A Survey on 3D Ultrasound Reconstruction Techniques

This book chapter aims to discuss the 3D ultrasound reconstruction and visualization. First, the various types of 3D ultrasound system are reviewed, such as mechanical, 2D array, position tracking-based freehand, and untracked-based freehand. Second, the 3D ultrasound reconstruction technique or pipeline used by the current existing system, which includes the data acquisition, data preprocessing, reconstruction method and 3D visualization, is discussed. The reconstruction method and 3D visualization will be emphasized. The reconstruction method includes the pixel-based method, volume-based method, and function-based method, accompanied with their benefits and drawbacks. In the 3D visualization, methods such as multiplanar reformatting, volume rendering, and surface rendering are presented. Lastly, its application in the medical field is reviewed as well

A comparison of hole-filling methods for 3D medical data reconstruction and visualization

3D medical imaging can help the physicians to understand the patient anatomy, such as 3D ultrasound and 3D CT scan. In the case of 3D ultrasound reconstruction, the pixel nearest neighbour is one of the popular methods used. The hole-filling method in pixel nearest neighbour can fill in the empty voxel data which is not captured by the ultrasound. Thus, this paper studied the various hole-filling methods in the pixel nearest neighbour method to reconstruct the missing voxels. Besides that, an alternative method is also introduced based on the modified butterfly interpolation scheme. The experiment setup is designed to test the efficiency of the hole-filling method for 3D medical data visualisation by using mean absolute error as well as qualitatively compare the visualization of the reconstruction results. The proposed method can extract smooth skin from the reconstruction volume, although it has a high average MAE result

The influence of lifestyle, financial literacy and religiosity on the level of indebtedness among civil servants in Putrajaya

Debt has become an important instrument to leave a decent life in this current era because of limited resources of an individuals or households. Certain study has found that lifestyle is one of the factors that influence the level of debt among household and individuals. While, lack financial literacy among individuals could also be factor that leads to high level of indebtedness where most studies have found that high level of financial literacy correlate with lower level of debt. Looking from the view of religion, Islam does not prohibit Muslim from venturing into debt. Nonetheless, Islam does not allow the follower to indulge in over indebtedness. One segment of the society that interest many researchers is the civil servants. Civil servants are the back bone of Malaysia Government and they represent 10.5 percent of the Malaysia’s total work force. In terms of indebtedness, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) reported that the expansion civil servant’s debt is more than national average while their debt payment commitment consumes half of their monthly income. Therefore, this paper aims to examine factors of lifestyle, financial literacy and religiosity on the level of indebtedness among civil servants. Data was collected through questionnaire distributed to civil servants of various scheme and position level in ministries operated in Putrajaya. SPSS Version 23 was used to analyze the data by employing correlation and regression analysis to find the relationship and influence between the independent variable and the dependent variables. the findings of this study show that there are no significant relation and influence of the factors of lifestyle, financial literacy and religiosity on the level of indebtedness. This finding rejects the generalize perception that civil servants are highly dependent on debt to maintain certain level of lifestyle and their lack of financial literacy. There is other factor not discovered in this study might influence the level of debt among civil servants in Putrajaya. Thus, other factors should be explored so that targeted policy response can be drafted to tackle the issue of indebtedness among civil servants

The Shift-Contagion Effect Of Global Financial Crisis And The European Sovereign Debt Crisis On OECD Countries

This article investigates shift-contagion as defined by Forbes and Rigobon (2002) in 16 OECD member economies during most recent financial crisis i.e. global financial crisis (2008-2009) and European sovereign debt crisis (2009-2012), using multivariate asymmetric dynamic conditional correlation model developed by Cappiello et al. (2006). The empirical analyses provide substantial evidence of shifts in the dynamic correlations and hence reconfirm shift-contagion during the global financial crisis that originated from U.S. However, there is no evidence in support of shift-contagion during the European sovereign debt crisis which originated from events in Greece. The results provide important implications for investors and policy makers

Autonomous tawaf crowd simulation

Crowd simulation is an exciting research area that has a wide range of applications in multiple fields such as: serious games, crowd management, facilities design, entertainment, research and development. One of the most famous approaches to simulate a large density crowd is by applying the social force model. This model can be successfully used to simulate agents’ movement in real-world scenarios realistically. Nevertheless, this is very simple and not suitable to simulate a complex pedestrian flow movement. Hence, this research proposes a new novel model for simulating the pilgrims’ movements circumambulating the Kaabah (Tawaf). These rituals are complex yet unique, due to its capacity, density, and various demographics backgrounds of the agents (pilgrims). It is also consist a certain set of rules and regulations that must be followed by the agents. Due to these rules, the Tawaf can introduce irregularities in the motion flow around the Kaabah. In order to make the simulations as close as possible to real world scenarios, each agent will be assigned with different attributes such as; age, gender and intention outlook. The three parameter mentioned above, are the main problem that need to be solved in this research in order to simulate a better crowd simulation than previous studies. The findings of this research will contribute greatly for Hajj management in term of controlling and optimizing the flow of pilgrims during Tawaf especially in the Hajj season. It is also have high contribution in Hajj training especially in developing a virtual Hajj training system. The virtual Hajj system can be used to teach and prepare the pilgrims before going to Mecca and perform the actual Hajj

A new route maintenance strategy for dynamic source routing protocol

Although DSR can respond a route quickly, it yields a long delay when a route is rebuilt. This is because when source node receives RERR packet, it will try to find alternative routes from route cache. If alternative routes are not available, source node, then, will enter route discovery phase to find new routes. In this paper we introduce a new route maintenance strategy by utilizing location information. We called this new route maintenance strategy as DISTANCE (Distance baSed rouTe maintenANCE). DISTANCE works by adding another node (called bridge node) into the source list to prevent the link from failure. From the simulation result, DISTANCE improves the performance of DSR in terms of packet sending ratio and delay

Mobility models towards the performance of geographical-based route maintenance strategy in DSR

In the future, Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET)s are expected to be deployed in myriads of scenarios having complex node mobility and connectivity dynamics. Unfortunately, these complex movement scenarios give a tough challenge to the MANET routing protocol. We reviewed some mobility models that have different mobility characteristic, and also studied the effect of these mobility models towards the performance of geographical-based route maintenance strategy in the Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) protocol

The Impact of Dumping Policy on the Food Gap of Chicken Meat in Iraq For the Period (2004-2019) - Turkish Imports Of Chicken Meat a Case Study

Purpose: As a result of the sudden and ill-considered trade openness of Iraq after 2003 to the countries of the world in general and the neighboring countries in particular, and in the absence of the necessary support for the national productive forces and the lack of effective standardization and quality control devices, this led to the exposure of most local products, especially agricultural ones, to decline and inability On the competition and thus dumping the Iraqi market, especially the agricultural products, with imported products, this study came to find out the effect that dumping has on the local production of chicken meat and the impact of that impact on the size of the food gap, and whether the results of the practical study will be in accordance with the logic of economic theory.   Theoretical framework: The concept of dumping, its causes and the difference between it and competition, the WTO position of dumping, and the concept of the food gap were also discussed.   Design/methodology/approach: The data was collected from its official sources, and then the mathematical equations were developed according to economic theory and logic, and using the (EViews) program, the final results were obtained, which were compatible with the logic of economic theory.   Findings: The results of the study proved that when the dumping of chicken meat increased by (1%), the food gap of chicken meat increased by (5.1%).   Research, Practical & Social implications: This study contributes to proving the negative impact of dumping resulting from commercial exposure or unstudied commercial openness, and thus its impact on the food security of the Iraqi community. Originality/value: This research is the first of its kind in the field of agricultural economics, as it links the food gap and dumping policy in a theoretical and practical way

Open Reduction and Internal Fixation with a Small T-plate for Volar Barton Fracture Management

Background: One-sixth of all fractures in the emergency room are distal radius fractures. It is very important to recognize and adequately treat volar Barton fractures to avoid complication of malunion and its adverse effects. Although various fixation techniques have been described, with the plate, the patient can begin early active wrist workouts performing stable reduction. Objective: Open reduction and small T-plate internal fixation of a distal radius volar Barton fracture were used to evaluate the functional outcomes for the fracture treatment. Patients and Methods: At Zagazig University Hospital, 30 patients with a volar Barton fracture were studied in prospective interventional research, the study was carried out through six months. Preoperative X-ray and CT were done and the patient was prepared for surgery. By adopting an FCR technique (flexor carpi radialis approach), the fracture was reduced, the plate was fixed, and the image intensification was utilized for confirming the results. Results: Mean operative time was 54.1±8.47 and of 30 patients operated upon, 16 patients were discharged one day after operation while the mean time lapse before surgery was 1.3±0.53. The mean time of bone union was 6.5±0.89 weeks (range 5-8 weeks). There was a significant improvement in wrist range of motion in all directions postoperatively. 2 patients (6.7%) had superficial infection, 1 patient (3.3%) had tourniquet paralysis, 1 patient had stiffness (3.3%) and another had mal-united fracture (3.3%). Conclusion: Volar distal buttressing with the Ellis T plate is easy and inexpensive, and it delivers good functional benefits. Simplistic and low-complication procedure provides precise anatomical reduction of the fracture and restoration of the wrist's shape and function