METHOD: In this study, we implement FWF as an energy minimization function to replace the standard gradient-descent method as minimization function in Chan-Vese segmentation technique. The proposed FWF is used to find the boundaries of an object by controlling the inside and outside values of the contour. In this study, the objective evaluation is used to distinguish the differences between the processed segmented images and ground truth using a set of statistical parameters; true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative.
RESULTS: The FWF as a minimization of energy was successfully implemented on BRATS 2013 image dataset. The achieved overall average sensitivity score of the brain tumors segmentation was 94.8 ± 4.7%.
CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that the proposed FWF method minimized the energy function more than the gradient-decent method that was used in the original three-dimensional active contour without edge (3DACWE) method.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Activity was assessed using broth microdilution, time kill viability, microtiter plate, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR).
RESULTS: The susceptibility tests revealed promising antibacterial activities of all honeys against both bacteria. The MICs of JH, KMH, GH, and AH ranged from 20% to 25% compared to MH (12.5%) against both bacteria. The MBCs of JH, KMH, GH, and AH ranged from 20% to 50% compared to MH (20%) against both bacteria. Treatment of both bacteria with 2× MIC (Minimum inhibitory concentration) of MH, JH, KMH, GH, and AH for 9 hours resulted in reduction in colony-forming unit (CFU/ml). SEM images showed that the morphological changes, cell destruction, cell lysis and biofilm disruption in both bacteria after exposure to all honeys. RT-qPCR analysis revealed that the expression of all genes in both bacteria were downregulated following treatment with all honeys. Among the all-tested honeys, MH showed the highest total antibacterial and antivirulence activities.
CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that all honeys activity included inhibition of both bacteria due to a decrease in expression of essential genes associated with both bacteria, suggesting that all honeys could potentially be used as an alternative therapeutic agent against certain microorganisms particularly against P. aeruginosa and S. pyogenes.