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16 pages, 5999 KiB  
Article
Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) Supply through Internal Cooling Channels in Drilling Processes
by Lukas Schumski, Teresa Tonn, Jens S?lter, Kerstin Avila, Lizoel Buss, Bernhard Karpuschewski and Udo Fritsching
J. Manuf. Mater. Process. 2024, 8(2), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp8020069 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) technologies possess great potential for improving the sustainability of manufacturing processes, which can reduce the absolute quantity of metalworking fluid (MWF) and also enable near-dry chips that are easier to recycle. During drilling in particular, the MWF is transported [...] Read more.
Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) technologies possess great potential for improving the sustainability of manufacturing processes, which can reduce the absolute quantity of metalworking fluid (MWF) and also enable near-dry chips that are easier to recycle. During drilling in particular, the MWF is transported to the contact zone through internal cooling channels of the drilling tool. The MWF supply and its associated flow behaviour in the transfer from the outlet of the cooling channels to the contact zone have not been sufficiently investigated yet. Great potential is seen in the proper delivery of the MQL into the contact zone. This work aims to visualize and quantify the cooling lubricant supply into the cutting zone using the MQL technique. The visualization of the MQL application is made possible by high-speed shadowgraphic imaging. Detailed image processing is used to evaluate the resulting images. The developed evaluation routine allows for the assessment of the impact of the main process parameters such as the varying pressure of the aerosol generator and the cooling channel diameter. It is found that the oil leaves the cooling channels at the tip of the drill bit in the form of ligaments. An increase in pressure and cooling channel diameter leads to an increase in the frequency of oil ligament separation. Three main flow regimes are identified with different separation frequencies. Low inlet pressures result in intermittently dispersed droplets. The most upper pressure levels lead to an almost continuous dispersion of the oil. At the same time, the air and oil mass flow rates also increase. Full article
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17 pages, 2916 KiB  
Article
Impact of Recombinant VSV-HIV Prime, DNA-Boost Vaccine Candidates on Immunogenicity and Viremia on SHIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques
by Alice Berger, Jannie Pedersen, Monika M. Kowatsch, Florine Scholte, Marc-Alexandre Lafrance, Hiva Azizi, Yue Li, Alejandro Gomez, Matthew Wade, Hugues Fausther-Bovendo, Marc-Antoine de La Vega, Joseph Jelinski, George Babuadze, Marie-Edith Nepveu-Traversy, Claude Lamarre, Trina Racine, Chil-Yong Kang, Bruno Gaillet, Alain Garnier, Rénald Gilbert, Amine Kamen, Xiao-Jian Yao, Keith R. Fowke, Eric Arts and Gary Kobingeradd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Vaccines 2024, 12(4), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12040369 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Currently, no effective vaccine to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is available, and various platforms are being examined. The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vaccine vehicle can induce robust humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, making it a suitable candidate for the development of [...] Read more.
Currently, no effective vaccine to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is available, and various platforms are being examined. The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vaccine vehicle can induce robust humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, making it a suitable candidate for the development of an HIV vaccine. Here, we analyze the protective immunological impacts of recombinant VSV vaccine vectors that express chimeric HIV Envelope proteins (Env) in rhesus macaques. To improve the immunogenicity of these VSV-HIV Env vaccine candidates, we generated chimeric Envs containing the transmembrane and cytoplasmic tail of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), which increases surface Env on the particle. Additionally, the Ebola virus glycoprotein was added to the VSV-HIV vaccine particles to divert tropism from CD4 T cells and enhance their replications both in vitro and in vivo. Animals were boosted with DNA constructs that encoded matching antigens. Vaccinated animals developed non-neutralizing antibody responses against both the HIV Env and the Ebola virus glycoprotein (EBOV GP) as well as systemic memory T-cell activation. However, these responses were not associated with observable protection against simian-HIV (SHIV) infection following repeated high-dose intra-rectal SHIV SF162p3 challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section HIV Vaccines)
15 pages, 1608 KiB  
Article
Real-World Video Super-Resolution with a Degradation-Adaptive Model
by Mingxuan Lu and Peng Zhang
Sensors 2024, 24(7), 2211; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24072211 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Video super-resolution (VSR) remains challenging for real-world applications due to complex and unknown degradations. Existing methods lack the flexibility to handle video sequences with different degradation levels, thus failing to reflect real-world scenarios. To address this problem, we propose a degradation-adaptive video super-resolution [...] Read more.
Video super-resolution (VSR) remains challenging for real-world applications due to complex and unknown degradations. Existing methods lack the flexibility to handle video sequences with different degradation levels, thus failing to reflect real-world scenarios. To address this problem, we propose a degradation-adaptive video super-resolution network (DAVSR) based on a bidirectional propagation network. Specifically, we adaptively employ three distinct degradation levels to process input video sequences, aiming to obtain training pairs that reflect a variety of real-world corrupted images. We also equip the network with a pre-cleaning module to reduce noise and artifacts in the low-quality video sequences prior to information propagation. Additionally, compared to previous flow-based methods, we employ an unsupervised optical flow estimator to acquire a more precise optical flow to guide inter-frame alignment. Meanwhile, while maintaining network performance, we streamline the propagation network branches and the structure of the reconstruction module of the baseline network. Experiments are conducted on datasets with diverse degradation types to validate the effectiveness of DAVSR. Our method exhibits an average improvement of 0.18 dB over a recent SOTA approach (DBVSR) in terms of the PSNR metric. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our network in handling real-world video sequences with different degradation levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Intelligent Sensors)
16 pages, 5096 KiB  
Article
Equivalent Circuits for Microwave Metamaterial Planar Components
by Romolo Marcelli
Sensors 2024, 24(7), 2212; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24072212 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Metamaterial components and antennas are based on the general understanding that an artificial structure composed of adequately designed and manufactured elementary cells or arrays has unusual resonance and propagation properties. Metamaterials exhibit equivalent values of the dielectric constant and magnetic permeability that are [...] Read more.
Metamaterial components and antennas are based on the general understanding that an artificial structure composed of adequately designed and manufactured elementary cells or arrays has unusual resonance and propagation properties. Metamaterials exhibit equivalent values of the dielectric constant and magnetic permeability that are both negative simultaneously, in contrast with ordinary materials. Single elements, periodic, or quasi-periodic configurations can be suitable for a metamaterial response. In this paper, equivalent circuits for microwave propagation and resonance are compared, deriving a lumped element modeling complementary to those already available in the literature, with a particular focus on planar resonating devices and calculating the effective value for the dielectric constant and the magnetic permeability directly from experimental findings using the impedance (Z-parameters) notation. Full article
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22 pages, 3014 KiB  
Review
A Mini Review on Borate Photocatalysts for Water Decomposition: Synthesis, Structure, and Further Challenges
by Xiaorui Sun and Jia Yang
Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1549; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071549 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
The development of novel photocatalysts, both visible and UV-responsive, for water decomposition reactions is of great importance. Here we focused on the application of the borates as photocatalysts in water decomposition reactions, including water splitting reaction, hydrogen evolution half-reaction, and oxygen evolution half-reaction. [...] Read more.
The development of novel photocatalysts, both visible and UV-responsive, for water decomposition reactions is of great importance. Here we focused on the application of the borates as photocatalysts in water decomposition reactions, including water splitting reaction, hydrogen evolution half-reaction, and oxygen evolution half-reaction. In addition, the rates of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution by these borate photocatalysts in different water decomposition reactions were summarized. Further, the review summarized the synthetic chemistry and structural features of existing borate photocatalysts for water decomposition reactions. Synthetic chemistry mainly includes high-temperature solid-state method, sol-gel method, precipitation method, hydrothermal method, boric acid flux method, and high-pressure method. Next, we summarized the crystal structures of the borate photocatalysts, with a particular focus on the form of the B-O unit and metal-oxygen polyhedral in the borates, and used this to classify borate photocatalysts, which are rarely mentioned in the current photocatalysis literature. Finally, we analyzed the relationship between the structural features of the borate photocatalysts and photocatalytic performance to discuss the further challenges faced by the borate photocatalysts for water decomposition reactions. Full article
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11 pages, 865 KiB  
Review
The Many Faces of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease Treatment: From the Mediterranean Diet to Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
by Ludovico Abenavoli, Maria Luisa Gambardella, Giuseppe Guido Maria Scarlata, Ilaria Lenci, Leonardo Baiocchi and Francesco Luzza
Medicina 2024, 60(4), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina60040563 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
The gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by the gut microbiota. The main phyla are Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), an alteration in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes abundance promotes its pathogenesis and evolution into non-alcoholic [...] Read more.
The gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by the gut microbiota. The main phyla are Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. In non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now renamed metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), an alteration in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes abundance promotes its pathogenesis and evolution into non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. For this reason, early treatment is necessary to counteract its progression. The aim of the present narrative review is to evaluate the different therapeutic approaches to MAFLD. The most important treatment for MAFLD is lifestyle changes. In this regard, the Mediterranean diet could be considered the gold standard in the prevention and treatment of MAFLD. In contrast, a Western diet should be discouraged. Probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation seem to be valid, safe, and effective alternatives for MAFLD treatment. However, more studies with a longer follow-up and with a larger cohort of patients are needed to underline the more effective approaches to contrasting MAFLD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novelties in Chronic Liver Diseases)
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17 pages, 8111 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Metabolites of an Invasive Weed Wedelia trilobata
by Xinqi Jiang, Daiyi Chen, Yu Zhang, Misbah Naz, Zhicong Dai, Shanshan Qi and Daolin Du
Microorganisms 2024, 12(4), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12040701 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
The invasive plant Wedelia trilobata benefits in various aspects, such as nutrient absorption and environmental adaptability, by establishing a close symbiotic relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, our understanding of whether AMF can benefit W. trilobata by influencing its metabolic profile remains [...] Read more.
The invasive plant Wedelia trilobata benefits in various aspects, such as nutrient absorption and environmental adaptability, by establishing a close symbiotic relationship with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). However, our understanding of whether AMF can benefit W. trilobata by influencing its metabolic profile remains limited. In this study, Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was conducted to analyze the metabolites of W. trilobata under AMF inoculation. Metabolomic analysis identified 119 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) between the groups inoculated with AMF and those not inoculated with AMF. Compared to plants with no AMF inoculation, plants inoculated with AMF showed upregulation in the relative expression of 69 metabolites and downregulation in the relative expression of 50 metabolites. AMF significantly increased levels of various primary and secondary metabolites in plants, including amino acids, organic acids, plant hormones, flavonoids, and others, with amino acids being the most abundant among the identified substances. The identified DEMs mapped 53 metabolic pathways, with 7 pathways strongly influenced by AMF, particularly the phenylalanine metabolism pathway. Moreover, we also observed a high colonization level of AMF in the roots of W. trilobata, significantly promoting the shoot growth of this plant. These changes in metabolites and metabolic pathways significantly affect multiple physiological and biochemical processes in plants, such as free radical scavenging, osmotic regulation, cell structure stability, and material synthesis. In summary, AMF reprogrammed the metabolic pathways of W. trilobata, leading to changes in both primary and secondary metabolomes, thereby benefiting the growth of W. trilobata and enhancing its ability to respond to various biotic and abiotic stressors. These findings elucidate the molecular regulatory role of AMF in the invasive plant W. trilobata and provide new insights into the study of its competitive and stress resistance mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Microbe Interactions)
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12 pages, 604 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Tumor-Specific Markers in Breast Cancer on Other Blood Parameters
by Vlad Bogdan Varzaru, Anca-Elena Eftenoiu, Daliborca Cristina Vlad, Cristian Sebastian Vlad, Aurica Elisabeta Moatar, Roxana Popescu and Ionut Marcel Cobec
Life 2024, 14(4), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14040458 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women, responsible for the highest number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There is limited data available related to serum tumor markers in breast cancer and other blood parameters or other glandular laboratory parameters. This [...] Read more.
Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women, responsible for the highest number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There is limited data available related to serum tumor markers in breast cancer and other blood parameters or other glandular laboratory parameters. This study aims to evaluate the correlation of tumor-specific markers for breast cancer with other blood parameters and how these correlations could impact clinical management. Material and Method: This retrospective study represents a data analysis from 1 January 2020 to 31 May 2023, in the County Hospital of Timisoara, Romania. We reviewed all the cases where, in the laboratory analyses, the serum tumor specific biomarkers for breast cancer were analyzed. Results: A statistical analysis was performed in order to identify a possible relationship between CA 15-3 and the various biomarkers and blood parameters included in the present study. Values were classified according to reference ranges. The tests revealed no statistically significant associations between CA 15-3 values and the levels of CA125 (χ2(1) = 1.852, p = 0.174), CEA (χ2(1) = 1.139, p = 0.286), AFP (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.341), fT4 (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.310), TSH (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.177), or PTH (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.650). Conclusion: The findings indicate a lack of strong correlation between CA 15-3 and CA125, CEA, AFP, thyroid function markers, or PTH within this cohort. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breast Cancer: Pathology, Biomarkers and Treatment)
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19 pages, 572 KiB  
Review
Targeting Vascular Impairment, Neuroinflammation, and Oxidative Stress Dynamics with Whole-Body Cryotherapy in Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
by Angela Dziedzic, Karina Maciak, El?bieta Dorota Miller, Micha? Starosta and Joanna Saluk
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(7), 3858; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25073858 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS), traditionally perceived as a neurodegenerative disease, exhibits significant vascular alternations, including blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, which may predispose patients to increased cardiovascular risks. This vascular dysfunction is intricately linked with the infiltration of immune cells into the central nervous system [...] Read more.
Multiple sclerosis (MS), traditionally perceived as a neurodegenerative disease, exhibits significant vascular alternations, including blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption, which may predispose patients to increased cardiovascular risks. This vascular dysfunction is intricately linked with the infiltration of immune cells into the central nervous system (CNS), which plays a significant role in perpetuating neuroinflammation. Additionally, oxidative stress serves not only as a byproduct of inflammatory processes but also as an active contributor to neural damage. The synthesis of these multifaceted aspects highlights the importance of understanding their cumulative impact on MS progression. This review reveals that the triad of vascular damage, chronic inflammation, and oxidative imbalance may be considered interdependent processes that exacerbate each other, underscoring the need for holistic and multi-targeted therapeutic approaches in MS management. There is a necessity for reevaluating MS treatment strategies to encompass these overlapping pathologies, offering insights for future research and potential therapeutic interventions. Whole-body cryotherapy (WBCT) emerges as one of the potential avenues for holistic MS management approaches which may alleviate the triad of MS progression factors in multiple ways. Full article
9 pages, 1956 KiB  
Article
Tunable near and Mid-Infrared (1.3–5 µm) Picosecond Pulsed Optical Vortex Parametric Oscillator
by Mailikeguli Aihemaiti, Dulikun Sulaiman, Dana Jashaner, Yuxia Zhou, Xining Yang, Zhaoxue Li, Bilali Muhutijiang and Taximaiti Yusufu
Photonics 2024, 11(4), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11040319 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
In this paper, we present a picosecond pulsed, synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator producing vortex beam output with tunable wavelengths in the near- to mid-infrared range. The system utilizes a Nd:YVO4 picosecond pulsed solid-state laser emitting at a wavelength of 1.064 µm [...] Read more.
In this paper, we present a picosecond pulsed, synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator producing vortex beam output with tunable wavelengths in the near- to mid-infrared range. The system utilizes a Nd:YVO4 picosecond pulsed solid-state laser emitting at a wavelength of 1.064 µm to pump a Z-shaped, singly resonant OPO which contains a MgO:PPLN crystal with a fan-shaped grating. The wavelength tuning characteristics of the OPO output are examined both as a function of the MgO:PPLN grating period and crystal temperature. The orbital angular momentum of the pump field can be selectively transferred to either the signal or idler fields by appropriately adjusting the location of the MgO:PPLN crystal within the OPO cavity. The maximum output power of the signal and idler vortex fields are 5.12 W and 3.46 W, respectively, for an incident pump power of 19 W. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Structured Light Beams: Science and Applications)
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14 pages, 258 KiB  
Article
Access to Oncology Medicines in Canada: Consensus Forum for Recommendations for Improvement
by Sandeep R. Sehdev, Nigel S. B. Rawson, Olexiy I. Aseyev, Catriona J. Buick, Marcus O. Butler, Scott Edwards, Sharlene Gill, Joanna M. Gotfrit, Cyrus C. Hsia, Rosalyn A. Juergens, Mita Manna, Joy S. McCarthy, Som D. Mukherjee, Stephanie L. Snow, Silvana Spadafora, David J. Stewart, Jason R. Wentzell, Ralph P. W. Wong and Pawel G. Zalewski
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(4), 1803-1816; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31040136 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Patient access to new oncology drugs in Canada is only possible after navigating multiple sequential systemic checkpoints for national regulatory approval, health technology assessment (HTA) and collective government price negotiation. These steps delay access and prevent health care providers from being able to [...] Read more.
Patient access to new oncology drugs in Canada is only possible after navigating multiple sequential systemic checkpoints for national regulatory approval, health technology assessment (HTA) and collective government price negotiation. These steps delay access and prevent health care providers from being able to prescribe optimal therapy. Eighteen Canadian oncology clinicians from the medicine, nursing and pharmacy professions met to develop consensus recommendations for defining reasonable government performance standards around process and timeliness to improve Canadian cancer patients’ access to best care. A modified Delphi methodology was used to identify consensus on 30 questions involving five themes: accountability, disparities, endpoints, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness. It was agreed that greater transparency is required across regulatory and HTA processes. Health professionals in oncology are frustrated for their patients because they are unable to deliver the modern guideline-supported therapies they want to provide due to delays in approval or funding. Canadian health care providers request improvements in timely access to life-saving therapeutics in line with other comparator countries. Clinicians expect urgent improvements in Canadian health systems to give our patients their best chance of survival. Full article
19 pages, 1306 KiB  
Article
Genetic Algorithm-Based Framework for Optimization of Laser Beam Path in Additive Manufacturing
by Primo? Poto?nik, Andrej Jeromen and Edvard Govekar
Metals 2024, 14(4), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14040410 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
In this study, a genetic algorithm-based laser beam (LB) path optimization method is presented to improve laser-based additive manufacturing (LBAM). To emulate the LBAM process, LB irradiation of a thin metal substrate is applied. The LB path generation is formulated as the search [...] Read more.
In this study, a genetic algorithm-based laser beam (LB) path optimization method is presented to improve laser-based additive manufacturing (LBAM). To emulate the LBAM process, LB irradiation of a thin metal substrate is applied. The LB path generation is formulated as the search for the optimal sequence of LB irradiation into the cells on the substrate that minimizes the fitness function, which is composed of two components, i.e., thermal fitness and process fitness. The thermal fitness is expressed by the average thermal gradient, and a simple thermal model is developed to simulate the effects of laser-induced heat input on the temperature distribution in the substrate. The process fitness regulates the suitability of the proposed LB path for the implementation of the LBAM process. In addition to standardized tool paths (i.e., raster, spiral, etc.), novel LB path generators are proposed to define the initial population of LB path solutions. To implement a genetic algorithm-based LB path optimization, a framework is proposed, and custom initialization, crossover, and mutation operators are developed for application in LBAM. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through a simulation case study aiming to identify LB paths that minimize the fitness function and thus provide more suitable LB path solutions with respect to the defined fitness function. Compared with the traditional trial-and-error LB path formulations, the proposed approach provides an improved and automated method for an efficient laser beam path selection in LBAM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser Processing and Additive Manufacturing of Metallic Materials)
16 pages, 983 KiB  
Article
The Development of Innovated Complex Process for Treatment of Old Flotation Tailings of Copper-Zinc Sulfide Ore
by Khussain Valiyev, Aliya Bugubaeva, Aleksandra Nechaeva, Alena Artykova, Vitaliy Melamud, Devard Stom, Anna Boduen and Aleksandr Bulaev
Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1550; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071550 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
The possibility of selective Cu and Zn leaching from the sample of old pyrite tailings, which is one of the most widespread types of solid waste forming during non-ferrous metal production, using sulfuric acid solutions and water was studied. It was shown that [...] Read more.
The possibility of selective Cu and Zn leaching from the sample of old pyrite tailings, which is one of the most widespread types of solid waste forming during non-ferrous metal production, using sulfuric acid solutions and water was studied. It was shown that water leaching provided selective extraction of Cu and Zn and comparatively low iron ion extraction. At the same time, acid leaching provided the obtainment of pregnant solutions with high ferric ion concentration, which can be used for oxidative leaching of substandard copper concentrates. Water and acid leaching also provided increased Au recovery by cyanidation. The results suggest that acid leaching can be an effective approach for processing old flotation tailings, which allows the extraction of base metals from these wastes and treating flotation tailings for subsequent cyanidation. Effective flotation treatment methods should also provide environmental load reduction, which is caused by the long-term storage of metal-bearing wastes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solid Waste and Fly Ash Chemical Treatment Methods)
11 pages, 747 KiB  
Review
Prospects for Controlling Hepatitis B Globally
by Vicente Soriano, Víctor Moreno-Torres, Ana Trevi?o, Fernando de Jesús, Octavio Corral and Carmen de Mendoza
Pathogens 2024, 13(4), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13040291 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is highly prevalent globally. Over 250 million people suffer from chronic hepatitis B, and more than 800,000 patients die each year due to hepatitis B complications, including liver cancer. Although protective HBV vaccines are recommended for [...] Read more.
Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is highly prevalent globally. Over 250 million people suffer from chronic hepatitis B, and more than 800,000 patients die each year due to hepatitis B complications, including liver cancer. Although protective HBV vaccines are recommended for all newborns, global coverage is suboptimal. In adults, sexual transmission is by far the most frequent route of contagion. The WHO estimates that 1.5 million new HBV infections occur annually. Oral nucleos(t)ide analogues entecavir and tenofovir are the most frequent antivirals prescribed as HBV therapy. Almost all patients adherent to the medication achieve undetectable plasma viremia beyond 6 months of monotherapy. However, less than 5% achieve anti-HBs seroconversion, and viral rebound occurs following drug discontinuation. Therefore, nucleos(t)ide analogues need to be lifelong. New long-acting formulations of tenofovir and entecavir are being developed that will maximize treatment benefit and overcome adherence barriers. Furthermore, new antiviral agents are in development, including entry inhibitors, capside assembly modulators, and RNA interference molecules. The use of combination therapy pursues a functional HBV cure, meaning it is negative for both circulating HBV-DNA and HBsAg. Even when this goal is achieved, the cccDNA reservoir within infected hepatocytes remains a signal of past infection, and HBV can reactivate under immune suppression. Therefore, new gene therapies, including gene editing, are eagerly being pursued to silence or definitively disrupt HBV genomes within infected hepatocytes and, in this way, ultimately cure hepatitis B. At this time, three actions can be taken to push HBV eradication globally: (1) expand universal newborn HBV vaccination; (2) perform once-in-life testing of all adults to identify susceptible HBV persons that could be vaccinated (or re-vaccinated) and unveil asymptomatic carriers that could benefit from treatment; and (3) provide earlier antiviral therapy to chronic HBV carriers, as being aviremic reduces the risk of both clinical progression and transmission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Viral Infections of Humans: Epidemiology and Control)
21 pages, 945 KiB  
Article
An Integrated Machine Learning Approach for Congestive Heart Failure Prediction
by M. Sheetal Singh, Khelchandra Thongam, Prakash Choudhary and P. K. Bhagat
Diagnostics 2024, 14(7), 736; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14070736 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the primary sources of mortality and morbidity among the global population. Over 26 million individuals globally are affected by heart disease, and its prevalence is rising by 2% yearly. With advances in healthcare technologies, if we [...] Read more.
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the primary sources of mortality and morbidity among the global population. Over 26 million individuals globally are affected by heart disease, and its prevalence is rising by 2% yearly. With advances in healthcare technologies, if we predict CHF in the early stages, one of the leading global mortality factors can be reduced. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to use machine learning applications to enhance the diagnosis of CHF and to reduce the cost of diagnosis by employing minimum features to forecast the possibility of a CHF occurring. We employ a deep neural network (DNN) classifier for CHF classification and compare the performance of DNN with various machine learning classifiers. In this research, we use a very challenging dataset, called the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) dataset, and a unique pre-processing technique by integrating C4.5 and K-nearest neighbor (KNN). While the C4.5 technique is used to find significant features and remove the outlier data from the dataset, the KNN algorithm is employed for missing data imputation. For classification, we compare six state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) algorithms (KNN, logistic regression (LR), naive Bayes (NB), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and decision tree (DT)) with DNN. To evaluate the performance, we use seven statistical measurements (i.e., accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, F1-score, precision, Matthew’s correlation coefficient, and false positive rate). Overall, our results reflect our proposed integrated approach, which outperformed other machine learning algorithms in terms of CHF prediction, reducing patient expenses by reducing the number of medical tests. The proposed model obtained 97.03% F1-score, 95.30% accuracy, 96.49% sensitivity, and 97.58% precision. Full article
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22 pages, 9475 KiB  
Article
Extracellular Vesicles of Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis Inhibit the TGF-β- and PDGF-B-Mediated Fibrotic Processes
by Beáta Szebeni, Apor Veres-Székely, Domonkos Pap, Péter Bokrossy, Zoltán Varga, Anikó Gaál, Judith Mihály, ?va Pállinger, István M. Takács, Csenge Pajtók, Mária Bernáth, Gy?rgy S. Reusz, Attila J. Szabó and ?dám Vannay
Cells 2024, 13(7), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13070605 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Among patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), 50–80% will develop peritoneal fibrosis, and 0.5–4.4% will develop life-threatening encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS). Here, we investigated the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) on the TGF-β- and PDGF-B-driven processes of peritoneal fibrosis. EVs were isolated from the [...] Read more.
Among patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), 50–80% will develop peritoneal fibrosis, and 0.5–4.4% will develop life-threatening encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS). Here, we investigated the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) on the TGF-β- and PDGF-B-driven processes of peritoneal fibrosis. EVs were isolated from the peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) of children receiving continuous ambulatory PD. The impact of PDE-EVs on the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and collagen production of the peritoneal mesothelial cells and fibroblasts were investigated in vitro and in vivo in the chlorhexidine digluconate (CG)-induced mice model of peritoneal fibrosis. PDE-EVs showed spherical morphology in the 100 nm size range, and their spectral features, CD63, and annexin positivity were characteristic of EVs. PDE-EVs penetrated into the peritoneal mesothelial cells and fibroblasts and reduced their PDE- or PDGF-B-induced proliferation. Furthermore, PDE-EVs inhibited the PDE- or TGF-β-induced EMT and collagen production of the investigated cell types. PDE-EVs contributed to the mesothelial layer integrity and decreased the submesothelial thickening of CG-treated mice. We demonstrated that PDE-EVs significantly inhibit the PDGF-B- or TGF-β-induced fibrotic processes in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that EVs may contribute to new therapeutic strategies to treat peritoneal fibrosis and other fibroproliferative diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extracellular Vesicles in Health and Disease 2023)
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15 pages, 1671 KiB  
Article
Investigations of the Formation Mechanism and Pressure Pulsation Characteristics of Pipeline Gas-Liquid Slug Flows
by Gaoan Zheng, Pu Xu, Lin Li and Xinghua Fan
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(4), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12040590 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
The pipeline system is widely used in marine engineering, and the formation mechanism and flow patterns of two-phase slug flows are of great significance for the optimal design of and vibration prevention in a complex pipeline system. Aiming at the above problems, this [...] Read more.
The pipeline system is widely used in marine engineering, and the formation mechanism and flow patterns of two-phase slug flows are of great significance for the optimal design of and vibration prevention in a complex pipeline system. Aiming at the above problems, this paper proposes a modeling and solving method for gas-liquid slug flows. First, a VOF-PLIC-based coupling gas-liquid slug flow transport model is conducted. Second, to reduce the fuzzy boundary between the gas-liquid coupling interfaces, an artificial compression term is added to the transport equations, and the formation and evolution mechanism of severe slugging flow in piping systems is investigated. The pressure pulsation and gas content characteristics of the gas-liquid coupling process are explored. Research results found that the slugging phenomenon occurs at the gas-liquid interface, where liquid slugging frequency reaches its peak. The pipeline system has prominent periodic characteristics of the slugging phenomenon, and the period decreases when the gas-phase converted speed rises; pressure fluctuation amplitude increases, and the gas-phase velocity change is the inducing factor for the drastic change of pressure fluctuation. The research results can offer theoretical references for optimal designs of and vibration prevention in marine pipeline systems. Full article
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30 pages, 1529 KiB  
Article
Applying the Robust Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit Test to Multilevel Multitrait-Multimethod Models: A Monte Carlo Simulation Study on Statistical Performance
by Minne Luise Hagel, Friedemann Trutzenberg and Michael Eid
Psychol. Int. 2024, 6(2), 462-491; https://doi.org/10.3390/psycholint6020029 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
As the robust maximum likelihood goodness-of-fit test had been found to yield inflated type-I error rates for certain two-level confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models, a new correction for the test was implemented in Mplus version 8.7. In this simulation study, we inspected [...] Read more.
As the robust maximum likelihood goodness-of-fit test had been found to yield inflated type-I error rates for certain two-level confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models, a new correction for the test was implemented in Mplus version 8.7. In this simulation study, we inspected whether the corrected test statistics follow the expected distributions when applying more complex two-level models for multitrait-multimethod data with varying sample sizes and correlations within trait factors. Investigating rejection rates and probability-probability plots, we found that the new correction markedly and sufficiently reduced previously inflated rejection rates in conditions with within-trait correlations equal to 1, 100 between-level units, and 10 or 20 within-level units. In other conditions, rejection rates were hardly affected or not sufficiently reduced by the new correction. While in most conditions, 2 within-level units did not suffice, 5 within-level units and 250 between-level units were enough to yield correct rejection rates given within-trait correlations did not exceed 0.80. Correlations above 0.80 required larger sample sizes. In planning studies with multilevel CFA models, researchers should be aware that sample size requirements for likelihood-based model fit evaluations can depend on several different factors and might consider conducting Monte Carlo simulations tailored to their specific modeling conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Psychometrics and Educational Measurement)
14 pages, 1615 KiB  
Article
On the Structural and Vibrational Properties of Solid Endohedral Metallofullerene Li@C60
by Martina Vranki?, Takeshi Nakagawa, Melita Menelaou, Yasuhiro Takabayashi, Naoya Yoshikane, Keisuke Matsui, Ken Kokubo, Kenichi Kato, Saori Kawaguchi-Imada, Hirokazu Kadobayashi, John Arvanitidis, Yoshiki Kubota and Kosmas Prassides
Inorganics 2024, 12(4), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12040099 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
The endohedral lithium fulleride, Li+@C60-, is a potential precursor for new families of molecular superconducting and electronic materials beyond those accessible to date from C60 itself. Solid Li@C60 comprises (Li@C60)2 dimers, isostructural [...] Read more.
The endohedral lithium fulleride, Li+@C60-, is a potential precursor for new families of molecular superconducting and electronic materials beyond those accessible to date from C60 itself. Solid Li@C60 comprises (Li@C60)2 dimers, isostructural and isoelectronic with the (C59N)2 units found in solid azafullerene. Here, we investigate the structural and vibrational properties of Li@C60 samples synthesized by electrolytic reduction routes. The resulting materials are of high quality, with crystallinity far superior to that of their antecedents isolated by chemical reduction. They permit facile, unambiguous identification of both the reduced state of the fulleride units and the interball C-C bonds responsible for dimerization. However, severe orientational disorder conceals any crystal symmetry lowering due to the presence of dimers. Diffraction reveals the adoption of a hexagonal crystal structure (space group P63/mmc) at both low temperatures and high pressures, typically associated with close-packing of spherical monomer units. Such a situation is reminiscent of the structural behavior of the high-pressure Phase I of solid dihydrogen, H2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Metallofullerenes)
8 pages, 1739 KiB  
Case Report
Successful Multimodal Treatment of Intracranial Growing Teratoma Syndrome with Malignant Features
by Daiken Satake, Manabu Natsumeda, Kaishi Satomi, Mari Tada, Taro Sato, Noritaka Okubo, Keita Kawabe, Haruhiko Takahashi, Yoshihiro Tsukamoto, Masayasu Okada, Masakazu Sano, Haruko Iwabuchi, Nao Shibata, Masaru Imamura, Chihaya Imai, Hirokazu Takami, Koichi Ichimura, Ryo Nishikawa, Hajime Umezu, Akiyoshi Kakita and Makoto Oishiadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(4), 1831-1838; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31040138 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Molecular analysis of the growing teratoma syndrome has not been extensively studied. Here, we report a 14-year-old boy with a growing mass during treatment for a mixed germ cell tumor of the pineal region. Tumor markers were negative; thus, growing teratoma syndrome was [...] Read more.
Molecular analysis of the growing teratoma syndrome has not been extensively studied. Here, we report a 14-year-old boy with a growing mass during treatment for a mixed germ cell tumor of the pineal region. Tumor markers were negative; thus, growing teratoma syndrome was suspected. A radical resection via the occipital transtentorial approach was performed, and histopathological examination revealed a teratoma with malignant features. Methylation classifier analysis confirmed the diagnosis of teratoma, and DMRT1 loss and 12p gain were identified by copy number variation analysis, potentially elucidating the cause of growth and malignant transformation of the teratoma. The patient remains in remission after intense chemoradiation treatment as a high-risk germ cell tumor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Neuro-Oncology)
18 pages, 1822 KiB  
Article
Dual Microcapsules Encapsulating Liquid Diamine and Isocyanate for Application in Self-Healing Coatings
by Huaixuan Mu, Yiqing Deng, Wangcai Zou, Xiandi Yang and Qiang Zhao
Coatings 2024, 14(4), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040410 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
Dual microcapsule systems, especially those based on the polyurea matrix, have emerged as pivotal components driving innovation in self-healing materials, thanks to the intrinsic properties of polyurea, primarily diamine and diisocyanate, rendering it an optimal choice for enhancing self-healing coatings. However, the encapsulation [...] Read more.
Dual microcapsule systems, especially those based on the polyurea matrix, have emerged as pivotal components driving innovation in self-healing materials, thanks to the intrinsic properties of polyurea, primarily diamine and diisocyanate, rendering it an optimal choice for enhancing self-healing coatings. However, the encapsulation of polyurea components is fraught with substantial technical hurdles. Addressing these challenges, a novel methodology has been devised, leveraging n-heptane as a solvent in the liquid diamine emulsion process to facilitate the synthesis of diamine microcapsules. These microcapsules exhibit a uniform spherical morphology and a robust shell structure, with an encapsulated core material ratio reaching 39.69%. Analogously, the encapsulation process for diisocyanate has been refined, achieving a core material percentage of 10.05 wt. %. The integration of this bifunctional microcapsule system into diverse polymeric matrices, including epoxy resins and polyurethanes, has been demonstrated to significantly enhance the self-healing efficacy of the resultant coatings. Empirical validation through a series of tests, encompassing scratch, abrasion, and saltwater immersion assays, has revealed self-healing efficiencies of 21.8% and 33.3%, respectively. These results indicate significant improvements in the durability and self-repair capability of coatings, marking a notable advancement in self-healing materials with promising potential for tailored applications in automotive, aerospace, and construction industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Methods of Shaping the Structure and Properties of Coatings)
17 pages, 13072 KiB  
Article
Crop Classification Combining Object-Oriented Method and Random Forest Model Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Multispectral Image
by Hui Deng, Wenjiang Zhang, Xiaoqian Zheng and Houxi Zhang
Agriculture 2024, 14(4), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14040548 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
The accurate and timely identification of crops holds paramount significance for effective crop management and yield estimation. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with their superior spatial and temporal resolution compared to satellite-based remote sensing, offer a novel solution for precise crop identification. In this [...] Read more.
The accurate and timely identification of crops holds paramount significance for effective crop management and yield estimation. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), with their superior spatial and temporal resolution compared to satellite-based remote sensing, offer a novel solution for precise crop identification. In this study, we evaluated a methodology that integrates object-oriented method and random forest (RF) algorithm for crop identification using multispectral UAV images. The process involved a multiscale segmentation algorithm, utilizing the optimal segmentation scale determined by Estimation of Scale Parameter 2 (ESP2). Eight classification schemes (S1–S8) were then developed by incorporating index (INDE), textural (GLCM), and geometric (GEOM) features based on the spectrum (SPEC) features of segmented objects. The best-trained RF model was established through three steps: feature selection, parameter tuning, and model training. Subsequently, we determined the feature importance for different classification schemes and generated a prediction map of vegetation for the entire study area based on the best-trained RF model. Our results revealed that S5 (SPEC + GLCM + INDE) outperformed others, achieving an impressive overall accuracy (OA) and kappa coefficient of 92.76% and 0.92, respectively, whereas S4 (SPEC + GEOM) exhibited the lowest performance. Notably, geometric features negatively impacted classification accuracy, while the other three feature types positively contributed. The accuracy of ginger, luffa, and sweet potato was consistently lower across most schemes, likely due to their unique colors and shapes, posing challenges for effective discrimination based solely on spectrum, index, and texture features. Furthermore, our findings highlighted that the most crucial feature was the INDE feature, followed by SPEC and GLCM, with GEOM being the least significant. For the optimal scheme (S5), the top 20 most important features comprised 10 SPEC, 7 INDE, and 3 GLCM features. In summary, our proposed method, combining object-oriented and RF algorithms based on multispectral UAV images, demonstrated high classification accuracy for crops. This research provides valuable insights for the accurate identification of various crops, serving as a reference for future advancements in agricultural technology and crop management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi- and Hyper-Spectral Imaging Technologies for Crop Monitoring)
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13 pages, 3867 KiB  
Article
Surface Modification of Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode through Oxygen Plasma to Enhance Biosensor Sensitivity
by Shuto Osaki, Masato Saito, Hidenori Nagai and Eiichi Tamiya
Biosensors 2024, 14(4), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios14040165 (registering DOI) - 29 Mar 2024
Abstract
The screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) is a useful technology that has been widely used in the practical application of biosensors oriented to point-of-care testing (POCT) due to its characteristics of cost-effectiveness, disposability, miniaturization, wide potential window, and simple electrode design. Compared with gold [...] Read more.
The screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) is a useful technology that has been widely used in the practical application of biosensors oriented to point-of-care testing (POCT) due to its characteristics of cost-effectiveness, disposability, miniaturization, wide potential window, and simple electrode design. Compared with gold or platinum electrodes, surface modification is difficult because the carbon surface is chemically or physically stable. Oxygen plasma (O2) can easily produce carboxyl groups on the carbon surface, which act as scaffolds for covalent bonds. However, the effect of O2-plasma treatment on electrode performance remains to be investigated from an electrochemical perspective, and sensor performance can be improved by clarifying the surface conditions of plasma-treated biosensors. In this research, we compared antibody modification by plasma treatment and physical adsorption, using our novel immunosensor based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Consequently, the O2-plasma treatment produced carboxyl groups on the electrode surface that changed the electrochemical properties owing to electrostatic interactions. In this study, we compared the following four cases of SPCE modification: O2-plasma-treated electrode/covalent-bonded antibody (a); O2-plasma-treated electrode/physical adsorbed antibody (b); bare electrode/covalent-bonded antibody (c); and bare electrode/physical absorbed antibody (d). The limits of detection (LOD) were 0.50 ng/mL (a), 9.7 ng/mL (b), 0.54 ng/mL (c), and 1.2 ng/mL (d). The slopes of the linear response range were 0.039, 0.029, 0.014, and 0.022. The LOD of (a) was 2.4 times higher than the conventional condition (d), The slope of (a) showed higher sensitivity than other cases (b~d). This is because the plasma treatment generated many carboxyl groups and increased the number of antibody adsorption sites. In summary, the O2-plasma treatment was found to modify the electrode surface conditions and improve the amount of antibody modifications. In the future, O2-plasma treatment could be used as a simple method for modifying various molecular recognition elements on printed carbon electrodes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biosensor and Bioelectronic Devices)
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