The 2023 MDPI Annual Report has
been released!
 
27 pages, 5877 KiB  
Article
Waste-to-Energy Processes as a Municipality-Level Waste Management Strategy: A Case Study of Kočevje, Slovenia
by Vladimir Prebilič, Matic Može and Iztok Golobič
Processes 2024, 12(5), 1010; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12051010 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The escalating challenge of waste management demands innovative strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and harness valuable resources. This study investigates waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies for municipal waste management in Kočevje, Slovenia. An analysis of available waste streams reveals substantial energy potential from mixed municipal [...] Read more.
The escalating challenge of waste management demands innovative strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and harness valuable resources. This study investigates waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies for municipal waste management in Kočevje, Slovenia. An analysis of available waste streams reveals substantial energy potential from mixed municipal waste, biodegradable waste, and livestock manure. Various WtE technologies, including incineration, pyrolysis, gasification, and anaerobic digestion, are compared. The results show that processing mixed municipal waste using thermochemical processes could annually yield up to 0.98 GWh of electricity, and, separately, 3.22 GWh of useable waste heat for district heating or industrial applications. Furthermore, by treating 90% of the biodegradable waste, up to 1.31 GWh of electricity and 1.76 GWh of usable waste heat could be generated annually from biodegradable municipal waste and livestock manure using anaerobic digestion and biogas combustion in a combined heat and power facility. Gasification coupled with a gas-turbine-based combined heat and power cycle is suggested as optimal. Integration of WtE technologies could yield 2.29 GWh of electricity and 3.55 GWh of useable waste heat annually, representing an annual exergy yield of 2.98 GWh. Within the Kočevje municipality, this amount of energy could cover 23.6% of the annual household electricity needs and cover the annual space and water heating requirements of 10.0% of households with district heating. Additionally, CO2-eq. emissions could be reduced by up to 20%, while further offsetting emissions associated with electricity and district heat generation by 1907 tons annually. These findings highlight the potential of WtE technologies to enhance municipal self-sustainability and reduce landfill waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Solid Waste for Energy Production and Resource Recovery)
18 pages, 707 KiB  
Review
Multiple Sclerosis: From the Application of Oligoclonal Bands to Novel Potential Biomarkers
by Grazia Maglio, Marina D’Agostino, Francesco Pio Caronte, Luciano Pezone, Amelia Casamassimi, Monica Rienzo, Erika Di Zazzo, Carmela Nappo, Nicola Medici, Anna Maria Molinari and Ciro Abbondanza
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5412; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105412 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic immune-mediated disorder of the central nervous system with a high heterogeneity among patients. In the clinical setting, one of the main challenges is a proper and early diagnosis for the prediction of disease activity. Current diagnosis is based [...] Read more.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic immune-mediated disorder of the central nervous system with a high heterogeneity among patients. In the clinical setting, one of the main challenges is a proper and early diagnosis for the prediction of disease activity. Current diagnosis is based on the integration of clinical, imaging, and laboratory results, with the latter based on the presence of intrathecal IgG oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid whose detection via isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting represents the gold standard. Intrathecal synthesis can also be evidenced by the measurement of kappa free light chains in the cerebrospinal fluid, which has reached similar diagnostic accuracy compared to that of oligoclonal bands in the identification of patients with multiple sclerosis; moreover, recent studies have also highlighted its value for early disease activity prediction. This strategy has significant advantages as compared to using oligoclonal band detection, even though some issues remain open. Here, we discuss the current methods applied for cerebrospinal fluid analysis to achieve the most accurate diagnosis and for follow-up and prognosis evaluation. In addition, we describe new promising biomarkers, currently under investigation, that could contribute both to a better diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and to its monitoring of the therapeutic treatment response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insights in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neuroimmunology)
23 pages, 22020 KiB  
Article
Development of an Uneven Terrain Decision-Aid Landing System for Fixed-Wing Aircraft Based on Computer Vision
by Chin-Sheng Chuang and Chao-Chung Peng
Electronics 2024, 13(10), 1946; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13101946 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents a computer vision-based standalone decision-aid landing system for light fixed-wing aircraft, aiming to enhance safety during emergency landings. Current landing assistance systems in airports, such as Instrument Landing Systems (ILSs) and Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPIs), often rely on costly [...] Read more.
This paper presents a computer vision-based standalone decision-aid landing system for light fixed-wing aircraft, aiming to enhance safety during emergency landings. Current landing assistance systems in airports, such as Instrument Landing Systems (ILSs) and Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPIs), often rely on costly and location-specific ground equipment, limiting their utility for low-payload light aircraft. Especially in emergency conditions, the pilot may be forced to land on an arbitrary runway where the road flatness and glide angle cannot be ensured. To address these issues, a stereo vision-based auxiliary landing system is proposed, which is capable of estimating an appropriate glide slope based on the terrain, to assist pilots in safe landing decision-making. Moreover, in real-world scenarios, challenges with visual-based methods arise when attempting emergency landings on complex terrains with diverse objects, such as roads and buildings. This study solves this problem by employing the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to segment the color image and extract ground points, while the iterative weighted plane fitting (IWPF) algorithm is introduced to mitigate the interference of outlier feature points, reaching a highly robust plane normal estimation. With the aid of the proposed system, the pilot is able to evaluate the landing glide angle/speed with respect to the uneven terrain. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed system can successfully achieve landing guidance in unknown environments by providing glide angle estimations with an average error of less than 1 degree. Full article
29 pages, 4423 KiB  
Article
Extracellular Vesicles from Ecklonia cava and Phlorotannin Promote Rejuvenation in Aged Skin
by Sosorburam Batsukh, Seyeon Oh, Ji Min Lee, Judy Hong Jin Joo, Kuk Hui Son and Kyunghee Byun
Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(5), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22050223 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) elicit diverse biological effects, including promoting skin health. EVs isolated from Ecklonia cava (EV-EC) carry heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), which inhibits key regulators such as TNF-α, MAPKs, and NF-κB, consequently downregulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Aging exacerbates oxidative stress, [...] Read more.
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) elicit diverse biological effects, including promoting skin health. EVs isolated from Ecklonia cava (EV-EC) carry heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), which inhibits key regulators such as TNF-α, MAPKs, and NF-κB, consequently downregulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Aging exacerbates oxidative stress, upregulating MAPK and NF-κB signaling and worsening extracellular matrix degradation in the skin. E. cava-derived phlorotannin (PT) mitigates MAPK and NF-κB signaling. We evaluated the impact of EV-EC and PT on skin rejuvenation using an in vitro keratinocyte senescence model and an in vivo aged-mouse model. Western blotting confirmed the presence of HSP70 in EV-EC. Treatment with EV-EC and PT in senescent keratinocytes increased HSP70 expression and decreased the expression of TNF-α, MAPK, NF-κB, activator protein-1 (AP-1), and MMPs. Oxidative stress was also reduced. Sequential treatment with PT and EV-EC (PT/EV-EC) yielded more significant results compared to individual treatments. The administration of PT/EV-EC to the back skin of aged mice mirrored the in vitro findings, resulting in increased collagen fiber accumulation and improved elasticity in the aged skin. Therefore, PT/EV-EC holds promise in promoting skin rejuvenation by increasing HSP70 expression, decreasing the expression of MMPs, and reducing oxidative stress in aged skin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Marine Pharmacology)
18 pages, 973 KiB  
Article
Estimation of Soil Characteristic Parameters for Electric Mountain Tractor Based on Gauss–Newton Iteration Method
by Zhiqiang Xi, Tian Feng, Zhijun Liu, Huaijun Xu, Jingyang Zheng and Liyou Xu
World Electr. Veh. J. 2024, 15(5), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/wevj15050217 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Future field work tasks will require mountain tractors to pass through rough terrain with limited human supervision. The wheel–soil interaction plays a critical role in rugged terrain mobility. In this paper, an algorithm for the estimation of soil characteristic parameters based on the [...] Read more.
Future field work tasks will require mountain tractors to pass through rough terrain with limited human supervision. The wheel–soil interaction plays a critical role in rugged terrain mobility. In this paper, an algorithm for the estimation of soil characteristic parameters based on the Simpson numerical integration method and Gauss–Newton iteration method is presented. These parameters can be used for passability prediction or in a traction control algorithm to improve tractor mobility and to plan safe operation paths for autonomous navigation systems. To verify the effectiveness of the solving algorithm, different initial values and soils were selected for simulation calculations of soil characteristic parameters such as internal friction angle, settlement index, and the joint parameter of soil cohesion modulus and friction modulus. The results show that the error was kept within 2%, and the calculation time did not exceed 0.84 s, demonstrating high robustness and real-time performance. To test the applicability of the algorithm model, further research was conducted using different wheel parameters of electric mountain tractors under wet clay conditions. The results show that these parameters also have high accuracy and stability with only a few iterations. Thus, the estimation algorithm can meet the requirements of quickly and accurately identifying soil characteristic parameters during tractor operation. A criterion for the passability of wheeled tractors through unknown terrain is proposed, utilizing identified soil parameters. Full article
28 pages, 1408 KiB  
Article
DMAF-NET: Deep Multi-Scale Attention Fusion Network for Hyperspectral Image Classification with Limited Samples
by Hufeng Guo and Wenyi Liu
Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3153; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103153 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
In recent years, deep learning methods have achieved remarkable success in hyperspectral image classification (HSIC), and the utilization of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has proven to be highly effective. However, there are still several critical issues that need to be addressed in the [...] Read more.
In recent years, deep learning methods have achieved remarkable success in hyperspectral image classification (HSIC), and the utilization of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has proven to be highly effective. However, there are still several critical issues that need to be addressed in the HSIC task, such as the lack of labeled training samples, which constrains the classification accuracy and generalization ability of CNNs. To address this problem, a deep multi-scale attention fusion network (DMAF-NET) is proposed in this paper. This network is based on multi-scale features and fully exploits the deep features of samples from multiple levels and different perspectives with an aim to enhance HSIC results using limited samples. The innovation of this article is mainly reflected in three aspects: Firstly, a novel baseline network for multi-scale feature extraction is designed with a pyramid structure and densely connected 3D octave convolutional network enabling the extraction of deep-level information from features at different granularities. Secondly, a multi-scale spatial–spectral attention module and a pyramidal multi-scale channel attention module are designed, respectively. This allows modeling of the comprehensive dependencies of coordinates and directions, local and global, in four dimensions. Finally, a multi-attention fusion module is designed to effectively combine feature mappings extracted from multiple branches. Extensive experiments on four popular datasets demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve high classification accuracy even with fewer labeled samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Technology for Agricultural and Land Management)
21 pages, 1609 KiB  
Article
Syrian Hamsters Model Does Not Reflect Human-Like Disease after Aerosol Exposure to Encephalitic Alphaviruses
by Christina L. Gardner, Rebecca A. Erwin-Cohen, Bridget S. Lewis, Russell R. Bakken, Shelley P. Honnold, Pamela J. Glass and Crystal W. Burke
Methods Protoc. 2024, 7(3), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/mps7030042 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Venezuelan (VEE), eastern (EEE), and western (WEE) equine encephalitis viruses are encephalitic New World alphaviruses that cause periodic epizootic and epidemic outbreaks in horses and humans that may cause severe morbidity and mortality. Currently there are no FDA-licensed vaccines or effective antiviral therapies. [...] Read more.
Venezuelan (VEE), eastern (EEE), and western (WEE) equine encephalitis viruses are encephalitic New World alphaviruses that cause periodic epizootic and epidemic outbreaks in horses and humans that may cause severe morbidity and mortality. Currently there are no FDA-licensed vaccines or effective antiviral therapies. Each year, there are a limited number of human cases of encephalitic alphaviruses; thus, licensure of a vaccine or therapeutic would require approval under the FDA animal rule. Approval under the FDA animal rule requires the disease observed in the animal model to recapitulate what is observed in humans. Currently, initial testing of vaccines and therapeutics is performed in the mouse model. Unfortunately, alphavirus disease manifestations in a mouse do not faithfully recapitulate human disease; the VEEV mouse model is lethal whereas in humans VEEV is rarely lethal. In an effort to identify a more appropriate small animal model, we evaluated hamsters in an aerosol exposure model of encephalitic alphavirus infection. The pathology, lethality, and viremia observed in the infected hamsters was inconsistent with what is observed in NHP models and humans. These data suggest that hamsters are not an appropriate model for encephalitic alphaviruses to test vaccines or potential antiviral therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Methods and Protocols 2024)
18 pages, 9438 KiB  
Article
(-)-Fenchone Prevents Cysteamine-Induced Duodenal Ulcers and Accelerates Healing Promoting Re-Epithelialization of Gastric Ulcers in Rats via Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Mechanisms
by Maria Elaine Cristina Araruna, Edvaldo Balbino Alves Júnior, Catarina Alves de Lima Serafim, Matheus Marley Bezerra Pessoa, Michelle Liz de Souza Pessôa, Vitória Pereira Alves, Marcelo Sobral da Silva, Marianna Vieira Sobral, Adriano Francisco Alves, Mayara Karla dos Santos Nunes, Aurigena Antunes Araújo and Leônia Maria Batista
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(5), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17050641 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Background: (-)-Fenchone is a naturally occurring monoterpene found in the essential oils of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Thuja occidentalis L., and Peumus boldus Molina. Pharmacological studies have reported its antinociceptive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and antioxidant activities. Methods: The preventive antiulcer effects of (-)-Fenchone were [...] Read more.
Background: (-)-Fenchone is a naturally occurring monoterpene found in the essential oils of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Thuja occidentalis L., and Peumus boldus Molina. Pharmacological studies have reported its antinociceptive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and antioxidant activities. Methods: The preventive antiulcer effects of (-)-Fenchone were assessed through oral pretreatment in cysteamine-induced duodenal lesion models. Gastric healing, the underlying mechanisms, and toxicity after repeated doses were evaluated using the acetic acid-induced gastric ulcer rat model with oral treatment administered for 14 days. Results: In the cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer model, fenchone (37.5–300 mg/kg) significantly decreased the ulcer area and prevented lesion formation. In the acetic acid-induced ulcer model, fenchone (150 mg/kg) reduced (p < 0.001) ulcerative injury. These effects were associated with increased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin (IL)-10, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Furthermore, treatment with (-)-Fenchone (150 mg/kg) significantly reduced (p < 0.001) malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB). A 14-day oral toxicity investigation revealed no alterations in heart, liver, spleen, or kidney weight, nor in the biochemical and hematological parameters assessed. (-)-Fenchone protected animals from body weight loss while maintaining feed and water intake. Conclusion: (-)-Fenchone exhibits low toxicity, prevents duodenal ulcers, and enhances gastric healing activities. Antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties appear to be involved in its therapeutic effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Gastrointestinal Peptides in Medicine)
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22 pages, 3567 KiB  
Article
Highlighting the Major Role of Cyclin C in Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8 Activity through Molecular Dynamics Simulations
by Sonia Ziada, Julien Diharce, Dylan Serillon, Pascal Bonnet and Samia Aci-Sèche
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5411; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105411 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Dysregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) activity has been associated with many diseases, including colorectal and breast cancer. As usual in the CDK family, the activity of CDK8 is controlled by a regulatory protein called cyclin C (CycC). But, while human CDK family [...] Read more.
Dysregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) activity has been associated with many diseases, including colorectal and breast cancer. As usual in the CDK family, the activity of CDK8 is controlled by a regulatory protein called cyclin C (CycC). But, while human CDK family members are generally activated in two steps, that is, the binding of the cyclin to CDK and the phosphorylation of a residue in the CDK activation loop, CDK8 does not require the phosphorylation step to be active. Another peculiarity of CDK8 is its ability to be associated with CycC while adopting an inactive form. These specificities raise the question of the role of CycC in the complex CDK8–CycC, which appears to be more complex than the other members of the CDK family. Through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free energy calculations, we investigated the effect of CycC on the structure and dynamics of CDK8. In a second step, we particularly focused our investigation on the structural and molecular basis of the protein–protein interaction between the two partners by finely analyzing the energetic contribution of residues and simulating the transition between the active and the inactive form. We found that CycC has a stabilizing effect on CDK8, and we identified specific interaction hotspots within its interaction surface compared to other human CDK/Cyc pairs. Targeting these specific interaction hotspots could be a promising approach in terms of specificity to effectively disrupt the interaction between CDK8. The simulation of the conformational transition from the inactive to the active form of CDK8 suggests that the residue Glu99 of CycC is involved in the orientation of three conserved arginines of CDK8. Thus, this residue may assume the role of the missing phosphorylation step in the activation mechanism of CDK8. In a more general view, these results point to the importance of keeping the CycC in computational studies when studying the human CDK8 protein in both the active and the inactive form. Full article
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11 pages, 454 KiB  
Article
The Way Older Childless Women Value Their Life—A Qualitative Study
by Tom Boker Gonen, Yaacov G. Bachner and Vered Slonim-Nevo
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14050418 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Older women without children, like all older adults, evaluate their lives and face a conflict between despair and ego integrity as proposed by Erikson’s theory of development. Their uniqueness lies in their deviation from the societal norm of parenthood prevalent in pro-natalist societies [...] Read more.
Older women without children, like all older adults, evaluate their lives and face a conflict between despair and ego integrity as proposed by Erikson’s theory of development. Their uniqueness lies in their deviation from the societal norm of parenthood prevalent in pro-natalist societies such as Israel. This study aims to explore how older childless women evaluate their lives. Using a qualitative approach, 20 semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with women over 60 years of age who do not have children. Three main themes emerged from the participants’ responses: their experiences as women without children in a pro-natalist society, the significance of freedom in their lives, and their life experiences from conflicting perspectives—an internal and external locus of control. The study’s findings demonstrate that older childless women adeptly utilize different perspectives across various aspects of their lives, contributing to ego integrity, contrary to the prevailing societal notion that in the absence of children, women are damaged and lack identity. It is conceivable that other segments of the older adult population, diverging from mainstream societal norms, may similarly leverage these different perspectives to uphold their ego. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Interactions and Aging)
22 pages, 844 KiB  
Review
Ammonia Detection by Electronic Noses for a Safer Work Environment
by Tiago Reis, Pedro Catalão Moura, Débora Gonçalves, Paulo A. Ribeiro, Valentina Vassilenko, Maria Helena Fino and Maria Raposo
Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3152; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103152 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Providing employees with proper work conditions should be one of the main concerns of any employer. Even so, in many cases, work shifts chronically expose the workers to a wide range of potentially harmful compounds, such as ammonia. Ammonia has been present in [...] Read more.
Providing employees with proper work conditions should be one of the main concerns of any employer. Even so, in many cases, work shifts chronically expose the workers to a wide range of potentially harmful compounds, such as ammonia. Ammonia has been present in the composition of products commonly used in a wide range of industries, namely production in lines, and also laboratories, schools, hospitals, and others. Chronic exposure to ammonia can yield several diseases, such as irritation and pruritus, as well as inflammation of ocular, cutaneous, and respiratory tissues. In more extreme cases, exposure to ammonia is also related to dyspnea, progressive cyanosis, and pulmonary edema. As such, the use of ammonia needs to be properly regulated and monitored to ensure safer work environments. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work have already commissioned regulations on the acceptable limits of exposure to ammonia. Nevertheless, the monitoring of ammonia gas is still not normalized because appropriate sensors can be difficult to find as commercially available products. To help promote promising methods of developing ammonia sensors, this work will compile and compare the results published so far. Full article
24 pages, 5719 KiB  
Article
Music Genre Classification Based on VMD-IWOA-XGBOOST
by Rumeijiang Gan, Tichen Huang, Jin Shao and Fuyu Wang
Mathematics 2024, 12(10), 1549; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12101549 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Music genre classification is significant to users and digital platforms. To enhance the classification accuracy, this study proposes a hybrid model based on VMD-IWOA-XGBOOST for music genre classification. First, the audio signals are transformed into numerical or symbolic data, and the crucial features [...] Read more.
Music genre classification is significant to users and digital platforms. To enhance the classification accuracy, this study proposes a hybrid model based on VMD-IWOA-XGBOOST for music genre classification. First, the audio signals are transformed into numerical or symbolic data, and the crucial features are selected using the maximal information coefficient (MIC) method. Second, an improved whale optimization algorithm (IWOA) is proposed for parameter optimization. Third, the inner patterns of these selected features are extracted by IWOA-optimized variational mode decomposition (VMD). Lastly, all features are put into the IWOA-optimized extreme gradient boosting (XGBOOST) classifier. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed model, two open music datasets are used, i.e., GTZAN and Bangla. The experimental results illustrate that the proposed hybrid model achieves better performance than the other models in terms of five evaluation criteria. Full article
10 pages, 898 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Five Serological Methods for the Detection of West Nile Virus Antibodies
by Philipp Girl, Kathrin Euringer, Mircea Coroian, Andrei Daniel Mihalca, Johannes P. Borde and Gerhard Dobler
Viruses 2024, 16(5), 788; https://doi.org/10.3390/v16050788 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The West Nile Virus (WNV), a member of the family Flaviviridae, is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus causing potentially severe infections in humans and animals involving the central nervous system (CNS). Due to its emerging tendency, WNV now occurs in many areas where [...] Read more.
The West Nile Virus (WNV), a member of the family Flaviviridae, is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus causing potentially severe infections in humans and animals involving the central nervous system (CNS). Due to its emerging tendency, WNV now occurs in many areas where other flaviviruses are co-occurring. Cross-reactive antibodies with flavivirus infections or vaccination (e.g., tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Usutu virus (USUV), yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue virus (DENV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)) therefore remain a major challenge in diagnosing flavivirus infections. Virus neutralization tests are considered as reference tests for the detection of specific flavivirus antibodies, but are elaborate, time-consuming and need biosafety level 3 facilities. A simple and straightforward assay for the differentiation and detection of specific WNV IgG antibodies for the routine laboratory is urgently needed. In this study, we compared two commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (anti-IgG WNV ELISA and anti-NS1-IgG WNV), a commercially available indirect immunofluorescence assay, and a newly developed in-house ELISA for the detection of WNV-NS1-IgG antibodies. All four tests were compared to an in-house NT to determine both the sensitivity and specificity of the four test systems. None of the assays could match the specificity of the NT, although the two NS1-IgG based ELISAs were very close to the specificity of the NT at 97.3% and 94.6%. The in-house WNV-NS1-IgG ELISA had the best performance regarding sensitivity and specificity. The specificities of the ELISA assays and the indirect immunofluorescence assays could not meet the necessary specificity and/or sensitivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Insect Viruses)
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20 pages, 2430 KiB  
Article
Accurate Satellite Operation Predictions Using Attention-BiLSTM Model with Telemetry Correlation
by Yi Peng, Shuze Jia, Lizi Xie and Jian Shang
Aerospace 2024, 11(5), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace11050398 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
In satellite health management, anomalies are mostly resolved after an event and are rarely predicted in advance. Thus, trend prediction is critical for avoiding satellite faults, which may affect the accuracy and quality of satellite data and even greatly impact safety. However, it [...] Read more.
In satellite health management, anomalies are mostly resolved after an event and are rarely predicted in advance. Thus, trend prediction is critical for avoiding satellite faults, which may affect the accuracy and quality of satellite data and even greatly impact safety. However, it is difficult to predict satellite operation using a simple model because satellite systems are complex and telemetry data are copious, coupled, and intermittent. Therefore, this study proposes a model that combines an attention mechanism and bidirectional long short-term memory (attention-BiLSTM) with telemetry correlation to predict satellite behaviour. First, a high-dimensional K-nearest neighbour mutual information method is used to select the related telemetry variables from multiple variables of satellite telemetry data. Next, we propose a new BiLSTM model with an attention mechanism for telemetry prediction. The dataset used in this study was generated and transmitted from the FY3E meteorological satellite power system. The proposed method was compared with other methods using the same dataset used in the experiment to verify its superiority. The results confirmed that the proposed method outperformed the other methods owing to its prediction precision and superior accuracy, indicating its potential for application in intelligent satellite health management systems. Full article
18 pages, 5582 KiB  
Article
Analyzing the Functional Roles and Immunological Features of Chemokines in COAD
by Houxi Xu and Yihua Song
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5410; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105410 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Chemokines are key proteins that regulate cell migration and immune responses and are essential for modulating the tumor microenvironment. Despite their close association with colon cancer, the expression patterns, prognosis, immunity, and specific roles of chemokines in colon cancer are still not fully [...] Read more.
Chemokines are key proteins that regulate cell migration and immune responses and are essential for modulating the tumor microenvironment. Despite their close association with colon cancer, the expression patterns, prognosis, immunity, and specific roles of chemokines in colon cancer are still not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the mutational features, differential expression, and immunological characteristics of chemokines in colon cancer (COAD) by analyzing the Tumor Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We clarified the biological functions of these chemokines using Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. By univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses, we developed chemokine-based prognostic risk models. In addition, using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Gene Set Variant Analysis (GSVA), we analyzed the differences in immune responses and signaling pathways among different risk groups. The results showed that the mutation rate of chemokines was low in COAD, but 25 chemokines were significantly differentially expressed. These chemokines function in several immune-related biological processes and play key roles in signaling pathways including cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions, NF-kappa B, and IL-17. Prognostic risk models based on CCL22, CXCL1, CXCL8, CXCL9, and CXCL11 performed well. GSEA and GSVA analyses showed significant differences in immune responses and signaling pathways across risk groups. In conclusion, this study reveals the potential molecular mechanisms of chemokines in COAD and proposes a new prognostic risk model based on these insights. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Colorectal Cancer Therapy)
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24 pages, 977 KiB  
Review
Challenges for the Post-Market Environmental Monitoring in the European Union Imposed by Novel Applications of Genetically Modified and Genome-Edited Organisms
by Marion Dolezel, Andreas Lang, Anita Greiter, Marianne Miklau, Michael Eckerstorfer, Andreas Heissenberger, Eva Willée and Wiebke Züghart
BioTech 2024, 13(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/biotech13020014 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Information on the state of the environment is important to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal, including the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The existing regulatory provisions for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) foresee an obligatory post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) of potential [...] Read more.
Information on the state of the environment is important to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal, including the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The existing regulatory provisions for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) foresee an obligatory post-market environmental monitoring (PMEM) of potential adverse effects upon release into the environment. So far, GMO monitoring activities have focused on genetically modified crops. With the advent of new genomic techniques (NGT), novel GMO applications are being developed and may be released into a range of different, non-agricultural environments with potential implications for ecosystems and biodiversity. This challenges the current monitoring concepts and requires adaptation of existing monitoring programs to meet monitoring requirements. While the incorporation of existing biodiversity monitoring programs into GMO monitoring at the national level is important, additional monitoring activities will also be required. Using case examples, we highlight that monitoring requirements for novel GMO applications differ from those of GM crop plants previously authorized for commercial use in the European Union. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Biotechnology)
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18 pages, 3025 KiB  
Article
Multi-Target Optimization Strategy for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Formation in Forest Fire Monitoring Based on Deep Q-Network Algorithm
by Wenjia Liu, Sung-Ki Lyu, Tao Liu, Yu-Ting Wu and Zhen Qin
Drones 2024, 8(5), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones8050201 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Forest fires often pose serious hazards, and the timely monitoring and extinguishing of residual forest fires using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can prevent re-ignition and mitigate the damage caused. Due to the urgency of forest fires, drones need to respond quickly during firefighting [...] Read more.
Forest fires often pose serious hazards, and the timely monitoring and extinguishing of residual forest fires using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can prevent re-ignition and mitigate the damage caused. Due to the urgency of forest fires, drones need to respond quickly during firefighting operations, while traditional drone formation deployment requires a significant amount of time. This paper proposes a pure azimuth passive positioning strategy for circular UAV formations and utilizes the Deep Q-Network (DQN) algorithm to effectively adjust the formation within a short timeframe. Initially, a passive positioning model for UAVs based on the relationships between the sides and angles of a triangle is established, with the closest point to the ideal position being selected as the position for the UAV to be located. Subsequently, a multi-target optimization model is developed, considering 10 UAVs as an example, with the objective of minimizing the number of adjustments while minimizing the deviation between the ideal and adjusted UAV positions. The DQN algorithm is employed to solve and design experiments for validation, demonstrating that the deviation between the UAV positions and the ideal positions, as well as the number of adjustments, are within acceptable ranges. In comparison to genetic algorithms, it saves approximately 120 s. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Application of Remote Sensing in Forest Fire)
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23 pages, 1416 KiB  
Article
Fractional-Order Dynamics in Epidemic Disease Modeling with Advanced Perspectives of Fractional Calculus
by Muhammad Riaz, Zareen A. Khan, Sadique Ahmad and Abdelhamied Ashraf Ateya
Fractal Fract. 2024, 8(5), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/fractalfract8050291 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Piecewise fractional-order differential operators have received more attention in recent years because they can be used to describe various evolutionary dynamical problems to investigate crossover behaviors. In this manuscript, we use the aforementioned operators to investigate a mathematical model of COVID-19. By utilizing [...] Read more.
Piecewise fractional-order differential operators have received more attention in recent years because they can be used to describe various evolutionary dynamical problems to investigate crossover behaviors. In this manuscript, we use the aforementioned operators to investigate a mathematical model of COVID-19. By utilizing fractional calculus, our approach aims to capture the crossover dynamics of disease spread, considering heterogeneity and transitions between epidemic phases. This research seeks to develop a framework using specialized mathematical techniques, such as the Caputo fractional derivative, with the potential to investigate the crossover dynamical behaviors of the considered epidemic model. The anticipated contribution lies in bridging fractional calculus and epidemiology, offering insights for both theoretical advancements and practical public health interventions. In order to improve our understanding of epidemic dynamics and support, we used MATLAB to simulate numerical results for a visual representation of our findings. For this interpretation, we used various fractional-order values. In addition, we also compare our simulated results with some reported results for infected and death classes to demonstrate the efficiency of our numerical method. Full article
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21 pages, 4321 KiB  
Article
Physiological Studies and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveal the Mechanism of Saline-Alkali Stress Resistance of Malus sieversii f. niedzwetzkyan
by Lepu Jiang, Yan Yang, Zhengli Zhou and Xuesen Chen
Horticulturae 2024, 10(5), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10050510 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Malus sieversii f. niedzwetzkyan, a wild species capable of growing on saline-alkali soil in Xinjiang, is the most promising horticultural crop for improving the saline-alkali wasteland. However, the tolerance of M. niedzwetzkyan to saline-alkali stress and the underlying molecular mechanisms remains largely [...] Read more.
Malus sieversii f. niedzwetzkyan, a wild species capable of growing on saline-alkali soil in Xinjiang, is the most promising horticultural crop for improving the saline-alkali wasteland. However, the tolerance of M. niedzwetzkyan to saline-alkali stress and the underlying molecular mechanisms remains largely unknown. Here, we conducted a hydroponic experiment in which M. niedzwetzkyana and M. domesticaRoyal Gala” seedlings were subjected to 150 mM saline-alkali stress. Physiological data showed that M. niedzwetzkyana had a strong ROS scavenging ability and ion transport ability, and its saline-alkali resistance was higher than that of M. Royal Gala”. Saline-alkali stress also promoted the synthesis of anthocyanins in M. niedzwetzkyana. Transcriptome analysis was conducted on the leaves and roots of M. niedzwetzkyana at different time points under saline-alkali stress (0 h, 6 h, and 12 h). Transcriptome analysis revealed that saline stress down-regulated most genes involved in the anthocyanin flavonoid synthesis pathway. Transcription levels of genes involved in antioxidant enzyme activity and ion transport were altered. We identified hub genes related to superoxide dismutase as well as Na+ and K+ transport using weighted gene co-expression network analysis. This study elucidated, for the first time at the molecular level, the saline-alkali tolerance of M. niedzwetzkyana, including the complex changes in pathways that regulate reactive oxygen species homeostasis, ion uptake, and anthocyanoside synthesis under saline-alkali stress conditions. This research provides an important genetic resource for identifying genes involved in responses to saline-alkali stress. Full article
31 pages, 1252 KiB  
Review
Exploring Sustainable Aquafeed Alternatives with a Specific Focus on the Ensilaging Technology of Fish Waste
by Anastasiia Maksimenko, Leonid Belyi, Anna Podvolotskaya, Oksana Son and Liudmila Tekutyeva
Fermentation 2024, 10(5), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/fermentation10050258 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
The global increase in population has placed significant pressure on food security, leading to the emergence of aquaculture as a vital source of aquatic foods. However, rising costs and limited fish meal availability in aquafeeds have driven the search for alternative protein sources. [...] Read more.
The global increase in population has placed significant pressure on food security, leading to the emergence of aquaculture as a vital source of aquatic foods. However, rising costs and limited fish meal availability in aquafeeds have driven the search for alternative protein sources. While plant-based ingredients have been integrated into commercial aquafeeds, they come with challenges such as low protein content, palatability issues, and the presence of antinutritional factors. In this context, fish silage, made from fish waste and discarded fish, stands out as a promising alternative technology due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability attributes. The production of fish silage involves the addition of organic/inorganic acids or lactic acid bacteria to homogenized fish waste, yielding a valuable mixture rich in peptides and free amino acids, offering significant nutritional benefits for animal diets. This review aims to promote sustainable practices in the aquaculture industry by analyzing research results related to ensiling technology, appraising the advantages and disadvantages of using fish silage as a feed ingredient, and focusing on emerging trends in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fermentation Technologies for the Production of High-Quality Feed)
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16 pages, 416 KiB  
Article
The Synergetic Effect of Light Spectra and Selenium Supplementation on Eruca sativa Mill. Growth and Physiological and Metabolic Responses
by Cátia Brito, Sónia Andrade, Helena Ferreira, Carlos Matos, Sandra Martins and José Moutinho-Pereira
Horticulturae 2024, 10(5), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10050511 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Eco-friendly lighting systems, like LED lights, can reduce energy consumption in greenhouse operations, have a long lifespan, and enable precise control over plant growth through spectrum selection. On the other hand, Selenium (Se) is a micronutrient with a beneficial role in plant metabolism [...] Read more.
Eco-friendly lighting systems, like LED lights, can reduce energy consumption in greenhouse operations, have a long lifespan, and enable precise control over plant growth through spectrum selection. On the other hand, Selenium (Se) is a micronutrient with a beneficial role in plant metabolism and an essential element for human health. In this study, we aim to unravel the effects of LED lighting combined with Se supplementation on the physiological behavior, yield, and quality of arugula (Eruca sativa). Arugula plants were cultivated under controlled conditions using two distinct LED lights: full white spectrum (W) and a mix of 80%/20% of red/blue light (R:B). These plants were then supplemented with three levels of Se: 0 mg Se kg−1 soil [0], 0.3 mg Se kg−1 soil [0.3], and 0.6 mg Se kg−1 soil [0.6]. The results showed that stomatal conductance remained unaffected by the light script. However, the plants exposed to R:B displayed more pronounced signs of photodamage and reduced net photosynthetic rate. Supplementation with Se plays a significant role in mitigating light-induced stress and in improving the antioxidant defense system; this was especially notable in R:B plants. Finally, R:B light decreased the accumulation of aboveground biomass, while no significant impact of Se was noticed on this outcome. Se accumulation exhibited a direct and proportional relationship with the concentration of Se applied. The integration of LED technology and Se supplementation not only enhances crop nutritional value but also aligns with the adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Vegetable Production Systems)
33 pages, 2629 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Sustainable Mobility Initiatives Developed in Montevideo, Uruguay
by Sergio Nesmachnow and Silvina Hipogrosso
Urban Sci. 2024, 8(2), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8020052 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
This article presents an assessment of sustainable mobility initiatives developed in Montevideo, Uruguay, in the period from 2020 to 2023. The significance of sustainable mobility is underscored due to its far-reaching implications for the environment, energy efficiency, and the overall quality of life [...] Read more.
This article presents an assessment of sustainable mobility initiatives developed in Montevideo, Uruguay, in the period from 2020 to 2023. The significance of sustainable mobility is underscored due to its far-reaching implications for the environment, energy efficiency, and the overall quality of life of citizens. This study focuses on crucial aspects of four initiatives deployed in Montevideo in 2020–2023: electric mobility solutions using scooters, the development of infrastructure and services for urban cycling, the development of electric public transportation, and private electric transportation. Important results are obtained and commented on for each of the studied initiatives, regarding efficiency, environmental impact, accessibility, the quality of the service, and other relevant indicators. Based on the analysis, valuable knowledge is acquired to guide the future development of efficient and sustainable transportation modes in Montevideo, Uruguay. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Agenda)
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19 pages, 13288 KiB  
Article
Monitoring the Center of Gravity of a Vehicle Seat to Detect the Occupant Position
by Alberto Vergnano, Claudio Giorgianni and Francesco Leali
Designs 2024, 8(3), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8030044 (registering DOI) - 15 May 2024
Abstract
Deploying an airbag when a vehicle occupant is too close to it can cause injury. An adaptive Airbag Control Unit (ACU) would improve the effectiveness of the safety system, provided it is aware of the actual position of the occupants once the crash [...] Read more.
Deploying an airbag when a vehicle occupant is too close to it can cause injury. An adaptive Airbag Control Unit (ACU) would improve the effectiveness of the safety system, provided it is aware of the actual position of the occupants once the crash is going to occur. Occupants can be monitored with vision-based and radar-based sensing in the vehicle, but the research question is whether other reliable devices exist. In this research, a real seat is equipped with four sensors in the supports from the floor, as well as an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a microcontroller. The device is capable of identifying correct position or different Out of Position (OP) conditions and inform an adaptive ACU. The paper presents the seat layout in detail and its testing in extensive driving experiments with multiple participants. Depending on the position of the driver, the identification is correct 45–100% of the time. Monitoring the occupant position by a sensorized seat is feasible and can improve the reliability of the onboard safety system when integrated with other occupant monitoring devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Vehicle Engineering Design)
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