Federation of Internet of Things Testbeds for the Realization of a Semantically-Enabled Multi-Domain Data Marketplace.

The Internet of Things (IoT) concept has attracted a lot of attention from the research and innovation community for a number of years already. One of the key drivers for this hype towards the IoT is its applicability to a plethora of different application domains. However, infrastructures enabling experimental assessment of IoT solutions are scarce.

Lactic acid polymers as biodegradable carriers of fluoroquinolones: an in vitro study.

A biodegradable polymer of DL-dilactide that facilitates release of ciprofloxacin or pefloxacin at levels exceeding MICs for the causative microorganisms of chronic osteomyelitis is described. Duration and peak of release were found to depend on the molecular weight of the polymer. Its characteristics make it promising for treating chronic bone infections.

The influence of smoking habits on thyroid gland volume: an ultrasonic approach.

The effects of smoking habits on thyroid function, echo-texture (nodules and/or cysts) and thyroid gland volume were determined by using ultrasound and measuring serum Thyroxin (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyrotropin (TSH) and TPO antibodies (ab-TPO) in 189 healthy smokers and non-smokers, randomly selected (111 females and 78 males) among the employees of our hospital and their relatives. When the entire group of subjects was considered the mean ratio of thyroid gland volume/body weight was found to be significantly higher in male (P < 0.05) and female (P < 0.

In vitro release of new quinolones from biodegradable systems: a comparative study.

A new biodegradable delivery system based on low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) has been formulated, with potential application in the sustained antibiotic release against bone infection. The in vitro release of two new quinolones (ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin) from the biodegradable matrix showed that the delivery of ofloxacin from the matrix lasted fifty-six days, whereas that of ciprofloxacin lasted fifty-one days. In both cases, release is controlled by the drug diffusion and the matrix degradation, the latter being the most critical factor.

Sustained release of fleroxacin in vitro from lactic acid polymer.

The time-delayed release of fleroxacin, a newer fluoroquinolone, from a mixture of racemic D-L-Lactic acid is reviewed. Ten in vitro experiments for each fleroxacin concentration of 1% and 10%, were performed. Pre-formed D-L-Lactic acid, plus fleroxacin clots were preserved in sterile 1 cm diameter tubes with one ml of nutrient broth at 37 degrees C until they were fully disintegrated.