1,680 research outputs found
Complete Agenesis of the Dorsal Pancreas: Case Report with Imaging Findings and Review of the Literature
No Abstrac
QUALITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF SELECTED FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA
The performance of Food and Beverages manufacturing firms is important to the development of the economy and this has been considered by researchers. In Nigeria, the decline in the performance of this sector in terms of competitive advantage has been noticed which could be as a result of a lack of quality management practices such as leadership behaviour, strategic quality planning, supplier quality management, process management and customer focus. The study investigated the effect of quality management practices on the competitive advantage of selected Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The survey research design was adopted. The population of the study was 14, 591 top, middle and low-level management employees of the selected Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. A sample size of 491 was determined using the research advisor table. A simple random sampling technique was used. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients for the constructs ranged from 0.866 to 0.954. The response rate was 100%. Data were statistically analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multiple and hierarchical regression). Findings revealed that quality management practices had a significant effect on the competitive advantage of Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, (Adj.R2 = 0.117; F (5, 485) = 14.025, p < 0.05). The study concluded that quality management practices affected competitive advantage in Food and Beverages manufacturing firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The study recommends that Food and Beverages manufacturing firms should encourage the adoption of quality management practices to enhance competitive advantage. Article visualizations
Random matrix ensemble with random two-body interactions in presence of a mean-field for spin one boson systems
For number of bosons, carrying spin (=1) degree of freedom, in
number of single particle orbitals, each triply degenerate, we
introduce and analyze embedded Gaussian orthogonal ensemble of random matrices
generated by random two-body interactions that are spin (S) scalar
[BEGOE(2)-]. The embedding algebra is with SO(3) generating spin . A method for constructing the ensembles
in fixed-(, ) space has been developed. Numerical calculations show that
the form of the fixed-(, ) density of states is close to Gaussian and
level fluctuations follow GOE. Propagation formulas for the fixed-(, )
space energy centroids and spectral variances are derived for a general one
plus two-body Hamiltonian preserving spin. In addition to these, we also
introduce two different pairing symmetry algebras in the space defined by
BEGOE(2)- and the structure of ground states is studied for each paring
symmetry.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure
SOLUBILITY ENHANCEMENT OF EFAVIRENZ (BCS CLASS II DRUG) BY CYCLODEXTRIN INCLUSION COMPLEX TECHNIQUE
The solubility of BCS class II drugs can be enhanced using inclusion complex techniques. Cyclodextrin (CD) and its derivatives are promising carrier for the enhancement of aqueous solubility of drugs. The use of the Kneading technique to obtain solid inclusion system permitted the formation of a uniform, substantially non-crystalline particle, which increased the solubility and stability of Efavirenz (EFV). The present work shows the enhancement of aqueous solubility of BCS class II drug i.e. EFV by making inclusion complex with β-CD. The aqueous solubility of EFV is calculated to be 5± 0.003 µg/ml which was increased up to 288.9±0.005 µg/ml when complexed with β-CD in ratio of 1:1 and 318.5± 0.03 µg/ml in ratio of 1:2. This shows that, the inclusion complex technique is a promising way to enhance aqueous solubility
Two-Level Atom in an Optical Parametric Oscillator: Spectra of Transmitted and Fluorescent Fields in the Weak Driving Field Limit
We consider the interaction of a two-level atom inside an optical parametric
oscillator. In the weak driving field limit, we essentially have an atom-cavity
system driven by the occasional pair of correlated photons, or weakly squeezed
light. We find that we may have holes, or dips, in the spectrum of the
fluorescent and transmitted light. This occurs even in the strong-coupling
limit when we find holes in the vacuum-Rabi doublet. Also, spectra with a
sub-natural linewidth may occur. These effects disappear for larger driving
fields, unlike the spectral narrowing obtained in resonance fluorescence in a
squeezed vacuum; here it is important that the squeezing parameter tends to
zero so that the system interacts with only one correlated pair of photons at a
time. We show that a previous explanation for spectral narrowing and spectral
holes for incoherent scattering is not applicable in the present case, and
propose a new explanation. We attribute these anomalous effects to quantum
interference in the two-photon scattering of the system.Comment: 10 pages, 17 figures, submitted to Phys Rev
Driving the atom by atomic fluorescence: analytic results for the power and noise spectra
We study how the spectral properties of resonance fluorescence propagate
through a two-atom system. Within the weak-driving-field approximation we find
that, as we go from one atom to the next, the power spectrum exhibits both
sub-natural linewidth narrowing and large asymmetries while the spectrum of
squeezing narrows but remains otherwise unchanged. Analytical results for the
observed spectral features of the fluorescence are provided and their origin is
thoroughly discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures; to be published in Phys. Rev. A Changed title
and conten
Interpretation of heart rate variability via detrended fluctuation analysis and alpha-beta filter
Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA), suitable for the analysis of
nonstationary time series, has confirmed the existence of persistent long-range
correlations in healthy heart rate variability data. In this paper, we present
the incorporation of the alpha-beta filter to DFA to determine patterns in the
power-law behaviour that can be found in these correlations. Well-known
simulated scenarios and real data involving normal and pathological
circumstances were used to evaluate this process. The results presented here
suggest the existence of evolving patterns, not always following a uniform
power-law behaviour, that cannot be described by scaling exponents estimated
using a linear procedure over two predefined ranges. Instead, the power law is
observed to have a continuous variation with segment length. We also show that
the study of these patterns, avoiding initial assumptions about the nature of
the data, may confer advantages to DFA by revealing more clearly abnormal
physiological conditions detected in congestive heart failure patients related
to the existence of dominant characteristic scales.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figure
Advanced Technologies for Oral Controlled Release: Cyclodextrins for oral controlled release
Cyclodextrins (CDs) are used in oral pharmaceutical formulations, by means of inclusion complexes formation, with the following advantages for the drugs: (1) solubility, dissolution rate, stability and bioavailability enhancement; (2) to modify the drug release site and/or time profile; and (3) to reduce or prevent gastrointestinal side effects and unpleasant smell or taste, to prevent drug-drug or drug-additive interactions, or even to convert oil and liquid drugs into microcrystalline or amorphous powders. A more recent trend focuses on the use of CDs as nanocarriers, a strategy that aims to design versatile delivery systems that can encapsulate drugs with better physicochemical properties for oral delivery. Thus, the aim of this work was to review the applications of the CDs and their hydrophilic derivatives on the solubility enhancement of poorly water soluble drugs in order to increase their dissolution rate and get immediate release, as well as their ability to control (to prolong or to delay) the release of drugs from solid dosage forms, either as complexes with the hydrophilic (e.g. as osmotic pumps) and/ or hydrophobic CDs. New controlled delivery systems based on nanotechonology carriers (nanoparticles and conjugates) have also been reviewed
Nomograms of Iranian fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler waveforms and uniformity of their pattern with other populations' nomograms
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Doppler flow velocity waveform analysis of fetal vessels is one of the main methods for evaluating fetus health before labor. Doppler waves of middle cerebral artery (MCA) can predict most of the at risk fetuses in high risk pregnancies. In this study, we tried to obtain normal values and their nomograms during pregnancy for Doppler flow velocity indices of MCA in 20 – 40 weeks of normal pregnancies in Iranian population and compare their pattern with other countries' nomograms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>During present descriptive cross-sectional study, 1037 normal pregnant women with 20<sup>th</sup>–40<sup>th </sup>week gestational age were underwent MCA Doppler study. All cases were studied by gray scale ultrasonography initially and Doppler of MCA afterward. Resistive Index (RI), Pulsative Index (PI), Systolic/Diastolic ratio (S/D ratio), and Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) values of MCA were determined for all of the subjects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results of present study showed that RI, PI, S/D ratio values of MCA decreased with parabolic pattern and PSV value increased with simple pattern, as gestational age progressed. These changes were statistically significant (P = 0.000 for all of indices) and more characteristic during late weeks of pregnancy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Values of RI, PI and S/D ratio indices reduced toward the end of pregnancy, but PSV increased. Despite the trivial difference, nomograms of various Doppler indices in present study have similar pattern with other studies.</p
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