Design and Evaluation of an Oral Floating Matrix Tablet of Salbutamol Sulphate

Purpose: To develop floating matrix tablets of salbutamol sulphate using ethyl cellulose and acrycoat S-100 as polymers, and sodium bicarbonate, citric acid and tartaric acid as gas generating agents. Methods: Twenty four formulations were prepared and segregated into four major categories, A to D. The floating tablets were prepared by wet granulation technique, and the granules were compressed at a pressure of 50 kg/cm2. The tablets contained drug, ethyl cellulose and Acrycoat S-100 (as releaseretarding polymers), sodium bicarbonate, citric acid and tartaric acid (as gas formers) as well as various additives. The tablets were made by wet granulation technique. The formulations were evaluated for in vitro buoyancy, dissolution and in vitro drug release. Results: All the formulations fulfilled the essential requirements for good floating systems. Formulation F8, containing citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, showed lower lag time and longer floating duration than the formulations containing only sodium bicarbonate. Formulation F8.2 (which contained citric and tartaric acid at a ratio of 1:1) showed longer floating duration (9 h) than F8. As the concentration of sodium bicarbonate increased in formulation F8.2, drug release decreased while floating duration increased.Conclusion: Of all the 24 formulations, the one containing tartaric acid and citric acid in ratio 1:3 and 12 mg sodium bicarbonate showed the highest floating duration and least lag time.Keywords: Salbutamol sulphate, Ethyl cellulose, Acrycoat S-100, Sodium bicarbonate, Citric acid, Tartaric aci

Study and Analysis of Exhaust Emission of Diesel Vehicles using Thermal IR Imagers

Exhaust emission analysis from diesel vehicles has received a lot of attention in recent times in the context of implementation of Bharat Stage-IV norms and thermal signature analysis for civil and military applications. The exhaust emission thermal IR signatures of military diesel vehicles such as truck and bus using a gas analyser and thermal imager under idling and accelerating conditions of these vehicles is investigated. Concentration and temperature of diesel exhaust emission CO, NOx, and HC remains almost constant during engine running in idle condition and varies with the engine acceleration. Exhaust gases maximum temperature reaches in the range of 240 °C - 270 °C during engine acceleration. A detailed investigation of thermal signature in mid wave infrared, 3 µm - 5 µm waveband and long wave infrared, 8 µm - 14 µm waveband is also presented under the same engine running conditions. Thermal image analysis exhibited that the area of thermal IR image of diesel vehicles truck and bus has been increased 0.077 per cent and 0.594 per cent, respectively with the engine acceleration. It has been observed that thermal signature of exhaust gases is a good tool for vehicle exhaust emission visualisation and analysis

Influence of transport and ocean ice extent on biogenic aerosol sulfur in the Arctic atmosphere

The recent decline in sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean could affect the regional radiative forcing via changes in sea ice-atmosphere exchange of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and biogenic aerosols formed from its atmospheric oxidation, such as methanesulfonic acid (MSA). This study examines relationships between changes in total sea ice extent north of 70 degrees N and atmospheric MSA measurement at Alert, Nunavut, during 1980-2009; at Barrow, Alaska, during 1997-2008; and at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, for 1991-2004. During the 1980-1989 and 1990-1997 periods, summer (July-August) and June MSA concentrations at Alert decreased. In general, MSA concentrations increased at all locations since 2000 with respect to 1990 values, specifically during June and summer at Alert and in summer at Barrow and Ny-Alesund. Our results show variability in MSA at all sites is related to changes in the source strengths of DMS, possibly linked to changes in sea ice extent as well as to changes in atmospheric transport patterns. Since 2000, a late spring increase in atmospheric MSA at the three sites coincides with the northward migration of the marginal ice edge zone where high DMS emissions from ocean to atmosphere have previously been reported. Significant negative correlations are found between sea ice extent and MSA concentrations at the three sites during the spring and June. These results suggest that a decrease in seasonal ice cover influencing other mechanisms of DMS production could lead to higher atmospheric MSA concentrations

Improved social functioning following social recovery therapy in first episode psychosis: Do social cognition and neurocognition change following therapy, and do they predict treatment response?

There is a need to develop and refine psychosocial interventions to improve functioning in First Episode Psychosis (FEP). Social cognition and neurocognition are closely linked to functioning in psychosis; examinations of cognition pre- and post- psychosocial intervention may provide insights into the mechanisms of these interventions, and identify which individuals are most likely to benefit. Method: Cognition was assessed within a multi-site trial of Social Recovery Therapy (SRT) for individuals with FEP experiencing poor functioning (<30 h weekly structured activity). Fifty-nine participants were randomly allocated to the therapy group (SRT + Early intervention), and 64 were allocated to treatment as usual group (TAU - early intervention care). Social cognition and neurocognition were assessed at baseline and 9 months; assessors were blind to group allocation. It was hypothesized that social cognition would improve following therapy, and those with better social cognition prior to therapy would benefit the most from SRT. Results: There was no significant impact of SRT on individual neurocognitive or social cognitive variables, however, joint models addressing patterns of missingness demonstrate improvement across a number of cognitive outcomes following SRT. Further, regression analyses showed those who had better social cognition at baseline were most likely to benefit from the therapy (ß = 0.350; 95% CI = 0.830 to 8.891; p = .019). Conclusion: It is not clear if SRT impacts on social cognitive or neurocognitive function, however, SRT may be beneficial in those with better social cognition at baseline

New Forms of Development: Branding Innovative Ideas and Bidding for Foreign Aid in the Maternal and Child Health Service in Nepal

Nepal has been receiving foreign aid since the early 1950s. Currently, the country’s health care systemis heavily dependent on aid, even for the provision of basic health services to its people. Globally, the mechanismfor the dispersal of foreign aid is becoming increasingly complex. Numerous stakeholders are involved at variouslevels: donors, intermediary organisations, project-implementing partners and the beneficiaries, engaging not onlyin Nepal but also globally. To illustrate how branding and bidding occurs, and to discuss how this process hasbecome increasingly vital in securing foreign aid to run MCH activities in Nepal

Violence Against Women and Girls in Humanitarian Crisis: Learning from the 2015 Nepal Earthquake

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) often increases after disasters and humanitarian crises. This article presents evidence from Nepal, a country where notable progress has been made on gender equality, but where VAWG continues to be an endemic. The 2015 April earthquake in Nepal led to an increase in reporting of VAWG, and women and girls in camps and temporary shelters reported fear and insecurity instilled by risk of violence and lack of privacy. Grassroots responses to the earthquake showed how humanitarian aid, emergency health care, and local disaster responses can challenge VAWG while offering safe spaces for women and girls. Research since the earthquakes with activists and non-government organisations (NGOs) indicates how disaster response efforts face continuous challenges posed by VAWG. This article draws on interviews with grassroots activists and NGO staff in Nepal, and shares experiences and lessons learnt that can help in addressing, challenging, and minimising VAWG in emergency situations and humanitarian crisis. This article is informed by thematic analysis of qualitative data from three separate studies, collected by employing semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and social media interaction with women and girls affected by the earthquake, women activists, and NGO staff. Our research highlights a number of barriers to addressing VAWG, such as preexisting vulnerabilities in low-income contexts, the breakdown of social/family networks, and lack of pre-crisis protection mechanisms. Further, our findings indicate that the cultural and socio-economic context influences women and girls’ experiences of violence during humanitarian crises. Our findings emphasise the importance of taking an intersectional and inclusive approach to ensure that all women, including the most vulnerable women and girls (those with disabilities, Dalits, older women, and single women) are included in prevention mechanisms, with a special focus on gender-based violence (GBV) risk assessment and protection interventions. Based on our research in Nepal, we make recommendations to practitioners and policy makers for interventions which address VAWG in humanitarian crises

Innerbetriebliche Ecopreneure durch Umweltmanagementsysteme? : eine Langzeitanalyse von Bedingungen für proaktives Umweltschutzverhalten

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)Die vorliegende Arbeit thematisiert, welche Unterstützungspotentiale Umweltmanagementsysteme (UMS) für Innerbetriebliches Ecopreneurship – proaktives, umweltbewusstes Arbeitsverhalten aller Unternehmensmitglieder – bieten. Eine Längsschnittuntersuchung in sechs deutschen Unternehmen ermittelt situative und personelle Faktoren, die Ecopreneurship maßgeblich beeinflussen. Unternehmen mit UMS-Aktivitäten weisen positivere Einschätzungen in den relevanten Verhaltensbedingungen und dem Ecopreneurship auf, aber keine kontinuierliche Verbesserungen von Ecopreneurship im Zeitverlauf. Daraus ergeben sich weitere Forschungsfragen, etwa zur Volatilität des proaktiven Arbeitsverhaltens

Air toxics and the risk of autism spectrum disorder: The results of a population based case-control study in southwestern Pennsylvania

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) constitute a major public health problem affecting one in 68 children. There is little understanding of the causes of ASD despite its serious social impact. Air pollution contains many toxicants known to have adverse effects on the fetus. We conducted a population based case-control study in southwestern Pennsylvania to estimate the association between ASD and 2005 US EPA modeled NATA (National Air Toxics Assessment) levels for 30 neurotoxicants. Methods: A total of 217 ASD cases born between 2005 and 2009 were recruited from local ASD diagnostic and treatment centers. There were two different control groups: 1) interviewed controls (N∈=∈224) frequency matched by child's year of birth, sex and race with complete residential histories from prior to pregnancy through the child's second birthday, and 2) 5,007 controls generated from a random sample of birth certificates (BC controls) using residence at birth. We used logistic regression analysis comparing higher to first quartile of exposure to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for mother's age, education, race, smoking status, child's year of birth and sex. Results: Comparing fourth to first quartile exposures for all births, the adjusted OR for styrene was 2.04 (95 % CI∈=∈1.17-3.58, p∈=∈0.013) for the interviewed case-control analysis and 1.61 (95 % CI∈=∈1.08-2.40, p∈=∈0.018) for the BC analysis. In the BC comparison, chromium also exhibited an elevated OR of 1.60 (95 % CI∈=∈1.08-2.38, p∈=∈0.020), which was similarly elevated in the interviewed analysis (OR∈=∈1.52, 95 % CI∈=∈0.87-2.66). There were borderline significant ORs for the BC comparison for methylene chloride (OR∈=∈1.41, 95 % CI∈=∈0.96-2.07, p∈=∈0.082) and PAHs (OR∈=∈1.44, 95 % CI∈=∈0.98-2.11, p∈=∈0.064). Conclusions: Living in areas with higher levels of styrene and chromium during pregnancy was associated with increased risk of ASD, with borderline effects for PAHs and methylene chloride. These results are consistent with other studies. It is unclear, however, whether these chemicals are risk factors themselves or if they reflect the effect of a mixture of pollutants. Future work should include improved spatiotemporal estimates of exposure to air toxics, taking into account the dynamic movement of individuals during daily life

Prevalence of treatment resistance and clozapine use in early intervention services

BACKGROUND: Treatment resistance causes significant burden in psychosis. Clozapine is the only evidence-based pharmacologic intervention available for people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia; current guidelines recommend commencement after two unsuccessful trials of standard antipsychotics. AIMS: This paper aims to explore the prevalence of treatment resistance and pathways to commencement of clozapine in UK early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services. METHOD: Data were taken from the National Evaluation of the Development and Impact of Early Intervention Services study (N = 1027) and included demographics, medication history and psychosis symptoms measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Prescribing patterns and pathways to clozapine were examined. We adopted a strict criterion for treatment resistance, defined as persistent elevated positive symptoms (a PANSS positive score ≥16, equating to at least two items of at least moderate severity), across three time points. RESULTS: A total of 143 (18.1%) participants met the definition of treatment resistance of having continuous positive symptoms over 12 months, despite treatment in EIP services. Sixty-one (7.7%) participants were treatment resistant and eligible for clozapine, having had two trials of standard antipsychotics; however, only 25 (2.4%) were prescribed clozapine over the 12-month study period. Treatment-resistant participants were more likely to be prescribed additional antipsychotic medication and polypharmacy, instead of clozapine. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalent treatment resistance was observed in UK EIP services, but prescription of polypharmacy was much more common than clozapine. Significant delays in the commencement of clozapine may reflect a missed opportunity to promote recovery in this critical period