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Extracting road networks from remote sensing images holds critical implications for various applications including autonomous driving, path planning, and road navigation. Despite its importance, the task remains arduous due to the complex backdrops in remote sensing imagery, intricate road geometries, and the challenges arising from vegetation and structural obstructions. To address these multifaceted issues, we introduce a specialized model for road extraction in remote sensing images, termed DRCNet. This model employs a pre-trained DenseNet-121 as its encoder and is fortified with both Recurrent Criss-Cross Attention (RCCA) and Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM). RCCA facilitates the capture of global contextual information across all pixels, thereby enriching the model’s understanding of global image relationships. Simultaneously, CBAM is integrated within the skip connections to optimize the network’s focus on significant road features. Comprehensive experiments conducted on both the DeepGlobe Road and Massachusetts Road datasets substantiate that DRCNet outperforms other benchmark models in road detection tasks.

BackgroundIn this case report, we utilized a three-dimensional printing model to replicate the complex anatomy of a criss-cross heart with double outlet right ventricle—an extremely rare congenital cardiac abnormality. This approach facilitated our understanding of the patient's unique condition and enabled us to plan the surgical procedure with greater precision.Case presentationOur department received a 13-year-old female patient who presented with a pronounced heart murmur and a decrease in exercise capacity. Subsequent two-dimensional imaging revealed the presence of a criss-cross heart with double outlet right ventricle—an intricate and uncommon cardiac malformation that poses challenges for accurate visualization through conventional two-dimensional modalities. To address this challenge, we constructed and printed a three-dimensional model using computed tomography data, which enabled us to visualize and understand the complex intracardiac structures and plan surgical interventions with greater precision. Using this approach, we successfully performed a right ventricular double outlet repair, and the patient made a full recovery following the procedure.ConclusionThe criss-cross heart with double outlet right ventricle constitutes a complex and uncommon cardiac anomaly that poses considerable challenges in terms of diagnosis and surgical intervention. Employing three-dimensional modeling and printing represents a promising approach, given its potential to enhance the precision and comprehensiveness of the anatomical evaluation of the heart. As a result, this method holds significant promise in facilitating accurate diagnosis, meticulous surgical planning, and ultimately improving clinical outcomes for patients affected by this condition.

Using integral field spectroscopy (IFS) from MaNGA, we study the resolved microstructures in a shocked region in the Criss-cross Nebula (CCN), with an unprecedentedly high resolution of ≲1000 au. We measure surface brightness maps for 34 emission lines, which can be broadly divided into three categories: (1) the [O iii ] λ 5007-like group including seven high-ionization lines and two [O ii ] auroral lines that uniformly present a remarkable lane structure, (2) the H α λ 6563-like group, including 23 low-ionization or recombination lines that present a clump-like structure, and (3) [O ii ] λ 3726 and [O ii ] λ 3729 showing high densities at both the [O iii ] λ 5007 lane and the H α clump. We use these measurements to constrain resolved shock models implemented in MAPPINGS V . We find our data can be reasonably well fitted by a model that includes a plane-parallel shock with a velocity of 133 ± 5 km s ^−1 , plus an isotropic two-dimensional Gaussian component, which is likely another clump of gas ionized by photons from the shocked region, and a constant background. We compare the electron density and temperature profiles as predicted by our model with those calculated using observed emission-line ratios. We find different line ratios to provide inconsistent temperature maps, and the discrepancies can be attributed to observational effects caused by limited spatial resolution and projection of the shock geometry, as well as contamination of the additional Gaussian component. Implications on shock properties and perspectives on future IFS-based studies of the CCN are discussed.

To tackle performance issues stemming from assembly errors in practical fuel cell applications, a criss-crossed matching design for anode and cathode bipolar plates (BPP) is proposed. The effectiveness of the proposed design is assessed by joint simulations of finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Concurrently, the orthogonal experimental method is utilized to investigate the performance of the criss-crossed matching design at various operating conditions. The results show that the GDL deformation rate of the criss-crossed matching design with error in practical assembly is merely 4.8%, significantly lower than the 19.9% observed in the aligned matching design. Furthermore, the criss-crossed design performance could be improved by 5.9% compared to the aligned matching design in practical assembly with error. The criss-crossed matching design consistently outperforms the aligned matching design at various operating conditions. Notably, the highest performance growth rate, observed in high stoichiometric ratio and high humidity, reaches 12.38%. • A criss-crossed matching design of the bipolar plate is proposed. • Criss-crossed design performance is seldomly impacted by assembly errors. • Criss-crossed matching design increases performance by 5.9% over aligned design. • Criss-crossed matching design works well in various conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigates new dangers that West African migrants travelling through the Sahara Desert to Europe contend with. COVID-19 has left an unprecedented impact on all aspects of global politics, migration inclusive. In turn, limitations to migration have drastically increased, especially the stricter visa application measures set by European countries. This intensified attempts at crisscrossing the desert to Europe. In turn, several migrants used the Sahara as the highway to Europe. While some persons successfully travelled through the desert-scape, several others were unsuccessful. Notwithstanding the negative experiences of previous migrants, several other nationals across the region have plans to travel through the desert to Europe. Methods: As a descriptive study, mixed method of qualitative and quantitative approaches to data gathering and analysis were employed. Primary data for the study were gathered through key informants’ interviews with some emigrants, and electronic copies of an open-ended questionnaire were administered to the staffers of certain international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) that are focused on migration. In addition, the chain-referral sampling technique was employed. Through this, certain former migrants who were interviewed suggested other persons with whom interview sessions were conducted, in all 15 persons were interviewed while 85 persons responded to the questionnaire for the study. Results: The findings of the study indicated that there are new dangers to the lives of the migrants travelling through the Sahara Desert. Interesting however is the fact that migrants prefer being in harm’s way in their attempts to access European states illicitly through the Sahara Desert than to remain safe in their home countries in West Africa. Conclusions: The study holds that there are new dangers to the aspirations of West Africans travelling to Europe through the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea.

Introdução: A técnica criss-cross combina acesso vascular anterógrado e retrógrado da veia poplítea, de modo a obter recanalização venosa em doentes com trombose venosa profunda (TVP) ileofemoral associada a trombose das veias poplítea e gemelares. Caso clínico: Doente do sexo feminino de 57 anos, com antecedentes de histerectomia radical e linfadenectomia de nódulos linfáticos pélvicos em 2013, devido a neoplasia uterina, com consequente linfedema crónico do membro inferior direito. Admitida na urgência por edema grave do membro inferior direito, com 7 dias de evolução. À observação, a paciente apresentava edema da coxa e perna, cianose da perna, dor gemelar, extremidades quentes e pulsos distais palpáveis. Estudo com ecodoppler a objetivar trombose dos eixos venosos do membro inferior direito. Estudo com TC contrastado excluiu extensão proximal do trombo para a veia ilíaca comum direita ou veia cava; excluiu tromboembolismo pulmonar e evidenciou clips cirúrgicos em proximidade com a veia ilíaca externa direita, causando uma respetiva redução luminal superior a 50%. A doente foi submetida a trombectomia e fibrinólise dirigida por cateter. Obteve-se acesso vascular através de punção ecoguiada da veia poplítea. Após colocação de introdutores em sentido retrógrado e anterógrado, realizou-se trombectomia das veias gemelares até à veia femoral comum, com recurso a aspiração por cateter. Instituiu-se perfusão de alteplase e heparina não fracionada por via periférica, mantidas durante 72 horas, com controlo angiográfico a cada 24h. Após recanalização satisfatória, realizou-se angioplastia com balão 14x40mm, seguida de stent 14x80mm na veia ilíaca externa. Não ocorreram complicações hemorrágicas major. O tratamento invasivo foi complementado com drenagem postural e meia elástica compressiva, permitindo melhoria clínica imediata e progressiva. Após dois dias, a doente recebeu alta medicada com heparina de baixo peso molecular. Em consulta de follow-up após um mês, constatou-se melhoria clínica progressiva e alterada hipocoagulação para rivaroxabano ad aeternum. Conclusão: A técnica de criss-cross permite recanalização do inflow e outflow, restaurando patência venosa e mantendo a função valvular, aspetos com eventual papel crítico nos resultados após TVP ileofemoral extensa.

The paper examines the facts of phonetic interference between the Kudar and Iron dialects of the Ossetian language on the basis of dialect vocabulary and toponymy of South Ossetia. Being a residual phenomenon, they testify to the dialect mixing that occurred in the earlier times of language development. The most striking indicator of interference is that most characteristic sounds of one dialect have been used in the other for emphatic purpose. In Iranian studies, the described phenomena are generally referred to as “criss-crossing isoglosses” (V. I. Abaev, D. I. Edelman, and others). However, the term is subject to varying interpretations and, in some studies, criss-crossing isoglosses may refer to inter-dialectal (in some cases also interlingual) lexical borrowings of the most ancient periods. While not disputing the abovementioned approach, the author proposes to address criss-crossing isoglosses as evidence of interdialectal phonetic interference. As suggested by E. A. Grantovsky, this kind of isoglosses originates from the inter-dialectal interaction and even confusion that took place in the distant past. The criss-crossing isogloss problem also correlates with the issues of substrate/superstrate and adstrate relations between cognate languages or dialects of one language. Thus, the task of specifying criss-crossing isoglosses is relevant not only for history (and historical phonetics, in particular) and dialectology of a given language, but also for shedding light on ethnogenesis and ethnic history.

The history of academic library involvement in service learning is varied. This paper provides an overview of service learning and the literature on academic libraries' participation in service-learning activities. A vision of service-learning participation is described, as well as the implementation of service-learning activities in two library science courses. Strategies for future library contributions to service learning are also presented to encourage more widespread involvement across the profession.