Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and early detection can significantly decrease the associated mortality rate. Different kinds of segmentation methods were applied to extract regions of interest from breast cancer images that are necessary to improve the classification. In this paper, a segmentation method for breast cancer from thermal images is introduced based on a proposed Chaotic Salp Swarm Algorithm (CSSA). Although the Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA) shows superiority in singleobjective optimization problems, it suffers from a low convergence rate and local optima stagnation. In the proposed method, a segmentation algorithm is formulated using the quick-shift method for superpixels extraction whose parameters are optimized by CSSA. The quick-shift method generates compact and nearly uniform superpixels by clustering the breast thermal image pixels. CSSA algorithm is developed based on ten chaotic maps to enhance the original SSA convergence rate while accuracy could be improved by controlling the balance between exploration and exploitation. The proposed algorithm is applied to realworld thermal images for the breast area. The results demonstrate that the proposed CSSA algorithm achieves fast convergence for the unimodal benchmark functions and outperforms the original SSA algorithm. Moreover, a dataset from Mastology Research with Infrared Image (DMR-IR) is used to test the performance of the proposed algorithm. In experiments, the proposed optimized segmentation algorithm extracts the breast area from the background accurately where the region of interest is focused on the breast area and removes the unwanted area such as underarms and stomach which intern can enhance the results of cancer detection. Furthermore, the proposed algorithms achieve robustness for the segmentation of different healthy and unhealthy cases images compared to the state-of-the-art methods.
Background: Pregnancy is the most pleasant and delicate time in a woman's life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercise on the first trimester nausea among primigravida women. Methods: a quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. The current study was conducted at the Antenatal Outpatient Clinic of Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt. A non-probability purposive sample of 132 primigravida women in their first trimester was assigned to either the control group, which received regular antenatal care or the PMR group which conducted Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercise. A structured interview questionnaire schedule, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Likert Scale were utilized for data collection. Results: At the baseline assessment there was no statistical significant difference in VAS nausea scores between subjects in the control and PMR groups, a high statistical significant differences were found among the subjects from both groups at the 7 th day after PMR exercising, in which, about 47% of the subjects in the control group had severe nausea compared to 0% subjects in PMR group (P <0.001), the frequency of nausea at the 7 th day was decreased to be less than twice per day in about 54.5% of subjects in PMR group compared to 12.1% in control group (P <0.001), the majority of subjects were highly satisfied with PMR exercise as a convenient method to relieve nausea related to pregnancy. Conclusion: There was a statistical significant decrease in nausea severity and frequency in the PMR group compared to the control group with higher satisfaction with PMR exercise as convenient and simple method for reliving of nausea among primigravida women. Recommendations: The current study recommended that, progressive muscle relaxation exercise should be integrated into nursing care practices that relief nausea among pregnant women.
Background: Electronic learning (E-learning) is the most suitable solution for academic universities to continue the education process during the coronavirus disease 2019 . Aim: This study aimed to assess the readiness and acceptance of maternity and community undergraduate nursing students for adopting E-learning during COVID-19 pandemic. Setting: This study was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University. Egypt. Subjects: A nonprobability purposive sample of 401 regular maternity and community undergraduate nursing students was enrolled in this study. Data collection tool: An online questionnaire was used to assess the general characteristics, readiness, and acceptance for adopting E-learning of the nursing students. Results: More than half (52.6%) of the students under the study were ready for adopting E-learning. Additionally, less than half (48.4%) of the students accepted E-learning. Conclusion: Around half of the studied students were ready and accept to adopt E-learning during COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations: Organizational investment for technological software, hardware, or license is essential to increase the acceptance and readiness rate of students at universities for adopting E-learning. Moreover, the development of training workshops to increase students' skills in using technology for education is important.
Background: Early detection and prevention of preeclampsia (PE) are very important to avoid morbidity and mortality associated with them. Recent efforts have focused on the selection of highrisk women and increasing their awareness and compliance with effective interventions as early as it is possible. Aim: This study aimed to assess the effect of guided instructions using bundle of care on knowledge and compliance with treatment among pregnant women high risk for preeclampsia. Design: A quasi-experimental design was utilized in this study. Setting: This study was carried out at the antenatal outpatient clinics of Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt. Study subjects: Anonprobability purposive sample of 108 pregnant women was allocated either to the control group who received the routine antenatal care and the intervention group who received preeclampsia bundle of care intervention. Tools: A structured interview questionnaire to cover data related to general characteristics and obstetric history; pregnant women knowledge regarding preeclampsia questionnaire and compliance with preeclampsia treatment questionnaire. Results: The present study results showed that there was a highly statistical significant increase (p<0.001) in total knowledge score post intervention compared to pre intervention among pregnant women in both groups and a statistical significant increase in total score of pregnant women compliance with preeclampsia treatment in the intervention group compared to the control group post-intervention ( p<0.05), only (27.8%) of women in the intervention group compared to half (50%) in the control group developed preeclampsia with statistical significant difference among both groups ( p< 0.05). Conclusion:The current study hypothesis were accepted where applying guided instructions using bundle of care was an effective intervention for improving knowledge and compliance with treatment among pregnant women high risk for preeclampsia in the intervention group compared to the control group. Recommendation: The current study recommended integrating guided instructions using bundle of care as a nursing intervention into the routine antenatal care in the study setting.
Background: Empowering women is a key factor for better social and economic development of different countries because women empowerment enables much more working force and improves performance of organizations. Aim: This study aimed to assess women's reproductive empowerment in rural and urban areas. Design: A cross sectional descriptive research design was used. Setting: This study was carried out at Maternal and Child Health Care Center at Talkha and Salamoon health facility, Delta, Egypt. Study subjects: A non-probability purposive sample of 334 women who were fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Tools A structured interview schedule to cover the data related to general characteristics and women's reproductive empowerment questionnaire to assess women's reproductive empowerment. Results: There were highly statistical significant differences regarding cultural, individual family, social and family planning domain scores among rural and urban women with more empowerment in urban women (p<0.001). Also, the highest of women's reproductive empowerment among urban and rural residents were found in cultural domain with Mean ±SD 20.3 ±4.5 and 18.1 ±5.8 respectively and the lowest scores among rural and urban women were found in family planning domain with Mean ±SD 17.7 ±3.1 and 14.9 ±4.7 respectively. Else, women's reproductive empowerment among the studied group was significantly associated with their occupation, educational level and their husband's educational level (p >0.05). Conclusion: The current study question was answered where urban women were more empowered regarding cultural, individual family, social and family planning domains than rural women. Women occupation, educational level and husband's educational level had an effective role in reproductive empowerment. Recommendations: The current study recommended more involvement of woman in membership in rural institutions and access to social networks, also increase awareness of rural woman about their right, legal empowerment and decision-making.
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