The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
18 pages, 3760 KiB  
Article
Co-Immobilization of Alcalase/Dispase for Production of Selenium-Enriched Peptide from Cardamine violifolia
by Shiyu Zhu, Yuheng Li, Xu Chen, Zhenzhou Zhu, Shuyi Li, Jingxin Song, Zhiqiang Zheng, Xin Cong and Shuiyuan Cheng
Foods 2024, 13(11), 1753; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13111753 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Enzymatically derived selenium-enriched peptides from Cardamine violifolia (CV) can serve as valuable selenium supplements. However, the industrial application of free enzyme is impeded by its limited stability and reusability. Herein, this study explores the application of co-immobilized enzymes (Alcalase and Dispase) on amino [...] Read more.
Enzymatically derived selenium-enriched peptides from Cardamine violifolia (CV) can serve as valuable selenium supplements. However, the industrial application of free enzyme is impeded by its limited stability and reusability. Herein, this study explores the application of co-immobilized enzymes (Alcalase and Dispase) on amino resin for hydrolyzing CV proteins to produce selenium-enriched peptides. The successful enzyme immobilization was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Co-immobilized enzyme at a mass ratio of 5:1 (Alcalase/Dispase) exhibited the smallest pore size (7.065 nm) and highest activity (41 U/mg), resulting in a high degree of hydrolysis of CV protein (27.2%), which was obviously higher than the case of using free enzymes (20.7%) or immobilized Alcalase (25.8%). In addition, after a month of storage, the co-immobilized enzyme still retained a viability level of 41.93%, showing fairly good stability. Encouragingly, the selenium-enriched peptides from co-immobilized enzyme hydrolysis exhibited uniform distribution of selenium forms, complete amino acid fractions and homogeneous distribution of molecular weight, confirming the practicality of using co-immobilized enzymes for CV protein hydrolysis. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 1062 KiB  
Article
Fog Computing and Industry 4.0 for Newsvendor Inventory Model Using Attention Mechanism and Gated Recurrent Unit
by Joaquin Gonzalez, Liliana Avelar Sosa, Gabriel Bravo, Oliverio Cruz-Mejia and Jose-Manuel Mejia-Muñoz
Logistics 2024, 8(2), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics8020056 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Background: Efficient inventory management is critical for sustainability in supply chains. However, maintaining adequate inventory levels becomes challenging in the face of unpredictable demand patterns. Furthermore, the need to disseminate demand-related information throughout a company often relies on cloud services. However, this [...] Read more.
Background: Efficient inventory management is critical for sustainability in supply chains. However, maintaining adequate inventory levels becomes challenging in the face of unpredictable demand patterns. Furthermore, the need to disseminate demand-related information throughout a company often relies on cloud services. However, this method sometimes encounters issues such as limited bandwidth and increased latency. Methods: To address these challenges, our study introduces a system that incorporates a machine learning algorithm to address inventory-related uncertainties arising from demand fluctuations. Our approach involves the use of an attention mechanism for accurate demand prediction. We combine it with the Newsvendor model to determine optimal inventory levels. The system is integrated with fog computing to facilitate the rapid dissemination of information throughout the company. Results: In experiments, we compare the proposed system with the conventional demand estimation approach based on historical data and observe that the proposed system consistently outperformed the conventional approach. Conclusions: This research introduces an inventory management system based on a novel deep learning architecture that integrates the attention mechanism with cloud computing to address the Newsvendor problem. Experiments demonstrate the better accuracy of this system in comparison to existing methods. More studies should be conducted to explore its applicability to other demand modeling scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Digital Supply Chain 4.0 Transformation)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 663 KiB  
Article
Four Unique Genetic Variants in Three Genes Account for 62.7% of Early-Onset Severe Retinal Dystrophy in Chile: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Consequences
by Rene Moya, Clémentine Angée, Sylvain Hanein, Fabienne Jabot-Hanin, Josseline Kaplan, Isabelle Perrault, Jean-Michel Rozet and Lucas Fares Taie
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 6151; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25116151 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA)/early-onset severe retinal dystrophy (EOSRD) stand as primary causes of incurable childhood blindness. This study investigates the clinical and molecular architecture of syndromic and non-syndromic LCA/EOSRD within a Chilean cohort (67 patients/60 families). Leveraging panel sequencing, 95.5% detection was achieved, [...] Read more.
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA)/early-onset severe retinal dystrophy (EOSRD) stand as primary causes of incurable childhood blindness. This study investigates the clinical and molecular architecture of syndromic and non-syndromic LCA/EOSRD within a Chilean cohort (67 patients/60 families). Leveraging panel sequencing, 95.5% detection was achieved, revealing 17 genes and 126 variants (32 unique). CRB1, LCA5, and RDH12 dominated (71.9%), with CRB1 being the most prevalent (43.8%). Notably, four unique variants (LCA5 p.Glu415*, CRB1 p.Ser1049Aspfs*40 and p.Cys948Tyr, RDH12 p.Leu99Ile) constituted 62.7% of all disease alleles, indicating their importance for targeted analysis in Chilean patients. This study underscores a high degree of inbreeding in Chilean families affected by pediatric retinal blindness, resulting in a limited mutation repertoire. Furthermore, it complements and reinforces earlier reports, indicating the involvement of ADAM9 and RP1 as uncommon causes of LCA/EOSRD. These data hold significant value for patient and family counseling, pharmaceutical industry endeavors in personalized medicine, and future enrolment in gene therapy-based treatments, particularly with ongoing trials (LCA5) or advancing preclinical developments (CRB1 and RDH12). Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1081 KiB  
Opinion
Tumour Microenvironment Contribution to Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy in Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
by Annunziata Gloghini and Antonino Carbone
Hemato 2024, 5(2), 199-207; https://doi.org/10.3390/hemato5020016 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a B-cell lymphoma in which tumour cells, the so-called Hodgkin Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells, are admixed with non-malignant cell types that are a functional part of the disease. Immune cells, fibroblasts, specialised mesenchymal cells, and microvasculature together make up [...] Read more.
Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a B-cell lymphoma in which tumour cells, the so-called Hodgkin Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells, are admixed with non-malignant cell types that are a functional part of the disease. Immune cells, fibroblasts, specialised mesenchymal cells, and microvasculature together make up the tumour microenvironment and have functional interactions with tumour cells. HRS cells are surrounded by T and B cells admixed with plasma cells, macrophages, eosinophils, and mast cells. A cross-talk occurs between HRS cells and immune cells of the TME. This cross-talk is mediated either by a large network of cytokines and chemokines expressed by HRS cells or molecules produced by different cell types of the TME, i.e., CD30/CD30L, CD40/CD40L, OX40L/OX40, Il- 3/Il-3R, CCR5/CCL5, CD74 macrophage migration inhibitory factor/macrophages, and PD-L1/PD-1. The over-expression of CD30 and CD40, members of the TNF receptor family, is a hallmark of HRS cells. This review highlights the current development of newer therapeutic strategies as a means of immune checkpoint blockade and suggests that further research should explore innovative molecules aimed at targeting components of HL that are involved in cancer cell growth and/or immune escape. Hopefully, this will influence sensitivity or resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy in an individual patient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Lymphomas)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3410 KiB  
Article
Feature Extraction Based on Sparse Coding Approach for Hand Grasp Type Classification
by Jirayu Samkunta, Patinya Ketthong, Nghia Thi Mai, Md Abdus Samad Kamal, Iwanori Murakami and Kou Yamada
Algorithms 2024, 17(6), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/a17060240 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
The kinematics of the human hand exhibit complex and diverse characteristics unique to each individual. Various techniques such as vision-based, ultrasonic-based, and data-glove-based approaches have been employed to analyze human hand movements. However, a critical challenge remains in efficiently analyzing and classifying hand [...] Read more.
The kinematics of the human hand exhibit complex and diverse characteristics unique to each individual. Various techniques such as vision-based, ultrasonic-based, and data-glove-based approaches have been employed to analyze human hand movements. However, a critical challenge remains in efficiently analyzing and classifying hand grasp types based on time-series kinematic data. In this paper, we propose a novel sparse coding feature extraction technique based on dictionary learning to address this challenge. Our method enhances model accuracy, reduces training time, and minimizes overfitting risk. We benchmarked our approach against principal component analysis (PCA) and sparse coding based on a Gaussian random dictionary. Our results demonstrate a significant improvement in classification accuracy: achieving 81.78% with our method compared to 31.43% for PCA and 77.27% for the Gaussian random dictionary. Furthermore, our technique outperforms in terms of macro-average F1-score and average area under the curve (AUC) while also significantly reducing the number of features required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Algorithms for Feature Selection (2nd Edition))
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 22993 KiB  
Article
Water Resistance of Acrylic Adhesive Tapes for Rooftop Fastening
by Klára V. Machalická, Petr Sejkot, Miroslav Vokáč, Petr Pokorný and Vera Obradović
Buildings 2024, 14(6), 1636; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14061636 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Rooftop solar modules are usually held in place by racks or frames that are mechanically attached to a roof structure and/or by heavyweight, ballasted footing mounts. These mounts ensure that the panel system remains in position against wind load. However, mechanical connectors create [...] Read more.
Rooftop solar modules are usually held in place by racks or frames that are mechanically attached to a roof structure and/or by heavyweight, ballasted footing mounts. These mounts ensure that the panel system remains in position against wind load. However, mechanical connectors create penetrations into the water-resistant layer of the roof, whereas ballasted footing mounts cause a significant additional load on the load-bearing structure of roof. For these reasons, adhesive connection seems to be a beneficial solution. Acrylic adhesive tapes, marked as VHBTM, may provide sufficient strength, and they have no need for mechanical fasteners or ballast. Acrylic adhesive tapes also provide a comfortable, fast, and efficient bonding process with no curing compared to liquid adhesives. On the other hand, resistance to water at load-bearing joints has not been sufficiently studied yet and could be critical for connections exposed to the outdoor environment. The present study aims at the determination of water resistance and durability of the VHBTM tapes from the GPH series, which are typically used to bond a variety of substrates including many metals. The mechanical properties and failure modes are compared for the specimens before and after a 21-day immersion in water. A significant reduction in strength was observed, depending on the substrate material. The study of chemical changes in the acrylic tape and in its leachate through infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction analyses clarified the reduction in mechanical properties. The selected VHBTM tape demonstrated strong resistance to the effects of water. However, the overall strength of the joint after immersion was significantly impacted by the decrease in adhesion to a specific substrate. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 3843 KiB  
Review
Whole-Genome Alignment: Methods, Challenges, and Future Directions
by Bacem Saada, Tianchi Zhang, Estevao Siga, Jing Zhang and Maria Malane Magalhães Muniz
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4837; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114837 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Whole-genome alignment (WGA) is a critical process in comparative genomics, facilitating the detection of genetic variants and aiding our understanding of evolution. This paper offers a detailed overview and categorization of WGA techniques, encompassing suffix tree-based, hash-based, anchor-based, and graph-based methods. It elaborates [...] Read more.
Whole-genome alignment (WGA) is a critical process in comparative genomics, facilitating the detection of genetic variants and aiding our understanding of evolution. This paper offers a detailed overview and categorization of WGA techniques, encompassing suffix tree-based, hash-based, anchor-based, and graph-based methods. It elaborates on the algorithmic properties of these tools, focusing on performance and methodological aspects. This paper underscores the latest progress in WGA, emphasizing the increasing capacity to manage the growing intricacy and volume of genomic data. However, the field still grapples with computational and biological hurdles affecting the precision and speed of WGA. We explore these challenges and potential future solutions. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive resource for researchers, deepening our understanding of WGA tools and their applications, constraints, and prospects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biomedical Engineering)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 344 KiB  
Article
Role, Values, Person and Context: A Story of ‘Bent’repreneurship
by Richard J. Arend
Adm. Sci. 2024, 14(6), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14060118 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
We prove a fundamental attribution error connecting rule-breaking behavior to entrepreneurs. We do so in the research context of the US, where we recently sampled from medium-sized venture entrepreneurs and their corporate executive peers (as an applicable reference point). We chose the US [...] Read more.
We prove a fundamental attribution error connecting rule-breaking behavior to entrepreneurs. We do so in the research context of the US, where we recently sampled from medium-sized venture entrepreneurs and their corporate executive peers (as an applicable reference point). We chose the US not only for its high entrepreneurial activity, but also because of the not uncommon relationship between business leaders and religion. By including various measures of religiosity in the study, we could control for factors that would likely influence rule-breaking, which standard models like the fraud triangle do not explicitly consider. In fact, we add contingency theory ideas to the fraud triangle to determine whether it is the decision conditions that determine rule-breaking rather than the role of the person (i.e., as an entrepreneur). We find that once demographic, religious, firm and industry contingencies are controlled for, any statistically significant influence of being an entrepreneur (relative to being a corporate executive with similar opportunity, motivation, capability and rationalization) disappears when it comes to self-admitted value-bending behaviors at work. Our contribution consists of a novel analysis, results and discussion of the ‘bent’repreneur—adding to conversations on the under-researched nexus of entrepreneurship with religiosity and ethical decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Female Entrepreneurship and Diversity)
13 pages, 4596 KiB  
Article
Polyaniline-Based Flexible Sensor for pH Monitoring in Oxidizing Environments
by Liam Bignall, Claire Magnenet, Catheline Ramsamy, Sophie Lakard, Simon Vassal and Boris Lakard
Chemosensors 2024, 12(6), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors12060097 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Measuring pH in oxidizing solutions is a crucial issue in areas such as aquaculture, water treatment, industrial chemistry, and environmental analysis. For this purpose, a low-cost potentiometric flexible sensor using a polymer film as a pH-sensitive material has been developed in this study. [...] Read more.
Measuring pH in oxidizing solutions is a crucial issue in areas such as aquaculture, water treatment, industrial chemistry, and environmental analysis. For this purpose, a low-cost potentiometric flexible sensor using a polymer film as a pH-sensitive material has been developed in this study. The sensor consists in a polyaniline film electrodeposited from a sulfuric acid solution on a gold electrode previously deposited on a flexible polyimide substrate. The resulting polyaniline-based pH sensors showed an interesting performance detection in aqueous solution, leading to sensitive (73.4 mV per unit pH) and reproducible (standard deviation of 1.75) responses over the entire pH range from 3 to 8. On the contrary, they were inoperative in the presence of oxidizing hypochlorite ions. Thus, other polyaniline films were electrodeposited in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide or Tritonx100 surfactant in an attempt to improve the sensing performance of the pH sensors in oxidizing solutions. The pH sensors based on polyaniline and Tritonx100 surfactant were then found to be sensitive (62.3 mV per unit pH) and reproducible (standard deviation of 1.52) in aqueous solutions containing hypochlorite ions. All polyaniline films were also characterized by profilometry and electronic microscopy to correlate the physicochemical features with the performance of the sensors. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 11367 KiB  
Article
Quality Studies on Cynometra iripa Leaf and Bark as Herbal Medicines
by Shabnam Sabiha, Kamrul Hasan, Katelene Lima, Maryam Malmir, Rita Serrano, Isabel Moreira da Silva, João Rocha, Nurul Islam and Olga Silva
Molecules 2024, 29(11), 2629; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29112629 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Cynometra iripa Kostel. is a Fabaceae species of mangrove used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for treating inflammatory conditions. The present study aims to establish monographic botanical and chemical quality criteria for C. iripa leaf and bark as herbal substances and to evaluate their [...] Read more.
Cynometra iripa Kostel. is a Fabaceae species of mangrove used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for treating inflammatory conditions. The present study aims to establish monographic botanical and chemical quality criteria for C. iripa leaf and bark as herbal substances and to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant potential. Macroscopic and microscopic qualitative and quantitative analyses, chemical LC-UV/DAD-ESI/MS profiling, and the quantification of key chemical classes were performed. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH and FRAP assays. Macroscopically, the leaf is asymmetrical with an emarginated apex and cuneate base. Microscopically, it shows features such as two-layered adaxial palisade parenchyma, vascular bundles surrounded by 3–6 layers of sclerenchyma, prismatic calcium oxalate crystals (5.89 ± 1.32 μm) along the fibers, paracytic stomata only on the abaxial epidermis (stomatal index–20.15), and non-glandular trichomes only on petiolules. The microscopic features of the bark include a broad cortex with large lignified sclereids, prismatic calcium oxalate crystals (8.24 ± 1.57 μm), and secondary phloem with distinct 2–5 seriated medullary rays without crystals. Chemical profile analysis revealed that phenolic derivatives, mainly condensed tannins and flavonoids, are the main classes identified. A total of 22 marker compounds were tentatively identified in both plant parts. The major compounds identified in the leaf were quercetin-3-O-glucoside and taxifolin pentoside and in the bark were B-type dimeric proanthocyanidins and taxifolin 3-O-rhamnoside. The total phenolics content was higher in the leaf (1521 ± 4.71 mg GAE/g dry weight), while the total flavonoids and condensed tannins content were higher in the bark (82 ± 0.58 mg CE/g and 1021 ± 5.51 mg CCE/g dry weight, respectively). A total of 70% of the hydroethanolic extracts of leaf and bark showed higher antioxidant activity than the ascorbic acid and concentration-dependent scavenging activity in the DPPH assay (IC50 23.95 ± 0.93 and 23.63 ± 1.37 µg/mL, respectively). A positive and statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlation between the phenol content and antioxidant activity was found. The results obtained will provide important clues for the quality control criteria of C. iripa leaf and bark, as well as for the knowledge of their pharmacological potential as possible anti-inflammatory agents with antioxidant activity. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 2157 KiB  
Article
Spatial and Temporal Variation of C, N, and S Stable Isotopes and Seagrass Coverage Related to Eutrophication Stress in Zostera marina
by Jerrica M. Waddell, Christina C. Pater, Michael R. S. Coffin, Robert F. Gilmour, Jr., Simon C. Courtenay and Michael R. van den Heuvel
Coasts 2024, 4(2), 419-436; https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts4020021 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Zostera marina is an ecologically valuable species that has been declining due to anthropogenic environmental stressors. In this study, spatial and temporal indicators of eelgrass stress, such as coverage and biomass, were compared with the isotopic composition of C, N, and S to [...] Read more.
Zostera marina is an ecologically valuable species that has been declining due to anthropogenic environmental stressors. In this study, spatial and temporal indicators of eelgrass stress, such as coverage and biomass, were compared with the isotopic composition of C, N, and S to understand the mechanism(s) of plant stress. Eelgrass samples were collected in June, July, and August of 2020 at five stations along an estuary spatial gradient in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence to measure above- and below-ground biomass and tissue isotopes in eelgrass leaves and roots/rhizomes. Eelgrass biomass was lowest at the innermost sampling station, which coincided with eutrophication-induced hypoxia relative to outer sampling stations. δ13C levels at the upstream station were depleted compared to downstream stations. Comparatively, δ15N and δ34S findings were not correlated with plant biomass. Thus, sulfide intrusion was not a major stressor for eelgrass in this estuary. Between the years 2014 and 2020, eelgrass coverage was found to have increased, which coincided with high and low recorded external nutrient loads from the Wheatley River, respectively. Ultimately, these findings indicate that isotopic composition and biomass can be useful in assessing the health of eelgrass in temperate estuaries. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 3403 KiB  
Article
Edge DP-Coloring in K4-Minor Free Graphs and Planar Graphs
by Jingxiang He and Ming Han
Axioms 2024, 13(6), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms13060375 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
The edge DP-chromatic number of G, denoted by χDP(G), is the minimum k such that G is edge DP-k-colorable. In 1999, Juvan, Mohar, and Thomas proved that the edge list chromatic number of [...] Read more.
The edge DP-chromatic number of G, denoted by χDP(G), is the minimum k such that G is edge DP-k-colorable. In 1999, Juvan, Mohar, and Thomas proved that the edge list chromatic number of K4-minor free graph G with Δ3 is Δ. In this paper, we prove that if G is a K4-minor free graph, then χDP(G){Δ,Δ+1}, and equality χDP(G)=Δ+1 holds for some K4-minor free graph G with Δ=3. Moreover, if G is a planar graph with Δ9 and with no intersecting triangles, then χDP(G)=Δ. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mathematics: Theory and Applications)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 820 KiB  
Article
Preferences for Follow-Up Procedures among Patients Lost to Follow-Up after Smoking Cessation Intervention among Therapists—An Interview Study
by Sanne Wärjerstam, Camilla Dew-Hattens, Mette Rasmussen, Berit Lilienthal Heitmann, Rie Raffing and Hanne Tønnesen
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060726 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Achieving high follow-up rates after smoking cessation interventions (SCIs) is a general challenge. The aim of this study was to identify preferences among patients and therapists for improving follow-up rates and to assess smoking status at 6 months among patients lost to follow-up. [...] Read more.
Achieving high follow-up rates after smoking cessation interventions (SCIs) is a general challenge. The aim of this study was to identify preferences among patients and therapists for improving follow-up rates and to assess smoking status at 6 months among patients lost to follow-up. From the Danish STOPbase for Tobacco and Nicotine, which collects data on SCI across health care, 20 representative patients lost to follow-up by routine procedures were identified together with 11 therapists. All participated in individual semi-structured phone interviews, which for patients also included 6-month smoking status. Deductive and inductive analyses were performed. Four themes emerged from the analyses with several subthemes, all regarding contacts. Both patients and therapists preferred to intensify the follow-up process by boosting it with additional attempts and using voice messages, e-mail and/or SMS, calling at specified times of the day and avoiding calls from unknown numbers. In addition, some patients mentioned that they were busy or were not carrying their mobile devices at the time of a call as a barrier. Some therapists mentioned that barriers could include an expectation of relapse, but also a poor mental state, the time of day and patient fear of public systems. Among the patients originally lost to follow-up, 35% (95% CI 16%–59%) experienced continuous smoking cessation for 6 months, and the overall national rate was 22% (21.6–23.3%). In conclusion, both patients and therapists preferred intensified follow-up. The 6-month smoking status for patients lost to follow-up seemed to be similar to that of the routinely followed-up patients. These findings will be examined experimentally in a larger study. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 13001 KiB  
Article
Modulation of Brain Cholesterol Metabolism through CYP46A1 Overexpression for Rett Syndrome
by Emilie Audouard, Nicolas Khefif, Béatrix Gillet-Legrand, Fanny Nobilleau, Ouafa Bouazizi, Serena Stanga, Gaëtan Despres, Sandro Alves, Antonin Lamazière, Nathalie Cartier and Françoise Piguet
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(6), 756; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16060756 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutation in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (Mecp2), a ubiquitously expressed transcriptional regulator. RTT results in mental retardation and developmental regression that affects approximately 1 in 10,000 females. Currently, there is no [...] Read more.
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutation in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (Mecp2), a ubiquitously expressed transcriptional regulator. RTT results in mental retardation and developmental regression that affects approximately 1 in 10,000 females. Currently, there is no curative treatment for RTT. Thus, it is crucial to develop new therapeutic approaches for children suffering from RTT. Several studies suggested that RTT is linked with defects in cholesterol homeostasis, but for the first time, therapeutic evaluation is carried out by modulating this pathway. Moreover, AAV-based CYP46A1 overexpression, the enzyme involved in cholesterol pathway, has been demonstrated to be efficient in several neurodegenerative diseases. Based on these data, we strongly believe that CYP46A1 could be a relevant therapeutic target for RTT. Herein, we evaluated the effects of intravenous AAVPHP.eB-hCYP46A1-HA delivery in male and female Mecp2-deficient mice. The applied AAVPHP.eB-hCYP46A1 transduced essential neurons of the central nervous system (CNS). CYP46A1 overexpression alleviates behavioral alterations in both male and female Mecp2 knockout mice and extends the lifespan in Mecp2-deficient males. Several parameters related to cholesterol pathway are improved and correction of mitochondrial activity is demonstrated in treated mice, which highlighted the clear therapeutic benefit of CYP46A1 through the neuroprotection effect. IV delivery of AAVPHP.eB-CYP46A1 is perfectly well tolerated with no inflammation observed in the CNS of the treated mice. Altogether, our results strongly suggest that CYP46A1 is a relevant target and overexpression could alleviate the phenotype of Rett patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gene Therapy for Neurological Disease)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1984 KiB  
Article
Development of In-Needle SPME Devices for Microextraction Applied to the Quantification of Pesticides in Agricultural Water
by Ahmed Ali Alshehri, Bechir Hammami, Mohammed Mousa Alshehri, Taieb Aouak, Rabab A. Hakami and Ahmed Yacine Badjah Hadj Ahmed
Molecules 2024, 29(11), 2628; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29112628 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
The chemical industry explosion in the 20th century has led to increased environmental pollution, affecting fauna, flora, and waterways. These substances alter water’s taste, color, and smell, making it unfit for consumption or toxic. Agricultural water networks face threats from pollution before and [...] Read more.
The chemical industry explosion in the 20th century has led to increased environmental pollution, affecting fauna, flora, and waterways. These substances alter water’s taste, color, and smell, making it unfit for consumption or toxic. Agricultural water networks face threats from pollution before and after treatment. Some chemical contaminants, like pesticides, are embedded in natural biogeochemical cycles. In this study, we developed a simple and low-cost procedure for the fabrication of needles coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as an efficient sorbent for the microextraction of organic pollutant traces from water. The prepared needles were used as an alternative for commercial solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) devices in analytical chemistry. The PDMS polymeric phase was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The PDMS-coated needles were used for extraction of thirteen pesticides by direct-immersion solid-phase microextraction (DI-SPME) from contaminated waters, followed by determination with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The developed analytical method showed limits of detection (LODs) between 0.3 and 2.5 ng mL−1 and RSDs in the range of 0.8–12.2%. The homemade needles were applied for the extraction of pesticides in surface and ground aqueous samples collected from an agricultural area. Several target pesticides were identified and quantified in the investigated water samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analytical Chemistry in Agriculture Application)
Show Figures

Figure 1

2 pages, 156 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue on “Advances in Bioprocess Technology”
by Francesca Raganati and Alessandra Procentese
Processes 2024, 12(6), 1154; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12061154 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
This Special Issue, “Advances in Bioprocess Technology”, focuses on the latest advancements in sustainable bioprocess technologies [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Bioprocess Technology)
21 pages, 13057 KiB  
Article
A Novel Network Framework on Simultaneous Road Segmentation and Vehicle Detection for UAV Aerial Traffic Images
by Min Xiao, Wei Min, Congmao Yang and Yongchao Song
Sensors 2024, 24(11), 3606; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24113606 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) aerial sensors are an important means of collecting ground image data. Through the road segmentation and vehicle detection of drivable areas in UAV aerial images, they can be applied to monitoring roads, traffic flow detection, traffic management, etc. As [...] Read more.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) aerial sensors are an important means of collecting ground image data. Through the road segmentation and vehicle detection of drivable areas in UAV aerial images, they can be applied to monitoring roads, traffic flow detection, traffic management, etc. As well, they can be integrated with intelligent transportation systems to support the related work of transportation departments. Existing algorithms only realize a single task, while intelligent transportation requires the simultaneous processing of multiple tasks, which cannot meet complex practical needs. However, UAV aerial images have the characteristics of variable road scenes, a large number of small targets, and dense vehicles, which make it difficult to complete the tasks. In response to these issues, we propose to implement road segmentation and on-road vehicle detection tasks in the same framework for UAV aerial images, and we conduct experiments on a self-constructed dataset based on the DroneVehicle dataset. For road segmentation, we propose a new algorithm C-DeepLabV3+. The new algorithm introduces the coordinate attention (CA) module, which can obtain more accurate segmentation target location information and make the segmentation target edges more continuous. Also, the improved algorithm introduces the cascade feature fusion module to prevent the loss of detail information in road segmentation and to obtain better segmentation performance. For vehicle detection, we propose an improved algorithm S-YOLOv5 by adding a parameter-free lightweight attention module SimAM. Finally, the proposed road segmentation–vehicle detection framework is utilized to unite the C-DeepLabV3+ and S-YOLOv5 algorithms for the implementation of the serial tasks. The experimental results show that on the constructed ViDroneVehicle dataset, the C-DeepLabV3+ algorithm has an mPA value of 98.75% and an mIoU value of 97.53%, which can better segment the road area and solve the problem of occlusion. The mAP value of the S-YOLOv5 algorithm has an mAP value of 97.40%, which is more than YOLOv5’s 96.95%, which effectively reduces the vehicle omission and false detection rates. By comparison, the results of both algorithms are superior to multiple state-of-the-art methods. The overall framework proposed in this paper has superior performance and is capable of realizing high-quality and high-precision road segmentation and vehicle detection from UAV aerial images. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Vehicular Sensing)
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 7347 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Different Working Fluid Temperatures on the Hydraulic Performance of Magnetic Vortex Pumps
by Yijia Cheng, Wei Li, Sizhuo Ma, Leilei Ji, Cui Xiao and Yongkang Li
Water 2024, 16(11), 1601; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111601 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Magnetic vortex pumps are characterized by their high performance and zero leakage, and in recent years, they have been applied for the transportation of antifreeze coolant in varying-temperature environments. This paper combines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with experimental verification to study the external [...] Read more.
Magnetic vortex pumps are characterized by their high performance and zero leakage, and in recent years, they have been applied for the transportation of antifreeze coolant in varying-temperature environments. This paper combines Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with experimental verification to study the external and internal flow characteristics of magnetic vortex pumps when transporting working fluid at different temperatures, considering radial clearance flow. The results indicate that as the temperature of the medium increases, both the pump head and efficiency improve. Specifically, under the design flow rate condition, the pump head increases by 16.7% when transporting a medium at 90 °C compared to ambient-temperature conditions. Conversely, the pump head is only 16.8% of that observed under ambient-temperature conditions when transporting a medium at −30 °C. Analysis of the internal flow field reveals that the changes in pump hydraulic performance at different working fluid temperatures are primarily due to variations in the vorticity of the internal flow field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Optimization of Fluid Machinery, 2nd Edition)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 6570 KiB  
Article
USV Path Planning in a Hybrid Map Using a Genetic Algorithm with a Feedback Mechanism
by Hang Gao, Tingting Zhang, Zheming Zuo, Xuan Guo, Yang Long, Da Qiu and Song Liu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(6), 939; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12060939 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) often operate in real-world environments with long voyage distances and complex routes. The use of a single-grid map model presents challenges, such as the high computational costs for high-resolution maps and loss of environmental information for low-resolution maps. This [...] Read more.
Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) often operate in real-world environments with long voyage distances and complex routes. The use of a single-grid map model presents challenges, such as the high computational costs for high-resolution maps and loss of environmental information for low-resolution maps. This article proposes an environmental modeling method using a hybrid map that combines topology units and grids. The approach involves calibrating key nodes based on the watershed skeleton line, constructing a topology map using these nodes, decomposing the original map into unit maps, converting each unit map into a grid map, and creating a hybrid map environment model that comprises topology maps, unit map sets, and grid map sets. Then, the article introduces an improved genetic algorithm, called Genetic Algorithm with Feedback (FGA), to address path planning in hybrid maps. Experimental results demonstrate that FGA has better computational efficiency than other algorithms in similar experimental environments. In hybrid maps, path planning with FGA reduces the path lengths and time consumption, and the paths are more logical, smooth, and continuous. These findings contribute to enhancing the quality of path planning and the practical value of USVs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 15560 KiB  
Article
Croco Eye Technique: Mucous Retention Cyst Excision with Immediate Open Sinus Lift—A Retrospective Cohort Study
by Radosław Jadach, Karolina Osypko, Kamil Nelke and Adam Nowicki
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(11), 3293; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13113293 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Objectives: A mucous retention cyst is a common, asymptomatic lesion that may cause complications during or after the sinus lift procedure. The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the Croco Eye Technique (CET), which allows simultaneous excision of [...] Read more.
Objectives: A mucous retention cyst is a common, asymptomatic lesion that may cause complications during or after the sinus lift procedure. The goal of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the Croco Eye Technique (CET), which allows simultaneous excision of the cyst and sinus floor elevation. Methods: The technique was thoroughly described in two versions, and the group of 33 patients was analyzed. Patients who qualified for this procedure had insufficient alveolar ridge height, and their CBCT showed radiological images typical for retention cysts. Analyzed parameters included the version of CET, demographic data, anatomical parameters, intraoperative complications, recurrence of the cyst, success rate of the sinus lift and implants, and the follow-up period. Results: Out of the 33 cases, 9 were of the primary version (27.27%) and 24 of the final version (72.73%). The average height of a retention cyst was 24.05 mm, with the average alveolar ridge height of 1.86 mm. In three cases (9.09%), implants were placed immediately. The prevalence of uncontrolled Schneiderian membrane perforation was reduced from 55.56% to 4.17% between the primary and final versions. The cyst’s recurrence rate was 3.13%. The implant survival rate was 100%. The mean follow-up period was 48.625 months (max 110 months). Conclusions: The Croco Eye Technique, despite the perforation of the Schneiderian membrane, enables successful sinus lift and implantation with a success rate of 100%. Excision of the retention cyst, which is the cause of perforation, allows for limiting the risk of the cyst’s recurrence. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3296 KiB  
Article
High-Performance Supercapacitors Based on Graphene/Activated Carbon Hybrid Electrodes Prepared via Dry Processing
by Shengjun Chen, Wenrui Wang, Xinyue Zhang and Xiaofeng Wang
Batteries 2024, 10(6), 195; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10060195 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Graphene has a high specific surface area and high electrical conductivity, and its addition to activated carbon electrodes should theoretically significantly improve the energy storage performance of supercapacitors. Unfortunately, such an ideal outcome is seldom verified in practical commercial supercapacitor design and production. [...] Read more.
Graphene has a high specific surface area and high electrical conductivity, and its addition to activated carbon electrodes should theoretically significantly improve the energy storage performance of supercapacitors. Unfortunately, such an ideal outcome is seldom verified in practical commercial supercapacitor design and production. In this paper, the oxygen-containing functional groups in graphene/activated carbon hybrids, which are prone to induce side reactions, are removed in the material synthesis stage by a special process design, and electrodes with high densities and low internal resistances are prepared by a dry process. On this basis, a carbon-coated aluminum foil collector with a full tab structure is designed and assembled with graphene/activated carbon hybrid electrodes to form a commercial supercapacitor in cylindrical configuration. The experimental tests confirmed that such supercapacitors have high capacity density, power density, low internal resistance (about 0.06 mΩ), good high-current charging/discharging characteristics, and a long lifetime, with more than 80% capacity retention after 10 W cycles. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 4010 KiB  
Article
Fluid Chemical and Isotopic Signatures Insighting the Hydrothermal Control of the Wahongshan-Wenquan Fracture Zone (WWFZ), NE Tibetan Plateau
by Tingxin Li, Rui Lu, Wenping Xie, Jinshou Zhu, Lingxia Liu and Wenjing Lin
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2715; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112715 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
Compared to the southern Tibetan Plateau, the northern part has been regarded as relatively lacking geothermal resources. However, there is no lack of natural hot springs exposed in beads along large-scale fracture systems, and research on them is currently limited to individual hot [...] Read more.
Compared to the southern Tibetan Plateau, the northern part has been regarded as relatively lacking geothermal resources. However, there is no lack of natural hot springs exposed in beads along large-scale fracture systems, and research on them is currently limited to individual hot springs or geothermal systems. This paper focuses on the Wahongshan-Wenquan Fracture Zone (WWFZ), analyzes the formation of five hydrothermal activity zones along the fracture zone in terms of differences in hot water hydrochemical and isotopic composition, and then explores the hot springs’ hydrothermal control in the fracture zone. The results show that the main fractures of the WWFZ are the regional heat control structures, and its near-north–south- and near-east–west-oriented fractures form a fracture system that provides favorable channels for deep hydrothermal convection. Ice and snow meltwater from the Elashan Mountains, with an average elevation of more than 4,500 m above sea level, infiltrates along the fractures, and is heated by deep circulation to form deep geothermal reservoirs. There is no detectable mantle contribution source heat to the hot spring gases, and the heat source is mainly natural heat conduction warming, but the “low-velocity body (LVB)” in the middle and lower crust may be the primary heat source of the high geothermal background in the area. The hot springs’ hydrochemical components show a certain regularity, and the main ionic components, TDS, and water temperature tend to increase away from the main rupture, reflecting the WWFZ controlling effect on hydrothermal transport. In the future, the geothermal research in this area should focus on the hydrothermal control properties of different levels, the nature of fractures, and the thermal contribution of the LVB in the middle and lower crust. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Status and Development Trend of Geothermal Resources)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 5301 KiB  
Article
A Fuzzy OLTC Controller: Applicability in the Transition Stage of the Energy System Transformation
by Wiktor Wróblewski, Ryszard Kowalik, Marcin Januszewski and Karol Kurek
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2716; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112716 (registering DOI) - 3 Jun 2024
Abstract
This paper introduces a Fuzzy Logic Controller designed for an on-load tap changer within medium voltage distribution systems with bulk penetration of Distributed Energy Resources. As the on-load tap changer remains one of the most essential forms of voltage regulation in medium voltage [...] Read more.
This paper introduces a Fuzzy Logic Controller designed for an on-load tap changer within medium voltage distribution systems with bulk penetration of Distributed Energy Resources. As the on-load tap changer remains one of the most essential forms of voltage regulation in medium voltage distribution networks, improving its operation is a cost-effective response to the emerging voltage violations caused by intermittent generation during the early stages of the energy system transformation. Software-in-the-loop simulations were conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm compared to the conventional methods. A modified CIGRE Medium Voltage Distribution Network Benchmark in European Configuration was modelled while the controller code developed in Python 3.12 was running on a PC, both coupled in a real-time closed-loop environment. The analyses showed that the proposed algorithm managed to reduce overvoltage from 7.02% to 4.85% in the benchmark network, thus demonstrating that the algorithm is efficient and ready for on-field implementation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section F3: Power Electronics)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Open Access Journals

Browse by Indexing Browse by Subject Selected Journals
Back to TopTop