improved the CS and STS of concrete for each constant level of RA. The addition of 2% CF is recommended for maximum mechanical performance. Concrete incorporating 50% coarse RA with 2% CF showed CS comparable to conventional concrete. Concrete made with 100% coarse RA and 2% CF showed STS and FS comparable to that of conventional concrete. This study recommends the use of 2% CF along with plasticizer to attain the best mechanical performance. Despite comparable STS and FS, 100% RA concrete with 2% CF produced 25% lower CO2 emissions than conventional concrete.

Machine learning-assisted lens-loaded cavity response optimization for improved direction-of-arrival estimation.

This paper presents a millimeter-wave direction of arrival estimation (DoA) technique powered by dynamic aperture optimization. The frequency-diverse medium in this work is a lens-loaded oversized mmWave cavity that hosts quasi-random wave-chaotic radiation modes. The presence of the lens is shown to confine the radiation within the field of view and improve the gain of each radiation mode; hence, enhancing the accuracy of the DoA estimation. It is also shown, for the first time, that a lens loaded-cavity can be transformed into a lens-loaded dynamic aperture by introducing a mechanically controlled mode-mixing mechanism inside the cavity. This work also proposes a way of optimizing this lens-loaded dynamic aperture by exploiting the mode mixing mechanism governed by a machine learning-assisted evolutionary algorithm. The concept is verified by a series of extensive simulations of the dynamic aperture states obtained via the machine learning-assisted evolutionary optimization technique. The simulation results show a 25[Formula: see text] improvement in the conditioning for the DoA estimation using the proposed technique.

Sulfur concrete made with waste marble and slag powders: 100% recycled and waterless concrete.

In this research, the mechanical properties and durability of sulfur concrete with two different waste aggregates were evaluated. The waste aggregates included ground granulated blast-furnace slag and waste marble powder. The properties of sulfur concrete were also compared with those of the conventional binder concretes (i.e., Portland cement concrete and sulfate-resistant cement concrete). The durability parameters included measuring water absorption capacity and resistance to different harsh chemical environments (5% HCl solution, 5 Molar NaOH solution, and 16% NaCl solution). It was found that sulfur concrete made with slag as aggregate exhibited the maximum strength, i.e., about 2 times higher than that of Portland cement concrete and sulfate-resistant cement concrete. Sulfur concrete made with slag and marble waste powder showed superior mechanical performance compared to that made with river sand. Thus, sulfur binder develops more favorable properties with eco-friendly fillers than it develops with natural sand. In harsh chloride and acidic environment, sulfur concrete with slag powder exhibited about 90-95% lesser mass loss than Portland cement concrete.