104 research outputs found
Learning Rich Geographical Representations: Predicting Colorectal Cancer Survival in the State of Iowa
Neural networks are capable of learning rich, nonlinear feature
representations shown to be beneficial in many predictive tasks. In this work,
we use these models to explore the use of geographical features in predicting
colorectal cancer survival curves for patients in the state of Iowa, spanning
the years 1989 to 2012. Specifically, we compare model performance using a
newly defined metric -- area between the curves (ABC) -- to assess (a) whether
survival curves can be reasonably predicted for colorectal cancer patients in
the state of Iowa, (b) whether geographical features improve predictive
performance, and (c) whether a simple binary representation or richer, spectral
clustering-based representation perform better. Our findings suggest that
survival curves can be reasonably estimated on average, with predictive
performance deviating at the five-year survival mark. We also find that
geographical features improve predictive performance, and that the best
performance is obtained using richer, spectral analysis-elicited features.Comment: 8 page
Towards the Evolution of Multi-Layered Neural Networks: A Dynamic Structured Grammatical Evolution Approach
Current grammar-based NeuroEvolution approaches have several shortcomings. On
the one hand, they do not allow the generation of Artificial Neural Networks
(ANNs composed of more than one hidden-layer. On the other, there is no way to
evolve networks with more than one output neuron. To properly evolve ANNs with
more than one hidden-layer and multiple output nodes there is the need to know
the number of neurons available in previous layers. In this paper we introduce
Dynamic Structured Grammatical Evolution (DSGE): a new genotypic representation
that overcomes the aforementioned limitations. By enabling the creation of
dynamic rules that specify the connection possibilities of each neuron, the
methodology enables the evolution of multi-layered ANNs with more than one
output neuron. Results in different classification problems show that DSGE
evolves effective single and multi-layered ANNs, with a varying number of
output neurons
A predictive model for kidney transplant graft survival using machine learning
Kidney transplantation is the best treatment for end-stage renal failure
patients. The predominant method used for kidney quality assessment is the Cox
regression-based, kidney donor risk index. A machine learning method may
provide improved prediction of transplant outcomes and help decision-making. A
popular tree-based machine learning method, random forest, was trained and
evaluated with the same data originally used to develop the risk index (70,242
observations from 1995-2005). The random forest successfully predicted an
additional 2,148 transplants than the risk index with equal type II error rates
of 10%. Predicted results were analyzed with follow-up survival outcomes up to
240 months after transplant using Kaplan-Meier analysis and confirmed that the
random forest performed significantly better than the risk index (p<0.05). The
random forest predicted significantly more successful and longer-surviving
transplants than the risk index. Random forests and other machine learning
models may improve transplant decisions.Comment: This work has been published: Pahl ES, Street WN, Johnson HJ, Reed
AI. "A Predictive Model for Kidney Transplant Graft Survival Using Machine
Learning." 4th International Conference on Computer Science and Information
Technology (COMIT 2020), November 28-29, 2020, Dubai, UAE. ISBN:
978-1-925953-30-5. Volume 10, Number 16.10.5121/csit.2020.10160
Detection in the United Kingdom of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae FC428 clone, with ceftriaxone resistance and intermediate resistance to azithromycin, October to December 2018
We describe detection in the United Kingdom (UK) of the drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae FC428 clone, with ceftriaxone resistance and intermediate azithromycin resistance. Two female patients developed infection following contact with UK-resident men from the same sexual network linked to travel to Ibiza, Spain. One case failed treatment with ceftriaxone, and azithromycin and gentamicin, before successful treatment with ertapenem. Both isolates had indistinguishable whole-genome sequences. Urgent action is essential to contain this drug-resistant strain
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