A Novel Single-Step-Labeled 212Pb-CaCO3 Microparticle for Internal Alpha Therapy: Preparation, Stability, and Preclinical Data from Mice

Lead-212 is recognized as a promising radionuclide for targeted alpha therapy for tumors. Many studies of 212Pb-labeling of various biomolecules through bifunctional chelators have been conducted. Another approach to exploiting the cytotoxic effect is coupling the radionuclide to a microparticle acting as a carrier vehicle, which could be used for treating disseminated cancers in body cavities. Calcium carbonate may represent a suitable material, as it is biocompatible, biodegradable, and easy to synthesize. In this work, we explored 212Pb-labeling of various CaCO3 microparticles and developed a protocol that can be straightforwardly implemented by clinicians. Vaterite microparticles stabilized by pamidronate were effective as 212Pb carriers; labeling yields of ≥98% were achieved, and 212Pb was strongly retained by the particles in an in vitro stability assessment. Moreover, the amounts of 212Pb reaching the kidneys, liver, spleen, and skeleton of mice following intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration were very low compared to i.p. injection of unbound 212Pb2+, indicating that CaCO3-bound 212Pb exhibited stability when administered intraperitoneally. Therapeutic efficacy was observed in a model of i.p. ovarian cancer for all the tested doses, ranging from 63 to 430 kBq per mouse. Lead-212-labeled CaCO3 microparticles represent a promising candidate for treating intracavitary cancers.

Improving Outcomes for Osteomyelitis After Partial Bone Resection: A Preliminary Report

Following partial bone resection for osteomyelitis, continued osteomyelitis in the remaining bone is common and problematic. Shortcomings in available surgical techniques to combat this also contribute to this problem. Presented are two case studies using a solution to this problem with a different type of bone void filler as a carrier vehicle for delivering antibiotics into the remaining infected bone to eradicate any residual bacteria in the remaining bone.

A Method for Transportation Planning and Profit Sharing in Collaborative Multi-Carrier Vehicle Routing

This paper addresses a collaborative multi-carrier vehicle routing problem (CMCVRP) where carriers tackle their orders collaboratively to reduce transportation costs. First, a hierarchical heuristics algorithm is proposed to solve the transportation planning problem. This algorithm makes order assignments based on two distance rules and solves the vehicle routing problem with a hybrid genetic algorithm. Second, the profit arising from the coalition is quantified, and an improved Shapley value method is proposed to distribute the profit fairly to individual players. Extensive experiment results showed the effectiveness of the proposed hierarchical heuristics algorithm and confirmed the stability and fairness of the improved Shapley value method.

Topological Indices of Dendrimers used in Drug Delivery

The topological index is a numerical representation of a molecular structure. In chemical graphs, the atoms and the chemical bonds between them are represented by vertices and edges respectively. Vertex degree based topological indices are the most studied and mostly used type of topological indices. The mostly used vertex degree based topological indices in the field of drug design and developments are the Zagreb index and the Randić index. The structural chemistry of dendrimers could be manipulated by their topological indices to get the specific structure with required properties to deliver the drugs to target carrier vehicle. In this work, topological indices of three types of dendrimers which are used as the drug delivery system were studied and their Zagreb index and the Randić index were calculated using molecular graph theory. Moreover, the other versions of these two indices were also calculated to these dendrimers.

Exact and Heuristic Algorithms for the Carrier–Vehicle Traveling Salesman Problem

This paper presents new structural properties for the carrier–vehicle traveling salesman problem. The authors provide a new mixed-integer second-order conic optimization formulation, with associated optimality cuts based on the structural properties, and an iterated local search (ILS) algorithm. Computational experiments on instances from the literature demonstrate the superiority of the new formulation to the existing models and algorithms in the literature, and the high-quality solutions found by the ILS algorithm.

Testing of Goods Controlling Device Based on Satellite Systems

This article is devoted to reviewing the results of testing an electronic security seal. The electronic security seal is one of the main parts of Intelligent Transportation System Transit, intended to control the integrity and movement of cargo section of a carrier vehicle by means of the satellite navigation system, mobile cellular communication system and satellite communication system. The electronic security seal operates as remote, autonomous, outdoor used device, installed on the hinges of the cargo compartment doors. In this regard, the development of the electronic security seals is followed by tests to verify the desired characteristics and sustainability together with the resistance to external influences factors. Technical and operating characteristics of the electronic security seal were checked. Tests of the electronic security seal on resistance to such climatic factors as temperature and humidity were carried out. Tests of the electronic security seal on resistance to mechanical influences (vibration, mechanical shock) were performed.

A sizing-based approach to evaluate hypersonic demonstrators: demonstrator-carrier constraints

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study is to identify, evaluate, and provide recommendations towards the realisation of near-term hypersonic flight hardware through the consideration of carrier vehicle constraints. The current rush of available funds for hypersonic research cannot cause a program to ignore growth potential for future missions. The prior NB-52 carrier vehicles, famous for the X-15 and X-43A missions, are retired. Next generation hypersonic demonstrator requirements will necessitate a substitution of carrier vehicle capability. Flight vehicle configuration, technology requirements, and recommendations are arrived at by constructing and evaluating a hypersonic technology demonstrator design matrix. This multi-disciplinary parametric sizing investigation of hypersonic vehicle demonstrators focuses on the evaluation of the combined carrier platform, booster, and hypersonic cruiser solution space topography. Promising baseline configurations are evaluated against operational requirements by trading fuel type, endurance cruise time, and payload weight. The multi-disciplinary study results are constrained with carrier payload mass and geometry limitations. The multi-disciplinary results provide physical insights into near-term hypersonic demonstrator payload and cruise time requirements that will stretch the capability of existing carrier aircraft. Any growth in hypersonic research aircraft size or capability will require new carrier vehicle investments.