2D Face Recognition System Based on Selected Gabor Filters and Linear Discriminant Analysis LDA

We present a new approach for face recognition system. The method is based on 2D face image features using subset of non-correlated and Orthogonal Gabor Filters instead of using the whole Gabor Filter Bank, then compressing the output feature vector using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). The face image has been enhanced using multi stage image processing technique to normalize it and compensate for illumination variation. Experimental results show that the proposed system is effective for both dimension reduction and good recognition performance when compared to the complete Gabor filter bank. The system has been tested using CASIA, ORL and Cropped YaleB 2D face images Databases and achieved average recognition rate of 98.9 %

Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Assessment of Desalination Plants in Gaza City, Palestine

Gaza Strip is an area suffers from sharp deterioration in the water situation (both in terms of quality & quantity) due to high growth of population, rain shortage, sea water intrusion, industrial and agricultural activities. The bad situation leads to establish many commercial desalination plants, in order to contribute in the solution of water problems.The goal of this study is to assess the effects of desalination plants by analyzing the desalinated water chemically, bacteriology and physically.The results indicated that there is growth in the number of desalination plants in the last seven years, about half of the desalination plants located in the west of Gaza City. All of these plants depend on private wells as water source but there were large number of these wells not closed and also not protected well.It was found that 70 % of the desalination plants located in inappropriate sites (near facilities like schools, factories...). The pipe of discharge was fixed well in 72% of the trucks and the location of the generator was suitable in 76% of the trucks. Brine water disposal in 63% of the plants was in sewage. Most of the desalination plants were not disinfect the tanks, while 40.7% of the plants add chlorine to the water tanks. There is no any problem in the physiochemical parameters of the desalinated water where all the samples were according to the WHO standards. The problems were present in the brackish water, where all the samples have physiochemical parameters higher than the WHO standards. There was bacteriological contamination in 27% of the plants with FC, while 28.3% were contaminated of E coli bacteria because of the absence of disinfection. Keywords: Water, contamination, desalination, Palestin

The spectrum of phenotypes associated with mutations in steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1, NR5A1, Ad4BP) includes severe penoscrotal hypospadias in 46,XY males without adrenal insufficiency

OBJECTIVE. Hypospadias is a frequent congenital anomaly but in most cases an underlying cause is not found. Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1, NR5A1, Ad4BP) is a key regulator of human sex development and an increasing number of SF-1 (NR5A1) mutations are reported in 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD). We hypothesized that NR5A1 mutations could be identified in boys with hypospadias. DESIGN AND METHODS. Mutational analysis of NR5A1 in 60 individuals with varying degrees of hypospadias from the German DSD network. RESULTS. Heterozygous NR5A1 mutations were found in three out of 60 cases. These three individuals represented the most severe end of the spectrum studied as they presented with penoscrotal hypospadias, variable androgenization of the phallus and undescended testes (three out of 20 cases (15%) with this phenotype). Testosterone was low in all three patients and inhibin B/anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were low in two patients. Two patients had a clear male gender assignment. Gender re-assignment to male occurred in the third case. Two patients harbored heterozygous nonsense mutations (p.Q107X/WT, p.E11X/WT). One patient had a heterozygous splice site mutation in intron 2 (c.103-3A/WT) predicted to disrupt the main DNA-binding motif. Functional studies of the nonsense mutants showed impaired transcriptional activation of an SF-1-responsive promoter (Cyp11a). To date, adrenal insufficiency has not occurred in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS. SF-1 (NR5A1) mutations should be considered in 46,XY individuals with severe (penoscrotal) hypospadias, especially if undescended testes, low testosterone, or low inhibin B/AMH levels are present. SF-1 mutations in milder forms of idiopathic hypospadias are unlikely to be common

Modified prediction approach of strength of high strength polyolefin fiber reinforced concrete corbels

This paper aims to investigate the effect of polyolefin fibers on high strength reinforced concrete corbels using twelve specimens with different quantities of fibers and shear span-to-span ratios, all corbels were only tested vertically. Due to the addition of polyolefin fibers, the ultimate load-carrying capacity of corbels was significantly improved, according to the findings of this study and other relevant data. The limitations and insufficiency of the three techniques were proven by a comparison of current test results and anticipated values by the ACI 318 Code -19 rules for the tested specimens, the Strut and Tie Model, and the proposed method. The ultimate shear load of polyolefin fiber reinforced high strength concrete corbels with was determined to be best predicted by applying the Strut and Tie Model technique to account for the fibers' contribution to strength

Physicochemical and Microstructural Characterization of Injectable Load-Bearing Calcium Phosphate Scaffold

Injectable load-bearing calcium phosphate scaffolds are synthesized using rod-like mannitol grains as porogen. These degradable injectable strong porous scaffolds, prepared by calcium phosphate cement, could represent a valid solution to achieve adequate porosity requirements while providing adequate support in load-bearing applications. The proposed process for preparing porous injectable scaffolds is as quick and versatile as conventional technologies. Using this method, porous CDHA-based calcium phosphate scaffolds with macropores sizes ranging from 70 to 300 μm, micropores ranging from 5 to 30 μm, and 30% open macroporosity were prepared. The setting time of the prepared scaffolds was 15 minutes. Also their compressive strength and e-modulus, 4.9 MPa and 400 MPa, respectively, were comparable with those of the cancellous bone. Finally, the bioactivity of the scaffolds was confirmed by cell growth with cytoplasmic extensions in the scaffolds in culture, demonstrating that the scaffold has a potential for MSC seeding and growth architecture. This combination of an interconnected macroporous structure with pore size suitable for the promotion of cell seeding and proliferation, plus adequate mechanical features, represents a porous scaffold which is a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering

Low Incidence of Androgen Receptor Mutation Among Egyptian Children with Androgen Resistance

Introduction: In Egypt, disorders of sex development (DSD) constitute a significant entity among the birth defect list. Previous studies have reported that end organ androgen unresponsiveness, i.e. Androgen resistance, was the most prevalent underlying mechanism among Egyptian 46,XY DSD cases. Based on cytogenetic and hormonal diagnostic criteria as well as few sporadic case reports, it was proposed that androgen receptor (AR) defects [i.e. Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), OMIM#300068] might constitute a major etiology within this category. However, this has never been systematically ascertained through an AR molecular diagnostic approach. Aim of the Work: The current study aimed to assess the role of AR mutations as an underlying etiology among a sample of Egyptian 46,XY DSD pediatric patients presenting with androgen end organ unresponsiveness. Patients and Method: In the current study, 21 children [ag

Digital Reputation in the University Of Palestine: An Analytical Perspective of Employees' Point Of View

This study aims to identify the digital reputation at the University of Palestine: an analytical perspective of the employees ’point of view, where the researchers used the descriptive and analytical approach, through a questionnaire distributed to a sample of employees at the University of Palestine, where the size of the study population is (234) employees, and the size of The sample is (117) employees, of whom (90) employees responded. The study provided a theoretical framework for what the writers and researchers presented about the study variables, as well as a practical analytical framework for the opinions of employees at the University of Palestine. The digital reputation was expressed as an independent variable through its four indicators (feeling about the organization (satisfaction), admiration and respect, and trust, and social responsibility). The study found a set of results, the most important of which are: the existence of a high degree of digital reputation at the University of Palestine from the viewpoint of employees, and the absence of differences in the opinions of the study sample about digital reputation according to demographic variables. The study presented a set of recommendations, the most important of which are: The need for universities to enhance their digital reputation and raise its level

Promote the Practice of Global Pioneering Orientation for Employees of the University of Palestine

This study aims to identify the strengthening of the global entrepreneurial orientation practice for employees at the University of Palestine, where the researchers used the descriptive and analytical approach, through a questionnaire distributed to a sample of employees at the University of Palestine, where the size of the study population is (234) employees and the sample size is (117) Employees, of whom (90) employees responded. The study found a set of results, the most important of which are: that there is a good degree of global entrepreneurial orientation for employees, as the percentage reached (70.25%), and the results also showed that there are no statistically significant differences in the smart university transformation and their impact on the global entrepreneurial trend according to personal and organizational data. The study presented a set of recommendations, the most important of which are: The need to work to enhance the global entrepreneurial orientation of the university's employees