Projeto básico de cabeçote para extrusão de gel no processo de manufatura aditiva

The present work has as objective the elaboration of a printhead design adapted for a 3D printer, Graber i3, model RepRap, in order to allow the printing of three-dimensional objects from the gel input. To this end, research was carried out in the field of literature on additive manufacturing and studies on non-Newtonian fluids as an input. This proposal for the new head came from the experience with the assembly and use of a 3D filament printer. In addition, possible changes and adaptations necessary in the equipment for the operation of the gel extrusion in 3D printing were analyzed. The result obtained in this work suggests that it is possible to adapt a container for gel printing on a Graber I3 printer using low-cost materials.O presente trabalho tem como objetivo a elaboração de um projeto de cabeçote adaptado para uma impressora 3D, Graber i3, modelo RepRap, a fim de permitir a impressão de objetos tridimensionais a partir do insumo em gel. Para isto, foram realizadas pesquisas no campo da literatura da manufatura aditiva e estudos sobre fluidos não newtonianos como insumo. Essa proposta do novo cabeçote se deu a partir da experiência com a montagem e uso de uma impressora 3D de filamentos. Além disso, foram analisadas possíveis alterações e adequações necessárias no equipamento para o funcionamento da extrusão de gel na impressão 3D. O resultado obtido neste trabalho sugere que é possível adaptar um caçote para impressão de gel em uma impressora Graber I3 usando materiais de baixo custo

Effect of Streblus asper Leaf Extract on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Deficits in Zebrafish: The Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Streblus asper (SA) is well known as a folk medicinal plant in Asian countries. The effect of SA extract on preventing memory impairment in zebrafish induced by scopolamine was investigated. Male zebrafish, Danio rerio, were divided into 6 groups including the control, scopolamine 200 μM (SCO), scopolamine plus rivastigmine 1.5 mg/kg (RV + SCO), and scopolamine plus SA extract at doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg (SA200 + SCO, S400 + SCO, and SA800 + SCO), respectively. Spatial memory was evaluated by the colour-biased appetite conditioning T-maze test, while fear memory was measured by the inhibitory avoidance test. In the spatial memory test, results showed that the RV + SCO group had the best time spent ratio in the T-maze, followed by SA800 + SCO, SA400 + SCO, SA200 + SCO, control, and SCO group, respectively, but with no statistical significance. For the fear memory test, zebrafish that received SA at doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg had significantly increased latency time as 21.75 ± 4.59, 23.75 ± 13.01, and 18.20 ± 18.84 min, respectively, when compared to the SCO group (9.80 ± 10.45 min). These results suggested that SA extract attenuated memory impairment in an inhibitory avoidance test related to fear memory. Our findings can be useful for further research to develop SA extract as a health product to ameliorate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

Development and Skin Penetration Pathway Evaluation Using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy of Microemulsions for Dermal Delivery Enhancement of Finasteride

This study aimed to develop microemulsions using poloxamer 124 as a surfactant to improve the skin penetration of finasteride and to investigate the skin penetration pathways of these microemulsions by colocalization techniques using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The prepared finasteride-loaded microemulsions had average particle sizes ranging from 80.09 to 136.97 nm with particle size distributions within acceptable ranges and exhibited negative surface charges. The obtained microemulsions could significantly increase the skin penetration of finasteride compared to a finasteride solution. According to the skin penetration pathway evaluation conducted with CLSM, the microemulsions were hair follicle-targeted formulations due to penetration via the transfollicular pathway as a major skin penetration pathway. Additionally, this study found that the microemulsions also penetrated via the intercluster pathway more than via the intercellular pathway and transcellular pathway. The intercluster pathway, intercellular pathway, and transcellular pathway were considered only minor pathways

The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory workflow management system

International audienceThe Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) is the next generation ground-based observatory for gamma-ray astronomy at very high energies. It is expected to produce about 2 PB of raw data each year and to manage a global data volume which will grow through the years to reach about 100 PB in 2030. In addition, CTAO will require a high computing capacity for data processing and Monte Carlo simulations, of the order of hundreds of millions of CPU HS06 hours per year. To meet these requirements, CTAO will adopt a distributed computing model using 4 academic data centers, and will use the DIRAC framework as its workload management system. In the past ten years, to optimize the instrument design and study its performances, CTAO has used the European Grid Infrastructure (EGI) to run massive Monte Carlo campaigns. In order to handle these campaigns and to automatize simulation and data processing workflows, we have developed a production system prototype based on DIRAC. Recently, we have also developed a user interface allowing for the configuration and submission of complex workflows. In this contribution we present the production system prototype, its user interface for workflow management as well as its application to CTAO workflows