The Impact of soft drug legalization on Romania

This article approaches the problem of soft drugs legalization, from a liberalist point of view, underling the impact that this will have on Romania. Each year, in Romania, the number of soft drug users is increasing. Drug consumption exists and it will continue to exist, Romania being able to take advantage not only from an economic point of view. Another important thing that we have to take into account is that soft drugs do not lead to addiction, and however, continue to be prohibited by law.soft drugs, legalization, prohibition

Synthesis and Characterization of Polycyclicacetal Derived from PEG & Erythro-Ascorbic Acid Derivative and Study Its Effect on the Activity of ACh Enzyme (In Vitro)

Polycyclicacetal was prepared from the reaction of PEG with aldehyde derived from Erythro-ascorbic acid (pentulosono-?-lactone-2,3-enedianisoate).All these compounds were characterized by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and FTIR spectra and aldehyde was also characterized by (U.V-Vis), 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and mass spectra.The inhibitory effect of prepared polymer on the activity of human serum AcetylCholinesterase has been studied in vitro. The polymer showed a remarkable activity at low concentration (4.7x10-3 – 4.7x10-8 M). Key words: Polycyclicacetal, PEG, Acetylcholinesterase

An algorithm for binary codebook design based on the average bitmap replacement error (ABPRE)

In this paper, an algorithm for binary codebook design has been used in vector quantization technique, which is used to improve the acceptability of the absolute moment block truncation coding (AMBTC) method. Vector quantization (VQ) method is used to compress the bitmap (the output proposed from the first method (AMBTC)). In this paper, the binary codebook can be engender for many images depending on randomly chosen to the code vectors from a set of binary images vectors, and this codebook is then used to compress all bitmaps of these images. The chosen of the bitmap of image in order to compress it by using this codebook based on the criterion of the average bitmap replacement error (ABPRE). This paper is suitable to reduce bit rates (increase compression ratios) with little reduction of performance (PSNR)

Miconazole Nitrate based cubosome hydrogels for topical application

Cubosomes are discrete, sub-micron, nano-structured particles of bicontinuous cubic liquid crystalline phase. Cubosomes consist of honeycombed (cavernous) structures separating two internal aqueous channels and a large interfacial area. They are the biocompatible novel approach for the drug delivery system. The controlled release application of these nanoparticles is of a great significance in cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical fields. The present study is concerned with the design and evaluation of a novel nano-particulate system; cubosomes, loaded with miconazole nitrate (MN); which is used as antifungal agent. Cubosome dispersions were formulated by emulsification technique using different concentrations of a lipid phase monoolein and the nonionic surfactant, Poloxamer 407. The prepared cubosomal dispersions were characterized regarding dimensional distribution, particle size, and in vitro drug release. The optimum formulae were incorporated in a CMC or HPMC based hydrogels, to form cubosomal hydrogels (cubogels). The cubogels were characterized regarding in vitro release of (MN), viscosity and pH. A comparison between the cubogels and a commercially available product, Miconaz® cream, was carried out to judge their efficacy. The drug release from the commercial preparation was lower than all the prepared nano-emulsion based gel formulations. G1 and G8 showed highest drug release percent (100%) after 8 hours, in contrast the marketed formulation released (44.8%) of the drug after 8 hrs. The in vitro Miconazole nitrate release data were fitted to Korsmeyerpeppa's release model. The formulation exhibited non-fickian transport with zero order kinetics. Formulae G1, G8 and G10, that showed both small droplet size and highest extent of drug release, were microbiologically evaluated against Candida albicans (C. albicans) using agar cup diffusion method. The selected formulae showed superior antimycotic activity compared to the commercially available formulation

Miconazole Nitrate based cubosome hydrogels for topical application

Cubosomes are discrete, sub-micron, nano-structured particles of bicontinuous cubic liquid crystalline phase. Cubosomes consist of honeycombed (cavernous) structures separating two internal aqueous channels and a large interfacial area. They are the biocompatible novel approach for the drug delivery system. The controlled release application of these nanoparticles is of a great significance in cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical fields. The present study is concerned with the design and evaluation of a novel nano-particulate system; cubosomes, loaded with miconazole nitrate (MN); which is used as antifungal agent. Cubosome dispersions were formulated by emulsification technique using different concentrations of a lipid phase monoolein and the nonionic surfactant, Poloxamer 407. The prepared cubosomal dispersions were characterized regarding dimensional distribution, particle size, and in vitro drug release. The optimum formulae were incorporated in a CMC or HPMC based hydrogels, to form cubosomal hydrogels (cubogels). The cubogels were characterized regarding in vitro release of (MN), viscosity and pH. A comparison between the cubogels and a commercially available product, Miconaz® cream, was carried out to judge their efficacy. The drug release from the commercial preparation was lower than all the prepared nano-emulsion based gel formulations. G1 and G8 showed highest drug release percent (100%) after 8 hours, in contrast the marketed formulation released (44.8%) of the drug after 8 hrs. The in vitro Miconazole nitrate release data were fitted to Korsmeyerpeppa's release model. The formulation exhibited non-fickian transport with zero order kinetics. Formulae G1, G8 and G10, that showed both small droplet size and highest extent of drug release, were microbiologically evaluated against Candida albicans (C. albicans) using agar cup diffusion method. The selected formulae showed superior antimycotic activity compared to the commercially available formulation

Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Basic Life Support Among Health Students at a Saudi Women’s University

Objectives: Awareness of basic life support (BLS) is paramount to ensure the provision of essential life-saving medical care in emergency situations. This study aimed to measure knowledge of BLS and attitudes towards BLS training among female health students at a women’s university in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study took place between January and April 2016 at five health colleges of the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All 2,955 students attending the health colleges were invited to participate in the study. Participants were subsequently asked to complete a validated Englishlanguage questionnaire which included 21 items assessing knowledge of BLS and six items gauging attitudes to BLS. Results: A total of 1,349 students completed the questionnaire (response rate: 45.7%). The mean overall knowledge score was very low (32.7 ± 13.9) and 87.9% of the participants had very poor knowledge scores. A total of 32.5% of the participants had never received any BLS training. Students who had previously received BLS training had significantly higher knowledge scores (P <0.001), although their knowledge scores remained poor. Overall, 77.0% indicated a desire to receive additional BLS training and 78.5% supported mandatory BLS training. Conclusion: Overall knowledge about BLS among the students was very poor; however, attitudes towards BLS training were positive. These findings call for an improvement in BLS education among Saudi female health students so as to ensure appropriate responses in cardiac arrest or other emergency situations.

Métodos de evaluación utilizados en una clase de matemáticas en enseñanza secundaria

Given issues related to differences in learner characteristics, effective sampling across the content domain and recent emphases on assessing meaningfully contextualized abilities and higher-order cognitive processes, the ʻtraditionalʼ mathematics test arguably does not provide a valid measure of student ability. Consequently, there is a need to incorporate alternative methods of assessment that are able to effectively assess the range of studentsʼ mathematical abilities. This article try to understand the assessment methods that mathematics secondary teachers use to assess their students, mainly this study will try to spot the light on 1- The main methods employed by Mathematics teachers, 2- Reported use of alternative assessment, 3- Desirable assessment methods, 4- Teachersʼ satisfactions with traditional methods. Results showed that teachers mainly use written exams to assess their student, they reported using some alternative assessment but sporadically, the teachers showed dissatisfaction with the methods they use and they prefer using direct observation to assess their students. And finally the teachers gave some suggestions for improving the current assessment Practices.Podría afirmarse que la prueba "tradicional", en matemáticas, no proporciona una medida válida de la capacidad del alumno, por cuestiones relacionadas con diferencias individuales entre estudiantes, el dominio de contenidos y el énfasis que recientemente está adoptando la evaluación de las capacidades significativamente contextualizadas y los procesos cognitivos de orden superior. Por consiguiente, es necesario incorporar métodos alternativos de evaluación que sean capaces de evaluar eficazmente la gama de habilidades matemáticas de los estudiantes. Este artículo se dirige a comprender los métodos de evaluación que los profesores de matemáticas de Educación Secundaria usan para evaluar a sus estudiantes. La investigación trata, sobre todo, de iluminar 1- Los principales métodos empleados por profesorado de matemáticas, 2- El uso informado de métodos de evaluación alternativos, 3- Los métodos de evaluación deseables, 4-La satisfacción de los profesores con los métodos tradicionales. Los resultados muestran que los profesores utilizan principalmente los exámenes escritos para evaluar a sus estudiantes, informan del uso de algún tipo de evaluación alternativa que de forma esporádica, y muestran insatisfacción con los métodos que utilizan y prefieren utilizar la observación directa para evaluar a los estudiantes. Y por último los profesores dan algunas sugerencias para mejorar las prácticas de evaluación actuales.I would like to thank the AECID “Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo" for supporting this project financially, also I acknowledge the support of the the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of Spain research project R+D entitled Servicio federado de erúbricas para la evaluación de los aprendizajes (EDU2010-15432)