Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Evaluation of Orodispersible Tablets Containing Hydroxylbutyl-β-Cyclodextrin-Simvastatin Solid Dispersion

Purpose: To formulate simvastatin orodispersible tablets with high dissolution rate and enhanced bioavailability. Methods: Simvastatin solid dispersions in β- cyclodextrin, hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin, and hydroxylbutyl-β-cyclodextrin were prepared in different drug: polymer ratios by kneading and solvent evaporation methods. Compatibility was investigated by Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) Based on the results of solubility studies, the most suitable solid dispersion was selected and formulated into orodispersible tablets using Emcosoy and Kpolacrillin as superdisintegrants, and mannitol and Pullulan as diluents. The tablets were evaluated for wetting and disintegration times, water absorption, and in vtro dissolution. Results: Increase in drug solubility was dependent on polymer type, concentration and preparation method. Simvastatin-hydroxylbutyl-β-cyclodextrin solid dispersion mixture prepared in 1:2 drug: polymer ratio by solvent evaporation method had a higher solubility than other dispersions. DSC and FTIR indicated the formation of solid dispersion without chemical interaction between simvastatin and polymer. Orodispersible tablet prepared with Emcosoy and Pullulan showed least wetting and disintegration times (20 and 35 s, respectively), fastest water sorption rate, and the highest dissolution rate (100 % after 20 min). Conclusion: Orodispersible tablets prepared with Emcosoy as superdisintegratnt and Pullulan as diluents and containig simvastatin solid dispersion in hydroxylbutyl-β-cyclodextrin provides optimum water solubility and hence, drug bioavailability.
Does Trade Secrets Protection Affect Human Capital Investment? Evidence From the Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine

This study investigates the impact of trade secrets protection on corporate employment decisions. By exploiting the staggered adoption of the Inevitable Disclosure Doctrine (IDD) by the U.S. state courts as an exogenous shock that significantly reduces employee mobility, we employ a difference-in-differences (DiD) approach and find that the adoption of the IDD, on average, leads to higher deviation from the optimal employment level explained by the underlying economics (i.e., lower labor investment efficiency) for firms headquartered in that state, whilst the rejection of the previously adopted IDD results in lower deviation from the optimal employment level (i.e., higher labor investment efficiency). Further analyses show that the impact of the IDD adoption on corporate employment decisions is primarily driven by firms’ overinvestment in labor, suggesting that firms strategically engage in precautionary human capital hoarding in response to the reduced talent supply in the labor market and consequently higher labor adjustment costs. Our cross-sectional analyses show that the impact of the IDD adoptions on corporate employment decisions is more pronounced for (1) firms in high-skill industries and (2) firms facing high levels of product market competition. Overall, our findings indicate that the trade secrets protection environment can be an influential determinant for labor investment practices and have implications for both policymakers and industry practitioners. <br>
Signs and symptoms associated with the metabolic syndrome in psychiatric inpatients receiving antipsychotics: a retrospective chart review.

OBJECTIVE The metabolic syndrome has been recognized as a major health risk for patients taking atypical antipsychotics. Few studies, however, have examined large samples of psychiatric patients to explore the prevalence of the signs and symptoms associated with this condition. METHOD The investigators retrospectively identified all inpatient admissions at the study site who were treated with antipsychotics during 2003 (N = 1691) and extracted demographic and clinical data (including measures associated with the syndrome: body mass index > 30 kg/m2, dyslipidemia, diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes). Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with each correlate of the syndrome. RESULTS In the majority of this sample (69.3%), at least 1 correlate of the metabolic syndrome was present. The odds that a patient would have 1 or more of these measures were approximately 8 times greater for those receiving clozapine than for those receiving another anti-psychotic medication. These patients also had increased odds (odds ratio = 2.5) of having hypertension or diabetes. In the subsample of patients with documentation for all 5 correlates of the metabolic syndrome (N = 362), 18.8% had > or = 3 of 5. CONCLUSION The prevalence of at least 3 correlates in psychiatric inpatients receiving antipsychotics is probably an underestimate, because diagnosis was substituted for the blood pressure and glucose measures. Nonetheless, these findings support the call for routine screening for metabolic symptoms in patients receiving antipsychotics. The risk for these symptoms may be particularly high in some subgroups identified, such as patients older than 50 years and those taking clozapine or multiple antipsychotics.
Trends and patterns of exclusive breastfeeding for under-6-month-old children.

OBJECTIVES To study the trends and patterns of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for under-6-month-old infants in the city of Bauru, Brazil. METHODS Data from three methodologically equivalent cross-sectional surveys integrating the project for monitoring breastfeeding indicators in São Paulo state were compared. Infants aged zero to 6 months who attended one of the two phases of the Multivaccination Campaign in 1999, 2003 and 2006, respectively 496, 674 and 509 infants, were studied. Descriptive statistics were presented to compare the prevalence of EBF according to age (in months) and for the set of children under 6 months. The differences in prevalence were expressed in percentage and submitted to statistical tests (Pearsons chi-square and tendency), adopting p < 0.05 as the critical level. Factors associated with EBF interruption in 2006 were also studied by uni- and multivariate analysis. RESULTS Increase in EBF prevalence was found in under-6-month-old infants: in the 1999-2003 period, increase of 9.1%; in the 2003-2006 period, increase of 6.6%, thus reaching the annual increase rate of 2.3% in the first period and 2.2% in the second period. Significant inverse association was observed between EBF and the use of pacifiers (hazard ratio = 2.03; 95% confidence interval 1.44-2.84). CONCLUSION EBF prevalence in under-6-month-old infants in the city of Bauru, Brazil, increased almost threefold in the studied period, changing from 8.5% in 1999 to 24.2% in 2006, which represents an increase of 184.7%. The use of pacifiers was the only factor associated with greater chances of EBF interruption.
Predictors of urinary continence recovery after modified radical prostatectomy for clinically high-risk prostate cancer.

PURPOSE To retrospectively determine predictors of urinary continence (UC) recovery in clinically high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) patients treated with modified radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 184 patients with clinically high-risk PCa who underwent modified RP in a single Chinese center were retrospectively reviewed. Pelvic floor muscle training with biofeedback was routinely performed after catheter removal. UC was defined as wearing 0 or 1 protective pad daily. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the predictors of UC recovery. RESULTS The median age at surgery was 69.5 years (range 48-82), and the median follow-up duration was 40 months (range 12-111). Only 40 patients (21.7%) received a nerve-sparing procedure. For patients with restored UC, the median time to continence was 1 month (range 1-24). UC recovery at 1 month, 6 months, 12 months and the most recent follow-up was observed in 99 (53.8%), 158 (85.9%), 171 (92.9%) and 174 (94.6%) patients, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that patient age < 70 years (hazard ratio 1.684, P = .003) and smaller prostate volume (hazard ratio 0.989, P = .036), but not the surgical approach or treatment with a nerve-sparing procedure, independently predicted UC recovery. CONCLUSION Age < 70 years and smaller prostate volume were independent predictors of UC recovery in clinically high-risk PCa patients. The adverse factors of high-risk disease were not significantly associated with UC recovery. These results may help surgeons preoperatively counsel patients regarding expected UC outcomes following RP.
Macroeconomic Environment and Capital Structure in Life and Non-life Insurance Sector of Pakistan

optimal Capital Structure is the imperative decision for any business management to be taken for persistent growth and wealth maximization of the shareholders. The purpose of the study is to investigate firm level and macroeconomic factors of financing behavirs of insurance sector during the study period of 2001-2013. The sample of the study is selected through convenient sampling technique. Moreover, empirical data has been extracted from a number of website notably, State Bank of Pakistan and World Bank. Hausman test and Breusch, and Pagan Lagrange Multiplier test select Fixed Effect and Pooled Regression Model for the study. The findings of the study have revealed that Age, size and tangibility are positively and significantly associated to capital structure, while inflation is insignificant in fixed effect but significant and positively associated in pooled OLS model. GDP is insignificant while lending rate is negative and significantly associated to debt ratio in both estimation techniques. Use of firms fixed effect model also increases the illustrative power of the model signifying that individual firms' heterogeneity issues influential to the leverage. Hence, the relationship of the variables supports Pecking-Order theory and Trade-Off theory of Capital structure. It is recommended to management of insurance sector that mature and large firm could use heavy debt by taking advantage of tax shield.Key words: Capital Structure, Firm level, Macroeconomic Factors, Insurance Sector
A Simulation Study of GNSS-R Polarimetric Scattering from the Bare Soil Surface Based on the AIEM

In the past two decades, global navigation satellite system-reflectometry (GNSS-R) has emerged as a new remote sensing technique for soil moisture monitoring. Some experiments showed that the antenna of V polarization is more favorable to receive the reflected signals, and the interference pattern technique (IPT) was used for soil moisture and retrieval of other geophysical parameters. Meanwhile, the lower satellite elevation angles are most impacted by the multipath. However, electromagnetic theoretical properties are not clear for GNSS-R soil moisture retrieval. In this paper, the advanced integral equation model (AIEM) is employed using the wave-synthesis technique to simulate different polarimetric scatterings in the specular directions. Results show when the incident angles are larger than 70°, scattering at RR polarization (the transmitted signal is right-hand circular polarization (RHCP), while the received one is also RHCP) is larger than that at LR polarization (the transmitted signal is RHCP, while the received one is left-hand circular polarization (LHCP)), while scattering at LR polarization is larger than that at RR polarization for the other incident angles (1°∼70°). There is an apparent dip for VV and VR scatterings due to the Brewster angle, which will result in the notch in the final receiving power, and this phenomenon can be used for soil moisture retrieval or vegetation corrections. The volumetric soil moisture (vms) effects on their scattering are also presented. The larger soil moisture will result in lower scattering at RR polarization, and this is very different from the scattering of the other polarizations. It is interesting to note that the surface correlation function only affects the amplitudes of the scattering coefficients at much less level, but it has no effects on the angular trends of RR and LR polarizations.
Adrenergic Control of Natural Killer Cell Circulation and Adhesion

Natural killer (NK) cell circulation is subject to adrenergic regulation. Exactly how NK cells are released into the circulation is unknown. In an attempt to identify some of the mechanisms, the present report focuses on aspects of adhesion regulation of NK cells. Results demonstrate that interactions between NK and endothelial cells (EC) in vitro can be reduced by beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation for as long as the receptor stimulation occurs. The level of soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sE-selectin, sVCAM-1) in vivo remained unchanged during adrenaline infusion. In vitro analyses further reveal the requirement for Ca2+/Mg2+ in NK-EC adhesion. Blocking studies indicate the involvement of several members of the beta 1(CD29)- and beta 2(CD18)-integrin family, reducing NK cell adhesion by 28 to 39%. Stimulation of beta 2-adrenoceptors in the presence of these blocking antibodies further reduced NK adhesion by an average of 22%. Analysis of NK cell adhesion to various extracellular matrix components demonstrates significant NK cell adhesion to fibronectin but much less to laminin or collagens I and IV. NK cell adhesion to fibronectin was reduced by 50% upon beta 2-adrenoceptor stimulation, independent of the VLA-4/VLA-5 binding site on fibronectin. Together these results contribute to understanding the influences of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation on NK cell circulation and adhesion.
Anthracycline chemotherapy inhibits HIF-1 transcriptional activity and tumor-induced mobilization of circulating angiogenic cells

Using a cell-based reporter gene assay, we screened a library of drugs in clinical use and identified the anthracycline chemotherapeutic agents doxorubicin and daunorubicin as potent inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1)-mediated gene transcription. These drugs inhibited HIF-1 by blocking its binding to DNA. Daily administration of doxorubicin or daunorubicin potently inhibited the transcription of a HIF-1-dependent reporter gene as well as endogenous HIF-1 target genes encoding vascular endothelial growth factor, stromal-derived factor 1, and stem cell factor in tumor xenografts. CXCR4+/sca1+, VEGFR2+/CD34+, and VEGFR2+/CD117+ bone-marrow derived cells were increased in the peripheral blood of SCID mice bearing prostate cancer xenografts but not in tumor-bearing mice treated for 5 days with doxorubicin or daunorubicin, which dramatically reduced tumor vascularization. These results provide a molecular basis for the antiangiogenic effect of anthracycline therapy and have important implications for refining the use of these drugs to treat human cancer more effectively.
Impact of cigarette smoking on response to interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients.

AIM Smoking may affect adversely the response rate to interferon-alpha. Our objective was to verify this issue among chronic hepatitis C patients. METHODS Over the year 1998, 138 chronic hepatitis C male Egyptian patients presenting to Cairo Liver Center, were divided on the basis of smoking habit into: group I which comprised 38 smoker patients (>30 cigarettes/d) and group II which included 84 non-smoker patients. Irregular and mild smokers (16 patients) were excluded. Non eligible patients for interferon-alpha therapy were excluded from the study and comprised 3/38 (normal ALT) in group I and 22/84 in group II (normal ALT, advanced cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia). Group I was randomly allocated into 2 sub-groups: group Ia comprised 18 patients who were subjected to therapeutic phlebotomy while sub-group Ib consisted of 17 patients who had no phlebotomy. In sub-group Ia, 3 patients with normal ALT after repeated phlebotomies were excluded from the study. Interferon-alpha 2b 3 MU/TIW was given for 6 mo to 15 patients in group Ia, 17 patients in group Ib and 62 patients in group II. Biochemical, virological end-of- treatment and sustained responses were evaluated. RESULTS At the end of interferon-alpha treatment, ALT was normalized in 3/15 patients (20%) in group Ia and 2/17 patients (11.8%) in group Ib compared to 17/62 patients (27.4%) in group II (P = 0.1). Whereas 2/15 patients (13.3%) in group Ia. and 2/17 patients (11.8%) in group Ib lost viraemia compared to 13/62 patients (26%) in group II (P = 0.3). Six months later, ALT was persistently normal in 2/15 patients (13.3%) in group 1a and 1/17 patients (5.9%) in group Ib compared to 9/62 patients (14.5%) in group II (P = 0.47). Viraemia was eliminated in 1/15 patients (6.7%) in group Ia and 1/17 patients (5.9%) in group Ib compared to 7/62 patients (11.3%) in group II, but the results did not mount to statistical significance (P = 0.4). CONCLUSION Smokers suffering from chronic hepatitis C tend to have a lower response rate to interferon-alpha compared to non-smokers. Therapeutic phlebotomy improves the response rate to interferon-alpha therapy among this group.
Impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation or surgical aortic valve replacement on right ventricular function

Objective Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has become an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement (sAVR) in selected high risk patients. While improvement in left ventricular function after TAVI has been demonstrated, little is known about the impact on right ventricular (RV) function. Since postoperative RV dysfunction is linked to adverse outcomes, the authors sought to investigate the effect of TAVI and aortic valve replacement (AVR) on RV function using speckle tracking echocardiography. Design Cross-sectional study in tertiary healthcare setting. Setting 101 patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (age 81±11 yrs) who underwent TAVI and 22 patients who underwent sAVR were included. RV function was assessed using 2D longitudinal strain (RV-LS), fractional area change and tricuspid annular plain systolic excursion before and after sAVR and TAVI (median 89 days). Results Although the TAVI group had worse baseline characteristics, RV function remained unchanged in this group whereas significant deterioration of RV function was observed in patients undergoing conventional AVR: RV-LS (−25.2±6.1 vs −20.0±7.0%; p=0.009), RV-fractional area change (47.0±7.0 vs 39.8±10.7%, p=0.019) and tricuspid annular plain systolic excursion (24±5 vs 16±4 mm, p=0.0001). Conclusion While TAVI did not affect RV function it deteriorated significantly in patients undergoing sAVR. The authors speculate that this may be related to the detrimental effects of pericardiotomy and, to a lesser degree, cardiopulmonary bypass. While further studies are required to assess the clinical significance of this finding, these data suggest that patients with pre-existing RV dysfunction may benefit from TAVI and that RV function should be incorporated into future risk scores.
Adult pelvic shape change is an evolutionary side effect

In their interesting article, Huseynov et al. (1) propose the “developmental obstetric dilemma (DOD) hypothesis,” which posits that human pelvic morphology reflects the changing obstetric needs during a female’s lifetime. In particular, the authors state that the female pelvis reaches its “obstetrically most adequate morphology” during peak fertility, around the age of 25–30 y, and reverts to an obstetrically less-adequate morphology thereafter, when fertility declines.
The effects of epinephrine on outcomes of normothermic and therapeutic hypothermic cardiopulmonary resuscitation*

Objective:To investigate the effects of epinephrine when administered during either normothermic or therapeutic hypothermic cardiopulmonary resuscitation on postresuscitation myocardial and cerebral function and survival. Design:Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled experimental study. Setting:University-affiliated animal research laboratory. Subjects:Thirty-two healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats. Interventions:Ventricular fibrillation was induced and untreated for 8 mins. The animals were then randomly assigned to one of four groups: normothermic placebo control; normothermic epinephrine; hypothermic placebo control; and hypothermic epinephrine. Hypothermia was initiated coincident with the start of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The blood temperature was reduced and maintained at 32 ± 0.2°C and continued for 4 hrs after resuscitation. Normothermic animals were maintained at 37 ± 0.2°C. Either placebo or epinephrine (20 &mgr;g/kg) was administered 5 mins after the start of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and 3 mins before defibrillation. Measurements and Main Results:Postresuscitation cardiac output, ejection fraction, and myocardial performance index were measured hourly for 4 hrs after resuscitation; neurologic deficit scores were measured daily for 7 days, and durations of survival were observed for up to 3 mos. Except for three normothermic control animals, all animals were resuscitated. When epinephrine was administered during normothermic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, postresuscitation myocardial function was severely impaired when compared with the normothermic control group. However, postresuscitation myocardial function was significantly better in animals treated with epinephrine during hypothermic cardiopulmonary resuscitation when compared with hypothermic controls. This was associated with significantly fewer postresuscitation ventricular arrhythmias, less ST-segment elevation, better postresuscitation neurologic deficit scores, and longer duration of survival. Conclusions:Epinephrine, when administered during normothermic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, significantly increases the severity of postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction and decreases the duration of survival. These detrimental effects of epinephrine, however, no longer exist when it is administered during therapeutic hypothermic cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Lineamenti geobotanici delle Alpi Liguri e Marittime: endemismi e fitocenosi

ENRICO MARTINI Istituto Botanico «Hanbury» - Universiti di Genova Lineamenti geobotanici delle Alpi Liguri e Marittime: endemismi e fitocenosi MoT1vAz1oNE DELL7INDAGINE Tra i territori della catena alpina che in maggior misura hanno attirato l’interesse degli studiosi di flora e vegetazione, Va annove- rato indubbiamente anche il settore delle Alpi Liguri e Mat-ittirne, cioe quel tratto delle Alpi sud-occidentali ch-e e situato ad est del oolle della Maddalena. Per quanto riguarda le ricerche floristiche, dopo lo studio di ARDOINO (1867) venne redatto un -ponderos-o trattato in sette vo- lumi (BURNAT, 1892-1931), purtroppo rimasto incomplete: contem- pla 53 famiglie, riportate secondo l’ordine sist-ernatico di GRENIER e GODRON (1848-1855). Disponiamo in-oltre di un certo numero di monografie, sulle Lczbiatae (BRIQUET, 1891-1895) e sui generi Rosa (BURNAT e GREMLI, 1879; 1882-1883), Cytisus (BRIQUET, 1894), Bupleurum (BRIQUET, 1897), Cerztaurea (BRIQUET, 1902), ;¥z'eracz'um (BURNAT e GREML1, 1883; ZAHN, 1916), Festztcoz (BURNAT, 1882; SAINT—YVES_. 1913-1914). Le Pteridop/yym furono ogrgetto di differenti contributi, tra i quali si segnalano quelli di CHRIST (1900), CALLE e OZENDA (1950), LAMBINON e LAWALREE (1960), Po1RIoN_, BoNo, BARBERO (1967), BOREL (1968), BADRE e PRELLI (1979). Vennero redatti anche alcuni accurati cataloghi floristici, re- lativi a singoli territori di notevole estensione, in particolare sulle Valli Nervia (BICKNELL, 1896), Pesio (SAPPA e P1oVANo, 1950; PIOVANO e BoNo, 1958), Argentina (MONDINO, 1957), Gesso (BoNo, 1965 a, 1969 a). Altri studi preslero in esarne le emeergenz-e fitogeografiche delle Alpi Liguri e Marittime: ricordo in partic-olare quelli di OZENDA