bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GuttaFlow® Bioseal Cytotoxicity Assessment: In Vitro Study
Authors: Ferreira Inês , Laranjo Mafalda , Marto Carlos Miguel , Casalta-Lopes João , Serambeque Beatriz , Gonçalves Ana Cristina , Sarmento-Ribeiro Ana Bela , Carrilho Eunice , Botelho Maria Filomena , Baptista Paula Anabela , Marques Ferreira Manuel
Published: September 2020

The sealers used for root canal treatment should be biocompatible for the peri-radicular tissues, to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of GuttaFlow® bioseal sealer and to compare them with AH26® epoxy resin. Culture media were conditioned with the GuttaFlow® bioseal and AH26® pellets. MDPC-23 odontoblast cell cultures were treated with conditioned medium and serial dilutions. To evaluate the metabolic activity and cellular viability, the MTT and SRB assays were performed. To determine the production of reactive oxygen species, the DHE and DCF-DA probes were used. Cell cycle and cell-death types were assessed by cytometry, and to evaluate the mineralization capacity, the Alizarin Red S coloration was used. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) when normality was found and Kruskal-Wallis on the opposite case. For the comparison with normality values, the Student t-test was used. Cells exposed to the GuttaFlow® bioseal conditioned medium maintained high metabolic activities, except at higher concentrations. Likewise, viability was maintained, but a significant decrease was observed after exposure to the highest concentration (p < 0.001), associated with cell death by late apoptosis and necrosis. When cell cultures were exposed to AH26®, metabolic activity was highly compromised, resulting in cell death. An imbalance in the production of peroxides and superoxide anion was observed. GuttaFlow® bioseal showed higher biocompatibility than AH26®.
Selective Targeting of αvβ5 Integrin in HepG2 Cell Line by RGDechi15D Peptide
Authors: Capasso Domenica , Del Gatto Annarita , Comegna Daniela , Russo Luigi , Fattorusso Roberto , Saviano Michele , Di Gaetano Sonia , Zaccaro Laura
Published: September 2020

Recently, the research community has become increasingly concerned with the receptor αvβ5, a member of the well-known integrin family. Different ongoing studies have evidenced that αvβ5 integrin regulates not only physiological processes but also a wide array of pathological events, suggesting the receptor as a valuable biomarker to specifically target for therapeutic/diagnostic purposes. Remarkably, in some tumors the involvement of the receptor in cell proliferation, tumor dissemination and angiogenesis is well-documented. In this scenario, the availability of a selective αvβ5 antagonist without ‘off-target’ protein effects may improve survival rate in patients with highly aggressive tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinoma. We recently reported a cyclic peptide, RGDechi15D, obtained by structure-activity studies. To our knowledge it represents the first peptide-based molecule reported in the literature able to specifically bind αvβ5 integrin and not cross react with αvβ3. Here we demonstrated the ability of the peptide to diminish both adhesion and invasion of HepG2 cells, an in vitro model system for hepatocellular carcinoma, to reduce the cell proliferation through an apoptotic process, and to interfere with the PI3K pathway. The peptide, also decreases the formation of new vessels in endothelial cells. Taken together these results indicate that the peptide can be considered a promising molecule with properties suited to be assessed in the future for its validation as a selective therapeutic/diagnostic weapon in hepatocarcinoma.
Impact of Cholesterol on the Stability of Monomeric and Dimeric Forms of the Translocator Protein TSPO: A Molecular Simulation Study
Authors: Si Chaib Zeineb , Marchetto Alessandro , Dishnica Klevia , Carloni Paolo , Giorgetti Alejandro , Rossetti Giulia
Published: September 2020

The translocator protein (TSPO) is a transmembrane protein present across the three domains of life. Its functional quaternary structure consists of one or more subunits. In mice, the dimer-to-monomer equilibrium is shifted in vitro towards the monomer by adding cholesterol, a natural component of mammalian membranes. Here, we present a coarse-grained molecular dynamics study on the mouse protein in the presence of a physiological content and of an excess of cholesterol. The latter turns out to weaken the interfaces of the dimer by clusterizing mostly at the inter-monomeric space and pushing the contact residues apart. It also increases the compactness and the rigidity of the monomer. These two factors might play a role for the experimentally observed incremented stability of the monomeric form with increased content of cholesterol. Comparison with simulations on bacterial proteins suggests that the effect of cholesterol is much less pronounced for the latter than for the mouse protein.
UCNP-based Photoluminescent Nanomedicines for Targeted Imaging and Theranostics of Cancer
Authors: Guryev Evgenii L. , Smyshlyaeva Anita S. , Shilyagina Natalia Y. , Sokolova Evgeniya A. , Shanwar Samah , Kostyuk Alexey B. , Lyubeshkin Alexander V. , Schulga Alexey A. , Konovalova Elena V. , Lin Quan , Roy Indrajit , Balalaeva Irina V. , Deyev Sergey M. , Zvyagin Andrei V.
Published: September 2020

Theranostic approach is currently among the fastest growing trends in cancer treatment. It implies the creation of multifunctional agents for simultaneous precise diagnosis and targeted impact on tumor cells. A new type of theranostic complexes was created based on NaYF4: Yb,Tm upconversion nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol and functionalized with the HER2-specific recombinant targeted toxin DARPin-LoPE. The obtained agents bind to HER2-overexpressing human breast adenocarcinoma cells and demonstrate selective cytotoxicity against this type of cancer cells. Using fluorescent human breast adenocarcinoma xenograft models, the possibility of intravital visualization of the UCNP-based complexes biodistribution and accumulation in tumor was demonstrated.
New Mono- and Diesters with Imidazoquinolinone Ring- Synthesis, Structure Characterization, and Molecular Modeling
Authors: Zarzyka Iwona , Klásek Antonin , Hęclik Karol , Lyčka Antonin , Bartošík Radek , Dobrowolski Lucjan
Published: September 2020

The objective of the studies was to synthesize and characterize new mono- and diesters with an imidazoquinolin-2-one ring with the use of 2,3-dihydro-2-thioxo-1H-imidazo[4 ,5-c]-quinolin-4(5H)-ones and ethyl bromoacetate. The products were isolated at high yield and characterized by instrumental methods (IR, 1H-, 13C-, and 15N- NMR, MS-ESI, HR-MS, EA). In order to clarify the places of substitution and the structure of the derivatives obtained, molecular modeling of substrates and products was performed. Consideration of the possible tautomeric structures of the substrates confirmed the existence only the most stable keto form. Based on the free energy of monosubstituted ester derivatives, the most stable form were derivatives substituted at sulfur atom of enolic form the used imidazoquinolones. Enolic form referred only to nitrogen atom no 1. The modeling results were consistent with the experimental data. The HOMO electron densities at selected atoms of each substrate has shown that the most reactive atom is sulfur atom. It explained the formation of monoderivatives substituted at sulfur atom. The diester derivatives of the used imidazoquinolones had second substituent at nitrogen atom no. 3. The new diesters can be used as raw material for synthesis of thermally stable polymers, and they can also have biological activity.
Effect of Al2O3 Dot Patterning on CZTSSe Solar Cell Characteristics
Authors: Kim Se-Yun , Hong Sanghun , Kim Seung-Hyun , Son Dae-Ho , Kim Young-Ill , Kim Sammi , Heo Young-Woo , Kang Jin-Kyu , Kim Dae-Hwan
Published: September 2020

In this study, a 5-nm thick Al2O3 layer was patterned onto the Mo electrode in the form of a dot to produce a local rear contact, which looked at the effects of this contact structure on Cu2ZnSn(S1-xSex)4 (CZTSSe) growth and solar cell devices. Mo was partially exposed through open holes having a square dot shape, and the closed-ratios of Al2O3 passivated areas were 56%, 75%, and 84%. The process of synthesizing CZTSSe is the same as that of the previous process showing 12.62% efficiency. When the 5-nm-Al2O3 dot patterning was applied to the Mo surface, we observed that the MoSSe formation was well suppressed under the area coated of 5-nm-Al2O3 film. The self-alignment phenomenon was observed in the back-contact area. CZTSSe was easily formed in the Mo-exposed area, while voids were formed near the Al2O3-coated area. The efficiency of the CZTSSe solar cell decreased when the Al2O3 passivated area increased. The exposure area and pitch of Mo, the collecting path of the hole, and the supplying path of Na seemed to be related to efficiency. Thus, it was suggested that the optimization of the Mo-exposed pattern and the additional Na supply are necessary to develop the optimum self-aligned CZTSSe light absorber.
A New Zinc Phosphate-Tellurite Glass for Magneto-Optical Applications
Authors: Elisa Mihail , Stefan Raluca Constantina , Vasiliu Ileana Cristina , Iordache Stefan Marian , Iordache Ana-Maria , Sava Bogdan Alexandru , Boroica Lucica , Dinca Marius Catalin , Filip Ana Violeta , Galca Aurelian Catalin , Bartha Cristina , Iacob Nicusor , Rusu Madalin Ion , Eftimie Mihai , Kuncser Victor
Published: September 2020

This work investigates the structural, magnetic and magneto-optical properties of a new zinc phosphate-tellurite glass belonging to the 45ZnO-10Al2O3-40P2O5-5TeO2 system. The glass was prepared by a wet method of processing the starting reagents followed by suitable melting–stirring–quenching–annealing steps. Specific parameters such as density, average molecular mass, molar volume, oxygen packaging density, refractive index, molar refractivity, electronic polarizability, reflection loss, optical transmission, band gap and optical basicity have been reported together with thermal, magnetic and magneto-optical characteristics. Absorption bands appear in the blue and red visible region, while over 600 nm the glass becomes more transparent. FTIR and Raman spectra evidenced phosphate-tellurite vibration modes proving the P2O5 and TeO2 network forming role. Magnetic measurements reveal the diamagnetic character of the Te-doped glass with an additional weak ferromagnetic signal, specific to diluted ferromagnetic oxides. Positive Faraday rotation angle with monotonous decreasing value at increasing wavelength was evidenced from magneto-optical measurements. The final product is a composite material comprising of a non-crystalline vitreous phase and Te-based nanoclusters accompanied by oxygen vacancies. The metallic-like Te colloids are responsible for the dark reddish color of the glass whereas the accompanying oxygen vacancies might be responsible for the weak ferromagnetic signal persisting up to room temperature.
Evaluation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome Activating Effects of a Large Panel of TiO2 Nanomaterials in Macrophages
Authors: Kolling Julia , Tigges Jonas , Hellack Bryan , Albrecht Catrin , Schins Roel P. F.
Published: September 2020

TiO2 nanomaterials are among the most commonly produced and used engineered nanomaterials (NMs) in the world. There is controversy regarding their ability to induce inflammation-mediated lung injuries following inhalation exposure. Activation of the NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NALP3) inflammasome and subsequent release of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β in pulmonary macrophages has been postulated as an essential pathway for the inflammatory and associated tissue-remodeling effects of toxic particles. Our study aim was to determine and rank the IL-1β activating properties of TiO2 NMs by comparing a large panel of different samples against each other as well as against fine TiO2, synthetic amorphous silica and crystalline silica (DQ12 quartz). Effects were evaluated in primary bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) from NALP3-deficient and proficient mice as well as in the rat alveolar macrophage cell line NR8383. Our results show that specific TiO2 NMs can activate the inflammasome in macrophages albeit with a markedly lower potency than amorphous SiO2 and quartz. The heterogeneity in IL-1β release observed in our study among 19 different TiO2 NMs underscores the relevance of case-by-case evaluation of nanomaterials of similar chemical composition. Our findings also further promote the NR8383 cell line as a promising in vitro tool for the assessment of the inflammatory and inflammasome activating properties of NMs.
Effects of Few-Layer Graphene on the Sexual Reproduction of Seed Plants: An In Vivo Study with Cucurbita pepo L.
Authors: Zanelli Davide , Candotto Carniel Fabio , Garrido Marina , Fortuna Lorenzo , Nepi Massimo , Cai Giampiero , Del Casino Cecilia , Vázquez Ester , Prato Maurizio , Tretiach Mauro
Published: September 2020

Products containing graphene-related materials (GRMs) are becoming quite common, raising concerns for environmental safety. GRMs have varying effects on plants, but their impact on the sexual reproduction process is largely unknown. In this study, the effects of few-layer graphene (FLG) and a similarly layered phyllosilicate, muscovite mica (MICA), were tested in vivo on the reproductive structures, i.e., pollen and stigma, of Cucurbita pepo L. ssp. pepo ‘greyzini’ (summer squash, zucchini). Pollen was exposed to FLG or MICA, after careful physical-chemical characterization, at concentrations of 0.5 and 2 mg of nanomaterial (NM) per g of pollen for up to six hours. Following this, pollen viability was tested. Stigmas were exposed to FLG or MICA for three hours and then analyzed by environmental scanning electron microscopy to verify possible alterations to their surface. Stigmas were then hand-pollinated to verify the effects of the two NMs on pollen adhesion and in vivo pollen germination. FLG and MICA altered neither pollen viability nor the stigmatic surface. However, both NMs equivalently decreased pollen adhesion and in vivo germination compared with untreated stigmas. These effects deserve further attention as they could impact on production of fruits and seeds. Importantly, it was shown that FLG is as safe as a naturally occurring nanomaterial.
Single Crystalline Higher Manganese Silicide Nanowire Arrays with Outstanding Physical Properties through Double Tube Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Shen Chin-Li , Yang Shu-Meng , Lu Kuo-Chang
Published: September 2020

In this work, we report a novel and efficient silicidation method to synthesize higher manganese silicide (HMS) nanowires with interesting characterization and physical properties. High density silicon nanowire arrays fabricated by chemical etching reacted with MnCl2 precursor through a unique double tube chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system, where we could enhance the vapor pressure of the precursor and provide stable Mn vapor with a sealing effect. It is crucial that the method enables the efficient formation of high quality higher manganese silicide nanowires without a change in morphology and aspect ratio during the process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were utilized to characterize the HMS nanowires. High-resolution TEM studies confirm that the HMS nanowires were single crystalline Mn27Si47 nanowires of Nowotny Chimney Ladder crystal structures. Magnetic property measurements show that the Mn27Si47 nanowire arrays were ferromagnetic at room temperature with a Curie temperature of over 300 K, highly depending on the relationship between the direction of the applied electric field and the axial direction of the standing nanowire arrays. Field emission measurements indicate that the 20 μm long nanowires possessed a field enhancement factor of 3307. The excellent physical properties of the HMS nanowires (NWs) make them attractive choices for applications in spintronic devices and field emitters.
High Dose Intravenous Fish Oil Reduces Inflammation—A Retrospective Tale from Two Centers
Authors: Klek Stanislaw , Mankowska-Wierzbicka Dorota , Scislo Lucyna , Walewska Elzbieta , Pietka Magdalena , Szczepanek Kinga
Published: September 2020

Aim: Patients on parenteral nutrition (PN) are prone to inflammation. This may aggravate an existing proinflammatory state and become a critical factor in the development of liver dysfunction (LD). Intravenous fish oil may attenuate this inflammatory state, but data on its use in adults are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adding a pure fish oil intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) into short- and long-term PN in patients either at risk of, or with existing, inflammation. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 61 patients (32 female, 29 male, mean age 51.5 ± 12.6 years) who received all-in-one PN, including amino acids, glucose, and lipids supplemented with pure fish oil ILE, was performed. Pure fish oil ILE (Omegaven®, Fresenius Kabi, Bad Homburg, Germany) was used along with the standard ILE to reach a fish oil dose of 0.4–0.5 g fish oil/kg/d. Diagnoses were chronic intestinal failure (CIF, n = 20), Crohn’s disease (CD, n = 22), and ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 19). The observation period was 12 months for CIF and 21 days for UC and CD. Results: A reduction in inflammation was noticeable in all patients and became statistically significant in CD (hsCRP p < 0.0001, ESR p = 0.0034, procalcitonin p = 0.0014, Il-6 p = 0.001) and UC groups (hsCRP and ESR p < 0.0001, Il-6 p = 0.0001, TNF-α p = 0.0113). In the CIF group, the total bilirubin concentration (p = 0.2157) and aspartate transaminase SGOT (p = 0.1785) did not vary over time. Conclusions: PN with pure fish oil ILE reduces some inflammatory parameters in IBD and maintains liver function parameters in CIF patients. Fish oil might become a valuable ingredient in both short- and long-term PN in patients at risk of liver dysfunction.
Nutrients, Diet, and Other Factors in Prenatal Life and Bone Health in Young Adults: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Jensen Karina H. , Riis Kamilla R. , Abrahamsen Bo , Händel Mina N.
Published: September 2020

Optimizing skeletal health in early life has potential effects on bone health later in childhood and in adulthood. We aimed to evaluate the existing evidence that maternal exposures during pregnancy have an impact on the subsequent bone health among offspring in young adults aged between 16 and 30 years. The protocol is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (ID: CRD42019126890). The search was conducted up to 2 April 2019. We included seven observational prospective cohort studies that examined the association between maternal dietary factors, vitamin D concentration, age, preeclampsia, and smoking with any bone indices among offspring. The results indicated that high concentrations of maternal vitamin D; low fat intake; and high intakes of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium may increase the bone mineral density in offspring at age 16. Evidence also suggests that the offspring of younger mothers may have a higher peak bone mass. It remains inconclusive whether there is an influence of preeclampsia or maternal smoking on bone health among young adults. Our assessment of internal validity warrants a cautious interpretation of these results, as all of the included studies were judged to have serious risks of bias. High-quality studies assessing whether prenatal prognostic factors are associated with bone health in young adults are needed.
B Vitamins and One-Carbon Metabolism: Implications in Human Health and Disease
Authors: Lyon Peter , Strippoli Victoria , Fang Byron , Cimmino Luisa
Published: September 2020

Vitamins B9 (folate) and B12 are essential water-soluble vitamins that play a crucial role in the maintenance of one-carbon metabolism: a set of interconnected biochemical pathways driven by folate and methionine to generate methyl groups for use in DNA synthesis, amino acid homeostasis, antioxidant generation, and epigenetic regulation. Dietary deficiencies in B9 and B12, or genetic polymorphisms that influence the activity of enzymes involved in the folate or methionine cycles, are known to cause developmental defects, impair cognitive function, or block normal blood production. Nutritional deficiencies have historically been treated with dietary supplementation or high-dose parenteral administration that can reverse symptoms in the majority of cases. Elevated levels of these vitamins have more recently been shown to correlate with immune dysfunction, cancer, and increased mortality. Therapies that specifically target one-carbon metabolism are therefore currently being explored for the treatment of immune disorders and cancer. In this review, we will highlight recent studies aimed at elucidating the role of folate, B12, and methionine in one-carbon metabolism during normal cellular processes and in the context of disease progression.
A Scoping Review of the Operationalization of Fruit and Vegetable Variety
Authors: Marshall Allison N. , van den Berg Alexandra , Ranjit Nalini , Hoelscher Deanna M.
Published: September 2020

Adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables is critical for healthy growth and development. Less is known about fruit and vegetable variety, with variation in operationalization of variety. This review aims to identify currently available evidence operationalizing fruit and vegetable (FV) variety through a scoping review to summarize, compare, and critically evaluate the operationalization of variety. A secondary aim is to examine the implications of measuring FV variety and outcomes including dietary quality/nutrient intake. PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO were searched using the following criteria: (1) human study participants ages 2 years and above; (2) assessment of fruit variety consumption, vegetable variety consumption, or combined fruit and vegetable variety consumption; and (3) peer-reviewed publication available in the English language. Etiologic, intervention, and determinant studies were eligible to be included, and 47 studies met inclusion criteria. Differences in operationalization of variety were found. Findings included associations of FV variety with aspects of nutrient intake, dietary behaviors, lifestyle behaviors, and health outcomes. There were no studies that assessed conventionally grown produce vs. organic produce, and none of the included studies assessed cultivar. Nonstandard classification of fruit and vegetables, differences in fruit and vegetables grown in other countries, and the restriction to studies published in the English language may have excluded studies examining variety published in languages other than English. Operationalization of variety should be reported to allow one to explore comparability across studies, use national or international guidelines for greater comparability, associate variety with nutrient intake, and change variety behaviors via intervention.
Antioxidants in Sport Sarcopenia
Authors: Cesare Maria Michela , Felice Francesca , Santini Veronica , Di Stefano Rossella
Published: September 2020

The decline of skeletal muscle mass and strength that leads to sarcopenia is a pathology that might represent an emergency healthcare issue in future years. Decreased muscle mass is also a condition that mainly affects master athletes involved in endurance physical activities. Skeletal muscles respond to exercise by reshaping the biochemical, morphological, and physiological state of myofibrils. Adaptive responses involve the activation of intracellular signaling pathways and genetic reprogramming, causing alterations in contractile properties, metabolic status, and muscle mass. One of the mechanisms leading to sarcopenia is an increase in reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels and a reduction in enzymatic antioxidant protection. The present review shows the recent experimental models of sarcopenia that explore molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, the clinical aspect of sport sarcopenia will be highlighted, and new strategies based on nutritional supplements, which may contribute to reducing indices of oxidative stress by reinforcing natural endogenous protection, will be suggested.
What Makes a Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labelling System Effective: The Impact of Key Design Components on Food Purchases
Authors: Muller Laurent , Ruffieux Bernard
Published: September 2020

The relative impacts on food purchases of many alternative front-of-pack nutritional labelling systems were tested, with various methods—from opinion pool to nationwide experiments. Clearly, some systems induce better purchasing responses, having better nutritional impacts on food baskets. Nonetheless, we still ignore what the ingredients of an efficient label are. Here, we propose guidance for label designers. To do so, we first propose a typology that breaks down established labelling systems into four elementary components: Directiveness, Scope and Gradation, Set of Reference and Sign. On this basis, we then build seven alternative generic labelling systems that we test in a framed-field experiment enabling us to measure the effect of each component on food purchases in isolation. Our results show that an effective front-of-pack labelling system should be Food-Directive (instead of Diet-Directive) and be displayed on both healthy and unhealthy food. The reference set, which is across categories or within categories, produces the same average nutrition score but generates contrasting behavioural responses.
Eluxadoline Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles for Improved Colon Targeting in Rat Model of Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Anwer Md. Khalid , Ahmed Mohammed Muqtader , Aldawsari Mohammed F. , Alshahrani Saad , Fatima Farhat , Ansari Mohd Nazam , Rehman Najeeb Ur , Al-Shdefat Ramadan I.
Published: September 2020

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the therapeutics potential of eluxadoline (ELX) loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) in ulcerative colitis. ELX loaded SLNs were prepared using three different lipids according to the solvent emulsification technique. The optimization of prepared SLNs (F1-F3) were carried out based on size, PDI, zeta potential, percent drug entrapment (%EE), and loading (%DL). The lipid (stearic acid) based SLNs (F2) was optimized with particle size (266.0 ± 6.4 nm), PDI (0.217 ± 0.04), zeta potential (31.2 ± 5.19 mV), EE (65.0 ± 4.8%), and DL (4.60 ± 0.8%). The optimized SLNs (F2) was further evaluated by DSC, FTIR, SEM, in vitro release, and stability studies, which confirmed the successful encapsulation of ELX in SLNs. The efficacy of optimized SLNs (F2) in comparison to the pure ELX drug was assessed in acetic acid induced colitis rat models. It was observed that the delivery of ELX by SLNs alleviated the induced acetic acid colitis significantly. Thus, ELX loaded SLNs delivery to the colon has a significant potential to be developed for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.
Selection of Cryoprotectant in Lyophilization of Progesterone-Loaded Stearic Acid Solid Lipid Nanoparticles
Authors: Amis Timothy M. , Renukuntla Jwala , Bolla Pradeep Kumar , Clark Bradley A.
Published: September 2020

Cryoprotectants are often required in lyophilization to reduce or eliminate agglomeration of solute or suspended materials. The aim of this study was to select a cryoprotecting agent and optimize its concentration in a solid lipid nanoparticle formulation. Progesterone-loaded stearic acid solid lipid nanoparticles (SA-P SLNs) were prepared by hot homogenization with high speed mixing and sonication. The stearic acid content was 4.6% w/w and progesterone was 0.46% w/w of the initial formulation. Multiple surfactants were evaluated, and a lecithin and sodium taurocholate system was chosen. Three concentrations of surfactant were then evaluated, and a concentration of 2% w/w was chosen based on particle size, polydispersity, and zeta potential. Agglomeration of SA-P SLNs after lyophilization was observed as measured by increased particle size. Dextran, glycine, mannitol, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), sorbitol, and trehalose were evaluated as cryoprotectants by both an initial freeze–thaw analysis and after lyophilization. Once selected as the cryoprotectant, trehalose was evaluated at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% for optimal concentration, with 20% trehalose being finally selected as the level of choice. Evaluation by DSC confirmed intimate interaction between stearic acid and progesterone in the SA-P SLNs, and polarized light microscopy shows successful lyophilization of the trehalose/SA-P SLN. A short term 28-day stability study suggests the need for refrigeration of the final lyophilized SA-P SLNs in moisture vapor impermeable packaging.
Genetic Diversity, Nitrogen Fixation, and Water Use Efficiency in a Panel of Honduran Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Landraces and Modern Genotypes
Authors: Wilker Jennifer , Humphries Sally , Rosas-Sotomayor Juan , Gómez Cerna Marvin , Torkamaneh Davoud , Edwards Michelle , Navabi Alireza , Pauls K.
Published: September 2020

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) provides critical nutrition and a livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers worldwide. Beans engage in symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) with Rhizobia. Honduran hillside farmers farm marginal land and utilize few production inputs; therefore, bean varieties with high SNF capacity and environmental resiliency would be of benefit to them. We explored the diversity for SNF, agronomic traits, and water use efficiency (WUE) among 70 Honduran landrace, participatory bred (PPB), and conventionally bred bean varieties (HON panel) and 6 North American check varieties in 3 low-N field trials in Ontario, Canada and Honduras. Genetic diversity was measured with a 6K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, and phenotyping for agronomic, SNF, and WUE traits was carried out. STRUCTURE analysis revealed two subpopulations with admixture between the subpopulations. Nucleotide diversity was greater in the landraces than the PPB varieties across the genome, and multiple genomic regions were identified where population genetic differentiation between the landraces and PPB varieties was evident. Significant differences were found between varieties and breeding categories for agronomic traits, SNF, and WUE. Landraces had above average SNF capacity, conventional varieties showed higher yields, and PPB varieties performed well for WUE. Varieties with the best SNF capacity could be used in further participatory breeding efforts.
Strong Plasmon–Exciton Coupling in Ag Nanoparticle—Conjugated Polymer Core-Shell Hybrid Nanostructures
Authors: Petoukhoff Christopher E. , Dani Keshav M. , O’Carroll Deirdre M.
Published: September 2020

Strong plasmon–exciton coupling between tightly-bound excitons in organic molecular semiconductors and surface plasmons in metal nanostructures has been studied extensively for a number of technical applications, including low-threshold lasing and room-temperature Bose-Einstein condensates. Typically, excitons with narrow resonances, such as J-aggregates, are employed to achieve strong plasmon–exciton coupling. However, J-aggregates have limited applications for optoelectronic devices compared with organic conjugated polymers. Here, using numerical and analytical calculations, we demonstrate that strong plasmon–exciton coupling can be achieved for Ag-conjugated polymer core-shell nanostructures, despite the broad spectral linewidth of conjugated polymers. We show that strong plasmon–exciton coupling can be achieved through the use of thick shells, large oscillator strengths, and multiple vibronic resonances characteristic of typical conjugated polymers, and that Rabi splitting energies of over 1000 meV can be obtained using realistic material dispersive relative permittivity parameters. The results presented herein give insight into the mechanisms of plasmon–exciton coupling when broadband excitonic materials featuring strong vibrational–electronic coupling are employed and are relevant to organic optoelectronic devices and hybrid metal–organic photonic nanostructures.
Ash Characteristics and Selected Critical Elements (Ga, Sc, V) in Coal and Ash in Polish Deposits
Authors: Bielowicz Barbara
Published: September 2020

The chemical composition of coal ash and the content of the critical elements Ga, Sc, and V in coal and ash are examined herein. In this study, lignite and bituminous coal from Polish deposits were used. The coals were subjected to ultimate and proximate analysis; the petrographic composition was determined based on maceral groups. The chemical composition of ash and the content of critical elements were determined using ICP-MS. The obtained results were correlated and Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient was determined. Based on the correlation analysis, the relationship between the chemical composition of ash and the proximate and ultimate analyses was demonstrated. The content of selected critical elements in the tested deposits was lower than the Clarke value in coal. However, in some deposits these contents are much higher in coal ashes. The higher levels of Ga, V, and Sc in the ash are associated with Al2O3. Therefore, it can be stated that ashes can be a potential source of some raw materials. The highest concentrations of critical elements in coal and ash were recorded in the Lublin Coal Basin. Supra-Clarke contents of Ga, V, and Sc were recorded in the Bogdanka coal mine.
Predicting WNV Circulation in Italy Using Earth Observation Data and Extreme Gradient Boosting Model
Authors: Candeloro Luca , Ippoliti Carla , Iapaolo Federica , Monaco Federica , Morelli Daniela , Cuccu Roberto , Fronte Pietro , Calderara Simone , Vincenzi Stefano , Porrello Angelo , D’Alterio Nicola , Calistri Paolo , Conte Annamaria
Published: September 2020

West Nile Disease (WND) is one of the most spread zoonosis in Italy and Europe caused by a vector-borne virus. Its transmission cycle is well understood, with birds acting as the primary hosts and mosquito vectors transmitting the virus to other birds, while humans and horses are occasional dead-end hosts. Identifying suitable environmental conditions across large areas containing multiple species of potential hosts and vectors can be difficult. The recent and massive availability of Earth Observation data and the continuous development of innovative Machine Learning methods can contribute to automatically identify patterns in big datasets and to make highly accurate identification of areas at risk. In this paper, we investigated the West Nile Virus (WNV) circulation in relation to Land Surface Temperature, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Surface Soil Moisture collected during the 160 days before the infection took place, with the aim of evaluating the predictive capacity of lagged remotely sensed variables in the identification of areas at risk for WNV circulation. WNV detection in mosquitoes, birds and horses in 2017, 2018 and 2019, has been collected from the National Information System for Animal Disease Notification. An Extreme Gradient Boosting model was trained with data from 2017 and 2018 and tested for the 2019 epidemic, predicting the spatio-temporal WNV circulation two weeks in advance with an overall accuracy of 0.84. This work lays the basis for a future early warning system that could alert public authorities when climatic and environmental conditions become favourable to the onset and spread of WNV.
Riverine Sediment Changes and Channel Pattern of a Gravel-Bed Mountain Torrent
Authors: Seier Gernot , Schöttl Stefan , Kellerer-Pirklbauer Andreas , Glück Raphael , Lieb Gerhard K. , Hofstadler Daniel N. , Sulzer Wolfgang
Published: September 2020

The alluvial channel of the Langgriesgraben (Austria) is a highly active geomorphic riverine subcatchment of the Johnsbach River with intermittent discharge and braided river structures. The high sediment yield entails both issues and opportunities. For decades, the riverbed was exploited as a gravel pit. Today, as part of the Gesäuse National Park and after renaturation, the sediment yield endangers a locally important bridge located at the outlet of the subcatchment. High-resolution geospatial investigations are vital for the quantification of sediment redistribution, which is relevant in terms of river management. Based on unmanned aerial system (UAS) surveys in 2015 (July, September, and October) and 2019 (August and October), high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) were generated, which enable us to quantify intra- and multiannual sediment changes. As surface runoff at the subcatchment occurs on only a few days per year with flash floods and debris flows that are not predictable and thus hardly observable, the subsurface water conditions were assessed based on electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements, which were conducted in 2019 (November) and 2020 (May, June). Results of the UAS-based surveys showed that, considering the data quality, intra-annual sediment changes affected only small subareas, whereas multiannual changes occurred in the entire study area and amount to net sediment deposition of ≈0.3–0.4 m3m−2, depending on the channel section. In addition, the elevation differences for both intra-annual surveys revealed linear patterns that can be interpreted as braided river channels. As in both survey periods the same areas were affected by changes, it can be concluded that the channel mainly affected by reshaping persisted within the 4-year observation period. The subsurface investigations showed that although both near-surface and groundwater conditions changed, near-surface sediments are mostly dry with a thickness of several meters during the observations.
Optical Remote Sensing Image Registration Using Spatial-Consistency and Average Regional Information Divergence Minimization via Quantum-Behaved Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Chen Shuhan , Xue Bai , Yang Han , Li Xiaorun , Zhao Liaoying , Chang Chein-I
Published: September 2020

Due to invariance to significant intensity differences, similarity metrics have been widely used as criteria for an area-based method for registering optical remote sensing image. However, for images with large scale and rotation difference, the robustness of similarity metrics can greatly determine the registration accuracy. In addition, area-based methods usually require appropriately selected initial values for registration parameters. This paper presents a registration approach using spatial consistency (SC) and average regional information divergence (ARID), called spatial-consistency and average regional information divergence minimization via quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization (SC-ARID-QPSO) for optical remote sensing images registration. Its key idea minimizes ARID with SC to select an ARID-minimized spatial consistent feature point set. Then, the selected consistent feature set is tuned randomly to generate a set of M registration parameters, which provide initial particle warms to implement QPSO to obtain final optimal registration parameters. The proposed ARID is used as a criterion for the selection of consistent feature set, the generation of initial parameter sets, and fitness functions used by QPSO. The iterative process of QPSO is terminated based on a custom-designed automatic stopping rule. To evaluate the performance of SC-ARID-QPSO, both simulated and real images are used for experiments for validation. In addition, two data sets are particularly designed to conduct a comparative study and analysis with existing state-of-the-art methods. The experimental results demonstrate that SC-ARID-QPSO produces better registration accuracy and robustness than compared methods.
Editorial for Special Issue “Tropical Cyclones Remote Sensing and Data Assimilation”
Authors: Stiles Bryan W. , Portabella Marcos , Yang Xiaofeng , Zheng Gang
Published: September 2020

Tropical cyclones (TCs) are essential for many reasons, including their destruction of human lives and property and their effect on heat and nutrient fluxes between the ocean’s surface and its depths. A better understanding of ocean fluxes is needed to predict the impact of global climate change on the oceans and to quantify how ocean heat content modulates the dynamics of global climate change. Similarly, improved modeling of nutrient fluxes is crucial for maintaining fisheries and preserving crucial marine ecosystems to benefit both humanity and marine life. Numerous remote sensors measure crucial geophysical quantities before, during, and after TCs, including sea surface temperature (SST), ocean color, chlorophyll concentration, ocean surface winds, sea surface height, and significant wave height. In this special issue, an international group of researchers have written articles describing (1) novel techniques and remote sensors for measuring the aforementioned quantities in tropical cyclones, (2) methods for validating and improving the accuracy of those measurements and harmonizing them among different sensors, (3) scientific analyses that investigate the relationships between remote-sensed ocean surface measurements and in situ measurements of vertical profiles of ocean temperature, salinity, and current, and (4) strategies for utilizing remote-sensed measurements to improve operational forecasts in order to provide better tropical cyclone warnings to human populations.
Detection of Seasonal Deformation of Highway Overpasses Using the PS-InSAR Technique: A Case Study in Beijing Urban Area
Authors: Lyu Mingyuan , Ke Yinghai , Li Xiaojuan , Zhu Lin , Guo Lin , Gong Huili
Published: September 2020

In urban areas, deformation of transportation infrastructures may lead to serious safety accidents. Timely and accurate monitoring of the structural deformation is critical for prevention of transportation accidents and assurance of construction quality, particularly in areas with regional land subsidence, such as the city of Beijing. In this study, we proposed a method for the detection of seasonal deformation of highway overpasses using the integration of persistent scatterers Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) techniques and seasonal indices, i.e., deformation concentration degree (DCD) and deformation concentration period (DCP) indices. Taking eastern Beijing urban area as a case study area, we first used the PS-InSAR technique to derive time series surface deformation based on 55 TerraSAR-X images during 2010–2016. Then, we proposed DCD and DCP indices to characterize seasonal deformation of 25 highway overpasses in the study area, with DCD representing to what degree the annual deformation is distributed in a year, and DCP representing the period on which deformation concentrates in the year. Our results showed that the maximum annual deformation rate reached −141.3 mm/year in Beijing urban area, and the PS-InSAR measurements agreed well with levelling measurements (R2 > 0.97). For PS pixels with DCD ≥ 0.3, the monthly deformation showed obvious seasonal patterns with deformation values during some months greater than those during the other months. DCP revealed that the settlement during autumn and winter was more serious than that in spring and summer. The seasonal patterns seemed to be related to the location, structure, and construction age of the overpasses. The upper-level overpasses, the newly constructed overpasses, and those located in the subsidence area (rate < −40 mm/year) tended to show a greater seasonal pattern. The seasonal deformation variations were also affected by groundwater-level fluctuation, temperature, and compressible layer.
Novel Multi-IMU Tight Coupling Pedestrian Localization Exploiting Biomechanical Motion Constraints
Authors: Bousdar Ahmed Dina , Munoz Diaz Estefania , García Domínguez Juan Jesús
Published: September 2020

In this article, we present a novel tight coupling inertial localization system which simultaneously processes the measurements of two inertial measurement units (IMUs) mounted on the leg, namely the upper thigh and the front part of the foot. Moreover, the proposed system exploits motion constraints of each leg link; that is, the thigh and the foot. To derive these constraints, we carry out a motion tracking experiment to collect both ground truth data and inertial measurements from IMUs mounted on the leg. The performance of the tight coupling system is assessed with a data set of approximately 10 h. The evaluation shows that the average 2D-position error of the proposed tight coupling system is at least 50% better than the average 2D-position error of two state-of-the-art systems, whereas the average height error of the tight coupling system is at least 75% better than the average height error of the two state-of-the-art systems. In this work, we improve the accuracy of the position estimation by introducing biomechanical constraints in an inertial localization system. This article allows to observe, for the first time, heading errors of an inertial localization system by using only inertial measurements and without the need for using maps or repeating totally or partially the walked trajectory.
Bodyprint—A Meta-Feature Based LSTM Hashing Model for Person Re-Identification
Authors: Avola Danilo , Cinque Luigi , Fagioli Alessio , Foresti Gian Luca , Pannone Daniele , Piciarelli Claudio
Published: September 2020

Person re-identification is concerned with matching people across disjointed camera views at different places and different time instants. This task results of great interest in computer vision, especially in video surveillance applications where the re-identification and tracking of persons are required on uncontrolled crowded spaces and after long time periods. The latter aspects are responsible for most of the current unsolved problems of person re-identification, in fact, the presence of many people in a location as well as the passing of hours or days give arise to important visual appearance changes of people, for example, clothes, lighting, and occlusions; thus making person re-identification a very hard task. In this paper, for the first time in the state-of-the-art, a meta-feature based Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) hashing model for person re-identification is presented. Starting from 2D skeletons extracted from RGB video streams, the proposed method computes a set of novel meta-features based on movement, gait, and bone proportions. These features are analysed by a network composed of a single LSTM layer and two dense layers. The first layer is used to create a pattern of the person’s identity, then, the seconds are used to generate a bodyprint hash through binary coding. The effectiveness of the proposed method is tested on three challenging datasets, that is, iLIDS-VID, PRID 2011, and MARS. In particular, the reported results show that the proposed method, which is not based on visual appearance of people, is fully competitive with respect to other methods based on visual features. In addition, thanks to its skeleton model abstraction, the method results to be a concrete contribute to address open problems, such as long-term re-identification and severe illumination changes, which tend to heavily influence the visual appearance of persons.