Search

In computer-aided diagnosis tools employed for skin cancer treatment and early diagnosis, skin lesion segmentation is important. However, achieving precise segmentation is challenging due to inherent variations in appearance, contrast, texture, and blurry lesion boundaries. This research presents a robust approach utilizing a dilated convolutional residual network, which incorporates an attention-based spatial feature enhancement block (ASFEB) and employs a guided decoder strategy. In each dilated convolutional residual block, dilated convolution is employed to broaden the receptive field with varying dilation rates. To improve the spatial feature information of the encoder, we employed an attention-based spatial feature enhancement block in the skip connections. The ASFEB in our proposed method combines feature maps obtained from average and maximum-pooling operations. These combined features are then weighted using the active outcome of global average pooling and convolution operations. Additionally, we have incorporated a guided decoder strategy, where each decoder block is optimized using an individual loss function to enhance the feature learning process in the proposed AD-Net. The proposed AD-Net presents a significant benefit by necessitating fewer model parameters compared to its peer methods. This reduction in parameters directly impacts the number of labeled data required for training, facilitating faster convergence during the training process. The effectiveness of the proposed AD-Net was evaluated using four public benchmark datasets. We conducted a Wilcoxon signed-rank test to verify the efficiency of the AD-Net. The outcomes suggest that our method surpasses other cutting-edge methods in performance, even without the implementation of data augmentation strategies.

Deep learning has shown great potential for automated medical image segmentation to improve the precision and speed of disease diagnostics. However, the task presents significant difficulties due to variations in the scale, shape, texture, and contrast of the pathologies. Traditional convolutional neural network (CNN) models have certain limitations when it comes to effectively modelling multiscale context information and facilitating information interaction between skip connections across levels. To overcome these limitations, a novel deep learning architecture is introduced for medical image segmentation, taking advantage of CNNs and vision transformers. Our proposed model, named TBConvL-Net, involves a hybrid network that combines the local features of a CNN encoder-decoder architecture with long-range and temporal dependencies using biconvolutional long-short-term memory (LSTM) networks and vision transformers (ViT). This enables the model to capture contextual channel relationships in the data and account for the uncertainty of segmentation over time. Additionally, we introduce a novel composite loss function that considers both the segmentation robustness and the boundary agreement of the predicted output with the gold standard. Our proposed model shows consistent improvement over the state of the art on ten publicly available datasets of seven different medical imaging modalities.

Demand for ADHD diagnosis and treatment is increasing significantly and the existing services are unable to meet the demand in a timely manner. In this work, we introduce a novel action recognition method for ADHD diagnosis by identifying and analysing raw video recordings. Our main contributions include 1) designing and implementing a test focusing on the attention and hyperactivity/impulsivity of participants, recorded through three cameras; 2) implementing a novel machine learning ADHD diagnosis system based on action recognition neural networks for the first time; 3) proposing classification criteria to provide diagnosis results and analysis of ADHD action characteristics., Comment: Neuroscience Applied

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) causes significant impairment in various domains. Early diagnosis of ADHD and treatment could significantly improve the quality of life and functioning. Recently, machine learning methods have improved the accuracy and efficiency of the ADHD diagnosis process. However, the cost of the equipment and trained staff required by the existing methods are generally huge. Therefore, we introduce the video-based frame-level action recognition network to ADHD diagnosis for the first time. We also record a real multi-modal ADHD dataset and extract three action classes from the video modality for ADHD diagnosis. The whole process data have been reported to CNTW-NHS Foundation Trust, which would be reviewed by medical consultants/professionals and will be made public in due course., Comment: 31st European Symposium on Artificial Neural Networks

Mental disorders are among the foremost contributors to the global healthcare challenge. Research indicates that timely diagnosis and intervention are vital in treating various mental disorders. However, the early somatization symptoms of certain mental disorders may not be immediately evident, often resulting in their oversight and misdiagnosis. Additionally, the traditional diagnosis methods incur high time and cost. Deep learning methods based on fMRI and EEG have improved the efficiency of the mental disorder detection process. However, the cost of the equipment and trained staff are generally huge. Moreover, most systems are only trained for a specific mental disorder and are not general-purpose. Recently, physiological studies have shown that there are some speech and facial-related symptoms in a few mental disorders (e.g., depression and ADHD). In this paper, we focus on the emotional expression features of mental disorders and introduce a multimodal mental disorder diagnosis system based on audio-visual information input. Our proposed system is based on spatial-temporal attention networks and innovative uses a less computationally intensive pre-train audio recognition network to fine-tune the video recognition module for better results. We also apply the unified system for multiple mental disorders (ADHD and depression) for the first time. The proposed system achieves over 80\% accuracy on the real multimodal ADHD dataset and achieves state-of-the-art results on the depression dataset AVEC 2014., Comment: 27th International Conference on Information (FUSION)

In a controlled cyber-physical network, such as a power grid, any malicious data injection in the sensor measurements can lead to widespread impact due to the actions of the closed-loop controllers. While fast identification of the attack signatures is imperative for reliable operations, it is challenging to do so in a large dynamical network with tightly coupled nodes. A particularly challenging scenario arises when the cyberattacks are strategically launched during a grid stress condition, caused by non-malicious physical disturbances. In this work, we propose an algorithmic framework -- based on Koopman mode (KM) decomposition -- for online identification and visualization of the cyberattack signatures in streaming time-series measurements from a power network. The KMs are capable of capturing the spatial embedding of both natural and anomalous modes of oscillations in the sensor measurements and thus revealing the specific influences of cyberattacks, even under existing non-malicious grid stress events. Most importantly, it enables us to quantitatively compare the outcomes of different potential cyberattacks injected by an attacker. The performance of the proposed algorithmic framework is illustrated on the IEEE 68-bus test system using synthetic attack scenarios. Such knowledge regarding the detection of various cyberattacks will enable us to devise appropriate diagnostic scheme while considering varied constraints arising from different attacks., Comment: accepted as a work-in-progress paper at the 2024 Annual Conference of the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IECON)

This paper introduces LiNR, LinkedIn's large-scale, GPU-based retrieval system. LiNR supports a billion-sized index on GPU models. We discuss our experiences and challenges in creating scalable, differentiable search indexes using TensorFlow and PyTorch at production scale. In LiNR, both items and model weights are integrated into the model binary. Viewing index construction as a form of model training, we describe scaling our system for large indexes, incorporating full scans and efficient filtering. A key focus is on enabling attribute-based pre-filtering for exhaustive GPU searches, addressing the common challenge of post-filtering in KNN searches that often reduces system quality. We further provide multi-embedding retrieval algorithms and strategies for tackling cold start issues in retrieval. Our advancements in supporting larger indexes through quantization are also discussed. We believe LiNR represents one of the industry's first Live-updated model-based retrieval indexes. Applied to out-of-network post recommendations on LinkedIn Feed, LiNR has contributed to a 3% relative increase in professional daily active users. We envisage LiNR as a step towards integrating retrieval and ranking into a single GPU model, simplifying complex infrastructures and enabling end-to-end optimization of the entire differentiable infrastructure through gradient descent.

Retinal diseases can cause irreversible vision loss in both eyes if not diagnosed and treated early. Since retinal diseases are so complicated, retinal imaging is likely to show two or more abnormalities. Current deep learning techniques for segmenting retinal images with many labels and attributes have poor detection accuracy and generalisability. This paper presents a multipath convolutional neural network for multifeature segmentation. The proposed network is lightweight and spatially sensitive to information. A patch-based implementation is used to extract local image features, and focal modulation attention blocks are incorporated between the encoder and the decoder for improved segmentation. Filter optimisation is used to prevent filter overlaps and speed up model convergence. A combination of convolution operations and group convolution operations is used to reduce computational costs. This is the first robust and generalisable network capable of segmenting multiple features of fundus images (including retinal vessels, microaneurysms, optic discs, haemorrhages, hard exudates, and soft exudates). The results of our experimental evaluation on more than ten publicly available datasets with multiple features show that the proposed network outperforms recent networks despite having a small number of learnable parameters.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the chronic diseases that is on the rise. The complications occur when cardiovascular disease is not discovered early and correctly diagnosed at the right time. Various machine learning approaches, including ontology-based Machine Learning techniques, have lately played an essential role in medical science by building an automated system that can identify heart illness. This paper compares and reviews the most prominent machine learning algorithms, as well as ontology-based Machine Learning classification. Random Forest, Logistic regression, Decision Tree, Naive Bayes, k-Nearest Neighbours, Artificial Neural Network, and Support Vector Machine were among the classification methods explored. The dataset used consists of 70000 instances and can be downloaded from the Kaggle website. The findings are assessed using performance measures generated from the confusion matrix, such as F-Measure, Accuracy, Recall, and Precision. The results showed that the ontology outperformed all the machine learning algorithms.

In a paper on ``the Brownian motion analog of the well-known Milne problem in radiative transfer theory'' [\textit{J Stat Phys} 25 (1981) 569--82], Burschka and Titulaer reported: ``The value we find for this `Milne extrapolation length' is, in the appropriate dimensionless units, approximately twice the value found in the radiative transfer problem.'' A study by Ziff [\textit{J Stat Phys} 65 (1991) 1217--33], concerned with the absorption of particles executing a Rayleigh flight (randomly directed displacements of equal length $l$) by a black sphere of radius $R$, led to a value for the extrapolation length $\gamma$ about half as small as the benchmark result (for $R\gg l)$. The first discrepancy is shown to result from the disparity of the two length scales; the second, from the zero variance of the jump lengths. Ziff's finding that $\gamma$ is independent of $R$ for $0

A report by Brillouin (from Perrin's laboratory) on the rate of adsorption of `granules' to a glass plate [\textit{Ann. Chim. Phys.} 27 (1912) 412--23] prompted Marian von Smoluchowski (MvS) to interpret the data in terms of his newly developed theory of restricted Brownian motion. Placing an adsorbing wall at $x=0$, he modelled the particle concentration $n(x,t)$ as that solution of the diffusion equation which vanished at the wall, a boundary condition (BC) hereafter called SBC. A gaping discrepancy between his theory and Brillouin's data elicited a suggestion from MvS (that a particle might not adhere to the wall on every impact), but no further action -- other than that of applying his theory to spherically symmtric systems. In a paper written before, but published shortly after MvS's untimely death [\textit{Proc. Roy. Acad. Amst.} 20 (1918) 642--58], H. C. Burger erected a new and sturdier framework, which led him to an alternative BC, $D(\partial n/\partial x)_{x=0}=\varkappa n(0,t)$, applicable to a surface with an arbitrary absorption probability ($1\leq\varepsilon\leq 0$); a fallacy (that subsequently claimed more victims, including the present author) prevented him from deducing the correct expression for $\varkappa$. Burger's approach became ``The Road Not Taken'', while the SBC became the cornerstone of colloidal coagulation and bimoleculer reaction kinetics. Burger's approach (but not the ABC) was partly rediscovered by Kolmogorov, and used by Sveshnikov and Fuchs.The emended version of Burger's BC is shown here to coincide with that deduced from the Klein-Kramers equation [\textit{Phys. Rev. Lett.} \textbf{49} (1982) 304--07; \textit{J. Chem. Phys.} \textbf{78} (1983) 2710--12] and the Lorentz model of random flights [\textit{J. Phys. Chem.} \textbf{86} (1982) 4750--56]., Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures

The past years have presented a surge in (AI) development, fueled by breakthroughs in deep learning, increased computational power, and substantial investments in the field. Given the generative capabilities of more recent AI systems, the era of large-scale AI models has transformed various domains that intersect our daily lives. However, this progress raises concerns about the balance between technological advancement, ethical considerations, safety measures, and financial interests. Moreover, using such systems in sensitive areas amplifies our general ethical awareness, prompting a reemergence of debates on governance, regulation, and human values. However, amidst this landscape, how to bridge the principle-practice gap separating ethical discourse from the technical side of AI development remains an open problem. In response to this challenge, the present work proposes a framework to help shorten this gap: ethical problem-solving (EPS). EPS is a methodology promoting responsible, human-centric, and value-oriented AI development. The framework's core resides in translating principles into practical implementations using impact assessment surveys and a differential recommendation methodology. We utilize EPS as a blueprint to propose the implementation of Ethics as a Service Platform, which is currently available as a simple demonstration. We released all framework components openly and with a permissive license, hoping the community would adopt and extend our efforts into other contexts. Available in https://github.com/Nkluge\-correa/ethical\-problem\-solving

The ITS3 upgrade baseline design employs MAPS (Monolithic Active Pixel Sensor) in bent state. Bending experiments with the existing ITS2 MAPS (=Alpide chip) show it remains functional but with relative large analog supply current changes. It is shown that by the piezoresistive effect, rotation of current mirror FETs can be responsible which was confirmed after validating the layout. Measured Gauge Factor has proper sign but is 3 times lower than typical values derived from literature. The magnitude of the measured strain induced PMOS V$_{th}$ shift is as expected but the sign differs for compressive strain with some of the literature., Comment: TWEPP 2023

We investigate the very onset of the inertial regime in the fluid flow at the pore level in a three-dimensional, disordered, highly porous media. We analyze the flow structure in a wide range of Reynolds numbers starting from 0.01 up to 100. We focus on qualitative and quantitative changes that appear with increasing Reynolds number. To do that, we investigate the weakening of the channeling effect, defined as the existence of preferred flow paths in a system. We compute tortuosity, spatial kinetic energy localization, and the pore-space volume fraction containing negative streamwise velocity to assess accompanying changes quantitatively. Our results of tortuosity and participation number derivatives show that the very onset of inertia is apparent for Reynolds number Re $\sim 0.1$, an order of magnitude lower than indicated by analyzing relations of friction factor with the Reynolds number. Moreover, we show that the vortex structures appear at Reynolds number two orders of magnitude higher than the onset of inertia., Comment: 5 pages, 6 Figures, Submitted to the Physical Review E

Segmentation is an important task in a wide range of computer vision applications, including medical image analysis. Recent years have seen an increase in the complexity of medical image segmentation approaches based on sophisticated convolutional neural network architectures. This progress has led to incremental enhancements in performance on widely recognised benchmark datasets. However, most of the existing approaches are computationally demanding, which limits their practical applicability. This paper presents an expand-squeeze dual multiscale residual network (ESDMR-Net), which is a fully convolutional network that is particularly well-suited for resource-constrained computing hardware such as mobile devices. ESDMR-Net focuses on extracting multiscale features, enabling the learning of contextual dependencies among semantically distinct features. The ESDMR-Net architecture allows dual-stream information flow within encoder-decoder pairs. The expansion operation (depthwise separable convolution) makes all of the rich features with multiscale information available to the squeeze operation (bottleneck layer), which then extracts the necessary information for the segmentation task. The Expand-Squeeze (ES) block helps the network pay more attention to under-represented classes, which contributes to improved segmentation accuracy. To enhance the flow of information across multiple resolutions or scales, we integrated dual multiscale residual (DMR) blocks into the skip connection. This integration enables the decoder to access features from various levels of abstraction, ultimately resulting in more comprehensive feature representations. We present experiments on seven datasets from five distinct examples of applications. Our model achieved the best results despite having significantly fewer trainable parameters, with a reduction of two or even three orders of magnitude.

The auto-management of vehicle entrance and parking in any organization is a complex challenge encompassing record-keeping, efficiency, and security concerns. Manual methods for tracking vehicles and finding parking spaces are slow and a waste of time. To solve the problem of auto management of vehicle entrance and parking, we have utilized state-of-the-art deep learning models and automated the process of vehicle entrance and parking into any organization. To ensure security, our system integrated vehicle detection, license number plate verification, and face detection and recognition models to ensure that the person and vehicle are registered with the organization. We have trained multiple deep-learning models for vehicle detection, license number plate detection, face detection, and recognition, however, the YOLOv8n model outperformed all the other models. Furthermore, License plate recognition is facilitated by Google's Tesseract-OCR Engine. By integrating these technologies, the system offers efficient vehicle detection, precise identification, streamlined record keeping, and optimized parking slot allocation in buildings, thereby enhancing convenience, accuracy, and security. Future research opportunities lie in fine-tuning system performance for a wide range of real-world applications., Comment: Accepted for publication in the 25th International Multitopic Conference (INMIC) IEEE 2023, 6 Pages, 3 figures