Journal Description
Applied Sciences
Applied Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on all aspects of applied natural sciences published semimonthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Inspec, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Engineering, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q1 (General Engineering)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.9 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our authors say about Applied Sciences.
- Companion journals for Applied Sciences include: Applied Nano, AppliedChem, Applied Biosciences, Virtual Worlds, Spectroscopy Journal and JETA.
Impact Factor:
2.7 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.9 (2022)
Latest Articles
Innovative Design of Solid-State Hydrogen Storage and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Coupling System with Enhanced Cold Start Control Strategy
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4068; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104068 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents an innovative thermally coupled system architecture with a parallel coolant-heated metal hydride tank (MHT) designed to satisfy the hydrogen supply requirements of proton exchange membrane fuel cell s(PEMFCs). This design solves a problem by revolutionising the cold start capability of
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This paper presents an innovative thermally coupled system architecture with a parallel coolant-heated metal hydride tank (MHT) designed to satisfy the hydrogen supply requirements of proton exchange membrane fuel cell s(PEMFCs). This design solves a problem by revolutionising the cold start capability of PEMFCs at low temperatures. During the design process, LaNi5 was selected as the hydrogen storage material, with thermodynamic and kinetic properties matching the PEMFC operating conditions. Afterwards, the MHT and thermal management subsystem were customised to integrate with the 70 kW PEMFC system to ensure optimal performance. Given the limitations of conventional high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage for cold starting, this paper provides insights into the challenges faced by the PEMFC-MH system and proposes an innovative cold start methodology that combines internal self-heating and externally assisted preheating techniques, aiming to optimise cold start time, energy consumption, and hydrogen utilisation. The results show that the PEMFC-MH system utilises the heat generated during hydrogen absorption by the MHT to preheat the PEMFC stack, and the cold start time is only 101 s, which is 59.3% shorter compared to that of the conventional method. Meanwhile, the cold start energy consumption is reduced by 62.4%, achieving a significant improvement in energy efficiency. In conclusion, this paper presents a PEMFC-MH system design that achieves significant progress in terms of time saving, energy consumption, and hydrogen utilisation.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Energy Storage and Conversion Systems, 2nd Volume)
Open AccessArticle
The Montreal Experience: Impact of Different Orthokeratology Lens Designs on Corneal Treatment Zone Characteristics
by
Remy Marcotte-Collard, Mhamed Ouzzani, Patrick Simard, Langis Michaud and Jean-Marie Hanssens
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4067; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104067 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the orthokeratology (OK) lens design, used in the Montreal Experience cohort, on corneal treatment zone characteristics and their relationship to the pupil. METHODS: This retrospective study follows previously published work and refers to the analysis of 4
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the orthokeratology (OK) lens design, used in the Montreal Experience cohort, on corneal treatment zone characteristics and their relationship to the pupil. METHODS: This retrospective study follows previously published work and refers to the analysis of 4 different OK lenses. Tangential topography maps were obtained at baseline and after 1 month of OK lens wear. The extracted parameters are: distance treatment zone diameter (DTZD (mm)); relative peripheral power (RPP (D)); mid-peripheral width (MPW (mm)); a new concept, the plus power ratio (PPR (%)), corresponding to the coverage of the pupil area by the positive power zones. RESULTS: DTZD and MPW were significantly different between the lens designs (Welch’s ANOVA). (DTZD (OK 1: 3.68 ± 0.46 mm; OK 2: 3.06 ± 0.67; OK 3: 2.83 ± 0.54; OK 4: 3.20 ± 0.53) MPW (OK 1: 1.65 ± 0.21 mm; OK 2: 1.31 ± 0.40 mm; OK 3: 1.46 ± 0.17 mm; OK 4: 1.57 ± 0.17 mm)). PPR was significantly lower in OK 1 (40.1 ± 22.1%) than the other designs (OK 2: 53.8 ± 18.4%; OK 3: 60.3 ± 13.6; OK 4: 54.7 ± 15.3). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the corneal response to OK lens wear varies with lens design. When analyzed, topographic analysis shows that OK 1 is associated with a larger DTZD, which produces a lower PPR. This may explain why previously published results showed significantly faster axial length (AL) progression with this lens.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Feature Maps Need More Attention: A Spatial-Channel Mutual Attention-Guided Transformer Network for Face Super-Resolution
by
Zhe Zhang and Chun Qi
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4066; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104066 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Recently, transformer-based face super-resolution (FSR) approaches have achieved promising success in restoring degraded facial details due to their high capability for capturing both local and global dependencies. However, while existing methods focus on introducing sophisticated structures, they neglect the potential feature map information,
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Recently, transformer-based face super-resolution (FSR) approaches have achieved promising success in restoring degraded facial details due to their high capability for capturing both local and global dependencies. However, while existing methods focus on introducing sophisticated structures, they neglect the potential feature map information, limiting FSR performance. To circumvent this problem, we carefully design a pair of guiding blocks to dig for possible feature map information to enhance features before feeding them to transformer blocks. Relying on the guiding blocks, we propose a spatial-channel mutual attention-guided transformer network for FSR, for which the backbone architecture is a multi-scale connected encoder–decoder. Specifically, we devise a novel Spatial-Channel Mutual Attention-guided Transformer Module (SCATM), which is composed of a Spatial-Channel Mutual Attention Guiding Block (SCAGB) and a Channel-wise Multi-head Transformer Block (CMTB). SCATM on the top layer (SCATM-T) aims to promote both local facial details and global facial structures, while SCATM on the bottom layer (SCATM-B) seeks to optimize the encoded features. Considering that different scale features are complementary, we further develop a Multi-scale Feature Fusion Module (MFFM), which fuses features from different scales for better restoration performance. Quantitative and qualitative experimental results on various datasets indicate that the proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art FSR methods.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Computer Vision and Image Processing, 2nd Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Load-Bearing Performance of a Reinforced Fill Structure with Pile Penetration
by
Qiang Ma, Hanlong Yu, Yicong Yang and Lei Xi
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4065; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104065 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Reinforcement soil slope with pile penetration is a new load bearing structure, which has a complex working mechanism, but few studies have been carried out. This paper aims to investigate the stability characteristics of this structure using model tests. The study investigates the
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Reinforcement soil slope with pile penetration is a new load bearing structure, which has a complex working mechanism, but few studies have been carried out. This paper aims to investigate the stability characteristics of this structure using model tests. The study investigates the lateral displacement and-pile bending moment caused by vertical loads and evaluates the influence of different factors, including the structure type (such as pile, cap of pile, and reinforcement material), number of reinforcing layers, spacing of reinforcement material, pile length, and slope rate on the load-carrying capacity of the pile penetration fill-reinforced load-bearing structure. The findings suggest that within a certain range, increasing the pile length and number of reinforcing layers, the limiting effect of the pile on the lateral displacement in the middle and at the bottom of the slope of the pile-penetrating reinforced structure is enhanced, which can reduce the extreme value of the bending moment and make the distribution of the bending moment of the pile more reasonable. The lateral limiting effect on the soil body can be maximized by appropriate reinforcement spacing. Within a certain range, the slope rate is reduced, which can reduce the extreme value of the bending moment, make the bending moment distribution of the pile more reasonable, and avoid the phenomenon of the localized force concentration of the pile.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
Analyzing the Impact of Geometrophysical Modeling on Highway Design Speeds: A Comparative Study for Mexico’s Case
by
Ely Anaya Rivera, Cesar Isaza, Cristian Felipe Ramirez-Gutierrez, J. P. Zavala-De Paz, Pamela Rocío Ibarra Tapia and Jose Amilcar Rizzo-Sierra
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4064; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104064 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
This manuscript presents an examination of the impact of geometrical and physical parameters on highway design speeds, critical for traffic safety and efficiency. Originating from a classical dynamics discussion in an undergraduate automotive technology engineering class, an exploration of the consequences of different
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This manuscript presents an examination of the impact of geometrical and physical parameters on highway design speeds, critical for traffic safety and efficiency. Originating from a classical dynamics discussion in an undergraduate automotive technology engineering class, an exploration of the consequences of different geometrophysical considerations on a vehicle’s dynamics over pavement surfaces is developed. Considering various analytical models, an assessment of their principles and the significance of geometric and physical concepts involved in the problem is made, such as plane of motion and trajectory curvature radius, on safe (non slippage) operational speeds. The subsequent comparative study shows that one of the most accepted models in highway design regulations in México, when used as reference, yields percentage error differences respect to others of , as well as a consistent trend for relatively underestimating safe highway operational speeds. A discussion of the immediate implications of these findings, emphasizing the necessity of experimental studies to validate theoretical predictions, is presented. This work contributes to the field by providing a detailed comparison of analytical models under a general applied science perspective, suggesting modifications to current highway design practices in México based on geometrophysical insights. In summary, this work’s main aim is to shed light on the intricacies of determining safe design speeds from an applied sciences point of view, while also calling for a reevaluation of the existing guidelines to enhance highway design and safety.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Transportation Systems: Efficiency and Reliability)
Open AccessArticle
BMFA-Net: Boundary Constraint Multi-Level Feature Aggregation Framework for Precise Polyp Segmentation
by
Qin Li, Tianchi Zhang, Parvej Md Mosharaf and Jing Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4063; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104063 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
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Colorectal cancer is one of the three most common cancers worldwide. Polyps are complex and have unclear boundaries, often leading to inaccurate boundary segmentation and missed detections. To address these challenges, we propose a boundary constraint multi-level feature aggregation framework called BMFA-Net to
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Colorectal cancer is one of the three most common cancers worldwide. Polyps are complex and have unclear boundaries, often leading to inaccurate boundary segmentation and missed detections. To address these challenges, we propose a boundary constraint multi-level feature aggregation framework called BMFA-Net to precisely segment polyps. The framework comprises four key modules. First, the parallel partial decoder is introduced to aggregate high-level features within the network to generate a globally informative semantic map serving as the initial guidance region for reverse erasing the foreground. Second, we propose an efficient atrous convolution attention module to effectively aggregate local and global contextual information over multiple levels. Additionally, a multi-level feature aggregation mechanism is designed and placed among the efficient atrous convolution attention modules to enable the network to capture a large amount of semantic structure while preserving intricate details. Finally, a boundary constraint reverse attention module is proposed to perform the boundary constraint while removing the foreground to improve the quality of boundary segmentation. Extensive experiments demonstrated the superiority and versatility of our framework compared with state-of-the-art methods; specifically, it achieved a mean Dice score of 0.922 on the CVC-300 dataset.
Full article
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Open AccessArticle
A Two-Port Dual-Band Dual-Circularly-Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna
by
Thai Van Trinh, Son Trinh-Van, Kang-Yoon Lee, Younggoo Yang and Keum Cheol Hwang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4062; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104062 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
This paper presents the design of a two-port dual-band dual-circularly-polarized dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). The proposed DRA is formed by stacking two dielectric resonators (DRs) of different shapes, including a hexagonal DR on top and a cross-shaped DR on the bottom. It is
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This paper presents the design of a two-port dual-band dual-circularly-polarized dielectric resonator antenna (DRA). The proposed DRA is formed by stacking two dielectric resonators (DRs) of different shapes, including a hexagonal DR on top and a cross-shaped DR on the bottom. It is designed to resonate at two near-degenerate orthogonal modes of TE111 and TE113, and an aperture-coupled feeding through a cross-like slot is used to achieve dual-band impedance matching simultaneously for right- and left-handed circular polarizations. Tests were conducted on a prototype working in C-band to verify the design concept. The experiment results demonstrate that the proposed DRA has exceptional performance with measured −10 dB reflection bandwidths of 24.4% and 17.4%, 3 dB axial ratio bandwidths of 21.2% and 16.3%, and maximum gains of 5.64 and 8.13 dBic for the lower and upper bands, respectively. Moreover, the measured channel isolation is more than 15.8 dB. The results obtained from the experiments show good agreement with the simulation, and hence, it can be concluded that the proposed DRA is a promising solution that can be used for various wireless communication applications.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering)
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Open AccessArticle
Assessing the Opportunity Offered by Electric Vehicles in Performing Service Trips to End Consumers
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Antonio Comi, Antonio Polimeni, Orlando M. Belcore, Antonio G. Cartisano, Salvatore Micari and Giuseppe Napoli
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4061; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104061 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
This paper proposes the assessment of the impacts of using electric vehicles for urban service trips. In particular, the focus is on trips performed for delivering and installing products, as well as for reverse logistics. Such components of commercial traffic in urban areas
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This paper proposes the assessment of the impacts of using electric vehicles for urban service trips. In particular, the focus is on trips performed for delivering and installing products, as well as for reverse logistics. Such components of commercial traffic in urban areas have not received the level of attention it deserves. In fact, recent research on commercial traffic mainly deals with shop restocking, service visits to establishments and e-commerce deliveries, and limited attention has been paid to the service sector (e.g., installation, maintenance, repairs) which can have a high impact on city sustainability in terms of pollution emissions, congestion as well as land use for parking. Furthermore, pushed by the current trend towards the promotion of electric vehicles, an assessment is developed comparing potential service patterns using real data from the inner area of Rome (Italy) when the electric fleet replaces the traditional one. Results show the opportunity to decouple the delivery operation from the installation one, and to integrate service with reverse logistics. These significant results could address the adoption of suitable integrated urban policies to make the most of the opportunities arising from the use of electric vehicles.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Future: The Role of Electric Vehicles and Smart Grids in the Energy Transition)
Open AccessTechnical Note
Preparing Shotcrete Materials Applied to Roadways Using Gangue Solid Wastes: Influences of Mix Proportions of Materials on the Mechanical Properties
by
Meng Li, Shihao Xing, Yang Zhao, Xiaobao Luo, Linlin Xie and Chunhui Xie
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4060; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104060 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
Coal gangue is a waste product commonly produced during coal mining. Using gangue as a replacement for conventional aggregates in shotcrete applied to underground roadways is a feasible approach to promote the resource utilization of gangue solid waste. The mix proportions of shotcrete
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Coal gangue is a waste product commonly produced during coal mining. Using gangue as a replacement for conventional aggregates in shotcrete applied to underground roadways is a feasible approach to promote the resource utilization of gangue solid waste. The mix proportions of shotcrete materials are crucial to the effectiveness of field applications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mix proportions on the mechanical properties of the gangue-based shotcrete material applied to roadways. To achieve this, we conducted experiments to measure changes in the slump under different gangue sizes, mass concentrations, sand contents, and cement contents. The study analyzed the influences of various mix proportions on the conveying and mechanical properties of the gangue-based shotcrete material applied to roadways. The slump and the compressive strength were analysed. The following was concluded: (1) The gangue size and sand content have a similar effect on the slump. As the gangue size and sand content increase, the slurry slump initially decreases and then increases, which is attributed to the plasticity of the aggregates themselves. The mass concentration has a negative correlation with the slump, which is the least sensitive to changes in cement content. (2) The compressive strength of all specimens increases with prolonged curing, reaching its maximum after 28 d under the compressive experimental conditions. (3) This paper analyzed the reasons for better mechanical properties under the conditions of smaller size gangue, higher mass concentration, and higher cement content. It has also examined the reasons for greater compressive strength at 35% sand content. The experimental results of this paper also offer relevant guidance regarding the specific mix proportions of the material of the field gangue-based shotcrete material applied to roadways.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Challenges in Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering)
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Open AccessArticle
Balance Control of Brushless Direct Current Motor Driven Two-Rotor UAV
by
Ibrahim Cukdar, Tevfik Yigit and Hakan Celik
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4059; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104059 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, the balance control of a Brushless Direct Current Motor (BLDCM) driven Two-Rotor UAV (2R-UAV) was carried out. First, a MATLAB/Simulink model of the balance system of the 2R-UAV was built. Afterwards, classical and 2-DOF PID, and proposed Adaptive Fuzzy (AF)
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In this study, the balance control of a Brushless Direct Current Motor (BLDCM) driven Two-Rotor UAV (2R-UAV) was carried out. First, a MATLAB/Simulink model of the balance system of the 2R-UAV was built. Afterwards, classical and 2-DOF PID, and proposed Adaptive Fuzzy (AF) 2-DOF PID control structures were created on the STM32F4 microprocessor for both balance angle of the system and speed control of the BLDCMs. Classical and 2-DOF PID controller parameters were determined via Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), a technique that is commonly used in control applications. For the balance control of the 2R-UAV, a Co-Simulation structure was created using the STM32F4 microprocessor and MATLAB/Simulink, and the performances of classical and 2-DOF PID, and AF 2-DOF PID controllers were examined comparatively. Upon examining the comparison results, it was found that the classical and 2-DOF PID, and AF 2-DOF PID stably controlled the balance of the 2R-UAV. The AF 2-DOF PID controller, proposed in this research, performed better than the classical and 2-DOF PID, especially under variable operating conditions.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Robotics and Automation)
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Open AccessArticle
Revisiting the Numerical Evaluation and Visualization of the Gravity Fields of Asteroid 4769 Castalia Using Polyhedron and Harmonic Expansions Models
by
Weiduo Hu, Tao Fu and Chang Liu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4058; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104058 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
For the convenience of comparison with previous literature, the gravity calculations are revisited for the Asteroid 4769 Castalia, but with extensions on its surface and on intersecting planes and spheres around it, using the polyhedron and harmonic expansion methods with different order and
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For the convenience of comparison with previous literature, the gravity calculations are revisited for the Asteroid 4769 Castalia, but with extensions on its surface and on intersecting planes and spheres around it, using the polyhedron and harmonic expansion methods with different order and degree for different cases, especially including the gravitational accelerations inside the asteroid, which did not appear at all before. In these evaluations, a few different facts of the these methods and results are revealed, such as the fact that gravity diverges when the position radius is less than the mean radius from harmonic-expansion method, and the maximum gravity is not at the deep valley and mountain top. For a surface that intersects the asteroid, the maximum gravity on it is at the intersection lines between the asteroid surface and the spheres or planes. This means that on the sphere and the plane, the gravities inside and outside the asteroid are smaller than the gravity on the intersection, i.e., on the surface. Some analyses of these conclusions are given with many examples with different radii of the sphere and with different order and degree harmonic expansion models for the above asteroid surface and surrounding spheres. It is interesting to note that very few researchers know that the polyhedral method can also be used to calculate the gravity inside an asteroid with just some modifications of the code. Some special gravity figures on surface and planes inside the asteroid Castalia are computed and made for the first time. The calculations also include tangential gravity, potential, and gravitational slope on surface. Specifically, we find that the overall mean gravitational slope could be one kind of indicator of the density of an asteroid. The minimum overall mean slope happens when the asteroid density is about 2.9 g/cm3, which is much larger than a usually assumed value between 1.7 and 2.5 for asteroid Castalia when its period is 4.07 h, since rotation period should be a more accurate parameter than its estimated density. These conclusions about this typical prolate-like asteroid could be a benchmark for analyzing other similar asteroids.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Spacecraft Attitude and Orbital Dynamics, Control, Trajectory Planning and Navigation)
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Open AccessArticle
A Study of Multi-Step Sparse Vessel Trajectory Restoration Based on Feature Correlation
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Lin Ye, Xiaohui Chen, Haiyan Liu, Ran Zhang, Jia Li, Chuanwei Lu and Yunpeng Zhao
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4057; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104057 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
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To address the issue of data integrity and reliability caused by sparse vessel trajectory data, this paper proposes a multi-step restoration method for sparse vessel trajectory based on feature correlation. First, we preserved the overall trend of the trajectory by detecting and marking
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To address the issue of data integrity and reliability caused by sparse vessel trajectory data, this paper proposes a multi-step restoration method for sparse vessel trajectory based on feature correlation. First, we preserved the overall trend of the trajectory by detecting and marking the sparse and abnormal vessel trajectories points and using the cubic spline interpolation method for preliminary restoration. Then, we established a composite indicator of feature correlation for selecting highly correlated trajectory features as inputs to the model, reducing data redundancy while improving the key correlation between trajectory features. Finally, we developed a vessel trajectory restoration model based on the Seq2Seq network for secondary restoration of the trajectory to ensure the accurate restoration of the vessel trajectory. Through comparison and ablation experiments, we demonstrate that the method can efficiently extract highly correlated features from vessel trajectories and combines the advantages of the interpolation method and neural network model to effectively improve the accuracy of trajectory restoration and ensure the integrity and accuracy of trajectory data. The research results could provide crucial technical support for the subsequent mining of vessel behavior patterns and assisted decision-making, which holds significant application prospects and potential value.
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Open AccessArticle
Unavoidability and Functionality of Nervous System and Behavioral Randomness
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Carlos M. Gómez, Elena I. Rodríguez-Martínez and María A. Altahona-Medina
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4056; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104056 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The basic functioning of the central nervous system is based on the opening and closing of ionic channels in the membranes of neurons. The behavior of ionic channels is considered to be a random process with an exponential probability distribution function. The central
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The basic functioning of the central nervous system is based on the opening and closing of ionic channels in the membranes of neurons. The behavior of ionic channels is considered to be a random process with an exponential probability distribution function. The central limit theorem implies that the mean of the sum of random variables generates a distribution in which the new variable tends to be normally distributed. The theorem implicitly implies that randomness can be embedded in a certain probability distribution but does not disappear. The present report will explore the possible implications for the functioning of nervous system and behavior of the constituent neural randomness. The possible functionality of “noise” to increase the exploratory space of nervous and behavioral systems will be considered.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational and Mathematical Methods for Neuroscience)
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Open AccessArticle
A Novel Aerodynamic Modeling Method Based on Data for Tiltrotor evtol
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Haiyang Wang, Peng Li and Dongsu Wu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4055; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104055 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
A data-driven aerodynamic modeling method is proposed to address the problem that traditional modeling methods based on physical mechanisms cannot fully represent the special aerodynamic characteristics of tiltrotor evtol aircraft. By analyzing the uniquely complex aerodynamic characteristics of electric vertical take-off and landing
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A data-driven aerodynamic modeling method is proposed to address the problem that traditional modeling methods based on physical mechanisms cannot fully represent the special aerodynamic characteristics of tiltrotor evtol aircraft. By analyzing the uniquely complex aerodynamic characteristics of electric vertical take-off and landing (evtol) aircraft, an MLP neural network model has been constructed that reflects the coupling characteristics between influencing factors. Using the XV15 wind tunnel test data, a dataset was constructed, and the neural network model was trained and validated. Simulation results show that the selected data-driven method can accurately predict the aerodynamic characteristics of the longitudinal transition phase of the tiltrotor evtol.
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(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
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Open AccessArticle
Enhanced Solar Coronal Imaging: A GAN Approach with Fused Attention and Perceptual Quality Enhancement
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Zhenhong Shang and Ruiyao Li
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4054; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104054 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The activity of the solar corona has a significant impact on all aspects of human life. People typically use images obtained from astronomical telescopes to observe coronal activities, among which the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is particularly
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The activity of the solar corona has a significant impact on all aspects of human life. People typically use images obtained from astronomical telescopes to observe coronal activities, among which the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is particularly widely used. However, due to resolution limitations, we have begun to study the application of generative adversarial network super-resolution techniques to enhance the image data quality for a clearer observation of the fine structures and dynamic processes in the solar atmosphere, which improves the prediction accuracy of solar activities. We aligned SDO/AIA images with images from the High-Resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C) to create a dataset. This research proposes a new super-resolution method named SAFCSRGAN, which includes a spatial attention module that incorporates channel information, allowing the network model to better capture the corona’s features. A Charbonnier loss function was introduced to enhance the perceptual quality of the super-resolution images. Compared to the original method using ESRGAN, our method achieved an 11.9% increase in Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) and a 4.8% increase in Structural Similarity (SSIM). Additionally, we introduced two perceptual image quality assessment metrics, the Natural Image Quality Evaluator (NIQE) and Learned Perceptual Image Patch Similarity (LPIPS), which improved perceptual quality by 10.8% and 1.3%, respectively. Finally, our experiments demonstrated that our improved model surpasses other models in restoring the details of coronal images.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Image Enhancement and Restoration Technology)
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Open AccessArticle
In Vitro Evaluation of Surface Roughness and Color Variation after Two Brushing Protocols with Toothpastes Containing Different Whitening Technologies
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Angel Lobito, Catarina Colaço, Joana Costa, Jorge Caldeira, Luís Proença and José João Mendes
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4053; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104053 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The aim was to evaluate the effect of different whitening toothpastes on the enamel surface roughness and color variation. Twenty-four molars were sectioned and divided into eight groups (n = 3) considering the following two factors under study: toothpaste type (Colgate®
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The aim was to evaluate the effect of different whitening toothpastes on the enamel surface roughness and color variation. Twenty-four molars were sectioned and divided into eight groups (n = 3) considering the following two factors under study: toothpaste type (Colgate® Total Original, Oral B® 3D White Luxe Perfection, Curaprox® Black is White, and Signal® White Now) and brushing protocol (short- and long-term). Surface roughness was examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and color change (ΔE) was measured using the CIE L*a*b* system. Data were statistically analyzed using comparative parametric tests at a 5% significance level. In the short-term protocol, only the Signal® White Now toothpaste increased surface roughness (p = 0.038) compared to the Colgate® Total Original group. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in surface roughness in the long-term protocol. Regarding color variation, no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in either protocol. Overall, the whitening toothpastes did not affect enamel surface roughness or color, except for Signal® White Now, which caused increased roughness in the short-term protocol. However, all toothpastes induced a visual change in color.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Techniques, Materials and Technologies in Dentistry: Second Edition)
Open AccessArticle
Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Simple Snoring: Efficacy of a New Mandibular Advancement Device
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Francesca Cremonini, Gaia Poma, Mario Palone, Federica Pellitteri, Jenny Guidorzi, Valentina Colabianchi, Francesco Stomeo and Luca Lombardo
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4052; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104052 (registering DOI) - 10 May 2024
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The following prospective study has the aim of evaluating the efficiency of the F22 MAD (mandibular advancement device), a new oral device for the treatment of OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome) and snoring. Methods: AHI (apnea-hypopnea index), ODI (Oxygen Desaturation Index), snoring percentage,
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The following prospective study has the aim of evaluating the efficiency of the F22 MAD (mandibular advancement device), a new oral device for the treatment of OSAS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome) and snoring. Methods: AHI (apnea-hypopnea index), ODI (Oxygen Desaturation Index), snoring percentage, time spent in the supine position, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale score were evaluated in 19 patients with snoring, mild to moderate OSAS, or severe OSAS who declined CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) treatment, before and after the application of the F22 MAD. Results: The median value of AHI varied from 15.6 ± 10.7 to 5.7 ± 5.7; the median value of ODI varied from 13.4 ± 8.8 to 6.2 ± 5.2; the median value of the percentage of snoring varied from 30.7 ± 7 to 7.5 ± 10.8, except for the patient who has severe OSAS who increased their value. The value obtained by the self-completion of the ESS questionnaire (Epworth Sleepiness Scale) underwent a statistically significant variation, while clinically significant for 13\19 patients who obtained a reduction of the value >/= of 2 points. Conclusions: It is possible to conclude that the F22 MAD is effective in the treatment of patients with mild and moderate OSAS or simple snoring, reducing the polysomnographic outcomes with statistically and clinically significant results in terms of reduction of AHI, ODI and percentage of snoring.
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Open AccessCommunication
GreenTray®, a TIS Bioreactor for Plant Micropropagation and Abiotic or Biotic Stress Bioassays
by
Ramon Dolcet-Sanjuan, Maria Casanovas, Sandra Franquesa, Eva Alsina, Francisca Carrasco-Cuello, Estanis Torres, Josep Rufat, Cristina Solsona and Neus Teixido
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4051; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104051 - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The temporary immersion system bioreactor named GreenTray® presents advantages over the existing ones. Firstly, there is no need to use forceps to move the shoots or plantlets in or out of the recipient, nor is the use of a scalpel necessary to
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The temporary immersion system bioreactor named GreenTray® presents advantages over the existing ones. Firstly, there is no need to use forceps to move the shoots or plantlets in or out of the recipient, nor is the use of a scalpel necessary to divide them. Secondly, the basis of the shoot can remain in the GreenTray® and can sprout again over several cycles of growth. These two characteristics reduce the costs in the process of micropropagation. In addition, shoot or plantlet development is enhanced by the aeration of the recipient, thus enriching the recipient’s atmospheric CO2. This article describes and provides images and values of interest in (1) the micropropagation process of some commercial Prunus or Pyrus rootstocks; (2) the plantlet growth under autotrophic conditions; and (3) the inoculation of plants with pathogens that reproduce in vitro the symptoms observed in vivo, using the GreenTray® bioreactor.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Bioreactor System: Design, Operation and Application)
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Open AccessArticle
Preparation and Biological Activity Studies of Octenyl Succinic Anhydride Starch-Based Emulsions Containing Natural Essential Oils and Their Components
by
Vesta Navikaite-Snipaitiene, Kamile Spirikavice, Jurate Siugzdaite, Egle Beatrice Grigonyte and Ramune Rutkaite
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4050; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104050 - 10 May 2024
Abstract
In this study, clove essential oil (CL), eugenol (EU), and cinnamaldehyde (CI) were immobilized in starch sodium octenyl succinate (SSO) using an emulsification method. The main characteristics, stability, and biological properties of the prepared emulsions were established. Particle size analyses using dynamic light
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In this study, clove essential oil (CL), eugenol (EU), and cinnamaldehyde (CI) were immobilized in starch sodium octenyl succinate (SSO) using an emulsification method. The main characteristics, stability, and biological properties of the prepared emulsions were established. Particle size analyses using dynamic light scattering showed that the smaller droplets were characteristic of emulsions containing CI (205–218 nm) and EU (181–236 nm), while the largest droplets were determined for CL emulsions (293–348 nm). Moreover, the highest antioxidant activity was determined for CL (79–83%) and EU (80–88%) emulsions, while CI emulsions showed the greatest antibacterial activity. The obtained emulsions were applied to the paper sheets and the bioactive properties of coated paper were studied. Evaluation of antioxidant properties revealed that high antioxidant activity reaching 76–92% and 87–91% was characteristic of coatings containing CL and EU, respectively. Meanwhile, coatings containing CI showed quite low antioxidant activity (4–9%) but demonstrated the greatest antimicrobial effect on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as yeasts. Hence, CL and EU emulsions could be used as effective natural antioxidants, whereas CI emulsions could be applied as an antimicrobial agent on cellulose-based substrates for a wide range of human health protection applications.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Bioactive Natural Products in Health and Disease)
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Open AccessArticle
Cornus mas L. Extract-Mediated Modulations of the Redox State Induce Cytotoxicity in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
by
Lucia Klongová, Marek Kovár, Alica Navrátilová, Veronika Fialkova and Miroslava Požgajová
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4049; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104049 - 10 May 2024
Abstract
The Cornus mas L. fruit is well known for having a high presence of bioactive substances that include phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, vitamins, flavonoids, carotenoids, and ursolic acid. The health-promoting effects of those substances are mainly associated with their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
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The Cornus mas L. fruit is well known for having a high presence of bioactive substances that include phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, vitamins, flavonoids, carotenoids, and ursolic acid. The health-promoting effects of those substances are mainly associated with their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In this study, we investigated the role of Cornus mas L. fruit ethanolic extract on the cell vitality of a model eukaryotic organism, the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The effect of Cornus mas L. fruit ethanolic extract on cell viability was determined by analyses of cell growth and cell doubling time during exposure to the extract. To determine the ability of Cornus mas L. to reduce or induce oxidative stress, quantification of intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels was performed. Additionally, the enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase was evaluated together with the determination of changes in the expression of genes related to oxidative stress response. The data suggest a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of the Cornus mas L. fruit ethanol extract, as a higher concentration (2%) led to increased oxidative stress and reduced cell viability of S. pombe cells, while a lower concentration (0.5%) showed only a subtle effect on the analyzed parameters. This study provides a new perspective on the possible antimicrobial or medicinal properties of Cornus mas L. fruit ethanol extract due to its ability to induce oxidative stress in the cell.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Bioactive Natural Products in Health and Disease)
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