This paper presents a comparative study using different color spaces to evaluate the performance of color image segmentation using the automatic GrabCut technique. GrabCut is considered as one of the semiautomatic image segmentation techniques, since it requires user interaction for the initialization of the segmentation process. The automation of the GrabCut technique is proposed as a modification of the original semiautomatic one in order to eliminate the user interaction. The automatic GrabCut utilizes the unsupervised Orchard and Bouman clustering technique for the initialization phase. Comparisons with the original GrabCut show the efficiency of the proposed automatic technique in terms of segmentation, quality, and accuracy. As no explicit color space is recommended for every segmentation problem, automatic GrabCut is applied with RGB, HSV, CMY, XYZ, and YUV color spaces. The comparative study and experimental results using different color images show that RGB color space is the best color space representation for the set of the images used.

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Production and evaluation of different diet formulas fortified with oyster shell for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Eighty-eight female albino rats were recruited and divided into 11 groups (8 rats each). Group 1 represented negative control while the remaining groups were ovariectomized. Group 2 acted as positive control. Groups 3-5 were fed on basal diet. Groups 6-8 were fed on lentil soup while groups 9-11 were fed on vegetable soup. Group 4, 7, 10 were fed on diets fortified with oyster shell. Groups 5, 8 and 11 were fed on diet formulas fortified with calcium citrate. All calcium fortified diet formulas, especially lentil soup, have minimized risk factors associated with osteoporosis as indicated from the significant increase in tibial weight, total protein, total calcium and phosphorus with noticeable reduction in ALP activity compared to positive group. Maximum recovery was observed for diet fortified with oyster shell. These data suggest that food products fortified with oyster shell as natural and inexpensive source could be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

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