Comparative Coreflood Studies for Precipitation and Adsorption Squeeze with PPCA as the Scales Inhibitor

Comparative adsorption and precipitation squeezes carried out on field core materials demonstrate that significant lifetime enhancement is achievable for precipitation squeeze with respect to more conventional adsorption squeeze. Coreflood tests have been carried out under reservoir conditions (135°C) employing a poly-phosphinocarboxylate (PPCA) as the scales inhibitor. Field treatment simulations, carried out starting from coreflood data and considering the characteristics of a North Sea formation taken as the reference, confirmed the higher performance, in term of squeeze lifetime, of the precipitation squeeze with respect to adsorption. The results pointed out the importance of choosing the appropriate formulation once the operative conditions are known, in order to promote the inhibitor precipitation into the formation. Some implications of these results for the optimization of the precipitation squeeze technology for field applications, with particular emphasis to formation damage, are also discussed.     

An Extended Replication of an Experiment for Assessing Methods for Software Requirements Inspections

We have performed an extended replication of the Porter-Votta-Basili experiment comparing the Scenario method and the Checklist method for inspecting requirements specifications using identical instruments. The experiment has been conducted in our educational context represented by a more general definition of a defect compared to the original defect list. Our study involving 24 undergraduate students manipulated three independent variables: detection method, requirements specification, and the order of the inspections. The dependent variable measured is the defect detection rate. We found the requirements specification inspected and not the detection method to be the most probable explanation for the variance in defect detection rate. This suggests that it is important to gather knowledge of how a requirements specification can convey an understandable view of the product and to adapt inspection methods accordingly. Contrary to the original experiment, we can not significantly support the superiority of the Scenario method. This is in accordance with a replication conducted by Fusaro, Lanubile and Visaggio, and might be explained by the lack of individual defect detection skill of our less experienced subjects.     

横向联邦学习中PCA差分隐私数据发布算法

为了让不同组织在保护本地敏感数据和降维后发布数据隐私的前提下,联合使用PCA进行降维和数据发布,提出横向联邦PCA差分隐私数据发布算法。引入随机种子联合协商方案,在各站点之间以较少通信代价生成相同随机噪声矩阵。提出本地噪声均分方案,将均分噪声加在本地协方差矩阵上。一方面,保护本地数据隐私;另一方面,减少了噪声添加量,并且达到与中心化差分隐私PCA算法相同的噪声水平。理论分析表明,该算法满足差分隐私,保证了本地数据和发布数据的隐私性,较同类算法噪声添加量降低。实验从隐私性和可用性角度评估该算法,证明该算法与同类算法相比具有更高的可用性。     

Improved Controlled Release and Brain Penetration of the Small Molecule S14 Using PLGA Nanoparticles

Phosphodiesterase 7 (PDE7) is an enzyme responsible for the degradation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), an important cellular messenger. PDE7’s role in neurotransmission, expression profile in the brain and the druggability of other phosphodiesterases have motivated the search for potent inhibitors to treat neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. Different heterocyclic compounds have been described over the years; among them, phenyl-2-thioxo-(1H)-quinazolin-4-one, called S14, has shown very promising results in different in vitro and in vivo studies. Recently, polymeric nanoparticles have been used as new formulations to target specific organs and produce controlled release of certain drugs. In this work, we describe poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-based polymeric nanoparticles loaded with S14. Their preparation, optimization, characterization and in vivo drug release profile are here presented as an effort to improve pharmacokinetic properties of this interesting PDE7 inhibitor.     

Concepts,processing, and recent developments in encapsulating essential oils

By the virtue of their olfactory, physicochemical, and biological characteristics, essential oils (EOs) have drawn wide attention as additives in daily chemicals like perfume or personal care products. Nevertheless, they are physicochemically unstable and susceptible to degradation or loss. Microencapsulation offers a feasible strategy to stabilize and prolong release of EO. This review summarizes the recognized benefits and functional properties of various preparation and characterization methods, wherein innovative fabrication strategies and their formation mechanisms are especially emphasized. Progress in combining detecting/measuring technologies with kinetic modelling are discussed, to give an integral approach of controlling the dynamic release of encapsulated EOs. Moreover, new development trends of EOs capsules are also highlighted.     

缓香型玉米醇溶蛋白微胶囊乳液的制备及应用

为改善皮革的特殊气味并提升其应用性能,该研究以玉米醇溶蛋白（Zein）、艾叶香精（AAE）以及普兰尼克F127等为原料,通过反溶剂法制备缓香型玉米醇溶蛋白微胶囊（AAE@ZMs）乳液,再将AAE@ZMs乳液与成膜剂己内酰胺改性酪素复配后应用于皮革涂饰。结果表明,Zein与F127、AAE和戊二醛通过化学交联和氢键相互作用,同时F127和AAE可使Zein中的氨基酸重排并发生荧光猝灭;制得的AAE@ZMs乳液中微胶囊平均粒径约为298.6 nm且具有较好的分散性和稳定性;AAE@ZMs的包覆率和负载率分别可以达到73.2%和5.8%,在良溶剂中释放120 h时的AAE累积释放率约为83.1%。将AAE@ZMs应用于皮革涂饰后,涂饰革样中AAE的释放周期为6周,对金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌均具有较好的抑制效果,同时涂饰革样还展现出较好的机械性能。     

Poly(chitosan-ester-ether-urethane) Hydrogels as Highly Controlled Genistein Release Systems

Polymeric hydrogels play an increasingly important role in medicine, pharmacy and cosmetology. They appear to be one of the most promising groups of biomaterials due to their favorable physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. The objective of the presented study was to synthesize new poly(chitosan-ester-ether-urethane) hydrogels and to study the kinetic release of genistein (GEN) from these biomaterials. In view of the above, six non-toxic hydrogels were synthesized via the Ring-Opening Polymerization (ROP) and polyaddition processes. The poly(ester-ether) components of the hydrogels have been produced in the presence of the enzyme as a biocatalyst. In some cases, the in vitro release rate of GEN from the obtained hydrogels was characterized by near-zero-order kinetics, without “burst release” and with non-Fickian transport. It is important to note that developed hydrogels have been shown to possess the desired safety profile due to lack of cytotoxicity to skin cells (keratinocytes and fibroblasts). Taking into account the non-toxicity of hydrogels and the relatively highly controlled release profile of GEN, these results may provide fresh insight into polymeric hydrogels as an effective dermatological and/or cosmetological tool.     

Facile Fabrication of Povidone Iodine-Embedded Polytetrafluoroethylene Superhydrophobic Films with Improved Antiadhesive and Bactericidal Properties in Bacterial Environments

It remains a challenge to maintain the antiadhesion properties of superhydrophobic films after exposure to bacterial environments. In this work, superhydrophobic bactericidal polymer films via the simple incorporation of polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I) or iodine into polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are fabricated to improve their antiadhesive and antibacterial capability. Superhydrophobic iodine-embedded films, polytetrafluoroethylene/polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine and polytetrafluoroethylene-iodine (PTFE/PVP-I and PTFE-I), show excellent antiadhesive and bactericidal performances even post exposure to bacterial solutions as compared to iodine-free counterparts by controlling the release of iodine. Especially, superhydrophobic PTFE/PVP-I films display a more sustained iodine release profile and significant antibacterial properties against gram-positive (S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)) and gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria. Such a facile combination of antiseptic agents and superhydrophobic surface could be widely used for antiseptic biomedical applications.     

Hypoxia/Temperature/pH Triple Stimuli–Responsive Block Copolymers: Synthesis,Self-Assembly,and Controlled Drug Release

The amphiphilic block copolymer poly(methacrylic acid-co-2-nitroimidazole acrylate)-b-poly(2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (P(MAA-co-NIMA)-b-PDMAEMA) with the hypoxia/temperature/pH triple responsiveness is synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), hydrolysis, and 3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-1-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) reactions, and successfully self-assembled into micelles. The hypoxia response in vitro is realized, and then the sensitivity of the self-assembled micelles to the hypoxia condition is studied by controlling the grafting amount of aminated 2-nitroimidazole. Because 2-(N,N-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) is a typical material sensitive to temperature and pH conditions, the self-assembled micelles are also responsive to temperature and different acidic/basic conditions. In addition, the cumulative release rate of doxorubicin (DOX) at 42 °C, pH = 6.0, and hypoxic conditions increases significantly, and verifies the synergistic promotion effect of the above stimulations. This intelligent polymer with triple response mechanism improves the controllability and efficiency of drug release, and is expected to be a drug carrier for cancer treatment.     

预应力钢丝用盘条在斯太尔摩控制冷却线的生产实践

介绍高强度、大直径、低松弛预应力钢丝用高碳钢盘条在标准型斯太尔摩控制冷却线的生产实践。内容包括作业线概况、原料准备、工艺制度及实际结果和分析。