A New Computer-Aided Diagnosis System with Modified Genetic Feature Selection for BI-RADS Classification of Breast Masses in Mammograms

Mammography remains the most prevalent imaging tool for early breast cancer screening. The language used to describe abnormalities in mammographic reports is based on the breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). Assigning a correct BI-RADS category to each examined mammogram is a strenuous and challenging task for even experts. This paper proposes a new and effective computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system to classify mammographic masses into four assessment categories in BI-RADS. The mass regions are first enhanced by means of histogram equalization and then semiautomatically segmented based on the region growing technique. A total of 130 handcrafted BI-RADS features are then extrcated from the shape, margin, and density of each mass, together with the mass size and the patient's age, as mentioned in BI-RADS mammography. Then, a modified feature selection method based on the genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed to select the most clinically significant BI-RADS features. Finally, a back-propagation neural network (BPN) is employed for classification, and its accuracy is used as the fitness in GA. A set of 500 mammogram images from the digital database of screening mammography (DDSM) is used for evaluation. Our system achieves classification accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Matthews correlation coefficient of 84.5%, 84.4%, 94.8%, and 79.3%, respectively. To our best knowledge, this is the best current result for BI-RADS classification of breast masses in mammography, which makes the proposed system promising to support radiologists for deciding proper patient management based on the automatically assigned BI-RADS categories

Integrating 3D Printing Technologies into Architectural Education as Design Tools

3D printing technology offers the chance to produce very small-scale, complex forms that could help to improve educational materials for architectural design. In this age of technological advances, architectural education needs to integrate modern teaching methods that could enhance students’ visual perception. This research thus examined the impact of computational design modeling and 3D printing technology on the spatial cognition of architecture students. It starts with the premise that the use of the 3D printed models will support design logic and improve the deep understanding of spatial perception among students. Thirty architecture students were asked about a designed project realized for the purpose of this study. They were presented both a project designed via computer modeling software and a printed model of the same project. The outcomes indicate that the use of 3D printing gave better results in the development of students’ spatial abilities. The findings also confirm that adopting this technology in the development of teaching tools will enhance students’ spatial perception and extend beyond the seamless materialization of the digital model which can continuously inform design ideation through emerging perception qualities

Fuzzy super twisting algorithm dual direct torque control of doubly fed induction machine

This paper proposes the fundamental aspects of hybrid nonlinear control which is composed of the super twisting algorithm (STA) based second order sliding mode control applying fuzzy logic method (FSOSMC), with pertinent simulation results for a doubly fed induction machine (DFIM) drive. To minimize chattering effect phenomenon due to Signum function employed in sliding mode algorithm, a new method is proposed. This technique consists in replacing the signum function by fuzzy switching function in the SOSMC to minimize flux and torque ripples. This FSOSMC is associated to the double direct torque control DDTC of the doubly fed induction machine (DFIM) by combining the advantages of fuzzy logic (FL) and the advantages of super-twisting sliding mode. The FSOSMC-DDTC strategy is compared with a PI-DDTC and SOSMC-DDTC. Simulation results demonstrate good efficiency and excellent robustness of the hybrid nonlinear controller

Microclimatic quality of urban routes and pedestrian behavior in arid zones case of the city of Biskra, South-East Algeria

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to implement a methodology intended to identify the links between the microclimatic quality of urban routes and the behavior of pedestrians. This document will open up new opportunities for the development of urban open spaces and facilitate decision-making for urban decision-makers. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology intended to identify the links between the microclimatic quality of urban routes and the behavior of pedestrians is deployed in two stages. The first stage represents a microclimatic characterization of the pedestrian routes. The second step represents a behavioral characterization of these same journeys, based on the on-site video observation of the pedestrians. Findings – The analysis of the results obtained by applying this method shows that the physical factors of the urban environment in the two climatic seasons (winter, summer) significantly influence the choice of routes, the percentage of route use, the speed of travel and the frequency of user stops. Originality/value – The authors have recently observed that the issue of the influence of microclimatic factors on the behavior of pedestrians, and more particularly their movements, has only rarely been addressed. It is therefore in this context that the authors would like to provide, through this article, some technical solutions for analysis and characterization as well as some answers to the problem of the influence of microclimatic factors on pedestrian movements

تصورات القطريين للدين: دراسة استكشافية

تسعى هذه الدراسة الميدانية الاستكشافية إلى معالجة مسألة التصورات الدينية لدى المجتمع القطري؛ من حيث دلالة مفهومها وموقعها، ومدى أهميتها لدى أعضاء المجتمع، من خلال مقاربة المصادر التي يستمد منها هذا المجتمع مختلف تصوراته حول الدين، باعتماد عدد من التساؤلات، يمكن إجمالها في الآتي: ما تصورات القطريين للدين؟ أي أبعاد الدين أكثر حضورًا في أذهان القطريين وممارساتهم؟ ما مصادر المجتمع القطري في تصوراته للدين؟ وتكمن أصالة هذه الدراسة في ربط التصورات الدينية لدى المجتمع القطري بممارسات أعضائه اليومية من جهة، والمصادر التي يستندون إليها في تعريف الدين نفسه من جهة ثانية، ما جعل هذه الدراسة متفردة في تغطية جانب بحثي مهم طال التغافل عنه، باعتماد منهج مختلط جمع بين الكيفي (النوعي) والكمي، بهدف خلق تكامل بين البيانات النوعية والكمية، مما من شأنه أن يقدِّم تحليلًا أكثر شمولًا وسلاسة في فهم تصورات القطريين للدين. وخلصت الدراسة أولًا: إلى أن كلًا من العقيدة والعبادات يمثلان النواة المركزية في تشكيل تصور القطريين عن الدين، فيما تعتبر بقية العناصر المحيطة بهما أبعادًا مساعدة في تشكيل ذلك التصور، ولا تعبر عن جوهره بالضرورة. وثانيًا: إلى أن هناك انسجامًا بين التصورات الاعتقادية والعملية، تمثل في وعي القطريين بأن أهمية عاداتهم وتقاليدهم نابعة من ارتباطها بالدين، لا من مخالفتها له