Automated classification of heat sources detected using SWIR remote sensing

Abstract The potential of shortwave infrared (SWIR) remote sensing to detect hotspots has been investigated using satellite data for decades. The hotspots detected by satellite SWIR sensors include very high-temperature heat sources such as wildfires, volcanoes, industrial activity, or open burning. This study proposes an automated classification method of heat source detected utilizing Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 data. We created training data of heat sources via visual inspection of hotspots detected by Landsat 8. A scheme to classify heat sources for daytime data was developed by combining classification methods based on a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithm utilizing spatial features and a decision tree algorithm based on thematic land-cover information and our time series detection record. Validation work using 10,959 classification results corresponding to hotspots acquired from May 2017 to July 2019 indicated that the two classification results were in 79.7% agreement. For hotspots where the two classification schemes agreed, the classification was 97.9% accurate. Even when the results of the two classification schemes conflicted, either was correct in 73% of the samples. To improve the accuracy, the heat source category was re-allocated to the most probable category corresponding to the combination of the results from the two methods. Integrating the two approaches achieved an overall accuracy of 92.8%. In contrast, the overall accuracy for heat source classification during nighttime reached 79.3% because only the decision tree-based classification was applicable to limited available data. Comparison with the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) fire product revealed that, despite the limited data acquisition frequency of Landsat 8, regional tendencies in hotspot occurrence were qualitatively appropriate for an annual period on a global scale

Early Results of a Wildfire Monitoring Microsatellite UNIFORM-1

UNIFORM (UNiversity International FORmation Mission) is a capacity building program in microsatellite field including satellites, ground stations, and data platform. The program, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, aims to increase the number of players in the small satellite community through education of both domestic and international young engineers, by providing them with an opportunity to study, build, and operate microsatellites. The first satellite of the program, UNIFORM-1 was launched on May 24th 2014. UNIFORM-1 is a 50-kg earth observation satellite whose mission is wildfiremonitoring using a microbolometer. Since then it has been in operation, successfully capturing several events on the ground including wildfires and volcanic activities. This paper presents in-orbit results of UNIFORM-1 mission, critical bus subsystems including EPS and AOCS, and lessons learned from its operations

Isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor in systemic capillary leak syndrome : a case report

Background: Systemic capillary leak syndrome is a rare condition characterized by episodic attacks of hypovolemia due to systemic capillary hyperpermeability, which results in profound hypotension and edema. Although the implication of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, and C-X-C motif chemokine 10 has been suggested, the pathogenesis of systemic capillary leak syndrome remains unclear. In this report, we describe a case of systemic capillary leak syndrome in which serum isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor was elevated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of systemic capillary leak syndrome in which isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor is suggested as the plausible biomarker. Case presentation: A 41-year-old Japanese man was transferred to our emergency department. He was hypotensive, tachycardic, and edematous over the trunk and all four limbs. He received aggressive intravenous fluid therapy and underwent fasciotomy of the right forearm to prevent muscle necrosis. A diagnosis of systemic capillary leak syndrome was suspected. The presence of serum monoclonal immunoglobulin G and κ light chain supported this diagnosis. Prevention of hypotensive crises was unsuccessfully attempted with theophylline, intravenous immunoglobulin, high-dose dexamethasone, bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisolone; however, the patient’s attacks dramatically disappeared after the introduction of thalidomide. The serum of the patient was stored soon after the onset of hypotensive crisis and analyzed to profile possible mediators responsible for the capillary leak. The concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, and C-X-C motif chemokine 10 were all within normal ranges. Meanwhile, we found that isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor was elevated, which was normalized after the introduction of thalidomide. Conclusions: In our patient, isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor (instead of vascular endothelial growth factor) may have been a causative factor of hypotensive crises, since isoform D contributes to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 signaling, which is the major mediator of the permeability-enhancing effects of vascular endothelial growth factor. We suggest the measurement of isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with systemic capillary leak syndrome in whose serum vascular endothelial growth factor is not elevated

Denosumab prevents bone loss in newly diagnosed malignant lymphoma patients undergoing corticosteroid-containing chemotherapy: a prospective, non-randomized study

Background: Malignant lymphoma patients have a high risk of bone mineral density (BMD) loss caused by corticosteroid-containing chemotherapy. Bisphosphonates have been used to prevent bone loss: however, little is known about effects of denosumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody inhibiting osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted in newly diagnosed lymphoma patients undergoing corticosteroid-containing chemotherapy. BMD was evaluated at baseline, and patients with a lumbar spine T-score of ? -1 were subcutaneously administered once with 60 mg of denosumab (“Denosumab” group). Patients with a T-score > -1 were allocated to the “No treatment” group. BMD was reevaluated at 24 weeks after enrollment. Bone turnover markers (BTMs) were collected at 0, 2, and 24 weeks.Results: Forty-three patients were enrolled (19 in the “Denosumab” group and 24 in the “No treatment” group). Patients in the “No treatment” group had decreased T-scores for the lumbar spine or femoral neck (P < 0.0001 or P = 0.0029, respectively) at 24 weeks after enrollment, whereas both T-scores were stable in the “Denosumab” group. Of the 18 patients in the “Denosumab” group, 12 had a T-score change from baseline (ΔT-score) of ? 0, whereas the remaining six patients had a ΔT-score < 0. These six patients had severely low T-scores at enrollment. Osteoclastic BTMs were strongly suppressed during the 24 weeks in the “Denosumab” group. The probability of major osteoporotic fracture or hip fracture in the “No treatment” group increased during the 24 weeks (P = 0.0195 or P = 0.0289, respectively), whereas pretreatment with denosumab prevented increased risks of both types of fractures. Conclusions: Our data suggests that BMD screening at diagnosis of lymphoma should be considered so that the bone health of lymphoma survivors can be improved with denosumab

Denosumab prevents bone loss in newly diagnosed malignant lymphoma patients undergoing corticosteroid-containing chemotherapy: a prospective, non-randomized study

Background: Malignant lymphoma patients have a high risk of bone mineral density (BMD) loss caused by corticosteroid-containing chemotherapy. Bisphosphonates have been used to prevent bone loss: however, little is known about effects of denosumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody inhibiting osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Methods: This clinical trial was conducted in newly diagnosed lymphoma patients undergoing corticosteroid-containing chemotherapy. BMD was evaluated at baseline, and patients with a lumbar spine T-score of ? -1 were subcutaneously administered once with 60 mg of denosumab (“Denosumab” group). Patients with a T-score > -1 were allocated to the “No treatment” group. BMD was reevaluated at 24 weeks after enrollment. Bone turnover markers (BTMs) were collected at 0, 2, and 24 weeks.Results: Forty-three patients were enrolled (19 in the “Denosumab” group and 24 in the “No treatment” group). Patients in the “No treatment” group had decreased T-scores for the lumbar spine or femoral neck (P < 0.0001 or P = 0.0029, respectively) at 24 weeks after enrollment, whereas both T-scores were stable in the “Denosumab” group. Of the 18 patients in the “Denosumab” group, 12 had a T-score change from baseline (ΔT-score) of ? 0, whereas the remaining six patients had a ΔT-score < 0. These six patients had severely low T-scores at enrollment. Osteoclastic BTMs were strongly suppressed during the 24 weeks in the “Denosumab” group. The probability of major osteoporotic fracture or hip fracture in the “No treatment” group increased during the 24 weeks (P = 0.0195 or P = 0.0289, respectively), whereas pretreatment with denosumab prevented increased risks of both types of fractures. Conclusions: Our data suggests that BMD screening at diagnosis of lymphoma should be considered so that the bone health of lymphoma survivors can be improved with denosumab

Application of Low-Cost Sensors for Urban Heat Island Assessment: A Case Study in Taiwan

In the urban environment, the urban heat island effect, the phenomenon of high temperature in the city relative to the suburbs, has become significant due to a large amount of artificial heat dissipation, rare green spaces, high building density, and a large surface material heat capacity. The study of the urban heat island effect has been carried out for many years. Even though many studies have evolved from the measurement and analysis stage to the improvement of the urban heat island effect, the measurement method is still the most important issue of the studies in this field. Basically, the measurement method of the urban heat island effect intensity has three types: remote sensing, mobile transect observation, and fixed station. In order to achieve the dual purpose of reducing research funding requirements and maintaining the accuracy of research results, this study proposes a way to combine mobile transect observation and fixed station. This study exploits the advantages of mobile transect observation and fixed station, and uses low-cost sensors to achieve the basic purpose of urban heat island effect research. First, in this study, low-cost sensors were mounted on mobile vehicles for more than ten mobile transect observations to identify relatively high temperature and low temperature regions in the city; meanwhile, the low-cost sensors were also placed in a simple fixed station to obtain long-term instantaneous urban temperature data. Furthermore, it is possible to analyze the 24-hour full-time variation of the urban heat island effect. Therefore, the results of this study can not only provide a reference for relevant researchers, but can also serve as an important criterion for government departments to establish an &#8220;urban heat island effect monitoring system&#8222; to achieve the goal of efficient use of the public budget

One-year Lunar Calibration Result of Hodoyoshi-1, Moon as an Ideal Target for Small Satellite Radiometric Calibration

Well calibrated satellite images are not just images, but scientific data that can be used for many applications such as predicting crop growth, assessing hazard damage. Reliable radiometric calibration is crucial for expanding small satellite data use, and radiometric calibration with the Moon (called lunar calibration) is a reasonable candidate for small satellites because it does not need any special instruments other than optical sensors, and the calibration can be repeated by only conducting lunar observations in which we can treat the Moon as a well-known brightness target in space. In this study, we report a lunar calibration result for Hodoyoshi-1, which is a Japanese small satellite that has conducted lunar observations almost every month for approximately 1 year since August 2016. By comparing the observed brightness with the brightness of a simulated Moon, we successfully identified even small sensitivity variations (less than 1 %) in Hodoyoshi-1’s sensors from a reference date during the observation period. Due to the advantages of lunar calibration, it is a reasonable candidate for a common radiometric calibration method for a huge number of small satellites