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Background and Objectives: Cadastral boundary detection deals with locating the boundary of the ownership and use of land. Recently, there has been high demand for accelerating and improving the automatic detection of cadastral mapping. As this problem is in its starting point, there are few researches using deep learning algorithms. Methods: In this paper, we develop an algorithm with a Mask R-CNN core followed with geometric post-processing methods that improve the quality of the output. Many researches use classification or semantic segmentation but our algorithm employs instance segmentation. Our algorithm includes two parts, each of which consists of a few phases. In the first part, we use Mask R-CNN with the backbone of a pre-trained ResNet-50 on the ImageNet dataset. In the second part, we apply three geometric post-processing methods to the output of the first part to get better overall output. Here, we also use computational geometry to introduce a new method for simplifying lines which we call pocket-based simplification algorithm. Results: We used 3 google map images with sizes 4963 × 2819, 3999 × 3999, and 5520 × 3776 pixels. And divide them to overlapping and non-overlapping 400×400 patches used for training the algorithm. Then we tested it on a google map image from Famenin region in Iran. To evaluate the performance of our algorithm, we use popular metrics Recall, Precision, and F-score. The highest Recall is 95%, which also maintains a high precision of 72%. This results in an F-score of 82%. Conclusion: The idea of semantic segmentation to derive boundary of regions, is new. We used Mask R-CNN as the core of our algorithm, that is known as a very suitable tools for semantic segmentation. Our algorithm performs geometric postprocess improves the f-score by almost 10 percent. The scores for a region in Iran containing many small farms is very good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In radiotherapy, low-energy photon beams are better adapted to the treated volume, and the use of high-energy beams can reduce hot spots in the radiation therapy. Therefore, mixing low and high energies with different ratios can control the rate of hotspots, as well as the dose distribution of the target volume. Material and Methods: The percentage depth doses (PDDs) were calculated at various depths, by using a fitted double exponential equation. Then, using quality factor equation and PDD of a 10×10 cm2 field, the amount of energy equivalent to each PDD and the value of weighting factors of 6, 18 MV energies were calculated to produce different energies. To validate the mathematical model, dosimetry of 10 MV energy was used. For this purpose, PDDs and dose Profile of 10 MV obtained from the mix were compared with ones obtained from the measurement Results: The value of weighting factor of 6 MV energy required for the 10 ×10 cm2 field to create dose distribution of 15 MV energy using 6 and 18 MV energies was obtained as equal to 0.57. Comparison of percentage depth dose curves and dose profile shows good agreement with the practical measurements of 10 MV for 10×10 cm2 field using gamma index. Conclusion: The simultaneous use of high and low photon energies with different weighting factors to achieve desirable energy makes possible the treatment of tumors located at various depths without the need for different modes of energy in the accelerator leading to a decrease in the cost of the equipment and a safer treatment of the cancerous patients. Citation: Tahmasebi Birgani M. J, Chegeni N, Tahmasbi M, Hazbavi M, Hoseini S. M. Calculating Weighting Factors for Mixing Megavolt- age Photon Beams to Achieve Desirable Dose Distribution in Radiotherapy. J Biomed Phys Eng. 2019;9(3):279-284. https://doi.org/10.31661/ jbpe.v0i0.789.

Aim: The current study examines the effectiveness of unity-oriented intervention on depression and suicidal tendencies of Shahid Beheshti University students. Methods: Research method was quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest, and control group and a three month follow up. The statistical population included all male Students between the ages of 19 to 24, attending Shahid Beheshti University in 2018.Statistical population of this research include 895 male Students, Living at university dormitories. Through screening, 20 Students were selected and randomly assigned to experiment and control group. The subjects were evaluated before and after interventions through Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (Beck, Kovacs & Weissman, 1979) and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). The unity-oriented intervention was administered in 10 sessions, each of them took 1.5 hours in the experiment group and there was no intervention in control group. The data were analyzed through Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Findings show that unity-oriented intervention has a significant effect on depression (U= 15, P= 0.02), and suicidal ideation (U= 14.5, P= 0.019) and this effect remained unchanged in the three month follow-up phase. Conclusion: Through integrationof life experiences and acceptance of life's realities, unity-oriented psychology approach promote a sense of belonging and meaningfulness. And decreases depression symptoms and suicidal tendencies. There fore it can be used as an effective intervention method to alleviate psychological problems, especially suicidality and depression, and also promote student's well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ilio-sacral screw is a technique for posterior pelvic fixation. In spite of its benefits, it had not performed commonly in Iran because of its difficulties. We changed this technique to insert the screw under CT-Scan guide with lical anesthesia to increase image quality and decrease neurological complications and performed it in two patients. In both cases the screws were inserted in correct position without any complication."n"n

Cut out or extrusion of the lag screw from the superior aspect of head and neck of the femur is one of the most common and devastating complications of the surgery of the intertrochanteric fractures with DHS. The exact cause of this complications is unknown, but it seems to be related to osteopenia, inappropriate position of lag screw inside head of the femur and inability of DHS to slide inside the barrel, which is the most ignored risk factor. We used short barrel Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS) for fixation of the intertrochanteric fractures in Dimon and Hughston procedure in 16 patients with unstable fracture, from may to August 2000. The only patient suffered from cut out is the one with static position of DHS in the center of the head. The other complications were delayed union in one, disingagement of the lag screw and side plate despite using compression screw, and one case of significant limb length discrepancy 6 months after surgery, mild limbing was the rule and the average of harris scores was 76. We think that, it is possible to reduce the rate of cut out with choosing short barrel DHS instead of the standard one, while using short length lag screw.

The pre-eclampsia/eclampsia is one of the commonest conditions peculiar to pregnancy, to describe the occurrence of hypertension, proteinuria and edema in pregnancy. It is about seven times more frequent in first gestation and uncommon before 20 week's gestation. Serum BhCG levels were prospectively determined in 260 midtrimester singleton pregnancies where admitted from October 1999 until September 2000 at Mirza Kouchak Khan hospital, prenatal clinic. Obstetric chart review was undertaken after delivery to identify cases in which pre eclampsia developed. The median maternal age was 26.0 years, and the median gestational age at the time of blood collection was 19.0 weeks. Of these, 17 cases (6.5 percent) had pre eclampsia. The median level of the BhCG was 35060.5 mlu/ml in those with pre eclampsia, whereas that in those without pre eclampsia was 33755.1 mlu/ml. The difference was not significant (P=0.28). Although elevated midtrimester serum BhCG levels in clinically normal patients was reported in severaly pre eclampsia women, this is not a good test for early detection of mild pre eclampsia.

Humic and fulvic acids are valuable compounds that are produced from sugarcane bagasse using Solid-State Fermentation (SSF) and Submerged Fermentation (SmF). Initially, fourteen treatments were examined to determine the most prominent one with a proper C/N ratio. BFFU (Bagasse + Filter cake + Fungi booster + Urea) is regarded as the most effective mixture. The results obtained from SSF using BFFU treatment included 3.96 and 2.36% dry matters for Humic Acid (HA) and Fulvic Acid (FA), respectively. Optimal treatment and fermentation systems were implemented using two different SmF bioreactor volumes (60 and 1000 liter) to determine the optimal condition for higher yield. In contrast with the SSF, production yield in the SmF system resulted in a higher yield within a shorter processing time (36 days in SmF instead of 70 days in SSF). These obtained values were almost three times more than the SSF results in the range of 12.84 to 7.91% DM over a period of 36 days. However, the production rate was slightly higher when using a 1000-liter Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor (CSTR) (14.25 and 8.39% DM over 35 days) than that in regular conditions. The results from Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) pointed to some structural similarities between the SB-derived HA and FA in the present study and those of their commercial counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Diagnostic imaging has a fundamental contribution to non - invasive diagnosis of the reasons for biliary obstruction and screening the patients at high risk. So, this study was aimed to compare the value of multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in diagnosis of biliary obstruction reasons with the results obtained from invasive procedures. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 50 patients were selected by stratified sampling from January 2010 to May 2011 with diagnosis of biliary obstruction based on per clinical and sonographic results and they were evaluated by MDCT. Their radiology report was compared with the results obtained from other invasive procedures including Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography (PTC), Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP), and/or surgery. Results: Findings indicated that sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MDCT was 100%, 88.4%, and 94%, respectively in diagnosis of malignant reasons for biliary obstruction, 75%, 100%, and 96% in diagnosis of benignant reasons for biliary obstruction, and 94.4%, 100%, and 98% in that of gallstones. No significant relationship was found between severity of bile duct dilatation and obstructive agent's benignancy or malignancy (P<0.001). Conclusion: Based on this study findings, MDCT is found a rapid, non-invasive, and highly accurate method in diagnosis of biliary obstruction reasons, differentiation between benignant obstructive agents and malignant ones, and is useful for planning prior to surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new electrospinning method for producing of cycloid fibers has been developed. The cycloid polylactic acid (PLA) fibers produced by this method were then collected (with a 4 mm inner diameter) by a rotational collector as tubular scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering. The morphology, degradation behavior, porosity and mechanical properties of the produced tubular scaffolds were investigated and compared with conventional tubular scaffolds manufactured with random fibers. The results from the tensile tests demonstrated that the mechanical strength and Youngs module of the prepared scaffolds by cycloid fibers were significantly higher than conventional tubular random fibers. This improvement in the mechanical properties of cycloid fibers justifies the widespread use of these scaffolds in tissue engineering in order to produce more strengthened vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squamous odontogenic tumor (SOT) is an exceedingly rare, benign epithelial odontogenic tumor showing squamous differentiation. It is composed of variably sized and shaped islands of cytologically bland, mature squamous epithelium within a fibrous stroma. In this report, we present a rare transformation of a squamous odontogenic tumor (SOT) of the maxilla into a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with involvement of the pterygoid plates. To the best of our knowledge, only two cases of malignant transformation of SOT has been reported in the literature. Herein, we seek to report this extremely rare occurrence to raise awareness of oral and maxillofacial surgeons and pathologists of this unusual, but serious event and perform a literature review of squamous odontogenic tumors., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Vitamin D 3 is clinically used for the treatment of vitamin D 3 deficiency or osteoporosis, partially because of its role in regulating phosphate (P i ) and calcium (Ca 2+ ) homeostasis. The renal sodium-phosphate cotransporter 2a (Npt2a) plays an important role in P i homeostasis; however, the role of vitamin D 3 in hypophosphatemia has never been investigated. We administered vehicle or vitamin D 3 to wild-type (WT) mice or hypophosphatemic Npt2a -/- mice. In contrast to WT mice, vitamin D 3 treatment increased plasma P i levels in Npt2a -/- mice, despite similar levels of reduced parathyroid hormone and increased fibroblast growth factor 23. Plasma Ca 2+ was increased ~ twofold in both genotypes. Whereas WT mice were able to increase urinary P i and Ca 2+ /creatinine ratios, in Npt2a -/- mice, P i /creatinine was unchanged and Ca 2+ /creatinine drastically decreased, coinciding with the highest kidney Ca 2+ content, highest plasma creatinine, and greatest amount of nephrocalcinosis. In Npt2a -/- mice, vitamin D 3 treatment completely diminished Npt2c abundance, so that mice resembled Npt2a/c double knockout mice. Abundance of intestinal Npt2b and claudin-3 (tight junctions protein) were reduced in Npt2a -/- only, the latter might facilitate the increase in plasma P i in Npt2a -/- mice. Npt2a might function as regulator between renal Ca 2+ excretion and reabsorption in response to vitamin D 3 ., (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Background and Objectives: Understanding students' attitudes toward their study major and career prospects in healthcare is crucial. This study evaluates radiologic technology students and graduates' attitudes toward their study major and career prospects., Methods: This cross-sectional study at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences assessed 120 BSc radiologic technology students and graduates' attitudes toward their study major and career prospects using an online questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26, with results reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Significance was determined using the independent sample t -test and one-way analysis of variance ( p  < 0.05)., Results: Participants' age, averaged 24.13 ± 3.64 years and were predominantly females (58.3%). Among radiologic technology students, the mean scores ± SD for attitudes toward their academic major and career prospects were 19.75 ± 2.27 and 15.62 ± 2.28, respectively. For graduates, these values were 19.73 ± 3.85 and 14.73 ± 2.75, respectively. Most participants exhibited a positive attitude toward their study major (90.8%) and career prospects (85.0%). No statistically significant differences were observed in attitudes across demographic specifications for students and graduates, nor between the attitudes of students and graduates toward their study major and career prospects., Conclusions: The evaluated students and graduates demonstrated a positive attitude toward their field of study and career prospects. Positive perceptions from peers and society and job opportunities for BSc graduates contribute to this. while our research highlights the prevailing positive attitudes within the radiologic technology profession, there is a clear need for ongoing evaluation and refinement to ensure continued success and satisfaction among students and graduates. Enhancing students' understanding of academic disciplines before major selection and providing effective counseling can reinforce these attitudes., Competing Interests: We declare that the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences as the supporter of the study was not involved in the study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the report; and the decision to submit the report for publication. The remaining authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to objectively evaluate the evidence of machine learning (ML) in the patient diagnosis of Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) on computed tomography (CT) scans., Methods: Until May 2023, systematic searches were conducted in ISI Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, CINAHL, Science Direct, PROSPERO, and EMBASE for studies that evaluated the diagnostic precision of ML model-assisted ICH detection. Patients with and without ICH as the target condition who were receiving CT-Scan were eligible for the research, which used ML algorithms based on radiologists' reports as the gold reference standard. For meta-analysis, pooled sensitivities, specificities, and a summary receiver operating characteristics curve (SROC) were used., Results: At last, after screening the title, abstract, and full paper, twenty-six retrospective and three prospective, and two retrospective/prospective studies were included. The overall (Diagnostic Test Accuracy) DTA of retrospective studies with a pooled sensitivity was 0.917 (95% CI 0.88-0.943, I 2  = 99%). The pooled specificity was 0.945 (95% CI 0.918-0.964, I 2  = 100%). The pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 219.47 (95% CI 104.78-459.66, I 2  = 100%). These results were significant for the specificity of the different network architecture models (p-value = 0.0289). However, the results for sensitivity (p-value = 0.6417) and DOR (p-value = 0.2187) were not significant. The ResNet algorithm has higher pooled specificity than other algorithms with 0.935 (95% CI 0.854-0.973, I 2  = 93%)., Conclusion: This meta-analysis on DTA of ML algorithms for detecting ICH by assessing non-contrast CT-Scans shows the ML has an acceptable performance in diagnosing ICH. Using ResNet in ICH detection remains promising prediction was improved via training in an Architecture Learning Network (ALN)., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study aims to report the relevant issues concerning small fields in the commissioning of a TrueBeam STx for photon energies of 6MV, 10MV, 6FFF, and 10FFF. Percent depth doses, profiles, and field output factors were measured according to the beam model configuration of the treatment planning system. Multiple detectors were used based on the IAEA TRS-483 protocol as well as EBT3 radiochromic film. Analytical Anisotropic and Acuros XB algorithms, were configured and validated through basic dosimetry comparisons and end-to-end clinical tests., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, the interaction of an anticonvulsant drug that used in the treatment of epilepsy, Lamotrigine (LTG) with the most important transport protein of the blood, human serum albumin (HSA) has been studied by using the electrochemical methods and molecular modeling techniques. For this purpose, a simple carbon paste electrode (CPE) was applied for electrocatalytic oxidation and investigation of LTG interaction with HSA. The stoichiometry of the complex between LTG and HSA and the binding constant (K b ) of the reaction were calculated from the calibration curves. The results show that binding of LTG to HSA formed two complexes with different stoichiometries with K b1 (2.46 × 10 3 ) and K b2 (1.75 × 10 7 ), respectively. In agreement with the experimental data, molecular modeling approach also confirmed that LTG can bind to the subdomain IIA and IB of HSA.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Background: Medical images of cancer patients are usually evaluated qualitatively by clinical specialists which makes the accuracy of the diagnosis subjective and related to the skills of clinicians. Quantitative methods based on the textural feature analysis may be useful to facilitate such evaluations. This study aimed to analyze the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM)-based texture features extracted from T1-axial magnetic resonance (MR) images of glioblastoma multiform (GBM) patients to determine the distinctive features specific to treatment response or disease progression., Methods: 20 GLCM-based texture features, in addition to mean, standard deviation, entropy, RMS, kurtosis, and skewness were extracted from step I MR images (obtained 72 h after surgery) and step II MR images (obtained three months later). Responded and not responded patients to treatment were classified manually based on the radiological evaluation of step II images. Extracted texture features from Step I and Step II images were analyzed to determine the distinctive features for each group of responsive or progressive diseases. MATLAB 2020 was applied to feature extraction. SPSS version 26 was used for the statistical analysis. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: Despite no statistically significant differences between Step I texture features for two considered groups, almost all step II extracted GLCM-based texture features in addition to entropy M and skewness were significantly different between responsive and progressive disease groups., Conclusions: GLCM-based texture features extracted from MR images of GBM patients can be used with automatic algorithms for the expeditious prediction or interpretation of response to the treatment quantitatively besides qualitative evaluations., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Medical Signals & Sensors.)

Magnetic nanoparticle-based hyperthermia as a new cancer treatment technology has been applied for some kinds of tumors. To review the different applications and effectiveness of this new cancer treatment technique, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were explored up to November 2022, using the following keywords combined in different ways: "Magnetic Nanoparticles Based Hyperthermia", "Magnetic Nanoparticles" AND "Hyperthermia" AND "Cancer". The obtained results were screened for the title and abstract and the relevant papers were reviewed for further details. Finally, 24 papers were included in the study. These papers have evaluated the application of magnetic nanoparticle-based hyperthermia for treating different cancers including breast, liver, prostate, pancreas, colon, brain, lung, and stem cell. Various nanoparticles including Iron Oxide (Fe 2 O 3 , Fe 3 O 4 ), Dextran Spermine, Iron Chloride, Magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with Liposomes (MCLs), and Variable Molecular Weight Nanoparticles (VMWNPs) were used in different reviewed studies. The results of reviewed studies revealed that the nanoparticle-based hyperthermia technique as a new progressive modality can significantly improve treatment outcomes for some special cancers. Increasing life expectancy by up to 30% using Iron Oxide magnetic nanoparticle-based hyperthermia for pancreatic cancer and increasing tumor ablation by about 33% for other cancers were reported in reviewed articles. However, further studies are required to extend this new treatment technique to other cancers and for providing more accurate information on nanoparticle-based hyperthermia's effectiveness as a complementary technique in cancer treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors don't have any conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Trauma patients often suffer from multiple injuries and require undergoing various radiography which is referred to as multifield radiographic examinations. Protective measures may be ignored for these examinations due to stressful emergency situations or patients' conditions. This study was conducted to evaluate the scattered doses received by the pelvis during different common multifield radiographic examinations with an emphasis on field size adjustment., Methods: A whole-body phantom, PBU-50, resembling the body mass, was used to carry out the common examinations for trauma patients (extremities, skull, chest, abdomen, pelvis, femur, and lumbar radiography), using a Pars Pad X-ray machine. To measure the primary entrance skin doses, three calibrated GR 200 thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) chips were placed in the central X-ray beam of scanned organs. Three TLDs were also placed on the pelvis symphysis pubis to measure the scattered dose received by the pelvis due to each carried-out radiography for standard and clinically used field sizes. A Harshaw 3500 TLD Reader was used to read the chips. TLD readouts (nano-Coulomb) were converted to dose (milli Gray [mGy]) using the predefined calibration curve., Results: The scattered doses to the pelvis due to scanning a single organ differed from 0.80 to 1.70, and 0.82 to 4.09 mGy for standard and clinically used field sizes, respectively. The scattered doses to the pelvis in multifield examinations varied from 0.80 to 8.43 and 0.82 to 13.6 mGy for standard and clinically used field sizes, respectively, depending on the number of scanned organs and their distances from the pelvis., Conclusions: Multiple and repeated radiographs combined with insufficient protective measures can increase the patient's dose. The findings indicate that the scattered doses received by the pelvis can exceed the reference values in multifield radiography, especially if the radiation field is not restricted properly to the scanned organ., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)