Groupwise non-rigid image alignment is a difficult non-linear optimization problem involving many parameters and often large datasets. Previous methods have explored various metrics and optimization strategies. Good results have been previously achieved with simple metrics, requiring complex optimization, often with many unintuitive parameters that require careful tuning for each dataset. In this chapter, the problem is restructured to use a simpler, iterative optimization algorithm, with very few free parameters. The warps are refined using an iterative Levenberg-Marquardt minimization to the mean, based on updating the locations of a small number of points and incorporating a stiffness constraint. This optimization approach is eff

Background: Pregnancy is considered a major risk factor for development and progression of periodontal disease. There are hormonal changes in both estrogen and progesterone hormones in addition to bacterial effect and poor oral hygiene that will enhance development of periodontal disease in pregnant women. Materials and methods: Seventy subjects were enrolled in the study, the subjects with an age range (20-35) years old without any history of systemic disease. The subjects were divided into 20 non-pregnant women they represent the control group (G I), 30 pregnant women with gingivitis (GII) and 20 pregnant women with periodontitis (GIII).All periodontal parameters (plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth an

SAGD is a thermal recovery process in which steam oil ratio, SOR, is a key parameter that can affect the economic outcome of the process. Reservoirs with underlying or overlying lean bitumen present challenges for SAGD as they can act as a heat sink. Water has higher heat capacity than the bitumen and thus requires more steam to heat up the reservoir leading to higher SOR. The potential outcome of operating SAGD in these conditions may be lower bitumen rate and higher steam injection rate, both of which affect plant throughput and thus the economic matrix of SAGD. This paper looks at the performance of SAGD process in the presence of top lean bitumen. It will examine the theoretical CSOR that is needed to produce the bitumen with different

Biofilm formation is one of the biggest challenges of scientists. Role of heavy metals in forming biofilm is not clear enough. Here, the effect of lead on biofilm formation by Bacillus spp. isolated from soil in terms of biofilm formation and remove was studied. In present study, 10 isolates of Bacillus spp were isolated from soil. The ability of all isolates to form biofilm was evaluated. The effect of lead on biofilm formation was studied by adding lead (pb) before forming biofilm. In another experiment the lead was added after biofilm formation to study the effect of lead on biofilm remove. The current study, showed the ability of all studied isolates to form biofilm. Maximum biofilm formation by Bacillus spp isolate number 8 (B8) follow

Background: Orthodontic tooth movement is characterized by tissue reactions, which consist of an inflammatoryresponse in periodontal ligament and followed by bone remodeling in the periodontium depending on the forces applied. These processes trigger the secretion of various proteins and enzymes into the saliva.The purpose of thi study was to evaluate the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in saliva during orthodontic tooth movement using different magnitude of continuous orthodontic forces.
Materials and Methods: Thirty orthodontic patients (12 males and 18 females) aged 17-23 years with class II division I malocclusion all requiring bilateral maxillary first premolar extractions were randomly divided into three groups according t

The experiment was carried out to study the effect oftwo concentration of NPK 0.25 and 0.50g/kg soil on some physiological characters of Apium graveolens. The results showed that the both concentration increased percentage of germination, plant height, Length of roots, roots diameter, absolute growth rate (AGR), relative growth rate (RGR) and percentage of N, P and K in plants

The reliability of optical sources is strongly dependent on the degradation and device characteristics are critically dependent on temperature. The degradation behaviours and reliability test results for the laser diode device (Sony-DL3148-025) will be presented .These devices are usually highly reliable. The degradation behaviour was exhibited in several aging tests, and device lifetimes were then estimated. The temperature dependence of 0.63?m lasers was studied. An aging test with constant light power operation of 5mW was carried out at 10, 25, 50 and 70°C for 100hours. Lifetimes of the optical sources have greatly improved, and these optical sources can be applied to various types of transmission systems. Within this degradation range,

Background: Deterioration of maxillofacial silicone properties due to microbial colonization is a common problem and leads to the replacement of the prosthesis. Incorporation of the antimicrobial agent into the silicone could be a solution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of silver-zinc zeolite addition on some mechanical properties of a maxillofacial silicone (VST-50). Materials and methods: Total 120 specimens were fabricated and divided into 3 groups: 40 specimens for tear strength test, 40 specimens for tensile and percentage of elongation tests and 40 specimens for Shore A hardness and surface roughness. Each group was divided into 4 subgroups according to the amount of zeolite added (0% “control”, 0.5%, 1% and

This work was conducted to study the oxidation of phenol in aqueous solution using copper based catalyst with zinc as promoter and different carrier, i.e. γ-Alumina and silica. These catalysts were prepared by impregnation method.
The effect of catalyst composition, pH (5.6-9), phenol to catalyst concentration ratio (2-0.5), air feed rate (30-50) ml/s, stirring speed (400-800) rpm, and temperature (80-100) °C were examined in order to find the best conditions for phenol conversion.
The best operating conditions which lead to maximum phenol conversion (73.1%) are : 7.5 pH, 4/6 phenol to catalyst concentration, 40 ml/s air feed rate, 600 rpm stirring speed, and 100 °C reaction temperature. The reaction involved an induction period

No-fine concrete (NFC) is cellular concrete and it’s light weight concrete produced with the exclusion of sand from the concrete. This study includes the mechanical properties of lightweight reinforced by steel fiber, containing different proportions of steel fiber. This study was done using number of tests. These tests were density, compressive strength, flexural strength and absorption. These tests of the molds at different curing time. The results of tests that implication of fiber to No. fine concrete did not affect significantly on the compressive strength, While the flexural strength were gets better. Results explained that, the flexural strength of (1%) fiber No- fine concrete molds are four times that of the reference mold