Studying the relationship between foreign donors and NGOs in developing countries: An effective or volatile partnership?

The NGO-donor relationship is exceptionally volatile. NGOs, particularly in developing countries, rely heavily on donor funding. Resource dependence has directed NGOs to adjust their objectives to fit with donor priorities. Fluctuating preferences of donors lead NGOs to shift their behavior and respond to the objectives of the donor rather than the beneficiaries of the local community. Many NGOs in developing countries modify their activities and target groups to attain or sustain financial resources. One major consequence of this is that NGOs’ behavioral shift may have disconnected them from their constituents. Hence, aid allocated to recipient NGOs in developing countries may not be efficient in generating development in local communities. It is important to note that this research is not an evaluation of whether NGOs are ‘good’ or ‘bad’. The study is about the relationship between NGOs and donor agencies

Multi-resolution Active Models for Image Segmentation

Image segmentation refers to the process of subdividing an image into a set of non-overlapping regions. Image segmentation is a critical and essential step to almost all higher level image processing and pattern recognition approaches, where a good segmentation relieves higher level applications from considering irrelevant and noise data in the image. Image segmentation is also considered as the most challenging image processing step due to several reasons including spatial discontinuity of the region of interest and the absence of a universally accepted criteria for image segmentation. Among the huge number of segmentation approaches, active contour models or simply snakes receive a great attention in the literature. Where the contour/boundary of the region of interest is defined as the set of pixels at which the active contour reaches its equilibrium state. In general, two forces control the movement of the snake inside the image, internal force that prevents the snake from stretching and bending and external force that pulls the snake towards the desired object boundaries. One main limitation of active contour models is their sensitivity to image noise. Specifically, noise sensitivity leads the active contour to fail to properly converge, getting caught on spurious image features, preventing the iterative solver from taking large steps towards the final contour. Additionally, active contour initialization forms another type of limitation. Where, especially in noisy images, the active contour needs to be initialized relatively close to the object of interest, otherwise the active contour will be pulled by other non-real/spurious image features. This dissertation, aiming to improve the active model-based segmentation, introduces two models for building up the external force of the active contour. The first model builds up a scale-based-weighted gradient map from all resolutions of the undecimated wavelet transform, with preference given to coarse gradients over fine gradients. The undecimated wavelet transform, due to its near shift-invariance and the absence of down-sampling properties, produces well-localized gradient maps at all resolutions of the transform. Hence, the proposed final weighted gradient map is able to better drive the snake towards its final equilibrium state. Unlike other multiscale active contour algorithms that define a snake at each level of the hierarchy, our model defines a single snake with the external force field is simultaneously built based on gradient maps from all scales. The second model proposes the incorporation of the directional information, revealed by the dual tree complex wavelet transform (DT CWT), into the external force field of the active contour. At each resolution of the transform, a steerable set of convolution kernels is created and used for external force generation. In the proposed model, the size and the orientation of the kernels depend on the scale of the DT CWT and the local orientation statistics of each pixel. Experimental results using nature, synthetic and Optical Coherent Tomography (OCT) images reflect the superiority of the proposed models over the classical and the state-of-the-art models

Impact of Training Images on Radiometric Compensation

The increasing availability of both high-resolution projectors andimperfect displays make radiometric correction an essential componentin all modern projection systems. Particularly, projectingin casual locations, such as classrooms, open areas and homes,calls for the development of radiometric correction techniques thatare fully automatic and deal with display imperfections in real-time.This paper reviews the current radiometric compensation algorithmsand discusses the influence of different training images on theirperformance

Determining arterial blood velocity using MAUI software from recorded doppler ultrasound videos

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the repeatability and reproducibility of a new software, developed to provide measurements of arterial blood velocity from recorded Doppler ultrasound videos. Methods: The “Measurements from Arterial Ultrasound Imaging” (MAUI) software (Hedgehog Medical Inc.), developed for the measurement of arterial dimensions, has been expanded to measure the blood velocity from ultrasound videos. MAUI uses an adaptive based segmentation and intelligent outlier removal image analysis method to determine the instantaneous peak velocity in the positive and negative directions and the intensity weighted mean of the signal. Three recorded videos of popliteal arterial velocity were used to evaluate the reproducibility and repeatability of MAUI. For this assessment, two investigators (E1 and E2) each performed 10 measurements of the three test videos using MAUI. Results: MAUI provided blood velocity measurements (cm/s) for each frame of each video. The ten measurements made by E1 and E2 were averaged and are listed below (mean ± SD).Video # Velocity Measure E1 E21 Positive Envelope 27.84 ± 0.15 27.31 ± 0.28 Negative Envelope -13.99 ± 0.28 -13.68 ± 0.19 Mean Signal 13.80 ± 0.24 13.81 ± 0.102 Positive Envelope 42.30 ± 0.13 42.34 ± 0.33 Negative Envelope -11.51 ± 0.28 -11.53 ± 0.24 Mean Signal 29.69 ± 0.02 29.08 ± 0.363 Positive Envelope 53.48 ± 0.11 53.54 ± 0.20 Negative Envelope -13.66 ± 0.10 -13.40 ± 0.21 Mean Signal 38.60 ± 0.12 38.47 ± 0.17Conclusion: Preliminary assessments suggest that MAUI is a viable method for the measurement of blood velocity from recorded Doppler ultrasound video with high repeatability and low interrater variability. In future, measurements of velocity may be combined with existing continuous measurements of arterial diameter for the calculation of blood flow and assessments of vascular health and disease.<br/

Understanding Blur and Model Learning in Projector Compensation

Radiometric compensation enables data projectors to use texturedsurfaces such as automobiles, building and theater stages as pro-jection screens, accomplished by modelling the reflectance char-acteristic of the surface and inverting it to find the compensationfunction. In this paper, we explore the effects of point spread func-tion / blur of the projector on the performance of existing radiometriccompensation algorithms. Two changes to the existing model areproposed which help to consider projector blur in model learning.Proposed changes can be combined with any radiometric com-pensation strategy to improve its perceptual performance withoutincreasing the computational complexity

Clinical and radiological outcomes of arthroscopic subcoracoid decompression for idiopathic coracoid impingement, a stepped approach

Background: Idiopathic subcoracoid impingement is considered now as a well-established cause of anterior shoulder pain. There are multiple techniques reported for management of subcoracoid impingement. Open decompression and reattachment of conjoint tendon as well as arthroscopic resection of coracoid tip. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of arthroscopic stepwise approach for management of idiopathic coracoid impingment.Methods: This prospective therapeutic case series study included 26 consecutive patients suffering from anterior shoulder pain and were diagnosed as subcoracoid impingement. All cases were evaluated preoperatively and followed up for 12 months after surgery both clinically and radiologically. Arthroscopic subcoracoid decompression, coracoplasty and arthroscopic repair of partial subscapularis tear if present were done for all cases.Results: The mean age at the time of surgery was 45.3±5.4years. At the final follow up, the mean VAS score improved significantly to 0.8±0.8points postoperatively (p&lt;0.01). The mean Constant score improved significantly to 87.8±7.8 at the final follow-up (p&lt;0.001). The mean UCLA score improved significantly to 32.1±2.4 at the end of follow-up (P&lt;0.001)Conclusions: Coracoid impingement should be in mind when evaluating any patient with anterior shoulder pain. The arthroscopic management in form of bone, bursal and tendon procedures (triple attack) is a good treatment to relieve clinical symptoms with excellent patient reported outcomes.

The role of Triggering Receptor expressed on myeloid Cells-2 in bacterial lung infections

Pneumonie, meistens verursacht durch Streptococcus pneumoniae, ist ein weltweites Gesundheitsproblem und betrifft alle Altersgruppen sowie immunsupprimierte Patienten. Alveolarmacrophagen (AMs) sind die wichtigsten Zellen des angeborenen Immunsystems der Lunge in frühen Phasen einer Infektion und außerdem notwendig für die Erhaltung des homöostatischen Gleichgewichts. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM-2) ist ein Oberflächenezeptor der von AMs und anderen myeloischen Zellen exprimiert wird. Neben seiner Rolle in Knochenbildung und Gehirnfunktion, ist TREM-2 ein wichtiger Negativregulator von Immunantworten, im Gegensatz zu dem nahe verwandten Rezeptor TREM-1, einem Verstärker von Entzündungsreaktionen. Dieser Kontrast ist interessant, da beide Rezeptoren mit dem gleichen Adaptorprotein, DAP12, assoziieren. Da TLRs sowie TREM-2 konstitutiv von mononuklearen Phagozyten der Lunge exprimiert werden und essentielle Faktoren für die Modulation von Entzündungsreaktionen sind, gehen wir davon aus, dass TREM-2 eine wichtige Rolle in der Pathogenese einer bakteriellen Pneumonie spielt. In dieser Arbeit verifiziere ich, dass TREM-2-/- AMs eine verstärkte phagozytische Aktivität haben, wenn sie mit S. pneumoniae. stimuliert werden. Die Zellen zeigen außerdem eine erhöhte PI3-Kinase Aktivität sowie erhöhte ERK Aktivität. Weiters gibt meine Arbeit Hinweise auf eine regulatorische Funktion von TREM-2 für die Organisation des Aktin-Zytoskeletts sowie für die Cytokinproduktion. Der Fokus dieser Arbeit lag auf der Herstellung eines TREM-2/DAP12 Fusionskonstrukts und der Generation von stabil transfizierten Zelllinien, die N-terminal getaggte TREM-1, TREM-2 oder das Fusionskonstrukte exprimieren. Das Ziel war ein Pulldown Experiment um mögliche intrazelluläre Interaktionspartner von TREM-2 zu identifizieren.Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are the first line of defense, as they protect the lung from various pathogens and are crucial for the maintenance of lung homeostasis. The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM-2) is a surface receptor, which is expressed on AMs and many other myeloid cells. Next to the role in bone formation and brain function, TREM-2 seems to be a negative regulator of immune responses. Considering that Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as well as TREM-2 are constitutively expressed on lung mononuclear phagocytes and that these cells are crucial in the modulation of the inflammatory response upon infection, we hypothesize that TREM-2 plays an important role during bacterial pneumonia. In my work I show, that TREM-2 deficient AMs show enhanced phagocytosis of S. pneumoniae compared to wildtype cells. One possible explanation for this might be elevated Phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3-Kinase) activity, as well as increased ERK activity in the TREM-2 knockout cells. Furthermore I show evidence for the role of TREM-2 in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton as well as for the regulatory function of TREM-2 in cytokine production. Another aspect of my diploma project was the identification of interactors downstream of TREM-2 or TREM-2/DAP12. We for this purpose decided to perform pulldown experiments and it was my task to make a TREM-2/DAP12 fusion construct and to generate stably transfected cell lines, expressing N-terminal tagged TREM-1, TREM-2 or the chimeric construct. The respective data are presented in this thesis

Interleukin-12 levels in Egyptian children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), arising through a complex interaction of immune, genetic and environmental factors, results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing β cells. Cytokines are critical to the function of both innate and adaptive immune responses. Interleukin-12 p40 production influences T cell response, and may therefore be important in T1DM pathogenesis. Objective: to study the changes in IL12 levels in children with T1DM. Study design: fifty T1DM children among those attending diabetes clinic at Zagazig University hospitals, were included in the study. They were 27 males and 23 females (mean age, 9.19 ± 3.3 years). Thirty age and sex matched healthy children were serving as a control group. All children were subjected to full history taking, physical examination, complete blood count (CBC), random blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin (HBA1C) and serum IL-12 levels assessed by ELISA. Results: Diabetic children had significantly higher white blood cell count, HBA1C, and IL12 levels than healthy children. While there was no effect of gender on IL12 levels, there were significant increase in IL12 levels in newly diagnosed cases, those with higher body mass index and those who had the poorest glycemic control. Conclusion: type 1 diabetes is associated with elevation of IL-12 levels. This association is more evident in both newly diagnosed and poorly controlled patients indicating a relevant role of IL-12 in the pathogenesis of the disease.Keywords: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Interleukin 12, EgyptEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2013;11(1):41-4

Experimental Results of a Wind Energy Conversion System with STATCOM Using Fuzzy Logic Controller

This paper describes a complete implementation of the experimental voltage regulation of a wind energy conversion system using STATCOM. Firstly conventional control technique is used which is proportional plus integral controller. The control technique is performed using a PC computer through a suitable interfacing and opt-isolating facilities. Secondly fuzzy logic controller is facilitated in this scheme to improve the performance of the experimental setup. Several efforts are done to choose the suitable gains of the fuzzy controller to achieve superior performance of the wind system. Experimental results of the system show the effectiveness of the proposed technique in regulating the output voltage. Thanks to the operation of the STATCOM in controlling the reactive power of the system to fix the output voltage at the desired value regardless of the wind speed