Clinical keratoconus (KCN) detection is a challenging and time-consuming task. In the diagnosis process, ophthalmologists must revise demographic and clinical ophthalmic examinations. The latter include slit-lamb, corneal topographic maps, and Pentacam indices (PI). We propose an Ensemble of Deep Transfer Learning (EDTL) based on corneal topographic maps. We consider four pretrained networks, SqueezeNet (SqN), AlexNet (AN), ShuffleNet (SfN), and MobileNet-v2 (MN), and fine-tune them on a dataset of KCN and normal cases, each including four topographic maps. We also consider a PI classifier. Then, our EDTL method combines the output probabilities of each of the five classifiers to obtain a decision based on the fusion of probabilities. Individually, the classifier based on PI achieved 93.1% accuracy, whereas the deep classifiers reached classification accuracies over 90% only in isolated cases. Overall, the average accuracy of the deep networks over the four corneal maps ranged from 86% (SfN) to 89.9% (AN). The classifier ensemble increased the accuracy of the deep classifiers based on corneal maps to values ranging (92.2% to 93.1%) for SqN and (93.1% to 94.8%) for AN. Including in the ensemble-specific combinations of corneal maps’ classifiers and PI increased the accuracy to 98.3%. Moreover, visualization of first learner filters in the networks and Grad-CAMs confirmed that the networks had learned relevant clinical features. This study shows the potential of creating ensembles of deep classifiers fine-tuned with a transfer learning strategy as it resulted in an improved accuracy while showing learnable filters and Grad-CAMs that agree with clinical knowledge. This is a step further towards the potential clinical deployment of an improved computer-assisted diagnosis system for KCN detection to help ophthalmologists to confirm the clinical decision and to perform fast and accurate KCN treatment.
Social interaction is the platform that enables people to connect and practice language. Active listening stimulates them to understand the language they are speaking. The problem of the study highlights that less attention to listening among speaking, reading, and writing skills causes the weakness of collaborative learning. This paper contributes to characterizing the effectiveness of collaborative learning in developing learner’s listening skills. It aims to underscore the role of target language learners as members of the learning groups and of the teacher in the collaborative learning process. 130 Iraqi EFL teachers from different colleges at the University of Baghdad participated in this study. The scores in the statistical data wer
... Show MoreHierarchical temporal memory (HTM) is a biomimetic sequence memory algorithm that holds promise for invariant representations of spatial and spatio-temporal inputs. This article presents a comprehensive neuromemristive crossbar architecture for the spatial pooler (SP) and the sparse distributed representation classifier, which are fundamental to the algorithm. There are several unique features in the proposed architecture that tightly link with the HTM algorithm. A memristor that is suitable for emulating the HTM synapses is identified and a new Z-window function is proposed. The architecture exploits the concept of synthetic synapses to enable potential synapses in the HTM. The crossbar for the SP avoids dark spots caused by unutil
... Show MoreThis study investigated three aims for the extent of effectiveness of the two systems in educational development of educators. To achieve this, statistical analysis was performed between the two groups that consisted of (26) participants of the electronic teaching method and (38) participants who underwent teaching by the conventional electronic lecture. The results indicated the effectiveness of the “electronic teaching method” and the “electronic lecture method” for learning of the participants in educational development. Also, it indicated the level of equivalence from the aspect of effectiveness of the two methods and at a confidence level of (0.05). This study reached several conclusions, recommendations, and suggestio
... Show MoreThe majority of Arab EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners struggle with speaking English fluency. Iraqi students struggle to speak English confidently due to mispronunciation, grammatical errors, short and long pauses while speaking or feeling confused in normal conversations. Collaborative learning is crucial to enhance student’s speaking skills in the long run. This study aims to state the importance of collaborative learning as a teaching method to EFL learners in the meantime. In this quantitative and qualitative study, specific focus is taken on some of Barros’s views of collaborative learning as a teamwork and some of Pattanpichet’s speaking achievements under four categories: academic benefits, social benefits,
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... Show MoreWe present a simple model of charge transfer current through sensitizer N3 molecule contact to TiO2 and ZnO semiconductors to calculate the charge transfer current. The model underlying depends on the fundamental parameters of the charge transfer reaction and it is based on the quantum transition theory approach. A transition energy, driving energy and potential barrier have been taken into account charge transfer current at N3 / TiO2 and N3 / ZnO devices with wide polarity solvents Acetic acid, 2-Methoxyethanol, 1-Butanol, Methyl alcohol, chloroform, N,N-Dimethylacetamide and Ethyl alcohol via the quantum donor-acceptor system.The effects of the transition energy and potential barrier are computed and discussion on charge transfer current.
... Show MoreForm of investment in infrastructure important factor to drive economic growth in any country, with the dwindling ability of governments to provide the necessary funds for such investments, emerged as a rising trend for private sector involvement in public projects and infrastructure, and one of these trends is the build-operate-transfer system (BOT), which commonly used in various developed and developing countries as one of the tools used in the implementation of these investments, as the private sector under this system design, finance, build and operate the project, and are re-administration of the state after a certain period under a contractual agreement between the parties of the contract. As this system provides majo
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