Aerial imagery is regularly used by crop researchers,growers and farmers to monitor crops during the growing season.To extract meaningful information from large-scale aerial images collected from the field,high-throug...Aerial imagery is regularly used by crop researchers,growers and farmers to monitor crops during the growing season.To extract meaningful information from large-scale aerial images collected from the field,high-throughput phenotypic analysis solutions are required,which not only produce high-quality measures of key crop traits,but also support professionals to make prompt and reliable crop management decisions.Here,we report AirSurf,an automated and open-source analytic platform that combines modern computer vision,up-to-date machine learning,and modular software engineering in order to measure yield-related phenotypes from ultra-large aerial imagery.To quantify millions of in-field lettuces acquired by fixed-wing light aircrafts equipped with normalised difference vegetation index(NDVI)sensors,we customised AirSurf by combining computer vision algorithms and a deep-learning classifier trained with over 100,000 labelled lettuce signals.The tailored platform,AirSurf-Lettuce,is capable of scoring and categorising iceberg lettuces with high accuracy(>98%).Furthermore,novel analysis functions have been developed to map lettuce size distribution across the field,based on which associated global positioning system(GPS)tagged harvest regions have been identified to enable growers and farmers to conduct precision agricultural practises in order to improve the actual yield as well as crop marketability before the harvest.展开更多
Spartina alterniflora has rapidly and extensively encroached on China's coastline over the past decades.Among the coastal areas invaded by S.alterniflora,at most 93%are mudflats.However,the effect of S.alterniflor...Spartina alterniflora has rapidly and extensively encroached on China's coastline over the past decades.Among the coastal areas invaded by S.alterniflora,at most 93%are mudflats.However,the effect of S.alterniflora invasion on soil organic carbon(SOC)stocks of coastal mudflats has not been systematically studied on a national scale.Here,we quantified the nationwide changes in SOC stocks in coastal mudflats associated with S.alterniflora invasion between 1990 and 2020.We found that S.alterniflora invasion significantly enhanced SOC stocks in coastal China.Nonetheless,the benefit of S.alterniflora invasion of coastal SOC stock may be weakened by continuing human intervention.We found that S.alterniflora invading mudflats added 2.3 Tg SOC stocks to China's coastal blue carbon,while 1.78 Tg SOC stocks were lost mainly due to human activities,resulted in a net SOC stock gain of 0.52 Tg C.These findings overturned the traditionally thought that S.alterniflora invasion would reduce ecosystem services by highlighting that the historical invasion of S.alterniflora has broadly and consistently enhanced blue carbon stock in coastal China.展开更多
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) becomes a point of focus globally due to its harmful effects on the environment and human health if it is not managed properly. MSW was proved globally to be used as a resource, and it has ...Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) becomes a point of focus globally due to its harmful effects on the environment and human health if it is not managed properly. MSW was proved globally to be used as a resource, and it has a major opportunity in the realm of conversion technologies. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the enablers and barriers to six different MSW management (MSWM) technologies adopted in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in order to ensure the successful adoption of these technologies that are Anaerobic Digestion (AD), Incineration, Pyrolysis, Gasification, Composting and Refused Derived Fuel (RDF). This study provides sufficient information to the decision and policy-makers for the processes of selection and adoption of the MSWM technologies in Bahrain, using a qualitative approach “mainly semi-structured interviews” with experts and then Thematic Analysis using nvivo12 software. The results show that the main themes that enablers and barriers fall under are: political (e.g. national waste management strategy), technical (e.g. segregation at source), managerial (e.g. capacity building), social (e.g. public awareness), economic (e.g. incentives to investment) and environmental (e.g. air quality). This study concluded that in order to succeed in the MSWM technologies adoption, the resulted barriers should be overcome. Furthermore, Incineration was recommended as the best solution to manage MSW which has the least barriers and most enablers in Bahrain as per the experts.展开更多
Background Calcium antagonists are widely prescribed for angina pectoris but t heir effect on clinical outcome is controversial. We aimed to investigate the ef fect of the calcium antagonist nifedipine on long term ou...Background Calcium antagonists are widely prescribed for angina pectoris but t heir effect on clinical outcome is controversial. We aimed to investigate the ef fect of the calcium antagonist nifedipine on long term outcome in patients with stable angina pectoris. Methods We randomly assigned 3825 patients with treated stable symptomatic coronary disease to double blind addition of nifedipine GIT S (gastrointestinal therapeutic system) 60 mg once daily and 3840 to placebo. Th e primary endpoint was the combination of death, acute myocardial infarction, re fractory angina, new overt heart failure, debilitating stroke, and peripheral re vascularisation. Mean follow up was 4.9 years (SD 1.1). Analysis was by intenti on to treat. Findings 310 patients allocated nifedipine died (1.64 per 100 patie nt years) compared with 291 people allocated placebo (1.53 per 100 patient yea rs; hazard ratio 1.07 [95%CI 0.91-1.25], p=0.41). Primary endpoint rates wer e 4.60 per 100 patient years for nifedipine and 4.75 per 100 patient years for p lacebo (0.97 [0.88-1.07], p=0.54). With nifedipine, rate of death and any car di ovascular event or procedure was 9.32 per 100 patient years versus 10.50 per 10 0 patient years for placebo (0.89 [0.83-0.95], p=0.0012). The difference was m ainly attributable to a reduction in the need for coronary angiography and inter ventions in patients assigned nifedipine, despite an increase in peripheral reva scularisation. Nifedipine had no effect on the rate of myocardial infarction. In terpretation Addition of nifedipine GITS to conventional treatment of angina pec toris has no effect on major cardiovascular event free survival. Nifedipine GIT S is safe and reduces the need for coronary angiography and interventions.展开更多
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation is growing rapidly as compared to the rate of urbanization. Household waste management is considered a highly challenging task for Bahrain’s policy-makers, urban planners and mu...Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation is growing rapidly as compared to the rate of urbanization. Household waste management is considered a highly challenging task for Bahrain’s policy-makers, urban planners and municipalities due to rising population, burgeoning growth rate of waste generation, limited availability of land and scarce waste disposal sites. Public awareness represents a key enabler in order to succeed any sustainable waste management practice in the country. The survey aimed at gauging public awareness about household waste management in Muharraq Governorate and explored if there are any correlations between educational level, gender, occupation and age and area of living with the level of public awareness as well as its three components: knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the people in Muharraq Governorate. The results indicated the total awareness is significantly different across different age levels and nationality. Moreover, it shows a high public awareness toward household waste management among people in Muharraq Governorate, which indicated that the society is aware and has the basics to build on in terms of sustainable waste management practices and technologies adoption, which may help overcome the possible social barrier represented by low public awareness.展开更多
A nonlinear model of a warm-core ring is presented here. The model treats the warm-core ring as a confined lens of fluid rotating on an f plane. A simple polynomial expansion of the hydrodynamic field variables about ...A nonlinear model of a warm-core ring is presented here. The model treats the warm-core ring as a confined lens of fluid rotating on an f plane. A simple polynomial expansion of the hydrodynamic field variables about the center of mass of the lens provides the basis for an exact reduction of the hydrodynamic equations. Observations from two warm-core rings are compared with simulations from the nonlinear model. Fair agreement is found between model calculations and observations from the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio.展开更多
不是每个穷人都不快乐,就像不是每个富人都快乐一样。富人有富人的烦恼。英籍知名作家彼得·梅尔在其著作《有关品位》里就曾写道:"几年前的一个晚上,我在一对迷人的夫妇家中作客。这对夫妇太有钱了,有钱得使生活都有些反常了...不是每个穷人都不快乐,就像不是每个富人都快乐一样。富人有富人的烦恼。英籍知名作家彼得·梅尔在其著作《有关品位》里就曾写道:"几年前的一个晚上,我在一对迷人的夫妇家中作客。这对夫妇太有钱了,有钱得使生活都有些反常了。那天,他们的一位客人,或许就是我,现在我终于想起来了,就在起居室的一幅黑乎乎的油画边,我无意间轻轻碰了一下那个沉甸甸的镀金画框。结果警铃大作,害得主人不得不打电话给保安,百般保证家中并无异常……"没有人会拒绝变富有,但富有并不等同于快乐。正如该文末尾引用的心理分析学者曼弗雷德·凯茨·德·弗里斯的观点那样,"It’s not what you have but what you do that makes you ultimalely happy."展开更多
Objective: To examine the effects of nifedipine GITS on clinical outcome in patients with concurrent stable angina and hypertension. Methods: Data from the double-blind placebo-controlled ACTION trial was stratified f...Objective: To examine the effects of nifedipine GITS on clinical outcome in patients with concurrent stable angina and hypertension. Methods: Data from the double-blind placebo-controlled ACTION trial was stratified for hypertension(blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg), at baseline. Results: A total of 52%of 7665 ACTION patients were hypertensive. Some 80%were on a βblocker; hypertensives were more often treated with other blood pressure-lowering drugs. Mean baseline blood pressure was 122/74 mmHg among normotensives and 151/85 mmHg among hypertensives. Follow-up blood pressures were reduced by nifedipine(P< 0.001) on the average by 3.9/2.4 and 6.6/3.5 mmHg among normotensives and hypertensives, respectively. Nifedipine GITS significantly(P< 0.05) reduced the combined incidence of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, refractory angina, heart failure, stroke and peripheral revascularization by 13%in hypertensives only. Nifedipine significantly reduced the incidence of any stroke or transient ischemic attack by almost 30%in both subgroups and the need for coronary angiography by 21%in normotensives and 16%in hypertensives. Among hypertensives, the incidence of new overt heart failure was significantly reduced by 38%and of debilitating stroke by 33%. Among normotensives, the need for coronary bypass grafting was significantly reduced by 32%. Nifedipine did not affect all-cause death, cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction in either normo-or hypertensives, but increased the need for peripheral revascularization. Conclusion: The salutary effects of the addition of nifedipine GITS to the basic regimen of patients with concurrent stable symptomatic coronary artery disease and hypertension emphasize the need for blood pressure control.展开更多
Background. Villoglandular adenocarcinoma (VGA) of the cervix is reported as a variant of a cervical adenocarcinoma with a good prognosis. Cases. We present two cases histologically reported as a villoglandular adenoc...Background. Villoglandular adenocarcinoma (VGA) of the cervix is reported as a variant of a cervical adenocarcinoma with a good prognosis. Cases. We present two cases histologically reported as a villoglandular adenocarcinoma of the cervix that have recurred and progressed rapidly since initial treatment. External histopathological review suggested both had a prominent villoglandular pattern but with an associated underlying well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Conclusion. The diagnosis of VGA is difficult. Current literature is not entirely consistent in the presented definition, and further clarity is needed. Because of the rarity of VGA and the difficulty but importance of the diagnosis, we would feel that a central review of all cases of VGA is warranted. This would assist in diagnosis and also in obtaining accurate follow-up data.展开更多
Objective: To create an in-vitro model for raised intraocular pressure by exposing lamina cribrosa cells to cyclical mechanical stretch and examine the effect of this stimulus on gene expression patterns of components...Objective: To create an in-vitro model for raised intraocular pressure by exposing lamina cribrosa cells to cyclical mechanical stretch and examine the effect of this stimulus on gene expression patterns of components and modulators of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the lamina cribrosa. Methods: Confluent normal primary human lamina cribrosa were transferred onto展开更多
基金the support of NVIDIA Corporation with the award of the Quadro GPU used for this research.J.Z.was partially funded by UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s(BBSRC)Designing Future Wheat Cross-institute Strategic Programme(BB/P016855/1)to Graham Moore,BBS/E/T/000PR9785 to J.Z.J.B.were partially supported by the Core Strategic Programme Grant(BB/CSP17270/1)at the Earlham Institute+1 种基金A.G.B.and C.A.were also partially supported by G’s Growers’s industrial fund awarded to J.Z.A.B.was partially supported by the Newton UK-China Agri-Tech Network+Grant(GP131JZ1G)awarded to J.Z.
文摘Aerial imagery is regularly used by crop researchers,growers and farmers to monitor crops during the growing season.To extract meaningful information from large-scale aerial images collected from the field,high-throughput phenotypic analysis solutions are required,which not only produce high-quality measures of key crop traits,but also support professionals to make prompt and reliable crop management decisions.Here,we report AirSurf,an automated and open-source analytic platform that combines modern computer vision,up-to-date machine learning,and modular software engineering in order to measure yield-related phenotypes from ultra-large aerial imagery.To quantify millions of in-field lettuces acquired by fixed-wing light aircrafts equipped with normalised difference vegetation index(NDVI)sensors,we customised AirSurf by combining computer vision algorithms and a deep-learning classifier trained with over 100,000 labelled lettuce signals.The tailored platform,AirSurf-Lettuce,is capable of scoring and categorising iceberg lettuces with high accuracy(>98%).Furthermore,novel analysis functions have been developed to map lettuce size distribution across the field,based on which associated global positioning system(GPS)tagged harvest regions have been identified to enable growers and farmers to conduct precision agricultural practises in order to improve the actual yield as well as crop marketability before the harvest.
基金supported by the CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research(YSBR-037)the National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFE0113100,2023YFF1304500,2021YFC3100400)+8 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2106209,32171594,32301398,42007230)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2021B1515020011)the CAS Youth Innovation Promotion Association(2021347)the National Forestry and Grassland Administration Youth Talent Support Program(2020BJ003)ANSO collaborative research(ANSO-CR-KP-202211)Guangdong Key Research Program(2022B1111230001)Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Zhuhai)(SML2023SP218)Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany,South China Botanical Garden(2023B1212060046)the MOST Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions project。
文摘Spartina alterniflora has rapidly and extensively encroached on China's coastline over the past decades.Among the coastal areas invaded by S.alterniflora,at most 93%are mudflats.However,the effect of S.alterniflora invasion on soil organic carbon(SOC)stocks of coastal mudflats has not been systematically studied on a national scale.Here,we quantified the nationwide changes in SOC stocks in coastal mudflats associated with S.alterniflora invasion between 1990 and 2020.We found that S.alterniflora invasion significantly enhanced SOC stocks in coastal China.Nonetheless,the benefit of S.alterniflora invasion of coastal SOC stock may be weakened by continuing human intervention.We found that S.alterniflora invading mudflats added 2.3 Tg SOC stocks to China's coastal blue carbon,while 1.78 Tg SOC stocks were lost mainly due to human activities,resulted in a net SOC stock gain of 0.52 Tg C.These findings overturned the traditionally thought that S.alterniflora invasion would reduce ecosystem services by highlighting that the historical invasion of S.alterniflora has broadly and consistently enhanced blue carbon stock in coastal China.
文摘Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) becomes a point of focus globally due to its harmful effects on the environment and human health if it is not managed properly. MSW was proved globally to be used as a resource, and it has a major opportunity in the realm of conversion technologies. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the enablers and barriers to six different MSW management (MSWM) technologies adopted in the Kingdom of Bahrain, in order to ensure the successful adoption of these technologies that are Anaerobic Digestion (AD), Incineration, Pyrolysis, Gasification, Composting and Refused Derived Fuel (RDF). This study provides sufficient information to the decision and policy-makers for the processes of selection and adoption of the MSWM technologies in Bahrain, using a qualitative approach “mainly semi-structured interviews” with experts and then Thematic Analysis using nvivo12 software. The results show that the main themes that enablers and barriers fall under are: political (e.g. national waste management strategy), technical (e.g. segregation at source), managerial (e.g. capacity building), social (e.g. public awareness), economic (e.g. incentives to investment) and environmental (e.g. air quality). This study concluded that in order to succeed in the MSWM technologies adoption, the resulted barriers should be overcome. Furthermore, Incineration was recommended as the best solution to manage MSW which has the least barriers and most enablers in Bahrain as per the experts.
文摘Background Calcium antagonists are widely prescribed for angina pectoris but t heir effect on clinical outcome is controversial. We aimed to investigate the ef fect of the calcium antagonist nifedipine on long term outcome in patients with stable angina pectoris. Methods We randomly assigned 3825 patients with treated stable symptomatic coronary disease to double blind addition of nifedipine GIT S (gastrointestinal therapeutic system) 60 mg once daily and 3840 to placebo. Th e primary endpoint was the combination of death, acute myocardial infarction, re fractory angina, new overt heart failure, debilitating stroke, and peripheral re vascularisation. Mean follow up was 4.9 years (SD 1.1). Analysis was by intenti on to treat. Findings 310 patients allocated nifedipine died (1.64 per 100 patie nt years) compared with 291 people allocated placebo (1.53 per 100 patient yea rs; hazard ratio 1.07 [95%CI 0.91-1.25], p=0.41). Primary endpoint rates wer e 4.60 per 100 patient years for nifedipine and 4.75 per 100 patient years for p lacebo (0.97 [0.88-1.07], p=0.54). With nifedipine, rate of death and any car di ovascular event or procedure was 9.32 per 100 patient years versus 10.50 per 10 0 patient years for placebo (0.89 [0.83-0.95], p=0.0012). The difference was m ainly attributable to a reduction in the need for coronary angiography and inter ventions in patients assigned nifedipine, despite an increase in peripheral reva scularisation. Nifedipine had no effect on the rate of myocardial infarction. In terpretation Addition of nifedipine GITS to conventional treatment of angina pec toris has no effect on major cardiovascular event free survival. Nifedipine GIT S is safe and reduces the need for coronary angiography and interventions.
文摘Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation is growing rapidly as compared to the rate of urbanization. Household waste management is considered a highly challenging task for Bahrain’s policy-makers, urban planners and municipalities due to rising population, burgeoning growth rate of waste generation, limited availability of land and scarce waste disposal sites. Public awareness represents a key enabler in order to succeed any sustainable waste management practice in the country. The survey aimed at gauging public awareness about household waste management in Muharraq Governorate and explored if there are any correlations between educational level, gender, occupation and age and area of living with the level of public awareness as well as its three components: knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the people in Muharraq Governorate. The results indicated the total awareness is significantly different across different age levels and nationality. Moreover, it shows a high public awareness toward household waste management among people in Muharraq Governorate, which indicated that the society is aware and has the basics to build on in terms of sustainable waste management practices and technologies adoption, which may help overcome the possible social barrier represented by low public awareness.
文摘A nonlinear model of a warm-core ring is presented here. The model treats the warm-core ring as a confined lens of fluid rotating on an f plane. A simple polynomial expansion of the hydrodynamic field variables about the center of mass of the lens provides the basis for an exact reduction of the hydrodynamic equations. Observations from two warm-core rings are compared with simulations from the nonlinear model. Fair agreement is found between model calculations and observations from the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio.
文摘不是每个穷人都不快乐,就像不是每个富人都快乐一样。富人有富人的烦恼。英籍知名作家彼得·梅尔在其著作《有关品位》里就曾写道:"几年前的一个晚上,我在一对迷人的夫妇家中作客。这对夫妇太有钱了,有钱得使生活都有些反常了。那天,他们的一位客人,或许就是我,现在我终于想起来了,就在起居室的一幅黑乎乎的油画边,我无意间轻轻碰了一下那个沉甸甸的镀金画框。结果警铃大作,害得主人不得不打电话给保安,百般保证家中并无异常……"没有人会拒绝变富有,但富有并不等同于快乐。正如该文末尾引用的心理分析学者曼弗雷德·凯茨·德·弗里斯的观点那样,"It’s not what you have but what you do that makes you ultimalely happy."
文摘Objective: To examine the effects of nifedipine GITS on clinical outcome in patients with concurrent stable angina and hypertension. Methods: Data from the double-blind placebo-controlled ACTION trial was stratified for hypertension(blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg), at baseline. Results: A total of 52%of 7665 ACTION patients were hypertensive. Some 80%were on a βblocker; hypertensives were more often treated with other blood pressure-lowering drugs. Mean baseline blood pressure was 122/74 mmHg among normotensives and 151/85 mmHg among hypertensives. Follow-up blood pressures were reduced by nifedipine(P< 0.001) on the average by 3.9/2.4 and 6.6/3.5 mmHg among normotensives and hypertensives, respectively. Nifedipine GITS significantly(P< 0.05) reduced the combined incidence of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, refractory angina, heart failure, stroke and peripheral revascularization by 13%in hypertensives only. Nifedipine significantly reduced the incidence of any stroke or transient ischemic attack by almost 30%in both subgroups and the need for coronary angiography by 21%in normotensives and 16%in hypertensives. Among hypertensives, the incidence of new overt heart failure was significantly reduced by 38%and of debilitating stroke by 33%. Among normotensives, the need for coronary bypass grafting was significantly reduced by 32%. Nifedipine did not affect all-cause death, cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction in either normo-or hypertensives, but increased the need for peripheral revascularization. Conclusion: The salutary effects of the addition of nifedipine GITS to the basic regimen of patients with concurrent stable symptomatic coronary artery disease and hypertension emphasize the need for blood pressure control.
文摘Background. Villoglandular adenocarcinoma (VGA) of the cervix is reported as a variant of a cervical adenocarcinoma with a good prognosis. Cases. We present two cases histologically reported as a villoglandular adenocarcinoma of the cervix that have recurred and progressed rapidly since initial treatment. External histopathological review suggested both had a prominent villoglandular pattern but with an associated underlying well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. Conclusion. The diagnosis of VGA is difficult. Current literature is not entirely consistent in the presented definition, and further clarity is needed. Because of the rarity of VGA and the difficulty but importance of the diagnosis, we would feel that a central review of all cases of VGA is warranted. This would assist in diagnosis and also in obtaining accurate follow-up data.
文摘Objective: To create an in-vitro model for raised intraocular pressure by exposing lamina cribrosa cells to cyclical mechanical stretch and examine the effect of this stimulus on gene expression patterns of components and modulators of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the lamina cribrosa. Methods: Confluent normal primary human lamina cribrosa were transferred onto
