Influence of ionic strength and HPMC viscosity grade on drug release and swelling behavior of HPMC matrix tablets

Matrix tablets containing paracetamol and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC 2906) of different viscosity grades (50, 400, 1500, and 4000 mPa·s) were evaluated for drug release and change in matrix tablet mass [ΔM (%)] after exposure to 0.09, 0.15, 0.31, and 0.52M ionic strengths of dissolution media. At 0.09 and 0.15M ionic strength, drug‐release profiles reflected the extended release characteristic; in addition the increase in ΔM was slow and continuous within first few hours. At 0.31M the higher viscosity grade matrices showed extensive initial swelling and the loss of extended release whereas at 0.52M a similar tablet performance is observed for the matrices of all viscosity grades. Notably, when extensive increase in ΔM occurs in the very beginning of exposure to medium the loss of extended release from the matrix is expected. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43604.     

Non-linear impulsive dynamical systems. Part I: Stability and dissipativity

In this paper we develop Lyapunov and invariant set stability theorems for non-linear impulsive dynamical systems. Furthermore, we generalize dissipativity theory to non-linear dynamical systems with impulsive effects. Specifically, the classical concepts of system storage functions and supply rates are extended to impulsive dynamical systems providing a generalized hybrid system energy interpretation in terms of stored energy, dissipated energy over the continuous-time system dynamics and dissipated energy over the resetting instants. Furthermore, extended Kalman‐Yakubovich‐Popov conditions in terms of the impulsive system dynamics characterizing dissipativeness via system storage functions are derived. Finally, the framework is specialized to passive and non-expansive impulsive systems to provide a generalization of the classical notions of passivity and non-expansivity for non-linear impulsive systems. These results are used in the second part of this paper to develop extensions of the small gain and positivity theorems for feedback impulsive systems as well as to develop optimal hybrid feedback controllers.     

Defuzzification of spatial fuzzy sets by feature distance minimization

We present a novel defuzzification method, i.e., a mapping from the set of fuzzy sets to the set of crisp sets, and we suggest its application to image processing. Spatial fuzzy sets are, e.g., useful as information preserving representations of objects in images. Defuzzification of such a spatial fuzzy set can be seen as a crisp segmentation procedure. With the aim to provide preservation of selected quantitative features of the fuzzy set, we define the defuzzification of a fuzzy set to be a crisp set which is as close as possible to the fuzzy set, where the distance measure on the set of fuzzy sets, that we propose for defuzzification, incorporates selected local and global features of the fuzzy sets. The distance measure is based on the Minkowski distance between feature representations of the sets. The distance minimization, performed in the suggested defuzzification method, provides preservation of the selected quantitative features of the fuzzy set. The method utilizes the information contained in the fuzzy representation for defining a mapping from the set of fuzzy sets to the set of crisp sets. If the fuzzy set is a representation of an unknown crisp original set, such that the selected features of the original set are preserved in the fuzzy representation, then the defuzzified set may be seen as an approximate reconstruction of the crisp original. We present four optimization algorithms, exhibiting different properties, for finding the crisp set closest to a given discrete fuzzy set. A number of examples, using both synthetic and real images, illustrate the main properties of the proposed method. An evaluation of both theoretical aspects of the method, and its results, is given.     

Transducer generated arrays of robotic nano-arms

We consider sets of two-dimensional arrays, called here transducer generated languages, obtained by iterative applications of transducers (finite state automata with output). Each transducer generates a set of blocks of symbols such that the bottom row of a block is an input string accepted by the transducer and, by iterative application of the transducer, each row of the block is an output of the transducer on the preceding row. We show how these arrays can be implemented through molecular assembly of triple crossover DNA molecules. Such assembly could serve as a scaffold for arranging molecular robotic arms capable of simultaneous movements. We observe that transducer generated languages define a class of languages which is a proper subclass of recognizable picture languages, but it contains the class of all factorial local two-dimensional languages. By taking the average growth rate of the number of blocks in the language as a measure of its complexity, we further observe that arrays with high complexity patterns can be generated in this way.     

Monitoring of bitumen hardening with a non-destructive ultrasonic shear wave reflection technique

The article presents a possibility of using a non-destructive ultrasonic shear wave reflection technique for monitoring hardening process of bitumen. The technique relies on the use of a new measuring instrument called USWR-4 Hardening meter, which was developed to be applicable directly in situ and has been effectively used for cement-based materials so far. It works on the principle of continuous measurement of change of a shear wave reflection coefficient. Three different types of paving grade and two polymer-modified bitumens were used. Results show that the presented ultrasound technique can effectively track a temperature-dependent hardening process of bitumen.     

Chirality of Liquid Crystals Formed from Achiral Molecules Revealed by Resonant X-Ray Scattering

Intensive research on chiral liquid crystals (LCs) has been fueled by their actively tunable physicochemical properties and structural complexity, comparable to those of sophisticated natural materials. Herein, recent progress in the discovery of new classes of chiral LCs, enabled by a combination of nano- and macroscale investigations is reviewed. First, an overview is provided of liquid crystalline phases, made of chiral and achiral low-weight molecules, that exhibit chiral structure and/or chiral morphology. Then, recent progress in the discovery of new classes of chiral LCs, particularly enabled by the application of resonant X-ray scattering is described. It is shown that the method is sensitive to modulations of molecular orientation and therefore provides information hardly accessible by means of other techniques, such as the sense of helical structures or chirality transfer across length scales. Finally, a perspective is presented on the future scope, opportunities, and challenges in the field of chiral LCs, in particular related to nanocomposites.     

Involution codes: with application to DNA coded languages

For an involution θ : Σ^* → Σ^* over a finite alphabet Σ we consider involution codes: θ-infix, θ-comma-free, θ-k -codes and θ-subword-k-codes. These codes arise from questions on DNA strand design. We investigate conditions under which both X and X⁺ are same type of involution codes. General methods for generating such involution codes are given. The information capacity of these codes show to be optimized in most cases. A specific set of these codes was chosen for experimental testing and the results of these experiments are presented.     

Mechanochemical Route for the Preparation of Nanosized Aluminum and Gallium Sulfide and Selenide

Aluminum and gallium chalcogenides are promising, yet relatively underexplored photoelectric and semiconducting materials. Many studies confirmed the applicability of gallium sulfides and selenides in photovoltaics and as electrode materials. In present work, a simple and convenient mechanochemical method has been developed for preparation of aluminum and gallium sulfide and selenide from elemental powders. The products have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The following products have been obtained: Al₂S₃, Al₂Se₃, Ga₂S₃, and Ga₂Se₃, with crystallite sizes in the range 8–12 nm.