Medical image segmentation is one of the most actively studied fields in the past few decades, as the development of modern imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), physicians and technicians nowadays have to process the increasing number and size of medical images. Therefore, efficient and accurate computational segmentation algorithms become necessary to extract the desired information from these large data sets. Moreover, sophisticated segmentation algorithms can help the physicians delineate better the anatomical structures presented in the input images, enhance the accuracy of medical diagnosis and facilitate the best treatment planning. Many of the proposed algorithms could perform w

The process of risk assessment in the build-operate transfer (BOT) project is very important to identify and analyze the risks in order to make the appropriate decision to respond to them. In this paper, AHP Technique was used to make the appropriate decision regarding response to the most prominent risks that were generated in BOT projects, which includes a comparison between the criteria for each risk as well as the available alternatives and by mathematical methods using matrices to reach an appropriate decision to respond to each risk.Ten common risks in BOT contracts are adopted for analysis in this paper, which is grouped into six main risk headings.The procedures followed in this paper are the questionnaire method

The minimization, treatment and disposal of drilling wastes especially oily wastes are important environmental issues.

In this research two fungal isolates named Pleurotus ostreatus and Trichoderma harzianum were chosen carefully f or the purpose of biotreatment of oily drilled cuttings which resulting from  drilling oil wells using oil based muds (OBMs).

A relationship of total petroleum hydrocarbon degradation in oily drilled cuttings with time has been obtained. The results showed that Pleurotus ostreatus and Trichoderma harzianum can be considered hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms and the used biotreatment is cost effective process since most of the materials used in the cultivation and growth of the present f

The present work includes design, construction and operates of a prototype solar absorption refrigeration system, using methanol as a refrigerant to avoid any refrigerant that cause global warming and greenhouse effect. Flat plate collector was used because it’s easy, ninexpensive and efficient. Many test runs (more than 50) were carried out on the system from May to October, 2013; the main results were taken between the period of July 15, 2013 to August 15, 2013 to find the maximum C.O.P, cooling, temperature and pressure of the system. The system demonstrates a maximum generator temperature of 93.5 oC, on July 18, 2013 at 2:30 pm, and the average mean generator temperature Tgavr was 74.7 °C, for this period. The maximum pressure Pg

The n-type Au thin films of 500nm thickness was evaporated by thermal evaporation method on p-type silicon wafer of [111] direction to formed Au/Si heterojunction solar cell. The AC conductivity, C-V and I-V characteristics of fabricated c-Au/Si diffusion heterojunction-(HJ) solar cell, has been studied. The first methods demonstrated that the AC conductivity due to with diffusiontunneling mechanism, while the second show that, the heterojunction profile is abrupt, the heterojunction parameters have been played out, such as the depletion width, built-in voltage, and concentration. And finally the third one show that the c-Au/Si HJ has rectification properties, and the solar cell yielded an open circuit voltage of (Vic) 0.4V, short circuit c

In present work examined the oxidation desulfurization in batch system for model fuels with 2250 ppm sulfur content using air as the oxidant and ZnO/AC composite prepared by thermal co-precipitation method. Different factors were studied such as composite loading 1, 1.5 and 2.5 g, temperature 25 ^oC, 30 ^oC and 40 ^oC and reaction time 30, 45 and 60 minutes. The optimum condition is obtained by using Tauguchi experiential design for oxidation desulfurization of model fuel. the highest percent sulfur removal is about 33 at optimum conditions. The kinetic and effect of internal mass transfer were studied for oxidation desulfurization of model fuel, also an empirical kinetic model was calculated for model fuels

Ultimate oil recovery and displacement efficiency at the pore-scale are controlled by the rock wettability thus there is a growing interest in the wetting behaviour of reservoir rocks as production from fractured oil-wet or mixed-wet limestone formations have remained a key challenge. Conventional waterflooding methods are inefficient in such formation due to poor spontaneous imbibition of water into the oil-wet rock capillaries. However, altering the wettability to water-wet could yield recovery of significant amounts of additional oil thus this study investigates the influence of nanoparticles on wettability alteration. The efficiency of various formulated zirconium-oxide (ZrO2) based nanofluids at different nanoparticle concentrations (0

Bentonite is widely used in industrial applications. The present study reports the effect of adding different weights of ZnO to the Iraqi bentonite, on surface area, pore volume and real density. These surface properties were evaluated for pure and modified bentonite. The modification was made by adding different ZnO weights such as; ( 0.5%, 1%, 5%, 10% ). The effect of heat exposing for all modified clay samples at 500 ?C have been also evaluated. The results show that the addition of 0.5% ZnO leads to increase the surface area percentage about 36%, increase pore volume percentage about 5.48% and increase the real density percentage about 27.116%. When the samples exposed to 500 ?C, their surface area and pore volumes have been decreased a

Background: zirconium (Zr) implants are known for having an aesthetically pleasing tooth-like colour Unlike the grey cervical collar that develops over time when titanium (Ti) implants are used in thin gingival biotypes. However, the surface qualities of Zr implants can be further improved. This present study examined using thermal vapour deposition (TVD) to coat Zr implants with germanium (Ge) to improve its physical and chemical characteristics and enhance soft and hard tissue responses. Materials and methods: Zr discs were divided into two groups; the uncoated (control) group was only grit-blasted with alumina particles while the coated (experimental) group was grit-blasted then coated with Ge via TVD. Field emission scanning ele