Lightless Environment Research Articles

Research on the multitarget 3D trajectory tracking method of Thalassodes immissaria in the thermal infrared region based on YOLOX-GMM and SORT-Pest.

Studying the behavioral responses and movement trajectories of insects under different stimuli is crucial for developing more effective biological control measures. Therefore, accurately obtaining the movement trajectories and behavioral parameters of insects in three-dimensional space is essential. This study used the litchi pest Thalassodes immissaria as the research object. A special binocular vision observation system was designed for nighttime movement. A thermal infrared camera was used for video recording of T. immissaria in a lightless environment. Moreover, a multi-object tracking method based on the YOLOX-GMM and SORT-Pest algorithms was proposed for tracking T. immissaria in thermal infrared images. By obtaining the central coordinates of the two T. immissaria in the video, target matching and 3D trajectory reconstruction in the parallel binocular system were achieved. Error analysis of the T. immissaria detection and tracking model, as well as the 3D reconstruction model, showed that the average accuracy of T. immissaria detection reached 89.6%, tracking accuracy was 96.9%, and the average error of the reconstructed 3D spatial coordinates was 15 mm. These results indicate that the method can accurately obtain the 3D trajectory and motion parameters of T. immissaria. Such data can greatly contribute to researchers' comprehensive understanding of insect behavioral patterns and habits, providing important support for more targeted control strategies.

Görüntüden Görüntüye Dönüşüm Modeli Kullanılarak Derinlik Haritası Girdisiyle Sahne Görseli Üretimi

In recent years, deep learning approach to solve the image and video processing problems have become very popular. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are one of the most popular deep learning-based models. GANs form a generative model utilizing two sub-models, namely, generator and discriminator. The generator tries to generate indistinguishably realistic outputs where the discriminator tires to classify the outputs of the generator as real or fake. These two models work together to achieve a successful generation of realistic outputs. This study aims to reconstruct daytime image of a given depth map data recorded with a camera or a sensor which can capture the depth map data during night time or in a lightless environment. Our model was used for reconstructing the 2D images for a given depth map representation of a known scene. The model was trained with the chess scene from 7-scenes dataset and realistic 2D images were successfully generated for the given input maps.

Investigation of the effect of PAn and PAn/ZnO photocatalysts on 100% degradation of Congo red under UV visible light irradiation and lightless environment

PAn (polyaniline) and PAn/ZnO photocatalysts were synthesized using chemical polymerization of aniline. The structure characterization of the synthesized samples was analysed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy measurements, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The photocatalytic activities of PAn and PAn/ZnO (0.1g/100ml) on the degradation of the Congo red (CR) dye were studied under the UV visible light irradiation and the lightless environment and the efficiency of catalysts have been explained in details. Contribution of UV visible light irradiation on the 100% degradation of CR dye for the PAn and PAn/ZnO photocatalyst is determined. The reaction kinetics and effect of pH (pH 4 and pH 10) were investigated by using first order kinetic model. According to the experimental results, photocatalytic reaction rate of Congo Red increased in acidic environment and under UV visible light irradiation.

Oxidative Mineralization and Dechlorination Effects of Micron/Nanosize Birnessite on Pentachlorophenol in Contaminated Soil

Chlorinated aromatic organic compounds are extremely toxic to the environment and cause cancer to the human body. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a hydrophobic and ionic organic compound that is employed as a production material in various industries. Although the Taiwanese government has banned the use of PCP for years, large PCP-contaminated areas remain in Southern Taiwan. Chemical oxidation, which has been proposed as a viable method for restoring PCP-contaminated areas, involves the use of micronanosize birnessite (δ-MnO2), which is a type of manganese oxide and a natural mineral in soil environments. The goal of this study was to simulate the decontamination of the underlying soil of the PCP-contaminated areas, which is situated in anaerobic and lightless environment. Through the use of a self-developed gas release and absorption reaction flask, the oxidative mineral decarboxylation and dechlorination effects of δ-MnO2 on PCP in aerobic and anaerobic (with oxygen removed through the use of nitrogen) environments without light were investigated. Results indicated that adding δ-MnO2 facilitated the oxidative decarboxylation and dechlorination of PCP and the release of Cl− in an aerobic, lightless environment without microbial activity. In the anaerobic environment, the oxidative decarboxylation effect of δ-MnO2 on PCP decreased significantly, and the dechlorination effect was the primary reaction. Accordingly, adding δ-MnO2 inorganically destroys aromatic benzene and releases CO2 and Cl−. The molar ratio between CO2 and Cl− was calculated to assess the mechanisms of the distinct reaction systems. The parameters and data acquired from the experiment, which involved simulating the conditions of the contaminated areas, can be used in planning the on-site management of the PCP contamination; in particular, these parameters and data provide a reference for eliminating PCP from underlying soil—including groundwater-saturated layers.

The thoracic morphology of cave-dwelling and free-living ground beetles from China (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae)

External and internal thoracic structures of two carabid species (Trechini) were examined and documented with different techniques. The study has a main focus on the eyeless cave-dwelling specialist Sinaphaenops wangorum, but detailed information is also provided for a species occurring in cave entrances. The phylogenetic background of the structural features of the thoracic skeletomuscular system was addressed. The thoracic morphology of the examined species was compared to conditions observed in previously studied carabids and non-related subterranean leiodids (Staphylinoidea) in order to identify cave adaptations. Main thoracic character complexes linked with cavernicolous habits in Trechini are elongation of the pro- and mesothorax and the legs, and a complete and irreversible reduction of the flight apparatus. The lost flight capacity is linked with a far reaching modification of skeletal elements of the metathorax including a strongly shortened and simplified metanotum, a shortened metaventrite, and completely reduced wings and sclerites of the wing base. The elongate prothorax together with the long and slender head and elongated legs distinctly increases the activity range in the subterranean lightless environment, which likely facilitates foraging of the carnivorous beetles. Some of the observed features like wing loss and elongation of the anterior thorax and legs are also found in some cave-dwelling Leiodidae (Leptodirini), whereas some other subterranean members of the staphylinoid family have a compact body and legs of normal length. In contrast to the predaceous Trechini, Leptodirini are scavengers.

A Novel Device for Optical Imaging of Blast Furnace Burden Surface: Parallel Low-Light-Loss Backlight High-Temperature Industrial Endoscope

Accurate real-time optical imaging of the burden surface shape plays an important role in improving the gas flow distribution, reducing the coke ration, and reducing the emissions of a blast furnace. To overcome the high-temperature, high-dust, and lightless environment and obtain clear images of the burden surface, a parallel low-light-loss backlight high-temperature industrial endoscope is developed. The design of a parallel low-light-loss backlight path and a high-light-efficiency, low-light, color backlight source overcomes the lightlessness issue. Combined with the endoscopic optical imaging method, a high-temperature resistant image-capturing lens and a high-temperature non-resistant photosensitive chip are separated at two ends of the instrument. This separation design method together with the water cooling and industrial nitrogen cooling system enables the equipment to overcome the high temperature issue. Moreover, a new installation strategy, which avoids the material flow and high-dust region, is proposed to overcome the high dust issue. The strategy includes establishing a trajectory model of dust particles to determine the low-dust area and conducting a landing points experiment and a trajectory model of the material flow to determine the no-material-flow region. The industrial experiment results indicate that the developed device obtains real-time images of the burden surface and exhibits clear details of the coke and iron ore particles. The application also demonstrates the validity and better imaging performance of the proposed method compared with conventional detection methods.

SU‐E‐T‐511: Do Presage 3D Dosimeters Show Dose Fractionation Sensitivity?

Purpose:To determine whether Presage 3D polymer dosimeter dose response is sensitive to dose delivery fractionation. Bang gels have demonstrated a dose fractionation related dependence in which a single 400 cGy irradiation would produce a different detector response than four 100 cGy irradiations even if delivered closely in time to one another. Such a fractional dependent response in Presage would be detrimental for measuring multi‐beam irradiations.Methods:Two separate batches of Presage were poured into cuvettes, and a third batch was molded into cuvette shaped blocks. A total of 37 cuvettes/blocks were irradiated in a Cobalt‐60 irradiator to 400 cGy within solid water phantoms in either one, eight, or sixteen fractions. Another group of 15 cuvettes were also kept unirradiated and used for background subtraction between the pre‐scan and post‐scan results. The times between fractional deliveries were held constant at 30 seconds and the Cobalt irradiator dose rate was 49 cGy/min. Each Presage batch has a separate dose sensitivity and therefore fractionation response comparisons were only performed within the same batch. The cuvettes were first pre‐scanned the day prior to irradiation and post‐scanned the day after irradiation. Other than approximately 3 hours warming time prior to each irradiation and optical density measurement the cuvettes were stored in a refrigerator. All cuvettes were stored in a lightless environment throughout manufacturing and testing. The cuvettes’ optical densities were optically measured at 632 nm with a spectrophotometer.Results:No noticeable dose fractionation dependence was detected for any of the three independent batches of Presage for either the eight or sixteen fraction irradiation schemes.Conclusion:These results indicate using Presage 3D dosimeters to measure multi‐beam photon irradiations common in IMRT, Gamma Knife, and Cyberknife treatment delivery schemes.Presage dosimeters are made by and trademarked by Heuris Inc. Skillman, NJ. Dr. John Adamovics is a founder of Heuris Inc.

Cave Pearls--The Integrated Product of Abiogenic and Biogenic Processes

Abstract Cave pearls, up to 8 cm long, collected from dried-out rimstone pools in Old Man Village cave on Grand Cayman, British West Indies, have nuclei (e.g., bone) that are encased by laminated cortices. These laminae are composed of trigonal prismatic calcite crystals, calcite crystal bushes, or particulate calcite that is formed of filamentous microbes (four morphotypes), spores (seven morphotypes), extracellular polymers (EPS), disorganized and organized calcite fiber crystals, and detrital calcite grains. Syntaxial overgrowths modified many of the fiber crystals and the trigonal calcite crystals. Thin, laterally discontinuous growth lines are formed of micrite that may have been precipitated in a microbial mat. Growth of the cave pearls involved abiogenic and biogenic processes. The trigonal calcite crystals and crystal bushes probably formed abiogenically whereas the particulate calcite laminae appear to have formed as microbes trapped and bound detrital grains to the surfaces of the cave pearls and indirectly mediated precipitation of the fiber crystals. Water flow into the rimstone pools, which was linked to local rainfall, controlled the influx of detrital grains, water chemistry, and microbe growth into the pools and hence, the growth of the cave pearls. Periods of low water influx led to stagnation of pool waters that seemed to trigger periods of rapid abiogenic calcite precipitation and curtail microbial colonization. High flow rates slowed abiogenic calcite precipitation, promoted microbe growth, and fed detrital materials into the pools. Despite the lightless environment of the cave, the evidence clearly shows that the microbes and their associated EPS played a critical role in the growth and development of the cave pearls.

Ultrastructure of the peduncular aesthetascs of Speleonectes tanumekes (Crustacea, Remipedia) in comparison with crustaceans from stressful environments

Abstract. Osmotic stress associated with the freshwater environment and desiccation stress associated with the terrestrial environment may have a shortening effect on the length of the innervation of crustacean aesthetascs. Physical stress of the littoral environment may have a similar effect on the length of the cuticular portion of aesthetascs. The aesthetascs of crustaceans that inhabit these environments share a similar ultrastructural feature, which may help animals cope with these environmental stresses. This ultrastructural feature, the position of the basal bodies proximal to the lumen of the aesthetasc, is absent from the aesthetascs of crustaceans that occur in the typical marine environment. Interestingly, the ultrastructural feature associated with these stressful habitats is present in the peduncular aesthetascs of the remipede Speleonectes tanumekes, even though the environmental stresses that may invoke the reduction of aesthetascs are absent in the marine‐cave environment where this animal occurs. The importance of the sensitivity of aesthetascs for survival in this lightless environment may result in a selective pressure that favors basal bodies to be positioned proximal to the lumen of the aesthetasc.

Comparison of Deep-River and Adjacent Sandy-Beach Fish Assemblages in the Napo River Basin, Eastern Ecuador

We sampled fishes with a small trawl in the deep midchannel and with beach seines on nearby sandy beaches at five sites along two parallel headwater tributaries of the upper Amazon in Eastern Ecuador. We quantified ecological distance between fish assemblages of deep-river and beach habitats and compared assemblage composition, species richness, and diversity. Results of detrended correspondence analyses (DCA) and two-way indicator species analyses (TWINSPAN) clearly revealed the presence of a striking faunal change (i.e., about 92% dissimilarity) between beach-zone and off-shore fishes. The boundary between these assemblages occurred at about 2 m depth. Beach samples collected as far apart as 325 km were more similar to each other than to trawl samples taken only 10s of meters away. The beach-zone fish assemblage was strongly dominated by small characins, whereas the deep-river habitat was dominated by catfishes and weakly electric gymnotiforms. Apparent adaptations to deep-water habitats included small size, flattened or elongated body, ventral mouths, reduced eyes, and sensory specializations for life in what may be a nearly light-less environment (e.g., chemo- and electroreceptors). Visually oriented fishes and those dependent on algal or detrital foods were mostly absent from the deep-river samples. We caught many more species along the beaches, but after correcting for higher numbers of individuals collected in beach habitats, species richness was not noticeably different between the two habitats. Species diversity also averaged slightly higher for beach samples, but the difference was not significant. We infer that the deep-river habitat was undersampled and that further effort in the deep river would reveal the presence of many more species.

Degenerate hearing and sound localization in naked mole rats (Heterocephalus glaber), with an overview of central auditory structures

Behavioral tests of absolute sensitivity and sound localization in African naked mole rats show that, despite their communal social structure and large vocal repertoire, their hearing has degenerated much like that of other subterranean species. First, their ability to detect sound is limited, with their maximum sensitivity being only 35 dB (occurring at 4 kHz). Second, their high-frequency hearing is severely limited, with their hearing range (at 60 dB sound pressure level [SPL]) extending from 65 Hz to only 12.8 kHz. Third, determination of the effect of duration on noise thresholds indicates that, compared with other animals, mole rats require a sound to be present for a much longer duration before reaching asymptotic threshold. Finally, they are unable consistently to localize sounds shorter than 400 ms and cannot accurately localize sounds of longer duration, raising the possibility that they are unable to use binaural locus cues. Thus, it seems that the essentially one-dimensional burrow system of a subterranean habitat produces severe changes in hearing comparable to the changes in vision that result from the absence of light. To explore the relation between vision and sound-localization acuity, retinal ganglion cell densities were determined. The results indicate that naked mole rats have a broad area of best (albeit poor) vision, with maximum acuity estimated at 44 cycles/degree. That mammals with wide fields of best vision have poorer sound-localization acuity than those with narrower fields is consistent with the thesis that a major function of sound localization is to direct the gaze to the source of a sound. However, the fact that subterranean mammals have little use for vision in a lightless environment suggests that they represent an extreme case in this relationship and may explain the fact that, unlike surface-dwelling mammals, they have virtually lost the ability to localize brief sounds. Finally, despite their very limited auditory abilities, the major brainstem auditory nuclei, although relatively small, appear to be present.

Organic pollution of an inland marine cave from Bermuda

Inland marine caves have served as biological refugia and, as such, frequently contain unique assemblages of taxonomically significant relict populations known only from a single cave or cave system. However, the absence of photosynthesis in this totally lightless environment and the presence of a highly stratified water column and long residence times for cave waters, characteristically result in depleted dissolved oxygen levels. Under such circumstances, organic pollution, even at low levels, can produce anoxic conditions and may consequently result in the extinction of entire species of cavernicolous fauna. We here present data on the normal environment of marine caves in Bermuda and cite as an example a cave which has become grossly polluted as a result of indiscriminate dumping.