Comparing Convolutional Neural Network in a Rashomon Set using Explanations

Deep learning neural networks achieve great performance in image classification tasks. To measure the performance, a validation set is used to estimate the performance on unseen test data. A set of different models with similar performance on the validation set is called Rashomon set. Even though the performance of the validation set are similar the reasoning behind the decision may differ. Unfortunately, deep neural networks are a black box models, where the reasoning behind a decision is not clear. In this thesis we compare these black box models and aim to differentiate models which are right for the right reasons and models which are right for the wrong reasons. We examine whether different reasons between models may be found by using extremal perturbations masks, which highlight the most important part behind a models predictions. We compare the similarity of masks from different models on the same instance. We find that images with decoy can be found using this method if we compare a decoy model with non-decoy models. However, some images without decoys have similar properties as images with decoys. Another method explored in this thesis is by using influential instance. Influential instances are training instances which are important behind a decision for a validation instance. By comparing these influential instances across models we want to show the difference behind the reasoning behind a decision. Similar to the previous approach, images with decoys can be detected, but images without a decoy can have similar properties as images with decoys. We conclude that in certain scenarios explanations are useful to differentiate models that are right for the right reasons from models that are right for the wrong reasons

Report of the training course on seagrass conservation and monitoring in Myanmar Coastal Zone, Mawlamyine University, Myanmar, 26 April-3 May, 2013

A training course on seagrass conservation and monitoring was conducted at Mawlamyine University and Ngapali Beach government department and Non-Government Organizations (NGO) trainees

Carbon content in different seagrass species in Andaman Coast of Thailand

Seagrass meadows have one of the highest carbon sequestration and storage capacities than any other ecosystems. Carbon that is stored in the ecosystem is accumulated in the deposited sediment as well as in the living, above and below ground biomass, with a different rate of carbon sequestration and storage between the species. The objective of this research was to investigate carbon storage in the living plants and in the sediment among species of different size in tropical waters. The samples were collected from Phuket province, Thailand, in the high density monospecific patches of different size species (Enhalus acoroides as a big, Thalassia hemprhicii as a medium and Halophila ovalis as a small size species). Total carbon and carbon stored in above and below ground, was significantly different between the species (p<0.05), with the highest values in below ground parts of E. acoroides and T. hemprichii 238.10±85.07 and 134±21.55 g Dw m-2, respectively. Average organic carbon in the sediment was significantly different (p<0.05) as well, with E. acoroides having highest organic carbon content in the deeper layers of the sediment 1.14±0.25 % Corg, while the other two species had higher organic carbon in the top and medium layers of sediment. The results of this preliminary research propose that big size species have higher carbon content than smaller species, which reflects in higher sequestration rates of carbon from the ocean, thus reducing the ocean carbon budget. Moreover, it provides necessary information on size of the species which is the key for the future carbon storage studies in the region

Developmental performance of young children aged 1 - 42 months in Mueang Pitsanulok, Thailand: The Bayley-III Screening Survey.

The Bayley-III Screening test is one of the most worldwide used standardized assessments for young children aged between 1-42 months, however, it is less well-known in Thailand. This preliminary study aimed to conduct developmental screening using the Bayley-IIIscreening test and to report the cross-sectional developmental performance of infants and toddlers in Mueang Phitsanulok, Thailand during August 2007. The secondary objective was to explore the feasibility of using Bayley-III Screening in Thailand. We assessed 67 Thai children (31 boys and 36 girls; age range 1-42 months old [mean=16 months; SD=9.74, this included bothchronological age and corrected age for prematurity]). The Bayley-III test was administered to assess five subtests of development: cognitive, expressive- and receptive-communication, fine and gross-motor functioning. Summary scores for each subtest were determined using the Bayley-III subtest cut-score information regarding the child’s age, and classified into ‘competent’, ‘emerging’, and ‘at risk’ categories. All 67 children were assessed but three infants were dropped-off during the assessments as they were in an inattentive state. In all five subtests, the majority of those 64 included children were classified as ‘competent’, i.e. as typically developing, while only about 3-20% of the children were categorized as ‘emerging’ risk and 3-7% of the children were found ‘at risk’ to developmental delays. For the latter, 4 children exhibited ‘at risk’ in both cognitive and communication subtests. Based on the Bayley-III identification, the developmental performance of young children in Mueang Phitsanulok during August 2007 was generally at the lowest risk for developmental delays

Thromboelastography in different mechanisms of injuries/organ injuries in traumatized patients in Southern Thailand

Background: Trauma is the second most common cause of death in Thailand, relatively with massive blood loss. Coagulopathy plays a role in blood loss. Differences in mechanisms and organs injured can affect coagulopathy stage and blood loss. Thromboelastometry is a measuring instrument for accurate and rapid detection of coagulopathy. We hypothesized that thromboelastometry in traumatized patients who require surgery in Songklanagarind Hospital will help with early detection of coagulopathy and assess anticipated blood loss. Methods: After approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee, patients aged above 18 years who had American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA) IEVE, activated by trauma team and sent for emergency surgery. Anesthesia was induced and maintained, and invasive procedures were done as anesthesiologist's consideration. Thromboelastometry, prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), complete blood count, platelets, arterial blood gas, lactate, and base deficit were assessed and recorded at the emergency room and after Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP) was activated at 1 and 2 MTP, respectively. Results: Most traumatized patients who were operated on in Songklanagarind Hospital during the study period were male, the most common cause of their injuries was a motorcycle accident, and the most common organ associated with massive blood loss and blood transfusion was the head. After the patients received PRCs of 5 and 11 units, the hematocrit level and platelet count decreased from baseline, while PT and PTT were prolonged. pH, base deficit, and lactate were worse. Clot formation time (CFT), A10, and maximum clot firmness (MCF) of EXTEM were statistically significantly different among the three time periods. Clotting times, CFT, A10, and MCF of INTEM were statistically significantly different among three time periods. A10 and MCF of FIBTEM were statistically significantly different among three time periods. Conclusion: Most baseline laboratory tests in the traumatized patients who received massive blood transfusion and underwent surgery were worse after they received 1 and 2 MTP. These parameters including thromboelastometry could be guided for preparing proper blood components for patients requiring massive transfusion

Seagrass in Southeast Asia: a review of status and knowledge gaps, and a road map for conservation

Southeast Asia has the highest diversity of seagrass species and habitat types, but basic information on seagrass habitats is still lacking. This review examines the known distribution, extent, species diversity, and research and knowledge gaps of seagrasses in Southeast Asia by biogeographic region of the Marine Ecoregions of the World (MEOW). The extent of seagrass meadows in Southeast Asia is ~36,762.6 km2 but this is likely an underestimate as some ecoregions were not well-represented and updated information was lacking. There is a paucity of information from the Western Coral Triangle Province, with no areal extent data available for the Indonesian regions of Kalimantan, Central and Southeast Sulawesi, the Maluku Islands, and West Papua. Regional research output has increased in the last two decades, with a trend towards more experimental, rather than descriptive research. However, there are knowledge gaps in socio-cultural-economic themed research, despite growing awareness of the importance of seagrass-human relationships in this region. Obstacles to advancing seagrass research, knowledge and conservation are rooted in either lack of expertise and training or the failure of effective management and policies. We propose a roadmap for seagrass conservation, with suggested solutions, including 1) encouraging collaboration between research institutions and scientists in the region to build capacity and share knowledge; 2) engaging with policymakers and governments to encourage science-based policies; 3) engaging with communities to raise awareness and foster stewardship of seagrass in the region

Coastal and estuarine blue carbon stocks in the greater Southeast Asia region: Seagrasses and mangroves per nation and sum of total

Climate Change solutions include CO2 extraction from atmosphere and water with burial by living habitats in sediment/soil. Nowhere on the planet are blue carbon plants which carry out massive carbon extraction and permanent burial more intensely concentrated than in SE Asia. For the first time we make a national and total inventory of data to date for “blue carbon” buried from mangroves and seagrass and delineate the constraints. For an area across Southeast Asia of approximately 12,000,000 km2, supporting mangrove forests (5,116,032 ha) and seagrass meadows (6,744,529 ha), we analyzed the region's current blue carbon stocks. This estimate was achieved by integrating the sum of estuarine in situ carbon stock measurements with the extent of mangroves and seagrass across each nation, then summed for the region. We found that mangroves ecosystems regionally supported the greater amount of organic carbon (3095.19Tg Corg in 1st meter) over that of seagrass (1683.97 Tg Corg in 1st meter), with corresponding stock densities ranging from 15 to 2205 Mg ha−1 and 31.3 to 2450 Mg ha−1 respectively, a likely underestimate for entire carbon including sediment depths. The largest carbon stocks are found within Indonesia, followed by the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Tropical China, Viet-Nam, and Cambodia. Compared to the blue carbon hotspot of tropical/subtropical Gulf of Mexico's total carbon stock (480.48 Tg Corg), Southeast Asia's greater mangrove–seagrass stock density appears a more intense Blue Carbon hotspot (4778.66 Tg Corg). All regional Southeast Asian nation states should assist in superior preservation and habitat restoration plus similar measures in the USA & Mexico for the Gulf of Mexico, as apparently these form two of the largest tropical carbon sinks within coastal waters. We hypothesize it is SE Asia's regionally unique oceanic–geologic conditions, placed squarely within the tropics, which are largely responsible for this blue carbon hotspot, that is, consistently high ambient light levels and year-long warm temperatures, together with consistently strong inflow of dissolved carbon dioxide and upwelling of nutrients across the shallow geological plates

Distribution, temporal change, and conservation status of tropical seagrass beds in Southeast Asia: 2000–2020

Although Southeast Asia is a hotspot of global seagrass diversity, there are considerable information gaps in the distribution of seagrass beds. Broad-scale seagrass distribution has not been updated in the global seagrass database by UNEP-WCMC since 2000, although studies on seagrasses have been undertaken intensively in each region. Here we analyze the recent distribution of tropical seagrass beds, their temporal changes, causes of decline and conservation status in Southeast Asia (plus southern mainland China, Taiwan and Ryukyu Island of Japan) using data collected after 2000. Based on the 195 literature published since 2000, we identified 1,259 point data and 1,461 polygon data showing the distribution of seagrass beds. A large discrepancy was found in the seagrass bed distribution between our updated data and the UNEP-WCMC database, mostly due to inaccurate and low resolution location information in the latter. Temporal changes in seagrass bed area analyzed for 68 sites in nine countries/regions demonstrated that more than 60% of seagrass beds declined at an average rate of 10.9% year–1, whereas 20% of beds increased at an average rate of 8.1% year–1, leading to an overall average decline of 4.7% year–1. Various types of human-induced threats were reported as causes for the decline, including coastal development, fisheries/aquaculture, and natural factors such as typhoons and tsunamis. The percentage of seagrass beds covered with existing marine protected areas (MPAs) varied greatly among countries/regions, from less than 1% in Brunei Darussalam and Singapore to 100% in southern Japan. However, the degree of conservation regulation was not sufficient even in regions with higher MPA coverage. The percentage of seagrass beds within EBSAs (Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area determined by the Convention of Biological Diversity) was higher than that within MPAs because EBSAs cover a greater area than MPAs. Therefore, designating EBSAs as legally effective MPAs can greatly improve the conservation status of seagrass beds in Southeast Asia