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This paper introduces, and reports on the performance of, a novel combination of algorithms for automated microaneurysm (MA) detection in retinal images. The presence of MAs in retinal images is a pathognomonic sign of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) which is one of the leading causes of blindness amongst the working age population. An extensive survey of the literature is presented and current techn...

This study investigated the relationship between selfefficacy and stress among 108 EFL teachers in Iran. The participants were administered self-efficacy and stress questionnaires. Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression analyses were used. The results indicated significant negative correlation between self efficacy and stress. Also it was found that both dimensions of self-e...

This paper addresses the automatic detection of microaneurysms in color fundus images, which plays a key role in computer assisted diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, a serious and frequent eye disease. The algorithm can be divided into four steps. The first step consists in image enhancement, shade correction and image normalization of the green channel. The second step aims at detecting candid...

The present study investigated the effect of the keyword method of vocabulary teaching on the learning and longterm retention of vocabulary in a normal EFL classroom context. Fifty elementary EFL students were selected and assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received vocabulary instruction using mnemonic keyword method and the control group received conventiona...

Intertextuality is an important academic writing ability when using others’ ideas efficiently and is tanta- mount to failing in the fulfillment of the research part of MA programs if improperly utilized. This study was thus intended to delve into university teachers’ judgment of what they may count as proper or im- proper intertextuality and the reas...

Studies have mainly focused on strategies to motivate teachers or the student-teacher motivation relationships rather than teacher demotivation in the English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching process, whereas no data have been found on the factors that cause teacher demotivation in the Turkish EFL teaching contexts at the elementary education level. Thus, this study aims to investigate the ...

The development of an organism depends on individual cells receiving and executing their specific fates, although how this process is regulated remains largely unknown. Here, we identify a mechanism by which a specific cell fate, apoptosis, is determined through the cooperative efforts of Hox and E2F proteins. E2F transcription factors are critical, conserved regulators of the cell cycle and ap...