Natural surfactants for pharmaceutical emulsion

Surfactants are widely used in the preparation of pharmaceuticals. In emulsion, it is a vital ingredient that allows mixing of two immiscible liquids. Emulsions have significant importance as carriers for water-insoluble drugs. There are many types of synthetic surfactants but there are also known natural surfactants which have been used and more to be explored

Influence of Microfinance and Empowerment on Satisfaction: Case Study of Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of women empowerment, microfinance involvement, and loan size on women satisfaction. To achieve the objectives through simple random sampling technique the cross-sectional was collected from 372 borrowers’ and 372 nonborrowers’ women’s through questionnaire and later multinomial logistic regression was applied. The findings revealed and support the theory of adoption, which demonstrates that income increases satisfaction. Microfinance is a kind of money, which involves borrowers in small business and enables them to have money through doing businesses that increase borrowers’ women satisfaction compare to non-borrower’s women. More empowered women is more satisfied with life. Present study also found that the effect of microfinance involvement on women’s satisfaction depends on their empowerment In the light of findings this study recommends that future researchers can examine the same model in the different culture. This study contributes theoretically, practically and politically

Study protocol for improving asthma outcomes through cross-cultural communication training for physicians: a randomized trial of physician training

Abstract Background Massive resources are expended every year on cross-cultural communication training for physicians. Such training is a focus of continuing medical education nationwide and is part of the curriculum of virtually every medical school in America. There is a pressing need for evidence regarding the effects on patients of cross-cultural communication training for physicians. There is a need to understand the added benefit of such training compared to more general communication. We know of no rigorous study that has assessed whether cross-cultural communication training for physicians results in better health outcomes for their patients. The current study aims to answer this question by enhancing the Physician Asthma Care Education (PACE) program to cross cultural communication (PACE Plus), and comparing the effect of the enhanced program to PACE on the health outcomes of African American and Latino/Hispanic children with asthma. Methods/Design A three-arm randomized control trial is used to compare PACE Plus, PACE, and usual care. Both PACE and PACE Plus are delivered in two, two-hour sessions over a period of two weeks to 5–10 primary care physicians who treat African American and Latino/Hispanic children with asthma. One hundred twelve physicians and 1060 of their pediatric patients were recruited who self-identify as African American or Latino/Hispanic and experience persistent asthma. Physicians were randomized into receiving either the PACE Plus or PACE intervention or into the control group. The comparative effectiveness of PACE and PACE Plus on clinician’s therapeutic and communication practices with the family/patient, children’s urgent care use for asthma, asthma control, and quality of life, and parent/caretaker satisfaction with physician performance will be assessed. Data are collected via telephone survey and medical record review at baseline, 9 months following the intervention, and 21 months following the intervention. Discussion This study aims to reduce disparities in asthma outcomes among African American and Latino/Hispanic children through cross-cultural communication training of their physicians and assessing the added value of this training compared to general communication. The results of this study will provide important information about the value of cross-cultural training in helping to address persistent racial disparities in outcomes. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01251523 December 1, 2010http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109533/1/12909_2014_Article_948.pd

Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Food Store Access: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study in Ypsilanti, Michigan

Given declines in supermarkets in Washtenaw County, Michigan (MI), we aim to characterize the relationship between food store access and fruit and vegetable intake in Ypsilanti, MI. A cross-sectional, convenience sample survey was conducted in March 2011 at the Ypsilanti District Library (n=83). Self-reported food store access, perceived food environment, and fruit and vegetable intake were assessed. Linear and logistic regressions were performed between store access, fruit and vegetable intake, and meeting dietary recommendations. Perception was evaluated for effect modification. Adjusting for demographics, each food store within one mile of participants’ homes increased odds of meeting recommended intake by 105% (OR 2.05, 95% CI: 1.02, 4.10). However, contrary to previous literature, each additional minute to the food store was associated with consumption of 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10, 0.64) more servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Perception was not a statistically significant effect modifier, but data suggest differences for those with divergent perceptions. Food environment is associated with fruit and vegetable intake in Ypsilanti, MI. Inconsistent findings suggest that programs should focus on enhancing the food environment within the context of perceptions and preferences

Sub-concussive Hit Characteristics Predict Deviant Brain Metabolism in Football Athletes

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and helmet telemetry were used to monitor the neural metabolic response to repetitive head collisions in 25 high school American football athletes. Specific hit characteristics were determined highly predictive of metabolic alterations, suggesting that sub-concussive blows can produce biochemical changes and potentially lead to neurological problems

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ORAL FAST DISSOLVING TABLET OF ONDANSETRON HYDROCHLORIDE BY COPROCESS EXCIPIENTS

Recent development in fast disintegrating technology mainly works to improve the quality of these delicate dosage forms without affecting their integrity. Current investigations deal with the formulation of fast dissolving tablet of Ondansetron HCl with the effect of different co-processed excipients by using ball mill that disintegrates in oral cavity on contact with saliva & thereby improve therapeutic efficacy because the mannitol was stick to dies and punch therefore ball mill is used to prepare co ground mixtures of crospovidone and mannitol to improve the compatibility and stability of product. The Fast disintegrating tablets of Ondansetron HCl were prepared by direct compression method using different synthetic superdisintegrant such as Crospovidone, and natural superdisintegranst such as Karaya gum and Fenugreek gum in different concentration. The FTIR, DSC analysis revealed that the Betacyclodextrin and superdisintegrants used were compatible with Ondansetron HCl. A complex of Betacyclodextrin and Ondansetron HCl was successfully formed in 1:2 ratios. Disintegration time decrease with increase in the concentration o superdisintegrant. Among all formulation, containing Karaya Gum as superdisintegrants is fulfilling all the parameters satisfactorily. In vitro release studies that almost 98.88% of the drug was released from all the formulation were within 15 minutes. Best Formulation F6 showed faster drug release within 7 minutes in comparison to other formulation. ThE result shows that Co-processing of excipients is the most suitable approach for formulation of Fast dissolving tablet. Keywords: Coprocess, Fast disintegrating tablets, Ball mill, Disintegration time, Mannitol etc. Â

A New Remote Guided Method for Supervised Web-Based Cognitive Testing to Ensure High Quality Data

Background. The global COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a fundamental reexamination of how human psychological research can be conducted both safely and robustly in a new era of digital working and physical distancing. Online web-based testing has risen to the fore as a promising solution for rapid mass collection of cognitive data without requiring human contact. However, a long-standing debate exists over the data quality and validity of web-based studies. Here, we examine the opportunities and challenges afforded by the societal shift toward web-based testing, highlight an urgent need to establish a standard data quality assurance framework for online studies, and develop and validate a new supervised online testing methodology, remote guided testing (RGT). Methods. A total of 85 healthy young adults were tested on 10 cognitive tasks assessing executive functioning (flexibility, memory and inhibition) and learning. Tasks were administered either face-to-face in the laboratory (N=41) or online using remote guided testing (N=44), delivered using identical web-based platforms (CANTAB, Inquisit and i-ABC). Data quality was assessed using detailed trial-level measures (missed trials, outlying and excluded responses, response times), as well as overall task performance measures. Results. The results indicated that, across all measures of data quality and performance, RGT data was statistically-equivalent to data collected in person in the lab. Moreover, RGT participants out-performed the lab group on measured verbal intelligence, which could reflect test environment differences, including possible effects of mask-wearing on communication. Conclusions. These data suggest that the RGT methodology could help to ameliorate concerns regarding online data quality and - particularly for studies involving high-risk or rare cohorts - offer an alternative for collecting high-quality human cognitive data without requiring in-person physical attendance.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (H012508 and BB/P021255/1). Wellcome Trust (205067/Z/16/Z)

Does designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site influence tourist evaluation of a local destination?

The purpose of this study is to explore whether the UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) designation affects tourists’ evaluation of the local destination hosting the site, building on a large sample of about 0.8 million tourists who visited Italy over the period 1997-2015. We find that the inscription onto the UNESCO World Heritage List exerts surprisingly a negative effect on the overall evaluation of the destination and also on the evaluation of its artistic assets though the magnitude of the latter is lower. The effect is heterogeneous across visitors, depending on evaluation levels, as well as origin/destinations and demographics. Nonetheless, the presence of multiple WHSs in the same destination tends to increase evaluation suggesting that destination stakeholders with previous experience in dealing with WHS designations are better equipped to manage the complicated relationship between tourism and preservation. Managerial and policy-making implications are discussed