The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
32 pages, 1481 KiB  
Review
Green Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Silver Nanoparticles Using Bioflocculant: A Review
by Nkanyiso C. Nkosi, Albertus K. Basson, Zuzingcebo G. Ntombela, Nkosinathi G. Dlamini and Rajasekhar V. S. R. Pullabhotla
Bioengineering 2024, 11(5), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11050492 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Nanotechnology has emerged as an effective means of removing contaminants from water. Traditional techniques for producing nanoparticles, such as physical methods (condensation and evaporation) and chemical methods (oxidation and reduction), have demonstrated high efficiency. However, these methods come with certain drawbacks, including the [...] Read more.
Nanotechnology has emerged as an effective means of removing contaminants from water. Traditional techniques for producing nanoparticles, such as physical methods (condensation and evaporation) and chemical methods (oxidation and reduction), have demonstrated high efficiency. However, these methods come with certain drawbacks, including the significant energy requirement and the use of costly and hazardous chemicals that may cause nanoparticles to adhere to surfaces. To address these limitations, researchers are actively developing alternative procedures that are cost-effective, environmentally safe, and user-friendly. One promising approach involves biological synthesis, which utilizes plants or microorganisms as reducing and capping agents. This review discusses various methods of nanoparticle synthesis, with a focus on biological synthesis using naturally occurring bioflocculants from microorganisms. Bioflocculants offer several advantages, including harmlessness, biodegradability, and minimal secondary pollution. Furthermore, the review covers the characterization of synthesized nanoparticles, their antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity. Additionally, it explores the utilization of these NPs in water purification and dye removal processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery)
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13 pages, 820 KiB  
Communication
Catalytic Activity of 2-Imino-1,10-phenthrolyl Fe/Co Complexes via Linear Machine Learning
by Zubair Sadiq, Wenhong Yang, Md Mostakim Meraz, Weisheng Yang and Wen-Hua Sun
Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2313; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102313 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
In anticipation of the correlations between catalyst structures and their properties, the catalytic activities of 2-imino-1,10-phenanthrolyl iron and cobalt metal complexes are quantitatively investigated via linear machine learning (ML) algorithms. Comparatively, the Ridge Regression (RR) model has captured more robust predictive performance compared [...] Read more.
In anticipation of the correlations between catalyst structures and their properties, the catalytic activities of 2-imino-1,10-phenanthrolyl iron and cobalt metal complexes are quantitatively investigated via linear machine learning (ML) algorithms. Comparatively, the Ridge Regression (RR) model has captured more robust predictive performance compared with other linear algorithms, with a correlation coefficient value of R2 = 0.952 and a cross-validation value of Q2 = 0.871. It shows that different algorithms select distinct types of descriptors, depending on the importance of descriptors. Through the interpretation of the RR model, the catalytic activity is potentially related to the steric effect of substituents and negative charged groups. This study refines descriptor selection for accurate modeling, providing insights into the variation principle of catalytic activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep Learning in Molecular Science and Technology)
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19 pages, 539 KiB  
Article
Research Data Management in the Croatian Academic Community: A Research Study
by Radovan Vrana
Publications 2024, 12(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/publications12020016 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents the results of an empirical research study of Croatian scientists’ use and management of research data. This research study was carried out from 28 June 2023 until 31 August 2023 using an online questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. The answers [...] Read more.
This paper presents the results of an empirical research study of Croatian scientists’ use and management of research data. This research study was carried out from 28 June 2023 until 31 August 2023 using an online questionnaire consisting of 28 questions. The answers of 584 respondents working in science were filtered out for further analysis. About three-quarters of the respondents used the research data of other scientists successfully. Research data were mostly acquired from colleagues from the same department or institution. Roughly half of the respondents did not ask other scientists directly for their research data. Research data are important to the respondents mostly for raising the quality of research. Repeating someone else’s research by using their research data is still a problem. Less than one-third of the respondents provided full access to their research data mostly due to their fear of misuse. The benefits of research data sharing were recognized but few of the respondents received any reward for it. Archiving research data is a significant problem for the respondents as they dominantly use their own computers prone to failure for that activity and do not think about long-term preservation. Finally, the respondents lacked deeper knowledge of research data management. Full article
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16 pages, 18541 KiB  
Article
Changes in Metabolite Profiles of Chinese Soy Sauce at Different Time Durations of Fermentation Studied by 1H-NMR-Based Metabolomics
by Jalal Uddin, Samra Yasmin, Ghulam Mustafa Kamal, Mufarreh Asmari, Muhammad Saqib and Heyu Chen
Metabolites 2024, 14(5), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14050285 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Fermentation parameters, especially the duration, are important in imparting a peculiar taste and flavor to soy sauce. The main purpose of this research was to monitor metabolic changes occurring during the various time intervals of the fermentation process. NMR-based metabolomics was used to [...] Read more.
Fermentation parameters, especially the duration, are important in imparting a peculiar taste and flavor to soy sauce. The main purpose of this research was to monitor metabolic changes occurring during the various time intervals of the fermentation process. NMR-based metabolomics was used to monitor the compositional changes in soy sauce during fermentation. The 1H-NMR spectra of the soy sauce samples taken from the fermentation tanks at 0 to 8 months were analyzed using 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and the obtained spectra were analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Square Discriminate analysis (PLSDA) revealed the separation of samples fermented for various time durations under identical conditions. Key metabolites shown by corresponding loading plots exhibited variations in amino acids (lysine, threonine, isoleucine, etc.), acetate, glucose, fructose, sucrose, ethanol, glycerol, and others. The levels of ethanol in soy sauce increased with longer fermentation durations, which can be influenced by both natural fermentation and the intentional addition of ethanol as a preservative. The study shows that the variation in metabolite can be very efficiently monitored using 1H-NMR-based metabolomics, thus suggestion to optimize the time duration to get the soy sauce product with the desired taste and flavor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Metabolomics in Food Fermentation)
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20 pages, 9234 KiB  
Article
Study on Spatial-Temporal Disparities and Factors Influencing Electricity Consumption Carbon Emissions in China
by Pinjie Xie, Sheng Wang, Jie Liao and Feihu Sun
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4128; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104128 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Investigating the factors influencing the spatial-temporal disparities in China’s electricity consumption carbon emissions (ECCEs) will be of great help to advancing the reduction in carbon emissions on the consumption side of electricity. Based on the measurement of the ECCEs in 30 Chinese provinces [...] Read more.
Investigating the factors influencing the spatial-temporal disparities in China’s electricity consumption carbon emissions (ECCEs) will be of great help to advancing the reduction in carbon emissions on the consumption side of electricity. Based on the measurement of the ECCEs in 30 Chinese provinces between 2005 and 2021, we utilized the natural breakpoint method and the Dagum Gini coefficient to analyze the spatial-temporal disparities in ECCEs at the provincial and regional levels, and then we used Geodetector to explore the factors influencing the spatial-temporal disparities in ECCEs. The results revealed the following: (1) There were obvious inter-provincial spatial disparities in ECCEs, with coastal provinces such as Jiangsu and Guangdong consistently ranking at the top of the country and inland provinces such as Qinghai and Yunnan having relatively low carbon emission values. (2) The overall disparities in China’s ECCEs fluctuated and rose, with inter-regional disparities being the primary source of the overall disparities. (3) Economic development, industrialization level, population density, and foreign direct investment all had strong explanations for the spatial-temporal disparities in China’s ECCEs. When all these influencing factors were spatially superimposed, their effects were enhanced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Economy and Sustainable Energy)
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18 pages, 5376 KiB  
Article
Preparation of Steamed Purple Sweet Potato-Based Films Containing Mandarin Essential Oil for Smart Packaging
by Ruixue Yue, Yiren Zhang, Jun Liu and Jian Sun
Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2314; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102314 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Anthocyanin-rich steamed purple sweet potato (SPSP) is a suitable raw material to produce smart packaging films. However, the application of SPSP-based films is restricted by the low antimicrobial activity of anthocyanins. In this study, SPSP-based smart packaging films were produced by adding mandarin [...] Read more.
Anthocyanin-rich steamed purple sweet potato (SPSP) is a suitable raw material to produce smart packaging films. However, the application of SPSP-based films is restricted by the low antimicrobial activity of anthocyanins. In this study, SPSP-based smart packaging films were produced by adding mandarin essential oil (MEO) as an antimicrobial agent. The impact of MEO content (3%, 6%, and 9%) on the structures, properties, and application of SPSP-based films was measured. The results showed that MEO created several pores within films and reduced the hydrogen bonding system and crystallinity of films. The dark purple color of the SPSP films was almost unchanged by MEO. MEO significantly decreased the light transmittance, water vapor permeability, and tensile strength of the films, but remarkably increased the oxygen permeability, thermal stability, and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the films. The SPSP-MEO films showed intuitive color changes at different acid-base conditions. The purple-colored SPSP-MEO films turned blue when chilled shrimp and pork were not fresh. The MEO content greatly influenced the structures, physical properties, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the films. However, the MEO content had no impact on the color change ability of the films. The results suggested that SPSP-MEO films have potential in the smart packaging of protein-rich foods. Full article
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16 pages, 4315 KiB  
Article
A Variational Mode Decomposition Analysis and Prediction Simulation of DO in the Water Environment of the Chengdu Area, China
by Mei Li, Deke Wang, Rui Xu and Kexing Chen
Water 2024, 16(10), 1405; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16101405 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
DO is an important index to characterize environmental water quality. The time series fluctuation of DO can be analyzed via frequency band decomposition, which is very valuable for water quality simulations. In this paper, DO in the Chengdu area of China was studied [...] Read more.
DO is an important index to characterize environmental water quality. The time series fluctuation of DO can be analyzed via frequency band decomposition, which is very valuable for water quality simulations. In this paper, DO in the Chengdu area of China was studied using variational mode decomposition with daily meteorological data and water quality data from 2020 to 2022. After variable decomposition, the DO data were first decomposed into different frequency band signals named IMF1, IMF2, IMF3, IMF4, and IMF5. IMF1 represented the low-frequency signal with long-term trend characteristics of the data. IMF2 to IMF5 represented the high-frequency signal with short-term mutation characteristics of the data. By combining the variable decomposition results with the correlation analysis, it was found that the long-term trend characteristics of DO are affected by the superposition of meteorological factors, hydrological factors, and water pollution factors but have a weak correlation with any single determining factor. The air temperature, water temperature, phosphorus, air pressure, pH value, chemical oxygen demand, and nitrogen were relatively strongly correlated with the long-term trend characteristics of DO. The short-term mutation characteristics of DO were mainly determined using the characteristics of the water body itself, while the influence of the meteorological factors could basically be ignored. The water temperature, pH value, and eutrophication were the biggest influencing factors. Then, a predictive framework combining frequency division with a deep learning model or a machine learning model was constructed to predict DO. The predicted results of GRU, random forest, and XGBoost with and without the framework were compared. It was shown that, after removing the interference factors with correlations less than 0.3, the predicted value of DO was much closer to the actual value. The XGBoost and random forest models with decomposed signals had a high degree of simulation fitting and could be used to predict DO in the Chengdu area. The above research approach can be applied to further explore the prediction of various pollution factors in different areas of China. Full article
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14 pages, 738 KiB  
Review
Modifications to Enhance Outcomes of Family-Based Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Scoping Review
by Signe Holm Pedersen, Lasse Carlsson and Mette Bentz
Psychiatry Int. 2024, 5(2), 217-230; https://doi.org/10.3390/psychiatryint5020015 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Family-based treatment (FBT) is recommended for anorexia nervosa (AN) in young people (YP). However, a substantial proportion of YP undergoing FBT do not recover. Several modifications to standard FBT have been tested to improve recovery rates. This review provides an updated overview of [...] Read more.
Family-based treatment (FBT) is recommended for anorexia nervosa (AN) in young people (YP). However, a substantial proportion of YP undergoing FBT do not recover. Several modifications to standard FBT have been tested to improve recovery rates. This review provides an updated overview of empirically tested modifications to FBT for AN in YP and estimates whether such modifications increase the percentage recovering. Computerized searches performed in five databases resulted in the inclusion of 43 papers (representing 40 original studies), highlighting that a variety of modifications to standard FBT have been tested and appear promising. However, only 11 studies compared the results of a modification to standard FBT. In conclusion, some modifications, such as parent-focused treatment, the addition of home treatment, or interventions for families at risk of non-response, appear to have the potential to improve the recovery rate, either at the group or subgroup level. Other modifications, such as FBT-based guided self-help, virtually delivered FBT, or FBT delivered during in- or day-patient stays, enable the dissemination of FBT principles to other contexts and to patient groups with limited access. Small additions to FBT, such as a workshop or parent-to-parent consultation, do not seem to improve the recovery rate. Full article
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10 pages, 2244 KiB  
Article
The Value of PET/CT in Particle Therapy Planning of Various Tumors with SSTR2 Receptor Expression: Comparative Interobserver Study
by Carola Lütgendorf-Caucig, Patricia Wieland, Eugen Hug, Birgit Flechl, Slavisa Tubin, Razvan Galalae, Petra Georg, Piero Fossati, Marta Mumot, Semi Harrabi, Irina Pradler and Maciej J. Pelak
Cancers 2024, 16(10), 1877; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16101877 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The overexpression of somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) is a property of various tumor types. Hybrid imaging utilizing [68Ga]1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetra-acetic acid (DOTA) may improve the differentiation between tumor and healthy tissue. We conducted an experimental study on 47 anonymized patient cases including [...] Read more.
The overexpression of somatostatin receptor type 2 (SSTR2) is a property of various tumor types. Hybrid imaging utilizing [68Ga]1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetra-acetic acid (DOTA) may improve the differentiation between tumor and healthy tissue. We conducted an experimental study on 47 anonymized patient cases including 30 meningiomas, 12 PitNET and 5 SBPGL. Four independent observers were instructed to contour the macroscopic tumor volume on planning MRI and then reassess their volumes with the additional information from DOTA-PET/CT. The conformity between observers and reference volumes was assessed. In total, 46 cases (97.9%) were DOTA-avid and included in the final analysis. In eight cases, PET/CT additional tumor volume was identified that was not detected by MRI; these PET/CT findings were potentially critical for the treatment plan in four cases. For meningiomas, the interobserver and observer to reference volume conformity indices were higher with PET/CT. For PitNET, the volumes had higher conformity between observers with MRI. With regard to SBGDL, no significant trend towards conformity with the addition of PET/CT information was observed. DOTA PET/CT supports accurate tumor recognition in meningioma and PitNET and is recommended in SSTR2-expressing tumors planned for treatment with highly conformal radiation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical PET Studies in Neuro-Oncology (Volume II))
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11 pages, 4986 KiB  
Article
A Multiplexing Optical Temperature Sensing System for Induction Motors Using Few-Mode Fiber Spatial Mode Diversity
by Feng Liu, Tianle Gu and Weicheng Chen
Electronics 2024, 13(10), 1932; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13101932 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Induction motors are widely applied in motor drive systems. Effective temperature monitoring is one of the keys to ensuring the reliability and optimal performance of the motors. Therefore, this paper introduces a multiplexed optical temperature sensing system for induction motors based on few-mode [...] Read more.
Induction motors are widely applied in motor drive systems. Effective temperature monitoring is one of the keys to ensuring the reliability and optimal performance of the motors. Therefore, this paper introduces a multiplexed optical temperature sensing system for induction motors based on few-mode fiber (FMF) spatial mode diversity. By using the spatial mode dimension of FMF, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) carried by different spatial modes of optical paths is embedded in different positions of the motor to realize multipoint synchronous multiplexing temperature monitoring. The paper establishes and demonstrates a photonic lantern-based mode division sensing system for motor temperature monitoring. As a proof of concept, the system demonstrates experiments in multiplexed temperature sensing for motor stators using the fundamental mode LP01 and high-order spatial modes LP11, LP21, and LP02. The FBG sensitivity carried by the above mode is 0.0107 nm/°C, 0.0106 nm/°C, 0.0097 nm/°C, and 0.0116 nm/°C, respectively. The dynamic temperature changes in the stator at different positions of the motor under speeds of 1k rpm, 1.5k rpm, 2k rpm with no load, 3 kg load, and 5 kg load, as well as at three specific speed–load combinations of 1.5k rpm_3 kg, 1k rpm_0kg, 2k rpm_5 kg and so on are measured, and the measured results of different spatial modes are compared and analyzed. The findings indicate that different spatial modes can accurately reflect temperature variations at various positions in motor stator winding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensing Technology and Intelligent Application)
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11 pages, 1682 KiB  
Article
Impact of CYP2C19 Gene Variants on Long-Term Treatment with Atorvastatin in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes
by Darius Čereškevičius, Vytautas Zabiela, Ali Aldujeli, Vaiva Lesauskaitė, Kristina Zubielienė, Vytautas Raškevičius, Ieva Čiapienė, Diana Žaliaduonytė, Agnė Giedraitienė, Vaidotas Žvikas, Valdas Jakštas, Vilius Skipskis, Olivija Dobilienė, Gintarė Šakalytė and Vacis Tatarūnas
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105385 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapies may be insufficient in high-risk cardiovascular patients and depends on the genetic variability of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Customizing statin therapy, including treatment with atorvastatin, may improve clinical outcomes. Currently, there is a lack of guidelines allowing the prediction of [...] Read more.
The effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapies may be insufficient in high-risk cardiovascular patients and depends on the genetic variability of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Customizing statin therapy, including treatment with atorvastatin, may improve clinical outcomes. Currently, there is a lack of guidelines allowing the prediction of the therapeutic efficacy of lipid-lowering statin therapy. This study aimed to determine the effects of clinically significant gene variants of CYP2C19 on atorvastatin therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes. In total, 92 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) were sequenced for target regions within the CYP2C19 gene on the Illumina Miniseq system. The CYP2C19 poor metabolizer phenotype (carriers of CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*4, and CYP2C19*8 alleles) was detected in 29% of patients. These patients had significantly lower responses to treatment with atorvastatin than patients with the normal metabolizer phenotype. CYP2C19-metabolizing phenotype, patient age, and smoking increased the odds of undertreatment in patients (∆LDL-C (mmol/L) < 1). These results revealed that the CYP2C19 phenotype may significantly impact atorvastatin therapy personalization in patients requiring LDL lipid-lowering therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
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15 pages, 6455 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Tower Crane Safety: A UAV-Based Intelligent Inspection Approach
by Xin Jiao, Na Wu, Xin Zhang, Jian Fan, Zhenwei Cai, Ying Wang and Zhenglong Zhou
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051420 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Tower cranes play a crucial role in the construction industry, facilitating the vertical and horizontal movement of materials and aiding in building construction, especially for high-rise structures. However, tower crane accidents can lead to severe consequences, highlighting the importance of effective safety management [...] Read more.
Tower cranes play a crucial role in the construction industry, facilitating the vertical and horizontal movement of materials and aiding in building construction, especially for high-rise structures. However, tower crane accidents can lead to severe consequences, highlighting the importance of effective safety management and inspection. This paper presents a novel approach to tower crane safety inspections using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) equipped with high-definition cameras and an intelligent inspection APP system. The system utilizes real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning and digital image processing to perform efficient and comprehensive inspections, reducing the reliance on manual labor and associated risks. A case study demonstrated the method’s practicality and effectiveness, with the UAV inspections capable of identifying 76.3% of major hazards, 64.8% of significant hazards, and 76.2% of general hazards within a 30-minute timeframe. Preliminary identification rates were also promising. Despite the initial requirement for manual drone piloting and the current manual review of images, the approach shows significant potential for enhancing safety in the construction industry. Future work will focus on integrating AI for hazard recognition and automating the inspection process further. The proposed method marks a step forward in tower crane safety management, offering a more efficient and accurate alternative to traditional inspection methods. Full article
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14 pages, 8031 KiB  
Article
Characterisation of a New Generation of AlMgZr and AlMgSc Filler Materials for Welding Metal–Ceramic Composites
by Jan Wysocki, Marek Staude, Andrzej Trytek and Mariusz Sosnowski
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4177; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104177 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
When manufacturing the welded joints of components made of metal–ceramic composites of the Al-Si/SiC type, we encounter significant difficulties. This is related to the presence of a ceramic phase in the aluminium alloy matrix. The interaction between the molten metal matrix and the [...] Read more.
When manufacturing the welded joints of components made of metal–ceramic composites of the Al-Si/SiC type, we encounter significant difficulties. This is related to the presence of a ceramic phase in the aluminium alloy matrix. The interaction between the molten metal matrix and the ceramic particles in the weld pool influences a complex of physicochemical phenomena resulting in, among other things, the structure of the welded joint. This is particularly true of the effect of the distribution of ceramic particles and their influence on the crystallisation process in the weld pool. An important issue is the influence of the reinforcing particles on the susceptibility of the aluminium matrix to both hot and cold cracking. The scope of the research included the development of the chemical composition of an additive material for the TIG welding of aluminium–ceramic composites. This material was made in the form of so-called sticks, cast from alloys containing elements such as magnesium, scandium or zirconium in addition to aluminium. The appropriate composition of the mass content of the individual components was intended to change the crystallisation mode of the weld pool and to obtain strengthening precipitates. The most favourable structure was obtained in the case of a modification of the AlMg5 alloy by the addition of scandium. Minor dispersions of Al3Sc became the nucleation pads of fine grains, which improved the mechanical properties of the alloy. Also, in the case of the addition of zirconium, the crystallisation shifted from dendritic to fine-grain growth. In this paper, the basic strength properties of the developed materials were tested and the most favourable chemical compositions of the filling materials were selected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Additive Manufacturing Technologies)
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12 pages, 1824 KiB  
Article
A Two-Step Approach to the Surgical Treatment of Soft-Tissue Sarcomas
by Camillo Fulchignoni, Luigi Cianni, Maria Rosaria Matrangolo, Mariagrazia Cerrone, Francesco Cavola, Elisabetta Pataia, Raffaele Vitiello, Giulio Maccauro, Pasquale Farsetti and Giuseppe Rovere
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(5), 2805-2816; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31050213 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Nowadays, limb-sparing procedures are the gold standard in the treatment of soft-tissue sarcomas of the limbs. Wide tumor resection with appropriate oncological margins, reconstruction, and stabilization of the involved bone and joint and restoration of the soft tissue lost are essential in [...] Read more.
Background: Nowadays, limb-sparing procedures are the gold standard in the treatment of soft-tissue sarcomas of the limbs. Wide tumor resection with appropriate oncological margins, reconstruction, and stabilization of the involved bone and joint and restoration of the soft tissue lost are essential in order to obtain good clinical and functional outcomes. Tumor excision and soft-tissue reconstruction performed in one-step surgery is chosen by many centers as the preferred approach; however, according to our experience in some selected patients, two-step surgery performed using a dermal regeneration template first and then a margin revision, taking into account the definitive results of the anatomopathological exam conducted over the surgical specimen from the previous surgery, associated with definitive reconstruction surgery over a healthy bed of granulated tissue, showed many potential benefits. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on thirteen patients who underwent a two-step reconstruction procedure using dermal substitution after soft-tissue sarcoma excision. Results: Clinically, the enrolled patients achieved excellent contour and cosmesis of their surgical wounds, with a mean VSS value of 3.07. During the follow-up period, no local recurrences were observed in any patient. Conclusions: Two-step surgery represents the most suitable solution to allow surgical radicality with minimal recurrency and adequate soft-tissue reconstruction, avoiding the possibility of wasting autologous tissue. Our patients generally embraced this approach and the management that followed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Bone and Soft Tissue Oncology)
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8 pages, 1956 KiB  
Communication
Anticancer Effects of the Novel Pyrazolyl-Urea GeGe-3
by Ashleigh Williams, Emma Cooper, Bethany Clark, Laura Perry, Marco Ponassi, Erika Iervasi, Chiara Brullo, Alexander Greenhough and Michael Ladomery
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105380 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
In a screen of over 200 novel pyrazole compounds, ethyl 1-(2-hydroxypentyl)-5-(3-(3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)ureido)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (named GeGe-3) has emerged as a potential anticancer compound. GeGe-3 displays potent anti-angiogenic properties through the presumptive targeting of the protein kinase DMPK1 and the Ca2+-binding protein [...] Read more.
In a screen of over 200 novel pyrazole compounds, ethyl 1-(2-hydroxypentyl)-5-(3-(3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)ureido)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (named GeGe-3) has emerged as a potential anticancer compound. GeGe-3 displays potent anti-angiogenic properties through the presumptive targeting of the protein kinase DMPK1 and the Ca2+-binding protein calreticulin. We further explored the anticancer potential of GeGe-3 on a range of established cancer cell lines, including PC3 (prostate adenocarcinoma), SKMEL-28 (cutaneous melanoma), SKOV-3 (ovarian adenocarcinoma), Hep-G2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), MDA-MB231, SKBR3, MCF7 (breast adenocarcinoma), A549 (lung carcinoma), and HeLa (cervix epithelioid carcinoma). At concentrations in the range of 10 μM, GeGe-3 significantly restricted cell proliferation and metabolism. GeGe-3 also reduced PC3 cell migration in a standard wound closure and trans-well assay. Together, these results confirm the anticancer potential of GeGe-3 and underline the need for more detailed pre-clinical investigations into its molecular targets and mechanisms of action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Pyrazole Derivatives)
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9 pages, 4310 KiB  
Article
Precise Analysis of the Differences in the Laser-Activated Energy Density of Aluminum Nitride Ceramics under Various Gas Bath Environments
by Haitao Zhang, Yingming Wang, Jing Shao, Hao Dong, Zhiyuan Sun, Suli Han, Changqing Xie, Ping Song, Shufeng Sun and Zhenwei Nie
Coatings 2024, 14(5), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14050624 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Laser activation can lead to the formation of a layer of aluminum on the surface of aluminum nitride ceramics, thereby preparing metal circuits. Under various gas environments, there are differences in the aluminum layers precipitated by laser-activated aluminum nitride ceramics. The existing literature [...] Read more.
Laser activation can lead to the formation of a layer of aluminum on the surface of aluminum nitride ceramics, thereby preparing metal circuits. Under various gas environments, there are differences in the aluminum layers precipitated by laser-activated aluminum nitride ceramics. The existing literature uses the width of the metal layer to characterize this difference, and these data are very imprecise. Usually, laser energy density is used to describe this processing difference. However, the existing concept of laser energy density is an average value and is not suitable for the threshold of laser activation, because the intensity gradient of the focused Gaussian beam is large, and different intensity distributions represent different energy levels. This article applied a precise concept of laser energy density that sees it as being proportional to light intensity and can be used to evaluate the difference in laser energy density required for the decomposition of aluminum nitride ceramics under various gas bath conditions precisely. Due to the strong energy of a focused Gaussian beam, it is not possible to directly obtain the intensity distribution. Here, the intensity distribution of the collimated beam was used to indirectly obtain the intensity distribution of the focused Gaussian beam, and the threshold values for laser activation under different gas baths were calculated. It was found that the minimum energy density in air increased by 12.5%, and the minimum energy density in nitrogen increased by 3%, using the minimum energy density required for laser activation in argon as the reference. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
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13 pages, 2196 KiB  
Article
Computationally Efficient Algorithm for Modeling Grain Growth Using Hillert’s Mean-Field Approach
by Shabnam Fadaei Chatroudi, Robert Cicoria and Hatem S. Zurob
Materials 2024, 17(10), 2341; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17102341 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
To investigate the interconnected effects of manufacturing processes on microstructure evolution during hot-rolling, a through process model is required. A novel numerical implementation of the mean-field approach was introduced to efficiently describe the grain growth of larger systems and extended durations. In this [...] Read more.
To investigate the interconnected effects of manufacturing processes on microstructure evolution during hot-rolling, a through process model is required. A novel numerical implementation of the mean-field approach was introduced to efficiently describe the grain growth of larger systems and extended durations. In this approach, each grain is embedded within an average medium and interacts with the average medium, thus avoiding the complexities of individual grain interactions. The proposed upsampling approach dynamically adjusts the simulation grain ensemble, ensuring efficiency and accuracy regardless of the initial number of grains present. This adaptation prevents undersampling artifacts during grain growth. The accuracy of the model is verified against analytical solutions and experimental data, demonstrating high agreement. Moreover, the effects of different initial conditions are successfully investigated, demonstrating the model’s versatility. Due to its simplicity and efficiency, the model can be seamlessly integrated into other microstructure evolution models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Steel Materials: Structure, Processing, and Properties)
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14 pages, 1036 KiB  
Article
Radiotherapy for Canine Apocrine Gland Anal Sac Adenocarcinoma: Survival Outcomes and Side Effects of a Palliative Treatment Protocol of 20 Gy in Five Consecutive Fractions
by Carlos Roberto Mendez Valenzuela, Kelly Shin, Hsin-Yi Weng, Jeannie M. Plantenga and Isabelle F. Vanhaezebrouck
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(5), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11050219 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
This research aims to evaluate the outcomes of a radiotherapy protocol, consisting of five fractions of 4 Gy each, resulting in a total dose of 20 Gy for apocrine gland anal sac tumors and local lymph nodes in canines. This protocol was assessed [...] Read more.
This research aims to evaluate the outcomes of a radiotherapy protocol, consisting of five fractions of 4 Gy each, resulting in a total dose of 20 Gy for apocrine gland anal sac tumors and local lymph nodes in canines. This protocol was assessed as a palliative treatment for macroscopic tumors alone, or in combination with additional therapies under different scenarios. Medical records from fifty canine patients met the inclusion criteria and were divided into different treatment groups: radiotherapy alone (n = 22, 44%), radiotherapy with chemotherapy or targeted therapy with toceranib (n = 18, 36%), surgery with radiotherapy (n = 5, 10%), and surgery with radiotherapy and chemotherapy or targeted therapy with toceranib (n = 5, 10%). Patients who received radiotherapy alone had a median survival time of 384 days (95% CI 198–569) and 628 days (95% CI 579–676) for RT + additional therapies. The median time to progression for patients with radiotherapy alone was 337 days (95% CI 282–391 days), and 402 days (95% CI 286–517 days) for radiotherapy plus additional treatments. Acute side effects were mild, with the majority having diarrhea (61%), and only one patient developed grade III late effects VRTOG v2 classification; however, this happened 22 months after the first radiotherapy protocol after re-irradiation. The results demonstrate that radiotherapy alone under this protocol provided a comparable median time to progression vs. radiotherapy plus additional treatments while maintaining acceptable side effects. The combination of this protocol with other treatment modalities offers attractive results for local disease control and survival while maintaining acceptable toxicities. Overall, these findings contribute to the growing evidence supporting the role of radiotherapy in managing apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma in dogs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Comparative Oncology and Veterinary Cancer Surveillance)
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17 pages, 12977 KiB  
Article
Mathematical Analysis of the Wind Field Characteristics at a Towering Peak Protruding out of a Steep Mountainside
by Mohammed Nabil, Fengqi Guo, Huan Li and Qiuliang Long
Mathematics 2024, 12(10), 1535; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12101535 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Wind field characteristics in a complex topography are significantly influenced by the nature of the surrounding terrains. This study employs onsite measurements to investigate the wind field characteristics at a towering peak protruding out of a steep mountainside, where butterfly−lookalike landscape platform will [...] Read more.
Wind field characteristics in a complex topography are significantly influenced by the nature of the surrounding terrains. This study employs onsite measurements to investigate the wind field characteristics at a towering peak protruding out of a steep mountainside, where butterfly−lookalike landscape platform will be constructed; the impact of the surrounding topography on the wind flow is highlighted. The results showed that the blocking effect of the mountains in the mountainous side of the valley caused a significant drop in the mean wind speed from that direction. The stationary test (reverse arrangement test) indicated that the wind speed had a strong nonstationary characteristic, necessitating the employment of a steady and nonstationary wind speed model to assess the wind turbulence characteristics. The three directions’ wind turbulence integral scales were critically influenced by the occurrence of the wind speedup effect, unexpectedly resulting in the vertical turbulence integral scale being the greatest of the three. Furthermore, the measured wind turbulence properties under both wind speed models showed certain variations from the recommended specifications. Consequently, the impact of the local terrain and the speedup effect on the wind characteristics must be thoroughly evaluated to ensure the structural stability of structures installed at a similar topography. Full article
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26 pages, 305 KiB  
Article
CEO’s Financial Background and Corporate Green Innovation
by Ruibing Guo and Jun Zhao
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4129; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104129 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Innovation is the primary driving force for development, and enterprises, as the main drivers of innovation, are an important part of implementing the national innovation strategy. This paper, combining the perspective of the enterprise lifecycle, thoroughly examines the differential impact of the CEO’s [...] Read more.
Innovation is the primary driving force for development, and enterprises, as the main drivers of innovation, are an important part of implementing the national innovation strategy. This paper, combining the perspective of the enterprise lifecycle, thoroughly examines the differential impact of the CEO’s financial background on green innovation in enterprises at different stages of the lifecycle. This study finds that the CEO’s financial background has a significant inhibitory effect on green innovation in enterprises, and this conclusion holds true after multiple robustness tests. From the perspective of the lifecycle, it is found that when enterprises are in the mature stage, the CEO’s financial background has a strong inhibitory effect on innovation output. The impact of the CEO’s financial background on green innovation output in the growth stage is relatively weak, while there is no significant impact on green innovation in the declining period. Furthermore, based on the enterprise lifecycle, it is found that the CEO’s financial background has a stronger inhibitory effect on green innovation in non-state-owned enterprises and high-tech industries. The research findings of this paper have important theoretical value and practical significance for promoting green innovation in enterprises and implementing the national innovation strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)
12 pages, 7138 KiB  
Article
Overexpression of NB-LRR Gene AtRPM1(D505V) Improved Drought and Salt Resistance and Decreased Cold Tolerance in Transgenic Rice
by Zhaowu Li, Xiaojie Zhou, Xiaoxiao Liu, Xiaoqiu Wu, Zhiming He, Zhiyong Gao and Zhangying Wang
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14051050 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Abiotic stimuli severely restrict the growth and development of plants, resulting in massive losses in the quality and yield of crops. Exploring genes that can improve crop tolerance to abiotic stress is important. In a previous study, we found that overexpression of the [...] Read more.
Abiotic stimuli severely restrict the growth and development of plants, resulting in massive losses in the quality and yield of crops. Exploring genes that can improve crop tolerance to abiotic stress is important. In a previous study, we found that overexpression of the Arabidopsis nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) gene AtRPM1(D505V) increased disease resistance in rice. In this research, we found that AtRPM1(D505V) transgenic plants were more sensitive to abscisic acid (ABA) than wild type (WT) plants. Abiotic-stress resistance in AtRPM1(D505V) transgenic plants was investigated. We found that AtRPM1(D505V) transgenic plants exhibited improved resistance to drought and salt stress; the phonotype and survival rates of transgenic rice were better than WT plants. The expression of stress responsive genes including OsDREB2A, OsDREB2B, OsRD22, and OsRD29A were significantly upregulated in AtRPM1(D505V) overexpressed plants than in WT plants. Moreover, the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) were significantly increased in AtRPM1(D505V) overexpressed plants than in WT plants under drought and salt stress. Under cold stress, the expression of stress responsive genes and the activities of antioxidant enzymes in AtRPM1(D505V) transgenic plants were significantly lower than in WT plants. Our research demonstrated that AtRPM1(D505V) confers drought and salt resistance to transgenic rice. Therefore, AtRPM1(D505V) could act as a potential candidate gene to cultivate drought- and salt-tolerant plants. Full article
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23 pages, 10686 KiB  
Article
Threshold Effects between Ecosystem Services and Natural and Social Drivers in Karst Landscapes
by Mantong Zhao, Qiuwen Zhou, Yingzhong Luo, Yuan Li, Yalin Wang and Ershuang Yuan
Land 2024, 13(5), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050691 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
It has been shown that there are thresholds of influence on the response of ecosystem services to their drivers, and the range of drivers that provide high levels of ecosystem services can be delineated through thresholds. However, due to the spatial heterogeneity of [...] Read more.
It has been shown that there are thresholds of influence on the response of ecosystem services to their drivers, and the range of drivers that provide high levels of ecosystem services can be delineated through thresholds. However, due to the spatial heterogeneity of landscapes in karst regions, the results of ecosystem service threshold studies in non-karst regions may not be applicable to karst regions. This study explores the threshold effects between ecosystem services in karst landscapes and their natural and social drivers. It is shown that there are nonlinear constraints between them, and different critical thresholds exist for different kinds of ecosystem services. The main thresholds for water supply services include the slope (43.64°) and relief amplitude (331.60 m); for water purification services, they include relief amplitude (147.05 m) and distance to urban land (DTUL) (32.30 km); for soil conservation services, they include the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (0.80) and nighttime light intensity (43.58 nW∙cm−2∙sr−1); the main thresholds for biodiversity maintenance services include population density (1481.06 person∙km−2) and distance to urban land (DTUL) (32.80 km). This enables regional ecological conservation planning based on different threshold ranges corresponding to different ecosystem services to meet the different needs of different decision makers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Mapping for Ecological Land)
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18 pages, 3667 KiB  
Article
A Minimal PBPK/PD Model with Expansion-Enhanced Target-Mediated Drug Disposition to Support a First-in-Human Clinical Study Design for a FLT3L-Fc Molecule
by Iraj Hosseini, Brett Fleisher, Jennifer Getz, Jérémie Decalf, Mandy Kwong, Meric Ovacik, Travis W. Bainbridge, Christine Moussion, Gautham K. Rao, Kapil Gadkar, Amrita V. Kamath and Saroja Ramanujan
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(5), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16050660 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
FLT3L-Fc is a half-life extended, effectorless Fc-fusion of the native human FLT3-ligand. In cynomolgus monkeys, treatment with FLT3L-Fc leads to a complex pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship, with observed nonlinear PK and expansion of different immune cell types across different dose levels. A minimal physiologically [...] Read more.
FLT3L-Fc is a half-life extended, effectorless Fc-fusion of the native human FLT3-ligand. In cynomolgus monkeys, treatment with FLT3L-Fc leads to a complex pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship, with observed nonlinear PK and expansion of different immune cell types across different dose levels. A minimal physiologically based PK/PD model with expansion-enhanced target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) was developed to integrate the molecule’s mechanism of action, as well as the complex preclinical and clinical PK/PD data, to support the preclinical-to-clinical translation of FLT3L-Fc. In addition to the preclinical PK data of FLT3L-Fc in cynomolgus monkeys, clinical PK and PD data from other FLT3-agonist molecules (GS-3583 and CDX-301) were used to inform the model and project the expansion profiles of conventional DC1s (cDC1s) and total DCs in peripheral blood. This work constitutes an essential part of our model-informed drug development (MIDD) strategy for clinical development of FLT3L-Fc by projecting PK/PD in healthy volunteers, determining the first-in-human (FIH) dose, and informing the efficacious dose in clinical settings. Model-generated results were incorporated in regulatory filings to support the rationale for the FIH dose selection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Pharmacokinetics in Drug Development and Evaluation)
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