Topical delivery of fluconazole: in vitro skin penetration and permeation using emulsions as dosage forms

We investigated in vitro skin penetration and permeation of fluconazole from emulsions containing different penetration enhancers. Fluconazole permeation was high (15-65% of the applied dose) across hairless mouse skin and low (8-9%) across pig ear skin. Permeation across mice skin from a formulation containing propyleneglycol and isopropyl myristate was significantly higher than that observed with the paraffin oil and propyleneglycol or Transcutol® emulsions. With pig skin, the paraffin oil or isopropyl myristate and propyleneglycol emulsions showed similar skin permeation and penetration. However, these emulsions provided epidermal concentrations higher than the minimal inhibitory concentrations for most dermatophytes.     

Towards the fabrication of a UV light source based on CuCl thin films

CuCl is an ionic wide band gap I–VII semiconductor which has a band gap of 3.4 eV (at 300 K) and a large excitonic binding energy of 190 meV compared to other wide band gap semiconductors, e.g. ZnO (60 meV) and GaN (25 meV). It can be useful as a UV source which can emit light in the blue-UV range. The large excitonic binding energy of CuCl should improve the quantum efficiency compared to ZnO or GaN. In room temperature UV–VIS spectroscopy measurements we have observed strong free Z₃ and Z_1,2 excitonic peaks in vacuum-deposited CuCl films incorporated within structures for electroluminescent devices. Using room temperature photoluminescence (PL) we have also observed a strong free excitonic peak which is attributed to Z₃. We also report on the design of a UV source using electrically pumped CuCl thin films on Si and ITO coated glass substrates. This could open up the possibility of fabricating UV/blue light emitters utilizing CuCl.     

Quantum Dots Emitting in the Third Biological Window as Bimodal Contrast Agents for Cardiovascular Imaging

Physicians are demanding innovative technologies for multimodal imaging of the cardiovascular system that would lead to the appearance of advanced diagnosis and therapy procedures. This implies the simultaneous development of new imaging techniques and contrast agents whose synergy would make it possible. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has recently emerged as a versatile and high‐resolution clinical technique for cardiovascular imaging. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate contrast agents impedes the use of OCT for intracoronary multimodal imaging. In this work, the hitherto unexplored capability of semiconductor quantum dots (IR‐QDs) emitting in the third infrared biological window (1.55–1.87 µm) to act as multimodal agents for intracoronary imaging is demonstrated. Under single line laser excitation at 1.3 µm, IR‐QDs are capable of providing simultaneous backscattering contrast and efficient luminescence at 1.6 µm. In this work, backscattered radiation is successfully employed to construct OCT images in both fluids and tissues whereas the infrared luminescence of the IR‐QDs provides the possibility for simultaneous acquisition of high penetrating fluorescence images. The first multimodal (fluorescence + OCT) imaging of an artery using IR‐QDs as contrast agents is provided herein demonstrating their outstanding potential for future clinical applications.     

A 3-D hybrid finite element/boundary element method for the unifiedradiation and scattering analysis of general infinite periodic arrays

We present a rigorous frequency domain variational 3-D electromagnetic formulation for the general nonself-adjoint infinite periodic array problem. The hybrid method described combines the vector finite element and Floquet boundary element techniques. It is general in the sense that it is applicable to infinite periodic arrays of the open or aperture-types. It is thus effective for modeling both the scattering and radiation performance of diverse FSS, absorber, and phased-array structures. The technique accurately handles arbitrarily complicated 3-D geometries, lossy inhomogeneous media and internal as well as external excitations. These analyses can be applied to general skewed grids under arbitrary scan and polarization conditions     

Implanted polymer junctions obtained with electrogenerated polythiophene films

Using polythiophene films (～5 μm thick) electrogenerated by trapezoidal waves of potential, then partially reduced, we realised metal-polythiophene contacts on the one hand. The electrical characteristics of a steel/polythiophene/gold sandwich structure are presented. We consider that the rectifying contact takes place between steel and p-type polythiophene. On the other hand, we showed that p-type polythiophene could be compensated after an implantation of alkali ions (Cs⁺ or Na⁺) in order to lead to the realisation of PN junctions. We particularly prove that the use of Na⁺ ions results in junctions yielding currents which are higher than with Cs⁺ ions. Current-voltage and capacitance-voltage characteristics have been presented so as to show that the junction effect is due to the efficiency of the doping by ionic implantation. These electrical measurements seem to be stable after several weeks in air.     

Calculation and analysis of electromagnetic scattering by helicopter rotating blades

This paper describes an application of physical optics and the method of equivalent currents to the calculation of radar cross section (RCS) of a helicopter rotor. The problem is treated using a quasi-stationary approach. The calculation can be parameterized as a function of the locations of the radar transmitter and receiver in relation to the rotor center. Therefore, this offers the possibility of monostatic and bistatic simulations in the far field and near field. Blade geometry is taken into account using a triangular meshing generated by the I-DEAS meshing software. Digital applications are presented and the effects on the RCS spectrum of incidence, frequency, blade number, and the near field are analyzed.     

Understanding Innovations in Journalistic Practice: A Field Experiment Examining Motivations for Fact‐Checking

Why has fact‐checking spread so quickly within U.S. political journalism? In the first field experiment conducted among reporters, we varied journalist exposure to messages that highlight either audience demand for fact‐checking or the prestige it enjoys within the profession. Our results indicate that messages promoting the high status and journalistic values of fact‐checking increased the prevalence of fact‐checking coverage, while messages about audience demand were somewhat less successful. These findings suggest that political fact‐checking is driven primarily by professional motives within journalism, a finding that helps us understand the process by which the practice spreads within the press as well as the factors that influence the behavior of journalists.     

An assessment of hydrothermal treatment of dairy waste as a tool for a sustainable phosphorus supply chain in comparison with commercial phosphatic fertilizers

Hydrothermal treatment has been proven efficient in immobilizing phosphorus and other macronutrients from animal waste; however, there are still gaps in understanding the best end-use applications for nutrient-dense biochars. In this research, aqueous phase phosphorus availability (P _aq) of biochars produced at various temperatures and residence times was determined in pH 5.5 citric acid for 8 weeks. Further, P _aq of commercially available composted manure and fertilizers was also determined for comparison. P _aq was found to plateau after 4 weeks in aqueous phase. Hydrothermal treatment temperature and residence time were found to improve nutrient immobilization efficiency, while conversely lowering P _aq. Comparing to commercially available fertilizers, biochars produced from hydrothermal treatment are low in P _aq, despite high P₂O₅% found in the solids. A preliminary process study evaluating energy consumption and CO₂ emissions associated with recycled P₂O₅ recovered from the process operating at 200 °C was conducted, indicating CO₂ emissions with respect to soluble phosphorus are significantly higher in comparison with commercial phosphatic fertilizers. Further recommendations regarding life cycle analysis of the phosphorus supply chain are also discussed.     

A linear‐time method for computing the ANOS of Bernoulli and Poisson CUSUM charts

The average number of observations to signal (ANOS) is an important measure of the effectiveness of Bernoulli or Poisson cumulative sum (CUSUM) control charts. Being able to quickly and accurately calculate an ANOS vector facilitates effective control chart design. We present a linear‐time method for computing the ANOS of Bernoulli CUSUM charts and generalize to Poisson CUSUM charts. This method overcomes computation challenges associated with previously existing methods.