The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
25 pages, 13232 KiB  
Article
Onboard Data Prioritization Using Multi-Class Image Segmentation for Nanosatellites
by Keenan Chatar, Kentaro Kitamura and Mengu Cho
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(10), 1729; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16101729 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Nanosatellites are proliferating as low-cost, dedicated remote sensing opportunities for small nations. However, nanosatellites’ performance as remote sensing platforms is impaired by low downlink speeds, which typically range from 1200 to 9600 bps. Additionally, an estimated 67% of downloaded data are unusable for [...] Read more.
Nanosatellites are proliferating as low-cost, dedicated remote sensing opportunities for small nations. However, nanosatellites’ performance as remote sensing platforms is impaired by low downlink speeds, which typically range from 1200 to 9600 bps. Additionally, an estimated 67% of downloaded data are unusable for further applications due to excess cloud cover. To alleviate this issue, we propose an image segmentation and prioritization algorithm to classify and segment the contents of captured images onboard the nanosatellite. This algorithm prioritizes images with clear captures of water bodies and vegetated areas with high downlink priority. This in-orbit organization of images will aid ground station operators with downlinking images suitable for further ground-based remote sensing analysis. The proposed algorithm uses Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models to classify and segment captured image data. In this study, we compare various model architectures and backbone designs for segmentation and assess their performance. The models are trained on a dataset that simulates captured data from nanosatellites and transferred to the satellite hardware to conduct inferences. Ground testing for the satellite has achieved a peak Mean IoU of 75% and an F1 Score of 0.85 for multi-class segmentation. The proposed algorithm is expected to improve data budget downlink efficiency by up to 42% based on validation testing. Full article
15 pages, 1016 KiB  
Article
A Fast and Sensitive One-Tube SARS-CoV-2 Detection Platform Based on RTX-PCR and Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute
by Rui Han, Fei Wang, Wanping Chen and Lixin Ma
Biosensors 2024, 14(5), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14050245 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Since SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible virus, alternative reliable, fast, and cost-effective methods are still needed to prevent virus spread that can be applied in the laboratory and for point-of-care testing. Reverse transcription real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is currently the gold criteria [...] Read more.
Since SARS-CoV-2 is a highly transmissible virus, alternative reliable, fast, and cost-effective methods are still needed to prevent virus spread that can be applied in the laboratory and for point-of-care testing. Reverse transcription real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is currently the gold criteria for detecting RNA viruses, which requires reverse transcriptase to reverse transcribe viral RNA into cDNA, and fluorescence quantitative PCR detection was subsequently performed. The frequently used reverse transcriptase is thermolabile; the detection process is composed of two steps: the reverse transcription reaction at a relatively low temperature, and the qPCR performed at a relatively high temperature, moreover, the RNA to be detected needs to pretreated if they had advanced structure. Here, we develop a fast and sensitive one-tube SARS-CoV-2 detection platform based on Ultra-fast RTX-PCR and Pyrococcus furiosus Argonaute-mediated Nucleic acid Detection (PAND) technology (URPAND). URPAND was achieved ultra-fast RTX-PCR process based on a thermostable RTX (exo-) with both reverse transcriptase and DNA polymerase activity. The URPAND can be completed RT-PCR and PAND to detect nucleic acid in one tube within 30 min. This method can specifically detect SARS-CoV-2 with a low detection limit of 100 copies/mL. The diagnostic results of clinical samples with one-tube URPAND displayed 100% consistence with RT-qPCR test. Moreover, URPAND was also applied to identify SARS-CoV-2 D614G mutant due to its single-nucleotide specificity. The URPAND platform is rapid, accurate, tube closed, one-tube, easy-to-operate and free of large instruments, which provides a new strategy to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Immunoassays and Biosensing)
16 pages, 370 KiB  
Article
Lower Limb Motion Recognition with Improved SVM Based on Surface Electromyography
by Pengjia Tu, Junhuai Li and Huaijun Wang
Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3097; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103097 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
During robot-assisted rehabilitation, failure to recognize lower limb movement may efficiently limit the development of exoskeleton robots, especially for individuals with knee pathology. A major challenge encountered with surface electromyography (sEMG) signals generated by lower limb movements is variability between subjects, such as [...] Read more.
During robot-assisted rehabilitation, failure to recognize lower limb movement may efficiently limit the development of exoskeleton robots, especially for individuals with knee pathology. A major challenge encountered with surface electromyography (sEMG) signals generated by lower limb movements is variability between subjects, such as motion patterns and muscle structure. To this end, this paper proposes an sEMG-based lower limb motion recognition using an improved support vector machine (SVM). Firstly, non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) is leveraged to analyze muscle synergy for multi-channel sEMG signals. Secondly, the multi-nonlinear sEMG features are extracted, which reflect the complexity of muscle status change during various lower limb movements. The Fisher discriminant function method is utilized to perform feature selection and reduce feature dimension. Then, a hybrid genetic algorithm-particle swarm optimization (GA-PSO) method is leveraged to determine the best parameters for SVM. Finally, the experiments are carried out to distinguish 11 healthy and 11 knee pathological subjects by performing three different lower limb movements. Results demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed approach in three different lower limb movements with an average accuracy of 96.03% in healthy subjects and 93.65% in knee pathological subjects, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biosensors)
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13 pages, 980 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant, Enzyme Inhibitory, and Protective Effect of Amelanchier lamarckii Extract
by Adela Maria Dăescu, Mădălina Nistor, Alexandru Nicolescu, Roxana Pop, Andrea Bunea, Dumitrita Rugina and Adela Pintea
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1347; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101347 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the chemical content of Romanian juneberries (Amelanchier lamarckii), their effect on antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities, and their bioaccessibility after simulated in-vitro digestion. In Amelanchier lamarckii extract (AME), 16 polyphenolic compounds were identified by LC-ESI+-MS [...] Read more.
The present study aimed to investigate the chemical content of Romanian juneberries (Amelanchier lamarckii), their effect on antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities, and their bioaccessibility after simulated in-vitro digestion. In Amelanchier lamarckii extract (AME), 16 polyphenolic compounds were identified by LC-ESI+-MS analysis. The most representative compounds found in the extract were cyanidin-galactoside, 3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxybenzoic acid, feruloylquinic acid, and kaempferol, all belonging to the anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and flavonols subclasses. The polyphenols of AME exert quenching abilities of harmful reactive oxygen species, as the CUPRAC antioxidant assay value was 323.99 µmol Trolox/g fruit (FW), whereas the FRAP antioxidant value was 4.10 μmol Fe2+/g fruit (FW). Enzyme inhibition assays targeting tyrosinase (IC50 = 8.843 mg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50 = 14.03 mg/mL), and acetylcholinesterase (IC50 = 49.55 mg/mL) were used for a screening of AME’s inhibitory potential against these key enzymes as a common approach for the discovery of potential antidiabetic, skin pigmentation, and neurodegenerative effects. The screening for the potential antidiabetic effects due to the α-glucosidase inhibition was performed in glucose-induced disease conditions in a human retinal pigmented epithelial cell experimental model, proving that AME could have protective potential. In conclusion, AME is a valuable source of phenolic compounds with promising antioxidant potential and metabolic disease-protective effects, warranting further investigation for its use in the nutraceutical and health industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Analysis and Metabolic Profiling in Plants)
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17 pages, 912 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on Calcination of Portland Cement Clinker Using Different Contents of Stainless Steel Slag
by Jiantao Ju, Haibo Cao, Wenke Guo, Ning Luo, Qiming Zhang and Yonggang Wang
Materials 2024, 17(10), 2305; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17102305 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
In order to increase the utilization rate of stainless steel slag, reduce storage needs, and mitigate environmental impacts, this study replaces a portion of limestone with varying amounts of stainless steel slag in the calcination of Portland cement clinker. The study primarily examines [...] Read more.
In order to increase the utilization rate of stainless steel slag, reduce storage needs, and mitigate environmental impacts, this study replaces a portion of limestone with varying amounts of stainless steel slag in the calcination of Portland cement clinker. The study primarily examines the influence of stainless steel slag on the phase composition, microstructure, compressive strength, and free calcium oxide (ƒ-CaO) content of Portland cement clinker. The results show the following: (1) Using stainless steel slag to calcine Portland cement clinker can lower the calcination temperature, reducing industrial production costs and energy consumption. (2) With an increase in the amount of stainless steel slag, the dicalcium silicate (C2S) and tricalcium silicate (C3S) phases in Portland cement clinker initially increase and then decrease; the C3S crystals gradually transform into continuous hexagonal plate-shaped distributions, while the tricalcium aluminate (C3A) and tetracalcium aluminoferrite (C4AF) crystal structures become denser. When the stainless steel slag content is 15%, the dicalcium silicate and tricalcium silicate phases are at their peak; the C3S crystals are continuously distributed with a relatively dense structure, and C3A and C4AF crystals melt and sinter together, becoming distributed around C3S. (3) As stainless steel slag content increases, the compressive strength of Portland cement clinker at 3 days, 7 days, and 28 days increases and then decreases, while ƒ-CaO content decreases and then increases. When the stainless steel slag content is 15%, the compressive strength at 28 days is at its highest, 64.4 MPa, with the lowest ƒ-CaO content, 0.78%. The test results provide a basis for the utilization of stainless steel slag in the calcination of Portland cement clinker. Full article
28 pages, 5233 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning Algorithms That Emulate Controllers Based on Particle Swarm Optimization—An Application to a Photobioreactor for Algal Growth
by Viorel Mînzu, Iulian Arama and Eugen Rusu
Processes 2024, 12(5), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12050991 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms within control structures are a realistic approach; their task is often to predict the optimal control values working with a process model (PM). Owing to numerous numerical integrations of the PM, there is a big computational effort that [...] Read more.
Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms within control structures are a realistic approach; their task is often to predict the optimal control values working with a process model (PM). Owing to numerous numerical integrations of the PM, there is a big computational effort that leads to a large controller execution time. The main motivation of this work is to decrease the computational effort and, consequently, the controller execution time. This paper proposes to replace the PSO predictor with a machine learning model that has “learned” the quasi-optimal behavior of the couple (PSO and PM); the training data are obtained through closed-loop simulations over the control horizon. The new controller should preserve the process’s quasi-optimal control. In identical conditions, the process evolutions must also be quasi-optimal. The multiple linear regression and the regression neural networks were considered the predicting models. This paper first proposes algorithms for collecting and aggregating data sets for the learning process. Algorithms for constructing the machine learning models and implementing the controllers and closed-loop simulations are also proposed. The simulations prove that the two machine learning predictors have learned the PSO predictor’s behavior, such that the process evolves almost identically. The resulting controllers’ execution time have decreased hundreds of times while keeping their optimality; the performance index has even slightly increased. Full article
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23 pages, 513 KiB  
Communication
The Paradox of Alcohol and Food Affordability: Minimal Impact of Leading Beer and Cachaça Brands on Brazilian Household Income Amid Hazardous Drinking Patterns
by Ian C. C. Nóbrega, Rhennan V. L. Marques, Matheus A. Ferreira and Dirk W. Lachenmeier
Nutrients 2024, 16(10), 1469; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101469 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Alcohol consumption, associated with various cancers, mental disorders, and aggressive behavior, leads to three million deaths globally each year. In Brazil, the alcohol per capita consumption among drinkers aged 15 and over is 41.7 g of pure alcohol/day (~1 L beer/day), which falls [...] Read more.
Alcohol consumption, associated with various cancers, mental disorders, and aggressive behavior, leads to three million deaths globally each year. In Brazil, the alcohol per capita consumption among drinkers aged 15 and over is 41.7 g of pure alcohol/day (~1 L beer/day), which falls into the risky consumption category and exceeds the global average by almost 30%. An effective way to mitigate alcohol-related harm is to increase its retail price. This study assesses the costs of consuming leading brands of beer and sugarcane spirit cachaça (Brazil’s most popular alcoholic beverages) against the expenditure on staple foods. Data on food and alcoholic beverage prices were collected in João Pessoa, Brazil, for 2020 and 2021. The cost per gram of pure alcohol and food were considered to establish consumption patterns of 16.8 g/day (moderate), 41.7 g/day, and 83.4 g/day (heavy), distributed in three scenarios involving the beverages alone or combined (64% beer and 36% cachaça), and a balanced 2000 kcal/day staple diet. The study finds that all heavy consumption scenarios cost less or significantly less (cachaça alone) than a 2000 kcal/day staple diet, highlighting an urgent need for fiscal policies, such as a minimum unit pricing for alcohol, to address public health concerns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health, Nutritional Behavior and Nutritional Status)
18 pages, 1370 KiB  
Article
Accelerated Ballast Tank Corrosion Simulation Protocols: A Critical Assessment
by Remke Willemen, Kris De Baere, Rob Baetens, Maarten Van Rossum and Silvia Lenaerts
Materials 2024, 17(10), 2304; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17102304 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
 In the realm of accelerated testing within controlled laboratory settings, the fidelity of the service environment assumes paramount importance. It is imperative to replicate real-world conditions while compressing the testing duration to facilitate early evaluations, thereby optimizing time and cost efficiencies. Traditional [...] Read more.
 In the realm of accelerated testing within controlled laboratory settings, the fidelity of the service environment assumes paramount importance. It is imperative to replicate real-world conditions while compressing the testing duration to facilitate early evaluations, thereby optimizing time and cost efficiencies. Traditional immersion protocols, reflective solely of full ballast tank conditions, inadequately expedite the corrosion process representative of an average ballast tank environment. Through the integration of immersion with fog/dry conditions, aligning the test protocol more closely with the internal conditions of an average ballast tank, heightened rates of general corrosion are achieved. This augmentation yields an acceleration factor of 7.82 times the standard test duration, under the assumption of a general corrosion rate of 0.4 mm/year for uncoated ballast tank steel, with both sides exposed. Subsequently, the fog/dry test protocol, albeit only resembling the environment of an empty ballast tank, closely trails in terms of acceleration efficacy. The fog/dry test protocol offers cost-effectiveness and replicability compared to the AMACORT CIFD-01 protocol, making it a strong competitor despite the relatively close acceleration factor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Corrosion)
9 pages, 390 KiB  
Article
I am Afraid I Will Not Be Able to Walk, That is What Worries Me—The Experience of Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis before Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Qualitative Study
by Umile Giuseppe Longo, Alessandra Corradini, Anna Marchetti, Chiara Di Sarno, Carlotta D’Angelo, Claudia Arias, Maria Grazia De Marinis, Alessandro de Sire and Vincenzo Denaro
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(10), 2878; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13102878 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Knee osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of osteoarthritis. Patients frequently encounter pain triggered by movement that evolves into impaired joint function. Needing persistent rest or having night-time pain signifies advanced disease. Qualitative research is considered the most effective method for comprehending patients’ [...] Read more.
Knee osteoarthritis is the most prevalent type of osteoarthritis. Patients frequently encounter pain triggered by movement that evolves into impaired joint function. Needing persistent rest or having night-time pain signifies advanced disease. Qualitative research is considered the most effective method for comprehending patients’ needs and contexts. Methods: This study employed a qualitative research design, allowing the researchers to acquire insights into the patients’ beliefs and values, and the contextual factors influencing the formation and expression of these beliefs and values. Results: A cohort of nine patients awaiting total knee replacement (TKR) surgery was included and they were interviewed until data saturation was achieved. The results of the phenomenological analysis resulted in the identification of three themes: “The existence of pain impedes the capacity to participate in daily life activities”; “TKR induced fears and uncertainties regarding the progression of the disease”; “Severe nighttime pain compromising sleep quality”. Conclusions: This study analyzes the experiences of people awaiting TKR surgery, emphasizing the importance of addressing their unique needs to improve preoperative education and rehabilitation. In this way, patients’ recovery during the postoperative phase can be improved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Orthopedics)
18 pages, 1370 KiB  
Article
A Sparse Recovery Algorithm for Suppressing Multiple Linear Frequency Modulation Interference in the Synthetic Aperture Radar Image Domain
by Guanqi Tong, Xingyu Lu, Jianchao Yang, Wenchao Yu, Hong Gu and Weimin Su
Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3095; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103095 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
In synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signal processing, compared with the raw data of level-0, level-1 SAR images are more readily accessible and available in larger quantities. However, an amount of level-1 images are affected by radio frequency interference (RFI), which typically originates from [...] Read more.
In synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signal processing, compared with the raw data of level-0, level-1 SAR images are more readily accessible and available in larger quantities. However, an amount of level-1 images are affected by radio frequency interference (RFI), which typically originates from Linear Frequency Modulation (LFM) signals emitted by ground-based radars. Existing research on interference suppression in level-1 data has primarily focused on two methods: transforming SAR images into simulated echo data for interference suppression, or focusing interference in the frequency domain and applying notching filters to reduce interference energy. However, these methods overlook the effective utilization of the interference parameters or are confined to suppressing only one type of LFM interference at a time. In certain SAR images, multiple types of LFM interference manifest bright radiation artifacts that exhibit varying lengths along the range direction while remaining constant in the azimuth direction. It is necessary to suppress multiple LFM interference on SAR images when original echo data are unavailable. This article proposes a joint sparse recovery algorithm for interference suppression in the SAR image domain. In the SAR image domain, two-dimensional LFM interference typically exhibits differences in parameters such as frequency modulation rate and pulse width in the range direction, while maintaining consistency in the azimuth direction. Based on this observation, this article constructs a series of focusing operators for LFM interference in SAR images. These operators enable the sparse representation of dispersed LFM interference. Subsequently, an optimization model is developed that can effectively suppress multi-LFM interference and reduce image loss with the assistance of a regularization term in the image domain. Simulation experiments conducted in various scenarios validate the superior performance of the proposed method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Radar Sensors)
4 pages, 207 KiB  
Editorial
Future Foods in the Face of Hunger and Surplus: From Sustainable Production to Responsible Consumption
by Rana Muhammad Aadil, Emanuele Radicetti, Ghulam Haider and Paola Tedeschi
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4084; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104084 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
This Editorial refers to the Special Issue “Future Foods in the Face of Hunger and Surplus: From Sustainable Production to Responsible Consumption”. [...] Full article
19 pages, 3595 KiB  
Article
Four New Species and a New Combination of Boletaceae (Boletales) from Subtropical and Tropical China
by Rou Xue, Lin-Jie Su, Tai-Jie Yu, Chang Xu, Hong-Yan Huang, Nian-Kai Zeng, Guo-Li Zhang and Li-Ping Tang
J. Fungi 2024, 10(5), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10050348 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that boletes are abundant and diverse in China, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. In the present study, morphological, ecological, host relationship, and a four-locus (28S, tef1, rpb1, and rpb2) molecular phylogenetic analyses were used to [...] Read more.
Previous studies have shown that boletes are abundant and diverse in China, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. In the present study, morphological, ecological, host relationship, and a four-locus (28S, tef1, rpb1, and rpb2) molecular phylogenetic analyses were used to study the family Boletaceae in subtropical and tropical China. Four new bluing species are described from three genera, viz. Boletellus verruculosus (Chinese name疣柄条孢牛肝菌), Xerocomellus tenuis (Chinese name细柄红绒盖牛肝菌), Xer. brunneus (Chinese name褐盖红绒盖牛肝菌), and Xerocomus zhangii (Chinese name张氏绒盖牛肝菌). Moreover, the genus Nigroboletus is treated as a synonym of Xerocomellus, and a new combination, namely Xer. roseonigrescens (Chinese name玫瑰红绒盖牛肝菌), is proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Taxonomy, Systematics and Evolution of Forestry Fungi, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 4465 KiB  
Article
Fatigue Damage of Rubber Concrete Backfill at Arch Springing Influence on Surrounding Rock Deformation in Tunnel Engineering
by Bo Wu, Ruonan Zhu, Zhaochun Liu, Jiajia Zeng and Cong Liu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4129; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104129 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
The backfill area of tunnel projects may deform or collapse due to the cyclic disturbance of groundwater and train loads. Hence, the anti-deformation and crack resistance performance of backfill materials under cyclic disturbance is critical to engineering safety. In this paper, concrete was [...] Read more.
The backfill area of tunnel projects may deform or collapse due to the cyclic disturbance of groundwater and train loads. Hence, the anti-deformation and crack resistance performance of backfill materials under cyclic disturbance is critical to engineering safety. In this paper, concrete was produced by mixing 0.85 mm, 1–3 mm and 3–6 mm rubber particles instead of 10% sand, and tested to discuss the effect of rubber particle size on the deterioration of concrete material properties (compressive characteristics and energy dissipation) after bearing cyclic loading. The stress–strain curve and various parameters obtained through the uniaxial compression test and cyclic load test were used to explore the optimal grain size that can be applied to the tunnel engineering backfill area, and numerical simulation was adopted to calculate the deformation of the surrounding rock and the structural stress of different backfill materials. Research shows that the increase in particle size lessens the compressive strength, deformation resistance and cracking resistance of specimens, but after the cyclic loading test, the concrete material deterioration analysis indicates that rubber concrete has lesser and more stable losses compared to ordinary concrete, so the optimum rubber particle size is 0.85 mm. Numerical calculations show that RC-1 reduces the arch top displacement by 0.4 mm, increases the arch bottom displacement by 0.6 mm and increases the maximum principal stress by 11.5% compared to OC. Therefore, rubber concrete can ensure the strength and stability requirements of tunnel structures, which can provide a reference for similar projects. Full article
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23 pages, 715 KiB  
Article
Two-and-a-Half-Year Follow-up Study with Freedom on Water through Stand-up Paddling: Exploring Experiences in Blue Spaces and Their Long-Term Impact on Mental Well-Being
by Elisabeth Bomholt Østergaard, Pernille Wobeser Sparre and Jesper Dahlgaard
Healthcare 2024, 12(10), 1004; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12101004 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Blue space interventions evidently have a positive impact on well-being and mental health, yet longitudinal studies on the lasting impact of such interventions are scarce. In this qualitative follow-up study with semi-structured interviews, we explored the long-term experiences over 18–42 months among six [...] Read more.
Blue space interventions evidently have a positive impact on well-being and mental health, yet longitudinal studies on the lasting impact of such interventions are scarce. In this qualitative follow-up study with semi-structured interviews, we explored the long-term experiences over 18–42 months among six out of the initial eight women from the primary study, also including two instructors from the initial study. The participants, dealing with mental disorders, participated in the group-based intervention Freedom on Water, participating in stand-up paddling. Five main themes emerged from the empirical analysis: SUP as a catalyst for broadening horizons; learning: stepping out of the comfort zone; a break from diagnosis and rumination; connectedness to nature, specifically blue nature, and to the group; a life-changing journey; and a shift in mindset. The study revealed a long-term, life-changing impact of the program on participants’ well-being and mental health. Nature and blue space activities had become a greater part of their lives, improving their mental health with feelings of calmness, positivity, healing, and freedom. Stepping out of their comfort zone facilitated experiences of success and transformed their mindsets. Moreover, they experienced a break from rumination, and they became more outwardly focused, with confidence in themselves and their abilities, while making new friendships and engaging in new and different contexts. Full article
17 pages, 3497 KiB  
Article
ADDGCN: A Novel Approach with Down-Sampling Dynamic Graph Convolution and Multi-Head Attention for Traffic Flow Forecasting
by Zuhua Li, Siwei Wei, Haibo Wang and Chunzhi Wang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4130; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104130 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
An essential component of autonomous transportation system management and decision-making is precise and real-time traffic flow forecast. Predicting future traffic conditionsis a difficult undertaking because of the intricate spatio-temporal relationships involved. Existing techniques often employ separate modules to model spatio-temporal features independently, thereby [...] Read more.
An essential component of autonomous transportation system management and decision-making is precise and real-time traffic flow forecast. Predicting future traffic conditionsis a difficult undertaking because of the intricate spatio-temporal relationships involved. Existing techniques often employ separate modules to model spatio-temporal features independently, thereby neglecting the temporally and spatially heterogeneous features among nodes. Simultaneously, many existing methods overlook the long-term relationships included in traffic data, subsequently impacting prediction accuracy. We introduce a novel method to traffic flow forecasting based on the combination of the feature-augmented down-sampling dynamic graph convolutional network and multi-head attention mechanism. Our method presents a feature augmentation mechanism to integrate traffic data features at different scales. The subsampled convolutional network enhances information interaction in spatio-temporal data, and the dynamic graph convolutional network utilizes the generated graph structure to better simulate the dynamic relationships between nodes, enhancing the model’s capacity for capturing spatial heterogeneity. Through the feature-enhanced subsampled dynamic graph convolutional network, the model can simultaneously capture spatio-temporal dependencies, and coupled with the process of multi-head temporal attention, it achieves long-term traffic flow forecasting. The findings demonstrate that the ADDGCN model demonstrates superior prediction capabilities on two real datasets (PEMS04 and PEMS08). Notably, for the PEMS04 dataset, compared to the best baseline, the performance of ADDGCN is improved by 2.46% in MAE and 2.90% in RMSE; for the PEMS08 dataset, compared to the best baseline, the ADDGCN performance is improved by 1.50% in RMSE, 3.46% in MAE, and 0.21% in MAPE, indicating our method’s superior performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Transportation Engineering)
13 pages, 2463 KiB  
Article
Generation of Rhesus Macaque Embryos with Expanded CAG Trinucleotide Repeats in the Huntingtin Gene
by Junghyun Ryu, John P. Statz, William Chan, Kiana Oyama, Maggie Custer, Martin Wienisch, Richard Chen, Carol B. Hanna and Jon D. Hennebold
Cells 2024, 13(10), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13100829 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) arises from expanded CAG repeats in exon 1 of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. The resultant misfolded HTT protein accumulates within neuronal cells, negatively impacting their function and survival. Ultimately, HTT accumulation results in cell death, causing the development [...] Read more.
Huntington’s disease (HD) arises from expanded CAG repeats in exon 1 of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. The resultant misfolded HTT protein accumulates within neuronal cells, negatively impacting their function and survival. Ultimately, HTT accumulation results in cell death, causing the development of HD. A nonhuman primate (NHP) HD model would provide important insight into disease development and the generation of novel therapies due to their genetic and physiological similarity to humans. For this purpose, we tested CRISPR/Cas9 and a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) containing expanded CAG repeats in introducing an expanded CAG repeat into the HTT gene in rhesus macaque embryos. Analyses were conducted on arrested embryos and trophectoderm (TE) cells biopsied from blastocysts to assess the insertion of the ssDNA into the HTT gene. Genotyping results demonstrated that 15% of the embryos carried an expanded CAG repeat. The integration of an expanded CAG repeat region was successfully identified in five blastocysts, which were cryopreserved for NHP HD animal production. Some off-target events were observed in biopsies from the cryopreserved blastocysts. NHP embryos were successfully produced, which will help to establish an NHP HD model and, ultimately, may serve as a vital tool for better understanding HD’s pathology and developing novel treatments. Full article
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23 pages, 13608 KiB  
Article
Portable Arduino-Based Multi-Sensor Device (SBEDAD): Measuring the Built Environment in Street Cycling Spaces
by Chuanwen Luo, Linyuan Hui, Zikun Shang, Chenlong Wang, Mingyu Jin, Xiaobo Wang and Ning Li
Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3096; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103096 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
The built environment’s impact on human activities has been a hot issue in urban research. Compared to motorized spaces, the built environment of pedestrian and cycling street spaces dramatically influences people’s travel experience and travel mode choice. The streets’ built environment data play [...] Read more.
The built environment’s impact on human activities has been a hot issue in urban research. Compared to motorized spaces, the built environment of pedestrian and cycling street spaces dramatically influences people’s travel experience and travel mode choice. The streets’ built environment data play a vital role in urban design and management. However, the multi-source, heterogeneous, and massive data acquisition methods and tools for the built environment have become obstacles for urban design and management. To better realize the data acquisition and for deeper understanding of the urban built environment, this study develops a new portable, low-cost Arduino-based multi-sensor array integrated into a single portable unit for built environment measurements of street cycling spaces. The system consists of five sensors and an Arduino Mega board, aimed at measuring the characteristics of the street cycling space. It takes air quality, human sensation, road quality, and greenery as the detection objects. An integrated particulate matter laser sensor, a light intensity sensor, a temperature and humidity sensor, noise sensors, and an 8K panoramic camera are used for multi-source data acquisition in the street. The device has a mobile power supply display and a secure digital card to improve its portability. The study took Beijing as a sample case. A total of 127.97 G of video data and 4794 Kb of txt records were acquired in 36 working hours using the street built environment data acquisition device. The efficiency rose to 8474.21% compared to last year. As an alternative to conventional hardware used for this similar purpose, the device avoids the need to carry multiple types and models of sensing devices, making it possible to target multi-sensor data-based street built environment research. Second, the device’s power and storage capabilities make it portable, independent, and scalable, accelerating self-motivated development. Third, it dramatically reduces the cost. The device provides a methodological and technological basis for conceptualizing new research scenarios and potential applications. Full article
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17 pages, 3412 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Simulation Studies on Stable Polarity Reversal in Aged HVDC Mass-Impregnated Cables
by Sun-Jin Kim, Seol Lee, Woo-Sung Choi and Bang-Wook Lee
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2352; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102352 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Mass-impregnated (MI) cables have been used for many years as cables in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems. In line commutated converter (LCC) HVDC systems, polarity reversal for power flow control can induce significant electrical stress on MI cables. Furthermore, the mass oil and [...] Read more.
Mass-impregnated (MI) cables have been used for many years as cables in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) systems. In line commutated converter (LCC) HVDC systems, polarity reversal for power flow control can induce significant electrical stress on MI cables. Furthermore, the mass oil and kraft paper comprising the impregnated insulation have significantly different coefficients of thermal expansion. Load fluctuations in the cable lead to expansion and contraction of the mass, creating pressure within the insulation and causing redistribution of the impregnant. During this process, shrinkage cavities can form within the butt gaps. Since the dielectric strength of the cavities is lower than that of the surrounding impregnation, cavitation phenomena in impregnated paper insulation are considered a factor in degrading insulation performance. Consequently, this study analyzes the electrical conductivity of thermally aged materials and investigates the transient electric field characteristics within the cable. Additionally, it closely analyzes the formation and dissolution of cavities in MI cables during polarity reversal based on a numerical model of pressure behavior in porous media. The conductivity of the impregnated paper indicates that it has excellent resistance to thermal degradation. Simulation results for various load conditions highlight that the interval of load-off time and the magnitude of internal pressure significantly influence the cavitation phenomenon. Lastly, the study proposes stable system operation methods to prevent cavitation in MI cables. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Featured Papers in Electrical Power and Energy System)
20 pages, 1798 KiB  
Article
Forecasting the Exceedances of PM2.5 in an Urban Area
by Stavros-Andreas Logothetis, Georgios Kosmopoulos, Orestis Panagopoulos, Vasileios Salamalikis and Andreas Kazantzidis
Atmosphere 2024, 15(5), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15050594 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Particular matter (PM) constitutes one of the major air pollutants. Human exposure to fine PM (PM with a median diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm, PM2.5) has many negative and diverse outcomes for human health, such as respiratory mortality, [...] Read more.
Particular matter (PM) constitutes one of the major air pollutants. Human exposure to fine PM (PM with a median diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm, PM2.5) has many negative and diverse outcomes for human health, such as respiratory mortality, lung cancer, etc. Accurate air-quality forecasting on a regional scale enables local agencies to design and apply appropriate policies (e.g., meet specific emissions limitations) to tackle the problem of air pollution. Under this framework, low-cost sensors have recently emerged as a valuable tool, facilitating the spatiotemporal monitoring of air pollution on a local scale. In this study, we present a deep learning approach (long short-term memory, LSTM) to forecast the intra-day air pollution exceedances across urban and suburban areas. The PM2.5 data used in this study were collected from 12 well-calibrated low-cost sensors (Purple Air) located in the greater area of the Municipality of Thermi in Thessaloniki, Greece. The LSTM-based methodology implements PM2.5 data as well as auxiliary data, meteorological variables from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), which is operated by ECMWF, and time variables related to local emissions to enhance the air pollution forecasting performance. The accuracy of the model forecasts reported adequate results, revealing a correlation coefficient between the measured PM2.5 and the LSTM forecast data ranging between 0.67 and 0.94 for all time horizons, with a decreasing trend as the time horizon increases. Regarding air pollution exceedances, the LSTM forecasting system can correctly capture more than 70.0% of the air pollution exceedance events in the study region. The latter findings highlight the model’s capabilities to correctly detect possible WHO threshold exceedances and provide valuable information regarding local air quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Air Quality Modelling)
35 pages, 7529 KiB  
Review
Heat Transfer Enhancements Assessment in Hot Water Generation with Phase Change Materials (PCMs): A Review
by Diana Isabel Berrocal, Juan Blandon Rodriguez, Maria De Los Angeles Ortega Del Rosario, Itamar Harris and Arthur M. James Rivas
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2350; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102350 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
The utilization of phase change materials (PCMs) in solar water heating systems (SWHS) has undergone notable advancements, driven by a rising demand for systems delivering superior performance and efficiency. Extensive research suggests that enhancing heat transfer (HTE) in storage systems is crucial for [...] Read more.
The utilization of phase change materials (PCMs) in solar water heating systems (SWHS) has undergone notable advancements, driven by a rising demand for systems delivering superior performance and efficiency. Extensive research suggests that enhancing heat transfer (HTE) in storage systems is crucial for achieving these improvements. This review employs a bibliometric analysis to track the evolution of HTE methods within this field. While current literature underscores the necessity for further exploration into hot water generation applications, several methodologies exhibit significant promise. Particularly, strategies such as fins, encapsulation, and porous media emerge as prominent HTE techniques, alongside nanofluids, which hold the potential for augmenting solar water heating systems. This review also identifies numerous unexplored techniques awaiting investigation, aiming to pave new paths in research and application within the field of hot water generation. It highlights methods that could be used independently or alongside predominantly used techniques. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section J: Thermal Management)
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31 pages, 1097 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Impact of Hallyu (Korean Wave) on Korea’s Consumer Goods Exports to China: Panel Analysis Using Big Data and Provincial-Level Data
by Furong Jin, Soon-Hong Kim, Yoon-Kyung Choi and Byong-Kook Yoo
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4083; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104083 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
This study empirically analyzes how the Hallyu (Korean Wave) phenomenon affects Korea’s consumer goods exports to China using Chinese provincial-level panel data covering the period from 2011 to 2020. This paper adopts Baidu Index big data with the keywords “Korean drama”, “Korean movie”, [...] Read more.
This study empirically analyzes how the Hallyu (Korean Wave) phenomenon affects Korea’s consumer goods exports to China using Chinese provincial-level panel data covering the period from 2011 to 2020. This paper adopts Baidu Index big data with the keywords “Korean drama”, “Korean movie”, “Korean music”, and “Korean entertainment” as proxy variables for Hallyu. The paper investigates the impact of Hallyu on Korean consumer goods exports by subdividing consumer goods into seven processing steps. In addition to the effect of the composite Hallyu index, the effect of each Hallyu content is also examined. Moreover, this study also investigates the impact of the political issue of the deployment of the THAAD American anti-ballistic missile defense system by dividing the period from 2011 to 2020 into before and after 2016. An export equation that includes income level, the Hallyu index, as well as other variables recognized as factors affecting Korea’s exports in existing studies, is used. Several interesting conclusions have been reached. First, Hallyu in China has a significant impact on Korea’s exports of non-durable consumer goods and processed household food and beverages to China. Second, the political issue of the deployment of THAAD has a negative impact on Korea’s exports of consumer goods to China. Third, among the four types of Hallyu content, dramas, as the most popular content in China, have the greatest influence on Korea’s exports of consumer goods to China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
20 pages, 814 KiB  
Article
A DEA Game Cross-Efficiency Model with Loss Aversion for Contractor Selection
by Huixia Huang, Chi Zhou and Hepu Deng
Mathematics 2024, 12(10), 1519; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12101519 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Evaluating and selecting appropriate contractors is critical to the success of specific construction projects in the building industry. Existing approaches for addressing this problem are unsatisfactory due to the ignorance of the multi-dimensional nature of the evaluation process and inappropriate consideration of existent [...] Read more.
Evaluating and selecting appropriate contractors is critical to the success of specific construction projects in the building industry. Existing approaches for addressing this problem are unsatisfactory due to the ignorance of the multi-dimensional nature of the evaluation process and inappropriate consideration of existent risks. This study presents a DEA game cross-efficiency model with loss aversion for evaluating and selecting specific contractors. The competitiveness of the evaluation process is modeled using game theory with respect to the adoption of the cross-efficiency model. The attitude of the decision maker toward risks is tackled with the use of loss aversion, which is a phenomenon formalized in prospect theory. As a result, the proposed approach can adequately screen available contractors through prequalification and adequately consider the attitude of the decision maker toward risks, leading to effective decisions being made. An example is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model in evaluating and selecting appropriate contractors for specific construction projects. The results show that the proposed model is effective and efficient in producing a unique solution for contractor selection through appropriate modeling of the multi-dimensional contractor selection process and adequate consideration of the competition between the contractors and the attitude of the decision maker toward risks in practical situations. Full article
18 pages, 6481 KiB  
Article
Mechanism Analysis of Antimicrobial Peptide NoPv1 Related to Potato Late Blight through a Computer-Aided Study
by Jiao-Shuai Zhou, Hong-Liang Wen and Ming-Jia Yu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5312; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105312 (registering DOI) - 13 May 2024
Abstract
Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, the oomycotic pathogen responsible for potato late blight, is the most devastating disease of potato production. The primary pesticides used to control oomycosis are phenyl amide fungicides, which cause environmental pollution and toxic residues harmful to both human [...] Read more.
Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, the oomycotic pathogen responsible for potato late blight, is the most devastating disease of potato production. The primary pesticides used to control oomycosis are phenyl amide fungicides, which cause environmental pollution and toxic residues harmful to both human and animal health. To address this, an antimicrobial peptide, NoPv1, has been screened to target Plasmopara viticola cellulose synthase 2 (PvCesA2) to inhibit the growth of Phytophthora infestans (P. infestans). In this study, we employed AlphaFold2 to predict the three-dimensional structure of PvCesA2 along with NoPv peptides. Subsequently, utilizing computational methods, we dissected the interaction mechanism between PvCesA2 and these peptides. Based on this analysis, we performed a saturation mutation of NoPv1 and successfully obtained the double mutants DP1 and DP2 with a higher affinity for PvCesA2. Meanwhile, dynamics simulations revealed that both DP1 and DP2 utilize a mechanism akin to the barrel-stave model for penetrating the cell membrane. Furthermore, the predicted results showed that the antimicrobial activity of DP1 was superior to that of NoPv1 without being toxic to human cells. These findings may offer insights for advancing the development of eco-friendly pesticides targeting various oomycete diseases, including late blight. Full article

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