The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
16 pages, 1290 KiB  
Article
Stability and Retention of Nanoemulsion Formulations Incorporating Lavender Essential Oil
by Konstantina Flekka, Virginia D. Dimaki, Elena Mourelatou, Konstantinos Avgoustakis, Fotini N. Lamari and Sophia Hatziantoniou
Cosmetics 2024, 11(3), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics11030065 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Lavender essential oil (LEO) is applied topically for its soothing properties, serving not only as an antiseptic in wound care but also as an insect repellent. This study investigates the impact of carrier systems on LEO encapsulation, stability, and release kinetics for potential [...] Read more.
Lavender essential oil (LEO) is applied topically for its soothing properties, serving not only as an antiseptic in wound care but also as an insect repellent. This study investigates the impact of carrier systems on LEO encapsulation, stability, and release kinetics for potential skincare applications. The LEO carrier impact on skin hydration and barrier function was also evaluated. Conventional emulsions (CEs) and nanoemulsions (NEs) with (CELs and NELs, respectively) and without LEO incorporation were analyzed for physicochemical properties, stability, and release mechanisms. The droplet size distribution and ζ-potential remained consistent in both CE and CEL, showing the minimal influence of LEO on those parameters. NE and NEL exhibited enhanced stability and higher LEO retention compared to CE and CEL (37.38 mg/mL ± 0.48 mg/mL and 50.96 mg/mL ± 2.00 mg/mL, respectively, p < 0.05), suggesting NE as a superior carrier system for LEO delivery. NEL retained LEO over 60 days at 4 °C without a significant reduction while CEL showed a notable reduction of 94.93% ± 0.08%. Release kinetics analysis showed zero-order release kinetics of LEO from both CEL and NEL (R2: 0.973 and 0.952, respectively), revealing a diffusion-based mechanism, particularly evident in NE formulations, supporting the controlled and sustained release of LEO constituents. NEL also promoted quicker skin barrier repair and enhanced skin hydration, sustaining effects for up to 120 min post application, surpassing CEL’s performance. These findings contribute to understanding the carrier system effects on LEO delivery and underscore NE as a promising vehicle for skincare applications. Further research should explore underlying mechanisms and conduct long-term safety and efficacy studies to fully exploit the therapeutic potential of NE in dermatological applications. Full article
35 pages, 1313 KiB  
Review
Novel Bioactive Natural Products from Marine-Derived Penicillium Fungi: A Review (2021–2023)
by Fang Lv and Yanbo Zeng
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(5), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22050191 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Marine-derived Penicillium fungi are productive sources of structurally unique and diverse bioactive secondary metabolites, representing a hot topic in natural product research. This review describes structural diversity, bioactivities and statistical research of 452 new natural products from marine-derived Penicillium fungi covering 2021 to [...] Read more.
Marine-derived Penicillium fungi are productive sources of structurally unique and diverse bioactive secondary metabolites, representing a hot topic in natural product research. This review describes structural diversity, bioactivities and statistical research of 452 new natural products from marine-derived Penicillium fungi covering 2021 to 2023. Sediments are the main sources of marine-derived Penicillium fungi for producing nearly 56% new natural products. Polyketides, alkaloids, and terpenoids displayed diverse biological activities and are the major contributors to antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory and enzyme inhibitory capacities. Polyketides had higher proportions of new bioactive compounds in new compounds than other chemical classes. The characteristics of studies in recent years are presented. Full article
12 pages, 792 KiB  
Article
Polymeric Caffeic Acid Acts as an Antigen Delivery Carrier for Mucosal Vaccine Formulation by Forming a Complex with an Antigenic Protein
by Rui Tada, Yuzuho Nagai, Miki Ogasawara, Momoko Saito, Akihiro Ohshima, Daisuke Yamanaka, Jun Kunisawa, Yoshiyuki Adachi and Yoichi Negishi
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050449 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The development of mucosal vaccines, which can generate antigen-specific immune responses in both the systemic and mucosal compartments, has been recognized as an effective strategy for combating infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microbes. Our recent research has focused on creating a nasal vaccine [...] Read more.
The development of mucosal vaccines, which can generate antigen-specific immune responses in both the systemic and mucosal compartments, has been recognized as an effective strategy for combating infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microbes. Our recent research has focused on creating a nasal vaccine system in mice using enzymatically polymerized caffeic acid (pCA). However, we do not yet understand the molecular mechanisms by which pCA stimulates antigen-specific mucosal immune responses. In this study, we hypothesized that pCA might activate mucosal immunity at the site of administration based on our previous findings that pCA possesses immune-activating properties. However, contrary to our initial hypothesis, the intranasal administration of pCA did not enhance the expression of various genes involved in mucosal immune responses, including the enhancement of IgA responses. Therefore, we investigated whether pCA forms a complex with antigenic proteins and enhances antigen delivery to mucosal dendritic cells located in the lamina propria beneath the mucosal epithelial layer. Data from gel filtration chromatography indicated that pCA forms a complex with the antigenic protein ovalbumin (OVA). Furthermore, we examined the promotion of OVA delivery to nasal mucosal dendritic cells (mDCs) after the intranasal administration of pCA in combination with OVA and found that OVA uptake by mDCs was increased. Therefore, the data from gel filtration chromatography and flow cytometry imply that pCA enhances antigen-specific antibody production in both mucosal and systemic compartments by serving as an antigen-delivery vehicle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Nanoparticles as Vaccine Adjuvants)
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4 pages, 212 KiB  
Editorial
Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture
by Fan Zhang and Mo Li
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 880; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050880 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
As the population continues to increase, the demand for food has never been greater, placing immense pressure on the sustainable management of land and water resources [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture)
18 pages, 869 KiB  
Article
SwinDPSR: Dual-Path Face Super-Resolution Network Integrating Swin Transformer
by Xing Liu, Yan Li, Miao Gu, Hailong Zhang, Xiaoguang Zhang, Junzhu Wang, Xindong Lv and Hongxia Deng
Symmetry 2024, 16(5), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16050511 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Whether to use face priors in the face super-resolution (FSR) methods is a symmetry problem.Various face priors are used to describe the overall and local face features, making the generation of super-resolution face images expensive and laborious. FSR methods that do not require [...] Read more.
Whether to use face priors in the face super-resolution (FSR) methods is a symmetry problem.Various face priors are used to describe the overall and local face features, making the generation of super-resolution face images expensive and laborious. FSR methods that do not require any prior information tend to focus too much on the local features of the face, ignoring the modeling of global information. To solve this problem, we propose a dual-path facial image super-resolution network (SwinDPSR) fused with Swin Transformer. The network does not require additional face priors, and it learns global face shape and local face components through two independent branches. In addition, the channel attention ECA module is used to aggregate the global and local face information in the above dual-path sub-networks, which can generate corresponding high-quality face images. The results of face super-resolution reconstruction experiments on public face datasets and a real-scene face dataset show that SwinDPSR is superior to previous advanced methods both in terms of visual effects and objective indicators. The reconstruction results are evaluated with four evaluation metrics: peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity (SSIM), learned perceptual image patch similarity (LPIPS), and mean perceptual score (MPS). Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computer)
17 pages, 1164 KiB  
Article
Gut Microbiota Analysis in Silkworms (Bombyx mori) Provides Insights into Identifying Key Bacterials for Inclusion in Artificial Diet Formulations
by Lei Xin, Yazhen Chen, Wantao Rong, Yingcan Qin, Xiaodong Li and Delong Guan
Animals 2024, 14(9), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091261 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The gut microbiome significantly influences the health and productivity of silkworms (Bombyx mori), the cornerstone of sericulture. With the increasing use of cost-effective artificial diets in sericulture, it is crucial to understand how these diets impact the silkworm gut microbiomes. Here [...] Read more.
The gut microbiome significantly influences the health and productivity of silkworms (Bombyx mori), the cornerstone of sericulture. With the increasing use of cost-effective artificial diets in sericulture, it is crucial to understand how these diets impact the silkworm gut microbiomes. Here we employed 16S rRNA sequencing to delineate the impact of three distinct dietary regimens on the silkworm gut microbiomes: exclusive mulberry leaf diet (SY), exclusive artificial feed diet (SL), and a sequential transition from artificial feed to mulberry leaves (ZS). Our results unveiled stark differences in microbial diversity across the groups, with the ZS group displaying an intermediary complexity. LefSe and random forest analyses identified Methylobacteriaceae, Microbacterium, and Rhodococcus as significantly enriched in the ZS group, suggesting their potential to facilitate silkworms’ adaptation to dietary transitions. Functional profiling revealed differential pathway regulation, indicating a metabolic reconfiguration in response to dietary modulations. Notably, the enrichment of Lactobacillus and Weissella in both the SL and ZS groups highlights their potential as probiotics in artificial diets. Our findings provide insights into the diet adaptation mechanisms of silkworm gut microbiota, paving the way for harnessing the intestinal bacteria to enhance silkworm health and silk production through targeted microbial interventions in sericulture practices. Full article
15 pages, 315 KiB  
Article
The Optimal Stopping Problem under a Random Horizon
by Tahir Choulli and Safa’ Alsheyab
Mathematics 2024, 12(9), 1273; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12091273 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
This paper considers a pair (F,τ), where F is a filtration representing the “public” flow of information that is available to all agents over time, and τ is a random time that might not be an F-stopping [...] Read more.
This paper considers a pair (F,τ), where F is a filtration representing the “public” flow of information that is available to all agents over time, and τ is a random time that might not be an F-stopping time. This setting covers the case of a credit risk framework, where τ models the default time of a firm or client, and the setting of life insurance, where τ is the death time of an agent. It is clear that random times cannot be observed before their occurrence. Thus, the larger filtration, G, which incorporates F and makes τ observable, results from the progressive enlargement of F with τ. For this informational setting, governed by G, we analyze the optimal stopping problem in three main directions. The first direction consists of characterizing the existence of the solution to this problem in terms of F-observable processes. The second direction lies in deriving the mathematical structuresof the value process of this control problem, while the third direction singles out the associated optimal stopping problem under F. These three aspects allow us to deeply quantify how τ impacts the optimal stopping problem and are also vital for studying reflected backward stochastic differential equations that arise naturally from pricing and hedging of vulnerable claims. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Financial Mathematics)
11 pages, 3505 KiB  
Article
Molten Bismuth–Bismuth/Zinc Oxide Composites for High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage
by Cristina Maria Vladut, Daniel Lincu, Daniela Berger, Cristian Matei and Raul-Augustin Mitran
Inorganics 2024, 12(5), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12050126 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Thermal energy storage is at the leading edge of various applications, including waste heat recovery, solar storage and zero-energy buildings. Phase change materials (PCMs) can be utilized to store heat through reversible solid–liquid phase transitions. PCMs provide high energy storage capacity at a [...] Read more.
Thermal energy storage is at the leading edge of various applications, including waste heat recovery, solar storage and zero-energy buildings. Phase change materials (PCMs) can be utilized to store heat through reversible solid–liquid phase transitions. PCMs provide high energy storage capacity at a constant temperature. The volume change during the phase transition, on the other hand, causes inconsistency in crystallization and leakage, increasing the system’s complexity and shortening the lifetime of these materials. These shortcomings can be diminished by impregnation in a porous matrix or encapsulation with an inert shell, resulting in shape-stabilized PCMs that maintain their macroscopic shape during phase change. The synthesis and properties of Bi/ZnO nanocomposites were investigated in order to obtain shape-stabilized phase change materials. All samples consisted of metallic Bi and oxide, doped with 1–3% at. zinc. Heat storage capacities between 31 and 49 Jg−1 were obtained, depending on the mass fraction of the metal. All samples had good thermal reliability, retaining their heat storage properties after 50 consecutive heating–cooling cycles. An average oxide layer thickness of 75–100 nm is sufficient to prevent the molten metal leakage at temperatures above its melting point, resulting in shape-stabilized PCMs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Functional Ceramics)
11 pages, 2098 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Multi-Spectral Fingerprint Sensing for Trace Explosive Molecules with All-Silicon Metasurfaces
by Jie Lin, Ying Xue, Weijin Wang, Mingjun Sun, Shengnan Shi, Shan Zhang and Yanpeng Shi
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090738 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Spectroscopy is a powerful tool to identify the specific fingerprints of analytes in a label-free way. However, conventional sensing methods face unavoidable barriers in analyzing trace-amount target molecules due to the difficulties of enhancing the broadband molecular absorption. Here, we propose a sensing [...] Read more.
Spectroscopy is a powerful tool to identify the specific fingerprints of analytes in a label-free way. However, conventional sensing methods face unavoidable barriers in analyzing trace-amount target molecules due to the difficulties of enhancing the broadband molecular absorption. Here, we propose a sensing scheme to achieve strong fingerprint absorption based on the angular-scanning strategy on an all-silicon metasurface. By integrating the mid-infrared and terahertz sensing units into a single metasurface, the sensor can efficiently identify 2,4-DNT with high sensitivity. The results reveal that the fingerprint peak in the enhanced fingerprint spectrum is formed by the linked envelope. It exhibits a significant enhancement factor exceeding 64-fold in the terahertz region and more than 55-fold in the mid-infrared region. Particularly, the corresponding identification limit of 2,4-DNT is 1.32 µg cm−2, respectively. Our study will provide a novel research idea in identifying trace-amount explosives and advance practical applications of absorption spectroscopy enhancement identification in civil and military security industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Terahertz Technology Applications)
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20 pages, 1073 KiB  
Article
If Some Critical Regions Achieve Carbon Neutrality, How Will the Global Atmospheric CO2 Concentration Change?
by Jiaying Li, Xiaoye Zhang, Lifeng Guo, Junting Zhong, Deying Wang, Chongyuan Wu and Lifeng Jiang
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(9), 1486; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16091486 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Due to anthropogenic emissions, the global CO2 concentration increases at a rate of approximately 2 ppm per year. With over 130 countries and regions committing to carbon neutrality goals and continuously reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions, understanding how atmospheric CO2 concentrations [...] Read more.
Due to anthropogenic emissions, the global CO2 concentration increases at a rate of approximately 2 ppm per year. With over 130 countries and regions committing to carbon neutrality goals and continuously reducing anthropogenic CO2 emissions, understanding how atmospheric CO2 concentrations will change globally and in other regions has become an intriguing question. Examining different regions’ efforts to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions through atmospheric CO2 observations is also meaningful. We used prior and posterior fluxes to drive the TM5 model. The posterior fluxes were based on the China Carbon Monitoring, Verification and Support System for Global (CCMVS-G), which assimilated the atmospheric CO2 concentration data from ground-based observation and satellite observation. We found that the CO2 concentration obtained using the posterior fluxes was more in line with the actual situation. Then, we presented some experiments to estimate how global and regional CO2 concentrations would change if certain key regions and the whole world achieved net zero emissions of anthropogenic CO2. After removing carbon fluxes from China, North America, and Europe, global CO2 concentrations decreased by around 0.58 ppm, 0.22 ppm, and 0.10 ppm, respectively. The most significant decrease occurred in the regions where fluxes were removed, followed by other areas at the same latitude affected by westerly winds. This indicates that fossil fuel flux is the main factor affecting CO2 concentrations, and that meteorological-driven transportation also significantly impacts CO2 concentrations. Most importantly, using this method, it is possible to quantitatively estimate the impact of achieving carbon neutrality in one region on CO2 concentrations in local regions as well as globally. Full article
15 pages, 910 KiB  
Article
Risk Factors and Scoring Systems to Predict the Mortality Risk of Afebrile Adult Patients with Monomicrobial Gram-Negative Bacteremia: A 10-Year Observational Study in the Emergency Department
by Chung-Pang Wang, Ming-Shun Hsieh, Sung-Yuan Hu, Shih-Che Huang, Che-An Tsai and Chia-Hui Shen
Diagnostics 2024, 14(9), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14090869 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Background: The mortality rate of afebrile bacteremia has been reported to be as high as 45%. This investigation focused on the risk factors and predictive performance of scoring systems for the clinical outcomes of afebrile patients with monomicrobial gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in the [...] Read more.
Background: The mortality rate of afebrile bacteremia has been reported to be as high as 45%. This investigation focused on the risk factors and predictive performance of scoring systems for the clinical outcomes of afebrile patients with monomicrobial gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in the emergency department (ED). Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of afebrile adult ED patients with monomicrobial GNB bacteremia from January 2012 to December 2021. We dissected the demographics, clinical pictures, and laboratory investigations. We applied five scoring systems and three revised systems to predict the clinical outcomes. Results: There were 600 patients included (358 males and 242 females), with a mean age of 69.6 ± 15.4 years. The overall mortality rate was 50.17%, reaching 68.52% (74/108) in cirrhotic patients. Escherichia coli was the leading pathogen (42.83%). The non-survivors had higher scores of the original MEDS (p < 0.001), NEWS (p < 0.001), MEWS (p < 0.001), qSOFA (p < 0.001), and REMS (p = 0.030). In univariate logistic regression analyses, several risk factors had a higher odds ratio (OR) for mortality, including liver cirrhosis (OR 2.541, p < 0.001), malignancy (OR 2.259, p < 0.001), septic shock (OR 2.077, p = 0.002), and male gender (OR 0.535, p < 0.001). The MEDS demonstrated that the best predictive power with the maximum area under the curve (AUC) was measured at 0.773 at the cut-off point of 11. The AUCs of the original NEWS, MEWS, qSOFA, and REMS were 0.663, 0.584, 0.572, and 0.553, respectively. We revised the original MEDS, NEWS, and qSOFA by adding red cell distribution width, albumin, and lactate scores and found a better predictive power of the AUC of 0.797, 0.719, and 0.694 on the revised MEDS ≥11, revised qSOFA ≥ 3, and revised NEWS ≥ 6, respectively. Conclusions: The original MEDS, revised MEDS, revised qSOFA, and revised NEWS were valuable tools for predicting the mortality risk in afebrile patients with monomicrobial GNB bacteremia. We suggested that clinicians should explore patients with the risk factors mentioned above for possible severe infection, even in the absence of fever and initiate hemodynamic support and early adequate antibiotic therapy in patients with higher scores of the original MEDS (≥11), revised MEDS (≥11), revised NEWS (≥6), and revised qSOFA (≥3). Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics)
18 pages, 2514 KiB  
Article
Decentralized Identity Authentication Mechanism: Integrating FIDO and Blockchain for Enhanced Security
by Hsia-Hung Ou, Chien-Hsiu Pan, Yang-Ming Tseng and Iuon-Chang Lin
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3551; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093551 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
FIDO (Fast Identity Online) is a set of network identity standards established by the FIDO Alliance. It employs a framework based on public key cryptography to facilitate multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric login, ensuring the robust protection of personal data associated with cloud [...] Read more.
FIDO (Fast Identity Online) is a set of network identity standards established by the FIDO Alliance. It employs a framework based on public key cryptography to facilitate multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric login, ensuring the robust protection of personal data associated with cloud accounts and ensuring the security of server-to-terminal device protocols during the login process. The FIDO Alliance has established three standards: FIDO Universal Second Factor (FIDO U2F), FIDO Universal Authentication Framework (FIDO UAF), and the Client to Authenticator Protocols (CTAP). The newer CTAP, also known as FIDO2, integrates passwordless login and two-factor authentication. Importantly, FIDO2’s support for major browsers enables users to authenticate their identities via FIDO2 across a broader range of platforms and devices, ushering in the era of passwordless authentication. In the FIDO2 framework, if a user’s device is stolen or compromised, then the private key may be compromised, and the public key stored on the FIDO2 server may be tampered with by attackers attempting to impersonate the user for identity authentication, posing a high risk to information security. Recognizing this, this study aims to propose a solution based on the FIDO2 framework, combined with blockchain technology and access control, called the FIDO2 blockchain architecture, to address existing security vulnerabilities in FIDO2. By leveraging the decentralized nature of the blockchain, the study addresses potential single points of failure in FIDO2 server centralized identity management systems, thereby enhancing system security and availability. Furthermore, the immutability of the blockchain ensures the integrity of public keys once securely stored on the chain, effectively reducing the risk of attackers impersonating user identities. Additionally, the study implements an access control mechanism to manage user permissions effectively, ensuring that only authorized users can access corresponding permissions and preventing unauthorized modifications and abuse. In addition to proposing practical solutions and steps, the study explains and addresses security concerns and conducts performance evaluations. Overall, this study brings higher levels of security and trustworthiness to FIDO2, providing a robust identity authentication solution. Full article
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23 pages, 41467 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Tracer Particle Detection in Dynamic Bulk Systems Based on Polarimetric Radar Signature Correlation
by Birk Hattenhorst, Nicholas Karsch and Thomas Musch
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2673; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092673 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
This contribution focuses on the detection of tracer particles within non-homogeneous bulk media, aiming to enhance insights into particulate systems. Polarimetric radar measurements are employed, utilizing cross-polarizing channels in order to mitigate interference from bulk media reflections. To distinguish the tracer particle in [...] Read more.
This contribution focuses on the detection of tracer particles within non-homogeneous bulk media, aiming to enhance insights into particulate systems. Polarimetric radar measurements are employed, utilizing cross-polarizing channels in order to mitigate interference from bulk media reflections. To distinguish the tracer particle in the measurements, a resonant cross-polarizing structure is constructed, facilitating the isolation of frequency signatures from the surrounding bulk clutter. In addition to characterizing the bulk and tracer components, this study provides a detailed presentation and discussion of the measurement setup, along with the employed signal processing methods. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is demonstrated through comprehensive measurements, where a tracer particle is systematically positioned at various locations. The results affirm the feasibility and efficacy of the approach, highlighting its applicability for enhanced dynamic monitoring in particulate systems within industrial processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Radar Sensors)
21 pages, 1369 KiB  
Article
Herpes Simplex Virus ICP27 Protein Inhibits AIM 2-Dependent Inflammasome Influencing Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Release in Human Pigment Epithelial Cells (hTert-RPE 1)
by Anna Caproni, Chiara Nordi, Riccardo Fontana, Martina Facchini, Sara Melija, Mariangela Pappadà, Mattia Buratto and Peggy Marconi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 4608; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094608 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Although Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been deeply studied, significant gaps remain in the fundamental understanding of HSV-host interactions: our work focused on studying the Infected Cell Protein 27 (ICP27) as an inhibitor of the Absent-in-melanoma-2 (AIM 2) inflammasome pathway, leading [...] Read more.
Although Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been deeply studied, significant gaps remain in the fundamental understanding of HSV-host interactions: our work focused on studying the Infected Cell Protein 27 (ICP27) as an inhibitor of the Absent-in-melanoma-2 (AIM 2) inflammasome pathway, leading to reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines that influence the activation of a protective innate immune response to infection. To assess the inhibition of the inflammasome by the ICP27, hTert-immortalized Retinal Pigment Epithelial cells (hTert-RPE 1) infected with HSV-1 wild type were compared to HSV-1 lacking functional ICP27 (HSV-1∆ICP27) infected cells. The activation of the inflammasome by HSV-1∆ICP27 was demonstrated by quantifying the gene and protein expression of the inflammasome constituents using real-time PCR and Western blot. The detection of the cleavage of the pro-caspase-1 into the active form was performed by using a bioluminescent assay, while the quantification of interleukins 1β (IL-1β) and 18 (IL-18)released in the supernatant was quantified using an ELISA assay. The data showed that the presence of the ICP27 expressed by HSV-1 induces, in contrast to HSV-1∆ICP27 vector, a significant downregulation of AIM 2 inflammasome constituent proteins and, consequently, the release of pro-inflammatory interleukins into the extracellular environment reducing an effective response in counteracting infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic Insights into Host-Viral Response and Pathogenesis 2.0)
16 pages, 1112 KiB  
Article
Effects of Different Conditioners on Soil Microbial Community and Labile Organic Carbon Fractions under the Combined Application of Swine Manure and Straw in Black Soil
by Shuang Zheng, Jinggui Wu and Liming Sun
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 879; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050879 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The return of straw and manure to agricultural fields can impact soil organic carbon (SOC) and biological properties. However, there is a lack of research on how using swine manure, maize straw, and various conditioners together affects soil bacterial and fungal populations. This [...] Read more.
The return of straw and manure to agricultural fields can impact soil organic carbon (SOC) and biological properties. However, there is a lack of research on how using swine manure, maize straw, and various conditioners together affects soil bacterial and fungal populations. This study aimed to investigate six treatments, namely, only maize straw (S00), maize straw combined with swine manure (S0Z), maize straw combined with biochar and swine manure (SCZ), maize straw combined with boron slag and swine manure (SBZ), maize straw combined with biological agent and swine manure (SJZ), and maize straw combined with bio-organic fertilizer and swine manure (SFZ). The results showed that after the two-year return, all treatments increased the SOC content in 2023, which was 12.55–26.89% higher than S00, and the SCZ treatment significantly increased the soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), easily oxidizable carbon (EOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content by 26.89%, 25.44%, 56.88%, 16.08%, and 43.54%, compared to S00. A redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the continuous application of manure, maize straw, and conditioners has a positive impact on the diversity and abundance of soil microbial communities, enhancing the accumulation of soil carbon. Furthermore, our research revealed that soil fungi exhibited higher sensitivity in soil carbon composition following the addition of manure, straw, and conditioners to agricultural fields than bacteria. In conclusion, the addition of different conditioners to the fields is beneficial to biodiversity conservation from the perspective of achieving soil carbon storage and soil protection. Our findings suggested that the combination of maize straw, biochar, and swine manure has been proven to be the most effective treatment for increasing labile organic carbon fractions and enhancing the microbial community. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
20 pages, 3991 KiB  
Article
Phytophthora Communities Associated with Agathis australis (kauri) in Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa/Waitākere Ranges, New Zealand
by Shannon Hunter, Ian Horner, Jack Hosking, Ellena Carroll, Jayne Newland, Matthew Arnet, Nick Waipara, Bruce Burns, Peter Scott and Nari Williams
Forests 2024, 15(5), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050735 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Studies of Phytophthora impact in forests generally focus on individual species without recognition that Phytophthora occur in multispecies communities. This study investigated community structure of Phytophthora species in the rhizosphere of Agathis australis (kauri) in Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa/Waitākere Ranges, New Zealand, [...] Read more.
Studies of Phytophthora impact in forests generally focus on individual species without recognition that Phytophthora occur in multispecies communities. This study investigated community structure of Phytophthora species in the rhizosphere of Agathis australis (kauri) in Te Wao Nui o Tiriwa/Waitākere Ranges, New Zealand, in the context of kauri dieback disease expression. Soil sampling and tree monitoring were conducted on 767 randomly selected mature kauri trees. Phytophthora species were detected using both soil baiting and DNA metabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA). Four species were detected with soil baiting (P. agathidicida, P. cinnamomi, P. multivora, and P. pseudocryptogea/P. cryptogea) and an additional three species with metabarcoding (P. kernoviae, P. cactorum/P. aleatoria and an unknown clade 7 species). Phytophthora cinnamomi was the most abundant species and was distributed throughout the forest. Both P. multivora and P. agathidicida were limited to forest edges, suggesting more recent introductions. P. agathidicida presence was strongly correlated with declining canopy health, confirming its role as the main driver of kauri dieback. The limited distribution of P. agathidicida and infrequent detections (11.0% samples) suggests that that this species is spreading as an introduced invasive pathogen and provide hope that with strategic management (including track upgrades and closures, restricting access to uninfected areas, and continual monitoring) uninfected areas of the forest can be protected. The frequent detections of P. cinnamomi and P. multivora from symptomatic trees in the absence of P. agathidicida suggest more research is needed to understand their roles in kauri forest health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Ecology and Management)
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17 pages, 3888 KiB  
Article
Tumor Microenvironment Modulates Invadopodia Activity of Non-Selected and Acid-Selected Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Its Sensitivity to Gemcitabine and C18-Gemcitabine
by Tiago M. A. Carvalho, Madelaine Magalì Audero, Maria Raffaella Greco, Marilena Ardone, Teresa Maggi, Rosanna Mallamaci, Barbara Rolando, Silvia Arpicco, Federico Alessandro Ruffinatti, Alessandra Fiorio Pla, Natalia Prevarskaya, Tomas Koltai, Stephan J. Reshkin and Rosa Angela Cardone
Cells 2024, 13(9), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13090730 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease with high mortality due to early metastatic dissemination and high chemoresistance. All these factors are favored by its extracellular matrix (ECM)-rich microenvironment, which is also highly hypoxic and acidic. Gemcitabine (GEM) is still the [...] Read more.
Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease with high mortality due to early metastatic dissemination and high chemoresistance. All these factors are favored by its extracellular matrix (ECM)-rich microenvironment, which is also highly hypoxic and acidic. Gemcitabine (GEM) is still the first-line therapy in PDAC. However, it is quickly deaminated to its inactive metabolite. Several GEM prodrugs have emerged to improve its cytotoxicity. Here, we analyzed how the acidic/hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) affects the response of PDAC cell death and invadopodia-mediated ECM proteolysis to both GEM and its C18 prodrug. Methods: For this, two PDAC cell lines, PANC-1 and Mia PaCa-2 were adapted to pHe 6.6 or not for 1 month, grown as 3D organotypic cultures and exposed to either GEM or C18 in the presence and absence of acidosis and the hypoxia inducer, deferoxamine. Results: We found that C18 has higher cytotoxic and anti-invadopodia activity than GEM in all culture conditions and especially in acid and hypoxic environments. Conclusions: We propose C18 as a more effective approach to conventional GEM in developing new therapeutic strategies overcoming PDAC chemoresistance. Full article
18 pages, 1615 KiB  
Article
Distributed Formation–Containment Tracking Control for Multi-Hovercraft Systems with Compound Perturbations
by Zhipeng Fan, Yujie Xu and Mingyu Fu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(5), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12050694 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Aiming at the problem of hovercraft formation–containment control with compound perturbations including model uncertainties and ocean disturbances, a distributed control algorithm for underactuated hovercraft formation–containment is proposed by combining adaptive linear extended state observer (ALESO) and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN). Firstly, [...] Read more.
Aiming at the problem of hovercraft formation–containment control with compound perturbations including model uncertainties and ocean disturbances, a distributed control algorithm for underactuated hovercraft formation–containment is proposed by combining adaptive linear extended state observer (ALESO) and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN). Firstly, ALESO and RBFNN are designed to estimate the ocean disturbances and model uncertainties, respectively, for dynamic compensation in the controller. Then, the auxiliary variables are introduced into the formation error function, and the lateral and longitudinal error stabilization is transformed into the design of longitudinal force and rotational torque by using the skew-symmetric matrix transformation, which solves the lateral underactuated problem of the hovercraft. Finally, the uniform ultimate boundedness of formation–containment cooperative errors is proved by the Lyapunov stability theory. Digital simulation verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unmanned Marine Vehicles: Perception, Planning, Control and Swarm)
20 pages, 873 KiB  
Article
Searching for Dairy Farm Resilience with the R4D Project: Innovation Needs to Be Sustainable
by Ewa Kołoszycz, Artur Wilczyński, Alberto Menghi, Chiara Serena Soffiantini and Marija Klopčič
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3520; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093520 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Farms face new challenges due to both climate change and the influence of economic, social, and institutional factors. The study examines the key aspects of the resilience of dairy farms that, if in place, can ensure their sustainable functioning. The purpose of the [...] Read more.
Farms face new challenges due to both climate change and the influence of economic, social, and institutional factors. The study examines the key aspects of the resilience of dairy farms that, if in place, can ensure their sustainable functioning. The purpose of the article is to diagnose and classify the main needs for strengthening the resilience of dairy farms. In implementing the research, an interdisciplinary approach developed within the framework of the Resilience for Dairy (R4D) project was used. The results of the research reveal differences in the classification of key needs to strengthen resilience by stakeholder groups. Farmers reported a need for solutions that increase their income and production flexibility. The other groups of respondents focused on reducing antibiotic use and improving resource efficiency and environmental protection. The analysis of key needs classifications among respondent groups, segmented by age, and the comparison of needs between respondents from Western European and Central and Eastern European countries showed minor differences, indicating a similarity in the perceived importance of needs. The study also identified needs perceived by respondents as essential to increasing dairy farm resilience. These primarily include the following: the work–life balance of farmers, effective communication with the community, and implementation of technical innovations related to dairy farming. Full article
19 pages, 1225 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Carbon Footprint of Large Yellow Croaker Farming on the Aquaculture Vessel in Deep Sea in China
by Fei Fan, Jianli Zheng, Huang Liu and Mingchao Cui
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(5), 693; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12050693 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The present study conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the carbon emissions associated with large yellow croaker farming on Aquaculture Vessel “Conson No. 1”. The functional unit considered was 1 kg of fresh large yellow croakers delivered to a wholesaler. The [...] Read more.
The present study conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the carbon emissions associated with large yellow croaker farming on Aquaculture Vessel “Conson No. 1”. The functional unit considered was 1 kg of fresh large yellow croakers delivered to a wholesaler. The life cycle of large yellow croaker farming on the aquaculture vessel was divided into five processes: feed production (FP), ship construction (SC), fingerling breeding (FB), adult fish farming (AF), and fish distribution (FD). Results showed that the carbon footprint (CF, kgCO2e/kg LW) for the complete life cycle amounted to 6.2170 kgCO2e/kg LW, while the CF per unit economic value of “Conson No. 1” large yellow croaker was estimated at 31 gCO2e/CNY. Among all processes, AF and FP had the highest CF contribution rates at 69.30% and 24.86%, respectively. Notably, energy consumption by aquaculture equipment on board emerged as the primary contributor across all sources of CF. Comparative analysis demonstrated that the CF of marine fish farming on the aquaculture vessel was lower than that of closed aquaculture systems’ average level and it was a viable option for implementing low-carbon aquaculture in the deep sea. In order to reduce energy consumption and promote a low-carbon economy in aquaculture vessels, several suggestions were proposed, including adjusting energy structure, enhancing energy efficiency, improving feed ratio, and optimizing feeding methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Aquaculture: Current Situation and Future Perspectives)
11 pages, 1872 KiB  
Article
Impact of Carbon-Based Nanoparticles on Polyvinyl Alcohol Polarizer Features: Photonics Applications
by Natalia Kamanina, Larisa Fedorova, Svetlana Likhomanova, Yulia Zubtcova and Pavel Kuzhakov
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090737 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Among different inorganic and organic polarizer elements, thin-film light polarizers occupy a special place because of their flexibility, ease of integration into any optoelectronic circuit, and good functioning in the visible and near-infrared spectral range and can compete with Glan and Nicolas volumetric [...] Read more.
Among different inorganic and organic polarizer elements, thin-film light polarizers occupy a special place because of their flexibility, ease of integration into any optoelectronic circuit, and good functioning in the visible and near-infrared spectral range and can compete with Glan and Nicolas volumetric prisms. This paper presents the results of a study on how carbon-based nanoparticles influence on the basic properties of a well-known PVA-based polymer matrix, using which it is possible to obtain good transparency for parallel light components. An accent is made on graphene oxide nanoparticles, which are used as PVA sensitizers. It was shown for the first time that the structuring of PVA with graphene oxides allows an increased transmittance of the parallel light component to be obtained, saving the transmittance of the orthogonal one. Moreover, the graphene network can increase the mechanical strength of such thin-film PVA-based polarizers and provoke a change in the wetting angle. These advantages make it possible to use graphene oxide-structured thin-film light polarizers based on a PVA matrix as an independent optoelectronic element. Some comparative results for polarizers based on PVA-C70 structures are shown as well. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress of Nanoscale Materials in Plasmonics and Photonics)
19 pages, 12053 KiB  
Article
GeoKnowledgeFusion: A Platform for Multimodal Data Compilation from Geoscience Literature
by Zhixin Guo, Chaoyang Wang, Jianping Zhou, Guanjie Zheng, Xinbing Wang and Chenghu Zhou
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(9), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16091484 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
With the advent of big data science, the field of geoscience has undergone a paradigm shift toward data-driven scientific discovery. However, the abundance of geoscience data distributed across multiple sources poses significant challenges to researchers in terms of data compilation, which includes data [...] Read more.
With the advent of big data science, the field of geoscience has undergone a paradigm shift toward data-driven scientific discovery. However, the abundance of geoscience data distributed across multiple sources poses significant challenges to researchers in terms of data compilation, which includes data collection, collation, and database construction. To streamline the data compilation process, we present GeoKnowledgeFusion, a publicly accessible platform for the fusion of text, visual, and tabular knowledge extracted from the geoscience literature. GeoKnowledgeFusion leverages a powerful network of models that provide a joint multimodal understanding of text, image, and tabular data, enabling researchers to efficiently curate and continuously update their databases. To demonstrate the practical applications of GeoKnowledgeFusion, we present two scenarios: the compilation of Sm-Nd isotope data for constructing a domain-specific database and geographic analysis, and the data extraction process for debris flow disasters. The data compilation process for these use cases encompasses various tasks, including PDF pre-processing, target element recognition, human-in-the-loop annotation, and joint multimodal knowledge understanding. The findings consistently reveal patterns that align with manually compiled data, thus affirming the credibility and dependability of our automated data processing tool. To date, GeoKnowledgeFusion has supported forty geoscience research teams within the program by processing over 40,000 documents uploaded by geoscientists. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Earth Observation Data)
11 pages, 12624 KiB  
Article
Lossy Mode Resonance Sensors Based on Anisotropic Few-Layer Black Phosphorus
by Yanting Shen, Qifeng Zhu, Zhuo Chen, Jiawei Wu, Binghuang Chen, Enwen Dai and Weiqing Pan
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 736; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090736 (registering DOI) - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Lossy mode resonance (LMR) sensors offer a promising avenue to surpass the constraints of conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors by delivering enhanced label-free detection capabilities. A notable edge of LMR over SPR is its excitation potential by both transverse electric (TE) and [...] Read more.
Lossy mode resonance (LMR) sensors offer a promising avenue to surpass the constraints of conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors by delivering enhanced label-free detection capabilities. A notable edge of LMR over SPR is its excitation potential by both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light. Yet this merit remains underexplored due to challenges to achieving high sensing performance under both TM and TE polarization within a singular LMR model. This study introduces a theoretical model for an LMR prism refractive index sensor based on a MgF2-few layer black phosphorus-MgF2 configuration, which can achieve angular sensitivity nearing 90 refractive index unit1 (RIU1) for both polarizations. Leveraging the distinct anisotropic nature of black phosphorus, the figure of merit (FOM) values along its two principal crystal axes (zigzag and armchair) show great difference, achieving an impressive FOM of 1.178 × 106 RIU1 along the zigzag direction under TE polarized light and 1.231 × 104 RIU1 along the armchair direction under TM polarized light. We also provide an analysis of the electric field distribution for each configuration at its respective resonant conditions. The proposed structure paves the way for innovative applications of anisotropic-material-based LMR sensors in various applications. Full article

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