How can single particle compression and nanoindentation contribute to the understanding of pharmaceutical powder compression?

The deformation behaviour of a powder and, thus, of the individual particles is a crucial parameter in powder compaction and affects powder compressibility and compactibility. The classical approach for the characterization of the deformation behaviour is the performance of powder compression experiments combined with the application of mathematical models, such as the Heckel-Model, for the derivation of characteristic compression parameters. However, the correlation of these parameters with the deformation behaviour is physically often not well understood.

Mass Spectrometry-Based Flavor Monitoring of Peruvian Chocolate Fabrication Process.

Flavor is one of the most prominent characteristics of chocolate and is crucial in determining the price the consumer is willing to pay. At present, two types of cocoa beans have been characterized according to their flavor and aroma profile, i.e.

Influence of surface modification on structure formation and micromechanical properties of spray-dried silica aggregates.

Spray drying processes were utilized for the production of hierarchical materials with defined structures. The structure formation during the spray drying process and the micromechanical properties of the obtained aggregates depend on the particle-particle interactions, the primary particle size and morphology as well as the process parameters of the spray drying process. Hence, the effect of different primary particle systems prepared as stable dispersions with various surface modifications were investigated on the colloidal structure formation and the micromechanical properties of silica particles as model aggregates and compared to theoretical considerations.

The Aquaporin Channel Repertoire of the Tardigrade Milnesium tardigradum.

Limno-terrestrial tardigrades are small invertebrates that are subjected to periodic drought of their micro-environment. They have evolved to cope with these unfavorable conditions by anhydrobiosis, an ametabolic state of low cellular water. During drying and rehydration, tardigrades go through drastic changes in cellular water content.

Genome microevolution of chikungunya viruses causing the Indian Ocean outbreak.

Background: A chikungunya virus outbreak of unprecedented magnitude is currently ongoing in Indian Ocean territories. In Réunion Island, this alphavirus has already infected about one-third of the human population. The main clinical symptom of the disease is a painful and invalidating poly-arthralgia.

Targeted inhibition of Ca2+ /calmodulin signaling exacerbates the dystrophic phenotype in mdx mouse muscle.

In this study, we crossbred mdx mice with transgenic mice expressing a small peptide inhibitor for calmodulin (CaM), known as the CaM-binding protein (CaMBP), driven by the slow fiber-specific troponin I slow promoter. This strategy allowed us to determine the impact of interfering with Ca(2+)/CaM-based signaling in dystrophin-deficient slow myofibers. Consistent with impairments in the Ca(2+)/CaM-regulated enzymes calcineurin and Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent kinase, the nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor of activated T-cell c1 and myocyte enhancer factor 2C was reduced in slow fibers from mdx/CaMBP mice.

Delayed spontaneous expulsion of a cervical ectopic pregnancy: a case report.

Cervical ectopic pregnancy is an uncommon event. Modern diagnostic and treatment options provide an opportunity for conservative treatment of this condition. A case of a profuse hemorrhage associated with delayed spontaneous expulsion of a cervical ectopic pregnancy is described, and the management is discussed.