APPLICATION OF FUZZY-MLP MODEL TO ULTRASONIC LIVER IMAGE CLASSIFICATION

In this paper, we propose the application of fuzzy-MLP in theclassification of ultrasonic liver images. The four sets of ultrasonic liverimages used in the experiment are: normal, liver cysts, alcoholic cirrhosisand carcinoma.To deal with the sample images efficiently, we extract textural features fromthe Pathology Bearing Regions (PBRs) of the ultrasound liver images. Theselected features for the classification are entropy, energy and maximumprobability-based texture features extracted using gray level co-occurrencematrix second-order statistics. The fuzzy-MLP model is constructed for theselected features classify various categories of ultrasonic liver images.The efficacy of Fuzzy-MLP model and conventional artificial neural network(ANN) has been compared on the basis of the same feature vector. A testwith 82 training data and 110 test data for all the four classes shows 92.73%classification accuracy for the proposed fuzzy-MLP model. It is comparedwith the 81.82% counterpart provided by conventional ANN method

Comparative of Ziegler Nichols, Fuzzy Logic and Extremum Seeking Based Proportional Integral Derivative Controller for Quadcopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Stability Control

Unmanned aerial vehicle is potentially recognized in autonomous sectors where intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance missions, power line inspection, aerial video, search and rescue monitoring devices are required. It is essential in modern era control and monitoring especially a rotary unit where quadcopter performed a crucial task. However, the flight behavior of a quadcopter is determined by the synchronous speed of each of the motors as the speed changes with load torque variations. The dynamics model equation of the system, external disturbances and its parameters variation of the motor makes it difficult for the manual tuning techniques employed into the system to perform its stability operation. The purpose of this work is to employ adaptive controllers to enhance the stability performance so as to prevent the risk of human lives and financial implication that may arise from improper monitoring of the system. Therefore, Ziegler Nichols, fuzzy logic and extremum seeking controllers were employed to auto-tuned the parameters of proportional integral derivative (PID) gains controller to optimize and give a satisfactory performance of motor speed control at different operating condition. The altitude, pitch, roll and yaw parameters of the quadcopter are simulated using the x-plane II flight simulator MATLAB tools. The simulation results presented in this work show better performance for extremum seeking-PID in terms of decrease in rise time, settling time and overshoot relative to Zigler-Nichols-PID and Fuzzy-PID controllers

Tissue dyslipidemia in salmonella-infected rats treatTissue dyslipidemia in salmonella-infected rats treated with amoxillin and pefloxac

Background: This study investigated the effects of salmonella infection and its chemotherapy on lipid metabolism in tissues of rats infected orally with Salmonella typhimurium and treated intraperitoneally with pefloxacin and amoxillin. Methods: Animals were infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strain TA 98. After salmonellosis was confirmed, they were divided into 7 groups of 5 animals each. While one group served as infected control group, three groups were treated with amoxillin (7.14 mg/kg body weight, 8 hourly) and the remaining three groups with pefloxacin (5.71mg/kg body weight, 12 hourly) for 5 and 10 days respectively. Uninfected control animals received 0.1ml of vehicle. Rats were sacrificed 24h after 5 and 10 days of antibiotic treatment and 5 days after discontinuation of antibiotic treatment. Their corresponding controls were also sacrificed at the same time point. Blood and tissue lipids were then evaluated. Results: Salmonella infection resulted in dyslipidemia characterised by increased concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) in plasma and erythrocyte, as well as enhanced cholesterogenesis, hypertriglyceridemia and phospholipidosis in plasma, low density lipoprotein-very low density lipoprotein (LDL-VLDL), erythrocytes, erythrocyte ghost and the organs. The antibiotics reversed the dyslipidemia but not totally. A significant correlation was observed between fecal bacterial load and plasma cholesterol (r=0.456, p<0.01), plasma triacyglycerols (r=0.485, p<0.01), plasma phospholipid (r=0.414, p<0.05), plasma free fatty acids (r=0.485, p<0.01), liver phospholipid (r=0.459, p<0.01) and brain phospholipid (r=0.343, p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that salmonella infection in rats and its therapy with pefloxacin and amoxillin perturb lipid metabolism and this perturbation is characterised by cholesterogenesis

Effects of Phytohormone on Seed Germination, Seedling Vigour and the Phytochemical Contents of Three Cucurbits

Background and Objective: A comparative study was carried out on the effect of phytohormone on seed germination, seedling vigour and the phytochemical content of three cucurbits, which are Cucumis melo (L.), Lagenaria breviflora (Benth) and Citrullus lanatus (Thunb). Phytochemical analysis of air-dried, powdered epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the mature fruits were carried out, also the effects of varying concentrations of indole acetic acid (IAA), naphthal ene acetic acid (NAA) and gibberellic acid (GA 3) on germination and seedling vigour of these 3 cucurbits were investigated. The study is designed to obtain the inhibitory and the stimulatory effects of the 3 cucurbits used in this research. Materials and Methods: Treatments were arranged in 5 replicates and monitored for 16 days.Experiments were carried out in 9 cm petri dishes in the laboratory. Data were subjected to two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05. Means were compared using LSD. Results: The study revealed that the mean percentage germination and seedling vigour of Cucumis melo(C. melo) was significantly higher (p<0 .05) in the control than in 100-500 ppm concentrations of GA 3, IAA and NAA.Phenol was not detected in the epicarp and mesocarp of C. lanatus and seeds of L. breviflora. However, concentrations of phenol detected in the different parts of C. melo and Lagenaria breviflora( L. breviflora) (epicarp, mesocarp and seed) were not significantly different.The concentrations of the phytochemicals were significantly (p<0.05) different among the epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the cucurb its except for alkaloid. However, concentrations of phenol detected in the different parts of C. melo and L. breviflora were not significantly different(p>0.05). Tannin was not detected in the epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of the three cucurbits. Flavonoid was also significantly higher (p<0.05) in the epicarp of C. melo and L. breviflora than in their mesocarp and seeds. Conclusion: Conclusively, 0effects of varying concentrations of IAA, NAA and GA 3 was not significant on the parameters studied. Phytochemicals were detected in the epicarp,mesocarp and seeds of the cucurbits under investigation. This study revealed the phytochemical contents and the effects of hormones on the germination of seeds including the vitality of the seed produced

Determinants of maternal mortality in south-western Nigeria: Midwives’ perceptions

Background Maternal mortality remains one of Nigeria's most significant public health challenges. In order to address this issue sustainably, it is necessary to consider the perceptions of all stakeholders involved, including midwives. Objectives To examine the determinants of maternal mortality in south-western Nigeria from the midwife's perspective. Design A cross-sectional study was employed using mixed methods with a semi-structured questionnaire and an in-depth interview guide. Participants Quantitative data were obtained from 215 midwives using a convenience sampling technique. Qualitative data were obtained from 25 midwives from five government health centres, selected using a stratified sampling technique. Methods Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS Version 20 using descriptive and inferential statistics with 95 % confidence intervals, while qualitative data were analysed using thematic analyses. Findings The mean age and work experience of the participants were 35.2 ± 9.3 years and 8.4 ± 7.0 years, respectively. The midwives perceived that the main determinants of maternal mortality were postpartum haemorrhage (86.5 %), hypertensive disorder in pregnancy (80.9 %), mismanagement at mission homes/traditional birth attendant centres (MH/TBAs) (79.1 %) and sepsis (70.1 %). Some of the priority target areas to improve the well-being of pregnant women as identified by the midwives, were increased awareness of pregnancy danger signs (97 %), destigmatising caesarean section (CS) (96 %), regulation of MH/TBAs (92 %), and increased accessibility of hospitals (84 %). Findings from the qualitative data also affirmed that regulating MH/TBAs, destigmatising CS and subsidising healthcare expenses were prerequisites to curbing maternal mortality. Inferential analysis revealed that determinants such as unsafe abortion (p < 0.001), ectopic pregnancy (p = 0.001), domestic violence (p = 0.023), malaria (p = 0.029), short interbirth interval (p = 0.03), and patients’ negative perceptions of CS delivery (p = 0.036) were more commonly perceived to be associated with maternal mortality by younger midwives (age 17–34 years) compared with older midwives

Snake bites in Nigeria: A study of the prevalence and treatment in Benin City

Purpose: Although snake bites occur frequently in Benin City, the prevalence has not been documented. This study was therefore done to determine the prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and the orthodox treatment of victims. Methods: The study was retrospective and data on victims of snake bite covering a period of twenty years were obtained from the records as contained in the individual patients\' case files available at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Central Hospital, Benin City. Results: Males were twice more often bitten than females, and teenagers and youths in their early twenties constituted the peak age range of victims. Most victims (59.5%) were bitten in the bush or farm. The limbs were the commonest sites of bite with the feet (73.5%) and arms (20.9%) more frequently bitten; both the upper and lower right limbs were also more frequently bitten than the corresponding left limbs. All patients who showed symptoms of envenomation (68.3%) received polyvalent antivenom, 67.4% received antibiotics while over 90% of patients received antitetanus prophylaxis. Some of the patients (61.5 %) were treated with analgesics, while 17.2% and 82.3% received diazepam and intravenous fluids, respectively. Although there was a high degree of morbidity as shown by the long stay of many patients in the hospital (mean duration of stay by patients in hospital is 5.7±5.1 days; rang

Pancreatic Islet Transplantation

Islet transplantation offers hope to many patients with diabetes, who envision a life free of glucose checks and insulin injections. What are the barriers to its widespread implementation

GC-MS Analysis, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Extracts of the Aerial Parts of Conyza sumatrensis

Phytochemical analyses as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the extracts of C. sumatrensis aerial parts were investigated in this study. METHODS: The aerial parts of C. sumatrensis were air dried, weighed and exhaustively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol successively. The crude extracts were screened for metabolites.  These extracts of the plant were evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities using agar  diffusion and DPPH method respectively. The extracts were also analysed using Gas chromatography – Mass spectrometry, and the chromatogram coupled with mass spectra of the compounds were matched with a standard library. RESULTS: Preliminary phytochemical investigation of  rude n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the aerial parts of Conyza sumatrensis revealed the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, tannin, glycosides and carbohydrate. All the crude  extracts gave a clear zone of inhibition against the growth of the test bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiellae pneumonae) at moderate to high  concentrations, as well as test fungi (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, penicillium notatum and  Rhizopus stolonifer) at high concentration. Methanolic extract exhibited significant radical scavenging  property with IC50 of 17.08 μg/mL while n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts showed no significant antioxidant activity. GC-MS of N-hexane extract showed a total number of eleven chemical constituents with α-Farnesene and spathulenol being the most abundance compounds constituting 20.27 and 22.28% of the extract respectively. Ethyl acetate extract revealed thirteen  compounds with two most abundant compounds, cis-β-farnesene (16.64 %) and cis-pinane (21.09 %). While  methanolic extract affords seventeen compounds with Ephytol being the most abundant compound  (19.36 %). © JASEMKeywords: Antimicrobial activity, Antioxidant, GC-MS analysis, Phytochemicals, Conyza sumatrensi

Evaluating a multi-component intervention to reduce and break up office workers' sitting with sit-stand desks using the APEASE criteria

Objective: Sedentary workplace interventions have had success in reducing excessive sitting time in office workers, but barriers to implementation and uptake remain. This study formally assessed a theory-derived, sit-stand desk intervention using the APEASE (Acceptability, Practicability, Effectiveness, Affordability, Side-effects, Equity) criteria. / Methods: Thirteen adults (eight female, mean age 38 ± 10 years) from the treatment arm of a sedentary behaviour intervention participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic codes were inductively assigned to data items followed by deductive charting using the APEASE criteria. / Results: The intervention was highly acceptable, practicable, safe to deploy, and helped workers reduce workplace sitting time, though individual preferences and workload mediated engagement. Affordability of sit-stand desks and Equity of access were potential barriers to uptake. / Conclusions: Through the lens of the APEASE criteria, this theory-derived, multi-component sit-stand desk intervention showed acceptability, practicability and effectiveness in reducing and breaking up sedentary time at work with minimal side effects. Using this approach with further tailoring and personalisation may help workers achieve greater reductions in workplace sitting, though affordability and equity should be considered further

Selective molecular recognition by nanoscale environments in a supported iridium cluster catalyst

The active sites of enzymes are contained within nanoscale environments that exhibit exquisite levels of specificity to particular molecules. The development of such nanoscale environments on synthetic surfaces, which would be capable of discriminating between molecules that would nominally bind in a similar way to the surface, could be of use in nanosensing, selective catalysis and gas separation. However, mimicking such subtle behaviour, even crudely, with a synthetic system remains a significant challenge. Here, we show that the reactive sites on the surface of a tetrairidium cluster can be controlled by using three calixarene–phosphine ligands to create a selective nanoscale environment at the metal surface. Each ligand is 1.4 nm in length and envelopes the cluster core in a manner that discriminates between the reactivities of the basal-plane and apical iridium atoms. CO ligands are initially present on the clusters and can be selectively removed from the basal-plane sites by thermal dissociation and from the apical sites by reactive decarbonylation with the bulky reactant trimethylamine-N-oxide. Both steps lead to the creation of metal sites that can bind CO molecules, but only the reactive decarbonylation step creates vacancies that are also able to bond to ethylene, and catalyse its hydrogenation