The Effect of Color and Positional Noise on Reading Performance in Human Vision

BACKGROUND: Reading can be described as a complex cognitive process of decrypting signs to create meaning. Eventually, it is a way of language achievement, communication, and sharing information and ideas. Changing lighting and color are known to improve visual comfort and the perceptual difficulties that affect reading for those with poor vision. AIM: This study aims to investigate the effect of changing the wavelengths and different levels of positional noise on reading performance for participants with best-corrected distant visual acuity (BCVA) of 6/6 or better. METHODOLOGY: Twenty English speakers with BCVA 6/6 or better were asked to read words presented in a printed format. The stimuli were black print words in a horizontal arrangement on matte white card. They were degraded using positional noise produced by random vertical displacements of the letter position below or above the horizontal line on three levels. RESULTS: Introducing positional noise affected word recognition differently with different wavelengths. The role of short wavelength in enhancing orthographic reading and word recognition is clear – they reduce the effects of positional noise. The error rate and duration time have different effects with different wavelengths, even when positional noise is introduced. CONCLUSION: The reading rate is not affected by changing the wavelength of the light. However, the mean differences in wpm were affected by changing the wavelengths. Also, introducing positional noise affects word recognition differently with different wavelengths

Inverse Correlation between Stress and Adaptive Coping in Medical Students

BACKGROUND: Medical students in their academic years are generally under stress but very few studies revealed the relationship between the stress and how the students manage to adapt these stressful conditions. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the levels of stress and their adaptive coping in the 1st 3 years medical students and also to determine the factors associated with adaptive coping strategies. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 441 medical students of Qassim University from September-October 2019. First 3 years medical students were randomly selected and their stress levels or adaptive coping strategies were determined by general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) and strategies coping mechanisms (SCM), respectively. The 5-points Likert scale was used for scoring and the data obtained were further validated by DASS and Brief COPE scales. RESULTS: Out of 441 medical students, 39.2% agreed to participate. The data showed that the level of stress among students was highest during their 1st year academic blocks, followed by 2nd and 3rd year students. Interesting, the adaptive coping among them was found highest during the academic blocks of 3rd year students, followed by the 2nd and 1st year students. Importantly, female students showed better adaptation against stress. Students living with their parents avoided stress in better ways as compared to those who were living alone. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that shows an inverse correlation between the stress and adaptive coping in medical students of Qassim University. The data concluded that adaptation of stress in the 3rd-year students was the highest followed by 2nd and 1st year medical students. Moreover, female students adapted well against stress and students living alone showed worse adaptation of stress

Enhancement of antifungal activity and transdermal delivery of 5-flucytosine via tailored spanlastic nanovesicles: statistical optimization, in-vitro characterization, and in-vivo biodistribution study

Aim and background: This current study aimed to load 5-flucytosine (5-FCY) into spanlastic nanovesicles (SPLNs) to make the drug more efficient as an antifungal and also to load the 5-FCY into a hydrogel that would allow for enhanced transdermal permeation and improved patient compliance.Methods: The preparation of 5-FCY-SPLNs was optimized by using a central composite design that considered Span 60 (X1) and the edge activator Tween 80 (X2) as process variables in achieving the desired particle size and entrapment efficiency. A formulation containing 295.79 mg of Span 60 and 120.00 mg of Tween 80 was found to meet the prerequisites of the desirability method. The optimized 5-FCY-SPLN formulation was further formulated into a spanlastics gel (SPG) so that the 5-FCY-SPLNs could be delivered topically and characterized in terms of various parameters.Results: As required, the SPG had the desired elasticity, which can be credited to the physical characteristics of SPLNs. An ex-vivo permeation study showed that the greatest amount of 5-FCY penetrated per unit area (Q) (mg/cm2) over time and the average flux (J) (mg/cm2/h) was at the end of 24 h. Drug release studies showed that the drug continued to be released until the end of 24 h and that the pattern was correlated with an ex-vivo permeation and distribution study. The biodistribution study showed that the 99mTc-labeled SFG that permeated the skin had a steadier release pattern, a longer duration of circulation with pulsatile behavior in the blood, and higher levels in the bloodstream than the oral 99mTc-SPNLs. Therefore, a 5-FCY transdermal hydrogel could possibly be a long-acting formula for maintenance treatment that could be given in smaller doses and less often than the oral formula

Enhanced Etoposide Solubility and Anticancer Activity using Complexation and Nanotechnology

Title from PDF of title page viewed October 25, 2021Dissertation advisor: Bi-botti Youan,VitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 137-168)Thesis (Ph.D.)--School of Pharmacy and Department of Chemistry. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2021Etoposide is a first line treatment for different cancer types that can be used either alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents. However, systemic toxicity, variable oral bioavailability, and high drug resistance are the three main drawbacks which hamper etoposide activity. The central hypothesis of this work is to enhance etoposide (VP-16) solubility, dissolution, and improve its antitumor activity using emerging formulations strategies such as complexation and nanotechnology. To test this hypothesis, three different formulations have been prepared with three specific aims: (i) co-amorphous salt formation with drug complexation by L-Arginine (ARG), (ii) solid dispersion of V-P16 (C-VP-16) in Sodium Acetate (SA) crystal, and (iii) nanomicellar formulation (NMF) using D -α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (Vitamin E TPGS ) and solvent evaporation thin-film rehydration technique. All resulting formulations are thoroughly physico-chemically characterized with FT-IR/ 1H-NMR spectroscopies, powder X-Ray Diffraction, and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and cell viability assay on MCF-7 cell line are performed to assess the drug chemical stability, cellular uptake and antitumor activities, respectively. In the first formulation, at the VP-16: ARG ratio of 4:10 w/w, the drug apparent solubility increased dramatically (49-fold) with a 3.5-fold improvement in the drug dissolution rate. The interaction between VP-16 and ARG transforms the drug from crystalline to amorphous solid state. The VP-16: ARG complex in lower native drug concentration range (50-300 µM), has lower antitumor activity than that of native VP-16, due to reduced intracellular transport of the more hydrophilic complex. However, at higher drug concentrations (500 µM) the complex’s higher antitumor activity is ascribed to increased drug transport and synergistic effect between ARG and VP-16. These data suggest that an optimal ARG concentration can have positive effects with potential benefits for chemotherapy. In the second formulation, the C-VP-16 in 1:14 w/w ratio shows a 4-fold increase in the drug dissolution rate, compared to the native VP-16 whereas it decreases to 2.5 fold in 1: 4 w/w ratio. The MTS assays results revealed that C-VP-16 cell cytotoxicity is comparable to the native VP-16. Overall, the study demonstrates that sodium acetate enhanced the dissolution kinetics of a BSC class 4 drug. In the third formulation, the MTS cell viability assay results showed that the VP-16 NMF platform provides a higher antitumor activity than that of the native VP-16 on the MCF-7 cells line as it exhibits a dual antitumor activity from the drug (VP-16) and the adjuvant (TPGS). LC/MS data show a 3 fold increase in cellular uptake of VP-16 NMF in MCF-7 cells line compared to the native etoposide. These data suggest that an optimal TPGS concentration can improve VP-16 bioavailability and efficacy with potential benefits for chemotherapyIntroduction -- Literature review -- Enhancing etoposide aqueous solubility and anticancer actvity with L-arginine -- Enhanced etoposide dissolution kinetics via sodium acetate mediated crystalline solid dispersion -- Self-assembled nanomicelle to enhance etoposide solubility and anticancer activity -- Summary and future prospectiv

Self-Assembled Nanomicellar Formulation of Docetaxel as a Potential Breast Cancer Chemotherapeutic System

Docetaxel (DTX) is classified as a class IV drug that exhibits poor aqueous solubility (6–7 µg/mL in water) and permeability (P-glycoprotein substrate). The main objective of this study was to construct, characterize, and evaluate docetaxel loaded nanomicellar formulation in vitro for oral delivery to enhance the absorption and bioavailability of DTX, as well as to circumvent P-gp efflux inhibition. Formulations were prepared with two polymeric surfactants, hydrogenated castor oil-40 (HCO-40) and D-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (VIT E TPGS) with solvent evaporation technique, and the resulting DTX nanomicellar formulations were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT–IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Proton NMR, FT–IR, and XRD data indicated that DTX was completely encapsulated within the hydrophobic core of the nanomicelles in its amorphous state. TEM data revealed a smooth spherical shape of the nanomicellar formulation. The optimized formulation (F-2) possessed a mean diameter of 13.42 nm, a zeta potential of −0.19 mV, with a 99.3% entrapment efficiency. Dilution stability study indicated that nanomicelles were stable up to 100-fold dilution with minimal change in size, poly dispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential. In vitro cytotoxicity study revealed higher anticancer activity of DTX nanomicelles at 5 µM compared to the native drug against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) cells. The LC–MS data confirmed the chemical stability of DTX within the nanomicelles. In vitro drug release study demonstrated faster dissolution of DTX from the nanomicelles compared to the naked drug. Our experimental results exhibit that nanomicelles could be a drug delivery system of choice to encapsulate drugs with low aqueous solubility and permeability that can preserve the stability of the active constituents to provide anticancer activity

Self-Assembled Nanomicellar Formulation of Docetaxel as a Potential Breast Cancer Chemotherapeutic System

Docetaxel (DTX) is classified as a class IV drug that exhibits poor aqueous solubility (6–7 µg/mL in water) and permeability (P-glycoprotein substrate). The main objective of this study was to construct, characterize, and evaluate docetaxel loaded nanomicellar formulation in vitro for oral delivery to enhance the absorption and bioavailability of DTX, as well as to circumvent P-gp efflux inhibition. Formulations were prepared with two polymeric surfactants, hydrogenated castor oil-40 (HCO-40) and D-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (VIT E TPGS) with solvent evaporation technique, and the resulting DTX nanomicellar formulations were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT–IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Proton NMR, FT–IR, and XRD data indicated that DTX was completely encapsulated within the hydrophobic core of the nanomicelles in its amorphous state. TEM data revealed a smooth spherical shape of the nanomicellar formulation. The optimized formulation (F-2) possessed a mean diameter of 13.42 nm, a zeta potential of −0.19 mV, with a 99.3% entrapment efficiency. Dilution stability study indicated that nanomicelles were stable up to 100-fold dilution with minimal change in size, poly dispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential. In vitro cytotoxicity study revealed higher anticancer activity of DTX nanomicelles at 5 µM compared to the native drug against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) cells. The LC–MS data confirmed the chemical stability of DTX within the nanomicelles. In vitro drug release study demonstrated faster dissolution of DTX from the nanomicelles compared to the naked drug. Our experimental results exhibit that nanomicelles could be a drug delivery system of choice to encapsulate drugs with low aqueous solubility and permeability that can preserve the stability of the active constituents to provide anticancer activity

Heavy Metal Removal from Aqueous Effluents by TiO2 and ZnO Nanomaterials

The presence of heavy metals in wastewater, such as Ni, Pb, Cd, V, Cr, and Cu, is a serious environmental problem. This kind of inorganic pollutant is not biodegradable for several years, and its harmful effect is cumulative. Recently, semiconductor nanomaterials based on metal oxides have gained interest due to their efficiency in the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water, by inducing photocatalytic ion reduction when they absorb light of the appropriate wavelength. The most commonly applied semiconductor oxides for these purposes are titanium oxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), and binary nanomaterials composed of both types of oxides. The main purpose of this work is to critically analyse the existent literature concerning this topic focusing specially in the most important factors affecting the adsorption or photocatalytic capacities of this type of nanomaterials. In particular, photocatalytic activity is altered by various factors, such as proportion of polymorphs, synthesis method, surface area, concentration of defects and particle size, among others. After a survey of the actual literature, it was found that, although these metal oxides have low absorption capacity for visible light, it is possible to obtain an acceptable heavy metal reduction performance by sensitization with dyes, doping with metallic or nonmetallic atoms, introduction of defects, or the coupling of two or more semiconductors

Improving the Efficiency of Distributed Utility Item Sets Mining in Relation to Big Data

High utility pattern mining is an analytical approach used to identify sets of items that exceed a specific threshold of utility values. Unlike traditional frequency-based analysis, this method considers user-specific constraints like the number of units and benefits. In recent years, the importance of making informed decisions based on utility patterns has grown significantly. While several utility-based frequent pattern extraction techniques have been proposed, they often face limitations in handling large datasets. To address this challenge, we propose an optimized method called improving the efficiency of Distributed Utility itemsets mining in relation to big data (IDUIM). This technique improves upon the Distributed Utility item sets Mining (DUIM) algorithm by incorporating various refinements. IDUIM effectively mines item sets of big datasets and provides useful insights as the basis for information management and nearly real-time decision-making systems. According to experimental investigation, the method is being compared to IDUIM and other state algorithms like DUIM, PHUI-Miner, and EFIM-Par. The results demonstrate the IDUIM algorithm is more efficient and performs better than different cutting-edge algorithms