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On a Generic Fractional Derivative Associated with the Riemann–Liouville Fractional Integral
Animals
Native Compared to Citrated Whole Blood for Coagulation Testing in Horses
Nutrients
Egg Consumption and 4-Year Change in Cognitive Function in Older Men and Women
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Can the UK Deliver Zero Carbon Ready Homes by 2050?
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Stealth Metasomatism in Granulites from Ivrea (NW Italy): Hydration of the (Variscan) Lower Crust by Melt Flow

Recent Articles

28 pages, 1328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Probiotic Potential and Functional Properties of Lactobacillus Strains Isolated from Dhan, Traditional Algerian Goat Milk Butter

by Mohamed Cherif Bentahar, Djilali Benabdelmoumene, Véronique Robert, Said Dahmouni, Wasim S. M. Qadi, Zineb Bengharbi, Philippe Langella, Bouasria Benbouziane, Ebtesam Al-Olayan, Esraa Adnan Dawoud Dawoud and Ahmed Mediani

Foods 2024, 13(23), 3781; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13233781 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Goat milk butter, locally known as “Dhan,” from the Sfisfa region of Algeria, holds significant cultural and economic value. This study investigates the probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) present in Dhan, focusing particularly on Lactobacillus strains. Molecular identification using 16S rRNA revealed a dominance of Levilactobacillus brevis and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, forming a substantial part of the bacterial profile. Three LAB isolates (DC01-A, DC04, and DC06) were selected from fresh samples, and rigorous analyses were performed to evaluate their probiotic properties. Safety assessments confirmed the absence of gelatinase, DNase, and haemolytic activities in all isolates. The isolates demonstrated high tolerance to bile salts and acidic conditions, along with the ability to survive simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Notably, strain DC06 exhibited exceptional survival at low pH (1.5) and high bile salt concentrations (0.15–0.3%). All isolates showed substantial growth in MRS medium with 2% phenol, although growth was significantly decreased at 5% phenol. Furthermore, our strains exhibited high adhesion rates to various solvents, demonstrating their potential for strong interaction with cell membranes. Specifically, adhesion to chloroform was observed at 98.26% for DC01-A, 99.30% for DC04, and 99.20% for DC06. With xylene, the adhesion rates were 75.94% for DC01-A, 61.13% for DC04, and 76.52% for DC06. The LAB strains demonstrated impressive growth in ethanol concentrations up to 12%, but their tolerance did not exceed this concentration. They also exhibited robust growth across temperatures from 10 °C to 37 °C, with strains DC04 and DC06 able to proliferate at 45 °C, though none survived at 50 °C. Additionally, the isolates showed significant resistance to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and displayed medium to high autolytic activity, with rates of 50.86%, 37.53%, and 33.42% for DC01-A, DC04, and DC06, respectively. The cell-free supernatant derived from strain DC04 exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against the tested pathogens, while strain DC06 demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity with the highest DPPH scavenging rate at 68.56%, compared to the probiotic reference strain LGG at 61.28%. These collective findings not only suggest the probiotic viability of LAB strains found in Dhan but also highlight the importance of traditional food practises in contributing to health and nutrition. Consequently, this study supports the potential of traditional Dhan butter as a functional food and encourages further exploration of its health benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)

17 pages, 8166 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Research on the Correction of Vortex Light Wavefront Distortion

by Yahang Ge and Xizheng Ke

Photonics 2024, 11(12), 1116; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11121116 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Wavefront distortion occurs when vortex beams are transmitted in the atmosphere. The turbulence effect greatly affects the transmission of information, so it is necessary to use adaptive optical correction technology to correct the wavefront distortion of the vortex beam at the receiving end. In this paper, a method of vortex wavefront distortion correction based on the deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm is proposed; this is a new correction method that can effectively handle high-dimensional state and action spaces and is especially suitable for correction problems in continuous action spaces. The entire system uses adaptive wavefront correction technology without a wavefront sensor. The simulation results show that the deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm can effectively correct the distorted vortex beams and improve the mode purity, and the intensity correlation coefficient of single-mode vortex light can be increased to about 0.88 and 0.69, respectively, under weak turbulence and strong turbulence, and the intensity coefficient of weak-turbulence multi-mode vortex light can be increased to about 0.96. The experimental results also show that the adaptive correction technology based on the deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm can effectively correct the wavefront distortion of vortex light. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Optical Communication and Network)

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18 pages, 5378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Scalp-Implanted Ultra-Wideband Circularly Polarized MIMO Antenna for Biotelemetry Systems

by Zhiwei Song, Youwei Shi, Xianren Zheng and Yuchao Wang

Sensors 2024, 24(23), 7522; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24237522 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative, compact, dual-element, implantable, ultra-wideband, circularly polarized multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna designed to operate within the 2.45 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical band, and both of its radiating units are circularly polarized antennas with polarization diversity. Specifically, antenna-1 exhibits left-handed circular polarization properties, while antenna-2 demonstrates right-handed circular polarization properties. The slots in the radiating patch and ground plane help the antenna achieve 690 MHz (2.14–2.83 GHz) ultra-wide bandwidth characteristics and circularly polarized characteristics. Additionally, a slit connecting two U-slots on the ground plane allows the antenna to achieve a wide effective circularly polarized axial ratio bandwidth of 400 MHz (2.23–2.63 GHz). The antenna is compact, with dimensions of 0.065 × 0.057 × 0.0042 λ₀³ (λ₀ represents the free-space wavelength corresponding to the lowest operating frequency). The proposed antenna system’s performance was evaluated with a seven-layer homogeneous human head model, a real human head model, and minced pork. This evaluation revealed that the antenna attained a peak gain of −24.1 dBi and an isolation level of 27.5 dB. Furthermore, the assessment included the antenna’s link margin (LM), key MIMO channel characteristics, and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) metrics. The results indicate that the antenna performs exceptionally well. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electromagnetic Waves, Antennas and Sensor Technologies in Modern Biomedical and Environmental Applications)

16 pages, 6905 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing Hydrodynamic Changes in Dubai Creek, UAE: A Pre- and Post-Extension Study

by Khaled Elkersh, Serter Atabay, Tarig Ali, Abdullah G. Yilmaz, Maruf Md. Mortula and Geórgenes H. Cavalcante

Hydrology 2024, 11(12), 202; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11120202 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative study that examines the effects of the Dubai Creek extension on its hydrodynamics and water flushing dynamics. Dubai Creek (Khor Dubai) is a 24 km long artificial seawater stream located in the emirate of Dubai. The creek has experienced the impact of the rapid urbanization of Dubai and a major 13 km extension project, which connected the creek to the Arabian Gulf from the other side. In this paper, two-dimensional hydrodynamic and flushing models were created using Delft3D Flexible Mesh (2021.03) to investigate the water circulation and water quality of the creek before and after the extension. The hydrodynamic models were calibrated and validated to accurately simulate water levels and currents with correlation values close to 1 and very small RMSE and bias. Flushing models were created to simulate water renewal along the creek. The results of the flushing models showed a significant improvement in the flushing characteristics of pollutants in terms of the residence times of the extended creek (Existing Creek) model compared to the old one (Old Creek). This improvement emphasized the positive impact of the creek extension project on the local aquatic ecosystem and its overall water quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrodynamics and Water Quality of Rivers and Lakes)

14 pages, 385 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Risk Management on Direct and Indirect Capital Structure Deviations

by Xiaoyi Li and Yung-Ming Shiu

Risks 2024, 12(12), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12120186 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

This study explores the effect of risk management on capital structure deviations. Specifically, we innovatively classify capital structure deviations into direct and indirect deviations, with our classification being based on deviations resulting mainly from changes in either actual or target leverage. Thus, if the variation in the actual leverage exceeds the variation in the target leverage, this deviation is considered direct. Conversely, if the target leverage varies more than the actual leverage, it is considered an indirect deviation. Our results reveal that risk management can help reduce these deviations, which mainly result from changes in actual leverage. We further demonstrate that insurers with direct deviations adjust their capital structure approximately 29.2% faster than insurers with indirect deviations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Management for Capital Markets)

14 pages, 853 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of China’s Polysilicon Prices: A Combination Model Based on Variational Mode Decomposition, Sparrow Search Algorithm and Long Short-Term Memory

by Jining Wang, Lin Jiang and Lei Wang

Mathematics 2024, 12(23), 3690; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12233690 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Given the non-stationarity, nonlinearity, and high complexity of polysilicon prices in the photovoltaic (PV) industry chain, this paper introduces upstream and downstream material prices of the PV industry chain and macroeconomic indicators as influencing factors. The VMD–SSA–LSTM combination model is constructed to predict polysilicon prices, which is based on Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) and utilizes the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA) to optimize the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network. The research shows that decomposing the original polysilicon time series using the VMD algorithm effectively extracts the main features of polysilicon price data, reducing data instability. By optimizing the learning rate, hidden layer nodes, and regularization coefficients of the LSTM model using the Sparrow Search Algorithm, the model achieves higher convergence accuracy. Compared to the traditional LSTM model and VMD–LSTM model, the VMD–SSA–LSTM model exhibits the smallest error and the highest goodness-of-fit on the polysilicon dataset, demonstrating higher predictive accuracy for polysilicon prices, which provides more accurate reference data for market analysis and pricing decisions of the polysilicon industry. Full article

25 pages, 3845 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cross-Shaped Peg-in-Hole Autonomous Assembly System via BP Neural Network Based on Force/Moment and Visual Information

by Zheng Ma, Xiaoguang Hu and Yulin Zhou

Machines 2024, 12(12), 846; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines12120846 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Currently, research on peg-in-hole (PiH) compliant assembly is predominantly limited to circular pegs and holes, with insufficient exploration of various complex-shaped PiH tasks. Furthermore, the degree of freedom for rotation about the axis of the circular peg cannot be constrained after assembly, and few studies have covered the complete process from autonomous hole-searching to insertion. Based on the above problems, a novel cross-shaped peg and hole design has been devised. The center coordinates of the cross-hole are obtained during the hole-searching process using the three-dimensional reconstruction theory of a binocular stereo vision camera. During the insertion process, 26 contact states of the cross-peg and the cross-hole were classified, and the mapping relationship between the force-moment sensor and relative errors was established based on a backpropagation (BP) neural network, thus completing the task of autonomous PiH assembly. This system avoids hand-guiding, completely realizes the autonomous assembly task from hole-searching to insertion, and can be replaced by other structures of pegs and holes for repeated assembly after obtaining the accurate relative pose between two assembly platforms, which provides a brand-new and unified solution for complex-shaped PiH assembly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Robotics, Mechatronics and Intelligent Machines)

14 pages, 3263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical, In Cellulo, and In Silico Characterization of the Aminocholine Analogs of VG

by Stavroula Kostoudi, Nikolaos Iatridis, Dimitra Hadjipavlou-Litina, Eleni Pontiki and Georgios Pampalakis

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 12656; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312656 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

V-type nerve agents are exceedingly toxic chemical warfare agents that irreversibly inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), leading to acetylcholine accumulation in synapses and the disruption of neurotransmission. VG or O.O-diethyl S-(diethylamino)ethyl phosphorothiolate was the first compound of this class that was synthesized. The selenocholines (-Se-), cholines (-O-), and methylene-cholines (-CH₂-) analogs of V-agents have been synthesized and their anti-AChE activities reported. Nevertheless, the aminocholine derivatives have not been pursued. Here, we have designed and synthesized a series of phosphorylated aminocholines analogs of VG that were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (H1, C13, P31, and TOCSY). Their pharmacological properties were analyzed in silico, while their toxicological properties were in vitro investigated using the SH-SY5Y cellular model. Despite the drug likeness of the new compounds, these fail to inhibit AChE in vitro and in cellulo. This may be partially explained by the fact that aminocholine is not a good leaving group compared to thiocholine. Remarkably, one of the compounds (P4) was found to even increase the activity of AChE. These compounds may serve as new nerve agent mimics that are safer alternatives for testing countermeasures. Importantly, P4 may act as a lead compound for developing a new class of alternative nerve agent pretreatments that are safer from pyridostigmine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry)

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13 pages, 693 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Valorising Transnational Heritage Through Cultural Routes—European Travels in Special Collections of Adriatic Libraries

by Nataša Urošević, Ross Cameron and Damjana Frančić

Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(12), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120632 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

In this paper, the authors present the possibilities of transnational networking and developing innovative cultural routes through participatory research and creative presentations of European cultural heritage in special collections of Adriatic libraries. The purpose of the research, conducted in the framework of the course Travel Writing and Cultural Routes, was to identify collections that contain travel writing material related to the broader Euro-Mediterranean area and to enable its better visibility through the digitization and creation of new European cultural routes. The students, with the help of librarians at the University Library in Pula, explored special collections, such as the Marine Library, and proposed the creation of new cultural routes, following the itineraries of European travel writers in the Adriatic. The conducted research indicated collections and materials in heritage institutions (archives, libraries and museums) in Pula and Istria relevant to the topics of cultural routes and travel in Europe, as well as regional multicultural history. Libraries in Istria and Dalmatia have valuable collections of rare archival material related to European travels to the Adriatic. The cataloguing and digitisation of rare travel texts has the potential to raise awareness of these collections, adding to their significance for academic research and heritage-based tourism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from Enhancing Heritage Experience—Exploring Cultural Routes)

18 pages, 6403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis Membranes for Pharmaceutically Active Compounds Removal: A Solution Diffusion Model Approach

by Yonghyun Shin, Tae-Mun Hwang, Sook-Hyun Nam, Eunju Kim, JeongBeen Park, Yong-Jun Choi, Homin Kye and Jae-Wuk Koo

Membranes 2024, 14(12), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/membranes14120250 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), including pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), present significant challenges for conventional water treatment processes and pose potential risks to environmental and human health. To address these issues, nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technologies have gained attention. This study aims to evaluate the performance of NF and RO membranes in removing TrOCs from wastewater and develop a predictive model using the Solution Diffusion Model. Experiments were conducted using a stirred cell setup at various target concentrations, stirring speeds, and operating pressures, with acetaminophen and caffeine selected as representative pharmaceutical compounds. The results demonstrated that most of the pharmaceutical compounds were effectively removed, showing excellent performance. NF membranes exhibited high permeate flux with somewhat lower removal efficiency (average 84.17%), while RO membranes demonstrated high removal efficiency (average 99.21%), highlighting their importance in trace pharmaceutical treatment. The predictive model based on the solution diffusion model correlated well with the experimental data, suggesting its potential utility for large-scale system applications. This study confirms that NF and RO membranes are effective technologies for the removal of TrOCs from wastewater, offering a promising solution to the challenges posed by trace pharmaceutical contaminants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Membrane Technologies for Water Purification)

17 pages, 7731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bond-Slip Behavior Between C-Shaped Steel and Foamed Concrete in CTS Composite Structural Members

by Haitao Chen, Yishun Wang, Zhifeng Xu, Fengwei Shi, Haifeng Lv, Yaoyong Zhang and Yanze Sun

Buildings 2024, 14(12), 3751; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14123751 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

The bond-slip behavior between cold-formed thin-walled steel (CTS) and foamed concrete (FC) is a critical issue in the mechanical performance of FC-filled CTS composite wall structures. Thus, this study provides experimental and theoretical research on the bond-slip behavior between CTS and FC. A total of eleven specimens were tested using push-out configurations, considering the number of web holes, foamed concrete (FC) strength, anchorage length, and CTS section splice form. A constitutive model for bond-slip was proposed, and the regression formulas for accurately predicting the characteristic bond strength between CTS and foamed concrete were established. A finite element model was developed to investigate the bond-slip mechanism at the interface between CTS and FC. The bond-slip constitutive model accurately fits the experimental and finite element results. The results indicate that the ultimate bond strength of the specimens increases with the number of web holes; when the number of web holes reaches two, the ultimate bond strength is 155.4% of that of the non-perforated specimens. As the concrete strength increases from 3.43 MPa to 11.26 MPa, the ultimate bond strength of specimens with two web holes improves by 23.1%, while non-perforated specimens have a 54.7% enhancement. When the anchorage length is extended from 200 mm to 400 mm, the ultimate bond strength decreases by 29.3%. Additionally, when steel sections are joined in a double-span I form, the bond strength increases by 91.6% and 95.8% compared to the single-span form and the double-span box form, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)

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16 pages, 2178 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Analysis of Mechanical Property Enhancement of Paper-Pulp-Based Packaging Materials Using Biodegradable Additives

by Amalka Indupama Samarathunga, Watagoda Gedara Chathura Madusanka Kulasooriya, Horawala Mahawaththage Dona Umesha Sewwandi, Vimukthi Vithanage, Ashan Induranga, Buddhika Sampath Kumara and Kaveenga Koswattage

Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10310; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310310 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Generally, paper-pulp-based materials are emerging in the packaging industry due to their high degree of biodegradability. Along with agricultural byproducts as an alternative, using additive or secondary materials in various processes and products has been a solution for implementing sustainability in material utilization. However, biodegradable materials still need to be improved due to the lack of properties which are essential for their use as packaging material. Currently, a number of research attempts have focused on enhancing the mechanical and thermal properties to increase the effectivity of those biodegradable materials for use as packaging material. The objective of this study is to analyze the effectivity of using sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and wheat flour (starch) as a strengthening and thermal resistive additive. Due to its proven nano range particle size and fibrous nature, this material could positively affect the material properties. A total of twelve samples were prepared by varying the weight fraction of SCBA, white flour, and paper pulp. A compression molding method was used to prepare cylindrical samples with a diameter of 50 mm and a height of 55 mm under a compression load of 2 tonnes. Wet molded cylindrical blocks were oven-dried at

105^{\circ}

C for 48 h to remove excessive moisture from the samples. Subsequently, all the samples were dried further until no significant weight loss was observed after the drying process to ensure their uniform moisture conditions. The prepared samples were tested for compressive strength using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM). Both load and compressive stress acting on each sample were plotted against the deflection of the sample. For the analysis, the deflection of each sample was measured at 8.6 kN load and the sample with 10% SCBA and 12.5% starch exhibited the least displacement among all additives. The results show that the samples with 10% SCBA and 12.5% starch also had the highest compressive strength compared to the other samples. Further, samples with the same amount of SCBA were analyzed for thermal resistivity and to obtain the thermal behavior of samples which is crucial in food packaging.Overall, most of the SCBA and starch mixed samples showed superior compressive strength compared to the pure paper-pulp-based sample. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Composite Materials: From Smart Production to Optimal Operation)

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14 pages, 3024 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Analysis and Biological Potential of Cotton Lavender Ethanolic Extract (Santolina chamaecyparissus L., Asteraceae)

by Katarina Radovanović, Dajana Vukić, Nebojša Kladar, Maja Hitl, Neda Gavarić and Milica Aćimović

Horticulturae 2024, 10(12), 1247; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10121247 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus L., Asteraceae) is a widespread medicinal and ornamental plant. This study aimed to evaluate the preliminary and detailed chemical composition as well as the biological activity of ethanolic extract. As part of the preliminary characterization, the content of total phenolics and flavonoids was determined, while the detailed characterization was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antioxidant activity was evaluated through four different tests: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl (OH^•), and nitroso (NO^•) radicals, and lipid peroxidation (LP), as well as antihyperglycemic potential through the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. Additionally, in silico molecular modeling was employed to link the chemical composition to the antihyperglycemic potential. Chemical characterization showed that cotton lavender is a valuable source of phenolic compounds, with ferulic and p-coumaric acids being the most abundant. Moreover, the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant potential of the ethanolic extract was demonstrated in vitro. The potential mechanism of the antihyperglycemic effect is the inhibition of the enzyme α-glucosidase, which was further investigated in silico using molecular modeling methods. This analysis suggested rutin and quercetin as compounds responsible for anti-α-glucosidase activity. Cotton lavender ethanolic extracts, as a valuable source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, possess moderate antioxidant effects and notable antihyperglycemic activity. According to in vitro and in silico investigations, it could be a valuable herbal supplement to complement diabetes treatment in medicinal therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Characterization of Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Medicinal Plants)

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19 pages, 1765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Catalytic Transformation of Biomass-Derived Hemicellulose Sugars by the One-Pot Method into Carboxylic Acids Using Heterogeneous Catalysts

by Natalia Sobuś, Marcin Piotrowski and Izabela Czekaj

Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 857; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120857 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

This article presents the conditions for the transformation of pulp containing mixtures that occur in the hemicellulose fraction derived from lignocellulosic biomass. Selected materials with strong acid centers were used as catalytic materials: ion exchange resins, including AMBERLYST 15(H) and DOWEX DR-G8(H), and selected zeolite in the hydrogen form of the Beta type (H-BEA). The group was marked with the abbreviations M1, M2 and M3, where it differs in the content of xylose, mannose, galactose, glucose, rhamnose and uronic acids. The catalytic process was carried out in the reactor as a one-pot technique at temperatures of 180–250 °C for 1–5 h. Based on the collected results, the transformation products of hemicellulose pulp were determined and the catalytic abilities of selected materials were determined. The proposed conditions led to the production of organic acids. Levulinic acid was obtained with a selectivity of 25.95% after 1 h of the process at a temperature of 250 °C with the participation of H-BEA, and lactic acid was obtained with a selectivity of 73.28% after 5 h of the process at a temperature of 250 °C using DOWEX DRG8(H). The presence of oxalic, propionic and acetic acids was also observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Topical Advisory Panel Members' Collection Series: Biomass Catalytic Conversion)

25 pages, 1271 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Chitosan-Based Materials for Biomedical, Food, and Water Treatment Applications

by Dan Chicea and Alexandra Nicolae-Maranciuc

Materials 2024, 17(23), 5770; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235770 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Chitosan, a natural biopolymer with excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and modifiable structure, has broad applications in regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, food packaging, and environmental technology. Its abundance, solubility in acidic solutions, and capacity for chemical modification make it highly adaptable for creating specialized derivatives with enhanced properties. Recent advances have demonstrated chitosan’s efficacy in composite systems for tissue regeneration, drug delivery, and antimicrobial applications. This review examines chitosan’s unique properties, with a focus on its antibacterial activity as influenced by factors like pH, concentration, molecular weight, and deacetylation degree. Additionally, chitosan’s potential as a sustainable, non-toxic material for eco-friendly packaging and water treatment is explored, highlighting the growing interest in chitosan composites with other polymers and metallic nanoparticles for enhanced biomedical and environmental applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Application)

13 pages, 6387 KiB

Open AccessArticle

OVsignGenes: A Gene Expression-Based Neural Network Model Estimated Molecular Subtype of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma

by Anastasiya Kobelyatskaya, Anna Tregubova, Andrea Palicelli, Alina Badlaeva and Aleksandra Asaturova

Cancers 2024, 16(23), 3951; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16233951 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Background/Objectives: High-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) are highly heterogeneous tumors, both among patients and within a single tumor. Differences in molecular mechanisms significantly describe this heterogeneity. Four molecular subtypes have been previously described by the Cancer Genome Atlas Consortium: differentiated, immunoreactive, mesenchymal, and proliferative. These subtypes may have varying degrees of progression, relapse-free survival, and overall survival, as well as response to therapy. The precise determination of these subtypes is certainly necessary both for diagnosis and future development of targeted therapies within personalized medicine. Methods: In this study, we analyzed gene expression data based on bulk RNA-seq, scRNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomic data from six cohorts (totaling 535 samples, including 60 single-cell samples). Differential expression analysis was performed using the edgeR package. The KEGG database and GSVA package were used for pathways enrichment analysis. As a predictive model, a deep neural network was created using the keras and tensorflow libraries. Results: We identified 357 differentially expressed genes among the four subtypes: 96 differentiated, 33 immunoreactive, 91 mesenchymal, and 137 proliferative. Based on these, we created OVsignGenes, a neural network model resistant to the effects of platform (test dataset AUC = 0.969). We then ran data from five more cohorts through our model, including scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics. Conclusions: Because the differentiated subtype is located at the intersection of the other three subtypes based on PCA and does not have a unique profile of differentially expressed genes or enriched pathways, it can be considered an initiating subtype of tumor that will develop into one of the three other subtypes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Solid and Hematologic Neoplasms)

21 pages, 789 KiB

Open AccessReview

Advances in Encapsulating Marine Bioactive Compounds Using Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) and Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) for Health Applications

by Rita Favas, Hugo Almeida, Andreia F. Peixoto, Domingos Ferreira and Ana C. Silva

Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(12), 1517; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16121517 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

As life expectancy rises and modern lifestyles improve, there is an increasing focus on health, disease prevention, and enhancing physical appearance. Consumers are more aware of the benefits of natural ingredients in healthcare products while also being mindful of sustainability challenges. Consequently, marine bioactive compounds have gained popularity as ingredients in cosmetics and food supplements due to their diverse beneficial properties. Nonetheless, the use of some of these compounds is restricted by their low stability and poor aqueous solubility, necessitating solutions to overcome these limitations. In this context, lipid nanoparticles, such as solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), have been investigated for their potential to protect and improve the absorption of molecules through various routes, including oral and cutaneous. Numerous studies have shown that nanoencapsulating these compounds and incorporating them into cosmetics and food supplements can be effective. However, this application remains unregulated at the global level and is not currently addressed by existing legislation. Additional in vivo studies in both animals and humans are necessary to fully assess safety concerns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic New Challenges in the Cosmetics Industry)

22 pages, 2320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

HSD²Former: Hybrid-Scale Dual-Domain Transformer with Crisscrossed Interaction for Hyperspectral Image Classification

by Binxin Luo, Meihui Li, Yuxing Wei, Haorui Zuo, Jianlin Zhang and Dongxu Liu

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(23), 4411; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16234411 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

An unescapable trend of hyperspectral image (HSI) has been toward classification with high accuracy and splendid performance. In recent years, Transformers have made remarkable progress in the HSI classification task. However, Transformer-based methods still encounter two main challenges. First, they concentrate on extracting spectral information and are incapable of using spatial information to a great extent. Second, they lack the utilization of multiscale features and do not sufficiently combine the advantages of the Transformer’s global feature extraction and multiscale feature extraction. To tackle these challenges, this article proposes a new solution named the hybrid-scale dual-domain Transformer with crisscrossed interaction (HSD²Former) for HSI classification. HSD²Former consists of three functional modules: dual-dimension multiscale convolutional embedding (D²MSCE), mixed domainFormer (MDFormer), and pyramid scale fusion block (PSFB). D²MSCE supersedes conventional patch embedding to generate spectral and spatial tokens at different scales, effectively enriching the diversity of spectral-spatial features. MDFormer is designed to facilitate self-enhancement and information interaction between the spectral domain and spatial domain, alleviating the heterogeneity of the spatial domain and spectral domain. PSFB introduces a straightforward fusion manner to achieve advanced semantic information for classification. Extensive experiments conducted on four datasets demonstrate the robustness and significance of HSD²Former. The classification evaluation indicators of OA, AA, and Kappa on four datasets almost exceed 98%, reaching state-of-the-art performance. Full article

15 pages, 12000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of UeMsb2 in Filamentous Growth and Pathogenicity of Ustilago esculenta

by Wanlong Jiang, Yingli Hu, Juncheng Wu, Jianglong Hu, Jintian Tang, Ran Wang, Zihong Ye and Yafen Zhang

J. Fungi 2024, 10(12), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10120818 (registering DOI) - 25 Nov 2024

Abstract

Ustilago esculenta is a dimorphic fungus that specifically infects Zizania latifolia, causing stem swelling and the formation of an edible fleshy stem known as jiaobai. The pathogenicity of U. esculenta is closely associated with the development of jiaobai and phenotypic differentiation. Msb2 acts as a key upstream sensor in the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathway, playing critical roles in fungal hyphal growth, osmotic regulation, maintenance of cell wall integrity, temperature adaptation, and pathogenicity. In this study, we cloned the UeMsb2 gene from U. esculenta (GenBank No. MW768949). The open reading frame of UeMsb2 is 3015 bp in length, lacks introns, encodes a 1004-amino-acid protein with a conserved serine-rich domain, and is localized to the vacuole. Expression analysis revealed that UeMsb2 is inducibly expressed during both hyphal growth and infection processes. Deletion of UeMsb2 did not affect haploid morphology or growth rate in vitro but significantly impaired the strain’s mating ability, suppressed filamentous growth, slowed host infection progression, and downregulated the expression of b signaling pathway genes associated with pathogenicity. Notably, the deletion of UeMsb2 did not influence the in vitro growth of U. esculenta under hyperosmotic, thermal, or oxidative stress conditions. These findings underscore the critical role of UeMsb2 in regulating the pathogenicity of U. esculenta. This study provides insights into the interaction between U. esculenta and Z. latifolia, particularly the mechanisms that drive host stem swelling. Full article

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Abstract

The strong wind environment causes the additional conductor of the overhead contact system (OCS) of the Lanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed railway to gallop, significantly impacting the safe operation of the train. This paper presents the design of an online monitoring system for the galloping of additional conductors in the OCS, utilizing video monitoring for accurate and real-time assessment. Initially, the dynamics of the OCS additional conductor and its operational environment are examined, leading to the selection of suitable data transmission and power supply methods to finalize the camera configuration. Secondly, a preprocessing method for enhancing images of galloping in OCS additional conductors is developed, effectively reducing noise in edge detection through a region chain code clustering analysis. The video monitoring system effectively extracts wire edges, addressing the issues of splitting, breakage, and edge overlap in edge detection, while accurately identifying wire targets in video images. In conclusion, a galloping monitoring test platform is established to extract galloping data from additional conductors through video monitoring. The analysis of the galloping frequency and amplitude facilitates the comprehensive monitoring and assessment of the galloping status of OCS additional conductors. The video monitoring system effectively extracts and analyzes galloping data of the OCS additional conductor, fulfilling the fundamental requirements for the online monitoring of additional conductor galloping, and possesses significant engineering application value. Full article

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