Time series forecasting of COVID-19 transmission in Asia Pacific countries using deep neural networks.

The novel human coronavirus disease COVID-19 has become the fifth documented pandemic since the 1918 flu pandemic. COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, China, and subsequently spread worldwide. Almost all of the countries of the world are facing this natural challenge. We present forecasting models to estimate and predict COVID-19 outbreak in Asia Pacific countries, particularly Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh. We have utilized the latest deep learning techniques such as Long Short Term Memory networks (LSTM), Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), and Gated Recurrent Units (GRU) to quantify the intensity of pandemic for the near future. We consider the time variable and data non-linearity when employing neural networks. Each model's salient features have been evaluated to foresee the number of COVID-19 cases in the next 10 days. The forecasting performance of employed deep learning models shown up to July 01, 2020, is more than 90% accurate, which shows the reliability of the proposed study. We hope that the present comparative analysis will provide an accurate picture of pandemic spread to the government officials so that they can take appropriate mitigation measures.

D2BOF-COVIDNet: A Framework of Deep Bayesian Optimization and Fusion-Assisted Optimal Deep Features for COVID-19 Classification Using Chest X-ray and MRI Scans.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In 2019, a corona virus disease (COVID-19) was detected in China that affected millions of people around the world. On 11 March 2020, the WHO declared this disease a pandemic. Currently, more than 200 countries in the world have been affected by this disease. The manual diagnosis of this disease using chest X-ray (CXR) images and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is time consuming and always requires an expert person; therefore, researchers introduced several computerized techniques using computer vision methods. The recent computerized techniques face some challenges, such as low contrast CTX images, the manual initialization of hyperparameters, and redundant features that mislead the classification accuracy. METHODS: In this paper, we proposed a novel framework for COVID-19 classification using deep Bayesian optimization and improved canonical correlation analysis (ICCA). In this proposed framework, we initially performed data augmentation for better training of the selected deep models. After that, two pre-trained deep models were employed (ResNet50 and InceptionV3) and trained using transfer learning. The hyperparameters of both models were initialized through Bayesian optimization. Both trained models were utilized for feature extractions and fused using an ICCA-based approach. The fused features were further optimized using an improved tree growth optimization algorithm that finally was classified using a neural network classifier. RESULTS: The experimental process was conducted on five publically available datasets and achieved an accuracy of 99.6, 98.5, 99.9, 99.5, and 100%. CONCLUSION: The comparison with recent methods and t-test-based analysis showed the significance of this proposed framework.

CXray-EffDet: Chest Disease Detection and Classification from X-ray Images Using the EfficientDet Model.

The competence of machine learning approaches to carry out clinical expertise tasks has recently gained a lot of attention, particularly in the field of medical-imaging examination. Among the most frequently used clinical-imaging modalities in the healthcare profession is chest radiography, which calls for prompt reporting of the existence of potential anomalies and illness diagnostics in images. Automated frameworks for the recognition of chest abnormalities employing X-rays are being introduced in health departments. However, the reliable detection and classification of particular illnesses in chest X-ray samples is still a complicated issue because of the complex structure of radiographs, e.g., the large exposure dynamic range. Moreover, the incidence of various image artifacts and extensive inter- and intra-category resemblances further increases the difficulty of chest disease recognition procedures. The aim of this study was to resolve these existing problems. We propose a deep learning (DL) approach to the detection of chest abnormalities with the X-ray modality using the EfficientDet (CXray-EffDet) model. More clearly, we employed the EfficientNet-B0-based EfficientDet-D0 model to compute a reliable set of sample features and accomplish the detection and classification task by categorizing eight categories of chest abnormalities using X-ray images. The effective feature computation power of the CXray-EffDet model enhances the power of chest abnormality recognition due to its high recall rate, and it presents a lightweight and computationally robust approach. A large test of the model employing a standard database from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was conducted to demonstrate the chest disease localization and categorization performance of the CXray-EffDet model. We attained an AUC score of 0.9080, along with an IOU of 0.834, which clearly determines the competency of the introduced model.

New Real-Time Impulse Noise Removal Method Applied to Chest X-ray Images.

In this paper, we propose a new Modified Laplacian Vector Median Filter (MLVMF) for real-time denoising complex images corrupted by "salt and pepper" impulsive noise. The method consists of two rounds with three steps each: the first round starts with the identification of pixels that may be contaminated by noise using a Modified Laplacian Filter. Then, corrupted pixels pass a neighborhood-based validation test. Finally, the Vector Median Filter is used to replace noisy pixels. The MLVMF uses a 5 × 5 window to observe the intensity variations around each pixel of the image with a rotation step of π/8 while the classic Laplacian filters often use rotation steps of π/2 or π/4. We see better identification of noise-corrupted pixels thanks to this rotation step refinement. Despite this advantage, a high percentage of the impulsive noise may cause two or more corrupted pixels (with the same intensity) to collide, preventing the identification of noise-corrupted pixels. A second round is then necessary using a second set of filters, still based on the Laplacian operator, but allowing focusing only on the collision phenomenon. To validate our method, MLVMF is firstly tested on standard images, with a noise percentage varying from 3% to 30%. Obtained performances in terms of processing time, as well as image restoration quality through the PSNR (Peak Signal to Noise Ratio) and the NCD (Normalized Color Difference) metrics, are compared to the performances of VMF (Vector Median Filter), VMRHF (Vector Median-Rational Hybrid Filter), and MSMF (Modified Switching Median Filter). A second test is performed on several noisy chest x-ray images used in cardiovascular disease diagnosis as well as COVID-19 diagnosis. The proposed method shows a very good quality of restoration on this type of image, particularly when the percentage of noise is high. The MLVMF provides a high PSNR value of 5.5% and a low NCD value of 18.2%. Finally, an optimized Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) design is proposed to implement the proposed method for real-time processing. The proposed hardware implementation allows an execution time equal to 9 ms per 256 × 256 color image.

COVID-19 Classification from Chest X-Ray Images: A Framework of Deep Explainable Artificial Intelligence.

COVID-19 detection and classification using chest X-ray images is a current hot research topic based on the important application known as medical image analysis. To halt the spread of COVID-19, it is critical to identify the infection as soon as possible. Due to time constraints and the expertise of radiologists, manually diagnosing this infection from chest X-ray images is a difficult and time-consuming process. Artificial intelligence techniques have had a significant impact on medical image analysis and have also introduced several techniques for COVID-19 diagnosis. Deep learning and explainable AI have shown significant popularity among AL techniques for COVID-19 detection and classification. In this work, we propose a deep learning and explainable AI technique for the diagnosis and classification of COVID-19 using chest X-ray images. Initially, a hybrid contrast enhancement technique is proposed and applied to the original images that are later utilized for the training of two modified deep learning models. The deep transfer learning concept is selected for the training of pretrained modified models that are later employed for feature extraction. Features of both deep models are fused using improved canonical correlation analysis that is further optimized using a hybrid algorithm named Whale-Elephant Herding. Through this algorithm, the best features are selected and classified using an extreme learning machine (ELM). Moreover, the modified deep models are utilized for Grad-CAM visualization. The experimental process was conducted on three publicly available datasets and achieved accuracies of 99.1, 98.2, and 96.7%, respectively. Moreover, the ablation study was performed and showed that the proposed accuracy is better than the other methods.

Customer Prioritization Integrated Supply Chain Optimization Model with Outsourcing Strategies.

Pre-COVID-19, most of the supply chains functioned with more capacity than demand. However, COVID-19 changed traditional supply chains' dynamics, resulting in more demand than their production capacity. This article presents a multiobjective and multiperiod supply chain network design along with customer prioritization, keeping in view price discounts and outsourcing strategies to deal with the situation when demand exceeds the production capacity. Initially, a multiperiod, multiobjective supply chain network is designed that incorporates prices discounts, customer prioritization, and outsourcing strategies. The main objectives are profit and prioritization maximization and time minimization. The introduction of the prioritization objective function having customer ranking as a parameter and considering less capacity than demand and outsourcing differentiates this model from the literature. A four-valued neutrosophic multiobjective optimization method is introduced to solve the model developed. To validate the model, a case study of the supply chain of a surgical mask is presented as the real-life application of research. The research findings are useful for the managers to make price discounts and preferred customer prioritization decisions under uncertainty and imbalance between supply and demand. In future, the logic in the proposed model can be used to create web application for optimal decision-making in supply chains.

A Long Short-Term Memory Biomarker-Based Prediction Framework for Alzheimer's Disease.

The early prediction of Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be vital for the endurance of patients and establishes as an accommodating and facilitative factor for specialists. The proposed work presents a robotized predictive structure, dependent on machine learning (ML) methods for the forecast of AD. Neuropsychological measures (NM) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers are deduced and passed on to a recurrent neural network (RNN). In the RNN, we have used long short-term memory (LSTM), and the proposed model will predict the biomarkers (feature vectors) of patients after 6, 12, 21 18, 24, and 36 months. These predicted biomarkers will go through fully connected neural network layers. The NN layers will then predict whether these RNN-predicted biomarkers belong to an AD patient or a patient with a mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The developed methodology has been tried on an openly available informational dataset (ADNI) and accomplished an accuracy of 88.24%, which is superior to the next-best available algorithms.

A Rapid Artificial Intelligence-Based Computer-Aided Diagnosis System for COVID-19 Classification from CT Images.

The excessive number of COVID-19 cases reported worldwide so far, supplemented by a high rate of false alarms in its diagnosis using the conventional polymerase chain reaction method, has led to an increased number of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) examinations conducted. The manual inspection of the latter, besides being slow, is susceptible to human errors, especially because of an uncanny resemblance between the CT scans of COVID-19 and those of pneumonia, and therefore demands a proportional increase in the number of expert radiologists. Artificial intelligence-based computer-aided diagnosis of COVID-19 using the CT scans has been recently coined, which has proven its effectiveness in terms of accuracy and computation time. In this work, a similar framework for classification of COVID-19 using CT scans is proposed. The proposed method includes four core steps: (i) preparing a database of three different classes such as COVID-19, pneumonia, and normal; (ii) modifying three pretrained deep learning models such as VGG16, ResNet50, and ResNet101 for the classification of COVID-19-positive scans; (iii) proposing an activation function and improving the firefly algorithm for feature selection; and (iv) fusing optimal selected features using descending order serial approach and classifying using multiclass supervised learning algorithms. We demonstrate that once this method is performed on a publicly available dataset, this system attains an improved accuracy of 97.9% and the computational time is almost 34 (sec).

COVID-19 Case Recognition from Chest CT Images by Deep Learning, Entropy-Controlled Firefly Optimization, and Parallel Feature Fusion.

In healthcare, a multitude of data is collected from medical sensors and devices, such as X-ray machines, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT), and so on, that can be analyzed by artificial intelligence methods for early diagnosis of diseases. Recently, the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease caused many deaths. Computer vision researchers support medical doctors by employing deep learning techniques on medical images to diagnose COVID-19 patients. Various methods were proposed for COVID-19 case classification. A new automated technique is proposed using parallel fusion and optimization of deep learning models. The proposed technique starts with a contrast enhancement using a combination of top-hat and Wiener filters. Two pre-trained deep learning models (AlexNet and VGG16) are employed and fine-tuned according to target classes (COVID-19 and healthy). Features are extracted and fused using a parallel fusion approach-parallel positive correlation. Optimal features are selected using the entropy-controlled firefly optimization method. The selected features are classified using machine learning classifiers such as multiclass support vector machine (MC-SVM). Experiments were carried out using the Radiopaedia database and achieved an accuracy of 98%. Moreover, a detailed analysis is conducted and shows the improved performance of the proposed scheme.

Deep Rank-Based Average Pooling Network for Covid-19 Recognition

(Aim) To make a more accurate and precise COVID-19 diagnosis system, this study proposed a novel deep rank-based average pooling network (DRAPNet) model, i.e., deep rank-based average pooling network, for COVID-19 recognition. (Methods) 521 subjects yield 1164 slice images via the slice level selection method. All the 1164 slice images comprise four categories: COVID-19 positive;community-acquired pneumonia;second pulmonary tuberculosis;and healthy control. Our method firstly introduced an improved multiple-way data augmentation. Secondly, an n-conv rank-based average pooling module (NRAPM) was proposed in which rank-based pooling—particularly, rank-based average pooling (RAP)—was employed to avoid overfitting. Third, a novel DRAPNet was proposed based on NRAPM and inspired by the VGG network. Grad-CAM was used to generate heatmaps and gave our AI model an explainable analysis. (Results) Our DRAPNet achieved a micro-averaged F1 score of 95.49% by 10 runs over the test set. The sensitivities of the four classes were 95.44%, 96.07%, 94.41%, and 96.07%, respectively. The precisions of four classes were 96.45%, 95.22%, 95.05%, and 95.28%, respectively. The F1 scores of the four classes were 95.94%, 95.64%, 94.73%, and 95.67%, respectively. Besides, the confusion matrix was given. (Conclusions) The DRAPNet is effective in diagnosing COVID-19 and other chest infectious diseases. The RAP gives better results than four other methods: strided convolution, l2-norm pooling, average pooling, and max pooling.

Expert Hypertension Detection System Featuring Pulse Plethysmograph Signals and Hybrid Feature Selection and Reduction Scheme.

Hypertension is an antecedent to cardiac disorders. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people affected with hypertension will reach around 1.56 billion by 2025. Early detection of hypertension is imperative to prevent the complications caused by cardiac abnormalities. Hypertension usually possesses no apparent detectable symptoms; hence, the control rate is significantly low. Computer-aided diagnosis based on machine learning and signal analysis has recently been applied to identify biomarkers for the accurate prediction of hypertension. This research proposes a new expert hypertension detection system (EHDS) from pulse plethysmograph (PuPG) signals for the categorization of normal and hypertension. The PuPG signal data set, including rich information of cardiac activity, was acquired from healthy and hypertensive subjects. The raw PuPG signals were preprocessed through empirical mode decomposition (EMD) by decomposing a signal into its constituent components. A combination of multi-domain features was extracted from the preprocessed PuPG signal. The features exhibiting high discriminative characteristics were selected and reduced through a proposed hybrid feature selection and reduction (HFSR) scheme. Selected features were subjected to various classification methods in a comparative fashion in which the best performance of 99.4% accuracy, 99.6% sensitivity, and 99.2% specificity was achieved through weighted k-nearest neighbor (KNN-W). The performance of the proposed EHDS was thoroughly assessed by tenfold cross-validation. The proposed EHDS achieved better detection performance in comparison to other electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmograph (PPG)-based methods.

Classification of Positive COVID-19 CT Scans Using Deep Learning

In medical imaging, computer vision researchers are faced with a variety of features for verifying the authenticity of classifiers for an accurate diagnosis. In response to the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, new testing procedures, medical treatments, and vaccines are being developed rapidly. One potential diagnostic tool is a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR, typically a time-consuming process, was less sensitive to COVID-19 recognition in the disease’s early stages. Here we introduce an optimized deep learning (DL) scheme to distinguish COVID-19-infected patients from normal patients according to computed tomography (CT) scans. In the proposed method, contrast enhancement is used to improve the quality of the original images. A pretrained DenseNet-201 DL model is then trained using transfer learning. Two fully connected layers and an average pool are used for feature extraction. The extracted deep features are then optimized with a Firefly algorithm to select the most optimal learning features. Fusing the selected features is important to improving the accuracy of the approach;however, it directly affects the computational cost of the technique. In the proposed method, a new parallel high index technique is used to fuse two optimal vectors;the outcome is then passed on to an extreme learning machine for final classification. Experiments were conducted on a collected database of patients using a 70:30 training: Testing ratio. Our results indicated an average classification accuracy of 94.76% with the proposed approach. A comparison of the outcomes to several other DL models demonstrated the effectiveness of our DL method for classifying COVID-19 based on CT scans.

Prediction of COVID-19 - Pneumonia based on Selected Deep Features and One Class Kernel Extreme Learning Machine.

In this work, we propose a deep learning framework for the classification of COVID-19 pneumonia infection from normal chest CT scans. In this regard, a 15-layered convolutional neural network architecture is developed which extracts deep features from the selected image samples - collected from the Radiopeadia. Deep features are collected from two different layers, global average pool and fully connected layers, which are later combined using the max-layer detail (MLD) approach. Subsequently, a Correntropy technique is embedded in the main design to select the most discriminant features from the pool of features. One-class kernel extreme learning machine classifier is utilized for the final classification to achieving an average accuracy of 95.1%, and the sensitivity, specificity & precision rate of 95.1%, 95%, & 94% respectively. To further verify our claims, detailed statistical analyses based on standard error mean (SEM) is also provided, which proves the effectiveness of our proposed prediction design.