Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sustained release solid dispersion of Metoclopramide HCL: Formulation, evaluation and pharmacokinetic studies

In recent years oral controlled delivery systems have gained increased importance and interest since it is necessary to improve the systemic absorption of the drugs and patient compliance. In addition, controlled delivery systems maintain uniform drug levels, reduce dose and hence dose related side effect, and increase the safety margin. The objective of present work was prepared sustained release solid dispersion of Metoclopramide HCl by solvent evaporation method. Several polymers like combination of Eudragit RSPO - Eudragit RLPO and Guargum-Egg albumin as synthetic and natural polymers respectively were used. Several parameters like Solubility, Partition coefficient, Drug content, Percent drug release, Bulk density, Tpped density and Carr’s index were evaluated and all parameters were found to be in acceptable range. The results of XRD and SEM analysis were showed that the drug was converted into a solid dispersion. The In vivo studies were performed on Albino Wistar rats and various pharmacokinetics parameters were determined. The whole study was showed that the solid dispersion of Metoclopramide HCl extends the release rate of drug for a prolong period of time at least 10 hrs and shows to increase the bioavailability and simultaneously decrease the dosing interval as well as dosing amount. The formulation minimizes the blood level oscillations, dose related adverse effects and cost and ultimately improve the patient compliance and drug efficiency.
The extent of dissociation in borderline personality disorder: A meta-analytic review

ABSTRACT Several authors have studied dissociation within the borderline personality disorder (BPD) population and postulated 3 dissociative subgroups. Conversely, other authors suggest that dissociation may play a central role in the development of trauma-related disorders and specifically in BPD. Nevertheless, the role of dissociation in BPD seems to be controversial. Our aim is to perform a meta-analytic review of the literature to evaluate the extent of dissociation in BPD compared to other psychopathological disorders to clarify its role in this specific condition. Ten eligible studies resulted in a total of 2,035 subjects. Results show that levels of dissociation are higher in BPD than in other psychiatric disorders in general, although this difference is moderate and the heterogeneity of effect sizes is large. In particular, individuals with BPD seem to show higher levels of dissociation than those with several psychiatric and personality disorders but not dissociative disorders or posttraumatic stress disorder. These findings support the fact that dissociation is not specifically a core feature of BPD and, in addition, sustain the existence of a continuum of severity within the psychiatric population. Nevertheless, the current work has several limitations related to the paucity of studies included, the heterogeneity of control groups, their clear definition, and the statistical robustness of the results. In addition, our conclusions require future research in order to explain the role of different forms of dissociation and their etiological factors among the psychiatric population. Eventually, we invite clinicians and researchers to systematically evaluate dissociation in order to reach a better diagnosis for a more specific treatment indication.
Implementation and Evaluation of Multiple Adaptive Control Technologies for a Generic Transport Aircraft Simulation

Presented here is the evaluation of multiple adaptive control technologies for a generic transport aircraft simulation. For this study, seven model reference adaptive control (MRAC) based technologies were considered. Each technology was integrated into an identical dynamic-inversion control architecture and tuned using a methodology based on metrics and specific design requirements. Simulation tests were then performed to evaluate each technology’s sensitivity to time-delay, flight condition, model uncertainty, and artificially induced cross-coupling. The resulting robustness and performance characteristics were used to identify potential strengths, weaknesses, and integration challenges of the individual adaptive control technologies. I. Introduction HE Integrated Resilient Aircraft Control (IRAC) project is a part of the Aviation Safety Program under the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) at NASA. A key focus of this project is to research the use of adaptive control technologies as a risk-mitigating tool for off-nominal aircraft flight. In a traditional gainscheduled design approach, the flight controller is designed by treating the aircraft’s flight envelope as a discrete space. Controls engineers then use traditional linear control techniques to shape the handling qualities of the aircraft at each of these discrete locations. In an off-nominal scenario, this design approach may breakdown as a result of the
Novel Technology for Treating Individuals with Aphasia and Concomitant Cognitive Deficits

Abstract Purpose: This article describes three individuals with aphasia and concomitant cognitive deficits who used state-of-theart computer software for training conversational scripts. Method: Participants were assessed before and after 9 weeks of a computer script training program. For each participant, three individualized scripts were developed, recorded on the software, and practiced sequentially at home. Weekly meetings with the speech-language pathologist occurred to monitor practice and assess progress. Baseline and posttreatment scripts were audiotaped, transcribed, and compared to the target scripts for content, grammatical productivity, and rate of production of script-related words. Interviews were conducted at the conclusion of treatment. Results: There was great variability in improvements across scripts, with two participants improving on two of their three scripts in measures of content, grammatical productivity, and rate of production of scriptrelated words. One participant gained more than 5 points on the Aphasia Quotient of the Western Aphasia Battery. Five positive themes were consistently identified from exit interviews: increased verbal communication, improvements in other modalities and situations, communication changes noticed by others, increased confidence, and satisfaction with the software. Conclusion: Computer-based script training potentially may be an effective intervention for persons with chronic aphasia and concomitant cognitive deficits.
Adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern and overweight and obesity among female adolescents in Iran

Abstract Background Given the high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Iran, identification of a healthy diet is essential. Objective This study aimed to assess the association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and overweight and obesity in female adolescents. Methods Two hundred and eighty female adolescents from high schools in Tehran were recruited. General information, physical activity and food frequency questionnaires were completed. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated using the Mediterranean Style Dietary Pattern Score (MSDPS). Results Under and over reporters of energy intake were excluded from the analysis (n = 37). Results indicated that prevalence of overweight and obesity was 13.3% and 12.5%, respectively. The mean of MSDPS was low in this population (15.99 ± 5.64). The MSDPS was positively associated with mother’s education level and energy intake (p < 0.05). No significant relation was observed between MSDPS and overweight and obesity among adolescents. However, there was a negative significant association between MSDPS and WHR just among students who had educated mothers [high: second median v. low: first median, odds ratio (OR) = 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.12–1.03]. Conclusion Adherence to a Mediterranean dietary pattern is low among adolescent females in Tehran, with no association with overweight and obesity.
Fracture risk assessed by Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) compared with fracture risk derived from population fracture rates

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of the Swedish version of Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX)) without bone mass density (BMD) in a Danish population to examine the possibility of applying this version to Danish women. Methods: From the Danish National Register of social security numbers, we randomly selected 5000 women living in the region of Southern Denmark aged 40—90 years to receive a mailed questionnaire concerning risk factors for osteoporosis based on FRAX. The predicted 10-year probability of hip fractures was calculated for each woman returning a complete questionnaire using the Swedish version of FRAX. The observed 10-year hip fracture risk was also calculated for each woman using age-specific hip fracture rates from the National Hospital Discharge Register and National survival tables. Results: A total of 4194 (84%) women responded to the questionnaire and 3636 (73%) gave complete information and were included in the analysis. Using FRAX, the predicted 10-year fracture risk was 7.6%, ranging from 0.3 to 25.0% at the age of 41—50 and 81—90, respectively, while the corresponding observed fracture risk was 7.6%, ranging from 0.4 to 24.0%, respectively and not significantly different from the predicted risk (p = 0.92). Conclusions: The Swedish version of FRAX without BMD is applicable to Danish women.
Work in progress - development of a new multi-CPU parallel and distributed processing experiment platform for remote hardware laboratory

A new multi-CPU parallel and distributed processing experiment platform using plural FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) platforms is under development. Students can remotely perform hardware and software experiments combining a number of FPGA-based experiment platforms. The authors have already developed a remote laboratory, namely Cyber Laboratory, which realized an efficient sharing of hardware platforms among on-site and remote-site students, both in space-division and time-division fashions. Multi-CPU parallel and distributed processing experiment environment is implemented on a combined use of multiple set of FPGA experiment platforms based on the Cyber Laboratory. Each FPGA platform consists of a FPGA board with a LAN port, host PC as an experiment server, a signal generator, a logic analyzer and a synchronizing mechanism. LAN is used to connect FPGA platforms to organize a parallel system. Therefore, the proposed system can provide each student not only with a CPU hardware design/experiment platform but also with an environment where he/she can conduct parallel and distributed processing as well. The project is at a detailed design phase, and the prototype will be operational in 2010.
Efecto del aceite de coco en la población de bacterias metanogénicas y su relación con otros grupos microbianos del rumen en condiciones in vitro

6ufc/mL para los tratamientos sin aceite de coco en el concentrado, 7.5 y 15 %, respectivamente. No hubo efecto significativo del aceite de coco en las poblaciones de bacterias viables totales, hongos celuloliticos, pH y amoniaco. No hubo efecto del tiempo de muestreo en los grupos de bacterias del rumen. Se concluye que la inclusion de 7.5 y 15 % de aceite de coco en el concentrado reduce la poblacion de bacterias metanogenicas. Se recomiendan trabajos futuros que permitan evaluar diferentes niveles de aceite de coco en la racion. Palabras clave: aceite de coco, rumen, bacterias metanogenicas, bacterias celuloliticas, hongos.
Guidelines for the clinical management of Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis cancer)

Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer) is characterised by the development of colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer and various other cancers, and is caused by a mutation in one of the mismatch repair genes: MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 or PMS2. The discovery of these genes, 15 years ago, has led to the identification of large numbers of affected families. In April 2006, a workshop was organised by a group of European experts in hereditary gastrointestinal cancer (the Mallorca-group), aiming to establish guidelines for the clinical management of Lynch syndrome. 21 experts from nine European countries participated in this workshop. Prior to the meeting, various participants prepared the key management issues of debate according to the latest publications. A systematic literature search using Pubmed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews reference lists of retrieved articles and manual searches of relevant articles was performed. During the workshop, all recommendations were discussed in detail. Because most of the studies that form the basis for the recommendations were descriptive and/or retrospective in nature, many of them were based on expert opinion. The guidelines described in this manuscript may be helpful for the appropriate management of families with Lynch syndrome. Prospective controlled studies should be undertaken to improve further the care of these families.
Label-free Raman monitoring of extracellular matrix formation in three-dimensional polymeric scaffolds

Monitoring extracellular matrix (ECM) components is one of the key methods used to determine tissue quality in three-dimensional scaffolds for regenerative medicine and clinical purposes. Raman spectroscopy can be used for non-invasive sensing of cellular and ECM biochemistry. We have investigated the use of conventional (confocal and semiconfocal) Raman microspectroscopy and fibre-optic Raman spectroscopy for in vitro monitoring of ECM formation in three-dimensional poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)–poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) scaffolds. Chondrocyte-seeded PEOT/PBT scaffolds were analysed for ECM formation by Raman microspectroscopy, biochemical analysis, histology and scanning electron microscopy. ECM deposition in these scaffolds was successfully detected by biochemical and histological analysis and by label-free non-destructive Raman microspectroscopy. In the spectra collected by the conventional Raman set-ups, the Raman bands at 937 and at 1062 cm−1 which, respectively, correspond to collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycans could be used as Raman markers for ECM formation in scaffolds. Collagen synthesis was found to be different in single chondrocyte-seeded scaffolds when compared with microaggregate-seeded samples. Normalized band-area ratios for collagen content of single cell-seeded samples gradually decreased during a 21-day culture period, whereas collagen content of the microaggregate-seeded samples significantly increased during this period. Moreover, a fibre-optic Raman set-up allowed for the collection of Raman spectra from multiple pores inside scaffolds in parallel. These fibre-optic measurements could give a representative average of the ECM Raman signal present in tissue-engineered constructs. Results in this study provide proof-of-principle that Raman microspectroscopy is a promising non-invasive tool to monitor ECM production and remodelling in three-dimensional porous cartilage tissue-engineered constructs.
Cat hindlimb motoneurons during locomotion. III. Functional segregation in sartorius.

Cat sartorius has two distinct anatomical portions, anterior (SA-a) and medial (SA-m). SA-a acts to extend the knee and also to flex the hip. SA-m acts to flex both the knee and the hip. The objective of this study was to investigate how a "single motoneuron pool" is used to control at least three separate functions mediated by the two anatomical portions of one muscle. Discharge patterns of single motoneurons projecting to the sartorius muscle were recorded using floating microelectrodes implanted in the L5 ventral root of cats. The electromyographic activity generated by the anterior and medial portions of sartorius was recorded with chronically implanted electrodes. The muscle portion innervated by each motoneuron was determined by spike-triggered averaging of the EMGs during walking on a motorized treadmill. During normal locomotion, SA-a exhibited two bursts of EMG activity per step cycle, one during the stance phase and one during the late swing phase. In contrast, every recorded motoneuron projecting to SA-a discharged a single burst of action potentials per step cycle. Some SA-a motoneurons discharged only during the stance phase, whereas other motoneurons discharged only during the late swing phase. In all cases, the instantaneous frequencygram of the motoneuron was well fit by the rectified smoothed EMG envelope generated by SA-a during the appropriate phase of the step cycle. During normal locomotion, SA-m exhibited a single burst of EMG activity per step cycle, during the swing phase. The temporal characteristics of the EMG bursts recorded from SA-m differed from the swing-phase EMG bursts generated by SA-a. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive fall risk program.

PURPOSE The purpose was to develop and implement I'M SAFE, a comprehensive patient fall-risk assessment tool linked to a tiered-intervention falls prevention program. DESIGN AND METHOD A fall-risk evaluation tool was incorporated into electronic nurse documentation along with risk-specific nursing interventions. RESULTS Intrinsic fall rates declined significantly (preimplementation: .67 falls/1,000 patient days; postimplementation: .51 falls/1,000 patient days, p = .015) and has been sustained 2 years following implementation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The I'M SAFE tool identifies patients at increased risk for falls. When linked to a multidisciplinary fall prevention program, the incidence of preventable falls can be reduced. The program's impact has persisted across two facilities.
Functional Variability of the Human Cortical Motor Map: Electrical Stimulation Findings in Perirolandic Epilepsy Surgery

&NA; The purpose of this study was to assess the cortical representation of sensorimotor functions in patients undergoing perirolandic epilepsy surgery, focusing on somatotopy, mosaicism, and variability of function in relation to the classic motor homunculus. The authors studied 36 patients in whom intraoperative or extraoperative electrical cortical stimulation to map motor functions was performed. A computer program was devised to register electrode number, stimulation parameters, and response to each stimulus. Electrode position was represented graphically whenever a stimulus was delivered. A total of 43 maps from 36 patients were analyzed. The authors found variations in the organization of M1 (primary motor cortex) in seven patients (19.4%). Four patients (11.1%) presented mosaicism (overlapping of functional areas), two (5.6%) presented variability (inverted disposition of M1 functional areas), and one (2.8%) had both. The results of this study challenge the notion of orderly topographic relationships between the human sensorimotor functions and their representation in the primary motor cortex. These results confirm those of other studies with animals and humans using novel imaging techniques, suggesting that the motor homunculus may not always be considered a definite and absolute representation of M1.
Advances in motor neurone disease

Summary Motor neurone disease (MND), the commonest clinical presentation of which is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is regarded as the most devastating of adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders. The last decade has seen major improvements in patient care, but also rapid scientific advances, so that rational therapies based on key pathogenic mechanisms now seem plausible. ALS is strikingly heterogeneous in both its presentation, with an average one-year delay from first symptoms to diagnosis, and subsequent rate of clinical progression. Although half of patients succumb within 3–4 years of symptom onset, typically through respiratory failure, a significant minority survives into a second decade. Although an apparently sporadic disorder for most patients, without clear environmental triggers, recent genetic studies have identified disease-causing mutations in genes in several seemingly disparate functional pathways, so that motor neuron degeneration may need to be understood as a common final pathway with a number of upstream causes. This apparent aetiological and clinical heterogeneity suggests that therapeutic studies should include detailed biomarker profiling, and consider genetic as well as clinical stratification. The most common mutation, accounting for 10% of all Western hemisphere ALS, is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72. This and several other genes implicate altered RNA processing and protein degradation pathways in the core of ALS pathogenesis. A major gap remains in understanding how such fundamental processes appear to function without obvious deficit in the decades prior to symptom emergence, and the study of pre-symptomatic gene carriers is an important new initiative.
Measuring the Impacts of Malawi's Farm Input Subsidy Program

We measure the impacts of Malawi’s 2009 Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) on fertilizer use and maize yields in central and southern Malawi. Using three rounds of panel data and instrumental variables regression strategies to control for endogenous selection into the subsidy program we find positive and statistically significant correlations between participation in the FISP and fertilizer use intensity. Fertilizer use is found to be higher among households that plant improved maize varieties than among those that plant traditional varieties. Results are broadly robust to the inclusion of previous fertilizer intensity to control for household-specific differences in fertilizer use. We combine these results with those from a maize production function to calculate program-generated changes in average maize availability, accounting for estimated subsidy-induced changes in crop area. Our findings have implications for the way input subsidy programs are designed and implemented.
Going global: The functions of autobiographical memory in cultural context

This special issue of Memory brings together research from around the globe, from Japanese, Chinese and East Indian cultures, to American and European societies, to the Caribbean, to Turkey and to Australia and New Zealand, which examines how and why people, from childhood to old age, remember the personal past in daily life. This journey highlights the important role of the cultural context in shaping the functional usages of autobiographical memory. We illuminate six major contributions of cross-cultural research to a broader and deeper understanding of the functions of autobiographical memory, and call attention to the filed that memory research must “go global. ”