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BackgroundIn numerous fMRI studies, brands strongly confound the customer’s economic decisions on a neural level by modulating cortical activity in reward-related areas.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that the effect of logos can be increased by artistic logo representations, we presented logos in original and artistically changed versions during fMRI.MethodsFollowing a pre-study survey on the familiarity of original brand logos, 15 logos rated as “familiar” and 10 logos rated as “unfamiliar” were selected for fMRI experiment. During fMRI, 15 healthy subjects were presented with original and artistically changed logos out of the familiar/unfamiliar categories. A whole-brain and ROI analysis for reward-related areas were performed. Moreover, logo-induced valence and arousal were measured with the self-assessment manikin.ResultsWhole-brain analysis revealed activation in bilateral visual cortex for artistically changed logos (familiar/unfamiliar) compared to original logos. No significant effect could be detected for the ROI analysis. On average, the logos caused neutral emotions. However, when analyzing valence and arousal for familiar/unfamiliar and original/artistically changed logos separately, familiar original logos evoked stronger positive emotions than familiar artistically changed logos. Artistically changed logos (familiar/unfamiliar) excited participants significantly more than original logos.ConclusionArtistically changed logos elicit activation in the bilateral visual cortex but not in reward-related areas.

In December 2019, The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) organized a 2-day workshop to explore new approaches to assess in vitro performance of drug products. Experts from around the globe presented processes, techniques, systems that can be used to evaluate and model in vitro performance of different pharmaceutical dosage forms. The following is a summary of most of the presentations and the highlights of the discussions that ensued. © 2020, Dissolution Technologies Inc. All rights reserved.

Laser-wakefield accelerators (LWFA) feature electron bunch durations on a fs-scale. Precise knowledge of the longitudinal profile of such ultra-short electron bunches is essential for the design of future compact X-ray light sources. Resolution limits, as well as the limited reproducibility of electron bunches, pose big challenges for LWFA beam diagnostics. Spectral measurements of broadband transition radiation from LWFA electron bunches passing through a metal foil are especially promising for analyzing ultrashort longitudinal bunch characteristics ranging from of tens of fs down to sub-fs. Our broadband, single-shot spectrometer combines the TR spectrum in UV/VIS (200-1000nm), NIR (0.9-1.7μm) and mid-IR (1.6-12μm). A complete characterization and calibration of the spectrometer has been done with regard to wavelengths, relative spectral sensitivities and absolute photometric sensitivity. Our spectrometer is able to characterize electron bunches with charges as low as 1 pC and resolve time-scales from 0.7 to 40 fs. In addition, complementary data on the transverse bunch profile is provided by simultaneously imaging the CTR in the far- and near-field. We present recent experimental results of different LWFA injection mechanisms, such as self-truncated ionization-injection and self-injection. By analyzing the transition radiation spectra and reconstructing electron bunch profiles including error analysis, we determine electron bunch profiles and peak currents of the respective injection regimes. In addition to bunch durations and peak currents, we discuss sub-fs beam micro-structures and systematic experimental scans of the nitrogen doping concentration for ionization-induced injection.

Recently reported nuclear spins and moments of neutron-rich Zn isotopes measured at ISOLDE-CERN [C. Wraith et al., Phys. Lett. B 771, 385 (2017)] show an uncommon behavior of the isomeric state in 73Zn. Additional details relating to the measurement and analysis of the 73mZn hyperfine structure are addressed here to further support its spin-parity assignment 5/2+ and to estimate its half-life. A systematic investigation of this 5/2+ isomer indicates that significant collectivity appears due to proton/neutron E2 excitations across the proton Z = 28 and neutron N = 50 shell gaps. This is confirmed by the good agreement of the observed quadrupole moments with large scale Monte Carlo shell model calculations. In addition, potential energy surface calculations in combination with T plots reveal a triaxial shape for this isomeric state.

Laser-wakefield accelerators (LWFA) feature electron bunch durations on a scale of a few fs. Precise knowledge of the longitudinal profile of such ultra-short electron bunches is essential for the design of future table-top X-ray light sources. The resolution limit, as well as the limited reproducibility of electron bunches, pose big challenges for LWFA beam diagnostics. Spectral measurements of broadband transition radiation from LWFA electron bunches passing through a metal foil are especially promising for analyzing ultrashort longitudinal bunch characteristics ranging from of tens of fs down to sub-fs. Our broadband, single-shot spectrometer combines the TR spectrum in UV/VIS (200-1000nm), NIR (0.9-1.7μm) and mid-IR (1.6-12μm). A complete characterization and calibration of the spectrometer has been done with regard to wavelengths, relative spectral sensitivities and absolute photometric sensitivity. Our spectrometer is able to characterize electron bunches with charges as low as 1 pC and resolve time-scales from 0.7 to 40 fs. We present results from recent measurement campaign by analyzing transition radiation spectra produced by nC class LWFA electron bunches using ionization-injection, while complementary data on the transverse bunch profile is provided by simultaneously imaging the CTR in the far- and near-field. We discuss the data analysis from detection to profile reconstruction with error analysis and show electron bunch profiles as determined from experimental density scan measurements.

Dissolution testing is an important physiochemical test for the development of solid oral dosage forms, tablets, and capsules. As a quality control test, the dissolution test is used for assessment of drug product quality and is specified for batch release and regulatory stability studies. In vitro dissolution test results can often be correlated with the biopharmaceutical behavior of a product.This article provides a summary of views from major global agencies (Europe, Japan, United States), pharmacopoeias, academia, and industry. Based on available guidance and literature, this article summarizes highlights for development and validation of a suitable dissolution method, setting appropriate specifications, in vitro–in vivo comparison, and how to obtain a biowaiver. © 2018 American Pharmacists Association®

Collinear laser spectroscopy is performed on the 79 30Zn49 isotope at ISOLDE-CERN. The existence of a long-lived isomer with a few hundred milliseconds half-life is confirmed, and the nuclear spins and moments of the ground and isomeric states in 79Zn as well as the isomer shift are measured. From the observed hyperfine structures, spins I = 9/2 and I = 1/2 are firmly assigned to the ground and isomeric states. The magnetic moment μ (79Zn) = −1.1866(10)μN, confirms the spin-parity 9=2þ with a νg−1 9=2 shell-model configuration, in excellent agreement with the prediction from large scale shell-model theories. The magnetic moment μ (79mZn) = −1.0180(12)μN supports a positive parity for the isomer, with a wave function dominated by a 2h-1p neutron excitation across the N = 50 shell gap. The large isomer shift reveals an increase of the intruder isomer mean square charge radius with respect to that of the ground state, δ(79;79m) =0.204(6) fm2, providing first evidence of shape coexistence 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Accepeted by Phys. Rev. Lett. (2016) ispartof: Physical Review Letters vol:116 issue:18 pages:1-6 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Collinear laser spectroscopy is performed on the Zn493079 isotope at ISOLDE-CERN. The existence of a long-lived isomer with a few hundred milliseconds half-life is confirmed, and the nuclear spins and moments of the ground and isomeric states in Zn79 as well as the isomer shift are measured. From the observed hyperfine structures, spins I=9/2 and I=1/2 are firmly assigned to the ground and isomeric states. The magnetic moment μ (Zn79)=-1.1866(10)μN, confirms the spin-parity 9/2+ with a νg9/2-1 shell-model configuration, in excellent agreement with the prediction from large scale shell-model theories. The magnetic moment μ (Zn79m)=-1.0180(12)μN supports a positive parity for the isomer, with a wave function dominated by a 2h-1p neutron excitation across the N=50 shell gap. The large isomer shift reveals an increase of the intruder isomer mean square charge radius with respect to that of the ground state, δ rc2 79,79m=+0.204(6) fm2, providing first evidence of shape coexistence.

Collinear laser spectroscopy has been performed on the $^{79}_{30}$Zn$_{49}$ isotope at ISOLDE-CERN. The existence of a long-lived isomer with a few hundred milliseconds half-life was confirmed, and the nuclear spins and moments of the ground and isomeric states in $^{79}$Zn as well as the isomer shift were measured. From the observed hyperfine structures, spins $I = 9/2$ and $I = 1/2$ are firmly assigned to the ground and isomeric states. The magnetic moment $\mu$ ($^{79}$Zn) = $-$1.1866(10) $\mu_{\rm{N}}$, confirms the spin-parity $9/2^{+}$ with a $\nu g_{9/2}^{-1}$ shell-model configuration, in excellent agreement with the prediction from large scale shell-model theories. The magnetic moment $\mu$ ($^{79m}$Zn) = $-$1.0180(12) $\mu_{\rm{N}}$ supports a positive parity for the isomer, with a wave function dominated by a 2h-1p neutron excitation across the $N = 50$ shell gap. The large isomer shift reveals an increase of the intruder isomer mean square charge radius with respect to that of the ground state: $\delta \langle r^{2}_{c}\rangle^{79,79m}$ = +0.204(6) fm$^{2}$, providing first evidence of shape coexistence., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, Accepeted by Phys. Rev. Lett. (2016)

Biorelevant in vitro performance testing of orally administered dosage forms has become an important tool for the assessment of drug product in vivo behavior. An in vitro performance test which mimics the intraluminal performance of an oral dosage form is termed biorelevant. Biorelevant tests have been utilized to decrease the number of in vivo studies required during the drug development process and to mitigate the risk related to in vivo bioequivalence studies. This report reviews the ability of current in vitro performance tests to predict in vivo performance and generate successful in vitro and in vivo correlations for oral dosage forms. It also summarizes efforts to improve the predictability of biorelevant tests. The report is based on the presentations at the 2013 workshop, Biorelevant In Vitro Performance Testing of Orally Administered Dosage Forms, in Washington, DC, sponsored by the FIP Dissolution/Drug Release Focus Group in partnership with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and a symposium at the AAPS 2012 Annual meeting on the same topic. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

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(1985). Dynamic characteristics of the vertebral column, effects of prolonged loading. Ergonomics: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 95-97.

Summary. Background and aim: Testing represents one of the main pillars of public health response to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic. This paper shows how accuracy and utility of testing programs depend not just on the type of tests, but on the context as well. Methods: We describe the testing methods that have been developed and the possible testing strategies; then, we focus on two possible methods of population-wide testing, i.e., pooled testing and testing with rapid antigen tests. We show the accuracy of split-pooling method and how, in different pre-test probability scenarios, the positive and negative predictive values vary using rapid antigen tests. Results: Split-pooling, followed by retesting of negative results, shows a higher sensitivity than individual testing and requires fewer tests. In case of low pre-test probability, a negative result with antigen test could allow to rule out the infection, while, in case of a positive result, a confirmatory molecular test would be necessary. Conclusions: Test performance alone is not enough to properly choose which test to use; goals and context of the testing program are essential. We advocate the use of pooled strategies when planning population-wide screening, and the weekly use of rapid tests for close periodic monitoring in low-prevalence populations. (www.actabiomedica.it).

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