Learning to deep learning: statistics and a paradigm test in selecting a UNet architecture to enhance MRI

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the statistical significance of training parameters in 240 dense UNets (DUNets) used for enhancing low Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and undersampled MRI in various acquisition protocols. The objective is to determine the validity of differences between different DUNet configurations and their impact on image quality metrics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To achieve this, we trained all DUNets using the same learning rate and number of epochs, with variations in 5 acquisition protocols, 24 loss function weightings, and 2 ground truths. We calculated evaluation metrics for two metric regions of interest (ROI). We employed both Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Mixed Effects Model (MEM) to assess the statistical significance of the independent parameters, aiming to compare their efficacy in revealing differences and interactions among fixed parameters.

RESULTS

ANOVA analysis showed that, except for the acquisition protocol, fixed variables were statistically insignificant. In contrast, MEM analysis revealed that all fixed parameters and their interactions held statistical significance. This emphasizes the need for advanced statistical analysis in comparative studies, where MEM can uncover finer distinctions often overlooked by ANOVA.

DISCUSSION

These findings highlight the importance of utilizing appropriate statistical analysis when comparing different deep learning models. Additionally, the surprising effectiveness of the UNet architecture in enhancing various acquisition protocols underscores the potential for developing improved methods for characterizing and training deep learning models. This study serves as a stepping stone toward enhancing the transparency and comparability of deep learning techniques for medical imaging applications.

Effects of using educational technology tools to enhance EFL students' speaking performance

Educational speaking technology is a digital expertise used to enhance speaking performance. This research examined the effects of using educational speaking technology tools: FORVO, YouGlish, and OALD 8th ed. to enhance students' speaking performance. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest two groups design was used. Test, questionnaire, interview, and teacher-log were used to gather the data from 82 first-year Information communication and Technology (IT) students selected through comprehensive sampling. The experimental group students had learned speaking skills through educational speaking technology tools while the control group students learned using the conventional method. When the quantitative data were analyzed through independent samples T-test, the qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings of the study uncovered that there was a statistical difference between the experimental and control group students in their speaking performance. Accordingly, the learners who had learned through educational speaking technology have enhanced their speaking performance compared to the students that learned conventionally. Predominantly, students who learned through educational speaking technology were fluent, coherent, and accurate in their speech, rich in lexical resources, used a variety of grammatical ranges, and better in pronunciation. Besides, the students' have positive perceptions towards using educational speaking technology tools. Consequently, this study recommends researchers, teachers, and students to make the use of educational technology and to go in line with the state of the art.

Immediate increase of plasma protein complement C3 in response to an acute stressor

Whereas chronic stress has immunosuppressive effects, the more immediate immunologic consequences of acute stressors are less known. We postulated that, as part of their 'fight or flight' response, rainbow trout would rapidly increase the efficacy of their natural immune system by means of increased concentrations of crucial plasma proteins. Plasma samples were taken from resting fish and from fish 5, 10 or 20 min after initiation of a stressful regime. Using crossed immunoelectrophoresis, we documented increases in concentrations of complement C3 and 3 other proteins within 5 min of initiation of stress. The concentration of C3 nearly doubled within 10 min of initiation of stress and had returned to near resting level by 20 min. This rapid kinetics preclude dependence on gene activation, the basis of the acute phase response. Potentiation of natural immunity, which can reasonably be expected to be selectively advantageous during or immediately after acute stressors may be one result of this increase.

Promotion of growth and metal accumulation of alfalfa by coinoculation with Sinorhizobium and Agrobacterium under copper and zinc stress

The Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis has been proposed as a promising technique for the phytoremediation of contaminated soils due to its beneficial activity in symbiotic nitrogen fixation. However, numerous studies have shown that excessive heavy metals reduce the efficiency of symbiotic nodulation with Rhizobium and inhibit plant growth. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic effects of IAA-producing bacteria and Rhizobium on Medicago lupulina growth under Cu and Zn stress. Pot experiments showed that 400 mg kg-1 Cu2 + and Zn2 + greatly inhibited plant growth, but dual inoculation of Medicago lupulina with Sinorhizobium meliloti CCNWSX0020 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286 significantly increased the number of nodules and plant biomass by enhancing antioxidant activities. Under double stress of 400 mg kg-1 Cu2 + and Zn2 +, the nodule number and nitrogenase activities of dual-inoculated plants were 48.5% and 154.4% higher, respectively, than those of plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti. The root and above-ground portion lengths of the dual-inoculated plants were 32.6% and 14.1% greater, respectively, than those of the control, while the root and above-ground portion dry weights were 34.3% and 32.2% greater, respectively, than those of the control. Compared with S. meliloti and A. tumefaciens single inoculation, coinoculation increased total Cu uptake by 39.1% and 47.5% and increased total Zn uptake by 35.4% and 44.2%, respectively, under double metal stress conditions. Therefore, coinoculation with Sinorhizobium meliloti and Agrobacterium tumefaciens enhances metal phytoextraction by increasing plant growth and antioxidant activities under Cu/Zn stress, which provides a new approach for bioremediation in heavy metal-contaminated soil.

Clinical, radiological, and pathological features of extraskeletal osteosarcoma

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate clinical and radiological features of pathology-proven extraskeletal osteosarcomas.

METHODS

This retrospective study was IRB-approved and HIPAA-compliant. Our pathology database was queried for cases of extraskeletal osteosarcoma. Tumor location, size, imaging appearance, presence of metastases, and clinical outcome were documented.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients met inclusion criteria (age 59 ± 15 (range 28-85) years; 15 male, 4 female). Tumors occurred in the lower extremities (12 out of 19, 63%), pelvis/gluteal region (3 out of 19, 16%), upper extremity (2 out of 19, 5%), thorax (1 out of 19, 5%), and neck (1 out of 19, 5%). Two out of 19 (11%) patients had undergone radiation to the tumor site previously. According to pathology, 16 out of 19 tumors were high-grade (84%). Tumors presented as soft-tissue masses measuring 9.5 ± 6.8 (2-29) cm. Tumor mineralization was present in 5 out of 19 cases (26%) and local invasion was found in 1 out of 19 cases (6%). On MRI, tumors typically appeared hyperintense on T2-weighted sequences with enhancement in 15 out of 15 (100%) contrast-enhanced studies, and with central necrosis in 10 out of 19 (53%) cases. Low-grade tumors were smaller (<4 cm; 3 out of 3, 100%) and lacked central necrosis (3 out of 3, 100%). 8 out of 19 patients (42%) had metastases, most commonly to the lung (7 out of 19, 37%) and bone (2 out of 19,11%). Two out of 8 patients (25%) with metastases and 8 out of 11 (73%) without metastases achieved recurrence-free survival (mean follow-up 3.8 ± 4.0 [0.2-14.2]) years. No metastases or deaths occurred in patients with low-grade histology.

CONCLUSIONS

Extraskeletal osteosarcomas are rare, typically high-grade malignancies that commonly metastasize to lung and bones. Low-grade tumors and those without metastases have a good prognosis. MRI appearance is nonspecific, with T2 hyperintense signal and heterogeneous enhancement. Unlike conventional osteosarcoma, mineralization is rare.

Scale-up cultivation enhanced arachidonic acid accumulation by red microalgae Porphyridium purpureum

The present study attempts to cultivate Porphyridium purpureum under different scale-up conditions for further development and commercialization of microalgae-derived PUFAs such as ARA and EPA. Different temperatures (25, 30, and 35 °C) and light intensities (70, 165, and 280 μmol/m²s) were applied to the 50 L pilot-scale cultivation of P. purpureum in ASW. The cultivation under the light intensity of 280 μmol/m²s at 35 °C obtained biomass concentration up to 9.52 g/L, total fatty acid content to 56.82 mg/g, and ARA content to 22.29 mg/g. While the maximum EPA content of 7.00 mg/g was achieved under the light intensity of 280 μmol/m²s at 25 °C and the highest ratio of UFAs to TFAs of 74.66% was also obtained in this trial. Both biomass concentration and TFAs content were improved by increasing light intensity and temperature. Moreover, the ratio of ARA to EPA was enhanced by increasing cultivation temperature under the light intensity of 280 μmol/m²s. In contrast with flask culture, the conversion of linoleic acid (C18:2) to ARA was enhanced in scale-up culture, leading to more ARA content. Phosphate limitation enhanced the synthesis of lipid and LPUFAs. Moreover, the biomass concentration and biosynthesis of palmitic acid were preferred by sufficient C (NaHCO₃).

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using Sonazoid(®) is useful for diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors: comparison with Doppler ultrasound

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of Sonazoid(®)-enhanced ultrasonography (US) in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer in comparison with Doppler US.

METHODS

Twenty-five ovarian tumor patients who were scheduled to undergo surgery were recruited for this study. The day before the operation, each patient was evaluated with color and power Doppler and baseline US during intravenous infusion of Sonazoid. Each lesion was classified as "benign" or "malignant" on the basis of specific criteria for a Doppler signal or Sonazoid-enhanced pattern. The reference standard was the histology of surgically removed adnexal tumors.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were diagnosed with malignant tumors (invasive cancer, n = 15; metastatic cancer, n = 1; borderline tumor, n = 4), and the remaining five were diagnosed with benign tumors. Sonazoid-enhanced US correctly depicted the presence or absence of intratumoral blood flow in all patients with an accuracy of 92 %. Color Doppler ultrasound depicted the malignancies with an accuracy of 64 %, and power Doppler ultrasound depicted them with an accuracy of 76 %.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that Sonazoid-enhanced US is superior to conventional color Doppler US for the diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors, but not to power Doppler US. The data and their interpretation in our study should be taken with some degree of caution because of the small number of subjects. Further studies involving a larger sample size would be needed to confirm these findings.