Early ship-based upper-air data and comparison with the Twentieth Century Reanalysis

Extension of 3-D atmospheric data products back into the past is desirable for a wide range of applications. Historical upper-air data are important in this endeavour, particularly in the maritime regions of the tropics and the southern hemisphere, where observations are extremely sparse. Here we present newly digitized and re-evaluated early ship-based upper-air data from two cruises: (1) kite and registering balloon profiles from onboard the ship SMS <i>Planet</i> on a cruise from Europe around South Africa and across the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific in 1906/1907, and (2) ship-based radiosonde data from onboard the MS <i>Schwabenland</i> on a cruise from Europe across the Atlantic to Antarctica and back in 1938/1939. We describe the data and provide estimations of the errors. We compare the data with a recent reanalysis (the Twentieth Century Reanalysis Project, 20CR, Compo et al., 2011) that provides global 3-D data back to the 19th century based on an assimilation of surface pressure data only (plus monthly mean sea-surface temperatures). In cruise (1), the agreement is generally good, but large temperature differences appear during a period with a strong inversion. In cruise (2), after a subset of the data are corrected, close agreement between observations and 20CR is found for geopotential height (GPH) and temperature notwithstanding a likely cold bias of 20CR at the tropopause level. Results are considerably worse for relative humidity, which was reportedly inaccurately measured. Note that comparing 20CR, which has limited skill in the tropical regions, with measurements from ships in remote regions made under sometimes difficult conditions can be considered a worst case assessment. In view of that fact, the anomaly correlations for temperature of 0.3–0.6 in the lower troposphere in cruise (1) and of 0.5–0.7 for tropospheric temperature and GPH in cruise (2) are considered as promising results. Moreover, they are consistent with the error estimations. The results suggest room for further improvement of data products in remote regions

Satellite laser ranging work at the Goddard Space Flight Center

Laser ranging systems, their range and accuracy capabilities, and planned improvements for future systems are discussed, the systems include one fixed and two mobile lasers ranging systems. They have demonstrated better than 10 cm accuracy both on a carefully surveyed ground range and in regular satellite ranging operations. They are capable of ranging to all currently launched retroreflector equipped satellites with the exception of Timation III. A third mobile system is discussed which will be accurate to better than 5 cm and will be capable of ranging to distant satellites such as Timation III and LAGEOS

Comparing PVP and Polymeric Micellar Formulations of a PEGylated Photosensitizing Phthalocyanine by NMR and Optical Techniques.

Phthalocyanines are ideal candidates as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer due to their favorable chemical and photophysical properties. However, their tendency to form aggregates in water reduces PDT efficacy and poses challenges in obtaining efficient forms of phthalocyanines for therapeutic applications. In the current work, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and micellar formulations were compared for encapsulating and monomerizing a water-soluble zinc phthalocyanine bearing four non-peripheral triethylene glycol chains (Pc1). 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that Pc1 exists as a mixture of regioisomers in monomeric form in dimethyl sulfoxide but forms dimers in an aqueous buffer. PVP, polyethylene glycol castor oil (Kolliphor RH40), and three different triblock copolymers with varying proportions of polyethylene and polypropylene glycol units (termed P188, P84, and F127) were tested as micellar carriers for Pc1. 1H NMR chemical shift analysis, diffusion-ordered spectroscopy, and 2D nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy was applied to monitor the encapsulation and localization of Pc1 at the polymer interface. Kolliphor RH40 and F127 micelles exhibited the highest affinity for encapsulating Pc1 in the micellar core and resulted in intense Pc1 fluorescence emission as well as efficient singlet oxygen formation along with PVP. Among the triblock copolymers, efficiency in binding and dimer dissolution decreased in the order F127 > P84 > P188. PVP was a strong binder for Pc1. However, Pc1 molecules are rather surface-attached and exist as monomer and dimer mixtures. The results demonstrate that NMR combined with optical spectroscopy offer powerful tools to assess parameters like drug binding, localization sites, and dynamic properties that play key roles in achieving high host-guest compatibility. With the corresponding adjustments, polymeric micelles can offer simple and easily accessible drug delivery systems optimizing phthalocyanines' properties as efficient photosensitizers

Comparing PVP and Polymeric Micellar Formulations of a PEGylated Photosensitizing Phthalocyanine by NMR and Optical Techniques

Phthalocyanines are ideal candidates as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer due to their favorable chemical and photophysical properties. However, their tendency to form aggregates in water reduces PDT efficacy and poses challenges in obtaining efficient forms of phthalocyanines for therapeutic applications. In the current work, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and micellar formulations were compared for encapsulating and monomerizing a water-soluble zinc phthalocyanine bearing four non-peripheral triethylene glycol chains (Pc1). 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that Pc1 exists as a mixture of regioisomers in monomeric form in dimethyl sulfoxide but forms dimers in an aqueous buffer. PVP, polyethylene glycol castor oil (Kolliphor RH40), and three different triblock copolymers with varying proportions of polyethylene and polypropylene glycol units (termed P188, P84, and F127) were tested as micellar carriers for Pc1. 1H NMR chemical shift analysis, diffusion-ordered spectroscopy, and 2D nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy was applied to monitor the encapsulation and localization of Pc1 at the polymer interface. Kolliphor RH40 and F127 micelles exhibited the highest affinity for encapsulating Pc1 in the micellar core and resulted in intense Pc1 fluorescence emission as well as efficient singlet oxygen formation along with PVP. Among the triblock copolymers, efficiency in binding and dimer dissolution decreased in the order F127 > P84 > P188. PVP was a strong binder for Pc1. However, Pc1 molecules are rather surface-attached and exist as monomer and dimer mixtures. The results demonstrate that NMR combined with optical spectroscopy offer powerful tools to assess parameters like drug binding, localization sites, and dynamic properties that play key roles in achieving high host–guest compatibility. With the corresponding adjustments, polymeric micelles can offer simple and easily accessible drug delivery systems optimizing phthalocyanines’ properties as efficient photosensitizers

The Italian fund for Alzheimer's and other dementias: strategies and objectives to face the dementia challenge

The Italian Fund for Alzheimer's and other dementias was approved and signed in December 2021. The Fund is financed with 15 million euros in three years. The main goal is to provide new strategies in the field of dementia with a Public Health perspective. The Fund includes eight main activities that will be monitored and supervised by the Italian National Institute of Health: 1) development of a guideline for the assessment, management and support for people with dementia and their families/carers; 2) updating of the Dementia National Plan (DNP); 3) implementation of the documents of the DNP; 4) conducting surveys dedicated to the Italian Dementia Services; 5) promotion of dementia prevention strategies; 6) training strategies for healthcare professionals, families and caregivers; 7) creation of a National Electronic Record for Dementia; 8) evaluation and monitoring of activities promoted by Regions and Autonomous Provinces in the field of dementia, together with the dementia National Permanent Table. These activities are outlined in detail in the present paper

Fluorescence lifetime imaging and phasor analysis of intracellular porphyrinic photosensitizers applied with different polymeric formulations.

The fluorescence lifetime of a porphyrinic photosensitizer (PS) is an important parameter to assess the aggregation state of the PS even in complex biological environments. Aggregation-induced quenching of the PS can significantly reduce the yield of singlet oxygen generation and thus its efficiency as a medical drug in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of diseased tissues. Hydrophobicity and the tendency to form aggregates pose challenges on the development of efficient PSs and often require carrier systems. A systematic study was performed to probe the impact of PS structure and encapsulation into polymeric carriers on the fluorescence lifetime in solution and in the intracellular environment. Five different porphyrinic PSs including chlorin e6 (Ce6) derivatives and tetrakis(m-hydroxyphenyl)-porphyrin and -chlorin were studied in free form and combined with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or micelles composed of triblock-copolymers or Cremophor. Following incubation of HeLa cells with these systems, fluorescence lifetime imaging combined with phasor analysis and image segmentation was applied to study the lifetime distribution in the intracellular surrounding. The data suggest that for free PSs, the structure-dependent cell uptake pathways determine their state and emission lifetimes. PS localization in the plasma membrane yielded mostly monomers with long fluorescence lifetimes whereas the endocytic pathway with subsequent lysosomal deposition adds a short-lived component for hydrophilic anionic PSs. Prolonged incubation times led to increasing contributions from short-lived components that derive from aggregates mainly localized in the cytoplasm. Encapsulation of PSs into polymeric carriers led to monomerization and mostly fluorescence emission decays with long fluorescence lifetimes in solution. However, the efficiency depended on the binding strength that was most pronounced for PVP. In the cellular environment, PVP was able to maintain monomeric long-lived species over prolonged incubation times. This was most pronounced for Ce6 derivatives with a logP value around 4.5. Micellar encapsulation led to faster release of the PSs resulting in multiple components with long and short fluorescence lifetimes. The hydrophilic hardly aggregating PS exhibited a mostly stable invariant lifetime distribution over time with both carriers. The presented data are expected to contribute to optimized PDT treatment protocols and improved PS-carrier design for preventing intracellular fluorescence quenching. In conclusion, amphiphilic and concurrent hydrophobic PSs with high membrane affinity as well as strong binding to the carrier have best prospects to maintain their photophysical properties in vivo and serve thus as efficient photodynamic diagnosis and PDT drugs

The Italian Dementia National Plan. Commentary

The Italian Dementia National Plan was formulated in October 2014 by the Italian Ministry of Health in close cooperation with the regions, the National Institute of Health and the three major national associations of patients and carers. The main purpose of this strategy was to provide directive indications for promoting and improving interventions in the dementia field, not limiting to specialist and therapeutic actions, but particularly focusing on the support of patients and families throughout the pathways of care. Four main objectives are indicated: 1) promote health- and social-care interventions and policies; 2) create/strengthen the integrated network of services for dementia based on an integrated approach; 3) implement strategies for promoting appropriateness and quality of care; and 4) improve the quality of life of persons with dementia and their families by supporting empowerment and stigma reduction. These objectives and the pertaining actions are described in the present paper