A Simple Neural Network Approach to Software Cost Estimation

The effort invested in a software project is one of the most challenging task and most analyzed variables in recent years in the process of project management Software cost estimation predicts the amount of effort and development time required to build a software system It is one of the most critical tasks and it helps the software industries to effectively manage their software development process There are a number of cost estimation models Each of these models have their own pros and cons in estimating the development cost and effort This paper investigates the use of Back-Propagation neural networks for software cost estimation The model is designed in such a manner that accommodates the widely used COCOMO model and improves its performance It deals effectively with imprecise and uncertain input and enhances the reliability of software cost estimates The model is tested using three publicly available software development datasets The test results from the trained neural network are compared with that of the COCOMO model From the experimental results it was concluded that using the proposed neural network model the accuracy of cost estimation can be improved and the estimated cost can be very close to the actual cos

An Efficient and Cost-Effective Nose-Only Inhalational Chamber for Rodents: Design, Optimization and Validation

The mainstay treatment of pulmonary disorders lies around the direct drug targeting to the lungs using a nebulizer, metered-dose inhaler, or dry powder inhaler. Only few inhalers are available in the market that could be used for inhalational drug delivery in rodents. However, the available rodent inhalers invariably require high cost and maintenance, which limits their use at laboratory scale. The present work, therefore, was undertaken to develop a simple, reliable, and cost-effective nose-only inhalation chamber with holding capacity of three mice at a time. The nebulized air passes directly and continuously from the central chamber to mouthpiece and maintains an aerosol cloud for rodents to inhale. Laser diffraction analysis indicated volume mean diameter of 4.02 ± 0.30 μm, and the next-generation impactor studies, however, revealed mean mass aerodynamic diameter of 3.40 ± 0.27 μm, respectively. An amount of 2.05 ± 0.20 mg of voriconazole (VRC) was available for inhalation at each delivery port of the inhaler. In vivo studies indicated the deposition of 76.12 ± 19.50 μg of VRC in the mice lungs when nebulized for a period of 20 min. Overall, the developed nose-only inhalation chamber offers a reliable means of generating aerosols and successfully exposing mice to nebulization

Nebulised surface-active hybrid nanoparticles of voriconazole for pulmonary Aspergillosis demonstrate clathrin-mediated cellular uptake, improved antifungal efficacy and lung retention

Abstract: Background: Incidence of pulmonary aspergillosis is rising worldwide, owing to an increased population of immunocompromised patients. Notable potential of the pulmonary route has been witnessed in antifungal delivery due to distinct advantages of direct lung targeting and first-pass evasion. The current research reports biomimetic surface-active lipid-polymer hybrid (LPH) nanoparticles (NPs) of voriconazole, employing lung-specific lipid, i.e., dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and natural biodegradable polymer, i.e., chitosan, to augment its pulmonary deposition and retention, following nebulization. Results: The developed nanosystem exhibited a particle size in the range of 228–255 nm and drug entrapment of 45–54.8%. Nebulized microdroplet characterization of NPs dispersion revealed a mean diameter of ≤ 5 μm, corroborating its deep lung deposition potential as determined by next-generation impactor studies. Biophysical interaction of LPH NPs with lipid-monolayers indicated their surface-active potential and ease of intercalation into the pulmonary surfactant membrane at the air-lung interface. Cellular viability and uptake studies demonstrated their cytocompatibility and time-and concentration-dependent uptake in lung-epithelial A549 and Calu-3 cells with clathrin-mediated internalization. Transepithelial electrical resistance experiments established their ability to penetrate tight airway Calu-3 monolayers. Antifungal studies on laboratory strains and clinical isolates depicted their superior efficacy against Aspergillus species. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed nearly 5-, 4- and threefolds enhancement in lung AUC, Tmax, and MRT values, construing significant drug access and retention in lungs. Conclusions: Nebulized LPH NPs were observed as a promising solution to provide effective and safe therapy for the management of pulmonary aspergillosis infection with improved patient compliance and avoidance of systemic side-effects

BHPR research: qualitative1. Complex reasoning determines patients' perception of outcome following foot surgery in rheumatoid arhtritis

Background: Foot surgery is common in patients with RA but research into surgical outcomes is limited and conceptually flawed as current outcome measures lack face validity: to date no one has asked patients what is important to them. This study aimed to determine which factors are important to patients when evaluating the success of foot surgery in RA Methods: Semi structured interviews of RA patients who had undergone foot surgery were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis of interviews was conducted to explore issues that were important to patients. Results: 11 RA patients (9 ♂, mean age 59, dis dur = 22yrs, mean of 3 yrs post op) with mixed experiences of foot surgery were interviewed. Patients interpreted outcome in respect to a multitude of factors, frequently positive change in one aspect contrasted with negative opinions about another. Overall, four major themes emerged. Function: Functional ability & participation in valued activities were very important to patients. Walking ability was a key concern but patients interpreted levels of activity in light of other aspects of their disease, reflecting on change in functional ability more than overall level. Positive feelings of improved mobility were often moderated by negative self perception ("I mean, I still walk like a waddling duck”). Appearance: Appearance was important to almost all patients but perhaps the most complex theme of all. Physical appearance, foot shape, and footwear were closely interlinked, yet patients saw these as distinct separate concepts. Patients need to legitimize these feelings was clear and they frequently entered into a defensive repertoire ("it's not cosmetic surgery; it's something that's more important than that, you know?”). Clinician opinion: Surgeons' post operative evaluation of the procedure was very influential. The impact of this appraisal continued to affect patients' lasting impression irrespective of how the outcome compared to their initial goals ("when he'd done it ... he said that hasn't worked as good as he'd wanted to ... but the pain has gone”). Pain: Whilst pain was important to almost all patients, it appeared to be less important than the other themes. Pain was predominately raised when it influenced other themes, such as function; many still felt the need to legitimize their foot pain in order for health professionals to take it seriously ("in the end I went to my GP because it had happened a few times and I went to an orthopaedic surgeon who was quite dismissive of it, it was like what are you complaining about”). Conclusions: Patients interpret the outcome of foot surgery using a multitude of interrelated factors, particularly functional ability, appearance and surgeons' appraisal of the procedure. While pain was often noted, this appeared less important than other factors in the overall outcome of the surgery. Future research into foot surgery should incorporate the complexity of how patients determine their outcome Disclosure statement: All authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Preparation, characterization and trifluralin degradation of laccase-modified cellulose nanofibers

Laccase, an oxidoreductase enzyme, can biodegrade persistent pesticides and other xenobiotics to less toxic monomers. The present work involves immobilization of laccase onto activated nanocellulose fibers (CNFs) extracted from bagasse. The laccase grafted CNFs were characterized by different techniques. %Immobilization and the activity, stability and reusability of the immobilized laccase was studied using 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as substrate. The %immobilization was calculated to be 85% with a maximum activity of 0.38 U/mg. 60.5% activity was retained even after 15 repeated uses of the immobilized enzyme. Moreover the immobilized enzyme was found to be stable with 75% relative activity after a period of 45 days. The laccase grafted CNFs were evaluated in degradation of trifluralin, a toxic pesticide resistant to natural transformation or degradation processes, in the presence of humic monomers, guiacol and catechol. Results show 100% degradation of trifluralin in 24 h in the presence of guiacol as mediator. Keywords: Biowaste utilization, Cellulose nanofibers, Laccase immobilization, Trifluralin degradation, Reusability and storabilit