The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
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17 pages, 898 KiB  
Article
Study of the Correlation between Streaming Video Platform Content on Food Production Processes and the Behavioral Intentions of Generation Z
by Xi-Yu Zhang, Ching-Tzu Chao, Yi-Tse Chiu and Han-Shen Chen
Foods 2024, 13(10), 1537; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13101537 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
With an estimated 2.4 million cases of foodborne illnesses recorded annually in the UK alone, food safety has become a paramount concern among stakeholders. Modern technology has positioned streaming platforms as pivotal conduits for disseminating information. Channels such as YouTube offer detailed recordings [...] Read more.
With an estimated 2.4 million cases of foodborne illnesses recorded annually in the UK alone, food safety has become a paramount concern among stakeholders. Modern technology has positioned streaming platforms as pivotal conduits for disseminating information. Channels such as YouTube offer detailed recordings of the food production process, granting consumers extensive visibility of the food journey from farm to table. This increased transparency not only promotes vigilant monitoring of food safety practices but also solicits consumer feedback regarding the public exposure to food processing videos. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study augments its framework with constructs, such as perceived trust, perceived risk, community experience, and brand identity, to evaluate Taiwan’s Generation Z consumer behavioral intentions. With 226 valid responses amassed, structural equation modeling facilitated elucidation of the relationships among the constructs. This analysis yielded three salient insights. First, Generation Z’s engagement with food processing videos on streaming platforms is positively correlated with their subsequent purchasing behavior. Second, enriched community experience was correlated with strengthened brand identification. Third, both perceived trust and perceived risk had a constructive impact on behavioral intentions within Gen Z’s demographic data. Based on these outcomes, food industry enterprises should proactively develop and bolster community experiential value, thereby encouraging streaming platform users to transform into brand consumers and advocates. Full article
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13 pages, 1671 KiB  
Article
Metabolic Resistance and Not Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Gene Mutation Is Associated with Pyrethroid Resistance of Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) from Cambodia
by Sébastien Marcombe, Bros Doeurk, Phoutmany Thammavong, Tuba Veseli, Christian Heafield, Molly-Ann Mills, Sedra Kako, Marcelly Ferreira Prado, Shakira Thomson, Saffron Millett, Timothy Hill, Imogen Kentsley, Shereena Davies, Geethika Pathiraja, Ben Daniels, Lucianna Browne, Miranda Nyamukanga, Jess Harvey, Lyranne Rubinstein, Chloe Townsend, Zack Allen, Christopher Davey-Spence, Adina Hupi, Andrew K. Jones and Sebastien Boyeradd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Insects 2024, 15(5), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15050358 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
(1) Background: In Cambodia, Aedes albopictus is an important vector of the dengue virus. Vector control using insecticides is a major strategy implemented in managing mosquito-borne diseases. Resistance, however, threatens to undermine the use of insecticides. In this study, we present the levels [...] Read more.
(1) Background: In Cambodia, Aedes albopictus is an important vector of the dengue virus. Vector control using insecticides is a major strategy implemented in managing mosquito-borne diseases. Resistance, however, threatens to undermine the use of insecticides. In this study, we present the levels of insecticide resistance of Ae. albopictus in Cambodia and the mechanisms involved. (2) Methods: Two Ae. albopictus populations were collected from the capital, Phnom Penh city, and from rural Pailin province. Adults were tested with diagnostic doses of malathion (0.8%), deltamethrin (0.03%), permethrin (0.25%), and DDT (4%) using WHO tube assays. Synergist assays using piperonyl butoxide (PBO) were implemented before the pyrethroid assays to detect the potential involvement of metabolic resistance mechanisms. Adult female mosquitoes collected from Phnom Penh and Pailin were tested for voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) kdr (knockdown resistance) mutations commonly found in Aedes sp.-resistant populations throughout Asia (S989P, V1016G, and F1534C), as well as for other mutations (V410L, L982W, A1007G, I1011M, T1520I, and D1763Y). (3) Results: The two populations showed resistance against all the insecticides tested (<90% mortality). The use of PBO (an inhibitor of P450s) strongly restored the efficacy of deltamethrin and permethrin against the two resistant populations. Sequences of regions of the vgsc gene showed a lack of kdr mutations known to be associated with pyrethroid resistance. However, four novel non-synonymous mutations (L412P/S, C983S, Q1554STOP, and R1718L) and twenty-nine synonymous mutations were detected. It remains to be determined whether these mutations contribute to pyrethroid resistance. (4) Conclusions: Pyrethroid resistance is occurring in two Ae. albopictus populations originating from urban and rural areas of Cambodia. The resistance is likely due to metabolic resistance specifically involving P450s monooxygenases. The levels of resistance against different insecticide classes are a cause for concern in Cambodia. Alternative tools and insecticides for controlling dengue vectors should be used to minimize disease prevalence in the country. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Insecticide Resistance)
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27 pages, 5136 KiB  
Article
maGENEgerZ: An Efficient Artificial Intelligence-Based Framework Can Extract More Expressed Genes and Biological Insights Underlying Breast Cancer Drug Response Mechanism
by Turki Turki and Y-h. Taguchi
Mathematics 2024, 12(10), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12101536 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Understanding breast cancer drug response mechanisms can play a crucial role in improving treatment outcomes and survival rates. Existing bioinformatics-based approaches are far from perfect and do not adopt computational methods based on advanced artificial intelligence concepts. Therefore, we introduce a novel computational [...] Read more.
Understanding breast cancer drug response mechanisms can play a crucial role in improving treatment outcomes and survival rates. Existing bioinformatics-based approaches are far from perfect and do not adopt computational methods based on advanced artificial intelligence concepts. Therefore, we introduce a novel computational framework based on an efficient support vector machine (esvm) working as follows: First, we downloaded and processed three gene expression datasets related to breast cancer responding and non-responding to treatments from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) according to the following GEO accession numbers: GSE130787, GSE140494, and GSE196093. Our method esvm is formulated as a constrained optimization problem in its dual form as a function of λ. We recover the importance of each gene as a function of λ, y, and x. Then, we select p genes out of n, which are provided as input to enrichment analysis tools, Enrichr and Metascape. Compared to existing baseline methods, including deep learning, results demonstrate the superiority and efficiency of esvm, achieving high-performance results and having more expressed genes in well-established breast cancer cell lines, including MD-MB231, MCF7, and HS578T. Moreover, esvm is able to identify (1) various drugs, including clinically approved ones (e.g., tamoxifen and erlotinib); (2) seventy-four unique genes (including tumor suppression genes such as TP53 and BRCA1); and (3) thirty-six unique TFs (including SP1 and RELA). These results have been reported to be linked to breast cancer drug response mechanisms, progression, and metastasizing. Our method is available publicly on the maGENEgerZ web server. Full article
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14 pages, 2959 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Assessment of the Effect of Multi-Cropping on Agroecosystems
by Jovita Balandaitė, Kęstutis Romaneckas, Rasa Kimbirauskienė and Aušra Sinkevičienė
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1372; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101372 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Multi-cropping is becoming an increasingly popular technique in agriculture to tackle major and complex agroecosystem problems such as biodiversity and soil fertility loss, erosion and degradation, increased greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Comprehensively assessing the impact of multi-cropping intensity on agroecosystems is a new [...] Read more.
Multi-cropping is becoming an increasingly popular technique in agriculture to tackle major and complex agroecosystem problems such as biodiversity and soil fertility loss, erosion and degradation, increased greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Comprehensively assessing the impact of multi-cropping intensity on agroecosystems is a new and still under-researched approach that can provide a better understanding of the impact of individual indicators on the overall functioning of biodiverse agroecosystems. Data from a stationary field experiment using multi-cropping at the Vytautas Magnus University Experimental Station between 2020 and 2022 were used to carry out this study. The study included maize, hemp, and faba bean as single, binary, and ternary crops. A complex assessment approach (CEI value) was used to determine the impact of these crops on the agroecosystem, the interrelationships between the main indicators, and the strength of their effects. It was found that the ternary maize–hemp–faba bean crop had the most positive effect on the agroecosystem. The effectiveness of other crops was 2 to 35% less. The lowest value was calculated for the maize–faba bean crop. Full article
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15 pages, 327 KiB  
Article
An Inductive Approach to Quantitative Methodology—Application of Novel Penalising Models in a Case Study of Target Debt Level in Swedish Listed Companies
by Åsa Grek, Fredrik Hartwig and Mark Dougherty
J. Risk Financial Manag. 2024, 17(5), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm17050207 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
This paper proposes a method for conducting quantitative inductive research on survey data when the variable of interest follows an ordinal distribution. A methodology based on novel and traditional penalising models is described. The main aim of this study is to pedagogically present [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a method for conducting quantitative inductive research on survey data when the variable of interest follows an ordinal distribution. A methodology based on novel and traditional penalising models is described. The main aim of this study is to pedagogically present the method utilising the new penalising methods in a new application. A case was employed to outline the methodology. The case aims to select explanatory variables correlated with the target debt level in Swedish listed companies. The survey respondents were matched with accounting information from the companies’ annual reports. However, missing data were present: to fully utilise penalising models, we employed classification and regression tree (CART)-based imputations by multiple imputations chained equations (MICEs) to address this problem. The imputed data were subjected to six penalising models: grouped multinomial lasso, ungrouped multinomial lasso, parallel element linked multinomial-ordinal (ELMO), semi-parallel ELMO, nonparallel ELMO, and cumulative generalised monotone incremental forward stagewise (GMIFS). While the older models yielded several explanatory variables for the hypothesis formation process, the new models (ELMO and GMIFS) identified only one quick asset ratio. Subsequent testing revealed that this variable was the only statistically significant variable that affected the target debt level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mathematics and Finance)
16 pages, 1009 KiB  
Review
Genetic Susceptibility in Endothelial Injury Syndromes after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Other Cellular Therapies: Climbing a Steep Hill
by Paschalis Evangelidis, Nikolaos Evangelidis, Panagiotis Kalmoukos, Maria Kourti, Athanasios Tragiannidis and Eleni Gavriilaki
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(5), 4787-4802; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46050288 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains a cornerstone in the management of patients with hematological malignancies. Endothelial injury syndromes, such as HSCT-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA), veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS/VOD), and capillary leak syndrome (CLS), constitute complications after HSCT. Moreover, endothelial damage is [...] Read more.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains a cornerstone in the management of patients with hematological malignancies. Endothelial injury syndromes, such as HSCT-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA), veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS/VOD), and capillary leak syndrome (CLS), constitute complications after HSCT. Moreover, endothelial damage is prevalent after immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) and can be manifested with cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Our literature review aims to investigate the genetic susceptibility in endothelial injury syndromes after HSCT and CAR-T cell therapy. Variations in complement pathway- and endothelial function-related genes have been associated with the development of HSCT-TMA. In these genes, CFHR5, CFHR1, CFHR3, CFI, ADAMTS13, CFB, C3, C4, C5, and MASP1 are included. Thus, patients with these variations might have a predisposition to complement activation, which is also exaggerated by other factors (such as acute graft-versus-host disease, infections, and calcineurin inhibitors). Few studies have examined the genetic susceptibility to SOS/VOD syndrome, and the implicated genes include CFH, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, and heparinase. Finally, specific mutations have been associated with the onset of CRS (PFKFB4, CX3CR1) and ICANS (PPM1D, DNMT3A, TE2, ASXL1). More research is essential in this field to achieve better outcomes for our patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Medicine)
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21 pages, 3059 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Spatial Differentiation of NDVI and Climate Factors on the Upper Limit of Montane Deciduous Broad-Leaved Forests in the East Monsoon Region of China
by Zhiyong Wang, Fang Han, Chuanrong Li, Kun Li and Zhe Wang
Forests 2024, 15(5), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050863 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The vertical transition zone of mountain vegetation is characterized by high species diversity, and the width of the transition zone may serve as an indirect indicator of climate change. However, research into the differential characteristics of vegetation response to climate changes at the [...] Read more.
The vertical transition zone of mountain vegetation is characterized by high species diversity, and the width of the transition zone may serve as an indirect indicator of climate change. However, research into the differential characteristics of vegetation response to climate changes at the boundary of vertical transition zones has been limited. This study employs MODIS and climate data spanning 2001 to 2018 to investigate spatiotemporal trends in precipitation (PRE), temperature (TMP), radiation (RAD), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) across nine montane deciduous broad-leaved forests in the eastern monsoon region of China. It explores the time-lag and -accumulation effects of climatic variables on NDVI, quantifying their relative contributions to both its short-term and interannual variations. Results show that, notably, with the Qinling-Daba Mountains as a demarcation, northern regions exhibit significant increases in RAD (0.874–2.047 W m−2/a), whereas southern regions demonstrate notable rises in TMP (0.59–0.73 °C/10a). Areas of lower annual PRE correspond to the most rapid increases in annual average NDVI (5.045 × 10−3/a). NDVI’s lag time and cumulative duration responses to TMP are the shortest (0 and 2~4 periods), while its correlation with RAD is the strongest (0.815–0.975), generally decreasing from higher to lower latitudes. TMP significantly affects NDVI variations, impacting both short-term and interannual trends, with PRE driving short-term fluctuations and RAD dictating long-term shifts. This research provides critical data and a theoretical framework that enhances our understanding of how regional vegetation’s vertical zonation responds to climate change, thereby making a substantial contribution to the study of mountain vegetation’s diverse adaptability to climatic variations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Meteorology and Climate Change)
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14 pages, 4717 KiB  
Article
Exploring Multi-Armed Bandit (MAB) as an AI Tool for Optimising GMA-WAAM Path Planning
by Rafael Pereira Ferreira, Emil Schubert and Américo Scotti
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2024, 8(3), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp8030099 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Conventional path-planning strategies for GMA-WAAM may encounter challenges related to geometrical features when printing complex-shaped builds. One alternative to mitigate geometry-related flaws is to use algorithms that optimise trajectory choices—for instance, using heuristics to find the most efficient trajectory. The algorithm can assess [...] Read more.
Conventional path-planning strategies for GMA-WAAM may encounter challenges related to geometrical features when printing complex-shaped builds. One alternative to mitigate geometry-related flaws is to use algorithms that optimise trajectory choices—for instance, using heuristics to find the most efficient trajectory. The algorithm can assess several trajectory strategies, such as contour, zigzag, raster, and even space-filling, to search for the best strategy according to the case. However, handling complex geometries by this means poses computational efficiency concerns. This research aimed to explore the potential of machine learning techniques as a solution to increase the computational efficiency of such algorithms. First, reinforcement learning (RL) concepts are introduced and compared with supervised machining learning concepts. The Multi-Armed Bandit (MAB) problem is explained and justified as a choice within the RL techniques. As a case study, a space-filling strategy was chosen to have this machining learning optimisation artifice in its algorithm for GMA-AM printing. Computational and experimental validations were conducted, demonstrating that adding MAB in the algorithm helped to achieve shorter trajectories, using fewer iterations than the original algorithm, potentially reducing printing time. These findings position the RL techniques, particularly MAB, as a promising machining learning solution to address setbacks in the space-filling strategy applied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Directed Energy Deposition Additive Manufacturing)
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30 pages, 6059 KiB  
Article
Facing Climate Change in a Temperate European City: Urban-Scale Diagnosis of Indoor Overheating and Adaptation Strategies for Residential Buildings
by Ainhoa Arriazu-Ramos, Juan José Pons Izquierdo, Germán Ramos Ruiz, Ana Sánchez-Ostiz and Aurora Monge-Barrio
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1423; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051423 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The rise in outdoor temperatures and heatwaves highlights the limitations of buildings in adapting to warming conditions, even in temperate climates. This paper analyses the indoor overheating of residential dwellings in Pamplona (a city in northern Spain, with a Cfb climate) using an [...] Read more.
The rise in outdoor temperatures and heatwaves highlights the limitations of buildings in adapting to warming conditions, even in temperate climates. This paper analyses the indoor overheating of residential dwellings in Pamplona (a city in northern Spain, with a Cfb climate) using an urban-scale diagnostic methodology and presents different envelopes’ retrofitting scenarios as a strategy to reduce it. The results come from energy simulations conducted during an extremely warm summer in 2022, considering the microclimate effects. The residential typologies most vulnerable to overheating are those with only one orientation, built before the EPBD 2002, and located on top floors. These dwellings show a 23.7% mean of indoor overheating hours (IOH), representing approximately 870 h above the EN 16798-1:2019 adaptive threshold from May to September. Renovating building envelopes to meet current energy standards reduces the IOH by an average of 8.6% and up to 15.35% in the most vulnerable typologies. In the retrofitting scenario with green roof systems, indoor temperatures are up to 0.5 °C lower than when roofs are renovated with traditional systems. This study assists policy-makers in preventing the risk of overheating within cities and encourages them to promote nature-based solutions in order to adapt urban residential buildings and cities to warming conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)
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25 pages, 7876 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Bx Involved in Benzoxazinoids Biosynthesis Revealed the Roles of DIMBOA during Early Somatic Embryogenesis in Dimocarpus longan Lour
by Xiaoqiong Xu, Chunyu Zhang, Chunwang Lai, Zhilin Zhang, Jiajia Wu, Qun Su, Yu Gan, Zihao Zhang, Yukun Chen, Rongfang Guo, YuLing Lin and Zhongxiong Lai
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1373; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101373 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Benzoxazinoids (BXs) are tryptophan-derived indole metabolites and play a role in various physiological processes, such as auxin metabolism. Auxin is essential in the process of somatic embryogenesis (SE) in plants. In this study, we used bioinformatics, transcriptome data, exogenous treatment experiments, and qPCR [...] Read more.
Benzoxazinoids (BXs) are tryptophan-derived indole metabolites and play a role in various physiological processes, such as auxin metabolism. Auxin is essential in the process of somatic embryogenesis (SE) in plants. In this study, we used bioinformatics, transcriptome data, exogenous treatment experiments, and qPCR analysis to study the evolutionary pattern of Bx genes in green plants, the regulatory mechanism of DlBx genes during early SE, and the effect of 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazine-3-one (DIMBOA) on the early SE in Dimocarpus longan Lour. The results showed that 27 putative DlBxs were identified in the longan genome; the Bx genes evolved independently in monocots and dicots, and the main way of gene duplication for the DlBx was tandem duplication (TD) and the DlBx were strongly constrained by purification selection during evolution. The transcriptome data indicated varying expression levels of DlBx during longan early SE, and most DlBxs responded to light, temperature, drought stress, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) treatment; qRT-PCR results showed DlBx1, DlBx6g and DlBx6h were responsive to auxin, and treatment with 0.1mg/L DIMBOA for 9 days significantly upregulated the expression levels of DlBx1, DlBx3g, DlBx6c, DlBx6f, DlB6h, DlBx7d, DlBx8, and DlBx9b. The correlation analysis showed a significantly negative correlation between the expression level of DlBx1 and the endogenous IAA contents; DIMBOA significantly promoted the early SE and significantly changed the endogenous IAA content, and the IAA content increased significantly at the 9th day and decreased significantly at the 13th day. Therefore, the results suggested that DIMBOA indirectly promote the early SE by changing the endogenous IAA content via affecting the expression level of DlBx1 and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content in longan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics in Modern Plant Science)
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10 pages, 611 KiB  
Article
Paul Glaucoma Implant following Congenital Cataract Surgery in a Pediatric Cohort
by Angi Lizbeth Mendoza-Moreira, Anna Maria Voigt, Julia V. Stingl, Jasmin Rezapour, Felix Mathias Wagner, Alexander K. Schuster and Esther M. Hoffmann
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(10), 2914; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13102914 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of the Paul Glaucoma Implant (PGI) in pediatric eyes diagnosed with glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery (GFCS). Methods: A retrospective, single-center, descriptive study was conducted on consecutive [...] Read more.
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of the Paul Glaucoma Implant (PGI) in pediatric eyes diagnosed with glaucoma following congenital cataract surgery (GFCS). Methods: A retrospective, single-center, descriptive study was conducted on consecutive children diagnosed with GFCS who underwent PGI implantation between July 2022 and November 2023 at the University Medical Center Mainz. The primary outcome measure was the reduction in IOP at the last follow-up visit. Results: Ten eyes of nine children were included in the study. The mean follow-up time was 7.70 ± 4.22 months (4.68–10.72 months). At the end of the study follow-up, the mean (95% CI) reduction in IOP was −14.8 ± 8.73 mmHg (−8.56 to −21.04 mmHg, p < 0.001). At the last follow-up, 30.0% (3/10) of patients achieved an IOP (intraocular pressure) of ≥6 and ≤21 mmHg with a reduction in IOP of ≥25% without treatment, while 90.0% (9/10) achieved this target IOP regardless of glaucoma medication treatment. The mean number of antiglaucoma medications was significantly reduced from 3.50 (IQR = 1) to 2.0 (IQR = 2, p = 0.01), and the visual acuity logMAR improved from 1.26 ± 0.62 to 1.03 ± 0.48 (p = 0.04). Only one eye experienced numerical hypotony (4 mmHg) without choroidal detachment or anterior chamber shallowing within the first 24 h. No other adverse events were observed during the follow-up period. Conclusions: PGI implantation significantly lowered IOP and the number of antiglaucoma eye drops with a favorable safety profile in children diagnosed with GFCS, thereby achieving a high rate of qualified surgical success in the short term. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ophthalmology)
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13 pages, 4202 KiB  
Article
Using In Silico Molecular Docking to Explain Differences in Receptor Binding Behavior of HHC and THCV Isomers: Revealing New Binding Modes
by Mehdi Haghdoost, Yossef López de los Santos, Megan Brunstetter, Morgan L. Ferretti, Matthew Roberts and Marcel O. Bonn-Miller
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(5), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17050637 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Even slight structural differences between phytocannabinoid isomers are usually enough to cause a change in their biological properties. In this study, we used in vitro CB1 agonism/antagonism assays to compare the receptor binding functionality of THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) and HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) isomers and applied [...] Read more.
Even slight structural differences between phytocannabinoid isomers are usually enough to cause a change in their biological properties. In this study, we used in vitro CB1 agonism/antagonism assays to compare the receptor binding functionality of THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin) and HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) isomers and applied molecular docking to provide an explanation for the difference in the activities. No CB1 agonism was observed for ∆9- and ∆8-THCV. Instead, both isomers antagonized CP 55940, with ∆9-THCV being approximately two times more potent than the ∆8 counterpart (IC50 = 52.4 nM and 119.6 nM for ∆9- and ∆8-THCV, respectively). Docking simulations found two binding poses for THCV isomers, one very similar to ∆9-THC and one newly discovered pose involving the occupation of side pocket 1 of the CB1 receptor by the alkyl chain of the ligand. We suggested the latter as a potential antagonist pose. In addition, our results established 9R-HHC and 9S-HHC among partial agonists of the CB1 receptor. The 9R-HHC (EC50 = 53.4 nM) isomer was a significantly more potent agonist than 9S (EC50 = 624.3 nM). ∆9-THC and 9R-HHC showed comparable binding poses inside the receptor pocket, whereas 9S-HHC adopted a new and different binding posture that can explain its weak agonist activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medical Cannabis and Its Derivatives)
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13 pages, 2821 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Radial MR Imaging for Endoleak Surveillance after Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms with Inconclusive CT Angiography: A Prospective Study
by Haidara Almansour, Migdat Mustafi, Mario Lescan, Ulrich Grosse, Mateja Andic, Jörg Schmehl, Christoph Artzner, Gerd Grözinger and Sven S. Walter
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(10), 2913; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13102913 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Background/Objectives: To assess free-breathing, dynamic radial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for detecting endoleaks post-endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) in cases with inconclusive computed tomography angiography (CTA). Methods: This prospective single-center study included 17 participants (mean age, 70 ± 9 years; 13 males) [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: To assess free-breathing, dynamic radial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for detecting endoleaks post-endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) in cases with inconclusive computed tomography angiography (CTA). Methods: This prospective single-center study included 17 participants (mean age, 70 ± 9 years; 13 males) who underwent dynamic radial MRI (Golden-angle RAdial Sparse Parallel-Volumetric Interpolated BrEath-hold, GRASP-VIBE) after inconclusive multiphasic CT for the presence of endoleaks during the follow-up of EVAR-treated abdominal aortic aneurysms. CT and MRI datasets were independently assessed by two radiologists for image quality, diagnostic confidence, and the presence/type of endoleak. Statistical analyses included interrater and intermethod agreement, and diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC)). Results: Subjective image analysis demonstrated good image quality and interrater agreement (k ≥ 0.6) for both modalities, while diagnostic confidence was significantly higher in MRA (p = 0.03). There was significantly improved accuracy for detecting type II endoleaks on MRA (AUC 0.97 [95% CI: 0.87, 1.0]) compared to CTA (AUC 0.66 [95% CI: 0.41, 0.91]; p = 0.03). Although MRA demonstrated higher values for sensitivity, specificity, AUC, and interrater agreement, none of the other types nor the overall detection rate for endoleaks showed differences in the diagnostic performance over CT (p ≥ 0.12). CTA and MRA revealed slight to moderate intermethod concordance in endoleak detection (k = 0.3–0.64). Conclusions: The GRASP-VIBE MRA characterized by high spatial and temporal resolution demonstrates clinical feasibility with good image quality and superior diagnostic confidence. It notably enhances diagnostic performance in detecting and classifying endoleaks, particularly type II, compared to traditional multiphase CTA with inconclusive findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery)
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23 pages, 824 KiB  
Article
Incorporating Fine-Grained Linguistic Features and Explainable AI into Multi-Dimensional Automated Writing Assessment
by Xiaoyi Tang, Hongwei Chen, Daoyu Lin and Kexin Li
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4182; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104182 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
With the flourishing development of corpus linguistics and technological revolutions in the AI-powered age, automated essay scoring (AES) models have been intensively developed. However, the intricate relationship between linguistic features and different constructs of writing quality has yet to be thoroughly investigated. The [...] Read more.
With the flourishing development of corpus linguistics and technological revolutions in the AI-powered age, automated essay scoring (AES) models have been intensively developed. However, the intricate relationship between linguistic features and different constructs of writing quality has yet to be thoroughly investigated. The present study harnessed computational analytic tools and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to distill and refine linguistic indicators for model construction. Findings revealed that both micro-features and their combination with aggregated features robustly described writing quality over aggregated features alone. Linear and non-linear models were thus developed to explore the associations between linguistic features and different constructs of writing quality. The non-linear AES model with Random Forest Regression demonstrated superior performance over other benchmark models. Furthermore, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was employed to pinpoint the most powerful linguistic features for each rating trait, enhancing the model’s transparency through explainable AI (XAI). These insights hold the potential to substantially facilitate the advancement of multi-dimensional approaches toward writing assessment and instruction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
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16 pages, 2096 KiB  
Article
Sizing Energy Storage Systems to Dispatch Wind Power Plants
by Bingqing Xia, Mingqi Wu, Wenbin Yang, Qing Chen and Ji Xiang
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2379; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102379 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Integrating wind power plants into the electricity grid poses challenges due to the intermittent nature of wind energy generation. Energy storage systems (ESSs) have shown promise in mitigating the intermittent variability associated with wind power. This paper presents a distributionally robust optimization (DRO) [...] Read more.
Integrating wind power plants into the electricity grid poses challenges due to the intermittent nature of wind energy generation. Energy storage systems (ESSs) have shown promise in mitigating the intermittent variability associated with wind power. This paper presents a distributionally robust optimization (DRO) model for sizing energy storage systems to dispatch wind power plants. The variable wind power is formulated as a moment-based ambiguity set. Dispatchability is described by the expected value of the insufficient power of wind power relative to the dispatch command, which is a sum of nonlinear functions and is taken as the optimal index. A deterministic semi-definite positive model is derived to solve the problem effectively. Numerical studies are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section A3: Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy)
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7 pages, 2097 KiB  
Interesting Images
Late Outcomes of Undiagnosed Unilateral Condylar Hyperplasia and Reoccurrence of Mandibular Asymmetry
by Kamil Nelke, Wojciech Pawlak, Klaudiusz Łuczak, Maciej Janeczek, Edyta Pasicka, Jan Nienartowicz, Grzegorz Gogolewski and Maciej Dobrzyński
Diagnostics 2024, 14(10), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14101014 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Unilateral condylar hyperplasia (UCH) is a rare cause of asymmetrical mandibular overgrowth because of the presence of an atypical growth in the affected condyle. SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) can easily establish the presence of an atypical, prolonged growth exceeding far beyond normal [...] Read more.
Unilateral condylar hyperplasia (UCH) is a rare cause of asymmetrical mandibular overgrowth because of the presence of an atypical growth in the affected condyle. SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) can easily establish the presence of an atypical, prolonged growth exceeding far beyond normal condylar growth and activity. A CT, CBCT, or LDCT (computed tomography, cone-beam computed tomography, or low-dose computed tomography) can confirm the diagnosis by evaluating the scope of bone overgrowth, mandibular basis/ramus asymmetry, tendency to condylar head enlargement, changes in bone density, and occurrence of differences in condylar head shapes, size, and bone structure. In most cases, a condylectomy is the procedure of choice in growing cases of UCH to remove the pathological condyle and reduce asymmetry levels. Sometimes, the growth is very slow and progressive over time, causing slowly growing asymmetry with similar symptoms to any other mandibular asymmetry, and this causes some troublesome procedures in UCH diagnostics, resulting in patients being underdiagnosed; it can even lead to some relapses in mandibular asymmetry and skeletal malocclusion after previously performed orthodontic and surgical treatment of such discrepancies. When the source of asymmetry is not identified in time, possible inadequate treatment protocols can be used. If any relapse of facial and mandibular asymmetry re-occur, SPECT and CT evaluation are necessary to evaluate if condylar hyperplasia is present and to establish what kind of surgical intervention should be used in each case. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Interesting Images)
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14 pages, 15286 KiB  
Article
New Rock Magnetism and Magnetic Fabrics Studies on the Late Triassic Volcanic Rocks from Qaidam Block, Northern Tibetan Plateau
by Ruiyang Chai, Yanan Zhou, Teng Wang, Xin Cheng, Bitian Wei, Nan Jiang, Dongmeng Zhang, Longyun Xing, Pengfei Wang, Dongwei Liu, Ziwei Bian and Hanning Wu
Minerals 2024, 14(5), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14050515 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The Qaidam Block, located at the northern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, is a pivotal area in unraveling the closure time of the Kunlun Ocean basin which might have recorded the transformation process between the Proto-Tethys and Paleo-Tethys Ocean basins. However, the late Triassic position of [...] Read more.
The Qaidam Block, located at the northern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, is a pivotal area in unraveling the closure time of the Kunlun Ocean basin which might have recorded the transformation process between the Proto-Tethys and Paleo-Tethys Ocean basins. However, the late Triassic position of the Qaidam Block remains enigmatic, largely due to the scarcity of paleomagnetic data essential for quantitatively determining its paleolatitude. The widespread presence of the Elashan formation, particularly along the southern periphery of the Qaidam block, presents good material for conducting paleomagnetic work. Nevertheless, the primary magnetic carriers preserved within the Elashan formation might be influenced by multiple tectonic thermal events, particularly those associated with collisions between southern blocks and the Qaidam Block. Here we present rock magnetism and magnetic fabrics studies to identify the content and composition of magnetic minerals within the Elashan formation. The rock magnetic and petrologic results show that the magnetic carriers in the samples from the Elashan formation are dominated by magnetite with a small amount of goethite, pyrrhotite, and hematite. The results of Anisotropy in Magnetic Susceptibility indicate that the south of the Longwalangku section might not be obviously influenced by the tectonic events. Our results also provided guidance for future paleomagnetic research, emphasizing the importance of conducting further sampling away from adjacent faults, particularly in the southern Longwalangku area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Paleomagnetism and Rock Magnetism in Geochronology)
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19 pages, 4099 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Biological Pathways of Siderophores and Their Multidisciplinary Applications: A Comprehensive Review
by Benkang Xie, Xinpei Wei, Chu Wan, Wei Zhao, Renfeng Song, Shuquan Xin and Kai Song
Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2318; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102318 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Siderophores are a class of small molecules renowned for their high iron binding capacity, essential for all life forms requiring iron. This article provides a detailed review of the diverse classifications, and biosynthetic pathways of siderophores, with a particular emphasis on siderophores synthesized [...] Read more.
Siderophores are a class of small molecules renowned for their high iron binding capacity, essential for all life forms requiring iron. This article provides a detailed review of the diverse classifications, and biosynthetic pathways of siderophores, with a particular emphasis on siderophores synthesized via nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and non-NRPS pathways. We further explore the secretion mechanisms of siderophores in microbes and plants, and their role in regulating bioavailable iron levels. Beyond biological functions, the applications of siderophores in medicine, agriculture, and environmental sciences are extensively discussed. These applications include biological pest control, disease treatment, ecological pollution remediation, and heavy metal ion removal. Through a comprehensive analysis of the chemical properties and biological activities of siderophores, this paper demonstrates their wide prospects in scientific research and practical applications, while also highlighting current research gaps and potential future directions. Full article
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12 pages, 319 KiB  
Article
Healthy Lifestyle Related to Executive Functions in Chilean University Students: A Pilot Study
by Felipe Caamaño-Navarrete, Carlos Arriagada-Hernández, Gerardo Fuentes-Vilugrón, Lorena Jara-Tomckowiack, Alvaro Levin-Catrilao, Pablo del Val Martín, Flavio Muñoz-Troncoso and Pedro Delgado-Floody
Healthcare 2024, 12(10), 1022; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12101022 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Background: A negative lifestyle is reported to be related to cognitive problems. However, there is little information about this in relation to university students. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between executive functions (EFs) and lifestyle parameters (i.e., [...] Read more.
Background: A negative lifestyle is reported to be related to cognitive problems. However, there is little information about this in relation to university students. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between executive functions (EFs) and lifestyle parameters (i.e., physical activity (PA), sleep duration, screen time (ST), and food habits) among Chilean university students. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 150 university students (94 females and 56 males, aged 21.28 ± 3.15 and 22.18 ± 2.90 years, respectively). Cognitive outcomes were measured using the CogniFit assessment battery. Lifestyle was measured through validated questionnaires. Results: Across the total sample, attention exhibited a positive association with PA h/week (β: 24.34 95% CI: 12.46 to 36.22, p = 0.001). Additionally, coordination was positively associated with PA h/week (β: 15.06 95% CI: 0.62 to 29.50, p < 0.041). PA h/week was positively linked with reasoning (β: 20.34 95% CI: 4.52 to 36.17, p = 0.012) and perception (β: 13.81 95% CI: 4.14 to 23.49, p = 0.005). Moreover, PA h/week was significantly linked to memory (β: 23.01 95% CI: 7.62 to 38.40, p = 0.004). In terms of the EFs, PA h/week showed a positive association with cognitive flexibility (β: 45.60 95% CI: 23.22 to 67.69, p = 0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, lifestyle (PA h/week) was positively associated with EFs. Therefore, an increase in PA levels among these students should be a target for community- and university-based interventions in order to promote cognitive development such as attention, coordination, reasoning, perception, memory, and cognitive flexibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Well-Being for Adolescents and Youths)
19 pages, 1814 KiB  
Review
A Perfect Storm: The Convergence of Aging, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, and Inflammasome Dysregulation
by Siva Thirugnanam and Namita Rout
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(5), 4768-4786; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46050287 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The emergence of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has greatly transformed the life expectancy of people living with HIV (PWH). Today, over 76% of the individuals with HIV have access to this life-saving therapy. However, this progress has come with a new challenge: an [...] Read more.
The emergence of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has greatly transformed the life expectancy of people living with HIV (PWH). Today, over 76% of the individuals with HIV have access to this life-saving therapy. However, this progress has come with a new challenge: an increase in age-related non-AIDS conditions among patients with HIV. These conditions manifest earlier in PWH than in uninfected individuals, accelerating the aging process. Like PWH, the uninfected aging population experiences immunosenescence marked by an increased proinflammatory environment. This phenomenon is linked to chronic inflammation, driven in part by cellular structures called inflammasomes. Inflammatory signaling pathways activated by HIV-1 infection play a key role in inflammasome formation, suggesting a crucial link between HIV and a chronic inflammatory state. This review outlines the inflammatory processes triggered by HIV-1 infection and aging, with a focus on the inflammasomes. This review also explores current research regarding inflammasomes and potential strategies for targeting inflammasomes to mitigate inflammation. Further research on inflammasome signaling presents a unique opportunity to develop targeted interventions and innovative therapeutic modalities for combating HIV and aging-associated inflammatory processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Molecular Medicine)
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13 pages, 3076 KiB  
Article
Jerusalem Artichoke as a Raw Material for Manufacturing Alternative Fuels for Gasoline Internal Combustion Engines
by Michał Bembenek, Vasyl Melnyk, Bolesław Karwat, Mariia Hnyp, Łukasz Kowalski and Yurii Mosora
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2378; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102378 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is a high-yield crop, and a great source of fermentable sugars, which gives the plant the potential to be used as raw material for economical fuel alcohol production. In this article, the authors focus on the [...] Read more.
The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is a high-yield crop, and a great source of fermentable sugars, which gives the plant the potential to be used as raw material for economical fuel alcohol production. In this article, the authors focus on the technological aspect of the biofuel manufacturing process and its properties. First, the fuel alcohol manufacturing process is described, afterwards assessing its characteristics such as kinematic viscosity, density and octane number. The amount of fuel alcohol obtained from 10 kg of biomass equals to 0.85 L. Afterwards, the mixtures of gasoline and obtained fuel alcohol are prepared and studied. Optimal alcohol and gasoline mixtures are determined to obtain biofuels with octane ratings of 92, 95 and 98. The kinematic viscosity of obtained mixtures does not differ significantly from its values for pure gasoline. The obtained biofuel mixture with 25% alcohol content yielded a decrease of sulfur content by 38%, an increase of vaporized fuel amount by 17.5% at 70 °C and by 10.5% at a temperature of 100 °C, which improves engine startup time and ensures its stable operation in comparison to pure gasoline. The alcohol obtained can be successfully used as a high-octane additive for gasolines. Full article
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14 pages, 258 KiB  
Article
Exploring Reddit Community Structure: Bridges, Gateways and Highways
by Jan Sawicki and Maria Ganzha
Electronics 2024, 13(10), 1935; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13101935 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Multiple research directions have been proposed to study the information structure of Reddit. One of them is to model inter-subreddit relations but modeling user interactions in the form of a graph. Building upon prior work centered on political subreddits using pre-2020 data, we [...] Read more.
Multiple research directions have been proposed to study the information structure of Reddit. One of them is to model inter-subreddit relations but modeling user interactions in the form of a graph. Building upon prior work centered on political subreddits using pre-2020 data, we expand this investigation to include a more extensive dataset spanning 2022 and encompassing diverse topic areas. Employing NLP techniques such as text embeddings, we model subreddit content directly and construct a subreddit graph network based on cosine similarity. Community detection using the Louvain method reveals distinct subreddits and allows the analysis of inter-community connections via previous works’ concepts of “bridges” and “gateways”. Surprisingly, our findings indicate redundancy between bridges and gateways in the utilized dataset. Therefore, we introduce a new concept, “highways”. Highways, representing the most traversed paths between subreddits, unveil insights not captured by previous analyses, underscoring the significance of novel conceptual frameworks in uncovering latent knowledge within Reddit’s online community structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Graph-Based Data Mining)
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11 pages, 3600 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Open versus Closed Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing Systems on the Marginal Gap of Zirconia-Reinforced Lithium Silicate Single Crowns Evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy: A Comparative In Vitro Study
by Asaf Shely, Joseph Nissan, Ofir Rosner, Eran Zenziper, Diva Lugassy, Khadija Abidulkrem and Gil Ben-Izhack
J. Funct. Biomater. 2024, 15(5), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb15050130 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the impact of CAD/CAM closed systems and open systems on the marginal gap of monolithic zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) ceramic crowns, as both systems are used in everyday dentistry, both chair-side and laboratory. For the closed system, 20 [...] Read more.
This study aimed to compare the impact of CAD/CAM closed systems and open systems on the marginal gap of monolithic zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) ceramic crowns, as both systems are used in everyday dentistry, both chair-side and laboratory. For the closed system, 20 plastic teeth were scanned by a Primescan intra-oral scanner (IOS), and for the open system, the same number of plastic teeth were scanned by Trios 4 IOS. For the closed system, CEREC software was used, and for the open system, EXOCAD software was used. All 40 ZLS crowns were grinded by the same four-axis machine and cemented with Temp-bond, followed by self-adhesive resin cement. For each type of cement, an evaluation of the marginal gap was conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Before comparisons between the groups, a Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was performed on the study variables showing a normal distribution (p > 0.05). Independent T tests (α = 0.05) and paired-sample T tests (α = 0.05) were used. The independent T test found no significant mean marginal gap differences in the zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate crowns bonded with Temp-bond and scanned by Primescan (28.09 μm ± 3.06) compared to Trios 4 (28.94 μm ± 3.30) (p = 0.401), and there was no significant mean marginal gap differences in zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate crowns bonded with self-adhesive resin cement (Gcem ONE) and scanned by Primescan (46.70 μm ± 3.80) compared to Trios 4 (47.79 μm ± 2.59) (p = 0.295). Paired-sample T tests showed significantly higher mean marginal gaps with Gcem ONE compared to Temp-bond for the total mean marginal gap when scanning with Primescan (p = 0.0005) or Trios 4 (p = 0.0005). In everyday dentistry, both closed systems (Primescan with Cerec) and open systems (Trios 4 with Exocad) can be used to achieve an acceptable (<120 µm) marginal gap for ZLS CELTRA® DUO single crowns. There is a significant difference between cementation with Temp-bond and Gcem ONE self-adhesive resin cement (p < 0.05). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials in Dentistry 2024)
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