bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acquisition of Freezing Tolerance of Resurrection Species from Gesneriaceae, a Comparative Study
Authors: Mihailova Gergana , Gashi Bekim , Krastev Nikola , Georgieva Katya
Published: May 2023

Resurrection plants have the unique ability to restore normal physiological activity after desiccation to an air-dry state. In addition to their desiccation tolerance, some of them, such as Haberlea rhodopensis and Ramonda myconi, are also freezing-tolerant species, as they survive subzero temperatures during winter. Here, we compared the response of the photosynthetic apparatus of two other Gesneriaceae species, Ramonda serbica and Ramonda nathaliae, together with H. rhodopensis, to cold and freezing temperatures. The role of some protective proteins in freezing tolerance was also investigated. The water content of leaves was not affected during cold acclimation but exposure of plants to −10 °C induced dehydration of plants. Freezing stress strongly reduced the quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Y(II)) and stomatal conductance (gs) on the abaxial leaf side. In addition, the decreased ratio of Fv/Fm suggested photoinhibition or sustained quenching. Freezing-induced desiccation resulted in the inhibition of PSII activity, which was accompanied by increased thermal energy dissipation. In addition, an increase of dehydrins and ELIPs was detected, but the protein pattern differed between species. During recovery, the protein abundance decreased and plants completely recovered their photosynthetic activity. Thus, our results showed that R. serbica, R. nathaliae, and H. rhodopensis survive freezing stress due to some resurrection-linked traits and confirmed their freezing tolerance.
The Regulatory Networks of the Circadian Clock Involved in Plant Adaptation and Crop Yield
Authors: Xu Hang , Wang Xiling , Wei Jian , Zuo Yi , Wang Lei
Published: May 2023

Global climatic change increasingly threatens plant adaptation and crop yields. By synchronizing internal biological processes, including photosynthesis, metabolism, and responses to biotic and abiotic stress, with external environmental cures, such as light and temperature, the circadian clock benefits plant adaptation and crop yield. In this review, we focus on the multiple levels of interaction between the plant circadian clock and environmental factors, and we summarize recent progresses on how the circadian clock affects yield. In addition, we propose potential strategies for better utilizing the current knowledge of circadian biology in crop production in the future.
Macro and Micro-Nutrient Accumulation and Partitioning in Soybean Affected by Water and Nitrogen Supply
Authors: Setubal Ingrid Silva , Andrade Júnior Aderson Soares de , Silva Silvestre Paulino da , Rodrigues Artenisa Cerqueira , Bonifácio Aurenívia , Silva Evandro Henrique Figueiredo Moura da , Vieira Paulo Fernando de Melo Jorge , Miranda Rafael de Souza , Cafaro La Menza Nicolas , Souza Henrique Antunes de
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to investigate the influence of water availability and nitrogen fertilization on plant growth, nutrient dynamics, and variables related to soybean crop yield. Trials were performed in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, using randomized blocks in a split-split plot arrangement. The plots corresponded to water regimes (full and deficient), the split plots to N fertilization (0 and 1000 kg ha−1 N-urea), and the split-split plots to harvest times of soybean plants (16, 23, 30, 37, 44, 58, 65, 79 and 86 days after emergence), with three replicates. In general, the accumulation and partitioning of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) were decreased in plants subjected to water deficit and without N fertilization. Although nitrogen fertilization promoted elevated N accumulation in tissues, it did not result in any significant yield gain, and the highest seed yields were found in plants under full irrigation, regardless of N supplementation. However, deficient irrigation decreased the seed oil content of N-fertilized plants. In conclusion, N fertilization is critical for nutrient homeostasis, and water availability impairs biomass and nutrient accumulation, thereby limiting soybean yield performance.
Antiquorum and Antibiofilm Activities of Piper bogotense C. DC. against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Identification of Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Sierra-Quitian Andrés G. , Hernandez-Moreno Lida V. , Pabon-Baquero Ludy C. , Prieto-Rodriguez Juliet A. , Patiño-Ladino Oscar J.
Published: May 2023

The present study describes the anti-biofilm and quorum sensing (QS) inhibitory potential of extracts and chemical constituents from Piper bogotense. Antibiofilm potential was determined through crystal violet assay against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while QS inhibition efficacy was determined through violacein inhibition assay using Chromobacterium violaceum as a bacterial model. Additionally, this study reports the effects of the chemical constituents isolated in P. bogotense against various virulent factors associated with QS, such as the percentage decrease in pyocyanin, elastase, and protease production. The chemical study led to the isolation and identification of two prenylated benzoic acids (1 and 2) and a prenylated hydroquinone 3, of which compounds 1 and 2 are reported for the first time for P. bogotense. The ethanolic extract and the DCM fraction from P. bogotense stand out for reducing violacein production in C. violaceum, as well as the biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. Compounds 2 and 3 stand out for having the lowest violacein production (43.8% and 68.3%), as well as the lowest production of virulence factors such as elastase (60.2% and 51.4%) and pyocyanin (39.7% and 33.2%). These results demonstrate the potential of P. bogotense components to be used as an alternative control against multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa.
A Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Pattern of LMCO Gene Family from Turnip (Brassica rapa L.) under Various Abiotic Stresses
Authors: Khan Waqar , El-Shehawi Ahmed M. , Ali Fayaz , Ali Murad , Alqurashi Mohammed , Althaqafi Mohammed M. , Alharthi Siraj B.
Published: May 2023

Laccase-like multi-copper oxidases (LMCOs) are a group of enzymes involved in the oxidation of numerous substrates. Recently, these enzymes have become extremely popular due to their practical applications in various fields of biology. LMCOs generally oxidize various substrates by linking four-electron reduction of the final acceptor, molecular oxygen (O2), to water. Multi-copper oxidases related to laccase are extensively distributed as multi-gene families in the genome sequences of higher plants. The current study thoroughly investigated the LMCO gene family (Br-Lac) and its expression pattern under various abiotic stresses in B. rapa L. A total of 18 Br-Lac gene family members located on five different chromosomes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis classified the documented Br-Lac genes into seven groups: Group-I (four genes), Group-II (nine genes), Group-III (eight genes), Group-IV (four genes), Group-V (six genes), and Group-VI and Group-VII (one gene each). The key features of gene structure and responsive motifs shared the utmost resemblance within the same groups. Additionally, a divergence study also assessed the evolutionary features of Br-Lac genes. The anticipated period of divergence ranged from 12.365 to 39.250 MYA (million years ago). We also identified the pivotal role of the 18 documented members of the LMCO (Br-lac) gene family using quantitative real-time qRT-PCR. Br-Lac-6, Br-Lac-7, Br-Lac-8, Br-Lac-16, Br-Lac-17, and Br-Lac-22 responded positively to abiotic stresses (i.e., drought, heat, and salinity). These findings set the stage for the functional diversity of the LMCO genes in B. rapa.
Effect of Salinity Stress on Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Halophytes Spergularia marina (L.) Griseb. and Glaux maritima L. Cultured In Vitro
Authors: Pungin Artem , Lartseva Lidia , Loskutnikova Violetta , Shakhov Vladislav , Popova Elena , Skrypnik Liubov , Krol Olesya
Published: May 2023

The study of halophytes as sources of phenolic compounds, as well as conditions that further enhance the accumulation of biologically active compounds in them, is of particular interest. In this paper, the effect of different salinity levels (25–500 mM in the form of NaCl) on the content of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity of two rare halophyte species Spergularia marina (L.) Griseb. and Glaux maritima L. cultured in vitro was investigated. A species-specific reaction of plants to salinization was established. In G. maritima, the maximum total content of phenolic compounds was observed at 50–100 mM, flavonoids 75–400 mM, and hydroxycinnamic acids 200–300 mM, as well as individual phenolics (protocatechuic acid, catechin, astragalin, hyperoside, rutin, isoquercitrin, and apigenin derivative) at 100–300 mM NaCl. For S. marina, on the contrary, there was a slight decrease in the content of phenolic compounds when NaCl was added to the nutrient medium compared to the control. The content of protocatechuic acid, rosmarinic acid, and apigenin derivative significantly decreased with increased salt stress. The change in antioxidant activity at different salinity levels was also species specific. The maximum values of different groups of phenolic compounds in G. maritima were observed at 50–300 mM NaCl. The cultivation of S. marina without the addition of NaCl and at 500 mM NaCl allowed the production of plants with the highest content of phenolic compounds. The obtained results can be further used in the development of protocols for the cultivation of these plants in vitro in order to induce the biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in them.
Inoculation and Screening Methods for Major Sorghum Diseases Caused by Fungal Pathogens: Claviceps africana, Colletotrichum sublineola, Sporisorium reilianum, Peronosclerospora sorghi and Macrophomina phaseolina
Authors: Ahn Ezekiel , Fall Coumba , Botkin Jacob , Curtin Shaun , Prom Louis K. , Magill Clint
Published: May 2023

Sorghum is the fifth most important crop globally. Researching interactions between sorghum and fungal pathogens is essential to further elucidate plant defense mechanisms to biotic stress, which allows breeders to employ genetic resistance to disease. A variety of creative and useful inoculation and screening methods have been developed by sorghum pathologists to study major fungal diseases. As inoculation and screening methods can be keys for successfully conducting experiments, it is necessary to summarize the techniques developed by this research community. Among many fungal pathogens of sorghum, here we summarize inoculation and screening methods for five important fungal pathogens of sorghum: Claviceps africana, Colletotrichum sublineola, Sporisorium reilianum, Peronosclerospora sorghi and Macrophomina phaseolina. The methods described within will be useful for researchers who are interested in exploring sorghum-fungal pathogen interactions. Finally, we discuss the latest biotechnologies and methods for studying plant-fungal pathogen interactions and their applicability to sorghum pathology.
Effect of Growth Stages on Anthocyanins and Polyphenols in the Root System of Sweet Potato
Authors: Setoguchi Yuno , Nakagawa Soya , Ohmura Ryo , Toshima Saki , Park Hyungjun , Narasako Yosuke , Hirano Tomonari , Otani Motoyasu , Kunitake Hisato
Published: May 2023

The storage roots of purple-fleshed sweet potato contain a variety of anthocyanins and polyphenols. Little is known about changes in the total content and composition of anthocyanins and polyphenols in the early growth stages of the root system. In this study, we investigated the changes in anthocyanins and polyphenols in the root system of purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after transplant (DAT). Unexpectedly, the highest percentage of acylated anthocyanins in three purple-fleshed cultivars among all growth stages was at 15 DAT. On the other hand, the total polyphenol content in the early growth stages of the root system increased rapidly toward 45 DAT, just before the beginning of storage root enlargement, and then decreased rapidly as the storage roots began to enlarge. These data indicate that the early growth stage of the root system is a critical time. This timing may present a strategy to maximize the accumulation of polyphenols with high antioxidant activity, as well as acylated anthocyanins, to protect against abiotic and biotic stresses.
Medical Ethnobotany of the Bissau-Guinean Community of Migrants Living in Northern Italy and Comparison with the Ethnopharmacology of Guinea-Bissau
Authors: Sambù Alfredo , Cornara Laura , Catarino Luís , Indjai Bucar , Biagi Marco , Giordani Paolo
Published: May 2023

This study compares the knowledge of medicinal plants of Bissau-Guinean migrants now established in Italy with the ethnopharmacology still present in their country of origin. We also investigated how traditional ethnobotanical knowledge is changing following the phenomenon of migration from Africa to Europe. The ethnobotanical data were collected during 2017–2018, by interviewing 49 informants belonging to 8 ethnic groups, living in 8 provinces of northern Italy. The final inventory of botanical taxa included 81 species belonging to 34 families, with Fabaceae and Malvaceae the most represented, followed by Euphorbiaceae, Apocynaceae, Combretaceae, and Solanaceae. Plant remedies were used to treat 21 ailment categories, such as fever, internal infections, intestinal and respiratory problems, and pains. The traditional ethnobotanical knowledge of Bissau-Guinean migrants in Italy was associated with gender, with women showing the highest knowledge. In addition, a negative relationship was observed between the maintenance of this knowledge and the number of years migrants have spent in Italy. Overall, a loss of knowledge was observed in the less numerous ethnic groups. However, traditional preparations based on plants from the country of origin are in general well preserved to maintain a good state of health. Our work could help in transferring to the next generation the cultural heritage of Bissau-Guinean people permanently moved to European Countries.
Method of Manufacturing Structural, Optically Transparent Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymers (tGFRP) Using Infusion Techniques with Epoxy Resin Systems and E-Glass Fabrics
Authors: Heudorfer Klaus , Bauer Johannes , Caydamli Yavuz , Gompf Bruno , Take Jens , Buchmeiser Michael R. , Middendorf Peter
Published: May 2023

Recently, fiber-reinforced, epoxy-based, optically transparent composites were successfully produced using resin transfer molding (RTM) techniques. Generally, the production of structural, optically transparent composites is challenging since it requires the combination of a very smooth mold surface with a sufficient control of resin flow that leads to no visible voids. Furthermore, it requires a minimum deviation of the refractive indices (RIs) of the matrix polymer and the reinforcement fibers. Here, a new mold design is described and three plates of optically transparent glass fiber-reinforced polymers (tGFRP) with reproducible properties as well as high fiber volume fractions were produced using the RTM process and in situ polymerization of an epoxy resin system enclosing E-glass fiber textiles. Their mechanical (flexural), microstructural (fiber volume fraction, surface roughness, etc.), thermal (DSC, TGA, etc.), and optical (dispersion curves of glass fibers and polymer as well as transmission over visible spectra curves of the tGFRP at varying tempering states) properties were evaluated. The research showed improved surface quality and good transmission data for samples manufactured by a new Optical-RTM setup compared to a standard RTM mold. The maximum transmission was reported to be ≈74%. In addition, no detectable voids were found in these samples. Furthermore, a flexural modulus of 23.49 ± 0.64 GPa was achieved for the Optical-RTM samples having a fiber volume fraction of ≈42%.
Experimental Study on Boiling Vaporization of Liquid Hydrogen in Nonspreading Pool
Authors: Xie Zhenhua , Yang Shenyin , Zhao Shuangshuang , Liu Xing , Bi Mingshu , Ren Jingjie
Published: May 2023

Research on the boiling vaporization process of liquid hydrogen spilled on solid ground is very important for the safety risk assessment of liquid hydrogen. Since the main source of the heat flux in the vaporization process comes from the ground, the heat flux from the ground into the liquid pool should be studied in-depth. In this paper, the boiling vaporization process of liquid hydrogen on the surface of concrete is studied. The analysis of the boiling process of a liquid pool is conducted by utilizing the boiling curve and historical temperature data collected in close proximity to the surface of the concrete. It was found that the boiling regime of a liquid hydrogen pool on the concrete surface presents non-uniformity, and the film boiling of liquid hydrogen on the concrete surface ended earlier than the results calculated by boiling regime correlations. When the measured temperature in the experiment indicates a transition from film boiling to the transition boiling, the temperature difference between the thermocouple temperature measured at a depth of 2 mm and the boiling point of liquid hydrogen is 130 K higher than the predicted superheat of the minimum heat flux (MHF). In the later stage of the experiment, the average relative error between the experimental value of the vaporization rate and the predicted value of the model is 7.48%. This research advances the understanding of heat transfer between concrete ground and a liquid hydrogen pool. In addition, the experimental data obtained in this study contributes to improving the source term model for safety analysis of liquid hydrogen spills.
A New History of Christian Empire: Excavating Pope Sylvester’s Oratory, 1636
Authors: Di Manno Talia
Published: May 2023

This article examines how antiquarians in Rome used archaeological evidence—a site excavated from under the church of San Martino in Monti in 1636—to argue that Pope Sylvester (314–335) exercised spiritual and temporal authority over the Roman Empire. The document which had formed the bedrock of papal sovereignty, the Donation of Constantine, was shown to be a forgery in the early modern period. Protestant reformers pointed to the document’s contradictions to dismantle the Catholic Church’s claims that its preeminence originated in the privileges bestowed on Sylvester by the Emperor Constantine. I use archival materials and a history of the site published in 1639 to describe how antiquarians claimed that they found the house church of Sylvester, which he converted into a church after Constantine’s baptism and then used to host a Roman Council in 324 (before Nicaea). I offer a new perspective on Catholic confessional historiography by observing how antiquarians used material evidence to provide a foundation for early papal power in the Roman Empire, thereby bypassing the need for spurious documents such as the Donation. This new tradition, which lives on today despite modern archaeological critiques, illustrates the malleability of Catholic epistemologies and historiography in the wake of textual criticism.
Connecting the Sacred: Network Analysis of Buddhist Images on Early Medieval Chinese Pagodas from Nannieshui, Shanxi
Authors: Zhao Jinchao
Published: May 2023

The production of stone sculptures in the form of statues, steles, and pagodas was arguably one of the most prominent forms of Buddhist devotion in early medieval China. The abundant Buddhist imagery and devotional inscriptions adorning their surfaces provide rich information on their creation, commission, consecration, and worship, which is essential for comprehending the local community’s religious landscape. This paper employs a network analysis approach to visualize and analyze the spatial arrangement of Buddhist images on the surfaces of pagodas from Nannieshui 南涅水, Shanxi 山西 Province. Network analysis reveals that Nannieshui pagodas were commissioned and worshipped differently from other kinds of stone sculpture, as shown by its emphasis on the spatial and sequential order of Buddhist images depicted on the exterior of these pagodas.
Fine Resolution Classification of New Ice, Young Ice, and First-Year Ice Based on Feature Selection from Gaofen-3 Quad-Polarization SAR
Authors: Yang Kun , Li Haiyan , Perrie William , Scharien Randall Kenneth , Wu Jin , Zhang Menghao , Xu Fan
Published: May 2023

A new method of sea ice classification based on feature selection from Gaofen-3 polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) observations was proposed. The new approach classifies sea ice into four categories: open water (OW), new ice (NI), young ice (YI), and first-year ice (FYI). Seventy parameters that have previously been applied to sea ice studies were re-examined for sea ice classification in the Okhotsk Sea near the melting point on 28 February 2020. The ‘separability index (SI)’ was used for the selection of optimal features for sea ice classification. Full polarization parameters (the backscatter intensity contains the horizontal transmit-receive intensity (σhh0), Shannon entropy (SEi), the spherical scattering component of Krogager decomposition (Ks)), and hybrid polarization parameters (horizontal receive intensity(σrh0), hybrid-pol Shannon entropy (CPSEi), the correlation coefficient (ρrh−rv) between the σrh0 and σrv0, and the surface scattering component of m − α decomposition αs) were determined as the optimal parameters for the different work modes of SAR. The selected parameters were used to classify sea ice by the random forest classifier (RFC), and classification results were validated by manually interpreted ice maps derived from Landsat-8 data. The classification accuracy of OW, NI, YI and FYI reached 95%, 96%, 98% and 85%, respectively.
A Statistical Analysis for Intensity Wavelength-Resolution SAR Difference Images
Authors: Mittmann Voigt Gustavo Henrique , Irion Alves Dimas , Müller Crístian , Machado Renato , Ramos Lucas Pedroso , Vu Viet Thuy , Pettersson Mats I.
Published: May 2023

This paper presents a statistical analysis of intensity wavelength-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) difference images. In this analysis, Anderson Darling goodness-of-fit tests are performed, considering two different statistical distributions as candidates for modeling the clutter-plus-noise, i.e., the background statistics. The results show that the Gamma distribution is a good fit for the background of the tested SAR images, especially when compared with the Exponential distribution. Based on the results of this statistical analysis, a change detection application for the detection of concealed targets is presented. The adequate selection of the background distribution allows for the evaluated change detection method to achieve a better performance in terms of probability of detection and false alarm rate, even when compared with competitive performance change detection methods in the literature. For instance, in an experimental evaluation considering a data set obtained by the Coherent All Radio Band Sensing (CARABAS) II UWB SAR system, the evaluated change detection method reached a detection probability of 0.981 for a false alarm rate of 1/km2.
The Responses of Vegetation NPP Dynamics to the Influences of Climate–Human Factors on Qinghai–Tibet Plateau from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Yuan Xingming , Guo Bing , Lu Miao
Published: May 2023

The dominant influencing factors of changes in vegetation NPP and the relative roles of climate–human factors on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) differ between historical periods and are unclear. Therefore, there is an urgent need to systematically and quantitatively analyze the evolution process of the QTP’s ecosystem pattern and the driving factors of this process. Based on MOD17A3H and meteorological data, the Miami model, correlation analysis, and the residual coefficient method were used to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of changes in vegetation NPP on the QTP from 2000 to 2020. We then quantitatively distinguished the relative roles of climate change and human activity in the process of vegetation NPP change during different historical periods. The results show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, zones with increasing vegetation NPP (10–30%) were the most widely distributed, and were mainly located in the Three-Rivers Headwater Region and the northern part of the Hengduan Mountains. (2) From 2000 to 2020, zones with a significant positive correlation between vegetation NPP and annual precipitation were mostly distributed in the northeastern QTP and the Three-Rivers Headwater Region, while zones with a positive correlation between vegetation NPP and annual average temperature were mostly located in southern Tibet. Zones with a significant positive correlation between NPP and annual sunshine hours were mainly distributed in the southeastern part of the QTP and the southern part of the Tanggula Mountains. In contrast, zones with a significant positive correlation between NPP and accumulated temperature (>10 °C) were mainly concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the QTP. (3) During different historical periods, the relative roles of climate–human factors in the process of vegetation NPP change on the QTP had obvious spatiotemporal differences. These results could provide scientific support for the protection and restoration of regional ecosystems on the QTP.
New Lunar Crater Production Function Based on High-Resolution Images
Authors: Liu Jianan , Yue Zongyu , Di Kaichang , Gou Sheng , Lin Yangting
Published: May 2023

The lunar crater production function describes the general pattern of the size–frequency distribution of craters on the lunar surface, and it is the foundation of the surface dating method via crater counting. In addition, the lunar crater production function has been extended to other celestial bodies and used to analyze the meteorite flux of the inner solar system. The basic process of establishing the lunar crater production function is to map in an ideal way the primary craters in different geological units, and then to normalize all of the corresponding size–frequency distributions using a mathematical model. Currently, the most widely used lunar crater production functions have been established based on the images acquired in the last century. However, now they can be refined with newly obtained high-resolution images. In this research, we mapped all of the primary craters in 13 regions on the lunar surface with the images acquired using the narrow angle camera and wide angle camera onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and then we fitted the lunar crater production function with a polynomial. The resultant new lunar crater production function is largely comparable with the previous results, and the difference is mainly at the large diameter end. We analyzed the uncertainty of model fitting as well as the difference in the crater measurements and demonstrated the reliability of the new production function. It is expected to refine the lunar surface dating models, which can provide more accurate information on the impact rate in related studies.
InfraRed Thermography and 3D-Data Fusion for Architectural Heritage: A Scoping Review
Authors: Sutherland Neil , Marsh Stuart , Priestnall Gary , Bryan Paul , Mills Jon
Published: May 2023

Comprehensive documentation is the foundation of effective conservation, repair and maintenance (CRM) practices for architectural heritage. In order to diagnose historic buildings and inform decision making, a combination of multi-disciplinary surveys is fundamental to understanding a building’s heritage and performance. Infrared thermography (IRT), a non-contact, non-invasive and non-destructive imaging technique, allows both qualitative and quantitative assessments of temperature to be undertaken. However, the inherent low spatial resolution of thermal imaging has led recent work to fuse thermographic and geometric data for the accurate 3D documentation of architectural heritage. This paper maps the scope of this emerging field to understand the application of IRT and 3D-data fusion (IRT-3DDF) for architectural heritage. A scoping review is undertaken to systematically map the current literature and determine research gaps and future trends. Results indicate that the increasing availability of thermal cameras and advances in photogrammetric software are enabling thermal models to be generated successfully for the diagnosis and holistic management of architectural heritage. In addition, it is evident that IRT-3DDF provides several opportunities for additional data integration, historic building information modelling (H-BIM) and temporal analysis of historic buildings. Future developments are needed to transform IRT-3DDF findings into actionable insights and to apply IRT-3DDF to pressing climate-related challenges, such as energy efficiency, retrofitting and thermal comfort assessments.
A Robust Target Tracking Method for Crowded Indoor Environments Using mmWave Radar
Authors: Jiang Meiqiu , Guo Shisheng , Luo Haolan , Yao Yu , Cui Guolong
Published: May 2023

Millimeter-wave-based extended target tracking has attracted extensive interest recently because of its privacy, high precision, and low cost. This paper concentrated on crowded indoor situations and presents a novel method for group tracking. First, the proposed alpha-extended Kalman filter and the group association were carried out, which can constantly estimate the target expansion and the number of reflection points, consequently modifying the measurement noise and covariance estimation. Then, to initialize the actual targets, we employed a density-based spatial clustering approach that includes false target suppression. After the targets have been updated, the track re-association and estimation procedure is conducted to account for the unanticipated break of moving and near-static targets. Finally, various experiments involving fewer than 11 participants were designed to assess the robustness of the method. As a result, continuous and steady tracking results, as well as high counting accuracy were obtained.
High-Resolution SAR Imaging with Azimuth Missing Data Based on Sub-Echo Segmentation and Reconstruction
Authors: Jiang Nan , Zhu Jiahua , Feng Dong , Xie Zhuang , Wang Jian , Huang Xiaotao
Published: May 2023

Due to the substantial electromagnetic interference, radar interruptions, and other factors, the SAR system may fail to receive valid data in some azimuth areas. This phenomenon is known as Azimuth Missing Data (AMD). If classical SAR imaging algorithms are performed directly using AMD echo, the imaging results may be defocused or even display false targets, which seriously affects the accuracy of the image. Thus, we proposed a Sub-echo Segmentation and Reconstruction Azimuth Missing Data SAR Imaging Algorithm (SSR-AMDIA) to solve the problem of incomplete echo SAR imaging in this article. Instead of using the motion compensation step of the Polar Format algorithm (PFA) to recover the full echo from the AMD echo, the proposed SSR-AMDIA eliminates the effect of the planar approximation in PFA and expands the maximum depth of focus (DOF). The raw AMD echo was first subjected to range compression and Range Cell Migration Correction (RCMC), after which the AMD-RCMC echo was divided along the range direction. Then, we constructed a series of phase compensation functions based on the sub-segment AMD-RCMC echoes to guarantee the perfect recovery of the full RCMC echoes corresponding to the sub-scenes. Finally, we combined them to obtain the complete RCMC echo, and an excellent focused imaging result was then obtained via azimuth compression. Simulation and experimental data verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Furthermore, we derived the mathematical expressions for the two-dimensional maximum DOFs of the proposed algorithm. In contrast to the State-Of-the-Art (SOA) AMDIA, the SSR-AMDIA can obtain a superior imaging performance in a larger imaging scope under the conditions of most AMD cases.
A Lightweight Object Detection Algorithm for Remote Sensing Images Based on Attention Mechanism and YOLOv5s
Authors: Liu Pengfei , Wang Qing , Zhang Huan , Mi Jing , Liu Youchen
Published: May 2023

The specific characteristics of remote sensing images, such as large directional variations, large target sizes, and dense target distributions, make target detection a challenging task. To improve the detection performance of models while ensuring real-time detection, this paper proposes a lightweight object detection algorithm based on an attention mechanism and YOLOv5s. Firstly, a depthwise-decoupled head (DD-head) module and spatial pyramid pooling cross-stage partial GSConv (SPPCSPG) module were constructed to replace the coupled head and the spatial pyramid pooling-fast (SPPF) module of YOLOv5s. A shuffle attention (SA) mechanism was introduced in the head structure to enhance spatial attention and reconstruct channel attention. A content-aware reassembly of features (CARAFE) module was introduced in the up-sampling operation to reassemble feature points with similar semantic information. In the neck structure, a GSConv module was introduced to maintain detection accuracy while reducing the number of parameters. Experimental results on remote sensing datasets, RSOD and DIOR, showed an improvement of 1.4% and 1.2% in mean average precision accuracy compared with the original YOLOv5s algorithm. Moreover, the algorithm was also tested on conventional object detection datasets, PASCAL VOC and MS COCO, which showed an improvement of 1.4% and 3.1% in mean average precision accuracy. Therefore, the experiments showed that the constructed algorithm not only outperformed the original network on remote sensing images but also performed better than the original network on conventional object detection images.
Robust Low-Sidelobe Transmit Beamforming under Peak-to-Average-Power Ratio Constraint
Authors: Cai Lingping , Chu Ruixue , Ding Zhoupeng , Zou Yang , Li Hongtao
Published: May 2023

Transmit beamforming (TBF) provides the capability of focusing illuminating power in the desired directions while reducing the emitting power in undesired directions. It is significantly important in low-altitude and slow-speed small (LSS) radar, which usually suffers from heavy clutter and rapidly changing interference on the near-ground side. Due to nonideal factors such as an inaccurate target direction and array gain-phase error, the robustness of TBF is also necessary to consider in practical applications. In this paper, we provide a robust TBF method that enables sidelobe control in preset regions and possesses high transmit efficiency in virtue of the peak-to-average-power ratio (PAPR) constraint on transmit weights. To achieve robustness, a norm upper bound is introduced to limit the fluctuation of transmit weights, and the steering vector mismatch is also considered by using a spherical uncertainty set surrounding the nominal steering vector. As the proposed robust TBF is nonconvex because of the nonconvexity of both the objective function and constraints, we translate it into a series of convex subproblems via several kinds of convex relaxation schemes. In particular, based on the special structure of the objective function and constraints, the translation of the nonconvex problem into a tractable SOCP problem is realized by using the combination of the triangle inequality and Cauchy–Schwartz inequality. Numerical results demonstrate the improvement in the efficiency and robustness of the proposed TBF method in comparison with traditional TBF methods.
Method for Diagnosing Bearing Faults in Electromechanical Equipment Based on Improved Prototypical Networks
Authors: Wang Zilong , Shen Honghai , Xiong Wenzhuo , Zhang Xueming , Hou Jinghua
Published: May 2023

Due to the complexity of electromechanical equipment and the difficulties in obtaining large-scale health monitoring datasets, as well as the long-tailed distribution of data, existing methods ignore certain characteristics of health monitoring data. In order to solve these problems, this paper proposes a method for the fault diagnosis of rolling bearings in electromechanical equipment based on an improved prototypical network—the weight prototypical networks (WPorNet). The main contributions of this paper are as follows: (1) the prototypical networks, which perform well on small-sample classification tasks, were improved by calculating the different levels of influence of support sample distributions in order to achieve the prototypical calculation. The change in sample influence was calculated using the Kullback–Leibler divergence of the sample distribution. The influence change in a specific sample can be measured by assessing how much the distribution changes in the absence of that sample; and (2) The Gramian Angular Field (GAF) algorithm was used to transform one-dimensional time series into two-dimensional vibration images, which greatly improved the application effect of the 2D convolutional neural network (CNN). Through experiments on MAFAULDA and CWRU bearing datasets, it was shown that this network effectively solves the shortcomings of a small number of valid samples and a long-tail distribution in health monitoring data, it enhances the dependency between the samples and the global data, it improves the model’s feature extraction ability, and it enhances the accuracy of model classification. Compared with the prototypical network, the improved network model increased the performance of the 2-way 10-shot, 2-way 20-shot, and 2-way 50-shot classification tasks by 5.23%, 5.74%, and 4.37%, respectively, and it increased the performance of the 4-way 10-shot, 4-way 20-shot, and 4-way 50-shot classification tasks by 12.02%, 10.47%, and 4.66%, respectively. Experimental results show that the improved prototypical network model has higher sample classification accuracy and stronger anti-interference ability compared with traditional small-sample classification models.
Guiding Breathing at the Resonance Frequency with Haptic Sensors Potentiates Cardiac Coherence
Authors: Bouny Pierre , Arsac Laurent M. , Guérin Antoine , Nerincx Guillam , Deschodt-Arsac Veronique
Published: May 2023

Cardiac coherence is a state achieved when one controls their breathing rate during the so-called resonance frequency breathing. This maneuver allows respiratory-driven vagal modulations of the heart rate to superimpose with sympathetic modulations occurring at 0.1 Hz, thereby maximizing autonomous power in heart-to-brain connections. These stimulations have been shown to improve vagal regulations, which results in obvious benefits for both mental and organic health. Here, we present a device that is able to deliver visual and haptic cues, as well as HRV biofeedback information to guide the user in maintaining a 0.1 Hz breathing frequency. We explored the effectiveness of cardiac coherence in three guidance conditions: visual, haptic and visuo-haptic breathing. Thirty-two healthy students (sixteen males) were divided into three groups that experienced five minutes of either visual, haptic and visuo-haptic guided breathing at 0.1 Hz. The effects of guidance on the (adequate) breathing pattern and heart rate variability (HRV) were analyzed. The interest of introducing haptic breathing to achieve cardiac coherence was shown in the haptic and visuo-haptic groups. Especially, the P0.1 index, which indicates how the autonomous power is ‘concentrated’ at 0.1 Hz in the PSD spectrum, demonstrated the superiority of combining haptic with visual sensory inputs in potentiating cardiac coherence (0.55 ± 0.20 for visuo-haptic vs. 0.28 ± 0.14 for visual only guidance; p < 0.05) haptic-induced effectiveness could be an asset for a more efficient and time-saving practice, allowing improved health and well-being even under tight time constraints.
Optimization Experiment of Production Processes Using a Dynamic Decision Support Method: A Solution to Complex Problems in Industrial Manufacturing for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Authors: Skėrė Simona , Žvironienė Aušra , Juzėnas Kazimieras , Petraitienė Stasė
Published: May 2023

In the industrial sector, production processes are continuously evolving, but issues and delays in production are still commonplace. Complex problems often require input from production managers or experts even though Industry 4.0 provides advanced technological solutions. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) normally rely more on expert opinion since they face difficulties implementing the newest and most advanced Industry 4.0 technologies. This reliance on human expertise can cause delays in the production processes, ultimately, impacting the efficiency and profitability of the enterprise. As SMEs are mostly niche markets and produce small batches, dynamics in production operations and the need for quick responses cannot be avoided. To address these issues, a decision support method for dynamic production planning (DSM DPP) was developed to optimize the production processes. This method involves the use of algorithms and programming in Matlab to create a decision support module that provides solutions to complex problems in real-time. The aim of this method is to combine not only technical but also human factors to efficiently optimize dynamic production planning. It is hardly noticeable in other methods the involvement of human factors such as skills of operations, speed of working, or salary size. The method itself is based on real-time data so examples of the required I 4.0 technologies for production sites are described in this article—Industrial Internet of Things, blockchains, sensors, etc. Each technology is presented with examples of usage and the requirement for it. Moreover, to confirm the effectiveness of this method, tests were made with real data that were acquired from a metal processing company in Lithuania. The method was tested with existing production orders, and found to be universal, making it adaptable to different production settings. This study presents a practical solution to complex problems in industrial settings and demonstrates the potential for DSM DPP to improve production processes while checking the latest data from production sites that are conducted through cloud systems, sensors, IoT, etc. The implementation of this method in SMEs could result in significant improvements in production efficiency, ultimately, leading to increased profitability.
Multi-Leakage Source Localization of Safety Valve Based on Uniform Circular AE Array and Improved MUSIC Algorithm
Authors: Hou Jianjun , Li Shuxun , Yang Lingxia
Published: May 2023

The safety valve is the core component of the pressure-relief protection device for pressure-bearing special equipment. When the safety valve leaks, the medium of the pressure vessel will be lost and wasted, which may cause safety accidents. With the aim to solve the problem of accurately locating the multiple leakage sources of safety valves, a localization method combining a uniform circular array acoustic emission detection and an improved multiple signal classification (MUSIC) algorithm is proposed. First, an improved wavelet threshold function denoising method is introduced to extract acoustic emission signals with high SNR, thereby reducing the rank of the covariance matrix, weakening the noise dispersion caused by eigenvalue reconstruction, avoiding signal and noise cross-confusion, and improving positioning accuracy. By introducing a windowed fast Fourier transform (FFT) frequency division processing link to obtain narrowband signal, the premise of using MUSIC positioning algorithm is established. In addition, a forward/backward spatial smoothing algorithm is introduced in the decoherence link to reduce co-channel interference, reduce the rank loss of the signal covariance matrix, and improve the positioning accuracy of the algorithm. The results show that when the working pressure is 0.70 MPa, 0.75 MPa, and 0.80 MPa, the deviation between the azimuth angle and elevation angle positioning results of each leakage source obtained by the improved MUSIC algorithm and the actual angle does not exceed 2°, and the relative error does not exceed 3.5%. Therefore, the improved MUSIC algorithm can accurately locate multiple leakage sources of the safety valve, and as the working pressure of the safety valve increases, the positioning accuracy of the improved MUSIC algorithm also increases accordingly.
Quality Indexes of the ECG Signal Transmitted Using Optical Wireless Link
Authors: Chehbani Amel , Sahuguede Stephanie , Julien-Vergonjanne Anne , Bernard Olivier
Published: May 2023

This work relates to the quality of the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal of an elderly person, transmitted using optical wireless links. The studied system uses infrared signals between an optical transmitter located on the person’s wrist and optical receivers placed on the ceiling. As the elderly person moves inside a room, the optical channel is time-varying, affecting the received ECG signal. To assess the ECG quality, we use specific signal quality indexes (SQIs), allowing the evaluation of the spectral and statistical characteristics of the signal. Our main contribution is studying how the SQIs behave according to the optical transmission performance and the studied context in order to determine the conditions required to obtain excellent quality indexes. The approach is based on the simulation of the whole chain, from the raw ECG to the extraction process after transmission until the evaluation of SQIs. This technique was developed considering optical channel modeling, including the mobility of the elderly. The obtained results show the potential of optical wireless communication technologies for reliable ECG monitoring in such a context. It has been observed that excellent ECG quality can be obtained with a minimum SNR of 11 dB for on–off keying modulation.
Volatile-Based Diagnosis for Pathogenic Wood-Rot Fungus Fulvifomes siamensis by Electronic Nose (E-Nose) and Solid-Phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Tan Jhing Yein , Zhang Ziteng , Izzah Hazirah Junin , Fong Yok King , Lee Daryl , Mutwil Marek , Hong Yan
Published: May 2023

Wood rot fungus Fulvifomes siamensis infects multiple urban tree species commonly planted in Singapore. A commercial e-nose (Cyranose 320) was used to differentiate some plant and fungi volatiles. The e-nose distinctly clustered the volatiles at 0.25 ppm, and this sensitivity was further increased to 0.05 ppm with the use of nitrogen gas to purge the system and set up the baseline. Nitrogen gas baseline resulted in a higher magnitude of sensor responses and a higher number of responsive sensors. The specificity of the e-nose for F. siamensis was demonstrated by distinctive clustering of its pure culture, fruiting bodies collected from different tree species, and in diseased tissues infected by F. siamensis with a 15-min incubation time. This good specificity was supported by the unique volatile profiles revealed by SPME GC-MS analysis, which also identified the signature volatile for F. siamensis—1,2,4,5-tetrachloro-3,6-dimethoxybenzene. In field conditions, the e-nose successfully identified F. siamensis fruiting bodies on different tree species. The findings of concentration-based clustering and host-tree-specific volatile profiles for fruiting bodies provide further insights into the complexity of volatile-based diagnosis that should be taken into consideration for future studies.