Medical Image Segmentation Using Machine Learning

Image segmentation is the most crucial step in image processing and analysis. It can divide an image into meaningfully descriptive components or pathological structures. The result of the image division helps analyze images and classify objects. Therefore, getting the most accurate segmented image is essential, especially in medical images. Segmentation methods can be divided into three categories: manual, semiautomatic, and automatic. Manual is the most general and straightforward approach. Manual segmentation is not only time-consuming but also is imprecise. However, automatic image segmentation techniques, such as thresholding and edge detection, are not accurate in the presence of artifacts like noise and texture. This research aims to show how to extract features and use traditional machine learning methods like a random forest to obtain the most accurate regions of interest in CT images. In addition, this study shows how to use a deep learning model to segment the wound area in raw pictures and then analyze the corresponding area in near-infrared images. This thesis first gives a brief review of current approaches to medical image segmentation and deep learning background. Furthermore, we describe different approaches to build a model for segmenting CT-Scan images and Wound Images. For the results, we achieve 97.4% accuracy in CT-image segmentation and 89.8% F1-Score For wound image segmentation

Gap Junctions: The Claymore for Cancerous Cells

Introduction: Gap junctions play an important role in the cell proliferation in mammalian cells as well as carcinogenesis. However, there are controversial issues about their role in cancer pathogenesis. This study was designed to evaluate genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of Carbenoxolone (CBX) as a prototype of inter-cellular gap junction blocker in MCF7 and BT20 human breast cancer cells. Methods: The MCF7and BT20 human breast cancer cell lines were cultivated, and treated at designated confluency with different doses of CBX. Cellular cytotoxicity was examined using standard colorimetric assay associated with cell viability tests. Gene expression evaluation was carried out using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: MCF7 and BT20 cells were significantly affected by CBX in a dose dependent manner in cell viability assays. Despite varying expression of genes, down regulation of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes was observed in these cells. Conclusion: Based upon this investigation, it can be concluded that CBX could affect both low and high proliferative types of breast cancer cell lines and disproportionate down regulation of both pre- and anti-apoptotic genes may be related to interacting biomolecules, perhaps via gap junctions

Evaluation of miR-107, DAPK1, and KLF4 Expression in Colorectal Tumors and Effect of Oxaliplatin and 5-FU on their Levels in Colorectal Cancer Cell Lines

Background: In recent years, the role of micro-RNAs in the cancer pathophysiology has attracted a great deal of scientific attention. MiRNAs regulate a variety of cellular functions, such as apoptosis, differentiation and migration by targeting oncogenic or tumor suppressor genes. We conducted the current study to assess the expression of miR-107, Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) and death-associated protein kinase (DAPK1) genes in malignant and normal colon tissues and also colorectal cancer (CRC) model cells exposed to oxaliplatin and 5-FU chemotherapy agents. Method: In this case-control study, the tissue samples from CRC patients were collected during colonoscopy process in 2013 -2016 at Imam Reza hospital. Subsequently, the expression levels of miR-107, KLF4, and DAPK1 were detected with quantitative Real-Time PCR. Furthermore, in the in vitro phase of this study, we investigated the changes in the expression level of miR-107, KLF4 and DAPK1 transcripts after oxaliplatin and 5-FU treatment. Results: Unlike miR-107, the expression levels of KLF4 and DAPK1 genes decreased in the tumor samples compared to those in the marginal specimens. In addition, both oxaliplatin and 5-FU significantly increased the expression level of miR-107. There were significant correlations between the expression levels of miR-107, KLF4, and DAPK1genes and clinicopathological features, for instance lymph node metastasis and cell differentiation. Conclusion: The current study suggested a tumor suppressor role for KLF4 and DAPK1 in CRC. The altered expression of miR-107, KLF-4, and DAPK1 genes in CRC tumors and healthy tissues could be utilized for CRC diagnosis and prognosis. Furthermore, the studied genes could be considered as potential therapeutic targets in CRC

Investigation of interphase effects on mechanical behaviors of carbon nanocone-based composites

This paper presents the mechanical properties of carbon nanocone-based polymer composites in the presence of interphase layer. Some representative volume elements are considered to study the elastic behaviors of the transversely isotropic nanocomposite and the effects of the interphase layer on four of five independent constants related to this model. The finite element method is applied to obtain the results for different elastic moduli and thicknesses of the matrix

A Cost - Benefit Analysis of the Pro- Israeli Strategy of the US Foreign Policy

The US Foreign Policy towards Israel is based on an unconditional and comprehensive support for Israel. This strategy of offering absolute support for Israel has interests for the United States and has also brought huge costs for Washington. It is the purpose of this article to analyze the costs and benefits of this strategy and to answer this question that what are benefits and costs of the US support of Israel for this country? Based on Rational Decision Theory this article argues that the costs of this support includes the financial burden over the US economy in terms of loans and assistances, altering America''s relationship with the Muslim World and the Arab world, also other social and political costs of conflicts caused by various wars in the Middle East, such as 33 and 22-days war of Lebanon and Gaza and also the occupation of Iraq, and finally the rise anti-Americanism around the world. The benefits of such a support can be: the vast support that the US administrations receives from Israel and the Zionist lobbies , and also the huge and overwhelming Profits made by US arms companies through their arms sale to the Middle Eastern countries due to the Middle East security situation

Lizard\'s fauna of the Sabzevar with particular emphasis on the syntopic lizard and presentation of a framework for reptile distribution of Iran

Sabzevar is one of the most biologically diverse regions in northeast Iran, with the area of 19500 km2 and an elevational of 950-2977 m. During a long term study of lizards in this area which lasted 3 years, 21 species and subspecies of lizards belonging to 13 genera and 5 families were collected, recognized and reported. The families Anguidae, Eublepharidae and Uromastycidae were not represented in the area. The genus Eremias with 6 species was the most diverse genus in Sabzevar district. More emphasis was given to the syntopic reptiles. This showed that Trapelus agailis with having 18 syntopic species and Cyrtopodion caspium with no syntopic species were in the extreme sides. Due to our little knowledge on the distribution of reptiles in Iran, we designed a framework for providing a reptile's distribution map in Iran

Single Miller frequency compensation: Three stage CMOS

A simple and efficient frequency compensation network is exploited for a three-stage amplifier. Single Miller capacitor at the output of a differential stage forms compensation network. This configuration benefits from less dependency to compensation capacitor since only one and small value capacitor is used. This stems from the fact that the differential block intensifies Miller effect virtually by multiplying its gain value to capacitor value. The structure is modeled symbolically with exclusive formulation for involved dynamics. Also, circuit implementation is performed via 0.18μmCMOS technology. Both theoretical and simulation results are compatible with negligible error. According to the simulation results, proposed three stage amplifiers in this work show 135 dB, 7.5 MHz and 85º as DC gain, GBW and PM respectively