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Rapid respiratory rate (RR) changes in older adults may indicate serious illness. Therefore, accurately estimating RR for cardiorespiratory fitness is essential. However, machine learning algorithm-related errors are unsuitable for medical decision-making processes because some data have a much larger sample size in the training set than in other sets. This difference in size refers to data imbalance. Therefore, we introduce a novel methodology combining bootstrap-based imbalanced feature generation (BIFG) with the Gaussian process for estimating RR and uncertainty, thereby addressing data imbalance. The sample difference between normal breathing (12–20 bpm), dyspnea ( 20 bpm), and hypopnea (<8 bpm) indicates significant data imbalance, which can affect the learning of the machine learning algorithm. Thus, the normal breathing part with much data is well-trained. The dyspnea and hypopnea parts with relatively little data are not well-trained, and this data imbalance causes significant errors concerning the reference variables in the actual dyspnea and hypopnea data parts. Hence, we use the parametric bootstrap model generated by artificial feature curves to estimate RR and solve this problem. As a result, the non-parametric bootstrap approach drastically increased the number of artificial feature curves. The generated artificial feature curves are selectively utilized for the highly imbalanced parts. Therefore, BIFG can be efficiently trained to predict the complex nonlinear relationships between the feature vectors obtained from the photoplethysmography signals and the reference RR. The proposed methodology exhibits more accurate predictive performance and uncertainty. The mean absolute errors are 0.89 and 1.44 beats per minute for RR using the proposed BIFG based on the two data sets.

Respiratory rate (RR) changes in the elderly can indicate serious diseases. Thus, accurate estimation of RRs for cardiopulmonary function is essential for home health monitoring systems. However, machine learning (ML) algorithm errors embedded in health monitoring systems can be problematic in medical decision-making because some data have much larger sample sizes in the training set than others. This difference in sample size implies biosignal data imbalance. Therefore, we propose a novel methodology that combines bootstrap-based imbalanced continuous power spectral generation (IPSG) with ML approaches to estimate RRs and uncertainty to address data imbalance. The sample differences between normal breathing (12-20 breaths per minute (brpm)), dyspnea (≥20 brpm), and hypopnea (<8 brpm) show significant data imbalance, which can affect the learning of ML algorithms. Hence, the normal breathing part with a large amount of data is well-trained. In contrast, the dyspnea and hypopnea parts with relatively fewer data are not well-trained, and this data imbalance makes it difficult to estimate the reference variables of the actual dyspnea and hypopnea data parts, thus generating significant errors. Hence, we apply ML models by mixing artificial feature curves generated using a bootstrap model with the original feature curves to estimate RRs and solve this problem. As a result, the nonparametric bootstrap approach significantly increases the number of artificial feature curves. The generated artificial feature curves are selectively utilized in the highly imbalanced parts. Therefore, we confirm that IPSG is efficiently trained to predict the complex nonlinear relationship between the feature vectors obtained from the photoplethysmography signal and the reference RR. The proposed methodology shows more accurate prediction performance and uncertainty. Combining the proposed Gaussian process regression (GPR) with IPSG based on the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center dataset, the mean absolute error of the RR is 0.79 and 1.47 brpm. Our approach achieves high stability and accuracy by randomly mixing original and artificial feature curves. The proposed GPR-IPSG model can improve the performance of clinical home-based monitoring systems and design a reliable framework.

Swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus) is a commercially valuable species in the Yellow Sea, where recent fluctuations in resource levels have raised concerns about sustainable management. This study aimed to improve the estimation of the carapace length at 50% maturity (L50) using machine learning techniques, providing a more consistent and reproducible framework for visual maturity classification by standardizing image-based decision processes. Using geometric image augmentation (e.g., rotation, flipping, brightness adjustment), Hue–Saturation–Value (HSV) color segmentation, and algorithms, such as Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and ensemble models, we classified the maturity of female crabs based on gonad color features. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, AUC, and the TSS, with the ensemble model showing the highest predictive capability. The machine learning-based L50 was estimated at 64.63 mm (±1.73 mm), yielding a narrower uncertainty range than the visually derived L50 of 65.47 mm (±2.89 mm) under the same macroscopic labeling framework. These results suggest that machine learning-assisted maturity classification can enhance the precision and operational consistency of maturity estimation under a standardized framework, while biological accuracy cannot be confirmed in the absence of an independent reference, such as histological validation.

Accurately estimating respiratory rate (RR) has become essential for patients and the elderly. Hence, we propose a novel method that uses exact Gaussian process regression (EGPR)-assisted hybrid feature extraction and feature fusion based on photoplethysmography and electrocardiogram signals to improve the reliability of accurate RR and uncertainty estimations. First, we obtain the power spectral features and use the multi-phase feature model to compensate for insufficient input data. Then, we combine four different feature sets and choose features with high weights using a robust neighbor component analysis. The proposed EGPR algorithm provides a confidence interval representing the uncertainty. Therefore, the proposed EGPR algorithm, including hybrid feature extraction and weighted feature fusion, is an excellent model with improved reliability for accurate RR estimation. Furthermore, the proposed EGPR methodology is likely the only one currently available that provides highly stable variation and confidence intervals. The proposed EGPR-MF, 0.993 breath per minute (bpm), and EGPR-feature fusion, 1.064 (bpm), show the lowest mean absolute error compared to the other models.

Early diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) is critical for preserving cardiac function and improving patient outcomes through timely intervention. This study proposes an annovaitive computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system for the simultaneous segmentation and classification of MI using MRI images. The system is evaluated under two primary approaches: a serial approach, where segmentation is first applied to extract image patches for subsequent classification, and a parallel approach, where segmentation and classification are performed concurrently using full MRI images. The multi-class segmentation model identifies four key heart regions: left ventricular cavity (LV), normal myocardium (Myo), myocardial infarction (MI), and persistent microvascular obstruction (MVO). The classification stage employs three AI-based strategies: a single deep learning model, feature-based fusion of multiple AI models, and a hybrid ensemble model incorporating the Vision Transformer (ViT). Both segmentation and classification models are trained and validated on the EMIDEC MRI dataset using five-fold cross-validation. The adopted ResU-Net achieves high F1-scores for segmentation: 91.12% (LV), 88.39% (Myo), 80.08% (MI), and 68.01% (MVO). For classification, the hybrid CNN-ViT model in the parallel approach demonstrates superior performance, achieving 98.15% accuracy and a 98.63% F1-score. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed CAD system for real-world clinical applications, offering a robust tool to assist healthcare professionals in accurate MI diagnosis, improved treatment planning, and enhanced patient care.

The purpose of this study is to search for any difference in self-expression of Second Life residents with different levels of shyness. For this purpose, we used sixty students from two fifth-grade elementary school classes. Thirty students were assigned to the high shyness group and the rest to the low shyness group. Each group completed pre- and post- self-expression tests. After six weeks of speaking activities in Second Life, the results indicate that self-expression scores increased for students in both the high and the low shyness groups. The low shyness group showed an increase by 1.00 in the self-expression score. However, the high shyness group showed an increase by 3.14 after the speaking activities. This result suggests that Second Life can be a good environment to enhance self-expression in students, especially those with degrees of high shyness.

Early detection of breast cancer is an essential procedure to reduce the mortality rate among women. In this paper, a new AI-based computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) framework called ETECADx is proposed by fusing the benefits of both ensemble transfer learning of the convolutional neural networks as well as the self-attention mechanism of vision transformer encoder (ViT). The accurate and precious high-level deep features are generated via the backbone ensemble network, while the transformer encoder is used to diagnose the breast cancer probabilities in two approaches: Approach A (i.e., binary classification) and Approach B (i.e., multi-classification). To build the proposed CAD system, the benchmark public multi-class INbreast dataset is used. Meanwhile, private real breast cancer images are collected and annotated by expert radiologists to validate the prediction performance of the proposed ETECADx framework. The promising evaluation results are achieved using the INbreast mammograms with overall accuracies of 98.58% and 97.87% for the binary and multi-class approaches, respectively. Compared with the individual backbone networks, the proposed ensemble learning model improves the breast cancer prediction performance by 6.6% for binary and 4.6% for multi-class approaches. The proposed hybrid ETECADx shows further prediction improvement when the ViT-based ensemble backbone network is used by 8.1% and 6.2% for binary and multi-class diagnosis, respectively. For validation purposes using the real breast images, the proposed CAD system provides encouraging prediction accuracies of 97.16% for binary and 89.40% for multi-class approaches. The ETECADx has a capability to predict the breast lesions for a single mammogram in an average of 0.048 s. Such promising performance could be useful and helpful to assist the practical CAD framework applications providing a second supporting opinion of distinguishing various breast cancer malignancies.

Oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitors currently estimate a single point but do not identify variations in response to physiological characteristics. In this paper, to analyze BP’s normality based on oscillometric measurements, we use statistical approaches including kurtosis, skewness, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and correlation tests. Then, to mitigate uncertainties, we use a deep learning method to determine the confidence limits (CLs) of BP measurements based on their normality. The proposed deep learning regression model decreases the standard deviation of error (SDE) of the mean error and the mean absolute error and reduces the uncertainties of the CLs and SDEs of the proposed technique. We validate the normality of the distribution of the BP estimation which fits the standard normal distribution very well. We use a rank test in the deep learning technique to demonstrate the independence of the artificial systolic BP and diastolic BP estimations. We perform statistical tests to verify the normality of the BP measurements for individual subjects. The proposed methodology provides accurate BP estimations and reduces the uncertainties associated with the CLs and SDEs using the deep learning algorithm.

Widespread use of \"shadow education,\" is a major policy issue in East Asia, especially South Korea, where officials view it as harmful to educational and fiscal equity. Although previous research emphasizes functional explanations, this study takes an institutional approach, exploring how students' desire for prestigious matriculation influences their parents' spending on shadow education. It is around that that \"prestige orientation\" (1) significantly predicts parent spending, especially among students of lower socioeconomic status, and (2) yields strong impact among students with the least likelihood of prestigious matriculation. Such findings indicate that Korean shadow education serves purposes that are as much symbolic as instrumental.

Automated oscillometric blood pressure monitors are commonly used to measure blood pressure for many patients at home, office, and medical centers, and they have been actively studied recently. These devices usually provide a single blood pressure point and they are not able to indicate the uncertainty of the measured quantity. We propose a new technique using an ensemble-based recursive methodology to measure uncertainty for oscillometric blood pressure measurements. There are three stages we consider: the first stage is pre-learning to initialize good parameters using the bagging technique. In the second stage, we fine-tune the parameters using the ensemble-based recursive methodology that is used to accurately estimate blood pressure and then measure the uncertainty for the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in the third stage.