Object tracking using motion flow projection for pan-tilt configuration

We propose a new object tracking model for two degrees of freedom mechanism. Our model uses a reverse projection from a camera plane to a world plane. Here, the model takes advantage of optic flow technique by re-projecting the flow vectors from the image space into world space. A pan-tilt (PT) mounting system is used to verify the performance of our model and maintain the tracked object within a region of interest (ROI). This system contains two servo motors to enable a webcam rotating along PT axes. The PT rotation angles are estimated based on a rigid transformation of the the optic flow vectors in which an idealized translation matrix followed by two rotational matrices around PT axes are used. Our model was tested and evaluated using different objects with different motions. The results reveal that our model can keep the target object within a certain region in the camera view

The Effect of Job Satisfaction on Turnover Intention Among the Sales Representative Workers in Pharmacuetical Retailing Stores in Amman

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention among sales representative workers, also to identify whether there is dominant dimension of job satisfaction that has higher effect than other dimensions related to turnover intention, moreover to determine if there is significant difference of demographic characteristics. The research done by mean of survey, a questionnaire was distributed to 200 randomly selected respondents. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 12. The findings indicate that there is significant negative relationship between the five dimensions of job satisfaction and turnover intention. Pay satisfaction is the dominant dimension that has the highest influence on turnover intention. It was found that gender, number of working years and education level have significant differences, while age and salary have not significant differences with turnover intention

Staple Line Polyposis and Cytomegalovirus Infection after Stapled Haemorrhoidectomy

Early bleeding after stapled haemorrhoidectomy (SH) is not uncommon. Late and persistent bleeding occurring weeks or months after SH, however, is rare; it has only been described in more than 10% of cases. It is attributed to the development of inflammatory polyps at the staple line. Occurrence of rectal bleeding in the presence of palpable polypoid lesions at the stapled anastomotic line can cause diagnostic confusions, and it is not uncommon that such lesions are initially confused with rectal carcinoma. We report a case of a 38-year-old male who presented with persistent rectal bleeding some 6 months after SH performed in another hospital. Rectal and colonoscopic examinations revealed polypoid lesions at the anastomotic line. The biopsy failed to confirm malignancy, but identified cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. The development of multiple inflammatory polypoid lesions in conjunction with CMV infection at the stapled anastomotic line has caused a diagnostic confusion, but – after exclusion of cancer – this complication was efficiently treated by CMV infection eradication combined with surgical excision of the remaining polyps due to persistence of bleeding. This case is reported to highlight late bleeding due to inflammatory polyps after SH and to increase the awareness of surgeons and gastroenterologists of this benign but somewhat common complication

Entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana reduce the survival of Xenopsylla brasiliensis larvae (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae).

Entomopathogenic fungi, particularly those belonging to the genera Metarhizium and Beauveria have shown great promise as arthropod vector control tools. These agents, however, have not been evaluated against flea vectors of plague. A 3-h exposure to the fungi coated paper at a concentration of 2 × 108 conidia m-2 infected >90% of flea larvae cadavers in the treatment groups. The infection reduced the survival of larvae that had been exposed to fungus relative to controls. The daily risk of dying was four- and over three-fold greater in larvae exposed to M. anisopliae (HR = 4, p<0.001) and B. bassiana (HR = 3.5, p<0.001) respectively. Both fungi can successfully infect and kill larvae of X. brasiliensis with a pooled median survival time (MST±SE) of 2±0.31 days post-exposure. These findings justify further research to investigate the bio-control potential of entomopathogenic fungi against fleas.\ud \u

A Haptic feedback system based on leap motion controller for prosthetic hand application

Leap Motion Controller (LMC) is a gesture sensor consists of three infrared light emitters and two infrared stereo cameras as tracking sensors. LMC translates hand movements into graphical data that are used in a variety of applications such as virtual/augmented reality and object movements control. In this work, we intend to control the movements of a prosthetic hand via (LMC) in which fingers are flexed or extended in response to hand movements. This will be carried out by passing in the data from the Leap Motion to a processing unit that processes the raw data by an open-source package (Processing i3) in order to control five servo motors using a micro-controller board. In addition, haptic setup is proposed using force sensors (FSR) and vibro-motors in which the speed of these motors is proportional to the amount of the grasp force exerted by the prosthetic hand. Investigation for optimal placement of the FSRs on a prosthetic hand to obtain convenient haptic feedback has been carried out. The results show the effect of object shape and weight on the obtained response of the FSR and how they influence the locations of the sensors

Infecciones del espacio orofacial, etiología, susceptibilidad microbiológica y manejo quirúrgico.

Orofacial infections are considered as one of most common infections and need rapid and adequate treatment as they affect a very delicate region and are associated with serious life-threatening complications. Orofacial infections can be either odontogenic that is with an origin in teeth and associated structures or non-odontogenic, not associated with teeth, can affect facial spaces and spread from one space to another, so a good knowledge about diagnosis and treating these infections is of utmost importance, and can include both non-surgical and surgical treatment. The aim of our study was to determine the most common cause of orofacial infections, the most common bacterial microorganisms and their antibiotic susceptibility. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was undertaken in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Al-Shaheed Ghazi Al-Hariry Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq from 1st January to 30th September 2015. This study included 45 patients with different forms of orofacial infections; data regarding age, gender, underlying cause, facial space involvement, presenting signs were collected through history, clinical examination and radiographs, incision and drainage with swab sample for culture and sensitivity test was performed. Results: Patients with orofacial infections showed a female to male ratio of 1.25:1. The mean age was 32.8 years. Most of the patients were in their 4th decade of life (27%). Most infections were odontogenic in origin (62%), the most common facial space involved was submandibular (65%), the most common isolated microorganism was Streptococcus pyogenes (59%), and most patients were treated using an extra-oral surgical approach (78%). Antibiotics to which bacterial isolated showed the most sensitivity were netilmicin, cefoperazone and rifampicin (91%). Pain and limitation of mouth opening gradually decreased in most of patients during the two weeks follow up period. Conclusion: Orofacial infections were more common in females, in the third and fourth decade of life, were odontogenic in origin, were mostly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, and most isolates were susceptible to netilmicin, cefoperazone and rifampicin. Pain and trismus decreased over two weeks post-treatment.Las infecciones orofaciales se consideran una de las infecciones más comunes y necesitan un tratamiento rápido y adecuado, ya que afectan una región muy delicada y se asocian con complicaciones graves que amenazan la vida. Las infecciones orofaciales pueden ser odontogénicas que se originan en los dientes y las estructuras asociadas, o no odontogénicas, no asociadas con los dientes, pueden afectar los espacios faciales y propagarse de un espacio a otro, por lo que un buen conocimiento sobre el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de estas infecciones es de suma importancia, y puede incluir tratamiento no quirúrgico y quirúrgico. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue determinar la causa más común de infecciones orofaciales, los microorganismos bacterianos más comunes y su susceptibilidad a los antibióticos. Material y Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo en el Departamento de Cirugía Oral y Maxilofacial, Hospital Al-Shaheed Ghazi Al-Hariry, Bagdad, Iraq del 1 de enero al 30 de septiembre de 2015. Este estudio incluyó a 45 pacientes con diferentes formas de infecciones orofaciales; Se recopilaron datos sobre edad, sexo, causa subyacente, afectación del espacio facial, signos de presentación a través de la historia, examen clínico y radiografías, incisión y drenaje con muestra de hisopo para cultivo y prueba de sensibilidad. Resultado: Los pacientes con infecciones orofaciales mostraron una relación mujer/hombre de 1.25: 1. La edad media fue de 32,8 años. La mayoría de los pacientes estaban en su cuarta década de vida (27%). La mayoría de las infecciones fueron de origen odontogénico (62%), el espacio facial más común involucrado fue submandibular (65%), el microorganismo aislado más común fue Streptococcus pyogenes (59%), y la mayoría de los pacientes fueron tratados con un abordaje quirúrgico extraoral (78%). Los antibióticos a los que las bacterias aisladas mostraron mayor sensibilidad fueron netilmicina, cefoperazona y rifampicina (91%). El dolor y la limitación de la apertura de la boca disminuyeron gradualmente en la mayoría de los pacientes durante el período de seguimiento de dos semanas. Conclusión: Las infecciones orofaciales fueron más comunes en las mujeres, en la tercera y cuarta década de la vida, fueron de origen odontogénico, fueron causadas principalmente por Streptococcus pyogenes y la mayoría de los aislamientos fueron susceptibles a la netilmicina, cefoperazona y rifampicina. El dolor y el trismo disminuyeron durante las dos semanas posteriores al tratamiento

Developing A Process Framework For Managing The Realization Of Information Technology Benefits For Construction Companies

Construction companies are spending large amounts of money being to realize IT. However, they are achieving less-than-expected benefits. This research explores the current procedures for realizing IT benefits, identifying realized IT benefits, identifying Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for managing the realization of IT benefits, and developing a conceptual process framework for managing the realization of IT benefits. The study based its conceptual framework on a comprehensive review of the literature on managing the realization of IT benefits

A Real Time Visual Monitoring Module For Traffic Conditions Based On A Modified Auto-Associative Memory

A new trend of traffic light monitoring module is the module that uses real time visual data and a computer vision approach to reflect the traffic conditions (crowded, normal and empty). This approach determines the traffic conditions by counting the number of vehicles individually on the street with the use of complex techniques. However this gives rise to some limitations. These limitations can be tackled when a multitude of vehicles in the street is detected as a group rather than individually. Such a technique can be achieved by using the auto-associative memory

Restraint of polygamy in jurisprudence and law: A Comparative study

Polygamy is a subject addressed in Sharia that has been established by the Holy Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah. Islamic jurists have debated about this subject in terms of its obligation, permissibility and revocability. To enjoy this right, a man has to be obligated to the legal controls, such that he should be able to maintain more than a wife. Moreover, this person is to take into account social, economic, psychological and health-related aspects of his life and make sure that he is able to maintain justice between all his wives. Furthermore, the man must have no more than four wives, and must avoid marring two or more relatives at the same time. If a man is obligated to these legal controls, his behavior will be regarded as legitimate and consequently, he will achieve the legal objectives, among which are achieving social balance, and solving problems related to celibacy, divorced women, and widows. Illustrating these advantages should not imply that there is no damage accompanying polygyny. Rather, the damage of polygyny is insignificant compared to the objectives achieved. The present study aims to investigate the degree to which the guardian is legitimated to interfere, as a result of his authority, in the obligation of the husband to the legal controls related to polygyny. This interference by the wise lawgiver is to ensure that this polygyny has achieved its intended objectives. If the guardian finds out that this permissible act is accompanied by damage, he must, employing his authority, interfere and circumscribe this act. This interference adheres to legal controls. In other words, the wise lawgiver legitimized polygyny for significant purposes. However, if the man is not obligated to the legal controls, this will be accompanied by drawbacks. Therefore, the guardian will interfere in order to ensure that these controls are obligated and thus, avert the aforesaid drawbacks and achieve the objectives of this legislation––which are significant at all times and in all places. To achieve the objective of the present research, the inductive, comparative method was employed. A number of results were revealed in the present study, the paramount of which are that the Islamic law aims to achieve the goals of mankind. Hence, if the guardian figures out that there is a harm accompanying a permissible act, he is permitted to interfere in accordance with the legal controls that are determined by jurists and aim to benefit the person and society. Key words: Restraint, polygamy, jurisprudence, law

Aetiological spectrum, injury characteristics and treatment outcome of multiple injuries at a tertiary care hospital in Tanzania

Background: Multiple injuries constitute a public health problem and contribute significantly to high morbidity, mortality and long-term disabilities worldwide. This study describes the etiological spectrum, injury characteristics and treatment outcome of multiple injuries at a tertiary care hospital in Tanzania.Methods: This was a descriptive prospective study involving multiple injury patients admitted to Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) from March 2013 to June 2013 inclusive.Results: Out of 712 trauma patients who were admitted to BMC during the study period, 150 (21.1%) had multiple injuries. Their male to female ratio was of 2.3:1. The majority of patients were in the second decade of life. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) were the most common (93.3%) cause of injury. The majority of patients, 142 (94.7%) sustained blunt injuries. Twelve (8.0%) patients had pre-hospital care. The limbs (89.2%) and the head (78.7%) were the most common body regions injured. The majority of patients (85.3%) sustained severe injuries (ISS ≥ 16). Out of 150 patients, 46 (30.7%) had 65 missed injuries. A total of 142 (94.7%) patients were treated surgically. Wound debridement (87.3%) was the most common surgical procedure performed. The complication and mortality rates were 54.7% and 38.7%, respectively. The overall median length of hospital stay (LOS) was 23 days. Co-morbid illness, HIV positivity, CD4 count (≤ 200 cells/μl), severe trauma (ISS ≥ 16), admission Systolic Blood Pressure &lt; 90 mmHg, missed injuries and surgical site infection significantly influenced mortality (P &lt; 0.001). Patients who developed complications and those who had long bone fractures stayed longer in the hospital (p &lt; 0.001).Conclusion: Road traffic accidents remain a major cause of multiple injuries at BMC and contribute significantly to unacceptably high morbidity and mortality. Urgent preventive measures targeting at reducing the occurrence of road traffic accidents is necessary to reduce the incidence of multiple injuries in our centre