The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
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13 pages, 8122 KiB  
Article
Development of Bilayer Polysaccharide-Based Films Combining Extrusion and Electrospinning for Active Food Packaging
by Rodrigo F. Gouvêa and Cristina T. Andrade
Polysaccharides 2024, 5(2), 129-141; https://doi.org/10.3390/polysaccharides5020010 - 9 May 2024
Abstract
The development of active food packaging is desirable for food safety and to avoid food loss and waste. In this work, we developed antioxidant bilayer films combining extrusion and electrospinning techniques. These films consisted of a first layer of thermoplastic cornstarch (TPS), incorporated [...] Read more.
The development of active food packaging is desirable for food safety and to avoid food loss and waste. In this work, we developed antioxidant bilayer films combining extrusion and electrospinning techniques. These films consisted of a first layer of thermoplastic cornstarch (TPS), incorporated with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The second layer consisted of gallic acid (GA) encapsulated at different concentrations in 1:1 chitosan/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (CS/EVOH) nanofibers. This layer was directly electrospun onto the TPS/MCC film. The morphological, structural, wettability, permeability to oxygen, and antioxidant properties were investigated for the first layer and the bilayer films. Water contact angle measurements revealed the hydrophobic nature of the first layer (θ0 = 100.6°). The oxygen permeability (OP) was accessed through the peroxide value (PV) of canola oil, kept in containers covered by the films. PV varied from 66.6 meq/kg for the TPS/MCC layer to 60.5 meq/kg for a bilayer film. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds, mediated by GA, contributed slightly to improving the mechanical strength of the bilayer films. The bilayer film incorporated with GA at 15.0% reached a radical scavenging activity against the DPPH radical of (903.8 ± 62.2) μmol.L−1.Eq. Trolox.g−1. This result proved the effectiveness of the GA nanoencapsulation strategy. Full article
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15 pages, 659 KiB  
Article
Fluorine-Free Single-Component Polyelectrolyte of Poly(ethylene glycol) Bearing Lithium Methanesulfonylsulfonimide Terminal Groups: Effect of Structural Variance on Ionic Conductivity
by Bungo Ochiai, Koki Hirabayashi, Yudai Fujii and Yoshimasa Matsumura
Technologies 2024, 12(5), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies12050065 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Fluorine-free single-component polyelectrolytes were developed via the hybridization of lithium methanesulfonylsulfonimide (LiMSSI) moieties to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives with different morphologies, and the relationship between the structure and its ionic conductivity was investigated. The PEG-LiMSSI derivatives with one, two, and three LiMSSI end [...] Read more.
Fluorine-free single-component polyelectrolytes were developed via the hybridization of lithium methanesulfonylsulfonimide (LiMSSI) moieties to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives with different morphologies, and the relationship between the structure and its ionic conductivity was investigated. The PEG-LiMSSI derivatives with one, two, and three LiMSSI end groups were prepared via the concomitant Michael-type addition and lithiation of PEGs and N-methanesulfonylvinylsulfonimide. The ionic conductivity at 60 °C ranged from 1.8 × 10−7 to 2.0 × 10−4 S/cm. PEG-LiMSSI derivatives with one LiMSSI terminus and with two LiMSSI termini at both ends show higher ionic conductivity, that is as good as fluorine-free single-component polyelectrolytes, than that with two LiMSSI termini at one end and that with three LiMSSI termini. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Systems (SmaSys2023))
12 pages, 3022 KiB  
Article
Dietary Replacement of Soybean Meal with Zanthoxylum bungeanum Seed Meal on Growth Performance, Blood Parameters, and Nutrient Utilization in Broiler Chickens
by Xing Chen, Yang Li, Aijuan Zheng, Zedong Wang, Xu Wei, Shuzhen Li, Adanan Purba, Zhimin Chen and Guohua Liu
Animals 2024, 14(10), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14101420 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed meal (ZBM), a novel plant protein raw material, has shown promising potential in enhancing the growth of broiler chickens as a substitute for soybean meal (SBM) in feed. In the artificial digestive experiment of vitro experiments, the digestibility of ZBM [...] Read more.
Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed meal (ZBM), a novel plant protein raw material, has shown promising potential in enhancing the growth of broiler chickens as a substitute for soybean meal (SBM) in feed. In the artificial digestive experiment of vitro experiments, the digestibility of ZBM and SBM were assessed using the SDS-III Single Stomach Animal Biometric Digestion System. Subsequently, 180 1-day old AA chicks were divided into three groups for in vivo experiments: corn–soybean-meal-based diet (CON group); ZBM replacing 5% soybean meal in the basal diet (ZBM-1 group); ZBM replacing 10% soybean meal in the basal diet (ZBM-2 group). The experiment period lasted for 42 days. Compared to SBM, ZBM demonstrated higher crude protein content, dry matter digestibility, and extracorporeal digestible protein. Compared with the CON group, the broilers in the ZBM-2 group showed improved ADG and ADFI during the 1–21 d, 22–42 d, and 1–42 d periods (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the ZBM groups exhibited significant increases in slaughter performance compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). The substitution of ZBM for SBM also leads to a significant reduction in serum enzyme indicators (p < 0.05). Additionally, the lipoprotein and total cholesterol of the ZBM groups were significantly lower than those of the CON group (p < 0.05). Substituting SBM with ZBM significantly enhances the activity of superoxide dismutase and the content of immunoglobulin G in broiler serum, while reducing the content of malondildehyde (p < 0.05). The ZBM groups showed significantly higher utilization of dry matter, crude protein, and energy compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study confirmed that the substitution of SBM with 5–10% ZBM in broiler diets has a significant positive effect on growth, development, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and nutrient utilization. This study not only provides a theoretical foundation for the utilization of ZBM in broiler diets but also offers an effective approach for reducing reliance on soybean meal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Nutrition)
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19 pages, 2518 KiB  
Article
Decomposition of China’s Carbon Emissions Responsibility from the Perspective of Technological Heterogeneity
by Qing Song, Yi Xie and Chuanming Yang
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 3978; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16103978 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
A global agreement has been reached on the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Worldwide, countries have implemented measures to tackle carbon emission issues by establishing aggregate targets and decomposing responsibilities. This study aims to decompose carbon emissions by creating an input–output model that [...] Read more.
A global agreement has been reached on the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Worldwide, countries have implemented measures to tackle carbon emission issues by establishing aggregate targets and decomposing responsibilities. This study aims to decompose carbon emissions by creating an input–output model that incorporates multivariate factors like energy consumption and water consumption, together with a ZSG-DEA (zero-sum data envelopment analysis) model considering technological heterogeneity (Tech-ZSG-DEA). Based on the total carbon emission data predicted using the STIRPAT (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology) model, the carbon emission efficiency of 30 provinces in China is evaluated according to multiple principles. This is achieved by considering variations in population, economy, energy consumption, and water consumption across different locations. The efficiency findings indicate a discrepancy between the initial allocation and the highest efficiency value of 1. The traditional ZSG-DEA model overlooks regional disparities and may worsen carbon emission pressures in less developed areas. In contrast, the Tech-ZSG-DEA model, which considers regional technological diversity, allows more efficient regions to help alleviate some of the carbon emission burden and considers economic and social benefits. There is a large difference in the emission responsibility of the provinces based on the different decomposition principles. Finally, relevant policy recommendations are provided, such as the formulation of differentiated and inclusively coordinated emission plans. In addition, there are also mechanisms for coordinating interests and joint prevention among different regions. Full article
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21 pages, 1934 KiB  
Article
Bayesian Network Analysis of Industrial Accident Risk for Fishers on Fishing Vessels Less Than 12 m in Length
by Seung-Hyun Lee, Su-Hyung Kim, Kyung-Jin Ryu and Yoo-Won Lee
Sustainability 2024, 16(10), 3977; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16103977 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
The Marine Stewardship Council estimates that approximately 38 million people worldwide work in fisheries, and more than one-third of the global population is dependent on aquatic products for protein, highlighting the importance of sustainable fisheries. The FISH Safety Foundation reports that 300 fishers [...] Read more.
The Marine Stewardship Council estimates that approximately 38 million people worldwide work in fisheries, and more than one-third of the global population is dependent on aquatic products for protein, highlighting the importance of sustainable fisheries. The FISH Safety Foundation reports that 300 fishers die every day. To achieve sustainable fisheries as a primary industry, the safety of human resources is of the utmost importance. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) have made efforts towards this goal, including the issuance of agreements and guidelines to reduce industrial accidents among fishing vessel workers. The criterion for applying these guidelines is usually a total ship length ≥12 m or ≥24 m. However, a vast majority of registered fishing vessels are <12 m long, and the fishers of these vessels suffer substantially more industrial accidents. Thus, we conducted a quantitative analysis of 1093 industrial accidents affecting fishers on fishing vessels <12 m in length, analyzed risk using a Bayesian network analysis (a method proposed by the Formal Safety Assessment of the IMO), and administered a questionnaire survey to a panel of experts in order to ascertain the risk for different types of industrial accidents and propose specific measures to reduce this risk. Full article
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14 pages, 1072 KiB  
Article
Design and Validation of a Computational Thinking Test for Children in the First Grades of Elementary Education
by Jorge Hernán Aristizábal Zapata, Julián Esteban Gutiérrez Posada and Pascual D. Diago
Multimodal Technol. Interact. 2024, 8(5), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/mti8050039 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Computational thinking (CT) has garnered significant interest in both computer science and education sciences as it delineates a set of skills that emerge during the problem-solving process. Consequently, numerous assessment instruments aimed at measuring CT have been developed in the recent years. However, [...] Read more.
Computational thinking (CT) has garnered significant interest in both computer science and education sciences as it delineates a set of skills that emerge during the problem-solving process. Consequently, numerous assessment instruments aimed at measuring CT have been developed in the recent years. However, a scarce part of the existing CT measurement instruments has been dedicated to early school ages, and few have undergone rigorous validation or reliability testing. Therefore, this work introduces a new instrument for measuring CT in the early grades of elementary education: the Computational Thinking Test for Children (CTTC). To this end, in this work, we provide the design and validation of the CTTC, which is constructed around spatial, sequential, and logical thinking and encompasses abstraction, decomposition, pattern recognition, and coding items organized in five question blocks. The validation and standardization process employs the Kuder–Richardson statistic (KR-20) and expert judgment using V-Aiken for consistency. Additionally, item difficulty indices were utilized to gauge the difficulty level of each question in the CTTC. The study concludes that the CTTC demonstrates consistency and suitability for children in the first cycle of primary education (encompassing the first to third grades). Full article
10 pages, 382 KiB  
Article
Chronic Pain in Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Switzerland: A Query to the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Registry
by Leonie Steiner, Anne Tscherter, Bettina Henzi, Mattia Branca, Stefano Carda, Cornelia Enzmann, Joël Fluss, David Jacquier, Christoph Neuwirth, Paolo Ripellino, Olivier Scheidegger, Regina Schlaeger, Bettina Schreiner, Georg M. Stettner and Andrea Klein
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(10), 2798; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13102798 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Chronic pain is a common symptom in various types of neuromuscular disorders. However, for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the literature regarding chronic pain is scarce. Thus, this study assessed the prevalence of chronic pain in children, adolescents, and adults with SMA [...] Read more.
Chronic pain is a common symptom in various types of neuromuscular disorders. However, for patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the literature regarding chronic pain is scarce. Thus, this study assessed the prevalence of chronic pain in children, adolescents, and adults with SMA and investigated the influence of clinical characteristics on chronic pain. Materials and Methods: This study used data from 141 patients, which were collected by the Swiss Registry for Neuromuscular Disorders. Extracted data included information on pain (present yes/no, pain location, and pain medication) and clinical characteristics, such as SMA type, motor function, wheelchair use, scoliosis, and contractures. Results: The analyses revealed that the highest prevalence of chronic pain was observed in adolescents with 62%, followed by adults with 48%, children (6–12 years) with 39%, and children < 6 years with 10%. The legs, back, and hips were most frequently reported as pain locations. Sex (females), age (adolescents), and the presence of contractures and scoliosis (with surgery) were factors that were associated with chronic pain. Conclusions: These findings contribute to a better understanding of pain in SMA, shedding light on its prevalence and characteristics in different age groups, which underscores the importance of assessing and managing pain in patients with SMA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Neurology)
17 pages, 1563 KiB  
Article
Deformation Prediction Model of Existing Tunnel Structures with Equivalent Layered Method–Peck Coupled under Multiple Factors
by Yifan Li, Changfu Huang, Hongjian Lu and Chao Mou
Mathematics 2024, 12(10), 1479; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12101479 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
The existing tunnel structure, the new underpass tunnel structure and the rock strata in the area of influence of the crossover tunnel are interacting systems that are affected by various factors, such as dynamic and static excavation loads and dynamic and static train [...] Read more.
The existing tunnel structure, the new underpass tunnel structure and the rock strata in the area of influence of the crossover tunnel are interacting systems that are affected by various factors, such as dynamic and static excavation loads and dynamic and static train loads. The existing theoretical models for the deformation prediction of existing tunnels lack the synergistic analysis of dynamic and static loads on both existing and new tunnels. Based on the theory of the current layer method and Peck’s empirical formula, this paper considers the stiffness of existing tunnels, the stiffness of new tunnels, the loads of excavation methods and the loads of existing tunnels. The results show that a theoretical model for the prediction of the deformation of double-lane highway tunnels underneath existing railroad tunnels with the coupling of the current layer method and Peck under multiple factors is constructed; a modified Peck settlement formula for the base plate of the existing tunnels is put forward; and, through numerical calculations and monitoring data for validation and optimization, it is proved that the theoretical model is applicable to the excavation of tunnels underneath mountainous areas mined by the blasting method. Full article
24 pages, 3998 KiB  
Article
Shaking Table Tests and Numerical Analysis Conducted on an Aluminum Alloy Single-Layer Spherical Reticulated Shell with Fully Welded Connections
by Jiawei Lu, Qiujun Ning, Xiaosong Lu, Fan Yang and Yuanshun Wang
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1354; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051354 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Aluminum alloy offers the advantages of being lightweight, high in strength, corrosion-resistant, and easy to process. It has a promising application prospect in large-span space structures, with its primary application form being single-layer reticulated shells. In this study, shaking table tests were conducted [...] Read more.
Aluminum alloy offers the advantages of being lightweight, high in strength, corrosion-resistant, and easy to process. It has a promising application prospect in large-span space structures, with its primary application form being single-layer reticulated shells. In this study, shaking table tests were conducted on a 1/25 scale aluminum alloy single-layer spherical reticulated shell structure. A finite element (FE) model of the reticulated shell structure was established in Ansys. Compared with the experimental results, the deviation in natural frequency, acceleration amplitude, and displacement amplitude was less than 20%, confirming the validity of the model. An extensive analysis of the various rise–span ratios and connection constraints of a single-layer spherical reticulated shell structure was carried out using the proposed FE model. The experimental and simulation results showed that as the rise–span ratio of the aluminum alloy reticulated shell increases, the natural frequency of the reticulated shell structure also increases while the dynamic performance decreases. The connection of the circumferential members changes from a rigid connection to a hinged connection. The natural frequency of the reticulated shell structure is reduced by about 40% while the acceleration and displacement response values are decreased by approximately 15%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation)
36 pages, 16375 KiB  
Article
Fatigue Analysis of a Jacket-Supported Offshore Wind Turbine at Block Island Wind Farm
by Nasim Partovi-Mehr, John DeFrancisci, Mohsen Minaeijavid, Babak Moaveni, Daniel Kuchma, Christopher D. P. Baxter, Eric M. Hines and Aaron S. Bradshaw
Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3009; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103009 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Offshore wind-turbine (OWT) support structures are subjected to cyclic dynamic loads with variations in loadings from wind and waves as well as the rotation of blades throughout their lifetime. The magnitude and extent of the cyclic loading can create a fatigue limit state [...] Read more.
Offshore wind-turbine (OWT) support structures are subjected to cyclic dynamic loads with variations in loadings from wind and waves as well as the rotation of blades throughout their lifetime. The magnitude and extent of the cyclic loading can create a fatigue limit state controlling the design of support structures. In this paper, the remaining fatigue life of the support structure for a GE Haliade 6 MW fixed-bottom jacket offshore wind turbine within the Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF) is assessed. The fatigue damage to the tower and the jacket support structure using stress time histories at instrumented and non-instrumented locations are processed. Two validated finite-element models are utilized for assessing the stress cycles. The modal expansion method and a simplified approach using static calculations of the responses are employed to estimate the stress at the non-instrumented locations—known as virtual sensors. It is found that the hotspots at the base of the tower have longer service lives than the jacket. The fatigue damage to the jacket leg joints is less than 20% and 40% of its fatigue capacity during the 25-year design lifetime of the BIWF OWT, using the modal expansion method and the simplified static approach, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Sensors for Machine Condition Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis)
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18 pages, 4722 KiB  
Article
Nanoporous Carbon Materials Derived from Zanthoxylum Bungeanum Peel and Seed for Electrochemical Supercapacitors
by Peng Jia, Ziming Wang, Xinru Wang, Ke Qin, Jiajing Gao, Jiazhen Sun, Guangmei Xia, Tao Dong, Yanyan Gong, Zhenjiang Yu, Jinyang Zhang, Honglei Chen and Shengdan Wang
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(10), 836; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14100836 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
In order to prepare biomass-derived carbon materials with high specific capacitance at a low activation temperature (≤700 °C), nanoporous carbon materials were prepared from zanthoxylum bungeanum peels and seeds via the pyrolysis and KOH-activation processes. The results show that the optimal activation temperatures [...] Read more.
In order to prepare biomass-derived carbon materials with high specific capacitance at a low activation temperature (≤700 °C), nanoporous carbon materials were prepared from zanthoxylum bungeanum peels and seeds via the pyrolysis and KOH-activation processes. The results show that the optimal activation temperatures are 700 °C and 600 °C for peels and seeds. Benefiting from the hierarchical pore structure (micropores, mesopores, and macropores), the abundant heteroatoms (N, S, and O) containing functional groups, and plentiful electrochemical active sites, the PAC-700 and SAC-600 derive the large capacities of ~211.0 and ~219.7 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 in 6 M KOH within the three-electrode configuration. Furthermore, the symmetrical supercapacitors display a high energy density of 22.9 and 22.4 Wh kg−1 at 7500 W kg−1 assembled with PAC-700 and SAC-600, along with exceptional capacitance retention of 99.1% and 93.4% over 10,000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1. More significantly, the contribution here will stimulate the extensive development of low-temperature activation processes and nanoporous carbon materials for electrochemical energy storage and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section 2D and Carbon Nanomaterials)
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27 pages, 5400 KiB  
Article
Sulforaphane Exposure Prevents Cadmium-Induced Toxicity and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by Regulating the Insulin/Insulin-like Growth Factor Signaling (IIS) Pathway
by Estefani Yaquelin Hernández-Cruz, Omar Emiliano Aparicio-Trejo, Dianelena Eugenio-Pérez, Elí Juárez-Peredo, Mariana Zurita-León, Víctor Julián Valdés and José Pedraza-Chaverri
Antioxidants 2024, 13(5), 584; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13050584 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is highly toxic to humans and animals. Its adverse effects have been widely associated with mitochondrial alterations. However, there are not many treatments that target mitochondria. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of sulforaphane (SFN) [...] Read more.
Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is highly toxic to humans and animals. Its adverse effects have been widely associated with mitochondrial alterations. However, there are not many treatments that target mitochondria. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of sulforaphane (SFN) pre-exposure against cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced toxicity and mitochondrial alterations in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), by exploring the role of the insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling pathway (IIS). The results revealed that prior exposure to SFN protected against CdCl2-induced mortality and increased lifespan, body length, and mobility while reducing lipofuscin levels. Furthermore, SFN prevented mitochondrial alterations by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and restoring mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate, thereby decreasing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The improvement in mitochondrial function was associated with increased mitochondrial mass and the involvement of the daf-16 and skn-1c genes of the IIS signaling pathway. In conclusion, exposure to SFN before exposure to CdCl2 mitigates toxic effects and mitochondrial alterations, possibly by increasing mitochondrial mass, which may be related to the regulation of the IIS pathway. These discoveries open new possibilities for developing therapies to reduce the damage caused by Cd toxicity and oxidative stress in biological systems, highlighting antioxidants with mitochondrial action as promising tools. Full article
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68 pages, 3194 KiB  
Review
CMOS Scaling for the 5 nm Node and Beyond: Device, Process and Technology
by Henry H. Radamson, Yuanhao Miao, Ziwei Zhou, Zhenhua Wu, Zhenzhen Kong, Jianfeng Gao, Hong Yang, Yuhui Ren, Yongkui Zhang, Jiangliu Shi, Jinjuan Xiang, Hushan Cui, Bin Lu, Junjie Li, Jinbiao Liu, Hongxiao Lin, Haoqing Xu, Mengfan Li, Jiaji Cao, Chuangqi He, Xiangyan Duan, Xuewei Zhao, Jiale Su, Yong Du, Jiahan Yu, Yuanyuan Wu, Miao Jiang, Di Liang, Ben Li, Yan Dong and Guilei Wangadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(10), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14100837 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
After more than five decades, Moore’s Law for transistors is approaching the end of the international technology roadmap of semiconductors (ITRS). The fate of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) architecture has become increasingly unknown. In this era, 3D transistors in the form of [...] Read more.
After more than five decades, Moore’s Law for transistors is approaching the end of the international technology roadmap of semiconductors (ITRS). The fate of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) architecture has become increasingly unknown. In this era, 3D transistors in the form of gate-all-around (GAA) transistors are being considered as an excellent solution to scaling down beyond the 5 nm technology node, which solves the difficulties of carrier transport in the channel region which are mainly rooted in short channel effects (SCEs). In parallel to Moore, during the last two decades, transistors with a fully depleted SOI (FDSOI) design have also been processed for low-power electronics. Among all the possible designs, there are also tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs), which offer very low power consumption and decent electrical characteristics. This review article presents new transistor designs, along with the integration of electronics and photonics, simulation methods, and continuation of CMOS process technology to the 5 nm technology node and beyond. The content highlights the innovative methods, challenges, and difficulties in device processing and design, as well as how to apply suitable metrology techniques as a tool to find out the imperfections and lattice distortions, strain status, and composition in the device structures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nanoelectronics, Nanosensors and Devices)
32 pages, 3664 KiB  
Article
Research on Bidirectional Multi-Span Feature Pyramid and Key Feature Capture Object Detection Network
by Heng Zhang, Faming Shao, Xiaohui He, Dewei Zhao, Zihan Zhang and Tao Zhang
Drones 2024, 8(5), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8050189 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
UAV remote sensing (RS) image object detection is a very valuable and challenging technology. This article discusses the importance of key features and proposes an object detection network (URSNet) based on a bidirectional multi-span feature pyramid and key feature capture mechanism. Firstly, a [...] Read more.
UAV remote sensing (RS) image object detection is a very valuable and challenging technology. This article discusses the importance of key features and proposes an object detection network (URSNet) based on a bidirectional multi-span feature pyramid and key feature capture mechanism. Firstly, a bidirectional multi-span feature pyramid (BMSFPN) is constructed. In the process of bidirectional sampling, bicubic interpolation and cross layer fusion are used to filter out image noise and enhance the details of object features. Secondly, the designed feature polarization module (FPM) uses the internal polarization attention mechanism to build a powerful feature representation for classification and regression tasks, making it easier for the network to capture the key object features with more semantic discrimination. In addition, the anchor rotation alignment module (ARAM) further refines the preset anchor frame based on the key regression features extracted by FPM to obtain high-quality rotation anchors with a high matching degree and rich positioning visual information. Finally, the dynamic anchor optimization module (DAOM) is used to improve the ability of feature alignment and positive and negative sample discrimination of the model so that the model can dynamically select the candidate anchor to capture the key regression features so as to further eliminate the deviation between the classification and regression. URSNet has conducted comprehensive ablation and SOTA comparative experiments on challenging RS datasets such as DOTA-V2.0, DIOR and RSOD. The optimal experimental results (87.19% mAP, 108.2 FPS) show that URSNet has efficient and reliable detection performance. Full article
16 pages, 17924 KiB  
Article
Revealing the Effect of α’ Decomposition on Microstructure Evolution and Mechanical Properties in Ti80 Alloy
by Chunhong Xiao, Bin Hu, Jinyang Ge, Bin Kong, Deng Luo, Xiaoyong Zhang and Kechao Zhou
Materials 2024, 17(10), 2238; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17102238 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Three types of solution treatment and aging were designed to reveal the α’ decomposition and its effect on the mechanical properties of near-α Ti-80 alloy, as follows: solution at 970 °C then quenching (ST), ST + aging at 600 °C for 5 h [...] Read more.
Three types of solution treatment and aging were designed to reveal the α’ decomposition and its effect on the mechanical properties of near-α Ti-80 alloy, as follows: solution at 970 °C then quenching (ST), ST + aging at 600 °C for 5 h (STA-1), and ST + aging 600 °C for 24 h (STA-2). The results show that the microstructures of the ST samples were mainly composed of equiaxed αp and acicular α’, with a large number of dislocations confirmed by the KAM results. After subsequent aging for 5 h, α’ decomposed into acicular fine αs and nano-β (intergranular β, intragranular β) in the STA-1 specimen, which obstructed dislocation motion during deformation, resulting in the STA-1 specimen exhibiting the most excellent yield strength (1012 MPa) and maintaining sufficient elongation (8.1%) compared with the ST (898 MPa) and STA-2 (871 MPa) samples. By further extending the aging time to 24 h, the size of acicular αs and nano-β gradually increased while the density of dislocations decreased, which resulted in a decrease in strength and an increase in plasticity. Based on this, a microstructures–properties correlation model was proposed. This study provides a new method for strength–plasticity matching of near-α titanium alloys through α’ decomposition to acicular αs+nano-β. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Review and Feature Papers in "Metals and Alloys" Section)
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18 pages, 2819 KiB  
Article
Genetic Variants in KCTD1 Are Associated with Isolated Dental Anomalies
by Cholaporn Ruangchan, Chumpol Ngamphiw, Annop Krasaesin, Narin Intarak, Sissades Tongsima, Massupa Kaewgahya, Katsushige Kawasaki, Phitsanu Mahawong, Kullaya Paripurana, Bussaneeya Sookawat, Peeranat Jatooratthawichot, Timothy C. Cox, Atsushi Ohazama, James R. Ketudat Cairns, Thantrira Porntaveetus and Piranit Kantaputra
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5179; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105179 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
KCTD1 plays crucial roles in regulating both the SHH and WNT/β-catenin signaling pathways, which are essential for tooth development. The objective of this study was to investigate if genetic variants in KCTD1 might also be associated with isolated dental anomalies. We clinically and [...] Read more.
KCTD1 plays crucial roles in regulating both the SHH and WNT/β-catenin signaling pathways, which are essential for tooth development. The objective of this study was to investigate if genetic variants in KCTD1 might also be associated with isolated dental anomalies. We clinically and radiographically investigated 362 patients affected with isolated dental anomalies. Whole exome sequencing identified two unrelated families with rare (p.Arg241Gln) or novel (p.Pro243Ser) variants in KCTD1. The variants segregated with the dental anomalies in all nine patients from the two families. Clinical findings of the patients included taurodontism, unseparated roots, long roots, tooth agenesis, a supernumerary tooth, torus palatinus, and torus mandibularis. The role of Kctd1 in root development is supported by our immunohistochemical study showing high expression of Kctd1 in Hertwig epithelial root sheath. The KCTD1 variants in our patients are the first variants found to be located in the C-terminal domain, which might disrupt protein–protein interactions and/or SUMOylation and subsequently result in aberrant WNT-SHH-BMP signaling and isolated dental anomalies. Functional studies on the p.Arg241Gln variant are consistent with an impact on β-catenin levels and canonical WNT signaling. This is the first report of the association of KCTD1 variants and isolated dental anomalies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
25 pages, 9446 KiB  
Article
Reconstruction of a Long-Term, Reach-Scale Sediment Budget Using Lateral Channel Movement Data as a Proxy: A Case Study on the Lowland Section of the Tisza River, Hungary
by Tímea Kiss, Marcell Tóth, Gergely T. Török and György Sipos
Hydrology 2024, 11(5), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11050067 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Humans have influenced the sediment transport of rivers on a centurial scale. Our goal was to use the rate of lateral channel processes as a proxy to reconstruct sediment budget (SB) changes of a lowland river (Middle Tisza, Hungary) on a historical scale [...] Read more.
Humans have influenced the sediment transport of rivers on a centurial scale. Our goal was to use the rate of lateral channel processes as a proxy to reconstruct sediment budget (SB) changes of a lowland river (Middle Tisza, Hungary) on a historical scale (1838–2017). The gross sediment budget (GSB) refers to the total area of eroded and accumulated surfaces, and the net sediment budget (NSB) indicates the sediment sink or source characteristics. At the beginning (1838–1890), the artificial cut-offs increased the slope and channel erosion, but the eroded sediment deposited in the oxbows, so the reach acted as a sediment sink (NSB: +0.1–0.8 m2/m/y). Then (1890–1929), a quasi-equilibrium state developed (NSB: −0.2 m2/m/y to +0.4 m2/m/y). Later (1929–1976), the bank protections impeded lateral erosion, so the system became a sediment sink again (NSB: +0.1–0.7 m2/m/y). Finally (1976–2017), the erosional processes accelerated due to dam construction and revetment collapses, and now the river is a sediment source (NSB: −0.03 to −0.08 m2/m/y). This study proved that (1) the actual SB could not be projected in the long term, as it was heavily modified, and (2) lateral channel changes could be used as a proxy to estimate long-term SB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sediment Transport and Morphological Processes at the Watershed Scale)
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17 pages, 1288 KiB  
Article
Phosphoproteomics Reveals Selective Regulation of Signaling Pathways by Lysophosphatidic Acid Species in Macrophages
by Raimund Dietze, Witold Szymanski, Kaire Ojasalu, Florian Finkernagel, Andrea Nist, Thorsten Stiewe, Johannes Graumann and Rolf Müller
Cells 2024, 13(10), 810; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13100810 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) species, prevalent in the tumor microenvironment (TME), adversely impact various cancers. In ovarian cancer, the 18:0 and 20:4 LPA species are selectively associated with shorter relapse-free survival, indicating distinct effects on cellular signaling networks. Macrophages represent a cell type of [...] Read more.
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) species, prevalent in the tumor microenvironment (TME), adversely impact various cancers. In ovarian cancer, the 18:0 and 20:4 LPA species are selectively associated with shorter relapse-free survival, indicating distinct effects on cellular signaling networks. Macrophages represent a cell type of high relevance in the TME, but the impact of LPA on these cells remains obscure. Here, we uncovered distinct LPA-species-specific responses in human monocyte-derived macrophages through unbiased phosphoproteomics, with 87 and 161 phosphosites upregulated by 20:4 and 18:0 LPA, respectively, and only 24 shared sites. Specificity was even more pronounced for downregulated phosphosites (163 versus 5 sites). Considering the high levels 20:4 LPA in the TME and its selective association with poor survival, this finding may hold significant implications. Pathway analysis pinpointed RHO/RAC1 GTPase signaling as the predominantly impacted target, including AHRGEF and DOCK guanine exchange factors, ARHGAP GTPase activating proteins, and regulatory protein kinases. Consistent with these findings, exposure to 20:4 resulted in strong alterations to the actin filament network and a consequent enhancement of macrophage migration. Moreover, 20:4 LPA induced p38 phosphorylation, a response not mirrored by 18:0 LPA, whereas the pattern for AKT was reversed. Furthermore, RNA profiling identified genes involved in cholesterol/lipid metabolism as selective targets of 20:4 LPA. These findings imply that the two LPA species cooperatively regulate different pathways to support functions essential for pro-tumorigenic macrophages within the TME. These include cellular survival via AKT activation and migration through RHO/RAC1 and p38 signaling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cell Signaling)
32 pages, 7500 KiB  
Article
Comparative Study of Parameter Extraction from a Solar Cell or a Photovoltaic Module by Combining Metaheuristic Algorithms with Different Simulation Current Calculation Methods
by Cheng Qin, Jianing Li, Chen Yang, Bin Ai and Yecheng Zhou
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2284; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102284 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
In this paper, single-diode model (SDM) and double-diode model (DDM) parameters of the French RTC solar cell and the Photowatt PWP 201 photovoltaic (PV) module were extracted by combining five metaheuristic algorithms with three simulation current calculation methods (i.e., approximation method, Lambert W [...] Read more.
In this paper, single-diode model (SDM) and double-diode model (DDM) parameters of the French RTC solar cell and the Photowatt PWP 201 photovoltaic (PV) module were extracted by combining five metaheuristic algorithms with three simulation current calculation methods (i.e., approximation method, Lambert W method and Newton–Raphson method), respectively. It was found that the parameter-extraction accuracies of the Lambert W (LW) method and the Newton–Raphson (NR) method are always approximately equal and higher than that of the approximation method. The best RMSEs (root mean square error) obtained by using the LW or the NR method on the solar cell and the PV module are 7.72986 × 10−4 and 2.05296 × 10−3 for SDM parameter extraction and 6.93709 × 10−4 and 1.99051 × 10−3 for DDM parameter extraction, respectively. The latter may be the highest parameter-extraction accuracy reported on the solar cell and the PV module so far, which is due to the adoption of more reasonable DDM parameter boundaries. Furthermore, the convergence curves of the LW and the NR method basically coincide, with a convergence speed faster than that of the approximation method. The robustness of a parameter-extraction method is mainly determined by the metaheuristic algorithm, but it is also affected by the simulation current calculation method and the parameter-extraction object. In a word, the approximation method is not suitable for application in PV-model parameter extraction because of incorrect estimation of the simulation current and the RMSE, while the LW and NR methods are suitable for the application for accurately calculating the simulation current and RMSE. In terms of saving computation resources and time, the NR method is superior to the LW method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photovoltaic Solar Cells and Systems: Fundamentals and Applications)
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15 pages, 695 KiB  
Article
Application of Machine Learning Algorithms for Prediction of Tumor T-Cell Immunogens
by Stanislav Sotirov and Ivan Dimitrov
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4034; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104034 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
The identification and characterization of immunogenic tumor antigens are essential for cancer vaccine development. In light of the impracticality of isolating and evaluating each putative antigen individually, in silico prediction algorithms, particularly those utilizing machine learning (ML) approaches, play a pivotal role. These [...] Read more.
The identification and characterization of immunogenic tumor antigens are essential for cancer vaccine development. In light of the impracticality of isolating and evaluating each putative antigen individually, in silico prediction algorithms, particularly those utilizing machine learning (ML) approaches, play a pivotal role. These algorithms significantly reduce the experimental workload necessary for discovering vaccine candidates. In this study, we employed six supervised ML methods on a dataset comprising 212 experimentally validated human tumor peptide antigens and an equal number of non-antigenic human peptides to develop models for immunogenicity prediction. These methods encompassed k-nearest neighbor (kNN), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). The models underwent validation through internal cross-validation within 10 groups from the training set and were further assessed using an external test set. Remarkably, the kNN model demonstrated superior performance, recognizing 90% of the known immunogens in the test set. The RF model excelled in the identification of non-immunogens, accurately classifying 93% of them in the test set. The three top-performing ML models according to multiple evaluation metrics (SVM, RF, and XGBoost) are to be subsequently integrated into the new version of the VaxiJen server, facilitating tumor antigen prediction through a majority voting mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Applications of Machine Learning and Bayesian Optimization)
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17 pages, 1710 KiB  
Article
Photothermal Radiometry Data Analysis by Using Machine Learning
by Perry Xiao and Daqing Chen
Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3015; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103015 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
Photothermal techniques are infrared remote sensing techniques that have been used for biomedical applications, as well as industrial non-destructive testing (NDT). Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence, which includes a set of algorithms for learning from past data and analyzing new [...] Read more.
Photothermal techniques are infrared remote sensing techniques that have been used for biomedical applications, as well as industrial non-destructive testing (NDT). Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence, which includes a set of algorithms for learning from past data and analyzing new data, without being explicitly programmed to do so. In this paper, we first review the latest development of machine learning and its applications in photothermal techniques. Next, we present our latest work on machine learning for data analysis in opto-thermal transient emission radiometry (OTTER), which is a type of photothermal technique that has been extensively used in skin hydration, skin hydration depth profiles, skin pigments, as well as topically applied substances and skin penetration measurements. We have investigated different algorithms, such as random forest regression, gradient boosting regression, support vector machine (SVM) regression, and partial least squares regression, as well as deep learning neural network regression. We first introduce the theoretical background, then illustrate its applications with experimental results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photonics for Advanced Spectroscopy and Sensing)
20 pages, 1419 KiB  
Article
Understanding Factors Associated with Interest in Sustainability-Certified Wine among American and Italian Consumers
by Mingze Rui, Federica Rosa, Andrea Viberti, Filippo Brun, Stefano Massaglia and Simone Blanc
Foods 2024, 13(10), 1468; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13101468 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
The wine industry has been witnessing a growth in businesses crafting sustainability-certified wines and in the attention of consumers to sustainability, especially in the United States and Italy. To identify the characteristics of consumers who prefer sustainability-certified wine, this study analysed the relationship [...] Read more.
The wine industry has been witnessing a growth in businesses crafting sustainability-certified wines and in the attention of consumers to sustainability, especially in the United States and Italy. To identify the characteristics of consumers who prefer sustainability-certified wine, this study analysed the relationship between consumers’ demographics, wine buying behaviour, and interest in sustainability-certified wine, focusing on these two countries for comparison. Data were collected through an online survey of US and Italian consumers. Through correspondence analysis, k-modes clustering analysis, and multi-way correspondence analysis, this study revealed a stronger relationship between demographics and interest in sustainability-certified wine among US consumers than Italian consumers. In particular, middle-aged US consumers exhibited a greater interest than seniors. The patterns of connections between consumers’ wine buying behaviour and interest in sustainable wine were similar for the two countries. In particular, consumers who purchase wine weekly had a keen interest, and those who purchase wine sporadically had no or little interest. Furthermore, this study uncovered the intricate relationship among various variables, providing a comprehensive understanding of the association between wine consumer characteristics and their interest in sustainability-certified wine. Full article
30 pages, 995 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Robustness in Precast Modular Frame Optimization: Integrating NSGA-II, NSGA-III, and RVEA for Sustainable Infrastructure
by Andrés Ruiz-Vélez , José García, Julián Alcalá and Víctor Yepes
Mathematics 2024, 12(10), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12101478 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2024
Abstract
The advancement toward sustainable infrastructure presents complex multi-objective optimization (MOO) challenges. This paper expands the current understanding of design frameworks that balance cost, environmental impacts, social factors, and structural integrity. Integrating MOO with multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), the study targets enhancements in life cycle [...] Read more.
The advancement toward sustainable infrastructure presents complex multi-objective optimization (MOO) challenges. This paper expands the current understanding of design frameworks that balance cost, environmental impacts, social factors, and structural integrity. Integrating MOO with multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), the study targets enhancements in life cycle sustainability for complex engineering projects using precast modular road frames. Three advanced evolutionary algorithms—NSGA-II, NSGA-III, and RVEA—are optimized and deployed to address sustainability objectives under performance constraints. The efficacy of these algorithms is gauged through a comparative analysis, and a robust MCDM approach is applied to nine non-dominated solutions, employing SAW, FUCA, TOPSIS, PROMETHEE, and VIKOR decision-making techniques. An entropy theory-based method ensures systematic, unbiased criteria weighting, augmenting the framework’s capacity to pinpoint designs balancing life cycle sustainability. The results reveal that NSGA-III is the algorithm converging towards the most cost-effective solutions, surpassing NSGA-II and RVEA by 21.11% and 10.07%, respectively, while maintaining balanced environmental and social impacts. The RVEA achieves up to 15.94% greater environmental efficiency than its counterparts. The analysis of non-dominated solutions identifies the A4 design, utilizing 35 MPa concrete and B500S steel, as the most sustainable alternative across 80% of decision-making algorithms. The ranking correlation coefficients above 0.94 demonstrate consistency among decision-making techniques, underscoring the robustness of the integrated MOO and MCDM framework. The results in this paper expand the understanding of the applicability of novel techniques for enhancing engineering practices and advocate for a comprehensive strategy that employs advanced MOO algorithms and MCDM to enhance sustainable infrastructure development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Combinatorial Optimization and Applications)

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