bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
YOLO-C: An Efficient and Robust Detection Algorithm for Mature Long Staple Cotton Targets with High-Resolution RGB Images
Authors: Liang Zhi , Cui Gaojian , Xiong Mingming , Li Xiaojuan , Jin Xiuliang , Lin Tao
Published: July 2023

Under complex field conditions, robust and efficient boll detection at maturity is an important tool for pre-harvest strategy and yield prediction. To achieve automatic detection and counting of long-staple cotton in a natural environment, this paper proposes an improved algorithm incorporating deformable convolution and attention mechanism, called YOLO-C, based on YOLOv7: (1) To capture more detailed and localized features in the image, part of the 3 × 3 convolution in the ELAN layer of the backbone is replaced by deformable convolution to improve the expressiveness and accuracy of the model. (2) To suppress irrelevant information, three SENet modules are introduced after the backbone to improve the ability of feature maps to express information, and CBAM and CA are introduced for comparison experiments. (3) A WIoU loss function based on a dynamic non-monotonic focusing mechanism is established to reduce the harmful gradients generated by low-quality examples on the original loss function and improve the model performance. During the model evaluation, the model is compared with other YOLO series and mainstream detection algorithms, and the model mAP@0.5 achieves 97.19%, which is 1.6% better than the YOLOv7 algorithm. In the model testing session, the root mean square error and coefficient of determination (R2) of YOLO-C are 1.88 and 0.96, respectively, indicating that YOLO-C has higher robustness and reliability for boll target detection in complex environments and can provide an effective method for yield prediction of long-staple cotton at maturity.
Fungi Parasitizing Powdery Mildew Fungi: Ampelomyces Strains as Biocontrol Agents against Powdery Mildews
Authors: Németh Márk Z. , Seress Diána , Nonomura Teruo
Published: July 2023

Among the mycoparasites, Ampelomyces strains are studied in detail, particularly regarding their use as biocontrol agents (BCAs) of powdery mildew (PM) fungi, including their potential to replace conventional agrochemicals. Ampelomyces strains are characterized morphologically; their ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (rDNA-ITS) regions and actin gene (ACT) fragments were sequenced and their mycoparasitic activity was analyzed. In the interaction between Ampelomyces strains and PM fungi, the spores of the mycoparasites germinate on plant leaves, and their hyphae then penetrate the hyphae of PM fungi. Ampelomyces hyphae continue their growth internally, initiating the atrophy of PM conidiophores and eventually their complete collapse. Following the successful destruction of PM hyphae by Ampelomyces, the mycoparasite produces new intracellular pycnidia in PM conidiophores. The progeny spores released by mature pycnidia become the sources of subsequent infections of intact PM hyphae. As a result, the number of Ampelomyces-inoculated PM colonies gradually declines, and the conidial release of PM colonies is inhibited after the first treatment. Almost all conidiophores of 5- and 10-day-old Ampelomyces-inoculated PM colonies undergo complete atrophy or collapse. Methodological advances and in-depth analyses of the Ampelomyces–PM interaction were recently published. In this review, we summarize the genetic and phylogenetic diversity, the timing of mycoparasitism and pycnidiogenesis, the results of quantitative and visual analyses using electrostatic and digital microscopy technologies, the PM biocontrol potential of Ampelomyces, and the potential commercialization of the mycoparasites. The information provided herein can support further biocontrol and ecological studies of Ampelomyces mycoparasites.
A Grape Dataset for Instance Segmentation and Maturity Estimation
Authors: Blekos Achilleas , Chatzis Konstantinos , Kotaidou Martha , Chatzis Theocharis , Solachidis Vassilios , Konstantinidis Dimitrios , Dimitropoulos Kosmas
Published: July 2023

Grape maturity estimation is vital in precise agriculture as it enables informed decision making for disease control, harvest timing, grape quality, and quantity assurance. Despite its importance, there are few large publicly available datasets that can be used to train accurate and robust grape segmentation and maturity estimation algorithms. To this end, this work proposes the CERTH grape dataset, a new sizeable dataset that is designed explicitly for evaluating deep learning algorithms in grape segmentation and maturity estimation. The proposed dataset is one of the largest currently available grape datasets in the literature, consisting of around 2500 images and almost 10 k grape bunches, annotated with masks and maturity levels. The images in the dataset were captured under various illumination conditions and viewing angles and with significant occlusions between grape bunches and leaves, making it a valuable resource for the research community. Thorough experiments were conducted using a plethora of general object detection methods to provide a baseline for the future development of accurate and robust grape segmentation and maturity estimation algorithms that can significantly advance research in the field of viticulture.
A Visual Method of Hydroponic Lettuces Height and Leaves Expansion Size Measurement for Intelligent Harvesting
Authors: Ma Yidong , Zhang Yin , Jin Xin , Li Xinping , Wang Huankun , Qi Chong
Published: July 2023

Harvesting is an important procedure for hydroponic lettuces in plant factories. At present, hydroponic lettuces are mainly harvested manually, and the key difficulty in mechanical harvesting is reducing the occurrence of leaf injury. Measuring the size of hydroponic lettuces using the image processing method and intelligently adjusting the operating parameters of the harvesting device are the foundation of high-quality harvesting for lettuces. The overlapped leaves of adjacent hydroponic lettuces cause difficulties in measuring lettuce size, especially the leaves expansion size. Therefore, we proposed an image processing method for measuring lettuce height and leaves expansion size according to the upper contour feature of lettuces and an image included three lettuces. Firstly, the upper contours of the lettuces were extracted and segmented via image preprocessing. Secondly, lettuce height was measured according to the maximum ordinate of the contour. Lastly, the lettuce’s upper contour was fitted to a function to measure the leaves expansion size. The measurement results showed that the maximal relative error of the lettuce height measurements was 5.58%, and the average was 2.14%. The effect of the quadratic function in fitting the upper contour was the best compared with the cubic function and sine function. The maximal relative error of the leaves expansion size measurements was 8.59%, and the average was 4.03%. According to the results of the lettuce height and leaves expansion size measurements, the grabbing parameters of each lettuce were intelligently adjusted to verify the harvesting effect. The harvesting success rates of lettuces was above 90%, and the injured leaves areas of the left, middle, and right lettuces in each image were 192.6 mm2, 228.1 mm2, and 205.6 mm2, respectively. This paper provides a reference for the design and improvement of intelligent harvesters for hydroponic lettuces.
Biotechnological Intervention and Withanolide Production in Withania coagulans
Authors: Ahmad Zishan , Shaheen Arjumend , Wasi Adla , Rehman Shams ur , Tahseen Sabaha , Ramakrishnan Muthusamy , Upadhyay Anamica , Ganie Irfan Bashir , Shahzad Anwar , Ding Yulong
Published: July 2023

Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal is used in traditional medicine to treat diseases and has numerous pharmacological properties due to its biological compounds. The plant is a subshrub native to Asia, especially the tropical and temperate regions of western Asia. Its medicinal effects derive from its biological components, which are linked to human health. Conventional medicine uses these compounds to treat a variety of diseases, such as neurological issues, diabetes, and asthma. The long-term benefits of W. coagulans necessitate conservation strategies and plant biotechnological techniques such as micropropagation, synthetic seed, cell suspension, and hairy root elicitation technology, and genetic transformation can all play significant roles in conservation and sustainable utilization of the biological compounds for clinical uses. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the W. cogaulans medicinal properties, potential applications, and innovative approaches for sustainable utilization, making it a unique contribution to the existing body of knowledge. Multi-omics methods for the production of withanolides were also examined in order to gain a better understanding of the genome structure, prospective genes, and candidate proteins involved in the production.
The Effect of Supplemental Irrigation on a Dry-Farmed Vitis vinifera L. cv. Zinfandel Vineyard as a Function of Vine Age
Authors: Alvarez Arredondo Jocelyn , Muñoz Jose , Casassa L. Federico , Dodson Peterson Jean Catherine
Published: July 2023

With natural rainfall and surface water availability becoming scarce, prolonged droughts are expected to become more frequent, thereby creating issues for agriculture. In viticulture, a lack of rainfall is often supplemented with irrigation during the growing season and/or dormancy. However, with surface and groundwater resources declining in addition to current changes in rainfall patterns, it is unlikely that supplemental irrigation will continue to be an available tool for most growers. As such, this study aims to evaluate the effect of dry farming and supplemental irrigation during the growing season on vine performance and fruit composition as a function of vine age in Zinfandel grapevines. A historically dry-farmed vineyard block with interplanted vines of varying ages was evaluated during the 2021 growing season. Treatments included young vines (5–12 years old), control vines (2:1 ratio of old to young vines representative of the block), and old vines (40–60 years old); each age designation included irrigated and dry-farmed vines. Based on age-specific ETc and to replenish 95% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), irrigation was manually applied to the irrigated treatment vines at véraison and véraison + 4 weeks. Results indicated no significant changes in phenological progression, leaf senescence, or physical berry analysis when irrigation was added to dry-farmed vines, as most differences were driven by vine age in most parameters measured. Irrigated vines were slightly more advanced in phenological growth and senescence progression compared to dry-farmed vines. Results suggest that the practice of applying supplemental irrigation during the growing season, provided winter rainfall or additional winter irrigation is sufficient, does not have significant impacts on vine performance. Thus, dry farming during the growing season is a reasonable alternative practice in Zinfandel, even in periods of drought.
An Overview of the Health Effects of Bisphenol A from a One Health Perspective
Authors: Molina-López Ana M. , Bujalance-Reyes Francisca , Ayala-Soldado Nahúm , Mora-Medina Rafael , Lora-Benítez Antonio , Moyano-Salvago Rosario
Published: July 2023

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound, considered as an “emerging pollutant”, that appears ubiquitously, contaminating the environment and food. It is an endocrine disruptor, found in a multitude of consumer products, as it is a constituent of polycarbonate used in the manufacture of plastics and epoxy resins. Many studies have evaluated the effects of BPA, using a wide range of doses and animal models. In this work, we carried out a review of relevant research related to the effects of BPA on health, through studies performed at different doses, in different animal models, and in human monitoring studies. Numerous effects of BPA on health have been described; in different animal species, it has been reported that it interferes with fertility in both females and males and causes alterations in their offspring, as well as being associated with an increase in hormone-dependent pathologies. Similarly, exposure to BPA has been related to other diseases of great relevance in public health such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, or neurodevelopmental disorders. Its ubiquity and nonmonotonic behavior, triggering effects at exposure levels considered “safe”, make it especially relevant when both animal and human populations are constantly and inadvertently exposed to this compound. Its effects at low exposure levels make it essential to establish safe exposure levels, and research into the effects of BPA must continue and be focused from a “One Health” perspective to take into account all the factors that could intervene in the development of a disease in any exposed organism.
Data Analytics of Broiler Growth Dynamics and Feed Conversion Ratio of Broilers Raised to 35 d under Commercial Tropical Conditions
Authors: Quintana-Ospina Gustavo A. , Alfaro-Wisaquillo Maria C. , Oviedo-Rondon Edgar O. , Ruiz-Ramirez Juan R. , Bernal-Arango Luis C. , Martinez-Bernal Gustavo D.
Published: July 2023

Data collection is standard in commercial broiler production; however, growth modeling is still a challenge since this data often lacks an inflection point. This study evaluated body weight (BW) dynamics, feed intake, BW gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and mortality of broiler flocks reared under commercial tropical conditions with controlled feeding to optimize FCR. The data analyzed included performance records of 1347 male and 1353 female Ross 308 AP broiler flocks with a total of 95.4 million chickens housed from 2018 to 2020. Decision trees determined high- and low-feed-efficiency groups using FCR at 35 d. Logistic, Gompertz–Laird, and von Bertalanffy growth models were fitted with weekly BW data for each flock within performance groups. The logistic model indicated more accurate estimates with biological meaning. The high-efficiency males and females (p < 0.001) were offered less feed than the low-efficiency group and were consistently more efficient. In conclusion, greater feeding control between the second and the fourth week of age, followed by higher feed allowance during the last week, was associated with better feed efficiency at 35 d in males and females. Additionally, models demonstrated that a reduced growth rate resulted in heavier chickens at 35 d with better feed efficiency and greater BW gain.
Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE): Biosynthesis, Derivatives and Formulations with Neuroprotective Activities
Authors: Pérez Rebeca , Burgos Viviana , Marín Víctor , Camins Antoni , Olloquequi Jordi , González-Chavarría Iván , Ulrich Henning , Wyneken Ursula , Luarte Alejandro , Ortiz Leandro , Paz Cristian
Published: July 2023

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by a progressive process of degeneration and neuronal death, where oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are key factors that contribute to the progression of these diseases. Therefore, two major pathways involved in these pathologies have been proposed as relevant therapeutic targets: The nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2 (Nrf2), which responds to oxidative stress with cytoprotecting activity; and the nuclear factor NF-κB pathway, which is highly related to the neuroinflammatory process by promoting cytokine expression. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a phenylpropanoid naturally found in propolis that shows important biological activities, including neuroprotective activity by modulating the Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways, promoting antioxidant enzyme expression and inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine expression. Its simple chemical structure has inspired the synthesis of many derivatives, with aliphatic and/or aromatic moieties, some of which have improved the biological properties. Moreover, new drug delivery systems increase the bioavailability of these compounds in vivo, allowing its transcytosis through the blood-brain barrier, thus protecting brain cells from the increased inflammatory status associated to neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. This review summarizes the biosynthesis and chemical synthesis of CAPE derivatives, their miscellaneous activities, and relevant studies (from 2010 to 2023), addressing their neuroprotective activity in vitro and in vivo.
Different Effect of Vitamin E or Hydroxytyrosol Supplementation to Sow’s Diet on Oxidative Status and Performances of Weaned Piglets
Authors: Gómez Gerardo , Laviano Hernan D. , García-Casco Juan M. , Escudero Rosa , Muñoz María , Heras-Molina Ana , González-Bulnes Antonio , Óvilo Cristina , López-Bote Clemente , Rey Ana I.
Published: July 2023

Different feeding strategies are being applied to sows in order to obtain homogeneous piglets’ weights and improved health status. This study evaluated how the dietary supplementation of vitamin E (VE) (100 mg/kg), hydroxytyrosol (HXT) (1.5 mg/kg) or the combined administration (VE + HXT) given to Iberian sows from day 85 of gestation affected the growth pattern of the piglets and their oxidative status; and quantified what these effects were due to. Dietary VE and HXT improved the oxidative status of sows and piglets. Both VE and HXT modified the growth pattern at birth and performances of the piglets in a different way according to the growing period. Piglets’ performances were positively correlated with plasma VE and negatively with plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) of the sow. However, the highest variation in growth patterns was explained by the colostrum composition. Significant linear equations were observed between piglets’ performances and colostrum saturated (SAT), n-7 monounsaturated fatty acids (C16:1n-7 and C18:1n-7) and different desaturases indices. This study would confirm that VE supplementation to the sow diet could be more adequate than HXT for the improved development during the first weeks of a piglet’s life. The combined administration of both antioxidants would not produce additional positive effects compared to the individual supplementation.
Exogenous Allantoin Confers Rapeseed (Brassica campestris) Tolerance to Simulated Drought by Improving Antioxidant Metabolism and Physiology
Authors: Raihan Md. Rakib Hossain , Rahman Mira , Rastogi Anshu , Fujita Masayuki , Hasanuzzaman Mirza
Published: July 2023

Allantoin is an emerging plant metabolite, but its role in conferring drought-induced oxidative stress is still elusive. Therefore, an experiment was devised to explore the role of allantoin (0.5 and 1.0 mM; foliar spray) in rapeseed (Brassica campestris cv. BARI Sarisha-17) under drought. Seedlings at fifteen days of age were subjected to drought, maintaining soil moisture levels at 50% and 25% field capacities, while well-irrigated plants served as the control group. Drought-stressed plants exhibited increased levels of lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, and impaired glyoxalase systems. Thus, the growth, biomass, and yield attributes of rapeseed were significantly impaired under drought. However, the allantoin-supplemented plants showed a notable increase in their contents of ascorbate and glutathione and decreased dehydroascorbate and glutathione disulfide contents under drought. Moreover, the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase were accelerated with the allantoin spray and the glyoxalase system was also enhanced under drought. Moreover, the improvement in water balance with reduction in proline and potassium ion contents was also observed when allantoin was applied to the plants. Overall, the beneficial effects of allantoin supplementation resulted in the improved plant growth, biomass, and yield of rapeseed under drought conditions. These findings suggest that allantoin acts as an efficient metabolite in mitigating the oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species by enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms and the glyoxalase system.
Chemical Profile and Bioactivity Evaluation of Salvia Species from Eastern Europe
Authors: Luca Simon Vlad , Skalicka-Woźniak Krystyna , Mihai Cosmin-Teodor , Gradinaru Adina Catinca , Mandici Alexandru , Ciocarlan Nina , Miron Anca , Aprotosoaie Ana Clara
Published: July 2023

The Salvia genus comprises about 1000 species endowed with medicinal, aromatic, cosmetic, and ornamental applications. Even though the genus is one of the most-studied taxa of the Lamiaceae family, data on the chemical composition and biological properties of certain locally used Salvia species are still scarce. The present work aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potential of ten Salvia species that grow in Eastern Europe (e.g., the Republic of Moldova). LC-HRMS/MS metabolite profiling allowed for the annotation of 15 phenolic and organic acids, 18 flavonoids, 19 diterpenes, 5 sesterpenes, and 2 triterpenes. Multivariate analysis (e.g., principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis) revealed that S. austriaca, S. nutans, and S. officinalis formed individual clusters, whereas the remaining species had a similar composition. S. officinalis showed the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC = 0.625 mg/mL). As evaluated in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, S. officinalis was one of the most potent radical scavenging and metal-reducing agents (CE50 values of 25.33, 8.13, and 21.01 μg/mL, respectively), followed by S. verticillata, S. sclarea, S. kopetdaghensis, S. aethiopis, and S. tesquicola. Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong correlations with rosmarinic acid, luteolin-O-glucuronide, and hydroxybenzoic acid. When the cytotoxic activity was evaluated in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, no significant reduction in cell viability was observed over the concentrations ranging from 25 and 100 μg/mL. The results confirm the potential use of understudied Salvia species as promising sources of antioxidant compounds for developing novel pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, or cosmeceutical products.
Conformal Test Martingale-Based Change-Point Detection for Geospatial Object Detectors
Authors: Wang Gang , Lu Zhiying , Wang Ping , Zhuang Shuo , Wang Di
Published: July 2023

Unsupervised domain adaptation for object detectors addresses the problem of improving the cross-domain robustness of object detection from label-rich to label-poor domains, which has been explored in many studies. However, one important issue in terms of when to apply the domain adaptation algorithm for geospatial object detectors has not been fully considered in the literature. In this paper, we tackle the problem of detecting the moment or change-point when the domain of geospatial images changes based on conformal test martingale. Beyond the simple introduction of this martingale-based process, we also propose a novel transformation approach to the original conformal test martingale to make change-point detection more efficient. The experiments are conducted with two partitions of our released large-scale remote sensing dataset and the experimental results empirically demonstrate the promising effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed algorithms for change-point detection.
Development and Evaluation of Cow Dung Composting Equipment with Ventilation and Heating
Authors: Ren Kailin , Su Lide , Zhang Yong , He Xiang , Wu Hao
Published: July 2023

Traditional cow manure composting equipment often lacks ventilation, heating, and real-time monitoring and adjustment capabilities, hindering manure maturation and proper utilization of compost, moisture reduction, and optimal environmental conditions for microbial activity. To address these limitations, we optimized and redesigned the structure and control elements of conventional composting equipment. In doing so, we developed a novel cow manure composting apparatus based on the target composting quantity method. The new design features a refined ventilation and heating structure, as well as an enhanced control system using PLC and MCGS. This equipment provides improved composting effects while offering real-time monitoring of composting data, effectively promoting the composting process. Further evaluation of the modified equipment was conducted using fermented cow dung, demonstrating its feasibility. The experiment yielded positive results, indicating that the composted cow manure satisfied all necessary standards across all evaluation parameters. These parameters included the moisture content of the compost, the duration of high temperature, the pH, and the seed germination index. The seed germination rate reaches 85%, and the water content of manure is 9.3%, which is much higher than the industry standard.
Study of Root Canal Length Estimations by 3D Spatial Reproduction with Stereoscopic Vision
Authors: Tsukuda Takato , Mutoh Noriko , Nakano Akito , Itamiya Tomoki , Tani-Ishii Nobuyuki
Published: July 2023

Extended Reality (XR) applications are considered useful for skill acquisition in dental education. In this study, we examined the functionality and usefulness of an application called “SR View for Endo” that measures root canal length using a Spatial Reality Display (SRD) capable of naked-eye stereoscopic viewing. Three-dimensional computer graphics (3DCG) data of dental models were obtained and output to both the SRD and conventional 2D display devices. Forty dentists working at the Kanagawa Dental University Hospital measured root canal length using both types of devices and provided feedback through a questionnaire. Statistical analysis using one-way analysis of variance evaluated the measurement values and time, while multivariate analysis assessed the relationship between questionnaire responses and measurement time. There was no significant difference in the measurement values between the 2D device and SRD, but there was a significant difference in measurement time. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between the frequency of device usage and the extended measurement time of the 2D device. Measurements using the SRD demonstrated higher accuracy and shorter measurement times compared to the 2D device, increasing expectations for clinical practice in dental education and clinical education for clinical applications. However, a certain percentage of participants experienced symptoms resembling motion sickness associated with virtual reality (VR).
Feasible Applicability of Deep Learning for Solid Detection in Concrete Wastewater: An Evaluation
Authors: Chen Yongfang , Yao Qingyu
Published: July 2023

Concrete wastewater from mixing stations leads to environment contamination due to its high alkalinity. The wastewater can be reused if its solid content is accurately and timely detected. However, investigations into the traditional methods for wastewater reuse have demonstrated that they are time consuming and not efficient. Therefore, the exact acquirement of solid content in concrete wastewater becomes a necessity. Recent studies have shown that deep learning has been successfully applied to detect the concentration of chemical solutions and the particle content of suspending liquid. Moreover, deep learning can also be used to recognize the accurate water level, which facilitates the detection of the solid–liquid separation surface after wastewater sedimentation. Therefore, in this article the feasibility and challenges of applying deep learning to detect the solid content of concrete wastewater were comprehensively evaluated and discussed. Finally, an experimental setup was proposed for future research, and it indicated that transfer learning, data augmentation, hybrid approaches, and multi-sensor integration techniques can be selected to facilitate future experimental performances.
Effect of Plasma Treatment on Root Canal Sealers’ Adhesion to Intraradicular Dentin—A Systematic Review
Authors: Ferreira Inês , Lopes Cláudia , Ferreira Armando , Vaz Filipe , Pina-Vaz Irene , Martín-Biedma Benjamín
Published: July 2023

This investigation aimed to assess, through a systematic review, the effect of non-thermal plasma treatments on root canal sealers’ adhesion to dentin. This study followed the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search was undertaken without limits on time or language, until May 2023, in PubMed–MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, OpenGrey, and three endodontic journals. The included studies underwent quality assessment and data extraction. Out of an initial 188 articles, 4 studies were included. Three of these studies based the adhesion ability on the push-out test in human extracted teeth, while the other used bovine dentin samples to measure the contact angle with the sealer (wettability). While there was no consensus about the effect of non-thermal plasma (NTP) on the AH Plus sealer’s adhesion to radicular dentin, NTP seemed to positively influence the adhesion ability of BioRoot RCS and Endosequence BC. The findings of the present review should be interpreted cautiously due to the scarcity of studies on the topic. The NTP parameters should be optimized to obtain a stronger evidence base in endodontics on its role as an adjuvant tool to increase sealers’ adhesion to dentin.
Experimental Study on Anti-Explosion Performance of the Cavern Reinforced by Recoverable Deformation Energy Absorption Bolt
Authors: Wang Jianlong , Xu Jingmao , Fan Junqi , Guo Peng , Shi Xiaoyan
Published: July 2023

To address the practical problem of decreased anchoring effect due to the detachment of the exterior bolt head from the cave wall under dynamic loads, this paper developed a partially recoverable displacement energy absorption (RDEA) bolt. On the basis of preliminary static loading performance tests, a field comparative test was conducted on the blast resistance performance of the cavern reinforced by RDEA bolt. The overall damage and dynamic response of the RDEA-bolt-reinforced test section and the conventional steel-bolt-reinforced test section were compared. The research found that under the same test conditions, the macroscopic damage to the conventional steel-bolt-reinforced test section was more severe than that of the RDEA-bolt-reinforced test section. When the scaled distance was 0.93 m/kg1/3, the ratio of the rebound displacement to the displacement peak at the arch top of the conventional steel-bolt-reinforced test section was 9.09%, while that of the RDEA-bolt-reinforced test section was 31.1%. The energy consumption characteristics of the RDEA bolt were described by the pressure peak value at the third working condition of the arch top. The pressure peak value of the RDEA-bolt-reinforced test section was 76.4%, lower than that of the conventional steel-bolt-reinforced test section. The arch top acceleration of the conventional steel-bolt-reinforced test section was about 1.35 times that of the RDEA-bolt-reinforced test section. The good blast resistance performance of the cavern reinforced by RDEA bolt was reflected from various aspects, such as macroscopic damage and the wall displacement, indicating that the RDEA bolt can not only weaken the effect of explosion load at the cavern location but also enable the reinforced cavern to have a good ability to resist deformation recovery after explosion, thereby having good application prospects.
A New Top-Mounted Shear-Hinge Structure Based on Modal Theory and Rubber-Pad Damping Theory
Authors: En He , He Yuelei , Lu Hongyao , Wang Anbin
Published: July 2023

Steel-spring floating-slab tracks (SSFSTs) are widely used as efficient vibration-damping beds, and in China, they are mainly used in subways and municipal railroads. The shear hinge is an important component that improves the stability of the line, and field research has found that the top-mounted shear hinge (TMSH) undergoes varying degrees of damage, which indirectly affects the safety and stability of line operation. In this work, we studied the causes of damage to TMSHs, designed a new TMSH structure with a rubber-pad layer installed based on modal theory and rubber-pad vibration-damping theory, and proved that the new structure can reduce the occurrence of damage by comparing it with the original TMSH structure. The main aspects of this study are as follows: Firstly, the ultimate load capacity of the existing and new TMSH structures was checked by establishing a refined finite-element model. Then, modal analysis and frequency-response function analysis were carried out based on modal theory and frequency-response function theory to reveal the causes of TMSH damage and prove that the new structure can effectively delay damage. Finally, the modal and vibration patterns of the two structures were obtained via indoor hammering tests and compared with the simulation results. The results show that the two TMSH structures are in line with the strength requirements, and the existing TMSH damage mainly results from the resonance between its natural frequency and the high-excitation frequency of the floating slab under long-term cyclic train loading, causing high-frequency vibration fatigue damage. It is also demonstrated that the new structure can effectively reduce the natural frequency of the TMSH so that its value is located in the region of low vibration on the floating slab. The excitation vibration levels of the TMSH mounted on the curved section of the 4.8 m floating slab and the 3.6 m floating slab were reduced by 9 dB and at least 3 dB, respectively. After adding rubber pads located in the 400–3000 Hz floating-slab high-vibration-level region of the TMSH damage-prone parts, the amplitude reduction, including lateral excitation of damage-prone parts, resulted in a vibration amplitude reduction of more than 30 dB. However, the vertical excitation of the mid-end and rear-end bolts slightly increased their amplitudes, whereas the shear-rod amplitude was reduced by 48 dB, and the front-bolt amplitude was reduced by 5.28 dB. The natural frequency and vibration pattern obtained from the hammering test were consistent with the simulation results, and the reliability of our conclusions was verified from both experimental and simulation perspectives.
Design and Optimization of a Distributed File System Based on RDMA
Authors: He Qinlu , Gao Pengze , Zhang Fan , Bian Genqing , Zhang Weiqi , Li Zhen
Published: July 2023

With the rapid development of computer and network technology, to deal with explosively growing mass data correctly, distributed file systems have come into being, and they have been applied in many enterprises. However, in the packet storage process, the traditional TCP/IP transmission protocol has to pass through the operating system and application software layer. It takes up many server resources and memory bus bandwidth, which places a heavy burden on the server’s CPU and memory. In this paper, we analyze the research status of the distributed file system based on analyzing and comparing the advantages of RDMA over traditional TCP Ethernet communication architecture. We propose an optimization scheme for the network transmission performance of the original FastDFS to replace the original TCP module with an RDMA network communication module, and we design a lightweight distributed file system with higher performance than the original FastDFS, which is suitable for small file storage. Using the zero-copy technology and kernel bypass technology of soft RDMA, the network communication mechanism in FastDFS is optimized to free the server’s CPU from heavy data processing work. In this paper, the RDMA-based FastDFS is compared with the original FastDFS. The test results show that the network transmission performance of the optimized FastDFS is improved compared with the original FastDFS, which achieves the expected effect and can better meet the requirements of mass small file storage for today’s Internet applications.
An Investigation of Transfer Learning Approaches to Overcome Limited Labeled Data in Medical Image Analysis
Authors: Chae Jinyeong , Kim Jihie
Published: July 2023

A significant amount of research has investigated automating medical diagnosis using deep learning. However, because medical data are collected through diagnostic tests, deep learning methods used in existing studies have had a disadvantage in that the number of training samples is insufficient and the labeling cost is high. Training approaches considering the common characteristics of medical images are needed. Therefore, in this study, we investigated approaches to overcome the lack of data for representative medical imaging tasks using transfer learning technologies. The tasks were divided into image classification, object detection, and segmentation, commonly needed functions in medical image analyses. We proposed transfer learning approaches suitable for each task that can be applied when there are little medical image data available. These approaches were experimentally validated in the following applications that share similar issues of lacking data: cervical cancer classification (image classification), skin lesion detection and classification (object detection and classification), and pressure ulcer segmentation (segmentation). We also proposed multi-task learning and ensemble learning that can be applied to these applications. Finally, the approaches were compared with state-of-the-art results. In cervical cancer analysis, the performance was improved by 5.4% in sensitivity. Skin lesion classification showed improvement in accuracy of 8.7%, precision of 28.3%, and sensitivity of 39.7%. Finally, pressure ulcer segmentation improved in accuracy by 1.2%, intersection over union by 16.9%, and Dice similarity coefficient by 3.5%.
An Improved Density Peak Clustering Algorithm Based on Chebyshev Inequality and Differential Privacy
Authors: Chen Hua , Zhou Yuan , Mei Kehui , Wang Nan , Tang Mengdi , Cai Guangxing
Published: July 2023

This study aims to improve the quality of the clustering results of the density peak clustering (DPC) algorithm and address the privacy protection problem in the clustering analysis process. To achieve this, a DPC algorithm based on Chebyshev inequality and differential privacy (DP-CDPC) is proposed. Firstly, the distance matrix is calculated using cosine distance instead of Euclidean distance when dealing with high-dimensional datasets, and the truncation distance is automatically calculated using the dichotomy method. Secondly, to solve the difficulty in selecting suitable clustering centers in the DPC algorithm, statistical constraints are constructed from the perspective of the decision graph using Chebyshev inequality, and the selection of clustering centers is achieved by adjusting the constraint parameters. Finally, to address the privacy leakage problem in the cluster analysis, the Laplace mechanism is applied to introduce noise to the local density in the process of cluster analysis, enabling the privacy protection of the algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate that the DP-CDPC algorithm can effectively select the clustering centers, improve the quality of clustering results, and provide good privacy protection performance.
Maxillary Response Induced by Rapid Palatal Expansion vs. Clear Aligners: A Short-Term Retrospective Evaluation of the Dento-Alveolar Effects in Mixed Dentition
Authors: Cretella Lombardo Elisabetta , Fanelli Silvia , Pavoni Chiara , Cozza Paola , Lione Roberta
Published: July 2023

Background: to analyze the dento-alveolar effects induced by two treatment appliances (i.e., RME and Clear Aligners) in growing subjects presenting with early mixed dentition and mild maxillary deficiency. Methods: digital casts of 32 children treated with RME (RG: 17 subjects) or with Clear aligners (CAG: 15 subjects) were collected. Linear and angular values were measured in both groups on the upper arch for both pre- (T1) and post-treatment (T2) models. An unpaired t-test was used to test significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). Results: the comparison of T2-T1 changes for linear measurements between groups showed a greater increase in the inter-canine width (+1.5 mm ± 0.5 mm) and in the first inter-deciduous molar width (+1.4 ± 0.4 mm), also at the trans-palatal level in the CAG group. Conversely, in the posterior region of the upper arch, a greater increase in the first inter-molar distal width was found in the RG group (+1.2 ± 0.4 mm) when compared with the CAG group. A significant increase in the crown angulation in the CAG group was found for all the teeth except for the first molars. Conclusions: the rapid palatal expander widened the palate, tipping the first upper molars buccally to a greater extent, whereas the Clear aligners caused a greater increase in the canine width.
Optical High-Speed Rolling Mark Detection Using Object Detection and Levenshtein Distance
Authors: Krammer Manuel , Pröll Markus , Bürger Martin , Zauner Gerald
Published: July 2023

This paper presents an automated high-speed rolling mark recognition system for railroad rails utilizing image processing techniques. Rolling marks, which consist of numbers, letters, and special characters, were engraved into the rail web as 3D information. These rolling marks provide crucial details regarding the rail manufacturer, steel quality, year of production, and rail profile. As a result, they empower rail infrastructure managers to gain valuable insights into their infrastructure. The rolling marks were captured using a standard color camera under dark field illumination. The recognition of individual numbers, letters, and special characters was achieved through state-of-the-art deep neural network object detection, specifically employing the YOLO architecture. By leveraging reference rolling marks, the detected characters can then be accurately interpreted and corrected. This correction process involves calculating a weighted Levenshtein distance, ensuring that the system can identify and rectify partially misidentified rolling marks. Through the proposed system, the accurate and reliable identification of rolling marks was achieved, even in cases in which there were partial errors in the detection process. This novel system thus has the potential to substantially improve the management and maintenance of railroad infrastructure.
Properties and Stability of Encapsulated Pomegranate Peel Extract Prepared by Co-Crystallization
Authors: Chezanoglou Evangelos , Goula Athanasia M.
Published: July 2023

Recently, there has been much interest in the phenolics of pomegranate peels because of their health-promoting effects. The incorporation of encapsulated phenolic extracts in functional foods, beverages, and dietary supplements can enhance their nutritional and health benefits. This paper aims to provide an overview of the encapsulation of pomegranate peel phenolic extract by co-crystallization, focusing on the properties of the encapsulated extract. Pomegranate peel extract encapsulated in sucrose by co-crystallization under conditions determined in our previous work is characterized by evaluating its properties—moisture content, solubility, bulk density, hygroscopicity, color, degree of encapsulation (using thermograms), crystallinity (using X-ray scattering), microstructure (with scanning electron microscopy), and storage stability in terms of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. The co-crystallized powder had a low moisture content (0.59%) and hygroscopicity (0.011%) and a high bulk density (0.803 g/cm3) and solubility (61 s). Its total phenolic content decreased by only 0.56% after storage at 60 °C for 45 days, whereas its antioxidant activity was maintained at levels higher than 84%. The differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray scattering techniques proved the successful encapsulation in the sucrose matrix and the fact that the extract remained liquid inside the porosity of the sucrose crystals.
Study on Filling Material Strength and Dam Failure Characteristics of Loess Dam
Authors: Chen Nengyuan , Li Qiang , Wei Wei , Zhao Danni , Wu Xiong , Xu Jiangbo , Nan Yalin , Niu Ligang
Published: July 2023

In the Loess Plateau region, loess, as a widely distributed building material, is often used as a filling material for dams. When the water level reaches a certain height, the body of a dam is prone to shear failure due to the penetration of water. The change in the shear performance of local loess filler can affect the overall strength of loess dams. Therefore, the filler of a loess dam is selected to study the shear performance. The progressive failure process of a loess dam is simulated. The shear failure characteristics of loess filler under the influence of water content, confining pressure, and dry density were explored. The characteristics of the shear failure of a loess dam were analyzed. The remolded loess is prone to shear expansion failure under low confining pressure, low water content, and high dry density, and is prone to shear shrinkage failure under high confining pressure, high water content, and low dry density. When the water content is constant, the cohesion increases with the increase in dry density. When the dry density is constant, the internal friction angle generally increases with the increase in water content. However, when the dry density is high, the permeability of the remolded loess is weakened, resulting in uneven water distribution under a low water content, which affects the test results. The failure process of the loess dam is a progressive shear failure, which is affected by the water level and water pressure, and is destroyed under the action of pore water pressure and water body lateral pressure.
Features of the Application of Coherent Noise Suppression Methods in the Digital Holography of Particles
Authors: Dyomin Victor , Davydova Alexandra , Kirillov Nikolay , Polovtsev Igor
Published: July 2023

The paper studies the influence of coherent noises on the quality of images of particles reconstructed from digital holograms. Standard indicators (for example, signal-to-noise ratio) and such indicators as the boundary contrast and boundary intensity jump previously proposed by the authors are used to quantify the image quality. With the use of these parameters, for examples of some known methods of suppressing coherent noises in a holographic image (eliminating the mutual influence of virtual and real images in in-line holography, and time averaging), the features and ranges of applicability of such correction were determined. It was shown that the use of the complex field amplitude reconstruction method based on the Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm and the spatial-frequency method improves the quality of determining the particle image boundary (by boundary intensity jump) starting from the distance between a hologram and a particle, which is about twice the Rayleigh distance. In physical experiments with model particles, averaging methods were studied to suppress non-stationary coherent noises (speckles). It was also shown that averaging over three digital holograms or over three holographic images is sufficient to provide a quality of particle image boundary suitable for particle recognition. In the case of multiple scattering, when it is necessary to impose a limit on the working volume length (depth of scene) of the holographic camera, the paper provides estimates that allow selecting the optimal working volume length. The estimates were made using the example of a submersible digital holographic camera for plankton studies.