The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
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13 pages, 2677 KiB  
Article
X-ray Diffraction Study of Metallized Polyethylene for Creating Heat Storage Systems
by Volodymyr Moravskyi, Anastasiia Kucherenko, Marta Kuznetsova, Ludmila Dulebova and Emil Spišák
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4183; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104183 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The paper analyzes the prospects of using a heat-accumulating material consisting of metallized polyethylene granules. X-ray diffraction analysis has been used to study the influence of the number of heating and cooling cycles of the heat-accumulating material on the change in the degree [...] Read more.
The paper analyzes the prospects of using a heat-accumulating material consisting of metallized polyethylene granules. X-ray diffraction analysis has been used to study the influence of the number of heating and cooling cycles of the heat-accumulating material on the change in the degree of crystallinity of polyethylene. It was shown that the proposed heat-accumulating material showed a low resistance and a significant decrease in the degree of crystallinity of polyethylene under the experimental conditions. The crystal structure of polyethylene did not change during cyclic heating and cooling. Grounded on the obtained experimental results, it was determined that a high degree of polyethylene crystallinity is being kept for 200–300 heating-cooling cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Materials Science and Engineering)
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21 pages, 951 KiB  
Review
Examining the Intersection of Sociopolitical Development and Transformative Social and Emotional Learning Outcomes: An Integrated Approach in Youth Participatory Action Research
by Amia Nash, Heather Kennedy, Michelle Abraczinskas, Ahna Ballonoff Suleiman and Emily J. Ozer
Youth 2024, 4(2), 679-699; https://doi.org/10.3390/youth4020046 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Young people need opportunities that support their well-being while enabling them to take meaningful action. There has been strong interest in youth participatory action research (YPAR) as a form of sociopolitical action for marginalized youth seeking to address inequities that undermine individual and [...] Read more.
Young people need opportunities that support their well-being while enabling them to take meaningful action. There has been strong interest in youth participatory action research (YPAR) as a form of sociopolitical action for marginalized youth seeking to address inequities that undermine individual and community well-being. The rapid growth of the YPAR literature in the last decade has involved studies analyzing the impact of YPAR on dimensions of youth empowerment, sociopolitical development (SPD), and well-being. The relatively new framework of Transformative Social Emotional Learning (tSEL) is potentially fruitful in identifying relevant constructs, skills, and strategies to support well-being during the YPAR process. This article seeks to advance our integrative conceptualization and analysis of the impact of YPAR by (1) considering the overlapping and unique dimensions of SPD and tSEL: agency, belonging, collaborative problem solving, curiosity, identity, societal involvement, and worldview and social analysis; and (2) applying this integrative lens to the analysis of novel data from an updated systematic review of U.S. and international YPAR studies (2015–2022). We summarize youth outcomes reported in 25 studies to assess the evidence for YPAR as an approach for promoting youth SPD and tSEL outcomes, identifying limitations and next steps for advancing our understanding of these impacts. Full article
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49 pages, 1779 KiB  
Article
High-Redshift Quasars at z≥3: Radio Variability and MPS/GPS Candidates
by Yulia Sotnikova, Alexander Mikhailov, Timur Mufakharov, Tao An, Dmitry Kudryavtsev, Marat Mingaliev, Roman Udovitskiy, Anastasia Kudryashova, Vlad Stolyarov and Tamara Semenova
Galaxies 2024, 12(3), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/galaxies12030025 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
We present a study of the radio variability of bright, S1.4100 mJy, high-redshift quasars at z3 on timescales of up to 30–40 yrs. The study involved simultaneous RATAN-600 measurements at the frequencies of 2.3, 4.7, 8.2, [...] Read more.
We present a study of the radio variability of bright, S1.4100 mJy, high-redshift quasars at z3 on timescales of up to 30–40 yrs. The study involved simultaneous RATAN-600 measurements at the frequencies of 2.3, 4.7, 8.2, 11.2, and 22.3 GHz in 2017–2020. In addition, data from the literature were used. We have found that the variability index, VS, which quantifies the normalized difference between the maximum and minimum flux density while accounting for measurement uncertainties, ranges from 0.02 to 0.96 for the quasars. Approximately half of the objects in the sample exhibit a variability index within the range from 0.25 to 0.50, which is comparable to that observed in blazars at lower redshifts. The distribution of VS at 22.3 GHz is significantly different from that at 2.3–11.2 GHz, which may be attributed to the fact that a compact AGN core dominates at the source’s rest frame frequencies greater than 45 GHz, leading to higher variability indices obtained at 22.3 GHz (the VS distribution peaks around 0.4) compared to the lower frequencies (the VS distribution at 2.3 and 4.7 GHz peaks around 0.1–0.2). Several source groups with distinctive variability characteristics were found using the cluster analysis of quasars. We propose seven new candidates for gigahertz-peaked spectrum (GPS) sources and five new megahertz-peaked spectrum (MPS) sources based on their spectrum shape and variability features. Only 6 out of the 23 sources previously reported as GPS demonstrate a low variability level typical of classical GPS sources (VS<0.25) at 4.7–22.3 GHz. When excluding the highly variable peaked-spectrum blazars, we expect no more than 20% of the sources in the sample to be GPS candidates and no more than 10% to be MPS candidates. Full article
20 pages, 1297 KiB  
Article
New Perspectives for Low Muscle Mass Quantity/Quality Assessment in Probable Sarcopenic Older Adults: An Exploratory Analysis Study
by Maria Besora-Moreno, Elisabet Llauradó, Claudia Jiménez-ten Hoevel, Cristina Sepúlveda, Judit Queral, Glòria Bernal, Laura Pérez-Merino, Sergio Martinez-Hervas, Blanca Alabadi, Yolanda Ortega, Rosa Maria Valls, Rosa Solà and Anna Pedret
Nutrients 2024, 16(10), 1496; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101496 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Background: Low muscle mass quantity/quality is needed to confirm sarcopenia diagnosis; however, no validated cut-off points exist. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of sarcopenia through muscle mass quantity/quality parameters, using the bioimpedance analysis (BIA), isokinetic, and ultrasound tools in probable [...] Read more.
Background: Low muscle mass quantity/quality is needed to confirm sarcopenia diagnosis; however, no validated cut-off points exist. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of sarcopenia through muscle mass quantity/quality parameters, using the bioimpedance analysis (BIA), isokinetic, and ultrasound tools in probable sarcopenic community-dwelling older adults (≥60 years). Also, it aimed to suggest possible new cut-off points to confirm sarcopenia diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory analysis study was performed with probable sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic older adults. BIA, isokinetic, and ultrasound parameters were evaluated. The protocol was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05485402). Results: A total of 50 individuals were included, 38 with probable sarcopenia (69.63 ± 4.14 years; 7 men and 31 women) and 12 non-sarcopenic (67.58 ± 4.54 years; 7 men and 5 women). The phase angle (cut-off: 5.10° men, p = 0.003; 4.95° women, p < 0.001), peak torque (cut-off: 66.75 Newtons-meters (N-m) men, p < 0.001; 48.35 N-m women, p < 0.001), total work (cut-off: 64.00 Joules (J) men, p = 0.007; 54.70 J women, p = 0.001), and mean power (cut-off: 87.8 Watts (W) men, p = 0.003; 48.95 W women, p = 0.008) in leg extension, as well as the the forearm muscle thickness (cut-off: 1.41 cm (cm) men, p = 0.017; 0.94 cm women, p = 0.041), had great diagnostic accuracy in both sexes. Conclusions: The phase angle, peak torque, total work, and mean power in leg extension, as well as forearm muscle thickness, had great diagnostic accuracy in regard to sarcopenia, and the suggested cut-off points could lead to the confirmation of sarcopenia diagnosis, but more studies are needed to confirm this. Full article
19 pages, 15059 KiB  
Article
Unstructured Document Information Extraction Method with Multi-Faceted Domain Knowledge Graph Assistance for M2M Customs Risk Prevention and Screening Application
by Fengchun Tian, Haochen Wang, Zhenlong Wan, Ran Liu, Ruilong Liu, Di Lv and Yingcheng Lin
Electronics 2024, 13(10), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13101941 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
As a crucial national security defense line, the existing risk prevention and screening system of customs falls short in terms of intelligence and diversity for risk identification factors. Hence, the urgent issues to be addressed in the risk identification system include intelligent extraction [...] Read more.
As a crucial national security defense line, the existing risk prevention and screening system of customs falls short in terms of intelligence and diversity for risk identification factors. Hence, the urgent issues to be addressed in the risk identification system include intelligent extraction technology for key information from Customs Unstructured Accompanying Documents (CUADs) and the reliability of the extraction results. In the customs scenario, OCR is employed for M2M interactions, but current models have difficulty adapting to diverse image qualities and complex customs document content. We propose a hybrid mutual learning knowledge distillation (HMLKD) method for optimizing a pre-trained OCR model’s performance against such challenges. Additionally, current models lack effective incorporation of domain-specific knowledge, resulting in insufficient text recognition accuracy for practical customs risk identification. We propose a customs domain knowledge graph (CDKG) developed using CUAD knowledge and propose an integrated CDKG post-OCR correction method (iCDKG-PostOCR) based on CDKG. The results on real data demonstrate that the accuracies improve for code text fields to 97.70%, for character type fields to 96.55%, and for numerical type fields to 96.00%, with a confidence rate exceeding 99% for each. Furthermore, the Customs Health Certificate Extraction System (CHCES) developed using the proposed method has been implemented and verified at Tianjin Customs in China, where it has showcased outstanding operational performance. Full article
31 pages, 1252 KiB  
Review
Exploring Sustainable Aquafeed Alternatives with a Specific Focus on the Ensilaging Technology of Fish Waste
by Anastasiia Maksimenko, Leonid Belyi, Anna Podvolotskaya, Oksana Son and Liudmila Tekutyeva
Fermentation 2024, 10(5), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10050258 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The global increase in population has placed significant pressure on food security, leading to the emergence of aquaculture as a vital source of aquatic foods. However, rising costs and limited fish meal availability in aquafeeds have driven the search for alternative protein sources. [...] Read more.
The global increase in population has placed significant pressure on food security, leading to the emergence of aquaculture as a vital source of aquatic foods. However, rising costs and limited fish meal availability in aquafeeds have driven the search for alternative protein sources. While plant-based ingredients have been integrated into commercial aquafeeds, they come with challenges such as low protein content, palatability issues, and the presence of antinutritional factors. In this context, fish silage, made from fish waste and discarded fish, stands out as a promising alternative technology due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability attributes. The production of fish silage involves the addition of organic/inorganic acids or lactic acid bacteria to homogenized fish waste, yielding a valuable mixture rich in peptides and free amino acids, offering significant nutritional benefits for animal diets. This review aims to promote sustainable practices in the aquaculture industry by analyzing research results related to ensiling technology, appraising the advantages and disadvantages of using fish silage as a feed ingredient, and focusing on emerging trends in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fermentation Technologies for the Production of High-Quality Feed)
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15 pages, 1759 KiB  
Article
SKGQA, a Peptide Derived from the ANA/BTG3 Protein, Cleaves Amyloid-β with Proteolytic Activity
by Yusuke Hatakawa, Rina Nakamura, Toshifumi Akizawa, Motomi Konishi, Akira Matsuda, Tomoyuki Oe, Motoaki Saito and Fumiaki Ito
Biomolecules 2024, 14(5), 586; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14050586 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Despite the extensive research conducted on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over the years, no effective drug for AD treatment has been found. Therefore, the development of new drugs for the treatment of AD is of the utmost importance. We recently reported the proteolytic activities [...] Read more.
Despite the extensive research conducted on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over the years, no effective drug for AD treatment has been found. Therefore, the development of new drugs for the treatment of AD is of the utmost importance. We recently reported the proteolytic activities of JAL-TA9 (YKGSGFRMI) and ANA-TA9 (SKGQAYRMA), synthetic peptides of nine amino acids each, derived from the Box A region of Tob1 and ANA/BTG3 proteins, respectively. Furthermore, two components of ANA-TA9, ANA-YA4 (YRMI) at the C-terminus end and ANA-SA5 (SKGQA) at the N-terminus end of ANA-TA9, exhibited proteolytic activity against amyloid-β (Aβ) fragment peptides. In this study, we identified the active center of ANA-SA5 using AEBSF, a serine protease inhibitor, and a peptide in which the Ser residue of ANA-SA5 was replaced with Leu. In addition, we demonstrate the proteolytic activity of ANA-SA5 against the soluble form Aβ42 (a-Aβ42) and solid insoluble form s-Aβ42. Furthermore, ANA-SA5 was not cytotoxic to A549 cells. These results indicate that ANA-SA5 is a promising Catalytide and a potential candidate for the development of new peptide drugs targeting Aβ42 for AD treatment. Full article
18 pages, 720 KiB  
Review
Ancient Diseases in Vertebrates: Tumours through the Ages
by Andreia Garcês, Isabel Pires and Sara Garcês
Animals 2024, 14(10), 1474; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14101474 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Paleo-oncology studies neoplastic diseases in fossilised animals, including human remains. Recent advancements have enabled more accurate diagnoses of ancient pathologies despite the inherent challenges in identifying tumours in fossils—such as the rarity of well-preserved specimens, the predominance of bone remains, and the difficulty [...] Read more.
Paleo-oncology studies neoplastic diseases in fossilised animals, including human remains. Recent advancements have enabled more accurate diagnoses of ancient pathologies despite the inherent challenges in identifying tumours in fossils—such as the rarity of well-preserved specimens, the predominance of bone remains, and the difficulty in distinguishing neoplastic from non-neoplastic lesions. This study compiles reports of tumours in fossilised animals, highlighting that neoplasms are present in a wide range of vertebrates and drawing comparisons to modern instances of similar diseases. The findings underscore the multifactorial aetiology of tumours, which involves genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, and suggest that tumours have been around for at least 350 million years. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Veterinary Clinical Studies)
15 pages, 6603 KiB  
Article
Excellent Color Purity and Luminescence Thermometry Performance in Germanate Tellurite Glass Doped with Eu3+ and Tb3+
by Bartosz Bondzior and Radosław Lisiecki
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4198; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104198 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Germanate tellurite glasses doped with Eu3+ and Tb3+ were synthesized by the conventional melt-quenching method. There is no indication of the energy transfer between dopant ions in this host, but the co-dopants exhibit excellent color purity of 100% for Eu3+ [...] Read more.
Germanate tellurite glasses doped with Eu3+ and Tb3+ were synthesized by the conventional melt-quenching method. There is no indication of the energy transfer between dopant ions in this host, but the co-dopants exhibit excellent color purity of 100% for Eu3+ and 80% for Tb3+. The co-doped glass exhibits yellow luminescence. The quantum yield of the Eu3+ emission is equal to 23% under 395 nm excitation. The thermal quenching of Eu3+ and Tb3+ luminescence occurs at different temperature ranges, which enables the thermal sensing properties of the material. The relative fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) sensitivity of 0.16% K−1 was recorded in the wide range of temperatures spanning from −193 °C up to 0 °C. The temperature dependence of the decay times was also studied. The lifetime-based temperature sensitivity was determined to be 0.95% K−1 at 250 °C for Tb3+ 5D3 level emission and 0.3% K−1 at 225 °C for Eu3+ 5D1 level emission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Luminescent Materials: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications)
17 pages, 957 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Multimodal Emotion Recognition through Attention Mechanisms in BERT and CNN Architectures
by Fazliddin Makhmudov, Alpamis Kultimuratov and Young-Im Cho
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4199; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104199 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Emotion detection holds significant importance in facilitating human–computer interaction, enhancing the depth of engagement. By integrating this capability, we pave the way for forthcoming AI technologies to possess a blend of cognitive and emotional understanding, bridging the divide between machine functionality and human [...] Read more.
Emotion detection holds significant importance in facilitating human–computer interaction, enhancing the depth of engagement. By integrating this capability, we pave the way for forthcoming AI technologies to possess a blend of cognitive and emotional understanding, bridging the divide between machine functionality and human emotional complexity. This progress has the potential to reshape how machines perceive and respond to human emotions, ushering in an era of empathetic and intuitive artificial systems. The primary research challenge involves developing models that can accurately interpret and analyze emotions from both auditory and textual data, whereby auditory data require optimizing CNNs to detect subtle and intense emotional fluctuations in speech, and textual data necessitate access to large, diverse datasets to effectively capture nuanced emotional cues in written language. This paper introduces a novel approach to multimodal emotion recognition, seamlessly integrating speech and text modalities to accurately infer emotional states. Employing CNNs, we meticulously analyze speech using Mel spectrograms, while a BERT-based model processes the textual component, leveraging its bidirectional layers to enable profound semantic comprehension. The outputs from both modalities are combined using an attention-based fusion mechanism that optimally weighs their contributions. The proposed method here undergoes meticulous testing on two distinct datasets: Carnegie Mellon University’s Multimodal Opinion Sentiment and Emotion Intensity (CMU-MOSEI) dataset and the Multimodal Emotion Lines Dataset (MELD). The results demonstrate superior efficacy compared to existing frameworks, achieving an accuracy of 88.4% and an F1-score of 87.9% on the CMU-MOSEI dataset, and a notable weighted accuracy (WA) of 67.81% and a weighted F1 (WF1) score of 66.32% on the MELD dataset. This comprehensive system offers precise emotion detection and introduces several significant advancements in the field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Technologies for Emotion Recognition)
11 pages, 411 KiB  
Article
Is Incisor Compensation Related to Skeletal Discrepancies in Skeletal Class III? A Retrospective Cephalometric Study
by Jirath Mathapun and Chairat Charoemratrote
Diagnostics 2024, 14(10), 1021; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14101021 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
This study investigated compensation in skeletal Class III subjects to compare various severities of abnormal jaws. A retrospective analysis of 137 skeletal Class III cephalograms (63 males and 74 females) was conducted, with cephalometric assessments determining skeletal and dental values. The results were [...] Read more.
This study investigated compensation in skeletal Class III subjects to compare various severities of abnormal jaws. A retrospective analysis of 137 skeletal Class III cephalograms (63 males and 74 females) was conducted, with cephalometric assessments determining skeletal and dental values. The results were compared with Class I cephalograms. Incisor compensation was examined by pairing normal jaws with varied abnormal jaws, classified by severity using one standard deviation (SD). Statistical analyses included Kruskal–Wallis tests, Bonferroni tests, Spearman’s correlations, and multiple linear regression. Four skeletal Class III groups were identified: OMx+PMd, RMx+OMd, OMx+OMd, and PMx+PMd (P = prognathic; O = orthognathic; R = retrognathic; Mx = maxilla; Md = mandible.). The upper central incisor (U1) showed proclination, and the lower central incisor (L1) showed retroclination across all groups except for U1 in PMx+PMd and L1 in OMx+OMd, which exhibited normal inclination. U1 exhibited limited compensation even with progressive maxillary retrognathism, while L1 showed limited compensation after one SD of mandibular prognathism. Maxilla (SNA) and jaw discrepancy (ANB) were inversely related to the U1 degree, whereas only jaw discrepancy (ANB) was positively related to the L1 degree. U1 in PMx+PMd and L1 in OMx+OMd showed no incisor compensation. U1 had limited compensation even with progressive maxillary retrognathism while L1 showed limited compensation after one SD mandibular prognathism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis of Oral Diseases)
20 pages, 541 KiB  
Article
Digital Economy Development, Common Prosperity, and Carbon Emissions: An Empirical Study in China
by Jingke Gao, Wenxiao Zhou, Jinhua Cheng and Ziyuan Liu
Economies 2024, 12(5), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12050120 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Under the new development model, the digital economy has become a new engine to promote the green development of the economy and realize the goal of “double carbon”. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2020, this [...] Read more.
Under the new development model, the digital economy has become a new engine to promote the green development of the economy and realize the goal of “double carbon”. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2020, this paper empirically investigates the impact of the development of the digital economy on energy and carbon emissions using a series of econometric models such as baseline regression, a mechanism test, and the spatial Durbin model, etc. Common prosperity plays an intermediary role between digital economy development and carbon emissions; digital economic development optimizes resource allocation, effectively solves the problem of uneven resource distribution, and reduces energy and carbon emissions while achieving common prosperity. In addition, green innovation, industrial structure, urbanization level, R&D intensity, and the degree of marketization also have different degrees of influence on energy and carbon emissions. Therefore, the government should accelerate the construction of new digital infrastructure and implement the digital economy development strategy according to local conditions, so as to promote the digital economy to produce a more significant carbon emission reduction effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Development in the Digital Economy Era)
29 pages, 1500 KiB  
Article
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of the Effects of Drug 2c and Derivatives on Ovarian Cancer Cells
by Marianna Maddaloni, Rossella Farra, Barbara Dapas, Fulvia Felluga, Fabio Benedetti, Federico Berti, Sara Drioli, Mattia Vidali, Maja Cemazar, Urska Kamensek, Claudio Brancolini, Erminio Murano, Francesca Maremonti, Mario Grassi, Alice Biasin, Flavio Rizzolio, Enrico Cavarzerani, Bruna Scaggiante, Roberta Bulla, Andrea Balduit, Giuseppe Ricci, Gabriella Zito, Federico Romano, Serena Bonin, Eros Azzalini, Gabriele Baj, Domenico Tierno and Gabriele Grassiadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(5), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16050664 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Background: The identification of novel therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer (OC), the most lethal gynecological neoplasm, is of utmost urgency. Here, we have tested the effectiveness of the compound 2c (4-hydroxy-2,6-bis(4-nitrobenzylidene)cyclohexanone 2). 2c interferes with the cysteine-dependent deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) UCHL5, thus affecting [...] Read more.
Background: The identification of novel therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer (OC), the most lethal gynecological neoplasm, is of utmost urgency. Here, we have tested the effectiveness of the compound 2c (4-hydroxy-2,6-bis(4-nitrobenzylidene)cyclohexanone 2). 2c interferes with the cysteine-dependent deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) UCHL5, thus affecting the ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation of proteins. Methods: 2c phenotypic/molecular effects were studied in two OC 2D/3D culture models and in a mouse xenograft model. Furthermore, we propose an in silico model of 2c interaction with DUB-UCHL5. Finally, we have tested the effect of 2c conjugated to several linkers to generate 2c/derivatives usable for improved drug delivery. Results: 2c effectively impairs the OC cell line and primary tumor cell viability in both 2D and 3D conditions. The effectiveness is confirmed in a xenograft mouse model of OC. We show that 2c impairs proteasome activity and triggers apoptosis, most likely by interacting with DUB-UCHL5. We also propose a mechanism for the interaction with DUB-UCHL5 via an in silico evaluation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex. 2c also reduces cell growth by down-regulating the level of the transcription factor E2F1. Eventually, 2c activity is often retained after the conjugation with linkers. Conclusion: Our data strongly support the potential therapeutic value of 2c/derivatives in OC. Full article
15 pages, 586 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Digestion of Polyphenolic Compounds and the Antioxidant Activity of Acorn Flour and Pasta Enriched with Acorn Flour
by Kamila Kasprzak-Drozd, Jarosław Mołdoch, Marek Gancarz, Agnieszka Wójtowicz, Iwona Kowalska, Tomasz Oniszczuk and Anna Oniszczuk
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5404; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105404 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Acorn flour is a rich source of nutrients and is beneficial to human health due to, among other things, its low glycemic index and polyphenol content. In order to obtain more accurate data on the levels and activities of the substances tested after [...] Read more.
Acorn flour is a rich source of nutrients and is beneficial to human health due to, among other things, its low glycemic index and polyphenol content. In order to obtain more accurate data on the levels and activities of the substances tested after ingestion and digestion, it may be beneficial to use a simulated in vitro digestion method. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to elucidate the content of polyphenols, individual phenolic acids, flavonoids and antiradical properties of acorn flour and pasta enriched with acorn flour before and after simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The results indicate that the total polyphenol content (TPC), flavonoid content and radical scavenging activity exhibited an increasing trend following the initial digestion stage and a decreasing trend following the second stage. Nevertheless, the levels of phenolic acids demonstrated an increase in both digestion phases. The digestion processes of polyphenols in acorn flour differ significantly from those in pasta. In the case of pasta, total polyphenols , phenolic acids and flavonoids, as well as free radical scavenging properties, demonstrated a decreasing trend following each digestion stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Bioactives and Nutraceuticals)
18 pages, 556 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Rural Revitalization in China through Digital Economic Transformation and Green Entrepreneurship
by Ying Wang and Daoliang Ye
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 4147; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16104147 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Over the past few years, rural revitalization has become a focal point of interest in the discourse of sustainable development. However, there exists a gap in understanding the factors that foster economic sustainability in rural settings. The current study seeks to investigate the [...] Read more.
Over the past few years, rural revitalization has become a focal point of interest in the discourse of sustainable development. However, there exists a gap in understanding the factors that foster economic sustainability in rural settings. The current study seeks to investigate the influence of digital economic transformation on rural revitalization in the context of China by employing a serial mediation model encompassing green entrepreneurship and green innovation. Data were collected from rural entrepreneurs using a stratified sampling method, with strata identified based on geographical and socioeconomic factors, which allowed for a comprehensive examination of various business sizes and stages across sectors. The authors analyzed the structural paths using multivariate analytical techniques by utilizing SmartPLS-SEM. The empirical findings provide support to the hypothesized relationships that: (1) digital economic transformation significantly promotes green entrepreneurship, which in turn, cultivates green innovation; and (2) green entrepreneurship and green innovation serially mediate the association between digital economic transformation and rural revitalization. Our study provides a holistic model that can inform regulatory frameworks and governmental strategies to support sustainable rural development in China. Full article
4 pages, 286 KiB  
Editorial
Combined Treatments and Therapies to Cure Spinal Cord Injury
by Nicolas Guérout
Biomedicines 2024, 12(5), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12051095 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Traumatic injuries of the spinal cord (SCIs) are still pathologies with a disastrous outcome [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Combined Treatments and Therapies to Cure Spinal Cord Injury)
21 pages, 3446 KiB  
Article
Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of Identifying Bridge Damage Using Instantaneous Amplitude Squared Extracted from Vibration Responses of a Two-Axle Passing Vehicle
by Siying Liu, Zunian Zhou, Yujie Zhang, Zhuo Sun, Jiangdong Deng and Junyong Zhou
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1428; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051428 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Identifying bridge damage using a movable test vehicle is highly regarded for its mobility, cost-effectiveness, and broad monitoring coverage. Previous studies have shown that the residual contact-point (CP) response between connected vehicles is free of the impact of vehicle self-vibrations and road roughness, [...] Read more.
Identifying bridge damage using a movable test vehicle is highly regarded for its mobility, cost-effectiveness, and broad monitoring coverage. Previous studies have shown that the residual contact-point (CP) response between connected vehicles is free of the impact of vehicle self-vibrations and road roughness, making it particularly suitable for the indirect extraction of bridge modal properties. However, most experimental campaigns regarding contact-point (CP) responses focus on a single-axle testing vehicle within a non-moving state. This study aims to theoretically and experimentally identify bridge damage using the instantaneous amplitude squared (IAS) extracted from the residual CP response of a two-axle passing vehicle. First, the closed-form solution of the residual CP acceleration was derived for a two-axle vehicle interacting with a simply supported beam. The IAS index was constructed from the driving frequency of the residual CP acceleration. Then, numerical investigations using finite element simulation were conducted to validate using the IAS index for indirect bridge damage identification. The application scope of the approach under various vehicle speeds and road roughness grades was examined. Finally, a laboratory vehicle–bridge interaction system was tested to validate the approach. Numerical studies demonstrated that bridge damage could be directly determined by observing the IAS abnormalities, which were baseline-free. The IAS from the residual CP response outperformed the IAS from CP responses in identifying bridge damage. However, it was better to use the IAS when the vehicle speed was no greater than 2 m/s and the grade of the road surface roughness was not high. Laboratory tests showed that it was possible to identify bridge damage using the IAS extracted from the residual CP acceleration under perfect road surfaces. However, it fell short under rough road surfaces. Hence, further experiments are required to fully examine the capacity of the IAS for bridge damage identification in practical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Research on Structural Dynamics and Health Monitoring)
16 pages, 2134 KiB  
Article
A Novel Positional Calibration Method for an Underwater Acoustic Beacon Array Based on the Equivalent Virtual Long Baseline Positioning Model
by Ge Zhang, Guoxing Yi, Zhennan Wei, Yangguang Xie and Ziyang Qi
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(5), 825; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12050825 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The performance of long baseline (LBL) positioning systems is significantly impacted by the distribution and positional calibration accuracy of underwater acoustic beacon arrays. In previous calibration methods for beacon arrays based on autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) platforms, the slant range information of each [...] Read more.
The performance of long baseline (LBL) positioning systems is significantly impacted by the distribution and positional calibration accuracy of underwater acoustic beacon arrays. In previous calibration methods for beacon arrays based on autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) platforms, the slant range information of each beacon was processed independently, and each beacon was calibrated one at a time. This approach not only decreases the calibration efficiency but also leaves the positional calibration accuracy of each beacon highly susceptible to the navigation trajectory of the AUV. To overcome these limitations, an equivalent virtual LBL (EVLBL) positioning model is introduced in this paper. This model operates by adjusting the positions of each beacon according to the dead reckoning increments computed during the AUV’s reception of positioning signals, effectively forming a virtual beacon array. Consequently, the AUV is capable of mitigating LBL positioning errors that arise from its motion by simultaneously receiving positioning signals from all beacons. Additionally, an overall calibration method for beacon arrays based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed. In this approach, the minimization of the deviation between the EVLBL trajectory and the dead reckoning trajectory is set as the optimization objective, and the coordinates of each beacon are iteratively optimized. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed EVLBL-based PSO algorithm (EVPSO) significantly enhanced the calibration efficiency and positional accuracy of the beacon array. Compared with conventional methods, the estimation error of the beacon positions was reduced from 6.40 m to within 1.00 m. After compensating for the beacon array positions, the positioning error of the LBL system decreased from approximately 5.00 m (with conventional methods) to around 1.00 m (with EVPSO), demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Navigation and Detection Fusion for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles)
16 pages, 701 KiB  
Systematic Review
Alterations in the Gut Microbiome Composition of People Living with HIV in the Asia–Pacific Region: A Systematic Review
by Paul Benedic U. Salvador, Patrick Josemaria d. R. Altavas, Mark Angelo S. del Rosario, Eric David B. Ornos and Leslie Michelle M. Dalmacio
Clin. Pract. 2024, 14(3), 846-861; https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract14030066 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection continues to present a global health issue. Recent studies have explored the potential role of the gut microbiome in HIV infection for novel therapeutic approaches. We investigated the gut microbiome composition of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in [...] Read more.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection continues to present a global health issue. Recent studies have explored the potential role of the gut microbiome in HIV infection for novel therapeutic approaches. We investigated the gut microbiome composition of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Asia–Pacific region. This review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. An electronic search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases using keywords such as “HIV”, “PLHIV”, “AIDS”, “gut microbiome”, “gut dysbiosis”, and “metagenomics”. Only peer-reviewed and full-text studies published in English were included. A total of 15 studies from the Asia–Pacific region were included for analysis. Compared to healthy controls, PLHIV showed an increased abundance of Proteobacteria and its genera, which may be considered pathobionts, and decreased abundances of Bacteroidetes and several genera under Firmicutes with known short-chain fatty acid and immunoregulatory activities. Predominant taxa such as Ruminococcaceae and Prevotellaceae were also associated with clinical factors such as CD4 count, the CD4/CD8 ratio, and inflammatory cytokines. This review highlights gut microbiome changes among PLHIV in the Asia–Pacific region, indicating potential bacterial signatures for prognostication. The partial restoration of the microbiome toward beneficial taxa may ensure the long-term success of treatment, promoting immune recovery while maintaining viral load suppression. Full article
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13 pages, 453 KiB  
Communication
Nutritional Challenges in Nursing Homes: Pilot Study on Macronutrient Intake and Status of Vitamins D and B12
by Živa Lavriša and Igor Pravst
Nutrients 2024, 16(10), 1495; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101495 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Older adults living in nursing homes (NH) are considered a population group that could be at risk in terms of nutrition, even more so than their community-dwelling peers. Evidence on the nutritional status of NH residents is scarce, as they are commonly excluded [...] Read more.
Older adults living in nursing homes (NH) are considered a population group that could be at risk in terms of nutrition, even more so than their community-dwelling peers. Evidence on the nutritional status of NH residents is scarce, as they are commonly excluded from population-based dietary studies. This is also the case in Slovenia. In the presented pilot study, we assessed the intake of macronutrients as well as the intake and status of vitamin D and vitamin B12 on a sample of NH and NH daycare center users to explore the need for a larger representative study. The pilot study included 37 participants from three Slovenian NH (20 participants) and their daycare centers (17 participants). Daycare centers offer daytime care services for older adults, where users are also provided with major meals during their stay. Intakes of energy and nutrients were estimated by three 24 h dietary records. Fasting blood samples were collected for the assessment of vitamin D and vitamin B12 status. Over 90% of the participants had daily energy and protein intakes below recommendations (reference values: energy intake: males 2100 kcal and females 1700 kcal; protein intake > 1 g/kg body mass). The males’ median daily intakes of vitamin D were 1.7 µg (1.5 µg females), and 2.3 µg for vitamin B12 (2.0 µg females). None of the participants had adequate vitamin D intake (>20 µg), and 92.3% males and 87.5% females had inadequate vitamin B12 intake (<4 µg). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-OH-D conc. < 30 nmol/L) was 100% among NH residents and 53% among NH daycare center users. The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 20% of NH residents. The study results highlighted that certain nutrients might be critical in this population, especially among NH residents; however, a more thorough investigation with the inclusion of other important markers of nutritional status should be performed on a larger, representative sample to support the development and implementation of appropriate public health interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Geriatric Nutrition)
11 pages, 1912 KiB  
Article
The Generation of Circularly Polarized Isolated Attosecond Pulses with Tunable Helicity from CO Molecules in Polarization Gating Laser Fields
by Shiju Chen, Hua Yuan, Feng Wang, Jiahang Song, Yue Zhao, Chunhui Yang, Tianxin Ou, Ru Zhang, Qiang Chang and Yuping Sun
Photonics 2024, 11(5), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11050464 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
We theoretically demonstrate a scheme to generate circularly polarized (CP) isolated attosecond pulses (IAPs) with tunable helicity using a polarization gating laser field interacting with the CO molecule. The results show that a broadband CP supercontinuum is produced from the oriented CO molecule, [...] Read more.
We theoretically demonstrate a scheme to generate circularly polarized (CP) isolated attosecond pulses (IAPs) with tunable helicity using a polarization gating laser field interacting with the CO molecule. The results show that a broadband CP supercontinuum is produced from the oriented CO molecule, which supports the generation of an IAP with an ellipticity of 0.98 and a duration of 90 as. Furthermore, the helicity of the generated harmonics and IAP can be effectively controlled by modulating the laser field and the orientation angle of the CO molecule. Our method will advance research on chiral-specific dynamics and magnetic circular dichroism on the attosecond timescale. Full article
17 pages, 7183 KiB  
Article
Updates on Impact Ionisation Triggering of Thyristors
by Alicia Ana del Barrio Montañés, Viliam Senaj, Thomas Kramer and Martin Sack
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4196; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104196 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
High voltage (HV) generators are used in multiple industrial and scientific facilities. Recent publications have demonstrated that triggering industrial thyristors (relatively slow switching devices) in overvoltage mode, also called impact ionization mode, significantly enhances their dU/dt and dI/dt characteristics. This novel triggering methodology [...] Read more.
High voltage (HV) generators are used in multiple industrial and scientific facilities. Recent publications have demonstrated that triggering industrial thyristors (relatively slow switching devices) in overvoltage mode, also called impact ionization mode, significantly enhances their dU/dt and dI/dt characteristics. This novel triggering methodology necessitates the application of substantial overvoltage between the thyristor’s anode and cathode, delivered with a swift slew rate exceeding 1 kV/ns. The adoption of compact pulse generators constructed from commercially available off-the-shelf components (COTS) opens up avenues for deploying this technology across various domains, including the implementation of high-speed kicker generators in particle accelerators. In our methodology, we employed commercially available high-voltage SiC MOSFETs along with a custom-designed fast gate driver. This driver was conceptualized based on the recent development of gate boosting techniques, featuring a driving voltage exceeding 600 V. The gate driver for these MOSFETs comprises three key components: a level-shifter with NMOS and PMOS transistors, a compact Marx generator with two avalanche transistors, and a GaN HEMT in a high input and low output impedance configuration. The proposed gate-boosting driver achieves a slew rate exceeding 1 kV/ns for the driving pulse. Furthermore, we demonstrate that with this driver, a 1.7 kV rated SiC MOSFET can produce an output pulse of 1.45 kV and a maximum slew rate of ≈2.5 kV/ns. This gate-boosting driver aims to minimize commutation times, achieves a slew rate of over 1 kV/ns, and handle higher loads, making it ideal for impact ionization triggering of industrial thyristors. Full article
16 pages, 781 KiB  
Article
Postnatal Brain Trajectories and Maternal Intelligence Predict Childhood Outcomes in Complex CHD
by Vincent K. Lee, Rafael Ceschin, William T. Reynolds, Benjamin Meyers, Julia Wallace, Douglas Landsittel, Heather M. Joseph, Daryaneh Badaly, J. William Gaynor, Daniel Licht, Nathaniel H. Greene, Ken M. Brady, Jill V. Hunter, Zili D. Chu, Elisabeth A. Wilde, R. Blaine Easley, Dean Andropoulos and Ashok Panigrahy
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(10), 2922; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13102922 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Objective: To determine whether early structural brain trajectories predict early childhood neurodevelopmental deficits in complex CHD patients and to assess relative cumulative risk profiles of clinical, genetic, and demographic risk factors across early development. Study Design: Term neonates with complex CHDs were [...] Read more.
Objective: To determine whether early structural brain trajectories predict early childhood neurodevelopmental deficits in complex CHD patients and to assess relative cumulative risk profiles of clinical, genetic, and demographic risk factors across early development. Study Design: Term neonates with complex CHDs were recruited at Texas Children’s Hospital from 2005–2011. Ninety-five participants underwent three structural MRI scans and three neurodevelopmental assessments. Brain region volumes and white matter tract fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity were used to calculate trajectories: perioperative, postsurgical, and overall. Gross cognitive, language, and visuo-motor outcomes were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and Beery–Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual–Motor Integration. Multi-variable models incorporated risk factors. Results: Reduced overall period volumetric trajectories predicted poor language outcomes: brainstem ((β, 95% CI) 0.0977, 0.0382–0.1571; p = 0.0022) and white matter (0.0023, 0.0001–0.0046; p = 0.0397) at 5 years; brainstem (0.0711, 0.0157–0.1265; p = 0.0134) and deep grey matter (0.0085, 0.0011–0.0160; p = 0.0258) at 3 years. Maternal IQ was the strongest contributor to language variance, increasing from 37% at 1 year, 62% at 3 years, and 81% at 5 years. Genetic abnormality’s contribution to variance decreased from 41% at 1 year to 25% at 3 years and was insignificant at 5 years. Conclusion: Reduced postnatal subcortical–cerebral white matter trajectories predicted poor early childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes, despite high contribution of maternal IQ. Maternal IQ was cumulative over time, exceeding the influence of known cardiac and genetic factors in complex CHD, underscoring the importance of heritable and parent-based environmental factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cardiology)

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