Variety Of Textures Research Articles

Diverse non-homogeneous texture synthesis from a single exemplar

Capturing non-local, long range features present in non-homogeneous textures is difficult to achieve with existing techniques. We introduce a new training method and architecture for single-exemplar texture synthesis that combines a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) and a Variational Autoencoder (VAE). In the proposed architecture, the combined networks share information during training via structurally identical, independent blocks, facilitating highly diverse texture variations from a single image exemplar. Supporting this training method, we also include a similarity loss term that further encourages diverse output while also improving the overall quality. Using our approach, it is possible to produce diverse results over the entire sample size taken from a single model that can be trained in approximately 15 min. We show that our approach obtains superior performance when compared to SOTA texture synthesis methods and single image GAN methods using standard diversity and quality metrics.

A synthesis of the REE-Fe-polymetallic mineral system of the REE-line, Bergslagen, Sweden: New mineralogical and textural-paragenetic constraints

Rare earth elements (REE) have gained increasing significance for numerous technologies, particularly in today’s rapidly expanding “green transition” applications such as wind generators and electric vehicle traction engines. Among the more well-known REE mineralisation types in Sweden, together with alkaline intrusions and apatite-iron oxide ores, is the classic yet enigmatic REE-Fe-polymetallic mineral system of Bastnäs-type. The mineralisation type is regional in context and occurs in a discontinuous SW-NE-striking belt (the REE-line) in the west-central part of the Palaeoproterozoic Bergslagen ore province, Sweden. This contribution is aimed at integrating and synthesising existing geological mineralogical, and textural features with new observations from both well-known and several lesser-known, underexplored or previously unrecognised REE-enriched occurrences within this belt, and to discuss key features within the context of mineral systems modelling. A considerable diversity in both the style and abundance of REE mineralisation as well as in discrete REE mineralogy is evident both regionally across the entire REE-line and locally within different ore districts or mine fields. These variations also extend laterally within or across different stratigraphic levels, and within different host rocks, primarily skarn-altered metacarbonates but also variably altered felsic metavolcanic rocks. Many of the mineralisations share similar textural features, which record a protracted evolution with multiple stages of formation or replacement of REE-minerals. The earliest recognised REE assemblages feature fine-grained cerite-(CeCa) with minor bastnäsite-(Ce) – bastnäsite-(La) or fluorbritholite-(Ce) – fluorbritholite-(Y) or locally britholite-(Ce) – britholite-(Y) minerals. Such assemblages typically display anhedral-granoblastic textures appearing in folded assemblages, all suggesting recrystallisation and ductile deformation during regional metamorphism of REE-minerals that had formed during an early stage of the Svecokarelian orogeny. Overprinting overgrowths and cross-cutting vein-like features of allanite-group minerals likely represent different stage(s) of REE mineralisation and (re)-mobilisation during this orogenic evolution. Several of the REE-enriched occurrences contain variably abundant and diverse polymetallic Cu-Mo-Bi-(Co) sulphide mineralisation that typically occur in late paragenetic positions and show a prevalence to REE-rich assemblages, often dominated by different allanite-group minerals. Sulphide and REE mineralisation are locally strongly associated with metamorphic minerals formed during metamorphism of variably Mg-(Fe)-altered metavolcanic rocks. The diversity in style and intensity of the REE mineralisations, along with variations in textures and specific mineralogy, suggest slight differences in the ore-forming conditions or environment at the time of mineralisation. Additionally, these differences may also reflect variations in the preservation or modification processes that operated later in the evolution of the Svecokarelian orogeny, also featuring remobilisation of REEs and sulphidic minerals. The insights gained from all available evidence synthesised herein, from micro-scale to province-scale, help define key proxies for prospectivity mapping. The combined evidence supports that the primary ore-forming stages in the mineral system coincided with felsic volcanism and associated sub-volcanic to plutonic processes at around 1.9 Ga.

Rb enrichment processes in highly evolved granites: Insights from mica and K-feldspar from the Baishitouquan pluton, Eastern Tianshan

Highly evolved granites are closely related to rare metal mineralization. The mechanisms controlling rare metal enrichment, however, remain poorly constrained. The highly evolved Baishitouquan (BST) pluton in the Eastern Tianshan, which hosts the Zhangbaoshan Rb deposit, has been well characterized and provides an excellent opportunity to study Rb enrichment processes in granitic systems. The BST pluton has five lithological zones, which, from bottom to top, are leucogranite (Zone-a), amazonite-bearing granite (Zone-b), amazonite granite (Zone-c), topaz-bearing amazonite granite (Zone-d), and topaz albite granite (Zone-e). To investigate Rb enrichment processes in the BST pluton, compositional variations in K(–Rb)-rich minerals from the different lithological zones are characterized and interpreted in the context of textural variations. The main K- and Rb-bearing minerals in the pluton are mica and K-feldspar, which are mainly represented by phengite and microcline, respectively. Phengite in Zone-e occurs as euhedral grains with irregular boundaries, indicating that they crystalized from the Baishitouquan magma and were overprinted by hydrothermal fluids. Phengite is generally enriched in F (1.05–9.94 wt%), Li (780–10171 ppm), and Rb (3133–6657 ppm), and is characterized by low K/Rb and Nb/Ta ratios. Most microcline grains occur as elongate, euhedral–subhedral laths, with tartan and Carlsbad twinning. These microcline grains are enriched in Rb (1547–2927 ppm), Pb (15–120 ppm), and Cs (14–100 ppm), and have low K/Rb and Al/Ga ratios. In the BST pluton, the concentrations of Li, F, and Rb in phengite increase from Zone-a to Zone-c, then decrease in Zone-d and Zone-e. Conversely, the K/Rb and Nb/Ta ratios decrease from Zone-a to Zone-c, then increase in Zone-d and Zone-e. The Rb concentration and K/Rb ratio of microcline exhibit a similar trend. Considering the gradual changes in lithology among the zones, the variations of mineral chemical from Zone-a to Zone-c implies continuous evolution of the magma dominated by crystal fractionation. The occurrence of secondary mica, and the abrupt geochemical changes in phengite and microcline in Zone-d and Zone-e are indicative of hydrothermal activity. The gradual decrease in Al/Ga ratio of microcline from Zone-d to Zone-e and the presence of secondary mica that is compositionally similar to primary mica suggests that the fluids were magmatic in origin. During magmatic evolution, volatile-rich (e.g., F) melts have lower viscosities and solidus temperatures than volatile-poor melts, allowing them to undergo extreme degrees of fractional crystallization. This significantly enhances the solubility of Rb, leading to continuous enrichment of Rb in the residual melt. As the BST system evolved from one dominated by magmatic processes to one dominated by hydrothermal activity, the crystallization of topaz consumed F, reducing the solubility of Rb in the melt, and leading to a decrease in the concentration of Rb in phengite and microcline. Hydrothermal alteration of phengite would have liberated Rb into the fluids, resulting in lower Rb concentrations in secondary mica compared to primary mica. Therefore, the enrichment of Rb in the BST pluton was mainly controlled by extreme degrees of fractional crystallization of a F-rich granitic magma.

Lithofacies and diagenetic controls on thrombolitic dolomite reservoir development from the Precambrian Dengying Formation in the central Sichuan Basin, SW China

Microbialite reservoirs are of great importance in oil and gas exploration. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive studies on the formation mechanisms of thrombolitic reservoirs, a specific type of microbialite. This research focuses on the oldest thrombolitic dolomite reservoir located within the Precambrian Dengying Formation in the central Sichuan Basin, southwestern China. A multi-disciplinary approach was employed to characterize different thrombolite facies and elucidate the formation mechanism of thrombolitic dolomite reservoirs and their controlling factors, involving core observation, thin-section analysis, cathodoluminescence, scanning electron microscope (SEM) microscopy, elemental analysis using LA-ICP-MS, and carbon and oxygen stable isotope analysis. Based on variations in texture, four types of thrombolite were identified: 1) distinct clotted thrombolite, 2) diffuse and regular clotted thrombolite, 3) diffuse and irregular clotted thrombolite, and 4) composite clotted thrombolite. Notably, the diffuse clotted thrombolitic dolomite is the prevalent lithology in the reservoir. Through modification by meteoric water, organic acid fluids, and hydrothermal fluids, a reservoir with dominant porosity in the form of primary growth-framework pores, dissolution pores, and vugs was formed. This resulted in the development of two high-quality reservoir intervals within the Second Member and at the top of the Fourth Member of the Dengying Formation. The growth-framework porosity of the thrombolites, epigenetic karstification, and tectonic fracturing were mainly conducive to reservoir development. However, various types of cementation have reduced porosity and connectivity within the reservoir. Overall, this study is a valuable example of the methodology required to understand meso- and microstructures of deep-buried thrombolitic dolomite reservoirs, including their heterogeneities and diagenesis, as the original structures influence diagenesis.

PROBLEMA DE DESPLACAMENTO CERÂMICO EM OBRAS VERTICAIS

Before the arrival of the Europeans, the Brazilian indigenous peoples already practiced the use of ceramic production in an advanced way. Ceramic tiles can be found in different forms, such as floors, tiles, and tiles, and are available in a variety of colors, textures, and patterns, allowing for extensive customization of spaces. These materials are especially popular in areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces, where water and wear resistance are crucial. In addition, ceramic coating is a good thermal and acoustic insulator, contributing to the comfort of environments. Thus, this article aims to show the reader the importance of quality in the process of performing the service to avoid the inconvenience caused by the fact of the detachment. The research began through a literature review of the main authors on the subject of displacement. Based on studies carried out through articles, monographs, dissertations, theses, among others, it is clear that the peeling of tiles or ceramics is considered the most common and serious problem in civil construction and its cause is the most varied. Therefore, it is concluded that the main causes of ceramic peeling is nothing more than a defect in the system that did not allow the correct adhesion between the plates, the mortar and the wall or floor, causing the pieces to detach.

Evaluation of Physical Attributes and Efficacy of Lip Balm Formulated with Okra Fruit Extract (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench)

The okra fruit (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) is renowned for its significant antioxidant properties, attributed to its rich content of bioactive compounds. Despite its high antioxidant activity, which has been extensively documented, its potential as a component in cosmetic formulations particularly lip balm preparation remains underutilized. This study seeks to address this gap by incorporating okra fruit extract into lip balm formulations and evaluating the resultant physical and functional attributes. Lip balm formulations were developed with three varying concentrations of okra fruit extract: F1 (1%), F2 (3%), and F3 (5%). A series of comprehensive evaluations were conducted to assess the physical stability and performance of the lip balms, including organoleptic properties, homogeneity, pH, melting point, spreadability, and overall stability. Stability was monitored over a 28-day period at room temperature to simulate typical storage conditions. The antioxidant efficacy of the okra extract was quantified using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay, which yielded an IC50 value of 10.06 ppm, reflecting its potent free radical scavenging capacity. The lip balm formulations exhibited a distinct okra aroma, smooth texture, and uniform color variations ranging from light brown (F1), brown (F2), to dark brown (F3). pH values ranged from 5.40 to 5.81, and melting points were between 49.6°C and 52.9°C, all within the acceptable range as per SNI 16-4769-1998 standards. ANOVA statistical analysis revealed no significant changes (p > 0.05) in melting point and spreadability over time. However, significant differences (p < 0.05) were noted in pH values, with further analysis indicating that formulations F2 and F3 differed significantly from F1 (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that okra fruit extract not only enhances the antioxidant properties of lip balm but also maintains its stability and functionality, supporting its potential as a valuable ingredient in cosmetic formulations.

Zero shot plant disease classification with semantic attributes

In the rapidly evolving field of plant disease detection, the number and complexity of crop diseases are increasing, made worse by factors like climate change. Addressing these challenges requires robust and efficient methodologies capable of early and accurate disease identification. This paper explores the integration of advanced deep learning techniques, including pre-trained models, zero-shot learning, and semantic attributes to enhance the effectiveness of plant disease detection systems. High level features extracted from the images by these pretrained models capture crucial patterns, while domain-specific semantic attributes, such as leaf texture and color variations, enhance the understanding. Incorporating zero-shot learning enables adaptation to new and unseen diseases using semantic descriptions. Experimental validation across diverse plant species and disease types underscores the approach’s reliability in real-world agricultural scenarios. Our approach has demonstrated superior performance with plant village dataset, showing a significant improvement in accuracy and generalization. These results underscore the potential of our method to revolutionize plant disease detection and management in agricultural practices.

Evolution of Crystallographic Texture and Its Impact on Magnetic Losses of Non‐oriented Electrical Steel

In this study, how crystallographic texture and changes in microstructure affect the magnetic properties of a semi‐processed non‐oriented (NO) electrical steel, which is investigated in its as‐received state and after heat treatment, is evaluated. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis shows the variation in texture with a crystallographic orientation changing from a predominance of γ and α fibers to a random one after heat treatment, with a significant increase in components with <100> directions in the sheet plane, which are desired for NO steels because they are parallel to the direction of easy magnetization. Heat treatment has also increased the average grain size of the samples from 18 to 128 μm. Magnetic properties are analyzed over a wide frequency range and induction, presenting different behaviors in permeability and magnetic loss for the samples before and after heat treatment. The components of total magnetic loss are also evaluated, and the hysteresis loss of heat‐treated sample decreases significantly. This demonstrates that heat treatment reduces microstructural imperfections, causing a decrease in hysteresis losses. Therefore, it is concluded that the improvement in magnetic performance observed with heat treatment has its origin in the increase in fiber components related to the <100> directions and a decrease in microstructural imperfections.

Petrography of Ophiolitic Detritus from a Miocene Conglomerate Formation on Darnó Hill, SW Bükk Mts (N Hungary): A Unique Tool to Trace Covered Ophiolitic Sequences

Petrographic studies have been carried out on the Early Miocene Darnó Conglomerate Formation, which consists only of debris of ophiolitic mélange and is found today on Darnó Hill in SW Bükk, NE Hungary. The studied sediments are bounded by the Darnó line from Darnó Hill. The aim of this work was to show if it is possible to reconstruct the petrographic composition of the source area only from its debris. The rock types were determined in thin sections using a polarizing microscope, and a quantitative analysis of the different rock types was carried out using the grain counting method, the results of which were interpreted as volume ratios. The main rock types observed in the studied samples (textural varieties of basalt, dolerite/microgabbro, claystone, siltstone, and radiolarite) are similar to the rock types of the mélange assemblage of Darnó Hill. Based on the volume calculations of basaltic detrital grains with different textures characteristic for pillow basalts, it could be established that pillow basalts dominated the igneous rocks in the source area of the Darnó Conglomerate on Darnó Hill already in the Miocene. Thus, this work shows that the lithological composition of a source area can be precisely outlined by a detailed petrographic analysis of the debris eroded from the immediate vicinity.

The role of mouse tails in response to external and self-generated balance perturbations on the roll plane.

Chordate tails exhibit considerable morphological and functional diversity, with variations in length, diameter and texture adapted to various ecological roles. While some animals, including humans, have lost or reduced their tails, many vertebrates retain and use their tails for activities such as balancing, climbing and escaping predators. This study investigates how laboratory mice (Mus musculus) use their tails to maintain balance when dealing with external and self-generated perturbations. Mice crossed platforms of different widths, while responding to roll-plane tilts. Our findings show that mice swing their tails to counteract external roll perturbations, generating angular momentum to stabilize themselves. Mice were also found to use active (dynamic stabilizer) and passive (counterweight) tail movement strategies when locomoting on narrow platforms. The results suggest that the tail is a core component of mouse locomotion, especially in challenging balancing conditions.

A Domain Generalized Face Anti-Spoofing System Using Domain Adversarial Learning

This research addresses the enhancement of face anti-spoofing (FAS) in facial recognition systems (FRS) against sophisticated fraudulent activities. Prior methods primarily focus on extracting facial features like color, texture, and dynamic variations, yet these methods struggle to accurately identify common characteristics of forged faces, thereby limiting generalization in practical scenarios. This study aims to propose a novel representation learning framework incorporating adversarial learning algorithms, to segregate features into liveness-specific and domain-specific categories, emphasizing liveness-specific features for FAS advancement. Feature disentanglement is central to this approach, enabling the deep learning models to effectively discern separable latent generating factors, such as identity, liveness, appearance, and texture. This methodology enhances model interpretability, explainability, and generalization. Additionally, Grad-CAM is employed to elucidate the basis for classifications made by the architecture, increasing explainability and trustworthiness. Empirical evaluation across panoply available FAS datasets confirms the superiority, significantly improving performance and robustness over existing technologies.

Energy-dispersive Laue diffraction analysis of the influence of statherin and histatin on the crystallographic texture during human dental enamel demineralization.

Energy-dispersive Laue diffraction (EDLD) is a powerful method to obtain position-resolved texture information in inhomogeneous biological samples without the need for sample rotation. This study employs EDLD texture scanning to investigate the impact of two salivary peptides, statherin (STN) and histatin-1 (HTN) 21 N-terminal peptides (STN21 and HTN21), on the crystallographic structure of dental enamel. These proteins are known to play crucial roles in dental caries progression. Three healthy incisors were randomly assigned to three groups: artificially demineralized, demineralized after HTN21 peptide pre-treatment and demineralized after STN21 peptide pre-treatment. To understand the micro-scale structure of the enamel, each specimen was scanned from the enamel surface to a depth of 250 µm using microbeam EDLD. Via the use of a white beam and a pixelated detector, where each pixel functions as a spectrometer, pole figures were obtained in a single exposure at each measurement point. The results revealed distinct orientations of hydroxyapatite crystallites and notable texture variation in the peptide-treated demineralized samples compared with the demineralized control. Specifically, the peptide-treated demineralized samples exhibited up to three orientation populations, in contrast to the demineralized control which displayed only a single orientation population. The texture index of the demineralized control (2.00 ± 0.21) was found to be lower than that of either the STN21 (2.32 ± 0.20) or the HTN21 (2.90 ± 0.46) treated samples. Hence, texture scanning with EDLD gives new insights into dental enamel crystallite orientation and links the present understanding of enamel demineralization to the underlying crystalline texture. For the first time, the feasibility of EDLD texture measurements for quantitative texture evaluation in demineralized dental enamel samples is demonstrated.

The Acceptance of Seitan Serunding as Meat Substitute: Food Experts Point of View

The global movement towards a plant-based diet, known as the Plant-Based Revolution, has garnered significant attention for its potential health benefits, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations. Despite the increasing availability and awareness of plant-based options, sensory obstacles hinder their widespread acceptance among diverse consumer groups. A notable challenge lies in the inability of many meat substitute products to accurately replicate the authentic taste and texture of real meat, which influences consumer acceptance of the product. Therefore, from the perspective of food experts, this paper addresses a critical aspect of sensory acceptance in the context of Seitan Serunding, a plant-based meat substitute. The methodology is divided into two phases: Seitan Serunding development and sensory expert evaluation. Seitan Serunding Development used the recipe obtained from the Seitan Society group, where a community of enthusiasts shares their expertise and insights. For sensory expert evaluations, this study enlisted seven experienced culinary and gastronomy lecturers, food testers, and food technologists to deliver detailed, accurate, and insightful assessments of the Seitan Serunding products. These experts must inherently possess the ability to discern subtle variations in taste, texture, aroma, appearance, and overall acceptability by using a five-point Likert scale for each item evaluated. Then, this evaluation was analysed using descriptive analyses. Findings reveal that Seitan Serunding's delicious taste and close resemblance to traditional Meat Serunding, with a slight difference in aftertaste, could refine it for a more authentic experience through seasoning adjustments. This study contributes to the discourse on meat substitutes, highlighting the need for future research to explore diverse preparation methods for seitan and conduct comparative studies with a broader range of meat substitutes to address existing gaps in understanding and acceptance.

Assessment of Age-Related Differences in Lower Leg Muscles Quality Using Radiomic Features of Magnetic Resonance Images.

Sarcopenia, characterised by a decline in muscle mass and strength, affects the health of the elderly, leading to increased falls, hospitalisation, and mortality rates. Muscle quality, reflecting microscopic and macroscopic muscle changes, is a critical determinant of physical function. To utilise radiomic features extracted from magnetic resonance (MR) images to assess age-related changes in muscle quality, a dataset of 24 adults, divided into older (male/female: 6/6, 66-79years) and younger (male/female: 6/6, 21-31years) groups, was used to investigate the radiomics features of the dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscles of the lower leg that are critical for mobility. MR images were processed using MaZda software for feature extraction. Dimensionality reduction was performed using principal component analysis and recursive feature elimination, followed by classification using machine learning models, such as support vector machine, extreme gradient boosting, and naïve Bayes. A leave-one-out validation test was used to train and test the classifiers, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the classification performance. The analysis revealed that significant differences in radiomic feature distributions were found between age groups, with older adults showing higher complexity and variability in muscle texture. The plantar flexors showed similar or higher AUC than the dorsiflexors in all models. When the dorsiflexor muscles were combined with the plantar flexor muscles, they tended to have a higher AUC than when they were used alone. Radiomic features in lower-leg MR images reflect ageing, especially in the plantar flexor muscles. Radiomic analysis can offer a deeper understanding of age-related muscle quality than traditional muscle mass assessments.

Garnet as a carrier of HREEs in highly fractionated peraluminous granite: Implications for the formation of ion-absorption HREE deposits

Ion-absorption rare earth element (REE) deposits in South China are the world’s most important source of heavy REEs (HREEs). These deposits were formed by the weathering of granitic rocks whose formation involved primary HREE enrichment. Previous studies have identified the key role of late-stage magmatic evolution, especially the magmatic–hydrothermal transition stage played in HREE enrichment, but the detailed processes need further investigation. Garnet is a common HREE carrier in parent rocks and also a main contributor of these elements in formation of ion-absorption HREE deposits. Here, we investigate textural and compositional variations in garnets from parent rock (muscovite granite) of the Dabu ion-absorption HREE deposit to constrain the primary HREE enrichment of the parent rock during late-stage magmatic evolution. Mass-balance calculations reveal that garnet accounts for ∼67 % of the Y and 64 % of the REEs in the Dabu muscovite granite. The garnets can be classified into three types: i) magmatic garnets (Grt-1A) are intergrown with plagioclase, K-feldspar, and quartz, host both melt and mineral inclusions, and have high REE + Y contents (6488–19,215 ppm); ii) magmatic–hydrothermal garnets (Grt-1B) occur as overgrowths on Grt-1A, host both melt and fluid inclusions, and have intermediate REE + Y contents (2681–8683 ppm); and iii) hydrothermal garnets (Grt-2) are intergranular with quartz and altered biotite, host primary fluid inclusions, and have the lowest REE + Y contents (476–1247 ppm). The texture and composition of the three types of garnet indicate that the magma have undergone a transition from a volatile-undersaturated to a volatile-oversaturated aqueous system. The fluid, from which some REE minerals precipitated, present in the magma system was derived from the magma itself rather than from an external source, as evidenced by the similarity in Nd isotopic composition between the REE minerals and the whole-rock samples. During this transition, the presence of high-HREE garnet prevents the HREE partitioning into refractory minerals (e.g., zircon, REE-bearing phosphate) or extracting from the magma system by the fluid. Our findings show that granites containing high-HREE garnet have high potential for forming ion-absorption HREE deposits and that garnet can reliably record their magmatic evolution.

Mechanical, tribological, and corrosion behavior of laser powder-bed fusion 316L stainless steel parts: Effect of build orientation

In this study, 316L stainless steel Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) samples were manufactured under three different building orientations (0°, 45°, and 90°). Mechanical, microstructural, tribological and corrosion resistance properties were analyzed for all samples. The results demonstrate that the build orientation significantly influences the microstructure, resulting in variations in grain size, texture and defect distribution. Specifically, 0° (Horizontal) samples exhibited excellent mechanical properties, including ultimate tensile strength of 784 MPa and a hardness of 292 HV, while the vertical (90°) samples showed enhanced wear resistance, characterized by reduction in the coefficient of friction. Corrosion resistance was found to be highest in the 0° samples, with a corrosion current density of 0.650 μA/cm2, compared to 1.580 μA/cm2 in the 90° samples. The results from this study show the non-linear effects of build orientation for certain properties and indicates that individual studies are not sufficient to predict the performance of LPBF parts. Therefore, combined studies are required for orientation-based optimization of the mechanical, tribological and corrosion properties of LPBF parts. This study offers valuable insights into the relationship between build orientation and material properties, providing a pathway to tailor the properties of LPBF parts for specific applications.

Surface characterization of biochar from agricultural residues for environmental applications

Bio-waste materials banana (Musa ealbisiana) leaves, cassava (Manihot esculenta) peels, mango (Mangifera indica) leaves, plantain (Plantago lanceolata) leaves and peels were pyrolyzed at different temperatures; 300, 400, 450, 500 and 600 oC using a muffle furnace. The biochar samples obtained were characterized and properties evaluated for their potential application in soil for agronomic and environmental benefits. The measured physico-chemical properties; pH, bulk density, percentage yield and electrical conductivity varied with temperature of pyrolysis and somewhat with the source of the bio-waste. Surface morphology and elemental composition were determined from Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurements and showed variations in texture, porosity and elemental composition with pyrolysis temperature. The produced biochar yields were in the range 16.1 to 84.6% and highest for banana leaves (BL) pyrolysed at 300 oC. The scanned images showed a remarkable surface morphology for all the biochar samples obtained at temperatures ≥ 450 oC. The pH obtained indicate the alkaline nature of the biochars with mean values > 7.5 except for cassava peels (CP) pyrolysed at 300 oC having a value of 5.5. From the elemental analysis, the high carbon content (> 60%) at higher temperatures (> 450 oC) of the biochars and the molar O/C ratios may suggest the suitability of the biochars in applications for long-term carbon sequestration and also promising candidates for soil amendment due to increase in macro porosity.

Morphological, genetic and pathogenic variability among Botrytis cinerea species complex causing gray mold of strawberry

The necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea is capable of infecting more than 1400 plant species, encompassing both dicotyledons and monocotyledons. Recognized as the world's second most destructive fungal pathogen, B. cinerea is responsible for significant pre- and postharvest diseases, especially gray mold on a variety of economically important crops, vegetables, and fruits. This study focused on characterizing the variability of ten B. cinerea isolates from strawberry fruits harvested across various regions in Egypt. The differentiation among these isolates was evaluated through morphological, genetic, pathogenic, and biochemical methods. The isolates exhibited variation in cultural development, colony color, shape, margin, and texture. The study highlighted morphological differences in conidiophores, variations in conidia size, and sclerotia production on three different media. The ten Botrytis isolates have differed in mycelial growth rate and pathogenicity on strawberry fruits and positively correlated with oxalic acid production. Isolate B3 of B. cinerea was the most aggressive, while isolate B5 demonstrated the lowest. Two isolates of Botrytis represented the first occurrence of Botrytis species in Egypt, B. californica and B. eucalypti, which were identified using ITS sequencing and combined with morphological characteristics. They were also responsible for causing gray mold on strawberry fruits. These results are expected to greatly contribute to the knowledge of morphological and genetic variability in B. cinerea isolates, as well as offer valuable insights for the development of disease management strategies.

Influence of textural variability on plastic response of porous crystal embedded in polycrystalline aggregate: A crystal plasticity study

Damage evolution in polycrystalline aggregates is complicated by the intricate interplay of crystallographic orientation of the porous grain and the surrounding anisotropic matrix. Therefore, formulation of design rules and damage models for polycrystalline materials proves daunting due to relative lack of thorough understanding of the underlying heterogeneity at the mesoscale. This work explores the orientation dependent void growth in a porous crystal embedded in an anisotropic polycrystalline matrix with different initial textures. Polycrystalline face-centered cubic based aggregate is simulated within the framework of crystal plasticity finite element method. Porosity is first modeled in the form of a single pre-existing spherical void in the central grain of the randomly oriented polycrystal. One-hundred crystallographic orientations of the central grain in three-dimensional Euler space are analyzed to reveal the orientation dependent trends of the porous grain. To account for textural variability, the analysis is repeated for polycrystals exhibiting preferred textures like Cube, Brass, Copper and Goss. In this manner, interesting orientation dependent trends in basic tenets of void growth like yield strength, coalescence strain and porosity evolution are unraveled across various polycrystalline textures. To account for spatial heterogeneity as well, porosity in the central grain is then re-distributed and the aforementioned analysis is repeated for all the crystallographic orientations of the central grain embedded in polycrystals with different textures. Owing to the large amount of data thus generated, statistical analysis is invoked to identify stimulating trends and key statistical variables governing the strength and toughness. Consequently, a statistical void growth model is also presented by assessing the CP simulation results and identifying suitable distribution function governing the growth of voids in polycrystals. The modeling framework is expected to inform porous plasticity models aimed at capturing damage evolution in porous grains embedded in polycrystalline materials exhibiting topological and crystallographic anisotropy.

Revolutionizing breast ultrasound diagnostics with EfficientNet-B7 and Explainable AI

Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality among women globally, necessitating precise classification of breast ultrasound images for early diagnosis and treatment. Traditional methods using CNN architectures such as VGG, ResNet, and DenseNet, though somewhat effective, often struggle with class imbalances and subtle texture variations, leading to reduced accuracy for minority classes such as malignant tumors. To address these issues, we propose a methodology that leverages EfficientNet-B7, a scalable CNN architecture, combined with advanced data augmentation techniques to enhance minority class representation and improve model robustness. Our approach involves fine-tuning EfficientNet-B7 on the BUSI dataset, implementing RandomHorizontalFlip, RandomRotation, and ColorJitter to balance the dataset and improve model robustness. The training process includes early stopping to prevent overfitting and optimize performance metrics. Additionally, we integrate Explainable AI (XAI) techniques, such as Grad-CAM, to enhance the interpretability and transparency of the model’s predictions, providing visual and quantitative insights into the features and regions of ultrasound images influencing classification outcomes. Our model achieves a classification accuracy of 99.14%, significantly outperforming existing CNN-based approaches in breast ultrasound image classification. The incorporation of XAI techniques enhances our understanding of the model’s decision-making process, thereby increasing its reliability and facilitating clinical adoption. This comprehensive framework offers a robust and interpretable tool for the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, advancing the capabilities of automated diagnostic systems and supporting clinical decision-making processes.