Efficient agricultural pest classification using vision transformer with hybrid pooled multihead attention.

Accurate pest classification plays a pivotal role in modern agriculture for effective pest management, ensuring crop health and productivity. While Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have been widely used for classification, their limited ability to capture both local and global information hinders precise pest identification. In contrast, vision transformers have shown promise in capturing global dependencies and enhancing classification performance. However, the traditional attention mechanism employed in vision transformers, which uses the same query (Q), key (K), and value (V), overlooks spatial relationships between patches, limiting the model's capacity to capture fine-grained details and long-range dependencies in the image. To address these limitations, this study presents a novel approach, termed Hybrid Pooled Multihead Attention (HPMA), for superior pest classification that outperforms both CNN models and vision transformers. The HPMA model integrates hybrid pooling techniques and modifies the attention mechanism to effectively capture local and global features within images. By emphasizing discriminative features and suppressing irrelevant information, the HPMA model achieves heightened robustness and generalization capabilities. The model is trained and tested on a newly built dataset consisting of 10 pest classes, achieving a remarkable accuracy of 98 %. Furthermore, the proposed HPMA model is validated on two benchmark datasets and achieves accuracies of 98 % and 95 %, demonstrating its effectiveness across diverse pest datasets. The results and ablation study of the proposed model contribute to exceptional performance in accurate pest classification. This tackles agricultural pest challenges and enables prompt pest control to reduce crop losses.

Effect of the type of application tip for 35% hydrogen peroxide on bleaching efficacy and tooth sensitivity: A randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the bleaching efficacy (BE) and tooth sensitivity (TS) of in-office bleaching using different application tips. METHODS: Forty-eight participants were selected (split-mouth), one to receive bleaching with an attached brush tip and one with a conventional tip. The procedure was performed with Whiteness Automixx Plus 35%. The BE was evaluated at the beginning, weekly, one and 12 months post-bleaching with a Vita Easyshade spectrophotometer (ΔE*ab, ΔE00, and WID) and with Vita classical A1-D4 and Vita Bleachedguide shade guides units (ΔSGU). Absolute risk and intensity of TS were recorded using the Visual Analogue Scale. The equivalence of BE was analyzed using the two one-sided t-tests for paired samples. The absolute risk of TS was evaluated using the McNemar test, and the TS intensity was measured with the paired t test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The equivalence of BE was observed for both groups in all color evaluations (p > 0.05). A lower absolute risk and intensity of TS were observed for the attached brush tip when compared with the conventional tip (p < 0.003 and p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Using an attached brush tip showed the same BE as a conventional tip. However, for the attached brush tip, there was a reduction in TS. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The applicator-attached brush tip is recommended for in-office dental bleaching, because of the possible reduction in risk and intensity of TS.

Controlled Release of Molecular Intercalants from Two-Dimensional Nanosheet Films.

Solution co-deposition of two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets with chemical solutes yields nanosheet-molecular heterostructures. A feature of these macroscopic layered hybrids is their ability to release the intercalated molecular agent to express chemical functionality on their surfaces or in their near surroundings. Systematic design methods are needed to control this molecular release to match the demand for rate and lifetime in specific applications. We hypothesize that release kinetics are controlled by transport processes within the layered solids, which primarily involve confined molecular diffusion through nanochannels formed by intersheet van der Waals gaps. Here a variety of graphene oxide (GO)/molecular hybrids are fabricated and subject to transient experiments to characterize release kinetics, locations, and mechanisms. The measured release rate profiles can be successfully described by a numerical model of internal transport processes, and the results used to extract effective Z-directional diffusion coefficients for various film types. The diffusion coefficients are found to be 8 orders of magnitude lower than those in free solution due to nanochannel confinement and serpentine path effects, and this retardation underlies the ability of 2D materials to control and extend release over useful time scales. In-plane texturing of the heterostructured films by compressive wrinkling or crumpling is shown to be a useful design tool to control the release rate for a given film type and molecular intercalant. The potential of this approach is demonstrated through case studies on the controlled release of chemical virucidal agents.

3D-printed graphene/polymer structures for electron-tunneling based devices.

Designing 3D printed micro-architectures using electronic materials with well-understood electronic transport within such structures will potentially lead to accessible device fabrication for 'on-demand' applications. Here we show controlled nozzle-extrusion based 3D printing of a commercially available nano-composite of graphene/polylactic acid, enabling the fabrication of a tensile gauge functioning via the readjustment of the electron-tunneling barrier width between conductive graphene-centers. The electronic transport in the graphene/polymer 3D printed structure exhibited the Fowler Nordheim mechanism with a tunneling width of 0.79-0.95 nm and graphene centers having a carrier concentration of 2.66 × 1012/cm2. Furthermore, a mechanical strain that increases the electron-tunneling width between graphene nanostructures (~ 38 nm) by only 0.19 Ǻ reduces the electron flux by 1e/s/nm2 (from 18.51 to 19.51 e/s/nm2) through the polylactic acid junctions in the 3D-printed heterostructure. This corresponds to a sensitivity of 2.59 Ω/Ω%, which compares well with other tensile gauges. We envision that the proposed electron-tunneling model for conductive 3D-printed structures with thermal expansion and external strain will lead to an evolution in the design of next-generation of 'on-demand' printed electronic and electromechanical devices.

Prevalencia y Abundancia de Huevos de Estróngilos Digestivos y Ooquistes de Eimeria spp. en Búfalos de Agua Infectados Naturalmente / Prevalence and Abundance of Digestive Strongyles Eggs and Eimeria spp. Oocysts in Water Buffaloes Naturally Infected

La cría de búfalos de agua (Bubalus bubalis) se ha convertido en una ganadería cada vez más importante y común en nuestro país; sin embargo, afecciones como las gastroenteritis parasitarias representan una de las limitantes en el desarrollo de esta especie, provocando un impacto negativo sobre la producción cárnica y lechera. Los principales agentes etiológicos responsables de esta afección son los estróngilos digestivos (Nematoda: Strongylida) y coccidias del género Eimeria (Sporozoa: Eucoccidida). Con el objetivo de determinar el comportamiento de estas infecciones, se evaluaron mediante exámenes coprológicos mensuales a través de la técnica cuantitativa de McMaster, búfalos de cuatro grupos etarios (bumautes entre 8 y 18 meses de edad, bumautes mayores de 18 meses, sementales y búfalas), de ambos sexos, pertenecientes a un rebaño comercial del estado Falcón. Los estróngilos digestivos y las coccidias fueron los más prevalentes, con 25,2 y 46,2%, respectivamente. La abundancia del rebaño fue de 38±41,1 huevos por gramo (HPG) de heces para estróngilos y de 142,4±117,2 ooquistes por gramo (OPG) de heces para coccidias. Hubo diferencias estadísticas (p<0,05) al comparar los valores de prevalencia y abundancia de las infecciones por estróngilos digestivos y coccidias entre los grupos etarios y el sexo. Los valores de prevalencia y abundancia disminuyeron con la edad de los animales evaluados (estróngilos: prevalencias de 39,5; 34,0; 42,3; 15,8% y abundancias de 79,8; 47,2; 30,8; 12,2 HPG; coccidias: prevalencias de 71,3; 54,8; 38,5; 34,0% y abundancias de 379,1; 121,0; 44,2; 47,6 OPG), siendo superiores en machos que en hembras (estróngilos: prevalencias de 36,2 y 22,4%, y abundancias de 70,5 y 30,9 HPG; coccidias: prevalencias de 57,3 y 43,6% y abundancias de 166,3 y 131,5 OPG, respectivamente). Las mayores cargas parasitarias y las infecciones de importancia clínica se observaron en los bumautes entre 8 y 18 meses de edad (contajes mayores a 500 HPG y 5050 OPG). Las condiciones climáticas se encontraron en rangos favorables (25,6-29,3ºC, 77,0-89,0% de humedad relativa y 1,0-151,3 mm de precipitación) para el desarrollo de las formas preparasíticas de estróngilos digestivos y coccidias.

The breeding of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) has become an increasingly important and common livestock in Venezuela; however, conditions such as gastrointestinal parasitism are one of the major constraints in the development of this species, with a negative impact on meat and milk production. The main etiologic agents responsible for this condition are digestive strongyles (Nematoda: Strongylida) and coccidia of the genus Eimeria (Sporozoa: Eucoccidida). This investigation evaluated the behavior of these infections in buffaloes of different age and sex. Samples were collected and examined monthly by the quantitative McMaster technique. The buffaloes were subdivided into four age groups (animals between 8 and 18 months of age, over 18 months, males and female buffaloes), the animals came from a commercial flock of the State of Falcon, Venezuela. The results show that the most prevalent parasites were strongyles and coccidian, 25.2% and 46.2%, respectively. The flock abundance was 38±41.1 eggs per gram (EPG) for strongyles and 142.4±117.2 oocysts per gram (OPG) forcoccidia. There were statistical differences (p <0.05) between age groups and sex of the buffalo, when comparing the values of prevalence and abundance of infections for gastrointestinal strongyles and coccidia. The prevalence and abundance values decreased, with increasing age of the animals tested (strongyles: prevalence of 39.5; 34.0; 42.3; 15.8% and abundance of 79.8; 47.2; 30.8; 12.2 EPG; coccidian: prevalence of 71.3; 54.8; 38.5; 34.0% and abundance of 379.1; 121.0; 44.2; 47.6 OPG), being higher in males than in females (strongyles: prevalence of 36.2 and 22.4%, and abundance of 70.5 and 30.9 EPG; coccidian: prevalence of 57.3 and 43.6% and abundance of 166.3 and 131.5 OPG). The highest parasitic loads and the clinically important infections were seen in 8 to 18 months old buffaloes (counts higher than 500 EPG and 5,050 OPG). Environmental conditions fell within favorable ranges (25.6-29.3ºC of temperature, 77.0-89.0% of relative humidity and 1.0-151.3 mm of precipitation) for the development of infective parasite forms of both digestive strongyles and coccidian.

Comportamiento de los compómeros en restauraciones de molares temporales. Revisión de la literatura / No disponible

La actual demanda de tratamientos estéticos y mínimamente invasivosen odontología, han provocado un incremento en el uso derestauraciones adhesivas.Los compómeros o resinas modificadas con componentes poliacídicos(RMCP) son materiales híbridos, donde el componente de resinaha sido añadido al cemento de ionómero de vidrio, para mejorar suspropiedades físicas y químicas. Los compómeros podrían superaralgunas de las limitaciones del cemento de ionómero de vidrio, talescomo: control del tiempo de curado, baja fuerza mecánica, estéticadesfavorable, sensibilidad a la humedad y difícil manipulación.Estas propiedades les confieren grandes ventajas al compómero.Sin embargo, los compómeros no presentan la reacción ácido-basetradicional observada en el cemento de ionómero de vidrio. La resistenciaal desgaste y las propiedades mecánicas de los compómerosson generalmente bajas en comparación con las de las resinas, perodichos materiales actúan como un reservorio permanente de flúor,previniendo la desmineralización y provocando la remineralización.El objetivo de este artículo es realizar una revisión bibliográficapara conocer cuales son las propiedades, composición y evaluaciónclínica del compómero; evaluar la polimerización, absorción del agua,microfiltración, actividad antibacterial y liberación de flúor llevadasa cabo por el mismo material (AU)

The current demand for aesthetic treatments and minimally invasivedentistry, which avoids removal of healthy dental tissue, increasesthe placement of adhesive tooth-colored restorations. At present,there is a vast range of adhesive materials available for clinicians.Compomers or polyacid-modified resin composites are hybridmaterials where resinous components have been added to glassionomer cements to improve their mechanical properties and bondstrength. Compomers could overcome some of the limitations ofglass ionomer cements, such as control curing time, low mechanicalstrength, unsatisfactory aesthetics and moisture sensitivity, and easyhandling, which justifies their widespread use. However, compomersdo not present the traditional acid-base reaction observed in glassionomer cements. The wear resistance and mechanical properties ofcompomers are generally lower than those of composites, but theyrelease fluoride and therefore act as a fluoride reservoir, preventingdemineralization and enhancing remineralization.This article aims to present a bibliographical review to ascertain theproperties, composition and clinical evaluation of the compomer;as well as observe the aspect of polymerization, water sorption,microleakage, antibacterial activity and fluoride release carried outby the same material (AU)

MMPI-2 performance of Mexican male university students and prison inmates.

In this study, we compared the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) performance of male university students and incarcerated criminal offenders in Mexico. Our aim was to determine whether the MMPI-2 can effectively differentiate between these two distinct groups on scales that are reflective of antisocial behaviors. Our expectations were highly confirmed across the three sets of scales that we considered: the validity and clinical, content, and supplementary scales. Criminal offenders obtained higher or more pathological scores on such scales as Infrequency (F), Schizophrenia (Sc), MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC-R), Fears (FRS), and so on. Overall, these findings support further research with such target populations as prison inmates in Mexico and other countries in Latin America.