MDPI - Publisher of Open Access Journals

17 pages, 3083 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Influences on Indoor and Outdoor SVOC Exposure

by Brianna N. Rivera, Lisa M. Bramer, Christine C. Ghetu, Diana Rohlman, Kaley Adams, Katrina M. Waters and Kim A. Anderson

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(4), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040556 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, with more than 66% of that time spent in residential buildings. Factors pertaining to household behavior or environmental factors may influence types of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) found indoors. Paired indoor and outdoor passive samplers [...] Read more.

Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, with more than 66% of that time spent in residential buildings. Factors pertaining to household behavior or environmental factors may influence types of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) found indoors. Paired indoor and outdoor passive samplers were deployed at twenty-four locations across the United States. Samples were analyzed for >1500 SVOCs to identify common patterns in exposure profiles and investigate influences of household behavior and environmental factors. Unique differences between indoor and outdoor profiles were identified, with indoor air typically having greater frequency and concentration of SVOCs relative to outdoor air. A significant relationship between fragrance chemicals and scented consumer products was identified. When considering a multifactorial approach, chemical exposures were most influenced by environmental and demographic factors. Our data highlights specific groups of chemicals identified at higher concentrations indoors and their potential influences, as well as the complexity of identifying specific sources of chemical exposures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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8 pages, 518 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Hemodynamic Performance of a Self-Expanding Transcatheter Aortic Valve with an Intra-Annular Leaflet Position in Patients with a Small Aortic Annulus

by Matjaž Bunc, Gregor Verček and Ole De Backer

Medicina 2025, 61(4), 661; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61040661 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is associated with a higher risk for elevated trans-prosthetic gradients and prosthesis-patient mismatch in patients with a small aortic annulus. We aimed to assess the short-term hemodynamic performance of self-expanding transcatheter aortic valves with an [...] Read more.

Background and Objectives: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is associated with a higher risk for elevated trans-prosthetic gradients and prosthesis-patient mismatch in patients with a small aortic annulus. We aimed to assess the short-term hemodynamic performance of self-expanding transcatheter aortic valves with an intra-annular leaflet position in patients with small aortic anatomies. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with small aortic annuli (annular area < 430 mm²), who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a self-expanding Portico or Navitor (Abbott Medical, St. Paul, MN, USA) transcatheter aortic valve between October 2017 and August 2024 at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, were analyzed. The main endpoints were the post-procedural mean trans-prosthetic gradient, the presence of moderate or severe prosthesis-patient mismatch or paravalvular regurgitation. Results: Overall, 37 patients were included in the study (29 patients with a native aortic valve and 8 patients undergoing valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve implantation). The mean age was 81.6 ± 4.3 years, 32 patients (86.5%) were female. The median annular perimeter was 70.8 mm (interquartile range 67.3–74.1 mm) and the median annular area was 379 mm² (interquartile range 355–412 mm²). The post-procedural mean trans-prosthetic gradient was 9.0 ± 3.5 mmHg, with no cases with a mean gradient > 20 mmHg. Moderate and severe prosthesis-patient mismatch was observed in 21.2% and 3.0% of patients, respectively. Mild paravalvular regurgitation was noted in 44.1% of patients, there were no cases of moderate or severe paravalvular regurgitation. One patient (3.0%) had moderate valvular regurgitation. Conclusions: Self-expanding transcatheter aortic valves with an intra-annular leaflet position are associated with favorable hemodynamic performance in patients with a small aortic annulus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Cardiology)

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17 pages, 11192 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanism of Tumor Budding in Patient-Derived Metachronous Oral Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines

by Takayuki Omae, Yuji Omori, Yuna Makihara, Koji Yamanegi, Soutaro Hanawa, Kyohei Yoshikawa, Kazuma Noguchi and Hiromitsu Kishimoto

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3347; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073347 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Tumor budding (TB) occurs at the deepest site of tumor invasion and is a significant prognostic indicator of cervical metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The mechanism of TB, however, remains unclear. This study investigated the roles of the tumor microenvironment and [...] Read more.

Tumor budding (TB) occurs at the deepest site of tumor invasion and is a significant prognostic indicator of cervical metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The mechanism of TB, however, remains unclear. This study investigated the roles of the tumor microenvironment and partial epithelial–mesenchymal transition (p-EMT) in TB expression using molecular and cellular physiological analyses. We established oral metachronous carcinoma cell lines (gingival carcinoma: 020, tongue carcinoma with high TB expression: 020G) from two cancers with pathologically different TB in the same patient and subjected them to exome analysis to detect gene mutations related to carcinogenesis and malignancy. Differences in EMT expression induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) between 020 and 020G were analyzed by Western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and TGF-β-induced changes in cell morphology, proliferation, migration, and invasive ability were also examined. TGF-β expression was observed in the deepest tumor invasion microenvironment. TGF-β also induced the expression of several p-EMT markers and increased the migration and invasive abilities of 020G compared with 020 cells. In conclusion, TGF-β in the deep-tumor microenvironment can induce p-EMT in tumor cells, expressed as TB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Insights into Molecular Pathways and Emerging Therapeutic Approaches)

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17 pages, 20838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dorsal Striatum Is Compromised by Status Epilepticus Induced in Immature Developing Animal Experimental Model of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

by Azzat Al-Redouan, Aaron Busch, Martin Salaj, Hana Kubova and Rastislav Druga

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3349; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073349 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

This study investigated the striatopallidal complex’s involvement in status epilepticus (SE) caused by morphological neurodegenerative changes in a post-natal immature developing brain in a lithium−pilocarpine male Wistar albino rat model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. One hundred experimental pups were grouped by age [...] Read more.

This study investigated the striatopallidal complex’s involvement in status epilepticus (SE) caused by morphological neurodegenerative changes in a post-natal immature developing brain in a lithium−pilocarpine male Wistar albino rat model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. One hundred experimental pups were grouped by age as follows: 12, 15, 18, 21, and 25 days. SE was induced by lithium−pilocarpine. Brain sections were microscopically examined by Fluoro-Jade B fluorescence stain at intervals of 4, 12, 24, and 48 h and 1 week after SE. Each interval was composed of four induced SE pups and a control. Fluoro-Jade B positive neurons in the dorsal striatum (DS) were screened and plotted on stereotaxic rat brain maps. The DS showed consistent neuronal damage in pups aged 18, 21, and 25 days. The peak of the detected damage was observed in pups aged 18 days, and the start of the morphological sequela was observed 12 h post SE. The neuronal damage in the DS was distributed around its periphery, extending medially. The damaged neurons showed intense Fluoro-Jade B staining at the intervals of 12 and 24 h post SE. SE neuronal damage was evidenced in the post-natal developing brain selectively in the DS and was age-dependent with differing morphological sequela. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Nanoscience)

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21 pages, 926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Qutrit Control for Bucket Brigade RAM Using Transmon Systems

by Lazaros Spyridopoulos, Dimitris Ntalaperas and Nikos Konofaos

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3950; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073950 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Qudits allow the encoding and manipulation of additional quantum information compared to that stored to a two-level qubit system. Although manipulations of qudit states are generally more complex and can introduce extra sources of noise, qudits can still be used in a number [...] Read more.

Qudits allow the encoding and manipulation of additional quantum information compared to that stored to a two-level qubit system. Although manipulations of qudit states are generally more complex and can introduce extra sources of noise, qudits can still be used in a number of applications when this error can be kept sufficiently low. One such application is the case of the Bucket Brigade Algorithm for realizing a Quantum RAM (QRAM), which inherently uses qutrits for encoding the state of address switches. In this paper, we study a methodology for qutrit manipulation that leverages efficient encoding techniques and pulse calibration methods for the case of transmon systems. The methodology employs an encoding scheme that allows the execution of controlled operations, using the subspace spanned by the two lowest levels of the transmon; we show how this scheme can be used for generating one- and two-qutrit gates by leveraging the Qiskit and Boulder Opal frameworks to compute the parameters of pulses that implement the quantum gates that are used by the BBA. For this type of gate, simulations show that the pulses perform the required operations with a low infidelity when errors introduced by the qutrit Hamiltonian dynamics are considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches for Quantum Computing and Quantum Information Processing)

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40 pages, 2165 KiB

Open AccessReview

Stem Cells in Cancer: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies

by Laurence Haddadin and Xueqin Sun

Cells 2025, 14(7), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14070538 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Stem cells have emerged as a pivotal area of research in the field of oncology, offering new insights into the mechanisms of cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of stem cells in cancer, [...] Read more.

Stem cells have emerged as a pivotal area of research in the field of oncology, offering new insights into the mechanisms of cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of stem cells in cancer, focusing on cancer stem cells (CSCs), their characteristics, and their implications for cancer therapy. We discuss the origin and identification of CSCs, their role in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance, and the potential therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs. Additionally, we explore the use of normal stem cells in cancer therapy, focusing on their role in tissue regeneration and their use as delivery vehicles for anticancer agents. Finally, we highlight the challenges and future directions in stem cell research in cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stem Cells in Cancer)

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15 pages, 3364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictive Modeling of Shear Strength of Enzyme-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (EICP)-Solidified Rubber–Clay Mixtures Using Machine Learning Algorithms

by Qiang Ma, Meng Li, Hang Shu and Lei Xi

Polymers 2025, 17(7), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17070976 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

The development of reliable predictive models for soil behavior represents a crucial advancement in geotechnical engineering, particularly for optimizing material compositions and reducing experimental uncertainties. Traditional experimental approaches for determining the optimal rubber particle size and content are often resource-intensive, time-consuming, and subject [...] Read more.

The development of reliable predictive models for soil behavior represents a crucial advancement in geotechnical engineering, particularly for optimizing material compositions and reducing experimental uncertainties. Traditional experimental approaches for determining the optimal rubber particle size and content are often resource-intensive, time-consuming, and subject to significant variability. In this study, the shear strength of clay mixed with rubber particles solidified by the Enzyme-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) technique was investigated and predictively modeled using a machine learning algorithm. The effects of different rubber contents and particle sizes on the shear strength of the clay were analyzed experimentally, and a hybrid model of a convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) network optimized based on the crown porcupine optimization (CPO) algorithm was proposed to predict the shear strength of the EICP-treated clay mixed with rubber particles. The superiority of the CPO-CNN-LSTM model in predicting shear strength was verified by comparing multiple machine learning algorithms. The results show that the addition of rubber particles significantly improves the shear strength of the clay, especially at a 5% rubber content. The coefficient of determination (R²) of the CPO-CNN-LSTM model on the training and test datasets reaches 0.98 and 0.97, respectively, which exhibit high prediction accuracy and generalization ability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Polymer Physics and Theory)

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15 pages, 249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trends of Drain Placement During Revisional Bariatric Surgeries and Its Association with 30-Day Morbidity: An MBSAQIP Analysis of 64,495 Patients

by Daniel Meyer, Sukhdeep Jatana, Daniel W. Birch, Noah J. Switzer, Shahzeer Karmali and Valentin Mocanu

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(7), 2456; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14072456 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Background: Drains are often placed during bariatric procedures; however, their use in conversional or revisional bariatric surgery (CRBS) has not been thoroughly explored. Our study sought to identify the frequency of drain placement in CRBS, and characterize factors associated with drain placement and [...] Read more.

Background: Drains are often placed during bariatric procedures; however, their use in conversional or revisional bariatric surgery (CRBS) has not been thoroughly explored. Our study sought to identify the frequency of drain placement in CRBS, and characterize factors associated with drain placement and their influence on 30-day serious complications. Methods: Patients undergoing CRBS between 2020 and 2022 were included from the MBSAQIP database. Patients were placed into drain placed (DP) versus no drain (ND) cohorts and baseline characteristics and complication rate were compared. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify independent predictors of drain placement and complications. Results: of 64,495 included patients, drains were placed in 19.1% in 2020; this was down to 14.4% in 2022. Drain placement was associated with increased risk of multiple complications such as hemorrhage, readmission, surgical site infection, and gastrointestinal bleeding. On multivariate analysis, drain placement was an independent predictor of serious complications (aOR 1.45, p < 0.001), anastomotic leak (aOR 2.25, p < 0.001), organ space infection (aOR 2.12, p < 0.001), and reoperation (aOR 1.37, p < 0.001), as well as excess LOS (aOR 2.06, p < 0.001). Predictors of drain placement include older age, higher BMI, smoking status, history of venous thromboembolism, and procedural factors, such as undergoing non-sleeve revisional surgery or having an intraoperative leak test. Conclusions: Drain placement during CRBS surgical procedures is common and more likely in higher risk patients and anastomotic revisional procedures. Though the reasons for drain placement were not available, these data suggest that surgeons should be judicious in selecting patients for drain placement due to its association with increased LOS and postoperative morbidity in CRBS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Advances in Obesity and Bariatric Surgery)

14 pages, 3193 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing SO₃ and Fine Particle Co-Removal in Low-Low Temperature Electrostatic Precipitation via Turbulent Agglomeration

by Zongkang Sun, Danping Pan, Lingxiao Zhan and Linjun Yang

Separations 2025, 12(4), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12040087 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Fine particulate matter (PM) and sulfur trioxide (SO₃) from coal-fired flue gas pose significant environmental and health risks. While low-low temperature electrostatic precipitators (LLT-ESPs) enhance PM and SO₃ removal by cooling flue gas below the acid dew point, their efficiency [...] Read more.

Fine particulate matter (PM) and sulfur trioxide (SO₃) from coal-fired flue gas pose significant environmental and health risks. While low-low temperature electrostatic precipitators (LLT-ESPs) enhance PM and SO₃ removal by cooling flue gas below the acid dew point, their efficiency is limited by incomplete agglomeration. This study proposes integrating turbulent agglomeration technology into LLT-ESP systems to improve collision and adhesion between droplets and particles. Experiments were conducted under three conditions: flue gas containing SO₃ alone, fly ash alone, and their mixture. Particle size distributions, mass concentrations, and removal efficiencies were analyzed using ELPI⁺ and PM samplers. Results showed that turbulent agglomeration reduced the number concentration of sulfuric acid droplets by 21.4% from 1.59 × 10⁷ cm⁻³ to 1.25 × 10⁷ cm⁻³ (SO₃-only case) and fine fly ash particles by 19.5% from 5.79 × 10⁶ cm⁻³ to 4.66 × 10⁶ cm⁻³ (fly-ash-only case). Although LLT-ESP combined with turbulent agglomeration has a certain removal effect in the case of individual pollutants, the overall effect is not unsatisfactory, especially for SO₃, whose mass-based removal efficiency was merely 16.2%. The value of the fly-ash-only case was 92.1%. Synergistic effects in the coexistence scenario (fly ash and SO₃) significantly enhanced agglomeration, increasing SO₃ and PM removal efficiencies to 82.9% and 97.6%, respectively, compared to 69.7% and 90.1% without turbulent agglomeration. The mechanism behind the efficiency improvement involved droplet–particle collisions, sulfate deposition, and improved particle charging. This work demonstrates that turbulent agglomeration optimizes multi-pollutant control in LLT-ESP systems, offering a feasible strategy for achieving ultra-low emissions in coal-fired power plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Advanced Materials and Technologies in the Separation and Adsorption)

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11 pages, 3315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Frozen Beads from a Mixture of Mesitylene and Meta-Xylene with Rupert’s Drop Properties in Cryogenic Neutron Moderators

by Maksim V. Bulavin and Ivan L. Litvak

J. Nucl. Eng. 2025, 6(2), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/jne6020009 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted on the feasibility of using frozen beads with the properties of Rupert’s drops—solid frozen beads with enhanced strength made from a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons—in cryogenic neutron moderators utilizing bead technology. It is demonstrated that the use of [...] Read more.

An experimental study was conducted on the feasibility of using frozen beads with the properties of Rupert’s drops—solid frozen beads with enhanced strength made from a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons—in cryogenic neutron moderators utilizing bead technology. It is demonstrated that the use of a new modification of the dosing device with a high discharge rate (approximately 6 units/s) significantly improves process efficiency. With standard pneumatic transport parameters maintained, it was possible to load solid frozen beads made from a mixture of mesitylene and meta-xylene into the cryogenic moderator chamber. The loading speed increased five-fold, while the beads remained intact during pneumatic transport. Full article

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17 pages, 1639 KiB

Open AccessReview

Odoribacter splanchnicus—A Next-Generation Probiotic Candidate

by Jianhong Li, Jing Xu, Xue Guo, Haoming Xu, Chen Huang, Yuqiang Nie and Youlian Zhou

Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040815 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

As an important intestinal microorganism, Odoribacter splanchnicus frequently appears in high-throughput sequencing analyses, although pure culture research on this microorganism is not as advanced. It is widely present in the mammalian gut and is closely associated with the health status of the host [...] Read more.

As an important intestinal microorganism, Odoribacter splanchnicus frequently appears in high-throughput sequencing analyses, although pure culture research on this microorganism is not as advanced. It is widely present in the mammalian gut and is closely associated with the health status of the host and the incidence of various diseases. In recent years, changes in the abundance of O. splanchnicus have been found to be positively or negatively correlated with health issues, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and intestinal inflammation. It may exhibit a dual protective or promotional role in specific diseases. Thus, it may play an important role in regulating host metabolism, immune response, and intestinal homeostasis. Additional research has revealed that O. splanchnicus can synthesize various metabolites, especially short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which play a key role in promoting intestinal health, enhancing energy metabolism, improving insulin resistance, and regulating immune responses in the host. Therefore, O. splanchnicus is a strong candidate for “next-generation probiotics”, and its potential probiotic function provides novel ideas for the development of functional foods and the prevention and treatment of metabolic and intestinal inflammatory diseases. These findings can help develop new biological treatment strategies and optimize health management plans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Gut Microbiota)

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16 pages, 5365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Validation of Quantitative Ultrasound and Texture Derivative Analyses-Based Model for Upfront Prediction of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Breast Cancer

by Adrian Wai Chan, Lakshmanan Sannachi, Daniel Moore-Palhares, Archya Dasgupta, Sonal Gandhi, Rossanna Pezo, Andrea Eisen, Ellen Warner, Frances C. Wright, Nicole Look Hong, Ali Sadeghi-Naini, Mia Skarpathiotakis, Belinda Curpen, Carrie Betel, Michael C. Kolios, Maureen Trudeau and Gregory J. Czarnota

J. Imaging 2025, 11(4), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging11040109 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

This work was conducted in order to validate a pre-treatment quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and texture derivative analyses-based prediction model proposed in our previous study to identify responders and non-responders to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. The validation cohort consisted of 56 [...] Read more.

This work was conducted in order to validate a pre-treatment quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and texture derivative analyses-based prediction model proposed in our previous study to identify responders and non-responders to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. The validation cohort consisted of 56 breast cancer patients diagnosed between the years 2018 and 2021. Among all patients, 53 were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and three had unplanned changes in their chemotherapy cycles. Radio Frequency (RF) data were collected volumetrically prior to the start of chemotherapy. In addition to tumour region (core), a 5 mm tumour-margin was also chosen for parameters estimation. The prediction model, which was developed previously based on quantitative ultrasound, texture derivative, and tumour molecular subtypes, was used to identify responders and non-responders. The actual response, which was determined by clinical and pathological assessment after lumpectomy or mastectomy, was then compared to the predicted response. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and F1 score for determining chemotherapy response of all patients in the validation cohort were 94%, 67%, 96%, 57%, and 95%, respectively. Removing patients who had unplanned changes in their chemotherapy resulted in a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and F1 score of all patients in the validation cohort of 94%, 100%, 100%, 50%, and 97%, respectively. Explanations for the misclassified cases included unplanned modifications made to the type of chemotherapy during treatment, inherent limitations of the predictive model, presence of DCIS in tumour structure, and an ill-defined tumour border in a minority of cases. Validation of a model was conducted in an independent cohort of patient for the first time to predict the tumour response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy using quantitative ultrasound, texture derivate, and molecular features in patients with breast cancer. Further research is needed to improve the positive predictive value and evaluate whether the treatment outcome can be improved in predicted non-responders by switching to other treatment options. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section AI in Imaging)

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18 pages, 2463 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Serum Levels of Irisin Are Positively Associated with Improved Cardiac Function in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction

by Alexander E. Berezin, Tetiana A. Berezina, Evgen V. Novikov and Oleksandr O. Berezin

Biomedicines 2025, 13(4), 866; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13040866 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Background: The purpose of the study is to investigate a possible predictive value of irisin for improved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) in discharged patients with known heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: We included in the study [...] Read more.

Background: The purpose of the study is to investigate a possible predictive value of irisin for improved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) in discharged patients with known heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods: We included in the study 313 patients who were discharged with HFrEF (at admission, LVEF ≤ 40%) and monitored for 3 months. HF with improved LVEF (HFimpEF) was characterized as a >40% increase in LVEF on transthoracic B-mode echocardiography within 3 months of follow-up. Circulating biomarkers including NT-proBNP and irisin were detected at baseline and after 3 months of observation. By the third month, 117 (37.4%) patients had HFimpEF, whereas 196 individuals were categorized as having persistent HFrEF. Results: We found that HFimpEF was related to lower LV end-diastolic dimensions and concentrations of NT-proBNP and higher left atrial volume index (LAVI) and irisin concentrations than those with persistent HFrEF. The most balanced cut-offs of irisin and NT-proBNP concentrations (improved LVEF versus non-improved LVEF) were 10.8 ng/mL and 1540 pmol/L, respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR] = 0.95; p = 0.010), LAVI < 39 mL/m² (OR = 1.23; p = 0.001), irisin levels ≥ 10.8 ng/mL (OR = 1.73; p = 0.001), and NT-proBNP < 1540 pmol/mL (OR = 1.47; p = 0.001) independently predicted HFimpEF. The discriminative ability of irisin ≥ 10.8 ng/mL was better than NT-proBNP < 1540 pmol/mL; the predictive ability of irisin alone was not improved by the combined model (irisin added to NT-proBNP). Conclusions: serum irisin ≥ 10.8 ng/mL predicted HFimpEF independently of natriuretic peptide in HFrEF patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease: New Treatment and Future Directions—the 3rd Edition)

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18 pages, 7353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial and Temporal Shifts and Driving Mechanisms of Embodied Carbon in Water Transport Trade in BRICS Countries

by Shanshan Zheng, Cheng Chen and Peng Qiu

Water 2025, 17(7), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17071070 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

From an ecological protection perspective, clarifying the spatial and temporal transfer characteristics of embodied carbon in water transport trade among BRICS countries and its driving mechanisms is of great significance for the precise formulation of emission reduction policies. This study integrates the multi-regional [...] Read more.

From an ecological protection perspective, clarifying the spatial and temporal transfer characteristics of embodied carbon in water transport trade among BRICS countries and its driving mechanisms is of great significance for the precise formulation of emission reduction policies. This study integrates the multi-regional input–output model with the LMDI decomposition method to quantitatively analyze the bi-directional flow of embodied carbon in water transport trade among BRICS countries from 1995 to 2018, along with its spatio-temporal differentiation patterns. The driving mechanisms are decomposed across three dimensions: scale, structure, and intensity. By adopting a dual perspective of time-series and spatial correlation, the study systematically uncovers the cross-regional transfer patterns of embodied carbon emissions in water transport trade and examines the interaction pathways of various effects throughout their dynamic evolution. The study finds that (1) the embodied carbon in water transport trade among BRICS countries shows a trend of transnational transfer, with China being the largest net exporter (35.15 Mt in 2018), India and South Africa as net importers (−32.00 Mt and −1.89 Mt in 2018, respectively), and Brazil and Russia shifting from net importers to net exporters; (2) from a temporal perspective, the scale effect drives the growth of embodied carbon emissions (contribution values: 1.23~119.72 Mt for export trade; 4.88~34.36 Mt for import trade), while the intensity effect has a suppressive role (contribution values: −59.08~−1.48 Mt for export trade; −20.56~−5.31 Mt for import trade), and the structural effect is complex in its impact on emissions (contribution values: −17.72~0.45 Mt for export trade; −6.84~13.93 Mt for import trade). Optimizing the trade structure can help reduce carbon emissions; (3) from a spatial perspective, carbon emissions are higher in Southeast Asia and the Northern Hemisphere, and changes in China’s carbon emissions (total effect in 2018: 57.01 Mt in export trade and 7.98 Mt in import trade) significantly affect other BRICS countries. Based on the conclusions of the study, it is suggested that BRICS countries should strengthen cooperation to achieve regional emission reduction targets by optimizing the trade structure of water transport, promoting energy structure reforms, advancing green transport technologies and equipment, and establishing a carbon emission regulatory system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Long-Term Coastal Evolution and Morphodynamics: Ecosystem Protection and Coastal Safety)

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25 pages, 2453 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Edible Plant Oils on Increasing the Viability of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG During the Microencapsulation by Spray Drying Process

by Alicja Fedorowicz and Artur Bartkowiak

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3948; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073948 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

This work concerns the spray drying of probiotic bacteria Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG suspended in a solution of starch, whey protein concentrate, soy lecithin, and ascorbic acid, with additional selected natural plant-origin liquid oils. The aim of this study was to examine these oils [...] Read more.

This work concerns the spray drying of probiotic bacteria Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG suspended in a solution of starch, whey protein concentrate, soy lecithin, and ascorbic acid, with additional selected natural plant-origin liquid oils. The aim of this study was to examine these oils and their concentrations (20% and 30%) on bacterial viability during the spray drying (inlet temperature was 180 °C, outlet temperature from 50 to 54 °C, feed rate around 9 mL/min) and storage for 4 weeks at 4 °C and 20 °C, with attempts to explain the protective mechanism in respect including their fatty acid composition. The viability of microencapsulated bacteria, moisture content, water activity, color properties, morphology, particle size of obtained powders, and thermal properties of encapsulated oils were evaluated. The highest viability of bacterial cells after spray drying 83.7% and 86.0%, was recorded with added borage oil respectively with 20% and 30% oil content. This oil has a lower content of oleic and linoleic acid compared to other applied oils, but a high content of both vitamin E and γ- linoleic acid. However, this study did not confirm unambiguously whether and which of the components present in natural plant oils specifically affect the overall viability of bacteria during spray drying. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals)

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11 pages, 5284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

DNA Sequence Changes Resulting from Codon Optimization Affect Gene Expression in Pichia pastoris by Altering Chromatin Accessibility

by Chaoyu Lu, Linna Guo, Bohao Fang, Jiacheng Shi and Mian Zhou

J. Fungi 2025, 11(4), 282; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11040282 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Codon optimization is a widely employed strategy to enhance protein expression. However, it occasionally leads to unexpected transcriptional repression despite preserving amino acid sequences. This study investigates the mechanistic basis of such transcriptional attenuation by analyzing two gene candidates (0432 and Fluc [...] Read more.

Codon optimization is a widely employed strategy to enhance protein expression. However, it occasionally leads to unexpected transcriptional repression despite preserving amino acid sequences. This study investigates the mechanistic basis of such transcriptional attenuation by analyzing two gene candidates (0432 and Fluc) in the common expression chassis P. pastoris. Both genes experienced severe mRNA reduction following codon optimization. Evidenced by histone H3 chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and a DNase I hypersensitivity assay, gene sequences with transcriptional repression displayed elevated nucleosome occupancy and reduced chromatin accessibility. The above change was caused by an ORF sequence change independent of the promoter, since transcriptional attenuation and compromised chromatin accessibility were still observed after replacing the strong promoter P_GAP with P_por1 or P_rps8b. Our findings challenge the conventional view of codon optimization as solely translation-centric, revealing its capacity to preemptively modulate transcription through chromatin accessibility. This work underscores the necessity of integrating chromatin-level considerations into synthetic gene design to avoid unintended transcriptional silencing and optimize expression outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Fungal Genomics, Genetics and Molecular Biology)

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19 pages, 1477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advancing Gender Equality in Executive Leadership: The Role of Cultural Norms and Organizational Practices in Sustainable Development—A Case Study of Taiwan and Guatemala

by Camila Saenz, Shih-Wei Wu, Venkata Uddaraju, Amirhossein Nafei and Yu-Lun Liu

Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3183; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073183 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

The persistent gender gap in executive leadership remains a challenge to sustainable development. Despite evidence linking diverse leadership to enhanced organizational performance and economic growth, women still face barriers to leadership roles. This study examines cultural norms, organizational policies, and workplace practices sustaining [...] Read more.

The persistent gender gap in executive leadership remains a challenge to sustainable development. Despite evidence linking diverse leadership to enhanced organizational performance and economic growth, women still face barriers to leadership roles. This study examines cultural norms, organizational policies, and workplace practices sustaining gender inequality in executive positions in Taiwan and Guatemala. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of 250 women executives in private organizations. The findings highlight cultural norms and organizational policies as key factors perpetuating the gender gap. Traditional gender roles and male-dominated networks act as barriers, while inclusive practices and leadership development programs promote equality. Organizational culture also mediates the relationship between inclusivity and leadership opportunities, emphasizing the role of empathy-driven policies. This research aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), underscoring the need for gender-equal leadership to foster innovation and sustainable growth. Full article

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16 pages, 4435 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Harnessing Vitamin C Industrial Byproducts for Sustainable Agriculture: Improved Soil Quality and Maize Production in Degraded Semi-Arid Farmlands

by Haotian Cheng, Hao Sun, Weichao Yang, Mingfu Gao, Xinhua Zhao and Hui Xu

Agronomy 2025, 15(4), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040897 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Vitamin C industrial residue after evaporation (RAE) acts as both a rapid-release carbon source and a microbial activity promoter. A two-year maize field experiment assessed the effectiveness of RAE in improving soil quality in degraded semi-arid regions. The RAE formulation was applied via [...] Read more.

Vitamin C industrial residue after evaporation (RAE) acts as both a rapid-release carbon source and a microbial activity promoter. A two-year maize field experiment assessed the effectiveness of RAE in improving soil quality in degraded semi-arid regions. The RAE formulation was applied via drip irrigation during the sixth true leaf unfolded (BBCH 24), fourteenth true leaf unfolded (BBCH 38), and middle of grain filling (BBCH 66) stages, which consisted of three treatments: (1) untreated control (CK), (2) low RAE rate (LR: 150 L/ha), and (3) high RAE rate (HR: 300 L/ha). Soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, maize nutrient accumulations, and yields were comprehensively analyzed at the maize maturity stage. RAE application significantly improved the following soil nutrients: dissolved organic carbon (10.40–25.92%), ammonium nitrogen (14.04–70.67%), nitrate nitrogen (14.80–78.63%), and available phosphorus (11.79–42.55%). Soil enzyme activities also increased: sucrase (12.38–30.25%), amidase (1.95–25.69%), peptidase (0.56–48.79%), β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (3.11–9.48%), protease (17.41–226.29%), and acid phosphatase (8.73–60.04%). These changes enhanced maize nitrogen (17.63–40.73%) and phosphorus (20.09–42.11%) uptake, increasing yield by 7.12–13.46%. Statistical analysis showed strong correlations between yields and nutrient accumulations (r = 0.82, p < 0.01), particularly phosphorus (r = 0.91, p < 0.001). RAE enhances crop productivity in degraded agricultural systems by improving soil nutrient availability and plant assimilation, making it a viable alternative to conventional fertilizers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)

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16 pages, 4245 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aldosterone-Induced Transformation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells into Macrophage-like Cells Participates in Inflammatory Vascular Lesions

by Boya Zhang, Ziqian Liu, Yi Chang, Ruyan Lv, Haixia Guo, Panpan Qiang, Tatsuo Shimosawa, Qingyou Xu and Fan Yang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3345; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073345 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the most abundant cell type in blood vessels, participating in cardiovascular diseases in various ways, among which their transformation into macrophage-like cells has become a research hotspot. In this study, rats were infused with aldosterone for 12 [...] Read more.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are the most abundant cell type in blood vessels, participating in cardiovascular diseases in various ways, among which their transformation into macrophage-like cells has become a research hotspot. In this study, rats were infused with aldosterone for 12 weeks, and VSMCs stimulated with aldosterone in vitro were used to observe aortic injury and the role of VSMC transformation. Vascular changes were detected via small animal ultrasound and H&E staining. Moreover, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and flow cytometry were used to verify that the transformation of VSMCs into macrophage-like cells is regulated by mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and its receptor. Rat vasculature and in vitro cellular experiments revealed that VSMCs transformed into macrophage-like cells and secreted inflammatory factors such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), thereby exacerbating inflammatory vascular lesions, which was inhibited by the MR antagonist esaxerenone. These results reveal that increased levels of aldosterone activate MR, leading to the secretion of M-CSF by VSMCs. This further promotes the transformation of VSMCs into macrophage-like cells, which participate in inflammatory vascular lesions. Therefore, inhibiting the formation of macrophage-like cells can effectively reduce inflammatory vascular lesions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Angiotensin in Human Health and Diseases)

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16 pages, 5391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mid-Infrared Spectrometer for Black Plastics Sorting Using a Broadband Uncooled Micro-Bolometer Array

by Gabriel Jobert and Xavier Brenière

Spectrosc. J. 2025, 3(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/spectroscj3020013 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

We report the design, implementation and test of a Mid-Infrared spectrometer proof-of-concept that utilizes an uncooled micro-bolometer array, sensitive in the 3–14 µm spectral range, integrated in a conventional optical dispersive spectrometry setup. Such a spectrometer enables instantaneous measurements across this broad spectral [...] Read more.

We report the design, implementation and test of a Mid-Infrared spectrometer proof-of-concept that utilizes an uncooled micro-bolometer array, sensitive in the 3–14 µm spectral range, integrated in a conventional optical dispersive spectrometry setup. Such a spectrometer enables instantaneous measurements across this broad spectral range, comparable to that of a FTIR but with a more compact design and without moving parts. This makes it ideal for integration into portable, battery-powered devices such as handheld scanners. The Mid-IR range offers significant advantages over NIR-SWIR spectrometers, especially for organic compound analysis. A notable application for this instrument: plastic waste sorting—including black plastics—was tested with significant accuracy and effectiveness of plastic classification (on PP, PET and PE samples) with a very simple machine learning algorithm. Full article

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33 pages, 1019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

FAFedZO: Faster Zero-Order Adaptive Federated Learning Algorithm

by Yanbo Lu, Huimin Gao, Yi Zhang and Yong Xu

Electronics 2025, 14(7), 1452; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14071452 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Federated learning represents a newly emerging methodology in the field of machine learning that enables distributed agents to collaboratively learn a centralized model without sharing their raw data. Some scholars have already proposed many first-order algorithms and second-order algorithms for federated learning to [...] Read more.

Federated learning represents a newly emerging methodology in the field of machine learning that enables distributed agents to collaboratively learn a centralized model without sharing their raw data. Some scholars have already proposed many first-order algorithms and second-order algorithms for federated learning to reduce communication costs and speed up convergence. However, these algorithms generally rely on gradient or Hessian information, and we find it difficult to solve such federated optimization problems when the analytical expression of the loss function is not available, that is, when gradient information is not available. Therefore, we employed derivative-free federated zero-order optimization in this paper, which does not rely on specific gradient information, but instead utilizes the changes in function values or model outputs to estimate the optimization direction. Furthermore, to enhance the performance of derivative-free zero-order optimization, we propose an effective adaptive algorithm that can dynamically adjust the learning rate and other hyperparameters based on the performance during the optimization process, aiming to accelerate convergence. We rigorously analyze the convergence of our approach, and the experimental findings demonstrate our method can indeed achieve faster convergence speed on the MNIST, CIFAR-10 and Fashion-MNIST datasets in cases where gradient information is not available. Full article

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18 pages, 2868 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Quality and Metabolites of Pickled Purple Radish During Storage

by Seung-Hun Chae, Sang-Hyeon Lee, Seung-Hwan Kim, Si-Hun Song, Jae-Hak Moon, Heon-Woong Kim and Jeong-Yong Cho

Foods 2025, 14(7), 1259; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14071259 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

This study investigated the changes in the physicochemical properties and metabolites of pickled purple radish during storage. Pickles of purple radish (‘Boraking’) prepared by the addition of acetic acid and sugar were stored in the dark at 4 °C for 60 days. The [...] Read more.

This study investigated the changes in the physicochemical properties and metabolites of pickled purple radish during storage. Pickles of purple radish (‘Boraking’) prepared by the addition of acetic acid and sugar were stored in the dark at 4 °C for 60 days. The color of the pickled purple radish changed from purple to pink, while the pickling solution changed from pink to purple. During storage, sucrose content gradually decreased, while glucose and fructose levels increased. LC-ESI-QToF-MS metabolomic analysis indicated that metabolites, including organic acids, amino acids, sulfur-containing compounds, lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and anthocyanins, were identified. The antioxidant capacity and color meter of pickled purple radish may undergo changes due to the altered levels of non-volatile compounds (cyanidins, adenosine, and amino acids) during storage. Anthocyanins had negative correlations with the color of pickled purple radish. The radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power of pickled purple radish declined during storage. These findings emphasized the need for further research to develop processing and storage methods that enhance the bioactivity and stability of pickled purple radish. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Development of New Functional Foods and Ingredients: 2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 55414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning for Individual Tree Crown Detection and Species Classification Using UAV-Acquired Imagery

by Jiuyu Zhang, Fan Lei and Xijian Fan

Remote Sens. 2025, 17(7), 1272; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17071272 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Pre-trained foundation models, trained on large-scale datasets, have demonstrated significant success in a variety of downstream vision tasks. Parameter-efficient fine-tuning (PEFT) methods aim to adapt these foundation models to new domains by updating only a small subset of parameters, thereby reducing computational overhead. [...] Read more.

Pre-trained foundation models, trained on large-scale datasets, have demonstrated significant success in a variety of downstream vision tasks. Parameter-efficient fine-tuning (PEFT) methods aim to adapt these foundation models to new domains by updating only a small subset of parameters, thereby reducing computational overhead. However, the effectiveness of these PEFT methods, especially in the context of forestry remote sensing—specifically for individual tree detection—remains largely unexplored. In this work, we present a simple and efficient PEFT approach designed to transfer pre-trained transformer models to the specific tasks of tree crown detection and species classification in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery. To address the challenge of mitigating the influence of irrelevant ground targets in UAV imagery, we propose an Adaptive Salient Channel Selection (ASCS) method, which can be simply integrated into each transformer block during fine-tuning. In the proposed ASCS, task-specific channels are adaptively selected based on class-wise importance scores, where the channels most relevant to the target class are highlighted. In addition, a simple bias term is introduced to facilitate the learning of task-specific knowledge, enhancing the adaptation of the pre-trained model to the target tasks. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed ASCS fine-tuning method, which utilizes a small number of task-specific learnable parameters, significantly outperforms the latest YOLO detection framework and surpasses the state-of-the-art PEFT method in tree detection and classification tasks. These findings demonstrate that the proposed ASCS is an effective PEFT method, capable of adapting the pre-trained model’s capabilities for tree crown detection and species classification using UAV imagery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Extraction of Phenotypic Traits in Agroforestry)

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21 pages, 7030 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Design and Numerical Optimization of Photochemical Oxidation Removal of Tetracycline from Water Using Fe₃O₄-Supported Fruit Waste Activated Carbon

by Manasik M. Nour, Maha A. Tony, Hossam A. Nabwey and Shaaban M. Shaaban

Catalysts 2025, 15(4), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15040351 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

The ever-increasing importance of sustainable environmental remediation calls for academics’ contribution to satisfy such a need. The 3R’s criteria of recover, recycle and reuse is designed to sustain the waste stream to produce a valuable product. In this regard, the circular economy looks [...] Read more.

The ever-increasing importance of sustainable environmental remediation calls for academics’ contribution to satisfy such a need. The 3R’s criteria of recover, recycle and reuse is designed to sustain the waste stream to produce a valuable product. In this regard, the circular economy looks to deliver banana peel waste as a photocatalyst for pharmaceutical effluent oxidation, which we investigated in this study. Banana peel waste is treated thermally and chemically then augmented with magnetite nanoparticles and labeled as ACBP-Fe₃O₄. The mixture is characterized through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and the composition of the composite material is attained by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and then introduced as a Fenton catalyst. The notable oxidation of tetracycline (TC), evaluated by TC removal and chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) oxidation tenancy, is achieved. The effectiveness of the operational parameters is also assessed and the most influenced parameters are optimized through numerical optimization based on a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) tool. The effects of initial pH value, ACBP-Fe₃O₄ and H₂O₂ concentrations on the oxidation efficiency of the Tetracycline were optimized at pH 6.6 and 350 mg/L and 43 g/L for H₂O₂ and ACBP-Fe₃O₄, respectively. Thermodynamics and kinetics were also studied and the experimental and model data revealed the reaction is spontaneous and exothermic in nature and follows the first-order reaction kinetics. Also, the thermodynamic results the reaction proceeds at a low energy barrier of 34.33 kJ mol⁻¹. Such a system introduces the role of engineers and academics for a sustainable world without a waste stream. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remediation of Natural Waters by Photocatalysis)

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26 pages, 2613 KiB

Open AccessArticle

System Elements Identification Method for Heat Transfer Modelling in MBSE

by Patrick Jagla, Georg Jacobs, Vincent Derpa, Lukas Irnich, Gregor Höpfner, Stefan Wischmann and Joerg Berroth

Systems 2025, 13(4), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13040251 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Today’s systems are becoming increasingly complex due to the multitude of interactions between subsystems. This is also true for the electromechanical drivetrain and its physically interacting cooling system. In order to provide a virtual representation of such systems, including system architecture and product [...] Read more.

Today’s systems are becoming increasingly complex due to the multitude of interactions between subsystems. This is also true for the electromechanical drivetrain and its physically interacting cooling system. In order to provide a virtual representation of such systems, including system architecture and product behaviour, model-based systems engineering (MBSE) introduces system models. System models are built using system elements and reoccurring models. MBSE, therefore, enhances the efficient development of complex systems by promoting model reuse in interdisciplinary architectural modelling. The reuse of models, such as calculation models, reduces redundancy, accelerates development iterations, and streamlines consistency. However, there is a lack of standardised and reusable model libraries to facilitate this reuse. In the approach in this paper, the reusability of those models is facilitated by the system elements, referred to as “solution elements”. MBSE system elements enable the structuring, reuse, and organization of models within model libraries. The identification of these system elements for heat-exchanging systems, however, remains an open challenge. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to develop a method for systematically identifying system elements in heat-exchanging systems, providing a formalized approach to reusing thermal models. The method focuses on functional and heat-transfer processes at the contact level referred to here as thermal contacts. The developed method is demonstrated through a case study of a thermal management system (TMS) of an electric truck. It is shown that a small set of recurring system elements can be used to represent a large number of individual thermal interactions, within TMS components and, therefore, streamline modelling efficiency significantly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Systems Engineering)

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