16 research outputs found
Handwritten Documents Text Line Segmentation based on Information Energy
The first step in the text recognition process is represented by the text line segmentation procedures. Only after text lines are correctly identified can the process proceed to the recognition of individual characters. This paper proposes a line segmentation algorithm based on the computation of an information content level, called energy, for each pixel of the image and using it to execute the seam carving procedure. The algorithm proposes the identification of text lines which follow the text more accurately with the expected downside of the computational overhead
Optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from Thymus comosus Heuff. ex Griseb. et Schenk (wild thyme) and their bioactive potential
An optimized ultrasound-assisted extractive method was developed to obtain a polyphenol-enriched extract from
the aerial parts of Thymus comosus Heuff. ex Griseb. et Schenk. Optimization process was conducted based on
Design of Experiment (DoE) principles, determining the influence of three independent variables (time, ultrasound
amplitude, ethanol concentration) on the total phenolic content of the extract (dependent variable).
Additionally, the phenolic composition of the extract was characterized through UHPLC-HRMS, revealing beside
the most abundant flavonoid-type compounds the presence of salvianolic acids C, D and L in high amounts.
Phytochemical profile of the extract was correlated with its antioxidant activity (tested through five complementary
assays) and enzyme-inhibitory potential, showing important antiglucosidase and anticholinesterase
effects. Overall, it was concluded that the developed method is suitable for obtaining a good recovery of both
phenolic and non-phenolic compounds from Thymus comosus aerial parts, and their presence in the optimized
extract is responsible for its pharmacological potential.This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of
Education and Research, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-
1.1-PD-2019-1245, within PNCDI III”. The authors are grateful to the
Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial
support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020), and for the contracts of J. Pinela (CEECIND/01011/2018) and L.
Barros (institutional scientific employment program-contract).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Development of an optimized drying process for the recovery of bioactive compounds from the Autumn Fruits of Berberis vulgaris L. and Crataegus monogyna Jacq
Hot air drying has proven to be an efficient method to preserve specific edible plant materials
with medicinal properties. This is a process involving chemical, physical, and biological
changes in plant matrices. Understanding these processes will lead to an improvement in the yields
of bioactive compounds. This study aims to optimize the drying process of two species’ fruits used
in folk medicine, Berberis vulgaris and Crataegus monogyna. The optimized extracts’ antioxidant capacity
was assessed using various assays, with the barberry extract showing very good activity
(50.85, 30.98, and 302.45 mg TE/g dw for DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP assays, respectively). Both species
exerted good fungal α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.34 and 0.56 mg/mL, respectively) but
no activity on mammalian α-glucosidase. Additionally, this study identified and quantified the
main bioactive compounds. The results presented herein are a breakthrough in industrializing this
drying process. Additional studies are necessary to mechanistically understand the drying process
involved in these plant materials.This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research,
CNCS–UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2019-5360.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020), the national funding for F.C.T. and P.I. and through the institutional scientific employment program contract for M.I.D., and L.B. The authors are grateful to FEDER—Interreg España—Portugal programme
for financial support through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study
PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks
Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.
PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks
Structure and Magnetism in Fe–Gd Based Dinuclear and Chain Systems. The Interplay of Weak Exchange Coupling and Zero Field Splitting Effects
The synthesis and characterization of two Fe–Gd
systems
based on bpca<sup>–</sup> (Hbpca = bis(2-pyridilcarbonyl)amine)
as bridging ligand is presented, taking the systems as a case study
for structure–property correlations. Compound <b>1</b>, [Fe<sub>LS</sub><sup>II</sup>(μ-bpca)<sub>2</sub>Gd(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(H<sub>2</sub>O)]NO<sub>3</sub>·2CH<sub>3</sub>NO<sub>2</sub>, is a zigzag polymer, incorporating the diamagnetic
low spin Fe<sub>LS</sub>(II) ion. The magnetism of <b>1</b> is
entirely determined by the weak zero field splitting (ZFS) effect
on the Gd(III) ion. Compound <b>2</b> is a Fe(III)–Gd(III)
dinuclear compound, [Fe<sub>LS</sub><sup>III</sup>(bpca)(μ-bpca)Gd(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>4</sub>]·4CH<sub>3</sub>NO<sub>2</sub>·CH<sub>3</sub>OH, its magnetism being interpreted as due to the antiferromagnetic
coupling between the <i>S</i><sub>Fe</sub> = <sup>1</sup>/<sub>2</sub> and <i>S</i><sub>Gd</sub> = <sup>7</sup>/<sub>2</sub> spins, interplayed with the local ZFS on the lanthanide center.
In both systems, the d–f assembly is determined by the bridging
capabilities of the ambidentate bpca<sup>–</sup> ligand, which
binds the d ion by a tridentate moiety with nitrogen donors and the
f center by the diketonate side. We propose a spin delocalization
and polarization mechanism that rationalizes the factors leading to
the antiferromagnetic d–f coupling. Although conceived for
compound <b>2</b>, the scheme can be proposed as a general mechanism.
The rationalization of the weak ZFS effects on Gd(III) by multiconfiguration
and spin–orbit <i>ab initio</i> calculations allowed
us to determine the details of the small but still significant anisotropy
of Gd(III) ion in the coordination sites of compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2.</b> The outlined methodologies and generalized conclusions
shed new light on the field of gadolinium coordination magnetochemistry
Rapid Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Organo-Modified Nanostructured Silica Coatings with Tunable Water-Repellence Properties
A simple method to fabricate organo-modified silane coatings for water-repellent surface modification was proposed, by using a microwave sol-gel synthesis of hybrid materials. Low-cost fluorine-free tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and dodecyltriethoxysilane (DDTES) were used as silane derivatives. The organo-modified silica coatings were prepared by the drop-casting method and were characterized by UV-VIS, FTIR spectroscopy, and AFM and SEM microscopy. The morphology of the film show the existence of submicrometer scale roughness due to the aggregation of modified silica nanoparticles. Contact angles of water and diiodomethane on surfaces modified with as prepared nanostructured film were determined in order to assess the hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. The TEOS/DDTES ratio was proved to be a crucial factor in tuning the wettability properties. The results suggest that significant increase of hydrophobicity could be achieved by using non-fluorinated cost-effective silica nanomaterials produced with a rapid ecofriendly method