Search Results (467)

To address the challenges of leaf–branch occlusion, fruit mutual occlusion, complex background interference, and scale variations in peach detection within complex orchard environments, this study proposes an improved YOLOv11n-based peach detection method named SDA-YOLO. First, in the backbone network, the LSKA module is embedded into the SPPF module to construct an SPPF-LSKA fusion module, enhancing multi-scale feature representation for peach targets. Second, an MPDIoU-based bounding box regression loss function replaces CIoU to improve localization accuracy for overlapping and occluded peaches. The DyHead Block is integrated into the detection head to form a DMDetect module, strengthening feature discrimination for small and occluded targets in complex backgrounds. To address insufficient feature fusion flexibility caused by scale variations from occlusion and illumination differences in multi-scale peach detection, a novel Adaptive Multi-Scale Fusion Pyramid (AMFP) module is proposed to enhance the neck network, improving flexibility in processing complex features. Experimental results demonstrate that SDA-YOLO achieves precision (P), recall (R), mAP@0.95, and mAP@0.5:0.95 of 90.8%, 85.4%, 90%, and 62.7%, respectively, surpassing YOLOv11n by 2.7%, 4.8%, 2.7%, and 7.2%. This verifies the method’s robustness in complex orchard environments and provides effective technical support for intelligent fruit harvesting and yield estimation. Full article

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has played a critical role in Mars exploration missions, substantially contributing to the geochemical analysis of Martian surface substances. However, the complex nonlinearity of LIBS processes can considerably limit the quantification accuracy of conventional LIBS chemometric methods. Hence chemometrics based on artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms have become increasingly popular in LIBS analysis due to their extraordinary ability in nonlinear feature modeling. The hidden layer activation functions are key to ANN model performance, yet common activation functions usually suffer from problems such as gradient vanishing (e.g., Sigmoid and Tanh) and dying neurons (e.g., ReLU). In this study, we propose a novel LIBS quantification method, named the Bayesian optimization-based tunable Softplus backpropagation neural network (BOTS-BPNN). Based on a dataset comprising 1800 LIBS spectra collected by a laboratory duplicate of the MarSCoDe instrument onboard the Zhurong Mars rover, we have revealed that a BPNN model adopting a tunable Softplus activation function can achieve higher prediction accuracy than BPNN models adopting other common activation functions if the tunable Softplus parameter β is properly selected. Moreover, the way to find the proper β value has also been investigated. We demonstrate that the Bayesian optimization method surpasses the traditional grid search method regarding both performance and efficiency. The BOTS-BPNN model also shows superior performance over other common machine learning models like random forest (RF). This work indicates the potential of BOTS-BPNN as an effective chemometric method for analyzing Mars in situ LIBS data and sheds light on the use of chemometrics for data analysis in future planetary explorations. Full article

Rare earth elements (REEs) have garnered significant global attention due to their essential role in advanced technologies. Sri Lanka is endowed with various REE-bearing minerals, including the apatite-rich deposit in the Eppawala area, commonly known as Eppawala rock phosphate (ERP). However, direct extraction of REEs from ERP is technically challenging and economically unfeasible. This study introduces a novel, integrated approach for recovering REEs from ERP as a by-product of nitrophosphate fertilizer production. The process involves nitric acid-based acidolysis of apatite, optimized at 10 M nitric acid for 2 h at 70 °C with a pulp density of 2.4 mL/g. During cooling crystallization, 42 wt% of calcium was removed as Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O while REEs remained in the solution. REEs were then selectively precipitated as REE phosphates via pH-controlled addition of ammonium hydroxide, minimizing the co-precipitation with calcium. Further separation was achieved through selective dissolution in a sulfuric–phosphoric acid mixture, followed by precipitation as sodium rare earth double sulfates. The process achieved over 90% total REE recovery with extraction efficiencies in the order of Pr > Nd > Ce > Gd > Sm > Y > Dy. Samples were characterized for their phase composition, elemental content, and morphology. The fertilizer results confirmed the successful production of a nutrient-rich nitrophosphate (NP) with 18.2% nitrogen and 13.9% phosphorus (as P₂O₅) with a low moisture content (0.6%) and minimal free acid (0.1%), indicating strong agronomic value and storage stability. This study represents one of the pioneering efforts to valorize Sri Lanka’s apatite through a novel, dual-purpose, and circular approach, recovering REEs while simultaneously producing high-quality fertilizer. Full article

Ethnographic sources provide information about several dye plants that produced reddish colors; however, there is no information on how this process is accomplished. Combining information from written sources with the results of dyeing experiments enables a deeper understanding of the dyeing methods employed in the past. This paper gives insight into the effect of using alkali on obtaining reddish tones in dyeing with Potentilla erecta and Rumex sp. In dyeing experiments, wool yarn was dyed with plant extracts, and the chemical compositions were studied both in plant extracts and in extracts obtained from wool after dyeing. As a result, the red/red-brown color is obtained only under the influence of alkali. Analytical studies of procyanidin (PC) extracts from rhizomes and yarns were performed using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric detection (LC-DAD-MS). Procyanidin extracts of P. erecta and R. acetosa contained monomers identified as (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, as well as dimeric procyanidins of type-A (m/z 575 [M−H]⁻) and type-B (m/z 577 [M−H]⁻), along with various types of trimers (m/z 865 [M−H]⁻; m/z 863 [M−H]⁻), which were also isolated from dyed wool yarns with a similar composition. The conducted research on the use of alkali with tannin-containing plants contributes to deepening our understanding of the perception of color that existed in the ancient rural environment. Full article

The majority of Australians who die each year do so in an acute hospital setting and are cared for during the end of their life by a multidisciplinary team comprising nurses, medical staff, and allied health staff. Despite the range of professional disciplines that services this patient group, the experiences of the staff providing this end-of-life care is not well understood. This study sought to explore the experiences of multidisciplinary staff providing this care at an acute hospital in Sydney, Australia and to identify the barriers that affect the end-of-life care provided. Data were collected through an online survey from a multidisciplinary sample group. A combination of statistical analysis and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data with four key themes emerging. These themes included the implications for staff working in end-of-life care, communication gaps in the acute hospital setting, recognition of the dying process, and improvement of end-of-life care through further education. This study highlighted the challenges experienced by healthcare staff in the end-of-life context, with recommendations provided for increased education and training. The need for staff to receive training with a focus on end-of-life skill development, professional confidence, and preparedness for end-of-life conversations was highlighted. Full article

This paper explores the evolution and contextual background of an 18th-century dyer’s manuscript originating in Antwerp, covering the period between 1778 and 1802. This manuscript offers a unique glimpse into the operational practices of a small enterprise specializing in red hues for a middle-class clientele. The manuscript includes dye recipes, accounting records, and business correspondence, along with dyed textile samples that provide a tangible connection between written instructions and their visual outcomes. Our study aims to go beyond content analysis to examine the manuscript as a dynamic document in which the dyer’s craft knowledge and experiential learning are visibly embedded. Unlike most available technical treatises, this manuscript appears to be an evolving draft marked by corrections and additions. This fluidity in structure sheds light on the process of knowledge formation and codification in the craft, aligning with devices of precise knowledge transmission and especially with the concept of “codification of error” (Codification of error refers to how early modern artisans and scholars began systematically recording mistakes in their work rather than hiding them. This shift recognized failure as a valuable part of the learning process, helping to refine techniques and support more empirical, experimental approaches to knowledge in the crafts and sciences)—an approach developed within the artisan community to refine practices over time and theorized by Professor Sven Duprè. Through a selection of annotated pages, we highlight the manuscript’s traces of iterative thought and method development. We propose that these elements illustrate the dialectic between transmitted knowledge and individual experimentation, where mistakes, followed by correction, reflection, and refinement, play a central role. Additionally, we discuss the manuscript as evidence of the thin boundaries between practical trade knowledge and the field of scientific inquiry. Through the abovementioned and the comparison with contemporary manuals, this research positions the manuscript as a valuable case study in understanding craft knowledge evolution and its transmission within the historical context of 18th-century European textile dyeing. Full article

Calcium is a versatile ion that regulates diverse intracellular processes, including cell death and survival, cytokine and chemokine production, lipid scrambling, and immune cell activation. In regulated necrosis, an early increase in cytosolic calcium is a hallmark of pathways such as pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis, and resembles the calcium surge triggered by pore-forming toxins. The complexity of calcium signaling is orchestrated by specialized channels in various cellular compartments and calcium-binding proteins that respond to localized calcium concentrations. However, the coordination of this intricate code during regulated necrosis and its connections to other calcium-driven processes remains poorly understood. This review provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms of calcium signaling in regulated necrosis, analyzing parallels with pore-forming toxin-mediated membrane damage to uncover nodes that are shared by these seemingly independent pathways. We also discuss advanced techniques for studying calcium dynamics, with high precision, that can be applied to study regulated necrosis. Calcium signaling emerges as a central hub where necrotic cell death pathways converge, shaping the unique signatures of dying cells and influencing their communication with the immune system. This integrated perspective highlights the complex and multifaceted role of calcium in cells and its implications for fundamental cellular processes. Full article

Rare earth elements (REEs), particularly neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy), and praseodymium (Pr), are critical in the production of neodymium–iron–boron (NdFeB) magnets used in electronic devices, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. Due to the limited availability of these metals, their recovery from waste electronic equipment such as hard disk drives (HDDs) offers a promising solution. The aim of this study was to develop a method to grind NdFeB magnets obtained from the physical recycling of HDD. The recycled magnets were ground using a planetary mill. A review of the literature highlights the limitations of the currently used grinding methods, which require energy-intensive pretreatment processes, specialised conditions, or expensive equipment. This study employed a Fritsch planetary mill, tungsten carbide grinding balls, and ethanol as a grinding medium. NdFeB magnet samples (120 g) were ground for different durations (0.5 h–15 h) at a speed of 300 rpm, using a cyclic operating mode to minimise material heating. The resulting powders were analysed using a laser particle analyser, an optical microscope, and an X-ray diffractometer. The results enable the determination of optimal grinding parameters, achieving an average particle size (d₅₀) below 5 μm, which is essential for further processing and new magnet production. Finally, the economic and environmental aspects of producing the neodymium alloy were analysed. Full article

The presence of dichotomizing neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of cattle, innervating both the reticulum and the withers, may indicate a pre-spinal convergence of visceral and cutaneous sensory information, i.e., that the DRG primary sensory neurons may elaborate the sensory information coming from two different anatomical areas before reaching the secondary sensory neurons within the spinal cord. This anatomical feature could be the underlying basis for the cutaneous allodynia observed in traumatic reticuloperitonitis, also known as the “Kalchschmidt pain test”. The aim of the study was to identify the DRG primary sensory neurons innervating the reticulum and the withers by using two different retrograde fluorescent tracers, Fast Blue (FB, affinity for cytoplasm) and Diamidino Yellow (DY, affinity for nucleus). In two anesthetized calves, FB and DY were injected into the reticulum and skin of the withers, respectively. At the end of the experimental period, the calves were deeply anesthetized and then euthanatized. The thoracic (T1–T8) DRG were collected and processed to obtain cryosections which were examined on a fluorescent microscope. A large number of neurons localized, especially in the T7 DRG, presented nuclei labeled with DY. On the contrary, only a few neurons localized exclusively in T6 and T7 DRG presented the cytoplasm labeled with FB. No neurons displayed FB and DY simultaneously within the cytoplasm and nucleus, respectively. The absence of double-labeled DRG neurons suggests that the convergence of visceral and somatic sensory inputs underlying the Kalchschmidt pain response likely does not occur at the level of individual DRG neurons. Rather, it may involve higher-order integrative centers, possibly including vagal pathways and brainstem nuclei which integrate the afferent information to coordinate respiratory movements of the diaphragm, intercostal muscles, and larynx. Although limited by the sample size, this case study provides a neuroanatomical basis for further investigation into central mechanisms of referred visceral pain in cattle. Full article

An enhanced YOLOv8-based network was developed to accurately and efficiently detect the ripeness of strawberries in complex environments. Firstly, a CA (channel attention) mechanism was integrated into the backbone and head of the YOLOv8 model to improve its ability to identify key features of strawberries. Secondly, the bilinear interpolation operator was replaced with DySample (dynamic sampling), which optimized data processing, reduced computational load, accelerated upsampling, and improved the model’s sensitivity to fine strawberry details. Finally, the Wise-IoU (Wise Intersection over Union) loss function optimized the IoU (Intersection over Union) through intelligent weighting and adaptive tuning, enhancing the bounding box accuracy. The experimental results show that the improved YOLOv8-CDW model has a precision of 0.969, a recall of 0.936, and a mAP@0.5 of 0.975 in complex environments, which are 8.39%, 18.63%, and 12.75% better than those of the original YOLOv8, respectively. The enhanced model demonstrates higher accuracy and faster detection of strawberry ripeness, offering valuable technical support for advancing deep learning applications in smart agriculture and automated harvesting. Full article

Background: Dysarthria is a neuromotor speech disorder that significantly impacts patients’ quality of life. In Chile, there is a lack of culturally validated instruments for assessing dysarthria. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt the Bogenhausen Dysarthria Scales (BoDyS) into Chilean Spanish and to conduct face and content validation. Methods: The adaptation process included translation and back-translation, followed by validation by a panel of experts. Clarity, format, and length were evaluated, and the Kappa index (KI), content validity index (CVI), and content validity ratio (CVR) were calculated to confirm item relevance. A pilot test was subsequently conducted with ten speech–language pathologists to apply the adapted version to patients. Results: The adaptation process produced a consensus version that preserved the semantic and cultural characteristics of the original scale. The statistical measures (KI = 1.00; I-CVI = 1.00; S-CVI/Ave = 1.00; S-CVI/UA = 1.00; CVR = 1.00) indicated satisfactory levels of agreement. The pilot test demonstrated the scale’s appropriateness and effectiveness for assessing dysarthria within the Chilean context, although some experts recommended reducing task repetition for patients prone to fatigue. Conclusions: The Chilean version of the BoDyS (BoDyS-CL) is a valid and useful tool for evaluating dysarthria in Chile. This study provides a foundation for further research and the systematic implementation of this scale in local clinical practice. Full article

This study evaluated the relationship between the microstructure, photoluminescence, and photocatalytic properties of newly synthesized nanostructured phosphor materials. The combustion method was used to create samples of down-converting SrGd₂O₄ doped with Dy³⁺ ions (1, and 7 at%) and up-converting SrGd₂O₄ co-doped with varying quantities of Yb³⁺ ions (2, and 6 at%) and a constant quantity of Ho³⁺ ions (1 at%). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed the existence of porous agglomerated round-shaped particles, with the size around 150 nm, arranged in network-like structures. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the presence of all structural elements and their homogeneous distribution throughout the particles. The presence of specific emission peaks associated with Dy³⁺ or Ho³⁺ dopant ions was demonstrated by luminescent measurement. The degradation processes of specific organic dyes (methylene blue for up-converters and rhodamine B for down-converters) under simulated sun irradiation were used to investigate photocatalytic activity. A reduction in dye concentration in aqueous solutions was measured using UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy. The results showed a successful dye breakdown rate after 4 h, and aliquots of the working solutions were obtained at precise intervals. Additionally, the results indicated that samples with the highest luminescence intensity exhibited superior photocatalytic activity, suggesting a significant promise for usage as multifunctional materials. Full article

NASICON-type titanium and zirconium phosphates doped with rare-earth cations, A_0.33M₂(PO₄)₃ (M = Ti, Zr; A = Dy, Y, Yb), were synthesized using the sol–gel method and investigated as catalysts for ethanol dehydration at 300–400 °C. The catalysts were characterized via XRD, SEM, BET, and FTIR spectroscopy. The relationships between the catalyst composition, acidity and the dehydration activity were evaluated. Diethyl ether (DEE) formation is promoted by the presence of the zirconium phosphates (ZrP), while the presence of titanium phosphate (TiP) catalyzes the formation of both ethylene and diethyl ether (DEE). The application of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to the analysis of adsorbed C₆H₆ has revealed the presence of hydroxyl groups exhibiting varying degrees of proton-donating mobility. This finding has enabled the correlation of the structure of the active sites with the process’s selectivity. The results underscore the key function of OH-group localization and framework geometry in the control of form-selective reactions. Full article

Precision nutrition-targeted gut microbiota (GM) may have therapeutic potential not only for age-related diseases but also for slowing the aging process and promoting longer healthspan. Recent studies have shown that restoring a healthy symbiosis of GM by counteracting dysbiosis (DYS) through precise nutritional intervention is becoming a major target for extending healthspan. Microbiota-accessible borate (MAB) complexes, such as boron (B)–pectins (rhamnogalacturonan–borate) and borate–phenolic esters (diester chlorogenoborate), have a significant impact on healthy host–microbiota symbiosis (HMS). The mechanism of action of MABs involves the biosynthesis of the autoinducer-2–borate (AI-2B) signaling molecule, B fortification of the mucus gel layer by the MABs diet, inhibition of pathogenic microbes, and reversal of GM DYS, strengthening the gut barrier structure, enhancing immunity, and promoting overall host health. In fact, the lack of MAB complexes in the human diet causes reduced levels of AI-2B in GM, inhibiting the Firmicutes phylum (the main butyrate-producing bacteria), with important effects on healthy HMS. It can now be argued that there is a relationship between MAB-rich intake, healthy HMS, host metabolic health, and longevity. This could influence the deployment of natural prebiotic B-based nutraceuticals targeting the colon in the future. Our review is based on the discovery that MAB diet is absolutely necessary for healthy HMS in humans, by reversing DYS and restoring eubiosis for longer healthspan. Full article

In computer vision applications, the primary task of object detection is to answer the following question: “What object is present and where is it located?”. However, underwater environments introduce challenges, such as poor lighting, high complexity, and diverse marine organism shapes, leading to missed detections or false positives in deep learning-based algorithms. To improve detection accuracy and robustness, this paper proposes an enhanced YOLOv11-based algorithm for underwater object detection that strengthens the ability to capture both local and global details and global contextual information in complex underwater environments. To better capture local and global features while integrating contextual information, the proposed method introduces several enhancements. The backbone incorporates a DualBottleneck module to enhance feature extraction, replacing the standard bottleneck structure in C3k, thus enhancing the feature extraction and the channel aggregation. The detection head adopts DyHead-GDC, integrating ghost depthwise separable convolution with DyHead for greater efficiency. Furthermore, the ADown module replaces conventional feature extraction and downsampling convolutions, reducing parameters and FLOPs by 14%. The C2PSF module, combining focal modulation and C2, strengthens local feature extraction and global context processing. Additionally, a SCSA module is inserted before the detection head to fully utilize multi-semantic information, improving the detection performance in complex underwater scenes. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of these improvements. The model achieves 84.2% mAP50 on UTDAC2020, 84.4% on DUO and 86.7% on RUOD, surpassing the baseline by 2.5%, 1.6% and 1.2%, respectively. It remains lightweight, with 6.5 M parameters and a computational cost of 7.1 GFLOPs. Full article