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Apple detection plays a critical role in enabling the functionality of harvesting robots within natural orchard environments. To address challenges related to low detection accuracy, slow inference speed, and high parameter count, we present PcMNet, a lightweight detection model based on an improved YOLOv8 network. Initially, we employed Partial Convolution (Pconv) to construct a PR module, forming the Pconv-block, which subsequently replaced the original C2f feature extraction module within the YOLOv8n backbone. This replacement led to improvements in both detection accuracy and speed, while simultaneously reducing computational complexity (FLOPs), parameter count, and model size. Furthermore, the Cross-Scale Feature Fusion (CCFF) module was refined into Faster-Cross-Scale Feature Fusion (Faster-CCFF) with the integration of Pconv-block, significantly enhancing the model's feature extraction and fusion capabilities. Additionally, we introduced Mixed Local Channel Attention (MLCA) to further strengthen the model's capacity to capture essential features while effectively suppressing background noise. Experimental results demonstrate that PcMNet achieved a detection accuracy of 92.8 % and an mAP@0.5 of 95.5 %, representing improvements of 1.4 and 0.7 percentage points, respectively, over YOLOv8n. Moreover, PcMNet successfully reduced FLOPs, parameter count, and model size to 5.1 G, 1.4 M, and 3.2 MB, respectively. The per-image detection time was reduced to 2.3 ms, indicating reductions of 37.80 %, 53.33 %, 49.21 %, and 56.60 % in FLOPs, parameters, model size, and detection time compared to YOLOv8n. When deployed on edge computing devices with TensorRT acceleration, PcMNet achieved a detection rate of 92 FPS. Field validation experiments conducted in natural orchard environments confirmed PcMNet's superior ability to detect apples under challenging conditions, such as occlusions and varying lighting conditions. Its lightweight design and rapid detection capabilities provide a valuable reference for achieving real-time apple detection in automated and intelligent harvesting robots, thereby contributing to advancements in smart agriculture.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a common and complex chronic metabolic disease with an increasing incidence rate, which has markedly increased the human health burden worldwide. The predominant cause of OP is an imbalance between osteoblasts (OB) and osteoclasts (OC). Studies on the correlation between bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and OP have indicated that BMSCs-induced OB differentiation is an important pathway for bone tissue renewal. Chinese medicinal herbs have been used for centuries to treat various types of OPs because they are safer and more effective. The in vivo and in vitro experiments have confirmed that these herbs or their primary phytochemicals may exert therapeutic effects by stimulating BMSCs differentiation, which restores OB and OP balance, inhibits adipocyte differentiation, exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, regulates the immune system, etc. This review summarizes the research on how Chinese medicinal herbs or their primary phytochemicals treat OP by stimulating BMSC differentiation and provides a scientifically reliable basis and perspective for their future clinical application.

Magnetic metals have attracted extensive attention in microwave absorption for comprehensive merits of high magnetic loss and suitability for mass productions. Nevertheless, the applications have been limited by shortcomings of high conductivity and inadequate impedance matching. In this study, we have successfully synthesized a biphasic magnetic Sm2O3@Co composite through a facile one-step precipitation method. The resultant features a well-designed structure with spherical cores and flaky shells, exhibiting highly-tunable absorption performance over 2–18 GHz. Particularly, under 20 wt% filling ratio with paraffin, the Sm2O3@Co composite achieved minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −30.1 dB and effective absorbing bandwidth (EAB) of 6.22 GHz at only 1.7 mm. The dielectric and magnetic losses could be easily modulated by simply changing the induced Co ratios. Through a systematic study, the microwave absorption mechanisms of the Sm2O3@Co magnetic composite have been comprehensively elucidated. This research offers a fresh perspective on developing highly efficient electromagnetic wave absorbents based on traditional magnetic metals.

We investigated the effects of the complex cultivation of Salvia miltiorrhiza on microbial communities, secretions, yield, and active ingredients, and the mechanism of action between microbial communities, secretions, and S. miltiorrhiza growth and development. Neither maize nor soybean was suitable to grow with S. miltiorrhiza, but sesame significantly increased salvinone content, the active ingredient of S. miltiorrhiza, and Tanshinone IIA, Tanshinone I, and Cryptotanshinone increased by 27.06%, 22.76%, and 26.41%, respectively, which increased the abundance and number of microbial communities in S. miltiorrhiza roots. 16S rRNA results showed that the most abundant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota, and their number increased with compound planting of sesame and S. miltiorrhiza. Salvia inter-root secretions affected the microbial community and Salvia growth and development, and lipids and lipid-like molecules significantly reduced Salvia yield and active ingredients. Overall, different plant secretions can lead to differences in the natural environment and Salvia root growth and development, and the composite planting of sesame with Salvia can improve inter-root microbial communities, enhance Salvia quality, and make fuller use of land resources.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder worldwide. Extensive research has identified multiple factors contributing to its development, including genetic predisposition, chronic infection, gut dysbiosis, aberrant serotonin metabolism, and brain dysfunction. Recent studies have emphasized the critical role of the early life stage as a susceptibility window for IBS. Current evidence suggests that diet can heighten the risk of IBS in offspring by influencing the microbiota composition, intestinal epithelium structure, gene expression, and brain-gut axis. The use of antibiotics during pregnancy and the neonatal period disrupts the normal gut microbiota structure, aligning it with the characteristics observed in IBS patients. Additionally, early life stress impacts susceptibility to IBS by modulating TLR4, NK1, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis while compromising the offspring's immune system. Formula feeding facilitates the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the intestines, concurrently reducing the presence of probiotics. This disruption of the Th1 and Th2 cell balance in the immune system weakens the intestinal epithelial barrier. Furthermore, studies suggest that delivery mode influences the occurrence of IBS by altering the composition of gut microbes. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the existing evidence regarding the impact of adverse early life exposures on IBS during pregnancy, intrapartum, and neonatal period. By consolidating this knowledge, the review enhances our understanding of the direct and indirect mechanisms underlying early life-related IBS and offers new insights and research directions from childhood to adulthood.

Abstract Ligusticum L., one of the largest members in Apiaceae, encompasses medicinally important plants, the taxonomic statuses of which have been proved to be difficult to resolve. In the current study, the complete chloroplast genomes of seven crucial plants of the best-known herbs in Ligusticum were presented. The seven genomes ranged from 148,275 to 148,564 bp in length with a highly conserved gene content, gene order and genomic arrangement. A shared dramatic decrease in genome size resulted from a lineage-specific inverted repeat (IR) contraction, which could potentially be a promising diagnostic character for taxonomic investigation of Ligusticum, was discovered, without affecting the synonymous rate. Although a higher variability was uncovered in hotspot divergence regions that were unevenly distributed across the chloroplast genome, a concatenated strategy for rapid species identification was proposed because separate fragments inadequately provided variation for fine resolution. Phylogenetic inference using plastid genome-scale data produced a concordant topology receiving a robust support value, which revealed that L. chuanxiong had a closer relationship with L. jeholense than L. sinense, and L. sinense cv. Fuxiong had a closer relationship to L. sinense than L. chuanxiong, for the first time. Our results not only furnish concrete evidence for clarifying Ligusticum taxonomy but also provide a solid foundation for further pharmaphylogenetic investigation.

Fracture-vuggy oil reservoirs contain micrometer-sized dissolved secondary pores, fractures, and meter-sized karst caves. Generally, the researches on the flow mechanism of fractured-vuggy reservoirs are based on the assumption of karst cave-fracture-matrix triple medium that gives a partial differential equation which the pressure satisfies. This triple medium flow equation lays the basics for the well testing theory of fractured-vuggy reservoirs. However, the triple medium equation cannot reflect the actual existence of the karst cave volume in geology. Recently, we proposed a theory of fracture-cave seepage flow coupled with vug pressure wave which takes the vug size into consideration and thus can better describe the fracture-vuggy reservoirs. On the basis of this theory, this work combines the change of formation pressure with time, Duhamel’s theorem, and well testing theory to obtain the mathematical expression of time-varied bottom hole pressure and flow rate in Laplace space. Then, the dynamic inflow performance relationship (IPR) curve of fractured-vuggy reservoir is obtained by inverse Laplace transformations. This dynamic IPR curve can predict the productivity for fractured-vuggy reservoirs using parameters from well test interpretations of pressure recovery. The correctness of this productivity prediction method is verified by filed fractured-vuggy oil well. This productivity prediction method not only utilizes and expands the application of well test interpretation data but also shortens the test time and reduces test costs, which is important for oil development.

Abstract Highly efficient Si3N4 ceramic planar membrane for water desalination process using membrane distillation was prepared by the dual-layer phase inversion tape casting and sintering method. In comparison with typical phase inversion tape casting method, the green tape was formed using Si3N4 slurry on the top and graphite slurry on the bottom. After consuming away the graphite structure, a ceramic membrane consisting of a two-layered structure (skin and finger-like layers) was obtained. The skin layer was relatively tight, and thus could act as a functional layer for separation, while the finger-like layer contained straight open pores with a diameter of 100 μm, acting as a support with low transport resistance. For comparison, typical Si3N4 ceramic membrane was fabricated by phase inversion technique without graphite substrate, resulting in a three-layered structure (skin, finger-like, and sponge layers). After membrane modification from hydrophilic to hydrophobic with polymer derived nanoparticle method, the water desalination performance of the membranes was tested using the sweeping gas membrane distillation (SGMD) with different NaCl feed solutions. With the increase of salt content from 4 to 12 wt%, the water flux decreased slightly while rejection rate maintained over 99.99%. Comparing with typical three-layered Si3N4 membrane, an excellent water flux enhancement of over 83% was resulted and the rejection rate remained over 99.99%.

Microstructural, magnetic and mechanical properties of Nd6.8Fe63.3Nb4.0Co1.3Cr1.1Zr0.9B22.6 nanocrystalline hard magnets produced by rapid solidification technique and subsequent thermo-magnetic annealing have been investigated in this study. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the as-cast Nd6.8Fe63.3Nb4.0Co1.3Cr1.1Zr0.9B22.6 magnet has 60% Nd2Fe14B, 16% α-Fe, 9% Fe3B and 15% amorphous phases, whereby, Nd2Fe14B being the majority phase. Thermomagnetic annealing induces a complete crystallization of Nd2Fe14B, α-Fe, Fe3B and amorphous phases and establishes ideal volume fractions between phases leading to improvement in magnetic properties. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy show nano-scaled hard Nd2Fe14B grains surrounded with soft α-Fe and Fe3B grains. The Nd6.8Fe63.3Nb4.0Co1.3Cr1.1Zr0.9B22.6 magnet annealed at 993 K for 15 min shows values of coercivity iHc, remanence Br and maximum energy product (BH)max up to 861 kA/m, 0.68 T and 81.9 kJ/m3, respectively. Compressional stress strain measurements elucidated that mechanical properties of alloys are affected by the morphology of phases as well as crystal structure. As-cast Nd6.8Fe63.3Nb4.0Co1.3Cr1.1Zr0.9B22.6 magnet demonstrates the hardness (Hv) of 960 ± 20 and compressive stress (σf) of 1270 ± 10 MPa, which tend to decrease by thermo-magnetic annealing process.

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has been demonstrated in many clinical reports as a risk factor that promotes the development of cognitive impairment. However, the underlying neurological mechanisms are not clear. Noise exposure is one of the most common causes of SNHL. Although noise exposure causes relatively less damage to general health as compared with other methods for creating hearing loss (such as ototoxicity), it does impair cognitive function. Many studies have shown that the noise-induced cognitive impairment occur via the oxidative stress induced by the noise. In those studies, the effects of the noise-induced hearing loss induced (NIHL) were not addressed. Previously, we have demonstrated in the CBA/CaJ mouse model that oxidative stress was transient after a brief noise exposure, but the NIHL was permanent. In addition, NIHL was followed by a declined cognitive function and decreased hippocampal neurogenesis that were developed long after the oxidative stress disappeared. Therefore, NIHL can cause cognitive impairment independent of its stress effect and can serve as a model to investigate the relationship between hearing loss and the development of cognitive impairment. In the present study, we further demonstrated that the oxidative stress produced by the brief noise exposure did not damage the stem cell bank of hippocampus that was evaluated shortly after the noise exposure. In addition to the reduction in the rate of cell proliferation in hippocampus that was found previously, we found that the NIHL significantly reduced the promoting effect of learning activity on various stages of hippocampal neurogenesis, accompanied by the reduction in learning-induced expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) in hippocampus. Since the MWM-tested spatial function does not directly require auditory input, the results provide evidence for the maintenance role of auditory input on the cognitive function; the reduction of IEG expression that is required in memory-formation may be the initial step in blocking the effect of learning activity on neurogenesis in subjects with NIHL.

Ophiopogon japonicus, extensively distributed in East Asia, is widely used in landscaping, the tuber of which also play a vital role in Oriental Medicine. Here, we reported the complete chloroplast genome which exhibited a typical quadripartite structure, 156,679 bp in length with 37.7% overall GC content, including 131 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes, and one pseudogene. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that O. japonicus has a close relationship to Liriope spicata.

The microstructure and magnetic properties of Nd7Fe67B22Mo3.5-xZr0.5Tix (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0) nanocomposite magnets prepared by annealing the amorphous precursors have been investigated and presented. The Nd7Fe67B22Mo3Zr0.5Ti0.5 alloy exhibits high glass forming ability as well as good hard magnetic properties in magnetic rods of 2 mm in diameter and 40 mm in length. As-cast Nd7Fe67B22Mo3Zr0.5Ti0.5 amorphous rod shows soft magnetic properties. Annealing induces promising hard magnetic properties as Br = 0.55 T, iHc = 965 kA/m and (BH)max = 47.6 kJ/m3. Electron microscopy elucidates a microstructure composed of magnetically soft α-Fe (27 nm), Fe3B (24 nm) and hard Nd2Fe14B (50 nm) magnetic grains. The single phase hard magnetic characteristics of M-H loop and δM curve yield the existence of strong exchange coupling interactions between the magnetically soft and hard phases.

English grain aphid (EGA, Sitobion avenae Fabricius) is an important pest in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). To develop EGA-resistant varieties, introducing the desirable genes from related species is regarded as an efficient avenue. In this study, the F1, F2 and F3 plants derived from the cross of EGA-susceptible wheat-Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng ex Kuo amphiploid (PHW-SA, AABBDDNsNs) and EGA-resistant triticale (Zhongsi 828, AABBRR) were analyzed for EGA resistance. Consequently, PHW-SA was moderately susceptible while Zhongsi 828 and their F1 hybrids were immune, suggesting that the resistance is dominant. All the F2 plants showed high resistance or immunity over two years, indicating that EGA resistance genes are more likely carried by the rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosomes rather than the genomes A or B of Zhongsi 828. In the F3 generation, 25 of 239 lines became susceptible. Giemsa C-banding patterns revealed that these F3 lines had 38-40 chromosomes, including complete rye genome except 5R (and 2R in five lines). Genomic in situ hybridization analysis confirmed this result. During meiosis, all the chromosomes formed bivalents. Six bivalents in 20 lines and five bivalents in five lines were characterized from rye. In contrast, their F2 parental lines had 42 chromosomes (21 bivalents), containing 1R-7R of rye. No P. huashanica chromosomes were detected. Therefore, we propose that the rye chromosome 5R may be related to EGA resistance.

Abstract Background To evaluate the relationship between Aberrant Crypt Foci (ACF) and tumorigenesis, we observed the sequential development from ACF to tumor in the colon of azoxymethane-exposed wistar rats. Methods Sixty wistar rats were sacrificed at different time points after exposure to azoxymethane and the colons were stained with methylene blue for stereomicroscopic analysis. Results We found two types of early lesions: classic ACF and dark ACF. Dark ACF were characterized by dark blue staining, mildly enlarged or small compressed crypts that are not elevated from the surrounding epithelium. Large dark ACF and nascent tumors displayed the same surface morphology. Furthermore, dark ACF grew significantly faster than classic ACF and showed dysplasia without hyperplasia. In contrast, classic ACF showed hyperplasia without dysplasia. Dark ACF has significant higher expression rate of β-catenin (100%) and MMP-7 (81.82%) compared with the expression of β-catenin and MMP-7 in classic ACF (4.84% and 7.87%, respectively). Conclusion Our data indicated that dark ACF is closely related to tumorigenesis while classic ACF is not. Furthermore, Wnt signal pathway was activated during the early period of dark ACF.