Bentonite-based tablets offer multiple advantages over other types of formulated tablets, including being biocompatible and cost-effective, and they can be used to develop gel-like matrices that have potential for use in sustained-release formulations. Developing a high-load sustained-release formulation has been reported to be challenging; therefore, the aim of this study was to develop systematically bentonite-based sustained-release tablets for a high-load active agent (ibuprofen) and investigate their release kinetics. Ibuprofen-loaded tablets (800 mg) were prepared using wet and dry granulation followed by enteric coating of the tablets. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray powder diffraction were used to evaluate the compatibility of ibuprofen with bentonite. The results show that these tablets comply with compendial requirements. In addition, the release profile of the formulations reveals that the drug follows a non-Fickian release model. The present formulation demonstrates a new use of bentonite as a safe and cost-effective excipient with adequate binding and compaction for preparing sustained-release tablets.

Dynamics of a filament is investigated in Hα. Counterstreaming flows are observed along the filament. Photospheric horizontal motions have been computed by using a Coherent Structure Tracking algorithm in the filament environment.

This article presents the work carried out to define quality criteria of a new scrapsource for the steel industry: steel wires generated by grinding end-of-life tires. Thedefinition of this promising new secondary raw material source is perfectly in agreementwith the European Directives 75/442/CEE and 2000/53/EC, dealing with waste and recyclingof end-of-life vehicles, thus answering the environmental needs of our society.

Grindingtires generates an interesting secondary raw material (rubber granulates) but also twowastes, steel wires and textile fibers. We estimate that steel wires represent in Europe180 kt of steel every year which is not, or badly, valorized. This study showed that therecycling of these steel wires in steel mills was possible and viable, one necessarycondition being the determination of the non-metallic content remaining on the wires andkeeping it lower than 4%.

Here we derive a formulation connecting the observed variations of the solar diameter to the heliophysics of the photosphere, in particular in connection to the granulation pattern and morphology. The results from the measurements are next used to correlate the variations of the semi-diameter and of estimators of the solar activity along the solar cycle 23. The values obtained strongly support a broader physical description of the photosphere, intertwining the diameter variations with the irradiance, the sunspots, the 10.7 cm radio emission, and to a lesser degree with the integrated magnetic field and with the flares count.

The Photometric-Magnetic Dynamical model handles the evolution of an individual sunspot as an autonomous nonlinear, though integrable, dynamical system. The model considers the simultaneous interplay of two different interacted factors: The photometric and magnetic factors, respectively, characterizing the evolution of the sunspot visible area A on the photosphere, and the simultaneous evolution of the sunspot magnetic field strength B. All the possible sunspots are gathered in a specific region of the phase space (A, B). The separatrix of this phase space region determines the upper limit of the values of sunspot area and magnetic strength. Consequently, an upper limit of the magnetic flux in an active region is also determined, found to be ≈7.23 × 1023 Mx. This value is phenomenologically equal to the magnetic flux concentrated in the totality of the granules of the quite Sun. Hence, the magnetic flux concentrated in an active region cannot exceed the one concentrated in the whole photosphere.

The chromosphere in internetwork regions of the quiet Sun was regarded as a static and homogeneous layer for a long time. Thanks to advances in observations and numerical modelling, the wave nature of these atmospheric regions received increasing attention during the last decade. Recent three-dimensional radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations with CO5BOLD feature the chromosphere of internetwork regions as a dynamic and intermittent phenomenon. It is a direct product of interacting waves that form a mesh-like pattern of hot shock fronts and cool post-shock regions. The waves are excited self-consistently at the top of the convection zone. In the middle chromosphere above an average height of 1000 km, plasma beta gets larger than one and magnetic fields become more important. The model chromosphere exhibits a magnetic field that is much more homogeneous than in the layers below and evolves much faster. That includes fast propagating (MHD) waves. Further improvements of the simulations like time-dependent hydrogen ionisation are currently in progress. This class of models is capable of explaining apparently contradicting diagnostics such as carbon monoxide and UV emission at the same time.

The outer surface layers of the sun show a clear deceleration at low latitudes. This is generally thought to be the result of a strong dominance of vertical turbulent motions associated with strong downdrafts. This strong negative radial shear should not only contribute to amplifying the toroidal field locally and to expelling magnetic helicity, but it may also be responsible for producing a strong prograde pattern speed in the supergranulation layer. Using simulations of rotating stratified convection in cartesian boxes located at low latitudes around the equator it is shown that in the surface layers patterns move in the prograde direction on top of a retrograde mean background flow. These patterns may also be associated with magnetic tracers and even sunspot proper motions that are known to be prograde relative to the much slower surface plasma.

The patient was a 54-year-old woman who had been suffering from chronic tubulo-interstitial nephritis for about seven years, requiring haemodialysis. More recently, she developed a polypoid mass in the left nasal cavity causing discomfort on breathing and slight epistaxis. The tumour was of gritty consistency and measured 28 × 8 × 5 mm. Microscopy showed a lobulated almost cystic structure composed of granulation tissue with comparatively few plasma cells and many multinucleated giant cells lining the spaces filled with crystalline deposits of calcium oxalate.