ENHANCING SOLUBILITY AND DISSOLUTION OF FENOFIBRATE BY SPRAY DRYING TECHNIQUE

Objective: Fenofibrate, a hypolipidemic drug agent, exhibits poor water solubility and dissolution. Thus, the aim of the present study was to improve the solubility and dissolution rate of Fenofibrate by preparing microspheres by spray drying technique using Pluronic F-127.Methods: Fenofibrate Microspheres containing different ratios of Pluronic F-127 were produced by spray drying using Chloroform as solvent to enhance solubility and dissolution rate. The prepared formulations containing different ratios of drug and Pluronic F-127were evaluated for solubility and in-vitro dissolution. The prepared formulations were characterized by DSC, FT-IR, XRD and SEM. Dissolution profile of the prepared spray dried microspheres was compared with its physical mixture and the pure sample.Results: Spray dried microspheres exhibited decreased crystallinity. The solubility of microspheres containing Fenofibrate and Pluronic F-127(1:3w/w) exhibited three tenfold increases than the commercial Fenofibrate and dissolution of the same ratio microsphere showed 99 % release in 40 min. While same composition in physical mixture showed 37% release in 20 min.Conclusion: Consequently, from the above result it can be concluded that spray dried microspheres of Fenofibrate is a useful technique to improve the solubility and dissolution of poor water soluble drug like Fenofibrate

INVESTIGATION OF INFLUENCE OF LAYUP CONFIGURATION ON BALLISTIC RESISTANCE OF GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED POLYMER (GFRP) USING FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

This study is aimed primarily to investigate the influence of layup configuration on ballistic resistance of glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) using finite element analysis (FEA). Although, numerical simulation has been used to improve on the ballistic resistance of composite materials for combat helmet applications. However, not many FEA works have considered linear static analysis of different layup configurations of GFRP composites ballistic resistance for combat helmet. Four different layup configurations Θ_1, Θ_2, Θ_3 and Θ_4 of Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic laminate for combat helmet were investigated in this study. The FEA result showed that all the tested configurations based on NIJ-0106.01 standard using 9 mm, 8g Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) bullet at a velocity of 358 m/s ±15 were well within the failure surface of the failure criterion. The ply failure indices of 0.1520, 0.1510,0.1480 and 0.137 for Θ_1, Θ_2, Θ_3 and Θ_4 respectively were quite within the failure envelope. Hence, they are failure safe most especially within the test region. In addition, numerical simulation showed that Θ_3 has better ballistic resistance among the lot

Regional Variation of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Enterobacterales, Fluoroquinolone-ResistantSalmonella entericaand Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureusAmong Febrile Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) thwarts the curative power of drugs and is a present-time global problem. We present data on antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance determinants of bacteria the WHO has highlighted as being key antimicrobial resistance concerns in Africa, to strengthen knowledge of AMR patterns in the region. Methods: Blood, stool, and urine specimens of febrile patients, aged between ≥ 30 days and ≤ 15 years and hospitalized in Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, and Tanzania were cultured from November 2013 to March 2017 (Patients > 15 years were included in Tanzania). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed for all Enterobacterales and Staphylococcus aureus isolates using disk diffusion method. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was confirmed by double-disk diffusion test and the detection of blaCTX–M, blaTEM and blaSHV. Multilocus sequence typing was conducted for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella enterica and S. aureus. Ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella enterica were screened for plasmid-mediated resistance genes and mutations in gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE. S. aureus isolates were tested for the presence of mecA and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) and further genotyped by spa typing. Results: Among 4,052 specimens from 3,012 patients, 219 cultures were positive of which 88.1% (n = 193) were Enterobacterales and 7.3% (n = 16) S. aureus. The prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (all CTX-M15 genotype) was 45.2% (14/31; 95% CI: 27.3, 64.0) in Burkina Faso, 25.8% (8/31; 95% CI: 11.9, 44.6) in Gabon, 15.1% (18/119; 95% CI: 9.2, 22.8) in Ghana and 0.0% (0/12; 95% CI: 0.0, 26.5) in Tanzania. ESBL positive non-typhoid Salmonella (n = 3) were detected in Burkina Faso only and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (n = 2) were detected in Ghana only. While sequence type (ST)131 predominated among ESBL E. coli (39.1%;9/23), STs among ESBL K. pneumoniae were highly heterogenous. Ciprofloxacin resistant nt Salmonella were commonest in Burkina Faso (50.0%; 6/12) and all harbored qnrB genes. PVL were found in 81.3% S. aureus. Conclusion: Our findings reveal a distinct susceptibility pattern across the various study regions in Africa, with notably high rates of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales and ciprofloxacin-resistant nt Salmonella in Burkina Faso. This highlights the need for local AMR surveillance and reporting of resistances to support appropriate action

Association and Mutation Analyses of 16p11.2 Autism Candidate Genes

Background: Autism is a complex childhood neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic basis. Microdeletion or duplication of a ∼500–700-kb genomic rearrangement on 16p11.2 that contains 24 genes represents the second most frequent chromosomal disorder associated with autism. The role of common and rare 16p11.2 sequence variants in autism etiology is unknown.Methodology/Principal Findings: To identify common 16p11.2 variants with a potential role in autism, we performed association studies using existing data generated from three microarray platforms: Affymetrix 5.0 (777 families), Illumina 550 K (943 families), and Affymetrix 500 K (60 families). No common variants were identified that were significantly associated with autism. To look for rare variants, we performed resequencing of coding and promoter regions for eight candidate genes selected based on their known expression patterns and functions. In total, we identified 26 novel variants in autism: 13 exonic (nine non-synonymous, three synonymous, and one untranslated region) and 13 promoter variants. We found a significant association between autism and a coding variant in the seizure-related gene SEZ6L2 (12/1106 autism vs. 3/1161 controls; p = 0.018). Sez6l2 expression in mouse embryos was restricted to the spinal cord and brain. SEZ6L2 expression in human fetal brain was highest in post-mitotic cortical layers, hippocampus, amygdala, and thalamus. Association analysis of SEZ6L2 in an independent sample set failed to replicate our initial findings.Conclusions/Significance: We have identified sequence variation in at least one candidate gene in 16p11.2 that may represent a novel genetic risk factor for autism. However, further studies are required to substantiate these preliminary findings.</p

Association and Mutation Analyses of 16p11.2 Autism Candidate Genes

Autism is a complex childhood neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic basis. Microdeletion or duplication of a approximately 500-700-kb genomic rearrangement on 16p11.2 that contains 24 genes represents the second most frequent chromosomal disorder associated with autism. The role of common and rare 16p11.2 sequence variants in autism etiology is unknown.To identify common 16p11.2 variants with a potential role in autism, we performed association studies using existing data generated from three microarray platforms: Affymetrix 5.0 (777 families), Illumina 550 K (943 families), and Affymetrix 500 K (60 families). No common variants were identified that were significantly associated with autism. To look for rare variants, we performed resequencing of coding and promoter regions for eight candidate genes selected based on their known expression patterns and functions. In total, we identified 26 novel variants in autism: 13 exonic (nine non-synonymous, three synonymous, and one untranslated region) and 13 promoter variants. We found a significant association between autism and a coding variant in the seizure-related gene SEZ6L2 (12/1106 autism vs. 3/1161 controls; p = 0.018). Sez6l2 expression in mouse embryos was restricted to the spinal cord and brain. SEZ6L2 expression in human fetal brain was highest in post-mitotic cortical layers, hippocampus, amygdala, and thalamus. Association analysis of SEZ6L2 in an independent sample set failed to replicate our initial findings.We have identified sequence variation in at least one candidate gene in 16p11.2 that may represent a novel genetic risk factor for autism. However, further studies are required to substantiate these preliminary findings

Ausgewählte Rechtsfragen im Zusammenhang mit dem Inkasso von Forderungen

Die vorliegende Diplomarbeit knüpft am Begriff des Inkassos an, der in seinem heutzutage vornehmlichen Sinne die „Einziehung fremder Forderungen“ bezeichnet, und widmet sich dementsprechend all jenen Formen der Forderungseintreibung, in deren Rahmen sich der Forderungsberechtigte zur Geltendmachung und Einziehung seiner Forderung einer dritten Person bedient. Das erste Kapitel macht es sich dabei zur Aufgabe, ausgewählte Rechtsfragen im Zusammenhang mit der praktischen Seite des Forderungsinkassos näher zu beleuchten. So wird etwa erörtert, durch welche gesetzlichen Regelungen (außer-)gerichtlichen Interventionen von Seiten gewerblicher Inkassoinstitute Grenzen gesetzt werden, welche Rechtsfolgen ein Verstoß gegen solche Beschränkungen nach sich zieht, und wie die rechtlichen Verhältnisse im Rahmen des gerichtlichen Forderungsinkassos einzuordnen sind. Darauf aufbauend widmet sich das zweite Kapitel den unterschiedlichen rechtlichen Erscheinungsformen einer Inkassobefugnis. Auf Seiten der zessionsweisen Einziehung fremder Forderungen wird dabei nicht nur die Inkassozession, sondern auch die Zession zahlungshalber und die Inkassozession zahlungshalber näher beleuchtet, während auf Seiten der zessionslosen Inkassokonstruktionen die Inkassovollmacht, die Anweisung und die Einziehungsermächtigung behandelt werden. Im Lichte der gewonnenen Erkenntnisse wird sodann der mehrdeutige Begriff des Inkassomandates einer kritischen Überprüfung unterzogen. Das dritte Kapitel widmet sich schließlich der Frage nach dem Kondiktionsschuldner des Zessus bei Vorliegen einer (Inkasso-)Zession. Dabei wird zunächst der Meinungsstand zu dieser Rechtsfrage in Bezug auf die gewöhnliche Zession dargestellt, bevor im Lichte der Entscheidung OGH 2 Ob 38/17b ausführlich darauf eingegangen wird, ob diese Rechtsfrage in Bezug auf die Inkassozession anders zu beurteilen ist, und aus welchen Gründen dies (nicht) der Fall ist.This diploma thesis builds on the term “Inkasso”, which in its presently predominant sense refers to the "collection of external claims", and is accordingly devoted to all forms of claim collection, in which the claimant avails himself of a third person in order to collect and enforce his claim. The first chapter sets out to examine selected legal issues in connection with the practical side of the collection of external claims. It is explained, for example, which statutory provisions restrict (non-)judicial interventions on the part of commercial collection agencies, which legal consequences entail a breach of such restrictions, and how the legal circumstances are to be classified within the judicial collection of external claims. Building on this, the second chapter is devoted to the different legal manifestations of a claim collection permission. On the side of the cession-wise collection of external claims, not only the “cession for collection”, but also the “cession on account of payment” and a combination of these two legal institutes are dealt with elaborately. On the side of the cession-free collection of external claims, the “power to collect”, the “assignation” and the “warrant to collect” are examined. In the light of the acquired findings, the ambiguous term of the “collection mandate” is then subject to a critical review. The third chapter deals with the controversial question, whether in the presence of a cession (for collection) the cessionary or the cedent is passive-legitimized in relation to the debtor's possible claim on account of unjust enrichment. Thereby, the legal opinion of the Austrian and German teaching and jurisdiction on this question regarding the ordinary cession is outlined. In the light of the Austrian supreme court decision OGH 2 Ob 38/17b it is finally discussed, whether this question is to be judged differently regarding the “cession for collection”, and for what reasons this is (not) the case.vorgelegt von Daniel SudiAbweichender Titel laut Übersetzung des Verfassers/der VerfasserinKarl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Diplomarbeit, 2019(VLID)376503

Policy urgency and development of the highest retail price (HRP) of subsidised fertilizer

Fertilizer price subsidies aim to increase the purchasing power of poor farmers in order to increase their productivity and farm income. This study aims to analyze the urgency of the fertilizer subsidy policy, and the development of the subsidized fertilizer HET ratio and the price of grain at the farmer level. The study was conducted in West Java Province, 2020. The data used include primary data and secondary data. Data analysis was carried out quantitatively and descriptively qualitatively. The results showed that the fertilizer subsidy policy was given to farmers who farmed a maximum of 2 hectares per season. In Indonesia, the total number of households using land with a scale of < 2 ha reaches 89%, which are small farmers and require input subsidies. Furthermore, the ratio of output prices to urea fertilizer (2012-2021) tends to increase by 0.97%/year. This shows that the development of subsidized fertilizer prices is relatively small compared to the development of government purchasing prices for paddy. Therefore, in order to improve the efficiency of fertilizer use and maintain the volume of subsidized fertilizer in the midst of a limited fertilizer subsidy budget, efforts must be made to be more targeted and efficient

Molecular epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus in children in sub-Saharan Africa

This study investigated the molecular epidemiology of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among febrile children with acute respiratory tract infection in Ghana, Gabon, Tanzania and Burkina Faso between 2014 and 2017 as well as the evolution and diversification of RSV strains from other sub-Saharan countries. Pharyngeal swabs were collected at four study sites (Agogo, Ghana: n = 490; Lambaréné, Gabon: n = 182; Mbeya, Tanzania: n = 293; Nouna, Burkina Faso: n = 115) and analysed for RSV and other respiratory viruses using rtPCR. For RSV-positive samples, sequence analysis of the second hypervariable region of the G gene was performed. A dataset of RSV strains from sub-Saharan Africa (2011-2017) currently available in GenBank was compiled. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted to identify the diversity of circulating RSV genotypes. In total, 46 samples were tested RSV positive (Ghana n = 31 (6.3%), Gabon n = 4 (2.2%), Tanzania n = 9 (3.1%) and Burkina Faso n = 2 (1.7%)). The most common RSV co-infection was with rhinovirus. All RSV A strains clustered with genotype ON1 strains with a 72-nucleotide duplication and all RSV B strains belonged to genotype BAIX. Phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences from sub-Saharan Africa revealed the diversification into 11 different ON1 and 22 different BAIX lineages and differentiation of ON1 and BAIX strains into potential new sub-genotypes, provisionally named ON1-NGR, BAIX-KEN1, BAIX-KEN2 and BAIX-KEN3. The study contributes to an improved understanding of the molecular epidemiology of RSV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. It provides the first phylogenetic data for RSV from Tanzania, Gabon and Burkina Faso and combines it with RSV strains from all other sub-Saharan countries currently available in GenBank.</p