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12 pages, 1495 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Variations in Nitrate Sources and Transformations in the Midstream of the Yellow River Determined Based on Nitrate Isotopes and Hydrochemical Compositions
by Caili Su, Yuxuan Su, Rongkai Zhang, Xiaohang Xu and Junhua Li
Water 2024, 16(8), 1173; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16081173 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Nitrate pollution is a major environmental problem threatening rivers, and nitrogen and oxygen isotopes have proved to be an effective means of analyzing the sources and transformations of nitrate in rivers. However, a low monitoring frequency cannot accurately reflect the changes in nitrate. [...] Read more.
Nitrate pollution is a major environmental problem threatening rivers, and nitrogen and oxygen isotopes have proved to be an effective means of analyzing the sources and transformations of nitrate in rivers. However, a low monitoring frequency cannot accurately reflect the changes in nitrate. In this study, the sources and transformations of nitrate in the middle reaches of the Yellow River and its tributaries during the dry season and the wet season were analyzed based on water quality parameters and nitrate isotopes. Stable isotope analysis conducted using the R (SIAR) model was used to estimate the proportions of different nitrate sources. The results showed that the main nitrate sources in the main stream were soil nitrogen (40.95–45.83%) and domestic sewage and manure (30.93–32.60%), respectively, with little variation between the dry season and wet season because of the large flow of the Yellow River. During the dry season, the nitrate sources of the two tributaries were mainly domestic sewage and manure (45.23–47.40%), followed by soil nitrogen (31.35–34.00%). However, the primary nitrate source of T2 (Qin River) became soil nitrogen (40.05%) during the wet season, a phenomenon that was mainly caused by the significant increase in river discharge and in soil erosion in the basin. During the wet season, the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and nitrate (NO3) significantly decreased in the main stream and tributaries, and nitrification and denitrification processes occurred in both the main stream and tributaries of the Yellow River. In addition, the T2 tributary (Qin River) was also significantly affected by mixed dilution. High-frequency sampling can reflect the isotopic information of nitrate in the river more comprehensively, which helps us to understand the conversion process of nitrate more accurately. Full article
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22 pages, 717 KiB  
Review
Mapping of Data-Sharing Repositories for Paediatric Clinical Research—A Rapid Review
by Mariagrazia Felisi, Fedele Bonifazi, Maddalena Toma, Claudia Pansieri, Rebecca Leary, Victoria Hedley, Ronald Cornet, Giorgio Reggiardo, Annalisa Landi, Annunziata D’Ercole, Salma Malik, Sinéad Nally, Anando Sen, Avril Palmeri, Donato Bonifazi and Adriana Ceci
Data 2024, 9(4), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/data9040059 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The reuse of paediatric individual patient data (IPD) from clinical trials (CTs) is essential to overcome specific ethical, regulatory, methodological, and economic issues that hinder the progress of paediatric research. Sharing data through repositories enables the aggregation and dissemination of clinical information, fosters [...] Read more.
The reuse of paediatric individual patient data (IPD) from clinical trials (CTs) is essential to overcome specific ethical, regulatory, methodological, and economic issues that hinder the progress of paediatric research. Sharing data through repositories enables the aggregation and dissemination of clinical information, fosters collaboration between researchers, and promotes transparency. This work aims to identify and describe existing data-sharing repositories (DSRs) developed to store, share, and reuse paediatric IPD from CTs. A rapid review of platforms providing access to electronic DSRs was conducted. A two-stage process was used to characterize DSRs: a first step of identification, followed by a second step of analysis using a set of eight purpose-built indicators. From an initial set of forty-five publicly available DSRs, twenty-one DSRs were identified as meeting the eligibility criteria. Only two DSRs were found to be totally focused on the paediatric population. Despite an increased awareness of the importance of data sharing, the results of this study show that paediatrics remains an area in which targeted efforts are still needed. Promoting initiatives to raise awareness of these DSRs and creating ad hoc measures and common standards for the sharing of paediatric CT data could help to bridge this gap in paediatric research. Full article
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16 pages, 1298 KiB  
Article
Breast Cancer Polygenic Risk Score Validation and Effects of Variable Imputation
by Jeffrey J. Beck, John L. Slunecka, Brandon N. Johnson, Austin J. Van Asselt, Casey T. Finnicum, Cheryl Ageton, Amy Krie, Heidi Nickles, Kenneth Cowan, Jessica Maxwell, Dorret I. Boomsma, Eco de Geus, Erik A. Ehli and Jouke-Jan Hottenga
Cancers 2024, 16(8), 1578; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16081578 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a complex disease affecting one in eight women in the USA. Advances in population genomics have led to the development of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) with the potential to augment current risk models, but replication is often limited. We [...] Read more.
Breast cancer (BC) is a complex disease affecting one in eight women in the USA. Advances in population genomics have led to the development of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) with the potential to augment current risk models, but replication is often limited. We evaluated 2 robust PRSs with 313 and 3820 SNPs and the effects of multiple genotype imputation replications in BC cases and control populations. Biological samples from BC cases and cancer-free controls were drawn from three European ancestry cohorts. Genotyping on the Illumina Global Screening Array was followed by stringent quality control measures and 20 genotype imputation replications. A total of 468 unrelated cases and 4337 controls were scored, revealing significant differences in mean PRS percentiles between cases and controls (p < 0.001) for both SNP sets (313-SNP PRS: 52.81 and 48.07; 3820-SNP PRS: 55.45 and 49.81), with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showing area under the curve values of 0.596 and 0.603 for the 313-SNP and 3820-SNP PRS, respectively. PRS fluctuations (from ~2–3% up to 9%) emerged across imputation iterations. Our study robustly reaffirms the predictive capacity of PRSs for BC by replicating their performance in an independent BC population and showcases the need to average imputed scores for reliable outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Factor Prediction, Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer)
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28 pages, 7711 KiB  
Article
Identification of the Sedimentary Sources and Origin of Uranium for Zhiluo Formation of the Tarangaole U Deposit, Northeastern Ordos Basin
by Guang-Yao Li, Chun-Ji Xue, Qiang Zhu, Jian-Wen Yang and Xiao-Bo Zhao
Minerals 2024, 14(4), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14040429 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The large-sized Tarangaole uranium deposit and its neighboring Daying and Nalinggou deposits, located in the northeastern margin of the Ordos Basin, constitutes a major uranium resource base in northern China. In order to further clarify the sedimentary material source, uranium source and regional [...] Read more.
The large-sized Tarangaole uranium deposit and its neighboring Daying and Nalinggou deposits, located in the northeastern margin of the Ordos Basin, constitutes a major uranium resource base in northern China. In order to further clarify the sedimentary material source, uranium source and regional sediment–tectonic setting of the uranium-fed clastic rocks (i.e., Zhiluo Formation(J2z)) in the district, this paper carried out whole-rock geochemistry, heavy minerals composition and in situ U-Pb dating of detrital zircons for sandstones from the lower section of the Zhiluo Formation. The results have shown that the average chemical differentiation index (CIA) for the host rocks is 73.16 and the chemical weathering degree is moderate. Heavy minerals are mainly composed of ilmenite, garnet, chlorpyrite, zircon, pyrite, apatite, hematite, etc. The U-Pb dating of detrital zircon generally indicates three age peaks, i.e., 260~Ma, 1850~Ma and 2450~Ma, respectively. In conclusion, the source rocks may have been formed at active continental margins, e.g., in a continental margin arc environment. The sedimentary materials mainly come from khondalite series, TTGs, granulite, and mafic–ultramafic intrusive rocks distributed among the Daqing–Ula Mountains and adjacent areas, etc. The Late Paleozoic U-rich intermediate and acidic magmatic rocks spreading over the eastern part of the Ula–Daqing and Wolf mountains have provided the main uranium sources for the formation of major U deposits in the northern Ordos Basin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Deposits)
32 pages, 8490 KiB  
Article
Anti-Offset Multicoil Underwater Wireless Power Transfer Based on a BP Neural Network
by You Fu, Haodong Tang, Jianan Luo and Zhouhua Peng
Machines 2024, 12(4), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12040275 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are now widely used in both civilian and military applications; however, wireless charging underwater often faces difficulties such as disturbances from ocean currents and errors in device positioning, making proper alignment of the charging devices challenging. Misalignment between the [...] Read more.
Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are now widely used in both civilian and military applications; however, wireless charging underwater often faces difficulties such as disturbances from ocean currents and errors in device positioning, making proper alignment of the charging devices challenging. Misalignment between the primary and secondary coils can significantly impact the efficiency and power of the wireless charging system energy transfer. To address the issue of misalignment in wireless charging systems, this paper proposes a multiple transfer coil wireless power transfer (MTCWPT) system based on backpropagation (BP) neural network control combined with nonsingular terminal sliding mode control (NTSMC) to enhance further the system robustness and efficiency. To achieve WPT in the ocean, a coil shielding case structure was equipped. In displacement experiments, the proposed multi-transmitting coil system could achieve stable power transfer of 40 W and efficiency of over 78.5% within a displacement range of 8 cm. The system robustness was also validated. This paper presents a new AUV energy supply solution based on MTCWPT. The proposed MTCWPT system can significantly improve the navigation performance of AUVs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Automation and Control Systems)
13 pages, 909 KiB  
Article
Is It Worth Buying a Second-Hand Shell Jacket? An Evaluation of Shell Jackets’ Functionality and Price over Time
by Louisa Nilsson, Anna Björklund, Judith H. Waller and Mikael Bäckström
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3451; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083451 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Global textile production and consumption has increased steadily over the past 15 years, which has caused significant impacts on the climate and the environment. In 2022, the EU launched a strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, stating that extending the life of textile [...] Read more.
Global textile production and consumption has increased steadily over the past 15 years, which has caused significant impacts on the climate and the environment. In 2022, the EU launched a strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, stating that extending the life of textile products is the most efficient way to reduce their impact on the climate and the environment. Shell jackets for outdoor use are textile products that are frequently discarded by their first users and re-sold on the second-hand market. This study evaluates the performance of 16 second-hand shell jackets from three second-hand stores in Sweden via material testing of four key functional aspects. Comparing the results with the jackets’ original performance, this study describes the change in functionality over time. The results indicate that air permeability does not change significantly, whereas water repellency, water penetration resistance, and breathability decrease over time, although they do so at different rates. With the aim of promoting circularity and encouraging longer product use, this study also compares the price evolution of jackets with their functionality over time. The results reveal that the resale price of the jackets is lower than could be expected based on the level of remaining functionality in the jackets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Textiles)
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22 pages, 710 KiB  
Article
Cognitive Profiles in Preschool Children at Risk for Co-Occurring Dyslexia and ADHD
by  Silke Kellens, Dieter Baeyens and Pol Ghesquière
Educ. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14040435 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Developmental dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) co-occur in 15–40% of individuals diagnosed with one disorder. Despite substantial research on the cognitive profiles of preschoolers at risk for either dyslexia or ADHD, studies have neglected children at risk for co-occurring dyslexia and ADHD. Thus, [...] Read more.
Developmental dyslexia and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) co-occur in 15–40% of individuals diagnosed with one disorder. Despite substantial research on the cognitive profiles of preschoolers at risk for either dyslexia or ADHD, studies have neglected children at risk for co-occurring dyslexia and ADHD. Thus, our study compared the cognitive profile of preschoolers at risk for dyslexia with the profile of children at risk for co-occurring dyslexia and ADHD. We assessed 50 preschoolers at dyslexia risk (DR), 50 at dyslexia + ADHD risk (DAR), and 48 without risk (NR) (Mage = 67 months). Our assessment encompassed phonological processing, executive functioning (EF), receptive vocabulary, and processing speed. Principal component analysis revealed two distinct components within the measures of EF, a verbal short-term memory and an EF component. ANOVA revealed that the NR group outperformed risk groups across measures, except for cognitive flexibility and delay of gratification. Notably, the DR and DAR groups did not differ in most measures but showed near-significant differences on the EF component, with the DR group having higher composite scores than the DAR group. In conclusion, ADHD risk did not impact the cognitive performance of children at risk for dyslexia but might amplify EF problems that at-risk preschoolers encounter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Education and Psychology)
21 pages, 5866 KiB  
Tutorial
Introduction to Reproducible Geospatial Analysis and Figures in R: A Tutorial Article
by Philippe Maesen and Edouard Salingros
Data 2024, 9(4), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/data9040058 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The present article is intended to serve an educational purpose for data scientists and students who already have experience with the R language and which to start using it for geospatial analysis and map creation. The basic concepts of raster data, vector data, [...] Read more.
The present article is intended to serve an educational purpose for data scientists and students who already have experience with the R language and which to start using it for geospatial analysis and map creation. The basic concepts of raster data, vector data, CRS and datum are first presented along with a basic workflow to conduct reproducible geospatial research in R. Examples of important types of maps (scatter, bubble, choropleth, hexbin and faceted) created from open-source environmental data are illustrated and their practical implementation in R is discussed. Through these examples, essential manipulations on geospatial vector data are demonstrated (reading , transforming CRS, creating geometries from scratch, buffer zones around existing geometries and intersections between geometries). Full article
19 pages, 7921 KiB  
Article
A Dynamic Parameter Tuning Strategy for Decomposition-Based Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms
by Jie Zheng, Jiaxu Ning, Hongfeng Ma and Ziyi Liu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 3481; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14083481 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The penalty-based boundary cross-aggregation (PBI) method is a common decomposition method of the MOEA/D algorithm, but the strategy of using a fixed penalty parameter in the boundary cross-aggregation function affects the convergence of the populations to a certain extent and is not conducive [...] Read more.
The penalty-based boundary cross-aggregation (PBI) method is a common decomposition method of the MOEA/D algorithm, but the strategy of using a fixed penalty parameter in the boundary cross-aggregation function affects the convergence of the populations to a certain extent and is not conducive to the maintenance of the diversity of boundary solutions. To address the above problems, this paper proposes a penalty boundary crossing strategy (DPA) for MOEA/D to adaptively adjust the penalty parameter. The strategy adjusts the penalty parameter values according to the state of uniform distribution of solutions around the weight vectors in the current iteration period, thus helping the optimization process to balance convergence and diversity. In the experimental part, we tested the MOEA/D-DPA algorithm with several MOEA/D improved algorithms on the classical test set. The results show that the MOEA/D with the DPA has better performance than the MOEA/D with the other decomposition strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Security, Privacy and Application in New Intelligence Techniques)
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39 pages, 62024 KiB  
Article
Learning Ground Displacement Signals Directly from InSAR-Wrapped Interferograms
by Lama Moualla, Alessio Rucci, Giampiero Naletto and Nantheera Anantrasirichai
Sensors 2024, 24(8), 2637; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24082637 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Monitoring ground displacements identifies potential geohazard risks early before they cause critical damage. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is one of the techniques that can monitor these displacements with sub-millimeter accuracy. However, using the InSAR technique is challenging due to the need for [...] Read more.
Monitoring ground displacements identifies potential geohazard risks early before they cause critical damage. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is one of the techniques that can monitor these displacements with sub-millimeter accuracy. However, using the InSAR technique is challenging due to the need for high expertise, large data volumes, and other complexities. Accordingly, the development of an automated system to indicate ground displacements directly from the wrapped interferograms and coherence maps could be highly advantageous. Here, we compare different machine learning algorithms to evaluate the feasibility of achieving this objective. The inputs for the implemented machine learning models were pixels selected from the filtered-wrapped interferograms of Sentinel-1, using a coherence threshold. The outputs were the same pixels labeled as fast positive, positive, fast negative, negative, and undefined movements. These labels were assigned based on the velocity values of the measurement points located within the pixels. We used the Parallel Small Baseline Subset service of the European Space Agency’s GeoHazards Exploitation Platform to create the necessary interferograms, coherence, and deformation velocity maps. Subsequently, we applied a high-pass filter to the wrapped interferograms to separate the displacement signal from the atmospheric errors. We successfully identified the patterns associated with slow and fast movements by discerning the unique distributions within the matrices representing each movement class. The experiments included three case studies (from Italy, Portugal, and the United States), noted for their high sensitivity to landslides. We found that the Cosine K-nearest neighbor model achieved the best test accuracy. It is important to note that the test sets were not merely hidden parts of the training set within the same region but also included adjacent areas. We further improved the performance with pseudo-labeling, an approach aimed at evaluating the generalizability and robustness of the trained model beyond its immediate training environment. The lowest test accuracy achieved by the implemented algorithm was 80.1%. Furthermore, we used ArcGIS Pro 3.3 to compare the ground truth with the predictions to visualize the results better. The comparison aimed to explore indications of displacements affecting the main roads in the studied area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent SAR Target Detection and Recognition)
20 pages, 10851 KiB  
Article
A Novel Design of a Molten Salt Bath Structure and Its Quenching Effect on Wire Transformation from Austenite to Sorbite
by Jun Li, Bo Wang and Jieyu Zhang
Metals 2024, 14(4), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14040483 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The technology for obtaining sorbite by isothermal quenching of high-temperature molten salt has been used by more and more factories to produce wires with high tensile strength. In this paper, the controlling cap and bottom pipeline of the original salt bath are redesigned. [...] Read more.
The technology for obtaining sorbite by isothermal quenching of high-temperature molten salt has been used by more and more factories to produce wires with high tensile strength. In this paper, the controlling cap and bottom pipeline of the original salt bath are redesigned. The mathematical model previously proposed is used to simulate the redesigned salt bath model, and the flow field is analyzed in detail. The redesigned and original controlling cap are compared in detail by applying third-generation vortex identification technology. Then, by using the inverse heat transfer method, the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) during the boiling heat transfer stage of the wire rod in molten salt is calculated by taking advantage of quenching experimental data, on the basis of which the original model is corrected. Finally, a new salt bath design is proposed, which divides the salt bath into two parts. The first salt bath at 515 °C is used to cool the austenitized wire and complete the initial phase transformation. The second salt bath at 560 °C is used to prevent the transformation from retained austenite to bainite, and to induce its transformation from retained austenite to sorbite. Full article
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13 pages, 3248 KiB  
Article
Variation in Shrimp Allergens: Place of Origin Effects on Food Safety Assessment
by Ryley D. Dorney, Elecia B. Johnston, Shaymaviswanathan Karnaneedi, Thimo Ruethers, Sandip D. Kamath, Karthik Gopi, Debashish Mazumder, Jesmond Sammut, Dean Jerry, Nicholas A. Williamson, Shuai Nie and Andreas L. Lopata
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4531; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084531 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Due to the widespread use of shellfish ingredients in food products, accurate food labelling is urgently needed for consumers with shellfish allergies. Most crustacean allergen detection systems target the immunorecognition of the allergenic protein tropomyosin. However, this mode of detection may be affected [...] Read more.
Due to the widespread use of shellfish ingredients in food products, accurate food labelling is urgently needed for consumers with shellfish allergies. Most crustacean allergen detection systems target the immunorecognition of the allergenic protein tropomyosin. However, this mode of detection may be affected by an origin-dependent protein composition. This study determined if the geographic location of capture, or aquaculture, influenced the allergenic protein profiles of Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon), one of the most farmed and consumed shrimp species worldwide. Protein composition was analysed in shrimp from nine different locations in the Asia–Pacific by SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, and mass spectrometry. Ten of the twelve known shrimp allergens were detected, but with considerable differences between locations. Sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein, myosin light chain, and tropomyosin were the most abundant allergens in all locations. Hemocyanin-specific antibodies could identify up to six different isoforms, depending on the location of origin. Similarly, tropomyosin abundance varied by up to 13 times between locations. These findings suggest that allergen abundance may be related to shrimp origin and, thus, shrimp origin might directly impact the readout of commercial crustacean allergen detection kits, most of which target tropomyosin, and this should be considered in food safety assessments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Cellular Basis of Food Allergies)
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12 pages, 1071 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Impact of Hepatic Impairment on Pralsetinib Pharmacokinetics
by Kit Wun Kathy Cheung, Yang Tang, Doreen Anders, Teresa Barata, Astrid Scalori, Priya Agarwal, Rucha Sane and Sravanthi Cheeti
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(4), 564; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16040564 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
Pralsetinib is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of metastatic rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Pralsetinib is primarily eliminated by the liver and hence hepatic impairment (HI) is likely alter its pharmacokinetics (PK). Mild HI has [...] Read more.
Pralsetinib is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of metastatic rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Pralsetinib is primarily eliminated by the liver and hence hepatic impairment (HI) is likely alter its pharmacokinetics (PK). Mild HI has been shown to have minimal impact on the PK of pralsetinib. This hepatic impairment study aimed to determine the pralsetinib PK, safety and tolerability in subjects with moderate and severe HI, as defined by the Child–Pugh and National Cancer Institute Organ Dysfunction Working Group (NCI-ODWG) classification systems, in comparison to subjects with normal hepatic function. Based on the Child–Pugh classification, subjects with moderate and severe HI had similar systemic exposure (area under the plasma concentration time curve from time 0 to infinity [AUC0–∞]) to pralsetinib, with AUC0–∞ geometric mean ratios (GMR) of 1.12 and 0.858, respectively, compared to subjects with normal hepatic function. Results based on the NCI-ODWG classification criteria were comparable; the AUC0–∞ GMR were 1.22 and 0.858, respectively, for subjects with moderate and severe HI per NCI-ODWG versus those with normal hepatic function. These results suggested that moderate and severe hepatic impairment did not have a meaningful impact on the exposure to pralsetinib, thus not warranting a dose adjustment in this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Pharmacokinetics and Drug-Drug Interactions)
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13 pages, 23772 KiB  
Article
High-Pressure-Assisted Large-Area (>2400 mm2) Sintered-Silver Substrate Bonding for SiC Power Module Packaging
by Jiafeng Xue and Xin Li
Materials 2024, 17(8), 1911; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17081911 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The emergence of new semiconductor devices puts forward higher requirements for packaging technology. Sintered silver technology has gradually developed into critical packaging technology in silicon carbide power module packaging due to its good heat dissipation performance and reliability. However, high sintering drive requirements, [...] Read more.
The emergence of new semiconductor devices puts forward higher requirements for packaging technology. Sintered silver technology has gradually developed into critical packaging technology in silicon carbide power module packaging due to its good heat dissipation performance and reliability. However, high sintering drive requirements, low sintering densification, and high thermal–mechanical stresses limit the application of sintered silver technology for large-area bonding. In this study, the high-pressure-assisted (≥10 MPa) large-area sintered-silver interconnection process between a substrate and baseplate was discussed. C-scan acoustic microscopy, warpage testing, and microanalysis were used to analyze the effects of drying methods, sintering pressure, and holding time on the sintered joints, and thermal fatigue reliability tests were conducted on large-area sintered silver joints. The results demonstrated that the quality of large-area sintered joints obtained via open-face convective drying is higher than that via close-face convective drying. Combining the performance of sintered joints and productivity, the recommended process condition is determined as follows: open-face convective drying, sintering temperature of 250 °C, sintering pressure of 15 MPa, and holding time of 5 min. Large-area sintered joints have outstanding reliability, with slight delamination of the sintered layer at the corners and no cracking after 1000 cycles of temperature cycling. Full article
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16 pages, 3472 KiB  
Article
HPV DNA Integration at Actionable Cancer-Related Genes Loci in HPV-Associated Carcinomas
by Xavier Sastre-Garau, Lilia Estrada-Virrueta and François Radvanyi
Cancers 2024, 16(8), 1584; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16081584 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
In HPV-associated carcinomas, some examples of cancer-related genes altered by viral insertion and corresponding to potential therapeutic targets have been described, but no quantitative assessment of these events, including poorly recurrent targets, has been reported to date. To document these occurrences, we built [...] Read more.
In HPV-associated carcinomas, some examples of cancer-related genes altered by viral insertion and corresponding to potential therapeutic targets have been described, but no quantitative assessment of these events, including poorly recurrent targets, has been reported to date. To document these occurrences, we built and analyzed a database comprised of 1455 cases, including HPV genotypes and tumor localizations. Host DNA sequences targeted by viral integration were classified as “non-recurrent” (one single reported case; 838 loci), “weakly recurrent” (two reported cases; 82 loci), and highly recurrent (≥3 cases; 43 loci). Whereas the overall rate of cancer-related target genes was 3.3% in the Gencode database, this rate increased to 6.5% in “non-recurrent”, 11.4% in “weakly recurrent”, and 40.1% in “highly recurrent” genes targeted by integration (p = 4.9 × 10−4). This rate was also significantly higher in tumors associated with high-risk HPV16/18/45 than other genotypes. Among the genes targeted by HPV insertion, 30.2% corresponded to direct or indirect druggable targets, a rate rising to 50% in “highly recurrent” targets. Using data from the literature and the DepMap 23Q4 release database, we found that genes targeted by viral insertion could be new candidates potentially involved in HPV-associated oncogenesis. A more systematic characterization of HPV/host fusion DNA sequences in HPV-associated cancers should provide a better knowledge of HPV-driven carcinogenesis and favor the development of personalize patient treatments. Full article
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19 pages, 4616 KiB  
Article
Early Ontogeny of Cichlids Using Selected Species as Examples
by Radosław Piesiewicz, Jan Krzystolik, Agata Korzelecka-Orkisz, Adam Tański and Krzysztof Formicki
Animals 2024, 14(8), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14081238 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to characterize in detail the reproductive strategy, course of embryogenesis, and development of larvae in three species of fishes of the genus Cichlasoma: the green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus), the red discus (Symphysodon discus [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to characterize in detail the reproductive strategy, course of embryogenesis, and development of larvae in three species of fishes of the genus Cichlasoma: the green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus), the red discus (Symphysodon discus), and the jaguar cichlid (Parachromis managuensis). Eggs for the study were obtained from five pairs of each species (300 eggs from each female) and incubated at 26 °C. The developing eggs were observed under a microscope (Carl Zeiss Stereo Discovery. V12 and Nikon 2000SE software (NIS-Elements F 4.30.01 64-bit) from fertilization to larval hatching until complete yolk-sac resorption. The largest average number of eggs per female was found in the jaguar cichlid (x¯ = 2991 eggs), a smaller average number of eggs was shown in the green terror (x¯ = 922 eggs), and the red discus showed the smallest average number of eggs (x¯ = 300 eggs). There were significant differences in the sizes of the eggs of the studied species: jaguar cichlid eggs were the smallest (1.060 ± 0.05 mm3), red discus eggs were larger (1.070 ± 0.07 mm3), and green terror eggs were the largest (1.365 ± 0.16 mm3). The embryogenesis time in the red discus was 2132 °H (82 Hpf), in the green terror it was 2158 °H (83 Hpf), and the longest in the jaguar cichlid was 2470 °H (87 Hpf). At the end of embryogenesis, the average size of the larvae after hatching was measured (red discus x¯ = 4.346 mm, green terror x¯ = 5.203 mm, and jaguar cichlid x¯ = 5.301 mm) and the time of yolk-sac resorption from the moment of hatching to the transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding was determined (jaguar cichlid 5 days, green terror 6 days, and red discus 3 days). The results of this study may contribute to the development of reproductive biotechnology for the studied fishes that could be used in aquaculture and, thus, help protect them in their natural habitats. Full article
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16 pages, 3384 KiB  
Article
Clinical Efficacy in Skin Hydration and Reducing Wrinkles of Nanoemulsions Containing Macadamia integrifolia Seed Oil
by Suvimol Somwongin and Wantida Chaiyana
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(8), 724; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14080724 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study aimed to assess natural oils for their antioxidant and anti-hyaluronidase properties and select the most effective candidate for development into nanoemulsions (NE) for clinical evaluations. The oils were assessed using 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) and ferric thiocyanate assays for antioxidant [...] Read more.
This study aimed to assess natural oils for their antioxidant and anti-hyaluronidase properties and select the most effective candidate for development into nanoemulsions (NE) for clinical evaluations. The oils were assessed using 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) and ferric thiocyanate assays for antioxidant properties and an enzyme-substrate reaction assay for anti-hyaluronidase activity. The most potent oil was formulated into conventional emulsions (CE) and NE, which were characterized and evaluated for their stability, both in accelerated and long-term conditions. The irritation potential was assessed using both the hen’s eggs chorioallantoic membrane test and a clinical trial. Skin hydration enhancement and skin wrinkle reduction efficacy were clinically assessed. Macadamia integrifolia oil exhibited significant potency as an ABTS•+ radical scavenger, lipid peroxidation inhibitor, and hyaluronidase inhibitor (p < 0.05). Both the CE and NE, comprising 15% w/w oil, 5% w/w Tween® 80 and Span® 80, and 80% w/w DI water, were found to be optimal. NE with an internal droplet size of 112.4 ± 0.8 nm, polydispersity index of 0.17 ± 0.01, and zeta potential of −31.5 ± 1.0 mV, had good stability and induced no irritation. Both CE and NE enhanced skin hydration and reduced skin wrinkles in human volunteers, while NE was outstanding in skin hydration enhancement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro and Nanomaterials in Cosmetics)
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34 pages, 21202 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Anticancer Potential of Semisynthetic Derivatives of 7α-Acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone from Plectranthus sp.: An In Silico Approach
by Anna Merecz-Sadowska, Vera M. S. Isca, Przemysław Sitarek, Tomasz Kowalczyk, Magdalena Małecka, Karolina Zajdel, Hanna Zielińska-Bliźniewska, Mariusz Jęcek, Patricia Rijo and Radosław Zajdel
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4529; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084529 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The diterpene 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone isolated from Plectranthus grandidentatus demonstrates promising antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. However, its bioactivity may be enhanced via strategic structural modifications of such natural products through semisynthesis. The anticancer potential of 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone and five derivatives was analyzed in silico via [...] Read more.
The diterpene 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone isolated from Plectranthus grandidentatus demonstrates promising antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. However, its bioactivity may be enhanced via strategic structural modifications of such natural products through semisynthesis. The anticancer potential of 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone and five derivatives was analyzed in silico via the prediction of chemicals absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET), quantum mechanical calculations, molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation. The protein targets included regulators of apoptosis and cell proliferation. Additionally, network pharmacology was used to identify potential targets and signaling pathways. Derivatives 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxy-12-O-(2-fluoryl)royleanone and 7α-acetoxy-6β-(4-fluoro)benzoxy-12-O-(4-fluoro)benzoylroyleanone achieved high predicted binding affinities towards their respective protein panels, with stable molecular dynamics trajectories. Both compounds demonstrated favorable ADMET parameters and toxicity profiles. Their stability and reactivity were confirmed via geometry optimization. Network analysis revealed their involvement in cancer-related pathways. Our findings justify the inclusion of 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxy-12-O-(2-fluoryl)royleanone and 7α-acetoxy-6β-(4-fluoro)benzoxy-12-O-(4-fluoro)benzoylroyleanone in in vitro analyses as prospective anticancer agents. Our binding mode analysis and stability simulations indicate their potential as selective inhibitors. The data will guide studies into their structure optimization, enhancing efficacy and drug-likeness. Full article
16 pages, 4340 KiB  
Article
Measuring Deprivation and Micro-Segregation in Greek Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategies: Time to Apply a Common Method?
by Nikos Karadimitriou and Stavros Spyrellis
Land 2024, 13(4), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040552 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
During the Programming Period 2014–2020, dozens of Greek cities drafted Integrated Territorial Investment programmes, based on Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategies (ITI SUDs). The Strategies justified the selection of intervention and activity areas using socio-economic analysis. The parameters of that analysis, as specified [...] Read more.
During the Programming Period 2014–2020, dozens of Greek cities drafted Integrated Territorial Investment programmes, based on Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategies (ITI SUDs). The Strategies justified the selection of intervention and activity areas using socio-economic analysis. The parameters of that analysis, as specified by the National Coordination Authority, reflected the socio-economic and functional parameters highlighted in the relevant EU regulations. This paper uses a recently published methodology in order to estimate and map deprivation in Greek cities with over 100,000 inhabitants, and compares the results with the activity areas identified in the ITI SUDs of those cities. The paper also makes an estimation of the potential for micro-segregation in deprived areas, in an effort to uncover the links between deprivation, built form and social composition at the micro-scale. The analysis shows that deprivation is comparatively more pronounced in Athens and Thessaloniki, and that the use of a common methodology to measuring deprivation, but with customized measurement scales, could support a more targeted allocation of urban policy resources. On the other hand, micro-segregation seems to be a factor worth exploring only in Athens and Thessaloniki, and not in Patra, Larissa, Volos and Heraklion, where the building stock in areas of deprivation is mostly low-rise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Micro-Segregation)
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18 pages, 6907 KiB  
Article
Imbalance between Actin Isoforms Contributes to Tumour Progression in Taxol-Resistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
by Vera Dugina, Maria Vasileva, Natalia Khromova, Svetlana Vinokurova, Galina Shagieva, Ekaterina Mikheeva, Aigul Galembikova, Pavel Dunaev, Dmitry Kudlay, Sergei Boichuk and Pavel Kopnin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4530; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084530 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
The widespread occurrence of breast cancer and its propensity to develop drug resistance highlight the need for a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. This study investigates the intricate pathways associated with secondary resistance to taxol in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, [...] Read more.
The widespread occurrence of breast cancer and its propensity to develop drug resistance highlight the need for a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. This study investigates the intricate pathways associated with secondary resistance to taxol in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, with a particular focus on the changes observed in the cytoplasmic actin isoforms. By studying a taxol-resistant TNBC cell line, we revealed a shift between actin isoforms towards γ-actin predominance, accompanied by increased motility and invasive properties. This was associated with altered tubulin isotype expression and reorganisation of the microtubule system. In addition, we have shown that taxol-resistant TNBC cells underwent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as evidenced by Twist1-mediated downregulation of E-cadherin expression and increased nuclear translocation of β-catenin. The RNA profiling analysis revealed that taxol-resistant cells exhibited significantly increased positive regulation of cell migration, hormone response, cell–substrate adhesion, and actin filament-based processes compared with naïve TNBC cells. Notably, taxol-resistant cells exhibited a reduced proliferation rate, which was associated with an increased invasiveness in vitro and in vivo, revealing a complex interplay between proliferative and metastatic potential. This study suggests that prolonged exposure to taxol and acquisition of taxol resistance may lead to pro-metastatic changes in the TNBC cell line. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Drugs Regulating Cytoskeletons in Human Health and Diseases)
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21 pages, 10230 KiB  
Article
A Super-Resolution Reconstruction Model for Remote Sensing Image Based on Generative Adversarial Networks
by Wenyi Hu, Lei Ju, Yujia Du and Yuxia Li
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(8), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16081460 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
In current times, reconstruction of remote sensing images using super-resolution is a prominent topic of study. Remote sensing data have a complex spatial distribution. Compared with natural pictures, remote sensing pictures often contain subtler and more complicated information. Most super-resolution reconstruction algorithms cannot [...] Read more.
In current times, reconstruction of remote sensing images using super-resolution is a prominent topic of study. Remote sensing data have a complex spatial distribution. Compared with natural pictures, remote sensing pictures often contain subtler and more complicated information. Most super-resolution reconstruction algorithms cannot restore all the information contained in remote sensing images when reconstructing them. The content of some areas in the reconstructed images may be too smooth, and some areas may even have color changes, resulting in lower quality reconstructed images. In response to the problems presenting in current reconstruction algorithms about super-resolution, this article proposes the SRGAN-MSAM-DRC model (SRGAN model with multi-scale attention mechanism and dense residual connection). This model roots in generative adversarial networks and incorporates multi-scale attention mechanisms and dense residual connections into the generator. Furthermore, residual blocks are incorporated into the discriminator. We use some remote sensing image datasets of real-world data to evaluate this model, and the results indicate the SRGAN-MSAM-DRC model has shown enhancements in three evaluation metrics for reconstructed images about super-resolution. Compared to the basic SRGAN model, the SSIM (structural similarity), PSNR (peak signal-to-noise ratio), and IE (image entropy) increase by 5.0%, 4.0%, and 4.1%, respectively. From the results, we know the quality of the reconstructed images of remote sensing using the SRGAN-MSAM-DRC model is better than basic SRGAN model, and verifies that the model has good applicability and performance in reconstruction of remote sensing images using super-resolution. Full article
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12 pages, 263 KiB  
Article
Monotonic Random Variables According to a Direction
by José Juan Quesada-Molina and Manuel Úbeda-Flores
Axioms 2024, 13(4), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms13040275 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
In this paper, we introduce the concept of monotonicity according to a direction for a set of random variables. This concept extends well-known multivariate dependence notions, such as corner set monotonicity, and can be used to detect dependence in multivariate distributions not detected [...] Read more.
In this paper, we introduce the concept of monotonicity according to a direction for a set of random variables. This concept extends well-known multivariate dependence notions, such as corner set monotonicity, and can be used to detect dependence in multivariate distributions not detected by other known concepts of dependence. Additionally, we establish relationships with other known multivariate dependence concepts, outline some of their salient properties, and provide several examples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Classical and Applied Mathematics)
3 pages, 130 KiB  
Editorial
Robotics and AI for Precision Agriculture
by Giulio Reina
Robotics 2024, 13(4), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/robotics13040064 (registering DOI) - 20 Apr 2024
Abstract
To meet the rising food demand of a world population predicted to reach 9.8 billion in 2050, while also guaranteeing environmental sustainability, it is critical to improve crop production by introducing new technologies and artificial intelligence to accelerate [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Robotics and AI for Precision Agriculture)

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