Visual Appearance Research Articles

DAGNet: Depth-aware Glass-like objects segmentation via cross-modal attention

Transparent or specular objects, such as mirrors, glass windows, and glass walls, have a significant impact on computer vision tasks. Glass-like Objects (GLOS) encompass transparent or specular objects that lack distinctive visual appearances and specific external shapes, posing challenges for GLO segmentation. In this study, we propose a novel bidirectional cross-modal fusion framework with a shift-window cross-attention for GLO segmentation. The framework incorporates a Feature Exchange Module (FEM) and a Shifted-window Cross-attention Feature Fusion Module (SW-CAFM) in each transformer block stage to calibrate, exchange, and fuse cross-modal features. The FEM employs coordinate and spatial attention mechanisms to filter out the noise and recalibrate the features from two modalities. The Shifted-Window Cross-Modal Attention Fusion (SW-CAFM) uses cross-attention to fuse RGB and depth features, leveraging the shifted-window self-attention operation to reduce the computational complexity of cross-attention. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and high performance of the proposed method, achieving state-of-the-art results on various glass and mirror benchmarks. The method achieves mIoU accuracies of 90.32%, 94.24%, 88.76%, and 87.47% on the GDD, Trans10K, MSD, and RGBD-Mirror datasets, respectively.

Monitoring Aqueous Sucrose Solutions Using Droplet Microfluidics: Ice Nucleation, Growth, Glass Transition, and Melting.

Freezing and freeze-drying processes are commonly used to extend the shelf life of drug products and to ensure their safety and efficacy upon use. When designing a freezing process, it is beneficial to characterize multiple physicochemical properties of the formulation, such as nucleation rate, crystal growth rate, temperature and concentration of the maximally freeze-concentrated solution, and melting point. Differential scanning calorimetry has predominantly been used in this context but does have practical limitations and is unable to quantify the kinetics of crystal growth and nucleation. In this work, we introduce a microfluidic technique capable of quantifying the properties of interest and use it to investigate aqueous sucrose solutions of varying concentration. Three freeze-thaw cycles were performed on droplets with 75-μm diameters at cooling and warming rates of 1 °C/min. During each cycle, the visual appearance of the droplets was optically monitored as they experienced nucleation, crystal growth, formation of the maximally freeze-concentrated solution, and melting. Nucleation and crystal growth manifested as increases in droplet brightness during the cooling phase. Heating was associated with a further increase as the temperature associated with the maximally freeze-concentrated solution was approached. Heating beyond the melting point corresponded to a decrease in brightness. Comparison with the literature confirmed the accuracy of the new technique while offering new visual data on the maximally freeze-concentrated solution. Thus, the microfluidic technique presented here may serve as a complement to differential scanning calorimetry in the context of freezing and freeze-drying. In the future, it could be applied to a plethora of mixtures that undergo such processing, whether in pharmaceutics, food production, or beyond.

Laser Remelting of Ductile Cast Iron to Achieve a Graphite-Free Surface Layer for Enabling a Manual High-Gloss Finish

Laser remelting is being explored as a viable technique for obtaining a graphite-free, defect-free surface layer on cast iron EN GJS 400-15. The goal is to obtain a large remelted layer along with a low surface roughness to enable a subsequent manual high-gloss surface finish. The impact of the laser remelting process parameters is evaluated by using samples with three different cooling rates, resulting in different graphite microstructures. By utilizing four passes and a laser power of 300 W, the smallest roughness and largest remelting depth are achieved. The remelted layer is mostly devoid of graphite particles. Subsequent manual polishing is performed to evaluate the potential for achieving a high-gloss finish with a roughness of Sa < 0.05 µm. Laser remelting alone does not improve visual appearance or reduce roughness. However, after manual polishing, the roughness of the laser-remelted surfaces with Sa = 0.018 µm is one order of magnitude smaller than the manually polished initial state. Graphite removal during laser remelting therefore makes it possible to achieve a conventional and high-gloss polish, overcoming the previous limitations of GJS materials.

Evaluation of viscoelastic parameters and photo-based assessment of newly developed dermal substitutes modified with thermostabilized fibroblast growth factor 2

BackgroundThe purpose of dermal substitutes is to mimic the basic properties of the extracellular matrix of human skin. The application of dermal substitutes to the defect reduces the formation of hypertrophic scars and improves the scar quality. This study aims to develop an original dermal substitute enriched with stable fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2-STAB®) and test it in an animal model. MethodsDermal substitutes based on collagen/chitosan scaffolds or collagen/chitosan scaffolds with nanofibrous layer were prepared and enriched with FGF2-STAB® at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 µg ‧ cm-2. The performance of these dermal substitutes was tested in vivo on artificially formed skin defects in female swine. The outcomes were evaluated using cutometry at 3 and 6 months. In addition, visual appearance was assessed based on photos of the scars at 1-month, 3-month and 6-month follow-ups using Yeong scale and Visual Analog Scale. ResultsThe dermal substitute was fully integrated into all defects and all wounds healed successfully. FGF2-STAB®-enriched matrices yielded better results in cutometry compared to scaffolds without FGF2. Visual evaluation at 1, 3, and 6 months follow-ups detected no significant differences among groups. The FGF2-STAB® effectiveness in improving the elasticity of scar tissues was confirmed in the swine model. This effect was independently observed in the scaffolds with nanofibres as well as in the scaffolds without nanofibres. ConclusionThe formation of scars with the best elasticity was exhibited by addition 1.0 µg ‧ cm-2of FGF2-STAB® into the scaffolds, although it had no significant effect on visual appearance at longer follow-ups. This study creates the basis for further translational studies of the developed product and its progression into the clinical phase of the research.

Novel cold plasma functionalized water pretreatment for improving drying performance and physicochemical properties of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruits during infrared-accelerated pulsed vacuum drying

The effect of plasma functionalized water (PW) pretreatment and influencing factors including treatment time and voltage were investigated on the drying kinetics, nutrition and sensory properties of tomato slices during infrared-accelerated pulsed vacuum drying (IR-PVD). Results revealed that PW pretreatment caused disruptions in tomato cellular structure that were greater with increasing treatment time and voltage, due to strong acidification and etching from reactive species in PW. These disruptions accelerated the removal of moisture during IR-PVD to shorten drying time by 25%, and improve visual appearance, rehydration, porosity, phenols and flavonoids, soluble solids, lycopene, ascorbic acid, but reduced chewiness, gumminess and hardness properties. Overall, the findings revealed the propitious potentials of PW and indicated the significant effects of PW influencing factors for accelerating drying characteristics and increasing the functional and nutrition properties of tomato slices during IR-PVD, providing a theoretical basis for developing novel energy-saving drying approaches.

Persepsi Nasabah terhadap Aplikasi M-Banking pada Bank Swasta dan Bank Pemerintah

Information and communication technology has revolutionized the banking sector and at its peak during the Covid 19 pandemic, most transactions can be carried out without the need to visit a bank and using mobile banking applications. In Indonesia, there are two banks that are most popular in using m-banking, m-BCA which is managed by a private bank and Livin by Mandiri which is managed by a state-owned company. The aim of this research is to analyze whether there are differences of trust, service quality and perceived risk on customer satisfaction in private and government managed m-Banking. The research method uses a quantitative approach based on data collected through online surveys. There are 180 active m-Banking customers with generation Z and Millennial demographics, students and productive workers. The results show that the factors that influence customer satisfaction in using m-Banking lie in the aspects of service quality and trust, while perceived risk has no effect. Furthermore, differences in the influence of m-banking application service quality determine customer satisfaction. Where, m-BCA customers are relatively more satisfied because the service is in accordance with the promises, transaction speed, security, attractive visual appearance, the application is more responsive and easier than the Livin by Mandiri. For generation Z and millennials, the use of digital banking applications is more influenced by the application's ability to meet transaction needs rather than threat factors such as the speed of computing personal data, cyber-crime and bank system errors.

The Corrosive Effects of Aftermarket Oil Additives on High-Leaded Tin Bronze Alloy.

Aftermarket additives are used to enhance the performance of internal combustion engines in specific aspects such as reducing wear, increasing power, and improving fuel economy. Despite their advantages, they can sometimes cause corrosion-related problems. This research evaluated the corrosiveness of four aftermarket additives on the corrosion of a high-leaded tin bronze alloy over 28 days at 80 °C in immersion tests. Among the evaluated products, three showed corrosive effects ranging from intermediate to severe. Notably, the visual appearance of the surfaces often did not indicate the underlying corrosive damage. Therefore, the assessment of corrosiveness was based on chemical characterizations conducted on both the drained oils and the bronze surfaces. The study found minimal oil degradation under the testing conditions, indicating that the primary cause of corrosion was the interaction between the specific additives and the metal elements of the alloy, rather than oil degradation itself. A direct correlation was observed between the dissolution of lead and copper and the adsorption of S and Cl-containing additives on the surfaces, respectively. The corrosive impact of Cl-containing additives in aftermarket formulations was significantly reduced when mixed with engine oil SAE 10W-30 (at a 25:1 ratio), suggesting a mitigated effect in combined formulations, which is the recommended usage for engines.

Influence of façade orientation, floor height, substrate pH, and microbial inoculation on woody plants’ performance in vegetated façades in Southern Finland

Urban densification has led to the adoption of vegetated façades as a nature-based strategy to increase urban green spaces and enhance urban living conditions. However, limited knowledge regarding suitable plants for vegetated façades can impede the process. In this field experiment conducted in Southern Finland, we investigated the performance of 12 potential plant taxa for a vegetated façade by assessing their visual appearance and sizes in relation to façade orientation, floor height, substrate pH, and mycorrhizal inoculation. The 12 plant taxa were categorized into 4 growth forms according to their morphologies: spreading conifers, dwarf conifers, creeping conifers, and climbers. We aimed to evaluate plant performance during the initial two growing seasons, which is critical for the successful establishment of these plants in vegetated façades. Eight of the twelve plant taxa exhibited relatively high performance in terms of visual appearance and size. Notably, creeping conifers outperformed other growth forms in visual appearance, which was most likely due to their close-to-ground morphology. Façade orientation and substrate pH were the most influential predictor variables. Façade orientation affected both plant visual appearance and size, while substrate pH primarily affected plant visual appearance. The east-facing façade (less exposure to sun and wind) and mildly acid substrate (pH 6–6.5) were more conducive to most of the plant taxa. Certain species and cultivars, such as Juniperus communis ‘Lalli’, maintained constant plant visual appearance and size regardless of façade orientation and substrate pH, suggesting their adaptability and stability across various conditions. Floor height and mycorrhizal inoculation only displayed marginal and taxon-specific impacts. Given that some plants in our vegetated façade exhibited optimal performance different from those in their reported natural habitats, we encourage conducting long-term, on-site experiments to identify suitable plants for vegetated façades to ensure successful vegetated façade implementation.

Research status of potential therapeutic targets for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an autoimmune eye disease that affects visual function and appearance, involving pathological remodeling processes of orbital tissue such as inflammatory reaction, oxidative stress, lipogenesis, and fibrosis. Current clinical first-line treatment options cannot be effective for all patients. This article summarizes the research on potential therapeutic targets of TAO at home and abroad in recent years, including receptor protein targets, immune cell targets, fat suppression targets, anti-fibrosis targets, transcription factor targets, and metabolic regulatory enzyme targets. Both non-natural compounds and natural compounds are introduced, with a view to providing clinical researchers with reference and ideas in the treatment of TAO and promoting the clinical application of new therapeutic drugs.

Structure, performance, and crystallization behavior of Turkey leonardite and raw kaolin added polylactic acid composite films

Polylactic acid (PLA) film composites filled with two clays, Raw Kaolin (KAO), an inorganic structure, and Leonardite (LEO), an organic structure, as well as KAO/LEO mixtures, were prepared via solvent casting method. The main aim of this research was to investigate both the individual and the synergetic effects of LEO and KAO; they are incorporated together into a PLA matrix. The influence of these fillers content on the morphological and structural characteristics of the composites was investigated by the DSC, TGA, FT-IR, SEM, XRD, color, haze, and opacity analysis. According to the TGA analysis, significant decreases in Tmax2 were observed with the addition of LEO in PLA. It is also seen in films with KAO/LEO that support this result. Utilizing the solvent casting method, two melting points were formed in PLA films. The P0 film has lower Tg, Tcc, and Tm1 values than other films. However, there were small changes in Tg and Tm2 values in all films. Up to 7.5% amount of LEO and KAO, the mechanical properties of the films improved. The 3L film exhibited the best mechanical properties. The filler materials used were mostly homogeneously distributed, according to the SEM analysis, and as the amount increased, agglomerations were observed in the fillings on the surface. The addition of LEO and KAO changed the surface color, visual appearance, and opacity significantly. The haze values of films are near 100. These film composites have been shown to improve many properties of the P0 film.

Development of stable castor oil-based isocyanate emulsion via Hw-Ho-NCO structural model: Towards crosslinking agent for waterborne wood adhesive

Water-based materials are important to mitigate the concern on solvent-based products. Incorporation of reactive isocyanate-based crosslinking agents is key to improve material performance, while intense, nonhomogeneous reaction causes short operation duration and uncontrollable product quality. Herein, this study proposes a Hw-Ho-NCO (hydrophilic part-hydrophobic segment-NCO group) structural model to overcome such issue by forming water-compatible isocyanate emulsions via self-emulsification of castor oil-modified water-dispersible isocyanate (WDI). The properties of WDI and obtained emulsions were analyzed through visual appearance, titration of -NCO content, droplet size determination, microstructure, etc. Aggregation and sedimentation of the isocyanate emulsions upon storage occur owing to lack of hydrophilic groups on droplet surface, while sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-assisted secondary emulsification improves the emulsion stability. The emulsions are used as crosslinking agents to formulate composite waterborne adhesives with the white latex (EVA-102), reaching maximal pot life of 8 h. The plywood specimens manufactured using the composite adhesive show enhanced adhesion performances, particularly for wet strength I and II, exceeding the Chinese national standard (GB/T 9846–2015). This study confirms the capability of using the structural model to create stable isocyanate emulsions that can target to formulate high-performance waterborne adhesives for clean and green production in wood industry.

Atomic structure of clusters and GP-zones in an Al-Mg-Si alloy

The structures of atomic clusters and GP-zones preceding precipitation in an Al-0.70Mg-0.85Si-0.15Fe-0.25Mn (wt. %) alloy have been investigated by annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging and density functional theory calculations. One analysed condition consisted of one-month natural aging, and another was in a pre-baked state after 24 h aging at 90 °C. To quantify the effect of clusters and GP-zones on microstructure development during a subsequent isothermal artificial aging at 185 °C, hardness evolution was measured, and precipitate statistics was performed at the peak hardness corresponding to 5 h aging. Several types of clusters and GP-zones have been observed and based on structure and visual appearance named 'Disordered Frank-Kasper', 'Square', 'Binocular', and 1β", 2β", 3β", 4β". The first four are most common in the natural aged condition and are associated with a well-known influence on the initial hardness evolution. The last three are fractions of the hardening β" phase and refer to the number of structural units they contain. These GP-zones have an increased density in the pre-baked condition, leading to a rapid increase in hardness during artificial aging and to a finer microstructure of high-density small needle precipitates at peak hardness.

Ag Behavior on TiN Thin Films for Decorative Coatings

TiN-Ag ceramic coatings deposited by magnetron sputtering on silicon wafers and AISI F138 stainless-steel substrates with different Ag concentrations were evaluated for their application as decorative coatings. The results obtained indicated an almost linear increase in the thickness and roughness of the film as a function of the increase in the silver content of the film. For Ag concentrations greater than (8.3 ± 0.5) at %, a matte/satin finish was observed, i.e., a dull surface, produced by the agglomeration of particulates and the increase in roughness, respectively, which was corroborated by SEM and AFM analyses. The EDS analyses indicated particles with a high concentration of silver, but the elements titanium and nitrogen were also observed, indicating the formation of the TiN-Ag coating. The L*a*b* parameters in the CIELab color space were evaluated. No major variations were observed for coatings A and B (Ag concentrations of (4.1 ± 0.4) and (6.3 ± 1.2) at %, respectively). When the Ag content increased substantially, there was a corresponding decrease in L* values, as well as a shift in red reflectance. Furthermore, unwanted changes in the visual appearance and resistance to accelerated corrosion (salt spray) were also analyzed, as these factors compromised the film’s aesthetics in decorative applications.

Screening method for the analysis of Rhodamine B in chili powder

Rhodamine B is a synthetic dye known to enhance the visual appearance of chili powder. Due to its toxicity and carcinogenicity, chromatographic methods have been developed to monitor its presence in adulterated chili powder, but their assays are laborious, time consuming and expensive for screening purposes. The present studies propose an alternative for screening Rhodamine B in chili powder samples. The method combines thin layer chromatography (TLC) to solid surface room-temperature fluorescence spectroscopy. The scrape-dissolution procedure common to the instrumental analysis of TLC procedures was replaced with a fiber optic probe coupled to a commercial spectrofluorometer. The determination of Rhodamine B on the chromatographic plate is based on its retardation factor and maximum excitation and emission wavelengths. The limit of detection (1.9 ng.mL−1) and the limit of quantitation (5.2 ng.mL−1) are well below the usual contamination of Rhodamine B in adulterated foods.

COVID-Net L2C-ULTRA: An Explainable Linear-Convex Ultrasound Augmentation Learning Framework to Improve COVID-19 Assessment and Monitoring.

While no longer a public health emergency of international concern, COVID-19 remains an established and ongoing global health threat. As the global population continues to face significant negative impacts of the pandemic, there has been an increased usage of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) imaging as a low-cost, portable, and effective modality of choice in the COVID-19 clinical workflow. A major barrier to the widespread adoption of POCUS in the COVID-19 clinical workflow is the scarcity of expert clinicians who can interpret POCUS examinations, leading to considerable interest in artificial intelligence-driven clinical decision support systems to tackle this challenge. A major challenge to building deep neural networks for COVID-19 screening using POCUS is the heterogeneity in the types of probes used to capture ultrasound images (e.g., convex vs. linear probes), which can lead to very different visual appearances. In this study, we propose an analytic framework for COVID-19 assessment able to consume ultrasound images captured by linear and convex probes. We analyze the impact of leveraging extended linear-convex ultrasound augmentation learning on producing enhanced deep neural networks for COVID-19 assessment, where we conduct data augmentation on convex probe data alongside linear probe data that have been transformed to better resemble convex probe data. The proposed explainable framework, called COVID-Net L2C-ULTRA, employs an efficient deep columnar anti-aliased convolutional neural network designed via a machine-driven design exploration strategy. Our experimental results confirm that the proposed extended linear-convex ultrasound augmentation learning significantly increases performance, with a gain of 3.9% in test accuracy and 3.2% in AUC, 10.9% in recall, and 4.4% in precision. The proposed method also demonstrates a much more effective utilization of linear probe images through a 5.1% performance improvement in recall when such images are added to the training dataset, while all other methods show a decrease in recall when trained on the combined linear-convex dataset. We further verify the validity of the model by assessing what the network considers to be the critical regions of an image with our contribution clinician.

Enhancing the quality and shelf life of semi‐smoked sausages with sesame seed additions

SummaryThis study investigates strategies to improve the quality and prolong the shelf life of semi‐smoked sausages made from beef by incorporating vegetable products. In this study, sesame seeds and sesame oil were employed as plant‐based products. Organoleptic analysis was comprehensively conducted, assessing sensory characteristics such as taste, aroma, texture and visual appearance of semi‐smoked sausages. Evaluations were performed by experienced experts, ensuring a meticulous and precise investigation of the sensory attributes of the product. The analysis encompasses a comprehensive examination of microbiological parameters over varying storage periods, a detailed study of the overall chemical composition, sensory evaluations and scrutiny of pH variations and oxidative processes during the 0–30 days storage interval. Distinct groups, including a control group (Group 1—sausages without vegetable additives), Group 2 (sausages with sesame seed incorporation) and Group 3 (sausages with sesame oil inclusion), were subjected to the experimental conditions. Evaluating the pH levels revealed a significant gradual increase in Group 3 compared to both the control (P ≤ 0.01) and Group 2 (P ≤ 0.05). Simultaneously, water activity values experienced a notable decrease to 0.944 (P ≤ 0.05) in all groups, providing a uniform trend across the experiment. The introduction of plant‐based ingredients, particularly sesame, and the comprehensive examination of various production technologies, encompassing both standard and accelerated processes, distinguish this study from existing works. Furthermore, the research takes into account a complex array of factors acting as barriers, providing valuable practical insights for potential improvements in the production of semi‐smoked sausages.

Promjena boje površina drva izloženih vremenskim utjecajima prije i nakon tretmana željezovim (II) sulfatom

Outdoor wood is exposed to various factors that can be described as weathering and cause the wood to grey. The ageing processes can vary greatly depending on the exposure. Parts of wood that are not exposed to external factors, e.g. under the overhanging, are less exposed, and the weathering process is therefore slower. This can be accelerated by solutions based on iron ions. In this way, the wood greys quickly and evenly. However, after iron treatment, the colour also depends on the previous exposure of wood to weathering. In our study, the colour change was observed as a function of weathering time. Before treatment, the samples were exposed to outdoor weathering for different periods of time and then treated with a 5 % solution of pure iron (II) sulphate and commercial iron (II) sulphate. It was determined that the pre-weathering time affected the final colour change, as the samples exposed for five weeks before treatment have comparable colour to naturally weathered wood. At the beginning of exposure, iron (II) sulphate limits mould growth, but after two months, staining fungi develop on the treated samples as well. The growth of blue stain fungi on the treated samples did not significantly affect the colour and visual appearance of the wood treated with iron-based solutions.

Hierarchical processing of feature, egocentric and relational information for spatial orientation in domestic chicks.

Animals can use different types of information for navigation. Domestic chicks (Gallus gallus) prefer to use local features as a beacon over spatial relational information. However, the role of egocentric navigation strategies is less understood. Here, we tested domestic chicks' egocentric and allocentric orientation abilities in a large circular arena. In experiment 1, we investigated whether domestic chicks possess a side bias during viewpoint-dependent egocentric orientation, revealing facilitation for targets on the chicks' left side. Experiment 2 showed that local features are preferred over viewpoint-dependent egocentric information when the two conflict. Lastly, in experiment 3, we found that in a situation where there is a choice between egocentric and allocentric spatial relational information provided by free-standing objects, chicks preferentially rely on egocentric information. We conclude that chicks orient according to a hierarchy of cues, in which the use of the visual appearance of an object is the dominant strategy, followed by viewpoint-dependent egocentric information and finally by spatial relational information.

3D Printing of Materials and Printing Parameters with Animal Resources: A Review.

3D printing technology enables the production of creative and personalized food products that meet consumer needs, such as an attractive visual appearance, fortification of specific nutrients, and modified textures. To popularize and diversify 3D-printed foods, an evaluation of the printing feasibility of various food pastes, including materials that cannot be printed natively, is necessary. Most animal resources, such as meat, milk, and eggs, are not inherently printable; therefore, the rheological properties governing printability should be improved through pre-/post-processing or adding appropriate additives. This review provides the latest progress in extrusion-based 3D printing of animal resource-based inks. In addition, this review discusses the effects of ink composition, printing conditions, and post-processing on the printing performance and characteristics of printed constructs. Further research is required to enhance the sensory quality and nutritional and textural properties of animal resource-based printed foods.

Performances Development of Traditional Settlement in Skonjing Village, Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra

The traditional settlement in Skonjing Village has unique characteristics that reflect the local community's close relationship with the natural surroundings. Using natural materials, especially wood, in house construction reflects the sustainable and eco-friendly principles the locals have implemented. The buildings built in the early period in Skonjing Village were mostly stilt houses that used materials easily found around the location. Through observation of field surveys and interviews with residents, this research identified the characteristics of Skonjing Village's traditional settlement based on their function, use of materials, and visual appearance that have been changed and threaten to be dismissed. It was discovered that the development performances of Skonjing Village started from the outskirts of the Ogan tributary and spread outwards, away from the riverbank. Understanding the characteristics of these traditional houses is crucial for preserving the cultural identity of Skonjing Village.