A novel injection-molded capsular device for oral pulsatile delivery based on swellable/erodible polymers.

The feasibility of injection molding was explored in the preparation of a novel capsular device for oral pulsatile/delayed delivery based on swellable/erodible polymers. For this purpose, a mold intended to be coupled with a bench-top injection-molding press was designed. This was expected to enable the preparation of matching capsule cap and body items within a single manufacturing cycle and the selection of differing shell thicknesses (300, 600, and 900 μm).

Quality Assurance and measurement errors in monitoring tree crown conditions in Italy.

The adoption of a comprehensive Quality Assurance (QA) programme for tree condition monitoring resulted in a rapid and steady improvement of data consistency in crown transparency assessment. On the other hand, the assessment of damage due to insects and fungi remains problematic and requires further training and control efforts. While our findings demonstrated the benefits arising from a QA programme and even the need to reinforce it, recent financial constrains have resulted in a severe reduction of the field checks.

Field surveys of ozone symptoms on spontaneous vegetation. Limitations and potentialities of the European programme.

Within the European intensive forest monitoring programme, the native vegetation on permanent Level II plots has been monitored for visible ozone injuries. The main purpose of the programme is to assess the potential risks for the forest vegetation and the natural ecosystems at the intensive monitoring plots. During the first years of the programme the surveys were qualitative, reporting only the number and the name of the symptomatic species in selected Light Exposed Sampling Site.

Sources of errors in assessing ozone visible symptoms on native vegetation.

This paper aims to identify the problems regarding the evaluation of ozone (and ozone-like) symptoms, by examining the results of the 4th UN/ECE ICP-Forests Intercalibration Course for the assessment of ozone-induced visible symptoms. Trees, shrubs and herbaceous species were evaluated in a tree nursery, at Lattecaldo (Switzerland) and under open field conditions at Moggio (Italy). The main findings were: (i) the most expert surveyors tended to be grouped in the same cluster and, during the field exercises, they tended to assess in a more conservative manner compared to the less trained participants; (ii) the agreement was greater in assessing the absence rather than the presence of symptoms; (iii) typical interveinal stippling on the upper leaf surface was more accurately evaluated than discoloration; (iv) uncertainties resulted mainly for species which showed greater variability in their symptom manifestation, and for certain herbaceous species.

Crown condition surveys in Italian forests: issues in reporting findings.

This study examines defoliation and discoloration findings collected throughout the Italian Level I network between 1997 and 2000. Prior to this period no Quality Assurance procedures had been implemented, so that earlier findings cannot be considered reliable. The aim of the study is to compare different indices used in reporting findings, in order to determine the full potential and limitations of each.