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15 pages, 587 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Media Health Literacy in Spanish Nursing Students: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

by Noelia Navas-Echazarreta, Pedro José Satústegui-Dordá, Francisco José Rodríguez-Velasco, María Eva García-Perea, Antonio Martínez-Sabater, Elena Chover-Sierra, María Luisa Ballestar-Tarín, Pablo Del Pozo-Herce, Silvia González-Fernández, Regina Ruiz de Viñaspre-Hernández, Michal Czapla and Raúl Juárez-Vela

Nurs. Rep. 2024, 14(3), 2565-2579; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14030189 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Background: Amidst current misinformation, media literacy is an essential competency for nursing professionals. This study aimed to analyze the level of media health literacy among Spanish undergraduate nursing students, stratifying the results by gender, region, and other associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study [...] Read more.

Background: Amidst current misinformation, media literacy is an essential competency for nursing professionals. This study aimed to analyze the level of media health literacy among Spanish undergraduate nursing students, stratifying the results by gender, region, and other associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at five Spanish universities (N = 416) using the Spanish version of the Media Health Literacy (MeHLit-SV) Questionnaire. Results: Students presented an average media health literacy score of 48.73 points. The media health literacy level was significantly higher among students from universities in the central and northeastern regions of Spain (ANOVA Test, p = 0.0002), those who had previously studied in a city (ANOVA Test, p = 0.001), those who combined their studies with employment (ANOVA Test, p = 0.001), and those residing in communities with fewer than 500 inhabitants (ANOVA Test, p = 0.001). No differences were found based on gender. Conclusions: The media health literacy level of the students was deficient and varied according to socio-economic and socio-educational factors. Understanding the literacy level of future nurses and promoting the inclusion of this competency in their education will enable them to become leaders in improving the population’s health self-care. Full article

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21 pages, 5214 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flap and Wing Dynamics for a Light Sport Aircraft Analysis Using a Topological Model

by Maria Luminita Scutaru, Sorin Vlase and Marin Marin

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(18), 8531; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188531 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

This paper presents a more general method to study the dynamic behavior of a planar mechanism with joints. To do this, Graph Theory is used. A topological description is presented based on which a corresponding graph is attached to any mechanism. This method [...] Read more.

This paper presents a more general method to study the dynamic behavior of a planar mechanism with joints. To do this, Graph Theory is used. A topological description is presented based on which a corresponding graph is attached to any mechanism. This method can be used for both kinematic and dynamic study in the same model, and many of the descriptors used in kinematic analysis can also be used for dynamic analysis. As a final result, the motion equations of the studied mechanical system can be obtained. An application is made to a flap and wing control system of a light sport aircraft. The graph associated with the mechanism first used to determine the field of velocities and accelerations of the mechanism elements is then used to obtain the motion equation for the control system. In this way, Graph Theory proves useful for the parallel study of both the kinematic and dynamic study of such problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Aerospace Science and Engineering)

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19 pages, 1541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Taxonomic and Genetic Relationships in the Pinus mugo Complex Using Genome Skimming Data

by Joanna Sikora and Konrad Celiński

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(18), 10178; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251810178 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Genome skimming is a novel approach that enables obtaining large-scale genomic information based on high-copy DNA fractions from shallow whole-genome sequencing. The simplicity of this method, low analysis costs, and large amounts of generated data have made it widely used in plant research, [...] Read more.

Genome skimming is a novel approach that enables obtaining large-scale genomic information based on high-copy DNA fractions from shallow whole-genome sequencing. The simplicity of this method, low analysis costs, and large amounts of generated data have made it widely used in plant research, including species identification, especially in the case of protected or endangered taxa. This task is particularly difficult in the case of closely related taxa. The Pinus mugo complex includes several dozen closely related taxa occurring in the most important mountain ranges in Europe. The taxonomic rank, origin, or distribution of many of these taxa have been debated for years. In this study, we used genome skimming and multilocus DNA barcoding approaches to obtain different sequence data sets and also to determine their genetic diversity and suitability for distinguishing closely related taxa in the Pinus mugo complex. We generated seven different data sets, which were then analyzed using three discrimination methods, i.e., tree based, distance based, and assembling species by automatic partitioning. Genetic diversity among populations and taxa was also investigated using haplotype network analysis and principal coordinate analysis. The proposed data set based on divergence hotspots is even twenty-times more variable than the other analyzed sets and improves the phylogenetic resolution of the Pinus mugo complex. In light of the obtained results, Pinus × rhaetica does not belong to the Pinus mugo complex and should not be identified with either Pinus uliginosa or Pinus rotundata. It seems to represent a fixed hybrid or introgressant between Pinus sylvestris and Pinus mugo. In turn, Pinus mugo and Pinus uncinata apparently played an important role in the origins of Pinus uliginosa and Pinus rotundata. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biodiversity and Molecular Marker Technology: Discovery and Application of DNA Polymorphisms)

23 pages, 5405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Iterative Removal of G-PCC Attribute Compression Artifacts Based on a Graph Neural Network

by Zhouyan He, Wenming Yang, Lijun Li and Rui Bai

Electronics 2024, 13(18), 3768; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13183768 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

As a compression standard, Geometry-based Point Cloud Compression (G-PCC) can effectively reduce data by compressing both geometric and attribute information. Even so, due to coding errors and data loss, point clouds (PCs) still face distortion challenges, such as the encoding of attribute information [...] Read more.

As a compression standard, Geometry-based Point Cloud Compression (G-PCC) can effectively reduce data by compressing both geometric and attribute information. Even so, due to coding errors and data loss, point clouds (PCs) still face distortion challenges, such as the encoding of attribute information may lead to spatial detail loss and visible artifacts, which negatively impact visual quality. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an iterative removal method for attribute compression artifacts based on a graph neural network. First, the geometric coordinates of the PCs are used to construct a graph that accurately reflects the spatial structure, with the PC attributes treated as signals on the graph’s vertices. Adaptive graph convolution is then employed to dynamically focus on the areas most affected by compression, while a bi-branch attention block is used to restore high-frequency details. To maintain overall visual quality, a spatial consistency mechanism is applied to the recovered PCs. Additionally, an iterative strategy is introduced to correct systematic distortions, such as additive bias, introduced during compression. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method produces finer and more realistic visual details, compared to state-of-the-art techniques for PC attribute compression artifact removal. Furthermore, the proposed method significantly reduces the network runtime, enhancing processing efficiency. Full article

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30 pages, 8257 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parameterization before Meta-Analysis: Cross-Modal Embedding Clustering for Forest Ecology Question-Answering

by Rui Tao, Meng Zhu, Haiyan Cao and Hong-E Ren

Forests 2024, 15(9), 1670; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15091670 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

In the field of forestry ecology, image data capture factual information, while literature is rich with expert knowledge. The corpus within the literature can provide expert-level annotations for images, and the visual information within images naturally serves as a clustering center for the [...] Read more.

In the field of forestry ecology, image data capture factual information, while literature is rich with expert knowledge. The corpus within the literature can provide expert-level annotations for images, and the visual information within images naturally serves as a clustering center for the textual corpus. However, both image data and literature represent large and rapidly growing, unstructured datasets of heterogeneous modalities. To address this challenge, we propose cross-modal embedding clustering, a method that parameterizes these datasets using a deep learning model with relatively few annotated samples. This approach offers a means to retrieve relevant factual information and expert knowledge from the database of images and literature through a question-answering mechanism. Specifically, we align images and literature across modalities using a pair of encoders, followed by cross-modal information fusion, and feed these data into an autoregressive generative language model for question-answering with user feedback. Experiments demonstrate that this cross-modal clustering method enhances the performance of image recognition, cross-modal retrieval, and cross-modal question-answering models. Our method achieves superior performance on standardized tasks in public datasets for image recognition, cross-modal retrieval, and cross-modal question-answering, notably achieving a 21.94% improvement in performance on the cross-modal question-answering task of the ScienceQA dataset, thereby validating the efficacy of our approach. Essentially, our method targets cross-modal information fusion, combining perspectives from multiple tasks and utilizing cross-modal representation clustering of images and text. This approach effectively addresses the interdisciplinary complexity of forestry ecology literature and the parameterization of unstructured heterogeneous data encapsulating species diversity in conservation images. Building on this foundation, intelligent methods are employed to leverage large-scale data, providing an intelligent research assistant tool for conducting forestry ecological studies on larger temporal and spatial scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Environmental Footprints Forecasts Using Remote Sensing, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence Methods)

12 pages, 2697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Complex Relationships between Diagnostics and Survival in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden

by Kari Hemminki, Frantisek Zitricky, Asta Försti, Tuija Tapaninen, Akseli Hemminki, Gunnar Juliusson and Carsten Utoft Niemann

Cancers 2024, 16(18), 3229; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16183229 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a common hematological malignancy with highly variable clinical presentation. Many patients never require any treatment but for the others, chemotherapy, immunochemotherapy, and newer targeted therapies have changed the treatment landscape. Diagnostic age influences the applied treatment, and [...] Read more.

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a common hematological malignancy with highly variable clinical presentation. Many patients never require any treatment but for the others, chemotherapy, immunochemotherapy, and newer targeted therapies have changed the treatment landscape. Diagnostic age influences the applied treatment, and we thus wanted to analyze age-specific survival trends through 50 years up to 2020s. Methods: We used 1- and 5-year relative survival from the NORDCAN database, with data from Denmark (DK), Finland (FI), Norway (NO), and Sweden (SE). Because of the variable presentation of CLL, we also considered incidence and mortality trends. For comparison, US SEER data were used. Results: The large age-specific survival differences in 1972–76 almost disappeared by 2017–21. While 5-year survival in younger patients exceeded 90%, for those diagnosed at age 80–89 years, survival reached 90% in DK and SE women, 80% in NO and SE men, but only 50% in FI. DK 5-year overall survival for men was 92.4%, and for women, it was 96.3%. These survival figures were higher than age-group-specific US survival data. Conclusions: The DK data are probably global top figures for national survival which could be achieved by boosting survival even among the oldest patients. The qualification to these figures and international comparisons is that survival needs to be considered in terms of incidence, which is high in DK and NO. Low survival of the FI 80–89-year-old patients, even in the first year after diagnosis, may suggest delayed diagnosis, which should call for a closer national scrutiny. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life)

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21 pages, 4533 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forecasting Financial Investment Firms’ Insolvencies Empowered with Enhanced Predictive Modeling

by Ahmed Amer Abdul-Kareem, Zaki T. Fayed, Sherine Rady, Salsabil Amin El-Regaily and Bashar M. Nema

J. Risk Financial Manag. 2024, 17(9), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm17090424 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

In the realm of financial decision-making, it is crucial to consider multiple factors, among which lies the pivotal concern of a firm’s potential insolvency. Numerous insolvency prediction models utilize machine learning techniques try to solve this critical aspect. This paper aims to assess [...] Read more.

In the realm of financial decision-making, it is crucial to consider multiple factors, among which lies the pivotal concern of a firm’s potential insolvency. Numerous insolvency prediction models utilize machine learning techniques try to solve this critical aspect. This paper aims to assess the financial performance of financial investment firms listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) from 2012 to 2022. A Multi-Layer Perceptron predicting model with a parameter optimizer is proposed integrating an additional feature selection process. For this latter process, three methods are proposed and compared: Principal Component Analysis, correlation coefficient, and Particle Swarm Optimization. Through the fusion of financial ratios with machine learning, our model exhibits improved forecast accuracy and timeliness in predicting firms’ insolvency. The highest accuracy model is the integrated MLP + PCA model, at 98.7%. The other models, MLP + PSO and MLP + CC, also exhibit strong performance, with 0.3% and 1.1% less accuracy, respectively, compared to the first model, indicating that the first model serves as a powerful predictive approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Featured Papers in Corporate Finance and Governance)

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15 pages, 13243 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three-Dimensional Probe Mispositioning Errors Compensation: A Feasibility Study in the Non-Redundant Helicoidal Near to Far-Field Transformation Case

by Francesco D’Agostino, Flaminio Ferrara, Claudio Gennarelli, Rocco Guerriero, Massimo Migliozzi, Luigi Pascarella and Giovanni Riccio

Electronics 2024, 13(18), 3767; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13183767 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

A feasibility study on the compensation of 3D mispositioning errors of the probe occurring in the characterization of a long antenna, via a non-redundant (NR) near to far-field (NTFF) transformation with helicoidal scan, is conducted in this article. Such types of errors can [...] Read more.

A feasibility study on the compensation of 3D mispositioning errors of the probe occurring in the characterization of a long antenna, via a non-redundant (NR) near to far-field (NTFF) transformation with helicoidal scan, is conducted in this article. Such types of errors can result from imperfections in the rail driving the linear motion of the probe and from an imprecise synchronization of the linear and rotational movements of the probe and the antenna when drawing the scan helix. To correct them, an approach, which proceeds through two steps, is proposed. The former step uses a technique called cylindo rical wave (CW) correction for compensating the phase of the near-field (NF) samples, which, owing to the rail imperfections, result in not being acquired over the measurement cylinder surface. The latter exploits an iterative scheme to restore the samples at the sampling points required by the adopted NR representation along the scan helix from those obtained by applying the CW correction technique and impaired by 2D mispositioning errors. The so compensated NF samples are then effectively recovered via a 2D optimal sampling interpolation (OSI) scheme to accurately obtain the input data required to carry out the standard cylindrical NTFF transformation. The OSI representation is determined here by assuming a long antenna under test as enclosed in a prolate ellipsoid or cylinder ending into two hemispheres (cigar) in order to make, depending on the particular geometry of the considered antenna, the representation effectively non-redundant. The reported numerical simulation results show the capability of the proposed approach to compensate even severe 3D mispositioning errors, thus enabling its usage in a real measurement scenario. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Microwave and Wireless Communications Section)

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11 pages, 569 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Theory of Planned Behavior and Antecedents of Attitude toward Bee Propolis Products Using a Structural Equation Model

by Kyung-A Sun and Joonho Moon

Foods 2024, 13(18), 3002; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13183002 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

This work examines consumers’ perceptions of products containing bee propolis using the theory of planned behavior as a theoretical foundation. As antecedents of attitude, this work employs price fairness, healthiness, eco-friendliness, and ease of use. A survey was issued to participants who had [...] Read more.

This work examines consumers’ perceptions of products containing bee propolis using the theory of planned behavior as a theoretical foundation. As antecedents of attitude, this work employs price fairness, healthiness, eco-friendliness, and ease of use. A survey was issued to participants who had experience using bee propolis products and who were recruited using the Clickworker platform service. In total, 305 valid observations were collected for analysis. This study used a maximum likelihood-based structural equation model to test the research hypotheses and find that price fairness, healthiness, eco-friendliness, and ease of use positively affected attitude. Moreover, the intention to use is positively impacted by attitude, subjective norms, and behavioral control. This research contributes to the literature by demonstrating the explanatory power of the theory of planned behavior with respect to bee propolis products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality Evaluation of Bee Products—Volume II)

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27 pages, 3370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Techno-Economic Study of Optimized Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Substructure

by Adebayo Ojo, Maurizio Collu and Andrea Coraddu

Energies 2024, 17(18), 4722; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17184722 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are still in the pre-commercial stage and, although different concepts of FOWTs are being developed, cost is a main barrier to commercializing the FOWT system. This article aims to use a shape parameterization technique within a multidisciplinary design [...] Read more.

Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are still in the pre-commercial stage and, although different concepts of FOWTs are being developed, cost is a main barrier to commercializing the FOWT system. This article aims to use a shape parameterization technique within a multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization framework to alter the shape of the FOWT platform with the objective of reducing cost. This cost reduction is then implemented in 30 MW and 60 MW floating offshore wind farms (FOWFs) designed based on the static pitch angle constraints (5 degrees, 7 degrees and 10 degrees) used within the optimization framework to estimate the reduction in the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) in comparison to a FOWT platform without any shape alteration–OC3 spar platform design. Key findings in this work show that an optimal shape alteration of the platform design that satisfies the design requirements, objectives and constraints set within the optimization framework contributes to significantly reducing the CAPEX cost and the LCOE in the floating wind farms considered. This is due to the reduction in the required platform mass for hydrostatic stability when the static pitch angle is increased. The FOWF designed with a 10 degree static pitch angle constraint provided the lowest LCOE value, while the FOWF designed with a 5 degree static pitch angle constraint provided the largest LCOE value, barring the FOWT designed with the OC3 dimension, which is considered to have no inclination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wind Turbines, Wind Farms, and Wind Energy: 2nd Edition)

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3 pages, 166 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders: Past, Present, and Future

by Christos Bakirtzis, Maria Elephteria Evangelopoulos and Nikolaos Grigoriadis

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(18), 5621; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13185621 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

In the past two decades, there has been a considerable increase of our knowledge with regards to the pathophysiology and management of various demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Disorders: Past, Present, and Future)

15 pages, 4204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Drivers of Pinus halepensis Plant Community Structure across a Post-Fire Chronosequence

by Dimitris Kazanis, Sofie Spatharis, Giorgos D. Kokkoris, Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos and Margarita Arianoutsou

Fire 2024, 7(9), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/fire7090331 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

The Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) forests prevailing in the western part of the Mediterranean Basin are amongst the most severely affected by fire due to their inherent flammability. Our understanding of the environmental factors driving post-fire community dynamics is currently limited by the [...] Read more.

The Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) forests prevailing in the western part of the Mediterranean Basin are amongst the most severely affected by fire due to their inherent flammability. Our understanding of the environmental factors driving post-fire community dynamics is currently limited by the lack of time-series data at temporal scales. In this present study, we analyzed a chronosequence of Greek Aleppo pine forests spanning a post-fire period of 65 years. Our goal is to explore the role of post-fire age, altitude, exposure, slope level, parent-rock material, rock cover, and cover of evergreen sclerophyllous shrubs (maquis) on plant assemblage diversity (species richness and Menhinick’s diversity index) and composition. Post-fire age had a significant effect on taxonomic distinctness and community turnover but not on species richness. Taxonomic distinctness increased with post-fire age due to a higher prevalence of the families Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae during the early post-fire period. Maquis cover was significantly associated with Menhinick’s diversity index, taxonomic distinctness, and community turnover. Exposure and slope influenced only Menhinick’s diversity index. The turnover in species composition was primarily driven by the geographical proximity of the forests and secondarily by post-fire age and the maquis cover. This highlights the importance of the initial floristic composition in the process of autosuccession after a fire in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Fires on Forest Ecosystems)

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28 pages, 7879 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Pricing and Dynamic Replenishment Planning Strategies for Perishable Vegetables Based on the RF-GWO Model

by Yongjun Pu, Zhonglin Huang, Junjie Wang and Qianrong Zhang

Symmetry 2024, 16(9), 1245; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym16091245 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

This paper addresses the challenges of automated pricing and replenishment strategies for perishable products with time-varying deterioration rates, aiming to assist wholesalers and retailers in optimizing their production, transportation, and sales processes to meet market demand while minimizing inventory backlog and losses. The [...] Read more.

This paper addresses the challenges of automated pricing and replenishment strategies for perishable products with time-varying deterioration rates, aiming to assist wholesalers and retailers in optimizing their production, transportation, and sales processes to meet market demand while minimizing inventory backlog and losses. The study utilizes an improved convolutional neural network–long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) hybrid model, autoregressive moving average (ARIMA) model, and random forest–grey wolf optimization (RF-GWO) algorithm. Using fresh vegetables as an example, the cost relationship is analyzed through linear regression, sales volume is predicted using the LSTM recurrent neural network, and pricing is forecasted with a time series analysis. The RF-GWO algorithm is then employed to solve the profit maximization problem, identifying the optimal replenishment quantity, type, and most effective pricing strategy, which involves dynamically adjusting prices based on predicted sales and market conditions. The experimental results indicate a 5.4% reduction in inventory losses and a 6.15% increase in sales profits, confirming the model’s effectiveness. The proposed mathematical model offers a novel approach to automated pricing and replenishment in managing perishable goods, providing valuable insights for dynamic inventory control and profit optimization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Computer)

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17 pages, 3419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chromaticity Recognition Technology of Colored Noise and Operational Modal Analysis

by Xiangyu Lu, Huaihai Chen and Xudong He

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(18), 8530; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14188530 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) refers to the modal analysis with only output vibration signals of a structure in its operating state. Classic OMA has developed multiple recognition methods in both the time and frequency domains, where when the random excitation is unknown, the [...] Read more.

Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) refers to the modal analysis with only output vibration signals of a structure in its operating state. Classic OMA has developed multiple recognition methods in both the time and frequency domains, where when the random excitation is unknown, the excitation chromaticity is usually treated as white color, which can often cause errors and affect the accuracy of identifying frequencies or damping ratios. In this article, the chromaticity recognition function is defined and a method Chromaticity Recognition Technology (CRT) for identifying noise chromaticity based on system response is proposed. Then, a simulation example is presented. The noise chromaticity is identified for the response of the system under four types of colored noise excitation, and the results of the identification of operational mode parameters with and without CRT are compared. Furthermore, the sensitivity of traditional OMA to different colored noise has been investigated. An experiment with a cantilever under base excitation of pink noise has been undertaken and the results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed CRT in this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noise Measurement, Acoustic Signal Processing and Noise Control)

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12 pages, 1045 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Body Composition on Mortality and Hospital Length of Stay after Endovascular and Open Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Retrospective Cohort Study

by Rosaria Del Giorno, Alessandro Robaldo, Alessia Astorino, Luca Gabutti, Vito Chianca, Stefania Rizzo, Francesca Riva, Ludovica Ettorre, Kevyn Stefanelli, Reto Canevascini, Luca Giovannacci and Giorgio Prouse

Nutrients 2024, 16(18), 3205; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16183205 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Background: Sarcopenia is an indicator of preoperative frailty and a patient-specific risk factor for poor prognosis in elderly surgical patients. Some studies have explored the prognostic significance of body composition parameters in relation to perioperative mortality after aortic repair and to mid- and [...] Read more.

Background: Sarcopenia is an indicator of preoperative frailty and a patient-specific risk factor for poor prognosis in elderly surgical patients. Some studies have explored the prognostic significance of body composition parameters in relation to perioperative mortality after aortic repair and to mid- and long-term survival following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the effects of various body composition parameters, including but not limited to sarcopenia, on short- and long-term mortality as well as the length of hospital stay in two large cohorts of patients undergoing open surgical aortic repair (OSR) or EVAR. Methods: A single-institution retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent EVAR or OSR from January 2010 to December 2017. Several parameters of body composition on axial CT angiography images were analyzed, such as skeletal muscle area (SMA) with derived skeletal muscle index (SMI), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Results: 477 patients were included: 250 treated by OSR and 227 by EVAR; the mean age was 70.8 years (OSR) and 76.3 years (EVAR), with a mean follow-up of 54 months. Sarcopenia was associated with a prolonged length of hospital stay in EVAR patients but not in OSR patients (β coefficient 3.22; p-value 0.022 vs. β coefficient 0.391; p-value 0.696). Sarcopenia was an elevated one-year mortality risk post-EVAR compared to those without sarcopenia (p-value for the log-rank test 0.05). SMA and SMI were associated with long-term mortality in EVAR patients even after adjusting for multiple confounders (HR 0.98, p-value 0.003; HR 0.97, p-value 0.032). The analysis of the OSR cohort did not show a significant correlation between short- and long-term mortality and sarcopenia indicators. Conclusions: The results suggest that body composition could predict increased mortality and longer hospital stays in patients undergoing EVAR procedures. These findings were not confirmed in the cohort of patients who underwent OSR. Patients with sarcopenia and pre-operative malnutrition should be critically assessed to define the indication for treatment in this predominantly elderly and morbid cohort, despite EVAR procedures being less invasive. Body composition evaluation is an inexpensive and reproducible tool that can contribute to an improved decision-making process by identifying patients who will benefit most from EVAR, ensuring a more personalized and cost-effective treatment strategy. Further studies are planned to explore the added value of integrating body composition into a comprehensive risk stratification before aortic surgery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Nutrition)

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18 pages, 900 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Cannabis Use Variations and Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review

by Jan van Amsterdam and Wim van den Brink

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(18), 5620; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13185620 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Background: Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), including angina pectoris (AP), and myocardial infarction (MI). However, it is not clear whether cannabis use is an independent risk factor of AP and/or MI, because cannabis is often [...] Read more.

Background: Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), including angina pectoris (AP), and myocardial infarction (MI). However, it is not clear whether cannabis use is an independent risk factor of AP and/or MI, because cannabis is often smoked together with tobacco. We investigated whether cannabis is an independent risk factor of MI and whether this risk is similar in cannabis smokers, cannabis vapers, and those who use cannabis edibles. Methods: A systematic review was performed, according to the PRISMA guidelines and using Medline (PubMed), Embase, and Google Scholar as databases. Results: Twenty-two eligible papers were identified. After adjustment for concurrent tobacco use, cannabis smoking remained significantly associated with incidents of MI, with aORs ranging between 1.03 and 5.24, and particularly high aORs in the younger age group. In never-tobacco smokers, frequent cannabis smoking was also associated with a significant MI risk (aOR = 1.88). Frequent and current cannabis use in any form other than smoking (e.g., vaping, but mostly ingestion) was not associated with a significantly increased cardiovascular risk (frequent use: aOR = 1.00 ns; current use: aOR = 1.31 ns). Conclusions: Like tobacco smoking, cannabis smoking may independently provoke MI. Vaping and ingestion of cannabis might be less harmful, probably because absence of combustion prevents exposure to certain toxins in cannabis smoke, including carbon monoxide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Emergency Medicine)

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26 pages, 36184 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incorporating Effects of Slope Units and Sliding Areas into Seismically Induced Landslide Risk Modeling in Tectonically Active Mountainous Areas

by Hao Wu, Chenzuo Ye, Xiangjun Pei, Takashi Oguchi, Zhihao He, Hailong Yang and Runqiu Huang

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(18), 3517; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16183517 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Traditional Newmark models estimate earthquake-induced landslide hazards by calculating permanent displacements exceeding the critical acceleration, which is determined from static factors of safety and hillslope geometries. However, these studies typically predict the potential landslide mass only for the source area, rather than the [...] Read more.

Traditional Newmark models estimate earthquake-induced landslide hazards by calculating permanent displacements exceeding the critical acceleration, which is determined from static factors of safety and hillslope geometries. However, these studies typically predict the potential landslide mass only for the source area, rather than the entire landslide zone, which includes both the source and sliding/depositional areas. In this study, we present a modified Newmark Runout model that incorporates sliding and depositional areas to improve the estimation of landslide chain risks. This model defines the landslide runout as the direction from the source area to the nearest river channel within the same slope unit, simulating natural landslide behavior under gravitational effects, which enables the prediction of the entire landslide zone. We applied the model to a subset of the Minjiang Catchment affected by the 1933 M_W 7.3 Diexi Earthquake in China to assess long-term landslide chain risks. The results indicate that the predicted total landslide zone closely matches that of the Xinmo Landslide that occurred on 24 June 2017, despite some uncertainties in the sliding direction caused by the old landslide along the sliding path. Distance-weighted kernel density analysis was used to reduce the prediction uncertainties. The hazard levels of the buildings and roads were determined by the distance to the nearest entire landslide zone, thereby assessing the landslide risk. The landslide dam risks were estimated using the kernel density module for channels blocked by the predicted landslides, modeling intersections of the total landslide zone and the channels. High-risk landslide dam zones spatially correspond to the locations of the knickpoints primarily induced by landslide dams, validating the model’s accuracy. These analyses demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented model for Newmark-based landslide risk estimations, with implications for geohazard chain risk assessments, risk mitigation, and land use planning and management. Full article

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14 pages, 3661 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developing a Cobalt Phosphide Catalyst with Combined Cobalt Defects and Phosphorus Vacancies to Boost Oxygen Evolution Reaction

by Weihua Ou, Ligui Li, Wei Zhou, Minzhe Chen, Chuheng Zhu, Xiaoyan Zhu and Ke Yuan

Materials 2024, 17(18), 4647; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17184647 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Defect engineering, by adjusting the surface charge and active sites of CoP catalysts, significantly enhances the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). We have developed a new Co_1−xP_v catalyst that has both cobalt defects and phosphorus vacancies, demonstrating excellent [...] Read more.

Defect engineering, by adjusting the surface charge and active sites of CoP catalysts, significantly enhances the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). We have developed a new Co_1−xP_v catalyst that has both cobalt defects and phosphorus vacancies, demonstrating excellent OER performance. Under both basic and acidic media, the catalyst incurs a modest overvoltage, with 238 mV and 249 mV needed, respectively, to attain a current density of 10 mA cm⁻². In the practical test of alkaline electrocatalytic water splitting (EWS), the Co_1−xP_v || Pt/C EWS shows a low cell voltage of 1.51 V and superior performance compared to the noble metal-based EWS (RuO₂ || Pt/C, 1.66 V). This catalyst’s exceptional catalytic efficiency and longevity are mainly attributed to its tunable electronic structure. The presence of cobalt defects facilitates the transformation of Co²⁺ to Co³⁺, while phosphorus vacancies enhance the interaction with oxygen species (*OH, *O, *OOH), working in concert to improve the OER efficiency. This strategy offers a new approach to designing transition metal phosphide catalysts with coexisting metal defects and phosphorus vacancies, which is crucial for improving energy conversion efficiency and catalyst performance. Full article

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18 pages, 13258 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microwave Hybrid Sintering and Soldering of Cu-Cr-W Composite Material for Reactive Power Breakers

by Sorin Vasile Savu, Cristian Daniel Ghelsingher, Iulian Ștefan, Nicușor-Alin Sîrbu, Andrei-Angelo Midan, Ilie Dumitru, Ionel Dănuț Savu, Claudiu Nicolicescu and Andrej David

Materials 2024, 17(18), 4648; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17184648 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Over 60% of reported failures for reactive power compensation systems are given for damage to electrical circuit breaker contacts. This paper presents a study on the development of microwave technology for sintering of W–Cu–Cr alloys at 1012 °C for 65 min using 623.38 [...] Read more.

Over 60% of reported failures for reactive power compensation systems are given for damage to electrical circuit breaker contacts. This paper presents a study on the development of microwave technology for sintering of W–Cu–Cr alloys at 1012 °C for 65 min using 623.38 W microwave power, as well as microwave joining at 231 °C of the W–Cu–Cr composite material on body contact using 475 W microwave power for 55 s. The joined components were subjected to mechanical and electrical tests in accordance with ICE standards to validate the applied technology. Tests of connection–disconnection of the electrical contacts were carried out in accordance with the maximum number of disconnections allowed by the manufacturer (2 cycles/min): 25 s rest time and 5 s operating time under load. The components of the electrical contact after 111237 switches were analyzed under a microscope revealing a reduction of the damaged area by 27% compared with the original contact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Welding and Joining Processes of Metallic Materials)

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18 pages, 578 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Method to Handle the Missing Values in Multi-Criteria Sorting Problems Based on Dominance Rough Sets

by Ahmet Topal, Nilgun Guler Bayazit and Yasemen Ucan

Mathematics 2024, 12(18), 2944; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12182944 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

The handling of missing attribute values remains a challenging and problematic issue in data analysis. Imputation techniques are key procedures used to deal with missing attribute values. However, although these methods are widely used, they cause data bias. Rough set theory, a unique [...] Read more.

The handling of missing attribute values remains a challenging and problematic issue in data analysis. Imputation techniques are key procedures used to deal with missing attribute values. However, although these methods are widely used, they cause data bias. Rough set theory, a unique mathematical tool for decision making under uncertainty, overcomes this problem by properly adjusting the relationships. Rough sets are often preferred in both classification and sorting problems. The aim of sorting problems is to sort the objects in the decision table (DT) from best to worst and/or to select the best one. For this purpose, it is necessary to obtain a pairwise comparison table (PCT) from the DT. However, in the presence of missing values, the transformation from DT to PCT is not feasible because there are no ranking methods in the literature for sorting problems based on rough sets. To address this limitation, this paper presents a way to transform from DT to PCT and introduces a generalization of the relation belonging to the “do not care” type of missing values in the dominance-based rough set approach (DRSA) to the decision support tool jRank. We also adapted the DomLem algorithm to enable it to work in PCT with missing values. We applied our method step by step to a decision table with 11 objects and investigated the effect of missing values. The experimental results showed that our proposed approach captures the semantics of `do not care’ type missing values. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fuzzy Decision Making and Soft Computing Applications: Future Perspectives)

19 pages, 3031 KiB

Open AccessReview

How Far Is the Nanocellulose Chip and Its Production in Reach? A Literature Survey

by Elena Bencurova, André Chinazzo, Bipasa Kar, Matthias Jung and Thomas Dandekar

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(18), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14181536 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

The slowdown of Moore’s Law necessitates an exploration of novel computing methodologies, new materials, and advantages in chip design. Thus, carbon-based materials have promise for more energy-efficient computing systems in the future. Moreover, sustainability emerges as a new concern for the semiconductor industry. [...] Read more.

The slowdown of Moore’s Law necessitates an exploration of novel computing methodologies, new materials, and advantages in chip design. Thus, carbon-based materials have promise for more energy-efficient computing systems in the future. Moreover, sustainability emerges as a new concern for the semiconductor industry. The production and recycling processes associated with current chips present huge environmental challenges. Electronic waste is a major problem, and sustainable solutions in computing must be found. In this review, we examine an alternative chip design based on nanocellulose, which also features semiconductor properties and transistors. Our review highlights that nanocellulose (NC) is a versatile material and a high-potential composite, as it can be fabricated to gain suitable electronic and semiconducting properties. NC provides ideal support for ink-printed transistors and electronics, including green paper electronics. Here, we summarise various processing procedures for nanocellulose and describe the structure of exclusively nanocellulose-based transistors. Furthermore, we survey the recent scientific efforts in organic chip design and show how fully automated production of such a full NC chip could be achieved, including a Process Design Kit (PDK), expected variation models, and a standard cell library at the logic-gate level, where multiple transistors are connected to perform basic logic operations—for instance, the NOT-AND (NAND) gate. Taking all these attractive nanocellulose features into account, we envision how chips based on nanocellulose can be fabricated using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials and Textiles)

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21 pages, 3300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Voltage Equalization Strategy for Series-Connected SiC MOSFET Applications

by Peng Li, Jialin Liu, Shikai Sun, Wenhao Yang, Yuyin Sun and Yuming Zhang

Electronics 2024, 13(18), 3766; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics13183766 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

A novel clamped voltage equalization strategy is presented for series-connected Silicon Carbide (SiC) Metal–Oxide semiconductor Field-Effect transistors (MOSFETs) in this paper. Differences in device parameters and circuit asymmetry result in the uneven voltage distribution of series-connected SiC MOSFETs, which threatens the safe operation [...] Read more.

A novel clamped voltage equalization strategy is presented for series-connected Silicon Carbide (SiC) Metal–Oxide semiconductor Field-Effect transistors (MOSFETs) in this paper. Differences in device parameters and circuit asymmetry result in the uneven voltage distribution of series-connected SiC MOSFETs, which threatens the safe operation of the circuit. Dynamic voltage equalization is difficult to achieve due to the fast switching speed of SiC MOSFETs. This paper analyzes the switching characteristics and dynamic voltage equalization characteristics of SiC MOSFETs. Based on the analysis, an energy recovery strategy based on the clamping auxiliary circuit is proposed. A 2.8 kW (50 KHz) prototype is fabricated and tested to verify the strategy. Measurement results show that the maximum voltage stress is suppressed from 600 V to less than 320 V in the experimental condition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wide-Bandgap Device Application: Devices, Circuits, and Drivers)

13 pages, 1149 KiB

Open AccessReview

An Update on Blastocystis: Possible Mechanisms of Blastocystis-Mediated Colorectal Cancer

by Stefania Tocci, Soumita Das and Ibrahim M. Sayed

Microorganisms 2024, 12(9), 1924; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12091924 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Blastocystis is an anaerobic parasite that colonizes the intestinal tract of humans and animals. When it was first discovered, Blastocystis was considered to be a normal flora with beneficial effects on human health, such as maintaining gut hemostasis and improving intestinal barrier integrity. [...] Read more.

Blastocystis is an anaerobic parasite that colonizes the intestinal tract of humans and animals. When it was first discovered, Blastocystis was considered to be a normal flora with beneficial effects on human health, such as maintaining gut hemostasis and improving intestinal barrier integrity. Later, with increasing research on Blastocystis, reports showed that Blastocystis sp. is associated with gastrointestinal disorders, colorectal cancer (CRC), and neurological disorders. The association between Blastocystis sp. and CRC has been confirmed in several countries. Blastocystis sp. can mediate CRC via similar mechanisms to CRC-associated bacteria, including infection-mediated inflammation, increased oxidative stress, induced gut dysbiosis, and damage to intestinal integrity, leading to a leaky gut. IL-8 is the main inflammatory cytokine released from epithelial cells and can promote CRC development. The causal association of Blastocystis sp. with other diseases needs further investigation. In this review, we have provided an update on Blastocystis sp. and summarized the debate about the beneficial and harmful effects of this parasite. We have also highlighted the possible mechanisms of Blastocystis-mediated CRC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parasitic Diseases in Humans and Animals)

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15 pages, 534 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Patient Experiences and Perceptions with Infections Due to Multidrug-Resistant Organisms: A Systematic Review

by Mousa M. AlRawashdeh, Angela Ishak, Ahmed Al-Bunnia, Aris P. Agouridis, Theodore Lytras, Nikolaos Spernovasilis and Constantinos Tsioutis

Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 817; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090817 (registering DOI) - 22 Sep 2024

Abstract

Infections by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose significant public health challenges, including increased mortality rates, healthcare costs, and significant impacts on the quality of life for patients. Utilizing a systematic review methodology adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we performed a comprehensive search across three databases, [...] Read more.

Infections by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose significant public health challenges, including increased mortality rates, healthcare costs, and significant impacts on the quality of life for patients. Utilizing a systematic review methodology adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we performed a comprehensive search across three databases, identifying 20 relevant studies that investigated the psychological effects of infections due to MDROs on hospitalized adults. The primary outcomes examined included depression, anxiety, and other psychosocial impacts, while secondary outcomes included patient and caregiver understanding of the infection. Findings revealed consistent associations between contact isolation due to MDRO infections and heightened levels of depression and anxiety among patients, although evidence regarding the impact on anger was mixed. Other psychological aspects, such as feelings of stigmatization and reduced healthcare provider interactions, were also recorded. The current systematic review highlights the importance of addressing these psychological effects through holistic, patient-centered care approaches, emphasizing the need for better communication and comprehensive education for both patients and healthcare providers. Our findings suggest that mitigating the psychological burden of MDROs can enhance overall patient care and outcomes and call for further research to optimize care strategies for patients hospitalized for infections due to MDROs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenesis Mechanisms and Antimicrobial Strategies against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens)

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