Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unsupervised Change Detection in Heterogeneous Remote Sensing Imagery

Change detection is a thriving and challenging topic in remote sensing for Earth observation. The goal is to identify changes that happen on the Earth by comparing two or more satellite or aerial images acquired at different times. Traditional methods rely on homogeneous data, that is, images acquired by the same sensor, under the same geometry, seasonal conditions, and recording configurations. However, the assumption of homogeneity does not hold true for many practical examples and applications, and in particular when different sensors are involved. This represents a significant limitation, both in terms of response time to sudden events and in terms of temporal resolution when monitoring long-term trends. The alternative is to combine heterogeneous data, which on one hand allows to fully exploit the capabilities of all the available sensors, but on the other hand raises additional technical challenges. Indeed, heterogeneous sources imply different data domains, diverse statistical distributions and inconsistent surface signatures across the various image acquisitions. This thesis tries to explore the kinds of techniques meant to cope with these issues, which are referred to as heterogeneous change detection methods. Specifically, the effort is dedicated to unsupervised learning, the branch of machine learning which does not rely on any prior knowledge about the data. This problem setting is as challenging as important, in order to tackle the task in the most automatic way without relying on any user interaction. The main novelty driving this study is that the comparison of affinity matrices can be used to define crossdomain similarities based on pixel relations rather than the direct comparison of radiometry values. Starting from this fundamental idea, the research endeavours presented in this thesis result in the formulation of three methodologies that prove themselves reliable and perform favourably when compared to the state-of-the-art. These methods leverage this affinity matrix comparison and incorporate both conventional machine learning techniques and more contemporary deep learning architectures to tackle the problem of unsupervised heterogeneous change detection.
Optimal Allocation of Static Var Compensators in Electric Power Systems

In the current age, power systems contain many modern elements, one example being Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices, which play an important role in enhancing the static and dynamic performance of the systems. However, due to the high costs of FACTS devices, the location, type, and value of the reactive power of these devices must be optimized to maximize their resulting benefits. In this paper, the problem of optimal power flow for the minimization of power losses is considered for a power system with or without a FACTS controller, such as a Static Var Compensator (SVC) device The impact of location and SVC reactive power values on power system losses are considered in power systems with and without the presence of wind power. Furthermore, constant and variable load are considered. The mentioned investigation is realized on both IEEE 9 and IEEE 30 test bus systems. Optimal SVC allocation are performed in program GAMS using CONOPT solver. For constant load data, the obtained results of an optimal SVC allocation and the minimal value of power losses are compared with known solutions from the literature. It is shown that the CONOPT solver is useful for finding the optimal location of SVC devices in a power system with or without the presence of wind energy. The comparison of results obtained using CONOPT solver and four metaheuristic method for minimization of power system losses are also investigated and presented.
The effect of pre- and postnatal exposure to a mixture of daidzein and genistein on the reproductive system of male rats

Abstract Introduction: There is growing interest in the risk or benefits soybean food known as rich in isoflavones, due to their interactions with endogenous estrogen signal transduction pathway. Recent studies provide evidence that isoflavones can affect the reproductive and endocrine system under regular diet. The aim of this study was to determine how the long-lasting administration of the key isoflavones, genistein and daidzein, may change morphology of the testis and the function of the epididymal antioxidant system of male rats. Materials and methods: Male rats were treated by genistein and daidzein, in combination 2 (S2) or 20 (S20) mg/kg body weight per day for 5 days weekly mixed with regular rat chow from prenatal life until to sexual maturity. The control groups were fed without isoflavones. Results: The findings show that the body, testis and cauda epididymis weights, testosterone level in blood plasma were significantly lower than controls in the S20 group (p < 0.05). Also, superoxide dismutase activity in the epididymis, catalase activity in the testis, and glutathione peroxidase activity in the caput epididymis were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Treating with these isoflavones significantly suppressed lipid peroxides levels in the epididymis (p < 0.05). Furthermore, presence of prematurely exfoliated gametogenic cells was observed in seminiferous tubules as well as the architectural disorganization of the seminiferous epithelium. Conclusions: These findings suggest that isoflavones, if consumed chronically at a dose as for the S20 group may act not only as antioxidants, but they can be a risk for the male rats reproductive system dysfunction.
Weyl fermions in ferromagnetic high-temperature phase of K2Cr8O16

By combining first-principles calculations and symmetry arguments, we propose that the half-metallic phase of K2Cr8O16 presents ferromagnetic Weyl fermions. In particular, K2Cr8O16 possesses two pairs of Weyl nodes, which originate from two groups of nodal lines connected by the mirror reflection symmetry. We show that the non-trivial topological properties of K2Cr8O16 come from the partially occupied t2g states of Cr, and we also demonstrate that such exotic topological feature is robust. The topological surface states and corresponding Fermi arcs are revealed. As K2Cr8O16 is a realistic and widely studied material, our results suggest that K2Cr8O16 is an ideal candidate for studying ferromagnetic Weyl fermions. In addition, K2Cr8O16 possesses several interesting phenomena, such as the co-existence of charge density wave and Weyl fermions, even pairs of FM Weyl points, and tunable distribution of Weyl points, which will attract intensive attentions in this field.
Reproductive biology of the ghost crab, Ocypode rotundata Miers, 1882 (Decapoda, Ocypodidae) at Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf

This study aimed to investigate some key aspects of the reproductive strategy of Ocypode rotundata Miers, 1882 from southwest beaches of Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf, Iran, by providing information regarding its sex ratio, sexual maturity, spawning period and fecundity. Samples were taken monthly, from February 2015 to January 2016. Size at the onset of morphometric maturity was estimated at 38.57 mm carapace width. The overall sex ratio (males/females) was observed as 1.13 : 1.00. On monthly based analyses, the sex ratio showed no significant differences, although a significant deviation was observed toward males in the larger size classes. According to the gonadosomatic index (GSI), gonad maturity and occurrence of ovigerous females, the main breeding season occurs from March to October, with a remarkable peak in June. Fecundity ranged from 24 152 to 10 5287 eggs per individual, with a mean value of 52 389 ± 25 660. The ratio between fecundity and carapace width varied from 632 to 2044 eggs/mm (mean: 1198 ± 472 eggs/mm) and fecundity relative to total mass varied from 771 to 1965 eggs/g (mean: 1336.66 ± 425.43 eggs/g). The reproductive output ranged from 1.04 to 3.78 (mean: 2.35 ± 0.90). The shape of the egg was spherical and it included 6 stages of growth, ranging from fully filled with yolk to fully occupied by the embryo. We concluded that reproduction in O. rotundata is seasonal, and that spawning occurs in an appropriate period to ensure maximum survival of the offspring. The fecundity of O. rotundata is higher than that of other species of Brachyura, with GSI variations being related to temperature. Overall, the results of this study provide relevant information for the reproduction in general and the breeding seasons of O. rotundata , whicht can be useful for conservation and management policies aimed at preserving the biodiversity of ghost crabs along the Persian Gulf’s sandy shores.
Neural circuitry and mechanisms of waiting impulsivity: relevance to addiction

Impatience—the failure to wait or tolerate delayed rewards (e.g. food, drug and monetary incentives)—is a common behavioural tendency in humans. However, when rigidly and rapidly expressed with limited regard for future, often negative consequences, impatient or impulsive actions underlie and confer susceptibility for such diverse brain disorders as drug addiction, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and major depressive disorder. Consequently, ‘waiting’ impulsivity has emerged as a candidate endophenotype to inform translational research on underlying neurobiological mechanisms and biomarker discovery for many of the so-called impulse-control disorders. Indeed, as reviewed in this article, this research enterprise has revealed a number of unexpected targets and mechanisms for intervention. However, in the context of drug addiction, impulsive decisions that maximize short-term gains (e.g. acute drug consumption) over longer-term punishment (e.g. unemployment, homelessness, personal harm) defines one aspect of impulsivity, which may or may not be related to rapid, unrestrained actions over shorter timescales. We discuss the relevance of this distinction in impulsivity subtypes for drug addiction with reference to translational research in humans and other animals. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Risk taking and impulsive behaviour: fundamental discoveries, theoretical perspectives and clinical implications’.
Mexican-American preschoolers as co-creators of zones of proximal development during retellings of culturally relevant stories: A participatory study

This study explores communication and retelling skills that are revealed after Mexican-American preschoolers engaged in culturally sensitive read alouds. Participants, highlighted in this article, included two four-year-old preschool children in a Spanish/English dual language classroom. The children selected culturally relevant texts and engaged in story retellings with their respective parent. The findings indicate that children co-constructed Zones of Proximal Development (ZPDs) in response to their parents' caring moves. Participants responded as cared-fors and carers as evident in their use of memorization skills and attention to detail to appropriate vocabulary and effectively retell a story. Additionally, preschoolers extended their ZPDs through imagination and inferencing by inserting events into the narrative and reading between the lines to expand and enrich the original stories. These findings have implications for reframing the way in which educators capitalize on young children's communication skills.
Investigation of condensed and early stage gas phase hypergolic reactions

Dennis, Jacob D. Ph.D., Purdue University, December 2014. Investigation of Condensed and Early Stage Gas Phase Hypergolic Reactions. Major Professor: Timothée L. Pourpoint. Traditional hypergolic propellant combinations, such as those used on the space shuttle orbital maneuvering system first flown in 1981, feature hydrazine based fuels and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) based oxidizers. Despite the long history of hypergolic propellant implementation, the processes that govern hypergolic ignition are not well understood. In order to achieve ignition, condensed phase fuel and oxidizer must undergo simultaneous physical mixing and chemical reaction. This process generates heat, intermediate condensed phase species, and gas phase species, which then may continue to react and generate more heat until ignition is achieved. The process is not well understood because condensed and gas phase reactions occur rapidly, typically in less than 200 μs, on much faster timescales than traditional diagnostic methods can observe. A detailed understanding of even the gas phase chemistry is lacking, but is critical for model development. Initial research has provided confidence that a study of condensed phase hypergolic reactions is useful and possible. Results obtained using an impinging jet apparatus have shown a critical residence time of 0.3 ms is required for the reaction between monomethylhydrazine (MMH) and red fuming nitric acid (RFNA, ~85% HNO3 + 15% N2O4) to achieve conditions favorable for ignition. This critical residence time spans the
Motivating Factors for Implementing Apparel Certification Schemes—A Sustainable Supply Chain Management Perspective

The motivations for clothing companies to implement dedicated certification schemes as sustainability practices has received limited attention in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) research so far. Therefore, it is important to understand how different rationales for the implementation of certification schemes have developed in the past because they considerably influence the overall success of sustainability management efforts. This paper picks up on this gap and presents the results of an in-depth comparative case study drawing on interviews conducted with five managers of three companies from the clothing sector in 2018 and abductive content analysis. By applying such a qualitative approach, this study explores motivations and benefits as well as elaborates on the implementation of certification schemes in apparel supply chains. It outlines that certification in the clothing sector is driven by strategic factors, marketing considerations, and information considering sustainability aspects. The study also shows that certification schemes may strengthen the marketing and competitive position of clothing companies as well as sustainability awareness in textile and apparel supply chains in general. Finally, a framework conceptualized from the findings of the interviews presents relevant SSCM practices in the clothing industry. Therefore, the present study contributes to theory building in SSCM by confirming and extending previous research on the implementation of certification schemes for sustainability, as well as to practice by examining reasons to apply certification schemes and potential performance outcomes.
Quantitative Evaluation of 18F-Flutemetamol PET in Patients With Cognitive Impairment and Suspected Alzheimer's Disease: A Multicenter Study

Background: In clinical practice, equivocal findings are inevitable in visual interpretation of whether amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) is positive or negative. It is therefore necessary to establish a more objective quantitative evaluation method for determining the indication for disease-modifying drugs currently under development. Aims: We aimed to determine cutoffs for positivity in quantitative analysis of 18F-flutemetamol PET in patients with cognitive impairment and suspected Alzheimer's disease (AD). We also evaluated the clinical efficacy of amyloid PET in the diagnosis of AD. This study was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs, 031180321). Methods: Ninety-three patients suspected of having AD underwent 18F-flutemetamol PET in seven institutions. A PET image for each patient was visually assessed and dichotomously rated as either amyloid-positive or amyloid-negative by two board-certified nuclear medicine physicians. If the two readers obtained different interpretations, the visual rating was rerun until they reached consensus. The PET images were quantitatively analyzed using the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) and standardized Centiloid (CL) scale with the whole cerebellum as a reference area. Results: Visual interpretation obtained 61 positive and 32 negative PET scans. Receiver operating characteristic analysis determined the best agreement of quantitative assessments and visual interpretation of PET scans to have an area under curve of 0.982 at an SUVR of 1.13 and a CL of 16. Using these cutoff values, there was high agreement between the two approaches (kappa = 0.88). Five discordant cases had SUVR and CL values ranging from 1.00 to 1.22 and from 1 to 26, respectively. In these discordant cases, either diffuse or mildly focal elevation of cortical activity confused visual interpretation. The amyloid PET outcome significantly altered the diagnosis of AD (χ2 = 51.3, p < 0.0001). PET imaging elevated the proportions of the very high likelihood category from 20.4 to 46.2% and the very low likelihood category from 0 to 22.6%. Conclusion: Quantitative analysis of amyloid PET using 18F-flutemetamol can objectively evaluate amyloid positivity using the determined cutoffs for SUVR and CL. Moreover, amyloid PET may have added value over the standard diagnostic workup in dementia patients with cognitive impairment and suspected AD.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Turkish Version of the Housewives Burnout Questionnaire (CUBAC)

Considering burnout experience among different individuals, investigating and evaluating burnout are continuing concerns within the literature. In recent years, housewives’ burnout has been examined in the literature. The present aim is to examine the psychometric properties of the Housewives Burnout Questionnaire (CUBAC) with Turkish housewives. By collecting two different data set from Turkish housewives, the study is designed in two phases; pilot study (n= 139) to identify factorial structure, and reliability and validation study (n= 509) to examine factorial structure and validity of the CUBAC. First, in addition to satisfactory internal consistency and item-total correlation coefficients, the factorial structure of the scale was two-dimensional based on Velicer’s minimum average partial correlation, Horn’s parallel analysis, and factor analyses. Second, the two-factor model of the CUBAC (boring and tiring home environment and lack of support) was corroborated by confirmatory factor analysis. Also, the CUBAC statistically significant correlation with conceptually related constructs (perceived stress and satisfaction with life) was significant that demonstrated concurrent validity. Validity and reliability findings were discussed in relevant literature.
Impact of Employees Learning Organization Culture on Organizational Performance: Evidence From Commercial Banks in Lagos State, Nigeria

This study assessed the impact of employees learning organization culture on organizational performance in the banking industry in Lagos State. The objectives of the study were to examine the attitude of employees towards the adoption of organizational learning culture in the banking industry in Lagos State, to determine the influence of organizational learning culture on the organizational performance in the banking industry in Lagos State, to determine the challenges militating against organizational learning culture in the banking industry in Lagos State. Furthermore, the data was obtained from primary sources and was analyzed, hypotheses formulated were tested. The result indicates that employees learning organizational culture significantly have an impact on organizational performance in the banking industry in Lagos State. The result of the hypothesis revealed that there was a significant contribution of learning organizational culture to employee’s performance (R 2 =.546, F 1, 249 =170.293, p<.05). The first research hypothesis was supported by the result of the study. Therefore, there was a significant contribution to learning organization culture to employee’s organizational performance in the banking industry. The second hypothesis showed clearly that there was a positive correlation between learning organizational culture and employee’s organizational performance [r =. 739**, p<. 05]. Therefore, the second hypothesis was supported by the result of the study and concluded that there was a significantly positive correlation between learning organizational culture and employee’s organizational performance in the banking industry . The study also found that there is a significant difference between male and female respondents’ perceptions of organizational performance based on learning organizational culture. Based on the findings, the study recommended that management should examine the attitude of employees towards the adoption of the organizational learning culture.
Daclatasvir/Sofosbuvir versus Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection Genotypes 1 and 3

Background: The new direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) with high efficacy, low resistance, and low rate of adverse events (AEs) have shown promising outcomes for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of Daclatasvir/Sofosbuvir (DCV/SOF) compared to Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF) in patients with HCV infection in the real-world setting in Iran. Materials and Methods: A total of 42 patients with HCV infection were treated with either LDV/SOF (genotype 1) or DCV/SOF (genotypes 1, 3 or unknown) with or without ribavirin (RBV). Assessment of risk factors, laboratory tests, sustained virologic response at post-treatment week 12 (SVR12), and AEs were performed. Results: The highest risk factor for HCV transmission was major surgery (50.0%), followed by tattooing (40.5%), phlebotomy (40.5%), and dental surgery (40.5%). No statistically significant relationships between genotypes and risk factors were observed. In both treatment groups (LDV/SOF and DCV/SOF), all of the patients (100%) with or without cirrhosis and treatment-experience achieved SVR12. One patient with a history of failed LDV/SOF therapy achieved SVR12 following retreatment with DCV/SOF. Both treatment regimens were well-tolerated. No serious AEs or discontinuation due to AEs was observed. The most common AE across both treatment groups were fatigue (42.9%), followed by anxiety (28.6%). Numerically, more adverse events were found with the LDV/SOF regimen than with the DCV/SOF regimen. Conclusion: Our study showed an excellent safety and efficacy of DCV/SOF and LDV/SOF in Iranian patients infected with HCV. The incidence of AEs among patients treated with LDV/SOF was higher than those receiving SOF/DCV.
From Social Entrepreneurship to Social Innovation: The Role of Social Capital. Study Case in Colombian Rural Communities Victim of Armed Conflict

Abstract How social entrepreneurship can become social innovation has been little studied, even less in the rural context. This document poses that social entrepreneurship generate different types of capital as they integrate into a social network, and it is that social capital that allows it to become a successful social innovation. Applying a social capital approach to two social enterprises (or social entrepreneurship) study cases, from Colombian rural communities victims of armed conflict, shows how social enterprises integrated into social networks achieve two significant outcomes. On one side, generate interactive and collective learning and institutional change, and on other, favour determinants of social innovation, thus incrementing and reconfiguring social entrepreneurs’ capabilities leading to social innovation.