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13 pages, 5381 KiB  
Perspective
Fabrication of Metal Contacts on Silicon Nanopillars: The Role of Surface Termination and Defectivity
by Federico Giulio, Antonio Mazzacua, Luca Calciati and Dario Narducci
Materials 2024, 17(7), 1549; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17071549 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The application of nanotechnology in developing novel thermoelectric materials has yielded remarkable advancements in material efficiency. In many instances, dimensional constraints have resulted in a beneficial decoupling of thermal conductivity and power factor, leading to large increases in the achievable thermoelectric figure of [...] Read more.
The application of nanotechnology in developing novel thermoelectric materials has yielded remarkable advancements in material efficiency. In many instances, dimensional constraints have resulted in a beneficial decoupling of thermal conductivity and power factor, leading to large increases in the achievable thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT). For instance, the ZT of silicon increases by nearly two orders of magnitude when transitioning from bulk single crystals to nanowires. Metal-assisted chemical etching offers a viable, low-cost route for preparing silicon nanopillars for use in thermoelectric devices. The aim of this paper is to review strategies for obtaining high-density forests of Si nanopillars and achieving high-quality contacts on them. We will discuss how electroplating can be used for this aim. As an alternative, nanopillars can be embedded into appropriate electrical and thermal insulators, with contacts made by metal evaporation on uncapped nanopillar tips. In both cases, it will be shown how achieving control over surface termination and defectivity is of paramount importance, demonstrating how a judicious control of defectivity enhances contact quality. Full article
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14 pages, 1898 KiB  
Article
Research on Green Development Decision Making of Logistics Enterprises Based on Three-Party Game
by Chan He and Xu Xu
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2822; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072822 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The concept of green logistics entails minimizing the ecological impact of logistical resources, enhancing the environmental quality within the logistics sector, and optimizing resource utilization to foster sustainable development in social economic production and consumption. Promoting green transportation is not only a positive [...] Read more.
The concept of green logistics entails minimizing the ecological impact of logistical resources, enhancing the environmental quality within the logistics sector, and optimizing resource utilization to foster sustainable development in social economic production and consumption. Promoting green transportation is not only a positive reflection of the concepts of environmental protection and green development, but also an effective means for traditional logistics enterprises to reduce operating costs, win competitive advantages, and achieve transformation and upgrading. This paper takes logistics enterprises facing green transformation and development decisions as the research object, and puts forward an evolutionary game model between logistics companies, government, and community. The evolution path of logistics enterprises’ green transformation development strategy choice under different conditions is analyzed in detail. The results show that, under the conditions of the government’s incentive and supervision and the public’s choice of green consumption, logistics enterprises are more inclined to green transformation development. Different levels of public choice and different levels of government regulation also make different corporate strategy choices. Therefore, it is suggested that the government provide policy, technical channels, funds, and other support for logistics companies promoting green logistics, and actively publicize the concept of green consumption in the market. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Theory and Practice of Sustainable Economic Development)
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20 pages, 3434 KiB  
Article
Metabolite Profiling of Colvillea racemosa via UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS Analysis in Correlation to the In Vitro Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Potential against A549 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Line
by ?lvaro Fernández-Ochoa, Inas Y. Younis, Reem K. Arafa, María de la Luz Cádiz-Gurrea, Francisco Javier Leyva-Jiménez, Antonio Segura Carretero, Engy Mohsen and Fatema R. Saber
Plants 2024, 13(7), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13070976 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
In this study, flower and leaf extracts of Colvillea racemosa were considered a source of bioactive compounds. In this context, the objective of the study focused on investigating the anticancer potential as well as the phytochemical composition of both extracts. The extracts were [...] Read more.
In this study, flower and leaf extracts of Colvillea racemosa were considered a source of bioactive compounds. In this context, the objective of the study focused on investigating the anticancer potential as well as the phytochemical composition of both extracts. The extracts were analyzed by UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS, and the bioactivity was tested using in vitro antioxidant assays (FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS) in addition to cytotoxic assays on non-small cell lung cancer cell line (A549). Our results clearly indicated the potent radical scavenging capacity of both extracts. Importantly, the flower extract exhibited a greater antioxidant capacity than the leaf extract. In terms of cytotoxic activity, leaf and flower extracts significantly inhibited cell viability with IC50 values of 17.0 and 17.2 µg/mL, respectively. The phytochemical characterization enabled the putative annotation of 42 metabolites, such as saccharides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, and fatty acids. Among them, the flavonoid C-glycosides stand out due to their high relative abundance and previous reports on their anticancer bioactivity. For a better understanding of the bioactive mechanisms, four flavonoids (vitexin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, luteolin, and isoorientin) were selected for molecular docking on hallmark protein targets in lung cancer as represented by γ-PI3K, EGFR, and CDK2 through in-silico studies. In these models, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and vitexin had the highest binding scores on γ-PI3K and CDK2, followed by isoorientin, so they could be highly responsible for the bioactive properties of C. racemosa extracts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Extracts and Their Therapeutic Effects)
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21 pages, 568 KiB  
Article
Does ESG Performance Affect the Enterprise Value of China’s Heavily Polluting Listed Companies?
by Yu Zhang, Xiaotong Wang, Wei Guo, Xinlei Guo, Qisheng Wang and Xin Tan
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2826; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072826 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
This paper investigates the effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on the enterprise value of heavily polluting listed companies in China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets. The study found that ESG performance helps to improve the corporate value of heavily polluting [...] Read more.
This paper investigates the effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance on the enterprise value of heavily polluting listed companies in China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets. The study found that ESG performance helps to improve the corporate value of heavily polluting listed companies, and ESG performance has an impact mechanism effect on the corporate value of heavily polluting listed companies through green technology innovation, financing costs, and internal control; the analysis of heterogeneity is conducted from three different perspectives: resource endowment, ownership nature, and overseas background of senior executives. At the same time, the interaction term ESG × EPU is employed to examine the regulatory effect of economic policy uncertainty Non-state-owned enterprises can enhance their enterprise value more effectively by improving their ESG performance based on the research findings. The ESG performance of heavy polluting enterprises in non-resource-based cities has a more obvious role in promoting corporate value; in companies where executives have overseas backgrounds, ESG performance is more conducive to the improvement of corporate value. The empirical evidence derived from the research findings rationalizes the connection between the of ESG performance and enterprise value in industries with high levels of pollution, as well as the pathway of impact. Full article
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18 pages, 30754 KiB  
Article
HP3D-V2V: High-Precision 3D Object Detection Vehicle-to-Vehicle Cooperative Perception Algorithm
by Hongmei Chen, Haifeng Wang, Zilong Liu, Dongbing Gu and Wen Ye
Sensors 2024, 24(7), 2170; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24072170 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Cooperative perception in the field of connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) aims to overcome the inherent limitations of single-vehicle perception systems, including long-range occlusion, low resolution, and susceptibility to weather interference. In this regard, we propose a high-precision 3D object detection V2V cooperative perception [...] Read more.
Cooperative perception in the field of connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) aims to overcome the inherent limitations of single-vehicle perception systems, including long-range occlusion, low resolution, and susceptibility to weather interference. In this regard, we propose a high-precision 3D object detection V2V cooperative perception algorithm. The algorithm utilizes a voxel grid-based statistical filter to effectively denoise point cloud data to obtain clean and reliable data. In addition, we design a feature extraction network based on the fusion of voxels and PointPillars and encode it to generate BEV features, which solves the spatial feature interaction problem lacking in the PointPillars approach and enhances the semantic information of the extracted features. A maximum pooling technique is used to reduce the dimensionality and generate pseudoimages, thereby skipping complex 3D convolutional computation. To facilitate effective feature fusion, we design a feature level-based crossvehicle feature fusion module. Experimental validation is conducted using the OPV2V dataset to assess vehicle coperception performance and compare it with existing mainstream coperception algorithms. Ablation experiments are also carried out to confirm the contributions of this approach. Experimental results show that our architecture achieves lightweighting with a higher average precision (AP) than other existing models. Full article
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27 pages, 5080 KiB  
Article
Myrtucommulones and Related Acylphloroglucinols from Myrtaceae as a Promising Source of Multitarget SARS-CoV-2 Cycle Inhibitors
by Simony Carvalho Mendon?a, Brendo Araujo Gomes, Mariana Freire Campos, Thamirys Silva da Fonseca, Maria Eduarda Alves Esteves, Bruce Veiga Andriolo, Caio Felipe de Araujo Ribas Cheohen, Larissa Esteves Carvalho Constant, Stephany da Silva Costa, Pedro Telles Calil, Amanda Resende Tucci, Thamara Kelcya Fonseca de Oliveira, Alice dos Santos Rosa, Vivian Neuza dos Santos Ferreira, Julia Nilo Henrique Lima, Milene Dias Miranda, Luciana Jesus da Costa, Manuela Leal da Silva, Marcus Tullius Scotti, Diego Allonso, Gilda Guimar?es Leit?o and Suzana Guimar?es Leit?oadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(4), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040436 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The LABEXTRACT plant extract bank, featuring diverse members of the Myrtaceae family from Brazilian hot spot regions, provides a promising avenue for bioprospection. Given the pivotal roles of the Spike protein and 3CLpro and PLpro proteases in SARS-CoV-2 infection, this study [...] Read more.
The LABEXTRACT plant extract bank, featuring diverse members of the Myrtaceae family from Brazilian hot spot regions, provides a promising avenue for bioprospection. Given the pivotal roles of the Spike protein and 3CLpro and PLpro proteases in SARS-CoV-2 infection, this study delves into the correlations between the Myrtaceae species from the Atlantic Forest and these targets, as well as an antiviral activity through both in vitro and in silico analyses. The results uncovered notable inhibitory effects, with Eugenia prasina and E. mosenii standing out, while E. mosenii proved to be multitarget, presenting inhibition values above 72% in the three targets analyzed. All extracts inhibited viral replication in Calu-3 cells (EC50 was lower than 8.3 µg·mL−1). Chemometric analyses, through LC-MS/MS, encompassing prediction models and molecular networking, identified potential active compounds, such as myrtucommulones, described in the literature for their antiviral activity. Docking analyses showed that one undescribed myrtucommulone (m/z 841 [M − H]) had a higher fitness score when interacting with the targets of this study, including ACE2, Spike, PLpro and 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. Also, the study concludes that Myrtaceae extracts, particularly from E. mosenii and E. prasina, exhibit promising inhibitory effects against crucial stages in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Compounds like myrtucommulones emerge as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents, warranting further exploration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antiviral Compounds in Medicinal Plants 2023)
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26 pages, 7778 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Olive Pomace Gasification for Hydrogen Production Using Aspen Plus: Case Study Lebanon
by Georges Matta, Daniella Semaan and Rita Harb
Energies 2024, 17(7), 1621; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17071621 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Biomass is a renewable energy source gaining attention for its potential to replace fossil fuels. Biomass gasification can produce hydrogen-rich gas, offering an environmentally friendly fuel for power generation, transportation, and industry. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier due to its high energy [...] Read more.
Biomass is a renewable energy source gaining attention for its potential to replace fossil fuels. Biomass gasification can produce hydrogen-rich gas, offering an environmentally friendly fuel for power generation, transportation, and industry. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier due to its high energy density, low greenhouse gas emissions, and versatility. This study aims to develop a hydrogen generation plant using a dual fluidized bed gasifier, which employs steam as a gasifying agent, to convert olive pomace waste from the Lebanese olive oil industry into hydrogen. The process is simulated using Aspen Plus and Fortran coding, and it includes a drying unit, gasification unit, gas cleaning unit, steam methane reformer unit, water–gas shift reactor unit, and a pressure swing adsorption unit. The generated gas composition is verified against previous research. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to investigate the impacts of the steam-to-biomass ratio (STBR) and gasification temperature on gas composition, demonstrating a valid STBR range of 0.5 to 1 and a reasonable gasification temperature range of 700 °C to 800 °C. Further sensitivity analyses assess the impact of reformer temperature and the steam-to-carbon ratio (S/C) on the gas composition leaving the steam methane reformer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section A5: Hydrogen Energy)
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30 pages, 4929 KiB  
Article
A Random Particle Swarm Optimization Based on Cosine Similarity for Global Optimization and Classification Problems
by Yujia Liu, Yuan Zeng, Rui Li, Xingyun Zhu, Yuemai Zhang, Weijie Li, Taiyong Li, Donglin Zhu and Gangqiang Hu
Biomimetics 2024, 9(4), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9040204 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing environment, the need for algorithms with enhanced global optimization capability has become increasingly crucial due to the emergence of a wide range of optimization problems. To tackle this issue, we present a new algorithm called Random Particle Swarm [...] Read more.
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing environment, the need for algorithms with enhanced global optimization capability has become increasingly crucial due to the emergence of a wide range of optimization problems. To tackle this issue, we present a new algorithm called Random Particle Swarm Optimization (RPSO) based on cosine similarity. RPSO is evaluated using both the IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC) 2022 test dataset and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) classification experiments. The RPSO algorithm builds upon the traditional PSO algorithm by incorporating several key enhancements. Firstly, the parameter selection is adapted and a mechanism called Random Contrastive Interaction (RCI) is introduced. This mechanism fosters information exchange among particles, thereby improving the ability of the algorithm to explore the search space more effectively. Secondly, quadratic interpolation (QI) is incorporated to boost the local search efficiency of the algorithm. RPSO utilizes cosine similarity for the selection of both QI and RCI, dynamically updating population information to steer the algorithm towards optimal solutions. In the evaluation using the CEC 2022 test dataset, RPSO is compared with recent variations of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and top algorithms in the CEC community. The results highlight the strong competitiveness and advantages of RPSO, validating its effectiveness in tackling global optimization tasks. Additionally, in the classification experiments with optimizing CNNs for medical images, RPSO demonstrated stability and accuracy comparable to other algorithms and variants. This further confirms the value and utility of RPSO in improving the performance of CNN classification tasks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Inspired Metaheuristic Optimization Algorithms 2024)
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17 pages, 266 KiB  
Article
Rebooting Ecumenism, the Theological Equivalent of the Climate Crisis: The Role of Urgency and Accountability on the Road to Ecclesial Interdependence
by Dragos Herescu
Religions 2024, 15(4), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15040421 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
This article puts forward the argument for the acute and urgent need to move from ecclesial self-sufficiency to ecclesial interdependency in the ecumenical process. The difficulties in ecumenical cooperation mirror those in the climate crisis, as despite a global crisis of relevance for [...] Read more.
This article puts forward the argument for the acute and urgent need to move from ecclesial self-sufficiency to ecclesial interdependency in the ecumenical process. The difficulties in ecumenical cooperation mirror those in the climate crisis, as despite a global crisis of relevance for Christianity and for the ecumenical movement, individual Churches, much like individual states, fail to work together effectively as they negotiate their own internal challenges. Not dissimilar to the ecological climate breakdown, what we understand as the history-bound reality of the Church will not be safeguarded and will not be made relevant in a today’s globalised, pluralistic, interconnected, and dominantly secular, in many contexts, world, except by concerted action from all Churches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rebooting Ecumenism - New Paradigms for the 21st Century)
19 pages, 1519 KiB  
Article
On the Use of the Effective Width for Simply Supported Generally Loaded Box-Girders
by Francesca Pancella and Angelo Luongo
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 2848; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14072848 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
A new method for evaluating the effective flange width of simply supported rectangular box-girders in bending is illustrated. It aims to overcome the lack in the literature of a general method able to supply the effective flange width for a general distribution of [...] Read more.
A new method for evaluating the effective flange width of simply supported rectangular box-girders in bending is illustrated. It aims to overcome the lack in the literature of a general method able to supply the effective flange width for a general distribution of loads along the beam axis, not restricted, i.e., to the few cases reported in standard codes. The method consists of finding an analytical expression for the effective width under sinusoidal loads of arbitrary wavelength and combining the results in the framework of a Fourier analysis. The model allows investigating the shear-lag effects on displacements and stresses. The analytical formulation proposed is validated against numerical results supplied by refined Finite Element analyses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Civil Engineering)
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16 pages, 1040 KiB  
Article
Silicon Combined with Trichoderma harzianum and Organic Matter as an Environmental Friendly Strategy for Mitigating Salt Stress in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)
by Edson Moreira de Abrantes, Luiz Guilherme Medeiros Pessoa, Luiz Filipe dos Santos Silva, Emanuelle Maria da Silva, José Orlando Nunes da Silva, Maria Bet?nia Galv?o dos Santos Freire, Alexandre Campelo de Oliveira and Eurico Lustosa do Nascimento Alencar
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2825; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072825 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Silicon is known to be an effective salt stress attenuator for crops, and evaluating its application effectiveness in combination with other salt stress attenuators is essential for crops and soils. This work aimed to assess whether applying organic matter (OM) and Trichoderma (T) [...] Read more.
Silicon is known to be an effective salt stress attenuator for crops, and evaluating its application effectiveness in combination with other salt stress attenuators is essential for crops and soils. This work aimed to assess whether applying organic matter (OM) and Trichoderma (T) potentiates silicon (Si) in mitigating soil salinization and promoting quinoa growth under salt stress. Quinoa plants were grown in pots under saline irrigation (3.12 dS m−1) and subjected to the following treatments: quinoa only; quinoa + Si; quinoa + Si + OM; quinoa + Si + T; and quinoa + Si + OM + T, at two levels of soil moisture—30 and 80% of the available water content (AWC). Sixty days after transplanting, soil and quinoa plants were collected from the pots. At 80% AWC, Si + OM and Si + OM + T promoted the highest fresh mass for quinoa—301.54 and 247.26 g, respectively. Si + OM + T significantly mitigated saline parameters (EC = 9.82 dS m−1; ESP = 32.27%). Si combined with OM and T was the most effective way to attenuate salt stress in quinoa and soil salinization and promote a more sustainable way to manage saline irrigation in semiarid regions. Full article
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8 pages, 3374 KiB  
Communication
Cascaded Third-Harmonic Generation in Optically induced 3D Nonlinear Photonic Crystals
by Tianxiang Xu, Sen Wang, Jing Zeng, Dawei Liu, Ruwei Zhao, Yuming Yao, Yuhao Zhao, Hui Zhao, Tiefeng Xu and Yan Sheng
Photonics 2024, 11(4), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics11040313 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Nonlinear photonic crystals with 3D orthorhombic lattice structures were fabricated using the femtosecond laser-poling technique in ferroelectric Sr0.28Ba0.72Nb2O6 (SBN) crystals. The crystals were used to demonstrate the possibility of generating cascaded third-harmonic waves in optically poled [...] Read more.
Nonlinear photonic crystals with 3D orthorhombic lattice structures were fabricated using the femtosecond laser-poling technique in ferroelectric Sr0.28Ba0.72Nb2O6 (SBN) crystals. The crystals were used to demonstrate the possibility of generating cascaded third-harmonic waves in optically poled ferroelectric structures. The spectral response and conversion efficiency of the third-harmonic process were experimentally investigated. While the nonlinear cascading processes can be commonly realized in electric-field-poled ferroelectric crystals, their generation in optically poled ferroelectric domain structures have not been reported elsewhere. In addition to the fully phase-matched nonlinear interaction, Cherenkov-type third-harmonic generation that fulfills the longitudinal phase-matching condition was also experimentally studied. Our study contributes to exploring the full potential of optically induced nonlinear photonic crystals and provides a new choice of materials for third-harmonic generation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Trends in Photonic Crystals)
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21 pages, 660 KiB  
Article
Using a Circular Economy and Supply Chain as a Framework for Remanufactured Products in the Rubber Recycling Industry
by Hsi-Huang Hsieh, Kai-Chao Yao, Ching-Hsin Wang, Chih-Han Chen and Shu-Hua Huang
Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2824; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072824 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The use of a circular economy (CE) in a supply chain is conducive to remanufacturing. It can not only make the supply chain innovative but can also further ease resource consumption and lower pollution, thereby reducing carbon emissions. However, most current research remains [...] Read more.
The use of a circular economy (CE) in a supply chain is conducive to remanufacturing. It can not only make the supply chain innovative but can also further ease resource consumption and lower pollution, thereby reducing carbon emissions. However, most current research remains focused on the concept of integrating circular economy supply chains (CESCs); few studies have carried out practical research in industry, and research addressing issues regarding the rubber recycling industry is even rarer. Therefore, this study refined the existing framework by screening out key factors that a CESC applies to remanufacturing products. This study conducted an expert questionnaire survey using the FDM to select key factors. Since the 30 respondents selected for this study are all experts in related fields, the reliability and stability of the method and results can be ensured. Meanwhile, this study adopted the fuzzy DEMATEL method to rank the importance of the five selected aspects and nineteen criteria and clarified cause-and-effect relationships between the criteria. The results show that important aspects, including “the circular business model” and “enhancing the resource value in the supply chain”, are both classified as cause groups; there are four main criteria that need to be highlighted, namely, “optimizing the production process”, “effectively tracking and recycling products”, “redesigning remanufactured rubber products”, and “improving resource efficiency”. Therefore, when related industries build CESCs to manufacture remanufactured products, these criteria need to be considered first. This study combined a CESC with remanufactured products, constructed a new framework to expand the related literature, and further analyzed the rubber industry and the underlying rubber recycling industry. Accordingly, related industries can refer to the new framework and key factors to develop production strategies for remanufactured products when implementing a CESC. Full article
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17 pages, 2764 KiB  
Review
An OX-Tra’Ordinary Tale: The Role of OX40 and OX40L in Atopic Dermatitis
by Kaviyon Sadrolashrafi, Lily Guo, Robin Kikuchi, Audrey Hao, Rebecca K. Yamamoto, Hannah C. Tolson, Sara N. Bilimoria, Danielle K. Yee and April W. Armstrong
Cells 2024, 13(7), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13070587 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
The transmembrane glycoprotein OX40 receptor (OX40) and its ligand, OX40L, are instrumental modulators of the adaptive immune response in humans. OX40 functions as a costimulatory molecule that promotes T cell activation, differentiation, and survival through ligation with OX40L. T cells play an integral [...] Read more.
The transmembrane glycoprotein OX40 receptor (OX40) and its ligand, OX40L, are instrumental modulators of the adaptive immune response in humans. OX40 functions as a costimulatory molecule that promotes T cell activation, differentiation, and survival through ligation with OX40L. T cells play an integral role in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis (AD). In particular, T helper 2 (TH2) cells strongly contribute to AD pathogenesis via the production of cytokines associated with type 2 inflammation (e.g., IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-31) that lead to skin barrier dysfunction and pruritus. The OX40-OX40L interaction also promotes the activation and proliferation of other T helper cell populations (e.g., TH1, TH22, and TH17), and AD patients have demonstrated higher levels of OX40 expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells than healthy controls. As such, the OX40-OX40L pathway is a potential target for AD treatment. Novel therapies targeting the OX40 pathway are currently in development, several of which have demonstrated promising safety and efficacy results in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. Herein, we review the function of OX40 and the OX40-OX40L signaling pathway, their role in AD pathogenesis, and emerging therapies targeting OX40-OX40L that may offer insights into the future of AD management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Roles of Cytokines in Skin Inflammation)
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18 pages, 2760 KiB  
Article
A Novel Transformer Network with a CNN-Enhanced Cross-Attention Mechanism for Hyperspectral Image Classification
by Xinyu Wang, Le Sun, Chuhan Lu and Baozhu Li
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(7), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16071180 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Recently, with the remarkable advancements of deep learning in the field of image processing, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have garnered widespread attention from researchers in the domain of hyperspectral image (HSI) classification. Moreover, due to the high performance demonstrated by the transformer architecture [...] Read more.
Recently, with the remarkable advancements of deep learning in the field of image processing, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have garnered widespread attention from researchers in the domain of hyperspectral image (HSI) classification. Moreover, due to the high performance demonstrated by the transformer architecture in classification tasks, there has been a proliferation of neural networks combining CNNs and transformers for HSI classification. However, the majority of the current methods focus on extracting spatial–spectral features from the HSI data of a single size for a pixel, overlooking the rich multi-scale feature information inherent to the data. To address this problem, we designed a novel transformer network with a CNN-enhanced cross-attention (TNCCA) mechanism for HSI classification. It is a dual-branch network that utilizes different scales of HSI input data to extract shallow spatial–spectral features using a multi-scale 3D and 2D hybrid convolutional neural network. After converting the feature maps into tokens, a series of 2D convolutions and dilated convolutions are employed to generate two sets of Q (queries), K (keys), and V (values) at different scales in a cross-attention module. This transformer with CNN-enhanced cross-attention explores multi-scale CNN-enhanced features and fuses them from both branches. Experimental evaluations conducted on three widely used hyperspectral image (HSI) datasets, under the constraint of limited sample size, demonstrate excellent classification performance of the proposed network. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Remote Sensing Image Processing)
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10 pages, 3989 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of a Three-Dimensional Microfluidic System from Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) Using an Intermiscibility Vacuum Bonding Technique
by Shu-Cheng Li, Chao-Ching Chiang, Yi-Sung Tsai, Chien-Jui Chen and Tien-Hsi Lee
Micromachines 2024, 15(4), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15040454 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
In this study, the fabrication of microfluidic chips through the bonding of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) boards featuring designed patterns to create a three-dimensional sandwich structure with embedded microchannels was explored. A key focus was optimization of the interface quality of bonded PMMA [...] Read more.
In this study, the fabrication of microfluidic chips through the bonding of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) boards featuring designed patterns to create a three-dimensional sandwich structure with embedded microchannels was explored. A key focus was optimization of the interface quality of bonded PMMA pairs by adjusting the solvent, such as such as acetone, alcohol, and their mixture. Annealing was conducted below 50 °C to leverage the advantages of low-temperature bonding. Because of the differences in the chemical reactivity of PMMA toward acetone, alcohol, and their combinations, the resulting defect densities at the bonding interfaces differed significantly under low-temperature annealing conditions. To achieve the optimal sealing integrity, bonding pressures of 30 N, 40 N, and 50 N were evaluated. The interface was analyzed through microstructural examination via optical microscopy and stress measurements were determined using digital photoelasticity, while the bonding strength was assessed through tensile testing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section B:Biology and Biomedicine)
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21 pages, 709 KiB  
Article
Problematizing Child Maltreatment: Learning from New Zealand’s Policies
by Hamed Nazari, James C. Oleson and Irene De Haan
Soc. Sci. 2024, 13(4), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13040193 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Since all policies address problems, they necessarily include implicit or explicit constructions of these problems. This paper explores how child maltreatment has been constructed in New Zealand’s child protection policies. It questions the underlying assumptions of this problem construction and seeks to shed [...] Read more.
Since all policies address problems, they necessarily include implicit or explicit constructions of these problems. This paper explores how child maltreatment has been constructed in New Zealand’s child protection policies. It questions the underlying assumptions of this problem construction and seeks to shed light on what has been omitted. Utilizing a qualitative content analysis of eight key policy documents, this study reveals the construction of child maltreatment has been dominated primarily by a child-centric, risk-focused approach. This approach assigns blame and shifts responsibilities onto parents and families. In addition, the vulnerability discourse and social investment approach underpinning this perspective have allowed important structural factors, such as poverty and inequality, to remain unaddressed. This paper also highlights the one-dimensional focus on the lower social class to control future liabilities. We suggest that the harm inflicted by corporations on children’s well-being is another form of child exploitation currently omitted from the problem construction. We suggest that child abuse should be defined and understood in policy as harm to children’s well-being and argue that the state should prevent and mitigate harm by addressing structural forces of the problem as well as protecting children against corporate harms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Social Policy and Welfare)
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16 pages, 1972 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Treadmill Training on Tissue Integrity, Axon Growth, and Astrocyte Modulation
by Tatyana Ageeva, Davran Sabirov, Albert Sufianov, Eldar Davletshin, Elizaveta Plotnikova, Rezeda Shigapova, Galina Sufianova, Anna Timofeeva, Yuri Chelyshev, Albert Rizvanov and Yana Mukhamedshina
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(7), 3772; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25073772 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) presents a complex challenge in neurorehabilitation, demanding innovative therapeutic strategies to facilitate functional recovery. This study investigates the effects of treadmill training on SCI recovery, emphasizing motor function enhancement, neural tissue preservation, and axonal growth. Our research, conducted on [...] Read more.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) presents a complex challenge in neurorehabilitation, demanding innovative therapeutic strategies to facilitate functional recovery. This study investigates the effects of treadmill training on SCI recovery, emphasizing motor function enhancement, neural tissue preservation, and axonal growth. Our research, conducted on a rat model, demonstrates that controlled treadmill exercises significantly improve motor functions post-SCI, as evidenced by improved scores on the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale and enhanced electromyography readings. Notably, the training facilitates the preservation of spinal cord tissue, effectively reducing secondary damage and promoting the maintenance of neural fibers in the injured area. A key finding is the significant stimulation of axonal growth around the injury epicenter in trained rats, marked by increased growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) expression. Despite these advancements, the study notes a limited impact of treadmill training on motoneuron adaptation and highlights minimal changes in the astrocyte and neuron–glial antigen 2 (NG2) response. This suggests that, while treadmill training is instrumental in functional improvements post-SCI, its influence on certain neural cell types and glial populations is constrained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Cellar Research of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury)
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11 pages, 4523 KiB  
Article
Association of Food Desert Residency and Preterm Birth in the United States
by Chanell O. Haley, Chelsea R. Singleton, Lily E. King, Lauren Dyer, Katherine P. Theall and Maeve Wallace
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(4), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040412 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Introduction: Food deserts are a major public health concern. Inadequate access to healthy food has been associated with poor nutrition and the development of dietary related chronic conditions. Objective: To determine the association between geographic access to nutritious food and preterm birth and [...] Read more.
Introduction: Food deserts are a major public health concern. Inadequate access to healthy food has been associated with poor nutrition and the development of dietary related chronic conditions. Objective: To determine the association between geographic access to nutritious food and preterm birth and whether gestational hypertension mediates this relationship. Methods: Food access data was retrieved from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Access Research Atlas (2019) and used to quantify the percentage of Census tracts within each county that were food deserts: low-income tracts with limited access to grocery stores, supermarkets, or other sources of healthy, nutritious foods. These data were merged with US birth records from 2018 to 2019 by using the maternal county of residence (n = 7,533,319). We fit crude and adjusted logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations to determine the association between living in a food desert and the odds of preterm birth. We conducted a secondary within-group analysis by stratifying the fully adjusted model by race for non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black birthing people. Results: In the fully adjusted model, we found a dose–response relationship. As the prevalence of tract-level food deserts within counties increased, so did the likelihood of preterm birth (mid-range: odds ratio (OR) = 1.04, 95% confidence interval (C.I.) 1.01–1.07; high: OR = 1.07, 95% C.I. 1.03–1.11). Similar results were seen in the White–Black stratified models. However, a disparity remained as Black birthing people had the highest odds for preterm birth. Lastly, gestational hypertension appears to mediate the relationship between nutritious food access and preterm birth (natural indirect effect (NIE) = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.00, 1.01). Conclusion: It is salient, particularly for Black birthing people who experience high rates of adverse birth outcomes, that the role of food desert residency be explored within maternal and child health disparities. Full article
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17 pages, 9625 KiB  
Article
Extent and Sources of Heavy Metal Pollution from Discharging Rivers in the Bohai Region, China
by Ran Kang, Shanyu Zhou, Tingting Chen, Huiying Yin, Lulu Si, Caiyun Deng and Hermann Kaufmann
Water 2024, 16(7), 982; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16070982 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Studies have investigated heavy metal (HM) contamination in the Bohai Sea, but primarily in seawater and associated sediments, or in single rivers. For the first time, 31 major rivers discharging into the Bohai Sea were analyzed, along with 27 uniformly distributed coastal seawater [...] Read more.
Studies have investigated heavy metal (HM) contamination in the Bohai Sea, but primarily in seawater and associated sediments, or in single rivers. For the first time, 31 major rivers discharging into the Bohai Sea were analyzed, along with 27 uniformly distributed coastal seawater samples and selected invertebrates. The elements measured were As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn. We calculated the ‘geo-accumulation index’, the ‘metal enrichment factor’, and the ‘contamination factor’, coupled with the ‘pollution load index’, and our findings suggested low-grade HM pollution, although two conspicuous associations of elements were found to stand out in particular: One is a combination of As, Cu, Cr, and V in seawater samples that may indicate pollution from intensive ship traffic. The other shows a significant pattern of Cr, Pb, and Zn in water samples from rivers discharging between Yantai and Weihai on the Shandong Peninsula at the south edge of the Bohai Sea. This is primarily a farming area, with a moderate share of industrial enterprises. Investigations including fertilizers and pesticides point to agricultural practices and textile printing/chrome tanneries as the causes of contamination. Overall, a significant decline was found in the HM load in the rivers, apart from those discharging into the Yellow Sea section. Full article
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24 pages, 1169 KiB  
Review
The RAGE Axis: A Relevant Inflammatory Hub in Human Diseases
by Armando Rojas, Cristian Lindner, Ivan Schneider, Ileana Gonzalez and Jaime Uribarri
Biomolecules 2024, 14(4), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14040412 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
In 1992, a transcendental report suggested that the receptor of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) functions as a cell surface receptor for a wide and diverse group of compounds, commonly referred to as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), resulting from the non-enzymatic glycation of lipids [...] Read more.
In 1992, a transcendental report suggested that the receptor of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) functions as a cell surface receptor for a wide and diverse group of compounds, commonly referred to as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), resulting from the non-enzymatic glycation of lipids and proteins in response to hyperglycemia. The interaction of these compounds with RAGE represents an essential element in triggering the cellular response to proteins or lipids that become glycated. Although initially demonstrated for diabetes complications, a growing body of evidence clearly supports RAGE’s role in human diseases. Moreover, the recognizing capacities of this receptor have been extended to a plethora of structurally diverse ligands. As a result, it has been acknowledged as a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) and functionally categorized as the RAGE axis. The ligation to RAGE leads the initiation of a complex signaling cascade and thus triggering crucial cellular events in the pathophysiology of many human diseases. In the present review, we intend to summarize basic features of the RAGE axis biology as well as its contribution to some relevant human diseases such as metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, autoimmune, and chronic airways diseases, and cancer as a result of exposure to AGEs, as well as many other ligands. Full article
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12 pages, 2127 KiB  
Article
Antineoplastic Drug Synergy of Artesunate with Navitoclax in Models of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
by J. Robert McCorkle, Rebecca Ahn, Connie D. Cao, Kristen S. Hill, Charles S. Dietrich and Jill M. Kolesar
Cancers 2024, 16(7), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16071321 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Artesunate belongs to a class of medications derived from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua) known as artemisinins. Artesunate has traditionally been used as a frontline treatment for severe malaria but has also demonstrated antineoplastic activity against various malignancies, including ovarian [...] Read more.
Artesunate belongs to a class of medications derived from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua) known as artemisinins. Artesunate has traditionally been used as a frontline treatment for severe malaria but has also demonstrated antineoplastic activity against various malignancies, including ovarian cancer. Data suggest that artesunate exacerbates cellular oxidative stress, triggering apoptosis. In the current study, we investigated the ability of navitoclax, an inhibitor of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein family, to enhance artesunate efficacy in ovarian cancer cells. Artesunate and navitoclax both demonstrated antiproliferative effects on 2D and 3D ovarian cancer cell models as single agents. Upon combination of navitoclax with artesunate, antineoplastic drug synergy was also observed in each of the 2D cell lines and ovarian tumor organoid models tested. Further investigation of this drug combination using intraperitoneal CAOV3 xenograft models in BALB/scid mice showed that the artesunate/navitoclax doublet was superior to single-agent artesunate and vehicle control treatment. However, it did not outperform single-agent navitoclax. With optimization, this drug combination could provide a new therapeutic option for ovarian cancer and warrants further preclinical investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Therapy)
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18 pages, 2513 KiB  
Article
Synergy between BRD9- and IKZF3-Targeting as a Therapeutic Strategy for Multiple Myeloma
by Basudev Chowdhury, Swati Garg, Wei Ni, Martin Sattler, Dana Sanchez, Chengcheng Meng, Taisei Akatsu, Richard Stone, William Forrester, Edmund Harrington, Sara J. Buhrlage, James D. Griffin and Ellen Weisberg
Cancers 2024, 16(7), 1319; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16071319 (registering DOI) - 28 Mar 2024
Abstract
Progress in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) has resulted in improvement in the survival rate for younger patients but not for patients >65. Thus, there is a need for more efficacious therapies. We and others have shown that bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9), [...] Read more.
Progress in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) has resulted in improvement in the survival rate for younger patients but not for patients >65. Thus, there is a need for more efficacious therapies. We and others have shown that bromodomain-containing protein 9 (BRD9), a member of the non-canonical SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, plays a role in MM cell survival, and targeting BRD9 selectively blocks MM cell proliferation and synergizes with IMiDs. We found that synergy in vitro is associated with the downregulation of MYC and Ikaros proteins, including IKZF3, and overexpression of IKZF3 or MYC could partially reverse synergy. RNA-seq analysis revealed synergy to be associated with the suppression of pathways associated with MYC and E2F target genes and pathways, including cell cycle, cell division, and DNA replication. Stimulated pathways included cell adhesion and immune and inflammatory response. Importantly, combining IMiD treatment and BRD9 targeting, which leads to the downregulation of MYC protein and upregulation of CRBN protein, was able to override IMiD resistance of cells exposed to iberdomide in long-term culture. Taken together, our results support the notion that combination therapy based on agents targeting BRD9 and IKZF3, two established dependencies in MM, represents a promising novel therapeutic strategy for MM and IMiD-resistant disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Signaling Pathways in Multiple Myeloma)
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