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12 pages, 3610 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrazine Bridge Cyclotriphosphazene Derivatives with Amide–Schiff Base Linkages Attached to Decyl and Hydroxy Terminal Groups

by Fatin Junaidah Mohamad Fazli and Zuhair Jamain

Molbank 2024, 2024(4), M1934; https://doi.org/10.3390/M1934 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

New cyclotriphosphazene derivatives featuring amide–Schiff base linkages with a hydrazine bridge and different terminal ends, such as decyl alkyl chains and hydroxy groups, were successfully synthesized and characterized. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and CHN elemental analysis were used [...] Read more.

New cyclotriphosphazene derivatives featuring amide–Schiff base linkages with a hydrazine bridge and different terminal ends, such as decyl alkyl chains and hydroxy groups, were successfully synthesized and characterized. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and CHN elemental analysis were used to characterize the structures of these compounds. The formation of hydrazine-bridged cyclotriphosphazene derivatives with amide–Schiff base linkages was confirmed by the FTIR spectra, showing a primary amine band for the amide linkage around ~3300 cm⁻¹ and a band for the Schiff base linkage near ~1595 cm⁻¹. This was further supported by NMR analysis, which displayed an amide proton (H-N-C=O) at ~δ 10.00 ppm and an azomethine proton (H-C=N) within the δ 8.40–8.70 ppm range. The ³¹P NMR spectra of cyclotriphosphazene compounds display a singlet at ~δ 8.20 ppm, indicating an upfield shift that suggests the complete substitution of all phosphorus atoms with identical side chains. Furthermore, CHN analysis verified the purity of the synthesized compounds, with a percentage error below 2%. The introduction of hydrazine bridges and amide–Schiff base linkages into the cyclotriphosphazene core significantly enriches the molecular structure with diverse functional groups. These modifications not only improve the compound’s stability and reactivity, but also expand its potential for a wide range of applications. Full article

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14 pages, 3806 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microgels of N-Isopropylacrylamide Copolymerized with an Amphiphilic Acid for the Delivery of Doxorubicin

by Teresa G. Rodriguez-Tellez, Héctor Magaña, José M. Cornejo-Bravo, Giovanni Palomino-Vizcaino and Kenia Palomino-Vizcaino

Gels 2024, 10(12), 806; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120806 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

This study aims to design microgels that are thermo- and pH-sensitive for controlled doxorubicin (Dox) release in response to tumor microenvironment changes. N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) is widely used for thermoresponsive tumor-targeted drug delivery systems for the release of therapeutic payloads in response to temperature [...] Read more.

This study aims to design microgels that are thermo- and pH-sensitive for controlled doxorubicin (Dox) release in response to tumor microenvironment changes. N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) is widely used for thermoresponsive tumor-targeted drug delivery systems for the release of therapeutic payloads in response to temperature changes. Herein, a NIPAAm microgel (MP) that is responsive to temperature and pH was designed for the smart delivery of Dox. MP was made from NIPAAm, and polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) was copolymerized with 5%, 10%, or 15% mol of methacryloylamido hexanoic acid, (CAM5) an amphiphilic acid. We characterized the microgels using FTIR-ATR, DLS, and FESEM. The MP 10% CAM5 exhibited a particle size of 268 nm, with a transition temperature of 44 °C. MP had a drug loading capacity of 13% and entrapment efficiency of 87%. Nearly 100% of the Dox was released at pH 5 and 42 °C, compared to 30% at pH 7.4 and 37 °C. MP 10% CAM5 showed cytocompatibility in HeLa cells using the MTT assay. However, the cell viability assay showed that dox-MP was twice as effective as free Dox. Specifically, 3 μg/mL of free Dox resulted in 74% cell viability, while the same doses of Dox in NP reduced it to 35%. These results are promising for the future tumor-targeted delivery of antineoplastic-drugs, as they may reduce the side effects of Dox. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Responsive Hydrogels (2nd Edition))

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17 pages, 1458 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Transcutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment in Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Study

by Ayça Utkan Karasu, Ayza Kılıç and Belgin Karaoğlan

J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(23), 7462; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13237462 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Background: This study assessed Transcutaneous Pulse Radiofrequency Therapy’s (TCPRF) effectiveness in reducing shoulder pain and improving shoulder function. Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled trial involved 50 SAIS patients with chronic shoulder pain. Participants were randomized into two groups: the study group (n = [...] Read more.

Background: This study assessed Transcutaneous Pulse Radiofrequency Therapy’s (TCPRF) effectiveness in reducing shoulder pain and improving shoulder function. Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled trial involved 50 SAIS patients with chronic shoulder pain. Participants were randomized into two groups: the study group (n = 27) received TCPRF, while the control (n = 23) received sham treatment. The primary outcome was shoulder pain, secondary outcomes, including shoulder function, quality of life, and range of motion, were assessed at baseline, and at 1, 4, and 12 weeks using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and the SF-36 questionnaire. Supraspinatus tendon thickness (SSPT) and acromiohumeral distance (AHD) were measured by ultrasound. Results: Both groups showed reductions in activity and resting pain over 12 weeks. In the control, activity pain dropped from a median (IQR) of 8 (7–8) to 6 (3–7), and in TCPRF from 8 (7–10) to 3.5 (2–6.3), with no significant difference at 12 weeks (p = 0.192). Resting pain decreased from 3 (1–6) to 1 (1–3) in the control, and from 3 (2–4) to 0 (0–2) in TCPRF, showing a lower resting pain at 12 weeks (p = 0.041). SPADI-Total scores decreased from 87 (54–105) to 50 (29–82) in the control and from 84 (69–107) to 21 (9–66.3) in TCPRF, favoring TCPRF at 12 weeks (p = 0.017). SPADI–Disability scores reduced from 49 (30–63) to 30 (15–30) in control and from 47 (35–62) to 11 (5.8–38.8) in TCPRF, also favoring TCPRF (p = 0.008). Both groups showed similar improvements in other outcomes. Conclusions: TCPRF reduced resting pain and shoulder disability in SAIS over 12 weeks, though other outcomes showed similar improvement in both groups. Further studies are needed to determine long-term effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Musculoskeletal Disorders: Clinical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy)

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15 pages, 5519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changing the Paradigm for Tractography Segmentation in Neurosurgery: Validation of a Streamline-Based Approach

by Silvio Sarubbo, Laura Vavassori, Luca Zigiotto, Francesco Corsini, Luciano Annicchiarico, Umberto Rozzanigo and Paolo Avesani

Brain Sci. 2024, 14(12), 1232; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14121232 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

In glioma surgery, maximizing the extent of resection while preserving cognitive functions requires an understanding of the unique architecture of the white matter (WM) pathways of the single patient and of their spatial relationship with the tumor. Tractography enables the reconstruction of WM [...] Read more.

In glioma surgery, maximizing the extent of resection while preserving cognitive functions requires an understanding of the unique architecture of the white matter (WM) pathways of the single patient and of their spatial relationship with the tumor. Tractography enables the reconstruction of WM pathways, and bundle segmentation allows the identification of critical connections for functional preservation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a streamline-based approach for bundle segmentation on a clinical dataset as compared to the traditional ROI-based approach. We performed bundle segmentation of the arcuate fasciculus, of its indirect anterior and posterior segments, and of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus in the healthy hemisphere of 25 high-grade glioma patients using both ROI- and streamline-based approaches. ROI-based segmentation involved manually delineating ROIs on MR anatomical images in Trackvis (V0.6.2.1). Streamline-based segmentations were performed in Tractome, which integrates clustering algorithms with the visual inspection and manipulation of streamlines. Shape analysis was conducted on each bundle. A paired t-test was performed on the irregularity measurement to compare segmentations achieved with the two approaches. Qualitative differences were evaluated through visual inspection. Streamline-based segmentation consistently yielded significantly lower irregularity scores (p < 0.001) compared to ROI-based segmentation for all the examined bundles, indicating more compact and accurate bundle reconstructions. Qualitative assessment identified common biases in ROI-based segmentations, such as the inclusion of anatomically implausible streamlines or streamlines with undesired trajectories. Streamline-based bundle segmentation with Tractome provides reliable and more accurate reconstructions compared to the ROI-based approach. By directly manipulating streamlines rather than relying on voxel-based ROI delineations, Tractome allows us to discern and discard implausible or undesired streamlines and to identify the course of WM bundles even when the anatomy is distorted by the lesion. These features make Tractome a robust tool for bundle segmentation in clinical contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy)

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14 pages, 393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Therapeutic Approach to Primary Tic Disorders and Associated Psychiatric Comorbidities

by Irene Berzosa-Gonzalez, Saul Martinez-Horta, Jesus Pérez-Pérez, Jaime Kulisevsky and Javier Pagonabarraga

Brain Sci. 2024, 14(12), 1231; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14121231 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The treatment of tics and psychiatric comorbidities is crucial when they affect the patient’s well-being and relationships. However, the optimal pharmacological treatment (PT) tailored to each patient’s phenotype remains unclear. The primary objective of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: The treatment of tics and psychiatric comorbidities is crucial when they affect the patient’s well-being and relationships. However, the optimal pharmacological treatment (PT) tailored to each patient’s phenotype remains unclear. The primary objective of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics and treatment received for tics and psychiatric comorbidities in our cohort of children and adult patients with tic disorders. Additionally, a further aim was to quantify the severity of tics, comorbidities and overall severity, and the overall clinical changes observed during the follow-up. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study of patients with tic disorders under follow-up at our Tic Functional Unit from January 2022 to March 2024. Two independent neurologists retrospectively applied the Clinical Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) and the Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S) scales at baseline and at last assessment. Results: A total of 36 individuals were included (63.8% males, median age = 18 years, IQR 19): 94.4% with Tourette syndrome (TS), 2.8% with chronic tic disorder (CTD), and 2.8% with provisional tic disorder (PTD). A total of 86% had at least one psychiatric comorbidity, the most common being obsessive–compulsive symptomatology (OCS) (52%), anxiety (52%), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (35%). At last assessment, 26 patients (72.2%) were on undergoing PT for tics and 3 were receiving additional botulinum toxin. The most used medication for tics were aripiprazole (46.2%) and clonazepam (46.2%), and for psychiatric comorbidities, SSRIs (42.9%), methylphenidate (19%), and benzodiazepines (57.1%). Overall improvement according to the CGI-C scale was mild (CGI-C 3). Children and adolescents showed greater improvement than adults (CGI-C 2 vs. 3; p = 0.005). Aripiprazole and clonazepam produced similar outcomes in reducing CGI-C. Conclusions: We observed a favorable clinical course in patients treated with aripiprazole and clonazepam, which appear to be better than that obtained with other treatments. We consider that clonazepam may be useful as a first-line monotherapy and as an adjuvant for both tics and comorbidities in selected cases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Neuromuscular and Movement Disorders)

18 pages, 1262 KiB

Open AccessReview

Analysis of Energy System Transformations in the European Union

by Agata Jaroń and Anna Borucka

Energies 2024, 17(23), 6181; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17236181 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Achieving climate neutrality has become an environmental goal for all European Union (EU) Member States. Thanks to numerous projects and subsidies, EU countries are able to achieve the goal of decarbonizing energy sources. The aim of the presented study is to assess the [...] Read more.

Achieving climate neutrality has become an environmental goal for all European Union (EU) Member States. Thanks to numerous projects and subsidies, EU countries are able to achieve the goal of decarbonizing energy sources. The aim of the presented study is to assess the validity of Member States’ actions to reduce CO₂ emissions based on data provided by Eurostat. The presented study combines, using regression, data on financial outlays dictated by environmental protection, the share of renewable energy, and total CO₂ emissions in individual Member States. This study has shown that, despite differences in the use of energy sources, Member States are able to achieve economic growth in symbiosis with the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Policy and Economic Analysis of Energy Systems)

18 pages, 5631 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Near-Field Direct Writing Based on Piezoelectric Micromotion for the Programmable Manufacturing of Serpentine Structures

by Xun Chen, Xuanzhi Zhang, Jianfeng Sun, Rongguang Zhang, Xuanyang Liang, Jiecai Long, Jingsong Yao, Xin Chen, Han Wang, Yu Zhang, Jiewu Leng and Renquan Lu

Micromachines 2024, 15(12), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi15121478 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Serpentine microstructures offer excellent physical properties, making them highly promising in applications in stretchable electronics and tissue engineering. However, existing fabrication methods, such as electrospinning and lithography, face significant challenges in producing microscale serpentine structures that are cost-effective, efficient, and controllable. These methods [...] Read more.

Serpentine microstructures offer excellent physical properties, making them highly promising in applications in stretchable electronics and tissue engineering. However, existing fabrication methods, such as electrospinning and lithography, face significant challenges in producing microscale serpentine structures that are cost-effective, efficient, and controllable. These methods often struggle with achieving precise control over fiber morphology and scalability. In this study, we developed a near-field direct writing (NFDW) technique incorporating piezoelectric micromotion to enable the precise fabrication of serpentine micro-/nanofibers by incorporating micromotion control with macroscopic movement. Modifying the fiber structure allowed for adjustments to the mechanical properties, including tunable extensibility and distinct characteristics. Through the control of the frequency and amplitude of the piezoelectric signal, the printing errors were reduced to below 9.48% in the cycle length direction and 6.33% in the peak height direction. A predictive model for the geometrical extensibility of serpentine structures was derived from Legendre’s incomplete elliptic integral of the second kind and incorporated an error correction factor, which significantly reduced the calculation errors in predicting geometric elongation, by 95.85%. The relationship between microstructure bending and biomimetic non-linear mechanical behavior was explored through tensile testing. By controlling the input electrical signals, highly ordered serpentine microstructures were successfully fabricated, demonstrating potential for use in biomimetic mechanical scaffolds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Systems, 3rd Edition)

25 pages, 697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

LCA-TOPSIS Integration for Minimizing Material Waste in the Construction Sector: A BIM-Based Decision-Making

by Yigit Yardimci and Emre Kurucay

Buildings 2024, 14(12), 3919; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14123919 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

The construction sector is one of the industries with the highest environmental impact due to resource consumption and waste generation. Material waste exacerbates these impacts by increasing carbon emissions and energy consumption. This study introduces an innovative approach by integrating Life Cycle Assessment [...] Read more.

The construction sector is one of the industries with the highest environmental impact due to resource consumption and waste generation. Material waste exacerbates these impacts by increasing carbon emissions and energy consumption. This study introduces an innovative approach by integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to evaluate material waste and environmental impacts simultaneously. By analyzing scenarios of material use in the design and construction phases, this study explores their effects on material efficiency and environmental performance while addressing a notable research gap. Existing studies on the integration of LCA and TOPSIS in evaluating material waste and its environmental impacts remain limited. This research not only demonstrates the applicability of these methods but also contributes to filling this gap. Material waste and efficiency were assessed through Building Information Modeling (BIM), while BIM-LCA integration was used to evaluate environmental impacts. The findings were examined in two stages: LCA and TOPSIS. The TOPSIS analysis considered two scenarios—material waste and environmental impacts. In the first scenario, cast-in-place concrete (5000 psi) and stone and ceramic tiles emerged as priorities. In the second scenario, where carbon emissions and environmental impacts were emphasized, cast-in-place concrete (5000 psi), laminated timber, and stone tiles were identified as critical materials. The results reveal that reducing material waste significantly enhances environmental performance, lowers costs, and promotes sustainability. These findings provide practical insights for developing sustainable strategies in diverse cultural and geographical contexts, particularly for residential projects. The integration of LCA and TOPSIS offers a robust decision-making framework, enabling targeted actions to minimize environmental footprints across all life cycle stages. This study contributes to the literature by providing actionable recommendations for optimizing resource use and improving sustainability in construction practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Building Energy, Physics, Environment, and Systems)

15 pages, 830 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metabolic Alterations of Short-Chain Organic Acids in the Elderly Link Antibiotic Exposure with the Risk for Depression

by Shujing Sun, Li Kong, Fangting Hu, Sheng Wang, Menglong Geng, Hongjuan Cao, Xingyong Tao, Fangbiao Tao and Kaiyong Liu

Metabolites 2024, 14(12), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14120689 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Background: Our previous study showed that antibiotic exposure was linked to depressive symptomatology in community-dwelling older adults in China. Our current study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms by assessing the intermediated effects of circulating short-chain organic acids (SCOAs) on this association. Methods: [...] Read more.

Background: Our previous study showed that antibiotic exposure was linked to depressive symptomatology in community-dwelling older adults in China. Our current study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms by assessing the intermediated effects of circulating short-chain organic acids (SCOAs) on this association. Methods: Depressive symptoms were screened by the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30). Urinary concentrations of antibiotics and serum SCOAs were measured using a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method. Results: Increased exposure to sulfadiazine, azithromycin, tetracyclines, or veterinary antibiotics (VAs) was positively associated with GDS-30 scores. Tetracycline reduced levels of caproic acid, iso-butyric acid, and iso-caproic acid (iso-CA), with iso-CA concentration inversely correlating with GDS-30 scores, while β-hydroxybutyric acids showed a positive correlation. The mediating effect of serum iso-CA on the association between depression and ofloxacin, with a mediating effect of 25.3%, and the association between depression and tetracycline, with a mediating effect of 46.3%, were both statistically significant, indicating partial mediation. Conclusions: Antibiotics may affect the levels of SCOAs in older adults and could potentially contribute to depressive symptoms by influencing alterations in serum iso-CA levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Endocrinology and Clinical Metabolic Research)

13 pages, 693 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Far-Infrared Radiation Heating-Assisted Pulsed Vacuum Drying (FIR-PVD) Enhanced the Drying Efficiency and Quality Attributes of Raspberries

by Zi-Liang Liu and Shan-Yu Wang

Agriculture 2024, 14(12), 2246; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122246 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

An emerging drying method, far-infrared radiation heating-assisted pulsed vacuum drying (FIR-PVD), was employed to dry raspberries. In this study, the impacts of FIR-PVD, freeze drying (FD), and hot air drying (HAD) on drying characteristics and quality attributes, including color, rehydration ratio, content of [...] Read more.

An emerging drying method, far-infrared radiation heating-assisted pulsed vacuum drying (FIR-PVD), was employed to dry raspberries. In this study, the impacts of FIR-PVD, freeze drying (FD), and hot air drying (HAD) on drying characteristics and quality attributes, including color, rehydration ratio, content of total phenolics (TP), content of total monomeric anthocyanins (TMA), antioxidant activity, and microstructural attributes of dried raspberries, were examined. Results indicated that FIR-PVD notably shortened the drying time by 47.78% compared to HAD and by 73.89% compared to FD. The FIR-PVD samples exhibited the highest TP content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and FRAP value, which were 17.73%, 6.09%, and 38.16% higher than those of the FD samples, respectively, and 2.78%, 2.77%, and 18.74% higher than those of the HAD samples. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) were observed between antioxidant capacity, as measured by DPPH and FRAP assays, and TP content. However, FD at a low temperature led to a higher TMA content than FIR-PVD and HAD. FIR-PVD resulted in the highest ΔE values of dried products due to the lightness enhancement. In addition, the dried products obtained by FIR-PVD had better rehydration capacity. These findings indicate that FIR-PVD presents a promising alternative method for drying raspberries, as it enhances drying efficiency and improves the quality attributes of the dried products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Products Processing and Quality Detection)

21 pages, 5515 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Spatiotemporal Variation Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Grassland Vegetation Coverage in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau from 2000 to 2023 Based on MODIS Data

by Xiankun Shi, Dong Yang, Shijian Zhou, Hongwei Li, Siting Zeng, Chen Yin and Mingxin Yang

Land 2024, 13(12), 2127; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13122127 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Changes in grassland fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) are important indicators of global climate change. Due to the unique characteristics of the Tibetan Plateau ecosystem, variations in grassland coverage are crucial to its ecological stability. This study utilizes the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform [...] Read more.

Changes in grassland fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) are important indicators of global climate change. Due to the unique characteristics of the Tibetan Plateau ecosystem, variations in grassland coverage are crucial to its ecological stability. This study utilizes the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to retrieve long-term MODIS data and analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution of grassland FVC across the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) over 24 years (2000–2023). The grassland growth index (GI) is used to evaluate the annual grassland growth at the pixel level. GI is an important indicator for measuring grassland growth status, which can effectively measure the changes in grassland growth in each year relative to the base year. FVC trends are monitored using Sen-Mann-Kendall slope estimation, the coefficient of variation, and the Hurst exponent. Geographic detectors and partial correlation analysis are then applied to explore the contribution rates of key driving factors to FVC. The results show: (1) From 2000 to 2023, FVC exhibited an overall upward trend, with an annual growth rate of 0.0881%. The distribution of FVC on the QTP follows a pattern of higher values in the east and lower values in the west; (2) Over the past 24 years, 54.05% of the total grassland area has shown a significant increase, 23.88% has remained stable, and only a small portion has shown a significant decrease. The overall trend is expected to continue with minimal variability, covering 82.36% of the total grassland area. The overall grassland GI suggests a balanced state of growth; (3) precipitation (Pre) and soil moisture (SM) are the main single factors affecting FVC changes in grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau (q = 0.59 and 0.46). In the interaction detection, in addition to the highest interaction between Pre and other factors, the interaction between SM and other factors also showed a significant impact on the changes in FVC of the QTP grassland; partial correlation analysis of hydrothermal factors; and FVC of the QTP grassland. It shows that precipitation has a stronger correlation with QTP grassland FVC changes than temperature. This study has enhanced our understanding of grassland vegetation change and its driving factors on the QTP and quantitatively described the relationship between vegetation change and driving factors, which is of great significance for maintaining the sustainable development of grassland ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetation Cover Changes Monitoring Using Remote Sensing Data)

9 pages, 334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of a Hybrid of the Different Transform Method and Adomian Decomposition Method Algorithms to Solve the Troesch Problem

by Mariusz Pleszczyński, Konrad Kaczmarek and Damian Słota

Mathematics 2024, 12(23), 3858; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12233858 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

The Troesch problem is a well-known and important problem; the ability to solve it is important due to the practical applications of this problem. In this paper, we propose a method to solve this problem using a combination of two useful algorithms: Different [...] Read more.

The Troesch problem is a well-known and important problem; the ability to solve it is important due to the practical applications of this problem. In this paper, we propose a method to solve this problem using a combination of two useful algorithms: Different Transform Method (DTM) and Adomian Decomposition Method (ADM). The combination of these two methods resulted in a continuous approximate solution to this problem and eliminated the problems that occur when trying to use each of these methods separately. The great advantages of the DTM method are the continuous form of the solution and the fact that it easy to implement error control. However, in too-complex tasks, this method becomes difficult to use. By using a hybrid of ADM and DTM, we obtain a relatively simple-to-implement method that retains the advantages of the DTM approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Computational and Applied Mathematics)

20 pages, 393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Female Director Background on the ESG Performance of Chinese Technology Firms: A Moderating Effect Based on Risk Appetite

by Luning Tong and Maowei Chen

Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10753; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310753 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

As global focus persists on gender variety and corporate social responsibility, the participation and influence of women in corporate governance, particularly their effect on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of corporations, have garnered extensive scrutiny. Given the significant differences between China [...] Read more.

As global focus persists on gender variety and corporate social responsibility, the participation and influence of women in corporate governance, particularly their effect on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of corporations, have garnered extensive scrutiny. Given the significant differences between China and the West in terms of institutions and culture, it is highly valuable to explore the unique relationship between gender diversity and ESG performance in the Chinese context, especially in the high-risk and fast-growing technology industry. This study explores the impact of female director background on ESG performance and the moderating effect of risk appetite. The findings suggest that the proportion of female directors has a significant positive impact on the ESG performance of Chinese technology companies. Furthermore, the corporate risk appetite has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between the proportion of female directors and ESG performance. Female directors with higher education levels, financial professional background, and long-term tenure can more effectively promote the company’s ESG performance. This study enhances the theoretical framework of corporate governance and ESG studies while also offering innovative guidance for firms to enhance their ESG scores and develop effective risk management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Corporate Governance and Firm Performance)

10 pages, 626 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Smoking-Associated Changes in Gene Expression in Coronary Artery Disease Patients Using Matched Samples

by Mohammed Merzah, Szilárd Póliska, László Balogh, János Sándor and Szilvia Fiatal

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(12), 13893-13902; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46120830 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Smoking is a well known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the effects of smoking on gene expression in the blood of CAD subjects in Hungary have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated [...] Read more.

Smoking is a well known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the effects of smoking on gene expression in the blood of CAD subjects in Hungary have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with smoking in CAD subjects. Eleven matched samples based on age and gender were selected for analysis in this study. All subjects were non-obese, non-alcoholic, non-diabetic, and non-hypertensive and had moderate to severe stenosis of one or more coronary arteries, confirmed by coronary angiography. Whole blood samples were collected using PAXgene tubes. Next-generation sequencing was employed using the NextSeq 500 system to generate high-throughput sequencing data for transcriptome profiling. The differentially expressed genes were analyzed using the R programming language. Results: The study revealed that smokers exhibited non-significant higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and triglycerides compared to non-smokers (p > 0.05), although high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was also elevated. Despite this, the overall lipid profile of smokers remained less favorable. Non-smokers had a higher BMI (p = 0.02). Differential gene expression analysis identified 58 DEGs, with 38 upregulated in smokers. The key upregulated genes included LILRB5 (log₂FC = 2.88, p = 1.05 × 10⁻⁵) and RELN (log₂FC = 3.31, p = 0.024), while RNF5_2 (log₂FC = −5.29, p = 0.028) and IGHV7-4-1_1 (log₂FC = −2.86, p = 0.020) were notably downregulated. Heatmap analysis showed a distinct clustering of gene expression profiles between smokers and non-smokers. However, GO analysis did not identify significant biological pathways associated with the DEGs. Conclusions: This research illuminates smoking’s biological effects, aiding personalized medicine for predicting and treating smoking-related diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Medicine)

14 pages, 822 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Telemedicine in Botulinum Toxin Type-A Treatment for Spasticity Management: Perspectives and Challenges from Italian Healthcare Professionals

by Stefania Spina, Salvatore Facciorusso, Nicoletta Cinone, Luigi Santoro, Anna Castagna, Miriam Ramella, Franco Molteni, Andrea Santamato and The Collaborative Working Group

Toxins 2024, 16(12), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16120529 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

(1) Background: Telemedicine is a vital tool for enhancing healthcare accessibility and outcomes at reduced costs. This study aimed to assess the usability of the Maia Connected Care telemedicine platform for managing spasticity in patients receiving botulinum toxin type-A, focusing on the perspectives [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Telemedicine is a vital tool for enhancing healthcare accessibility and outcomes at reduced costs. This study aimed to assess the usability of the Maia Connected Care telemedicine platform for managing spasticity in patients receiving botulinum toxin type-A, focusing on the perspectives of Italian physiatrists with expertise in this treatment. (2) Methods: Conducted from March 2023 to June 2023, this multicenter survey involved 15 Italian physicians who used the platform for teleconsultations. Data collected included demographic details, responses to the Telemedicine Usability Questionnaire, and physician insights on patient satisfaction, treatment effectiveness, and implementation challenges in telehealth. (3) Results: The platform demonstrated high usability, with strong physician satisfaction due to its user-friendly interface and quality of interactions. A majority expressed willingness to continue telehealth for spasticity management, noting its effectiveness in improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. Challenges included replicating the depth of in-person consultations and addressing issues like reimbursement and telehealth standardization. (4) Conclusion: This study highlights telemedicine’s potential for spasticity management and clinician satisfaction, while underscoring the need for improvements in simulating in-person experiences and addressing systemic issues. The absence of patient perspectives represents a limitation, advocating for future research to optimize telemedicine practices and evaluate long-term clinical impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Bacterial Toxins)

23 pages, 7313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shallow Water Bathymetry Inversion Based on Machine Learning Using ICESat-2 and Sentinel-2 Data

by Mengying Ye, Changbao Yang, Xuqing Zhang, Sixu Li, Xiaoran Peng, Yuyang Li and Tianyi Chen

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(23), 4603; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16234603 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Shallow water bathymetry is essential for maritime navigation, environmental monitoring, and coastal management. While traditional methods such as sonar and airborne LiDAR provide high accuracy, their high cost and time-consuming nature limit their application in remote and sensitive areas. Satellite remote sensing offers [...] Read more.

Shallow water bathymetry is essential for maritime navigation, environmental monitoring, and coastal management. While traditional methods such as sonar and airborne LiDAR provide high accuracy, their high cost and time-consuming nature limit their application in remote and sensitive areas. Satellite remote sensing offers a cost-effective and rapid alternative for large-scale bathymetric inversion, but it still relies on significant in situ data to establish a mapping relationship between spectral data and water depth. The ICESat-2 satellite, with its photon-counting LiDAR, presents a promising solution for acquiring bathymetric data in shallow coastal regions. This study proposes a rapid bathymetric inversion method based on ICESat-2 and Sentinel-2 data, integrating spectral information, the Forel-Ule Index (FUI) for water color, and spatial location data (normalized X and Y coordinates and polar coordinates). An automated script for extracting bathymetric photons in shallow water regions is provided, aiming to facilitate the use of ICESat-2 data by researchers. Multiple machine learning models were applied to invert bathymetry in the Dongsha Islands, and their performance was compared. The results show that the XG-CID and RF-CID models achieved the highest inversion accuracies, 93% and 94%, respectively, with the XG-CID model performing best in the range from −10 m to 0 m and the RF-CID model excelling in the range from −15 m to −10 m. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence for Ocean Remote Sensing)

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16 pages, 772 KiB

Open AccessTechnical Note

Local Pyramid Vision Transformer: Millimeter-Wave Radar Gesture Recognition Based on Transformer with Integrated Local and Global Awareness

by Zhaocheng Wang, Guangxuan Hu, Shuo Zhao, Ruonan Wang, Hailong Kang and Feng Luo

Remote Sens. 2024, 16(23), 4602; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16234602 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

A millimeter-wave radar is widely accepted by the public due to its low susceptibility to interference, such as changes in light, and the protection of personal privacy. With the development of the deep learning theory, the deep learning method has been dominant in [...] Read more.

A millimeter-wave radar is widely accepted by the public due to its low susceptibility to interference, such as changes in light, and the protection of personal privacy. With the development of the deep learning theory, the deep learning method has been dominant in the millimeter-wave radar field, which usually uses convolutional neural networks for feature extraction. In recent years, transformer networks have also been highly valued by researchers due to their parallel processing capabilities and long-distance dependency modeling capabilities. However, traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and vision transformers each have their limitations: CNNs usually overlook the global features of images and vision transformers may neglect local image continuity, and both of them may impede gesture recognition performance. In addition, whether CNN or transformer, their implementation is hindered by the scarcity of public radar gesture datasets. To address these limitations, this paper proposes a new recognition method using a local pyramid visual transformer (LPVT) based on millimeter-wave radar. LPVT can capture global and local features in dynamic gesture spectrograms, ultimately improving the recognition ability of gestures. In this paper, we mainly carried out the following two tasks: building the corresponding datasets and executing gesture recognition. First, we constructed a gesture dataset for training. In this stage, we use a 77 GHz radar to collect the echo signals of gestures and preprocess them to build a dataset. Second, we propose the LPVT network specifically designed for gesture recognition tasks. By integrating local sensing into the globally focused transformer, we improve its capacity to capture both global and local features in dynamic gesture spectrograms. The experimental results using the dataset we constructed show that the proposed LPVT network achieved a gesture recognition accuracy of 92.2%, which exceeds the performance of other networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section AI Remote Sensing)

22 pages, 1273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Non-Linear Exploration of the Digital Economy’s Impact on Agricultural Carbon Emission Efficiency in China

by Shiying Zhu, Jiawen Huang, Yansong Li, Paravee Maneejuk and Jianxu Liu

Agriculture 2024, 14(12), 2245; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122245 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

As the global climate crisis intensifies, improving agricultural carbon emission efficiency has become crucial for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study investigates the complex, non-linear relationship between China’s digital economy and agricultural carbon emission efficiency, utilizing panel data from Chinese provinces [...] Read more.

As the global climate crisis intensifies, improving agricultural carbon emission efficiency has become crucial for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study investigates the complex, non-linear relationship between China’s digital economy and agricultural carbon emission efficiency, utilizing panel data from Chinese provinces spanning 2012–2022. We employ a multi-method approach, including the Super-SBM model for efficiency measurement, two-way fixed effects models, quantile regression, and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) for empirical analysis. Our findings reveal: (1) The digital economy significantly enhances agricultural carbon emission efficiency, but with distinct non-linear characteristics across different dimensions. (2) The impact varies among digital economy aspects: the digital economy foundation shows the most substantial influence, followed by the rural digital industry level, while rural digital infrastructure has a relatively minor effect. (3) A threshold effect is observed, with the digital economy’s impact more pronounced in regions with higher agricultural carbon emission efficiency. (4) GAM analysis unveils complex non-linear patterns: the rural digital industry’s impact initially decreases before increasing, the digital economy foundation shows an overall increasing trend with plateaus, and rural digital infrastructure exhibits a near-linear relationship. (5) Sensitivity analysis indicates that agricultural carbon emission efficiency is most responsive to changes in the digital economy foundation, followed by the rural digital industry level. These findings provide nuanced insights into the digital economy’s role in enhancing agricultural sustainability. We propose targeted policy recommendations, including accelerating rural digital infrastructure development, optimizing the rural digital industry structure, and implementing context-specific digital facility construction. These strategies aim to fully leverage the digital economy’s potential in improving agricultural carbon emission efficiency, contributing to China’s “dual carbon” goals and sustainable agricultural development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Novel Studies in Agricultural Economics and Sustainable Farm Management)

18 pages, 3299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

YOLO-Wheat: A More Accurate Real-Time Detection Algorithm for Wheat Pests

by Yongkang Liu, Qinghao Wang, Qi Zheng and Yong Liu

Agriculture 2024, 14(12), 2244; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122244 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

As a crucial grain crop, wheat is vulnerable to pest attacks throughout its growth cycle, leading to reductions in both yield and quality. Therefore, promptly detecting and identifying wheat pests is essential for effective pest management and to guarantee better wheat production and [...] Read more.

As a crucial grain crop, wheat is vulnerable to pest attacks throughout its growth cycle, leading to reductions in both yield and quality. Therefore, promptly detecting and identifying wheat pests is essential for effective pest management and to guarantee better wheat production and quality. Wheat pests exhibit considerable diversity and are often found in complex environmental contexts. Intraspecies variation among wheat pests can be substantial, while differences between species may be minimal, making accurate pest detection a difficult task. We provide an enhanced algorithm, YOLO-Wheat, based on YOLOv8, to solve the aforementioned issues. The proposed YOLO-Wheat, an extension of YOLOv8, integrates SimAM into the C2f module to enhance feature extraction capabilities. Additionally, a novel feature fusion technique, CGconcat, is introduced, which enhances fusion efficiency by applying channel weighting to emphasize critical feature information. Moreover, the EMA attention mechanism is implemented before the detection head to preserve feature information through multipath processing, thereby addressing detection challenges posed by pests of varying sizes. Experiments revealed that YOLO-Wheat achieved an [email protected] of 89.6%, reflecting a 2.8% increase compared to its prior performance. Additionally, [email protected]:0.95 reached 46.5%, marking a 1.7% improvement. YOLO-Wheat also performs better than other popular object detection algorithms (YOLOv5, YOLOv10, RT-DETR), and the model is successfully deployed for simple real-time detection. These results demonstrate that YOLO-Wheat can achieve real-time high-precision detection for wheat pests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Digital Agriculture)

15 pages, 291 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating Multidimensional Degenerate Hybrid Special Polynomials and Their Connection to Appell Sequences: Properties and Applications

by Awatif Muflih Alqahtani, Saleem Yousuf, Shahid Ahmad Wani and Roberto S. Costas-Santos

Axioms 2024, 13(12), 859; https://doi.org/10.3390/axioms13120859 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

This paper explores the operational principles and monomiality principles that significantly shape the development of various special polynomial families. We argue that applying the monomiality principle yields novel results while remaining consistent with established findings. The primary focus of this study is the [...] Read more.

This paper explores the operational principles and monomiality principles that significantly shape the development of various special polynomial families. We argue that applying the monomiality principle yields novel results while remaining consistent with established findings. The primary focus of this study is the introduction of degenerate multidimensional Hermite-based Appell polynomials (DMHAP), denoted as

_{H} A_{n}^{[r]} (l_{1}, l_{2}, l_{3}, \dots, l_{r}; ϑ)

. These DMHAP forms essential families of orthogonal polynomials, demonstrating strong connections with classical Hermite and Appell polynomials. Additionally, we derive symmetric identities and examine the fundamental properties of these polynomials. Finally, we establish an operational framework to investigate and develop these polynomials further. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hypergeometric Series, Orthogonal Polynomials and Their Natural Extensions)

10 pages, 461 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Unusual Serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis

by Samy Taha, Giulia Fantoni, Eva Hong, Aude Terrade, Oumar Doucoure, Ala-Eddine Deghmane and Muhamed-Kheir Taha

Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2528; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122528 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Most cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Europe are caused by isolates of the Neisseria meningitidis serogroups B, C, W, and Y. We aimed to explore cases caused by other unusual serogroups. We retrospectively screened IMD cases in the databases of the [...] Read more.

Most cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Europe are caused by isolates of the Neisseria meningitidis serogroups B, C, W, and Y. We aimed to explore cases caused by other unusual serogroups. We retrospectively screened IMD cases in the databases of the National Reference Center for Meningococci and Haemophilus influnezae in France between 2014 and 2023. Age, sex, serogroups, and genetic lineage distributions were analyzed. We also measured complement deposition on the bacterial surface and tested coverage by vaccines against serogroup B. Cases due to isolates of serogroups other than B, C, W, and Y represented 1.6% of all 3610 IMD cases during the study period with 59 cases and a median age of 21.5 years of age. The corresponding isolates were non-groupable (26 cases), serogroup X (21 cases), serogroup E (11 cases), and one isolate belonged to serogroup Z. Only a low proportion (7.4%) belonged to the hyperinvasive genetic lineages. Isolates of serogroup E bound a significantly higher amount of complement on their surface and were mainly detected in patients with terminal complement pathway deficiencies. Isolates of these unusual serogroups were shown to be covered by vaccines licensed against meningococci B. Surveillance of these isolates needs to be enhanced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Detection and Analysis of Clinical Microbial Infections, Second Edition)

13 pages, 1038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Activation Energy of SDS–Protein Complexes in Capillary Electrophoresis with Tetrahydroxyborate Cross-Linked Agarose Gels

by Dániel Sárközy and András Guttman

Gels 2024, 10(12), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels10120805 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Hydrogels like agarose have long been used as sieving media for the electrophoresis-based analysis of biopolymers. During gelation, the individual agarose strands tend to form hydrogen-bond mediated double-helical structures, allowing thermal reversibility and adjustable pore sizes for molecular sieving applications. The addition of [...] Read more.

Hydrogels like agarose have long been used as sieving media for the electrophoresis-based analysis of biopolymers. During gelation, the individual agarose strands tend to form hydrogen-bond mediated double-helical structures, allowing thermal reversibility and adjustable pore sizes for molecular sieving applications. The addition of tetrahydroxyborate to the agarose matrix results in transitional chemical cross-linking, offering an additional pore size adjusting option. Separation of SDS-proteins during gel electrophoresis is an activated process defined by the interplay between viscosity, gelation/cross-link formation/distortion, and sample conformation. In this paper, the subunits of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody were separated by capillary SDS agarose gel electrophoresis at different temperatures. The viscosity of the separation matrix was also measured at all temperatures. In both instances, Arrhenius plots were used to obtain the activation energy values. It was counterintuitively found that larger SDS–protein complexes required lower activation energies while their low-molecular-weight counterparts needed higher activation energy for their electromigration through the sieving matrix. As a first approximation, we considered this phenomenon the result of the electric force-driven distortion of the millisecond range lifetime reticulations by the larger and consequently more heavily charged electromigrating molecules. In the meantime, the sieving properties of the gel were still maintained, i.e., they allowed for the size-based separation of the sample components, proving the existence of the reticulations. Information about the activation energy sheds light on the possible deformation of the sieving matrix and the solute molecules. In addition, the activation energy requirement study helped in optimizing the separation temperature, e.g., with our sample mixture, the highest resolution was obtained for the high-molecular-weight fragments, i.e., between the non-glycosylated heavy chain and heavy-chain subunits at 25 °C (lower E_a requirement), while 55 °C was optimal for the lower-molecular-weight light chain and non-glycosylated heavy chain pair (lower E_a requirement). Future research directions and possible applications are also proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gel Applications)

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15 pages, 887 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Influence of Brood Deaths on Honeybee Population

by Atanas Z. Atanasov, Slavi G. Georgiev and Lubin G. Vulkov

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 11412; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311412 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Many mathematical models using ordinary differential equations (ODEs) have been used to investigate what type of stressors cause honeybee colonies collapse. We propose a simple model of a delayed differential equation system (DDE) to describe the effect of insecticides over brood death rate [...] Read more.

Many mathematical models using ordinary differential equations (ODEs) have been used to investigate what type of stressors cause honeybee colonies collapse. We propose a simple model of a delayed differential equation system (DDE) to describe the effect of insecticides over brood death rate and its influence over honeybee population dynamics. First, we remember some basic facts for the model with no delay. To analyze our model, we study the equilibria and perform stability and sensitivity analysis of the DDE system. Next, by using the delay time

τ

as a bifurcation parameter, we find that no Hopf bifurcation could arise as the time lag

τ

varies within biologically plausible ranges. Numerical simulations with real data are studied for the biological significance of the model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering)

16 pages, 566 KiB

Open AccessReview

Hands-On Versus Hands-Off Treatment of Hip-Related Nonspecific Musculoskeletal Diseases: A Systematic Review

by Giulia Franceschi, Irene Scotto, Filippo Maselli, Firas Mourad and Marco Gallotti

J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2024, 9(4), 262; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9040262 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

Background/Objectives: A manual approach combined with therapeutic exercise versus therapeutic exercise alone is a debated issue in the literature. The American College of Rheumatology guidelines “conditionally recommended against” manual therapy for the management of hip osteoarthritis. Manual therapy followed by exercise, instead, appears [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: A manual approach combined with therapeutic exercise versus therapeutic exercise alone is a debated issue in the literature. The American College of Rheumatology guidelines “conditionally recommended against” manual therapy for the management of hip osteoarthritis. Manual therapy followed by exercise, instead, appears to lead to a faster return to sport than exercise alone for adductor groin pain. There is a need to understand which is the most effective treatment in the management of hip nonspecific musculoskeletal diseases. The aim of this systematic review is to determine which is the most effective treatment between manual therapy combined with therapeutic exercise and therapeutic exercise alone in subjects with hip nonspecific musculoskeletal diseases. Methods: This systematic review complies with the guidelines of the 2020 Prisma Statement. The databases consulted were Pubmed, Cinahl, and Web Of Science. The search was conducted from October 2004 to November 2023. The search string was developed following the PICO model. Free terms or synonyms (e.g., manual therapy, exercise therapy, hip disease, effectiveness) and Medical Subject Headings terms were combined with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). The risk-of-bias assessment was conducted using Version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized controlled trials and the Newcastle Ottawa Scale for observational studies. A qualitative analysis of the results was conducted through narrative synthesis of key concepts. When possible, quantitative analysis was conducted through statistical parameters. Results: Ten articles were analyzed. Results show no differences between the interventions analyzed. Preliminary evidence seems to favor the combined intervention for the outcomes of pain, ROM, and patient satisfaction, with other studies claiming an absence of differences. Only one study claims that therapeutic exercise alone is more effective for quality of life. Preliminary evidence seems to show that manual therapy does not seem to bring any benefit in addition to therapeutic exercise in mid- and long-term functionality, especially for hip osteoarthritis. Conclusions: There seems to be no difference in effectiveness between manual therapy combined with therapeutic exercise and therapeutic exercise alone in individuals with hip nonspecific musculoskeletal diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Exercises in Musculoskeletal Disorders—7th Edition)

20 pages, 11335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design and Analysis of Tubular Transverse Flux Permanent Magnet Linear Motor

by Guopeng Sun, Mei Zhao, Jianjun Li, Tong Yao and Huaqiang Zhang

Energies 2024, 17(23), 6180; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17236180 (registering DOI) - 7 Dec 2024

Abstract

The electrical load and the magnetic load of the transverse flux permanent magnet linear motor (TFPMLM) are decoupled from each other, which makes it easy to achieve modularization, and it has broad application prospects in the field of low speed and high thrust. [...] Read more.

The electrical load and the magnetic load of the transverse flux permanent magnet linear motor (TFPMLM) are decoupled from each other, which makes it easy to achieve modularization, and it has broad application prospects in the field of low speed and high thrust. Firstly, the topology structure of a cylindrical TFPMLM is proposed, and its working principle is introduced. Secondly, the basic electromagnetic performance of the motor is studied. Thirdly, the influence of the structural parameters on the flux linkage, back-EFM, and cogging force has been analyzed by the 3D finite element method (FEM). Then, the kriging agent model is constructed through the DOE experiment, and a set of size parameters with better performance are found by using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. Finally, the prototype and experimental setup have been developed. The calculated results and the measured results are in good agreement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section F3: Power Electronics)

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