Artificial neural network and its applications in quality process control, document recognition and biomedical imaging

In computer-vision based system a digital image obtained by a digital camera would usually have 24-bit color image. The analysis of an image with that many levels might require complicated image processing techniques and higher computational costs. But in real-time application, where a part has to be inspected within a few milliseconds, either we have to reduce the image to a more manageable number of gray levels, usually two levels (binary image), and at the same time retain all necessary features of the original image or develop a complicated technique. A binary image can be obtained by thresholding the original image into two levels. Therefore, thresholding of a given image into binary image is a necessary step for most image analysis and recognition techniques. In this thesis, we have studied the effectiveness of using artificial neural network (ANN) in pharmaceutical, document recognition and biomedical imaging applications for image thresholding and classification purposes. Finally, we have developed edge-based, ANN-based and region-growing based image thresholding techniques to extract low contrast objects of interest and classify them into respective classes in those applications. Real-time quality inspection of gelatin capsules in pharmaceutical applications is an important issue from the point of view of industry\u27s productivity and competitiveness. Computer vision-based automatic quality inspection and controller system is one of the solutions to this problem. Machine vision systems provide quality control and real-time feedback for industrial processes, overcoming physical limitations and subjective judgment of humans. In this thesis, we have developed an image processing system using edge-based image thresholding techniques for quality inspection that satisfy the industrial requirements in pharmaceutical applications to pass the accepted and rejected capsules. In document recognition application, success of OCR mostly depends on the quality of the thresholded image. Non-uniform illumination, low contrast and complex background make it challenging in this application. In this thesis, optimal parameters for ANN-based local thresholding approach for gray scale composite document image with non-uniform background is proposed. An exhaustive search was conducted to select the optimal features and found that pixel value, mean and entropy are the most significant features at window size 3x3 in this application. For other applications, it might be different, but the procedure to find the optimal parameters is same. The average recognition rate 99.25% shows that the proposed 3 features at window size 3x3 are optimal in terms of recognition rate and PSNR compare to the ANN-based thresholding technique with different parameters presented in the literature. In biomedical imaging application, breast cancer continues to be a public health problem. In this thesis we presented a computer aided diagnosis (CAD) system for mass detection and classification in digitized mammograms, which performs mass detection on regions of interest (ROI) followed by the benign-malignant classification on detected masses. Three layers ANN with seven features is proposed for classifying the marked regions into benign and malignant and 90.91% sensitivity and 83.87% specificity is achieved that is very much promising compare to the radiologist\u27s sensitivity 75%

Five Quantum Algorithms Using Quipper

Quipper is a recently released quantum programming language. In this report, we explore Quipper's programming framework by implementing the Deutsch's, Deutsch-Jozsa's, Simon's, Grover's, and Shor's factoring algorithms. It will help new quantum programmers in an instructive manner. We choose Quipper especially for its usability and scalability though it's an ongoing development project. We have also provided introductory concepts of Quipper and prerequisite backgrounds of the algorithms for readers' convenience. We also have written codes for oracles (black boxes or functions) for individual algorithms and tested some of them using the Quipper simulator to prove correctness and introduce the readers with the functionality. As Quipper 0.5 does not include more than \ensuremath{4 \times 4} matrix constructors for Unitary operators, we have also implemented \ensuremath{8 \times 8} and \ensuremath{16 \times 16} matrix constructors.Comment: 27 page

Philosophy of punishment in Criminology:A historical review

From the dawn of human civilization, the existence of crimeand punishment are acutely noticeable. Paradoxically, crime and punishment are interrelated termed with each other in contemporary criminology. The prime objective of the study is to identify the changing nature and forms of the philosophy of punishment from historical perspectives. Moreover, the study also tried to find out the associated factors, which contribute to the philosophical change from ancient period to modern age. The review paper is based on secondary sources as well as historical documents like journal articles, authentic books. There are three basic eras perceptible in accordance with the historical viewpoint which are pre classical, classical and modern having retributive, deterrent, rehabilitative and re-integrative philosophies of punishment respectively. The nature of punishment changed due to the impact of political movement especially the French Revolution, industrialization, advancement of science and technology, advent of law enforcing agencies viz., police, courts, and correction systems. Although, the modern philosophy ofpunishment is re-integrative and rehabilitative, but still punishment itself is a debatable issues from different points of view such as existentialism and postmodernism

Geographic inequalities and determinants of anaemia among preeclamptic women: a cross-sectional sample-based study in Bangladesh

Abstract Background Anaemia among preeclamptic (PE) women is a major undefined health issue in Bangladesh. This study explored the risk factors associated with anaemia and mapped the regional influences to understand the geographical inequalities. Methods Data from 180 respondents were prospectively collected from the Preeclampsia ward of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Bangladesh. Anaemia was defined as a blood haemoglobin level less than 11.0 g/dl. Preeclampsia was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg with proteinuria. Factors associated with anaemia were explored using the chi-square test. Logistic regression (LR) was done to determine the level of association with the risk factors. Results Among the participants, 28.9% were identified as having early onset and 71.1% reported late onset of PE. 38.9% of the subjects were non-anaemic, whereas mild, moderate, and severe anaemia was found among 38.3%, 17.8%, and 5% of patients respectively. The following factors were identified; including age range 25–34 (OR: 0.169, p < 0.05), a lower education level (OR: 3.106, p < 0.05), service-holder mothers (OR: 0.604, p < 0.05), pregnancy interval of less than 24 months (OR: 4.646, p < 0.05), and gestational diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.702, p < 0.05). Dhaka district (IR: 1.46), Narayanganj district (IR: 1.11), and Munshiganj district (IR: 0.96) had the highest incidence rates. Conclusion Determinants of anaemia must be considered with importance. In the future, periodic follow-ups of anaemia should be scheduled with a health care program and prevent maternal fatality and fetus morbidity in patients with PE

Estimation of Yield, Photosynthetic Rate, Biochemical, and Nutritional Content of Red Leaf Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) Grown in Organic Substrates

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic substrates on the growth yield, photosynthetic response, and nutritional profile of red leaf lettuce grown in different compositions of cocopeat (CP), sawdust (SD), and rice husk (RH). The result showed that the properties of substrates were influenced variably by their mixing ratios. The highest water holding capacity and moisture content were found in CP, and it provided the preferable pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, and air-filled porosity in association with other categories of the substrate. Cocopeat-based media provides ample microclimate conditions in the root region of plants and increased their height, number of leaves, and fresh biomass components. The utmost dry biomass of plant parts also remarkably increased in CP; L*, a*, and b* chromaticity of leaves remained unchanged. The maximum chlorophyll content was attained in CP substrate, except for chlorophyll a/b, which was higher in RH. The net photosynthetic rate (PN), transpiration rate (E), and nitrate in leaves were enhanced substantially in CP, while it was lower in SD. Biochemical compositions and nutrients in leaves were likewise stimulated under the culture of cocopeat-based media. Results indicate that cocopeat, sawdust, and rice husk are a possible substrates mixture in a volume ratio of 3:1:1, which would be a better choice in the cultivation of red leaf lettuce

Microbial Quality Assessment and Efficacy of Low-Cost Disinfectants on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Collected from Urban Areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh

This study aimed to examine the total viable bacteria (TVBC); total coliform (TCC); fecal coliform (TFC); pathogenic Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and total fungi (TF); and the effect of different low-cost disinfectants (sterile water, salt water, blanched, and vinegar) in decontamination of 12 types of fruit and 10 types of vegetables. In fruit samples, the lowest TVBC was enumerated at 3.18 +/- 0.27 log CFU/g in Indian gooseberry and the highest at 6.47 +/- 0.68 log CFU/g in guava. Staphylococci (2.04 +/- 0.53-5.10 +/- 0.02 log CFU/g), Pseudomonas (1.88 +/- 0.03-5.38 +/- 0.08 log CFU/g), and total fungi (2.60 +/- 0.18-7.50 +/- 0.15 log CFU/g) were found in all fruit samples; however, no Salmonella was detected in fruit samples. Similarly, the lowest TVBC recorded 5.67 +/- 0.49 log CFU/g in cucumber and the highest 7.37 +/- 0.06 log CFU/g in yard long bean. The Staphylococci (3.48 +/- 0.13-4.81 +/- 0.16 log CFU/g), Pseudomonas (3.57 +/- 0.21- 4.75 +/- 0.23 log CFU/g), TCC (1.85 +/- 1.11-56.50 +/- 37.14 MPN/g), TFC (1.76 +/- 0.87- 3.78 +/- 3.76 MPN/g), and TF (3.79 +/- 0.18-4.40 +/- 0.38 log CFU/g) were recorded in all vegetables samples, but no Salmonella was detected in yard long bean, pointed gourd, carrot, tomato, cucumber, or brinjal. However, vinegar showed the highest microbial load reduction of selected fruit and vegetables among the different treatments. With vinegar treatment, the highest reduction of TVBC (1.61-log) and TF (2.54-log) was observed for fruits, and TVBC (2.31-log) and TF (2.41-log) for vegetables. All the disinfectant treatments resulted in significant (p < 0.01) bacterial load reduction compared to control for the studied fruits and vegetable samples