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14 pages, 506 KiB  
Article
How Accurate Is Multiple Imputation for Nutrient Intake Estimation? Insights from ASA24 Data
by Nicolas Woods, Jason Gilliland, Louise W. McEachern, Colleen O’Connor, Saverio Stranges, Shaun Doherty and Jamie A. Seabrook
Nutrients 2025, 17(15), 2510; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152510 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 117
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Accurate dietary assessment is crucial for nutritional epidemiology, but tools like 24 h recalls (24HRs) face challenges with missing or implausible data. The Automated Self-Administered 24 h Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24) facilitates large-scale data collection, but its lack of interviewer input [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Accurate dietary assessment is crucial for nutritional epidemiology, but tools like 24 h recalls (24HRs) face challenges with missing or implausible data. The Automated Self-Administered 24 h Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24) facilitates large-scale data collection, but its lack of interviewer input may lead to implausible dietary recalls (IDRs), affecting data integrity. Multiple imputation (MI) is commonly used to handle missing data, but its effectiveness in high-variability dietary data is uncertain. This study aims to assess MI’s accuracy in estimating nutrient intake under varying levels of missing data. Methods: Data from 24HRs completed by 743 adolescents (ages 13–18) in Ontario, Canada, were used. Implausible recalls were excluded based on nutrient thresholds, creating a cleaned reference dataset. Missing data were simulated at 10%, 20%, and 40% deletion rates. MI via chained equations was applied, incorporating demographic and psychosocial variables as predictors. Imputed values were compared to actual values using Spearman’s correlation and accuracy within ±10% of true values. Results: Spearman’s rho values between the imputed and actual nutrient intakes were weak (mean ρ ≈ 0.24). Accuracy within ±10% was low for most nutrients (typically < 25%), with no clear trend by missingness level. Diet quality scores showed slightly higher accuracy, but values were still under 30%. Conclusions: MI performed poorly in estimating individual nutrient intake in this adolescent sample. While MI may preserve sample characteristics, it is unreliable for accurate nutrient estimates and should be used cautiously. Future studies should focus on improving data quality and exploring better imputation methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nutrition Methodology & Assessment)
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18 pages, 849 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial Activity of Greek Native Essential Oils Against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Antibiotic Resistance Strains Harboring pNorm Plasmid, mecA, mcr-1 and blaOXA Genes
by Rafail Fokas, Zoi Anastopoulou and Apostolos Vantarakis
Antibiotics 2025, 14(8), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14080741 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 860
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in food and clinical environments necessitates new, clean-label antimicrobials. This study assessed eight Greek native essential oils—oregano, thyme, dittany, rosemary, peppermint, lavender, cistus and helichrysum—for activity against six genetically and phenotypically diverse E. coli strains [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in food and clinical environments necessitates new, clean-label antimicrobials. This study assessed eight Greek native essential oils—oregano, thyme, dittany, rosemary, peppermint, lavender, cistus and helichrysum—for activity against six genetically and phenotypically diverse E. coli strains (reference, pNorm, mecA, mcr-1, blaOXA and O157:H7). We aimed to identify oils with broad-spectrum efficacy and clarify the chemical constituents responsible. Methods: Disk-diffusion assays measured inhibition zones at dilutions from 50% to 1.56% (v/v). MIC and MBC values were determined by broth microdilution. GC–MS profiling identified dominant components, and Spearman rank-order correlations (ρ) linked composition to activity. Shapiro–Wilk tests (W = 0.706–0.913, p ≤ 0.002) indicated non-normal data, so strain comparisons used Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA with Dunn’s post hoc and Bonferroni correction. Results: Oregano, thyme and dittany oils—rich in carvacrol and thymol—exhibited the strongest activity, with MIC/MBC ≤ 0.0625% (v/v) against all strains and inhibition zones > 25 mm at 50%. No strain-specific differences were detected (H = 0.30–3.85; p = 0.998–0.571; padj = 1.000). Spearman correlations confirmed that carvacrol and thymol content strongly predicted efficacy (ρ = 0.527–0.881, p < 0.001). Oils dominated by non-phenolic terpenes (rosemary, peppermint, lavender, cistus, helichrysum) showed minimal or no activity. Conclusions: Phenolic-rich EOs maintain potent, strain-independent antimicrobial effects—including against multidrug-resistant and O157:H7 strains—via a multi-target mode that overcomes classical resistance. Their low-dose efficacy and GRAS status support their use as clean-label food preservatives or adjuncts to antibiotics or bacteriophages to combat antimicrobial resistance. Full article
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15 pages, 2203 KiB  
Article
Improved Cholesteatoma Removal with CADISS: A Quantitative Ultrastructural Comparison Using VP-SEM
by Michela Relucenti, Ubaldo Romeo Plastina, Pasquale Fino, Chiara Filippi, Maurizio Barbara and Edoardo Covelli
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(12), 4192; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14124192 - 12 Jun 2025
Viewed by 779
Abstract
Background: Cholesteatoma is a destructive middle ear pathology requiring precise surgical removal to prevent recurrence and preserve auditory function. The chemically assisted dissection (CADISS) system (AuXin Surgery, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium), based on Mesna (5%), was introduced to enhance tissue separation and minimize residual [...] Read more.
Background: Cholesteatoma is a destructive middle ear pathology requiring precise surgical removal to prevent recurrence and preserve auditory function. The chemically assisted dissection (CADISS) system (AuXin Surgery, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium), based on Mesna (5%), was introduced to enhance tissue separation and minimize residual disease. Objective: This study aimed to compare the cleaning efficiency of CADISS-assisted dissection versus the conventional manual dissection of cholesteatoma from incus bone surfaces using quantitative ultrastructural analysis. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 67 human incus samples collected during cholesteatoma surgery—35 treated with manual dissection and 32 with CADISS. Samples were imaged using variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (VP-SEM) in hydrated conditions. Clean area/total area ratios were calculated and analyzed statistically using non-parametric tests. Postoperative MRI follow-up at 1 month was conducted to assess residual disease. Results: CADISS-assisted samples demonstrated significantly higher clean area/total area ratios (mean: 0.2095 vs. 0.0478, p < 0.0001). Qualitative imaging showed fewer residuals > 1 mm in the CADISS group (9% vs. 77%). MRI follow-up revealed a lower recurrence rate in the CADISS group (3.1%) compared to manual dissection (11.4%). Conclusions: CADISS-assisted dissection provides superior cholesteatoma debris removal compared to manual methods, as evidenced by VP-SEM imaging and clinical follow-up. This technique may improve surgical outcomes and reduce recurrence risk in middle ear surgery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Otolaryngology)
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16 pages, 1210 KiB  
Article
Effect of Thermal Processing by Spray Drying on Key Ginger Compounds
by Alina Warren-Walker, Manfred Beckmann, Alison Watson, Steffan McAllister and Amanda J. Lloyd
Metabolites 2025, 15(6), 350; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15060350 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 785
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Spray drying is a technique widely employed in the food and nutraceutical industries to convert liquid extracts into stable powders, preserving their functional properties. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is rich in bioactive compounds such as gingerols, shogaols, and zingerone, which contribute [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Spray drying is a technique widely employed in the food and nutraceutical industries to convert liquid extracts into stable powders, preserving their functional properties. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is rich in bioactive compounds such as gingerols, shogaols, and zingerone, which contribute to its health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the impact of spray drying on the chemical profile of ginger, particularly focusing on the transformation of gingerols into shogaols and related compounds. Methods: Fresh ginger juice was spray-dried using various carrier agents, including Clear Gum (CO03), pea protein, and inulin. Mass spectra of the resulting powders were acquired using High-Resolution Flow Infusion Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (HR-FIE-MS) to obtain fingerprint data. Key bioactive compounds were tentatively identified to Level 2, and their relative intensities were assessed to evaluate the effects of different carriers on the chemical composition of the ginger powders. Results: Spray drying with the commercial carrier CO03 resulted in an increase in shogaol analogues ([10]-, [8]-, and cis-[8]-shogaol), gingerenone B, and oxidation products such as 6-hydroxyshogaol, 6-dehydroshogaol, and zingerone. In contrast, natural carriers like pea protein and inulin led to lower relative intensities of these bioactives, suggesting limited capacity for promoting thermal transformations. Spray drying without a carrier produced a shogaol-dominant profile but resulted in powders with poor handling properties, such as stickiness and agglomeration. Antioxidant and total polyphenol assays showed that spray drying reduced antioxidant capacity, while total polyphenol content was more preserved; natural carriers such as inulin better maintained bioactivity compared to modified starch or pea protein. Conclusions: Among the five formulations evaluated—ginger juice with no carrier, with CO03 (two dilutions), pea protein, or inulin—CO03-based samples showed the greatest chemical transformation, while inulin and pea protein better preserved antioxidant capacity but induced fewer metabolite changes. Thus, choice of carrier in the spray-drying process influences the chemical profile and functional characteristics of resultant ginger powders. While CO03 effectively enhances the formation of bioactive shogaols and related compounds, its ultra-processed nature may not align with clean-label product trends. Natural carriers, although more label-friendly, may not create the desired chemical transformations. Therefore, optimising carrier selection is important to balance bioactivity, product stability, and consumer acceptability in the development of ginger-based functional products. Full article
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21 pages, 3831 KiB  
Article
Green Synthesis, Characterization and Pharmaceutical Applications of Biocompatible Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Heliotropium rariflorum Stocks
by Noor Ul Uza, Ghulam Dastagir, Syed Tanveer Shah, Elitsa Pavlova, Aftab Jamal, Mahmoud F. Seleiman and Jakub Černý
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(11), 1457; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17111457 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2196
Abstract
Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles are safe, non-toxic, and biocompatible. These NPs are used in food packaging materials, self-cleaning glass, ceramics, deodorants, sunscreens, paints, coatings, ointments, lotions, and as preservatives. This study explored the biological potential of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using H. rariflorum. [...] Read more.
Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles are safe, non-toxic, and biocompatible. These NPs are used in food packaging materials, self-cleaning glass, ceramics, deodorants, sunscreens, paints, coatings, ointments, lotions, and as preservatives. This study explored the biological potential of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using H. rariflorum. Methods: In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Candida albicans, Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus solani were determined. Antioxidant activity was explored using the DPPH radical scavenging method. In vivo analgesic, antipyretic and sedative potential of synthesized nanoparticles was investigated using a mouse model. Results: SEM with various magnification powers showed that some particles were spherical while some were aggregated, flake-shaped, and hexagonal with rough and irregular surfaces. The EDX analysis revealed Zn (12.63%), O (22.83%) and C (63.11%) with trace quantities of Si (0.40%), Ca (0.54%) and P (0.49%). The XRD pattern indicated an amorphous state, with no peaks observed throughout the spectrum. The UV–visible spectrophotometry revealed a characteristic absorption peak at 375 nm, indicating the presence of ZnO nanoparticles. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) displayed several small peaks between 1793 and 2370 cm−1, providing evidence of the presence of different kinds of organic compounds with different functional groups. ZnO-NPs showed dose-dependent antibacterial and antifungal potential against all strains. Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were the most susceptible strains. The nanoparticles exhibited a maximum antioxidant effect of 85.28% at 100 μg/mL. In this study, the acute toxicity test showed no mortality, and normal behavior was observed in mice at ZnO-NP doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg. For analgesic and antipyretic activities, a two-way ANOVA revealed that dose, time, and the interaction between dose and time were significant. In contrast, the samples had a non-significant effect on sedative activity. Conclusions: This innovative study suggests a potential use of plant resources for managing microbes and treating various diseases, providing a scientific basis for the traditional use of H. rariflorum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)
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11 pages, 1944 KiB  
Article
3D-Printable Biopolymers for Socket Preservation Technique: Soft Tissues Response: A Pilot Randomised Clinical Study
by Nicola De Angelis, Paolo Pesce, Wiwiek Poedjiastoeti, Trijani Suwandi, Rosalina Tjandrawinata, Francesco Bagnasco and Maria Menini
Dent. J. 2024, 12(10), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/dj12100321 - 7 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1726
Abstract
Background: The aim of the present parallel clinical study is to evaluate the efficacy of 3D-printed biopolymers compounded with osteoconductive material (beta-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite) for soft tissue closure after tooth extraction. Materials and Methods: this study followed the CONSORT reporting guidelines; 39 [...] Read more.
Background: The aim of the present parallel clinical study is to evaluate the efficacy of 3D-printed biopolymers compounded with osteoconductive material (beta-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite) for soft tissue closure after tooth extraction. Materials and Methods: this study followed the CONSORT reporting guidelines; 39 patients were treated with socket preservation using 3D-printed biopolymers and randomly divided into 3 groups (Test 1, Test 2, and Control). All cases were treated without flap elevation, careful cleaning and debridement of the sites, and then randomly sealed as follows: In T1, with a 3D-printed disk of poli-D-lactic acid with 10% of hydroxyapatite; in T2, using a 3D-printed disk of poli-ε caprolactone with 20% of β-tricalcium phosphate; and in T3, the socket was left open to heal. At baseline (extraction time) and 6 weeks after extraction, the rate of exposure was evaluated and stratified according to the site (anterior, posterior). Results: No dropouts were observed during the 6 weeks follow-up. All sites underwent uneventful healing with no complications. For posterior teeth, Test 1 and Test 2 showed full healing of the soft tissues with a reduction of the exposed area from 46.5 ± 8.25 mm2 to 0.6 ± 0.84 mm2 and from 47.1 ± 8.67 mm2 to 0.6 ± 0.7 mm2, respectively. The Control group exhibited a reduction from 45.6 ± 7.25 mm2 to 1.2 ± 0.9 mm2. Both Tests 1 and 2, when compared to the Control group, showed statistically significant better healing (p < 0.05). Anterior teeth showed a complete closure of the socket 4 weeks after the extraction with no noticeable differences between Test and Control. Conclusions: Both materials used in this study showed evidence to achieve the purpose. Ethical Guidelines: written informed consent was obtained from the participants of the study, as requested by the Ethics Committee for Health Research Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Trisakti, with the following number: 641/S3/KEPK/FKG/5/2023. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Implantology and Bone Regeneration)
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18 pages, 46447 KiB  
Article
Improved Coherent Processing of Synthetic Aperture Radar Data through Speckle Whitening of Single-Look Complex Images
by Luciano Alparone, Alberto Arienzo and Fabrizio Lombardini
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(16), 2955; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16162955 - 12 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1862
Abstract
In this study, we investigate the usefulness of the spectral whitening procedure, devised by one of the authors as a preprocessing stage of envelope-detected single-look synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, in application contexts where phase information is relevant. In the first experiment, each [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigate the usefulness of the spectral whitening procedure, devised by one of the authors as a preprocessing stage of envelope-detected single-look synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images, in application contexts where phase information is relevant. In the first experiment, each of the raw datasets of an interferometric pair of COSMO-SkyMed images, representing industrial buildings amidst vegetated areas, was individually (1) synthesized by the SAR processor without Fourier-domain Hamming windowing; (2) synthesized with Hamming windowing, used to improve the focalization of targets, with the drawback of spatially correlating speckle; and (3) processed for the whitening of complex speckle, using the data obtained in (2). The interferograms were produced in the three cases, and interferometric coherence and phase maps were calculated through 3 × 3 boxcar filtering. In (1), coherence is low on vegetation; the presence of high sidelobes in the system’s point-spread function (PSF) causes the spread of areas featuring high backscattering. In (2), point targets and buildings are better defined, thanks to the sidelobe suppression achieved by the frequency windowing, but the background coherence is abnormally increased because of the spatial correlation introduced by the Hamming window. Case (3) is the most favorable because the whitening operation results in low coherence in vegetation and high coherence in buildings, where the effects of windowing are preserved. An analysis of the phase map reveals that (3) is likely to be facilitated also in terms of unwrapping. Results are presented on a TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X (TSX-TDX) image pair by processing the interferograms of original and whitened data using a non-local filter. The main results are as follows: (1) with autocorrelated speckle, the estimation error of coherence may attain 16% and inversely depends on the heterogeneity of the scene; and (2) the cleanness and accuracy of the phase are increased by the preliminary whitening stage, as witnessed by the number of residues, reduced by 24%. Benefits are also expected not only for differential InSAR (DInSAR) but also for any coherent analysis and processing carried out performed on SLC data. Full article
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15 pages, 3823 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Wear of a Novel Vitamin E Crosslinked Polyethylene Lumbar Total Joint Replacement
by Ryan L. Siskey, Ronald V. Yarbrough, Hannah Spece, Scott D. Hodges, Steven C. Humphreys and Steven M. Kurtz
Bioengineering 2023, 10(10), 1198; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10101198 - 15 Oct 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2614
Abstract
Background: A novel, lumbar total joint replacement (TJR) design has been developed to treat degeneration across all three columns of the lumbar spine (anterior, middle, and posterior columns). Thus far, there has been no in vitro studies that establish the preclinical safety profile [...] Read more.
Background: A novel, lumbar total joint replacement (TJR) design has been developed to treat degeneration across all three columns of the lumbar spine (anterior, middle, and posterior columns). Thus far, there has been no in vitro studies that establish the preclinical safety profile of the vitamin E-stabilized highly crosslinked polyethylene (VE-HXLPE) lumbar TJR relative to historical lumbar anterior disc replacement for the known risks of wear and impingement faced by all motion preserving designs for the lumbar spine. Questions/Purpose: In this study we asked, (1) what is the wear performance of the VE-HXLPE lumbar TJR under ideal, clean conditions? (2) Is the wear performance of VE-HXLPE in lumbar TJR sensitive to more aggressive, abrasive conditions? (3) How does the VE-HXLPE lumbar TJR perform under impingement conditions? Method: A lumbar TJR with bilateral VE-HXLPE superior bearings and CoCr inferior bearings was evaluated under clean, impingement, and abrasive conditions. Clean and abrasive testing were guided by ISO 18192-1 and impingement was assessed as per ASTM F3295. For abrasive testing, CoCr components were scratched to simulate in vivo abrasion. The devices were tested for 10 million cycles (MC) under clean conditions, 5 MC under abrasion, and 1 MC under impingement. Result: Wear rates under clean and abrasive conditions were 1.2 ± 0.5 and 1.1 ± 0.6 mg/MC, respectively. The VE-HXLPE components demonstrated evidence of burnishing and multidirectional microscratching consistent with microabrasive conditions with the cobalt chromium spherical counterfaces. Under impingement, the wear rates ranged between 1.7 ± 1.1 (smallest size) and 3.9 ± 1.1 mg/MC (largest size). No functional or mechanical failure was observed across any of the wear modes. Conclusions: Overall, we found that that a VE-HXLPE-on-CoCr lumbar total joint replacement design met or exceeded the benchmarks established by traditional anterior disc replacements, with wear rates previously reported in the literature ranging between 1 and 15 mg/MC. Clinical Relevance: The potential clinical benefits of this novel TJR design, which avoids long-term facet complications through facet removal with a posterior approach, were found to be balanced by the in vitro tribological performance of the VE-HXLPE bearings. Our encouraging in vitro findings have supported initiating an FDA-regulated clinical trial for the design which is currently under way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Development in Spine Biomechanics)
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21 pages, 12605 KiB  
Article
Semi-RainGAN: A Semisupervised Coarse-to-Fine Guided Generative Adversarial Network for Mixture of Rain Removal
by Rongwei Yu, Ni Shu, Peihao Zhang and Yizhan Li
Symmetry 2023, 15(10), 1832; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym15101832 - 27 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1396
Abstract
Images taken in various real-world scenarios meet the symmetrical goal of simultaneously removing foreground rain-induced occlusions and restoring the background details. This inspires us to remember the principle of symmetry; real-world rain is a mixture of rain streaks and rainy haze and degrades [...] Read more.
Images taken in various real-world scenarios meet the symmetrical goal of simultaneously removing foreground rain-induced occlusions and restoring the background details. This inspires us to remember the principle of symmetry; real-world rain is a mixture of rain streaks and rainy haze and degrades the visual quality of the background. Current efforts formulate image rain streak removal and rainy haze removal as separate models, which disrupts the symmetrical characteristics of real-world rain and background, leading to significant performance degradation. To achieve this symmetrical balance, we propose a novel semisupervised coarse-to-fine guided generative adversarial network (Semi-RainGAN) for the mixture of rain removal. Beyond existing wisdom, Semi-RainGAN is a joint learning paradigm of the mixture of rain removal and attention and depth estimation. Additionally, it introduces a coarse-to-fine guidance mechanism that effectively fuses estimated image, attention, and depth features. This mechanism enables us to achieve symmetrically high-quality rain removal while preserving fine-grained details. To bridge the gap between synthetic and real-world rain, Semi-RainGAN makes full use of unpaired real-world rainy and clean images, enhancing its generalization to real-world scenarios. Extensive experiments on both synthetic and real-world rain datasets demonstrate clear visual and numerical improvements of Semi-RainGAN over sixteen state-of-the-art models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computer)
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18 pages, 3421 KiB  
Article
Underwater Reverberation Suppression via Attention and Cepstrum Analysis-Guided Network
by Yukun Hao, Xiaojun Wu, Huiyuan Wang, Xinyi He, Chengpeng Hao, Zirui Wang and Qiao Hu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(2), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11020313 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3071
Abstract
Active sonar systems are one of the most commonly used acoustic devices for underwater equipment. They use observed signals, which mainly include target echo signals and reverberation, to detect, track, and locate underwater targets. Reverberation is the primary background interference for active sonar [...] Read more.
Active sonar systems are one of the most commonly used acoustic devices for underwater equipment. They use observed signals, which mainly include target echo signals and reverberation, to detect, track, and locate underwater targets. Reverberation is the primary background interference for active sonar systems, especially in shallow sea environments. It is coupled with the target echo signal in both the time and frequency domain, which significantly complicates the extraction and analysis of the target echo signal. To combat the effect of reverberation, an attention and cepstrum analysis-guided network (ACANet) is proposed. The baseline system of the ACANet consists of a one-dimensional (1D) convolutional module and a reconstruction module. These are used to perform nonlinear mapping and to reconstruct clean spectrograms, respectively. Then, since most underwater targets contain multiple highlights, a cepstrum analysis module and a multi-head self-attention module are deployed before the baseline system to improve the reverberation suppression performance for multi-highlight targets. The systematic evaluation demonstrates that the proposed algorithm effectively suppresses the reverberation in observed signals and greatly preserves the highlight structure. Compared with NMF methods, the proposed ACANet no longer requires the target echo signal to be low-rank. Thus, it can better suppress the reverberation in multi-highlight observed signals. Furthermore, it demonstrates superior performance over NMF methods in the task of reverberation suppression for single-highlight observed signals. It creates favorable conditions for underwater platforms, such as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), to carry out underwater target detection and tracking tasks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Sensing and Machine Learning to Underwater Acoustic)
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18 pages, 4187 KiB  
Article
A Multi-Instrument Analysis of the Late 16th Canvas Painting, “Coronation of the Virgin with the Saints Ambrose and Jerome”, Attributed to the Tuscany-Umbria Area to Support the Possibility of Bio-Cleaning Using a Bacteria-Based System
by Sofia Annarilli, Antonella Casoli, Claudia Colantonio, Luca Lanteri, Angela Marseglia, Claudia Pelosi and Sabrina Sottile
Heritage 2022, 5(4), 2904-2921; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5040150 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2667
Abstract
(1) Background. The aim of this work is to combine non-invasive imaging with chemical characterization analyses to study original and restoration materials of a late 16th-century painting on a canvas representing the “Coronation of the Virgin with the Saints Ambrose and Jerome”, [...] Read more.
(1) Background. The aim of this work is to combine non-invasive imaging with chemical characterization analyses to study original and restoration materials of a late 16th-century painting on a canvas representing the “Coronation of the Virgin with the Saints Ambrose and Jerome”, preserved in the Diocesan archive of Orte, a town in the district of Viterbo (Italy). The diagnostic campaign was addressed to support the restoration activities and the choice of the most suitable cleaning operations. (2) Methods. Both traditional analytical techniques and innovative multispectral imaging were applied to solve the diagnostic issues and best address the restoration of the painting. Specifically, hypercolorimetric multispectral imaging (HMI), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), optical microscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were combined to obtain information on the general conservation state of the artwork and the characterization of pigments, organic binders, and superimposed materials, these last being particularly important to identify ancient and not-documented restoration intervention, enabling the correct choice of the most suitable and effective cleaning intervention. (3) Results. Multispectral data allowed us to differentiate and map original materials through infrared and ultraviolet false color images and spectral reflectance-based similarity maps, suggesting pigment attribution and focusing point analysis for characterization. This approach was particularly successful to identify and locate the presence of unaltered smalt blue in the first painting coat, which had been covered with other pigments, and to suggest the use of organic dye in mixtures with cinnabar and ochres. Spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques enabled us to identify the painting palette and confirm the use of oil-based binder for the pigments and characterize the altered top layers, made with a natural resin and an animal glue. (4) Conclusions. The characterization of the artwork’s materials was essential to select the most suitable methods and materials for the bio-cleaning, based on bacteria, experimented with during the restoration activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Italian Research Applied to Cultural Heritage)
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11 pages, 3249 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Incipient Enamel Caries at Smooth Tooth Surfaces Using SS-OCT
by Yasushi Shimada, Takaaki Sato, Go Inoue, Hisaichi Nakagawa, Tomoko Tabata, Yuan Zhou, Noriko Hiraishi, Tadamu Gondo, Syunsuke Takano, Kei Ushijima, Hirotoshi Iwabuchi, Yukiko Tsuji, Sadr Alireza, Yasunori Sumi and Junji Tagami
Materials 2022, 15(17), 5947; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15175947 - 28 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3124
Abstract
(1) Background: Dental caries, if diagnosed at the initial stage, can be arrested and remineralized by a non-operative therapeutic approach preserving tooth structure. Accurate and reproducible diagnostic procedure is required for the successful management of incipient caries. The aim of this study was [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Dental caries, if diagnosed at the initial stage, can be arrested and remineralized by a non-operative therapeutic approach preserving tooth structure. Accurate and reproducible diagnostic procedure is required for the successful management of incipient caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 3D swept-source optical coherence tomography (3D SS-OCT) for enamel caries at smooth tooth surface if the lesion was with remineralization. (2) Methods: Forty-seven tooth surfaces of 24 extracted human teeth visibly with/without enamel caries (ICDAS code 0–3) were selected and used in this study. The tooth surfaces of investigation site were cleaned and visually examined by four dentists. After the visual inspection, SS-OCT scanning was performed onto the enamel surfaces to construct a 3D image. The 2D tomographic images of the investigation site were chosen from the 3D dataset and dynamically displayed in video and evaluated by the examiners. A five-rank scale was used to score the level of enamel caries according to the following; 1: Intact enamel. 2: Noncavitated lesion with remineralization. 3: Superficial noncavitated lesion without remineralization. 4: Deep nonvacitated lesion without remineralization. 5: Enamel lesion with cavitation. Sensitivity and specificity for 3D OCT image and visual inspection were calculated. Diagnostic accuracy of each diagnostic method was calculated using weighted kappa. Statistical significance was defined at p = 0.05. (3) Results: 3D SS-OCT could clearly depict enamel caries at smooth tooth surface as a bright zone, based on the increased backscattering signal. It was noted that 3D SS-OCT showed higher sensitivity for the diagnosis of remineralized lesions and deep enamel lesions without cavitation, as well as cavitated enamel lesions (p < 0.05). No significant difference of specificity was observed between the two diagnostic methods (p > 0.05). Furthermore, 3D SS-OCT showed higher diagnostic accuracy than visual inspection (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, 3D SS-OCT showed higher diagnostic capacity for smooth surface enamel caries than visual inspection and could also discriminate lesion remineralization of enamel caries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Resin Composites and Biomaterials)
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9 pages, 1249 KiB  
Article
Computed Tomography-Guided Localization and Extended Segmentectomy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
by Wen-Yao Lee, Pei-Hsing Chen, Ke-Cheng Chen, Hsao-Hsun Hsu and Jin-Shing Chen
Diagnostics 2022, 12(9), 2043; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12092043 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2441
Abstract
Background: Lung cancer is one of the most devastating cancers. Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can detect lung cancer at an early stage of the disease when a minimally invasive surgical procedure using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is the best strategy. Herein, we discuss the [...] Read more.
Background: Lung cancer is one of the most devastating cancers. Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can detect lung cancer at an early stage of the disease when a minimally invasive surgical procedure using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is the best strategy. Herein, we discuss the treatment of deep lung tumors between segments or lesions located near the margin of a segment. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted from January 2013 to January 2020 using the National Taiwan University Hospital data bank. We included early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who underwent lung surgery and screened out those who received CT-guided localization for extended segmentectomy. Outcome measurements were safety margin, complication rate, and postoperative course. Results: During the study period, 68 patients with early-stage NSCLC received CT-guided localization followed by extended segmentectomy. The mean surgery time was 92.1 ± 30.3 min, and the mean blood loss was 32.8 mL. Mean drainage time was 2.3 ± 1 days, and the total hospital stay was 4.9 ± 1.1 days. Pathological reports showed tumor-free resection margins >2 cm. Sixty-one patients had adenocarcinoma at stage IA and two patients at stage IB. One patient had squamous cell carcinoma at stage IA. Conclusion: CT-guided localization followed by extended segmentectomy allows lung volume preservation with clean safety margins and good clinical outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medical Imaging and Theranostics)
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16 pages, 5714 KiB  
Article
A Participatory Assessment of Perceived Neighbourhood Walkability in a Small Urban Environment
by Ismaïl Saadi, Roger Aganze, Mehdi Moeinaddini, Zohreh Asadi-Shekari and Mario Cools
Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010206 - 26 Dec 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5533
Abstract
Walkability has become a research topic of great concern for preserving public health, especially in the era of the COVID-19 outbreak. Today more than ever, urban and transport policies, constrained by social distancing measures and travel restrictions, must be conceptualized and implemented with [...] Read more.
Walkability has become a research topic of great concern for preserving public health, especially in the era of the COVID-19 outbreak. Today more than ever, urban and transport policies, constrained by social distancing measures and travel restrictions, must be conceptualized and implemented with a particular emphasis on sustainable walkability. Most of the walkability models apply observation and subjective methods to measure walkability, whereas few studies address walkability based on sense perception. To fill this gap, we aim at investigating the perceived neighbourhood walkability (PNW) based on sense perception in a neighbourhood of Brussels. We designed a survey that integrates 22 items grouped into 5 dimensions (cleanness, visual aesthetics, landscape and nature, feeling of pressure, feeling of safety), as well as the socio-demographic attributes of the participants. Using various statistical methods, we show that socio-demographics have almost no effects on perceived neighbourhood walkability. Nonetheless, we found significant differences between groups of different educational backgrounds. Furthermore, using a binomial regression model, we found strong associations between PNW and at least one item from each grouping dimension. Finally, we show that based on a deep neural network for classification, the items have good predictive capabilities (78% of classification accuracy). These findings can help integrate sense perception into objective measurement methods of walkable environments. Additionally, policy recommendations should be targeted based on differences of perception across socio-demographic groups. Full article
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15 pages, 12489 KiB  
Article
Investigations of the Surface of Heritage Objects and Green Bioremediation: Case Study of Artefacts from Maramureş, Romania
by Dorina Camelia Ilieș, Nicolaie Hodor, Liliana Indrie, Paula Dejeu, Alexandru Ilieș, Adina Albu, Tudor Caciora, Marin Ilieș, Lucian Barbu-Tudoran and Vasile Grama
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6643; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146643 - 20 Jul 2021
Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4959
Abstract
Old textiles are important elements of thecultural heritage. As a result of their composition mostly of natural elements old textiles are extremely prone to physical and chemical degradation due to fungal action. The treatments usually applied for the cleaning of heritage textiles target [...] Read more.
Old textiles are important elements of thecultural heritage. As a result of their composition mostly of natural elements old textiles are extremely prone to physical and chemical degradation due to fungal action. The treatments usually applied for the cleaning of heritage textiles target the use of synthetic fungicides, which are potentially harmful to both human health and the environment. Numerous studies highlight as an alternative to the use of conventional antifungals, the employment of essential oils and plant extracts, which are environmentally friendly and which have no adverse effects on human health. Against this background the present study aims to test six essential oils (Lavandula angustifolia, Citrus limon, Mentha piperita, Marjoram, Melaleuca alternifolia, Origanum vulgare) to establish their inhibitory effects against fungi identified on an old piece of traditional Romanian clothing from Maramureş. For the study, the types of fungi present on the objects was determined primarily through the open plates technique and microscopic identification. After identification, the essential oils were applied to the delimited surfaces, and their effects observed up to 32 days after application. The results show that these essential oils have a strong inhibitory effect on such fungal genera as Penicillinum sp., Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus spp., Candida guillermondii, Botrys sp., Mucor sp., having no observable side-effects on the physical properties of the materials concerned. The antimicrobial effects that essential oils and plant extracts have in the short term must be tested in future to ensure the enhanced preservation of heritage textiles and the health integrity of the restorers and visitors who view them in museums, collections or exhibitions. Full article
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