Hierarchical classification of liver tumor from CT images based on difference-of-features (DOF)

This manuscript presents an automated classification approach to classifying lesions into four categories of liver diseases, based on Computer Tomography (CT) images. The four diseases types are Cyst, Hemangioma, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and Metastasis. The novelty of the proposed approach is attributed to utilising the difference of features (DOF) between the lesion area and the surrounding normal liver tissue. The DOF (texture and intensity) is used as the new feature vector that feeds the classifier. The classification system consists of two phases. The first phase differentiates between Benign and Malignant lesions, using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier. The second phase further classifies the Benign into Hemangioma or Cyst and the Malignant into Metastasis or HCC, using a Naïve Bayes (NB) classifier. The experimental results show promising improvements to classify the liver lesion diseases. Furthermore, the proposed approach can overcome the problems of varying intensity ranges, textures between patients, demographics, and imaging devices and settings

Optimum design of RC affordable housing

Efforts have been made to minimize the cost of affordable housing through modular construction, prefabrication, economies of scale and low cost materials. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the integration of the varying sizes of the units with design optimization to mutually benefit developers and potential residents of affordable homes. This research introduces an optimization model to integrate optimization with ranges of units\u27 dimensions. The model proposed exploits the variations in the reinforced concrete cost versus area through applying several scenarios. Available options are tailored to optimize the reinforced concrete floor cost of housing units through varying the dimensions of the rooms. In addition to this objective, the thesis investigates the sensitivity of selected parameters on the model output. Through these objectives, the model is able to optimize housing units within a specified budget to result in layouts with varying areas where the model would recommend the layout with the least reinforced concrete cost per m2 within the budget range. In addition, it optimizes housing units within a specified area range to result in layouts with varying cost where the model would recommend the layout with the least reinforced concrete cost per m2 in the selected area range. The model has been applied on 2 case studies where it showed promising results. The research was able to optimize the cost for a given area or increase the area for a given cost. For example, it was able to decrease the cost by 15% for the same area. These percentages are based on the selected examples. Different savings may be achieved with other layouts. However, this is dependent largely on the initial design and dimensions of the unit

Cross-Layer Optimal Rate Allocation for Heterogeneous Wireless Multicast

Heterogeneous multicast is an efficient communication scheme especially for multimedia applications running over multihop networks. The term heterogeneous refers to the phenomenon when multicast receivers in the same session require service at different rates commensurate with their capabilities. In this paper, we address the problem of resource allocation for a set of heterogeneous multicast sessions over multihop wireless networks. We propose an iterative algorithm that achieves the optimal rates for a set of heterogeneous multicast sessions such that the aggregate utility for all sessions is maximized. We present the formulation of the multicast resource allocation problem as a nonlinear optimization model and highlight the cross-layer framework that can solve this problem in a distributed ad hoc network environment with asynchronous computations. Our simulations show that the algorithm achieves optimal resource utilization, guarantees fairness among multicast sessions, provides flexibility in allocating rates over different parts of the multicast sessions, and adapts to changing conditions such as dynamic channel capacity and node mobility. Our results show that the proposed algorithm not only provides flexibility in allocating resources across multicast sessions, but also increases the aggregate system utility and improves the overall system throughput by almost 30% compared to homogeneous multicast

Modeling of shear deficient beams by the mixed smeared/discrete cracking approach

AbstractThis paper presents an analytical study on the modeling of shear critical reinforced concrete beams modeled using the finite element method. The paper investigates two modeling strategies; the first of which is the well established smeared cracking modeling approach. Experimental test results from a wide range of beams tested by other researchers were used for model verification. This paper presents a mixed modeling approach in which the smeared cracking model was used in conjunction with discrete cracking planes to model the concrete continuums in an effort to reach a better correlation with the experimental data. This is achieved by introducing a specific plane inclined at angles in a specified range determined as a result of matching these models’ behavior with behavior monitored in the experimental work at the suspected plane of failure for shear critical beams. Analytical results have shown that the proposed modeling approach is capable of better simulation of the observed experimental response in terms of strength and stiffness, as well as capturing the post-peak response of the tested beams. Errors have been calculated between analytical and experimental results; these errors are also acceptable within the bounds of the engineering judgment. Finally the mixed smeared/discrete cracking model is validated and can be used with a high degree of confidence to conduct further parametric studies

Upgrading English Language Proficiency and Providing Optimum Nursing Care for Cardiac Patients: Perceptions of Non-native Nurses

Linguistic competence and effective communication are essential for providing optimum care for patients. Cardiac care is among the high-alert settings that require highly proficient nurses to be attentive and provide the best possible care for patients with heart problems. This research aims to measure the perceptions of non-native nurses towards the correlation between upgrading their English language proficiency level and providing optimum nursing care for cardiac patients. To this end, a mixed-method research design, qualitative and quantitative, was adopted in the study. First, a questionnaire was constructed and disseminated to 210 Egyptian nurses working at the Magdi Yacoub Foundation (MYF) in Aswan, Egypt. Yet, 127 nurses responded to the questionnaire. Secondly, to ensure the reliability of the research results, observation and interviews with a selected number of questionnaire takers were used as data collection instruments. Findings revealed that upgrading the English language proficiency level is believed to contribute to enhancing the performance of cardiac care nurses, their professionalism, and their learning autonomy. In addition, a taxonomy of the nurses’ uses of English for Specific Purposes has been constructed during the study.  The proposed taxonomy was constructed from the data from the questionnaire, the interview, and the observation. It can be used to identify nurses’ needs when designing English-for-nurses courses. It is recommended that further research is conducted to investigate the correlation between the level of English language proficiency and the performance of nurses in other medical sub-domains

Bilateral investment treaties treatment of international capital movement: time for reform?

PhDWhile the freedom to move capital is necessary for foreign investors, the power of the state to regulate capital transfers is necessary to prevent volatile capital from causing financial crises as well as to mitigate such crises when they occur. Thus, in regulating international capital movement, a balance should be made between the right to transfer funds and the state’s right to protect the stability of its economy. It is in relation to achieving this balance that this thesis argues that bilateral investment treaties’ (BITs) regulation of capital transfers is deficient, both substantively and procedurally. On substance, this thesis identifies three substantive defects that affect obligations under BITs: absoluteness, immediacy, and breadth. First, many BITs adopt an absolute approach in liberalizing capital that does not permit any restrictions or exceptions, nor does it distinguish between different kinds of capital, or between the right to import capital and the right to repatriate capital. Second, the obligation to permit transfers is immediate and does not allow for a gradual liberalization of capital. Third, many BITs’ terms and obligations are broad and therefore vague, such as the broad definition of investment, or the obligation to grant fair and equitable treatment, which is also broad and interpreted in a manner that restricts the regulatory powers of the host state. Such results could have been partly mitigated if there were a dispute settlement mechanism with the power to create precedent and with it a clearer and more coherent body of rules. But BITs’ investor-state arbitration is also deficient since it consists of ad hoc tribunals, which are not bound by precedent; and their decisions are not generally subject to substantive review. This leads to an inconsistent and incoherent body of law that protects neither the state’s regulatory powers nor the legitimate expectation of investor

Design and performance analysis of a low complexity MIMO-OFDM system with Walsh block coding

There are many technologies being considered for the next generation of wireless communications. Of these technologies, multi-input multi-output (MIMO), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and Walsh spreading are drawing the most attention. Although a lot of research has been done in this area, it has not been decided yet as to which technology or combination of the technologies will be used in future wireless generations. The new generation will have to support high data rates and provide excellent performance in order to accommodate several multimedia services. In this thesis, a MIMO-OFDM system that employs Walsh sequences as block coding is designed. Simulation studies show that the proposed system exhibits high performance and comparisons show that it has low complexity compared to some of the previous systems. Two configurations are considered for the proposed system. The first configuration combines Vertical-Bell Labs Layered Space-Time (VBLAST), OFDM and Walsh block coding, for which a simplified implementation scheme for the proposed coding is presented. The system is investigated through extensive computer simulations using different system parameters and channel conditions. The proposed system is compared to some of the existing systems in terms of performance as well as computational complexity. The second configuration integrates space-time block coding (STBC), OFDM and Walsh block coding. In contrast to VBLAST, which aims to increase system capacity and data rates, STBC improves the system's performance through multipath diversity. The performance of the system is studied through computer simulations and the computational complexity of the system is also compared to some typical STBC systems from previous research. The simulations and comparisons of both configurations of the proposed system show its superiority in terms of performance and computational complexity to previous systems. Finally, to emulate real-life scenarios, the performance of the proposed system is also investigated using some common channel estimation techniques. It is shown that by utilizing a preamble of training symbols, the proposed system provides a satisfactory performance for both the configurations

Computer-aided classification of liver lesions using contrasting features difference

Liver cancer is one of the common diseases that cause the death. Early detection is important to diagnose and reduce the incidence of death. Improvements in medical imaging and image processing techniques have significantly enhanced interpretation of medical images. Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems based on these techniques play a vital role in the early detection of liver disease and hence reduce liver cancer death rate. This paper presents an automated CAD system consists of three stages; firstly, automatic liver segmentation and lesion’s detection. Secondly, extracting features. Finally, classifying liver lesions into benign and malignant by using the novel contrasting feature-difference approach. Several types of intensity, texture features are extracted from both; the lesion area and its surrounding normal liver tissue. The difference between the features of both areas is then used as the new lesion descriptors. Machine learning classifiers are then trained on the new descriptors to automatically classify liver lesions into benign or malignant. The experimental results show promising improvements. Moreover, the proposed approach can overcome the problems of varying ranges of intensity and textures between patients, demographics, and imaging devices and settings

Emergency small- vs large-tube thoracostomy in chest trauma patients

Background: Therapeutic drainage is used to treat pleural disorders such as pneumothorax, hemothorax, empyema, chylothorax, and malignant effusions. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of small (24-26 Fr) versus large (30-32 Fr) tube thoracostomy in terms of the efficacy of drainage due to concerns about obstruction (in the case of hemothorax) or inadequate drainage (in the case of hemothorax, pneumothorax, or hemopneumothorax), pain score, repositioning, and the need for thoracotomy. Methods: This randomized prospective study included 112 chest trauma patients who experienced significant hemothorax, pneumothorax, or a combination of these conditions in a trauma unit (reception, inpatient, or ICU) between December 2021 and December 2022. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group I included 56 patients who underwent small (24–26 Fr) tube thoracostomy and 56 patients in Group II, in which a large (30-32 Fr) tube thoracostomy was performed. We investigated the differences between the two groups in terms of pain score, complication rate, duration of tube insertion, and need for another chest tube or thoracotomy. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups concerning the mode of trauma, chest trauma, or effect of trauma (p= 0.781, 0.622, >0.99, and >0.99, respectively). The two groups had a highly statistically significant difference regarding the pain score (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the duration of tube insertion (P<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding outcomes (drainage efficacy, tube repositioning, tube replacement, or the need for thoracotomy) (p= 0.315, 0.344, and 0.814, respectively). Conclusion: Increasing the tube size might not affect the efficacy of drainage, the duration of tube insertion, the need for another tube, or the need for thoracotomy. Small (24-26 Fr) tube thoracostomies could also have favorable pain score outcomes