Biofunctionalized upconverting CaF<Subscript>2</Subscript>:Yb,Tm nanoparticles for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida albicans</Emphasis> detection and imaging

Versatile optimization of the synthesis method and composition of Yb3+ and Tm3+ co-doped CaF2 nanoparticles as well as a novel biofunctionalization method were developed and evaluated.Through multistep synthesis,the luminescence intensity of the Tm3+ activator was enhanced by more than 10-fold compared to standard one-step synthesis.The proposed methods were used to homogenously distribute the doping ions within the nanoparticle's volume and thus reduce luminescence quenching.Optimization of dopant ions concentration led to the selection of the most efficient visible and near-infrared up-converting nanoparticles,which were CaF2 doped with 10％ Yb3+ 0.05％ Tm3+ and 20％ Yb3+ 0.5％ Tm3+,respectively.To illustrate the suitability of the synthesized nanoparticles as bio-labels,a dedicated biofunctionalization method was used,and the nanoparticles were applied for labeling and imaging of Candida albicans cells.This method shows great promise because of extremely low background and high specificity because of the presence of the attached molecules.     

Recent progress in continuous and semi-continuous processing of solid oral dosage forms: a review

Context: Continuous processing is an innovative production concept well known and successfully used in other industries for many years. The modern pharmaceutical industry is facing the challenge of transition from a traditional manufacturing approach based on batch-wise production to a continuous manufacturing model.

Objective: The aim of this article is to present technological progress in manufacturing based on continuous and semi-continuous processing of the solid oral dosage forms.

Methods: Single unit processes possessing an alternative processing pathway to batch-wise technology or, with some modification, an altered approach that may run continuously, and are thus able to seamlessly switch to continuous manufacturing are briefly presented. Furthermore, the concept of semi-continuous processing is discussed. Subsequently, more sophisticated production systems created by coupling single unit processes and comprising all the steps of production, from powder to final dosage form, were reviewed. Finally, attempts of end-to-end production approach, meaning the linking of continuous synthesis of API from intermediates with the production of final dosage form, are described.

Results: There are a growing number of scientific articles showing an increasing interest in changing the approach to the production of pharmaceuticals in recent years. Numerous scientific publications are a source of information on the progress of knowledge and achievements of continuous processing. These works often deal with issues of how to modify or replace the unit processes in order to enable seamlessly switching them into continuous processing. A growing number of research papers concentrate on integrated continuous manufacturing lines in which the production concept of “from powder to tablet” is realized. Four main domains are under investigation: influence of process parameters on intermediates or final dosage forms properties, implementation of process analytical tools, control-managing system responsible for keeping continuous materials flow through the whole manufacturing process and the development of new computational methods to assess or simulate these new manufacturing techniques. The attempt to connect the primary and secondary production steps proves that development of continuously operating lines is possible.

Conclusion: A mind-set change is needed to be able to face, and fully assess, the advantages and disadvantages of switching from batch to continuous mode production.     

Magnetic Ordering of Dy3+ Ions in RbDy(WO4)2 Single Crystal

The specific heat C(T) of the monoclinic RbDy(WO ₄ ) ₂ crystal has been studied at very low temperatures 0.2T1.9 K and in magnetic fields 0H0.38 T. The Neel temperature was shown to be equal to T_N = 0.818 ± 0.005 K. The experimental value of the effective exchange parameter was obtained to be equal to J/k = – 0.798 K. The C T) dependence below Neel temperature 0.5T_N0.99T_N ) is well described by 2D Ising model, whereas in the temperature region close above T_N (1.01 T_N2T_N) it can be described by neither 2D, nor 3D Ising model. The experimental and theoretical H-T_N diagrams for field H a are in a reasonable agreement for simple quadratic lattice.     

Flexible multibody approach in forward dynamic simulation of locomotive strains in human skeleton with flexible lower body bones

A method for bone strain estimation is examined in this article. The flexibility of a single bone in an otherwise rigid human skeleton model has been studied previously by various authors. However, in the previous studies, the effect of the flexibility of multiple bones on the musculoskeletal model behavior was ignored. This study describes a simulation method that can be used to estimate the bone strains at both tibias and femurs of a 65-year-old Caucasian male subject. The verification of the method is performed by the comparison of the results with other studies available in literature. The results of the study show good correlation with the results of previous empirical studies. A damping effect of the flexible bones on the model is also studied in this paper.     

Makespan minimization of multi-slot just-in-time scheduling on single and parallel machines

The paper addresses the problem of multi-slot just-in-time scheduling. Unlike the existing literature on this subject, it studies a more general criterion—the minimization of the schedule makespan rather than the minimization of the number of slots used by schedule. It gives an O(nlog ² n)-time optimization algorithm for the single machine problem. For arbitrary number of m>1 identical parallel machines it presents an O(nlog n)-time optimization algorithm for the case when the processing time of each job does not exceed its due date. For the general case on m>1 machines, it proposes a polynomial time constant factor approximation algorithm.     

Is Evolution Algorithmic?

In Darwin’s Dangerous Idea, Daniel Dennett claims that evolution is algorithmic. On Dennett’s analysis, evolutionary processes are trivially algorithmic because he assumes that all natural processes are algorithmic. I will argue that there are more robust ways to understand algorithmic processes that make the claim that evolution is algorithmic empirical and not conceptual. While laws of nature can be seen as compression algorithms of information about the world, it does not follow logically that they are implemented as algorithms by physical processes. For that to be true, the processes have to be part of computational systems. The basic difference between mere simulation and real computing is having proper causal structure. I will show what kind of requirements this poses for natural evolutionary processes if they are to be computational.     

TSV constraints related to temperature excursion, pressure during molding, materials used and handling loads

The current paper focuses on several mechanical aspects of a waferlevel packaging approach using a direct face-to-face Chip-to-Wafer (C2W) bonding of a MEMS device on an ASIC substrate wafer. Requirements of minimized inherent stress from packaging and good decoupling from forces applied in manufacturing and application are discussed with particular attention to the presence of through-silicon vias (TSV) in the substrate wafer. The paper deals with FEM analysis of temperature excursion, pressure during molding, materials used and handling load influence on mechanical stress within the TSV system and on wafer level, which can be large enough to disintegrate the system.