Catatonia: extinct, lost, or forgotten?

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that occurs in some primary psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, mood disorders), or due to general medical conditions (e.g., neurological disorders, drug poisoning, metabolic disorders) (1). Although it is uncommon, but if it goes unrecognized in medical and surgical units (2), it can increase morbidity and mortality. Moreover, making a connection between signs observed across different systems (the motor, somatic, and psychiatric symptoms) could lead to misdiagnosis and a delay in treatment (3)

Finding Your Way Back: Comparing Path Odometry Algorithms for Assisted Return.

We present a comparative analysis of inertial-based odometry algorithms for the purpose of assisted return. An assisted return system facilitates backtracking of a path previously taken, and can be particularly useful for blind pedestrians. We present a new algorithm for path matching, and test it in simulated assisted return tasks with data from WeAllWalk, the only existing data set with inertial data recorded from blind walkers. We consider two odometry systems, one based on deep learning (RoNIN), and the second based on robust turn detection and step counting. Our results show that the best path matching results are obtained using the turns/steps odometry system

Exploring the use of RAFT-synthesised methacrylate-based polymers in formulation science

The need for speciality polymers for drug delivery applications led us to investigate the use of well-defined narrow-dispersed methacrylate-based polymers in this work, exploring their potential in pharmaceutical formulations for drug encapsulation, site-specific release, and the formation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs). A library of methacrylate-based polymers including poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (PPEGMA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA), as well as copolymers composed of PPEGMA and poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA), were first synthesised using reversible addition- fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation. The synthesis was optimised, and a high degree of control in the polymerisation process was confirmed by the reproducible synthesis of polymers and copolymers with targeted molecular weights and low polydispersity. Nano-sized monodispersed polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) nanoparticles were next prepared via self-assembly of oppositely charged polymers, PDMAEMA and PMAA. The PECs did not entrap hydrophobic drugs (paclitaxel or dexamethasone) efficiently. Hydrophilic drugs including gemcitabine, 5- fluorouracil, and carmofur, on the other hand, were efficiently loaded into the nanoparticles. However, as anticipated, their release from the PECs was very rapid in media at physiological pH and mildly acidic pH. Methacrylic acid polymers with DPs of 80 and 20 were able to produce ASDs of lidocaine, a poorly water-soluble drug, after ball milling. These form as a result of the interactions between the acidic polymer and the basic drug. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analysis confirmed that the ASDs maintained their amorphous nature and were stable under accelerated storage conditions (40 °C and 75% RH) over 9 months. Dissolution studies revealed that the presence of the acidic polymer in the formulation and the amorphous nature of the formulation (lack of crystal lattice) removed the energy barrier to dissolution, lowered the microenvironment pH, and resulted in an increase in the dissolution rate and solubility of the drug

Quality evaluation of Payam Noor University of Isfahan in the field of student based on Baldrige Excellence Model

The objective of the present study was to examine the quality performance of Payame Noor University of Isfahan about student based on Baldrige Excellence Model. Among all students and the students of economy and educational sciences who had been studying in 2012-2013 year, the numbers of 196 people were selected randomly based on stratified sampling and Cochran formula, among which 66 questionnaires were eliminated. As a result, the analysis was performed on 130 (99 females and 31 males) students. The results show that between male and female students, there is a significant difference about performance qualities of university and male students’ opinions are more favorable than females’ in this respect. Also, there is no significant difference between undergraduate and postgraduate students, and opinions are the same in both groups and there is no significant difference between educational sciences and economics students. The results of the Friedman test indicates there is significant differences between three measured components of the questionnaire, information and knowledge component have been located in the first place, satisfaction in the second place and communication component in the third, respectively. Thus, it can be stated that these three factors are effective on evaluating the performance of students, and information and knowledge component influence has an effective role in the evaluating.  

Stable and real rank for crossed products by finite groups

A long-standing open question in the theory of group actions on C*-algebras is the stable rank of the crossed product. Specifically, N. C. Phillips asked that if a finite group $G$ acts on a simple unital C*-algebra $A$ with stable rank one, does the crossed product have stable rank one? A similar question can be asked about the real rank. Most of the existing partial answers contain a reasonable restriction (mainly, a Rokhlin-type property) on the action and assumptions on $A$. We remove all extra assumptions on $A$ (for instance, stable finiteness and that the order on projections over $A$ is determined by traces) and we prove that if the action has the tracial Rokhlin property and $A$ is simple and $\sigma$-unital with stable rank one or real rank zero, then so do the crossed product and the fixed point algebra. Moreover, we show that if the Kirchberg's central sequence algebra $\mathrm{F}(A)$ has real rank zero, then the weak tracial Rokhlin property is equivalent to the tracial Rokhlin property for actions on simple unital separable C*-algebras $A$.Comment: 17 pages. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1711.1081