Developing an efficient algorithm for automated Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) segmentation to characterize tumor abnormalities in an accurate and reproducible manner is ever demanding. This paper presents an overview of the recent development and challenges of the energy minimizing active contour segmentation model called snake for the MRI. This model is successfully used in contour detection for object recognition, computer vision and graphics as well as biomedical image processing including X-ray, MRI and Ultrasound images. Snakes being deformable well-defined curves in the image domain can move under the influence of internal forces and external forces are subsequently derived from the image data. We underscore a critical appraisal of the current status of semi-automated and automated methods for the segmentation of MR images with important issues and terminologies. Advantages and disadvantages of various segmentation methods with salient features and their relevancies are also cited.
Objectives: The study intends to identify the sources of work-related stress that might face the nurses working at
psychiatric wards in Baghdad psychiatric hospitals and to find out a relationship between the levels of stress and
some demographic characteristics.
Methodology: A descriptive study was achieved from the 10th of December, 2013 through the 10th of March, 2014.
Non-probability purposive samples of 94 nurses who work in psychiatric wards of Baghdad psychiatric hospitals
were recruited to meet the study objectives. Psychological Stress Inventory (PSI) the Arabic version, which was
modified by Abu Al-Hussein (2010) (20), was used. Data were analyzed by using the statistical analysis program of
SPSS 19th versi
The current environment is witnessing several developments as a result of the changes taking place in all areas of economic, social , political and legal that led to the transformation of the industrial economy , which depends based on quantitative production to a knowledge economy which relies based on information and knowledge , as the central pillar of this economy during the trading of these information and knowledge between all individuals in general and decision makers , in particular, through information and communication technology of computers and the Internet to achieve sustainable human development in the social dimension. &
... Show MoreThe present study was performed to spotlight the potential role of soil bacteria in the Al-Rumaila oil field as a bioindicator of heavy metals pollution. For this purpose, nine soil samples were collected from different sites, with 20cm depth, to assess the pollution status depending on the total and available concentrations of heavy metals. The result indicates pollution of the studied soils with the following metals: Cd, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Pb. The mean of total concentration for all studied metals was higher than the allowed maximum limit based on the international limit:(3.394, 3.994, 39.993, 8844.979,150.372, and 103.347 µg/g), respectively. While measuring the total Metal concentration is important in determining the de
... Show MoreBackground: human paillomavirus infections (genital warts) are the most frequent sexually transmitted viral infections. a wide range of treatment options is available with different efficacy.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of podophyllin, trichloracetic acid (TCA) in the treatment of genital warts and side effects of them.
Subjects and methods: a total of sixty patients with genital warts were randomly selected, 30 in each group, in the Department of Dermatology, medical city for a Duration of 11 months from January 2009 to December 2009 treated with 35 % podophyllin in the tincture of benzoin or 50% TCA) .Forty-eight patients were followed up for three months.
Results: wart
... Show MoreBackground: Pain is one of the most postoperative complications of surgical wound especially within first 24 hrs. leading to delay hospital discharge, stress gastritis and increasing blood pressure. As wound infiltration with long acting local anesthetic (bupivacaine) has been proved to be effective after orthopedic surgeries especially total hip and knee replacements.Objective: our study was designed to determine theeffectiveness of local infiltration of 0.5% of bupivacainebefore closure of surgical wounds in controllingpostoperative pain and improve patient’s outcome after totalhip and knee replacement surgeries in first 24hrspostoperative period.Methods: Twenty patients from class I (healthy patients) and class II (patients mild sys
... Show MoreBackground: The aims of the study were to evaluate the unclean/clean root canal surface areas with a histopathological cross section view of the root canal and the isthmus and to evaluate the efficiency of instrumentation to the isthmus using different rotary instrumentation techniques. Materials and Methods:The mesial roots of thirty human mandibular molars were divided into six groups, each group was composed of five roots (10 root canals)which prepared and irrigated as: Group one A: Protaper system to size F2 and hypodermic syringe, Group one B: Protaper system to size F2 and endoactivator system, Group two A:Wave One small then primary file and hypodermic syringe, Group two B:Wave One small then primary file and endoactivator system, Gr
... Show MoreThe determination of river pollution impact on the performance of water treatment plants is achieved by two main objectives. The first is to study raw and treated water qualities and comparing them with standards and the second is to evaluate the treatment plants efficiency. The analyzed data were those water quality parameters in relation to physical, chemical and bacteriological characteristics for river water and produced water by seven water treatment plants located on Tigris River passing through Baghdad City.
The results of this study indicated that all raw water characteristic are within the surface water standards established by Iraqi and USA criteria except Bacterial Counts.
Tigris River water is of good quality to be trea