Semi-automated segmentation of magnetic resonance images for thigh skeletal muscle and fat using threshold technique after spinal cord injury

Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the ＂gold standard＂ technique for quantifying thigh muscle and fat cross-sectional area. We have developed a semi-automated technique to segment seven thigh compartments in persons with spinal cord injury. Thigh magnetic resonance images from 18 men（18–50 years old） with traumatic motor-complete spinal cord injury were analyzed in a blinded fashion using the threshold technique. The cross-sectional area values acquired by thresholding were compared to the manual tracing technique. The percentage errors for thigh circumference were（threshold： 170.71 ± 38.67; manual： 169.45 ± 38.27 cm2） 0.74%, subcutaneous adipose tissue（threshold： 65.99±30.79; manual： 62.68 ± 30.22） 5.2%, whole muscle（threshold： 98.18 ± 20.19; manual： 98.20 ± 20.08 cm2） 0.13%, femoral bone（threshold： 6.53 ± 1.09; manual： 6.53 ± 1.09 cm2） 0.64%, bone marrow fat（threshold： 3.12 ± 1.12; manual： 3.1 ± 1.11 cm2） 0.36%, knee extensor（threshold： 43.98 ± 7.66; manual： 44.61 ± 7.81 cm2） 1.78% and % intramuscular fat（threshold： 10.45 ± 4.29; manual： 10.92 ± 8.35%） 0.47%. Collectively, these results suggest that the threshold technique provided a robust accuracy in measuring the seven main thigh compartments, while greatly reducing the analysis time.

Generating Questions Based on Semi-Automated and End-to-End Neural Network

With the emergence of large-scale knowledge base,how to use triple information to generate natural questions is a key technology in question answering systems.The traditional way of generating questions require a lot of manual intervention and produce lots of noise.To solve these problems,we propose a joint model based on semi-automated model and End-to-End neural network to automatically generate questions.The semi-automated model can generate question templates and real questions combining the knowledge base and center graph.The End-to-End neural network directly sends the knowledge base and real questions to BiLSTM network.Meanwhile,the attention mechanism is utilized in the decoding layer,which makes the triples and generated questions more relevant.Finally,the experimental results on SimpleQuestions demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Use of Cost Effective Semi-Automated (Mannual/Micro) MGIT System over BACTEC 960 to Perform First Line Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs Sensitivity Testing

Introduction: Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) that is the tuberculosis that is resistant to at least 2 of the first line anti-tuberculosis drugs is fatal infectious disease. Cases of MDR-TB are now increasing with 30,000 cases of MDR-TB reported in 2013 by national TB programme. Rapid diagnosis of MDR-TB is extremely important for rapid treatment of patient and to prevent spread of MDR-TB to other. BACTEC 960 system helps in rapid diagnosis but purchase of expensive instrument for the same is the limitation. However, the same purpose can be solved by use of semi-automated MGIT system. Aims and Objectives: Aim of this study is to do drug sensitivity testing of the first line anti-tuberculosis drugs with the use of semi-automated MGIT systems. 350 newly registered and suspected cases of tuberculosis in tertiary care hospital were included. Samples were processed for digestion and decontamination and inoculated in MGIT tubes and also on LJ medium. Reading was taken using semi-automated MGIT system. Positive tubes were confirmed by rapid test for M. tuberculosis and then drug sensitivity was performed. Result: Out of 350 samples, 62% were sputum;33% were pleural fluid and rest 5% were lymph node, Ascetic fluid, CSF, pus. Average day of positivity by MGIT was 13 - 20 days as compared to 25 - 37 days by solid medium, which was statistically significant with p value Conclusion: Manual MGIT System is a simple, efficient, safe to use diagnostic system. It does not require any expensive/special instrumentation other than the UV lamp for detection of fluorescence. The rapidity by which mycobacteria are detected is the most important advantage of the Manual MGIT. In areas with limited resources where purchase of expensive instruments such as the MGIT960 is out of scope, the use of manual MGIT for rapid susceptibility testing for MDR-TB could be a possibility.

A Study of Configuration Evolution of an Operational IP Backbone Network

Configuration errors are proved to be the main reasons for network interruption and anomalies.Many researchers have paid their attention to configuration analysis and provisioning,but few works focus on understanding the configuration evolution.In this paper,we uncover the configuration evolution of an operational IP backbone based on the weekly reports gathered from January 2006 to January 2013.We find that rate limiting and launching routes for new customers are configured most frequently.In addition,we conduct an analysis of network failures and find that link failures are the main causes for network failures.We suggest that we should configure redundant links for the links which are easy to break down.At last,according to the analysis results,we illustrate how to provide semi-automated configuration for rate limiting and adding customers.

Last glacial geomorphologic records in Mt Chelmos, North Peloponnesus, Greece

This study deals with the analysis of the glacial processes that have affected the relief of Mt Chelmos in northern Peloponnesus, Greece during middle and Late Pleistocene. The goal was to compile a combined geomorphological-geological map of the study area which would enable the chronological stratification of the glacial landforms cropping up on Mt. Chelmos. Chronological stratification was further aided by optically stimulated luminescence(OSL)dating. The map served as the basis upon which the reconstruction and discussion on the phases of the Middle-Late Quaternary paleoclimatic history of Mt.Chelmos have been made. A sophisticated semiautomated method was first used to analyze the Digital Elevation Model(DEM), combined with Aster,Quickbird and ALOS imagery in order to identify glacial and periglacial, as well as karstic features.Then, these features along with other nonrecognizable features from the remote-sensing images were documented in the field. In this way, several glacial landforms were identified, such as moraines and cirques, indicating extended glaciation phases during the middle and Late Pleistocene. Additionally,a ground moraine located at an altitude of 1900-2050 m, within the Spanolakos glacial valley, was dated using the OSL-dating method. The resulting ages indicate a phase of glacier advance/stabilization during MIS-5 b(89-86 ka), which is in consistence with pollenrecord evidence from Greece and the Mediterranean.elevations above the floors of the highest cirques on Mount Tymphi(Hughes 2004). These glacial landforms postdate the youngest moraines on Mount Tymphi(Tymphian Stage MIS 5 d-2), and it has been argued that they might be Younger Dryas in age(Woodward and Hughes 2011) although this has not been confirmed by radiometric dating(Hughes et al. 2006 d).Recent field observations throughout the mountains of central Greece(Leontartitis and Pavlopoulos, unpublished data) demonstrate that the glaciation extent has been underestimated in several locations. In particular, it has been claimed that evidence of glaciation is present only in mountains that exceed 2200 m in altitude(Woodward and Hughes 2011). However, in Evritania(e.g. Mt Chelidona, Mt Kaliakouda, South Agrafa) as well as in Thessaly(Agrafa-also mentioned by Hunt and Sugden 1964), several glacial landforms such as glacial cirques and wellpreserved extensive moraine complexes have been confirmed for the first time, following some minor reports from the pioneer geographer Mistardis(1937 a). In many occasions, these mountains do not exceed 2000 m. Moreover, evidence for extensive glaciation phases has also been found in the mountains of southern central Greece. These findings confirm the early reports for Mt Parnassus(Mistardis 1937 a; Pechoux 1970), Mt Giona and Mt Vardousia(Mistardis 1937 a). Dating of the glacial landforms found in the above-mentioned, onceglaciated mountains is of great importance for understanding the missing links between Northern Greece and Peloponnesus. These links can finally contribute to the clarification of striking contradictions emerging from both areas.In the mountains of Peloponnesus(e.g.Taygetos, Chelmos, Erymanthos) several researchers have identified glacial landforms(Philippson 1892; Maull 1921; Mistardis 1937 a,b,c,1946; Mastronuzzi et al. 1994; Pope et al. 2017).The first studies on Mt Chelmos report cirques,moraines, perched boulders and ice-moulded bedrock which are generally attributed to Quaternary glaciers(Philippson 1892; Maull 1921;Mistardis 1937 a,b,c, 1946), while Mastronuzzi et al.(1994) date them to Late Pleistocene age. However,the geochronology and the palaeoclimatic context of this glacial evidence have been only partly explored so far. In particular, the only systematicstudy that has been conducted on Mt Chelmos is by Pope et al.(2017). Their results(based on cosmogenic-36 Cl dating of glacial boulders) showed that quite extensive moraine complexes are the result of glacier advance/stabilization during two phases in Late Pleistocene, at 40-30 ka and 13-10 ka respectively, and a glacial retreat phase during23-21 ka.The first glacial advance stage suggests that the local Late Pleistocene Last Glacial Maximum(LGM) predates the global LGM during 23-21 ka and is in accordance with evidence from other mountains across the Mediterranean(Pope et al.2017), namely northern Spain(Serrano et al. 2012 a,b), the Italian Apennines(Federici et al. 2012) and Turkey(Sarikaya et al. 2014) opening up a new perspective on the study of the Tymphian Stage.Practically, as the latitude difference of the two mountains(Mt Chelmos and north Pindus/Mt Tymphi) is relatively small, any differences in the extent of glaciations should mainly be attributed to precipitation differences rather than temperature differences, implying a relatively wet climate in southern Greece during these periods. This kind of information is very useful for circulation models and generally for the reconstruction of the palaeoclimate of the eastern Mediterranean. However, at this stage it is not possible to compare the findings from the two mountains as the glacial record of Mt Tymphi lacks chronological constraints for the period between MIS-5 d and MIS-2(Tymphian Stage and Younger Dryas).The stage of glacier retreat(23-21 ka) in Mt Chelmos, around the global LGM(22-20 ka), is consistent with evidence of dry conditions around the LGM from northern Greece(Pope et al. 2017),as mentioned above. Finally, the last glacial advance phase(13-10 ka) probably corresponds to the Younger Dryas(12.9-11.7 ka), being consistent with evidence from Montenegro(Hughes et al.2010, 2011) and the Italian Maritime Alps(Federici et al. 2012). This is of great significance since there is no obvious agreement on the severity of the climatic deterioration during the Younger Dryas in the eastern Mediterranean(Hughes et al. 2003;Pope et al. 2017). According to some researchers,the Younger Dryas event is scantly represented in the eastern Mediterranean pollen records and cannot be perceived as a sudden deterioration of climatic conditions(Bottema 1995; Lawson et al.2004). On the other hand, there are authors claiming that the Younger Dryas is characterized by cold and arid conditions, as seen from sea–land correlations of pollen records in the eastern Mediterranean(Rossignol-Strick 1995).The goal of this paper is to further study the glacial history of Mt Chelmos in an effort to complete the chronostratigraphical framework of Quaternary glaciation phases in the mountains of Greece. With this intention, we compiled a combined geomorphological-geological map that enables the chronological stratification of the glacial sedimentary units that have already been identified and dated on Mt Chelmos. Additionally,new evidence on the glacial history of Mt Chelmos is presented through relative and numerical(OSL-Optically Stimulated Luminescence) dating. Finally,the geomorphological map serves as the basis upon which the reconstruction/correlation and discussion on the phases of the Middle-Late Quaternary palaeoclimatic history of Mt. Chelmos can be made.

Effect of BA Treatments on Morphology and Physiology of Proliferated Shoots of <i>Bambusa vulgaris</i>Schrad. Ex Wendl in Temporary Immersion

Axillary buds, collected from greenhouse-grown plants of Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl (B. vulgaris), were incubated on a static liquid culture medium, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 2% (w/v) sucrose, and supplemented with 12.0 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA). They were transferred to a temporary immersion system (TIS) using liquid MS medium supplemented with 0 (CK-free medium), 6.0, 12.0, 18.0 μM BA. The morphological and anatomical indicators were measured. The BA influenced in vitro multiplication of B. vulgaris. The best results were achieved in the SIT with a concentration of 6.0 μM of BA, which increased the number of shoots (5.1 shoots/explant) in the absence of hyperhydric shoots. Results demonstrated that the water content in the sprouts increased with 12.0 and 18.0 μM BA every four hours. Furthermore, these high levels of BA contributed to a lower accumulation of phenolic compounds and lignin content. The total chlorophyll significantly increased when using 6.0 uM BA, but decreased both parameters with other treatments. These results favor to increase the number of shoots/explants during in vitro multiplication. They will also optimize the in vitro culture conditions, leading to an improvement of in vitro propagation methods for this species.

Knowledge Discovery for Query Formulation for Validation of a Bayesian Belief Network

This paper proposes machine learning techniques to discover knowledge in a dataset in the form of if-then rules for the purpose of formulating queries for validation of a Bayesian belief network model of the same data. Although do-main expertise is often available, the query formulation task is tedious and laborious, and hence automation of query formulation is desirable. In an effort to automate the query formulation process, a machine learning algorithm is lev-eraged to discover knowledge in the form of if-then rules in the data from which the Bayesian belief network model under validation was also induced. The set of if-then rules are processed and filtered through domain expertise to identify a subset that consists of “interesting” and “significant” rules. The subset of interesting and significant rules is formulated into corresponding queries to be posed, for validation purposes, to the Bayesian belief network induced from the same dataset. The promise of the proposed methodology was assessed through an empirical study performed on a real-life dataset, the National Crime Victimization Survey, which has over 250 attributes and well over 200,000 data points. The study demonstrated that the proposed approach is feasible and provides automation, in part, of the query formulation process for validation of a complex probabilistic model, which culminates in substantial savings for the need for human expert involvement and investment.

Extracting Named Entity Using Entity Labeling in Geological Text Using Deep Learning Approach

Artificial intelligence(AI) is the key to mining and enhancing the value of big data, and knowledge graph is one of the important cornerstones of artificial intelligence, which is the core foundation for the integration of statistical and physical representations. Named entity recognition is a fundamental research task for building knowledge graphs, which needs to be supported by a high-quality corpus, and currently there is a lack of high-quality named entity recognition corpus in the field of geology, especially in Chinese. In this paper, based on the conceptual structure of geological ontology and the analysis of the characteristics of geological texts, a classification system of geological named entity types is designed with the guidance and participation of geological experts, a corresponding annotation specification is formulated, an annotation tool is developed, and the first named entity recognition corpus for the geological domain is annotated based on real geological reports. The total number of words annotated was 698 512 and the number of entities was 23 345. The paper also explores the feasibility of a model pre-annotation strategy and presents a statistical analysis of the distribution of technical and term categories across genres and the consistency of corpus annotation. Based on this corpus, a Lite Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers(ALBERT)-Bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory(BiLSTM)-Conditional Random Fields(CRF) and ALBERT-BiLSTM models are selected for experiments, and the results show that the F1-scores of the recognition performance of the two models reach 0.75 and 0.65 respectively, providing a corpus basis and technical support for information extraction in the field of geology.