Evaluating the potential for the continuous processing of pharmaceutical products-a supply network perspective

This paper presents an approach to evaluating the potential supply chain benefits of adopting continuous processing technologies for a diverse set of pharmaceutical products. The approach integrates upstream ‘continuous’ processing considerations for the production of active ingredients and final product formulation, with the downstream implications for packing and distribution. Currently, these upstream and downstream operations largely operate as decoupled operations with independent coordination and governance mechanisms, and the approach presented in this paper identifies opportunities for more case-specific integrated end-to-end supply chains enabled by continuous flow technologies. Three specific product (and corresponding processing technology) case studies are used to demonstrate the utility of the approach in assessing the supply network and system integration opportunities that emerge from the continuous processing of pharmaceutical products.We would like to acknowledge the support from the UK’s EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Continuous Manufacturing and Crystallisation, and the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI) programme Remedies Project.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2015.07.01

ArduiTaM: accurate and inexpensive NMR auto tune and match system

We introduce a low-complexity, low-cost, yet sufficiently accurate automatic tune and match system for NMR and MRI applications. The ArduiTaM builds upon an Arduino Uno embedded system that drives a commercial frequency synthesiser chip to perform a frequency sweep around the Larmor frequency. The generated low-power signal is fed to the NMR coil, after which the reflected waves are detected using a directional coupler and amplified. The signal shape is then extracted by means of an envelope detector and passed on to the Arduino, which performs a dip search while continuously generating actuator control patterns to adjust the tune and match capacitors. The process stops once the signal dip reaches the Larmor frequency. The ArduiTaM works readily with any spectrometer frequency in the range from 1 to 23&thinsp;T. The speed of the ArduiTaM is mainly limited by the clock of the Arduino and the capacitor actuation mechanism. The Arduino can easily be replaced by a higher-speed microcontroller, and varactors can replace stepper-motor controlled variable capacitors. The ArduiTaM is made available in open source, and so is easily duplicated.</p

Selective excitation enables encoding and measurement of multiple diffusion parameters in a single experiment

Band selectivity to address specific resonances in a spectrum enables one to encode individual settings for diffusion experiments. In a single experiment, this could include different gradient strengths (enabling coverage of a larger range of diffusion constants), different diffusion delays, or different gradient directions (enabling anisotropic diffusion measurement). In this report, a selective variant of the bipolar pulsed gradient eddy current delay (BPP-LED) experiment, enabling selective encoding of three resonances, was implemented. As proof of principle, the diffusion encoding gradient amplitude was assigned a range dependent on the selected signal, thereby allowing the extraction of the diffusion coefficient for water and a tripeptide (Met-Ala-Ser) with optimal settings in a single experiment

Corrigendum to �Gender-related relation between metabolic syndrome and S447X and HindIII polymorphisms of lipoprotein lipase gene in northern Iran� (Gene (2019) 706 (13�18), (S0378111919304275), (10.1016/j.gene.2019.04.069))

The authors regret there has been a mistake in the first sentence of �Conclusions� in the �Abstract�. In fact the name of the genotypes have been misplaced. The corrected sentence is: �The present study proves that some genotypes of S447X were associated with a reduced risk of developing low HDL-C only in men, while the protective effects of HindIII on hypertriglyceridemia were only seen in women.� The authors would like to thank Dr Foad Ghazizadeh (PhD candidate at Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran) for his precise reading of the article and finding this mistake. The authors would also apologize for any inconvenience this caused. © 2019 Elsevier B.V

Gender-related relation between metabolic syndrome and S447X and HindIII polymorphisms of lipoprotein lipase gene in northern Iran

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that increase risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Among genetic factors that contributed to incidence of metabolic syndrome, Polymorphisms of Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) are major candidates especially because of their effect on obesity and dyslipidemia. S447X (rs328) and Hind III (rs320) Polymorphisms of LPL gene have been reported to change LPL activity, resulting in altered triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. This study investigates the effects of these gene polymorphisms on factors affecting metabolic syndrome in northern population of Iran. Methods: Studied population included 223 adults consisting 90 women and 133 men with body mass index (BMI) � 30 kg/m 2 as obese subjects, and 156 healthy participants as a control group with BMI &lt;25 that included 68 women and 88 men. All factors causing metabolic syndrome were evaluated. Also DNA was extracted from blood samples and HindIII and S447X LPL gene polymorphisms were screened by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP). Conclusions: The present study proves that some genotypes of HindIII were associated with a reduced risk of developing low HDL-C only in men, while the protective effects of S447X on hypertriglyceridemia were only seen in women. The point is that this relation is affected by the weight profile of the participants. It can be concluded that there is a gender-related relation between the polymorphisms of LPL gene and the risk factors for incidence of metabolic syndrome in the northern population of Iran. © 2019 Elsevier B.V