Polarized Light Microscopy Research Articles

Digestion inhibition of potato starch-botanical proteolytic polypeptides complexes subjected to heat moisture treatment based on steric hindrance and enzymatic inhibition

The effects of food components on starch digestibility is a prominent topic within the realms of food and nutritional science. In this study, complexes of potato starch (PS) and botanical proteolytic polypeptides (BPPs), including wheat peptides, maize peptides, rice peptides, and soybean peptides, were subjected to heat-moisture treatment (HMT). The physicochemical, structural, and digestibility variations of the PS-BPPs complexes were analyzed using polarized light microscopy, DSC, X-ray, FT-IR, SAXS, and in vitro simulated digestion. Additionally, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of BPPs on porcine pancreatic α-amylase (PPA). The results showed that the polarization cross of PS-BPPs complexes was weakened after HMT. The gelatinization temperatures (To, Tp, Tc) of the PS-BPPs complexes increased significantly. The starch in the PS-BPPs complexes transitioned from B-type structure to A-type structure after HMT, accompanied by an increase in short-range ordering and semicrystalline lamella thickness. In particular, the complexes exhibited higher contents of slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS). Furthermore, wheat, rice, and soybean peptides exhibited a mixed type of competitive inhibition against PPA, whereas maize peptides exhibited competitive inhibition. The findings provide valuable insights into the role of BPPs in regulating starch digestion. Moreover, BPPs hold potential for enhancing the nutritional value and health benefits of foods.

Multichannel Sandstone Thin Sections Identification Based on Improved DeepLab V3 Plus Neural Network.

As an unconventional natural gas resource, tight sandstone gas is primarily stored in the minuscule pores between rocky sand grains. A thorough understanding of the pore structure characteristics of tight sandstone reservoirs is essential for formulating an extraction plan and enhancing the efficiency of gas field development. The pore structure and mineral composition in the sandstone can be directly observed by thin sections. Nevertheless, previous approaches for the automated identification of sandstone thin sections exhibit certain limitations including slow identification, low accuracy, and challenges in the recognition of particle sizes. To achieve more accurate and convenient mineral component identification, this study introduces a multichannel identification method built upon the enhanced DeepLab V3 Plus model. Initially, all 224 × 224 × 3 cross-polarized light (CPL) and orthogonal polarized light (XPL) sandstone thin sections were amalgamated into 224 × 224 × 6 multichannel (six channels) images. Subsequently, multiple networks were employed to train the three polarized data sets, and the optimal semantic segmentation architecture and data set were selected through filtering. Following that, embedding the attention mechanism into the semantic segmentation network enhanced the identification accuracy. Ultimately, mineral sizes were calculated to enable more precise classification and naming of sandstone thin sections. The results show that the new method outperforms in terms of recognition accuracy, achieving 89.8% for Mean PA and 81.2% for Mean IOU. The novel approach's enhanced level of detailing enables more precise identification of mineral composition and pore structure, a crucial aspect in evaluating reservoirs and predicting oil and gas production. It can also provide new insights into identifying and categorizing other thin sections with similar compositions.

Topical Delivery of Voriconazole Loaded on Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Gel for Management of Fungal Infections

Topical antifungal therapy is recommended for the treatment of fungal infections of the skin. Due to its benefits, including the ability to direct drugs to the infection site and a lower chance of systemic adverse effects. The nano size and structure of LLC with the skin enhance the permeation and deposition of drugs within deep parts of skin. In this a novel formulation of voriconazole LLC gel was planned. Surfactant, co-surfactant, oil, and water pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were created in order to determine the LLC gel and microemulsion zones. The formulations were evaluated using polarizing microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy. For each formulation, the polydispersity index, zeta potential, and mean droplet size were determined. The release patterns revealed that the prepared LLC gel provide sustained release profile up to 24 hr. Ex-vivo permeation of selected formulations exhibited higher permeability values for voriconazole. The drug skin deposition results from selected formulations showed that, in comparison to other studied formulations, a much larger amount of the drug was deposited in the skin after 24 hours. The confocal pictures appeared that the LLC gel was able to provide fluorescent color to all skin layers. The skin irritation study data of LLC gel formulations could be announced as safe and non- irritant for human skin. The selected formulations underwent a six-month stability testing at room temperature and 4–8 °C. The results showed that the pH, drug content, and viscosity values did not change significantly during this time. Keywords: Lyotropic liquid crystal, Release and diffusion, Skin permeability, Skin deposition, Pathohistology

Biocompatible hydrogels based on quaternary ammonium salts of chitosan with high antimicrobial activity as biocidal agents for disinfection

The paper reports new hydrogels based on quaternary ammonium salts of chitosan designed as biocidal products. The chitosan derivative was crosslinked with salicylaldehyde via reversible imine bonds and supramolecular self-assemble to give dynamic hydrogels which respond to environmental stimuli. The crosslinking mechanism was demonstrated by 1H NMR and FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction and polarized light microscopy. The hydrogel nature, self-healing and thixotropy were proved by rheological investigation and visual observation, and their morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. The relevant properties for application as biocidal products, such as swelling, dissolution, bioadhesiveness, antimicrobial activity and ex-vivo hemocompatibility and in vivo local toxicity and biocompatibility on experimental mice were measured and analyzed in relationship with the imination degree and the influence of each component. It was found that the hydrogels are superabsorbent, have good adhesivity to skin and various surfaces and antimicrobial activity against relevant gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, while being hemocompatible and biocompatible. Besides, the hydrogels are easily biodegraded in soil. All these properties recommend the studied hydrogels as ecofriendly biocidal agents for living tissues and surfaces, but also open the perspectives of their use as platform for in vivo applications in tissue engineering, wound healing, or drug delivery systems.

Phase Transitions Involving Channel Hydrates of a New Pharmaceutical Compound.

Hydrates are often used as pharmaceutical active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), especially when anhydrates may not be feasible likely due to physicochemical properties concerns. Pharmaceutical hydrates, whereas water is present as crystal adduct, are feasible for drug products as they do not pose any safety concern. Hydrates can impart many different advantages; therefore, they are quite common and preferred solid forms for numerous pharmaceutical materials on market. However, hydrates may involve various phase transitions, which may impact the stability and processability of drug substance. Phase transitions, which include temperature-induced dehydration and moisture-facilitated rehydration are investigated by different solid-state analytical techniques such as powder x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, and single-crystal x-ray diffraction. This research investigation focuses on the different phase transition behaviors of a newly discovered pharmaceutical compound with three channel hydrates, two of which confirmed by single-crystal analysis. The retention or rearrangement of crystal structures over the transitions are studied. Hydrate 3 exhibits a characteristic feature of channel hydrate that involves symmetric lattice relaxation.Unlike hydrate 3, hydrate 2 results in a potentially new unit cell upon dehydration due to asymmetric lattice relaxation, which converted back to Hydrate 2 in presence of water, a very unique behavior for a channel hydrate, rarely observed, which entails novelty of this research work. The relationship among crystal forms of different hydrates of this new compound is thus established. The current investigation is a vital part of drug product risk assessment for hydrates to avoid any challenges during manufacturing operations and/or stability studies. This investigation was successfully applied in the present study and can be expanded to other newly discovered APIs in future.

Comparative evaluation of the remineralizing potential of Salvadora persica and probiotic yogurt on incipient enamel lesions: An ex-vivo study.

Salvadora persica (miswak) is known to exert antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and anticariogenic effects by elevating the pH of plaque after the consumption of sucrose. The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of S. persica and probiotic yogurt in the remineralization of tooth enamel on artificially produced enamel lesions. A total of 40 intact human premolars were collected and each tooth was sectioned longitudinally into 2 identical halves in a buccolingual direction. The buccal halves were selected for inclusion in this study, and standardized windows (5 mm× 3 mm) were isolated on the buccal surface of the enamel. The samples were incubated in a demineralizing solution at 37°C for 96 h. Subsequently, they were randomly selected for treatment with one of the experimental remineralizing solutions (S. persica or probiotic yogurt). After treatment, the samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and polarized light microscopy at baseline, after demineralization and after remineralization. The remineralizing effect of S. persica was found to be greater than that of probiotic yogurt. With regard to mineral content, S. persica exhibited the highest calcium and phosphorus levels among all groups. No significant differences were observed between the samples treated with S. persica and normal enamel. Salvadora persica extract has been demonstrated to effectively reduce the demineralization of enamel in experimental conditions. Furthermore, it has the potential to restore the mineral content to its original level.

Three-Dimensional Imaging of Bioinspired Lipidic Mesophases Using Multicolored Light-Emitting Carbon Nanodots.

Recent progress in the design of carbon nanostructures exhibiting strong multiphoton-excited emission opens new pathways to explore the self-organization of lipids found in living organisms. Phospholipid-based lyotropic myelin figures (MFs) are promising materials as simplified models of biomembranes due to their structural resemblance to a multilamellar sheath insulating the axon. This study demonstrates the possibility of selective labeling of MFs by strongly emitting multicolor phloroglucinol-derived carbon nanodots (PG CNDs). Such dopants are efficiently excited by visible and near-infrared light; therefore, one- and two-photon fluorescence microscopies are incorporated to gain 3D insights into the MFs. Combining nondestructive fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy techniques along with polarized light microscopy gives details on the stability and morphology of lipidic mesophases. Our findings suggest that PG CNDs can be a viable and simple alternative to conventional fluorescent lipid stains to image biologically relevant phospholipid-based structures.

Mineralogical investigation of asbestos contamination of soil near old vermiculite processing plant in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi

From 1954 to 1983, a vermiculite processing facility operated near the Honolulu airport and processed raw material from the Libby, Montana mine, which is now well known for the high asbestos content of its clay deposits. The factory was closed in 1983 due to health hazard concerns, and remediation was performed in 2001 as part of the Libby mine superfund project. However, because of close proximity of the closed-down facility to residential areas of metropolitan Honolulu, some concerns remain regarding the possible environmental persistence of the harmful contaminant. To assess the dispersion of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite and explore the impact of trade winds on its distribution, air samples, and soil samples were collected from multiple locations near the former vermiculite plant. Polarized light microscopy was employed to identify elongated minerals, including potential asbestos. Quantitative mineralogical analysis utilizing X-ray powder diffraction and Rietveld refinement revealed an average content of approximately 7% vermiculite and 4% tremolite at the site. The asbestiform nature of tremolite was confirmed through X-ray micro-diffraction. Detailed analysis of airborne samples using transmission electron microscopy revealed no detectable levels of asbestos fibers in the vicinity of the former processing facilities, but the possibility of asbestos fibers becoming airborne due to mechanical disturbance during dry weather cannot be ruled out.

Material and Microstructure Analysis of Wood Color Paintings from Shaanxi Cangjie Temple, China.

Cangjie Temple was built to commemorate Cangjie, the legendary inventor of Chinese characters. It stands as one of the few remaining temples in China dedicated to the invention and creation of writing. In this study, the material properties of wooden paintings from the Cangjie temple were characterized using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Micro-confocal Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). It was confirmed that the pigments of the paintings included cinnabar, lapis lazuli, lead white, Paris green, and carbon black. The proteinaceous glue was used as an adhesive in the pigment samples, with tung oil likely being utilized as a primer for the wooden structures before painting. This study not only provides valuable data support for the conservation and restoration of the architectural features of Cangjie Temple but also provides useful reference for the maintenance and inheritance of similar ancient buildings.

Provenance Studies of Natural Stones Used in Historical Buildings of the Peninsula de Barbanza, Galicia, Spain (North-Western Iberia)

Traditionally, the building stones used in the architectural heritage of Galicia (Spain) during the past were mainly extracted from quarries located in the surrounding areas of the historical buildings. Thus, a great variety of monuments were built with the same type of granite but with different degrees of weathering depending on local conditions, geological context (facies), and period of construction. The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the probable origin of the construction materials of six historical buildings on the Barbanza Peninsula, Galicia (Spain), based on the degree of weathering and petrographic-mineralogical characteristics. The evaluation was performed on six different samples of granite according to the geological context in outcrops of places where there are old quarries. We used X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and petrographic microscopy (PM) to attempt to address whether the origin is really local to the Barbanza Peninsula or whether the stone was brought from more distant places, based on our knowledge of the geological context of the study area. Based on the chemical, textural, and mineralogical analyses obtained, the material used for construction has a local origin and comes from small quarries spread over a wide area within the Peninsula itself. Barbanza-type granite is the most abundant within the geological context of the area and also the most used as a construction material. Other types of granites identified are the Confurco Granite and other granitoids of the Noya complex. The Chemical Alteration Index (CIA) shows low to moderate weathering in the granites, fitting petrographic observations. In monuments, samples show higher concentrations of Na and K due to salt crystallization. They show microcracks due to extraction, cutting, and finishing processes and common alteration processes of the main minerals, such as sericitization of plagioclase and chloritization of biotite. This work consists of a multidisciplinary study focused on the geological perspective for the identification and preservation of historic quarries. Knowledge of the original material also presents a unique opportunity for the restoration and/or reconstruction of monuments, which allows for the maintenance of their conceptual and constructive homogeneity.

Study of self-organization and structural phase transitions in water /AOT / isopropyl myristate biocompatible system

This work reports preparation and characterization of biocompatible sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) / water/ isopropyl myristate (IPM) systems. We studied their ability to form various self-organized structures such as microemulsions and liquid crystal templates for producing nanoparticles such as drug delivery vehicles, which play an important role in delivery of various substances. We determined concentration and temperature conditions that allow for forming various structures in this system and characterized the structural phase transition from the microemulsion to liquid crystalline phase, which is important for delivery of bioactive compounds. The parameters of the liquid crystalline phase of the water/AOT/isopropyl myristate system were calculated for the first time in this work. The sizes of microemulsion droplets were determined. To describe molecular motions in the studied microemulsion, self-diffusion coefficients of each component were measured. The values of relative diffusion coefficients demonstrated that reverse microemulsions were observed at AOT concentrations up to 60 % wt. Further increase in surfactant concentration slows down their molecular mobility and results in formation of aggregates with a bimodal size distribution and a subsequent formation of the hexagonal liquid crystalline phase. Geometry of the mesophase and its structure were investigated by X-ray diffraction. The respective phase diagram was plotted and analyzed using the data of polarized light microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and NMR self-diffusion. In this diagram, the areas corresponding to the microemulsion, the liquid crystal phase, and the structural phase transition were identified.The study of the structural phase transition from the microemulsion to liquid crystal will offer a predictive power for characterizing incorporation of drugs and controlling their delivery to target cells. A deeper understanding of the structural changes is necessary to clearly determine the conditions of drug delivery.

Binary wax oleogels: Improving physical properties and oxidation stability through substitution of carnauba wax with beeswax.

High concentrations of carnauba waxes (CRWs) that can compromise organoleptic properties are required to create self-sustained and functional oleogels. The weak physical properties and stability of 4% w/w CRW-rice bran oil (RBO) oleogel were addressed by substituting CRW with beeswax (BW) in different weight ratios. The texture profile analyzer revealed that substituting only 10% (weight ratio) of CRW with BW improved the hardness compared to the mono-CRW oleogel. The hardness of binary oleogels increased gradually as the proportion of BW increased. At a BW ratio of 70% or more, the hardness was three times higher than that of mono-BW oleogel. Rheology analysis showed the same trend as the large deformation test; however, the hardest binary oleogels had lower critical strain and yield point compared to the mono-wax oleogels, implying that they are more prone to lose their structure upon applied stress. Nevertheless, nearly all binary mixtures (except for 10%BW90%CRW) showed oil-binding capacities above 99%, suggesting improved nucleation and crystallization process. Polarized light microscopy showed the coexistence of BW and CRW crystals and changes in the size and arrangement of wax crystals upon proportional changes of the two waxes. X-ray diffraction confirmed no differences in the peaks' location, and all oleogels had β' polymorphism. Differential scanning calorimetry showed eutectic melting behavior in some binary blends. Oxidation stability in the binary wax oleogels improved as compared to the mono-wax oleogel and bulk RBO. BW and CRW mixtures have promising oil-structuring abilities and have various properties at different ratios that have the potential to be used as solid fat substitutes. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: As a trending green oil-structuring technology, oleogelation has shown great potential to reduce saturated fats in food systems. The current research provides valuable fundamental information on the strong synergistic interactions between beeswax and carnauba wax that have the potential to be used as solid fat substitutes created with a much lower total concentration of the required wax. This will help create wax oleogels with better organoleptic properties and less negative waxy mouthfeel. Such knowledge could prove beneficial for the development of healthy products that have potential applications in meat, bakery, dairy, pharmaceutical, as well as cosmetic industries.

Hydrated Calcium Silicate in Resin Composites for Prevention of Secondary Caries

Introduction and aimsThe gaps at the margins of restorative composite resin can increase as the carious process occurs underneath the materials, causing further demineralization along the tooth cavity wall. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of restorative resin composite containing hydrated calcium silicate (hCS) filler on enamel protection against demineralization by simulating microleakage between the test material and teeth in a cariogenic environment. MethodsThe experimental resin composites were composed of 70 wt.% filler, which was mixed with a glass filler and hCS in a weight ratio of 70.0% glass (hCS 0), 17.5% hCS + 52.5% glass (hCS 17.5), 35.0% hCS + 35.0% glass (hCS 35.0), and 52.5% hCS + 17.5% glass (hCS 52.5). A light-cured experimental resin composite disk was positioned over a polished bovine enamel disk, separated by a 30-µm gap, and immersed in artificial saliva with pH 4.0 for 15, 30, and 60 days. After the immersion period, the enamel disk was separated from the resin composite disk and evaluated using a microhardness tester, atomic force microscopy, and polarized light microscopy. The opposing sides of the enamel and resin composite disks were observed using scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. ResultsThe enamel surface showed a significant increase in microhardness, decreased roughness, and remineralization layer as the proportion of hCS increased (P < .05). In the scanning electron microscopy image, the enamel surface with hCS 35.0 and 52.5 after all experimental immersion periods, showed a pattern similar to that of a sound tooth. ConclusionsThe results demonstrated that increasing the hCS filler level of restorative resin composites significantly decreased enamel demineralization. Clinical relevanceHydrated calcium silicate laced restorative resin composites may be a promising dental biomaterial for protecting teeth against demineralization and preventing secondary caries around restorations.

WITHDRAWN: Cross polarization converter with high transmittance and near unity polarization conversion efficiency for visible light based on bilayer all-dielectric metasurface

It is highly desired to achieve high efficiency polarization converters in visible wavelength region for ultra-compact optical systems which have shown potential applications in optical sensing, communication and imaging. Due to the intrinsic property of low loss, all dielectric metasurfaces are more competitive candidates to be utilized for fabrication of polarization converters than the counterparts based on metals. In this paper, we design a bilayer all dielectric metasurface polarization converter composed of a Si double-rod resonator placed on the top of a glass block with a polymer substrate for linearly polarized visible light. The proposed bilayer metasurface structure can convert linearly polarized light to the cross-polarized light efficiently within the visible region from 542 nm to 563 nm in the transmission mode with high transmittance and near unity polarization conversion efficiency. The transmittance is larger than 0.8 in the mentioned wavelength range with a maximum transmission of 0.86 at 556 nm and polarization conversion ratio is larger than 90% in the same wavelength range with a maximum polarization conversion ratio of 99.01% at 556 nm. The underline physical mechanisms of high conversion efficiency and high transmittance are analyzed in detail with simulated distributions of surface current, electrical field distributions and the calculated multipole decompositions of the scattering power.

Co-Amorphization of Acemetacin with Basic Amino Acids as Co-Formers for Solubility Improvement and Gastric Ulcer Mitigation.

Acemetacin (ACM) is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic effects. However, the poor water solubility and gastrointestinal side effects limit its use. Recently, the co-amorphous (CAM) strategy has attracted great interest to improve solubility for poorly water-soluble drugs, and basic amino acids have the potential to protect the gastrointestinal tract. In order to develop a highly efficient and low-toxic ACM formulation, we prepared ACM CAM systems, with basic amino acids (lysine, arginine, and histidine) as co-formers, using a cryo-milling method. The solid-state behaviors of the ACM CAM systems were characterized by polarizing light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and powder X-ray diffraction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and molecular docking were carried out to understand the formation mechanism. Moreover, the gastro-protective effects of ACM CAM systems were evaluated in a rat gastric ulcer model. The results demonstrated that the CAM systems improved the dissolution rates of ACM compared with the neat amorphous counterpart. Furthermore, ACM CAM systems are significantly effective in mitigating the ACM-induced gastric ulcer in rats, and the ulcer inhibition rates were almost 90%. More importantly, this study provided a useful method for mitigating drug-induced gastrointestinal damage and broadened the applications of drug-amino acid CAM systems.

A Characterisation of the Protrusions on Liu Kang’s Boat scene (1974) from the National Gallery Singapore

This paper investigates the oil on canvas painting Boat scene (1974) by Liu Kang (1911–2004), belonging to the National Gallery Singapore (NGS). The focus is on disfiguring paint protrusions in a specific area and colour in the composition. Moreover, in search of the possible factors responsible for the creation of the protrusions, the structure and composition of the paint layers were determined. Three possible reasons were put forward to explain this phenomenon: deliberate textural effects, the expansion of metal soaps and unintentional paint contamination during the artistic process. Investigative techniques such as technical photography, digital microscopy, optical microscopy (OM), polarised light microscopy (PLM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM-EDS) and attenuated total reflectance micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR μ-FTIR) were employed to analyse paint layers, including protrusion samples. The analyses revealed that the protrusions resulted from an unintentional contamination of the oil paint during the artistic process by dry fragments of different pigment mixtures bound in drying oil. Zinc soaps were found in significant concentrations within the protrusions and other parts of the painted scene. Nevertheless, the metal soaps do not pose a direct risk to the integrity of the paint layers at the time of this research. The analyses highlight the potential challenges caused by the protrusions that conservators may face while caring for the painting. The research contributes to our ongoing comprehension of the artist’s working process.

Stain-free enucleation of mouse and human oocytes with a 1033nm femtosecond laser.

Preparation of a recipient cytoplast by oocyte enucleation is an essential task for animal cloning and assisted reproductive technologies in humans. The femtosecond laser is a precise and low-invasive tool for oocyte enucleation, and it should be an appropriate alternative to traditional enucleation by a microneedle aspiration. However, until recently, the laser enucleation was performed only with applying a fluorescent dye. This work is aimed to (1)achieve femtosecond laser oocyte enucleation without applying a fluorescent dye and (2)to study the effect of laser destruction of chromosomes on the structure and dynamics of the spindle. We applied polarized light microscopy for spindle visualization and performed stain-free mouse and human oocyte enucleation with a 1033nm femtosecond laser. Also, we studied transformation of a spindle after metaphase plate elimination by a confocal microscopy. We demonstrated a fundamental possibility of inactivating the metaphase plate in mouse and human oocytes by 1033nm femtosecond laser radiation without applying a fluorescent dye. Irradiation of the spindle area, visualized by polarized light microscopy, resulted in partly or complete metaphase plate destruction but avoided the microtubules impairment. After the metaphase plate elimination, the spindle reorganized, however, it was not a complete depolymerization. This method of recipient cytoplast preparation is expected to be useful for animal cloning and assisted reproductive technologies.

Rapeseed oleogels based on monoacylglycerols and methylcellulose hybrid oleogelators: Physicochemical and rheological properties

In this study, we investigated the combined impact of monoacylglycerol (MAGs) and methylcellulose (MC) on the production of hybrid oleogels. Since cellulose derivatives are inherently hydrophilic substances, they require dissolution in oil through an emulsion-coating method. Therefore, we developed a hybrid oleogel utilizing MAGs and MC. Initially, a hybrid oleogelator was created by blending an aqueous MC solution into fully melted MAGs to form MC in water-in-MAGs emulsions with varying MC/MAG ratios, followed by drying. Subsequently, the resulting oleogelator was mixed with rapeseed oil to produce oleogels, and their properties were compared with oleogels produced solely with MAG oleogelator. The findings indicated that the obtained oleogelator did not significantly impact the oxidation of the oleogels. Additionally, there was no notable difference observed in the induction period of crystallization and the crystallization rate of the oleogels. Microscopic images revealed that the hybrid oleogel structured with a 30:70 ratio of MAGs and MC contained the lowest liquid phase percentage. In terms of rheological assessment, the hybrid oleogels exhibited solid-like behavior, consistent with polarized light microscopy (PLM) images. Furthermore, based on the three-interval thixotropic test (3-ITT), the hybrid oleogels displayed higher recovery compared to the control sample.

Optical evaluation of internal damage to human hair based on second near-infrared window polarization microscopy.

Hair beauty treatments glorify human life. As a side effect, there is a risk of deteriorating the health of the hair. Optically polarized microscopy has been used for many decades to evaluate hair conditions owing to its ease of use and low operating costs. However, the low biopermeability of light hinders the observation of detailed structures inside hair. The aim of this study is to establish an evaluation technique of internal damages in a hair by utilizing a near-infrared (NIR) light with a wavelength of 1000-1600 nm, called "second NIR window". We built a laser scanning transmission microscope system with an indium gallium arsenide detector, a 1064 nm laser source, and optical circular polarization to visualize the anisotropy characterization of keratin fibres in hair. Samples of Asian black hair before and after bleaching, after permanent-waving, after lithium bromide (LiBr) treatment, and after heating was observed. Some parameters reflecting intra-hair damage were quantitatively compared with the parameters in digitally recorded images with analytical developments. The light transmittance of black hair was dramatically improved by utilizing the second NIR window. Numerical analysis of circular polarization in hair quantified the internal damage in chemically or thermally treated hair and found two different types of damage. The present method enabled quantitative evaluation of the condition changes in the cortex; for example, a decrease in circular polarizability by LiBr treatment and restoration by replacing the LiBr solution with water. In addition, black speckles were observed after the heat treatment. Longer heating and wetting times increased the appearance probability and size of the speckles. According to quantitative analyses, the emergence of black spots was independent of polarizability changes, indicating that they were not pores. Circular polarization microscopy based on near-infrared optics in the second NIR window provides an effective evaluation method for quantifying intra-hair damage caused by cosmetic treatments. The present method provides noninvasive, easy, and inexpensive hair evaluation and has potential as a gold standard in hair care research/medical fields.

Discovery of calcite as a new pro-inflammatory calcium-containing crystal in human osteoarthritic synovial fluid

ObjectiveWe aimed to characterize calcium-containing crystals present in synovial fluid from patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) using Raman spectroscopy, and specifically investigate the biological effects of calcite crystals. DesignThirty-two synovial fluid samples were collected pre-operatively from knee OA patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty. An integrated Raman polarized light microscope was used for identification of crystals in synovial fluid. Human peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC’s), human OA articular chondrocytes (HACs) and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) were exposed to calcite crystals. Expression of relevant cytokines and inflammatory genes were measured using ELISA and real-time PCR. ResultsVarious calcium-containing crystals were identified, including calcium pyrophosphate (37.5%) and basic calcium phosphate (21.8%), but they were never found simultaneously in the same OA synovial fluid sample. For the first time, we discovered the presence of calcite crystals in 93.8% of the samples, while dolomite was detected in 25% of the cases. Characterization of the cellular response to calcite crystal exposure revealed increased production of innate immune-derived cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC’s), when co-stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Additionally, calcite crystal stimulation of HACS and FLSs resulted in enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules and alterations in the expression of extracellular matrix remodeling enzymes. ConclusionsThis study highlights the unique role of Raman spectroscopy in OA crystal research and identified calcite as a novel pro-inflammatory crystal type in OA synovial fluid. Understanding the role of specific crystal species in the OA joint may open new avenues for pharmacological interventions and personalized approaches to treating OA.