In vitro and in vivo release of cefuroxime axetil from bioactive glass as an implantable delivery system in experimental osteomyelitis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the characterisation, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity of bioactive glass (BG) impregnated with an antibiotic. The BG was prepared by normal glass melting procedures as a controlled release device to treat experimental osteomyelitis. The study design was for prospective in vivo experimental study. Two sets of porous bioactive glass ceramic blocks (9 mm × 4 mm × 4 mm and 20 mm × 9 mm × 9 mm) were fabricated using bioactive glass powder and subsequently antibiotic cefuroxime axetil (CFA) (55 and 125 mg on an average) was impregnated in these two sets of blocks, respectively. Osteomyelitis was produced in the right tibia of the rabbits according to the model of Norden. After thorough in vitro characterization of the porous blocks [including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transformed infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), thorough chemical analysis by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectra (ICP-AES) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM)] and in vitro elution of the said drug, in vivo test was carried out with rabbit species split into two groups: (a) animals treated with CFA impregnated bioactive glass and (b) parenteral [intra muscular (IM)] administration of CFA. Histological, radiological and drug concentration in bone and serum (measured by HPLC) in both groups were carried out. HPLC technique was used for determination of concentration both in vitro and in vivo. Fabricated porous struts showed amorphous microstructure without formation of any crystallite. The elution of said drug was stopped after 6 days in vitro. Histological studies at 3 and 6 weeks revealed formation of well-developed lamellar bone and havarsian canal. Radiological evaluation pointed out disappearance of sequestrum and existence of newly formed bony specules. Concentration of cefuroxime axetil in bone and serum showed highest value on day 21 which reduced marginally by day 42 and these values were higher than minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus (known pathogen for chronic osteomyelitis). It could be concluded that the biodegradable antibiotic carrier system developed in this study proved to be an effective therapeutic approach toward an experimental model of osteomyelitis. Based particularly on the in vivo results of the study, this cefuroxime axetil incorporated bioactive glass blocks can be successfully used in clinical cases of osteomyelitis in veterinary as well as human orthopaedic surgery.     

Effect of heat capacity and physical behavior on strength and durability of shale, as building material

Increasing use of rock materials like shale in building, roofing, embankment filling, brick manufacturing, and in other civil structure application makes it an important rock to consider in construction engineering. Knowledge of thermal and physical properties of shale as building material is required to predict the rock??s strength and permanence against weathering. Inconsistent heat capacity of anisotropic rock can result in differential heat flow. This tendency can expand the building materials leading to reduction in strength and initiate disintegration. Authors have studied various thermo-physical properties of anisotropic shale from Tennessee, which is commonly used as building stones and bricks. Experiment was designed to measure the basic thermal property, ??heat capacity?? of shale. Series of laboratory tests including durability, strength, specific gravity, moisture content, and porosity were conducted to determine the physical and mechanical behavior of the samples. Results indicated that properties like porosity, strength and heat capacity varied significantly within samples, where as specific gravity and moisture content yielded steady values. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate possible correlations among the tested properties. Strong positive relationship was evident between heat capacity, and porosity. Heat capacity and Unconfined Compressive Strength of shale were inversely related. This study emphasized that physical and thermal properties of shale are directly linked with strength and durability of the rock mass.     

Selective Zinc(II)‐Ion Fluorescence Sensing by a Functionalized Mesoporous Material Covalently Grafted with a Fluorescent Chromophore and Consequent Biological Applications

A highly ordered 2D‐hexagonal mesoporous silica material is functionalized with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane. This organically modified mesoporous material is grafted with a dialdehyde fluorescent chromophore, 4‐methyl‐2,6‐diformyl phenol. Powder X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ sorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and UV‐visible absorption and emission have been employed to characterize the material. This material shows excellent selective Zn²⁺ sensing, which is due to the fluorophore moiety present at its surface. Fluorescence measurements reveal that the emission intensity of the Zn²⁺‐bound mesoporous material increases significantly upon addition of various concentrations of Zn²⁺, while the introduction of other biologically relevant (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺) and environmentally hazardous transition‐metal ions results in either unchanged or weakened intensity. The enhancement of fluorescence is attributed to the strong covalent binding of Zn²⁺, evident from the large binding constant value (0.87 × 10⁴ M ^?1). Thus, this functionalized mesoporous material grafted with the fluorescent chromophore could monitor or recognize Zn²⁺ from a mixture of ions that contains Zn²⁺ even in trace amounts and can be considered as a selective fluorescent probe. We have examined the application of this mesoporous zinc(II) sensor to cultured living cells (A375 human melanoma and human cervical cancer cell, HeLa) by fluorescence microscopy.     

Thermal Expansion Behavior of Boron-Doped Cordierite Glass-Ceramics

The linear thermal expansion coefficients of cordierite glass-ceramics that have been doped with a fixed amount of P₂O₅ and 1, 2, and 3 wt% of B₂O₃ show negative expansion in the temperature range of 100°-300°C. The expansion of the undoped cordierite sample is positive. A relative decrease in the degree of negative expansion is observed as the B₂O₃ concentration increases. These negative expansion coefficients are similar to those of cordierite glass-ceramics that have been doped with the potassium cation.     

Metal halide perovskite: a game-changer for photovoltaics and solar devices via a tandem design

Multi-junction tandem design has been proven to be an effective means to further improve the efficiency of solar cells. However, its share in the photovoltaics market at present is tiny, since the most efficient tandem device comprises III-V semiconductors, which entail the use of expensive fabrication processes. The advent of perovskite solar cells, which have revitalized the PV field with their unprecedented pace of development, promises to address this bottleneck. Perovskite materials could not only serve as the top subcell absorber for commercial solar cells including Si and copper indium gallium selenide, but could work efficiently as bottom subcells owing to highly tuneable bandgaps which extend down to the range of ~1.2 to 1.5 eV. The highest-efficiency perovskite tandem to date was achieved by pairing a perovskite top cell with a Si bottom cell in a four-terminal configuration, yielding 26.4%. This review gives an overview of recent progress on the main tandem structures, and describes the detailed design improvements that have resulted in new record efficiencies. Ultimately, commercialization of these tandem solar cells relies on the scalability of perovskite technology. We, therefore, highlight the development of large-scale tandems and approaches to produce perovskite modules. We also point out the critical aspects that will require further effort and provide guidelines for future developments. The potential obstacles that will hamper the commercialization of perovskite tandems, if not adequately addressed, namely device stability and toxicity, are then critically examined. Finally, the substantial opportunities that perovskite materials open up for other solar devices with a tandem configuration are mentioned, which are attracting increasing attention.     

A detailed model of induction machines with saturation extendable for fault analysis

A review of the literature suggests that modeling of induction machines with saturation has received considerable attention. Most of these models are very application specific. None of them, however, seems to be completely adequate for the purpose of fault diagnosis. This is because for a noninvasive detection technique such as Motor Current Signature Analysis (MCSA), one has to detect different frequency components in the line current of the machine. Incorporation of saturation in the induction machine model will help in identifying and analyzing harmonics in the line current spectra that may arise due to the interaction of saturation with a specific fault. The present paper attempts to create such a model. The model uses modulation of air-gap permeance in order to emulate saturation. Modified winding function approach (MWFA) has been used to model the induction machine with saturation. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the model, certain high-frequency harmonics that can be predicted theoretically are shown to be present in the line current of the simulated machine. Experimental results also confirm the presence of these harmonics. The author plans to extend this model in the future for fault analysis.     

Intelligent virtual environments for virtual reality art

The development of virtual reality (VR) art installations is faced with considerable difficulties, especially when one wishes to explore complex notions related to user interaction. We describe the development of a VR platform, which supports the development of such installations, from an art+science perspective. The system is based on a CAVE™-like immersive display using a game engine to support visualisation and interaction, which has been adapted for stereoscopic visualisation and real-time tracking. In addition, some architectural elements of game engines, such as their reliance on event-based systems have been used to support the principled definition of alternative laws of Physics. We illustrate this research through the development of a fully implemented artistic brief that explores the notion of causality in a virtual environment. After describing the hardware architecture supporting immersive visualisation we show how causality can be redefined using artificial intelligence technologies inspired from action representation in planning and how this symbolic definition of behaviour can support new forms of user experience in VR.     

超声振荡改性玉米醇溶蛋白及高F值寡肽制备

玉米醇溶蛋白经225 W的超声振荡处理90 min,改善其结构特性,解决50 ℃加热会形成“粘弹性面筋团”的现象。通过扫描电镜、红外光谱、差示扫描量热技术,清晰看到其微观表面形貌由片型韧状转变为块型松散状,变性峰显著减小,酰胺Ι带（1 700~1 600 cm^-1）的吸收强度明显减弱。松散蛋白经Alcalase 2.4L碱性蛋白酶水解及超滤、纳滤膜过滤,得到F值为4.07的粗肽,其中相对分子质量小于1 000的占比97.62%。ɑ-胰凝乳蛋白酶和羧肽酶A依次定向水解粗肽,联合活性炭脱芳,制备F值高达41.87的玉米寡肽,其中苯丙氨酸和酪氨酸仅占总氨基酸的0.73%,相对分子质量180~1 000的占比71.37%。     

Colloidal Crystalline Arrays of β‐Polymorphic Poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Stable layers of nearly monodisperse spheres of β‐polymorphic poly(vinylidene fluoride) with iridescent properties are prepared. The colloidal crystalline arrays (CCAs) were characterized by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and FT‐IR spectroscopy. FT‐IR spectroscopic and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) studies revealed a β‐polymorphic PVF₂ structure, the DSC study showed that the level of crystallinity in the CCA was much higher than that in the melt‐crystallized sample, and UV‐visible spectroscopy showed extinction peaks at 323 and 510 nm in the CCAs. The β‐polymorphic PVF₂ structure, along with the optical extinction properties of these CCAs, raises the prospect of their application in optical filters and/or piezoelectric sensors.

Optical micrograph of PVF₂ CCA films cast on glass substrates.