Applied Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Ecological Concrete-Based Modular System for Heavy Metal Removal in Riparian Transition Zones: Design, Optimization and Performance Evaluation","authors":"Guangbing Liu, Dianhua Ke, Hasnain Moavia, Ling Chen, Yanhong Zhang, Shen Yu","doi":"10.3390/app15073721","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073721","url":null,"abstract":"This study presents the development and evaluation of an innovative modular ecological transition zone system for riparian restoration. Through systematic optimization, we developed a C25-grade ecological concrete module (100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) with a specialized cavity design (φ61 mm × H60 mm) that achieves optimal balance between structural integrity (20–30 MPa compressive strength) and environmental functionality (>15% porosity, >1 × 10−4 cm s−1 permeability). The module incorporates precisely calibrated proportions of cement (378 kg m−3), reinforcing agent (12 kg m−3), aggregate (1650 kg m−3), and water (137 L m−3), creating a robust platform for environmental remediation. The system was evaluated at two scales: module-scale experiments in 25 L containers (833:1 mL g−1 ratio) and kinetic studies (10:1 mL g−1 ratio), revealing a sophisticated three-phase removal process. The initial rapid surface adsorption phase (0–4 h) achieved removal rates of 0.28–0.42 mg g−1 h−1, followed by pore diffusion (4–24 h) and chemical fixation phases, with removal patterns effectively modeled using a modified pseudo-second-order equation. The system demonstrated exceptional heavy metal removal capabilities across varying concentration ranges, achieving removal efficiencies of 95.6% for Pb2+ ions, 92.3% for Cd2+ ions, 84.2% for Cr3+ ions, 89.7% for Cu2+ ions, and 84.8% for Zn2+ ions under optimal conditions. Performance remained robust across two orders of magnitude in concentration ranges, with removal efficiencies maintaining above 80% at both experimental scales. The modular design’s cost-effectiveness is demonstrated through material costs of USD 45–60 m−3, with operational costs 40–60% lower than conventional systems. This research provides a practical, cost-effective solution for riparian zone restoration, combining structural durability with efficient pollutant removal capabilities while maintaining consistent performance across varying environmental conditions.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 7","pages":"3721-3721"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3721/pdf?version=1743152041","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147914329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Personalization of Optimal Chemotherapy Dosing Based on Estimation of Uncertain Model Parameters Using Artificial Neural Network","authors":"Martin Dodek, Zuzana Vitková, Anton Vitko, Jarmila Pavlovičová, Eva Miklovičová","doi":"10.3390/app15063145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063145","url":null,"abstract":"Background/Objectives: The effectiveness of chemotherapy in cancer treatment is often compromised by inter-patient variability, leading to suboptimal outcomes. Traditional dosing protocols rely on population-based models that do not account for individual patient responses and the cancer phenotype. This study aims to develop a personalized chemotherapy dosing strategy by estimating uncertain model parameters using artificial neural networks, ensuring an optimal and individualized treatment approach. Methods: A dynamical model of tumor growth, immune response, and chemotherapy effects is used as the foundation for personalization. A training dataset is generated by simulating state responses across a diverse population of virtual patients, capturing inter-subject variability. The state responses are parameterized (approximated) using the sum of exponential functions to reduce dimensionality, and a multilayer perceptron artificial neural network is trained to estimate patient-specific model parameters based on response data from a single chemotherapy dose. Results: The proposed method effectively estimates patient-specific model parameters, significantly reducing uncertainty compared to conventional population-based models or the nonlinear least squares method. Numerical experiments demonstrate that personalized chemotherapy dosing, optimized using the estimated model parameters, achieves fast tumor remission while minimizing the total drug amount. Conclusions: By integrating the artificial neural network as the parameter estimator with model-based optimization, this study presents a novel approach to personalized chemotherapy dosing.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 6","pages":"3145-3145"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/6/3145/pdf?version=1741879812","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147889226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forward Modeling Analysis in Advanced Exploration of Cross-Hole Grounded-Wire-Source Transient Electromagnetic Method","authors":"Jiao Zhu, Zhihai Jiang, Maofei Li, Zhonghao Dou, Zhaofeng Gao","doi":"10.3390/app15052672","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052672","url":null,"abstract":"To address the challenge of accurately detecting hidden water inrush hazards ahead of working faces, a cross-hole transient electromagnetic (TEM) method utilizing a grounded-wire source is proposed. The technique positions a step-current-driven grounded-wire source within a working-face borehole, while electrode arrays in adjacent boreholes measure secondary electric field responses. This configuration minimizes interference from metal supports or machines, thereby enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of the TEM signals. A theoretical analysis based on the unstructured finite-element (FE) method is used to investigate the configuration. The collected data are processed using differential techniques, and the results confirm the method’s effectiveness in detecting anomalies. This paper investigates the response of our cross-hole method to anomalies in terms of size, resistivity contrasts, and spatial location, with anomaly boundaries quantitatively delineated via first-order differential analysis. This significantly enhances the capability of TEM detection in identifying anomalies. A comparison between our cross-hole method and the traditional roadway–borehole TEM method, using the trapped column model, demonstrates that the proposed cross-hole device more effectively locates anomalies and improves accuracy. Furthermore, this technique enables the formation of a 3D observation framework by utilizing existing boreholes, presenting promising prospects for future applications.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 5","pages":"2672-2672"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2672/pdf?version=1740894749","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147889363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unraveling Mass Transfer and Reaction Processes in CVD-Grown MoS2 Films: A Multiphysical Field Coupling Study","authors":"Zhen Yang, Jinwei Lin, Qing Zhang, Yutian Liu, Shujun Han, Yanbin Zhou, Shuo Chen, Shenlong Zhong, Xianli Su, Qingjie Zhang, Xinfeng Tang","doi":"10.3390/app15052627","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052627","url":null,"abstract":"The two-dimensional semiconductor material MoS2, grown via chemical vapor deposition, has shown significant potential to surpass silicon in advanced electronic technologies. However, the mass transfer and chemical reaction processes critical to the nucleation and growth of MoS2 grains remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted an in-depth investigation into the mass transfer and chemical reaction processes during the chemical vapor deposition of MoS2, employing a novel multi-physics coupling model that integrates flow fields, temperature fields, mass transfer, and chemical reactions. Our findings reveal that the intermediate product Mo3O9S4 not only fails to participate directly in MoS2 film growth but also hinders the diffusion of MoS6, limiting the growth process. We demonstrate that increasing the growth temperature accelerates the diffusion rate of MoS6, mitigates the adverse effects of Mo3O9S4, and promotes the layered growth of MoS2 films. Additionally, lowering the growth pressure enhances the convective diffusion of reactants, accelerating grain growth. This research significantly advances our understanding of the mass transport and reaction processes in MoS2 film growth and provides critical insights for optimizing chemical vapor deposition systems.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 5","pages":"2627-2627"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2627/pdf?version=1740749853","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147912995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Red Wines from the Drama Region: A Chemical, Sensory, and Terroir Insight","authors":"Elisavet Bouloumpasi, Adriana Skendi, Aikaterini Karampatea, Georgia Tseine, Maria Irakli, Spyridon Mamalis, Evangelos H. Soufleros","doi":"10.3390/app15052485","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052485","url":null,"abstract":"Drama represents one of the distinct winegrape regions in the continuous growth of northern Greece. Yet, little is known about grape, must, and wine quality in various parts of the region. Determining the physicochemical characteristics of the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Agiorgitiko grape varieties grown in different locations in the area across two vintages, their chromatic characteristics, phenolic profile, and organoleptic characteristics were the goal of this study. The results reveal a high variation in the physicochemical characteristics of must and wine among the locations. The location affects the profile of phenolic compounds with procyanidin B2, catechin, procyanidin B3, procyanidin B1, epicatechin, and gallic acid being present in high amounts. Merlot wines from the location with the highest altitude showed a higher amount of quantified phenolics. Altitude positively affected the yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN) levels and negatively the wine’s purple hue. Moreover, the grape weight negatively affects the levels of some of the quantified phenolic compounds. On the other hand, both altitude and YAN positively impact the taste of wines. The altitude represents a significant parameter in the location studied that influences the quality parameters and taste of the wines. As part of climate adaptation strategies for viticulture in the Drama region and other comparable regions, high-altitude vineyard development should be studied to preserve the grape’s acidity and counteract warming trends.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 5","pages":"2485-2485"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2485/pdf?version=1740500106","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147880668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the Performance of Static Mixers in 3D Printed Millireactors Using Integrated pH-Sensitive Films","authors":"Marijan‐Pere Marković, Elizabeta Forjan, Petar Kassal, Anđela Nosić, Domagoj Vrsaljko","doi":"10.3390/app15052488","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052488","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this research was to prepare pH sensor films based on litmus using the sol–gel method with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and phenyltrimethoxysilane (PTMS) as precursors. The pH sensor film was then applied to millireactors to evaluate its performance on the intricate geometries of static mixers commonly found in millireactor designs. Millireactors were made from Formlabs High Temp resin using stereolithography (SLA) and from Anycubic Basic resin using digital light processing (DLP) technology. The performance of the pH sensor films was evaluated by tracking color changes in the pH sensor films and analyzing RGB (red, green, blue) and hue values through a smartphone application. The experiment involved mixing solutions with different pH values at varying flow rates within the millireactor channels. Furthermore, along with analyzing the hue values, characterization techniques involved measuring contact angles with water and diiodomethane. A film combining a litmus indicator with titanium dioxide (TiO2) displayed a color change within one minute and maintained this color throughout the study, confirming its reusability. Sensor films exhibited excellent reversibility (RSD = 2.4–3.3%) and stability. The findings demonstrate that the pH-sensitive films perform robustly across varying geometries, paving the way for their integration into advanced millireactor systems with static mixers and continuous chemical monitoring within Industry 4.0.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 5","pages":"2488-2488"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2488/pdf?version=1740498954","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147899704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geochemical Background Values for the Characterization of Sediment Contamination with Trace Elements in Romania: A Case Study in the Lower Danube Basin","authors":"Anca-Marina Vîjdea, Iustina Popescu, Alexandru Anton Ivanov, Veronica Elena Alexe, Natalia-Silvia Asimopolos, Lidia Lenuța Bălan","doi":"10.3390/app15052458","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052458","url":null,"abstract":"The contamination of the Lower Danube Basin with trace elements has been the subject of intense study in recent years, with several pollution indices being employed for the assessment of water, soil, and sediment quality. Most pollution indices are calculated by comparing the measured concentration to a reference value, with different values from various sources being used. In this study, the threshold values for trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in Romania were selected based on the median of their concentration in stream sediment from 167 locations, which were carefully selected to be far from contamination sources. The threshold values were established based on a calculation starting from the geochemical concentration presented in the Geochemical Atlas of Romania (scale: 1:3,000,000, developed in 2006 by a collaborative Romanian-German team). By using these thresholds, pollution indices were calculated for nine sampling locations, from which suspended sediment, bottom sediment, and active floodplain sediment samples were collected and analyzed in an accredited laboratory. Most of the selected thresholds were found to be below the limits for sediments established by Romanian legislation, except for Cr and Ni, the higher values of which are consistent with the specific geological background of the country and the broader Balkan region.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 5","pages":"2458-2458"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2458/pdf?version=1740532753","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147916825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chronotropic Incompetence Does Not Impede Attainment of High-Intensity Exercise During Non-Contact Boxing in Parkinson’s Disease","authors":"Tone Ricardo Benevides Panassollo, Usman Rashid, Sue Lord, Denise Taylor, Grant Mawston","doi":"10.3390/app15052433","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052433","url":null,"abstract":"Recent evidence points to the effect of chronotropic incompetence (CI), which refers to a blunted heart rate (HR) response to exercise, influencing physiological outcomes in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study explores the effect of CI on physiological responses and examines whether a high-intensity training zone is attained during non-contact boxing training in people with PD. In total, 11 PD participants with CI (PDCI), 13 without CI (PD non-CI), and 14 age-matched controls performed two non-contact boxing sessions on different days. The primary outcomes were the maximum HR (HRmax), average HR (HRavg), percentage of the highest HR from cardiopulmonary exercise test (%HR-CPET) and predicted maximum HR (%MA-PHR), time exercising above 85%HRmax (HI-85%), and second ventilatory threshold (HI-VT2). PDCI participants displayed significantly lower HRavg and HRmax values during all rounds than PD non-CI participants and controls for both sessions (p ≤ 0.001). No significant differences were observed between PD non-CI participants and controls (p ≥ 0.05). Although all participants exercised at approximately 100% of %HR-CPET, PDCI participants showed a significantly lower %MA-PHR than PD non-CI participants and controls (p ≤ 0.001). HI-85% and HI-VT2 were not significantly different between PDCI and PD non-CI participants. Despite exhibiting a lower absolute HRmax and HRavg during boxing compared to PD non-CI participants and aged-match controls, PDCI participants exercise at a similar intensity within the high-intensity training zone when expressed as a percentage of the individualized HRmax.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 5","pages":"2433-2433"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/5/2433/pdf?version=1740411984","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147912380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gram-Scale Green-Emission Carbon Quantum Dots Produced from Wood via the Hydrothermal Synthesis Method for the Detection of Fe (III)","authors":"Pingxuan Mu, Yu Han, Jinxin Wang","doi":"10.3390/app15041958","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15041958","url":null,"abstract":"Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), a distinctive class of fluorescent carbon nanomaterials, exhibit considerable potential for widespread application across several industries due to their safety, environmental sustainability, excellent water solubility, and tunable yet stable fluorescence properties. Nevertheless, the mass field is limited, and the cost of production is higher for the majority of methods. This study examines a cost-effective approach for the hydrothermal synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) from wood using NH3·H2O as the nitrogen precursor, facilitated by H2O2 and ultraviolet light. The produced N-CQDs demonstrate superior crystallinity and solubility in water, with the average particle size of 5.02 nm. After 10 experiments under the same conditions, a significant and stable yield of 5.04 g (42 wt%) was finally obtained by hydrothermal synthesis. The N-CQDs solution exhibits green fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light, and its fluorescence performance is influenced by concentration and excitation wavelength. Furthermore, it explores their application in identifying Fe (III) in water. The surface of N-CQDs is abundant in hydrophilic hydroxyl groups, distinctive nitrogen-containing groups, and various oxygen-containing functional groups. Fe (III) can extinguish fluorescence in water. The ratio of fluorescence intensity before and after to the addition of Fe (III) solution to the N-CQDs solution (F0/F) exhibits the effective linear correlation within the concentration range of 0.1 to 100 μmol/L. Within the concentration range of 100 to 1000 μmol/L, the increase in Fe (III) concentration results in substantial aggregation of Fe (III) and N-CQDs, along with a blue shift in the fluorescence wavelength. This discovery possesses significant potential for the synthesis and application of environmentally friendly, high-yield N-CQDs.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 4","pages":"1958-1958"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1958/pdf?version=1739455700","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147901770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Limb Imbalance in Professional Soccer Players","authors":"Adrián Moreno-Villanueva, Alejandro Soler-López, Jose Carlos Cuartero-Martínez, José Pino‐Ortega","doi":"10.3390/app15041875","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/app15041875","url":null,"abstract":"Although it has been found that soccer produces limb imbalance, it has not been rigorously determined how to evaluate it in soccer players or which low-cost tests are the most effective for its analysis. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to identify and examine the evidence and evaluations of limb imbalance produced in professional soccer players. A systematic search was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Web of Sciences, and Scopus) to identify relevant studies published before 23 May 2022. Of the 2364 studies identified initially, only 12 articles were included in the systematic review. The results revealed that injury risks can be detected in professional soccer players through the YBT (Y Balance Test). The PSLR (Passive Straight Leg Raise) test, as well as the evaluation of the ROM (range of motion) in movements of adduction and internal hip rotation, seem to be two reliable tests to detect imbalances in the flexibility of the extremities. The FMS (Functional Motion Screen) test is inversely related to the performance in jump tests; thus, its combination can help to detect asymmetries in power generation. Finally, strength assessment tests in soccer players can negatively alter the flexibility values of agonist/antagonist muscles. Therefore, it is advisable to monitor both strength and flexibility tests synergistically to obtain a comprehensive evaluation.","PeriodicalId":8224,"journal":{"name":"Applied Sciences","volume":"15 4","pages":"1875-1875"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/4/1875/pdf?version=1739524314","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147882243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}