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Biomedical subjects

A Edmond

Publications and source records attributed to A Edmond.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Characterizing process effects on pharmaceutical solid forms using near-infrared spectroscopy and infrared imaging.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has become a widely used analytical technique in the pharmaceutical industry, serving for example to determine the active substance or water content of tablets. Its great advantage lies in the minimal sample preparation required and speed of measurement. In a study designed to detect the effects of process on tablet dissolution, we describe the application of NIRS to the detection and identification of changes in uncoated and coated tablets in response to pilot-scale changes in process parameters during melt granulation, compression, and coating. Beginning with a qualitative comparison between pharmaceutical batches, we show that NIRS and principal component analysis can separate batches produced with different melt granulation parameters and differentiate between cores compressed with different compaction forces. Complementary infrared imaging can also explain the difference in dissolution properties between samples produced with different melt granulation parameters. NIRS is sensitive to changes in coating formulation, the quality of a coating excipient (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), and coating time. In a concluding quantitative analysis, we demonstrate the feasibility of NIRS in a manufacturing context for predicting coating time and detecting production cores failing to meet dissolution test specifications.

Cellulose↗
PubMed2005

Effect of environmental enrichment during the rearing phase on subsequent eggshell quality in broiler breeders.

This study set out to investigate if access to an enriched environment during the rearing phase influences subsequent production and eggshell quality in broiler breeders. Broiler breeder pullets were reared under standard rearing conditions (control treatment) or under standard conditions with an environmental enrichment of bales of plastic-wrapped wood shavings (enriched treatment). At 19 weeks of age both groups were transported to a laying facility and housed in standard pens according to treatment type. Egg weight, shape, shell thickness, non-destructive deformation, breaking strength, stiffness and ultrastructural quality were compared at beginning of lay (25 weeks old), peak production (31 weeks old), mid-lay (45 weeks old) and end of lay (57 weeks old). Production and hatchery data were also collected throughout lay. Significant treatment-age interactions were detected for non-destructive deformation, breaking strength and stiffness, such that birds which had received prior enrichment went on to maintain a better shell quality with age. The measurements of total shell thickness, mammillary thickness and effective shell thickness all showed a trend for a treatment-age interaction. Significant age effects were found for weight, shape index, shell thickness, breaking strength and stiffness. All production and hatchery data also demonstrated significant changes with age. It is concluded that early enrichment with bales of wood shavings may provide a novel approach to the maintenance of eggshell quality at a time when calcium metabolism begins to reduce in efficiency.

Aging↗
PubMed2005

Heritability and genetic correlation of measurements derived from acoustic resonance frequency analysis; a novel method of determining eggshell quality in domestic hens.

Cracked eggshells result in economic loss and provide a route for pathogenic organisms to enter the egg. Genetic factors that contribute to shell strength are likely to decrease the risk that an egg will crack when subject to insult. A novel measurement, the dynamic stiffness of the eggshell (Kdyn) was examined to determine if it might be used in the genetic selection of hens with improved eggshell characteristics. The measurement is determined from acoustic resonance frequency analysis. The estimates of heritability for the novel measurement of Kdyn were moderately high and ranged from 0.33 to 0.53 depending on the model used for the estimation. The estimates of genetic correlation of Kdyn with eggshell breaking strength (0.49) and static stiffness (0.57) were positive and relatively large as expected. There was a small negative genetic correlation between Kdyn and egg production from 26 to 50 weeks of age (-0.19) and a moderate one from 58 to 74 weeks of age (-0.36). The moderate heritability and relative independence of Kdyn indicates that this measurement could be used successfully in a breeding programme to improve shell quality and to reduce the incidence of cracks.

Animals↗