New feature preserving noise removal algorithm based on thediscrete cosine transform and the a prior knowledge of pixel type

In this paper, a new corrupted-pixel-identification (CPI) based estimation filter is presented. The method is especially useful for filtering clustered noise. After the corrupted pixels are identified by the CPI algorithm, the noisy subimage centered on a corrupted pixel is transformed into its discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain where the transformed subimage is approximated by its DC coefficient only. With the knowledge of the number of corrupted pixels in the subimage from the CPI algorithm, an estimation of the noise distribution can be made, from which the DC coefficient of the restored subimage can be determined. Hence, noise filtering is achieved. From the experimental results, we can show that the CPI-based estimation filter has three desirable characteristics: (1) it has superior noise removal performance over the conventional median filter and CPI-based median filter in filtering clustered noise; (2) it has good feature preserving property (better than conventional filters); and (3) the computing speed of the filter is almost three times faster than the conventional median filter.published_or_final_versio

Segmentation of color images based on the gravitational clustering concept

A new clustering algorithm derived from the Markovian model of the gravitational clustering concept is proposed that works in the RGB measurement space for color image. To enable the model to be applicable in image segmentation, the new algorithm imposes a clustering constraint at each clustering iteration to control and determine the formation of multiple clusters. Using such constraint to limit the attraction between clusters, a termination condition can be easily defined. The new clustering algorithm is evaluated objectively and subjectively on three different images against the K-means clustering algorithm, the recursive histogram clustering algorithm for color (also known as the multi-spectral thresholding), the Hedley-Yan algorithm, and the widely used seed-based region growing algorithm. From the evaluation, it is observed that the new algorithm exhibits the following characteristics: (1) its objective measurement figures are comparable with the best in this group of segmentation algorithms; (2) it generates smoother region boundaries; (3) the segmented boundaries align closely with the original boundaries; and (4) it forms a meaningful number of segmented regions. © 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.published_or_final_versio

Detection of vehicle occlusion using a generalized deformable model

This paper presents a vehicle occlusion detection algorithm based on a generalized deformable model. A 3D solid cuboid model with up to six vertices is employed to fit any vehicle images, by varying the vertices for a best fit. The advantage of using such a model is that the number of parameterized vertices is small which can be easily deformed. Occlusion is detected by recording the changes in the Area Ratio and the dimensions of the generalized deformable model. Our tests show that the new modeling algorithm is effective in detecting vehicle occlusion.published_or_final_versio

Atorvastatin correlates with decreased risk of esophageal cancer: A population-based casecontrol study from Taiwan

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the association between the use of statins and esophageal cancer in Taiwan.Methods: We designed a casecontrol study using database from the Taiwan National Health Insurance program. In all, 549 patients (cases) aged 20 years or older diagnosed recently with esophageal cancer, from 2000 to 2009, and 2,196 subjects (controls) without esophageal cancer participated in this study. The association between esophageal cancer and the use of statins and other co-morbidities was measured.Results: After adjustment for covariates, multivariate logistic regression showed that patients with a cumulative duration of ]12 months of using atorvastatin might have a reduced risk of esophageal cancer, compared with those who did not use statins (odds ratio [OR] 0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.040.56). The other statins could not show a significant association with esophageal cancer. Age (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.001.01), alcoholism (OR 3.83, 95% CI 3.014.89), and esophageal diseases (OR 4.60, 95% CI 3.466.12) were independent factors significantly associated with esophageal cancer.Conclusions: Use of atorvastatin ]12 months may correlate with an 86% reduction of esophageal cancer risk.Keywords: atorvastatin; esophageal cancer; stati

Atorvastatin correlates with decreased risk of esophageal cancer: A population-based casecontrol study from Taiwan

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the association between the use of statins and esophageal cancer in Taiwan.Methods: We designed a casecontrol study using database from the Taiwan National Health Insurance program. In all, 549 patients (cases) aged 20 years or older diagnosed recently with esophageal cancer, from 2000 to 2009, and 2,196 subjects (controls) without esophageal cancer participated in this study. The association between esophageal cancer and the use of statins and other co-morbidities was measured.Results: After adjustment for covariates, multivariate logistic regression showed that patients with a cumulative duration of ]12 months of using atorvastatin might have a reduced risk of esophageal cancer, compared with those who did not use statins (odds ratio [OR] 0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.040.56). The other statins could not show a significant association with esophageal cancer. Age (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.001.01), alcoholism (OR 3.83, 95% CI 3.014.89), and esophageal diseases (OR 4.60, 95% CI 3.466.12) were independent factors significantly associated with esophageal cancer.Conclusions: Use of atorvastatin ]12 months may correlate with an 86% reduction of esophageal cancer risk.Keywords: atorvastatin; esophageal cancer; stati

A randomised controlled study comparing the efficacy of once-daily triple therapy with twice-daily triple therapy in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori

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A study on the effect of COX-2 inhibitors on gastric mucosal prostaglandin synthesis

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Encoding of physics concepts: Concreteness and presentation modality reflected by human brain dynamics

Previous research into working memory has focused on activations in different brain areas accompanying either different presentation modalities (verbal vs. non-verbal) or concreteness (abstract vs. concrete) of non-science concepts. Less research has been conducted investigating how scientific concepts are learned and further processed in working memory. To bridge this gap, the present study investigated human brain dynamics associated with encoding of physics concepts, taking both presentation modality and concreteness into account. Results of this study revealed greater theta and low-beta synchronization in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during encoding of concrete pictures as compared to the encoding of both high and low imageable words. In visual brain areas, greater theta activity accompanying stimulus onsets was observed for words as compared to pictures while stronger alpha suppression was observed in responses to pictures as compared to words. In general, the EEG oscillation patterns for encoding words of different levels of abstractness were comparable but differed significantly from encoding of pictures. These results provide insights into the effects of modality of presentation on human encoding of scientific concepts and thus might help in developing new ways to better teach scientific concepts in class. © 2012 Lai et al

Databases in the Asia-Pacific Region: The Potential for a Distributed Network Approach

Background: This study describes the availability and characteristics of databases in Asian-Pacific countries and assesses the feasibility of a distributed network approach in the region. Methods: A web-based survey was conducted among investigators using healthcare databases in the Asia-Pacific countries. Potential survey participants were identified through the Asian Pharmacoepidemiology Network. Results: Investigators from a total of 11 databases participated in the survey. Database sources included four nationwide claims databases from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan; two nationwide electronic health records from Hong Kong and Singapore; a regional electronic health record from western China; two electronic health records from Thailand; and cancer and stroke registries from Taiwan. Conclusions: We identified 11 databases with capabilities for distributed network approaches. Many country-specific coding systems and terminologies have been already converted to international coding systems. The harmonization of health expenditure data is a major obstacle for future investigations attempting to evaluate issues related to medical costs.postprin