Tailored for Real-World: A Whole Slide Image Classification System Validated on Uncurated Multi-Site Data Emulating the Prospective Pathology Workload.

Standard of care diagnostic procedure for suspected skin cancer is microscopic examination of hematoxylin & eosin stained tissue by a pathologist. Areas of high inter-pathologist discordance and rising biopsy rates necessitate higher efficiency and diagnostic reproducibility. We present and validate a deep learning system which classifies digitized dermatopathology slides into 4 categories. The system is developed using 5,070 images from a single lab, and tested on an uncurated set of 13,537 images from 3 test labs, using whole slide scanners manufactured by 3 different vendors. The system\u27s use of deep-learning-based confidence scoring as a criterion to consider the result as accurate yields an accuracy of up to 98%, and makes it adoptable in a real-world setting. Without confidence scoring, the system achieved an accuracy of 78%. We anticipate that our deep learning system will serve as a foundation enabling faster diagnosis of skin cancer, identification of cases for specialist review, and targeted diagnostic classifications

Aerodynamics of advanced axial-flow turbomachinery

A multi-task research program on aerodynamic problems in advanced axial-flow turbomachine configurations was carried out at Iowa State University. The elements of this program were intended to contribute directly to the improvement of compressor, fan, and turbine design methods. Experimental efforts in intra-passage flow pattern measurements, unsteady blade row interaction, and control of secondary flow are included, along with computational work on inviscid-viscous interaction blade passage flow techniques. This final report summarizes the results of this program and indicates directions which might be taken in following up these results in future work. In a separate task a study was made of existing turbomachinery research programs and facilities in universities located in the United States. Some potentially significant research topics are discussed which might be successfully attacked in the university atmosphere

Swiss digital pathology recommendations: results from a Delphi process conducted by the Swiss Digital Pathology Consortium of the Swiss Society of Pathology

Integration of digital pathology (DP) into clinical diagnostic workflows is increasingly receiving attention as new hardware and software become available. To facilitate the adoption of DP, the Swiss Digital Pathology Consortium (SDiPath) organized a Delphi process to produce a series of recommendations for DP integration within Swiss clinical environments. This process saw the creation of 4 working groups, focusing on the various components of a DP system (1) scanners, quality assurance and validation of scans, (2) integration of Whole Slide Image (WSI)-scanners and DP systems into the Pathology Laboratory Information System, (3) digital workflow-compliance with general quality guidelines, and (4) image analysis (IA)/artificial intelligence (AI), with topic experts for each recruited for discussion and statement generation. The work product of the Delphi process is 83 consensus statements presented here, forming the basis for "SDiPath Recommendations for Digital Pathology". They represent an up-to-date resource for national and international hospitals, researchers, device manufacturers, algorithm developers, and all supporting fields, with the intent of providing expectations and best practices to help ensure safe and efficient DP usage

High-precision 3D object capturing with static and kinematic terrestrial laser scanning in industrial applications-approaches of quality assessment

Abstract Terrestrial laser scanning is used in many disciplines of engineering. Examples include mobile mapping, architecture surveying, archaeology, as well as monitoring and surveillance measurements. For most of the mentioned applications, 3D object capturing in an accuracy range of several millimeters up to a few centimeters is sufficient. However, in engineering geodesy, particularly in industrial surveying or monitoring measurements, accuracies in a range of a few millimeters are required. Additional increased quality requirements apply to these applications. This paper focuses on the quality investigation of data captured with static and kinematic terrestrial laser scanning. For this purpose, suitable sensors, which are typically used in the approach of a multi-sensor-system, as well as the corresponding data capturing/acquisition strategies, are presented. The aim of such systems is a geometry- and surface-based analysis in an industrial environment with an accuracy of +/- 1-2 mm or better

Signature extension studies

The importance of specific spectral regions to signature extension is explored. In the recent past, the signature extension task was focused on the development of new techniques. Tested techniques are now used to investigate this spectral aspect of the large area survey. Sets of channels were sought which, for a given technique, were the least affected by several sources of variation over four data sets and yet provided good object class separation on each individual data set. Using sets of channels determined as part of this study, signature extension was accomplished between data sets collected over a six-day period and over a range of about 400 kilometers

Digital pathology in clinical use: where are we now and what is holding us back?

Whole slide imaging is being used increasingly in research applications and in frozen section, consultation and external quality assurance practice. Digital pathology, when integrated with other digital tools such as barcoding, specimen tracking and digital dictation, can be integrated into the histopathology workflow, from specimen accession to report sign-out. These elements can bring about improvements in the safety, quality and efficiency of a histopathology department. The present paper reviews the evidence for these benefits. We then discuss the challenges of implementing a fully digital pathology workflow, including the regulatory environment, validation of whole slide imaging and the evidence for the design of a digital pathology workstation

Antenna Near-Field Probe Station Scanner

A miniaturized antenna system is characterized non-destructively through the use of a scanner that measures its near-field radiated power performance. When taking measurements, the scanner can be moved linearly along the x, y and z axis, as well as rotationally relative to the antenna. The data obtained from the characterization are processed to determine the far-field properties of the system and to optimize the system. Each antenna is excited using a probe station system while a scanning probe scans the space above the antenna to measure the near field signals. Upon completion of the scan, the near-field patterns are transformed into far-field patterns. Along with taking data, this system also allows for extensive graphing and analysis of both the near-field and far-field data. The details of the probe station as well as the procedures for setting up a test, conducting a test, and analyzing the resulting data are also described

Low-level analysis of microarray data

This thesis consists of an extensive introduction followed by seven papers (A-F) on low-level analysis of microarray data. Focus is on calibration and normalization of observed data. The introduction gives a brief background of the microarray technology and its applications in order for anyone not familiar with the field to read the thesis. Formal definitions of calibration and normalization are given. Paper A illustrates a typical statistical analysis of microarray data with background correction, normalization, and identification of differentially expressed genes (among thousands of candidates). A small analysis on the final results for different number of replicates and different image analysis software is also given. Paper B introduces a novel way for displaying microarray data called the print-order plot, which displays data in the order the corresponding spots were printed to the array. Utilizing these, so called (microtiter-) plate effects are identified. Then, based on a simple variability measure for replicated spots across arrays, different normalization sequences are tested and evidence for the existence of plate effects are claimed. Paper C presents an object-oriented extension with transparent reference variables to the R language. It is provides the necessary foundation in order to implement the microarray analysis package described in Paper F. Paper D is on affine transformations of two-channel microarray data and their effects on the log-ratio log-intensity transform. Affine transformations, that is, the existence of channel biases, can explain commonly observed intensity-dependent effects in the log-ratios. In the light of the affine transformation, several normalization methods are revisited. At the end of the paper, a new robust affine normalization is suggested that relies on iterative reweighted principal component analysis. Paper E suggests a multiscan calibration method where each array is scanned at various sensitivity levels in order to uniquely identify the affine transformation of signals that the scanner and the image-analysis methods introduce. Observed data strongly support this method. In addition, multiscan-calibrated data has an extended dynamical range and higher signal-to-noise levels. This is real-world evidence for the existence of affine transformations of microarray data. Paper F describes the aroma package – An R Object-oriented Microarray Analysis environment – implemented in R and that provides easy access to our and others low-level analysis methods. Paper G provides an calibration method for spotted microarrays with dilution series or spike-ins. The method is based on a heteroscedastic affine stochastic model. The parameter estimates are robust against model misspecification

High dynamic range imaging for archaeological recording

This paper notes the adoption of digital photography as a primary recording means within archaeology, and reviews some issues and problems that this presents. Particular attention is given to the problems of recording high-contrast scenes in archaeology and High Dynamic Range imaging using multiple exposures is suggested as a means of providing an archive of high-contrast scenes that can later be tone-mapped to provide a variety of visualisations. Exposure fusion is also considered, although it is noted that this has some disadvantages. Three case studies are then presented (1) a very high contrast photograph taken from within a rock-cut tomb at Cala Morell, Menorca (2) an archaeological test pitting exercise requiring rapid acquisition of photographic records in challenging circumstances and (3) legacy material consisting of three differently exposed colour positive (slide) photographs of the same scene. In each case, HDR methods are shown to significantly aid the generation of a high quality illustrative record photograph, and it is concluded that HDR imaging could serve an effective role in archaeological photographic recording, although there remain problems of archiving and distributing HDR radiance map data