Search

Underwater pile foundation detection is crucial for environmental monitoring and marine engineering. Traditional methods for detecting underwater pile foundations are labor-intensive and inefficient. Deep learning-based image processing has revolutionized detection, enabling identification through sonar imagery analysis. This study proposes an innovative methodology, named the AquaPile-YOLO algorithm, for underwater pile foundation detection. Our approach significantly enhances detection accuracy and robustness by integrating multi-scale feature fusion, improved attention mechanisms, and advanced data augmentation techniques. Trained on 4000 sonar images, the model excels in delineating pile structures and effectively identifying underwater targets. Experimental data show that the model can achieve good target identification results in similar experimental scenarios, with a 96.89% accuracy rate for underwater target recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosurfactants derived from microorganisms have attracted widespread attention in scientific research due to their unique surface activity, low toxicity, biodegradability, antibacterial properties, and stability under extreme conditions. Biosurfactants are widely used in many fields, such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental protection. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively review and analyze the various applications of biosurfactants in the medical field. The central roles of biosurfactants in crucial medical areas are explored, like drug delivery, induction of tumor cell differentiation or death, treating bacterial and viral effects, healing wounds, and immune regulation. Moreover, a new outlook is introduced on optimizing the capabilities of biosurfactants through modification and gene recombination for better use in medicine. The current research challenges and future research directions are described, aiming to provide valuable insights for continuous study of biosurfactants in medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, interest in aquaculture acoustic signal has risen since the development of precision agriculture technology. Underwater acoustic signals are known to be noisy, especially as they are inevitably mixed with a large amount of environmental background noise, causing severe interference in the extraction of signal features and the revelation of internal laws. Furthermore, interference adds a considerable burden on the transmission, storage, and processing of data. A signal recognition curve (SRC) algorithm is proposed based on higher-order cumulants (HOC) and a recognition-sigmoid function for feature extraction of target signals. The signal data of interest can be accurately identified using the SRC. The analysis and verification of the algorithm are carried out in this study. The results show that when the SNR is greater than 7 dB, the SRC algorithm is effective, and the performance improvement is maximized when the SNR is 11 dB. Furthermore, the SRC algorithm has shown better flexibility and robustness in application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause for cancer related death, in which metastasis exerts a pivotal role. Therefore, we aim to find out the possible mechanism underlying CRC metastasis. We found that the level of miR-125b was elevated in normal, primary CRC, and distant metastasis tissues stepwise, and high level miR-125b was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and tumor differentiation. In vitro and in vivo assays showed miR-125b significantly promoted CRC migration and invasion. To elucidate the potential mechanism, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and cingulin (CGN) were defined as two target genes of miR-125b. On the one hand, miR-125b promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the production and secretion of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) by inhibiting CFTR; on the other hand, miR-125b activated Ras Homolog Family Member A (RhoA)/Rho Kinase (ROCK) signaling by repressing CGN. Therefore, we provided a potential biomarker for CRC prevention and treatment in the future. Metastasis contributes to the poor prognosis of colorectal cancer, the causative factor of which is not fully understood. Previously, we found that miR-125b (Accession number: MIMAT0000423) contributed to cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we identified a novel mechanism by which miR-125b enhances metastasis by targeting cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the tight junction-associated adaptor cingulin (CGN) in CRC. We found that miR-125b expression was upregulated in primary CRC tumors and metastatic sites compared with adjacent normal tissues. Overexpression of miR-125b in CRC cells enhanced migration capacity, while knockdown of miR-125b decreased migration and invasion. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and dual-luciferase reporter assays identified CFTR and CGN as the target genes of miR-125b, and the inhibitory impact of CFTR and CGN on metastasis was further verified both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we found that miR-125b facilitated the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and the expression and secretion of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) by targeting CFTR and enhanced the Ras Homolog Family Member A (RhoA)/Rho Kinase (ROCK) pathway activity by targeting CGN. Together, these findings suggest miR-125b as a key functional molecule in CRC and a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaTiO3 films with an average thickness of 0.5 nm were deposited onto γ-Al2O3 by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and then characterized by a range of techniques, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and High-Resolution, Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). The results demonstrate that the films form two-dimensional crystallites over the entire surface. Lattice fringes from HRTEM indicate that the crystallites range in size from 5 to 20 nm and are oriented in various directions. Films of the same thickness on SiO2 remained amorphous, indicating that the support played a role in forming the crystallites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exsolution is a novel technology for attaching metal catalyst particles onto ceramic anodes in the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The exsolved metal particles in the anode exhibit unique properties for reaction and have demonstrated remarkable stabilities under conditions that normally lead to coking. Despite extensive investigations, the underlying principles behind exsolution are still under investigation. In this review, the present status of exsolution materials for SOFC applications is reported, including a description of the fundamental concepts behind metal incorporation in oxide lattices, a listing of proposed mechanisms and thermodynamics of the exsolution process and a discussion on the catalytic properties of the resulting materials. Prospects and opportunities to use materials produced by exsolution for SOFC are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagenetic environment is vital in controlling reservoir quality by influencing diagenetic processes, especially porosity evolution. The Zhuhai Formation is a critical exploration target in the Huizhou Sag. However, there are considerable differences between the reservoirs in the west (Huixi) and east (Huidong) Huizhou Sag with only a 400 m difference in burial depth. To investigate causes of these differences, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cathodoluminescence analysis, fluorescence analysis, and fluid inclusion analysis are employed for the petrological and diagenetic characterization of the target formation. Moreover, image analysis software is used to qualitatively evaluate the impacts of diagenesis on porosity. The results show that the digenetic environments in Huixi and Huidong are different. Huixi is characterized by a high content of feldspar with a stronger dissolution phenomenon than that observed in Huidong. The main cement types in Huixi are siliceous cement and kaolinite. Moreover, Huixi had a low palaeo-temperature, low palaeo-salinity, and low palaeo-pH diagenetic environment. In contrast, Huidong is accessible via deep faults and rich in lithic fragments which show visible deformation. Moreover, cements in this area include carbonate, gypsum, quartz overgrowth, kaolinite, and chlorite. This evidence confirms that the diagenetic environment in Huidong was a high palaeo-temperature and high palaeo-salinity environment with high palaeo-pH. Additionally, the palaeo-pH evolved following the sequence of weakly alkaline, acidic, alkaline and acidic. Microscopy evidence indicates that the Dongsha Uplift was a likely source of Huixi sediments during the deposition of the Zhuhai Formation. The determination of the porosity evolution shows that compaction and lithic fragment content are the main controlling factors on the reservoir quality of the Zhuhai Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and different VOC components in airtight environments, polyvinyl chloride laminated plywood (PVC-P), melamine-impregnated paper laminated plywood (MI-P), water-based paint laminated plywood (WP-P) and unfinished plywood (UF-P) were tested as materials in 15 L small environment cabins. VOCs were collected after being sealed for 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h and 30 h under different loading ratios (1 m2/m3, 1.5 m2/m3, 2 m2/m3, 2.5 m2/m3) and analyzed using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometer. The results show that VOCs gradually increased and tended to be saturated with the increase of time in an airtight environment. The saturation of veneered plywood was faster than unfinished plywood and the pollution degree of three kinds of veneered plywood from lowest to highest was in order of PVC-P, MI-P, WP-P. Aromatic hydrocarbons account for more than half of VOC concentration, and was most obviously affected by the loading ratios. Surfaced laminated plywood can reduce the emission of aromatic hydrocarbons, but also increases the amount of other compounds released. The concentration of VOC-components shows different characteristic curves at different loading ratios due to the influence of decorative materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]