1,721,017 research outputs found
Impacts of the covid-19 lockdown measures on the 2020 columnar and surface air pollution parameters over south-eastern Italy
Full text linkThe combined use of Lecce-University AERONET-photometer measurements and PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, and SO2 concentrations from different sites of Apulia-Region Air-Quality Agency represents the peculiarity of this study, which evaluates the impact of COVID-19 lockdown (LD) measures on aerosol and gaseous pollutants. Monthly-averaged columnar and surface parameters of the 2020-year were compared with corresponding monthly parameters of the ref-year obtained by averaging 2017, 2018, and 2019 measurements in order to evaluate LD measure impacts by Average Percent Departure (APD%). Photometer measurements showed that LD measures were likely responsible for the decrease in Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD). The APD% estimated between the 2020-and ref-year AOD (at 440 nm) was characterized by negative values from June to August, reaching the smallest mean value (−46%) in June. Moreover, the columnar aerosol load appeared less affected by continental urban/industrial particles than previous years in the summer of 2020. The PM-concentration-APD% calculated at ten sites was characterized by monthly trends similar to those of AOD-APD%. PM-APD% values varied from site to site and smaller values (up to −57% in June) were on average detected at urban/suburban sites than at background sites (up to −37%). The impact of LD measures on gaseous pollutants was observed from the onset of LD
A combined approach for the development of novel sutures with antibacterial and regenerative properties: the role of silver and silk sericin functionalization
No full textChronic wounds and related infections cause physical and psychological distress in patients, increased mortality, disability and high health care costs. The healing process can be delayed by several factors and in particular by the risk of infections, which can be further complicated by the increasing number of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. New approaches in wounds management have been encouraged, aiming at preventing infections and improving wound healing. In this scenario, silver has emerged as an ideal antimicrobial agent due to its recognized efficacy against bacteria, viruses and fungi. Moreover, silk and in particular silk sericin from Bombyx mori has demonstrated excellent biological properties and can be considered a good candidate for skin tissue engineering. In this study absorbable PLGA sutures were functionalized with silk sericin and, then, they were treated with silver through an in situ photochemical deposition technology in order to develop an antibacterial and regenerative biomedical device. Morphological analysis was performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) in order to evaluate the presence and distribution of silver deposited on the sutures. The stability and durability of the sericin/silver coatings were tested and the results were related to both antibacterial properties and sample degradation. The biological analyses also aimed at studying the biocompatibility and wound healing properties of the device, evaluating the synergistic effect between sericin and silver. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
Antimicrobial silver nanoparticles for wound healing application: Progress and future trends
Full text linkRecent data have reported that the burden of infections related to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA) can be estimated as the cumulative burden of tuberculosis, influenza, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In wound management, the control of infections represents a crucial issue and a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide. For diabetic wounds ulcers, in particular, infections are related to the majority of amputations in diabetic patients, which today represent an increasing number of the elderly. The greatest barrier to healing is represented by the biofilm, an organized consortium of bacteria encapsulated in a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance with high resistance to conventional antimicrobial therapies. There is an urgent need for novel anti-biofilm strategies and novel antimicrobial agents and, in this scenario, silver nanotechnology has received tremendous attention in recent years in therapeutically enhanced healthcare. Due to its intrinsic therapeutic properties and the broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy, silver nanoparticles have opened new horizons towards novel approaches in the control of infections in wound healing. This review aims at providing the reader with an overview of the most recent progress in silver nanotechnology, with a special focus on the role of silver in the wound healing process
Editorial: Genetic Studies on Spondyloarthritis: From Disease Predictors to Therapeutic Targets
Full text linkBioinspired materials for wound healing application: The potential of silk fibroin
No full textNature is an incredible source of inspiration for scientific research due to the multiple examples of sophisticated structures and architectures which have evolved for billions of years in different environments. Numerous biomaterials have evolved toward high level functions and performances, which can be exploited for designing novel biomedical devices. Naturally derived biopolymers, in particular, offer a wide range of chances to design appropriate substrates for tissue regeneration and wound healing applications. Wound management still represents a challenging field which requires continuous efforts in scientific research for definition of novel approaches to facilitate and promote wound healing and tissue regeneration, particularly where the conventional therapies fail. Moreover, big concerns associated to the risk of wound infections and antibiotic resistance have stimulated the scientific research toward the definition of products with simultaneous regenerative and antimicrobial properties. Among the bioinspired materials for wound healing, this review focuses attention on a protein derived from the silkworm cocoon, namely silk fibroin, which is characterized by incredible biological features and wound healing capability. As demonstrated by the increasing number of publications, today fibroin has received great attention for providing valuable options for fabrication of biomedical devices and products for tissue engineering. In combination with antimicrobial agents, particularly with silver nanoparticles, fibroin also allows the development of products with improved wound healing and antibacterial properties. This review aims at providing the reader with a comprehensive analysis of the most recent findings on silk fibroin, presenting studies and results demonstrating its effective role in wound healing and its great potential for wound healing applications
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Silver Nanoparticle–Silk Protein Nanocomposites: A Synergistic Biomimetic Approach for Advanced Antimicrobial Applications
No full textThe escalating global crisis of antimicrobial resistance demands innovative therapeutic strategies that transcend conventional approaches. This comprehensive review examines the groundbreaking synergistic integration of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with silk proteins (fibroin and sericin from Bombyx mori) to create advanced nanocomposite materials for biomedical applications. While extensive literature exists for AgNPs and silk proteins individually, a limited number of studies have explored their synergistic combination. This review consolidates this fragmented knowledge to establish the foundational framework for an emerging field. The unique properties of silk proteins as natural reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents enable environmentally friendly AgNPs synthesis while creating intelligent therapeutic platforms with emergent properties. These hybrid materials demonstrate superior performance in terms of antimicrobial efficacy, biocompatibility, and accelerated wound healing compared to the individual components. The nanocomposites exhibit broad-spectrum activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens while maintaining exceptional biocompatibility and promoting tissue regeneration. This integration represents a promising evolution toward biomimetic therapeutic platforms that work in harmony with biological systems, offering sustainable solutions to contemporary healthcare challenges
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