Thermostabilization of inactivated polio vaccine in PLGA-based microspheres for pulsatile release

AbstractVaccines are a critical clinical tool in preventing illness and death due to infectious diseases and are regularly administered to children and adults across the globe. In order to obtain full protection from many vaccines, an individual needs to receive multiple doses over the course of months. However, vaccine administration in developing countries is limited by the difficulty in consistently delivering a second or third dose, and some vaccines, including the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV), must be injected more than once for efficacy. In addition, IPV does not remain stable over time at elevated temperatures, such as those it would encounter over time in the body if it were to be injected as a single-administration vaccine. In this manuscript, we describe microspheres composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) that can encapsulate IPV along with stabilizing excipients and release immunogenic IPV over the course of several weeks. Additionally, pH-sensitive, cationic dopants such as Eudragit E polymer caused clinically relevant amounts of stable IPV release upon degradation of the PLGA matrix. Specifically, IPV was released in two separate bursts, mimicking the delivery of two boluses approximately one month apart. In one of our top formulations, 1.4, 1.1, and 1.2 doses of the IPV serotype 1, 2, and 3, respectively, were released within the first few days from 50mg of particles. During the delayed, second burst, 0.5, 0.8, and 0.6 doses of each serotype, respectively, were released; thus, 50mg of these particles released approximately two clinical doses spaced a month apart. Immunization of rats with the leading microsphere formulation showed more robust and long-lasting humoral immune response compared to a single bolus injection and was statistically non-inferior from two bolus injections spaced 1 month apart. By minimizing the number of administrations of a vaccine, such as IPV, this technology can serve as a tool to aid in the eradication of polio and other infectious diseases for the improvement of global health

Mapping of the Socio-Semantic Network of the Arhitektura Magazine (1931-1934)

Networks serve as a metaphor for understanding various phenomena in humanities, encompassing the circulation of ideas, people, and artifacts. This research employs network analysis, drawing from H. C. White’s concept of netdom, to capture social and language patterns within Ljubljana’s Arhitektura magazine from 1931 to 1934. Its objective was to map the socio-semantic network of the magazine, assisting in discerning relationship and expression patterns within Yugoslavian architecture discourse of the 1930s, aligned with the principles of “new architecture”. Methodologically, the research has entailed text analysis using natural language processing techniques and quantitative network analysis, revealing three types of networks: a bimodal network of authors and issues, individual semantic networks of authors, and a socio-semantic network. This has resulted in 18 networks. Despite a simplified text processing model and trivial architectural concepts, common language among contributors is detected, pointing to mutual connections in architectural expressions and actors’ social ties. Arhitektura was not the sole platform for discourse creation; however, the conducted network analysis has confirmed that the nature of the magazine embodies the concept of netdom switching, where identities are formed and altered through transitions between netdoms, shaping and changing those identities over time. Furthermore, this research illustrates how network analysis can offer actionable insight into historical phenomena, as well as its applicability in understanding social and cultural dynamics

Regulacija brzine vrtnje hidrauličkog motora na principu promjene protoka radnog fluida

Tema ovog rada je regulacija brzine vrtnje hidrauličkog motora. Na zadanom hidrauličkom postavu moguća su dva načina regulacije brzine vrtnje. Prvi je regulacija na principu prigušenja gdje temeljnu ulogu ima servo ventil koji prigušuje radni fluid koji mu dobavlja crpka konstantnog protoka i na taj način određuje protok radnog fluida prema hidromotoru. Drugi način je regulacija na principu promjene količine protoka radnog fluida. U tom slučaju izvršni član više nije servo ventil, nego pogonski sklop kojeg čine elektromotor i frekvencijski pretvarač. Preko frekvencijskog pretvarača se upravlja brzinom vrtnje elektromotora koji pogoni crpku te na taj način određuje protok koji crpka daje u sustav. Veća brzina vrtnje elektromotora znači veći protok koji crpka daje u sustav. U radu je dan matematički model za oba načina upravljanja, a eksperiment je proveden za regulaciju brzine vrtnje na principu promjene količine protoka radnog fluida. Za regulaciju se koristi upravljački uređaj CompactRIO, koji izvršava kôd koji se izrađuje u programskom paketu LabVIEW. To je grafički programski jezik koji se najčešće koristi za vizualizaciju, testiranje, nadzor, prikupljanje i obradu podataka, te za upravljanje i regulaciju sustava. Programi izrađeni u LabVIEW-u se nazivaju virtualni instrumenti (VI), a sastoje se od grafičkog sučelja (Front panel) i blok dijagrama. Grafičko sučelje je ono što korisnik vidi pri radu sa sustavom, a u blok dijagramu se odvija programska obrada podataka. U radu je opisana izrada programa kojim se proveo eksperiment na zadanom elektro-hidrauličkom servo sustavu. Za interakciju korisnika i uređaja CompactRIO te nadzor rada elektro-hidrauličkog servo sustava koristi se prijenosno računalo

Alatni strojevi za izradu provrta

U postupku formiranja izratka vrlo je čest i velik udio operacija same izrade i obrade provrta. Iako danas postoje suvremeni alatni strojevi na kojima se može vršiti i obrada provrta, bušilice su još uvijek dosta zastupljeni strojevi u industriji. Njihova osnovna prednost je njihova relativno mala nabavna cijena i jednostavnost pri rukovanju. Radi lakšeg razumijevanja bušilica, u radu će ukratko biti opisani rezni alati koji se koriste za obradu provrta, izbor alata i sile rezanja te pribor za stezanje obradaka na alatni stroj-bušilicu. U nastavku rada biti će opisani alatni strojevi koji se koriste pri obradi provrta, s time da će poseban naglasak biti na alatnim strojevima pod imenom bušilice

Postamenti - Nenad Fabijanić; Monography and Exhibition, 29th June - 28th August 2016 ”Josip Račić” Studio, Modern Gallery, Zagreb, Margaretska 3

The exhibition Postamenti, accompanied by its lavishly illustrated catalogue, shows only a tiny segment of Professor Nenad Fabijanić’s prolific body of work. Here are presented his works realized through his collaboration and dialogue with the artists, the city and the heritage. This exhibition encapsulated the essence of his professional experience gained through a close collaboration with artists Ivo Šebalj, Josip Vaništa, the architect Neven Šegvić and the renowned choreographer Milko Šparemblek. The exhibition included eleven exhibits arranged in a minimalist two-room space linked with the niche for the cross made by Ivo Šebalj with whom he designed the medal for the Neven Šegvić award. Two rooms were filled with postaments for drawings by Josip Vaništa, outstanding filigree silver works and parts for the confessional of the Church of the Blessed Augustin Kažotić, and the eaves of the Archaeological park Principij in Rijeka. The exhibits, produced in colla boration with architects and designers, cover architecture, design, set design and various drawings