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26 pages, 3780 KiB  
Article
Privacy-Preserving Poisoning-Resistant Blockchain-Based Federated Learning for Data Sharing in the Internet of Medical Things
by Xudong Zhu and Hui Li
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5472; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105472 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) creates interconnected networks of smart medical devices, utilizing extensive medical data collection to improve patient outcomes, streamline resource management, and guarantee comprehensive life-cycle security. However, the private nature of medical data, coupled with strict compliance requirements, has [...] Read more.
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) creates interconnected networks of smart medical devices, utilizing extensive medical data collection to improve patient outcomes, streamline resource management, and guarantee comprehensive life-cycle security. However, the private nature of medical data, coupled with strict compliance requirements, has resulted in the separation of information repositories in the IoMT network, severely hindering protected inter-domain data cooperation. Although current blockchain-based federated learning (BFL) approaches aim to resolve these issues, two persistent security weaknesses remain: privacy leakage and poisoning attacks. This study proposes a privacy-preserving poisoning-resistant blockchain-based federated learning (PPBFL) scheme for secure IoMT data sharing. Specifically, we design an active protection framework that uses a lightweight (t,n)-threshold secret sharing scheme to protect devices’ privacy and prevent coordination edge nodes from colluding. Then, we design a privacy-guaranteed cosine similarity verification protocol integrated with secure multi-party computation techniques to identify and neutralize malicious gradients uploaded by malicious devices. Furthermore, we deploy an intelligent aggregation system through blockchain smart contracts, removing centralized coordination dependencies while guaranteeing auditable computational validity. Our formal security analysis confirms the PPBFL scheme’s theoretical robustness. Comprehensive evaluations across multiple datasets validate the framework’s operational efficiency and defensive capabilities. Full article
21 pages, 6732 KiB  
Article
Bacillus licheniformis Alleviates Clostridium perfringens-Induced Intestinal Injury in Mice Model by Modulating Inflammation, Apoptosis, and Cecal Microbial–Metabolic Responses
by Yifan Zhong, Meiting Zhang, Haocheng Xu, Xiaorong Yu, Yashi Hu, Yangyi Xu, Xiao Xiao and Caimei Yang
Animals 2025, 15(10), 1409; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101409 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) is a probiotic known for its ability to enhance host resistance against pathogenic infections. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of B. licheniformis in a mouse model challenged with Clostridium perfringens ( [...] Read more.
Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) is a probiotic known for its ability to enhance host resistance against pathogenic infections. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of B. licheniformis in a mouse model challenged with Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens). C57BL/6J mice were pretreated with B. licheniformis for 21 days before oral infection with C. perfringens. The probiotic administration significantly prevented infection-induced weight loss and immune organ enlargement. Serum cytokine analysis revealed that B. licheniformis increased anti-inflammatory IL-4 and IL-10 levels while reducing pro-inflammatory IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels. Histological analysis showed that B. licheniformis preserved intestinal morphology and inhibited epithelial cell apoptosis. Moreover, the probiotic mitigated the infection-induced decline in volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that B. licheniformis reshaped the cecal microbiota, characterized by the increased abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Muribaculaceae, and Parabacteroides, and reduced abundance of Alistipes. Untargeted metabolomic profiling identified differential metabolites—including D-glucono-1,5-lactone, D-erythrose 4-phosphate, and D-sedoheptulose 7-phosphate—enriched in the pentose phosphate pathway, suggesting a regulatory role in redox homeostasis and host response. Collectively, these results indicate that B. licheniformis exerts protective effects against C. perfringens infection by modulating inflammation, apoptosis, microbial composition, and metabolic pathways. This work provides new insights into the application of B. licheniformis as a functional microbial feed additive in livestock disease prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feed Additives in Animal Nutrition)
23 pages, 2456 KiB  
Article
Robot Joint Vibration Suppression Method Based on Improved ADRC
by Gang Wang, Shuhua Fang and Qiangren Xu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5476; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105476 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
This article proposes an innovative joint vibration suppression method for six-axis collaborative robots. A permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and harmonic reducer are considered as a whole system in the design. A novel active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) scheme has been implemented by [...] Read more.
This article proposes an innovative joint vibration suppression method for six-axis collaborative robots. A permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and harmonic reducer are considered as a whole system in the design. A novel active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) scheme has been implemented by applying vibration suppression measures to the low-speed end of joint reducers. The mechanism of vibration generated by robot joints was analyzed. A vibration model for harmonic reducers was built. A new extended state observer model was designed to analyze the position disturbance data of two encoders in robot joints. Vibration signals were extracted and input into the ADRC algorithm to suppress joint vibration. A six-axis robot experimental platform was built and used to explore the changes in robot vibration trajectories under different speed conditions by applying the ADRC algorithm. The experimental results clearly show that the fluctuation amplitude of the trajectory of the robot has been reduced. The experimental results clearly show that by applying the new vibration suppression algorithm, the amplitude, vibration velocity, and acceleration of the robot at low speed have decreased 0.533 mm, 10.12 mm/s, and 0.49 mm/s2, respectively, and at the same time, the velocity stability of the PMSM has been improved. This article accurately evaluates the vibration suppression performance of the ADRC algorithm at different speeds of robots, effectively suppressing the vibration of robot joints. Full article
36 pages, 930 KiB  
Review
Marine-Derived Compounds Combined with Nanoparticles: A Focus on the Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sector
by Laura M. Teixeira, Catarina P. Reis and Rita Pacheco
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(5), 207; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23050207 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
The ocean is an extraordinary natural source of a wide range of bioactive compounds. These compounds, including proteins, phenolics, polysaccharides, pigments, vitamins, and fatty acids, possess unique biological properties that are increasingly being explored in the field of nanotechnology across diverse sectors. Among [...] Read more.
The ocean is an extraordinary natural source of a wide range of bioactive compounds. These compounds, including proteins, phenolics, polysaccharides, pigments, vitamins, and fatty acids, possess unique biological properties that are increasingly being explored in the field of nanotechnology across diverse sectors. Among marine-derived nanoparticles, promising applications have emerged in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields, particularly metallic nanoparticles and polysaccharide-based drug delivery systems. This review provides a unique perspective on the integration of two research areas: the exploration of marine bioresources as bioactive compounds sources with nanotechnological methodologies to develop sustainable, safe, stable and functional marine-derived NPs. It highlights recent advancements in the green synthesis of MNPs and the formulation of drug delivery systems using marine polysaccharides. This review also describes the recent trends over the past ten years and discusses the major challenges and limitations associated with these approaches, including variability in biological sources, batch-to-batch inconsistency, mechanistic uncertainties, and difficulties in reproducibility and scalability. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for standardized protocols and the integration of life cycle assessments (LCA) to evaluate environmental and economic viability for effective translating marine-derives nanoparticles from research to clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Polysaccharides-Based Biomaterials)
18 pages, 990 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Oxidative Stress and Biometric Data in a Captive Colony of Hamadryas Baboons (Papio hamadryas Linnaeus, 1758) at the Ravenna Zoo Safari (Italy)
by Barbara Biancani, Monica Carosi, Michele Capasso, Giacomo Rossi, Simona Tafuri, Francesca Ciani, Chiara Cotignoli, Francesco Zinno, Elena Venturelli, Matteo Galliani and Federica Spani
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(5), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12050466 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
This study evaluates the health of a captive colony of Hamadryas baboons at Ravenna Zoo Safari (Italy), focusing on oxidative stress markers and biometric data. Forty-eight individuals were assessed during routine veterinary procedures: males underwent vasectomy, and females were checked for pregnancy. Biometric [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the health of a captive colony of Hamadryas baboons at Ravenna Zoo Safari (Italy), focusing on oxidative stress markers and biometric data. Forty-eight individuals were assessed during routine veterinary procedures: males underwent vasectomy, and females were checked for pregnancy. Biometric data collected included body weight, body length, and genital measurements in males, while females were evaluated for reproductive status. Oxidative stress was measured using two tests that assess both harmful pro-oxidant levels and the body’s antioxidant defenses. Results showed no significant differences in oxidative stress levels between sexes, although males and females differed in body weight. Pregnant and postpartum females exhibited higher oxidative stress, likely due to the metabolic and hormonal demands of reproduction. This supports the idea that reproductive activity increases the production of reactive oxygen species, requiring stronger antioxidant responses. In males, correlations between body weight and genital measurements suggest these could help estimate age in the absence of birth records. No link was found between oxidative stress and body weight, indicating limited age-related effects on these markers. Overall, the study highlights the importance of monitoring oxidative stress in captive primates to better understand the effects of reproduction and aging, and to improve welfare and management practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Veterinary Internal Medicine)
23 pages, 7015 KiB  
Article
Structural Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation of Selenium-Modified Dihydromyricetin from Vine Tea
by Kaixuan Cheng, Guangqian Hou, Shengqi Mei, Xingxing Gao, Chi Zhang, Longchen Shang and Shuai Chen
Foods 2025, 14(10), 1735; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101735 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
Dihydromyricetin, the predominant bioactive constituent in vine tea, manifests diverse bioactivities, including anti-tumoral and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the deep processing of vine tea remains underdeveloped, thereby curtailing its economic benefits. Concurrently, as the demand for organic selenium products escalates, the exploration and development [...] Read more.
Dihydromyricetin, the predominant bioactive constituent in vine tea, manifests diverse bioactivities, including anti-tumoral and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the deep processing of vine tea remains underdeveloped, thereby curtailing its economic benefits. Concurrently, as the demand for organic selenium products escalates, the exploration and development of selenium-containing compounds bearing synergistic effects has emerged as a research frontier. In this investigation, dihydromyricetin underwent selenium modification through a SeO2- and HCl-catalyzed reaction, leading to the successful synthesis of selenium-modified dihydromyricetin. A comprehensive array of characterization techniques—encompassing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance—was employed for structural elucidation. The results demonstrated that selenium was covalently tethered to the 4’-hydroxyl group of the B-ring of dihydromyricetin via an O-Se-O bond. Activity assays revealed that selenium-modified dihydromyricetin exhibited significantly augmented inhibitory effects on α-amylase and α-glucosidase (p < 0.05) relative to dihydromyricetin, with IC50 values of 0.0459 mg/mL and 0.01728 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, selenium-modified dihydromyricetin exerted marked inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HepG2 and A549 cells, with IC50 values of 49.05 μg/mL and 515.60 μg/mL, respectively. These findings collectively furnish experimental evidence underpinning the potential application of selenium-modified dihydromyricetin as a functional food ingredient, particularly within blood glucose regulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods and Their Benefits for Health Regulation)
34 pages, 7737 KiB  
Article
Zingiberaceae in Roi Et Province, Thailand: Diversity, Ethnobotany, Horticultural Value, and Conservation Status
by Piyaporn Saensouk, Surapon Saensouk, Thawatphong Boonma, Auemporn Junsongduang, Sarayut Rakarcha, Khamfa Chanthavongsa and Tammanoon Jitpromma
Horticulturae 2025, 11(5), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae11050527 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
Zingiberaceae is a diverse and culturally significant plant family across tropical Asia, yet in Roi Et Province, Thailand, it has remained poorly documented. This study aimed to provide the first comprehensive assessment of Zingiberaceae in Roi Et Province, Thailand. Previous studies in the [...] Read more.
Zingiberaceae is a diverse and culturally significant plant family across tropical Asia, yet in Roi Et Province, Thailand, it has remained poorly documented. This study aimed to provide the first comprehensive assessment of Zingiberaceae in Roi Et Province, Thailand. Previous studies in the region have been limited and did not systematically document species occurrence. The assessment began with an overview of species diversity, followed by an investigation of their ethnobotanical uses, an evaluation of their horticultural potential, and an assessment of their conservation status. Field surveys were conducted throughout Roi Et Province across various habitat types using exploratory sampling to record all observable Zingiberaceae species. Species were identified based on morphological characteristics and comparisons with existing taxonomic literature. A total of 97 species were recorded, including 86 native and 11 introduced taxa, with 23 species endemic to Thailand and 25 species featuring new distributions reported for the province. Species richness was highest in cultivated habitats, likely reflecting the active role of traditional agroecosystems in conserving both native and introduced taxa. Natural habitats such as wetlands and dry evergreen forests hosted species with restricted distributions, underscoring the need to preserve ecological heterogeneity. Ethnobotanical interviews revealed widespread local use of rhizomes and inflorescences for food, medicine, ornamentation, and ceremonial purposes. Phenological observations indicated synchronized flowering and fruiting aligned with the monsoon season, which are traits that supports successful reproduction but may also increase vulnerability under shifting climate regimes—highlighting the importance of monitoring for conservation and guiding optimal harvest timing. These findings demonstrate that both natural and cultivated systems are integral to maintaining Zingiberaceae diversity in the region. Conservation strategies should prioritize habitat protection, support traditional cultivation practices, and promote further research into economically and culturally valuable species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medicinals, Herbs, and Specialty Crops)
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14 pages, 210 KiB  
Article
Syndromic Testing—The Evaluation of Four Novel Multiplex Real-Time PCR Panels
by Mesut Yılmaz, Selcuk Kilic, Fatma Bayrakdar, Selin Nar Ötgün, Ayse Istanbullu Tosun, Umit Zeybek, Faruk Çelik, Gokhan Aygun, Birol Safak and Naim Mahroum
Diagnostics 2025, 15(10), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15101228 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
Background: If used in the right clinical context, PCR carries great potential in rapidly diagnosing various infectious diseases. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical performance of four novel multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) assays in direct detection of pathogens in whole blood, cerebrospinal fluid, respiratory [...] Read more.
Background: If used in the right clinical context, PCR carries great potential in rapidly diagnosing various infectious diseases. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical performance of four novel multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) assays in direct detection of pathogens in whole blood, cerebrospinal fluid, respiratory specimens, and stool samples. Methods: Spiked negative clinical specimens were used for the evaluation. Clinical samples for comparative assessment of culture and molecular analyses were simultaneously examined. RINATM robotic nucleic acid isolation system and Bio-Speedy® multiplex qPCR panels (Bioeksen R&D Technologies, Istanbul Technical University Ari-3 Technopark 34475, Istanbul, Turkey), and LightCycler® 96 Instrument (400 Summer Street Boston MA 02210. USA) were used for all molecular testing. Results: All qPCR assays did not produce positive results for the samples spiked with the potential cross-reacting pathogens. Limit of detection (LOD) of the assays changed between 10 and 100 pathogens/mL-sample based on target and sample type. Relative sensitivity and specificity of the assays were, respectively, 82% and 94% for blood, 97.1% and 99.3% for blood culture, 94% and 98% for stool, 96% and 97% for CSF, and 97% and 96% for respiratory specimens. Conclusions: The panels evaluated allow direct molecular analysis of 10 samples from four clinical syndromes on the same run in 3 h with high clinical performance. The number and variety of samples in a single run enable health care providers to rapidly and efficiently diagnose and treat various infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics)
18 pages, 2768 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Efficacy and Safety of Lipid-Lowering Treatment and Its Importance in Risk Assessment and Prevention in a Hungarian Myositis Cohort
by Dorottya Szinay, Katalin Szabó, Henrik Molnár, Tibor Béldi, Viktor Bencs, Hajnalka Lőrincz, Mariann Harangi, Zoltán Griger and Melinda Nagy-Vincze
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(10), 3404; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14103404 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
Background: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), also known as myositis, are systemic autoimmune diseases characterized by chronic inflammation affecting the skin, muscles, and internal organs. Besides traditional risk factors and immune-mediated myocarditis, continuous activity of the immune system increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, meaning [...] Read more.
Background: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), also known as myositis, are systemic autoimmune diseases characterized by chronic inflammation affecting the skin, muscles, and internal organs. Besides traditional risk factors and immune-mediated myocarditis, continuous activity of the immune system increases cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, meaning that cardiovascular events are the leading causes of mortality in IIM patients. Statins are the most widely used lipid-lowering therapies, which reduce cardiovascular risk, but the fear of adverse muscular events inhibits the frequency of use. Methods: Our aim was to assess the CVD risk in a myositis cohort using the SCORE2 prediction system, carotid artery Doppler ultrasound measurement, and biomarkers; recommend individual lipid-lowering treatment; and follow the efficacy and adverse events of therapy in a 6-month treatment period. Results: The study population (80 IIM patients) was a middle-aged, female-dominant myositis cohort with an average disease duration of 9 years and low median global disease activity. Based on the SCORE2 evaluation, 78.8% of patients had medium/high CVD risk, while 73.13% had asymptomatic carotid plaque. After 6 months of adequate lipid-lowering therapy, 37.5% of patients reached a lower CVD risk category, the biomarker levels of atherosclerosis significantly decreased, and no progression in carotid plaques was detected. None of the patients reported an adverse muscular event or IIM relapse. Conclusions: Our findings proved that the CVD risk of patients with myositis is high, but carefully applied lipid-lowering treatment is the key to effective risk reduction. Risk stratification and the recommendation of preventive treatment are the responsibility of the treating physician. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cardiovascular Risks in Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases)
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17 pages, 955 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Matrix of Exogenous Proteases in the Nutrition of Shrimp Penaeus vannamei
by Joice Teixeira de Souza, Maria Érica da Silva Oliveira, Ana Elidarly da Cunha, Vanessa Maria Freitas da Silva, Ruan Arthur Nunes de Araújo, Mário Augusto Monteiro Silva, Raimundo Audei Henrique Júnior, Marcos Aurelio Victor de Assunção, Ana Cecília Araújo Lopes, Daniel Pigatto Monteiro, Thiago Pereira Ribeiro, Moacir Franco de Oliveira and Matheus Ramalho de Lima
Animals 2025, 15(10), 1410; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101410 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a matrix of acid and alkaline proteases in diets for Penaeus vannamei shrimp, considering zootechnical performance, meat yield, and intestinal histomorphometry. The experiment was carried out in 32 experimental units, with four treatments and eight replications each, [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a matrix of acid and alkaline proteases in diets for Penaeus vannamei shrimp, considering zootechnical performance, meat yield, and intestinal histomorphometry. The experiment was carried out in 32 experimental units, with four treatments and eight replications each, using a density of 80 shrimp per square meter. The treatments consisted of positive control (PC) with standard diet, negative control (NC) with nutritional reduction, PC supplemented with 250 g/t of proteases (PCE), and NC supplemented with 250 g/t of proteases (NCE). In the fattening phase, significantly greater weight gain was observed in the NCE (14.23 g) and PCE (13.6 g) groups (p = 0.0381). Feed efficiency increased by 56.07% in the NCE group. Weekly growth was higher in the PCE (113.4%) and NCE (118.6%) groups (p = 0.028), with post-slaughter yields of 53.03% (NCE) and 52.21% (PCE). Water and humidity retention capacity remained stable in the NCE group during 210 days of frozen storage after slaughter. Intestinal histology indicated a greater absorption area in the groups with the best feed conversion and growth rates. It is concluded that protease supplementation improves nutrient absorption, growth, and meat yield in P. vannamei. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Aquatic Animals)
26 pages, 9213 KiB  
Article
Effect of Accelerated Degradation on the Dimensions and Mechanical Performance of 3D-Printed PLA Parts Using Different Filament Manufacturing Techniques
by Laura Castanon-Jano, Mario Lozano-Corona and Elena Blanco-Fernandez
Materials 2025, 18(10), 2267; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18102267 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
Polymer 3D printing is popular due to its accessibility and low material waste. While commonly used in prototyping and medical applications, its potential for molds in complex concrete geometries, such as heritage reproductions or artificial reefs, remains underexplored. These applications require resistance to [...] Read more.
Polymer 3D printing is popular due to its accessibility and low material waste. While commonly used in prototyping and medical applications, its potential for molds in complex concrete geometries, such as heritage reproductions or artificial reefs, remains underexplored. These applications require resistance to degradation from UV exposure, rain, and highly alkaline concrete (pH~13). This study evaluates the accelerated degradation of 3D-printed PLA specimens. Four PLA types were tested: virgin PLA extruded in the lab, commercial PLA, PLA with 50% metal powder, and PLA with encapsulated metal powder. Rectangular specimens were printed and tested under flexural loads following ISO-167 standards. Initially, their performance was assessed without exposure. Then, half of the specimens underwent UV and rain simulation, while the rest were immersed in an alkaline solution (pH 13, 50 °C). Dimensional changes and flexural strength were measured at five intervals. Exposure to an alkaline medium at 50 °C is more aggressive than UV radiation, limiting the lifespan of PLA formwork. Adding metal powder weakens PLA by 65% after 7 days, making it unsuitable. Printing defects accelerate degradation. Unmodified PLA is the best choice for concrete formwork, with commercial PLA and PLA from pellets showing nearly identical behavior. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 3D Printing of Polymeric Materials)
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26 pages, 1014 KiB  
Review
Personalized Nutrition Strategies for Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: A Narrative Review on the Future of Critical Care Nutrition
by Mircea Stoian, Adina Andone, Sergiu Rareș Bândilă, Danusia Onișor, Dragoș-Florin Babă, Raluca Niculescu, Adina Stoian and Leonard Azamfirei
Nutrients 2025, 17(10), 1659; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17101659 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
Introduction: Critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are at high risk of malnutrition, which can result in muscle atrophy, polyneuropathy, increased mortality, or prolonged hospitalizations with complications and higher costs during the recovery period. They often develop ICU-acquired weakness, exacerbated by [...] Read more.
Introduction: Critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are at high risk of malnutrition, which can result in muscle atrophy, polyneuropathy, increased mortality, or prolonged hospitalizations with complications and higher costs during the recovery period. They often develop ICU-acquired weakness, exacerbated by sepsis, immobilization, and drug treatments, leading to rapid muscle mass loss and long-term complications. Studies indicate that adequate protein and calorie intake can decrease mortality and improve prognosis and recovery. However, optimal implementation remains a critical challenge. Objectives: This narrative review aims to summarize recent advances in nutritional strategies for critically ill patients. It highlights the benefits and limitations of current approaches including enteral (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) and examines their impact on clinical outcomes and overall mortality. Additionally, the review explores the emerging role of precision nutrition in critical care using technologies such as metabolomics and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide valuable insights into optimizing nutritional care in critically ill patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify recent studies, clinical guidelines, and expert consensus papers on nutritional support for ICU patients. The investigation focused on critical aspects such as the optimal timing for intervention, the route of administration, specific protein and energy targets, and technological innovations to support personalized nutrition, ensuring that each patient receives tailored support based on their unique needs. Results: Guidelines recommend initiating EN or PN nutrition within the first 48 h of admission, using indirect calorimetry (IC) to estimate energy needs, and supplementing protein up to 1.2 g/kg/day after stabilization. IC has gained importance in assessing energy needs but is still underused in the ICU. EN is preferred because it maintains intestinal integrity, reduces the risk of infections, and is recommended within the first 48 h of ICU admission. PN is used when EN is infeasible, but it increases the risk of infection. By integrating metabolomics with transcriptomic and genomic data, we can gain a deeper understanding of the effect of nutrition on cellular homeostasis, facilitating personalized treatments and enhancing the recovery of critically ill patients. Conclusions: AI is becoming increasingly important in monitoring and evaluating artificial nutrition, providing a more accurate and efficient alternative to traditional methods. AI can assist in identifying and managing malnutrition and is effective for estimating caloric and nutrient intake. AI minimizes human error, enables continuous monitoring, and integrates various data sources. The nutritional care of critically ill patients requires collaboration among specialists from diverse fields, including physicians, nutritionists, pharmacists, radiologists, IT experts, and policymakers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Management in Intensive Care)
15 pages, 893 KiB  
Article
Efficacy Evaluation of Civil-Works Mud as Soil Matrix Modified by Organic Amendments
by Yuan Su, Qian Zhang, Junwei Tang, Juanjuan Yin, Kai Zhong, Jingying Gu, Zicong Xiong, Haile Wu, Xingzhi Pang and Chaolan Zhang
Agriculture 2025, 15(10), 1056; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15101056 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
Converting civil-works mud (CWM) into soil matrix is a significant method for resource utilization, effectively mitigating CWM accumulation. In this study, CWM was utilized as a soil matrix and modified with three organic materials: pig manure, biochar, and corn straw. Field experiments were [...] Read more.
Converting civil-works mud (CWM) into soil matrix is a significant method for resource utilization, effectively mitigating CWM accumulation. In this study, CWM was utilized as a soil matrix and modified with three organic materials: pig manure, biochar, and corn straw. Field experiments were conducted using pig manure (PM), pig manure combined with biochar (PMB), and pig manure combined with straw (PMC), with the total organic matter content of the amendments applied in each treatment maintained at a consistent level. The physicochemical properties and soil matrix microbial biomass for all treatments were determined at the time of corn harvest. Additionally, the soil quality index (SQI) was calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of the various treatments. The results indicated that the addition of organic amendments significantly enhanced the physicochemical and soil microbial properties of soil matrix, significantly increasing the crop yield. Among the treatments, the application of pig manure combined with biochar (PMB) significantly improved the quality of soil matrix, with the SQI increasing by 65.2 times compared to soil matrix. This treatment achieved a crop yield of 5525 kg/ha, and the safety of the crops in all treatments complied with the National Food Safety Standard Limits of Contaminants in Foods. This study proposes a novel and feasible approach for the resource utilization of CWM, and the improved soil matrix can help alleviate the increasing issue of soil resource scarcity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Soil Acidification Improvement Strategies)
30 pages, 8160 KiB  
Article
Developing a Novel Adaptive Double Deep Q-Learning-Based Routing Strategy for IoT-Based Wireless Sensor Network with Federated Learning
by Nalini Manogaran, Mercy Theresa Michael Raphael, Rajalakshmi Raja, Aarav Kannan Jayakumar, Malarvizhi Nandagopal, Balamurugan Balusamy and George Ghinea
Sensors 2025, 25(10), 3084; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25103084 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
The working of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem indeed depends extensively on the mechanisms of real-time data collection, sharing, and automatic operation. Among these fundamentals, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are important for maintaining a countenance with their many distributed Sensor Nodes (SNs), [...] Read more.
The working of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem indeed depends extensively on the mechanisms of real-time data collection, sharing, and automatic operation. Among these fundamentals, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are important for maintaining a countenance with their many distributed Sensor Nodes (SNs), which can sense and transmit environmental data wirelessly. Because WSNs possess advantages for remote data collection, they are severely hampered by constraints imposed by the limited energy capacity of SNs; hence, energy-efficient routing is a pertinent challenge. Therefore, in the case of clustering and routing mechanisms, these two play important roles where clustering is performed to reduce energy consumption and prolong the lifetime of the network, while routing refers to the actual paths for transmission of data. Addressing the limitations witnessed in the conventional IoT-based routing of data, this proposal presents an FL-oriented framework that presents a new energy-efficient routing scheme. Such routing is facilitated by the ADDQL model, which creates smart high-speed routing across changing scenarios in WSNs. The proposed ADDQL-IRHO model has been compared to other existing state-of-the-art algorithms according to multiple performance metrics such as energy consumption, communication delay, temporal complexity, data sum rate, message overhead, and scalability, with extensive experimental evaluation reporting superior performance. This also substantiates the applicability and competitiveness of the framework in variable-serviced IoT-oriented WSNs for next-gen intelligent routing solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Internet of Things)
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29 pages, 2723 KiB  
Article
Filamentary Convolution for SLI: A Brain-Inspired Approach with High Efficiency
by Boyuan Zhang, Xibang Yang, Tong Xie, Shuyuan Zhu and Bing Zeng
Sensors 2025, 25(10), 3085; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25103085 - 13 May 2025
Abstract
Spoken language identification (SLI) relies on detecting key frequency characteristics like pitch, tone, and rhythm. While the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) generates time–frequency acoustic features (TFAF) for deep learning networks (DLNs), rectangular convolution kernels cause frequency mixing and aliasing, degrading feature extraction. We [...] Read more.
Spoken language identification (SLI) relies on detecting key frequency characteristics like pitch, tone, and rhythm. While the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) generates time–frequency acoustic features (TFAF) for deep learning networks (DLNs), rectangular convolution kernels cause frequency mixing and aliasing, degrading feature extraction. We propose filamentary convolution to replace rectangular kernels, reducing the parameters while preserving inter-frame features by focusing solely on frequency patterns. Visualization confirms its enhanced sensitivity to critical frequency variations (e.g., intonation, rhythm) for language recognition. Evaluated via self-built datasets and cross-validated with public corpora, filamentary convolution improves the low-level feature extraction efficiency and synergizes with temporal models (LSTM/TDNN) to boost recognition. This method addresses aliasing limitations while maintaining computational efficiency in SLI systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Sensor Networks)
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