Search Results (706)

The severe degradation of alpine grasslands on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau poses a significant threat to regional ecological security. While insects are critical for ecosystem functions, their responses to restoration measures in these fragile habitats are poorly documented. This study assessed the initial impacts of four restoration approaches—grazing exclusion fencing (FE), no-till reseeding (FR), planting grass (GC), and grazing control (CK)—on insect trophic guilds (herbivores, predators, saprophagous, and omnivores) in the Qilian Mountains. Using a multi-dimensional indicator (alpha, zeta, and dark diversity), we systematically assessed community assembly and recovery potential. The results revealed the following: (1) FE supported the highest insect abundance, dominated by phytophagous insects. FR significantly enhanced species’ richness and diversity across multiple functional groups (p < 0.05). GC significantly increased the richness of omnivorous insects, but caused a significant decrease in the Shannon–Wiener index for saprophagous insects (p < 0.05). (2) Zeta diversity revealed stable, widespread-species-dominated communities under FR and FE, while CK and GC favored rare-species-driven succession. Dark diversity analysis indicated high recovery potential for phytophagous insects under FR and FE, while GC enhanced saprophagous latent diversity. However, we emphasize that mechanistic interpretations require further validation. Our findings highlight no-till reseeding as a promising initial strategy, though longer-term studies are essential to evaluate successional trajectories and establish definitive management protocols for alpine grassland restoration. Full article

This pilot study examined the effects of a 12-week reaction training program on physical and cognitive performance (choice reaction) in U20 Latvian fencers. Five qualified right-handed male fencers (aged 14.8–18.6 years) completed the Vienna Test System choice reaction task at baseline and after 12 weeks while cycling through five heart rate zones (1–5). Reaction speed (RS), motor speed (MS), choice reaction time (CR), and heart rate (HR) were recorded. Paired-sample t-tests indicated no significant group-level changes: RS (t = 1.46, p = 0.21, d = 0.65, 95% CI [−36.92, 118.92]), MS (t = 2.37, p = 0.07, d = 1.06, 95% CI [−3.14, 40.34]), CR (t = 1.70, p = 0.16, d = 0.76, 95% CI [−37.30, 156.26]), and HR (t = −2.69, p = 0.054, d = −1.20, 95% CI [−12.53, 0.17]). Individual responses revealed that three athletes improved CR in low- to moderate-intensity zones (−12.66% to −27.18%), whereas heart rate increased modestly (1.35% to 9.60%). Given the critical age for developing choice reaction, these findings should be considered as preliminary and exploratory, offering initial insights into how training might influence cognitive performance in young fencers and demonstrating that responses can differ across heart rate zones and among individuals. Full article

Rockfalls represent a widespread natural hazard that threatens infrastructures and settlements in mountainous and coastal areas. In Baunei (Sardinia, Italy), steep carbonate cliffs above the SS125 road frequently generate block detachments that endanger traffic and nearby urban areas. The present work adopts a quantitative risk assessment framework, consistent with the Swiss PLANAT guidelines, to evaluate the protective effectiveness of direct-protection forests in combination with engineered barriers. The framework integrates the key components of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability to quantify direct-impact risk and associated economic loss. Using Rockyfor3D simulations, three scenarios were analysed: bare slope, forest only, and forest plus protective works. The results demonstrate that vegetation markedly reduces both runout distance and kinetic energy of falling blocks, halving the direct-impact risk compared to bare-slope conditions. The addition of barriers further decreases residual exposure, with most trajectories intercepted and remaining impacts limited to low-energy classes. Monetised risk estimates confirm an 84% reduction with forest cover alone and near-complete mitigation when complemented by fences, except in short discontinuous segments. The proposed approach offers a replicable and cost-effective tool for rockfall risk management and sustainable protection forest planning in Mediterranean settings. Full article

Background and Objectives: To evaluate factors affecting aneurysm rupture, present our surgical experience with intracranial aneurysms, specifically using the picket-fence clipping technique for giant aneurysms, and highlight the complementary roles of sodium fluorescein (Na-Fl) and indocyanine green (ICG) videoangiography in enhancing surgical precision and patient outcomes. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 47 patients who underwent microsurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms with intraoperative Na-Fl and ICG videoangiography between September 2015 and February 2024. We assessed relationships between patient comorbidities, family history of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), smoking history, aneurysm location and size, and SAH occurrence. Concordance between intraoperative videoangiography and postoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for detecting residual aneurysms was also evaluated. Results: Of the 47 patients (31 female, 16 male; mean age 51.78 ± 11.16 years), 11 (23.4%) presented with SAH. The most common aneurysm location was the middle cerebral artery (MCA) (68.1%). Hypertension and smoking history were significantly higher in the hemorrhage group (p < 0.05). Aneurysm size and anterior communicating artery (AComA) location were also significantly associated with hemorrhage (p < 0.05). Aneurysm size demonstrated significant discriminative power for hemorrhage [AUC: 0.884 (0.827–0.941)], with a cutoff of 7.1 mm yielding 90.9% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity. Five giant MCA aneurysms were treated with the picket-fence technique, with intraoperative ICG and Na-Fl confirming parent artery patency and complete aneurysm occlusion, subsequently confirmed by postoperative DSA. Small remnants were detected in 2 cases (4.26%) on postoperative DSA, both in distal ACA aneurysms, which were also detected by intraoperative videoangiography. Conclusions: Hypertension, smoking history, aneurysm size, and location were important predictors of aneurysm rupture. Intraoperative ICG and Na-Fl videoangiography provide real-time, high-resolution visualization crucial for complex intracranial aneurysm surgery, including the picket-fence technique for giant aneurysms. Their complementary use enhances surgical safety, guides intraoperative decision-making, and contributes to improved outcomes in challenging cases. Full article

Industrial Robots (IRs) are typically employed as flexible machines to perform many types of repetitive and intensive tasks within fenced safe areas, ensuring high productivity and cost efficiency. However, their rigid programming approaches often pose challenges during cell commissioning and reset, hindering the implementation of self-reconfigurable systems. In addition, several production lines still need the presence of skilled operators to conduct assisted assembly operations and inspections. This motivates the growing interest in the development of innovative solutions for supporting safe and efficient human–robot collaborative applications. The manual guidance of the IR end-effector is a representative functionality of such collaboration, as it simplifies heavy-part manipulation and allows intuitive robot teaching and programming. The present study reports a sensor-based approach for enabling manual guidance operations with high-payload IRs and discusses its practical implementation on a production cell with an extended workspace. The setup features a KUKA robot mounted on a custom linear track actuated via Beckhoff technology to enable flexible assembly and machining operations. The developed logic and its software configuration, split into multiple control units to allow the manual guiding of both the 6-axis IR and the linear track unit, are described in detail. Finally, an experimental demonstration involving two users with different levels of expertise was conducted to evaluate the approach during target teaching on a physical cell. The results showed that the proposed manual guidance method significantly reduced task completion time by more than 55% compared with the conventional teach pendant, demonstrating the effectiveness and practical advantages of the developed framework. Full article

Grasslands provide essential forage, fuel, and ecosystem services, underpinning regional livestock husbandry and ecological integrity. However, improper utilization drives structural degradation and functional decline of the vegetation–soil–microbe system, particularly on the ecologically sensitive and fragile Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). The differential impacts of diverse utilization practices on QTP grasslands remain inadequately understood, limiting scientific support for differentiated sustainable management. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to clarify effects of grazing, enclosure, and mowing on QTP grasslands, integrating studies from Web of Science, Google Scholar, and CNKI. We constructed disturbance intensity indicators to quantify utilization pressure and used multiple ecological metrics to characterize heterogeneous responses of the vegetation–soil–microbe system. Moderate grazing enhanced vegetation coverage, biomass, diversity, soil total phosphorus, and organic matter; high-intensity grazing reduced vegetation traits, soil bulk density, moisture, nutrients, and microbial biomass/diversity, while increasing soil pH. Early enclosure mitigated anthropogenic disturbance to improve grassland functions, but long-term enclosure exacerbated nutrient/moisture competition, lowering vegetation biomass/diversity and degrading soil properties. Moderate mowing improved vegetation communities by suppressing dominant species overexpansion; excessive mowing caused vegetation homogenization, soil carbon loss, and microbial destabilization. Impacts showed environmental heterogeneity linked to climate, soil, vegetation type, and elevation. In humid and fertile alpine meadows, moderate grazing more effectively promoted vegetation diversity and soil nutrient cycling, while in arid and nutrient-poor desert grasslands, even light grazing led to visible declines in vegetation coverage and soil moisture. Low-elevation alpine grasslands exhibited stronger positive responses to moderate grazing, whereas high-elevation alpine desert grasslands showed high vulnerability even to light grazing. Based on these mechanisms, regionally tailored strategies integrating multiple practices are required to balance ecological conservation and livestock production, promoting QTP grassland sustainability. In future research, we will strengthen quantitative exploration of how specific environmental factors regulate the magnitude and direction of grassland ecosystem responses to grazing, enclosure, and mowing, thereby providing more precise scientific basis for differentiated grassland management. Full article

Wind and sand disaster prevention is a critical challenge for global environmental sustainability, with mechanical wind fences being key engineering measures. Current fences, including solid and permeable types, often struggle to balance environmental impact, windbreak efficiency, and stability. Solid fences provide effective sand control but have limited windbreak efficiency, while permeable fences improve airflow but require deep burial and are prone to erosion on uneven terrain. This study proposes a novel composite wind fence with a polylactic acid (PLA) sandbag base and a fiber mesh top, combining stability and permeability. We assessed windbreak performance using computational fluid dynamics simulations and verified results through wind tunnel experiments. Results show that the novel composite wind fence enhances windbreak efficiency and stability by optimizing airflow distribution, with the PLA sandbag base suppressing high–speed airflow and mesh fence weakening of leeward side vortices. Under wind speeds of 10 m/s, 18 m/s, and 28 m/s, the effective protection distance of the novel composite wind fence improved by 22.33% to 36.51%, 10.96% to 34.22%, and 0.94% to 28.98%, respectively, compared to single PLA and mesh wind fence. The optimal row spacing for the novel wind fences in three rows is 12 h when the incoming wind speed is 10 m/s, while the recommended spacings are 8 h and 6 h for wind speeds of 18 m/s and 28 m/s, respectively, ensuring continuous and effective protection. These findings present a novel wind fence technology with improved wind resistance, a more stable structure, and prolonged protective effects, offering an effective solution for environmental conservation initiatives aimed at preventing wind and sand disasters while promoting the sustainability of ecosystems. Full article

Collecting crop growth data in field environments is crucial for breeding research. The team’s current autonomous soybean phenotyping system requires manual control to start and stop data collection. To address the aforementioned issues, this study innovatively proposes an elliptical calibration rotating geofencing technique. Preprocess coordinates using Z-scores and mean fitting perform global error calibration via weighted least squares, calculate the inclination angle between the row direction and the relative standard direction by fitting a straight line to the same row of data, and establish a rotation model based on geometric feature alignment. Results show that the system achieves an average response time of 0.115 s for geofence entry, with perfect accuracy and Recall rates of 1, meeting the requirements for starting and stopping geographic fencing in soybean ridge trial plots. This technology provides the critical theoretical foundation for enabling a dynamic, on-demand automatic start–stop functionality in smart data collection devices for soybean field trial zones within precision agriculture. Full article

Fencing demands a unique blend of endurance, explosive power, and asymmetric neuromuscular control. This study compared physiological profiles of elite (top 25 nationally ranked, n = 16) and non-elite (positions 26–102, n = 33) Polish male fencers using the Fencing Endurance Test (FET), countermovement jump (CMJ), 5-m sprint, body composition, and heart rate (HR) metrics. FET duration, CMJ-derived explosive power (flight time, reactive strength index), and relative lean mass were also assessed in relation to competitive experience. Quantile regression (age & BMI-adjusted), ROC analysis, and Spearman correlations evaluated group differences. Elite fencers demonstrated superior FET duration (median difference: +1.84 min, p < 0.0001), CMJ performance (e.g., 10.4 W/kg higher peak power, p = 0.014), and relative lean mass (+7.7%, p < 0.001), despite comparable 5-m sprint times. Elite athletes also showed more efficient HR recovery (HRR1) and lower pre-FET resting HR (p < 0.05). Competitive experience correlated strongly with FET endurance (rho = 0.62), CMJ power (rho = 0.42), and lean mass (rho = 0.55). ROC analysis identified FET ≥ 14.3 min, CMJ flight time ≥0.581 s, and ≥10 years of experience as optimal discriminators of elite status (AUCs 0.86–0.90). These findings confirm that elite performance is characterized by superior sport-specific endurance and explosive power, independent of age/BMI. The FET and CMJ emerge as practical tools for monitoring training progress, with identified thresholds serving as benchmarks for elite preparation. Training programs should prioritize individualized development of these traits, acknowledging inter-athlete variability in physiological strengths. Future research should explore sport-specific acceleration metrics and extended FET protocols for elite athletes. Full article

Background: Grip control is a critical determinant of fencing performance, requiring both stability and precision. Traditional measures of hand strength, such as dynamometry, provide only a global estimate and cannot capture finger-specific load distribution. Yet, upper-extremity overuse syndromes, tendinopathies of the wrist and digital flexors are common in fencers, underscoring the need for more granular assessments that may inform clinical practice, especially in prehension contexts. Methods: This pilot study included eight elite épée fencers from the Polish National Team (age: 23.9 ± 4.9 years; training experience: >10 years) tested using a novel épée handle instrumented with five force-sensitive resistors (FSRs) embedded beneath each finger. Participants performed two 5-s maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) for each of the three conditions—Pinch (thumb + index), Trio (middle + ring + small), and Whole (all digits). Standard handheld dynamometry was also performed to provide a global reference measure. Results: Maximal grip strength measured with a dynamometer (65.3 ± 11.7 kgf) was substantially higher than finger-specific forces captured with the FSR handle (14.4 ± 4.4 kgf). Isolated Pinch contractions (83.0 ± 29.2 N) were significantly stronger than their integrated contribution within the Whole-hand condition (54.7 ± 16.3 N; Z = 2.52, p = 0.012), whereas Trio forces did not differ significantly (p = 0.263). On average, radial digits (thumb + index) contributed ~39% and ulnar digits (middle, ring, small) ~61% of Whole output, with the thumb and middle finger producing the largest forces. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of using an FSR-instrumented épée handle to capture finger-specific grip contributions in elite fencers. Despite limited statistical power (n = 8), the observed effects provide initial quantitative evidence for sport-specific, digit-level assessment, showing potential clinical utility in detecting maladaptive load-transfer mechanisms and informing rehabilitation and injury-prevention programs. Full article

PM_2.5 pollution is a significant environmental problem in global urbanization. However, traditional macro-scale studies are constrained by data resolution limitations, failing to accurately characterize the microscale built environment or thoroughly investigate its spatially heterogeneous effects on PM_2.5 concentrations. To address this gap, this study constructs a multidisciplinary framework of “Street View Imagery element extraction–spatial heterogeneity modeling–planning strategy optimization” with Xi’an as the case. Leveraging machine learning techniques, the study employs the ResNet50 deep learning model and the ADE20K dataset to precisely extract ten microscale built environment factors from tens of thousands of street view images. Combined with the High-resolution and High-quality Ground-level PM_2.5 Dataset for China, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), and Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) models were used to systematically reveal the impacts of the microscale built environment on PM_2.5 concentrations. Ten built environment factors were identified with varying spatial heterogeneity in their effects on the PM_2.5 concentrations, as follows: (1) factors with positive effects, in descending order of strength, include building, wall, fence, tree, sky, and grass; (2) factors with negative effects, in descending order of strength, include sidewalk, plant, and car; (3) compared with other factors, the road factor showed a relatively weaker effect. This research provides decision-making support for targeted urban planning and environmental protection, while offering valuable references for air pollution control in other cities. Full article

Spatial perception is essential for understanding residents’ subjective experiences and well-being. However, effective methods for tracking changes in spatial perception over time and space remain limited. This study proposes a novel approach that leverages historical street view imagery to monitor the evolution of urban spatial perception. Using the central urban area of Shanghai as a case study, we applied machine learning techniques to analyze 67,252 street view images from 2013 and 2019, aiming to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban perception. The results reveal the following: temporally, the average perception scores in 2019 increased by 4.85% compared to 2013; spatially, for every 1.5 km increase in distance from the city center, perception scores increased by an average of 0.0241; among all sampling points, 65.79% experienced an increase in perception, while 34.21% showed a decrease; and in terms of visual elements, natural features such as trees, vegetation, and roads were positively correlated with perception scores, whereas artificial elements like buildings, the sky, sidewalks, walls, and fences were negatively correlated. The analytical framework developed in this study offers a scalable method for measuring and interpreting changes in urban perception and can be extended to other cities. The findings provide valuable time-sensitive insights for urban planners and policymakers, supporting the development of more livable, efficient, and equitable urban environments. Full article

African swine fever (ASF) remains a major threat to swine production in Central Luzon, Philippines. This study assessed ASF detection and farm-level risk factors in Central Luzon using a risk-based surveillance framework. Pooled blood samples from five pigs per farm were collected in 277 farms across seven provinces and tested by real-time PCR. The analysis yielded an apparent farm-level prevalence of 26.7% (95% CI: 21.6–32.3), defined by one pooled 5-pig blood sample per farm. However, these values reflect risk-based surveillance outcomes rather than population-representative prevalence. Detection varied by province, with high rates in Bataan (80.5%) and Nueva Ecija (55.0%), moderate detection in Zambales (24.3%), lower detection in Pampanga (5.0%) and Tarlac (20.0%), and no positives in Aurora or Bulacan. Survey data were available for 201 farms. Firth-penalized logistic regression identified the absence of perimeter fencing as the only statistically significant predictor of ASFV detection. Veterinary oversight and consultancy showed protective but non-significant trends. These results highlight structural and professional biosecurity gaps, emphasizing the need for expanded veterinary outreach, fencing support, and training to mitigate ASF risk in smallholder-dominated production systems. Full article

This work presents an extensive experimental and numerical analysis, aimed at investigating the impact of shelf-like fences applied on the suction side of a turbine nozzle guide vane. The cascade is constituted of vanes characterized by long chord and low aspect ratio, which are typical features of some LPT first stages directly downstream of an HPT, hence presenting high channel diffusion, especially near the tip. In particular, the present study complements existing literature by highlighting how blade fences positioned on the suction side can reduce the penetration of the large passage vortex. This is particularly effective in applications where flow turning is limited, the blades are lightly loaded at the front, and the horseshoe vortex is weak. The benefits of the present fence design in terms of losses and flow uniformity at the cascade exit plane have been demonstrated by means of a detailed experimental campaign carried out on a large-scale linear cascade in the low-speed wind tunnel installed in the Aerodynamics and Turbomachinery Laboratory of the University of Genova. Measurements mainly focused on the characterization of the flow field upstream and downstream of straight and fenced vane cascades using a five-hole pressure probe, to evaluate the impact of the device in reducing secondary flows. Furthermore, experiments were also adopted to validate both low-fidelity (RANS) and high-fidelity (LES) simulations and revealed the capability of both simulation approaches to accurately predict losses and flow deviation. Moreover, the accuracy in high-fidelity simulations has enabled an in-depth investigation of how fences act mitigating the effects of the passage vortex along the blade channel. By comparing the flow fields of the configurations with and without fences, it is possible to highlight the mitigation of secondary flows within the channel. Full article

To solve carrot grading problems (low manual efficiency, unquantifiable defects/secondary damage in machinery, gaps in slender carrot (aspect ratio > 4:1) sorting), this study develops a deep learning-based system. Methods: Build CarrotDSTNet (YOLOv8-seg + DeepSORT, optimized via DualConv/SegNeXt) for quality detection; adopt fuzzy comprehensive evaluation for grading; propose CarrotDTNet with an electronic fence for sorting. Results: Detection metrics improved; grading accuracy 94% (0.37 ms); sorting accuracy 97.39%, efficiency 310 roots/min. Contribution: Realizes non-contact, high precision/efficiency sorting, solves traditional issues, and supports carrot industry automation. Full article