bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Fluroxypyr Drift on Soybean Phytotoxicity and the Safety Drift Thresholds
Authors: Zhou Qingqing , Zhang Songchao , Lin Tianqi , Jiao Yuxuan , Cai Chen , Xue Chenchen , Ye Jinwen , Xue Xinyu
Published: December 2024

Maize–soybean intercropping can increase soybean yields and stabilize maize yields, and this practice has been widely promoted in China. Fluroxypyr is a recommended herbicide for maize seedlings, and its drift will cause phytotoxicity to neighboring soybean seedlings. A laboratory toxicity test was performed on soybeans by using a mobile bioassay spray tower. It showed that both the carrier volume and the drift deposition rate of fluroxypyr significantly influenced soybean fresh weight. The soybean fresh weight inhibition rate increased with the increase in the drift deposition rate, especially in the range of 1% to 6%, and soybean fresh weight decreased rapidly. The lack of fit R2 was 0.6875, with a 9% maximum deviation between experimental values and simulated values. The drift deposition rate upper threshold for mild phytotoxicity (10% fresh weight inhibition rate, ED10) was determined to be 3.35%, while the threshold for no phytotoxicity (0% fresh weight inhibition rate, ED0) was 1.01%. To ensure soybean safety, isolation devices and anti-drift nozzles were installed on the boom sprayer to maintain drift below ED0 or, at most, ED10. Maize seedling strip weed control field tests showed that the highest drift deposition rate was 0.689% under the carrier volume of 330 L·ha−1. There was no phytotoxicity observed on soybeans after 21 days of application, which was consistent with laboratory research results. In this study, the phytotoxicity risk and safe thresholds for the fluroxypyr drift on soybean seedlings were established, which provide a theoretical basis for the safe production of soybeans.
Black Soil Quality After 19 Years of Continuous Conservation Tillage
Authors: Zhang Chengyuan , Li Jianye , Sosa Francisco Alberto , Chen Qiang , Zhang Xingyi
Published: December 2024

Conservation tillage is a practice adopted worldwide to prevent soil degradation. Although there have been many studies on the impact of conservation tillage on soil quality, most studies on cultivated land in the black soil region of Northeast China are based on the physical and chemical indicators of soil. In addition, the experiment time is generally short, so there is a lack of information about long-term conservation tillage from the perspective of the physical, chemical, and biological integration of soil. A comparative analysis of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil was conducted under no-till (NT) with straw mulching and conventional tillage (CT) treatments after 19 years of field experiments. By using membership functions to normalize and render all the indicators dimensionless, and calculating the weight of each indicator through principal component analysis, the comprehensive index of soil quality can be calculated as a weighted summation. The results indicate that NT had no significant effect on soil bulk density at a soil depth of 0–20 cm. NT increased the field water-holding capacity of the 0–5 cm layer, reduced the total porosity of the 5–10 cm soil layer, and decreased the non-capillary porosity of the 0–20 cm soil layer. Compared to CT, NT significantly increased the organic carbon content of the soil in the 0–5 cm layer, comprehensively improved the total nutrient content of the soil, and significantly increased the contents of ammonium nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, and available phosphorus in the soil. It also significantly improved the total phosphorus content in the 5–20 cm soil layer. NT improved the microbial carbon and nitrogen content of the soil, significantly enhanced the microbial nitrogen content in the 0–5 and 5–10 cm soil layers, and reduced the bacterial species diversity in the 5–10 cm soil layer. However, the soil enzyme activities showed no significant differences between different treatments. Under the NT treatment, the evaluation of soil quality indicators, such as mean weight diameter, field water-holding capacity, non-capillary porosity, microbial biomass nitrogen, total nutrients, and available nutrients, was relatively successful. Based on the weight calculation, the organic carbon, catalase activity, fungal richness, and bacterial diversity indicators are the most important of the 22 soil quality indicators. In terms of the comprehensive index of soil fertility quality, NT increased the soil quality comprehensive index by 34.2% compared to CT. Long-term conservation tillage improved the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil, which significantly enhanced the quality of the black soil.
Organic Amendments Promoted Soil Agglomeration Mainly via Alleviating Abiotic Constraints and Stabilizing and Functionalizing Microbiomes in Coastal Salt-Affected Lands
Authors: Li Yunlong , Wang Mengyao , Fan Mengwei , Li Xuxia , Jiang Lan , Hao Zequn , Yu Jie , Yang Yanju , Zuo Wengang , Shan Yuhua , Bai Yanchao
Published: December 2024

Although organic amendment has been widely accepted to be capable of facilitating soil agglomeration in coastal salt-affected soils, quantitative characterization with respect to how abiotic and biotic components drive the formation and stabilization of soil aggregates remains largely unexplored and poorly understood. In the current study, wet-sieving, Miseq sequencing, etc., were employed to study the impacts of different application amounts of sewage sludge on soil aggregates, physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial core microbiomes in coastal saline soils. The results indicated that sewage sludge was conducive to soil agglomeration, abiotic constraint alleviation, microbial activity enhancement, and bacterial and fungal community stabilization and functionalization. The results derived from variation partitioning analysis and the structural equation model showed that elevated soil organic carbon and mitigated salinization were dominant abiotic factors that directly drove the stabilization and functionalization of bacterial and fungal microbiomes. In addition, bacterial families (e.g., Xanthomonadaceae, Rhodospirillaceae, and Micrococcaceae) and fungal genera (e.g., Trichoderma, Cephaliophora, Mortierella, and Penicillium) were potential functional microbial populations related to soil agglomeration in organic amended coastal salt-affected soils. Together, these abiotic and biotic agents jointly drove soil agglomeration and totally explained 87% of the variations in soil aggregates. Collectively, this study highlighted the approach and effectiveness of the impacts of organic amendment on soil agglomeration in coastal salt-affected land based on qualitative and quantitative analysis, which would enhance our knowledge with respect to coastal salt-affected soil quality indication and development.
Cyclic Peptide MV6, an Aminoglycoside Efficacy Enhancer Against Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Roson-Calero Natalia , Lucas Jimmy , Gomis-Font María A. , de Pedro-Jové Roger , Oliver Antonio , Ballesté-Delpierre Clara , Vila Jordi
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: Acinetobacter baumannii is a globally emerging pathogen with widespread antimicrobial resistance driven by multiple mechanisms, such as altered expression of efflux pumps like AdeABC, placing it as a priority for research. Driven by the lack of new treatments, alternative approaches are being explored to combat its infections, among which efficacy-enhancing adjuvants can be found. This study presents and characterizes MV6, a synthetic cyclic peptide that boosts aminoglycoside efficacy. Methods: MV6’s activity was assessed through antimicrobial susceptibility testing in combination with different antibiotic classes against A. baumannii strains characterized by PCR and RT-qPCR. PAβN served as a reference efflux pump inhibitor. Synergy was evaluated using checkerboard assays, and spontaneous mutants were generated with netilmicin with/without MV6 (100 mg/L). Whole-genome sequencing and variant calling analysis were then performed. Results: MV6 presented low antimicrobial activity in A. baumannii with MICs higher than 2048 mg/L. MV6 showed a better boosting effect for aminoglycosides, especially netilmicin, exceeding that of PAβN. Checkerboard assays confirmed a strong synergy between netilmicin and MV6, and a significant correlation was found between netilmicin MIC and adeB overexpression, which was mitigated by the presence of MV6. MV6 reduced, by 16-fold, the mutant prevention concentration of netilmicin. Mutations in a TetR-family regulator and ABC-binding proteins were found in both groups, suggesting a direct or indirect implication of these proteins in the resistance acquisition process. Conclusions: MV6 lacks intrinsic antimicrobial activity, minimizing selective pressure, yet enhances netilmicin’s effectiveness except for strain 210, which lacks the AdeABC efflux pump. Resistant mutants indicate specific aminoglycoside resistance mechanisms involving efflux pump mutations, suggesting synergistic interactions. Further research, including transcriptomic analysis, is essential to elucidate MV6’s role in enhancing netilmicin efficacy and its resistance mechanisms.
Does Antibiotic Use Contribute to Biofilm Resistance in Sink Drains? A Case Study from Four German Hospital Wards
Authors: van Leuven Nicole , Lucassen Ralf , Dicks Anna , Braß Patrick , Lipski André , Bockmühl Dirk
Published: December 2024

Backgound. As biofilms are known to harbour (multi-)resistant species, their presence in health settings must be considered critical. Although there is evidence that bacteria spread from drains to the outside, there is still a lack of research data focusing on drain biofilms from hospitals. Methods. We sampled biofilms from various wards of Helios Hospital Krefeld (Germany), where comprehensive antibiotic consumption data were available. Biofilms were analysed by cell counting, isolation of relevant bacterial groups and genetic and phenotypical resistance parameters. Data were correlated with the prescribed antibiotics of the respective ward. Furthermore, an ex situ biofilm model was employed to investigate the influence of sub-inhibitory antibiotics on the bacterial community and the prevalence of class 1 integrons. Results. Our results show that every ward harboured medically relevant bacterial species. While no significant differences were found in cell counts, the median prevalence of the resistance marker gene intI1 correlated with the amount of prescribed antibiotics. In contrast, phenotypical resistances showed no similar tendency. In addition, melting curve analysis data and changes in intI1 prevalence show that the composition of the bacterial community shifted depending on the biofilm and antibiotic. Conclusions. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first considering possible correlations between the consumption data of hospital wards and resistances in drain biofilms the way we did. Based on our results, we conclude that sub-inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics have no general effect on biofilms in terms of bacterial community shift and occurrence of antibiotic-resistant species. Amongst other things, the effect depends on the initial composition of the bacterial community, the antibiotic used and the intrinsic bacterial resistance, e.g., prevalence of class 1 integrons.
National Cohort of Compassionate Use of Meropenem–Vaborbactam: No Benefit over Meropenem for Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Dinh Aurélien , Bleibtreu Alexandre , Duran Clara , Bouchand Frédérique , Bosch Alexie , Crozon-Clauzel Jullien , Roncato-Saberan Mariam , Matt Morgan , Boibieux André , Fanton Annlyse , Wille Heidi , Fiaux Elise , Pilmis Benoît , Lacoste Marie , Saint-Genis Quentin , Thumerelle Caroline , Pavese Patricia , Vuotto Fanny , Senneville Eric , Potron Anaïs , Corvec Stéphane , Boutoille David , Jeannot Katy , Dortet Laurent ,   on behalf of the Meropenem-Vaborbactam French Study Group
Published: December 2024

Background: Meropenem–vaborbactam (MEM-VAB) is a novel carbapenem-beta-lactamase-inhibitor combination that demonstrates activity against carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative bacteria, and more specifically KPC-producers, since vaborbactam is an effective inhibitor of KPC enzymes in vitro. This study aimed to describe the initial uses and efficacy of MEM-VAB for compassionate treatment during the first 21 months following its early access in France. Method: A national multicenter retrospective study was conducted, including all patients who received at least one dose of MEM-VAB between 20 July 2020, and 5 April 2022. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were collected using a standardized questionnaire. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antimicrobials, and complete genome sequencing of bacteria were performed when bacterial isolates were available. Results: Ultimately, 21 patients from 15 French hospitals were included in the study. The main indication for MEM-VAB treatment was respiratory tract infections (n = 9). The targeted bacteria included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 12), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3), Enterobacter spp (n = 3), Citrobacter freundii (n = 1), Escherichia coli (n = 1), and Burkholderia multivorans (n = 1). Overall, no significant advantage of vaborbactam over meropenem alone was observed across all strains of P. aeruginosa in terms of in vitro susceptibility. However, MEM-VAB demonstrated a notable impact, compared to carbapenem alone, on the MIC for the two KPC-3-producing K. pneumoniae and B. multivorans. Conclusions: MEM-VAB seems effective as a salvage treatment in compassionate use, but vaborbactam was shown to lack benefits compared to meropenem in treating P. aeruginosa-related infections. Therefore, it is crucial to compare meropenem to MEM-VAB MICs, particularly for P. aeruginosa, before prescribing MEM-VAB.
Development of a Stringent Ex Vivo-Burned Porcine Skin Wound Model to Screen Topical Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Chen Ping , Sebastian Eliza A. , Karna S. L. Rajasekhar , Leung Kai P.
Published: December 2024

Background: Due to rising antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, there is a pressing need to screen approved drugs for repurposing and to develop new antibiotics for controlling infections. Current in vitro and ex vivo models have mostly been unsuccessful in establishing in vivo relevance. In this study, we developed a stringent ex vivo-burned porcine skin model with high in vivo relevance to screen topical antimicrobials. Methods: A 3 cm-diameter thermal injury was created on non-sterilized porcine skin using a pressure-monitored and temperature-controlled burn device. Commensals were determined pre- and post-burn. The burn wound was inoculated with a target pathogen, and efficacies of Silvadene, Flammacerium, Sulfamylon, and Mupirocin were determined. The in vivo relevance of this platform was evaluated by comparing the ex vivo treatment effects to available in vivo treatment outcomes (from our laboratory and published reports) against selective burn pathogens. Results: Approximately 1% of the commensals survived the skin burn, and these commensals in the burn wounds affected the treatment outcomes in the ex vivo screening platform. When tested against six pathogens, both Silvadene and Flammacerium treatment exhibited ~1–3 log reduction in viable counts. Sulfamylon and Mupirocin exhibited higher efficacy than both Silvadene and Flammacerium against Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus, respectively. The ex vivo treatment outcomes of Silvadene and Flammacerium against Pseudomonas were highly comparable to the outcomes of the in vivo (rats). Conclusions: The ex vivo model developed in our lab is a stringent and effective platform for antimicrobial activity screening. The outcome obtained from this ex vivo model is highly relevant to in vivo.
Development of RelaxQuest: A Serious EEG-Controlled Game Designed to Promote Relaxation and Self-Regulation with a Potential Focus on ADHD Intervention
Authors: Vidal Alan F. Pérez , Cervantes José-Antonio , Rumbo-Morales Jesse Y. , Sorcia-Vázquez Felipe D. J. , Ortiz-Torres Gerardo , Moncada Christian A. Castro , Arias Ignacio de la Torre
Published: December 2024

This article presents the development of a serious game designed to help individuals improve their ability to relax and self-regulate, with a particular focus on children. Additionally, the game has the potential to become an effective tool for intervention in individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) due to its integration of critical elements for measuring attention levels. These include omission errors, commission errors, response times, standard deviations of response times, and other relevant variables. The game allows control through electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, using alpha wave modulation and blinking as interaction methods. The amplification of alpha wave amplitude is associated with states of relaxation and mental tranquility, indicating that their modulation could potentially mitigate anxiety and enhance emotional self-regulation. The game’s primary objective is to encourage participants to attain relaxing mental states by overcoming challenges as they progress. In order to achieve this, the game’s development necessitated a comprehensive understanding of EEG signal processing, a crucial aspect meticulously explored in this article. In addition, this paper presents the results of alpha wave and flicker detection, along with a performance analysis that demonstrates satisfactory results. Subsequently, the game was assessed with children to evaluate its effectiveness, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of various performance parameters. The findings indicate that the game facilitates the gradual improvement of participants’ skills with each iteration, notably enhancing their capacity to achieve a state of relaxation.
Time–Cost Analysis of Construction of Administrative Buildings Using Wood-Based Construction Systems
Authors: Tažiková Alena , Struková Zuzana , Kozlovská Mária , Škvarka Martin
Published: December 2024

Nowadays, wooden constructions should occupy an important place in the construction industry, mainly because they eliminate negative effects on the environment. Eco-friendly and sustainable buildings include, for example, buildings made of timber column structures and buildings made of cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. Eco-friendly buildings based on wood are in the minority in Slovakia. The research question is what advantages and disadvantages can the construction of an administrative building from CLT panels include, not only for the construction investor, compared to a construction from a timber column structure? The main research method is the analysis of time and cost parameters of the construction of wooden buildings, with the aim of drawing attention to the characteristics of construction in the segment of administrative buildings in Slovakia. The synthesis of the resulting knowledge has proven the advantage of construction from CLT panels compared to timber column structures. The task of designers is to offer knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of different types of constructions, to which the results of our study contribute. This study is based on a thorough time–cost analysis of the parameters of the CLT construction system and timber column structures, and it definitely fills the publishing gap in the given topic.
HBIM: Background, Current Trends, and Future Prospects
Authors: Ávila Fernando , Blanca-Hoyos Álvaro , Puertas Esther , Gallego Rafael
Published: December 2024

Historic building information modeling (HBIM) represents an emerging field that extends traditional building information modeling (BIM) to the preservation, management, and analysis of heritage structures. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of HBIM, tracing its evolution from its origins and early applications to its current state and future prospects. The processes of data collection and modeling are thoroughly examined, addressing levels of detail, digitization methods, and commonly used software and data formats. Attention is also given to existing BIM standards and protocols and their potential application to HBIM. The paper emphasizes the importance of appropriate data selection and management, both for geometrical and non-geometrical (historical and architectural) information. Furthermore, it explores the integration of HBIM with structural analysis tools, a subject of growing interest, particularly in light of its potential for integration with structural health monitoring systems and advanced computational models. The results of this review highlight the increasing role of HBIM in heritage preventive preservation and management, a topic that accounted for 40% of the articles on this subject in 2023. These findings demonstrate that HBIM offers significant potential for managing and preserving heritage buildings, but to fully realize its capabilities, advancements in data interoperability, standardized protocols, and real-time structural analysis are essential to make it a widely effective tool in conservation efforts.
Evaluation of Environmental Radiation Exposure and Algorithms for Determining the Occupational Effective Dose During 99mTc-MDP Bone Scintigraphy: A Comprehensive Analysis
Authors: Marshall Suphalak Khamruang , Hayeeabdunromae Awatif , Noomad Nadia , Durawee Wanita , Sirieak Nantakorn , Karnkorn Pornchanok , Keawtong Virunyupa
Published: December 2024

This study evaluated the occupational exposure of radiopharmacists, nurses, radiological technologists, and radiological technologist assistants involved in 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy procedures. Actual occupational effective doses for individual staff needed ascertaining. An environmental radiation exposure audit revealed all nuclear medicine areas were compliant with ICRP and IAEA guidelines. To ascertain individual doses, they were recorded by OSL badges. The highest exposure was to the radiopharmacists, Hp(0.07) 2.19 µSv during radiolabeling. The nurse administering 99mTc-MDP recorded a dose of 0.27 µSv at Hp(0.07), 26.01% of the total occupational effective dose. The radiological technologist and assistant receive 73.05% of the total effective dose. However, the highest effective dose was received by the technologist assistant positioning patients for SPECT/CT scans, with an effective dose of 32.03 µSv. Single and double dosimetry effective dose estimate algorithms were evaluated, resulting in the double dosimetry being more accurate. The Padovani et al. algorithm was found to most closely align with 99mTc-MDP actual effective dose values (p > 0.05), thereby validating the measurement methods used in this study. The research offers benchmark environmental exposure and effective doses applicable in audits and the continuous effort to enhance radiation safety for personnel during 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy.
STGPT2UGAN: Spatio-Temporal GPT-2 United Generative Adversarial Network for Wind Speed Prediction in Turbine Network
Authors: Dai Qiangsheng , Mao Yingchi , Tang Jiansong , Rong Yi
Published: December 2024

In a turbine network, an accurate wind speed prediction plays a key role in improving the efficiency of turbine operations. At present, Large Language Models (LLMs) have shown their strong capabilities in time sequence forecasting. Unfortunately, the existing LLM-based models face the following two difficulties in precise wind speed prediction: (1) These models fail to capture spatio-temporal correlations. (2) These models rely exclusively on supervised learning to train. Supervised learning updates parameters by optimizing a loss function, which focuses solely on improving accuracy on a specific regression or classification task rather than understanding the true data distribution. To tackle these difficulties, we devise a novel wind speed prediction architecture entitled Spatio-Temporal GPT-2 United Generative Adversarial Network (STGPT2UGAN). In particular, in order to model spatio-temporal correlations, we first design a Spatio-Temporal GPT-2 (STGPT-2), which comprises a Spatio-Temporal Block and the variant of GPT-2. Second, to improve the training of STGPT-2, a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) is introduced to develop an adversarial training strategy. The strategy combines unsupervised training and supervised training in a complementary fashion. The unsupervised training promotes STGPT-2 to learn the distribution of true data through minimizing the adversarial loss. The supervised training intends to align the true values and the predicted values. We conduct the experiments on one real-world wind speed dataset. The experimental results verify that STGPT2UGAN outperforms the state-of-the-art benchmarks in terms of prediction precision.
Deep Rolling Process Modeling Using Finite Element Analysis in Residual Stress Measurement on Rail Head UIC860 Surface
Authors: Pitjamit Siwasit , Nakkiew Wasawat , Insua Pinmanee , Baisukhan Adirek , Poolperm Pattarawadee
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the effects of deep rolling parameters, pressure, speed, and offset, on the residual stress distribution and material deformation in UIC 860 Grade 900A railway rails. We will model deep rolling to simulate the process and predict the residual stress profile in railway rails. Subsequently, we will rigorously compare and analyze the FEM simulation results with experimental data to optimize deep rolling parameters for improved residual stress distribution. Using both experimental methods and finite element analysis via ANSYS 2023 R1, the study varied deep rolling parameters. Experimental deep rolling pressure was set at 150 bar, speed at 1800 mm/min, and offset at 0.1 mm, while FEA simulations predicted corresponding pressures of 157 bar and speed of 1796.52 mm/min. These parameter settings were chosen to induce significant surface compressive stresses that could enhance the material’s mechanical performance. The experimental results showed an average compressive residual stress of 498.9 MPa, closely aligning with the FEA-predicted value of 502.5 MPa. A paired t-test revealed no statistically significant difference between the two results, with a T-value of −0.22 and a p-value of 0.833, validating the reliability of the FEA model. The consistent deformation observed in both experimental and FEA simulations, especially with a 0.1 mm offset, confirmed that the rolling parameters were effective in producing uniform stress distribution, albeit with a slightly extended processing time due to the small offset. Overall, the findings confirm that optimizing the deep rolling parameters of pressure, speed, and offset leads to favorable residual stress distributions and improved material properties. The results indicate that FEA is a reliable tool for predicting the outcomes of deep rolling, and this study provides a strong foundation for further refinement of the process to enhance performance in practical applications, such as railway rail treatments.
Abnormal Sound Detection of Wind Turbine Gearboxes Based on Improved MobileFaceNet and Feature Fusion
Authors: Liang Yuelong , Liu Haorui , Chen Yayu
Published: December 2024

To solve problems such as the unstable detection performance of the sound anomaly detection of wind turbine gearboxes when only normal data are used for training, and the poor detection performance caused by the poor classification of samples with high similarity, this paper proposes a self-supervised wind turbine gearbox sound anomaly detection algorithm that fuses time-domain features and Mel spectrograms, improves the MobileFaceNet (MFN) model, and combines the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM). This method compensates for the abnormal information lost in Mel spectrogram features through feature fusion and introduces a style attention mechanism (SRM) in MFN to enhance the expression of features, improving the accuracy and stability of the abnormal sound detection model. For the wind turbine gearbox sound dataset of a certain wind farm in Guangyuan, the average AUC of the sound data at five measuring point positions of the wind turbine gearbox using the method proposed in this paper, STgram-MFN-SRM, reached 96.16%. Compared with the traditional anomaly detection methods LogMel-MFN, STgram-MFN, STgram-Resnet50, and STgram-MFN-SRM(CE), the average AUC of sound detection at the five measuring point positions increased by 5.19%, 4.73%, 11.06%, and 2.88%, respectively. Therefore, the method proposed in this paper effectively improves the performance of the sound anomaly detection model of wind turbine gearboxes and has important engineering value for the healthy operation and maintenance of wind turbines.
Unsupervised Image Classification Based on Fully Fuzzy Voronoi Tessellation
Authors: Li Xiaoli , Zhao Longlong , Li Hongzhong , Sun Luyi , Chen Pan , Jiang Ruixia , Chen Jinsong
Published: December 2024

High noise resistance and high boundary fitting accuracy have always been the goals of image classification. However, the two mutually constrain each other, making it extremely difficult to reach equilibrium. To deal with this problem, the unsupervised image classification algorithm based on fully fuzzy Voronoi tessellation is proposed. It extends Voronoi tessellation from hard to fuzzy, and proposes a hierarchical fuzzy membership model, i.e., pixels fuzzily belong to Voronoi polygons and polygons fuzzily belong to clusters. The objective function is established based on the hierarchical fuzzy membership model by fully considering the transitivity of fuzziness between different levels. Then, the optimal classification result can be obtained by the fuzzy comprehensive decision theory under the best parameter solution. The first level retains the flexibility of pixels while modeling spatial constraints. The second level determines which class the polygon belongs to under the constraint of the first level. It provides an effective way of balancing noise resistance and boundary fitting. In addition, the Voronoi tessellation is explicitly expressed in the objective function in the form of the mathematical model, which allows it to obtain the optimal value through analytical solutions instead of the previous random sampling method. It greatly increases the convergence speed of the algorithm. Experiments have been performed on simulated and several remote sensing images with seven comparing algorithms to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
A Three-Dimensional Coverage Path Planning Method for Robots for Farmland with Complex Hilly Terrain
Authors: Jiang Hanbing , Yang Ping
Published: December 2024

Hilly terrain farmland has diverse landforms, small fields, and unevenness. Thus, realizing farmland operation mechanization and automation is a difficult problem and has become one of the current research directions to implement agricultural mechanization. Full-coverage path planning is the basis for realizing agricultural mechanization and intelligence, and traditional full-coverage path planning algorithms cannot solve the full-coverage and energy consumption optimization problem during the management of hilly farmland on three-dimensional terrain. In this paper, for the full-coverage path-planning problem of hilly terrain farmland, based on analyzing the terrain characteristics of hilly farmland and the energy consumption model of robots traveling on non-flat ground, we propose a region decomposition method oriented to special terrain and prioritize the coverage of special terrain areas. We introduce a cost function for robot movement and design a full-coverage path planning algorithm for hilly three-dimensional terrain. We set up a simulation environment to carry out simulation experiments. The experimental results show that this paper’s algorithm can complete full coverage tasks in hilly terrain farmland, and compared with other algorithms, it has obvious advantages in path length, total elevation difference, and other aspects, effectively reducing the energy consumption of the coverage task. This lays a research foundation for the realization of agricultural mechanization in hilly terrain farmland.
Calibration of a 3-Component External Balance for MAVs Wind Tunnel Research
Authors: Bardera Rafael , Rodriguez-Sevillano Ángel Antonio , Barroso Barderas Estela , Sor Suthyvann , Matías García Juan Carlos
Published: December 2024

This paper presents a 3-component external balance, specifically designed, built, and calibrated at the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) for measuring aerodynamic forces on Micro Aerial Vehicles in the wind tunnel. The balance employs high-precision strain gauge cells as its load-sensing elements, strategically positioned in a metallic structure to measure lift force, aerodynamic drag force, and pitching moment. The entire calibration process of the balance, including the mathematical formulation to derive the calibration matrix and the calibration bench designed and manufactured for this purpose, is detailed in this paper. Moreover, the complete analysis of component interferences of the aerodynamic components and an assessment of the uncertainties inherent in the system are presented.
Trial Design of a Truss Bridge Prefabricated Using a Rectangular Steel Tube—Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Composite
Authors: Shang Shujie , Jiang Lei , Dong Yongquan , Li Zhengbo , Pei Runsheng
Published: December 2024

In order to promote the development of bridge assembly technology and accelerate the application of rectangular steel-tube–concrete composite truss bridges, this study focuses on the Yellow River Diversion Jiqing Main Canal Bridge as the engineering example and conducts a numerical analysis of a rectangular steel-tube–concrete composite truss bridge. Based on the results of the analysis, structural optimization is achieved in three dimensions—structural design, construction methods, and force analysis—leading to the establishment of key design parameters for through-type ultra-high-performance rectangular steel-tube–concrete composite truss bridges. The results show that filling the hollow sections with ultra-high-strength concrete can significantly enhance the load-bearing capacity. Additionally, employing prestressed concrete components addresses the bending and tensile load capacity challenges of composite structures, thus maximizing the material strength advantages. The proposed preliminary design scheme incorporates prestressed PBL-reinforced tie rods filled with ultra-high-performance concrete with optimal design parameters, such as high span ratios, wide span ratios, and ideal segment lengths, are suggested to ensure that the strength, stiffness, and stability comply with relevant standards. While ensuring that the structure meets safety, applicability, and durability criteria, the preliminary design scheme reduces steel usage by 23.5%, concrete usage by 11.6%, and overall costs by 17.29% compared to the original design. The proposed design demonstrates distinct advantages over the original in terms of mechanical performance, construction efficiency, economic viability, and durability, highlighting its promising application potential.
Peniotron: A Promising Microwave Source with Potential That Has Yet to Be Realized
Authors: Sabchevski Svilen
Published: December 2024

The peniotron is a fast-wave vacuum tube that can generate coherent microwave radiation in the millimeter-wave range. Although it uses a beam of gyrating electrons like other gyro-devices (gyrotron, gyro-TWT, gyro-BWO, etc.), its operating principle is completely different from that of electron cyclotron masers. The theory predicts a very high efficiency (about 95%) of the peniotron mechanism of interaction and energy transfer from the electron beam to the wave. However, this extremely attractive and advantageous property of peniotrons has not yet been realized in practice. In this paper, we present the current state of research on this class of devices and give an overview of the theory and experimental results of peniotrons and gyro-peniotrons with different configurations. We also discuss the main problems and the reasons for the lower efficiency and finally evaluate the potential for solving the problems and revitalizing the work on this promising device.
Critical Review of Temperature Prediction for Lithium-Ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Bao Junting , Mao Yuan , Zhang Youbing , Xu Hao , Jiang Yajie , Yang Yun
Published: December 2024

This paper reviews recent advancements in predicting the temperature of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. As environmental and energy concerns grow, the development of new energy vehicles, particularly electric vehicles, has become a significant trend. Lithium-ion batteries, as the core component of electric vehicles, have their performance and safety significantly impacted by temperature. This paper begins by introducing the fundamental components and operating principles of lithium-ion batteries, followed by an analysis of how temperature affects battery performance and safety. Next, the methods for measuring and predicting battery temperature are categorized and discussed, including model-based methods, data-driven methods, and hybrid approaches that combine both. Finally, the paper summarizes the application of temperature prediction in a BMS and provides an outlook on future research directions.
Coffee: Lighting Its Complex Ground Truth and Percolating Its Molecular Brew
Authors: Paterek Róża , Geoghegan Sive , Creaven Bernadette S. , Power Aoife
Published: December 2024

Coffee is one of the most widely traded commodities worldwide and its popularity is only increasing. The International Coffee Organisation (ICO) reported a 6% increase in global production in 2020 to 10.5 million tonnes. Coffee production is quite involved (from sowing to harvesting, processing, packaging, and storage); consequently, the industry faces major challenges in terms of the assessment of its quality, flavour, and the components which contribute to coffee’s characterisation, as well as the sustainability of coffee production and global trade. This has prompted multiple studies on the nature of the aroma and taste of the many varieties of coffee around the world, which has resulted in the identification of approximately 1000 volatile compounds and the development and implementation of upwards of 100 lexicons to describe the specific sensory characteristics of coffee. The complex nature of coffee has necessitated the development and incorporation of new analytical methodologies, such as multidimensional separation technologies and spectroscopy coupled with multivariant analysis, to qualify the essential characteristics of coffee’s flavour. This work aims to review the research on coffee’s flavour, covering the roasting process of coffee beans, the volatile and non-volatile components generated by this process, and the chemical reactions responsible for their formation, as well as coffee’s sustainability, the coffee value chain, and various forms of regulation, particularly the current emphasis on ‘fair trade’.
HSF-IBI: A Universal Framework for Extracting Inter-Beat Interval from Heterogeneous Unobtrusive Sensors
Authors: Bai Zhongrui , Wu Pang , Geng Fanglin , Zhang Hao , Chen Xianxiang , Du Lidong , Wang Peng , Li Xiaoran , Fang Zhen , Wu Yirong
Published: December 2024

Heartbeat inter-beat interval (IBI) extraction is a crucial technology for unobtrusive vital sign monitoring, yet its precision and robustness remain challenging. A promising approach is fusing heartbeat signals from different types of unobtrusive sensors. This paper introduces HSF-IBI, a novel and universal framework for unobtrusive IBI extraction using heterogeneous sensor fusion. Specifically, harmonic summation (HarSum) is employed for calculating the average heart rate, which in turn guides the selection of the optimal band selection (OBS), the basic sequential algorithmic scheme (BSAS)-based template group extraction, and the template matching (TM) procedure. The optimal IBIs are determined by evaluating the signal quality index (SQI) for each heartbeat. The algorithm is morphology-independent and can be adapted to different sensors. The proposed algorithm framework is evaluated on a self-collected dataset including 19 healthy participants and an open-source dataset including 34 healthy participants, both containing heterogeneous sensors. The experimental results demonstrate that (1) the proposed framework successfully integrates data from heterogeneous sensors, leading to detection rate enhancements of 6.25 % and 5.21 % on two datasets, and (2) the proposed framework achieves superior accuracy over existing IBI extraction methods, with mean absolute errors (MAEs) of 5.25 ms and 4.56 ms on two datasets.
Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, and Anti-Genotoxic Properties of Combretastatin A4 in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: A Comprehensive In Vitro Study
Authors: Popović Petar , Pirković Andrea , Topalović Dijana , Živković Lada , Marković Milica , Spremo-Potparević Biljana
Published: December 2024

Despite significant advances in drug discovery and the promising antitumor potential of combretastatin A4 (CA-4), which selectively targets rapidly dividing cancer cells, CA-4’s effects on non-dividing human cells, such as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), remain unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro bioactivity of CA-4 in human PBMCs, focusing on its antigenotoxic and antioxidant properties, while comparing its cytotoxic potency against PBMCs, cancer cell lines (JAR and HeLa), and the normal trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo. Cell viability and metabolic activity were evaluated using the MTT assay. ROS production in PBMCs was measured using the H2DCFDA assay, and DNA damage was assessed using the Comet assay. CA-4 showed cytotoxicity in PBMCs and HTR-8/SVneo cells at concentrations above 200 µM, while cancer cells, JAR and HeLa, showed cytotoxicity at 100 µM and 1 µM, respectively. CA-4 also reduced ROS levels in PBMCs under oxidative stress and showed antioxidant effects at concentrations from 1 to 200 µM. In addition, CA-4 showed antigenotoxic effects against H2O2-induced DNA damage in PBMCs at concentrations of up to 1 µM. CA-4 exhibited lower cytotoxicity in human PBMCs compared to cancer cells, inhibited ROS production, and showed antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties, providing insight into its potential therapeutic efficacy and safety.
In Situ Light-Source Delivery During 5-Aminulevulinic Acid-Guided High-Grade Glioma Resection: Spatial, Functional and Oncological Informed Surgery
Authors: Lavrador José Pedro , Marchi Francesco , Elhag Ali , Kalyal Nida , Mthunzi Engelbert , Awan Mariam , Wroe-Wright Oliver , Díaz-Baamonde Alba , Mirallave-Pescador Ana , Reisz Zita , Gullan Richard , Vergani Francesco , Ashkan Keyoumars , Bhangoo Ranjeev
Published: December 2024

Background/Objectives: 5-aminulevulinic acid (5-ALA)-guided surgery for high-grade gliomas remains a challenge in neuro-oncological surgery. Inconsistent fluorescence visualisation, subjective quantification and false negatives due to blood, haemostatic agents or optical impediments from the external light source are some of the limitations of the present technology. Methods: The preliminary results from this single-centre retrospective study are presented from the first 35 patients operated upon with the novel Nico Myriad Spectra System©. The microdebrider (Myriad) with an additional in situ light system (Spectra) can alternately provide white and blue light (405 nm) to within 15 mm of the tissue surface to enhance the morphology of the anatomical structures and the fluorescence of the pathological tissues. Results: A total of 35 patients were operated upon with this new technology. Eight patients (22.85%) underwent tubular retractor-assisted minimally invasive parafascicular surgery (tr-MIPS). The majority had high-grade gliomas (68.57%). Fluorescence was identified in 30 cases (85.71%), with residual fluorescence in 11 (36.66%). The main applications were better white–blue light alternation and visualisation during tr-MIPS, increase in the extent of resection at the border of the cavity, identification of satellite lesions in multifocal pathology, the differentiation between radionecrosis and tumour recurrence in redo surgery and the demarcation between normal ependyma versus pathological ependyma in tumours infiltrating the subventricular zone. Conclusions: This proof-of-concept study confirms that the novel in situ light-source delivery technology integrated with the usual intraoperative armamentarium provides a spatially, functionally and oncologically informed framework for glioblastoma surgery. It allows for the enhancement of the morphology of anatomical structures and the fluorescence of pathological tissues, increasing the extent of resection and, possibly, the prognosis for patients with high-grade gliomas.
Power Spectral Density and Default Mode Network Connectivity in Generalized Epilepsy Syndromes: What to Expect from Drug-Resistant Patients
Authors: Bistriceanu Cătălina Elena , Vulpoi Georgiana-Anca , Ciubotaru Alin , Stoleriu Iulian , Cuciureanu Dan Iulian
Published: December 2024

Background: Recent studies have described unique aspects of default mode network connectivity in patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). A complete background in this field could be gained by combining this research with spectral analysis. Objectives: An important objective of this study was to compare linear connectivity and power spectral densities across different activity bands of patients with juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE), juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), generalized tonic–clonic seizures alone (EGTCSA), and drug-resistant IGE (DR-IGE) with healthy, age-matched controls. Methods: This was an observational case–control study. We performed EEG spectral analysis in MATLAB and connectivity analysis with LORETA for 39 patients with IGE and 12 drug-resistant IGE (DR-IGE) and healthy, age-matched subjects. We defined regions of interest (ROIs) from the default mode network (DMN) and performed connectivity statistics using time-varying spectra for paired samples. Using the same EEG data, we compared mean power spectral density (PSD) with epilepsy subgroups and controls across different activity bands. Results: We obtained a modified value for the mean power spectral density in the beta band for the JME group as follows. The connectivity analysis showed that, in general, there was increased linear connectivity in the DMN for the JAE, JME, and EGCTSA groups compared to the healthy controls. Reduced linear connectivity between regions of the DMN was found for DR-IGE. Conclusions: Spectral analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) for generalized epilepsy syndromes seems to be less informative than connectivity analysis for DMN. DMN connectivity analysis, especially for DR-IGE, opens up the possibility of finding biomarkers related to drug response in IGE.