The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
37 pages, 9291 KiB  
Article
New Heterostilbene and Triazole Oximes as Potential CNS-Active and Cholinesterase-Targeted Therapeutics
by Milena Mlakić, Tena Čadež, Goran Šinko, Irena Škorić and Zrinka Kovarik
Biomolecules 2024, 14(6), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14060679 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
New furan, thiophene, and triazole oximes were synthesized through several-step reaction paths to investigate their potential for the development of central nervous systems (CNS)-active and cholinesterase-targeted therapeutics in organophosphorus compound (OP) poisonings. Treating patients with acute OP poisoning is still a challenge despite [...] Read more.
New furan, thiophene, and triazole oximes were synthesized through several-step reaction paths to investigate their potential for the development of central nervous systems (CNS)-active and cholinesterase-targeted therapeutics in organophosphorus compound (OP) poisonings. Treating patients with acute OP poisoning is still a challenge despite the development of a large number of oxime compounds that should have the capacity to reactivate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The activity of these two enzymes, crucial for neurotransmission, is blocked by OP, which has the consequence of disturbing normal cholinergic nerve signal transduction in the peripheral and CNS, leading to a cholinergic crisis. The oximes in use have one or two pyridinium rings and cross the brain–blood barrier poorly due to the quaternary nitrogen. Following our recent study on 2-thienostilbene oximes, in this paper, we described the synthesis of 63 heterostilbene derivatives, of which 26 oximes were tested as inhibitors and reactivators of AChE and BChE inhibited by OP nerve agents–sarin and cyclosarin. While the majority of oximes were potent inhibitors of both enzymes in the micromolar range, we identified several oximes as BChE or AChE selective inhibitors with the potential for drug development. Furthermore, the oximes were poor reactivators of AChE; four heterocyclic derivatives reactivated cyclosarin-inhibited BChE up to 70%, and cis,trans-5 [2-((Z)-2-(5-((E)-(hydroxyimino)methyl)thiophen-2-yl)vinyl)benzonitrile] had a reactivation efficacy comparable to the standard oxime HI-6. In silico analysis and molecular docking studies, including molecular dynamics simulation, connected kinetic data to the structural features of these oximes and confirmed their productive interactions with the active site of cyclosarin-inhibited BChE. Based on inhibition and reactivation and their ADMET properties regarding lipophilicity, CNS activity, and hepatotoxicity, these compounds could be considered for further development of CNS-active reactivators in OP poisoning as well as cholinesterase-targeted therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Full article
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18 pages, 594 KiB  
Article
Multiple Messaging Strategies for Increasing HPV Vaccination Intentions among English- and Spanish-Speaking Parents in the United States and Mexico
by Matthew S. McGlone, Keri K. Stephens, Mian Jia, Carolyn Montagnolo and Yifan Xu
Vaccines 2024, 12(6), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12060650 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
The reported study compared the impact of four influence strategies (agency assignment, enhanced active choice, deviance regulation marking, and temporal framing) on English- and Spanish-speaking parents’ reported intention to vaccinate their children for HPV. An online experiment was conducted to examine the impact [...] Read more.
The reported study compared the impact of four influence strategies (agency assignment, enhanced active choice, deviance regulation marking, and temporal framing) on English- and Spanish-speaking parents’ reported intention to vaccinate their children for HPV. An online experiment was conducted to examine the impact of the strategies. In a fractional factorial design, participating parents (N = 1663) were exposed to combinations of influence strategies in text messages presented as reminders they might receive from a healthcare provider about their child’s eligibility for the vaccine series. The results indicated small but significant impacts of agency assignment, enhanced active choice, and deviance regulation marking on parents’ reported vaccination intentions. The study adds to the research literature on HPV vaccination communication in two important respects. First, it demonstrated how incorporating evidence-based influence strategies into reminder messages can increase parents’ vaccination intentions, an important precursor and predictor of actual vaccine uptake. Second, it sets an important precedent by examining the effects of influence strategies on vaccination intentions across different languages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vaccine Strategies for HPV-Related Cancers)
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21 pages, 1823 KiB  
Article
Recognition of Intergranular Corrosion in AISI 304 Stainless Steel by Integrating a Multilayer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network and Metallographic Image Processing
by Edgar Augusto Ruelas-Santoyo, Armando Javier Ríos-Lira, Yaquelin Verenice Pantoja-Pacheco, José Alfredo Jiménez-García, Salvador Hernández-González and Oscar Cruz-Domínguez
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(12), 5077; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14125077 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
The correct management of operations in thermoelectric plants is based on the continuous evaluation of the structural integrity of its components, among which there are elements made of stainless steel that perform water conduction functions at elevated temperatures. The working conditions generate progressive [...] Read more.
The correct management of operations in thermoelectric plants is based on the continuous evaluation of the structural integrity of its components, among which there are elements made of stainless steel that perform water conduction functions at elevated temperatures. The working conditions generate progressive wear that must be monitored from the perspective of the microstructure of the material. When AISI 304 stainless steel is subjected to a temperature range between 450 and 850 °C, it is susceptible to intergranular corrosion. This phenomenon, known as sensitization, causes the material to lose strength and generates different patterns in its microstructure. This research analyzes three different patterns present in the microstructure of stainless steel, which manifest themselves through the following characteristics: the absence of intergranular corrosion, the presence of intergranular corrosion, and the precipitation of chromium carbides. This article shows the development of a methodology capable of recognizing the corrosion patterns generated in stainless steel with an accuracy of 98%, through the integration of a multilayer perceptron neural network and the following digital image processing methods: phase congruence and a gray-level co-occurrence matrix. In this way, an automatic procedure for the analysis of the intergranular corrosion present in AISI 304 stainless steel using artificial intelligence is proposed. Full article
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20 pages, 5366 KiB  
Article
A Study on Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Spatial Dependence of Sound Source Perception in Fuzhou Historical and Cultural Districts
by Lin Wu, Qiqi Zhang, Yulan Yan, Ting Lan, Yanfang Hu, Yijing Zhang, Tianyou He and Jing Ye
Buildings 2024, 14(6), 1753; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061753 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
As a carrier of cultural characteristics of historic districts, the soundscape has unique advantages in shaping regional cultural personality, and mastering its spatiotemporal characteristics is crucial for preserving soundscape heritage with natural and humanistic environments as its kernel. Focusing on the Three Square [...] Read more.
As a carrier of cultural characteristics of historic districts, the soundscape has unique advantages in shaping regional cultural personality, and mastering its spatiotemporal characteristics is crucial for preserving soundscape heritage with natural and humanistic environments as its kernel. Focusing on the Three Square and Seven Alleys historic and cultural district in Fuzhou, this paper analyzes the spatial and temporal patterns of the physical acoustic indicators of the soundscape, the spatial dependence of the sound source harmony, and the spatial relationship between the two. It was found that the physical acoustic indicators showed dynamic changes in spatial and temporal scales and reflect specific human activity and behavioral patterns; sound source harmony showed spatial autocorrelation in both global and local models, with prominent spatial characteristics; and the physical acoustic indicators may negatively affect soundscape perception. The study emphasizes the importance of the regional cultural connotation of soundscape in urban planning. It provides a scientific basis for the planning, designing, and managing of soundscape resources in historic and cultural districts and world heritage sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
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18 pages, 922 KiB  
Article
Crisis and Organizational Sustainability: Empirical Analysis of the Implication of Transformational Leadership on the Decision to Stay Mediated by the Commitment of the Democratic Party in Indonesia
by Herzaky Mahendra Putra, Fendy Suhariadi, Suparto Wijoyo, Sukron Ma’mun, Ian Firstian Aldhi and Dwi Hardaningtyas
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(6), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13060309 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
The research focuses on the impact of transformational leadership on the decision to stay mediated by commitment after a court refusal regarding illegal extraordinary congress involving the outsiders of a political party in Indonesia (in this case, it is the Democratic Party currently [...] Read more.
The research focuses on the impact of transformational leadership on the decision to stay mediated by commitment after a court refusal regarding illegal extraordinary congress involving the outsiders of a political party in Indonesia (in this case, it is the Democratic Party currently led by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono), where this phenomenon is classified as a crisis. Theories and the previous literature pointed out that transformational leadership would significantly affect an individual’s decision to stay with the institution through commitment. Therefore, this research empirically analyzes the hypotheses using quantitative methods on 349 respondents who are central (DPP) and local (DPD and DPC) active committees of the Democratic Party. Respondents are collected using cluster random sampling. Referring to theories and the previous literature, the latent variables of this research are constructed using dimensions. Transformational leadership (TL) has four dimensions which are charisma (idealized influence), inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual considerations. Commitment has three dimensions which are affective, normative, and sustainable commitments. The decision to stay has two dimensions, which are intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. By using Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Square (SEM–PLS), the research revealed that the direct effect shows that transformational leadership and commitment significantly influence the decision to stay. On the other hand, the indirect effect indicates that commitment significantly mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and the decision to stay. The result indicates strong transformational leadership performed by Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono as the chief of the Democratic Party in Indonesia. Full article
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21 pages, 7076 KiB  
Article
Effects of Pulsed Electric Field and High-Pressure Processing Treatments on the Juice Yield and Quality of Sea Buckthorn
by Zhiwei Zhang, Yixuan Chen, Yuying Cheng, Zhenhong Gao, Kunsheng Qu, Zhixi Chen, Lihua Yue and Wenqiang Guan
Foods 2024, 13(12), 1829; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13121829 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Sea buckthorn juice has high nutritional value and a rich flavor that consumers enjoy. Traditional sea buckthorn thermal processing (TP) technology has problems such as low juice yield, poor quality, and poor flavor. Sea buckthorn berries are processed using a technique combining pulsed [...] Read more.
Sea buckthorn juice has high nutritional value and a rich flavor that consumers enjoy. Traditional sea buckthorn thermal processing (TP) technology has problems such as low juice yield, poor quality, and poor flavor. Sea buckthorn berries are processed using a technique combining pulsed electric field (PEF) and high-pressure processing (HPP) to increase juice yield and study its impact on the quality and volatile aroma of sea buckthorn juice. Results have show that, compared with TP, under the condition of PEF-HPP, the juice yield of sea buckthorn significantly increased by 11.37% (p > 0.05); TP and PEF-HPP treatments could effectively kill microorganisms in sea buckthorn juice, but the quality of sea buckthorn juice decreased significantly after TP treatment (p > 0.05), whereas PEF-HPP coupling technology could maximally retain the nutrients of sea buckthorn juice while inhibiting enzymatic browning to improve color, viscosity, and particle size. The flavor of sea buckthorn juice is analyzed using electronic nose (E-nose) and gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometer (GC–IMS) techniques, and it has been shown that PEF-HPP retains more characteristic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of sea buckthorn while avoiding the acrid and pungent flavors produced by TP, such as benzaldehyde, (E)-2-heptenal, and pentanoic acid, among others, which improves the sensory quality of sea buckthorn juice. PEF-HPP technology is environmentally friendly and efficient, with significant economic benefits. Research data provide information and a theoretical basis for the sea buckthorn juice processing industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
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17 pages, 3189 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Factors of Ecosystem Supply and Demand Bundles: A Case Study in the Sichuan-Yunnan Ecological Buffer Area, China
by Bin Yang, Dongqian Xue and Peipei Miao
Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 4977; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16124977 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Identifying the spatial characteristics of ecosystem service (ES) supply and demand is crucial for effective ecosystem management and restoration. Past related studies have primarily focused on balancing ES supply and demand and supply clustering, with less attention focused on the drivers of demand [...] Read more.
Identifying the spatial characteristics of ecosystem service (ES) supply and demand is crucial for effective ecosystem management and restoration. Past related studies have primarily focused on balancing ES supply and demand and supply clustering, with less attention focused on the drivers of demand clustering and their spatial evolution. This study explored the spatiotemporal supply–demand dynamics in four crucial ecosystem services (ESs) in the Sichuan-Yunnan ecological buffer area region between 2005 and 2019, namely water yield, net primary production, soil conservation, and habitat quality. Self-organizing maps and geographical detectors were used to classify supply–demand ES bundles as their main drivers, respectively. The main results of the study included: (1) A decline in habitat quality, whereas net primary productivity, water yield, and soil conservation increased. However, there were increasing demands for habitat quality, water yield, and net primary productivity, despite the decrease in demand for soil conservation. (2) Demand for habitat quality was met by supply, whereas there were deficits in soil conservation, water yield, and net primary productivity, which contributed to the demand in the east exceeding that elsewhere. (3) The proportion of ES bundle 2 increased, whereas those of the remaining ES bundles declined. Similarly, the areas of ES demand bundles (ESDBs) 1 and 4 decreased, whereas those of 2 and 3 increased. While the spatial extent of the ESBs remained relatively stable, those of the ESDBs in the northern regions increased. Key factors influencing the spatial distribution of ES supply include human activities, population density, and precipitation, whereas land use, population density, and the human activity index primarily affect demand distribution. The results of this study can act as a reference for comprehensive regional ecosystem management. Full article
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23 pages, 22509 KiB  
Article
Finer Measurement Scales for Induced Hydrophobicity Using the Water Droplet Penetration Test
by Max Veneris and Arvin Farid
Geotechnics 2024, 4(2), 581-603; https://doi.org/10.3390/geotechnics4020032 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
The Water Droplet Penetration Test (WDPT) is commonly used in most soil water repellency (SWR) research and is particularly prominent in field studies after wildfire events. Suppose a water droplet does not infiltrate the soil within the first five seconds. This soil is [...] Read more.
The Water Droplet Penetration Test (WDPT) is commonly used in most soil water repellency (SWR) research and is particularly prominent in field studies after wildfire events. Suppose a water droplet does not infiltrate the soil within the first five seconds. This soil is considered to contain some degree of water repellency, classified by the overall penetration time. Our results show an inflection point in the plot of the height of a droplet vs. droplet penetration time during a WDPT trial. This inflection point is indicative of a combination of two possible flow patterns influencing droplet penetration, one governing and the other—caused by particle lift—drastically impeding the infiltration rate. The reorganization of the intrinsic particle lift at the air–water interface leads to contact angles hindering the expected penetration, delaying the expected infiltration rate to degrees larger than a continuously flat porous hydrophobic surface would. The particle lift creates an instability that can create two competing regimes, leading to two sets of water droplet penetration times. The similarity among sorptivity values for coarse grains at higher hydrophobicity levels, medium grains at intermediate hydrophobicity levels, and fine grains at lower hydrophobicity levels suggests that interpretation of the WDPT needs to be adjusted based on grain size. Full article
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22 pages, 5498 KiB  
Review
Application of the Electrospinning Technique in Electrochemical Biosensors: An Overview
by Jie Liu, Zhong Dong, Ke Huan, Zhangchu He, Qixian Zhang, Dongmei Deng and Liqiang Luo
Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2769; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122769 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Electrospinning is a cost-effective and flexible technology for producing nanofibers with large specific surface areas, functionalized surfaces, and stable structures. In recent years, electrospun nanofibers have attracted more and more attention in electrochemical biosensors due to their excellent morphological and structural properties. This [...] Read more.
Electrospinning is a cost-effective and flexible technology for producing nanofibers with large specific surface areas, functionalized surfaces, and stable structures. In recent years, electrospun nanofibers have attracted more and more attention in electrochemical biosensors due to their excellent morphological and structural properties. This review outlines the principle of electrospinning technology. The strategies of producing nanofibers with different diameters, morphologies, and structures are discussed to understand the regulation rules of nanofiber morphology and structure. The application of electrospun nanofibers in electrochemical biosensors is reviewed in detail. In addition, we look towards the future prospects of electrospinning technology and the challenge of scale production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterials for Biosensors and Biomedicine Application)
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24 pages, 1109 KiB  
Article
Optimal Combination of the Splitting–Linearizing Method to SSOR and SAOR for Solving the System of Nonlinear Equations
by Chein-Shan Liu, Essam R. El-Zahar and Chih-Wen Chang
Mathematics 2024, 12(12), 1808; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12121808 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
The symmetric successive overrelaxation (SSOR) and symmetric accelerated overrelaxation (SAOR) are conventional iterative methods for solving linear equations. In this paper, novel approaches are presented by combining a splitting–linearizing method with SSOR and SAOR for solving a system of nonlinear equations. The nonlinear [...] Read more.
The symmetric successive overrelaxation (SSOR) and symmetric accelerated overrelaxation (SAOR) are conventional iterative methods for solving linear equations. In this paper, novel approaches are presented by combining a splitting–linearizing method with SSOR and SAOR for solving a system of nonlinear equations. The nonlinear terms are decomposed at two sides through a splitting parameter, which are linearized around the values at the previous step, obtaining a linear equation system at each iteration step. The optimal values of parameters are determined to minimize the reciprocal of the maximal projection, which are sought in preferred ranges using the golden section search algorithm. Numerical tests assess the performance of the developed methods, namely, the optimal splitting symmetric successive over-relaxation (OSSSOR), and the optimal splitting symmetric accelerated over-relaxation (OSSAOR). The chief advantages of the proposed methods are that they do not need to compute the inverse matrix at each iteration step, and the computed orders of convergence by OSSSOR and OSSAOR are between 1.5 and 5.61; they, without needing the inner iterations loop, converge very fast with saving CPU time to find the true solution with a high accuracy. Full article
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18 pages, 9102 KiB  
Article
Scrutinising the Conformational Ensemble of the Intrinsically Mixed-Folded Protein Galectin-3
by Midhun Mohan Anila, Paweł Rogowski and Bartosz Różycki
Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2768; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122768 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Galectin-3 is a protein involved in many intra- and extra-cellular processes. It has been identified as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for certain types of heart disease, kidney disease and cancer. Galectin-3 comprises a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) and an N-terminal domain (NTD), [...] Read more.
Galectin-3 is a protein involved in many intra- and extra-cellular processes. It has been identified as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for certain types of heart disease, kidney disease and cancer. Galectin-3 comprises a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) and an N-terminal domain (NTD), which is unstructured and contains eight collagen-like Pro-Gly-rich tandem repeats. While the structure of the CRD has been solved using protein crystallography, current knowledge about conformations of full-length galectin-3 is limited. To fill in this knowledge gap, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of full-length galectin-3. We systematically re-scaled the solute–solvent interactions in the Martini 3 force field to obtain the best possible agreement between available data from SAXS experiments and the ensemble of conformations generated in the MD simulations. The simulation conformations were found to be very diverse, as reflected, e.g., by (i) large fluctuations in the radius of gyration, ranging from about 2 to 5 nm, and (ii) multiple transient contacts made by amino acid residues in the NTD. Consistent with evidence from NMR experiments, contacts between the CRD and NTD were observed to not involve the carbohydrate-binding site on the CRD surface. Contacts within the NTD were found to be made most frequently by aromatic residues. Formation of fuzzy complexes with unspecific stoichiometry was observed to be mediated mostly by the NTD. Taken together, we offer a detailed picture of the conformational ensemble of full-length galectin-3, which will be important for explaining the biological functions of this protein at the molecular level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computational and Theoretical Chemistry)
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32 pages, 3714 KiB  
Article
Updating Old English Dative–Genitives: A Diachronic Construction Grammar Account
by Juan G. Vázquez-González
Languages 2024, 9(6), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/languages9060213 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
This article conducts a corpus linguistics analysis of the dative–genitive subconstruction within the broader context of Old English double object complementation. The ditransitive construction in Old English has traditionally been perceived as a network of alternating subconstructions, including dat-acc, acc-dat, acc-gen [...] Read more.
This article conducts a corpus linguistics analysis of the dative–genitive subconstruction within the broader context of Old English double object complementation. The ditransitive construction in Old English has traditionally been perceived as a network of alternating subconstructions, including dat-acc, acc-dat, acc-gen, dat-gen, and acc-acc, as the most productive variants. Recent literature has primarily focused on dat-accs and acc-dats because they are the most productive patterns across the history of English, giving also rise to the current ditransitive construction. However, the less productive case frames have received considerably less recent attention. This work, part of an ongoing investigation aimed at creating an OE dat-gen database, builds upon Visser’s list, verified and implemented by findings obtained from a search conducted in the Dictionary of Old English Web Corpus. We obtain 88 verb types and 443 tokens, incorporating 19 new verb types and 260 tokens into the database. More significantly, we offer a detailed description of the conceptual domains and verb classes associated with OE dat-gens, which display a semantics characterized by the presence or absence of actual transfer, as well as transitions from literal to metaphorical transfer, with speech verbs playing a significant role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Corpus-Based Linguistics of Old English)
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12 pages, 2583 KiB  
Case Report
Silent Bird Poisoning in Poland: Reconfirmation of Bromadiolone and Warfarin as the Proximal Causes Using GC-MS/MS-Based Methodology for Forensic Investigations
by Damian Kobylarz, Łukasz Paprotny, Dorota Wianowska, Maciej Gnatowski and Kamil Jurowski
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(6), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17060764 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
The extensive use of rodenticides poses a severe threat to non-target species, particularly birds of prey and scavengers. In this study, a GC-MS/MS-based method was used to unlock the cause of bird deaths in Poland. Organs (liver, heart, kidney, and lungs) collected during [...] Read more.
The extensive use of rodenticides poses a severe threat to non-target species, particularly birds of prey and scavengers. In this study, a GC-MS/MS-based method was used to unlock the cause of bird deaths in Poland. Organs (liver, heart, kidney, and lungs) collected during autopsies of two rooks (Corvus frugilegus) and one carrion crow (Corvus corone corone), as well as fecal samples, were analyzed for the presence of anticoagulant coumarin derivatives, i.e., warfarin and bromadiolone. As for warfarin, the highest concentration was found in crow samples overall, with concentrations in the feces and lungs at 5.812 ± 0.368 µg/g and 4.840 ± 0.256 µg/g, respectively. The heart showed the lowest concentration of this compound (0.128 ± 0.01 µg/g). In the case of bromadiolone, the highest concentration was recorded in the liver of a rook (16.659 ± 1.499 µg/g) and this concentration significantly exceeded the levels in the other samples. By revealing the reality of the threat, these discoveries emphasize the need to regulate and monitor the trade in rodenticides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pharmaceutical Technology)
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15 pages, 4651 KiB  
Article
Disc Height and Angle Changes on Radiographs and Magnetic Resonance Imaging after Anterior or Posterior Percutaneous Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy
by Chun-Pi Chang, Hsi-Kai Tsou, Wen-Hsien Chen, Ting-Hsien Kao, Chih-Wei Huang, Chung-Yuh Tzeng, Tse-Yu Chen and Ruei-Hong Lin
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(12), 3414; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13123414 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Objectives: Cervical disc herniation (CDH) leads to pain, numbness, and potential disability. Percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD) offers an anterior or posterior approach. This study aims to compare postoperative disc height and angle changes one year after PECD, considering both approaches. Methods [...] Read more.
Objectives: Cervical disc herniation (CDH) leads to pain, numbness, and potential disability. Percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD) offers an anterior or posterior approach. This study aims to compare postoperative disc height and angle changes one year after PECD, considering both approaches. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data from patients with CDH who underwent PECD from October 2017 to July 2022. Cervical disc height was measured using the preoperative and one-year postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations. Lordotic angle (LA), global alignment angle (GAA), segmental alignment angle (SAA), and slippage distance (SD) at the surgical level were measured on radiographs in the neutral, flexion, and extension positions. Results: Thirty-eight patients who underwent posterior PECD (PPECD) and five patients who underwent anterior PECD (APECD) were included in the evaluation. The mean age of the patients was 47.4 years (range: 29–69 years). There was a significant difference in the preoperative and one-year postoperative GAA and SAA in extension in the PPECD group (p = 0.003 and 0.031, respectively). The mean decreased disc height one-year postoperative was 1.30 mm in the APECD group and 0.3 mm in the PPECD group by MRI. A significant disc height decrease was observed in the APECD group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Treating CDH with PPECD or APECD is feasible, as it can relieve symptoms and reduce disability. Stability remained unaffected during the first year after surgery, even though there was an increase in angulation during extension. Despite a significant decrease in disc space following APECD, patients reported significant symptom improvement and no new symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Orthopedics)
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10 pages, 1030 KiB  
Brief Report
Neuronal Excitation Induces Tau Protein Dephosphorylation via Protein Phosphatase 1 Activation to Promote Its Binding with Stable Microtubules
by Sosuke Yagishita, Megumi Shibata, Akiko Furuno, Shuji Wakatsuki and Toshiyuki Araki
Neurol. Int. 2024, 16(3), 653-662; https://doi.org/10.3390/neurolint16030049 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
The tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule stabilization. The phosphorylation of the tau protein has been linked to its dissociation from microtubules. Here, we examined the relationship between neuronal depolarization activity and tau protein phosphorylation by employing model systems in [...] Read more.
The tau protein is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes microtubule stabilization. The phosphorylation of the tau protein has been linked to its dissociation from microtubules. Here, we examined the relationship between neuronal depolarization activity and tau protein phosphorylation by employing model systems in culture as well as in vivo. The KCl-evoked depolarization of cultured neurons has often been used to investigate the effects of neuronal activity. We found dephosphorylation at AT8 sites (S202, T205), T212, AT180 sites (T231, S235), and S396 in KCl-simulated cultured neurons. We also found that the KCl-induced tau protein dephosphorylation increases the level of the tau protein fractionated with stable microtubules. In an in vivo experiment, we demonstrated that the exposure of mice to a new environment activates protein phosphatase 1 in the mouse hippocampus and induces tau protein dephosphorylation. We also found an increased amount of the tau protein in a stable microtubule fraction, suggesting that the dephosphorylation of the tau protein may lead to its increased microtubule association in vivo. These results suggest that the association of microtubules with tau proteins may be regulated by the tau protein phosphorylation status affected by neuronal electrical activity. Full article
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10 pages, 884 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Controlling Nutritional Status Score with Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis Score and Atlanta Classification for Mortality in Patients with Acute Pancreatitis
by Betül Çavuşoğlu Türker, Süleyman Ahbab, Fatih Türker, Emre Hoca, Ece Çiftçi Öztürk, Atay Can Kula, Hüseyin Öztürk, Ayşe Öznur Urvasızoğlu, Nilsu Kalaycı, Erdem Koçak, Merve Bulut, Özge Yasun and Hayriye Esra Ataoğlu
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(12), 3416; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13123416 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is characterized by pancreatic gland inflammation, and its clinical course ranges from mild to severe. Predicting the severity of AP early and reliably is important. In this study, we investigate the potential use of the Controlling Nutritional Status [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is characterized by pancreatic gland inflammation, and its clinical course ranges from mild to severe. Predicting the severity of AP early and reliably is important. In this study, we investigate the potential use of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score as a prognostic marker in acute pancreatitis. Methods: We examined 336 patients who had been hospitalized with an AP diagnosis in the internal medicine clinic. The patients included in the study were followed up for 5 years. The study analyzed the specific variables of age, gender, and AP etiology as recorded biochemical parameters for all study participants and calculated the effects of age, sex, Bedside Index of Severity in AP (BISAP), the revised Atlanta classification, and the CONUT score on mortality. Results: When compared with surviving patients, non-surviving patients had higher scores for BISAP, CONUT, and the Atlanta Classification (p ˂ 0.001). In the non-surviving group, hemoglobin, lymphocyte, and albumin levels were significantly lower and creatinine, uric acid, and procalcitonin levels were significantly higher compared to the surviving group (p ˂ 0.001, 0.003, ˂0.001, ˂0.001, 0.005, ˂0.001, respectively). The multivariate analysis showed a significant association of mortality with age, CONUT, and BISAP scores (p ˂ 0.003, 0.001, 0.012 respectively). The CONUT score was separated into two groups based on the median value. The predicted survival time in the group with a CONUT score > 2 (53.8 months) was significantly lower than in the group with a CONUT score ≤ 2 (63.8 months). The cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the patients with higher CONUT scores. Conclusions: This study has assigned the CONUT score as an independent risk factor for mortality in AP. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Gastroenterology & Hepatopancreatobiliary Medicine)
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16 pages, 481 KiB  
Article
Topology Perception and Relative Positioning of UAV Swarm Formation Based on Low-Rank Optimization
by Chengliang Di and Xiaozhou Guo
Aerospace 2024, 11(6), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11060466 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
In a satellite-denied environment, a swarm of drones is capable of achieving relative positioning and navigation by leveraging the high-precision ranging capabilities of the inter-drone data link. However, because of factors such as high drone mobility, complex and time-varying channel environments, electromagnetic interference, [...] Read more.
In a satellite-denied environment, a swarm of drones is capable of achieving relative positioning and navigation by leveraging the high-precision ranging capabilities of the inter-drone data link. However, because of factors such as high drone mobility, complex and time-varying channel environments, electromagnetic interference, and poor communication link quality, distance errors and even missing distance values between some nodes are inevitable. To address these issues, this paper proposes a low-rank optimization algorithm based on the eigenvalue scaling of the distance matrix. By gradually limiting the eigenvalues of the observed distance matrix, the algorithm reduces the rank of the matrix, bringing the observed distance matrix closer to the true value without errors or missing data. This process filters out distance errors, estimates and completes missing distance elements, and ensures high-precision calculations for subsequent topology perception and relative positioning. Simulation experiments demonstrate that the algorithm exhibits significant error filtering and missing element completion capabilities. Using the F-norm metric to measure the relative deviation from the true value, the algorithm can optimize the relative deviation of the observed distance matrix from 11.18% to 0.25%. Simultaneously, it reduces the relative positioning error from 518.05 m to 35.24 m, achieving robust topology perception and relative positioning for the drone swarm formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UAV System Modelling Design and Simulation)
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14 pages, 4014 KiB  
Article
Development and Process Integration of an Alternative Demoulding System for High-Pressure Die Casting Using a Contoured Vacuum Mask
by Alexander Haban, Andreas Schilling, Martin Fehlbier, Toni Karalus and Stefanie Felicia Kracun
Metals 2024, 14(6), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14060691 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
This study presents the development and process integration of an alternative demoulding system for high-pressure die casting. The system is aimed at the removal of large structural castings, which are becoming increasingly popular in the industry under the terms mega- and gigacasting. The [...] Read more.
This study presents the development and process integration of an alternative demoulding system for high-pressure die casting. The system is aimed at the removal of large structural castings, which are becoming increasingly popular in the industry under the terms mega- and gigacasting. The development differs from conventional systems in the fact that it completely avoids ejectors and realises the demoulding via the principle of vacuum suction cups. Preliminary tests were carried out in which various established materials for vacuum cups were initially identified and the suitability of the selected cup concept was investigated by varying influencing variables from the high-pressure die casting. These tests showed that a suction pad material combination of an elastomer with a thermal barrier and an aramid felt on the surface provides the best results under the given process boundary conditions. Based on this, a multi-segmented vacuum mask with contour adaptation to the casting to be removed was developed. This vacuum mask is used to build up the holding force between the casting and the removal device. The necessary removal force is applied via pneumatic cylinders. The functional capability of the concept and the system integration was verified by experiments on a real die-casting mould for test specimens. The shrinkage and demoulding process can be successfully modelled in the simulation and the real measured demoulding force is only approx. 15% higher than in the simulation. During demoulding in the high-pressure die-casting process, vacuums of up to 88.7% were achieved at temperatures up to 395 °C. Full article
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24 pages, 1264 KiB  
Article
The Clinical and Mutational Spectrum of Bardet–Biedl Syndrome in Saudi Arabia
by Doaa Milibari, Sawsan R. Nowilaty and Rola Ba-Abbad
Genes 2024, 15(6), 762; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15060762 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
The retinal features of Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) are insufficiently characterized in Arab populations. This retrospective study investigated the retinal features and genotypes of BBS in Saudi patients managed at a single tertiary eye care center. Data analysis of the identified 46 individuals from [...] Read more.
The retinal features of Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) are insufficiently characterized in Arab populations. This retrospective study investigated the retinal features and genotypes of BBS in Saudi patients managed at a single tertiary eye care center. Data analysis of the identified 46 individuals from 31 families included visual acuity (VA), systemic manifestations, multimodal retinal imaging, electroretinography (ERG), family pedigrees, and genotypes. Patients were classified to have cone–rod, rod–cone, or generalized photoreceptor dystrophy based on the pattern of macular involvement on the retinal imaging. Results showed that nyctalopia and subnormal VA were the most common symptoms with 76% having VA ≤ 20/200 at the last visit (age: 5–35). Systemic features included obesity 91%, polydactyly 56.5%, and severe cognitive impairment 33%. The predominant retinal phenotype was cone–rod dystrophy 75%, 10% had rod–cone dystrophy and 15% had generalized photoreceptor dystrophy. ERGs were undetectable in 95% of patients. Among the 31 probands, 61% had biallelic variants in BBSome complex genes, 32% in chaperonin complex genes, and 6% had biallelic variants in ARL6; including six previously unreported variants. Interfamilial and intrafamilial variabilities were noted, without a clear genotype–phenotype correlation. Most BBS patients had advanced retinopathy and were legally blind by early adulthood, indicating a narrow therapeutic window for rescue strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study of Inherited Retinal Diseases—Volume II)
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24 pages, 1935 KiB  
Review
Green Adsorbents for Environmental Remediation: Synthesis Methods, Ecotoxicity, and Reusability Prospects
by Yanju Liu, Bhabananda Biswas, Masud Hassan and Ravi Naidu
Processes 2024, 12(6), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12061195 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Adsorbent materials have long been used for remediating environmental contaminants. There is an increasing focus on developing sustainable adsorbent materials for long-term use in environmentally friendly and cost-effective remediation. “Green” or “eco-friendly” sorbent materials are generally prepared from renewable or recycled resources, have [...] Read more.
Adsorbent materials have long been used for remediating environmental contaminants. There is an increasing focus on developing sustainable adsorbent materials for long-term use in environmentally friendly and cost-effective remediation. “Green” or “eco-friendly” sorbent materials are generally prepared from renewable or recycled resources, have minimal toxic effects, involve synthesis processes with minor chemical or energy footprints, have high reusability, and do not contribute to additional waste or contamination. Thus, it is essential for materials to have high sorption capacity, high stability, and reusability. The literature focuses on using low-cost or waste materials to produce sorbent materials for the immobilization of contaminants from soil and water systems. The regeneration possibilities of adsorbents are used to evaluate their cost effectiveness and long-term environmental impact once they are applied at field-scale. This review evaluates sustainable sorbent materials, highlighting their green and eco-friendly qualities for a circular economy, and their contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). The synthesis techniques, ecotoxicity, and prospect of reusing adsorbents are highlighted. Further, the review provides insights for researchers and practitioners interested in developing and applying green adsorbents, including bio-based carbon, char, and fibrous materials for soil and water remediation. Full article
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14 pages, 3735 KiB  
Article
Learning Effective Geometry Representation from Videos for Self-Supervised Monocular Depth Estimation
by Hailiang Zhao, Yongyi Kong, Chonghao Zhang, Haoji Zhang and Jiansen Zhao
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2024, 13(6), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi13060193 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Recent studies on self-supervised monocular depth estimation have achieved promising results, which are mainly based on the joint optimization of depth and pose estimation via high-level photometric loss. However, how to learn the latent and beneficial task-specific geometry representation from videos is still [...] Read more.
Recent studies on self-supervised monocular depth estimation have achieved promising results, which are mainly based on the joint optimization of depth and pose estimation via high-level photometric loss. However, how to learn the latent and beneficial task-specific geometry representation from videos is still far from being explored. To tackle this issue, we propose two novel schemes to learn more effective representation from monocular videos: (i) an Inter-task Attention Model (IAM) to learn the geometric correlation representation between the depth and pose learning networks to make structure and motion information mutually beneficial; (ii) a Spatial-Temporal Memory Module (STMM) to exploit long-range geometric context representation among consecutive frames both spatially and temporally. Systematic ablation studies are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of each component. Evaluations on KITTI show that our method outperforms current state-of-the-art techniques. Full article
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42 pages, 5459 KiB  
Review
Emerging Perspectives on Prime Editor Delivery to the Brain
by Eli BenDavid, Sina Ramezanian, Yaoyao Lu, Joël Rousseau, Avi Schroeder, Marc Lavertu and Jacques P. Tremblay
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(6), 763; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17060763 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Prime editing shows potential as a precision genome editing technology, as well as the potential to advance the development of next-generation nanomedicine for addressing neurological disorders. However, turning in prime editors (PEs), which are macromolecular complexes composed of CRISPR/Cas9 nickase fused with a [...] Read more.
Prime editing shows potential as a precision genome editing technology, as well as the potential to advance the development of next-generation nanomedicine for addressing neurological disorders. However, turning in prime editors (PEs), which are macromolecular complexes composed of CRISPR/Cas9 nickase fused with a reverse transcriptase and a prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA), to the brain remains a considerable challenge due to physiological obstacles, including the blood–brain barrier (BBB). This review article offers an up-to-date overview and perspective on the latest technologies and strategies for the precision delivery of PEs to the brain and passage through blood barriers. Furthermore, it delves into the scientific significance and possible therapeutic applications of prime editing in conditions related to neurological diseases. It is targeted at clinicians and clinical researchers working on advancing precision nanomedicine for neuropathologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacotherapy of Neurodegeneration Disorders)
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15 pages, 4923 KiB  
Article
Research on Grain Futures Price Prediction Based on a Bi-DSConvLSTM-Attention Model
by Bensheng Yun, Jiannan Lai, Yingfeng Ma and Yanan Zheng
Systems 2024, 12(6), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems12060204 (registering DOI) - 11 Jun 2024
Abstract
Grain is a commodity related to the livelihood of the nation’s people, and the volatility of its futures price affects risk management, investment decisions, and policy making. Therefore, it is very necessary to establish an accurate and efficient futures price prediction model. Aiming at [...] Read more.
Grain is a commodity related to the livelihood of the nation’s people, and the volatility of its futures price affects risk management, investment decisions, and policy making. Therefore, it is very necessary to establish an accurate and efficient futures price prediction model. Aiming at improving the accuracy and efficiency of the prediction model, so as to support reasonable decision making, this paper proposes a Bi-DSConvLSTM-Attention model for grain futures price prediction, which is based on the combination of a bidirectional long short-term memory neural network (BiLSTM), a depthwise separable convolutional long short-term memory neural network (DSConvLSTM), and an attention mechanism. Firstly, the mutual information is used to evaluate, sort, and select the features for dimension reduction. Secondly, the lightweight depthwise separable convolution (DSConv) is introduced to replace the standard convolution (SConv) in ConvLSTM without sacrificing its performance. Then, the self-attention mechanism is adopted to improve the accuracy. Finally, taking the wheat futures price prediction as an example, the model is trained and its performance is evaluated. Under the Bi-DSConvLSTM-Attention model, the experimental results of selecting the most relevant 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 features as the inputs showed that the optimal number of features to be selected was 4. When the four best features were selected as the inputs, the RMSE, MAE, MAPE, and R2 of the prediction result of the Bi-DSConvLSTM-Attention model were 5.61, 3.63, 0.55, and 0.9984, respectively, which is a great improvement compared with the existing price-prediction models. Other experimental results demonstrated that the model also possesses a certain degree of generalization and is capable of obtaining positive returns. Full article
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