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22 pages, 9655 KiB  
Article
Potato Plant Variety Identification Study Based on Improved Swin Transformer
by Xue Xing, Chengzhong Liu, Junying Han, Quan Feng, Enfang Qi, Yaying Qu and Baixiong Ma
Agriculture 2025, 15(1), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15010087 (registering DOI) - 2 Jan 2025
Abstract
Potato is one of the most important food crops in the world and occupies a crucial position in China’s agricultural development. Due to the large number of potato varieties and the phenomenon of variety mixing, the development of the potato industry is seriously [...] Read more.
Potato is one of the most important food crops in the world and occupies a crucial position in China’s agricultural development. Due to the large number of potato varieties and the phenomenon of variety mixing, the development of the potato industry is seriously affected. Therefore, accurate identification of potato varieties is a key link to promote the development of the potato industry. Deep learning technology is used to identify potato varieties with good accuracy, but there are relatively few related studies. Thus, this paper introduces an enhanced Swin Transformer classification model named MSR-SwinT (Multi-scale residual Swin Transformer). The model employs a multi-scale feature fusion module in place of patch partitioning and linear embedding. This approach effectively extracts features of various scales and enhances the model’s feature extraction capability. Additionally, the residual learning strategy is integrated into the Swin Transformer block, effectively addressing the issue of gradient disappearance and enabling the model to capture complex features more effectively. The model can better capture complex features. The enhanced MSR-SwinT model is validated using the potato plant dataset, demonstrating strong performance in potato plant image recognition with an accuracy of 94.64%. This represents an improvement of 3.02 percentage points compared to the original Swin Transformer model. Experimental evidence shows that the improved model performs better and generalizes better, providing a more effective solution for potato variety identification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Digital Agriculture)
21 pages, 2062 KiB  
Article
Nutritional and Structural Components of Forage Sorghum Subjected to Nitrogen Fertilization and Molybdenum
by Glícia Rafaela Freitas da Fonsêca, Jamiles Carvalho Gonçalves de Souza Henrique, Ednaete Bezerra de Alcântara, Náthaly Vitória Santos Almeida, Alexandre Campelo de Oliveira, Maria Luana da Silva Medeiros, Arthur Lucas Júlio Silva and Evaristo Jorge Oliveira de Souza
Grasses 2025, 4(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/grasses4010001 - 2 Jan 2025
Viewed by 50
Abstract
Semi-arid regions present edaphoclimatic limitations for forage production, primarily affecting plant growth and development. Crops adapted to such conditions, like forage sorghum, and nutritional supplementation with nitrogen and molybdenum, can increase forage production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction [...] Read more.
Semi-arid regions present edaphoclimatic limitations for forage production, primarily affecting plant growth and development. Crops adapted to such conditions, like forage sorghum, and nutritional supplementation with nitrogen and molybdenum, can increase forage production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between nitrogen and molybdenum on the bromatological and structural components of forage sorghum (SF-15) cultivated in a semi-arid environment, with the hypothesis that nitrogen fertilization combined with molybdenum would enhance nitrogen use efficiency in sorghum. The methodology involved a 5 × 2 factorial experiment in a randomized block design (RBD) with increasing doses of nitrogen (urea) (0, 50, 100, 150, 300 kg ha¹) and two doses of molybdenum (sodium molybdate): 0 and 160 g ha−1, conducted over three cultivation cycles. At the end of each cycle, morphological variables were evaluated, and yield of natural mass (YNM), yield of dry mass (YDM), crude protein production (CPP), and bromatological components were determined. Morphometric characteristics were influenced by the interaction between cycle x nitrogen doses (N) and molybdenum doses (Mo). For productive characteristics, there was an interaction between cycle and nitrogen doses, with the first regrowth cycle and the dosage of 100 kg ha−1 N showing the highest mean. Bromatological components were influenced by the N and Mo interaction. The study confirmed the synergistic effect between nitrogen and molybdenum. It is recommended to use 100 kg ha−1 nitrogen fertilization for an average production of 10 t ha−1 for SF-15 sorghum. Full article
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33 pages, 2806 KiB  
Systematic Review
Implementation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems in Railway Traffic Control Systems: Overview of Navigation Systems, Application Areas, and Implementation Plans
by Michał Steuer, Rafał Burdzik and François Piednoir
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010356 (registering DOI) - 2 Jan 2025
Viewed by 45
Abstract
This article characterizes and presents Global Navigation Satellite Systems in relation to rail transportation applications. Due to the review character of this article, a synthesis of the literature discussing issues related to the possibility of implementing satellite positioning systems in the framework of [...] Read more.
This article characterizes and presents Global Navigation Satellite Systems in relation to rail transportation applications. Due to the review character of this article, a synthesis of the literature discussing issues related to the possibility of implementing satellite positioning systems in the framework of their use in the management and control of railway traffic was made. On the basis of the literature review, the area of potential implementation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems was identified, as well as assumptions regarding the architecture of such systems being defined, along with the definition of criteria for assessing the impact of the use of satellite systems on rail traffic safety. The purpose of the above is to direct the development of rail guidance and control systems to systems that enable precise localization of rail vehicles, thereby optimizing the use of rail infrastructure through the implementation of efficient and cost-effective localization systems. This article goes on to characterize existing Global Navigation Satellite Systems and future directions related to the use of new satellite constellations. The basis of this review is the last twenty years of scientific publications on the subject of research issues related to the use of satellite positioning in railway systems. Based on the review of the state of the art and the results of the analysis, it was determined that the most frequently mentioned area of use of satellite positioning systems is the European Train Control System, the functionality of which enables the implementation of the transportation process based on so-called moving block spacing. The results of this review of the current state of knowledge will direct those responsible for the development and implementation of modern systems in the direction and control of railway traffic. Full article
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29 pages, 5358 KiB  
Article
An Approach for Spatial Statistical Modelling Remote Sensing Data of Land Cover by Fusing Data of Different Types
by Antonella Belmonte, Carmela Riefolo, Gabriele Buttafuoco and Annamaria Castrignanò
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(1), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17010123 - 2 Jan 2025
Viewed by 111
Abstract
Remote sensing technologies continue to expand their role in environmental monitoring, providing invaluable advances in soil assessing and mapping. This study aimed to prove the need to apply spatial statistical models for processing data in remote sensing (RS), which appears to be an [...] Read more.
Remote sensing technologies continue to expand their role in environmental monitoring, providing invaluable advances in soil assessing and mapping. This study aimed to prove the need to apply spatial statistical models for processing data in remote sensing (RS), which appears to be an important source of spatial data at multiple scales. A crucial problem facing us is the fusion of multi-source spatial data of different natures and characteristics, among which there is the support size of measurement that unfortunately is little considered in RS. A data fusion approach of both sample (point) and grid (areal) data is proposed that explicitly takes into account spatial correlation and change of support in both increasing support (upscaling) and decreasing support (downscaling). The techniques of block cokriging and kriging downscaling were employed for the implementation of such an approach, respectively. The method is applied to soil sample data, jointly analysed with hyperspectral data measured in the laboratory, UAV, and satellite data (Planet and Sentinel 2) of an olive grove after filtering soil pixels. Each data type had its own support that was transformed to the same support as the soil sample data so that the data fusion approach could be applied. To demonstrate the statistical, as well as practical, effectiveness of such a method, it was compared by a cross-validation test with a univariate approach for predicting each soil property. The positive results obtained should stimulate advanced statistical techniques to be applied more and more widely to RS data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing in Geomatics (Second Edition))
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16 pages, 1689 KiB  
Brief Report
The Effects of Bradyrhizobium japonicum Inoculation and Superphosphate Fertilizer on the Growth and Development of Lablab (Lablab purpureus L.)
by Latoya Miranda Mthimunye, Gudani Millicent Managa and Lufuno Ethel Nemadodzi
Int. J. Plant Biol. 2025, 16(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb16010003 (registering DOI) - 2 Jan 2025
Viewed by 87
Abstract
Nutrient-poor savanna soils severely limit agricultural productivity in Africa, hindering crops and livestock intensification and threatening food security. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial to meeting the world’s growing food demands and ensuring sustainable agricultural development. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse laid [...] Read more.
Nutrient-poor savanna soils severely limit agricultural productivity in Africa, hindering crops and livestock intensification and threatening food security. Addressing these deficiencies is crucial to meeting the world’s growing food demands and ensuring sustainable agricultural development. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse laid in a randomized complete block design with eight treatments, namely: (T1) control, (T2) 45 kg/ha superphosphate, (T3) 60 kg/ha superphosphate, (T4) 75 kg/ha superphosphate, (T5) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant, (T6) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant +45 kg/ha superphosphate, (T7) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant +60 kg/ha superphosphate, and (T8) Bradyrhizobium japonicum inoculant +75 kg/ha superphosphate. The findings showed that the highest plant height was noted when lablab was supplemented with T4 treatment at day 21, while T2 of superphosphate had the highest leaf area. Conversely, soil supplemented with superphosphate at different levels and/or lablab seeds treated with Bradyrhizobium inoculant did not have a significant effect on the number of leaves. Overall, the application of superphosphate to the soil at different levels and treating lablab seeds with Bradyrhizobium inoculant did not have any significant effect on the plant height, number of leaves, and leaf area. On day 37, the highest leaf chlorophyll was recorded on T1 and became constant amongst all the treatments as the growth progressed. From the current study, it is concluded that growing lablab in a controlled environment would benefit subsistence farmers and rural communities for its leaves consumed as vegetables and ultimately ensure food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Physiology)
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15 pages, 5871 KiB  
Article
Stability and Control of Surrounding Rock of a Trapezoidal Roadway Retained with Hard Roof Cutting
by Shizhong Zhang, Chuangnan Ren, Xinyao Gao, Yongsheng Gao, Lianyi Nie, Shaodong Li and Moulie Jiang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010348 (registering DOI) - 2 Jan 2025
Viewed by 181
Abstract
Hard roof top-cutting and gob-side roadway retention is an effective way to improve the panel recovery ratio and reduce ground pressure. Based on the condition of Pingmei No.2 Mine, this paper establishes a stability mechanics model for the roof in a trapezoidal top-cutting [...] Read more.
Hard roof top-cutting and gob-side roadway retention is an effective way to improve the panel recovery ratio and reduce ground pressure. Based on the condition of Pingmei No.2 Mine, this paper establishes a stability mechanics model for the roof in a trapezoidal top-cutting roadway with inclined coal seam, in order to analyze the factors influencing the stability of the roof. This paper studies the deformation characteristics and control mechanism of the surrounding rock in a trapezoidal top-cutting roadway, and proposes targeted stability control technologies for the surrounding rock. The results showed that: (1) in a trapezoidal top-cutting roadway in the hard roof with inclined coal seam, the tensile stress of the uncut roof was inversely proportional to the coal seam dip angle, roof thickness and top-cutting height, while it was proportional to the top-cutting angle. According to actual engineering conditions, the top-cutting angle and height of the roof of the 21,100-panel were determined to be 10° and 5.0 m, respectively; (2) the special structure of the trapezoidal roadway led to asymmetric stress distribution in the surrounding rock, especially in the roof and rib. Using top-cutting, the pressure relief reduced the roof stress from 6.73 MPa to 2.04 MPa, the high stress zone moved to the inside of the solid coal, and the roof slid and deformed along the top line, showing characteristics of a “large deformation on the top side”; and (3) high-strength long anchor cables were used to reinforce the roof on the cut top side. Telescopic U-shaped steel and windshield cloth were used to block gangue and prevent wind leakage in the roadway. The on-site industrial test measured the maximum subsidence of the roof at 120 mm, and the maximum layer separation was 29 mm. Relative to non-top-cutting methods, the roof and sides showed significantly reduced deformation throughout the mining operations, which verified the reliability of the control technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Science and Technology)
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14 pages, 1017 KiB  
Article
Automated Chest X-Ray Diagnosis Report Generation with Cross-Attention Mechanism
by Jian Zhao, Wei Yao, Lei Sun, Lijuan Shi, Zhejun Kuang, Changwu Wu and Qiulei Han
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 343; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010343 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 321
Abstract
In the medical field, it is extremely important to use deep learning technology to automatically generate diagnostic reports for chest X-ray images. This technology provides an effective solution to the challenges faced by the medical field in processing large numbers of chest X-ray [...] Read more.
In the medical field, it is extremely important to use deep learning technology to automatically generate diagnostic reports for chest X-ray images. This technology provides an effective solution to the challenges faced by the medical field in processing large numbers of chest X-ray images. Especially during large-scale outbreaks of epidemics such as the new COVID-19, rapid and accurate screening and diagnosis of cases become important tasks. This study uses deep learning technology to automatically generate diagnostic reports for chest X-ray images, which significantly reduces the workload of doctors, reduces the risk of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis, and provides technical support for improving public health emergency response capabilities. In this study, we propose an innovative network architecture to address the limitations of traditional image description networks in generating chest X-ray diagnostic reports, especially the large area deviation between abnormal and normal areas, and the lack of effective alignment of the two modalities of image and text. The convolutional block attention module (CBAM) is adopted to effectively alleviate the data bias problem through a sophisticated feature attention mechanism and improve the model’s ability to recognize abnormal image areas. The cross-attention mechanism is adopted to optimize the alignment process between images and texts, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the diagnosis report. Full article
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14 pages, 1143 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Study of Intense Pulsed Light with Two Different Filters in Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: A Prospective Randomized Study
by Hayoung Lee, Yoo Young Jeon, Kyu Sang Eah, Nahyun Park, Yea Eun Lee, Jeewon Han, Chung Min Lee, Changmin Kim, Ho Seok Chung, Jae Yong Kim and Hun Lee
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(1), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14010199 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 249
Abstract
Objectives: To compare the long-term efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments using a 590-nm and an acne filter. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, paired-eye trial study, 30 patients with moderate and severe meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) were followed up for [...] Read more.
Objectives: To compare the long-term efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments using a 590-nm and an acne filter. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, paired-eye trial study, 30 patients with moderate and severe meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) were followed up for at least one month after their last treatment. Group A received IPL treatment with an acne filter, a type of notch filter that blocks wavelengths between 600 and 800 nm, allowing IPL to emit wavelengths between 400–600 nm and 800–1200 nm. Group B received treatment with a 590 nm filter, a type of cut-off filter that blocks wavelengths below 590 nm. Clinical parameters, including tear osmolarity, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression, tear break-up time, ocular surface staining scores, Schirmer’s test I, lid margin telangiectasia scores, MG expressibility/secretion scores, and Ocular Surface Disease Index scores, were measured at baseline, 1, 6, and 12 months after their last treatment. Results: In the linear mixed model, significant time effects on all clinical parameters, except for MMP-9 grades and Schirmer’s test I results, were observed within each group. However, interactions between time points (baseline, 6 months, 12 months) and groups (Group A, B) were not significant. The generalized estimating equation model showed no significant interaction between time points and groups for MMP-9 positivity; however, a significant time effect on MMP-9 positivity was observed in Group A, with a decrease at 12 months after their last treatment when compared to baseline and 6 months. Conclusions: The IPL treatment modality for moderate to severe MGD demonstrated a significant therapeutic effect for one year under strictly controlled self-administration of other treatments. IPL treatment using acne filter is a promising treatment option for reducing MMP-9 positivity in MGD patients. Full article
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20 pages, 4124 KiB  
Article
Digital Hydraulic Motor Characteristic Analysis for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Traction
by Hao Zhang, Wenshu Wei, Hong Wang, Yang Zhang and Xiaochao Liu
Actuators 2025, 14(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/act14010011 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 216
Abstract
Hydraulic motors have been widely used in large-scale machinery such as ground heavy equipment and heavy-duty vehicles, ships, and so on because of their high-power drive capability. However, the driving device is confronted with constraints related to its size and weight. Typically, the [...] Read more.
Hydraulic motors have been widely used in large-scale machinery such as ground heavy equipment and heavy-duty vehicles, ships, and so on because of their high-power drive capability. However, the driving device is confronted with constraints related to its size and weight. Typically, the hydraulic axial piston motor is preferred for its simplicity and efficiency. However, the oil distributor in traditional hydraulic motors faces significant challenges, such as evident oil leakage and power loss from the mating surfaces of the fixed oil distributor and rotating cylinder block. To enhance the reliability and performance of hydraulic motors employed in paper driving applications, this paper introduces a digital radial hydraulic motor used for heavy-duty vehicle traction. The motor is powered by an on-board pump station from which several on/off valves can distribute the hydraulic oil. This design effectively mitigates the performance degradation issues associated with friction and wear in traditional hydraulic motor oil distributors. The drive characteristics of the motor can be flexibly adjusted through the combination of valves. Our investigation into the motor’s design principles and parameter analysis is poised to make an indirect yet significant contribution to the optimization of heavy-duty vehicle traction systems. This paper delineates the application conditions and operational principles of the digital hydraulic motor, thoroughly analyzes the intricate topological interrelationships of its parameters, and meticulously develops a detailed component-level model. Through comprehensive calculations, it reveals the impact of configuration and flow valve parameters on motor efficiency. A simulation model is established for the purpose of verification. Furthermore, the influence of the flow allocation method on efficiency and pressure pulsation is examined, leading to the proposal of a novel flow allocation strategy, the efficacy of which is substantiated through simulation. In conclusion, this paper formulates critical insights to inform the design and selection of components for digital hydraulic motors. These findings may provide a feasible solution for heavy-duty vehicle traction application scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section High Torque/Power Density Actuators)
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14 pages, 2405 KiB  
Article
The Inhibitory Effects of Alpha 1 Antitrypsin on Endosomal TLR Signaling Pathways
by Ahmed S. Elshikha, Georges Abboud, Rigena Avdiaj, Laurence Morel and Sihong Song
Biomolecules 2025, 15(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15010043 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 205
Abstract
Endosomal toll-like receptors (TLRs) TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 play an important role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. The proteolytic processing of these receptors in the endolysosome is required for signaling in response to DNA and single-stranded RNA, respectively. Targeting this proteolytic processing [...] Read more.
Endosomal toll-like receptors (TLRs) TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 play an important role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis. The proteolytic processing of these receptors in the endolysosome is required for signaling in response to DNA and single-stranded RNA, respectively. Targeting this proteolytic processing may represent a novel strategy to inhibit TLR-mediated pathogenesis. Human alpha 1 antitrypsin (hAAT) is a protease inhibitor with anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. However, the effect of hAAT on endosomal TLRs remains elusive. In this study, we first tested the effect of hAAT on TLR9 signaling in dendritic cells (DCs). We showed that hAAT inhibited TLR9-mediated DC activation and cytokine production. Human AAT also lowered the expressions of interferon signature genes. Western blot analysis showed that hAAT reduced the expression of the active form (cleaved) of TLR9 in DCs, indicating a novel mechanism of hAAT function in the immune system. We next tested the effect of hAAT on TLR7/8 signaling. Similar to the effect on TLR9 signaling, hAAT also inhibited R848 (TLR7 and 8 agonist)-induced DC activation and functions and lowered the expressions of interferon signature genes. Our in vivo studies using hAAT transgenic mice also showed that hAAT attenuated R848-induced pathogenesis. Specifically, hAAT completely blocked the R848 induction of germinal center T cells (GC T), B cells (GC B), and plasma cells (GC PCs), as well as T follicular T helper cells (TFH), which are all critical in lupus development. These data demonstrated that hAAT inhibited TLR7/8 and TLR9 signaling pathways, which are critical for lupus development. These findings not only advanced the current knowledge of hAAT biology, but also implied an insight into the clinical application of hAAT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Roles of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin in Human Health and Disease Models)
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18 pages, 1332 KiB  
Article
Microencapsulated Escape Lysine with Tannin as an Adjuvant in Sheep Diets
by Roberto Matheus Oliveira, José Morais Pereira Filho, Claudiney Inô, Évyla Andrade, Kevily Henrique Lucena, Juliana Paula Oliveira, Elzania Pereira, Ronaldo Oliveira, Ricardo Edvan and Leilson Bezerra
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12010014 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 219
Abstract
The use of escape protein, which is absorbed in the small intestine, can improve the production of ruminant animals because it meets their protein requirements better. This study hypothesized that wax lipid matrices are effective encapsulants for escape lysine in ruminants and tested [...] Read more.
The use of escape protein, which is absorbed in the small intestine, can improve the production of ruminant animals because it meets their protein requirements better. This study hypothesized that wax lipid matrices are effective encapsulants for escape lysine in ruminants and tested tannin extract as an adjuvant. Forty intact male Santa Ines × Dorper sheep (~4 months old, BW 23 ± 1.2 kg) were allocated, in a randomized block design, to four treatments: control group (no lysine addition), supplementation with free lysine, escape lysine, and escape lysine + tannin extract. The ether extract intake was higher in the sheep fed escape lysine + tannin compared to the control and free lysine group. The sheep fed escape lysine presented higher DM and aNDF eating efficiency (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the free lysine and control groups. Escape lysine with and without tannin presented greater TDN compared to free lysine and control. The NFCs were lower in the free lysine diet, and the crude protein digestibility was higher in the sheep fed lysine + tannin and the control group compared to the escape and free lysine groups. The lysine treatments did not affect (p > 0.05) the performance, ingestive behavior, and blood parameters. The rectal temperature was higher in the sheep fed lysine escape compared to those fed free lysine. The sheep fed escape lysine + tannin exhibited reduced (p ≤ 0.05) large particles and improved peNDF 12 h after feeding. The escape lysine diet, regardless of the addition of tannin, improved the total digestible nutrients and eating efficiency, without affecting the performance, feed conversion, and blood variables of the sheep. Full article
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31 pages, 9112 KiB  
Article
Intelligent Target Detection in Synthetic Aperture Radar Images Based on Multi-Level Fusion
by Qiaoyu Liu, Ziqi Ye, Chenxiang Zhu, Dongxu Ouyang, Dandan Gu and Haipeng Wang
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(1), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17010112 - 1 Jan 2025
Viewed by 220
Abstract
Due to the unique imaging mechanism of SAR, targets in SAR images present complex scattering characteristics. As a result, intelligent target detection in SAR images has been facing many challenges, which mainly lie in the insufficient exploitation of target characteristics, inefficient characterization of [...] Read more.
Due to the unique imaging mechanism of SAR, targets in SAR images present complex scattering characteristics. As a result, intelligent target detection in SAR images has been facing many challenges, which mainly lie in the insufficient exploitation of target characteristics, inefficient characterization of scattering features, and inadequate reliability of decision models. In this respect, we propose an intelligent target detection method based on multi-level fusion, where pixel-level, feature-level, and decision-level fusions are designed for enhancing scattering feature mining and improving the reliability of decision making. The pixel-level fusion method through the channel fusion of original images and their features after scattering feature enhancement represents an initial exploration of image fusion. Two feature-level fusion methods are conducted using respective migratable fusion blocks, namely DBAM and FDRM, presenting higher-level fusion. Decision-level fusion based on DST can not only consolidate complementary strengths in different models but also incorporate human or expert involvement in proposition for guiding effective decision making. This represents the highest-level fusion integrating results by proposition setting and statistical analysis. Experiments of different fusion methods integrating different features were conducted on typical target detection datasets. As shown in the results, the proposed method increases the mAP by 16.52%, 7.1%, and 3.19% in ship, aircraft, and vehicle target detection, demonstrating high effectiveness and robustness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue SAR-Based Signal Processing and Target Recognition (Second Edition))
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27 pages, 759 KiB  
Article
GenSQLi: A Generative Artificial Intelligence Framework for Automatically Securing Web Application Firewalls Against Structured Query Language Injection Attacks
by Vahid Babaey and Arun Ravindran
Future Internet 2025, 17(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi17010008 - 31 Dec 2024
Viewed by 176
Abstract
The widespread adoption of web services has heightened exposure to cybersecurity threats, particularly SQL injection (SQLi) attacks that target the database layers of web applications. Traditional Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) often fail to keep pace with evolving attack techniques, necessitating adaptive defense mechanisms. [...] Read more.
The widespread adoption of web services has heightened exposure to cybersecurity threats, particularly SQL injection (SQLi) attacks that target the database layers of web applications. Traditional Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) often fail to keep pace with evolving attack techniques, necessitating adaptive defense mechanisms. This paper introduces a novel generative AI framework designed to enhance SQLi mitigation by leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs). The framework achieves two primary objectives: (1) generating diverse and validated SQLi payloads using in-context learning, thereby minimizing hallucinations, and (2) automating defense mechanisms by testing these payloads against a vulnerable web application secured by a WAF, classifying bypassing attacks, and constructing effective WAF security rules through generative AI techniques. Experimental results using the GPT-4o LLM demonstrate the framework’s efficacy: 514 new SQLi payloads were generated, 92.5% of which were validated against a MySQL database and 89% of which successfully bypassed the ModSecurity WAF equipped with the latest OWASP Core Rule Set. By applying our automated rule-generation methodology, 99% of previously successful attacks were effectively blocked with only 23 new security rules. In contrast, Google Gemini-Pro achieved a lower bypass rate of 56.6%, underscoring performance variability across LLMs. Future work could extend the proposed framework to autonomously defend against other web attacks, including Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), session hijacking, and specific Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Cybersecurity)
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29 pages, 15216 KiB  
Article
CBGS-YOLO: A Lightweight Network for Detecting Small Targets in Remote Sensing Images Based on a Double Attention Mechanism
by Zhenyuan Wu, Di Wu, Ning Li, Wanru Chen, Jie Yuan, Xiangyue Yu and Yongqiang Guo
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17010109 - 31 Dec 2024
Viewed by 204
Abstract
With the continuous progress of remote sensing technology, the demand for means of detecting small targets in remote sensing images is escalating. The significance of detecting small targets in remote sensing images lies in enhancing the ability to identify small and elusive targets [...] Read more.
With the continuous progress of remote sensing technology, the demand for means of detecting small targets in remote sensing images is escalating. The significance of detecting small targets in remote sensing images lies in enhancing the ability to identify small and elusive targets and the detection accuracy against complex backgrounds, holding significant application value in military reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and disaster early-warning systems. Firstly, the minuteness of certain targets in relation to the entire image in which they occur, particularly when the camera is situated at a higher altitude, renders them difficult to detect. Secondly, the varying background and lighting conditions in remote sensing images further complicate the detection task. Conventional target detection methods are frequently incapable of addressing these complexities, resulting in a reduction in detection accuracy and an increase in false alarms. Hence, in this paper, we propose a lightweight remote-sensing image target detection network model, CBGS-YOLO, created by introducing the Ghost module to decrease the model parameters, applying the SPD-Conv module to optimize downsampling, and integrating the convolutional block attention module to enhance detection accuracy. The experimental outcomes demonstrate that CBGS-YOLO outperforms other models when applied to the DB_Licenta and USOD datasets, significantly enhancing detection performance for small targets. Compared with YOLOv9, this model can reduce the number of parameters from 7.10 M to 5.12 M, and the average precision (mAP) is effectively improved. The model strengthens the ability to identify small targets against complex backgrounds while maintaining lightweight properties and possesses remarkable application prospects and practical value. Full article
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21 pages, 11713 KiB  
Article
Superplastic Forming/Diffusion Bonding of TA15 Titanium Alloy for Manufacturing Integrated Solid/Hollow Four-Layer Grid Lightweight Structure Components
by Zheng Han, Yuhan Xing, Taiying Liu, Ning Zhang, Shaosong Jiang and Zhen Lu
Metals 2025, 15(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15010028 - 31 Dec 2024
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Abstract
In recent years, the excellent mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics of multi-layer hollow components have led to a surge in research focused on their forming processes. This growing interest has greatly advanced technological progress in aerospace and other related fields. In this paper, [...] Read more.
In recent years, the excellent mechanical properties and lightweight characteristics of multi-layer hollow components have led to a surge in research focused on their forming processes. This growing interest has greatly advanced technological progress in aerospace and other related fields. In this paper, the metal flow behavior of TA15 titanium alloy at different temperatures from 840 °C to 940 °C and different strain rates from 0.001 s−1 to 0.1 s−1 was studied. Utilizing the finite element method, this study examined the local stress concentration, total strain distribution, thickness thinning characteristics, and pressure loading control during the superplastic forming process of the component. The integrated solid/hollow four-layer grid lightweight structural parts were successfully fabricated using the superplastic forming/diffusion bonding (SPF/DB) process. The quality of the components was evaluated using X-ray and ultrasonic C-scan detection methods. The results show that the maximum elongation of the alloy is 1340% at 900 °C/0.001 s−1. When the temperature is too high, the grain size increases remarkably, and the elongation decreases. Based on the finite element simulation results, 900 °C is the best superplastic forming temperature. Under this temperature parameter, the maximum thinning rate of the core sheet is 39.7%, the SPF time is 10,000 s, the maximum thinning rate of the face sheet is 9.8%, and the SPF time is 2400 s. In addition, the solid block has a minimal effect on the thinning of the core sheet. The grid exhibits obvious stress concentration and thinning at its rounded corners, while the thickness distribution in other areas remains relatively uniform. The nondestructive testing results confirmed that the ribs of the component are fully formed, with no missing or broken ribs. The grid exhibits good geometry and high-quality diffusion bonding. The average thickness at key positions of the component is 1.84 mm, with the minimum thickness being 1.7 mm. As the size of the grid cavity decreases, the thickness of the component tends to increase gradually. The maximum error between the simulated and measured values is 4.47%, indicating good accuracy in the simulation. Additionally, the thickness distribution of the component is relatively uniform. Full article
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