Video Shot Boundary Detection Using Generalized Eigenvalue Decomposition and Gaussian Transition Detection

Shot boundary detection is the first step of the video analysis, summarization and retrieval. In this paper, we propose a novel shot boundary detection algorithm using Generalized Eigenvalue Decomposition (GED) and modeling of gradual transitions by Gaussian functions. Especially, we focus on the challenges of detecting the gradual shots and extracting appropriate spatio-temporal features, which have effects on the ability of algorithm to detect shot boundaries efficiently. We derive a theorem that discuss about some new features of GED which could be used in the video processing algorithms. Our innovative explanation utilizes this theorem in the defining of new distance metric in Eigen space for comparing video frames. The distance function has abrupt changes in hard cut transitions and semi-Gaussian behavior in gradual transitions. The algorithm detects the transitions by analyzing this distance function. Finally we report the experimental results using large-scale test sets provided by the TRECVID 2006 which has evaluations for hard cut and gradual shot boundary detection

Female sexual outcomes in primiparous women after vaginal delivery and cesarean section

Background: Sexual function is an essential component of life and yet very little is known about the relationships between the female sexuality and the mode of delivery.Objective: To compare sexual outcomes after vaginal delivery and cesarean section.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on women in two stages; early pregnancy and 3 to 6 months after delivery in health centers. Female sexual outcomes evaluated were female Sexual Function Index scores and the time required to resume sexual activities after delivery.Results: Sexual function did not differ significantly among two groups vaginal delivery n=90 and cesarean section n = 113 with regard to duration of marriage, educational level, contraception methods, and occupational status p = 0.8.The mean timing of the resumption of sexual activity was 8.9 ± 1.3, and there was no substantial conflict between the two groups. Mean frequency of intercourse in the post-partum period was 1.8±1.2 times per week with significant difference compared to pre pregnancy P<0.05. The individual domain scores after the delivery was significantly lower in comparison with pre-pregnancy p<0.004.Conclusion: No differences in sexual outcomes between vaginal delivery and cesarean section. Consequently cesarean section cannot be recommended in the view of maintenance of normal sexuality after child birth.Keywords: Women’s health, cesarean section, post-partum, vaginal delivery, female sexual functio

Prevalence of smoking in northwest Iran: a meta-analysis

Background: Tobacco addiction is a major cause of preventable death worldwide. Thus, efforts to eliminate its use have the potential of producing significant health benefits. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of cigarette smoking among people in the age range of 15 to 64. The specific objective of this meta-analysis was to provide valid data that policy makers can use to make evidence-based decisions. Methods: To determine the prevalence of smoking among the adult population in northwest Iran, we used reports published by the surveillance system used to assess the risk factors for non-communicable diseases in different provinces in northwest Iran for the years 2004 and 2006-2009. Several variables were extracted, including the years of study, gender, ages, and smoking prevalence. Based on the heterogeneity of the results, we used fixed or random effects models to estimate the overall prevalence of cigarette smoking. The analyses were performed using Stata 11 software. Results: A total of 28,436 subjects (14,248 males and 14,188 females) in five age groups, i.e., 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55-64, were interviewed. Meta-analysis in men showed that, across the age groups, the lowest prevalence was 22.9%, the highest prevalence was 26.5%, and the average prevalence was 24.7%. Among women, the lowest prevalence was 0.3%, the highest prevalence was 0.8%, and the average prevalence was 0.5%. Conclusion: We found that approximately one-fourth of males in the age range of 15-64 in northwest Iran smoked cigarettes daily. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct effective interventions to reduce the prevalence of addiction to tobacco in this area

Effect of aromatherapy on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing cholecystectomy

Background and aims: Aromatherapy means application of concentrated essences from different types of plants (such as flowers) for treatment of different types of diseases. Aromatherapy works for stress, anxiety, psychosomatic problems, muscular and rheumatic pains, gastrointestinal problems, menopause and postpartum depression. The present study aimed to study the effect of aromatherapy on anxiety and pain in patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Methods: This is a single-blinded clinical trial study which was conducted with participation of 60 patients undergoing cholecystectomy in Sina Treatment Center, Tabriz, Iran in 2012-2013. The patients were randomly assigned using table of random numbers. In intervention group, the patients inhaled 10 drops of rose water with 12 concentration for three minutes 8 and 16 hours after surgery. For control group, routine care continued in the ward. The data were analyzed by SPSS using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey’s test). Results: Comparison of changes in pain and anxiety scores between the two group indicated that the developed changes in pain and anxiety level (mean relief of pain and anxiety 8 and 16 hours after surgery) in the aromatherapy group was significantly different from the control group (P<0.001) and the level of relief of pain and anxiety was higher in aromatherapy group than the control group 8 and 16 hours after surgery (P<0.001). Conclusion: The findings indicated the positive effect of rose water-mediated aromatherapy on relief of pain and anxiety in patients 8 and 16 hours after surgery. Aromatherapy could be used as a cheap, noninvasive, complication-free, and non-pharmacologic nursing care

Optimization of Reactive Blue 21 removal by Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron using response surface methodology

AbstractSince Reactive Blue 21 (RB21) is one of the dye compounds which is harmful to human life, a simple and sensitive method to remove this pollutant from wastewater is using Nano Zero-Valent Iron (NZVI) catalyst. In this paper, a Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) was employed for response surface modeling to optimize experimental conditions of the RB21 removal from aqueous solution. The significance and adequacy of the model were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Four independent variables—including catalyst amount (0.1–0.9g), pH (3.5–9.5), removal time (30–150s) and dye concentration (10–50mg/L)—were transformed to coded values and consequently second order quadratic model was built to predict the responses. The result showed that under optimized experimental conditions the removal of RB21 was over 95%

Female sexual outcomes in primiparous women after vaginal delivery and cesarean section

Background: Sexual function is an essential component of life and yet very little is known about the relationships between the female sexuality and the mode of delivery. Objective: To compare sexual outcomes after vaginal delivery and cesarean section. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on women in two stages; early pregnancy and 3 to 6 months after delivery in health centers. Female sexual outcomes evaluated were female Sexual Function Index scores and the time required to resume sexual activities after delivery. Results: Sexual function did not differ significantly among two groups vaginal delivery n=90 and cesarean section n = 113 with regard to duration of marriage, educational level, contraception methods, and occupational status p = 0.8.The mean timing of the resumption of sexual activity was 8.9 \ub1 1.3, and there was no substantial conflict between the two groups. Mean frequency of intercourse in the post-partum period was 1.8\ub11.2 times per week with significant difference compared to pre pregnancy P&lt;0.05. The individual domain scores after the delivery was significantly lower in comparison with pre-pregnancy p&lt;0.004. Conclusion: No differences in sexual outcomes between vaginal delivery and cesarean section. Consequently cesarean section cannot be recommended in the view of maintenance of normal sexuality after child birth

Construction and characterization of a new chimeric antibody against HER2

Aim: Immunotherapy with anti-HER2 antibodies has shown promising results in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. We have recently reported characterization of a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) against HER2, which binds to an epitope different from that recognized by trastuzumab and specifically inhibits proliferation of tumor cells overexpressing HER2. In the present study we report chimerization of this antibody. Materials & methods: The immunoglobulin variable region heavy and light chain genes of 1T0 hybridoma cells were amplified and ligated to human -1 and constant region genes using splice overlap extension PCR. The chimeric antibody was subsequently expressed and characterized by ELISA, western blot and flow cytometry. Results: The purified chimeric antibody specifically binds to recombinant HER2 and HER2-overexpressing tumor cells and inhibits proliferation of these cells. The binding affinity of the chimeric mAb was comparable with the parental mouse mAb. Conclusion: This chimeric anti-HER2 mAb is a potentially valuable tool for targeted immunotherapy.noneManuscrip