Automatic classification of prostate cancer Gleason scores from biparametric MRI using deep convolutional neural networks

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world. To reduce the number of deaths caused by it, effective diagnostic methods are of paramount importance to detect the clinically significant cases early enough. The current diagnostic protocols include, among other methods, magnetic resonance imaging which can be used to assess whether a patient suffers from prostate cancer and whether the possible cancer lesions are clinically significant. However, the images are difficult to interpret, and thus the inter-reader reliability is not very good. To address this problem, in this thesis machine learning models are trained to automatically segment and classify prostate cancer lesions from magnetic resonance images. The problem proved to be difficult even for computers, at least with the relatively small data set size. The highest Dice similarity coefficients for the used Gleason score groups approached 0.4, which is not enough to replace the work of professionals or even provide meaningful help for doctors. In conclusion, the task of automatic segmentation and classification of prostate cancer lesions remains an open problem. Improving the performance to a useful level would likely require a noticeably larger dataset or at least a model that better incorporates the knowledge of the trained professionals

Test-time, Run-time, and Simulation-time Temporal Assertions in RSPCreation and Validation of Embedded Assertion Statecharts

Proceedings of the 16th International Workshop on Rapid System Prototyping (RSP’05)For cost-effective prototyping, system designers should have a clear understanding of the intended use of the prototype under development. This paper describes a classification of formal specification (temporal) assertions used during system prototyping. The classification introduces two new classes of assertions in addition to the well-known class of test-time assertions: (i) assertions used only during simulation, and (ii) deployable assertions integrated with run-time control flow. Separating the formal specification into three distinct classes allows system designers to de- velop more effective prototypes to evaluate the different system behaviors and constraints. A prototype of a naval torpedo system is used to illustrate the concept.The research reported in this article was funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency

Comparison of 3D Versus 4D Path Planning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

This research compares 3D versus 4D (three spatial dimensions and the time dimension) multi-objective and multi-criteria path-planning for unmanned aerial vehicles in complex dynamic environments. In this study, we empirically analyse the performances of 3D and 4D path planning approaches. Using the empirical data, we show that the 4D approach is superior over the 3D approach especially in complex dynamic environments. The research model consisting of flight objectives and criteria is developed based on interviews with an experienced military UAV pilot and mission planner to establish realism and relevancy in  unmanned aerial vehicle flight planning. Furthermore, this study incorporates one of the most comprehensive set of criteria identified during our literature search. The simulation results clearly show that the 4D path planning approach is able to provide solutions in complex dynamic environments in which the 3D approach could not find a solution

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Domain: Areas of Research

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) domain has seen rapid developments in recent years. As the number of UAVs increases and as the missions involving UAVs vary, new research issues surface. An overview of the existing research areas in the UAV domain has been presented including the nature of the work categorised under different groups. These research areas are divided into two main streams: Technological and operational research areas. The research areas in technology are divided into onboard and ground technologies. The research areas in operations are divided into organization level, brigade level, user level, standards and certifications, regulations and legal, moral, and ethical issues. This overview is intended to serve as a starting point for fellow researchers new to the domain, to help researchers in positioning their research, identifying related research areas, and focusing on the right issues.Defence Science Journal, Vol. 65, No. 4, July 2015, pp. 319-329, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.65.863

Çevreye İlişkin Bir Tutum Ölçeği Geliştirme Çalışması

The purpose of this study is to develop a valid and reliable Likert- type scale to measure the attitudes of pre-service teachers toward the environment. A 30-item draft attitude scale was applied to 366 pre-service teachers who had attended fundamental physics, chemistry and biology courses (some of them had attended ecology courses) at the Education and Science- Art Faculties at Dicle University during 2002- 2003 spring term. To test the validity of the scale and find out its sub-dimensions, a factor analysis was used and five sub-dimensions were found. The first dimension measured anxiety, the second dimension measured enjoyment, the third dimension measured participation, the fourth dimensions measured the importance of the environment and fifth measured the students’ interest for environmental education. The Kaiser-Meyer- Olkin (KMO) value was 0.84 and the Barlett Test value was 1124.6. The reliability Cofficient (Cronbach alpha) for the whole scale was found to be 0.88. The Cronchbach alpha values for the sub- dimensions were 0.74, 0.77, 0.64, 0.66, and 0.53 respectively.Bu çalışmanın amacı, öğretmen adaylarının çevreye ilişkin tutumlarını belirleyen geçerli ve güvenilir Likert tipi bir tutum ölçeği geliştirmektir. 30 maddeden oluşan tutum ölçeği taslağı, 2002-2003 öğretim yılının ikinci yarıyılında Dicle Üniversitesi, Eğitim ve Fen -Edebiyat fakültelerinde öğrenim gören ve temel fizik, temel biyoloji ile temel kimya (bazıları çevre bilimi) derslerini okumuş olan 366 öğretmen adayına uygulanmıştır. Testin geçerliğini belirlemek ve alt boyutlarını bulmak için faktör analizi uygulandı ve beş alt boyut bulundu. Birinci boyut kaygıyı, ikinci boyut hoşlanmayı, üçüncü boyut katılmayı, dördüncü boyut çevre eğitiminin önemini ve beşinci boyut ise çevre eğitimine olan öğrenci ilgisini ölçmektedir. Ölçeğin KMO (Kaiser- Meyer- Olkin) değeri 0,84, Barlett Testi değeri ise 1124,6 olarak bulunmuştur.Ölçeğin bütünü için hesaplanan güvenirlik katsayısı (Cronbach Alpha) değeri 0,88, alt boyutlar için ise sırayla 0,74, 0,77, 0,64, 0,66, 0,53 olarak bulunmuştur

Evaluation of resistance of Turkish bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties to recently emerged Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici races

Using genetic diversity has made significant contribution to stripe rust resistance to improve wheat production. However, rapid evolution of the Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), and emergence of virulent races can negatively affect the wheat genotypes with race-specific resistance gene(s). In this study, reactions of 130 bread wheat varieties, released from 1931 to 2014, were evaluated to recently emerged Pst races in Turkey, PSTr-6 and PSTr-23, at seedling and adult-plant stages. 65.4% and 67.7% of wheat varieties showed susceptible reaction to PSTr-6 and PSTr-23 at seedling stage, respectively. Moreover, coefficient of infection (CI) values generated by infection type (IT) and disease severity (DS) data demonstrated that PSTr-23 (59.78) was more virulent than PSTr-6 (57.93) at adult-plant stage. In addition to these, the presence of important yellow rust (Yr) genes in these varieties was investigated at molecular level. It was determined that the frequencies of three Yr genes, Yr5, Yr10 and Yr15, among these varieties were 1.5, 6.2 and 3.8%, respectively. However, none of them had Yr36 and only one variety had Yr5+Yr10 combination with frequency of 0.7%. In conclusion, most varieties have not these Yr genes and possess a moderately resistance/susceptible reaction to both races in general. © 2022 Elsevier Lt

The Effects of Material Properties on Building Performance

In recent earthquakes during the last two decades, severe damages have been occurred on the existing buildings in Turkey. Destructive earthquakes revealed that the existing building stock in urban regions is significantly vulnerable to seismic hazard. A large number of residential buildings located in regions of high seismicity require performance evaluation before the next big earthquake hits the region. In many earthquake resistant codes, several procedures are proposed to determine the building performance. The investigations on the damaged buildings show that material strengths are very important parameters on the building performance. In this study, material strengths’ effects on the building performance were investigated by using a nonlinear elastic analysis method

Congenital Portal Vein Aneurysm Associated with Peliosis Hepatis and Intestinal Lymphangiectasia

Portal vein aneurisym (PVA), peliosis hepatis (PH) and intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL) all are very uncommon entities. Herein, we presented a unique patient with these three rare entities who was admitted to our hospital because of portal hypertensive ascites rich in protein and lymphocyte. PVA was extrahepatic and associated with coronary vein aneurysm. Peliosis hepatis was of microscopic form. Lymphangiectasia was present in peritoneum and small intestine. Diagnoses of these rare entities were made by imaging techniques and histopathological findings. Patient also had hydronephrosis caused by ureteropelvic junction narrowing. Best of our knowledge, there is no such a case reported previously with the association of PVA, PH and IL. Therefore, we propose PVAPHIL syndrome to define this novel association

Bending Response of Nanobeams Resting on Elastic Foundation

In the present study, the finite element method is developed for the static analysis of nano-beams under the Winkler foundation and the uniform load. The small scale effect along with Eringen's nonlocal elasticity theory is taken into account. The governing equations are derived based on the minimum potential energy principle. Galerkin weighted residual method is used to obtain the finite element equations. The validity and novelty of the results for bending are tested and comparative results are presented. Deflections according to different Winkler foundation parameters and small scale parameters are tabulated and plotted. As it can be seen clearly from figures and tables, for simply-supported boundary conditions, the effect of small scale parameter is very high when the Winkler foundation parameter is smaller. On the other hand, for clamped-clamped boundary conditions, the effect of small scale parameter is higher when the Winkler foundation parameter is high. Although the effect of the small scale parameter is adverse on deflection for simply-supported and clamped-clamped boundary conditions