Replica Analysis Research Articles

Watching Kinetic Studies as Chemical Maps Using Open-Source Software.

A nonproprietary software package, "PyMca", primarily developed for X-ray fluorescence analysis offers an easy-to-use interface for calculating maps, by integrating intensity (of X-ray fluorescence, as well as any spectral data) over Regions Of Interest (ROI), by performing per pixel operations or by applying multivariate analysis. Here we show that, while initially developed to analyze hyperspectral two-dimensional (spatial) maps, this tool can be beneficial as well to anyone interested in measuring spectral variations over one or two dimensions, these dimensions being time, temperature, and so on. Different possibilities offered by the software (preprocessing, simultaneous analysis of replicas, of different conditions, ROI calculation, multivariate analysis, determination of reaction rate constant and of Arrhenius plot) are illustrated with two examples. The first example is the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) follow-up of the saponification of oil by lead compounds. The disappearance of reagent (oil) and formation of products (lead carboxylates and glycerol) can be easily followed and quantified. The second example is a combined extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), and mass spectroscopy (MS) analysis of RhAl2O3 catalyst under NO reduction by CO in the presence of O2. It is possible to appreciate, in a single shot, Rh particles' structure and surface changes and gas release and adsorption in the reaction conditions.

A Simple Procedure for Comparative GC-MS Analysis of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia Mill.) Flower Volatile Composition.

The efficient lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) breeding for essential oil production requires routine and accurate comparison the flower volatile composition of larger number individual plants from genetic resource pools and segregating populations. Here we describe the performance testing of a simple procedure for comparative GC-MS analysis of flower volatile composition of individual lavender plants. It involves collection of fixed number flowers at selected stage of development and direct solvent extraction and GC-MS analysis of the extracts. The summarized data on relative standard deviations for the analyzed compound abundancies determined from three replica analysis of individual plants from Bulgarian lavender varieties are presented. Further application of this comparative GC-MS analysis procedure demonstrates significant changes in the accumulation of certain volatiles during flower development. The comparative analysis also showed no significant daytime variation of the flower volatile composition and minor variations after testing the same plants within five consecutive days. The possibilities for routine applications of the tested procedure for comparative GC-MS analysis of flower volatiles in larger number of plants from lavender segregating populations or genetic resources collections are discussed.

Evaluation of the anti-wrinkle effect of an ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch via a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Although an ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch has been developed to improve anti-wrinkle effects, an efficacy evaluation with a control group has not yet been performed. In this study, the anti-wrinkle effect of an ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch was evaluated in a double-blind clinical study with a control group. In addition, a cumulative skin irritation and sensitization potential of the ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch was performed. Twenty-three subjects were selected for anti-wrinkle effect evaluation in a double-blind clinical study. Subjects were divided into two groups. Group I subjects applied an ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch on a crow's feet area on the left side of the face and a control sample on a crow's feet area on the right side of the face every 4 days. Group II subjects placed the same patches on opposite sides of the face. Global Photodamage Score and skin replica analysis were conducted by visual inspection and skin visiometer, respectively. A skin irritation and sensitization assessment was performed on 51 subjects using the modified Shelanski & Shelanski procedure. Cumulative skin irritation potential and skin sensitization of the ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch and control sample were evaluated. Skin treated with the ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch showed a statistically significant improvement in both the Global Photodamage Score and visiometer R values (P < 0.05) compared with the control sample. The R2 value (maximum roughness), in particular, showed a highly significant improvement (P < 0.01). The skin irritation and sensitization assessment demonstrated that the ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch did not induce any cumulative skin irritation potential or skin sensitization. An ascorbic acid-loaded dissolving microneedle patch produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect without skin irritation and sensitization problems. This cosmetic dissolving microneedle patch can be used efficiently in the anti-wrinkle cosmetic field with patient convenience.

Phloroglucinol Reduces Photodamage in Hairless Mice via Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity Through MAPK Pathway.

We investigated the photoprotective activity of phloroglucinol on ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced deleterious effects in hairless mice in vivo. To assess the photoprotective effect of phloroglucinol, phloroglucinol-treated HR-1 hairless male mice were exposed to UVB irradiation. The inhibitory activity of phloroglucinol on wrinkle formation was determined by analysis of skin replicas, epidermal thickness based on histological examination and collagen damage. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) mRNA levels were measured by real-time PCR. UVB induced transcription of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β, IL-6) and IL-8 (IL-8). The protective effects of phloroglucinol on UVB-induced skin photoaging were examined by measuring protein levels of MMPs and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. The results of these experiments suggest that phloroglucinol has a significant beneficial effect on the barrier function of the skin. In hairless mice, signs of photoaging and photodamage, including coarse wrinkle formation, epidermal thickness and elastic fiber degeneration, were reduced in severity by phloroglucinol application. The phloroglucinol-treated group showed remarkably decreased mRNA levels of MMP-1, MMP-9 and inflammatory cytokines in comparison with those of the UVB-induced group. Oral administration of phloroglucinol attenuated phosphorylation of MAP kinases, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38.

Visible-induced luminescence imaging: A user-friendly method based on a system of interchangeable and tunable LED light sources

Imaging techniques represent an unavoidable analytical tool for the non-invasive investigation of cultural heritage objects providing useful information for the identification and distribution of materials on the investigated surface. In particular, photo-induced luminescence imaging can give important indications as to the distribution of organic (binders, resins, dyes and lakes) and inorganic (Egyptian blue, Han blue, Han purple, zinc oxide, cadmium based pigments) constituting materials. Recently the use of LEDs, generating a narrow emission band in the Visible range, has been introduced opening up a new perspective in the detection of inorganic luminescent pigments. In this work we propose a user-friendly tool for luminescence acquisition based on the use of a custom made interchangeable and tunable LED light source system, that allows us to select both the power and the wavelength of the excitation light. The study involved the analysis of panel painting replicas prepared applying several pigments and lakes commonly used by artists in different historical periods. The luminescence images were recorded by a high sensitivity CCD camera and a Vidicon camera in the Visible and NIR range, under three excitation narrow bands (red LEDs at 630nm; green LEDs at 517nm and blue LEDs at 465nm). The reliability of the developed experimental setup has been validated by spectrofluorimetric measurements. A very high correspondence between imaging and spectral response has been found concerning emission band position, emission intensity and excitation wavelength effect. Furthermore, the NIR luminescence of a modern yellow pigment, nickel titanate, has been for the first time documented. The defined methodology has been applied to the study of works of art of different historical periods where it has been proved to successfully detect luminescent inorganic and organic pigments, whose presence has been confirmed also by elemental analyses and spectrofluorimetry.

Belief Propagation Algorithm for Portfolio Optimization Problems.

The typical behavior of optimal solutions to portfolio optimization problems with absolute deviation and expected shortfall models using replica analysis was pioneeringly estimated by S. Ciliberti et al. [Eur. Phys. B. 57, 175 (2007)]; however, they have not yet developed an approximate derivation method for finding the optimal portfolio with respect to a given return set. In this study, an approximation algorithm based on belief propagation for the portfolio optimization problem is presented using the Bethe free energy formalism, and the consistency of the numerical experimental results of the proposed algorithm with those of replica analysis is confirmed. Furthermore, the conjecture of H. Konno and H. Yamazaki, that the optimal solutions with the absolute deviation model and with the mean-variance model have the same typical behavior, is verified using replica analysis and the belief propagation algorithm.

Blinding as a Punishment: A Story about Saul in the Old Testament and the Image of Paul in the Fine Arts

&lt;p class="tekstasanotacijos"&gt;&lt;em&gt;On the ground of theoretical research methods, the article estimates the image of Paul in the Old Testament and the fine arts. Examples of the fine arts are analysed in the paper as social phenomena. Interrelations between art and public events are revealed. Leaving issues of art criticism aside, pieces of art are analysed in the area of art sociology, aiming to notice reflections of historical reality and their impact on man beholding this. On the ground of analysis of replicas of 239 art works depicting a character of the Old Testament, Saul, it is attempted to answer the questions what episodes of this character’s life were most commonly depicted in the fine arts, in which periods of historical development of art (Saul later was Christened as Paul, and afterwards proclaimed saint) the topic of Paul was the most popular, painters of which countries favoured this topic the most, what episodes of this character’s life imposed painters, engravers and sculptors the most, why did this Biblical character receive more attention in the development of art history in comparison to other characters of the Old Testament. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Complex spherical 2 + 4 spin glass: A model for nonlinear optics in random media

A disordered mean field model for multimode laser in open and irregular cavities is proposed and discussed within the replica analysis. The model includes the dynamics of the mode intensity and accounts also for the possible presence of a linear coupling between the modes, due, e.g., to the leakages from an open cavity. The complete phase diagram, in terms of disorder strength, source pumping and non-linearity, consists of four different optical regimes: incoherent fluorescence, standard mode locking, random lasing and the novel spontaneous phase locking. A replica symmetry breaking phase transition is predicted at the random lasing threshold. For a high enough strength of non-linearity, a whole region with nonvanishing complexity anticipates the transition, and the light modes in the disordered medium display typical discontinuous glassy behavior, i.e., the photonic glass has a multitude of metastable states that corresponds to different mode-locking processes in random lasers. The lasing regime is still present for very open cavities, though the transition becomes continuous at the lasing threshold.

Replica analysis of Franz–Parisi potential for sparse systems

We propose a method for calculating the Franz–Parisi potential for spin glass models on sparse random graphs using the replica method under the replica symmetric ansatz. The resulting self-consistent equations have the solution with the characteristic structure of multi-body overlaps, and the self-consistent equations under this solution are equivalent to the one-step replica symmetry breaking (1RSB) cavity equation with Parisi parameter x = 1. This method is useful for the evaluation of transition temperatures of the p-spin model on regular random graphs under a uniform magnetic field.

Anti-wrinkle Effects of Water Extracts of Teas in Hairless Mouse.

Tea flavonoids and polyphenols are well known for their extraordinary antioxidant activity which is considered important for anti-aging processes in animals. This study evaluated the anti-wrinkle effects of three different kinds of tea (Camellia sinensis) water extracts (CSWEs) including green, white, and black teas using a photoaged hairless mouse model. Data showed that the CSWE-treatment greatly improved skin conditions of mice suffering from UVB-induced photoaging, based on the parameters including the skin erythema index, moisture capacity, and transepidermal water loss. In addition, the wrinkle measurement and image analysis of skin replicas indicated that CSWEs remarkably inhibited wrinkle formation. In histological examination, the CSWE-treated mice exhibited diminished epidermal thickness and increased collagen and elastic fiber content, key signatures for skin restoration. Furthermore, the reduced expression of MMP-3, a collagen-degradative enzyme, was observed in the skin of CSWE-treated animals. Interestingly, comparative data between green, white, and black tea indicated that the anti-wrinkle activity of white tea and black tea is equally greater than that of green tea. Taken together, these data clearly demonstrated that CSWEs could be used as an effective anti-wrinkle agent in photoaged animal skin, implying their extended uses in therapeutics.

Improvement of photoaged skin wrinkles with cultured human fibroblasts and adipose-derived stem cells: A comparative study

We investigated the antiwrinkle effects of cultured human fibroblasts and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and the mechanisms underlying the reduction of wrinkles in photoaged skin. The fibroblasts and ADSCs were isolated from human tissue and cultured. A total of 28 6-week-old female BALB/c nude mice were classified into four groups, including the normal control group and three groups that were irradiated six times a week for 6-weeks using ultraviolet B radiation to induce photoaged wrinkles. ADSCs were injected into the wrinkles in the skin of the second group and fibroblasts were injected into the wrinkles in the skin of the third group. The fourth group was the irradiated negative control group (no therapy). After 4 weeks of injections, the wrinkles were compared by replica analysis, biopsies were performed, and the dermal thickness and collagen densities were measured. We determined the amounts of type 1 collagen and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1, 2, 3, 9, and 13 using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, and we assessed tropoelastin and fibrillin-1 expression in the dermis by immunohistochemistry. Replica analysis showed significant wrinkle reduction in the fibroblast group and the ADSC group. ADSCs stimulated collagen expression and decreased MMP expression. Although fibroblasts stimulated more collagen expression than ADSCs, they also increased MMP expression. Overall, the ADSC group showed higher collagen density and had better outcomes in the tropoelastin and fibrillin-1 assessments. Both cultured fibroblasts and ADSCs could play an important role in wrinkle reduction despite differences in their mechanisms of action.

Structure and Properties of Wear-Resistant Weld Deposit Formed on Martensitic Steel Using the Electric-Arc Method

Studies on the structure and the phase composition of the deposited material were carried out using methods of X-ray structure analysis and electron diffraction microscopy of extract coal replicas and thin foils on steel Hardox 400. Formation of a multiphase state, represented by grains of α-iron and inclusions of carbide phases based on iron, chromium, and niobium, is revealed.

Localized and bound excitons in type-II ZnMnSe/ZnSSe quantum wells

Photoluminescence of ZnMnSe/ZnSSe multiple quantum wells under a bandgap continuous wave and fs-pulsed excitations is measured in magnetic fields up to 10 T in Faraday geometry at temperatures within the range of 1.6–20 K. The measurements reveal two dominant lines in the spectra and LO-phonon replicas of the lower-energy line. The photoluminescence and time-resolved studies show dramatically different behaviour of the lines. Analysis of their properties reveals that they correspond to recombination of indirect localized excitons and indirect acceptor-bound excitons (A0X). Crossing of exciton and A0X lines because of the difference in magnitudes of their Zeeman shifts is observed. Analysis of LO-phonon replicas of photoluminescence lines provides additional evidence for strong carrier localization bound to A0X. A model of phonon-assisted recombination of indirect acceptor-bound excitons is proposed. The fitting of photoluminescence lines with this model gives the Huang–Rhys factor S ≃ 0.25 for A0X and the hole localization size ah ≃ 30 Å. Contrary to expectations the exciton magnetic polaron effect is hardly observed in these structures.

Parallel Randomly Compressed Cubes : A scalable distributed architecture for big tensor decomposition

This article combines a tutorial on state-of-the-art tensor decomposition as it relates to big data analytics, with original research on parallel and distributed computation of low-rank decomposition for big tensors, and a concise primer on Hadoop?MapReduce. A novel architecture for parallel and distributed computation of low-rank tensor decomposition that is especially well suited for big tensors is proposed. The new architecture is based on parallel processing of a set of randomly compressed, reduced-size replicas of the big tensor. Each replica is independently decomposed, and the results are joined via a master linear equation per tensor mode. The approach enables massive parallelism with guaranteed identifiability properties: if the big tensor is of low rank and the system parameters are appropriately chosen, then the rank-one factors of the big tensor will indeed be recovered from the analysis of the reduced-size replicas. Furthermore, the architecture affords memory/storage and complexity gains of order for a big tensor of size of rank F with No sparsity is required in the tensor or the underlying latent factors, although such sparsity can be exploited to improve memory, storage, and computational savings.

Inferring hidden states in a random kinetic Ising model: replica analysis

We consider the problem of predicting the spin states in a kinetic Ising model when spin trajectories are observed for only a finite fraction of sites. In a Bayesian setting, where the probabilistic model of the spin dynamics is assumed to be known, the optimal prediction can be computed from the conditional (posterior) distribution of unobserved spins given the observed ones. Using the replica method, we compute the error of the Bayes optimal predictor for parallel discrete time dynamics in a fully connected spin system with non-symmetric random couplings. The results, exact in the thermodynamic limit, agree very well with simulations of finite spin systems.

Pore volume is most highly correlated with the visual assessment of skin pores

Many studies have been focused on evaluating assessment techniques for facial pores amid growing attention on skin care. Ubiquitous techniques used to assess the size of facial pores include visual assessment, cross-section images of the skin surface, and profilometric analysis of silicone replica of the facial skin. In addition, there are indirect assessment methods, including observation of pores based on confocal laser scanning microscopy and the analysis of sebum secretion and skin elasticity. The aim of this study was to identify parameters useful in estimating pore of surface in normal skin. The severity of pores on the cheek area by frontal optical images was divided on a 0-6 scale with '0' being faint and small pore and '6' being obvious and large pore. After the photos of the frontal cheek of 32 women aged between 35 and 49 were taken, the size of their pores was measured on a 0-6 scale; and the correlation between visual grading of pore and various evaluations (pore volume by 3-D image, pore area and number by Optical Image Analyzer) contributing to pore severity investigated using direct, objective, and noninvasive evaluations. The visual score revealed that the size of pores was graded on a 1-6 scale. Visual grading of pore was highly correlated with pore volume measured from 3-D images and pore area measured from 2-D optical images in the order (P<0.01). Visual grading of pore was also slightly correlated with the number of pores in size of over 0.04mm(2) (P<0.05). High correlation between pore score and pore volume can be explained by 3-D structural characteristics of pores. It is concluded that pore volume and area serve as useful parameters in estimating pore of skin surface.

Efficacy Evaluation of Unique Skincare Product Containing Pseudo-Ceramide for Fine Wrinkles in Japanese Female Atopic Dermatitis Patients

Background/Objective: Dryness is considered to be an early developmental mechanism of wrinkles, and fine line formation is marked in atopic dermatitis (AD) accompanied by dry skin. To evaluate the efficacy of a skincare product with a moisturizing effect increased by lamellar formulation of pseudo-ceramide for fine lines and wrinkles, a use test was performed applying the product to non-lesional dry skin in patients with atopic dermatitis. Method: The test product was an essence containing pseudo-ceramide formulated in a lamellar structure. The study design was a nine-week single-center non-comparative study, and the evaluation items were the grade of wrinkles at the corners of the eyes judged by a dermatologist, replica analysis, and instrumental measurement (skin surface moisture and transepidermal water loss). Results: Nine-week continuous use of the test product significantly improved the score of wrinkles at the corners of the eyes judged by a dermatologist and wrinkle area ratio on replica analysis of the corners of the eyes and cheeks, compared with those at study initiation. With this improvement, the losses of skin surface moisture and transepidermal water were also significantly improved. Conclusion: It was clarified that the tested pseudo-ceramide-formulated skincare product not only improved the barrier function for atopic dermatitis, but also exhibited an effect on fine lines and wrinkles of dry skin.

Striae distensae are characterized by distinct microstructural features as measured by non‐invasive methods in vivo

Stretch marks or striae distensae (SD) are characterized by epidermal atrophy following repeated over-stretching of the skin tissue. The objective of this study was to investigate the skin texture and microstructure of SD lesions compared to those of normal adjacent skin in vivo using non-invasive methods. A population of 26 women and 3 men with SD were examined after giving written informed consent. Following clinical grading, skin replicas were collected, confocal microscopy was performed on SD lesions and healthy neighboring skin. Skin surface texture parameters were calculated using 3D image analysis of the skin replicas and epidermal and dermal microstructure were evaluated by analysis of the confocal images. In a parallel study, histological analysis was performed on 6 skin biopsies taken from abdominal reduction surgeries in areas where skin exhibited SD. Analysis of the skin surface texture showed that the SD area was more anisotropic and with higher skin roughness than the adjacent skin in terms of directions of skin microglyphics. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that SD were characterized by shallower dermal papillae (P < 0.05) and that dermal papillae height inversely correlated to the intensity of collagen alignment on the SD sites (P < 0.05). The histology findings confirmed the in vivo confocal microscopy findings. The skin structure of SD is qualitatively and quantitatively different compared to healthy skin. Altered skin relief reflects structural modifications in the dermis. Flattening of the dermal-epidermal junction maybe functionally related to the observed collagen fiber alignment. Observations by non-invasive methods were in line with the histological findings and therefore relevant in studies assessing the efficacy of SD treatment options.

Age, growth and mortality in four populations of the boring bivalve Lithophaga patagonica from Argentina

The boring bivalve Lithophaga patagonica (d'Orbigny, 1842) is a locally abundant inhabitant of hard substrata in the coastal waters of the Southwestern Atlantic. In this paper, we describe the growth, age and mortality of three intertidal rock-boring populations of L. patagonica and one subtidal oyster shell (Ostrea puelchana) boring population. An analysis of acetate peel replicas of shell sections showed that L. patagonica slows down its growth during autumn–winter, which leads to changes in the direction and rate of shell deposition and the formation of conspicuous annual (low temperature induced) clefts in the shell margin. Cleft counts and Von Bertalanffy growth analyses indicated that maximum age varies from 4years in the oyster-boring population to 13years in a rock-boring one (longevity estimates varied between 6.5 and 15years, respectively). Maximum asymptotic length (L∞) and Von Bertalanffy growth constant (K) were also variable between populations (L∞ between 14.76 and 36.95mm and K from 0.20 to 0.90yr−1 respectively). Mortality rates were higher at the two southernmost populations. Type (rock vs. oyster), composition and hardness of the substrata are likely the main factors controlling the observed differences between populations.

Protective effect of mango (Mangifera indicaL.) against UVB‐induced skin aging in hairless mice

Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae) is a medicinal plant whose extracts have been described as an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Skin aging is a consequence of chronic sun exposure to the sun and therefore ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Naturally occurring antioxidants are known to reduce skin aging. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective role of mango extract against UVB-induced skin aging in hairless mice. HR-1 hairless male mice (6 weeks old) were divided into three groups: control (n = 5), UVB-treated vehicle (n = 5), and UVB-treated mango extract (n = 5) groups. UVB-irradiated mice from the mango extract group were orally administered 0.1 ml of water containing 100 mg of mango extract/kg body weight per day. The inhibitory activity of mango extract on wrinkle formation was determined by the analysis of the skin replica, epidermal thickness based on histological examination, and damage to collagen fiber. The mean length of wrinkles in UVB-treated vehicle group significantly improved after the oral administration of mango extract, which significantly inhibited the increase in epidermal thickness and epidermal hypertrophy (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a marked increase in collagen bundles was observed in the UVB-treated group after the administration of mango extract by Masson's trichrome staining. These results indicate that mango extract showed anti-photoaging activity in UVB-irradiated hairless mice.