Search Results (25,189)

With the wide application of airdrop technology in rescue activities in civil and aerospace fields, the importance of accurate airdrop is increasing. This work comprehensively analyzes the interactive mechanisms among multiple models affecting airdrops, including wind field distribution, drag force effect, and the parachute opening process. By integrating key parameters across various dimensions of these models, a multidimensional parameter dynamic evolution (MPDE) target prediction method for aerial delivery parachutes in radar-detected wind fields is proposed, and the Runge–Kutta method is applied to dynamically solve for the final landing point of the target. In order to verify the performance of the method, this work carries out field airdrop experiments based on the radar-measured meteorological data. To evaluate the impact of model input errors on prediction methods, this work analyzes the influence mechanism of the wind field detection error on the airdrop prediction method via the Relative Gain Array (RGA) and verifies the analytical results using the numerical simulation method. The experimental results indicate that the optimized MPDE method exhibits higher accuracy than the widely used linear airdrop target prediction method, with the accuracy improved by 52.03%. Additionally, under wind field detection errors, the linear prediction method demonstrates stronger robustness. The airdrop error shows a trigonometric relationship with the angle between the synthetic wind direction and the heading, and the phase of the function will shift according to the difference in errors. The sensitivity of the MPDE method to wind field errors is positively correlated with the size of its object parachute area. Full article

The cold recycling (CR) technique is gaining traction, with an increasing demand for sustainable pavement construction practices. Cold in-place recycling (CIR) and cold central plant recycling (CCPR) are two strategies under the umbrella of cold recycling. These techniques use reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) to rehabilitate pavement, and CCPR offers the added advantage of utilizing stockpiled RAP. While many agencies have expertise in cold recycling techniques including CCPR, the lack of pavement performance data prevented the largescale implementation of these technologies. Recent studies in high-traffic volume applications demonstrate that CCPR technology can be implemented on the entire road network across all traffic levels. This reignited interest in the widespread implementation of CCPR. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide agencies with the most up-to-date information on CCPR to help them make informed decisions. To this end, this paper comprehensively reviews the mix-design for CCPR, the structural design of pavements containing CCPR layers, best construction practices, and the agency experience in using this technology on high-traffic volume roads to provide in-depth information on the steps to follow from project selection to field implementation. The findings specify the suitable laboratory curing conditions to achieve the optimum mix design and specimen preparation procedures to accurately capture the material properties. Additionally, this review synthesizes existing quantitative data from previous studies, providing context for the comparison of findings, where applicable. The empirical and mechanistic–empirical design inputs, along with the limitations of AASHTOWare Pavement ME software for analyzing this non-conventional material, are also presented. Full article

Infrared small-target detection remains a critical challenge in military reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, forest-fire prevention, and search-and-rescue operations, owing to the targets’ extremely small size, sparse texture, low signal-to-noise ratio, and complex background interference. Traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) struggle to detect such weak, low-contrast objects due to their limited receptive fields and insufficient feature extraction capabilities. To overcome these limitations, we propose a Multi-Scale Edge-Aware Convolution (MEAC) module that enhances feature representation for small infrared targets without increasing parameter count or computational cost. Specifically, MEAC fuses (1) original local features, (2) multi-scale context captured via dilated convolutions, and (3) high-contrast edge cues derived from differential Gaussian filters. After fusing these branches, channel and spatial attention mechanisms are applied to adaptively emphasize critical regions, further improving feature discrimination. The MEAC module is fully compatible with standard convolutional layers and can be seamlessly embedded into various network architectures. Extensive experiments on three public infrared small-target datasets (SIRSTD-UAVB, IRSTDv1, and IRSTD-1K) demonstrate that networks augmented with MEAC significantly outperform baseline models using standard convolutions. When compared to eleven mainstream convolution modules (ACmix, AKConv, DRConv, DSConv, LSKConv, MixConv, PConv, ODConv, GConv, and Involution), our method consistently achieves the highest detection accuracy and robustness. Experiments conducted across multiple versions, including YOLOv10, YOLOv11, and YOLOv12, as well as various network levels, demonstrate that the MEAC module achieves stable improvements in performance metrics while slightly increasing computational and parameter complexity. These results validate the MEAC module’s significant advantages in enhancing the detection of small and weak objects and suppressing interference from complex backgrounds. These results validate MEAC’s effectiveness in enhancing weak small-target detection and suppressing complex background noise, highlighting its strong generalization ability and practical application potential. Full article

A numerical simulation experiment is conducted to study the first-ever waterspout observed in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, in 2024, namely, a mesoscale meteorological model with a spatial resolution of 200 m coupled with a computational fluid dynamics model with a spatial resolution of 4 m. It is found that the simulation could reproduce the observed wind field near the surface reasonably well, as well as the location of the waterspout and showers, as shown in the weather image. By conducting simulations with and without buildings, it is found that the inclusion of buildings is essential for the successful reproduction of the flow fields near the surface and up to several hundred metres high. This may suggest that urbanization plays a role in the occurrence of this waterspout. The resultant horizontal vorticity is then stretched by strong vertical motion at around 850 hPa, resulting in the waterspout, though no closed circulation could be simulated at the location of the waterspout. Moreover, the cyclonic feature for the flow field near the surface has a time lag of about 30 min compared with the actual waterspout occurrence. Nonetheless, the simulation is considered to be generally satisfactory and provides useful insight into the occurrence of the waterspout. Full article

The non-metallic armored optoelectronic cable (NAOC) serves as a critical component in deep-sea scientific winch systems. Due to its low density and excellent corrosion resistance, it has been widely adopted in marine exploration. However, as the operational water depth increases, the NAOC is subjected to multi-layer winding on the drum, resulting in a cumulative temperature rise that can severely impair insulation performance and compromise the safety of deep-sea operations. To address this issue, this paper conducts temperature rise experiments on NAOCs using a distributed temperature sensing test rig to investigate the effects of the number of winding layers and current amplitude on their temperature rise characteristics. Based on the experimental results, an electromagnetic thermal multi-physics field coupling simulation model is established to further examine the influence of these factors on the maximum operation time of the NAOC. Finally, a multi-variable predictive model for maximum operation time is developed, incorporating current amplitude, the number of winding layers, and ambient temperature, with a fitting accuracy of 97.92%. This research provides theoretical and technical support for ensuring the safety of deep-sea scientific operations and improving the reliability of deep-sea equipment. Full article

Downy mildew, caused by Plasmopara viticola, is a major threat to grapevine (Vitis vinifera) cultivation in humid climates. Restrictions on synthetic pesticides and inconsistent efficacy of current biocontrol agents, especially under rainy conditions, complicate disease management. This study evaluated the potential of compost tea to suppress downy mildew in a two-year field experiment (2023 and 2024), combined with reduced synthetic fungicide applications. The study design compared two phytosanitary management strategies on a commercial vineyard: a conventional fungicide against a compost tea strategy supplemented with two cymoxanil applications. The experiment set up had three replicated blocks, each consisting of 100 plants for a total of 600 plants. Mechanistic insights were provided through controlled laboratory experiments involving pre- and post-infection leaf assays, vineyard bacteriome profiling, via 16S rRNA gene sequencing for bacterial communities, across vineyard compartments, i.e., bulk soil, rhizosphere, and phyllosphere, and grapevine metabolomic analysis by GC-MS analysis. Field trials demonstrated that compost tea combined with two fungicide applications effectively reduced disease severity, notably outperforming the fungicide alone in the particularly rainy year of 2023. Bacteriome analysis revealed that compost tea treatment enriched beneficial bacterial genera, including Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Enterobacter, Massilia, and Bacillus, known for their growth-promoting and biocontrol activity in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere. Laboratory assays on detached leaves further showed that compost tea alone could suppress both infection and sporulation of P. viticola. Metabolomic analysis highlighted the accumulation of compounds such as tartaric and shikimic acids in compost tea treated leaves, suggesting a potential role in induced resistance. The findings indicate that applying compost tea with reduced fungicide treatments represents a promising and sustainable strategy for managing grapevine downy mildew, even in challenging climates. Full article

Utilizing deep learning models to detect malicious anomalies within the traffic of application layer J1939 protocol networks, found on heavy-duty commercial vehicles, is becoming a critical area of research in platform protection. At the physical layer, the controller area network (CAN) bus is the backbone network for most vehicles. The CAN bus is highly efficient and dependable, which makes it a suitable networking solution for automobiles where reaction time and speed are of the essence due to safety considerations. Much recent research has been conducted on securing the CAN bus explicitly; however, the importance of protecting the J1939 protocol is becoming apparent. Our research utilizes long short-term memory models to predict the next binary data sequence of a J1939 packet. Our primary objective is to compare the performance of our J1939 detection system trained on data sub-fields against a published CAN system trained on the full data payload. We conducted a series of experiments to evaluate both detection systems by utilizing a simulated attack representation to generate anomalies. We show that both detection systems outperform one another on a case-by-case basis and determine that there is a clear requirement for a multifaceted security approach for vehicular networks. Full article

The growing negative environmental effects associated with chemical fertilizers have led to the promotion of organic fertilizers in agriculture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts of organic fertilization on nitrogen and phosphorus content, uptake and use efficiency in Origanum dictamnus (Dittany) cultivation. With this aim, a randomized complete blocks field experiment was carried out in Istron Kalou Xoriou (Agios Nikolaos—Crete). The study included three fertilization treatments (N0: 0 kg/ha⁻¹, N1: 1250 kg/ha⁻¹ and N2: 2500 kg/ha⁻¹). Throughout the growing period, measurements were taken for the plant’s content, uptake and efficiency indices of total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (P). The findings indicated that the fertilization doses affect nutrient uptake and efficiency. The highest values of TN and P were recorded 60 days after transplants. N1 treatment showed the greatest improvement in nitrogen use efficiency, while phosphorus use efficiency reached its maximum level under N2 treatment. That research can contribute to achieving an in-depth insight of organic fertilization practices for aromatic and medicinal plants such as Dittany, promoting a sustainable agricultural strategy and enhancing product quality. Full article

Mungbean is grown as a summer crop in subtropical climates globally. The global demand for mungbean is increasing, and opportunities exist to expand production regions to more marginal environments, such as southern Australia, as an opportunistic summer crop to help meet the growing global demand. Mungbean has the potential to be an opportunistic summer crop when an appropriate sowing window coincides with sufficient soil water. This expansion from subtropical to temperate climates will pose challenges, including low temperatures, a longer day length and a low and variable water supply. To assess mungbean suitability to temperate, southern Australian summer rainfall patterns and soil water availability, we conducted field experiments applying a range of water treatments across four locations with contrasting rainfall patterns within the state of Victoria (in southern Australia) in 2020–2021 and 2021–2022. The water treatments were applied prior to sowing (60 mm), the vegetative stage (40 mm) and the reproductive stage (40 mm) in a factorial combination at each location. Two commercial cultivars, Celera II-AU and Jade-AU, were used. Water scarcity during flowering and the pod-filling stages were important factors constraining yield. Analysis of yield components showed that increasing water availability at critical growth stages, viz. the vegetative and reproductive stages, of mungbean was associated with increases in total biomass, HI and grain number in addition to increased water use and water use efficiency (WUE). Average WUEs ranged from 1.3 to 7.6 kg·ha⁻¹·mm⁻¹. The maximum potential WUE values were 6.4 and 5.1 kg·ha⁻¹·mm⁻¹ for Celera II-AU and Jade-AU across the sites, with the estimated soil evaporation values (x-intercept) of 83 and 74 mm, respectively. Nitrogen fixation was variable, with %Ndfa values ranging from 9.6 to 76.8%, and was significantly affected by soil water availability. This study emphasises the importance of water availability during the reproductive phase for mungbean yield. The high rainfall zones within Victoria have the potential to grow mungbean as an opportunistic summer crop. Full article

Accurate diagnostics of the railway track axis are crucial for enabling higher operational speeds of rail vehicles. Consequently, assessment methods are under continuous refinement. The precision of mobile GNSS-based measurements is influenced by external factors such as terrain obstructions and satellite geometry. This study presents an innovative approach that continuously monitors a predefined multi-receiver GNSS configuration in real time to enhance positioning accuracy. Field experiments on operational railway lines demonstrate that the proposed method significantly improves measurement reliability and reduces uncertainty compared to the conventional CQ-based quality assessment. The algorithm underlying the proposed method is formulated through analytical equations, allowing it to be implemented in any programming environment. The method’s effectiveness is demonstrated by comparing the expanded uncertainty calculated using GNSS-provided data with that obtained through the proposed approach. Full article

High-voltage unipolar square wave pulsed electric fields (PEFs) can cause cell membrane rupture and cell death during a process termed irreversible electroporation (IRE). PEF effects are influenced by pulse parameters like number of pulses (NP), voltage (PV), width (PW), and interval (PI). This study systematically evaluates their effects on the conductivity and relative conductivity changes between untreated and PEF-treated regions of potato tissue across a frequency range of 1 Hz to 5 MHz by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), using a custom-made four-point EIS probe with RG58/U coaxial cables. Potatoes were chosen as a plant-based PEF model to reduce animal experiments and untreated tissue showed minimal conductivity variation across regions. Relative conductivity changes were maximal at 1000 Hz. At 1000 Hz, significant conductivity differences between untreated and PEF-treated regions were observed from PV = 200 V, NP = 10, PW = 10 µs, and PI = 50 ms onwards (most significant changes occurred for PV = 700 V; NP = 70; PW = 70 µs; PI = 250 ms and 500 ms). Our results may be beneficial for multiphysics modelling of IRE with specific electrical properties, conductivity mapping with optimal contrast—such as in electrical impedance tomography—and development of IRE procedures. Full article

This paper investigates the dependencies between the design parameters of the armature (stator) winding of a high-speed PMSM machine and the electrical losses in its windings resulting from eddy currents. In addition, the factors accounting for the occurrence of parasitic circulating currents, whose presence in the phase windings is associated with the design specificity, are analyzed. Quantitative analysis is carried out by the application of a newly developed mathematical model for the calculation of fundamental and additional losses in a multi-turn coil enclosed in the slots of a ferromagnetic core. The analysis takes into account the actual design of the slot and the conductor, the variable arrangement of individual conductors in the slot, the core saturation and the presence of the excitation field—to represent the main factors that affect the process of additional losses in the slot of the electric machine. The verification of the mathematical model developed in this study was carried out by comparing the distribution of power losses in the slot section of the coil, consisting of several elementary conductors connected in parallel and located in a rectangular open slot, with an identical distribution derived on the basis of an analytical method from the classical circuit theory. For the purpose of confirming the results and conclusions derived from simulation studies, a number of physical experiments were carried out, consisting in determining the power losses in multi-turn coils of different designs. Recommendations have been developed to minimize additional losses by optimizing the arrangement of conductors within the slot, selecting the appropriate cross-sectional size of a single conductor and the saturation level of the tooth zone. Full article

This paper studied the general mechanism of spatial-frequency-shift (SFS) super-resolution imaging based on multiplex illumination modulation. The theory of SFS joint intensity was first proposed. Experiments on parallel slots with discrete spatial frequency (SF) distribution and V-shape slots with continuous SF distribution were carried out, and their real-space images and k-space images were obtained. The influence of single illumination with different SFS and mixed illumination with various combinations on SFS super-resolution imaging was analyzed. The phenomena of sample SF coverage were discussed. The SFS super-resolution imaging characteristics based on low-coherence illumination and highly localized light fields were discovered. The phenomenon of image magnification during SFS super-resolution imaging process was discussed. The differences and connections between the SF spectrum of objects and the k-space images obtained in SFS super-resolution imaging process were explained. This provides certain support for optimization of high-throughput SFS super-resolution imaging. Full article

The biomass allocation patterns between aboveground and belowground are an essential functional trait for plant survival under a changing environment. The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities on plant biomass allocation, particularly in degraded Festuca ovina grasslands in ecologically fragile karst areas, remain unclear. Therefore, we conducted a field investigation combined with a greenhouse experiment to explore the importance of AMF compared to bacteria and fungi for plant biomass allocation. The results showed that plant biomass in degraded grasslands exhibited allometric biomass allocation, contrasting with isometric partitioning in non-degraded grasslands. AMF, not bacteria or fungi, were the primary microbial mediators of grassland degradation effects on plant biomass allocation based on structural equation modeling. The greenhouse experiment demonstrated that the selected AMF keystone species from the field study performed according to ecological network analysis, particularly multi-species combinations, enhanced the belowground biomass allocation of F. ovina under rocky desertification stress compared to single-species inoculations, through decreasing soil pH, enhancing alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and increasing the expression level of AMF-inducible phosphate transporter (PT4). This study highlights the critical role of the AMF community, rather than individual species, in mediating plant survival strategies under rocky desertification stress. Full article

Heavy metal contamination in paddy fields poses serious risks to food safety and crop productivity. This study evaluated the potential of native soil fungi as bioinoculants to reduce metal uptake in rice cultivated under contaminated conditions. Eight fungal strains—four indigenous and four allochthonous—were selected based on their plant growth-promoting traits, including siderophore production and phosphate solubilization. Additional metabolic analysis confirmed the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. In a greenhouse experiment, three rice cultivars were grown under permanent flooding (PF) and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) in soil enriched with arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and copper. Inoculation with indigenous fungi under AWD significantly reduced the arsenic accumulation in rice shoots by up to 75%. While AWD increased cadmium uptake across all cultivars, fungal inoculation led to a moderate reduction in cadmium accumulation—ranging from 15% to 25%—in some varieties. These effects were not observed under PF conditions. The results demonstrate the potential of native fungi as a nature-based solution to mitigate heavy metal stress in rice cultivation, supporting both environmental remediation and sustainable agriculture. Full article