A survey on computer vision technology in Camera Based ETA devices

Electronic Travel Aid systems are expected to make impaired persons able to perform their everyday tasks such as finding an object and avoiding obstacles easier. Among ETA devices, Camera Based ETA devices are the new one and with a high potential for helping Visually Impaired Persons. With recent advances in computer science and specially computer vision, Camera Based ETA devices used several computer vision algorithms and techniques such as object recognition and stereo vision in order to help VIP to perform tasks such as reading banknotes, recognizing people and avoiding obstacles. This paper analyses and appraises a number of literatures in this area with focus on stereo vision technique. Finally, after discussing about the methods and techniques used in different literatures, it is concluded that the stereo vision is the best technique for helping VIP in their everyday navigation

The Effects of Sequential Versus Referential Montage Neurofeedback Amplitude Training on Qeeg Measures of Phase and Coherence.

An important clinical research question to be answered in the field of neurofeedback (NF) is whether amplitude training affects connectivity between cortical sites. This study hypothesizes that, following NF amplitude training, there will be a difference in QEEG coherence and phase measures between NF training done using referential montages and using sequential montages. The study examined case files of 16 adult clients from the University of North Texas Neurotherapy Lab who had received NF training that consisted of either referential or sequential placement amplitude training (no coherence training) and who received both pre- and post- treatment QEEGs. Sixty-eight percent of the cases consisted of referential placements, while 34% of the cases consisted of sequential placements. All frontal site phase and coherence abnormal z-scores at pre-treatment were converted to deviation scores and compared by general linear model analysis of variance to post-treatment deviation scores. Effect size r-values and eta square values indicate that differences between referential and sequential electrode placements after NF amplitude training are moderately high. This study shows that referential placements tend to increase phase scores and decrease coherence scores, while sequential placements tend to decrease phase scores and increase coherence scores

Spectrofluorimetric Determination of Human Serum Albumin Using Terbium-Danofloxacin Probe

A spectrofluorimetric method is proposed for the determination of human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) using terbium-danofloxacin (Tb3+-Dano) as a fluorescent probe. These proteins remarkably enhance the fluorescence intensity of the Tb3+-Dano complex at 545 nm, and the enhanced fluorescence intensity of Tb3+-Dano is proportional to the concentration of proteins (HSA and BSA). Optimum conditions for the determination of HSA were investigated and found that the maximum response was observed at: pH = 7.8, [Tb3+] = 8.5 × 10−5 mol L−1, [Dano] = 1.5 × 10−4 mol L−1. The calibration graphs for standard solutions of BSA, HSA, and plasma samples of HSA were linear in the range of 0.2 × 10−6 − 1.3 × 10−6 mol L−1, 0.2 × 10−6 − 1.4 × 10−6 mol L−1, and 0.2 × 10−6 − 1 × 10−6 mol L−1, respectively. The detection limits (S/N = 3) for BSA, HSA, and plasma sample of HSA were 8.7 × 10−8 mol L−1, 6.2 × 10−8 mol L−1, and 8.1 × 10−8 mol L−1, respectively. The applicability of the method was checked using a number of real biological plasma samples and was compared with the UV spectrometric reference method. The results was showed that the method could be regarded as a simple, practical, and sensitive alternative method for determination of albumin in biological samples

A case report of stomach and esophagus melanoma with liver metastases in a 63-year-old woman

BACKGROUND: Melanoma originates from melanocytes, which are dendritic pigmented cells. Malignant melanoma is divided into cutaneous and non-cutaneous types, and cutaneous one is the most common type. Gastric melanoma has rarely been reported, and is divided into primary and secondary categories.CASE REPORT: We report a 63-year-old woman with continues epigastric pain complaining of bloody defecation with elucidated blood, lack of appetite, weight loss, and icteric skin. She was a known case of hypertension, and a surgery of the left eye mass was done for her, which the patient's eye was discharged completely. The patient's biopsy sample was not sent for pathology, and there was no pathology result. The patient was evaluated with endoscopy because of epigastric pain of 6 months before. In addition to class A esophagitis, a nodule with an approximate dimension of 1 cm was seen in the Z-line of the esophagus, and two black lesions in the greater curvature of the stomach were seen, which biopsy of all these lesions was done. In the pathological study of biopsy specimens in a microscopic view, the replication of scattered hotspots in submucosa with atypical cells, large nuclei, and dark brown pigmentation were observed. In the immunohistochemistry study, HMB-25, Ki-67, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and S100 were positive. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with melanoma.CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates the importance of medical documentation in determining the origin of diseases. as, if there was documentary evidence of the evacuated eye mass, differentiation of the primary or metastatic melanoma was possible

Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) in Prediction of Computed Tomography Findings in Traumatic Brain Injury; a Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) is one of the promising candidates, with an acceptable diagnostic value for predicting head computed tomography (CT) scan findings. However, there has been a controversy between studies and still, there is no general overview on this. Therefore, the current systematic review and meta-analysis attempted to estimate the value of UCH-L1 in predicting intracranial lesions in traumatic brain injury.Methods: Two independent reviewers screened records from the search of four databases Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science. The data were analyzed in the STATA 14.0 statistical program and the findings were reported as a standardized mean difference (SMD), summary receiver performance characteristics curve (SROC), sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (95% CI).Results: Finally, the data of 13 articles were entered into the meta-analysis. The mean serum level of UCH-L1 was significantly higher in patients with CT-positive than in TBI patients with CT negative (SMD = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.12 to 2.23, I2 = 98.1%; p <0.0001). The area under the SROC curve for UCH-L1 in the prediction of intracranial lesions after mild TBI was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.80 to 0.86). Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio of serum UCH-L1 was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.92 to 0.99), 0.40 (95% CI: 0.30 to 0.51) and 19.37 (95% CI: 7.25 to 51.75), respectively. When the analysis was limited to assessing the serum level of UCH-L1 within the first 6 hours after mild TBI, its sensitivity and specificity increased to 0.99 (95% CI: 0.94 to 1.0) and 0.44 (95% CI: 0.38 to 0.052), respectively. In addition, the diagnostic odds ratio of 6-hour serum level of UCH-L1 in the prediction of intracranial lesions was 680.87 (95% CI: 50.50 to 9197.97).Conclusion: Moderate level of evidence suggests that serum/plasma levels of UCH-L1 have good value in prediction of head CT findings. It was also found that evaluation of serum/plasma level of UCH-L1 within the first 6 hours following TBI would increase its predictive value. However, there is a controversy about the best cutoffs of the UCH-L1

Exceptional Point Generated Robust Asymmetric High-Order Harmonics

We propose a metallic-silicon system with a complex optical potential modulated along the length of the waveguide for a robust higher harmonic generation. For right moving fields when the strength of non-Hermiticity becomes equal to the real part of the optical potential, the dynamical equations associated with modal field amplitudes in our proposed system are described by a Jordan form Hamiltonian. This ultimately will allow for a unidirectional higher frequency generation which always has a maximum value for a specific length of the waveguide irrespective of the geometrical imperfections in the design of the waveguide. Furthermore, the phase of the generated higher harmonic mode becomes independent of the coupling between the fundamental frequency and higher harmonic one. Unlike other proposed spatiotemporal modulated systems when the system has a Jordan form Hamiltonian, the fundamental mode remains reciprocal while the harmonic generation is non-reciprocal. Consequently, while the proposed device cannot be used as an optical isolator it can be used for many other devices such as laser cavities, interferometry, and holographic processes

A New Study on the Number of Shahnameh’s Verses Another Answer to the Reason for the Difference between the Known Number and the Actual Quantity of Shahnameh

From a long time ago until now, with referencing to the common narrations and the three verses attributed to Ferdowsi, Shahnameh has been famous for having sixty thousand or nearly sixty thousand verses; while the number of verses in the oldest manuscripts, as well as valid printed texts, does not exceed fifty thousand verses. The present research seeks to answer the questions such as where, when, and by whom these numbers became popular and how many verses the manuscripts and the famous printed texts have, by separating the fictional sections. This research consists of four parts: 1. Reviewing and criticizing verses related to Ferdowsi about Shahnameh’s verse number. 2. Reviewing various reports on the Shahname’s verse number (Including the quintet introductions of Shahnameh, biographies, historical, literary, geographic, and Rijali (narrator evaluation) resources, and various views of contemporary researchers). 3. Recounting and presenting the exact number of Shahnameh’s verses by fictional parts, based on printed copies of Turner Macan, Julius von Mohl, Berookhim, Dabirsiaghi, Moscow, Kazzazi, Jeyhooni, and Khaleghi. 4. A discussion about semantic significations of the number "Sixty" and "Sixty thousand". The authors assert that the number "Sixty thousand" was not versified by Ferdowsi. But this number was used by the Shahnameh enthusiasts in the late of his life, or a brief time after his passing, with the meaning of "plurality", "perfection", and "approximation" in describing the number of Shahnameh’s verses. Based on the famous narrations, at least starting from the sixth century, verses have been versified about the sixty thousand verses of Shahnameh and are annexed to Shahnameh

Evaluation of RANKL/OPG Serum Concentration Ratio as a New Biomarker for Coronary Artery Calcification: A Pilot Study

Objective. There is a strong need for biomarkers to identify patients at risk for future cardiovascular events related with progressive atherosclerotic disease. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) protects the skeleton from excessive bone resorption by binding to receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and preventing it from binding to its receptor, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB. However, conflicting results have been obtained about association of serum level of OPG or RANKL with coronary artery disease (CAD). Based on their role in inflammation and matrix degradation and the fact that atherosclerotic plaque formation is an inflammatory process, we hypothesized that RANKL : OPG ratio could be a better biomarker for CAD. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, the correlation between RANKL : OPG ratio serum concentration and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in 50 patients with ischemic coronary disease has been investigated. We used ELISA method for measuring RANKL and OPG serum concentrations. Results. There was a significant correlation between RANKL : OPG serum concentration ratio and CAC in our study population (P = 0.01). Conclusion. Our results suggested that RANKL : OPG ratio concentration has a potential of being used as a marker for coronary artery disease