The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
17 pages, 14824 KiB  
Article
Model Predictive Collision Avoidance Control for Object Transport of Unmanned Underwater Vehicle-Dual-Manipulator Systems
by Yingxiang Wang and Jian Gao
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(6), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12060926 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Unmanned underwater vehicle-dual-manipulator systems (UVDMSs) have attracted much research due to their humanoid operation capabilities, which have the advantage of cooperative manipulations and transporting underwater objects. Meanwhile, collision avoidance of UVDMSs is more challenging than that of unmanned underwater vehicle-dual manipulator systems (UVMSs). [...] Read more.
Unmanned underwater vehicle-dual-manipulator systems (UVDMSs) have attracted much research due to their humanoid operation capabilities, which have the advantage of cooperative manipulations and transporting underwater objects. Meanwhile, collision avoidance of UVDMSs is more challenging than that of unmanned underwater vehicle-dual manipulator systems (UVMSs). In this work, a model predictive control (MPC) approach is proposed for collision avoidance in objects transporting tasks of UVDMSs. The minimum distances of mutual manipulators and frame obstacles are handled as velocity constraints in the optimization of the UVDMS’s object tracking control. The command velocity generated by the model predictive kinematic controller is tracked by a dynamic inversion control scheme while model uncertainties are compensated by a neural network. Moreover, the tracking errors of the proposed dynamic controller are proved to be convergent by the Lyapunov method. At last, a three-dimensional (3D) UVDMS simulation platform is developed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in the tasks of collision avoidance and object transport. Full article
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20 pages, 6308 KiB  
Article
Cryopreserved Thyroid Tissue Autotransplant in Pediatric Age Patients: A Feasibility Study and Literature Review
by Claudio Spinelli, Marco Ghionzoli, Linda Idrissi Sahli, Silvia Visintainer, Carla Guglielmo, Chiara Cordola, Simone Lapi, Elisa Biagi, Angela Pucci, Riccardo Morganti, Silvia Martina Ferrari and Alessandro Antonelli
Cancers 2024, 16(11), 2112; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16112112 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Background and aims: This paper aims to study an alternative solution to hormonal replacement therapy in specific groups of patients who underwent thyroidectomy during childhood or adulthood. After cryopreservation, thyroid autotransplantation could be an alternative solution which would allow us to use the [...] Read more.
Background and aims: This paper aims to study an alternative solution to hormonal replacement therapy in specific groups of patients who underwent thyroidectomy during childhood or adulthood. After cryopreservation, thyroid autotransplantation could be an alternative solution which would allow us to use the ability of the thyroid tissue of producing hormones according to the physiological needs of the body. Materials and methods: A feasibility study about the effects of the most modern cryopreservation techniques on the structural and functional integrity of the follicular cells of the thyroid tissue has been carried out. Patients who could benefit from the treatment have been found for both autotransplant techniques. Additionally, a literature review has been conducted. Results: The histological analysis has shown that cryopreservation does not alter the original architecture, and the culture examination that cell viability is successfully preserved. Moreover, both thyroid autotransplantation studies on animals and those on humans that were found in the literature have shown good results regarding the viability and functionality of the transplant. Conclusions: The viability of cryopreserved thyroid tissue found in this study is encouraging. Further studies to evaluate the levels of FT3, FT4 and thyroglobulin in thyroid tissue after cryopreservation are needed to verify that the secretory properties of the thyrocytes have been maintained intact. Furthermore, autotransplanted cases found in the literature do not have a long-term follow-up. Full article
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16 pages, 1293 KiB  
Article
Conservation of HLA Spike Protein Epitopes Supports T Cell Cross-Protection in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Individuals against the Potentially Zoonotic Coronavirus Khosta-2
by Antonio J. Martín-Galiano and Daniel López
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 6087; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25116087 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Heterologous vaccines, which induce immunity against several related pathogens, can be a very useful and rapid way to deal with new pandemics. In this study, the potential impact of licensed COVID-19 vaccines on cytotoxic and helper cell immune responses against Khosta-2, a novel [...] Read more.
Heterologous vaccines, which induce immunity against several related pathogens, can be a very useful and rapid way to deal with new pandemics. In this study, the potential impact of licensed COVID-19 vaccines on cytotoxic and helper cell immune responses against Khosta-2, a novel sarbecovirus that productively infects human cells, was analyzed for the 567 and 41 most common HLA class I and II alleles, respectively. Computational predictions indicated that most of these 608 alleles, covering more than 90% of the human population, contain sufficient fully conserved T-cell epitopes between the Khosta-2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike-in proteins. Ninety percent of these fully conserved peptides for class I and 93% for class II HLA molecules were verified as epitopes recognized by CD8+ or CD4+ T lymphocytes, respectively. These results show a very high correlation between bioinformatic prediction and experimental assays, which strongly validates this study. This immunoinformatics analysis allowed a broader assessment of the alleles that recognize these peptides, a global approach at the population level that is not possible with experimental assays. In summary, these findings suggest that both cytotoxic and helper cell immune protection elicited by currently licensed COVID-19 vaccines should be effective against Khosta-2 virus infection. Finally, by being rapidly adaptable to future coronavirus pandemics, this study has potential public health implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunopathology, Vaccine Development and Treatment of Viruses)
3 pages, 206 KiB  
Editorial
Mineralogical Crystallography Volume III
by Vladislav V. Gurzhiy
Crystals 2024, 14(6), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14060527 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
The United Nations and UNESCO designated 2014 as the International Year of Crystallography, in which the scientific community celebrated the centenary of the discovery of X-ray diffraction [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical Crystallography (3rd Edition))
14 pages, 1051 KiB  
Review
Tinea Incognito: Challenges in Diagnosis and Management
by Aikaterini Zacharopoulou, Aikaterini Tsiogka, Antonios Tsimpidakis, Androniki Lamia, Dimitra Koumaki and Stamatios Gregoriou
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(11), 3267; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13113267 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Tinea incognito is a dermatophyte infection with atypical features, due to the use of topical or systemic steroids or other immunosuppressive medications. Delayed diagnosis, spread of the infection to critical body surfaces, resistance to antifungal drugs, and increased costs due to prolonged hospitalization [...] Read more.
Tinea incognito is a dermatophyte infection with atypical features, due to the use of topical or systemic steroids or other immunosuppressive medications. Delayed diagnosis, spread of the infection to critical body surfaces, resistance to antifungal drugs, and increased costs due to prolonged hospitalization and multiple treatment regimens often complicate tinea incognito. It can affect individuals of all ages and genders, but it is more common in children. Atypical clinical appearance often necessitates differentiation from other diseases such as eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, or other non-fungal skin conditions. The treatment of tinea incognito usually involves discontinuation of topical steroids or other immunosuppressive medications. Preventive measures and management of the underlying fungal infection are necessary and can be achieved with antifungal drugs. Patients should wear loose cotton clothes, use boiling water for laundry, and iron their clothing before wearing them. Additionally, they should avoid sharing bed linens, towels, clothes, and shoes. This review aims to raise awareness of tinea incognito among health practitioners, provide tips for detecting the disorder, include it in the differentials, and evaluate the available diagnostic procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Dermatology)
24 pages, 2244 KiB  
Article
Innovative Methods to Improve the Seismic Performance of Precast Segmental and Hybrid Bridge Columns under Cyclic Loading
by Jahangir Badar, Tariq Umar, Muhammad Akbar, Nadeem Abbas, Qamar Shahzad, Weizhen Chen and Muhammad Usman Arshid
Buildings 2024, 14(6), 1594; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061594 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
This paper investigates the seismic performance of prefabricated segmental bridge columns (PSBCs) with hybrid post-tensioned tendons and energy dissipation (ED) bars under cyclic loading. PSBCs with unbonded and hybrid bonded prestressed tendons and columns incorporating ED bars are designed to improve the lateral [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the seismic performance of prefabricated segmental bridge columns (PSBCs) with hybrid post-tensioned tendons and energy dissipation (ED) bars under cyclic loading. PSBCs with unbonded and hybrid bonded prestressed tendons and columns incorporating ED bars are designed to improve the lateral strength, energy dissipation, and limit the residual drift. The PSBCs under cyclic loading were investigated using the three-dimensional finite element (FE) modeling platform ABAQUS. The FE model was calibrated against experimental results, with an overall error of less than 10%. The seismic performance of the proposed PSBCs was evaluated based on critical parameters, including lateral strength, residual plastic displacement, and the energy dissipation capacity. The results show that bonding the tendons in the plastic hinge region as opposed to the overall bonding along the column leads to a better cyclic performance. The lateral strength, and recentering abilities are further improved by bonding tendons up to 2/3 of the length in the plastic hinge region, along with 100–300 mm in the footing. It was also found that selecting a longitudinal length of ED bars crossing multiple precast segmental joints and having a circumferential spread of 70–90% of core concrete results in a higher bearing capacity and energy dissipation compared to ED bars crossing the single joint. Full article
25 pages, 9369 KiB  
Article
Multistep Forecasting Method for Offshore Wind Turbine Power Based on Multi-Timescale Input and Improved Transformer
by Anping Wan, Zhipeng Gong, Chao Wei, Khalil AL-Bukhaiti, Yunsong Ji, Shidong Ma and Fareng Yao
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(6), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12060925 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Wind energy is highly volatile, and large-scale wind power grid integration significantly impacts grid stability. Accurate forecasting of wind turbine power can improve wind power consumption and ensure the economy of the power grid. This paper proposes a multistep forecasting method for offshore [...] Read more.
Wind energy is highly volatile, and large-scale wind power grid integration significantly impacts grid stability. Accurate forecasting of wind turbine power can improve wind power consumption and ensure the economy of the power grid. This paper proposes a multistep forecasting method for offshore wind turbine power based on a multi-timescale input and an improved transformer. First, the wind speed sequence is decomposed by the VMD method to extract adequate timing information and remove the noise, after which the decomposition signals are merged with the rest of the timing features, and the dataset is split according to different timescales. A GRU receives the short-timescale inputs, and the Improved Transformer captures the timing relationship of the long-timescale inputs. Finally, a CNN is used to extract the information of each time point at the output of each branch, and the fully connected layer outputs multistep forecasting results. Experiments were conducted on operation data from four wind turbines located within the offshore wind farm but not near the edge. The results show that the proposed method achieved average errors of 0.0522 in MAE, 0.0084 in MSE, and 0.0907 in RMSE on a four-step forecast. This outperformed comparison methods LSTM, CNN-LSTM, LSTM-Attention, and Informer. The proposed method demonstrates superior forecasting performance and accuracy for multistep offshore wind turbine power forecasting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)
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12 pages, 4027 KiB  
Article
A Practical Superconducting DC Dynamo for Charging Conduction-Cooled HTS Magnet
by Yujia Zhai, Chunran Mu, Jinduo Wang, Litong Zhu, Tingkun Weng, Zhuo Li, Xingzheng Wu, Liufei Shen, Jianhua Liu and Qiuliang Wang
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2684; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112684 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
At present, HTS magnets cannot operate in the real closed-loop persistent current mode due to the existence of joint resistance, flux creep, and AC loss of the HTS tape. Instead of using a current source, HTS flux pumps are capable of injecting flux [...] Read more.
At present, HTS magnets cannot operate in the real closed-loop persistent current mode due to the existence of joint resistance, flux creep, and AC loss of the HTS tape. Instead of using a current source, HTS flux pumps are capable of injecting flux into closed HTS magnets without electrical contact. This paper presents a practical superconducting DC dynamo for charging a conduction-cooled HTS magnet system based on a flux-pumping technique. To minimize heat losses, the rotor is driven by a servo motor mounted outside the vacuum dewar by utilizing magnetic fluid dynamic sealing. Different parameters, such as air gap and rotating speed, have been tested to investigate the best pumping effect, and finally, it successfully powers a 27.3 mH HTS non-insulated double-pancake coil to the current of 54.2 A within 76 min. As a low-cost and compact substitute for the traditional current source, the realization of a contactless DC power supply can significantly improve the flexibility and mobility of the HTS magnet system and could be of great significance for the technological innovation of future HTS magnets used in offshore wind turbines, biomedical, aerospace, etc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Superconductivity for Electric Power Technologies)
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18 pages, 28738 KiB  
Article
Two-Stage Path Planning for Long-Distance Off-Road Path Planning Based on Terrain Data
by Xudong Zheng, Mengyu Ma, Zhinong Zhong, Anran Yang, Luo Chen and Ning Jing
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2024, 13(6), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi13060184 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
In the face of increasing demands for tasks such as mountain rescue, geological exploration, and military operations in complex wilderness environments, planning an efficient walking route is crucial. To address the inefficiency of traditional two-dimensional path planning, this paper proposes a two-stage path [...] Read more.
In the face of increasing demands for tasks such as mountain rescue, geological exploration, and military operations in complex wilderness environments, planning an efficient walking route is crucial. To address the inefficiency of traditional two-dimensional path planning, this paper proposes a two-stage path planning algorithm. First, an improved Probabilistic Roadmap (PRM) algorithm is used to quickly and roughly determine the initial path. Then, the morphological dilation is applied to process the grid points of the initial path, retaining the surrounding area of the initial path for a precise positioning of the search range. Finally, the idea of the A algorithm is applied to achieve precise path planning in the refined search range. During the process of constructing the topology map, we utilized parallelization acceleration strategies to expedite the graph construction. In order to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm, we used terrain data to construct a wilderness environment model, and tests were conducted on off-road path planning tasks with different terrains and distances. The experimental results show a substantial enhancement in the computational efficiency of the proposed algorithm relative to the conventional A algorithm by 30 to 60 times. Full article
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9 pages, 293 KiB  
Article
Comparing Outcomes of Post-Cardiotomy Cardiogenic Shock Patients: On-Site Cannulation vs. Retrieval for V-A ECMO Support
by Mircea R. Mihu, Ahmed M. El Banayosy, Michael D. Harper, Kaitlyn Cain, Marc O. Maybauer, Laura V. Swant, Joseph M. Brewer, Robert S. Schoaps, Ammar Sharif, Clayne Benson, Daniel R. Freno, Marshal T. Bell, John Chaffin, Charles C. Elkins, David W. Vanhooser and Aly El Banayosy
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(11), 3265; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13113265 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) remains a life-threatening complication after cardiac surgery. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) represents the mainstay of mechanical circulatory support for PCCS; however, its availability is limited to larger experienced centers, leading to a mismatch between centers performing cardiac surgery [...] Read more.
Background: Post-cardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCCS) remains a life-threatening complication after cardiac surgery. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) represents the mainstay of mechanical circulatory support for PCCS; however, its availability is limited to larger experienced centers, leading to a mismatch between centers performing cardiac surgery and hospitals offering ECMO management beyond cannulation. We sought to evaluate the outcomes and complications of PCCS patients requiring veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO cannulated at our hospital compared to those cannulated at referral hospitals. Methods: A retrospective analysis of PCCS patients requiring V-A ECMO was conducted between October 2014 to December 2022. Results: A total of 121 PCCS patients required V-A ECMO support, of which 62 (51%) patients were cannulated at the referring institutions and retrieved (retrieved group), and 59 (49%) were cannulated at our hospital (on-site group). The baseline demographics and pre-ECMO variables were similar between groups, except retrieved patients had higher lactic acid levels (retrieved group: 8.5 mmol/L ± 5.8 vs. on-site group: 6.6 ± 5; p = 0.04). Coronary artery bypass graft was the most common surgical intervention (51% in the retrieved group vs. 47% in the on-site group). There was no difference in survival-to-discharge rates between the groups (45% in the retrieved group vs. 51% in the on-site group; p = 0.53) or in the rate of patient-related complications. Conclusions: PCCS patients retrieved on V-A ECMO can achieve similar outcomes as those cannulated at experienced centers. An established network in a hub-and-spoke model is critical for the PCCS patients managed at hospitals without ECMO abilities to improve outcomes. Full article
13 pages, 2392 KiB  
Article
Magnetically Induced Two-Phonon Blockade in a Hybrid Spin–Mechanical System
by Hong-Yue Liu, Tai-Shuang Yin and Aixi Chen
Magnetochemistry 2024, 10(6), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry10060041 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Phonon blockade is an important quantum effect for revealing the quantum behaviors of mechanical systems. For a nitrogen-vacancy center spin strongly coupled to a mechanical resonator via the second-order magnetic gradient, we show that the qubit driving can lead to the implementation of [...] Read more.
Phonon blockade is an important quantum effect for revealing the quantum behaviors of mechanical systems. For a nitrogen-vacancy center spin strongly coupled to a mechanical resonator via the second-order magnetic gradient, we show that the qubit driving can lead to the implementation of the two-phonon blockade, while the usual mechanical driving only allows for the appearance of a single-phonon blockade. As a signature, we investigate three-phonon antibunching with a simultaneous two-phonon bunching process by numerically calculating the second-order and third-order correlation functions. We also analyze in detail the influence of the system parameters (including the qubit driving strength, the dephasing rate of the qubit, as well as the thermal phonon number) on the quality of the two-phonon blockade effect. Our work provides an alternative method for extending the concept of a phonon blockade from a single phonon to multiphonon. It is of direct relevance for the engineering of multiphonon quantum coherent devices and thus has potential applications in quantum information processing. Full article
23 pages, 1459 KiB  
Review
Do Popular Diets Impact Fertility?
by Maria Salvaleda-Mateu, Cristina Rodríguez-Varela and Elena Labarta
Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1726; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111726 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Infertility affects 15% of the population in developed countries, and its prevalence is increasing. Fertility can be influenced by different factors. Although key factors like maternal age cannot be changed, there is growing evidence that other modifiable factors, such as diet, can have [...] Read more.
Infertility affects 15% of the population in developed countries, and its prevalence is increasing. Fertility can be influenced by different factors. Although key factors like maternal age cannot be changed, there is growing evidence that other modifiable factors, such as diet, can have an impact on fertility. Diet has become increasingly important in recent years for a number of reasons: the new trend toward a healthy lifestyle, the higher prevalence of certain digestive disorders, a lack of time that leads people to consume more prepared and processed food, and personal choice to not eat meat, among others. To meet these needs, several diets have recently become popular, such as the Mediterranean diet, known as the gold standard of health; the DASH diet, known for preventing hypertension; the Western diet, characterized by processed food; the ketogenic diet, characterized by low carbohydrate intake; and the vegetarian diet, which is the choice for people who do not eat meat or animal by-products. Diets present a unique composition characterized by the presence or absence of specific nutrients, which have also been associated with male and female fertility individually. This review assesses the impact of these diets and of macro- and micronutrients on both female and male fertility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Support for Human Fertility)
11 pages, 1379 KiB  
Article
Clinical and Functional Effects of Rehabilitation of Patients after COVID-19 Infection
by Zofia Dzięcioł-Anikiej, Anna Kuryliszyn-Moskal, Monika Pociene, Janusz Dzięcioł, Agnieszka Dakowicz and Amanda Kostro
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(11), 3257; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13113257 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Abstract: Background/Objectives: The most common post-acute consequences of SARS-CoV-2 include lung dysfunction, the impairment of cognitive functions and mental health, as well as the impairment of the musculoskeletal system in the form of fatigue and muscle weakness. Post-COVID-19 patients often experience [...] Read more.
Abstract: Background/Objectives: The most common post-acute consequences of SARS-CoV-2 include lung dysfunction, the impairment of cognitive functions and mental health, as well as the impairment of the musculoskeletal system in the form of fatigue and muscle weakness. Post-COVID-19 patients often experience impaired balance and reduced physical capacity. It is important to implement a rehabilitation program that eliminates the side effects of COVID-19 and allows for significant improvement in the patient’s functionality. The aim of our study was to assess patient functionality after a 6-week rehabilitation program on balance, foot pressure distribution, and physical capacity in post-COVID-19 patients. Methods: The clinical study group consisted of 53 people 3 months after COVID-19 infection, confirmed by a positive PCR test. Exclusion from the study included people with comorbidities that impaired balance and gait. The patients underwent a posturographic assessment—Romberg test, a baropodometric assessment—static and dynamic, and a performance assessment—a 6 min walk test determining shortness of breath on the mMRC scale, blood pressure, heart rate, and saturation. Patients participated in rehabilitation until the sixth week, after which they were assessed again. Comparisons were made using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 software using the Wilcoxon pairwise order test, at a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The result of the postural control assessment showed an improvement in the ability to maintain the centre of gravity in terms of the foot support area—statistical decreases were observed in the ellipse area, from 745.28 mm2 to 453.52 mm2 (p = 0.009), as well as maximum (from 3133.5 gr/cm2 to 2994.2 gr/cm2; p = 0.065) and average load on the left foot (from 1010.1 gr/cm2 to 969.38 gr/cm2; p = 0.028). In the 6 min walk test before and after exercise, the heart rate decreased after the therapy (shortness of breath on the mMRC scale also decreased from 79.12 to 74.95). This means that patients achieved better physical fitness and efficiency. Conclusions: Rehabilitation significantly improved balance, as measured by a decrease in ellipse area during the Romberg test. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Rehabilitation)
20 pages, 616 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Nutritional Impact of Sourdough Fermentation: Its Mechanisms and Functional Potential
by Zuhal Alkay, Fereshteh Falah, Hasan Cankurt and Enes Dertli
Foods 2024, 13(11), 1732; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13111732 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Sourdough fermentation is one of the oldest traditional methods in food technology and occurs as a result of fermentation of flour prepared from grains. The nutritional role of sourdough is related to the final composition of fermented foods prepared through sourdough fermentation, and [...] Read more.
Sourdough fermentation is one of the oldest traditional methods in food technology and occurs as a result of fermentation of flour prepared from grains. The nutritional role of sourdough is related to the final composition of fermented foods prepared through sourdough fermentation, and recently, sourdough has become an important application to improve nutrition characteristics of bread. Thanks to lactic acid bacteria (LAB) presented in sourdough microflora and metabolites partially produced by yeasts, technological and important nutritional features of the bread improve and an increase in shelf life is achieved. In addition, sourdough bread has a low glycemic index value, high protein digestibility, high mineral and antioxidant content, and improved dietary fiber composition, making it more attractive for human nutrition compared to regular bread. When the sourdough process is applied, the chemical and physical properties of fibers vary according to the degree of fermentation, revealing the physiological importance of dietary fiber and its importance to humans’ large intestine microbiota. Therefore, taking these approach frameworks into consideration, this review highlights the benefits of sourdough fermentation in increasing nutrient availability and contributing positively to support human health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Biotechnology)
11 pages, 959 KiB  
Communication
A Residual Dense Attention Generative Adversarial Network for Microscopic Image Super-Resolution
by Sanya Liu, Xiao Weng, Xingen Gao, Xiaoxin Xu and Lin Zhou
Sensors 2024, 24(11), 3560; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24113560 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
With the development of deep learning, the Super-Resolution (SR) reconstruction of microscopic images has improved significantly. However, the scarcity of microscopic images for training, the underutilization of hierarchical features in original Low-Resolution (LR) images, and the high-frequency noise unrelated with the image structure [...] Read more.
With the development of deep learning, the Super-Resolution (SR) reconstruction of microscopic images has improved significantly. However, the scarcity of microscopic images for training, the underutilization of hierarchical features in original Low-Resolution (LR) images, and the high-frequency noise unrelated with the image structure generated during the reconstruction process are still challenges in the Single Image Super-Resolution (SISR) field. Faced with these issues, we first collected sufficient microscopic images through Motic, a company engaged in the design and production of optical and digital microscopes, to establish a dataset. Secondly, we proposed a Residual Dense Attention Generative Adversarial Network (RDAGAN). The network comprises a generator, an image discriminator, and a feature discriminator. The generator includes a Residual Dense Block (RDB) and a Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM), focusing on extracting the hierarchical features of the original LR image. Simultaneously, the added feature discriminator enables the network to generate high-frequency features pertinent to the image’s structure. Finally, we conducted experimental analysis and compared our model with six classic models. Compared with the best model, our model improved PSNR and SSIM by about 1.5 dB and 0.2, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sensing and Imaging)
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22 pages, 3389 KiB  
Article
A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study on Polarity Subphenotypes in Bipolar Disorder
by Georgios D. Argyropoulos, Foteini Christidi, Efstratios Karavasilis, Peter Bede, Georgios Velonakis, Anastasia Antoniou, Ioannis Seimenis, Nikolaos Kelekis, Nikolaos Smyrnis, Olympia Papakonstantinou, Efstathios Efstathopoulos and Panagiotis Ferentinos
Diagnostics 2024, 14(11), 1170; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14111170 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Although magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has provided in vivo measurements of brain chemical profiles in bipolar disorder (BD), there are no data on clinically and therapeutically important onset polarity (OP) and predominant polarity (PP). We conducted a proton MRS study in BD polarity [...] Read more.
Although magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has provided in vivo measurements of brain chemical profiles in bipolar disorder (BD), there are no data on clinically and therapeutically important onset polarity (OP) and predominant polarity (PP). We conducted a proton MRS study in BD polarity subphenotypes, focusing on emotion regulation brain regions. Forty-one euthymic BD patients stratified according to OP and PP and sixteen healthy controls (HC) were compared. 1H-MRS spectra of the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex (ACC, PCC), left and right hippocampus (LHIPPO, RHIPPO) were acquired at 3.0T to determine metabolite concentrations. We found significant main effects of OP in ACC mI, mI/tNAA, mI/tCr, mI/tCho, PCC tCho, and RHIPPO tNAA/tCho and tCho/tCr. Although PP had no significant main effects, several medium and large effect sizes emerged. Compared to HC, manic subphenotypes (i.e., manic-OP, manic-PP) showed greater differences in RHIPPO and PCC, whereas depressive suphenotypes (i.e., depressive-OP, depressive-PP) in ACC. Effect sizes were consistent between OP and PP as high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were confirmed. Our findings support the utility of MRS in the study of the neurobiological underpinnings of OP and PP, highlighting that the regional specificity of metabolite changes within the emotion regulation network consistently marks both polarity subphenotypes. Full article
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21 pages, 1742 KiB  
Review
Aeromonas dhakensis: A Zoonotic Bacterium of Increasing Importance in Aquaculture
by Kerry L. Bartie and Andrew P. Desbois
Pathogens 2024, 13(6), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060465 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Aeromonas dhakensis is increasingly recognised to be an important pathogen responsible for disease losses in warm-water aquaculture and, similar to several other Aeromonas species, it can infect humans. Knowledge of A. dhakensis is accumulating, but this species remains relatively under-investigated compared to its [...] Read more.
Aeromonas dhakensis is increasingly recognised to be an important pathogen responsible for disease losses in warm-water aquaculture and, similar to several other Aeromonas species, it can infect humans. Knowledge of A. dhakensis is accumulating, but this species remains relatively under-investigated compared to its close relative, Aeromonas hydrophila. The significance of A. dhakensis may have been overlooked in disease events of aquatic animals due to issues with reliable identification. Critical to appreciating the importance of this pathogen is the application of dependable molecular tools that enable accurate identification and discrimination from A. hydrophila and other motile aeromonads. This review aims to synthesise the key literature on A. dhakensis, particularly with relevance to aquaculture, including knowledge of the bacterium derived from disease case studies in aquatic hosts. Identification methods and strain phylogeny are discussed, with accurate detection important for prompt diagnosis and for distinguishing strains with heightened virulence. Increasing evidence suggests that A. dhakensis may be more virulent than A. hydrophila and correct identification is required to determine the zoonotic risks posed, which includes concerns for antibiotic-resistant strains. This review provides an impetus to improve species identification in the future and screen strain collections of presumptive Aeromonas spp. retrospectively to reveal the true prevalence and impact of A. dhakensis in aquaculture, the environment, and healthcare settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Bacterial Pathogens)
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14 pages, 2499 KiB  
Article
Clinical and Analytical Comparison of Monoclonal and Polyclonal Immunoassays for Fecal Pancreatic Elastase
by Jasna Lenicek Krleza, Merica Aralica, Lara Milevoj Kopcinovic and Renata Zrinski Topic
Diagnostics 2024, 14(11), 1166; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14111166 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Numerous immunoassays have been commercialized to determine pancreatic elastase (PE) in feces in screening for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), but how the different assays compare to one another is controversial, especially in the context that all methods use the same cut-off values [...] Read more.
Background: Numerous immunoassays have been commercialized to determine pancreatic elastase (PE) in feces in screening for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), but how the different assays compare to one another is controversial, especially in the context that all methods use the same cut-off values for interpreting the results obtained on the presence or absence of EPI or the degree of insufficiency if it is present. Our aim was to analytically verify a new method for determining PE, compare the results with a previous method, and verify the declared cut-off values for interpretation of the results. Methods: PE in the stool was assayed using a previous monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (“ScheBo ELISA”) and a new polyclonal particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay (“Bühlmann PETIA”). The direct method comparison of two immunoassays was performed in 40 samples. Clinical comparisons were conducted against each other for the binary determination of “abnormal/normal” elastase levels and the three-way determination of “severe/moderate/no” EPI in 56 samples. The indirect comparison method used external quality assessment (EQA) data to compare the monoclonal and polyclonal immunoassays for PE, and additionally compare the monoclonal ScheBo ELISA to a monoclonal chemiluminescence immunoassay (“DiaSorin CLIA”). Results: Precision in the series and intra-laboratory precision for Bühlmann PETIA met the manufacturer’s specifications for the concentration range of limit/lower values and the range of normal values. The Bühlmann PETIA immunoassay on different analytical platforms yielded comparable results and nearly perfect agreement in the case of three-way classification (kappa = 0.89 with 95%CI from 0.79 to 1.00. ScheBo ELISA tends to generate higher values of pancreatic elastase than the Bühlmann PETIA; agreement between the methods was moderate in the case of binary classification (kappa = 0.43; 95% CI 0.25 to 0.62), and substantial in the case of three-way classification (kappa = 0.62; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.75). EQA data analysis showed a statistically significant difference between ScheBo ELISA and Bühlmann PETIA peer groups (p = 0.031), as well as the DiaSorin CLIA and ScheBo ELISA peer groups (p = 0.010). Conclusion: The ScheBo ELISA and Bühlmann PETIA do not appear to be commutable in the analytical and clinical context. Our data address a discordance between different mono- and polyclonal immunoassays for pancreatic elastase and the potential of misclassification using its universal cut-off values in screening suspected patients for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring the Role of Diagnostic Biochemistry)
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23 pages, 378 KiB  
Article
Some Simpson- and Ostrowski-Type Integral Inequalities for Generalized Convex Functions in Multiplicative Calculus with Their Computational Analysis
by Xinlin Zhan, Abdul Mateen, Muhammad Toseef and Muhammad Aamir Ali
Mathematics 2024, 12(11), 1721; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12111721 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Integral inequalities are very useful in finding the error bounds for numerical integration formulas. In this paper, we prove some multiplicative integral inequalities for first-time differentiable s-convex functions. These new inequalities help in finding the error bounds for different numerical integration formulas [...] Read more.
Integral inequalities are very useful in finding the error bounds for numerical integration formulas. In this paper, we prove some multiplicative integral inequalities for first-time differentiable s-convex functions. These new inequalities help in finding the error bounds for different numerical integration formulas in multiplicative calculus. The use of s-convex function extends the results for convex functions and covers a large class of functions, which is the main motivation for using s-convexity. To prove the inequalities, we derive two different integral identities for multiplicative differentiable functions in the setting of multiplicative calculus. Then, with the help of these integral identities, we prove some integral inequalities of the Simpson and Ostrowski types for multiplicative generalized convex functions. Moreover, we provide some numerical examples and computational analysis of these newly established inequalities, to show the validity of the results for multiplicative s-convex functions. We also give some applications to quadrature formula and special means of real numbers within the framework of multiplicative calculus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mathematical Inequalities and Fractional Calculus)
14 pages, 718 KiB  
Article
Changes in the Morphology and Antioxidant Status of European Red Deer Sperm Stored in the Epididymides and in a Liquid State
by Nicoletta M. Neuman, Aleksandra Orzołek, Żaneta Steiner-Bogdaszewska and Anna Dziekońska
Animals 2024, 14(11), 1653; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111653 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the motility, morphology, and antioxidant status of European red deer sperm stored in a liquid state (variant I) and in the epididymides (variant II). Spermatozoa were harvested post-mortem from the cauda epididymis. Sperm samples in [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the motility, morphology, and antioxidant status of European red deer sperm stored in a liquid state (variant I) and in the epididymides (variant II). Spermatozoa were harvested post-mortem from the cauda epididymis. Sperm samples in both variants were stored for up to six days (D6) at 5 °C. Spermatozoa were assessed for motility, viability, morphology, activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; glutathione peroxidase, GPx; catalase, CAT), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA, content). Sperm samples were analyzed on storage days 0, 2, 4, and 6 (D0-D6). Storage time and storage method significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced the examined variables. On D2, a decrease in motility and acrosomal integrity was observed in both storage variants, whereas a decrease in viability and an increase in MDA content were noted in spermatozoa stored in the epididymides. On D4, higher values of SOD and GPx activity and MDA content were noted in variant I than in variant II. Catalase activity was very low. GPx is the key enzyme that participates in the reduction of hydrogen peroxide in sperm cells. Spermatozoa stored in a liquid state were characterized by higher motility and viability, improved morphology and antioxidant status than those stored in the epididymides; therefore, liquid storage is more recommended for short-term preservation of epididymal spermatozoa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Reproduction: Semen Quality Assessment, Volume II)
14 pages, 1014 KiB  
Article
Genome Analysis of Pseudomonas viciae G166 Conferring Antifungal Activity in Grapevine
by Xiaoshu Jing, Ling Su, Xiangtian Yin, Yingchun Chen, Xueqiang Guan, Dongyue Yang and Yuxia Sun
J. Fungi 2024, 10(6), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10060398 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is one of the major economic fruit crops but suffers many diseases, causing damage to the quality of grapes. Strain G166 was isolated from the rhizosphere of grapevine and was found to exhibited broad-spectrum antagonistic activities against fungal [...] Read more.
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is one of the major economic fruit crops but suffers many diseases, causing damage to the quality of grapes. Strain G166 was isolated from the rhizosphere of grapevine and was found to exhibited broad-spectrum antagonistic activities against fungal pathogens on grapes in vitro, such as Coniella diplodiella, Botrytis cinerea, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that G166 contained a 6613582 bp circular chromosome with 5749 predicted coding DNA sequences and an average GC content of 60.57%. TYGS analysis revealed that G166 belongs to Pseudomonas viciae. Phenotype analysis indicated that P. viciae G166 remarkably reduced the severity of grape white rot disease in the grapevine. After inoculation with C. diplodiella, more H2O2 and MDA accumulated in the leaves and resulted in decreases in the Pn and chlorophyll content. Conversely, G166-treated grapevine displayed less oxidative damage with lower H2O2 levels and MDA contents under the pathogen treatments. Subsequently, G166-treated grapevine could sustain a normal Pn and chlorophyll content. Moreover, the application of P. viciae G166 inhibited the growth of mycelia on detached leaves and berries, while more disease symptoms occurred in non-bacterized leaves and berries. Therefore, P. viciae G166 served as a powerful bioagent against grape white rot disease. Using antiSMASH prediction and genome comparisons, a relationship between non-ribosomal peptide synthase clusters and antifungal activity was found in the genome of P. viciae G166. Taken together, P. viciae G166 shows promising antifungal potential to improve fruit quality and yield in ecological agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Grapevine Diseases, 2nd Edition)
13 pages, 2102 KiB  
Article
A Phase III Head-to-Head Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Fexuprazan and Esomeprazole in Treating Patients with Erosive Esophagitis
by Yuchul Jeong, Beom Jun Lee and Se-Hyeon Han
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(11), 3262; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13113262 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Fexuprazan (Fexuclue®; Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB). This multi-center, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group, therapeutic confirmatory, phase III study was conducted to assess its efficacy and safety compared with esomeprazole (Nexium®; [...] Read more.
Background: Fexuprazan (Fexuclue®; Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Seoul, Korea) is a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB). This multi-center, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group, therapeutic confirmatory, phase III study was conducted to assess its efficacy and safety compared with esomeprazole (Nexium®; AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden) in Korean patients with erosive esophagitis (EE). Methods: This study evaluated patients diagnosed with EE at a total of 25 institutions in Korea between 13 December 2018 and 7 August 2019. After voluntarily submitting a written informed consent form, the patients were evaluated using a screening test and then randomized to either of the two treatment arms. The proportion of the patients who achieved the complete recovery of mucosal breaks at 4 and 8 weeks, the proportion of those who achieved the complete recovery of heartburn at 3 and 7 days and 8 weeks, and changes in the GERD–Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (GERD-HRQL) scores at 4 and 8 weeks from baseline served as efficacy outcome measures. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and the serum gastrin levels served as safety outcome measures. Results: The study population comprised a total of 231 patients (n = 231) with EE, including 152 men (65.80%) and 79 women (34.20%); their mean age was 54.37 ± 12.66 years old. There were no significant differences in the efficacy and safety outcome measures between the two treatment arms (p > 0.05). Conclusions: It can be concluded that the efficacy and safety of Fexuclue® are not inferior to those of esomeprazole in Korean patients with EE. Full article
22 pages, 861 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Real-Time Traffic Data Sharing: A Differential Privacy-Based Scheme with Spatial Correlation
by Junqing Le, Bowen Xing, Di Zhang and Dewen Qiao
Mathematics 2024, 12(11), 1722; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12111722 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
The real-time sharing of traffic data can offer improved services to users and timely respond to environmental changes. However, this data often involves individuals’ sensitive information, raising substantial privacy concerns. It is imperative to find ways to protect the privacy of the shared [...] Read more.
The real-time sharing of traffic data can offer improved services to users and timely respond to environmental changes. However, this data often involves individuals’ sensitive information, raising substantial privacy concerns. It is imperative to find ways to protect the privacy of the shared traffic data while maintaining its ongoing data utility. In this paper, a Differential Privacy-based scheme with Spatial Correlation for Real-time traffic data (named as DP-SCR) is proposed. DP-SCR not only ensures the high data utility of shared traffic data, but also provides strong privacy protection. Specifically, DP-SCR is designed to adhere to w-event ε-differential privacy, ensuring a high level of privacy protection. Subsequently, a novel adaptive allocation based on spatial correlation prediction is proposed to optimize the privacy budget allocation in differential privacy. In addition, a feasible dynamic clustering algorithm is developed to minimize the relative perturbation error, which further improves the quality of shared data. Finally, the analyses demonstrate that DP-SCR provides w-event privacy for the shared data of each section, and the spatial correlation is a more pronounced characteristic of the traffic data than other characteristics. Meanwhile, experiments conducted on real-world data show that the MAR and MER of the predicted data in DP-SCR are smaller than those in other baseline DP-based schemes. It indicates that the DP-SCR scheme proposed in this paper can provide more accurate shared data. Full article

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