Honeycomb Map: A Bioinspired Topological Map for Indoor Search and Rescue Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

The use of robots to map disaster-stricken environments can prevent rescuers from being harmed when exploring an unknown space. In addition, mapping a multi-robot environment can help these teams plan their actions with prior knowledge. The present work proposes the use of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the construction of a topological map inspired by the way that bees build their hives. A UAV can map a honeycomb only if it is adjacent to a known one. Different metrics to choose the honeycomb to be explored were applied. At the same time, as UAVs scan honeycomb adjacencies, RGB-D and thermal sensors capture other data types, and then generate a 3D view of the space and images of spaces where there may be fire spots, respectively. Simulations in different environments showed that the choice of metric and variation in the number of UAVs influence the number of performed displacements in the environment, consequently affecting exploration time and energy use.

EMG Signal Processing for the Study of Localized Muscle Fatigue-Pilot Study to Explore the Applicability of a Novel Method.

This pilot study aimed to explore a method for characterization of the electromyogram frequency spectrum during a sustained exertion task, performed by the upper limb. Methods: Nine participants underwent an isometric localized muscle fatigue protocol on an isokinetic dynamometer until exhaustion, while monitored with surface electromyography (sEMG) of the shoulder's external rotators. Firstly, three methods of signal energy analysis based on primer frequency contributors were compared to the energy of the entire spectrum. Secondly, the chosen method of analysis was used to characterize the signal energy at beginning (T1), in the middle (T2) and at the end (T3) of the fatigue protocol and compared to the torque output and the shift in the median frequencies during the trial. Results: There were statistically significant differences between T1 and T3 for signal energy (p < 0.007) and for central frequency of the interval (p = 0.003). Moreover, the isometric peak torque was also different between T1 and T3 (p < 0.001). Overall, there were no differences between the signal energy enclosed in the 40 primer frequency contributors and the analysis of the full spectrum energy; consequently, it was the method of choice. The reported fatigue and the decrease in the produced muscle torque was consistent with fatigue-induced alterations in the electromyogram frequency spectrum. In conclusion, the developed protocol has potential to be considered as an easy-to-use method for EMG-based analysis of isometric muscle exertion until fatigue. Thus, the novelty of the proposed method is to explore, in muscle fatigue, the use of only the main contributors in the frequency domain of the EMG spectrum, avoiding surplus information, that may not represent muscle functioning. However, further studies are needed to investigate the stability of the present findings in a more comprehensive sample.

Chromium(III) determination with 1,5-diphenylcarbazide based on the oxidative effect of chlorine radicals generated from CCl4 sonolysis in aqueous solution.

Oxidation of Cr(III) during sonication in carbonated aqueous solutions saturated with CCl4 leads to the quantitative formation of Cr(VI) and provides a simple and rapid method for spectrophotometric chromium determination with 1,5-diphenylcarbazide. The key to this method is the production of chlorine radicals when aqueous solution saturated with CCl4 is exposed to ultrasonic waves of 40 kHz. The effects of sonication period, CCl4 solution volume, acidity, and interferences were discussed. The time required for a single determination is lower than 2 min. The relative standard deviation obtained for aqueous solutions with 1 microg of Cr was < 2% (N = 10) and the calculated detection limit (3sigma) was 5 ng of Cr.

Flavonoids inhibit the production of cytokines/chemokines and induce apoptosis in human neutrophils.

Neutrophils play an important role in the pathophysiology of inflammatory processes, where their concentration and activity are usually extremely high, due to a variety of soluble factors, namely cytokines and chemokines. Cytokines and chemokines are responsible for the delay of the neutrophils' constitutive apoptotic pathway, contributing for their accumulation at the inflammatory site, potentiating the tissue damage by the continuous production of reactive oxygen species and granule enzymes. Thus, the modulation of neutrophils' apoptosis and the production of cytokines and chemokines are seen as new therapeutic targets.[1] Flavonoids may be considered promising molecules in the resolution of the inflammatory process, due to their potential to interfere with pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. In this study, a series of flavonoids were tested for their capacity to interfere in human neutrophils apoptosis, assessed by flow cytometry after simultaneous staining with Annexin-V labeled with fluorescein and propidium iodide.[2] Their capacity to modulate the production of cytokines and chemokines were also evaluated, in human whole blood, using a commercial ELISA kit.[3] The studied flavonoids showed promising features for simultaneously induce apoptosis and inhibit the cytokines / chemokine's production. Overall, this work reveals promising flavonoids for the modulation of the inflammatory process.

Novel resveratrol nanodelivery systems based on lipid nanoparticles to enhance its oral bioavailability.

INTRODUCTION: Resveratrol is a polyphenol found in grapes and red wines. Interest in this polyphenol has increased due to its pharmacological cardio- and neuroprotective, chemopreventive, and antiaging effects, among others. Nevertheless, its pharmacokinetic properties are less favorable, since the compound has poor bioavailability, low water solubility, and is chemically unstable. To overcome these problems, we developed two novel resveratrol nanodelivery systems based on lipid nanoparticles to enhance resveratrol's oral bioavailability for further use in medicines, supplements, and nutraceuticals. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with resveratrol were successfully produced by a modified hot homogenization technique. These were completely characterized to evaluate the quality of the developed resveratrol-loaded nanoparticles. RESULTS: Cryo-scanning electron microscopy morphology studies showed spherical and uniform nanoparticles with a smooth surface. An average resveratrol entrapment efficiency of ~70% was obtained for both SLNs and NLCs. Dynamic light scattering measurements gave a Z-average of 150-250 nm, polydispersity index of ~0.2, and a highly negative zeta potential of around -30 mV with no statistically significant differences in the presence of resveratrol. These characteristics remained unchanged for at least 2 months, suggesting good stability. Differential scanning calorimetry studies confirmed the solid state of the SLNs and NLCs at both room and body temperatures. The NLCs had a less ordered crystalline structure conferred by the inclusion of the liquid lipid, since they had lower values for phase transition temperature, melting enthalpy, and the recrystallization index. The presence of resveratrol induced a disorder in the crystal structure of the nanoparticles, suggesting a favoring of its entrapment. The in vitro release studies on conditions of storage showed a negligible resveratrol release over several hours for both nanosystems and the in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal transit showed that the resveratrol remained mostly associated with the lipid nanoparticles after their incubation in digestive fluids. CONCLUSION: Both nanodelivery systems can be considered suitable carriers for oral administration, conferring protection to the incorporated resveratrol and allowing a controlled release after uptake.

In vitro scavenging capacity of annatto seed extracts against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

Bixa orellana L. (annatto), from Bixaceae family, is a native plant of tropical America, which accumulates several carotenoids (including bixin and norbixin), terpenoids, tocotrienols and flavonoids with potential antioxidant activity. In the present study, the in vitro scavenging capacity of annatto seed extracts against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) was evaluated and compared to the bixin standard. Annatto extracts were obtained using solvents with different polarities and their phenolic compounds and bixin levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector. All annatto extracts were able to scavenge all the reactive species tested at the low µg/mL range, with the exception of superoxide radical. The ethanol:ethyl acetate and ethyl acetate extracts of annatto seeds, which presented the highest levels of hypolaetin and bixin, respectively, were the extracts with the highest antioxidant capacity, although bixin standard presented the lowest IC(50) values.

Flow-injection determination of total organic fluorine with off-line defluorination reaction on a solid sorbent bed.

Considering recent reports on widespread occurrence and concerns about perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in environmental and biological systems, analysis of these compounds have gained much attention in recent years. Majority of analyte-specific methods are based on a LC/MS/MS or a GC/MS detection, however many environmental or biological studies would benefit from a total organic fluorine (TOF) determination. Presented work was aimed at developing a method for TOF determination. TOF is determined as an amount of inorganic fluoride obtained after defluorination reaction conducted off-line using sodium biphenyl reagent directly on the sorbent without elution of retained analytes. Recovered fluoride was analyzed using flow-injection system with either fluorimetric or potentiometric detection. The TOF method was tested using perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), as model compounds. Considering low concentrations of PFAS in natural samples, solid-phase extraction as a preconcentration procedure was evaluated. Several carbon-based sorbents were tested, namely multi-wall carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibres and activated carbon. Good sorption of all analytes was achieved and defluorination reaction was possible to carry out directly on a sorbent bed. Recoveries obtained for PFCAs, adsorbed on an activated carbon sorbent, and measured as TOF, were 99.5+/-1.7, 110+/-9.4, 95+/-26, 120+/-32, 110+/-12 for C4, C6, C8, C10 and C12-PFCA, respectively. Two flow systems that would enable the defluorination reaction and fluoride determination in a single system were designed and tested.

Antioxidant activity and inhibition of human neutrophil oxidative burst mediated by arylpropionic acid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

It has been suggested that the anti-inflammatory activity of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be partly due to their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), as well as to inhibit the respiratory burst of neutrophils triggered by various activating agents. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to evaluate and compare the potential scavenging activity for an array of ROS (O2*-, H2O2, HO*, ROO* and HOCl) and RNS (*NO and ONOO-) using in vitro non-cellular screening systems as well as a cellular screening system (human neutrophil oxidative burst), mediated by the arylpropionic acid derivatives (APAs) NSAIDs ibuprofen, flurbiprofen, fenoprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, naproxen and indoprofen. The results obtained in the present work demonstrate that under the present experimental conditions, many of the studied APA NSAIDs showed O2*- scavenging activity (fenbufen approximately equal to flurbiprofen approximately equal to indoprofen approximately equal to ketoprofen), H2O2 (ketoprofen approximately equal to indoprofen approximately equal to fenbufen>flurbiprofen>naproxen), HO* (fenoprofen approximately equal to ibuprofen>fenbufen approximately equal to flurbiprofen>ketoprofen>indoprofen approximately equal to naproxen), *NO (indoprofen>naproxen), ONOO- (indoprofen>naproxen>fenoprofen approximately equal to flurbiprofen approximately equal to ibuprofen), as well as inhibit myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (indoprofen) and scavenge human neutrophil derived ROS (ketoprofen>indoprofen>fenbufen>flurbiprofen). The observed effects, if confirmed in vivo, may strongly contribute to the anti-inflammatory therapeutical activity observed with these NSAIDs.