In situ forming implants for the delivery of metronidazole to periodontal pockets: formulation and drug release studies

This study was performed to obtain prolonged drug release with biodegradable in situ forming implants for the local delivery of metronidazole to periodontal pockets. The effect of polymer type (capped and uncapped PLGA), solvent type (water-miscible and water-immiscible) and the polymer/drug ratio on in vitro drug release studies were investigated. In situ implants with sustained metronidazole release and low initial burst consisted of capped PLGA and N-methyl-2-pyrolidone as solvent. Mucoadhesive polymers were incorporated into the in situ implants in order to modify the properties of the delivery systems towards longer residence times in vivo. Addition of the polymers changed the adhesiveness and increased the viscosity and drug release of the formulations. However, sustained drug release over 10 days was achievable. Biodegradable in situ forming implants are therefore an attractive delivery system to achieve prolonged release of metronidazole at periodontal therapy.     

Poly (diallyldimethylammoniumchloride)/sodium‐montmorillonite composite; structure,and adsorption properties

A cationic polyelectrolyte, poly (diallyldimethylammoniumchloride) (PDADMAC) and a smectite‐type layered silicate (sodium activated montmorillonite clay (Sodium‐Montmorillonite, NaMt)), intercalated composites (PDADMAC/NaMt) were prepared. Basal spacings (d001) of NaMt in composites were measured by X‐Ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Ultrasonic addition of low molecular weight PDADMAC into the NaMt structure (at very low concentration and very low PDADMAC(g)/NaMt(g) ratios) resulted in good adsorbing properties both for positively and negatively charged dyes. The adsorption kinetics of the prepared composites both for negatively charged [remazol black (RB)] and positively charged [methylene blue (MB)] reactive dyes were investigated. The RB adsorption efficiency of the positively charged composite is approximately three times that of the pure NaMt while its MB adsorption efficiency is as good as that of pure NaMt. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Emotional correlates of the different dimensions of schizotypal personality disorder.

Two studies explored which different dimensions of schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) were associated with negative affect, attention to emotions, clarity of emotions, and emotional intensity/instability. Study 1 included 247 college students, and questionnaires were used to measure SPD. Study 2 included 225 community residents, oversampling for individuals with elevated levels of SPD, and semistructured diagnostic interviews were used to measure SPD. In both studies (a) higher levels of negative affect were associated with higher levels of both cognitive-perceptual and interpersonal symptoms, (b) cognitive-perceptual disturbances were associated with greater attention to emotion, whereas interpersonal disturbances were associated with less attention to emotion, and (c) lower levels of emotional clarity were associated with higher levels of suspiciousness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mapping surface fuel models using lidar and multispectral data fusion for fire behavior

Wild-land fires have become intense and more frequent all over the world. Improving the accuracy of mapping fuel models is essential for fuel management decisions and explicit fire behavior prediction for real-time support of suppression tactics and logistics decisions. The overall aim of this paper is to develop the use of lidar (LIght Detection and Ranging) remote sensing to accurately and effectively assess fuel models in East Texas. More specific goals include: (1) developing lidar derived products and the methodology to use them for assessing fuel models; (2) investigating the use of several techniques for data fusion of lidar and multispectral imagery for assessing fuel models; (3) investigating the gain in fuels mapping accuracy when using lidar as opposed to QuickBird imagery alone; and (4) producing spatially explicit digital fuel maps. Estimates of fuel models were compared with in-situ data collected over 62 plots. We employ a unique approach to classify fuel models using a combination of lidar height bins and multispectral image data. Different image processing approaches for fusing lidar and multispectral data, such as the Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) and Principle Component Analysis (PCA), were used to improve the overall accuracy of image classification. Supervised image classification methods provided better accuracy (90.10%) with the fusion of airborne lidar data with QuickBird data than with QuickBird imagery alone (76.52%).According to our results, lidar derived data provide accurate estimates of surface fuel parameters efficiently and accurately over extensive areas of forests. This study demonstrates the importance of using accurate maps of fuel models derived using new lidar remote sensing techniques.     

Fuzzy FMEA in risk assessment for test and calibration laboratories

In this study, it is aimed to compare traditional and fuzzy FMEA in identifying areas that may pose risks and need improvement in Test and Calibration Laboratories. Within this scope, FMEA is used in ranking the possible risks. One hundred ninety-nine failures are detected in 91 inspections, carried out in the Test and Calibration Laboratories. Since FMEA uses experts’ evaluations, which are considered subjective, fuzzy logic is implemented to the approach where the evaluations are presented with linguistic variables. The comparison of FMEA and fuzzy FMEA showed that there exists a high correlation between these two analyses and the order of priority based on the Fuzzy Risk Priority Number calculation is overlapping with the Risk Priority Number sequence. Fuzzy FMEA can also be considered when the evaluations are not trustworthy or incomplete. Therefore, this study can be addressed as an example of how fuzzy implementation to FMEA substantially be used instead of traditional FMEA when there exist qualitative, subjective or incomplete evaluations, or in cases where traditional FMEA has troubles in practice.     

断层输导差异性定量评价及其在致密油气藏勘探中的应用

沟通烃源岩与储层的通源断层在活动期会产生诱导裂缝、碎裂岩或断层岩，对油气运移起输导作用。受断层活动强度、两侧岩性、断层岩泥质含量等因素的影响，断层不同部位（断片区）对流体的输导能力存在差异。断层输导差异性定量评价有助于断控致密油气成藏有利区预测。基于断层生长指数、断生裂缝系数和岩石破裂压力等参数，提出断层输导指数计算方法，明确了断控致密油气成藏机理与成藏模式。根据烃源岩厚度、成熟度及类型等参数，计算烃源岩系数，综合分析济阳坳陷渤南洼陷渤深4断层各断片区的输导指数、烃源岩系数、源储压差、有利储集相带等，建立断控致密油气成藏有利区分类标准，预测的成藏有利区得到了勘探实践证实。结果表明：按断片区计算断层输导指数，可以定量评价断层输导能力的差异性；高源储压差、通源断层差异输导和断层岩侧向封堵是断 控致密油气成藏的主控因素。