Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Crisscross-Global Vision Transformers Model for Very High Resolution Aerial Image Semantic Segmentation

Semantic segmentation is a key means for understanding very high resolution (VHR) aerial imagery. With the explosive development of deep learning, deep learning methods are being applied to the segmentation of VHR images, with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) as the basic framework; however, owing to the highly complex details present in VHR images and the high spatial dependence of geographical objects, CNN-based methods are inadequate. This is because the inherent locality of CNNs limits the size of the receptive field, thus limiting the ability to obtain long-range context information. To solve this problem, in this article, we propose a transformer-based novel deep learning model called crisscross-global vision transformers (CGVTs). CGVT exploits the transformer’s inherent ability to obtain long-range context information to solve the restricted receptive field problem. Specifically, we redesign the self-attention (SA) mechanism in the transformer and call it crisscross-global attention. It consists of two parts: a crisscross transformer encoder block (CC-TEB) and a global squeeze transformer encoder block (GS-TEB). CC-TEB overcomes the limitation of the traditional SA design (specifically, difficulty applying it to VHR aerial image segmentation) and further increases the local feature representation ability of the model. GS-TEB increases the global feature representation ability of the model. The results of experiments conducted on the popular ISPRS Vaihingen, IEEE GRSS data fusion contest Zeebrugge, and LoveDA semantic segmentation challenge datasets verify the effectiveness and superiority of our proposed method. Specifically, it achieved state-of-the-art performance on both Zeebrugge and LoveDA datasets and is currently ranked second in the Vaihingen dataset.
Pretreatment Vitamin D Concentrations Do Not Predict Therapeutic Outcome to Anti-TNF Therapies in Biologic-Naïve Patients With Active Luminal Crohn’s Disease

Abstract Background and Aims Vitamin D has a regulatory role in innate and adaptive immune processes. Previous studies have reported that low pretreatment vitamin D concentrations are associated with primary non-response (PNR) and non-remission to anti-TNF therapy. This study aimed to assess whether pretreatment 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations predicted PNR and non-remission to infliximab and adalimumab in patients with active luminal Crohn’s disease. Methods 25-Hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were measured in stored baseline samples from 659 infliximab- and 448 adalimumab-treated patients in the Personalised Anti-TNF Therapy in Crohn’s disease (PANTS) study. Cut-offs for vitamin D were deficiency <25 nmol/L, insufficiency 25–50 nmol/L, and adequacy/sufficiency >50 nmol/L. Results About 17.1% (189/1107; 95% CI, 15.0–19.4) and 47.7% (528/1107; 95% CI, 44.8–50.6) of patients had vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. 22.2% (246/1107) of patients were receiving vitamin D supplementation. Multivariable analysis confirmed that sampling during non-summer months, South Asian ethnicity, lower serum albumin concentrations, and non-treatment with vitamin D supplementation were independently associated with lower vitamin D concentrations. Pretreatment vitamin D status did not predict response or remission to anti-TNF therapy at week 14 (infliximab Ppnr = .89, adalimumab Ppnr = .18) or non-remission at week 54 (infliximab P = .13, adalimumab P = .58). Vitamin D deficiency was, however, associated with a longer time to immunogenicity in patients treated with infliximab, but not adalimumab. Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with active Crohn’s disease. Unlike previous studies, pretreatment vitamin D concentration did not predict PNR to anti-TNF treatment at week 14 or nonremission at week 54.
Tracking control for a class of switched non-linear systems with time-varying delay

This paper investigates the problem of tracking control for a class of switched non-linear systems with time-varying delay. Firstly, based on the average dwell time method, a new exponential stability criterion for a class of switched non-linear systems with time-varying delay is derived; it is shown that this new criterion can provide fewer conservative results than those in the existing references. Then, tracking control for the systems is investigated, and a kind of state feedback control law and switching signal are proposed to satisfy the H∞ model reference tracking performance. Finally, two numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The Spatiotemporal Elasticity of Age Structure in China’s Interprovincial Migration System

The supply and demand of labour in the market can often experience profound transformations as a result of an ageing population. This can substantially impact the sustainable development of human society. Since the 1970s, China’s internal migration has continued to increase, but there has been a shift toward an ageing trend since the year 2000. How does the change of age structure interact with socioeconomic development to produce changes in the supply and demand of labour over space and time? This study constructs a spatial dynamic panel data model of interprovincial migration flows in China from 1985 to 2015 in order to quantify the spatiotemporal impacts of age structure on migration. The preliminary results indicate that age structure plays the most important role among regional socioeconomic characteristics of migration, dominated by the large supply, demand, and cross elasticities of labour population. Labour demand and the cross elasticities of total dependency ratio rank second. Comparatively, the total elasticities of regional GDP and wage levels on migration flows are not as significant as expected. This study lays the groundwork for identifying the interaction mechanisms of migration systems and provides important insights on regional sustainable development from the perspective of ageing.
Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Anxiety Among University Students in the United Kingdom: Qualitative Study

Background The rapid surge in social media platforms has significant implications for users’ mental health, particularly anxiety. In the case of social media, the impact on mental well-being has been highlighted by multiple stakeholders as a cause for concern. However, there has been limited research into how the association between social media and anxiety arises, specifically among university students—the generation that has seen the introduction and evolution of social media, and currently lives through the medium. Extant systematic literature reviews within this area of research have not yet focused on university students or anxiety, rather predominantly investigating adolescents or generalized mental health symptoms and disorders. Furthermore, there is little to no qualitative data exploring the association between social media and anxiety among university students. Objective The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic literature review of the existing literature and a qualitative study that aims to develop foundational knowledge around the association of social media and anxiety among university students and enhance extant knowledge and theory. Methods A total of 29 semistructured interviews were conducted, comprising 19 male students (65.5%) and 10 female students (34.5%) with a mean age of 21.5 years. All students were undergraduates from 6 universities across the United Kingdom, with most students studying in London (89.7%). Participants were enrolled through a homogenous purposive sampling technique via social media channels, word of mouth, and university faculties. Recruitment was suspended at the point of data saturation. Participants were eligible for the study if they were university students in the United Kingdom and users of social media. Results Thematic analysis resulted in 8 second-order themes: 3 mediating factors that decrease anxiety levels and 5 factors that increase anxiety levels. Social media decreased anxiety through positive experiences, social connectivity, and escapism. Social media increased anxiety through stress, comparison, fear of missing out, negative experiences, and procrastination. Conclusions This qualitative study sheds critical light on how university students perceive how social media affects their anxiety levels. Students revealed that social media did impact their anxiety levels and considered it an important factor in their mental health. Thus, it is essential to educate stakeholders, including students, university counselors, and health care professionals, about the potential impact of social media on students’ anxiety levels. Since anxiety is a multifactorial condition, pinpointing the main stressors in a person’s life, such as social media use, may help manage these patients more effectively. The current research highlights that there are also many benefits to social media, and uncovering these may help in producing more holistic management plans for anxiety, reflective of the students’ social media usage.
Hybrid forecasting: blending climate predictions with AI models

Abstract. Hybrid hydroclimatic forecasting systems employ data-driven (statistical or machine learning) methods to harness and integrate a broad variety of predictions from dynamical, physics-based models – such as numerical weather prediction, climate, land, hydrology, and Earth system models – into a final prediction product. They are recognized as a promising way of enhancing the prediction skill of meteorological and hydroclimatic variables and events, including rainfall, temperature, streamflow, floods, droughts, tropical cyclones, or atmospheric rivers. Hybrid forecasting methods are now receiving growing attention due to advances in weather and climate prediction systems at subseasonal to decadal scales, a better appreciation of the strengths of AI, and expanding access to computational resources and methods. Such systems are attractive because they may avoid the need to run a computationally expensive offline land model, can minimize the effect of biases that exist within dynamical outputs, benefit from the strengths of machine learning, and can learn from large datasets, while combining different sources of predictability with varying time horizons. Here we review recent developments in hybrid hydroclimatic forecasting and outline key challenges and opportunities for further research. These include obtaining physically explainable results, assimilating human influences from novel data sources, integrating new ensemble techniques to improve predictive skill, creating seamless prediction schemes that merge short to long lead times, incorporating initial land surface and ocean/ice conditions, acknowledging spatial variability in landscape and atmospheric forcing, and increasing the operational uptake of hybrid prediction schemes.
Morphology and Ultrastructure of the Female Reproductive Apparatus of an Asexual Strain of the Endoparasitoid Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

Simple Summary Female reproductive organs in the asexual strain of the endoparasitoid Meteorus pulchricornis were not systematically studied so far. The study aims to characterize the female reproductive system and to identify and verify parasitic factors by light and transmission electron microscopy. We present new data on the morphology and ultrastructure of the entire female reproductive system in a thelytokous strain of M. pulchricornis. Knowing the structure of the female reproductive system and the physiological functions of individual organs will improve our understanding of parasitoid wasp reproductive processes and biology. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further studies on host modulation and biological control. Abstract Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) is a solitary endoparasitoid of lepidopteran pests and a good candidate for the control of Spodoptera frugiperda. To elucidate the structure of the female reproductive apparatus, which may play a role in facilitating successful parasitism, we presented the description of the morphology and ultrastructure of the whole female reproductive system in a thelytokous strain of M. pulchricornis. Its reproductive system includes a pair of ovaries without specialized ovarian tissues, a branched venom gland, a venom reservoir, and a single Dufour gland. Each ovariole contains follicles and oocytes at different stages of maturation. A fibrous layer, possibly an egg surface protector, coats the surface of mature eggs. The venom gland consists of secretory units (including secretory cells and ducts) with abundant mitochondria, vesicles and end apparatuses in the cytoplasm, and a lumen. The venom reservoir is comprised of a muscular sheath, epidermal cells with few end apparatuses and mitochondria, and a large lumen. Furthermore, venosomes are produced by secretory cells and delivered into the lumen via the ducts. As a result, myriad venosomes are observed in the venom gland filaments and the venom reservoir, suggesting that they may function as a parasitic factor and have important roles in effective parasitism.
Acid–Base, Gas, Ions, and Glucose Analysis in Follicular Fluid in Holstein-Friesian Dairy Cows Is Associated with the Follicle Size in Poland

Simple Summary Reproductive failures in dairy farms are extremely costly for breeders; however, the cause of loss is often very hard to determine. The environment may reflect an influence on the quality of the oocyte follicular fluid (FF). It was suggested that FF can be used as an indicator for the functional status of the ovarian follicle in bovine species, however, the topic is still not well known. This study aimed to investigate the variations in FF parameters connected with acid–base balance, ions, and glucose analysis. It was proven that changes in the FF formula were associated with the follicle size. Abstract The lack of fertilization and early pregnancy loss is seen in the quality and maturation of the oocytes. The environment of the first divisions and maturation of the oogonia, which is also a reflection of the quality of the oocyte, is the follicular fluid (FF). Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the variations in parameters such as pH, pCO2, pO2, standard HCO3−, actual HCO3−, base excess (BE), base excess of extracellular fluid (BE ecf), ctCO2, ions: Na+, K+, actual ionized calcium Ca2+, adjusted ionized calcium (at pH 7.4) Ca2+ (7.4), Cl−, anion gap (AnGap), and glucose in FF collected from different size follicles in dairy cattle. The most apparent differences were related to pH, K+, and Ca2+ 7.4 concentration in comparison to changes in follicle size (p < 0.05). Several trends were also evaluated as an increase in follicular size was followed by an increase in pH, BE, and Ca2+ 7.4 value and a decrease in the K+ concentration (p < 0.05). In conclusion, there are changes in FF formularies associated with the size of follicles. However, more research is necessary to establish the reference value, which then could be one of the factors describing the quality of the follicle and the developmental potential of the associated oocyte.
Disordering of Starch Films as a Factor Influencing the Release Rate of Biologically Active Substances

The release of a spin probe (nitroxide radical) from polymer films was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The films were fabricated from starch having different crystal structures (A-, B-, and C-types) and disordering degrees. Film morphology (analysis of the scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) depended on the presence of dopant (nitroxide radical) to a larger extent rather than on crystal structure ordering or polymorphic modification. The presence of nitroxide radical led to additional crystal structure disordering and reduced the crystallinity index from the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. Polymeric films made of amorphized starch powder were able to undergo recrystallization (crystal structure rearrangement), which manifested itself as an increase in crystallinity index and phase transition of the A- and C-type crystal structures to the B-type one. It was demonstrated that nitroxide radical does not form an individual phase during film preparation. According to the EPR data, local permittivity of starch-based films varied from 52.5 to 60.1 F/m, while bulk permittivity did not exceed 17 F/m, which demonstrates that local concentration of water is increased in the regions near the nitroxide radical. The mobility of the spin probe corresponds to small stochastic librations and is indicative of the strongly a mobilized state. The application of kinetic models made it possible to find out that substance release from biodegradable films consists of two stages: matrix swelling and spin probe diffusion through the matrix. Investigation of the release kinetics for nitroxide radical demonstrated that the course of this process depends on the type of crystal structure of native starch.
Synthesis and Characterization of Tetraphenylethene AIEgen-Based Push–Pull Chromophores for Photothermal Applications: Could the Cycloaddition–Retroelectrocyclization Click Reaction Make Any Molecule Photothermally Active?

Three new tetraphenylethene (TPE) push–pull chromophores exhibiting strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) are described. They were obtained via [2 + 2] cycloaddition–retroelectrocyclization (CA-RE) click reactions on an electron-rich alkyne-tetrafunctionalized TPE (TPE-alkyne) using both 1,1,2,2-tetracyanoethene (TCNE), 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4-TCNQ) as electron-deficient alkenes. Only the starting TPE-alkyne displayed significant AIE behavior, whereas for TPE-TCNE, a faint effect was observed, and for TPE-TCNQ and TPE-F4-TCNQ, no fluorescence was observed in any conditions. The main ICT bands that dominate the UV–Visible absorption spectra underwent a pronounced red-shift beyond the near-infrared (NIR) region for TPE-F4-TCNQ. Based on TD-DFT calculations, it was shown that the ICT character shown by the compounds exclusively originated from the clicked moieties independently of the nature of the central molecular platform. Photothermal (PT) studies conducted on both TPE-TCNQ and TPE-F4-TCNQ in the solid state revealed excellent properties, especially for TPE-F4-TCNQ. These results indicated that CA-RE reaction of TCNQ or F4-TCNQ with donor-substituted are promising candidates for PT applications.
Effect of the Employees’ Mental Toughness on Organizational Commitment and Job Satisfaction: Mediating Psychological Well-Being

This study aims to examine the impact of mental toughness of employees on their psychological well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. A research model based on structural equation modeling ‘ developed, and a survey was conducted with 534 office workers in Korean companies to gather the data. The findings indicate that mental toughness has a significant effect on psychological well-being and positively (+) affects organizational commitment and job satisfaction through psychological well-being. The study also reveals that mental toughness has a greater influence on organizational commitment than on job satisfaction. However, the positive effect of job satisfaction was found to increase when psychological well-being was mediated. Consequently, this study recommends that employees’ mental toughness be managed effectively to improve their job satisfaction and organizational commitment, leading to enhanced job competency, and reduced turnover intention. These findings are of practical significance to organizational practitioners, as they underscore the importance of fostering mental toughness among employees to promote their well-being and commitment to their work.
Convex Optimization of Relative Orbit Maneuvers Using the Kustaanheimo-Stiefel Transformation

As small-satellite constellations continue to grow in size and complexity, there is an increasing need for autonomous relative navigation and control capabilities. Many small satellites utilize non-impulsive low thrust propulsion or manipulation of perturbation forces such as differential drag for orbit control. These low-acceleration control technologies result in long time horizons over which the control actions must be planned and executed. Currently no dynamics model satisfies the computation, accuracy, and generalizability required for autonomous long-time-horizon control. This paper presents a relative-dynamics model based on the Kustaanheimo-Stiefel transformation. We demonstrate that it achieves equivalent or better accuracy compared to existing relative-orbit models in the literature. In addition, our Kustaanheimo-Stiefel model requires a small number of timesteps per orbit and easily incorporates low-acceleration control inputs. These features make it easily adaptable to convex trajectory optimization methods, which we demonstrate by solving a low-thrust orbital rendezvous problem over a time horizon of 75 orbits with a maximum $20 \mu \mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}^{2}$ thrust constraint.
GBRHQ-14T: Gate-Boosted Radiation Hardened Quadruple SRAM Design

Radiations in space are very critical and may cause failure in the SRAM. Various state-of-the-art SRAMs, such as DICE, Quatro-10T, etc., are proposed to mitigate the failure of SRAM. However, the designs are still vulnerable to radiations causing soft errors. This work proposes a Gate Boosted Radiation Hardened Quadruple 14T SRAM with better Single Node Upset (SNU) and Double Node Upset (DNU) tolerance. It has very high read stability. On top of that, our proposed design outperforms in terms of RSNM, Read Access Time(RAT), Wordline Write Trip Voltage (WWTV), Write Access Time (WAT), and leakage power than most conventional designs. It has a maximum of 1.3x less RAT than SAR-14T, 2.63x more WWTV than Quatro-10T, 1.38× less WAT than Quatro-10T SRAM, and 1.32x less leakage power than SEA-14T SRAM respectively at VDD=0.9V, CMOS 28nm Technology.
Plasma UCHL1, GFAP, Tau, and NfL Are Not Different in Young Healthy Persons With Mild COVID-19 Symptoms Early in the Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Elevated levels of brain injury biomarkers have been found primarily in middle-aged or older persons experiencing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 symptoms. However, there is little research in young adults, and there is concern that COVID-19 causes brain injury even in the absence of moderate-to-severe symptoms. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to investigate whether neurofilament light (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tau, or ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase L1 (UCHL1) are elevated in the plasma of young adults with mild COVID-19 symptoms. Twelve participants diagnosed with COVID-19 had plasma collected 1, 2, 3, and 4 months after diagnosis to determine whether NfL, GFAP, tau, and UCHL1 concentrations increased over time or whether plasma concentrations were elevated compared with COVID-19-naïve participants. We also compared plasma NfL, GFAP, tau, and UCHL1 concentrations between sexes. Our results showed no difference between NfL, GFAP, tau, and UCHL1 concentrations in COVID-19-naïve participants and COVID-19-positive participants at any of the four time points (p = 0.771). Within the COVID-19-positive participants, UCHL1 levels were higher at month 3 after diagnosis compared to month 1 or month 2 (p = 0.027). Between sexes, females were found to have higher UCHL1 (p = 0.003) and NfL (p = 0.037) plasma concentrations compared to males, whereas males had higher plasma tau concentrations than females (p = 0.024). Based on our data, it appears that mild COVID-19 in young adults does not increase plasma NfL, GFAP, tau, or UCHL1.