1,072 research outputs found
Emerging technologies in solid drug delivery: An interview with Nadia Passerini
No full textNadia Passerini is interviewed by Hannah Makin, Commission Editor. Nadia Passerini is Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Bologna (Bologna, Italy). She obtained the degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Bologna in 1992 and the PhD in Pharmaceutical Science in 1997. Her research focuses on the study of drug delivery systems, developing new technologies and new apparatus for the production of solid dosage forms (microparticles, granules and tablets), which can optimize the bioavailability of drugs according to the specific needs of the therapy. Furthermore, she is interested in the solid-state characterization of the produced delivery systems in order to correlate their physicochemical properties to the in vitro release of the drugs. Currently, her research focuses in particular on the production and characterization of microparticles produced by the spray congealing technology. She is author of over 50 international peer-reviewed publications and over 50 contributions (poster and oral presentations) to national and international conferences
Experimental Investigation on Bond Properties of SRP/SRG–masonry systems
No full textReinforcing technique, for strengthening or retrofitting existing structures, using FRP bonded to structural members are the topics of several studies presented in the literature. The main obstacles to a widespread use of FRP remain its relatively high cost and lack of confidence in long-term durability as well as fire endurance. In particular, the former factor, i.e. cost, is very important because of the scale of necessary repairs and upgrades of the existing civil infrastructure. As an example, 180,000 bridges in the USA are considered deficient with the cost of repair or replacement estimated at $20 billion. Recently a new family of composite materials have been considered in order to overcome the mentioned shortcoming of FRPs, they are made of high strength twisted steel wires impregnated with polymeric resin (referred to as steel reinforced polymer, SRP) or with cementitious grout (referred to as steel reinforced grout, SRG). Steel reinforced polymers (SRP) are currently considered for several applications in civil engineering such as bridge and building repair.
The problem of bond between FRP and substrate has been already dealt with by different authors and several design guidelines are available nowdays, such as the ACI 440.2R-02 (ACI 440) in the United States, the Fib-Bulletin 14 (2001) in Europe, the recently published TR55 (2004) in the United Kingdom, and the Italian CNR document.
Referring to masonry structures available researches on the use of SRP/SRG are lacking for the authors knowledge, comprising the interface behaviour. Bond between SRP/SRG reinforcement and masonry depends on several parameters, as masonry mechanical properties, bonded length and type of reinforcement, i.e. matrix and fibres.
The goal of this work is the analysis of bond performance when SRP/SRG are used for strengthening masonry elements. At this aim a direct shear test was performed analysing the influence of both matrix and density of the reinforcement on the interface behaviour. Obtained experimental results are compared and discussed
Selected Songs of Nadia Boulanger: Formal Analysis and Adaptation for Brass Chamber Music
No full textWorth can be a difficult thing to understand and define, even under the best of circumstances. Nadia Boulanger is known to have told her teacher, Gabriel Fauré, that “if there is one thing of which I am certain, it is that my music is worthless.” As a teacher, Boulanger empowered her students to listen for the internal logic present in the pieces of art that she considered valuable. This document will apply Nadia Boulanger’s teachings to her compositions to demonstrate that her music does have worth. To that end, these analyses will compile data to discern the internal logic in her pieces.
As a performer, Nadia Boulanger coupled her analytical beliefs to her performance practice; her concerts were shaped by and carefully crafted to present her analyses. Her formal classes included an informal ticket to hear her commentaries in action. Therefore, in addition to analytical validation, the author intends to demonstrate the value of Nadia Boulanger’s music through the arrangement and performance of her compositions as brass chamber music. as brass chamber music
Effects of Genipin Concentration on Cross-Linked Chitosan Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering: Structural Characterization and Evidence of Biocompatibility Features
No full textGenipin (GN) is a natural molecule extracted from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis according to modern microbiological processes. Genipin is considered as a favorable cross-linking agent due to its low cytotoxicity compared to widely used cross-linkers; it cross-links compounds with primary amine groups such as proteins, collagen, and chitosan. Chitosan is a biocompatible polymer that is currently studied in bone tissue engineering for its capacity to promote growth and mineral-rich matrix deposition by osteoblasts in culture. In this work, two genipin cross-linked chitosan scaffolds for bone repair and regeneration were prepared with different GN concentrations, and their chemical, physical, and biological properties were explored. Scanning electron microscopy and mechanical tests revealed that nonremarkable changes in morphology, porosity, and mechanical strength of scaffolds are induced by increasing the cross-linking degree. Also, the degradation rate was shown to decrease while increasing the cross-linking degree, with the high cross-linking density of the scaffold disabling the hydrolysis activity. Finally, basic biocompatibility was investigated in vitro, by evaluating proliferation of two human-derived cell lines, namely, the MG63 (human immortalized osteosarcoma) and the hMSCs (human mesenchymal stem cells), as suitable cell models for bone tissue engineering applications of biomaterials
Bio-hybrid scaffolds for bone tissue engineering: Nanohydroxyapatite/chitosan composites
No full textNatural bone ECM is a hierarchical nano-composite made of an inorganic phase deposited within an organic matrix. In order to mimic the bone highly organized hybrid structure and functionality, strategies that allow assembling ceramic and polymer phase can be applied. To this aim, we investigated an in situ growth method able to nucleate a nano-Hydroxyapatite (nHAp) phase into and around the interconnected porous structure of chitosan sponges. By increasing the calcium and phosphate concentration in the meta-stable solution used for the nHAp nucleation, the inorganic phase raised proportionally, in the range 10%-30% wt. In order to be compared with nHAp loaded scaffolds, pure chitosan samples have been produced by cross-linking biopolymer with arginine. Moreover, nHAp loaded samples, containing the 20 % wt of inorganic phase have been prepared by simply mixing low crystalline nHAp powders with the chitosan gel. The in situ nucleation method highlighted evident advantages in terms of nano-phase distribution and mechanical performances with respect to a merely mixing procedure
Crazy
No full textCrazy was created and performed as a collaboration by Nadia Alam, the author, and Linda Clarke. Passages in bold type are quotes from Wild Roses, a novel followed by a Love Letter, by Jacques Ferron
Crazy
No full textCrazy was created and performed as a collaboration by Nadia Alam, the author, and Linda Clarke. Passages in bold type are quotes from "Wild Roses, a novel followed by a Love Letter", by Jacques Ferron
Navigating dating and romantic relationships as an adult with Tourette Syndrome: an exploratory study
No full textTourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder defined by recurrent and intrusive involuntary tics that begin in childhood. Individuals with TS often face significant psycho-social challenges, given the public nature of their tics and the fact that their symptoms are often misunderstood by others. This study explores how adults with TS navigate dating and romantic relationships, including the challenges they face and the strengths they have developed in this process. Five adult women with TS were interviewed using a semi-structured interview about their psycho-social experiences of living with TS and how the disorder has affected their dating experiences. The interviews were qualitatively analyzed as individual case studies and also compared and contrasted on the basis of five major research questions: 1) How do adults with TS navigate dating and romantic relationships? 2) What challenges and limitations do adults with TS face in dating and pursuing romantic relationships? 3) How do adults with TS go about explaining their symptoms to romantic partners? 4) How do the socio-emotional experiences of adults with TS with family and peers influence their dating experiences? 5) What factors are helpful for adults with TS in navigating dating and romantic relationships? Findings from the study indicate several themes among the subjects’ experiences: Choosing whether, why, when, how and what to disclose to partners; challenges of explaining tics and TS to others; reasons for concealing tics; impact of making disclosures to romantic partners; family and peers’ responses as a model for how romantic partners may respond; family and peers’ responses as a motivation for getting different responses from romantic partners; and considering genetics and children. Implications for individuals with TS and their parents are discussed, and recommendations for mental health professionals working with such individuals are made.Psy. D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Nadia Lem
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