Bioavailability and pharmacokinetic properties of 2 sustained-release formulations of diclofenac sodium, Voltaren vs inflaban: effect of food on inflaban bioavailability

In this study, in vitro characterization, bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of 2 different sustained-release diclofenac sodium dosage forms were compared, Voltaren (100 mg tablets), manufactured by Ciba-Geigy and Inflaban (100 mg enteric-coated tablets), manufactured by the Arab Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company. The in vitro results demonstrated a faster rate of dissolution for Inflaban as compared to Voltaren, but both products exhibited a sustained-release pattern. The bioavailability study was conducted on 20 healthy male subjects who received a single oral dose (100 mg) of each product according to a randomized 2-way crossover design. Blood samples were obtained over a 26-hour period, and drug concentrations were determined by an HPLC method. Concentration time profiles revealed a sustained-release pattern for both products. The Tlag for Voltaren was 0.8 +/- 0.2 h, significantly shorter than for Inflaban (1.7 +/- 0.2 h) indicating a faster rate of absorption from the upper gastrointestinal tract. The Cmax obtained with Voltaren was significantly higher than that obtained with Inflaban (1,161 +/- 102 and 799 +/- 83, respectively). With respect to Tmax and AUC0-26h parameters, both products were not found to be statistically different. Tmax for Voltaren and Inflaban was 4.2 +/- 0.5 and 4.5 +/- 0.4 h, respectively, whereas AUC0-26h values for both products were 5,423 +/- 562 and 5,237 +/- 520 ng x h/ml, respectively. It is believed that the observed differences between Voltaren and Inflaban are mainly due to the fact that Inflaban is designed as an enteric-coated tablet form, with a core tablet having different sustained-release behavior. In addition, the effect of food on the bioavailability of Inflaban was evaluated in randomly selected 6 male volunteers. Our results revealed that, following light and heavy meals, the AUC0-30 and Cmax were minimally affected by food whereas a significant increase in Tmax and Tlag as compared to fasting conditions was observed.     

An integrated production and maintenance planning model with time windows and shortage cost

In this paper, we tackle the problem of integrating production and maintenance. The production problem addresses the issue of determining the production lot sizes of various items. Preventive maintenance is carried out in time windows to restore the production line to an ‘as-good-as-new’ status, and when a production line fails, a minimal repair is carried out to restore it to an ‘as-bad-as-old’ status. The resulting problem is modelled as a linear mixed-integer program. It takes into account demand shortage and the reliability of the production line. Computational experiments are carried out to show the effectiveness of the integrated model compared with a separate classical model for different instances, and the results obtained are analysed in detail.     

Reconfigurable Pattern Patch Antenna for Mid-Band 5G: A Review

New requirements in communication technologies make it imperative to rehash conventional features such as reconfigurable antennas to adapt with the future adaptability advancements. This paper presents a comprehensive review of reconfigurable antennas, specifically in terms of radiation patterns for adaptation in the upcoming Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio frequency bands. They represent the key of antenna technology for materializing a high rate transmission, increased spectral and energy efficiency, reduced interference, and improved the beam steering and beam shaping, thereby land a great promise for planar antennas to boost the mid-band 5G. This review begins with an overview of the underlying principals in reconfiguring radiation patterns, followed by the presentations of the implemented innovative antenna topologies to suit particular advanced features. The various adaptation techniques of radiation pattern reconfigurable planar antennas and the understanding of its antenna design approaches has been investigated for its radiation pattern enhancement. A variety of design configurations have also been critically studied for their compatibilities to be operated in the mid-band communication systems. The review provides new insights on pattern reconfigurable antenna where such antennas are categorized as beam steering antenna and beam shaping antennas where the operation modes and purposes are clearly investigated. The review also revealed that for mid-band 5G communication, the commonly used electronic switching such as PIN diodes have sufficient isolation loss to provide the required beam performance.     

Beta-amyloid peptide interacts specifically with the carboxy-terminal domain of human apolipoprotein E: relevance to Alzheimer's disease

Growing evidence indicates the involvement of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in the development of late-onset and sporadic forms of Alzheimer's disease, although its exact role remains unclear. We previously demonstrated that beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) displays membrane-destabilizing properties and that only apoE2 and E3 isoforms inhibit these properties. In this study, we clearly demonstrate that the carboxy-terminal lipid-binding domain of apoE (e.g., residues 200-299) is responsible for the Abeta-binding activity of apoE and that this interaction involves pairs of apoE amphipathic alpha-helices. We further demonstrate that Abeta is able to inhibit the association of the C-terminal domain of apoE with lipids due to the formation of Abeta/apoE complexes resistant to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. On the contrary, the amino-terminal receptor-binding domain of apoE (e.g., residues 129-169) is not able to form stable complexes with Abeta. These data extend our understanding of human apoE-dependent binding of Abeta by involving the C-terminal domain of apoE in the efficient formation of apoE/Abeta complex.     

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of sustained-release and enteric-coated microcapsules of diclofenac sodium

This work examines the release of diclofenac sodium from ethylcellulose (EC) microcapsules made up of different drug to polymer ratios. The release process was found to follow the Higuchi square root equation and not the zero-order or first order equations. However, for drug to polymer ratio of 1:1, a critical time (θ) was reached beyond which the release rate was lower than that predicted on the basis of the Higuchi square root equation. Dissolution experiments in 0.1N HCL revealed that less than 1.5% of the encapsulated drug was released in 6 h. This finding indicates the suitability of the EC microcapsules for enteric-coated preparations. The in vitro release of diclofenac sodium from microcapsules of different drug to polymer ratios was compared with that from a commercial sustained-release product. A distinct similarity between the release profile of the commercial product with that obtained for the 1:2 drug to polymer microcapsules was noted. The in vivo work included determination of the serum drug profile following oral administration of the microcapsules and the commercial product to rabbits. The obtained serum concentration time profile of the EC microcapsules exhibited a sustained-release pattern similar to the commercial product and consistent with the in vitro results.     

Transient response of a rotor-AMBs system connected by a flexible mechanical coupling

In this paper, the effect of angular misalignment on the transient dynamics of a rotor-Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs) system was examined with numerical analysis. A spatial model of a misaligned rotor mounted in two identical AMBs is setup to account angular misalignment with a flexible coupling having torsional and lateral flexibility. The driving rotor was powered by an electric motor in transient regime. Three models of AMBs were used with four; six and eight magnets. They were powered by bias and control current. The AMBs dynamics support parameters were modeled by stiffness and damping matrices. These were computed through an electromagnetic theory and derivation of the magnetic forces. The general equations of motion of the driven rotor were derived and solved using the Newmark time integration method. Simulation results were carried out to determine the frequency and transient responses in term of misalignment magnitude. Dynamic responses come to confirm a significant influence of the transient regime on the dynamic behavior of misaligned rotor. Simulated results also reveal that vibrations induced by angular misalignment were more important in the case of AMBs with four magnets. Spectral components of the system response were investigated, in sort to present diagnostic information about the signature of this kind of fault in transient regime.     

Effect of edible coatings on fruit maturity and fungal growth on Berhi dates

Berhi date palm fruits were harvested at the khalal stage, coated with different edible materials: pea starch (PS), zein protein (ZP), pea starch + carnauba wax (PS + CW) and zein protein + carnauba wax (ZP + CW) and stored at 3 or 25 °C for 21 days. Different fruit maturity indicators (colour, firmness, total soluble solids, moisture and tannins) and fungal numbers were monitored during storage. PS and ZP coatings at 3 °C were the most effective in retarding fruit maturation by extending the khalal stage from 7 to >14 days. They were less effective at 25 °C, where the khalal stage was extended only ≤7 days. PS + CW and ZP + CW coatings prevented sample moisture loss, but they accelerated degradation of simple sugars at 25 °C, and this indicated a shift to anaerobic fruit respiration. The PS + CW and ZP + CW coatings, particularly at 3 °C, were the most effective in preventing fungal growth, whereas the PS coating promoted fungal growth.     

Substrate integrated waveguide cavity backed frequency reconfigurable antenna for cognitive radio applies to internet of things applications

In this article, a new multiband frequency reconfigurable substrate integrated waveguide cavity slot antenna was designed using Computer Simulation Technology software tool for addressing the specific design challenges posed by the internet of things (IoT) based cognitive radio networks. Reconfiguration of frequency bands is achieved using PIN diodes. The antenna resonated at 2.624, 2.664, 2.720, 2.752, 4.304, 4.532, 4.556, 5.236, 5.304, 5.368, 5.332, and 5.392 GHz. The resonant frequency capability and radiation performance are demonstrated by both simulations and measurements. The simulated and measured results were in agreement. The higher efficiency, gain and average bandwidth obtained are 90%, 8.2 dBi and 65 MHz, respectively. The compactness, integrity, reliability, and performance at various operating frequencies make the proposed antenna a good candidate for IoT applications.     

Type-2 fuzzy sliding mode control without reaching phase for nonlinear system

A new sliding mode control (SMC) algorithm for the nth order nonlinear system suffering from parameters uncertainty and subjected to an external perturbation is proposed. The algorithm employs a time-varying switching plane. At the initial time t=t₀, the plane passes through the point determined by the system initial conditions in the error state space. Afterwards, the plane moves to the origin of the state space. Since the nonlinear system is sensible to the perturbations and uncertainties during the reaching phase, the elimination of such phase yields in a considerable amelioration of system robustness. Switching plane is chosen such that: (1) the reaching phase is eliminated, (2) the nonlinear system is insensitive to the external disturbance and the model uncertainty from the initial time (3) the convergence of the tracking error to zero. Furthermore, a Type-2 fuzzy system is used to approximate system dynamics (assumed to be unknown) and to construct the equivalent controller such that: (1) all signals of closed-loop system are uniformly ultimately bounded, (2) the problems related to adaptive fuzzy controllers like singularity and constraints on the control gain are resolved. To ensure the robustness of the overall closed-loop system, analytical demonstration using Lyapunov theorem is considered. Finally, a robot manipulator is considered as a real time system in order to confirm the efficiency of the proposed approach. The experimentation is done for both regulation and tracking control problems.