The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
17 pages, 581 KiB  
Article
Review of Invasive Plant Functional Traits and Management Using Remote Sensing in Sub-Saharan Africa
by Fredrick Ojija, Francesco Petruzzellis and Giovanni Bacaro
Int. J. Plant Biol. 2024, 15(2), 358-374; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb15020029 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Biodiversity and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are considerably impacted by invasive alien plants (IAPs). Increasing plant invasions in SSA threaten agricultural productivity, biodiversity conservation, and other socioeconomic activities, which in turn put the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in peril. [...] Read more.
Biodiversity and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are considerably impacted by invasive alien plants (IAPs). Increasing plant invasions in SSA threaten agricultural productivity, biodiversity conservation, and other socioeconomic activities, which in turn put the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in peril. In order to effectively combat IAPs, understanding their functional traits (morphological, physiological, and phenological traits) and integrating them into remote sensing (RS) is vital. While functional traits influence IAPs’ fitness to invade and establish in a new geographical range, RS aids in studying them remotely, delineating and mapping them, and predicting their potential invasions. The information on this study topic was gathered by reviewing various existing studies published between 2000 and 2024. Based on this review, it was deduced that the majority of IAPs are fast-growing (or acquisitive), with a shorter leaf lifespan, bigger leaves, and higher plant height, ultimately resulting in a higher resource acquisition ability. We established further that in SSA, there are limited studies on IAP functional traits and their integration in RS. Many studies conducted in the region focus mostly on IAP distribution. Evidence from prior studies revealed that functional trait remote sensing (FTRS)-based research not only improves detection and mapping but also predicts whether a certain alien plant can become invasive or expand its distribution range. Thus, using the FTRS approach could help IAP management in SSA, ultimately achieving the SDGs. Our review discusses IAP implications in SSA (e.g., Angola, Tanzania, Benin, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, etc.) and for the achievement of SDGs; functional traits and their impact on alien invasions; and the importance of incorporating functional traits into RS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Invasion)
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15 pages, 319 KiB  
Article
Social Support Postpartum: Bengali Women from India on Their Coping Experiences following Childbirth
by Moumita Gupta, Mahua Patra, Mohammad Hamiduzzaman, Helen McLaren and Emi Patmisari
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(5), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21050557 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Undertaken in Kolkata, India, our study aimed to explore the experiences of Bengali middle-class women on perceived stressful events, social support, and coping experiences following childbirth. Becoming a mother following childbirth is a shared phenomenon irrespective of culture, social strata, or country, while [...] Read more.
Undertaken in Kolkata, India, our study aimed to explore the experiences of Bengali middle-class women on perceived stressful events, social support, and coping experiences following childbirth. Becoming a mother following childbirth is a shared phenomenon irrespective of culture, social strata, or country, while stress during the postpartum period or depression is not. Discrete medical intervention does not sufficiently address the complexities of postpartum experiences since influencing factors also include economic, political, cultural, and social backgrounds. Adopting a feminist and phenomenological approach, individual in-person interviews were conducted with twenty women recruited via snowball sampling. Our findings revealed that events experienced as stressful may lead to poor postpartum well-being. Underpinned by gendered discourse and biases, stressful events included familial imperatives for a male child, poor social and emotional support from the family, mostly partners and fathers, and systemic workplace barriers. The women in our study commonly resided with their mothers postpartum. They expressed feeling sheltered from these experiences, cared for, and supported. We discuss the women’s experiences from a feminist pragmatic worldview, which advocates for a flexible feminism recognizant of the unique and nurturing relationship experiences between Bengali middle-class women and their mothers. In conclusion, we advocate for culturally sensitive, women-centered postpartum care practices that may entail the inclusion of intergenerational care during this critical phase of maternal well-being. These insights underscore the necessity of tailoring postpartum support systems to align with the cultural and familial contexts of the individuals they serve. Full article
16 pages, 4668 KiB  
Article
Effects of Chemical Composition and Cross-Linking Degree on the Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Bio-Based Thermosetting Resins: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study
by Qiuyu Tang, Jie Jiang, Jinjin Li, Ling Zhao and Zhenhao Xi
Polymers 2024, 16(9), 1229; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16091229 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Bio-based epoxy resins have received significant attention in terms of concerns regarding carbon emission. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) derived from sustainable feedstock has been widely used to blend with traditional diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) to replace some of the petroleum-based components. In [...] Read more.
Bio-based epoxy resins have received significant attention in terms of concerns regarding carbon emission. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) derived from sustainable feedstock has been widely used to blend with traditional diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) to replace some of the petroleum-based components. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were applied to track the network formation and predict the performance of methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA)-cured ESO/DGEBA blend systems. The effects of ESO content and cross-linking degree on the mass density, volumetric shrinkage, glass transition temperature (Tg), coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), Young’s modulus, yield strength, and Poisson’s ratio of the epoxy resin were systematically investigated. The results show that systems with high ESO content achieve gelation at low cross-linking degree. The Tg value, Young’s modulus, and yield strength increase with the increase in cross-linking degree, but the CTE at the glassy state and Poisson’s ratio decrease. The comparison results between the simulated and experimental data demonstrated that the MD simulations can accurately predict the thermal and mechanical properties of ESO-based thermosets. This study gains insight into the variation in thermo-mechanical properties of anhydride-cured ESO/DGEBA-based epoxy resins during the cross-linking process and provides a rational strategy for optimizing bio-based epoxy resins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thermodynamics of Polymers: Fundamentals and Applications)
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17 pages, 6513 KiB  
Article
Mango Fruit Detachment of Trees after Applying a Blend Composed of HNO3 and Charcoal Activated
by David Vargas-Cano, Federico Hahn, José Luis Rodriguez de la O, Alejandro Barrientos-Priego and Víctor Prado-Hernández
Plants 2024, 13(9), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13091216 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
As young workers prefer urban labors and migrate to USA and Canada, mango harvesting is becoming scarce on Mexican coasts. This seasonal labor is becoming expensive and when many orchards produce fruit simultaneously, grower losses increase. In this research, an innovative fruit detachment [...] Read more.
As young workers prefer urban labors and migrate to USA and Canada, mango harvesting is becoming scarce on Mexican coasts. This seasonal labor is becoming expensive and when many orchards produce fruit simultaneously, grower losses increase. In this research, an innovative fruit detachment method was tested after applying a viscous paste to the pedicel of mango fruits hanging in the tree. Activated carbon or charcoal (AC), was mixed with different amounts of nitric acid to provide three AC composite blends named: light, medium, and dense. The nanomaterial was applied with a brush to the fruit pedicel/peduncle taking up to 4 h before the mango fruits felt to a net below the tree canopy. Mango detachment experiments indicated that the medium blend was the most efficient in releasing the fruit, taking an average of 2 h. The dense nano-material decreased latex exudation to 7% of the fruits. Fruit maturity emerged as a crucial factor for detachment time, followed by mango weight. Full article
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16 pages, 5765 KiB  
Article
El Niño–Southern Oscillation-Independent Regulation of Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Genesis
by Danlei Jian, Haikun Zhao, Min Liu and Ronghe Wang
Atmosphere 2024, 15(5), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15050537 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
As the most significant interannual signal in the tropical Pacific, the influence of ENSO on the interannual variability in TC genesis location in the western North Pacific (WNP) has received much attention in previous studies. This paper mainly emphasizes the underlying SST factors [...] Read more.
As the most significant interannual signal in the tropical Pacific, the influence of ENSO on the interannual variability in TC genesis location in the western North Pacific (WNP) has received much attention in previous studies. This paper mainly emphasizes the underlying SST factors independent of the ENSO signal and explores how they modulate interannual tropical cyclone genesis (TCG) latitude variability. Our study finds that the meridional sea temperature gradient (SSTG) between the Kuroshio Extension and the WNP still has a significant effect on the interannual variability in the TCG latitude after removing the effect of ENSO (r = 0.6). The interannual forecasts of the TCG latitude were effectively improved from 0.67 to 0.81 when the ENSO-independent SSTG and ENSO were regressed together in a multi-linear regression. We then propose an ENSO-independent physical mechanism affecting the TCG latitude. The equatorward (poleward) SSTG excited the positive (negative) Pacific–Japan telecorrelation pattern over the WNP, forming Rossby wave trains and propagating northward. A significant cyclonic vortex (anticyclonic vortex) with strong convective development (suppression) developed near 20° N, leading more TCs to the northern (southern) part of the WNP. These findings provide a new perspective for the prediction of the interannual variability in the TCG latitude. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tropical Cyclones: Observations and Prediction)
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20 pages, 2184 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Analysis of Discrete Entropy Estimators for Large-Alphabet Problems
by Assaf Pinchas, Irad Ben-Gal and Amichai Painsky
Entropy 2024, 26(5), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/e26050369 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
This paper presents a comparative study of entropy estimation in a large-alphabet regime. A variety of entropy estimators have been proposed over the years, where each estimator is designed for a different setup with its own strengths and caveats. As a consequence, no [...] Read more.
This paper presents a comparative study of entropy estimation in a large-alphabet regime. A variety of entropy estimators have been proposed over the years, where each estimator is designed for a different setup with its own strengths and caveats. As a consequence, no estimator is known to be universally better than the others. This work addresses this gap by comparing twenty-one entropy estimators in the studied regime, starting with the simplest plug-in estimator and leading up to the most recent neural network-based and polynomial approximate estimators. Our findings show that the estimators’ performance highly depends on the underlying distribution. Specifically, we distinguish between three types of distributions, ranging from uniform to degenerate distributions. For each class of distribution, we recommend the most suitable estimator. Further, we propose a sample-dependent approach, which again considers three classes of distribution, and report the top-performing estimators in each class. This approach provides a data-dependent framework for choosing the desired estimator in practical setups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Information Theory for Data Science)
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13 pages, 2417 KiB  
Article
Clinical Findings and Outcome in 30 Dogs with Presumptive or Confirmed Nerve Sheath Tumors
by Rachel S. Cooper-Khan, Alexandra N. Frankovich, Craig A. Thompson, Stephanie A. Thomovsky and Melissa J. Lewis
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(5), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11050192 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Nerve sheath tumors (NSTs) are well-recognized primary nervous system tumors, but there is relatively limited information in dogs including comparison of NSTs in different anatomical locations. This retrospective study describes the clinical features and outcomes in a group of dogs with NSTs affecting [...] Read more.
Nerve sheath tumors (NSTs) are well-recognized primary nervous system tumors, but there is relatively limited information in dogs including comparison of NSTs in different anatomical locations. This retrospective study describes the clinical features and outcomes in a group of dogs with NSTs affecting the cranial nerves or spinal nerves. Thirty dogs were included, 25 with a presumptive diagnosis and five confirmed by histopathologic analysis. Seven dogs also had cytology of tumor samples, which were supportive of the NST diagnosis in four. Eight dogs had cranial nerve-associated NSTs, with six involving the trigeminal nerve. Twenty-two dogs had spinal nerve-associated NSTs including 13 invading the spinal canal and nine peripheral to the spinal canal, with the majority affecting nerves or nerve roots of the brachial plexus. The prognosis was poor, with dogs being euthanized eventually because of disease progression. Among dogs alive 1 week after diagnosis, the median survival time was 4 months but ranged from 2 weeks to >2 years. While there was a broad overlap between NST locations, survival was generally longer for dogs without spinal canal or intracranial involvement. The results expand available information on NSTs in dogs but should be interpreted with caution given the small number of dogs with a definitive diagnosis. Further investigation is warranted to determine how tumor location, invasiveness, and treatments pursued impact outcome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neurology and Neurosurgery in Small Animals)
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20 pages, 4630 KiB  
Article
U-Net with Coordinate Attention and VGGNet: A Grape Image Segmentation Algorithm Based on Fusion Pyramid Pooling and the Dual-Attention Mechanism
by Xiaomei Yi, Yue Zhou, Peng Wu, Guoying Wang, Lufeng Mo, Musenge Chola, Xinyun Fu and Pengxiang Qian
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 925; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050925 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Currently, the classification of grapevine black rot disease relies on assessing the percentage of affected spots in the total area, with a primary focus on accurately segmenting these spots in images. Particularly challenging are cases in which lesion areas are small and boundaries [...] Read more.
Currently, the classification of grapevine black rot disease relies on assessing the percentage of affected spots in the total area, with a primary focus on accurately segmenting these spots in images. Particularly challenging are cases in which lesion areas are small and boundaries are ill-defined, hampering precise segmentation. In our study, we introduce an enhanced U-Net network tailored for segmenting black rot spots on grape leaves. Leveraging VGG as the U-Net’s backbone, we strategically position the atrous spatial pyramid pooling (ASPP) module at the base of the U-Net to serve as a link between the encoder and decoder. Additionally, channel and spatial dual-attention modules are integrated into the decoder, alongside a feature pyramid network aimed at fusing diverse levels of feature maps to enhance the segmentation of diseased regions. Our model outperforms traditional plant disease semantic segmentation approaches like DeeplabV3+, U-Net, and PSPNet, achieving impressive pixel accuracy (PA) and mean intersection over union (MIoU) scores of 94.33% and 91.09%, respectively. Demonstrating strong performance across various levels of spot segmentation, our method showcases its efficacy in enhancing the segmentation accuracy of black rot spots on grapevines. Full article
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12 pages, 2448 KiB  
Article
Production of Plant-Based, Film-Type Scaffolds Using Alginate and Corn Starch for the Culture of Bovine Myoblasts
by Jun-Yeong Lee, Jihad Kamel, Chandra-Jit Yadav, Usha Yadav, Sadia Afrin, Yu-Mi Son, So-Yeon Won, Sung-Soo Han and Kyung-Mee Park
Foods 2024, 13(9), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13091358 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Natural scaffolds have been the cornerstone of tissue engineering for decades, providing ideal environments for cell growth within extracellular matrices. Previous studies have favored animal-derived materials, including collagen, gelatin, and laminin, owing to their superior effects in promoting cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation [...] Read more.
Natural scaffolds have been the cornerstone of tissue engineering for decades, providing ideal environments for cell growth within extracellular matrices. Previous studies have favored animal-derived materials, including collagen, gelatin, and laminin, owing to their superior effects in promoting cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation compared to non-animal scaffolds, and used immortalized cell lines. However, for cultured meat production, non-animal-derived scaffolds with edible cells are preferred. Our study represents the first research to describe plant-derived, film-type scaffolds to overcome limitations associated with previously reported thick, gel-type scaffolds completely devoid of animal-derived materials. This approach has been employed to address the difficulties of fostering bovine muscle cell survival, migration, and differentiation in three-dimensional co-cultures. Primary bovine myoblasts from Bos Taurus Coreanae were harvested and seeded on alginate (Algi) or corn-derived alginate (AlgiC) scaffolds. Scaffold functionalities, including biocompatibility and the promotion of cell proliferation and differentiation, were evaluated using cell viability assays, immunofluorescence staining, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our results reveal a statistically significant 71.7% decrease in production time using film-type scaffolds relative to that for gel-type scaffolds, which can be maintained for up to 7 days. Film-type scaffolds enhanced initial cell attachment owing to their flatness and thinness relative to gel-type scaffolds. Algi and AlgiC film-type scaffolds both demonstrated low cytotoxicity over seven days of cell culture. Our findings indicated that PAX7 expression increased 16.5-fold in alginate scaffolds and 22.8-fold in AlgiC from day 1 to day 3. Moreover, at the differentiation stage on day 7, MHC expression was elevated 41.8-fold (Algi) and 32.7-fold (AlgiC), providing initial confirmation of the differentiation potential of bovine muscle cells. These findings suggest that both Algi and AlgiC film scaffolds are advantageous for cultured meat production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cultured Meat Science and Technology)
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9 pages, 729 KiB  
Case Report
Right and Left Coronary and Conus Arteries Originating from Three Separate Ostia in the Right Valsalva Sinus in a Japanese Cadaver: A Case Study with Literature Review
by Daisuke Kiyoshima, Osamu Tanaka, Hayato Terayama, Ning Qu, Kenta Nagahori, Yoko Ueda, Masahito Yamamoto, Kaori Suyama, Shogo Hayashi and Kou Sakabe
Medicina 2024, 60(5), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60050730 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
A rare case of an anomalous location of the orifice of the coronary artery was found in a 99-year-old male cadaver undergoing routine dissection. The presence of the right coronary artery (RCA), left coronary artery (LCA), and conus artery (conus branch) originating from [...] Read more.
A rare case of an anomalous location of the orifice of the coronary artery was found in a 99-year-old male cadaver undergoing routine dissection. The presence of the right coronary artery (RCA), left coronary artery (LCA), and conus artery (conus branch) originating from the right Valsalva sinus are the characteristic findings of this case. Then, the LCA passed through the aorta and the pulmonary artery. The LCA and RCA branches were normal. These findings are useful for future surgical procedures, including cardiac catheterization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cardiology)
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14 pages, 814 KiB  
Article
Construction and Evaluation of a Traditional Village Tourism Imagery Element System Based on Xidi Village
by Shanting Zheng, Lingli Li, Peng Fang and Hao Chen
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3679; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093679 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Tourism imagery is one of the decision variables for tourists’ travel intentions and behavior. Traditional village tourism imagery studies mostly focus on tourist space, landscape imagery, etc. Few overall imagery studies have been conducted. This paper integrates non-structural and structural methods, uses three-level [...] Read more.
Tourism imagery is one of the decision variables for tourists’ travel intentions and behavior. Traditional village tourism imagery studies mostly focus on tourist space, landscape imagery, etc. Few overall imagery studies have been conducted. This paper integrates non-structural and structural methods, uses three-level coding based on rooting theory, constructs a traditional village tourism place imagery element system through network text analysis, designs and analyzes questionnaires accordingly, and empirically evaluates the tourism imagery of Xidi village in Anhui Province. The results show that the overall satisfaction of tourists is less than important, indicating that there is a systematic deficiency in the perception of tourism place imagery of Xidi village. The dimensional IPA analysis shows that the three dimensions of natural landscape, social landscape, and physical cuisine are in the improvement area. According to the supplementary IPA factor analysis, factors such as natural phenomena, historical figures, clan history, watershed, accommodation, ticket systems, and guide services need important attention, improvement, and promotion. The results of the emotional analysis are dominated by positive images, but attention needs to be paid to the negative impact of negative images. Based on the above findings, recommendations are proposed to improve the layout of the development, and enhance the service facilities and quality based on these findings. Full article
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15 pages, 1658 KiB  
Article
The Environmental and Economic Importance of Mixed and Boundary Friction
by Robert Ian Taylor and Ian Sherrington
Lubricants 2024, 12(5), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/lubricants12050152 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
One route to reducing global CO2 emissions is to improve the energy efficiency of machines. Even small improvements in efficiency can be valuable, especially in cases where an efficiency improvement can be realized over many millions of newly produced machines. For example, [...] Read more.
One route to reducing global CO2 emissions is to improve the energy efficiency of machines. Even small improvements in efficiency can be valuable, especially in cases where an efficiency improvement can be realized over many millions of newly produced machines. For example, conventional passenger car combustion engines are being downsized (and also downspeeded). Increasingly, they are running on lower-viscosity engine lubricants (such as SAE 0W-20 or lower viscosity grades) and often also have stop–start systems fitted (to prevent engine idling when the vehicle is stopped). Some of these changes result in higher levels of mixed and boundary friction, and so accurate estimation of mixed/boundary friction losses is becoming of increased importance, for both estimating friction losses and wear volumes. Traditional approaches to estimating mixed/boundary friction, which employ real area of contact modelling, and assumptions such as the elastic deformation of asperities, are widely used, but recent experimental data suggest that some of these approaches underestimate mixed/boundary friction losses. In this paper, a discussion of the issues involved in reliably estimating mixed/boundary friction losses in machine elements is undertaken, highlighting where the key uncertainties lie. Mixed/boundary lubrication losses in passenger car and heavy-duty internal combustion engines are then estimated and compared with published data, and a detailed description of how friction is related to fuel consumption in these vehicles, on standard fuel economy driving cycles, is given. Knowing the amount of fuel needed to overcome mixed/boundary friction in these vehicles enables reliable estimates to be made of both the financial costs of mixed/boundary lubrication for today’s vehicles and their associated CO2 emissions, and annual estimates are reported to be approximately USD 290 billion with CO2 emissions of 480 million tonnes. Full article
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17 pages, 10189 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Aortic Valve Pressure Gradients for Increasing Severities of Rheumatic and Calcific Stenosis Using Empirical and Numerical Approaches
by Lindi Grobler, Ryno Laubscher, Johan van der Merwe and Philip G. Herbst
Math. Comput. Appl. 2024, 29(3), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/mca29030033 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The evaluation and accurate diagnosis of the type and severity of aortic stenosis relies on the precision of medical imaging technology and clinical correlations and the expertise of medical professionals. The application of the clinical correlation to different aortic stenosis morphologies and severities [...] Read more.
The evaluation and accurate diagnosis of the type and severity of aortic stenosis relies on the precision of medical imaging technology and clinical correlations and the expertise of medical professionals. The application of the clinical correlation to different aortic stenosis morphologies and severities is investigated. The manner in which numerical techniques can be used to simulate the blood flow through pathological aortic valves was analysed and compared to the ground-truth CFD model. Larger pressure gradients are estimated in all severities of rheumatic aortic valves compared to calcific aortic valves. The zero-dimensional morphology-insensitive model underpredicted the transvalvular pressure gradient with the greatest error. The 1D model underestimated the pressure gradient in rheumatic cases and overestimated the pressure gradient in calcific cases. The pressure gradients estimated by the clinical approach depends on the location of the flow vena contracta and is sensitive to the severity and type of valve lesion. Through the analysis of entropy generation within the flow domain, the dominant parameters and regions driving adverse pressure gradients were identified. It is concluded that sudden expansion is the dominant parameter leading to higher pressure gradients in rheumatic heart valves compared to calcific ones. Full article
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13 pages, 7091 KiB  
Article
Molecular Detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi by RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a-Mediated Isothermal Amplification
by Xiaoqiao Xu, Tingting Dai, Qin Xiong, Jing Yang, Jiahui Zang and Tingli Liu
Forests 2024, 15(5), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050772 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Background: Phytophthora cinnamomi is one of the soil-borne pathogens that causes root rot and stem rot in many plants globally. P. cinnamomi has serious economic, social, and environmental impacts, threatening natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Methods: In this study, a molecular detection method based [...] Read more.
Background: Phytophthora cinnamomi is one of the soil-borne pathogens that causes root rot and stem rot in many plants globally. P. cinnamomi has serious economic, social, and environmental impacts, threatening natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Methods: In this study, a molecular detection method based on Recombinant polymorphic amplification (RPA) combined using the CRISPR/Cas12a system was developed for P. cinnamomi. The method was found to be highly specific for P. cinnamomi. Results: The results showed that 10 P. cinnamomi isolates were positive; however, 21 Phytophthora species, 4 Phytopythium species, 18 fungal species, and 2 Bursaphelenchus species were negative. In total, 10 pg·µL−1 of P. cinnamomi genomic DNA can be detected. The detection process is performed within 20 min at 37 °C, which makes it fast and convenient for use. Discussion: In conclusion, the RPA-CRISPR/Cas12a system in this study is a promising tool for the rapid and sensitive detection of P. cinnamomi in plant samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Scientific Developments in Forest Pathology)
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18 pages, 1441 KiB  
Article
Views of Parents on Using Technology-Enhanced Toys in the Free Play of Children Aged One to Four Years
by Dimitra Bourha, Maria Hatzigianni, Trifaini Sidiropoulou and Michael Vitoulis
Educ. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14050469 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
New technology has brought about a novel approach to play termed digital play. Digital play shares many characteristics with traditional play but also presents new possibilities (e.g., building concepts and skills about STEM, opportunities for physical, outdoor activities). Despite new toys with technological [...] Read more.
New technology has brought about a novel approach to play termed digital play. Digital play shares many characteristics with traditional play but also presents new possibilities (e.g., building concepts and skills about STEM, opportunities for physical, outdoor activities). Despite new toys with technological characteristics being popular, there is limited research on this specific area for children under four years old and their parents. This study explored parental perspectives and was part of a larger investigation that examined 68 (38 boys and 30 girls) very young children’s (1–4 years) engagement with technology-enhanced toys (TETs) in early childhood settings. A sequential explanatory design was employed, wherein parents completed questionnaires before and after their children engaged with TETs. Statistical and thematic analysis revealed that family demographics play an important role in children ‘s use of TETs and digital technologies (e.g., on the quality of engagement with their children during playing with TETs). Parents noted improvements in their children’s skills, including fine motor skills, language, and creativity. This study underscores the importance of considering parental backgrounds in digital technology initiatives for early childhood development. Policymakers and educators may benefit from these insights to tailor digital integration and support children’s digital competence effectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technologies in Early Childhood Education and Care)
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14 pages, 3472 KiB  
Article
Endurant Stent Graft for Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Inside and Outside of the Instructions for Use for the Proximal Neck: A 14-Year, Single-Center Experience
by Giulio Accarino, Francesco De Vuono, Giancarlo Accarino, Giovanni Fornino, Aniello Enrico Puca, Rodolfo Fimiani, Valentina Parrella, Giovanni Savarese, Sergio Furgiuele, Carmine Vecchione, Gennaro Galasso and Umberto Marcello Bracale
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(9), 2589; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13092589 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Aim: To assess the medium and long-term performance of the Endurant stent graft in a cohort of consecutive patients treated with this device for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) both inside and outside of the instructions for use (IFU) and to find [...] Read more.
Aim: To assess the medium and long-term performance of the Endurant stent graft in a cohort of consecutive patients treated with this device for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) both inside and outside of the instructions for use (IFU) and to find factors influencing the outcomes. Methods: Our observational, retrospective, single-center study included all patients who consecutively underwent endovascular aneurysm repair with the Endurant stent graft from February 2009 to January 2023. Patients with an AAA to treat according to current guidelines were included. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 inside of the IFUs and Group 2 outside of the IFUs for the proximal aortic neck. Patients were followed up after the procedure with computed angiography tomography, ultrasound examination, and interviews. Aneurysm-related mortality, procedure-related reinterventions, and type IA and III endoleaks were considered primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints included aneurysmal sac variations and graft thrombosis. Results: A total of 795 patients were included, 650 in Group 1 and 145 in Group 2; 732 were males, and the mean age was 74 ± 8. Anamnestic baseline did not differ between the two groups. Neck length, width, and angulation were different between the two groups (all p < 0.001). A total of 40 patients had a ruptured AAA, while 56 were symptomatic. At a mean follow-up of 43 ± 39 months, aneurysm-related mortality was less than 1%, and 82 endoleak (10.5%) were observed. Overall endoleak rate and type 1A endoleak, as well as procedure-related reintervention, were significantly more frequent in Group 2. Sac regression of at least 5 mm was observed in 65.9% of cases. AAAs larger than 60.5 mm carried a higher risk of endoleak (HR: 1.025; 95% CI: 1.013–1.37; p < 0.001) and proximal necks shorter than 13.5 mm carried a higher type 1A risk (HR: 0.890; 95% CI: 0.836–0.948; p < 0.001). Patients without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and taking lipid-lowering drugs had an overall more consistent sac-shrinking rate. Conclusions: The Endurant stent graft proves safe and reliable. Out-of-IFU treatment has poorer medium and long-term outcomes. Some conditions influence medium and long-term reintervention risk and sac behavior. Patients with bigger aneurysms, proximal necks shorter than 13.5 mm, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should be more carefully evaluated during follow-up. Consistent follow-up is in keeping low aneurysm-related mortality. Personalized risk profiles and peri and postoperative management strategies are needed. Full article
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25 pages, 9712 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Color Space and Channel, Detector, and Descriptor for Feature-Based Image Registration
by Wenan Yuan, Sai Raghavendra Prasad Poosa and Rutger Francisco Dirks
J. Imaging 2024, 10(5), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging10050105 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The current study aimed to quantify the value of color spaces and channels as a potential superior replacement for standard grayscale images, as well as the relative performance of open-source detectors and descriptors for general feature-based image registration purposes, based on a large [...] Read more.
The current study aimed to quantify the value of color spaces and channels as a potential superior replacement for standard grayscale images, as well as the relative performance of open-source detectors and descriptors for general feature-based image registration purposes, based on a large benchmark dataset. The public dataset UDIS-D, with 1106 diverse image pairs, was selected. In total, 21 color spaces or channels including RGB, XYZ, Y′CrCb, HLS, L*a*b* and their corresponding channels in addition to grayscale, nine feature detectors including AKAZE, BRISK, CSE, FAST, HL, KAZE, ORB, SIFT, and TBMR, and 11 feature descriptors including AKAZE, BB, BRIEF, BRISK, DAISY, FREAK, KAZE, LATCH, ORB, SIFT, and VGG were evaluated according to reprojection error (RE), root mean square error (RMSE), structural similarity index measure (SSIM), registration failure rate, and feature number, based on 1,950,984 image registrations. No meaningful benefits from color space or channel were observed, although XYZ, RGB color space and L* color channel were able to outperform grayscale by a very minor margin. Per the dataset, the best-performing color space or channel, detector, and descriptor were XYZ/RGB, SIFT/FAST, and AKAZE. The most robust color space or channel, detector, and descriptor were L*a*b*, TBMR, and VGG. The color channel, detector, and descriptor with the most initial detector features and final homography features were Z/L*, FAST, and KAZE. In terms of the best overall unfailing combinations, XYZ/RGB+SIFT/FAST+VGG/SIFT seemed to provide the highest image registration quality, while Z+FAST+VGG provided the most image features. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Image Processing and Computer Vision: Algorithms and Applications)
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23 pages, 1611 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Income Disparity on Food Consumption—Microdata from Rural China
by Jing Li, Kelin Chen, Chao Yan and Zhong Tang
Agriculture 2024, 14(5), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14050689 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between income inequality and consumption, utilizing panel data from rural China over a span of four years to validate the application of relative income theory in the domain of food consumption. Food consumption represents a significant portion of [...] Read more.
This paper examines the relationship between income inequality and consumption, utilizing panel data from rural China over a span of four years to validate the application of relative income theory in the domain of food consumption. Food consumption represents a significant portion of expenditures for the low-income demographic and is of vital importance to China’s food security and agricultural development. To ascertain the impact of income inequality on food consumption, this paper employs a bi-directional fixed-effects model, a mediation effect model, and machine learning causal analysis methods. Utilizing four years of rural resident survey data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey database, the study empirically tests the effect of income inequality on various types of food consumption, the channels through which it operates, and the heterogeneity among different income groups and educational backgrounds. The findings indicate that (1) income inequality within rural communities positively influences food consumption, and this conclusion remains robust under endogeneity treatment and robustness checks, positively affecting the transformation of food consumption and healthy intake; (2) income inequality among rural residents promotes food consumption through two mediating channels: the “demonstration effect” and the “ratchet effect;” (3) the impact of income inequality on food consumption exhibits heterogeneity among rural residents of different income levels and educational backgrounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Agricultural Economics, Policies and Rural Management)
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20 pages, 1827 KiB  
Article
A Novel Architecture for an Intrusion Detection System Utilizing Cross-Check Filters for In-Vehicle Networks
by Hyungchul Im, Donghyeon Lee and Seongsoo Lee
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2807; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092807 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The Controller Area Network (CAN), widely used for vehicular communication, is vulnerable to multiple types of cyber-threats. Attackers can inject malicious messages into the CAN bus through various channels, including wireless methods, entertainment systems, and on-board diagnostic ports. Therefore, it is crucial to [...] Read more.
The Controller Area Network (CAN), widely used for vehicular communication, is vulnerable to multiple types of cyber-threats. Attackers can inject malicious messages into the CAN bus through various channels, including wireless methods, entertainment systems, and on-board diagnostic ports. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a reliable intrusion detection system (IDS) capable of effectively distinguishing between legitimate and malicious CAN messages. In this paper, we propose a novel IDS architecture aimed at enhancing the cybersecurity of CAN bus systems in vehicles. Various machine learning (ML) models have been widely used to address similar problems; however, although existing ML-based IDS are computationally efficient, they suffer from suboptimal detection performance. To mitigate this shortcoming, our architecture incorporates specially designed rule-based filters that cross-check outputs from the traditional ML-based IDS. These filters scrutinize message ID and payload data to precisely capture the unique characteristics of three distinct types of cyberattacks: DoS attacks, spoofing attacks, and fuzzy attacks. Experimental evidence demonstrates that the proposed architecture leads to a significant improvement in detection performance across all utilized ML models. Specifically, all ML-based IDS achieved an accuracy exceeding 99% for every type of attack. This achievement highlights the robustness and effectiveness of our proposed solution in detecting potential threats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Vehicular Sensing)
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19 pages, 3922 KiB  
Review
Canola Seed Protein: Pretreatment, Extraction, Structure, Physicochemical and Functional Characteristics
by Huipeng Zhu, Lu Wang, Xiaoyu Li, John Shi, Martin Scanlon, Sophia Xue, Matthew Nosworthy and Nazanin Vafaei
Foods 2024, 13(9), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13091357 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
The rapid growth of the global population has led to an unprecedented demand for dietary protein. Canola seeds, being a widely utilized oil resource, generate substantial meal by-products following oil extraction. Fortunately, canola meals are rich in protein. In this present review, foremost [...] Read more.
The rapid growth of the global population has led to an unprecedented demand for dietary protein. Canola seeds, being a widely utilized oil resource, generate substantial meal by-products following oil extraction. Fortunately, canola meals are rich in protein. In this present review, foremost attention is directed towards summarizing the characteristics of canola seed and canola seed protein. Afterwards, points of discussion related to pretreatment include an introduction to pulsed electric field treatment (PEF), microwave treatment (MC), and ultrasound treatment (UL). Then, the extraction method is illustrated, including alkaline extraction, isoelectric precipitation, acid precipitation, micellization (salt extraction), and dry fractionation and tribo-electrostatic separation. Finally, the structural complexity, physicochemical properties, and functional capabilities of rapeseed seeds, as well as the profound impact of various applications of rapeseed proteins, are elaborated. Through a narrative review of recent research findings, this paper aims to enhance a comprehensive understanding of the potential of canola seed protein as a valuable nutritional supplement, highlighting the pivotal role played by various extraction methods. Additionally, it sheds light on the broad spectrum of applications where canola protein demonstrates its versatility and indispensability as a resource. Full article
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24 pages, 7759 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Prediction of Slamming Impact Loads Considering Fluid–Structure Interactions
by Tao Lu, Jiaxia Wang, Kun Liu and Xiaochao Zhao
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(5), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12050733 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Slamming impacts on water are common occurrences, and the whipping induced by slamming can significantly increase the structural load. This paper carries out an experimental study of the water entry of rigid wedges with various deadrise angles. The drop height and deadrise angle [...] Read more.
Slamming impacts on water are common occurrences, and the whipping induced by slamming can significantly increase the structural load. This paper carries out an experimental study of the water entry of rigid wedges with various deadrise angles. The drop height and deadrise angle are parametrically varied to investigate the effect of the entry velocity and wedge shape on the impact dynamics. A two-way coupled approach combing CFD method software STAR-CCM+12.02.011-R8 and the FEM method software Abaqus 6.14 is presented to analyze the effect of structural flexibility on the slamming phenomenon for a wedge and a ship model. The numerical method is validated through the comparison between the numerical simulation and experimental data. The slamming pressure, free surface elevation, and dynamic structural response, including stress and strain, in particular, are presented and discussed. The results show that the smaller the inclined angle at the bottom of the wedge-shaped body, the faster the entry speed into the water, resulting in greater impact pressure and greater structural deformation. Meanwhile, studies have shown that the bottom of the bow is an area of concern for wave impact problems, providing a basis for the assessment of ship safety design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Analysis of Marine Structures—Edition II)
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15 pages, 3879 KiB  
Article
Structure of Polysaccharide from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. and its Mode of Action on TLR4 to Exert Immunomodulatory Effects
by Lian Li, Hang Chen, Guichun Huang, Yiyi Lv, Li Yao, Zhongxia Guo, Shuyi Qiu, Xiaodan Wang and Chaoyang Wei
Foods 2024, 13(9), 1356; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13091356 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Dendrobium nobile Lindl. polysaccharide (DNP1) showed good anti-inflammatory activity in our previous study. In this study, the structural characterization of DNP1 and its mode of action on TLR4 were investigated. Structural characterization suggested that DNP1 was a linear glucomannan composed of (1 → [...] Read more.
Dendrobium nobile Lindl. polysaccharide (DNP1) showed good anti-inflammatory activity in our previous study. In this study, the structural characterization of DNP1 and its mode of action on TLR4 were investigated. Structural characterization suggested that DNP1 was a linear glucomannan composed of (1 → 4)-β-Manp and (1 → 4)-β-Glcp residues, and the acetyl group was linked to the C-2 of Manp. The possible repeating structural units of DNP1 were [→4)-2-OAc-β-Manp-(1→]3 →4)-β-Glcp-(1→. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) binding test results showed that DNP1 did not bind directly to TLR4. The TLR4 and MD2 receptor blocking tests confirmed that DNP1 needs MD2 and TLR4 to participate in its anti-inflammatory effect. The binding energy of DNP1 to TLR4-MD2 was −7.9 kcal/mol, indicating that DNP1 could bind to the TLR4-MD2 complex stably. Therefore, it is concluded that DNP1 may play an immunomodulatory role by binding to the TLR4-MD2 complex and inhibiting the TLR4-MD2-mediated signaling pathway. Full article
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16 pages, 5480 KiB  
Article
Alginate Oligosaccharides Alleviate Salt Stress in Rice Seedlings by Regulating Cell Wall Metabolism to Maintain Cell Wall Structure and Improve Lodging Resistance
by Youwei Du, Huimin Zhao, Naijie Feng, Dianfeng Zheng, Aaqil Khan, Hang Zhou, Peng Deng, Yaxing Wang, Xutong Lu and Wenxin Jiang
Plants 2024, 13(9), 1215; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13091215 (registering DOI) - 28 Apr 2024
Abstract
Salt stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that damage the structure and composition of cell walls. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) have been advocated to significantly improve plant stress tolerance. The metabolic mechanism by which AOS induces salt tolerance in rice cell walls [...] Read more.
Salt stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that damage the structure and composition of cell walls. Alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) have been advocated to significantly improve plant stress tolerance. The metabolic mechanism by which AOS induces salt tolerance in rice cell walls remains unclear. Here, we report the impact of AOS foliar application on the cell wall composition of rice seedlings using the salt-tolerant rice variety FL478 and the salt-sensitive variety IR29. Data revealed that salt stress decreased biomass, stem basal width, stem breaking strength, and lodging resistance; however, it increased cell wall thickness. In leaves, exogenous AOS up-regulated the expression level of OSCESA8, increased abscisic acid (ABA) and brassinosteroids (BR) content, and increased β-galacturonic activity, polygalacturonase activity, xylanase activity, laccase activity, biomass, and cellulose content. Moreover, AOS down-regulated the expression levels of OSMYB46 and OSIRX10 and decreased cell wall hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin content to maintain cell wall stability under salt stress. In stems, AOS increased phenylalamine ammonia-lyase and tyrosine ammonia-lyase activities, while decreasing cellulase, laccase, and β-glucanase activities. Furthermore, AOS improved the biomass and stem basal width and also enhanced the cellulose, pectin, and lignin content of the stem, As a result, increased resistance to stem breakage strength and alleviated salt stress-induced damage, thus enhancing the lodging resistance. Under salt stress, AOS regulates phytohormones and modifies cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin metabolism to maintain cell wall structure and improve stem resistance to lodging. This study aims to alleviate salt stress damage to rice cell walls, enhance resistance to lodging, and improve salt tolerance in rice by exogenous application of AOS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)
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