Search Results (283)

In remote sensing image oriented object detection tasks, weakly supervised learning methods based on horizontal bounding boxes have attracted much attention due to their lower annotation costs compared to fully supervised methods. However, remote sensing images, characterized by complex backgrounds, exhibit a wide range of target scales and diverse geometric characteristics across target categories. Existing methods exhibit inadequate exploitation of background and angular information under weak supervision, resulting in compromised perception of dense and high-aspect-ratio targets. Neglecting the imbalance in angle estimation samples further leads to excessively low detection accuracy for few-shot categories. To address the aforementioned issues, this paper proposes a Geometry-Aware Enhancement Network (WSOOD-GAEN) for weakly supervised oriented object detection tasks. First, in the backbone network stage, a channel-space deformable attention module (DAE-ResNet) was constructed. Through deformable sampling and screening of key regions, feature extraction has both morphological adaptability to complex shapes and semantic discriminability of key features in complex backgrounds. Secondly, in the feature pyramid stage, an Angle-Guided Feature Pyramid Network (AG-FPN) is proposed. This module dynamically applies rotation transformation to the sampling offsets of deformable convolutions, thereby enhancing the feature representation of objects with different orientations and scales. Furthermore, an adaptive geometric perception loss (AGL) was designed. Based on the geometric characteristics of different categories, it automatically learns differentiated rotation and flip consistency weights, thereby improving the prediction accuracy of small sample categories. Experiments on the DOTA-v1.0, HRSC, and RSAR datasets validate our approach. Specifically, under the AP75 evaluation metric, the proposed method outperforms existing weakly supervised methods by 1.51%, 9.86%, and 3.28%, respectively. Full article

AGL6 genes are critical floral regulators in diverse angiosperms, yet their roles in legumes remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize GmAGL6 genes in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. Williams 82). We identified four homologs (GmAGL6a–d) featuring conserved MADS-box and K-box domains that cluster within the AGL6 lineage. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed significant transcript enrichment during flower bud differentiation and maturation. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated quadruple knockout lines to evaluate gene function. Phenotypic analysis showed that, unlike the homeotic transformations typical of AGL6 loss in monocots, Gmagl6 quadruple mutants retained a standard papilionaceous floral structure without keel petal aberrations. However, the mutants did not show significant changes in floral height or width, but exhibited a significantly increased floral height-to-width ratio and smaller mature seeds, while vegetative architecture and podding capacity remained unaffected. These results suggest that GmAGL6 genes in soybean may function primarily in the regulation of floral proportion and seed development rather than floral organ identity. This research provides insights into the evolution of specialized legume flowers and suggests candidate genes for seed size improvement. Full article

Reducing enteric methane emissions from ruminants has emerged as a critical environmental priority in the face of global climate change, given the substantial contribution of methane to agricultural greenhouse gas outputs. This study evaluated the potential of spearmint essential oil (SEO) to reduce methane production and enhance energy utilization efficiency using an in vitro rumen fermentation system. The experiment comprised a control (CON, no additive), three SEO doses (L-SEO: 100 mg/L; M-SEO: 200 mg/L; H-SEO: 400 mg/L), and a commercial essential oil blend (AGL: 150 mg/L). Results indicated that M-SEO and H-SEO significantly reduced methane production at 24 h from 58.11 mL/g DM in CON to 47.93 and 46.58 mL/g DM, respectively (p < 0.001), corresponding to reductions of 17.5% and 19.8%. Furthermore, M-SEO increased total volatile fatty acid concentration from 48.41 to 58.10 mmol/L and elevated the molar proportion of propionate, while significantly enhancing microbial crude protein production (p < 0.001). Microbial community analysis revealed that M-SEO increased bacterial alpha-diversity (Shannon index) (p = 0.001) and significantly enriched specific functional guilds, particularly the propionate-producing genus Succiniclasticum and the butyrate-producing genus Butyrivibrio. Interestingly, the abundance of dominant methanogens (Methanobrevibacter) was not reduced, suggesting a metabolic inhibition mechanism rather than a biocidal effect. Functional prediction analysis further supported this, indicating a downregulation of pathways associated with methanogenesis, including key enzymes such as methyl-coenzyme M reductase. In conclusion, SEO supplementation at 200 mg/L effectively reduced methane production by redirecting metabolic hydrogen toward propionate formation, without affecting overall fermentation. Therefore, the current study indicated that SEO could serve as a sustainable feed additive for mitigating enteric methane emissions in ruminants. Full article

This study proposes TNAP-DDQN, a deep reinforcement learning method for urban low-altitude UAV path planning under residential noise threshold constraints. With time cost and safety risk as the optimization objectives, operational constraints such as collision risk and maximum AGL altitude are incorporated to achieve coordinated optimization of noise compliance, operational safety, and efficiency. To mitigate action space contraction and training instability induced by multiple constraints, a Noise-Degradation-Mask-based Action Bias Network (NDM-ABN) is introduced at the action selection layer. A three-tier degradation scheme prevents empty candidate sets, while bias-based decision making is applied to approximately tied actions to stabilize the policy. Moreover, multi-step prioritized experience replay (PER) improves sample efficiency and long-horizon return modeling, and potential-based reward shaping (PBRS) transforms sparse constraint signals into auxiliary rewards. Simulation results indicate that: (1) NDM-ABN is the key module for stabilizing the noise-exposure process by suppressing high-noise actions; (2) the required AGL is related to the UAV source noise level and local noise limits, implying the need for differentiated AGL altitude classes; and (3) the maximum admissible UAV source noise level increases as the threshold is relaxed. The proposed method provides quantitative guidance for noise-entry and AGL altitude regulation, while future work will incorporate additional metrics (e.g., A-weighted equivalent sound level) to better capture noise fluctuations and short-term peaks. Full article

Gibberellin 2-oxidase (GA2ox) is instrumental in gibberellin (GA) catabolism and the modulation of plant growth. In this investigation, nine LcGA2ox genes (LcGA2ox1-LcGA2ox9) were identified within the litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) genome. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that the proteins encoded by these genes uniformly possess 2OG-Fe (II)_Oxy and DIOX_N domains, exhibiting a range of physicochemical properties and subcellular localizations. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these genes into three subgroups, C₁₉-GA2ox-I, C₁₉-GA2ox-II, and C₂₀-GA2ox-I, with each subgroup characterized by specific motif compositions and gene structures. These gene promoters harbor cis-regulatory elements implicated in light signaling, hormonal pathways, abiotic stress responses, and developmental processes. The LcGA2ox gene family contributes to the maintenance of GA metabolic homeostasis through interactions with GA synthases, receptors, and repressors. This gene family demonstrates distinct tissue-specific and spatiotemporal expression patterns: LcGA2ox1/6/7 are predominantly expressed in flowers, LcGA2ox8 in fruits, and LcGA2ox9 in buds. Notably, LcGA2ox6/7 are key regulators of male and female flower development in litchi, exhibiting a negative correlation with the female flower genes AGL1 and SPT. The overexpression studies conducted in Arabidopsis have demonstrated that LcGA2ox6 acts as an inhibitor of both vegetative and reproductive development. This study characterizes the LcGA2ox family, establishing a theoretical basis for understanding GA regulation in litchi reproductive development and genetic improvement. Full article

Daphnis nerii can severely damage pine forests worldwide. Daphnis nerii cypovirus-23 (DnCPV-23) is an important viral pathogen for controlling D. nerii. However, the mechanism underlying DnCPV-23 cell entry has not been elucidated. In this study, we determined that VP3 mediates the binding of DnCPV-23 to host brush border membrane vesicles. Far-Western blotting and mass spectrometry results revealed that a Manduca sexta alpha-glucosidase (MsAGL) can interact with VP3. The interaction between MsAGL and VP3 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays. Notably, MsAGL influenced DnCPV-23 entry into host cells, including attachment and the subsequent internalization of the virus. Furthermore, MsAGL inhibited DnCPV-23 infections of M. sexta cells and D. nerii larvae. In summary, we confirmed that VP3 of DnCPV-23 mediates cell entry, while also identifying MsAGL as an entry factor for DnCPV-23. The study findings provide useful insights relevant for further elucidating the cell entry mechanisms of cypoviruses. Full article

Background: Formin proteins are crucial regulators of actin filament assembly and elongation in eukaryotic cells, playing important roles in plant development and abiotic stress responses. However, the functional characterization of formins in Brassica rapa L. remains undiscovered. Methods: A total of 27 formin family members (BrFHs) were identified through genome-wide alignment with Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Results: Phylogenetic analysis classified BrFH gene family into two distinct clades, designated Group I and Group II, which exhibit divergent protein architectures. Promoter analysis revealed that BrFHs contain multiple cis-regulatory elements related to growth and development, stress responses, and phytohormone signaling. These findings suggest that BrFHs may have diversified functions. Tissue-specific expression analysis revealed that BrFHs exhibit distinct expression patterns across various tissues. Notably, BrFH15 and BrFH18 are highly expressed in flowers, displaying expression profiles similar to those of floral development genes such as AP3, AGL10 and so on. Additionally, many BrFHs show dynamic expression patterns in response to cold stresses. In particular, BrFH2, BrFH19 and BrFH27 were up-regulated, and their co-expression within the gene network suggests potential roles in regulating cold stress. Conclusions: These results clarify the functional roles of BrFHs and shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying their regulation of tissue development and responses to cold stress in Brassica rapa. Full article

This study, conducted in the framework of the LIAISE field campaign in NE Spain (May–September 2021), investigates how near-surface relative humidity influences early-stage rainfall characteristics when precipitation is most affected by temperature and relative humidity before rainfall onset. Two instrumented sites were examined, using disdrometers, Micro Rain Radar (MRR), C-band weather radar data, and automatic weather stations. Rainfall events were first classified as stratiform or convective using weather radar data based on a texture analysis of the reflectivity field. Then, only stratiform events were selected and further classified into dry and moist categories according to the upper and lower terciles of near-surface (2 m) relative humidity at the rainfall onset (dry < 54%; moist > 72%). Results show that during dry events, the time delay between the detection of precipitation at ~750 m above ground level (AGL) (by MRR or C-band radar) and its arrival at the surface (measured by the disdrometer) is consistently longer than during moist events, indicating possible evaporation of raindrops during their descent. Surface drop size distributions also differ: dry cases have generally fewer small drops (with diameters < 0.8 mm) but relatively more large drops, leading to higher radar reflectivity values despite similar surface rainfall amounts. However, reflectivity observed aloft by C-band radar and MRR does not present the dependence on relative humidity found at ground level. Findings reported here increase our understanding of the impact of low-level conditions on precipitation characteristics and microphysical associated processes and may contribute to improve correction schemes in operational weather radar quantitative precipitation estimates. Full article

The increasing demand for Arctic route planning, climate change studies, and the growing volume of satellite sensor data have made automated sea ice mapping an essential task. In this study, we propose a multi-task sea ice mapping framework based on the U-Net architecture, which supports multi-sensor data integration and automatically modulates global and local features. The model consists of ARC blocks for enhanced multi-sensor feature fusion, a GLCM block for non-local and local feature modulation, and an adaptive loss weighting strategy to balance multi-task training. The proposed method is evaluated on the AI4Arctic RTT dataset, which includes multi-sensor inputs and ice chart-derived labels. Compared with the best-performing method in the AutoIce Challenge, the proposed approach achieves a 1.33% improvement in the combined score. In addition, the F1 scores for stage of development (SOD) and floe size (FLOE) increase by 2.85% and 3.44%, respectively. Although the $R^2$ score for SIC shows a slight decrease of 1.25%, this behavior is consistent with the practical trade-offs commonly observed in multi-task optimization. Ablation studies further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed blocks and the multi-task adaptive weighting strategy, confirming their potential for handling multi-sensor data and supporting ocean environment monitoring. Full article

Lion-head goose is a large-sized breed native to Guangdong Province, China, exhibits remarkable capacity for fatty liver production under overfeeding conditions and is highly valued by local farmers and consumers. However, the molecular mechanisms driving fatty liver development in this breed are still unknown. In this study, we evaluated liver weight differences between normally fed and overfed Lion-head geese and further examined sex-specific differences following overfeeding. Overfeeding significantly increased liver weight more than 340%, and males possess a stronger capacity for lipid deposition under the same feeding regimen compared with females. RNA-Seq analysis identified 1476 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) shared by both sexes, which were mainly enriched in lipid and energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial pathways. In addition, 627 male-specific and 420 female-specific DEGs revealed sex-dependent differences, with males showing stronger transcriptional regulation and females exhibiting enhanced antioxidant and detoxification responses. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed 320 co-hub genes enriched in lipid and energy metabolism in overfeeding-induced fatty liver, along with 9 co-hub genes related to sex differences. Alternative splicing (AS) analysis detected 131 differentially spliced genes (DSGs). Integration of both approaches identified 7 overlapping genes, HYCC2 (Hyccin PI4KA lipid kinase complex subunit 2), AGL (Amylo-Alpha-1,6-Glucosidase and 4-Alpha-Glucanotransferase), CCDC62 (Coiled-coil domain containing 62), IGSF5 (Immunoglobulin superfamily member 5), MGARP (Mitochondria-localized glutamic acid-rich protein), CD80 (Cluster of Differentiation 80), and FPGS (Folylpolyglutamate synthase), as potential key regulators. These findings provide new insights into transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of overfeeding-induced fatty liver in geese. Full article

Plant seed number depends on ovule number initiated within the carpels, and it serves as a primary factor shaping fruit yield. Pomegranate trees exhibit bisexual flowers and functional male flowers. Pomegranate have anatropous ovules which are bitegmic and crassinucellate. Bisexual flowers possess the fertile pistil, while functional male flowers have abnormally developed ovules, a small ovary with few chambers, and a short style. The formation of functional male flowers is due to abnormal and stagnant development of ovule integument. Ovule number directly determines the yield of pomegranate seeds. Recent studies have highlighted the molecular mechanisms through which ovule-related genes regulate pomegranate ovule development. Pomegranate PgCRC and PgINO genes positively regulate the increase in the number of ovules, and PgBEL1 to synergistically regulate seed development. PgAGL11 (the SEEDSTICK orthologous gene) promotes ovule development in transgenic Arabidopsis. PgSEP protein can bridge interactions among PgBEL1, PgSTK and PgAG, which regulate ovule development. At the level of post-transcriptional regulation, PgmiRNA167, PgmiRNA164 and PgmiRNA160 are differentially expressed during pomegranate flower development, and PgmiR166a interacts with its target genes to affect ovule development. This review summarizes the key regulators of ovule development and their molecular pathways, integrating these interactions into a model that describes pomegranate ovule development. Full article

Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is a devastating disease of strawberry, with petal abscission rate (PAR) being a critical disease-avoidance trait. Rapid petal abscission removes a key infection site for the pathogen, thereby reducing disease incidence. To dissect the genetic basis of PAR, a segregating F₁ population was constructed from a cross between ‘Benihoppe’ (rapid abscission) and ‘Sweet Charlie’ (slow abscission). Utilizing BSR-Seq analysis of extreme bulks, five high-confidence quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified on chromosomes Fvb2-2, Fvb4-4, and Fvb6-3. These QTLs encompassed 672 candidate genes, with enrichment in “Plant hormone signal transduction” pathway. Integrated analysis of gene expression and SNPs identified 16 candidate genes, including those involved in flowering time (e.g., ELF3, HUA2 and AGL62) and plant hormone (e.g., ANT, RTE (ethylene), NDL2, FPF1 (auxin), and CYP707A7, ABF2 (abscisic acid) signaling, as well as calcium transport (ACA1, ECA3). Fourteen Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers were developed from candidate genes, with four markers showing significant correlations with PAR. This study provides the first genetic mapping of PAR in strawberry, revealing candidate genes and molecular markers that will facilitate the breeding of cultivars with improved gray mold resistance through enhanced petal abscission. Full article

Some studies report better outcomes in cell therapy for myocardial infarction (MI) with repeated administrations. We aimed to elucidate the potential differences in terms of cardiac function and protein expression after one or three doses of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) in a porcine MI model. CDCs were isolated from swine cardiac explants, cultured in cardiomyocyte growth medium (CGM), and prepared for administration. Pigs surviving a 90 min balloon occlusion of the mid-left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) were randomly allocated to receive vehicle (CON), one (D1), or three (D3) doses of 30 × 10⁶ CDCs via the infarct-related coronary artery. Cardiac function was assessed with magnetic resonance at baseline and 10 weeks. Programmed electrical stimulation to study arrhythmogenicity was performed at 10 weeks. High-throughput quantitative proteomic analysis of infarcted tissue was performed to identify biological processes based on protein abundance changes between groups. No significant differences were found between the three groups for any cardiac function parameter at 10 weeks. No increase in ventricular tachycardia inducibility was seen in treated groups. However, gene ontology and topological analyses revealed potentially beneficial molecular adaptations. Upregulation of GYS1, AGL, and GBE1 indicated an increase in glycogen biosynthesis and energy availability, while an increase in ANK2, along with hub proteins ALB and TRAP1, suggested cardioprotective effects. Furthermore, the increase in remodeling-related proteins, including EPHA4, PODN, and ALPK3, pointed to favorable structural adaptation following infarction. In conclusion, the intracoronary administration of single or repeated doses of 30 × 10⁶ CDCs to a porcine reperfused MI model shows only slight differential improvement in both cardiac function and protein profile in this experimental setting, thus presenting limited translational potential. Full article

The operational range and reliability of most commercially available UAVs employed in surveillance, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection missions are limited due to the use of short-range radio frequency connections. To alleviate this issue, the present work investigates the possibility of real-time long-distance UAV control using a commercial 4G LTE network. The proposed system setup consists of a Raspberry Pi 4B as the onboard computer, connected to a Pixhawk-2.4 flight controller mounted on an F450 quadcopter platform. Flight tests were carried out in open-field conditions at altitudes up to 50 m above ground level (AGL). Communication between the UAV and the ground control station is established using TCP and UDP protocols. The flight tests demonstrated stable remote control operation, maintaining an average control delay of under 150 ms and a video quality resolution of 640×480, while the LTE bandwidth ranging from 3 Mbps to 55 Mbps. The farthest recorded test distance of around 4200 km from the UAV to the operator also indicates the capability of LTE systems for beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. The results show that 4G LTE offers an effective method for extending UAV range at a reasonable cost, but there are limitations in terms of network performance, flight time and regulatory compliance. This study establishes essential groundwork for future UAV operations that will utilize 5G/6G and satellite communication systems. Full article

Generalized lipodystrophies (GLs) are rare diseases characterized by a lack of body fat. When patients with a GL phenotype are referred with a presumptive diagnosis of congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) but genetic testing for known pathogenic variants is negative, the diagnosis of acquired generalized lipodystrophy (AGL) becomes a more likely diagnosis. No single test confirms such a diagnosis, and it is crucial to recognize the similarities and differences between these diseases. We review the literature and report four GL cases from our lipodystrophy outpatient clinic, highlighting the main points for an accurate diagnosis. Similarities: phlebomegaly, umbilical scar protrusion, loss of Bichat’s fat pad, muscle hypertrophy, and hepatomegaly can occur in both. Cirrhosis can also arise, but in AGL, it occurs as a consequence of hepatic steatosis and also due to autoimmune hepatitis. Insulin resistance is frequent, and patients present acanthosis nigricans and acrochordons and may develop difficult-to-control diabetes and its complications, despite very high daily doses of insulin. Low HDL and hypertriglyceridemia are frequent and may progress to acute pancreatitis. Serum leptin levels are typically low and contribute to hyperphagia. Differences: AGL patients’ body fat loss occurs gradually in childhood or adolescence, whereas CGL patients are born with the characteristic phenotype. Evaluating photographs of AGL patients in the first years of life can provide evidence of this selective and gradual fat loss. Some AGL patients may have panniculitis (inflamed and painful subcutaneous nodules), with or without autoimmune diseases. In conclusion, recognizing both similarities and differences is crucial for making an accurate diagnosis and ensuring the most appropriate treatment. Full article