The use of the SeDeM diagram expert system for the formulation of Captopril SR matrix tablets by direct compression

The SeDeM Diagram Expert System has been used to study excipients, Captopril and designed formulations for their galenic characterization and to ascertain the critical points of the formula affecting product quality to obtain suitable formulations of Captopril Direct Compression SR Matrix Tablets. The application of the Sedem Diagram Expert System enables selecting excipients with in order to optimize the formula in the preformulation and formulation studies. The methodology is based on the implementation of ICH Q8, establishing the design space of the formula with the use of experiment design, using the parameters of the SeDeM Diagram Expert System as system responses

Comparative study about the use of two and three-dimensional methods in surface finishing characterization

The increasing number of works related to the surface texture characterization based on 3D information, makes convenient rethinking traditional methods based on two-dimensional measurements from profiles. This work compares results between measurements obtained using two and three-dimensional methods. It uses three kinds of data sources: reference surfaces, randomly generated surfaces and measured. Preliminary results are presented. These results must be completed trying to cover a wider number of possibilities according to the manufacturing process and the measurement instrumentation since results can vary quite significantly between them

A physical/virtual anatomical platform for hysteroscopy training

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), which consists in operating through small orifices, reduces the patients’ pain, complications, recovery time and scarring. However, while providing many benefits, the skills required in MIS are especially difficult to learn. Unfortunately, current training methods for such techniques have not progressed at the same pace as surgical advances. Insufficient surgical skills acquisition translates into complications during procedures, which not only harm the patient, but also increases the derived costs of interventions and their follow up. The developed platform merges both technologies, with the benefits of having a physical anatomic model and computer assistance for augmented reality and objective assessment. Further to the functions of a surgical trainer, EndoTrainer provides an integral education, training and evaluation platform.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

User behaviour analysis and personalized TV content recommendation

Nowadays, there are many channels and television (TV) programs available, and when the viewer is confronted with this amount of information has difficulty in deciding which wants to see. However, there are moments of the day that viewers see always the same channels or programs, that is, viewers have TV content consumption habits. The aim of this paper was to develop a recommendation system that to be able to recommend TV content considering the viewer profile, time and weekday. For the development of this paper, were used Design Science Research (DSR) and Cross Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) methodologies. For the development of the recommendation model, two approaches were considered: a deterministic approach and a Machine Learning (ML) approach. In the ML approach, K-means algorithm was used to be possible to combine STBs with similar profiles. In the deterministic approach the behaviors of the viewers are adjusted to a profile that will allow you to identify the content you prefer. Here, recommendation system analyses viewer preferences by hour and weekday, allowing customization of the system, considering your historic, recommending what he wants to see at certain time and weekday. ML approach was not used due to amount of data extracted and computational resources available. However, through deterministic methods it was possible to develop a TV content recommendation model considering the viewer profile, the weekday and the hour. Thus, with the results it was possible to understand which viewer profiles where the ML can be used.COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013 and was developed in partnership with AlticeLab

A Reappraisal of Lymphadenectomy in Common Gynecological Cancers

Objectives: Lymph node dissection (LND) in gynecological malignancies has always been a cornerstone in the diagnosis of metastasis, it is also considered an important prognostic factor, and a reliable guide to management strategies. However, its incidence of complications, namely lymphedema, vascular injuries and other lesions, has led to a reconsideration of its efficacy and a comparison of the role of systematic vs. sentinel lymph node (SLN) dissection. Mechanism: Review of the literature using keywords such as “lymph nodes”, “sentinel lymph nodes”, “morbidity and mortality”, “gynecological cancers”, “endometrial cancer”, “ovarian cancer”, and “cervical cancer”. Findings in Brief: In the case of endometrial cancer, several studies have investigated the efficacy of SLN compared with systematic LND. Most of the results demonstrated the efficacy of SLN dissection in endometrial cancer, with the added benefit of lower morbidity. In patients with ovarian cancer, the mainstay of treatment is debulking with optimal cytoreductive surgery. Recent studies have compared systematic lymphadenectomy to non-lymphadenectomy, with an additional advantage in the cases of lymphadenectomy. However, since its publication, the lymphadenectomy in ovarian cancers (LIONS) trial, has revolutionized the standard of care for patients with advanced ovarian cancer and has called into question the increased morbidity and mortality in systematic lymphadenectomy. In cervical cancers, lymph node status is considered to be the most important prognostic factor. In this case, limiting lymphadenectomy to the borders of the inferior mesenteric artery seems promising, and studies are currently being carried out to investigate the feasibility of SLN dissection instead of systematic lymph node dissection. Conclusions: SLN dissection is associated with lower morbidity and mortality, and has been shown to be superior to systematic lymphadenectomy in several studies. However, more research and specific guidelines are needed to better select either one or the other method in the management of gynecological cancers. Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)

Separation and measurement of Pa, Th, and U isotopes in Marine sediments by microwave-assisted digestion and multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

This manuscript describes a new protocol for determination of Pa/Th/U in marine sediments. It is based on microwave-assisted digestion and represents an important reduction of working time over conventional hot-plate digestion methods, and the use of HClO(4) is avoided. Although Th and U are completely dissolved with a first microwave step, around 40% of (231)Pa remains undissolved, and a short hot-plate step with reverse aqua regia is required to achieve total digestion and spike equilibration. Next, the method involves a separation of these elements and a further purification of the Pa fraction using Dowex AG1-X8 resin. Separation with Bio-Rad and Sigma-Aldrich resins was compared; although both perform similarly for Th and U, Pa yields are higher with Bio-Rad. Finally, samples are measured using a Nu instruments multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). Overall chemical yields range around 50% for Pa, 60% for Th, and 70% for U

Atitude do consumidor em relação ao pinhão: estratégias para valorização e conservação da espécie Araucaria angustifolia.

Resumo

Evaluación del programa multimedia: fabricación de comprimidos de paracetamol

Se hace un estudio de los resultados obtenidos con las diferentes evaluaciones a que se somete a los alumnos que se forman con un programa multimedia (desarrollado por los autores, figura 1) sobre una temática de tecnología farmacéutica: fabricación de comprimidos de paracetamol. El programa consta de 4 unidades didácticas (ver tabla 1) que han sido introducidas en el aula informática progresivamente, lo cual ha permitido desarrollar pruebas piloto que han mejorado el producto final. En este estudio se hace un resumen de la progresión y de los resultados que han ido obteniendo los alumnos durante los tres cursos académicos en que se ha utilizado como material docente. En este momento (primer cuatrimestre del 2002) se está utilizando el programa completo (versión beta) como prueba piloto, para obtener la versión definitiva, para todos los alumnos de la asignatura obligatoria Farmacia Galénica II, éstos resultados se compararán con los obtenidos en cursos anteriore