Sharif Digital Repository

Purpose: The accuracy of pedicle screw placement during image-guided spine surgery (IGSS) can be characterized by estimating the target registration error (TRE). The major factors that influence TRE were identified, minimized, and verified with in vitro experiments. Materials and methods: Computed-tomography- compatible markers are placed over anatomical landmarks of lumbar vertebral segments in locations that are feasible and routinely used in surgical procedures. TRE was determined directly for markers placed on the pedicles of vertebra segments. First, optimum selections of landmarks are proposed for different landmarks according to the minimum achievable TRE values in different... 

Feature extraction is one of the most important steps in processing endoscopic data. The extracted features should be invariant to image scale and rotation to provide a robust matching across a substantial range of affine distortions and changes in 3D space. In this study, a method is proposed on the basis of the dual-tree complex wavelet transform. First, a map is estimated for each scale, and then a Gaussian weighted additive function (GWAF) is determined. Keypoints are selected from local peaks of GWAF. The matching and registration are performed by applying normalized mutual information and our modified iterative closest point. Results are reported in terms of robustness to rotation,... 

Slip along fractures or hydrothermal alternation may lead to formation of weak layers of soils intercalated between the existing rock layers. In this situation, characterization of the behavior of rock fractures requires consideration of a complicated interaction of mechanical properties and geometrical characteristics of the fracture, coupled together with the properties of infill materials. Of the most important parameters which may considerably affect the behavior of an infilled fractured rock are the hydraulic properties of the infill material. These properties reflect the water retention ability of the infill material and determine the meniscus arrangements between the particles. This... 

Feature extraction is one of the most important steps in processing endoscopic data. The extracted features should be invariant to image scale and rotation to provide a robust matching across a substantial range of affine distortions and changes in 3D space. In this study, a method is proposed on the basis of the dual-tree complex wavelet transform. First, a map is estimated for each scale, and then a Gaussian weighted additive function (GWAF) is determined. Keypoints are selected from local peaks of GWAF. The matching and registration are performed by applying normalized mutual information and our modified iterative closest point. Results are reported in terms of robustness to rotation,... 

In this paper, a new control strategy for optimal attitude tracking control of a multivariable satellite system has been presented. The approach is based on a Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MLPNN) and a classical PD Controller for its initial stabilization. It is shown how the network can be employed as a multivariable self-organizing and self-learning controller in conjunction with a PD controller for attitude control of a satellite. By using three thrusters and quaternion for kinematics representation, the attitude dynamics of the satellite has been presented. In contrast to the previous classical approaches, it is shown how this controller can be carried out in an on-line manner... 

Using stochastic point source and finite fault modeling, the stochastic stress drop is estimated for 52 large shallow earthquakes listed in the 'Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) Next Generation Attenuation of Ground Motions (NGA)' database. The Pseudo Spectral Acceleration (PSA) of 541 accelerograms, recorded at National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) C-class sites from 52 earthquakes are simulated and compared with the PSA listed in the PEER NGA database. The magnitude of the analyzed earthquakes ranged from M4:4 to M7:6. The stress drop is calibrated by trial and error and based on the analysis of residuals where the residual is defined as the log of the... 

Although the main objective of utilizing gas detection systems is risk reduction by detecting high-risk scenarios, the majority of published placement procedures do not address the risk concept quantitatively. To include this concept, a risk-based methodology is proposed that consists of four key steps: input data, dispersion analysis, risk analysis, and optimization. In the first step, a set of release scenarios are defined and required data, including frequency of release, wind rose, and grid set, are provided. In the dispersion analysis step, the set of scenarios is simulated using a dispersion simulation tool and the ability of grid points to detect any scenario is stored in a binary... 

The water cycle algorithm (WCA) is a nature-inspired meta-heuristic recently contributed to the community in 2012, which finds its motivation in the natural surface runoff phase in water cycle process and on how streams and rivers flow into the sea. This method has been so far successfully applied to many engineering applications, spread over a wide variety of application fields. In this paper an enhanced discrete version of the WCA (coined as DWCA) is proposed for solving the Symmetric and Asymmetric Traveling Salesman Problem. Aimed at proving that the developed approach is a promising approximation method for solving this family of optimization problems, the designed solver has been... 

The magnetic adsorbent nanoparticle was modified using cationic surface active agent. Zinc ferrite nanoparticle and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide were used as an adsorbent and a surface active agent, respectively. Dye removal ability of the surface modified nanoparticle as an adsorbent was investigated. Direct Green 6(DG6), Direct Red 31 (DR31) and Direct Red 23 (DR23) were used. The characteristics of the adsorbent were studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effect of adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration and salt was evaluated. In ternary system, dye removal of the adsorbent at 90, 120, 150 and 200 mg/L... 

In this paper, a new control strategy for optimal attitude tracking control of a multivariable satellite system has been presented. The approach is based on Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) and classical PD Controller for its initial stabilization. It is shown how the network can be employed as a multivariable self- organizing and self learning controller in conjunction with a PD controller for attitude control of a satellite. By using four reaction wheels and quaternion for kinematics representation, the attitude dynamics of the satellite has been presented. In contrast to the previous classical approaches, it is shown how this controller can be carried out in an on-line manner... 

Design parameters selection in the multimodel adaptive control based on switching and tuning will be investigated. Some design parameters like number of fixed and adaptive models, forgetting factor and minimum time delay between switchings will be considered. A recently developed parameter adaptation algorithm based on closed-loop output error will be compared with the classical least-squares prediction error algorithm in the multimodel adaptive control. The effects of these parameters on the performance in tracking and in regulation of a flexible transmission system will be studied via several simulation examples  

In normal operation conditions of nuclear power plants, the distribution of primary coolant between fuel channels would be considered almost uniform. When different number of Reactor Circulation Pumps (RCPs) are switched off, known as an abnormal condition, this uniform distribution is disturbed and different conditions occur for each channel depending on its position in the core. In this research, the normal and abnormal condition (with one or two tripped RCPs) for a VVER-1000/446 is investigated. For evaluation of the core neutronic calculations and thermal power distribution, USNRC's PARCS system code is employed. Then a thermal-hydraulics module was developed for performing the T/H... 

Re/Mo separation is studied by a new solvent extraction technique which is based on extraction mechanisms of the constituent metals. Based on McCabe-Thiele plots, a flow diagram has been proposed for separation and purification of Re over Mo. Re-recovery section of the diagram shows that Re is extracted when major amount of Mo is removed. For removal of the remained Mo, a two-stage extraction is required at pH = 2 and V a/V o = 1. In order to obtain Re, the resulted aqueous phase is stripped by adding sulfuric acid. According to the results, while more Re is extracted at less pH, optimum extraction of Mo happens at pH = 1.2. Re selectivity over Mo maximizes by approaching of the pH to zero  

In this study the investigation of large deflections subject in compliant mechanisms is presented using homotopy perturbation method (HPM). The main purpose is to propose a convenient method of solution for the large deflection problem in compliant mechanisms in order to overcome the difficulty and complexity of conventional methods, as well as for the purpose of mathematical modeling and optimization. For simplicity, a cantilever beam of linear elastic material under horizontal, vertical and bending moment end point load is considered. The results show that the applied method is very accurate and capable for cantilever beams and can be used for a large category of practical problems for the... 

Much research has been conducted and published on the examination of the behavior of reinforced steel and concrete structures with a FRP system. Nevertheless, the performance of FRP differs from that of FRCM, particularly at high temperature and ultimate strength. The present study provides a review of previous research on structural elements (viz. beams, columns, arches, slabs, and walls) retrofitted with FRCM systems, taking account of various parameters, such as layers, composite types, configurations, and anchors for controlling or delaying failure modes (FMs). Additionally, this paper discussed the details of different FMs observed during experimental tests, such as crushed concrete or... 

In recent years, the technological advancement of supercapacitors has been increasing exponentially due to the high demand in electronic consumer products. As so, researchers have found a way to meet that demand by fabricating graphene. As developments are made toward the future, two big advancements to be made are large-scale fabrication of graphene and fabricating graphene as a flexible electrode. This would allow for use in larger products and for manipulation of the unique properties of graphene to accommodate superior design alternatives. While large scale production is still mentioned, this review is specifically focusing on different methods used to fabricate graphene as a flexible... 

Histidine rich protein II derived peptide (HRP II 169-182) was investigated by molecular dynamics, MD, simulation and 17O electric field gradient, EFG, tensor calculations. MD simulation was performed in water at 300 K with α-helix initial structure. It was found that peptide loses its initial α-helix structure rapidly and is converted to random coil and bent secondary structures. To understand how peptide structure affects EFG tensors, initial structure and final conformations resulting from MD simulations were used to calculate 17O EFG tensors of backbone carbonyl oxygens. Calculations were performed using B3LYP method and 6-31 + G* basis set. Calculated 17O EFG tensors were used to... 

The learning vector quantization (LVQ) neural network is a useful tool for pattern recognition. Based on the network weights obtained from the training set, prediction can be made for the unknown objects. In this paper, discrimination of wines based on 2D NMR spectra is performed using LVQ neural networks with orthogonal signal correction (OSC). OSC has been proposed as a data preprocessing method that removes from X information not correlated to Y. Moreover, the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) method has also been used to treat the same data set. It has been found that the OSC-LVQ neural networks method gives slightly better prediction results than OSC-PLS-DA © 2005...