Separating Overlapping Tissue Layers from Microscopy Images

Manual preparation of tissue slices for microscopy imaging can introduce tissue tears and overlaps. Typically, further digital processing algorithms such as registration and 3D reconstruction from tissue image stacks cannot handle images with tissue tear/overlap artifacts, and so such images are usually discarded. In this paper, we propose an imaging model and an algorithm to digitally separate overlapping tissue data of mouse brain images into two layers. We show the correctness of our model and the algorithm by comparing our results with the ground truth

Serum hyaluronate as a non-invasive marker of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B

Background: HBV infection is a serious global heath problem. It is crucial to monitor this disease more closely with a non-invasive marker in clinical trials. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of serum hyaluronate for the presence of extensive liver fibrosis and inflammation. Methods: 28 healthy volunteers and 65 patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B were enrolled. Liver biopsies scored according to Ishak system. Association of serum hyaloronate with liver fibrosis and inflammation were assessed, and cut off points for serum hyaluronate levels were identified by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and their values for prediction of fibrosis and inflammation were assessed. Results: In patients with CHB serum hyaluronate had the most significant correlation and predictive values for the liver fibrosis and inflammation comparing to the other variables. At the cut off point of 126.4 ngm/ml it could discriminate extensive fibrosis from milder ones with sensitivity of 90.9% and specificity of 98.1%. With the same value it could discriminate extensive inflammation from their milder counterparts with sensitivity of 63.6% and specificity of 92.6%. Conclusion: Serum hyaluronate was the best predictor of extensive liver fibrosis and inflammation and it could discriminate subgroups of patients with chronic hepatitis B. It could be used as a non-invasive test to monitor these patients more closely with developing anti viral agents in clinical trials

Spring search algorithm for simultaneous placement of distributed generation and capacitors

Purpose. In this paper, for simultaneous placement of distributed generation (DG) and capacitors, a new approach based on Spring Search Algorithm (SSA), is presented. This method is contained two stages using two sensitive index Sv and Ss. Sv and Ss are calculated according to nominal voltageand network losses. In the first stage, candidate buses are determined for installation DG and capacitors according to Sv and Ss. Then in the second stage, placement and sizing of distributed generation and capacitors are specified using SSA. The spring search algorithm is among the optimization algorithms developed by the idea of laws of nature and the search factors are a set of objects. The proposed algorithm is tested on 33-bus and 69-bus radial distribution networks. The test results indicate good performance of the proposed methodЦель. В статье для одновременного размещения распределенной генерации и конденсаторов представлен новый подход, основанный на "пружинном" алгоритме поиска (Spring Search Algorithm, SSA). Данный метод состоит из двух этапов с использованием двух показателей чувствительности Sv и Ss. Показатели чувствительности Sv и Ss рассчитываются в соответствии с номинальным напряжением и потерями в сети. На первом этапе определяются шины-кандидаты для установки распределенной генерации и конденсаторов согласно Sv и Ss. Затем, на втором этапе размещение и калибровка распределенной генерации и конденсаторов выполняются с использованием алгоритма SSA. "Пружинный" алгоритм поиска входит в число алгоритмов оптимизации, разработанных на основе идей законов природы, а факторы поиска представляют собой набор объектов. Предлагаемый алгоритм тестируется на радиальных распределительных сетях с 33 и 69 шинами. Результаты тестирования показывают хорошую эффективность предложенного метода

Content validity of national post marriage educational program using mixed methods

Background: Although the validity of content of program is mostly conducted with qualitative methods, this study used both qualitative and quantitative methods for the validation of content of post marriage training program provid-ed for newly married couples. Content validity is a preliminary step of obtaining authorization required to install the program in country's health care system. Methods: This mixed methodological content validation study carried out in four steps with forming three expert panels. Altogether 24 expert panelists were involved in 3 qualitative and quantitative panels; 6 in the first item devel-opment one; 12 in the reduction kind, 4 of them were common with the first panel, and 10 executive experts in the last one organized to evaluate psychometric properties of CVR and CVI and Face validity of 57 educational objectives. Results: The raw data of post marriage program had been written by professional experts of Ministry of Health, using qualitative expert panel, the content was more developed by generating 3 topics and refining one topic and its respec-tive content. In the second panel, totally six other objectives were deleted, three for being out of agreement cut of point and three on experts' consensus. The validity of all items was above 0.8 and their content validity indices (0.8-1) were completely appropriate in quantitative assessment. Conclusion: This study provided a good evidence for validation and accreditation of national post marriage program planned for newly married couples in health centers of the country in the near future. © 2015, Iranian Journal of Public Health. All right reserved

A new methodology called dice game optimizer for capacitor placement in distribution systems

Purpose. Shunt capacitors are installed in power system for compensating reactive power. Therefore, feeder capacity releases, voltage profile improves and power loss reduces. However, determination optimal location and size of capacitors in distributionsystems is a complex optimization problem. In order to determine the optimum size and location of the capacitor, an objective function which is generally defined based on capacitor installation costs and power losses should be minimized According to operational limitations. This paper offers a newly developed metaheuristic technique, named dice game optimizerto determine optimal size and location of capacitors in a distribution network. Dice game optimizer is a game based optimization technique that is based on the rules of the dice game.Цель. Шунтирующие конденсаторы в энергосистеме устанавливаются для компенсации реактивной мощности. Следовательно, снижается емкость фидера, улучшается профиль напряжения и снижаются потери мощности. Однако определение оптимального местоположения и размера конденсаторов в системах распределения является сложной задачей оптимизации. Чтобы определить оптимальный размер и расположение конденсатора, целевую функцию, которая обычно определяется на основе затрат на установку конденсатора и потерь мощности, следует минимизировать в соответствии с эксплуатационными ограничениями. Данная статья предлагает недавно разработанный метаэвристический метод, называемый оптимизатором игры в кости, для определения оптимального размера и расположения конденсаторов в распределительной сети. Оптимизатор игры в кости – это игровой метод оптимизации, основанный на правилах игры в кости

Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) as an efficient catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of 1,2-dihydro-1-aryl- naphtho[1,2-e][1,3]oxazine-3-ones under solvent-free conditions

1,2-Dihydro-1 -arylnaphtho[1,2-e][1,3]oxazine-3-one derivatives were synthesized in high yields using an efficient and one-pot condensation of 2-naphthol, aromatic aldehydes and urea catalyzed by tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) under solvent-free conditions. KEY WORDS: TMAH, Naphthoxazine-3-one, Solvent-free reaction, 2-Naphthol, Multi-component reactions Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2016, 30(1), 161-164.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v30i1.1

Energy commitment: a planning of energy carrier based on energy сonsumption

Purpose. Energy consumption is one of the criteria for determining the quality of life in a country. Continued supply of energy and the possibility of long-term access to resources require a comprehensive plan. One of the key issues in the field of energy planning is energy carriers. Inthis paper, a new theory is introduced to energy network studies for planning of energy carriers called Energy Commitment. In this theory, an appropriate planning is applied for energy carriers based the final energy consumption. Energy carriers are available either naturally or after the energy conversion process. Energy commitment is modeled on an energy network with the presence of electrical energy, gas energy, transportation section, agriculture section, industrial section, residential section, commercial section, and general section.Цель. Потребление энергии является одним из критериев определения качества жизни в стране. Непрерывные поставки энергии и возможность долгосрочного доступа к ресурсам требуют комплексного плана. Одним из ключевых вопросов в области энергетического планирования являются энергоносители. В данной статье в исследования энергетических сетей для планирования энергоносителей вводится новая теория под названием Energy Commitment («энергетическое обязательство»). В этой теории для энергоносителей применяется соответствующее планирование на основе конечного потребления энергии. Энергоносители доступны либо естественным путем, либо после процесса преобразования энергии. Energy Commitment моделируется в энергетической сети с учетом электрической энергии, энергии газа, транспортной отрасли народного хозяйства, сельскохозяйственной отрасли, промышленного сектора экономики, жилищно коммунального хозяйства, реального сектора экономики и прочих видов экономической активности

Decentralized local-global connectivity maintenance for networked robotic teams

A prerequisite for a team of robots to cooperate is to maintain connectivity among robots. Connectivity maintenance has been extensively studied recently and several local and global connectivity maintenance algorithms have been proposed for the distance dependent communication topology. Local methods are known to be very restrictive and it will be shown that global methods, based on power iteration estimation, could be sluggish in the presence of communication delay and non-converging in large and sparse robot teams. Therefore, a method based on k-hop routing is proposed, where k is a design parameter to determine the locality level of the proposed method. Before any link disconnection, a test for an alternative k-hop path is executed and, based on its result, the disconnection is allowed or blocked. Blocking displacement for maintaining connectivity will eventually immobilize (freeze) the network. Therefore, a procedure for unfreezing the network is also proposed. Simulation results are provided to further investigate the proposed method

Effect of Stubborn Agents on Bounded Confidence Opinion Dynamic Systems: Unanimity in Presence of Stubborn Agents

In this paper, various bounded confidence opinion dynamic algorithms are examined to illustrate the effect of a stubborn minority groups on opinion dynamics. A notion of variable opinion stubborn agent is defined and it is shown that stubborn minorities are able to fully control the opinions of a Hegselmann-Krause opinion dynamic system through deliberate slow variation in the opinions of stubborn agents. Furthermore, an upper bound for the change rate of stubborn agents to preserve connectivity and control other flexible agents is given. Moreover, a method based on population and growing confidence bound is presented to achieve both unanimity and stubborn opinion rejection. To support the proposed method simulation results are provided