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A deep learning framework for bone fragment classification in owl pellets using YOLOv12
Abstract Non-invasive monitoring of small mammal populations is critical for both biodiversity conservation and integrated pest management, particularly in agroecosystems. Barn owl (Tyto alba) pellet analysis has long served as a valuable tool for inferring prey abundance, yet conventional bone classification is labour-intensive and requires specialized expertise. Here, we introduce a deep learning framework that automates the detection and classification of rodent bone fragments from owl pellets using the YOLOv12 object detection architecture. A dataset comprising 978 annotated images, encompassing skull, femur, mandible, and pubis bones, was used to train and validate the model, achieving high detection performance (precision = 0.90, recall = 0.90, mAP@0.5 = 0.984, F1-score = 0.97). The model demonstrated strong generalization across samples from Malaysia and Indonesia. We further developed a Python-based inference script to estimate rodent abundance using skull and paired bone counts. This AI-assisted workflow reduces human error, increases processing throughput, and enables scalable rodent monitoring. By enhancing ecological inference from pellet studies, our approach supports timely biodiversity assessments and pest surveillance strategies across diverse landscapes.
Dipole-Tailored Isomeric Linker Enables Decoupling of Aggregation and Crystallinity in Conjugated Polymers for Stretchable Transistors and Photodiodes
The lncRNA LOC100257036 and vvimiR156 modulate gibberellin signaling through AGAMOUS during cluster formation in Sistan Yaghooti grape
Total Synthesis of (−)-Neocucurbol C Enabled by Pattern Recognition and MHAT Cyclization
HSF1 in macrophages suppressed the progression of asthma via modulating SIRPα/SHP2—Dectin-1/ SYK mediated ROS and inflammatory responses
Absolute Configuration Control in Covalent Organic Frameworks
Automatic LPI radar waveform recognition of overlapping signals based on vision language model
Support-Accelerated Proton Transfer for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Catalysis
An optimized multi-task contrastive learning framework for HIFU lesion detection and segmentation
Radical-Initiated Photodissociation at Tryptophan Residues within Intact Proteins in the Gas Phase
CARG-2020 targets IL-12, IL-17, and PD-L1 pathways to effectively treat melanoma and breast cancer
Enhancing privacy in IoT-based healthcare using provable partitioned secure blockchain principle and encryption
A Charge-Driven Strategy for Covalent Modification and Modulation of Biomolecular Condensates
Microfluidics study on immiscible displacement mechanisms of oil by hybrid low salinity water and polymer in fractured porous media
Dendritic Membranized Coacervate Microdroplets: A Robust Platform for Synthetic-Living Cell Consortia
Novel dihydroxybenzohydrazide grafted deoxycellulose for efficient removal of anionic food colorants and hexavalent chromium from wastewater
Abstract In this study, 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde hydrazone (CELL@HBH) adsorbent was prepared from microcrystalline cellulose powder (CELL) through a simple and effective method. The investigated materials were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis, Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1HNMR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurements. The prepared (CELL@HBH) adsorbent was applied to remove anionic food colorants carmoisine (E122), ponceau 4R (E124), and Cr(VI) from polluted water samples. The effects of pH, initial concentration, contact time, dosage, temperature, and competing ions have been investigated to maximize the adsorption capacities to reach 476.709 mg/g, 338.789 mg/g, and 190.072 mg/g for E122, E124, and Cr(VI) ions, respectively, at the optimum conditions. The results showed that the adsorption of E122, E124, and Cr(VI) follows pseudo-2nd-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models due to the more subordinate error functions and increased correlation coefficient (R2 ≥ 0.999). Thermodynamic studies indicate the adsorption of E122 and E124, as well as Cr(VI) ions, by CELL@HBH adsorbent to be exothermic and spontaneous. DFT calculations were employed to verify the molecular structure, analysis of Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMOs), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and geometry reactivity descriptors (GRDs) for all phases. The prepared adsorbent effectively removed E122, E124, and Cr(VI) from polluted water samples, synthetic mixtures, and colored soft drinks, with a recovery rate of ~ 97%. The CELL@HBH adsorbent has good recycling performance. Under five regeneration and adsorption cycles, it still has removal effect greater than 85% of E122, E124, and Cr(VI), which indicates its high structural stability. The adsorption mechanism of E122, E124, and Cr(VI) onto CELL@HBH adsorbent is elucidated. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that the fast-responsive CELL@HBH adsorbent can be effectively utilized to eliminate E122, E124, and Cr(VI) from a wide range of real water sources. Collectively, the results indicate that the as-prepared CELL@HBH adsorbent is promising for anionic pollutant adsorption and our mechanistic results are of guiding significance in environmental cleanup. This work contributes significantly to understanding how experimental conditions influence the mechanism of E122, E124, and Cr(VI) adsorption by CELL@HBH adsorbent, offering valuable and new insights for future applications and optimizations in the treatment of effluent-containing anionic species.
Facile Synthesis of Polyhydroperoxides from Ethylene and Carbon Monoxide
Modulating effect of glutathione (GSH) on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) toxicity
Abstract 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon herbicide and one of the most widely used herbicides globally. Due to the intensive use of 2,4-D, mainly in agriculture and horticulture, significant amounts of the compound and its metabolites are released into the environment, surface water and soil, posing a serious threat to human health. Scientific studies have shown a positive relationship between 2,4-D exposure and the risk of lymphatic system and prostate cancers. The harmful effects of pesticides and their metabolites on human health can be mitigated by consuming products rich in natural antioxidants, such as glutathione (GSH). This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying toxicity and genotoxicity of 2,4-D and evaluate the impact of GHS supplementation on mitigating these adverse effects. The toxicity of 2,4-D at the concentrations of 100, 10, 1, 0.1, and 0.01 mg/L was determined by antimicrobial activity against Enterobacter hormaechei and Candida albicans. In contrast, genotoxicity was determined by the level of induction of the genotoxin-sensitive recA promoter in E. coli RFM443 recA:luxCDABE biosensor strain. Synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the E. coli strainleads to the oxidative stress response. Moreover, the estrogenic/androgenic effects of 2,4-D were evaluated by yeast estrogen (YES) and androgen (YAS) screen assay using the genetically modified S. cerevisiae strain at various concentrations (100, 10, 1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, and 0.00001 mg/L). Finally, the effect of 2,4-D mixtures with GSH at a concentration of 1 mg/L on mitigating its toxic and genotoxic activity was investigated. In the mixtures, the concentration of GSH was lower than the physiological concentration in the cells, and it was selected experimentally to obtain satisfactory results. The experiment was conducted in three independent series, with at least three repetitions of each result (n = 3). Results showed that 2,4-D in the range of applied concentrations exerted a toxic effect on E. homaechei and C. albicans strains and a genotoxic effect in E. coli recA:luxCDABE biosensor strain. Analysis of ROS synthesis values in the E. coli strain showed an increase in this parameter following exposure to the tested 2,4-D concentrations. In the YES and YAS bioassays performed for 2,4-D, we did not detect the ability to stimulate the estrogen/androgen receptor. In mixtures of 2,4-D, a significant (p = 0.05) reduction effect on the toxicity, above 7% for E. hormaechei and above 16% for C. albicans and genotoxicity, by more than 44% of the herbicide was detected after the addition of glutathione This indicating that GSH taken up with food or in the form of supplements can mitigate the adverse effects of 2,4-D in living cells and protect cells from cancer induction. The results confirmed the validity of the hypothesis that oxidative stress induction is a molecular mechanism of 2,4-D toxicity and genotoxicity. Given the significant environmental and food pollution from pesticides and the link between human exposure and cancer induction, proper dietary choice and consumption of foods rich in glutathione are essential in cancer prevention.