Comparing two artificial intelligence software packages for normative brain volumetry in memory clinic imaging

Purpose To compare two artificial intelligence software packages performing normative brain volumetry and explore whether they could differently impact dementia diagnostics in a clinical context. Methods Sixty patients (20 Alzheimer’s disease, 20 frontotemporal dementia, 20 mild cognitive impairment) and 20 controls were included retrospectively. One MRI per subject was processed by software packages from two proprietary manufacturers, producing two quantitative reports per subject. Two neuroradiologists assigned forced-choice diagnoses using only the normative volumetry data in these reports. They classified the volumetric profile as “normal,” or “abnormal”, and if “abnormal,” they specified the most likely dementia subtype. Differences between the packages’ clinical impact were assessed by comparing (1) agreement between diagnoses based on software output; (2) diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity; and (3) diagnostic confidence. Quantitative outputs were also compared to provide context to any diagnostic differences. Results Diagnostic agreement between packages was moderate, for distinguishing normal and abnormal volumetry (K = .41–.43) and for specific diagnoses (K = .36–.38). However, each package yielded high inter-observer agreement when distinguishing normal and abnormal profiles (K = .73–.82). Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were not different between packages. Diagnostic confidence was different between packages for one rater. Whole brain intracranial volume output differed between software packages (10.73%, p < .001), and normative regional data interpreted for diagnosis correlated weakly to moderately (rs = .12–.80). Conclusion Different artificial intelligence software packages for quantitative normative assessment of brain MRI can produce distinct effects at the level of clinical interpretation. Clinics should not assume that different packages are interchangeable, thus recommending internal evaluation of packages before adoption.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE STABILITY OF BAND SAWS ON THE QUALITY INDICATORS OF SAW PRODUCTS

The main drawback of circular sawing machines is the presence of broken teeth in the cut. In case of vibrations, violation of the saw plane, mismatch of the feed direction with the saw planes, and rebasing, these teeth spoil the processing surface. Belt sawing allows you to ensure high quality of lumber on the roughness of their surface at high feed rates; increase productivity by 1.5-2 times due to mechanization and automation of technological operations. One of the most important advantages of band saws is the small width of the cut, which is 1.5-2 times smaller than that of the sawmill; the small thickness of the saw ensures low consumption of wood in sawdust and high volume output of lumber. Sawing wood on band saws, in the vast majority of cases, is characterized by face cutting. Of the 3 forms of chip formation when cutting into the end, for band saws, the most characteristic is the formation of the chip element by chipping it with the stratification of wood along the bottom of the cut. The quality of the surface, in terms of its roughness, in addition to the formation of the chip element, is affected by its location in the interdental space, the presence and degree of compression and transportation of the chip element. The quality of the surface, in terms of its roughness, in addition to the formation of the chip element, is affected by its location in the interdental space, the presence and degree of compression and transportation of the chip element. As a result of studies of the initial conditions for the development of the teeth sharpening scheme, the orientation of the active elements of the blade relative to the middle plane of the saw can be identified as the main ones.

Improving the Temperature Sensitivity of Bitumen for Emergency Pavement Repair

The quality of asphalt pavement maintenance depends on several important factors, including the selection of patching materials and choice of repair technique. Conventional hot mix plants operate to support large paving projects, and economy favors high-volume output. When repairs and maintenance are needed it can be challenging to maintain small quantities of hot bituminous mixtures at a sufficient temperature, especially in the case of winter maintenance and consequently the repair materials cannot be compacted to the desired level in some occasions. The temperature sensitivity plays a significant factor to understand the asphalt pavement failures and indicates how quickly asphalt properties change over time in terms of indices such as penetration index. Therefore, this research aims to develop a polymer-modified binder with reduced temperature sensitivity, and it can be used for hand-laid application in small quantities for emergency winter repair and maintenance. The results showed that the highest penetration index has been achieved by modifying bitumen with 20% rubber and 2% wax, which is reduced the temperature sensitivity by 168%. Additionally, the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) test and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) test were conducted to monitor the changes in the chemical composition and identify crystalline phases of polymer modified binder from the aspect of functional groups. It is indicated that the bitumen, rubber, and wax react chemically to build 3D networks that have an interlaced form in the bitumen matrix resulting in reduced temperature sensitivity of the polymer modified binder.

USING A FUNCTION DERIVATIVE IN ECONOMIC TASKS

The article focuses on the application of mathematical methods in economics, in particular discussing economic problems that are easily solved using derivatives. The purpose of the article is to show students the way and opportunity to use mathematical methods to solve economic problems. To this end, the article discusses and analyzes several economic tasks in detail, which will be interesting and easy for students to master. I considered the derivative of a function as the rate of change and introduced the definition: The instantaneous rate of change of the function f with respect to x at a point is called the derivative if it exists. With the help of this definition I have discussed and explained Task 1: Suppose that the increase in production of a certain product over a period of time is described by a function And population growth is described by the following function: Where is the number of years from the initial period, then the production of these products per capita is given by the function: Find the growth rate of product production. By solving this task I came to the conclusion that after a year the production of products per capita increases. In the following tasks I used the method of finding the extremum values of a function using a derivative, namely I equated the first-order derivative to 0, found the critical points, and with the help of the second-order derivative I determined the extremes of the function. I discussed task 2: For the production of X volume of products, the firm plans a cost that is calculated by the formulan . For what volume of production will the average cost be the smallest? Find the numerical value of this small expense. Solving this problem, I came to the conclusion that the given function of the average cost takes on the least value when the output volume is a unit , and this value is equal to: which is the marginal cost when producing the volume output. I discussed Task 3: How many products should be sold in order for a firm to profit maximally if the derivative cost function is known: And return function: Here I came to the conclusion: if 600 units of the product are sold, then the firm's profit will be maximum and it will be numerically equal At the end of the article I discussed such a task 4 of applied optimization. What is the minimum amount of material needed to make a 2 liter cylindrical jar? Where I came to the conclusion: the smallest amount of material will be spent to get a cylindrical vessel if we take the height 2 times the radius of the base.

Optimization of Log Sorting by Diameter

This work is the final in the series of studies related to the issue of sorting logs by thickness while forming the sawing batches with optimal selection of sawlogs by diameter groups. In previous works, mathematical models linking the characteristics of logs and their cutting processes with the timber volume output and the sawmill profitability were obtained. Algorithms and programs for simulation studies of the sawn timber production process with reproduction of random variability of sizes and shapes of sawn logs, as well as their random displacement relative to the center of the sawing pattern were developed. Profitability of sawmill production was chosen as the criterion of optimality, the volume output of timber was used as a competing indicator. Fractional sorting of logs by thickness is used as a controllable optimizable variable, while ellipticity, curvature, and timber displacement from the center of the sawing pattern are treated as random interfering factors. Considering the log as a set of short sections threaded on a curved axis, we imitated its sawing process with random characteristics of shape and sizes. As a result, the change patterns of sawing production efficiency were determined while varying thickness, curvature, ellipticity and displacement of logs from the center of the sawing pattern. It was found that when sawing logs with an optimal sawing pattern, the simultaneous influence of random factors of log shape and accuracy of its location weakens the dependence of the timber volume output on the fractional sorting of logs according to the law close to the geometric summation of individual influences. Factors with large influence practically absorb factors with a smaller influence. The log curvature dominates among them. For suboptimal sawing patterns with the simultaneous influence of the three considered factors, the timber volume output is practically independent of the fractional sorting of logs by thickness. When sawing logs with shape defects by suboptimal sawing patterns on equipment with an imperfect basing system, sorting logs by thickness as a way to increase the volume output of sawn timber does not make sense. Random variation of log shape and accuracy of its centering, as well as the deviation of the parameters of sawing patterns from the optimal, causes a decrease in the optimal fractionality of selection of logs by thickness from 20 to 30 mm. Moreover, the greater the number of characteristics of log shape and its basing deviates from the ideal values and the greater these deviations, the more active the optimum fractional sorting of logs by thickness shifts to 3 or more even diameters. When preparing sawn material for mass sawing using modern technologies and equipment with rigid sawing patterns, it is advisable to sort logs by thickness through 2 even diameters. At random simultaneous variation of ellipticity of cross-sections of logs with an average value of 6 mm, their curvature with an average value of 0.25 % and displacement relative to the center of sawing pattern with an average value of 10 mm the optimum is sorting of sawn raw material through 3 even diameters.

Evaluation of the Intelligent Sprayer System in Peach Production

Air-blast sprayers are routinely used to apply pesticides in commercial peach orchards, with growers using both conventional air-blast and ultrasonic sensor-driven models. Even with advanced spray technologies, there are still concerns with the amount of chemicals used and lost to drift. Our study evaluated a laser sensor-based variable-rate sprayer system in three experimental peach orchards for pest and brown rot disease control, spray volume output, spray coverage, and spray drift. A single 378-liter air-blast sprayer was used for both the conventional air-blast and the Intelligent Sprayer (iSprayer) treatments. Treatments were started at the phenological stage of bloom and continued through final swell. The iSprayer treatment was as effective in controlling pests and brown rot disease as the conventional air-blast treatment. Compared with the conventional air-blast treatment, the iSprayer treatment reduced the spray volume (liters/hectare) in cultivar PF23 by 71% at bloom, 62% at pit hardening, and 55% at final swell. For Juneprince, the spray volume reduction was 50% at bloom, 40% at pit hardening, and 13% at final swell. Spray drift was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced only at bloom in the iSprayer treatment. Spray coverage was increased by 50.13 and 26.67% in the iSprayer treatment at bloom and pit hardening, respectively, but not at final swell. Our results show that the iSprayer maintained pest and disease control efficacy in peach orchards while reducing spray volume and drift compared with the conventional air-blast treatment.

Abstract 16766: Intraprocedural Ablation and Fluid Status Management in Heart Failure Patients Undergoing Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Recent randomized clinical trial data has supported catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure (HF). Ablation and fluid management strategies could impact periprocedural outcomes especially in HF patients. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective analysis of 200 consecutive patients with and without HF undergoing CA at a tertiary care academic center from July 2017 through June 2018. HF was defined as any EF < 40%, prior inpatient admission for HF exacerbation, or ambulatory management of HF confirmed by independent chart review. Diuretic regimens were reported as furosemide equivalent. Results: Among 200 patients, 65 (32.5%) had HF and 135 (67.5%) did not. HF patients had longer mean procedure times (299.8 ± 96 min vs 268.4 ± 96 min, p = 0.03) and were more likely to require mitral isthmus (p < 0.001), posterior wall isolation (p = 0.002), and cavotriscupid isthmus (p = 0.004) ablations. There were no differences between the HF vs. non-HF groups’ intraprocedural volume intake, intraprocedural volume output, net fluid status, or intraprocedural diuretic dose (Table 1). HF patients received higher doses of IV (41.5 ± 43.0 mg vs 23.6 ± 11.8 mg, p = 0.007) and PO (43.2 ± 16.7 mg vs 26.7 ± 10.0 mg, p < 0.001) postprocedural diuretic. There were no differences in the rates of major in-hospital complications (Table 1). In a multivariable regression analysis adjusted for procedural covariates, there were higher proportions of posterior wall isolation (p = 0.01) as well as postprocedural PO (p = 0.01) and IV diuretic (p = 0.002) administration in the HF cohort. Conclusion: Intraprocedural volume and diuretic management was similar between HF and non-HF patients undergoing CA of AF, though HF patients tended to receive more aggressive diuresis post procedurally with no difference in complications. Table 1. Intra- and post-procedural management and outcomes in HF vs non-HF patients undergoing CA for AF

Design of a Total Revenue Forecasting Tool to Estimate the Economic Output of Hardwood Logs

This article introduces a total revenue forecasting tool designed for calculating the economic output of visually graded hardwood lumber. The tool integrates Monte Carlo simulation from previous studies' data, providing a pseudoestimation of total board-feet based on log grades. The lumber output from different log groups is modeled using probability distributions for each lumber grade. The estimated volume output is multiplied by the respective price for each grade, leading to an expected amount of economic output for given log-grades. The tool was implemented using Microsoft Excel 2016 and Visual Basic. This work provides hardwood lumber producers with a valuable and simple tool to determine different scenarios of total income from each log, as established by the user with a statistical perspective. This total revenue forecasting tool provides the industry with a way to reduce waste and estimate their potential revenue by maximizing the interaction between the log yield's variables and providing the economic output of log, leading to an improvement of the economy of the hardwood market.

ON THE ISSUE OF PREPARATION OF CUTTING TOOLS FOR SAWING TIMBER ON BAND SAW EQUIPMENT

the main drawback of circular sawing machines is the presence of broken teeth in the cut. In case of vibrations, violation of the saw plane, mismatch of the feed direction with the saw planes, and rebasing, these teeth spoil the processing surface. Belt sawing allows you to ensure high quality of lumber on the roughness of their surface at high feed rates; increase productivity by 1.5-2 times due to mechanization and automation of technological operations. One of the most important advantages of band saws is the small width of the cut, which is 1.5-2 times smaller than that of the sawmill; the small thickness of the saw ensures low consumption of wood in sawdust and high volume output of lumber. Sawing wood on band saws, in the vast majority of cases, is characterized by face cutting. Of the 3 forms of chip formation when cutting into the end, for band saws, the most characteristic is the formation of the chip element by chipping it with the stratification of wood along the bottom of the cut. The quality of the surface, in terms of its roughness, in addition to the formation of the chip element, is affected by its location in the interdental space, the presence and degree of compression and transportation of the chip element. The quality of the surface, in terms of its roughness, in addition to the formation of the chip element, is affected by its location in the interdental space, the presence and degree of compression and transportation of the chip element. As a result of studies of the initial conditions for the development of the teeth sharpening scheme, the orientation of the active elements of the blade relative to the middle plane of the saw can be identified as the main ones.

Wear-Factor Prediction Based on Data-Driven Inversion Technique for Casing Wear Estimation

Wear factor is an important parameter for estimating casing wear, yet the industry lacks a sufficient data-driven wear-factor prediction model based on previous data. Inversion technique is a data-driven method for evaluating model parameters for a setting wherein the input and output values for the physical model/equation are known. For this case, the physical equation to calculate wear volume has wear factor, side force, RPM, tool-joint diameter, and time for a particular operation (i.e., rotating on bottom, rotating off bottom, sliding, back reaming, etc.) as inputs. Except for wear factor, these values are either available or can be calculated using another physical model (wear-volume output is available from the drilling log). Wear factor is considered the model parameter and is estimated using the inversion technique method. The preceding analysis was performed using soft-string and stiff-string models for side-force calculations and by considering linear and nonlinear wear-factor models. An iterative approach was necessary for the nonlinear wear-factor model because of its complexity. Log data provide the remaining thickness of the casing, which was converted into wear volume using standard geometric calculations. A paper [1] was presented in OMC 2019 discussing a method for bridging the gap. A study was conducted in this paper for a real well based on the new method, and successful results were discussed. The current paper extends that study to another real well casing wear prediction with this novel approach. Some methods discussed are already included in the mentioned paper.