bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Genome-Wide Association Study of Biomass Yield and Feed Quality in Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.)
Authors: Negawo Alemayehu Teressa , Muktar Meki Shehabu , Gutiérrez Ricardo Alonso Sánchez , Habte Ermias , Muchugi Alice , Jones Chris S.
Published: February 2024

The development of modern genomic tools has helped accelerate genetic gains in the breeding program of food crops. More recently, genomic resources have been developed for tropical forages, providing key resources for developing new climate-resilient high-yielding forage varieties. In this study, we present a genome-wide association study for biomass yield and feed quality traits in buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L. aka Pennisetum ciliare L.). Genome-wide markers, generated using the DArTSeq platform and mapped onto the Setaria italica reference genome, were used for the genome-wide association study. The results revealed several markers associated with biomass yield and feed quality traits. A total of 78 marker–trait associations were identified with R2 values ranging from 0.138 to 0.236. The marker–trait associations were distributed across different chromosomes. Of these associations, the most marker–trait associations (23) were observed on Chr9, followed by Chr5 with 12. The fewest number of marker–trait associations were observed on Chr4 with 2. In terms of traits, 17 markers were associated with biomass yield, 24 with crude protein, 26 with TDN, 14 with ADF, 10 with NDF and 6 with DMI. A total of 20 of the identified markers were associated with at least two traits. The identified marker–trait associations provide a useful genomic resource for the future improvement and breeding of buffel grass.
Integrated Nutrient Management Boosts Inflorescence Biomass and Antioxidant Profile of Carlina diae (Asteraceae)—An Endangered Local Endemic Plant of Crete with Medicinal and Ornamental Value
Authors: Paschalidis Konstantinos , Fanourakis Dimitrios , Tsaniklidis Georgios , Tsichlas Ioannis , Tzanakakis Vasileios A. , Bilias Fotis , Samara Eftihia , Ipsilantis Ioannis , Grigoriadou Katerina , Matsi Theodora , Krigas Nikos , Tsoktouridis Georgios
Published: February 2024

Due to the combined climate and biodiversity crisis, the sustainable utilization of phytogenetic resources stands as a one-way alternative, while nutrient management strategies are gaining an increasing role in agriculture. Building on previous studies regarding the Endangered local endemic of Crete (Greece) Carlina diae (Asteraceae), with medicinal and ornamental value, this investigation focused on its pilot cultivation and fertilization (foliar or soil application). Foliar application comprised inorganic fertilization (conventional) or integrated nutrient management (INM). Soil application consisted of conventional inorganic fertilizers, biostimulants, or INM with biostimulants. Above-ground biomass content of nutrients, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, and color parameters (SPAD meter, DA meter, Chroma Meter) were estimated. The leaf chlorophyll content, three key antioxidant compounds, and nutrient titers were also determined. The fertilization scheme did not influence plant growth and visually perceived quality (leaf color and shape). Notably, foliar INM fertilization increased biomass partitioning to inflorescences (harvestable organs for either medicinal or ornamental purposes) and decreased tissue water content (facilitating processing). Considering all three antioxidants together, INM with biostimulant appeared the optimum scheme, being associated with the highest (carotenoids, phenolics) or the second highest (flavonoid) content. In C. diae, therefore, INM fertilization was optimal for upgrading yield (foliar) and herbal quality in terms of antioxidant profile (INM with biostimulant), which might be embraced as an eco-friendly approach for high-quality yields.
The Main Compounds of Bio-Fumigant Plants and Their Role in Controlling the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood
Authors: Parsiaaref Shiva , Cao Aocheng , Li Yuan , Ebadollahi Asgar , Parmoon Ghasem , Wang Qiuxia , Yan Dongdong , Fang Wensheng , Huang Bin , Zhang Min
Published: February 2024

Meloidogyne spp. are important parasitic nematodes affecting a variety of plants worldwide. We investigated the nematicidal properties of specific compounds found in bio-fumigant plants, particularly linalool, nonanal, methylene chloride, and 2-Decanal. Laboratory findings revealed that methylene chloride and 2-Decenal effectively reduced populations of second-stage juveniles (J2s). Additionally, the research explored the effects of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) on M. incognita J2s, observing that tomato leaves significantly increased J2 mortality for all time measurements and different temperatures, while the opposite results were observed for root-stems. In the study, leaf treatment resulted in a maximum mortality response (MRmax) and half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of approximately 100% and 4.0 µg/mg, respectively, at a temperature of 35 °C by week 8. In contrast, the root-stems treatment showed an MRmax of 13.5% and an EC50 of 3.0 ± 1.7 µg/mg. GC-MS analysis identified key compounds in tomato leaves and root-stems, such as α-pinene, d-limonene, and linalool. The results suggest that tomato leaves have potential as effective bio-fumigants for controlling root-knot nematodes.
An Unstructured Orchard Grape Detection Method Utilizing YOLOv5s
Authors: Wang Wenhao , Shi Yun , Liu Wanfu , Che Zijin
Published: February 2024

Rising labor costs and a workforce shortage have impeded the development and economic benefits of the global grape industry. Research and development of intelligent grape harvesting technologies is desperately needed. Therefore, rapid and accurate identification of grapes is crucial for intelligent grape harvesting. However, object detection algorithms encounter multiple challenges in unstructured vineyards, such as similar background colors, light obstruction from greenhouses and leaves, and fruit occlusion. All of these factors contribute to the difficulty of correctly identifying grapes. The GrapeDetectNet (GDN), based on the YOLO (You Only Look Once) v5s, is proposed to improve grape detection accuracy and recall in unstructured vineyards. dual-channel feature extraction attention (DCFE) is a new attention structure introduced in GDN. We also use dynamic snake convolution (DS-Conv) in the backbone network. We collected an independent dataset of 1280 images after a strict selection process to evaluate GDN’s performance. The dataset encompasses examples of Shine Muscat and unripe Kyoho grapes, covering a range of complex outdoor situations. The results of the experiment demonstrate that GDN performed outstandingly on this dataset. Compared to YOLOv5s, this model increased metrics such as 2.02% of mAP0.5:0.95, 2.5% of mAP0.5, 1.4% of precision, 1.6% of recall, and 1.5% of F1 score. Finally, we test the method on a grape-picking robot, and the results show that our algorithm works remarkably well in harvesting experiments. The results indicate that the GDN grape detection model in this study exhibits high detection accuracy. It is proficient in identifying grapes and demonstrates good robustness in unstructured vineyards, providing a valuable empirical reference for the practical application of intelligent grape harvesting technology.
Moving toward the Biophysical Characterization of the Mangrove Swamp Rice Production System in Guinea Bissau: Exploring Tools to Improve Soil- and Water-Use Efficiencies
Authors: Garbanzo Gabriel , Céspedes Jesus , Sandoval Joseph , Temudo Marina , Paredes Paula , Cameira Maria do Rosário
Published: February 2024

The mangrove swamp rice production system (MSRPS) in West Africa faces significant challenges in soil, water, and salinity management, making rice production highly vulnerable to variations in the spatio-temporal distribution patterns of rainfall, which are exacerbated by climate change. This study’s results can provide the initial basis for co-developing strategies with farmers aiming to contribute to the biophysical characterization of the MSRPS, in particular: (i) estimate the water-harvesting efficiency (WLef) of the plots in the north and south of Guinea Bissau (GB); (ii) characterize the unevenness of the bottom of the plots, which leads to salinization spots; and (iii) create soil consistency maps to provide farmers with a tool to prioritize sites with optimal conditions for tillage. The research was conducted between 2021 and 2023 in the study site of Cafine-Cafal in the south and Elalab in the north of GB. Systematic soil sampling in a grid was designed to quantify the soil consistency and plot/ridge areas were determined. Linear models were developed to predict biophysical parameters (e.g., effective planting areas and water-logging depths) and geostatistics were used to create soil consistency maps for each study site. The results show precipitation water-harvesting efficiencies of 15% and 16% for the southern and northern regions, respectively. Furthermore, the plasticity limits of 18.6% for Elalab and 35.5% for Cafine-Cafal show the most appropriate times to start tillage in specific areas of the paddies. This study provides information on the efficient management of tillage and freshwater conservation, providing MSRPS farmers with useful tools to counteract the effects caused by salinity and rainfall variability.
Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Pregnancy: Implications for Infant Telomere Length
Authors: Ahlers Nina E. , Lin Jue , Weiss Sandra J.
Published: February 2024

Background: Growing evidence suggests that air pollution may influence fetal development, with potential consequences for later health. Alteration of telomere length (TL) is one possible mediating mechanism for the link between fetal exposure to air pollution and the development of disease. However, the few studies exploring associations between prenatal pollution and infant TL have assessed varied trimesters of pregnancy and shown mixed results. The aim of this study was to examine the differential relationships between prenatal exposure to air pollutant PM2.5 during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy with infant TL at one month of age. Methods: Women (n = 74) were recruited in obstetric clinics during their third trimester. Data on PM2.5 exposure for each woman’s residential area during each trimester was acquired from the regional Air Quality Management District. At one month postnatal, a salivary sample was collected from the infant, which provided DNA for the telomere assay. Women completed questionnaires about stressors in their lives, perceived stress, depression, and sociodemographics for inclusion as covariates. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the results. Results: PM2.5 exposure during the second (β = 0.31, p = 0.003) and third (β = 0.24, p = 0.02) trimesters was associated with longer infant TL. Exposure in the first trimester was not related to TL. Covariates of maternal depression and age and infant female sex were also associated with longer TL. Variables in the model contributed to 34% of the variance in TL (F = 10.58, p = 0.000). Discussion: Fetal programming of longer telomeres in response to pollution may have adaptive value in preparing the neonate for a postnatal environment that is less than optimal in terms of air quality. Alternatively, longer telomeres may forecast later health risks, considering established links between longer TL and diseases such as cancer. Future research needs to address how prenatal pollution interacts with TL to influence health over time.
Evaluation of Immunodiagnostic Performances of Neospora caninum Peroxiredoxin 2 (NcPrx2), Microneme 4 (NcMIC4), and Surface Antigen 1 (NcSAG1) Recombinant Proteins for Bovine Neosporosis
Authors: Udonsom Ruenruetai , Adisakwattana Poom , Popruk Supaluk , Reamtong Onrapak , Jirapattharasate Charoonluk , Thiangtrongjit Tipparat , Rerkyusuke Sarinya , Chanlun Aran , Hasan Tanjila , Kotepui Manas , Siri Sukhontha , Nishikawa Yoshifumi , Mahittikorn Aongart
Published: February 2024

Bovine neosporosis is among the main causes of abortion in cattle worldwide, causing serious economic losses in the beef and dairy industries. A highly sensitive and specific diagnostic method for the assessment of the epidemiology of the disease, as well as it surveillance and management, is imperative, due to the absence of an effective treatment or vaccine against neosporosis. In the present study, the immunodiagnostic performance of Neospora caninum peroxiredoxin 2 (NcPrx2), microneme 4 (NcMIC4), and surface antigen 1 (NcSAG1) to detect IgG antibodies against N. caninum in cattle were evaluated and compared with that of the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The results revealed that NcSAG1 had the highest sensitivity and specificity, with values of 88.4% and 80.7%, respectively, followed by NcPrx2, with a high sensitivity of 87.0% but a low specificity of 67.0%, whereas NcMIC4 showed sensitivity and specificity of 84.1% and 78.9%, respectively, when compared with IFAT. A high degree of agreement was observed for NcSAG1 (k = 0.713) recombinant protein, showing the highest diagnostic capability, followed by NcMIC4 (k = 0.64) and NcPrx2 (k = 0.558). The present study demonstrates that NcSAG1 is helpful as an antigen marker and also demonstrates the potential immunodiagnostic capabilities of NcPrx2 and NcMIC4, which could serve as alternative diagnostic markers for detecting N. caninum infection in cattle. These markers may find utility in future treatment management, surveillance, and risk assessment of neosporosis in livestock or other animal host species. Further research should be directed toward understanding the in vivo immune response differences resulting from immunization with both recombinant proteins.
Diagnostic Utility of Thoracic Radiography and Abdominal Ultrasonography in Canine Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis: 77 Cases
Authors: Tang Julia W. Y. , Saiz Anna , Vulpe Alina , Ribas Latre Ariadna , Furtado Rita , Seth Mayank , Valls Sanchez Ferran
Published: February 2024

Thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasonography are part of standard diagnostic investigations in cases of canine immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA). However, the clinical importance of thoracic and abdominal imaging towards the management of canine IMPA currently remains unknown. The primary aim of this study was to describe the findings documented on thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasonography in dogs diagnosed with IMPA, and to evaluate the diagnostic utility of thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasonography in the initial approach and management of these cases. Seventy-seven dogs diagnosed with IMPA who underwent thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasonography at a single referral hospital between 2008 and 2022 were included. The diagnostic imaging studies of these 77 dogs were reviewed by one blinded board-certified diagnostic imaging specialist for quality assurance. The medical records, including the diagnostic imaging reports of these dogs, were then reviewed by three blinded board-certified internal medicine specialists. Using a modified version of a previous question and scoring system, the three internal medicine specialists then generated an answer for the overall diagnostic utility and a diagnostic utility score for thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasonography for each case. The abnormal findings identified in radiography and ultrasonography were described. In the cases where the findings were considered significant enough to immediately affect the case management, the results of the further investigations that were subsequently performed were also described. No abnormalities were detected in thoracic radiography for 30 cases, and none were detected in abdominal ultrasound for 6. The majority of the internists considered thoracic radiography to be not useful in the overall case management at the time of IMPA diagnosis in 70 cases, and considered abdominal ultrasonography to be not useful in the overall case management in 57 cases. The majority of the internists agreed on the utility of thoracic radiography in 95% of the cases, and in 61% of the cases for abdominal ultrasonography. The most common finding in the thoracic radiography was a mild bronchial pulmonary pattern, and the most common in the abdominal ultrasonography was mild lymphadenomegaly. Therefore, although thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasonography identified numerous abnormal findings in this population of dogs, in the majority of the cases, the findings were deemed not useful towards the overall case management at the time of the initial diagnosis of IMPA. Thus, the use of thoracic radiography and abdominal ultrasonography should be taken into careful consideration when considering initial diagnostic investigations for canine IMPA.
Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis and Crohn’s Disease—Diagnostic Microbiological Investigations Can Inform New Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Aitken John M. , Aitken Jack E. , Agrawal Gaurav
Published: February 2024

Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the cause of Johne’s disease (JD), which is a chronic infectious gastrointestinal disease of ruminants and is often fatal. In humans, MAP has been associated with Crohn’s disease (CD) for over a century, without conclusive evidence of pathogenicity. Numerous researchers have contributed to the subject, but there is still a need for evidence of the causation of CD by MAP. An infectious aetiology in CD that is attributable to MAP can only be proven by bacteriological investigations. There is an urgency in resolving this question due to the rising global incidence rates of CD. Recent papers have indicated the “therapeutic ceiling” may be close in the development of new biologics. Clinical trial outcomes have demonstrated mild or inconsistent improvements in therapeutic interventions over the last decades when compared with placebo. The necessity to revisit therapeutic options for CD is becoming more urgent and a renewed focus on causation is essential for progress in identifying new treatment options. This manuscript discusses newer interventions, such as vaccination, FMT, dietary remediation and gut microbiome regulation, that will become more relevant as existing therapeutic options expire. Revisiting the MAP theory as a potential infectious cause of CD, rather than the prevailing concept of an “aberrant immune response” will require expanding the current therapeutic programme to include potential new alternatives, and combinations of existing treatments. To advance research on MAP in humans, it is essential for microbiologists and medical scientists to microscopically detect CWDM and to biologically amplify the growth by directed culture.
From Shadows to Spotlight: Enhancing Bacterial DNA Detection in Blood Samples through Cutting-Edge Molecular Pre-Amplification
Authors: Reinicke Martin , Braun Sascha Daniel , Diezel Celia , Lemuth Oliver , Engelmann Ines , Liebe Theresa , Ehricht Ralf
Published: February 2024

One of the greatest challenges to the use of molecular methods for diagnostic purposes is the detection of target DNA that is present only in low concentrations. One major factor that negatively impacts accuracy, diagnostic sensitivity, and specificity is the sample matrix, which hinders the attainment of the required detection limit due to the presence of residual background DNA. To address this issue, various methods have been developed to enhance sensitivity through targeted pre-amplification of marker sequences. Diagnostic sensitivity to the single molecular level is critical, particularly when identifying bloodstream infections. In cases of clinically manifest sepsis, the concentration of bacteria in the blood may reach as low as one bacterial cell/CFU per mL of blood. Therefore, it is crucial to achieve the highest level of sensitivity for accurate detection. In the present study, we have established a method that fills the analytical gap between low concentrations of molecular markers and the minimum requirements for molecular testing. For this purpose, a sample preparation of whole blood samples with a directly downstream pre-amplification was developed, which amplifies specific species and resistance markers in a multiplex procedure. When applying pre-amplification techniques, the sensitivity of the pathogen detection in whole blood samples was up to 100 times higher than in non-pre-amplified samples. The method was tested with blood samples that were spiked with several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. By applying this method to artificial spiked blood samples, it was possible to demonstrate a sensitivity of 1 colony-forming unit (CFU) per millilitre of blood for S. aureus and E. faecium. A detection limit of 28 and 383 CFU per ml of blood was achieved for E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively. If the sensitivity is also confirmed for real clinical blood samples from septic patients, the novel technique can be used for pathogen detection without cultivation, which might help to accelerate diagnostics and, thus, to decrease sepsis mortality rates.
Practical Lessons on Antimicrobial Therapy for Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Cusack Rachael , Little Elizabeth , Martin-Loeches Ignacio
Published: February 2024

Sepsis stands as a formidable global health challenge, with persistently elevated mortality rates in recent decades. Each year, sepsis not only contributes to heightened morbidity but also imposes substantial healthcare costs on survivors. This narrative review aims to highlight the targeted measures that can be instituted to alleviate the incidence and impact of sepsis in intensive care. Here we discuss measures to reduce nosocomial infections and the prevention of equipment and patient colonisation by resilient pathogens. The overarching global crisis of bacterial resistance to newly developed antimicrobial agents intensifies the imperative for antimicrobial stewardship and de-escalation. This urgency has been accentuated in recent years, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, as high-dose steroids and opportunistic infections presented escalating challenges. Ongoing research into airway colonisation’s role in influencing disease outcomes among critically ill patients underscores the importance of tailoring treatments to disease endotypes within heterogeneous populations, which are important lessons for intensivists in training. Looking ahead, the significance of novel antimicrobial delivery systems and drug monitoring is poised to increase. This narrative review delves into the multifaceted barriers and facilitators inherent in effectively treating critically ill patients vulnerable to nosocomial infections. The future trajectory of intensive care medicine hinges on the meticulous implementation of vigilant stewardship programs, robust infection control measures, and the continued exploration of innovative and efficient technological solutions within this demanding healthcare landscape.
Revealing Coupled Periodicities in Sunspot Time Series Using Bispectrum—An Inverse Problem
Authors: Tassiopoulou Styliani , Koukiou Georgia , Anastassopoulos Vassilis
Published: February 2024

Sunspot daily time series have been available for almost two centuries providing vast and complicated information about the behavior of our star and especially the interaction of the motion of the planets and other possible interstellar phenomena and their effects on the surface of the Sun. The main result obtained from the sunspot time series analysis is the imprint of various periodicities, such as the planets’ orbital periods and the planetary synodic periods on the sunspots signature. A detailed spectrum representation is achieved by means of a periodogram and a virtual extension of the time length segments with zeroed samples for longer representations. Furthermore, the dependence or coupling of these periodicities is explored by means of a bispectrum. We establish the exact interdependencies of the periodic phenomena on the sunspot time series. Specific couplings are explored that are proved to be the key issues for the coupled periodicities on the sunspot time series. In this work, contrary to what has been presented in the literature, all periodic phenomena are limited within the time period of an 11-year cycle as well as the periodicities of the orbits of the planets. The main findings are the observed strong coupling of the Mercury, Venus, and Mars periodicities, as well as synodic periodicities with all other periodicities that appear on the sunspot series. Simultaneously, the rotation of the Sun around itself (25.6 to 33.5 days) provides an extensive coupling of all recorded periodicities. Finally, there is strong evidence of the existence of a quadratic mechanism, which couples all the recorded periodicities, but in such a way that only frequency pairs that sum up to specific periods are coupled. The justification for this kind of coupling is left open to the scientific community.
TMPAD: Time-Slot-Based Medium Access Control Protocol to Meet Adaptive Data Requirements for Trusted Nodes in Fog-Enabled Smart Cities
Authors: Alvi Ahmad Naseem , Ali Mumtaz , Saleh Mohamed Saad , Alkhathami Mohammed , Alsadie Deafallah , Alghamdi Bushra , Alenzi Badriya
Published: February 2024

The popularity of fog-enabled smart cities is increasing due to the advantages provided by modern communication and information technologies, which contribute to an improved quality of life. Wireless networks make them more vulnerable when the network is under malicious attacks that cause a collision in the medium. Furthermore, diverse applications of smart cities demand a contention-free medium access control (MAC) protocol to meet adaptive data requirements. In this work, a time-slot-based medium access control protocol to meet adaptive data requirements (TMPAD) for IoT nodes in fog-enabled smart cities is proposed. TMPAD proposes a trust mechanism to differentiate malicious and legitimate data requests. In addition, it accommodates more legitimate data-requesting nodes to transfer their data during a session by applying the technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and 0/1 knapsack algorithm. The performance of TMPAD is compared with well-known techniques such as first come first serve (FCFS), shortest job first (SJF), and longest job first (LJF) in different prospective scenarios. The results show that TMPAD scrutinizes more data-requesting nodes in slot allocation, allowing more data transmission in a session, with better mean trust value, as compared to other algorithms.
Supplementation of Nutraceuticals from Dwarf Kiwi and Apple Improves Lipid Profile in Overweight Adults
Authors: Popiolek-Kalisz Joanna , Glibowski Paweł , Solarska Ewa
Published: February 2024

(1) Background: Overweight and obesity are emerging global problems causing multiple health complications. Excessive fat tissue content leads to chronic inflammation, which is why antioxidative compounds that could potentially reduce these processes are possible agents that could be supplemented in order to prevent metabolic complications of overweight and obesity. Apples and dwarf kiwis are good sources of antioxidative agents such as quercetin and chlorogenic acid. The aim of this study was to assess if apple and dwarf kiwi nutraceutical supplementation can improve the metabolic parameters of overweight adults. (2) Methods: 43 participants were enrolled in the double-blinded pilot study: 21 in the supplementation group and 22 in the placebo group. The one 1000 mg nutraceutical capsule contained 10% Chopin apple peel extract, 10% whole dwarf kiwi fruit extract, 75% Chopin apple core extract, and 5% rapeseed peptides. The supplementation group received two capsules/day for 60 days. (3) Results: The supplementation of the apple and kiwi product resulted in a lowering of ALT in the supplementation group (from 29.65 ± 19.02 UI/L to 23.80 ± 13.76 UI/L; p = 0.01). Subgroup analysis in men and women showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol level (from 220.15 ± 36.69 mg/dL to 208.43 ± 37.09 mg/dL; p = 0.04), non-HDL cholesterol (from 161.17 ± 41.00 mg/dL to 145.69 ± 41.75 mg/dL; p = 0.02) and ALT (from 25.41 ± 12.05 UI/L to 19.07 ± 6.13 UI/L; p = 0.01) in women and triglycerides levels (from 212.74 ± 127.15 mg/dL to 155.63 ± 80.61 mg/dL; p = 0.047) in men. (4) Conclusions: The supplementation of nutraceuticals from apples and dwarf kiwi led to improvements in lipid profile. It can be a possible new agent for counteracting overweight metabolic complications, however, larger group studies and more detailed tests are needed to support these preliminary findings.
Research on Dynamic Target Search for Multi-UAV Based on Cooperative Coevolution Motion-Encoded Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Li Yiyuan , Chen Weiyi , Fu Bing , Wu Zhonghong , Hao Lingjun , Yang Guang
Published: February 2024

Effectively strategizing the trajectories of multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) within a dynamic environment to optimize the search for and tracking of mobile targets presents a formidable challenge. In this study, a cooperative coevolution motion-encoded particle swarm optimization algorithm called the CC-MPSO search algorithm is designed to tackle the moving target search issue effectively. Firstly, a Markov process-based target motion model considering the uncertainty of target motion is investigated. Secondly, Bayesian theory is used to formulate the moving target search as an optimization problem where the objective function is defined as maximizing the cumulative probability of detection of the target in finite time. Finally, the problem is solved based on the CC-MPSO algorithm to obtain the optimal search path nodes. The motion encoding mechanism converts the search path nodes into a set of motion paths, which enables more flexible handling of UAV trajectories and improves the efficiency of dynamic path planning. Meanwhile, the cooperative coevolution optimization framework enables collaboration between different UAVs to improve global search performance through multiple swarm information sharing, which helps avoid falling into local optimal solutions. The simulation results show that the CC-MPSO algorithm demonstrates efficacy, reliability, and superior overall performance when compared to the five commonly used swarm intelligence algorithms.
Combined Data Augmentation on EANN to Identify Indoor Anomalous Sound Event
Authors: Song Xiyu , Xiong Junhan , Wang Mei , Mei Qingshan , Lin Xiaodong
Published: February 2024

Indoor abnormal sound event identification refers to the automatic detection and recognition of abnormal sounds in an indoor environment using computer auditory technology. However, the process of model training usually requires a large amount of high-quality data, which can be time-consuming and costly to collect. Utilizing limited data has become another preferred approach for such research, but it introduces overfitting issues for machine learning models on small datasets. To overcome this issue, we proposed and validated the framework of combining the offline augmentation of raw audio and online augmentation of spectral features, making the application of small datasets in indoor anomalous sound event identification more feasible. Along with this, an improved two-dimensional audio convolutional neural network (EANN) was also proposed to evaluate and compare the impacts of different data augmentation methods under the framework on the sensitivity of sound event identification. Moreover, we further investigated the performance of four combinations of data augmentation techniques. Our research shows that the proposed combined data augmentation method has an accuracy of 97.4% on the test dataset, which is 10.6% higher than the baseline method. This demonstrates the method’s potential in the identification of indoor abnormal sound events.
Optimized Water Distillation Layout for Detritiation Purpose
Authors: Narcisi Vincenzo , Santucci Alessia
Published: February 2024

Tritium permeation constitutes a key issue for the future EU-DEMO, especially in the Breeding Blanket (BB) where fusion energy must be delivered to the Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS) and where tritium must be bred. Currently, the mitigation strategy of the tritium permeation from BB into primary coolant is based on the adoption of anti-permeation barriers and on the operation of the Coolant Purification System (CPS). This system must ensure a tritium removal rate from the primary coolant equal to the BB permeation rate at a target tritium-specific activity inside the PHTS. In the case of the Water-Cooled Lithium Lead (WCLL) BB, water distillation was selected as the most promising technology for the primary coolant detritiation due to its intrinsic simplicity and safety. Nevertheless, power consumption was recognized as a relevant concern. For this reason, the present work aims at investigating possibilities to reduce power consumption of the water CPS implementing Heat Pump-Assisted Distillation (HPAD) concepts. To do this, a review of the HPADs developed in the chemical industry was carried out, and the best options for the water CPS were identified based on qualitative considerations. Then, a quantitatively assessment of the best solution in terms of power consumption and tritium inventory was performed with the commercial numerical tool Aspen Plus. Finally, the Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) concept was recognized as the most promising solution, ensuring a power saving of around 80% while keeping a limited tritium inventory.
Improving Transportation Management Systems (TMSs) Based on the Concept of Digital Twins of an Organization
Authors: Dorofeev Aleksey , Kurganov Valery , Filippova Nadejda , Petrov Artur , Zakharov Dmitrii , Iarkov Sergei
Published: February 2024

Transportation process reliability is a competitive advantage in the market of cargo delivery services. Transportation customers are interested in shipping cargoes within agreed timeframes and ensuring their safety. These are the two main parameters of transportation process reliability, compliance with which depends on a number of factors. In particular, changes in the external environment where road transportation companies operate inevitably affect the transportation process stability. The purpose of this study is to develop an approach to road transportation reliability and risk mitigation based on the digital twin concept. The variability of business processes is usually the reason for deviations from the transportation terms agreed with the customer. These deviations can be interpreted as failures in delivering cargoes. A prerequisite for ensuring smooth cargo transportation by a road transportation company is the reduction of deviations in the performance of its business processes. The article proposes methods of computer modeling and creating a digital twin of a company reflecting the reference business processes for transportation. As a result, various deviations from the reference digital model that business processes exhibit when there are changes in the external environment can be promptly identified and corrected.
Effect of Pouring Time on the Integrity of Pulverized Fuel Ash Concrete
Authors: Ni Longyue , Zheng Dapeng , Yang Haibin , Ding Xiaobo
Published: February 2024

The effects of pouring time intervals on the integrity of pulverized fuel ash (PFA) concrete were evaluated by measuring ultrasonic pulse velocity and compressive strength. Concrete was poured progressively at different time intervals (30 min, 45 min, and 60 min) under similar conditions after the first batch of concrete was vibrated. The effects of the water–cement ratio (w/c) on ultrasonic pulse velocity were also compared and analyzed. Both compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity decreased as the pouring time interval increased. When the water–cement ratio was 0.55, the pouring time interval had little effect on compressive strength, but when the w/c was reduced to 0.45, improvements in the compressive strength of concrete with different pouring time intervals were as high as 10 MPa. Under the condition of the same w/c and the same pouring time interval, improvements in the compressive strength of the interface were as high as 15 MPa, and the prolongation of the aging period could reduce the difference in strength to 8 MPa. The formula Fc=0.63e0.95Vc was used to infer the compressive strength of fly ash concrete at different ages by ultrasonic pulse velocity.
Joint Entity and Relation Extraction Model Based on Inner and Outer Tensor Dot Product and Single-Table Filling
Authors: Feng Ping , Yang Lin , Zhang Boning , Wang Renjie , Ouyang Dantong
Published: February 2024

Joint relational triple extraction is a crucial step in constructing a knowledge graph from unstructured text. Recently, multiple methods have been proposed for extracting relationship triplets. Notably, end-to-end table-filling methods have garnered significant research interest due to their efficient extraction capabilities. However, existing approaches usually generate separate tables for each relationship, which neglects the global correlation between relationships and context, producing a large number of useless blank tables. This problem results in issues of redundant information and sample imbalance. To address these challenges, we propose a novel framework for joint entity and relation extraction based on a single-table filling method. This method incorporates all relationships as prompts within the text sequence and associates entity span information with relationship labels. This approach reduces the generation of redundant information and enhances the extraction capability for overlapping triplets. We utilize the internal and external multi-head tensor fusion approach to generate two sets of table feature vectors. These vectors are subsequently merged to capture a wider range of global information. Experimental results on the NYT and WebNLG datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed model, which maintains excellent performance, even in complex scenarios involving overlapping triplets.
Brain Extraction Methods in Neonatal Brain MRI and Their Effects on Intracranial Volumes
Authors: Vaz Tânia F. , Canto Moreira Nuno , Hellström-Westas Lena , Naseh Nima , Matela Nuno , Ferreira Hugo A.
Published: February 2024

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in assessing early brain development and injury in neonates. When using an automated volumetric analysis, brain tissue segmentation is necessary, preceded by brain extraction (BE) to remove non-brain tissue. BE remains challenging in neonatal brain MRI, and despite the existence of several methods, manual segmentation is still considered the gold standard. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess different BE methods in the MRI of preterm neonates and their effects on the estimation of intracranial volumes (ICVs). This study included twenty-two premature neonates (mean gestational age ± standard deviation: 28.4 ± 2.1 weeks) with MRI brain scans acquired at term, without detectable lesions or congenital conditions. Manual segmentation was performed for T2-weighted scans to establish reference brain masks. Four automated BE methods were used: Brain Extraction Tool (BET2); Simple Watershed Scalping (SWS); HD Brain Extraction Tool (HD-BET); and SynthStrip. Regarding segmentation metrics, HD-BET outperformed the other methods with median improvements of +0.031 (BET2), +0.002 (SWS), and +0.011 (SynthStrip) points for the dice coefficient; and −0.786 (BET2), −0.055 (SWS), and −0.124 (SynthStrip) mm for the mean surface distance. Regarding ICVs, SWS and HD-BET provided acceptable levels of agreement with manual segmentation, with mean differences of −1.42% and 2.59%, respectively.
Revealing the Magmatic Impulse Emplacement and Evolution Path of Kimberlite in Southern Liaoning through Mineralogical Characteristics of the Phlogopite Zone
Authors: Ma Sishun , Wang Ende , Fu Haitao
Published: February 2024

Phlogopite is a crucial indicator for effectively constraining the magmatic evolution and emplacement mechanism of kimberlite. In this study, samples were collected from the No. 110 kimberlite pipe within diamond belt I and the No. 50 kimberlite pipe within diamond belt II in the southern Liaoning diamond mining area in the eastern North China Craton (NCC). Zonation is highly developed in the phlogopite; the major and trace element compositions of the phlogopite zonation in the samples were analyzed. In this study, phlogopite from the No. 50 pipe kimberlite (#50 phlogopite) zonation is divided into the following components: (1) The cores, low Ti-Cr xenocryst, average Mg# = 90.6, has a resorption structure, the presence of serpentine and talc minerals in low Ti-Cr cores (xenocrysts) can be used as evidence for hydrothermal metasomatism; (2) cores/inner rims (between core and outer rim), high Ti-Cr, it is thought to be related to the assimilation of mantle materials by deep kimberlite magma, average Mg# = 88.2; (3) outer rims, low-Cr/Cr-poor, average Mg# = 82.4, Fe, Al and Ba contents increased, and there was a trend of evolution to biotite composition believed to be related to the metasomatic metamorphism of melt and wall rock during the late magmatic evolution or ascent; (4) rinds, it is characterized by re-enrichment of Mg, rind I (low-Ti-Cr, average Mg# = 88.4), rind II (high-Ti-Cr, Mg# = 88.6), rind II may be formed earlier than rind I. Rind is very rare and has been reported for the first time in southern Liaoning kimberlite. This study was only accidentally found in the outermost part of #50 phlogopite, the Mg-rich feature represents an environment in which oxygen fugacity has increased. The phlogopite in samples from pipe No. 110 (#110 phlogopite) exhibits relatively homogeneous characteristics across different zones and is more enriched in Al and Ba, which is likely the result of mantle metasomatism. Due to its euhedral characteristics and limited composition variation, it is considered that #110 phlogopite is more likely to be derived from direct crystallization from magma than from xenocrysts. In addition, based on the simultaneous enrichment of Al and Fe in phlogopite from the core to the outer rim, pipe No. 50 was determined to be a micaceous kimberlite, while pipe No. 110 more closely resembles group I kimberlites. This paper proposes that successive pulses of kimberlite magma emplacement gradually metasomatized the conduit, and subsequent kimberlite magma ascended along the metasomatized conduit, thereby minimizing the interaction between the later magma and the surrounding mantle lithosphere.
A Novel Deep Learning Network Model for Extracting Lake Water Bodies from Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Liu Min , Liu Jiangping , Hu Hua
Published: February 2024

Extraction of lake water bodies from remote sensing images provides reliable data support for water resource management, environmental protection, natural disaster early warning, and scientific research, and helps to promote sustainable development, protect the ecological environment and human health. With reference to the classical encoding-decoding semantic segmentation network, we propose the network model R50A3-LWBENet for lake water body extraction from remote sensing images based on ResNet50 and three attention mechanisms. R50A3-LWBENet model uses ResNet50 for feature extraction, also known as encoding, and squeeze and excitation (SE) block is added to the residual module, which highlights the deeper features of the water body part of the feature map during the down-sampling process, and also takes into account the importance of the feature map channels, which can better capture the multiscale relationship between pixels. After the feature extraction is completed, the convolutional block attention module (CBAM) is added to give the model a global adaptive perception capability and pay more attention to the water body part of the image. The feature map is up-sampled using bilinear interpolation, and the features at different levels are fused, a process also known as decoding, to finalize the extraction of the lake water body. Compared with U-Net, AU-Net, RU-Net, ARU-Net, SER34AUNet, and MU-Net, the R50A3-LWBENet model has the fastest convergence speed and the highest MIoU accuracy with a value of 97.6%, which is able to better combine global and local information, refine the edge contours of the lake’s water body, and have stronger feature extraction capability and segmentation performance.
Fog, Friction, and Failure in Organized Conflict: A Formal Study
Authors: Wallace Rodrick
Published: February 2024

Organized conflict, while confined by the laws of physics—and, under profound strategic incompetence, by the Lanchester equations—is not a physical process but rather an extended exchange between cognitive entities that have been shaped by path-dependent historical trajectories and cultural traditions. Cognition itself is confined by the necessity of duality, with an underlying information source constrained by the asymptotic limit theorems of information and control theories. We introduce the concept of a ‘basic underlying probability distribution’ characteristic of the particular cognitive process studied. The dynamic behavior of such systems is profoundly different for ‘thin-tailed’ and ‘fat-tailed’ distributions. The perspective permits the construction of new probability models that may provide useful statistical tools for the analysis of observational and experimental data associated with organized conflict, and, in some measure, for its management.
Strain-Modulated and Nanorod-Waveguided Fluorescence in Single Zinc Oxide Nanorod-Based Immunodetection
Authors: Sytu Marion Ryan C. , Stoner Andrew , Hahm Jong-In
Published: February 2024

Mechanical strain has been shown to be a versatile and tunable means to control various properties of nanomaterials. In this work, we investigate how strain applied to individual ZnO nanorods (NRs) can affect the fluorescence signals originated from external sources of bioanalytes, which are subsequently coupled and guided onto the NRs. Specifically, we determine how factors such as the NR length and protein concentration can influence the strain-induced changes in the waveguided fluorescence intensity along the NRs. We employ a protein of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and a fluorophore-labeled antibody in a model immunoassay reaction, after which Alexa488-TNF-α immunocomplex is formed on ZnO NRs. We elucidate the relationships between the types as well as amounts of strain on the NRs and the fluorescence intensity originated from the Alexa488-TNF-α immunocomplexes. We show that tensile (compressive) strain applied to the NR leads to an increase (decrease) in the waveguided fluorescence signals. By assessing important optical phenomena such as fluorescence intensification on nanorod ends (FINE) and degree of FINE (DoF), we confirm their linear dependence with both the types and amounts of strain. Furthermore, the strain-induced changes in both FINE and DoF are found to be independent of protein concentration. We determine that NR length plays a critical role in obtaining high strain-dependence of the measured fluorescence signals. Particularly, we ascertain that longer NRs yield larger changes in both FINE and DoF in response to the applied strain, relative to shorter ones. In addition, longer NRs permit higher linear correlation between the protein concentration and the waveguided fluorescence intensity. These outcomes provide valuable insight into exploiting strain to enhance the detection of optical signals from bioanalytes, thus enabling their quantifications even at ultra-trace levels. Coupled with the use of individual ZnO NRs demonstrated in our measurements, this work may contribute to the development of a miniaturized, highly sensitive biosensor whose signal transduction is best optimized by the application of strain.