The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
18 pages, 1857 KiB  
Article
Applying the Integral Controllability Property in a Multi-Loop Control for Stable Voltage Regulation in an Active Distribution Network
by Giuseppe Fusco and Mario Russo
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2455; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112455 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
Distributed Energies Resources (DERs) can be controlled for supporting the voltage regulation at nodes of an Active Distribution Network (ADN) where they are connected. However, since the ADN is a Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) system with coupled dynamics, the controller of a DER mutually [...] Read more.
Distributed Energies Resources (DERs) can be controlled for supporting the voltage regulation at nodes of an Active Distribution Network (ADN) where they are connected. However, since the ADN is a Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) system with coupled dynamics, the controller of a DER mutually interacts with all other controllers through the distribution lines. These interactions lead to operating conflicts which may drive the ADN to work close to its voltage stability boundaries. To achieve a stable voltage regulation without new investment in the existing ADNs, the present paper proposes a straightforward decentralized design of the multi-loop controllers based on the property of integral controllability. The main feature of the method is that the design problem can be expressed by a single parameter designed both for reducing the effects of the undesired coupling and for increasing the degree of robust stability in the presence of parameter uncertainty in the matrix plant. Simulation studies are developed to illustrate the design result and the performance achieved under different operating conditions. The performance is also compared with the one obtained by another method in terms of the integral absolute error. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Featured Papers in Electrical Power and Energy System)
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28 pages, 5214 KiB  
Article
An Online Review-Driven Picture Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Group Decision-Making Approach for Evaluating the Online Medical Service Quality of Doctors
by Kaiwen Shi and Juanjuan Peng
Symmetry 2024, 16(6), 639; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16060639 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
In order to further investigate the level of online medical services in China and improve the medical experience of patients, this study aims to establish an online review-driven picture fuzzy multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) approach for the online medical service evaluation of doctors. [...] Read more.
In order to further investigate the level of online medical services in China and improve the medical experience of patients, this study aims to establish an online review-driven picture fuzzy multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) approach for the online medical service evaluation of doctors. First, based on the Aczel–Alsina t-norm and t-conorm, the normal picture fuzzy Aczel–Alsina operations involving a variable parameter are defined to make the corresponding operations more flexible than other operations. Second, two picture fuzzy Aczel–Alsina aggregation operators are developed, and the corresponding properties are discussed as well. Third, combined with the online review information of China’s medical platform Haodaifu, the online review-driven evaluation attributes and their corresponding weights are obtained, which can make the evaluation model more objective. Fourth, an extended normal picture fuzzy complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) decision-making method for the service quality evaluation of online medical services is proposed. Finally, an empirical example is presented to verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed method. A sensitivity analysis and a comparison analysis are also conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and flexibility of the proposed approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fuzzy Set Theory and Uncertainty Theory—Volume III)
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30 pages, 3617 KiB  
Article
Energy Requirement Modeling for Automated Guided Vehicles Considering Material Flow and Layout Data
by Marvin Sperling and Kai Furmans
Designs 2024, 8(3), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8030048 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
Saving energy and resources has become increasingly important for industrial applications. Foremost, this requires knowledge about the energy requirement. For this purpose, this paper presents a state-based energy requirement model for mobile robots, e.g., automated guided vehicles or autonomous mobile robots, that determines [...] Read more.
Saving energy and resources has become increasingly important for industrial applications. Foremost, this requires knowledge about the energy requirement. For this purpose, this paper presents a state-based energy requirement model for mobile robots, e.g., automated guided vehicles or autonomous mobile robots, that determines the energy requirement by integrating the linearized power requirement parameters within each system state of the vehicle. The model and their respective system states were verified using a qualitative process analysis of 25 mobile robots from different manufacturers and validated by comparing simulated data with experimental data. For this purpose, power consumption measurements over 461 operating hours were performed in experiments with two different industrial mobile robots. System components of a mobile robot, which require energy, were classified and their power consumptions were measured individually. The parameters in the study consist of vehicle speed, load-handling duration, load, utilization, material flow and layout data, and charging infrastructure system frequency, yet these varied throughout the experiments. Validation of the model through real experiments shows that, in a 99% confidence interval, the relative deviation in the modeled power requirement for a small-scale vehicle is [1.86%,1.14%], whereas, for a mid-scale vehicle, it is [0.73%,0.31%]. This sets a benchmark for modeling the energy requirement of mobile robots with multiple influencing factors, allowing for an accurate estimation of the energy requirement of mobile robots. Full article
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12 pages, 549 KiB  
Article
Relative Wash-In Rate in Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a New Prognostic Biomarker for Event-Free Survival in 82 Patients with Osteosarcoma: A Multicenter Study
by Gijsbert M. Kalisvaart, Richard E. Evenhuis, Willem Grootjans, Thomas Van Den Berghe, Martijn Callens, Judith V. M. G. Bovée, David Creytens, Hans Gelderblom, Frank M. Speetjens, Lore Lapeire, Gwen Sys, Marta Fiocco, Koenraad L. Verstraete, Michiel A. J. van de Sande and Johan L. Bloem
Cancers 2024, 16(11), 1954; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16111954 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
Background: The decreased perfusion of osteosarcoma in dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, reflecting a good histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, has been described. Purpose: In this study, we aim to explore the potential of the relative wash-in rate as a prognostic factor for event-free [...] Read more.
Background: The decreased perfusion of osteosarcoma in dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, reflecting a good histological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, has been described. Purpose: In this study, we aim to explore the potential of the relative wash-in rate as a prognostic factor for event-free survival (EFS). Methods: Skeletal high-grade osteosarcoma patients, treated in two tertiary referral centers between 2005 and 2022, were retrospectively included. The relative wash-in rate (rWIR) was determined with DCE-MRI before, after, or during the second cycle of chemotherapy (pre-resection). A previously determined cut-off was used to categorize patients, where rWIR < 2.3 was considered poor and rWIR ≥ 2.3 a good radiological response. EFS was defined as the time from resection to the first event: local recurrence, new metastases, or tumor-related death. EFS was estimated using Kaplan–Meier’s methodology. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the effect of histological response and rWIR on EFS, adjusted for traditional prognostic factors. Results: Eighty-two patients (median age: 17 years; IQR: 14–28) were included. The median follow-up duration was 11.8 years (95% CI: 11.0–12.7). During follow-up, 33 events occurred. Poor histological response was not significantly associated with EFS (HR: 1.8; 95% CI: 0.9–3.8), whereas a poor radiological response was associated with a worse EFS (HR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.1–5.0). In a subpopulation without initial metastases, the binary assessment of rWIR approached statistical significance (HR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.0–5.2), whereas its continuous evaluation demonstrated a significant association between higher rWIR and improved EFS (HR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–0.9), underlining the effect of response to chemotherapy. The 2- and 5-year EFS for patients with a rWIR ≥ 2.3 were 85% and 75% versus 55% and 50% for patients with a rWIR < 2.3. Conclusion: The predicted poor chemo response with MRI (rWIR < 2.3) is associated with shorter EFS even when adjusted for known clinical covariates and shows similar results to histological response evaluation. rWIR is a potential tool for future response-based individualized healthcare in osteosarcoma patients before surgical resection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Research of Cancer)
14 pages, 325 KiB  
Article
Body Composition and Its Interaction with Bone Mineral Density and Biochemical and Nutritional Parameters in Chilean Adults with Overweight/Obesity and Normal Weight
by Francisca Villagrán-Silva, Fernando Lanas, Nolberto Huard and Luis A. Salazar
Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1559; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111559 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
This study aimed to compare and relate the body composition (obtained through anthropometry with the pentacompartmental model and the tricompartmental model by DXA) with bone mineral density and biochemical and nutritional parameters in Chilean adults with overweight/obesity and normal weight from La Araucanía [...] Read more.
This study aimed to compare and relate the body composition (obtained through anthropometry with the pentacompartmental model and the tricompartmental model by DXA) with bone mineral density and biochemical and nutritional parameters in Chilean adults with overweight/obesity and normal weight from La Araucanía region, Chile. A case-control study was conducted with 116 adults and volunteers from the PURE cohort, collecting sociodemographic data, BMI assessment, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body composition using the pentacompartmental model (5CM) and tricompartmental model (3CM) by DXA, as well as bone mineral density (BMD). Blood biochemical parameters (fasting glucose and lipid profile), physical activity (PA) measured by GPAQ, and average dietary habits (R24h) were measured. In the overweight/obesity group, the 5CM and 3CM adipose mass were indirectly and moderately correlated with PA (p < 0.05), except in the male 5CM group. In the overweight/obesity group, muscle and fat-free mass (FFM) of the 5CM and 3CM correlated directly and moderately with blood fasting glucose (BFG) and BMD (p < 0.05), except in females, where FFM was not related to BMD but was related to residual mass (p < 0.01). Independent of gender and BMI, bone mineral content was positively and highly correlated with BMD (p < 0.0000). In the male overweight/obesity group, bone, skin, and residual mass were correlated with BFG (p < 0.05). In conclusion, for the assessment of non-athletic adult populations, more routine use of the 5CM in clinical practice is recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nutrition Methodology & Assessment)
13 pages, 6875 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Farming Activities on Nitrogen Degradability under a Temperate Continental Monsoon Climate
by Qiuju Wang, Jiahe Zou, Yanxia Liu, Jingyang Li, Xin Liu, Haibin Zhang, Feng Jiao, Qingying Meng and Zhenhua Guo
Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1094; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061094 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
Nutrient fertilizer application to agricultural land has led to greenhouse gas emissions and has altered soil nitrogen (N) deposition. In soil, N can be degraded in four ways: entering surface water through water flow, absorption by plants and microorganisms, decomposition into gas, and [...] Read more.
Nutrient fertilizer application to agricultural land has led to greenhouse gas emissions and has altered soil nitrogen (N) deposition. In soil, N can be degraded in four ways: entering surface water through water flow, absorption by plants and microorganisms, decomposition into gas, and deposition as minerals. This study proposes the concept of N degradability and aims to clarify how farming activities affect N degradability in soil. Over 260 soil profiles were excavated, and the effective soil depth, coordinates, soil types, and vegetation were recorded at each measurement point. The following characteristics were determined in the soil samples: pH, organic matter, total N, total phosphorus, total potassium, total soluble N, available phosphorus, and available potassium. The sample characteristics were subjected to Pearson correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and one-way analysis of variance. The 260 samples included four soil types: dark brown soil, black soil, albic black soil, and meadow soil. Black soil exhibited more stable N levels compared with the other three soil types, showing a tendency towards N accumulation. Ground vegetation was categorized into seven types: forest, rice, maize, red adzuki bean, grassland, soybean, and others. Forests contributed the most to N deposition. Conversely, planting maize led to a tendency for N loss compared with forests. This study can provide a reference for the sustainable development of agriculture and the balance of ecological protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering)
10 pages, 296 KiB  
Article
The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance in Predicting Proximal Minority Stressors among Gay and Lesbian People in Italy
by Tommaso Trombetta, Maria Noemi Paradiso, Fabrizio Santoniccolo and Luca Rollè
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060655 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
As has been widely documented, minority stress affects the psychosocial well-being of gay and lesbian people. Recently, researchers have turned their attention to psychological factors that may influence the level of minority stress experienced, in order to explain individual differences in perceptions of [...] Read more.
As has been widely documented, minority stress affects the psychosocial well-being of gay and lesbian people. Recently, researchers have turned their attention to psychological factors that may influence the level of minority stress experienced, in order to explain individual differences in perceptions of proximal minority stressors. The present research aimed at assessing the effect of attachment avoidance and anxiety on levels of perceived stigma and internalized homonegativity. A total of 163 participants who self-identified as lesbian or gay (Mage = 32.56, SD = 10.87) were recruited and responded to the self-report questionnaires. Two multiple regression models were applied to assess the association between adult attachment and perceived stigma and internalized homonegativity. Results showed a positive association between attachment anxiety and avoidance and internalized homonegativity, as well as between attachment avoidance and perceived stigma. The emerging results demonstrate the impact of attachment anxiety and avoidance on proximal minority stressors and provide useful data for interventions addressing lesbian and gay people aimed at promoting security-based strategies of affect regulation and positive representations of self and others, which in turn may reduce the level of proximal minority stressors experienced and promote psychosocial well-being. Full article
19 pages, 3902 KiB  
Article
Multi-Omics Analysis of a Chromosome Segment Substitution Line Reveals a New Regulation Network for Soybean Seed Storage Profile
by Cholnam Jong, Zhenhai Yu, Yu Zhang, Kyongho Choe, Songrok Uh, Kibong Kim, Chol Jong, Jinmyong Cha, Myongguk Kim, Yunchol Kim, Xue Han, Mingliang Yang, Chang Xu, Limin Hu, Qingshan Chen, Chunyan Liu and Zhaoming Qi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 5614; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115614 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
Soybean, a major source of oil and protein, has seen an annual increase in consumption when used in soybean-derived products and the broadening of its cultivation range. The demand for soybean necessitates a better understanding of the regulatory networks driving storage protein accumulation [...] Read more.
Soybean, a major source of oil and protein, has seen an annual increase in consumption when used in soybean-derived products and the broadening of its cultivation range. The demand for soybean necessitates a better understanding of the regulatory networks driving storage protein accumulation and oil biosynthesis to broaden its positive impact on human health. In this study, we selected a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) with high protein and low oil contents to investigate the underlying effect of donor introgression on seed storage through multi-omics analysis. In total, 1479 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 82 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and 34 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in the CSSL compared to the recurrent parent. Based on Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment (KEGG), integrated analysis indicated that 31 DEGs, 24 DEPs, and 13 DEMs were related to seed storage functionality. Integrated analysis further showed a significant decrease in the contents of the seed storage lipids LysoPG 16:0 and LysoPC 18:4 as well as an increase in the contents of organic acids such as L-malic acid. Taken together, these results offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of seed storage and provide guidance for the molecular breeding of new favorable soybean varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Novel Techniques for Soybean Pivotal Characters)
18 pages, 2745 KiB  
Article
Solid Forms and β-Cyclodextrin Complexation of Oxymetholone and Crystal Structure of Metribolone
by Gheorghe Borodi, Maria Olimpia Miclaus, Marieta Muresan-Pop and Alexandru Turza
Crystals 2024, 14(6), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst14060483 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
Oxymetholone [C21H32O3] and metribolone [C19H24O2] are synthetic anabolic-androgenic agents which are included in the steroid class. Their ability to form new solid forms and their possibility to be included in host–guest [...] Read more.
Oxymetholone [C21H32O3] and metribolone [C19H24O2] are synthetic anabolic-androgenic agents which are included in the steroid class. Their ability to form new solid forms and their possibility to be included in host–guest β-cyclodextrin complexes was explored. The recrystallization of the compounds in a wide variety of solvents was accomplished. Two oxymetholone polymorphs and one oxymetholone acetic acid solvate were obtained:, while metribolone is reported only in the starting form. Their crystal structures were elucidated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the energies of intermolecular interactions were analyzed. Moreover, oxymetholone also showed the ability to be complexed in a new form of oxymetholone–β-cyclodextrin complex. The materials were also investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, DSC/DTA/TGA analysis, and FT-IR spectroscopy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crystalline Materials: Polymorphism)
25 pages, 5683 KiB  
Article
Hyperspectral Anomaly Detection via Low-Rank Representation with Dual Graph Regularizations and Adaptive Dictionary
by Xi Cheng, Ruiqi Mu, Sheng Lin, Min Zhang and Hai Wang
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(11), 1837; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16111837 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
In a hyperspectral image, there is a close correlation between spectra and a certain degree of correlation in the pixel space. However, most existing low-rank representation (LRR) methods struggle to utilize these two characteristics simultaneously to detect anomalies. To address this challenge, a [...] Read more.
In a hyperspectral image, there is a close correlation between spectra and a certain degree of correlation in the pixel space. However, most existing low-rank representation (LRR) methods struggle to utilize these two characteristics simultaneously to detect anomalies. To address this challenge, a novel low-rank representation with dual graph regularization and an adaptive dictionary (DGRAD-LRR) is proposed for hyperspectral anomaly detection. To be specific, dual graph regularization, which combines spectral and spatial regularization, provides a new paradigm for LRR, and it can effectively preserve the local geometrical structure in the spectral and spatial information. To obtain a robust background dictionary, a novel adaptive dictionary strategy is utilized for the LRR model. In addition, extensive comparative experiments and an ablation study were conducted to demonstrate the superiority and practicality of the proposed DGRAD-LRR method. Full article
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14 pages, 2002 KiB  
Article
Efficient Parallel FDTD Method Based on Non-Uniform Conformal Mesh
by Kaihui Liu, Tao Huang, Liang Zheng, Xiaolin Jin, Guanjie Lin, Luo Huang, Wenjing Cai, Dapeng Gong and Chunwang Fang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4364; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114364 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is a versatile electromagnetic simulation technique, widely used for solving various broadband problems. However, when dealing with complex structures and large dimensions, especially when applying perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundaries, tremendous computational burdens will occur. To reduce [...] Read more.
The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is a versatile electromagnetic simulation technique, widely used for solving various broadband problems. However, when dealing with complex structures and large dimensions, especially when applying perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundaries, tremendous computational burdens will occur. To reduce the computational time and memory, this paper presents a Message Passing Interface (MPI) parallel scheme based on non-uniform conformal FDTD, which is suitable for convolutional perfectly matched layer (CPML) absorbing boundaries, and adopts a domain decomposition approach, dividing the entire computational domain into several subdomains. More importantly, only one magnetic field exchange is required during the iterations, and the electric field update is divided into internal and external parts, facilitating the synchronous communication of magnetic fields between adjacent subdomains and internal electric field updates. Finally, unmanned helicopters, helical antennas, 100−period folded waveguides, and 16 × 16 phased array antennas are designed to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the algorithm. Moreover, we conducted parallel tests on a supercomputing platform, showing its satisfactory reduction in computational time and excellent parallel efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parallel Computing and Grid Computing: Technologies and Applications)
11 pages, 809 KiB  
Communication
Performance Analysis of CSMA/NP under Finite Population Environments
by Ariadna I. Rodriguez-Gomez, Mario E. Rivero-Angeles, Izlian Y. Orea-Flores, Gina Gallegos-García and Juan Carlos Chimal-Eguia
Sensors 2024, 24(11), 3290; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24113290 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, we analyze the CSMA Non-Persistent protocol with a finite number of nodes, providing more accurate results for applications like wireless sensor networks. The finite model addresses scenarios where the node count is moderate, capturing realistic system dynamics. Our analysis reveals [...] Read more.
In this study, we analyze the CSMA Non-Persistent protocol with a finite number of nodes, providing more accurate results for applications like wireless sensor networks. The finite model addresses scenarios where the node count is moderate, capturing realistic system dynamics. Our analysis reveals a dependency on the node count, impacting system throughput. As the node count increases, throughput behavior aligns with Kleinrock’s infinite model. We derive a complex closed-form throughput expression for a finite quantity of nodes in the system, solved numerically, and offer an approximate expression for specific conditions. These insights advance understanding of low-contention network performance, especially in scenarios where the infinite model becomes inadequate. Full article
15 pages, 1835 KiB  
Article
Therapeutic Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Limited Disease Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Decade of Analysis at a Tertiary Cancer Center
by David Alexander Ziegler, Cecilia Christiane Cleve, Sonia Ziegler, Markus Anton Schirmer, Laura Anna Fischer, Hanibal Bohnenberger, Tobias Raphael Overbeck, Friederike Braulke, Alexander von Hammerstein-Equord, Martin Leu, Manuel Guhlich, Leif Hendrik Dröge, Stefan Rieken, Achim Rittmeyer and Rami A. El Shafie
Cancers 2024, 16(11), 1953; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16111953 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the outcomes and factors influencing treatment efficacy in 93 patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC), with a median age of 64 years. We focused on the impact of chemotherapy regimens, prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), and [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigated the outcomes and factors influencing treatment efficacy in 93 patients with limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC), with a median age of 64 years. We focused on the impact of chemotherapy regimens, prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI), and patient-related variables. The median follow-up for OS was 17.3 months. We observed a statistically significant difference in PFS between LD-SCLC patients treated with cisplatin and etoposide (EP) and those treated with carboplatin and etoposide (CP) (PFS: EP 13.63 months vs. CP 6.54 months, p < 0.01). Patients treated with EP had better overall survival (OS) than CP-treated patients (OS: EP 26.9 months vs. CP 16.16 months, p < 0.01). Concomitant chemotherapy was associated with improved PFS (p = 0.003) and OS (p = 0.002). Patients receiving PCI showed superior OS (p = 0.05) and a trend towards improved PFS (p = 0.057). Female gender was associated with better OS (p = 0.025). Most patients had an ECOG performance status of 0 (71%). This real-world study underscores the importance of multidisciplinary LD-SCLC management, emphasizing the roles of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and PCI. These findings inform personalized treatment strategies and emphasize the need for prospective trials to validate these results and optimize LD-SCLC treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 2nd Edition: Imaging and Therapy in Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma)
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15 pages, 1666 KiB  
Article
MResTNet: A Multi-Resolution Transformer Framework with CNN Extensions for Semantic Segmentation
by Nikolaos Detsikas, Nikolaos Mitianoudis and Ioannis Pratikakis
J. Imaging 2024, 10(6), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging10060125 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
A fundamental task in computer vision is the process of differentiation and identification of different objects or entities in a visual scene using semantic segmentation methods. The advancement of transformer networks has surpassed traditional convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures in terms of segmentation [...] Read more.
A fundamental task in computer vision is the process of differentiation and identification of different objects or entities in a visual scene using semantic segmentation methods. The advancement of transformer networks has surpassed traditional convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures in terms of segmentation performance. The continuous pursuit of optimal performance, with respect to the popular evaluation metric results, has led to very large architectures that require a significant amount of computational power to operate, making them prohibitive for real-time applications, including autonomous driving. In this paper, we propose a model that leverages a visual transformer encoder with a parallel twin decoder, consisting of a visual transformer decoder and a CNN decoder with multi-resolution connections working in parallel. The two decoders are merged with the aid of two trainable CNN blocks, the fuser that combined the information from the two decoders and the scaler that scales the contribution of each decoder. The proposed model achieves state-of-the-art performance on the Cityscapes and ADE20K datasets, maintaining a low-complexity network that can be used in real-time applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep Learning in Computer Vision)
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16 pages, 3708 KiB  
Article
Construction of a Novel Ternary GQDs/g-C3N4/ZIF-67 Photocatalyst for Enhanced Photocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction
by Zhiyuan Zhao, Jingjing Wang, Congnian Xu, Zhao Du, Rongrong Yu, Yongqi Zhao, Jiayi Han, Jingtao Zuo, Zhonglu Guo, Chengchun Tang and Yi Fang
Catalysts 2024, 14(6), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14060334 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been incorporated into the g-C3N4/ZIF-67 heterojunction system as a photosensitizer to enhance photocatalytic conversion of CO2-to-CO. The GQDs are deposited onto the surface of g-C3N4/ZIF-67 [...] Read more.
In this study, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been incorporated into the g-C3N4/ZIF-67 heterojunction system as a photosensitizer to enhance photocatalytic conversion of CO2-to-CO. The GQDs are deposited onto the surface of g-C3N4/ZIF-67 using a simple water bath procedure. As expected, GQDs/g-C3N4/ZIF-67 presents outstanding performance in CO2 photoreduction. Among the GQDs/g-C3N4/ZIF-67 ternary photocatalysts, 7 GQDs-CN/ZIF-67 exhibits the best photocatalytic CO2 reduction ability with a CO yield of 51.71 μmol g−1, which is 5.05 and 1.87 times more than pristine g-C3N4 (10.24 μmol g−1) and g-C3N4/ZIF-67 (27.65 μmol g−1), respectively. This result shows that upon combination of GQDs with ZIF-67/g-C3N4, GQDs can be used as photosensitizers to improve the optical absorption capacity of the photocatalyst. Furthermore, GQDs serve as electron channels, facilitating the transport of photo-induced electrons from ZIF-67 to g-C3N4, which promotes photogenerated carrier separation efficiency. This study innovatively adds GQDs to the heterojunction and applies the prepared ternary composite to the CO2 photoreduction, which inspires a novel direction for the design of non-noble metal photocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Photocatalysis)
13 pages, 720 KiB  
Article
Prediction of Seropositivity in Suspected Autoimmune Encephalitis by Use of Radiomics: A Radiological Proof-of-Concept Study
by Jacob Stake, Christine Spiekers, Burak Han Akkurt, Walter Heindel, Tobias Brix, Manoj Mannil and Manfred Musigmann
Diagnostics 2024, 14(11), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14111070 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, we sought to evaluate the capabilities of radiomics and machine learning in predicting seropositivity in patients with suspected autoimmune encephalitis (AE) from MR images obtained at symptom onset. In 83 patients diagnosed with AE between 2011 and 2022, manual bilateral [...] Read more.
In this study, we sought to evaluate the capabilities of radiomics and machine learning in predicting seropositivity in patients with suspected autoimmune encephalitis (AE) from MR images obtained at symptom onset. In 83 patients diagnosed with AE between 2011 and 2022, manual bilateral segmentation of the amygdala was performed on pre-contrast T2 images using 3D Slicer open-source software. Our sample of 83 patients contained 43 seropositive and 40 seronegative AE cases. Images were obtained at our tertiary care center and at various secondary care centers in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The sample was randomly split into training data and independent test data. A total of 107 radiomic features were extracted from bilateral regions of interest (ROIs). Automated machine learning (AutoML) was used to identify the most promising machine learning algorithms. Feature selection was performed using recursive feature elimination (RFE) and based on the determination of the most important features. Selected features were used to train various machine learning algorithms on 100 different data partitions. Performance was subsequently evaluated on independent test data. Our radiomics approach was able to predict the presence of autoantibodies in the independent test samples with a mean AUC of 0.90, a mean accuracy of 0.83, a mean sensitivity of 0.8,4 and a mean specificity of 0.82, with Lasso regression models yielding the most promising results. These results indicate that radiomics-based machine learning could be a promising tool in predicting the presence of autoantibodies in suspected AE patients. Given the implications of seropositivity for definitive diagnosis of suspected AE cases, this may expedite diagnostic workup even before results from specialized laboratory testing can be obtained. Furthermore, in conjunction with recent publications, our results indicate that characterization of AE subtypes by use of radiomics may become possible in the future, potentially allowing physicians to tailor treatment in the spirit of personalized medicine even before laboratory workup is completed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances and Applications in Neuroradiology)
17 pages, 1325 KiB  
Article
Minimal Change Disease: Pathogenetic Insights from Glomerular Proteomics
by Andrada Alina Bărar, Ioana-Ecaterina Pralea, Yuriy Maslyennikov, Raluca Munteanu, Ioana Berindan-Neagoe, Radu Pîrlog, Ioana Rusu, Andreea Nuțu, Crina Claudia Rusu, Diana Tania Moldovan, Alina Ramona Potra, Dacian Tirinescu, Maria Ticala, Florin Ioan Elec, Cristina Adela Iuga and Ina Maria Kacso
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 5613; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115613 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
The mechanism underlying podocyte dysfunction in minimal change disease (MCD) remains unknown. This study aimed to shed light on the potential pathophysiology of MCD using glomerular proteomic analysis. Shotgun proteomics using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) renal biopsies [...] Read more.
The mechanism underlying podocyte dysfunction in minimal change disease (MCD) remains unknown. This study aimed to shed light on the potential pathophysiology of MCD using glomerular proteomic analysis. Shotgun proteomics using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) renal biopsies from two groups of samples: control (CTR) and MCD. Glomeruli were excised from FFPE renal biopsies using laser capture microdissection (LCM), and a single-pot solid-phase-enhanced sample preparation (SP3) digestion method was used to improve yield and protein identifications. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed a distinct separation between the CTR and MCD groups. Forty-eight proteins with different abundance between the two groups (p-value ≤ 0.05 and |FC| ≥ 1.5) were identified. These may represent differences in podocyte structure, as well as changes in endothelial or mesangial cells and extracellular matrix, and some were indeed found in several of these structures. However, most differentially expressed proteins were linked to the podocyte cytoskeleton and its dynamics. Some of these proteins are known to be involved in focal adhesion (NID1 and ITGA3) or slit diaphragm signaling (ANXA2, TJP1 and MYO1C), while others are structural components of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton of podocytes (ACTR3 and NES). This study suggests the potential of mass spectrometry-based shotgun proteomic analysis with LCM glomeruli to yield valuable insights into the pathogenesis of podocytopathies like MCD. The most significantly dysregulated proteins in MCD could be attributable to cytoskeleton dysfunction or may be a compensatory response to cytoskeleton malfunction caused by various triggers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Kidney Diseases)
13 pages, 3959 KiB  
Article
The Programmable Catalytic Core of 8-17 DNAzymes
by Fumei Zhang, Weiguo Shi, Lei Guo, Shihui Liu and Junlin He
Molecules 2024, 29(11), 2420; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29112420 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
8-17 DNAzymes (8-17, 17E, Mg5, and 17EV1) are in vitro-selected catalytic DNA molecules that are capable of cleaving complementary RNAs. The conserved residues in their similar catalytic cores, together with the metal ions, were suggested to contribute to the catalytic reaction. Based on [...] Read more.
8-17 DNAzymes (8-17, 17E, Mg5, and 17EV1) are in vitro-selected catalytic DNA molecules that are capable of cleaving complementary RNAs. The conserved residues in their similar catalytic cores, together with the metal ions, were suggested to contribute to the catalytic reaction. Based on the contribution of the less conserved residues in the bulge loop residues (W12, A15, A15.0) and the internal stem, new catalytic cores of 8-17 DNAzymes were programmed. The internal stem CTC-GAG seems to be more favorable for the DNAzymes than CCG-GGC, while an extra W12.0 led to a significant loss of activity of DNAzymes, which is contrary to the positive effect of A15.0, by which a new active DNAzyme 17EM was derived. It conducts a faster reaction than 17E. It is most active in the presence of Pb2+, with the metal ion preference of Pb2+ >> Zn2+ > Mn2+ > Ca2+ ≈ Mg2+. In the Pb2+ and Zn2+-mediated reactions of 17EM and 17E, the same Na+- and pH dependence were also observed as what was observed for 17E and other 8-17 DNAzymes. Therefore, 17EM is another member of the 8-17 DNAzymes, and it could be applied as a potential biosensor for RNA and metal ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioorganic Chemistry in Asia)
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20 pages, 3682 KiB  
Article
Three-Dimensional VOF-DEM Simulation Study of Particle Fluidization Induced by Bubbling Flow
by Liming Liu, Mengqin Zhan, Rongtao Wang and Yefei Liu
Processes 2024, 12(6), 1053; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12061053 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
The bubbling flow plays a key role in gas–liquid–solid fluidized beds. To understand the intrinsic fluidization behaviors at the discrete bubble and particle scale, coupled simulations with the volume of fluid model and the discrete element method are performed to investigate the effects [...] Read more.
The bubbling flow plays a key role in gas–liquid–solid fluidized beds. To understand the intrinsic fluidization behaviors at the discrete bubble and particle scale, coupled simulations with the volume of fluid model and the discrete element method are performed to investigate the effects of the gas inlet velocity, particle properties and two-orifice bubbling flow on particle fluidization. Three-dimensional simulations are carried out to accurately capture the dynamic changes in the bubble shape and trajectory. A bubbling flow with a closely packed bed is simulated to study the onset of particle fluidization. The obvious phenomena of particle fluidization are presented by both the experiment and simulation. Although an increasing gas inlet velocity promotes particle fluidization, the good fluidization of particles cannot be achieved solely by increasing the gas inlet velocity. When the channel is packed with more particles, the bubbles take a longer time to pass through the higher particle bed, and the bubbles grow larger in the bed. The increase in particle density also extends the time needed for the bubbles to escape from the bed, and it is more difficult to fluidize the particles with a larger density. Even if more particles are added into the channel, the percentage of suspended particles is not significantly changed. The percentage of suspended particles is not increased with a decrease in the particle diameter. The particle suspension is not significantly improved by the bubbling flow with two orifices, while the particle velocity is increased due to the more frequent bubble–particle collisions. The findings from this study will be beneficial in guiding the enhancement of particle fluidization in multiphase reactors. Full article
14 pages, 3377 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Person Re-Identification through Attention-Driven Global Features and Angular Loss Optimization
by Yihan Bi, Rong Wang, Qianli Zhou, Ronghui Lin and Mingjie Wang
Entropy 2024, 26(6), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/e26060436 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
To address challenges related to the inadequate representation and inaccurate discrimination of pedestrian attributes, we propose a novel method for person re-identification, which leverages global feature learning and classification optimization. Specifically, this approach integrates a Normalization-based Channel Attention Module into the fundamental ResNet50 [...] Read more.
To address challenges related to the inadequate representation and inaccurate discrimination of pedestrian attributes, we propose a novel method for person re-identification, which leverages global feature learning and classification optimization. Specifically, this approach integrates a Normalization-based Channel Attention Module into the fundamental ResNet50 backbone, utilizing a scaling factor to prioritize and enhance key pedestrian feature information. Furthermore, dynamic activation functions are employed to adaptively modulate the parameters of ReLU based on the input convolutional feature maps, thereby bolstering the nonlinear expression capabilities of the network model. By incorporating Arcface loss into the cross-entropy loss, the supervised model is trained to learn pedestrian features that exhibit significant inter-class variance while maintaining tight intra-class coherence. The evaluation of the enhanced model on two popular datasets, Market1501 and DukeMTMC-ReID, reveals improvements in Rank-1 accuracy by 1.28% and 1.4%, respectively, along with corresponding gains in the mean average precision (mAP) of 1.93% and 1.84%. These findings indicate that the proposed model is capable of extracting more robust pedestrian features, enhancing feature discriminability, and ultimately achieving superior recognition accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Multidisciplinary Applications)
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12 pages, 1911 KiB  
Article
Infant Formula with 50% or More of Palmitic Acid Bound to the sn-2 Position of Triacylglycerols Eliminate the Association between Formula-Feeding and the Increase of Fecal Palmitic Acid Levels in Newborns: An Exploratory Study
by Hiromichi Shoji, Hiroko Arai, Satsuki Kakiuchi, Atsushi Ito, Keigo Sato, Shinji Jinno, Naoto Takahashi, Kenichi Masumoto, Hitoshi Yoda and Toshiaki Shimizu
Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1558; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111558 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
The binding ratio of palmitic acid (PA) at the sn-2 position of triacylglycerols in infant formulas is lower than that in breast milk, resulting in higher levels of fecal PA. Even if the ratio is increased to 40–50%, fecal PA levels in formula-fed [...] Read more.
The binding ratio of palmitic acid (PA) at the sn-2 position of triacylglycerols in infant formulas is lower than that in breast milk, resulting in higher levels of fecal PA. Even if the ratio is increased to 40–50%, fecal PA levels in formula-fed infants remain higher than those in breast–fed infants. In Japan, infant formulas with 50% or more of PA bound to sn-2 (high sn-2 PA milk) are commercially available; however, their effects on PA excretion have not been investigated. Therefore, this observational study aimed to preliminarily evaluate whether the feeding volume of high sn-2 PA milk is significantly associated with fecal total/soaped PA levels in newborns. Infant formulas were classified as high (≥50% of PA bound to sn-2) or low sn-2 (<50%) PA milk. Associations between feeding volume of high or low sn-2 PA milk and fecal PA levels were evaluated using multiple regression analysis models. The results showed that the feeding volume of low sn-2 PA milk was positively associated with fecal total/soaped PA levels, while there was no significant association between those of high sn-2 PA milk and fecal total/soaped PA levels. Our preliminary study suggests that high sn-2 PA milk may reduce increased fecal PA levels in formula-fed newborns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pediatric Nutrition)
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10 pages, 647 KiB  
Communication
Novel Yellow Aromatic Imine Derivative Incorporating Oxazolone Moiety for Color Resist Applications
by Sunwoo Park, Sangwook Park, Seyoung Oh, Yeongjae Heo, Hayoon Lee and Jongwook Park
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4362; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114362 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
A novel aromatic imine derivative, 2′-(1,4-phenylene)bis[4-[(4-methoxyphenyl)methylene]-5(4H)-oxazolone] (PBMBO), was designed and synthesized as a yellow colorant additive for green color filters used in image sensors. The optical and thermal properties of the newly developed material were evaluated both in solution and within color filter [...] Read more.
A novel aromatic imine derivative, 2′-(1,4-phenylene)bis[4-[(4-methoxyphenyl)methylene]-5(4H)-oxazolone] (PBMBO), was designed and synthesized as a yellow colorant additive for green color filters used in image sensors. The optical and thermal properties of the newly developed material were evaluated both in solution and within color filter film conditions. PBMBO demonstrated a molar extinction coefficient of 2.24 × 104 L/mol·cm in solution, surpassing that of the commercially employed yellow colorant MBIQO by a factor of 1.82. Color resist (CR) films incorporating PBMBO exhibited outstanding optical characteristics, displaying 0.03% transmittance at 435 nm, 99.3% transmittance at 530 nm, and a sharp slope within the 400 to 550 nm range. The decomposition temperature of PBMBO was 303 °C, indicating relatively superior thermal stability compared to MBIQO. Consequently, PBMBO emerges as a highly promising candidate for a yellow colorant additive in imaging sensor color filters, owing to its exceptional optical and thermal stability. Its potential applications are anticipated to extend across various fields of organic semiconductors. Full article
39 pages, 2705 KiB  
Article
Experimental Testing of Filter Materials for Two-Stage Inlet Air Systems of Internal Combustion Engines
by Tadeusz Dziubak
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2462; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112462 (registering DOI) - 21 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents an experimental study of the effect of the mass of dust retained on a fibrous filter bed operating singly and in a “cyclone-filter-bed” system on changes in filtration efficiency and accuracy, as well as the increase in flow resistance. The [...] Read more.
This paper presents an experimental study of the effect of the mass of dust retained on a fibrous filter bed operating singly and in a “cyclone-filter-bed” system on changes in filtration efficiency and accuracy, as well as the increase in flow resistance. The research was carried out using a novel and unprecedented method, determining the dust absorption coefficient km of the filter baffle under laboratory conditions. A filtration system built of a single cyclone and a cylindrical filter cartridge with an appropriately sized surface set behind it was studied. Conditions corresponding to the actual operating conditions of the air filter were maintained: dust concentration, filtration speed and dust extraction from the cyclone settling tank. The purpose of the research was to evaluate filter materials with different structures in terms of filtration efficiency and accuracy, as well as flow resistance. The study showed that the parameters of the structure of filter materials—permeability, grammage and thickness—affect the process of retaining dust particles. It was shown that the increase in the flow resistance of the filter bed has a higher intensity when dust grains of small sizes are directed at it, which is the case when the bed is operated behind a cyclone, which separates larger dust grains from the air. There is a reduction in the operating time of the filtration system due to the limitation of the permissible resistance ∆pfdop, and the corresponding dust absorption km has a lower value. For a fixed value of the flow resistance, the dust absorption coefficient km2 of three different filtration baffles AC, B2, and B, working with a cyclone, take values 50–100% smaller than when working in a single-stage system. It has been shown that the “cyclone-filter baffle” unit, due to its greater dust separation capability, allows the filter cartridge to operate for a longer time until a certain flow resistance is reached. This allows the unit to operate longer at lower flow resistance without changing the filter cartridge, thus saving energy. The km values obtained during the tests, using the proposed original method, allow the selection of the filter bed for specific vehicle operating conditions by modelling its course. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section I2: Energy and Combustion Science)

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