A feature-based approach for monocular camera tracking in unknown environments

© 2017 IEEE. Camera tracking is an important issue in many computer vision and robotics applications, such as, augmented reality and Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM). In this paper, a feature-based technique for monocular camera tracking is proposed. The proposed approach is based on tracking a set of sparse features, which are successively tracked in a stream of video frames. In the developed system, camera initially views a chessboard with known cell size for few frames to be enabled to construct initial map of the environment. Thereafter, Camera pose estimation for each new incoming frame is carried out in a framework that is merely working with a set of visible natural landmarks. Estimation of 6-DOF camera pose parameters is performed using a particle filter. Moreover, recovering depth of newly detected landmarks, a linear triangulation method is used. The proposed method is applied on real world videos and positioning error of the camera pose is less than 3 cm in average that indicates effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method

Growth, survival and stress resistance of tiger barb (Puntius tetrazona) larvae fed on linseed oil-enriched Artemia franciscana nauplii

Effect of feeding on linseed oil (LO)-enriched Artemia was investigated on growth, survival and stress resistance of tiger barb (Puntius tetrazona) larvae. Larvae were fed by LO-enriched (2.5, 5 and 7.5%) as well as non-enriched Artemia nauplii for 14 d, followed by 14 d feeding on non-enriched Artemia. Fish fed on enriched nauplii showed significant increase in growth performance at both 14th and 28th d. Also, fish fed on enriched Artemia, especially those fed on 7.5% LO, showed greater resistance in response to osmotic and hypoxia stress at 28th d. The results suggest that LO enriched Artemia nauplii are capable to promote growth and stress response in tiger barb larvae

Sensitivity or resistance to steroid therapy in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome is not associated with polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)

It's about years that the relation between renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAS) and involving enzymes such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) with nephrotic syndrome is under the focus of researchers and also there are a lot of meta-analyses. However there were few studies investigated the relation of ACE polymorphism and sensitivity or resistance to steroid therapy in children. So we intend to do that. In the current study the sample size was 40 children. Among them, 22 patients were sensitive and 18 patients were resistant to steroid therapy. The samples were collected from Ali-Asghar pediatric hospital in Tehran, Iran. We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the genotyping. After that, we used Chi-squared test for statistical analysis. The statistical analysis showed no significant correlation between ACE polymorphism and sensitivity or resistance to steroid therapy (P = 0.77). Although the frequency of DD genotype was higher in the resistant group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Finally we found that although based on previous studies, D allele and DD genotype are more frequent in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in comparison to healthy children, but the resistance or sensitivity to steroid therapy in children is not associated with ACE polymorphism. Further meta-analysis on the studies done on children is suggested. � 2016 Parisadat Ahmadi et al

The effect of diazoxide on ultrastructural changes following ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat brain

Background & Objective: Even today there is no effective drug therapy to prevent neuronal loss after brain stroke. In the present study we studied the effect of mitochondrial KATP channel regulators on neuronal ultrastructure after ischemia reperfusion in the rat. Materials & Methods: Rats temporarily subjected to four vessels occlusion for 15 minutes followed by 24 hours reperfusion with or without K-ATP channel regulators. Results: Neuronal ultrastructure significantly improved in K-ATP channel opener (diazoxide) treated ischemia-reperfusion group compared with control group. Conclusion: Our results showed that dizoxide treatment after ischemia reperfusion leads to better preservation of cortical neurons in rat

Association between socio-demographic factors and diabetes mellitus in the north of Iran: A population-based study

Objective: This study considers the prevalence of DM and some related factors among adults in the Golestan province (north of Iran) in 2006. Methods: This is a Cross-sectional-Descriptive and population-based study, carried out among 1999 cases (1000 men and 999 women) between 25 and 65 years old. Participants were chosen by cluster and stratified sampling in urban and rural areas. Data on socio-demographic factors were collected using questionnaire, and anthropometric and biochemical indexes were measured. Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) equal to or over 126 mg/dl was classified as type 2 DM. Results: Mean of age was 39.2 years and mean ± SD of FBS among men and women was 94.51 ± 32.91 and 98.2 ± 40.1 mg/dl, respectively. Prevalence of DM was 8.3% [(men = 6.8% and women = 9.7%), (urban = 10.5% and villages = 6.4%)]. Twenty-five percent of patients were undiagnosed as whole, 43% of patients were unaware of their problem, in men more than in women (48.5% versus 39.2%) and in rural area more than in urban area (35.1% versus 54.4%). We showed a positive and significant correlation between FBS and age, waist circumference and BMI (P = 0.01). Conclusion: DM was the one of the biggest health problems in the north of Iran, and half of them were unaware of their morbidity. DM was influenced by socio-demographic factors. © 2010 International Journal of Diabetes Mellitus. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Economical study of the grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) culture in the Golestan province

Striped grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) is a marine fish with high commercial value and widespread distribution. The grey mullet and some other mullets can be found in saltwater, brackish and fershwater habitats at tropical, subtropical and also temporal climates.This species is suitable for aquaculture worldwide due to living in wide ranges of water temperatures and salinities, acceptable growth rate, suitable food conversion ratio, marketability, suitable species for polyculture with shrimps, marine fish and even with freshwater carps. The grey mullet is farming in different countries such as Italy, Northern Africa countries ( Egypt), occupied Palestine, India, Pakistan, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, coastal countries of southern pacific ocean and Hawaii. Ten thousands of fries of this species (average weight and length of 280 mg and 28.3 mm respectively) imported in March 2008 from Egypt. The wild fries colleted from surrounding natural waters of Alexandria. After finishing the quarantine steps, they stocked in four earthern ponds (each with 2500 m2) located at the Gomishan shrimp educational centre at late march in 2008. At the first year of culture the densities were 5000 and 10000 individuals per hectar and each treatment with two replicates. At second years densities changed with 2000 and 2500 ind./hec. and each of traetments divided fishes with average primary weights of 80 and 115 grames. The fries and fish feeding begins in April when the water temperature rise above 18 °C and it cut in fall when the temperature goes under 20°C. They fed twice a day at 8 AM and 2 PM and the amount was 5-7 percents of the fish existent biomass in each ponds. They fed with dry formulated feed made of Mahdaneh Karadj Company (Danso dry feed) both the first and second years of farming. The feed prepared for carps feeding and containded 23±2% crude protein, 10±2% crude lipid, about 7% crude fiber, 15 % ash, 40±2% carbohydrates and with energy content of 4000±200 kcal/kg. After seven months culture period the average weight and length of fish in treatment 5000 ind/hec. were 113.7gr and 21.1cm respectively and in treatment 10000 ind./hec. the average weight and length were 86.6 gr and 19.6 cm respectively. At first year the average survival rate in different treatments was 77 percent. The average FCR in treatments 5000 and 10000 ind./hec. were 3.4 and 3.9 respectively. At second years after six months culture the average weights in pond no. 9 (with primary weight 115 gr and density 2000 ind./hec), pond no. 10 (with primary weight 80 gr and density 2000 ind./hec), pond no. 11 (with primary weight 115 gr and density 2500 ind./hec) and pond no. 12 (with primary weight 80 gr and density 2500 ind./hec) calculated as 476.6, 338.1, 366.5 and 440 gr respectively. The average survival rate and FCR were 93 % and 3.1 respectively. Ponds no. 9 and 11 (fish stocked with primary weight 115 gr in densities both 2000 and 2500 ind./hec) selected as the best economic efficient treatments

Assessment of dominant species food relation in habitats of commercial shrimp in Hormuzgan Province waters (Persian Gulf)

Shrimp is one of the most important aquatic animals,that have decreased their stocks in Hormozgan province, especially the eastern province . Evalution of food interaction in shrimp habitats (Estuaries of Tyab, Yek shabeh, Laft and Khouran) was studied with Ecopaht with Ecosim software (ver. 6.5) in Hormuzgan province. After entering the input components (Biomass,P/B and Q/B), model was balanced and outputs were extracted. Results of trophic levels, was close to previous research in these areas for all species in estuaries. Maximum of ecotrophic efficiency was belonged to phytoplankton and other preys that were observed in predator stomachs. Biological future of food web estimated to be threatened based on omnivore index of planktonivore groups. Maximum food competition between the four food models was estimated in detritivores communities in Laft estuary, that may be related to the low density of mangrove in this region. Khamir estuary ecosystem could be more stable, because each impacting group had its own separate ecological niche and special predation territory. key indices in each of four food models were related to phytoplankton communities, this key role has been demonstrated much better in Yek Shovy estuary than others. Future of commercial shrimp stocks will be expected to be in better condition in Khoran estuary compared to other three ones, due to selection of separate ecological niche by predators and High biomass of detritus in this estuary

Biomass estimation of demersal resources in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea by Swept Area Method

Regarding to monitor of demersal resources in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, and also biomass and CPUA estimation of them, a series of research cruises (5 cruises per year) were carried out by R/V Ferdows-1covering the area from 49 00 E in the west (Khoozestan provice) to 61 25 E in the east (Gwater) in a 5 years program form 2004 up to 2008 (no cruise in 2006). The study area was stratified into 17 strata (A to Q) of which 10 starta (A to J) were in the Persian Gulf and 7 strata (K to Q) were in the Oman Sea, covering the depths of 10-50m in the Persian Gulf and 10-100m in the Oman Sea. A total of 316 stations were randomly selected. The biomass and CPUA were estimated by Swept Area method. The comparison between two regions indicated that the percentage of density of demersal fishes in the Persian Gulf during years 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008 were 3.3, 3.9, 2.3 and 2.4 times more than the Oman Sea and totally 70-80% of total biomass was calculated for the Persian Gulf. Also a comparison among 17 starta, the highest biomass was found for starta C & D in the Bushehr province waters. The amount of CPUA for both regions of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea was compared and it was concluded that in years 2004 and 2005, the mean CPUA in the Persian Gulf was partially higher than the Oman Sea with 1.06 & 1.20 times more; and on the contrary for the next two years this value was higher in the Oman Sea with 1.3 times more. The highest CPUA of demersal resources for the Oman Sea belonged to the strata K & O for years 2004, 2007 and 2008 and for year 2005 was for L and strata. It can be concluded that the north-west of Oman Sea has the best condition of biomass of commercial and non-commercial species and the O stratum will be in the second ranking. With review the mean CPUA in different depth-layers for years 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, it was concluded that with increasing the depth, the mean CPUA is decreased in which the CPUA values in depth-layer 10-20m for these years were 8.3, 3.0, 2.1 & 1.6 times more than depth-layer 50-100m. The comparison of mean CPUA for 10 strata of the Persian Gulf showed that in years 2004 and 2005, the mean CPUA of demersal fishes in the Hormuzgan province waters was higher than in Bushehr province waters (1.2 times more). In total, the highest maen CPUA belonged to F (Naiband to Mogham) and G (Mogham to Farour) in Hormuzgan waters. On the contrary, in years 2007 and 2008 this value in Bushehr waters was 1.3 times higher than western part of Hormuzgan waters with the highest value in D stratum(Boordekhoon to Dayyer). Also the comparison of mean CPUA for different depth-layers, it was found that the mean CPUA has ascending trend with increasing the depth, with the highest value in depth-laer of 30-50m in which contains the 55-68% of total biomass. The lowest biomass is found in depth-layers of 10-30m. Totally, the minimum CPUA and biomass for both commercial and non-commercial species belonged to a stratum located in Khouzestan province waters and it was shown the over-exploitation of resources in this area. The comparison between commercial and non-commercial groups in both ecosystems , it was concluded that the density of commercial species was higher than non-commercial ones , and in all years the Persian Gulf indicated higher values than the Oman Sea

Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17 : analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea. Methods We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, to estimate posterior distributions of diarrhoea prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2017. From these data, we estimated the burden of diarrhoea at varying subnational levels (termed units) by spatially aggregating draws, and we investigated the drivers of subnational patterns by creating aggregated risk factor estimates. Findings The greatest declines in diarrhoeal mortality were seen in south and southeast Asia and South America, where 54·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·1–65·8), 17·4% (7·7–28·4), and 59·5% (34·2–86·9) of units, respectively, recorded decreases in deaths from diarrhoea greater than 10%. Although children in much of Africa remain at high risk of death due to diarrhoea, regions with the most deaths were outside Africa, with the highest mortality units located in Pakistan. Indonesia showed the greatest within-country geographical inequality; some regions had mortality rates nearly four times the average country rate. Reductions in mortality were correlated to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) or reductions in child growth failure (CGF). Similarly, most high-risk areas had poor WASH, high CGF, or low oral rehydration therapy coverage. Interpretation By co-analysing geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden and its key risk factors, we could assess candidate drivers of subnational death reduction. Further, by doing a counterfactual analysis of the remaining disease burden using key risk factors, we identified potential intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. In view of the demands for limited resources in LMICs, accurately quantifying the burden of diarrhoea and its drivers is important for precision public health

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010–19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

BACKGROUND: Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. METHODS: The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk–outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. FINDINGS: Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4·45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4·01–4·94) deaths and 105 million (95·0–116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44·4% (41·3–48·4) of all cancer deaths and 42·0% (39·1–45·6) of all DALYs. There were 2·88 million (2·60–3·18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50·6% [47·8–54·1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1·58 million (1·36–1·84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36·3% [32·5–41·3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20·4% (12·6–28·4) and DALYs by 16·8% (8·8–25·0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34·7% [27·9–42·8] and 33·3% [25·8–42·0]). INTERPRETATION: The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden