Hierarchical classification for improving parcel-scale crop mapping using time-series Sentinel-1 data.

Parcel-scale crop classification utilizing time-series satellite observations is of significant importance in precision agriculture. The prior knowledge that crop types can be organized in a hierarchical tree structure is beneficial for improving crop classification. Moreover, the crop hierarchy aligns with the coarse-to-fine cognitive process of geographic scenes. Based on the crop hierarchy, this study developed a general hierarchical classification framework for enhancing crop mapping using time-series Sentinel-1 data. Central to this method is a deep-learning-based hierarchical classification model that explores and makes use of crop hierarchical knowledge. First, preprocessed Sentinel-1 data were geometrically overlaid onto farmland parcel maps to derive parcel-scale time-series features. Second, we constructed a hierarchical crop type system for study areas based on the crop phenology of labeled crop-type samples. Third, we developed a deep-learning-based hierarchical classification model to identify crop types for each parcel, to generate final crop-type classification maps. The proposed approach was further discussed and verified through the implementation of parcel-scale time-series crop hierarchical classifications in a study area in France with farmland parcel maps and time-series Sentinel-1 data. The classification results, indicating significant improvements greater than 4.0% in overall accuracy and 5.0% in F1 score over comparative methods, demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method in learning multi-scale time-series features for hierarchical crop classification utilizing Sentinel-1 data sequences.

Screening of key genes in the pathogenesis of muscle atrophy in CKD-PEW children based on RNA sequencing.

BACKGROUND: In children with CKD, Protein Energy Wasting (PEW) is common, which affects the outcome of children and is an important cause of poor prognosis. We are aiming to explore the pathogenesis of muscle wasting in CKD-PEW children. METHODS: Blood samples of 32 children diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and protein energy wasting (PEW) in our hospital from January 2016 to June 2021 were collected. RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed. RESULTS: Based on GO (Gene Ontology) functional enrichment analysis, KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichment analysis and differential gene expression analysis, a total of 25 CKD-PEW related genes were obtained including CRP, IL6, TNF, IL1B, CXCL8, IL12B, IL12A, IL18, IL1A, IL4, IL10, TGFB2, TGFB1, TGFB3, ADIPOQ, NAMPT, RETN, RETNLB, LEP, CD163, ICAM1, VCAM1, SELE, NF-κB1, NF-κB2. The most significantly differentially expressed gene was NF-κB2 (adjusted P = 2.81 × 10-16), and its expression was up-regulated by 3.92 times (corresponding log2FoldChange value was 1.979). Followed by RETN (adjusted P = 1.63 × 10-7), and its expression was up-regulated by 8.306 times (corresponding log2FoldChange value was 2.882). SELE gene were secondly significant (adjusted P = 5.81 × 10-7), and its expression was down-regulated by 22.05 times (corresponding log2FoldChange value was -4.696). CONCLUSIONS: A variety of inflammatory factors are involved in the pathogenesis of CKD-PEW in children, and chronic inflammation may lead to the development of muscle atrophy in CKD-PEW. It is suggested for the first time that NF-κB is a key gene in the pathogenesis of muscle wasting in CKD-PEW children, and its increased expression may play an important role in the pathogenesis of muscle wasting in children with CKD-PEW.

Did Chinese children with imaginary companions attribute more agencies to non-human items: Evidences from behavioral cues and appearance characteristics.

Previous studies have focused on the relationship between imaginary companions (ICs) and children's social developments. As far as we know, few studies have focused on the relationship between ICs and children's agency attributions. This study aimed to explore the potential differences in agency attributions between children with and without ICs, children with egalitarian IC relationships and hierarchical IC relationships. Children's agency attributions were measured by two experiments. One was based on behavioral cues (Random animations/ToM animations) and the other was based on appearance characteristics (ball/doll). The results revealed that children with ICs attributed more cognitive properties to Random and ToM animations than children without ICs. Compared with children without ICs, children with ICs attributed marginally more biological properties to a ball and more psychological properties to a ball and a doll. However, children with egalitarian and hierarchical IC relationships did not differ in their agency attributions. The results suggest that children with ICs are more likely to attribute agencies to non-human items with behavioral cues or appearance characteristics than children without ICs. Compared with child-IC relationship qualities, IC status may be more related to children's agency attributions. However, only a correlation between IC status and children's agency attributions was found in this study and it is interesting for future researchers to investigate the potential causal directions between children's IC status and their agency attributions. If one of the causal directions or both the causal directions exist, future researchers can further explore the underlying mechanism.

Attention to renal involvement: report of 17 Joubert syndrome cases in children of a single center in China.

BACKGROUND: Joubert Syndrome (JS) is a rare genetic developmental disorder. We are aiming for increasing awareness of this disease especially kidney involvement in children with JS. METHODS: Clinical and genetic data of 17 cases of JS in Beijing children's hospital in the past 21 years were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: Twelve males and 5 females, aged from 12d to 15y8m. The most common involvement was neurological system involvement. The second most common involvement was renal involvement: end stage kidney disease in 6 cases (35%), hematuria in 5 cases (29%), proteinuria in 5 cases (29%), renal diffuse lesions in 4 cases (24%), renal cystic lesions in 2 cases (12%), and echogenic enhancement of parenchyma in 2 cases (12%). 10 cases did genetic tests. 3 cases with renal deficiency all had RPGRIP1L gene mutation. CONCLUSIONS: The most common involvement of JS is neurological involvement, and the second is renal involvement. Pediatricians should improve awareness of JS and conduct systemic evaluation of children. More attention should be paid to renal involvement which may be onset hidden but fatal. Early recognition and diagnosis are the goals to delay the start to dialysis and improve quality of patients' life. The RPGRIP1L gene mutation maybe the most common gene mutation in JS and may have correlations with renal involvement.

A gradient-based discriminant analysis method for process quality control of carbonized TCM via Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy: A case study on carbonized Typhae Pollen.

Carbonized traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a kind of distinctive traditional drug which has been widely used in various bleeding syndromes for over two thousand years, and most of them are still in clinical use. Although they share similar processing method: stir-frying, there are no specific quality standards and few quality control researches carried out on carbonized TCM up until now. Carbonized Typhae Pollen (CTP) is a typical carbonized TCM with efficacy of eliminating blood stasis and stanching bleeding. In this study, a novel process quality control model coupled with near infrared spectroscopy was established, called Gradient-based Discriminant Analysis method (GDA). Compared with conventional modeling methods (Convolutional Neural Network, Linear Discriminant Analysis, Standard Normal Variate-LDA), GDA model applied in fiber optic probe acquisition mode exhibited highest test accuracy (0.961), satisfactory correct identification (internal validation, 100%; external validation, 97.1%) and excellent model stability. This method provided a perfect guideline for process quality control of Carbonized TCM as well as ensured their clinical efficacy.

The Impact of Incomplete Faces of Spokes-Characters in Mobile Application Icon Designs on Brand Evaluations.

In this article, we explore how incomplete spokes-character faces (versus complete spokes-character faces in application icon designs) make a positive impression on users, and we outline the boundary conditions. Across three studies, we find incomplete spokes-character faces to be an effective image icon tool. In study 1, we find that spokes-characters with incomplete faces improve users' brand evaluations. In study 2, we find that incomplete spokes-character faces create perceptions of anthropomorphism, which lead to more favorable brand evaluations by enhancing the interpersonal closeness between the user and the brand. The results of study 3, however, show that the type of social exclusion (control vs. ignored vs. rejected) moderates the relationship between incomplete spokes-character faces in mobile application icons and brand evaluations.

Effects of TLR3 and TLR9 Signaling Pathway on Brain Protection in Rats Undergoing Sevoflurane Pretreatment during Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of TLR3 and TLR9 signaling pathway on brain injury during CPB in rats pretreated with sevoflurane and its possible molecular mechanism. METHODS: SD rats were randomly assigned to sham group, CPB group, and Sev group. Brain tissue was obtained at before CPB (T0), at CPB for 30 minutes (T1), 1 hour after CPB (T3), and 3 hours after CPB (T5). ELISA was used to measure S100-ß and IL-6. Western blot was utilized to determine TLR3 and TLR9 expression. TUNEL was applied to detect neuronal apoptosis. RESULTS: Compared with CPB group, at T1, at termination after 1 hour of CPB (T2), T3, 2 hours after CPB (T4) and T5, S100-ß and IL-6 decreased in Sev group. Compared with CPB group, IFN-ß were increased in Sev group, except T0. Compared with CPB group, TLR3 expression increased, and TLR9 and NF-κB decreased in Sev group. The apoptotic neurons were less in Sev group than in CPB group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sevoflurane intervention can activate TLR3 and TLR9 signaling pathway, upregulate TLR3 expression and downstream TRIF expression, decrease TLR9 expression, and downregulate downstream NF-κB expression in CPB rat models, thereby mitigating brain injury induced by inflammatory response during CPB.