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This paper aims to detect a target that crosses the baseline connecting the source and the receiver in shallow-water environments, which is a special scenario for a bistatic sonar system. In such a detection scenario, an intense sound wave, known as the direct blast, propagates directly from the source to the receiver without target scattering. This direct blast usually arrives at the receiver simultaneously with the forward scattering signal and exhibits a larger intensity than the signal, posing a significant challenge for target detection. In this paper, a range-domain subspace is constructed by the horizontal distance between the source/target and each element of a horizontal linear array (HLA) when the ranges of environmental parameters are known a priori. Meanwhile, a range-domain subspace detector based on direct blast suppression (RSD-DS) is proposed for forward scattering detection. The source and the target are located at different positions, so the direct blast and the scattered signal are in different range-domain subspaces. By projecting the received data onto the orthogonal complement subspace of the direct blast subspace, the direct blast can be suppressed and the signal that lies outside the direct blast subspace is used for target detection. The simulation results indicate that the proposed RSD-DS exhibits a performance close to the generalized likelihood ratio detector (GLRD) while requiring less prior knowledge of environments (only known are the ranges of the sediment sound speed and the bottom sound speed), and its robustness to environmental uncertainties is better than that of the latter. Moreover, the proposed RSD-DS exhibits better immunity against the direct blast than the GLRD, since it can still work effectively at a signal-to-direct blast ratio (SDR) of −30 dB, while the GLRD stops working in this case. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Underwater Acoustics in Ocean Engineering)

19 pages, 7421 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Utilizing Convolutional Neural Networks for the Effective Classification of Rice Leaf Diseases Through a Deep Learning Approach

by Salma Akter, Rashadul Islam Sumon, Haider Ali and Hee-Cheol Kim

Electronics 2024, 13(20), 4095; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13204095 - 17 Oct 2024

Abstract

Rice is the primary staple food in many Asian countries, and ensuring the quality of rice crops is vital for food security. Effective crop management depends on the early and precise detection of common rice diseases such as bacterial blight, blast, brown spot, and tungro. This work presents a convolutional neural network model for classifying rice leaf disease. Four distinct diseases, bacterial blight, blast, brown spot, and tungro, are the main targets of the model. Previously, leaf pathologies in crops were mostly identified manually using specialized equipment, which was time-consuming and inefficient. This study offers a remedy for accurately diagnosing and classifying rice leaf diseases through deep learning techniques. Using this dataset, the proposed CNN model was trained to identify complex patterns and attributes linked to each disease using its deep learning capabilities. This CNN model achieved an exceptional accuracy of 99.99%, surpassing the benchmarks set by existing state-of-the-art models. The proposed model can be a useful diagnostic and early warning system for rice leaf diseases. It could help farmers and other agricultural professionals reduce crop losses and enhance the quality of their yields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pattern Recognition and Image Processing: Latest Advances and Prospects)

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Overview of the rice life disease classification method. Full article ">Figure 2
Image samples of rice leaf diseases. (a) Bacterial blight, (b) blast, (c) brown spot, and (d) tungro. Full article ">Figure 3
Backbone architecture of the proposed CNN architecture. Full article ">Figure 4
EnhancedResBlock architecture. Full article ">Figure 5
Channel attention module. Full article ">Figure 6
Comparison training and testing accuracy of (a) ResNet50, (b) Mobile Net, (c) InceptionV3, (d) DenseNet, (e) XceptionNet, (f) EfficientNetB5, (g) AlexNet, and (h) proposed model. Full article ">Figure 7
Comparison confusion matrices of (a) ResNet50, (b) Mobile Net, (c) InceptionV3, (d) DenseNet, (e) XceptionNet, (f) EfficientNetB5, (g) AlexNet, and (h) proposed CNN model. Full article ">Figure 8
Prediction results of proposed CNN model. Full article ">

16 pages, 2387 KiB

Open AccessArticle

by Žaneta Dlouhá, Josef Duliškovič, Marie Frank Netrvalová, Jana Naďová, Marek Vostřák, Sebastian Kraft, Udo Löschner, Jiří Martan and Šárka Houdková

Materials 2024, 17(20), 5069; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17205069 - 17 Oct 2024

Abstract

The focus of this research is to examine the feasibility of using laser texturing as a method for surface preparation prior to thermal spraying. The experimental part includes the thermal spraying of a Stellite 6 coating by High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) technology on laser-textured substrates. The thermal spraying of this coating was deposited both on conventional substrate material (low carbon steel) and on substrates that had been previously heat treated (nitrided steel). The properties of the coatings were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM) and Raman spectroscopy. Adhesion was assessed through a tensile adhesion test. The results showed the usability of laser texturing in the case of carbon steel, which was comparable or even better than traditional grit blasting. For nitrided steel, the problem remains with the hardness and brittleness of the nitrided layer, which allows for the propagation of brittle cracks near the interface and thus reduces the adhesion strength. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metal Coatings for Wear and Corrosion Applications)

15 pages, 1782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Proteomic Analysis of the Major Alkali-Soluble Inca Peanut (Plukenetia volubilis) Proteins

by Erwin Torres-Sánchez, Esperanza Morato, Blanca Hernández-Ledesma and Luis-Felipe Gutiérrez

Foods 2024, 13(20), 3275; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13203275 (registering DOI) - 16 Oct 2024

Viewed by 403

Abstract

Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) oil press-cake (SIPC) represents a new source of proteins of high biological value, with promissory food applications. However, knowledge of these proteins remains limited. In this study, a Sacha Inchi protein concentrate (SPC) was extracted from the SIPC, and proteomic analysis was performed to identify the major alkaline-soluble proteins. The electrophoretic profile highlighted the efficacy of alkaline pH and moderate temperature to extract the major proteins, from which a group of proteins, not previously reported, were registered. LC-MS/MS analyses produced abundant high-quality fragmentation spectra. Utilizing the Euphorbiaceae database (DB), 226 proteins were identified, with numerous well-assigned spectra remaining unidentified. PEAKS Studio v11.5 software generated 1819 high-quality de novo peptides. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD052665. Gene ontology (GO) classification allowed the identification of sequenced proteins associated with biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components in the seed. Consequently, the principal alkali-soluble proteins from SPC were characterized through derived functional analysis, covering 24 seed-storage-, 27 defense-, and 12 carbohydrate- and lipid-metabolism-related proteins, crucial for human nutrition due to their sulfur-containing amino acids, antioxidant properties, and oil yields, respectively. This research makes a significant contribution to the current understanding of the Sacha Inchi proteome and offers valuable insights for its potential applications in the food industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Chromatographic and Spectroscopic Analytical Methods for Analysis of Foods)

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Electrophoretic (SDS-PAGE) analysis. (Std) Line with Precision Plus ProteinTM Dual Xtra Standard. Sacha Inchi protein concentrate (SPC). Note the different polypeptides in lines classified into albumins (◊), globulins (*), prolamins (▪), glutelins (+), and higher-molecular-weight polypeptides (¬). Full article ">Figure 2
(a) Protein identification statistics; (b) principals identified species matches in database (DB); (c) length distribution of de novo peptides; (d) molecular weight (Da) of de novo peptides. Full article ">Figure 3
Percentage of identified proteins associated with terms of functional classification of gene ontology (GO) categories under (a) cellular component, CC; (b) molecular function, MF; and (c) biological process, BP. Full article ">Figure 3 Cont.
Percentage of identified proteins associated with terms of functional classification of gene ontology (GO) categories under (a) cellular component, CC; (b) molecular function, MF; and (c) biological process, BP. Full article ">

17 pages, 328 KiB

Open AccessReview

Myeloid Sarcoma: Novel Advances Regarding Molecular Pathogenesis, Presentation and Therapeutic Options

by Michael D. Diamantidis

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(20), 6154; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13206154 - 16 Oct 2024

Viewed by 309

Abstract

Myeloid sarcoma (MS), an extramedullary form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare tumor mass of myeloid blasts. It can disseminate to any one or multiple anatomical sites, with (synchronous MS) or without (isolated MS) bone marrow (BM) involvement. The aim of this review is to describe the most recent advances in MS regarding diagnosis, molecular background, various clinical manifestations from several organs, and treatment approaches. Due to the lack of prospective, randomized clinical trials, therapeutic decisions are a challenge for the clinician. In the era of novel targeted AML treatments, a critical analysis of how to decide the best option for individual patients, also covering the possible central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis is provided. For the majority of the patients, AML induction chemotherapy, followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is generally recommended. This paper discusses the role of radiotherapy, the treatment of refractory and relapsed disease, along with the therapeutic approach of difficult-to-treat patients, due to specific problems related to different anatomical sites of MS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Latest Advances in the Diagnostics, Therapeutic Strategies and Clinical Management)

16 pages, 7914 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Chloride–Sulfate Resistance of a Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer Mortar

by Jiangbo Cheng, Yongjun Qin, Ziqi Yao, Ling Luo and Changwei Qu

Materials 2024, 17(20), 5045; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17205045 (registering DOI) - 15 Oct 2024

Viewed by 335

Abstract

The chloride–sulfate corrosion environment of concrete is a significant engineering problem. This paper investigates the effect of the complete/semi–immersion mode on the durability of concrete in a chloride–sulfate environment by using different granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS) dosage rates (10–50%) of a metakaolin (MK)-based geopolymer mortar. The chloride–sulfate corrosion environment is discussed by analyzing the apparent morphology, mass change, and mechanical property change in specimens at the age of 120 d of erosion combined with XRD and SEM. The high Ca content in GBFS has an important effect on the strength and erosion resistance of the metakaolin geopolymer (MGP) group mortar; an increase in the GBFS dosage makes the MGP group mortar denser, and the initial strength of the MGP group mortar is positively correlated with the dosage of GBFS. After 120 d of erosion, the GBFS dosage is negatively correlated with erosion resistance, with the high GBFS dosage groups showing more severe damage. Semi-immersion resulted in more severe deterioration at the immersion–evaporation interface zone due to the difference in the ionic concentration and the ‘wick effect’ at the immersion–evaporation interface zone. Compared with the commonly used OPC mortar, the M40 and M50 groups have improved strength and corrosion resistance and are suitable for engineering environments in highly erosive areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cementitious Materials for Construction: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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11 pages, 1307 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Blast Transformation of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Driven by Acquisition of t(8;21)(q22;q22)/RUNX1::RUNX1T1: Selecting Optimal Treatment Based on Clinical and Molecular Findings

by Adolfo Fernández-Sánchez, Alberto Hernández-Sánchez, Cristina De Ramón, María-Carmen Chillón, María Belén Vidriales, Mónica Baile-González, Cristina-Teresa Fuentes-Morales, Magdalena Sierra-Pacho, Lucía López-Corral and Fermín Sánchez-Guijo

Biomedicines 2024, 12(10), 2339; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12102339 (registering DOI) - 15 Oct 2024

Viewed by 371

Abstract

The advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has changed the natural history of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and the transformation from the chronic phase to the blast phase (BP) is currently an uncommon situation. However, it is one of the major remaining challenges in the management of this disease, as it is associated with dismal outcomes. We report the case of a 63-year-old woman with a history of CML with poor response to imatinib who progressed to myeloid BP-CML, driven by the acquisition of t(8;21)(q22;q22)/RUNX1::RUNX1T1. The patient received intensive chemotherapy and dasatinib, followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, she suffered an early relapse after allo-HSCT with the acquisition of the T315I mutation in ABL1. Ponatinib and azacitidine were started as salvage treatment, allowing for the achievement of complete remission with deep molecular response after five cycles. Advances in the knowledge of disease biology and clonal evolution are crucial for optimal treatment selection, which ultimately translates into better patient outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia)

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Cytogenetic studies of the patient at myeloid BP-CML, showing the acquisition of t(8;21)(q22;q22)/RUNX1::RUNX1T1 as the driver event of BP. (a): BCR::ABL1 fusion probe (Dual Color, Dual Fusion, Vysis LSI) in the FISH study, showing two fusions in most of the cells, representative of the presence of t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2)/BCR::ABL1 (b): RUNX1::RUNX1T1 fusion probe (Dual Color, Dual Fusion, Vysis LSI) in the FISH study, showing two fusions in approximately half of the cells, representative of the presence of t(8;21)(q22;q22)/RUNX1::RUNX1T1 (c): A Circos plot of optical genome mapping (Bionano) showing concomitant t(8;21)(q22;q22)/RUNX1::RUNX1T1 and t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2)/BCR::ABL1 in the patient sample. Full article ">Figure 2
Polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing analysis of T315I mutation in BCR::ABL1 fusion gene (c.944C > T, p.Thr315Ile). Full article ">Figure 3
A summary of the clinical case report. The temporal evolution of the BCR::ABL1/ABL1 ratio according to the International Scale (represented in blue) and the number of RUNX1::RUNX1T1 transcripts (represented in red) in peripheral blood samples are shown, together with the main events that the patient presented during the disease evolution. CML: chronic myeloid leukemia; BP: blast phase; FLAG-IDA: fludarabine, cytarabine, idarubicin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; allo-HCST: allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; MR: molecular response. Full article ">

16 pages, 1644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Distribution and Evolution of Pi-ta Haplotypes in Rice Landraces across Different Rice Cultivation Regions in Yunnan

by Hengming Luo, Lin Lu, Qun Wang, Zhixiang Guo, Lina Liu, Chi He, Junyi Shi, Chao Dong, Qiaoping Ma and Jinbin Li

Genes 2024, 15(10), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15101325 (registering DOI) - 15 Oct 2024

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Abstract

Background: Rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe oryzae, seriously damages the yield and quality of rice worldwide. Pi-ta is a durable resistance gene that combats M. oryzae carrying AVR-Pita1. However, the distribution of the Pi-ta gene in rice germplasms in Yunnan Province has been inadequately studied. Methods: We analyzed the potential molecular evolution pattern of Pi-ta alleles by examining the diversity in the coding sequence (CDS) among rice varieties. Results: The results revealed that 95% of 405 rice landraces collected from different ecological regions in Yunnan Province carry Pi-ta alleles. We identified 17 nucleotide variation sites in the CDS regions of the Pi-ta gene across 385 rice landraces. These variations led to the identification of 28 Pi-ta haplotypes, encoding 12 novel variants. Among these, 5 Pi-ta haplotypes (62 rice landraces) carried R alleles. The evolutionary cluster and network of the Pi-ta haplotypes suggested that the Pi-ta S alleles were the ancestral alleles, which could potentially evolve into R variants through base substitution. Conclusions: This study suggests that Pi-ta alleles are diverse in the rice landraces in Yunnan, and the Pi-ta sites resistant to blast evolved from the susceptible plants of the rice landraces. These results provide the basis for breeding resistant varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Genes & Environments)

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Diversification of Pi-ta in rice landraces in Yunnan. Distribution of variation of the Pi-ta alleles was analyzed using sliding window. X-axis shows the distribution of variation within the full CDS regions. Lower pane indicates the corresponding schematic presentation of the two exons of Pi-ta. Window length: 10; step size: 1. π value corresponds with the level of variation at each site, because it is the sum of pair-wise differences divided by the number of pairs within the population. Full article ">Figure 2
Neighbor joining phylogenetic tree of Pi-ta resistance (R)/susceptibility (S) alleles. (A), systematical evolution of 44 Pi-ta alleles. R/S alleles of the Pi-ta can be divided into 2 different clusters. Cluster I contained 4 Pi-ta haplotypes (wild O. barthii, O. glaberrima, O. sativa f. spontanea, and O. sativa Indica Group), while Cluster II contained wild Oryza rufipogon and Oryza glaberrima, and all of Pi-ta haplotypes in rice landraces in Yunnan. (B), the phylogenetic relationship of Pi-ta R/S alleles. The Pi-ta R alleles were derived from S alleles in rice landraces in Yunnan. These Pi-ta haplotype alleles were obtained from rice landraces in Yunnan (28 Pi-ta haplotype alleles, H01–H28) and the published GenBank (16 Pi-ta haplotype alleles, accession number: AF207842.1, EU770206.1, EU770207.1, EU770208.1, EU770209.1, EU770210.1, EU770211.1, EU770212.1, EU770213.1, EU770214.1, EU770215.1, EU770216.1, EU770217.1, EU770218.1, EU770219.1, EU770220.1). Full article ">Figure 3
The haplotype network for the 28 Pi-ta alleles and the 13 reference Pi-ta alleles in rice. Haplotype network analysis was performed using TCS1.21 (<a href="http://darwin.uvigo.es/" target="_blank">http://darwin.uvigo.es/</a>). The Pi-ta haplotypes were major divided into 5 evolutionary clades. Clade A contained 4 Pi-ta orthologues and they derived from the published sequences in GenBank. Clade D possessed the most Pi-ta orthologues, but not contained its R allele. In contrast, clade B, C, and E included the Pi-ta R allele at least one and derived from the S orthologues. The original Pi-ta alleles were designated as the H01 haplotype in the network. Each Pi-ta haplotype was separated by mutational events. The node in the network represents an extinct or a missing haplotype not found among the samples. All haplotypes were displayed as circles. The size of the circles corresponded to the haplotype frequency. H01–H28 were obtained from 385 rice landraces in Yunnan. The AF207842.1, EU770206.1, EU770207.1 (same with H02), EU770209.1 (same with H07), EU770211.1 (same with H05), EU770212.1 (same with H01), EU770214.1, EU770215.1 (same with H06), EU770216.1, EU770217.1 (same with H11), EU770218.1, EU770219.1, and EU770220.1 (GenBank accession number) of the Pi-ta haplotypes were obtained from GenBank. White color indicates the susceptibility alleles of Pi-ta gene, and yellow color indicates the resistance alleles of Pita gene. A to E, 5 major haplotypes of Pi-ta in Yunnan Province of China, are shaded. Full article ">

13 pages, 35411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Shot Blasting Abrasive Particles on the Microstructure of Thermal Barrier Coatings Containing Ni-Based Superalloy

by Jianping Lai, Xin Shen, Xiaohu Yuan, Dingjun Li, Xiufang Gong, Fei Zhao, Xiaobo Liao and Jiaxin Yu

Coatings 2024, 14(10), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14101312 - 14 Oct 2024

Viewed by 332

Abstract

Grit particles remaining on the substrate surface after grit blasting are generally considered to impair the thermal performance of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). However, the specific mechanisms by which these particles degrade the multilayer structure of TBCs during thermal cycling have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, the superalloy substrate was grit-blasted using various processing parameters, followed by the deposition of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) consisting of a metallic bond coat (BC) and a ceramic top coat (TC). After thermal shock tests, local thinning or discontinuities in the thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer were observed in TBCs where large grit particles were embedded at the BC/substrate interface. Moreover, cracks originated at the concave positions of the TGO layer and propagated vertically towards BC; these cracks may be associated with additional stress imposed by the foreign grit particles during thermal cycling. At the BC/substrate interface, crack origins were observed in the vicinity of large grit particles (~50 μm). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Additive Manufacturing of Metallic Components for Hard Coatings)

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36 pages, 21427 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Test and Numerical Study on Blast Resistance of Main Girders Coated with Polyurea in Self-Anchored Suspension Bridges

by Rong Wang, Guangpan Zhou and Xiaobao Zuo

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(20), 9280; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14209280 - 12 Oct 2024

Viewed by 367

Abstract

This study investigates the blast-resistant performance of a polyurea-coated suspension bridge girder under explosive loads. The Hunan Road Bridge of Shandong was used as a case study through combined test and numerical simulation methods. Two 3 kg TNT charges and one 5 kg TNT charge were used to conduct two single-blast tests and one repeated blast test on a 1:3 scaled segment of a box girder. The tests were labeled as G (box girder without polyurea), PCG (first blast on box girder coated with polyurea), and PCGR (second blast on box girder coated with polyurea). A 1.5 mm polyurea layer was uniformly applied to the top surface. Numerical simulations of the explosion response were performed and validated using LS-DYNA software. The results indicate that under 3 kg of TNT detonation directly above the top plate, sample G exhibited an elliptical perforation, whereas sample PCG only experienced minor local dents without penetration. After a second detonation of 5 kg of TNT above the box chambers, sample PCGR displayed a nearly circular perforation in the top plate, along with cracks near the supports of chambers 1 and 3. For the main girder of the suspension bridge, multiple detonation points caused severe damage, rendering it impassable. However, after polyurea coating, the blast resistance significantly improved, with only minor spalling of concrete on the top plate and no other notable damage, allowing for continued passage. The polyurea layer effectively reduced the vertical displacement of the girder, and this reduction plateaued with increasing coating thickness. Under a 500 kg TNT blast, the optimal polyurea thickness to enhance blast resistance was determined to be 9 mm. Full article

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19 pages, 59559 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Rock Avalanche Deposit in Wangjiapo, Ludian Based on UAV Aerial Image Recognition

by Zhenhua Han, Luqing Zhang, Jian Zhou, Song Wang, Juanjuan Sun, Ruirui Li and Fuyou Huang

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(20), 3786; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16203786 - 11 Oct 2024

Viewed by 432

Abstract

Rock avalanche disasters in alpine and gorge regions are frequent and large in scale and cause severe damage. The movement of a rock avalanche is complex and has not been fully studied. The deposits of a rock avalanche can provide valuable insights into its movement process, which is crucial in understanding the rock fragmentation mechanism and predicting disaster-affected areas. Taking the Wangjiapo rock avalanche in Yunnan Province of China as an example, the size, shape and distribution characteristics of the deposit were analyzed based on field surveys, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photography and image recognition technology. Initially, 3062 deposited rock blocks were manually measured in the field. Subsequently, the Particles/Pores and Cracks Analysis System (PCAS) was employed to identify 11,357 rock blocks with an area greater than 0.1 m² from UAV orthophotos. By comparing the characteristics of the rock blocks obtained through image recognition and manual measurement, the statistical analysis of UAV aerial imagery combined with PACS proved feasible in studying the Wangjiapo rock avalanche. The results showed that the rock block movement was accompanied by fragmentation and sorting processes; furthermore, the roundness increased with the migration distance. Small blocks were more prevalent at the foot of the slope, while irregularly shaped, large blocks dominated in source areas. The movement of huge blocks was characterized by significant potential energy-driven features and inertia advantages, allowing them to travel farther than smaller blocks, and they tended to be concentrated in the central area of the deposit. Additionally, affected by the cementation degree of breccia and the topography, the blocks in the eastern and western deposit areas exhibited different fragmentation and deposition characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rockfall Hazard Analysis Using Remote Sensing Techniques (Second Edition))

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11 pages, 2558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of Vanadium–Titanium Blast Furnace under Different Smelting Intensities

by Yun Huang, Minghong Li, Shufang Lu and Haibin Zuo

Processes 2024, 12(10), 2220; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12102220 - 11 Oct 2024

Viewed by 378

Abstract

The blast furnace smelting of vanadium–titanium ore plays a crucial role in the efficient utilization of vanadium-titanium resources. In this research, a detailed numerical simulation study of the temperature, velocity, and concentration fields during the smelting process in a vanadium–titanium blast furnace was conducted. The actual production data from a 1750 m³ vanadium–titanium blast furnace was utilized, combined with softening and dripping parameters and material balance calculations, to develop a two-dimensional blast furnace model. This model was employed to analyze the effects of varying smelting intensities on the internal operating conditions of the furnace. The study found that as smelting intensity increased, significant changes occurred in the temperature fields and CO concentration fields within the furnace, thereby affecting the reduction efficiency of the burdens. Additionally, this research also shows that increasing the proportion of Baima pellets in the furnace will lead to the expansion of the soft melting zone and the upward movement of the soft melting zone. This investigation not only revealed the variations in the internal physical fields of the blast furnace under different operating conditions but also provided theoretical foundations and references for optimizing the design and operation of vanadium–titanium blast furnaces. By comparing the velocity field under different smelting intensities, it was found that the difference was small, which was mainly related to the expansion behavior of the pellets. These findings provide an important scientific basis for further improving the efficiency of blast furnace smelting and reducing costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Manufacturing Processes and Systems)

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Geometric models of 1750 m3 blast furnace in Xichang Steel Vanadium of Pangang Group (a) geometric model, unit: mm; (b) mesh model. Full article ">Figure 2
Softening–smelting parameters of different smelting intensities. Full article ">Figure 3
Blast furnace temperature field under different smelting intensities. Full article ">Figure 4
Blast furnace CO concentration field under different smelting intensities. Full article ">Figure 5
Blast furnace velocity fields under different smelting intensities. Full article ">

17 pages, 6227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Damage Evolution Mechanism of Layered Rock Mass under Blasting Load

by Lixiang Xie, Jiahao Zhang, Dongyu Yang, Yanjun Qi, Linjun Wu and Hongyun Chen

Buildings 2024, 14(10), 3227; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14103227 - 11 Oct 2024

Viewed by 415

Abstract

Rock mass consists of many discontinuities, such as faults, joints, etc., and layered joints are a common kind of rock mass structure. The joints affect the stress wave propagation, and blasting is an economical and efficient rock fragmentation method for rock mass engineering. So, the rock mass fragmentation effect and construction progress are affected by these layered joints. Numerical studies were carried out to analyze the damage evolution process of intact rock and rock mass with layered joints subjected to blasting loads based on the Riedel–Hiermaier–Thoma (RHT) model in LS-DYNA software (smp s R11.0.), and the effects of the location of initiation points and the fracture distribution on dynamic damage evolution of the rock mass were discussed. Bottom initiation tends to direct the blasting energy toward the blasthole mouth, resulting in effective rock fragmentation and ejection. Gradually adjusting the initiation point upward can improve the stress and damage distribution, allowing some of the blasting stress waves to propagate toward the bottom and enhance the fragmentation of the rock at the bottom. The distribution of layered joints exacerbates the damage to the rock mass on the upstream surface, but also acts as a certain shield to the propagation of stress waves, increasing the asymmetry of the damage distribution. It is useful to know the damage mechanism of the rock mass with layered joints to improve the effect of rock mass fragmentation by blasting. These results have very important theoretical significance and application value for the optimization of blasting construction technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization)

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25 pages, 13668 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Rock Hardness and Abrasivity Using Hyperspectral Imaging Data and Random Forest Regressor Model

by Saleh Ghadernejad and Kamran Esmaeili

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(20), 3778; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16203778 - 11 Oct 2024

Viewed by 636

Abstract

This study aimed to develop predictive models for rock hardness and abrasivity based on hyperspectral imaging data, providing valuable information without interrupting the mining processes. The data collection stage first involved scanning 159 rock samples collected from 6 different blasted rock piles using visible and near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensors. The hardness and abrasivity of the samples were then determined through Leeb rebound hardness (LRH) and Cerchar abrasivity index (CAI) tests, respectively. The data preprocessing involved radiometric correction, background removal, and staking VNIR and SWIR images. An integrated approach based on K-means clustering and the band ratio concept was employed for feature extraction, resulting in 28 band-ratio-based features. Afterward, the random forest regressor (RFR) algorithm was employed to develop predictive models for rock hardness and abrasivity separately. The performance assessment showed that the developed models can estimate rock hardness and abrasivity of unseen data with R² scores of 0.74 and 0.79, respectively, with the most influential features located mainly within the SWIR region. The results indicate that integrated hyperspectral data and RFR technique have strong potential for practical and efficient rock hardness and abrasivity characterization during mining processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Remote Sensing in Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology)

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19 pages, 2010 KiB

Open AccessReview

Immunotherapeutic Potential of Mutated NPM1 for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

by Jochen Greiner, Eithar Mohamed, Daniel M. Fletcher, Patrick J. Schuler, Hubert Schrezenmeier, Marlies Götz and Barbara-ann Guinn

Cancers 2024, 16(20), 3443; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16203443 - 10 Oct 2024

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Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant disease of the blood and bone marrow that is characterized by uncontrolled clonal proliferation of abnormal myeloid progenitor cells. Nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) gene mutations are the most common genetic abnormality in AML, detectable in blast cells from about one-third of adults with AML. AML NPM1^mut is recognized as a separate entity in the World Health Organization classification of AML. Clinical and survival data suggest that patients with this form of AML often have a more favorable prognosis, which may be due to the immunogenicity created by the mutations in the NPM1 protein. Consequently, AML with NPM1^mut can be considered an immunogenic subtype of AML. However, the underlying mechanisms of this immunogenicity and associated favorable survival outcomes need to be further investigated. Immune checkpoint molecules, such as the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) protein and its ligand, PD-L1, play important roles in leukemogenesis through their maintenance of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Preclinical trials have shown that the use of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors and lymphoma work best in novel therapy combinations. Patients with AML NPM1^mut may be better suited to immunogenic strategies that are based on the inhibition of the PD-1 immune checkpoint pathway than patients without this mutation, suggesting the genetic landscape of patients may also inform best practice for the use of PD-1 inhibitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of NPM1 Mutation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia)

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