Fuzzy machine learning approach for transitioned building footprints extraction using dual-sensor temporal data

This study presents a fuzzy approach, for detection of transitioned building footprints in urban area using medium resolution datasets. Multi-temporal remote sensing data sets from Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager and Sentinel-2A were used for generation of temporal indices database. The database was generated using class-based sensor independent-normalized difference vegetation index approach, with an aim to reduce spectral dimensionality of each image and maintain temporal dimensionality. The temporal indices database was subsequently used as input in Modified Possibilistic c-means classifier for transitioned building footprints extraction. The identified transitioned building locations were validated using ground samples as well as from Google images at four different test sites. For accuracy assessment, F-measure was calculated and its value was 0.75 or higher for all training and testing sites. Thus, using proposed fuzzy approach, transitioned building footprints were accurately identified compared to traditional techniques.

Correlation between the main parameters SLAEP and rheoencephalography in patients with acoustic trauma

It is known that vascular factor is one of the main factors of occurrence and development of SHL of any etiology. Our previous studies have shown that this statement is also true in relation to sensorineural disorders that occur in acoustic trauma. With acoustic trauma, both peripheral and central – the brainstem and cortical departments of the auditory analyzer suffer. At the same time, in terms of clarifying the topic of the lesion of the auditory system, the temporal characteristics of the SLAEP are very informative, which allow to identify violations in the brainstem structures of the auditory analyzer, including those in the early stages. On the other hand, it is known that the correlation analysis of the results of instrumental studies is very important in relation to the characteristics of the relationship between certain indicators that characterize the relevant processes. The purpose of the study is to determine the correlation coefficients between the temporal indices of SLAEP and quantitative values of rheoencephalography data to clarify the relationship (correlation) between the state of the brains- tem structures of the auditory analyzer and cerebral blood circulation in the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems in pa- tients with acoustic trauma. Materials and methods: to achieve this aim, we examined 71 patients with acoustic trauma at the age of 19-50 years, with predominantly bilateral asymmetric sensorineural disorders, a descending type of audiometric curve, a moderate degree of decrease in auditory function, the most pronounced significant (P<0.01) increase in hearing thresholds to tones 4, 6 and 8 kHz on the tonal threshold audiometric curve. Cerebral blood flow in patients with acoustic trauma was studied by rheoencephalography using a computer rheograph of the company «DX-systems» (Ukraine) according to the generally accepted method. Registration of shortlatency auditory evoked potentials (SLAEP) was carried out using the analyzing system «Eclipse» of the company «Interacoustics» (Denmark), according to the generally accepted method. To identify the correlation between the brainstem structures of the auditory analyzer and cerebral circulation in the vertebrobasilar and carotid systems, we took into account the correlation coefficients (r) and their errors (mr) between the main indicators REG in the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems, as well as the most informative time indicators SLEP patients with acoustic trauma. Results and discussion: We carried out a correlation analysis between the values of LPP V wave of SLAEP and MPI (I-V) SLAEP, as well as the values of DCI, DSI and Pi in the carotid and vertebrobasilar systems in servicemen with combat acoustic trauma. The determination of such a connection is important because the severity of the lesion of the auditory system and the prognosis of the effectiveness of therapeutic measures in acoustic trauma largely depends on the presence and severity of dysfunction in the brainstem structures of the auditory analyzer. The obtained data confirm the influence of the state of cerebral circulation on the development of functional disorders of the cerebrospinal structures of the brain and the auditory analyzer in acoustic trauma. There is a direct correlation in the development of such disorders with changes of the tone of cerebral vessels, but especially - violations of venous outflow. According to our data, in the carotid system, there is a weak direct correlation between the value of DCI, reflecting the tone of cerebral vessels, and LPP V wave of SLAEP (r=0.309; mr=0.063), as well as MPI I-V SLEP (r=0.322; mr=0.042). A weak direct correlation was also found between these indicators in the vertebralbasilar system, where the corresponding correlation coefficients were r=0.385, and mr=0.061, and r=0.348, and mr=0.036. Between LPP V - SLAEP and DSI, which characterizes venous outflow, in the carotid system, r was 0.458 and mr=0.057, and for MPI I-V SLEP the coefficient was (r=0.463; mr=0.049). A direct correlation between these indicators was found in the vertebral-basilar system (the corresponding values were: r=0.516, mr=0.021 and r=0.523, mr=0.022). Conclusion: Correlation analysis showed the presence of a relationship between the state of cerebral circulation according to REG in carotid, and, especially, in the vertebrobasilar systems and temporal indices of SLAEP in patients with acoustic trauma obtained in real combat conditions. In patients with acoustic trauma, a significant inverse correlation was found between the temporal indices of SLAEP and the values of Ri according to REG data characterizing the state of pulse blood filling in the vertebrobasilar pool. Thus, a significant inverse correlation (r=-0,527, mr=0,068) is observed between the values Ri and the duration of the inter-peak interval I-V SLAEP, for the duration of the LPP V wave r was -0,512, and mr=0,026. Only weak direct correlation in both carotid and vertebral-basilar systems was found with DCI indicators reflecting the state of cerebral vascular tone in the studied temporal characteristics of SLAEP. This may be due to the risk of changes in the tone of cerebral vessels (the tendency to both increase and decrease) in this contingent of patients. With the value of DSI, which characterizes venous outflow, there is a direct correlation with both LPP V wave and MPI I-V SLAEP in both systems of cerebral blood supply. In the carotid system between LPP V SLAEP and DSI, r was equal to 0.458, and mr=0.057, and between MPI I-V SLAEP and the value of DSI was (r=0.463; mr=0.049), in the vertebrobasilar system, the corresponding values were r=0.516, mr=0.021 and r= 0.523, mr=0.022.

Temporal Indices of Landscape Change: A Proposal to Measure Variations in the Conservation Status of Vegetation at Fine Resolution

The goal of this study was to propose scientific and objective indices capable of measuring the changes that occur in the conservation status of the vegetation of a particular area over a period of time. To this end, phytosociologically-based vegetation cartography at a detailed scale was used, carried out at two different times, and the distance from the climax stage of the territory was calculated for each time. Three temporal indices of landscape change are proposed: Conservation Status Variation Index (ConSVI), Conservation Status Variation Velocity Index (ConSVVe) and Change Ratio (ChanRat). These enable the intensity, velocity, and percentage of change to be measured, and to determine whether this change is progressive or regressive—in other words, whether it is approaching or receding from the climax. To test the proposal, it was applied to a territory in Northwest Spain. The proposed indices are universally applicable to any territory and are the first of their kind to operate at a detailed scale with a phytosociological basis. They also enable an objective measurement to be made of the landscape change that has occurred, meaning that they have immense practical utility in studies of managing and planning territorial resources.

Revealing the Temporal Dynamics in Non-invasive Electrophysiological recordings with Topography-based Analyses

The fine temporal resolution of electroencephalography (EEG) makes it one of the most widely used non-invasive electrophysiological recording methods in cognitive neuroscience research. One of the common ways to explore the neural dynamics is to create event-related potentials (ERPs) by averaging trials, followed by the examination of the response magnitude at peak latencies. However, a complete profile of neural dynamics, including temporal indices of onset time, offset time, duration, and processing speed, is needed to investigate cognitive neural mechanisms. Based on the multivariate topographic analysis, we developed an analytical framework that included two methods to explore neural dynamics in ERPs. The first method separates continuous ERP waveforms into distinct components based on their topographic patterns. Crucial temporal indices such as the peak latency, onset and offset times can be automatically identified and indices about processing speed such as duration, rise, and fall speed can be derived. The second method scrutinizes the temporal dynamics of identified components by reducing the temporal variance among trials. The response peaks of signal trials are identified based on a target topographic template, and temporal-variance-free ERPs are obtained after aligning individual trials. This method quantifies the temporal variance as a new measure of cognitive noise, as well as increases both the accuracy of temporal dynamics estimation and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ERP responses. The validity and reliability of these methods were tested with simulation as well as empirical datasets from an attention study and a semantic priming (N400) study. Together, we offer an analytical framework in a data-driven, bias-free manner to investigate neural dynamics in non-invasive scalp recordings. These methods are implemented in the Python-based open-source package TTT (Topography-based Temporal-analysis Toolbox).

A study of gamma-ray burst afterglows as they first come into view of the SwiftUltraviolet and Optical Telescope

ABSTRACT We examine the emission from optically bright gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows, as the Ultraviolet and Optical Telescope (UVOT) on the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory first begins observing, following the slew to target the GRB, while the pointing of the Swift satellite is still settling. We verify the photometric quality of the UVOT settling data using bright stars in the field of view. In the majority of cases, we find no problems with the settling exposure photometry, but in one case, we excise the first second of the exposure to mitigate a spacecraft attitude reconstruction issue, and in a second case, we exclude the first second of the exposure in which the UVOT photocathode voltage appears to be ramping up. Of a sample of 23 afterglows which have peak V magnitudes <16, we find that all are detected in the settling exposures, when Swift arrives on target. For nine of the GRBs, the UVOT settling exposure took place before the conclusion of the prompt gamma-ray emission. Five of these GRBs have well-defined optical peaks after the settling exposures, with rises of >0.5 mag in their optical light curves, and there is a marginal trend for these GRBs to have long T90. Such a trend is expected for thick-shell afterglows, but the temporal indices of the optical rises and the timing of the optical peaks appear to rule out thick shells.

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF INVESTMENT PROCESSES IN REGIONS USING THE METHOD OF ENVELOPES

<p><span>This article takes a look at modeling of features of investment cycles in the regions of the Russian Federation based on statistic data for 1999–2015. As characteristics of investment process the investment density per sq. miles of territory and the intensity of its growth are used. Curves and functions of these cycles are limited with envelope curves and functions that display geographical environment in the region. Refined equations of investment cycles provide a sufficient description of the patterns of change in the intensity of investment growth from inception to crisis. Based on the equations, sustainable regional indicators and enveloped trends are highlighted. It characterizes the regional economy with such relative temporal indices as conditional economic age and the age of development of the territory. These indices are associated with the level of the resource consumption specialization of the region and with the development potential of its economy. According to the result of the calculation, this investment cycle in Russia was caused by the 1998 economic crisis, which radically transformed the financial and economic system of the country. The resultant </span><span>innovative investment cycle was released against the backdrop of high world prices for oil, </span><span>the world financial and economic crisis and sank, leading to fracture of positive trends, the gradual slowdown investments and indicates the possibility of new economic crisis in Russia in the coming years.</span></p>