Motivated by the challenge that manual glaucoma detection is costly and time consuming, and that existing automated glaucoma detection processes lack either good performance or any statistical robustness testing procedures, we proposed an effective, robust, and automated framework for glaucoma detection based on fundus images. The proposed framework using 1450 color fundus images provided by Kaohsiung Chang Gung (KCG) Memorial Hospital in Taiwan. The proposed framework combines the use of convolutional neural networks (CNN) with the proposed generalized loss function, robust design of experiment (DOE), and Retinex theory to improve the results of fundus photography flash by restoring the original colors via removing the light effect. The proposed framework outperformed most archival automatic glaucoma detection approaches in its effectiveness and simplicity. The effectiveness was demonstrated via the estimated sensitivity 0.95, specificity 0.98, and accuracy 0.97. The simplicity was shown via the adopted basic CNN model compared to deep CNNs such as GoogleLeNet and ResNet152. Further, the proposed framework outperformed all relevant archival work in terms of its robustness, illustrated in the associated standard errors (all less than 0.03). This paper demonstrated the proposed framework via intuitive graphs and clear mathematical notations to make it easy for others to reproduce our results. The proposed framework and demonstration have the potential to become the standard automated glaucoma detection approaches in practice.

In this study, a novel artificial intelligence (AI) model is proposed to detect stenosis in arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) using inexpensive and non-invasive audio recordings. The proposed model is a combination of two new input features based on short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and sample entropy, as well as two associated classification models (ResNet50 and ANN). The model’s hyper-parameters were optimized through the use of the design of the experiment (DOE). The proposed AI model demonstrates high performance with all essential metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and F1-score, exceeding 0.90 at detecting stenosis greater than 50%. These promising results suggest that our approach can lead to new insights and knowledge in this field. Moreover, the robust performance of our model, combined with the affordability of the audio recording device, makes it a valuable tool for detecting AVF stenosis in home-care settings.

[[abstract]]© 2007 Taylor & Francis - Estimating the variance of the sample mean is a classical problem of steady-state simulation output analysis. Traditional batch means estimators require specification of the simulation run length a priori. To our knowledge, the Dynamic Non-overlapping Batch Means (DNBM) estimator is the only existing variance estimator that requires a constant storage space for any sample size. In this paper, we develop the Dynamic Partial-overlapping Batch Means (DPBM) algorithm, that also requires a constant storage space. In terms of the mean squared error, the statistical performance of the DPBM estimators is superior to that of the DNBM estimators.[[department]]工業工程與工程管理學

A great deal of previous work has studied methods to determine system reliability. That work has defined system reliability as the probability that the production output meets a predetermined demand for a network with many workstations, each of which has random capacity determined by a discrete probability distribution. It is noteworthy that the archival work presents numerous examples, wherein entities are discrete and indivisible, while the analysis is based upon continuous flow, much like a fluid, through the network. The inconsistency, inherent in mixing discrete-entity examples with continuous-flow analysis, can result in erroneous conclusions about the system reliability. The current paper presents a rigorous discrete-analysis analytical approach, which is called the Song rule (Stochastic “Output ≥ demand” Networks and their Generation). Based on all examples studied in this paper, the absolute difference ratios between the previous incorrect (as published) and the correct probabilities (from the Song rule) are all greater than 23%. The proposed Song rule analysis is verified to be correct using discrete-event simulation. In addition to providing rigorous analysis for the network problems under consideration, the Song rule is a useful tool for assessing the validity of any future proposed approach for other stochastic reliability problems.

The occurrence of the “structural-loss” defect during single-crystal silicon growth (SCSG) is a significant issue in semiconductor manufacturing. When structural-loss occurs, it signifies a deviation from the desired quality of single-crystal formation, leading to the need to halt the growth process. Currently, there is a lack of scholarly literature addressing the determination of an optimal stopping time to promptly halt the process upon the occurrence of the defect on-line. Our research makes a substantial contribution by addressing this gap in the SCSG process, specifically focusing on orientations and . The study utilizes advanced AI with YOLO-v7 and innovative approaches. These include precise annotation of crystal misorientation features through a comprehensive definition of structural-loss and novel labeling techniques, identification of optimal hyper-parameters through a robust design, and the implementation of effective stopping rule mechanisms. Significant progress has been achieved in decision-making through the implementation of the stoping time shift to terminate the SCSG process within an average of less than 3 minutes for orientations (with a standard error of 0.3 minutes) and less than 5 minutes for orientations (with a standard error of 0.5 minutes). The promising results indicate that the proposed approaches have the capability to substitute manual inspections, opening up possibilities for new perspectives in this particular field.