A model for the fluid dynamic behavior of a film coating suspension during tablet coating

This work models the behavior of a liquid-particle suspension on the surface of a tablet during the pharmaceutical film-coating process. The model uses the “mixture modeling” approach and the lubrication approximation method to simulate how the suspension moves and dries on the surface of a tablet, considering how important physical properties of the suspension, such as the density and viscosity, change when the carrier fluid evaporates.The model also accounts for the absorption of the coating suspension inside the core of the porous tablet, yielding the tablet water content, a key quantity characterizing the coating process. The numerical results, obtained with the gPROMS Modelbuilder platform, agree with experimental data taken from the literature and Volume-Of-Fluid CFD simulations

Kinematic Clues to Bar Evolution for Galaxies in the Local Universe: Why the Fastest Rotating Bars are Rotating Most Slowly

We have used Spitzer images of a sample of 68 barred spiral galaxies in the local universe to make systematic measurements of bar length and bar strength. We combine these with precise determinations of the corotation radii associated with the bars, taken from our previous study, which used the phase change from radial inflow to radial outflow of gas at corotation, based on high-resolution two-dimensional velocity fields in Hα taken with a Fabry-Pérot spectrometer. After presenting the histograms of the derived bar parameters, we study their dependence on the galaxy morphological type and on the total stellar mass of the host galaxy, and then produce a set of parametric plots. These include the bar pattern speed versus bar length, the pattern speed normalized with the characteristic pattern speed of the outer disk versus the bar strength, and the normalized pattern speed versus R, the ratio of corotation radius to bar length. To provide guidelines for our interpretation, we used recently published simulations, including disk and dark matter halo components. Our most striking conclusion is that bars with values of R < 1.4, previously considered dynamically fast rotators, can be among the slowest rotators both in absolute terms and when their pattern speeds are normalized. The simulations confirm that this is because as the bars are braked, they can grow longer more quickly than the outward drift of the corotation radius. We conclude that dark matter halos have indeed slowed down the rotation of bars on Gyr timescales. © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Decisiones razonables y razonadas sobre medicamentos convencionales y de uso tradicional. El Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico, integrador de la perspectiva del paciente.

Se presenta un caso de una paciente con síndrome metabólico y comorbilidades asociadas que acude a un consultorio farmacéutico del nivel primario de Atención en Salud en Bogotá (Colombia), donde recibe seguimiento farmacoterapéutico. La paciente usa tratamientos prescritos por sus médicos y se automedica con productos naturales, como son el extracto de balsamina para regular niveles de glucosa, el extracto de arándano azul europeo para problemas oculares y el uso de lecitina de soja para control de triglicéridos. Para la evaluación de la farmacoterapia, se localizó evidencia científica sobre el uso y conveniencia de cada producto en el tratamiento de sus problemas de salud, realizándose las siguientes intervenciones: continuar con la toma de la balsamina, el Bilberry y la lecitina de soja, ya que existen reportes de su utilidad como coadyuvantes en el control de las enfermedades que presenta y la elaboración de un plan de medicación para reforzar la adherencia a los tratamientos. Cuando se evalúan las intervenciones, encontramos que las cifras de glicemia, presión arterial y función hepática se encuentran dentro de objetivos terapéuticos. En este caso, el químico farmacéutico tiene una labor integradora de las terapias de los pacientes, basados en la valoración del riesgo-beneficio y a través del seguimiento farmacoterapéutico obtiene información clínica que permite tomar decisiones sustentadas para el futuro, más aún en el contexto de Latinoamérica, donde los productos naturales son ampliamente usados en la población

Decisiones razonables y razonadas sobre medicamentos convencionales y de uso tradicional. El Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico, integrador de la perspectiva del paciente.

Se presenta un caso de una paciente con síndrome metabólico y comorbilidades asociadas que acude a un consultorio farmacéutico del nivel primario de Atención en Salud en Bogotá (Colombia), donde recibe seguimiento farmacoterapéutico. La paciente usa tratamientos prescritos por sus médicos y se automedica con productos naturales, como son el extracto de balsamina para regular niveles de glucosa, el extracto de arándano azul europeo para problemas oculares y el uso de lecitina de soja para control de triglicéridos. Para la evaluación de la farmacoterapia, se localizó evidencia científica sobre el uso y conveniencia de cada producto en el tratamiento de sus problemas de salud, realizándose las siguientes intervenciones: continuar con la toma de la balsamina, el Bilberry y la lecitina de soja, ya que existen reportes de su utilidad como coadyuvantes en el control de las enfermedades que presenta y la elaboración de un plan de medicación para reforzar la adherencia a los tratamientos. Cuando se evalúan las intervenciones, encontramos que las cifras de glicemia, presión arterial y función hepática se encuentran dentro de objetivos terapéuticos. En este caso, el químico farmacéutico tiene una labor integradora de las terapias de los pacientes, basados en la valoración del riesgo-beneficio y a través del seguimiento farmacoterapéutico obtiene información clínica que permite tomar decisiones sustentadas para el futuro, más aún en el contexto de Latinoamérica, donde los productos naturales son ampliamente usados en la población

Can metacognitive interventions improve insight in schizophrenia spectrum disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) tend to lack insight, which is linked to poor outcomes. The effect size of previous treatments on insight changes in SSD has been small. Metacognitive interventions may improve insight in SSD, although this remains unproved. Methods: We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to examine the effects of metacognitive interventions designed for SSD, namely Metacognitive Training (MCT) and Metacognitive Reflection and Insight Therapy (MERIT), on changes in cognitive and clinical insight at post-treatment and at follow-up. Results: Twelve RCTs, including 10 MCT RCTs (n = 717 participants) and two MERIT trials (n = 90), were selected, totalling N = 807 participants. Regarding cognitive insight six RCTs (n = 443) highlighted a medium effect of MCT on self-reflectiveness at post-treatment, d = 0.46, p < 0.01, and at follow-up, d = 0.30, p < 0.01. There was a small effect of MCT on self-certainty at post-treatment, d = −0.23, p = 0.03, but not at follow-up. MCT was superior to controls on an overall Composite Index of cognitive insight at post-treatment, d = 1.11, p < 0.01, and at follow-up, d = 0.86, p = 0.03, although we found evidence of heterogeneity. Of five MCT trials on clinical insight (n = 244 participants), which could not be meta-analysed, four of them favoured MCT compared v. control. The two MERIT trials reported conflicting results. Conclusions: Metacognitive interventions, particularly Metacognitive Training, appear to improve insight in patients with SSD, especially cognitive insight shortly after treatment. Further long-term RCTs are needed to establish whether these metacognitive interventions-related insight changes are sustained over a longer time period and result in better outcomes

Sociología del campo filosófico español entre el Franquismo y la Transición democrática: una validación cuantitativa

La más reciente investigación dedicada al análisis del campo filosófico español entre el tardofranquismo y la Transición, señaló la existencia de dos redes intelectuales: una, denominada «oficial», que aglutinaba a los filósofos de perfil más estrictamente académico (v. g. Sergio Rábade), y otra, designada como «alternativa», que integraba a los pensadores más vanguardistas (v. g. López Aranguren). Los materiales utilizados en La filosofía española. Herederos y pretendientes. Una lectura sociológica (1963-1990) (Vázquez García 2009), fueron objeto en esta obra de una aproximación cualitativa. Nuestro objetivo en este artículo, privilegiando la fiabilidad sobre la validez, es la realización de un análisis de correspondencias múltiples, en el que se han cuantificado más de 15 variables sobre cincuenta filósofos españoles. En las conclusiones se profundiza en las diferencias y similitudes entre los resultados obtenidos con las metodologías cualitativa y cuantitativ

Accelerated inbreeding depression suggests synergistic epistasis for deleterious mutations in Drosophila melanogaster

Epistasis may have important consequences for a number of issues in quantitative genetics and evolutionary biology. In particular, synergistic epistasis for deleterious alleles is relevant to the mutation load paradox and the evolution of sex and recombination. Some studies have shown evidence of synergistic epistasis for spontaneous or induced deleterious mutations appearing in mutation-accumulation experiments. However, many newly arising mutations may not actually be segregating in natural populations because of the erasing action of natural selection. A demonstration of synergistic epistasis for naturally segregating alleles can be achieved by means of inbreeding depression studies, as deleterious recessive allelic effects are exposed in inbred lines. Nevertheless, evidence of epistasis from these studies is scarce and controversial. In this paper, we report the results of two independent inbreeding experiments carried out with two different populations of Drosophila melanogaster. The results show a consistent accelerated inbreeding depression for fitness, suggesting synergistic epistasis among deleterious alleles. We also performed computer simulations assuming different possible models of epistasis and mutational parameters for fitness, finding some of them to be compatible with the results observed. Our results suggest that synergistic epistasis for deleterious mutations not only occurs among newly arisen spontaneous or induced mutations, but also among segregating alleles in natural populationsWe acknowledge the support by Uvigo Marine Research Centre funded by the “Excellence in Research (INUGA)” Programme from the Regional Council of Culture, Education and Universities, with co-funding from the European Union through the ERDF Operational Programme Galicia 2014-2020. This work was funded by Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) (CGL2016-75904-C2-1-P), Xunta de Galicia (ED431C 2016-037) and Fondos Feder: “Unha maneira de facer Europa.” SD was founded by a predoctoral (FPI) grant from Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, SpainS

A pilot 1-year follow-up randomised controlled trial comparing metacognitive training to psychoeducation in schizophrenia: effects on insight

Poor insight in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) is linked with negative outcomes. This single-centre, assessor-blind, parallel-group 1-year follow-up randomised controlled trial (RCT) tested whether metacognitive training (MCT) (compared to psychoeducation) may improve insight and outcomes in outpatients with SSD assessed: at baseline (T0); after treatment (T1) and at 1-year follow-up (T2). Insight (primary outcome) was measured with (i) the Schedule for Assessment of Insight-Expanded version- (SAI-E), including illness recognition (IR), symptom relabelling (SR), treatment compliance (TC) and total insight scores (TIS); and (ii) the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS). Between-group comparisons were nonsignificant, while within the MCT group (but not within controls) there was a significant medium effect size for improved TIS at T2 (d = 0.67, P = 0.02). Secondary outcomes included cognitive measures: Jumping to Conclusions (JTC), Theory of Mind (ToM), plus symptom severity and functioning. Compared to psychoeducation, MCT improved the PANSS excitement (d = 1.21, P = 0.01) and depressed (d = 0.76, P = 0.05) factors at T2; and a JTC task both at T1 (P = 0.016) and at T2 (P = 0.031). Participants in this RCT receiving MCT showed improved insight at 1-year follow-up, which was associated with better mood and reduced JTC cognitive bias. In this pilot study, no significant benefits on insight of MCT over psychoeducation were detected, which may have been due to insufficient power

Mollusca from a species-rich deep-water Leptometra community in the Alboran Sea

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