An Improved Bird Detection Method Using Surveillance Videos from Poyang Lake Based on YOLOv8.

Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China and plays a significant ecological role. Deep-learning-based video surveillance can effectively monitor bird species on the lake, contributing to the local biodiversity preservation. To address the challenges of multi-scale object detection against complex backgrounds, such as a high density and severe occlusion, we propose a new model known as the YOLOv8-bird model.

S-nitrosoglutathione reductase disfavors cadmium tolerance in shoots of Arabidopsis.

S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) is involved in the response to cadmium (Cd) exposure. In this study, the plants of mutant (gsnor1-3) with lossing-function of- and over-expression (GSNOR5) of GSNOR were used to clear the role of GSNOR in Cd tolerance. GSNOR activity increased through upregulating the expression of the AtGSNOR gene and protein in Arabidopsis thaliana under Cd stress, which attenuated Cd tolerance.

Optimization of robotic path planning and navigation point configuration based on convolutional neural networks.

This study introduces a novel approach for enhancing robotic path planning and navigation by optimizing point configuration through convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Faced with the challenge of precise area coverage and the inefficiency of traditional traversal and intelligent algorithms (e.g.

Proton energy enhancement by optimizing a laser pulse profile.

Based on current laboratory laser parameters and the low density target that is induced by the inevitable prepulse, we propose what we believe to be a new scheme to enhance the proton energy by employing a laser pulse with two different peak intensities. Initially, the lower-intensity peak of the laser pulse P, irradiates the low-density plasma target induced by the prepulse to form a significantly denser plasma target. Such a compressed high-density target is critical for supporting the subsequent main pulse P with higher peak intensity to drive proton acceleration.

Characterization of heavy metal, antibiotic pollution, and their resistance genes in paddy with secondary municipal-treated wastewater irrigation.

Secondary municipal-treated wastewater irrigation may introduce residual antibiotics into the agricultural systems contaminated with certain heavy metals, ultimately leading to the coexistence of antibiotics and heavy metals. The coexistence may induce synergistic resistance to both in the microbial community. Here, we investigated the effects of long-term municipal-treated irrigation for rice on the microbiome and resistome.

Spatial and variety distributions, risk assessment, and prediction model for heavy metals in rice grains in China.

In this study, 6229 brown rice grains from three major rice-producing regions were collected to investigate the spatial and variety distributions of heavy metals in rice grains in China. The potential sources of heavy metals in rice grains were identified using the Pearson correlation matrix and principal component analysis, and the health risks of dietary exposure to heavy metals via rice consumption were assessed using the hazard index (HI) and total carcinogenic risk (TCR) method, respectively. Moreover, 48 paired soil and rice samples from 11 cities were collected to construct a predicting model for Cd accumulation in rice grains using the multiple linear stepwise regression analysis.

Preclinical long-term safety of intraspinal transplantation of human dorsal spinal GABA neural progenitor cells.

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived neurons have shown promise in treating spinal cord injury (SCI). We previously showed that hPSC-derived dorsal spinal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons can alleviate spasticity and promote locomotion in rats with SCI, but their long-term safety remains elusive. Here, we characterized the long-term fate and safety of human dorsal spinal GABA neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in naive rats over one year.

Practical Finite-Time Command-Filtered Adaptive Backstepping With Its Applications to Quadrotor Hovers.

In this article, a practical finite-time command-filtered adaptive backstepping (PFTCFAB) control method is presented for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with nonparametric unknown nonlinearities and external disturbances. Unlike PFTCFAB control techniques that use neural networks (NNs) or fuzzy-logic systems (FLSs) to deal with system uncertainties, the proposed method is capable of handling such uncertainties without the need for NNs or FLSs, thus reducing complexity and increasing reliability. In the proposed approach, novel function adaptive laws are designed to directly estimate unknown nonparametric nonlinearities and external disturbances by means of command filter techniques, and a type of practical finite-time command filters is proposed to obtain such laws.

Alkaline phosphatase triggered gold nanoclusters turn-on fluorescence immunoassay for detection of Ochratoxin A.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a highly toxic mycotoxin which can cause a variety of diseases. Sensitive detection of OTA is significant for food safety. Herein, a feasible and sensitive immunoassay was established for OTA detection by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) triggered gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) turn-on fluorescence.

Gold nanoparticle-mediated fluorescence immunoassay for rapid and sensitive detection of Ochratoxin A.

In this work, a fluorescence immunoassay based on horseradish peroxidase-labeled IgG (HRP-IgG)-modified gold nanoparticle (AuNP@HRP-IgG) probe was established for detection of ochratoxin A (OTA). Through the catalysis of HRP, the dopamine (DA) and 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHA) can rapidly generate azamonardine fluorescence compound (AFC) with intense yellow fluorescence. Large amounts of AFC can be formed within 4 min, which led to fluorescence enhancement at 545 nm.

Response of heavy-metal and antibiotic resistance genes and their related microbe in rice paddy irrigated with treated municipal wastewaters.

Paddy irrigation with secondary effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants (MWTPs) is a well-established practice to alleviate water scarcity. However, the reuse might lead to more complicated contamination caused by interactions between residual antibiotics in effluents and heavy metals in paddy soil. To date, no information is available for the potential effects of dual stress of heavy metals and antibiotics on heavy-metal resistance genes (MRGs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).

Successful Hemostasis With Prolonged Balloon Inflation at the Proximal Site of the Coronary Perforation.

Coronary perforation (CP) is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and can lead to pericardial tamponade. Prolonged balloon inflation is a reasonable treatment for CP, but there is no standard recommendation on the preferable choice between the balloon site for prolonged balloon inflation (ie, proximal and in situ of the perforation). We present a rare case of successful prolonged balloon inflation at the proximal site of the CP after the failure of balloon inflation at the site of perforation.

Research Advances in the Treatment of Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome.

Bone marrow edema syndrome (BMES) is a relatively uncommon clinical condition. It has been poorly reported in the literature. Hence, doctors are not sufficiently aware of the disease and are prone to misdiagnosis and mistreatment, which can undoubtedly prolong the course of the disease, reduce the quality of life of patients and even affect their function.

Static and Dynamic Plantar Pressure Distribution in 94 Patients with Different Stages of Unilateral Knee Osteoarthritis Using the Footscan® Platform System: An Observational Study.

BACKGROUND Plantar pressure analysis is widely used in the study of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The present study aimed to investigate the static and dynamic plantar pressure distribution in patients with different stages of unilateral KOA using the Footscan® platform system. MATERIAL AND METHODS We recruited 94 patients aged 61.

Real-time route planning of unmanned aerial vehicles based on improved soft actor-critic algorithm.

With the application and development of UAV technology and navigation and positioning technology, higher requirements are put forward for UAV maneuvering obstacle avoidance ability and real-time route planning. In this paper, for the problem of real-time UAV route planning in the unknown environment, we combine the ideas of artificial potential field method to modify the state observation and reward function, which solves the problem of sparse rewards of reinforcement learning algorithm, improves the convergence speed of the algorithm, and improves the generalization of the algorithm by step-by-step training based on the ideas of curriculum learning and transfer learning according to the difficulty of the task. The simulation results show that the improved SAC algorithm has fast convergence speed, good timeliness and strong generalization, and can better complete the UAV route planning task.

COVID-19 and risk spillovers of China's major financial markets: Evidence from time-varying variance decomposition and wavelet coherence analysis.

COVID-19 has influenced financial markets drastically; however, this influence has received little attention, particularly in China. This study investigates risk spillovers across China's financial and shipping markets through dynamic spillover measures based on time-varying parameter vector autoregression and generalized forecast error variance decompositions. Stock, fund, and futures markets are identified as major risk senders, whereas other markets are identified as major risk receivers.

Non-equilibrium spin-transport properties of Co/phosphorene/Co MTJ with non-collinear electrodes under mechanical bending.

Monolayer phosphorene has outstanding mechanical flexibility, making it rather attractive in flexible spintronics that are based on 2D materials. Here, we report a first-principles study on non-equilibrium electronic-transport properties of the Co/phosphorene/Co magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) with two α-Co electrodes. The magnetic moments of the two electrodes are considered in the parallel configuration (PC) and the anti-parallel configuration (APC).

Astrocyte transplantation for repairing the injured spinal cord.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to permanent deficits in neural function without effective therapies, which places a substantial burden on families and society. Astrocytes, the major glia supporting the normal function of neurons in the spinal cord, become active and form glial scars after SCI, which has long been regarded as a barrier for axon regeneration. However, recent progress has indicated the beneficial role of astrocytes in spinal repair.

Polymerized Naphthalimide Derivatives as Remarkable Electron-Transport Layers for Inverted Organic Solar Cells.

Two polymerized naphthalimide derivatives, named as N-TBHOB and N-DBH, are prepared by quaternization. They exhibit excellent performance as electron-transport layers (ETLs) in inverted organic solar cells (i-OSCs). The results indicate N-TBHOB with a reticulated structure owns a superior performance on electron extraction, electron transport, thickness tolerance, and less carrier recombination compared with N-DBH with linear structure.

The favorable prognostic value of the loss of sex chromosomes in patients with t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia: an exploratory study.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(8;21) is generally associated with a favorable clinical course. Loss of sex chromosome (LOS) are frequently observed in t (8;21) AML, but the prognostic value of LOS remains uncertain.

Methods: A total of 73 patients with AML with t(8;21) were studied and divided into t(8;21) with LOS group ( = 36) and t(8;21) alone group ( = 37).