Definition of particle visibility threshold in parenteral drug products - towards standardization of visual inspection operator qualification.

The detectability size threshold of visible particles (″visibility″ size) in the context of visual inspection of parenteral drug products has been an elusive target for several decades. The current common sense, also reflected in official guidelines, dictates that particles of different shapes and morphologies have different ″visibility″ size thresholds, that can range between hundreds and thousands of micrometers. This study demonstrates experimentally for the first time that it is possible to define a single, shape- and morphology- independent detectability size threshold, identical across particles of various types, provided that observation conditions and product attributes are kept constant.

A computational framework to optimize the mechanical behavior of synthetic vascular grafts.

The failure of synthetic small-diameter vascular grafts has been attributed to a mismatch in the compliance between the graft and native artery, driving mechanisms that promote thrombosis and neointimal hyperplasia. Additionally, the buckling of grafts results in large deformations that can lead to device failure. Although design features can be added to lessen the buckling potential (e.

Conflict reducing practices in evolution education are associated with increases in evolution acceptance in a large naturalistic study.

Evolution is an important part of biology education, but many college biology students do not accept important components of evolution, like the evolution of humans. Practices that reduce perceived conflict between religion and evolution have been proposed to increase student evolution acceptance. This study investigates college student experiences of conflict reducing practices in evolution education and how these experiences are related to their gains in acceptance of human evolution during evolution instruction.

Effect of Parametric Variation of Chordae Tendineae Structure on Simulated Atrioventricular Valve Closure.

Purpose: Many approaches have been used to model chordae tendineae geometries in finite element simulations of atrioventricular heart valves. Unfortunately, current "functional" chordae tendineae geometries lack fidelity (e.g.