Context Driven Concept Based Image Retrieval

Several semantic image search schemes have been recently proposed to retrieve images from the web. However, the query context is regularly ignored in these techniques and hence, many of the returned images are not adequately relevant. In this paper, we make use of context to further confine the outcome of the semantic search engines. For this purpose, we propose a hybrid search engine which utilizes concept and context for retrieving precise results. In the proposed model, an ontology is exploited for annotating images and accomplishing search process in the semantic level. Furthermore, the query of the user is modified with the concepts available in the ontology. Next, we make use of search context of the user and augment the query with the information extracted from the user’s context to additionally eliminate irrelevant results. Experimental results show that the combination of concept and context is effective in retrieving and presenting the most relevant results to the user

Designing an Automated Timetable for University Courses Using Genetic Algorithms

Designing timetables, for example course timetables in an institute, is one of the most complicated and time-consuming challenges for personnel. Automating it, not only can help the personnel to manage their work better, but also can be considered as a desired sample to assess the ways of planning and to tackle the constraint satisfaction in artificial intelligence. In this paper, genetic algorithms are primarily studied and then it is applied for optimization of an imaginary faculty course timetable. The new designed algorithm is based on keeping the better chromosomes of the population and employing genetic operators on the others in order to improve the overall quality of genes. Some other amendments are also carried out to develop a more capable genetic algorithm for TT applications, compared to the standard one. According to the tests, the new GA algorithm will be more successful in generating high fidelity TTs which do not break any hard constraint. The proposed ideas, in this approach are applicable in other similar situations

Study of SG in rat brain hemisphere at normal and edema and its relationship with extracellular brain fluid

History and Objectives: Water content (WC) elevation of brain tissue has a direct relationship with the brain edema and determination of the water content of brain is very important. Since the alternation in WC of brain is related to the changes in the specific gravity (SG), the present investigation is carried out in order to determine SG of rat brain hemispheres at normal state and edema in order to obtain its relationship with brain water content. Materials and Methods: An experimental study was conducted and with the aid of MARMAROU method proper location is determined. A column of fluid from various layers with different SG values was obtained with the aid of paraffin and bromobenzene. Relationship between SGs and height of the column was determined. Brain tissue of rat was divided into two groups of control and experimental. Carotid arteries were closed in the experimental group for 30 minutes. Water content at both brain hemispheres in both groups by classic drying of tissue were measured and with the use fluid column, the specific gravity of each sample was determined. Relationship between SG and WC was assessed. A group of 10 rats were selected and their carotid arteries were blocked for 15 minutes in order to examine this relationship. 2 methods of drying and relationship between SG and WC were used to determine the water content and compared. Results: There was a significant difference in the WC and SG of brain tissue in both hemisphere in control and experimental groups (P<0.05). A linear relationship between SG and WC both brain hemisphere (r²=0.99) and SG dry tissue and SG of brain on both hemisphere was obtained. Assessment of relationship of SG and WC shows that significant difference in WC determined by classic dry method and WC calculated from SG values does not exist. Conclusion: With the use of paraffin and bromobenzene and creation of fluid column, a significant difference between height of column and SG exists and shows that this fluid is suitable for SG determination. There is a difference between WC and SG in two brain hemispheres. Further study is needed to investigate that underlying cause of this difference. In addition, each component of a given hemisphere ought to be studied

Effects of Vasodepressor vs. Vasopressor Arms of Renin Angiotensin System on Renal Hemodynamic Regulation in Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury; Sex Difference

The exact mechanisms involved in acute renal injury (AKI) due to renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) are not fully understood, although it has been shown that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may play an important role in IR-associated AKI. RAS is considered as one of the most important vasoactive systems of endocrine, paracrine and intracrine, which is important in the physiological regulation of cardiovascular function, blood pressure, fluid and electrolytes balance. This system exerts a set of beneficial or adverse vascular and renal effects. The two main arms of RAS include "ACE, angiotensin II, AT1 receptor" (vasoconstrictor arm) and "ACE2, angiotensin 1-7, AT2 receptor and Mas receptor" (vasodilator arm). IR and its outputs have been reported to be sex-dependent. On the other hand, systemic and local RAS function in the regulation of renal hemodynamics can also be affected by gender. In fact, sex and sex hormones affect sensitivity to angiotensin II and angiotensin 1-7. This review article examines the role of RAS receptors of the new vasopressor arm versus the classic vasopressor arm and their function interference, as well as sex differences and it's influence on renal blood flow in renal IR Injury. © 2022 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Computational Modeling of Uncertainty Avoidance in Consumer Behavior

Human purchasing behavior is affected by many influential factors. Culture at macro-level and personality at micro-level influence consumer purchasing behavior. People of different cultures tend to accept the values of their own group and consequently have different purchasing behavior. Also, people in the same culture have some differences in their purchases which can be described by their personal characteristics. Therefore, this paper studies Uncertainty Avoidance dimension of Hofstede culture model in consumer behavior as well as four personality traits. The consumer model includes three important module including perception, evaluation of the alternatives and post-purchase. Our experimental results show that people of high uncertainty avoidance tend to purchase the high quality products as well as famous brands to reduce the risk of their purchases. On the other hand, people in high uncertainty tolerant culture tend to purchase the new products. The paper discusses about the validity of the proposed model based on empirical dat

A Simple Semi-Dynamic Cooperative Bargaining Approach

The area of bargaining mechanisms has been well explored in both multi-agent systems and economics. In bargaining, participants raise/reduce their offers until an agreement is hopefully reached. In this dynamic environment, finding superior agreements without having the knowledge about the strategic private information of the counterpart is considerable. In this paper, we present a simple semi-dynamic cooperative bargaining, which deals with bargaining of single-buyer and single-seller in a multi-criteria single-good e-Marketplace. Both buyer and seller are equipped with medial agents that cooperatively want to win bargaining via a slight maneuver, over their own preferences that are unknown to each other. We show the results obtained using the simulation. This approach shows that the lack of intersection between threshold utility intervals of both parties does not necessarily yield a disagreement. On the other hand, if the party whose utility threshold is lower than the utility threshold of the other party makes the initial offer, the two parties will certainly have an agreement in a single round

Nephroprotective effect of estrogen and progesterone combination on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in ovariectomized female rats

Recently, we reported that estrogen (Es) has no beneficial effect on cisplatin (CP)-induced nephrotoxicity, but the role of progesterone (Pr) and the combination of Es and Pr are not yet well-defined. In this study, we investigated the protective role of Pr, and co-administration of Es/Pr on CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Eighty-six ovariectomized female Wistar rats were divided into 13 groups, and the experiments were performed in two phases. In Phase I, Groups 1–4 received 2, 5, 10, and 25 mg/kg, IM Pr dissolved in sesame oil every 5 days for four doses. Groups 5–8 had the same treatment regimen as Groups 1–4, but after the third injection the animals also received continuous dose of CP (2.5 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 8 days. Group 9, as the positive control group, received sesame oil instead of Pr plus CP. Group 10, as the negative control group, received sesame oil instead of Pr. After the most effective dose of Pr was determined in Phase I, Groups 11–13 in Phase II received 10 mg/kg Pr plus either 0.25, 0.5, or 1 mg/kg, IM estradiol valerate every 5 days for four doses. After the third injection, they also received a continuous dose of CP for 8 days. The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr), kidney tissue damage score (KTDS), and kidney weight (KW) increased and body weight (BW) decreased in the positive control group (P < 0.05). Administration of Pr (10 mg/kg) plus CP decreased KTDS and BW loss and KW. Co-administration of ES/Pr at specific doses improved Cr, BUN, and KTDS; and resulted in reduced CP-induced nephrotoxicity. The results obtained suggest that the beneficial effect of Pr on CP-induced nephrotoxicity is dose-dependent. In addition, combination of Es/Pr with a specific dose decreased CP-induced nephrotoxicity

Agent-Based Modeling of Consumer Decision making Process Based on Power Distance and Personality

Simulating consumer decision making processes involves different disciplines such as: sociology, social psychology, marketing, and computer science. In this paper, we propose an agent-based conceptual and computational model of consumer decision-making based on culture, personality and human needs. It serves as a model for individual behavior in models that investigate system-level resulting behavior. Theoretical concepts operationalized in the model are the Power Distance dimension of Hofstede’s model of national culture; Extroversion, Agreeableness and Openness of Costa and McCrae’s five-factor model of personality, and social status and social responsibility needs. These factors are used to formulate the utility function, process and update the agent state, need recognition and action estimation modules of the consumer decision process. The model was validated against data on culture, personality, wealth and car purchasing from eleven European countries. It produces believable results for the differences of consumer purchasing across eleven European countries