Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gastric floating matrix tablets: Design and optimization using combination of polymers

Gastric floating matrix tablets: Design and optimization using combination of polymers The purpose of the present study was to develop an optimized gastric floating drug delivery system (GFDDS) containing domperidone as a model drug. Box-Behnken design was employed in formulating the GFDDS with three polymers: hydroxypropyl methylcellulose K4M (HPMC K4M) (X1), Carbopol 934P (X2) and sodium alginate (X3), as independent variables. Floating lag time (FLT), total floating time (TFT), time required to release 50% of the drug (t50) and diffusion exponent (n) were selected as dependent variables. Seventeen formulations were prepared, dissolution data obtained was fitted to the power law and floating profiles were analyzed. HPMC loading was found to be significant for floating properties. Carbopol loading had a negative effect on floating properties but was found helpful in controlling the release rate of the drug. No significant effect of sodium alginate on floating properties was observed but it was important for gel formation. The quadratic mathematical model developed could be used to predict formulations with desired release and floating properties. Plutajuće matriks tablete: Dizajniranje i optimizacija kombiniranjem polimera Cilj rada bio je razvoj i optimizacija plutajućih sustava za isporuku lijekova u želucu (GFDDS) s domperidonom kao modelom lijeka. Box-Behnkenovo dizajniranje korišteno je u formuliranju GFDDS. Nezavisne varijable u dizajniranju bila su tri polimera: hidroksipropil metilceluloza K4M (HPMC K4M) (X1), Carbopol 934P (X2) i natrijev alginat (X3), a zavisne varijable usporeno vrijeme plutanja (FLT), ukupno vrijeme plutanja (TFT), vrijeme potrebno za oslobađanje 50% lijeka (t50) i difuzijski eksponent (n). Pripravljeno je ukupno sedamnaest formulacija. Analizirani su podaci o oslobađanju ljekovite tvari. Količina HPMC značajno utječe na svojstva plutanja, dok količina karbopola ima negativni učinak na svojstvo plutanja, ali kontrolira oslobađanje ljekovite tvari. Natrijev alginat nema značajni učinak na svojstva plutanja, ali utječe na stvaranje gela. Kvadratni matematički model može se upotrijebiti za predviđanje formulacija sa željenim profilom oslobađanja i svojstvima plutanja.
Reliability of Histologic Diagnosis of Breast Cancer with Stereotactic Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of 11-gauge stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (SVAB) for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Percutaneous biopsies of 426 suspicious breast lesions in 365 patients using 11-gauge SVAB were performed between September 1996 and June 1998. Of these biopsies 59 (13.8%) resulted in a diagnosis of breast carcinoma and 56 (95%) were surgically excised. These 56 lesions constitute the basis of this study. Pathology of SVAB and surgically excised tissue of the 56 carcinomas as well as imaging findings were correlated. At percutaneous biopsy 34 (61%) lesions demonstrated ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 22 (39%) invasive carcinomas. Surgical excision demonstrated the presence of an invasive cancer in three lesions percutaneously diagnosed as DCIS (9%; confidence interval 2–24%). No residual carcinoma was surgically demonstrated in seven (12.5%) lesions. Sensitivity of 11-gauge SVAB for the diagnosis of invasion in breast cancer was 88 per cent. Using SVAB the diagnosis of invasive carcinoma is reliable. However, a percutaneous finding of DCIS does not exclude the presence of invasion in 9 per cent of cases as confirmed by subsequent surgery. Using SVAB 12.5% of carcinomas are completely excised.
Swelling of free-radical-induced megamitochondria causes apoptosis.

Recently, we have found that cultured cells from various sources exposed to free radicals become apoptotic in the presence of megamitochondria (MG). The purpose of the present study is to answer the following two questions: (1) Do functions obtained from the "MG fraction" isolated from normal mitochondria by a routine procedure represent the functions of MG since the fraction consists of enlarged and normal-size mitochondria? (2) What is the correlation between MG formation and apoptotic changes of the cell? In the present study the heavy fraction rich in mitochondria enlarged to varying degrees and the light fraction consisting mainly of normal-size mitochondria were isolated independently from the livers of rats treated with hydrazine for 4 days (4H animals) and 8 days (8H animals), and some functions related to apoptosis were compared. Results were as follows: (1) Mitochondria in both fractions obtained from 8H animals swelled far less in various media than those obtained from the controls, suggesting that the permeability transition pores had been opened before they were exposed to swelling media. (2) The membrane potential of mitochondria in both fractions obtained from 8H animals was distinctly decreased. (3) The rates of reactive oxygen species generation from mitochondria of both fractions in 4H animals were equally elevated, while those in 8H animals were equally decreased compared to those of controls. These results, together with morphological data obtained in the present study, suggest that enlarged and normal-size mitochondria are a part of MG and that the secondary swelling of MG causes the apoptotic changes in the cell.
A Bayesian Multiuser Detection Algorithm for MIMO-ODFM Systems Affected by Multipath Fading, Carrier Frequency Offset, and Phase Noise

We derive a novel Bayesian algorithm for multiuser detection in the uplink of a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system employing stacked space-time block codes, such as the stacked Alamouti code with two transmit antennas, and a stacked quasi-orthogonal code with four transmit antennas. The proposed technique accomplishes joint estimation of the carrier frequency offset, phase noise, channel impulse response and data of each active user. Its derivation relies on the specific structure of the transmitted signal and on efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. Simulation results evidence the robustness of the proposed algorithm in both uncoded and coded systems.
Comparisons of different combinations of analogues of PGF2α and dopamine agonists for the termination of pregnancy in dogs

Groups of five pregnant bitches were treated to terminate the pregnancy with four combinations of drugs, starting 28 days after the estimated surge of luteinising hormone (LH), 22 to 28 days after the first mating. The treatments were: cabergoline administered orally for 10 days at a dose of 5 μg/kg and a single subcutaneous injection of 2.5 μg/kg cloprostenol at the start of the treatment; the same dose of cabergoline plus two doses of 1 μg/kg cloprostenol administered on days 28 and 32 after the LH surge; bromocryptine administered orally at a dose of 30 μg/kg three times a day for 10 days plus a single dose of 2.5 μg/kg cloprostenol; the same dose of bromocryptine plus two doses of 1 μg/kg cloprostenol; and a group of five pregnant bitches was left untreated. The pregnancies were terminated in all but one of the treated bitches, in each case by resorption of the fetuses. There were few side effects in the bitches treated with two doses of 1 μg/kg cloprostenol, and were present but acceptable in those treated with one dose of 2.5 μg/kg. Plasma progesterone concentrations decreased to less than 1 ng/ml within 72 hours of the start of treatment and remained low except in the bitch in which pregnancy was not terminated. In the five untreated bitches, plasma progesterone remained high and they whelped normally. In the treated groups, the intervals between successive displays of oestrus were reduced by approximately 70 days in comparison with previous cycles or with the control group, but the fertility of the dogs was not affected adversely.
Strategies for Fiscal Consolidation in the Post-Crisis World

In response to the global financial crisis, governments provided substantial support to the financial and other key sectors. Although this cushioned the adverse effects of the crisis, it is necessary now to articulate a strategy to ensure the sustainability of public finances. This paper discusses the scale and composition of fiscal adjustment that will need to occur once the recovery is securely under way. Although specific country-level circumstances will influence the composition of the adjustment and its political feasibility, in many cases restoring fiscal sustainability will require reforms to reduce spending and increase tax revenue.
Reactive Hemophagocytic Syndrome in Adult-Onset Still Disease: Clinical Features and Long-Term Outcome: A Case-Control Study of 8 Patients

Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome (RHS) is a rare, life-threatening, and little-known complication of rheumatic diseases. This disorder is characterized by fever, pancytopenia, liver failure, coagulopathy, and neurologic symptoms. RHS may develop in patents who have lymphoma, organ transplantation, serious infection, and rheumatic diseases, most notably systemic lupus erythematosus and adult-onset Still disease (AOSD). Observations of specific cases of RHS in AOSD remain rare, and the significance of this syndrome during the course of AOSD remains unknown. We retrospectively studied 16 episodes of AOSD-associated RHS in 8 patients. To determine whether RHS is associated with a particular phenotype of AOSD, we conducted a case-control study from the cohort of AOSD patients seen during the same period. The estimated frequency of RHS in AOSD patients from our cohort was 15.3% (8/52). The median age at RHS diagnosis was 44.5 years. We collected clinical and laboratory data. RHS was the first manifestation of AOSD in 7 cases. The main symptoms were fever (n = 8), salmon rash (n = 6), arthralgia (n = 7), lymphadenopathy (n = 6), and shock (n = 4). Serum ferritin concentration was consistently elevated (>1000 &mgr;g/L in 8 cases), and the level of glycosylated ferritin was low in all cases (<5% in 7 cases, 15% in 1 case). Six patients presented with coagulopathy; hypertriglyceridemia was found in 6 cases. Admission to the intensive care unit was required in 4 cases. Treatment included corticosteroids (n = 8) and intravenous immunoglobulin (n = 6), cyclophosphamide in 2 cases, infliximab in the same 2 cases, and cyclosporine in 1 case. With a follow-up ranging from 2 to 15 years, the patients were in remission with prednisone plus methotrexate (n = 4), prednisone plus infliximab (n = 2), and low-dose prednisone alone (n = 2). We compared the 8 patients included in this study with 44 control patients with AOSD without RHS. Low haptoglobin levels, very high ferritin levels (>10,000 &mgr;g/L), and a normal or low neutrophil count seem to be predictive factors of the occurrence of RHS in AOSD. Abbreviations: AOSD = adult-onset Still disease, CT = computed tomography, IVIg = intravenous immunoglobulin, RHS = reactive hemophagocytic syndrome.
Preclinical ex vivo expansion of G‐CSF‐mobilized peripheral blood stem cells: effects of serum‐free media, cytokine combinations and chemotherapy

Abstract: Objectives: Ex vivo expansion of granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF)‐mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) is a promising approach for overcoming the developmental delay of bone marrow (BM) reconstitution after transplantation. This project investigated the effects of culture duration, serum‐free media, cytokine combinations, and chemotherapy on the outcomes of expansion. Methods: Enriched CD34+ cells were cultured for 8 or 10 d in serum‐free media (QBSF‐60 or X‐Vivo 10) and four combinations of cytokines consisting of recombinant human pegylated‐megakaryocyte growth and development factor, stem cell factor, flt‐3 ligand, G‐CSF, interleukin (IL)‐6, platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), and IL‐1β. Results: Eight days of culture in QBSF‐60 significantly supported efficient expansions of CD34+ cells, CD34+ CD38− cells, colony‐forming units (CFU) of myeloid, erythroid, megakaryocytic, and mixed lineages to 3.76‐, 14.4‐, 28.3‐, 24.0‐, 38.1‐, and 15.7‐fold, respectively. Whilst PDGF or IL‐6 enhanced the expansion of early, myeloid, and erythroid progenitors, IL‐1β specifically promoted the megakaryocytic lineage. Engraftment of human CD45+ cells were detectable in all non‐obese diabetic/severe‐combined immunodeficient mice transplanted with expanded PBSC from donor samples, being 5.80 ± 3.34% of mouse BM cells. The expansion and engraftment capacity of CD34+ cells from subjects postchemotherapy were significantly compromised across the panel of progenitor cells. Conclusion: Our results provided an optimized protocol for PBSC expansion, applicable to ameliorating neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in post‐BM transplant patients by the prompt provision of progenitor cells. For postchemotherapy patients, expansion products might provide committed progenitors for improving short‐term engraftment, but not self‐renewable stem cells.
How Queensland newspapers reported public sector information reform

This article explores the role of media in Freedom of Information (FOI) policy transfer, using a case study of Queensland’s 2009 FOI reforms. A multi-dimensional analysis was used to discover how newspapers reported changes in Queensland’s public sector information (PSI) policy to identify whether stories on PSI policy were reframed over time. At a quantitative level, the text analytics software Leximancer was used to identify key concepts, issues and trends in 786 relevant articles from national, metropolitan and regional newspapers. At a qualitative level, discourse analysis was used to identify key themes and patterns from the newspaper articles. Both qualitative and quantitative shifts in the media reporting of Right to Information (RTI) and FOI were revealed across three time periods representing the periods before, during and after the reform implementation. The findings offer insights into the role of newspapers in policy diffusion, revealing how Queensland media reports framed the shift in PSI policy from pull model FOI to push model RTI.
Living positive experiences in store: how it influences shopping experience value and satisfaction?

Retailers have tried to differentiate themselves from their competitors through shopping experience. This is the first study analysing relationships between experience dimensions, shopping experience value and satisfaction. In this article different shopping experience dimensions are identified: emotional, sensory, intellectual, social, and pragmatic. In-depth interviews were conducted with a panel of experts to adapt a set of experience dimensions identified from the literature to the offline environment. A survey was then designed to collect data from consumers who had bought in a retailer, where marketing strategies are linked with experience dimensions. Retailers may use this typology in order to re-design their marketing strategies. Retailers must invest in utilitarian attributes of product assortment offered to consumers, improving quality while maintaining prices and promotions. If a retailer can stimulate social shopping and consumer curiosity, such as imagination and creativity in the store, they will have more devoted consumers.
How feasible is the West African eco currency union? An investigation using synchronicity and similarity measures

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the proposed eco currency union has sufficient business cycle synchronization among its members to avoid problems such as those experienced in the last several years by countries in the eurozone. This monetary union would potentially include 18 countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo – which collectively have a GDP of over 744 billion dollars and a population of over 300 million people. Design/methodology/approach The authors will apply some recently created econometric tools that were developed specifically to investigate business cycle synchronization in the eurozone. These tools – denoted synchronicity and similarity – overcome some of the limitations of previous studies which have used vector autoregressions and suffered simultaneity bias as a result. Findings The different measures employed suggest that the potential members of the eco exhibit a very low level of synchronization. Nigeria in particular, which is heavily dependent on oil, as are some, but not all potential members, would be the largest member, and exhibits a very low level of synchronization with other prospective eco member nations. Finally, preliminary evidence from several countries which have joined the existing African currency unions does not indicate that the act of joining a currency union improves synchronization, and this result contradicts the “endogenous optimal currency area” hypothesis. Research limitations/implications Like previous studies on the topic, the authors rely on the available data. The number of observations is more limited than would be optimal. Practical implications The results would strongly caution against the creation of the eco currency union, as members appear even less ready for monetary integration than countries in the eurozone did. Originality/value This is the first study to apply the synchronicity and similarity tools to the prospective West African eco nations.
The Tragedy of Corruption. Corruption as a Social Dilemma

We investigate corruption as a social dilemma by means of a bribery game in which a risk of collective failure is introduced when the number of public officials accepting a bribe from firms reaches a certain threshold. We show that, despite the social risk, the pursuit of individual interest prevails and leads to the elimination of honest officials over time. Reducing the size of the groups while increasing the probability of collective failure diminishes the public officials' corruptibility but is not sufficient to eliminate the tragedy of corruption altogether.
Exploring undergraduate leadership perceptions at an international branch campus in Qatar

Many educators and higher education administrators believe that leadership skills are a desired outcome of the undergraduate experience (Astin & Astin, 2000; Lucas, 1994; Shertzer & Schuh, 2004). While the importance of leadership development in higher education is well supported, research on how students perceive and define leadership is lacking (Logue, Hutchens, & Hector, 2005; Haber, 2011; Marcketti & Kadolph, 2010; Shertzer & Schuh, 2004). Furthermore, the research that is available on perceptions of leadership should be expanded to include and represent a diverse student body, as it has been shown that minorities' perceptions of leadership differ from those of the dominant White culture (Arminio et al., 2000; Haber, 2011; Lo, 2011). Dugan, Morosini and Beazley (2011) also suggest that the literature in college student leadership has not advanced to include attention to cross-cultural considerations.
Lactation Mastitis: Bacterial Cultivation of Breast Milk, Symptoms, Treatment, and Outcome

The aim of this prospective study was to compare serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocytes, hemoglobin, clinical signs, treatment, and outcome among 41 episodes of lactation mastitis grouped by the outcome of bacterial cultivation of breast milk. Group A included 25 cases with positive cultures only for bacteria normally present on skin. Group B included 16 cases in which cultures indicated the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria. Serious complications were observed among women in group B, including protracted illness and weaning. No complications were observed in group A. Staphylococcus aureuswas the most frequently isolated bacteria in group B. Mean serum leukocytes were significantly higher in groupBthan in group A. AlthoughCRPlevels in both groups were elevated, no significant difference was found between groups. Rest and frequent emptying of the breast were curative in group A. Further interventions were necessary for mothers in group B.
Right ventricular myocardial isovolumic relaxation time and pulmonary pressure

Aims: Non‐invasive assessment of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) has several limitations. As previously described by Burstin, the right ventricular (RV) isovolumic relaxation time (IVRt) is sensitive to changes in PASP. We therefore compared RV myocardial IVRt, derived by Doppler tissue imaging (DTI), with simultaneously measured invasive PASP.
Uncertainty Estimation for Evaluating Human Exposure Levels to RF Electromagnetic Fields from Cellular Base Stations

This paper investigates the estimation of uncertainty when evaluating the levels of human exposure to electromagnetic fields radiated from cellular base stations which aim to verify the exposure compliance with human protection guidelines. Uncertainty should be provided when publishing the results of an evaluation since measured physical quantities are not complete unless they are accompanied by some indication of their reliability. In this study, uncertainty sources are classified into four groups: physical parameters, mechanical constraints, postprocessing, and measurement equipment. Type A standard uncertainties are obtained from repeated observations by in situ measurement around cellular base stations, and they include uncertainties introduced by sources other than measurement equipment. Type B uncertainties are determined from the calibration data offered by measurement equipment manufacturers. The estimated overall uncertainty is ±3.82 dB.
Amniotic Membrane as a Substrate for Cultivating Limbal Corneal Epithelial Cells for Autologous Transplantation in Rabbits

Purpose. To examine the viability of using human amniotic membrane as substrate for culturing corneal epithelial cells and transplanting them onto severely injured rabbit eyes. Methods. An ocular-surface injury was created in the right eye of eight rabbits by a lamellar keratectomy extending 5 mm outside the limbus. Next, from the limbal region of the uninjured left eyes of five of these animals, a small biopsy of corneal epithelial cells was taken and cultured on acellular human amniotic membrane. One month later, the invading conjunctiva that covered the corneal surface of all eight injured eyes was surgically removed. Five of the eyes then received grafts of amniotic membrane containing autologous cultured epithelial cells, whereas the other three received grafts of acellular amniotic membrane alone. Results. A confluent primary culture of limbal corneal epithelial cells was established on acellular human amniotic membrane after 14 days. Cells were partially stratified and fairly well attached to the underlying amniotic membrane, although a fully formed basement membrane was not evident. The three rabbits that received amniotic membrane transplantation alone all had total epithelial defects on the graft in the early postoperative period. Eyes that were grafted with amniotic membrane that contained cultivated epithelial cells, however, were all successfully epithelialized up to 5 days after surgery. Conclusion. Autologous transplantation of cultivated corneal epithelium is feasible by using acellular amniotic membrane as a carrier.