Feature Learning for Multispectral Satellite Imagery Classification Using Neural Architecture Search

Automated classification of remote sensing data is an integral tool for earth scientists, and deep learning has proven very successful at solving such problems. However, building deep learning models to process the data requires expert knowledge of machine learning. We introduce DELTA, a software toolkit to bridge this technical gap and make deep learning easily accessible to earth scientists. Visual feature engineering is a critical part of the machine learning lifecycle, and hence is a key area that will be automated by DELTA. Hand-engineered features can perform well, but require a cross functional team with expertise in both machine learning and the specific problem domain, which is costly in both researcher time and labor. The problem is more acute with multispectral satellite imagery, which requires considerable computational resources to process. In order to automate the feature learning process, a neural architecture search samples the space of asymmetric and symmetric autoencoders using evolutionary algorithms. Since denoising autoencoders have been shown to perform well for feature learning, the autoencoders are trained on various levels of noise and the features generated by the best performing autoencoders evaluated according to their performance on image classification tasks. The resulting features are demonstrated to be effective for Landsat-8 flood mapping, as well as benchmark datasets CIFAR10 and SVHN

Impacts of Successive Drug Legislation Shifts: Qualitative Observations from Oregon Law Enforcement [Interim Report: Year One]

This report provides the initial findings of Year 1 of a multi year project to understand the effects of successive drug policy efforts in Oregon, with special focus given to Ballot Measure 110 (M110)

Ongoing initiatives in China to enhance prescribing efficiency : impact and proposals for improvement

Pharmaceutical expenditure is currently rising by 16% per annum in China, greater in recent years. Initiatives to moderate this growth include drug pricing regulations, essential medicine lists and encouraging generic prescribing. These measures are principally concentrated in hospitals as they account for over 80% of total pharmaceutical expenditure. However, no monitoring of prescribing and perverse incentives enhances irrational prescribing. Review the influence of recent measures on subsequent utilization and expenditure of high-volume classes in China to provide future guidance. Principally a narrative review of published studies of the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), statins, renin–angiotensin inhibitor drugs and traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) between 2004 and 2013 in the largest teaching hospital group in Chongqing District. Appeciable increase in drug utilisation including TCMs. Generics typically only 30% to 34% of total utilisation for the molecule for CV medicines, with decreasing trends in recent years. Greater utilisation of generic PPIs; however, this includes generic injectable preparations with considerably higher prices. Prices decreased over time, with appreciable reductions for some generics. Overall, considerable opportunities to save resources without compromising care. Restricting the formulary to just one statin, angiotensin receptor blocker or PPI based on the cheapest one would have saved 50-84% of total accumulated expenditures. Encouraging to see high utilisation of generic PPIs and low prices for some oral generics. However, real progress will only be made by addressing current perverse financial incentives. Potential reforms could include limiting the number of available medicines in a class to enhance the quality and efficiency of prescribing

Quality and efficiency of statin prescribing across countries with a special focus on South Africa : findings and future implications

Statins are recommended first-line treatment for hyperlipidemia, with published studies suggesting limited differences between them. However, there are reports of under-dosing. South Africa has introduced measures to enhance generic utilization. Part one documents prescribed doses of statins in 2011. Part two determines the extent of generics versus originator and single-sourced statins in 2011 and their costs. Results: Underdosing of simvastatin in 2011 with average prescribed dose of 23.7 mg; however, not for atorvastatin (20.91 mg) or rosuvastatin (15.02 mg). High utilization of generics versus originators at 93–99% for atorvastatin and simvastatin, with limited utilization of single-sourced statins (22% of total statins – defined daily dose basis), mirroring Netherlands, Sweden and UK. Generics priced 33–51% below originator prices. Discussion: Opportunity to increase simvastatin dosing through education, prescribing targets and incentives. Opportunity to lower generic prices with generic simvastatin 96–98% below single-sourced prices in some European countries

Functional characterization and identification of mouse Rad51d splice variants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The homologous recombination (HR) pathway is vital for maintaining genomic integrity through the restoration of double-stranded breaks and interstrand crosslinks. The RAD51 paralogs (RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, XRCC2, XRCC3) are essential for this process in vertebrates, and the RAD51D paralog is unique in that it participates in both HR repair and telomere maintenance. RAD51D is also known to directly interact with the RAD51C and XRCC2 proteins. <it>Rad51d </it>splice variants have been reported in mouse and human tissues, supportive of a role for alternative splicing in HR regulation. The present study evaluated the interaction of the <it>Rad51d </it>splice isoform products with RAD51C and XRCC2 and their expression patterns.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Yeast-2-hybrid analysis was used to determine that the <it>Mus musculus Rad51d </it>splice variant product RAD51DΔ7b (deleted for residues 219 through 223) was capable of interacting with both RAD51C and XRCC2 and that RAD51D+int3 interacted with XRCC2. In addition, the linker region (residues 54 through 77) of RAD51D was identified as a region that potentially mediates binding with XRCC2. Cellular localization, detected by EGFP fusion proteins, demonstrated that each of the splice variant products tested was distributed throughout the cell similar to the full-length protein. However, none of the splice variants were capable of restoring resistance of <it>Rad51d</it>-deficient cell lines to mitomycin C. RT-PCR expression analysis revealed that <it>Rad51dΔ3 </it>(deleted for exon 3) and <it>Rad51dΔ5 </it>(deleted for exon 5)transcripts display tissue specific expression patterns with <it>Rad51dΔ3 </it>being detected in each tissue except ovary and <it>Rad51dΔ5 </it>not detected in mammary gland and testis. These expression studies also led to the identification of two additional <it>Rad51d </it>ubiquitously expressed transcripts, one deleted for both exon 9 and 10 and one deleted for only exon 10.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest <it>Rad51d </it>alternative splice variants potentially modulate mechanisms of HR by sequestering either RAD51C or XRCC2.</p

Clinical stakeholders' opinions on the use of selective decontamination of the digestive tract in critically ill patients in intensive care units : an international Delphi study

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Native tree and shrub canopy facilitates oak seedling regeneration in semiarid woodland

Oaks are currently declining worldwide due to a multitude of threats. Woodland management is often heavily focused on thinning and burning non-target species to reduce competition and promote oak dominance in the overstory. These techniques have typically been developed in temperate regions, such as eastern USA forests, but whether they are the most effective strategy for promoting oak regeneration in semiarid woodlands has not been sufficiently examined. We conducted our study on the eastern Edwards Plateau in central Texas, where several oak species are codominant with Ashe juniper over karst limestone terrane. These juniper-oak woodlands provide habitat for many endemic species and play an essential role in the maintenance of key aquifers. A history of canopy clearing and a severe drought in 2011 generated patches of living and dead juniper-oak canopy interspersed with canopy gaps in our study area. In November 2013, we planted 200 shin oak acorns in each of three habitat treatments, replicated six times: i) live canopy, ii) dead canopy, iii) open invasive grassland. We monitored emergence and survival each year, harvesting five seedlings from each replicate in October 2017 to assess shoot height, rooting depth, biomass, ectomycorrhizal colonization, and foliar nutrients. Canopy trees, living or dead, significantly enhanced seedling emergence and survival. Survival was positively associated with increasing Ashe juniper and oak basal area, shrub cover, and soil organic matter, and negatively associated with increasing canopy gap size (complete mortality in gaps >220 m2). Seedling biomass increased significantly in dead and open treatments along with foliar nutrients N, P and S (dead treatments) or S and Fe (open treatments), whereas ectomycorrhizal colonization and foliar nutrients Ca, Mg, and Mn increased under living canopy. Our findings suggest that oak regeneration in these juniper-oak woodlands closely resembles that of Mediterranean regions, where canopy facilitates seedling survival. Both living and dead trees and shrubs enhanced oak regeneration, with seedling survival depending on proximity to larger trees, living roots, shrubs, and juniper-oak canopy. Planting acorns under canopy is an inexpensive, sustainable, and effective restoration practice in drought-prone ecosystems

Analysis of the influence of recent reforms in China : cardiovascular and cerebrovascular medicines as a case history to provide future direction

Background: Pharmaceutical expenditure has grown by 16% per annum in China, enhanced by incentives for physicians and hospitals. Hospital pharmacies dispense 80% of medicines in China, accounting for 46% of total hospital expenditure. Principal measures to moderate drug expenditure growth include pricing initiatives as limited demand-side measures. Objective: Assess current utilization and expenditure including traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) between 2006 and 2012. Methods: Uncontrolled retrospective study of medicines to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in one of the largest hospitals in southwest China. Results: Utilization increased 3.3-fold for cerebrovascular medicines, greatest for TCMs, with expenditure increasing 4.85-fold. Low prices for generics were seen, similar to Europe. However, there was variable utilization of generics at 29-31% of total product volumes in recent years. There continued to be irrationality in prescribing with high use of TCMs, and the utilization of different medicines dropping significantly once they achieved low prices. Conclusion: Prices still have an appreciable impact on utilization in China. Potential measures similar to those implemented among western European countries could improve prescribing rationality and conserve resources

Results of Archaeogeophysical Surveying at the Great Friends Meeting House in Newport, Rhode Island

Archaeogeophysical surveys were carried out in October 2010 over a 30 x 50 m grid that was established immediately to the north and west of the north end of the Great Friends Meeting House (GFMH) in Newport, RI. The surveys were conducted using a Geonics EM-38 RT ground conductivity meter and a Malå X3M Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) system that was equipped with 500 and 800 MHz antennas. In addition, a resistance survey was performed over a much smaller central area using a Geoscan RM15 resistance meter. From this work three types of geophysical anomalies have been identified: those associated with individual features, structures, and graves. There may be one large structure to the north of the GFMH with a similar alignment. Forty-two anomalies were identified that are consistent with graves. There are many more anomalies that have not been specifically interpreted as graves because they did not meet enough of our criteria but may indeed be graves. We recommend that additional archaeogeophysical surveys be performed as well as a series of follow-up excavations to ground truth the interpretations