Background: Ultrasound serves as a valuable tool for the early detection of fetal bowel dilatation, yet the correlation between fetal bowel dilatation and gastrointestinal malformations remains to be further investigated. This study aims to explore the relationship by conducting a follow-up and analysis of fetuses with bowel dilation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 113 fetuses with bowel dilatation at our center from July 2014 to December 2019. The location and degree of bowel dilatation were analyzed. ROC curves were constructed based on the diameter of the bowel and its ratio to fetal gestational age. Results: In total, 40 of 41 cases (97.6%) with upper gastrointestinal dilatation (double-bubble sign) and 46 of 72 cases (63.9%) with lower gastrointestinal dilatation were diagnosed with gastrointestinal malformations postnatally. The AUC of the dilatation diameter was 0.854 with a cutoff value of 18.05 mm in patients with lower gastrointestinal dilatation. The ratio of the diameter to gestational age (D/GA) showed a higher AUC of 0.906 with a cutoff value of 0.4931. Conclusions: The presence of the double-bubble sign in fetuses indicates a close association with duodenal obstruction. The risk of gastrointestinal malformations increases when the bowel diameter exceeds 18.05 mm, particularly when the D/GA surpasses 0.4931. Full article

NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1 (NPC1) plays an important role in sterol metabolism and transport processes and has been studied in many vertebrates and some insects, but rarely in crustaceans. In this study, we characterized NPC1 from Macrobrachium nipponense (Mn-NPC1) and evaluated its functions. Its total cDNA length was 4283 bp, encoding for 1344 amino acids. It contained three conserved domains typical of the NPC family (NPC1_N, SSD, and PTC). In contrast to its role in insects, Mn-NPC1 was mainly expressed in the adult female hepatopancreas, with moderate expression in the ovary and heart. No expression was found in the embryo (stages CS–ZS) and only weak expression in the larval stages from hatching to the post-larval stage (L1–PL15). Mn-NPC1 expression was positively correlated with ovarian maturation. In situ hybridization showed that it was mainly located in the cytoplasmic membrane and nucleus of oocytes. A 25-day RNA interference experiment was employed to illustrate the Mn-NPC1 function in ovary maturation. Experimental knockdown of Mn-NPC1 using dsRNA resulted in a marked reduction in the gonadosomatic index and ecdysone content of M. nipponense females. The experimental group showed a significant delay in ovarian maturation and a reduction in the frequency of molting. These results expand our understanding of NPC1 in crustaceans and of the regulatory mechanism of ovarian maturation in M. nipponense. Full article

The classification of microseismic signals represents a fundamental preprocessing step in microseismic monitoring and early warning. A microseismic signal source rock classification method based on a convolutional neural network is proposed. First, the characteristic parameters of the microseismic signals are extracted, and a convolutional neural network is constructed for the analysis of these parameters; then, the mapping relationship model between the characteristic parameters of the microseismic signals and the rock class is established. The feasibility of the proposed method in differentiating acoustic emission signals under different load conditions is verified by using acoustic emission data from laboratory uniaxial compression tests, Brazilian splitting tests, and shear tests. In the three distinct laboratory experiments, the proposed method achieved a source rock classification accuracy of greater than 90% for acoustic emission signals. The proposed and verified method provides a new basis for the preprocessing of microseismic signals. Full article

Plasma stimulation is a form of waterless fracturing as it requires that only the wellbore be filled with an aqueous fluid. The technique creates multiple fractures propagating in different directions around the wellbore. The intent of this paper is to present an experimental and numerical investigation of the degree of competitiveness of plasma stimulation with hydraulic fracturing, especially in the case of stimulating tight formation. Several cases were run experimentally. The samples included limestone and sandstone to investigate plasma fracturing in different rock types. In addition, the main goal of the experiments was to study the creation of fracture(s) under confining stresses, the type of rock, the amount of electrical energy used in the experiment, and the length of the wire to generate the plasma reaction. A laboratory plasma equipment was designed and used to accomplish the experimental work. The experiments were then numerically matched using a finite element numerical simulator, HOSS developed by LANL (Los Alamos National Lab). HOSS was developed to simulate high-strain-rate fractures such as those created by plasma stimulation. It accounts for mixed-mode fracture mechanics which are tensile and shear fractures. The simulator governing equations obey the conservation of mass and momentum in a solid-mechanics sense and account for the nonlinear deformation of rock material. The matching of the experiment allowed us to validate the HOSS simulation of the process and showed that the numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental work. Using the HOSS simulator, we also investigated the effect of higher energy levels and/or short release time on a cement rock model. The pressure profile that is developed due to the energy release can vary in the peak pressure and the release time. The results showed that the plasma fracturing technique is an effective stimulation method in sandstone and limestone. Plasma fractures were developed in the rock samples and extended from the sample wellbore to the outer boundaries. The shape of the pressure pulse has an impact on the developed fractures. Moreover, the effect of plasma stimulation on natural fractures was studied numerically. It was found that natural fractures can arrest the plasma-generated fractures that propagate from the wellbore to the outer boundaries. However, new fractures may develop in the rock starting from the natural fracture tips. Full article

Due to an aging population, advances in multiple medical fields, and shifts among indications for surgery, liver and kidney transplantation is increasingly pursued for elderly patients (aged 65 or greater). Elderly patients represent a uniquely vulnerable group, but overall, they appear to have similar outcomes compared to younger patients. As demographics continue to trend to an older median age, physicians and health care systems must be prepared to take care of elderly transplant candidates. Full article

Due to some limitations in the data collection process caused either by human-related errors or by collection electronics, sensors, and network connectivity-related errors, the important values at some points could be lost. However, a complete dataset is required for the desired performance of the subsequent applications in various fields like engineering, data science, statistics, etc. An efficient data imputation technique is desired to fill in the missing data values to achieve completeness within the dataset. The fuzzy integral is considered one of the most powerful techniques for multi-source information fusion. It has a wide range of applications in many real-world decision-making problems that often require decisions to be made with partially observable/available information. To address this problem, algorithms impute missing data with a representative sample or by predicting the most likely value given the observed data. In this article, we take a completely different approach to the information fusion task in the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) context. In particular, we empirically explore for different distributions how the weights/importance of the missing sources are distributed across the observed inputs/sources. The experimental results on the synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methods. Full article

This article presents the improved properties of GI (hot-dip galvanized) steel plates in combination with a special permanent surface treatment. The substrate used was hot-dip galvanized deep-drawn steel sheets of grade DX56D + Z. Subsequently, various surface treatments were applied to their surface. The coefficient of friction of the metal sheets without surface treatment, with a temporary surface treatment called passivation, and a thin organic coating (TOC) based on hydroxyl resins dissolved in water, Ti and Cr³⁺ were determined by a cup test. The surface quality and corrosion resistance of all tested samples were also determined by exposing them for up to 288 h in an atmosphere of neutral salt spray. The surface microgeometry parameters Ra, RPc and Rz(I), which have a significant influence on the pressing process itself, were also determined. The TOC deposited on the Zn substrate was the only one to exhibit excellent lubrication and anticorrosion properties, resulting in the lowest surface microgeometry values owing to the uniform and continuous layer of the thin organic coating compared to the GI substrate and passivation surface treatment, respectively. Full article

Much of the American response to the COVID-19 pandemic was characterized by a divergence between general public opinion and public health policy. With little attention paid to individuals incarcerated during this time, there is limited direct evidence regarding how incarcerated people perceived efforts to mediate the harms of COVID-19. Prisons operate as a microcosm of society in many ways but they also face unique public health challenges. This study examines vaccine hesitancy—and acceptance—among a sample of individuals incarcerated within adult prisons in Pennsylvania. Using administrative records as well as rich attitudinal data from a survey of the incarcerated population, this study identifies a variety of social and historical factors that are—and are not—associated with an incarcerated person’s willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Our findings highlight vaccination challenges unique to the carceral context and offer policy recommendations to improve trust in credible health messengers and health service provision for this often overlooked but vulnerable population. Full article

The management of understory vegetation and anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition has significantly resulted in a nutrient imbalance in forest ecosystems. However, the effects of canopy nitrogen addition and understory vegetation removal on N transformation processes (mineralization, nitrification, ammonification, and leaching) along with seasonal variations (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) remain unclear in subtropical forests. To fill this research gap, a field manipulation experiment was conducted with four treatments, including: (i) CK, control; (ii) CN, canopy nitrogen addition (25 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹); (iii) UR, understory vegetation removal; and (iv) CN+UR, canopy nitrogen addition plus understory vegetation removal. The results revealed that CN increased net mineralization and nitrification by 294 mg N m⁻² month⁻¹ in the spring and 126 mg N m⁻² month⁻¹ in the winter, respectively. UR increased N mineralization and nitrification rates by 618 mg N m⁻² month⁻¹ in the summer. In addition, CN effectively reduced N leaching in the spring, winter, and autumn, while UR increased it in the spring and winter. UR increased annual nitrification rates by 93.4%, 90.3%, and 38.9% in the winter, spring, and summer, respectively. Additionally, both net N ammonification and annual nitrification rates responded positively to phosphorus availability during the autumn. Overall, UR potentially boosted nitrification rates in the summer and ammonification in the spring and winter, while CN reduced N leaching in the spring, winter, and autumn. Future research should integrate canopy nitrogen addition, understory vegetation removal, and phosphorus availability to address the global N deposition challenges in forest ecosystems. Full article

Energy poverty and climate change are global challenges. While the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has fostered energy cooperation and alleviated energy poverty in BRI countries, its impact on climate change requires careful examination. This study investigates the impact of energy poverty alleviation on carbon emissions in BRI countries and analyzes the underlying mechanisms. In particular, this study constructs an integrated energy poverty assessment framework that includes three dimensions of energy accessibility, cleanliness, and affordability and utilizes the entropy-TOPSIS method to assess the status of energy poverty in 70 BRI countries. Subsequently, an empirical analysis using the Gini index as an instrumental variable was conducted to explore the impact of energy poverty alleviation on carbon emissions and the specific mechanisms. It is found that alleviating energy poverty in BRI countries will lead to an increase in per capita carbon emissions. However, improving energy cleanliness is effective in reducing per capita carbon emissions, while improving energy affordability has no significant impact on carbon emissions. This study shows that energy poverty alleviation and carbon emission reduction are two non-conflicting sustainable development goals. BRI countries can synergize energy poverty alleviation and carbon emissions reduction by focusing on clean energy development and providing energy subsidies. Full article

Hollow floors are widely used in structures with a large span that bear a large load. In this study, we propose a hollow floor with built-in corrugated pipes as a filling material that has the advantages of a lighter weight, higher stiffness, and lower cost than traditional floors. We first propose a novel form of stiffness by coupling the anisotropies of the material and the structure. This concept is then used to develop a theoretical formula to compute the deflection of a hollow slab set using corrugated pipes on simply supported and fixed constraints on opposite sides. We then use static loading tests to show that this hollow slab has excellent ductility and load-bearing capacity. Following this, we design a mixed finite element model of the hollow slab to predict its deflection by considering concrete, steel, and corrugated tubes. We then use six reference points on the hollow slab to verify the model in comparison with the results of the static loading test and the theoretical formula. The results show that while the maximum deformation occurred at point a₁ in the middle of the slab, the maximum errors among the results of the theoretical formula, static loading tests, and the finite element model occurred at point a₂. The maximum and minimum errors between the results of the theoretical prediction and the outcomes of the static loading test were 9.09% and 0%, while those between the results of the theoretical prediction and the finite element model were 8.92% and 1.19%, respectively. The proposed hollow slab, set using thin-walled corrugated tubes, can be used in a variety of engineering designs. Full article

Microwave ablation (MWA) of liver tumors presents challenges like under- and over-ablation, potentially leading to inadequate tumor destruction and damage to healthy tissue. This study aims to develop personalized three-dimensional (3D) models to simulate MWA for liver tumors, incorporating patient-specific characteristics. The primary objective is to validate the predicted ablation zones compared to clinical outcomes, offering insights into MWA before therapy to facilitate accurate treatment planning. Contrast-enhanced CT images from three patients were used to create 3D models. The simulations used coupled electromagnetic wave propagation and bioheat transfer to estimate the temperature distribution, predicting tumor destruction and ablation margins. The findings indicate that prolonged ablation does not significantly improve tumor destruction once an adequate margin is achieved, although it increases tissue damage. There was a substantial overlap between the clinical ablation zones and the predicted ablation zones. For patient 1, the Dice score was 0.73, indicating high accuracy, with a sensitivity of 0.72 and a specificity of 0.76. For patient 2, the Dice score was 0.86, with a sensitivity of 0.79 and a specificity of 0.96. For patient 3, the Dice score was 0.8, with a sensitivity of 0.85 and a specificity of 0.74. Patient-specific 3D models demonstrate potential in accurately predicting ablation zones and optimizing MWA treatment strategies. Full article

This study aims to examine how the activation of the role of nursee and professional identification as a nurse can influence moral judgments in terms of deontological and utilitarian inclinations. In Study 1, a priming technique was used to assess the impact of activating the nursing concept on moral reasoning. Participants were randomly assigned to either a nursing prime or neutral prime condition. By using a scrambled-sentence task, participants were prompted to think about nursing-related or neutral thoughts. Following the priming task, participants were asked to respond to 20 moral dilemmas. The process dissociation approach was employed to measure the degree of deontological and utilitarian tendencies in their moral reasoning. In Study 2, participants completed the nursing profession identification scale and the moral orientation scale before engaging in moral judgments similar to those in Study 1. The findings revealed that priming the concept of being a nursee resulted in an increase in deontological clinical inclinations while having no significant effect on utilitarian inclinations. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between identification with the nursing profession and deontological clinical inclinations, whereas a negative correlation was found with utilitarian inclinations. Deliberation orientation acted as a complete mediator in the relationship between nursing professional identification and deontological tendencies and as a partial mediator for utilitarian tendencies. Full article

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) are central components of the machinery mediating cell membrane fusion and intracellular vesicular trafficking in eukaryotic cells, and have been well-documented to play critical roles in growth, development, and pathogenesis in the filamentous fungal plant pathogens. However, little is known about the contributions of SNAREs to the physiology and biocontrol potential in entomopathogenic filamentous fungi. Here, a genome-wide analysis of SNARE genes was performed taking advantage of the available whole genome sequence of Beauveria bassiana, a classical entomopathogenic fungus. Based on the compared genomic method, 22 genes encoding putative SNAREs were identified from the whole genome of B. bassiana, and were classified into four groups (7 Qa-, 4 Qb-, 6 Qc-, and 5 R-SNAREs) according to the conserved structural features of their encoding proteins. An R-SNARE encoding gene BbSEC22 was further functionally characterized by gene disruption and complementation. The BbSEC22 null mutant showed a fluffy appearance in mycelial growth and an obvious lag in conidial germination. The null mutant also exhibited significantly increased sensitivity to oxidative stress and cell wall perturbing agents and reduced the yield of conidia production by 43.1% compared with the wild-type strain. Moreover, disruption of BbSEC22 caused a significant decrease in conidial virulence to Spodoptera litura larvae. Overall, our results provide an overview of vesicle trafficking in B. bassiana and revealed that BbSec22 was a multifunctional protein associated with mycelial growth, sporulation, conidial germination, stress tolerance, and insecticidal virulence. Full article

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) frequently occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those undergoing dialysis. The mechanisms behind this may be related to traditional risk factors and CKD-specific factors that accelerate atherosclerosis and vascular calcification in CKD patients. The accumulation of uremic toxins is a significant factor in CKD-related systemic disorders. Basic research suggests that indoxyl sulfate (IS), a small protein-bound uremic toxin, is associated with macrophage dysfunctions, including increased oxidative stress, exacerbation of chronic inflammation, and abnormalities in lipid metabolism. Strategies to mitigate the toxicity of IS include optimizing gut microbiota, intervening against the abnormality of intracellular signal transduction, and using blood purification therapy with higher efficiency. Further research is needed to examine whether lowering protein-bound uremic toxins through intervention leads to a reduction in CVD in patients with CKD. Full article

Background/Objectives: Erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA) is an aggressive form of hand osteoarthritis (OA) and a severely disabling condition. Patients affected by OA frequently lament symptoms suggestive of neuropathic pain (NP). The aim of our study was to ascertain the presence and severity of NP in patients with EHOA and correlate its presence with EHOA clinical characteristics. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included all consecutive EHOA patients with NP symptoms who underwent upper limb electroneurography (ENoG) and nerve ultrasound. The presence of NP was screened using the ID pain neuropathic pain-screening questionnaire (ID-Pain). In addition, the following NP questionnaires were also used: Douleur Neuropathique en 4 Questions (DN4), PainDETECT, and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI). Moreover, patients completed the Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) and Dreiser’s algofunctional finger index questionnaires assessing EHOA disease activity. The following clinical and laboratory data were collected: age, sex, BMI, disease duration, intensity of pain (VAS 0–10), painful and swollen joints, and inflammatory indices, as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Results: Of the 34 patients studied, 24 (70.6%) presented NP to the ID-Pain questionnaire. According to DN4, 14 (41.2%) patients had NP, while using the PainDETECT questionnaire, 67.6% had NP. Patients with NP were statistically younger and had a higher VAS pain score compared to subjects without NP. The ENoG and median nerve ultrasound were normal in 81% of patients, while four patients had carpal tunnel syndrome. The ID-Pain questionnaire correlated with the number of painful joints (r = 0.48, p = 0.03) and with the AUSCAN questionnaire (r = 0.37, p = 0.05). The DN4 questionnaire correlated with PainDETECT (r = 0.58, p < 0.01). The PainDETECT questionnaire correlated with VAS pain (r = 0.49, p = 0.02), the DN4 questionnaire (r = 0.58, p < 0.01), and AUSCAN (r = 0.51, p = 0.02). The NPSI questionnaire correlated negatively with BMI (r = −0.53, p = 0.01) and positively with the PainDETECT questionnaire (r = 0.49, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Our study revealed that 32% to 70% of EHOA patients exhibited symptoms consistent with NP, with observed variability depending on the questionnaire utilized. Despite patients frequently exhibiting symptoms compatible with NP, only 19% of patients presented alterations on ENoG and ultrasound examinations confirming CTS. This suggests a probable nociplastic component for pain in patients with EHOA, which warrants tailored treatment. In the present study, NP correlated with clinical and functional indices of EHOA. Full article

Background: The high prevalence of injuries in female athletes necessitates a course of action that not only enhances research in this field but also incorporates improved prevention programs and regular health monitoring of highly stressed structures such as tendons and muscles. Since myometry is already used by coaches and physiotherapists, it is important to investigate whether tissue stiffness varies in different types of sports, and whether such measures are affected by an acute training session. Methods: Myometric measurements of the Achilles tendon (AT) and soleus muscle (SM) were performed in the longitudinal plane and relaxed tendon position. In total, 38 healthy professional female athletes were examined, applying a quasi-experimental study design, with subgroup analysis performed for different sports. To investigate the stiffness of the AT and SM, 24 female handball and volleyball athletes performed a standardized maximal incremental performance test on a treadmill. In this subgroup, myometric measurements were taken before and after the exercise test. Results: The measurements showed no significant difference between the mean pre- (AT: 661.46 N/m; SM 441.48 N/m) and post-exercise stiffness (AT: 644.71 N/m; SM: 439.07 N/m). Subgroup analysis for different types of sports showed significantly lower AT and SM stiffness in swimming athletes compared to handball (p = 0.002), volleyball (p = 0.000) and hammer throw athletes (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Myometry can be performed on the same day as an acute training session in healthy female professional volleyball and handball athletes. Female swimmers have significantly lower AT and SM stiffness compared to female handball, volleyball and hammer throw athletes. These results show that the stiffness differences in the AT and SM can be assessed by myometry. Full article

In the 2022–2023 influenza season, three autonomous communities anticipated the document approved by the Public Health Commission recommending influenza vaccination for all children aged 6 to 59 months. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the attitude of healthcare professionals towards the first universal vaccination campaign in our region, as well as the acceptability of the vaccines used and their attitude towards pilot school vaccination. This was a cross-sectional, survey-based, descriptive study. All healthcare professionals involved in the campaign were invited to participate. Overall, 91.9% of surveyed professionals thought that influenza vaccination from 6 to 59 months was important or very important, and 89.8% had previous experience regarding the intramuscular vaccine. Healthcare professionals rated the intranasal vaccine significantly more positively, but there were no differences when asking about each vaccine without comparison. The inhaled vaccine was preferred by 97.5% for the following campaign. Pilot school vaccination had a 75% acceptance rate. The inhaled vaccine was preferred by most professionals, and pilot school vaccination was highly accepted and independently associated with the importance of vaccination as considered by physicians, being a medical doctor, and participation in the pilot programme. Full article

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is characterized by distinct molecular subtypes with unique biological and clinical features. This systematic review aimed to identify articles examining the differences in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) across different TNBC molecular subtypes. Six studies meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed, utilizing gene expression profiling and bioinformatic analyses to classify TNBC samples into molecular subtypes, as well as immunohistochemistry and cell deconvolution methods to characterize the TIME. Results revealed significant heterogeneity in immune cell composition among TNBC subtypes, with the immunomodulatory (IM) subtype demonstrating robust immune infiltration, composed mainly of adaptive immune cells along with an increased density of CTLA-4+ and PD-1+ TILs, high PD-L1 tumor cell expression, and upregulation of FOXP3+ Tregs. A more immunosuppressive TIME with a predominance of innate immune cells and lower levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was observed in luminal androgen receptor (LAR) tumors. In mesenchymal stem-like (MSL) tumors, the TIME was mainly composed of innate immune cells, with a high number of M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), while the BL and M tumors displayed poor adaptive and innate immune responses, indicating an “immune-cold” phenotype. Differential activation of signaling pathways, genomic diversity, and metabolic reprogramming were identified as contributors to TIME heterogeneity. Understanding this interplay is crucial for tailoring therapeutic strategies, especially regarding immunotherapy. Full article

Background: Focal liver lesions (FLL) often require cytohistological evaluation. Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) is highly accurate in diagnosing pancreatic and gastrointestinal malignancies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of EUS-TA in the characterization of FLL. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a prospective database of patients who underwent EUS-TA for the evaluation of FLL. Diagnostic yield, adverse events and factors associated with diagnostic yield were evaluated as endpoints. The effect of variables such as needle size, lesion size, rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) and the use of cytological or histological needles were analyzed. Results: A total of 114 cases were included (mean age 68.05 ± 11.35 years, 64 male). A correct diagnosis was made using EUS-TA in 100 of the 114 cases (diagnostic yield of 88%). The EUS-TA of additional extrahepatic lesions during the same EUS procedure increased the diagnostic yield to 94%. No adverse events were reported. Multivariate analysis did not identify any factor influencing the diagnostic yield. Conclusions: EUS-TA is a highly accurate and safe technique for the differential diagnosis of FLL and could be considered as the primary approach in this setting. Full article

The YOLO series of target detection networks are widely used in transportation targets due to the advantages of high detection accuracy and good real-time performance. However, it also has some limitations, such as poor detection in scenes with large-scale variations, a large number of computational resources being consumed, and occupation of more storage space. To address these issues, this study uses the YOLOv8n model as the benchmark and makes the following four improvements: (1) embedding the BiFormer attention mechanism in the Neck layer to capture the associations and dependencies between the features more efficiently; (2) adding a 160 × 160 small-scale target detection header in the Head layer of the network to enhance the pedestrian and motorcycle detection capability; (3) adopting a weighted bidirectional feature pyramid structure to enhance the feature fusion capability of the network; and (4) making WIoUv3 as a loss function to enhance the focus on common quality anchor frames. Based on the improvement strategies, the evaluation metrics of the model have improved significantly. Compared to the original YOLOv8n, the mAP reaches 95.9%, representing an increase of 4.7 percentage points, and the mAP50:95 reaches 74.5%, reflecting an improvement of 6.2 percentage points. Full article

Nowadays, heavy metal pollution in soil caused by human production activities is increasingly serious. The heavy metal ions in soil inhibit plant growth and endanger human health as they can disrupt the physicochemical properties of soil. However, the elimination of heavy metals in soil is so difficult that more and more researchers are studying effective soil conditioners. The negatively charged groups in microbial communities can bind with heavy metal ions in the soil to remove them. In this paper, Cr- and Cd-polluted soils were used to simulate heavy-metal-polluted soil, and microbial compound fertilizer (MOF) was used as a soil conditioner for removing Cr and Cd in soil. The effects of different additive amounts of MOF on the physicochemical properties, the concentration of metal binding forms in soil and the enzyme activity of soil were investigated. The results showed that when the addition amount of fertilizer was 10%, the improvement effect on Cr- and Cd-polluted soils was the best. Compared with polluted soils without MOF addition, the physicochemical properties of MOF-treated polluted soils improved significantly, the concentration of effective forms of heavy metals decreased significantly, and the concentration of organic and residual forms as well as soil enzyme activity increased significantly. This indicates that the addition of MOF can increase the activity of soil microbial communities and soil fertility, and has the ability to remediate heavy-metal-polluted soil. MOF is expected to become an efficient soil conditioner for heavy metals. Full article