Integrating artificial intelligence and high-throughput phenotyping for crop improvement

Crop improvement is crucial for addressing the global challenges of food security and sustainable agriculture.Recent advancements in high-throughput phenotyping(HTP)technologies and artificial intelligence(AI)have revolutionized the field,enabling rapid and accurate assessment of crop traits on a large scale.The integration of AI and machine learning algorithms with HTP data has unlocked new opportunities for crop improvement.AI algorithms can analyze and interpret large datasets,and extract meaningful patterns and correlations between phenotypic traits and genetic factors.These technologies have the potential to revolutionize plant breeding programs by providing breeders with efficient and accurate tools for trait selection,thereby reducing the time and cost required for variety development.However,further research and collaboration are needed to overcome the existing challenges and fully unlock the power of HTP and AI in crop improvement.By leveraging AI algorithms,researchers can efficiently analyze phenotypic data,uncover complex patterns,and establish predictive models that enable precise trait selection and crop breeding.The aim of this review is to explore the transformative potential of integrating HTP and AI in crop improvement.This review will encompass an in-depth analysis of recent advances and applications,highlighting the numerous benefits and challenges associated with HTP and AI.

Anti-aging performance improvement and enhanced combustion efficiency of boron via the coating of PDA

Boron is an ambitious fuel in energetic materials since its high heat release values,but its application is prohibited by low combustion efficiency and oxidization during storage.The polydopamine(PDA)was introduced into boron particles,investigating the impact of PDA content on the energetic behavior of boron.The results indicated that the PDA coating formed a fishing net structure on the surface of boron particles.The heat release results showed that the combustion calorific value of B@PDA was higher than that of the raw boron.Specifically,the actual combustion heat of boron powder in B@10%PDA increased by 38.08%.Meanwhile,the DSC peak temperature decreased by 100.65℃under similar oxidation rate compared to raw boron.Simultaneously,the B@PDA@AP and B@AP composites were prepared,and their combustion properties were evaluated.It was demonstrated that B@10%PDA@AP exhibited superior performance in terms of peak pressure and burning time,respectively.The peak pressure is 12.43 kPa more than B@AP and burning time is 2.22 times higher than B@AP.Therefore,the coating of PDA effectively inhibits the oxidization of boron during storage and enhances the energetic behavior of boron and corresponding composites.

Enhancing Private Healthcare Effectiveness in Lagos State, Nigeria: An Overview of the Effect of Quality Improvement Initiatives and Implications for Sustainable Healthcare Delivery

Background: Nigeria, a nation grappling with rapid population growth, economic intricacies, and complex healthcare challenges, particularly in Lagos State, the economic hub and most populous state, faces the challenge of ensuring quality healthcare access. The overview of the effect of quality improvement initiatives in this paper focuses on private healthcare providers in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study assesses the impact of donor-funded quality improvement projects on these private healthcare facilities. It explores the level of participation, perceived support, and tangible effects of the initiatives on healthcare delivery within private healthcare facilities. It also examines how these initiatives influence patient inflow and facility ratings, and bring about additional benefits and improvements, provides insights into the challenges faced by private healthcare providers in implementing quality improvement projects and elicits recommendations for improving the effectiveness of such initiatives. Methods: Qualitative research design was employed for in-depth exploration, utilizing semi-structured interviews. Private healthcare providers in Lagos involved in the SP4FP Quality Improvement Project were purposively sampled for diversity. Face-to-face interviews elicited insights into participation, perceived support, and project effects. Questions covered participation levels, support perception, changes observed, challenges faced, and recommendations. Thematic analysis identified recurring themes from interview transcripts. Adherence to ethical guidelines ensured participant confidentiality and informed consent. Results: Respondents affirmed active involvement in the SP4FP Quality Improvement Project, echoing literature emphasizing private-sector collaboration with the public sector. While acknowledging positive influences on facility ratings, respondents highlighted challenges within the broader Nigerian healthcare landscape affecting patient numbers. Respondents cited tangible improvements, particularly in staff management and patient care processes, validating the positive influence of quality improvement projects. Financial constraints emerged as a significant challenge, aligning with existing literature emphasizing the pragmatic difficulties faced by private healthcare providers. Conclusions: This study illuminates the complex landscape of private healthcare provision in Lagos State, emphasizing the positive impact of donor-funded quality improvement projects. The findings provide nuanced insights, guiding policymakers, healthcare managers, and practitioners toward collaborative, sustainable improvements. As Nigeria progresses, these lessons will be crucial in shaping healthcare policies prioritizing population well-being.

Modification and Experimental Verification of the Performance Improvement of Domestic Dehumidifiers

After optimizing the compressor design,condenser tube diameter,and tube row arrangement,air supply volumetric flow rate,and refrigerant charge of the domestic dehumidifier.The optimized design schemes were obtained from the original combinations by non-dominated sorting,and the optimized design schemes were experimentally verified under three environmental conditions according to the test method of T/CAS 342-2020 to obtain a complete idea of dehumidifier multi-component improvement.The results show that the dehumidifying capacity of Scheme 5 is slightly increased by 2.5%at 27℃/60%RH,and its energy factor is significantly increased by 24.6%.When the air supply volumetric flow rate was increased from 210 to 268 m^(3)·h^(-1),the air supply temperature was reduced by 1.7℃,improving comfort.Under environmental conditions with higher dehumidification demand,i.e.,at 35℃/90%RH,the energy factor of Scheme 4 can reach 4.3 L·kW^(-1)·h^(-1),which is 34.4%higher than the original scheme,and the gap is further widened.The application of the 5 mm tube diameter condenser in dehumidifiers reduces the amount of refrigerant charge by 25.9%,reduces the cost by 7.5%,and strengthens the heat transfer effect and the homogeneity of the two-phase mixing,which shows the great application potential.

Post-operative morbidity after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resection for gallbladder cancer: A national surgical quality improvement program analysis

BACKGROUND Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract.Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy(NACT)has improved overall survival by enabling R0 resection.Currently,there is no consensus of guidelines for neoadjuvant therapy in gallbladder cancer.As investigations continue to analyze the regimen and benefit of NACT for ongoing care of gallbladder cancer patients,we examined American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program(NSQIP)database to determine if there was higher morbidity among the neo-adjuvant group within the 30-day post-operative period.We hypothesized patients who underwent NACT were more likely to have higher post-operative morbidity.AIM To investigate the 30-day post-operative morbidity outcomes between patients who received NACT and underwent surgery and patients who only had surgery.METHODS A retrospective analysis of the targeted hepatectomy NSQIP data between 2015 and 2019 was performed to determine if NACT in gallbladder cancer increased the risk for post-operative morbidity(bile leak,infection rate,rate of converting to open surgery,etc.)compared to the group who only had surgery.To calculate the odds ratio for the primary and secondary outcomes,a crude logistic regression was performed.RESULTS Of the 452 patients,52 patients received NACT prior to surgery.There were no statistically significant differences in the odds of morbidity between the two groups,including bile leak[odds ratio(OR),0.69;95%confidence interval(95%CI):0.16-2.10;P=0.55],superficial wound infection(OR,0.58;95%CI:0.03-3.02;P=0.61),and organ space wound infection(OR,0.63;95%CI:0.18-1.63;P=0.61).CONCLUSION There was no significant difference in the risk of 30-day post-operative morbidity between the NACT and surgery group and the surgery only group.

The Current Situation and Improvement of Informatization Construction in Universities in the Era of Digital Education—Taking the Nanchong Campus of Southwest Petroleum University as an Example

Digitization of education is an important component of Digital China Strategy. China is deeply implementing the digitalization of education strategy, promoting educational reform and innovation, and accelerating the construction of a learning society and a learning country where everyone can learn, learn everywhere, and learn at all times [1]. As the cradle and gathering place of talent cultivation, universities should be at the forefront of educational informatization construction. As a comprehensive energy university in the northeastern region of Sichuan, the Nanchong Campus of Southwest Petroleum University plays an irreplaceable role in the local economic development. This article summarizes the current situation of educational informatization construction on this campus and proposes suggestions for its improvement path, providing constructive reference opinions for the development of similar universities.

Artificial-intelligent-powered safety and efficiency improvement for controlling and scheduling in integrated railway systems

The multi-mode integrated railway system,anchored by the high-speed railway,caters to the diverse travel requirements both within and between cities,offering safe,comfortable,punctual,and eco-friendly transportation services.With the expansion of the railway networks,enhancing the efficiency and safety of the comprehensive system has become a crucial issue in the advanced development of railway transportation.In light of the prevailing application of artificial intelligence technologies within railway systems,this study leverages large model technology characterized by robust learning capabilities,efficient associative abilities,and linkage analysis to propose an Artificial-intelligent(AI)-powered railway control and dispatching system.This system is elaborately designed with four core functions,including global optimum unattended dispatching,synergetic transportation in multiple modes,high-speed automatic control,and precise maintenance decision and execution.The deployment pathway and essential tasks of the system are further delineated,alongside the challenges and obstacles encountered.The AI-powered system promises a significant enhancement in the operational efficiency and safety of the composite railway system,ensuring a more effective alignment between transportation services and passenger demands.

Enhancing IELTS Speaking Scores:A Comparative Analysis of High and Low Performers and Effective Strategies for Improvement

This paper examines the challenges of achieving high IELTS Speaking scores,particularly due to preparation constraints and subjectivity in assessment.It contrasts speaking features of high and low scorers across four key areas:fluency and coherence,lexical resource,grammatical range and accuracy,and pronunciation.The study offers strategies for improvement,focusing on topic development,vocabulary,and grammar,aiming to enhance candidates’performance.

The Influencing Factors and Improvement Paths of Applied Talent Training Mode under the Digital Informatization

This study takes the human resource management major of Guangzhou Institute of Science and Technology as an example to discuss the factors influencing the applied talent training mode and improvement paths under digital informatization.The research points out that digital informatization poses new challenges and opportunities to higher education and requires the applied talent training mode to practice and innovate.This study identified five key influencing factors of the applied talent training mode under digital informatization:curriculum setting,teaching methods,faculty structure,practical teaching,and student training.This research presents the improvement paths,including optimizing curriculum settings,innovating teaching methods,adjusting teacher structure,improving practical teaching,and creating student training.Implementing these paths will help students master the latest knowledge and skills of digital informatization,improve their practical ability and innovative thinking to meet the social demand for human resource management professionals,and promote the development of higher education system.

Influencing Factors and Improvement Suggestions for Agricultural Green Development Performance:Empirical Insights from China

Agricultural green development is an essential direction for global sustainable agriculture.The academic literature,however,needs to place greater emphasis on studying the factors influencing agricultural green development performance and how such performance can be improved.A theoretical framework for agricultural green development performance was constructed in this paper using the Super-SBM model,which considers undesirable outputs,to measure the agricultural green development performance of 330 cities at or above the prefecture level in China(excluding Tibet Autonomous Region,Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan of China)from 2007 to2018.Furthermore,the influencing mechanism of agricultural green development performance was then analyzed using a spatial econometric model.The results show that:1)from 2007 to 2018,China’s agricultural green development performance experienced three stages of evolution:‘rise,decline and rise’.2)The regions with high performance agricultural green development are mainly distributed in eastern China,northeastern China,and southern Qinghai Province.3)The agricultural economic level,industrialization process,and labor quality play significant roles in promoting local agricultural green development performance,while such performance is obviously inhibited by the openness level and the government’s environmental regulations.Local agricultural green development performance is significant inhibited by the agricultural economic level and accelerated industrialization process in neighboring cities,while significantly promoted by the agricultural industrial structure in neighboring cities.Some suggestions for improving agricultural green development performance are proposed based on these research results,which can provide scientific references for promoting sustainable agriculture.

Analysis of the Ideological and Political Concepts and Teaching Strategies for Quality Improvement in Physical Education Courses in Colleges and Universities

In today’s higher education system,the physical education program is not only for teaching sports skills and exercising physical fitness but also an important position for cultivating students’character,emotions,and values.With the in-depth development of the concept of ideological education,the ideology of college physical education courses has become an important direction of educational reform.In this paper,we will discuss the connotation of the concept of ideology and politics in college physical education courses,analyze the methods to effectively integrate the ideology and politics elements while guaranteeing the quality of teaching,and put forward the corresponding strategies to improve the quality,with a view to providing new ideas and methods for the construction of ideology and politics in college physical education courses.

Research on the Status Quo and Improvement Needs of Foreign Language Teachers’ Teaching Competence in Curriculum-Based Ideological Education in Xinjiang Colleges and Universities

This study investigated the status quo and further improvement needs of foreign language teachers’teaching competence in curriculum-based ideological education(CIE)in Xinjiang colleges and universities.The results show that the teachers’teaching competence in CIE is generally good,with the“cultivating quality”being the highest and the“scientific research quality”the lowest;there still exist several problems,such as teachers’lack of theoretical knowledge in CIE,lack of teaching resources,and insufficient abilities in teaching design and research.It is hoped that with the support and efforts from university administrations,teachers can improve their teaching competence in CIE through various approaches adopted and multiple measures taken,thus optimizing their teaching effectiveness,promoting the construction of CIE in Xinjiang colleges and universities in the new era,and contributing to Xinjiang’s high-quality development.

Identifying a competency improvement strategy for infection prevention and control professionals:A rapid systematic review and cluster analysis

Remarkable progress has been made in infection prevention and control(IPC)in many countries,but some gaps emerged in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Core capabilities such as standard clinical precautions and tracing the source of infection were the focus of IPC in medical institutions during the pandemic.Therefore,the core competences of IPC professionals during the pandemic,and how these contributed to successful prevention and control of the epidemic,should be studied.To investigate,using a systematic review and cluster analysis,fundamental improvements in the competences of infection control and prevention professionals that may be emphasized in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.We searched the PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,CNKI,WanFang Data,and CBM databases for original articles exploring core competencies of IPC professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic(from January 1,2020 to February 7,2023).Weiciyun software was used for data extraction and the Donohue formula was followed to distinguish high-frequency technical terms.Cluster analysis was performed using the within-group linkage method and squared Euclidean distance as the metric to determine the priority competencies for development.We identified 46 studies with 29 high-frequency technical terms.The most common term was“infection prevention and control training”(184 times,17.3%),followed by“hand hygiene”(172 times,16.2%).“Infection prevention and control in clinical practice”was the most-reported core competency(367 times,34.5%),followed by“microbiology and surveillance”(292 times,27.5%).Cluster analysis showed two key areas of competence:Category 1(program management and leadership,patient safety and occupational health,education and microbiology and surveillance)and Category 2(IPC in clinical practice).During the COVID-19 pandemic,IPC program management and leadership,microbiology and surveillance,education,patient safety,and occupational health were the most important focus of development and should be given due consideration by IPC professionals.

Construction Technique Analysis and Improvement for Rammed Earth Wall of Rural Houses in Hanzhong

Rammed earth wall technique is one of the local widespread traditional construction methods, and it has superior physical property and ecological protection characteristic. When contemporary raw-soil building is replaced by industry building, the hometown building culture is perishing gradually. In order to inherit and develop the Hanzhong local building, rammed earth wall in Taiyangling and Cangshe hometown is investigated, and the characteristics and construction techniques of the local rammed earth wall are concluded. According to the construction problems, the improvement suggestions are put forward, which establishes the foundation to investigate rammed earth wall further, and guide Rural House construction.

Summary and Improvement Measures for Soil Compaction Caused by Machinery

As agricultural mechanization is becoming more and more popular, soil compaction, on basis of agricultural machinery, has become a serious problem that can not be ignored. Soil compaction, which is caused by frequent til age and large load in the field, may have different effects on various properties of soil. Soil com-paction may result in different conditions, such as increased soil density and the mechanical resistance, and decreased soil ventilation and the capacity of water holding and storage, but uptaking capacity of chemical elements is restricted. There-fore, soil compaction has some negative impacts on soil properties, physical y, chemical y, or biological y, as wel as plant growth. This research analyzed the cause and the harm of soil compaction in recent years, and some effective mea-sures were proposed to improve soil compaction, in order to reduce the extent of soil compaction caused by agricultural machinery.

Environmental Renovation and Improvement Strategies for the Great Relics——A Case Study of Landscape Planning for the Front Hall Relics of the Weiyang Palace in China

Through introducing concepts of great relics and its protective planning theories, construction of relics park is a characteristic protection mode for cultural heritage in China, and also a useful exploration in the combination of theories and practices of great relics protection. Moreover, it is also the best means of protecting great relics ever found. Taking landscape planning of the front hall relics of the Weiyang Palace, relics of the front hall was believed to have great scientific value, so its environmental renovation and improvement should be based on scientific landscape planning, the whole relics should be protected and displayed scientifically and completely, landscape elements introduced as the effective texture by applying ecological patterns according to actual conditions, new techniques favorable for the protection and scientific research of relics adopted to provide a new strategy for the construction of great ruins park in China.

Discussion on Improvement and Conservation Planning for Pool Landscape in the Process of Urbanization

Taking the water regulation of Dingjia pool in Bozhou as an example,the countermeasures of improvement and conservation planning for pool landscape in the process of urbanization were discussed in this study.It was essential for the sound development of water of pools in cities to conduct the following rules:① The protection planning of water in cities must be done well,while improvement and conservation planning of pools must be carried out based on the landscapes.② Management according to law or green line of pools must be strengthened or supervised,while illegal buildings and structures are forbidden in the planning range of green line of water,so the filled and infringed pools should be immediately banned.③ It is forbidden to discharge various sewage or dump garbage,residue soil,toxic and harmful substance into water.④ Propaganda of public voice and supervising mechanism should be strengthened,while illegal behaviors should be disclosed,so water protection of pools is rooted in the hearts of people.

The Problems and Suggestions in Expanding the Vocabulary for College Students

Vocabulary plays a very important role in learning English. Having a large vocabulary is undeniable necessary, but the important thing is that proper approaches should be adopted in English learning. This paper focuses on the analyses of the students’ problems in vocabulary learning process, and gives some suggestions to our students so as to help them expand their vocabulary.

Fundamental principles of an effective reinforcing roof bolting strategy in horizontally layered roof strata and areas of potential improvement

It is arguable that the development of reinforcing roof bolting systems has largely stagnated in recent times, primarily due to the prevailing industry view that few, if any, further improvements can be made to what currently exists.However, this paper contends that reinforcing roof bolting systems can be further refined by considering both the specific manner by which horizontally bedded roof strata loses its natural self-supporting ability and the specific means by which reinforcing roof bolts act to promote or retain this natural self-supporting ability.The Australian coal industry has insisted on minimising bolt-hole diameter to maximise load transfer and on targeting full-encapsulation by any means necessary for many years.This has led to a significant, albeit unintended, consequence in terms of overall roof bolting effectiveness, namely increased resin pressures during bolt installation and the associated potential for opening bedding planes that may have, otherwise, remained closed during the bolt installation process.Given that the natural self-supporting ability of roof strata is strongly linked to whether bedding planes are open or closed, logically, minimising resin pressures should be a significant benefit.This paper focuses primarily on three key issues that relate directly to the function of the roof bolting system itself:(1) the importance of proper resin mixing in the context of maximising load transfer strength and stiffness,(2) the importance of minimising resin pressures developed during bolt installation, and(3) the importance of maximising the effectiveness of the available bolt pre-tension.All mine operators should be invested in improving the individual effectiveness of each installed roof bolt, even by relatively small incremental amounts, so this is an important topic for discussion within the mining community.

Rice variety improvement and the contribution of foreign germplasms in China

The introduction and use of foreign germplasms have played an important role in the improvement of crop varieties in China. Based on published materials and scientist interviews, we collected data on the sown area, morphological characteristics, and pedigree of the popular rice varieties grown in the 15 major rice production provinces and 1 autonomous region in China, from 1982 to 2011. Results showed that China＇s scientists developed the largest number of rice varieties worldwide, and that rice yield potential and grain quality have substantiality improved during the studied period. In contrast, resistance of newly-released varieties to diseases and insect pests has decreased since the 1990s. Germplasms from the Interna- tional Rice Research Institute （IRRI） and from Japan have contributed 16.4 and 11.2% of genetic materials to China＇s rice varieties developed between 1982 and 2011, respectively. While IRRI＇s materials contributed to the improvement of yield potential, growth duration, and blast and bacterial blight resistance, Japanese materials contributed to the improvement of grain quality. Materials from other countries contributed to the improvement of resistance to diseases and insect pests, particularly to rice blast disease, brown planthoppers, white-backed planthoppers, and striped stem borers.