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14 pages, 3396 KB  
Article
Reliability and Repeatability of the Low-Cost G-Force Load Cell System in Isometric Hip Abduction and Adduction Tests: A Pilot Study
by Víctor Garrido-Osorio, Héctor Fuentes-Barría, Sebastián Sanhueza-González, Catarí Sandoval-Jelves, Raúl Aguilera-Eguía, Diana Rojas-Gómez, Ángel Roco-Videla and Marcela Caviedes-Olmos
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(21), 11457; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152111457 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Low-cost portable load cell dynamometers allow for real-time assessment of muscular strength. This study evaluated the reliability and repeatability of the G-Force load cell system during isometric hip abduction and adduction in young physically active Chilean adults. Methods: In total, 24 participants [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Low-cost portable load cell dynamometers allow for real-time assessment of muscular strength. This study evaluated the reliability and repeatability of the G-Force load cell system during isometric hip abduction and adduction in young physically active Chilean adults. Methods: In total, 24 participants (19 men, 5 women) performed two maximal voluntary contractions per movement, repeated after a 24 h interval. Measured variables included Peak Force, peak rate of force development (Peak RFD), RFD at 50, 100, and 200 ms (RFD50, RFD100, RFD200), and maximum jerk. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard error of measurement (SEM), coefficient of variation (CV%) and Bland–Altman plots. Results: Peak Force showed excellent within-day (ICC = 0.94–0.96) and high between-day reliability (ICC = 0.87–0.89; CV = 20–30%). Bland–Altman analysis indicated negligible bias for Peak Force in abduction (−6.54 N; 95% CI −19.55 to 6.47) and adduction (−17.57 N; 95% CI −37.24 to 2.09), confirming the absence of systematic error. Peak RFD, RFD50–200, and maximum Jerk showed moderate repeatability and lower between-day reliability (ICCs = 0.39–0.70; CVs = 34–57%), indicating higher variability in explosive force indices compared with maximal strength. Conclusions: The G-Force load cell reliably measures maximal isometric hip strength, while Peak RFD, RFD50–200, and maximum jerk should be interpreted cautiously. These findings support the device as a practical, low-cost tool for sports and rehabilitation, though future studies should validate dynamic indices in larger and more diverse populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise, Fitness, Human Performance and Health: 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 2147 KB  
Article
Implementation, Validation and Clinical Testing of Oximetry Device for Microcirculation Assessment in Oral Tissue
by Hojat Lotfi, Bibiana Falcão and Valentina Vassilenko
Sensors 2025, 25(21), 6604; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25216604 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
The recent rise in living standards has been accompanied by increased awareness and emphasis on oral health. Non-invasive assessment of gingival microcirculation and accurate evaluation of oxygen supply to oral tissues are critical for the early diagnosis of oral diseases. These factors also [...] Read more.
The recent rise in living standards has been accompanied by increased awareness and emphasis on oral health. Non-invasive assessment of gingival microcirculation and accurate evaluation of oxygen supply to oral tissues are critical for the early diagnosis of oral diseases. These factors also play a pivotal role in optimizing treatment planning and improving outcomes in dental implantology. In this study, we report the development and implementation of a novel pulse oximetry device based on reflective photoplethysmography technology, designed for non-invasive, real-time monitoring of gingival health through the measurement of oxygen saturation levels. A detailed description of the technology, including key aspects of sensor probe design, is provided, with particular emphasis on the calibration process and performance evaluation of the prototype. Furthermore, we present and discuss the first proof-of-concept gingival oxygen saturation measurements obtained in a clinical setting during oral rehabilitation consultations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-Invasive Sensors for Disease Diagnosis)
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18 pages, 2774 KB  
Article
Dimensional Accuracy of a Sterilized and Disinfected 3D-Printed Surgical Guide: An In Vitro Study
by Sultan Meteb Alshammari, Abdulrahman Jafar Alhaddad, Thamer Y. Marghalani, Walaa A. Babeer and Samar Hatem Abuzinadah
Microorganisms 2025, 13(11), 2457; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13112457 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
Despite the widespread use of surgical guides, there is no universal sterilization protocol. Surgical guides are often designed for single use, but can become contaminated, which increases the risks of infection and implant failure. Purpose: This study evaluates the effects of alcohol immersion, [...] Read more.
Despite the widespread use of surgical guides, there is no universal sterilization protocol. Surgical guides are often designed for single use, but can become contaminated, which increases the risks of infection and implant failure. Purpose: This study evaluates the effects of alcohol immersion, alcohol spray, low temperature, and steam sterilization on the dimensional stability of surgical guides to ensure accurate implant placement and reduce failure. Material and Methods: One standard dental model was scanned using a laboratory scanner. Ninety guides were printed and were then divided into six groups allocated as control, alcohol spray, alcohol immersion with ultrasonication, low-temperature dry sterilization, and two autoclave methods. Specimens were stored in dry–dark media and scanned at 0, 3, and 7 days, with dimensional changes assessed using CloudCompare. The Shapiro–Wilk, Levene’s, Repeated measures one-way ANOVA, and Tukey’s post hoc tests were used to determine statistical differences. Results: Time significantly affects stability, with RMS values improving over time. Autoclave 121 °C and low-temperature 54 °C sterilization showed the lowest RMS values, indicating better stability. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the present study, the most effective approach for maintaining the dimensional stability of surgical guides was autoclaving at 121 °C, +1 bar for 20 min, and the second-best technique was low-temperature dry sterilization at 54 °C for 1 h. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Microbes and Human Health, Second Edition)
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15 pages, 3387 KB  
Article
Automatic Apparent Nasal Index from Single Facial Photographs Using a Lightweight Deep Learning Pipeline: A Pilot Study
by Babak Saravi, Lara Schorn, Julian Lommen, Max Wilkat, Andreas Vollmer, Hamza Eren Güzel, Michael Vollmer, Felix Schrader, Christoph K. Sproll, Norbert R. Kübler and Daman D. Singh
Medicina 2025, 61(11), 1922; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61111922 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Quantifying nasal proportions is central to facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, yet manual measurements are time-consuming and variable. We sought to develop a simple, reproducible deep learning pipeline that localizes the nose in a single frontal photograph and automatically [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Quantifying nasal proportions is central to facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, yet manual measurements are time-consuming and variable. We sought to develop a simple, reproducible deep learning pipeline that localizes the nose in a single frontal photograph and automatically computes the two-dimensional, photograph-derived apparent nasal index (aNI)—width/height × 100—enabling classification into five standard anthropometric categories. Materials and Methods: From CelebA we curated 29,998 high-quality near-frontal images (training 20,998; validation 5999; test 3001). Nose masks were manually annotated with the VGG Image Annotator and rasterized to binary masks. Ground-truth aNI was computed from the mask’s axis-aligned bounding box. A lightweight one-class YOLOv8n detector was trained to localize the nose; predicted aNI was computed from the detected bounding box. Performance was assessed on the held-out test set using detection coverage and mAP, agreement metrics between detector- and mask-based aNI (MAE, RMSE, R2; Bland–Altman), and five-class classification metrics (accuracy, macro-F1). Results: The detector returned at least one accepted nose box in 3000/3001 test images (99.97% coverage). Agreement with ground truth was strong: MAE 3.04 nasal index units (95% CI 2.95–3.14), RMSE 4.05, and R2 0.819. Bland–Altman analysis showed a small negative bias (−0.40, 95% CI −0.54 to −0.26) with limits of agreement −8.30 to 7.50 (95% CIs −8.54 to −8.05 and 7.25 to 7.74). After excluding out-of-range cases (<40.0), five-class classification on n = 2976 images achieved macro-F1 0.705 (95% CI 0.608–0.772) and 80.7% accuracy; errors were predominantly adjacent-class swaps, consistent with the small aNI error. Additional analyses confirmed strong ordinal agreement (weighted κ = 0.71 linear, 0.78 quadratic; Spearman ρ = 0.76) and near-perfect adjacent-class accuracy (0.999); performance remained stable when thresholds were shifted ±2 NI units and across sex and age subgroups. Conclusions: A compact detector can deliver near-universal nose localization and accurate automatic estimation of the nasal index from a single photograph, enabling reliable five-class categorization without manual measurements. The approach is fast, reproducible, and promising as a calibrated decision-support adjunct for surgical planning, outcomes tracking, and large-scale morphometric research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
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21 pages, 795 KB  
Article
Evaluation Method for the Development Effect of Reservoirs with Multiple Indicators in the Liaohe Oilfield
by Feng Ye, Yong Liu, Junjie Zhang, Zhirui Guan, Zhou Li, Zhiwei Hou and Lijuan Wu
Energies 2025, 18(21), 5629; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18215629 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
To address the limitation that single-index evaluation fails to fully reflect the development performance of reservoirs of different types and at various development stages, a multi-index comprehensive evaluation system featuring the workflow of “index screening–weight determination–model evaluation–strategy guidance” was established. Firstly, the grey [...] Read more.
To address the limitation that single-index evaluation fails to fully reflect the development performance of reservoirs of different types and at various development stages, a multi-index comprehensive evaluation system featuring the workflow of “index screening–weight determination–model evaluation–strategy guidance” was established. Firstly, the grey correlation analysis method (with a correlation degree threshold set at 0.65) was employed to screen 12 key evaluation indicators, including reservoir physical properties (porosity, permeability) and development dynamics (recovery factor, water cut, well activation rate). Subsequently, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP, for subjective weighting, with the consistency ratio (CR) of expert judgments < 0.1) was coupled with the attribute measurement method (for objective weighting, with information entropy redundancy < 5%) to determine the indicator weights, thereby balancing the influences of subjective experience and objective data. Finally, two evaluation models, namely the fuzzy comprehensive decision-making method and the unascertained measurement method, were constructed to conduct evaluations on 308 reservoirs in the Liaohe Oilfield (covering five major categories: integral medium–high-permeability reservoirs, complex fault-block reservoirs, low-permeability reservoirs, special lithology reservoirs, and thermal recovery heavy oil reservoirs). The results indicate that there are 147 high-efficiency reservoirs categorized as Class I and Class II in total. Although these reservoirs account for 47.7% of the total number, they control 71% of the geological reserves (154,548 × 104 t) and 78% of the annual oil production (738.2 × 104 t) in the oilfield, with an average well activation rate of 65.4% and an average recovery factor of 28.9. Significant quantitative differences are observed in the development characteristics of different reservoir types: Integral medium–high-permeability reservoirs achieve an average recovery factor of 37.6% and an average well activation rate of 74.1% by virtue of their excellent physical properties (permeability mostly > 100 mD), with Block Jin 16 (recovery factor: 56.9%, well activation rate: 86.1%) serving as a typical example. Complex fault-block reservoirs exhibit optimal performance at the stage of “recovery degree > 70%, water cut ≥ 90%”, where 65.6% of the blocks are classified as Class I, and the recovery factor of blocks with a “good” rating (42.3%) is 1.8 times that of blocks with a “poor” rating (23.5%). For low-permeability reservoirs, blocks with a rating below medium grade account for 68% of the geological reserves (8403.2 × 104 t), with an average well activation rate of 64.9%. Specifically, Block Le 208 (permeability < 10 mD) has an annual oil production of only 0.83 × 104 t. Special lithology reservoirs show polarized development performance, as Block Shugu 1 (recovery factor: 32.0%) and Biantai Buried Hill (recovery factor: 20.4%) exhibit significantly different development effects due to variations in fracture–vug development. Among thermal recovery heavy oil reservoirs, ultra-heavy oil reservoirs (e.g., Block Du 84 Guantao, with a recovery factor of 63.1% and a well activation rate of 92%) are developed efficiently via steam flooding, while extra-heavy oil reservoirs (e.g., Block Leng 42, with a recovery factor of 19.6% and a well activation rate of 30%) are constrained by reservoir heterogeneity. This system refines the quantitative classification boundaries for four development levels of water-flooded reservoirs (e.g., for Class I reservoirs in the high water cut stage, the recovery factor is ≥35% and the water cut is ≥90%), as well as the evaluation criteria for different stages (steam huff and puff, steam flooding) of thermal recovery heavy oil reservoirs. It realizes the transition from traditional single-index qualitative evaluation to multi-index quantitative evaluation, and the consistency between the evaluation results and the on-site development adjustment plans reaches 88%, which provides a scientific basis for formulating development strategies for the Liaohe Oilfield and other similar oilfields. Full article
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17 pages, 19300 KB  
Article
Effects of Explant Source and Orientation on Secondary Somatic Embryogenesis in Hevea brasiliensis
by Xiaochuan Gu, Jingyu Ao, Lisheng Kong, Xuemei Dai, Huasun Huang, Huabo Du, Xiaoyi Wang and Tiandai Huang
Plants 2025, 14(21), 3274; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213274 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
Propagation of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) via secondary somatic embryogenesis (SSEis) is a reliable method. However, its efficiency is relatively low. The aim of this study was to understand more about the factors related to SSEis in rubber trees, trying to [...] Read more.
Propagation of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) via secondary somatic embryogenesis (SSEis) is a reliable method. However, its efficiency is relatively low. The aim of this study was to understand more about the factors related to SSEis in rubber trees, trying to improve the efficiency of somatic embryo (SE) yield. Our study showed that the orientations of explants, i.e., the fragments of primary SE (PSE), on the medium affected secondary SE (SSE) yield significantly. Among five experimental tests, the highest yield was 2.6 ± 0.9 secondary somatic embryos (SSEs) per explant, which was achieved by orienting the abaxial side of the explant in contact with the medium and then the adaxial side after a period of culture time. Based on histological evidence, SSEis was induced from the epidermal cells and adjacent cells on the adaxial side of the explants. A remarkable difference in embryogenic capacity difference existed among individual PSE. The concentrations of soluble proteins, starch, soluble sugars, and the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) levels in the explants were measured during a 25-day long SSEis induction treatment and compared between explants of high and low embryogenic capacity. This study proves that the explant orientation toward the culture medium plays a crucial role in SSEis, while the concentration changes of these biochemical compounds correlate to morphological changes in the explants during induction, as do the changes in SOD activity. Furthermore, the trend of the dynamic changes in the explants reflected a process of de-differentiation and re-differentiation, which started from mature SE tissues during SSE induction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Tissue Culture and Plant Regeneration—2nd Edition)
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21 pages, 3949 KB  
Article
Non-Iterative Shrinkage-Thresholding-Reconstructed Compressive Acquisition Algorithm for High-Dynamic GNSS Signals
by Zhuang Ma, Mingliang Deng, Hui Huang, Xiaohong Wang and Qiang Liu
Aerospace 2025, 12(11), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace12110958 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
Owing to the intrinsic sparsity of GNSS signals in the correlation domain, compressed sensing (CS) is attractive for the rapid acquisition of high-dynamic GNSS signals. However, the compressed measurement-associated noise folding inherently amplifies the pre-measurement noise, leading to an inevitable degradation of acquisition [...] Read more.
Owing to the intrinsic sparsity of GNSS signals in the correlation domain, compressed sensing (CS) is attractive for the rapid acquisition of high-dynamic GNSS signals. However, the compressed measurement-associated noise folding inherently amplifies the pre-measurement noise, leading to an inevitable degradation of acquisition performance. In this paper, a novel CS-based GNSS signal acquisition algorithm is, for the first time, proposed with the efficient suppression of the amplified measurement noise and low computational complexities. The offline developed code phase and frequency bin-compressed matrices in the correlation domain are utilized to obtain a real-time observed matrix, from which the correlation matrix of the GNSS signal is rapidly reconstructed via a denoised back-projection and a non-iterative shrinkage-thresholding (NIST) operation. A detailed theoretical analysis and extensive numerical explorations are undertaken for the algorithm computational complexity, the achievable acquisition performance, and the algorithm performance robustness to various Doppler frequencies. It is shown that, compared with the classic orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) reconstruction, the NIST reconstruction gives rise to a 3.3 dB improvement in detection sensitivity with a computational complexity increase of <10%. Moreover, the NIST-reconstructed CS acquisition algorithm outperforms the conventional CS acquisition algorithm with frequency serial search (FSS) in terms of both the acquisition performance and the computational complexity. In addition, a variation in the detection sensitivity is observed as low as 1.3 dB over a Doppler frequency range from 100 kHz to 200 kHz. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
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11 pages, 231 KB  
Article
Enhancing Ankle Movement in Stroke Patients: The Impact of Joint Mobilization Combined with Active Stretching
by Shin-Jun Park, Kyun-Hee Cho and Seunghue Oh
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1149; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15111149 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background: The paralyzed ankles of stroke patients show reduced range of motion, muscle tightness, and joint stiffness, further impeding their ability to maintain balance and walk properly. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a combined joint mobilization and active stretching intervention [...] Read more.
Background: The paralyzed ankles of stroke patients show reduced range of motion, muscle tightness, and joint stiffness, further impeding their ability to maintain balance and walk properly. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a combined joint mobilization and active stretching intervention on ankle stiffness, balance, and gait in patients with stroke. Methods: In this study, 24 stroke patients were assigned to two groups of 12 each: the control group (general physical therapy) and the experimental group (joint mobilization technique and active stretching exercise). All interventions were conducted for 30 min a day, 3 times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. Tension and stiffness of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles were measured using Myoton®PRO. Balance was evaluated using BioRescue, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Timed-Up and Go tests (TUG). All measurements were evaluated before the start of the intervention and after four weeks. Results: The muscle tone and stiffness of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles of the experimental group were significantly improved compared with those of the control group. The experimental group had significantly increased moving areas in all directions and BBS scores compared with the control group. The experimental group showed a significant decrease in the time spent on the TUG test compared with the control group. Conclusions: We found that joint mobilization combined with active stretching intervention was more effective than general physical therapy in improving ankle joint movement, balance, and gait ability. Full article
23 pages, 8095 KB  
Article
Three-Dimensional Measurement of Transmission Line Icing Based on a Rule-Based Stereo Vision Framework
by Nalini Rizkyta Nusantika, Jin Xiao and Xiaoguang Hu
Electronics 2025, 14(21), 4184; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14214184 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
The safety and reliability of modern power systems are increasingly challenged by adverse environmental conditions. (1) Background: Ice accumulation on power transmission lines is recognized as a severe threat to grid stability, as tower collapse, conductor breakage, and large-scale outages may be caused, [...] Read more.
The safety and reliability of modern power systems are increasingly challenged by adverse environmental conditions. (1) Background: Ice accumulation on power transmission lines is recognized as a severe threat to grid stability, as tower collapse, conductor breakage, and large-scale outages may be caused, thereby making accurate monitoring essential. (2) Methods: A rule-driven and interpretable stereo vision framework is proposed for three-dimensional (3D) detection and quantitative measurement of transmission line icing. The framework consists of three stages. First, adaptive preprocessing and segmentation are applied using multiscale Retinex with nonlinear color restoration, graph-based segmentation with structural constraints, and hybrid edge detection. Second, stereo feature extraction and matching are performed through entropy-based adaptive cropping, self-adaptive keypoint thresholding with circular descriptor analysis, and multi-level geometric validation. Third, 3D reconstruction is realized by fusing segmentation and stereo correspondences through triangulation with shape-constrained refinement, reaching millimeter-level accuracy. (3) Result: An accuracy of 98.35%, sensitivity of 91.63%, specificity of 99.42%, and precision of 96.03% were achieved in contour extraction, while a precision of 90%, recall of 82%, and an F1-score of 0.8594 with real-time efficiency (0.014–0.037 s) were obtained in stereo matching. Millimeter-level accuracy (Mean Absolute Error: 1.26 mm, Root Mean Square Error: 1.53 mm, Coefficient of Determination = 0.99) was further achieved in 3D reconstruction. (4) Conclusions: Superior accuracy, efficiency, and interpretability are demonstrated compared with two existing rule-based stereo vision methods (Method A: ROI Tracking and Geometric Validation Method and Method B: Rule-Based Segmentation with Adaptive Thresholding) that perform line icing identification and 3D reconstruction, highlighting the framework’s advantages under limited data conditions. The interpretability of the framework is ensured through rule-based operations and stepwise visual outputs, allowing each processing result, from segmentation to three-dimensional reconstruction, to be directly understood and verified by operators and engineers. This transparency facilitates practical deployment and informed decision making in real world grid monitoring systems. Full article
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13 pages, 222 KB  
Article
Long COVID Is Associated with Excess Direct Healthcare Expenditures Among Adults in the United States
by Rolake Neba, Lakshmi Sraddha Pedaprolu, Bryan Neba and Usha Sambamoorthi
Healthcare 2025, 13(21), 2704; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13212704 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background: Long COVID can lead to a considerable economic burden because of ongoing care for persistent symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, or cognitive dysfunction. However, systematic research quantifying healthcare expenditures associated with long COVID remains limited. Objective: This study estimated the excess total, [...] Read more.
Background: Long COVID can lead to a considerable economic burden because of ongoing care for persistent symptoms such as fatigue, dyspnea, or cognitive dysfunction. However, systematic research quantifying healthcare expenditures associated with long COVID remains limited. Objective: This study estimated the excess total, payer, and out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures associated with long COVID among adults in the United States (US). Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis on adults ≥18 years using 2022 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data (N = 17,119; representing approximately 254 million adults). Economic burden was measured with (1) total, (2) payer, and (3) out-of-pocket expenditures by individuals and their families. Generalized linear models (GLMs) with gamma distribution and log link were utilized to estimate excess expenditures associated with long COVID after adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, social determinants of health, health status, and lifestyle factors. Results: Overall, 7.0% of the population reported long COVID. Adults with long COVID exhibited higher total (USD 11,305 vs. USD 7162) and payer (USD 9983 vs. USD 6097) expenditures compared to those with no COVID. In a fully adjusted analysis, long COVID was associated with an excess of USD 4098 in total healthcare expenditures and USD 3705 in payer expenditures. We did not observe significant differences in out-of-pocket expenditures between those with long COVID and no COVID. Conclusions: Adults with long COVID had 1.5 times higher total healthcare costs compared to those without COVID. This study highlights the need for comprehensive strategies and policies to reduce the economic burden associated with long COVID. Full article
19 pages, 3536 KB  
Article
Validation of Sea Level Anomalies from the SWOT Altimetry Mission Around the Coastal Regions of East Asia and the US West Coast
by Haojie Zhu, Fukai Peng and Yunzhong Shen
Water 2025, 17(21), 3066; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17213066 (registering DOI) - 26 Oct 2025
Abstract
The validation of altimeter data in the coastal zones is of great importance for monitoring coastal sea level changes. Therefore, this study focuses on the validation of sea level anomaly (SLA) estimates from three altimetry missions (i.e., SWOT, ICESat-2 and Sentinel-3A) [...] Read more.
The validation of altimeter data in the coastal zones is of great importance for monitoring coastal sea level changes. Therefore, this study focuses on the validation of sea level anomaly (SLA) estimates from three altimetry missions (i.e., SWOT, ICESat-2 and Sentinel-3A) within the distance band of 50 km to the coast in two study areas: the coastal region of East Asia (0° N–40° N, 100° E–140° E) and the US West Coast (30° N–60° N, 145° W–115° W). The selection of these three missions is because they carry the advanced radar and laser altimeters. Although the validation of any single altimeter is not new, the comparison of their performance together in the coastal zones is the first time to our knowledge. Because the spatial resolutions of these three altimeters are different, the spatially averaged altimeter measurements are used for the validation against tide gauges. Moreover, the validation is conducted over four coastal strips (0–5 km, 5–10 km, 10–20 km, and 20–50 km) to better reveal their performance when approaching towards the coastlines. The results show that these three missions achieve similar performance in terms of correlation coefficient and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) in the 5–50 km coastal strip. The superior performance of the SWOT mission to the ICESat-2 and Sentinel-3A is observed in the last 5 km to coasts (0.06 m/0.73 against 0.09 m/0.70 and 0.12 m/0.63 for coastal regions of East Asia, 0.11 m/0.79 against 0.10 m/0.82 and 0.14 m/0.72 for the US West Coast), where the land contamination is the most significant. The ICESat-2 achieves the best performance (0.10 m) in the US West Coast due to the reduced range bias in higher latitudes, and the SWOT outperforms in the lower-latitude East Asia coastal region (0.06 m). To further investigate the data quality of the SWOT mission, a triple collocation model is applied to quantify the errors. The results reveal that the SWOT obtains similar error variance relative to the tide gauges in both study areas (i.e., 0.010 m2 vs. 0.005 m2 for the coastal region of East Asia, and 0.010 m2 vs. 0.007 m2 for the US West Coast). The above findings highlight the SWOT’s advantages in monitoring the coastal sea level changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Oceans and Coastal Zones)
14 pages, 995 KB  
Article
Operation Efficiency Optimization of Electrochemical ESS with Battery Degradation Consideration
by Bowen Huang, Guojun Xiao, Zipeng Hu, Yong Xu, Kai Liu and Qian Huang
Electronics 2025, 14(21), 4182; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14214182 (registering DOI) - 26 Oct 2025
Abstract
In the context of large-scale renewable integration and increasing demand for power-system flexibility, energy-storage systems are indispensable components of modern grids, and their safe, reliable operation is a decisive factor in investment decisions. To mitigate lifecycle degradation and cost increases caused by frequent [...] Read more.
In the context of large-scale renewable integration and increasing demand for power-system flexibility, energy-storage systems are indispensable components of modern grids, and their safe, reliable operation is a decisive factor in investment decisions. To mitigate lifecycle degradation and cost increases caused by frequent charge–discharge cycles, this study puts forward a two-layer energy storage capacity configuration optimization approach with explicit integration of cycle life restrictions. The upper-level model uses time-of-use pricing to economically dispatch storage, balancing power shortfalls while maximizing daily operational revenue. Based on the upper-level dispatch schedule, the lower-level model computes storage degradation and optimizes storage capacity as the decision variable to minimize degradation costs. Joint optimization of the two levels thus enhances overall storage operating efficiency. To overcome limitations of the conventional Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA)—notably slow convergence, limited accuracy, and susceptibility to local optima—an Improved WOA (IWOA) is developed. IWOA integrates circular chaotic mapping for population initialization, a golden-sine search mechanism to improve the exploration–exploitation trade-off, and a Cauchy-mutation strategy to increase population diversity. Comparative tests against WOA, Gray Wolf Optimizer (GWO), and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) show IWOA’s superior convergence speed and solution quality. A case study using measured load data from an industrial park in Zhuzhou City validates that the proposed approach significantly improves economic returns and alleviates capacity degradation. Full article
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13 pages, 2384 KB  
Article
Phylodynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages B.1.1.7, B.1.1.529 and B.1.617.2 in Nigeria Suggests Divergent Evolutionary Trajectories
by Babatunde O. Motayo, Olukunle O. Oluwasemowo, Anyebe B. Onoja, Paul A. Akinduti and Adedayo O. Faneye
Pathogens 2025, 14(11), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14111091 (registering DOI) - 26 Oct 2025
Abstract
Background: The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were characterized by high transmission rates and mortality, compounded by the emergence of multiple SARS-CoV-2 lineages, including Variants of Concern (VOCs). This study investigates the phylodynamic and spatio-temporal trends of VOCs during the peak of [...] Read more.
Background: The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were characterized by high transmission rates and mortality, compounded by the emergence of multiple SARS-CoV-2 lineages, including Variants of Concern (VOCs). This study investigates the phylodynamic and spatio-temporal trends of VOCs during the peak of the pandemic in Nigeria. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from three major VOCs circulating in Nigeria, B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.617.2 (Delta), and B.1.1.529 (Omicron), were analyzed using tools such as Nextclade, R Studio v 4.2.3, and BEAST X v 10.5.0. The spatial distribution, evolutionary history, viral ancestral introductions, and geographic dispersal patterns were characterized. Results: Three major lineages following WHO nomenclature were identified: Alpha, Delta, and Omicron. The Delta variant exhibited the widest geographic spread, detected in 14 states, while the Alpha variant was the least distributed, identified in only eight states but present across most epidemiological weeks studied. Evolutionary rates varied slightly, with Alpha exhibiting the slowest rate (2.66 × 10−4 substitutions/site/year). Viral population analyses showed distinct patterns: Omicron sustained elevated population growth over time, while Delta declined after initial expansion. The earliest Times to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) were consistent with the earliest outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 globally. Geographic transmission analysis indicated a predominant coastal-to-inland spread for all variants, with Omicron showing the most diffuse dispersal, highlighting commercial routes as significant drivers of viral diffusion. Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Nigeria was characterized by multiple variant introductions and a dominant coastal-to-inland spread, emphasizing that despite lockdown measures, commercial trade routes played a critical role in viral dissemination. These findings provide insights into pandemic control strategies and future outbreak preparedness. Full article
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29 pages, 3015 KB  
Article
Green Optimization of Sesame Seed Oil Extraction via Pulsed Electric Field and Ultrasound Bath: Yield, Antioxidant Activity, Oxidative Stability, and Functional Food Potential
by Vassilis Athanasiadis, Marianna Giannopoulou, Georgia Sarlami, Eleni Bozinou, Panagiotis Varagiannis and Stavros I. Lalas
Foods 2025, 14(21), 3653; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14213653 (registering DOI) - 26 Oct 2025
Abstract
Sesame seed oil is a bioactive-rich lipid source, notable for lignans, tocopherols, and unsaturated fatty acids that underpin its antioxidant and cardioprotective properties. This study optimized two innovative, non-thermal extraction techniques—pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasound bath-assisted extraction (UBAE)—to maximize yield and preserve [...] Read more.
Sesame seed oil is a bioactive-rich lipid source, notable for lignans, tocopherols, and unsaturated fatty acids that underpin its antioxidant and cardioprotective properties. This study optimized two innovative, non-thermal extraction techniques—pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasound bath-assisted extraction (UBAE)—to maximize yield and preserve oil quality for functional food applications. A blocked definitive screening design combined with response surface methodology modeled the effects of energy power (X1, 60–100%), liquid-to-solid ratio (X2, 10–20 mL/g), and extraction time (X3, 10–30 min) on fat content, DPPH antiradical activity, and oxidative stability indices (Conjugated Dienes, CDs/Conjugated Trienes, CTs). UBAE achieved the highest fat yield—59.0% at low energy (60%), high X2 (20 mL/g), and short X3 (10 min)—while PEF maximized DPPH to 36.0 μmol TEAC/kg oil at high energy (100%), moderate X2 (17 mL/g), and short X3 (10 min). CDs were minimized to 19.78 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 10 mL/g, 10 min) and CTs to 3.34 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 12 mL/g, 10 min). Partial least squares analysis identified X2 and X3 as the most influential variables (VIP > 0.8), with energy–time interplay (X1 × X3) being critical for antioxidant capacity. Compared to cold-pressing and Soxhlet extraction, PEF and cold-pressing retained higher antioxidant activity (~19 μmol TEAC/kg) and oxidative stability (TBARS ≤ 0.30 mmol MDAE/kg), while Soxhlet—though yielding 55.65% fat—showed the poorest quality profile (Totox value > 560). Both non-thermal techniques can deliver bioactive-rich sesame oil with lower oxidative degradation, supporting their application in functional foods aimed at improving dietary antioxidant intake and mitigating lipid oxidation burden. PEF at high energy/short time and UBAE at low energy/short time present complementary, scalable options for producing high-value edible oils aligned with human health priorities. As a limitation, we did not directly quantify lignans or tocopherols in this study, and future work will address their measurement and bioaccessibility. Full article
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16 pages, 927 KB  
Article
Comparison of Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Agents and Organic Solvent Cleaning Processes in the Fabrication of Flexible Nine-in-One Microsensors and Their Application in Hydrogen/Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
by Chi-Yuan Lee, Guo-Bin Jung, Huan-Chu Chen, Mau-Hsiung Chen, Chia-Hung Chen, Kuan-Ting Lai, Cheng-Kai Liao, Yung-Lin Chang and Hao-Peng Chang
Micromachines 2025, 16(11), 1219; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16111219 (registering DOI) - 26 Oct 2025
Abstract
This study focuses on the pre-treatment cleaning technology for the polyimide (PI) substrate of flexible nine-in-one microsensors. The environmentally friendly cleaning agent B, developed by Sea Energe, was innovatively used to replace traditional organic solutions (acetone, methanol, and isopropyl alcohol) to verify its [...] Read more.
This study focuses on the pre-treatment cleaning technology for the polyimide (PI) substrate of flexible nine-in-one microsensors. The environmentally friendly cleaning agent B, developed by Sea Energe, was innovatively used to replace traditional organic solutions (acetone, methanol, and isopropyl alcohol) to verify its feasibility and application potential in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) processes. Cleaning agent B, developed by Sea Energe, was used for the first time to clean the PI substrate of flexible nine-in-one microsensors, and the flexible nine-in-one microsensor was used as a verification platform to compare the cleaning performance with traditional organic solutions (acetone, methanol, and isopropyl alcohol). The experimental results proved that cleaning agent B developed by Sea Energe effectively removed contamination from the PI substrate surface while avoiding the environmental impact and process compatibility issues associated with traditional organic solvents. To verify its reliability, the developed flexible nine-in-one microsensor was embedded in the hydrogen end flow channel of a hydrogen/vanadium redox flow battery (HVRFB) to perform real-time monitoring of multiple parameters, including hydrogen concentration, voltage, current, conductivity, temperature, humidity, flow, pressure, and pH. The experimental results proved that using cleaning agent B, developed by Sea Energe, to clean the PI substrate and the subsequent flexible nine-in-one microsensor resulted in comparable operational stability and measurement accuracy to traditional organic solution (acetone, methanol, and isopropyl alcohol) cleaning processes. This experimental result verifies that cleaning agent B, developed by Sea Energe, not only has an excellent cleaning effect, but also meets the requirements for highly reliable microsensor development, potentially offering an alternative solution for the future introduction of green processes into semiconductors, MEMSs, and various application fields. Full article
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