Investigating 2d and 3d convolutions for multitemporal land cover classification using remote sensing images

With the availability of large amounts of satellite image time series (SITS), the identification of different materials of the Earth's surface is possible with a high temporal resolution. One of the basic tasks is the pixel-wise classification of land cover, i.e.The task of identifying the physical material of the Earth's surface in an image. Fully convolutional neural networks (FCN) are successfully used for this task. In this paper, we investigate different FCN variants, using different methods for the computation of spatial, spectral, and temporal features. We investigate the impact of 3D convolutions in the spatial-Temporal as well as in the spatial-spectral dimensions in comparison to 2D convolutions in the spatial dimensions only. Additionally, we introduce a new method to generate multitemporal input patches by using time intervals instead of fixed acquisition dates. We then choose the image that is closest in time to the middle of the corresponding time interval, which makes our approach more flexible with respect to the requirements for the acquisition of new data. Using these multi-Temporal input patches, generated from Sentinel-2 images, we improve the classification of land cover by 4% in the mean F1-score and 1.3% in the overall accuracy compared to a classification using mono-Temporal input patches. Furthermore, the usage of 3D convolutions instead of 2D convolutions improves the classification performance by a small amount of 0.4% in the mean F1-score and 1.2% in the overall accuracy

Comparison of the effect of letrozole alone with letrozole plus n-acetylcysteine on pregnancy rate in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome: A randomized clinical trial

Objectives: Different drugs are prescribed for the induction of ovulation in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of this study was to compare the effect of letrozole alone with letrozole plus N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on the pregnancy rate in patients with PCOS. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial studyincluded317 patients with PCOS in the infertility clinic of Zahedan in 2018. Patients were randomly divided into letrozole and NAC plus letrozole groups. Then, several parameters were evaluated in both groups, including the pregnancy rate, number of follicles larger than 18 mm, endometrial thickness, and the endometrial pattern. Finally, data were analyzed using SPSS 25, and t-test and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of study participants was 28.5 ± 4.9 years old. The mean duration of infertility in the intervention group was 4.5 ± 3.8 years. The mean anti-Müllerian hormone and the mean endometrial thickness of patients in the intervention group were 4.4± 3.6 ng/mL and 7.6 ± 2.5 mm, respectively. Eventually, the pregnancy rate was 14.6 (n = 23) and 7.5 (n = 12) in the intervention and control groups, respectively (P = 0.046). Conclusions: The results of this search revealed that the number of follicles with the size of 18 mm in the control group was higher compared to the intervention group, but the fertility rate in patients with PCOS receiving letrozole plus N-acetylcysteine was significantly higher. © 2021 The Author(s);

How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Students’ Online Social Presence?

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has affected higher education institutions worldwide as they had to switch from face-to-face to online teaching almost overnight. This abrupt change made a huge impact on teaching, learning, and particularly, student engagement. This paper focuses on online social presence as an element of student engagement, which represents how students feel under synchronous online teaching. A survey was conducted among 244 first-year students to evaluate the impact of online social interaction, online collaboration, online contact with staff, online engagement, and online active learning on online social presence. Structural equation modeling was used to test and evaluate these multivariate relationships. Our study illustrates that all variables have a significant positive relationship with online social presence. In particular, online social interaction and online collaboration show a more powerful relationship with student online social presence. Thus, digital technologies should be adopted in a way that encourages students to actively interact with their peers

Anti-tumor Activity of N4 [(E)-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl) Methylidene], N4-[(E)-2-Phenylethylidene], N4 [(E,2E)-3-Phenyl-2-propenylidene], and N4 [(E)ethylidene] Isonicotinohydrazide on K562 and Jurkat Cell Lines

Using the water eliminated mechanism, reactions of 4-pyridinecarboxylic acid hydrazide and salicylaldehyde, benzaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde, and formaldehyde afforded the corresponding N4[(E)-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl) methylidene] (NHPM), N4-[(E)-2-phenylethylidene] (NPI), N4[(E,2E)-3-phenyl-2-propenylidene] (NPPI), and N4[(E) ethylidene] (NEI) isonicotinohydrazide, in high yields, after several minutes, as reported. These new compounds have shown antitumor activity against two kinds of cancer cells, which are K562 (human chronic myeloid leukemia) and Jurkat (human T lymphocyte carcinoma)

A model of online protection to reduce children's online risk exposure: empirical evidence from Asia

Children are surrounded by a variety of digital media and are exposed to potential risks that come with such easy accessibility. Learning how to be safe online is an important consideration for both children and their caregivers. The present study proposes an integrated model of online safety based on constructs from protection motivation theory and the health belief model, namely perceived severity of (and susceptibility to) risk, online self-efficacy, online privacy concern, and digital literacy. The study comprised a survey conducted among 420 schoolchildren aged 9–16 years. Using partial least squares-structural equation modelling, the results illustrated the presence of a negative effect of ‘perceived severity of online risk’ toward online risks, whereas the effect of ‘digital literacy’ was found to be positive. Children whose perception of online risks was more severe were less exposed to online risks if they had higher ‘online privacy concerns’ than the children with higher ‘digital literacy’ who are more exposed to online risk. Results of the study show that engaging in safe online behaviour requires children to have a high perception regarding severity of online risks as well as knowledge of online privacy concerns. Online risks and opportunities occur in parallel. Consequently, the factors that increase or decrease risk may also increase or decrease the benefits

Usporedba djelovanja blokatora kalcijevih kanala, blokatora autonomnoga živčanog sustava te inhibitora slobodnih radikala na hiposekreciju inzulin iz izolirnih langerhansovih otočića štakora uzrokovanu diazinonom

Hyperglycaemia has been observed with exposure to organophosphate insecticides. This study was designed to compare the effects of calcium channel blockers, alpha-adrenergic, beta-adrenergic, and muscarinic receptor blockers, and of free radical scavengers on insulin secretion from diazinon-treated islets of Langerhans isolated from the pancreas of rats using standard collagenase digestion, separation by centrifugation, and hand-picking technique. The islets were then cultured in an incubator at 37 °C and 5 % CO2. In each experimental set 1 mL of 8 mmol L-1 glucose plus 125 µg mL-1 or 625 µg mL-1 of diazinon were added, except for the control group, which received 8 mmol L-1 glucose alone. The cultures were then treated with one of the following: 30 µmol L-1 atropine, 100 µmol L-1 ACh + 10 µmol L-1 neostigmine, 0.1 µmol L-1 propranolol, 2 µmol L-1 nifedipine, 50 µmol L-1 phenoxybenzamine, or 10 µmol L-1 alphatocopherol. In all experiments, diazinon significantly reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion at both doses, showing no dose dependency, as the average inhibition for the lower dose was 62.20 % and for the higher dose 64.38 %. Acetylcholine and alpha-tocopherol restored, whereas atropine potentiated diazinoninduced hyposecretion of insulin. Alpha-, beta- and calcium channel blockers did not change diazinoninduced effects. These findings suggest that diazinon affects insulin secretion mainly by disturbing the balance between free radicals and antioxidants in the islets of Langerhans and by inducing toxic stress.U osoba izloženih organofosfatnim insekticidima zamijećen je nastanak hiperglikemije. Svrha je ovo istraživanja bila usporediti djelovanje blokatora kalcijevih kanala, alfa i beta-adrenergičkih i muskarinskih receptora te inhibicije slobodnih radikala na lučenje inzulina iz Langerhansovih otočića izoliranih iz štakora tretiranih diazinonom. Otočići su izolirani iz gušterače štakora s pomoću standardnog postupka digestije kolagenazom, odvajanja centrifugiranjem i metodom ručnog probira (engl. hand-picking) te su kultivirani u inkubatoru pri 37 °C i 5 % CO2. Pokusne su kulture inkubirane s 1 mL glukoze u koncentraciji od 8 mmol L-1 te diazinonom u dozi od 125 μg mL-1, odnosno 625 μg mL-1. U kontrolu je dodana samo glukoza u koncentraciji od 8 mmol L-1. Nakon toga je u kulture dodan jedan od sljedećih agenasa: 30 µmol L-1 atropin, 100 µmol L-1 ACh + 10 µmol L-1 neostigmin, 0,1 µmol L-1 propranolol, 2 µmol L-1 nifedipin, 50 µmol L-1 fenoksibenzamin, odnosno 10 µmol L-1 alfa-tokoferol. U svim je pokusima diazinon značajno smanjio lučenje inzulina, s time da je doza od 125 μg mL-1 dovela do 62,2 %-tne inhibicije, a doza od 625 μg mL-1 do 64,38 %-tne inhibicije lučenja inzulina, što upućuje na djelovanje neovisno o dozi. Acetilkolin i alfa-tokoferol su ponovno potaknuli lučenje inzulina, za razliku od atropina koji ga je dodatno smanjio. Primjena blokatora alfa i beta-adrenergičkih receptora te blokatora kalcijevih kanala nije utjecala na djelovanje diazinona. Autori zaključuju da diazinon utječe na lučenje inzulina ponajviše narušavanjem ravnoteže između slobodnih radikala i antioksidansa u Langerhansovim otočićima te dovodi do toksičnoga stresa

Variables That Predict Reintubation After Open-Heart Surgery

Background:This study sought to determine patient characteristics, process of care,and outcome as predictors of reintubation after open-heart surgery.Methods:We performed a retrospective case control study that included all patients undergoing cardiac surgery who required reintubation and an equal number of control patients not requiring reintubation.Putative risk factors were analyzed univariately by Moses,Kroskal Willis and χ2 tests.Results: Of the 300 consecutive patients reviewed, 39 required reintubation for cardio- respiratory reasons. Univariate predictors of reintubation (P= 0.05) were preoperative CO2,ejection fraction,weight, diabetes, and intra-operative fluid balances. Multivariate predictors of reintubation for each group(with cardio-respiratory reasons) and for all patients were determined and included preoperative PaCO2, type of operation,ejection fraction (EF),pre- operative PaO2,number of grafts,age,intra-aortic balloon pump,pump time,clamp time,pH at extubation time,and PaO2 at extubation time.Conclusion:Patients who required reintubation had the worst respiratory function.Patients identified as having high risk factors for reintubation should be followed closely and treated for problems that will lead to reintubation

Base Deficit In the Immediate Postoperative Period of Open-Heart Surgery and Patient Outcome

Background:Base deficit is a non-respiratory indicator of acid base status that evaluates the severity of shock at the cellular level. Base deficit results from cellular metabolism of pyruvate under anaerobic conditions. In this situation, base deficit is a sensitive marker of the magnitude of anaerobic metabolism and tissue oxygen deficit[1].Several studies have shown a strong positive correlation between base deficit and the risk of morbidity and mortality in clinical situations such as circulatory shock, extracorporeal support and in children after operation for complex congenital heart disease. Methods: 136 consecutive cases with coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease were scheduled in the study. 20 variables were determined during the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative periods. Statistical univariate analysis was performed differentiating patients whose initial base deficit after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass was -8 meq and these whose base deficit was equal or more than -8 meq. Results: 39 patients had base deficit levels less than -8 (Group A) and 91 had a level of > -8 meq/L (Group B). Patients with a base deficit level of -8 meq/L or more were older and most of them were women. The prevalence of left ventricular ejection fraction less than 30% and coronary artery disease was not significantly higher in patients with base deficit of > -8 meq/L . No difference was found according to the presence of hypertension or diabetes in patients with base deficit levels of –8 or higher than in those with base deficit levels less than –8 (P >0.05). In the univariate analysis of preoperative variables, there were no differences with respect to factors such as age, sex, diabetes, preoperative hemoglobin level, hypertension, emergency operation and redo operation. Congestive heart failure was different between the two groups (P < 0.05).Three variables had a statistically significant difference in the univariate analysis and two of them were highlighted by the linear logistic model.Conclusion:The value of base deficit which was measured during the immediate postoperative open-heart surgery period is correlated with the volume of fresh frozen plasma and blood transfusion after open heart surgery and using of intra-aortic balloon pump after surgery