Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Automatic Change Detection Method for Urban High-Resolution Remotely Sensed Imagery Based on Multiindex Scene Representation

The new generation of Earth observation sensors with high spatial resolution can provide detailed information for change detection. The widely used methods for high-resolution image change detection rely on textural/structural features. However, these spatial features always produce high-dimensional data space since they are related to a series of parameters, e.g., window sizes and directions. Machine learning methods are also commonly employed, but their performances are subject to the quantity and quality of the training samples, and hence, much effort should be made to collect the high-quality samples. To address these problems, in this study, a novel multiindex automatic change detection method is proposed for the high-resolution imagery. The notable advantages of the proposed model include the following: 1) Complicated urban scenes are represented by a set of low dimensional but semantic information indexes, replacing the high-dimensional but low-level features (e.g., textural and structural features), and 2) the change detection model is carried out automatically without using training samples since the information indexes can directly indicate the primitive urban classes. The multiindex representation refers to the enhanced vegetation index, the water index, and the recently developed morphological building index. Experiments were conducted on the multitemporal WorldView-2 images over Shenzhen City (south of China) and Kuala Lumpur (the capital of Malaysia), where promising results were achieved by the proposed method. Moreover, the traditional methods based on the state-of-the-art textural/morphological features were also implemented for the purpose of comparison, which further validates the advantages of our proposed model.
Correlation Analysis of PM10 and the Incidence of Lung Cancer in Nanchang, China

Air pollution and lung cancer are closely related. In 2013, the World Health Organization listed outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic and regarded it as the most widespread carcinogen that humans are currently exposed to. Here, grey correlation and data envelopment analysis methods are used to determine the pollution factors causing lung cancer among residents in Nanchang, China, and identify population segments which are more susceptible to air pollution. This study shows that particulate matter with particle sizes below 10 micron (PM10) is most closely related to the incidence of lung cancer among air pollution factors including annual mean concentrations of SO2, NO2, PM10, annual haze days, and annual mean Air Pollution Index/Air Quality Index (API/AQI). Air pollution has a greater impact on urban inhabitants as compared to rural inhabitants. When gender differences are considered, women are more likely to develop lung cancer due to air pollution. Smokers are more likely to suffer from lung cancer. These results provide a reference for the government to formulate policies to reduce air pollutant emissions and strengthen anti-smoking measures.
The effectiveness of oil palm trunk waste derived coagulant for landfill leachate treatment

Coagulation-flocculation has been extensively applied for semi-aerobic landfill leachate treatment, prior to other treatment methods. Opting for alternative other than conventional aluminium-based coagulants, mechanically treated starch from oil palm trunk waste had been tested as coagulant for semi-aerobic landfill leachate treatment. FTIR and corresponding elemental analysis had revealed its dominant functional groups like hydroxyl, carboxyl and amine, insinuating existences of starch, fatty acids, proteins, phosphonates, ash and small traces of lignin. Jar test using partially stabilised semi-aerobic landfill leachate from Pulau Burung Landfill Site had shown that this particular botanical coagulant could remove suspended solids and COD in semi-aerobic landfill leachate, though the efficiencies were relatively much lower compared to those of polyaluminium chloride (PAC). Apparently, it was more suitable to be applied as coagulant aid in tandem with PAC, augmenting PAC coagulation performance with 12-16.
Divide and conquer in nonstandard problems and the super-efficiency phenomenon

We study how the divide and conquer principle --- partition the available data into subsamples, compute an estimate from each subsample and combine these appropriately to form the final estimator --- works in non-standard problems where rates of convergence are typically slower than $\sqrt{n}$ and limit distributions are non-Gaussian, with a special emphasis on the least squares estimator (and its inverse) of a monotone regression function. We find that the pooled estimator, obtained by averaging non-standard estimates across the mutually exclusive subsamples, outperforms the non-standard estimator based on the entire sample in the sense of pointwise inference. We also show that, under appropriate conditions, if the number of subsamples is allowed to increase at appropriate rates, the pooled estimator is asymptotically normally distributed with a variance that is empirically estimable from the subsample-level estimates. Further, in the context of monotone function estimation we show that this gain in pointwise efficiency comes at a price --- the pooled estimator's performance, in a uniform sense (maximal risk) over a class of models worsens as the number of subsamples increases, leading to a version of the super-efficiency phenomenon. In the process, we develop analytical results for the order of the bias in isotonic regression, which are of independent interest.
Seeing sounds and tingling tongues: Qualia in synaesthesia and sensory substitution

In this paper we wish to bring together two seemingly independent areas of research: synaesthesia and sensory substitution. Synaesthesia refers to a rare condition where a sensory stimulus elicits not only the sensation that stimulus evokes in its own modality, but an additional one; a synaesthete may thus hear the word “Monday”, and, in addition to hearing it, have a concurrent visual experience of a red color. Sensory substitution, in contrast, attempts to substitute a sensory modality that a person has lost by transforming the information it provided so that it can be accessed through another, intact sensory modality. To make visual information accessible to a blind person, for example, data taken by a camera would be transformed into tactile or auditory information. What do synaesthesia and sensory substitution have in common? Research in both of these areas contributes to our understanding both of cross-modal cooperation and of sensory sensations or qualia, asking under what circumstances these can arise in a modality that is not stimulated. Synaesthesia reveals that this “sensory cross-activation” is possible, and sensory substitution research hopes to induce it. In this article, we will review briefly the literature on synaesthesia, and discuss the issue of qualia for this domain of research. We will then address the evidence for synaesthesia and visual qualia in the blind, and the research on sensory substitution, to finally ask whether sensory substitution may induce a ‘synthetic’ form of synaesthesia by taking advantage of the nervous system’s capacity for generating visual images in the absence of retinal input.
Variational Multilevel Mesh Clustering

In this paper a novel clustering algorithm is proposed, namely Variational Multilevel Mesh Clustering (VMLC). The algorithm incorporates the advantages of both hierarchical and variational (Lloyd) algorithms, i.e. the initial number of seeds is not predefined and on each level the obtained clustering configuration is quasi-optimal. The algorithm performs a complete mesh analysis regarding the underlying energy functional. Thus, an optimized multilevel clustering is built. The first benefit of this approach is that it resolves the inherent problems of variational algorithms, for which the result and the convergence is strictly related to the initial number and selection of seeds. On the other hand, the greedy nature of hierarchical approaches, i.e. the non-optimal shape of the clusters in the hierarchy, is solved. We present an optimized implementation based on an incremental data structure. We demonstrate the generic nature of our approach by applying it for the generation of optimized multilevel Centroidal Voronoi Diagrams and planar mesh approximation.
A Survey of Clustering Ensemble Algorithms

Cluster ensemble has proved to be a good alternative when facing cluster analysis problems. It consists of generating a set of clusterings from the same dataset and combining them into a final clustering. The goal of this combination process is to improve the quality of individual data clusterings. Due to the increasing appearance of new methods, their promising results and the great number of applications, we consider that it is necessary to make a critical analysis of the existing techniques and future projections. This paper presents an overview of clustering ensemble methods that can be very useful for the community of clustering practitioners. The characteristics of several methods are discussed, which may help in the selection of the most appropriate one to solve a problem at hand. We also present a taxonomy of these techniques and illustrate some important applications.
Effective Use of Auditory Bombardment as a Therapy Adjunct for Children With Developmental Language Disorders.

Purpose Modeling of grammatical forms has been used in conjunction with conversational recast treatment in various forms. This study tests the relative effect of providing bombardment prior to or after recast treatment. Method Twenty-eight children with developmental language disorder participated in daily conversational recast treatment for morpheme errors. This treatment was either preceded or followed by a brief period of intensive auditory bombardment. Generalization to untreated lexical contexts was measured throughout the treatment period to assess the degree of learning and how quickly the onset of measurable learning occurred. Results There were no significant differences in elicited use of morphemes for the groups of children who received auditory bombardment before or after enhanced conversational recast treatment. However, there was a difference in the number of children who could be considered treatment responders versus nonresponders, favoring those who received auditory bombardment after recast treatment. Conclusion A brief period of auditory bombardment is a relatively low cost addition to recast treatment methods, given how little time it takes. There is a small but measurable advantage to following recast treatment with a period of auditory bombardment. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5960005.
Role of 5-HT1A Receptor Stimulation in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in the Sustained Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine

Abstract Background We previously reported that serotonergic transmission plays an important role in antidepressant effects of ketamine. However, detailed mechanisms have not been elucidated. Among the serotonin receptor subtypes, the serotonin1A receptor in the medial prefrontal cortex has an important role in depression. Here, we investigated the role of the medial prefrontal cortex serotonin1A receptor and its signaling mechanism in the antidepressant effects of ketamine. Methods The role of serotonin1A receptor-mediated signaling mechanism (phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt) in the medial prefrontal cortex was examined in the mouse forced swimming test and western blotting. Results Ketamine exerted antidepressant effects that lasted for 24 hours, and the sustained antidepressant effects were attenuated by intra-medial prefrontal cortex injection of a serotonin1A receptor antagonist, WAY100635. The sustained antidepressant effects were mimicked by intra- medial prefrontal cortex, but not systemic, administration of a serotonin1A receptor agonist, (±)-8-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT). The sustained antidepressant effects of ketamine and 8-OH-DPAT were abrogated by intra- medial prefrontal cortex injection of a phosphoinositide-3 kinase inhibitor. Ketamine increased the phosphorylation of Akt in the medial prefrontal cortex at 60 minutes after administration, which was blocked by a serotonin1A receptor antagonist and a phosphoinositide-3 kinase inhibitor. Furthermore, the sustained antidepressant effects of ketamine and 8-OH-DPAT were attenuated by pretreatment of intra-medial prefrontal cortex injection of a mechanistic target of rapamycin complex-1 inhibitor. Conclusions These results indicate that selective stimulation of the medial prefrontal cortex serotonin1A receptor and subsequent activation of the phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin complex-1 pathway may be necessary for ketamine to exert the sustained antidepressant effects, and that this mechanism could be targeted to develop a novel and effective approach for treating depression.
In Vitro Conditioned Bone Marrow‐Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote De Novo Functional Enteric Nerve Regeneration, but Not Through Direct‐Transdifferentiation

Injury or neurodegenerative disorders of the enteric nervous system (ENS) cause gastrointestinal dysfunctions for which there is no effective therapy. This study, using the benzalkonium chloride‐induced rat gastric denervation model, aimed to determine whether transplantation of bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) could promote ENS neuron regeneration and if so, to elucidate the mechanism. Fluorescently labeled BMSC, isolated from either WT (BMSC labeled with bis‐benzimide [BBM]) or green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐transgenic rats, were preconditioned in vitro using fetal gut culture media containing glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and transplanted subserosally into the denervated area of rat pylorus. In the nerve‐ablated pylorus, grafted BMSC survived and migrated from the subserosa to the submucosa 28 days after transplantation, without apparent dedifferentiation. A massive number of PGP9.5/NSE/HuC/D/Tuj1‐positive (but GFP‐ and BBM‐negative) neurons were effectively regenerated in denervated pylorus grafted with preconditioned BMSC, suggesting that they were regenerated de novo, not originating from trans‐differentiation of the transplanted BMSC. BMSC transplantation restored both basal pyloric contractility and electric field stimulation‐induced relaxation. High levels of GDNF were induced in both in vitro‐preconditioned BMSC as well as the previously denervated pylorus after transplantation of preconditioned BMSC. Thus, a BMSC‐initiated GDNF‐positive feedback mechanism is suggested to promote neuron regeneration and growth. In summary, we have demonstrated that allogeneically transplanted preconditioned BMSC initiate de novo regeneration of gastric neuronal cells/structures that in turn restore gastric contractility in pylorus‐denervated rats. These neuronal structures did not originate from the grafted BMSC. Our data suggest that preconditioned allogeneic BMSC may have therapeutic value in treating enteric nerve disorders. Stem Cells 2015;33:3545–3557
Frontal lobes and aging : Deterioration and Compensation

Until the mid 1990s, available evidence regarding neurocognitive aging could be summarized in a simple statement: cognitive deficits in healthy older adults are largest for tasks that are highly dependent on executive control processes because these processes are mediated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is the region most disrupted by healthy aging. This view, known as the frontal lobe hypothesis, rested on the assumption that both cognitive and cerebral aging occurred mainly in one direction: a decline in function. This simple version of the frontal lobe hypothesis was challenged by the first crop of positron emotion tomography (PET) studies, which clearly showed that aging can have two opposing effects on brain activity: compared to young adults, older adults showed reduced activity in some brain regions but increased activity in other brain regions (e.g, Grady et al., 1994; Cabeza et al., 1997b). Age-related increases in neural activity were prominent within PFC, where they often involved regions that were not reliably recruited by younger adults. These findings challenged the standard assumption that aging is associated with a simple pattern of cognitive and neural decline, and supported the notion that cognitive processing in the aging brain is not just a weaker version of cognitive processing in the young brain, it is different.
Attitudes of Medical Students Regarding Cancer Pain Management: Comparison Between Pre- and Post-Lecture Test Findings.

BACKGROUND Medical practitioners' attitudes have a significant impact on quality of care for cancer pain patients. This study was conducted to determine if being given a lecture concerning cancer pain and its management could improve the attitudes of medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comparative study was conducted in 126 fifth-year medical students. Each student completed a pretest consisting of 3 questions about attitudes toward the optimal use of analgesics and 5 questions about attitudes toward prescribing opioids. Then they were given a 1.5-hour lecture, immediately following which they completed a post-test with the same questions. RESULTS Analysis with either comparison between groups or by matching, the post-test showed significantly more positive attitudes (p<0.05) of the medical students in all 3 questions about optimal use of analgesics and 4 out of 5 questions about prescription of opioids. The post-test results showed significantly more negative attitudes concerning the most appropriate stage for patients with severe pain to receive maximal doses of analgesics. CONCLUSIONS Conservative attitudes, especially concerns about addiction, have been associated with a reluctance in many physicians to prescribe opioids. This study found that cancer pain education can help to improve medical student attitudes. However, fear of addiction and tolerance was still evident so emphasis of this particular issue during a lecture is essential. Providing appropriate information by means of a lecture can improve the attitudes of medical students regarding cancer pain management. However, more information should be given to lessen fear of addiction and tolerance.
Crossmodal processing of emotions in alcohol-dependence and Korsakoff syndrome

ABSTRACT Introduction: Decoding emotional information from faces and voices is crucial for efficient interpersonal communication. Emotional decoding deficits have been found in alcohol-dependence (ALC), particularly in crossmodal situations (with simultaneous stimulations from different modalities), but are still underexplored in Korsakoff syndrome (KS). The aim of this study is to determine whether the continuity hypothesis, postulating a gradual worsening of cognitive and brain impairments from ALC to KS, is valid for emotional crossmodal processing. Methods: Sixteen KS, 17 ALC and 19 matched healthy controls (CP) had to detect the emotion (anger or happiness) displayed by auditory, visual or crossmodal auditory-visual stimuli. Crossmodal stimuli were either emotionally congruent (leading to a facilitation effect, i.e. enhanced performance for crossmodal condition compared to unimodal ones) or incongruent (leading to an interference effect, i.e. decreased performance for crossmodal condition due to discordant information across modalities). Reaction times and accuracy were recorded. Results: Crossmodal integration for congruent information was dampened only in ALC, while both ALC and KS demonstrated, compared to CP, decreased performance for decoding emotional facial expressions in the incongruent condition. Conclusions: The crossmodal integration appears impaired in ALC but preserved in KS. Both alcohol-related disorders present an increased interference effect. These results show the interest of more ecological designs, using crossmodal stimuli, to explore emotional decoding in alcohol-related disorders. They also suggest that the continuum hypothesis cannot be generalised to emotional decoding abilities.
THE NEWS READABILITY PROBLEM

The low readability of news has often been attributed to production and format features, such as deadline pressures and news story organizational features. This study, however, puts the blame elsewhere. News stories written by nine high-profile journalists and later revealed as deceptive were more readable and contained more direct quotations (another readability indicator) than authentic stories generated by the same news organizations. Because the stories were written under similar production and format conditions, these findings indicate that low readability is due to the challenge of journalism to convey information only about the real world. Not so constrained, deceptive “news” portrays a simpler world.
Spectroscopic evidence for bulk-band inversion and three-dimensional massive Dirac fermions in ZrTe5

Significance Experimental verifications of the theoretically predicted topological insulators (TIs) are essential steps toward the applications of the topological quantum phenomena. In the past, theoretically predicted TIs were mostly verified by the measurements of the topological surface states. However, as another key feature of the nontrivial topology in TIs, an inversion between the bulk bands has rarely been observed by experiments. Here, by studying the optical transitions between the bulk LLs of ZrTe5, we not only offer spectroscopic evidence for the bulk-band inversion—the crossing of the two zeroth LLs in a magnetic field, but also quantitatively demonstrate three-dimensional massive Dirac fermions with nearly linear band dispersions in ZrTe5. Our investigation provides a paradigm for identifying TI states in candidate materials. Three-dimensional topological insulators (3D TIs) represent states of quantum matters in which surface states are protected by time-reversal symmetry and an inversion occurs between bulk conduction and valence bands. However, the bulk-band inversion, which is intimately tied to the topologically nontrivial nature of 3D Tis, has rarely been investigated by experiments. Besides, 3D massive Dirac fermions with nearly linear band dispersions were seldom observed in TIs. Recently, a van der Waals crystal, ZrTe5, was theoretically predicted to be a TI. Here, we report an infrared transmission study of a high-mobility [∼33,000 cm2/(V ⋅ s)] multilayer ZrTe5 flake at magnetic fields (B) up to 35 T. Our observation of a linear relationship between the zero-magnetic-field optical absorption and the photon energy, a bandgap of ∼10 meV and a B dependence of the Landau level (LL) transition energies at low magnetic fields demonstrates 3D massive Dirac fermions with nearly linear band dispersions in this system. More importantly, the reemergence of the intra-LL transitions at magnetic fields higher than 17 T reveals the energy cross between the two zeroth LLs, which reflects the inversion between the bulk conduction and valence bands. Our results not only provide spectroscopic evidence for the TI state in ZrTe5 but also open up a new avenue for fundamental studies of Dirac fermions in van der Waals materials.