bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of circulating concentrations of glucose homeostasis biomarkers, progesterone, and growth hormone in healthy Elkhounds during anestrus and diestrus
Authors: Mared Malin , Catchpole Brian , Kämpe Olle , Fall Tove
Published: January 2012

Objective—To investigate whether circulating concentrations of biomarkers of glucose homeostasis, progesterone, and growth hormone in healthy female Elkhounds differ during diestrus and anestrus and to compare those findings with data from dogs of other breeds.

Animals—22 healthy female dogs of Elkhound breeds (known to have a high incidence of diestrus-associated diabetes mellitus) and 18 healthy female non-Elkhound dogs.

Procedures—For each dog, a blood sample (12 mL) was collected once during anestrus and once 2 to 8 weeks after cessation of estrual bleeding. Serum or whole blood samples were analyzed for glucose, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, C-peptide, fructosamine, and glycated hemoglobin A1c concentrations. Homeostasis model assessments (HOMAs) of pancreatic beta-cell function and insulin secretion were calculated.

Results—In Elkhounds, C-peptide concentration and the HOMA for beta-cell function (markers of insulin secretion) were higher in samples obtained during diestrus, compared with findings in samples obtained during anestrus. The HOMA for insulin sensitivity was lower (albeit not significantly) during diestrus than it was during anestrus in Elkhounds. Markers of insulin secretion and sensitivity were similar during anestrus and diestrus in the dogs of other breeds. Serum progesterone concentrations were greater during diestrus than during anestrus in Elkhounds and non-Elkhound dogs. All other variables did not differ between diestrus and anestrus within or between the 2 breed groupings.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results provided evidence that circulating insulin concentrations during diestrus are higher than those during anestrus in Elkhounds, which could contribute to development of diestrus-associated diabetes mellitus.
Effect of a solution of hyaluronic acid–chondroitin sulfate–N-acetyl glucosamine on the repair response of cartilage to single-impact load damage
Authors: Henson Frances M. D. , Getgood Alan M. J. , Caborn David M. , McIlwraith C. Wayne , Rushton Neil
Published: January 2012

Objective—To investigate effects of 1% hyaluronic acid–chondroitin sulfate–N-acetyl glucosamine (HCNAG) on the damage repair response in equine articular cartilage.

Sample—Articular cartilage from 9 clinically normal adult horses.

Procedures—Full-thickness cartilage disks were harvested from the third metacarpal bone. Cartilage was single-impact loaded (SIL) with 0.175 J at 0.7 m/s and cultured in DMEM plus 1 % (vol/vol) HCNAG or fibroblastic growth factor (FGF)-2 (50 ng/mL). Histologic and immunohistochemical techniques were used to identify tissue architecture and apoptotic cells and to immunolocalize type I and II collagen and proliferating nuclear cell antigen (PCNA).

Results—Type II collagen immunoreactivity increased in SIL cartilage, compared with control samples. At days 14 and 28 (day 0 = initiation of culture), control samples had significantly fewer repair cells than did other treatment groups. In control samples and SIL + HCNAG, there was a significant decrease in apoptotic cell number, compared with results for SIL and SIL + FGF-2 samples. At days 14 and 28, there was a significant increase in chondrocytes stained positive for PCNA in the control samples.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—1% HCNAG significantly affected apoptotic and repair cell numbers in an SIL damage-repair technique in adult equine articular cartilage. However, HCNAG had no effect on the number of PCNA-positive chondrocytes or on type II collagen immunohistochemical results. The inclusion of 1% HCNAG in lavage solutions administered after arthroscopy may be beneficial to cartilage health by increasing the number of repair cells and decreasing the number of apoptotic cells.
Quantifying Urban form: A Case Study of Rajshahi City
Authors: Bin Kashem Md Shakil , Chowdhury Tufayel Ahmed , Majumder Joydip , Rahman Md Asif
Published: January 2012

The urban areas comprise complex systems of activities, so the study of its form in terms of a few statistical measures is quite taxing. This paper attempts to employ such measures to define the urban form of Rajshahi city in Bangladesh. It evaluated some of the measures to quantify urban form and selected two indices, namely, Gini coefficient and Moran coefficient to quantify the urban form of the study area. Residential floor area and floor area for employment was computed in a tessellated form for quantifying the urban form of the study area. GeoDa software was employed to calculate Moran for both of the residential and employment floor space. From Moran and Gini value it was found that both of these land uses are highly clustered in a few locations of the study area. The two indices together give intuitive results, which is, residences are generally more dispersed and continuous than that of employment. Although this kind of analysis of urban form is better applied in comparative analysis, the present study provides the take off point for further research of urban form in Bangladesh.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbip.v2i0.9555  Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Vol. 2, December 2009, pp. 39-48
Peoples Participation in the Physical Planning Activities: A Case Study of Khulna Development Authority
Authors: Ahmed Sabrina , Swapan Mohammad Shahklul Hasan
Published: January 2012

In contemporary world, community participation is considered as the prerequisite of sustainable urban development. It ranges from just informing people about the plan or development projects by the people. However, public participation in local government’s led programs is still limited in Bangladesh. Considering the importance of community participation, this paper explores the level of public participation in spatial planning practices in Khulna city based on the citizen’s responses. The study suggests that existing legislative arrangement is not supportive for participatory urban development at all levels and a little provision is made in this respect by laws. Most of the respondents in the field survey suggested that political problem and weak communication mechanism are mainly responsible for unsuccessful implementation of the Master Plan of Khulna city. The study may help related authorities to understand the citizen’s expectations in designing strategies for performing better role in city development in Bangladesh.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbip.v2i0.9567Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Vol. 2, December 2009, pp. 61-70
Commuters Modal Choice: A Case Study of Savar Pourashava
Authors: Rahman Md Lutfur , Islam Md Monowarul , Al Mamun Mohammad
Published: January 2012

Commuter’s modal choice is a complex phenomenon in urban transportation. It is a key determinant of modern transport planning. Commuters always want to get a hold on any mode at any point of time to meet their travel demand and the selection of mode depends on various factors associated with the commuting. In Savar Pourashava, modal choice by commuters varies with commuter’s socio-economic background and demographic characteristics. It also varies with the services that are provided by the various modes operating in the study area. The land use characteristics also affect the travel behavior pattern of commuters in the study area. The attitude and preference of commuters towards modes are also varied from each other. For achieving efficient and reliable transportation system in terms of modal choice of the commuters in the study area, it is essential to identity various factors affecting the travel pattern of the commuters. This research has attempted to identity these factors in modal choice and investigated over the mode that has been preferred by individual commuters and the reasons for selection of the mode. Beside this, the research has explored the relationship between land use characteristics and travel behavior pattern of the commuters.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbip.v2i0.9569Journal of Bangladesh Institute of PlannersVol. 2, December 2009, pp. 78-97
Japanese Concept of Urban Promotion Control Area (UCA) to Save Agricultural Land in Bangladesh
Authors: Tariquzzaman Sharif Mohammad
Published: January 2012

Urban sprawling and unplanned infrastructure development are devouring productive land. Bangladesh is basically an agro based economy. In our country, about 1% of agricultural land in each year is transferred to another use. If this process continues all of our agricultural land would diminish within 100 years. This terrible situation is very crucial for an agro-based economy. In this paper, an attempt has been made to illustrate the necessity of introducing the Urban Promotion Control Area (UCA) in preparing physical development plan in Bangladesh to save agricultural land. This idea is well practiced in Japanese city planning. Unplanned development of physical infrastructure, especially development of unplanned road is the main cause of urban sprawling into the valuable agricultural land. The awful encroachment into the agricultural land also may cause haphazard urbanization. This type of land use regulation may protect the unpleasant encroachment into the UCA land. Public investment in UCA for urban infrastructure development could be strictly prohibited, so that unplanned development would be restricted.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbip.v2i0.9570Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Vol. 2, December 2009, pp. 98-106
Application of Spatial Auto-Regressive Model for Determining Urban Land Market
Authors: Amin Md Shohel Reza
Published: January 2012

Rapid conversion of agricultural, flood flow and sub-flood flow lands into urban uses at the periphery of Dhaka city increases the demand for developing useful supply, demand, and pricing models. Nevertheless, pricing land offers a challenging task. During high economic growth time, the conventional belief was that land values should soar with increasing demand and decreasing vacancies. Conversely, accurate anticipation of these values is problematic since spatial factors are often influential ones along with other characteristics of land. Moreover, land represents not only a bundle of physical characteristics but also sets of location-specific, transport, urban amenity, socio-economic and environmental characteristics. The extent of such characteristics on land market can be estimated by applying Spatial Autoregression model. The objective of this paper is to carry out an empirical analysis to examine the effects of different land characteristics on land prices in Savar municipality by using Spatial Auto-Regression (SAR) model. In particular, spatial econometric procedures (spatial autocorrelation) and spatial auto-regression analysis are applied to determine spatial dependence among the land value of plots and to evaluate the impact of land characteristics on land prices in the land market of Savar municipality respectively. The findings of this paper reveal that transport attributes have most significiant relationship with the land value and other explanatory variables like municipal amenities, physical characteristics of the plot, employment attraction, and commercial services are also influential factors of land price.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbip.v2i0.9571Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Vol. 2, December 2009, pp. 107-115
Design for Urban Open Spaces from Peoples Perspective: A Study of Jessore Town
Authors: Najnin Arfana
Published: January 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbip.v2i0.9578  Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Vol. 2, December 2009, pp. 178-192
Risk and Real Estate Ownership: Empirical Evidence of Hotels in Singapore
Authors: Farzana Fawzla , Murtaza Md Ghulam
Published: January 2012

This paper examined the impact of real property ownership on the systematic risk of hotel companies in Singapore. This issue is interesting because few studies have been carried out on this topic. The hypothesis is that the real estate ownership would impose negative effect on the systematic risk of company in hotel sector because corporate real estate is commonly considered as an instrument for diversification in a mixed portfolio. To examine the effect, two-stage least-square regression was applied. The data was collected from published sources and other data streams. The results indicate that real estate ownership has impact on the systematic risk of companies. The implication is that the different strategies of companies may result in the different directions of impacts.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbip.v2i0.9579  Journal of Bangladesh Institute of Planners Vol. 2, December 2009, pp. 193-200
L'infrastructure ferroviaire du Québec-Labrador
Authors: Leclerc Richard
Published: January 2012

The purpose of this article is for present the headline of a research above the Quebec-Labrador railway system. After a brief statement above the regional mining industry, we present a study of the three majors railroads companies of the region. This work have also the objective to study the relations between the railway and the territory. We study also the future of the iron ore railway of Quebec-Labrador.
La santé en transition à la Réunion de 1946 à 1986 : bouleversements et limites des conquêtes de la santé dans un département d'Outre-Mer
Authors: Lopez Albert
Published: January 2012

L'amélioration des conditions d'existence, le passage d'une partie importante de la population active dans le secteur tertiaire et surtout dans le secteur tertiaire public, l'accroissement de l'encadrement médical et hospitalier se sont accompagnés d'une amélioration de la santé, d'une baisse des taux de mortalité, notamment de mortalité infantile et d'un accroissement de la durée moyenne de la vie. L'effort principal qui reste à accomplir porte sur l'information par l'éducation et les médias, notamment dans la lutte contre l'alcoolisme. Mais le vieillissement de la population posera d'autres problèmes de l'ordre de ceux que connaît la métropole.
Régions et planification sanitaire
Authors: Thouez Jean-Pierre
Published: January 2012

Comment harmoniser la distribution des services sanitaires et la structure régionale de l'espace géographique ? Ce faisant, comment éviter les concurrences entre secteur privé et secteur public ? Le problème a été étudié en Amérique et en Europe. Deux exemples sont analysés, celui du Royaume-Uni et celui des États-Unis. Si l'Angleterre conserve une organisation fortement contrôlée par les services publics, aux États-Unis, on peut parler d'une « intégration verticale du complexe médical-industriel-financier » . Mais les nécessités imposent certaines normes d'équipement et certaines dimensions des unités géographiques d'organisation des soins. Seulement, la projection spatiale des besoins d'assistance médico-hospitalière ne correspond pas nécessairement au découpage administratif.
Les origines institutionnelles et l'économie politique comparative du développement tardif
Authors: Waldner David , Dunfee Elyssa
Published: January 2012

Résumé Durant les deux dernières décennies, les spécialistes des sciences sociales ont produit une importante littérature sur les déterminants institutionnels du développement. Les économistes s’appuient en grande partie sur les études économétriques transnationales et se concentrent sur le rôle des institutions qui renforcent le marché tandis que les spécialistes de science politique et les sociologues élaborent leurs théories sur les fonctions de l’Etat développeur qui détourne le marché à partir d’études de cas. Plus récemment, des chercheurs ont commencé à développer des théories basées sur les origines institutionnelles. Cet article passe en revue trois types de théories de formation de l’Etat, à savoir une approche basée sur la guerre, une autre sur le colonialisme et une troisième sur la structure économique. Aucune de ces approches ne semble définitive. Cet article conclut en considérant quelques approches synthétiques.
L'émergence est une économie politique. Vers une économie politique comparée de l'industrialisation et de la globalisation industrielle en Chine et en Inde
Authors: Ruet Joël
Published: January 2012

Résumé Les économies des pays émergents nécessitent un regard original, qui permet en retour de questionner les approches d’économie comparée du développement et les politiques industrielles comparées. L’objet central de cet article concerne les politiques industrielles et leurs modes de régulation. Ces questions éclairent le capitalisme et en particulier l’économie politique du système capitaliste indien et de ce qu’on appelle avec imprécision le “capitalisme d’État” dans le cas de la Chine. La visée de l’article est de suggérer qu’il faut renouveler le regard sur ces économies politiques. Trois thèses en particulier sont déployées et structurent thématiquement cet article. Pour les deux pays, les politiques industrielles ont procédé -et continuent de le faire d’un système d’encastrement de l’économique au politique et au social. Corolaire de l’assertion précédente, les choix économiques relatifs à l’ entrée de ces deux pays dans la globalisation n’ont pas été la conséquence de mobilisations internes d’acteurs bénéficiant de la globalisation, mais ont plutôt procédé de choix publics. Sans aucunement négliger le rôle des entrepreneurs indiens, il s’agit ici de rappeler leur inscription dans une trajectoire de capitalisme proche des réseaux d’État; pour la Chine il s’agit de pousser l’intéressante thèse d’un capitalisme avec des caractéristiques chinoises (Huang Yasheng) vers la thèse d’un non-capitalisme. Dans les deux cas, la cohésion économique-territoriale et nationale est l’enjeu structurant. Enfin, les industries et entreprises des deux pays font plus que de se multinationaliser, elles se globalisent. En conclusion directe de ces trois thèses, qui toutes posent en somme que les relations économiques dans ces pays ne sont pas stabilisées mais au contraire dynamiques, l’article suggère qu’une économie de l’émergence n’a pas de clôture systémique. Une théorie économique de l’émergence, entendue en tant que système de pensée autonome de la production et des échanges et de leur organisation, rencontre en Chine et en Inde toujours un politique et un social en mouvement. L’économie stricte de l’émergence est impossible ; la pensée de l’émergence est nécessairement une économie politique.
Le développement du réseau routier en Chine : inconséquences et inégalités
Authors: Lin Kun-Chin
Published: January 2012

Résumé La Chine possède l’un des réseaux routiers les plus denses de tous les pays émergents. Cependant, les données aux niveaux national et régional révèlent deux tendances déconcertantes. D’une part, la croissance de la longueur totale des routes a ralenti depuis 2003, malgré l’affichage d’une politique qui vise à produire l’effet inverse. D’autre part, les régions du centre et de l’ouest de la Chine continuent de privilégier les voies expresses et voies rapides, en dépit de leurs besoins urgents de lutter contre la pauvreté et d’améliorer la circulation des marchés. Nous postulons que les institutions financières fédérales ont fortement influencé les motivations des dirigeants des provinces chinoises, acteurs clés dans la définition des priorités et dans le choix des moyens de financement. Nous soutenons que trois variables – insuffisance des revenus fiscaux, biais procéduriers, et qualité de la participation des capitaux privés – expliquent la discrimination qu’exercent les dirigeants des provinces à l’encontre de certaines formes de financement et de certains types de routes. Ces variables suggèrent un mécanisme vicieux : les provinces de l’intérieur, qui pâtissent de systèmes fiscaux inadaptés et ne bénéficient que de médiocres capitaux privés, sont incitées à concentrer leurs ressources sur la création de voies rapides à péage.
IDE en Chine : une main visible
Authors: Luo Changyuan , Wan Guanghua
Published: January 2012

Résumé Cet article étudie les impacts des IDE sur le développement financier en Chine. L’étude empirique, basée sur des données de panel au niveau provincial entre 1987 et 2004, montre que les IDE stimulent les prêts des quatre grandes banques d’état mais n’a aucun effet sur les prêts des autres institutions financières. Le modèle à équations simultanées indique par ailleurs que le développement des circuits financiers mesuré au travers des prêts des quatre grandes banques joue un rôle positif d’attirance des IDE, ce qui signifie que la causalité entre eux est à double sens. En réduisant l’asymétrie d’information entre les banques d’état et leurs clients, les IDE améliorent l’efficacité du système financier. Les entreprises modernes ayant des liens avec les IDE deviennent les nouveaux clients des banques d’état.
Presentación
Authors: Sala i Vila Núria , Martínez Riaza Ascensión
Published: January 2012

No disponible
Por daños y perjuicios: reclamaciones de españoles en el Perú, siglos XIX-XX
Authors: Martínez Riaza Ascensión
Published: January 2012

A lo largo de la segunda mitad del siglo XIX españoles residentes en el Perú lograron hacer fortuna y se integraron en los circuitos de poder económico. Comerciantes y propietarios, buscando beneficios, entraron en actividades especulativas en relación con el guano, el salitre y las finanzas. Afectados por la inestabilidad interna y por la guerra con Chile, no vieron cumplidas sus expectativas y reclamaron individual y colectivamente ante instancias peruanas y chilenas. Como último recurso acudieron a la mediación del gobierno español a través de la representación diplomática en Lima. El artículo rescata casos especialmente significativos.
Parentesco, autoridad cacical y subordinación al orden. Una revisión teórica e histórica de la política rosista hacia las parcialidades “amigas” de la región pampeana (Buenos Aires, 1829-1839)
Authors: Cutrera María Laura , Morrone Ariel J.
Published: January 2012

En el marco de la renovación historiográfica en torno al estudio de las sociedades indígenas y de frontera pampeano-patagónicas, la autoridad cacical ha sido uno de los tópicos más polémicos, dado el disenso a la hora de caracterizar sus estructuras sociopolíticas. Este artículo propone revisar los marcos conceptuales heredados, esbozar nuevas líneas de análisis teórico y sugerir nuevos conceptos que nos permitan repensar el “Negocio Pacífico de Indios”, que ha trascendido en la historiografía como la política específica del gobierno rosista para subordinar a las parcialidades “amigas”.
Exploring Images: A Haptic Mouse Approach
Authors: Wolfer James
Published: January 2012

Exposing students to touch-enabled computing typically requires the use of expensive Haptic robots. This exhibit demonstrates the adaptation of a commercial, haptically-enabled mouse. Using a customized Linux device driver and a Python imaging script, we allow users to â??virtually touch
Remote Laser Laboratory: First Demonstration
Authors: Titov Igor
Published: January 2012

Remote Laser Laboratory (RLL) is hosted at Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU), Russia. Local laser engineering lab can be classified as complex, expensive and dangerous facility. Potentially it poses risks both for students and for laboratory itself when operated by unskilled users. This paper presents arguably the most optimal solution fitting great in both e-learning and safe remote operation paradigms: Remote Laser Laboratory. The emphasis here is placed on software part but hardware solutions are also described.
Physics Experiments at the UNEDLabs Portal
Authors: Dormido Sebastian , Sánchez José , De la Torre Luis , Heradio Ruben , Carreras Carmen , Sánchez Juan pedro , Yuste Manuel
Published: January 2012

UNEDLabs is a web portal based on a free, modern, open source, and well-known learning management system: Moodle. This portal joins two theme networks of virtual and remote laboratories (one for Control Engineering and another one for Physics, named AutomatL@bs and FisL@bs, respectively) together. AutomatL@bs has been operative for five years now. Following AutomatL@bsâ?? scheme, FisL@bs was created as a network of remote and virtual laboratories for physics university education via the Internet to offer students the possibility of performing hands-on experiences in different fields of physics in two ways: simulation and real remote operation. Now, both FisL@bs and AutomatL@bs join together (while maintaining their independency) into an unique new web portal called UNEDLabs. This work focuses on this new web environment and gives a detailed account of a novel way in Physics to let distance learning students gain practical experience autonomously. This paper explains how the new portal works and the software tools used for creating it. In addition, it also describes the physics experiments which are already operative.
WebLab-Deusto-CPLD: A Practical Experience
Authors: Garcia-Zubia Javier , Angulo Ignacio , Orduna Pablo , Hernandez Unai , Lopez-de-Ipina Diego , Rodriguez Luis , Dziabenko Olga , Canivell Veronica
Published: January 2012

This paper shows the experience at the University of Deusto with the WebLab-Deusto-CPLD in the subject â??Programmable Logic
Robustness Studies of Ultrasound CADx in Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Gruszauskas Nicholas P. , Drukker Karen , Giger Maryellen L.
Published: January 2012

This chapter will focus on the robustness, or reliability, of computer-aided diagnosis, abbreviated as CADx. In CADx, computerized analysis is used to characterize abnormalities identified by a human user (e.g., a radiologist). CADx is part of the broader area of quantitative imaging (Giger, Chan, & Boone, 2008). Other examples of quantitative imaging applications include computer-aided detection (Drukker, et al., 2002; Drukker, Giger, & Mendelson, 2003), computer-aided prognosis (Bhooshan, et al., 2010), and computer-aided assessment of response to therapy (Shi, et al., 2009; Shiraishi, Li, Appelbaum, Pu, & Doi, 2007). The task of primary interest in this chapter is the diagnosis of breast cancer using sonographic images(i.e., the distinction between benign and malignant breast lesions). The only steps that require human interaction are the identification of suspicious abnormalities prior to the computerized analysis by the CADx system and the interpretation of the CADx results. It is important to note that CADx only provides the radiologist with additional information. The final decision as to whether or not a given abnormality is worrisome lies with the radiologist. In order for CADx to be of potential help it is required that a CADx system demonstrates not only good but also consistent performance. The latter aspect is the focus of this chapter in which the authors will explore causes of variability and investigate CADx performance under different realistic scenarios.
Computer-Aided Detection and Diagnosis for 3D X-Ray Based Breast Imaging
Authors: Muralidhar Gautam S. , Bovik Alan C. , Markey Mia K.
Published: January 2012

The last 15 years has seen the advent of a variety of powerful 3D x-ray based breast imaging modalities such as digital breast tomosynthesis, digital breast computed tomography, and stereo mammography. These modalities promise to herald a new and exciting future for early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. In this chapter, the authors review some of the recent developments in 3D x-ray based breast imaging. They also review some of the initial work in the area of computer-aided detection and diagnosis for 3D x-ray based breast imaging. The chapter concludes by discussing future research directions in 3D computer-aided detection.
Computerized Detection of Lung Nodules on Chest Radiographs
Authors: Chen Sheng , Suzuki Kenji
Published: January 2012

Most lung nodules missed by radiologists as well as Computer-Aided Diagnostic (CADe) schemes overlap ribs or clavicles in Chest Radiographs (CXRs). This chapter introduces an image-processing technique for suppressing the contrast of ribs and clavicles in CXRs by means of anatomically specific Multiple Massive-Training Artificial Neural Networks (MTANNs). For bone suppression, an MTANN is trained by use of input CXRs and the corresponding “teaching” images. The authors employed bone images obtained by the use of a dual-energy subtraction technique as the teaching images. For the effective suppression of ribs, having various spatial frequencies, the authors developed a multi-resolution MTANN consisting of multi-resolution decomposition/composition techniques and three MTANNs for three different-resolution images. After training with input CXRs and the corresponding dual-energy bone images, the multi-resolution MTANN was able to provide “bone-image-like” images which were similar to the teaching bone images. By subtracting the “bone-image-like” images from the corresponding CXRs, the authors were able to produce “soft-tissue-image-like” images in which ribs and clavicles were substantially suppressed. A single set of multi-resolution MTANNs cannot suppress all bone structures in a CXR, because the orientation, width, contrast, and density of bones differ from location to location, and the capability of a single set of multi-resolution MTANNs is limited. To address this issue, the authors developed anatomically specific multiple MTANNs which consist of eight sets of multi-resolution MTANNs that were designed to process different segments in the lung fields in a CXR. Each set of anatomically specific MTANNs was trained with only the samples in the corresponding segment in the CXR. In order to make the contrast and density between the segments consistent, the authors applied a histogram matching technique to input images. To improve the performance of their CADe scheme, the authors incorporated their MTANN bone suppression into their CADe scheme for nodules in CXRs. In their CADe scheme, 64 morphologic and gray-level-based features were extracted from each nodule candidate in both the original and the “soft-tissue-image-like images,” and a nonlinear support vector classifier was employed for the classification of the candidates. The authors used a validation test database consisting of 118 CXRs with pulmonary nodules and a publicly available database containing 126 nodules. When their technique was applied to non-training CXRs, bones in the CXRs were suppressed substantially, while the visibility of nodules and lung vessels was maintained. With the use of “soft-tissue-image-like images,” the performance of the authors’ CADe scheme was improved from a sensitivity of 76% to 84% with 5 false positives per image. Thus, the authors’ image-processing technique for bone suppression by means of anatomically specific multiple MTANNs is useful for radiologists as well as for CAD schemes in the detection of lung nodules on CXRs.
Techniques for the Automated Segmentation of Lung in Thoracic Computed Tomography Scans
Authors: Sensakovic William F. , Armato Samuel G.
Published: January 2012

Computed Tomography (CT) is widely used to diagnose and assess thoracic diseases. The improved resolution of CT studies has resulted in a substantial increase of image data for analysis by radiologists. The time-consuming nature of this analysis motivates the application of Computer-Aided Diagnostic (CAD) methods to assist radiologists. Most CAD methods require identification of the lung within the patient images, a preprocessing step known as “lung segmentation.” This chapter describes an intensity-based lung segmentation method. The segmentation method begins with simple thresholding, and several image processing modules are included to improve segmentation accuracy and robustness. Common segmentation difficulties are discussed and motivate the inclusion of each module in the lung segmentation method. These modules will include brief explanations of common techniques (e.g., morphological operators) in addition to novel techniques developed specifically for lung segmentation (e.g., gradient correlation filters).
A Model-Driven Bayesian Method for Polyp Detection and False Positive Suppression in CT Colonography Computer-Aided Detection
Authors: Ye Xujiong , Slabaugh Greg
Published: January 2012

This chapter presents an automated method to identify colonic polyps and suppress false positives for Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) in CT Colonography (CTC). The method formulates the problem of polyp detection as a probability calculation through a unified Bayesian statistical approach. The polyp likelihood is modeled with a combination of shape, intensity, and location features, while also taking into account the spatial prior probability encoded by a Markov Random Field. A second principal curvature PDE provides a shape model; and partial volume effect is incorporated in the intensity model. When evaluated on a large multi-center dataset of colonic CT scans, the CAD detection performance as well as the volume overlap ratio demonstrate the potential of the proposed method. The method results in an average 24% reduction of false positives with no impact on sensitivity. The method is also applicable to generation of initial candidates for CTC CAD with high detection sensitivity and relatively lower false positives, compared to other non-Bayesian methods.
Magnetic Resonance Image Analysis for Brain CAD Systems with Machine Learning
Authors: Arimura Hidetaka , Tokunaga Chiaki , Yamashita Yasuo , Kuwazuru Jumpei
Published: January 2012

This chapter describes the image analysis for brain Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) systems with machine learning techniques, which could assist radiologists in the detection of such brain diseases as asymptomatic unruptured aneurysms, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), vascular dementia, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by magnetic resonance imaging. Image analysis in CAD systems consists of image enhancement, initial detection, and image feature extraction, including segmentation. In addition, the authors review the classification of true and false positives using machine learning techniques, as well as the evaluation methods and development cycle for CAD systems.
Neuroimage Classification for Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Fan Yong , Davatzikos Christos
Published: January 2012

Diagnostic criteria for neurological and psychiatric disorders are typically based on clinical and psychometric assessment, which might not be effective for early detection of the disease onset. For brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), neuroimaging can potentially play an important role in the development of imaging-based biomarkers. Following voxel-wise univariate neuroimage analysis methods, machine learning and pattern recognition based neuroimage analysis techniques have been increasingly adopted in neuroimaging studies of neurological and psychiatric disorders, aiming to provide tools that classify individuals, based on their neuroimaging scans, rather than detect statistical group difference. The machine learning based methods, optimally combining information of multiple measures derived from images, have demonstrated promising performance in diagnosis of AD and early prediction of conversion of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) individuals. This chapter introduces the general framework of such techniques with a focus on structural MRI analyses and their applications to studies of AD.
Manifold Learning for Medical Image Registration, Segmentation, and Classification
Authors: Aljabar Paul , Wolz Robin , Rueckert Daniel
Published: January 2012

The term manifold learning encompasses a class of machine learning techniques that convert data from a high to lower dimensional representation while respecting the intrinsic geometry of the data. The intuition underlying the use of manifold learning in the context of image analysis is that, while each image may be viewed as a single point in a very high-dimensional space, a set of such points for a population of images may be well represented by a sub-manifold of the space that is likely to be non-linear and of a significantly lower dimension. Recently, manifold learning techniques have begun to be applied to the field of medical image analysis. This chapter will review the most popular manifold learning techniques such as Multi-Dimensional Scaling (MDS), Isomap, Local linear embedding, and Laplacian eigenmaps. It will also demonstrate how these techniques can be used for image registration, segmentation, and biomarker discovery from medical images.
Automatic Organ Localization on X-Ray CT Images by Using Ensemble-Learning Techniques
Authors: Zhou Xiangrong , Fujita Hiroshi
Published: January 2012

Location of an inner organ in a CT image is the basic information that is required for medical image analysis such as image segmentation, lesion detection, content-based image retrieval, and anatomical annotation. A general approach/scheme for the localization of different inner organs that can be adapted to suit various types of medical image formats is required. However, this is a very challenging problem and can hardly be solved by using traditional image processing techniques. This chapter introduces an ensemble-learning-based approach that can be used to solve organ localization problems. This approach can be used to generate a fast and efficient organ-localization scheme from a limited number of training samples that include both original images and target locations. This approach has been used for localizing five different human organs in CT images, and the accuracy, robustness, and computational efficiency of the designed scheme were validated by experiments.
Applications of Machine Learning in Real-Time Tumor Localization
Authors: Li Ruijiang , Jiang Steve B.
Published: January 2012

Recently, machine learning has gained great popularity in many aspects of radiation therapy. In this chapter, the authors will demonstrate the applications of various machine learning techniques in the context of real-time tumor localization in lung cancer radiotherapy. These cover a wide range of well established machine learning techniques, including principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, artificial neural networks, and support vector machine, etc. Respiratory gating, as a special case of tumor localization, will also be discussed. The chapter will demonstrate how domain specific knowledge and prior information can be useful in achieving more accurate and robust tumor localization. Future research directions in machine learning that can further improve the accuracy for tumor localization are also discussed.
Reconfiguring Performance Information Linking with Accountability
Authors: Charbonneau Étienne , Kim Younhee
Published: January 2012

Over the past decade, performance information has been widely available to citizens along with the expansion of e-government, which has magnified communications between citizens and government as well as citizen direct participation in government business. If citizens are informed more about government performance, citizen trust in government should improve. However, there is, in effect, little use of performance information by citizens, since availability to citizens is not very visible. To disseminate the results of performance measurement effectively, government should pay attention to the improvement of performance measurement systems and performance reporting systems with citizen-centered approaches. User-friendly reporting should not just simplify the multi-layers of performance measurement for improving performance itself. Rather, this chapter suggests applying different approaches to present complicated performance information to citizens. Performance reporting should be constructed in modernized, innovative, and user-focused ways to stimulate the use of performance information by external stakeholders, which can promote government accountability.
Social Networks, Civic Participation, and Young People
Authors: Lara Sonia , Naval Concepción
Published: January 2012

The latest report from the Pew Research Center (2010) shows that 93% of American teenagers and young adults use the Internet, and that 73% of them have their profile on a social network site. In the UK, data from Ofcom (2010) has come up with similar results. Citizen participation has traditionally been determined by demographic and socio-economic factors. Accordingly, the citizens who participate most actively are middle-aged and have a high socio-economic and educational level. By contrast, it is young people of low socio-economic status and educational level who participate the least. Some reports show modest signs that the use of the Internet could be another means to promote participation both online and offline. The main purpose of this chapter is to review the research literature concerning how social networks contribute to social participation.
Elucidating Online Structure for Democratic Legitimacy
Authors: Sayogo Djoko Sigit , Nam Taewoo
Published: January 2012

This study explores the impact of online communicative structures in local government Web disclosure on democratic legitimacy, after the implementation of e-government in Java, Indonesia, as a result of recent bureaucratic decentralization. Being at a very early stage in the e-government initiative, the analysis of 78 local government websites in Indonesia reveals that local government online structures present certain aspects of democratic and interactive appearance. However, the levels of democratized Internet mediated human interactions are restricted. These restrictions reflect the eradication of sensitive information, a low level of responses to citizens’ solicitations, and disclosure of selective information in local government websites. This chapter suggests that restriction on local government online structure is due to the government’s favor of more controlled media interaction influenced by the embedded authoritarian political culture due to many years of institutionalization. In a sense, websites merely function as a symbol of government legitimacy and power over citizens through media technology, which could suggest local government manipulation of democratization processes.
Debate on E-Debate
Authors: Krzatala-Jaworska Ewa
Published: January 2012

The French State has been investing in the development of the information society, which has become an important frame of reference for local institutions. At the local level, municipalities are the leading actors constructing the information society. In some French municipalities, the introduction of the e-participation tool is still an ongoing process which generates debate. This chapter, based on a case study, discusses not only the factors that contribute towards the acceptance of the e-participation tools by local government actors but also why e-participation is rejected. The analysis shows that the attitudes towards e-participation by local councilors are mainly influenced by the degree of control they have over the device, and the vision of local democracy.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Manufacturing Processes Using Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Kanthababu M.
Published: January 2012

Recently evolutionary algorithms have created more interest among researchers and manufacturing engineers for solving multiple-objective problems. The objective of this chapter is to give readers a comprehensive understanding and also to give a better insight into the applications of solving multi-objective problems using evolutionary algorithms for manufacturing processes. The most important feature of evolutionary algorithms is that it can successfully find globally optimal solutions without getting restricted to local optima. This chapter introduces the reader with the basic concepts of single-objective optimization, multi-objective optimization, as well as evolutionary algorithms, and also gives an overview of its salient features. Some of the evolutionary algorithms widely used by researchers for solving multiple objectives have been presented and compared. Among the evolutionary algorithms, the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA) and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II) have emerged as most efficient algorithms for solving multi-objective problems in manufacturing processes. The NSGA method applied to a complex manufacturing process, namely plateau honing process, considering multiple objectives, has been detailed with a case study. The chapter concludes by suggesting implementation of evolutionary algorithms in different research areas which hold promise for future applications.
Computational Techniques in Statistical Analysis and Exploitation of CNC Machining Experimental Data
Authors: Fountas N. A. , Krimpenis A. A. , Vaxevanidis N. M.
Published: January 2012

Extracting CNC machining data on- or off-line demands thorough and careful planning. Exploitation of this data can be carried out by statistical methods, in order to obtain the most influential parameters along with their respective level of significance. However, significance of machining parameters varies according to the posed Quality Characteristics at each machining phase. In actual experiments, measuring devices and assemblies are used, and data is recorded in computer archives. To shorten the production time and cost, machining processes are planned on CAM software, especially when complex part geometries, such as sculptured surfaces, are involved. Hence, planning machining experiments using CAM software modules is an efficient approach for experimentation on the actual CNC machine tools. Data extraction and statistical analysis methodologies are presented along with respective machining experimental examples.
Application of Taguchi Method with Grey Fuzzy Logic for the Optimization of Machining Parameters in Machining Composites
Authors: Palanikumar K. , Latha B. , Davim J. Paulo
Published: January 2012

Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite materials are continuously displacing the traditional engineering materials and are finding increased applications in many fields, such as automobile, marine, sport goods, et cetera. Machining of these materials is needed to achieve near-net shape. In machining of composite materials, optimization of process parameters is an important concern. This chapter discusses the use of Taguchi method with Grey-fuzzy logic for the optimization of multiple performance characteristics considering material removal rate, surface roughness, and specific cutting pressure. Experiments were planned using Taguchi’s orthogonal array with the cutting conditions prefixed. The cutting parameters considered are workpiece (fiber orientation), cutting speed, feed, depth of cut, and machining time. The machining tests were performed on a lathe using coated cermet cutting tool. The results indicated that the optimization technique is greatly helpful in achieving better surface roughness and tool wear simultaneously in machining of GFRP composites.
Taguchi, Fuzzy Logic and Grey Relational Analysis Based Optimization of ECSM Process during Micro Machining of E-Glass-Fibre-Epoxy Composite
Authors: Manna Alakesh
Published: January 2012

In this chapter, the use of Taguchi method, Fuzzy logic, and Grey relational analysis based on an L16 (45) orthogonal array for optimizing the multi response process characteristics during electrochemical spark machining (ECSM) of electrically non-conductive e-glass-fibre-epoxy composite (e-glass-FEC) is reported. An electrochemical spark machining setup has been designed and fabricated for micro machining of e-glass-FEC and experimental results are utilized for optimizing the process parameter (DC supply voltage, Electrolyte concentration, and Gap between tool and auxiliary electrode) with considerations of the multiple responses such as material removal rate and over cut on hole radius effectively. From the analysis, it is found that at higher setting value of DC supply voltage (e.g. 70 volts) and at moderate setting value of electrolytic concentration (e.g. 80 g/l) and 180 mm gap between tool and auxiliary electrode the material removal rate (MRR) is maximum. Utilizing the test results, mathematical models for MRR and overcut on hole radius are developed to predict the setting value of ECSM parameters in advance.