The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
20 pages, 16966 KiB  
Article
Path Tracking Control Based on T-S Fuzzy Model for Autonomous Vehicles with Yaw Angle and Heading Angle
by Yelin He, Jian Wu, Fuxing Xu, Xin Liu, Shuai Wang and Guanjie Cui
Machines 2024, 12(6), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12060375 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Existing vehicle-road models used for road tracking do not take into account the side slip angle, which leads to a reduction in road tracking accuracy in scenarios where the vehicle is at a large side slip angle, such as an emergency lane change. [...] Read more.
Existing vehicle-road models used for road tracking do not take into account the side slip angle, which leads to a reduction in road tracking accuracy in scenarios where the vehicle is at a large side slip angle, such as an emergency lane change. Consequently, this study presents a path-tracking control technique based on the T-S fuzzy model of heading angle vehicle autonomy. In this paper, based on the yaw angle-based vehicle tracking model, a heading angle-based tracking model considering the side slip angle is constructed. Second, since the vehicle speed varies with time, this paper selects the membership function of the vehicle speed to establish the T-S fuzzy model of autonomous vehicle based on the yaw angle and heading angle, respectively, and ensures the robustness and stability over the whole parameter space by the linear parameter variation robust H controller. Then, cost functions based on the yaw angle and heading angle augmented error systems are created separately to optimize the system’s overall performance. Ultimately, simulation and experimentation confirm that the algorithm for control, which is based on the fuzzy model of the heading angle vehicle, has superior autonomous trajectory performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Robotics and Automation)
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16 pages, 470 KiB  
Article
Catholic Parishes and Immigrants in Italy: Insights from the Congregations Study in Three Italian Cities
by Marco Guglielmi, Olga Breskaya and Stefano Sbalchiero
Societies 2024, 14(6), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14060077 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
As shown by sociological studies, the Catholic Church in Italy is very active in conducting advocacy and providing political representation to immigrants. It is also highly effective in carrying out services for immigrants, as well as fairly receptive to sharing places of worship [...] Read more.
As shown by sociological studies, the Catholic Church in Italy is very active in conducting advocacy and providing political representation to immigrants. It is also highly effective in carrying out services for immigrants, as well as fairly receptive to sharing places of worship with them. However, these sociological observations have been mainly conducted at the national level rather than by exploring the life of parishes through an empirical lens. This article aims, by applying the congregations study methodology, to fill this gap by detecting faith communities as the basic social units of religious life at the city/country level. In doing that, we discuss quantitative data collected in 377 Catholic parishes in the cities of Bologna, Milan, and Brescia. The findings suggest that Catholic parishes: (i) illustrate a low proportion of immigrants in their communities; (ii) show high activity in providing services for immigrants; (iii) are not politically engaged in advocacy for foreign persons at the local level; and (iv) similarly position themselves as politically conservative and liberal while expressing commitments to immigrants. This study confirms the sociological argument regarding the solidarity approach of the Catholic Church in Italy toward immigrants, while highlighting some ambivalent aspects related to cultural diversity and grass-roots political engagement within parishes’ life. Full article
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8 pages, 325 KiB  
Article
Impact of Exogenous Factors and Anesthetic Risk in Premature Birth during the Pandemic Period
by Florin Tovirnac, Carolina Susanu, Nicoleta Andreea Tovirnac, Eva Maria Elkan, Ana Maria Cobzaru, Alexandru Nechifor and Alina Mihaela Calin
Diagnostics 2024, 14(11), 1123; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14111123 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Premature birth remains a public health problem worldwide, involving a broader context and a multidisciplinary team aimed at combating this phenomenon as much as possible. The consumption of addictive substances by women who are pregnant can occur in different social contexts and [...] Read more.
Background: Premature birth remains a public health problem worldwide, involving a broader context and a multidisciplinary team aimed at combating this phenomenon as much as possible. The consumption of addictive substances by women who are pregnant can occur in different social contexts and at different stages of their lives, which modulate its extent. Obstetricians and anesthetists should consider the anesthetic maternal risks that may arise due to these addictive behaviors. The maternal anesthetic risk is higher in women who are pregnant with a medium-level of education, imbalanced nutrition, stress associated with physical or mental activity, affected sleep hygiene, and failed marriages. Objectives: The objectives of the study refer to analyzing the impact of exogenous factors and the anesthetic risk on premature birth for women who were pregnant during the pandemic period and in women who were pregnant without COVID-19 infection. The authors studied a significant sample of 3588 women who were pregnant without COVID-19 infection, among whom 3291 gave birth at term and 297 gave birth prematurely. Methods: The methods analyzed consist of studying the specialized literature regarding the impact of exogenous factors and parturient’s anesthetic risk on premature birth and identifying the regional risk profile of women who are pregnant in the southeast region of Romania compared to that identified in the specialized literature. In the analytical methods, we used a linear regression to study the incidence of exogenous risk factors on anesthetic risk in women who were pregnant with premature births compared to those with full-term births. Results: The results confirm the significant impact of exogenous factors on anesthetic risk and the significant impact of anesthetic risk on premature births. The novelty of the study lies in highlighting the modification of the regional exogenous risk profile during the pandemic period in southeast Romania due to unfavorable socio-economic causes and the translation of grade I and II prematurity events to higher frequencies with an increased level of maternal anesthetic risk. Conclusions: The study findings show that the anesthetic risk is maximized in parturients with a middle school education. Additionally, the anesthetic risk of patients who are pregnant increases with the intensification of smoking adherence and its maintenance throughout the pregnancy at the same intensity. Our study aims to provide a basis for the diversification and development of community intervention programs in the post-COVID-19 era, considering the reshaping of social models and the repositioning of social principles and values. Obstetricians and anesthetists must know and promote family values to harmonize the lives of family members and provide a better life for the mother and child. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics)
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18 pages, 2527 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Urban Electric/Hybrid Electric Vehicles
by Boris Velev, Bozhidar Djudzhev, Vladimir Dimitrov and Nikolay Hinov
Batteries 2024, 10(6), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10060186 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents an experimental comparison of two types of Li-ion battery stacks for low-voltage energy storage in small urban Electric or Hybrid Electric Vehicles (EVs/HEVs). These systems are a combination of lithium battery cells, a battery management system (BMS), and a central [...] Read more.
This paper presents an experimental comparison of two types of Li-ion battery stacks for low-voltage energy storage in small urban Electric or Hybrid Electric Vehicles (EVs/HEVs). These systems are a combination of lithium battery cells, a battery management system (BMS), and a central control circuit—a lithium energy storage and management system (LESMS). Li-Ion cells are assembled with two different active cathode materials, nickel–cobalt–aluminum (NCA) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP), both with an integrated decentralized BMS. Based on experiments conducted on the two assembled LESMSs, this paper suggests that although LFP batteries have inferior characteristics in terms of energy and power density, they have great capacity for improvement. Full article
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12 pages, 1940 KiB  
Article
Systematics Review and Phylogeny of Cyrtophyllitinae Zeuner, 1935 sensu Gorochov, Jarzembowski & Coram, 2006 (Ensifera, Haglidae), with Description of Two New Species
by Jun-Jie Gu, Wei Yuan, Rong Huang, Dong Ren and Hong-Xing Chen
Insects 2024, 15(6), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15060396 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
A phylogeny of Cyrtophyllitinae Zeuner, 1935 sensu Gorochov, Jarzembowski & Coram, 2006, based on wing morphology, is presented including all genera. Cyrtophillitinae is found to be paraphyletic. Except for Cyrtophyllites rogeri Oppenheim, 1888, all other species were moved from the subfamily Cyrtophyllitinae (Hagloidea, [...] Read more.
A phylogeny of Cyrtophyllitinae Zeuner, 1935 sensu Gorochov, Jarzembowski & Coram, 2006, based on wing morphology, is presented including all genera. Cyrtophillitinae is found to be paraphyletic. Except for Cyrtophyllites rogeri Oppenheim, 1888, all other species were moved from the subfamily Cyrtophyllitinae (Hagloidea, Haglidae). Consequently, a new subfamily Archaboilinae subfam. nov. was erected and accommodates most of the previous cyrtophillitine taxa, except Cyrtophyllites rogeri. The type genus Archaboilus Martynov, 1937 of the new subfamily was designated; a new genus, Pararchaboilus gen. nov., was erected with the designation of type species Pararchaboilus cretaceus comb. nov. From the Middle Jurassic deposits of China, two new species, Archaboilus ornatus sp. nov. and Vitimoilus gigantus sp. nov., are described. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Insect Systematics, Phylogeny and Evolution)
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23 pages, 8980 KiB  
Article
Numerical Study of the Force Characteristics and Flow Field Patterns of a Cylinder in the Internal Solitary Wave
by Miao Zhang, Haibao Hu, Abdellatif Ouahsine, Peng Du, Xiao Huang and Luo Xie
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(6), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12060906 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
The density of the ocean is unevenly distributed along the depth direction, showing a stratified structure. When there is an external disturbance, large-scale internal solitary waves are easily generated. The internal solitary waves are bounded by the intermediate pycnocline, and the currents in [...] Read more.
The density of the ocean is unevenly distributed along the depth direction, showing a stratified structure. When there is an external disturbance, large-scale internal solitary waves are easily generated. The internal solitary waves are bounded by the intermediate pycnocline, and the currents in the upper and lower layers will flow in opposite directions. This generates strong shear forces that threaten the safety of marine structures. In this paper, the flow field distribution characteristics of a cylinder under the action of internal solitary waves at different scales are analyzed as a research object. The whole cylinder is discretized into 40 regions, and the horizontal force applied to each section of the cylinder is extracted. The force characteristics of the cylinder are analyzed. It is concluded that the pressure is the main factor determining the magnitude of the total combined force. In addition, the paper extracts the main flow structures from the modal decomposition point of view and explains the reasons affecting the force behavior of the cylinder. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of CFD Simulations to Marine Hydrodynamic Problems)
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9 pages, 1395 KiB  
Article
Placing 21st Century Warming in Southern California, USA in a Multi-Century Historical Context
by Paul A. Knapp, Avery A. Catherwood and Peter T. Soulé
Atmosphere 2024, 15(6), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15060649 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Warming in southern California during the 21st century is unprecedented in the instrumental record. To place this warming in a multi-century historical context, we analyzed tree ring data sampled from Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) [...] Read more.
Warming in southern California during the 21st century is unprecedented in the instrumental record. To place this warming in a multi-century historical context, we analyzed tree ring data sampled from Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) collected from minimally disturbed, old-growth high-elevation forests within Mt. San Jacinto State Park California, USA. Based on a calibration/verification period of 1960–2020 between earlywood radial growth and California Climate Division 6 climate data, we reconstructed annual (November–October) minimum temperature (Tmin) from 1658 to 2020. During the 61-year calibration/verification period, instrumental Tmin increased (r = 0.69, p < 0.01) and was positively associated with annual radial growth (r = 0.71, p < 0.01). Using regime shift analysis, we found that the 363-year reconstruction revealed Tmin stability until 1958 and then decreased until 1980, followed by the two warmest regimes (1981–2007, 2008–2020) on record. The last 13-year period was 0.77 °C warmer than the multi-century average with nine of the ten warmest years in the reconstruction recorded. These results suggest that 21st century warming in southern California is unique in the context of the past four centuries, indicating the rarity of exceptional warmth captured in the tree ring record. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Climatology)
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13 pages, 2279 KiB  
Article
Identification of Marker Genes in Infectious Diseases from ScRNA-seq Data Using Interpretable Machine Learning
by Gustavo Sganzerla Martinez, Alexis Garduno, Ali Toloue Ostadgavahi, Benjamin Hewins, Mansi Dutt, Anuj Kumar, Ignacio Martin-Loeches and David J. Kelvin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 5920; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115920 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
A common result of infection is an abnormal immune response, which may be detrimental to the host. To control the infection, the immune system might undergo regulation, therefore producing an excess of either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory pathways that can lead to widespread inflammation, [...] Read more.
A common result of infection is an abnormal immune response, which may be detrimental to the host. To control the infection, the immune system might undergo regulation, therefore producing an excess of either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory pathways that can lead to widespread inflammation, tissue damage, and organ failure. A dysregulated immune response can manifest as changes in differentiated immune cell populations and concentrations of circulating biomarkers. To propose an early diagnostic system that enables differentiation and identifies the severity of immune-dysregulated syndromes, we built an artificial intelligence tool that uses input data from single-cell RNA sequencing. In our results, single-cell transcriptomics successfully distinguished between mild and severe sepsis and COVID-19 infections. Moreover, by interpreting the decision patterns of our classification system, we identified that different immune cells upregulating or downregulating the expression of the genes CD3, CD14, CD16, FOSB, S100A12, and TCRɣδ can accurately differentiate between different degrees of infection. Our research has identified genes of significance that effectively distinguish between infections, offering promising prospects as diagnostic markers and providing potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Targeted Therapy for Immune Diseases)
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11 pages, 934 KiB  
Article
The Absence of Attentional Bias to Low-Calorie Food Stimuli in Restrictive Dieters: Differences in the Allocation of Attentional Resources to High-Calorie Foods
by Wu Jiang, Huan Zhang, Haoping Yang, Zonghao Zhang and Aijun Wang
Brain Sci. 2024, 14(6), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14060551 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Restrictive dieters are those who expect to achieve body shape and weight control through dieting. However, they often have difficulty suppressing the desire to consume food when confronted with it. It has been shown that when high- and low-calorie foods are presented together, [...] Read more.
Restrictive dieters are those who expect to achieve body shape and weight control through dieting. However, they often have difficulty suppressing the desire to consume food when confronted with it. It has been shown that when high- and low-calorie foods are presented together, the attention of restrictive eaters is preferentially directed to high-calorie foods. However, whether attentional bias occurs when low-calorie foods are present alone and whether the allocation of attentional resources is consistent with that for high-calorie foods has yet to be explored. The present study focused on the effects of high-/low-calorie foods on attentional bias in restrictive dieters. Seventy-eight participants were recruited to participate in the experiment via the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) scale, which is administered in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) task. The results revealed that failed restrictive dieters had the lowest percentage of correct answers at the lag2 level, indicating attentional bias. Failed restrictive dieters allocated more attentional resources to high-calorie foods than to low-calorie foods. Restrictive dieters showed no attentional bias when low-calorie foods were presented alone. The results suggest that low-calorie foods do not elicit an attentional bias in restrictive dieters and that the allocation of attentional resources is not consistent when compared to that for high-calorie foods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nutritional Neuroscience)
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12 pages, 4758 KiB  
Article
Analyzing the Problems of a District-Based Administration Using Monte Carlo Simulation: The Case of Sex Offender Notifications in Korea
by Hyemin Kim, Suyun Lee and Chulmin Jun
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2024, 13(6), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi13060177 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
The problems of administrations based simply on administrative units that do not consider the operational purposes of the system have been consistently discussed. For example, in the Republic of Korea, sex offenders’ information is distributed via physical mail only in a few regions, [...] Read more.
The problems of administrations based simply on administrative units that do not consider the operational purposes of the system have been consistently discussed. For example, in the Republic of Korea, sex offenders’ information is distributed via physical mail only in a few regions, a practice that is too rigidly based on the boundaries of the administrative ‘Dong’ of the offender’s residence. This implies that citizens in an adjacent building will not be notified if their Dong is different. Therefore, this study analyzed the problems of an administrative system that does not consider its realistic scope by using the case study of sex offender notifications. By expanding the distance from children and youth grids, we ascertained the extent of the problems with sex offender notifications. Additionally, to determine whether these problems have occurred by chance at a specific point in time or if there has been a fundamental limitation in the system, the Monte Carlo simulation was applied to compare the actual and random data of residences. Full article
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15 pages, 297 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition and Nutritive Value of Almond Hulls from Two Almond Varieties and Influence of Including Almond Hulls in the Diet on In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation and Methane Production
by Adriana Recalde, Trinidad de Evan, Carlos Fernández, Rafael A. Roldán, Silvia López-Feria and María Dolores Carro
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(6), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11060242 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Almond hulls (AH) are frequently used in dairy ruminant feeding, but information on variability of their nutritive value and their potential effects on CH4 production is still scarce. The influence of almond variety (Guara vs. Soleta) on chemical composition and energy value [...] Read more.
Almond hulls (AH) are frequently used in dairy ruminant feeding, but information on variability of their nutritive value and their potential effects on CH4 production is still scarce. The influence of almond variety (Guara vs. Soleta) on chemical composition and energy value of AH was investigated using 10 samples per variety collected in 2 consecutive years. Guara-AH had greater (p ≤ 0.015) ash, protein, and fat content, but lower (p ≤ 0.001) fiber than Soleta-AH. The metabolizable energy content estimated from chemical composition and in vitro gas production was 8.5% greater for Guara than for Soleta samples. Harvesting year significantly affected most of the chemical fractions. The in vitro ruminal fermentation of diets for dairy ruminants including increasing amounts of dried AH (8, 16 and 24% of the total diet; fresh matter basis) indicated that AH can be included up to 16% of the diet, partially substituting corn, wheat bran and sugar beet pulp without detrimental effects on in vitro volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. In contrast, when AH replaced alfalfa hay and corn, VFA production was reduced at all levels of AH inclusion. No antimethanogenic effects of AH were detected in the in vitro incubations. Full article
11 pages, 3217 KiB  
Article
Beyond the Bile: Exploring the Microbiome and Metabolites in Cholangiocarcinoma
by Jungnam Lee, Hanul Kim and Jin-Seok Park
Life 2024, 14(6), 698; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14060698 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Introduction: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) still has a high mortality rate despite improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. The role of the human microbiome in CCC is poorly understood, and a recent metagenomic analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between microbiome-associated carcinogenesis and CCC. This study [...] Read more.
Introduction: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) still has a high mortality rate despite improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. The role of the human microbiome in CCC is poorly understood, and a recent metagenomic analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between microbiome-associated carcinogenesis and CCC. This study aimed to investigate changes in microbiome composition associated with CCC and its metabolic signature by integrating taxonomic and functional information with metabolomics data and in vitro experimental results. Methods: From February 2019 to January 2021, this study included patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), both with and without a diagnosis of CCC. Bile samples were collected via endoscopic nasobiliary drainages (ENBD) and subjected to DNA extraction, PCR amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region, and data analysis using QIIME2. In vitro Carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) proliferation and Annexin V/PI apoptosis assays were performed to investigate the effects of metabolites on CCC cells. Results: A total of 24 patients were included in the study. Bile fluid analysis revealed a significantly higher abundance of Escherichia coli in the CCC group. Alpha diversity analyses exhibited significant differences between the CCC and non-CCC groups, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy metabolic profiling identified 15 metabolites with significant concentration differences; isoleucine showed the most notable difference. In vitro experiments demonstrated that isoleucine suppressed CCC cell proliferation but did not induce apoptosis. Conclusions: This research underlines the significance of biliary dysbiosis and specific bile metabolites, such as isoleucine, in influencing the development and progression of CCC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbiota in Health and Disease)
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14 pages, 1305 KiB  
Article
The Presence of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in the Rhizosphere of Transgenic Rapeseed Overexpressing a Trichoderma Thkel1 Gene Improves Plant Development and Yield
by Carlos Nicolás, Mónica Calvo-Polanco, Jorge Poveda, Ana Alonso-Ramírez, Julio Ascaso, Vicent Arbona and Rosa Hermosa
Agriculture 2024, 14(6), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14060851 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Most of the plants belonging to the family of Brassicaceae are non-hosts for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These plants are known to produce glucosinolates (GSL), a group of allelopathic compounds, with a role in plant defense. The overexpression of the Thkel1 from Trichoderma [...] Read more.
Most of the plants belonging to the family of Brassicaceae are non-hosts for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These plants are known to produce glucosinolates (GSL), a group of allelopathic compounds, with a role in plant defense. The overexpression of the Thkel1 from Trichoderma harzianum in rapeseed (BnKel) plants, this gene encoding a protein that shares similarities with Brassicaceae plant’s nitrile-specifier and epithiospecifier proteins, modified GSL metabolism, reducing the accumulation of toxic isothiocyanates due to hydrolysis of these secondary metabolites. Here, we have analyzed the effect of AMF application on the GSL profiles and the development and yield of BnKel plants. Our results showed that the reduction of GSL compounds on transgenic plants was not enough to allow the formation of arbuscules and vesicles characteristics of an AMF mycorrhizal association. However, the inoculation of transgenic rapeseed plants expressing Thkel1 with AMF improved seed yield and fatty acid composition of the oilseed, showing a beneficial effect of AMF in these plants. The achievement of this effective beneficial association among mycorrhizas and rapeseed plants opens new opportunities in agribiotechnology for the use of AMF as biofertilizers in Brassicaceae crops with potential application in medical, animal and industrial biotechnology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Beneficial Microbes for Sustainable Crop Production)
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15 pages, 4848 KiB  
Article
Detection Method for Gene Doping in a Mouse Model Expressing Human Erythropoietin from Adeno-Associated Virus Vector-9
by Takehito Sugasawa, Atsushi Hirokawa, Norihiro Otani, Yasuharu Kanki, Kieu DM Nguyen, Tohru Takemasa, Koichi Watanabe, Yoshinori Takeuchi, Naoya Yahagi and Yoichiro Takahashi
Genes 2024, 15(6), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15060709 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
With the rapid development of gene therapy technology in recent years, its abuse as a method of sports doping in athletics has become a concern. However, there is still room for improvement in gene-doping testing methods, and a robust animal model needs to [...] Read more.
With the rapid development of gene therapy technology in recent years, its abuse as a method of sports doping in athletics has become a concern. However, there is still room for improvement in gene-doping testing methods, and a robust animal model needs to be developed. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to establish a model of gene doping using recombinant adeno-associated virus vector-9, including the human erythropoietin gene (rAAV9-hEPO), and to establish a relevant testing method. First, it was attempted to establish the model using rAAV9-hEPO on mice. The results showed a significant increase in erythrocyte volume accompanied by an increase in spleen weight, confirming the validity of the model. Next, we attempted to detect proof of gene doping by targeting DNA and RNA. Direct proof of gene doping was detected using a TaqMan-qPCR assay with certain primers/probes. In addition, some indirect proof was identified in RNAs through the combination of a TB Green qPCR assay with RNA sequencing. Taken together, these results could provide the foundation for an effective test for gene doping in human athletes in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Genetics and Genomics)
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19 pages, 2550 KiB  
Article
Will AI Become a Threat to Higher Education Sustainability? A Study of Students’ Views
by Valery Okulich-Kazarin, Artem Artyukhov, Łukasz Skowron, Nadiia Artyukhova and Tomasz Wołowiec
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4596; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114596 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Universities started to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve the quality of higher education services. However, the rapid adoption of AI tools in higher education (HE) may lead to sustainability issues. On the one hand, there are prerequisites for using AI tools [...] Read more.
Universities started to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve the quality of higher education services. However, the rapid adoption of AI tools in higher education (HE) may lead to sustainability issues. On the one hand, there are prerequisites for using AI tools to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). On the other hand, as consumers of educational services (stakeholders), students have their own opinions about using AI in the educational process. The purpose of this study was to explore students’ opinions on the use of artificial intelligence tools in higher education. The authors analyzed student responses to the question: “Do you think AI threatens higher education in the next five years?” The authors formulated this question based on the definition of “a safe learning environment”, which is associated with a “safe” learning environment (SDG 4.3). The authors made use of a literature review, a bibliometric analysis of 5000 sources, a survey of 1104 students from eight universities in Eastern Europe through cloud technologies to host a special electronic questionnaire, statistical processing of questionnaires, and testing of statistical hypotheses. The authors formulated and tested two pairs of competing statistical hypotheses. Finally, the authors obtained three new scientific facts based on the respondents’ answers. New scientific facts were obtained using a standard level of statistical hypothesis testing (α = 0.05). The main scientific fact is that 10.17% to 35.42% of students think that Artificial Intelligence threatens higher education. According to student opinions, AI may hurt the sustainability of higher education (SDG 4.3). The authors are confident that new scientific facts help conceptualize and promote didactic theory and practice. The study results are needed to predict, plan, and implement organizational, pedagogical, and methodological measures aimed at SDG 4.3 through a “safe” learning environment while further expanding the use of AI in higher education. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Higher Education: From E-learning to Smart Education)
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14 pages, 1175 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Motor Learning Effects Using a Hybrid Rehabilitation System Based on Motion Estimation
by Kensuke Takenaka, Keisuke Shima and Koji Shimatani
Sensors 2024, 24(11), 3496; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24113496 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Upper-limb paralysis requires extensive rehabilitation to recover functionality for everyday living, and such assistance can be supported with robot technology. Against such a background, we have proposed an electromyography (EMG)-driven hybrid rehabilitation system based on motion estimation using a probabilistic neural network. The [...] Read more.
Upper-limb paralysis requires extensive rehabilitation to recover functionality for everyday living, and such assistance can be supported with robot technology. Against such a background, we have proposed an electromyography (EMG)-driven hybrid rehabilitation system based on motion estimation using a probabilistic neural network. The system controls a robot and functional electrical stimulation (FES) from movement estimation using EMG signals based on the user’s intention, enabling intuitive learning of joint motion and muscle contraction capacity even for multiple motions. In this study, hybrid and visual-feedback training were conducted with pointing movements involving the non-dominant wrist, and the motor learning effect was examined via quantitative evaluation of accuracy, stability, and smoothness. The results show that hybrid instruction was as effective as visual feedback training in all aspects. Accordingly, passive hybrid instruction using the proposed system can be considered effective in promoting motor learning and rehabilitation for paralysis with inability to perform voluntary movements. Full article
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13 pages, 4271 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Coagulation-Integrated Sand Filtration and Ultrafiltration for Seawater Reverse Osmosis Pretreatment
by Qingao Li, Lixin Xie, Shichang Xu and Wen Zhang
Membranes 2024, 14(6), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes14060125 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
The removal of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from seawater before the reverse osmosis (RO) processes is crucial for alleviating organic fouling of RO membranes. However, research is still insufficiently developed in the comparison of the effectiveness of integrating coagulation with ultrafiltration (UF) or [...] Read more.
The removal of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from seawater before the reverse osmosis (RO) processes is crucial for alleviating organic fouling of RO membranes. However, research is still insufficiently developed in the comparison of the effectiveness of integrating coagulation with ultrafiltration (UF) or sand filtration (SF) in the pretreatment stage of seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) for the removal of DOM. In this study, we investigated the effect of pretreatment technologies on RO fouling caused by DOM in seawater, including the integration of coagulation and sand filtration (C-S pretreatment) and the integration of coagulation and ultrafiltration (C-U pretreatment). Both integrated pretreatments achieved comparable DOM removal rates (70.2% for C-U and 69.6% for C-S), and C-S exhibited enhanced removal of UV-absorbing compounds. Although C-U was more proficient in reducing the silt density index (below 2) compared to C-S (above 3) and improved the elimination of humic acid-like organics, it left a higher proportion of tyrosine-protein-like organics, soluble microbial by-product-like organics, and finer organics in the effluent, leading to the formation of a dense cake layer on RO membrane and a higher flux decline. Therefore, suitable technologies should be selected according to specific water conditions to efficiently mitigate RO membrane fouling. Full article
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20 pages, 2007 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Intelligence: Design for Sustainable Multiverse via Integrative Cognitive Creation Model through Human–Computer Collaboration
by Yuqi Liu and Zhiyong Fu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4662; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114662 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
The unprecedented development of artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible for computers to imitate and surpass human intelligence (HI). Hybrid intelligence is the result of the co-evolution of AI and HI and has huge application potential in promoting the sustainable development of human [...] Read more.
The unprecedented development of artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible for computers to imitate and surpass human intelligence (HI). Hybrid intelligence is the result of the co-evolution of AI and HI and has huge application potential in promoting the sustainable development of human society. This study starts from the similarities and differences between biological neural networks and artificial neural networks, compares the cognitive foundations of human intelligence and artificial intelligence, highlights the difference and connection between AI and HI, and puts forward the necessity and inevitability of their co-evolution to achieve hybrid intelligence with complementary advantages. Hybrid intelligence stands to become the pivotal force driving purposeful and planned sustainable creative behavior in the artificial intelligence era. This study proposes a design cognitive creation model based on human–computer collaboration that considers computational design thinking as the central concept. Moreover, the paradigm shift of design under hybrid intelligence intervention are explored from five aspects: “tool evolution”, “response mode”, “output result”, “iterative optimization” and “system innovation”. Finally, this article constructs a creative intervention mechanism of design creation driven by hybrid intelligence and discusses its role playing in the design activities of sustainable multiverse construction in the future. The proposal of the multiverse model transcends the confines of the metaverse’s virtual worldview and embraces sustainable development for value guidance. It advocates a future trajectory for humanity that hinges on technological progress, fostering a prosperous, balanced, and harmonious coexistence between the natureverse, socialverse, and digitalverse. This approach is not only rational and scientific, but also inherently sustainable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI for Sustainability and Innovation—2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 8147 KiB  
Article
A Dynamic Visual SLAM System Incorporating Object Tracking for UAVs
by Minglei Li, Jia Li, Yanan Cao and Guangyong Chen
Drones 2024, 8(6), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8060222 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
The capability of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to capture and utilize dynamic object information assumes critical significance for decision making and scene understanding. This paper presents a method for UAV relative positioning and target tracking based on a visual simultaneousocalization and mapping (SLAM) [...] Read more.
The capability of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to capture and utilize dynamic object information assumes critical significance for decision making and scene understanding. This paper presents a method for UAV relative positioning and target tracking based on a visual simultaneousocalization and mapping (SLAM) framework. By integrating an object detection neural network into the SLAM framework, this method can detect moving objects and effectively reconstruct the 3D map of the environment from image sequences. For multiple object tracking tasks, we combine the region matching of semantic detection boxes and the point matching of the optical flow method to perform dynamic object association. This joint association strategy can prevent trackingoss due to the small proportion of the object in the whole image sequence. To address the problem ofacking scale information in the visual SLAM system, we recover the altitude data based on a RANSAC-based plane estimation approach. The proposed method is tested on both the self-created UAV dataset and the KITTI dataset to evaluate its performance. The results demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the solution in facilitating UAV flights. Full article
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23 pages, 8740 KiB  
Article
A Rapid Detection Method for Coal Ash Content in Tailings Suspension Based on Absorption Spectra and Deep Feature Extraction
by Wenbo Zhu, Xinghao Zhang, Zhengjun Zhu, Weijie Fu, Neng Liu and Zhengquan Zhang
Mathematics 2024, 12(11), 1685; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12111685 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Traditional visual detection methods that employ image data are often unstable due to environmental influences like lighting conditions. However, microfiber spectrometers are capable of capturing the specific wavelength characteristics of tail coal suspensions, effectively circumventing the instability caused by lighting variations. Utilizing spectral [...] Read more.
Traditional visual detection methods that employ image data are often unstable due to environmental influences like lighting conditions. However, microfiber spectrometers are capable of capturing the specific wavelength characteristics of tail coal suspensions, effectively circumventing the instability caused by lighting variations. Utilizing spectral analysis techniques for detecting ash content in tail coal appears promising as a more stable method of indirect ash detection. In this context, this paper proposes a rapid detection method for the coal ash content in tailings suspensions based on absorption spectra and deep feature extraction. Initially, a preprocessing method, the inverse time weight function (ITWF), is presented, focusing on the intrinsic connection between the sedimentation phenomena of samples. This enables the model to learn and retain spectral time memory features, thereby enhancing its analytical capabilities. To better capture the spectral characteristics of tail coal suspensions, we designed the DSFN (DeepSpectraFusionNet) model. This model has an MSCR (multi-scale convolutional residual) module, addressing the conventional models’ oversight of the strong correlation between adjacent wavelengths in the spectrum. This facilitates the extraction of relative positional information. Additionally, to uncover potential temporal relationships in sedimentation, we propose a CLSM-CS (convolutional long-short memory with candidate states) module, designed to strengthen the capturing of local information and sequential memory. Ultimately, the method employs a fused convolutional deep classifier to integrate and reconstruct both temporal memory and positional features. This results in a model that effectively correlates the ash content of suspensions with their absorption spectral characteristics. Experimental results confirmed that the proposed model achieved an accuracy of 80.65%, an F1-score of 80.45%, a precision of 83.43%, and a recall of 80.65%. These results outperformed recent coal recognition models and classical temporal models, meeting the high standards required for industrial on-site ash detection tasks. Full article
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17 pages, 6006 KiB  
Article
Thermo-Mechanical Behavior and Strain Rate Sensitivity of 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) below Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)
by Vukašin Slavković, Blaž Hanželič, Vasja Plesec, Strahinja Milenković and Gregor Harih
Polymers 2024, 16(11), 1526; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16111526 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
This study investigated the thermomechanical behavior of 4D-printed polylactic acid (PLA), focusing on its response to varying temperatures and strain rates in a wide range below the glass transition temperature (Tg). The material was characterized using tension, compression, and dynamic mechanical [...] Read more.
This study investigated the thermomechanical behavior of 4D-printed polylactic acid (PLA), focusing on its response to varying temperatures and strain rates in a wide range below the glass transition temperature (Tg). The material was characterized using tension, compression, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), confirming PLA’s strong dependency on strain rate and temperature. The glass transition temperature of 4D-printed PLA was determined to be 65 °C using a thermal analysis (DMTA). The elastic modulus changed from 1045.7 MPa in the glassy phase to 1.2 MPa in the rubber phase, showing the great shape memory potential of 4D-printed PLA. The filament tension tests revealed that the material’s yield stress strongly depended on the strain rate at room temperature, with values ranging from 56 MPa to 43 MPA as the strain rate decreased. Using a commercial FDM Ultimaker printer, cylindrical compression samples were 3D-printed and then characterized under thermo-mechanical conditions. Thermo-mechanical compression tests were conducted at strain rates ranging from 0.0001 s−1 to 0.1 s−1 and at temperatures below the glass transition temperature (Tg) at 25, 37, and 50 °C. The conducted experimental tests showed that the material had distinct yield stress, strain softening, and strain hardening at very large deformations. Clear strain rate dependence was observed, particularly at quasi-static rates, with the temperature and strain rate significantly influencing PLA’s mechanical properties, including yield stress. Yield stress values varied from 110 MPa at room temperature with a strain rate of 0.1 s−1 to 42 MPa at 50 °C with a strain rate of 0.0001 s−1. This study also included thermo-mechanical adiabatic tests, which revealed that higher strain rates of 0.01 s−1 and 0.1 s−1 led to self-heating due to non-dissipated generated heat. This internal heating caused additional softening at higher strain rates and lower stress values. Thermal imaging revealed temperature increases of 15 °C and 18 °C for strain rates of 0.01 s−1 and 0.1 s−1, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials and Their Application in 3D Printing)
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29 pages, 4992 KiB  
Article
Regressive and Spatio-Temporal Accessibility of Variability in Solar Energy on a Short Scale Measurement in the Southern and Mid Region of Mozambique
by Fernando Venâncio Mucomole, Carlos Augusto Santos Silva and Lourenço Lázaro Magaia
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2613; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112613 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Solar energy reaching a horizontal surface can possess fluctuations that impact electricity generation at a solar plant. Despite this, energy access remains inadequate, particularly in rural areas, with an estimated 82% deficiency. This drives us to assess the regressive and spatial-temporal accessibility of [...] Read more.
Solar energy reaching a horizontal surface can possess fluctuations that impact electricity generation at a solar plant. Despite this, energy access remains inadequate, particularly in rural areas, with an estimated 82% deficiency. This drives us to assess the regressive and spatial-temporal accessibility of solar energy in the southern and mid regions of Mozambique. This evaluation aims to determine the actual availability of energy for electrification purposes. Data on global horizontal irradiation from approximately 8 stations across all provinces in the specified regions, collected between 2012 and 2014 at intervals of 1 and 10 min, were analyzed using regression and correlation methods along with a specialized algorithm for classifying days based on clear sky index terms. The statistical analysis identified days with significant potential for energy accessibility, exceeding 50% of the average. The findings suggest a correlation coefficient of approximately 0.30 for energy and non-linear regression with clear sky index coefficients around 0.80. The method employed demonstrated accuracy when compared to theoretical simulations of the clear sky index in the region, indicating its potential applicability in other regions of interest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Photovoltaic Solar Energy II)
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17 pages, 1705 KiB  
Article
Valorization of the Salmon Frame as a High-Calcium Ingredient in the Formulation of Nuggets: Evaluation of the Nutritional and Sensory Properties
by Camila Matamala, Paula Garcia, Pedro Valencia, Alvaro Perez, Manuel Ruz, Leyla Sanhueza, Sergio Almonacid, Cristian Ramirez, Marlene Pinto and Paula Jiménez
Foods 2024, 13(11), 1701; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13111701 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
In the Chilean population, calcium consumption is deficient. Therefore, several strategies have been implemented to increase calcium intake, such as consuming dairy products and supplements. In this study, an ingredient composed of bone flour (BF) and protein hydrolysate (PH) obtained from salmon frame [...] Read more.
In the Chilean population, calcium consumption is deficient. Therefore, several strategies have been implemented to increase calcium intake, such as consuming dairy products and supplements. In this study, an ingredient composed of bone flour (BF) and protein hydrolysate (PH) obtained from salmon frame was used as an innovative source of calcium. The objective was to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of BF and PH in a 1:1 ratio (providing two calcium concentrations to the nuggets, 75 and 125 mg/100 g) on calcium content and sensory attributes of salmon nuggets submitted to baking or shallow frying. Proximal chemical analyses, fatty acid composition, calcium content, and sensory evaluation (acceptability and check-all-that-apply test) were tested in the nuggets. The incorporation of BF/PH (1:1) in both concentrations increased the calcium content of salmon nuggets being higher for the 125 mg/100 g. On the other hand, no negative effects were observed on sensory properties where all samples showed good overall acceptability for baked and fried nuggets. Therefore, the incorporation of BF/PH (1:1) into salmon nuggets enhances the nutritional quality of these products by providing a higher calcium content without significantly affecting their sensory properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Food Bioactive Compounds as Health Promoters)
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