Computational Analysis of the Solid-State and Solvation Properties of Carbamazepine in Relation to its Polymorphism

The solvent-dependent polymorphism of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) carbamazepine is interpreted from calculations of the solid-state and API-solvent intermolecular interactions. These simulations suggested that apolar solute-solute interactions could be disrupted by apolar solvents. In contrast, the polar solute-solute interactions were found to be easily disrupted by polar and protic solvents. This is consistent with experimental observations that the crystallization of the metastable form II is more dominant in apolar solvents. The Mercury program remains the gold standard in terms of usability; however, further expansion into more complex simulation techniques could make this package of even greater use in pharmaceutical manufacturing workflows.     

A method for functional magnetic resonance imaging of olfaction

A method for generating olfactory stimuli for humans within a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experimental design is described. The system incorporates a nasal-mask in which the change from odorant to no-odorant conditions occurs in less than 500 ms and is not accompanied by visual, auditory, tactile, or thermal cues. The mask provides an ordorant-free environment following prolonged ordorant presence. Specific imaging parameters that are conducive to the study of the human olfactory system are described. In a pilot study performed using these methods, the specific patterns of activation observed converged with published experimental and clinical findings.     

Loss performance of tagged and normal ATM cells at a partiallyshared buffer

The loss performance of tagged and normal ATM cells at a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer is studied. The authors show that if a partial buffer sharing mechanism is adopted the loss probability of normal cells can be firmly guaranteed, regardless of the traffic intensity of tagged cells     

Evaluation of the efficacy of sequential intravenous-oral administration of pefloxacin in community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections in patients with underlying conditions

We studied the efficacy of sequential intravenous-oral pefloxacin therapy in community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection in 24 patients with one or more underlying conditions. Twenty-eight patients were enrolled into the study but only 24 patients were evaluated. There were 16 males and 8 females with a mean age of 66.9 +/- 11.2 years (mean +/- SD, range 46 to 87 years). The underlying conditions present were bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive lung disease and diabetes mellitus. Patients who were older than 70 years but without any underlying condition were also enrolled. All received 4 days of intravenous pefloxacin 400 mg twice a day followed by oral pefloxacin 400 mg twice a day for another 10 days. Assessment of success was based on clinical, microbiological and radiological improvement. Pefloxacin produced 79.2% clinical cure rate. Another 8.3% showed improvement. Pefloxacin was well tolerated. There were few adverse effects and none of the patients required a change of antibiotic. Pefloxacin was an effective and well tolerated treatment for respiratory tract infection and had the advantage of broad in-vitro antibacterial activity, twice daily dosing and sequential availability in an intravenous and oral formulation.     

A new model of job design: Initial evidence and implications for future research

Clegg and Spencer's (2007) model of job design synthesizes and extends recent conceptions of the job design process by incorporating variables such as knowledge, motivation, and trust into a cyclical and dynamic system. The objective of this study was to examine the sequential organization of variables that comprise the model, as a basis from which to justify further investigations of the model's dynamic properties. Data were collected via questionnaires from 432 participants in two work organizations. Results obtained from structural equation modeling are broadly supportive of the proposed relationships between the variables. Implications of this initial study for future research and practice are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Parallel triangulation of a polygon in two calls to the trapezoidal map

We give a parallel method for triangulating a simple polygon by two (parallel) calls to the trapezoidal map computation. The method is simpler and more elegant than previous methods. Along the way we obtain an interesting partition of one-sided monotone polygons. Using the best-known trapezoidal map algorithm, ours run in timeO(logn) usingO(n) CREW PRAM processors.     

Melanin Distribution in Human Skin: Influence of Cytoskeletal,Polarity, and Centrosome-Related Machinery of Stratum basale Keratinocytes

Melanin granules cluster within supra-nuclear caps in basal keratinocytes (KCs) of the human epidermis, where they protect KC genomic DNA against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) damage. While much is known about melanogenesis in melanocytes (MCs) and a moderate amount about melanin transfer from MC to KC, we know little about the fate of melanin once inside KCs. We recently reported that melanin fate in progenitor KCs is regulated by rare asymmetric organelle movement during mitosis. Here, we explore the role of actin, microtubules, and centrosome-associated machinery in distributing melanin within KCs. Short-term cultures of human skin explants were treated with cytochalasin-B and nocodazole to target actin filaments and microtubules, respectively. Treatment effects on melanin distribution were assessed by the Warthin–Starry stain, on centrosome-associated proteins by immunofluorescence microscopy, and on co-localisation with melanin granules by brightfield microscopy. Cytochalasin-B treatment disassembled supra-nuclear melanin caps, while nocodazole treatment moved melanin from the apical to basal KC domain. Centrosome and centriolar satellite-associated proteins showed a high degree of co-localisation with melanin. Thus, once melanin granules are transferred to KCs, their preferred apical distribution appears to be facilitated by coordinated movement of centrosomes and centriolar satellites. This mechanism may control melanin’s strategic position within UVR-exposed KCs.     

Synergistic Effect of PVDF-Coated PCL-TCP Scaffolds and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on Osteogenesis

Bone exhibits piezoelectric properties. Thus, electrical stimulations such as pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) and stimuli-responsive piezoelectric properties of scaffolds have been investigated separately to evaluate their efficacy in supporting osteogenesis. However, current understanding of cells responding under the combined influence of PEMF and piezoelectric properties in scaffolds is still lacking. Therefore, in this study, we fabricated piezoelectric scaffolds by functionalization of polycaprolactone-tricalcium phosphate (PCL-TCP) films with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) coating that is self-polarized by a modified breath-figure technique. The osteoinductive properties of these PVDF-coated PCL-TCP films on MC3T3-E1 cells were studied under the stimulation of PEMF. Piezoelectric and ferroelectric characterization demonstrated that scaffolds with piezoelectric coefficient d₃₃ = −1.2 pC/N were obtained at a powder dissolution temperature of 100 °C and coating relative humidity (RH) of 56%. DNA quantification showed that cell proliferation was significantly enhanced by PEMF as low as 0.6 mT and 50 Hz. Hydroxyapatite staining showed that cell mineralization was significantly enhanced by incorporation of PVDF coating. Gene expression study showed that the combination of PEMF and PVDF coating promoted late osteogenic gene expression marker most significantly. Collectively, our results suggest that the synergistic effects of PEMF and piezoelectric scaffolds on osteogenesis provide a promising alternative strategy for electrically augmented osteoinduction. The piezoelectric response of PVDF by PEMF, which could provide mechanical strain, is particularly interesting as it could deliver local mechanical stimulation to osteogenic cells using PEMF.     

FTIR characterization of tropical wood–polymer composites

Wood–polymer composites (WPC) of Geronggang (Cratoxylon arborescens), a light tropical hardwood, impregnated with methyl methacrylate (MMA), methyl methacrylate-co-acrylonitrile (1 : 1; MAN), and styrene-co-acrylonitrile (3 : 2; STAN), were prepared by in situ polymerization using gamma radiation or the catalyst–heat treatment. The FTIR spectra of the three types of WPC, with polymer loadings ranging from 10 to 70%, were compared with that of the wood itself and the respective polymers. Characteristic peaks due to C?O vibration of MMA, C?N stretching of acrylonitrile, and ring stretching and bending of styrene monomers, were prominent in the samples that had higher polymer loadings. For the copolymeric systems, quantitation of the FTIR spectra of these characteristic peaks enabled calculations of incorporated acrylonitrile and styrene monomers in the composites to be made. The FTIR spectra of the residues remaining, after exhaustive extraction to remove homopolymer, showed that graft copolymerization of wood components with acrylonitrile and styrene monomers was possible, but not with MMA. Composites prepared by the two methods, gamma radiation and the catalyst–heat treatment, were shown to be chemically very similar.