The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
16 pages, 4145 KiB  
Technical Note
Annual and Seasonal Variations in Aerosol Optical Characteristics in the Huai River Basin, China from 2007 to 2021
by Xu Deng, Chenbo Xie, Dong Liu and Yingjian Wang
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(9), 1571; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16091571 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Over the past three decades, China has seen aerosol levels substantially surpass the global average, significantly impacting regional climate. This study investigates the long-term and seasonal variations of aerosols in the Huai River Basin (HRB) using MODIS, CALIOP observations from 2007 to 2021, [...] Read more.
Over the past three decades, China has seen aerosol levels substantially surpass the global average, significantly impacting regional climate. This study investigates the long-term and seasonal variations of aerosols in the Huai River Basin (HRB) using MODIS, CALIOP observations from 2007 to 2021, and ground-based measurements. A notable finding is a significant decline in the annual mean Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) across the HRB, with MODIS showing a decrease of approximately 0.023 to 0.027 per year, while CALIOP, which misses thin aerosol layers, recorded a decrease of about 0.016 per year. This downward trend is corroborated by improvements in air quality, as evidenced by PM2.5 measurements and visibility-based aerosol extinction coefficients. Aerosol decreases occurred at all heights, but for aerosols below 800 m, with an annual AOD decrease of 0.011. The study also quantifies the long-term trends of five major aerosol types, identifying Polluted Dust (PD) as the predominant frequency type (46%), which has significantly decreased, contributing to about 68% of the total AOD reduction observed by CALIOP (0.011 per year). Despite this, Dust and Polluted Continental (PC) aerosols persist, with PC showing no clear trend of decrease. Seasonal analysis reveals aerosol peaks in summer, contrary to surface measurements, attributed to variations in the Boundary Layer (BL) depth, affecting aerosol distribution and extinction. Furthermore, the study explores the influence of seasonal wind patterns on aerosol type variation, noting that shifts in wind direction contribute to the observed changes in aerosol types, particularly affecting Dust and PD occurrences. The integration of satellite and ground measurements provides a comprehensive view of regional aerosol properties, highlighting the effectiveness of China’s environmental policies in aerosol reduction. Nonetheless, the persistence of high PD and PC levels underscores the need for continued efforts to reduce both primary and secondary aerosol production to further enhance regional air quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Atmospheric Remote Sensing)
14 pages, 3276 KiB  
Article
Mineralogical Characterization of Raw Clay from Rujište (Serbia) Used in Traditional Pottery Manufacture
by Maja Milošević, Predrag Dabić, Jelena Gulicovski, Vladimir Dodevski and Milena Rosić
Minerals 2024, 14(5), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14050469 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The pottery produced from the Rujište deposit in Serbia has been protected under the guidance of UNESCO and the Sector for Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia since 2019. A study was conducted to evaluate the mineralogical characteristics of the raw clay from this [...] Read more.
The pottery produced from the Rujište deposit in Serbia has been protected under the guidance of UNESCO and the Sector for Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia since 2019. A study was conducted to evaluate the mineralogical characteristics of the raw clay from this deposit. This study used various techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) to characterize the clay. This study found that the clay contained mostly clay minerals (56.3%–41.9%), with illite, smectite, and chlorite as the predominant phases. Other phases identified were quartz, feldspars, carbonates, and iron-bearing minerals (43.8%–58.1%). The chemical analyses revealed a high abundance of silica (>52 wt.%) and alumina (~16 wt.%), with Fe2O3 (~6 wt.%), K2O (~2.8 wt.%), and a similar content of MgO as the main constituents. The physical features that were investigated included the granulometry (clay: ~31%–44%, silt: ~ 26%–23%, and sand: ~ 42%–32%), specific surface area (97 to 107 m2 g−1), cation exchange capacity (12.5–13.7 mmol 100 g−1), and color (yellowish to moderate brown). The preliminary results suggest that most of the raw clay from the Rujište deposit might be suitable for use in traditional pottery manufacture. Full article
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64 pages, 2305 KiB  
Review
Current Landscape of Cancer Immunotherapy: Harnessing the Immune Arsenal to Overcome Immune Evasion
by Ankita Mitra, Anoop Kumar, Nitin P. Amdare and Rajiv Pathak
Biology 2024, 13(5), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13050307 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Cancer immune evasion represents a leading hallmark of cancer, posing a significant obstacle to the development of successful anticancer therapies. However, the landscape of cancer treatment has significantly evolved, transitioning into the era of immunotherapy from conventional methods such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, [...] Read more.
Cancer immune evasion represents a leading hallmark of cancer, posing a significant obstacle to the development of successful anticancer therapies. However, the landscape of cancer treatment has significantly evolved, transitioning into the era of immunotherapy from conventional methods such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. Immunotherapy has emerged as a pivotal component in cancer treatment, harnessing the body’s immune system to combat cancer and offering improved prognostic outcomes for numerous patients. The remarkable success of immunotherapy has spurred significant efforts to enhance the clinical efficacy of existing agents and strategies. Several immunotherapeutic approaches have received approval for targeted cancer treatments, while others are currently in preclinical and clinical trials. This review explores recent progress in unraveling the mechanisms of cancer immune evasion and evaluates the clinical effectiveness of diverse immunotherapy strategies, including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and antibody-based treatments. It encompasses both established treatments and those currently under investigation, providing a comprehensive overview of efforts to combat cancer through immunological approaches. Additionally, the article emphasizes the current developments, limitations, and challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, by integrating analyses of cancer immunotherapy resistance mechanisms and exploring combination strategies and personalized approaches, it offers valuable insights crucial for the development of novel anticancer immunotherapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progression of the Immune Escape Mechanism in Tumors)
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14 pages, 362 KiB  
Article
Isobutyramide and Slow-Release Urea as Substitutes for Soybean Meal in the Finishing Diet of Beef Cattle
by Chen Wei, Haiying Tao, Guifen Liu and Kechuan Tian
Animals 2024, 14(9), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091321 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of isobutyramide (IBA) and slow-release urea (SRU) as substitutes for soybean meal (SBM) in the finishing diet of beef cattle. The completely randomized design in vitro experiment with five treatments, i.e., control, 0.9% SRU group, [...] Read more.
Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of isobutyramide (IBA) and slow-release urea (SRU) as substitutes for soybean meal (SBM) in the finishing diet of beef cattle. The completely randomized design in vitro experiment with five treatments, i.e., control, 0.9% SRU group, 0.6% SRU + 0.3% IBA group (SRU-I), 0.3% SRU + 0.6% IBA group (IBA-S), 0.9% IBA group was conducted. The results showed that the IBA-S and IBA increased (p ≤ 0.05) substrate disappearance of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), total gas, and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA). The SRU group had the highest (p < 0.01) crude protein disappearance and ammonia nitrogen concentration, but the IBA contrarily decreased (p < 0.01) them compared with the control. Inclusion of IBA increased isobutyrate concentrations (p = 0.01) with the highest value for the IBA group. Then, an 84-day replicate 4 × 4 Latin square design with 8 Angus steers and four treatments, i.e., control, SRU, SRU-I, IBA-S was performed. The results showed that the treatments did not affect DM intake (p > 0.05) but tended (p = 0.09) to increase average daily gain. The inclusion of IBA increased (p < 0.05) the apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter, NDF, ADF, TVFA, and microbial crude protein with the highest values for the IBA-S group. The IBA-contained groups also increased (p ≤ 0.01) isobutyrate concentration, activities of carboxymethyl cellulase and xylanase, and the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens with the highest values for the IBA-S group. The SRU had no effect on animal growth and nutrient apparent digestibility. In conclusion, IBA was developed as a new substitute for SBM in the finishing diet of beef cattle, and the optimal strategy was the isonitrogenous substitution of SBM with 0.3% SRU and 0.6% IBA of the diet. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cattle)
4 pages, 178 KiB  
Editorial
Dietary Strategies in Postmenopausal Women with Chronic and Metabolic Diseases
by Tiffany M. Cortes and Monica C. Serra
Nutrients 2024, 16(9), 1329; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16091329 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
As women age, their nutritional needs change, governed by changes in hormones, level of physical activity, and dietary intake [...] Full article
16 pages, 11252 KiB  
Article
Flexible Force Sensor Based on a PVA/AgNWs Nanocomposite and Cellulose Acetate
by Dulce Natalia Castillo-López, Luz del Carmen Gómez-Pavón, Alfredo Gutíerrez-Nava, Placido Zaca-Morán, Cesar Augusto Arriaga-Arriaga, Jesús Manuel Muñoz-Pacheco and Arnulfo Luis-Ramos
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2819; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092819 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Nanocomposites are materials of special interest for the development of flexible electronic, optical, and mechanical devices in applications such as transparent conductive electrodes and flexible electronic sensors. These materials take advantage of the electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties of a polymeric matrix, especially [...] Read more.
Nanocomposites are materials of special interest for the development of flexible electronic, optical, and mechanical devices in applications such as transparent conductive electrodes and flexible electronic sensors. These materials take advantage of the electrical, chemical, and mechanical properties of a polymeric matrix, especially in force sensors, as well as the properties of a conductive filler such as silver nanowires (AgNWs). In this work, the fabrication of a force sensor using AgNWs synthesized via the polyol chemical technique is presented. The nanowires were deposited via drop-casting in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form the active (electrode) and resistive (nanocomposite) sensor films, with both films separated by a cellulose acetate substrate. The dimensions of the resulting sensor are 35 mm × 40 mm × 0.1 mm. The sensor shows an applied force ranging from 0 to 3.92 N, with a sensitivity of 0.039 N. The sensor stand-off resistance, exceeding 50 MΩ, indicates a good ability to detect changes in applied force without an external force. Additionally, studies revealed a response time of 10 ms, stabilization of 9 s, and a degree of hysteresis of 1.9%. The voltage response of the sensor under flexion at an angle of 85° was measured, demonstrating its functionality over a prolonged period. The fabricated sensor can be used in applications that require measuring pressure on irregular surfaces or systems with limited space, such as for estimating movement in robot joints. Full article
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18 pages, 6837 KiB  
Article
Research on the Ablation Resistance of TiC Particle-Reinforced Aluminium-Based Composite Coatings on Armature Surface
by Chenlu Fan, Li Zhang, Nurbek Nurullougli Kurbonov, Ikromjon Usmonovich Rakhmonov and Guan Wang
Coatings 2024, 14(5), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14050549 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The work aims to enhance and modify the armature surface in electromagnetic rail launch systems and improve its anti-ablation performance to better resist the impact ablation effects of high-temperature and high-speed arcs during the electromagnetic rail launch process and improve launch reliability. TiC [...] Read more.
The work aims to enhance and modify the armature surface in electromagnetic rail launch systems and improve its anti-ablation performance to better resist the impact ablation effects of high-temperature and high-speed arcs during the electromagnetic rail launch process and improve launch reliability. TiC particles are widely selected as metal material reinforcements, with advantages such as high melting points and high hardness. In this paper, the arc impact model of pure aluminum alloy and the arc impact model of TiC particle-reinforced aluminum-matrix composite coating–pure aluminum alloy were constructed based on molecular dynamics simulation. The ablation resistance of the material was evaluated by analyzing the depth of arc impact, the mass loss of the model, the number of gasification atoms, and the surface temperature of the material. The protection mechanism of the modified layer on the substrate was revealed by analyzing the damage degree of the surface and subsurface of the material after arc impact. The results showed that the strengthening mechanism of TiC particle-reinforced aluminum-matrix composites included fine grain strengthening, dispersion strengthening, dislocation strengthening, and so on. Covering TiC particle-reinforced aluminum-matrix composite coating on the surface of aluminum alloy armature is helpful in improving its ablation resistance. The research results can provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the modification design and performance control of electromagnetic rail armature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
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13 pages, 3834 KiB  
Article
Energy Utilization and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions of Tillage Operation in Wetland Rice Cultivation
by Suha Elsoragaby, A. F. Kheiralla, Elkamil Tola, Azmi Yahya, Modather Mairghany, Mojahid Ahmed, Wael M. Elamin and Bahaaddein K. M. Mahgoub
Land 2024, 13(5), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050587 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
In Malaysia, wetland rice is cultivated over two cropping seasons: the main season, from June to November, and the off-season, from January to June. The aim of this study was to investigate tillage operations in rice production in relation to actual field operations [...] Read more.
In Malaysia, wetland rice is cultivated over two cropping seasons: the main season, from June to November, and the off-season, from January to June. The aim of this study was to investigate tillage operations in rice production in relation to actual field operations and under real field conditions for two rice cultivation seasons. The results showed that 80.7%, 17%, and 2.3% of the total time was spent on the actual operation, turning time, and reversing time, respectively. The results also showed that the mean effective field capacity, field efficiency, and fuel consumption were 1.2 ha/h, 80%, and 7.6 L/ha, respectively. The distribution of energy used in the first, second, and third tillage passes amounted to 37%, 33%, and 30% of the total energy, respectively. Fuel, machinery, and total GHG emissions were 62.4, 7.6, and 70 kg CO2eq/ha, respectively. Fuel represented the highest contributor of energy expenditure and GHG emissions. The distributions of GHG emissions in the first, second, and third tillage passes were 37%, 32%, and 31% of the total GHG emissions. The results reveal that carrying out minimum-tillage operations led to a reduction in environmental impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Sustainability from the Viewpoint of Carbon Emission)
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14 pages, 2658 KiB  
Article
Low-Cost Recognition of Plastic Waste Using Deep Learning and a Multi-Spectral Near-Infrared Sensor
by Uriel Martinez-Hernandez, Gregory West and Tareq Assaf
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2821; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092821 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
This work presents an approach for the recognition of plastics using a low-cost spectroscopy sensor module together with a set of machine learning methods. The sensor is a multi-spectral module capable of measuring 18 wavelengths from the visible to the near-infrared. Data processing [...] Read more.
This work presents an approach for the recognition of plastics using a low-cost spectroscopy sensor module together with a set of machine learning methods. The sensor is a multi-spectral module capable of measuring 18 wavelengths from the visible to the near-infrared. Data processing and analysis are performed using a set of ten machine learning methods (Random Forest, Support Vector Machines, Multi-Layer Perceptron, Convolutional Neural Networks, Decision Trees, Logistic Regression, Naive Bayes, k-Nearest Neighbour, AdaBoost, Linear Discriminant Analysis). An experimental setup is designed for systematic data collection from six plastic types including PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP and PS household waste. The set of computational methods is implemented in a generalised pipeline for the validation of the proposed approach for the recognition of plastics. The results show that Convolutional Neural Networks and Multi-Layer Perceptron can recognise plastics with a mean accuracy of 72.50% and 70.25%, respectively, with the largest accuracy of 83.5% for PS plastic and the smallest accuracy of 66% for PET plastic. The results demonstrate that this low-cost near-infrared sensor with machine learning methods can recognise plastics effectively, making it an affordable and portable approach that contributes to the development of sustainable systems with potential for applications in other fields such as agriculture, e-waste recycling, healthcare and manufacturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Optical Sensors Based on Machine Learning)
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14 pages, 5741 KiB  
Article
Rectified Latent Variable Model-Based EMG Factorization of Inhibitory Muscle Synergy Components Related to Aging, Expertise and Force–Tempo Variations
by Subing Huang, Xiaoyu Guo, Jodie J. Xie, Kelvin Y. S. Lau, Richard Liu, Arthur D. P. Mak, Vincent C. K. Cheung and Rosa H. M. Chan
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2820; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092820 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Muscle synergy has been widely acknowledged as a possible strategy of neuromotor control, but current research has ignored the potential inhibitory components in muscle synergies. Our study aims to identify and characterize the inhibitory components within motor modules derived from electromyography (EMG), investigate [...] Read more.
Muscle synergy has been widely acknowledged as a possible strategy of neuromotor control, but current research has ignored the potential inhibitory components in muscle synergies. Our study aims to identify and characterize the inhibitory components within motor modules derived from electromyography (EMG), investigate the impact of aging and motor expertise on these components, and better understand the nervous system’s adaptions to varying task demands. We utilized a rectified latent variable model (RLVM) to factorize motor modules with inhibitory components from EMG signals recorded from ten expert pianists when they played scales and pieces at different tempo–force combinations. We found that older participants showed a higher proportion of inhibitory components compared with the younger group. Senior experts had a higher proportion of inhibitory components on the left hand, and most inhibitory components became less negative with increased tempo or decreased force. Our results demonstrated that the inhibitory components in muscle synergies could be shaped by aging and expertise, and also took part in motor control for adapting to different conditions in complex tasks. Full article
19 pages, 2445 KiB  
Article
AFMUNet: Attention Feature Fusion Network Based on a U-Shaped Structure for Cloud and Cloud Shadow Detection
by Wenjie Du, Zhiyong Fan, Ying Yan, Rui Yu and Jiazheng Liu
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(9), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16091574 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Cloud detection technology is crucial in remote sensing image processing. While cloud detection is a mature research field, challenges persist in detecting clouds on reflective surfaces like ice, snow, and sand. Particularly, the detection of cloud shadows remains a significant area of concern [...] Read more.
Cloud detection technology is crucial in remote sensing image processing. While cloud detection is a mature research field, challenges persist in detecting clouds on reflective surfaces like ice, snow, and sand. Particularly, the detection of cloud shadows remains a significant area of concern within cloud detection technology. To address the above problems, a convolutional self-attention mechanism feature fusion network model based on a U-shaped structure is proposed. The model employs an encoder–decoder structure based on UNet. The encoder performs down-sampling to extract deep features, while the decoder uses up-sampling to reconstruct the feature map. To capture the key features of the image, Channel Spatial Attention Module (CSAM) is introduced in this work. This module incorporates an attention mechanism for adaptive field-of-view adjustments. In the up-sampling process, different channels are selected to obtain rich information. Contextual information is integrated to improve the extraction of edge details. Feature fusion at the same layer between up-sampling and down-sampling is carried out. The Feature Fusion Module (FFM) facilitates the positional distribution of the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis. A clear boundary is distinguished using an innovative loss function. Finally, the experimental results on the dataset GF1_WHU show that the segmentation results of this method are better than the existing methods. Hence, our model is of great significance for practical cloud shadow segmentation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Image Classification and Semantic Segmentation)
13 pages, 4532 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Hardness and Wear Resistance of MgAl2O4/Fe-Based Laser Cladding Coatings by the Addition of CeO2
by Liangxun Li, Shaobai Sang, Tianbin Zhu, Yawei Li and Heng Wang
Coatings 2024, 14(5), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14050550 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Laser cladding has unique advantages in improving the wear resistance of materials or workpiece surfaces. CeO2 could play a role in promoting the flow of the molten pool and grain refinement during the laser cladding process, which is likely to further improve [...] Read more.
Laser cladding has unique advantages in improving the wear resistance of materials or workpiece surfaces. CeO2 could play a role in promoting the flow of the molten pool and grain refinement during the laser cladding process, which is likely to further improve the wear resistance of the coating. In this work, CeO2 was introduced into the MgAl2O4/Fe-based laser cladding coating on the surface of GCr15 steel. The effects of the CeO2 content on the phase composition, microstructure, hardness, and wear resistance of the coatings were also systematically investigated. The results showed that the addition of CeO2 enhanced the continuity of the coating and reduced the size of the MgAl2O4 particles, which was associated with the addition of CeO2’s intensification of the melt pool flow. The metal grain size reduced and then increased as the CeO2 content increased, whereas the hardness and wear resistance of the MgAl2O4/Fe-based coatings increased and then decreased. Compared with the MgAl2O4/Fe-based coating without CeO2, the hardness of the MgAl2O4/Fe-based coating with 1.0 wt% CeO2 increased by 10% and the wear rate decreased by 40%, which was attributed to the metal grain refinement and particle dispersion strengthening. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Surface Engineering and Additive Manufacturing)
14 pages, 3545 KiB  
Article
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a New TWIP Steel under Different Heat Treatments
by Jiaruiming Zhang, Yu Bai, Wenxue Fan, Guanghe Zhang, Wenhui Zhang, Yang Yang and Hai Hao
Materials 2024, 17(9), 2080; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092080 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The effects of solution treatment and annealing temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a new TWIP steel that was alloyed from aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), vanadium (V), and molybdenum (Mo) elements were investigated by a variety of techniques such as microstructural [...] Read more.
The effects of solution treatment and annealing temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a new TWIP steel that was alloyed from aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), vanadium (V), and molybdenum (Mo) elements were investigated by a variety of techniques such as microstructural characterization and room tensile testing. The austenite grain size grew slowly with the increase in annealing temperature. The relatively weak effect of the solution treatment and annealing temperature on the austenite grain size was attributed to the precipitation of MC and M2C, which hindered the growth of the austenite grain. The plasticity of the TWIP steel in cold rolling and annealing after solution treatment was obviously higher than that in cold rolling and annealing without solution treatment. This was because the large-size precipitates redissolved in the matrix after solution treatment, which were not retained in the subsequently annealed structure. Through cold rolling and annealing at 800 °C after solution treatment, the prepared steel exhibited excellent strength and plasticity simultaneously, with a yield strength of 877 MPa, a tensile strength of 1457 MPa, and an elongation of 46.1%. The strength improvement of the designed TWIP steel was mainly attributed to the grain refinement and precipitation strengthening. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heat Treatments and Performance of Alloy and Metal)
30 pages, 607 KiB  
Article
The Commemorability Principle in Akan Personal Name Construction
by Yaw Sekyi-Baidoo
Genealogy 2024, 8(2), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy8020048 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The movement from regular lexicon to onomasticon, especially anthroponomasticon, is often mediated by cultural principles which may determine which concepts could normally be selected for the formation of personal names. Restrictive traditions have guiding principles making some concepts acceptable or not, and some [...] Read more.
The movement from regular lexicon to onomasticon, especially anthroponomasticon, is often mediated by cultural principles which may determine which concepts could normally be selected for the formation of personal names. Restrictive traditions have guiding principles making some concepts acceptable or not, and some names central or peripheral. In this paper, I discuss the principle of commemorability as gatekeeping the selection of concepts for the formation of personal names in Akan; and, having established the restrictiveness of the Akan anthroponomastic system, I identify the two considerations of honourability and preservability as making up the commemorability principle. The study is inductive, establishing the theory that explains the principles for the selection of appropriate concepts for the construction of personal names, and it relies on ethnographic resources including observation, interviews, and focus group discussions supported by name content analysis to generate the theory. The paper establishes that commemorability is founded on a general philosophy that upholds the societal, effort and perseverance, and social cognitive value in the selection of concepts for constructing personal names. Guided by these considerations, concepts are placed within a value ranking system to determine their ‘commemorability’, with items that rank as ‘honourable’ normally selected and processed as personal names. In the construction itself, there is a preference for the cognitive over the physical and the general beyond the specific, and there is an overriding preference for the use of general commemorability concepts which represent excellence, prominence, fullness, abundance, inexhaustibility, strength, endurance, and resilience, among others, which are used both as base-concepts for family names or as ‘amplifier’ concepts in the construction of extension names. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Family Names: Origins, History, Anthropology and Sociology)
21 pages, 2170 KiB  
Article
The Implications of the Spillover Effect Related to Green Co-Creation in a Supply Chain
by Weijia Kong, Yunfei Shao, Simeng Wang, Wei Yan and Yawen Liu
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3704; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093704 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Driven by environmental concerns, firms close to end-users are increasingly co-creating with customers for green product development within their supply chains. However, a challenge called “spillover” can hinder the incentive for green co-creation by these firms. This paper examines the spillover issue in [...] Read more.
Driven by environmental concerns, firms close to end-users are increasingly co-creating with customers for green product development within their supply chains. However, a challenge called “spillover” can hinder the incentive for green co-creation by these firms. This paper examines the spillover issue in a dual-channel structure, where downstream firms implement co-creation with customers for green product development. Our findings indicate that spillover from green investments can negatively impact the investing firm’s profits. However, in low-competition scenarios, spillover benefits the supplier and customers within the supply chain. Additionally, under specific circumstances, it can improve overall supply chain performance. Crucially, to safeguard the sustainability of green co-creation in supply chains and prevent detrimental co-destruction, we propose implementing revenue-sharing contracts that can generate Pareto improvements, benefiting all green supply chain members. As a result, unlike traditional intellectual property protection, which hinders spillover, this study offers an alternative strategy that is also somewhat complementary, promoting collaboration over restrictions to leverage the positive aspects of spillover. Full article
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16 pages, 881 KiB  
Article
P(V)-Promoted Rh-Catalyzed Highly Regioselective Hydroformylation of Styrenes under Mild Conditions
by Tong Ru, Yajiao Zhang, Qiuxiang Wei, Sheng Zuo, Zhenhua Jia and Fen-Er Chen
Molecules 2024, 29(9), 2039; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29092039 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Hydroformylation of olefins is widely used in the chemical industry due to its versatility and the ability to produce valuable aldehydes with 100% atom economy. Herein, a hybrid phosphate promoter was found to efficiently promote rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of styrenes under remarkably mild conditions [...] Read more.
Hydroformylation of olefins is widely used in the chemical industry due to its versatility and the ability to produce valuable aldehydes with 100% atom economy. Herein, a hybrid phosphate promoter was found to efficiently promote rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of styrenes under remarkably mild conditions with high regioselectivities. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the weak coordination between the Rhodium and the P=O double bond of this pentavalent phosphate likely induced exceptional reactivity and high ratios of branched aldehydes to linear products. Full article
15 pages, 775 KiB  
Review
A Critical Analysis of Geological Hazard Risk Assessment including Future Perspectives
by Yuxiang Cheng, Yue Gan, Chunmei Shi, Aidi Huo, Yinghui Pei, Yu Song, Xing Wang and Adnan Ahmed
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3701; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093701 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Geological hazards are widely distributed, cause huge losses, and have always been the focus of attention for engineering and environmental geologists. Geological hazard evaluation is the basis of research and has important theoretical significance for preventing and controlling geological hazards. Therefore, geological hazard [...] Read more.
Geological hazards are widely distributed, cause huge losses, and have always been the focus of attention for engineering and environmental geologists. Geological hazard evaluation is the basis of research and has important theoretical significance for preventing and controlling geological hazards. Therefore, geological hazard evaluation has become the focus of engineering and environmental geology. The question of how to build a universal index system model of geological hazard evaluation is an urgent problem that needs to be solved in geological hazard evaluation. Based on a large amount of previous research data, this paper takes landslide hazard as an example and systematically expounds the main problems that need to be solved in the current geological hazard evaluation from five aspects: basic concept, evaluation scope and accuracy, evaluation index system and evaluation criteria, evaluation method, and applicability of evaluation results. A landslide hazard assessment index system model is proposed, which applies to all regions, including all of the factors that may affect the formation of landslides. It is also hoped that this will be used as an example to establish various types of disaster evaluation and assessment systems. If the parameter has no value in the assessment process, it can be processed as 0. On this basis, further research is suggested from the perspectives of the geological hazard evaluation level, geological hazard evaluation theory, and method. To provide thoughts on and suggestions for geological hazard risk assessment method research, standard revision, investigation and evaluation, and risk management and control need to be considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geological Environment Monitoring and Early Warning Systems)
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18 pages, 1081 KiB  
Article
Biochar Loaded with a Bacterial Strain N33 Facilitates Pecan Seedling Growth and Shapes Rhizosphere Microbial Community
by Zexuan Jiang, Qi Li, Fangren Peng and Jinping Yu
Plants 2024, 13(9), 1226; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13091226 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Biochar and beneficial microorganisms have been widely used in ecological agriculture. However, the impact of biochar loaded with microbes (BM) on plant growth remains to be understood. In this study, BM was produced by incubating pecan biochar with the bacterial strain N33, and [...] Read more.
Biochar and beneficial microorganisms have been widely used in ecological agriculture. However, the impact of biochar loaded with microbes (BM) on plant growth remains to be understood. In this study, BM was produced by incubating pecan biochar with the bacterial strain N33, and the effects of BM on pecan growth and the microbial community in the rhizosphere were explored. BM application significantly enhanced the biomass and height of pecan plants. Meanwhile, BM treatment improved nutrient uptake in plants and significantly increased the chlorophyll, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins of plants. Furthermore, BM treatment improved the soil texture and environment. Finally, BM application substantially enhanced the diversity of soil fungi and bacteria as well as the relative abundances of the phyla Firmicutes and Chloroflexi, and families Bacillaceae and Paenibacillaceae, as shown by high-throughput sequencing. Together, this study clarified the growth-promotive effects of BM on pecan plants and suggested an alternative to synthetic fertilizers in their production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)
19 pages, 574 KiB  
Article
Parental Educational Expectations and Academic Achievement of Left-Behind Children in China: The Mediating Role of Parental Involvement
by Jian Li, Eryong Xue and Huiyuan You
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050371 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Migrant workers from rural China often leave their children at home to be raised by grandparents or other family members. This study explored the relationship between parents’ educational expectations, parental involvement, and the academic performance of left-behind children in China. A total of [...] Read more.
Migrant workers from rural China often leave their children at home to be raised by grandparents or other family members. This study explored the relationship between parents’ educational expectations, parental involvement, and the academic performance of left-behind children in China. A total of 19,487 student samples were obtained from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS), and 5078 of these met the criteria for being considered as ‘left behind’ children. Results indicated: (1) a significant positive correlation between parents’ educational expectations and left-behind children’s academic achievement; (2) parental education involvement plays a partial mediating role between parents’ educational expectations and left-behind children’s academic performance; (3) a significant negative correlation between parental intellectual involvement and educational expectations of left-behind children; (4) parental management involvement was not significantly correlated with parents’ educational expectations and left-behind children’s academic performance; and (5) a significant positive correlation between parental emotional involvement and educational expectations of left-behind children. The findings highlight the important role of parental educational expectations and have implications for the improvement of educational outcomes in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wellbeing and Mental Health among Students)
16 pages, 3479 KiB  
Article
Influences of Cluster Thinning on Fatty Acids and Green Leaf Volatiles in the Production of Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes and Wines in the Northwest of China
by Xiaoyu Xu, Chifang Cheng, Xu Qian, Ying Shi, Changqing Duan and Yibin Lan
Plants 2024, 13(9), 1225; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13091225 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Cluster thinning has been widely applied in yield management and its effect on green leaf volatiles (GLVs) in wines has seldom been studied. GLVs are important flavor compositions for grapes and wines. This work aimed to investigate the impact of cluster thinning on [...] Read more.
Cluster thinning has been widely applied in yield management and its effect on green leaf volatiles (GLVs) in wines has seldom been studied. GLVs are important flavor compositions for grapes and wines. This work aimed to investigate the impact of cluster thinning on these volatiles and their precursors in grapes and wines. Severe cluster thinning (CT1) and medium cluster thinning (CT2) were performed on Cabernet Sauvignon (Vitis vinifera L.) vines in two sites (G-farm and Y-farm) from Xinjiang province in the Northwest of China. The impact of cluster thinning treatments on the accumulation of GLVs and their precursors, long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) of grape berries and C6 volatiles, in resulting wines was investigated. Multivariate analysis showed that cluster thinning treatments induced significant changes in fruit and wine composition in both farms. In Y-farm, medium cluster thinning (CT2) significantly increased the average cluster weight of harvested berries. Additionally, both cluster thinning treatments (CT1 and CT2) increased fatty acids in harvested berries and CT2 led to an increase in C6 esters and a decrease in C6 alcohols in the wines of Y-farm under the warmer and drier 2012 vintage. However, the effect of cluster thinning was likely negative in G-farm due to its wetter soil and excessive organic matter. The treatments may be applicable for local grape growers to improve viticultural practices for the more balanced vegetative and reproductive growth of Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines. This work also provided further knowledge on the regulation of fatty acids and the derived C6 volatiles through the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway. Full article
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31 pages, 4935 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis of mfs2-Defective Penicillium digitatum Mutant to Reveal Importance of Pdmfs2 in Developing Fungal Prochloraz Resistance
by Rongrong Cuan, Shaoting Liu, Chuanyou Zhou, Shengqiang Wang, Yongliang Zheng and Yongze Yuan
Microorganisms 2024, 12(5), 888; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12050888 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Demethylation inhibitors (DMIs), including prochloraz, are popular fungicides to control citrus postharvest pathogens such as Penicillium digitatum (green mold). However, many P. digitatum strains have developed prochloraz resistance, which decreases drug efficacy. Specific major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter gene mfs2, encoding drug-efflux [...] Read more.
Demethylation inhibitors (DMIs), including prochloraz, are popular fungicides to control citrus postharvest pathogens such as Penicillium digitatum (green mold). However, many P. digitatum strains have developed prochloraz resistance, which decreases drug efficacy. Specific major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter gene mfs2, encoding drug-efflux pump protein MFS2, has been identified in P. digitatum strain F6 (PdF6) to confer fungal strain prochloraz resistance. However, except for the drug-efflux pump function of MFS2, other mechanisms relating to the Pdmfs2 are not fully clear. The present study reported a transcriptome investigation on the mfs2-defective P. digitatum strain. Comparing to the wild-type strain, the mfs2-defective strain showed 717 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) without prochloraz induction, and 1221 DEGs with prochloraz induction. The obtained DEGs included multiple isoforms of MFS transporter-encoding genes, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter-encoding genes, and multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family protein-encoding genes. Many of these putative drug-efflux pump protein-encoding genes had significantly lower transcript abundances in the mfs2-defective P. digitatum strain at prochloraz induction, as compared to the wild-type strain, including twenty-two MFS transporter-encoding genes (MFS1 to MFS22), two ABC transporter-encoding genes (ABC1 and ABC2), and three MATE protein-encoding genes (MATE1 to MATE3). The prochloraz induction on special drug-efflux pump protein genes in the wild-type strain was not observed in the mfs2-defective strain, including MFS21, MFS22, ABC2, MATE1, MATE2, and MATE3. On the other hand, the up-regulation of other drug-efflux pump protein genes in the mfs2-defective strain cannot recover the fungal prochloraz resistance, including MFS23, MFS26, MFS27, MFS31, MFS33, and ABC3 to ABC8. The functional enrichment of DEGs based on Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), and euKaryotic Orthologous Groups (KOG) database resources suggested some essential contributors to the mfs2-relating prochloraz resistance, including ribosome biosynthesis-related genes, oxidative phosphorylation genes, steroid biosynthesis-related genes, fatty acid and lipid metabolism-related genes, and carbon- and nitrogen-metabolism-related genes. The results indicated that the MFS2 transporter might be involved in the regulation of multiple drug-efflux pump protein gene expressions and multiple metabolism-related gene expressions, thus playing an important role in developing P. digitatum prochloraz resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungicide Resistance in Plant Pathogen)
15 pages, 5624 KiB  
Article
The Classification of VOCs Based on Sensor Images Using a Lightweight Neural Network for Lung Cancer Diagnosis
by Chengyuan Zha, Lei Li, Fangting Zhu and Yanzhe Zhao
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2818; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092818 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The application of artificial intelligence to point-of-care testing (POCT) disease detection has become a hot research field, in which breath detection, which detects the patient’s exhaled VOCs, combined with sensor arrays of convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms as a new lung cancer detection [...] Read more.
The application of artificial intelligence to point-of-care testing (POCT) disease detection has become a hot research field, in which breath detection, which detects the patient’s exhaled VOCs, combined with sensor arrays of convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithms as a new lung cancer detection is attracting more researchers’ attention. However, the low accuracy, high-complexity computation and large number of parameters make the CNN algorithms difficult to transplant to the embedded system of POCT devices. A lightweight neural network (LTNet) in this work is proposed to deal with this problem, and meanwhile, achieve high-precision classification of acetone and ethanol gases, which are respiratory markers for lung cancer patients. Compared to currently popular lightweight CNN models, such as EfficientNet, LTNet has fewer parameters (32 K) and its training weight size is only 0.155 MB. LTNet achieved an overall classification accuracy of 99.06% and 99.14% in the own mixed gas dataset and the University of California (UCI) dataset, which are both higher than the scores of the six existing models, and it also offers the shortest training (844.38 s and 584.67 s) and inference times (23 s and 14 s) in the same validation sets. Compared to the existing CNN models, LTNet is more suitable for resource-limited POCT devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sensor Networks)
18 pages, 3438 KiB  
Article
A DFT Study of CO Hydrogenation on Graphene Oxide: Effects of Adding Mn on Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis
by Hanieh Bakhtiari, Saeedeh Sarabadani Tafreshi, Mostafa Torkashvand, Majid Abdouss and Nora H. de Leeuw
Catalysts 2024, 14(5), 294; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14050294 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The hydrogenation of carbon monoxide (CO) offers a promising avenue for reducing air pollution and promoting a cleaner environment. Moreover, by using suitable catalysts, CO can be transformed into valuable hydrocarbons. In this study, we elucidate the mechanistic aspects of the catalytic conversion [...] Read more.
The hydrogenation of carbon monoxide (CO) offers a promising avenue for reducing air pollution and promoting a cleaner environment. Moreover, by using suitable catalysts, CO can be transformed into valuable hydrocarbons. In this study, we elucidate the mechanistic aspects of the catalytic conversion of CO to hydrocarbons on the surface of manganese-doped graphene oxide (Mn-doped GO), where the GO surface includes one OH group next to one Mn adatom. To gain insight into this process, we have employed calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) to explore both the thermodynamic properties and reaction energy barriers. The Mn adatoms were found to significantly activate the catalyst surface by providing stronger adsorption geometries. Our study concentrated on two mechanisms for CO hydrogenation, resulting in either CH4 production via the reaction sequence CO → HCO → CH2O → CH2OH → CH2 → CH3 → CH4 or CH3OH formation through the CO → HCO → CH2O → CH2OH → CH3OH pathway. The results reveal that both products are likely to be formed on the Mn-doped GO surface on both thermodynamic grounds and considering the reaction energy barriers. Furthermore, the activation energies associated with each stage of the synthesis show that the conversion reactions of CH2 + OH → CH3 + O and CH2O + OH → CH2OH + O with energy barriers of 0.36 and 3.86 eV are the fastest and slowest reactions, respectively. The results also indicate that the reactions: CH2OH + OH → CH2 + O+H2O and CH2OH + OH → CH3OH + O are the most exothermic and endothermic reactions with reaction energies of −0.18 and 1.21 eV, respectively, in the catalytic pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis for Selective Hydrogenation of CO and CO2, 2nd Edition)

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