bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-Aging Efficacy of Melatonin-Based Cream: Clinical and Instrumental Skin Evaluation
Authors: Milani Massimo , Puviani Mario
Published: September 2018

Background: Melatonin is a potent mitochondrial, cytoprotective and antioxidant molecule with potentially strong anti-aging properties. Topical melatonin has shown to improve the clinical signs of skin aging. Melatosphere™ is a new lipid-based delivery system able to improve stability and skin penetration of melatonin when used in topical formulations. No clinical studies, using objective instrumental data, are available so far regarding the positive effect of Melatosphere™ in improving wrinkles in women with mild-to-moderate skin aging. Study Aim: We evaluate, in an open prospective, evaluator-blinded trial, the effects on skin texture of 2 months treatment with a Melatosphere™ based cream. Subjects and Methods: 15 women aged >45 years with mild to moderate facial skin aging (Glogau score ≥2) participated in the trial, after their informed consent. An ANTERA 3D computer-assisted skin analysis evaluation for the assessment of coarse and fine wrinkles of the periorbital area and melanin content was performed at baseline and after two months of treatment. An evaluator-blinded Investigator Global assessment of skin elastosis, roughness, level of dyscromia, skin dryness and presence of actinic damage was also performed at the same time points using a 4-grade score from 0 (no sign) to 3 (severe sign). Results: At baseline the mean (SD) IGA score was 8.2(1.0). After 2 months the IGA score significantly decrease to 4.2(1.4) (49% reduction) (P=0.0007). ANTERA 3D evaluations showed a significant reduction in skin coarse and fine wrinkles volume in the target area of -31% and -18%, respectively. Melanin content was reduced significantly by -17%. Conclusion: Topical melatonin carried in Melatosphere improves in the short-term signs of skin aging evaluated clinically and by ANTERA 3D device in women with mild to moderate skin aging.
Sustainable Development in Geography Education for Middle School in China
Authors: Guo Fengtao , Lane Joseph , Duan Yushan , Stoltman Joseph , Khlebosolova Olga , Lei Hao , Zhou Weiguo
Published: September 2018

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) had become a priority in many school systems. Geography has a tradition of investigating human-environment interactions and geography education is vital in order to make sense of sustainable development (SD). In this paper, the authors aimed to contribute to the implementation of ESD and SD in middle school geography, in The People’s Republic of China. This research employed a series of methods to analyze the content in (SD) in middle school geography standards and textbooks. The research surveyed geography teachers (n=237) and assessed geography students (n=246). Results exemplified both positive and negative conclusions from the data. Primarily, the findings suggested that geography education was important to ESD implementation, although the requirements for SD are low in Chinese middle schools. The SD content was reflected clearly in the content standards and textbooks, but it was not evenly distributed in geography education. Many geography teachers in China have ample geography and interdisciplinary knowledge and they can use textbooks and other teaching methods to teach SD. The students’ performance, in a sample of four key schools, was considered “OK”, however there was still room for improvement. Most students were familiar with people, resources, environmental problems and climate change, however most were unable to grasp the factual knowledge about SD, such as international events and documents, latest predicted data and research on global warming, as well as the indicators used in the specific SD assessment. Suggestions include providing students with more practical activities and a chance to do hands-on experiments, as well as building student organizations and clubs; improve Teachers’ knowledge and understanding through teacher training program and build a platform for communicating ideas of SD through modern communication technology. Ideas of SD should be integrated into students’ daily life.
A Reliability-Centered Maintenance Study for an Individual Section Forming Machine
Authors: Okwuobi Samuel , Ishola Felix , Ajayi Oluseyi
Published: September 2018

This study investigated the breakdown trend in an automated production with an aim to recommend the application of Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) for an improved productivity via a new preventive maintenance (PM) program. Individual Section-forming machine (ISM): a glass blowing machine for making glass bottles was used as the case study of an automated production system. The machine parts and the working mechanisms were analysed with a special focus on methods of processes and procedures that will enable the ISM maintenance department run more effective and achieve its essential goal of ensuring effective machine operation and reducing machine downtime. In this work, information is provided on the steps and procedures to identify critical components of the ISM using Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) as a tool to develop an optimal maintenance program based on the reliability data of the equipment’s functional components. A relationship was established between the failure rate of the machine components and the maintenance costs such that using the recommended PM program, an evidence of improvement in the machine’s availability, safety and cost-effectiveness will result into an increase in the company’s profit margin.
A Cooperation of Multileader Fruit Fly and the Probabilistic Random Walk with Adaptive Normalization for Solving Solution of the Unconstrained Optimization Problems
Authors: Apinantanakon Wirote , Sunat Khamron , Chiewchanwattana Sirapat
Published: September 2018

A swarm based nature-inspired optimization algorithm namely fruit fly optimization algorithm (FOA) has simple structure and ease of implementation. However, FOA has a low success rate and a slow convergence because FOA generates new positions around the best location using fixed search radius. Several improved FOAs have been proposed. But their exploration ability is questionable. To make the search process to transit from the exploration phase to the exploitation phase smoothly, this paper proposes a new FOA constructed from a cooperation of the multileader and the probabilistic random walk strategies (CPFOA). It has two population types working together. CPFOA's performance is evaluated by 18 well-known standard benchmark, and 30 CEC’2017 functions. The results showed that CPFOA outperforms both the original FOA and its variants in terms of convergence speed and performance accuracy. The results base on CEC’2017 show that CPFOA can achieve a very promising accuracy when compared with the well-known competitive algorithms. CPFOA is applied to optimize two applications; the MLPs classifying real datasets and extracting parameters of T-S fuzzy system for modelling Box and Jenkins gas furnace data set. CPFOA can find parameters having a very high quality compared with the best known competitive algorithms.
Remote Sensing of Evapotranspiration over the Central Arizona Irrigation & Drainage District, USA
Authors: French Andrew N. , Hunsaker Douglas J. , Bounoua Lahouari , Karnieli Arnon , Luckett William , Strand Robert
Published: September 2018

A remote sensing-based evapotranspiration (ET) study was conducted over the Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District (CAIDD), an Arizona agricultural region. ET was assessed means for 137 wheat plots, 183 cotton plots, and 225 alfalfa plots. The remote sensing ET models were the Satellite-Based Energy Balance for Mapping Evapotranspiration with Internalized Calibration (METRIC), the Two Source Energy Balance (TSEB), and Vegetation Index ET for the US Southwest (VISW). Remote sensing data were principally Landsat 5, supplemented by Landsat 7, MODIS Terra, MODIS Aqua, and ASTER. The models produced similar daily ET for wheat, with 6–8 mm/d mid-season. For cotton and alfalfa daily ET showed greater differences, where TSEB produced largest daily ET, METRIC the least, and VISW in the midrange. Modeled cotton ET at mid-season ranged from 9.5 mm/d (TSEB), to 8 mm/d (VISW), and 6 mm/d (METRIC). For alfalfa ET, values at peak cover ranged from 8 mm/d (TSEB), 6 mm/d (VISW), and 5 mm/d (METRIC). Model bias ranged −10% to +18%. Relative to potential ET, FAO-56 ET, and USDA-SW gravimetric-ET, model variability ranged from negligible to 35% of annual crop water use. Model averaging was found a useful way to consider and reconcile all ET estimates.
Self-Renewal and Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) Stimulated by Multi-Axial Tensile Strain in a Pneumatic Microdevice
Authors: Chiu Chih-Hao , Tong Yun-Wen , Yeh Wen-Ling , Lei Kin Fong , Chen Alvin Chao-Yu
Published: September 2018

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were suggested for treating degenerative osteoarthritis, suppressing inflammatory responses, and repairing damaged soft tissues. Moreover, the ADSCs have the potential to undergo self-renewal and differentiate into bone, tendon, cartilage, and ligament. Recently, investigation of the self-renewal and differentiation of the ADSCs becomes an attractive area. In this work, a pneumatic microdevice has been developed to study the gene expression of the ADSCs after the stimulation of multi-axial tensile strain. The ADSCs were cultured on the microdevice and experienced multi-axial tensile strain during a 3-day culture course. Self-renewal and differentiation abilities were investigated by mRNA expressions of NANOG, SOX2, OCT4, SOX9, PPAR-γ, and RUNX2. The result showed that the genes related self-renewal were significantly up-regulated after the tensile stimulation. Higher proliferation ratio of the ADSCs was also shown by cell viability assay. The microdevice provides a promising platform for cell-based study under mechanical tensile stimulation.
Afro-Asian Sociocultural Interactions in Cultural Production by or About Asian Latin Americans
Authors: López-Calvo Ignacio
Published: September 2018

This essay studies Afro-Asian sociocultural interactions in cultural production by or about Asian Latin Americans, with an emphasis on Cuba and Brazil. Among the recurrent characters are the black slave, the china mulata, or the black ally who expresses sympathy or even marries the Asian character. This reflects a common history of bondage shared by black slaves, Chinese coolies, and Japanese indentured workers, as well as a common history of marronage. These conflicts and alliances between Asians and blacks contest the official discourse of mestizaje (Spanish-indigenous dichotomies in Mexico and Andean countries, for example, or black and white binaries in Brazil and the Caribbean), which, under the guise of incorporating the Other, favored whiteness, all the while attempting to silence, ignore, or ultimately erase their worldviews and cultures.
BioSearch Engine Design : R Code elucidation into the mechanics of search engine that reveals unexplored/ untested combinatorial biological hypotheses in silico, using ETC-1922159 data.†
Authors: Sinha Shriprakash
Published: September 2018

Often, in biology, we are faced with the problem of exploring relevant unknown biological hypotheses in the form of myriads of combination of factors that might be affecting the pathway under certain conditions. Currently, a major persisting problem is to cherry pick the combinations based on expert advice, literature survey or guesses for investigation. This entails investment in time, energy and expenses at various levels of research. To address these issues, a search engine design was recently been developed, which showed promise by revealing existing confirmatory published wet lab results. Additionally and of import, the engine mined up a range of unexplored/untested/unknown combinations of genetic factors in the Wnt pathway that were affected by ETC-1922159 enantiomer, a PORCN-WNT inhibitor, after the colorectal cancer cells were treated with the inhibitor drug. As an example, MYC is known to upregulate PRC2 complex. PRC2 complex contains EZH2, which suppresses tumor suppressor genes via epigenetic modifications. MYC and HOXB8 are up regulated in colorectal cancer, however, the dual working mechanism of the same is not known. The in silico engine showed positioning which correctly approximates and assigns to this 3rd order combination of MYC-HOXB8-EZH2, pointing to the in vitro/in vivo down regulation by ETC-1922159. If the protein interaction of MYC-HOXB8 can be established and a study be done apropos EZH2, it will establish at in vitro/in vivo level, the in silico ranking also. The potential of this engine is immense given the problem faced in biology and other fields. Here we elucidate the R code to understand the mechanics of the search engine in a fluid manner for systems biologists. Though the search engine is in the developmental stage, we share the detailed mechanism of the working principles of the same as it can be generalized to problems in other fields.
Investigating The Effect of Exposure-Control Strategies on Item Selection Methods in MCAT
Authors: MAO Xiuzhen , OZDEMIR Burhanettin , WANG Yating , XIN Tao
Published: September 2018

This study aims to investigate the
effect of different item exposure controlling strategies on item selection
methods in the context of multidimensional computerized adaptive testing
(MCAT).  Additionally, this study aims to
examine to what extend the restrictive threshold (RT) and the restrictive
progressive (RPG) exposure methods suppress the item exposure rates and
increase the exposure rates of underexposed items without losing psychometric
precision in MCAT.  For this purpose, the
performance of four item selection methods with and without exposure controls
are evaluated and compared so as to determine how results differ when item
exposure controlling strategies are applied with Monte-Carlo simulation method.
The four item selection methods employed in this study are D-optimality,
Kullback–Leibler information (KLP), the minimized error variance of linear
combination score with equal weight (V1), the composite score with optimized
weight (V2). On the other hand, the maximum priority index (MPI) method proposed
for unidimensional CAT and two other item exposure control methods, that are RT
and RPG methods proposed for cognitive diagnostic CAT, are adopted. The results
show that: (1) KLP, D-optimality, and V1 performed better in recovering domain
scores, and all outperformed V2 with respect to precision; (2) although V1 and
V2 offer improved item bank usage rates, 
KLP, D-optimality, V1, and V2 produced an unbalanced distribution of
item exposure rates; (3) all exposure control strategies improve the exposure
uniformity greatly and with very little loss in psychometric precision; (4) RPG
and MPI perform similarly in exposure control, and outperformed RT exposure
control method.
The Role of Arthroscopic Simulation in Teaching Surgical Skills
Authors: Rashed Sami , Ahrens Philip Michael , Maruthainar Nimalan , Garlick Nicholas , Saeed Muhammad Zahid
Published: September 2018

Background:

Following the introduction of worktime regulations across the world along with existing concerns over the nonuniform nature of the traditional apprenticeship model, an alternative method for teaching surgical skills is being sought. Simulation training offers a safe and standardized environment to develop and improve surgical skills. The purpose of the present study was to review the existing and most recent research into the utility of arthroscopic simulators in training and the teaching of surgical skills.

Methods:

A systematic review of the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for English-language articles published between 2014 and November 2017 was conducted. Search terms included arthroscopy or arthroscopic with simulation or simulator.

Results:

We identified a total of 27 relevant studies involving simulated ankle, knee, shoulder, hip, and simple box arthroscopic environments. The majority of these studies demonstrated construct validity, while a few demonstrated transfer, face, and content validity.

Conclusions:

Our review suggests that there is a considerable evidence base regarding the use of arthroscopic simulators for training purposes. Further work should focus on the development of a standardized simulator training course that can be contrasted against current intraoperative training in large-scale multicenter trials with long-term follow-up.
Access to Orthopaedic Care
Authors: Markovitz Michael A. , Labrum Joseph T. , Patel Shyam A. , Rihn Jeffrey A.
Published: September 2018

* As the U.S. health-care system continues to undergo considerable change, most recently as a result of the enactment of the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), orthopaedic practices are being challenged with increased demand for services while dealing with changes in reimbursement rates and rising costs of operating a practice.

* Medicaid reform has been largely ineffectual in alleviating the access-to-care burden experienced by the orthopaedic Medicaid patient and, in states forgoing Medicaid expansion, may have exacerbated preexisting inequalities in accessing orthopaedic care.

* Although the majority of Medicare beneficiaries currently receive adequate access to orthopaedic care, rapidly increasing demand and rising costs for orthopaedic procedures coupled with decreasing reimbursement rates will likely result in adverse reductions in that access in the near future.

* The history and evolution of private insurance in the United States are complex and are constantly changing. Private insurance covers the majority of Americans either through employers or other means and therefore indirectly affects multiple aspects of access to orthopaedic care. Although patients with private insurance have greater access to subspecialty care than those with other types of insurance, they are currently limited in where and when they can obtain care based on their specific coverage.

* Health policy plays a substantial role in influencing orthopaedic surgeons’ patient-payer selection criteria, which, in conjunction with the supply and demand of orthopaedic services, determine access to care for the orthopaedic patient. Although further research is needed to quantify access to care for orthopaedic patients, especially in light of the drastic changes to the PPACA that have been proposed by the current presidential administration, current literature indicates the presence of a pervasive inequality in access to orthopaedic care based on health insurance status.
Land cover and land use change in the Central Spanish-Portuguese Border Region
Authors: Jaraíz Cabanillas Francisco Javier , Mora Aliseda Julián , Gutiérrez Gallego José Antonio
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Gobernanza urbana, competitividad y procesos de renovación en las ciudades medias españolas
Authors: Somoza Medina José
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Aplicaciones de la teledetección en degradación de suelos
Authors: Pérez González Mª Eugenia , García Rodríguez Mª Pilar
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
El anillo verde de Vitoria-Gasteiz. Una práctica exitosa para un planeamiento urbano sostenible
Authors: Aguado Itziar , Barrutia José M. , Echebarria Carmen
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Bases para el análisis geohistórico del poblamiento rural tradicional en Galicia
Authors: Sánchez Pardo José Carlos
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Molinos de viento en Andalucía: nuevas herramientas para su puesta en valor
Authors: Rojas Sola José Ignacio , Gómez Bueno Mercedes Cristina , Castro García Miguel
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Variabilidad y tendencias climáticas en Chile central en el período 1950-2010 mediante la determinación de los tipos sinópticos de Jenkinson y Collison
Authors: Sarricolea Espinoza Pablo , Meseguer-Ruiz Óliver , Martín Vide Javier
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Más allá de la estructura urbana y el patrón de viaje. El "entorno de movilidad" como instrumento para la planificación y evaluación
Authors: Soria-Lara Julio A. , Valenzuela Montes Luis Miguel
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Una aproximación al impacto socioeconómico de la alta velocidad ferroviaria en Andalucía
Authors: Sánchez Ollero José Luis , García Pozo Alejandro , Marchante Mera Andrés J.
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Turismo gastronómico, Denominaciones de Origen y desarrollo rural en Andalucía: situación actual
Authors: Millán Vázquez De La Torre Genoveva , Morales Fernández Emilio , Pérez Naranjo Leonor M.
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
La modelización del hábitat en la estimación de abundancia a escala local: la perdiz roja en un agrosistema de Toledo (España Central)
Authors: García Garrido Javier , Romero Calcerrada Raúl , Novillo Camacho Carlos J.
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Claves geográficas para la interpretación del patrimonio hidráulico mediterráneo. A propósito de los regadíos históricos valencianos
Authors: Hermosilla Pla J. , Iranzo García E.
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Paisajes emergentes de las energías renovables en España
Authors: Frolova Ignatieva M. , Espejo Marín Cayetano , Baraja Rodríguez Eugenio , Prados Velasco María José
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
Propuesta metodológica para la caracterización territorial del turismo a escala local
Authors: Merinero-Rodríguez R. , Pulido Fernández Juan Ignacio , Navarro-Yáñez C.
Published: September 2018

Texto resumen.
METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF IDENTIFICATION OF TISSUE-SPECIFIC PROTEINS AND PEPTIDES FORMING THE CORRECTIVE PROPERTIES OF INNOVATIVE MEAT PRODUCTS
Authors: Vostrikova Natal’ya L. , Chernukha Irina M. , Khvostov Daniil V.
Published: September 2018

One of the ways to address the food quality issues facing the industry is the development of standardized and certified methods related to the conduct of in-depth studies of biochemical indicators of quality and safety of meat and meat products. The world laboratory practice in the field of food quality and safety shows a constant expansion of the list of controlled indicators of food raw materials and products. An important feature of the modern period in the development of biomedical and biotechnological research is the introduction of a whole complex of postgenomic technologies, which are based on a systematic approach to the study of the functioning of the mammalian proteome in various physiological and pathological conditions, including the formation and development of alimentary-dependent pathologies. In this regard, the problem of multilateral study of food products, in particular their identification, is the most relevant, because the modern technology of their production has undergone significant changes and requires the development of “gentle “ processing modes. They concern raw materials and auxiliary materials used at all stages of production. This and new technologies of production of protein products from plant raw materials, as well as the introduction of food raw materials and food additives of artificial origin and the excess introduction of additives of plant and animal origin can cause falsification of products, as well as affect the health of the consumer. Food quality assessment includes the control of components of finished products. It is most difficult to determine the proportion of muscle protein in multi-component meat products that have undergone heat treatment. Therefore, in practice, when assessing the quality of food products, there is a need to identify its real composition in accordance with the declared normative documents. Currently, a promising area of research in the field of determining the composition of finished food is the selection of biomarkers of various components. Therefore, it is important to develop a methodology for the identification of biochemical changes in food raw materials under the influence of technological factors using modern research methods. This paper provides an overview of the protein and peptide analysis methodology, including the latest technologies that are becoming increasingly important.
IN VIVO ENRICHMENT OF THE LAMB OF ESSENTIAL TRACE ELEMENTS FOR ITS USE IN THE TECHNOLOGY OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
Authors: Giro Tatiana M. , Gorlov Ivan F. , Slozhenkina Marina I. , Kozlov Sergey V. , Tasmuchanov Nogman V.
Published: September 2018

To provide preventive measures for solving the problem of micronutrient deficiency, a new effective biologically safe method of enrichment lamb through the intervention of the cattle rations with feed supplements containing iodine and selenium in organic form has been developed. An increase in the iodine, selenium and zinc content in meat of the test animals fed enriched diets was noted, with more significant localization of elements to be registered in the meat from the ram lamb fed the «Yoddar-Zn» feed supplement together with organic selen preparation «DAFS-25» (Zn - 980 mg/100g; Se — 53.9 mg/100 g; I — 77.6 mg/100 g). So, 100 g of m. longissimus dorsi contained 8.2; 77.0 and 51.7 % of the recommended daily intake of these elements, respectively, that proved the feasibility of further output of the functional products with balanced essential nutrients. Based on the data on greater localization of microelements in meat from the ram lamb fed «Yoddar-Zn» with «DAFS-25», we made jerked snacks from the raw materials obtained from the animals of this test group. In processing, the zinc content in the product decreased by 21.3 %, iodine — 26.5 %, selenium — 16.3 % and made 771 mg/100 g, 39.72 mg/100 g, and 57.01 mg/100 g, respectively, that met the daily norm for 6.4; 56.7 and 38.0 % (for 100 g of product). In the vacuum-packed snacks, the loss of zinc was 11.3 %, iodine — 14.3 %, selenium — 12.6 % from the original content. After 3 months of storage, the zinc content in 100 g of the finished products was 5.7; selenium — 49.6; iodine — 32.6 % of the daily requirement. Investigations of physiological effect of the jerked snacks on the body of the laboratory animals were performed. Stimulating effect of selenium and iodine on the hematopoietic function of the experimental animals was revealed. The study of the functional activity of the thyroid gland found that the experimental animals’ content of thyroid stimulating hormone in blood serum was significantly higher than that of the control rats.
Significados da atividade física para mulheres idosas
Authors: Fraga Vanessa Matos , Novelli Márcia Maria Pires Camargo , Ferreira Sionaldo Eduardo , Oliveira Rogério Cruz de
Published: September 2018

Cultura; Idoso; Atividade física; Mulheres; Etnografia
Avaliação de riscos ergonômicos de uma indústria alimentícia chapecoense
Authors: Almeida Josiane Schadeck de , Meirelles Natália Candaten , Biazzi Alessandra , Vanderlei Franciele Marques
Published: September 2018

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Quantitative Structure- Property Relationship (QSPR) Investigation of Camptothecin Drugs Derivatives
Authors: Ahmadinejad Neda , Shafiei Fatemeh , Isfahani Tahereh Momeni
Published: September 2018

Aim and Objective:

Quantitative Structure- Property Relationship (QSPR) has been
widely developed to derive a correlation between chemical structures of molecules to their known
properties. In this study, QSPR models have been developed for modeling and predicting
thermodynamic properties of 76 camptothecin derivatives using molecular descriptors.

Materials and Methods:

Thermodynamic properties of camptothecin such as the thermal energy,
entropy and heat capacity were calculated at Hartree–Fock level of theory and 3-21G basis sets by
Gaussian 09.

Results:

The appropriate descriptors for the studied properties are computed and optimized by the
genetic algorithms (GA) and multiple linear regressions (MLR) method among the descriptors
derived from the Dragon software. Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation (LOOCV) is used to evaluate
predictive models by partitioning the total sample into training and test sets.

Conclusion:

The predictive ability of the models was found to be satisfactory and could be used for
predicting thermodynamic properties of camptothecin derivatives.
Safety and Efficacy of Rifaximin in Prophylaxis of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Menshawy Amr , Mattar Omar , Barssoum Kirolos , AboEl-Naga Ammar M. , Salim Haitham Mohamed , Mohamed Ahmed Mesbah Fahmy , Elgebaly Ahmed , Abd-Elsalam Sherief
Published: September 2018

Aim:

The role of rifaximin in the prevention of Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) is
not well studied. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the role of rifaximin in the prevention
of SBP.

Methods:

A computerized literature search for relevant clinical trials was conducted during August
2017. Data on Frequency of SBP, the success rate of prevention of SBP, mortality rate, hepatorenal
syndrome, septic shock, hepatic encephalopathy, and GIT bleeding were extracted and pooled as Risk
Ratio (RR) with their 95% Confidence Interval (CI) in a meta-analysis model. Heterogeneity was assessed
by Chi-square test.

Results:

Six studies involving 973 patients were included in the final analysis. The pooled effect estimate
showed that the rifaximin plus norfloxacin group had less incidence of SBP (RR 0.58, 95%
CI[0.37, 0.92], P=0.02) and hepatic encephalopathy (RR 0.38, 95% CI[0.17, 0.84], P=0.02) than the
norfloxacin-based regimen group. No significant difference between rifaximin and norfloxacin in
terms of frequency of SBP and success rate of primary prevention of SBP (RR 0.49, 95% CI [0.24,
1.01], P=0.05; RR1.21, 95% CI [0.95, 1.55], P=0.13, respectively).

Conclusion:

Based on our analysis, Rifaximin is a promising drug and appears to be a good alternative
to norfloxacin in the prevention of SBP.
Towards Computational Models of Identifying Protein Ubiquitination Sites
Authors: Wang Lidong , Zhang Ruijun
Published: September 2018

Ubiquitination is an important post-translational modification (PTM) process for the regulation of protein functions, which is associated with cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases. Recent initiatives have focused on the detection of potential ubiquitination sites with the aid of physicochemical test approaches in conjunction with the application of computational methods. The identification of ubiquitination sites using laboratory tests is especially susceptible to the temporality and reversibility of the ubiquitination processes, and is also costly and time-consuming. It has been demonstrated that computational methods are effective in extracting potential rules or inferences from biological sequence collections. Up to the present, the computational strategy has been one of the critical research approaches that have been applied for the identification of ubiquitination sites, and currently, there are numerous state-of-the-art computational methods that have been developed from machine learning and statistical analysis to undertake such work. In the present study, the construction of benchmark datasets is summarized, together with feature representation methods, feature selection approaches and the classifiers involved in several previous publications. In an attempt to explore pertinent development trends for the identification of ubiquitination sites, an independent test dataset was constructed and the predicting results obtained from five prediction tools are reported here, together with some related discussions.
Novel Sulfones with Antifungal Properties: Antifungal Activities and Interactions with Candida spp. Virulence Factors
Authors: Gizińska Małgorzata , Staniszewska Monika , Ochal Zbigniew
Published: September 2018

Since candidiasis is so difficult to eradicate with an antifungal treatment and the existing antimycotics
display many limitations, hopefully new sulfone derivatives may overcome these deficiencies.
It is pertinent to study new strategies such as sulfone derivatives targeting the virulence attributes
of C. albicans that differentiate them from the host. During infections, the pathogenic potential of
C. albicans relies on the virulence factors as follows: hydrolytic enzymes, transcriptional factors, adhesion,
and development of biofilms. In the article we explored how the above-presented C. albicans fitness
and virulence attributes provided a robust response to the environmental stress exerted by sulfones
upon C. albicans; C. albicans fitness and virulence attributes are fungal properties whose inactivation
attenuates virulence. Our understanding of how these mechanisms and factors are inhibited by sulfones
has increased over the last years. As lack of toxicity is a prerequisite for medical approaches, sulfones
(non-toxic as assessed in vitro and in vivo) may prove to be useful for reducing C. albicans pathogenesis
in humans. The antifungal activity of sulfones dealing with these multiple virulence factors and fitness
attributes is discussed.
Improved In vivo Effect of Chrysin as an Absorption Enhancer Via the Preparation of Ternary Solid Dispersion with Brij®L4 and Aminoclay
Authors: Lee Sang Hoon , Lee Yeo-song , Song Jae Geun , Han Hyo-Kyung
Published: September 2018

Background:

Chrysin is a strong inhibitor of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) but it
is practically insoluble in water. Effective solubilization of chrysin is critical for its pharmaceutical
application as an absorption enhancer via inhibition of BCRP-mediated drug efflux.

Objective:

This study aimed to develop an effective oral formulation of chrysin to improve its in vivo
effect as an absorption enhancer.

Method:

Solid dispersions (SDs) of chrysin were prepared with hydrophilic carriers having surface
acting properties and a pH modulator. In vitro and in vivo characterizations were performed to select
the optimal SDs of chrysin.

Results:

SDs with Brij&®L4 and aminoclay was most effective in increasing the solubility of chrysin by
13-53 fold at varying drug-carrier ratios. Furthermore, SDs significantly improved the dissolution rate
and extent of drug release. SDs (chrysin: Brij&®L4: aminoclay=1:3:5) achieved approximately 60% and
83% drug release within 1 h and 8 h, respectively, in aqueous medium, while the dissolution of the
untreated chrysin was less than 13%. XRD patterns indicated the amorphous state of chrysin in SDs.
The SD formulation was effective in improving the bioavailability of topotecan, a BCRP substrate in
rats. Following oral administration of topotecan with the SDs of chrysin, the Cmax and AUC of topotecan
was enhanced by approximately 2.6- and 2-fold, respectively, while the untreated chrysin had no
effect.

Conclusion:

The SD formulation of chrysin with Brij&®L4 and aminoclay appeared to be promising in
improving the dissolution of chrysin and enhancing its in vivo effect as an absorption enhancer.
Development of Biodegradable Injectable In situ Forming Implants for Sustained Release of Lornoxicam
Authors: Christian Ruby , Thakkar Vaishali , Patel Tushar , Gohel Mukesh , Baldaniya Lalji , Shah Purvi , Pandya Tosha , Gandhi Tejal
Published: September 2018

Objective:

The focus of this study was to develop in situ injectable implants of Lornoxicam
which could provide sustained drug release.

Methods:

Biodegradable in situ injectable implants were prepared by polymer precipitation method
using polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA). An optimized formulation was obtained on the basis of drug
entrapment efficiency, gelling behavior and in vitro drug release. The compatibility of the formulation
ingredients were tested by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and differential scanning
colorimetry (DSC). SEM study was performed to characterize in vivo behavior of in situ implant.
Pharmacokinetic study and in vivo gelling study of the optimized formulation were performed on
Sprague-Dawley rats. Stability testing of optimized formulation was also performed.

Results:

The drug entrapment efficiency increased and burst release decreased with an increase in the
polymer concentration. Sustained drug release was obtained up to five days. SEM photomicrographs
indicated uniform gel formation. Chemical interaction between the components of the formulation was
not observed by FT-IR and DSC study. Pharmacokinetic studies of the optimized formulation revealed
that the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), time to achieve Cmax (Tmax) and area under plasma
concentration curve (AUC) were significantly higher than the marketed intramuscular injection of lornoxicam.
Stability study of optimized batch showed no change in physical and chemical characteristics.

Conclusion:

Lornoxicam can be successfully formulated as in situ injectable implant that provides
long-term management of inflammatory disorders with improved patient compliance.
Formulation and in-vivo Evaluation of Novel Topical Gel of Lopinavir for Targeting HIV
Authors: Ansari Huda , Singh Prabha
Published: September 2018

Background:

Lopinavir is a specific reversible inhibitor of the enzyme HIV protease with
mean oral bioavailability of less than 20 % due to extensive hepatic metabolism by cytochrome
P450 3A4. The reported half-life of Lopinavir is 5-6 hours and the maximum recommended daily
dose is 400 mg/day. All the marketed tablet and capsule formulations of lopinavir are generally
combined with Ritonavir, a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A4, to minimize presystemic metabolism
of lopinavir. Hence, to overcome limitations associated with oral administration of lopinavir
and to promote single drug administration, utilization of vesicular nanocarriers through topical
route could prove to be effective, as the approach combines the inherent advantages of topical route
and the drug-carrying potential of vesicular nanocarriers across the tough and otherwise impervious
skin barrier layer, i.e., stratum corneum.

Objective:

The objective was to develop solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) of lopinavir and formulate a
topical gel for improved systemic bioavailability of lopinavir.

Method:

SLNs were prepared using high-pressure homogenization technique and optimized. The
nanoparticles were characterized by SEM to confirm their spherical shape. Differential Scanning
Calorimetry (DSC) analysis was carried out to ensure the entrapment of drug inside the SLNs. A
comparative evaluation was done between SLN based gel and plain gel of drug by performing exvivo
skin permeation studies using Franz diffusion cell. To explore the potential of topical route, invivo
bioavailability study was conducted in male Wistar rats.

Results:

The optimized formulation composed of Compritol 888ATO (0.5 %) as a lipid, Poloxamer
407 (0.25 %) as a surfactant and Labrasol (0.25 %) as a co-surfactant gave the maximum entrapment
of 69.78 % with mean particle size of 48.86nm. The plain gel of the drug gave a release of 98.406 ±
0.007 % at the end of 4hours whereas SLN based gel gave a more sustained release of 71.197
±0.006 % at the end of 12hours ex-vivo. As observed from the results of in-vivo studies, highest
Cmax was found with SLN based gel (20.3127 ± 0.6056) µg/ml as compared to plain gel (8.0655 ±
1.6369) µg/ml and oral suspension (4.2550 ± 16.380) µg/ml of the drug. Also, the AUC was higher
in the case of SLN based gel indicating good bioavailability as compared to oral suspension and
plain gel of drug.

Conclusion:

Lopinavir SLN based gel was found to have modified drug release pattern providing
sustained release as compared to plain drug gel. This indicates that Lopinavir when given topically
has a good potential to target the HIV as compared to when given orally.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Simulation of Cross-flow Mode Operation of Membrane for Downstream Processing
Authors: Banik Anirban , Bandyopadhyay Tarun Kanti , Biswal Sushant Kumar
Published: September 2018

Background: Membrane filtration process produced good quality of permeate flux due
to which it is used in different industries like dairy, pharmaceutical, sugar, starch and sweetener industry,
bioseparation, purification of biomedical materials, and downstream polishing etc. The
cross-flow mode of operation has also been used to improve the quality of the Rubber Industrial effluent
of Tripura, India.

Method: The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of the cross-flow membrane is
done by using ANSYS Fluent 6.3. The meshing of the geometry of the membrane is done by Gambit
2.4.6 and a grid size of 100674, the number of faces is 151651 and number of nodes being
50978 has been selected for the simulation purpose from the grid independence test. We have revised
and included all patents in the manuscripts related to the membrane filtration unit.

Results: Single phase Pressure-Velocity coupled Simple Algorithm and laminar model is used for
the simulation of the developed model and Fluent 6.3 used for the prediction of pressure, pressure
drop, flow phenomena, wall shear stress and shear strain rate inside the module is studied for cross
flow membrane.

Conclusion: From the study, it has been found that CFD simulated results hold good agreement
with the experimental values.
Assessing the Impact of Rice Sector Policy Reforms on the Income Mobility of Rural Households in Nigeria
Authors: Okodua Henry
Published: September 2018

Introduction:

The Nigerian government recently introduced a number of policy initiatives under its Agricultural Transformation Agenda to address the issue of over-dependency of the economy on imported rice and achieve the government’s goal of rice self-sufficiency. This paper provides an empirical assessment of the potential impact of the rice policy reforms on income mobility of households in Nigeria.

Statement of the problem:

Nigeria’s rice production has been primarily undertaken by small-scale farmers and is characterized by low productivity owing to inefficient production systems and the country’s aging farming population. The study probes into the potential of the new policy on rice production to produce considerable employment gains for rural households in Nigeria given that local rice production will displace imported rice.

Methodology:

The study employed a static Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) framework to investigate the potential additional income benefits or losses for Nigerian households stemming from the government’s current initiative of increased domestic rice production.

Results:

The findings reveal that the implementation of the new policy on domestic rice production will produce considerable employment gains for all households and for most sectors of the economy. The policy will also result in an overall income gain for both rural and urban households, although these gains will be larger for rural households.

Conclusion:

The study adds to the literature by quantifying on sectoral basis, the potential income and employment gains or losses that will stem from the implementation of the rice policy reforms.
Congested Urban Areas with High Interactions Between Vehicular and Pedestrian Flows: A Cost-Benefit Analysis for a Sustainable Transport Policy in Naples, Italy
Authors: Cartenì Armando , De Guglielmo Maria Luisa , Pascale Nicola
Published: September 2018

Introduction/Methods:

A significant application of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan of Naples, in southern Italy, will be described with specific reference to design a sustainable transport scenario for one of the highest density and congested area of the city: Municipio square, in the centre of Naples, where the homonymous station of the Metro Line 1 was under construction. The particularity of this case study is that Municipio Square is a high dense population area characterized by multimodal traffic flows (vehicles and pedestrians) and a thousand of travellers who embark/disembark every day from the marina to the islands of the Naples Gulf (e.g.Capri, Ischia) and cruises around the Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of vehicles and people pass through the square every day, often slowing the vehicular flows.

Starting from these considerations, a multi-scale modelling architecture (estimatedad-hocfor the specific case study) was proposed to better evaluate policy impacts (e.g., transport, social, environmental), applying both macroscopic and microscopic simulation models simultaneously to design a sustainable transport scenario in term of both geometrical and traffic solutions.

Results:

Six different design scenario were compared and the main results of the most significant one are described and discussed. The best project solution reduces the average travel time and the long queues thanks to a better distribution of the flows (both vehicles and pedestrians) in the broader area around of Municipio square. The simulation results also underlined the benefits for pedestrians related to the presence of different size of sidewalks and paths.

Conclusion:

Because of the realization of the new metro station will increase the pedestrian flows, the external layout of the square was designed, regarding infrastructures and paths, to minimize the conflicts and reduce the overall travel time. The proposed sustainable transport scenario was conceived in term of best geometrical devices and traffic solutions.

Finally, a cost-benefit analysis was also proposed, according to the European guidelines, aiming in improving transport, urbanistic, artistic/cultural, aesthetic, economic and environmental aspects as well as liveability for citizens, transport users (public and private) and tourists.
Updated Indicators to Evaluate Harmful Drug Use, in Particular, Poly-Drug Use
Authors: Colasante Emanuela , Fabi Francesco , Rossi Carla , Tomba Gianpaolo S. , Molinaro Sabrina
Published: September 2018

Background:

Drug use indicators that are capable of measuring the individual levels of
harm following drug use, and in particular, poly-drug use, have previously been proposed, based on
individual drug and frequency of use data and expert rankings of harms related to various substances.
These indicators allow the estimation of risk profiles for selected groups of individuals and
comparisons, both over time and between populations. Recent advances regarding the ranking of
drug use harms allow a refinement of these indicators, separating the effects on self and others.

Objective:

To define updated indicators and compare their performance to previous ones on datasets
related to the Italian ESPAD longitudinal data.

Methods:

Two new scores, based respectively on the Harm to self and Harm to others substance
scores, are defined. These scores follow the same logic as the previous poly-drug score (PDS), but
now using the new Harm to self and Harm to others scores as weights, both in the individual calculations
and in the calculation of the two normalizing factors.

Results:

The new harm-to-self drug use indicator is shown to correlate strongly with the previous
poly-drug use indicator; and the Harm to others indicator, is introduced and commented upon. Using
further ESPAD survey information related to personal behaviour, it is shown that high values of
poly-drug use indicators are linked to specific behaviours related to interest in school, relationship
with parents and use of leisure time. These results are consistent with previous analyses based on
surveys among high school students in Italy.