Radar HRRP Modeling using Dynamic System for Radar Target Recognition

High resolution range profile (HRRP) is being known as one of the most powerful tools for radar target recognition. The main problem with range profile for radar target recognition is its sensitivity to aspect angle. To overcome this problem, consecutive samples of HRRP were assumed to be identically independently distributed (IID) in small frames of aspect angles in most of the related works. Here, considering the physical circumstances of maneuver of an aerial target, we have proposed dynamic system which models the short dependency between consecutive samples of HRRP in segments of the whole HRRP sequence. Dynamic system (DS) is used to model the sequence of PCA (principal component analysis) coefficients extracted from the sequence of HRRPs. Considering this we have proposed a model called PCA+DS. We have also proposed a segmentation algorithm which segments the HRRP sequence reliably. Akaike information criterion (AIC) used to evaluate the quality of data modeling showed that our PCA+DS model outperforms factor analysis (FA) model. In addition, target recognition results using simulated data showed that our method based on PCA+DS achieves better recognition rates compared to the method based on FA

The effect of educational- counseling program on general health of women as caregivers of patient, with Alzheimerdisease

زمینه و هدف: ارائه مراقبت طولانی مدت به بیماران مبتلا به آلزایمر، با افزایش خطرات ابتلا به بیماری جسمی و روانی برای مراقبین همراه است و فقدان تعلیمات لازم نیز مشکلات سلامتی آنها را دو چندان نموده است. این مطالعه با هدف تعیین تاثیر برنامه آموزشی- مشاوره ای بر سلامت عمومی زنان مراقبت کننده از سالمندان مبتلا به آلزایمر انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این پژوهش تجربی، 150 زن 18 تا 60 ساله که از وابستگان درجه یک سالمندان مبتلا به آلزایمر بوده و مراقبت مستقیم از آنها را به مدت حداقل 6 ماه به عهده داشتند، با روش نمونه گیری آسان انتخاب شدند و پس از انجام پیش آزمون شامل پرسشنامه اطلاعات دموگرافیک و سلامت عمومی گلدبرگ، با روش تصادفی بلوکه شده، به شکل تصادفی در دو گروه آزمون و کنترل قرار گرفتند. گروه آزمون در یک برنامه آموزشی – مشاوره ای شامل یک جلسه بحث گروهی، دریافت یک پمفلت آموزشی و دو مشاوره تلفنی شرکت نمودند. 6 هفته پس از مداخله، پس آزمون برای هر دو گروه انجام گرفت. برای مقایسه متغیرها از آزمون های آماری t زوجی، t مستقل، کای اسکوئر و آنالیز واریانس یک طرفه استفاده شد. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد که قبل از برنامه آموزشی- مشاوره ای 3/17 از نمونه های مورد پژوهش سلامت عمومی نامطلوب داشتند. پس از انجام برنامه آموزشی- مشاوره ای میانگین سلامت عمومی در گروه آزمون از 3/15±68/39 به 03/10±09/19 تقلیل یافت (001/0

BUILDING RECONSTRUCTION BASED ON A SMALL NUMBER OF TRACKS USING NONPARAMETRIC SAR TOMOGRAPHIC METHODS

Nowadays, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) tomography (TomoSAR) technique plays a notable role in the 3D reconstruction of urban buildings through several SAR acquisitions with slightly different positions. Nonparametric-based TomoSAR spectral estimation algorithms usually work well when a large number of SAR observations. In this study, with a limited number of SAR images, we have assessed the efficiency of the nonparametric spectral estimation methods, including maximum entropy (ME), singular value decomposition (SVD), linear prediction (LP), Capon, minimum norm (MN), and beamforming (BF) in the reconstruction of the third dimension of urban buildings. The experiments are conducted on both simulated and TerraSAR-X stripmap images to indicate the effectiveness of the LP proposed estimation algorithm. The analysis of the results proves that by minimizing the average output signal power over the antenna array elements, the LP spectral estimation achieves the discrimination of distinct scatterers inside an image pixel. In addition, this low computational estimator improves the sidelobe suppression and the height estimates of the scatterers in the complex multiple-scattering urban environment. Compared to SVD, maximum entropy, Capon, minimum norm, and beamforming, the height of the Eskan tower in Tehran, Iran, obtained with the LP technique, is considerably near to field-based measurement

Influence of B cells in liver fibrosis associated with hepatitis B virus harboring basal core promoter mutations

The development of the liver disease in chronic hepatitis B with common viral variants can be determined through the interaction between the virus and the host immune response. B cells constitute half of the intrahepatic lymphocyte population with an impact on fibrosis. A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) has been shown to have a co-stimulatory activity on B cells. For this study HBV DNA was amplified and then sequenced to show the presence of the basal core promoter (BCP) mutations in the serum from 57 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The range of IgD-positive B cells was detected by immunohistochemistry in liver biopsies; and patients serum was assayed for APRIL levels by enzyme immunoassay. Twenty-seven patients (47.4) harbored the A1762T-G1764A BCP mutations. Coefficients of logistic regression showed that the effect of increasing IgD-positive B cells in rising odds of the liver disease is the same in the patients with BCP mutation A1762T-G1764A and in the patients without mutation, nevertheless the effect of APRIL is not similar in these two groups of patients. Logistic regression in patients with BCP A1762T-G1764A mutations demonstrated that increasing one score of APRIL decreased the odds of fibrosis stage about 8. These results suggest that in infection with viral variants of hepatitis B virus, the population of IgD-positive B cells may play a decisive role in later stages of the liver disease which is reduced by APRIL in chronic hepatitis patients with BCP mutations. J. Med. Virol. 84:18891896, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Hepatitis B knowledge and practices among Cambodian Americans.

Liver cancer occurs more frequently among Americans of Southeast Asian descent than any other group. This health disparity can be attributed to high rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We examined HBV awareness, knowledge about HBV transmission, HBV testing levels, and HBV vaccination levels among Cambodian Americans

Challenge of politico-economic sanctions on pharmaceutical procurement in Iran: a qualitative study

Background: Politico-economic sanctions over the recent years have led to significant challenges in the pharmaceutical supply chain (PSC) in Iran. Given the importance of the chain's resilience for the health system and its impact on accessibility, equity, and public health, this study was conducted to determine the major challenges facing pharmaceutical procurement in Iran after the imposition of these sanctions. Methods: This study was a qualitative research with a content analysis approach conducted in 2019. Eighteen policymakers and administrative managers in food and drug administration of two Iranian Medical Universities and Iran's Ministry of Health were included in the present study via snowball sampling and semi-structured interview. The data were analyzed using the framework analysis of MAX QDA10. Results: Five main themes and 15 sub-themes were identified, which addressed pharmaceutical supply chain challenges under politico-economic sanctions. These included the challenges in financing, purchasing, importing, and manufacturing domestic products in addition to storing and distributing medicines, along with challenges facing the general public, particularly patients. Conclusion: The results revealed that pharmaceuticals are not immune to politico-economic sanctions, although they are not directly subjected to them. Sanctions, similar to any economic crisis, can affect public health and limit their access to healthcare. Identifying supply chain challenges and planning to address them could help policymakers find solutions to enhance PSC resilience in the future

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of breast cancer screening among female health workers in a Nigerian urban city

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Late presentation has been observed as the hallmark of breast cancer in Nigerian women and an earlier onset has been reported in this population. This study was designed to assess the awareness of female health workers about risk factors and screening methods for early detection of breast cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among female health workers in the two major government health institutions in Benin City, Edo State capital in Nigeria.</p> <p>Data analysis was by SPSS version 10 and test of significance was done with differences considered significant at p < 0.05.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three hundred and ninety-three (393) female health workers out of five hundred and five eligible subjects completed and returned the questionnaires, giving a response rate of 77.8%. One hundred and two (26%) were Doctors, two hundred and fifty-four (64.6%) Nurses, and thirty-seven (9.4%) were Radiographers, Laboratory Scientists and Pharmacists. A high proportion of our respondents had very poor knowledge about risk factors for breast cancer (55%). The awareness of mammography as a diagnostic method was very high (80.7%), but an extremely low knowledge of mammography as a screening method was found. Mammography practice of only 3.1% was found among those above 40 years of age who qualify for routine annual screening. Relatively low knowledge (45.5%) about Breast Self Examination (BSE) as a screening method was found.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These female health workers who are expected to act as role models and educate the public had poor knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer and practice of breast cancer screening. There is very urgent need for regular update courses for health workers concerning breast cancer education including screening methods.</p

Illness perceptions and explanatory models of viral hepatitis B & C among immigrants and refugees: a narrative systematic review.

© 2015 Owiti et al.; licensee BioMed Central. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV) infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Many countries with traditionally low prevalence (such as UK) are now planning interventions (screening, vaccination, and treatment) of high-risk immigrants from countries with high prevalence. This review aimed to synthesise the evidence on immigrants' knowledge of HBV and HCV that might influence the uptake of clinical interventions. The review was also used to inform the design and successful delivery of a randomised controlled trial of targeted screening and treatment. METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, CINHAL, SOCIOFILE, PsycINFO & Web of Science) were systematically searched, supplemented by reference tracking, searches of selected journals, and of relevant websites. We aimed to identify qualitative and quantitative studies that investigated knowledge of HBV and HCV among immigrants from high endemic areas to low endemic areas. Evidence, extracted according to a conceptual framework of Kleinman's explanatory model, was subjected to narrative synthesis. We adapted the PEN-3 model to categorise and analyse themes, and recommend strategies for interventions to influence help-seeking behaviour. RESULTS: We identified 51 publications including quantitative (n = 39), qualitative (n = 11), and mixed methods (n = 1) designs. Most of the quantitative studies included small samples and had heterogeneous methods and outcomes. The studies mainly concentrated on hepatitis B and ethnic groups of South East Asian immigrants residing in USA, Canada, and Australia. Many immigrants lacked adequate knowledge of aetiology, symptoms, transmission risk factors, prevention strategies, and treatment, of hepatitis HBV and HCV. Ethnicity, gender, better education, higher income, and English proficiency influenced variations in levels and forms of knowledge. CONCLUSION: Immigrants are vulnerable to HBV and HCV, and risk life-threatening complications from these infections because of poor knowledge and help-seeking behaviour. Primary studies in this area are extremely diverse and of variable quality precluding meta-analysis. Further research is needed outside North America and Australia