bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infectivity of Wild-Bird Origin Influenza A Viruses in Minnesota Wetlands across Seasons
Authors: Poulson Rebecca L. , Reeves Andrew B. , Ahlstrom Christina A. , Scott Laura C. , Hubbard Laura E. , Fojtik Alinde , Carter Deborah L. , Stallknecht David E. , Ramey Andrew M.
Published: May 2024

The environmental tenacity of influenza A viruses (IAVs) in the environment likely plays a role in their transmission; IAVs are able to remain infectious in aquatic habitats and may have the capacity to seed outbreaks when susceptible wild bird hosts utilize these same environments months or even seasons later. Here, we aimed to assess the persistence of low-pathogenicity IAVs from naturally infected ducks in Northwestern Minnesota through a field experiment. Viral infectivity was measured using replicate samples maintained in distilled water in a laboratory setting as well as in filtered water from four natural water bodies maintained in steel perforated drums (hereafter, mesocosms) within the field from autumn 2020 to spring 2021. There was limited evidence for the extended persistence of IAVs held in mesocosms; from 65 initial IAV-positive samples, only six IAVs persisted to at least 202 days in the mesocosms compared to 17 viruses persisting at least this long when held under temperature-controlled laboratory settings in distilled water. When accounting for the initial titer of samples, viruses detected at a higher concentration at the initiation of the experiment persisted longer than those with a lower starting titer. A parallel experimental laboratory model was used to further explore the effects of water type on viral persistence, and the results supported the finding of reduced tenacity of IAVs held in mesocosms compared to distilled water. The results of this investigation provide evidence that many factors, including temperature and physicochemical properties, impact the duration of viral infectivity in natural settings, further extending our understanding of the potential and limitations of environmental-based methodologies to recover infectious IAVs.
Anti-Emetics in Children Receiving Chemotherapy for Solid Tumors and Leukemia: Pharmacology and Optimization of Therapy for Nausea and Vomiting
Authors: Ganguly Shuvadeep , Sasi Archana , Nagaraju Santhosh Kumar Kodagalli , Bakhshi Sameer
Published: May 2024

The management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in children remains challenging due to differences in the chemotherapy regimens, their relative emetogenicity compared to that in adults and differences in drug metabolism and the available formulations. The common four classes of anti-emetics used for the treatment and prophylaxis of CINV in children include dexamethasone, neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists, 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonists (5HT3RAs), and olanzapine. The appropriate dose of dexamethasone for CINV prophylaxis in children is unknown, with a significant variability in dosage ranging between 6 and 32 mg/m2/day. The dose of dexamethasone is decreased by 30% when this drug is combined with (fos)aprepitant in children, in contrast to a decrease of 50% required in adults. The use of aprepitant in younger children (<12 years) is often hampered by the non-availability of oral suspension formulations in many countries; alternatively, 80 mg capsules are administered for 1–3 days in certain institutes to children weighing between 15 and 40 kg. Among the different 5HT3RAs, palonosetron is comparatively metabolized faster in children than in adults, requiring a higher dosage for similar efficacy to that achieved in adults. Olanzapine is a newer agent, used in doses between 0.1 and 0.14 mg/kg/day in children, with good anti-emetic efficacy, but has sedation and hyperglycemia as concerning adverse effects. Drug interactions between anti-emetics and between anti-emetics and chemotherapy/supportive agents (azole antifungals, cyclosporine, arsenic trioxide), especially QTc prolongation, should be considered during prescription.
Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation to Explore the Potential Mechanism of Nigella sativa for the Treatment of Breast Cancer
Authors: Arif Rawaba , Bukhari Shazia Anwer , Mustafa Ghulam , Ahmed Sibtain , Albeshr Mohammed Fahad
Published: May 2024

Breast cancer is a prevalent and potentially life-threatening disease that affects women worldwide. Natural products have gained attention as potential anticancer agents due to their fewer side effects, low toxicity, and cost effectiveness compared to traditional chemotherapy drugs. In the current study, the network pharmacology approach was used following a molecular docking study to evaluate the therapeutic potential of N. sativa-derived phytochemicals against breast cancer. Specifically, the study aimed to identify potential anticancer agents targeting key proteins implicated in breast cancer progression. Five proteins (i.e., EGFR, MAPK3, ESR1, MAPK1, and PTGS2) associated with breast cancer were selected as receptor proteins. Fourteen phytochemicals from N. sativa were prioritized based on drug-likeness (DL) and oral bioavailability (OB) parameters (with criteria set at DL > 0.18 and OB > 30%, respectively). Subsequent analysis of gene targets identified 283 overlapping genes primarily related to breast cancer pathogenesis. Ten hub genes were identified through topological analysis based on their significance in the KEGG pathway and GO annotations. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities between folic acid, betulinic acid, stigmasterol, and selected receptor proteins. These phytochemicals also demonstrated druggability potential. In vitro experiments in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line revealed that betulinic acid and stigmasterol significantly reduced cell viability after 24 h of treatment, confirming their anticancer activity. Furthermore, in vivo evaluation using a DMBA-induced rat model showed that betulinic acid and stigmasterol contributed to the significant recovery of cancer markers. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the anticancer potential of N. sativa phytochemicals against breast cancer, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapeutic candidates for future drug development. Overall, these results highlight betulinic acid and stigmasterol as promising candidates to develop novel anticancer agents against breast cancer. The comprehensive approach of this study, which integrates network pharmacology and molecular docking study and its experimental validation, strengthens the evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of N. sativa-derived phytochemicals in breast cancer treatment, making them promising candidates for the development of novel anticancer agents against breast cancer.
An Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Clinical Trial in Rural Alabama: Project Design and Potential Implications for Pharmacy and Audiology Interprofessional Collaborations
Authors: Hay-McCutcheon Marcia J. , Hubbard Abigail F. , Brothers Emma B. , Allen Rebecca S. , Yang Xin
Published: May 2024

Over-the-counter hearing aids (OTC HAs) have the potential to help adults with perceived mild-to-moderate hearing loss across the US, especially in rural communities, where access to hearing healthcare is extremely limited or non-existent. The purpose of this study was to describe an OTC HA clinical trial being conducted in five rural counties of Alabama and to provide preliminary anecdotal data related to the use and care of these hearing aids by the participants. In brief, for this clinical trial, adults with hearing loss were randomly placed in one of three groups where they received varying levels of support for setting, using, and maintaining their OTC HAs. Listening tests and surveys were administered to assess the extent to which they benefitted from the hearing aids as related to word understanding, communication with others in natural settings, and hearing aid use and care. Currently, anecdotal findings suggested that, although some participants required very little support to successfully use their hearing aids, others had difficulty setting and caring for their devices and could have benefitted from individualized guidance. Future quantitative studies will assess the extent of support needed for successful hearing aid benefit and use. Potentially, collaborations among pharmacy and audiology professionals could lead to increased access to hearing healthcare by supporting the use and purchase of OTC HAs in rural pharmacy settings.
Understanding Pharmacy Students’ Preparedness towards Counseling over Cannabis Use Disorder
Authors: Ganna Sourab , Daggolu Jerusha , Sansgiry Sujit S.
Published: May 2024

The rise in cannabis use prompts significant concerns regarding pharmacy students’ abilities to counsel patients over cannabis use disorder. This study aims to understand pharmacy students’ preparedness to counsel patients with cannabis use disorder (CUD) and evaluate the relationship between knowledge, attitudes towards medical cannabis (MC) and recreational cannabis (RC), and behavior intention (BI) to counsel over CUD. A cross-sectional survey was administered to pharmacy students. Descriptive analyses of sample characteristics were assessed with the t-test and one-way ANOVA test. Pearson correlation and linear regression were conducted, measuring the strength and direction of relationships. The average scores for knowledge, attitudes towards MC use and RC, and behavioral intention were 81% (SD 16%), 4.13 (SD 0.75), 3.28 (0.80), and 2.74 (1.00). Significant correlations were observed between knowledge–attitudes toward MC, knowledge–attitudes towards RC, and attitudes towards RC–behavioral intentions. Linear regression indicated attitudes towards MC use and RC, academic year, awareness of MC use legality, obtained knowledge, and past patient interaction were significantly associated with behavioral intention on confidence in counseling over CUD. There is a gap in students’ behavioral intention to counsel. These findings emphasize the importance of ample preparation that enables student pharmacists to address patient needs related to cannabis use confidently.
Buprenorphine Use for Analgesia in Palliative Care
Authors: Jackson Leanne K. , Poon Ivy O. , Garcia Mary A. , Imam Syed , Braun Ursula K.
Published: May 2024

Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic long-acting partial µ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist that can be used for chronic pain as a sublingual tablet, transdermal patch (Butrans®), or a buccal film (Belbuca®). Buprenorphine’s unique high receptor binding affinity and slow dissociation at the MOR allow for effective analgesia while offering less adverse effects compared to a full agonist opioid, in particular, less concern for respiratory depression and constipation. It is underused in chronic pain and palliative care due to misconceptions and stigma from its use in opioid use disorder (OUD). This case report discusses the unique pharmacology of buprenorphine, including its advantages, disadvantages, available formulations, drug–drug interactions, initiation and conversion strategies, and identifies ideal populations for use, especially within the palliative care patient population.
Research Progress on Femtosecond Laser Poling of Ferroelectrics
Authors: Sheng Yan , Chen Xin , Xu Tianxiang , Liu Shan , Zhao Ruwei , Krolikowski Wieslaw
Published: May 2024

Ferroelectric domain engineering has wide applications in optical and electronic industries. Compared with traditional electric field poling, femtosecond laser poling has many advantages, such as higher fabrication resolution, 3D engineering applicability, and lower costs of production. In this review, the recent research progress on ferroelectric domain engineering with femtosecond laser pulses is presented. We show the latest results, including complex domain structures fabricated in various kinds of ferroelectric crystals, and discuss the influence of laser poling parameters and conditions on the morphologies of inverted domains and their physical mechanisms. The technical challenges to overcome in future are also briefly discussed.
Gain-Switched Er-Doped Fluoride Fiber Laser at ~3.75 μm
Authors: Zhang Lu , Fu Shijie , Sheng Quan , Luo Xuewen , Zhang Junxiang , Shi Wei , Fang Qiang , Yao Jianquan
Published: May 2024

We demonstrate a pulsed Er-doped ZBLAN fiber laser operating at 3.75 μm based on the gain-switching scheme. A diffraction grating is introduced as a wavelength selection component to enable stable lasing in this long-wavelength region that deviates from the emission peak of 4F9/2→4I9/2 transition in Er3+. Different from the conventional gain-switching behavior where the pulse repetition frequency of the output laser is same as the that of the pump, the gain-switched laser demonstrated here shows a variable pulse repetition frequency, which accounts for 1/n (n = 4, 3, 2) of the pump pulse repetition frequency, in response to the 1950 nm pump power. The output pulse characteristics, including average output power, repetition frequency, pulse duration, and peak power, are investigated in detail. Over 200 mW average output power at 3.75 μm was obtained at 12 W of 1950 nm pump power. This work demonstrates that the Er-doped ZBLAN fiber laser, in combination with gain-switched scheme, is a feasible and promising approach to generate powerful pulsed emission > 3.7 μm.
Flow Field Estimation with Distortion Correction Based on Multiple Input Deep Convolutional Neural Networks and Hartmann–Shack Wavefront Sensing
Authors: Gao Zeyu , Ge Xinlan , Zhu Licheng , Ma Shiqing , Li Ao , Büttner Lars , Czarske Jürgen , Yang Ping
Published: May 2024

The precise estimation of fluid motion is critical across various fields, including aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, and industrial fluid mechanics. However, refraction at complex interfaces in the light path can cause image deterioration and lead to severe measurement errors if the aberration changes with time, e.g., at fluctuating air–water interfaces. This challenge is particularly pronounced in technical energy conversion processes such as bubble formation in electrolysis, droplet formation in fuel cells, or film flows. In this paper, a flow field estimation algorithm that can perform the aberration correction function is proposed, which integrates the flow field distribution estimation algorithm based on the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique and the novel actuator-free adaptive optics technique. Two different multi-input convolutional neural network (CNN) structures are established, with two frames of distorted PIV images and measured wavefront distortion information as inputs. The corrected flow field results are directly output, which are divided into two types based on different network structures: dense estimation and sparse estimation. Based on a series of models, a corresponding dataset synthesis model is established to generate training datasets. Finally, the algorithm performance is evaluated from different perspectives. Compared with traditional algorithms, the two proposed algorithms achieves reductions in the root mean square value of velocity residual error by 84% and 89%, respectively. By integrating both flow field measurement and novel adaptive optics technique into deep CNNs, this method lays a foundation for future research aimed at exploring more intricate distortion phenomena in flow field measurement.
Ghost Fringe Suppression by Modifying the f-Number of the Diverger Lens for the Interferometric Measurement of Catadioptric Telescopes
Authors: Huang Yi-Kai , Chen Cheng-Huan
Published: May 2024

A high-precision catadioptric telescope such as a space-borne telescope is usually tested with interferometer to check the optical quality in assembly. The coarse and fine alignment of the telescope are mainly based on the information from the coordinate measuring machine and the fringe pattern of the interferometer, respectively. In addition, further fine-tuning can be achieved according to the variation in wavefront error and Zernike data. The issue is that the vast majority of the catadioptric telescopes contain plural lens surfaces which could produce unwanted ghost fringes, disturbing the wavefront measurement. Technically, off-axis installation to shift away ghost fringes from central interferogram could be acceptable in some cases. Nevertheless, in this paper, the source of ghost fringe in interferometric measurement for catadioptric telescopes is investigated with light path simulation, and a solution of reducing the f-number of the diverger lens is proposed to eliminate the ghost fringe disturbance. Both simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed concept.
Dual-Polarization Conversion and Coding Metasurface for Wideband Radar Cross-Section Reduction
Authors: Hafeez Saima , Yu Jianguo , Umrani Fahim Aziz , Huang Yibo , Yun Wang , Ishfaq Muhammad
Published: May 2024

Modern stealth application systems require integrated meta-devices to operate effectively and have gained significant attention recently. This research paper proposes a 1-bit coding metasurface (CM) design. The fundamental component of the proposed CM is integrated to convert linearly polarized incoming electromagnetic waves into their orthogonal counterpart within frequency bands of 12.37–13.03 GHz and 18.96–32.37 GHz, achieving a polarization conversion ratio exceeding 99%. Furthermore, it enables linear-to-circular polarization conversion from 11.80 to 12.29, 13.17 to 18.44, and 33.33 to 40.35 GHz. A second element is produced by rotating a fundamental component by 90°, introducing a phase difference of π (pi) between them. Both elements are arranged in an array using a random aperiodic coding sequence to create a 1-bit CM for reducing the radar cross-section (RCS). The planar structure achieved over 10 dB RCS reduction for polarized waves in the frequency bands of 13.1–13.8 GHz and 20.4–30.9 GHz. A prototype was fabricated and tested, with the experimental results showing a good agreement with the simulated outcomes. The proposed design holds potential applications in radar systems, reflector antennas, stealth technologies, and satellite communication.
Analytical Model of Point Spread Function under Defocused Degradation in Diffraction-Limited Systems: Confluent Hypergeometric Function
Authors: Song Feijun , Chen Qiao , Tang Xiongxin , Xu Fanjiang
Published: May 2024

In recent years, optical systems near the diffraction limit have been widely used in high-end applications. Evidently, an analytical solution of the point spread function (PSF) will help to enhance both understanding and dealing with the imaging process. This paper analyzes the Fresnel diffraction of diffraction-limited optical systems in defocused conditions. For this work, an analytical solution of the defocused PSF was obtained using the series expansion of the confluent hypergeometric functions. The analytical expression of the defocused optical transfer function is also presented herein for comparison with the PSF. Additionally, some characteristic parameters for the PSF are provided, such as the equivalent bandwidth and the Strehl ratio. Comparing the PSF obtained using the fast Fourier transform algorithm of an optical system with known, detailed parameters to the analytical solution derived in this paper using only the typical parameters, the root mean square errors of the two methods were found to be less than 3% in the weak and medium defocus range. The attractive advantages of the universal model, which is independent of design details, objective types, and applications, are discussed.
Influence of the Experimental Setup on Electromagnetic Pulses in the VHF Band at Relativistic High-Power Laser Facilities
Authors: Ehret Michael , Volpe Luca , Apiñaniz Jon Imanol , Rodríguez-Frías Maria Dolores , Gatti Giancarlo
Published: May 2024

We present experimental results for the controlled mitigation of the electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) produced in the interactions of a 1 PW high-power 30 fs Ti:Sa laser VEGA-3 with solid-density targets transparent to laser-forward-accelerated relativistic electrons. This study aims at the band of very high frequencies (VHFs), i.e., those in the hundreds of MHz, which comprise the fundamental cavity modes of the rectangular VEGA-3 vacuum chamber. We demonstrate mode suppression by a tailoring of the laser-produced space charge distribution.
Features of Adaptive Phase Correction of Optical Wave Distortions under Conditions of Intensity Fluctuations
Authors: Lukin Vladimir
Published: May 2024

An analysis of the features of measurements and correction of phase distortions in optical waves propagating in the atmosphere at various levels of turbulence was performed. It is shown that with increasing intensity fluctuations, the limiting capabilities of phase correction decrease, and the phase of an optical wave that has passed through a turbulence layer consists of two components: potential and vortex. It was found that even in the region of weak fluctuations there is an overlap of spectral filtering functions for intensity and phase fluctuations. Areas of turbulence inhomogeneities have been identified that will have mutual influence and negatively affect the operation of the phase meter. It is noted that correlation functions, both phase and intensity, are less susceptible to this compared to structural functions. The results of experimental studies on the reconstruction of the wavefront of laser radiation distorted by atmospheric turbulence using a Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor during vignetting and central screening of the entrance pupil in the optical system are presented. Studies have been carried out on the propagation of laser radiation along a horizontal atmospheric path for various levels of turbulence. The results are analyzed in terms of Zernike polynomials.
Two-Dimensional High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography with Bioautography for Distinguishing Angelicae Dahuricae Radix Varieties: Chemical Fingerprinting and Antioxidant Profiling
Authors: Ku Sejin , Park Geonha , Jang Young Pyo
Published: May 2024

Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (ADR) holds a prominent place in traditional medicine for its remarkable antioxidative, anti-allergic, and antiproliferative capabilities. Recognized within the Korean Pharmacopoeia (KP 12th), Angelica dahurica (Hoffm.) Benth. and Hook.f. ex Franch. and Sav. (AD) and Angelica dahurica var. formosana (H. Boissieu) Yen (ADF) serve as the botanical origins for ADR. Differentiating these two varieties is crucial for the formulation and quality control of botanical drugs, as they are categorized under the same medicinal label. This research utilized two-dimensional high-performance thin-layer chromatography (2D-HPTLC) to effectively distinguish AD from ADF. Additionally, a quantitative analysis reveals significant differences in the concentrations of key active constituents such as oxypeucedanin, imperatorin, and isoimperatorin, with AD showing higher total coumarin levels. We further enhanced our investigative depth by incorporating a DPPH bioautography, which confirmed known antioxidant coumarins and unearthed previously undetected antioxidant profiles, including byakangelicin, byakangelicol, falcarindiol in both AD and ADF, and notably, 2-linoleoyl glycerol detected only in AD as an antioxidant spot. This comprehensive approach affords a valuable tool set for botanical drug development, emphasizing the critical need for accurate source plant identification and differentiation in ensuring the efficacy and safety of herbal medicine products.
IPPRAS Cryobank for the Conservation of Orthodox Seeds of Rare, Endangered, Medicinal, and Ornamental Plant Species—Current Research
Authors: Nits Olga Sergeevna , Sementsova Mariya Vladimirovna , Osipova Ekaterina Sergeevna , Tereshonok Dmitry Viktorovich , Gladkov Evgeny Aleksandrovich
Published: May 2024

Plant cryobanks play a significant role in modern science and breeding. They contribute to the recovery of lost species, the emergence of new plant varieties, and help preserve and explore the diversity of the plant world. The IPPRAS Cryobank collection is constantly supplemented with new samples, while, at the same time, the stored samples are being monitored. In order to test seed germination, seeds of Allium and Veratrum species were thawed. Rare Allium species seeds, such as A. nutans, A. schoenoprasum, and A. victorialis were stored in liquid nitrogen for 17, 19, and 30 years, respectively. Long-term cryopreservation decreased germination rates for A. nutans from 96.55 to 50.00%, for A. schoenoprasum from 72.00 to 62.75%, and for A. victorialis from 90.00 to 83.05%. Seeds of a rare medicinal species, Veratrum lobelianum, were stored in liquid nitrogen for 18 years; the seed germination rate during this storage period has been significantly decreased from 75.00 to 14.81%. V. nigrum seeds were also collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen for 3 days. Short-term cryopreservation did not result in a statistically significant change in germination rates (from 79.71 to 82.69%). The seeds of an endangered ornamental species, Cypripedium calceolus, were collected and kept frozen for 3 days. After cryopreservation, the seeds were planted on three different media, as follows: ½ MS, MS with 10% coconut milk, and BM1. On ½ MS medium, 24.98% seeds formed protocorms, while on MS medium with 10% coconut milk, this number was 10.02%, and on BM1 medium, it was 15.02%, respectively; however, after 2.5 months, all of the protocorms died. Thus, it appears that the existing protocol for seed cryopreservation of C. calceolus needs further improvement. The size, weight, and free water content (WC) of six previously cryopreserved Stipa species and three Allium species were measured. For all the Allium and Stipa species studied, we found no correlation between seed size, WC, and cryotolerance. We also found no correlation between the life form, which reflects the water requirement of the species, and cryotolerance.
Multicontamination Toxicity Evaluation in the Model Plant Lactuca sativa L.
Authors: Zemanová Veronika , Lhotská Marie , Novák Milan , Hnilička František , Popov Marek , Pavlíková Daniela
Published: May 2024

Many contaminated soils contain several toxic elements (TEs) in elevated contents, and plant–TE interactions can differ from single TE contamination. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of combined contamination (As, Cd, Pb, Zn) on the physiological and metabolic processes of lettuce. After 45 days of exposure, TE excess in soil resulted in the inhibition of root and leaf biomass by 40 and 48%, respectively. Oxidative stress by TE accumulation was indicated by markers—malondialdehyde and 5-methylcytosine—and visible symptoms of toxicity (leaf chlorosis, root browning) and morpho-anatomical changes, which were related to the change in water regime (water potential decrease). An analysis of free amino acids (AAs) indicated that TEs disturbed N and C metabolism, especially in leaves, increasing the total content of free AAs and their families. Stress-induced senescence by TEs suggested changes in gas exchange parameters (increase in transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration), photosynthetic pigments (decrease in chlorophylls and carotenoids), a decrease in water use efficiency, and the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II. These results confirmed that the toxicity of combined contamination significantly affected the processes of lettuce by damaging the antioxidant system and expressing higher leaf sensitivity to TE multicontamination.
Nitric Oxide Mitigates the Deleterious Effects Caused by Infection of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and Modulates the Carbon Assimilation Process in Sweet Cherry under Water Stress
Authors: Rubilar-Hernández Carlos , Álvarez-Maldini Carolina , Pizarro Lorena , Figueroa Franco , Villalobos-González Luis , Pimentel Paula , Fiore Nicola , Pinto Manuel
Published: May 2024

Bacterial canker is an important disease of sweet cherry plants mainly caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss). Water deficit profoundly impairs the yield of this crop. Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule that plays an important role in the plant defense mechanisms. To evaluate the protection exerted by NO against Pss infection under normal or water-restricted conditions, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, was applied to sweet cherry plants cv. Lapins, before they were exposed to Pss infection under normal or water-restricted conditions throughout two seasons. Well-watered plants treated with exogenous NO presented a lower susceptibility to Pss. A lower susceptibility to Pss was also induced in plants by water stress and this effect was increased when water stress was accompanied by exogenous NO. The lower susceptibility to Pss induced either by exogenous NO or water stress was accompanied by a decrease in the internal bacterial population. In well-watered plants, exogenous NO increased the stomatal conductance and the net CO2 assimilation. In water-stressed plants, NO induced an increase in the leaf membranes stability and proline content, but not an increase in the CO2 assimilation or the stomatal conductance.
In Vitro Shoot Multiplication and Rooting of ‘Kashan’ and ‘Hervy Azerbaijan’ Damask Rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) Genotypes for Cosmetic and Ornamental Applications
Authors: Kaviani Behzad , Deltalab Bahareh , Kulus Dariusz , Khoddamzadeh Amir Ali , Roque-Borda Cesar Augusto
Published: May 2024

The damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) is an ornamental–medicinal plant from the Rosaceae family, and its aromatic compounds and essential oils are applied globally in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Due to its economic value, this research aimed to establish a protocol for an efficient, rapid, and cost-effective method for in vitro shoot multiplication and rooting of the R. damascena ‘Kashan’ and ‘Hervy Azerbaijan’ genotypes. Nodal segments (as primary explants) were cultured on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with combinations of various plant growth regulators (PGRs) such as gibberellic acid (GA3), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), as well as a PGR-like substance, phloroglucinol (PG), vitamins such as ascorbic acid (AA), and activated carbon in the form of active charcoal (AC). For the establishment stage, 0.1 mg·L−1 PG, 0.2 mg·L−1 GA3, and 1 mg·L−1 BAP were added to the media. Secondary explants (nodal segments containing axillary buds produced from primary explants) were obtained after 30 days of in vitro culture and transferred to the proliferation media supplemented with different concentrations of BAP (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 mg·L−1) and GA3 (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1 mg·L−1) together with 0.1 mg·L−1 PG and 20 mg·L−1 of AA. The rooting media were augmented with different concentrations of BAP and GA3 with 0.1 mg·L−1 of IBA, PG and 20 mg·L−1 of AA and AC. The results showed that the highest regeneration coefficient (4.29 and 4.28) and the largest number of leaves (23.33–24.33) were obtained in the explants grown on the medium supplemented with 2 mg·L−1 BAP and 0.4 mg·L−1 GA3 for the ‘Kashan’ and ‘Hervy Azerbaijan’ genotypes, respectively. Likewise, this PGR combination provided the shortest time until bud break (approximately 6.5 days) and root emergence (approximately 10 days) in both genotypes. The highest number of shoots (4.78 per explant) and roots (3.96) was achieved in this medium in the ‘Kashan’ rose. Stem and root lengths, as well as stem and root fresh and dry weights, were also analyzed. In most measured traits, the lowest values were found in the PGRs-free control medium. Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots filled with perlite and peat moss in a 2:1 proportion and were acclimatized to ambient greenhouse conditions with a mean 90.12% survival rate. This research contributes significantly to our understanding of Damask rose propagation and has practical implications for the cosmetic and ornamental plant industries. By offering insights into the manipulation of regeneration processes, our study opens up new possibilities for the effective production of high-quality plant material.
Two Contemplation Models of Nāmamātra in the Yogācāra Literature
Authors: Choi Seongho
Published: May 2024

This article contextualizes the meaning of nāmamātra in the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkārabhāṣya and explores the history of modifications of this term in the Yogācāra literature. The term already exists in the pre-Yogācāra literature, such as the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā and the Bhavasaṃkrāntisūtra, where it means name only. The chapter Bodhisattvabhūmi of the Yogācārabhūmi applies this meaning and explains how to interpret it to understand the true nature of the contemplative object; that is, what is named is nothing but a name, and what exists is the inexpressible thing (vastu). When people lack this understanding and regard for the expressed object as existent, they suffer subsequent afflictions and suffering. A similar but slightly modified explanation is also found in the Madhyāntavibhāgabhāṣya, where the author states that a single object has two intrinsic characteristics (svalakṣaṇas), the conventional and the ultimate, and that the former is expressed by a mere name and is non-existent, while the latter is ineffable and existent. However, the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkārabhāṣya and Sthiramati’s commentary on it, the *Sūtrālaṃkāravṛttibhāṣya, insert another meaning of nāmamātra: there are only mental factors. They also describe two contemplation phases, whereby practitioners should first understand the non-existence of the expressed object before recollecting the term nāmarūpa in the context of the five constituents (pañcaskandha) and concluding that material and physical factors (rūpa) do not exist; rather, only the mental factors do (nāmamātra). Finally, this second meaning of nāmamātra should be further contemplated, and the mere mental factors should also be regarded as ultimately non-existent because the external objects causing them were already considered non-existent. This examination of various Yogācāra explanations of nāmamātra sheds light on the multiple phases of modifications of Buddhist terms that occurred in the Yogācāra literature during the systematization of Yogācāra contemplation.
Non-Differentiable Loss Function Optimization and Interaction Effect Discovery in Insurance Pricing Using the Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Van Oirbeek Robin , Vandervorst Félix , Bury Thomas , Willame Gireg , Grumiau Christopher , Verdonck Tim
Published: May 2024

Insurance pricing is the process of determining the premiums that policyholders pay in exchange for insurance coverage. In order to estimate premiums, actuaries use statistical based methods, assessing various factors such as the probability of certain events occurring (like accidents or damages), where the Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) are the industry standard method. Traditional GLM approaches face limitations due to non-differentiable loss functions and expansive variable spaces, including both main and interaction terms. In this study, we address the challenge of selecting relevant variables for GLMs used in non-life insurance pricing both for frequency or severity analyses, amidst an increasing volume of data and variables. We propose a novel application of the Genetic Algorithm (GA) to efficiently identify pertinent main and interaction effects in GLMs, even in scenarios with a high variable count and diverse loss functions. Our approach uniquely aligns GLM predictions with those of black box machine learning models, enhancing their interpretability and reliability. Using a publicly available non-life motor data set, we demonstrate the GA’s effectiveness by comparing its selected GLM with a Gradient Boosted Machine (GBM) model. The results show a strong consistency between the main and interaction terms identified by GA for the GLM and those revealed in the GBM analysis, highlighting the potential of our method to refine and improve pricing models in the insurance sector.
Trading Activity in the Corporate Bond Market: A SAD Tale of Macro-Announcements and Behavioral Seasonality?
Authors: Forest James J. , Branch Ben S. , Berry Brian T.
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the determinants of trading activity in the U.S. corporate bond market, focusing on the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and macroeconomic announcements. Employing the General-to-Specific (Gets) Autometrics methodology, we identify distinct behavioral responses between retail and institutional investors to SAD, noting a significant impact on retail trading volumes but not on institutional trading or bond returns. This discovery extends the understanding of behavioral finance within the context of bond markets, diverging from established findings in equity and Treasury markets. Additionally, our analysis delineates the influence of macroeconomic announcements on trading activities, offering new insights into the market’s reaction to economic news. This study’s findings contribute to the broader literature on market microstructure and behavioral finance, providing empirical evidence on the interplay between psychological factors and macroeconomic information flow within corporate bond markets. By addressing these specific aspects with rigorous econometric techniques, our research enhances the comprehension of trading dynamics in less transparent markets, offering valuable perspectives for academics, investors, risk managers, and policymakers.
ERNet: A Rapid Road Crack Detection Method Using Low-Altitude UAV Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Duan Zexian , Liu Jiahang , Ling Xinpeng , Zhang Jinlong , Liu Zhiheng
Published: May 2024

The rapid and accurate detection of road cracks is of great significance for road health monitoring, but currently, this work is mainly completed through manual site surveys. Low-altitude UAV remote sensing can provide images with a centimeter-level or even subcentimeter-level ground resolution, which provides a new, efficient, and economical approach for rapid crack detection. Nevertheless, crack detection networks face challenges such as edge blurring and misidentification due to the heterogeneity of road cracks and the complexity of the background. To address these issues, we proposed a real-time edge reconstruction crack detection network (ERNet) that adopted multi-level information aggregation to reconstruct crack edges and improve the accuracy of segmentation between the target and the background. To capture global dependencies across spatial and channel levels, we proposed an efficient bilateral decomposed convolutional attention module (BDAM) that combined depth-separable convolution and dilated convolution to capture global dependencies across the spatial and channel levels. To enhance the accuracy of crack detection, we used a coordinate-based fusion module that integrated spatial, semantic, and edge reconstruction information. In addition, we proposed an automatic measurement of crack information for extracting the crack trunk and its corresponding length and width. The experimental results demonstrated that our network achieved the best balance between accuracy and inference speed compared to six established models.
Thin Copper Plate Defect Detection Based on Lamb Wave Generated by Pulsed Laser in Combination with Laser Heterodyne Interference Technique
Authors: Wang Xinhao , Zhu Zhaojiong , Guo Guqing , Sun Xiaocong , Gong Ting , Tian Yali , Zhou Yueting , Qiu Xuanbing , He Xiaohu , Chen Huiqin , Fittschen Christa , Li Chuanliang
Published: May 2024

Thin copper plate is widely used in architecture, transportation, heavy equipment, and integrated circuit substrates due to its unique properties. However, it is challenging to identify surface defects in copper strips arising from various manufacturing stages without direct contact. A laser ultrasonic inspection system was developed based on the Lamb wave (LW) produced by a laser pulse. An all-fiber laser heterodyne interferometer is applied for measuring the ultrasonic signal in combination with an automatic scanning system, which makes the system flexible and compact. A 3-D model simulation of an H62 brass specimen was carried out to determine the LW spatial-temporal wavefield by using the COMSOL Multiphysics software. The characteristics of the ultrasonic wavefield were extracted through continuous wavelet transform analysis. This demonstrates that the A0 mode could be used in defect detection due to its slow speed and vibrational direction. Furthermore, an ultrasonic wave at the center frequency of 370 kHz with maximum energy is suitable for defect detection. In the experiment, the size and location of the defect are determined by the time difference of the transmitted wave and reflected wave, respectively. The relative error of the defect position is 0.14% by averaging six different receiving spots. The width of the defect is linear to the time difference of the transmitted wave. The goodness of fit can reach 0.989, and it is in good agreement with the simulated one. The experimental error is less than 0.395 mm for a 5 mm width of defect. Therefore, this validates that the technique can be potentially utilized in the remote defect detection of thin copper plates.
Enhanced Water Surface Object Detection with Dynamic Task-Aligned Sample Assignment and Attention Mechanisms
Authors: Zhao Liangtian , Qiu Shouqiang , Chen Yuanming
Published: May 2024

The detection of objects on water surfaces is a pivotal technology for the perceptual systems of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). This paper proposes a novel real-time target detection system designed to address the challenges posed by indistinct bottom boundaries and foggy imagery. Our method enhances the YOLOv8s model by incorporating the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) and a self-attention mechanism, examining their impact at various integration points. A dynamic sample assignment strategy was introduced to enhance the precision of our model and accelerate its convergence. To address the challenge of delineating bottom boundaries with clarity, our model employs a two-strategy approach: a threshold filter and a feedforward neural network (FFN) that provides targeted guidance for refining these boundaries. Our model demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving a mean average precision (mAP) of 47.1% on the water surface object dataset, which represents a 1.7% increase over the baseline YOLOv8 model. The dynamic sample assignment strategy contributes a 1.0% improvement on average precision at the intersection over union (IoU) threshold of 0.5 (AP0.5), while the FFN strategy fine-tunes the bottom boundaries and achieves an additional 0.8% improvement in average precision at IoU threshold of 0.75 (AP0.75). Furthermore, ablation studies have validated the versatility of our approach, confirming its potential for integration into various detection frameworks.
Early Identification of Rotten Potatoes Using an Electronic Nose Based on Feature Discretization and Ensemble Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Lin Haonan , Wei Zhenbo , Chen Changqing , Huang Yun , Zhu Jianxi
Published: May 2024

The early identification of rotten potatoes is one of the most important challenges in a storage facility because of the inconspicuous symptoms of rot, the high density of storage, and environmental factors (such as temperature, humidity, and ambient gases). An electronic nose system based on an ensemble convolutional neural network (ECNN, a powerful feature extraction method) was developed to detect potatoes with different degrees of rot. Three types of potatoes were detected: normal samples, slightly rotten samples, and totally rotten samples. A feature discretization method was proposed to optimize the impact of ambient gases on electronic nose signals by eliminating redundant information from the features. The ECNN based on original features presented good results for the prediction of rotten potatoes in both laboratory and storage environments, and the accuracy of the prediction results was 94.70% and 90.76%, respectively. Moreover, the application of the feature discretization method significantly improved the prediction results, and the accuracy of prediction results improved by 1.59% and 3.73%, respectively. Above all, the electronic nose system performed well in the identification of three types of potatoes by using the ECNN, and the proposed feature discretization method was helpful in reducing the interference of ambient gases.
Delamination Depth Detection in Composite Plates Using the Lamb Wave Technique Based on Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Migot Asaad , Saaudi Ahmed , Giurgiutiu Victor
Published: May 2024

Delamination represents one of the most significant and dangerous damages in composite plates. Recently, many papers have presented the capability of structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques for the investigation of structural delamination with various shapes and thickness depths. However, few studies have been conducted regarding the utilization of convolutional neural network (CNN) methods for automating the non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques database to identify the delamination size and depth. In this paper, an automated system qualified for distinguishing between pristine and damaged structures and classifying three classes of delamination with various depths is presented. This system includes a proposed CNN model and the Lamb wave technique. In this work, a unidirectional composite plate with three samples of delamination inserted at different depths was prepared for numerical and experimental investigations. In the numerical part, the guided wave propagation and interaction with three samples of delamination were studied to observe how the delamination depth can affect the scattered and trapped waves over the delamination region. This numerical study was validated experimentally using an efficient ultrasonic guided waves technique. This technique involved piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWASs) and a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer (SLDV). Both numerical and experimental studies demonstrate that the delamination depth has a direct effect on the trapped waves’ energy and distribution. Three different datasets were collected from the numerical and experimental studies, involving the numerical wavefield image dataset, experimental wavefield image dataset, and experimental wavenumber spectrum image dataset. These three datasets were used independently with the proposed CNN model to develop a system that can automatically classify four classes (pristine class and three different delamination classes). The results of all three datasets show the capability of the proposed CNN model for predicting the delamination depth with high accuracy. The proposed CNN model results of the three different datasets were validated using the GoogLeNet CNN. The results of both methods show an excellent agreement. The results proved the capability of the wavefield image and wavenumber spectrum datasets to be used as input data to the CNN for the detection of delamination depth.