Toxins doi: 10.3390/toxins17030127

Authors: Ewa Lepiarczyk Mateusz Maździarz Łukasz Paukszto Agnieszka Bossowska Mariusz Majewski Jerzy Kaleczyc Elżbieta Łopieńska-Biernat Łukasz Jaśkiewicz Agnieszka Skowrońska Mariusz T. Skowroński Marta Majewska

Resiniferatoxin (RTX), a potent capsaicin analog, is being investigated as a therapeutic agent for neurogenic conditions, particularly those affecting bladder control. However, the transcriptomic effects of RTX on the urinary bladder remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to characterize the transcriptomic changes in the porcine urinary bladder trigone region removed seven days post-treatment with intravesical RTX administration (500 nmol per animal in 60 mL of 5% aqueous solution of ethyl alcohol). High-throughput sequencing identified 126 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 66 downregulated, 60 upregulated), 5 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DELs), and 22 other RNAs, collectively involved in 175 gene ontology (GO) processes. Additionally, differential alternative splicing events (DASes) and single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were detected. RTX significantly modulated signaling pathways related to nerve growth and myelination. Changes in genes associated with synaptic plasticity and neuromodulation were observed, particularly within serotoninergic and cholinergic signaling. RTX altered the expression of immune-related genes, particularly those involved in chemokine signaling and immune regulation. Notably, altered gene expression patterns suggest a potential anti-cancer role for RTX. These findings provide new insights into RTX’s therapeutic effects beyond TRPV1 receptor interactions, filling a critical gap in our understanding of its molecular impact on bladder tissue.

Buildings doi: 10.3390/buildings15060849

Authors: Yasemin Tabak

The conversion of the waste of wet silica sand sludge (W3S) into useful products, such as bricks, glassware, and ceramics, is an alternative solid waste management method. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of silica sand wet sludge additive on brick quality. For this purpose, laboratory-scale brick manufacturing was implemented by using 10%, 30%, 50%, and 100% sludge in clay brick. For proper characterization to understand brick quality, the water absorption, shrinkage, bulk density, compressive strength, and SEM analysis of sintered samples were performed. At the end of the experimental procedure, no negative effects of sludge addition were determined in terms of mechanical strength, porosity, water absorption, or structural integrity. In addition, the incorporation of W3S contributed to sustainable waste management and helped mitigate its environmental impact. Experimental studies revealed that a product with the desired color could be obtained when 50% W3S was used in the mixture. In addition, the optimal composition for making bricks was found to be a mixture of 50% W3S and 50% brick clay, fired at 850 °C. With this mixture, not only is the preferred color achieved, but an optimum balance between mechanical strength, durability, and minimization of environmental damage is also attained. Such a formulation ensures high compressive strength, low porosity, and low water absorption, making it sustainable and a better choice in construction with industrial by-product use. The results obtained are useful in showing possibilities for the solution of environmental problems to utilize waste materials in useful products.

Materials doi: 10.3390/ma18061213

Authors: Carlos O. Amorim Sivabalan M. Sivasankar António F. da Cunha

Cu3BiS3 (CBS) has emerged as a promising earth-abundant absorber for thin-film photovoltaics, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional technologies. However, ab initio studies on its optoelectronic properties remain scarce and often yield contradictory results. This study systematically examines the influence of two density functional theory (DFT) methodologies, linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) and projector augmented wave (PAW), on the structural and electronic properties of CBS, aiming to establish a reliable computational framework for future research. With this in mind, we also assessed the impact of a wide range of exchange-correlation (XC) functionals within both methods, including 6 from the local density approximation (LDA) family (HL, PW, PZ, RPA, Wigner, XA), 10 from the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) family (BLYP, BP86, BPW91, GAM, KT2, PBE, PBEsol, PW91, RPBE, XLYP), 2 meta-GGA functionals (SCAN, R2SCAN), and the hybrid HSE06 functional. Both LCAO and PAW consistently predict an indirect bandgap for CBS across all XC functionals, aligning with most previous DFT studies but contradicting experimental reports of a direct transition. The LDA and meta-GGA functionals systematically underestimated the CBS bandgap (<1 eV), with further reductions upon structural relaxation. GGA functionals performed better, with BLYP and XLYP yielding the most experimentally consistent results. The hybrid HSE06 functional substantially overestimated the bandgap (1.9 eV), with minimal changes after relaxation. The calculated hole and electron effective masses reveal strong anisotropy along the X, Y, and Z crystallographic directions. Additionally, CBS exhibits an intrinsic p-type nature, as the Fermi level consistently lies closer to the valence band maximum across all methods and functionals. However, the PAW method generally predicted more accurate lattice parameters than LCAO; the best agreement with experimental values was achieved using the PW91 (1.2% deviation) and HSE06 (0.9% deviation) functionals within LCAO. Based on these findings, we recommend the PW91 functional with LCAO for structural optimizations in large supercell studies of CBS dopants and/or defects and BLYP/XLYP for electronic properties.

Journal of Clinical Medicine doi: 10.3390/jcm14061838

Authors: Raffaella De Pace Silvia Molinari Elisa Mazzoni Giuseppe Perale

Bone regeneration has emerged as a critical research and clinical advancement field, fueled by the growing demand for effective treatments in orthopedics and oncology. Over the past two decades, significant progress in biomaterials and surgical techniques has led to the development of novel solutions for treating bone defects, surpassing the use of traditional autologous grafts. This review aims to assess the latest approaches in bone regeneration, including autologous, allogenic, and xenogenic grafts, naturally derived biomaterials, and innovative synthetic substitutes such as bioceramics, bioactive glasses, metals, polymers, composite materials, and other specialized applications. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, focusing on studies published between 2019 and 2024, including meta-analyses, reviews, and systematic reviews. The review evaluated a range of bone regeneration strategies, examining the clinical outcomes, materials used, surgical techniques, and the effectiveness of various approaches in treating bone defects. The search identified numerous studies, with the inclusion criteria focused on those exploring innovative bone regeneration strategies. These studies provided valuable insights into the clinical and biological outcomes of different biomaterials and graft types. Results indicated that while advancements in synthetic and naturally derived biomaterials show promising potential, challenges remain in optimizing therapeutic strategies across diverse patient populations and clinical settings. The findings emphasize the need for an integrated approach that combines scientific research, clinical practice, and technological innovation to improve bone regeneration therapies. Further research is required to establish standardized protocols and determine the optimal application of various materials and techniques to enhance patient outcomes and the quality of care.

Animals doi: 10.3390/ani15060772

Authors: Alessandro Spadari Giuditta Saragoni Federica Meistro Maria Virginia Ralletti Francesca Marzari Riccardo Rinnovati

This case report documents an unusual cheek tooth (CT) displacement in a 3-year-old Arabian filly. The horse was referred to the clinic for loss of appetite and right-sided facial deformity. At admission, an oral inspection was performed, followed by a dental radiographic examination. The radiographs showed a very oblique vertical angulation (135°) of the CT 106 compared to the other premolars (107 and 108 CTs) (40°). In consideration of the clinical and radiographic findings, surgical extraction of the 106 CT was indicated. Due to the unique positioning of the displaced tooth, traditional extraction methods such as standing oral extraction or minimally invasive buccotomy were deemed impractical. An innovative intranasal dental repulsion technique was selected to minimize invasiveness while ensuring the possibility of performing a complete oral extraction. The procedure was performed under general anesthesia without requiring skin incisions or a lateral osteotomy of the maxilla. The surgery was successful, with no intra-operative or post-operative complications. This original approach offers a viable alternative for similar cases, reducing the morbidity associated with conventional repulsion techniques.

Remote Sensing doi: 10.3390/rs17060960

Authors: Hesheng Chen Zuohui Qin Bo Liu Renwei Peng Zhiyi Yu Tengfei Yao Zefa Yang Guangcai Feng Wenxin Wang

China's first L-band fully polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation, LuTan-1 (LT-1), was designed for terrain mapping and geohazard monitoring. This study evaluates LT-1's capability in identifying landslides in the southern hilly regions of China, focusing on Longshan County, Hunan Province. Using both ascending and descending orbit data from LT-1, we conducted landslide identification experiments. First, deformation was obtained using Differential Interferometric SAR (D-InSAR) technology, and the deformation rates were derived through the Stacking technique. A landslide identification method that integrates C-index, slope, and ascending/descending orbit deformation information was then applied. The identified landslides were validated against existing geohazard points and medium-to-high-risk slope and gully unit data. The experimental results indicate that LT-1-ascending orbit data identified 88 landslide areas, with 39.8% corresponding to geohazard points and 65.9% within known slope units. Descending orbit data identified 90 landslide areas, with 37.8% matching geohazard points and 61.1% within known slope units. The identification results demonstrated good consistency with existing data. Comparative analysis with Sentinel-1 data revealed that LT-1’s combined ascending and descending orbit data outperformed Sentinel-1’s single ascending orbit data. LT-1’s L-band characteristics, comprehensive ascending and descending orbit coverage, and high-precision deformation detection make it highly promising for landslide identification in the southern hilly regions. This study underscores LT-1’s robust technical support for early landslide identification, highlighting its potential to enhance geohazard monitoring and mitigate risks in challenging terrains.

Materials doi: 10.3390/ma18061212

Authors: David Sandmann Michael Frenzel Steffen Marx Manfred Curbach

The article presents the experimental and computational investigations on carbon-reinforced concrete (CRC) slabs with hollow-core cross-sections. Designed for use in building construction, they combine the benefits of lightweight construction, resource efficiency, and precise prefabrication. Three geometrically identical elements were manufactured and tested until failure in four-point bending tests. The slabs demonstrated a high load capacity of around 50 kNm, together with high ductility due to a deformation of more than 80 mm before failure. The load-deflection curves recorded could be reproduced very well with the analytical-physical calculation model created for both the non-cracked and cracked slab states. The strengths and stiffnesses of the materials used for input were derived from small-scale, accompanying material tests. As a result, the calculation model was ultimately used to design the carbon-reinforced ceilings of the CRC technology demonstration house CUBE, which was finished in 2022 in Dresden, East Germany.

Foods doi: 10.3390/foods14060928

Authors: Fanghui Fan Huan Liu Yier Xu Tian Mou

Measuring molecular mobility (Mm) in solid food is challenging due to the rigid and heterogeneous nature of these matrices. The thermodynamic parameter Strength (S) fails to account for molecular displacement distances. This study emphasizes the role of molecular dynamic (MD) simulation in quantifying Mm on amorphous lactose at mimic water activities (aw) at temperatures above the glass transition temperature (Tg), incorporating the S. The results show that coordinating root mean square displacement (RMSD) effectively quantifies Mm across different aw and temperature conditions. Both increased aw and higher temperatures facilitate Mm by expanding free volume and reducing energy barriers for molecular rearrangement, as indicated by the mobility coefficient calculations. This study also emphasizes the importance of system size in interpreting Mm, as larger systems exhibit emergent behaviors that smaller systems cannot capture. The calculated MD relaxation time for 10,000-molecule lactose/water cells at a specific S value was successfully translated to a real timescale of 1.8 × 106 s, consistent with experimental data (1.2 × 106 s). Moreover, water can shift from a plasticizing role to a more stabilizing one, slowing molecular motion and leading to equilibrium clustering. These findings have important implications for understanding the behavior of amorphous lactose in food and pharmaceutical formulations.

Geosciences doi: 10.3390/geosciences15030097

Authors: Ioannis E. Zevgolis Alexandros I. Theocharis Nikolaos C. Koukouzas

During surface coal mining, vast amounts of overburden waste materials—called spoils—are excavated and dumped, forming massive heaps, the sustainable exploitation of which is a top priority globally. This study addresses the advanced geotechnical characterization of spoil materials, focusing on lignite mine spoil heaps, which are often ignored due to their highly heterogeneous nature. This research quantifies the spatial variability in spoil materials from a large heap in Greece, highlighting the importance of a robust geotechnical framework for their effective reclamation. Using statistical analysis and variogram modeling, the scale of fluctuation (SoF) was derived for both the vertical and horizontal directions. The SoF values for spoil properties are found to be on the high end of the natural soil range. Vertical correlations are observed for distances over 10 m, occasionally reaching 20 m, indicating significant spatial variability; in the horizontal direction, the SoF reaches up to 285 m. These findings suggest that spoil elements exhibit important spatial dependence, which is critical for their proper design and exploitation. The results provide a basis for future research and the use of advanced numerical tools, such as the random finite element method, to support geotechnical design and the sustainable exploitation of spoil heaps.

Pharmaceuticals doi: 10.3390/ph18030386

Authors: Wayne Childers Khaled Elokely Magid Abou-Gharbia

The neurological effects of opium were first described over 8000 years ago. Morphine was isolated in 1803 and by the mid-1800s had become both a pain-relieving blessing and an addictive curse. As part of the crusade to identify safer and more reliable alternatives to morphine, dezocine (Dalgan®) was marketed in the US in 1986. Its use was discontinued in the US in 2011 without revealing the reasons, but it remains one of the most widely used analgesic agents in China today. Dezocine’s unique pharmacology makes it an effective analgesic with limited opioid-associated side effects and little or no reported potential for dependence and addiction. In addition, dezocine’s blocking effect on serotonin and norepinephrine transporters recommends its further exploration as a potential treatment for various chronic and neuropathic pain conditions. Most recently, data suggest that dezocine might represent a viable treatment for addiction management. This report focuses on the data supporting dezocine’s non-addictive profile and its potential use to treat opioid addiction and withdrawal, as well as recent efforts to generate formulations of dezocine that support sub-chronic and chronic dosing.

Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu17060951

Authors: Rosa Melero-Bolaños Belén Gutiérrez-Villar Maria Jose Montero-Simo Rafael A. Araque-Padilla Cristian M. Olarte-Sánchez

Background/Objectives: The influence of media on the public opinion, especially regarding health topics, is profound. This study investigates how Spanish media may reinforce a positive image of dietary supplements for children, potentially leading to harmful health attitudes and behaviors. Methods: The researchers conducted a quantitative content analysis of 912 news articles from Spanish media outlets discussing dietary supplements for children between 2015 and 2021. They used a frequency analysis and a proportion comparison to analyze variables such as the reach of news, tone of news, mentions of health professional consultation, association with natural products, media specialization, intertextuality, and headline mentions. Results: The study found a 60% increase in publications discussing dietary supplements for children during the study period. The content analysis indicates that these articles predominantly present dietary supplements in a positive light, often without robust scientific evidence. Furthermore, many do not emphasize the need for medical consultation, which may contribute to unsupervised consumption, particularly among minors. This highlights the critical importance of professional guidance when considering dietary supplements for children. Additionally, the frequent emphasis on the “natural” attributes of these products raises concerns regarding consumer perceptions and potential safety risks. Conclusions: The study reveals a problem regarding the portrayal of dietary supplements for children in Spanish media. The overly optimistic image, lack of scientific basis, and failure to recommend medical supervision may contribute to unsupervised consumption among minors, risking their health due to misinformed decisions influenced by media portrayal.

Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu17060950

Authors: Anca-Elena Crăciun Adriana Rusu Cornelia Bala Dana Mihaela Ciobanu Cristian-Ioan Crăciun Adriana Fodor Gabriela Roman Camelia Vonica Georgeta Inceu

Background/Objectives: Lifestyle factors, sociodemographic determinants, and dietary patterns play an important role in shaping genitors and fetal health. This study aimed to identify dietary patterns and to investigate the social determinants of health and lifestyle components associated with dietary patterns and body mass index (BMI) in a population of reproductive age. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between March 2021 and February 2022. Self-reported data on age, weight, height, social determinants, lifestyle factors, and medical history were collected. Results: A total of 284 participants of reproductive age (≤40 years of age) were included in the analysis. We identified 3 main dietary patterns: (1) the Prudent pattern, associated with a higher probability of eating 3 meals/day, a longer eating jetlag and a higher probability of being a homemaker, unemployed, or a student; (2) the Western pattern, associated with eating after 9 p.m., a longer eating jetlag and negatively associated with the employment status (i.e., of being a homemaker, unemployed, or a student); and (3) the Unhealthy pattern, associated with being a smoker. Furthermore, using multivariate linear regression, we found that BMI was associated with living in rural area and adopting an Unhealthy dietary pattern. For the Unhealthy pattern, the adherence to it was higher in smoking men > smoking women, with a significant interaction between gender and smoking status (p < 0.001). Conclusions: These data could be helpful in implementing personalized educational interventions in nutrition and lifestyle changes tailored for risk categories in order to improve health in people of reproductive age.

Technologies doi: 10.3390/technologies13030112

Authors: Ali Abbas Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shahzad Rehan Liaqat Umer Ijaz

The increasing energy demand and initiatives to lower carbon emissions have elevated the significance of renewable energy sources. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are pivotal in converting solar energy into electricity and have a significant role in sustainable energy production. Therefore, it is critical to implement maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controllers to optimize the efficiency of PV systems by extracting accessible maximum power. This research investigates the performance and comparison of various MPPT control algorithms for a standalone PV system. Several cases involving individual MPPT controllers, as well as hybrid combinations using two and three controllers, have been simulated in MATLAB/SIMULINK. The sensed parameters, i.e., output power, voltage, and current, specify that though individual controllers effectively track the maximum power point, hybrid controllers achieve superior performance by utilizing the combined strengths of each algorithm. The results indicate that individual MPPT controllers, such as perturb and observe (P&O), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and fuzzy logic (FL), achieved tracking efficiencies of 97.6%, 90.3%, and 90.1%, respectively. In contrast, hybrid dual controllers such as P&O-PSO, PSO-FL, and P&O-FL demonstrated improved performance, with tracking efficiencies of 96.8%, 96.4%, and 96.5%, respectively. This research also proposes a new hybrid triple-MPPT controller combining P&O-PSO-FL, which surpassed both individual and dual-hybrid controllers, achieving an impressive efficiency of 99.5%. Finally, a comparison of all seven cases of MPPT control algorithms is presented, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of individual as well as hybrid approaches.

Children doi: 10.3390/children12030341

Authors: Jasna Simonoska Roko Bjelica Aleksandar Dimkov Jasmina Simjanovska Dragana Gabrić Elizabeta Gjorgievska

Background/Objectives: Vital pulpotomy involves the partial removal of the coronal pulp tissue in cases of vital pulp exposure, aiming to maintain the health and function of the remaining radicular pulp. The first aim of this study was to compare the effects of two different methodological approaches towards vital pulpotomy of the primary teeth—conventional and laser pulpotomy; thereafter, the aim was to perform a comparison of the effects of the application of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) versus mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA); then, we analyzed and compared clinical and radiographic changes in pulpotomized teeth over a defined time period; finally, we determined the degree of efficiency of different methods of vital pulpotomy of the primary teeth. Methods: This study analyzed 40 primary molars, 20 teeth treated with conventional pulpotomy and 20 teeth submitted to laser pulpotomy. Additionally, two pulpotomy agents—Ca(OH)2 and MTA—were used. The following clinical parameters were examined: pain, percussion sensitivity, swelling, sinus tract presence and pathological mobility. Absence of apical radiolucency, external and internal root resorption, and periodontal ligament widening were key radiographic parameters of the success of the endodontic therapy. Results: The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two pulpotomy agents—Ca(OH)2 and MTA—and therefore both can be used as alternative pulpotomy agents in the primary teeth. Conclusions: The success rate of pulpotomy with Ca(OH)2 is similar to that of pulpotomy with MTA. The combination of laser pulpotomy and the use of MTA gave the best results according to all clinical and radiographic criteria examined and in all analyzed periods.

Journal of Functional Biomaterials doi: 10.3390/jfb16030093

Authors: Milan Stoilov Joerg Winterhoff Lea Stoilov Anastasia Timoschenko Helmut Stark Florian Heuser Michael Marder Dominik Kraus Norbert Enkling

(1) Background: Early-stage bone resorption following implant placement can significantly impact the long-term success of implants. This study evaluates whether a fully digitally planned implant position based on the E-point concept, along with guided profiling of the supracrestal complex, contributes to improved stability of peri-implant bone levels. (2) Methods: 29 implants were placed in 27 patients utilizing both immediate (Group 1; n = 19) and delayed placement (Group 2; n = 10) protocols. Implant position and emergence profile were preoperatively determined and consistently executed through guided surgery and CAD/CAM-fabricated restorations. Due to the subcrestal positioning of the implant, a corresponding bone profiler with a guide pin was used to shape the emergence profile and prevent the provisional restoration from impinging on the proximal bone. Provisional restorations were immediately placed to support the emergence profile. Bone level changes were documented radiographically over a two-year period. The first Bone-to-Implant Contact Level (∆ fBIC), change in highest approximal Bone Level (∆ haBL), and formation of an emergence profile width (WEP) were measured. (3) Results: All implants and restorations survived after two years, no significant change in first Bone-to-Implant Contact Level (∆ fBIC = 0 ± 0.02 mm), no change in highest approximal Bone Level (∆ haBL) of −0.23 mm ± 0.71 mm, and formation of an emergence profile width (WEP) averaging 0.18 ± 0.19 mm. (4) Conclusions: Despite the initial stress on the bone caused by bone profiling, guided implant placement and bone shaping, supported by an immediate provisional, have a positive effect on peri-implant bone stability.

Gels doi: 10.3390/gels11030191

Authors: Marta Camacho-Cardenosa Victoria Pulido-Escribano Guadalupe Estrella-Guisado Gabriel Dorado Aura D. Herrera-Martínez María Ángeles Gálvez-Moreno Antonio Casado-Díaz

Three-dimensional bioprinting is a new advance in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Bioprinting allows manufacturing three-dimensional (3D) structures that mimic tissues or organs. The bioinks used are mainly made of natural or synthetic polymers that must be biocompatible, printable, and biodegradable. These bioinks may incorporate progenitor cells, favoring graft implantation and regeneration of injured tissues. However, the natures of biomaterials, bioprinting processes, a lack of vascularization, and immune responses are factors that limit the viability and functionality of implanted cells and the regeneration of damaged tissues. These limitations can be addressed by incorporating extracellular vesicles (EV) into bioinks. Indeed, EV from progenitor cells may have regenerative capacities, being similar to those of their source cells. Therefore, their combinations with biomaterials can be used in cell-free therapies. Likewise, they can complement the manufacture of bioinks by increasing the viability, differentiation, and regenerative ability of incorporated cells. Thus, the main objective of this review is to show how the use of 3D bioprinting technology can be used for the application of EV in regenerative medicine by incorporating these nanovesicles into hydrogels used as bioinks. To this end, the latest advances derived from in vitro and in vivo studies have been described. Together, these studies show the high therapeutic potential of this strategy in regenerative medicine.

Land doi: 10.3390/land14030573

Authors: Katinka Tóbiás Lajos Boros

Involving citizens in public decision making has become more and more important recently. However, activating citizens is challenging in urban planning, especially in post-socialist countries, such as Hungary, where civil activity is weak, and citizens’ attitudes are characterized by distrust towards decision-makers. The gamification of planning processes aims to address this issue and support a more democratic planning process. Gamification is the application of game-like elements (e.g., rewards, storytelling, feedback, competition, etc.) in non-game contexts, thus transforming them into more engaging and enjoyable activities. This study aims to present how gamification is used in the Hungarian urban planning processes and the obstacles to using gamified practices. The research is based on semi-structured interviews with urban planning experts in major Hungarian cities. Our results show that although decision-makers are open to using participatory approaches and gamification techniques, no clear guidelines and principles support these aspirations. The lack of trust and the apathy of citizens makes participatory planning a challenging task. Furthermore, the lack of resources is an obstacle and motivation at the same time when innovative planning methods are used.

Mathematics doi: 10.3390/math13060910

Authors: Abdulkafi Sanad Chaoqian Li

This paper establishes fundamental results for partial total domination in hypergraphs. We present tight bounds for the partial total domination number in k-uniform hypergraphs, demonstrate relationships with classical domination parameters, and provide constructive proofs using hypergraph transformation techniques. Applications in sensor networks and biological systems are discussed with supporting examples. Key results include a general upper bound of kk−1γ(H) for k-uniform hypergraphs without isolated vertices, verified through both analytic methods and computational examples.

Sensors doi: 10.3390/s25061692

Authors: Daniel Voipan Andreea Elena Voipan Marian Barbu

Maintaining effluent quality in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) comes with significant challenges under variable weather conditions, where sudden changes in flow rate and increased pollutant loads can affect treatment performance. Traditional physical sensors became both expensive and susceptible to failure under extreme conditions. In this study, we evaluate the performance of soft sensors based on artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the components underlying the calculation of the effluent quality index (EQI). We thus focus our study on three ML models: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) and Transformer. Using the Benchmark Simulation Model no. 2 (BSM2) as the WWTP, we were able to obtain datasets for training the ML models and to evaluate their performance in dry weather scenarios, rainy episodes, and storm events. To improve the classification of networks according to the type of weather, we developed a Random Forest (RF)-based meta-classifier. The results indicate that for dry weather conditions the Transformer network achieved the best performance, while for rain episodes and storm scenarios the GRU was able to capture sudden variations with the highest accuracy. LSTM performed normally in stable conditions but struggled with rapid fluctuations. These results support the decision to integrate AI-based predictive models in WWTPs, highlighting the top performances of both a recurrent network (GRU) and a feed-forward network (Transformer) in obtaining effluent quality predictions under different weather conditions.

Applied Sciences doi: 10.3390/app15062936

Authors: Sengbin Oh Joo-Youn Nam Youngpyo Hong Tae-Hun Lee Jae-Cheol Lee Hyun-Woo Kim

Various advanced oxidation processes have been used to degrade perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), one of the persistent organic pollutants that dissolves in aquatic ecosystems, but these processes suffer from inherent limitations. This study proposes aeration-assisted cold plasma (CP) technology as an alternative. PFOS removal via CP treatment reached 62.5% after 1 h of exposure, with a degradation rate constant of 3.1 h−1. The detection of sulfate (SO42−) in the solution provides evidence of effective PFOS degradation. The close agreement between the measured and estimated fluoride concentrations further confirms mass balance after degradation. Acute toxicity tests indicate that PFOS degradation may initially increase the acute toxicity, possibly due to the formation of degradation by-products. However, this increased toxicity can be mitigated through additional exposure to the reactive species generated by CP. Furthermore, investigations into the energy per order of CP and the quantification of hydroxyl radicals support its operational effectiveness. This study confirms that aeration-assisted CP has the potential to serve as a viable treatment option for mitigating the environmental threats posed by PFOS.

Medicina doi: 10.3390/medicina61030476

Authors: Amit Benady Noy Yehiel Ortal Segal Omri Merose Amir Sterenheim Osnat Sher Ben Efrima Eran Golden Yair Gortzak Solomon Dadia

Background and Objectives: To date, the gold standard of care for bone sarcomas is limb salvage surgical resection. In cases where the tumor arises in the distal femur or proximal tibia near the joint line, knee-sacrificing surgery is typically performed, followed by reconstruction with oncological megaprostheses. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a precise 3D-based surgical approach for knee-sparing tumor resections, assessing its feasibility and its impact on surgical, oncological, and functional outcomes. Materials and Methods: This single-center retrospective study presents the surgical and oncological outcomes of knee-sparing surgeries following bone sarcoma resections. All patients underwent either intercalary or geographic resection, and reconstruction was tailored to each patient, using either an allograft or a titanium alloy Ti64 implant, depending on the specific requirements of the case. Results: A total of 23 patients (average age 21.04 years, 14 males) were included, with an average postoperative follow-up of 58 months (range: 12–102 months). Clear surgical margins were achieved in all patients, with 16 patients (69.5%) showing wide negative margins (R0) and the rest showing close negative margins (R1). Resections were primarily intercalary (17 patients, 73.9%), with 6 patients (26.1%) undergoing geographic resections. Reconstruction methods included allografts (9 patients, 39.3%), vascularized fibula and allograft (8 patients, 34.7%), and printed Ti64 cage reconstructions (6 patients, 26.0%). At the last follow-up, 19 patients (82.6%) were disease-free, 3 patients (13.4%) were alive with evidence of disease, and 1 patient (4%) was dead of disease. Complications included four cases of non-union that required revision surgery, as well as two local recurrences, which necessitated revision surgery to a modular endoprosthesis and above-knee amputation. The average MSTS at the final follow-up was 23.16 ± 5.91. Conclusions: The use of 3D-printed PSIs for knee-sparing bone tumor resections has emerged as the gold standard, enhancing both surgical and oncological outcomes. A future challenge lies in improving reconstruction techniques, shifting from traditional allografts to customized Ti64 printed lattice implants. As personalized healthcare and additive manufacturing continue to advance, the future of orthopedic oncology will likely see more precise, durable, and biologically integrated implants, further improving patient outcomes.

Applied Sciences doi: 10.3390/app15062943

Authors: Mohamad Shatnawi Péter Földesi

Corrosion is considered a leading cause of failure in pipeline systems. Therefore, frequent inspection and monitoring are essential to maintain structural integrity. Feature matching based on in-line inspections (ILIs) aligns corrosion data across inspections, facilitating the observation of corrosion progression. Nonetheless, the uncertainties of inspection tools and corrosion processes present in ILI data influence feature matching accuracy. This study proposes a new extensible feature matching model based on consecutive ILIs and data clustering. By dynamically segmenting the data into spatially localized clusters, this framework enables feature matching of isolated pairs and merging defects, as well as facilitating more precise localized transformations. Moreover, a new clustering technique—directional epsilon neighborhood clustering (DENC)—is proposed. DENC utilizes spatial graph structures and directional proximity thresholds to address the directional variability in ILI data while effectively identifying outliers. The model is evaluated on six pipeline segments with varying ILI data complexities, achieving high recall and precision of 91.5% and 98.0%, respectively. In comparison to exclusively point matching models, this work demonstrates significant improvements in terms of accuracy, stability, and managing the spatial variability and interactions of adjacent defects. These advancements establish a new framework for automated feature matching and contribute to enhanced pipeline integrity management.

Journal of Clinical Medicine doi: 10.3390/jcm14061837

Authors: Victoria Areal-Quecuty Juan J. Segura-Egea Aurea Simón-Soro María León-López Cristiane Cantiga-Silva Jenifer Martín-González Benito Sánchez-Domínguez Daniel Cabanillas-Balsera

Background: Dental caries is one of the most common oral infections observed worldwide. It is defined as a multifactorial dynamic disease-causing mineral loss of dental hard tissue, which is identified by the caries lesion. Treatment of the caries lesion involves filling the cavity or removing the damaged tooth. Then, the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index is the simplest and most commonly used index to assess the dental caries status. Salivary glands are estrogen dependent and, after menopause, the changes in salivary flow and saliva consistency produce xerostomia, hyposiale, or dryness, common findings among postmenopausal women. Since saliva plays a fundamental role in caries prevention, the postmenopausal decline in salivary secretion may contribute to increased caries incidence. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to answer the following PICO question: In adult women (P), does the presence of menopause (I), compared to its absence (C), influence dental caries status, assessed using the DMFT index (O)? Methods: The study adhered to PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and EMBASE databases. For each study, characteristics and mean difference (MD) with 95% CI were extracted. Meta-analyses were performed using the Revman software (v. 5.4) to calculate pooled MD and 95% CI. Random-effects model meta-analysis was performed. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale adapted for cross-sectional studies. To estimate variance and heterogeneity between trials, the Higgins I2 test was used. The certainty level of the evidence was determined through the GRADE approach. Results: Seven studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, including 4396 postmenopausal women and 5131 control women. Meta-analysis showed an overall MD = 3.13 (95% CI = 2.12–4.15; p < 0.00001), which suggest that postmenopausal women had a DMFT index 3 units higher than the control group. Conclusions: Menopause was significantly associated with worse dental caries status, probably due to declining estrogen levels affecting salivary function. Further research is needed to confirm mechanisms and evaluate preventive strategies like hormone replacement therapy.

Remote Sensing doi: 10.3390/rs17060959

Authors: Anxi Yu Boxu Wei Wenhao Tong Zhihua He Zhen Dong

Video Synthetic Aperture Radar (ViSAR) operates by continuously monitoring regions of interest to produce sequences of SAR imagery. The detection and tracking of ground-moving targets, through the analysis of their radiation properties and temporal variations relative to the background environment, represents a significant area of focus and innovation within the SAR research community. In this study, some key challenges in ViSAR systems are addressed, including the abundance of low-confidence shadow detections, high error rates in multi-target data association, and the frequent fragmentation of tracking trajectories. A multi-target tracking algorithm for ViSAR that utilizes re-identification (ReID) features and a multi-stage data association process is proposed. The algorithm extracts high-dimensional ReID features using the Dense-Net121 network for enhanced shadow detection and calculates a cost matrix by integrating ReID feature cosine similarity with Intersection over Union similarity. A confidence-based multi-stage data association strategy is implemented to minimize missed detections and trajectory fragmentation. Kalman filtering is then employed to update trajectory states based on shadow detection. Both simulation experiments and actual data processing experiments have demonstrated that, in comparison to two traditional video multi-target tracking algorithms, DeepSORT and ByteTrack, the newly proposed algorithm exhibits superior performance in the realm of ViSAR multi-target tracking, yielding the highest MOTA and HOTA scores of 94.85% and 92.88%, respectively, on the simulated spaceborne ViSAR data, and the highest MOTA and HOTA scores of 82.94% and 69.74%, respectively, on airborne field data.

Applied Sciences doi: 10.3390/app15062944

Authors: Jayanta Datta Ali Dehghan Firoozabadi David Zabala-Blanco Francisco R. Castillo-Soria

In this research, a multi-channel target speech enhancement scheme is proposed that is based on deep learning (DL) architecture and assisted by multi-source tracking using a labeled random finite set (RFS) framework. A neural network based on minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beamformer is considered as the beamformer of choice, where a residual dense convolutional graph-U-Net is applied in a generative adversarial network (GAN) setting to model the beamformer for target speech enhancement under reverberant conditions involving multiple moving speech sources. The input dataset for this neural architecture is constructed by applying multi-source tracking using multi-sensor generalized labeled multi-Bernoulli (MS-GLMB) filtering, which belongs to the labeled RFS framework, to obtain estimations of the sources’ positions and the associated labels (corresponding to each source) at each time frame with high accuracy under the effect of undesirable factors like reverberation and background noise. The tracked sources’ positions and associated labels help to correctly discriminate the target source from the interferers across all time frames and generate time–frequency (T-F) masks corresponding to the target source from the output of a time-varying, minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beamformer. These T-F masks constitute the target label set used to train the proposed deep neural architecture to perform target speech enhancement. The exploitation of MS-GLMB filtering and a time-varying MVDR beamformer help in providing the spatial information of the sources, in addition to the spectral information, within the neural speech enhancement framework during the training phase. Moreover, the application of the GAN framework takes advantage of adversarial optimization as an alternative to maximum likelihood (ML)-based frameworks, which further boosts the performance of target speech enhancement under reverberant conditions. The computer simulations demonstrate that the proposed approach leads to better target speech enhancement performance compared with existing state-of-the-art DL-based methodologies which do not incorporate the labeled RFS-based approach, something which is evident from the 75% ESTOI and PESQ of 2.70 achieved by the proposed approach as compared with the 46.74% ESTOI and PESQ of 1.84 achieved by Mask-MVDR with self-attention mechanism at a reverberation time (RT60) of 550 ms.

Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su17062381

Authors: Linh Maryse Ho-dac Maaike Mulder-Nijkamp

In the changing field of sustainable packaging, companies are confronted with the challenge of balancing sustainability with brand differentiation. The move toward standardized, reusable packaging is beneficial for the environment but restricts the use of custom designs. This study explores how standardized, reusable packaging affects consumer perception in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. It focuses on the evolving role of brands to maintain brand differentiation. This research is centered around two case studies. The first examines 219 tomato products to understand the factors driving packaging diversity. Data was collected from three Dutch supermarket websites to analyze packaging types, materials, and size. The second case study investigates consumer responses to single-use versus standardized reusable packaging across eight brands in both food and non-food categories. An online survey was used to assess perceived quality (PQ), willingness to buy (WTB), and brand perception. The results indicate that standardization has a limited effect on perceived quality (the impression of excellence that a consumer experiences), suggesting that it may encourage more brands to adopt reusable packaging. Willingness to buy findings, indicating whether consumers have the intention to buy a product, were mixed. A decrease was observed in food products and an increase noted in non-food. Brand perception most often showed a decrease, indicating challenges in maintaining brand differentiation. Three strategic approaches for brands to align with a sustainability-driven market while preserving value are presented. These are focusing on visual and verbal differentiation, collaborating with competitors to adopt a common archetypal packaging, or shifting marketing away from physical packaging towards digital and authentic communication. However, the new role of marketers will need further exploration, with a focus on authentically communicating the real content and its added value.

Fractal and Fractional doi: 10.3390/fractalfract9030164

Authors: Ilyas Khan Muhammad Shaheryar Fahim Ud Din Umar Ishtiaq Ioan-Lucian Popa

In this manuscript, we introduce the concept of fuzzy S-metric spaces and study some of their characteristics. We prove a fixed-point theorem for a self-mapping on a complete fuzzy S-metric space. To illustrate the versatility of our new ideas and related fixed-point theorems, we give examples to illustrate their use in a variety of domains, including fractal formation. These examples illustrate how the fuzzy S-contraction can be applied to iterated function systems, enabling the exploration of fractal forms under diverse contractive conditions. In addition, we solve the satellite web coupling problem by employing this coherent framework.

Plants doi: 10.3390/plants14060851

Authors: Mary Fucile Carmine Lupia Martina Armentano Mariangela Marrelli Ludovica Zicarelli Claudia-Crina Toma Giancarlo Statti Filomena Conforti

Natural extracts derived from plants have gained attention as potential therapeutic agents for obesity management. Some natural extracts were demonstrated to inhibit pancreatic lipase and alpha amylase, potentially influencing nutrient absorption and contributing to weight management. Pinus nigra subsp. laricio (Poir.) Maire, commonly known as the Calabrian pine or larch pine, is a subspecies of the black pine native to the mountains of southern Italy and Corsica. This study investigated the phytochemical content and antioxidant (DPPH and β-carotene bleaching assays) and enzymatic (lipase and amylase inhibition) activities of ethanolic extracts from apical shoots and branches, fractionated into n-hexane, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate. All the extracts were also subjected to a preliminary evaluation of their anti-inflammatory potential by measuring the ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The ethyl acetate branch fraction exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 15.67 ± 0.16 μg/mL), while the total branch extract best inhibited pancreatic lipase (IC50 0.62 mg/mL). Amylase inhibition was strongest in the ethyl acetate apical shoot fraction (IC50 22.05 ± 0.29 µg/mL). The branches’ hexane and dichloromethane fractions showed the greatest anti-inflammatory potential, inhibiting NO production in RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values comparable to the positive control.

Journal of Clinical Medicine doi: 10.3390/jcm14061836

Authors: Michał Bury Kacper Nijakowski Anna Majewska Jakub Jankowski Anna Surdacka Dorota Hojan-Jezierska

Background/Objectives: Persistent and distressing tinnitus and TMDs may significantly impair the quality of patients’ lives. Problems are particularly severe for those who experience both. Although the exact causes of this association are not fully understood, several hypotheses connect TMD conditions with otological symptoms. Methods: The systematic review presented involved records published between 1 January 2004 and 27 November 2024, in the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, according to the PRISMA guidelines. The search queries included “temporomandibular disorder” and “tinnitus”. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were predefined according to PECOS. A risk of bias assessment and meta-analyses were performed. The study’s protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024533293). Results: Eleven studies included in this review fulfilled all the predefined criteria. In a sample of 114,071 tinnitus patients, 50.99% (95% CI: 33.31–68.54) also had coexisting TMDs. Furthermore, tinnitus patients had more than 2.2 times higher odds of having TMDs compared to the control group (p = 0.002 for random effects). The absence of data regarding randomisation, blinding, and sample size justification was the most frequent risk of bias. Conclusions: Tinnitus frequently co-occurs in patients who suffer from TMDs. It is essential to expand the diagnostic evaluation of patients to confirm its presence and assess its impact on their quality of life. Additionally, dental consultation should be considered to evaluate patients about TMD signs and symptoms when suffering from tinnitus.

Medicina doi: 10.3390/medicina61030475

Authors: Kürşat Küçüker Hülya Aybek Hakan Akça Ege Rıza Karagür Elif Fırat Yusuf Özlülerden Sinan Çelen Zafer Aybek

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between miRNAs and overactive bladder (OAB). We also aimed to reveal the diagnostic properties of miRNAs and their potential to predict responses to therapy. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 patients with OAB as the treatment group and 60 healthy individuals as the control group. The blood levels of 15 miRNAs in both groups were determined using PCR. Also, miRNAs with high diagnostic values were identified with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Finally, the Turkish-validated OAB questionnaire form was filled out before and after the treatment by the participants in the treatment group. In this way, the relationship between OAB score changes and miRNA levels was examined. Results: The let-7a, let-7c, let-7e, let-7f, and let-7g miRNA molecules in the treatment group were higher, with a high level of significance (p = 0.0001). Additionally, the miR-135b, miR-300, miR-372, miR-373, miR-381, miR-520a, miR-520d, and miR-520e miRNA molecules were found to be statistically higher in the control group (p = 0.0001). In addition, let-7c (area under curve [AUC] = 0.985) and the let-7c + miR-381 combination (area under curve [AUC] = 1) were the highest values in the ROC analysis. Finally, after treatment in the patient group, a significant difference was detected in both miRNAs (let-7f and miR-135b) in patients with clinical improvements of 50% and above in the OAB score. Conclusions: miRNAs may help elucidate the pathophysiology of OAB. They may shed light on diagnosis and evaluation of treatment effectiveness.

Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules30061221

Authors: Ya-Nan Han Lei Dong Lu-Lu Sun Wen-Jia Li Jianjing Xie Congyu Li Shuhui Ren Zhan Zhang Hai-Hao Han Zhong Zhang

β-galactosidase (β-Gal) has emerged as a pivotal biomarker for the comprehensive investigation of diseases associated with cellular senescence. The development of a fluorescent sensor is of considerable importance for precisely detecting the activity and spatial distribution of β-Gal. In this study, we developed two excited-state-altering responsive fluorescent sensors (TF1 and TF2) for ratiometric detection of β-Gal. Two TCF dyes, composed of tricyanofuran (TCF) and naphthol units, feature electron “pull–push” systems and are quenched fluorescence by β-Gal. Upon β-Gal hydrolysis, a significant ratiometric shift in absorption from ca. 475 nm to 630 nm is observed, accompanied by the emergence of a fluorescence signal at ca. 660 nm. The enzyme-responsive optical red-shifts are attributed to the excited-state transition from intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state to local excited (LE) state, which was confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Both fluorescent sensors display exceptional sensitivity and selectivity for the response of β-Gal in PBS solution and are capable of tracking β-Gal within senescent A549 cells. This study introduces a framework for developing multimodal optical probes by systematically modulating excited-state properties, demonstrating their utility in senescence studies, diagnostic assay design, and therapeutic assessment.

Foods doi: 10.3390/foods14060926

Authors: Weicheng Xu Rongxue Sun Zhanke Qin Ziai Deng Yi Liu Haojie Zhang Haibo Luo Ning Jiang Hao Cheng Maozhi Ren

Aeromonas veronii is a foodborne pathogen commonly found in contaminated crayfish. In this study, the effects of ultrasound combined with plasma-activated water (US-PAW) against A. veronii and on the flavour of crayfish were investigated to evaluate their impact on crayfish preservation. In vitro, US and PAW showed a significantly synergistic inhibition against A. veronii growth and biofilm reformation at 7 min. Furthermore, PAW disrupted the membrane integrity of A. veronii, accompanied by enhanced outer membrane permeability, with bacteria exhibiting distortion, deformation, and the accelerated leakage of intracellular substances, which US-PAW further promoted. Additionally, US-PAW increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and hydrogen peroxide, disrupting cellular homeostasis. This resulted in a significant decrease in the activities of SOD and GSH, as well as a reduction in the intracellular ATP concentration and the activities of MDH and SDH. The results indicated that US-PAW treatment impairs the ability of A. veronii cells to generate sufficient energy to resist external stress, ultimately leading to bacterial death due to the inability to maintain normal physiological functions. According to the bacterial cell count and GC-MS analysed, US-PAW treatment increased the storage period of crayfish (infected with A. veronii) by 2 days, while reducing sulphur-containing volatiles within 24.64% during 6 days of storage at 4 °C. These conclusions provide a theoretical foundation for the industrial application of US-PAW to preserve crayfish.

Fishes doi: 10.3390/fishes10030120

Authors: Jianxuan Huang Lei Ye Siyi Huang Zuchun Chen Jiahao Gao Yangmei Li Yusong Guo Zhongduo Wang Jian Liao Zhongdian Dong Ning Zhang

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a commonly used sulfonamide antibiotic, poses a threat to aquatic life due to its widespread presence in the environment. This study aims to investigate the specific effects of SMX on the development of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) embryos and larvae. Marine medaka embryos were exposed to SMX at concentrations of 0 (solvent control group, SC group), 1 μg/L (low concentration group, L group), 60 μg/L (middle concentration group, M group), and 1000 μg/L (high concentration group, H group). The results indicated that SMX exposure significantly accelerated the heart rate of embryos (p < 0.0001) and shortened the hatching time while also causing anomalies such as reduced pigmentation, smaller eye size, spinal curvature, and yolk sac edema. SMX also led to a decrease in the total length of the larvae. The M group and the H group exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05) in lipid accumulation in the visceral mass of the larvae. In the L group and the M group, there was a significant increase (p < 0.0001) in the swimming distance of the larvae. At the molecular level, SMX exposure affected the transcript levels of the genes involved in the cardiovascular system (ahrra, arnt2, atp2a1, and cacan1da), antioxidant and inflammatory systems (cat, cox-1, gpx, pparα, pparβ, and pparγ), nervous system (gap43, gfap, α-tubulin), intestinal barrier function (claudin-1), detoxification enzymes (ugt2c1-like), and lipid metabolism (rxraa) in the embryos to larval stage. The microbiome analysis showed that at the phylum level, exposure to SMX resulted in an increase in the abundance of Proteobacteria. Additionally, the abundance of Actinobacteriota significantly increased in the L group (p < 0.05). At the genus level, the abundance of Bifidobacterium significantly increased in the L group (p < 0.05), while the abundance of Vibrio significantly increased in the H group (p < 0.05). The alpha diversity analysis revealed a significant decrease in the Chao1 index in the L and H groups, indicating a reduction in microbial richness. The beta diversity analysis showed differences in the microbial communities of marine medaka larvae among different SMX exposure groups. This study elucidates the negative impacts of SMX on the development of marine medaka embryos and larvae and their microbial composition, providing a scientific basis for assessing the risks of SMX in marine ecosystems.

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering doi: 10.3390/jmse13030519

Authors: Chen Chen Songtao Hu Feng Ma Jie Sun Tao Lu Bing Wu

Ship instance segmentation technologies enable the identification of ship targets and their contours, serving as an auxiliary tool for monitoring, tracking, and providing critical support for maritime and port safety management. However, due to the different shapes and sizes of ships, as well as the complexity and fluctuation of lighting and weather, existing ship instance segmentation approaches frequently struggle to accomplish correct contour segmentation. To address this issue, this paper introduces Ship Contour, a real-time segmentation method for ship instances based on contours that detects ship targets using an improved CenterNet algorithm. This method utilizes DLA-60 (deep layer aggregation) as the core network to ensure detection accuracy and speed, and it integrates an efficient channel attention (ECA) mechanism to boost feature extraction capability. Furthermore, a Mish activation function replaces ReLU to better adapt deep network learning. These improvements to CenterNet enhance model robustness and effectively reduce missed and false detection. In response to the issue of low accuracy in extracting ship target edge contours using the original deep snake end-to-end method, a scale- and translation-invariant normalization scheme is employed to enhance contour quality. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, this research builds a dedicated dataset with up to 2300 images. Experiments demonstrate that this method achieves competitive performance, with an accuracy rate of AP0.5:0.95 reaching 63.6% and a recall rate of AR0.5:0.95 reaching 67.4%.

Antioxidants doi: 10.3390/antiox14030324

Authors: María Puche-Juarez Juan M. Toledano Jorge Moreno-Fernandez Javier Diaz-Castro Javier Sánchez-Romero María Mar Gil Valeria Rolle Aníbal Nieto-Díaz Julio J. Ochoa Catalina De Paco Matallana

Twin pregnancies, with higher incidences of preterm birth, are becoming more prevalent. Progesterone has shown effectiveness in the prevention of preterm labour, though other factors related to pregnancy and neonatal health may be affected by this hormone and have not been previously addressed. This study aims to evaluate the impact of progesterone administration on oxidative stress and bone turnover during twin gestation and investigate associations with some maternal/neonatal variables of interest. Women pregnant with twins were recruited in the “Virgen de la Arrixaca” University Hospital and randomly assigned to two groups: control (n = 49) and progesterone (n = 50). A total of 600 mg/day of progesterone was vaginally administered from 11 to 14 to 34 weeks of gestation. Blood samples were taken in the first (T1) and third trimester (T3), analyzing biomarkers related to oxidative stress and bone turnover. Most bone turnover and oxidative markers experiment with significant changes during gestation. Progesterone administration significantly increased (p < 0.05) the levels of osteocalcin in T3 and decreased (p < 0.05) the levels of sclerostin. Regarding oxidative stress, the progesterone group, unlike the control group, showed no significant increase in oxidative stress between T1 and T3. In conclusion, results show that progesterone administration could increase maternal bone formation and modulate oxidative stress.

Foods doi: 10.3390/foods14060927

Authors: Takako Koriyama Yuria Kurosu Takahiro Hosoya

Moringa leaf powder (MLP) is a nutrient-dense ingredient. However, its addition to bread often suppresses bread expansion, affecting its sensory properties. To address these challenges, this research explored how steam-treated MLP (SMLP) influences the expansion and sensory qualities of bread. MLP was steamed for 10 min in an electric oven, sieved, and incorporated at a 5% substitution level for wheat flour in bread formulations. SMLP improved the specific loaf volume, increasing it from 2.2 to 4.6 cm3/g compared to MLP. It also mitigated the inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer’s yeast) viability induced by MLP, increasing its viability from 48% to 72%. Despite minor reductions, the antioxidant activity and quercetin-3-glucoside content remained high after treatment with SMLP. Moreover, SMLP delayed bread staling by reducing starch retrogradation enthalpy by 30–40%. Sensory evaluations revealed significant improvements in the aroma, appearance, and overall acceptability of bread prepared with SMLP compared to that prepared with MLP. This study demonstrated that steam treatment can enhance the potential and applicability of MLP as a functional food ingredient.

Journal of Clinical Medicine doi: 10.3390/jcm14061829

Authors: Ashraf S. Gorgey Robert Trainer Refka E. Khalil Jakob Deitrich Muhammad Uzair Rehman Lance L. Goetz Denise Lester Adam Klausner Carrie L. Peterson Timothy Lavis

Introduction: Implanted spinal cord epidural stimulation (SCES) is an emerging neuromodulation approach that increases the excitability of the central pattern generator [CPG] and enhances tonic and rhythmic motor patterns after spinal cord injury (SCI). We determine the effects of exoskeleton-assisted walking [EAW] + epidural stimulation [ES] + resistance training [RT] on volitional motor control as a primary outcome, as well as autonomic cardiovascular profile, body composition, and bladder function compared to EAW + delayed ES + noRT in persons with motor-complete SCI AIS A and B. Methods and Analysis: Twenty male and female participants [age 18–60 years] with traumatic motor-complete SCI [2 years or more post injury], and level of injury below C5 were randomized into either EAW + ES + RT or EAW + delayed-ES + no-RT groups for more than 12 months. Baseline, post-interventions 1 and 2 were conducted six months apart. Measurements included body composition assessment using anthropometry, dual x-ray absorptiometry, and magnetic resonance imaging prior to implantation to evaluate the extent of spinal cord damage, neurophysiologic assessments to record H-reflexes, overground ambulation and peak torque for both groups, and the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury Scale [WISCI 2]. Metabolic profile measurements included the resting metabolic rate, fasting biomarkers of HbA1c, lipid panels, total testosterone CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, plasma IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and then a glucose tolerance test. Finally, urodynamic testing was conducted to assess functional bladder improvement due to ES. Results: The restoration of locomotion with ES and EAW may result in a reduction in psychosocial, cardiovascular, and metabolic bladder parameters and socioeconomic burden. The addition of the resistance training paradigm may further augment the outcomes of ES on motor function in persons with SCI. Conclusions: Percutaneous SCES appears to be a feasible and safe rehabilitation approach for the restoration of motor function in persons with SCI. The procedure may be successfully implemented with other task-specific training similar to EAW and resistance training.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph22030398

Authors: Laura Kudrna James Yates Lailah Alidu Karla Hemming Laura Quinn Kelly Ann Schmidtke Janet Jones Lena Al-Khudairy Kate Jolly Paul Bird Niyah Campbell Ila Bharatan Agnieszka Latuszynska Graeme Currie Richard Lilford

Previous research suggests a goal-based intervention called ‘mental contrasting and implementation intentions’ improves participants’ health and wellbeing. The present study sought to extend these findings to workplaces in the United Kingdom. A mixed-methods cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with 28 workplaces and 225 staff. All participants deliberated on wishes (potential goals) about improving their health and wellbeing. In the intervention arm, participants were guided to think about the benefits and obstacles to achieving a wish (mental contrasting) and to plan actions to overcome these obstacles (implementation intentions). The results showed no substantive effect of the intervention on average self-reported progress towards what they wished to do for their health and wellbeing four weeks later (mean difference on a 1–7 scale: −0.19; 95% credible interval: −1.08–0.71). Unexpectedly, anxiety increased, and we found evidence that might suggest people identifying as men or of Asian ethnicity made less progress in the intervention group. To explain the results, qualitative focus group data were analysed, guided by normalisation process theory (NPT) and the behaviour change wheel (BCW). Three key themes emerged: insufficient differentiation from other approaches using writing/drawing (NPT), a mismatch between an internal motivational intervention and external barriers (NPT/BCW), and poor timing of opportunities (NPT/BCW). The discussion explores how these results can enhance future workplace health and wellbeing initiatives.

Plants doi: 10.3390/plants14060850

Authors: Ningyu Liu Jianxin Cao Mingying Yang Yiyun Li Wei Huang

Mesophyll conductance to CO2 (gm) act as a significant limiting factor influencing the CO2 assimilation rate (AN) during photosynthetic induction. However, the effect of vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on gm kinetics during light induction is not well clarified. We combined gas exchange with chlorophyll fluorescence measurements to assess the induction kinetics of gm during light induction under contrasting vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in two tree species with different stomatal conductance (gs) behavior, Catalpa fargesii and Pterocarya stenoptera. Our results revealed three key findings: (1) the coordination of gm and gs kinetics during light induction occurred in C. fargesii but not in P. stenoptera, and the model of gs kinetics largely determines whether the coordination of gs and gm exist in a given species; (2) a high VPD induced simultaneous changes in gs and gm kinetics in C. fargesii but had separated effects on gs and gm kinetics in P. stenoptera, indicating that the response of gm kinetics during light induction to VPD differs between species; and (3) the relative contribution of photorespiration to total electron flow was flexible in response to the change in relative diffusional and biochemical limitations, pointing out that photorespiration has a significant role in the regulation of photosynthetic electron flow during light induction. These results provide new sight into the species-dependent kinetics of gm and photorespiration during light induction.

Antioxidants doi: 10.3390/antiox14030325

Authors: Yi Mou Shuai Wen Yan Wang Yao Zhao Ying-Ping Li Hong-Kai Sha Li-Juan Gui Zheng-Yu Jiang Xiang-Ming Xu

The treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) has been a major medical challenge due to the lack of safe and effective drugs. Molecular hybridization is a promising strategy for the development of drugs with pleiotropic activity, which has been demonstrated in a wide range of diseases. Tofacitinib has exhibited significant effects on the remission of UC, but a series of adverse effects have occurred during its clinical application. Herein, we propose to utilize a molecular hybridization strategy to link tofacitinib with a cytoprotective H2S donor (ADTOH) to obtain a series of hybridized molecules ZX-4C~ZX-6C. Among them, ZX-4C exhibited the best performance in the H2S release rate and the cytoprotective effects against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced injury. The in vivo studies showed that ZX-4C could effectively alleviate DSS-induced colitis by enhancing oxidative stress defense and reducing the inflammatory response, demonstrating that it is more potent than the parent drugs. The data from the present study support that this molecular hybridization strategy provides a promising avenue for the treatment of UC.

Applied Sciences doi: 10.3390/app15062942

Authors: Babin Manandhar Kayode Dunkel Vance Danda B. Rawat Nadir Yilmaz

Public transportation systems face numerous challenges like traffic congestion, inconsistent schedules, and variable passenger demand. These issues lead to delays, overcrowding, and reduced patron satisfaction. Digital twin (DT) technology is a promising innovation for improving public transportation systems by offering real-time virtual representations of physical systems. By integrating real-time data from various sources, digital twins can enable predictive analytics, optimize operations, and improve the overall performance of public transportation networks. This work explores the potential of digital twins to optimize operational efficiency, enhance passenger experiences, and support sustainable urban mobility. A comprehensive review of the existing literature was conducted by analyzing case studies, theoretical models, and practical implementations to assess the effectiveness of DTs in transit systems. While the benefits of DTs are significant, their successful implementation in bus transportation systems is impeded by several challenges like scalability limitations, interoperability issues, and technical complexities involving data integration and IT infrastructure. This paper discusses ways to overcome these challenges, which include using modular designs, microservices, blockchain for security, and standardized communication for better integration. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration in research and practice to effectively apply digital twin technology to public transit systems.

Antibiotics doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14030281

Authors: Marta Hernández Álvaro Falcó-Prieto Maria Ugarte-Ruiz Pedro Miguela-Villoldo Alain Ocampo-Sosa David Abad Marta Pérez-Sancho Julio Álvarez Rafael Dorighello Cadamuro Mariana Alves Elois Gislaine Fongaro Alberto Quesada Bruno González-Zorn Lucas Domínguez José M. Eiros David Rodríguez-Lázaro

Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global health and the economy, with projected costs ranging from $300 billion to $1 trillion annually and an estimated 10 million deaths per year by 2050. The food chain, from primary production to retail, represents a critical entry point for antimicrobial resistant bacteria into communities. This underscores the need for a coordinated “One Health” approach, integrating efforts in animal production, environmental health, and human healthcare to address this global concern. This study aimed to characterize the global resistome in Spanish primary production by sequencing 6222 bacterial genomes from animal origin. Methods and Results: Whole genome sequencing was performed on bacterial isolates collected from various farms and analyzed using a validated bioinformatic pipeline. The analysis revealed a diverse range of bacterial species, with Enterobacteriaceae being the most prevalent family. Escherichia coli was the most common species, followed by Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study identified 1072 antimicrobial resistance genes coding for 43 different classes of resistance, potentially conferring resistance to 81 antimicrobials. Additionally, 79 different plasmid types were detected, highlighting the potential for horizontal gene transfer. Conclusions: The resistome analysis revealed genes conferring resistance to various antibiotic classes, as well as antiseptics, disinfectants, and efflux pump-mediated resistance. This comprehensive characterization of AMR genes circulating in bacteria from primary production provides crucial insights into the ecology of AMR in Spanish livestock.

Applied Sciences doi: 10.3390/app15062939

Authors: Sergii Kryvenko Volodymyr Rebrov Vladimir Lukin Vladimir Golovko Anatoliy Sachenko Andrii Shelestov Benoit Vozel

Modern imaging systems produce a great volume of image data. In many practical situations, it is necessary to compress them for faster transferring or more efficient storage. Then, a compression has to be applied. If images are noisy, lossless compression is almost useless, and lossy compression is characterized by a specific noise filtering effect that depends on the image, noise, and coder properties. Here, we considered a modern HEIF coder applied to grayscale (component) images of different complexity corrupted by additive white Gaussian noise. It has recently been shown that an optimal operation point (OOP) might exist in this case. Note that the OOP is a value of quality factor where the compressed image quality (according to a used quality metric) is the closest to the corresponding noise-free image. The lossy compression of noisy images leads to both noise reduction and distortions introduced into the information component, thus, a compromise should be found between the compressed image quality and compression ratio attained. The OOP is one possible compromise, if it exists, for a given noisy image. However, it has also recently been demonstrated that the compressed image quality can be significantly improved if post-filtering is applied under the condition that the quality factor is slightly larger than the one corresponding to the OOP. Therefore, we considered the efficiency of post-filtering where a block-matching 3-dimensional (BM3D) filter was applied. It was shown that the positive effect of such post-filtering could reach a few dB in terms of the PSNR and PSNR-HVS-M metrics. The largest benefits took place for simple structure images and a high intensity of noise. It was also demonstrated that the filter parameters have to be adapted to the properties of residual noise that become more non-Gaussian if the compression ratio increases. Practical recommendations on the use of compression parameters and post-filtering are given.

Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules30061218

Authors: Shella Permatasari Santoso Artik Elisa Angkawijaya Kuan-Chen Cheng Shin-Ping Lin Hsien-Yi Hsu Chang-Wei Hsieh Astrid Rahmawati Osamu Shimomura Suryadi Ismadji

Metal phenolic networks (MPNs) have attracted significant attention due to their environmentally benign nature, broad compatibility, and universal adhesive properties, making them highly effective for modifying adsorbent surfaces. These supramolecular complexes are formed through the coordination of metal ions with natural phenolic ligands, resulting in stable structures while retaining the active adsorption sites of the ligands, thereby enhancing the adsorption performance of unmodified substrates. Among various MPNs, metal ion gallic acid (GA) networks are particularly well-known for their exceptional stability, biological activity, and superior adsorption ability. This review offers a comprehensive examination of GA-based MPN adsorbents, focusing on their formation chemistry, characterization techniques, and applications. The coordination chemistry underlying the stability of GA–metal complexes is analyzed through equilibrium studies, which are critical for understanding the robustness of MPNs. The main analytical methods for assessing metal ligand interactions are discussed, along with additional characterization techniques for evaluating adsorbent properties. This review also explores various synthesis and performance enhancement strategies for GA-based MPN adsorbents, including stand-alone MPNs, MPN-mediated mesoporous materials, MPN-MOF composites, and MPN-coated substrates. By consolidating current advancements in MPN-based adsorbents and offering fundamental insights into their chemistry and characterization, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers seeking to develop stable, functional metal-organic materials. It aims to drive innovation in sustainable and efficient adsorbent technologies for diverse environmental and industrial applications.

Journal of Personalized Medicine doi: 10.3390/jpm15030105

Authors: Aristi Boulmpou Andreas Giannopoulos Christodoulos Papadopoulos Georgios Giannopoulos Ioannis Papagiannis Georgios Zormpas Anastasia Keivanidou Liana Fidani Vassilios Vassilikos

Background: Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is a rare inheritable channelopathy characterized by a shortened corrected QT interval on an electrocardiogram and a significant risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, potentially leading to sudden cardiac death. Despite advancements in our understanding of SQTS, knowledge gaps persist due to its extreme rarity. This scoping review aims to summarize the available knowledge on its clinical presentations, genetic mutations, and management strategies, while identifying areas for further investigation. Methods: This scoping review was conducted across the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases and identified relevant case reports, case series, and available studies on SQTS. We focused on articles that reported clinical outcomes, genetic mutations, diagnostic criteria, and management strategies, while excluding studies on the secondary causes of short QT intervals. Results: SQTS is present across a wide age range, from asymptomatic individuals to those experiencing syncope, palpitations, or sudden cardiac arrest. Common genetic mutations include KCNQ1, KCNH2, and KCNJ2. Management strategies vary, with some patients receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillators for secondary prevention and others treated pharmacologically, primarily with hydroquinidine. Our findings highlight the rarity and clinical variability of SQTS, underscoring the need for optimized diagnostic criteria and individualized management strategies. Conclusions: This review emphasizes the need for continued research to better understand the genetic basis of SQTS, optimize diagnostic tools, and improve treatment approaches. Large-scale studies and the integration of genetic and clinical data are critical to addressing the gaps in SQTS management and improving outcomes for patients with this potentially life-threatening arrhythmic disorder.

Microorganisms doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13030624

Authors: Li Yu Ying Zhang Zhenbo Cui Chengyou Cao

Land-use changes in meadow grasslands in semi-arid areas usually significantly affect soil environment and microbiota. However, studies on the response of soil P-cycle-related microbial communities to land-use conversions are still limited. In this study, a series of land-use types including upland field, paddy field, poplar plantation, and their adjacent natural meadow grassland in the Horqin Sandy Land of Northeast China were selected, and the diversities and structures of soil microbial communities involved in organic P mineralization (phoD-harboring community) and inorganic phosphate solubilization (gcd-harboring community) were investigated by the high-throughput sequencing technique. Land-use type had significant influences on soil physicochemical properties, enzymatic activities, and P conversion rates, thereby altering the structures of soil gcd and phoD communities. Soil phoD microbes are more abundant and have more contributions to available P than gcd microbes. The responses of gcd or phoD communities to land-use type were characterized as the quantitative shift in the relative abundance of dominant taxa; however, the basic compositions of the two communities were slightly affected. Soil pH, EC, and nutrient contents (including organic matter and total and available N, P, and K) all significantly affected soil gcd and phoD microbial communities. The abundance of phoD and gcd genes varied with land-use type and could be used as indicators for estimating the bioavailability of soil P.

Aerospace doi: 10.3390/aerospace12030221

Authors: Zhen Wang Yan Liu

Electronic devices play an extremely important role in the aerospace field. Aluminum nitride (AlN) is a promising ceramic material for high-reliability electronic packaging structures that are subjected to impact loads during service. Quasi-static and dynamic flexural tests were conducted to determine the rate-dependent flexural strengths of AlN ceramics. The impact response of the AlN substrates was investigated using experimental tests and a smeared fixed-crack numerical model. The critical velocity of the impactor and the failure mode of the ceramic plate can be accurately predicted using the Drucker–Prager criterion with the scaled fracture-strength parameter. The radial cracks on the ceramic plate upon impact were well reproduced via the proposed novel numerical technique, showing better accuracy compared to the widely used Johnson–Holmquist II (JH-2) model. The effect of impactor nose shape and deflection angles were further investigated to better illustrate the low-velocity impact response of AlN ceramic substrates. Based on the dynamic flexural-strength testing results, this study achieves the prediction of low-speed impact response for AlN ceramic structures, thereby providing technical support for the impact reliability analysis of aerospace ceramic-packaging devices.

Journal of Clinical Medicine doi: 10.3390/jcm14061835

Authors: Anjeza Xholli Isabella Perugi Francesca Cremonini Ambrogio Pietro Londero Angelo Cagnacci

Background: Long-COVID is characterized by the persistency of COVID-19 symptoms beyond 12 weeks, and it is probably consequent to immune dysregulation induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Immune dysregulation is associated with and probably involved in the pathogenesis of chronic gynecological conditions like endometriosis and adenomyosis. This study evaluated whether the presence of endometriosis or adenomyosis increases the risk of long-COVID, i.e., the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms beyond 12 weeks since infection. Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed at the outpatient service for endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, at a university hospital. The diagnosis of endometriosis/adenomyosis was primarily based on clinical symptoms and ultrasonography assessment. Data regarding infection, vaccination, symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their persistence for a minimum of 12 weeks were collected. Results: This study included 247 women, 149 controls without and 98 cases with endometriosis/adenomyosis. Among these, 194 (116 controls and 78 cases) had suffered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Rates of infection and vaccination were similar in the two groups. The distribution of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was uniform across the two cohorts. COVID-19 patients with endometriosis or adenomyosis exhibited a higher prevalence (p < 0.001) of dyspnea and chest pain. The prevalence of long-COVID beyond 12 weeks was higher in cases than controls (42% vs. 12%; p < 0.001) with chest pain (p < 0.001) and ageusia (p < 0.05), forming the most representative symptoms. Conclusions: Symptoms of long-COVID are more frequent in women with than without endometriosis/adenomyosis.

Geriatrics doi: 10.3390/geriatrics10020038

Authors: Carlotta Tacchino Luca Carmisciano Elena Page Silvia Ottaviani Luca Tagliafico Alda Boccini Alessio Signori Chiara Giannotti Alessio Nencioni Fiammetta Monacelli

Background/Objectives: The Rapid Geriatric Assessment (RGA) is a tool designed to screen for frailty, sarcopenia, anorexia related to aging, and cognitive impairment. This study aimed to translate and validate the RGA for use among Italian community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cross-cultural study involved 100 community-dwelling older adults randomly recruited through convenience sampling from general practitioner offices in Genoa (Italy), between January and June 2019. The RGA includes the Simple FRAIL Questionnaire Screening Tool, SARC-F Screening for Sarcopenia, Simplified Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ), and Rapid Cognitive Screening (RCS). These were validated against gold-standard tools: the Abbreviated Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (aCGA) and Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI). Additional assessments included the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Handgrip test. The validation process included forward–backward translation, synthesis, and consensus by independent reviewers. Psychometric properties, internal consistency (Cronbach alpha), and validity correlations were analyzed. Results: The RGA demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, with internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.59) and significant validity correlations (RGA and aCGA, rho = 0.34, p = 0.001; RGA and MPI, rho = 0.49, p < 0.001). Discriminant validity was confirmed by significant correlations between specific subitems and reference measures: FRAIL with TUG (p < 0.05), SARC-F with Handgrip strength (p = 0.013), SNAQ with BMI, and RCS with MMSE (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The Italian version of the RGA is a reliable screening tool for geriatric syndromes in community-dwelling older adults. While it does not replace a CGA, the RGA may identify individuals who may benefit from further evaluation using a complete CGA.

Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules30061220

Authors: Takashi S. Kodama Kyoko Furuita Chojiro Kojima

The membranes surrounding the eukaryotic cell and its organelles are continuously invaginating, budding, and undergoing membrane fusion–fission events, which enable them to perform functions not found in prokaryotic cells. In addition, organelles come into close contact with each other at membrane contact sites (MCSs), which involve many types of proteins, and which regulate the signaling and transport of various molecules. Vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)-associated protein (VAP) is an important factor involved in the tethering and contact of various organelles at MCSs in almost all eukaryotes and has attracted attention for its association with various diseases, mainly neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the detailed mechanism of its functional expression remains unclear. In this review, we quantitatively discuss the structural dynamics of the entire molecule, including intrinsically disordered regions and intramolecular and intermolecular interactions, focusing on the vertebrate VAP paralogs VAPA and VAPB. Molecular phylogenetic and biophysical considerations are the basis of the work.

Brain Sciences doi: 10.3390/brainsci15030288

Authors: Maria Casado-Palacios Alessia Tonelli Claudio Campus Monica Gori

Background: When engaging with the environment, multisensory cues interact and are integrated to create a coherent representation of the world around us, a process that has been suggested to be affected by the lack of visual feedback in blind individuals. In addition, the presence of voluntary movement can be responsible for suppressing somatosensory information processed by the cortex, which might lead to a worse encoding of tactile information. Objectives: In this work, we aim to explore how cross-modal interaction can be affected by active movements and the role of vision in this process. Methods: To this end, we measured the precision of 18 blind individuals and 18 age-matched sighted controls in a velocity discrimination task. The participants were instructed to detect the faster stimulus between a sequence of two in both passive and active touch conditions. The sensory stimulation could be either just tactile or audio–tactile, where a non-informative sound co-occurred with the tactile stimulation. The measure of precision was obtained by computing the just noticeable difference (JND) of each participant. Results: The results show worse precision with the audio–tactile sensory stimulation in the active condition for the sighted group (p = 0.046) but not for the blind one (p = 0.513). For blind participants, only the movement itself had an effect. Conclusions: For sighted individuals, the presence of noise from active touch made them vulnerable to auditory interference. However, the blind group exhibited less sensory interaction, experiencing only the detrimental effect of movement. Our work should be considered when developing next-generation haptic devices.

Applied Sciences doi: 10.3390/app15062941

Authors: Angelica Daffinà Carlotta Acconito Michela Balconi

Decision-making, defined as a cognitive process involving the selection of a course of action among several alternatives, is pivotal in personal and professional life and is founded on responsiveness to the context of decisional strategies—in terms of pieces of contextual features collected, evaluated, and integrated. This study explored the behavioral and electrophysiological (EEG) correlates of individual tendencies to rely on three distinct decisional strategies: Information (I-ds), Situation (S-ds), or Task (T-ds). A total of 51 individuals performed a decision-making task that required participants to face real-life decision-making situations, during which an unexpected event prompted them to appraise the situation and rely on different sources of contextual features to make the best decision and manage the problem. The behavioral data and EEG frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma) were collected during the decision-making task. The results evidenced a general predisposition to adopt a T-ds. In addition, EEG findings reported a higher increase in theta band power in the right frontal area (AF8) compared to the left temporoparietal site (TP9). Moreover, for the gamma band, higher activity was found in the T-ds compared to the I-ds in AF8. Overall, responsiveness to the context was closely linked to the assignment’s requirements. Additionally, adopting a T-ds requires high levels of multilevel attention control systems and a significant workload on human performance. Nevertheless, the T-ds remain the most employed type of responsiveness to the context approach, when compared to situational and contextual aspects.

Energies doi: 10.3390/en18061339

Authors: Shengliang Cai Guobin Fu Xuebin Wang Guoqiang Lu Rui Song Haibin Sun Zhihang Xue Yangsunnan Xu Peng Kou

Solar thermal concentrating solar power (CSP) plants have attracted growing interest in the field of renewable energy generation due to their capability for large-scale electricity generation, high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and enhanced reliability and flexibility. Meanwhile, driven by the rapid advancement of power electronics technology, extensive wind farms (WFs) and large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are being increasingly integrated into the power grid. From these points of view, grid-connected CSP–BESS–wind hybrid energy systems are expected to emerge in the future. Currently, most studies focus solely on the stability of renewable energy generation systems connected to the grid via power converters. In fact, within CSP–BESS–wind hybrid energy systems, interactions between the CSP, collection grid, and the converter controllers can also arise, potentially triggering system oscillations. To fill this gap, this paper investigated the interaction mechanism and oscillation characteristics of a grid-connected CSP–BESS–wind hybrid energy system. Firstly, by considering the dynamics of CSP, BESSs, and wind turbines, a comprehensive model of a grid-connected CSP–BESS–wind hybrid energy system was developed. With this model, the Nyquist stability criterion was utilized to analyze the potential interaction mechanism within the hybrid system. Subsequently, the oscillation characteristics were examined in detail, providing insights to inform the design of the damping controller. Finally, the analytical results were validated through MATLAB/Simulink simulations.

Biomedicines doi: 10.3390/biomedicines13030668

Authors: Ying Fu Qiaoshu Liu Ruojin Yao Yimei Fu Lei Dai Wenyan Jian Weishe Zhang Jingzhi Li

Background: Antenatal hydronephrosis (ANH) is the most common congenital renal and urinary tract anomaly, and parenchymal damage and renal fibrosis due to pathological hydronephrosis are the main causes of end-stage renal disease in children and chronic kidney disease in adults. At present, there is no validated biomarker for ANH, and diagnostic criteria other than prenatal ultrasonography (US) assessment are lacking. Therefore, we assessed to determine if biomarkers extracted from amniotic fluid small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) might be used as ANH diagnosis. Methods: With congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) as the ultimate diagnosis, 10 pregnant women with Grade III-IV ANH and 10 normal pregnant women were recruited. The sEVs were extracted from amniotic fluid supernatant of all samples. Transcriptomic sequencing of sEVs in the discovery cohort identified the differential expression profiles for ANH. The known differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs) were assessed by qRT–PCR in the validation cohort. Results: We explored the global RNA expression in sEVs from amniotic fluid. The differential expression profiles of both mRNAs and lncRNAs were related to fetal kidney development. Six known DE-lncRNAs were identified for ANH, and three of those with high expression were verified in more ANH samples. In particular, the upregulated LINC02863 and its target genes were associated with renal development and morphogenesis. The four predicted novel lncRNAs in high expression were also related to mesenchymal morphogenesis and the STAT3 signaling pathway and may play roles in ANH. Conclusions: We identified differentially expressed RNAs of all species in the sEVs from amniotic fluid, and the validated known DE-lncRNAs might serve as promising diagnostic biomarkers for ANH.

Diagnostics doi: 10.3390/diagnostics15060660

Authors: Yulia Khristoforova Lyudmila Bratchenko Vitalii Kupaev Dmitry Senyushkin Maria Skuratova Shuang Wang Petr Lebedev Ivan Bratchenko

Background/Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant public health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. This study aims to use Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) technology to detect the presence of respiratory conditions, with a focus on COPD. Methods: The samples of human serum from 41 patients with respiratory diseases (11 patients with COPD, 20 with bronchial asthma (BA), and 10 with asthma–COPD overlap syndrome) and 103 patients with ischemic heart disease, complicated by chronic heart failure (CHF), were analyzed using SERS. A multivariate analysis of the SERS characteristics of human serum was performed using Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) to classify the following groups: (1) all respiratory disease patients versus the pathological referent group, which included CHF patients, and (2) patients with COPD versus those with BA. Results: We found that a combination of SERS characteristics at 638 and 1051 cm−1 could help to identify respiratory diseases. The PLS-DA model achieved a mean predictive accuracy of 0.92 for classifying respiratory diseases and the pathological referent group (0.85 sensitivity, 0.97 specificity). However, in the case of differentiating between COPD and BA, the mean predictive accuracy was only 0.61. Conclusions: Therefore, the metabolic and proteomic composition of human serum shows significant differences in respiratory disease patients compared to the pathological referent group, but the differences between patients with COPD and BA are less significant, suggesting a similarity in the serum and general pathogenetic mechanisms of these two conditions.

Symmetry doi: 10.3390/sym17030407

Authors: Wahid Ullah Rabia Fayyaz Daniel Breaz Luminiţa-Ioana Cotîrlă

Hermitian Toeplitz determinants are used in multiple disciplines, including functional analysis, applied mathematics, physics, and engineering sciences. We calculate the sharp upper and lower bounds on the fourth-order Hermitian Toeplitz determinant for the subclass of bounded turning functions associated with the nephroid function represented by Rn. A nephroid function is associated with the geometric shape of a nephroid (a kidney-shaped curve) and refers to a specific type of epicycloid with two cusps. In geometric function theory, a bounded turning function is an analytic function whose derivative has a positive real part, ensuring that its tangent vector does not turn too sharply at any point.

Nutrients doi: 10.3390/nu17060949

Authors: Christine Belloir Mathilde Jeannin Adeline Karolkowski Loïc Briand

Background/Objectives: Studies have hypothesised that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 genes may alter sweet compound detection and eating habits, thereby increasing the risk of obesity. This in vitro study aims to measure the impact of human TAS1R2/TAS1R3 polymorphisms, some of which are thought to be involved in obesity, on the response of the sweet taste receptor to various sweeteners. It also aims to identify new SNPs in an obese population associated with a decrease in or loss of TAS1R2/TAS1R3 function. Methods: First, the effects of 12 human TAS1R2-SNPs and 16 human TAS1R3-SNPs, previously identified in the literature, on the response of the sweet taste receptor stimulated by 12 sweeteners were investigated using functional cellular assays. Second, a total of 162 blood samples were collected from an obese population (BMI between 25 and 35 kg/m²) involved in the SWEET project. The TaqMan method for SNP genotyping was carried out using DNA extracted from blood samples to identify new SNPs and predict possible/probable TAS1R2/TAS1R3 loss of function. Results: Although certain human TAS1R2/TAS1R3 SNPs showed reduced receptor response, they were not associated with particular phenotypes. Seven SNPs were predicted to severely impair the human TAS1R2/TAS1R3 response to sweeteners. Conclusions: Although some TAS1R2- and TAS1R3-SNPs have previously been associated with obesity, our cellular results do not confirm this association and reinforce the hypothesis, put forward by other researchers, that sweet taste perception and sugar consumption are governed by factors other than the TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 genes.

Biomedicines doi: 10.3390/biomedicines13030669

Authors: Michelangelo Rottura Igor Pirrotta Domenico Antonio Giorgi Natasha Irrera Vincenzo Arcoraci Federica Mannino Rosario Campisi Chiara Bivacqua Laura Patanè Giuseppe Costantino Socrate Pallio Walter Fries Anna Viola Giovanni Pallio

Background/Objectives: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is the key inflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Anti-TNF-α therapy has been successfully used for IBD treatment, although the therapeutic response differs among patients due to the genetic background. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on TNFA, TNFRSF1A, and TNFRSF1B genes could affect anti-TNF-α treatment effectiveness in IBD patients. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 83 European IBD patients treated with infliximab or adalimumab (with or without steroid bridge therapy) as first-line therapy were enrolled. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and TNF-α (rs1800629, rs361525, rs1799724), TNFRSF1A (rs767455), and TNFRSF1B (rs1061622, rs1061624, rs3397, rs976881) SNPs were assessed. Steroid-free remission (SFR) (clinical remission together with steroid interruption) and anti-TNF-α therapy persistence after 12 months of follow-up were evaluated. Patients who stopped anti-TNF-α therapy before the end of follow-up, due to side effects or treatment failure, were defined as discontinuers. Results: A higher frequency of the G/G genotype in rs1800629 and the A/A genotype in rs1061624 was observed in the SFR group compared to non-SFR (97.7% vs. 82.8%; p = 0.025 and 32.6% vs. 10.3%; p = 0.029, respectively). Moreover, carriers of the A/A genotype in rs361525 and the C/C genotype in rs767455 had a lower probability of achieving SFR than wild-type patients (OR = 0.14; 95% CI= 0.03–0.69; p = 0.016 and OR = 0.10; 95% CI = 0.02–0.60; p = 0.012, respectively). Furthermore, an increased frequency of rs1800629 A allele was observed in patients who discontinued treatment compared to completers (27.3% vs. 6.9%; p = 0.033), as well as a high risk of interrupting therapy (HR = 6.47; 95% CI = 1.15–36.38). Conclusions: These results suggest that the evaluation of SNPs in TNF-α, TNFR1A, and TNFR1B genes could improve the management of IBD, leading to more effective, individualized treatment plans and a reduction in healthcare costs associated with ineffective therapies and disease complications.

Polymers doi: 10.3390/polym17060718

Authors: Travis O’Leary Rachmat Mulyana Jose M. Castro

While design groups have utilized the abilities of injection molding simulation software, its use is often underutilized by process engineers. To expand the application of simulation software to manufacturing groups, this work focuses on developing a methodology to construct injection molding process windows through the predictions of simulation software. The methodology was developed by testing combinations of controllable process variables in the filling and packing stage of the injection molding process with high-impact polystyrene. Using this method, the process window can be tailored to a manufacturer’s desired product performance measures as well as target a specific defect they are facing. The process windows developed were experimentally validated displaying a successful combination of controllable process variables in the filling and packing stages which resulted in an acceptable part. Additionally, the process window was able to predict the dimensional shrinkage of a part within 1% of the experimentally produced part. This analysis establishes confidence in the software’s ability to aid manufacturing groups to successfully run their operations.

Processes doi: 10.3390/pr13030791

Authors: Rehan Younas Guanyu Zhou Christopher L. Hinkle

In two-dimensional (2D) materials research, exfoliating 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) from their growth substrates for device fabrication remains a significant challenge. Current methods, such as those involving polymers, metals, or chemical etchants, suffer from limitations like contamination, defect introduction, and a lack of scalability. Here, we demonstrate a selenium capping-based exfoliation technique. Its advantage lies in its ability to enable the clean, contamination-free exfoliation and transfer of TMD films. We successfully exfoliated and transferred monolayer and multilayer TMD films, including WSe2 and MoSe2. The selenium capping layer not only enables seamless exfoliation but also protects the film from oxidation, as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. This approach is versatile and applicable to a range of TMDs and thicknesses, paving the way for the high-quality, scalable integration of 2D materials into nanoelectronic devices.

Buildings doi: 10.3390/buildings15060852

Authors: Xiang Wang Zhichao Qin Xiaoyu Bai Zengming Hao Nan Yan Jianyong Han

During deep foundation pit construction, slight improper operations may lead to excessive deformation, resulting in engineering accidents. Therefore, how to accurately predict the deformation of the deep foundation pit is of significant importance. With advancements in artificial intelligence technology, machine learning has been utilized to learn and simulate complex nonlinear relationships among various factors influencing foundation pit deformation. Prediction accuracy is significantly improved, and the dynamic trend of foundation pit deformation is accurately grasped to curb the risk of safety accidents. This paper systematically reviews the current applications of machine learning in deep foundation pit deformation prediction. The fundamental principles of machine learning models, including neural networks, support vector machines, and Bayesian networks, are elaborated in the context of their application to deep foundation pit deformation prediction. The application effects of various machine learning models in predicting deep foundation pit supporting structure deformation, surrounding surface settlement, and assessing foundation pit risks are summarized. The limitations and future development prospects of current machine learning models for deformation prediction in deep foundation pit construction are discussed. The research results offer valuable insights for the application and advancement of machine learning in the deep foundation pit deformation prediction field.

Batteries doi: 10.3390/batteries11030102

Authors: Dexi Meng Zongkun Bian Kailimai Su Yan Wang Zhibin Lu Enlin Cai Junwei Lang

Hard carbon (HC), which is one of the anode materials widely used in commercial sodium-ion batteries at present, suffers from a thick and unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer formed by the self-reduction in traditional carbonate-based electrolytes on its surface. This phenomenon impacts the battery’s Coulomb efficiency, cycle stability, and rate performance. In this paper, a pyrrolidinium-type di-cation ionic liquid, butyl-1,4-di(methylpyrrolidinium) di[hexafluorophosphate] (C4di[mPy].di[PF6]), is studied as an electrolyte additive to improve the interphase stability of the HC anode. The PF6− in C4di[mPy].di[PF6] enhances the coordination number between Na+ and PF6−, and C4di[mPy]2+ is preferentially reduced, jointly participating in the construction of stable, thin, dense and NaF-rich SEI films, thus laying the foundation for improving battery performance. As a result, in the carbonate electrolyte containing 2 wt% C4di[mPy].di[PF6], the reversible capacity of the HC/Na half-cell is increased by 14.7%, and the capacity retention rate remains at 90.4% after 400 cycles. This work provides reference for future research and design of high-performance ion liquid additives.

Cells doi: 10.3390/cells14060399

Authors: Amira Zaher Samuel B. Stephens

Pancreatic β-cells rely on a delicate balance between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria to maintain sufficient insulin stores for the regulation of whole animal glucose homeostasis. The ER supports proinsulin maturation through oxidative protein folding, while mitochondria supply the energy and redox buffering that maintain ER proteostasis. In the development of Type 2 diabetes (T2D), the progressive decline of β-cell function is closely linked to disruptions in ER-mitochondrial communication. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-established driver of β-cell failure, whereas the downstream consequences for ER redox homeostasis have only recently emerged. This interdependence of ER-mitochondrial functions suggests that an imbalance is both a cause and consequence of metabolic dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the regulatory mechanisms of ER redox control and requirements for mitochondrial function. In addition, we describe how ER redox imbalances may trigger mitochondrial dysfunction in a vicious feed forward cycle that accelerates β-cell dysfunction and T2D onset.

Journal of Clinical Medicine doi: 10.3390/jcm14061834

Authors: Alberto Gobbo Filomena Longo Camilla Alice Cattaneo Martina Verrienti Gianluca Marzi Fatima Chamekh Martina Culcasi Alberto Cossu Maria Chiara Zatelli Maria Rosaria Ambrosio

Background: FGF23 is a phosphate homeostasis regulator; the literature suggests a link between FGF23, iron homeostasis and erythropoiesis. Little is known about the FGF23 level variations in β-thalassemia (βT), which is characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis and iron overload. Our cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the iFGF23 level variations in a large cohort of βT patients considering their bone mineral densities (BMDs) and iron loads. Methods: Clinical, biochemical and radiological data were collected from 213 transfusion-dependent βT (TDT) adults referring to the Regional HUB Centre for Thalassaemia and Haemoglobinopathies in Ferrara, Italy. The iFGF23 levels in the TDT patients were compared to the general population’s reference range. The BMDs and hearth and liver iron deposits were assessed with DEXA scans and MRI, respectively. Results: The iFGF23 distribution in the TDT subjects is significantly different from that of the general population. The iFGF23 levels are positively correlated with the age at transfusion initiation and calcium and phosphate levels and are negatively correlated with the osteocalcin plasma levels. Patients treated with deferasirox had lower iFGF23 levels than those treated with other chelators. The iFGF23 levels are not correlated with the BMD or iron status. Conclusions: These findings provide insights into the relationship between the iFGF23 and bone and iron metabolism in TDT patients. Further studies are needed to explore its potential clinical relevance.

Fishes doi: 10.3390/fishes10030119

Authors: Jonás I. Silva-Marrero Floriana Lai Sigurd O. Handeland Cindy Pedrosa Virginie Gelebart Pablo Balseiro Juan Fuentes Ivar Rønnestad Ana S. Gomes

The transfer time of Atlantic salmon smolts from freshwater to seawater remains a challenge in aquaculture, with the “smolt window” referring to the optimal timeframe for seawater readiness. Our study monitored Atlantic salmon osmoregulatory adaptations during smoltification under continuous light (LL) and winter signal regime (6 weeks LD 12:12) followed by 6 or 8 weeks of constant light. Fish were subsequently reared in seawater for 8 weeks and subjected to a stress event of cyclic hypoxia at the conclusion of the trial. Significant differences in growth trajectories were observed between the LL and LD groups, with fish receiving the winter signal showing compensatory growth after seawater transfer. Gill Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activity, plasma ions, glucose, and cortisol levels confirmed the importance of the winter signal for seawater adaptation. Molecular markers, including nka isoforms, Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter (nkcc), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (cftr), and Na+/HCO3− cotransporter (nbc), showed distinct temporal expression patterns, particularly in gills and midgut. Notably, the LD group with delayed seawater transfer exhibited enhanced growth and improved hypo-osmoregulatory capacity. These findings underscore the advantages of a winter signal in smoltification and suggest that delaying seawater transfer for up to 8 weeks could be beneficial.

Pharmaceuticals doi: 10.3390/ph18030385

Authors: Martina Bedeschi Elena Cavassi Antonino Romeo Anna Tesei

Glial-origin brain tumors, particularly glioblastomas (GBMs), are known for their devastating prognosis and are characterized by rapid progression and fatal outcomes. Despite advances in surgical resection, complete removal of the tumor remains unattainable, with residual cells driving recurrence that is resistant to conventional therapies. The GBM tumor microenviroment (TME) significantly impacts tumor progression and treatment response. In this review, we explore the emerging role of purinergic signaling, especially the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R). Due to its unique characteristics, it plays a key role in tumor progression and offers a potential therapeutic strategy for GBM through TME modulation. We discuss also the emerging role of the P2X4 receptor (P2X4R) as a promising therapeutic target. Overall, targeting purinergic signaling offers a potential approach to overcoming current GBM treatment limitations.

Remote Sensing doi: 10.3390/rs17060958

Authors: Chong Li Qianzuo Zhao Junyuan Fei Lei Cui Xiu Zhang Guodong Yin

Vegetation dynamics significantly influence watershed ecohydrological processes. Physically based hydrological models often have general plant development descriptions but lack vegetation dynamics data for ecohydrological simulations. Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are widely used in monitoring vegetation dynamics and ecohydrological research. Accurately predicting long-term SIF and NDVI dynamics can support the monitoring of vegetation anomalies and trends. This study proposed a SWAT-ML framework, combining the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and machine learning (ML), in the Jinsha River Basin (JRB). The lag effects that vegetation responds to using hydrometeorological elements were considered while using SWAT-ML. Based on SWAT-ML, SIF and NDVI series from 1982 to 2014 were reconstructed. Finally, the spatial and temporal characteristics of vegetation dynamics in the JRB were analyzed. The results showed the following: (1) the SWAT-ML framework can simulate ecohydrological processes in the JRB with satisfactory results (NS > 0.68, R2 > 0.79 for the SWAT; NS > 0.77, MSE < 0.004 for the ML); (2) the vegetation index’s mean value increases (the Z value, the significance indicator in the Mann–Kendall method, is 1.29 for the SIF and 0.11 for the NDVI), whereas the maximum value decreases (Z value = −0.20 for SIF and −0.42 for the NDVI); and (3) the greenness of the vegetation decreases (Z value = −2.93 for the maximum value and −0.97 for the mean value) in the middle reaches. However, the intensity of the vegetation’s physiological activity increases (Z value= 3.24 for the maximum value and 2.68 for the mean value). Moreover, the greenness and physiological activity of the vegetation increase in the lower reaches (Z value = 3.24, 2.68, 2.68, and 1.84 for SIFmax, SIFave, NDVImax, and NDVIave, respectively). In the middle and lower reaches, the connection between the SIF and hydrometeorological factors is stronger than that of the NDVI. This research developed a new framework and can provide a reference for complex ecohydrological simulation.

Land doi: 10.3390/land14030572

Authors: Dongmeng Wang Can Zhao Baolin Xia Chenming Zhang Dezheng Kong Qindong Fan

Small-scale, dispersed agroforestry spaces in the urban fringe constitute ecological land that serves dual public benefit functions: natural ecological conservation and rural-urban services. The purpose of this study is to construct a green infrastructure network by integrating the existing and potential green spaces in an urban fringe. The urban fringe in Zhengzhou was chosen as the study site. First, the urban fringe of Zhengzhou was identified based on multi-source data and artificial intelligence, followed by the extraction of green infrastructure elements through morphological spatial pattern analysis. Then, a public benefit output evaluation system was constructed to assess the land value of green infrastructure in the study area. Finally, based on the evaluation results, a classified network planning was conducted, and a triple-network integrated planning strategy was proposed. The results showed that (1) the administrative area of Zhengzhou is divided into three spatial types: urban core areas, the urban fringe areas, and urban periphery area; this study focuses on the urban fringe surrounding the main urban area of Zhengzhou, area of 678.93 km²; (2) the patch sizes of green infrastructure land in the study area range from approximately 0.01 km² to 2.83 km²; (3) green infrastructure land was classified into levels 1~5 based on ecological conservation and rural-urban services, and comprehensive high-grade land was identified for the construction of the green infrastructure network; and (4) the green infrastructure network in the study area was divided into the forest natural habitat network, the blue-green infrastructure network, and the agroforestry landscape recreation network, and a triple-network integrated green infrastructure network strategy was developed. This study aims to strengthen the effective protection and utilization of micro-habitats in the urban fringe, contributing to the formulation of strategies to reduce the ecological vulnerability of the urban fringe and promote sustainable urban development.

Molecules doi: 10.3390/molecules30061219

Authors: Dan Mei Bowen Liu Haiqing Ma Zhaoguo Zhang Fan Wu Yanan Chen Jawad Ali Futang Xing Liangbin Xiong

Polysulfide-ferricyanide redox flow batteries (PFRFBs) are gaining significant attention in long-duration energy storage for their abundant availability and environmental benignity. However, the sluggish kinetics of the polysulfide redox reactions have tremendously constrained their performances. To address this issue, we developed a NiMoS catalyst-modified carbon felt (NiMoS-CF) electrode, which significantly accelerates the electrochemical reaction rates and enhances the cycling stability of PFRFB. Our PFRFB system, integrated with the NiMoS-CF electrode, exhibited an energy efficiency of 70% and a voltage efficiency of 87%, with a remarkable doubling of its cycle life as opposed to the pristine carbon felt (CF) electrode at a current density of 40 mA cm−2. Notably, during 2500 cycles of charge–discharge testing, we achieved an average coulombic efficiency exceeding 99%. These improvements in PFRFB performance can be attributed to the NiMoS-CF electrode’s large surface area, low resistance, and robust redox activity. This study offerings a novel approach for enhancing the electrochemical reaction kinetics and cycling stability in PFRFBs, laying a scientific foundation in the applications of practical PFRFBs for next-generation energy storage.

Crystals doi: 10.3390/cryst15030253

Authors: Mohamed El Habib Hitar Latifa Tajounte Manal Benyoussef Abdellah Benzaouak Nour-Eddine Touach Mohammed Hadouchi Abdelilah Lahmar Mohammed El Mahi El Mostapha Lotfi

The present study investigates the effect of manganese incorporation on the structural, dielectric, and waste bioconversion of LiTaO3 ferroelectric material. Conventional solid-state synthesis techniques were utilized to produce powder samples, which were subsequently analyzed using room-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase identification. The analysis revealed that the material forms a continuous solid solution within the composition range of 0 to 25 mol% of manganese (Mn), exhibiting R3c-Rombohedral symmetry. Thermal investigations of Raman spectra permitted approaching the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition, and dielectric measurements were performed in all investigated samples. The results show that the temperature of ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition (Tc) decreased with the increasing Mn content. Optical properties of the prepared materials were also measured and tested as photocathodes for microbial fuel cells (MFCs), showing promising performance for x = 0.10, which exceeds values found with other dopants.

Forests doi: 10.3390/f16030478

Authors: Zhiwei Ge Tao Yu Xuying Tian Xiangxiang Chen Yiwen Yao Lingfeng Mao

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz.) forests are a vital forest type in subtropical China. This study investigates the diversity, floristic composition, and phylogenetic structure of understory vegetation in these bamboo forests within evergreen broad-leaved forests of eastern subtropical China. Using grid-based sampling, we calculated species diversity and phylogenetic indices, and employed correlation analysis, redundancy analysis, and structural equation modeling to assess the effects of canopy closure, soil properties, and topography. The understory exhibited high species richness, with shrub layer demonstrating phytogeographic characteristics predominantly associated with tropical distribution types, while the herbaceous layer is characterized by temperate distribution types. Canopy closure and environmental factors significantly influenced shrub diversity, showing a clustered phylogenetic structure (NTI > 0, NRI > 0) and a negative correlation with species diversity. In contrast, the herb layer displayed a divergent phylogenetic structure (NTI < 0, NRI < 0), shaped by neutral stochastic processes, reflecting endemic taxa and interspecific interactions. These findings emphasize the need for targeted management practices to conserve understory biodiversity, focusing on enhancing floristic and phylogenetic diversity while protecting endemic species and their ecological interactions.

Journal of Risk and Financial Management doi: 10.3390/jrfm18030141

Authors: Tetiana Zavalii Serhii Lehenchuk Lyudmyla Chyzhevska Iryna Hrabchuk

The issue of key determinants affecting the financial performance of advertising and marketing companies in Central and Eastern Europe remains understudied, despite the industry’s rapid growth and regional specifics. This study investigates financial performance determinants of advertising and marketing companies in four CEE countries (the Czech Republic, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Ukraine) during 2021–2023, employing the least absolute deviations method. The study examines three financial performance measures (Return on Assets, Return on Equity, and Operating Profit Margin) using three independent variables (Current Ratio, Debt to Equity, and Total Asset Turnover) and control variables such as Company Size, Leverage, and Company Type. The results show that Total Asset Turnover consistently has a significant positive impact on ROA and ROE across all studied countries. The study also identified significant regional variations in liquidity and capital structure impacts, particularly in the Polish market, and uncovered distinct patterns in how financial leverage affects various performance metrics across the studied countries. Specifically, while leverage shows a predominantly negative relationship with ROE in most countries, it positively influences OPM for Polish, Slovak, and Ukrainian companies, suggesting that the role of financial leverage in company performance is highly context-dependent. The novelty of the study lies in a comprehensive investigation of specific determinants of financial performance in the CEE advertising and marketing sector, revealing the crucial role of efficient asset and equity management in the region.

Gels doi: 10.3390/gels11030190

Authors: Xiaoman Li Jianhua Tang Weiwei Guo Xuan Dong Kaisen Cao Fushan Tang

In recent years, hydrogels have emerged as promising candidates for bone defect repair due to their excellent biocompatibility, high porosity, and water-retentive properties. However, conventional hydrogels face significant challenges in clinical translation, including brittleness, low mechanical strength, and poorly controlled drug degradation rates. To address these limitations, as a multifunctional polymer, polydopamine (PDA) has shown great potential in both bone regeneration and drug delivery systems. Its robust adhesive properties, biocompatibility, and responsiveness to photothermal stimulation make it an ideal candidate for enhancing hydrogel performance. Integrating PDA into conventional hydrogels not only improves their mechanical properties but also creates an environment conducive to cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, thereby promoting bone defect repair. Moreover, PDA facilitates controlled drug release, offering a promising approach to optimizing treatment outcomes. This paper first explores the mechanisms through which PDA promotes bone regeneration, laying the foundation for its clinical translation. Additionally, it discusses the application of PDA-based nanocomposite hydrogels as advanced drug delivery systems for bone defect repair, providing valuable insights for both research and clinical translation.

Diagnostics doi: 10.3390/diagnostics15060658

Authors: Noreen Grace George Bhavika Rishi Sanghmitra Ray Manpreet Kaur Raj Kamal Shikha Garg Sumit Mehndiratta Nidhi Chopra Shamsuz Zaman Amitabh Singh Aroonima Misra

Background/Objectives: Minimal residual disease (MRD) refers to the resistant clonal population of leukemia cells that survive induction chemotherapy, serving as a critical indicator of treatment response in pediatric Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL). While flow cytometry (FCM) and molecular methods are standard for MRD detection, novel leukemia-associated immunophenotype (LAIP) markers are needed when conventional markers are insufficient. Methods: MRD was assessed in 218 pediatric B-ALL patients using a combinatory approach of Different-from-Normal (DfN) and LAIP strategies. An eight-color flow cytometry panel included routine MRD markers (e.g., CD10, CD19, and CD20) and less commonly used markers (e.g., CD123, CD73, CD86). Cytogenetic and molecular profiling were integrated to evaluate the association between genetic abnormalities and MRD positivity. Results: The combined DfN and LAIP approach enhanced MRD detection sensitivity compared to individual methods. CD7 showed a significant association with MRD positivity (p = 0.003), whereas CD73 (p = 0.000) and CD86 (p = 0.002) correlated with MRD-negative status. CD123 exhibited the highest aberrancy among MRD-positive cases, while CD81 had the lowest. These findings highlight the prognostic potential of CD73 and CD86 for MRD-negative status, complementing the established utility of CD123. Conclusions: Incorporating novel markers (CD123, CD73, CD86, and CD81) into MRD panels enhances detection sensitivity and clinical applicability. These markers are compatible with standard flow cytometry, supporting their integration into routine practice for comprehensive MRD evaluation, ultimately improving therapeutic outcomes in pediatric B-ALL.

Journal of Clinical Medicine doi: 10.3390/jcm14061833

Authors: Cheng William Hong Spencer C. Behr Fei Jiang Yingbing Wang Sina Houshmand Thomas A. Hope

Background/Objectives: Patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-negative disease have inferior outcomes with radioligand therapy (RLT). The objective of this study is to assess the added value of whole-body (WB) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to PSMA PET for identifying PSMA-negative disease, which is important for risk stratification. Methods: Consecutive PSMA PET/MRI exams at our institution, which included WB DWI in patients with mCRPC, were retrospectively reviewed. For both WB DWI and PSMA PET, two independent readers scored 14 anatomic locations, which were considered positive only if both readers identified lesions. The proportion of patients with mismatched disease was summarized descriptively for each anatomic location and overall. The inter-reader agreement was computed with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results: The study included 41 patients (with a mean age of 71.9 years), and WB DWI identified PSMA-negative lesions in 24% of patients. PSMA PET had higher agreement than DWI, although both had good agreement (ICC: 0.87 and 0.72, respectively). The median overall survival was 442 days in those with mismatched disease vs. 523 days in those without, although this difference is not statistically significant (p = 0.49). Conclusions: The addition of WB DWI to PSMA PET can identify PSMA-negative disease, which could alter patient management.

Fluids doi: 10.3390/fluids10030065

Authors: Alexander S. Lobasov Andrey V. Minakov Sergey A. Filimonov

The field of hydrodynamics, specifically microfluidics, is currently undergoing rapid development, with significant progress being made in the creation of new devices and technologies that outperform their macroscopic counterparts. Concurrently, determining the parameters of a non-Newtonian fluid is becoming an important task in many areas of industry and production, particularly in the oil industry. Both the drilling fluids (needed to create wells) and the polymer-based displacers and surfactants (needed to extract oil) have non-Newtonian properties. This paper presents a method for determining the indices of consistency and flow behaviour of the non-Newtonian fluid (power-law model) based on the analysis of secondary Dean vortices generated in a curved channel. This phenomenon is conveniently described using the recirculation angle. The structure of the flow of non-Newtonian fluids in a U-shaped micromixer has been studied. The dependence of the recirculation angle on the fluid flow rate was obtained for different fluid parameters. A universal correlation was proposed to describe the dependence of the inverse Dean number on the recirculation angle of the flow. The consistency and flow behaviour indices of the power-law model of non-Newtonian fluids found using the above correlation can be measured in the experiments.

Applied Sciences doi: 10.3390/app15062940

Authors: Burcu Bakir-Gungor Nur Sebnem Ersoz Malik Yousef

Advances in metagenomics have revolutionized our ability to elucidate links between the microbiome and human diseases. Colorectal cancer (CRC), a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, has been associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. This study aims to develop a method for identifying CRC-associated microbial enzymes by incorporating biological domain knowledge into the feature selection process. Conventional feature selection techniques often evaluate features individually and fail to leverage biological knowledge during metagenomic data analysis. To address this gap, we propose the enzyme commission (EC)-nomenclature-based Grouping-Scoring-Modeling (G-S-M) method, which integrates biological domain knowledge into feature grouping and selection. The proposed method was tested on a CRC-associated metagenomic dataset collected from eight different countries. Community-level relative abundance values of enzymes were considered as features and grouped based on their EC categories to provide biologically informed groupings. Our findings in randomized 10-fold cross-validation experiments imply that glycosidases, CoA-transferases, hydro-lyases, oligo-1,6-glucosidase, crotonobetainyl-CoA hydratase, and citrate CoA-transferase enzymes can be associated with CRC development as part of different molecular pathways. These enzymes are mostly synthesized by Eschericia coli, Salmonella enterica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Clostridioides dificile. Comparative evaluation experiments showed that the proposed model consistently outperforms traditional feature selection methods paired with various classifiers.

Sensors doi: 10.3390/s25061690

Authors: András Rövid Zsolt Vincze Tamás Pálinkás Mihály Kocsis Viktor Serrano Zsolt Szalay

Advanced driving assistance systems (ADASs) are critical for automotive safety. They rely on various sensors (especially with an increasing reliance on visual sensors to meet evolving safety standards) to capture relevant environmental data. The validation of ADAS systems is crucial to ensure their reliability and performance in real-world driving scenarios; however, this requires reference data. This paper focuses on the development of a reference sensor system that can provide reference data and does support the validation of visual sensors for ADAS systems. The system is validated in various relevant scenarios at an automotive proving ground.

Geosciences doi: 10.3390/geosciences15030096

Authors: Susanna Falsaperla Salvatore Spampinato Ornella Cocina Giovanni Barreca

Following the abrupt geochemical and geophysical variations that occurred on the island of Vulcano in September 2021, the search for previous multidisciplinary data on decades-long time spans became necessary to contextualize the newly recorded anomalous variations, which represented a serious threat for the local population. Our analyses of ‘vintage’ reports, old documents and analogue seismograms, broaden our understanding of crustal seismic activity. The results unravel the predominant role of Vulcano’s hydrothermal system with respect to tectonic processes in the generation of seismicity in the analyzed sector. Earthquakes were generally located offshore and achieved a maximum M4.6. A 2D strain release map and DBSCAN application highlight seismogenic volumes to the NW, SW and E offshore of the island and trending NNW-SSE inshore, in agreement with structural patterns. Two major volcano unrests in 1985 and 1988 had seismicity mostly confined to the island. In comparison, the longer duration and typology of seismic signals recorded between 2021 and 2022 make this latest episode peculiar in the context of Vulcano’s past seismic activity.

Cells doi: 10.3390/cells14060395

Authors: Ayumi Tsukada Yui Uekusa Etsuro Ohta Akito Hattori Manabu Mukai Dai Iwase Jun Aikawa Yoshihisa Ohashi Gen Inoue Masashi Takaso Kentaro Uchida

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease marked by synovial inflammation, cartilage degradation, and persistent pain. Although Netrin-4 (NTN4) has been implicated in pain modulation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), its role in OA pain remains less understood. Previous research has documented that NTN4 promotes axonal growth in rodent-derived neurons; however, its effects on human sensory neurons are yet to be fully explored. NTN4 also plays a multifactorial role in various non-neuronal cells, such as endothelial cells, tumor cells, and stromal cells. Nevertheless, its specific impact on synovial fibroblasts, which are key components of the synovium and have been linked to OA pain, is still unclear. This study examined the correlation between NTN4 expression levels and pain severity in OA, specifically investigating its effects on human iPSC-derived sensory neurons (iPSC-SNs) and synovial fibroblasts from OA patients. Our findings indicate a positive correlation between synovial NTN4 expression and pain severity. Recombinant human Netrin-4 (rh-NTN4) was also shown to enhance neurite outgrowth in human iPSC-SNs, suggesting a potential role in neuronal sensitization. Additionally, rh-NTN4 stimulated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8) and chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL6, CXCL8) in synovium-derived fibroblastic cells, implicating it in synovial inflammation. Collectively, these results suggest that NTN4 may contribute to KOA pathology by promoting synovial inflammation and potentially sensitizing sensory neurons, thereby influencing the mechanisms of underlying pain.

Pathogens doi: 10.3390/pathogens14030266

Authors: Özlem Aytaç Elif Seren Tanrıverdi Ömür Gündağ Feray Ferda Şenol Gülden Eser Karlıdağ Barış Otlu

Background: We report a hospital outbreak caused by Burkholderia cepacia that occurred in 16 patients admitted to intensive care units in Elazığ, Türkiye, between 19 March and 23 April 2024. Methods: The outbreak investigation was initiated on 23 March 2024, four days after B. cepacia was detected in four different patients. Environmental samples were collected from various parts of the hospital to find the source of the outbreak. Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR) was performed to determine the genetic relationship between environmental and patient samples. Results: In total, 16 of 18 B. cepacia isolates were obtained from tracheal aspirate culture. A total of 10 of 16 patients developed hospital-acquired pneumonia due to B. cepacia. Among the environmental cultures in the intensive care units, only the respirator bacterial filter grew. The isolate obtained here was in the same cluster as the isolate obtained from patient samples, resulting in a dominant clustering rate of 94.4%. Conclusions: Improper and inappropriate use of respirators and equipment can lead to outbreaks. Early detection of the outbreak, identification of the source, and taking appropriate measures quickly to contain the outbreak are key.

Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers17060924

Authors: Vlad Bogdan Varzaru Roxana Popescu Daliborca Cristina Vlad Cristian Sebastian Vlad Aurica Elisabeta Moatar Andreas Rempen Ionut Marcel Cobec

Background/Objectives: This study evaluates the impact of clinical, pathological, and treatment-related factors on breast cancer recurrence and overall survival following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. Patients and Method: A total of 298 patients treated at Diakoneo Diak Klinikum, Schwäbisch Hall, Germany (2010–2021) were analyzed. Key variables included hormone receptor status, molecular subtypes, tumor grade, treatment protocols, and metastatic disease at diagnosis. Results: Recurrence was strongly associated with metastatic disease (p < 0.001) but not with hormone receptor status or molecular subtypes. Platinum/taxane-based chemotherapy was linked to a lower recurrence risk (p = 0.05) compared to anthracycline-based regimens. Patients with recurrence had significantly lower overall survival (27.91% vs. 8.24%, p < 0.001). Logistic regression suggested a trend toward increased recurrence in ER-positive and PR-negative patients, though not statistically significant. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized treatment strategies and highlight the need for future studies incorporating genomic data and residual disease analysis to refine recurrence risk prediction and therapy selection.

Life doi: 10.3390/life15030430

Authors: Munish Sharma Vivek Paudyal Saifullah Khalid Syed Rubi Thapa Nadeem Kassam Salim Surani

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), now known as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), has induced significant treatment breakthroughs in the past decade. Treatment has focused on improving patient survival and quality of life, and delaying disease progression. Current therapies are categorized based on targeting different pathways known to contribute to PAH, including endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs), phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5 inhibitors), prostacyclin analogs, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, and activin signaling inhibitors such as Sotatercept. The latest addition to treatment options is soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, such as Riociguat, which directly stimulates the nitric oxide pathway, facilitating vasodilation. Looking to the future, advancements in PAH treatment focus on precision medicine involving the sub-stratification of patients through a deep characterization of altered Transforming Growth Factor-β(TGF-β) signaling and molecular therapies. Gene therapy, targeting specific genetic mutations linked to PAH, and cell-based therapies, such as mesenchymal stem cells, are under investigation. Besides prevailing therapies, emerging PH treatments target growth factors and inflammation-modulating pathways, with ongoing trials assessing their long-term benefits and safety. Hence, this review explores current therapies that delay progression and improve survival, as well as future treatments with curative potential.

Sensors doi: 10.3390/s25061682

Authors: Maria-Alexandra Zolya Elena-Laura Popa Cosmin Baltag Dragoș-Vasile Bratu Simona Coman Sorin-Aurel Moraru

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming over 17 million lives annually. Early detection of conditions like heart murmurs, often indicative of heart valve abnormalities, is critical for improving patient outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods, including physical auscultation and advanced imaging techniques, are constrained by their reliance on specialized clinical expertise, inherent procedural invasiveness, substantial financial costs, and limited accessibility, particularly in resource-limited healthcare environments. This study presents a novel convolutional recurrent neural network (CRNN) model designed for the non-invasive classification of heart murmurs. The model processes heart sound recordings using advanced pre-processing techniques such as z-score normalization, band-pass filtering, and data augmentation (Gaussian noise, time shift, and pitch shift) to enhance robustness. By combining convolutional and recurrent layers, the CRNN captures spatial and temporal features in audio data, achieving an accuracy of 90.5%, precision of 89%, and recall of 87%. These results underscore the potential of machine-learning technologies to revolutionize cardiac diagnostics by offering scalable, accessible solutions for the early detection of cardiovascular conditions. This approach paves the way for broader applications of AI in healthcare, particularly in underserved regions where traditional resources are scarce.

Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers17060925

Authors: Lorenzo Scardina Alba Di Leone Alejandro Martin Sanchez Cristina Accetta Liliana Barone Adesi Ersilia Biondi Beatrice Carnassale Sabatino D’Archi Flavia De Lauretis Enrico Di Guglielmo Antonio Franco Stefano Magno Francesca Moschella Maria Natale Marzia Salgarello Eleonora Savia Marta Silenzi Giuseppe Visconti Riccardo Masetti Gianluca Franceschini

Background: Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) following conservative mastectomy is the most common approach for women undergoing breast cancer surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the oncological outcomes of conservative mastectomy combined with prepectoral IBBR to the subpectoral technique. Methods: The clinical and demographic data of consecutive breast cancer patients who underwent conservative mastectomy with either prepectoral or subpectoral IBBR between January 2018 and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome was the impact of conservative mastectomy with prepectoral IBBR on local recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Secondary outcomes included distant disease-free survival (DDFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 842 women (with a median age of 46 years and a range of 20–79 years) were included in the study. Of these, 648 patients (77.0%) underwent prepectoral IBBR, while 194 (23.0%) received subpectoral IBBR. The median follow-up was 32 months (3–74). Locoregional relapse occurred in 19 patients (2.9%) in the prepectoral group and 14 (7.2%) in the subpectoral group. Distant metastases were observed in 21 (3.2%) patients in the prepectoral group and 11 (5.7%) in the subpectoral group. Deaths were reported in eight patients (1.2%) in the prepectoral group and five (2.6%) in the subpectoral group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of the LRFS, DDFS, and OS (p = 0.676; p = 0.994; p = 0.940, respectively). Conclusions: Our study indicates that conservative mastectomy combined with prepectoral IBBR produces similar results to those of the subpectoral approach, with no significant differences in LRFS, DDFS, and OS.

Sensors doi: 10.3390/s25061679

Authors: Yuquan Zhang Guosheng Feng

The current neural implicit SLAM methods have demonstrated excellent performance in reconstructing ideal static 3D scenes. However, it remains a significant challenge for these methods to handle real scenes with drastic changes in lighting conditions and dynamic environments. This paper proposes a neural implicit SLAM method that effectively deals with dynamic scenes. We employ a keyframe selection and tracking switching approach based on Lucas–Kanade (LK) optical flow, which serves as prior construction for the Conditional Random Fields potential function. This forms a semantic-based joint estimation method for dynamic and static pixels and constructs corresponding loss functions to impose constraints on dynamic scenes. We conduct experiments on various dynamic and challenging scene datasets, including TUM RGB-D, Openloris, and Bonn. The results demonstrate that our method significantly outperforms existing neural implicit SLAM systems in terms of reconstruction quality and tracking accuracy.

Cancers doi: 10.3390/cancers17060926

Authors: Eun Ji Han Hye Lim Park Seung-Ah Yahng Gi-June Min Byung-Ock Choi Gyeongsin Park Joo Hyun O Seok-Goo Cho

Background/Objectives This study aimed to evaluate whether very early interim 18F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) after a single cycle of first-line chemotherapy predicts long-term survival outcome in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods A total of 51 patients (31 males and 20 females; mean age 55 years) had four FDG PET/CT studies, at baseline and after one, three, and six cycles of chemotherapy (PET0, PET1, PET3, and PET6). Visually and quantitatively assessed PET parameters were analyzed for associations with long-term survival. Results The estimated 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was 48% and 61%, respectively. During a median follow-up of 63 months (range 9–134), 17 patients (33%) exhibited disease progression and 15 (29%) died. On PET1, all but one showed decreased FDG uptake, and all showed decreased metabolic tumor volume. None of the PET1 or PET3 parameters were associated with survival. The PET6 parameters retained independent predictive value for OS after adjustment for the International Prognostic Index. Negative PET6 was associated with longer PFS (mean 99 vs. 50 mo, p = 0.04) and OS (mean 107 vs. 57 mo, p = 0.02). Con-clusions The FDG PET/CT parameters obtained after a single cycle of chemotherapy were not associated with long-term survival in DLBCL, while negative end-of-therapy FDG PET/CT was associated with longer PFS and OS. Tumor regression very early into first-line chemotherapy was not as clinically relevant as the presence of viable tumor on FDG PET/CT at the end of therapy for predicting long-term outcomes.

Animals doi: 10.3390/ani15060770

Authors: Yanling Hou Huan Ye Huamei Yue Junyi Li Ling Huang Ziling Qu Rui Ruan Danqing Lin Zhiqiang Liang Yong Xie Chuangju Li

The largefin longbarbel catfish (Hemibagrus macropterus), a freshwater species endemic to China with fundamental economic importance, requires investigation into its genetic structure for effective management. In this study, we employed mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) gene sequences and 14 microsatellite loci to elucidate the genetic structure of 195 individuals across eight distinct populations. The Cytb analysis revealed a haplotype number (H) of 31, haplotype diversity (Hd) of 0.853, and nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.0127. Population neutrality tests indicated that Tajima’s D (−0.59467) and Fu and Li’s D* (0.56621) were not statistically significant, and the mismatch distribution exhibited a multimodal pattern. Microsatellite analysis revealed that the mean number of alleles (Na), observed heterozygosity (Ho), and polymorphic information content (PIC) across all loci were 18.500, 0.761, and 0.808, respectively. The UPGMA phylogram constructed based on genetic distance identified two distinct clusters, with paired Fst values ranging from 0.108 to 0.138. These results suggest that the largefin longbarbel catfish is in a state of dynamic equilibrium with high genetic diversity. Furthermore, there was significant genetic differentiation between the YB population and the other seven populations, indicating that the population in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River should be managed as a distinct unit.

Symmetry doi: 10.3390/sym17030405

Authors: Urszula Bednarz

In this paper, we investigate the existence of perfect (1,2)-dominating sets ((1,2)-PDS) in graphs with three vertices of maximum degree equal to n−2. A perfect (1,2)-dominating set is a special case of a (1,2)-dominating set. Graphs with such dominating sets may exhibit a symmetric structure. If a graph has at least one vertex of degree one, then it has a (1,2)-PDS. Hence, we consider only graphs with a minimum degree greater than or equal to 2. Therefore, a symmetric or asymmetric structure of graphs can be useful in determining whether a graph has a (1,2)-PDS. On the other hand, the symmetric or asymmetric structure may be even more helpful when studying the existence of (1,2)-PDS in relation to the maximum degree of a graph. Moreover, we analyze the structural conditions under which (1,2)-PDS exist, considering cases where the three vertices are adjacent or nonadjacent, and whether their neighborhoods are identical or distinct. Our study provides necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of (1,2)-PDS in the given cases, extending the understanding of (1,2)-domination and its applications.

Foods doi: 10.3390/foods14060924

Authors: Jiao Niu Yahan Yan Guihu Zhang Yi Shen Wei Cheng Hehe Li Zhongfu Duan Jinyuan Sun Bowen Wang Jihong Wu Baoguo Sun

Even within the same round of stacked fermentation, variations among production workshops can significantly influence microbial communities and physicochemical parameters. In this study, stacked fermented grains from the fourth round of sauce-flavor Baijiu production were utilized to explore the impact of spatial variations on fermentation. High-throughput sequencing technology was employed to comprehensively analyze the microbial community composition and its dynamic changes during the fourth cycle of stacked fermentation in sauce-flavor Baijiu across different workshops. Our results revealed that the predominant genera in both workshops included Saccharomycetales, Thermomyces, Monascus, Ascomycota, Kroppenstedtia, Bacillus, and Virgibacillus. Differences in physicochemical factors during the fermentation process led to distinct microbial successions among workshops. Key drivers of dominant microbial community succession, such as glucose, starch, ethanol, and temperature, were identified during the fourth round of stacked fermentation. Differences in the types and contents of significant flavor substances in different workshops are related to the complex role of the microbial community. Acetic acid is the most different flavor substance in both workshops, and the content of acetic acid affects the synthesis of ethyl ester substances, which has significant correlation with the regulation of fungal communities, especially Saccharomycetales. These findings provide valuable insights into the brewing mechanisms of the stacked fermentation process and offer guidance for formulating more refined control strategies to optimize the liquor-making process.

Foods doi: 10.3390/foods14060923

Authors: Lauren Doyle Suvro Talukdar Youling L. Xiong Akinbode Adedeji Tyler J. Barzee

There is a pressing need to produce novel food ingredients from sustainable sources to support a growing population. Filamentous fungi can be readily cultivated from low-cost agricultural byproducts to produce functional proteins for food biomanufacturing of structured products. However, there is a lack of scientific knowledge on the gelling characteristics of fungal proteins or their potential in additive biomanufacturing. Therefore, this study investigated the feasibility of utilizing fungal protein extracts and flours from Aspergillus awamori, Pleurotus ostreatus, Auricularia auricula-judae as sole gelling agents in 3D-printed products. Protein extracts were successfully prepared using the alkaline extraction–isoelectric precipitation method and successful physical gels were created after heating and cooling. Results indicated that shear-thinning gel materials could be formed with acceptable printability at mass inclusion rates between 15% and 25% with the best performance obtained with P. ostreatus protein extract at 25% inclusion. A. auricula-judae demonstrated promising rheological characteristics but further optimization is needed to create homogeneous products appropriate for extrusion-based 3D printing. This work provides valuable insights for continued development of 3D-printed foods with filamentous fungi.

Sensors doi: 10.3390/s25061674

Authors: Daichi Anabuki Shiori Tahara Hibiki Yano Akira Nishiyama Kenji Wada Akiko Nishimura Ichiro Ishimaru

Living bodies emit mid-infrared light (wavelength band centered at approximately 10 µm) with a temperature-dependent intensity. Several studies have shown the possibility of measuring blood glucose levels using the mid-infrared emission of living bodies, and we have demonstrated non-invasive blood glucose measurements through distant wrist measurements (wavelength 8–14 µm) by mid-infrared passive spectroscopic imaging. However, it is not clear why blood glucose is detectable, as there is no formula that shows the effect of material thickness and concentration on emission intensity. In this study, we developed a principle for understanding glucose detection by proposing that an emission integral effect underpins the changes in emission intensity with substance thickness and absorption coefficient. We demonstrate the emission integral effect by measuring the spectral radiance of polypropylene with different thicknesses using mid-infrared passive spectroscopic imaging. The simulation results based on the emission integral effect indicate that in living bodies, dilute components such as glucose are easier to identify than components with high concentrations. Mid-infrared passive spectroscopic imaging offers potential innovative solutions for measuring various substances from a distance, with the emission integral effect acting as the basic working principle.

Cells doi: 10.3390/cells14060396

Authors: Crystal O. Mahadeo Alireza Shahin-Shamsabadi Maedeh Khodamoradi Margaret Fahnestock Ponnambalam Ravi Selvaganapathy

Electrical stimulation has been used with tissue engineering-based models to develop three-dimensional (3D), dynamic, research models that are more physiologically relevant than static two-dimensional (2D) cultures. For bone tissue, the effect of electrical stimulation has focused on promoting healing and regeneration of tissue to prevent bone loss. However, electrical stimulation can also potentially affect mature bone parenchymal cells such as osteoblasts to guide bone formation and the secretion of paracrine or endocrine factors. Due to a lack of physiologically relevant models, these phenomena have not been studied in detail. In vitro electrical stimulation models can be useful for gaining an understanding of bone physiology and its effects on paracrine tissues under different physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we use a 3D, dynamic, in vitro model of bone to study the effects of electrical stimulation conditions on protein and gene expression of SaOS-2 human osteosarcoma osteoblast-like cells. We show that different stimulation regimens, including different frequencies, exposure times, and stimulation patterns, can have different effects on the expression and secretion of the osteoblastic markers alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin. These results reveal that electrical stimulation can potentially be used to guide osteoblast gene and protein expression.

Algorithms doi: 10.3390/a18030154

Authors: Tin H. Pham Bijan Raahemi

Dimensionality reduction is essential in machine learning, reducing dataset dimensions while enhancing classification performance. Feature Selection, a key subset of dimensionality reduction, identifies the most relevant features. Genetic Algorithms (GA) are widely used for feature selection due to their robust exploration and efficient convergence. However, GAs often suffer from premature convergence, getting stuck in local optima. Quantum Genetic Algorithm (QGA) address this limitation by introducing quantum representations to enhance the search process. To further improve QGA performance, we propose an Adaptive Feature-Based Quantum Genetic Algorithm (FbQGA), which strengthens exploration and exploitation through quantum representation and adaptive quantum rotation. The rotation angle dynamically adjusts based on feature significance, optimizing feature selection. FbQGA is applied to outlier detection tasks and benchmarked against basic GA and QGA variants on five high-dimensional, imbalanced datasets. Performance is evaluated using metrics like classification accuracy, F1 score, precision, recall, selected feature count, and computational cost. Results consistently show FbQGA outperforming other methods, with significant improvements in feature selection efficiency and computational cost. These findings highlight FbQGA’s potential as an advanced tool for feature selection in complex datasets.

Water doi: 10.3390/w17060784

Authors: Yaosheng Hu Ming Tang Shuaitao Ma Zihan Zhu Qin Zhou Qianchen Xie Yuze Wu

With the intensification of global climate change, the frequency and intensity of urban flood disasters have been increasing significantly, highlighting the necessity for a scientific assessment of urban flood risks. However, most existing studies focus primarily on the spatial distribution of urban flood data and their socio-economic impacts, with limited attention on the urban flood control engineering system (UFCES) itself and the analysis of urban flood risks from the perspective of the degree of system failure. To address this gap, we proposed a rapid prediction method for key information of the UFCES based on a machine learning model. With the aim of improving the accuracy and timeliness of information prediction, we employed a coupled modeling approach that integrates physical mechanisms with data-driven methods to simulate and predict the information. Taking the Wusha River Basin in Nanchang City as a case study, we generated the training, validation, and testing datasets for machine learning using the urban flood mechanism model. Subsequently, we compared the prediction performance of four machine learning models: random forest (RF), XGBoost (XGB), support vector regression (SVR), and the backpropagation neural network (BP). The results indicate that the XGB model provides more stable and accurate simulation outcomes for key information, with Nash coefficient (R2) values above 0.87 and relative error (RE) values below 0.06. Additionally, the XGB model exhibited significant advantages in terms of simulation speed and model generalization performance. Furthermore, we explored methods for selecting key information indicators and generating samples required for the coupled model. These findings are crucial for the rapid prediction of key information in the UFCES. These achievements improve the technical level of urban flood simulation and provide richer information for urban flood risk management.

Social Sciences doi: 10.3390/socsci14030165

Authors: Merve Armagan Bogatekin Ivy Ho Yan Wang

The number of refugees across the world is increasing rapidly, as is the prevalence of Islamophobia. This flow of people and changing perceptions of them usually result in negative attitudes and hostility toward Muslims and refugees since they are perceived as the “outgroup.” This globally prevalent trend is usually attributable especially to refugees being perceived as a social, economic, or security threat. The goal of this paper is to understand Americans’ perception of outgroups and how they are related to anti-refugee and anti-Muslim sentiment by using a data-driven approach. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to determine whether there were any latent classes concerning outgroup attitudes in the US. Our results showed that people fall into four different categories regarding how they perceive Muslims, refugees, and immigrants. At the same time, there were five different latent classes regarding how they perceive immigrants. This paper aims to explore this complex issue and help to reduce prejudice and intergroup conflict, ameliorate negative attitudes, and provide these groups with a stable social support system.

Sensors doi: 10.3390/s25061681

Authors: Christoph Humer Simon Höll Martin Schagerl

Thin-walled structures are widely used in aeronautical and aerospace engineering due to their light weight and high structural performance. Ensuring their integrity is crucial for safety and reliability, which is why structural health monitoring (SHM) methods, such as guided wave-based techniques, have been developed to detect and characterize damage in such components. This study presents a novel damage identification procedure for guided wave-based SHM using deep neural networks (DNNs) trained with experimental data. This technique employs the so-called wave damage interaction coefficients (WDICs) as highly sensitive damage features that describe the unique scattering pattern around possible damage. The DNNs learn intricate relationships between damage characteristics, e.g., size or orientation, and corresponding WDIC patterns from only a limited number of damage cases. An experimental training data set is used, where the WDICs of a selected damage type are extracted from measurements using a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer. Surface-bonded artificial damages are selected herein for demonstration purposes. It is demonstrated that smart DNN interpolations can replicate WDIC patterns even when trained on noisy measurement data, and their generalization capabilities allow for precise predictions for damages with arbitrary properties within the range of trained damage characteristics. These WDIC predictions are readily available, i.e., ad hoc, and can be compared to measurement data from an unknown damage for damage characterization. Furthermore, the fully trained DNN allows for predicting WDICs specifically for the sensing angles requested during inspection. Additionally, an anglewise principal component analysis is proposed to efficiently reduce the feature dimensionality on average by more than 90% while accounting for the angular dependencies of the WDICs. The proposed damage identification methodology is investigated under challenging conditions using experimental data from only three sensors of a damage case not contained in the training data sets. Detailed statistical analyses indicate excellent performance and high recognition accuracy for this experimental data-based approach. This study also analyzes differences between simulated and experimental WDIC patterns. Therefore, an existing DNN trained on simulated data is also employed. The differences between the simulations and experiments affect the identification performance, and the resulting limitations of the simulation-based approach are clearly explained. This highlights the potential of the proposed experimental data-based DNN methodology for practical applications of guided wave-based SHM.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences doi: 10.3390/ijms26062431

Authors: Alicja Jarosz Justyna Wrona Anna Balcerzyk-Matić Karol Szyluk Tomasz Nowak Tomasz Iwanicki Joanna Iwanicka Marcin Kalita Wojciech Kania Katarzyna Gawron Paweł Niemiec

The regenerative properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) result from the high concentration of growth factors, including transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1). Nevertheless, this form of therapy may not always be effective due to the variability in genetic factors. In this study, the association of TGFB1 gene polymorphisms with the effectiveness of lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) treatment with PRP was investigated. The effectiveness of therapy was assessed using minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient-reported outcome measures (PROM), specifically visual analog scale (VAS), quick version of disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score (QDASH), and patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) for two years (in weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 52, and 104). The most effective therapy was noticed in CC rs2278422 genotype carriers, whereas carriers of AA, CC, and CC genotypes (rs12461895, rs4803455, rs2241717) showed more severe pain before therapy. Moreover, the analyses revealed an association of studied polymorphisms with such parameters of blood morphology as eosinophils (EOS), neutrophils (NEU), and monocytes (MONO). In conclusion, genotyping of rs2278422 variant may be a valuable diagnostic method for patient selection for PRP therapy, while genotyping of rs12461895, rs4803455, and rs2241717 polymorphisms may be used for prediction of increased risk of pain sensation.

Audiology Research doi: 10.3390/audiolres15020027

Authors: Aisha Casoojee Katijah Khoza-Shangase Amisha Kanji

Background: Early intervention approaches play a critical role in shaping the communication outcomes of children with hearing loss, influencing their language development and overall learning trajectory. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to compare the communication outcomes of children with hearing loss who received Listening and Spoken Language-South Africa (LSL-SA) with those who received Traditional Speech-Language Therapy (TSLT). Methods: A retrospective record review was conducted to gather data on communication outcomes from participants’ speech-language therapy records. Communication outcomes were measured using standardized assessments evaluating speech intelligibility, expressive vocabulary, receptive language, expressive language, audition, and cognitive–linguistic skills. The data were analyzed using quantitative statistics. Key statistical methods included measures to determine associations, identify statistical significance, determine outcomes, and compare differences between the two groups. Results: The study found that children in the LSL-SA group had statistically significant better communication outcomes, with 63% achieving age-appropriate speech intelligibility compared to 45% in the TSLT group (p = 0.046). Similar trends were observed for expressive vocabulary (LSL-SA: 58% vs. TSLT: 39%, p = 0.048) and receptive language (LSL-SA: 60% vs. TSLT: 39%, p = 0.043). Additionally, 66% of children in the LSL-SA group were recommended for mainstream schooling, compared to 39% in the TSLT group (p = 0.0023). These findings highlight the importance of early amplification and structured intervention in improving communication outcomes. The results also emphasize the importance of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) in decreasing the odds of delay in communication outcomes, irrespective of the type of communication approach, although a higher proportion of children in the LSL-SA approach group achieved age-appropriate communication outcomes than those in the TSLT group. Conclusions: This study highlights that communication intervention approaches aligned with the LSL-SA practice promote better communication development and enhance spoken language outcomes in children with hearing loss, facilitating successful transitions to mainstream schooling. Contribution: This study provides contextually relevant evidence for implementing an LSL-SA intervention approach for children with hearing loss. The implications of these findings for clinical practice and future research are discussed in detail.

Mathematics doi: 10.3390/math13060908

Authors: Miglena N. Koleva Lubin G. Vulkov

Direct and inverse problems for a pseudoparabolic equation are considered. The direct (forward) problem is to find the solution of the corresponding initial–boundary-value problem for known model parameters, as well as the initial and boundary conditions. The well-posedness of the direct problem is shown and a priori estimates of the solution are obtained. We study the inverse problem for identifying the flux on a part of the boundary of a rectangle, using integral measurement on the same part of the boundary. We first reduce the inverse problem to a direct one. The initial–boundary-value direct problem is with nonclassical (integrodifferential) boundary conditions. We develop a finite-difference scheme for numerically solving this problem. Numerical test examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. It successfully handles the nonclassical integrodifferential boundary conditions and provides accurate numerical solutions.