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It has been a challenge for electric power management to automatically extract power lines from LiDAR point clouds. However, environmental and technical issues have made management more challenging in complicated areas where power lines are in close proximity to buildings and/or trees. In this study, the structure and types of the data captured by a LiDAR sensor in regions containing line corridors were analysed. The crucial stage is appropriately identifying from the data the essential parts of a power line corridor route. The point cloud dataset used in the study belongs to the Borssele region in Zeeland, the Netherlands. By manually labelling the dataset, three classes were identified: wire, pylon, and others. For the classification of point clouds, the Random Forest method was utilised. To assess the obstacles posed by the class wire, 5 m, 10 m, and 15 m 3D buffer zones are created. The visual presentation of obstacles within the buffer zone is achieved by assigning them a separate class code and indicating that they are inside and partially within. Based on the results, the correctness values of the classes of wire and others are considered to be satisfactory. However, the class pylon contains points with incorrect labels after the classification. As a result, the accuracy of the pylon class is much lower than the accuracy of the other two classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The paper discusses the problem of an uneven flow of the grain mass to the threshing which leads to the increased grain loss under the grain-harvesting process. The study purpose is to identify patterns of the effect of changing the second flow threshing both on the length of the drum, and on its width. This is resulting in the possibility of obtaining graphs of the optimal slice profile of the conveying device which ensures an even flow of the grain mass at the initial stages of threshing. Materials and Methods. Our research is aimed at obtaining high qualitative indicators of the threshing process by the separating device. Studies on the equal-dimensional distribution of the grain mass under the threshing process by the tangential-axial separating device in the zones depending on the change in the second feed value are provided. Obtaining qualitative indicators of the thrashing was achieved through the slice profile optimization. The experimental data whose processing gave the opportunity to determine the optimal slice profile were used. Research Results. The experimental results have provided background for graph plotting of the transporter cut profile on a variety of quantities of the used feed (4-12 kg/s). The resulting equations of these lines are obtained. The averaged slice profile for the entire group of curves on the grain mass feed value is developed. Discussion and Conclusions. The studies of the transporter slice profiles on the second feed value have led to the derivation of the cut curve equation for the uniform grain mass flow to the threshing. The validity approximation coefficient has shown high levels of the approximation accuracy.

Introduction. Promising modern high-performance combine harvesters should be created on the basis of new principles and solutions for improving the quality of the threshing and grain separation processes in field operations. Grain infestation is a factor complicating threshing. To optimize threshing, it is advisable to adjust the threshing-separating device parameters, to determine the grain separation and its contamination regularities due to humidity, changes in the grain feeding, the threshing gap dimension and the drum rotation frequency. Materials and Methods. The experiments were carried out on the threshing of winter wheat of the Don semi-dwarf variety. A laboratory-field threshing apparatus was used. In the course of the experiments, the separating property of the threshing-separating device of a tangential-axial type in the form of a one-nappe revolution hyperboloid was studied. Research Results. Based on the results of the experiments, the charts of the threshed material separation and clogging depending on the grain feeding, the threshing clearance, the humidity of the threshed mass and the drum rotational speed are plotted. Discussion and Conclusions. As a result of the studies, a significant effect of the working parameters of the thresher on the quality factors and the level of grain losses in threshing is proved.

Background & Aims: Colonoscopic surveillance is recommended in patients with colonic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) given their increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). We aimed to develop and validate a dynamic prediction model for the occurrence of advanced colorectal neoplasia (aCRN, including high-grade dysplasia and CRC) in IBD., Methods: We pooled data from 6 existing cohort studies from Canada, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Patients with IBD and an indication for CRC surveillance were included if they underwent at least 1 follow-up procedure. Exclusion criteria included prior aCRN, prior colectomy, or an unclear indication for surveillance. Predictor variables were selected based on the literature. A dynamic prediction model was developed using a landmarking approach based on Cox proportional hazard modeling. Model performance was assessed with Harrell's concordance-statistic (discrimination) and by calibration curves. Generalizability across surveillance cohorts was evaluated by internal-external cross-validation., Results: The surveillance cohorts comprised 3731 patients, enrolled and followed-up in the time period from 1973 to 2021, with a median follow-up period of 5.7 years (26,336 patient-years of follow-up evaluation); 146 individuals were diagnosed with aCRN. The model contained 8 predictors, with a cross-validation median concordance statistic of 0.74 and 0.75 for a 5- and 10-year prediction window, respectively. Calibration plots showed good calibration. Internal-external cross-validation results showed medium discrimination and reasonable to good calibration., Conclusions: The new prediction model showed good discrimination and calibration, however, generalizability results varied. Future research should focus on formal external validation and relate predicted aCRN risks to surveillance intervals before clinical application., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), and this risk increases dramatically in those who develop low-grade dysplasia (LGD). However, there is currently no accurate way to risk-stratify patients with LGD, leading to both over- and under-treatment of cancer risk. Here we show that the burden of somatic copy number alterations (CNAs) within resected LGD lesions strongly predicts future cancer development. We performed a retrospective multi-centre validated case-control study of n=122 patients (40 progressors, 82 non-progressors, 270 LGD regions). Low coverage whole genome sequencing revealed CNA burden was significantly higher in progressors than non-progressors (p=2×10 -6 in discovery cohort) and was a very significant predictor of CRC risk in univariate analysis (odds ratio = 36; p=9×10 -7 ), outperforming existing clinical risk factors such as lesion size, shape and focality. Optimal risk prediction was achieved with a multivariate model combining CNA burden with the known clinical risk factor of incomplete LGD resection. The measurement of CNAs in LGD lesions is a robust, low-cost and rapidly translatable predictor of CRC risk in IBD that can be used to direct management and so prevent CRC in high-risk individuals whilst sparing those at low-risk from unnecessary intervention., Competing Interests: Competing Interests The authors are in discussions about potential commercialisation and clinical translation of the findings described here. Professor Hart has served as consultant, advisory board member or speaker for AbbVie, Arena, Atlantic, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Celltrion, Falk, Galapogos, Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Napp Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, Pharmacosmos, Roche, Shire and Takeda. K Curtius has an investigator-led research grant from Phathom Pharmaceuticals.

Due to their increased cancer risk, patients with longstanding inflammatory bowel disease are offered endoscopic surveillance with concomitant histopathologic assessments, aimed at identifying dysplasia as a precursor lesion of colitis-associated colorectal cancer. However, this strategy is beset with difficulties and limitations. Recently, a novel classification criterion for colitis-associated low-grade dysplasia has been proposed, and an association between nonconventional dysplasia and progression was reported, suggesting the possibility of histology-based stratification of patients with colitis-associated lesions. Here, a cohort of colitis-associated lesions was assessed by a panel of 6 experienced pathologists to test the applicability of the published classification criteria and try and validate the association between nonconventional dysplasia and progression. While confirming the presence of different morphologic patterns of colitis-associated dysplasia, the study demonstrated difficulties concerning diagnostic reproducibility between pathologists and was unable to validate the association of nonconventional dysplasia with cancer progression. Our study highlights the overall difficulty of using histologic assessment of precursor lesions for cancer risk prediction in inflammatory bowel disease patients and suggests the need for a different diagnostic strategy that can objectively identify high-risk phenotypes., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Competing interests: We have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and have no relevant interests to declare. Provenance and peer review: Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed. Patient consent: Not required (patient anonymised, dead, or hypothetical).

Patients with longstanding extensive colitis are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), and are therefore enrolled into colonoscopy screening programmes with the aim of detecting pre-cancerous dysplastic change. However, current surveillance programs face multiple limitations relating to low levels of patient enrolment, missed lesions resulting in interval cancers, and uncertainties in the management of dysplasia. Patient counselling regarding the endoscopic and surgical management options of dysplastic lesions can prove particularly challenging, due to the variable risk of progression to cancer. In this review, we discuss the histopathological diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated dysplasia, describe the techniques to maximise dysplasia detection, and present a standardised multi-disciplinary approach to managing patients with dysplasia. The challenges presented by this patient cohort highlight the clear clinical need for further research into the development and validation of non-invasive markers of CRC risk in IBD patients undergoing surveillance., (© 2022 The Authors. United European Gastroenterology Journal published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of United European Gastroenterology.)

Background and Aims: Alterations in body composition are common in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] and have been associated with differences in patient outcomes. We sought to consolidate knowledge on the impact and importance of body composition in IBD., Methods: We performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and conference proceedings by combining two key research themes: inflammatory bowel disease and body composition., Results: Fifty-five studies were included in this review. Thirty-one focused on the impact of IBD on body composition with a total of 2279 patients with a mean age 38.4 years. Of these, 1071 [47%] were male. In total, 1470 [64.5%] patients had Crohn's disease and 809 [35.5%] had ulcerative colitis. Notably, fat mass and fat-free mass were reduced, and higher rates of sarcopaenia were observed in those with active IBD compared with those in clinical remission and healthy controls. Twenty-four additional studies focused on the impact of derangements in body composition on IBD outcomes. Alterations in body composition in IBD are associated with poorer prognoses including higher rates of surgical intervention, post-operative complications and reduced muscle strength. In addition, higher rates of early treatment failure and primary non-response are seen in patients with myopaenia., Conclusions: Patients with IBD have alterations in body composition parameters in active disease and clinical remission. The impacts of body composition on disease outcome and therapy are broad and require further investigation. The augmentation of body composition parameters in the clinical setting has the potential to improve IBD outcomes in the future., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) diagnosed with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) have increased risk of developing advanced neoplasia (AN: high-grade dysplasia or colorectal cancer). We aimed to develop and validate a predictor of AN risk in patients with UC with LGD and create a visual web tool to effectively communicate the risk., Design: In our retrospective multicentre validated cohort study, adult patients with UC with an index diagnosis of LGD, identified from four UK centres between 2001 and 2019, were followed until progression to AN. In the discovery cohort (n=246), a multivariate risk prediction model was derived from clinicopathological features using Cox regression. Validation used data from three external centres (n=198). The validated model was embedded in a web tool to calculate patient-specific risk., Results: Four clinicopathological variables were significantly associated with AN progression in the discovery cohort: endoscopically visible LGD >1 cm (HR 2.7; 95% CI 1.2 to 5.9), unresectable or incomplete endoscopic resection (HR 3.4; 95% CI 1.6 to 7.4), moderate/severe histological inflammation within 5 years of LGD diagnosis (HR 3.1; 95% CI 1.5 to 6.7) and multifocality (HR 2.9; 95% CI 1.3 to 6.2). In the validation cohort, this four-variable model accurately predicted future AN cases with overall calibration Observed/Expected=1.01 (95% CI 0.64 to 1.52), and achieved 100% specificity for the lowest risk group over 13 years of available follow-up., Conclusion: Multicohort validation confirms that patients with large, unresected, multifocal LGD and recent moderate/severe inflammation are at highest risk of developing AN. Personalised risk prediction provided via the Ulcerative Colitis-Cancer Risk Estimator ( www.UC-CaRE.uk ) can support treatment decision-making., Competing Interests: Competing interests: JEE: speaker of FALK; consultant/shareholder of Satisfai Health., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)