Search Results (24,886)

Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) meat is valued for its nutritional quality and ease of production. Marination is a key value-adding process, but it is limited by its long duration. Therefore, technologies that accelerate marination and improve tenderness are needed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ultrasound application time and temperature on the physicochemical parameters and yield of guinea pig meat during marination. The marination solution contained 1.9% NaCl, 1.9% acetic acid, and 0.51% oregano essential oil. Ultrasound treatment (200 W) was applied for 15–120 min, while static treatments were conducted at 20, 30, and 40 °C. Ultrasound-assisted marination of guinea pig meat improved NaCl uptake, reduced acetic acid content, and improved water-holding capacity. Moderate temperatures (40 °C) minimized weight loss, and short ultrasound times preserved color and texture. However, prolonged ultrasound exposure led to myofibrillar disruption and increased weight loss. Correlation analysis revealed that pH, influenced by NaCl and acetic acid, had a significant impact on moisture, texture, and water-holding capacity. Overall, the controlled application of ultrasound and temperature effectively optimized marination efficiency, enhanced functional properties, and preserved the quality of guinea pig meat. Full article

Underwater object detection is critical for marine resource utilization, ecological monitoring, and maritime security, yet it remains constrained by optical degradation, high energy consumption, and vulnerability to adversarial perturbations. To address these challenges, this study proposes an Adaptive Vision Transformer (A-ViT)-based detection framework. At the hardware level, a systematic power-modeling and endurance-estimation scheme ensures feasibility across shallow- and deep-water missions. Through the super-resolution reconstruction based on the Hybrid Attention Transformer (HAT) and the staged enhancement with the Deep Initialization and Deep Inception and Channel-wise Attention Module (DICAM), the image quality was significantly improved. Specifically, the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) increased by 74.8%, and the Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) improved by 375.8%. Furthermore, the Underwater Image Quality Measure (UIQM) rose from 3.00 to 3.85, while the Underwater Color Image Quality Evaluation (UCIQE) increased from 0.550 to 0.673, demonstrating substantial enhancement in both visual fidelity and color consistency. Detection accuracy is further enhanced by an improved YOLOv11-Coordinate Attention–High-order Spatial Feature Pyramid Network (YOLOv11-CA_HSFPN), which attains a mean Average Precision at Intersection over Union 0.5 (mAP@0.5) of 56.2%, exceeding the baseline YOLOv11 by 1.5 percentage points while maintaining 10.5 ms latency. The proposed A-ViT + ROI reduces inference latency by 27.3% and memory usage by 74.6% when integrated with YOLOv11-CA_HSFPN and achieves up to 48.9% latency reduction and 80.0% VRAM savings in other detectors. An additional Image-stage Attack QuickCheck (IAQ) defense module reduces adversarial-attack-induced latency growth by 33–40%, effectively preventing computational overload. Full article

The grain-level heterogeneity of fruit morphological characteristics significantly determines their sensory performance and intrinsic quality, providing a quantitative basis for commercial grading. This study utilized “Liuyuehong” soft-seeded pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) as experimental material. Fruits were classified into three size grades based on individual fresh weight: large (107–125 g), medium (74–92 g), and small (47–67 g). Fresh weights of whole fruits, exocarp, and outer seed coat were measured for each grade, followed by analysis of key quality indicators, including seed count, 100-seed weight, Brix degrees, pH, single-seed dimensions, vitamin C content, and edible fraction. Subsequently, correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and the entropy weight-TOPSIS method were employed to evaluate the integrated quality of different fruit grades comprehensively. The results indicate that the fruit morphological characteristics of “Liuyuehong” soft-seed pomegranate have a significant impact on its sensory and physicochemical qualities. (1) Large and medium fruits are superior to small fruits in terms of single fruit size, exocarp color uniformity, seed color, and mouthfeel, with large fruits having the highest comprehensive evaluation score (0.7). (2) Mouthfeel is correlated with the number of seeds in the fruit; the number of seeds in large and small fruits shows a significant negative correlation with Brix degrees (p < 0.05). (3) Small fruits exhibit greater individual variation within the group, with outliers and a tendency for late maturation. In conclusion, the fruit morphological characteristics of “Liuyuehong” soft-seed pomegranate significantly affect seed maturity and quantity, thereby determining the fruit’s sensory quality and physicochemical properties. The results indicate that fruits with a single- weight below 70 g commonly exhibit delayed development. It is therefore recommended to raise the lower threshold for commercial grading to above 75 g to enhance overall fruit quality and market consistency. Full article

Public perception of traditional villages’ streetscape is a crucial link for unlocking their benefits in promoting physical and mental health and realizing environmental value transformation. Current studies on the influence mechanisms of rural streetscape characteristics on perception largely rely on subjective ratings and mostly depend on linear models. To address this, this study takes a traditional village in eastern China, which is rich in natural and cultural conditions, as an example and constructs an evaluation framework comprising 29 streetscape feature indicators. Based on multimodal data including electroencephalography (EEG), image segmentation, color, and spatial depth computation, XGBoost-SHAP was employed to reveal the nonlinear influence mechanisms of streetscape features on neurophysiological indicators (alpha-band power spectral density, α PSD) in the traditional rural context, which differs from the blue–green spaces and residential, campus, and urban environments in previous studies. The results indicate that (1) the dominant factors affecting α PSD in traditional villages are tree, color consistency, architectural aesthetics, spatial enclosure index, P_EBG, and road, in descending order. (2) Threshold effects and interaction effects that differ from previous studies on campuses, window views, and other contexts were identified. The positive effect of tree view index on α activity peaks at the threshold of 0.09, beyond which diminishing returns occur. Color complexity, including high color difference from the primary village scheme (i.e., low color consistency, color diversity, and visual entropy), inhibits α activity. The effect of spatial enclosure index (SEI) on α activity exhibits an inverted U-shape, peaking at 0.35. Tree–VE_nats, road–SEI, and building–SEI show antagonistic effects. Road–sky and SEI–P_FG display conditional interaction effects. (3) Based on k-means clustering analysis, the “key factor identification—threshold effect management—multi-factor synergy optimization” design can directionally regulate α PSD, promoting relaxed and calm streetscape schemes. This approach can be applied to urban and rural environment assessment and design, providing theoretical and technical support for scientific decision-making. Full article

Thanks to their striking shapes and colors, heterobranch “sea slugs” are probably the most sought-after group of marine critters by scuba divers around the world. Nevertheless, for many of the islands and coasts of Sicily, there are no specific studies on the fauna of this group (formerly known as opisthobranchs). Even Lampedusa, one of the most famous islands in the Mediterranean, is no exception to this. To fill this knowledge gap, the authors conducted a faunal study dedicated to this group in July 2025. Data collection, carried out using the photographic-capture technique both during scuba diving and snorkeling, led to the finding of 22 species of heterobranch “sea slugs”. A comparison of the heterobranch “sea slugs” of Lampedusa with that of other Sicilian islands revealed a low diversity of these mollusks on this island. This scarcity of fauna is probably due to the lack of favorable environments and the considerable environmental homogeneity that characterizes the seabed and coastal areas of Lampedusa. Nevertheless, the discovery of some species of considerable biogeographical importance, together with the island’s unique geographical position, make it an important location to monitor for the study of the distribution patterns of allochthonous marine Heterobranchia species that enter into the Mediterranean Sea. Full article

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the agreement among different evaluators in assessing smile esthetics from frontal-view photographs of the lower third of the face during smiling, and afterwards to determine thresholds of perceptibility and acceptability of tooth and gingival shade changes on a single modified digital photograph. Methods: Sixty photographs of the lower third of the face of individuals with pleasing smiles were obtained. Evaluator groups included laypeople, general dentists, and specialists in periodontology, orthodontics, and prosthodontics. Esthetic assessment was performed using seven items from the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES). One photograph was digitally manipulated by altering the shade of the first maxillary incisor and the gingiva of the right maxillary second incisor. Perceptibility thresholds and acceptability of these modifications were assessed by all evaluator groups. Results: Specialists in periodontology and prosthodontics, although rating 60 photographs as more esthetically pleasing, detected changes in tooth and gingival color earlier and judged such deviations as unacceptable sooner than general dentists and laypeople, particularly for shifts in lighter shades. Laypeople noticed color changes later but classified them as unacceptable almost immediately showing greater tolerance for lighter shades. Conclusions: The study shows that laypeople prioritize brighter tooth shades, whereas dental specialists value a more natural appearance. Specialists’ early detection of subtle shade changes and discerning judgments reflects their clinical training and awareness of the challenges in achieving perfect esthetics. In contrast, laypeople, seeking bright teeth influenced by social esthetic norms, noticed changes later but judged them as unacceptable more quickly. Full article

Providing equitable, high-quality education to all children, including those with intellectual disabilities (ID), remains a critical global challenge. Traditional learning environments often fail to address the unique cognitive needs of children with mild and moderate ID. In response, this study explores the potential of tablet-based game applications to enhance educational outcomes through an interactive, engaging, and accessible digital platform. The proposed solution, GrowMore, is a tablet-based educational game specifically designed for children aged 8 to 12 with mild intellectual disabilities. The application integrates adaptive learning strategies, vibrant visuals, and interactive feedback mechanisms to foster improvements in object recognition, color identification, and counting skills. Additionally, the system supports cognitive rehabilitation by enhancing attention, working memory, and problem-solving abilities, which caregivers reported transferring to daily functional tasks. The system’s usability was rigorously evaluated using quality standards, focusing on effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction. Experimental results demonstrate that approximately 88% of participants were able to correctly identify learning elements after engaging with the application, with notable improvements in attention span and learning retention. Informal interviews with parents further validated the positive cognitive, behavioral, and rehabilitative impact of the application. These findings underscore the value of digital game-based learning tools in special education and highlight the need for continued development of inclusive educational technologies. Full article

Ensuring food safety and quality has become increasingly critical due to the complexities introduced by globalization, industrialization, and extended supply chains. Traditional analytical methods for food quality control, such as chromatography and mass spectrometry, while accurate, face limitations including high costs, lengthy analysis times, and limited suitability for on-site rapid monitoring. Electrochemical sensors integrated with molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have emerged as promising alternatives, combining high selectivity and sensitivity with portability and affordability. MIPs, often termed ‘plastic antibodies,’ are synthetic receptors capable of selective molecular recognition, tailored specifically for target analytes. This review comprehensively discusses recent advancements in MIP-based electrochemical sensing platforms, highlighting their applications in detecting various food quality markers. It particularly emphasizes the detection of antioxidants—both natural (e.g., vitamins, phenolics) and synthetic (e.g., BHA, TBHQ), artificial sweeteners (e.g., aspartame, acesulfame-K), colorants (e.g., azo dyes, anthocyanins), traditional contaminants (e.g., pesticides, heavy metals), and toxicants such as mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxins, ochratoxins). The synthesis methods, including bulk, precipitation, surface imprinting, sol–gel polymerization, and electropolymerization (EP), are critically evaluated for their effectiveness in creating highly selective binding sites. Furthermore, the integration of advanced nanomaterials, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and metallic nanoparticles, into these platforms to enhance sensitivity, selectivity, and stability is examined. Practical challenges, including sensor reusability, regeneration strategies, and adaptability to complex food matrices, are addressed. Finally, the review provides an outlook on future developments and practical considerations necessary to transition these innovative MIP electrochemical sensors from laboratory research to widespread adoption in industry and regulatory settings, ultimately ensuring comprehensive food safety and consumer protection. Full article

Although computer vision methods have advanced in construction helmet detection in recent years, their performance heavily depends on large-scale, class-balanced, and diverse annotated datasets. To address the high cost and labor-intensive nature of traditional data collection and annotation, this study introduces a novel helmet detection dataset named AIGC-HWD (Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content–Helmet Wearing Detection), automatically generated using generative AI tools. The dataset contains five categories of labels, supporting both helmet-wearing detection and color classification tasks. We evaluate the standalone performance of AIGC-HWD, as well as its augmentation effect when combined with the real-world dataset GDUT-HWD, using multiple algorithms, including YOLO v8, YOLO v10, YOLO 11, YOLO v11-MobileNet v4, YOLO v13, Faster R-CNN, and RT-DETR. Experimental results show that models trained solely on AIGC-generated images can achieve mAP@50 scores exceeding 0.7 and 0.8 on real-world images in two separate tests, demonstrating a certain level of generalization. When used for data augmentation alongside real-world images, the performance improves to varying degrees—by approximately 1% on the YOLO series, and by over 10% on the two-stage algorithm Faster R-CNN. These findings validate the potential of generative AI images for safety monitoring in construction scenarios and provide new insights into the integration of synthetic and real-world data. Full article

Internal defects commonly occur during the 3D printing process of Polylactic Acid (PLA), and significant challenges remain in detecting and extracting these defects, as well as understanding the relationship between defects and material fatigue life. This research proposes the Chroma-YOLO Enhanced Integrated Framework, an improved YOLOv11n-based model that integrates HSV defect extraction module and a random forest prediction model. Comprehensive ablation experiments demonstrate that the Chroma-YOLO model achieves significant improvements of 6.9% and 7.3% for mAP50 and mAP50-95 metrics, respectively, compared to the baseline YOLOv11n model, confirming substantial enhancements in feature extraction capability and target localization accuracy. Furthermore, this framework establishes a comprehensive model from defect detection to fatigue life prediction by combining the HSV color space-based defect detection technique with the random forest machine learning algorithm. The random forest-based predictive model achieves a remarkable accuracy of 96.25% and 99.09%for the test and validation set, respectively, for fatigue life prediction of 3D-printed PLA, which shows significant improvement compared to the conventional prediction methodologies. Full article

The growing demand for sustainable alternatives to animal and synthetic leathers has accelerated interest in mycelium-based materials as an eco-friendly solution for the fashion industry. This study explores the potential of mushroom mycelium to create leather-like materials that align with circular fashion principles. Five species of edible and medicinal mushrooms were cultivated on sawdust substrates and evaluated for their growth performance, physical properties, and suitability as leather substitutes. Growth analysis revealed distinct species-specific behaviors: Cubamyces flavidus and Lentinus squarrosulus exhibited rapid colonization, achieving full substrate coverage within five days and forming dense mycelial networks at 14 days. In contrast, despite growing more slowly, Sanghuangporus vaninii and Ganoderma gibbosum formed thicker, more compact mats that might be suitable for strong leather-like materials. Visual and structural assessments showed diverse textures, colors, and hyphal architectures resembling natural leather. Physical characterization revealed shrinkage ranging from 13.17% to 24.09%, higher than for cow tanned leather (>5%) and PU microfiber (0.1–1.2%), suggesting a need for stabilization treatments. Apparent densities ranged from 0.13 g/cm³ to 0.30 g/cm³, lower than those of cow leather (0.49 g/cm³) and PU leather (0.38 g/cm³), highlighting species-specific hyphal structures that influence flexibility, porosity, and strength. SEM imaging confirmed the presence of interwoven hyphal mats resembling the fibrous architecture of natural leather, with S. vaninii showing the most uniform and continuous structure. Water absorption was significantly higher in mycelium sheets, consistent with their microporous nature, though S. vaninii showed the lowest uptake, reflecting possible natural water absorption. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed three-stage degradation profiles, with S. vaninii and G. gibbosum retaining >35% mass at 400 °C, indicating strong thermal stability for processing techniques such as hot pressing and finishing. Overall, the results demonstrate mycelium-based leathers as a biodegradable, low-impact alternative that can replicate the visual and functional characteristics of traditional leather, with opportunities for further improvement in substrate optimization, eco-tanning, surface coating, and scalable production toward a sustainable fashion future. Full article

There is a growing trend in food fortification to use natural products to improve quality during production and processing. We study the effect of high-intensity ultrasound (HIU), applied at different processing times to fresh raw cow’s milk supplemented with dried plant material (DPM), on the gel fermentation kinetics and the physicochemical profile of yogurt during storage. The results showed a significant reduction in milk fermentation with the application of HIU after inoculation (INOC). The counts of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus increased with the use of HIU, producing a synergistic effect in the presence of DPM due to the phenolic acids and flavonoids present. Syneresis was reduced and the water holding capacity (WHC) significantly increased in gels obtained with milk to which DPM had been added and which was sonicated after INOC. This led to the formation of a denser and more homogeneous protein network that retained more serum during storage. The luminosity of gels produced with milk sonicated at 40 °C increased, improving their appearance. However, saturation was reduced, shifting the yellow color to a neutral hue. In gels produced with non-sonicated milk, the fat separated, forming a yellow upper layer. HIU applied after INOC in milk to which DPM had been added reduced the milk processing time, producing stable and better-quality yogurts during refrigerated storage. Full article

The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy as a tool for detecting the adulteration of cold-pressed walnut oil and other edible oils (rapeseed, sunflower, and soybean oils) at varying percentages. The spectra were recorded between 200 and 1800 nm, but the analyses focused on 350–1650 nm due to high UV and NIR absorption. Color was determined in CIEL*a*b* coordinates to achieve the differences among the samples. The spectra were submitted to several pre-treatment (none, normalization, SNV, MSC, baseline/detrend, first/second derivative, and 1st-order smoothing) to improve the statistical model’s parameters. The differentiation of the samples was carried out using an unsupervised method (principal component analysis—PCA) and two supervised methods (linear discriminant analysis—LDA and partial least squares linear discriminant analysis—PLS-DA). Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) was used for predicting the degree of adulteration. Separation between the authentic and adulterated samples was visible in the PCA scores plot, primarily along the spectral regions of 420–500 nm (pigment-related absorption band) and 1150–1450 nm (lipid-associated band). PLS-DA was superior to DA for the discrimination of authentic/adulterated samples, with baseline spectra of 350–1650 nm yielding a 100% overall accuracy and near-perfect accuracy with MSC (98.48%). PLS-R was able to predict the adulteration level, depending on the pre-treatment applied. Full article

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the most important vegetable crop globally; however, its production is often hindered by soil-borne biotic and abiotic stresses. The use of rootstocks provides an effective strategy to mitigate these soil-related challenges. Hence, the development of new rootstock cultivars remains crucial to meet the demands of rapidly changing environmental conditions. Wild tomato species represent valuable genetic resources for rootstock improvement and are increasingly utilized in rootstock breeding programs. Nevertheless, the genetic mechanisms, particularly quantitative trait loci (QTL), underlying rootstock–scion interaction, remain poorly understood. In this study, 38 introgression lines (ILs) derived from S. lycopersicoides were used as rootstock and grafted with the commercial cultivar ‘Torry F₁’ to evaluate their effects on morphological and fruit quality traits under greenhouse conditions. The evaluations included assessments of morphological and fruit quality traits for QTL analysis. A total of 19 QTLs were identified, associated with 11 traits such as yield, antioxidant capacity, flavonoid content, and fruit color parameters (L*, a*, b*, C*, h°), with the phenotypic variance explained ranging from 12% to 61%. Of these QTLs, seven favorable alleles originated from S. lycopersicoides, notably including a major yield-associated locus (Fy5.1). In addition, the identification of a QTL for scion stem thickness (Tsc3.1) highlights the genetic contribution of the rootstock to scion development. This study represents the first evaluation of the rootstock potential of S. lycopersicoides ILs and provides novel insights into the genetic basis of rootstock–scion interaction in tomato. The identified QTLs offer valuable information for future breeding efforts aimed at developing improved rootstock cultivars for sustainable tomato production. Full article

The northern snakehead (Channa argus) is an important economic fish species that holds a significant position in Chinese aquaculture due to its high nutritional value, fast growth, and anti-hypoxia capacity. There is a natural albino-mutant (AM) C. argus strain. Albinism, a stable genetic trait characterized by loss of body pigmentation, provides a unique opportunity to study the molecular mechanisms of vertebrate coloration. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying albinism in C. argus through skin transcriptomic analyses of wild type (WT) and AM individuals. Morphological and histological analysis revealed no significant phenotypic difference between WT and AM in early development, whereas adult AM exhibited a severe reduction in melanocytes. Through RNA sequencing of skin tissues from WT-adult, AM-adult, and AM-15dpf, a total of 10,891 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Through DEG enrichment analyses, we identified a series of enriched pathways and genes related to albinism, including melanogenesis (i.e., tyr, tyrp1b, kitb, kitlga, pmela, pmelb, mitfa, and mitfb) and xanthophore formation (i.e., pax3a, pax3b, pax7a, and sox10). In conclusion, this study not only enriches the research on fish pigmentation, but also has potential significance for the aquaculture and breeding of C. argus. Full article