Bidens tripartita L. is a cadmium (Cd) accumulator. However, the real-time influx or efflux of Cd²⁺ around its root apex has not yet been performed. The object of this experiment was to compare the roles of added ions in solution on dynamic Cd extraction by B. tripartita root tip. Quartz sand was used to grow the seedling of B. tripartite. The Cd concentrations of all samples were determined by using ICP-OES after digestion. The Cd²⁺ influx around the root apex was measured in vivo, i.e., using non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT). The results showed that the Cd²⁺ influx was found to be decreased by 35.9%, 43.7%, 20.6%, and 57.5% under 10 μM Cd combined with high content Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe³⁺, or K⁺ (16 mM, 8 mM, 0.5 mM, 18 mM, respectively), compared to that under 10 μM Cd stress. But Cd treatments with low content ions with 0.05 mM Fe³⁺ or 0.5 mM S increased the Cd²⁺ influx in roots by 20.5% and 34.6%, respectively. It was also found that Cd treatment with high concentrations of Ca²⁺ or K⁺ increased the shoot biomass of B. tripartita seedlings. Chl a and b contents were significantly decreased in the Cd treatments with low concentrations of Fe³⁺ or S compared to those under Cd stress alone, and the dehydrogenase activity of the roots decreased in the treatment of Cd with 0.05 mM Fe³⁺ or 0.5 mM S. Our results indicate that the addition of 0.05 mM Fe³⁺ or 0.5 mM S promoted Cd²⁺ influx and Cd uptake by B. tripartita. Unlike traditional measurement, the Cd²⁺ movements of three-dimensional space around the B. tripartita root tip had been performed by NMT. It was suggested that the effects of S and Fe³⁺ on the remediation potential of B. tripartita need to be further researched in the future. The results of this study provided a real-time and micro-dynamic theoretical basis for phytoremediation mechanisms. Full article

The study explores the capabilities of large language models (LLMs), particularly GPT-4, in understanding and solving geotechnical problems, a specialised area that has not been extensively examined in previous research. Employing a question bank obtained from a commonly used textbook in geotechnical engineering, the research assesses GPT-4’s performance across various topics and cognitive complexity levels, utilising different prompting strategies like zero-shot learning, chain-of-thought (CoT) prompting, and custom instructional prompting. The study reveals that while GPT-4 demonstrates significant potential in addressing fundamental geotechnical concepts and problems, its effectiveness varies with specific topics, the complexity of the task, and the prompting strategies employed. The paper categorises errors encountered by GPT-4 into conceptual, grounding, calculation, and model inherent deficiencies related to the interpretation of visual information. Custom instructional prompts, specifically tailored to address GPT-4’s shortcomings, significantly enhance its performance. The study reveals that GPT-4 achieved an overall problem-solving accuracy of 67% with custom instructional prompting, significantly higher than the 28.9% with zero-shot learning and 34% with CoT. However, the study underscores the importance of human oversight in interpreting and verifying GPT-4’s outputs, especially in complex, higher-order cognitive tasks. The findings contribute to understanding the potential and limitations of current LLMs in specialised educational fields, providing insights for educators and researchers in integrating AI tools like GPT-4 into their teaching and problem-solving approaches. The study advocates for a balanced integration of AI in education to enrich educational delivery and experience while emphasising the indispensable role of human expertise alongside technological advancements. Full article

This paper presents a new electric drive-reconfigured on-board charger and initial electromagnetic torque suppression method. This proposed reconfigured on-board charger does not need many components added to the original electric drive system: only a connector is needed, which is easy to add. Specifically, the inverter for propulsion is reconfigured as a buck chopper and a conduction path to match the reconfigured windings. Two of the machine phase windings serve as inductors, while the third phase winding is reutilized as a common-mode inductor. In addition, the initial charging torque is generated at the outset of the charging process, which may cause an instant shock or even rotational movement. In order to prevent vehicle movement, the reason for the charging torque and suppression method were analyzed. Further, predictive control of the model based on mutual inductance analysis was adopted, where the charging torque was directly used as a control object in the cost function. Finally, experimental performances were applied to verify the proposed reconfigured on-board charger under constant current and constant voltage charging. Full article

UAV remote sensing (RS) image object detection is a very valuable and challenging technology. This article discusses the importance of key features and proposes an object detection network (URSNet) based on a bidirectional multi-span feature pyramid and key feature capture mechanism. Firstly, a bidirectional multi-span feature pyramid (BMSFPN) is constructed. In the process of bidirectional sampling, bicubic interpolation and cross layer fusion are used to filter out image noise and enhance the details of object features. Secondly, the designed feature polarization module (FPM) uses the internal polarization attention mechanism to build a powerful feature representation for classification and regression tasks, making it easier for the network to capture the key object features with more semantic discrimination. In addition, the anchor rotation alignment module (ARAM) further refines the preset anchor frame based on the key regression features extracted by FPM to obtain high-quality rotation anchors with a high matching degree and rich positioning visual information. Finally, the dynamic anchor optimization module (DAOM) is used to improve the ability of feature alignment and positive and negative sample discrimination of the model so that the model can dynamically select the candidate anchor to capture the key regression features so as to further eliminate the deviation between the classification and regression. URSNet has conducted comprehensive ablation and SOTA comparative experiments on challenging RS datasets such as DOTA-V2.0, DIOR and RSOD. The optimal experimental results (87.19% mAP, 108.2 FPS) show that URSNet has efficient and reliable detection performance. Full article

This paper integrates intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to enhance the transmission performance of the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) through non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA). It focuses on strengthening the signals from cell edge vehicles (CEVs) to the base station by optimizing the wireless propagation environment via an IRS-equipped UAV. The primary goal is to maximize the sum data rate of CEVs while satisfying the constraint of the successive interference cancellation (SIC) decoding threshold. The challenge lies in the non-convex nature of jointly considering the power control, subcarrier allocation, and phase shift design, making the problem difficult to optimally solve. To address this, the problem is decomposed into two independent subproblems, which are then solved iteratively. Specifically, the optimal phase shift design is achieved using the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm. Furthermore, the graph theory is applied to determine the subcarrier allocation policy and derive a closed-form solution for optimal power control. Finally, the simulation results show that the proposed joint phase shift and resource management scheme significantly enhances the sum data rate compared to the state-of-the-art schemes, thereby demonstrating the benefits of integrating the IRS-equipped UAV into NOMA-enhanced IoV. Full article

In several industrial fields, environmental and operational data are acquired with numerous purposes, potentially generating a huge quantity of data containing valuable information for management actions. This work proposes a methodology for clustering time series based on the K-medoids algorithm using a convex combination of different time series correlation metrics, the COMB distance. The multidimensional scaling procedure is used to enhance the visualization of the clustering results, and a matrix plot display is proposed as an efficient visualization tool to interpret the COMB distance components. This is a general-purpose methodology that is intended to ease time series interpretation; however, due to the relevance of the field, this study explores the clustering of time series judiciously collected from data of a wind farm located on a complex terrain. Using the COMB distance for wind speed time bands, clustering exposes operational similarities and dissimilarities among neighboring turbines which are influenced by the turbines’ relative positions and terrain features and regarding the direction of oncoming wind. In a significant number of cases, clustering does not coincide with the natural geographic grouping of the turbines. A novel representation of the contributing distances—the COMB distance matrix plot—provides a quick way to compare pairs of time bands (turbines) regarding various features. Full article

In rotating detonation engines the turbine inlet conditions may be transonic with unprecedented unsteady fluctuations. To ensure an acceptable engine performance, the turbine passages must be suited to these conditions. This article focuses on designing and characterizing highly diffusive turbine vanes to operate at any inlet Mach number up to Mach 1. First, the effect of pressure loss on the starting limit is presented. Afterward, a multi-objective optimization with steady RANS simulations, including the endwall and 3D vane design is performed. Compared to previous research, significant reductions in pressure loss and stator-induced rotor forcing are obtained, with an extended operating range and preserving high flow turning. Finally, the influence of the inlet boundary layer thickness on the vane performance is evaluated, inducing remarkable increases in pressure loss and downstream pressure distortion. Employing an optimization with a thicker inlet boundary layer, specific endwall design recommendations are found, providing a notable improvement in both objective functions. Full article

Computational thinking (CT) has garnered significant interest in both computer science and education sciences as it delineates a set of skills that emerge during the problem-solving process. Consequently, numerous assessment instruments aimed at measuring CT have been developed in the recent years. However, a scarce part of the existing CT measurement instruments has been dedicated to early school ages, and few have undergone rigorous validation or reliability testing. Therefore, this work introduces a new instrument for measuring CT in the early grades of elementary education: the Computational Thinking Test for Children (CTTC). To this end, in this work, we provide the design and validation of the CTTC, which is constructed around spatial, sequential, and logical thinking and encompasses abstraction, decomposition, pattern recognition, and coding items organized in five question blocks. The validation and standardization process employs the Kuder–Richardson statistic (KR-20) and expert judgment using V-Aiken for consistency. Additionally, item difficulty indices were utilized to gauge the difficulty level of each question in the CTTC. The study concludes that the CTTC demonstrates consistency and suitability for children in the first cycle of primary education (encompassing the first to third grades). Full article

This study offers, by an empirical analysis, another perspective on post-socialist development, highlighting the role of the urban–rural interface in regional dynamics. The current literature on the relationships between both issues is not too rich and our paper analyzes the relationships between core cities, their peri-urban areas, and their regions, through a comparative overview of their growth over the last three decades. Romania, as a special case study for a contradictory transition, due to the great step from a drastic dictatorial regime to a democracy and a market economy, is a good example to test these complex relationships. Considering the new development trend at the urban–rural interfaces, our key idea was to depict their contribution to regional development (NUTS 3) compared to city cores. The second question was how this differentiated contribution can be measured, using the simplest tool. The starting point was the fact that population dynamics reflect all changes in the city core and at the urban–rural interface, and less so at a regional level. Consequently, we selected the dynamics of the number of inhabitants for the first two, as well as the dynamics of GDP per capita at the regional level. We found higher and significant correlations between GDP per capita and urban–rural interfaces, but no significant correlations in the case of city cores. Our conclusion is that, in the transition period, the dynamics of urban–rural interfaces influenced more regional development dynamics, than those of city cores. This means that urban–rural interfaces amplify the development coming from cities, adding their own contribution and then dissipating it regionally. Future research should identify what the urban–rural interface offers to regions, in addition to the city core. Full article

Current research on automated driving systems focuses on Level 4 automated driving (AD) in specific operational design Domains (ODD). Measurement data from customer fleet operation are commonly used to extract scenarios and ODD features (road infrastructure, etc.) for the testing of AD functions. To ensure data relevance for the vehicle use case, driving domain classification of the data is required. Generally, classification into urban, extra-urban and highway domains provides data with similar ODD features. Highway classification can be implemented using global navigation satellite system coordinates of the driving route, map-matching algorithms, and road classes stored in digital maps. However, the distinction between urban and extra-urban driving domains is more complex, as settlement taxonomies and administrative-level hierarchies are not globally consistent. Therefore, this paper presents a map-based method for driving domain classification. First, potential urban areas (PUA) are identified based on urban land-use density, which is determined based on land-use categories from OpenStreetMap (OSM) and then spatially smoothed by kernel density estimation. Subsequently, two road network scaling models are used to distinguish between urban and extra-urban domains for the PUA. Finally, statistics of ODD feature distribution are analysed for the classified urban and extra-urban areas. Full article

Previous studies on the clap–fling mechanism have predominantly focused on the initial downward and forward phases of flight in miniature insects, either during hovering or forward flight. However, this study presents the first comprehensive kinematic data of Coccinella septempunctata during climbing flight. It reveals, for the first time, that a clap-and-fling mechanism occurs during the initial upward and backward phase of the hind wings’ motion. This discovery addresses the previously limited understanding of the clap-and-fling mechanism by demonstrating that, during the clap motion, the leading edges of beetle’s wings come into proximity to form a figure-eight shape before rotating around their trailing edge to open into a “V” shape. By employing numerical solutions to solve Navier–Stokes (N-S) equations, we simulated both single hind wings’ and double hind wings’ aerodynamic conditions. Our findings demonstrate that this fling mechanism not only significantly enhances the lift coefficient by approximately 9.65% but also reduces the drag coefficient by about 1.7%, indicating an extension of the applicability range of this clap-and-fling mechanism beyond minute insect flight. Consequently, these insights into insect flight mechanics deepen our understanding of their biological characteristics and inspire advancements in robotics and biomimetics. Full article

Image quality assessment of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data is an important factor not only for conventional diagnosis and protocol optimization but also for fairness, trustworthiness, and robustness of artificial intelligence (AI) applications, especially on large heterogeneous datasets. Information on image quality in multi-centric studies is important to complement the contribution profile from each data node along with quantity information, especially when large variability is expected, and certain acceptance criteria apply. The main goal of this work was to present a tool enabling users to assess image quality based on both subjective criteria as well as objective image quality metrics used to support the decision on image quality based on evidence. The evaluation can be performed on both conventional and dynamic MRI acquisition protocols, while the latter is also checked longitudinally across dynamic series. The assessment provides an overall image quality score and information on the types of artifacts and degrading factors as well as a number of objective metrics for automated evaluation across series (BRISQUE score, Total Variation, PSNR, SSIM, FSIM, MS-SSIM). Moreover, the user can define specific regions of interest (ROIs) to calculate the regional signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), thus individualizing the quality output to specific use cases, such as tissue-specific contrast or regional noise quantification. Full article

Rootstocks serve as a strategic tool for grapevine adaptation to specific biotic and abiotic conditions and for managing vine growth, grape yield, and berry composition in commercial vineyards. This study investigates the influences of four different rootstock varieties (101-14 MGt, 3309 C, 110 R, and 140 Ru) on the viticultural performance of ‘Xinomavro’ vines, a prominent Greek red winegrape varietal. By conducting a two-year field experiment using various rootstocks, we assessed parameters related to water status, vegetative growth, yield, and berry composition. Our results revealed that rootstock selection has a significant impact on vine development, especially in terms of berry size and the concentrations of secondary metabolites. Principal component analysis confirmed the complex interaction between rootstock vigor and vine productivity. This study underscores the importance of rootstock variety in manipulating grapevine characteristics, particularly for the ‘Xinomavro’ variety, in response to regional climatic conditions. Full article

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), one of the most promising biosurfactants (BS), are glycolipids produced by yeasts or fungi, which have great environmental performance and high compatibility with the human body. MELs, besides working as typical surfactants, can form diverse structures when at or above the critical aggregation concentration (CAC), reduce the surface tension of water and other solutions, and be stable over a wide range of conditions. Among others, MELs present antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and skin and hair repair capacity, which opens possibilities for their use in applications from cosmetics and pharmaceutics to bioremediation and agriculture. However, their market share is still low when compared to other glycolipids, due to their less developed production process and higher production cost. This review gathers information on the potential applications of MELs mentioned in the literature since 1993. Furthermore, it also explores the current strategies being developed to enhance the market presence of MELs, in parallel with the ones developed for rhamnolipids and sophorolipids. Full article

The application results of profile control and water plugging technology are highly related to the gelation time and strength of phenolic resin hydrogel. In this work, a hydrogel solution was prepared by fully mixing the prepared polymer solution with a crosslinker. The static gelation process of PFR hydrogel in ampoule bottles and porous media was analyzed by changes in the viscosity and residual resistance coefficient. Then, the dynamic gelation of the PFR hydrogel in porous media was tested using a circulating flow device, and the changes in viscosity and injection pressure were analyzed during the dynamic gelation process. Finally, the effects of the polymer concentration and crosslinker concentration on dynamic gelation were analyzed. The initial gelation time and final gelation time in porous media were 1–1.5 times and 1.5–2 times those in ampoule bottles under static conditions, respectively. The initial dynamic gelation time in porous media was 2–2.5 times and 1.5–2 times the initial static gelation times in ampoule bottles and porous media, respectively. The final dynamic gelation time was four times and two times the initial static gelation times in ampoule bottles and porous media, respectively. The production after dynamic gelation in porous media comprised hydrogel aggregates and water fluid, leading to a high injection pressure and low viscosity of the produced liquid. As the concentration of polymer and crosslinker increased, the dynamic gelation time was shortened and the gel strength was increased. In the dynamic gelation process in porous media, the phenol resin hydrogel could migrate deeply, but it was limited by the concentrations of the polymer and crosslinker. The results of subsequent water flooding showed that the polymer hydrogel had a good plugging ability after dynamic gelation. The deep reservoir could only be blocked off in the subsequent water flooding process when the migration of hydrogel happened in the dynamic gelation process. Full article

Heart failure (HF) presents a significant global health challenge recognised by frequent hospitalisation and high mortality rates. The assessment of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) plays a crucial role in diagnosing and predicting outcomes in HF, leading to its classification into preserved (HFpEF), reduced (HFrEF), and mildly reduced (HFmrEF) EF. HFmrEF shares features of both HFrEF and HFpEF but also exhibits distinct characteristics. Despite advancements, managing HFmrEF remains challenging due to its diverse presentation. Large-scale studies are needed to identify the predictors of clinical outcomes and treatment responses. Utilising biomarkers for phenotyping holds the potential for discovering new treatment targets. Given the uncertainty surrounding optimal management, individualised approaches are imperative for HFmrEF patients. This chapter examines HFmrEF, discusses the rationale for its re-classification, and elucidates HFmrEF’s key attributes. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive review of current treatment strategies for HFmrEF patients. Full article

Two ancient wooden vessels, specifically a monoxyle (1st century BCE to 1st century CE) and shipwreck (15th to 17th century CE), were excavated in a well-preserved state east of the confluence of the old Mlava and the Danube rivers (Serbia). The vessels were found in the ground that used to be river sediment and were temporarily stored within the semi-underground exhibition space of Mammoth Park. As part of the pre-conservation investigations, the primary aim of the research presented was to characterize the culturable mycobiomes of two excavated wooden artifacts so that appropriate conservation procedures for alleviating post-excavation fungal infestation could be formulated. Utilizing culture-based methods, a total of 32 fungi from 15 genera were identified, mainly Ascomycota and to a lesser extent Mucoromycota sensu stricto. Soft-rot Ascomycota of genus Penicillium, followed by Aspergillus and Cephalotrichum species, were the most diverse of the isolated fungi. Out of a total of 38 isolates, screened on 7 biodegradation plate assays, 32 (84.21%) demonstrated at least one degradative property. Penicillium solitum had the highest deterioration potential, with a positive reaction in 5 separate plate assays. The obtained results further broaden the limited knowledge on the peculiarities of post-excavation soft-rot decay of archaeological wood and indicate the biochemical mechanisms at the root of post-excavation fungal deterioration. Full article

Infectious coryza is an acute respiratory infection caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum, which is widely distributed throughout the world. However, there is no effective molecular typing scheme to obtain basic knowledge about the Av. paragallinarum population structure. This study aimed to develop a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for Av. paragallinarum that allows for the worldwide comparison of sequence data. For this purpose, the genetic variability of 59 Av. paragallinarum strains from different geographical origins and serovars was analyzed to identify correlations. The MLST scheme was developed using seven conserved housekeeping genes, which identified eight STs that clustered all of the strains into three evolutionary branches. The analytical evaluation of the clone group relationship between the STs revealed two clone complexes (CC1 and CC2) and three singletons (ST2, ST5, and ST6). Most of the isolates from China belonged to ST1 and ST3 in CC1. ST8 from Peru and ST7 from North America together formed CC2. Our results showed that the Av. paragallinarum strains isolated from China had a distant genetic relationship with CC2, indicating strong regional specificity. The MLST scheme established in this study can monitor the dynamics and genetic differences of Av. paragallinarum transmission. Full article

The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) among equids in Bulgaria, confirm the results of a competitive ELISA versus the virus neutralization test (VNT) and investigate some predisposing factors for WNV seropositivity. A total of 378 serum samples from 15 provinces in northern and southern Bulgaria were tested. The samples originated from 314 horses and 64 donkeys, 135 males and 243 females, aged from 1 to 30 years. IgG and IgM antibodies against WNV protein E were detected by ELISA. ELISA-positive samples were additionally tested via VNT for WNV and Usutu virus. Thirty-five samples were WNV-positive by ELISA (9.26% [CI = 6.45–12.88]), of which 15 were confirmed by VNT; hence, the seroprevalence was 3.97% (CI = 2.22–6.55). No virus-neutralizing antibodies to Usutu virus were detected among the 35 WNV-ELISA-positive equids in Bulgaria. When compared with VNT, ELISA showed 100.0% sensitivity and 94.5% specificity. A statistical analysis showed that the risk factors associated with WNV seropositivity were the region (p < 0.0001), altitude of the locality (p < 0.0001), type of housing (p < 0.0001) and breed (p = 0.0365). The results of the study demonstrate, albeit indirectly, that WNV circulates among equids in northern and southern Bulgaria, indicating that they could be suitable sentinel animals for predicting human cases and determining the risk in these areas or regions of the country. Full article

This study explores an approach to design and prepare a multilayer scaffold mimicking interstratified natural tissue. This multilayer construct, composed of chitosan matrices with graded nanohydroxyapatite concentrations, was achieved through an in situ biomineralization process applied to individual layers. Three distinct precursor concentrations were considered, resulting in 10, 20, and 30 wt% nanohydroxyapatite content in each layer. The resulting chitosan/nanohydroxyapatite (Cs/n-HAp) scaffolds, created via freeze-drying, exhibited nanohydroxyapatite nucleation, homogeneous distribution, improved mechanical properties, and good cytocompatibility. The cytocompatibility analysis revealed that the Cs/n-HAp layers presented cell proliferation similar to the control in pure Cs for the samples with 10% n-HAp, indicating good cytocompatibility at this concentration, while no induction of apoptotic death pathways was demonstrated up to a 20 wt% n-Hap concentration. Successful multilayer assembly of Cs and Cs/n-HAp layers highlighted that the proposed approach represents a promising strategy for mimicking multifaceted tissues, such as osteochondral ones. Full article

The wine industry has been witnessing a growth in businesses crafting sustainability-certified wines and in the attention of consumers to sustainability, especially in the United States and Italy. To identify the characteristics of consumers who prefer sustainability-certified wine, this study analysed the relationship between consumers’ demographics, wine buying behaviour, and interest in sustainability-certified wine, focusing on these two countries for comparison. Data were collected through an online survey of US and Italian consumers. Through correspondence analysis, k-modes clustering analysis, and multi-way correspondence analysis, this study revealed a stronger relationship between demographics and interest in sustainability-certified wine among US consumers than Italian consumers. In particular, middle-aged US consumers exhibited a greater interest than seniors. The patterns of connections between consumers’ wine buying behaviour and interest in sustainable wine were similar for the two countries. In particular, consumers who purchase wine weekly had a keen interest, and those who purchase wine sporadically had no or little interest. Furthermore, this study uncovered the intricate relationship among various variables, providing a comprehensive understanding of the association between wine consumer characteristics and their interest in sustainability-certified wine. Full article

Background: Metabolic changes in donkey meat during the early postmortem period have not been previously reported. Methods: The LC–MS-based metabolomics technique was conducted to understand the metabolic profiles and identify the key metabolites of donkey meat in the first 48 h postmortem. Results: The pH values showed a decreasing trend followed by an increasing trend. Shear force was the lowest at 4 h and the highest at 24 h (p < 0.05). For the metabolome, some candidate biomarker metabolites were identified, such as adenine, inosine, n-acetylhistidine, citric acid, isocitrate, and malic acid. Predominant metabolic pathways, such as citrate cycle (TCA cycle), alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, and purine metabolism, were affected by aging time. Overabundant n-acetylhistidine was identified in LT, declined at 12 h postmortem aging, and then increased. This may explain the significantly lower pH at 12 h postmortem. Adenine was higher at 4 h postmortem, then declined. Decreased ADP may indicate a fast consumption of ATP and subsequent purine metabolism in donkey meat. Conclusions: The results of this study provided new insights into early postmortem aging of donkey meat quality. Full article