Denoising of sparse images in impulsive disturbance environment

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The paper presents a method for denoising and reconstruction of sparse images based on a gradient-descent algorithm. It is assumed that the original (non-noisy)...     

Irisin,a Link among Fatty Liver Disease,Physical Inactivity and Insulin Resistance

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in industrialized countries. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD mirrors the outbreak of obesity in western countries, highlighting the connection between these two conditions. Nevertheless, there is currently no specific pharmacotherapy for its treatment. Accepted management begins with weight loss and exercise. Moreover, exercise can provide metabolic benefits independently of weight loss. It is known how long-term aerobic training produces improvements in hepatic triglycerides, visceral adipose tissue and free fatty acids, even if there is no weight reduction. A recent study from Boström et al. unravels a potential molecular mechanism that may explain how exercise, independently of weight loss, can potentially improve metabolic parameters through a new messenger system (irisin) linking muscle and fat tissue. Irisin has been proposed to act as a hormone on subcutaneous white fat cells increasing energy expenditure by means of a program of brown-fat-like development. Moreover, it was also shown that irisin plasma concentration was higher in people who exercise, suggesting a molecular mechanism by which exercise may improve metabolism. The present systematic review is based on the possibility that irisin might represent a hypothetical connection between NAFLD pathogenesis and disease progression.     

Adsorption of lead on activated carbons from olive stones

Studies on the adsorption of lead on activated carbons from aqueous solutions are described. Olive stones have been used as raw material to prepare the activated carbon samples. The porous texture and the chemical nature of the surface of the carbon samples were studied. The adsorption yield as a function of pH, salinity and presence of different cations has been investigated. The results obtained by using these activated carbons have been compared with those corresponding to a commercial activated carbon. All samples show a high adsorption capacity against lead ions.     

Statistical Modeling of the Industrial Sodium Aluminate Solutions Decomposition Process

This article presents the results of the statistical modeling of industrial sodium aluminate solution decomposition as part of the Bayer alumina production process. The aim of this study was to define the correlation dependence of degree of the aluminate solution decomposition on the following parameters of technological processes: concentration of the Na₂O (caustic), caustic ratio and crystallization ratio, starting temperature, final temperature, average diameter of crystallization seed, and duration of decomposition process. Multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used as the tools for the mathematical analysis of the indicated problem. On the one hand, the attempt of process modeling, using MLRA, resulted in a linear model whose correlation coefficient was equal to R ² = 0.731. On the other hand, ANNs enabled, to some extent, better process modeling, with a correlation coefficient equal to R ² = 0.895. Both models obtained using MLRA and ANNs can be used for the efficient prediction of the degree of sodium aluminate solution decomposition, as the function of the input parameters, under industrial conditions of the Bayer alumina production process.     

Assimilating synthetic GOES-R radiances in cloudy conditions using an ensemble-based method

The weather research and forecasting (WRF) model and the maximum likelihood ensemble filter (MLEF) data assimilation approach are used to examine the potential impact of observations from the future Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, generation R (GOES-R) on improving our knowledge about clouds. Synthetic radiances are assimilated from the 10.35 μm channel of the GOES-R advanced baseline imager (ABI) employing a ‘non-identical twins’ experimental setup. The experimental results are examined for an extratropical cyclone named Kyrill that produced unusually strong winds, widespread damage and fatalities in Western Europe in January 2007. The data assimilation problem is especially challenging for this case, as there is a large error in the model-simulated radiances resulting from incorrect cloud location. Although this problem is difficult to eliminate, data assimilation results indicate the potential of GOES-R data to significantly reduce these errors.     

IgM and IgG Immunoreactivity of SARS-CoV-2 Recombinant M Protein

Diagnostic evaluation of specific antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is mainly based on spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. Despite the critical functions in virus infection and contribution to the pattern of immunodominance in COVID-19, exploitation of the most abundant membrane (M) protein in the SARS-CoV-2 serology tests is minimal. This study investigated the recombinant M protein’s immunoreactivity with the sera from COVID-19 convalescents. In silico designed protein was created from the outer N-terminal part (19 aa) and internal C-terminal tail (101–222 aa) of the M protein ({"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"YP_009724393.1","term_id":"1796318601","term_text":"YP_009724393.1"}}YP_009724393.1) and was recombinantly produced and purified. The designed M protein (16,498.74 Da, pI 8.79) revealed both IgM and IgG reactivity with serum samples from COVID-19 convalescents in Western blot. In ELISA, more than 93% (28/30) of COVID-19 sera were positive for IgM detection, and more than 96% (29/30) were positive for specific IgG detection to M protein. Based on the capacity to provoke an immune response and its strong antigenic properties, as shown here, and the fact that it is also involved in the virion entry into host cells, the M protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as a good antigen has the potential in diagnostic purposes and vaccine design.     

Effects of iron,ascorbate, meat and casein on the antioxidant capacity of green tea under conditions of in vitro digestion

The hypothesis that interactions of dietary polyphenols with dietary iron occur during digestion and result in a decrease of the post-absorptive antioxidant properties of polyphenols was investigated. The hypothesis was tested in vitro, under conditions that simulate gastrointestinal digestion. Mixtures of green tea, iron, and three dietary factors that modify the form of iron in the lumen, namely ascorbic acid, meat or casein, were subjected to an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Antioxidant capacity (FRAP assay), iron concentration (ferrozine assay) and polyphenol concentration (Folin–Ciocalteau assay) were measured in the in vitro digests. The presence of iron decreased the antioxidant capacity and the polyphenol concentration of green tea digests. The presence of ascorbic acid increased, while meat and casein decreased the antioxidant capacity of green tea. The factorial analysis of the data suggests that protein and iron interact with green tea polyphenols during the in vitro digestion and decrease their antioxidant capacity. These results support the aforementioned hypothesis.     

Phenolics as antioxidants in garlic (Allium sativum L., Alliaceae)

The antioxidant activities of polar fractions of mature garlic bulbs and immature plants in four different model systems are presented. Antioxidant activity was evaluated as free radical-scavenging capacity (RSC), together with the effect on lipid peroxidation (LP). RSC was assessed by measuring the scavenging activity of garlic extracts on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide. Effects on LP were evaluated by following the activities of examined garlic extracts in Fe²⁺/ascorbate and Fe²⁺/H₂O₂ systems of induction. Investigated extracts reduced the DPPH radical formation (IC₅₀ ranging from 1.03 to 6.01 mg/ml) and neutralised H₂O₂ (IC₅₀ ranging from 0.55 to 2.01 mg/ml) in a dose-dependent manner. Strong inhibition of LP in both systems of induction was observed for all tested garlic extracts. Various levels of phenolics (0.05–0.98 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of dry extract) and flavonoid aglycones (4.16–6.99 μg quercetin equivalents/g of dry extract) in the investigated extracts of garlic could explain the obtained differences in these results only partially.