Towards automatic pulmonary nodule management in lung cancer screening with deep learning

The introduction of lung cancer screening programs will produce an unprecedented amount of chest CT scans in the near future, which radiologists will have to read in order to decide on a patient follow-up strategy. According to the current guidelines, the workup of screen-detected nodules strongly relies on nodule size and nodule type. In this paper, we present a deep learning system based on multi-stream multi-scale convolutional networks, which automatically classifies all nodule types relevant for nodule workup. The system processes raw CT data containing a nodule without the need for any additional information such as nodule segmentation or nodule size and learns a representation of 3D data by analyzing an arbitrary number of 2D views of a given nodule. The deep learning system was trained with data from the Italian MILD screening trial and validated on an independent set of data from the Danish DLCST screening trial. We analyze the advantage of processing nodules at multiple scales with a multi-stream convolutional network architecture, and we show that the proposed deep learning system achieves performance at classifying nodule type that surpasses the one of classical machine learning approaches and is within the inter-observer variability among four experienced human observers.Comment: Published on Scientific Report

The Standard Model in Strong Fields: Electroweak Radiative Corrections for Highly Charged Ions

Electroweak radiative corrections to the matrix elements $<ns_{1/2}|{\hat H}_{PNC}|n'p_{1/2}>$ are calculated for highly charged hydrogenlike ions. These matrix elements constitute the basis for the description of the most parity nonconserving (PNC) processes in atomic physics. The operator ${\hat H}_{PNC}$ represents the parity nonconserving relativistic effective atomic Hamiltonian at the tree level. The deviation of these calculations from the calculations valid for the momentum transfer $q^{2}=0$ demonstrates the effect of the strong field, characterized by the momentum transfer $q^{2}=m_{e}^{2}$ ($m_{e}$ is the electron mass). This allows for a test of the Standard Model in the presence of strong fields in experiments with highly charged ions.Comment: 27 LaTex page

Bank Upgrade for Sspx at Llnl

A new 5kV, 1.5MJ modular capacitor bank has been designed for the Sustained Spheromak Physics Experiment (SSPX) at LLNL. The new bank consists of thirty 4mF capacitors that are independently controlled by light-triggered thyristors. By closing all switches simultaneously, the bank will provide a mega-ampere discharge. The new bank will also allow additional capabilities to SSPX, including higher peak gun current, longer current pulses, and multi-pulse plasma buildup. Experiment results for a single stage prototype will be presented, deliver a single large current spike, or, switches can be triggered in sequence to deliver a longer lower current pulse. Multiple pulses can be created by triggering sections of the modular bank in intervals

Grundsaetzliche Einfluesse der Herstell- und Verbindungstechnik auf konfektionierte Hochleistungsdiodenlaser Schlussbericht

The aim of this project was to investigate materials matched with its thermal expansion to gallium arsenide and to use it for mounting high power laser diodes. Submounts and n-contact foils based on the Cu-Mo-Cu layered system as well as CuMo and CuW composit materials and diamond layered systems were analyzed. The semiconductor dies were mounted on these materials using indium or eutectic gold tin solder. The inner coating of the water cooled hent sinks were improved to obtain over 10.000 hours operating time under normal working conditions, proving their reliability. New semiconductor laser bars were tested under different operating conditions. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: DtF QN1(67,5) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Computational and Experimental Assessment of Models for the First AIAA Sonic Boom Prediction Workshop Using Adaptive High Fidelity CFD methods

International audienceThe first sonic boom prediction workshop which was held in January 2014 has issued three test cases to be compared by a wide range of participants from the international sonic boom community, each one using their own numerical methodology. The present paper is dedicated to the analysis of the results obtained using three different solvers: CEDRE, ENGENIE and WOLF. What is meant here is to assess the sensitivity of the flow pressure perturbation used for acoustic propagation with respect to usual CFD ans mesh practices. Moreover, this work is a contribution toward building up the knowledge allowing being able to say what can be considered as a valid numerically predicted near field pressure

How phenotype guides management of the most common malignant salivary neoplasms of the Larynx?

Salivary gland carcinomas of the larynx are uncommon. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is the most prevalent type of salivary gland carcinoma in this region, although other histologies such as mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenocarcinomas have been reported. These tumors may present with advanced-stage due to nonspecific symptoms and their relatively slow-growing nature. The index of suspicion for a non-squamous cell carcinoma entity should be high when a submucosal mass is present. An accurate diagnosis is mandatory due to the impact each biologic entity has on treatment and outcome. Data concerning treatment and outcome are scarce, but primary surgery with utmost focus on free surgical margins is the treatment of choice. The role of adjuvant radiotherapy has not been well defined, although there is an agreement that it should be considered in advanced-stage or high-grade disease. This review considers only the most common malignant salivary neoplasms of the larynx with a focus on clinical management of these tumors