Comparison Between Wolfe, Boyd, BI-RADS and Tabár Based Mammographic Risk Assessment

Abstract. Mammographic risk assessment provides an indication of the likelihood of women developing breast cancer. Anumber ofmammographic image based classification methods have been developed, such as Wolfe, Boyd, BI-RADS and Tabár based assessment. We provide a comparative study of these four approaches. Results on the full MIAS database are presented, which indicate strong correlation (Spearman’s> 0.9) between Wolfe, Boyd andBI-RADSbased classification, whilst the correlation with Tabár based classification is less straight forward (Spearman’s < 0.5, but low correlations mainly caused by one of the classes).

Method of integrated assessment of regional system

Article presents the author's method of comparative assessment of cities and municipalities level of socio-economic development. It is based on application of a special approach, which allows to combine substantial analysis, quantitative and mathematical-statistical methods using the system of estimative indicators. Method allows obtaining conclusions of the comparative evaluation of the quality of regional socio-economic systems on the basis of solution of mathematical classification problems and includes stages of mathematical-statistical analysis of indicators, partial estimates in the context of the indicators and their blocks, summary assessment and classification/grouping of objects based on this assessment

Identifying and classifying aberrant response patterns through functional data analysis

We propose new methods for identifying and classifying aberrant response patterns (ARPs) by means of functional data analysis. These methods take the person response function (PRF) of an individual and compare it with the pattern that would correspond to a generic individual of the same ability according to the item-person response surface. ARPs correspond to atypical difference functions. The ARP classification is done with functional data clustering applied to the PRFs identified as ARP. We apply these methods to two sets of simulated data (the first is used to illustrate the ARP identification methods and the second demonstrates classification of the response patterns flagged as ARP) and a real data set (a Grade 12 science assessment test, SAT, with 32 items answered by 600 examinees). For comparative purposes, ARPs are also identified with three nonparametric person-fit indices (Ht, Modified Caution Index, and ZU3). Our results indicate that the ARP detection ability of one of our proposed methods is comparable to that of person-fit indices. Moreover, the proposed classification methods enable ARP associated with either spuriously low or spuriously high scores to be distinguished.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

On the Accuracy of A.C. Flux Leakage, Eddy Current, EMAT and Ultrasonic Methods of Measuring Surface Connecting Flaws in Seamless Steel Tubing

The objective of this study was to perform a comparative experimental evaluation to determine the detection sensitivity, classification (fJaw type) and depth sizing accuracy of A.C. flux leakage, single-frequency eddy current, electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) generated surface waves, and broadband ultrasonic methods for the measurement of complex surface connecting flaws in hot rolled, seamless, ferritic tubing. Since it was of interest to invest NDE techniques over a wide range of capabilities, tubing having flaw depths far exceeding industry standards was tested and evaluated. Results of the study will be used to provide a benchmark assessment of these NDE methods, from which decisions concerning production test systems can be made

Application of machine learning methods for the prediction of distress in patients with oncological diseases

       Distress management is of particular importance in all disease treatment strategies that aim to cope with medical conditions, which require prolonged therapy. Here, we present results obtained in a comparative study of various classification methods for automated distress detection. For the purposes of the present study, use was made of a common experimental protocol that relies on a dataset of approximately 6 000 oncological patients at different stages of therapy. The dataset consists of the binary responses to specific questions in a purposefully-designed self-evaluation questionnaire on the degree of distress. Conducted, within such a framework, was a performance assessment of three distress detectors based on Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network (MLP NN), boosting and bagging meta-classification methods and evaluated, further, was the performance of nine characteristic descriptors (KR1-KR9) representing the informative content of the dataset in different ways. The results obtained in the experiments prove conclusively that one of the characteristic descriptors, KR8 and KR9, significantly outperform the other descriptors in terms of classification accuracy, precision, recall, and F-measure

The process of decline in advanced activities of daily living: a qualitative explorative study in mild cognitive impairment

Background: The notion of "minimal impairment in instrumental activities of daily living (i-ADL)" is important in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but is presently not adequately operationalized. ADL is stratified according to difficulty, complexity, and also to vulnerability to early cognitive changes in a threefold hierarchy: basic activities of daily living (b-ADL), i-ADL, and advanced activities of daily living (a-ADL). This study aims to gain a deeper understanding of the functional decline in the process of MCI. Methods: In a qualitative design, 37 consecutive patients diagnosed with amnestic (a)-MCI and their proxies were interviewed at two geriatric day hospitals. Constant comparative analysis was used for the analysis. Results: The a-ADL-concept emerged as important in the diagnosis of MCI. All participants were engaged in a wide range of activities, which could be clustered according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Participants reported subtle difficulties in performance. A process of functional decline was identified in which adaptation and coping mechanisms interacted with the process of reduced skills, leading to an activity disruption and an insufficiency in functioning. Conclusion: This study asserts the inclusion of an evaluation of a-ADL in the assessment of older persons. When evaluating ADL at three levels (b-ADL, i-ADL, and a-ADL), all the activities one can perform in daily living are covered

Geosite Assessment Using Three Different Methods; a Comparative Study of the Krupaja and the Zagubica Springs - Hydrological Heritage of Serbia

Hydrological heritage is a relatively new concept in the field of geosite assessment. The principal aim of this study is to apply M-GAM (Modified geosite assessment model) for comparative analysis of the Krupaja spring and the Zagubica (Mlava) spring, located in Homolje area, in Eastern Serbia. According to the classification of geosites of Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, these sites are on the list of protected sites ("hydro(geo)logical" heritage sites) of extraordinary national importance; however, they still have not gained necessary recognition in Serbia. Thus, their assessment according to different target groups should provide a clearer picture of their current condition. As M-GAM considers that not all indicators for evaluation of geosites are of the same importance, this paper applies two methods for comparing and determining the importance of indicators and subindicators in the model (Analytical-hierarchy process (AHP) and descriptive statistics conducted by SPSS). Also, it is assumed that different target groups will give different importance to some indicators in the model, which would result in various evaluation scores for the same geosites. The paper also provides a comparative analysis of the assessment carried out by two different target groups - potential geotourists and geoexperts. The results obtained by AHP and descriptive statistics are quite similar, which confirms the reliability of respondents' answers and the results gained. The analyzed sites are differently positioned in the evaluation matrix, and implications are further discussed in the paper

Problems in Assessing Competitiveness of Enterprises as an Indicator of Strategic Development

In the process of development of a market economy, scientists and researchers from around the world tried to systematize methods for assessing competitiveness and develop a universal classification of such approaches. In the course of the analysis of the scientific literature on the topic of the article and the results of previous studies, the authors summarized the approaches to assessing competitiveness and identified the main criteria for their further classification. A comparative analysis of competitiveness assessment models allows not only to identify and compare their strengths and weaknesses but also to build a combination of methods to enhance the existing advantages of the models and negate their shortcomings. This process makes it possible to improve the assessment methods and use the achievements of scientists in the field of economics, management, and related fields. The authors have analyzed the methods for assessing competitiveness, and suggested ways to address the shortcomings of the above-mentioned methods for assessing competitiveness. The paper presents an approach to the use of combined assessment methods and their formalization

Clinical Classification and Scales for Myasthenia Gravis

The variable predominance of the affected muscle groups and the fluctuating severity and extent of myasthenia gravis (MG) makes it difficult to assess and classify these patients. With new treatments being developed and applied, it has become more important to properly classify MG patients and objectively evaluate the results of treatment. So far, a number of clinical classification and assessment systems have been proposed and used individually. However, for the comparative analysis, a uniform set of classifications and reliable measurement methods of muscle impairment are necessary. In this article, MG-clinical classification and several MG-specific assessment tools that are widely used are mentioned.ope