Visible Signs Research Articles

Clinical, neuropathological, and molecular characteristics of rapidly progressive dementia with Lewy bodies: a distinct clinicopathological entity?

BackgroundThe term rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) with Lewy bodies (rpDLB) is used for DLB patients who develop a rapidly progressive neurological syndrome and have reduced survival. Here, we characterise the clinical, neuropathological, and molecular characteristics of a large rpDLB neuropathological series.MethodsWe included all RPD patients with a disease duration < 4 years submitted to our prion disease referral centre between 2003 and 2022 who showed Lewy body pathology (LBP) in limbic or neocortical stages as primary neuropathological diagnosis, had no systemic condition justifying the rapid deterioration and were previously neurologically unimpaired. Clinical features were retrieved and compared with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and rapidly progressive Alzheimer’s disease (rpAD) cohorts. Neuropathological and genetic (whole exome sequencing, APOE genotyping, and C9orf72 repeat expansion analysis) characteristics of rpDLB patients were systematically investigated. We scored semi-quantitatively the LBP load and performed a α-synuclein (αSyn) RT-QuIC seeding amplification assay (SAA) on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and tenfold serially diluted brain homogenates from different brain areas in rpDLB patients and typical long-lasting Lewy body disease (LBD) with dementia patients as control group.ResultsRpDLB patients were older (p = 0.047) and presented more cognitive fluctuations (p = 0.005), visual hallucinations (p = 0.020), neuropsychiatric symptoms (p = 0.006) and seizures (p = 0.032), and fewer cerebellar (p < 0.001) and visual (p = 0.004) signs than CJD ones. Delirium onset was more common than in both CJD (p < 0.001) and rpAD (p = 0.008). Atypical LBD signs (pyramidal, myoclonus, akinetic mutism) were common. All tested patients were positive by CSF αSyn SAA. Concomitant pathologies were common, with only four cases showing relatively “pure” LBP. LBP load and αSyn seeding activity measured through αSyn RT-QuIC SAA were not significantly different between rpDLB patients and typical LBD. We found a likely pathogenic variant in GBA in one patient.ConclusionsOur results indicate that: 1) rpDLB exhibits a distinct clinical signature (2) CSF αSyn SAA is a reliable diagnostic test; 3) rpDLB is a heterogeneous neuropathological entity that can be underlain by both widespread pure LBP, or multiple copathologies 4) rpDLB is likely not sustained by distinct αSyn conformational strains; 5) genetic defects may, at least occasionally, contribute to the poor prognosis in these patients.

Gaze behavior in open-angle glaucoma patients during visuo-cognitive-motor tasks: a cross-sectional study

This study investigated gaze behavior during visuo-cognitive-motor tasks with a change of movement direction in glaucoma patients and healthy controls. Nineteen glaucoma patients (10 females, 9 males) and 30 healthy sighted controls (17 females, 13 males) participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants performed two visuo-cognitive-motor tasks with a change of movement direction: (i) the “Speed-Court-Test” that involved stepping on different sensors in response to a visual sign displayed on either a large or small screen (165″ and 55″, respectively); (ii) the “Trail-Walking-Test” that required walking to 15 cones labeled with numbers (1–8) or letters (A-G) in an alternately ascending order. During these tasks, the time needed for completing each task was determined and the gaze behavior (e.g., saccade duration, fixation duration) was recorded via eye tracking. Data were analyzed with repeated measures analyses of covariance (ANCOVA; GROUP × SCREEN) and one-way ANCOVA. No differences between groups were found for the time needed to complete the tasks. However, during the “Trail-Walking-Test”, the fixation duration was longer for glaucoma patients than for controls (p = 0.016, ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\upeta }_{\ ext{p}}^{2}$$\\end{document} = 0.131). Furthermore, during the “Speed-Court-Test”, there was a screen size effect. Irrespective of group, saccade amplitudes were lower (p < 0.001, ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\upeta }_{\ ext{p}}^{2}$$\\end{document} = 0.242) and fixation durations were higher (p = 0.021, ηp2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\upeta }_{\ ext{p}}^{2}$$\\end{document} = 0.125) for the small screen. Fixation durations were longer in glaucoma patients during the cognitively demanding “Trail-Walking-Test”, which might indicate a strategy to compensate for their visual impairment.

Surgical Treatment of Primary Mast Cell Tumor in Mucosal Surface of Lower Lip in a Dog: A Case Report

Introduction: Mast cell tumors (MCTs) have been described as a form of cancer affecting a specific type of blood cell that typically plays a role in the body's reaction to allergens and inflammatory processes. The MCTs have been classified as skin tumors in dogs which can also affect other areas of the body, such as the spleen, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and bone marrow. The present study investigated the clinical and histological signs, biological behavior, and treatment of primary oral mast cell tumors. Case report: A 3-year-old neutered female, weighing 18 kg and classified as a medium mixed breed, was referred to a veterinary clinic in Mashhad (Iran) due to the presence of a pink, lobulated mucosal mass located on the internal surface of her lower lip. Although the vital signs were normal, clinical examination, radiology, and an incisional biopsy were performed from the lesion site under general anesthesia for histology study. Histopathological features were similar to those of mastocytoma in this case. On presentation, no concurrent mass was found on other sides of the body. Mandibular lymph nodes were not enlarged; however, the incisor teeth of the mandible were loosed. Accordingly, the primary oral MCTs were diagnosed. The surgery was done and After a follow-up period of 150 days post-excisional surgery for a Mast cell tumor, the patient remained alive and exhibited no visible signs of tumor recurrence or surgical complications. Conclusion: The current case report defined a primary Mast cell tumor with slow tumor growth and without metastasis in the mucosal surface of the lower lip in a dog treated by complete excisional surgery only, unlike some previous studies of primary oral MCTs in dogs with aggressive biological behaviors.

Ectoin attenuates cortisone-induced skin issues by suppression GR signaling and the UVB-induced overexpression of 11β-HSD1.

Accelerated pace of modern work and lifestyles subject individuals to various external and psychological stressors, which, in turn, can trigger additional stress through visible signs of fatigue, hair loss, and obesity. As the primary stress hormone affecting skin health, cortisol connects to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to aggravate skin issues induced by stress. This activation depends on the expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) in skin cells, which locally converts cortisone-produced by the central and peripheral hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis-into its active form. Our study delves deeper into stress's adverse effects on the skin, including the disruption of keratinocyte structural proteins, the loss of basement membrane proteins, and the degradation of collagen. Remarkably, we discovered that Ectoin, an amino acid derivative obtained from halophilic bacteria, is capable of mitigating the inhibitory impacts of cortisone on the expression of cutaneous functional proteins, including involucrin, loricrin, laminin-5, and claudin-1. Moreover, Ectoin reduces the suppressive effect of stress on collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis by impeding GR signal transduction. Additionally, Ectoin counterbalances the UVB-induced overexpression of 11β-HSD1, thereby diminishing the concentration of endogenous glucocorticoids. Our findings illuminate the significant potential of Ectoin as a preventative agent against stress-induced skin maladies.

Unmanned aerial vehicle landing localization technology based on visual dual-channel uniqueness coding

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) mainly uses GPS (Global Positioning System) for positioning, but it is difficult to locate in areas where GPS signal is missing or being disturbed. Therefore, the relative positioning technology based on visual method is also widely used in UAV landing, but due to the influence of cross wind and the motion of the landing plane, the traditional visual landing sign and positioning method is prone to lose the positioning target at the end stage of the landing. Therefore, this article proposes a landing sign based on double-layer unique coding, which can realize continuous positioning in the horizontal direction and accurate positioning of large-scale changes in the vertical direction. Firstly, real-time image acquisition and image processing are carried out through the airborne camera. Based on the flight altitude and encoding extraction effect of the UAV, the red or blue channel component is extracted, and then the image is preprocessed, edge detection, line detection, coding grid extraction, etc. As long as any 5 × 5 small squares of the whole pattern can be extracted, the perspective-n-point algorithm is used to obtain the relative pose estimation between the UAV and the landing sign. Experiments show that the landing sign and recognition algorithm effectively improve the UAV landing reliability.

Linguistic landscape of Pyla, a bi-communal village in Cyprus: multilingualism, ethnolinguistic vitality and internationalisation

ABSTRACT This study investigated the linguistic landscape (LL) of Pyla, a bi-communal village in Cyprus. The data collection and analysis were based on the geosemiotics theoretical framework. The researcher created a corpus of visible linguistic signs photographed during the fieldwork with a focus on bottom-up and top-down signs in Pyla. The analysis of the data showed that the overall pattern of Pyla's LL was monolingual, with English playing a prominent role. However, bilingual, and multilingual signs were also present, with English, Greek and Turkish being the dominant language constellation. The LL in Pyla is indicative of its ethnolinguistic vitality as a bi-communal village inhabited by both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot populations; the LL also reveals the agency of the sign creators and owners regarding the choice of languages and the content of the signs, as well as such processes as internationalisation, commodification and linguistic instrumentalism. The importance of this study stems from its goal to deepen the understanding of linguistic landscape (LL) and multilingualism in Cyprus. It specifically analyses both private and public signage in the mixed village of Pyla, while considering the island's geopolitical division and the role of English as a mediating language in the process of peacebuilding.

Acetylation of Aspen and Alder Wood - Preliminary Tests

An experimental study of the physical and mechanical properties of untreated and acetylated wood was conducted. The effect of acetylation on wood density was investigated. It was established that the density of the samples generally decreases after acetylation. As the level of acetylation increases, the fiber saturation point decreases in both conifers and hardwoods. Acetylation of wood helps to reduce the sorption properties of wood. The amount of swelling was analyzed. For untreated wood (aspen and alder), the volume swelling index is at the level of 7.5 %. Acetylation contributes to the stability of the geometric dimensions of structures, as the volume swelling index for aspen decreased by 4 times, for alder – by 2 times. An increase in the amount of swelling along the fibers is observed in all samples. Regarding the nature of the destruction of the samples during compression, the aspen (both untreated and acetylated) only crumples without visible signs of destruction. In some samples of alder, partial exfoliation is visible. It was found that acetylation has an ambiguous effect on the mechanical properties of wood of both species.

Influence of collagen peptide supplementation on visible signs of skin and nail health and -aging in an East Asian population: A double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

A healthy skin provides protection against intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Skin aging is characterized by structural and morphological alterations affecting skin health, integrity, and functionality, resulting in visible aging signs. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effect of a collagen peptide dietary supplement on skin aging in the East Asian population. Eighty-five healthy women, aged from 43 to 65 years old, were randomly assigned to the collagen supplement (CP, 5 g) or placebo (maltodextrin, 5 g) group. To standardize daily skin care, the volunteers in both groups used a specific face cream for 28 days prior to and throughout the supplementation period, creating an equal baseline for the assessment of the efficacy of CP on several skin parameters. At baseline, day 28 and day 84, the following hallmarks of skin and nail aging were assessed: dermis density, skin moisture and elasticity, wrinkle visibility, beauty perception, and nail color. After 84 days, a significant improvement of dermis density and skin moisture was observed in the collagen peptides group compared to the placebo group. Positive effects on skin elasticity, wrinkle visibility, nail color, and overall beauty perception were already observed within 28 days of supplementation in the CP group, while the same effects in the placebo group were only observed after 84 days. Taken together, these results show that, in addition to a standardized skin care, daily supplementation with 5 g of collagen peptides positively affects visible signs of skin and nail aging in the East Asian population.

A Semiotic Analysis of the Verbal and Non-Verbal Slogans Used in the Day of Ashura

Slogans serve multifaceted purposes. They elucidate intricate concepts, articulate group philosophies and objectives, foster identification, spark violent conflicts, and anticipate future expectations. This study delves into the examination of the slogans articulated by Imam Al-Hussein (peace be upon him) or his adherents during Ashura revolution in response to the deviations in Yazid's rule. The primary objective is to unravel the meanings embedded in the visual signs, encompassing both denotation and connotation, inherent in these slogans. Employing Barthes's (1968) semiotic theory, the researchers scrutinize six selected images, each featuring impactful slogans sourced from various websites. The analysis reveals that these images encompass a fusion of verbal and non-verbal signs. Furthermore, the study finds that slogans not only have denotative meanings, but are also rich in various connotations. The inclusion of colour in conjunction with the slogans in the images is a deliberate strategy to capture the reader's attention and evoke psychological responses.

An Imaging and Spectroscopic Exploration of the Dusty Compact Obscured Nucleus Galaxy Zw 049.057* *Based in part on observations obtained with the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).

Zw 049.057 is a moderate-mass, dusty, early-type galaxy that hosts a powerful compact obscured nucleus (CON, L FIR,CON ≥ 1011 L ⊙). The resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope enabled measurements of the stellar light distribution and characterization of dust features. Zw 049.057 is inclined with a prominent three-zone disk; the R ≈ 1 kpc star-forming inner dusty disk contains molecular gas, a main disk with less dust and an older stellar population, and a newly detected outer stellar region at R > 6 kpc with circular isophotes. Previously unknown polar dust lanes are signatures of a past minor merger that could have warped the outer disk to near face-on. Dust transmission measurements provide lower limit gas mass estimates for dust features. An extended region with moderate optical depth and M ≥ 2 × 108 M ⊙ obscures the central 2 kpc. Optical spectra show strong interstellar Na D absorption with a constant velocity across the main disk, likely arising in this extraplanar medium. Opacity measurements of the two linear dust features, pillars, give a total mass of ≥106 M ⊙, flow rates of ≥2 M ⊙ yr−1, and few Myr flow times. Dust pillars are associated with the CON and are visible signs of its role in driving large-scale feedback. Our assessments of feedback processes suggest gas recycling sustains the CON. However, radiation pressure driven mass loss and efficient star formation must be avoided for the active galactic nucleus to retain sufficient gas over its lifespan to produce substantial mass growth of the central black hole.

Acetyl zingerone methyl ether protects hair against oxidative damage incurred during and after treatment with permanent dyes and helps extend longevity of newly developed hair colour.

Use of permanent hair dyes causes unintended oxidative damage during the short time frame of the dyeing process that leads to perceivable changes in the feel, manageability and appearance of hair. Moreover, after hair has been dyed, regular exposure to the sun as a key environmental stressor continues to stimulate additional oxidative damage and to induce newly developed hair colours to fade prematurely or undergo changes in colour quality. To document the utility of acetyl zingerone methyl ether (MAZ) as a newly designed haircare ingredient to afford extra protection against oxidative damage and safeguard the integrity of hair colour. We demonstrate that MAZ is compatible chemically with the high alkaline conditions required for the colouring process and from theoretical calculations preferentially binds Fe and Cu ions relative to Ca or Zn ions. In model Fenton reactions MAZ effectively chelated active redox metals (Fe and Cu ions) in the presence of excess Ca+2 ions to inhibit the production of hydroxyl radicals, and in separate studies, MAZ neutralized singlet oxygen with greater efficiency than α-tocopherol by a factor of 2.5. When mixed into permanent dyes prior to hair tress application, MAZ significantly reduced combing forces, and SEM images led to substantial reductions in visual signs of surface damage. In a 28-day clinical study, relative to controls, mixing MAZ into hair dyes prior to application interfered neither with colour development nor with ability to cover grey hair and led to significant improvements in perceived attributes associated with hair's condition immediately following the dyeing process. Over a 28-day maintenance phase, especially between Day 14 and Day 28, continued use of shampoo and conditioner containing MAZ significantly preserved gloss measurements and hair colour in terms of longevity and colour quality as remaining desired and fresh compared to use of control shampoo and conditioner. This work establishes MAZ as a next-generation hair care ingredient for use in permanent dyes to attenuate oxidative damage and in shampoos and conditioners to promote longevity of hair colour and to maintain overall health and appearance of hair on a daily basis.

Cosmetic retinoid use in photoaged skin: A review of the compounds, their use and mechanisms of action.

The inevitable attrition of skin due to ultraviolet radiation, termed photoaging, can be partially restored by treatment with retinoid compounds. Photoaged skin in lightly pigmented individuals, clinically presents with the appearance of wrinkles, increased laxity, and hyper- and hypopigmentation. Underlying these visible signs of ageing are histological features such as epidermal thinning, dermal-epidermal junction flattening, solar elastosis and loss of the dermal fibrillin microfibrillar network, fibrillar collagen and glycosaminoglycans. Retinoid compounds are comprised of three main generations with the first generation (all-trans retinoic acid, retinol, retinaldehyde and retinyl esters) primarily used for the clinical and cosmetic treatment of photoaging, with varying degrees of efficacy, tolerance and stability. All-trans retinoic acid is considered the 'gold standard' for skin rejuvenation; however, it is a prescription-only product largely confined to clinical use. Therefore, retinoid derivatives are readily incorporated into cosmeceutical formulations. The literature reported in this review suggests that retinol, retinyl esters and retinaldehyde that are used in many cosmeceutical products, are efficacious, safe and well-tolerated. Once in the skin, retinoids utilize a complex signalling pathway that promotes remodelling of photoaged epidermis and dermis and leads to the improvement of the cutaneous signs of photoaging.

Efficacy and Tolerance Evaluation of pbserum smartker Equilibrium Professional

Introduction. Skin acts as a complete barrier protecting against external aggressions and keeps the body’s internal balance. The loss of its firmness and elasticity is a complex process associated with cutaneous aging, which implies intrinsic and extrinsic factors that promote changes in the dermis, epidermis, and abnormal pigmentation. In recent years, treatments for improving skin health and beauty have advanced significantly, which has raised great interest in the related technology. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of pbserum smartker Equilibrium Professional in terms of skin firmness and tone improvement, wrinkle reduction, and visible signs of skin aging. Materials and Methods. A non - controlled study was carried out on 22 subjects aged 24 to 70 years old. They had normal and mixed skin with minor imperfections, excluding those with relevant dermatologic pathologies or under specific treatments. Measurements were made by subjective dermatologic evaluation, high - definition photography with the VISIA® device, and non - comedogenicity evaluation. Subjects applied the product once a week for four weeks, and the product was well tolerated with no reported adverse effects. Results. An average improvement of 27 % was observed regarding the unification of skin tone and imperfections after 28 days of use; 77 % of the patients were satisfied, and 63 % were willing to buy the product. The dermatologic evaluation did not find evidence of comedogenicity, high user satisfaction and good product tolerability. Conclusions. A significant improvement was shown in tone unification and skin imperfections, with high satisfaction from the users and a good tolerability of the product.

Soldiers and Prisoners in Motion in Mesopotamian Iconography during the Early Bronze Age

Military images of the ancient Near East during the Early Bronze Age are characterized by one of their main features: the serial reproduction of soldiers and prisoners, side by side, the former clearly identifiable by the visual signs of power they bear and the latter by their humiliation. These images are usually and almost naturally conceived as the ideological prerogative of city-states in conflict for territorial domination or as signs of visual identity intended to reinforce the powers that be. However, the end of the Early Bronze Age is marked by the hegemony of the Akkadian dynasty and the iconographic changes that it generated. While strongly maintaining the military iconographic theme in its visual discourse, it broke with the motif of static parades of prisoners and introduced many details intended to clearly identify the protagonists, the enemies, or the environment of the battles. It could represent a transition from a discourse based on evocative repetition in order to present an ideal to one founded on detailed narration in order to assert the authenticity of an event. This paper investigates the phenomenon of repetition through soldiers and prisoners on images. Analyzing the message lying behind the series of hindered prisoners and battalions of soldiers also underlines the way the change of iconographic discourse during the Akkadian period can be understood, particularly given that the power of the Akkadian dynasty mainly rested on its military victories.

Study of Subacute Toxicity in Wistar Rats Challenged with Phyllanthus amarus Schum and Thonn

Phyllanthus amarus, a widely used plant in complementary and alternative medicine practice in Southern Nigeria, is used in treating and managing numerous metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. This study is designed to assess the subacute toxicity of P. amarus in Wistar rats using body and relative organ weight, renal function, in-vivo antioxidant status and organ histology indices as a baseline. The twenty adult male rats weighing 120.00 ± 6.18 g were apportioned into four groups with five rats per group. Group A (Control) received 1.0 mL of distilled water, group B received 1000 mg/kg group C received 1500 mg/kg and group D received 2000 mg/kg body weight of the crude ethanol extract. The extract from P. amarus was administered orally once daily at 8:30 am using an oral cannula attached to a 2 mL syringe. Subacute toxicity was evaluated after 14 days. The findings showed no visible and noticeable overt signs of toxicity throughout the experimental period, non-significant adverse change in body and relative organ weight, renal function and organ histopathology of the rats in the treated and control groups. However, P. amarus significantly improved in-vivo antioxidant status while significantly reducing the level of malondialdehyde, a biological indicator of oxidative stress in the living system.

Bergen?

Abstract Semiotic landscapes have been documented widely. However, many analyses focus on visible cues and production, and do not investigate soundscapes and the perception of both visual and auditory signs. The present study aims at filling this research gap. It presents an ethnographic investigation of the semiotic landscape of arrival in Bergen, Norway. The focus is on the welcome sign outside the airport and the soundscape of the city-bound tram. Data stem from a questionnaire distributed to international and domestic travelers, and an auto-ethnographic account by the author. The analysis shows that a distinct welcome to Bergen, presented as a unique destination, is created in a multisensory way. This welcome is mostly performative, as is often the case in tourism, but creates a very distinct and memorable sense of place for travelers. Altogether, the study emphasizes the importance of multiple means of meaning making in semiotic landscapes.

Assessing critical plant sulfur concentration and nitrogen to sulfur ratio in spring canola production

AbstractAimsPlant S concentration (Sc) and nitrogen (N) to S ratio (N:S) in canola are important indicators for diagnosing S deficiency. A field study was conducted on sandy and clay loam soils at two sites in eastern Canada for three growing seasons to determine plant critical Sc and N:S ratios across various growth stages (GSs).MethodsFor each site year, factorial experiments consisting of combinations of four N levels (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg N ha–1) as urea (46–0–0) and four S levels (0, 20, 30, and 40 kg S ha–1) as potassium sulfate (0–0–50–18) were classified orthogonally to form 16 combinations. Muriate of potash (0–0–60) was also applied as needed to ensure all plots receiving the equal amount of potassium (K).ResultsOur study found that S fertilization increased plant Sc at each GS but reduced the whole‐plant N:S ratio, and the effect was stronger during the flowering stage. Both whole‐plant Sc and N:S ratios varied with GS, environment, and soil type and declined with plant aging. Our results showed that whole‐plant S analysis combined with visual signs of plant S deficiency (purple‐edged and cup‐shaped leaves with less green; stunted growth, slow blooming, and fewer flowers) appeared to be the best way to identify S problems in the field, and whole‐plant Sc and N:S ratios could confirm S deficiencies.ConclusionOur findings indicated that if the whole‐plant Sc in the rosette stage is &lt;0.35% and the N:S ratio is &gt;9.6, the plant may be S‐deficient, and timely supplementary S fertilization measures may be beneficial to canola crop yield.

Temperature Is a Key Factor Governing the Toxic Impact of Ultra-Violet Radiation-Emitting Nail Dryers When Used on Human Skin Cells.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and the only one to come into contact with solar UV radiation (UVR). UVA (320-400nm) is a significant contributor to UV-related skin damage. The UVA spectrum makes up over 95% of solar-UV energy reaching the earth's surface causing the majority of the visible signs of skin photoaging. Many consumer products also emit UVA, including nail dryers. There have been sporadic reports suggesting that these units may be contributing to skin cancer incidence. This notion was recently bolstered by a finding that nail dryer-irradiated mammalian skin cells develop a mutational signature consistent with UVA exposure. This report was surprising considering the comparatively low level of UVA to which the skin is exposed during nail treatments. In this research, we investigated how UVA-emitting devices caused cytotoxic/genotoxic impact after only low levels of UVA exposure. Our data showed that levels of UVA in the unit are highly variable and location dependent. We confirm previous reports that using prolonged exposure protocols could induce significant levels of DNA damage. It was also determined that UV-induced DNA damage only partially correlated with the level of UVA fluency. On investigation, we found that the unit had a rapid increase in internal temperature when in use. Exposing human cells to these elevated temperatures acted synergistically with UVA to magnify the cytotoxic and genotoxic impact of UV irradiation.

Evolution of Visual Narratives in Fashion Magazines: The Role and Impact of Iconic Signifiers

Design is a phenomenon that has a communicative or functional purpose in the process of transforming images into form by acquiring meaning in the human mind. Fashion magazines are one of the areas in which the visual significance of design is most clearly recognisable. The aim of this study is to identify the visual signs on the covers of fashion magazines and to analyse how these signs convey the meanings they are intended to convey. Also in this direction, the aim is to determine how the signs on the front covers of the French magazines, which is the subject of the study, differ from each other through the signs. The sample group of the study includes a total of 985 front covers covering the fashion magazines Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan from 2000 to 2020. In the research in which the quantitative research method was used, the visual semiotic analysis of the Groupe μ was chosen as the data collection method. Iconic values were used in this analysis to classify the visual elements on magazine covers. A relational survey design was used to analyse the data collected as part of the quantitative research method. A table of iconic signs was created, which form the structure of the visual semiotic analysis of the Groupe μ. In this way, an attempt was made to find out which visual signs were used to transfer the meaning conveyed by the visual messages on the magazine covers to the cover designs. To arrive at the research results, the SPSS package program was used. The research results show that there are significant differences in the visual expression strategies of the various fashion magazines and how each magazine reflects its own unique visual language and brand identity. We believe that this study contributes greatly to our understanding of diversity in the visual design of fashion magazines and its impact on the fashion industry.

Scaling up a hollow fibre adsorption unit for on-board CCS applications using a real gasoline engine exhaust

Decarbonising road transport using on-board carbon capture and storage (CCS) is challenged by inherent space and energy limitations. Thus, to be technically and economically viable, robust and compact carbon capture units need to be developed. Hence, in this work, a scaled up hollow fibre adsorption unit was tested downstream of a real 90:10 gasoline-ethanol engine exhaust gas to evaluate its CO2 capture performance after 100 adsorption–desorption cycles. The scaled up hollow fibre adsorption unit consisted of 37 four-channel hollow fibre adsorption units coated with a thin carbon xerogel layer, referred to as the CX-coated hollow fibre module (HFM). It should be noted that this is the first study to report the results of a HFM tested under real conditions over 100 adsorption–desorption cycles and is one of the few studies that reports the desorption step. Furthermore, despite the presence of CO, THC, NOx, and H2O in the exhaust gas, the CX-coated HFM exhibited high CO2 capture stability and mechanical integrity. This was evidenced through the CX-coated HFM obtaining and maintaining an average total capacity of 1.2 mmol/g over 100 adsorption–desorption cycles, and showing no visible signs of deterioration or a loss of mechanical integrity.