Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In Vitro and In Vivo Correlation of Colon-Targeted Compression-Coated Tablets

This study was performed to assess and correlate in vitro drug release with in vivo absorption of prednisolone (PDL) from a colon-targeted tablet prepared by compression coating of core tablet. In vivo drug absorption study was conducted using a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method, which was developed and validated for the estimation of PDL in rabbit plasma. The calibration curve showed linearity in the concentration range of 0.05 to 50 μg/mL with the correlation coefficient (r) of 0.999. The method was specific and sensitive with the limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 31.89 ± 1.10 ng/mL and 96.63 ± 3.32 ng/mL, respectively. The extraction recovery (ER) of PDL from three different levels of quality control (QC) samples ranged from 98.18% to 103.54%. In vitro drug release study revealed that less than 10% drug was released in 6.34 h and almost complete (98.64%) drug release was achieved in the following 6 h. In vivo drug absorption study demonstrated lower values of C max, AUCtotal, and protracted T max from compression-coated tablet. The results confirmed the maximum release of drug in the colon while minimizing release in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT). An excellent in vitro and in vivo correlation (IVIVC) was also achieved after considering the lag time.
Enhancing Metacognitive Language Learning Strategy Use and Business Language Proficiency in Technology-Enhanced Collaborative Learning Environment

This study addresses the key issues in CALL literature concerning how to design, evaluate and examine a technology-enhanced collaborative inquiry learning environment for EFL students to enhance language learning processes and language proficiency. Participants were four intact business English classes at a Chinese university with 102 Year 1 students in a 12-week project learning in English for International Business in two different learning environments, namely computer-supported collaborative inquiry learning (CSCIL) and regular project-based learning environment (PBL). Data from multiple sources were obtained including learning strategy surveys, pre-and post- business language proficiency tests, and online interactions. Pre- and post-questionnaire surveys were administered to measure effect of the design on language learning strategy use. Positive design effect was observed on metacognitive strategy use and language proficiency development. Quantitative online discourse analyses were conducted to examine relations among online Knowledge Forum participation and language strategy use as well as business language proficiency. Theoretical and practical implications of this study were also discussed in particular relation to a theory-informed and technology-enhanced EFL business English pedagogy.
A Meta-Analysis Examining the Clinical Survivability of Machined-Surfaced and Osseotite Implants in Poor-Quality Bone

PurposeA frequently cited cause of dental implant failure is the inadequate quality of bone found at the implant site during osteotomy preparation. Although bone quality clearly can affect integration rates, additional variables, such as the implant surface conditioning, can also influence long-term implant performance success. The following report examines outcomes of clinical studies that monitored the performance of machined-surfaced implants and dual acid-etched Osseotite (Implant Innovations, Inc., Palm Beach Gardens, FL) implants isolating the effect of bone quality and implant surface conditioning. Materials and MethodsImplant data are derived from eight prospective multicenter clinical studies representing 2614 machined-surfaced implants and 2288 Osseotite implants. All implant placement surgeries followed a two-stage surgical approach with an unloaded healing period of 4 to 6 months. Bone quality was assessed by operator perception of resistance during drilling and ranked as dense, normal, or soft. At the time of this analysis, implant follow-up from placement ranged up to 66 months for the Osseotite and 84 months for the machined-surfaced implants. To isolate the effect of bone quality,other baseline variables were compared to ensure equal distribution between groups. Baseline variables included patient demographics, locations, dimensions of implants, and types of restorative cases. Implant performance was analyzed using nonparametric survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier estimator). Cumulative success rates (CSR) were calculated and differences between implant-bone quality combinations were assessed using the log-rank method. ResultsFor the machined-surfaced implants, the 4-year CSR in all bone sites is 92.7%. For the implants placed in good (dense and normal) bone, the 4-year CSR is 93.6% compared with the 4-year CSR in poor (soft) bone of 88.2% (P < 0.05). For Osseotite implants in all sites, their overall 4-year CSR was 98.4%, 98.4% in good bone, and 98.1% in poor bone. ConclusionsBone quality therefore seems to have a definitive impact on machined-surfaced implants, but this effect was not observed in the Osseotite implant series.
Patient education level as a predictor of survival in lung cancer clinical trials.

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of socioeconomic status, as measured by education, on the survival of 1,577 lung cancer patients treated on 11 studies conducted by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sociodemographic data, including education, was reported by the patient at the time of clinical trial accrual. Cox proportional hazards model stratified by treatment arm/study was used to examine the effect of education on survival after adjustment for known prognostic factors. RESULTS The patient population included 1,177 patients diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC; stage III or IV) and 400 patients diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC; extensive or limited). Patients with less than an eighth grade education (13% of patients) were significantly more likely to be male, nonwhite, and older; have a performance status (PS) of 1 or 2; and have chest pain. Significant predictors of poor survival in the final model included male sex, PS of 1 or 2, dyspnea, weight loss, liver or bone metastases, unmarried, presence of adrenal metastases and high alkaline phosphatase levels among patients with NSCLC, and high WBC levels among patients with advanced disease. Education was not predictive of survival. CONCLUSION The physical condition of patients with low education who enroll onto clinical trials is worse than patients with higher education. Once enrolled onto a clinical trial, education does not affect the survival of patients with SCLC or stage III or IV NSCLC. The standardization of treatment and follow-up within a clinical trial, regardless of education, is one possible explanation for this lack of effect.
A speech recognition system using both auditory and afferent pathway signal processing

This thesis describes an implementation of a neural network based word recognition system. The network is based on physiological findings on the afferent auditory system, including both auditory signal processing and afferent pathway signal processing. The network does not use any time­ warping and makes no use of the back-propagation algorithm for training. A cochlear model acts as a front-end processor to the neural network. Several practical models for cochlear mechanics are presented. The models can be implemented using various frequency scales. Simulation results are presented for each model and the results are compared and contrasted herein. A computationally efficient multi-rate cochlear model is developed and performance is compared with the slower fixed sample rate models. A simple design procedure for the multi-rate model is presented. Recently, an artificial neural network has been developed which uses physiological findings on the central auditory system. The network reproduces response patterns typical in the auditory system. The architecture of this neural network is described in detail in this thesis. Results of both speaker dependant and speaker independent word recognition experiments carried out using the multi-rate cochlear model as a front-end processor to the artificial neural network are presented. Preliminary results show that this physiologically based neural network has potential as a speech recognition tool but fares worse than more conventional speech recognition systems. Recognition accuracies of 57% were obtained using the physiological based neural network while results approaching 80% are possible using a mel-frequency cepstral coefficient I hiddenMarkov model combination. Finally, a real-time implementation of the multi-rate cochlear model is •• developed on an Analog Devices ADSP-2181 fixed-point Digital Signal Processor. The performance of the real-time implementation is compared and contrasted with that of the simulated model.
Emotional availability in the mother–infant dyad as related to the quality of infant–mother attachment relationship

Dyadic emotional availability and infant-mother attachment relationship were examined in 687 Israeli dyads. Concurrent assessments used the Strange Situation procedure (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) for evaluating infants' attachment relationship, and the Emotional Availability Scales (Biringen, Robinson, & Emde, 1993) for evaluating the quality of mother-child interaction. It was found that higher scores on the Emotional Availability Scales were associated with infant attachment security. In addition, it was found that the Emotional Availability Scales discriminated between insecure- ambivalent and secure attachment classification, but were not informative about unique characteristics of emotional availability in dyads with avoidant and disorganized infants. Our findings contribute to the cross- cultural validation of Emotional Availability Scales against infants' attachment security.
Two forms of replication initiator protein: positive and negative controls.

The pir gene of plasmid R6K encodes the protein, pi, a replication and transcription factor. Two translational options for the pir gene give rise to two forms of pi protein: a 35.0-kDa form (pi35.0) and a shortened 30.5-kDa form (pi30.5). Although both proteins bind to a series of 22-bp direct repeats essential for plasmid R6K replication, only pi35.0 can bind to a site in the (A.T)-rich segment of its gamma ori and activate the gamma ori in vivo and in vitro. However, unlike pi35.0, pi30.5can inhibit in vivo and in vitro replication (activated by pi35.0). We propose that the two forms of pi might have distinct functions in replication. We show that although both forms of pi produce dimers, the nature of these dimers is not identical. The N-terminal 37 amino acid residues appear to control the formation of the more stable pi35.0 dimers, whereas another, apparently weaker interface holds together dimers of pi30.5. We speculate that the leucine zipper-like motif, absent in pi30.5, controls very specific functions of pi protein.
PREDICTION BASED ON INTEGRATION OF DECISIONAL DNA AND A FEATURE SELECTION ALGORITHM RELIEF-F

Set of experience knowledge structure (SOEKS) and decisional DNA (DDNA), as a knowledge representation, provide features such as learning from experience, dealing with noisy and incomplete data, making precise decisions, and supporting predictions. In this work, we investigate how the combination of DDNA and SOEKS with feature selection learning algorithm RELIEF-F can improve the quality of predictions. The proposed approach is general and extensible in terms of both designing enhanced learning algorithms and application to other domains.
Ethnic Differences in Risk Behaviors and Related Psychosocial Variables among a Cohort of Maltreated Adolescents in Foster Care

This study examined the cross-ethnic equivalence of measures and the relationships between psychosocial variables and risk behaviors in an ethnically diverse sample of maltreated adolescents 6 years after their placement in foster care. Overall, there was cross-ethnic measurement equivalence, except for the self-destructive behavior and perceived opportunities constructs, which did not demonstrate internal consistency for African American youth. The authors found few differences between White (non-Latino), Hispanic, and African American youth on levels of engagement in risk behaviors and across domains of psychosocial functioning. The relationships between the psychosocial variables and risk behaviors were then examined across ethnic groups. The pattern of results was different as a function of ethnicity, as fewer of the psychosocial variables were significantly related to the risk behavior variables for African American youth. Possible explanations for these differences are presented and implications for intervention discussed.
Advantages of Catheter-Based Adenoviral Delivery of Genes to the Heart for Studies of Cardiac Disease

With the advent and rapid advancement of genetically engineered methodologies (ie., cDNA, siRNA and transgenics), there has been an unprecedented acceleration in the identification of the underlying maladaptive processes of heart disease. New pharmaceutical and gene therapy strategies targeted at correcting these maladaptions show unprecedented promise. In particular, the transfer of exogenous cDNA or siRNA by viral based vehicles show great promise for both the overexpression or suppression, respectively, of the proteins linked to these maladaptations in heart. Indeed, the translation of these current viral based studies from animal models of cardiac disease to humans are now in clinical trials (Jessup et al., 2011; Hajjar et al., 2008; Jaski et al., 2009; Gwathmey et al., 2011). However, progress is slowed by weak and inefficient techniques for the transport and delivery of exogenous genes to the heart in animal and human.
Autism Spectrum Disorders at 20 and 42 Months of Age : Stability of Clinical and ADIR Diagnosis

The association between, and stability of, clinical diagnosis and diagnosis derived from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R; Lord, Rutter, & Le Couteur, 1994) was examined in a sample of prospectively identified children with childhood autism and other pervasive developmental disorders assessed at the age of 20 months and 42 months. Clinical diagnosis of autism was stable, with all children diagnosed with childhood autism at age 20 months receiving a diagnosis of childhood autism or a related pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) at age 42 months. Clinical diagnosis of childhood autism was also reasonably sensitive, with all children who went on to receive a clinical diagnosis of childhood autism at 42 months being identified as having autism or PDD at 20 months. However, clinical diagnosis for PDD and Asperger’s syndrome lacked sensitivity at 20 months, with several children who subsequently received these diagnoses at 42 months receiving diagnoses of language disorder or general developmental delay, as well as in two cases being considered clinically normal, at the earlier timepoint. The ADI-R was found to have good specificity but poor sensitivity at detecting childhood autism at 20 months; however, the stability of diagnosis from 20 to 42 months was good. In addition, the ADI-R at age 20 months was not sensitive to the detection of related PDDs or Asperger’s syndrome. The continuity and discontinuity between behavioural abnormalities identified at both timepoints in the three domains of impairment in autism was examined, both in children who met final clinical criteria for an autistic spectrum disorder, and for children with language disorder who did not, as well as for a small sample of typically developing children.
Cross layer optimization of dynamic source routing protocol using IEEE 802.11e based medium awareness

The inception of multimedia applications Mobile Ad-hoc Networks has created multi-disciplinary challenges for researchers in the field of network engineering. These applications on one hand consume extensive bandwidth and battery power and on the other hand require special treatment by the network entities to experience minimum delay by the traffic they generate. Due to some inherited limitations in MANET like low processing capabilities and limited transmission power the multimedia traffic will require careful attention to route along the network from the source to destination. The legacy Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) protocol was designed in 1994 for simple data transmission. For transmission of multimedia traffic over DSR, many newer schemes are proposed in the last decade to meet the quality of service requirements. However the proposed scheme in this paper utilizes the Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) based medium access mechanism as defined in IEEE 802.11E standard. The EDCA works on the principle of traffic prioritization into four access categories, thus allowing higher priority traffic more chances to access medium and transmit on the network. The proposed scheme uses cross layer technique to take EDCA parameters from the MAC layer on real time and calculate routing metric. OPNET Modeler is used to implement the scheme and evaluate results. The performance comparison shows the significance of the proposed scheme over the standard DSR routing.
Presence of precore and core promoter mutants limits the probability of response to peginterferon in hepatitis B e antigen‐positive chronic hepatitis B

Peginterferon (PEG‐IFN) treatment of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) results in HBeAg loss in 30% of patients, but clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) from serum is less often achieved. We investigated whether the presence of precore (PC) and basal core promoter (BCP) mutants before PEG‐IFN treatment affects serological and virological response. A total of 214 HBeAg‐positive CHB patients treated with PEG‐IFN±lamivudine for 52 weeks in a global randomized trial were classified at baseline as wildtype (WT) or non‐WT (detectable mutants at PC/BCP) by line‐probe assay. Response was assessed at 6 months posttreatment and through long‐term follow‐up (LTFU). Mutants were detected in 64% of patients, in varying frequencies across HBV genotypes A through D. Patients with WT had higher baseline HBV DNA, HBeAg, and HBsAg levels than patients with non‐WT. Patients with WT were more likely to achieve HBeAg loss with HBV DNA <10,000 copies/mL (response, 34 versus 11%, P < 0.001) and HBsAg clearance (18 versus 2%, P < 0.001) at week 78 than non‐WT patients. Among WT patients who achieved HBeAg clearance at week 78, 78% had undetectable HBV DNA and 61% achieved HBsAg clearance at LTFU (versus 26% and 15% in non‐WT patients, P < 0.001 for both). The presence of WT virus at baseline was an independent predictor of response (odds ratio [OR] 2.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15‐7.31, P = 0.023) and HBsAg clearance (OR 5.58, 95% CI: 1.26‐24.63, P = 0.013) and patients with non‐A genotypes with detectable mutants had a low probability of response. Conclusion: The presence of only WT virus at baseline is a strong predictor of response (HBeAg loss with HBV DNA <10,000 copies/mL) to PEG‐IFN for HBeAg‐positive CHB. Patients with detectable PC and/or BCP mutants have a lower probability of response and are less optimal candidates for PEG‐IFN therapy. (HEPATOLOGY 2012;56:67–75)
An improved dual-mode robust nonlinear MPC with one-step set optimization

An improved robust nonlinear model predictive control scheme with robust one-step set is proposed for a class of nonlinear systems with bounded disturbances to reduce computation complexity of online optimization. Firstly, the robust control invariant set is constructed based on bounded linearization errors and control invariant tube set control strategy. Secondly, based on the robust N-step stabilisable set of nonlinear systems, which is computed via an iterative process, an improved low complexity dual-mode robust NMPC is presented via an efficient nonlinear one-step online optimization. This control approach not only guarantees robust feasibility of on-line optimization, but also reduces computation load significantly. Finally, the digital simulation results prove availability of the proposed method.
Biochemical and structural characteristics of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in an alkaline environment

Investigations in a 75-85-year-old Scots pine stand were performed on a territory influenced over 40 years by alkaline dust pollution (pH 12.3-12.7) emitted from a cement plant. Sample plots were located at distances of 2, 3, and 5 km E of the emission source and a control sample plot was selected on an unpolluted territory 38 km W of it. We studied soil properties and the anatomical structure, mineral nutrition, and pigments in Scots pine needles. The alkaline dust pollution has affected the biogeochemical cycling in the forest ecosystem, increasing the pH and total Ca, K, Fe, Mn, and Mg and decreasing N, C, organic matter, and C/N compared to the unpolluted soils. Alkalization and changes in the nutrient composition of soil had caused serious disbalances in nutrient availability and in the mineral composition of trees. Deficiency in foliar N and Mn and excess of K, Ca, and Fe contents had caused a decrease in the average chlorophyll concentrations. Carotenoids seemed to be more tolerant both to changes in soil and needle nutrient composition. The Chl a/Chl b ratio in needles was found to have declined. With the alkalization of the environment the total area of the needle cross-section, needle thickness, and mesophyll area had also decreased compared with control. Differences in the anatomical characteristics of needles between the polluted and unpolluted areas were significant in the oldest needles. The decrease of mesophyll was associated with the content of chlorophylls and correlated with N concentrations in needles.
Fluoxetine in children and adolescents with OCD: a placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To examine the safety and efficacy of fluoxetine in child and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHOD Between 1991 and 1998, 43 patients were randomly assigned to fluoxetine or placebo for 8 weeks. Dosing was fixed for the first 6 weeks (up to 60 mg/day) and then could be increased to 80 mg/day. Responders entered an 8-week maintenance phase. The primary outcome measures were the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. Analyses were done on the intent-to-treat sample. RESULTS Fluoxetine patients (n = 21) had significantly lower CY-BOCS scores than placebo patients (n = 22) after 16 (but not 8) weeks. Fluoxetine responders (n = 11) had significantly lower CY-BOCS scores than placebo responders (n = 7) after an additional 8 weeks of treatment. After 16 weeks, 57% of fluoxetine (versus 27% of placebo) patients were much or very much improved on the CGI-I scale (p <.05). No patient terminated the study because of adverse medication effects. CONCLUSION Fluoxetine was well tolerated and effective for the treatment of child and adolescent OCD, but fluoxetine's full effect took more than 8 weeks to develop.
Marital Transitions, Parenting, and Schooling: Exploring the Link Between Family-Structure History and Adolescents' Academic Status

The linkage between family structure and adolescents' academic experiences is part of a larger, dynamic process unfolding over time. To investigate this phenomenon, this study drew on the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health and the Adolescent Health and Academic Achievement Study. Logistic regressions revealed that family structure at birth predicted students' academic status in math in the ninth grade, and multinomial regressions revealed that family instability, along with curricular location in the ninth grade, parenting behaviors, and adolescents' adjustment and aspirations, distinguished those who completed higher-level math by the end of high school from those who did not but still graduated from high school and from those who dropped out of high school.