Embedding MRI information into MRSI data source extraction improves brain tumour delineation in animal models

Tracking Therapy Response in Glioblastoma Using 1D Convolutional Neural Networks

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma (GB) is a malignant brain tumour that is challenging to treat, often relapsing even after aggressive therapy. Evaluating therapy response relies on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria. However, early assessment is hindered by phenomena such as pseudoprogression and pseudoresponse. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS/MRSI) provides metabolomics information but is underutilised due to a lack of familiarity and standardisation.

METHODS

This study explores the potential of spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) in combination with several machine learning approaches, including one-dimensional convolutional neural networks (1D-CNNs), to improve therapy response assessment. Preclinical GB (GL261-bearing mice) were studied for method optimisation and validation.

RESULTS

The proposed 1D-CNN models successfully identify different regions of tumours sampled by MRSI, i.e., normal brain (N), control/unresponsive tumour (T), and tumour responding to treatment (R). Class activation maps using Grad-CAM enabled the study of the key areas relevant to the models, providing model explainability. The generated colour-coded maps showing the N, T and R regions were highly accurate (according to Dice scores) when compared against ground truth and outperformed our previous method.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed methodology may provide new and better opportunities for therapy response assessment, potentially providing earlier hints of tumour relapsing stages.

Implementation of Trusted Traceability Query Using Blockchain and Deep Reinforcement Learning in Resource Management

To better track the source of goods and maintain the quality of goods, the present work uses blockchain technology to establish a system for trusted traceability queries and information management. Primarily, the analysis is made on the shortcomings of the traceability system in the field of agricultural products at the present stage; the study is conducted on the application of the traceability system to blockchain technology, and a new model of agricultural product traceability system is established based on the blockchain technology. Then, a study is carried out on the task scheduling problem of resource clusters in cloud computing resource management. The present work expands the task model and uses the deep Q network algorithm in deep reinforcement learning to solve various optimization objectives preset in the task scheduling problem. Next, a resource management algorithm based on a deep Q network is proposed. Finally, the performance of the algorithm is analyzed from the aspects of parameters, structure, and task load. Experiments show that the algorithm is better than Shortest Job First (SJF), Tetris^∗, Packer, and other classic task scheduling algorithms in different optimization objectives. In the traceability system test, the traceability accuracy is 99% for the constructed system in the first group of samples. In the second group, the traceability accuracy reaches 98% for the constructed system. In general, the traceability accuracy of the system proposed here is above 98% in 8 groups of experimental samples, and the traceability accuracy is close for each experimental group. The resource management approach of the traceability system constructed here provides some ideas for the application of reinforcement learning technology in the construction of traceability systems.

Breast cancer patient characterisation and visualisation using deep learning and fisher information networks

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed female malignancy globally, with better survival rates if diagnosed early. Mammography is the gold standard in screening programmes for breast cancer, but despite technological advances, high error rates are still reported. Machine learning techniques, and in particular deep learning (DL), have been successfully used for breast cancer detection and classification. However, the added complexity that makes DL models so successful reduces their ability to explain which features are relevant to the model, or whether the model is biased. The main aim of this study is to propose a novel visualisation to help characterise breast cancer patients using Fisher Information Networks on features extracted from mammograms using a DL model. In the proposed visualisation, patients are mapped out according to their similarities and can be used to study new patients as a ‘patient-like-me’ approach. When applied to the CBIS-DDSM dataset, it was shown that it is a competitive methodology that can (i) facilitate the analysis and decision-making process in breast cancer diagnosis with the assistance of the FIN visualisations and ‘patient-like-me’ analysis, and (ii) help improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce overdiagnosis by identifying the most likely diagnosis based on clinical similarities with neighbouring patients.