Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------STOMACH SPECIFIC DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS : A REVIEW

The purpose of writing this review on gastroretentive drug delivery systems is to compile the recent literature with special focus on various gastroretentive approaches that have recently become leading methodologies in the field of site-specific orally administered controlled release drug delivery. In order to understand various physiological difficulties to achieve gastric retention, such as the inability to restrain and localize the system within the desired region of the gastrointestinal tract and the highly variable nature of the gastric emptying process. This variability may lead to unpredictable bioavailability and times to achieve peak plasma levels we have summarized important factors controlling gastric retention. Incorporation of the drug in a controlled release gastroretentive dosage forms which can remain in the gastric region for several hours would significantly prolong the gastric residence time of drugs and improve bioavailability, and enhance the solubility of drugs that are less soluble in high pH environment. Gastroretention would also facilitate local drug delivery to the stomach and proximal small intestine. Thus, gastroretention could help to provide greater availability of new products and consequently improved therapeutic activity and substantial benefits to patients Afterwards, we have reviewed various gastroretentive approaches designed and developed until now, i.e. High density (sinking), floating, bioor Mucoadhesive, expandable, magnetic systems. Finally, advantages of gastroretentive drug delivery systems and the evaluation parameter were covered in detail.
Systematic Analysis of Whole Exome Sequencing Determines RET G691S Polymorphism as Germline Variant in Melanoma

The RET proto-oncogene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase that is activated by glial cell derived neutrotrophic factor (GDNF). Previous studies have found that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), RETp (G691S), in the juxtamembrane domain, enhances the signaling pathway and promotes tumor growth by GDNF in pancreatic and thyroid cancer in addition to melanoma. It is uncertain however whether this SNP is a germline variant or somatic mutation. A prior study reported that the RETp variant was a germline SNP in desmoplastic and non-desmoplastic melanomas. In the present study, we examined both melanoma tissue samples and matching peripheral blood DNA to determine if RETp was 1) a germline or somatic variant, 2) more frequent in certain melanoma subtypes, and 3) frequency in brain metastasis. We examined the peripheral blood of 197 melanoma patients who had at least one matched tumor, and 42 patients with brain metastasis. RETp was present as a germline SNP in 33% of patients. There were no significant differences in RETp frequency among the different melanoma subtypes, and RETp was not correlated with brain metastasis.
EEG Dynamics in Response to Distraction in Virtual Reality Driving Simulation

Driver distraction has been recognized as a significant cause of traffic incidents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate Electroencephalography (EEG) dynamics in response to distraction during driving. To study human cognition under specific driving task, we used Virtual Reality (VR) based driving simulation to simulate events including unexpected car deviations and mathematics questions (math) in real driving. For further assessing effects of the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) between the deviation and math presented on the EEG dynamics, we designed five cases with different SOA. The scalp-recorded EEG channel signals were first separated into independent brain sources by Independent Component Analysis (ICA). Then, the Event-Related-Spectral-Perturbations (ERSP) measuring changes of EEG power spectra was used to evaluate the brain dynamics in time-frequency domains. Results showed that increases of theta band (5~7.8 Hz) and beta band (12.2~17 Hz) power were observed in the frontal cortex. For occipital components, we found the pattern of visual induced brain activities and rebounds from the button press. In motor components, we found alpha suppressions time-locked to event onsets. All the above results were consistently observed across 11 subjects. Results demonstrated that
Study of Intra Caesarean Insertion of Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device at District Hospital

Number of caesarean delivery and its complications are in rising trends in past and present decade. Proper spacing between births is essential to decrease maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Intra-caesarean insertion of Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) plays an important role in preventing pregnancy maintaining birth spacing The aim of this study is to find out a safe and temporary method of contraception during post-partum period in women undergoing caesarean delivery. This study is undertaken to evaluate the acceptance of intracaesarean insertion of IUCD as a temporary method of contraception, its safety and complications during follow up. A prospective hospital based study was conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at Chamarajanagara institute of medical sciences (CIMS) , Chamarajanagara from Jan 2017 to Aug 2018 Counselling of women for PPIUCD (Postpartum Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device) insertion, was done during Antenatal period and before caesarean delivery. Details of the patient and PPIUCD insertion were entered in the proforma. Follow-up of the patients was done at six weeks. Study was analysed by appropriate statistical analysis. Total of 1492 pregnant women counselled for PPIUCD during ANC and during caesarean delivery. Among those 912(61.1%) accepted PPIUCD. Majority women who Study of Intra Caesarean Insertion of Intra
Influence of the project manager’s personal characteristics on project performance

Resumo: Projetos fazem parte das atividades organizacionais e têm impacto direto nos resultados e no desempenho das organizações. A melhoria no desempenho da Gestão dos Projetos pode trazer efeitos positivos para as organizações. O Gerente de Projetos, como responsável final pelos resultados dos projetos, tem em suas características pessoais fatores que podem impactar o Desempenho dos Projetos. Este estudo teve como objetivo, analisar as características pessoais do Gerente de Projetos em relação a seus efeitos no Desempenho dos Projetos, através de uma pesquisa empírica com 244 gerentes de projetos. Os resultados mostraram que Habilidades, Conhecimentos e Atitudes afetam diretamente o Desempenho dos Projetos e que os Traços de Personalidade não têm efeito direto, porém indireto, por afetarem as Atitudes. Os resultados ainda mostraram que a certificação em Gestão de Projetos não impacta diretamente o Desempenho dos Projetos, mas tem um efeito moderador nas relações entre Habilidades e Conhecimentos do Gerente de Projetos e o Desempenho da Gestão do Projeto. Palavras-chave: Gerente de projetos; Competências; Personalidade; Desempenho. Abstract: Projects form part of organizational activities and have a direct impact on the organization’s results and performance. Improving project management performance can have a positive effect on an organization. Being ultimately responsible for project results, the project manager has factors within its personal characteristics that may affect project performance. The purpose of this study is to analyse the project manager’s personal characteristics in relation to its effects on project performance using an empirical survey of 244 project managers. The results show that skills, knowledge and attitudes directly affect project performance and that personality traits do not have direct effects, but indirectly affect attitudes. The results also show that certification in project management does not directly affect project performance but has a moderating effect on the relationship between the project manager’s skills and knowledge and project management performance.
Becoming familiar with competency-based student assessment: An evaluation of workshop outcomes

The identification and specification of competency-based standards in speech-language pathology has provided practitioners, educators, employers, and government regulators with information and guidance. This paper reports the outcomes of workshops that provided familiarization with the new competency-based assessment tool, COMPASS®, which was introduced for the assessment of speech-language pathology (SLP) students across all 13 SLP professional preparation programs in Australia during 2007. An anonymous evaluation was administered before and after the first eight familiarization workshops held nationally, involving 240 clinical educators. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, and qualitative data were entered into NVivo qualitative analysis software for content analysis. Post-workshop, results indicated partial or full uptake of the main concepts involved in the new approach to assessment. Least uptake was observed for the need for direct observation of competence in workplace performance. Qualitatively, post-workshop, formative assessment was more apparent within student goals formulated in response to a hypothetical scenario. A possible contributor to this outcome is suggested to be the alignment between the tool and the professional community of practice, due to the collaborative process of its development. Research into the longer term impact of the new assessment in the context of everyday practice is suggested.
ceserving Symmetry in Preconditioned Krylov Subspace Methods

We consider the problem of solving a linear system Ax = b when A is nearly symmetric and when the system is preconditioned by a symmetric positive definite matrix M. In the symmetric case, one can recover symmetry by using M-inner products in the conjugate gradient (CG) algorithm. This idea can also be used in the nonsymmetric case, and near symmetry can be preserved similarly. Like CG, the new algorithms are mathematically equivalent to split preconditioning, but do not require M to be factored. Better robustness in a specific sense can also be observed. When combined with truncated versions of iterative methods, tests show that this is more effective than the common practice of forfeiting near-symmetry altogether. Preserving Symmetry in Preconditioned Krylov Subspace Methods Tony F. Chan, E. Chow, Y. Saad and M.C. Yeung The Research Institute for Advanced Computer Science is operated by Universities Space Research Association, The American City Building, Suite 212, Columbia, MD 21044 (410)730-2656 Work reported herein was supported in part by NASA under contract NAS 2-96027 between NASA and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA). Preserving Symmetry in Preconditioned Krylov Subspace Methods, T. F. ChanI E. Chow} Y. Saadt and M. C. Yeungt November 6, 1996
Towards an ageing model of a PEMFC for prognostics purpose

One of the main constraints of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) in its breakthrough in the industrial world is its life duration [1], which is too short and not enough managed. From this point of view, the development of Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) technology [2] appears to be a relevant discipline; the estimation of the Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of a fuel cell system enables deciding for actions in order to try to mitigate the degradation and ensure longer life duration and availability. This paper addresses this topic and aims at proposing a basic FC ageing model [3][4] that will serve for prognostics issues. Here, the proposed ageing model is based on the combination of a static model with a dynamical one. A physical based model is considered built on a Butler-Volmer law where the voltage is function of the current density and of fuel cell’s physical parameters. This analytical static model allows the separation of cathode and anode contribution. The dynamical model is based on an electrical equivalence; on which different internal components can be distinguished. This model is expressed in a state-space representation and defines the voltage depending on the current. Moreover, the model also provides the possibility of modelling the ageing of the Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell. Indeed, different internal parameters can be represented using time-dependent functions. The limits of this model and its suitability for prognostics are discussed. The model validation is based on actual long-duration experimental tests.
Comparison of the effects of perceived self-efficacy on coping with chronic cancer pain and coping with chronic low back pain.

OBJECTIVE The purposes of this study were to explore the differences between chronic cancer pain and chronic low back pain with respect to (a) the use of coping strategies to manage pain and (b) the relationship between self-efficacy for attenuating pain and pain outcomes. DESIGN Descriptive correlational design. PATIENTS Eighty-five patients experiencing chronic low back pain (n = 85) and 88 patients with chronic cancer pain (n = 88) were recruited for this study. OUTCOME MEASURES Modified Coping Strategies Questionnaire, self-efficacy expectancies, and the Brief Pain Inventory. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The major findings of this study were that (a) patients with chronic cancer pain reported significantly lower pain intensity and pain interference than did patients with chronic low back pain; (b) the most frequently used coping strategies were almost the same between the low back pain group and the cancer pain group; (c) for both chronic cancer pain and chronic low back pain groups, patients' perceived self-efficacy was significantly inversely correlated with pain intensity and pain interference with daily life; and (d) patients' use of coping strategies was positively correlated with pain intensity and pain interference with daily life. These findings were discussed in terms of implications for clinical practice and future research.
The selective prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 inhibitor, NS-398, reduces prostaglandin production and ovulation in vivo and in vitro in the rat.

Two isoforms of prostaglandin G/H synthase, PGS-1 and PGS-2, catalyze the formation of prostaglandins (PG). Nonselective PGS inhibitors, e.g., indomethacin, reduce the number of ovulations and PG levels in many animal models. This study evaluated the effects of the selective PGS-2 inhibitor NS-398, compared to indomethacin, on ovulation number and on PG and steroid production both in vivo and in vitro in the rat. NS-398 reduced the synthesis of PGE2 in isolated, LH-stimulated preovulatory follicles incubated in vitro. The inhibition by NS-398 was similar to that of indomethacin. Maximal inhibition was noted from 0.1 microM. Neither progesterone nor cAMP production was affected by NS-398 or indomethacin. The effect of in vivo administration of NS-398 (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg BW, s. c.) to proestrous rats 1 h after the injection of an ovulatory dose of hCG was monitored in follicles extirpated 10 h after hCG. These follicles were incubated in vitro, and NS-398 dose-dependently reduced PGE2 production. The synthesis of cAMP and progesterone was not altered. In separate experiments, the same doses of NS-398 were injected to determine their effect on ovulation in vivo. The number of ovulations was decreased by the highest dose of NS-398. In the in vitro ovarian perfusion model, NS-398 (10 microM) reduced the number of ovulations initiated by LH and isobutylmethylxanthine. Lower doses of NS-398 (0.1 and 1 microM) were less effective. The production of prostanoids (PGE2, PGF2alpha, and 6-keto-PGF1alpha) was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by NS-398. The secretion of steroids was not affected. This study demonstrates that selective inhibition of PGS-2 by NS-398 reduces LH/hCG-stimulated production of prostanoids and the number of ovulations both in vivo and in vitro. These results provide direct evidence to strengthen the role of the inducible, granulosa cell-expressed PGS-2 as one of the key regulators in the ovulatory process and also document that the elevated and perhaps sustained levels of PG are obligatory for ovulation.
BLENDED LEARNING IN ESP LISTENING

For a long time researchers and language practitioners have maintained that listening skills could be picked up by the learners. By now it has been generally accepted that listening skills have to be taught like any other language skills. The current advantages of high-technology allow employing the method blended learning of listening skills in English classrooms. This article examines the practice of blended learning in the sense of its classic definition, look at some online activities teachers can select, and present some evidence of a its positive contribution to the difficult task of second language acquisition for communication.
Fibrinogen, D-Dimer and Thrombin-Antithrombin Complexes in a Random Population Sample: Relationships with Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Summary Fibrinogen is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and both D-Dimer and Thrombin-Antithrombin complexes may be suitable as laboratory markers of deep venous thrombosis and are becoming more widespread in clinical practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate their normal range and to examine their correlation with various cardiovascular risk factors. Fibrinogen, D-Dimer and Thrombin-Antithrombin complexes were assessed in 516 normal subjects randomly selected from the National Health Service register of Trieste (Italy). In our community the mean value of fibrinogen was 283 ± 71 mg/dl. Fibrinogen increases with age in males and was significantly higher in male smokers. In non-smokers, females had significantly higher fibrinogen values than males. The mean value of D-Dimer was 306 ± 130 ng/ml. In females it is significantly higher. The fibrinogen and D-Dimer correlation coefficient was 0.20 (p < 0.001). The mean level of Thrombin-Antithrombin complexes was 6.25 ±6.8 ng/ml with a distribution markedly skewed towards the left; males had lower concentration than females (p = 0.047). Multiple regression analysis for fibrinogen as a dependent variable showed that D-Dimer, LDL- eholesterol, Body-Mass Index and Thrombin-Antithrombin complexes were poor predictors for fibrinogen plasma levels (R2 = 0.23) and that fibrinogen, ApoAl and age can explain only about 10% of the observed variability in D-Dimer.
Practice implications for preventing population vulnerability related to vitamin D status

Purpose To provide primary care clinicians with practice recommendations for the safe, individualized, effective, efficient evaluation, and treatment of vitamin D status for maximum health promotion and disease prevention. Data sources A review and synthesis of current scientific literature on vitamin D was conducted related to the physiologic impact of vitamin D, topics of debate, research and recommendations, adequate serum levels, daily supplementation, and deficiency treatment. Conclusions Inadequate vitamin D levels are not isolated to any one geographic, ethnic, or socioeconomic population, and exist without regard to gender, age, or health status. Conflicting vitamin D evidence and recommendations may leave patients vulnerable to vitamin D inadequacy, deficiency, or excess, and in turn, avoidable negative outcomes. Implications for NPs Nurse practitioners (NPs) must actively assess patient vitamin D status and educate patients in order to prevent negative health outcomes. Maintaining adequate vitamin D levels is an easy and cost‐efficient adjunct to other health promotion and disease prevention measures. NPs who neglect the physiologic roles of vitamin D and potential patient vulnerability miss an opportunity to make an impact in both patient health and the economic healthcare burden related to acute and chronic disease.
Effect of Manual Therapy on Knee Osteoarthritis ( OA ) Pain , A Randomized Control Trial

Osteoarthritis knee is a degenerative joint disease and results in pain, deformity of knee joints and gait problems[1, 2]. Currently many treatment options are available for management of osteoarthritis knee which includes simple analgesics, life style modifications, physical modalities, different exercises and surgical procedures[3]. Manual therapies with exercises are found beneficial for knee osteoarthritis both in decreasing pain and increasing functionality Problem with this approach is daily visits to therapist and cost of doing exercise under supervision and results in high cost, number of days lost at work and low compliance. There few studies done comparing supervised structured exercise program with home based exercise program[4, 5]. In this study we have compared effectiveness of supervised structured ABSTRACT
Coupled Ensembles of Neural Networks

We investigate in this paper architectures of deep convolutional networks. Building on existing state of the art models, we propose a reconfiguration of the model parameters into several parallel branches at the global network level, each branch being a standalone CNN. We show that this arrangement is an efficient way to significantly reduce the number of parameters while at the same time improving the performance. The use of branches brings an additional form of regularization. In addition to splitting the parameters into parallel branches, we propose a tighter coupling of these branches by averaging their log-probabilities. The tighter coupling favours the learning of better representations, even at the level of the individual branches, as compared to when each branch is trained independently. We refer to this branched architecture as “coupled ensembles”. The approach is generic and can be applied to almost any neural network architecture. With coupled ensembles of DenseNet-BC networks and a 25M-parameter budget, we obtain error rates of 2.92%, 15.68% and 1.50% on CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100 and SVHN respectively. For the same parameter budget, DenseNet-Bchas an error rate of 3.46%, 17.18%, and 1.8% respectively. With ensembles of coupled ensembles of DenseNet-BC networks with a 50M-parameter budget, we obtain error rates of 2.72%, 15.13% and 1.42 % respectively on these tasks.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIVITY AND LIFE SATISFACTION : A COMPARISON OF MALE AND FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The present study was conducted to explore the relationship of emotional expressivity and life satisfaction. Further, the study also examines gender difference regarding emotional expressivity and life satisfaction among university students. For this study, a sample of 200 (bachelor, masters and M.Phil) students studying in two government universities of Pakistan was selected using purposive sampling technique. To measure emotional expressivity and life satisfaction, two scales emotional expressivity scale by (Ann M.Kring, David A Smith and John M. Neale 1994) and life satisfaction scale by (Ed Diener and Emmons in 1985) were administered to the sample. Findings show that a strong positive correlation was found between emotional expressivity and life satisfaction. Female were found to be emotionally more expressive as compared to males while there was no difference in the level of Life satisfaction between the two sexes.