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Pavement crack segmentation is crucial for enhancing traffic safety, improving maintenance efficiency, extending road lifespan, and supporting smart city development. Utilising computer vision technology to automate crack detection can significantly reduce time and labour costs, improving both accuracy and efficiency. However, pavement crack images exhibit complex visual features, irregular distributions, and diverse shapes and textures, posing challenges for accurate segmentation. To address these issues, a pavement crack segmentation network (PCSNet) based on a dynamic dual-branch encoder and deformable spatial focusing is proposed. The dual-branch encoder employs pre-trained and self-trained branches to extract general and specific crack features, respectively. Dynamic feature fusion optimises the contribution of each branch, enhancing model generalisation. The deformable spatial focusing module refines crack morphological features, improving the model’s ability to identify and localise cracks of varying shapes. Extensive experiments on the DeepCrack dataset show that PCSNet achieves precision, recall, F1 score, and Mean Intersection over Union of 85.34%, 86.16%, 85.75% and 75.23%, respectively, outperforming all comparative methods, thereby validating its superiority.

A novel non-uniform wall thickness rhombic (NTR) honeycomb structure was developed, with a particular emphasis on its energy absorption characteristics. In contrast to conventional uniform wall thickness configurations, the NTR honeycomb structure is characterized by a regular geometric (stiffness) distribution of unit cells throughout the entire panel. Nylon was employed as the primary energy-absorbing material in the structure. A combined approach of numerical simulation and experimental testing was utilized to systematically investigate the dynamic response and energy absorption mechanisms of the NTR honeycomb structure under various loading conditions. The dynamic response of the nylon-based honeycomb structure under impact loading was investigated using ABAQUS simulation software, and the numerical results were validated against experimental data. Additionally, a comparative analysis was performed between the reaction forces at the base of the nylon-based NTR honeycomb structure and those of a rigid body under varying impact velocities. The time at which the structure reached its maximum compression, as well as the evolution of kinetic energy at different impact speeds, was also investigated. With increasing velocity of the impact plate, the occurrence time of the maximum compression in the nylon-based structure was progressively advanced. The higher the velocity of the impact plate, the earlier the maximum compression of the nylon material occurs. Specifically, at a velocity of 15 m/s, the time of occurrence is 106% earlier than that at 7 m/s. In contrast to rigid bodies, the nylon material exhibits a significant delay in the occurrence time of the peak reaction force on the bottom plate, accompanied by a Substantial reduction in the peak magnitude. When the impact plate velocity is 7 m/s, the time to peak reaction force for the nylon material is 31% delayed and the peak value is 60% lower compared to the rigid body. As the impact velocity increases, the initial kinetic energy of the impact plate decreases while the internal energy increases, with both eventually converging to stable values. This trend confirms the energy absorbing capability of the structure.

Adult myogenic cell lines are useful to study muscle development, repair and regeneration. In newts, which are known for their high regenerative capacity, myogenic cell lines have not been established in species other than the Eastern newt Notophthalmus viridescens . In this study, we established another myogenic cell line, named CpM01, from the skeletal muscle of the forearm of the adult Japanese fire-bellied newt Cynops pyrrhogaster . CpM01 maintained high proliferative ability even after numerous passages, and could be induced to differentiate into myotubes by changing the culture medium. CpM01 expressed myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) such as Myf5, MRF4 and myogenin. Changes in the immunorectivities of MRFs during differentiation of CpM01 into myotubes were consistent with those during new muscle generation in limb regeneration. In newts, myogenic cells have two origins, muscle fibers or satellite cells. CpM01 expressed Pax7 , suggesting the origin might be satellite cells. scRNA-seq analysis deeply characterized CpM01 and demonstrated that the expression patterns of myogenic genes ( Pax3 , Pax7 , myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2 A, and genes encoding MRFs) in CpM01 are related to progress of the cell cycle. CpM01 can be a useful tool for future studies of limb muscle regeneration in adult newts.

To address quality deterioration in yellowfin tuna during traditional freezing, this study systematically investigated the combined effects of alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) and two cryoprotectants (carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (CCNF); konjac glucomannan (KGM)). Twelve groups were established by combining four magnetic intensities (0, 5, 10, 15 mT) with three treatments (no cryoprotectant, 10 mg/mL CCNF, or KGM). The results show that AMF significantly shortened the freezing phase transition time and mitigated the phase transition delay induced by cryoprotectants. The optimal preservation was achieved by combining a 5 mT AMF with KGM (AMF5-KGM), which significantly reduced thawing, cooking, and centrifugation losses. Mechanistically, the 5 mT AMF and KGM synergistically stabilized the secondary and tertiary structures of myofibrillar proteins, whereas high-intensity AMF (>10 mT) and CCNF exacerbated protein conformational damage. Furthermore, the AMF5-KGM group exhibited maximal structural integrity, with the smallest ice crystal pore area (36.6%). Ultimately, this study demonstrates that a 5 mT, 50 Hz AMF combined with 10 mg/mL KGM synergistically improves the preservation quality of frozen yellowfin tuna, providing a theoretical basis for high-value pelagic fish product.

Cementitious materials prepared by the ice-templating method appear to have difficulty simultaneously possessing good mechanical properties and an oriented microstructure with microchannels. Surface micro-ceramicization of TiB2 and the decomposed products of cement hydrates at high temperatures can be regarded as in situ solid–solid reactions involving oxygen, thereby enhancing mechanical properties. This study investigates the mechanical property changes in cement paste with different water-to-cement ratios containing 25% TiB2 micron powder before and after high-temperature treatment. Cementitious samples are prepared using both freeze-casting (F-CAST) and regular casting (R-CAST) methods with and without the heating post-treatment. The average compressive strength of samples with a W/C of 0.65 prepared by the freeze-casting method at −60 °C with a heating post-treatment is much larger than that of samples prepared by the regular casting method with and without the same heating process. The freeze-casting process for preparing cementitious composites with TiB2 not only reorders the distribution of water molecules but also redistributes the concentrations of the TiB2 particles and the main hydrates in the frozen samples. Due to the concentration increase near ice crystal channels within the samples, led by the freeze concentration effect, the new products are formed and cover the channel surfaces after high-temperature treatment. This enhances both the overall and internal properties of the cement-based TiB2 composite material. The variation in TiB2 content within the specimens is of paramount importance.

Quantum interference can profoundly affect charge transport in single molecules, but experiments can usually measure only the conductance at the Fermi energy. Because, in general, the most pronounced features of the quantum interference are not located at the Fermi energy, it is highly desirable to probe charge transport in a broader energy range. Here, by means of electrochemical gating, we measure the conductance and map the transmission functions of single molecules at and around the Fermi energy, and study signatures associated with constructive and destructive interference. With electrochemical gate control, we tune the quantum interference between the highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, and directly observe anti-resonance, a distinct feature of destructive interference. By tuning the molecule in and out of anti-resonance, we achieve continuous control of the conductance over two orders of magnitude, demonstrating a different gating mechanism to conventional field-effect transistors.Comparison of electrochemically gated charge transport through diphenyl benzene structures in meta and para configuration leads to the identification of anti-resonance features typical of destructive quantum interference.

In a fully automated factory, the Visualized Production Line serves as a crucial tool for assisting personnel to monitor and manage the manufacturing process. The synchronization between the visualized line and the actual production line significantly impacts the efficiency of production supervision. This article proposes a method for controlling the logistics terminals, which encompasses three steps: animation simplification, timing alignment, and keyframe synchronization (hereinafter referred to as ASTAK). This method aims to achieve precise synchronization between the Simulated Production Line and the Visualized Production Line when the process data of the simulated line is not directly accessed. Then, the experiments demonstrate that the proposed method reduces the time difference between the simulated and visualized production lines to an average of 0.08 s with a synchronization rate of 99.97%, which further verifies the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method over some other state-of-the-art methods.

Heavy metals migrate easily and are difficult to degrade in the soil environment, which causes serious harm to the ecological environment and human health. Thus, soil heavy metal pollution has become one of the main environmental issues of global concern. Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is a kind of microorganism that grows around the rhizosphere and can promote plant growth and increase crop yield. PGPR can change the bioavailability of heavy metals in the rhizosphere microenvironment, increase heavy metal uptake by phytoremediation plants, and enhance the phytoremediation efficiency of heavy-metal-contaminated soils. In recent years, the number of studies on the phytoremediation efficiency of heavy-metal-contaminated soil enhanced by PGPR has increased rapidly. This paper systematically reviews the mechanisms of PGPR that promote plant growth (including nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, potassium solubilization, iron solubilization, and plant hormone secretion) and the mechanisms of PGPR that enhance plant–heavy metal interactions (including chelation, the induction of systemic resistance, and the improvement of bioavailability). Future research on PGPR should address the challenges in heavy metal removal by PGPR-assisted phytoremediation.

While traditional Rock Asphalt (RA) provides high-temperature stiffness and rutting resistance, its application in cold climates is limited due to low-temperature brittleness and high thermal susceptibility. This study explores the mechanistic basis of a novel composite modification combining RA and Nano-Titanium Dioxide (Nano-TiO2), termed Rock Composite Asphalt (RCA), aiming to improve low-temperature performance without compromising high-temperature properties. Six asphalt binders (Base, SBS, BRA, RCA-1, RCA-2, RCA-3) and their corresponding AC-13 mixtures were investigated. Rheological, microstructural, and conventional performance tests—including Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), low-temperature bending, and fatigue analysis—were employed to elucidate the interaction mechanisms. Results indicate that the optimal RCA formulation (20% RA + 1.0% Nano-TiO2, RCA-2) achieves a synergistic enhancement: Nano-TiO2 particles interact with RA components to modify the binder microstructure, reducing crystallization at low temperatures and improving ductility, while the RA matrix maintains high-temperature stiffness. The modified binder exhibited a 5 °C ductility increase of ~31% and a 45% improvement in Penetration Index (PI), reflecting enhanced thermal adaptability. Correspondingly, the RCA-2 mixture demonstrated superior dynamic stability (2.16 times higher than BRA) and fatigue life (2.88 times higher k value), attributed to the refined binder-aggregate interface and mitigated microcrack propagation. This study provides mechanistic insights into how nanomaterial-assisted RA modification can overcome the traditional performance trade-off, offering a viable strategy for durable asphalt pavements in regions with high temperature variations and heavy traffic.

Gas turbine is a kind of dual-purpose rotating thermal machinery, widely used in power generation, shipbuilding and aviation power, etc., with the advantages of high efficiency, fast start and low emissions. In this study, an improved Circle-SCA-BSO algorithm (IC-SCA-BSO) is proposed to optimize PID parameters to ease the complicated parameter setting of gas turbine controller. Optimization of beetle swarm optimization algorithm (BSO) usually comes with slow convergence speed, low accuracy and prone to fall into local optimum, hereby our optimization is carried out from three aspects: population initialization, optimization weight and learning factors. First, a uniformly distributed circle mapping is utilized for population initialization. Second, the nonlinear decreasing idea is employed for weight optimization. Considering characteristics of global search in the early stage and local development in the later stage of algorithm optimization, the nonlinear decreasing function expression is designed. Third, combined with the sine cosine algorithm (SCA), the sine and cosine factors are introduced into the learning factors and combined with the nonlinear decreasing coefficient to make the learning factors show a trend of oscillatory attenuation in the set interval. According to probability p , sine or cosine factor is switched as the learning factors. The optimized PID controller and other four controllers are compared by tracking test and anti-interference test. The test results show that IC-SCA-BSO-PID yields faster response, higher steady-state accuracy and stronger anti-interference control effect, which is significantly outperforming the other four controllers. The proposed IC-SCA-BSO-PID tuning framework offers plant engineers an automated, low-cost alternative to labor-intensive manual calibration, enabling faster commissioning, reduced fuel consumption, and lower emissions for gas turbines in power-generation, marine, and aero-derivative applications.