Minor Defects Research Articles

Influence of animal temperament on body and reproductive development of beef bulls.

Several studies have related reactive temperament to poorer productive and reproductive performance in cattle. However, no studies have aimed to investigate the effect of temperament on sexual development and precocity of male cattle. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that reactive animals exhibit delayed sexual development and poorer reproductive performance. For the study, 40 crossbred male cattle (Nellore x Santa Gertrudis) at 12 months were selected. The animals underwent behavioral evaluation and were divided into two groups: calm (CA; n = 24) and reactive (RE; n = 16). All steers were weighed to monitor weight gain, and blood samples were collected to measure cortisol and testosterone concentrations. Semen collections by electroejaculation were performed to determine the onset of puberty and assess sperm quality. Cryopreservation tests were conducted, and the samples were evaluated for kinetics and plasma membrane integrity. Ultrasound examinations assessed testicular development. Additionally, testicular biopsies were performed to evaluate spermatid and spermatozoa ratios. There was a trend toward higher cortisol production (P = 0.07) in RE animals. Higher total (P = 0.03), average (P = 0.07), and daily (P = 0.06) weight gains were observed for CA animals. RE steers produced a higher proportion of cells with minor sperm defects (P = 0.06). Greater vesicular glands development was observed in CA animals (P = 0.01). No effect of temperament was observed on sexual precocity, cryotolerance, or testosterone production. It was concluded that although temperament does not influence age at puberty, reactive bulls exhibit poorer performance in body development, vesicular glands development, and fresh semen quality compared to calm bulls.

Influence of occlusal loading on the longevity of dental bridges

Dental bridges are a cornerstone in restorative dentistry, offering functional and aesthetic solutions for patients with missing teeth. Their longevity is influenced by a complex interplay of biomechanical, material, and clinical factors. Occlusal loading, the force exerted during mastication and other functional activities, plays a critical role in determining the durability of these prostheses. Excessive or uneven occlusal forces can lead to mechanical failures such as fractures, debonding, or material fatigue. Advances in materials, particularly high-strength ceramics like zirconia, have improved the ability of bridges to withstand these stresses, providing enhanced resistance to wear and fracture. Design considerations, including connector dimensions and the use of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, ensure more precise stress distribution, minimizing the risk of localized mechanical failures. Finite element analysis and digital occlusal analysis have further refined the understanding of stress patterns, enabling personalized approaches tailored to individual patient needs. Clinical studies have highlighted the importance of maintenance strategies, such as regular follow-ups and early repair of minor defects, in extending the lifespan of dental bridges. Patient-specific factors, such as parafunctional habits and periodontal health, significantly influence outcomes and necessitate individualized treatment planning. Emerging technologies, combined with material innovations, have shifted the focus toward optimizing the biomechanical performance of dental bridges. Trends reveal that integrating robust materials with advanced design techniques results in improved longevity and reduced failure rates. The interplay between clinical, material, and mechanical factors continues to evolve, offering new insights into enhancing the reliability and success of dental bridges over time.

Newborn Screening for Hypophosphatasia: Development of a High-Throughput TNAP Activity Assay Using Dried Blood Spots

Abstract Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inherited metabolic disease caused by deficiency of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) caused by pathogenic variants of the ALPL gene (MIM 171760). The clinical manifestations of HPP vary, ranging from a lethal perinatal-onset type to a moderate late-onset type presenting with non-specific symptoms, such as arthropathy and musculoskeletal pain. HPP is characterized by low TNAP activity and defective bone mineralization, leading to bone deformity and skeletal abnormalities. Moreover, this disease can cause systemic complications, such as muscle weakness, seizures, pain, and respiratory failure, leading to premature death in infants. This study aimed to evaluate whether measuring TNAP activity in dried blood spots (DBSs) can identify patients with HPP. We developed an assay to assess TNAP activity using DBSs and screened 45,632 newborns born between February 2019 and March 2022 in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan for HPP. We detected a single heterozygous variant of the ALPL gene in five newborns. During the clinical course follow-up, one newborn presented with HPP-related clinical manifestations. This is the first study on newborn screening (NBS) for HPP worldwide. NBS for HPP using DBSs may be practical and beneficial, as it is a high-throughput method. Moreover, the DBSs used for the TNAP assay are the same as those used for public-funded NBS worldwide. In the future, this system may be implemented as standard NBS for HPP.

Defect detection for melamine-impregnated paper decorative particleboard surface based on deep learning

ABSTRACT In the context of advancing automation in panel furniture manufacturing, the need for stringent quality control of panel parts has grown. This study delved into utilizing deep learning for detecting surface defects in melamine-impregnated paper decorative particleboard, focusing on edge breakage, scratch, and surface damage. Data augmentation and equalization techniques were devised to enhance defect identification accuracy. Strategies to improve the YOLOv8 algorithm were developed based on various improvements such as DCN and DSC convolutional structures, EMA attention mechanism, BiFPN feature fusion, and Loss function improvement. Then, the optimal effect model was found through ablation experiments and comparative analysis. The precision, recall, and mAP@50 for the identified defects improved from 77.4%, 69.6%, 71.8% to 83.6%, 77.7%, 78.3%. Compared to Faster R-CNN and CB-Net, which perform well in other comparative models, our model's precision is 9.4% and 5.1% higher respectively. This research effectively addressed the limitations of traditional algorithms, such as limited data and challenges in detecting minor target defects, offering valuable insights for advancing automated visual inspection systems in panel furniture production.

Loss of STAT3 in osteoblasts has detrimental and sexually dimorphic effects on skeletal development.

Studies with genetically modified mice have implicated the transcriptional regulator STAT3 as a key modulator of bone development. STAT3-OKO knockout mouse lines were generated in two genetic backgrounds, pure C57BL/6 (STAT3-OKO-BL) and mixed C57BL/6, CD1 (STAT3-OKO-M). Both lines exhibited defective postnatal bone development resulting in reduced body weight and shortened femurs that displayed low bone mineral density as well as cortical widening and thinning in the diaphyseal region. Remarkably, each of these defects displayed sexual dimorphism that was dependent on genetic background: the phenotype was entirely male-specific in STAT3-OKO-M but not in STAT3-OKO-BL, in which defects were similar in both sexes. However, both lines exhibited a male-specific bone defect in mineralization, and also in bone mechanical properties related to bone quality, such as yield stress and ultimate stress. On the other hand, bone mechanical properties such as ultimate force, that may reflect density and macrostructure rather than bone quality, showed male-specific defects only in STAT3-OKO-M. These findings suggest that STAT3 may regulate multiple sex-dependent mechanisms in bone development that control either mineralization or bone accrual, and that the sex-dependence of at least some of these mechanisms is affected by genetic background. Finally, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate STAT3-deficient preosteoblastic cells from immortalized wild-type bone marrow stem cells and showed that the defective osteoblastic differentiation of STAT3-ablated cells was associated with reduced gene expression of Wnt3a and Wnt5a, consistent with other studies that identify Wnt signaling pathways as potential effector mechanisms for STAT3-mediated regulation of bone development.

Design of a computer vision system for accurate measurement of mango skin defects by surface image slicing

Abstract External features such as color, size, weight, and defect area are among the critical parameters for grading mangoes for export purposes. This paper describes a novel computer vision system (CVS) for the accurate measurement of mango skin defects. A novel algorithm called mango skin image slicing (MSIS) was developed to generate mango slices, each of which includes points of pseudo-equidistance from the camera to accurately calculate the defect area. Based on images captured from 360-degree views, defects on the entire mango surface can be detected. For the first time, a strategy for preventing multiple considerations of the same defects from 360-degree images was introduced based on MSIS. The experimental results revealed that recalculations of the same defects were avoided, and negligible minor defects were excluded, complying with the guidance of the mango exporting firms. The measurement accuracy was evaluated with artificial defects of 100 mm2, yielding a mean error of 6.0 ± 1.4 mm2, which was suitable for defect area measurement considering the mango grading standard. The CVS throughput of approximately 644 mangoes per hour was also a reasonable trade-off for the achieved accuracy and great potential of extending the CVS for more sophisticated classification of non-negligible defects based on the advantages of mango images captured at closer camera–object distances.

Diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with hypophosphatasia.

Hypophosphatasia is a rare inherited systemic metabolic disorder, with an estimated prevalence in the severe forms of the disease of 1/100.000-1/300.000, that affects the typical architecture of bone, leading to defective mineralization during growth and remodeling. It is characterized by loss-of-function variants in the ALPL gene, resulting in low activity of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase. In severe cases, it can be fatal. To generate recommendations on the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with hypophosphatasia based on available evidence. A search for evidence published between 2012 and 2024 was carried out in Medline and Embase. The search was expanded with information from various sources, including official sites of development groups, consensuses, technology evaluations, Google Scholar, clinical experts, and reference lists. The quality of the evidence was evaluated according to the type of document type. A modified Delphi consensus process was carried out with external experts, apart from the development group, it was established an 80% agreement threshold to define the final recommendations. Sixty-one papers were found in the evidence search. The global quality of the evidence was low. In addition, a consensus was reached on 94 recommendations regarding diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Those recommendations were approved by external clinical experts from Colombia, Argentina, Spain, and Mexico. The recommendations proposed in this document are based on the evidence available to the date the search was carried out, and the judgment of clinical experts. The recommendations on diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up are expected to guide the daily clinical practice for patients with HPP.

ТҰРҒЫН ҮЙЛЕРДІҢ ТЕМІРБЕТОН ҚҰРЫЛЫМДАРЫНЫҢ МОНИТОРИНГІ ЖӘНЕ ТАЛДАУ

A comprehensive study of the operational reliability of reinforced concrete structures of residential buildings includes an analysis of design documentation, inspection of the site, strength and deformation tests, and an assessment of the impact of the environment. This allows you to identify defects, determine the current condition and reliability of structures, and identify elements that require repair or replacement. The key aspects are the characteristics of the structures, expected operational loads and the impact of external factors. An integrated approach ensures a comprehensive assessment of the condition and reliability of reinforced concrete structures. A comprehensive survey of the technical condition of reinforced concrete structures (foundation and floor slabs) of a five-story residential building was carried out in accordance with SP RK 1.04.101-2012. It was found that the structures are in good condition, but some defects were identified that require compliance with the rules of technical operation. The conducted survey of the reinforced concrete structures of the five-story residential building made it possible to assess their technical condition. The foundation and floor slabs are in good condition, without serious defects. However, some minor defects have been identified, such as hairline cracks in the slabs, which do not affect the load- bearing capacity. To ensure the durability of the structures, compliance with technical operation rules is required.

HIV-1 single transcription start site mutants display complementary replication functions that are restored by reversion.

HIV-1 transcription initiates at two positions, generating RNAs with either cap1G or cap3G 5' ends. The replication fates of these RNAs di\er, with viral particles encapsidating almost exclusively cap1G RNAs and cap3G RNAs retained in cells where they are enriched on polysomes and among spliced viral RNAs. Here, we studied replication properties of virus promoter mutants that produced only one RNA 5' isoform or the other: separately, in combination, and during spreading infection. Results showed that either single start RNA could serve as both mRNA and genomic RNA when present as the only form in cells, although cap3G RNA was more efficiently translated and spliced while cap1G RNA was packaged into nascent virions slightly better than RNAs from the parental virus. When co-expressed from separate vectors, cap1G RNA was preferentially packaged into virions. During spreading infection cap1G-only virus displayed only minor defects but cap3G-only virus showed severe replication delays in both the highly permissive MT-4 cell line and in primary human CD4+ T cells. Passage of cap3G-only virus yielded revertants that replicated as well as the twinned (cap1G+ cap3G) transcription start site parent. These revertants displayed restored packaging and splicing levels and had regained multiple transcription start site use.

Levator Ani Deficiency and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction 1 Year Postpartum: A Prospective Nested Case-Control Study.

First, to assess whether levator ani deficiency (LAD) is associated with pelvic floor dysfunction 1 year postpartum, including urinary, vaginal and bowel symptoms; and second, to explore at what cut-off of LAD score such pelvic floor dysfunction arises. Nested case-control study. Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden. Primiparous women 1 year after vaginal birth. Three-dimensional endovaginal ultrasound assessment of the levator ani muscle; LAD score based on this ultrasound, and validated questions about pelvic floor dysfunction. Logistic regression models were used. Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction associated with LAD. Altogether 190 women were included, 103 of whom were symptomatic cases and 87 asymptomatic controls. 53% in the case group, and 58% in the control group had a LAD score of 0. A greater LAD score was significantly associated with urinary incontinence (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.22) and vaginal laxity (aOR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.25). The risk of urinary incontinence was increased when the LAD cut-off score was set between ≥ 1 point and ≥ 4 points. The risk of vaginal laxity was increased when the cut-off was set between ≥ 8 and ≥ 14 points. LAD was associated with both urinary incontinence and vaginal laxity. The risk of urinary incontinence increased already with minor LAD and defects of the most medial levator ani muscle portions normally supporting the midurethra may explain this increase.

Facial Artery Branch Thrombolysis for Nasal Vascular Embolism Induced by Hyaluronic Acid Injection.

Vascular embolism is a severe complication following hyaluronic acid (HA) filler injections, with hyaluronidase injection being the most effective treatment. The nasal region, including the nose and nasolabial fold, is the most common site of vascular embolism after facial HA injections. Currently, there is insufficient clinical evidence regarding the benefits of facial artery thrombolysis. This article aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hyaluronidase injection via the facial artery as an emergency treatment for vascular embolism induced by facial aesthetic HA fillers. We reviewed 14 patients who experienced nasal vascular embolism following facial HA filler injections. All 14 patients underwent percutaneous facial artery thrombolysis with a combination of hyaluronidase and urokinase administered intravascularly. For patients with longer occlusion duration and severe necrosis, femoral artery interventional thrombolysis was performed, with local injection of platelet-rich plasma to promote recovery. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 1 year. Following facial artery hyaluronidase injection, all cases showed improvement in nasal skin lesions. Twelve patients fully recovered, while 2 patients were left with minor superficial scars and defects in the nasal wings. Early thrombolysis postnasal embolism is crucial, and percutaneous facial artery puncture is an effective emergency treatment. Arterial intervention targeting the facial artery in the nasolabial fold may offer more precise thrombolysis. The combined use of hyaluronidase and urokinase is both safe and effective.

Exogenous bone sialoprotein improves extraction socket healing in Ibsp knockout and wild-type mice.

Bone sialoprotein (Ibsp/BSP) is a bone-associated extracellular matrix protein. Ibsp knockout (Ibsp-/-) mice exhibit defective alveolar bone formation, mineralization, and healing. We hypothesized BSP would rescue defective alveolar bone healing in a molar extraction model in Ibsp-/- mice. Collagen gel with or without native rat BSP (nBSP) or recombinant rat BSP (rBSP) was delivered to sockets after first maxillary molar extraction in Ibsp-/- and wild-type (WT) mice. Tissues were harvested 0, 1, 2, 7, and 14days post-procedure (dpp) and analyzed by micro-computed tomography, histology, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Histology and IHC demonstrated that collagen and BSP were retained within sockets. At 14 dpp, both bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and bone mineral density (BMD) were increased by both nBSP (over 50%) and rBSP (over 60%), compared to collagen alone in Ibsp-/- mice. In WT alveolar bone, BV/TV and BMD were also increased by nBSP (over 30%) and rBSP (over 60%) compared to collagen controls. Gene expression analyses revealed few changes from delivery of nBSP, while addition of rBSP resulted in regulation of cell signaling, ECM, mineralization, and osteoblast/osteoclast-associated genes. Exogenous BSP rescued alveolar bone healing defects in Ibsp-/- mice and enhanced bone healing in WT mice. Despite both forms of BSP improving bone healing, the substantial differences in how they regulate gene expression suggests that exogenous BSP acts in a complex, multifunctional manner to promote bone healing. These results support BSP as a novel approach to improve the quantity and quality of new bone in socket healing.

Metallic 2D and 3D re-entrant honeycomb auxetics produced by WAAM

This study addresses the main challenges in manufacturing large-scale metallic auxetic structures, characterised by a negative Poisson’s ratio, focusing on achieving suitable geometry control, surface finish, and structural integrity using Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). Specifically, the research employs the Cold Metal Transfer (CMT) process to fabricate 2D and 3D carbon steel auxetic cells. The primary objective is to address the challenges associated with the production of these structures. A comprehensive experimental and numerical analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of various factors, such as internal defects or geometric irregularities, such as pores and surface waviness, on the mechanical behaviour of the 2D and 3D auxetic cells under tensile and compressive loads, respectively. The compression tests revealed that despite minor defects and geometric imperfections, the manufactured cells consistently exhibit a negative Poisson’s ratio. This suggests that the WAAM-produced auxetic structures are viable and capable of maintaining their unique mechanical properties. Furthermore, the study emphasises the significance of parameters such as orientation and the number of auxetic cells in governing the overall auxetic behaviour of the components.

Phenotype-to-Genotype Description of Prenatal Suspected and Postnatal Discovered Upper Limb Anomalies: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

To evaluate phenotype and genotype characteristics of fetuses and children with upper limb anomalies. Retrospective cohort study of a prenatal and postnatal cohort with upper limb anomalies from January 2007 to December 2021 in a Fetal Medicine Unit. Prenatally on ultrasound suspected upper limb anomalies, such as transverse and longitudinal reduction defects, polydactyly, and syndactyly, and postnatally identified children referred to the Congenital Hand Team were evaluated separately. The prenatal group included 199 pregnancies: 64 transverse and 19 longitudinal reduction defects, 103 polydactylies, and 13 cases with syndactyly. The majority of cases with longitudinal reduction defects (n=10, 52.6%), polydactyly (n=62, 60.2%), and syndactyly (n=10, 76.9%) were non-isolated, as opposed to transverse reduction defects, which were generally isolated (n=41, 64.1%). The postnatal cohort included 362 children with upper limb anomalies with 49 transverse and 22 longitudinal reduction defects, 226 polydactylies, and 65 syndactylies. Chromosomal or monogenic abnormalities were identified in 76/199 (38.2%) cases of the prenatal cohort and in 31/362 (8.6%) cases of the postnatal cohort. Prenatal identification of minor defects of the digits is a challenge, with more postnatal than prenatal cases. The majority of cases with isolated anomalies in both groups had no underlying chromosomal or monogenic cause, nor were they associated with a syndrome, as compared to the non-isolated cases. Conducting structural anomaly scans and genetic counseling are crucial to assess the risk of genetic abnormalities.

The Future of Bone Repair: Emerging Technologies and Biomaterials in Bone Regeneration.

Bone defects and fractures present significant clinical challenges, particularly in orthopedic and maxillofacial applications. While minor bone defects may be capable of healing naturally, those of a critical size necessitate intervention through the use of implants or grafts. The utilization of traditional methodologies, encompassing autografts and allografts, is constrained by several factors. These include the potential for donor site morbidity, the restricted availability of suitable donors, and the possibility of immune rejection. This has prompted extensive research in the field of bone tissue engineering to develop advanced synthetic and bio-derived materials that can support bone regeneration. The optimal bone substitute must achieve a balance between biocompatibility, bioresorbability, osteoconductivity, and osteoinductivity while simultaneously providing mechanical support during the healing process. Recent innovations include the utilization of three-dimensional printing, nanotechnology, and bioactive coatings to create scaffolds that mimic the structure of natural bone and enhance cell proliferation and differentiation. Notwithstanding the advancements above, challenges remain in optimizing the controlled release of growth factors and adapting materials to various clinical contexts. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current advancements in bone substitute materials, focusing on their biological mechanisms, design considerations, and clinical applications. It explores the role of emerging technologies, such as additive manufacturing and stem cell-based therapies, in advancing the field. Future research highlights the need for multidisciplinary collaboration and rigorous testing to develop advanced bone graft substitutes, improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with complex defects.

Evaluation of Bone Biomarkers in Renal Osteodystrophy.

Renal osteodystrophy (ROD) represents histological bone changes in patients with chronic kidney disease and is classified according to turnover and mineralization. This cross-sectional study evaluates several bone biomarkers and their ability to discriminate turnover and mineralization defects in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Bone-specific [BSAP] and total [tAP] alkaline phosphatase, procollagen-1 N-terminal propeptide [P1NP], C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide [CTX], intact [iPTH] and whole [wPTH] parathyroid hormone, sclerostin [SOST], fibroblast growth factor 23 [FGF-23], vitamin D, osteoprotegerin [OPG], and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand [RANKL] were collected before the bone biopsy. Thirty-two patients were evaluated by bone histomorphometry, which identified mineralization defects and low and high turnover in 47%, 50%, and 41% of patients, respectively. Bone biomarkers (tAP, BSAP, CTX, P1NP) and hormones (iPTH, wPTH, and SOST) were capable of identifying low and high turnover (AUC > 0.877 and >0.857, respectively, p < 0.001). PTH plus AP had the best accuracy for identifying high turnover. BSAP > 2x, iPTH > 8x, and wPTH > 6x upper limit of normal range identified high turnover. Lower calcium values (Ca < 8.7 mg/dL) were correlated with mineralization defects. On the other hand, FGF-23, OPG, and RANKL did not impact the turnover and mineralization. While bone histomorphometry is not widely available, bone biomarkers such as BSAP, P1NP, PTH, and calcium allow the assessment of turnover and mineralization defects in HD patients. Then, using bone biomarkers may help clinicians define treatments for ROD and osteoporosis and monitor therapeutic response.

Leveraging a deep learning generative model to enhance recognition of minor asphalt defects

Deep learning-based computer vision systems have become powerful tools for automated and cost-effective pavement distress detection, essential for efficient road maintenance. Current methods focus primarily on developing supervised learning architectures, which are limited by the scarcity of annotated image datasets. The use of data augmentation with synthetic images created by generative models to improve these supervised systems is not widely explored. The few studies that do focus on generative architectures are mostly non-conditional, requiring extra labeling, and typically address only road crack defects while aiming to improve classification models rather than object detection. This study introduces AsphaltGAN, a novel class-conditional Generative Adversarial Network with attention mechanisms, designed to augment datasets with various rare road defects to enhance object detection. An in-depth analysis evaluates the impact of different loss functions and hyperparameter tuning. The optimized AsphaltGAN outperforms state-of-the-art generative architectures on public datasets. Additionally, a new workflow is proposed to improve object detection models using synthetic road images. The augmented datasets significantly improve the object detection metrics of You Only Look Once version 8 by 33.0\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\%$$\\end{document}, 3.8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\%$$\\end{document}, 46.3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\%$$\\end{document}, and 51.8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\%$$\\end{document} on the Road Damage Detection 2022 dataset, Crack Dataset, Asphalt Pavement Detection Dataset, and Crack Surface Dataset, respectively.

MDD-DETR: Lightweight Detection Algorithm for Printed Circuit Board Minor Defects

PCBs (printed circuit boards) are the core components of modern electronic devices, and inspecting them for defects will have a direct impact on the performance, reliability and cost of the product. However, the performance of current detection algorithms in identifying minor PCB defects (e.g., mouse bite and spur) still requires improvement. This paper presents the MDD-DETR algorithm for detecting minor defects in PCBs. The backbone network, MDDNet, is used to efficiently extract features while significantly reducing the number of parameters. Simultaneously, the HiLo attention mechanism captures both high- and low-frequency features, transmitting a broader range of gradient information to the neck. Additionally, the proposed SOEP neck network effectively fuses scale features, particularly those rich in small targets, while INM-IoU loss function optimization enables more effective distinction between defects and background, further improving detection accuracy. Experimental results on the PCB_DATASET show that MDD-DETR achieves a 99.3% mAP, outperforming RT-DETR by 2.0% and reducing parameters by 32.3%, thus effectively addressing the challenges of detecting minor PCB defects.

Methyl ester production process from palm fatty acid distillate using hydrodynamic cavitation reactors in series with solid acid catalyst

This study aims to optimize the reduction of free fatty acids (FFAs) in palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) using hydrodynamic cavitation reactors (HCRs) in series and a solid acid catalyst for biodiesel production. Hydrodynamic cavitation is used to accelerate the esterification of FFAs using a heterogeneous acid catalyst. There are three HCRs units, and each HCR composed of a 3D-printed rotor and stator, is separated by flanges and equipped with a basket for holding Amberlyst-15 catalyst. Through response surface methodology (RSM), the esterification process is optimized by adjusting its optimal parameters, namely, methanol (2–12 wt%), circulation time (30–170 min), and rotor speed (1000–3000 rpm). The optimal conditions for achieving a maximum methyl ester purity of 89.76 wt% in converting FFA in first-step esterified oil are 9 wt% methanol (molar ratio of methanol to oil of 4:1), 133 min of circulation time, and 2000 rpm of rotor speed. An 82.48 wt% biodiesel yield is achieved from the HCRs in series under the optimal conditions. Scanning electron microscope images reveal that after the esterification process, there are minor cracks and defects on the catalyst’s resin surface, indicating the presence of residual reactants. Further examination of the catalyst after the esterification process, reveals an average absorption pore diameter of 341.41 Å and BET surface area of approximately 41.68 m2/g. Although there were slight physical changes in the catalyst, HCRs technology offers a viable FFA reduction process that could enhance biodiesel production efficiency. Moreover, the optimized conditions achieved in this study contribute to the advancement of biodiesel production processes and provide insights into the performance of the catalyst used.

Anethole improves mitochondrial activity and quality parameters in fresh and frozen-thawed ovine semen

Anethole, an antioxidant found in plants, appears to improve the survival of spermatozoa during semen cryopreservation. This study assessed the effects of commercial trans-anethole in ram semen cryopreservation. Thirty ejaculates from six rams were diluted in media containing anethole at the following concentrations: CONT (0 μM), AN10 (10 μM), AN50 (50 μM), and AN100 (100 μM). Semen was slow-frozen, preserved in liquid nitrogen, and thawed. Anethole at 10 μM or 50 μM did not compromise any studied sperm quality parameter but increased pre-freezing functionality of membrane and mitochondrial activity. At 10 μM, anethole reduced post-thawing spermatozoa lipoperoxidation. At 50 μM, anethole sustained higher mitochondrial activity after thawing, reduced minor defects in sperm, and increased the number of sperm binding to perivitelline membrane, while keeping lipoperoxidation levels as in control. Anethole at 100 μM promoted higher pre- and post-freezing mitochondrial activity and higher number of sperm binding to perivitelline membrane, in comparison to control. Additionally, some post-thawing kinematic parameters were enhanced by anethole at 100 μM. Of note, mitochondrial activity and lipoperoxidation were higher with anethole at 100 μM in comparison to 50 μM, not differing from control. At the hypoosmotic test, the highest concentration (100 μM) tested reduced sperm osmotic resistance. The results of this study indicate that using anethole in cryopreservation media promoted mostly positive effects on the fresh and post-thawed ram semen, and the advantages vary according to its concentration.