Breast Cancer Classification using Deep Learned Features Boosted with Handcrafted Features

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women across the globe. It is difficult to treat if detected at advanced stages, however, early detection can significantly increase chances of survival and improves lives of millions of women. Given the widespread prevalence of breast cancer, it is of utmost importance for the research community to come up with the framework for early detection, classification and diagnosis. Artificial intelligence research community in coordination with medical practitioners are developing such frameworks to automate the task of detection. With the surge in research activities coupled with availability of large datasets and enhanced computational powers, it expected that AI framework results will help even more clinicians in making correct predictions. In this article, a novel framework for classification of breast cancer using mammograms is proposed. The proposed framework combines robust features extracted from novel Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) features with handcrafted features including HOG (Histogram of Oriented Gradients) and LBP (Local Binary Pattern). The obtained results on CBIS-DDSM dataset exceed state of the art

Synthetic Grey Water Treatment Through FeCl3-Activated Carbon Obtained from Cotton Stalks and River Sand

The research objective was to reclaim greywater through simple, easily available, and cost-effective methods. For this purpose, an activated charcoal was prepared from biomass (cotton stalk) through the pyrolysis process and sand collected from river Indus. Both materials were subjected to separate columns and applied as filters. Whereas, the efficiency of both materials as filter media was analyzed on the synthetic grey water (SGW). The formulation of synthetic greywater was a complicated process because the selection of ingredients and their amount should not exceed from the real grey water. So, for the presence of fecal contamination, a small amount (10 ml L-1) of settled sewage was added to the distilled water, while to mimic the organic load, several chemical products of technical grade were also added. The physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of this SGW were tested before and after treatment. The results show that both mediums (AC and river sand) were very effective in the greywater treatment. The removal efficiency for BOD and COD was up to 91.2%, and 70% respectively. Similarly, the removal measure for turbidity was 91.3%. While the pH showed that the synthetic grey water was alkaline in nature with a value of 10 because the washing detergents used during the preparation of SGW, but after passing through both filter columns, pH was observed in between 7 and 8 units. Furthermore, the removal value examined after passing SGW from both columns for total coliforms was 46.87 CFU/100 ml from1500 CFU/100 ml

Self-Configurable Current-Mirror Technique for Parallel RGB Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) Strings

Traditional current-mirror circuits require buck converter to deal with one fixed current load. This paper deals with improved self-adjustable current-mirror methods that can address different LED loads under different conditions with the help of one buck converter. The operating principle revolves around a dynamic and self-configurable combinational circuit of transistor and op-amp based current balancing circuit, along with their op-amp based dimming circuits. The proposed circuit guarantees uniformity in the outputs of the circuit. This scheme of current-balancing circuits omitted the need for separate power supply to control the load currents through different kinds of LEDs, i.e. RGB LEDs. The proposed methods are identical and modular, which can be scaled to any number of parallel current sources. The principle methodology has been successfully tested in Simulink environment to verify the current balancing of parallel LED strings

Cooperation vs. Non-Cooperation Basedrouting Protocols in WBAN

Design of routing protocols has seen remarkableadvancement in the field of Wireless Body Area Networks(WBANs).These protocols work to enhance the performance ofWBAN by focusing on routing, energy efficiency and end-to-enddelay. As these protocols can be categorized in a variety of waysaccording to the mechanisms and functionalities they follow,hence it becomes important to understand their principal ofoperations. In this research, we have selected some recentrouting protocols in the field of WBAN and presented acomparative analysis according to the categories on which theyrely. Also a detail analysis of their key advantages and flaws arealso identified in this research

Wet environmental conditions affecting narrow band on-body communication channel for WBANs

© 2018 Old City Publishing, Inc. Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) are rising as the key building blocks of next generation networks in modern health care systems. Research in recent years has focused on channel modelling, energy conservation and design of efficient Medium Access Control (MAC) schemes for WBANs. However, less attention has been paid to the on-body channel propagation analysis. This paper presents the propagation effects of wet clothing on the on-body channel at 0.9GHz, 1.8GHz and 2.5GHz and is germane to signal budgets in body-centric and mobile communication systems. A number of transmission measurements between simple monopoles above a square ground plane, placed on the opposing shoulder and hip, wearing single and multi-layered “rainwater wet” and dry cotton T-Shirts for standing, bending, torso left and right are used to gain insight into general levels of the effect of rainwater on propagation. Measured results are statistically processed to extract the level of transmission enhancement due to a wet on-body channel. Results show that wet clothing is generally beneficial to the channel at popular mobile communications frequencies

The Impact of Blockchain Technology on the Real Estate Sector Using Smart Contracts

The block chain technology has been in the topic of much discussion due to its successful application in the crypto currency known as “Bitcoin" which has investment experts, economists, billion dollar financial institutes, big banks as well as governments taking sides on whether it should be legitimized and used as a currency or make it illegal to be used as a means of exchange. However, experts from different field like supply chain management and even from the medical field are more interested in how the block chain technology’s decentralized record keeping and numerous other benefits can be of use to them in their fields of work. This study concentrates on the block chain being used for real estate record keeping, since most geography’s have different procedures for record keeping, this study focuses on Defence Housing Authority in Karachi to check what the impact of applying the block chain technology to this area in Karachi would have on investors, real estate agents, residents and the government

SPARCO: Stochastic Performance Analysis with Reliability and Cooperation for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks

Reliability is a key factor for application-oriented Underwater Sensor Networks (UWSNs) which are utilized for gaining certain objectives and a demand always exists for efficient data routing mechanisms. Cooperative routing is a promising technique which utilizes the broadcast feature of wireless medium and forwards data with cooperation using sensor nodes as relays. Here, we present a cooperation-based routing protocol for underwater networks to enhance their performance called Stochastic Performance Analysis with Reliability and Cooperation (SPARCO). Cooperative communication is explored in order to design an energy-efficient routing scheme for UWSNs. Each node of the network is assumed to be consisting of a single omnidirectional antenna and multiple nodes cooperatively forward their transmissions taking advantage of spatial diversity to reduce energy consumption. Both multihop and single-hop schemes are exploited which contribute to lowering of path-losses present in the channels connecting nodes and forwarding of data. Simulations demonstrate that SPARCO protocol functions better regarding end-to-end delay, network lifetime, and energy consumption comparative to noncooperative routing protocol—improved Adaptive Mobility of Courier nodes in Threshold-optimized Depth-based routing (iAMCTD). The performance is also compared with three cooperation-based routing protocols for UWSN: Cognitive Cooperation (Cog-Coop), Cooperative Depth-Based Routing (CoDBR), and Cooperative Partner Node Selection Criteria for Cooperative Routing (Coop Re and dth)

Comparison of Value per Operative Time between Primary and Revision Surgery for Adult Spinal Deformity: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Purpose To compare the relative value units (RVUs) per minute of operative time between primary and revision surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD). Overview of Literature Surgery for ASD is technically demanding and has high risks of complications and revision rates. This common need for additional surgery can increase the overall cost of care for ASD. RVU is used to calculate reimbursement from Medicare and to determine physician payments nationally. In calculating RVUs, the physician’s work, the expenses of the physician’s practice, and professional liability insurance. Cost effectiveness of surgeries for ASD have been evaluated, except for RVUs per minute compared between primary and revision surgery. Methods Data were obtained from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients aged ≥18 years who underwent surgery for spinal deformity between 2011 and 2019 were identified and included. To ensure a homogenous patient cohort, those who underwent anterior-only and concurrent anterior-posterior fusions were excluded. Propensity score matching analysis was performed, and Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson chi-square test, or Fisher’s exact test were used to compare matched cohorts as appropriate. Results A total of 326 patients who underwent revision surgery were matched with 206 primary surgery patients via propensity score matching. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, preoperative laboratory values, and readmission and reoperation rates were not significantly different between groups. The revision surgery group had significantly higher mean RVUs per minute than that of the primary surgery group (0.331 vs. 0.249, p<0.001), as well as rates of morbidity and blood transfusion. Conclusions Compared to primary surgery, revision surgery for ASD is associated with significantly higher RVUs per minute and total RVUs and higher rates of 30-day morbidity and blood transfusions. Readmission and reoperation rates are similar between surgeries

Two Cases of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Placement via Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most common variation of anomalous venous return to the heart and present in 0.1–0.5% of the general population. The left anterior cardinal veins typically obliterate during early cardiac development but failure of involution results in PLSVC. It is an asymptomatic congenital anomaly, usually discovered while performing interventions through the left subclavian vein or during cardiovascular imaging. PLSVC can be associated with cardiac arrhythmias and congenital heart disease. We present two cases of PLSVC: first, a 68-year-old male who presented with complete heart block, for which a temporary pacemaker was initially inserted followed by a permanent pacemaker; second, a 53-year-old female with a history of hypertension and ischemic cardiomyopathy with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 25%, and a survivor of sudden cardiac death, who underwent an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for secondary prevention. Both cases of PLSVC were detected incidentally during the transvenous approach to the heart. PLSVC was suspected by the unusually left medial position of the lead, while cineflouroscopy showed the venous trajectory toward the coronary sinus and drainage into the right atrium. It is technically difficult to cross the wire through the tricuspid valve when coming from the PLSVC and coronary sinus without making a loop in the right atrium, which is known as a wide loop technique. PLSVC is an uncommon anomalous anatomical variant and should be recognized appropriately by specialists who frequently carry out procedures through the left subclavian vein, such as implantation of permanent pacemaker, ICD and cardiac resynchronization therapy. It should also be recognized that wide loop formation of the right ventricular lead in the right atrium is helpful to cross the tricuspid valve and to affix the lead in the right ventricle

Utilization of Sawdust in Concrete Masonry Blocks: A Review

SDC (Sawdust Concrete) was developed in 19th century. It has been well recognized due to its lightweight and cost-effectiveness. Presently, developed countries have created opportunities to use wood waste in the concrete construction to reduce the environmental burden. Although SDC has received little consideration as a lightweight masonry block in building works but it has been intensively investigated in many countries for decades. The aim of this review is to summarize the last five years (2012-2016) research work related to utilization of sawdust in concrete masonry. However, it is important to explore existing ideas and approaches developed by previous researchers as a reference and guidance for the future research. There are lots of opportunities to develop lightweight concrete especially throughutilizing sawdust as a fine aggregate replacement material in concrete. However, this review paper is focusing on utilization of sawdust, as to reduce environmental impacts poses by the waste products of furniture industry and a by-product of wood industry. As a conclusion, this review paper summary the existing important ideas and useful information for the fellow researchers, as to enhance the utilization of sawdust to produce lightweight masonry units. It is recommended that considerable research is required on the sawdust cement blocks, which can deliver more confidence on their utilization as a green building construction material