Search

Intravesical drug delivery (IDD), as a noninvasive, local pathway of administration, has great clinical significance for bladder diseases, especially bladder cancer. Despite the many advantages of IDD such as enhanced focal drug exposure and avoidance of systemic adverse drug reactions, the effectiveness of drug delivery is greatly challenged by the physiological barriers of the bladder. In this review, the routes and barriers encountered in IDD are first discussed, and attention is paid to the potential internal/mucosal retention and absorption-transport mechanisms of drugs. On this basis, the avoidance, overcoming and utilization of the "three barriers" is further emphasized, and current design and fabrication strategies for intravesical drug delivery systems (IDDSs) are described mainly from the perspectives of constructing drug reservoirs, enhancing permeability and targeting, with the hope of providing systematic understanding and inspirations for the research of novel IDDSs and their treatment of bladder diseases. Intravesical drug delivery has shown advantages in the treatment of bladder diseases, but drug delivery is limited by bladder physiologic barriers, for which a range of strategies have been proposed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch-based nanoparticles are highly utilized in the realm of drug delivery taking advantage of their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Studies have utilized Quaternized starch (Q-starch) for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery, in which quaternary amines enable interaction with negatively charged siRNA, resulting in self-assembly complexation. Although reports present numerous applications, the demonstrated efficacy is nonetheless limited due to undiscovered cellular mechanistic delivery. In this study, a deep dive into Q-starch/siRNA complexes' cellular mechanism and kinetics at the cellular level is revealed using single-particle tracking and cell population level using imaging flow cytometry. Uptake studies depict the efficient cellular internalization via endocytosis while a significant fraction of complexes' intracellular fate is lysosome. Utilizing single-particle tracking, it is found that an average of 15% of cellular detected complexes escape the endosome which holds the potential for the integration in the cytoplasmatic gene silencing mechanism. Additional experimental manipulations (overcoming endosomal escape) demonstrate that the complex's disassembly is the rate-limiting step, correlating Q-starch's structure-function properties as siRNA carrier. Structure-function properties accentuating the high affinity of the interaction between Q-starch's quaternary groups and siRNA's phosphate groups that results in low release efficiency. However, low-frequency ultrasound (20 kHz) application may have induced siRNA release resulting in faster gene silencing kinetics., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Trichogramma-based biological control technology is of great significance to the development of green agriculture. Agricultural drones have the advantages of low-altitude and high-speed operations and have been well applied and widely recognized in the field of Trichogramma delivery. Drone-based Trichogramma ball delivery not only utilizes the efficiency and flexibility of drones but also enables remote precision control. However, existing delivery devices are relatively rudimentary, leading to reliability and precision issues. It is necessary to develop an efficient and accurate drone delivery device to improve the effect of drone delivery of Trichogramma. In this study, a device consisting of a rotary storage mechanism and a rotating hammer-type delivery mechanism was developed. The delivery port of the delivery device should be set in the airflow outlet area 50 cm below the drone’s body. The storage mechanism is equipped with eight storage tube units with a diameter of Φ38 mm, capable of delivering a total of 56 balls in a single mission. The reliable delivery speed ranges from 2 to 6 m/s, with the remote position of the lever serving as the optimal starting position. The release test results showed that 3 m/s flight speed and 4 m/s delivery speed resulted in a small coefficient of variation for the delivery deviation (29%), making it the best operating parameter set. The performance of the developed UAV-based Trichogramma delivery device meets the requirements of field delivery when the appropriate operating parameters are optimized. This study provides reference for further optimization and design of this delivery device prototype.

Purpose: The process of identifying and defining effective delivery mechanisms is a critical issue in the management of microcredit programs to meet the firm's objectives and the customers’ needs. The purpose of this paper is to look at the relative importance of delivery mechanism in microcredit programs. In addition, this paper analyses the relationship between delivery mechanism and business performance among micro enterprises involved in microcredit programs. Methodology: The primary data of the study were obtained from 756 micro entrepreneurs under two major microcredit programs (AIM and TEKUN). Descriptive and t-test analysis were used to explain the findings of the study. Findings: Analysis of the study shows that cooperation from staff, the duration and method of loan repayment and monitoring of loan capital are important mechanism in the management of microcredit programs. T-test analysis revealed a significant difference in delivery mechanism between the two microcredit programs involved. Empirical findings show that the performance of micro enterprises under the AIM microcredit program is better than that of micro enterprises under the TEKUN microcredit program. Practical Implications: The performance of a microcredit program depends largely on their resource management. This involves operational efficiency, credit products offered, and customer support services. These three elements are critical factors in determining the effectiveness of the delivery mechanism in a microcredit program. Originality/value:The efficiency of delivery mechanisms through strategic resource management not only can enhance the competitive advantage of the AIM microcredit program but also affect the performance of the micro enterprises involved. Doi: 10.28991/esj-2021-01281 Full Text: PDF

Multi-modal services, typically integrated by visual, audio, and haptic signals, have been considered as promising killer services in 5G and beyond 5G era. However, due to essential difference among these signals, how to guarantee quality of multi-modal services is a significant technical challenge. Existing transmission schemes, which deliver and process each modality signal separately, cannot meet such requirements as low latency, high reliability, and high throughput. To get over the dilemma, this paper proposes a general cross-modal transmission strategy by taking advantage of the potential correlation among modalities, which consists of a delivery mechanism at the sender and a signal restoration procedure at the receiver. On the one hand, a visual-aided haptic content compression method is designed for the delivery mechanism. By utilizing the category correlation among modalities, haptic signals with similar visual content can be effectively compressed, reducing transmission burden. On the other hand, a fine-grained haptic to image synthesis (FHIS) approach is proposed for realizing signal restoration. Through exploring strong matching properties among modalities, the FHIS can restore the impaired, missing, delayed visual images from the received haptic signals. Experiments on a standard visual-haptic database and a practical platform evaluate the performance of the constructed cross-modal transmission strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effectiveness of the channels used to deliver agricultural information and knowledge to smallholder farmers in Tanzania. A descriptive cross-sectional design alongside quantitative and qualitative approaches was employed to collect data from 341 respondents. While the data collected through the questionnaire was analysed by using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 21, the data collected through the interview was analysed by using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that delivery of and access to timely and relevant agricultural information and knowledge, appropriately packaged, is one of the critical problems undermining smallholder farmers' efforts to increase their production. As a result, most smallholder farmers mainly depend on informal channels. Besides informal channels, farmer groups and demonstration plots are becoming popular channels to deliver and access agricultural information and knowledge. To make a difference in agricultural production, deliberate efforts should be made to enhance the delivery of agricultural information and knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pristup LEADER je jednym zo zakladnych pilierov sučasnej politiky rozvoja vidieka realizovanej na europskej urovni. Logicky zaklad pristupu LEADER je postaveny na 7 kľučovych znakoch, ktore by mali byť pritomne prierezovo v ramci celeho implementačneho procesu. Preto cieľom prispevku bolo zodpovedanie vyskumnej otazky: do akej miery implementačny mechanizmus programu LEADER (na urovni riadiaceho organu aj miestnych akčnych skupin) v programovom obdobi 2007-2013 podporoval dodržiavanie siedmych zakladnych znakov programu?“ Pre naplnenie cieľa prispevku bolo nevyhnutne určiť jednotlive kroky implementačneho procesu na oboch urovniach, nasledne popisať jednotlive znaky a definovať kriteria uspechu - benchmarky. Vzajomnym prepojenim predchadzajucich krokov bola vytvorena implementačna matica, tvoriaca vizualny vystup študie

The various types of error coupling transmission mechanisms and the dimensional tolerance optimization design of multi-faceted shafting assembly are analyzed by taking the multi-faceted shafting assembly as the research object. Monte Carlo method is used to simulate the measured size of assemly ring,and the mean value of radial run-out tolerance and its distribution law are obtained. A prediction method for the radial circle run-out of variable boundary circle is proposed,and the integrated cumulative error including the coaxiality and the matching tolerance of shaft hole is established. This method is extended to the assembly error modeling of complex assembly to realize the prediction of the radial run-out tolerance in the design. With the goal of accumulating the radial runout at the end of the assembly,the average assembly accuracy,assembly reliability,and processing cost are set as constraints,and the optimization of system structure and its component tolerances is performed. Taking the design of a certain type of torque converter as an example,the feasibility and practicability of this method for predicting the cumulative radial run-out tolerance of the shaft system are verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have claimed that use of multimedia technologies motivate and stimulate the learning of students as compared to using traditional teaching methods alone. Multimedia aids are therefore significant in effective teaching learning process. It is even more significant in open and distance learning where the learners are separated from their teachers by distances. The study has been done by using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data has been collected from all the fifteen Open Universities of India. In this study, the researchers have attempted to understand the availability and delivery mechanism of different multimedia courseware in institutions imparting distance learning in India. The study will also provide interesting findings like commonly used or most preferred multimedia technology in these institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Access to effective toxicants and delivery systems that target red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are likely to be required as part of a management strategy in the event of future red fox incursions into Tasmania. Potential toxicants include sodium fluoroacetate (1080), para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) and sodium cyanide (NaCN). Aims. To assess the risk of three toxicants (1080, PAPP and NaCN) to non-target native Tasmanian mammals and birds and domestic dogs and cats. Methods.Weidentified native Tasmanian mammal and bird species that may potentially consume fox baits, by reviewing the ecological traits of native species and by monitoring 180 buried bait stations with video cameras. We also assess the potential risk to non-target species of dying from a single standard dose of each of the three toxicants. Key results. Seven native mammal and 20 native bird species have the potential to consume fox bait. All vertebrates would be susceptible to a single dose of NaCN. Consumption of a single fox bait containing 3mg 1080 may be lethal to five native mammals, three native birds, and the domestic cat (Felis catus) and dog (Canis familiaris). Consumption of a single fox bait containing 226 mg PAPP may be lethal to the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) and the domestic cat and dog. Delivery of toxicants via a mechanical ejector would reduce non-target exposure to toxicants. Conclusions. It appears that PAPP would provide a useful alternative to 1080 for use in lethal fox control in Tasmania, either in the event of an incursion or in the eradication of an established population. NaCN is not suitable for broadscale use in Tasmania because of the high susceptibility of all vertebrates to this toxicant. Nevertheless, NaCN would be useful in highly restricted areas in the event of an incursion where carcass recovery is important. The use of a mechanical ejector to target delivery of toxicants to red foxes would reduce non-target risks. Implications. Our results clarify theoretical non-target risks from any future fox-poisoning programs in Tasmania and highlight the need for further research on the susceptibility of native species to PAPP as a potential alternative to 1080. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domestic sector in India is the largest consumer of traditional sources of energy and accounts for 85 per cent of households in the rural areas, using fuelwood as an important source of energy for cooking and kerosene for lighting applications. However, the penetration of commercial fuels for cooking in rural areas continues to be low, with 11.5 per cent of rural households using kerosene and 6.5 per cent using LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) for cooking.[1] Hence, rural households commonly use traditional biomass fuels in traditional cookstoves (TCs), which are not only inefficient but also have an adverse effect on the health of people, especially women and children, who are largely exposed to the smoke emitted while burning such fuels. In order to reduce the ill effects caused by the use of low-efficiency (<12%) of TCs, introduction of improved forced draft biomass cookstoves will enhance cooking device efficiency and also improve the indoor kitchen environment. This article focuses on the adaptation process and service delivery mechanism for improved biomass cookstove. It also concentrates on the approach undertaken for leveraging technology and promotes the use of biomass and source energy in a sustainable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schematic illustration of the chitosan polymeric micelles delivery mechanism. COSA micelles are selectively taken up by circulating monocytes (Ly-6Chi monocytes) in blood. The subsequent travel of these cells results in a considerable proportion of COSA accumulation in the tumor. • Chitosan polymer (COSA) was synthesized and the characterizations of COSA micelles were investigated. • COSA micelles exhibited good self-assembly ability, good dispersion stability and low toxicity. • COSA micelles were selectively taken up by circulating monocytes in a receptor-mediated way. • COSA micelles in macrophages can be exocytosed and subsequently taken up by cancer cells. • COSA micelles are promising candidates for diseases in which monocytes are directly implicated. Micelles are one of the most investigated nanocarriers for drug delivery. In this study, polymeric micelles based on chitosan were prepared to explore the delivery mechanism which was critical for enhancing tumor targeting but still remain elusive. The chitosan polymer COSA was synthesized and the polymeric micelles showed good self-assembly ability, good dispersion stability and low toxicity. After being intravenously administered, the micelles were selectively taken up by circulating monocytes in a receptor-mediated way (almost 94% uptake in Ly-6Chi monocytes, below 7% in all other circulating cells) and reach the tumor with the subsequent travel of these cells. In addition, the micelles in macrophages (differentiated from circulating monocytes) can be exocytosed and subsequently taken up by cancer cells. The delivery mechanism of COSA micelles is directional for the novel strategies to enhance tumor targeting and the micelles are promising candidates for diseases in which monocytes are directly implicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]