The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
13 pages, 6713 KiB  
Article
Microstructure and Properties of Pressureless-Sintered Zirconium Carbide Ceramics with MoSi2 Addition
by Xiuzheng Chen, Haibo Wu, Huan Liu, Yitian Yang, Bingbing Pei, Jianshen Han, Zehua Liu, Xishi Wu and Zhengren Huang
Materials 2024, 17(9), 2155; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17092155 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Zirconium carbide (ZrC) ceramics have a high melting point, low neutron absorption cross section, and excellent resistance to the impact of fission products and are considered to be one of the best candidate materials for fourth-generation nuclear energy systems. ZrC ceramics with a [...] Read more.
Zirconium carbide (ZrC) ceramics have a high melting point, low neutron absorption cross section, and excellent resistance to the impact of fission products and are considered to be one of the best candidate materials for fourth-generation nuclear energy systems. ZrC ceramics with a high relative density of 99.1% were successfully prepared via pressureless sintering using a small amount of MoSi2 as an additive. The influence of the MoSi2 content on the densification behavior, microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal properties of ZrC ceramics was systematically investigated. The results show that the densification of ZrC was significantly enhanced by the introduction of MoSi2 due to the formation of a liquid phase during sintering. In addition, the ZrC grains were refined due to the pinning effect of the generated silicon carbide. The flexural strength and Vickers hardness of ZrC ceramics with 2.5 vol% MoSi2 sintered at 1850 °C were 408 ± 12 MPa and 17.1 GPa, respectively, which were approximately 30% and 10% higher compared to the samples without the addition of MoSi2. The improved mechanical properties were mainly attributed to the high relative density (99.1%) and refined microstructure. Full article
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16 pages, 3025 KiB  
Article
Construction of an Elastin-like Polypeptide Gene in a High Copy Number Plasmid Using a Modified Method of Reverse Directional Ligation
by Derek W. Nelson, Alexander Connor, Yu Shen and Ryan J. Gilbert
SynBio 2024, 2(2), 174-189; https://doi.org/10.3390/synbio2020010 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are popular biomaterials due to their reversible, temperature-dependent phase separation and their tunability, which is achievable by evolving procedures in recombinant technology. In particular, reverse direction ligation by plasmid reconstruction (PRe-RDL) is the predominant cloning technique used to generate ELPs [...] Read more.
Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are popular biomaterials due to their reversible, temperature-dependent phase separation and their tunability, which is achievable by evolving procedures in recombinant technology. In particular, reverse direction ligation by plasmid reconstruction (PRe-RDL) is the predominant cloning technique used to generate ELPs of varying lengths. Pre-RDL provides precise control over the number of (VPGXG)n repeat units in an ELP due to the selection of type IIS restriction enzyme (REs) sites in the reconstructed pET expression plasmid, which is a low-to-medium copy number plasmid. While Pre-RDL can be used to seamlessly repeat essentially any gene sequence and overcome limitations of previous cloning practices, we modified the Pre-RDL technique, where a high copy number plasmid (pBluescript II SK(+)—using a new library of type IIS REs) was used instead of a pET plasmid. The modified technique successfully produced a diblock ELP gene of 240 pentapeptide repeats from 30 pentapeptide “monomers” composed of alanine, tyrosine, and leucine X residues. This study found that the large, GC-rich ELP gene compromised plasmid yields in pBluescript II SK(+) and favored higher plasmid yields in the pET19b expression plasmid. Additionally, the BL21 E. coli strain expression consistently provided a higher transformation efficiency and higher plasmid yield than the high cloning efficiency strain TOP10 E. coli. We hypothesize that the plasmid/high GC gene ratio may play a significant role in these observations, and not the total plasmid size or the total plasmid GC content. While expression of the final gene resulted in a diblock ELP with a phase separation temperature of 34.5 °C, future work will need to investigate RDL techniques in additional plasmids to understand the primary driving factors for improving yields of plasmids with large ELP-encoding genes. Full article
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8 pages, 3815 KiB  
Article
Study on Anomalous Hall Effect and Spin–Orbit Torque Effect of TbCo-Based Multilayer Films
by Menglu Yang, Yuanjing Qu, Tao He, Xiong He, Yunli Xu, Lizhi Yi, Liqing Pan and Guangduo Lu
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090801 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
The anomalous Hall effect and spin–orbit torque of TbCo-based multilayer films have been methodically studied in recent years. Many properties of the films can be obtained by the anomalous Hall resistance loops of the samples. We report on the effects of a structure [...] Read more.
The anomalous Hall effect and spin–orbit torque of TbCo-based multilayer films have been methodically studied in recent years. Many properties of the films can be obtained by the anomalous Hall resistance loops of the samples. We report on the effects of a structure composed of two heavy metals as the buffer layers on the anomalous Hall resistance loops of TbCo-based multilayers at different temperatures. The results showed that the coercivity increases dramatically with decreasing temperature, and the samples without perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at room temperature showed perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at low temperatures. We quantified the spin–orbit torque efficiency and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction effective field size of the films W/Pt/TbCo/Pt at room temperature by measuring the loop shift of anomalous Hall resistance. The results showed that the study of anomalous Hall resistance loops plays an important role in the study of spintronics, which can not only show the basic properties of the sample, but can also obtain other information about the sample through the shift of the loops. Full article
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21 pages, 4445 KiB  
Article
Failure Behavior and Vulnerability of Containment Structures Subjected to Overpressure Loads Considering Different Failure Criteria
by Junying Guo, Xinbo Li and Jinxin Gong
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051299 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
This paper investigates the failure behavior and vulnerability of the containment structure (CS) under internal pressure according to different functional and structural failure criteria. Through nonlinear numerical analysis, the deformation of the structure, degree of concrete cracking, and the distribution of stresses and [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the failure behavior and vulnerability of the containment structure (CS) under internal pressure according to different functional and structural failure criteria. Through nonlinear numerical analysis, the deformation of the structure, degree of concrete cracking, and the distribution of stresses and strains in the prestressing tendons and steel liner under different failure criteria are compared. Combined with probabilistic analysis methods, the vulnerability curves, HCLPF capacities, and total failure probabilities of CS determined by different failure criteria are systematically discussed. Results show that there are some differences in the failure behavior and pressure capacity of CS under different failure criteria for both functional and structural failure modes. Under the same failure mode, the variability of the pressure capacities obtained using different criteria is relatively small. Generally, the total failure probabilities of CS subjected to overpressure loads determined by different failure criteria exhibit significant differences. If it is considered that all the investigated failure criteria have a certain ability to predict containment failure, the probabilistic assessment results derived from the functional failure criterion based on the fracture strain of steel liners and the structural failure criterion based on the global strain are deemed to be more reasonable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)
16 pages, 3522 KiB  
Article
Impact of Nebulization on the Physicochemical Properties of Polymer–Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticles for Pulmonary Drug Delivery
by Andrea Gonsalves and Jyothi U. Menon
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 5028; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25095028 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) have shown significant potential for pulmonary administration of therapeutics for the treatment of chronic lung diseases in a localized and sustained manner. Nebulization is a suitable method of NP delivery, particularly in patients whose ability to breathe is impaired due to [...] Read more.
Nanoparticles (NPs) have shown significant potential for pulmonary administration of therapeutics for the treatment of chronic lung diseases in a localized and sustained manner. Nebulization is a suitable method of NP delivery, particularly in patients whose ability to breathe is impaired due to lung diseases. However, there are limited studies evaluating the physicochemical properties of NPs after they are passed through a nebulizer. High shear stress generated during nebulization could potentially affect the surface properties of NPs, resulting in the loss of encapsulated drugs and alteration in the release kinetics. Herein, we thoroughly examined the physicochemical properties as well as the therapeutic effectiveness of Infasurf lung surfactant (IFS)-coated PLGA NPs previously developed by us after passing through a commercial Aeroneb® vibrating-mesh nebulizer. Nebulization did not alter the size, surface charge, IFS coating and bi-phasic release pattern exhibited by the NPs. However, there was a temporary reduction in the initial release of encapsulated therapeutics in the nebulized compared to non-nebulized NPs. This underscores the importance of evaluating the drug release kinetics of NPs using the inhalation method of choice to ensure suitability for the intended medical application. The cellular uptake studies demonstrated that both nebulized and non-nebulized NPs were less readily taken up by alveolar macrophages compared to lung cancer cells, confirming the IFS coating retention. Overall, nebulization did not significantly compromise the physicochemical properties as well as therapeutic efficacy of the prepared nanotherapeutics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmaceutical Nanoimaging and Nanoengineering)
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12 pages, 2969 KiB  
Article
Addressing the Concern of Orange-Yellow Fungus Growth on Palm Kernel Cake: Safeguarding Dairy Cattle Diets for Mycotoxin-Producing Fungi
by Carlos Bastidas-Caldes, David Vasco-Julio, Maria Huilca-Ibarra, Salomé Guerrero-Freire, Yanua Ledesma-Bravo and Jacobus H. de Waard
Microorganisms 2024, 12(5), 937; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12050937 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Palm kernel cake (PKC), a byproduct of palm oil extraction, serves an important role in Ecuador’s animal feed industry. The emergence of yellow-orange fungal growth in PKC on some cattle farms in Ecuador sparked concerns within the cattle industry regarding a potential mycotoxin-producing [...] Read more.
Palm kernel cake (PKC), a byproduct of palm oil extraction, serves an important role in Ecuador’s animal feed industry. The emergence of yellow-orange fungal growth in PKC on some cattle farms in Ecuador sparked concerns within the cattle industry regarding a potential mycotoxin-producing fungus on this substrate. Due to the limited availability of analytical chemistry techniques in Ecuador for mycotoxin detection, we chose to isolate and identify the fungus to determine its association with mycotoxin-producing genera. Through molecular identification via ITS region sequencing, we identified the yellow-orange fungus as the yeast Candida ethanolica. Furthermore, we isolated two other fungi—the yeast Pichia kudriavzevii, and the fungus Geotrichum candidum. Molecular identification confirmed that all three species are not classified as mycotoxin-producing fungi but in contrast, the literature indicates that all three have demonstrated antifungal activity against Aspergillus and Penicillium species, genera associated with mycotoxin production. This suggests their potential use in biocontrol to counter the colonization of harmful fungi. We discuss preventive measures against the fungal invasion of PKC and emphasize the importance of promptly identifying fungi on this substrate. Rapid recognition of mycotoxin-producing and pathogenic genera holds the promise of mitigating cattle intoxication and the dissemination of mycotoxins throughout the food chain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Microbiota and Food Safety)
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12 pages, 777 KiB  
Review
The Intrarenal Reflux Diagnosed by Contrast-Enhanced Voiding Urosonography (ceVUS): A Reason for the Reclassification of Vesicoureteral Reflux and New Therapeutic Approach?
by Marijan Saraga, Mirna Saraga-Babić, Adela Arapović, Katarina Vukojević, Zenon Pogorelić and Ana Simičić Majce
Biomedicines 2024, 12(5), 1015; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12051015 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is defined as the urine backflow from the urinary bladder to the pyelo-caliceal system. In contrast, intrarenal reflux (IRR) is the backflow of urine from the renal calyces into the tubulointerstitial space. VURs, particularly those associated with IRR can result [...] Read more.
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is defined as the urine backflow from the urinary bladder to the pyelo-caliceal system. In contrast, intrarenal reflux (IRR) is the backflow of urine from the renal calyces into the tubulointerstitial space. VURs, particularly those associated with IRR can result in reflux nephropathy when accompanied by urinary tract infection (UTI). The prevalence of IRR in patients with diagnosed VUR is 1–11% when using voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), while 11.9–61% when applying the contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography (ceVUS). The presence of IRR diagnosed by VCUG often correlates with parenchymal scars, when diagnosed by a 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (DMSA scan), mostly in kidneys with high-grade VURs, and when diagnosed by ceVUS, it correlates with the wide spectrum of parenchymal changes on DMSA scan. The study performed by both ceVUS and DMSA scans showed IRRs associated with non-dilated VURs in 21% of all detected VURs. A significant difference regarding the existence of parenchymal damage was disclosed between the IRR-associated and IRR-non-associated VURs. A higher portion of parenchymal changes existed in the IRR-associated VURs, regardless of the VUR grade. That means that kidneys with IRR-associated VURs represent the high-risk group of VURs, which must be considered in the future classification of VURs. When using ceVUS, 62% of places where IRR was found were still unaffected by parenchymal changes. That was the basis for our recommendation of preventive use of long-term antibiotic prophylaxis until the IRR disappearance, regardless of the VUR grade. We propose a new classification of VURs using the ceVUS method, in which each VUR grade is subdivided based on the presence of an IRR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Kidney Disease in Children)
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76 pages, 1071 KiB  
Article
The Impact of AI in Sustainable Development Goal Implementation: A Delphi Study
by Simon Ofori Ametepey, Clinton Aigbavboa, Wellington Didibhuku Thwala and Hutton Addy
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3858; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093858 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Artificial intelligence emerges as a powerful catalyst poised to reshape the global sustainability landscape by facilitating the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This comprehensive Delphi study meticulously probes the insights of domain experts, shedding light on the strategic utilization of AI to [...] Read more.
Artificial intelligence emerges as a powerful catalyst poised to reshape the global sustainability landscape by facilitating the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This comprehensive Delphi study meticulously probes the insights of domain experts, shedding light on the strategic utilization of AI to advance these critical sustainability objectives. Employing rigorous statistical techniques, encompassing measures of central tendency and interquartile deviation, this research scrutinizes consensus dynamics among experts and elucidates potential variations in their viewpoints. The findings resoundingly convey experts’ collective positive perspective regarding AI’s pivotal role in propelling the SDGs forward. Through two iterative rounds of extensive discussions, a compelling consensus crystallizes—AI indeed exerts an overall positive impact, exemplified by a robust mean score of 78.8%. Intriguingly, distinct SDGs manifest varied propensities toward AI intervention, with Goals 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, and 15 basking in the radiance of highly positive impacts. Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, and 12 exhibit positive impact scores, indicating a juncture ripe for positive advancements. Meanwhile, Goal 16 and Goal 17 languish with neutral scores, signifying a juncture demanding nuanced deliberations about AI’s impact on peace, justice, and strong institutions as well as on partnerships for the goals, respectively. This paper underscores AI as a formidable instrument poised to address humanity’s most pressing challenges while harmonizing seamlessly with the overarching SDG objectives. It gracefully dovetails into established practices across pivotal domains such as health, education, and resilient infrastructures, amplifying the collective global endeavor to navigate the path toward a more sustainable future. Full article
14 pages, 3404 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Influence of Cation and Halide Substitution in the Structure and Optical Properties of CH3NH3NiCl3 Perovskite
by Natalí Navarro, Ronald Nelson, Karem Gallardo and Rodrigo Castillo
Molecules 2024, 29(9), 2141; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29092141 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
This manuscript details a comprehensive investigation into the synthesis, structural characterization, thermal stability, and optical properties of nickel-containing hybrid perovskites, namely CH3NH3NiCl3, CsNiCl3, and CH3NH3NiBrCl2. The focal point of [...] Read more.
This manuscript details a comprehensive investigation into the synthesis, structural characterization, thermal stability, and optical properties of nickel-containing hybrid perovskites, namely CH3NH3NiCl3, CsNiCl3, and CH3NH3NiBrCl2. The focal point of this study is to unravel the intricate crystal structures, thermal behaviors, and optical characteristics of these materials, thereby elucidating their potential application in energy conversion and storage technologies. X-ray powder diffraction measurements confirm that CH3NH3NiCl3 adopts a crystal structure within the Cmcm space group, while CsNiCl3 is organized in the P63/mmc space group, as reported previously. Such structural diversity underscores the complex nature of these perovskites and their potential for tailored applications. Thermal analysis further reveals the stability of CH3NH3NiCl3 and CH3NH3NiBrCl2, which begin to decompose at 260 °C and 295 °C, respectively. The optical absorption properties of these perovskites studied by UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy revealed the bands characteristic of Ni2+ ions in an octahedral environment. Notably, these absorption bands exhibit subtle shifts upon bromide substitution, suggesting that optical properties can be finely tuned through halide modification. Such tunability is paramount for the design and development of materials with specific optical requirements. By offering a detailed examination of these properties, the study lays the groundwork for future advancements in material science, particularly in the development of innovative materials for sustainable energy technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Inorganic Chemistry)
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17 pages, 2524 KiB  
Article
Design and Development of an SVM-Powered Underwater Acoustic Modem
by Gabriel S. Guerrero-Chilabert, David Moreno-Salinas and José Sánchez-Moreno
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(5), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12050773 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Underwater acoustic communication is fraught with challenges, including signal distortion, noise, and interferences unique to aquatic environments. This study aimed to advance the field by developing a novel underwater modem system that utilizes machine learning for signal classification, enhancing the reliability and clarity [...] Read more.
Underwater acoustic communication is fraught with challenges, including signal distortion, noise, and interferences unique to aquatic environments. This study aimed to advance the field by developing a novel underwater modem system that utilizes machine learning for signal classification, enhancing the reliability and clarity of underwater transmissions. This research introduced a system architecture incorporating a Lattice Semiconductors FPGA for signal modulation and a half-pipe waveguide to emulate the underwater environment. For signal classification, support vector machines (SVMs) were leveraged with the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) employed for feature extraction from acoustic signals. Comparative analysis with traditional signal processing techniques highlighted the efficacy of the CWT in this context. The experiments and tests carried out with the system demonstrated superior performance in classifying modulated signals under simulated underwater conditions, with the SVM providing a robust classification despite the presence of noise. The use of the CWT for feature extraction significantly enhanced the model’s accuracy, eliminating the need for further dimensionality reduction. Therefore, the integration of machine learning with advanced signal processing techniques presents a promising research line for overcoming the complexities of underwater acoustic communication. The findings underscore the potential of data mining methodologies to improve signal clarity and transmission reliability in aquatic environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Navigation and Localization for Autonomous Marine Vehicles)
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18 pages, 1992 KiB  
Article
Internet of Things Application in an Automated Irrigation Prototype Powered by Photovoltaic Energy
by Rafael C. Borges, Carlos H. Beuter, Vitória C. Dourado and Murilo E. C. Bento
Energies 2024, 17(9), 2219; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17092219 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Small-scale agriculture is important. However, there are still limitations regarding the implementation of technologies in small-scale agriculture due to the high costs accompanying them. Therefore, it is essential to seek viable and low-cost solutions since the insertion of technologies in agriculture, especially irrigated [...] Read more.
Small-scale agriculture is important. However, there are still limitations regarding the implementation of technologies in small-scale agriculture due to the high costs accompanying them. Therefore, it is essential to seek viable and low-cost solutions since the insertion of technologies in agriculture, especially irrigated agriculture, guarantees the sustainable expansion of production capacity. The present work applied the Internet of Things concept to an automated irrigation system powered by photovoltaic panels. The materials used in the prototype consisted of Arduino Uno R3, the ESP8266 development board, a soil moisture sensor, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, a flow sensor, and a humidity and temperature sensor. The prototype was designed to take system readings and send them to the Adafruit platform IO. Furthermore, it was programmed to perform remote irrigation control, enabling this to be activated from distant points through the platform. The medium proved efficient for the monitoring and remote control of the system. This indicates that it is possible to use this medium in small automated irrigation systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Sources from Agriculture and Rural Areas II)
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14 pages, 4292 KiB  
Article
A High-Resolution Defect Location Method for Medium-Voltage Cables Based on Gaussian Narrow-Band Envelope Signals and the S-Transform
by Wei Chen, Zhenbao Yang, Jinyang Song, Lifu Zhou, Lingchen Xiang, Xing Wang, Changjin Hao and Xianhao Fan
Energies 2024, 17(9), 2218; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17092218 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
The time–frequency-domain reflection method (TFDR) based on the Wigner–Ville distribution (WVD) is confronted with the problem of cross-term interference in existing methods to locate power cable defects. Therefore, a new method of locating cable defects based on Gaussian narrow-band envelope signals and the [...] Read more.
The time–frequency-domain reflection method (TFDR) based on the Wigner–Ville distribution (WVD) is confronted with the problem of cross-term interference in existing methods to locate power cable defects. Therefore, a new method of locating cable defects based on Gaussian narrow-band envelope signals and the S-transform is proposed in this paper. In this method, the wide-band cable transfer function is obtained by adjusting the parameters of the Gaussian narrow-band envelope signal because the Gaussian narrow-band envelope signal has a good frequency-adjusting ability and time–frequency characteristics. Then, the time–frequency of the cable signal is transformed by the generalized S-transform, and the time delay of the modular matrix of the transformation matrix is estimated by the generalized cross-correlation algorithm to complete the accurate detection of the cable defect’s location. Compared with traditional methods, the proposed method can adaptively adjust the analysis time width according to the frequency change and provide intuitive time–frequency characteristics without cross-term interference. Finally, the effectiveness and practicability of the proposed method are verified in MATLAB 2017_a by simulating a 40 m/10 kV medium-voltage power cable and submarine cable with a length of 32 km. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section F6: High Voltage)
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15 pages, 802 KiB  
Article
Energy-Efficient Resource Optimization for IRS-Assisted VLC-Enabled Offshore Communication System
by Woping Xu and Li Gu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(5), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12050772 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
In this paper, a downlink energy efficiency maximization problem is investigated in an intelligent reflective surface (IRS)-assisted visible light communication system. In order to extend wireless communication coverage of the onshore base station, an IRS mounted on a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is [...] Read more.
In this paper, a downlink energy efficiency maximization problem is investigated in an intelligent reflective surface (IRS)-assisted visible light communication system. In order to extend wireless communication coverage of the onshore base station, an IRS mounted on a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is introduced to assist an onshore lighthouse with simultaneously providing remote ship users wireless communication services and illumination. Aiming to maximizing the energy efficiency of the proposed system, a resource allocation problem is formulated as the ratio of the achievable system sum rate to the total power consumption under the constraints of the user’s data requirement and transmit power budget. Due to the non-convexity of the proposed problem, the Dinkelbach method and mean-square error (MSE) method are adopted to turn the non-convex origin problem into two equivalent problems, namely transmit beamforming and reflected phase shifting. The Lagrangian method and semidefinite relaxation technique are used to obtain the closed-form solutions of these two subproblems. Accordingly, an alternative optimization-based resource allocation scheme is proposed to obtain the optimal system energy efficiency. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme performs better in terms of energy efficiency over benchmark schemes. Full article
17 pages, 1671 KiB  
Article
Highly Fault-Tolerant Systolic-Array-Based Matrix Multiplication
by Hsin-Chen Lu, Liang-Ying Su and Shih-Hsu Huang
Electronics 2024, 13(9), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13091780 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Matrix multiplication plays a crucial role in various engineering and scientific applications. Cannon’s algorithm, executed within two-dimensional systolic arrays, significantly enhances computational efficiency through parallel processing. However, as the matrix size increases, reliability issues become more prominent. Although the previous work has proposed [...] Read more.
Matrix multiplication plays a crucial role in various engineering and scientific applications. Cannon’s algorithm, executed within two-dimensional systolic arrays, significantly enhances computational efficiency through parallel processing. However, as the matrix size increases, reliability issues become more prominent. Although the previous work has proposed a fault-tolerant mechanism, it is only suitable for scenarios with a limited number of faulty processing elements (PEs). This paper introduces a pair-matching mechanism, assigning a fault-free PE as a proxy for each faulty PE to execute its tasks. Our fault-tolerant mechanism comprises two stages: in the first stage, each fault-free PE completes its designated computations; in the second stage, computations intended for each faulty PE are executed by its assigned fault-free PE proxy. The experimental results demonstrate that compared to the previous work, our approach not only significantly improves the fault tolerance of systolic arrays (applicable to scenarios with a higher number of faulty PEs) but also reduces circuit areas. Therefore, the proposed approach proves effective in practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue System-on-Chip (SoC) and Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Design)
14 pages, 4939 KiB  
Article
Study on NH3-SCR Activity and HCl/H2O Tolerance of Titanate-Nanotube-Supported MnOx-CeO2 Catalyst at Low Temperature
by Qiulin Wang, Feng Liu, Zhihao Wu, Jing Jin, Xiaoqing Lin, Shengyong Lu and Juan Qiu
Catalysts 2024, 14(5), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14050306 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Manganese oxide-cerium oxide supported on titanate nanotubes (i.e., MnCe/TiNTs) were prepared and their catalytic activities towards NH3-SCR of NO were tested. The results indicated that the MnCe/TiNT catalyst can achieve a high NO removal efficiency above 95% within the temperature range [...] Read more.
Manganese oxide-cerium oxide supported on titanate nanotubes (i.e., MnCe/TiNTs) were prepared and their catalytic activities towards NH3-SCR of NO were tested. The results indicated that the MnCe/TiNT catalyst can achieve a high NO removal efficiency above 95% within the temperature range of 150–350 °C. Even after exposure to a HCl-containing atmosphere for 2 h, the NO removal efficiency of the MnCe/TiNT catalyst maintains at approximately 90% at 150 °C. This is attributed to the large specific surface area as well as the unique hollow tubular structure of TiNTs that exposes more Ce atoms, which preferentially react with HCl and thus protect the active Mn atoms. Moreover, the abundant OH groups on TiNTs serve as Brønsted acid sites and provide H protons to expel Cl atom from the catalyst surface. The irreversible deactivation caused by HCl can be alleviated by H2O. That is because the dissociated adsorption of H2O on TiNTs forms additional OH groups and relieves HCl poisoning. Full article
24 pages, 6629 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Multi-Task Traffic Forecasting in Beyond 5G Networks: Leveraging Transformer Technology and Multi-Source Data Fusion
by Ibrahim Althamary, Rubbens Boisguene and Chih-Wei Huang
Future Internet 2024, 16(5), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/fi16050159 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Managing cellular networks in the Beyond 5G (B5G) era is a complex and challenging task requiring advanced deep learning approaches. Traditional models focusing on internet traffic (INT) analysis often fail to capture the rich temporal and spatial contexts essential for accurate INT predictions. [...] Read more.
Managing cellular networks in the Beyond 5G (B5G) era is a complex and challenging task requiring advanced deep learning approaches. Traditional models focusing on internet traffic (INT) analysis often fail to capture the rich temporal and spatial contexts essential for accurate INT predictions. Furthermore, these models do not account for the influence of external factors such as weather, news, and social trends. This study proposes a multi-source CNN-RNN (MSCR) model that leverages a rich dataset, including periodic, weather, news, and social data to address these limitations. This model enables the capture and fusion of diverse data sources for improved INT prediction accuracy. An advanced deep learning model, the transformer-enhanced CNN-RNN (TE-CNN-RNN), has been introduced. This model is specifically designed to predict INT data only. This model demonstrates the effectiveness of transformers in extracting detailed temporal-spatial features, outperforming conventional CNN-RNN models. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed MSCR and TE-CNN-RNN models outperform existing state-of-the-art models for traffic forecasting. These findings underscore the transformative power of transformers for capturing intricate temporal-spatial features and the importance of multi-source data and deep learning techniques for optimizing cell site management in the B5G era. Full article
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11 pages, 7630 KiB  
Communication
Influence of Surface Treatments on Urea Detection Using Si Electrolyte-Gated Transistors with Different Gate Electrodes
by Wonyeong Choi, Seonghwan Shin, Jeonghyeon Do, Jongmin Son, Kihyun Kim and Jeong-Soo Lee
Micromachines 2024, 15(5), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15050621 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
We investigated the impact of surface treatments on Si-based electrolyte-gated transistors (EGTs) for detecting urea. Three types of EGTs were fabricated with distinct gate electrodes (Ag, Au, Pt) using a top-down method. These EGTs exhibited exceptional intrinsic electrical properties, including a low subthreshold [...] Read more.
We investigated the impact of surface treatments on Si-based electrolyte-gated transistors (EGTs) for detecting urea. Three types of EGTs were fabricated with distinct gate electrodes (Ag, Au, Pt) using a top-down method. These EGTs exhibited exceptional intrinsic electrical properties, including a low subthreshold swing of 80 mV/dec, a high on/off current ratio of 106, and negligible hysteresis. Three surface treatment methods ((3-amino-propyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) and glutaraldehyde (GA), 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA), 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA)) were individually applied to the EGTs with different gate electrodes (Ag, Au, Pt). Gold nanoparticle binding tests were performed to validate the surface functionalization. We compared their detection performance of urea and found that APTES and GA exhibited the most superior detection characteristics, followed by 11-MUA and 3-MPA, regardless of the gate metal. APTES and GA, with the highest pKa among the three surface treatment methods, did not compromise the activity of urease, making it the most suitable surface treatment method for urea sensing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue CMOS Biosensor and Bioelectronic)
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19 pages, 3069 KiB  
Review
Charting the Sustainable Course: Navigating the Saudi Arabia Medical and Wellness Tourism Roadmap with Business Model Canvas (BMC)
by Thaib Alharethi and Moaaz Kabil
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3856; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093856 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Medical and wellness tourism has emerged as a pivotal sector with significant economic implications globally, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study delves into the landscape of Saudi Arabia’s medical and wellness tourism, recognizing its importance as a key player in the tourism [...] Read more.
Medical and wellness tourism has emerged as a pivotal sector with significant economic implications globally, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study delves into the landscape of Saudi Arabia’s medical and wellness tourism, recognizing its importance as a key player in the tourism industry. The study aims to elevate this sector to new heights on the global stage by employing the Business Model Canvas (BMC) as a strategic tool. BMC allows for a comprehensive analysis of the medical tourism industry in Saudi Arabia, breaking down key elements across its nine blocks: key partners, key activities, key resources, value propositions, customer segments, channels, customer relationships, cost structure, and revenue streams. The results of this study shed light on the unique selling proposition (USP) as a crucial strategic step for Saudi Arabia to distinguish itself and enhance its position in the international medical tourism arena. By identifying and maximizing the unique aspects within each BMC block, the study presents a roadmap for Saudi Arabia, navigating the challenges and capitalizing on the potential of the medical and wellness tourism sector. This research serves as a guide, emphasizing the strategic importance of a well-defined business model to shape the future of medical and wellness tourism in Saudi Arabia and establish a prominent global presence. Full article
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19 pages, 789 KiB  
Review
Natural Substances as Valuable Alternative for Improving Conventional Antifungal Chemotherapy: Lights and Shadows
by Juan Carlos Argüelles, Ruth Sánchez-Fresneda, Alejandra Argüelles and Francisco Solano
J. Fungi 2024, 10(5), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10050334 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with relatively few pathogenic members dangerous for humans, usually acting as opportunistic infections. In the last decades, several life-threatening fungal infections have risen mostly associated with the worldwide extension of chronic diseases and immunosuppression. The available antifungal therapies cannot [...] Read more.
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with relatively few pathogenic members dangerous for humans, usually acting as opportunistic infections. In the last decades, several life-threatening fungal infections have risen mostly associated with the worldwide extension of chronic diseases and immunosuppression. The available antifungal therapies cannot combat this challenge because the arsenal of compounds is scarce and displays low selective action, significant adverse effects, and increasing resistance. A growing isolation of outbreaks triggered by fungal species formerly considered innocuous is being recorded. From ancient times, natural substances harvested from plants have been applied to folk medicine and some of them recently emerged as promising antifungals. The most used are briefly revised herein. Combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs with natural products to obtain more efficient and gentle treatments are also revised. Nevertheless, considerable research work is still necessary before their clinical use can be generally accepted. Many natural products have a highly complex chemical composition, with the active principles still partially unknown. Here, we survey the field underlying lights and shadows of both groups. More studies involving clinical strains are necessary, but we illustrate this matter by discussing the potential clinical applications of combined carnosic acid plus propolis formulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Antifungal Drugs)
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21 pages, 11192 KiB  
Article
Estimating Urban Forests Biomass with LiDAR by Using Deep Learning Foundation Models
by Hanzhang Liu, Chao Mou, Jiateng Yuan, Zhibo Chen, Liheng Zhong and Xiaohui Cui
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(9), 1643; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16091643 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Accurately estimating vegetation biomass in urban forested areas is of great interest to researchers as it is a key indicator of the carbon sequestration capacity necessary for cities to achieve carbon neutrality. The emerging vegetation biomass estimation methods that use AI technologies with [...] Read more.
Accurately estimating vegetation biomass in urban forested areas is of great interest to researchers as it is a key indicator of the carbon sequestration capacity necessary for cities to achieve carbon neutrality. The emerging vegetation biomass estimation methods that use AI technologies with remote sensing images often suffer from arge estimating errors due to the diversity of vegetation and the complex three-dimensional terrain environment in urban ares. However, the high resolution of Light Detection and Ranging (i.e., LiDAR) data provides an opportunity to accurately describe the complex 3D scenes of urban forests, thereby improving estimation accuracy. Additionally, deep earning foundation models have widely succeeded in the industry, and show great potential promise to estimate vegetation biomass through processing complex and arge amounts of urban LiDAR data efficiently and accurately. In this study, we propose an efficient and accurate method called 3D-CiLBE (3DCity Long-term Biomass Estimation) to estimate urban vegetation biomass by utilizing advanced deep earning foundation models. In the 3D-CiLBE method, the Segment Anything Model (i.e., SAM) was used to segment single wood information from a arge amount of complex urban LiDAR data. Then, we modified the Contrastive Language–Image Pre-training (i.e., CLIP) model to identify the species of the wood so that the classic anisotropic growth equation can be used to estimate biomass. Finally, we utilized the Informer model to predict the biomass in the ong term. We evaluate it in eight urban areas across the United States. In the task of identifying urban greening areas, the 3D-CiLBE achieves optimal performance with a mean Intersection over Union (i.e., mIoU) of 0.94. Additionally, for vegetation classification, 3D-CiLBE achieves an optimal recognition accuracy of 92.72%. The estimation of urban vegetation biomass using 3D-CiLBE achieves a Mean Square Error of 0.045 kg/m2, reducing the error by up to 8.2% compared to 2D methods. The MSE for biomass prediction by 3D-CiLBE was 0.06kg/m2 smaller on average than the inear regression model. Therefore, the experimental results indicate that the 3D-CiLBE method can accurately estimate urban vegetation biomass and has potential for practical application. Full article
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12 pages, 264 KiB  
Article
Ghost Stars in General Relativity
by Luis Herrera, Alicia Di Prisco and Justo Ospino
Symmetry 2024, 16(5), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16050562 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
We explore an idea put forward many years ago by Zeldovich and Novikov concerning the existence of compact objects endowed with arbitrarily small mass. The energy density of such objects, which we call “ghost stars”, is negative in some regions of the fluid [...] Read more.
We explore an idea put forward many years ago by Zeldovich and Novikov concerning the existence of compact objects endowed with arbitrarily small mass. The energy density of such objects, which we call “ghost stars”, is negative in some regions of the fluid distribution, producing a vanishing total mass. Thus, the interior is matched on the boundary surface to Minkowski space–time. Some exact analytical solutions are exhibited and their properties are analyzed. Observational data that could confirm or dismiss the existence of this kind of stellar object are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Nuclear Physics of Neutron Stars)
11 pages, 1083 KiB  
Article
“Seeing Is Believing”: Additive Utility of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
by Joel Chin, Yu Guang Tan, Alvin Lee, Tze Kiat Ng, Ruoyu Shi, Charlene Yu Lin Tang, Sue Ping Thang, Jeffrey Kit Loong Tuan, Christopher Wai Sam Cheng, Kae Jack Tay, Henry Sun Sien Ho, Hung-Jen Wang, Peter Ka-Fung Chiu, Jeremy Yuen-Chun Teoh, Winnie Wing-Chuen Lam, Yan Mee Law, John Shyi Peng Yuen and Kenneth Chen
Cancers 2024, 16(9), 1777; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16091777 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
Widespread adoption of mpMRI has led to a decrease in the number of patients requiring prostate biopsies. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT has demonstrated added benefits in identifying csPCa. Integrating the use of these imaging techniques may hold promise for predicting the presence of csPCa [...] Read more.
Widespread adoption of mpMRI has led to a decrease in the number of patients requiring prostate biopsies. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT has demonstrated added benefits in identifying csPCa. Integrating the use of these imaging techniques may hold promise for predicting the presence of csPCa without invasive biopsy. A retrospective analysis of 42 consecutive patients who underwent mpMRI, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT, prostatic biopsy, and radical prostatectomy (RP) was carried out. A lesion-based model (n = 122) using prostatectomy histopathology as reference standard was used to analyze the accuracy of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT, mpMRI alone, and both in combination to identify ISUP-grade group ≥ 2 lesions. 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT demonstrated greater specificity and positive predictive value (PPV), with values of 73.3% (vs. 40.0%) and 90.1% (vs. 82.2%), while the mpMRI Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 4–5 had better sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV): 90.2% (vs. 78.5%) and 57.1% (vs. 52.4%), respectively. When used in combination, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 74.2%, 83.3%, 93.2%, and 51.0%, respectively. Subgroup analysis of PI-RADS 3, 4, and 5 lesions was carried out. For PI-RADS 3 lesions, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT demonstrated a NPV of 77.8%. For PI-RADS 4–5 lesions, 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT achieved PPV values of 82.1% and 100%, respectively, with an NPV of 100% in PI-RADS 5 lesions. A combination of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and mpMRI improved the radiological diagnosis of csPCa. This suggests that avoidance of prostate biopsy prior to RP may represent a valid option in a selected subgroup of high-risk patients with a high suspicion of csPCa on mpMRI and 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT. Full article
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19 pages, 15358 KiB  
Article
Graphic Reconstruction of a Roman Mosaic with Scenes of the Abduction of Europa
by Gregor Oštir, Dejana Javoršek, Primož Stergar, Tanja Nuša Kočevar, Aleksandra Nestorović and Helena Gabrijelčič Tomc
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3931; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093931 (registering DOI) - 05 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents the reconstruction framework of the Roman mosaic with the central scene from the abduction of Europa. The mosaic depicting Europa, discovered in Ptuj (Slovenia) and dated from the second half of the third to the beginning of the fourth century [...] Read more.
This paper presents the reconstruction framework of the Roman mosaic with the central scene from the abduction of Europa. The mosaic depicting Europa, discovered in Ptuj (Slovenia) and dated from the second half of the third to the beginning of the fourth century AD, once decorated the representative room of a Roman villa. The experimental section addresses the materials and methods used in the 2D reconstruction of the mosaic, including the creation of line drawings of the mosaic based on the preserved part of the mosaic, photogrammetric acquisition, and the creation and processing of 1:1 raster reconstructions of the entire mosaic. This is followed by color management and interpretation approaches which allow the mosaic elements to be implemented in a 3D animation. The presented approaches could be implemented in the reconstruction process of other mosaics and archaeological objects with adaptations to the specifics of related objects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies in Digitizing Cultural Heritage Volume II)
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