Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effective distributed convolutional neural network architecture for remote sensing images target classification with a pre-training approach

: How to recognize targets with similar appearances from remote sensing images (RSIs) effectively and ef ﬁ ciently has become a big challenge. Recently, convolutional neural network (CNN) is preferred in the target classi ﬁ cation due to the powerful feature representation ability and better performance. However, the training and testing of CNN mainly rely on single machine. Single machine has its natural limitation and bottleneck in processing RSIs due to limited hardware resources and huge time consuming. Besides, over ﬁ tting is a challenge for the CNN model due to the unbalance between RSIs data and the model structure. When a model is complex or the training data is relatively small, over ﬁ tting occurs and leads to a poor predictive performance. To address these problems, a distributed CNN architecture for RSIs target classi ﬁ cation is proposed, which dramatically increases the training speed of CNN and system scalability. It improves the storage ability and processing ef ﬁ ciency of RSIs. Furthermore, Bayesian regularization approach is utilized in order to initialize the weights of the CNN extractor, which increases the robustness and ﬂ exibility of the CNN model. It helps prevent the over ﬁ tting and avoid the local optima caused by limited RSI training images or the inappropriate CNN structure. In addition, considering the ef ﬁ ciency of the Na¨ ı ve Bayes classi ﬁ er, a distributed Na¨ ı ve Bayes classi ﬁ er is designed to reduce the training cost. Compared with other algorithms, the proposed system and method perform the best and increase the recognition accuracy. The results show that the distributed system framework and the proposed algorithms are suitable for RSIs target classi ﬁ cation tasks.
Enhancement and validation of a state-of-the-art global hydrological model H08 (v.bio1) to simulate second-generation herbaceous bioenergy crop yield

Abstract. The bioenergy crop yield is a critical determinant of the bioenergy potential for various stringent climate change mitigation scenarios. Currently, the bioenergy crop yield is usually determined from a limited number of simulations. However, reliable yield simulation remains a challenge at the global scale. Here, through parameter calibration and algorithm improvement, we enhanced a state-of-the-art global hydrological model (H08) to simulate the bioenergy yield from dedicated the herbaceous bioenergy crops Miscanthus and switchgrass. Site-specific evaluations showed that the enhanced H08 had the ability to simulate yield for both Miscanthus and switchgrass, with the calibrated yields being well within the ranges of the observed yield. Independent country-specific evaluations further confirmed the performance of the enhanced H08. Using this improved model, we found that unconstrained irrigation more than doubled the yield of the rainfed condition, but reduced the water use efficiency (WUE) by 29 % globally. With irrigation, the yield in dry climate zones can exceed the rainfed yields in tropical climate zones. Nevertheless, due to the low water consumption in tropical areas, the highest WUE was found in tropical climate zones, regardless of whether the crop was irrigated.
How changing organizational culture can enhance innovation: Development of the innovative culture enhancement framework

Abstract Innovation is considered one of the key factors that influence long-term success of any organization. The published literature indicates that establishing and enhancing the right culture that supports innovation in the organization is a precondition for innovation. The objective of this study is to propose and validate a framework, called the Innovative Culture Enhancement Framework (ICEF), which can be used to enhance innovation at any given organization based on its culture. First step in the framework involves using the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) to determine the level of each culture type within the organization. Then, the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) is used to determine the level of each innovation type. The third step of ICEF involves doing multiple linear regression analyses of OCAI outcomes over CIS results to determine how each culture type contributes to each innovation type. The fourth step involves comparing existing level of each innovation type with the desired level as indicated by the management. The fifth and last step involves adjusting existing level of culture types in a way that enhances the desired innovation type. ICEF was validated by implementing it at three medium-size companies and was found to be workable and giving statistically significant outcomes. Then, the framework was further validated by interviewing a group of industry experts and seeking their opinion on ICEF dimensions. Statistical analysis of the interviews mainly gave high item-to-total correlations for the dimensions explored and a high Cronbach’s alpha value leading to conclude that the framework is reliable and delivers what it was developed for. It is recommended that future research explores further how culture can be used as a driving force for innovation in organizations.
Multimode-Optomechanics, Spin-Optomechanics, and Nonlinear Optics in Photonic Devices

Nanophotonic structures are a technological platform, which enhance processes by confining light to a small physical space. The spatial configuration of the light is known as a mode. In this thesis nanophotonic structures were used to enhance nonlinear optical processes, support optomechanics and multimode optomechanics, and finally to interface with colour centres. In nonlinear optics experiments, we used Gallium Phosphide (GaP) microdisks to generate second and third harmonic light. The small mode volume and low loss of these structures allow the buildup of a very large optical power within the microdisk, as well as a high degree of spatial overlap between the fundamental and second harmonic modes. This allowed efficient second harmonic generation rates for GaP structures. The optomechanics experiments included in this thesis were performed in diamond microdisks, which represented the first optomechanics experiments in diamond. In later work, we modified our fabrication process such that a laser could be placed at particular wavelengths relative to the mode without thermal effects shifting the resonance. This, combined with optimization that reduced the optical loss rate, allowed for operation in the so called “sideband resolved regime”. This enabled the demonstration of coherent scattering between photons and phonons in these devices. Expanding on this work, we used a second optical mode in these diamond devices to demonstrate multimode optomechanical effects. This author assisted in demonstrations of wavelength conversion, and the first demonstration of optomechanical multimode amplification in the optical regime. We then went on to realize novel interference effects between widely separated wavelengths of light, which were used to build an optical switch. This same multimode device was used to demonstrate optomechanical pulse storage where the storage time and the phase of the stored pulse were enhanced and controlled using the auxiliary mode.
PD-1 and LAG-3 synergize to drive tumour-infiltration of T cytotoxic cells in NSCLC tumours

Abstract Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80-85% of all lung cancer cases, and is characterized by a poor response to chemotherapy and a low survival rate. Treatment targeting the immune checkpoint inhibitor pathway PD-1/PD-L1 has been found to be effective against NSCLC with manageable side effects, but with only 20-25% of patients showing a positive response there is an urgent need for additional immunotherapy options for this group of patients. LAG-3 and PD-1 are often co-expressed and upregulated on T cells leading to immune exhaustion and tumor growth, and co-blockade of the LAG-3 and PD-1 pathways has been shown to synergize to improve T cytotoxic cell responses. Methods In order to perform a comprehensive immunoprofiling of NSCLC tumors we used MultiOmyx™, an immunofluorescence (IF) multiplexing assay that utilize a pair of directly conjugated Cyanine dye-labeled (Cy3, Cy5) antibodies per round of staining. Using a 16-marker panel we have analyzed the proportion of B cells, T cell subtypes, M1/M2-type tumor-associated macrophages, as well as the expression of PD-1, PD-L1, LAG-3, and TIM-3 in 20 samples from patients with NSCLC. Results LAG-3 was found to be expressed mainly on T cytotoxic cells in both subtypes, but the overall density of LAG-3 was 59% higher in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tumors compared to adenocarcinoma tumors. In both SCC and adenocarcinoma subtypes TIM-3 was found primarily on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), followed by an equal distribution on helper and cytotoxic T cells. When analyzing the proportion of T cytotoxic cells infiltrating into the tumor area, we observed an apparent synergy between LAG-3 and PD-1, suggesting a therapeutic benefit of dual checkpoint blockade of LAG-3 and PD-1 in NSCLC. Conclusion It is our hope that these data will help provide new insights into the biology of NSCLC that can ultimately be used to explore novel immunotherapeutic interventions for lung cancer treatment. Legal entity responsible for the study NeoGenomics. Funding NeoGenomics. Disclosure A. Juncker-Jensen: Full / Part-time employment: NeoGenomics. M. Nagy: Full / Part-time employment: NeoGenomics. J. Kuo: Full / Part-time employment: NeoGenomics. E. Leones: Full / Part-time employment: NeoGenomics. F. Sahafi: Full / Part-time employment: NeoGenomics. K. Pham: Full / Part-time employment: NeoGenomics. E. Parnell: Full / Part-time employment: NeoGenomics.
Knowledge and Awareness about Cervical Cancer Screening and HPV Vaccine among Females Aged 15-49 Years in Rukum District of Nepal

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the first most common cancer and the leading cause of mortality among women in Nepal. The annual age standardized incidence rate of cervical cancer is 19.0 and the mortality rate is 12.0 per 100,000 women. Awareness and knowledge about cervical cancer among females is essential in the prevention of cancer. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer and to identify the screening practices among the women in Rukum district of Nepal. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted in Jan to Feb 2016 in Rukum, Nepal. Multistage sampling technique was used and 600 Female aged between 15-49 years were recruited. A semi structured interview questionnaire was used to collect the information. The inferential statistics, chi square test was used to summarize the data. For bivariate analysis, odds ratio and its 95% CI were obtained and binary logistic regression technique was used as a multivariate analysis. Results: Among the 600 women, 77.5% had heard about cervical cancer. Of these only 16% (72) were aware about cervical cancer screening and 7% were aware about the Pap smear test. Among these only 13.6 % (8/72) had ever undergone for cervical cancer screening. Only 5% had heard about HPV, among of them 30% knew that it can cause cervical cancer. Only 47% had adequate knowledge about cervical cancer, HPV and its screening. Education, occupation and monthly household income of the participants were significantly associated with knowledge of cervical cancer. Conclusion: This study identified that, there have been a low level of knowledge about cervical cancer among women. It indicates that there is a need to implement some strategies to enhance the knowledge of cervical cancer for these women.
Space–Time Characteristics of Areal Reduction Factors and Rainfall Processes

We estimate areal reduction factors (ARFs; the ratio of catchment rainfall and point rainfall) varying in space and time using a fixed-area method for Austria and link them to the dominating rainfall processes in the region. We particularly focus on two subregions in the west and east of the country, where stratiform and convective rainfall processes dominate, respectively. ARFs are estimated using a rainfall dataset of 306 rain gauges with hourly resolution for five durations between 1 h and 1 day. Results indicate that the ARFs decay faster with area in regions of increased convective activity than in regions dominated by stratiform processes. Low ARF values occur where and when lightning activity (as a proxy for convective activity) is high, but some areas with reduced lightning activity exhibit also rather low ARFs as, in summer, convective rainfall can occur in any part of the country. ARFs tend to decrease with increasing return period, possibly because the contribution of convective rainfall is higher. The results of this study are consistent with similar studies in humid climates and provide new insights regarding the relationship of ARFs and dominating rainfall processes.
Inside Activism: Political Agency and Institutional Change

The theoretical concept of inside activism brings fresh light on institutional change by upgrading the importance of political agency within public organizations. Inside activism captures a specific empirical phenomenon, namely, public officials being committed to the agendas of civil society networks and organizations, and acting from inside public organizations to induce policy and institutional change. Inside activism upgrades political aspects of public organizations, recognizing the importance of authority, power, and combative action. Public organizations are institutionally shaped by continuous processes of consolidation and fragmentation. This means opportunities for inside activists to act politically, preferably in secret and subversive ways, and to further strengthen the fragmented nature of public organizations. Strategically, inside activists can work for institutional change by expanding their agency through the development of collective power and networking, using combative subversive strategy, working for cumulative effects and combinative solutions as well as to bend and break constraints on their actions (the 5C model). To induce change, they further exploit institutional ambiguities like “weak spots” of institutions and discrepancies between institutional rules and practices on the ground. The neglect of inside activism within institutional theory likely means that the possibility of institutional change has been underestimated and there is thus a need for a comprehensive research agenda on inside activism, political agency, and institutional change, which in this article is termed “new political institutionalism. ”
Prognostic Factors for Outcome of Nonmyeloablative Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (NST) in Poor-Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): Final Results from a Prospective Multicenter Trial (GCLLSG CLL3X study)

In order to refine the indications for NST in CLL, we analyzed prognostic factors for various endpoints of the CLL3X trial. CLL3X was a phase-2 trial investigating in a multicenter setting feasibility, toxicity and efficacy of NST in patients with poor-risk CLL. Patients Results: Between June 2001 and March 2007, 113 patients were accrued in 16 centers. Thirteen patients had to be excluded due to ineligibility, and 10 patients did not proceed to NST because they lacked a donor, died or developed Richter’s transformation prior to NST, or refused NST. The 90 patients remaining had received 4 (1–11) pre-transplant regimens. 39/71 (55%) had an unfavorable FISH karyotype (del 11q- (37%) or del 17p- (18%)). 42/90 (47%) were fludarabine refractory, but only 24% had uncontrolled disease at NST. Allografts were obtained from related (39%) or unrelated donors (61%). TCD was performed in 12 patients. Due to logistical reasons, continuous sampling for prospective MRD monitoring was possible in only 4 centers representing 58% of the patients. With a median follow-up of 28 (6–80) months, 3-year non-relapse mortality, relapse incidence (REL), event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) from NST was 23% (95%CI 12%–34%), 42% (29%–56%), 42% (30%–54%), and 66% (55%–78%), respectively. Univariate log rank comparisons identified refractory disease at NST and TCD; but not age, fludarabine resistance, donor, and del 17p- as adverse factors for EFS. Three-year EFS was 43% (95%CI 14%–71%) with del 17p- vs 41% (27%–55%) without del 17p-. Cox regression models (adjusting for age, del 17p-, fludarabine resistance, remission status at NST, TCD, and donor) confirmed younger age (hazard ratio (HR)/year 0.94 (95%CI 0.89–0.99) and TCD (HR 3.68 (1.36–9.92)) as significant prognostic variables for REL; refractory disease at NST (HR 4.08 (1.9–8.74)) and TCD (HR 3.26 (1.53–6.94)) for EFS; and refractory disease at NST (HR 3.87 (1.62–9.25)) for OS. Three-year EFS was 57% (43%–72%) in patients who had sensitive disease at NST and no TCD employed, with no relapse occurring after the 3-year landmark. Only one relapse was observed in 25 patients (5 with del 17p-) who were MRD negative at month +12; and 15 out of 16 patients event-free more than 3 years after NST with MRD values available were MRD negative at last assessment. Conclusions: T-replete NST from related or unrelated donors results in sustained MRD-negative EFS in a significant proportion of patients with poor-risk CLL including those with del 17p-. NST should be performed before disease has become refractory. The potential benefit of preemptive post-transplant immunomodulation guided by real-time MRD monitoring remains to be settled.
Power and Bitcoins: a Critical Realism Perspective

In this study, through the lens of critical realism to power, we take a close look into the power dynamics behind the Bitcoin protocol in relation to its Cypherpunk philosophical underpinnings. We focus on some of its main components that can be seen as constraining structures, and we discuss how these structures generate constraining mechanisms that restrict users’ power to act, further reinforcing other entities' power over them. In doing so, we illustrate that the Bitcoin Protocol, as it is used today, is in tension with the principles on which it was developed. In addition, we show that power, instead of being decentralised and distributed to the many, it has merely shifted from traditional actors to what can be seen as newcomers or atypical regulators. In line with the paradigm of critical realism, we note that the identified mechanisms and structures we discuss in this paper, are those that we were able to observe through our subjective lens; others may exist but may require different contextual conditions to be activated and observed.
Recent hybridization and allopolyploidy reprogrammed Spartina microRNA expression under xenobiotic induced stress

Xenobiotic detoxification is a common trait of all living organisms, necessary for developmental plasticity and stress tolerance. The gene set involved in this biological process is dubbed the xenome (i.e. involved in drug metabolism in mammals, degradation of allelochemicals and environmental pollutants by bacteria and plant communities). Recently, we found that allopolyploidy increased tolerance to xenobiotics (phenanthrene) in Spartina. To decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying this process, we examined how interspecific hybridization and genome doubling impact miRNAs expression under xenobiotic induced stress. In this work we used a deep sequencing approach, and analyzed the parental species S. alterniflora and S. maritima, their F1 hybrid S. x townsendii and the allopolyploid S. anglica under phenanthrene exposure. We found that hybridization and genome doubling reprogrammed a myriad of miRNAs under phenanthrene-induced stress. Hence, to identify the master miRNAs involved in phenanthrene tolerance, we performed experimental functional validation of phenanthrene-responsive Spar-miRNAs using Arabidopsis T-DNA mutant lines inserted in homologous MIR genes, 39 knock out T-DNA Arabidopsis mutants, tagged in the most conserved miRNAs genes in vascular plants were screened. Development of MIR159 and MIR156 mutants was significantly affected under phenanthrene-induced stress. Subsequently, we performed in planta experimental validation to confirm the interaction between these miRNAs and their targets. These analyses suggest that MIR159 and MIR156 regulatory modules were targeted to induce the xenome relaxation and impact developmental plasticity responses in phylogenetically distant species under xenobiotic-induced stress. Graphical abstract
Agreement by design: The effect of visual harmony on responses to surveys

The present study is one of the first to empirically examine how the visual harmony of a questionnaire can lead to measurement bias. Researchers often employ questionnaires with Likert scales to measure constructs. In this note, we examine how the design of the survey instrument, specifically, its visual harmony, can impair measurement accuracy. Two studies investigate effects of visual harmony in surveys on responses to Likert scales using paper and pencil surveys. Applying an established customer relationship management model, Study 1 employs a survey of female visitors to a grocery store (n = 115). Switching to a product and brand innovation context, Study 2 employs a survey of male and female members of a consumer panel (n = 180) to examine responses to a new e‐scooter. Across studies, results indicate that assessing important consumer response constructs through visually more harmonious surveys can lead to more positive response patterns, lower scale reliability, and questionable validity, especially with females. Although these effects do not occur uniformly across measures and samples, they occur regardless of consumers' past experience with completing questionnaires, their familiarity with questionnaire design, and the naturalness and elaborateness of the visual design. Relating specific elements (e.g., text boxes, type font, shapes, and images) and relational properties of design (e.g., balance, symmetry, and coherence) to consumers' overall perception of harmony aids marketers and researchers in achieving intermediate levels to obtain realistic, reliable, and valid results.
Secure high-speed spread spectrum transmission system with orbital angular momentum

Besides promotion in the spectrum efficiency, orbital angular momentum (OAM) can bring additional benefits to physical layer security. In this study, the authors will highlight the benefit of covert transmissions to deal with the contradiction between transmission rate and security in the traditional direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) system. Based on OAM, a secure high-speed spread spectrum (SS) transmission system is proposed. Specifically, the system architecture and mathematical models are established. Afterwards, the detection method for the proposed OAM SS system is investigated. Meanwhile, the corresponding bit error rate (BER) and performance of anti-interception are analysed. The performance of data anti-interception is evaluated based on computational complexity, while the performance of signal anti-interception is studied by Neyman–Pearson criterion. Furthermore, Monte–Carlo simulations are also implemented to show the effectiveness of the proposed system. Compared with the traditional DSSS system, the higher security can be achieved by the proposed system. Besides, the transmission rates and BERs are the same for the traditional DSSS system and proposed system. Therefore, the proposed OAM SS transmission system successfully handles the contradiction of the transmission rate and security. In other words, the secure high-speed transmission can be achieved by the proposed OAM SS system.