376 research outputs found
Deep Learning Methods for Abnormality Detection and Segmentation in Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Images
No full textIn this dissertation, I describe development of novel deep learning (DL)-based methodologies for the detection and segmentation of clinical abnormalities including renal lesions, left ventricle (LV) scar, and prostate cancer (PCa) in 3D computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance (MR) images. In the first phase, I developed a decision fusion of patch-based convolutional neural network (CNN) for renal masses classification into cyst versus solid. The solid renal masses were then categorized into benign and malignant using an image-based CNN. These approaches were selected to capture local and global features of the renal masses including intensity, texture, shape, and size, which are key features used by radiologists to classify renal masses. Results demonstrated that automated assessment of renal mass with moderate-to-high degrees of accuracy is feasible. In the second phase, I designed a novel algorithm that comprehensively learns and integrates inter- and intra-slice features from 3D late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)-MR images and allows to accurately and efficiently delineate LV scar fully automatically. In the proposed method, three U-Nets were trained using LGE-MR images extracted from transversal, coronal, and sagittal directions to learn the description of LV scar from different views and the predicted results were combined through majority voting system for the final segmentation. This algorithm benefited from isotropic property of the voxels in 3D MRI that permits for multiplanar reformation. In the third phase, I described a U-Net-based methodology to segment prostate zones from T2-weighted (T2W) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map prostate MR images as a fundamental requirement for automated diagnosis of PCa. This work is the first attempt for prostate zonal segmentation using ADC map MR images. Furthermore, I presented an ensemble learning system for fully automated localization of peripheral zone PCa from the ADC map. The ensemble learning model allowed accurate PCa detection, which was not possible using one network due to the complexity of the decision boundary. Our results confirmed that automated PCa detection and segmentation using ADC map MR image are feasible, highly sensitive and can be performed rapidly
The Relationship between Family Social Capital and Prosocial Behaviors (Case Study: Yazd University Students) Seyed Reza Javadian Fatemeh Zeydabadi Nezhad
No full textThe Relationship between Family Social Capital and Prosocial Behaviors (Case Study: Yazd University Students) Seyed Reza Javadian[1] , Fatemeh Zeydabadi Nezhad[2] Received: 29/9/2017 Accepted: 2/10/2018 Abstract The purpose of this study was to see the relationship between family social capital and prosocial behaviors in students, because family members play an important role in the re-production and re-distribution of social capital and in strengthening the prosocial behaviors and the sense of altruism in children. The statistical population was all students at Yazd University in 2014-2015. The sample (372 students) was selected through random convenience sampling. Data was collected through Prosocial Tendencies Measure Revised and social capital questionnaire which was developed by the researcher. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, T test and regression. The results showed that students' prosocial behaviors was more than average (M=78.4). The Pearson correlation coefficients of social capital dimensions (intimacy, monitoring, social participation, social norm, effectiveness, environmental trust, institutional trust) and students' prosocial behaviors, are statistically significant. Results also indicate that social norm, environmental trust, social participation, institutional trust and monitoring can explain up to 17 percent of the dependent variable. Keywords: Prosocial Behavior, Altruism, Social Capital, Family, Student [1]. Assistant Professor in Social Work, Social Sciences Department, YazdUniversity, Yazd, Iran. (Corresponding Author). [email protected] [2]. M.A. in Sociology, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran. [email protected]
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Morphological And Anatomical Responses Of Matricaria Chamomilla Plants To Cadmium And Calcium
No full textSoudeh Farzadfar, Fatemeh Zarinkamar: Morphological and anatomical responses of Matricaria chamomilla plants to cadmium and calcium ABSTRACT The effect of calcium (Ca) nutrition on cadmium (Cd) toxicity and accumulation in chamomile seedlings was studied in a hydroponic culture. The inhibitory effect of Cd on plant growth and anatomical traits was dependent on CaCl 2 level. Morphological traits such as root elongation, shoot elongation, number of branches per plant and increase in leaf number were not much affected by an increased Cd stress at 0.1 mM CaCl 2 , but it showed a rapid increase when the plants were exposed to moderate (1 mM) and high (5 mM) CaCl 2 concentrations. Anatomical treats such as diameter of root, central vein, phloem and xylem of roots, size of precycle, epidermal and parenchyma cells were affected by experimental treatments. But there was a less significant effect among different CaCl 2 concentrations on the size of aerechyma. High CaCl 2 application caused also a marked increase in anatomical traits of roots. Reduction in anatomical traits of roots was higher at high Cd (180 μM) stress than at low Cd (0 and 120 μM) stress. These results suggest that high level Ca would reduce cell-surface negativity and alleviate the harmfulness of Cd. It is also suggested that the occurrence of Cd toxicity in chamomile plants is mediated by Ca nutrition
Movie rating prediction using multimedia content and modeling as a classification problem
No full textThis paper presents the method proposed for the recommender system task in Mediaeval 2018 on predicting user global ratings given to movies and their standard deviation through the audiovisual content and the associated metadata. In the proposed work, we model the rating prediction problem as a classification problem and employ different classifiers for the prediction task. Furthermore, in order to obtain a video-level representation of features from clip-level features, we employ statistical summarization functions. Results are promising and show the potential of leveraging the audiovisual content for improving the quality of existing movie recommendation systems in service. Copyright held by the owner/author(s)
Effect of pristine graphene incorporation on charge storage mechanism of three-dimensional graphene oxide: superior energy and power density retention
No full textIn the race of gaining higher energy density, carbon's capacity to retain power density is generally lost due to defect incorporation and resistance increment in carbon electrode. Herein, a relationship between charge carrier density/charge movement and supercapacitance performance is established. For this purpose we have incorporated the most defect-free pristine graphene into defective/sacrificial graphene oxide. A unique co-solvent-based technique is applied to get a homogeneous suspension of single to bi-layer graphene and graphene oxide. This suspension is then transformed into a 3D composite structure of pristine graphene sheets (GSs) and defective N-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-RGO), which is the first stable and homogenous 3D composite between GS and RGO to the best of our knowledge. It is found that incorporation of pristine graphene can drastically decrease defect density and thus decrease relaxation time due to improved associations between electrons in GS and ions in electrolyte. Furthermore, N doping is implemented selectively only on RGO and such doping is shown to improve the charge carrier density of the composite, which eventually improves the energy density. After all, the novel 3D composite structure of N-RGO and GS greatly improves energy and power density even at high current density (20 A/g). © The Author(s) 2016.1
Microzonation Study on the Western Area of Napoli
No full textA rational evaluation of the seismic risk of urban areas cannot neglect the variability of the ground motion due to site amplification and the induced effects, such as soil liquefaction and slope stability. In this framework, the microzonation maps certainly represent the most adequate tool to account for this element in the seismic risk and for planning mitigation strategies. This study shows the preliminary results of a multidisciplinary research, which deals with the seismic microzonation of the Western area of Napoli. The selected case study is a challenging choice, as the seismic hazard is affected by both tectonic and volcanic seismicity, which in historical time differently affected the urban setting. The latter, in turn, results highly heterogeneous, as consisting of a mixing of both masonry and concrete structures. The adopted approach followed the recommendations of both the National and International Guidelines, with reference to the multi-levels methods. The collection, homogenization and synthesis of a significant number of existing data permitted the development of reliable geological and geotechnical subsoil models, leading to Grade I and II seismic microzonation maps, characterized by different expected amplification of ground motion and instability due to the liquefaction. Such maps represent a key for a quantitative assessment of seismic performance of buildings and infrastructures, in view of the expected urban requalification of the area
Author Response
No full textRahmatinejad Z, Hoseini B, Pourmand A, Reihani H, Rahmatinejad F, Eslami S, Author Response. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(2):183-184
A next generation theranostic nano-platform for sustained and enhanced inhibition of cancer stem cells
No full textPrimary tumor extermination and conventional chemotherapy are proved to be inefficient in cancer therapy in that they preferentially abolish differentiated cells whilst leaving behind treatment resistant, tumorigenic cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are validated to be the root cause of therapeutic resistance, recurrence, and tumor progression. CSCs are considered to be modulated by overexpression of certain pathways, including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). The aberrant activity of STAT3 has been identified in clinical inspection of > 70% of breast and prostate cancer and its inhibition by various mechanisms holds unprecedented significance in modern medicine. Niclosamide (Nic), an FDA approved anthelmintic drug, has recently been reported as potent inhibitor of STAT3 and it is seen toand triggered the activation of cancer cell apoptotic mechanism. Despite its promising cancer treatment capabilities, lack of solubility is a major bottleneck limiting its bio-availability. To circumvent the issue, we adopted a nanomedicine approach integrated with a surface decorated cucurbituril (CB[6]) host-guest chemistry using luminescent carbon nanoparticles (Nano-Carbobitaceae) for sustained and enhanced delivery of niclosamide traceable with vibrational spectroscopic methods. Carbon nanoparticles (Hydrodynamic dynamic size=55±1 nm) were obtained via the environmentally benign hydrothermal synthetic route using food grade Agave nectar as the carbohydrate source. The particles were either prefunctionalized (hHydrodynamic dynamic size= 76±13 nm) or postfunctionalized (Hydrodynamic hydrodynamic dynamic size= 93±4 nm) with CB[6] and were further loaded with STAT3 inhibitor Nic. Extensive physiochemical characterizations were subsequently carried out to confirm the binding of Nic and CB. FT-IR results indicated the a 2:3 binding complexation model. Furthermore, the 1H NMR results showed shifts in the characteristic peaks of Nic upon encapsulation in CB[6] cavity.
The potential of the developed particle for the in vitro applications was evaluated. Interestingly, the hydrodynamic size of the particles was mostly preserved in various physiologically relevant media. Approximately two- fold enhancement in IIC50 values were observed for the encapsulated drug versus free drug. The IC50 value of Nic, CB[6] Nic and CB[6] CNP Nic (post functionalized) was determined to be (45±04)×10-6 M, (28±03)×10-6 M and (21±02)×10-6 M, respectively. HenceOur results indicated that, this novel nanoplatform holds promise for sustained and enhanced chemotherapeutic delivery of sparingly soluble Nic for modulation of stem cell signaling pathways.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2017-12-01The student, Fatemeh Ostadhossein, accepted the attached license on 2015-07-27 at 13:24.The student, Fatemeh Ostadhossein, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2015-07-27 at 13:40.This Thesis was approved for publication on 2015-07-28 at 11:36.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #8641 on 2016-03-02 at 14:11:38Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-02T20:56:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Probiotics as a Therapeutic Strategy for Inflammatory Diseases: A Review on Mechanistic, Diagnostic, and Laboratory Perspectives: Probiotics as a Therapeutic Strategy for Inflammatory Diseases: A Review on Mechanistic, Diagnostic, and Laboratory Perspectives
No full textIntroduction/Background: Inflammatory diseases are among the most common chronic health conditions and are frequently linked to microbial dysbiosis and immune system dysfunction. Although corticosteroids remain a standard therapeutic option, their long-term use is associated with serious adverse effects, highlighting the need for safer alternatives. Probiotics, live beneficial microorganisms, have emerged as promising therapeutic agents due to their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. They can restore gut microbial balance, enhance epithelial barrier function, and modulate host immune responses through pathways involving cytokine regulation and short-chain fatty acid production.
Purpose/Objectives: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms through which probiotics mitigate inflammation, with particular attention to their role in modulating mucosal immunity, suppressing pro-inflammatory signaling, and enhancing intestinal integrity.
Findings: Clinical studies support the use of probiotics in managing a variety of inflammation-related conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), respiratory tract infections, allergic responses, metabolic disorders, and neuroinflammation. However, strain specificity, formulation challenges, and host-related factors continue to influence clinical outcomes.
Conclusion: Overall, probiotics represent a promising, biologically based approach for managing inflammation and improving patient outcomes across a broad spectrum of chronic diseases. In addition, advanced diagnostic and laboratory techniques play a crucial role in elucidating the molecular and functional impacts of probiotics, enabling precise evaluation of their efficacy, strain-specific effects, and mechanisms of action in both experimental and clinical settings. Future research should focus on identifying the most effective probiotic strains, understanding host–microbe interactions, and conducting long-term studies to establish safety and efficacy.
*Corresponding Author: Fatemeh Ahangari; Email: [email protected], [email protected]; ORCID iD: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7253-6603
Please cite this article as: Haghighi M, Haghighi F, Hajiloo Z, Ahangari F. Probiotics as a Therapeutic Strategy for Inflammatory Diseases: A Review on Mechanistic, Diagnostic, and Laboratory Perspectives. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2025;11:1-15 (e3). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v9.4879
A drug-free theranostic approach for localized and systemic diseases via nanoparticles
No full textThe emergence of field of nanomedicine for addressing the biomedical challenges created a toolkit which has been evolving dynamically with the advances in the medicine itself. At the heart of nanomedicine, nanoparticles exist which are envisioned to shift the paradigm of conventional therapy by furnishing the field with their unprecedented properties. On top of the promising features, nanoparticles can also simultaneously be endowed with imageability to track the success of therapy and hence a subfield in nanomedicine called “theranostic” advened in recent years. However, the obstacles in the translation of the nanoparticles such as batch to batch variation during scale-up, the lack of control over cargo release and particle instability slowed their application in real life. An approach is proposed here where these challenges can be overcome by designing nanoparticles which are inherently therapeutic without the encapsulation of the secondary drug while they can also be imaged by various imaging modalities. These nanoparticles are based on carbon dots and hafnium oxide which can be imaged with fluorescent imaging and CT imaging as two major imaging modalities in the clinic. The surface-modified nanoparticles were utilized in this thesis to work out the localized diseases (dental biofilm, bone microdamage) and systemic diseases problems.
At first, I applied strategies from materials science to modify the chemical properties of the carbon dots and worked towards the improvement of their interaction with the cells/ cellular components. I next demonstrated that the chemical properties of these nanoparticles can be tuned easily depending on the desired outcome for multiscale, multicolor imaging. Then, I geared towards the specific biomedical issues which can benefit from these nanoparticles. I presented the work on using nanoparticles of hafnium for the detection of the dental plaque by typical dental X-ray device based on a molecularly targeted approach toward carious bacteria. The therapeutic antibiofilm properties of these nanoparticles were established as well by comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies. The inherently therapeutic nanoparticles of carbon which target the pH of the biofilm were investigated in the follow-up study without changing the diversity of the oral microbiota.
The nanoparticles developed in the previous chapters were aptly surface functionalized and were used to target the bone microdamage in the following chapter. The distinct X-ray characteristic of the hafnium oxide nanoparticles made the detection of the damage viable in vivo using advanced CT technologies. Moreover, we showed that the nanobeacons of carbon dot can be used in the fluorescent microscopic evaluation of the bone damages ex vivo.
Finally, the nanoparticle of inherently therapeutic carbon dots derived from certain algae was suggested to be used as activatable agents for the UV therapy of the cancerous skin cells.
Together, these studies present the promise of the ‘inherently theranostic’ nanoparticles for the health-related issues. Therefore, the conveyed message which is built throughout this thesis is the unlimited opportunities for these agents which can be extended to the realm of the medicine itself.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'Closed Access', the embargo will last until 2021-05-01The student, Fatemeh Ostadhossein, accepted the attached license on 2019-03-12 at 17:04.The student, Fatemeh Ostadhossein, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2019-03-12 at 17:48.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2019-04-01 at 08:37.DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #13424 on 2019-08-22 at 16:20:21Made available in DSpace on 2019-08-23T20:44:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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