Bringing AI to the clinic: blueprint for a vendor-neutral AI deployment infrastructure

AI provides tremendous opportunities for improving patient care, but at present there is little evidence of real-world uptake. An important barrier is the lack of well-designed, vendor-neutral and future-proof infrastructures for deployment. Because current AI algorithms are very narrow in scope, it is expected that a typical hospital will deploy many algorithms concurrently. Managing stand-alone point solutions for all of these algorithms will be unmanageable. A solution to this problem is a dedicated platform for deployment of AI. Here we describe a blueprint for such a platform and the high-level design and implementation considerations of such a system that can be used clinically as well as for research and development. Close collaboration between radiologists, data scientists, software developers and experts in hospital IT as well as involvement of patients is crucial in order to successfully bring AI to the clinic

Nutrient dynamics of the southern and northern BOREAS boreal forests

The objective of this study was to compare nutrient concentration, distribution, and select components of nutrient budgets fur aspen (Populus tremuloides), jack pine (Pinus banksiana), and black spruce (Picea mariana) forest ecosystems at the BORcal Ecosystem Atmosphere Study (BOREAS), southern and northern study areas near Candle Lake, Saskatchewan and Thompson, Manitoba, Canada, respectively. The vegetation (excluding fine roots and understory) in the aspen, black spruce, and jack pine stands contained 70-79%, 53-54%, and 58-67% of total ecosystem carbon content, respectively. Soil (forest floor and mineral soil) nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) content comprised over 90% of the total ecosystem nutrient content, except for Ca and Mg content of the southern black spruce stand and Ca content of the southern aspen stand which were less than 90%. Annual litterfall N content was significantly greater (p < 0.05) for trembling aspen (30-41 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) than for jack pine (5-10 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)) or black spruce (6-7 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1)), and was generally greater, brit not significantly, for the southern than for the northern study area. Aboveground net primary production was positively correlated (R-2 = 0.91) to annual litterfall N content for the BOREAS forests, and for all boreal forests (R-2 = 0.57). Annual aboveground nutrient (N, Ca, Mg, and K) requirements (sum of the annual increment of nutrient in foliage, branches, and stems) were significantly greater (p < 0.05) for trembling aspen than for jack pine or black spruce forests. Annual aboveground N requirements ranged from 37-53, 6-14, and 6-7 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) fur trembling aspen, jack pine, and black spruce forests, respectively. The greater nutrient requirements of deciduous than evergreen boreal forests was explained by a greater annual production of biomass and lower use efficiency of nutrients. Nutrient cycling. characteristics of boreal forests were influenced by climate and forest type, with the latter having a greater influence on litterfall N, annual nutrient requirements, nutrient mean residence Lime, and nutrient distribution

Predicting clinical benefit from everolimus in patients with advanced solid tumors, the CPCT-03 study

Background: In this study, our aim was to identify molecular aberrations predictive for response to everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, regardless of tumor type. Methods: To generate hypotheses about potential markers for sensitivity to mTOR inhibition, drug sensitivity and genomic profiles of 835 cell lines were analyzed. Subsequently, a multicenter study was conducted. Patients with advanced solid tumors lacking standard of care treatment options were included and underwent a pre-treatment tumor biopsy to enable DNA sequencing of 1,977 genes, derive copy number profiles and determine activation status of pS6 and pERK. Treatment benefit was determined according to TTP ratio and RECIST. We tested for associations between treatment benefit and single molecular aberrations, clusters of aberrations and pathway perturbation. Results: Cell line screens indicated several genes, such as PTEN (P = 0.016; Wald test), to be associated with sensitivity to mTOR inhibition. Subsequently 73 patients were included, of which 59 started treatment with everolimus. Response and molecular data were available from 43 patients. PTEN aberrations, i.e. copy number loss or mutation, were associated with treatment benefit (P = 0.046; Fisher's exact test). Conclusion: Loss-of-function aberrations in PTEN potentially represent a tumor type agnostic biomarker for benefit from everolimus and warrants further confirmation in subsequent studies

BOREAS TE-20 Soils Data Over the NSA-MSA and Tower Sites in Raster Format

The BOREAS TE-20 team collected several data sets for use in developing and testing models of forest ecosystem dynamics. This data set was gridded from vector layers of soil maps that were received from Dr. Hugo Veldhuis, who did the original mapping in the field during 1994. The vector layers were gridded into raster files that cover the NSA-MSA and tower sites. The data are stored in binary, image format files. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884), or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Center (DAAC)

BOREAS TE-2 NSA Soil Lab Data

This data set contains the major soil properties of soil samples collected in 1994 at the tower flux sites in the Northern Study Area (NSA). The soil samples were collected by Hugo Veldhuis and his staff from the University of Manitoba. The mineral soil samples were largely analyzed by Barry Goetz, under the supervision of Dr. Harold Rostad at the University of Saskatchewan. The organic soil samples were largely analyzed by Peter Haluschak, under the supervision of Hugo Veldhuis at the Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research in Winnipeg, Manitoba. During the course of field investigation and mapping, selected surface and subsurface soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis. These samples were used as benchmark references for specific soil attributes in general soil characterization. Detailed soil sampling, description, and laboratory analysis were performed on selected modal soils to provide examples of common soil physical and chemical characteristics in the study area. The soil properties that were determined include soil horizon; dry soil color; pH; bulk density; total, organic, and inorganic carbon; electric conductivity; cation exchange capacity; exchangeable sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and hydrogen; water content at 0.01, 0.033, and 1.5 MPascals; nitrogen; phosphorus: particle size distribution; texture; pH of the mineral soil and of the organic soil; extractable acid; and sulfur. These data are stored in ASCII text files. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884), or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC)

Symposium no. 43 Paper no. 867 Presentation: oral 867-1

The Glacial Lake Agassiz basin in North-central Manitoba consists predominantly of glacio-lacustrine, clayey uplands and peat-filled lowlands. The region lies within the discontinuous permafrost zone. Permafrost mainly occurs in deep and shallow peatlands, and on uplands under mature closed black spruce-feather moss vegetation. Soil climate and permafrost characteristics along a toposequence, from upland to lowland, were monitored between 1981 and 2001. The study site, covering an area of 225 x 100 m, is under mature vegetation and is located in the northern part of the Boreal Ecozone, near Thompson, Manitoba. Monitoring instrumentation consisted of thermocouples/thermistors, wells, and frost tubes along a 225 long transect. Depth to permafrost was also monitored on a 25 m grid. Vegetation, drainage, and thickness of organic surface layers are the apparent dominant controls of soil climate and permafrost distribution. However, observed permafrost dynamics indicate that weather events, such as early fall or delayed snowfall, and wet or dry summers, also have a significant effect. Water movement during snowmelt occurs primarily over the frost table, and through the peat layer and the upper part of the mineral soil after heavy rains. Maturation of veneer bogs typically extends these shallow peatlands through the process of paludification, and the deepening of the peat generally leads to greater incidence of permafrost. However, if climate change results in more frequent wildfires or warmer summers, it is most likely that the expansion and extent of shallow peatlands and the distribution of permafrost will be reduced

Population Density, Spatial Distribution and Damage Evolution of Neochetina eichhorniae Warner and N. bruchi Hustache on Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms - Laubach

於台南縣德元埤田間選定慈善宮 (TK)、新鳳橋 (SF) 及四號池(FP) 等三試驗區釋放象鼻蟲防治布袋蓮，TK及SF試驗區分別於1996/12/08及1997/01/06 ~ 07各釋放一次象鼻蟲，於FP則於1997/05/24釋放一次及1998/01/09 ~ 03/04釋放六次共釋放七次。德元埤於1997年7月及2000年7月進行放水、清池及燒毀乾枯布袋蓮之管理措施，造成三試驗區布內袋蓮族群減少或完全清除，其中釋放於慈善宮試驗區之象鼻蟲仍能於布袋蓮殘株存活達4年以上並隨布袋蓮再次繁殖及增殖族群，證實象鼻蟲在該試驗區已建立其族群，並且放水及清除部分布袋蓮不會造成族群之滅絕。 田間象鼻蟲成蟲於布袋蓮葉片上取食造成之食痕密度與成蟲密度及幼蟲密度之相關係數低，但食痕密度對隧道密度、蟲孔密度及象鼻蟲族群之總密度 (成蟲、幼蟲、隧道及蟲孔) 相關係數則高。經回歸分析以連續20母株及其分生株與側芽為一取樣單位下，獲得 (象鼻蟲族群之總密度 = 85.95 + 0.0404食痕密度 (R2 = 0.903, p = 0.0001)。因此田間象鼻蟲族群之總密度得以由食痕密度評估之。不同取樣單位下象鼻蟲成蟲、幼蟲及食痕均傾向聚集分布，但隧道隨取樣單位不同而傾向聚集或隨機分布，蟲孔隨取樣單位不同而傾向聚集或均勻分布。 三試驗區象鼻蟲密度以慈善宮試驗區最高 (每0.25平方公尺3.37隻成蟲及5.21隻成蟲)，四號池次之 (每0.25平方公尺0.52隻成蟲4.38隻幼蟲)，新鳳橋近於0 (每0.25平方公尺0.01隻成蟲，但幼蟲、隧道及蟲孔密度均為0)。該三試驗區中象鼻蟲族群密度較高之慈善宮試驗區，於布袋蓮植株上成蟲取食之食痕密度與幼蟲造成之隧道及蟲孔密度顯著較高，每株布袋蓮無性繁殖之分生株及側芽密度顯著較低，顯示於較高族群密度下象鼻蟲成蟲對布袋蓮直接嚙食造成之食痕及幼蟲取食葉柄內組織造成隧道與蟲孔，顯著減少布袋蓮分生株及側芽密度，抑制布袋蓮新生之分生株及側芽之無性繁殖，降低布袋蓮生長勢。總之，利用食痕密度評估象鼻蟲之總密度檢定結果，可簡化今後田間之取樣技術及方法。象鼻蟲族群為害布袋蓮族群造成高密度之食痕、隧道及蟲孔密度，顯著降低布袋蓮之生長勢。This research selected three experimental areas (TK, SF, FP)among Der-Yuan irrigation lake in Tainan county to observe the effects of releasing weevils into these areas as biocontrol agent of waterhyacinth. Weevils were released only once into TK and SF area on 12/08/1996 and on 01/06/1997 separately, so were weevils only once into FP area on 05/24/1997 and six times (about once a week) from 01/09 to 03/04/1998. However, these three areas were so badly destroyed by farm irrigative unplug and burning waterhyacinth in July of 1997and of 2000 that the waterhyacinth populations were either eliminated or dwindled in these areas. Nevertheless, we found the weevils in TK area still had successfully survived for 4 years and established its population with the increase of waterhyacinth. It indicates that weevils wouldn't be exterminated by irrigative unplugging and had established its own population. Through this research we find the density of scars has low correlation coefficient with the density of adults as well as with that of larvae. But the correlation coefficients between scar density and young larvae canal density, matural larvae tunnel density, and the total density of weevils (including adults, larvae, canals and tunnels) are high. So using 20 plants (including runners and lateral buds), we can find the relationship below by regression analyses: total density of weevils = 85.95 + 0.0404 * scar density (R2 = 0.903, p = 0.001). This equation can help us to measure the total density of weevils population by scar density. By different methods of sample unit, the amounts of adults, larvae and scars tend to be aggregation distribution, and the canals tend to be aggregation or random distribution, and tunnels to be aggregation or uniform distribution. The density of weevils area is highest(3.37 adults, 5.21 larvae / 0.25 m2)in TK, second in FP(0.52 adults, 4.38 larvae / 0.25 m2), and near zero in SF(0.01 adults, 0 larvae, 0 canal and 0 tunnels / 0.25m2). Among three high weevil population density tested areas, the scar density of adults, canal density and tunnel density of larvae are significantly higher, and the density of runner as well as of lateral bud are significantly lower in the areas. It shows that the direct nibble scars of adults, the tunnels, and the tunnel of larvae decrease the densities of runner as well as of lateral bud, therefore suppress the growth of waterhyacinth. In conclusion, using the scar density to evaluate the total densities of weevils can simplify the techniques and methods of sampling. The weevil population damaging waterhyacinth population caused the high scar density, canals and tunnels density and lowered the growth of weevils.目錄 中文摘要……………………………………………………………i 英文摘要…………………………………………………………iii 誌謝…………………………………………………………………v 目錄……………………………………………………………… vi 表目錄…………………………………………………………… ix 圖目錄…………………………………………………………… xi 1. 前言1 2. 往昔研究3 2.1.布袋蓮之經濟重要性3 2.2.利用該二種象鼻蟲生物防治布袋蓮之實例4 2.3.布袋蓮之植株型態、生長及葉片之衰亡5 2.4.布袋蓮族群之增殖6 2.5.象鼻蟲之寄主範圍7 2.6.象鼻蟲之生活史8 2.7.象鼻蟲之生活習性9 2.8.象鼻蟲之取食行為、取食量及偏好性10 2.9.布袋蓮品質對象鼻蟲取食行為、遷移型及性別比例之影響10 2.10.象鼻蟲對布袋蓮總葉片數、葉片品質及葉面積的影響11 2.11.象鼻蟲對布袋蓮族群分生株數、幼株數之影響13 2.12.國外象鼻蟲田間調查13 2.13.布袋蓮象鼻蟲成蟲與布袋蓮葉面食痕數之關係15 3.材料及分析方法17 3.1.象鼻蟲之取得17 3.2.象鼻蟲釋放蟲源之繁殖17 3.3.田間釋放象鼻蟲18 3.4.田間調查及取樣方法20 3.4.1.釋放象鼻蟲半年內之調查與取樣20 3.4.2.釋放象鼻蟲第二年之調查與取樣20 3.4.3.釋放象鼻蟲第三~四年之調查與取樣22 3.5.資料分析方法22 3.5.1.各均值顯著性分析：22 3.5.2.食痕密度與象鼻蟲族群平均密度值之相關性分析23 3.5.3.食痕密度與象鼻蟲族群平均密度值之相關性分析23 3.5.4.食痕數、成蟲、幼蟲、隧道及蟲孔之空間分布型分析23 4.結果與討論26 4.1.象鼻蟲在田間之立足26 4.2.象鼻蟲族群密度與食痕密度關係31 4.3.象鼻蟲族群之空間分布34 4.4.象鼻蟲族群對布袋蓮族群之損害評估35 5.結論36 5.1.象鼻蟲族群之立足36 5.2.象鼻蟲族群平均密度與食痕密度之相關40 5.3.食痕密度評估象鼻蟲族群平均密度之線性迴歸分析42 5.4.象鼻蟲族群對布袋蓮族群之損害評估43 6.參考文獻4